Author: NBTC
The stablecoin debate in Washington is increasingly becoming a fight over a single question: who gets to keep deposit insurance on-chain? FDIC Chair Travis Hill signaled that payment stablecoins under the GENIUS Act should not qualify for pass-through insurance, while tokenized deposits that meet the legal definition of a deposit would retain the same insurance treatment as traditional bank accounts. That distinction may prove decisive. If banks can offer on-chain dollars that preserve deposit insurance while stablecoins cannot, the competitive balance shifts. Stablecoins may still dominate open networks, but banks would retain the core advantage that has always anchored the…
Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin offer individuals complete control over their funds, but the same can’t be said for assets locked in vaults, according to the World Gold Council. On Thursday, the trade association formed and funded by the world’s leading gold mining companies proposed a framework for addressing complexities tied to tokenized gold, with the aim of establishing standards for digital assets backed by the precious metal. In a white paper co-authored by Boston Consulting Group, the nonprofit established the concept of “Gold as a Service,” a platform designed to allow companies creating gold-backed tokens to tap into a shared network…
The SEC’s fresh approval of Nasdaq’s tokenized securities framework marks a key turning point for how stocks could trade in the future: it brings blockchain into the core of U.S. equity markets, but on Wall Street’s terms. The regulatory green light allows Nasdaq to test a system where certain stocks and ETFs can be issued and settled as blockchain-based tokens while trading alongside traditional shares. In practice, investors could hold tokenized versions of securities in digital wallets, with clearing and settlement handled by the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC). However, the effort isn’t a sweeping overhaul of market operations;…
Web3 has always been cyclical, yet it has never stopped building. Markets rally and retrace, narratives rotate and evolve, but founders continue to ship products and search for their moment to be seen. In an ecosystem where launching a protocol or token can happen quickly, standing out is harder than ever. That is where CoinDesk PitchFest has found its role within Consensus. CoinDesk PitchFest does not replace due diligence, nor does it guarantee funding. What it offers is structured exposure to investors, operators, and ecosystem leaders who are actively shaping the industry. Over the past few years, judges have included…
UBS, the Swiss multinational investment bank and one of the world’s largest wealth managers, has obtained final approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to convert UBS Bank USA into a nationally chartered bank, the company announced in a LinkedIn post. With the national charter, UBS aims to bolster its US banking platform, improving service for clients and financial advisors and laying the groundwork for future growth. The move also reinforces its dedication to maintaining strong service and stability standards. “This milestone really positions us well for the next phase of growth as we work to…
When Vanity Fair published “Crypto’s True Believers Demand to Be Taken Seriously” on Mar. 17, the backlash arrived within hours. Hayden Adams said he had passed on the shoot after being asked to pose in a bathrobe in a sauna. Camila Russo called the framing “so off.” Nic Carter compared the group photograph to the Alliance of Magicians from Arrested Development. Dennison Bertram, a former fashion photographer and Tally co-founder, went further. He dissected the lighting and angles as a deliberate composition designed to diminish rather than document. The industry’s first instinct was to call it a hit job, while…
While ETF outflows grabbed attention, about $13b quietly moved into crypto via OTC, prime brokerage, and private funds, showing institutional demand runs deeper than ETF dashboards. Summary A Daily Chain briefing highlights roughly $13b in capital flowing into crypto this week via prime brokers, OTC desks, structured products, and private vehicles that never show up in ETF flow reports. Finery Markets data show institutional crypto spot OTC volumes jumped 109% year-over-year in 2025, far outpacing the 9% growth in top-20 CEX spot trading as large players favor discreet block execution. BlackRock’s recent $140m transfer of 47,728 ETH and 544 $BTC…
Gunzilla Games, the developer behind NFT-incorporating battle royale game Off The Grid, has allegedly stopped paying staff as the shooter struggles to maintain its player base. As reported by Insider Gaming, a number of Gunzilla employees have taken to LinkedIn to detail the state of affairs at the company. The firm’s Talent Acquisition Lead, Anna Savina, claimed that employees had gone months without receiving their salary, and alleged that Gunzilla execs were ignoring requests for payment. “I dedicated three years of my professional life to Gunzilla Games. I built teams, found top talent, and lived the company’s mission 24/7. Today,…
Dutch market maker IMC Trading has hired Alex Casimo as chief commercial officer of its cryptocurrency business, according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter. Casimo started in his new role this week and is based in London, the person said, who spoke on condition of anonymity as the matter is private. The hire reflects IMC’s ambition to build deeper, more strategic relationships with institutional counterparties and foundations across the crypto ecosystem, with a view to become one of the leading client-facing firms in the industry, the person added. Both IMC and Casimo declined to comment. Previously, Casimo…
Trading is becoming more tightly integrated into messaging as the Telegram Wallet brings perpetual futures trading directly into the chat experience. Telegram integrates derivatives trading into its wallet Telegram is pushing deeper into crypto services as its built-in wallet feature, Wallet in Telegram, rolls out perpetual futures trading for users worldwide. The new function lets traders open and manage positions without leaving the app, which removes the need to switch platforms and streamlines the entire trading workflow. This integration makes trading quicker and simpler for regular users who already spend time in Telegram. Moreover, it marks a significant step in…