As of April 22, 2025, Danish financial institutions can now settle wholesale and retail payments in Danish krone through the Eurosystem’s T2 and TARGET Instant Payment Settlement (TIPS) services. This marks a significant milestone as Danmarks Nationalbank becomes the first central bank outside the euro area to fully integrate its currency across all three TARGET Services. The integration follows a successful migration process and builds on Denmark’s earlier participation in TARGET2-Securities since 2018. With this latest development, the Danish krone joins the euro and the Swedish krona as one of the currencies supported by TIPS, which now handles instant payment settlements in three currencies. Danmarks Nationalbank applied for participation in 2020, and the final agreement was signed in 2024. Testing campaigns and migration rehearsals began in September 2023 to ensure technical and operational readiness across Danish market participants. The first activation of T2’s multi-currency capability The inclusion of the Danish krone also marks the first activation of T2’s multi-currency capability, enabling centralized liquidity management and uniform technical standards across borders. These enhancements improve security, efficiency, and harmonization for real-time settlement services in both wholesale and retail contexts. “This achievement is the result of years of collaboration with the Eurosystem,” said Danmarks Nationalbank. “It strengthens our financial infrastructure and ensures our markets are integrated with those of the euro area through shared technology and standards.” The addition of non-euro currencies in TARGET Services is viewed as a step toward broader European financial integration. Sweden, which added its currency to TIPS in 2024, has shown interest in expanding participation to other TARGET Services. Other non-euro countries, including Norway and Iceland, have also expressed interest in joining with their own national currencies. Discussions are ongoing between Danmarks Nationalbank, Sveriges Riksbank, and the European Central Bank regarding the implementation of cross-currency settlement capabilities in TIPS, which would facilitate efficient and secure exchanges between participating currencies. TARGET Services, developed and operated by the Eurosystem, offer real-time, central bank money-based infrastructure for both high-value and instant payments. T2 processes transactions valued near the GDP of the entire euro area every six days. TIPS supports 24/7 retail payment settlement throughout the year and reaches more than 40,000 banks globally, including their branches and subsidiaries.

Zug, Switzerland, April 23rd, 2025, Chainwire Keycard, a hardware wallet company backed by the Status team, is proud to announce the pre-sale launch of Shell, a revolutionary, fully open-source hardware wallet. Designed with modularity, transparency, and uncompromising security at its core, Shell enables users to seamlessly manage multiple wallets through interchangeable smart cards—called Keycards—for enhanced convenience and safety. Early supporters can now pre-order Shell bundled with two Keycards at a discounted rate and gain access to exclusive pre-launch rewards ahead of its global release in October 2025. Redefining the Hardware Wallet Architecture Current hardware wallets often market themselves as transparent and open source, yet many lack true transparency in their designs—relying on closed-source components, exportable keys, or upgradeable secure elements that weaken user trust. Shell sets a new benchmark in wallet architecture. “Hardware wallets need a complete rethink,” says Guy-Louis Grau, Project Lead at Keycard. “Users rarely realize that most hardware wallets allow private keys to be exported outside secure elements or rely on upgradable secure elements—both of which compromise the integrity and transparency of the device.” Shell is powered by Keycard, an EAL6+ certified, open-source smart card that signs transactions and stores keys internally—ensuring they never leave secure hardware. Moreover, Keycard firmware is not upgradable by design, providing long-term assurance that the device behavior will never change post-manufacture. Shell: Built for Transparency, Security, and Control Shell is about more than security, it’s designed for those who demand verifiable control over their hardware and digital assets: 100% Open Source: Every layer—from chip software to hardware layout and 3D-printable casing—is verifiable and customizable, exceeding the transparency of leading competitors. Multiple Stealth Smart Cards: Users can store multiple seed phrases, or use backup cards safely—even if one card is lost, others remain secure. Air-Gapped Operation: Users can sign transactions safely using Shell’s integrated camera and QR-code interface—no USB, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi connection to devices required. Duress PIN Support: Defends against physical coercion with a second PIN. Cross-Wallet Compatibility: Works seamlessly with major EVM and Bitcoin wallets like MetaMask, Rabby, BackPack,imToken, UniSat, BlueWallet and more using QR-based signing. Future-Proof Design: Easily replaceable battery extends the device life, and upgradable Keycards mean Shell adapts as cryptographic standards evolve—unlike most competitors. Pre-Sale now Live: Limited Perks for Early Adopters Customers who join the pre-sale will receive: A discounted Shell bundle with two Keycards Status Network KARMA rewards for participating in the growing ecosystem ️To reserve a Shell wallet and secure pre-launch rewards, users can join the pre-launch at: https://keycard.tech/keycard-shell About Keycard Keycard is a proud subsidiary of Status, a pioneer in the crypto industry known for its trusted products like the Status mobile wallet. With a focus on security, privacy, and user empowerment, Keycard continues to build hardware solutions that meet the evolving needs of the global crypto community. Users can visit https://keycard.tech/keycard-shell Contact PR Laura Guzik Status laura@status.im Disclaimer: This content is a press release from a wire service. This press release is provided for informational purposes only. We have not independently verified its content and do not bear any responsibility for any information or description of services that it may contain. Information contained in this post is not advice nor a recommendation and thus should not be treated as such. We strongly recommend that you seek independent financial advice from a qualified and regulated professional, before participating or investing in any financial activities or services. Please also read and review our full disclaimer.

BitradeX, a digital asset trading platform leveraging artificial intelligence, has secured £12 million in a Series A funding round led by Bain Capital. The funding will accelerate global expansion, support the establishment of AI Strategy Labs in major financial hubs, and strengthen BitradeX’s proprietary technology stack and compliance infrastructure. Founded in 2022, BitradeX is known for its AI-native approach to crypto trading, anchored by the ARK Trading Model. Built on trillion-parameter architectures and incorporating methodologies from DeepSeek and Qianfan, ARK delivers high-frequency trading execution with sub-second latency. The model integrates macroeconomic data, on-chain activity, market sentiment, and volatility indicators to achieve over 90% accuracy in short-term trend predictions. Reported returns in live conditions have ranged from 120% to 180% annualized. BitradeX Holds UK FCA and US MSB Registrations In addition to its core engine, BitradeX introduced an AI-powered Protection Pool—an industry-first, yield-based capital shield. This dual-layer mechanism automatically absorbs losses and redistributes surplus yields to ensure coverage of user principal and fixed returns. Unlike traditional exchange insurance models, the Protection Pool is embedded in BitradeX’s reward system and is seeded with 100 BTC in publicly auditable reserve capital. The company operates under regulatory oversight with both a UK FCA crypto asset license and a US Money Services Business (MSB) license. BitradeX employs a five-tier risk control framework and maintains a $20 million contingency reserve to support institutional-grade custody and operational resilience. These safeguards allow the platform to offer secure and compliant trading to both retail and professional users. The newly raised funds will enable the launch of AI Strategy Labs in London, Hong Kong, and Singapore over the next six months. These hubs will offer developers and institutions access to the ARK Trading Model through open APIs, enabling bespoke strategy deployment via a “Strategy-as-a-Service” model. BitradeX intends this modular approach to become the foundation for programmable, AI-native crypto trading systems. “BitradeX is positioning itself as the infrastructure layer for the next generation of AI-native finance,” the company stated. “Our focus is on delivering predictable performance, automated execution, and built-in capital protection — all within a globally compliant framework.”

