Author: NBTC

Bitcoin holders who want to unlock liquidity without giving up custody of their coins now have a new option to test. Zest Protocol has rolled out a mainnet demo of a system built for bitcoin backed $USDC loans, letting native $BTC on the Bitcoin network back borrowing activity on Ethereum without ever leaving its home chain. It’s a narrow, capped experiment for now, but the mechanics behind it point to a bigger shift in how Bitcoin-backed lending could eventually work across chains. Key takeaways Zest Protocol launched a mainnet demo for Bitcoin Collateral Vaults, allowing native $BTC to back $USDC…

The Bank of Japan drew attention by raising its interest rate to its highest level in 31 years. The decision, made at a meeting on September 18th, increased the rate to 1.25%. This increase is seen as a result of pressure exerted on Japan by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who argued that Japan needed to adopt a tighter monetary policy to address the imbalances created by its weak yen. US Influence and the Background of the Decision The decision to raise interest rates was the result of private discussions Bessent held with Japanese officials, starting in May 2026. Bessent…

StablecoinX has secured a permanent waiver ending the 48-month lock-up on its $ENA holdings from Oct. 5, 2026, while leaving separate controls on token sales in place. StablecoinX $ENA restrictions will end on Oct. 5 StablecoinX said in a Sep. 17 X post that it had filed a Form 8-K detailing a waiver signed with Ethena OpCo and the Ethena Foundation. Under the SEC filing, the parties signed the waiver letter on Sep. 14, with the changes scheduled to take effect on Oct. 5. The agreement permanently removes all lock-up, vesting, and unlocking restrictions on $ENA held by, or due…

Spot trading volume across 14 major exchanges reached an impressive $510.4 billion in August 2026, marking a 19.0% increase from July’s $429.0 billion. This data, shared by WuBlockchain, illustrates strong interest from institutional players and traders alike, as thirteen exchanges reported rising trading volumes. The implications for market dynamics and trader sentiment are significant, as higher volumes often correlate with increased market activity and participation. Source What Went Down The August 2026 spot trading volume report reveals a robust uptick in trading across major exchanges, which is noteworthy amid a backdrop of mixed signals in the broader crypto market. Binance…

PancakeSwap has made a significant move by launching its Pre-Access Portal, aiming to enhance user engagement within its ecosystem. This innovative feature allows users to gain tokenized, indirect exposure to private companies before their public listing. As reported in a recent tweet, this could transform how users interact with private investment opportunities. What Happened The broader cryptocurrency market is currently showing mixed signals, with varying momentum across major assets. Within this context, PancakeSwap is positioning itself at the forefront of innovation with its new features. The Pre-Access Portal allows users to participate in tokenized investments, while the Infinity Pools on…

Optimism approved Upgrade 20, moving its fault-proof system toward the architecture required for future Superchain interoperability. The Ethereum layer-2 network’s governance completed voting on Sept. 16, putting OP Sepolia, Ink Sepolia, Soneium Minato and Unichain Sepolia on course for a targeted Sept. 17 contract upgrade. Mainnet execution is scheduled for Sept. 24 if the new system completes a healthy seven-day testnet soak. The change moves fault proofs from Output Root Dispute Games to Super Root Dispute Games, altering how OP Stack chains challenge incorrect state before withdrawals are finalized back to Ethereum. Optimism describes the upgrade as a prerequisite for…

Kraken has added Smart Grid, an automated range-trading tool, to its desktop application for eligible Pro users. The exchange is entering a crowded grid-bot category by focusing on backtesting, saved configurations and parameters that can be changed after launch. Smart Grid is available to eligible Kraken Pro users through Kraken Desktop. It runs natively in the desktop application rather than through the exchange’s web interface. Backtesting Before Capital Goes Live The bot places a series of buy and sell orders across a price range the trader selects. It is designed to capture price movements within that range without requiring the…

Could the recent whale activity signal a shift in Bitcoin’s market dynamics? A notable whale has spent $85.42 million to accumulate 1,075.6 $BTC at an average price of $79,412 over the past four days, as reported by the CryptoTwitter commentator @lookonchain. This substantial accumulation could indicate growing confidence among major investors in the cryptocurrency market, potentially impacting overall sentiment and trading volumes. Breaking It Down The broader crypto market is currently exhibiting mixed signals, yet the recent whale accumulation of Bitcoin stands out as a significant event. Over four days, a whale invested $85.42 million to purchase 1,075.6 $BTC, which…

The European Union [EU] wants to bring crypto lending within the scope of the MiCA framework. In a recent policy review, the European Banking Authority (EBA) said that DeFi lending and borrowing should be regulated. EBA crafts policy and regulates the EU-wide banking sector to ensure financial stability and user protection. According to EBA, crypto lending, either via an intermediated interface of crypto asset service providers (CASPs) or DeFi protocols, can offer regulatory arbitrage for stablecoin yields. MiCA banned stablecoin yield, but some, such as Circle’s USDC and EURC, still earn yield via DeFi strategies. For EBA, this could cause…

Hardware wallets can reduce certain risks, but they do not make operational security foolproof. The attack surface also extends beyond the device itself: backup phrases, personal data, software updates and transaction hygiene all matter. Self-custody can expose investors to multiple forms of security risk For an investor making a modest portfolio allocation, that is an uncomfortable mismatch. The operational burden does not improve bitcoin’s expected return. It is simply the cost of a direct bitcoin ownership model. Bitcoin is not static Bitcoin is built to resist arbitrary change, but it still evolves. Software upgrades, wallet compatibility issues and occasional chain…