Author: Tristan Lodenberg

Selling pressure in crypto exchange-traded products showed signs of cooling last week, even as funds recorded another round of net outflows, suggesting investor sentiment may be nearing an inflection point. Crypto ETP Outflows Decline Sharply Crypto ETPs posted $187 million in net outflows over the past week, marking a third consecutive week of withdrawals. However, the pace of selling slowed significantly compared with the $3.43 billion that exited the market over the prior two weeks combined. The easing coincided with stabilization in digital asset prices following a steep correction. Bitcoin prices briefly fell to around $60,000, their lowest level since…

Crypto hedge and liquid funds are reassessing risk and portfolio construction following Bitcoin’s sudden decline of more than 20%, a move that caught many managers off guard despite a partial price recovery. Bitcoin Crash Exposes Fragile Market Structure Fund managers described the selloff as unusually fast, driven less by a single catalyst and more by a rapid shift in sentiment. Elevated leverage, heavy spot selling and cascading liquidations amplified the downturn. Several investors noted that stress in traditional risk assets spilled into crypto markets, worsening an already fragile environment shaped by unresolved structural issues from earlier liquidation events. Altcoins Face…

South Korea is preparing to strengthen supervision of its cryptocurrency market, with regulators signaling tougher action against manipulation and operational failures following a series of high-profile incidents. Financial Supervisory Service Targets Market Abuse The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) announced plans to intensify oversight of crypto trading practices as part of its annual policy agenda. The regulator intends to launch focused investigations into activities that disrupt market order, including price manipulation by large traders and coordinated schemes that artificially inflate token prices. Authorities are also scrutinizing tactics such as exploiting suspended deposits or withdrawals on exchanges, rapid price-pumping strategies, and the…

The US Federal Reserve is weighing sharply divided feedback on a proposal that would grant limited access to its payments system through so-called “skinny master accounts,” highlighting growing tensions between crypto firms and traditional banks. Federal Reserve Payment Account Proposal Explained The proposal would introduce a new type of “payment account” designed for non-bank financial institutions, including fintech and crypto companies. Unlike full master accounts held by commercial banks, these accounts would not earn interest, would not provide access to Federal Reserve credit facilities, and would be subject to strict balance caps. The Fed received 44 public comments before the…

Coinbase has made its return to Super Bowl advertising, leaning into 1990s pop nostalgia with a karaoke-style commercial built around a Backstreet Boys hit. The move marks the crypto exchange’s first Super Bowl appearance since its widely discussed QR code ad four years ago. Coinbase Super Bowl Ad Focuses on Nostalgia and Simplicity The one-minute television spot featured animated lyrics from the 1997 song “Everybody (Backstreet’s Back),” flashing across the screen with minimal visuals. Rather than promoting a specific product or incentive, the ad aimed to create a shared cultural moment during the most-watched sporting event in the United States.…

The nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next chair of the US Federal Reserve is facing early resistance in the Senate, as a Justice Department investigation into current Fed Chair Jerome Powell complicates the confirmation process. Senate Banking Committee Faces Fed Chair Standoff US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has called on the Senate Banking Committee to move forward with confirmation hearings for Warsh, even as some lawmakers push to delay the process. The resistance is being led by Senator Thom Tillis, who has said he will not support hearings until the Justice Department concludes its investigation into Powell. Bessent argued…

Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin, is ramping up its global expansion with plans to significantly increase its workforce over the next 18 months, reflecting strong growth in profits and adoption. Tether Workforce Growth and Hiring Plans The company has grown its employee base to around 300 staff and is preparing to add approximately 150 more roles, with a strong focus on engineering talent. The hiring push also extends beyond technical roles, including positions related to artificial intelligence, venture investing, and regulatory compliance across multiple regions such as Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. This expansion…

A growing divide has emerged among leading crypto venture capitalists over whether non-financial Web3 applications have failed or are simply waiting for the right conditions to scale. Disagreement on Product-Market Fit in Web3 The debate was reignited after comments from Chris Dixon, a managing partner at a16z crypto, who argued that non-financial blockchain use cases have been held back by years of regulatory pressure, scams and short-term extractive behavior. Dixon suggested that once regulatory clarity improves, applications such as decentralized social networks, digital identity systems, creator platforms and Web3 gaming could gain meaningful adoption. Not all investors agree. Haseeb Qureshi…

Crypto security analysts are warning of a renewed surge in address poisoning scams after two recent incidents resulted in combined losses exceeding $62 million, underscoring persistent risks for blockchain users. What Is Address Poisoning and How Victims Lose Funds Address poisoning is a tactic where attackers send tiny “dust” transactions from wallet addresses designed to closely resemble legitimate ones. These malicious addresses often share the same starting and ending characters as trusted addresses already stored in a victim’s transaction history. When users later copy an address from their history, they may unknowingly send funds to the attacker instead. According to…

Crypto.com co-founder and CEO Kris Marszalek has acquired the premium AI.com domain for approximately $70 million, paid entirely in cryptocurrency, and plans to debut a new consumer artificial intelligence platform during the Super Bowl. AI.com Deal Sets New Benchmark for Domain Sales Marszalek completed the purchase in April 2025 after the domain was publicly listed with a $100 million asking price earlier that year. The transaction is believed to be the largest publicly disclosed domain sale to date, surpassing previous high-profile deals such as CarInsurance.com and Chat.com. The seller was identified as Arsyan Ismail, with the transaction brokered privately. Marszalek…