Tesla shares rose sharply after CEO Elon Musk said he would reduce his involvement in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to spend more time at Tesla. Following the announcement, Tesla stock (TSLA) climbed 5.4% in after-hours trading on April 22 to $250.80, after gaining 4.6% during the regular session, according to Google Finance. The comments came during Tesla’s Q1 2025 earnings call, where the company reported $19.34 billion in revenue, falling short of Wall Street estimates by 7.85% and down 9.2% year-over-year. Net income plunged to $409 million—an 80.8% drop from the previous quarter and down 70.5% from the same period in 2024. Despite the weak financials, investors appeared encouraged by Musk’s vow to scale back his government role. “Starting probably next month, May, my time allocation to DOGE will drop significantly,” Musk said. “I’ll be allocating far more of my time to Tesla.” He added that he expects to dedicate only “a day or two per week” to the government post going forward. Tesla Keeps Bitcoin Holdings Steady in Q1 Tesla also reported no changes to its Bitcoin holdings, which remained at 11,509 BTC. The value of the holdings dropped by 11.61% from $1.08 billion to $951 million in Q1, mirroring Bitcoin’s price slide over the same period. However, with Bitcoin rebounding in recent days, Tesla’s crypto stash is now worth over $1.07 billion, according to Bitcoin Treasuries. A new accounting rule from the Financial Accounting Standards Board now allows public companies to mark crypto holdings to market, meaning Tesla can now reflect gains, not just losses, even without selling. Tesla is currently the fourth-largest holder of bitcoin among publicly traded U.S. companies, following MicroStrategy, Marathon Digital Holdings, and Riot Platforms. Tesla originally made waves in the cryptocurrency world in February 2021 by investing $1.5 billion into bitcoin. At its peak, the company held 43,000 bitcoins, though by Oct. 15, 2024, it reportedly retained only around 9,720 BTC, worth roughly $650 million. However, Arkham estimates that Tesla may hold as much as 11,509 BTC, across 68 addresses, worth $770 million at current prices. Tesla hasn’t added to or sold any Bitcoin since June 2022. Tesla stock remains down more than 37% year-to-date, hit by slumping sales, Musk’s political involvement, and broader economic pressures linked to Trump’s renewed tariffs.

Belize, Belize, April 23rd, 2025, Chainwire As TOKEN2049 Dubai approaches, BC.GAME is preparing to present “Untamed Arena,” a side event scheduled for April 29 at Bla Bla Dubai. The gathering is expected to attract over 3,000 attendees and will feature an evening of music, community engagement, and appearances by high-profile figures from both the entertainment and crypto sectors. Event Highlights and Appearances “Untamed Arena” will include live performances from DJ Aster and DJ Siro and is set to host a range of guests, including: Antonio Brown, NFL All-Pro and Super Bowl champion, recently announced as BC.GAME’s brand ambassador CJ So Cool, digital content creator with over 9 million YouTube subscribers Influential Web3 figures including Sashimi, Poker Bunny, Yikesqq, and Jana Korean content creators Noah, YunJini, and Seo Ann Livestream personalities such as PeeguuTV, Japandy, and CookSux The event aims to provide a platform for participants to explore the convergence of mainstream and blockchain cultures through music, community interaction, and various live experiences. Integration of Web3 and Popular Culture BC.GAME continues to establish a presence beyond the digital domain. Its partnerships include sponsorships with Leicester City Football Club and the Miami Pickleball Club, along with the launch of a dedicated Esports division. The brand’s ambassador lineup also features personalities like Jason Derulo, Colby Covington, Lil Pump, and Antonio Brown, positioning the platform at the intersection of sports, music, and blockchain engagement. Event Access and Registration Admission to “Untamed Arena” is free with RSVP, though attendance is subject to capacity limits. Interested participants may register at: lu.ma/BCstayuntamed. About BC.GAME BC.GAME is a community-driven crypto entertainment platform offering a wide range of interactive experiences that combine blockchain innovation with user engagement. Known for its active presence in the global Web3 space, BC.GAME brings together real-world and digital experiences, bridging online entertainment, esports, and mainstream cultural initiatives. With a growing portfolio of partnerships and ambassadors across sports, music, and content creation, BC.GAME continues to expand its influence as a leader in crypto-native entertainment. Contact PR Manager Olivia Dixon BC.GAME oliviadi@bcgame.com Disclaimer: This content is a press release from a wire service. This press release is provided for informational purposes only. We have not independently verified its content and do not bear any responsibility for any information or description of services that it may contain. Information contained in this post is not advice nor a recommendation and thus should not be treated as such. We strongly recommend that you seek independent financial advice from a qualified and regulated professional, before participating or investing in any financial activities or services. Please also read and review our full disclaimer.

Financial digitalization gave investors and traders the ability to gain access to trading and investment platforms. Users have two popular trading tools to choose from which include Contracts for Difference (CFDs) alongside traditional stock investments. The process to generate returns through asset price variations involves distinct strategies between CFDs and stocks which demonstrate major structural differences along with different risks and advantages. This comparison provides details to assist your choice of trading instrument. Understanding CFDs The Contracts for Difference (CFD) trading tool functions as a derivative mechanism providing investors with the means to anticipate asset price movements without being required to purchase the underlying asset. The investor earns profit through CFD trading by taking positions on Apple stocks then executing trades between entry and exit points. Stockholders receive dividends and profits as benefits but CFD traders are excluded from these rewards which belong to actual shareholders only. Through CFD trading investors collaborate with brokers for asset worth fluctuations between the trade initiation and completion points. Participants in the CFD market have the option to trade across different asset groups including commodities as well as currencies and indices and individual stocks. How the Stock Market Works Investing in the stock market requires investors to purchase shares of companies which grants them partial ownership position. The class of shared ownership includes specific rights such as dividend distribution alongside voting authority in company matters according to the type of shares held. CFDs vs. Stocks: Key Distinctions Ownership CFDs represent financial instruments that do not provide asset ownership rights while money earns from predicting price fluctuations. Stock investors possess real shares that convey ownership rights to them. Leverage Trading through CFDs becomes more profitable because brokers offer financial leverage that allows traders to handle larger positions yet increases their market risk. The trading of stocks occurs without broker-provided leverage since investors must use their deposited capital alone. Fees and Costs CFDs: Incur variable spreads and potential overnight holding fees (swaps). Stockholders pay commissions for each trade but can sidestep overnight holding fees when holding investments until the long-term. Dividend Eligibility Users who hold CFDs on financial instruments cannot receive dividend payments since ownership transactions trigger no capital gain events or loss. Supplying stock ownership enables shareholders to acquire dividends which enhances their long-term profits. Pros and Cons of CFD Trading Pros: Requires less capital to start. The trading system allows investors to perform trades during market movement up and down. The execution process provides quick handling and room for immediate adjustments. Cons: High risk due to leverage. Potential for losses beyond the initial deposit. The duration of holding trading positions will incur additional expenses. Pros and Cons of Investing in Stocks Pros: Investing using this method comes with lower risk since lenders from the banks remain unaffected. Eligibility for dividends and shareholder perks. The long-term investment nature of this strategy does not come with any additional swap fees. Cons: The necessary capital needed for relevant investments exceeds traditional levels. Down market conditions reduce available profit potentials but complex instruments fail to provide solutions during this period. CFD trading demonstrates a lower degree of speed than stock investments. Final Thoughts Investors must select between CFDs and stocks through assessment of their investment targets combined with financial risk capacities and investment funds. The ability to leverage financial resources together with expanded market accessibility makes CFDs appealing to traders who wish to invest in indices and commodities and currencies. Higher risks come with CFD trading platforms. The long-term benefits provided by stocks through their investment needs outweigh their benefits which include shareholder satisfaction.

