Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Two former Theta Labs employees filed a fraud lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court accusing CEO Mitchell Liu of manipulating the value and visibility of Theta-related products using high-profile partnerships, including Hollywood studios and celebrities such as Katy Perry. Plaintiffs say the conduct was speculative and intended to inflate project valuations; the suit could produce additional witnesses and regulatory or reputational fallout that may pressure THETA’s market price. Coin price action was largely flat near $0.317 support on the filing day, with historical supports at $0.118 and prior multi-dollar peaks in 2024–2025 noted. Coinciding with the lawsuit, Theta announced a major EdgeCloud upgrade adding NVIDIA H200 GPU support (promised 2.5x faster AI training/inference and 141 GB VRAM) while retaining institutional validator support such as Sony Europe. The upgrade strengthens Theta’s technical narrative for decentralized video streaming and edge computing, which may support long-term utility if adoption follows. For traders: monitor legal developments, any new witness statements or regulatory filings, on-chain flows and trading volume, and key price supports ($0.317, $0.118). Short-term risk is increased downside pressure from reputational/legal news and broader market sell-offs; longer-term upside depends on real-world uptake of the EdgeCloud upgrade and institutional partnerships. This is not investment advice.

BNB (BNB) climbed roughly 2.5% over 24 hours to trade near $872, outpacing major cryptocurrencies as the broader CoinDesk 20 index rose about 1.4%. Trading volume surged well above recent averages, indicating participation from larger traders rather than purely retail flows. Price action showed higher lows and sustained gains, with intraday highs near $876 before consolidation. The token held firm above $850 support; market watchers will monitor whether it can maintain above $870 and break resistance around $880 — a sustained move above could target $900, while a fall below $850 would test if gains are durable or short-term. Ecosystem developments, including PancakeSwap’s new on-chain prediction market “Probable,” have added to interest. Key trading signals: higher-than-average volume, higher lows, consolidation near intraday highs. Primary keyword: BNB; secondary keywords: BNB price, trading volume, resistance, support.

Markets turned risk-off as BTC slipped below $86,000 and equities and gold softened ahead of key US economic data and Fed leadership speculation. Sector outperformance was limited: Lending (+2.8%) and Ethereum Eco (+2.6%) led, driven by AAVE (+3%) after founder Stani Kulechov swapped ~ $10M of wETH into AAVE amid DAO vs. Labs tensions. M&A activity accelerated in 2025 with 143 deals (only 21 disclosed prices); recent acquisitions (Pump/Padre, Coinbase/Vector, Circle/Axelar core team) largely neglected tokenholders, highlighting a structural problem in token design. MetaDAO’s “ownership coins” and treasury clawback mechanics are presented as solutions, demonstrated by the MTN unwind where holders redeemed MTN for USDC. Alternative approaches include Superstate’s tokenized equity infrastructure, enabling SEC-registered issuers to accept stablecoins and issue tokenized shares on-chain. The newsletter cautions that incentive-driven liquidity (airdrops, points farming) fuels large, transient capital flows — examples: USDe on Pendle grew from $5B to nearly $15B then contracted to $6.8B after incentives ended; kHYPE amassed large deposits pre-airdrop then shrank 40% post-TGE; USD.AI collected $600M deposits with Pendle-implied yields initially near 30% falling toward 10%. The piece warns such yields are unsustainable once rewards end and underlying loan books remain small, arguing incentives solve cold-start problems but are not durable demand. Key takeaways for traders: monitor incentive expirations, M&A terms for tokenholder protections, and projects offering on-chain equity or MetaDAO-style governance as potential sources of durable demand.

