Author: NBTC

Ripple, the blockchain payments and infrastructure company behind XRP, has once again become the focus of IPO speculation. Recent claims circulating among crypto observers suggest the company could be engaging in late-stage discussions for a potential public offering in 2026. These claims come despite clear statements from Ripple’s leadership that the company has no immediate plans to go public. Ripple IPO rumours resurface Copy link to section Crypto researcher SMQKE recently shared findings that point to what he describes as documented indications of Ripple exploring a public listing. Images and excerpts from Presto Research have been cited as evidence that…

Americans are feeling the pressure of higher living costs, but they are not stepping away from crypto. A new holiday spending survey from Visa Inc. shows a growing appetite for digital assets as gifts, even as inflation continues to limit disposable income and keep consumers cautious. The contrast highlights a deeper shift in how households adapt when money feels tight. Inflation Is Cooling, but Budgets Still Feel Tight Inflation has eased from its post-pandemic peak, but prices remain elevated across essentials such as housing, food, insurance, and utilities. Wages have broadly kept pace with inflation, preventing a sharp drop in…

NVIDIA has agreed to pay approximately $20 billion to acquire assets from artificial intelligence chip startup Groq, marking the company’s largest transaction on record and continuing its strategy of absorbing potential competitors before they can challenge its market dominance. The chipmaker’s latest licensing deal mirrors a similar transaction just three months ago, reinforcing the narrative that decentralized AI infrastructure may offer the only alternative to Nvidia’s growing dominance. Threefold Premium in Three Months with Trump Jr. Connection The deal closed just three months after Groq raised $750 million at a $6.9 billion valuation—a round that included BlackRock, Samsung, Cisco, and…

While expectations for the Fed’s interest rate policy in 2026 point to limited easing, statements from market participants and the Trump administration reveal differing perspectives on monetary policy. BlackRock strategists Amanda Lynam and Dominique Bly note that the Fed has already implemented a total of 175 basis points of rate cuts in its current cycle, bringing it closer to a neutral rate. According to the strategists, unless there is a significant weakening in the labor market, the room for further aggressive rate cuts in 2026 is quite limited. LSEG data also indicates that market pricing reflects expectations of only two…

Key Takeaways KuCoin has introduced KIA, an AI assistant for its users. KIA helps users by providing market insights through a conversational AI interface. Global crypto exchange KuCoin announced today that it has completed the deployment of KIA, a crypto-native AI designed to simplify the crypto experience for users, enabling them to navigate the market more efficiently. KuCoin CEO BC Wong said in a statement that the company has always believed technology can empower people and change the world, and that KIA represents that vision. “By building our own crypto-native AI from the ground up, we are creating technology that…

Binance, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, has published its year-end open letter regarding the year 2025. The letter stated that the platform’s global user base has surpassed 300 million, and its total annual transaction volume has reached $34 trillion. According to data shared by Binance, on average, one in every 27 people worldwide is a cryptocurrency user today. The company noted that the crypto ecosystem is rapidly expanding from a niche market into everyday use cases. The total trading volume on Binance throughout 2025 was recorded at $34 trillion. The exchange reported that trading volume from individual investors…

The crypto sector reportedly saw a record $8.6 billion worth of deals in 2025, as the crypto-friendly Trump administration brought confidence to crypto-focused mergers and acquisitions. The Financial Times reported on Wednesday that 267 deals were inked in the crypto industry up to Tuesday, an 18% increase from 2024. The $8.6 billion in deal value is a nearly 300% jump from last year, which saw $2.17 billion in deals, and the growth is expected to continue into 2026. Coinbase made the biggest acquisition of the year with its $2.9 billion purchase of the crypto options trading platform Deribit, the biggest-ever…

Key Takeaways Robinhood wrapped up HOOD Holidays with big prizes, including $1.5 million in Bitcoin. The event launched on December 26 and featured several high-value items and crypto assets, including Dogecoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP. Robinhood on Wednesday rolled out a special New Year’s giveaway as part of its HOOD Holidays event, and Bitcoin was among the standout prizes. The commission-free trading platform distributed $1.5 million worth of BTC to users, alongside a lineup of luxury items, including a Porsche 911, a Rolex Daytona, and a Hermès Birkin bag. The campaign, which launched on December 26, featured limited-time surprises across…

Spot bitcoin and ether ETFs saw another round of outflows on Dec. 24 as traders moved into the Christmas break with reduced liquidity and a weaker appetite for risk. SoSoValue data showed bitcoin spot ETFs posted $175 million in net outflows on Wednesday, while ether spot ETFs showed $57 million in outflows. The biggest single-day exit came from BlackRock’s IBIT, which saw $91.37 million leave the fund. Grayscale’s GBTC followed with a $24.62 million outflow. Ethereum spot ETFs also lost ground. SoSoValue reported $52.7 million in net outflows on the day. Grayscale’s ETHE led the selling pressure with a $33.78…

Binance has issued an official statement following public discussions regarding the high volatility in the price of the cryptocurrency BROCCOLI714. In an announcement made by the stock exchange on January 1, it was stated that they were aware of the price movements in question and that the matter was immediately subjected to a comprehensive internal investigation. According to Binance, initial system checks revealed that the platform’s risk management and security mechanisms were functioning normally. Technical investigations revealed no concrete evidence of any cyberattack or hacking attempt. Furthermore, it was emphasized that no notifications regarding account compromise were received through customer…