The Cryptonomist

Spain’s second-largest lender is joining a fast-forming consortium of major banks that plans to launch a regulated euro stablecoin and reshape digital payments in Europe.

BBVA becomes 12th bank in Qivalis consortium

BBVA, Spain’s second-largest bank by assets, has joined Qivalis, an Amsterdam-based consortium of EU lenders developing a regulated token linked to the euro. The move adds another major institution to a project designed to challenge the dominance of dollar-pegged crypto assets in cross-border payments.

With BBVA and its $800 billion in assets now on board, Qivalis counts a dozen large European Union banks among its members. Moreover, the group already includes high-profile lenders such as BNP Paribas, ING and UniCredit, underscoring the scale of banking support behind the initiative.

Bank-backed alternative to dollar stablecoins

The consortium’s core objective is to launch a token fully backed and issued by a network of established banks, rather than by crypto-native companies. However, the design still targets blockchain-based use cases, positioning the token as a direct alternative to dollar-denominated stablecoins currently used for trading, settlements and remittances.

Today, tokens linked to the U.S. dollar dominate the roughly $300 billion global stablecoin market. By contrast, euro-denominated stablecoins collectively have a market capitalization of less than $1 billion, highlighting the sizeable euro stablecoin marketcap gap that European institutions are now seeking to close.

Market context and dominant issuers

Of the total $300 billion stablecoin market, only about $860 million is tied to the euro. That said, the market is heavily concentrated: El Salvador-based Tether leads with its $185 billion USDT token, while New York-based Circle Internet’s (CRCL) USDC accounts for roughly $70 billion.

This concentration in dollar-pegged instruments has raised concerns in parts of Europe over long-term dependence on non-EU issuers for digital settlement assets. Moreover, it has strengthened arguments for a bank backed euro token supervised under European rules, rather than offshore stablecoins issued by private technology firms.

Use cases for euro-denominated blockchain payments

Qivalis argues that a euro-pegged token could allow EU companies and individuals to send and settle payments directly on blockchain networks while remaining inside the euro area. Crucially, users would not need to rely on traditional correspondent banking or on third-party providers based outside the bloc.

Such a token could underpin european onchain payments, wholesale settlements between banks and corporates, and programmable finance applications. However, its success will depend on both regulatory approval and adoption by payment processors, exchanges and corporate treasuries across the region.

Regulatory path under MiCA

To move forward, Qivalis is seeking authorization from the Dutch central bank to operate as an electronic money institution. This permission is a prerequisite to issue a regulated euro stablecoin under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets, or MiCA, framework, which is being phased in across the bloc.

The authorization process in the Netherlands is expected to be a key test case for mica stablecoin authorization in practice. Moreover, it will determine how EU supervisors interpret safeguards around reserves, transparency and redemption rights for bank-issued tokens.

Timeline and strategic ambitions

Qivalis plans to introduce its euro-linked token in the second half of 2026, assuming a smooth regulatory process. The project aims to build a shared set of technical and compliance standards that can be used by multiple institutions across the EU.

“Collaboration between banks is key to create common standards that support the evolution of the future banking model,” said Alicia Pertusa, head of partnerships and innovation at BBVA CIB, in a statement. Furthermore, she emphasized that joint work on digital assets could unlock new business models in trade finance and treasury services.

Qivalis positions itself as leading EU bank stablecoin project

For Qivalis, BBVA’s decision to join comes as validation of its strategy to build a European, bank-supported token from the ground up. In the words of Jan-Oliver Sell, CEO of Qivalis and a former executive of Coinbase Germany, BBVA’s involvement “reflects the increasing dedication of European banking institutions to jointly develop a European on-chain payment ecosystem based on the trust that banks provide.”

Sell added that this step consolidates Qivalis’ standing as Europe’s foremost eu bank stablecoin project. However, the initiative will face competition from private stablecoin issuers and from central bank projects, including ongoing discussions around a potential digital euro.

Implications for euro digital payment rails

Industry participants view the consortium’s work as part of a broader effort to upgrade euro digital payment rails for a tokenized economy. A widely adopted bank-issued coin could support securities settlement, cross-border trade and treasury operations conducted in near real time.

At the same time, the euro stablecoin debate is prompting policymakers, banks and fintech firms to reassess Europe’s role in the next phase of digital finance. In that context, moves by lenders like BBVA to join collaborative projects such as Qivalis signal that large institutions are no longer content to leave the field to dollar-based crypto issuers.

In summary, BBVA’s entry into the Qivalis consortium strengthens a growing coalition of EU banks betting that a regulated, bank-issued euro token can provide a credible alternative to dollar stablecoins and anchor Europe’s on-chain payment infrastructure by 2026.

Institutional traders are gaining new onchain access as ripple prime integrates Hyperliquid, expanding crypto derivatives tools within a single risk-managed environment.

Ripple Prime adds Hyperliquid decentralized derivatives access

Ripple has integrated the decentralized derivatives protocol Hyperliquid into its institutional prime brokerage platform, giving clients direct access to the exchange‘s onchain perpetuals liquidity. However, margin management and risk controls remain centralized inside Ripple Prime, preserving institutional workflows.

The company explained that clients will be able to cross-margin decentralized finance derivatives exposures alongside positions in other supported markets. Moreover, this setup aims to combine DeFi liquidity with traditional risk oversight, targeting professional portfolio managers.

Cross-margining across traditional and DeFi markets

Ripple Prime currently supports a range of traditional assets, including FX, fixed income instruments, over-the-counter swaps, and other products. The platform acts as a single point of access for institutions running multi-asset strategies, offering centralized risk management and enhanced capital efficiency for their portfolios.

With the Hyperliquid connection, institutional clients can now align cross margin crypto derivatives positions in decentralized markets with exposure in more familiar asset classes. That said, positions are still supervised within Ripple’s brokerage stack, which may appeal to firms needing consolidated reporting and compliance.

Hyperliquid’s rapid rise in decentralized perpetuals

Hyperliquid has quickly emerged as the largest decentralized perpetual contracts exchange, drawing attention from both crypto-native and traditional traders. As of mid-January, the platform had exceeded $5 billion in open interest and $200 billion in monthly trading volume, outpacing several competing derivatives venues.

Moreover, Hyperliquid has been expanding beyond perpetuals on major tokens into tokenized commodity trading and other experimental markets. This broader product set supports the strategic logic of the integration, as institutions explore alternative yield and hedging opportunities.

Expansion into commodities and prediction markets

The exchange’s recent surge in tokenized commodity activity, including silver futures, has helped its HYPE token outperform during the ongoing market selloff. However, the team is not stopping at commodities; the platform is also eyeing prediction markets as a new growth vertical.

These developments position Hyperliquid as more than a typical decentralized perpetuals exchange, potentially turning it into a multi-market DeFi trading hub. For institutions accessing it through Ripple Prime, this could translate into new instruments for both speculation and hedging.

Interoperability momentum and Flare’s role

The partnership builds on broader interoperability trends across digital asset markets. Earlier this year, Flare – a blockchain focused on interoperability – launched the first XRP spot market on Hyperliquid with the listing of FXRP. That said, Ripple’s latest move centers on derivatives access via its institutional platform rather than retail-focused spot trading.

This distinction underscores Ripple’s emphasis on professional capital, where consolidated collateral, prime services, and integrated clearing are often more important than isolated DeFi venue access.

Background on Ripple Prime and institutional strategy

Ripple launched its Prime platform in late 2025 following its $1.25 billion acquisition of prime brokerage firm Hidden Road. The deal laid the groundwork for a broader digital asset and multi-asset brokerage strategy targeting banks, funds, and trading firms.

Since launch, the service has been framed as a gateway for institutions to tap both traditional markets and crypto liquidity under a unified risk and collateral model. However, the Hyperliquid integration marks one of the clearest steps toward embedding decentralized markets directly into that prime brokerage environment.

Onchain perpetuals with centralized risk controls

Under the new setup, institutional traders can reach Hyperliquid’s onchain perpetuals liquidity while keeping risk, margin, and operations anchored in the same interface they use for FX and fixed income. This approach seeks to lower operational friction for allocators that want DeFi exposure without rebuilding their entire infrastructure.