Feedzai has announced the acquisition of Demyst, a leading data orchestration company known for its Zonic platform and advanced data-integration capabilities. The move expands Feedzai’s ability to deliver real-time, intelligent risk management by integrating Demyst’s automation and data workflows into its RiskOps platform. The acquisition includes Demyst’s proprietary technology, intellectual property, and core team. It supports Feedzai’s strategy to unify risk decisioning and data access in a single platform, giving financial institutions tools to make faster, more accurate decisions with minimal customer friction. “Access the right data as quickly as possible” Nuno Sebastiao, CEO and co-founder of Feedzai, commented, “There is no shortage of data in our industry — the trick is how to access the right data as quickly as possible so that you can accelerate risk decisions with the fewest consumer friction points. Demyst is a first mover and leader in accessing necessary data — internal or external — at the critical moment for any part of the user journey. Paired with Feedzai’s market-leading AI, this ensures every data point is fully utilized to drive smarter and faster decisions. More broadly, this acquisition marks a pivotal moment in continuing Feedzai’s evolution from a data consumer to a data provider.” With Demyst’s platform now integrated, Feedzai will deliver: A unified AI-native platform that orchestrates real-time data flows and advanced fraud prevention. Enhanced account opening capabilities, supporting consistent customer profiling from onboarding to ongoing transactions. Rich contextual intelligence by linking identity, credit, behavioral, and network data to detect fraud with higher accuracy. Reduced false positives and customer friction, accelerating onboarding and improving user experience. Operational efficiency for business teams through low-code automation, reducing IT dependence and improving time-to-market. Mark Hookey to remain with Feedzai to support ongoing product integration and growth Mark Hookey, CEO of Demyst, commented, “External data is the next frontier of business impact for financial institutions, yet it is notoriously complex, involving a labyrinth of sources for KYC/AML, identity, fraud, credit checks, and compliance. We’re thrilled to join Feedzai to bring AI and data together at scale for our customers. Together we are building the most advanced solution for customer onboarding, fraud prevention, and risk management.” The deal comes amid rising regulatory scrutiny and growing expectations for real-time identity verification and fraud detection. Feedzai’s expanded capabilities aim to address these challenges by enabling financial institutions to access the most relevant data at critical decision points, thereby improving accuracy, speed, and compliance. Dr. Ashish Kakar, Research Director at IDC Financial Insights Asia/Pacific, commented, “An automated and efficient bank account opening process is both the first time a bank gets to know the customer as well as the first line of defense against fraud and financial crime. The process has to be seamless to ensure a lasting customer relationship, and at the same time, by building trust from the start, banks not only enhance customer experience, but also strengthen the integrity of the financial system. Feedzai’s addition of automated data orchestration to its RiskOps Platform is a powerful combination that will benefit all customers. This should also help the regulators’ cause of reducing mule accounts and scams.” Feedzai was advised by legal firms Cooley and Garrigues during the acquisition. Key members of the Demyst team, including Hookey, will remain with Feedzai to support ongoing product integration and growth.

The London Metal Exchange (LME) has launched an initiative to assess the potential for sustainable metal price premia across its approved brands, signaling a move to make the value of low-carbon and responsibly produced metals more transparent. The exchange is currently engaging with physical market participants on a proposal covering aluminium, copper, nickel, and zinc. The introduction of publicly reported sustainability premia could formalize the market value of environmentally and socially responsible production, providing an incentive for investment in cleaner supply chains. According to the LME, this effort aligns with rising industry standards, global critical mineral strategies, and evolving accreditation frameworks. “Ensuring that responsible metals receive fair market valuation” Matthew Chamberlain, CEO of the LME, commented, “Our conversations with stakeholders have shown that there is support for establishing a way to reflect an LME brand’s sustainability in its price. There is a growing sophistication in industry sustainability standards and accreditation programmes that cover broad criteria for different metals markets. Taken together with the disclosure and comparability of these credentials through LMEpassport and our work with Metalshub, these developments provide the opportunity to establish credible sustainability pricing premia for LME-listed metals.” The proposal builds on the LME’s ongoing collaboration with Metalshub, a digital trading platform that began reporting volumes for LME-grade low-carbon nickel in March 2024. That initiative uses a carbon threshold methodology developed by the Nickel Institute to help buyers identify and purchase certified low-carbon materials. Under the expanded proposal, metal brands meeting broader sustainability criteria—beyond carbon footprint—would report their credentials through LMEpassport, the exchange’s centralized certification and documentation system. These metals would then be eligible to contribute to the price discovery process for sustainable premia via Metalshub’s spot platform. The LME is also considering the appointment of an independent pricing administrator to oversee the process. This role would involve setting the rules and methodology for deriving sustainable premia from transaction data, with the ability for market participants to contribute data or raise issues regarding the pricing mechanism. Dr. Frank Jackel, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Metalshub, commented, “Metalshub is proud to support the LME’s efforts to bring transparency and price discovery to sustainable metals. By integrating sustainability data into trading processes, we enable participants to make informed decisions, ensuring that responsible metals receive fair market valuation. Providing the technological foundation for price discovery will help to drive the industry towards a greener and more responsible future.” Nick Stansbury, Head of Climate Solutions, Asset Management at Legal & General, added, “We welcome the LME’s proposal as a much-needed move to enable the proper pricing of low-carbon, sustainable products. We believe transparent pricing of sustainable materials is critical to incentivising investment into transition technologies in the mining industry and we look forward to the outcome of this market engagement process.” The LME will continue discussions with physical market stakeholders and expects to provide further updates as the initiative progresses. The proposed framework is part of the exchange’s broader commitment to fostering sustainable commodity markets through transparency, accountability, and robust infrastructure.

