Author: NBTC

Visa-issued crypto cards saw a massive spike in usage in 2025, with the total net spend increasing by 525% last year. According to Dune Analytics data, the total net spend for six crypto cards issued by blockchain projects in partnership with Visa went from $14.6 million in January to $91.3 million at the end of December. The six cards tracked come from crypto payments platforms GnosisPay and Cypher, along with decentralized finance projects EtherFi, Avici Money, Exa App, and Moonwell. The crypto card from Visa-partnered EtherFi led all competitors by a fair margin, notching a total spend of $55.4 million,…

The Commodity Futures Commission (CFTC) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), two of the leading financial regulatory bodies in the US, have rescheduled a joint event planned to address the regulatory compliance process for crypto assets. The event, previously scheduled for January 27, has been postponed to Thursday, January 29, 2026, and will be held at the CFTC headquarters in Washington, D.C. The event will be attended by Commodity Futures Commission Chairman Michael S. Selig and Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul S. Atkins. The two heads of institutions will discuss the position of crypto assets within the US…

Interactive Brokers Adds Nano Bitcoin Futures Via Coinbase Derivatives Interactive Brokers is expanding its crypto derivatives lineup through a new offering of nano Bitcoin contracts listed by Coinbase Derivatives, giving eligible clients another regulated way to gain exposure to digital assets. The broker said the new contracts are now available for trading on the IBKR platform with both monthly expirations and perpetual-style structures. Trading will be available around the clock, aligning with the always-on nature of crypto markets, with exceptions for scheduled exchange maintenance on Fridays from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern time. The products are designed to lower…

Metrics show the stablecoin economy trimmed $773 million this past week, and since Dec. 13, the fiat-pegged token sector has logged a $2.5 billion pullback. Stablecoins Cool off in Early 2026 While crypto markets bounced back over the last seven days and muscled their way back above the $3 trillion line, the stablecoin sector slipped by 0.25%. Tether ( $USDT) inched higher by 0.16% ($299 million) and kept its crown as the largest stablecoin, with a market cap hovering near $187 billion. As it stands today, defillama.com stablecoin stats show $USDT accounts for 60.80% of the combined $307.57 billion stablecoin…

Rhode Island Reintroduces Bill to Study Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Rhode Island lawmakers have reintroduced a bill to establish a special legislative commission to study blockchain technology and crypto, showing some continuous pro-bitcoin momentum for the state to explore its role in the digital asset economy. Senate Bill S 2198, introduced by Senators Lou DiPalma, Gu, Burke, Urso, Paolino, and Zurier, would create a five-member commission tasked with reviewing blockchain and cryptocurrency activity across the country, examining current Rhode Island laws, studying non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and consulting industry experts. The commission would also provide legislative recommendations to foster a pro-business environment…

Deel has partnered with MoonPay to enable stablecoin salary payouts for workers worldwide. The integration gives Deel users the option to receive pay directly in stablecoins instead of traditional bank transfers.—MoonPay will power the conversion, delivery, and off ramp process. Salaries will be paid directly to non custodial wallets.How the Rollout WorksThe feature will launch next month for workers in the UK and EU. U.S. support will follow in a second phase.The partnership builds on Deel’s expansion into crypto enabled payroll. It targets globally distributed teams that face slow or costly cross border payments.Why Stablecoin Payroll Is Gaining TractionStablecoin payouts…

Amid Venezuela’s President Maduro’s capture, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has been opening up about the importance of decentralization and what he calls “rugged individualism.” While he hasn’t directly commented on Maduro, Armstrong has repeatedly said that crypto gives people tools to protect their money and stay independent from governments. He said that crypto is more than just technology—it’s a way for individuals to have control over their assets, especially when governments act unpredictably. Cross-border payments and decentralized finance allow people to maintain financial freedom even in uncertain times. “We need more rugged individualism, not less. Build on the frontier. Be…

Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has stated that financial institutions must transition to the new suspicious transactions reporting platform. Hong Kong’s initial Suspicious Transaction Report and Management System (STREAM) is set to stop working by midnight on January 28 this year. In its place will be the Second Generation Suspicious Transaction Report and Management System, also known as STREAMS 2. Even with the cutoff date, there will be a five-day gap where users must report emergencies manually through email, phone, and fax. Hong Kong’s SFC sets deadline The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has officially set…

PlutonAI, a renowned Web3 entity for conversational DeFAI agent layer, has partnered with SentismAI, a Web3-focused intelligence platform. The joint initiative merges the conversational DeFAI agent infrastructure of PlutonAI with the on-chain intelligence of SentismAI. As PlutonAI’s official social media announcement discloses, this partnership attempts to connect the consumer intent as well as on-chain execution with no dependence on complicated dashboards. Hence, the move underscores the rising trend of actively using AI agents in crypto markets. 🪐🤝🧠 Agents just found their perfect counterparty.PlutonAI × @Sentism_ai Conversation meets execution. Intelligence meets liquidity.PlutonAI’s conversational DeFAI agent layer is now teaming up with…

The cryptocurrency market has entered a volatile “de-leveraging” phase in early 2026. After a turbulent January, the $ethereum coin has seen its valuation sliced as a massive liquidation cascade wiped out over $1.9 billion in $ETH long positions across major derivatives exchanges. As of February 7, 2026, the Ethereum price is hovering around $1,950, attempting to stabilize after a swift drop from yearly highs of $3,300. This analysis breaks down the technical “trap doors” and recovery zones for Ethereum as the market navigates this 2026 crypto crash. Can Ethereum Recover in 2026? Yes, a recovery is technically possible, but the…