Author: Tristan Lodenberg

Social media interest in silver and gold has recently outpaced cryptocurrency discussions, as retail traders react to sharp price movements in precious metals, according to market analytics firm Santiment. Silver surged to a new all-time high of just over $117 on Tuesday, while gold similarly attracted attention after hitting record levels in mid-January. Santiment data shows that from Jan. 1–6 and again during the first half of January, silver and gold were the most discussed assets on social media platforms. The spike in retail attention often coincides with sharp price rallies, suggesting heightened fear of missing out (FOMO) among investors.…

Laser Digital, a digital asset firm backed by Japanese financial group Nomura, is reportedly seeking a US national bank trust charter, highlighting the accelerating push by crypto-focused companies to integrate more deeply into the US financial system under a shifting regulatory climate. Laser Digital Applies for US Bank Trust Charter Laser Digital has submitted an application to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national trust bank charter. If approved, the charter would allow the firm to operate under federal oversight, eliminating the need to secure individual state custody licenses. The company plans to provide spot…

US authorities have confirmed an active investigation into allegations that tens of millions of dollars in government seized crypto were stolen from wallets managed under a federal asset protection program. The case has raised serious questions about crypto custody, oversight, and contractor security controls. US Marshals Probe Seized Crypto Theft Claims The US Marshals Service stated that “the matter is under investigation” following claims that more than $40 million in seized digital assets were improperly accessed. Officials declined to provide further details due to the ongoing nature of the inquiry. The allegations center on John Daghita the son of a…

Morgan Stanley has taken a significant step deeper into digital assets by appointing Amy Oldenburg as its new head of digital asset strategy, signaling a more serious commitment to crypto after years of caution. Oldenburg, a long-serving executive at the bank, will transition from Morgan Stanley’s emerging markets equity team, where she has worked since 2001. She has led that division since November 2021, with a mandate that increasingly included shaping its digital asset approach. Her appointment comes just weeks after Morgan Stanley filed for three crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and revealed plans for a crypto wallet, marking a notable…

The future of the crypto industry in the United States may depend less on Washington and more on real-world adoption if lawmakers fail to pass a long-awaited market structure bill. According to Bitwise, the industry faces a narrow window to secure its place in everyday finance. Crypto Market Structure Bill and Regulatory Risk Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan warned that pending legislation in the US Senate is critical to locking in the current pro-crypto regulatory environment. The bill aims to clearly define how regulators oversee digital assets and divide responsibilities between agencies. If the legislation stalls, Hougan cautioned that…

The NFT market’s prolonged downturn has claimed another platform. Rodeo, a social NFT marketplace focused on creator engagement, has announced it will shut down operations, following a similar decision earlier this week by another major NFT platform. The closure highlights the continued struggle of NFT businesses to achieve sustainable growth amid declining trading volumes. Rodeo NFT Platform Closure Explained Launched on iOS in March last year, Rodeo aimed to rethink NFT collecting by emphasizing community interaction, creator rewards, and social discovery rather than pure speculation. The platform simplified blockchain mechanics to attract mainstream users, positioning itself closer to a social…

Nearly 40% of merchants in the United States now accept cryptocurrency at checkout, reflecting growing consumer demand for digital payment alternatives. A recent survey of 619 payment-strategy decision-makers, conducted in October, found that crypto is moving beyond early testing and becoming part of routine business operations. According to the findings, almost 90% of merchants reported receiving customer inquiries about crypto payments, signaling strong interest from shoppers. Additionally, 84% of merchants believe crypto payments will become mainstream within the next five years, underscoring confidence in long-term adoption. Customer Demand Drives Adoption Across Key Industries Crypto acceptance is strongest among large enterprises,…

U.S. fast-food chain Steak ’n Shake has added $5 million worth of Bitcoin to its Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, reinforcing its commitment to integrating cryptocurrency into its financial strategy. The move brings the company’s total Bitcoin holdings to approximately $15 million, or around 167.7 BTC, based on recent market prices. The company has pledged that all customer payments made in Bitcoin will be directed straight into its reserve, linking operational performance directly to digital asset accumulation. While the precise breakdown of holdings remains undisclosed, the increase follows a previously announced $10 million allocation earlier this year. Bitcoin Adoption Linked to Sales…

San Francisco-based crypto payments infrastructure firm Mesh has raised $75 million in a Series C funding round led by Dragonfly Capital, bringing its total funding to over $200 million and valuing the company at $1 billion. The round also saw participation from Paradigm, Moderne Ventures, SBI Investment, Coinbase Ventures, and Liberty City Ventures. Stablecoin Integration and Global Expansion A notable portion of the funds was settled using stablecoins, highlighting Mesh’s focus on digital asset payments over traditional banking rails. The company plans to expand its crypto payments network across Latin America, Asia, and Europe, while also advancing its product development…

Blockchain firm Wemade has added Chainlink Labs to its Global Alliance for KRW Stablecoins (GAKS), enhancing the alliance’s oracle and data infrastructure as South Korea continues to debate stablecoin regulation. The move is aimed at building compliance-ready infrastructure for Korean won-pegged stablecoins rather than issuing tokens directly. Role of Chainlink in GAKS Under the new partnership, Chainlink will provide support for data integrity, oracle services, and infrastructure standards. Its technology is expected to enable price feeds, onchain verification, and data-driven functions commonly required by institutional-grade digital asset systems. Wemade said the focus is on standardization and giving alliance members access…