Author: NBTC

The research division of RippleX has published a new whitepaper describing the implementation of confidential transfers for multipurpose tokens (MPT) on the $XRP Ledger. The new technology is designed to solve the main problem of public blockchains that prevents mass adoption by large businesses — the lack of financial privacy — while maintaining regulatory control. Inside new Ripple whitepaper: How ZK-proofs bring privacy to XRPL The key innovation of the protocol is the ability to hide account balances and transfer amounts. In the current version of $XRP, anyone can see the balance of any address. The proposed Confidential MPT standard…

In brief The Labor Department launched an AI apprenticeship portal on Wednesday. The site offers AI literacy tools and industry-specific training resources. The move signals a broader federal push to prepare workers for AI adoption. The U.S. Department of Labor on Wednesday announced the launch of a new website aimed at helping workers and employers build artificial intelligence skills and expand AI-focused apprenticeship programs. The website, called the AI in Registered Apprenticeship Innovation Portal, debuted during a National Apprenticeship Week event as a one-stop resource to help organizations build AI literacy and create or update Registered Apprenticeship programs with AI-related…

Gemini has expanded its market tools with bitcoin predictions, giving users new ways to trade price moves without selling their BTC. The exchange says the product is built for speed, clarity, and defined risk. New contracts arrive ahead of Bitcoin 2026 To mark Bitcoin 2026 in Las Vegas, Gemini Predictions launched monthly high/low touch contracts. Traders can choose YES or NO on whether Bitcoin will rise or fall within a set period. Moreover, the platform added 5-minute up/down Bitcoin price contracts. These short duration contracts let users take a directional view with fast settlement windows and a simple structure. According…

On-chain data suggested Bitcoin may be approaching a bottom, with the potential for a rebound building, particularly when viewed through exchange activity and transaction behavior. At the time of writing, Bitcoin [$BTC] traded near $66,000 after declining over the past week, pressured by tightening macroeconomic conditions and persistent geopolitical uncertainty weighing on risk assets. Are speculative traders exiting the market? The Bitcoin Fund Flow Ratio, which tracks network activity relative to exchange flows, indicates that the market is at a decisive point. The metric stood at 0.065 at press time, a level that historically acts as a pivot for price…

Institutional investors are increasing exposure to Ethereum again. Recently, ETF flow data confirmed strong inflows. U.S. spot Ethereum ETFs recorded $101.2 million inflows. This happened on May 1, according to reports. Notably, this marks a strong single-day session. Therefore, it signals renewed institutional confidence in Ethereum. This comes despite ongoing crypto market volatility. Meanwhile, $ETH trades near the $2,300 price level. Many institutions now see this as an accumulation zone. Consequently, buyers are entering at perceived value levels. BlackRock Clients Lead Ethereum Buying The biggest inflow activity came from BlackRock clients. Specifically, its ETHA product saw strong demand. Clients purchased…

Artificial intelligence won’t be the large-scale job-taker as feared, as the tech needs workers to build and then maintain the trillions of dollars worth of infrastructure for it to run, says Nvidia founder Jensen Huang. Huang argued in a blog post on Tuesday that AI has become “essential infrastructure, like electricity and the internet,” and the facilities that make the chips, build computers and eventually house AI are “becoming the largest infrastructure buildout in human history.” “We have only just begun this buildout. We are a few hundred billion dollars into it. Trillions of dollars of infrastructure still need to…

Ripple’s former Chief Technology Officer (CTO), David Schwartz, has stated that a higher $XRP price would make the payment system more efficient and cheaper to operate. Schwartz’s comments come as a clarification to a post he made in 2017, as requested by a community member. Liquidity Efficiency in Ripple’s Payment Model According to the earlier post in 2017, Schwartz stated, ‘If $XRP costs $1, they need a million $XRP, which could cost $1 million. If $XRP costs a million dollars, they’d need one $XRP, which would again cost $1 million.’ The former Ripple CTO is emphasizing that higher $XRP prices…

The United Kingdom’s financial regulator has signed off on new rules and guidance for tokenized funds, aiming to make it easier for asset managers to use blockchains within the existing fund regime rather than in separate experimental structures. In an Thursday policy statement, PS26/7, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said tokenization and distributed ledger technology (DLT) could make fund management more efficient and that it wants to “support innovation in the UK asset management sector,” as part of a digital assets roadmap first outlined in a January 2025 letter to the prime minister. The changes give firms a clearer path…

OKX’s latest proof of reserves report points to a clear shift in user behavior. Bitcoin and Ethereum balances fell, while $USDT holdings increased during a volatile market stretch. What the April 20 snapshot showed According to OKX’s official dashboard, $BTC account assets stood at 117,039 $BTC, while wallet assets totaled 123,674 $BTC. That left the exchange with a 106% Bitcoin reserve ratio, meaning $BTC held by OKX remained above customer liabilities. Moreover, the broader change came from lower customer balances. Between the March 3 and April 20 reports, $BTC account holdings dropped by 15,850 $BTC, or 11.93%. Ethereum followed the…

Bitcoin price started a fresh decline from the $69,250 zone. $BTC is now struggling to stay above $66,000 and might extend losses in the near term. Bitcoin failed to settle above $68,000 and started a fresh decline. The price is trading below $67,000 and the 100 hourly simple moving average. There is a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $67,450 on the hourly chart of the $BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken). The pair might start another decline if it stays below the $67,500 and $67,800 levels. Bitcoin Price Dips Again Bitcoin price failed to stay above the $68,800…