Author: NBTC

On stage at Solana Breakpoint in Abu Dhabi, Abra Founder and CEO Bill Barhydt unveiled AbraFi, a new Solana-native protocol designed to bridge real-world assets with scalable, onchain financial instruments.—The launch marks Abra’s return to a space it helped pioneer a decade ago — synthetic dollars — this time rebuilt for high-performance DeFi. At the center of AbraFi’s debut is USDAF, Solana’s first fully-backed, delta-neutral synthetic dollar, alongside sUSDAF, a staked, yield-bearing version designed to generate sustainable onchain returns. Why AbraFi MattersUSDAF isn’t another experimental stablecoin. It’s built to serve both institutions and advanced DeFi users seeking capital-efficient, transparent dollar…

CME Group, the world’s largest derivatives exchange, launched futures trading for XRP and Solana (SOL) after Bitcoin and Ethereum in recent months. While XRP and Solana futures are breaking records in a short time, CME Group announced that it will offer options for Solana and XRP. With increasing demand for Solana and XRP from institutions and individual investors, the latest move marks the latest addition to CME’s crypto derivatives portfolio. In a post from the CME X account, it was announced that the countdown has begun for the launch of Spot-Quoted XRP and Solana futures. “Just 7 days left until…

Imagine sending money across the world as seamlessly as sending an email. That future just took a giant leap forward. Ant Group, the Chinese fintech titan, has successfully completed a landmark test for cross-border tokenized deposits in partnership with banking behemoth HSBC and the global messaging network SWIFT. This trial isn’t just another tech experiment; it’s a potential blueprint for the next generation of international finance. What Exactly Is a Cross-Border Tokenized Deposit? Let’s break down this complex-sounding term. A tokenized deposit is a digital representation of money held in a bank. Think of it as a secure, digital twin…

SolvBTC, a Bitcoin-backed liquid staking token powered by Solv Protocol, is now available on Yei Finance, a DeFi network focusing on aggregating cross-chain liquidity. Today, December 12, 2025, Yei Finance (also commonly known as Clovis) announced the integration of the SolvBTC token on its DeFi platform. By launching the SolvBTC token on its decentralized network, Yei Finance provides its users with access to a Bitcoin staking product that allows them to earn yields. The biggest limitation of Bitcoin is its inability to support smart contracts and DeFi natively. Yei Finance understands this gap as an opportunity. By integrating with the…

Ethereum is trading near a key decision point as the market enters a period of tighter consolidation. The asset sits above short-term support near $3,135 after recovering from the late-November low at $2,625. The broader trend still shows pressure. However, the structure has begun to stabilize as buyers defend the $3,050–$3,070 area. Consequently, traders now watch for a confirmed breakout or breakdown because the next move could define the early-2026 direction. Besides, improving derivatives activity and renewed discussion around fee protection tools add further interest to Ethereum’s near-term outlook. Price Range Tightens as Key Levels Hold ETH trades in a…

While the US government shutdown negatively impacts many sectors and institutions, including cryptocurrencies, the Fed is among those most affected. This is because the Fed couldn’t access the economic data it bases its interest rate decisions on. Just as the government shutdown ended and data was expected to arrive, the BLS officially canceled the October Employment Report. Nonfarm payrolls data was included in the additionally delayed November report, which will be released on December 16th, following the FOMC meeting. There is no October NFP report, and with November data not arriving on time, the Fed will make its December decision…

Cascade, a New York-based startup, introduced what it called the first 24/7 neo-brokerage built around a unified margin account for perpetual markets tied to cryptocurrencies, major U.S. stocks and private companies such as OpenAI, SpaceX and Stripe. The platform is designed to resemble a modern retail brokerage while running on a new execution and settlement stack built for always-on trading, the company said in a press release Tuesday. Selected depositors already have access by invitation, and public access is expected to open in early 2026. The launch comes as crypto-native market structure is creeping into consumer trading, with startups arguing…

Solana just unlocked a new tool for builders. Metaplex has released the first public version of its Genesis SDK. This gives developers a plug-and-play way to build fair-launch platforms and access real-time token data. The upgrade aims to fix one of the ecosystem’s biggest pain points: chaotic and often low-quality token launches. The announcement came from Metaplex designer Stephen Hess. He said the SDK now lets exchanges, launchpads and aggregators integrate fair-launch smart contracts with almost no friction. A One-Stop Kit for Fair Launches Hess described Genesis SDK as a complete toolkit for anyone building token-launch products on Solana. Instead…

Once a breakout non-fungible token (NFT) project during the 2021 crypto boom, Pudgy Penguins is turning to real-world visibility with a high-profile ad placement at the Las Vegas Sphere during Christmas week. Only a few crypto-related brands have secured ad space at the Sphere, a massive LED-covered venue known for its immersive displays and performances by acts like U2 and the Eagles. A bitcoin-focused activation ran in July, but other examples have been rare. Pudgy Penguins’ ad will run for several days starting December 24 and will include multiple animated segments, according to a person familiar with the deal. The…

Key takeaways ETH is up 3% in the last 24 hours and is now trading above $3,100. Whales are optimistic of a price surge in the near term. Whales open bullish positions on Ether Ether, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, is up 3% in the last 24 hours and is now trading above $3,100 per coin. The rally comes as the broader cryptocurrency market recovered from the slight dip on Sunday. In addition to that, Ethereum whales are opening long positions as they are optimistic that Ether’s price will surge higher in the near to medium term. The whales…