Moreover, by enabling cross-margining of decentralized derivatives with traditional instruments, the model aims to improve capital efficiency, which is a central objective for any modern institutional prime brokerage.

Outlook for DeFi integration into institutional workflows

Industry observers see this kind of integration as a step toward deeper convergence between centralized finance and DeFi infrastructure. The move allows institutions to experiment with onchain perpetuals and newer products like tokenized commodities or prediction markets while maintaining established risk standards.

In summary, the Hyperliquid connection extends Ripple Prime’s role as an institutional access layer, linking traditional markets, digital assets, and emerging decentralized derivatives within a single, risk-managed prime environment.

Changpeng Zhao has pushed back against allegations of binance price manipulation, arguing that October’s sudden moves were driven by macroeconomic news rather than exchange activity.

CZ rejects accusations over October 10 crash

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, known as CZ, has firmly denied that Binance played any role in manipulating Bitcoin prices during the October 10 market crash, which triggered about $20 billion in liquidations. He said the sharp decline followed global tariff announcements and was not caused by the exchange‘s systems or trading behavior.

Speaking in a recent AMA session, CZ responded to users who blamed the exchange for the sudden sell-off on October 10. However, he described those accusations as misleading and incorrect, stressing that the timing of the drop lined up with major tariff headlines that rattled wider financial markets.

Moreover, CZ argued that the sequence of events shows the crash was linked to macroeconomic news, not technical failures or internal actions at Binance. He insisted that the exchange’s infrastructure functioned normally throughout the volatility.

Binance says it does not trade to move markets

CZ also emphasized that Binance does not trade cryptocurrencies in-house to profit from price swings or influence market direction. According to him, the company views itself as a neutral provider of trading infrastructure, rather than a proprietary trading firm seeking to benefit from volatility.

“We don’t buy or sell crypto to make money from price changes,” he said, rejecting claims that the exchange gains from sharp market moves. That said, he also dismissed rumors that either Binance or he personally profited from trading during the October crash.

CZ reiterated that the platform’s core function is to offer services for users to buy and sell digital assets. Moreover, he underlined that any suggestion that internal desks actively speculate on price movements runs contrary to how the business is structured and supervised.

Bitcoin market size makes manipulation unrealistic

Addressing ongoing bitcoin price manipulation rumors, CZ argued that the idea that a single exchange or actor could meaningfully steer the market is unrealistic. He noted that Bitcoin‘s total market value is now close to $2 trillion, making it extremely costly for anyone to attempt to move prices at scale.

To significantly shift the price, CZ said, an entity would need to risk hundreds of billions of dollars, something he believes no rational participant would do. “No one in their right mind would do that,” he remarked, adding that he does not know anyone “on the planet” who is willing or able to try to manipulate Bitcoin in this way.

Furthermore, CZ argued that the broad, global distribution of holdings across exchanges, funds, and individual investors makes coordinated manipulation even less plausible. Market depth and liquidity, he suggested, limit the impact any single platform can have.

Regulatory oversight and compliance at Binance

CZ also highlighted that Binance now operates as a regulated entity within the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), subject to close scrutiny from local and international authorities. This adgm regulation binance oversight, he said, significantly reduces the possibility of any abusive activity on the platform.

According to CZ, regulators and compliance teams, including U.S.-based monitors, routinely review trading flows and systems. Moreover, he explained that all activity on the exchange is logged and can be examined, making deliberate binance price manipulation both detectable and incompatible with its obligations.

He added that independent binance compliance monitors review how the platform operates, further constraining any attempt to engage in unfair practices. Because of this multilayered supervision, CZ argued, all trades are subject to oversight that would quickly expose improper behavior.

Tariffs, macro news, and the October crash

Returning to the October 10 sell-off, CZ linked the steep declines across crypto markets to broader crypto market tariff announcements. He said the timing of the Bitcoin move mirrored reactions in equities and other risk assets after governments revealed new tariff measures.

However, he rejected the narrative that the binance october market crash was caused by exchange-specific problems or hidden liquidation cascades initiated internally. Instead, he framed the event as part of a wider repricing of risk triggered by global policy headlines.

That said, CZ acknowledged that high leverage and concentrated positions across the crypto ecosystem can amplify volatility when macro shocks hit. He maintained nonetheless that exchanges like Binance are infrastructure providers, not directional traders seeking to push markets.

Ongoing debate over market integrity

The debate over binance does not trade as a market participant versus an infrastructure provider continues to play out among traders and analysts. Some critics remain suspicious of large exchanges’ influence, while others point to deep liquidity and public order books as safeguards.

Moreover, recent scrutiny of bitcoin and derivatives venues has sharpened focus on transparency, audit trails, and regulatory coordination. CZ, for his part, continues to maintain that binance price manipulation is neither feasible at scale nor compatible with the firm’s regulatory and operational constraints.

In summary, CZ has framed the October 10 crash as a macro-driven event linked to tariff news, while underlining Binance’s regulatory status, compliance monitoring, and non-trading posture as key reasons why deliberate manipulation would be both irrational and unsustainable.

Amid growing geopolitical pressure, lawmakers have overhauled financial rules to tighten control over the kyrgyzstan crypto sector and its expanding stablecoin market.

President Zhaparov signs tighter virtual asset framework

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov has signed amendments to the law “On Virtual Assets,” reshaping the country's cryptocurrency regulation. The updated framework introduces clear legal definitions for stablecoins and for “tokens,” the official label now used for cryptocurrencies. Moreover, the changes specifically address how the state can participate in mining and digital asset issuance.

Under the new law, the government, including state-controlled companies, may conduct mining operations. These activities are intended to help build a national crypto reserve, support local blockchain projects, and accelerate the development of Kyrgyzstan's digital economy. However, the legislation also clarifies requirements for private-sector miners, who face stricter oversight.

All other mining enterprises must undergo mandatory registration and certification. They are required to report to the state which crypto wallets they use to accumulate mined coins. In addition, they must comply with detailed technical and fire safety standards, signaling a push to formalize previously opaque operations and tighten state owned mining rules.

Crucially, the amended law hands President Zhaparov and his administration direct authority over the procedures for issuing and circulating cryptocurrencies, the Russian outlet Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported on Wednesday. That said, the president has also been empowered to launch pilot projects to test innovative services and technologies in the digital asset space.

According to the amendments, only coins backed by other assets will be issued domestically, and the issuance process will be strictly regulated by the government. This approach aims to reduce speculative risks while preserving room for innovation in tokenized financial instruments and stable-value assets.

Kyrgyzstan positions itself as a regional stablecoin hub

Kyrgyzstan has already rolled out two domestic stablecoins: the U.S. dollar-pegged USDKG and KGST, which is linked to the national fiat, the Kyrgyz som. Both tokens are designed for settlements, including cross-border payments, and are central to the country's emerging kyrgyzstan stablecoin policy.

USDKG, launched in November, is backed by gold. Authorities in Bishkek hope this structure will strengthen Kyrgyzstan's, and more broadly Kazakhstan's, position in the global financial system and attract foreign capital and business. Moreover, the asset backing is meant to offer more credibility than many uncollateralized digital coins, enhancing trust among international partners.

The KGST token was developed as part of the national central bank digital currency (CBDC) initiative and is supported by reserves held in state-owned banks. This design reflects a model similar to other CBDC pilots worldwide, where tokenized units represent claims on central or public financial institutions, aligning with kgst cbdc reserve backing principles.

Authorities plan to list both USDKG and KGST initially on domestic and regional crypto exchanges and, over time, on global trading platforms. However, these ambitions are unfolding against a tense geopolitical backdrop, where any expansion in digital asset activity can draw scrutiny from Western regulators and partners.

Another stablecoin, the ruble-pegged A7A5, has become a major headache for Bishkek. The token was developed in Russia but is currently issued by a company registered in Kyrgyzstan. As a result, the project and its related entities have attracted intense international attention to the country's digital asset ecosystem.

The ruble-linked coin and associated players, including local crypto platforms and banks, have been targeted with sanctions by the U.S., the EU, and the U.K.. Western authorities suspect that A7A5 is being used to bypass financial restrictions imposed on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. This case illustrates how a single ruble pegged stablecoin can expose an entire jurisdiction to global compliance risks.

