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Author: NBTC

NBTC is the editorial account for NBTC News, covering Bitcoin, Ethereum, DeFi, blockchain infrastructure, exchanges, mining, regulation and digital asset markets. The editorial team focuses on clear sourcing, timely updates and practical context for crypto readers.

Money markets point to ECB rate hikes, Polymarket points to unchanged rate policy

Money market traders are pricing in an ECB rate hike in the coming months, ending the period of relatively low rates. On the other hand, Polymarket predictions point to unchanged rates for most of 2026. The credit landscape in 2026 may include ECB rate hikes and an increased economic outlook for the Euro area, after a period of unchanged interest rates and low inflation. On the one hand, money market traders are pointing to a potential hike in 2026, as the Euro area economy is showing signs of a faster recovery. On the other hand, traders are pointing to more…

Regulation

New CFTC chair Michael Selig inherits chaos as prediction markets explode

Michael Selig is not easing into his new job as the new chair of the CFTC, because he’s walking into a pile of legal fights, crypto chaos, prediction bets, and staff problems. The agency was set up to regulate things like oil and wheat, not event contracts or tokens. But that’s what it’s got now. And Congress still hasn’t finished deciding what the CFTC is even supposed to do next. This is the same regulator that used to just deal with companies like CME Group and ICE. Selig enters with prediction markets already exploding Selig was sworn in last month.…

Legal

Interview with Kyle Jenke on the Future of On-Chain Finance

The adoption of blockchain by large enterprises is entering a new phase. An increasing number of global companies are considering the creation of proprietary on-chain infrastructures, no longer as mere experiments, but as strategic components of their business model. We discussed this with Kyle Jenke, Chief Business Officer of Optimism, in an exclusive interview where he explained why more enterprises are choosing the OP Stack, what the main needs of companies are, and why 2026 could represent a real turning point for on-chain finance. Optimism as a Launchpad for Enterprise Blockchain What Companies Really Look for in a Layer 2…

Blockchain

Norges Bank freezes Norway CBDC plans despite rapid shift away from cash

Norway’s central bank has decided to pause work on its Norway CBDC project, even as the country rapidly moves toward one of the world’s most cash-light economies. Norway Norges Bank’s latest stance on CBDC Research findings and the digital payments backdrop Nordic policy context and future outlook Norway Norges Bank’s latest stance on CBDC Norges Bank Governor Ida Wolden Bache confirmed that the institution currently sees no need to introduce a central bank digital currency. This position, stated on December 10, 2025, reinforces a cautious approach to new forms of money across the Nordic region. The decision follows several years…

Regulation

Moldova to regulate cryptocurrency ownership and trading in 2026

The Eastern European nation of Moldova will regulate cryptocurrency ownership and transactions as part of a comprehensive framework to be adopted this year. Admittedly unable to prohibit the use of decentralized digital assets, the small country is required to implement the latest EU rules as a candidate for membership. EU hopeful Moldova sets out to put its crypto space in order The Republic of Moldova will implement legislation regulating investment, trading, and conversion of cryptocurrencies in 2026, its Finance Minister Andrian Gavriliță announced. The framework will also introduce strict rules for taxation and the prevention of money laundering, the government…

Legal

UDAX debuts after a six-week pilot cohort at Berkeley

Ripple and the University of California, Berkeley have jointly unveiled a new accelerator program to help developers turn early-stage blockchain ideas into deployable products on the XRP Ledger. According to the stablecoin issuer’s press statement published on Friday, Ripple University’s Blockchain Research Initiative is launching a University Digital Asset Xcelerator (UDAX) that promises to provide founders with hands-on technical support, direct mentorship, and access to capital networks. Ripple is adding its academic footprint through UBRI, the multi-year program based at UC Berkeley that has been contributing to blockchain research and talent. UDAX debuts after a six-week pilot cohort at Berkeley…

Blockchain

Analysts refute IMF warning about stablecoin risk to emerging market currencies

The IMF released a report warning that stablecoins could pose a big risk to emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs), potentially undermining local currencies. The December report claimed that stablecoins could facilitate capital outflow and currency substitutions across EMDEs, but experts say the market is too small for a meaningful macroeconomic impact. However, the IMF emphasizes that these fiat-pegged tokens/coins could be used to avoid CFMs (capital flow management measures), whose implementation relies on recognized financial mediators. Stablecoins could be used to undermine the implementation of CFMs by presenting an avenue for capital flows outside of standard financial rails. Additionally,…

Regulation

The big crypto bill isn't dead, may return next month as Wall Street fight still looms

After the U.S. Senate takes next week off and returns to hash out the federal budget that expires on January 30, the odds may favor February as the next window for action on the crypto market structure bill in the Senate Banking Committee. But no matter when it returns to the agenda, the crypto industry must still overcome the traditional finance lobbyists if it wants to secure significant changes and get a bill done that digital assets businesses will find acceptable. Despite Coinbase's high-visibility decision to abandon the bill on Wednesday, virtually everybody, including the U.S. exchange, has said they're…

Legal

Hong Kong Listed Yingzheng International Moves Into Web3 Blockchain Sector

A Hong Kong listed company is stepping into the world of Web3. Yingzheng International (Prime Intelligence Solutions Group Limited), formerly known as Lazy Pig Technology. It has announced plans to enter the blockchain and digital asset sector. The company shared the update through an official filing with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Yingzheng International is mainly known for biometric identification and security software. Now, it wants to expand into Web3.0 and blockchain technology. The company says this move is part of a long term strategy to grow its business and tap into new digital finance opportunities. With a market value…

Blockchain

ETHZilla moves into onchain housing finance with 15% Zippy acquisition

Former biotech company ETHZilla (ETHZ) is doubling down on its push into real-world asset markets, taking a 15% stake in digital housing lender Zippy to bring manufactured-home loans onchain. The deal marks the company’s second acquisition in a week. According to Wednesday’s announcement, ETHZilla will pay $5 million in cash and $16.1 million in stock for a 15% stake in Zippy, a US-based lender founded in 2021 that originates manufactured-home loans through a digital platform. The companies plan to link Zippy’s loan-origination and AI-powered systems with ETHZilla’s tokenization stack for onchain distribution of manufactured-home chattel loans, including potential forward-flow sales…

Regulation