Polygon Labs to Acquire Coinme and Sequence for Stablecoin Payments
Polygon Labs has signed definitive agreements to acquire Coinme and Sequence for a combined $250 million to integrate regulated fiat rails and wallet infrastructure into its stablecoin payments stack. The deals target US money-transmission licenses and one-click cross-chain capabilities.
Strategy Acquires 13,627 Bitcoin Following MSCI Inclusion Decision
Strategy announced acquisition of 13,627 Bitcoin for $1.25 billion, raising total holdings to 687,410 BTC. Purchase followed MSCI’s decision not to exclude crypto treasury firms from global indices. Acquisition comes as U.S. lawmakers advance the CLARITY Act.
Stablecoin Firm Rain Secures $250M Series C at $1.95B Valuation
Stablecoin issuer Rain raised $250 million in a Series C round led by ICONIQ, boosting total funding to over $338 million and valuing the company at $1.95 billion. The round reflects heightened institutional and consumer interest amid regulatory clarity under the Trump administration. Rain plans to deploy capital for market expansion, platform scaling, and strategic acquisitions.
Binance mulls new US strategy, CZ potentially reducing stake: Report
Binance is exploring strategies to reenter the US market, including reducing CZ’s stake and forming partnerships with BlackRock and WLFI. The discussions follow Zhao’s presidential pardon and aim to resolve regulatory challenges tied to his ownership.
Coinbase adds stock trading, prediction markets in ‘everything app’ push
Coinbase is launching stock trading and prediction markets to transform into an “everything app.” The services, announced by Max Branzburg at the year-end conference, will offer 24/7 stock and ETF trading in the US and a Kalshi-backed prediction market rollout.
Coinbase to Roll Out Prediction Markets and Tokenized Stocks
Coinbase confirmed launch of prediction markets and tokenized stock trading in December, enabling crypto-native wagers on real-world events and blockchain-based equity exposure. Prediction markets will cover election outcomes and economic indicators; tokenized stocks will offer fractional shares of major corporations. Announcement positions Coinbase as an all-in-one financial platform.
Robinhood to Enter Indonesia via Local Brokerage and Crypto Firm Acquisition
Robinhood Markets announced acquisition of Indonesian brokerage Buana Capital Sekuritas and digital asset trader Pedagang Aset Kripto, marking its entry into Southeast Asia’s crypto market with over 17 million local traders and supportive regulations.
Bank of America to allow wealth advisers to recommend crypto ETPs
Starting January 5, Bank of America wealth advisers at Private Bank, Merrill and Merrill Edge can recommend crypto exchange-traded products to clients without asset minimums. This evolution shifts advisers from order execution to portfolio guidance.
Bank of America expands crypto access for wealth management clients
Bank of America will enable wealth advisers at its private bank and Merrill platforms to recommend crypto exchange-traded products to qualifying clients without asset thresholds, starting January. The shift marks a major step in institutional adoption of digital assets.
Grayscale to launch first US spot Chainlink ETF this week
Grayscale plans to convert its Chainlink Trust into the first US spot Chainlink ETF, expected to begin trading on December 2. The fund will track LINK’s spot price and include staking returns, representing a significant step in altcoin institutional access.
Franklin Templeton Joins XRP ETF Race, Calling It ‘Foundational’ to Global Finance
Franklin Templeton launched its XRP-based exchange-traded fund (ETF) on NYSE Arca, emphasizing XRP’s potential in cross-border payments. The firm described the ETF as a ‘foundational infrastructure’ for integrating digital assets into traditional finance.
Kraken Scores $800M Raise Backed by $200M Citadel Securities Investment
Kraken raised $800 million in a two-part funding round led by major institutional investors and a $200 million follow-on from Citadel Securities at a $20 billion valuation. Proceeds will fuel global expansion and development of new trading tools, payments and tokenized asset offerings.