Launched in early 2025, A7A5 now accounts for nearly half of the non-dollar stablecoin market. According to a recent study by blockchain analytics firm Elliptic, the coin has processed over $100 billion worth of transactions in less than a year, as reported by Cryptopolitan. Moreover, that volume underscores how quickly new digital assets can scale when they meet strong cross-border demand.

Mining and issuance under presidential oversight

As the new rules take hold, the issuing and circulation of cryptocurrencies will effectively fall under direct presidential supervision. In practice, this means the concrete procedures for launching and managing tokens will be defined by Zhaparov's office. For the broader kyrgyzstan crypto landscape, this centralization could provide clarity but also concentrate decision-making power.

The law's mining provisions also signal a dual-track strategy. On one hand, the state can mine through its own companies in pursuit of a national crypto reserve and to support blockchain development. On the other, private miners face higher compliance obligations, including transparent wallet reporting and adherence to strict safety requirements. However, some industry participants may view the added bureaucracy as a barrier to entry.

These digital asset mining rules come as countries worldwide rethink how to balance energy use, taxation, and financial integrity in the mining sector. Kyrgyzstan's approach appears to favor a more controlled environment in which public-sector involvement is explicitly sanctioned, while unregistered or non-compliant operators face increased legal risk.

EU considers fresh sanctions targeting Bishkek

The legal overhaul arrives just as the European Union weighs new punitive measures against Kyrgyzstan. Last week, Bloomberg reported that Brussels is exploring ways to raise the pressure on Bishkek, potentially activating a mechanism to block certain exports to the Central Asian nation. The move is framed as a response to alleged assistance to Russia in evading existing sanctions.

This mechanism would allow the EU to restrict supplies of sensitive goods to a specific country. In the case of Kyrgyzstan, the categories under discussion reportedly include machine tools and radio equipment. Moreover, Western officials suspect some of these products might be re-exported to Russia, undermining the effectiveness of previous sanctions rounds.

In reaction, the Kyrgyz government announced this week that it is initiating consultations with the European Union over the reported preparations for Russia-related penalties. Deputy Prime Minister Daniyar Amangeldiev told local media that an online meeting with EU Sanctions Envoy David O'Sullivan may take place soon. However, he emphasized the lack of any formal confirmation from Brussels so far.

Amangeldiev also insisted that Kyrgyzstan has already curbed exports of dual-use goods. He argued that, in his view, there are no grounds for European sanctions on the country. Still, ongoing debates about eu sanctions on kyrgyzstan and crypto-fueled circumvention underscore how digital assets are now integral to wider geopolitical and trade disputes.

Overall, the new framework seeks to reinforce state control over tokens, mining, and asset-backed issuance while positioning Kyrgyzstan as a regional stablecoin hub. Yet, as the A7A5 controversy and potential EU measures show, the country's digital asset strategy will remain tightly intertwined with international sanctions policy and evolving global crypto regulation.

Developers on Sui can now tap into sui grpc streaming to build faster, more reliable indexing pipelines for real-time blockchain data.

Hybrid streaming model transforms Sui data access

The Sui blockchain has introduced gRPC streaming as a primary data source for its indexing infrastructure, enabling real-time checkpoint ingestion with minimal latency. Moreover, this design targets applications that must react as soon as data is finalized.

The platform combines streaming capabilities with traditional polling methods to maintain data accuracy and system resilience. This hybrid model allows immediate access to finalized checkpoints while preserving backward compatibility with existing custom indexers already deployed on Sui.

The Custom Indexing Framework underpins this streaming-first architecture without requiring changes to checkpoint processing logic. However, teams can still rely on their existing pipelines while layering in streaming where it brings tangible benefits.

Streaming removes polling delays for checkpoint ingestion

The new gRPC streaming capability fundamentally changes how indexers receive blockchain data on Sui. Full nodes now push checkpoint data directly to indexers as soon as finalization occurs, rather than waiting for scheduled fetches.

This push-based model eliminates repeated polling cycles that previously introduced delays between checkpoint creation and downstream processing. As a result, latency-sensitive tools can react closer to real time without tuning complex polling intervals.

According to the documentation, the system delivers “real-time checkpoints as soon as they’re finalized” with “faster data, resilient pipelines, less infra work on Sui”. That said, operators can still configure safety nets to protect against connection issues and service disruptions.

The streaming mechanism operates through a straightforward configuration step where developers add a streaming-url argument that points to a full node endpoint. The indexer then receives checkpoints as event streams instead of fetching them at predetermined intervals.

This event-driven model is particularly valuable for monitoring systems, real-time analytics platforms, and other latency-sensitive applications. Moreover, it simplifies infrastructure by reducing the need for aggressive polling strategies and related operational tuning.

Mandatory polling fallbacks safeguard historical data

Sui pairs streaming with mandatory polling-based fallback sources to handle inherent limitations of long-lived connections. A streaming link only delivers data starting from the moment it is established, so historical checkpoints still require additional mechanisms.

The General-Purpose Indexer showcases this hybrid design in production. It uses streaming as its primary ingestion path while maintaining polling sources as safety mechanisms for historical data and recovery scenarios.

This configuration keeps indexed data current while enabling clean restarts and seamless recovery from failures. However, if a connection drops, the system can resume from the last known checkpoint using polling, then return to streaming once the link stabilizes.

In practice, this hybrid pattern functions similarly to a sui checkpoint streaming fallback strategy. Developers obtain the low-latency benefits of pushed updates without compromising completeness or reliability.

Framework design enables incremental streaming adoption

The Custom Indexing Framework separates checkpoint processing from data ingestion. Indexers consume and transform checkpoints through a unified interface, without coupling logic to specific sources such as gRPC streams or HTTP polling.

This abstraction allows teams to evolve ingestion strategies as requirements change, without rewriting core processing components. Moreover, it keeps codebases simpler by concentrating data-handling logic in a single layer.

The documentation notes that with gRPC streaming, “there is no need to poll, no guesswork around timing, and no artificial delay introduced by fetch intervals”. That said, operators can still choose polling where workloads do not require ultra-low latency.

Developers can enable sui grpc streaming gradually, based on individual workload characteristics. Applications that prioritize data freshness and real-time responsiveness gain the most from immediate streaming adoption.

By contrast, systems focused on batch analytics, offline processing, or simpler workflows can continue using polling-only configurations. The framework supports both approaches under the same processing model, simplifying multi-application environments.

Configuration keeps logic stable while sources evolve

Existing custom indexers built on the official framework require minimal changes to take advantage of streaming. Adding gRPC capability involves including a streaming-url parameter alongside the existing remote-store-url configuration value.

The checkpoint processing logic remains unchanged throughout this transition. Moreover, the framework automatically manages source switching during operation so that indexers keep a consistent view of the network state.

This design helps prevent common failure modes where systems either lose data or lag significantly behind the chain. The framework coordinates interactions between streaming and polling, maintaining continuity across restarts and network interruptions.

Overall, Sui’s hybrid streaming and polling architecture offers real-time checkpoints, resilient pipelines, and a clear migration path for indexers seeking low-latency ingestion without sacrificing reliability.

Global markets reeled as new anthropic plugins for automation raised urgent questions about the future of premium software and data analytics services.

Claude Cowork launch sparks broad software rout

On Friday, Anthropic unveiled new Claude Cowork plug-ins designed to automate legal, sales, marketing, and data analysis work. These tasks have historically generated high-margin revenue for software and information providers. However, the launch triggered a sharp reassessment of business models built on expensive licenses and proprietary datasets.

The selloff accelerated on Tuesday, with software stocks losing more than $300 billion in market value in a single session. Moreover, the shock rippled across both North American and European markets as investors recalibrated expectations for long-term growth in knowledge-based services.

Anthropic’s Claude Cowork tools can now automate drafting, research, and analysis workflows that underpin many professional platforms. That said, analysts cautioned that markets may be pricing in worst-case scenarios before the practical impact of these tools is fully understood.

Thomson Reuters decline leads legal and professional services slump

Thomson Reuters, owner of the influential Westlaw legal database, led the rout with an 18% decline on Tuesday. The stock is on track for its biggest single-day loss on record. In addition, Thomson Reuters shares are now down 33% this year after already falling 22% in 2025, deepening concerns about its core legal franchise.

