Author: NBTC

VelaFi, a stablecoin-powered financial infrastructure provider under Galactic Holdings, has raised $20 million in a Series B funding round led by XVC and Ikuyo, the company said in a press release Monday. The round also included participation from Alibaba Investment, Planetree, BAI Capital, and other global investors, bringing the company’s total funding to more than $40 million. Founded in 2020, VelaFi initially built payment infrastructure in Latin America and has since expanded into the U.S. and Asia. Its platform connects local banking rails, cross-border payment networks and major stablecoin protocols, allowing enterprises to move funds across markets more quickly and…

TOKYO, JAPAN – February 2025. Japan’s cryptocurrency landscape stands on the brink of a significant transformation following a decisive political shift. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s (LDP) overwhelming victory in the House of Representatives election has injected powerful momentum into long-awaited digital asset tax reforms. Consequently, the proposed reduction of Japan’s crypto capital gains tax from a steep 55% to a flat 20% rate is now expected to proceed without major legislative hurdles, potentially reshaping the nation’s position in the global Web3 economy. Japan’s Crypto Tax Reform Gains Unstoppable Momentum The February 8th election delivered a commanding two-thirds majority to…

BlackRock, the world-wide largest asset manager, on Wednesday said it will make shares of its tokenized U.S. Treasury fund, BUIDL, tradable on Uniswap, marking the asset manager’s first step into decentralized finance (DeFi). As part of the move, BlackRock also disclosed a strategic investment in Uniswap and purchased an undisclosed amount of UNI, Uniswap’s governance token, which surged 25% on the news, now trading at $4.11. BUIDL, which launched in 2024, is the largest tokenized U.S. Treasury fund on the market with nearly $2.2 billion in total value locked, according to data from rwa.xyz. It’s a blockchain-based fund backed 100%…

Ethereum price started a recovery wave above $2,000. $ETH is now consolidating and remain at risk of another decline below $1,980. Ethereum struggled to extend gains above $2,120 and corrected lower. The price is trading below $2,050 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a contracting triangle forming with resistance at $2,040 on the hourly chart of $ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken). The pair could start a fresh decline if it stays below the $2,120 zone. Ethereum Price Dips Again Ethereum price managed to form a base above $1,950 and started a recovery wave, like Bitcoin. $ETH price traded…

Spot ETF data, which indicates the direction of institutional investors in the cryptocurrency market, pointed to significant outflows last week. According to SoSoValue data, there was a net outflow of $681 million from Bitcoin spot ETFs last week. This indicates that the cautious atmosphere in the markets is also being felt through the ETF channel. Last week, the Bitcoin spot ETF that recorded the highest net inflow was IBIT, managed by BlackRock. IBIT generated approximately $25.86 million in net inflows on a weekly basis, bringing its historical total net inflow to $62.41 billion. However, the largest outflow was seen in…

U.S. Treasury: Passing the Clarity Act is Critical for U.S. Bitcoin and Crypto Sovereignty Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently pressed lawmakers to act on stalled crypto and bitcoin legislation, saying the United States must secure clear market structure rules before the end of the spring legislative window. In an interview from Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, Bessent said that the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act — commonly referred to as the Clarity Act — is essential to the future viability of bitcoin and digital asset markets in the U.S. Bessent told host Maria Bartiromo that the recent volatility and developments…

Ethereum ($ETH) now trades below the average entry levels of both accumulation addresses and exchange-traded fund (ETF) holders, leaving a significant portion of major holders underwater. Yet current data points to continued structural commitment rather than broad exit activity, suggesting that capital remains engaged despite the drawdown. Ethereum’s Decline Pushes Major Buyers Into Unrealized Loss Territory Ethereum has extended its losses in 2026, shedding more than 30% year-to-date amid a broader crypto market downturn. The second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization fell below the $2,000 level last week. Although it briefly recovered that mark, the rebound proved short-lived, and $ETH has…

Braden Karony, former CEO of SafeMoon, has been sentenced to 100 months in federal prison for his role in a crypto fraud involving the project’s liquidity pool. A jury convicted Karony of securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering after prosecutors showed he misappropriated investor funds while claiming they were “locked.” Karony personally withdrew over $9 million in crypto and engaged in manipulative trading to boost the price of the SFM token. The funds were taken from wallets portrayed as untouchable. U.S. District Judge Eric Komitee handed down the sentence in the Eastern District of New York after a hearing…

Japan’s blockchain endeavours have taken on a more practical tone over the past couple of years, with major institutions now assessing where the technology genuinely fits into day‑to‑day financial and industrial workflows. Some of the clearest signals are coming from the banking sector. In late 2025, the Japanese government confirmed its support for a project led by the country’s three largest banks to issue stablecoins for payments and settlement, under the oversight of the Financial Services Agency. It’s a revealing direction. The work is centred on moving money and settling trades, not chasing volatility. That caution comes from experience. Large…

HONG KONG — Thomas Lee, chief investment officer of Fundstrat and chairman of ether treasury firm BitMine Immersion (BMNR), said that investors should focus less on timing the exact low and start looking for entries in a keynote speech at Consensus Hong Kong 2026 on Wednesday. “You should be thinking about opportunities here instead of selling,” Lee said. $BTC has suffered a 50% drawdown from its October record highs, its worst correction since 2022. On Wednesday, bitcoin fell back below $67,000, giving up some of the bounce from last week’s crash lows. After managing a rapid reversal above $72,000 from…