Ethereum Positioned as Infrastructure for Wall Street, Says Ex-BlackRock Executive
Former BlackRock executive Joseph Chalom asserts that Ethereum’s trust, security, and liquidity make it the preferred blockchain for institutional finance. He highlights staking yield and restaking strategies as essential to delivering productive, on-balance-sheet returns for asset managers. His outlook frames Ethereum as the foundational layer for digitized global finance.
Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire Calls Arc ‘an Economic OS for the internet’
Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire described Arc blockchain as an"economic OS for the internet," emphasizing USDC fees, sub-second finality, and optional privacy. The public testnet launched on Oct. 28 and mainnet is targeted for 2026.
Ripple Closes $1.25B Hidden Road Acquisition
Ripple completed the $1.25 billion purchase of Hidden Road, establishing Ripple Prime, a multi-asset prime brokerage. New entity offers clearing, financing, derivatives, FX and fixed-income products for institutional clients. Acquisition triples service scope in digital asset and traditional markets.
Kyrgyzstan launches national stablecoin in partnership with Binance
Kyrgyzstan has launched a national stablecoin backed by the Russian rouble and a central bank digital currency on BNB Chain in partnership with Binance. The stablecoin is intended for government payments and underpinned by a digital som reserve. Appointment of Binance founder as digital assets adviser and sanction considerations have influenced the initiative.
JPMorgan to Let Clients Pledge Bitcoin and Ether as Collateral
JPMorgan Chase plans to allow institutional clients to use bitcoin and ether holdings as collateral for loans by year-end, according to Bloomberg. Tokens pledged under the program will be secured by a third-party custodian.
Ripple Leads $1B Fundraise to Bulk Up XRP Holdings Amid Fragile Market
Ripple Labs is leading a $1 billion SPAC-based raise to accumulate XRP via a new digital-asset treasury (DAT) structure, while also acquiring GTreasury for corporate treasury solutions. The fundraising effort, one of the largest linked to XRP, aims to stabilize supply dynamics amid recent market volatility and align with growing institutional interest in tokenized assets.
BlackRock’s IBIT ETF surpasses $100B in assets under management
BlackRock’s IBIT spot Bitcoin ETF reached $100 billion in AUM, becoming the fastest crypto-linked ETF to achieve this milestone. The surge reflects strong institutional demand and continued adoption of regulated digital asset products. IBIT’s growth highlights the evolving landscape of crypto investments within traditional asset management frameworks.
Coinbase’s Upcoming Amex Card With BTC Cashback: Everything We Know So Far
Coinbase plans to introduce a new American Express credit card offering up to 4 percent Bitcoin cashback on select purchases. Product details include tiered rewards on dining, groceries, and streaming services, with launch slated for Q1 2026 after regulatory approvals.
Coinbase and Mastercard in Advanced Talks to Acquire Stablecoin Infrastructure Fintech BVNK
Coinbase and Mastercard have held advanced discussions to acquire London-based BVNK, a fintech building stablecoin payment rails. Sources indicate valuations between $1.5 billion and $2.5 billion, with Coinbase reportedly leading bids. Completion would mark the largest stablecoin-related acquisition to date and signal intensifying competition in digital payments infrastructure.
Fireblocks partners with Galaxy and Bakkt to enhance institutional custody
Fireblocks Trust Company formed partnerships with Galaxy, Bakkt, FalconX and Castle Island under NYDFS oversight to expand regulated custody services. The initiative targets token launches, digital asset treasuries and ETF infrastructure. Regulatory compliance and security are emphasized as catalysts for institutional adoption.
Coinbase enables staking for New York residents after state approval
New York residents gained access to crypto staking for assets including Ether and Solana after state regulator approval. Staking services had been paused in multiple states amid legal challenges. Expansion aims to broaden access and reward opportunities nationwide.
Binance aims to turn Thailand into cryptocurrency hub
Binance identified Thailand’s clear legal framework, rising public crypto awareness, and supportive macroeconomic conditions as key pillars to foster growth. Chainalysis data ranked Thailand seventh in Asia-Pacific for crypto adoption, with nearly 2.83 million accounts and THB100 billion in assets under management as of August 2025. The exchange targets Thailand in its drive to reach one billion users by year-end.
