Vaibhavv Ali
Bhutan has taken its latest step in blockchain adoption by launching TER, a sovereign-backed, gold-backed digital token on the Solana blockchain. Key details from the announcement: Token Details: Each TER token represents physical gold held in custody and is issued by the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), a Special Administrative Region in Bhutan. Purpose & Significance: … Read more
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is rapidly asserting its position as a global powerhouse in the digital asset space, and nowhere is this momentum more visible than at Bitcoin MENA 2025. Returning for its second edition, the premier regional conference is set to transform the ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi, UAE, into … Read more
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins announced plans to rapidly advance the agency’s cryptocurrency agenda in early 2026, focusing on new exemptions, regulatory guidance, and updated rules for digital assets. Innovation Exemption: A key upcoming proposal is a time-limited “innovation exemption” intended to reduce compliance costs for crypto and fintech companies. This would … Read more
The prominent crypto venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) Crypto has officially announced the opening of its first Asia-based office in Seoul, South Korea. This expansion is driven by the firm’s goal to support its portfolio companies by tapping into Asia’s highly active cryptocurrency user base. Focus on Asia’s Crypto Market A16z Crypto managing partner … Read more
The cryptocurrency landscape saw a significant development as the Cboe BZX Exchange officially approved the listing and registration of the 21Shares Spot XRP ETF on December 10, 2025. This move, detailed in a filing to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), clears the ETF for launch once the SEC issues its final notice, which … Read more
Options contracts tied to BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) have experienced explosive growth in U.S. markets, achieving a top-tier ranking in open interest just over a year after their debut. Key Highlights of IBIT Options’ Rise Top 10 Ranking: As of Tuesday, IBIT options had 7,714,246 active or open contracts, making it the ninth largest tally … Read more
Paxos has enhanced its Global Dollar Network by integrating two new members: Amina Bank (a Swiss-regulated institutional bank) and Reap (a Hong Kong-based business payments platform). This expansion significantly broadens the reach of the regulated stablecoin, USDG. Key Additions and Their Roles Amina Bank (Switzerland): Supervised by FINMA, the bank is adding USDG to its … Read more
Stablecoin issuer StraitsX has teamed up with the crypto credit card payments platform UPay to allow users to spend the StraitsX USD (XUSD) stablecoin at real-world merchants. Integration: StraitsX will integrate its infrastructure into UPay’s payments ecosystem, which already includes support for Google Pay and Apple Pay. Enhanced Utility: This partnership significantly expands the utility … Read more
OpenPayd, a financial infrastructure provider, has announced a partnership with Altify, an app for tokenized private-market investing, to simplify the process of depositing and withdrawing EUR, GBP, and USD for Altify’s 80,000 investors. Key Benefit: This integration enables Altify users to move money easily between traditional and digital markets using payment networks like SEPA, Faster … Read more
Strategy, the company, has restructured its balance sheet to protect its substantial Bitcoin (BTC) holdings, treating them as a long-term strategic asset rather than a liquidity tool. Key Strategy Shifts: Dollar Reserve Shield: Strategy created a large U.S.-dollar reserve specifically to fund everyday financial commitments, including dividend payments. This cash pool acts as a buffer, … Read more