Integrating BlockDAG technology into traditional blockchain architecture is essential for a scalability push in AI-driven developments. Ties between AI and blockchain continue to strengthen, once again testing our ability to build scalable networks. AI agents can now trade, mint new tokens, and push promo campaigns, creating new economies from scratch. As more users flock to this brave new world, unseen demand for network resources is just around the corner. This pushes us to rethink the ways we approach scalability.  The blockchain trilemma is still there: a more scalable chain is often less decentralized or secure. This suggests we should look outside blockchain architecture to resolve it. BlockDAG, a technology that puts blocks in a branched graph rather than a single chain, introduces scaling without sacrifices — a feat no other architecture has fully achieved. Present since 2018 and showing up on radars again in 2025, it promises a new leap in scalable network building and a massive push for AI-driven crypto adoption. Overcoming the Trilemma Blockchain developers have addressed the scalability problem many times, but it’s ingrained in the very nature of blockchain. Take Bitcoin: you can’t just increase block size or frequency to increase throughput. This would amplify alternative (“orphaned”) blocks, and miners would need to put immense effort into cutting them — all to stick to a single chain.  In 2017, the crypto world was hit by a massive influx of new users. People playing CryptoKitties pushed Ethereum gas fees to $50, highlighting obvious scalability limitations. That’s when blockchain researchers Yonatan Sompolinsky and Dr. Aviv Zohar published a paper describing their invention, BlockDAG (directed acyclic graph). The technology proposed a “cure” for the security-scalability-decentralization tradeoff. Instead of cutting orphan blocks, BlockDAG incorporates them into an intertwined network — so miners add many blocks at once, thus raising throughput without harming security.  The first experiments with the DAG structure date back to the mid-2010s and include IOTA, Nano, Fantom, Kaspa, and other projects that included graph elements or were built on DAG completely. They became the first real-world examples to prove: graph structure helps improve scalability, decentralization, and security all at the same time.  BlockDAG Revival: Why Now?  Over the past few years, the scaling efforts have shifted toward classic L1s and L2s, but BlockDAG innovation never slowed down. These developments are now bearing fruit, bringing BlockDAG back into the public eye. Kaspa plans to boost its block production rate by 10X, up to 10 blocks per second. The technology now also runs on an EVM-compatible PoS blockchain.  BlockDAG demonstrates its ability to drive fast-paced and diverse ecosystems at a critical moment for the industry. Every time there’s a new wave of crypto users, the market discovers new infrastructural flaws. The 2024 memecoin frenzy and AI boom caused delays in networks that were supposedly designed to solve the scalability problem. The year was marked by outages in Solana and TON that were directly caused by the intensified load on blockchains.  The thing is, the main boom isn’t even there yet. AI agents are taking on crypto operations  — and are doing it increasingly well. Fueled by crypto, use cases like AI-driven trading or content creation might attract millions and spark unseen demand for high-throughput smart contract platforms.  In the meantime, keeping these platforms decentralized feels more important than ever. When AI agents have the power to move our funds at lightning speed, we don’t want them — or the corporations behind them — to control our assets.  Even traditional financial institutions now support this push for decentralization. For years, they insisted on permissioned, private networks, believing decentralization was a burden because one can’t control its policies and operations. However, this mindset has been reversed. Institutions now recognize the benefits of decentralized networks, including their censorship resistance. As they embrace blockchain, L1 security has become even more important, and architectures that trade security for speed are not an option anymore.  BlockDAG is one of the very few technologies that ‘win’ the blockchain trilemma — none of the three factors need a compromise when building a chain. In graphs, nodes add new blocks in parallel whenever they are valid, boosting scalability; the system has no restrictions on node count or the cost of running one, safeguarding decentralization and securing from 51% attacks.  Finally, BlockDAG simply eliminates many weak points of traditional blockchains that attackers, especially AI-driven ones, can exploit. It adds transactions to the graph almost instantly; there’s no one single chain and no lengthy mempools. Intruders simply don’t have room to manipulate transaction order, run front-running attacks, or attempt malicious hardforks.  The Future of Blockchain? BlockDAG has been present in several L1 networks from the start, but it can also be used in existing blockchains, including L2s. Parallel block processing in major smart contract platforms would enhance the entire industry’s performance — something we need so much ahead of the new AI-driven crypto adoption cycle. Throughout 2025, market players might find out that “traditional” scaling methods are not enough anymore. Without addressing the trilemma, networks risk falling short in terms of user experience, security, and overall viability. At that moment, applying BlockDAG’s benefits will become more than just an opportunity. Growing congestion issues could push builders to embrace BlockDAG — otherwise, facing the risk of losing a competitive edge.   

Eurex has announced the upcoming launch of Euro-EU Bond Futures (FBEU), a new physically deliverable futures contract based on bonds issued by the European Union. Trading is scheduled to begin on 10 September 2025, expanding Eurex’s fixed income product suite and deepening liquidity in the EU bond market. The new FBEU contracts are designed to support market participants in managing exposure to EU-issued debt, which now exceeds EUR 600 billion in outstanding volume, making the EU the fifth largest issuer in Europe. With this launch, Eurex aims to provide a complete ecosystem across cash, repo, and derivatives markets for EU bonds, enhancing transparency and aligning with international fixed income standards. EU is the fifth largest issuer in Europe Matthias Graulich, Global Head of Products & Markets at Eurex, commented, “The launch of the Euro-EU Bond Futures is more than just a new product for Eurex. It is a strategic commitment to supporting European ambitions for greater autonomy at a time when the continent is relying on additional debt issuance and investors are seeking tailored tools to manage their exposure to EU debt. This step complements and re-affirms Eurex’s Home of the Euro Yield Curve strategy.” Each FBEU contract will have a standard 6% coupon, consistent with Eurex’s existing 10-year Bund, OAT, BTP, and Bono futures. Deliverable securities will be EU bonds with maturities of 8 to 12 years, reflecting the typical issuance profile of the European Union. These futures will be included in Eurex’s existing portfolio margining framework, providing capital efficiency and enhanced risk management for users trading across the full range of European interest rate products. The development of FBEU followed extensive consultation with market participants and the European Commission. In a further sign of support for market development, the EU Commission joined Eurex Repo as a trading member in 2024, underscoring its engagement with secondary market infrastructure. Eurex, a subsidiary of Deutsche Börse Group, continues to position itself as a central venue for European yield curve trading. The launch of Euro-EU Bond Futures is expected to attract a broad set of institutional participants and improve price discovery and hedging capabilities in the evolving EU sovereign debt market.