Nomura-Owned Laser Digital Plans Crypto License Application in Japan: Bloomberg
Laser Digital, a subsidiary of Nomura Group, is preparing to apply for a crypto trading license in Japan. Pre-consultation talks are underway with the Financial Services Agency to offer institutional digital-asset services. Expansion reflects optimism in Japan’s digital-asset ecosystem.
BBVA Teams With SGX FX to Launch Retail Crypto Trading in Europe
Spanish bank BBVA is partnering with SGX FX to integrate crypto trading infrastructure, enabling retail customers to trade Bitcoin and Ether 24/7 via existing platforms under MiCA compliance.
BBVA partners with SGX FX to offer retail crypto trading in Europe
Spanish bank BBVA partnered with SGX FX to integrate its digital asset platform, enabling retail clients to trade bitcoin and ether 24/7 via existing channels. The move leverages MiCA regulations to expand crypto services across EMEA.
Deutsche Börse, Circle to Integrate Stablecoins Into European Market Infrastructure
Deutsche Börse and Circle have signed an MoU to integrate Circle’s EURC and USDC stablecoins into Europe’s trading, settlement, and custody infrastructure. Enabled by EU MiCAR regulation, the project will list tokens on 360T and Crypto Finance, with Clearstream handling custody.
Visa Pilots Pre-Funded Stablecoins for Cross-Border Payments
Visa has begun a pilot allowing clients to pre-fund Visa Direct accounts with US dollar and euro stablecoins instead of fiat. The initiative aims to reduce funding friction, accelerate liquidity access, and lower cross-border transaction costs by treating stablecoin balances as cash equivalents.
Chainlink Teams With Major Financial Institutions to Fix $58B Corporate Actions Problem
Chainlink is working with 24 global financial institutions, including SWIFT and DTCC, to pilot blockchain-and-AI-based processing of corporate actions. The initiative aims to cut the $58 billion annual industry cost.
AllUnity and Stripe’s Privy Join Forces to Enable Euro Stablecoin Payments
AllUnity, issuer of the EURAU euro stablecoin, and Stripe’s Privy have partnered to integrate EURAU into fintech and enterprise applications. The move allows programmable euro payments under BaFin’s e-money license.
AllUnity and Stripe’s Privy Join Forces to Enable Euro Stablecoin Payments
AllUnity, issuer of the EURAU euro stablecoin, and Stripe-owned Privy have partnered to integrate EURAU wallets into fintech and enterprise applications. The collaboration supports programmable treasury functions and anticipates the EU’s MiCAR framework set for 2026 enforcement.
Revolut Weighs $75B Dual Listing in London and New York
Revolut, valued at $75 billion with 65 million users, is exploring a dual listing in London and New York for its upcoming IPO. The move could mark the first simultaneous entry into the FTSE 100 and a U.S. exchange listing, leveraging new FTSE rules to boost liquidity.
Retailers and Airlines Accept BTC, ETH, and XRP in 2025
Major coffee shops, fast-food chains, retailers and airlines now accept Bitcoin, Ether and XRP. Payment processors and gift cards simplify transactions, enabling consumers to use crypto for everyday purchases, travel bookings and luxury services. Institutional and remittance use cases continue to expand.
SoftBank and Ark in Talks to Join Tether Funding Round
SoftBank Group and Ark Investment Management are among investors in early discussions to fund Tether, seeking $15–$20 billion for a 3% stake that could value the stablecoin issuer at up to $500 billion. The round underscores Tether’s strategy to diversify capital and expand beyond core digital assets.
Cloudflare Introduces NET Dollar Stablecoin for AI-Driven Agentic Web
Cloudflare unveiled NET Dollar, a U.S. dollar–backed stablecoin designed to power microtransactions by autonomous software agents. Initiative aims to shift internet revenue models from ads to pay-per-use mechanisms.
