Author: Tristan Lodenberg

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has approved a framework by Nasdaq to enable trading of tokenized stocks and ETFs using blockchain infrastructure. The move marks a significant step toward integrating blockchain technology into traditional equity markets while maintaining existing financial structures. Tokenized Equities Bring 24/7 Trading Potential Under the approved model, selected securities can be issued and settled as blockchain-based tokens alongside conventional shares. Investors may gain the ability to hold tokenized equities in digital wallets, while settlement processes will continue through the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation. This approach opens the door to faster settlement and the potential…

The White House has introduced a national artificial intelligence framework, urging Congress to adopt a unified federal approach to regulation. The proposal warns that a fragmented system of state-level laws could slow innovation and weaken the country’s global competitiveness in AI development. Federal AI Policy Focus Areas and Innovation Goals The framework outlines six priority areas: child safety and parental control, community protection, intellectual property rights, free speech, AI innovation, and workforce development. It emphasizes reducing regulatory barriers, expanding access to federal datasets, and introducing regulatory sandboxes to support experimentation. The administration also opposes creating a new standalone AI regulator,…

Singapore based crypto miner BitFuFu reported a major shift in its 2025 business model, with cloud mining surpassing self-mining as its leading source of revenue. The company generated $475.8 million in total revenue, marking a modest 2.7% increase year over year. Self-Mining Output Drops Sharply BitFuFu’s self mined Bitcoin production declined significantly, falling to 611 BTC from 2,537 BTC in 2024 — a 76% drop. Revenue from self-mining also decreased by around 60% to $63.1 million. The company attributed the decline to rising mining difficulty, reduced hashrate allocation, and weaker earnings per terahash. Despite lower output, BitFuFu slightly increased its…

Stablecoin issuers and fintech companies are accelerating efforts to build payment focused blockchain infrastructure, aiming to control the settlement layer behind digital dollar transactions. This shift reflects growing competition to capture value from stablecoin-based payments. New blockchain networks are being designed specifically for institutional payment flows rather than general-purpose activity. Tether-backed Plasma, a public layer-1 network optimized for cross-border USDT transactions, and Circle’s Arc testnet highlight this transition toward specialized infrastructure. These platforms aim to streamline stablecoin settlement and improve efficiency in global payments. Strategic Importance of Owning Settlement Infrastructure Controlling payment rails is becoming increasingly important as firms seek…

Eightco Holdings Inc., a Nasdaq listed firm focused on artificial intelligence and crypto linked ventures, has increased its equity stake in OpenAI by an additional $40 million, bringing its total investment to $90 million. The move strengthens Eightco’s exposure to one of the most influential private AI companies, co-founded by Sam Altman. Eightco Strategy Targets AI and Crypto Growth The company has aligned its growth strategy around both AI and blockchain ecosystems. It is currently the largest public holder of WLD, the native token of the World project backed by Altman. Eightco previously launched a $250 million WLD digital asset…

A bitcoin wallet that had remained inactive for more than 13 years moved 2,100 BTC, now worth approximately $147.7 million, according to on-chain data. The address initially received the funds on July 4, 2012, when they were valued at roughly $13,685. Transaction Details The transfer occurred at 10:27 a.m. UTC, consolidating multiple UTXOs into a new output at the same “1NB3Z” address. A small portion was sent to a secondary address, likely taking advantage of low transaction fees. The identity of the wallet owner remains unknown, and the bitcoin has not moved further. Legacy Wallets and Market Context The wallet…

Prediction market platform Kalshi has raised more than $1 billion in a new funding round, doubling its valuation to $22 billion. The investment highlights strong investor interest despite increasing regulatory scrutiny. Rapid Growth and Investor Backing The latest round was led by Coatue Management, following a previous $1 billion raise in December backed by major venture firms. Kalshi’s growth has accelerated significantly, with trading volume surpassing $10 billion in February, marking a sharp increase compared to six months earlier. The platform’s annualized revenue is estimated at $1.5 billion, reflecting rising demand for event-based trading. Regulatory Pressure Intensifies Despite its expansion,…

South Korea’s National Tax Service (NTS) is moving to appoint a private custodian for seized cryptocurrency after a February incident exposed government held assets. Wallet Seed Leak Sparks Losses On February 26, the NTS accidentally published a crypto wallet seed phrase in a press release, including an image of a Ledger cold wallet with the mnemonic phrase visible. The breach led to unauthorized transfers of confiscated crypto valued at approximately $4.8 million, highlighting weaknesses in government custody practices. Outsourcing Custody and Selection Criteria The agency is drafting criteria to select a private custody provider by mid-2026. Evaluation factors will include…

VanEck’s latest report shows that selling by long-term bitcoin holders has slowed, indicating a “potentially constructive signal” for the cryptocurrency market. Transfer volumes declined month-over-month across all age cohorts, reflecting reduced distribution pressure from experienced participants. Despite tighter profitability, bitcoin miner selling remained steady. Total miner revenues fell 11% month-over-month, while mining equities declined 7%. Outflows to exchanges rose only 1% in BTC terms, suggesting miners are preserving reserves rather than liquidating aggressively. Aggregate miner balances, excluding wallets attributed to Satoshi Nakamoto, stood at roughly 684,000 BTC, with 164,000 new BTC mined during the same period. Industry Shifts Toward AI…

Morgan Stanley has submitted a second amendment to its S-1 registration statement for a spot bitcoin ETF, confirming that the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust will list on NYSE Arca under the ticker MSBT. Fund Details and Custody Arrangements The filing includes specifics on the fund’s structure, including a basket size of 10,000 shares and an initial seed basket of 50,000 shares expected to raise about $1 million. The bank purchased two shares on March 9 for auditing purposes. BNY Mellon will act as cash custodian, administrator, and transfer agent, while Coinbase will serve as prime broker for the ETF’s bitcoin…