Author: NBTC

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.

Blue Origin Opens Crypto Checkout for New Shepard Spaceflights via Shift4

Blue Origin will accept cryptocurrency and stablecoin payments for New Shepard suborbital flights through a new integration with Shift4. Shift4 Brings Crypto Payments to Blue Origin’s Space Tourism Starting today, customers can use bitcoin (BTC), ethereum ( ETH), solana ( SOL), tether ( USDT), and USDC to book seats, with Shift4 processing the transactions, according to the company’s press release. Shift4 stated customers may also connect wallets such as the Coinbase Wallet and Metamask for direct payments. The option is available immediately for upcoming commercial spaceflight bookings on New Shepard, according to the announcement. The rollout targets travelers who prefer…

ExchangesAug 13

S&P Sees No Quick Fix for Sky Protocol’s Weak Capital and Centralization

Last week, S&P Global assigned a “B-” issuer credit rating with a stable outlook to Sky Protocol — formerly known as Maker — a decentralized lending platform that issues the USDS stablecoin. The credit rating agency cited centralization concerns, including a “high concentration of depositors,” “centralized governance,” “high regulatory risk from uncertainty about regulatory frameworks for decentralized protocols,” and “weak risk-adjusted capitalization” in its decision. In its rating report published on Aug. 7, S&P Global Ratings said that these risks are “partly offset by the protocol’s good track record of limited credit losses since 2020, and modest earnings.” The report…

DeFiAug 13

Ethereum TVL Hits All-Time High as ETH Rallies

Ethereum is rising from the ashes, with the ETH token price reclaiming $4,000 and the chain’s total-value locked cruising to a new all-time high. The chain’s ecosystem TVL just made a brand new high of $306 billion, surpassing its previous high of $253 billion in December 2024, and $195 billion in 202, according to TokenTerminal. Ethereum Ecosystem TVL - TokenTerminal While ETH is still 15% off its all-time high of $4,700, the ecosystem’s stablecoin scene has exploded over the last two years and has carried the chain’s TVL to new highs. In December 2021 Circle and Tether accounted for 39%,…

EthereumAug 13

Upbit Sees $450M in XRP/KRW Trades Amid Sharp Surge in 24-Hour Volume

XRP/KRW led Upbit trading with $450.77M, 13.7% of global XRP volume in 24 hours. Upbit’s total daily volume hit $3.27B, marking a 210% rise from the prior period. New listings and top gainers drove strong activity across major and smaller-cap markets. South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Upbit, reported large trading activity over the past 24 hours, with the XRP/KRW market generating $450.77 million in volume. This accounted for 13.7% of total global XRP trading, based on available market data. The surge comes as the platform’s total daily trading volume reached $3.27 billion, representing a 210% increase from the previous period.…

ExchangesAug 13

Astounding $15.65M Moves from Binance to Lido Staking

An extraordinary ETH withdrawal recently made headlines, signaling a potentially strategic move within the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. A newly created wallet initiated a substantial transaction, pulling 4,000 ETH—worth an astonishing $15.65 million—directly from the Binance exchange. This significant movement of Ethereum funds is not just a transfer; it strongly suggests an intention to engage in Lido staking, according to insights from OnChain Lens on X. This event immediately captured the attention of market observers. Such a large-scale withdrawal from a major centralized exchange like Binance often precedes significant activity in the DeFi space, particularly in the realm of crypto…

EthereumAug 13

Brian Quintenz may no longer be fit to run the CFTC

Brian Quintenz was nominated by President Donald Trump to chair the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). However, he is facing significant challenges to his confirmation, with his nomination currently stalled due to growing opposition and procedural delays. Brian Quintenz once served on the CFTC as commissioner and is an executive at the crypto arm of venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz. Why Brian Quintenz may no longer be fit to run the CFTC Up until very recently, Quintenz was widely seen as the candidate to lead the agency as it prepares to take on a larger role in digital asset regulation.…

LegalAug 13

Major Player in the Payment Industry Enters the Cryptocurrency Market

Fintech giant Stripe is developing a new blockchain project called “Tempo” in partnership with crypto venture capital firm Paradigm. The information surfaced in a job posting on a Blockchain Association website dated August 3. The posting described Tempo as a “high-performance, payments-focused blockchain.” According to the announcement, the project is still in the stealth phase, has a five-person team, and is designed as Layer 1. The blockchain, which is compatible with Ethereum's coding language, is not built on top of any other protocol. Matt Huang, co-founder and managing partner of Paradigm, who was involved in Tempo's development, also serves on…

ExchangesAug 13

Unpacking the Monumental $52M Coinbase Institutional Move

A colossal movement in the crypto world recently caught the attention of market observers: a significant Cumberland ETH transfer totaling approximately $52 million. This substantial transaction, involving 13,314 ETH, was directed to Coinbase Institutional, sparking widespread discussion about its implications for the broader cryptocurrency landscape. Such large-scale transfers by institutional players like Cumberland often signal more than just a change of custody. Instead, they typically point towards active trading strategies or strategic rebalancing of portfolios. Let us delve deeper into what this monumental move might mean for the market. What Does This Cumberland ETH Transfer Signify? On-chain data, specifically from…

EthereumAug 13

SEC Gives Ripple Private Fundraising Greenlight

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a waiver that removes Ripple's "bad actor" disqualification. This makes private fundraising substantially easier for Ripple. Regulation D, explained Under Rule 506(d) of the Securities Act, a company gets labeled as a "bad actor" and gets disqualified from the Rule 506 exemptions if it is subject to violations of the securities laws. The label automatically disqualifies companies from using Rule 506 exemptions under Regulation D, which makes it possible for companies to secure unlimited funds from accredited investors without a cumbersome and time-consuming SEC registration process. Startups, including cryptocurrency companies, tend…

LegalAug 13

Russians can now buy suspicious A7A5 stablecoins with cards issued by sanctioned bank

Russian citizens are now able to purchase the rubble-pegged stablecoin A7A5 using the payment cards of a bank placed under Western sanctions. The crypto is believed to be used to move Russian funds globally, in circumvention of financial restrictions imposed over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, and to launder money. Its alleged links to a fugitive Moldovan oligarch and the Kyrgyzstan-registered Grinex, alleged successor of Russian crypto exchange Garantex, have also raised concerns. A7A5 stablecoin available to Russian card holders Ruble-backed A7A5 coins can now be acquired using bank cards, Russian crypto media unveiled, quoting an announcement by the project’s team…

ExchangesAug 13