Coinbase, Sony and Samsung back stablecoin startup Bastion in $14.6M raise
Stablecoin infrastructure firm Bastion raised $14.6 million in a funding round led by Coinbase Ventures, with participation from Sony, Samsung’s investment arm, Andreessen Horowitz Crypto, and Hashed. Bastion’s platform enables organizations to issue compliant, white-label stablecoins via API, offering custodial wallets, smart transaction routing, and analytics. The raise underlines growing corporate demand for regulated stablecoin solutions.
Kazakhstan Launches Evo ($KZTE) Stablecoin on Solana
Kazakhstan introduced Evo ($KZTE) stablecoin on the Solana blockchain to enhance its digital finance infrastructure. The stablecoin is backed by the national currency and aims to improve domestic and cross-border transactions. This initiative positions Kazakhstan as a regional crypto hub and follows government efforts to integrate digital assets into its financial system.
Helius Medical Launches $500M Digital Asset Treasury Plan with 760K SOL Purchase
Helius Medical initiated a $500 million digital asset treasury strategy by purchasing 760,190 SOL at an average price of $231. The company retains $335 million in cash for further acquisitions and plans staking and DeFi activities under a conservative framework. Shares dipped 14% post‐announcement.
Water150 sponsors ETHSofia and JFEX 2025 conferences
Water150, a Longhouse Foundation project, became the hydration sponsor for ETHSofia and JFEX 2025 conventions. The initiative will showcase premium spring water in blockchain ecosystems at events in Bulgaria and Jordan from September 23 to 25, aiming to raise awareness of its MiCAR-compliant W150 token.
Strive to acquire Semler in $1.34B all-stock deal to expand bitcoin treasury
Strive Inc., backed by Vivek Ramaswamy, agreed to buy Semler Scientific in an all-stock transaction valued at $1.34 billion. Semler shareholders will receive 21.04 Strive shares per Semler share. Combined entity will hold over 10,900 BTC with plans to purchase additional bitcoin.
Coinbase CEO Outlines Vision for Super App Evolution
Vision described for platform to integrate banking, payments, trading and investing under one “super app” framework. Bipartisan regulatory momentum cited as catalyst for expansion of services. Prediction offered for bitcoin to reach $1 million by 2030 based on ETFs and strategic reserve.
Yzi Labs Deepens Stake in Ethena, Boosting USDe Expansion
Yzi Labs increased its investment in Ethena, issuer of the USDe stablecoin, to drive adoption across decentralized and centralized platforms. The funding will support USDe expansion on BNB Chain and development of USDtb and Converge settlement tools.
Flora Growth Raises $401M Treasury to Back Zero Gravity AI Blockchain
Nasdaq-listed Flora Growth raised $401 million to establish a treasury supporting Zero Gravity (0G), a decentralized AI blockchain. The funding combines cash and in-kind digital assets and leads to rebranding as ZeroStack.
Anchorage Digital applies for a Federal Reserve master account
Anchorage Digital Bank filed for a Federal Reserve master account on August 28, aiming for direct access to central bank payment services. The application follows the OCC lifting a 2022 consent order and reflects increasing federal oversight of digital asset firms. Ripple, Circle and other institutions are also pursuing federal charters.
ARK Invest acquires $162M in Solmate shares following $300M funding
ARK Invest purchased nearly $162 million of Solmate shares after joining a $300 million funding round alongside Pulsar Group, RockawayX and the Solana Foundation. Shares peaked at $52.95 before closing at $24.90, reflecting strong initial demand.
Ripple, Franklin Templeton and DBS to Offer Token Lending and Trading
Ripple, Franklin Templeton and DBS signed a memorandum of understanding to launch trading and lending solutions using tokenized money market funds on the XRP Ledger. Franklin Templeton will tokenize its U.S. dollar money market fund as sgBENJI, which DBS Digital Exchange will list alongside RLUSD. Institutions may use sgBENJI as collateral, enhancing liquidity and yield efficiency.
