Author: Tristan Lodenberg

Republican Senator Roger Marshall has decided to hold back an amendment targeting credit card swipe fees in the Senate’s upcoming crypto market structure bill markup. The amendment, initially filed last week, aimed to force companies to compete on swipe fees but was later withdrawn after private discussions, ensuring the bill’s progress. Committee Delays and Legislative Strategy The Senate Agriculture Committee postponed the bill markup from Thursday to Tuesday, Feb. 3, due to severe winter weather across much of the US. Lawmakers have also delayed discussions to encourage bipartisan support, with the White House reportedly involved to prevent amendments that could…

Layer-1 blockchain Hyperliquid has reached a new milestone as its HIP-3 (Builder-Deployed Perpetuals) framework records $793 million in open interest (OI). The growth is fueled by a surge in commodities trading, highlighting the platform’s rising adoption among builders and traders creating onchain perpetual futures markets. HIP-3 Framework and Market Launch HIP-3, which went live in mid-October, enables anyone to launch perpetual futures contracts for any asset with a valid price feed. A key requirement for deploying a market is staking 500,000 HYPE tokens, ensuring commitment from market creators and maintaining network security. The framework is fully permissionless, allowing developers to…

Digital asset manager Bitwise has announced plans to roll out non-custodial onchain vaults through a partnership with decentralized lending protocol Morpho. The initiative reflects a broader shift toward blockchain-based investment products designed to offer transparency, flexibility, and direct access to decentralized finance yields. Bitwise Onchain Vault Strategy Explained The first vault strategy is designed to target approximately 6% annual percentage yield, achieved through overcollateralized lending pools on Morpho. These vaults allow users to deposit assets directly onchain while Bitwise oversees strategy selection, risk controls, and portfolio curation.\ Unlike traditional staking or lock-up products, the vaults are structured to allow deposits…

Polymarket has signed a multi-year partnership with Major League Soccer (MLS), becoming the league’s exclusive prediction market partner. The agreement covers both the regular MLS season and the Leagues Cup, signaling a growing connection between professional sports and data-driven fan engagement platforms. Expanding Fan Engagement Through Prediction Markets Under the deal, Polymarket and MLS plan to develop interactive, second-screen experiences designed to deepen fan involvement during matches. These experiences may include real-time insights, collective sentiment, and market-based probabilities tied to games, moments, and season-long narratives.According to company statements, the goal is to give fans a more data-informed way to follow…

Russia has effectively banned crypto exchange WhiteBIT, labeling it an “undesirable organization” due to the platform’s financial and technical support for Ukraine-linked initiatives. The move bars WhiteBIT from operating in Russia and exposes local collaborators to fines and criminal penalties, including potential prison terms. WhiteBIT’s Support for Ukraine According to Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office, WhiteBIT transferred approximately $11 million in 2022 to support Ukrainian defense efforts, including drone procurement and humanitarian programs. The exchange has openly acknowledged these contributions, providing technical infrastructure for United24, Ukraine’s crypto-enabled fundraising platform for both military and civilian purposes. WhiteBIT, headquartered in Lithuania, continues to…

Australia’s corporate regulator, ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission), has flagged risks in digital assets, unlicensed fintech, and AI firms in its new “Key Issues Outlook 2026” report. ASIC warned that rapid growth in these sectors has created regulatory gaps that could expose consumers to significant risks. Government Oversight and Licensing ASIC emphasized that it is up to the government to decide whether emerging digital asset products and services should fall under existing regulatory frameworks. Some companies may intentionally remain unlicensed, increasing regulatory uncertainty. Focus on Clarity and Compliance Regulator stressed the importance of clear licensing rules and regulatory oversight…

The tokenized gold market is expanding alongside renewed demand for physical bullion, underscoring a broader shift toward safe-haven assets as confidence in the US dollar weakens. Rising geopolitical tensions, trade uncertainty, and currency risk are pushing investors toward assets viewed as long-term stores of value. Recent data shows that tokenized gold is no longer a niche segment, but an increasingly relevant part of the global gold market. Tether Gold Dominates the Tokenized Gold Market Tether confirmed that its Tether Gold (XAUt) token now represents more than half of the global gold-backed stablecoin market, with a total value exceeding $2.2 billion.…

Global asset manager VanEck has expanded its digital asset lineup with the launch of the first US-listed spot Avalanche exchange-traded product, offering investors direct exposure to Avalanche’s native token, AVAX. The fund trades under the ticker VAVX and tracks the spot price of AVAX, while also enabling potential returns through staking rewards. The product is not registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, though it remains subject to other applicable US securities regulations. VanEck confirmed it will waive sponsor fees on the first $500 million in assets until Feb. 28, after which a 0.20% sponsor fee will apply across…

Meta is facing a privacy-focused lawsuit in the United States after plaintiffs alleged that the company can access WhatsApp chats, undermining the app’s end-to-end encryption promises. The case, filed in a San Francisco district court, claims that Meta’s encryption is misleading and exposes the personal messages of over 3 billion users. Meta’s Response to Privacy Allegations Meta communications director Andy Stone publicly rejected the lawsuit’s claims, calling them “categorically false” and a “frivolous work of fiction.” According to Stone, WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption ensures that only the sender and recipient can read messages, and Meta does not have a backdoor to…

Valour, the UK arm of digital asset firm DeFi Technologies, has secured regulatory approval from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to offer Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded products (ETPs) to retail investors. The products officially began trading on the London Stock Exchange, marking a significant shift in the UK’s approach to regulated crypto investment. This development follows the FCA’s decision to lift its long-standing ban on crypto ETPs for retail investors, reopening the market after years of restrictions. Bitcoin and Ethereum Staking ETPs Go Live The newly approved products 1Valour Bitcoin Physical Staking and 1Valour Ethereum Physical Staking — provide investors…