Author: NBTC

Decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols Ethena and Based released a Hyperliquid and HIP-3 frontend, HyENA, on Dec 9. More than $50 million of total volume was traded on HyENA in its opening two days, making it the second-largest permissionless perpetual market on Hyperliquid, only trailing Hyperunit’s TradeXYZ. The launch comes less than a month after Hyperliquid rolled out “growth mode,” which lowered HIP-3 fees by 90% to incentivize activity and development. While HyENA leapfrogged most of the competition, it still makes up less than 5% of TradeXYZ’s volumes, which crossed $1.1 billion over the same 48-hour period. It is worth noting,…

Imagine waking up to news that six of Japan’s largest asset management firms are actively exploring crypto funds. This isn’t speculation – it’s happening right now as Japan’s financial landscape undergoes a dramatic transformation that could reshape how institutional investors approach digital assets worldwide. Why Are Japanese Asset Managers Embracing Crypto Funds Now? The timing couldn’t be more significant. Japan’s Financial Services Agency is currently reviewing a proposal that would allow the establishment of cryptocurrency investment trusts. This regulatory shift has triggered unprecedented interest from major players including: Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Nomura Asset Management SBI Global Asset Management Daiwa…

Investigators connect flood control corruption funds to cryptocurrency laundering through Tether (USDT). Pogo-linked syndicates are suspected of using digital assets to obscure illicit financial transactions. The Philippine Anti-Money Laundering Council is focusing on crypto exchanges to curb illicit fund flows. Investigators in the Philippines have discovered a link between the country’s massive flood control corruption scandal and cryptocurrency laundering schemes. Funds meant for flood control projects were allegedly funneled into cryptocurrency exchanges. The money trail appears to involve individuals connected to Philippine offshore gaming operators (Pogos) banned by the government last year. According to a report by South China Morning…

Binance is widening its futures catalogue again — this time with a product tied to the native token of a new privacy-focused blockchain. The move underscores the exchange’s strategy of giving traders access to emerging ecosystems long before they become mainstream. Key Takeaways Binance will launch a NIGHT/USDT perpetual futures contract on December 10, 2025. The product offers up to 50x leverage and targets advanced traders. The listing brings the Midnight network’s privacy-focused token into mainstream derivatives markets. Starting December 10, 2025, Binance Futures will launch trading for the NIGHT/USDT perpetual contract. Rather than spot exposure, this product lets traders…

Nomis, a renowned on-chain reputation entity, has partnered with iFLUX Global, a popular capital-efficient DeFi platform. The partnership endeavors to redefine the on-chain reputation while also transforming the cost efficiency within the DeFi sector. As per the official social media announcement of Nomis, the collaboration attempts to improve consumer accessibility with seamless crypto buyouts. Hence, development underscores a key move toward incorporating reputation-led mechanisms with cutting-edge DeFi frameworks. 🔊 We’re excited to announce a strategic partnership with @iFluxGlobal, setting a new standard for capital-efficient DeFi.iFLUX Global is redefining accessibility, allowing users to purchase crypto with just a 15% down payment,…

Ethereum whales and sharks accumulated 934,240 ETH over three weeks while retail sold 1,041 ETH, fueling a price rebound as volatility cooled, Santiment shows. Summary Large Ethereum holders classified as whales and sharks accumulated approximately 934,240 ETH over three weeks, while retail wallets holding fewer than 10 ETH sold 1,041 tokens, creating divergent trading patterns. Addresses holding between 100 and 100,000 ETH saw balances climb steadily into early December, according to on-chain data from Santiment, with the accumulation phase corresponding to reduced price volatility and a subsequent rally. Such divergences between large and small holders have historically preceded short-term price…

The prediction market space has graduated from a hyped niche to an all-out frenzy, with Kalshi and Polymarket volumes soaring and legacy betting sites such as DraftKings entering the fray. Polymarket is capitalizing on the fervor as it seeks to raise yet another round of funding, this time at a $12 billion valuation, according to Bloomberg. After eclipsing $3 billion in total volume in October, the decentralized prediction market is on track to reach $3.5 billion in November. It is worth noting that November volumes may have been front-loaded due to the attention surrounding the NYC Mayoral election, which accounted…

Growing US deregulation in crypto assets could potentially lead to financial instability, according to French President Emmanuel Macron. He says that there is “growing US deregulation in crypto assets and stablecoins.” If the U.S. lets crypto grow too freely, it could create risks that spill over globally since stablecoins often rely on USD assets. Stablecoins are tightly tied to fiat reserves, settlement rails, and cross-border flows. If poorly regulated, they can potentially cause contagion across global markets. Monetary sovereignty Macron wants Europe to stay protected and “sovereign” in monetary terms, arguing that the EU should not follow the U.S. toward…

Major news for the crypto community: Coinbase, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges, has officially announced it will support the pivotal MKR to SKY token migration. This planned event is scheduled for a specific three-day window from January 12 to 14, 2026. If you hold MKR tokens on Coinbase, understanding this process is essential to ensure your assets transition smoothly to the new SKY token. This guide breaks down everything you need to know. What is the MKR to SKY Token Migration All About? First, let’s clarify what a token migration entails. In the fast-evolving blockchain space, projects sometimes…

Google DeepMind introduced SIMA 2 on Thursday—a new AI agent that the company claims behaves like a “companion” inside virtual worlds. With the launch of SIMA 2, DeepMind aims to advance beyond simple on-screen actions and move toward AI that can plan, explain itself, and learn through experience. “This is a significant step in the direction of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), with important implications for the future of robotics and AI-embodiment in general,” the company said on its website. The first version of SIMA (Scalable Instructable Multiworld Agent), released in March 2024, learned hundreds of basic skills by watching the…