Author: NBTC

Hex Trust has taken a big step into the multichain world. The regulated digital asset custodian announced a partnership with LayerZero to launch wXRP, a wrapped version of XRP built for cross-chain use. The product went live with around $100 million in total value locked. That is not a soft launch. It signals real institutional interest from day one. wXRP gives XRP holders a way to use their assets beyond the XRPL. It opens the door to DeFi activity on major networks without leaving compliance behind. What wXRP Is and Why It Matters wXRP is a wrapped representation of XRP…

BitMine buys $140M in ETH, boosting its treasury to nearly 4M ETH. US Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs saw $582M in combined outflows. Ethereum trades near $2,950, capped by EMAs, with support at $2,900. Ethereum price forecast remains cautiously optimistic as the cryptocurrency struggles to maintain momentum, trading near $2,950 after slipping roughly 12% over the past week. While Ether has avoided a decisive breakdown, the broader market, including Bitcoin (BTC), shows signs of fatigue amid waning participation and cautious trading behaviour. BitMine adds $140M ETH in the dip As the price of Ethereum (ETH) fell below $3,000, Tom Lee’s Ethereum…

What are the Accusations Against Theta?Will Theta Coin’s Upgrades Offset Legal Challenges? For years, the cryptocurrency sector has frequently seen legal news focusing on cases being dismissed or investigations concluding without consequence. Recently, however, a high-profile lawsuit has emerged involving a prominent altcoin, escalating tensions with significant accusations. Distinctively, this lawsuit hasn’t been initiated by regulatory agencies or investors, but by former company employees, adding gravity to the claims. What are the Accusations Against Theta? In a legal complaint filed in the California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, two former employees of Theta Labs Inc. have levied serious allegations. They…

Changpeng “CZ” Zhao is back on top, talking up President Donald Trump’s crypto stance and pointing directly at the US as the center of where this whole industry goes next. As you should know, CZ was pardoned by Trump in October, and even though he has no position at the exchange, his voice is loud enough that everyone can see he still plays a major role in shaping where the company goes. Binance is now studying how to reboot Binance.US, and the idea on the table includes a recapitalization that may cut CZ’s majority stake. Sources say his large stake…

Zetarium, a renowned Web3 infrastructure platform, has partnered with SPACE ID, a popular Web3 digital identity platform. The partnership is aimed at advancing Web3 identity, DeFi solutions, and SocialFi experience. As Zetarium revealed in its official social media announcement, the collaboration attempts to integrate the BNB Chain-native DeFi ecosystem of Zetarium with the Web3 infrastructure of SPACE ID. Hence, the merger of these technologies seeks to streamline consumer interaction across the Web3 network while unlocking unique decentralized identity utilities. We’re excited to announce a strategic partnership between @SPACEID and @Zetarium_ 🤝By combining SPACE ID’s universal Web3 domains with Zetarium’s BNBChain-native…

Imagine a world where stablecoin issuers can access traditional banking security while operating in the digital asset space. That vision just became reality as BNY Mellon, America’s oldest bank, launches a groundbreaking money market fund specifically designed for US stablecoin issuers. This strategic move bridges the gap between traditional finance and cryptocurrency, offering unprecedented stability and compliance. What Makes This Money Market Fund Revolutionary? BNY Mellon’s new BNY Dreyfus Stablecoin Reserves Fund represents a significant milestone in cryptocurrency adoption. This specialized money market fund provides stablecoin issuers with three critical benefits that were previously challenging to achieve simultaneously. The fund…

Prosecutors in the JPEX fraud case in Hong Kong received permission to adjourn the case until next year so that they can organise the case files at a hearing on Monday at the city’s Eastern Magistrate’s Court, according to local media reports. The next hearing will take place on March 16 for the group of social media influencers accused of promoting JPEX and acting as the public face of its over-the-counter cryptocurrency trading shops. They face charges including conspiracy to defraud, fraud, inducing others fraudulently or recklessly to invest in virtual assets, and dealing with property known or believed to…

Key Takeaways Phantom has introduced prediction markets that leverage any Solana token in user wallets. The new feature is powered by Kalshi and accessible directly via the Phantom wallet. Phantom has begun rolling out in-app access to prediction markets through a new integration with Kalshi, the regulated event trading platform. The feature allows Phantom users to speculate on real-world outcomes like sports, politics, and crypto events directly from their wallet interface, without needing to create a separate account or transfer funds to another platform. Announced on December 11, the partnership introduces a seamless way to trade real-money Yes or No…

Tokenization firm Superstate said on Thursday, Dec. 18, that tokenized public equities issued through its Opening Bell platform are now available as collateral on Kamino, the largest lending protocol on Solana, with $2.24 billion in total value locked (TVL). The launch allows eligible investors outside of the United States to borrow stablecoins on Kamino using tokenized shares of publicly traded companies, according to a press release viewed by The Defiant. Superstate said that this is the first time SEC-registered, exchange-listed equities have been used directly as collateral in a decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol, while borrowers retain exposure to the underlying…

Ethereum researchers are advancing an encrypted mempool eip proposal that would harden the protocol against MEV-related abuse while keeping block production efficient and permissionless. Overview of the proposed encrypted mempool Motivation and role in Ethereum’s roadmap Key provider registry contract and trust graph Transaction format and ordering rules Envelope execution and decryption workflow Key revelation process and the role of the PTC User trust assumptions and security implications Mitigating reorgs and decryption key front running Incentives, collusion risks and future extensions Execution payload encryption and backwards compatibility Summary Overview of the proposed encrypted mempool The new Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP)…