Cantor Fitzgerald is reportedly preparing to launch a groundbreaking $3 billion Bitcoin investment vehicle in partnership with SoftBank, Tether, and Bitfinex. The move marks a significant institutional push into digital assets as interest in cryptocurrencies regains momentum amid favorable political conditions and resurgent market valuations. Spearheading the initiative is Brandon Lutnick, son of U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and current chairman of Cantor Fitzgerald. The investment project will be executed through a new firm, 21 Capital, formed via Cantor Equity Partners—a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) that raised $200 million earlier this year. The use of a SPAC to facilitate such a massive venture reflects the evolving nature of capital formation within the digital assets space, combining traditional finance mechanisms with crypto-forward strategies. Tether, SoftBank, Bitfinex Commit Billions in Bitcoin According to sources close to the matter, the consortium plans to contribute a total of $3 billion in Bitcoin: Tether will provide $1.5 billion, SoftBank $900 million, and Bitfinex $600 million. These contributions will be converted into shares of 21 Capital at a valuation of $10 per share, pegging Bitcoin’s implied value at approximately $85,000 per coin. This valuation significantly exceeds current market prices, signaling the consortium’s bullish outlook on Bitcoin’s long-term potential. In addition to the Bitcoin contributions, the venture aims to secure further funding through a $350 million convertible bond issuance and a $200 million private equity placement. The capital raised will enable 21 Capital to solidify its Bitcoin holdings and potentially expand into other crypto-related initiatives, creating a diversified portfolio of digital assets. This model closely resembles MicroStrategy’s strategy of leveraging traditional capital markets to aggressively accumulate Bitcoin. By following a similar trajectory, Cantor Fitzgerald is positioning itself as a dominant institutional player in the space. The involvement of household names such as SoftBank also adds considerable credibility and visibility to the venture. While the details of the deal remain subject to change, this move underscores a broader strategic pivot by Cantor Fitzgerald toward digital assets. However, the venture may face scrutiny from regulators, particularly given the past legal settlements involving Tether and Bitfinex. The consortium will need to navigate regulatory complexities carefully to maintain momentum and investor confidence. If successful, 21 Capital could become one of the largest institutional holders of Bitcoin, reshaping how traditional finance engages with cryptocurrency. As Bitcoin continues to inch closer to its all-time highs, this investment initiative may mark a pivotal moment in the mainstream adoption of digital assets by Wall Street.

Purchasing 1,360 Bitcoin (BTC) valued at around $116.1 million, Ark 21Shares Bitcoin ETF created waves in the Bitcoin market on April 21. This acquisition indicates a major shift in the continuous development of Bitcoin-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs), therefore reflecting increasing institutional interest and confidence in the asset class.  Let’s go into the specifics of this transaction and investigate how it might affect ETF investments as well as the Bitcoin market. Ark 21Shares and Their Increasing Impact on Blockchain The Ark 21Shares Bitcoin ETF was launched in 2022 by top worldwide investment management company Ark Invest and Swiss-based bitcoin investment company 21Shares. The ETF seeks to expose investors to Bitcoin without them having to buy and keep the crypto personally. It has drawn institutional as well as retail investors eager to join the Bitcoin market using a more conventional, controlled investment vehicle. Among the most prominent participants in the expanding crypto-ETF market is now Ark 21 Shares. Buying 1,360 BTC shows their dedication to Bitcoin as a long-term investment and their conviction in its future possibilities. Why the Purchase of Bitcoin Matters The purchase of the Ark 21Shares Bitcoin ETF marks a very important time. With a price range of about $85,500 per Bitcoin, the overall value of this purchase came to $116.1 million. Given the ongoing volatility in the wider market, this is among the biggest purchases of Bitcoin ETFs in recent months and reflects a notable degree of institutional confidence in Bitcoin. This purchase also signals other institutional investors that Bitcoin is not just a speculative asset but also progressively a mainstay of diverse portfolios. The fact that Ark bought such a large quantity of Bitcoin points to their belief in the long-term potential of Bitcoin, particularly in a market fit for institutional involvement. The Future of Bitcoin ETFs and Institutional Interest Bitcoin ETFs, such as Ark 21Shares, are growing more prevalent as organizations explore methods to obtain exposure to Bitcoin without dealing with the complications of holding and keeping the cryptocurrency. This trend is likely to continue as additional Bitcoin-based ETFs are approved by authorities, further legitimizing Bitcoin in the eyes of institutional investors. Ark 21Shares’ recent 1,360 BTC purchase is evidence that institutional interest in Bitcoin is not about to fade. Bitcoin is likely to become a mainstay of the global financial scene as use of it rises along with better regulations and more product offerings such as ETFs. Finally, for the Bitcoin market and the crypto investment scene overall, the purchase of 1,360 BTC valued at $116.1 million by 21 Shares Bitcoin ETF is noteworthy. It draws attention to rising institutional trust in Bitcoin and shows that conventional financial instruments are progressing, including Bitcoin.

The political and financial elements affecting cryptocurrencies change along with their evolution in the ecosystem. Declaring that the present global crypto regulatory systems could be too fragile to withstand the financial uncertainty reminiscent of the Trump administration’s strong fiscal and foreign policy agendas, the European Central Bank (ECB) has raised a serious red flag. ECB Issues: Weak Crypto Laws In a recent comment, the ECB underlined that although the EU and other world economies have moved towards controlling crypto assets, the current laws are insufficient to manage upcoming geopolitical or financial shocks. With a likely comeback of Trump-era economic policies—marked by protectionism, uncertainty, and severe sanctions—the ECB thinks these frail laws could disintegrate under pressure. Particularly in times of geopolitical conflict, the ECB warns that without a more synchronised, flexible global regulatory framework, the crypto market might once more become a weapon for financial evasion, illegal flows, and economic instability. Why Are Trump-Era Policies a Threat? Aggressive economic measures include sanctions on foreign countries, pullout from multilateral accords, and erratic market messaging under Donald Trump’s administration caused knock-on repercussions over world markets. Being borderless and distributed, cryptocurrencies were sometimes a workaround for impacted parties. The ECB contends that, should comparable measures resurface, there is more chance that crypto would be used to evade penalties or act as a buffer against unannounced market fluctuations. Although frameworks like MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) in Europe help to strengthen the present regulations, especially in terms of cross-border collaboration and enforcement systems, they still leave flaws. An Appeal for More Global Alignment The ECB’s message is a directive to action for world authorities. Although MiCA provides a good basis for the EU, other areas, especially the United States, remain subject to change even if MiCA presents a good beginning point for crypto control. Given the possible return of Trump-style economics with the result of the 2024 U.S. election, more worldwide collaboration on crypto policies is desperately needed. Without consistent global rules, governments risk creating regulatory arbitrage zones, where bad actors can take advantage of lenient states. The ECB stresses that, left unbridled, such gaps might compromise not only crypto markets but also more general financial systems. The Need for Crypto Monitoring This warning also sparks the discussion on central bank digital currency (CBDCs), which the ECB regards as part of the fix. CBDCs could lessen reliance on unstable and underregulated assets in trying times by providing a state-backed digital substitute for cryptocurrencies. In addition, regulators may need to fast-track advancements in crypto surveillance, decentralized finance (DeFi) monitoring, and compliance technology like blockchain analytics tools. The ECB’s notice could drive politicians to address crypto not just as a financial trend but as a national and international security threat. The Warnings Are Crucial The ECB’s warning is timely and crucial, especially as the world prepares for possible geopolitical shifts in 2024 and beyond. The strength and resilience of crypto’s legal structure will define how well it resists the storms of political uncertainty as it keeps weaving itself into the worldwide financial fabric. Though the world heeds this warning is yet to be seen, the stakes have never been more pressing.

