Author: NBTC

Layer 1 blockchain Sui (SUI) has announced plans to launch ‘Sui Spheres,’ a controlled execution environment designed specifically for multi-party workflows. The initiative, detailed in an official blog post, aims to address a persistent challenge in institutional blockchain adoption: balancing the transparency of public networks with the privacy requirements of enterprise operations. Bridging Public and Private Blockchain Environments Sui explained that most institutional workflows cannot operate in a fully public setting due to data sensitivity and regulatory constraints. Conversely, completely private systems create silos, limiting interoperability and defeating the purpose of using a shared ledger. ‘Sui Spheres’ is positioned as…

Banking systems engineer CharuSan has linked the CLARITY Act to a wider case for $XRP’s possible use in global bank payments. His argument says regulatory clarity, payment infrastructure, and liquidity depth could shape $XRP’s role at an institutional scale. CharuSan said many $XRP forecasts assume Ripple must sign separate agreements with thousands of banks. He argued that this view does not reflect how financial software could be deployed through large infrastructure providers. CLARITY Act Ties $XRP Utility to Banking Infrastructure Ripple already works with major infrastructure providers, including Volante, ACI Worldwide, and Finastra. These firms support banks through centralized systems…

Oobit, the crypto payments platform backed by stablecoin issuer Tether, has officially launched in Colombia, its ninth live market and the latest leg of a regional expansion that already spans Argentina, Chile, and Brazil. The announcement comes as the region’s crypto economy, valued at roughly $44 billion, continues to attract fintech operators betting on practical, everyday use of digital assets. Colombia has quietly become one of the world’s most stablecoin-heavy crypto markets. Chainalysis data shows the Colombian Peso ranked second globally in its share of centralized exchange stablecoin purchases, a sign that for most Colombian crypto users, stablecoins are not…

A Reuters investigation found that Iran’s largest crypto exchange, Nobitex, relied heavily on two major blockchain networks, Tron and $BNB Chain, to move billions of dollars. Since 2023, Nobitex has processed at least $2.3 billion through the two blockchains, according to blockchain data reviewed by Reuters. Tron was founded by crypto billionaire Justin Sun, while $BNB Chain originated from Binance, the exchange created by Changpeng Zhao. Both Sun and Binance later came out as important backers of World Liberty Financial, the Trump family’s flagship crypto venture. According to Reuters, there is no evidence Trump or his relatives knew Nobitex was…

Digital asset manager CoinShares has quietly filed an amendment to register three new ETFs that track Bitcoin volatility. The Valkyrie ETF Trust II filed a post-effective amendment with the SEC for the CoinShares Bitcoin Volatility ETF, CoinShares Bitcoin Volatility Leveraged ETF, and CoinShares Bitcoin Volatility Inverse ETF. The filing was first flagged by Bloomberg Senior ETF Analyst Eric Balchunas on X. “Currently we know of no ETF that exists that will provide investors, institutions, and advisors exposure to the volatility of Bitcoin,” a person familiar with the filings told Decrypt. “This suite of ETFs seeks to profit from increased or…

DeFi users are still chasing yield while most of their capital remains exposed to hacks, phishing attacks, and private key failures. According to Nexus Mutual founder Hugh Karp, less than 2% of DeFi’s total value locked has insurance coverage, even as billions continue moving through lending markets, bridges, and staking protocols. The gap has become harder to ignore after years of major exploits. DeFiLlama data cited in the report shows uninsured lending protocols have lost $7.7 billion to attacks over six years, while April 2026 alone saw more than $600 million lost in security events. DeFi Cover Remains Thin DeFi…

Ether has continued to lag behind Bitcoin during the latest crypto market recovery, with analysts at JPMorgan saying weaker network activity and fading confidence across the altcoin market have kept institutional demand tilted toward Bitcoin. According to a report from JPMorgan led by managing director Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou, Bitcoin has recovered much faster than Ethereum following the recent market turbulence linked to the Iran conflict. The bank said institutional investors have rebuilt exposure to Bitcoin across both spot exchange-traded funds and CME futures markets at a pace not seen with Ether. Spot Bitcoin ETFs have already regained nearly two-thirds of the…

New York, NY – January 22, 2025 – Digital asset management firm Grayscale has issued a stark warning about the growing trend of digital asset companies issuing preferred stocks. The firm specifically highlighted instruments like Strategy’s STRC, calling them a risky bet on Bitcoin’s price direction. Grayscale’s analysis suggests these preferred stocks carry a risk equivalent to a CCC credit rating. Grayscale Warning on Preferred Stocks Risk Grayscale’s report focuses on the mechanics of these financial products. Preferred stocks, unlike common shares, promise fixed dividend payments. However, Grayscale points out a fundamental problem with Bitcoin-linked preferred stocks. Bitcoin itself does…

$NEAR has added $USDC and Confidential Intents to its AI agent marketplace, allowing AI agents to make private stablecoin payments onchain. The integration allows AI agents on the $NEAR AI Agent Market to send and receive $USDC without publicly showing payment amounts or who is involved in the transaction, according to a Thursday, 14 May announcement. $NEAR’s AI Agent Market is a decentralized marketplace on which AI agents can transact with full economic agency. $USDC, issued by Circle Internet Group (NYSE: CRCL), is the second-largest stablecoin by market capitalization, at around $77bn, per DeFiLlama. $NEAR AI said the integration uses…

Hong Kong-listed cryptocurrency exchange HashKey has announced the listing of Hyperliquid ($HYPE), a token associated with the decentralized perpetual exchange platform. The exchange also confirmed it will provide over-the-counter (OTC) trading services for the token, targeting professional investors. Listing Details and Market Context HashKey, which operates under a regulated framework in Hong Kong, added Hyperliquid to its trading roster as part of its strategy to expand offerings for institutional and accredited investors. The exchange’s decision to include OTC trading for $HYPE signals demand from high-net-worth individuals and funds seeking to execute large block trades without impacting market prices. Hyperliquid is…