Author: NBTC

Aster has officially launched the testnet for its layer 1 blockchain, marking a major step in its push toward decentralized derivatives infrastructure. The timing of this move reflects a broader shift within DeFi, where perp DEX trading has emerged as the dominant driver of on-chain volume. Traders increasingly demand speed, reliability, and capital efficiency, especially during volatile market conditions. Aster positions its network as purpose-built for these needs rather than adapting general blockchain designs. The testnet launch opens the door for developers and traders to explore this focused approach. The rise of perpetual futures platforms has reshaped decentralized finance over…

Crypto stocks are getting crushed today. The biggest drops are coming from Circle, Robinhood, Coinbase, and Strategy. Circle is down 9.67%. Robinhood dropped 7.78%. Coinbase sank 6.49%. Strategy lost 4.68%. The panic started after a total collapse in Washington. There was a major crypto bill scheduled for a Senate vote. That was supposed to happen on Thursday. It would’ve been a big deal for the entire market. But late Wednesday night, Coinbase CEO Brian said:- “Coinbase unfortunately can’t support the bill as written. This version would be materially worse than the current status quo. We’d rather have no bill than…

PlayZap Games, a renowned Web3 GameFi entity, has partnered with GENCY AI, an AI-driven Web3 advertising infrastructure firm. The partnership is poised to transform the user acquisition and advertising across the Web3 gaming sector. As PlayZap’s official X announcement points out, the development focuses on combining AI-led advertising infrastructure and GameFi mechanics for outcome-focused and measurable engagement. Additionally, with support from key tech players like NVIDIA and TikTok, GENCY AI offers cutting-edge capabilities for the optimization of traffic, attention flow, and value across decentralized networks. We’re excited to announce our partnership with #GencyAI, the Sovereign Ads Network for the AI-Powered…

Plus500 has launched its own prediction markets for its United States retail customer base and will offer event contracts, including products from locally regulated Kalshi. The new platform will be a part of Plus500’s US B2C brand, ‘Plus500 Futures’. Plus500’s Bet on Event Contracts The announcement today (Tuesday) came about a couple of months after the London-listed broker became the clearing partner for CME and FanDuel’s new event-based contracts platform. Plus500 Enters Weekly Options Game with Gold, Oil and Indices Plus500 Halts New CFD Onboarding in Spain amid Tough Marketing Rules Plus500 Reports Half Its Revenue Now Comes From Customers…

DeFi activity moved to the highest levels since the October 10-11 crash. The recent market capitulation turned into a DeFi stress test, with most protocols surviving the sudden spike in activity. DeFi activity picked up during the latest market downturn, reaching its highest levels of DEX activity in the past few months. Perpetual futures DEX absorbed the highest levels of activity since October 2025, showing the robustness of DeFi infrastructure, with significant available liquidity. | Source: DeFi Llama Leading decentralized protocols still produce some of their highest fees, with most activity concentrated on Aave, Morpho, Jupiter, and other leading DeFi…

Spot crypto trading volumes on major exchanges have fallen from around $2 trillion in October to $1 trillion at the end of January, indicating “clear disengagement from investors” and weaker demand, according to analysts. Bitcoin ($BTC) is currently down 37.5% from its October peak amid a liquidity drought and a major bout of risk aversion, causing volumes to contract. “Spot demand is drying up,” said CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost on Monday, adding that the correction “has been largely driven by the Oct. 10 liquidation event.” Since October, crypto spot volumes on major exchanges have halved, according to CryptoQuant. Binance, for example,…

Payments entity NymCard, which covers CMEA region is now settling Circle’s $USDC stablecoin in MENA region with the participation of Visa. The company will settle card transactions with Visa using $USDC. This will offer 24/7 service in a streamlined way. The benefits for issuers is that they can lower operational costs, and pre-funding requirements as well as collateral. It is a more simple way to settle payments. According to the CEO of NymCard, Omar Onsi, the company is the first issuers in the GCC region to offer stablecoin settlement. For him this is part of offering advanced payment services. Visa’s…

Following the US Department of Justice’s (DOJ) initiation of an investigation into Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, market dynamics shifted against Donald Trump’s expectations. According to market forecasts, Powell’s chances of remaining at the Fed after his term ends in May, potentially serving until 2028, are increasing. Meanwhile, Kevin Warsh, seen as a more hawkish candidate for the Fed chairmanship, is beginning to overtake Kevin Hassett, known for his closeness to Trump. These developments point to a power struggle between Trump and the Fed that could continue throughout the year. According to data from the forecasting platform Polymarket, the likelihood…

SEOUL, South Korea – In a pivotal move for the nation’s digital asset sector, executives from major South Korean crypto exchanges are preparing for a crucial meeting with lawmakers on February 4th. This direct dialogue aims to address mounting industry concerns over a Financial Services Commission (FSC) proposal that could fundamentally alter exchange governance by capping major shareholder stakes. The proposed limits, reportedly set between 15% and 20%, form a core component of the second phase of South Korea’s comprehensive virtual asset legislation, signaling a significant regulatory shift for one of the world’s most active cryptocurrency markets. South Korean Crypto…

The global non-fungible token ($NFT) sector fell below $1.5 billion in total market capitalization, returning to levels last seen before the sector’s rapid expansion in 2021. The retracement unfolded alongside a broader crypto market downturn over the past two weeks, CoinGecko data shows. On Jan. 23, total crypto market capitalization stood at about $3.1 trillion, before falling to $2.2 trillion on Friday. Major assets like Bitcoin (BTC) slid from around $89,000 to about $65,000, while Ether (ETH) fell from $3,000 to near $1,800 throughout the same time frame. Bitcoin and Ethereum are the top two networks for NFTs in terms…