Mike Archibald of AGF Investments said Anthropic’s plug-ins represent a direct challenge to Thomson Reuters’ legal information and workflow solutions. However, he also stressed that markets tend to react quickly to perceived disruption, often before companies can articulate strategic responses or demonstrate resilience.

Thomson Reuters is scheduled to report its fourth quarter earnings on Thursday. Moreover, Morgan Stanley analysts noted that most investors they surveyed remain bearish on the group’s ability to sustain growth in its legal division amid rising data analytics competition.

European legal analytics disruption hits RELX and Wolters Kluwer

European legal and professional services providers suffered similar damage. RELX, the British legal analytics and information group, dropped 14% on Tuesday. The stock has now fallen almost 50% from its February 2024 peak, and this week’s slump marked its largest one-day decline since 1988.

Wolters Kluwer, the Dutch-based legal and professional services company, slid 13%. Other data and research names also sold off heavily, underlining market anxiety about legal analytics disruption and automated research tools that could compress pricing power over time.

FactSet Research dropped 10.5%, while Morningstar lost 9% as investors rotated away from data platforms. Moreover, LegalZoom plunged 19.7%, reflecting fears that AI-based document creation and legal guidance could erode its competitive position.

In London, shares of Experian, Sage Group, London Stock Exchange Group, and Pearson each fell between 6% and 12%. Jonathan McMullan at Schroders said episodes like this show how investor fear can temporarily overpower fundamental valuations when disruptive technology headlines emerge.

Tech giants dragged lower alongside sector indices

The selloff was not limited to niche analytics providers. Large U.S. technology stocks also came under pressure on Tuesday. Nvidia declined 2.8%, while Meta Platforms slipped 2.1%. Moreover, Microsoft lost 2.9% and Oracle dropped 3.4% as investors trimmed exposure to enterprise software and cloud-related names.

The broader market mirrored this risk-off tone. The Nasdaq Composite fell 1.43%, while the S&P 500 closed down 0.84% on the day. However, the moves were most acute in companies viewed as vulnerable to AI-driven automation of research, coding, and knowledge work.

For many portfolio managers, the question is less about immediate earnings damage and more about how quickly clients might experiment with new AI systems. That said, the speed and scale of Tuesday’s reaction suggests positioning in growth and information names was stretched going into the news.

Advertising sector pressure and AI-powered services pivot

Advertising and marketing groups also suffered steep declines as investors contemplated a shift toward ai powered services. In New York, Omnicom closed down 11.2%. French giant Publicis dropped more than 9% after releasing earnings and outlining a more aggressive AI strategy.

Publicis said it plans to spend 900 million euros on acquisitions in 2026, focusing on AI technologies and proprietary data assets. Moreover, the company emphasized that future growth will rely increasingly on automated media planning, personalization, and measurement, rather than purely traditional agency services.

Other advertising-dependent platforms also fell sharply. Pinterest ended the session down 5.6%, while Snap dropped 8.4%. Giuseppe Sersale of Anthilia said AI is rapidly taking over many programming and knowledge tasks that support these businesses, intensifying advertising sector pressure as models evolve.

How anthropic plugins reshape expectations for automation

Investors are now assessing whether the latest anthropic plugins signal a structural turning point for professional software and information providers. The new Claude Cowork capabilities, which streamline contract drafting, document review, and complex analysis, directly overlap with services long sold at premium price points.

Moreover, these developments have raised questions about pricing power, renewal rates, and competitive moats across legal, financial, and marketing platforms. While many incumbents are investing in their own AI tools, markets appear unconvinced that all players can adapt quickly enough to protect margins.

For now, the immediate impact is a broad repricing of expectations across legal databases, analytics suites, and creative agencies. However, in the coming quarters, earnings reports and product launches will determine whether Tuesday’s selloff marks an overreaction or an early signal of deeper structural change.

In summary, Anthropic’s Claude Cowork launch has ignited a sharp software and services reset, with investors rapidly reassessing which business models can withstand accelerating AI-driven automation across legal, data, and advertising markets.

MetaMask is broadening access to traditional markets by introducing metamask tokenized stocks support through a new integration with Ondo Finance.

MetaMask and Ondo Finance open tokenized route to U.S. markets

The latest integration between MetaMask and Ondo Finance connects the wallet directly to Ondo Finance‘s Global Markets platform, giving eligible non-U.S. users access to more than 200 tokenized U.S. stocks, ETFs, and commodities. Moreover, users can now manage crypto and tokenized real world assets in a single self custodial wallet, maintaining control of their keys while expanding investment options.

Through this setup, users gain exposure to tokenized equities without opening a traditional brokerage account. The tokens track market prices for underlying assets but do not represent legal ownership of the securities themselves. However, this design keeps onchain settlement tokens at the core of the process, mirroring traditional market exposure while keeping settlement and control onchain.

Tokenized stocks and ETFs inside the MetaMask app

MetaMask now supports tokenized versions of traditional assets directly in its mobile application interface. Eligible users can access tokenized shares linked to companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon, alongside tokenized ETFs including QQQ, SLV, and IAU. These assets are delivered via Ondo Finance integration with the Global Markets tokens, which serve as the onchain representations.

Users purchase the tokens using USDC on the Ethereum mainnet, keeping interaction within familiar crypto rails. The tokens follow real-time market prices during trading hours. That said, they do not provide shareholder rights, dividends, or voting power. Trading operates 24 hours a day, five days each week, closely following traditional U.S. market schedules while retaining the flexibility of blockchain rails.

This structure allows users to move tokenized assets across borders without relying on custodial intermediaries. At the same time, it preserves decentralized control and onchain settlement flows. Consequently, the offering closely mirrors brokerage-style access to stocks and ETFs while bypassing centralized brokers. As a result, MetaMask continues its evolution from a crypto-only wallet into a broader financial access platform.

Unified trading through MetaMask Swaps

Users access tokenized stocks and ETFs directly via MetaMask Swaps, which aggregates liquidity and routing. This unified trading experience removes the need to connect to external trading platforms or separate interfaces. Moreover, users can manage both crypto assets and tokenized securities within the same wallet layout, so navigation remains consistent.

Trading is available from Sunday night through Friday evening, offering extended access relative to many traditional brokerages. However, even when underlying markets pause, users can still move tokens between addresses freely. Therefore, cross-border liquidity remains active across global time zones, aligning traditional asset exposure with the always-on nature of crypto markets.

Ondo Finance supplies pricing that tracks traditional market benchmarks, while the wallet preserves self-custody. As a result, metamask tokenized stocks functionality pushes decentralized wallets closer to fully featured financial platforms. This shift underlines the broader convergence between crypto-native infrastructure and traditional financial instruments.

Regulatory boundaries and regional availability

The tokenized assets offered through MetaMask and Ondo Finance are not available in the United States, the United Kingdom, or Canada. Several regions across Europe, China, and Russia also face restrictions due to local regulatory frameworks. Moreover, the tokens are not registered as securities in the United States, which limits how they can be marketed and who can access them.

Despite these constraints, demand for tokenized exposure to real-world assets continues to accelerate. Global tokenized RWA markets have already surpassed $22 billion in total value, according to recent sector estimates. MetaMask’s expansion aligns with growing infrastructure across multiple blockchain networks. In parallel, Ondo Finance has launched similar tokenized products on the BNB Chain in 2025, extending its footprint beyond Ethereum.

The integration comes after MetaMask added native Bitcoin support and cross-chain swaps, signaling a strategy to become a multi-asset gateway. Meanwhile, Ondo’s ONDO token saw a short-term price increase following the announcement, while trading activity in the token also picked up during the same period. That said, long-term market impact will depend on user adoption and regulatory evolution around tokenized U.S. assets.

Overall, the collaboration between MetaMask and Ondo Finance illustrates how decentralized wallets are expanding into tokenized access to traditional markets, combining onchain settlement, self-custody, and broader asset coverage inside a single application.

Institutional investors are reassessing risk in digital assets, and the latest twist in the Tether fundraise debate highlights how sharply sentiment has shifted.

Tether retreats from reported $20 billion fundraising target

Tether, issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, has sharply reduced its fundraising ambitions after institutional investors pushed back on valuation and timing. A Financial Times report indicated the company had been exploring a massive raise of up to $20 billion, which would have implied a valuation approaching $500 billion.

