Author: NBTC

Key Notes Bridgepoint cited ht.digital’s 700+ global clients and nearly 100% organic revenue growth over two years as deal drivers. The firm was spun off from Harris & Trotter in 2023, establishing itself as a specialist in proof-of-reserves verifications and blockchain audits. The investment comes as regulatory demand for independent digital asset assurance accelerates following the FTX collapse. Bridgepoint Group agreed to acquire a majority stake in ht.digital, a London-headquartered digital asset assurance specialist. Sky News reported a valuation of £200 million (approximately $262 million), though Bridgepoint did not officially disclose financial terms. The transaction is expected to complete in…

Celsius prepares a massive $476M creditor payout—its largest yet—doubling the previous round and signaling major progress in concluding the bankruptcy case. With two more payout rounds expected and $579M still pending resolution, creditors gain renewed optimism as Celsius accelerates its long-delayed distributions. The Celsius bankruptcy case continues to evolve, and the latest update brings a much-needed boost of optimism for creditors who have been waiting months for the next payout. According to CelsiusFactsNumbers, an account that closely follows the case, the estate now holds a substantial amount of money ready for distribution. This follows years of court proceedings, asset sales,…

ManusPay, an AI-driven crypto payment platform that focuses on integrating digital asset payments into mainstream commerce, announced a strategic partnership with Magne.AI, a US-based Web3 smartphone company. Through this collaboration, ManusPay and Magne AI combined their tech expertise to promote accessible Web3 economic opportunities across the world. Magne.AI is a US-based tech firm that aims to develop AI-driven Web3 smartphones and mobile devices for the decentralized internet. By integrating an encryption framework, AI models, and blockchain networks, Magne.AI offers innovative solutions for decentralized interaction, asset protection, and digital identity. Its devices feature secure, private key storage, cutting-edge AI models, and…

In a year when cryptocurrency stocks have mostly moonwalked downward, executives at some of the sector’s top firms managed to secure fat compensation packages. Summary Crypto executives secured generous compensation despite falling stock prices. Some packages included protections against market declines. Activist shareholder Paul Glazer is opposing Pompliano’s M&A/pay package. According to SEC filings reviewed by Protos.com, several crypto pros enjoyed a bump in pay. David Bailey: The CEO of bitcoin treasury company Nakamoto and a noted President Trump ally pulled together a stacked package: signing bonus, consulting fees, stock options, restricted stock units, cash bonuses, and even private jet…

A former Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent has been charged with money laundering using digital assets. According to an indictment unsealed at a Federal Court in Manhattan, the agent, who agreed to oversee the DEA’s financial operations, was charged with agreeing to launder millions of dollars. The indictment noted that he first worked as a DEA Special Agent in New York before rising to become the Deputy Chief of the Office of Financial Operations. According to the indictment, Campo had retired since 2016 and now runs a private consulting business. Former DEA agent cuffed for money laundering According to the…

Kraken has expanded its services in Colombia with the activation of local payment rails. The move allows clients to deposit Colombian pesos directly using domestic payment methods. Deposits are automatically converted to US dollars at transparent exchange rates, removing the need for international wire transfers. The company has also extended its services in Europe. Kraken now operates in all 30 European Economic Area countries under its Markets in Crypto-Assets license. Kraken’s MiCA-regulated entity is authorized by the Central Bank of Ireland and now serves EEA clients directly. “Colombia is one of the most dynamic crypto markets in Latin America, with…

Kakao Bank has reportedly shifted to active stablecoin development under founder Kim Beom-soo, while Naver is finalizing a merger with Dunamu, the operator of Upbit, South Korea’s largest crypto exchange. These moves come as lawmakers push forward stablecoin bills that could reshape the country’s digital financial landscape. Kakao Accelerates Stablecoin Development According to a local media report, Kakao Bank is building blockchain infrastructure for its planned stablecoin, “Kakao Coin,” following an internal review. With its large user base across messaging, banking, and payments, Kakao aims to use its network to drive stablecoin adoption. Kim Beom-su, the founder of Kakao, is…

The XRP community is doing a victory dance this December as the Ripple lawsuit filed by the SEC about five years ago totally becomes a thing of history. On Dec. 22, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a high-profile enforcement action against Ripple, alleging that it broke securities laws by selling XRP without registering it as a security. This December marks five years since the SEC lawsuit against @Ripple began. Back then, many in the crypto community laughed and didn’t expect it would lead to real legal clarity for #XRP. But here we are, half a decade later,…

1Money, a company co-founded by the former CEO of Binance.US, has launched a stablecoin orchestration platform ahead of its plans to build a layer-1 blockchain for payments. In a Thursday announcement, 1Money said the platform by the same name will have “zero platform fees,” opting instead for usage-based fees for transactions involving stablecoins and fiat. According to the company, the initiative will continue on 1Money’s layer-1 network for stablecoin payments, offering no gas fees. “For too long, legacy stablecoin service providers have held the ecosystem back with outrageously high monthly minimums and bloated fees, 1Money is ending that era,” said…

The venture capital division of America’s largest crypto exchange says it is targeting its funds toward real-world asset trading, decentralized finance and artificial intelligence next year. In a blog post, Coinbase Ventures stated that it is actively seeking to invest in teams involved in asset tokenization, specialized exchanges and trading terminals, next-generation DeFi and agentic AI advancements. “These are the categories where we believe the next big breakout companies and protocols will emerge, and where we’re looking to actively invest,” the firm wrote. Coinbase Ventures has made 618 investments since 2018 and has a portfolio of 422 startups, according to…