Author: Tristan Lodenberg

Trading platform Robinhood has reported strong early activity on its new Ethereum Layer 2 network, with CEO Vlad Tenev confirming that the public testnet processed four million transactions within its first week. The network, known as Robinhood Chain, is built as a Layer 2 on Ethereum using Arbitrum technology. It is designed to support tokenized real-world assets, including equities and exchange-traded funds, alongside broader onchain financial services. The project underwent six months of private testing before opening access to developers last week. Focus on Tokenized Assets and Onchain Finance Robinhood Chain is positioned as a permissionless blockchain aimed at high…

Senator Elizabeth Warren has urged US financial authorities to avoid using taxpayer funds to stabilize the cryptocurrency market following a sharp decline in Bitcoin prices. In a letter addressed to Scott Bessent and Jerome Powell, the Massachusetts lawmaker warned that any federal bailout of the crypto sector would primarily benefit wealthy investors and industry insiders. Her comments come as Bitcoin has fallen more than 50% from its October peak, recently touching a local low near $60,000. Warren argued that government action to support digital asset prices would be deeply unpopular and could shift financial risk from private investors to American…

U.S. spot exchange traded funds tied to Bitcoin posted $133.3 million in net outflows on Feb. 18, signaling a pullback in institutional positioning. The largest redemptions came from iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), which saw $84.2 million exit the fund, followed by Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) with $49 million in outflows. Despite the daily withdrawals, total net assets across U.S. bitcoin spot ETFs remain substantial at $83.6 billion, representing roughly 6.3% of Bitcoin’s overall market capitalization. Recent flow trends, however, suggest some institutions are trimming exposure rather than accumulating during price weakness. Ethereum Spot ETFs Lose $41.8 Million Spot…

Spot exchange traded funds tied to Solana recorded $2.4 million in net inflows, defying a broader pullback across major crypto investment products. The fresh capital lifted cumulative inflows into US listed SOL spot ETFs to nearly $880 million, signaling continued investor interest despite macroeconomic uncertainty. The move stands in contrast to recent outflows from products linked to Bitcoin and Ethereum, where investors have adopted a more cautious stance amid shifting rate expectations and global risk-off sentiment. Bitwise BSOL Leads Fresh Capital Allocation Among the available products, Bitwise Solana ETF (BSOL) led the latest inflows, attracting $1.5 million in new capital.…

The Aptos Foundation has unveiled a sweeping proposal to restructure the tokenomics of Aptos, aiming to transition from a subsidy-driven emission model toward a more deflationary and performance-based framework. The initiative includes introducing a hard cap of 2.1 billion APT tokens, marking a major change for a network that currently has no maximum supply. Approximately 1.196 billion APT are in circulation. According to the foundation, the revised structure would align token issuance more closely with onchain activity. Under the new approach, transaction-related burns could eventually exceed token emissions as network usage scales. In an X post on Wednesday, the Aptos Foundation said ;…

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

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

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

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

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