Author: Tristan Lodenberg

Global asset manager Franklin Templeton is set to deepen its digital asset presence by acquiring 250 Digital, a spinoff from crypto-native investment firm CoinFund. The acquisition will support the creation of a new division called Franklin Crypto, aimed at strengthening institutional crypto investment services once the deal is finalized. The move follows CoinFund’s earlier decision to spin out its liquid strategies business into 250 Digital, allowing the firm to focus more closely on venture investments. The transaction includes the 250 Digital investment team along with all liquid cryptocurrency strategies previously operated by CoinFund. Franklin Templeton also plans to allocate capital…

Artificial intelligence leader OpenAI has closed a $122 billion funding round at an $852 billion valuation, making it the most valuable startup ever. The round was anchored by Amazon, Nvidia, SoftBank, and existing investor Microsoft, attracting a broad roster of global institutions including BlackRock, Fidelity, Sequoia, Temasek, and individual investors, who contributed over $3 billion. Revenue Growth and User Base Expansion OpenAI now reports $2 billion in monthly revenue, up from $1 billion per quarter at the end of 2024. The company serves more than 900 million weekly ChatGPT users, with over 50 million subscribers. Enterprise adoption accounts for more…

The Uniswap Foundation reported total assets of approximately $85.8 million as of Dec. 31, 2025, projecting that current funding will support operations through January 2027. The figures were disclosed in an unaudited financial summary published on its governance forum, outlining the organization’s financial strength and long-term planning strategy. According to the report, the foundation held $49.9 million in cash and stablecoins alongside 15.1 million UNI tokens and 240 ether. These holdings form the financial base supporting the development and expansion of the Uniswap ecosystem. Grant Allocations and Operational Spending Plans A significant portion of the foundation’s resources has been allocated…

Brazil’s main stock exchange B3 is set to launch six new derivatives known as Event Contracts on April 27, allowing investors to speculate on future outcomes including bitcoin prices, currency movements and stock index performance. The contracts are regulated by Brazil’s securities authority, the CVM, and are designed specifically for professional investors. These instruments function similarly to prediction markets, with contract prices ranging up to 100 reals ($19). Each price reflects the market’s estimated probability of a specific outcome. The six contracts will cover mini futures and spot prices tied to the Ibovespa index, the U.S. dollar and bitcoin. Access…

Three cryptocurrency executives extradited from Singapore appeared in federal court in Oakland as US prosecutors expanded a major crypto wash trading case involving 10 foreign nationals linked to four market-maker firms: Gotbit, Vortex, Antier, and Contrarian. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) said the charges stem from alleged schemes dating back to 2018, where coordinated trading activity was used to inflate token prices and trading volumes, making assets appear more liquid and in higher demand than they actually were. Multi-Year Crackdown Targets Market Manipulation The current case builds on an undercover operation first unsealed in October 2024, when US authorities…

Recent US economic data showed mixed but generally supportive signals for growth. The ADP Non-Farm Employment Change recorded 62K new jobs, exceeding the forecast of 41K but slightly below the previous reading of 66K. This suggests the labor market remains stable, with hiring continuing at a moderate pace. At the same time, Core Retail Sales rose 0.5% month-over-month, beating expectations of 0.3% and improving from the prior 0.0% reading. Headline Retail Sales also increased by 0.6%, surpassing the 0.5% forecast and rebounding from the previous decline of -0.2%. Bullish Signals for US Dollar Stronger-than-expected retail sales indicate resilient consumer spending,…

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has issued a stern warning to prediction market traders, emphasizing that insider trading laws apply to event contracts. “There’s a myth in mainstream media and social media that insider trading doesn’t apply in the prediction markets … That is wrong,” said CFTC enforcement director David Miller, speaking at a New York University panel. Miller, a former federal prosecutor appointed March 2, clarified that the Commission will use prosecutorial discretion, focusing only on cases involving tips or trading with misappropriated information. “We will not dedicate resources to trivial cases,” he said. He also confirmed…

European digital asset manager CoinShares has officially entered US public markets after completing a business combination with Vine Hill Capital Investment Corp. The transaction resulted in the formation of a new holding company, CoinShares PLC, with shares beginning trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol CSHR. The merger, first announced in September, valued CoinShares at approximately $1.2 billion. As part of the agreement, institutional investors committed $50 million in capital, highlighting continued interest from large financial participants despite ongoing volatility in digital asset markets. Although this marks its US debut, CoinShares had already been publicly listed in Europe prior…

Losses from crypto hacks and exploits reached $52 million across 20 major incidents in March 2026, according to blockchain security firm PeckShield. The figure represents a 96% increase compared with $26.5 million in February, highlighting a sharp rise in security threats across the digital asset sector. Resolv Labs Attack Drives Major Stablecoin Losses A significant portion of March’s losses came from an exploit targeting Resolv Labs, which resulted in the theft of more than $25 million worth of USR stablecoins. Attackers exploited a flaw in the USR minting contract, creating nearly 80 million unbacked stablecoins. Resolv issued a 72-hour ultimatum…

STRC, the perpetual preferred stock from Strategy, has held its 11.5% dividend for April, marking the first time since its July 2025 launch that the dividend has not increased. The move comes after seven consecutive dividend raises, supported by a 30-day volume weighted average price (VWAP) stabilizing near $100. STRC Dividend and Market Position STRC debuted with a 9% dividend and has positioned itself as a short-duration, high-yield savings alternative, offering monthly cash distributions. The dividend rate is adjusted monthly to support trading near par and minimize price volatility. In April, STRC maintained stability, trading close to $100 and allowing…