Holiday crypto scams spike as fraudsters exploit increased online activity, emotion and distraction. Common tactics include phishing emails and fake wallet websites that harvest login credentials and seed phrases; fraudulent token presales and pump-and-dump “holiday” coins that concentrate supply and execute exit scams; romance and “pig butchering” schemes that groom victims into sending crypto; impersonation and recovery scams that request transfers to “safe wallets”; and fake tech-support or charity appeals. Notable technical threats include malicious SDKs (eg. ‘SparkCat’) that use OCR to steal recovery phrases; AI voice cloning increases impersonation risk. Reported patterns: Black Friday–linked attacks rose over sixfold vs early November and Christmas-themed scams increased ~300% in peak shopping weeks. A 2025 London case led to arrests over an alleged presale scam worth >£1M; separate UK incidents show six-figure drains after impersonation calls. Practical protections for traders: verify unsolicited offers, use official links/apps, never share private keys or seed phrases, enable 2FA, use unique passwords, avoid public Wi‑Fi for transactions, vet charities/giveaways, and be wary of emotional pressure. If scammed, contact official exchange support, report to authorities and preserve screenshots, addresses and transaction hashes. This advisory is educational—not financial or legal advice.

American Bitcoin Corp (ABTC) purchased 54 BTC during a recent sell-off, raising its reported holdings to 5,098 BTC (≈$450m at ~$87,600/BTC). The company says coins were acquired via self‑mining and targeted purchases; some BTC are custody‑held or pledged under a miner purchase agreement with Bitmain. That total places ABTC among the top 20 publicly traded bitcoin treasuries (per bitcointreasuries.net). ABTC reports a 96.5% bitcoin yield since its Nasdaq debut and 533 satoshis per share as of Dec. 14. Despite aggressive BTC accumulation and strong Q3 operating results reported earlier (revenue growth and a swing to net income), ABTC shares have plunged—nearly 60% since a recent lock‑up expiration—and fell further in the latest session. Market commentary notes negative headlines and lock‑up driven sell pressure have weighed on the stock even as the company grows its BTC treasury. For traders: the purchase signals continued on‑balance‑sheet demand for BTC from a listed miner, which is mildly bullish for BTC supply dynamics; however, persistent equity sell‑offs, headline risk and potential pledged/encumbered BTC reduce near‑term share stability and could translate into volatile price action for ABTC and correlated miner equities.

Strive Asset Management (ASST) shares rose roughly 13% intraday after CEO Matt Cole disclosed purchasing more than 515,000 shares on Dec. 15, including direct purchases and holdings via affiliated entities. The purchases occurred near a $0.79 low and the stock traded up to $0.89 after the disclosure. Strive — a Bitcoin treasury-focused asset manager co-founded by Vivek Ramaswamy — holds about 7,525 BTC (≈$660M). The firm is also pursuing up to $500 million through an ATM preferred stock offering to buy additional Bitcoin and related products and to fund corporate needs such as working capital, share repurchases, and debt repayment. Insider buying is being interpreted as a signal of executive confidence amid recent price weakness.

Coinbase Global (COIN) shares have formed a death cross on the daily chart as the 50-day EMA crossed below the 200-day EMA, signaling technical weakness. The stock traded around $252.70, down over 43% from its 2025 high, and recently fell below key support at $290. Market cap has declined from above $90B in July to about $68B. Analysts expect weaker near-term fundamentals: average revenue estimate for the quarter is $1.96B (‑13.9% YoY) and EPS is forecast at $1.06 versus $4.68 year‑ago. Price pressure has followed the broader crypto downturn — Bitcoin and total crypto market caps are well below year‑to‑date highs — and exchanges typically see lower volumes in such environments. Near‑term corporate catalysts include today’s Coinbase System Update where Coinbase plans to launch a predictions market (likely with Kalshi) and Base will outline a roadmap for a potential $BASE token launch. Traders should note technical targets: immediate downside target near $231 with psychological support at $200 if selling continues. Competitive headwinds from SoFi, Vanguard and Charles Schwab entering crypto services add structural risk. Key keywords: Coinbase, COIN, death cross, predictions market, Base, $BASE, Bitcoin, revenue, EPS, market cap.

