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.

Australia Expands Digital Currency Trials with Project Acacia as CBDC Race Heats Up

Australia’s Central Bank is taking the next step in its digital currency journey. On Thursday, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) announced a new trial to explore how digital money could improve Australia’s wholesale tokenised asset markets. Project Acacia is a joint effort between the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC). It is also backed by ASIC, APRA, and the Australian Treasury. Project Acacia Enters Next Phase As part of the project, the RBA will test stablecoins, digital bank deposits, and a trial version of CBDCs. The project started last November with the…

MarketsJul 18

Crypto Market Structure Effort Needs 'Serious Changes'

The Senate Agriculture Committee leapt into Congress' negotiation over crypto's market structure legislation with a hearing on Tuesday, and its ranking Democrat, Senator Amy Klobuchar, outlined the significant changes she'd like to see before she'd embrace the effort to set up digital assets regulations. As the House potentially nears passage of its own market structure bill in the Digital Asset Markets Clarity Act (despite a procedural delay on Tuesday), Klobuchar's committee will need to sign off on its own legislation. And any major changes she and other Democrats are willing to pursue as a party could stretch the legislative process…

RegulationJul 18

OpenAI's ChatGPT Agent Launches With Expanded Powers—And Elevated Risk

OpenAI has unveiled its most autonomous AI tool yet: a version of ChatGPT that can browse the web, run apps, and complete real-world tasks with little-to-no human input. But with the leap in capability comes a stark warning: The technology could also invite a new wave of security threats. Launched on Thursday, ChatGPT Agent enables users to delegate complex tasks, such as planning vacations, booking hotel rooms, researching competitors, generating slide decks, and even placing online orders. The feature will start rolling out today to Pro, Plus, and Team users. To complete tasks, the agent uses a virtual computer and…

BlockchainJul 18

Bitcoin Breaks Out of Range, Analysts Target $315K Peak

Bitcoin (BTC) shattered its previous records, reaching a new all-time high (ATH) of $111,861.22 earlier today. This decisive move saw the world’s largest cryptocurrency break free after being stuck for weeks in a tight trading range between $104,000 and $107,800, igniting a fresh wave of bullish momentum. As the market digests this new peak, former tech CEO Mike Alfred has shared some bold predictions for where Bitcoin might be heading next, suggesting this rally has significant legs, largely thanks to a different breed of investor this time around. Mike Alfred’s Bullish Case: Bitcoin on Track for $200K-$315K In a recent…

BitcoinJul 18

German firms split on the future of crypto payments.

German businesses are split in their expectations about the future of cryptocurrency as a means of payment, shows a large-scale study covering hundreds of companies registered in the Bundesrepublik. While nearly half of the interviewed organizations believe crypto payments will become a common phenomenon in the next decade, most remain skeptical about taking decentralized digital money for the goods and services they are offering. German firms undecided on crypto as payment tool The share of German companies accepting and spending cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) is still quite small, but many more think crypto payments will grow in the coming years,…

MarketsJul 17

IOTA Closes Q2 With Layer 1 Rebase and Global Trade Breakthrough via TwinOrg Launch

According to IOTA, its future objectives include an expansion of its product ecosystem with a focus on real use cases in trade and logistics. IOTA’s Progress Report for Q2 2025 has pointed out some of the key progress that occurred within the ecosystem, including the Rebased Protocol, Gas Station, and IOTA Identity. IOTA has hinted that it would strongly focus on the product ecosystem expansion in the future. IOTA has, in its progress report for the second quarter of 2025 (Q2 2025), highlighted some of its successful implementations, including the mainnet launch of the IOTA Rebased and the debut of…

AltcoinsJul 17

Jury Seated for Tornado Cash Dev Roman Storm's Trial

NEW YORK — A 12-person jury has been seated for Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm's criminal trial, and opening arguments are set to begin later this afternoon in the Thurgood Marshall courthouse in lower Manhattan. Seven women and five men with a diverse range of backgrounds and ages will decide whether the U.S. Department of Justice can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Storm engaged in conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to violate U.S. sanctions and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business. Jury selection began on Monday. Of the jurors, just one works as an IT manager,…

RegulationJul 17

Bitcoin on a Confirmed Breakout After Hitting New All-Time High, Says Analyst Kevin Svenson – Here’s His Outlook

A closely followed crypto analyst says that Bitcoin’s (BTC) latest upswing to a new all-time high has confirmed its breakout. In a new strategy session, crypto trader Kevin Svenson tells his 83,200 YouTube subscribers that the top crypto asset by market cap’s latest upward shift confirms that it’s going to continue climbing until the end of this week, bringing BTC’s price to at least $115,000. “This run could be finishing around the end of May 23rd or May 24th, that may be when we actually get to $115,000, so really just a three-day run just like [previously]. I mean I…

BitcoinJul 17

SharpLink redraws Ethereum playbook with $213m buy and yield-led treasury shift

While Bitcoin remains the darling of corporate treasuries, SharpLink’s aggressive Ethereum play signals a shift. With nearly all its ETH staked, the company isn’t just holding, it’s actively shaping Ethereum’s economic future. On July 15, Minneapolis-based iGaming giant SharpLink Gaming announced that it had acquired 74,656 Ether (ETH) tokens for $213 million, completing the transaction over a six-day window between July 7 and July 13. The acquisition, executed at an average price of $2,852 per ETH, pushed SharpLink’s total holdings to 280,706 ETH, cementing its position as the world’s largest corporate holder of Ethereum. NEW: SharpLink becomes the largest $ETH…

EthereumJul 17

UK Crypto Platform Unravels Amid Financial Distress

The crypto world is no stranger to volatility, but when a prominent platform faces severe financial distress, it sends ripples through the community. That’s precisely what’s happening with Ziglu, a UK-based digital banking and crypto platform, which has now officially entered special administration. This development, reported by Crowdfund Insider, marks a critical juncture for the company and its users, highlighting the ongoing challenges in the evolving crypto landscape. Understanding Ziglu’s Financial Distress: What Went Wrong? For months, signs of trouble had been brewing at Ziglu. The company, once a promising name in the UK crypto scene, found itself in a…

MarketsJul 17