However, advisers and market participants quickly questioned whether such a valuation was realistic in the current crypto environment. Their concerns focused both on broad market conditions and the still-evolving business models of major stablecoin issuers. As a result, sources now say Tether is considering a significantly smaller capital raise.

According to people familiar with the matter, the company is instead exploring a funding round closer to $5 billion. Moreover, this scaled-back objective is seen as more aligned with current institutional appetite and the level of risk investors are willing to take on in large private crypto financings.

Paolo Ardoino, Tether’s CEO, moved to downplay the earlier figures, characterizing the reported $15–$20 billion goal as a “misconception” rather than a binding target. That said, his comments did not fully dispel questions about how the earlier numbers surfaced and what they implied about internal expectations.

Investor caution and crypto market headwinds

Investor hesitation toward such a large raise reflects wider trends across digital asset markets. Moreover, many crypto investor skepticism themes now center on governance, auditing standards, and clarity over how revenues are generated and distributed.

Stablecoin issuers like Tether play a crucial role in trading and liquidity, underpinning a substantial share of cryptocurrency volumes. However, they are also operating under heightened regulatory attention across several jurisdictions, including the U.S. and Europe, where policymakers are tightening oversight of dollar-pegged tokens.

Tether has long faced pointed questions about the transparency and composition of its reserves. Critics have regularly challenged whether each USDT token is fully backed by high-quality, liquid assets. Moreover, despite periodic attestations and public reports, skeptics argue that disclosure practices still lag the expectations applied to systemically important financial institutions.

Against this backdrop, the current tether fundraise discussion becomes a test of how much confidence large investors place in the company’s balance sheet, governance, and long-term regulatory strategy. However, the decision to pursue a smaller raise may help Tether avoid a valuation clash that could have amplified concerns.

Implications for stablecoins and market confidence

A more modest funding round could allow Tether to strengthen reserves and improve operational flexibility without triggering fears of overreach. Moreover, a structured, well-communicated capital plan can be read by markets as a sign of discipline rather than weakness, particularly when issuers are already under scrutiny.

The episode illustrates how pressure is intensifying on major crypto companies to match their growth ambitions with credible financial reporting and risk management. However, it also signals that large institutional investors are still willing to engage, provided valuation expectations and governance standards are adjusted to reflect industry realities.

For the broader stablecoin ecosystem, the outcome of this process will feed into ongoing debates around reserve quality, regulatory oversight, and long-term sustainability. That said, Tether’s decision to shift from a rumored mega-raise near $20 billion toward a far smaller, targeted round around $5 billion underscores a more cautious phase in crypto capital formation.

In summary, Tether’s recalibrated funding plans highlight a market increasingly focused on transparency, regulatory alignment, and realistic pricing of risk, setting a tone that is likely to influence other major issuers and investors in the months ahead.

Binance has advanced its user protection strategy with a fresh safu bitcoin allocation, reinforcing its flagship emergency reserve during a key transition phase.

Second BTC batch completed for SAFU fund

The crypto exchange Binance confirmed it has completed the second batch of its Bitcoin conversion for the Secure Asset Fund for Users, or SAFU, on Feb. 4, 2026. The latest tranche added an extra $100 million in BTC to the on-chain reserve, continuing a month-long restructuring of the protection pool.

Moreover, the company disclosed full on-chain details for transparency. The official post on its X account shared the dedicated SAFU BTC address, listed as 1BAuq7Vho2CEkVkUxbfU26LhwQjbCmWQkD, along with the corresponding transaction identifier at https://t.co/xm87A7Zd9T so that users can independently verify the movement of funds.

Ongoing conversion of $1 billion protection pool

Binance began this conversion initiative in late January 2026, pledging to shift its entire $1 billion SAFU fund from stablecoins into Bitcoin within a 30-day window. That said, the operator has opted to execute the transition in multiple batches, rather than as a single transfer, to manage execution and potential market impact.

The first batch of the binance safu conversion was finalized on February 2. It transferred roughly 1,315 BTC, which the exchange valued at about $100 million at the time of settlement, marking the initial leg of the planned reallocation from stablecoins into the leading crypto asset.

Structure and role of the SAFU emergency reserve

The Secure Asset Fund for Users was originally created in 2018 as a dedicated safu emergency reserve funded through a portion of Binance trading fees. Since launch, it has been presented as an additional layer of protection that can be deployed to cover extreme events or platform incidents affecting customer balances.

Furthermore, the fund operates with an internal safu rebalancing mechanism designed to preserve a minimum value of $800 million, even during periods of sharp Bitcoin price volatility. This structure aims to keep the pool sufficiently capitalized so that the safu fund bitcoin holdings and any complementary assets can maintain a consistent backstop for user funds as market conditions change.

Implications of the latest Binance SAFU moves

By conducting the latest binance safu announcement with full public wallet and transaction references, Binance reinforces its transparency message around the reserve. However, market observers will continue to monitor how the conversion toward a predominantly binance btc reserve may affect SAFU valuations during future drawdowns, given the direct link to Bitcoin market cycles.

Overall, the continuing safu bitcoin conversion marks a notable shift in how Binance structures its dedicated protection pot. The staged transfers, clear disclosure of addresses, and specified targets for minimum fund size are likely to remain central talking points as the 30-day reallocation period progresses.

In summary, Binance’s phased move of its $1 billion SAFU into BTC, backed by on-chain data and a defined value floor, underscores its effort to keep user protections visible and measurably funded through changing market conditions.

Gold observed a significant valuation shift over a 48-hour period, and this shift gained significant attention across various markets, including the financial and digital space. The data provided to market commentators indicated that the gold market capitalization increased by trillions of dollars as the price increased over a short period of time. In comparison, the market capitalization of Bitcoin remained relatively stable during this period.

price shift gained significant attention after a tweet posted by a user on X. The post indicated the valuation shift of the gold market capitalization compared to the market capitalization of Bitcoin. The data provided indicates a pricing mechanism, and market participants are still analyzing the cause of the sudden shift in the valuation of gold.

Gold Market Cap Increase Driven by Price Revaluation

The gold market cap increase came after a strong move up in spot prices, as seen on intraday charts shared by the analyst. Market capitalization for gold is found by multiplying the estimated global supply by the spot price. This means that even a moderate move in spot prices can result in a substantial change in market capitalization.

Source: X/@AshCrypto

It is to be understood that this is a mark to market movement and does not necessarily mean trillions of dollars have flowed into the gold market in just two days. This is still an important part of understanding the data behind the gold market cap increase.

Social Media Reaction and Source Attribution

The chart and estimate of valuation were shared by Ash Crypto on X, where they brought attention to the rate of change. The post claimed that the value change of gold was greater than Bitcoin’s entire market capitalization. This comparison was based on scale rather than comparison of performance between these assets.

Unusual movements in asset prices are often brought to attention through social media posts. However, experts base their claims on more data. The data provided in the tweet is in line with typical estimates of gold supply and prices that were available at that time.

Bitcoin Comparison Adds Context to Market Size

Bitcoin was included in this discussion due to its transparent market capitalization and its widespread use as a benchmark. Although the price of Bitcoin fluctuates with significant volatility, its market capitalization is still much lower than that of gold, estimated at a certain valuation. The growth of the gold market capitalization, therefore, looks much larger compared to that of Bitcoin.

This comparison does not point to a direct relationship between these two assets. The market structure and liquidity of these assets are entirely different. The comparison is made to determine the growth of the valuation of gold.

Broader Market Conditions Behind the Move

The gold price rally was accompanied by increased trading volume in commodities. The short-term price momentum indicators indicated strong buying pressure in the market. Traders were watching the technical levels, which were breached as the price increased on lower time frames.

The focus is on how the price holds at these levels, while any changes in the price will be based on stability and not supply. The increase in gold’s market cap is based on the rapid price change, which is reflected in global market metrics.

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company is turning to human expertise, with a new xAI crypto hiring push designed to bring real market knowledge into its finance-focused models.

xAI opens specialist finance expert role for crypto

According to multiple reports, xAI has posted a remote “Finance Expert 6 Crypto” position aimed at people who understand digital asset markets in depth. The role combines hands-on trading and blockchain experience with data-centric work that can be used to train frontier AI systems.

