Author: NBTC

The US government shutdown has negatively impacted government agencies. As a result, government employees were furloughed, and the publication of key economic indicators, such as employment and Gross Domestic Product (GDP), was suspended. As uncertainty persists about how long the US lockdown will last, anxiety about the Fed’s interest rate cuts has also increased. The Fed, which bases its interest rate decisions on released economic data, will be unable to provide much important economic data. Citibank economists said they expect the Fed to continue cutting interest rates for the rest of the year, despite the risk of missing out on…

Maintaining exceptional editorial standards, with content reviewed by trusted editors and seasoned industry professionals. Opera’s MiniPay now lets 10M users spend USDT directly via local QR codes in Argentina and Brazil. Lemon Wallet transforms into a crypto app store, allowing usage of dApps without managing private keys. The Opera web browser has activated a feature within its stablecoin wallet, MiniPay, that permits the use of tether (USDT) for commercial transactions in Argentina and Brazil. This development was officially announced during the Devconnect conference in Buenos Aires. The tool, named “Pay like a local,” is now operational for a user base…

For years, the crypto industry has said the right things about onboarding the next billion users. We’ve talked about scalability, security, decentralization, and user sovereignty (and yes, these all matter). But ask any everyday person why they stopped mid-way through a crypto transaction, and you’ll hear the same frustrating story: “It wouldn’t let me complete the transaction because I didn’t have enough gas.” This issue may sound trivial to crypto veterans, but for mainstream users, it’s one of the biggest and most confusing roadblocks. You might already own the token you want to trade. You might be trying to send…

The NFT market has fallen off sharply since the 2021-22 bull run, but at least one billionaire collector is still betting big on the tokenized assets. In one of the largest private NFT deals of the year, businessman and collector Adam Weitsman recently acquired 229 Meebits NFTs in a single over-the-counter transaction, marking the biggest-known purchase from the collection—which was launched by CryptoPunks creator Larva Labs in 2021. Weitsman continues to double down on digital art and culture, even as markets cool. “I’ve always loved Meebits,” Weitsman told Decrypt in an interview. “They’re actually the reason I got into Web3…

Online prediction market Kalshi has raised more than $300 million at a $5 billion valuation as prediction markets move into the financial mainstream, according to a report by the New York Times on Friday. The company will now allow users in over 140 countries to place bets, marking its first major international expansion, the article said. Kalshi projects $50 billion in annualized trading volume this year, up from $300 million last year, and now holds more than 60% of global market share, surpassing rival Polymarket. The funding round was led by major investors including Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Paradigm, CapitalG,…

Growing optimism in Washington is elevating expectations for U.S. crypto clarity as Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong’s renewed push signals rising momentum behind legislation he hopes will soon reach the president’s desk, promising clearer standards, confidence and growth ahead. Armstrong Fires up DC Again With a Bold Push for CLARITY Bill Intensifying legislative momentum in Washington is reshaping expectations for U.S. crypto rules. Coinbase (Nasdaq: COIN) CEO Brian Armstrong shared on Nov. 18 on social media platform X that he returned to the capital to continue pushing market-structure legislation, noting that the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act could soon reach the…

Citi and Swift complete a landmark trial enabling Payment-versus-Payment (PvP) settlement between fiat and digital currencies. The trial used Swift’s existing infrastructure, enhanced with blockchain connectors, orchestration tools, and smart contracts. Citi used test USDC on Ethereum’s Sepolia network to simulate real-world conditions. Citi and Swift recently completed a successful trial proving that it is now possible to settle payments between fiat and digital currencies using a Payment-versus-Payment setup. This is a major step forward and highlights how a hybrid model can bring traditional financial systems and modern blockchain networks together. Read on to know how Citi and Swift achieved…

South Korea takes a decisive step in cryptocurrency regulation as authorities launch a comprehensive blockchain services inspection. This crucial move signals heightened scrutiny of digital asset platforms and could reshape the Asian crypto landscape. The blockchain services inspection focuses on multiple sectors within the digital economy, reflecting growing concerns about user protection and market stability. What Does This Blockchain Services Inspection Cover? The Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) initiated this blockchain services inspection following their November 20 plenary meeting. This examination targets several critical areas of the blockchain ecosystem. The inspection will assess virtual asset issuance platforms and remittance services.…

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence in the Reserve Bank of India’s digital currency initiative during his address at the Global Fintech Fest 2025 in Mumbai. The Prime Minister stated that the digital currency project will strengthen India’s economic growth story. Modi highlighted India Stack as the foundation of the country’s digital economy during the event attended by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Key components include Unified Payments Interface, Aadhaar Enabled Payment System, Bharat Bill Payment System, Bharat-QR, DigiLocker, DigiYatra, and Government e-Marketplace. The Prime Minister noted that UPI alone facilitates 20 billion transactions every month with a transaction…

President Donald Trump is reportedly seeking to axe state AI laws via an executive order that would override regulations in California and other states in an effort to centralize control in Washington. The draft order, seen by Axios, would direct Attorney General Pam Bondi to establish a task force to challenge state AI measures and restrict federal funding to states that pass laws deemed “onerous.”  It would also instruct the Federal Trade Commission to issue guidance on how existing consumer protection laws could preempt state AI regulations.  AI and crypto czar David Sacks would oversee much of the implementation…