Dutch bank ING is developing a stablecoin project under Europe’s new MiCA crypto regulations, joining a growing list of traditional lenders exploring regulated digital currencies, according two people familiar with the matter told CoinDesk. The effort may involve a group of banks and crypto service providers forming a joint venture, though progress has been slow as each participating institution must secure board approval, one source said. ING declined to comment. The MiCA regulation — which came into full effect in late 2024 — imposes strict rules on stablecoin issuers operating in the EU. Issuers must hold fully backed reserves, keep those reserves segregated from users’ assets, and adhere to regular disclosures. So far, 10 euro-pegged and five dollar-pegged stablecoins secured MiCA approvals, according to Circle’s Patrick Hansen. Approved entities include Circle, Crypto.com, Société Générale, and Membrane Finance. Tether, which dominates the $233 billion stablecoin market, opted out of the MiCA licensing process. If ING moves forward, it will compete directly with France’s Société Générale, which became the first major European bank to issue a stablecoin through its SG Forge unit. The news comes shortly after Synthetic stablecoin issuer Ethena Labs shut down its operations in Germany, less than a month after the country’s top financial regulator, BaFin, flagged compliance issues with its USDe stablecoin. Ethena said it reached an agreement with BaFin to fully cease activities of its German subsidiary, Ethena GmbH. The firm also confirmed it will no longer seek authorization under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) in Germany. The move follows BaFin’s order on March 21 to halt all minting and redeeming of USDe in the country, citing legal concerns and possible securities law violations. Ethena clarified that since BaFin’s intervention, the German entity has not handled any transactions involving USDe. USDe is currently the fourth-largest stablecoin, with a circulating supply of $4.9 billion, according to CoinMarketCap. However, BaFin’s pushback and MiCA’s tighter rules are raising barriers for synthetic stablecoins in the EU. Ethena GmbH used a transitional arrangement under the European MiCAR regulation, which allows cryptocurrency issuers to continue operations until they are granted or denied authorization, provided they apply by July 30, 2024. However, BaFin claims that Ethena GmbH began offering USDe in Germany on June 28, 2024, and distributed a big portion of its 5.4 billion USDe tokens outside Germany before this date.

Significantly reflecting the growing institutional interest in digital assets, Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered are allegedly intending to grow their bitcoin activities in the United States. Previously showing measured interest in blockchain and crypto technology, both banking behemoths are now acting more specifically towards increasing their footprint in the developing U.S. crypto industry. This evolution occurs against a changing regulatory environment, increasing institutional usage, and a rebirth of market optimism following Bitcoin’s 2024 halving and earlier this year acceptance of spot Bitcoin ETFs. Institutional Interest Develops Through Changing Regulations Through its investment arm, DWS Group, and digital asset custody projects, Germany’s largest lender, Deutsche Bank, has been progressively developing its digital asset services. Deutsche Bank sought a digital asset licence in Germany in 2023; Paul Maley, the global head of securities services, said the bank’s long-term goal was to become a major custodian for institutional crypto investors. With its eye towards the rising pool of high-net-worth and institutional clients who are progressively allocating funds to crypto, the bank now seems ready to introduce similar services within the United States. Areas that Deutsche Bank has been actively investigating for the growth of crypto custody, trading, and tokenization services will probably be part of the move. Conversely, Standard Chartered has been more overtly crypto-forward in its approach. The British bank has made investments in various cryptocurrency businesses including Zodia Custody and Zodia Markets, which provide institutional-specific crypto trading and custodial services.  Using its current infrastructure and alliances to leverage the growing need for safe, regulated digital asset services, reports show Standard Chartered is now looking to introduce these offers to the U.S. market. A Vote of Trust for the U.S. Blockchain Market Two big European banks’ decision to double down on their crypto strategy in the United States is a vote of confidence in the long-term potential of the industry, notwithstanding continuous regulatory scrutiny by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Furthermore, very important in helping the sector to be legitimate are the existence of established financial institutions. Their participation adds security procedures, compliance infrastructure, and confidence that is necessary to draw cautious institutional investors still scared of the volatility and legal uncertainty sometimes defining the crypto market. Their arrival could also increase rivalry among current rivals, including Coinbase Institutional, Fidelity Digital Assets, and BitGo, therefore hastening innovation and service quality. The Effects on the Greater Crypto Ecosystem  The calculated actions by Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered highlight a larger trend: institutionalisation of cryptocurrencies is now more of a question of “how fast” than of “if.” The lines separating distributed finance (DeFi) from centralised finance (CeFi) keep blurring as established financial institutions occupy the scene. This may mean more funding for the crypto sector, more credibility, and a quicker route to general adoption. The more banks participate, retail investors could find new investment products and safer trading conditions. The Bank’s Aim For Growth The intentions of crypto growth by Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered in the United States represent a turning point in the development of the worldwide digital asset sector. These institutions not only confirm the asset class but also help define its technological and regulatory future as they establish roots in the American crypto scene.

Now live on its derivatives platform, Coinbase has revealed the introduction of a CFTC-regulated XRP futures contract, in a major action for the crypto sector. This development not only increases XRP’s trading possibilities but also emphasises rising institutional confidence in Ripple’s native coin in the face of past regulatory uncertainties. A Major Milestone for XRP and Coinbase  The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) oversees the recently launched XRP perpetual futures contract offered by Coinbase International Exchange and Coinbase Advanced. This control gives traders, especially institutional players who have been reluctant to interact with crypto assets lacking clear legal structures, credibility and compliance assurance. For those wishing to participate in advanced trading strategies in the crypto market, the product now offers eligible non-U.S. retail and institutional users a notable increase in XRP trading capability with up to 10x leverage. This represents Coinbase’s continuous dedication to providing more derivatives. Adding XRP indicates the exchange’s awareness of its market demand and possible institutional adoption after the debut of BTC and ETH futures products is successful. XRP Regulatory Clarity: Essential Motive Positive legal developments for Ripple Labs, the firm behind XRP, guide Coinbase’s decision to list XRP futures. A U.S. court decided in 2023 that XRP sales on public exchanges were not securities transactions, lowering regulatory risk and increasing demand for the token once more. Launching a regulated XRP futures product allows Coinbase not only to meet consumer demand but also to demonstrate faith in XRP’s legal position. This could open the path for other exchanges and financial institutions to match, increasing the general XRP integration. Why Does This Affect XRP Adoption? For XRP especially, this action provides price discovery, liquidity, and hedging choices—three key ingredients for more general acceptance. Particularly interesting for hedge funds, proprietary trading businesses, and market makers, futures contracts let traders speculate or hedge without owning the underlying asset. Furthermore, CFTC’s regulatory control provides institutions that are risk-averse in structure and protection layer. XRP’s usage in real-world financial systems—including remittances and cross-border settlements—where Ripple already has relationships with banks and financial services providers—may rise as a result. What’s Next for XRP and Crypto Derivatives? The release of XRP futures governed by the CFTC could set off a chain reaction in the crypto derivative market. As confidence in regulatory compliance rises, more exchanges may seek regulatory approval to offer related goods and institutional adoption may quicken. Furthermore, XRP is among the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, therefore, a derivatives product offers more means for traders and investors to interact with it worldwide, from speculative trading to portfolio risk management. This introduction reflects a larger trend of adding conventional banking instruments into digital asset markets as the crypto business develops. By guaranteeing regulatory certainty and providing varied trading tools, Coinbase is positioned at the forefront of that development. In summary, the launch of a CFTC-regulated XRP futures product by Coinbase signals a major leap forward for XRP and the broader crypto ecosystem. It offers increased legitimacy, attracts institutional players, and ultimately contributes to greater global adoption of digital assets.