WLFI (World Liberty Financial) has completed a full Market Auction Theory rotation, moving from the Value Area High (VAH) down through the Point of Control (POC) to retest the Value Area Low (VAL). The VAL coincides with the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement, creating a strong technical confluence that suggests downside exhaustion and a possible market bottom. As long as WLFI closes above the VAL, the token is likely trading within accepted value rather than entering a new price-discovery decline. A decisive reclaim of the POC on rising volume would signal buyer control and open a near-term upside target around $0.18, a prior structural resistance aligned with the broader higher-low trend. Conversely, a failure to hold the VAL would invalidate the bottom thesis and reopen downside risk. Volume behavior and a confirmed POC reclaim are the key market signals traders should watch.

Former President Donald Trump has suspended planned trade negotiations with the United Kingdom focused on technology and artificial intelligence. The decision follows concerns over national security, economic leverage, and regulatory alignment between the two countries. U.S. officials cited the need to reassess data-sharing frameworks, export controls on sensitive AI tools, and protections for critical infrastructure. The move pauses efforts to fast-track cooperation on AI standards, cross-border data flows, and technology investment safeguards. Market observers note the decision may slow bilateral deals, reduce near-term regulatory clarity for tech firms, and prompt companies to delay cross-border AI projects. The halt does not formally terminate talks but signals increased scrutiny and potential renegotiation of terms, with implications for tech investment, supply chains, and international AI collaboration.

SWIFT announced plans to add a blockchain-based ledger to its payments infrastructure to provide a single source of truth and enable instant, 24/7 cross-border payments. Crypto commentator Chain Cartel argued SWIFT’s description closely matches Ripple’s XRPL — a neutral settlement layer offering atomic finality, shared ledger visibility, interoperability with legacy rails and liquidity-focused design — and suggested the firms should collaborate. SWIFT, however, is building the ledger with ConsenSys and Chainlink, not Ripple. Separately, Ripple is expanding its payments stack: it will test the RLUSD stablecoin on multiple Ethereum Layer-2 networks (Base, Ink, Optimism, Unichain) via Wormhole and recently received conditional approval from the OCC to become a bank. Key entities mentioned: SWIFT, Ripple (XRPL, RLUSD), ConsenSys, Chainlink, Wormhole. Implications: SWIFT’s move validates demand for a ledger layer in cross-border payments — a model XRPL has long promoted — but SWIFT’s partner choices reduce the likelihood of immediate Ripple integration. Traders should monitor XRP, RLUSD adoption signals, partnerships, and announcements from SWIFT, ConsenSys and Chainlink for short-term volatility and long-term structural shifts in institutional payment rails.

Solana endured a sustained distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) campaign that peaked near 6 terabits per second without downtime. Monitoring data showed continuous block production, steady slot production, and transaction confirmation times averaging ~450 ms and never exceeding ~700 ms. Validators remained operational and the network avoided the congestion and slowdowns experts expected. The incident highlights improved resilience after upgrades following 2022 outages. Market reaction was cautiously positive: SOL price rose modestly to about $128 during the attack, with circulating supply near 560 million and market capitalization above $72 billion. Technical analysis on the 4-hour chart places key support at $124–$127 and resistance around $136–$143; a break below $124 would weaken the bullish setup. The event also drew contrasts with a recent DDoS impact on Sui, underscoring architecture-dependent resilience among blockchains.

Crypto commentator Chad Steingraber reviewed spot XRP funds after their first 30 days and estimated operational minimums for institutional ETFs. He argues each spot XRP fund needs at least 100 million XRP to operate; mid-level funds would require about 1 billion XRP each. If 20 ETFs launch at entry-level, custody needs could reach ~2 billion XRP; at mid-level scale, custody could total ~20 billion XRP. Tokens held in ETF custody are effectively removed from circulating supply, which can tighten liquidity and create upward price pressure. Steingraber emphasizes that custody, compliance, and operational rigor—not just headlines—determine institutional influence. For traders, the analysis suggests spot XRP ETFs could become major liquidity anchors, reshaping price discovery and long-term market structure for XRP.

