Author: Tristan Lodenberg

Prediction market platform Polymarket recorded a sharp rise in daily fees and revenue following its March 30 fee model overhaul. Data from DefiLlama showed daily fees increasing from about $363,000 on Monday to more than $1 million on both Wednesday and Thursday. Revenue, representing the portion retained after incentives, reached approximately $995,000 on Wednesday before easing to around $899,000 on Thursday. The increase followed the expansion of taker fees beyond crypto and sports markets to include finance, politics, economics, culture, weather, and technology categories. Geopolitical and world events remained fee-free under the updated structure. The move reflects Polymarket’s efforts to…

Coinbase has received conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national trust company charter, marking a major step toward operating as a federally regulated crypto custodian. The approval remains preliminary and requires the company to complete several regulatory steps before receiving a full charter. Compliance Requirements Before Final Charter Approval The conditional green light requires Coinbase to build comprehensive compliance systems, hire key personnel and undergo regulatory reviews. Regulators also expect the company to demonstrate strong risk management practices, protect client assets and meet anti-money-laundering standards. Only after satisfying these requirements can…

Bitcoin trimmed earlier losses while major stock markets recovered after reports that Iran is working with Oman on a protocol to manage traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The development eased fears of disruptions to one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes, helping risk markets stabilize. Bitcoin traded near $66,900, down about 3%, with ether near $2,060, also lower by roughly 3% over the past 24 hours. Iran-Oman Protocol Eases Shipping Route Concerns Iranian officials said the proposed measures are intended to coordinate ship movement and ensure safe passage rather than restrict traffic. Deputy Foreign Minister for legal…

Ripple has introduced native digital asset capabilities into its enterprise treasury management system, allowing CFOs to manage XRP and RLUSD alongside fiat currencies for the first time within a single platform. The new features, Digital Asset Accounts and Unified Treasury, are built on GTreasury, which Ripple acquired in 2025. Digital Asset Accounts for Real-Time Management Digital Asset Accounts enable treasury teams to create Ripple native digital asset accounts inside the platform. XRP, RLUSD, and other supported tokens are displayed alongside cash positions with real-time fiat valuations. Transactions are automatically recorded with notional amounts, fiat equivalents, and market prices at the…

Bitcoin is trading below $66,000, down over 3% in the past 24 hours and roughly 45% below its October all-time high, marking nearly six months of a bear market. Investors are increasingly focused on two key questions: how much lower can bitcoin fall, and how long will this bear market continue. Price Pain vs. Time Pain Market challenges are not only about sharp drawdowns, known as price pain, but also slow-moving, range-bound trading, referred to as time pain. Price pain forces participants out of positions during sudden volatility, while time pain tests investor endurance as markets remain directionless for extended…

SoFi has introduced SoFi Big Business Banking, a new platform designed to let companies manage both U.S. dollars and digital assets within a regulated banking environment. The service enables firms to hold dollars, convert funds into stablecoins such as SoFiUSD, and transfer money at any time without relying on traditional banking hours. The platform addresses a long standing challenge in crypto finance, where companies typically depend on separate providers for banking, stablecoin issuance and custody. These fragmented systems often slow payments and settlements, sometimes taking hours or days to complete. Stablecoin Conversion and Blockchain Settlement Tools Under the system, businesses…

Bitcoin has slipped below $66,000, trading around $65,973, down 3.7% in 24 hours. Analysts note that the market remains rangebound between roughly $60,000 and $70,000, with no clear catalyst for a breakout. Ether has also remained pinned near $2,000, reflecting a cautious sentiment across major cryptocurrencies. Spot demand is absorbing selling pressure but not strong enough to push prices higher. Approximately 8–9 million BTC remain held above current levels, creating an overhead resistance that caps rallies. Long-term holders are realizing losses at elevated prices, indicating that a redistribution phase is ongoing. Derivatives Positioning Raises Squeeze Risk Funding rates remain negative,…

Crypto infrastructure firm BitGo has introduced a new service designed to allow institutional clients to mint, redeem, and manage stablecoins and other digital assets within a single operational framework. The service, called BitGo Mint, aims to simplify workflows for institutions seeking efficient and scalable digital asset infrastructure. The platform initially supports minting and redemption for World Liberty’s USD1, a Trump-backed stablecoin, and SoFiUSD, issued by SoFi Bank, an OCC-regulated and FDIC-insured depository institution. BitGo previously launched infrastructure support for both USD1 and SoFiUSD at the end of last year, strengthening its role in stablecoin operations. Institutional Demand Drives Stablecoin Infrastructure…

Iran has introduced a new transit payment system requiring ships to pay in cryptocurrencies or Chinese yuan to cross the Strait of Hormuz, transforming the strategic waterway into a tightly controlled passage managed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Under the new process, vessels seeking entry must submit detailed operational data, including ownership, cargo details, flag, crew information, destination, and real-time tracking data before receiving approval. The policy applies primarily to vessels from nations considered “friendly,” while ships heading to the United States or Israel are reportedly restricted from passage. Approved vessels receive clearance codes and are guided through…

Crypto markets moved sharply lower as renewed geopolitical tensions pushed oil prices higher and triggered a broad risk-off reaction across global markets. Bitcoin traded near $66,700 after losing about 2.4% of its value since midnight UTC, giving back a significant portion of its recent gains. Ether recorded deeper losses, falling 4.4% as investors reacted to growing uncertainty. The decline followed statements from US President Donald Trump indicating that military strikes in Iran would continue, which intensified market concerns and weakened sentiment across risk assets. Oil Surge and Equity Losses Weigh on Risk Assets The escalation in tensions led to a…