Stripe has introduced a new set of payment features tailored for businesses in Japan, including integration with PayPay and new tools to improve compliance, reduce fraud, and boost conversions in the country’s fast-evolving ecommerce landscape. The company announced that businesses using Stripe in Japan can now accept PayPay for online transactions, giving access to a digital wallet with over 68 million users. In addition to expanding payment options, Stripe has reduced the payout cycle for PayPay transactions from the industry standard of one month to as few as four business days, improving cash flow for local merchants. Stripe addresses Japan’s 3D Secure mandate for online credit card transactions Toshifumi Kasakawa, Chief Executive Officer of PayPay, commented, “I am delighted to announce our partnership with Stripe. Businesses on Stripe can now offer PayPay’s QR code-based payments to their customers. I firmly believe that Stripe’s vision of expanding the GDP of the internet will not only bolster businesses worldwide, but also enhance the quality of life for individuals.” Stripe also introduced card installment payments, enabling Japanese customers to split the cost of larger purchases. The feature supports options such as bonus and revolving payments, commonly used in Japan. Atmoph, a smart display manufacturer, reported immediate benefits from the feature. Kyohei Nakano, Cofounder of Atmoph, said, “We’ve introduced card installment options with Stripe to make it easy for customers to purchase our window-shaped smart digital displays in installments. With a flexible range of payment methods, including bonus and revolving payments, we’re now reaching more customers than ever before.” To address Japan’s recent enforcement of the 3D Secure mandate for online credit card transactions, Stripe has updated its systems to apply exemptions when permitted and trigger authentication only when necessary. The change is designed to reduce checkout friction while maintaining compliance with the new regulation, which became mandatory in March 2025. Fuyuki Takasawa, Technology Advisor at Sourcenext, said, “The Stripe dashboard allows us to swiftly manage fraudulent transactions including 3D Secure. Analyzing data across our ecommerce site and Stripe helped us fix an outdated logic issue, boosting a previously underperforming product’s sales by 15% over last year.” Additionally, Stripe has become the first payment platform in Japan to support network tokens. These tokens replace card numbers with merchant-specific credentials, enhancing payment security and increasing transaction approval rates while reducing costs. Stripe continues to support large domestic firms such as Toyota, Nikkei, ANA Group, and Tokyu, as well as international businesses entering the Japanese market, including Shopify, Uber, X, and Atlassian. The latest updates further embed Stripe’s infrastructure into the country’s digital economy, offering a unified solution for compliance, speed, and flexibility.

Throughout history, eccentric individuals have pushed the boundaries of human courage, driven by a compulsion to challenge nature and upend societal norms. In the early 19th century, for example, Rhode Island mill worker Sam Patch became America’s first celebrity daredevil by transforming cliff-jumping into a public spectacle. His 1827 leap from an 80-foot cliff over New Jersey’s Passaic Falls earned him the nickname “Jersey Jumper,” and was followed by a 125-foot plunge into the Niagara River below the famous Falls as thousands watched. Sam Patch didn’t live long enough to witness the birth of electricity, the internet, and blockchain, but if he had, there’s a good chance he’d have taken to DeFi like, well, a cliff-jumper to water. The “R” Word We don’t often talk about risk in DeFi these days. At least not directly. Like so much else, it’s largely been abstracted away. Everyone wants to see the swan gliding across the lake – the beautiful UX, aesthetically pleasing interface design, and neat yield-adjustment sliders. No one wants to see the feet scrabbling in the silt beneath the surface: the frantic attempts to keep hackers at bay, exploiters away, and risk within reasonable parameters. Yet it’s there all right, underpinning everything that goes on across the DeFi landscape. Most of the time, the risk is covert: we know it’s out there, but by avoiding talk of it, we hope it will never strike. But it’s only through facing risk head-on – identifying it, discussing it, and evaluating it – that we can take measures to mitigate it. So let’s talk DeFi risk, particularly in the context of lending, given its role in powering much of the subsequent activity that takes place across the omnichain landscape. Riding the Risk Rollercoaster Why do DeFi lenders lend? Is it out of altruism? A desire to bank the unbanked? A need to flex onchain? No, it’s for pecuniary advantage. Money. Profit, pure and simple. The greater the reward, the greater the incentive to provide capital to borrowers. This isn’t a DeFi lending invention, of course: this principle guides all two-sided marketplaces and has done so since the dawn of human societies. As for why lenders should be entitled to rewards, well, that part should also be obvious. Every time they put up capital, there’s a chance they won’t get all of it back. It’s an extremely small chance, but it’s a chance nonetheless. While borrowers technically can’t default in DeFi, since everything’s controlled by smart contracts, there are still umpteen other ways in which things can go wrong, from protocol bugs to hacks. Basically, every time you lend your crypto assets – or place your own as collateral to borrow against – you’re taking on risk, and should be entitled to some kind of reward in return. Indeed, were the prospect of yield not in place, the entire DeFi lending economy would collapse as users went elsewhere in search of more productive places to deploy their capital. Onchain lending is a multi-billion-dollar sector that generates $2M in fees a day – much of which goes to lenders whose liquidity keeps the market ticking over. It’s not just an important component of DeFi – it is DeFi, since without a healthy lending economy, much of the other onchain markets and yield sources would dry up. That high-yield stablecoin you’re staking? Half of its APR comes from lending markets. That leveraged ETH token you’re trading? Yep, that too. If DeFi is the dog, lending is the tail that wags it. To keep lending markets liquid, protocols must wrestle with some tough choices. Yield needs to be attractive enough to coax capital, but there also needs to be fail-safes in place to protect those assets from contagion, should a particular pool encounter problems, be it with the underlying token or due to an external attack. To maintain this equilibrium, the industry is increasingly moving towards adopting isolated lending markets, which keep such issues contained and incapable of causing wider problems. The model, popularized by Silo, has resonated with DeFi users, both at retail and institutional level. It’s an idea that’s been a long time in the making, given that the first wave of lending protocols – many still operational – have relied on a system in which losses are shared, regardless of which pool the issue originated from. More Yield, Less YOLO Anyone who was around during the first wave of DeFi, starting from 2020, will recall these two words with horror or nostalgia, depending on how they fared: “Pool two.” For the uninitiated, when yield farming first became a thing, Pool 2 was the highly volatile pool that offered eye-wateringly high APYs but was unsustainable. The trick was to get in early, earn 10,000% APY in a matter of hours or less, and then get out before the whole thing went to zero. It all sounds stupid looking back on it now, but this speculative environment, characterized by food coins and “humble farmers” doing “honest work,” was the prelude to the sustainable onchain yield products we see today. The days of liquidity pools dispensing five-figure APYs are mercifully gone, but that’s not to say that the volatility has been quelled. Indeed, volatility remains a crypto feature – not a bug – and thus protocol designers must take into account sudden and violent price movement of assets and the effect this could have on other tokens they’re pooled with. This can be particularly challenging when it comes to lending. Should a token crater in price – a rare but not unknown phenomenon – it can cause system-wide insolvency issues. Protocol users who have steered clear of these riskier assets may find themselves nevertheless on the hook for losses that are shared by all users, regardless of whether they’re in a high-volatility, high-risk pool or a low-risk stablecoin or ETH/stable option. Risk Meets Reward Many DeFi users are perfectly willing to take on risk. Indeed, if there were zero risk involved, everyone would be doing it, and the yield would approach zero. That’s not to say that risk should be encouraged; rather acknowledged as a side-effect of interacting with what is still experimental tech that can never be rendered 100% secure and immune from every conceivable attack vector. Even the most impregnable lending protocol can’t do anything to prevent a collateral asset from crashing. The solution, from a developer perspective, isn’t to shrug and reason “Risk comes with the territory.” It’s to ensure that users can make an informed decision about the risks involved and that they are fairly remunerated for supplying liquidity for higher-risk assets. This is easier said than done, but the industry is at least moving in the right direction here. With V2 of its protocol, for instance, Silo supports modular interest rates, which can be raised, for example, to compensate lenders against more volatile tokens. As a result, lenders can receive better interest rates to reflect the additional risk they’re taking on. Sam Patch – the 19th-century daredevil we were discussing at the outset – would have been a Pool 2 kinda guy. The riskier the better, as far as he was concerned. Tragically, his November 1829 leap into a river ended in disaster. Still, his legend lives on: Patch’s career, lasting just two years, inspired folk songs and even caught the attention of President Andrew Jackson, who named a horse after him. His story embodies the unpolished daring of early American entertainers, who risked everything for glory with no safety net. Today’s DeFi users aren’t risking life or limb – simply their net worth – but that doesn’t make the prospect of loss any less painful. Thankfully, the likelihood of such users suffering a fatal L has diminished greatly over the years. And it’s thanks in no small part to enterprising protocols that have devised smarter ways to segregate risk, resulting in a safer onchain playground for everyone.  This content is the opinion of the paid contributor and does not reflect the viewpoint of FinanceFeeds or its editorial staff. It has not been independently verified and FinanceFeeds does not bear any responsibility for any information or description of services that it may contain. Information contained in this post is not advice nor a recommendation and thus should not be treated as such. We strongly recommend that you seek independent financial advice from a qualified and regulated professional, before participating or investing in any financial activities or services. Please also read and review our full disclaimer.

