Author: NBTC

Ethereum Layer 2 scaling network Starknet has introduced strkBTC, a new Bitcoin-based asset designed to bridge Bitcoin liquidity into the Starknet ecosystem while offering enhanced privacy and regulatory compliance features, according to a report by The Block. What Is strkBTC and How Does It Work? strkBTC is a tokenized representation of Bitcoin on Starknet, allowing users to move Bitcoin into the network without exposing their transaction history. The asset leverages Starknet’s zero-knowledge rollup technology to create new Bitcoin addresses that are not linked to previous on-chain activity, effectively breaking the traceability chain that often concerns privacy-focused users. This approach differs…

A $20 million funding round led by Mike Novogratz’s Galaxy Digital (GLXY) is backing a push to use blockchain behind the scenes to overhaul the $6 trillion asset-backed finance market, where many deals still rely on manual workflows. The round, which included Parafi Capital and Crane Ventures, went to Fence, a startup building software to handle the operational layer of structured credit deals. That layer — from tracking loan pools to verifying collateral and moving cash — is often fragmented across multiple firms and still runs on spreadsheets, PDFs and email. The setup can slow transactions and leave investors with…

The Sui blockchain network has entered a pivotal development phase, initiating comprehensive testing for its next-generation virtual machine. This critical upgrade features a completely redesigned execution layer engineered to deliver unprecedented processing speed. Consequently, the entire ecosystem anticipates significant performance improvements, including faster caching mechanisms and enhanced features for the Move programming language. Developers plan to launch a rigorous bug bounty program before deploying the new VM on the mainnet, offering rewards based on mainnet security standards despite the current testnet status. Sui Virtual Machine Testing Marks a Technical Milestone Sui’s development team has officially commenced testing for its newly…

HolmesAI, a renowned decentralized entity dealing with intuitive digital avatars, has partnered with ENI, an enterprise-level modular L1 chain. The partnership aims to bolster the creation of scalable AI-led digital avatars within the blockchain network. As HolmesAI mentioned in its official social media announcement, the development attempts to integrate its “AI + Digital Avatar” framework with the high-performance modular L1 ecosystem of ENI. Hence, with this move, both platforms focus on enhancing security, sovereignty, and scalability for AI-led virtual interactions. HolmesAI 🤝 @ENI__Official Intelligence, scaled. We are integrating our “AI + Digital Avatar” ecosystem with ENI’s high-performance modular L1.A partnership…

The leading cryptocurrency, Bitcoin ($BTC), has attracted attention by remaining strong compared to assets like gold and silver despite the US-Iran conflict. However, Bitcoin is facing obstacles in its short-term upward trend. The continued increase in geopolitical tensions due to the lack of progress in peace talks between the US and Iran, coupled with concerns about war-related inflation, is negatively impacting Bitcoin’s rise. Recently, $BTC has been moving sideways between approximately $72,000 and $67,000, and in its latest report, crypto analytics company K33 Research stated that these sideways movements in Bitcoin could indicate a bottoming out process. K33 analysts stated…

Crypto payments firm MoonPay has acquired Sodot, an Israeli crypto security startup, as part of its plan to launch MoonPay Institutional, a new unit built for large financial institutions looking to access crypto. Bloomberg reports, citing sources familiar with the acquisition, that it’s an all-stock deal worth about $100 million. The new unit will offer tools for trading, tokenized securities, payments, wallet management and stablecoin issuance. Sodot’s technology will serve as the key management layer for the business. MoonPay Institutional will be led by Caroline D. Pham, who joined MoonPay in December as chief legal officer and chief administrative officer…

The CLARITY Act, the U.S. Senate’s latest push to establish comprehensive crypto market structure rules, could do more than unlock institutional adoption by also strengthening the U.S. dollar’s role in global digital finance while intensifying competition with Asian crypto hubs over stablecoin capital, according to a researcher from venture fund HashKey. The Senate Banking Committee on Thursday advanced the Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act in a bipartisan 15-9 vote, pushing the legislation closer to a full Senate vote as lawmakers continue negotiating issues, including anti-money laundering protections and ethics provisions. Clearer U.S. crypto rules could encourage institutional adoption of regulated…

PancakeSwap has announced its new liquidity pool for the Impossible Cloud Network (ICN). This strategy is part of a broader goal of connecting DeFi with the emerging Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) space to bring DeFi and Web3 in general to the world of decentralized cloud computing. It combines the benefits of Web3’s fluid, permissionless environment with the strength and reliability of enterprise-level services. As a decentralized exchange provider hosting one of the largest $ICNT/$USDC trading pairs globally, PancakeSwap is helping provide the financial infrastructure needed to support the project. The initiative is focused on helping businesses rethink how they…

Bitcoin has gained over 8% since the US-Iran war began. Simon Dixon argues the US dollar system depends on the global alliances Trump is publicly dismissing Goldman has raised recession odds to 30% while Bitcoin keeps making higher lows. Bitcoin has gained roughly 8% since the US-Iran war began. Gold is down. The S&P 500 is down. Asian equities had their worst stretch since 2020. For an asset that critics still call speculative, that’s a result worth paying attention to. Bitcoin investor and BnkToTheFuture founder Simon Dixon thinks he knows why and his explanation goes deeper than crypto. The Dollar…

What’s new: GSR has launched its first ETF built around three major tokens with active management layered on top. The fund holds Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana, with weekly rebalancing to adjust market exposure, said GSR Managing Director of Asset Management, Andy Baehr on CoinDesk’s Public Keys. It includes staking rewards for Ethereum and Solana, adding yield on top of price exposure The goal: offer a core portfolio investors can hold without constant trading decisions Why it matters: Crypto ETFs are shifting from trading tools to long-term allocation products. Institutional players like Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs are tailoring crypto ETFs…