CleanCore Solutions' DOGE Holdings Top 500M; Shares Rise 13%
CleanCore Solutions doubled its Dogecoin holdings to over 500 million tokens via a $175 million private placement backed by Pantera, GSR, and FalconX. The acquisition boosted the company’s DOGE treasury to approximately $130 million at current prices, driving its shares up 13% in premarket trading.
‘Strong chance’ US will form Strategic Bitcoin Reserve this year: Alex Thorn
Galaxy Digital research head Alex Thorn asserted that the U.S. is likely to form a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve by year-end, citing the March executive order and recent congressional bills. The proposal would add government-owned Bitcoin to national reserves, though some industry figures view the timing as optimistic.
Blockchain-Based Lender Figure Prices IPO at $25 Per Share
Figure Technologies priced its initial public offering at $25 per share, valuing the offering at $787.5 million on 31.5 million Class A shares. The tranche includes 23.5 million new shares and 8 million secondary shares from existing investors. Trading on Nasdaq under FIGR begins September 11.
Binance partners with Franklin Templeton to push crypto products
Binance partnered with Franklin Templeton to co-develop institutional-grade crypto products, tapping the asset manager's $1.6 trillion portfolio and Binance's trading platform. The collaboration aims to launch new digital asset offerings upon regulatory approval.
Chainlink to bring more Trump admin agencies on-chain with eye on aiding elections
Chainlink revealed partnerships with Trump administration agencies to bring election-related data on-chain, aiming to bolster transparency and security. The move positions the oracle network for broader government use amid rising on-chain governance and policy interest.
Kraken Expands Tokenized Equities Platform, xStocks, to European Investors
Kraken expanded xStocks tokenized equities to European Union investors, enabling on-chain access to U.S. stocks and ETFs. Partnership with Swiss fintech Backed facilitates trading on Solana. Multi-chain integration and DeFi composability were highlighted.
GameStop Posts Narrower Loss as Bitcoin Holdings Bolster Balance Sheet
GameStop reported a second-quarter net loss of $18.5 million, narrower than the prior quarter’s $44.8 million profit, as the firm’s 4,710 BTC holdings generated $28.6 million in unrealized gains. Revenue dipped to $673.9 million amid hardware and software declines, offset by higher collectibles sales.
South Korean Fintech Toss Plans Global Push and Won Stablecoin
Toss, the Seoul-based fintech unicorn, plans to launch its all-in-one finance app in Australia by year-end 2025 and expand further internationally. The company also intends to issue a won-based stablecoin pending regulatory approval, aligning with Korea’s proposed stablecoin oversight framework.
Ripple extends custody partnership with BBVA in Spain
Ripple will provide digital asset custody technology to BBVA for Spanish retail clients under EU’s MiCA regulation. The integration follows BBVA’s launch of bitcoin and ether services and builds on Ripple’s custody deals in Switzerland and Turkey.
Toss plans Australia launch and won-based stablecoin
South Korean fintech unicorn Toss will launch its all-in-one finance app in Australia by year-end and expand to other markets, offering core services like peer-to-peer transfers. The company aims to issue a won-pegged stablecoin once regulations permit. Toss plans a U.S. IPO in 2026.
Lion Group doubles down on Hyperliquid as HYPE breaks a new high
Lion Group Holding announced plans to convert its Solana and Sui token holdings into Hyperliquid’s HYPE token, aiming to capitalize on institutional custody offerings and market volatility. The move follows HYPE’s new all-time price high.
Worldcoin’s WLD Surges 25% as $250M Treasury Deal Fuels Momentum
Worldcoin’s WLD token jumped 25%, extending weekly gains near 50%, driven by 530,000 new user verifications and a $250 million private placement by Eightco Holdings. New academic operators joined its AMPC verification network.
Lion Group Plans to Swap SOL, SUI Holdings for HYPE
Lion Group announced a full exit from SOL and SUI positions to acquire HYPE tokens issued by Hyperliquid. The Singapore-based platform aims to leverage custody services provided by BitGo to optimize its treasury and enhance yields.