Hong Kong prosecutors secured an adjournment in the JPEX fraud case at Eastern Magistrate’s Court, postponing proceedings against social media influencers to March 16, 2025. The defendants are accused of promoting the unlicensed crypto exchange JPEX, which collapsed after Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) warnings in September 2023. Withdrawals were frozen and more than 2,700 victims reported combined losses exceeding US$206 million (around HK$1.6 billion). Charges include conspiracy to defraud, money laundering and unlawfully inducing investments. Over 80 arrests have been made; three key suspects remain fugitives with Interpol red notices. The delay allows prosecutors time to organise voluminous evidence and case files ahead of trial. Key takeaways for traders: this case underscores regulatory scrutiny of unlicensed platforms and influencer promotions, highlights counterparty and platform risk in unregulated venues, and may sustain cautious market sentiment toward retail-focused crypto promotions and off-exchange OTC services.

Mizuho Securities warns that Coinbase’s expansion into crypto prediction markets could ‘cannibalize’ its existing trading volumes and fee revenue. The analyst note highlights that Coinbase’s new prediction-market products — which let users bet on event outcomes using crypto — may shift user funds and activity away from spot and derivatives trading on the exchange. Mizuho flagged potential revenue dilution for Coinbase as active traders migrate to lower-fee or alternative products within the same platform. The report also contextualizes the move amid intensifying competition in exchanges and the broader push to diversify retail-facing crypto products. Key implications noted: potential short-term pressure on Coinbase’s trading fees and volumes, and longer-term strategic trade-offs between product expansion and core exchange monetization. Primary subjects: Coinbase, prediction markets, trading volumes, fee revenue, Mizuho analysis.

Regulators have opened a formal rulemaking process to enable depository institutions to form stablecoin subsidiaries. The proposal aims to provide clear guidelines that integrate stablecoins—digital tokens pegged to traditional assets—into the existing banking framework while balancing innovation and consumer/institutional safety. Key points: regulators will issue comprehensive guidance for banks to launch and operate stablecoin units; the move is intended to reduce legal uncertainty that has slowed mainstream adoption; stakeholders express cautious optimism but note outstanding issues such as privacy, security, and economic risk; financial institutions are likely to adapt products and operations to leverage stablecoin utility within payments and settlements. The proposal is expected to accelerate bank engagement with digital currencies, potentially changing banking roles and boosting on‑chain payment activity, though final details and phased implementation will determine the pace and scale of market impact.

Political memecoins and US investor demand propelled the memecoin market to a December 2024 peak of $150.6 billion market cap, surpassing 2021 highs. US interest accounted for about 20% of search/share early in 2025 and 30% of page views in November 2025. High-profile tokens tied to political figures — notably TRUMP and MELANIA launched around the US presidency — saw rapid, short-lived gains (TRUMP reached $14 billion market cap in 48 hours and an all-time price high near $73; MELANIA hit a $2 billion cap and $13 price) before severe reversals. TRUMP is down roughly 90% from its ATH (trading ~ $5) and MELANIA lost about $5 billion, trading near $0.1047. Other politicized launches such as LIBRA (linked to Argentina’s Javier Milei) triggered insider sell-offs and a collapse to near-zero market cap. DOGE retained leadership in the memecoin sector, recovering to 47.3% market share after earlier dips to ~27% in October 2024; it briefly surged on Elon Musk-related news. By mid-2025 memecoin market cap fell below $40 billion (approx. $38B), a ~73% decline from the peak. Analysts and industry figures (e.g., MoonPay’s president) say memecoins are evolving — future iterations may reward sustained cultural contribution and coordination rather than pure hype. Key takeaways for traders: extreme volatility and rapid unwind in politically driven memecoins, persistent dominance of DOGE, heightened regulatory and reputational risk around celebrity/political launches, and possible structural shift toward more utility- or community-driven meme tokens.

