Author: NBTC

For the first time in six years, the bitcoin hashrate, the total computational power securing the network, fell during the first quarter. It is currently down around 4% year to date, hovering around 1 zettahash per second (ZH/s). Over the past five years, the rate has surged from roughly 100 exahashes per second (EH/s), a 10-fold increase, according to Glassnode data. Each year, the metric rose during the first quarter and ended with strong full-year growth in excess of 10%. In 2022, the figure almost doubled. The AI Pivot The shift in 2026 reflects changing economics across the bitcoin mining…

The crypto industry is likely to see more projects snapped up by larger companies, which may lead to a much less fragmented sector in the months ahead, says Bullish CEO Tom Farley. “I was in the exchange sector during continual massive consolidation…the same thing is going to happen starting right now in crypto,” Farley said during an interview on CNBC on Friday. Farley, who served as president of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) until 2018, said the recent drop in the crypto market will be a key catalyst, with Bitcoin (BTC) down nearly 45% from its October all-time high…

In a significant development shaking cryptocurrency market confidence, Backpack Exchange has issued a firm denial regarding insider trading allegations connected to a high-stakes Polymarket prediction contract about its token valuation. The exchange launched an immediate investigation after unusual trading activity surrounding its BP token generation event raised eyebrows across decentralized finance communities. This controversy emerges during a critical period for cryptocurrency regulatory scrutiny, particularly concerning market manipulation in prediction markets and token launches. Backpack Exchange Investigates Polymarket Bet Suspicious Activity Backpack Exchange, which recently completed its highly anticipated token generation event, faced unexpected controversy when traders on Polymarket placed substantial…

As mining profits compress and capital shifts toward artificial intelligence, the bitcoin hashrate is emerging as a crucial barometer of stress and adaptation in the industry. First-quarter decline breaks a six-year trend For the first time in six years, the bitcoin network’s total computing power has declined in the opening months of the year. The bitcoin hashrate, which measures the computational power securing the blockchain, is down around 4% year to date and currently hovers near 1 zettahash per second (ZH/s). This pullback marks the first first-quarter decline since 2020, ending a streak of five consecutive years of double-digit hashrate…

CryptoSlam, a leading and multi-chain data aggregator and analytics platform specialized in tracking non-fungible tokens (NFTs), has disclosed the list of top 10 NFTs in terms of sales volume for the previous week. The ranking number focuses on the necessities of these NFTs in the market from different angles. NFTs are rapidly used for trading purposes around the globe. Here is the list of top 10 NFTs by last 7D: Courtyard, 0xbb5ec6fd4b61723bd45c399840f1d868840ca16f, $X@AI BRC-20 NFTs, Flying Tulip PUT, $QCLAW BRC-20 NFTs, Guild of Guardians Heroes, CryptoPunks, Gods Unchained Cards, Pudgy Penguins, and $ATCM BRC-20 NFTs. These NFTs are covered by…

Kalshi is now under a two-week restraining order barring bets in Nevada while a legal debate proceeds over the longer-term status of prediction markets there. The First Judicial District Court of Nevada issued a 14-day order on Friday, directing the platform to cease offering event contracts in that state. A federal appeals court cleared the way on Thursday for state regulators to seek the order, which the Nevada Gaming Control Board first sought in 2025, when it told Kalshi to cease its sports contracts. Kalshi had argued that the case should be moved to federal court, but the appeals court…

In a significant move for the digital asset ecosystem, Binance Wallet has officially commenced the Token Generation Event (TGE) for the PRL token, marking a pivotal moment for participants and the broader cryptocurrency market on March 21, 2025. This launch follows a structured pre-event subscription window exclusively for holders of Binance Alpha Points, underscoring a growing trend of reward-based participation in major crypto launches. Furthermore, the event gains substantial credibility with the prior announcement from leading U.S. exchange Coinbase regarding its intention to list the PRL token, signaling strong institutional interest from the outset. Binance Wallet PRL Token Launch Mechanics…

Bitdeer’s Norwegian subsidiary signed a construction agreement with DCI to convert its Tydal facility into a 180-megawatt artificial intelligence (AI) data center targeting completion by December 2026. Bitdeer Targets Europe AI Data Center Market Tydal Data Center AS (TDC), a subsidiary of Bitdeer Technologies Group (Nasdaq: BTDR), contracted Data Center Installations AS (DCI) on March 30 to design and build the expanded facility at the Kirkvollen industrial site in Tydal municipality, Trøndelag county, Norway. DCI, a Norwegian contractor specializing in critical infrastructure and part of Sparc Group AB since 2025, will manage the project end-to-end, covering design, planning, installation, testing,…

For crypto stakeholders, February 14 (Valentine’s Day) this year won’t be about celebrating love. Instead, it’ll be about the 13F filings that are expected to be due on the same date, and people will be looking for answers as to how the October 10 crash happened. Technically, while 13F filings are due 45 days after the end of the calendar year, that date this year falls on a Saturday. Then, there’s another federal holiday (Presidents’ Day) on Monday, February 16. Hence, the SEC deadline automatically rolls over to the next business day, which is February 17. The 13F filings and…

South Korea’s National Tax Service (NTS) is moving to select a private custody provider for seized crypto assets after a February press release exposed a wallet recovery phrase and triggered the unauthorized transfer of confiscated tokens. On Feb. 26, the NTS accidentally exposed a crypto wallet seed phrase in an official press release, resulting in the unauthorized transfer of crypto tokens valued at about $4.8 million. The release included an image of a Ledger cold wallet and a sheet of paper showing the mnemonic phrase without being blurred. Citing people familiar with the matter, ZDNet Korea reported that the agency…