Author: NBTC

PALM BEACH, Fla. — Prediction markets are starting to play a role in how traditional financial markets move, New York Stock Exchange President Lynn Martin said Wednesday at the World Liberty forum in Palm Beach. “It was very clear for us… that prediction markets [were being used] as an input to traditional markets,” she said at the event hosted at Mar-a-Lago, pointing to a moment during the 2024 U.S. presidential election when S&P futures spiked unexpectedly. According to Martin, the move was later explained by crypto-based prediction platform Polymarket having shown Donald Trump as the likely winner before other sources…

Crypto exchange Binance says it has “significantly reduced exposure” to sanctioned entities and high-risk jurisdictions, including exposure to Iran since January 2024. In a blog post titled “Setting the record straight” on Monday, Binance said its sanctions-related exposure as a percentage of total exchange volume has fallen by about 97% in that time, and now sits at around 0.009%. Exchange volume to sanctions-related entities has declined. Source: Binance The post comes after a Feb. 13 Fortune report citing anonymous sources alleging that Binance fired at least five investigators who had supposedly uncovered evidence of Iranian sanctions violations. Binance denied the…

Talk about winning the lottery. A solo miner walked away with over $200,000 in bitcoin while renting just $75 of hash power. A solo miner validated block 938,092 around 8:04 a.m. UTC on Tuesday, earning the full 3.125 $BTC block reward using hashrate rented through on-demand cloud services, according to blockchain data from Mempool.space. The miner spent roughly 119,000 satoshis, about $75, to rent 1 petahash per second of computing power and used CKPool, a service that lets individual miners work independently while relying on a pool server to broadcast and submit solutions. The math on that return is absurd.…

Key takeaways MegaETH leverages Ethereum for its superior blockchain execution environment. A stress test on MegaETH achieved 55,000 transactions per second. Layer two solutions that replicate layer one services face security challenges. Ethereum’s strength is crucial for the entire smart contract ecosystem. Ethereum’s scaling strategy is shifting from layer twos to enhancing layer one. Recent changes in Ethereum’s roadmap represent a logical pivot. Regulatory pressures are pushing some rollups towards centralization. Ethereum may return to higher transaction costs as activity shifts back to layer one. Current low transaction costs are due to activity migration to layer twos. The energy spent…

Hyperliquid ($HYPE), a blockchain-based exchange that processed more than $250 billion in perpetual futures trading last month, has launched a U.S. lobbying and research arm aimed at shaping how lawmakers regulate decentralized finance (DeFi). The Hyperliquid Policy Center, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit, will focus on regulatory frameworks for decentralized exchanges, perpetual futures and blockchain-based market infrastructure, according to a Wednesday press release. Jake Chervinsky, a prominent crypto lawyer and former policy head at the Blockchain Association, will serve as founder and CEO. The launch comes as Congress and federal agencies debate how to oversee crypto trading platforms and derivatives markets.…

U.S.-listed crypto ETFs are flashing red across the board, with one notable exception. Bitcoin spot ETFs saw $133.3 million in daily net outflows as of Feb. 18, led by BlackRock’s IBIT, which shed $84.2 million, and Fidelity’s FBTC, which lost $49 million. Total net assets across bitcoin funds stand at $83.6 billion, roughly 6.3% of bitcoin’s market cap, but recent flows suggest institutions are trimming exposure rather than adding on dips. Ethereum products followed a similar pattern. U.S. $ETH spot ETFs recorded $41.8 million in net outflows on the day, with BlackRock’s ETHA losing nearly $30 million. Total net assets…

The People’s Bank of China acquired 30,000 troy ounces of gold in December, according to official figures, extending its 14‑month buying streak. China is among the countries with the largest gold reserves, officially holding more than 74 million troy ounces of the precious metal. China Ramps up Gold Purchases, Continues 14-Month Buying Streak China has continued its gold rush, acquiring more gold in December. According to official data released on Wednesday, the People’s Bank of China acquired 30,000 troy ounces of gold in December, boosting its reserves to 74.15 million ounces (2,306 tons). This is the 14th month in which Chinese gold reserves…

US lawmakers may face a narrowing window to pass long-awaited crypto legislation. Speaking at the World Liberty Forum, Senator Bernie Moreno said a comprehensive market structure bill could pass “hopefully by the end of April.” The Ohio Senator stressed that Congress must act within the next 90 days to maintain momentum. A Compressed Timeline for Crypto Rules The remarks, delivered at an event hosted by World Liberty Financial at Mar-a-Lago on February 18, highlighted both urgency and persistent friction between the banking sector and the digital asset industry. According to live reporting, Bernie Moreno acknowledged the difficulty of negotiations, saying…

MEXC received another wave of user reports, claiming accounts were locked without recourse. The exchange renewed its investigation to give a reason for the locked accounts. MEXC, one of the most widely used global exchanges, is once again receiving social media reports of locked user accounts. Traders have complained that once they achieved a more significant sum in their account, their funds were held, and withdrawals were banned. One user claimed MEXC held $300,000 in a locked account, requiring a 40% haircut to release the funds. “MEXC locked my account holding approx. $300,000. I fully complied with their verification process…

American Bitcoin (ABTC), the bitcoin $BTC$67,953.30 mining company backed by the family of President Donald Trump, said it lost $59 million in the fourth quarter as the plummeting price of the largest cryptocurrency eroded the value of its holdings. The company, which went public in September, less than a month before the largest cryptocurrency hit a record high, is pursuing a dual strategy of mining and purchases, with roughly one-third of its $BTC coming from mining operations. The rest comes from open-market purchases and strategic transactions, funded in large part by selling stock. The company, which is 20% owned by…