Author: Blockto Team

The US Federal Reserve is weighing sharply divided feedback on a proposal that would grant limited access to its payments system through so-called “skinny master accounts,” highlighting growing tensions between crypto firms and traditional banks. Federal Reserve Payment Account Proposal Explained The proposal would introduce a new type of “payment account” designed for non-bank financial institutions, including fintech and crypto companies. Unlike full master accounts held by commercial banks, these accounts would not earn interest, would not provide access to Federal Reserve credit facilities, and would be subject to strict balance caps. The Fed received 44 public comments before the…

Coinbase has made its return to Super Bowl advertising, leaning into 1990s pop nostalgia with a karaoke-style commercial built around a Backstreet Boys hit. The move marks the crypto exchange’s first Super Bowl appearance since its widely discussed QR code ad four years ago. Coinbase Super Bowl Ad Focuses on Nostalgia and Simplicity The one-minute television spot featured animated lyrics from the 1997 song “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back),” flashing across the screen with minimal visuals. Rather than promoting a specific product or incentive, the ad aimed to create a shared cultural moment during the most-watched sporting event in the United States.…

The nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the US Federal Reserve is facing early resistance in the Senate, as a Justice Department investigation into current Fed Chair Jerome Powell complicates the confirmation process. Senate Banking Committee Faces Fed Chair Standoff US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has called on the Senate Banking Committee to move forward with confirmation hearings for Warsh, even as some lawmakers push to delay the process. The resistance is being led by Senator Thom Tillis, who has said he will not support hearings until the Justice Department concludes its investigation into Powell. Bessent argued…

Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin, is ramping up its global expansion with plans to significantly increase its workforce over the next 18 months, reflecting strong growth in profits and adoption. Tether Workforce Growth and Hiring Plans The company has grown its employee base to around 300 staff and is preparing to add approximately 150 more roles, with a strong focus on engineering talent. The hiring push also extends beyond technical roles, including positions related to artificial intelligence, venture investing, and regulatory compliance across multiple regions such as Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. This expansion…

A growing divide has emerged among leading crypto venture capitalists over whether non-financial Web3 applications have failed or are simply waiting for the right conditions to scale. Disagreement on Product-Market Fit in Web3 The debate was reignited after comments from Chris Dixon, a managing partner at a16z crypto, who argued that non-financial blockchain use cases have been held back by years of regulatory pressure, scams and short-term extractive behavior. Dixon suggested that once regulatory clarity improves, applications such as decentralized social networks, digital identity systems, creator platforms and Web3 gaming could gain meaningful adoption. Not all investors agree. Haseeb Qureshi…

Crypto security analysts are warning of a renewed surge in address poisoning scams after two recent incidents resulted in combined losses exceeding $62 million, underscoring persistent risks for blockchain users. What Is Address Poisoning and How Victims Lose Funds Address poisoning is a tactic where attackers send tiny “dust” transactions from wallet addresses designed to closely resemble legitimate ones. These malicious addresses often share the same starting and ending characters as trusted addresses already stored in a victim’s transaction history. When users later copy an address from their history, they may unknowingly send funds to the attacker instead. According to…

Crypto.com co-founder and CEO Kris Marszalek has acquired the premium AI.com domain for approximately $70 million, paid entirely in cryptocurrency, and plans to debut a new consumer artificial intelligence platform during the Super Bowl. AI.com Deal Sets New Benchmark for Domain Sales Marszalek completed the purchase in April 2025 after the domain was publicly listed with a $100 million asking price earlier that year. The transaction is believed to be the largest publicly disclosed domain sale to date, surpassing previous high-profile deals such as CarInsurance.com and Chat.com. The seller was identified as Arsyan Ismail, with the transaction brokered privately. Marszalek…

The US Federal Reserve is moving into a phase of steady, incremental monetary expansion rather than an aggressive return to large-scale stimulus, according to economist Lyn Alden, who argues the distinction between easing and printing is largely semantic. Fed Policy Points to Ongoing Monetary Expansion In her latest investment outlook, Alden said her baseline expectation aligns closely with the Federal Reserve’s own projections. She anticipates the central bank will expand its balance sheet broadly in line with nominal GDP growth and total banking system assets. While this approach lacks the intensity of past stimulus cycles, Alden believes it still represents…

Concerns that quantum computers could imminently threaten Bitcoin’s security are being overstated, according to digital asset manager CoinShares, which argues that only a small subset of Bitcoin is realistically vulnerable. Limited Share of Bitcoin Worth Targeting CoinShares research indicates that roughly 10,230 Bitcoin sit in wallet addresses with publicly exposed cryptographic keys that could, in theory, be targeted by future quantum computers. This represents a fraction of the approximately 1.63 million Bitcoin considered quantum-vulnerable under worst-case assumptions. Of that amount, just over 7,000 Bitcoin are held in wallets containing between 100 and 1,000 BTC, while around 3,230 Bitcoin sit in…

Global search interest for the term “crypto” has fallen close to its lowest level of the past year, highlighting deteriorating investor sentiment amid a sharp market downturn. Crypto Search Trends Reflect Market Capitulation Recent Google Trends data shows worldwide search volume for “crypto” hovering around 30 out of 100, with 100 representing peak interest over the past 12 months. The lowest reading during that period stands at 24. Search activity last peaked in August 2025, coinciding with the crypto market’s record capitalization above $4.2 trillion. Since then, total market value has dropped to roughly $2.4 trillion, reinforcing the decline in…