Author: NBTC

Revenue in the crypto industry is increasingly flowing to user-facing applications rather than the underlying blockchain networks, according to recent data, signaling a potential shift in where investors and developers focus their attention. Decentralized finance (DeFi) applications now capture five times the fees generated by blockchains, according to data shared by Jamies Coutts, chief crypto analyst at crypto intelligence platform Real Vision. The trend suggests that more of the industry’s fees will be captured by DeFi applications like wallets, decentralized exchanges (DEXs) and other protocols, while the underlying networks will attract a smaller share of revenue. “While I am a…

Welcome to The Protocol, CoinDesk’s weekly wrap of the most important stories in cryptocurrency tech development. I’m Margaux Nijkerk, a reporter at CoinDesk. In this issue: Stripe-Backed Blockchain Tempo Starts Testnet; Kalshi, Mastercard, UBS Added as Partners ZKsync Lite to Shut Down in 2026 as Matter Labs Moves On Blockstream Connects Lightning and Liquid for Faster, Private Bitcoin Payments Axelar Unveils AgentFlux to Bring AI Agents Onchain, Without Cloud Risks Network News STRIPE’S TEMPO TESTNET GOES LIVE: Tempo, a payments-focused blockchain backed by Stripe and crypto investment firm Paradigm, launched its public testnet, a key step in its effort in…

Law enforcement in Kazakhstan is looking for a prominent blogger who has been accused of making a lot of cryptocurrency by illegally advertising online gambling in the Central Asian nation. Known as Qaisar Qamza on social media, the man has already had at least some of his coin wealth seized by the government in Astana, revealed a statement by the country’s main financial watchdog. Kazakh blogger loses Tether paid for promoting online casinos A famous blogger from Kazakhstan is now wanted internationally on allegations of promoting illegal gambling on the Internet, his homeland’s Financial Monitoring Agency (AFM) announced. In the…

America250 partners with Hedera to support the upcoming anniversary with community engagement. The platform is also planning to introduce a partners program for enterprise and community members. Hedera (HBAR) has been named as a partner for the upcoming 250th Anniversary Commemoration of the United States of America. This announcement was made by America250, a national nonpartisan organization charged by Congress to lead the commemoration. Source: Hedera on X Hedera was considered for this partnership due to its unwavering commitment to advancing innovation in America. According to a post published by America250, the blockchain network would support the efforts towards this…

Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) has given a strong response to the critical MSCI advisory process that could determine the fate of companies holding Bitcoin (BTC) as a strategic asset on their balance sheets. The company submitted its formal opinion against MSCI’s proposed plan to remove Digital Asset Treasury Companies (DATs) from its Global Investable Market Indexes, arguing that the proposal is “arbitrary, discriminatory and policy-driven.” It is estimated that there could be an $8 billion asset outflow if Strategy is delisted from the indices. In a detailed letter to MSCI, Strategy emphasized that DATs are not mutual funds, but rather operate…

Polymarket analysts focused on several whale wallets that made confident bets around the arrest of Venezuelan President Maduro. The recent wave of directional bets has expanded the search for potential insiders. Polymarket and analysts are scrutinizing bets around Venezuela, reviving the narrative of insider information. A list of several wallets has been linked to suspicious prediction trades. The predictions on Venezuela were also linked to a recent statement by US President Donald Trump regarding the arrest of individuals who leaked information. No direct connection was made between the now-deleted account of the Polymarket whale and the recent arrest. Despite this,…

Velo Protocol, a blockchain-based financial infrastructure focused on PayFi (Payment Finance), is excited to announce its strategic expansion of Web3 payments and real-world asset (RWA) infrastructure across Asia and beyond. The primary purpose of this step is to make real-world asset liquidity and make Web3 payments borderless. Velo continues to build unstoppable momentum in Web3 finance, stacking high impact partnerships, RWA tokenization, and borderless liquidity across Asia and beyond. From tokenized RWA to institutional grade listings and super app rollouts, every new milestone reinforces Velo’s… pic.twitter.com/VbfHehY17X — Velo Official (@veloprotocol) January 16, 2026 Velo Protocol is actively working and facilitating…

Ahead of the Federal Reserve’s expected 25 basis point interest rate cut, which is anticipated to be announced in minutes, Kevin Hassett, a figure closely watched by the markets and expected to become the new Fed Chairman, made some very significant and noteworthy statements regarding monetary policy. Hassett, the White House Director of the National Economic Council, said that futures markets were pricing in a 25 basis point cut, which he called “a small step in the right direction.” However, according to Hassett, the Fed’s work is not finished there. In his statements, he indicated that the central bank may…

As Washington races to finalize new rules on stablecoin regulation, Wall Street and the crypto industry are clashing over who should control digital dollars and the yield they generate. Bank of America flags trillions at risk of leaving deposits Yield-bearing designs put bank funding models under pressure Legislative push on stablecoins reaches critical phase Stablecoin regulation debate exposes deeper policy divides Concerns over expanded Treasury oversight Industry support fractures as exchanges push back Outlook for banks, stablecoin issuers and lawmakers Bank of America flags trillions at risk of leaving deposits Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan has warned that stablecoins…

OpenLedger, an AI-focused blockchain network that enables training and deployment of intelligence models, today announced a strategic partnership with TheoriqAI, a decentralized protocol that allows AI agents to collaborate, optimize, and execute on-chain data and financial tasks. Using this collaboration, TheoriqAI utilizes OpenLedger’s AI infrastructure to introduce innovative intelligence capabilities into its AI-driven Web3 platform. Powered by its native THQ token, TheoriqAI runs an on-chain platform designed for building AI agents that operate and collaborate across decentralized platforms. Using tools like Infinity Hub and Infinite Studio, TheoriqAI allows the development of AI-powered DeFi systems that resolve and manage> The OpenLedger…