RedotPay, a payments app that connects crypto wallets to traditional finance rails, has raised $107 million in a funding round aimed at expanding its fiat on‑ramp and payment services. The company focuses on enabling users and businesses to move between cryptocurrencies and bank networks via AMM-based liquidity and custodial rails, positioning itself as a bridge for retail and institutional flows into and out of crypto. The round attracted strategic and financial investors (names not provided in the source). Key details: $107 million total raised; product: crypto-to‑TradFi fiat on‑ramp and payments app; target users: retail wallets and businesses seeking seamless transfers between crypto and bank rails. The announcement signals growing investor interest in infrastructure that simplifies fiat-crypto interoperability and could accelerate adoption of compliant payment flows between on‑chain assets and off‑chain banking systems.

Polkadot (DOT) gained about 1.9% to $1.91 after Coinbase unlocked USDC integration and enabled direct USDC withdrawals to Polkadot, triggering measured buying and higher institutional flows. Trading volume rose roughly 17% above the 30-day average, with a session peak of 4.53 million DOT (around 87% above norm) and institutional participation reported as roughly triple typical session levels (~229,817 tokens). Technical indicators showed successive higher lows, core support at $1.87–$1.88 after multiple retests, and an immediate upside objective near $1.94. Analysts characterized the price move as a volume-backed breakout driven by institutional accumulation rather than speculative retail buying. Key SEO keywords: Polkadot, DOT, Coinbase, USDC, stablecoin integration, trading volume, institutional flows.

Pi Network announced the conclusion and winners of its Pi Hackathon 2025, a 160,000-PI prize competition aimed at encouraging real-world apps for the PI token. Blind_Lounge won first place (75,000 PI) with a privacy-first social/dating app; Starmax placed second (45,000 PI) with a loyalty-program app designed for merchant adoption. The team also added AI tools to speed KYC verification; millions of users reportedly completed KYC and attention has shifted to app utility growth. Despite these developments, PI trades near $0.19 (about 4% daily decline) — a 93% drop from its $3 peak earlier in the year. Market-watchers note 172.5 million PI tokens are scheduled to unlock in the next 30 days, which could increase circulating supply and pressure price. Key keywords: Pi Network, PI token, hackathon, KYC, token unlocks, price support.

BitMine Immersion Technologies, led by Tom Lee, continued aggressive Ether accumulation, purchasing 102,259 ETH (≈$300M) in the past week and raising its total holdings to about 3,967,210 ETH (~$11.6–$12.2B). The company also holds 193 BTC, a $38M stake in Eightco Holdings (ORBS), roughly $13.2–$13.3B in combined crypto, cash and “moonshot” investments, and $1.0B cash on hand. BitMine intends to grow its ETH share to 5% of supply and will fund further accumulation via capital markets and treasury deployment. The firm plans to launch a US-based staking product, the Made in America Validator Network (MAVAN), in early 2026. CEO/chair Tom Lee cited supportive regulatory developments (GENIUS Act, SEC’s Project Crypto) and bullish secular trends in AI and blockchain, forecasting long-term upside for Ethereum and Bitcoin. Market context: Ether recently lost support, trading below $3,000 and briefly under $2,900 — roughly 41% off its all-time high after leverage-driven selling. For traders, BitMine’s continuous large-scale buys and $1B liquidity represent a potential source of future demand that could support prices, but near-term ETH remains vulnerable to deleveraging, macro uncertainty and volatile price action. Key SEO keywords: BitMine, ETH accumulation, Ethereum staking, MAVAN, Tom Lee, crypto treasury, ETH price volatility.

