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.

Companies holding crypto is only Phase One

This is a segment from the Forward Guidance newsletter. To read full editions, subscribe. It seems like just about every day we get an update on a company buying bitcoin, ETH or another altcoin — establishing a crypto reserve for the first time, or adding to its pile. But firms forming and getting these assets on their balance sheet is just phase one, Galaxy asset management head Steve Kurz told me last week. “To the extent that companies are able to use capital-markets tooling to achieve escape velocity, they’re going to be able to build potential operating businesses and ecosystems…

MarketsAug 2

Hong Kong Kicks Off Stablecoin Licensing Regime With Eye on Global Hub

Hong Kong officially introduced its long-awaited licensing regime for fiat-referenced stablecoins Thursday, tightening oversight of digital assets as the city pursues its ambition to become a global crypto hub. Under the new law, which took effect on August 1, any company wishing to issue or market stablecoins to retail investors must first obtain a license from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. The licensing requirements span a host of compliance areas, including reserve asset management, redemption at par value, segregation of client funds, anti-money laundering protocols, disclosures, and fit-and-proper tests for operators. The launch of the stablecoin regime marks the latest…

RegulationAug 2

Solana DEX volume dips 20% after co-founder slams meme coins

Solana’s DEX volume has lost nearly $700 million since Monday. The downside follows comments from its co-founder criticizing meme tokens and NFTs. The remarks sparked debates, especially since meme cryptos have fueled Solana’s growth. The latest comments from Solana’s co-founder, Anatoly Yakovenko, left speculative trading enthusiasts shaken. Meanwhile, the blockchain reflects the impact on the decentralized exchange (DEX) front. Yakovenko dismissed NFTs and meme coins as assets without intrinsic value in a July 27 X post. He compared them to a mobile game loot box, which serves speculative individuals. Meanwhile, the comments dented sentiments as Solana’s DEX volume has seen…

ExchangesAug 2

Ispolink Joins Forces with ZK Zyra to Bring Zero Knowledge Proofs to AI-Powered Web3 Games

ZK Zyra, a ZK (zero-knowledge) protocol, has announced a strategic partnership with Ispolink, an AI-driven Web3 gaming platform. With this partnership, Ispolink aims to enhance the growth of its Web3 gaming network. Current Web3 games are developed on the assumption that all game data is available to anybody who has access to the blockchain. But how do players play games where transparency and privacy are essential? This explains why this partnership is important. ZK Zyra enables Ispolink to create confidential game mechanics that ensure user experiences are both private and personal. Ispolink Taps ZK Zyra Ispolink partnered with ZK Zyra…

BlockchainAug 2

Bitcoin Beats Gold as 2025’s Top Asset with $123K Price Breakout

Bitcoin hits $123K, overtaking gold as 2025’s top-performing asset with a 30% YTD gain. Investors are moving to Bitcoin and gold as safe havens amid rising U.S. deficits and global tensions. Analysts warn the rally reflects market fear, not confidence, as unproductive assets take the lead. Bitcoin has officially taken the top spot this year, climbing past $123,000 and logging its highest-ever weekly close at $119,500. With a 30% gain so far in 2025, it has now outperformed gold, which is up around 27%. That’s a big moment for crypto. But it’s also raising some serious questions. According to Charlie…

BitcoinAug 2

BitMine Still Ahead Despite SharpLink's Latest Ether Purchase

Ether (ETH) is holding steady above $3,800, according to CoinDesk Data, as the battle for dominance among corporate ETH treasuries intensifies. On Tuesday, SharpLink Gaming (SBET) announced it had purchased an additional 77,210 ETH last week, worth nearly $290 million at an average price of $3,756. The move raises SharpLink’s total ether holdings to 438,190 ETH, valued at roughly $1.69 billion. The Minneapolis-based firm has now raised over $279 million in net proceeds during the week of July 21 through its at-the-market (ATM) equity facility. Since launching its ETH treasury strategy on June 2, SharpLink has aggressively ramped up purchases…

EthereumAug 2

Citadel and SIG-Affiliated Heights Capital Acquire Nearly 20% Stake in Nano Labs

New York, U.S., July 22, 2025 – According to the latest filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Citadel, one of the world’s largest hedge funds, and Heights Capital Management, an affiliate of Susquehanna International Group (SIG), have both initiated positions in Nano Labs Ltd. (NASDAQ: NA), a U.S.-listed company. Together, the two institutions now hold close to 20% of Nano Labs' public float. The filings reveal that Citadel, through multiple affiliated entities, holds approximately 2.08 million Class A ordinary shares, accounting for 9.5% of the company’s publicly traded shares. Citadel explicitly stated that this investment is purely…

MarketsAug 2

Alchemy Pay Adds Pendle Finance to Fiat On-Ramp for Seamless DeFi Access

Alchemy Pay, a popular payment platform, has recently unveiled a new integration. As per Alchemy Pay, it is integrating Pendle Finance ($PENDLE) on the fiat-to-crypto on-ramp ecosystem thereof. The official announcement from Alchemy Pay mentions this as a crucial step to enhance DeFi accessibility for everyday consumers. Hence, the users can reach decentralized finance via traditional payment methods. 🔥 $PENDLE from @pendle_fi is now available on #AlchemyPay's fiat-crypto On-Ramp. Tap into the future of yield with your everyday payment methods—Visa, Mastercard, mobile wallets, and more. No friction, just forward. 🔥Ramp now: https://t.co/X263ArkDw7 $ACH pic.twitter.com/RWfv74s1f1 — Alchemy Pay|$ACH: Fiat-Crypto Payment Gateway…

ExchangesAug 2

Saylor’s Strategy Bags $31B in Unrealized Profits as Bitcoin Hits $122K

As Bitcoin rockets past $122,000, Strategy, the largest corporate holder of BTC, now holds around $31 billion in unrealized profits. Bitcoin continues its meteoric rise, hitting a new all-time high above $122,000 on Monday, July 14. This latest surge, driven by strong inflows into Bitcoin ETFs, has propelled the cryptocurrency to levels never seen before, and with it came massive unrealized profits for institutional holders like Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) Bitcoin Sets New All-Time High According to data from CoinMarketCap, the price of Bitcoin briefly peaked at $122,666, marking its all-time high. The bullish momentum has been building since July 9,…

BitcoinAug 2

SharpLink Gaming Drops $780 Million on Ethereum in July

SharpLink Gaming has spent $780 million on Ethereum in July, establishing itself as one of the asset’s largest holders as the cryptocurrency’s price surged to a seven-month high. The Minnesota-based Ethereum treasury firm, which began the month holding 198,200 ETH, now controls 438,200 ETH, an 121% increase in four weeks, according to a press release. Based on recent prices, that stockpile was worth $1.4 billion on Tuesday, the second largest among corporate Ethereum treasuries. SharpLink aims to increase shareholder value by boosting the amount of Ethereum it owns per fully diluted share. The company consistently issued common stock as a…

EthereumAug 2