Author: NBTC

Polymarket is recruiting an in-house team of traders and market makers, preparing for the growth of predictions. The addition of market makers may boost Polymarket after a record month of activity in November. Polymarket has grown its team, reportedly adding internal market makers that could trade against customers. The prediction platform is seeking to boost liquidity, so far mostly relying on whales to hold a selection of positions. The market maker feature has previously faced criticism, as it could skew the market by trading against retailers. The hiring announcements arrive at a time when rumors of Wintermute and other market…

Bank of America warned on the growth of retail prediction markets and sports results, warning that it could lead to consumer debt and bad loans. US-based customers have wider access to prediction platforms, due to legislation allowing platforms to be treated as trading services. The expansion of prediction markets is creating credit risk, as the predictions can be just as risky as gambling. Platforms like Polymarket incur losses for 84% of users on average, with only a handful of whales making successful trading streaks. Bank of America analysts warned some users could resort to predictions with consumer debt, as Bloomberg…

India’s Directorate of Revenue Intelligence says criminal groups now shift from traditional hawala channels to digital stablecoins, creating new challenges for agencies that fight organised smuggling. The agency notes that traffickers move drug and gold proceeds through fast crypto rails that avoid traditional oversight. Criminal Groups Adopting Crypto The new Smuggling in India Report 2024-25 shows how smugglers adopt stablecoins for instant settlement. The report states that crypto offers decentralised movement, pseudonymous activity, and borderless transfers. The DRI writes that digital assets enable “faster and anonymous settlement, minimal oversight, and weak anti-money laundering compliance.” Officials say this shift grows quickly…

Global remittance giant Western Union is preparing to roll out a so-called “stable card” aimed at consumers in markets with high inflation, the firm’s Executive VP and CFO, Matthew Cagwin, said at the UBS Global Technology and AI Conference on Tuesday, Dec. 2. According to a transcript published by Seeking Alpha, Cagwin described the product as part of the payments company’s broader stablecoin strategy. Cagwin said the stable card would be an “increment” to the company’s existing U.S. prepaid card, but with a “a much stickier benefit in a country where there’s high inflation.” He pointed to Argentina in particular…

SEC sets Dec. 15 for its crypto privacy roundtable, aiming to redefine surveillance standards as regulators, developers, and researchers debate data protection and innovation. With rising pressure on crypto platforms, the SEC’s Dec. 15 roundtable will shape future U.S. privacy rules, balancing oversight, user protection, and technological growth. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has set a new date for its long-anticipated crypto privacy and surveillance roundtable. After postponing the original October session, the agency will now hold the event on December 15, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at SEC headquarters in Washington, with a public webcast available. Commissioner…

Self-custody crypto wallet MetaMask has added support for prediction marketplace Polymarket, which now powers MetaMask Prediction Markets, letting users bet on real-world events within the web3 wallet. The integration, first teased in October, allows users to predict outcomes across sports, politics, crypto and culture without leaving MetaMask’s mobile app, the wallet’s team told The Defiant. Users can also earn MetaMask Rewards points for each Polymarket bet, receiving 2 points for every $1 traded. The move comes just a day after Polymarket began its U.S. rollout, launching a mobile app and opening access for waitlisted users in the country. Commenting on…

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…