Franklin Templeton is adjusting existing institutional money market funds to fit into the evolving US stablecoin regulatory framework, signaling a shift toward integrating traditional finance products with blockchain-based payment infrastructure rather than launching entirely new crypto-native funds. The firm has amended two long-established Western Asset institutional money market funds so they can support GENIUS-aligned stablecoin reserve structures while remaining SEC-registered 2a-7 funds. The changes allow these funds to function as regulated, government-backed collateral for payment stablecoins and tokenized cash applications without altering their core legal status. The Western Asset Institutional Treasury Obligations Fund is invested exclusively in short-term US government…
Author: Blockto Team
Bitcoin moved closer to a key technical level as US inflation data came in below expectations, triggering renewed optimism across global markets. The cryptocurrency climbed toward the $93,600–$94,000 zone, a level widely viewed as a major resistance area. Following the CPI release, Bitcoin advanced toward weekly highs, attempting to break above a dense resistance wall near $94,000, as highlighted on recent charts. The move reflects growing confidence that easing inflation could support looser financial conditions. However, traders caution that the market remains within a short-term range, with some signaling exhaustion on lower timeframes. At the same time, US equities surged,…
A U.S. federal court has temporarily halted Tennessee’s attempt to force prediction market operator Kalshi to suspend its sports event contracts in the state. The ruling freezes a cease-and-desist order while the court examines whether federal oversight shields the platform from state gambling laws. The temporary block prevents the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council and the state attorney general from enforcing an order that required Kalshi, along with platforms like Polymarket and Crypto.com, to stop offering sports-related contracts, void open positions, and refund customer deposits by January 31. Noncompliance could have triggered fines of up to $25,000 per offense and potential…
South Korea’s major crypto exchanges have voiced strong opposition to the government’s plan to cap major shareholder stakes in digital asset platforms at 15–20%. The Digital Asset Exchange Alliance (DAXA) representing Upbit, Bithumb, Korbit, Coinone, and Gopax, argued that such restrictions could stifle growth and weaken investor protections. The Financial Services Commission proposed the cap to mitigate risks from concentrated ownership. However, DAXA contended that major shareholders carry ultimate responsibility for user assets, and artificially dispersing ownership would dilute accountability. The alliance also highlighted that digital assets circulate across borders, meaning overly restrictive domestic rules could reduce global competitiveness and…
Ethereum Layer 2 network ZKsync has outlined a 2026 roadmap centered on real-world infrastructure and institutional adoption, signaling a strategic shift from foundational development to large-scale deployment. The plan builds on progress made in 2025 and aims to position ZKsync as a core platform for regulated financial and enterprise use cases. According to the roadmap ZKsync will anchor its products around four non-negotiable standards: privacy by default, deterministic control, verifiable risk management, and native connectivity to global markets. These principles are designed to meet real operational, governance, and compliance requirements rather than relying on experimental shortcuts. A major focus is…
The latest U.S. inflation report delivered a mixed but market-relevant signal, with core price pressures easing while headline inflation remained unchanged. According to the released data, Core CPI month-over-month came in at 0.2%, below the 0.3% forecast and matching the previous reading, indicating that underlying inflation momentum is not accelerating. At the same time headline CPI m/m printed at 0.3%, exactly in line with both expectations and the prior month, suggesting that overall consumer prices are still rising at a steady pace. On an annual basis, CPI year-over-year held at 2.7%, unchanged from forecasts and the previous reading, reinforcing the…
Bitcoin and gold, long viewed as alternative stores of value, are now packaged into a single regulated investment product for UK investors. 21Shares has introduced its Bitcoin Gold ETP (BOLD) on the London Stock Exchange, marking a notable step in expanding diversified digital asset exposure within traditional markets. The newly listed 21Shares Bitcoin Gold ETP allows investors to gain exposure to both Bitcoin and physical gold through one product traded on the London Stock Exchange. The fund trades under the ticker BOLD in pounds sterling and BOLU in US dollars, making it accessible to a broad range of market participants.…
KRAKacquisition Corp, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) affiliated with crypto exchange Kraken has filed an S-1 registration with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed Nasdaq IPO. The offering seeks to raise $250 million and is designed to fund mergers with businesses operating in the crypto ecosystem. The SPAC plans to issue 25 million units at $10 per unit, wit each unit comprising one Class A share and one-quarter of a redeemable warrant. KRAKacquisition intends to trade under the ticker symbol KRAQU on the Nasdaq Global Market. The filing notes that no specific acquisition target has yet…
A smart contract vulnerability has been identified as the root cause of a $26 million exploit at blockchain computation protocol Truebit, exposing ongoing security risks even for long-established crypto projects. The incident allowed an attacker to mint large quantities of TRU tokens at almost zero cost, leading to a 99% crash in the token’s market value. According to incident analysis the exploit stemmed from a critical integer overflow bug in Truebit’s token purchase contract. The contract was built using Solidity version 0.6.10, which lacked automatic overflow protection. As a result, when certain calculations exceeded the maximum value of uint256, the…
Italy’s financial markets regulator ESMA has issued a clear warning to crypto influencers and online financial promoters, reinforcing that European Union investment and advertising laws fully apply to digital assets and social media content. The notice follows the release of a new EU-level factsheet addressing the growing influence of so-called “finfluencers” in crypto markets. The guidance stresses that promoting crypto products is not the same as lifestyle advertising. Content involving volatile cryptocurrencies, derivatives, forex, or high-risk investment products can expose investors to losses of up to 100% of their capital. Importantly, individuals remain legally responsible for what they post, even…