Author: NBTC

According to reports, over 80% of the crypto firms operating in the EU have not acquired the full Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) license despite the looming deadline. For context, only around 210 of the 1,200-plus VASP entities with pre-MiCA national registrations have converted to full CASP authorization. MiCA’s Deadline Remains July 1, 2026 The European Securities Markets Authority (ESMA) released a statement on April 17, 2026, noting that the transitional period for crypto firms across the EU expires on July 1, 2026. That leaves only three weeks remaining as of the time of writing for companies to complete their…

Hong Kong-based online brokerage Futu, often referred to as the ‘Robinhood of China,’ has received approval from the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) to offer loan services specifically for cryptocurrency trading. The move makes Futu the first broker in the city to provide such a service, marking a significant step in the integration of traditional finance and digital assets. How the New Service Works Under the new approval, eligible investors can finance their cryptocurrency trades by using traditional financial assets—such as stocks and other securities—as collateral. This effectively extends the existing framework for securities margin trading to cover…

Bitcoin’s drop below $79,000 was driven by a sharp swing in global risk sentiment after the U.S.–China summit ended without progress and fresh Middle East tensions rattled markets. Key Takeaways: On May 15, bitcoin briefly dipped to $78,611 after the deadlocked U.S.-China summit rattled investors. The flash crash triggered a market-wide liquidation, wiping out $382 million in long positions. Observers expect bitcoin to remain volatile as the tech war over AI chips continues. US-China Tech Cold War Intensifies Bitcoin plunged below the $79,000 mark for the second time in two days as investor sentiment shifted from optimism to caution after…

Anthropic’s tokenized pre‑IPO shares now imply a $1.2T valuation—above OpenAI—showing how on‑chain markets are front‑running late‑stage AI pricing before any IPO. In February 2026, Anthropic closed a Series G round at a $380 billion post-money valuation, led by GIC and Coatue, already putting it in the ultra-elite tier of private tech firms. Since then, secondary trading has gone parabolic. On Forge Global, CEO Kelly Rodriques says Anthropic shares are now changing hands at prices that imply a valuation “around the $1 trillion threshold,” with OpenAI trading closer to $880 billion on the same platform. That inversion—Anthropic above OpenAI—did not exist…

Bitrue: $RLUSD Could Challenge $USDC as Yield Rules Shift Stablecoin Power Dynamics Ripple’s $RLUSD stablecoin could be quietly setting itself up for a stronger long-term position in the fast-changing stablecoin market, according to crypto exchange Bitrue. The exchange suggests that upcoming regulatory shifts, especially the proposed CLARITY Act, could redraw the competitive map in a way that works in Ripple’s favor, potentially putting it ahead of established players like Circle’s $USDC. At the heart of the debate is a possible crackdown on stablecoin yield offerings. If the CLARITY Act limits or bans yield incentives, stablecoins that depend on rewards to…

The debate over the CLARITY Act intensified this week after Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong responded to recent remarks from JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon. Dimon has sharply criticized both the legislation and the crypto industry. Speaking in an interview with Politico, Armstrong pushed back against Dimon’s comments and argued. That the proposed legislation would benefit traditional banks and crypto companies. Coinbase CEO Fires Back at Dimon Over CLARITY ActCoinbase (@coinbase) CEO Brian Armstrong (@brian_armstrong) pushed back on JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon’s criticism of the CLARITY Act, per Politico.Armstrong said the bill would be good for banks and crypto firms alike, adding……

Fortune has released its highly anticipated ‘Crypto 100’ list for 2026, offering a comprehensive snapshot of the most influential players across the digital asset ecosystem. The annual ranking, which categorizes companies and protocols into ten distinct segments, highlights the growing convergence of traditional finance, fintech, and decentralized technologies. Key Rankings Across Categories The 2026 list places Coinbase at the top of centralized exchanges, edging out Binance, which secured second place. This shift reflects Coinbase’s continued regulatory compliance efforts and expansion into institutional services, while Binance faces ongoing scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions. In the Traditional Finance (TradFi) category, Franklin Templeton claimed…

Bitcoin whale activity is seeing a resurgence that could prove net positive for an asset that has failed to convincingly clear the $82,000 level for weeks. However, buying volume across the broader market remains thin, tempering the immediate outlook. Whales are investors who control large amounts of liquidity and whose actions can materially shift the supply-demand dynamics of an asset. Their counterpart in the market is retail investors, who typically operate as short-term holders with a lower conviction threshold and a greater tendency to sell during volatility. Whale-to-retail ratio hits a 9-month high The Bitcoin [BTC] whale-to-retail ratio has recorded…

MIAMI – Coinbax won the $20,000 grand prize at Consensus Miami’s PitchFest after pitching a system designed to help banks and financial firms manage compliance for stablecoin payments. The company, founded by former Jack Henry executive Peter Glyman, builds programmable escrow infrastructure that adds controls to wallet-to-wallet crypto transactions. The software is meant to reduce the risks financial institutions face when moving funds onchain. “Banks want to use stablecoins for payments, but they need to get their compliance people comfortable with the idea of moving money onchain,” Glyman said during his presentation. He described a future where “wallet addresses [are]…

Infrastructure and Adoption: Ripple Custody is consolidating in Europe with key integrations such as that of the Italian banking giant Intesa Sanpaolo in April 2026. Market Context: While Las Vegas celebrates the $XRP ecosystem conference, London points out that actual execution has displaced regulatory speculation. Asset Data: The $XRP token is currently trading around $1.38, maintaining a market capitalization of over $85 billion. Ripple’s Managing Director for the UK and Europe, Cassie Craddock, recently stated that $XRP adoption in Europe has moved from pilot projects to real and scalable operational production. Digital asset adoption has moved from pilot to production.…