Indian crypto exchange WazirX is preparing to restart its trading platform, pending a final decision from Singapore’s High Court on its restructuring and customer payout plan. WazirX said its parent company, Singapore-based Zettai, completed all necessary steps ahead of a sanction hearing that will determine whether the platform can move forward with reopening. The exchange suffered a $230 million hack in July 2024 after attackers breached its multi-signature wallet. Investigators linked the exploit to North Korea’s Lazarus Group, which was also behind the $1.4 billion Bybit attack. Much of the stolen crypto has since been funneled through mixers to hide its origin—a tactic often tied to Lazarus. Earlier this month, WazirX said a large majority of creditors backed the proposed restructuring plan. Roughly 93% of voters, representing over 94% of the total claims, approved Zettai’s proposal. The deal includes an estimated 85.3% payout on lost balances and the issuance of Recovery Tokens to help users reclaim more value over time. The approval avoids a scenario in which repayments might have stretched into 2030, a warning WazirX issued earlier this year if the plan failed. Under the new structure, WazirX will repay users through a mix of stablecoin distributions and newly created recovery tokens. The tokens give creditors a stake in future platform revenues and potential asset recoveries. The company said it continues to pursue stolen assets through legal and forensic channels. If the court signs off on the plan, WazirX said it will resume trading and begin customer payouts within 10 business days. “We’ve stuck to our internal roadmap,” the exchange said Monday, “but court timelines are outside our control.” The proposed scheme will distribute assets in the form of tokens, covering 85% of user balances as of July 18, 2024, at 1 PM IST—the date of the breach. The distribution process is set to begin within 10 business days of the scheme being approved, which WazirX claims would be among the fastest recoveries in the crypto industry. WazirX CEO Nischal Shetty described the result as a turning point as the team is prioritizing fund recovery and future profit sharing to compensate affected users. “The people have spoken,” Shetty said in an X post. “We will work hard on rebuilding and creating value for everyone.”

Elate Holdings has unveiled its new Web3 project in a daring move combining two of the most fascinating tech sectors—artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrencies. The company’s foray into artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies points to a change towards innovative technology changing sectors all around. But what does this action imply regarding the direction in which Elate Holdings and the larger IT scene are headed? Strategic Development of New Technologies Traditionally well-known for its robust presence in many different business areas, Elate Holdings has embraced the increasing relevance of artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies as part of its larger approach. Since digital transformation is a top priority for businesses all around, Elate’s choice to enter Web3 technology shows its flexibility and future development vision.  Powered by blockchain, smart contracts, and distributed apps (dApps), Web3 holds promise as a more transparent, safe, and efficient digital economy. Elate Holdings wants to remain front and foremost of innovation by leveraging this revolutionary area. The Part AI Plays in Elate’s Web3 Vision In the digital sphere, artificial intelligence is a potent tool transforming sectors, including healthcare, finance, marketing, and others. Enhancing decision-making processes and automating operations depend on Elate Holdings, which includes artificial intelligence in its Web3 approach.  The business intends to use artificial intelligence capabilities to enhance everything from data analysis to customer support, therefore producing more customized and effective experiences.  Furthermore, by utilizing cutting-edge algorithms to guard distributed systems from possible hazards, artificial intelligence can be rather important in the security features of Web3. Elate Holdings is setting itself up to benefit from AI’s potential in the blockchain ecosystem as it develops. Blockchain Integration and Cryptocurrencies Cryptocurrency and blockchain technology are inseparable from the Web3 narrative. Elate Holdings intends to use blockchain as it probes further into this field to guarantee security, traceability, and openness in its activities. Blockchain’s distributed character fits the Web3 ethos, in which users have data control and transactions are logged on an unchangeable ledger. Elate Holdings is probably going to investigate developing its own coin or using current cryptocurrencies for different commercial uses. This can entail creating new platforms where blockchain technology improves user interactions and content distribution or leveraging crypto for payments and motivating user involvement. The potential for upsetting traditional business models is great, and by accepting Bitcoin, Elate positions itself as a forward-thinking partner in the emerging Web3 ecosystem. Elate’s Future in the Web3 Ecosystem This Web3 endeavour by Elate Holdings is just the beginning. As the corporation dives more into AI and crypto, its role in the field is projected to rise fast. Plans for partnerships with blockchain firms, research in artificial intelligence innovation, and pilot projects aiming at including artificial intelligence into crypto-based platforms have been described by the company. Early adopters of technologies like Elate Holdings will be positioned to grab market share as the worldwide Web3 market is predicted to reach billions in the next few years. From fintech to gaming and beyond, the combination of artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies presents many chances for creativity across sectors. Elate Holdings Ventures into The Web3 Space The tech sector overall as well as Elate Holdings will benefit from their foray into the Web3 market. By carefully using cryptocurrencies and artificial intelligence, the company not only is growing but also helping digital technologies develop. As the Web3 ecosystem continues to evolve, Elate Holdings will be at the vanguard of this change, helping create the future of decentralized, AI-driven platforms.