Author: Tristan Lodenberg

New research from economists affiliated with the Federal Reserve suggests that data from the prediction market platform Kalshi could improve how policymakers assess market expectations around key economic events. In a paper released on Feb. 12, researchers examined whether Kalshi’s event-based contracts provide a more responsive and detailed measure of macroeconomic sentiment compared to traditional surveys and derivatives markets. The study argues that managing expectations is central to modern monetary policy, yet commonly used tools often lag behind fast moving developments. Kalshi’s markets, which allow participants to trade on outcomes such as inflation readings, payroll data, gross domestic product growth,…

Decentralized trading platform Hyperliquid has launched a new advocacy arm in Washington, DC, aimed at shaping US policy around decentralized finance and blockchain-based financial infrastructure. The newly formed Hyperliquid Policy Center will focus on promoting regulatory clarity, particularly for perpetual derivatives and onchain trading markets. The initiative will be led by Jake Chervinsky, a veteran digital asset lawyer who previously held senior roles at Variant and the Blockchain Association. The group says its mission is to advance a clear regulatory pathway that enables decentralized finance to grow within the United States. Funding, Token Support and Legislative Backdrop The Hyper Foundation…

The US CLARITY Act, a major piece of proposed legislation designed to establish clearer rules for the cryptocurrency industry, is gaining renewed attention following optimistic remarks from US Senator Bernie Moreno. Speaking during a televised interview at Mar a Lago, Moreno suggested the bill could advance through Congress “hopefully by April,” signaling growing confidence among supporters. Market Structure Reform and Stablecoin Debate The legislation seeks to define regulatory oversight for digital assets and clarify the roles of federal agencies. A key point of contention has been how interest bearing stablecoins should be treated under US law. Industry leaders have argued…

David Solomon, chief executive of Goldman Sachs, disclosed for the first time that he personally owns bitcoin, though he described the holding as “very little.” He made the remarks during an appearance at the World Liberty Financial Forum in Mar a Lago, Florida. Solomon said he is still evaluating how bitcoin behaves as an asset, reiterating that he does not consider himself a strong forecaster of its price trajectory. In previous interviews, he characterized bitcoin as a speculative investment but acknowledged it could potentially serve as a store of value. Goldman Sachs’ Crypto Position Gradually Shifts While Solomon confirmed his…

Payward, the parent company of Kraken, has acquired tokenization platform Magna as it deepens its blockchain infrastructure strategy ahead of a potential public listing. Magna will continue operating as a standalone platform, supported by Kraken’s liquidity and global reach. The integration is expected to enhance services including onchain and offchain vesting, white-label token distribution, custody, escrow workflows, and specialized staking tools. The platform reportedly serves more than 160 clients and reached a peak total value locked of $60 billion in 2025, reflecting growing institutional demand for tokenized assets and compliant infrastructure. IPO Plans and Strategic Expansion in 2025 The acquisition…

Bitcoin slid back toward the $66,000 level on Wednesday afternoon, erasing earlier gains and revisiting the lower boundary of its recent trading range. After climbing as high as $68,500 overnight, BTC fell roughly 2.5% over 24 hours, last trading near $66,200. The decline puts bitcoin on pace for its fifth consecutive weekly loss its longest negative streak since the 2022 bear market. The $66,000 zone previously acted as support, helping spark a rebound above $70,000. A decisive break below that level could expose the early February lows near $60,000. Crypto Stocks Reverse as Dollar Strengthens Crypto related equities mirrored bitcoin’s…

Base, the Ethereum layer-2 network incubated by Coinbase, announced it is transitioning away from the Optimism technology stack in favor of its own unified software architecture. The shift is designed to reduce external dependencies and accelerate network upgrades. Originally launched in 2023 as an Optimism based chain, Base will now operate using a single official software distribution for each upgrade. According to the engineering team, node operators will run a unified Base binary, simplifying how updates are packaged and deployed across the network. Despite the architectural shift, the protocol will remain open-source, with developers encouraged to continue building custom implementations…

The New York Stock Exchange is preparing to expand into blockchain based finance with President Lynn Martin saying the exchange felt a “responsibility” to participate in the growing tokenization movement. Speaking at a financial forum in Palm Beach Martin confirmed the exchange has already developed internal tokenization technology and is actively engaging with regulators to determine how digital asset infrastructure can operate within the existing U.S. financial framework. Tokenization refers to converting traditional financial instruments such as stocks and exchange-traded funds into blockchain-based tokens. Advocates argue the model could enable faster settlement, enhanced transparency, programmable features, and extended market access.…

A strategist at Wells Fargo believes larger U.S. tax refunds in 2026 could reignite speculative trading activity, potentially channeling up to $150 billion into equities and Bitcoin by late March. In a note cited by CNBC, analyst Ohsung Kwon said higher refunds particularly among upper-income households may revive the so-called “YOLO” trade, a term used to describe aggressive retail positioning in high-volatility assets. According to Kwon, excess savings from tax returns are likely to flow back into equities, with a portion potentially entering digital assets. Bitcoin and retail favored stocks such as Robinhood and Boeing were highlighted as potential beneficiaries…

The first U.S. listed spot SUI etfs officially began trading Wednesday, marking a significant milestone for the Sui ecosystem and the broader digital asset market. Canary Capital introduced the Canary Stake SUI ETF under the ticker SUIS on the Nasdaq exchange, while Grayscale converted its existing SUI trust into an ETF now trading as GSUI on NYSE Arca. Both products provide direct exposure to the market price of SUI, the native token of the Sui network. In addition to price tracking, the funds are structured to generate staking rewards through Sui’s proof of stake consensus mechanism, offering investors potential yield…