Cardano (ADA) has seen renewed downside pressure after the weekly SuperTrend indicator flipped bearish, flagged by analyst Ali Martinez. ADA traded near $0.40 following declines of roughly 6% in 24 hours and about 7–10% over the past week. Martinez points to the prior weekly SuperTrend flip in December 2021 — after three consecutive weekly red candles — which preceded an ~80–84% fall from near $1.38 to about $0.22 by June 2023. By that logic, a similar sustained bearish phase could push ADA toward early‑2020 lows near $0.064. Technical context: ADA remains inside a multi‑year descending channel and is trading close to the channel’s lower boundary, a level some traders view as a potential accumulation zone. Counterarguments from other analysts cite bullish scenarios: Quantum Ascend projects an impulsive upside with conservative targets above $5 and extended targets near $10 if momentum returns; Captain Faibik is accumulating with a medium‑term target around $0.70. The article also notes growing trader interest in newer meme‑style projects such as Maxi Doge (MAXI), signaling some capital rotation away from established altcoins. Traders should weigh the SuperTrend weekly signal — which uses ATR to mark trend shifts — against broader market conditions: a true retest of 2020 lows would likely require prolonged, market‑wide risk‑off sentiment. This content is informational and not financial advice.

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has opened a major consultation to create a comprehensive regulatory framework for crypto trading platforms, intermediaries, staking, lending/borrowing and DeFi. The consultation covers token listing admissions and disclosures, market-abuse rules (insider trading and manipulation), governance, operational and conduct standards for exchanges and brokers, mandatory risk disclosures for staking services, and protections for lending and borrowing. Responses are requested by 12 February 2026; the FCA aims to publish final rules and guidance in 2026 ahead of government plans to bring crypto firms under full FCA supervision from October 2027. The FCA says the rules are intended to increase transparency and consumer protection without eliminating all risk. Market context from follow-up reporting: recent US jobs data amplified uncertainty and triggered roughly $500m in crypto liquidations within 24 hours, briefly raising volatility. Other industry notes: MetaMask added native Bitcoin support and Ripple has been testing a USD-backed stablecoin (RLUSD) on L2 chains. For traders, the consultation signals a likely shift from a light-touch UK regime to clearer, stricter rules that will increase compliance costs and could change product availability, custody practices and counterparty risk across exchanges, staking and lending services. Primary keywords: UK crypto regulation, FCA consultation, crypto exchanges. Secondary/semantic keywords: staking rules, crypto lending, market abuse, DeFi oversight, token listings.

A YouGov survey commissioned by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) found crypto ownership among UK adults fell to about 8% in 2025 from 12% in 2024, based on 2,353 interviews conducted Aug. 5–Sept. 2. Awareness of crypto remains high at about 91%, but ownership has pulled back after a year of large price swings, liquidations and losses. The composition of holders shifted toward larger balances: the share with very small holdings (under £100) declined, while those holding £1,001–£5,000 rose to roughly 21% and 11% held £5,001–£10,000. Among holders, 57% reported owning Bitcoin and 43% owned Ether; Solana ownership was around 21%. Risk tolerance remains higher among holders (63% willing to accept high risk for higher returns), but use of credit to buy crypto fell to 9% and staking participation dropped to 22%. The FCA noted participants in lending/borrowing tend to be more knowledgeable and risk-tolerant. The FCA also launched three consultations on crypto market rules covering exchanges, staking, lending and DeFi, with responses requested by Feb. 12, 2026 and aims to finalise regulation by end-2026. Key implications for traders: capital concentration in larger holdings may amplify volatility on big moves; reduced use of leverage/credit lowers immediate liquidation tail risk; and ongoing regulatory work could change product availability, custody and counterparty risk — all factors that may affect liquidity and execution for traders.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has concluded a four-year investigation into the Aave Protocol and, based on information available, does not intend to recommend enforcement action. Aave founder Stan Kulechov said the probe demanded significant resources from the team and personally, and framed the outcome as a turning point for DeFi development. The SEC’s statement clarifies that its decision not to recommend enforcement should not be interpreted as exoneration. Aave remains one of the largest decentralized finance protocols by TVL, playing a central role in crypto lending and borrowing markets. Primary keywords: Aave, SEC investigation, DeFi, enforcement action. Secondary/semantic keywords: decentralized finance, TVL, lending, regulatory clarity. The main keyword "Aave" appears multiple times to improve search relevance.