Moreover, candidates are expected to translate complex market events into plain language, annotate real-world examples, and build training material that models can directly learn from. The focus includes trading patterns, on-chain signals, and day-to-day risk steps used by professional traders across crypto venues.

What the crypto market trainer role involves

Reports indicate the job centers on helping models grasp how money moves on blockchains and through exchanges. That said, the work goes beyond simple labeling and requires experts to judge how convincing a model’s answer is in realistic scenarios.

The crypto market trainer role will include reviewing model outputs, pinpointing where responses miss key drivers, and suggesting better reasoning paths. Some assignments may involve audio or video explanations, while others will rely on written notes and annotated datasets that capture nuanced behavior in volatile markets.

How experts could shape AI understanding of crypto

Those hired will likely spend significant time sorting real trades, flagging unusual activity, and teaching the AI to distinguish structural market moves from short-term noise. However, they will also need to show how liquidity shifts and on-chain flows interact with trader psychology during stress periods.

The tasks are expected to draw on market charts, blockchain evidence, and plain-language commentary. In some cases, an expert’s assessment will be used to label training examples so the system learns to weigh multiple clues correctly, including volume spikes, funding rate changes, and cross-exchange dislocations.

Why the move matters for xAI and crypto markets

Based on the job description and reported details, Strategy’s move appears to be more than a standard consultant engagement. The company wants people who can break down how liquidity migrates across venues, how on-chain flows influence sentiment, and how traders react when markets gap or correlations suddenly change.

That kind of domain knowledge remains relatively rare, so xAI is casting a wide net geographically with its fully remote setup. Moreover, reports say compensation could range from about $45 to $100 per hour, depending on experience and the precise mix of responsibilities, a pay band that has already sparked debate in online communities.

A broader push into finance and data-heavy sectors

Reports have also linked this hiring wave to a broader strategic push inside Elon Musk’s ecosystem. In particular, xAI was recently reported to have moved closer to the space segment of his companies through a deal characterized as both large and strategic, though financial terms were not fully disclosed.

Observers argue that combining high-end compute, proprietary data, and market-savvy human input could help models handle finance questions more reliably. However, this does not necessarily mean the system will provide direct trading tips on demand; instead, it suggests the AI may become better at reading complex signals and explaining them in ways that resemble a seasoned analyst.

How the xai crypto hiring initiative fits into AI training

The new role illustrates how blockchain ai training increasingly depends on human specialists who can bridge trading desks and machine learning workflows. In practice, experts may curate crypto trading datasets, highlight edge cases around on-chain liquidations, and refine prompts so models can reason more consistently about market structure.

Furthermore, the position mirrors emerging patterns across the industry, where a crypto model annotation job often involves a mix of market surveillance skills and educational work. Labelers not only tag on-chain flows and news events but also document why certain interpretations are more plausible than others in a given macro context.

Remote consulting and on-chain signals analysis

The emphasis on remote work effectively turns the posting into a global remote crypto consultant role. That said, applicants are still expected to maintain a disciplined workflow, given that mislabeling or oversimplifying complex events can misguide models at scale.

Much of the value will likely come from disciplined on chain signals analysis, such as identifying when whale transfers, bridge flows, or liquidity pool withdrawals genuinely foreshadow trend changes. Over time, curated examples from February 2026 and beyond could serve as a benchmark set for future iterations of the model.

Overall, xAI’s targeted hiring of crypto and finance experts underlines how advanced AI systems still rely on human judgment to interpret noisy markets. By pairing domain specialists with large-scale training infrastructure, the company aims to produce models that can read blockchain-based activity more clearly and communicate those insights in a format accessible to both professionals and retail users.

Investor attention is shifting from pure AI infrastructure toward application-layer projects, and the subbd token is positioning itself at this critical intersection.

Nvidia and OpenAI funding wave sets the stage for AI-crypto

The rumor that Nvidia could direct up to $20 billion toward OpenAI goes far beyond a standard strategic deal. Instead, it signals a major shift in how markets price artificial intelligence infrastructure and its downstream applications.

Although ongoing funding round figures still fluctuate, OpenAI recently closed a massive raise valuing the company at $157B, with Nvidia participating. Moreover, these headline numbers confirm what many analysts suspected: the ‘AI Supercycle’ is now fully capitalized and moving into an aggressive build-out phase.

Smart capital, however, is already looking beyond the hardware layer. Historically, heavy infrastructure spending tends to precede explosive growth in the application layer, where user-facing products and monetization models emerge.

During the late-1990s dot-com era, for example, investment in fiber optic cables and core internet infrastructure set the foundation. However, the consumer-facing apps that arrived later captured most of the attention, usage, and equity value.

In a similar fashion, Nvidia’s high-performance chips are effectively laying the groundwork for the next generation of consumer AI platforms. That said, there is still a wide gap between trillion-dollar infrastructure players and early-stage AI-crypto projects that could eventually bridge this divide.

This valuation disparity suggests a potential repricing event for protocols that successfully connect advanced AI tools with open, tokenized ecosystems. Moreover, these projects may benefit as investors rotate from pure hardware exposure to software and user-centric platforms.

The monetization bottleneck in AI and content creation

Here is the primary bottleneck: monetization. While Big Tech typically controls the largest models and distribution channels, creators using these systems remain constrained by centralized platforms and aggressive fee structures.

Currently, Web2 creator hubs often take substantial revenue cuts while retaining the unilateral power to ban or demonetize accounts. This misalignment has opened a clear opportunity for decentralized creator platform models that blend AI features with Web3 incentives.

As capital gradually rotates from infrastructure to applications, projects like SUBBD Token (SUBBD) aim to capture spillover demand. The team is building a platform designed to serve the $85 billion content creation industry by offering an on-chain, AI-enhanced alternative.

The intersection of artificial intelligence and the creator economy is therefore becoming fertile ground for disruption. Moreover, tokenized platforms can share upside with users rather than solely with centralized shareholders.

How SUBBD targets the $85 billion creator economy

Traditional subscription platforms such as OnlyFans and Patreon routinely charge fees that range from 20% to 50% while retaining the right to ban creators at will. This combination of high take rates and policy risk creates friction for professionals reliant on digital income.

SUBBD Token (SUBBD) seeks to alleviate this pressure by combining Web3 ownership with advanced AI tools, lowering effective fees while expanding the creator’s toolkit. However, its strategy is not to be a generic AI token but to specialize in workflow automation.

The platform integrates an AI Personal Assistant to manage automated fan interactions. In addition, it deploys proprietary models for AI Voice Cloning and AI Influencer creation, giving users a way to scale engagement without equivalent increases in manual workload.

This automation can act as a force multiplier, enabling creators to grow their presence, maintain communities, and deliver personalized experiences. Moreover, centralized platforms typically charge high premiums for similar, less flexible services.

From a tokenomics standpoint, the utility link is direct. The SUBBD ecosystem uses SUBBD for token-gated exclusive content, tipping, and PPV (Pay-Per-View) access, tying activity on the platform to transactional demand for the asset.

Beyond basic access, the token is connected to platform revenue streams that include subscriptions, NFT sales, and AI tool usage. That said, this design aims to move the asset beyond pure speculation by anchoring value to measurable on-platform behavior.

For creators facing potential de-platforming or persistent fee compression, SUBBD is pitched as a kind of on-chain sanctuary. It combines the censorship resistance of Ethereum with the evolving capabilities of generative AI in a single, integrated stack.

Presale metrics highlight pivot toward utility-driven AI assets

Market sentiment in 2024 has increasingly favored projects that deliver tangible utility and yield rather than simple governance tokens. In this context, internal metrics for SUBBD Token show early traction with both retail traders and larger participants.

The project has already raised more than $1.47M during its ongoing presale phase. Moreover, this fundraising progress has come despite broader crypto market volatility, suggesting a focused demand for AI-plus-creator-economy narratives.

At a current presale price of $0.05749, SUBBD offers a significantly lower entry point than many established AI protocols that trade at elevated valuations. For some investors, this contrast underscores the potential upside if the platform achieves meaningful adoption.

One of the most notable data points for long-term holders is the staking framework. The protocol advertises a fixed 20% APY for the first year for users willing to lock their tokens, which is a relatively high rate in the current DeFi landscape.

