NEWS DIGEST – 22.01.2026 
What happened: Major financial institutions including BlackRock, J.P. Morgan, and Mastercard gathered in London for the annual London Digital Assets Forum — a key event on institutional crypto adoption, regulation and infrastructure collaboration.
Why it matters: High-profile participation signals that traditional finance is increasingly embracing digital assets as more than just speculative instruments. Institutional dialogue on custody, tokenization and compliance frameworks could accelerate regulated product development globally.
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2) BitGo IPO — first major crypto public listing of 2026
What happened: Custody and infrastructure provider BitGo went public on the NYSE with a valuation near $2.1 billion, marking the first major crypto-related IPO of the year.
Why it matters: A high-valuation IPO in crypto infrastructure reflects growing investor confidence in foundational tech — especially in custody, security and regulated services. This could encourage other crypto firms to pursue public markets.
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3) 
Nomura-backed tokenized Bitcoin yield fund launches
What happened: Japanese bank–backed Laser Digital introduced a tokenized Bitcoin yield-bearing fund, designed to deliver BTC performance plus yield — a hybrid instrument aiming to compete with traditional fixed-income products.
Why it matters: Tokenized yield products blend decentralized and conventional finance, offering institutional and retail investors alternative ways to gain exposure to Bitcoin while earning returns. This broadens crypto’s appeal as a diversified asset class.
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4) 
Binance lists Ripple USD (RLUSD), expands XRP ecosystem trading
What happened: Binance added Ripple USD (RLUSD) trading pairs (RLUSD/USDT & RLUSD/USDC) and announced upcoming support for the XRP Ledger, which aims to boost RLUSD liquidity and network activity.
Why it matters: Expanding stablecoin offerings tied to the XRP ecosystem, combined with growing XRP ETF narratives this year, strengthens demand channels across institutions and retail markets — possibly aiding XRPL adoption.