Sui (SUI) is consolidating around a key high-time-frame support near $1.31 — a level that aligns with the Point of Control (POC). Open interest has declined during the consolidation, suggesting unwinding of leveraged short positions and weakening bearish conviction rather than fresh selling pressure. Traders should watch for a reclaim of the POC accompanied by rising open interest and impulsive upside volume; that combination would increase the likelihood of a trend reversal toward the next major resistance at $2.99. In the near term, SUI is likely to remain range-bound around $1.31 while market participants reassess positions. Key data points: support ~$1.31 (POC), resistance ~$2.99, declining open interest indicating reduced short-side participation. Primary keywords: Sui, SUI price, open interest; secondary keywords: consolidation, Point of Control, trend reversal, resistance.

Market analysis shows large holders (whales) remain the primary drivers of XRP trading despite recent price weakness. Crypto analyst Xaif Crypto and CryptoQuant data indicate whales account for the bulk of spot average order size on the XRP Ledger; their accumulation has intensified as XRP fell toward yearly lows. Spot Taker CVD has shifted to a taker-buy dominant trend, signaling aggressive buying outweighs selling. XRP has declined below $2, trading around $1.82 at the time of reporting, down ~6% in 24 hours and ~9% over the week, with year-to-date losses near 22%. Daily trading volume jumped over 97%, suggesting renewed interest largely led by whales. Analysts note whale accumulation can stabilize liquidity during sell-offs and may presage positioning ahead of a recovery, though retail participation remains cautious while price faces resistance levels.

The FDIC has proposed a tailored application and oversight framework for regulated banks that want to issue payment stablecoins via a separately chartered subsidiary, implementing portions of the GENIUS Act. Under the proposal, banks would need FDIC approval to operate a tokenized payment instrument, meet standards for custody, reserve backing, permitted assets, governance, operational controls and supervisory reporting, and run the stablecoin through a subsidiary to limit direct risk to insured deposits. The move aims to integrate bank-backed stablecoins into the regulated banking system while preserving depositor protections and financial stability. For traders, key watch items are the timeline for final rulemaking, detailed reserve and permitted-asset requirements, custody and governance standards, which banks apply first, and any transitional or reporting requirements that could affect liquidity or issuance speed. Greater regulatory clarity may accelerate institutional issuance and adoption of tokenized payments — a sectoral development likely to influence stablecoin supply dynamics and on‑ramp/off‑ramp flows.

Visa has started settling dollar-denominated transactions in the US using USDC stablecoin on the Solana blockchain. The pilot leverages Visa’s custody and settlement infrastructure to move fiat-value transfers via on-chain USDC rails, aiming to speed settlement and reduce friction between traditional payment flows and crypto-native rails. The roll-out uses Solana for on-chain settlement due to its throughput and low fees; Visa previously tested USDC settlement in other regions and with other blockchains. Key points for traders: the move increases USDC on-chain utility and real-world payment demand, may raise short-term on-chain USDC activity and SOL transaction volume, and signals deeper institutional integration between card networks and stablecoin rails. Risks include regulatory scrutiny of stablecoins and potential concentration of flows on a single chain. Relevant keywords: Visa, USDC, Solana, stablecoin settlement, on-chain settlement, payments infrastructure.

A Hong Kong court has adjourned the trial over alleged fraud at crypto exchange JPEX, involving claims worth roughly $206 million, until March. The case centers on accusations that JPEX misappropriated customer funds and operated a fraudulent exchange; multiple civil claims and creditor actions are underway. The adjournment follows procedural hearings and scheduling matters; no substantive verdict was reached. Authorities and claimants continue legal action as administrators and creditors seek asset recovery. The delay prolongs uncertainty for JPEX users and creditors and may affect ongoing asset-tracing and insolvency proceedings.