This design encourages early participants to remove circulating supply and may create a form of supply shock in the token’s initial lifecycle. However, the effectiveness of this mechanism will ultimately depend on user retention once the asset lists on public exchanges.

In addition to the base yield, staking grants access to tiered benefits such as XP multipliers and invitations to exclusive ‘HoneyHive’ governance events. Moreover, this gamified structure aligns with the emerging ‘Sticky DeFi’ trend, which rewards commitment duration instead of pure transactional volume.

Supporters argue that this approach can foster a more engaged community around the project. That said, potential participants should still evaluate execution risk, competitive pressure, and overall market conditions before allocating capital.

Positioning within the broader AI and Web3 landscape

As Nvidia and OpenAI continue to drive macro-level enthusiasm around artificial intelligence adoption, a parallel search for application-layer winners is unfolding in crypto markets. Here, smaller platforms that productize AI for end users may benefit from relative agility.

Within this landscape, the subbd token presale has emerged as a case study of how AI tooling, creator monetization, and Web3 incentives can intersect. Moreover, it highlights how niche verticals like adult content, fan subscriptions, and digital personas may become early adopters of AI-driven, on-chain infrastructure.

Looking ahead, the most important question for SUBBD will be execution: whether the team can convert presale momentum, workflow automation features, and staking dynamics into sustained, real-world platform usage.

If the project succeeds, it could stand as an example of how capital flowing from Nvidia and OpenAI’s infrastructure wave ultimately filters into consumer-facing AI-crypto products. However, the path from narrative to adoption remains highly competitive and sensitive to broader market cycles.

In summary, the convergence of large-scale AI investment, creator economy disruption, and tokenized incentives is creating a new arena for experimentation, with SUBBD among the early platforms attempting to capture this emerging opportunity.

Amid a rapid expansion in prediction markets, major platforms and new meme-token projects are competing to attract retail users with incentives and gamified features.

Free groceries and the $400M prediction wave

The battle for platform dominance has shifted from pure speculation to everyday life, as Kalshi and Polymarket introduce promotions that include sweepstakes for free groceries. With weekly volume now exceeding $400 million, these venues signal that crypto-linked derivatives are evolving beyond niche political contracts.

Moreover, this surge reflects a broader change in how users engage with event-based trading. Instead of focusing only on elections or macro events, some markets now reference consumer themes such as inflation and household costs. That said, political and economic outcomes still anchor much of the current liquidity.

Polymarket continues to handle significant offshore volume, particularly in contracts tied to U.S. elections. However, Kalshi has taken a different route after securing additional regulatory approvals in the United States, prompting a strategic shift in its user-acquisition playbook.

From political bets to gamified consumer exposure

By turning economic indicators into interactive contracts, these platforms enable users to express views on short-term price moves in everyday goods. Moreover, this approach attempts to connect crypto-native speculators with mainstream consumers who understand inflation far better than they understand DeFi jargon.

In practice, a modern prediction markets app might list contracts on food, fuel, or rent levels, letting traders hedge or speculate on real-world expenses. However, these products still carry volatility risk, and their regulatory treatment continues to develop across jurisdictions.

The current prediction markets boom suggests that retail capital favors high-engagement products over passive investment vehicles. Users increasingly seek interactive, outcome-based exposure, which aligns with a broader shift toward financial entertainment and gamification.

Retail traders crave the grind

Some meme-token initiatives hope to capture this demand by layering leverage-like dynamics and competition into their token ecosystems. Maxi Doge (ticker MAXI) is one such project positioning itself for traders who enjoy frequent, high-intensity activity rather than buy-and-hold strategies.

According to its documentation, Maxi Doge offers features aimed at short-term participants, including holder-only trading competitions with leaderboard-based rewards. Moreover, the team highlights a so-called “Maxi Fund” treasury, which is described as a resource to support liquidity provision and strategic partnerships.

That said, the project remains in its early phase, and investors must weigh the usual risks associated with meme-driven assets and experimental tokenomics. Despite those factors, the model illustrates how trading contests and social rankings are being used to deepen user engagement.

Smart money rotation and whale behavior

On-chain data suggests that some sophisticated and institutional-style capital is rotating into early-stage assets that blend yield mechanics with speculative upside. This trend includes exposure to meme tokens and other high-beta instruments, provided they offer structured incentives and transparent on chain accumulation data.

Maxi Doge has reported substantial inflows during its ongoing maxi doge presale. The official presale has raised over $4.5 million to date, with an entry price around $0.0002802 at the time of reporting. Moreover, this capital formation highlights continued appetite for risk among crypto traders, even as broader markets remain uncertain.

The project describes a staking architecture that uses a dynamic APY mechanism, with distributions executed daily via smart contracts. According to the team, payouts are funded from a reserved 5% staking pool, designed to reward long-term holders while preserving liquidity for secondary-market trading.

Bridging DeFi tools and mainstream users

As crypto-native and retail audiences converge, platforms are refining how prediction markets fit into a wider financial stack. The core question for many new users remains simple: what are prediction markets, and how do they differ from conventional betting or derivatives?

In essence, modern venues price binary or event-based outcomes, letting participants trade contracts that pay out if a specific scenario occurs. Moreover, when integrated with consumer themes like grocery costs or inflation levels, these markets can function as informal hedging tools for everyday risks.

However, regulatory clarity, user protection, and transparent odds remain critical if Kalshi free groceries campaigns or Polymarket election bets are to attract a lasting mainstream audience. The sector’s growth will likely depend on whether these products can balance entertainment, speculation, and practical financial utility.

Overall, the intersection of free-grocery promotions, offshore election contracts, and meme-token staking shows how event-driven crypto products are diversifying. If current momentum persists, prediction markets could move from a niche DeFi segment to a recognized retail gateway for expressing views on both politics and daily economic life.

For years, blockchain conferences have been dominated by crypto-native narratives. Protocols talking to protocols, builders talking to builders. Paris Blockchain Week 2026 takes a different approach.

Taking place on April 15-16 in Paris, Paris Blockchain Week covers global finance, regulation, and digital asset infrastructure. The focus is no longer speculative. Discussions center on adoption, market structure, custody, compliance and the role blockchain is beginning to play inside large financial institutions.

Hosted at the Carrousel du Louvre, with an invitation-only gathering at the Château de Versailles, Paris Blockchain Week 2026 convenes a senior audience of decision-makers responsible for capital allocation, regulatory oversight, and financial market infrastructure. Rather than treating blockchain as a parallel ecosystem, the event places digital assets within existing financial systems and the constraints that govern them.

An Institutional-First Agenda

This year’s agenda is explicit: traditional finance meets digital assets.

Banks, asset managers, regulators, infrastructure providers, payment networks, and market data firms are now directly involved in how digital assets operate within regulated environments. According to the organizers, growing institutional demand for regulatory clarity and operational standards is a central focus of this year’s agenda. 

Confirmed participants and partners include S&P Global, Fidelity Investments, Bank of America, Deutsche Bank, Invesco, the European Commission, Circle, Ripple, Cardano, and Bybit. Together, these organizations span the institutional stack; from regulation and risk assessment to liquidity, custody, and on-chain infrastructure.

Their presence underscores a broader shift: digital assets are increasingly discussed alongside traditional financial products, market data, and capital markets infrastructure, rather than as a separate asset class.

A Speaker Lineup Anchored in Market Reality

The PBW 2026 program brings together senior leaders from finance, public policy, and Web3, with discussions grounded in operational and regulatory realities rather than theory.

Confirmed speakers include Dr. Nouriel Roubini (NYU), Natasha Cazenave (ESMA), Chuck Mounts (S&P Global), Nikhil Sharma (BlackRock), Martha Reyes (Fidelity), Sabih Bezhad (Deutsche Bank), Kathleen Wrynn (Invesco), and Kara Kennedy (J.P. Morgan), alongside representatives from Morgan Stanley, Citi, BNY, the London Stock Exchange, Amundi, Coinbase, and leading blockchain foundations.

Topics include regulatory frameworks, tokenization, custody models, stablecoins, market data, and enterprise-grade blockchain infrastructure: areas that increasingly influence institutional participation and capital allocation.

Why Paris, Why Now

Paris has become a key hub for financial and regulatory dialogue in Europe, particularly as frameworks, such as MiCA, define the region’s approach to digital assets. Against this backdrop, Paris Blockchain Week serves as a neutral setting where policymakers, financial institutions, and blockchain-native organizations engage on shared challenges.

