Author: NBTC

A pullback in crypto markets during the fourth quarter of 2025 weighed on several of Cathie Wood’s $ARK exchange-traded funds (ETFs), revealing that the firm’s flagship funds are sensitive to digital asset performance. According to $ARK’s quarterly report released Wednesday, weakness in crypto-linked equities, led by Coinbase, emerged as a key drag on performance. The exchange was among the biggest detractors across $ARK funds, including the $ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (ARKW), $ARK Blockchain & Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF) and the $ARK Innovation ETF (ARKK). Coinbase’s shares declined more sharply than major cryptocurrencies during the quarter, underperforming both Bitcoin (BTC)…

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) expanded its digital asset collateral framework on February 6. This update explicitly authorizes futures commission merchants (FCMs) to accept stablecoins issued by national trust banks as margin. Bank-Issued Stablecoins Enter US Derivatives Margin The revision, detailed in Staff Letter 25-40, serves as a critical course correction to guidance issued in December. That earlier framework had inadvertently created a two-tiered system by restricting eligible payment stablecoins to those issued by state-regulated money transmitters or trust companies. The oversight effectively sidelined federally chartered national trust banks from participating in the burgeoning market for tokenized derivatives…

AI agents will increasingly transact and interact on-chain, with blockchains providing identity, payments, and contract rails to prevent impersonation and automate tasks. Summary A16Z argues AI agents need blockchain rails for micropayments, high-speed, low-fee transactions, and automated smart contract execution. The firm sees blockchains as critical identity infrastructure to verify agents and reduce impersonation in digital ecosystems. A16Z frames crypto as the technical backbone for autonomous AI systems, aligning with its broader AI–blockchain investment thesis. Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (A16Z) stated that blockchain technology may serve a critical function in verifying artificial intelligence agents and preventing impersonation, according to…

Ethereum has suffered a sharp correction, with price falling nearly 29% over the past week and slipping below the $2,000 mark. $ETH is now trading at levels last seen nine months ago, reflecting severe weakness across the market. Diminishing buyer support has worsened conditions, with on-chain data confirming growing stress among Ethereum holders. Ethereum Holders Move Back To Selling Ethereum holders have increasingly resorted to panic selling as broader market conditions deteriorated. On-chain data from the Realized Profit/Loss indicator shows investors selling despite being underwater. Realized losses surged past $1.2 billion within 24 hours, highlighting widespread capitulation as holders prioritize…

The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has urged African anti-corruption and oversight institutions to strengthen the use of digital technologies, including AI, blockchain, and data mining tools, to fight corruption and financial crimes more effectively. EACC Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamud stated that emerging technologies are important for detecting, investigating, and preventing corruption-related offenses. He noted that digital platforms can reduce human discretion and improve traceability, making it harder for corrupt practices to go unnoticed. EACC moves toward full digitization to fight corruption The EACC has already automated 58% of its processes and is working toward full digitization of its…

Multiliquid and Metalayer Ventures have launched an institutional liquidity facility to provide instant redemptions for tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) on Solana. The facility allows holders of tokenized assets to convert positions into stablecoins instantly. The vehicle is raised and managed by Metalayer Ventures, with infrastructure and market support provided by Uniform Labs, the developer behind the Multiliquid protocol, according to an announcement shared with Cointelegraph. “Traditional finance has repo markets, prime brokerage and overnight lending facilities. Tokenized markets have had nothing comparable, until now,” said Will Beeson, founder and CEO at Uniform Labs. “This is the liquidity infrastructure that institutional…

An ether $ETH$2,048.66 bull was caught leaning hard into the upside this week as the cryptocurrency tanked, turning the whale bet into a multi-million dollar horror story. That bull is Trend Research, a trading firm headed by Liquid Capital founder Jack Yi. The firm spent recent months building a bullish (long) bet worth $2 billion on ether by borrowing stablecoins from DeFi giant Aave, which were reportedly collateralized by ether. The position blew up this week, leaving the firm with a $686 million loss, according to Arkham. The blow up underscores the crypto market’s unchanged reality: Volatility can still make…

The S&P 500 pullback continued for a second consecutive session as investors turned cautious across US equities. Technology stocks led losses, reversing part of the strong rally seen earlier this month. Market sentiment weakened as traders responded to renewed geopolitical and trade related risks. These pressures arrived at a time when valuations already reflected high expectations for growth. Investors entered the session with growing concern over whether technology stocks could maintain recent momentum. The S&P 500 pullback reflected a broader pause as traders reassessed risk exposure. Semiconductor stocks remained at the center of selling activity due to their global supply…

Animoca Brands, a prominent digital asset investment firm, has partnered with Ethoswarm, a blockchain-based platform for AI agents. The partnership is launching Animoca Minds, a cutting-edge service to let consumers deploy and run AI agents. As Animoca Brands pointed out in its official press release, the initiative attempts to democratize agentic web access, enabling users to seamlessly deploy independent AI agents. We are announcing a strategic partnership with @cryptoslamio’s @Ethoswarm, which generates persistent AI minds with their own identity, memory, and cognition, to launch Animoca Minds, a new service that enables users to deploy and operate persistent AI agents.Powered by…

Ethereum traded above the $2,000 per coin range on Friday afternoon, as derivatives markets flashed a mix of caution and crowding across futures and options. Futures open interest edged lower intraday while options data showed traders clustering around key strikes, setting the stage for potential price compression. Ethereum Options Positioning Points to Compression Near Max Pain Zones Ethereum had a wild ride yesterday, and on Friday, things are way calmer. According to coinglass.com stats, ethereum futures open interest remains substantial across major venues, with CME leading in dollar terms at roughly $3.45 billion, representing about 14.1% of total tracked exposure.…