PBW 2026 is not positioned around short-term market narratives or year-to-year trends. Instead, it focuses on governance, standards, and the practical integration of digital assets into existing financial systems.

For institutions approaching digital assets with long-term intent and for Web3 firms adapting to regulatory and enterprise expectations, Paris Blockchain Week has become a reference point on the global calendar.

FAQ (optional)

When is Paris Blockchain Week 2026 taking place?
Paris Blockchain Week 2026 will take place in April 2026 in Paris, bringing together institutional leaders, policymakers, and blockchain-native organizations from across the globe.

Who is Paris Blockchain Week 2026 designed for?
PBW 2026 is designed for financial institutions, policymakers, regulators, enterprise leaders, infrastructure providers, and Web3 companies navigating regulatory and institutional adoption of digital assets.

Where will Paris Blockchain Week 2026 be held?
The main event will take place at Carrousel du Louvre in Paris. In addition, Paris Blockchain Week will host an invitation-only VIP evening experience at iconic locations, including the Chateau de Versailles, as part of its official program.

Which companies and organizations are expected to participate?
The event brings together a broad mix of global financial institutions, technology providers, exchanges, infrastructure companies, and Web3-native firms. A full and updated list of participating companies is shared closer to the event. 

Who will be speaking at Paris Blockchain Week 2026?
Speakers include senior executives from financial institutions, regulators, policymakers, founders, and industry leaders shaping the future of digital assets and financial infrastructure. Speaker announcements are made on a rolling basis.

What topics will PBW 2026 focus on?
The 2026 edition focuses on regulation, governance, standards, and the practical integration of digital assets into existing financial systems, moving beyond short-term market narratives.

X: https://x.com/ParisBlockWeek

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/parisblockchainweek/

IG: https://www.instagram.com/theparisblockchainweek/

Contact: [email protected]

Investors using MetaMask can now access tokenized stocks directly from their mobile crypto wallet, expanding the bridge between digital assets and traditional markets.

MetaMask adds tokenized access to U.S. markets

MetaMask, one of the most widely used self custodial wallet applications, has integrated with Ondo Finance‘s Global Markets platform to offer tokenized exposure to U.S. assets. Moreover, the move positions the wallet more firmly at the intersection of crypto and traditional finance.

Through this ondo finance integration, eligible MetaMask mobile users in “supported non-U.S. jurisdictions” can now buy and trade more than 200 U.S. tokenized securities. That said, access remains limited to jurisdictions that meet regulatory and compliance requirements set out by the companies.

200+ tokenized U.S. stocks, ETFs and commodities inside the wallet

The new feature enables users to gain exposure to shares tracking leading U.S. companies such as Tesla, Apple and Nvidia. In addition, they can trade ETFs tied to gold, silver and the Nasdaq, all from within the MetaMask interface, without opening a traditional brokerage account.

According to the announcement shared Tuesday, the offering covers more than 200 tokenized U.S. securities, ranging from individual equities to exchange-traded funds and commodities. However, these assets remain representations of underlying financial instruments, which are still held and managed through conventional market infrastructure.

The introduction of this expanded tokenized stocks menu inside MetaMask illustrates how crypto-native tools are starting to offer experiences that resemble full-service investment platforms. Moreover, it underscores growing demand for direct, app-based access to both digital and real-world assets.

Real-world asset tokenization market tops $22 billion

The launch arrives as real world asset tokenization accelerates. According to figures cited by the companies, tokenized real-world assets have become a market worth more than $22 billion globally. However, much of that activity has so far remained fragmented across specialist platforms.

By embedding tokenized exposure to U.S. equities, ETFs and commodities directly into a major self-custodial wallet, MetaMask and Ondo aim to make this market more accessible. Moreover, the integration could encourage users who already manage crypto holdings to explore tokenized representations of familiar traditional assets.

Consensys founder Joe Lubin highlights shift from legacy rails

Joe Lubin, founder and CEO of Consensys and co-founder of Ethereum, framed the development as a step away from outdated financial interfaces. In a press release shared with CoinDesk on Tuesday, he criticized the current structure of U.S. markets.

“Access to U.S. markets still runs through legacy rails. Brokerage accounts, fragmented apps, and rigid trading windows haven‘t meaningfully evolved,” Lubin said. Moreover, he argued that the MetaMask and Ondo model demonstrates how market access could be simplified.

“Bringing Ondo’s tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs directly into MetaMask shows what a better model looks like. A single, self-custodial wallet where people can move between crypto and traditional assets without intermediaries and without giving up control,” he added.

Bridging traditional finance and on-chain markets

The collaboration underscores how crypto firms are working to blur the lines between conventional financial infrastructure and on-chain markets. By routing tokenized exposure through a familiar crypto wallet, the partners hope to normalize the concept of stocks tokenized on public blockchains.

Regulation will remain a defining factor in how broadly such services can roll out, especially in the U.S. However, offering tokenized U.S. equities and ETFs through a non-custodial wallet to users in supported non-U.S. jurisdictions marks a notable shift in how global investors might access American markets.

In summary, MetaMask’s integration with Ondo Finance’s Global Markets platform extends tokenized access to more than 200 U.S. securities, reflecting the rapid growth of real-world asset tokenization and the ongoing convergence between crypto-native tools and traditional financial markets.

Institutional clients will gain new access to privacy-focused digital asset rails as Fireblocks canton integration extends regulated tokenization infrastructure to a broader set of financial institutions.

Fireblocks expands infrastructure with Canton Network integration

Digital asset infrastructure firm Fireblocks is integrating with the Canton Network, expanding its regulated tooling for tokenization, settlement, and institutional digital asset flows. Moreover, the move is aimed at financial institutions seeking compliant blockchain infrastructure.

The integration adds custody and operational support for Canton Coin (CC) to the Fireblocks platform, enabling institutions to settle assets on Canton using Fireblocks enterprise-grade policy controls and workflow automation. However, users will still operate within a governed and privacy-enabled environment designed for regulated markets.

Fireblocks, which secures more than $5 trillion in digital asset transfers annually, said the partnership further cements its role as a foundational infrastructure layer for regulated digital finance. That said, the firm continues to position itself as a core provider for institutional-grade blockchain operations.

Privacy-enabled settlement for institutional finance

Canton is an open blockchain network tailored to institutional finance, combining privacy, interoperability, and scalability while supporting real-time synchronization across regulated markets. Its design targets banks, asset managers, and market infrastructures that require strict compliance controls.

“Canton was designed to meet the privacy, compliance, and scalability requirements of institutional finance,” said Melvis Langyintuo, Executive Director of the Canton Foundation. “Fireblocks’ integration strengthens that vision by giving institutions a trusted, production-ready environment to begin engaging with Canton Coin.”

Interest from traditional finance institutions has accelerated Canton’s traction as a preferred network for regulated tokenization infrastructure, spanning tokenized securities, deposits, and settlement workflows. Moreover, the new integration may reduce operational friction for firms that already rely on Fireblocks for digital asset operations.

Fireblocks Trust Company to provide regulated custody

Canton Coin custody will be delivered through Fireblocks Trust Company, a qualified custodian chartered by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). The structure is designed to bring bank-grade oversight to blockchain-based settlement assets.

The trust framework offers institutional clients a regulatory-compliant custody model aligned with fiduciary and risk management expectations at large financial firms. However, it also seeks to maintain the flexibility needed to support evolving tokenized markets.

The update relies on Fireblocks MPC security architecture and granular governance controls, allowing institutions to transact on Canton with protections required for institutional-scale adoption. That said, the emphasis remains on secure, policy-driven operations within a regulated perimeter.

Pathway to regulated tokenization and digital instruments

Stephen Richardson, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Banking at Fireblocks, said institutions experimenting with tokenized assets and regulated digital instruments need infrastructure that mirrors existing operating standards.

“Institutions exploring tokenized assets and regulated digital finance need infrastructure that aligns with how they operate — confidentially, predictably, and with strong governance,” Richardson said. Moreover, he suggested that enterprise workflows must integrate seamlessly with compliance, risk, and reporting frameworks.

In this context, the fireblocks canton integration is positioned as a bridge between traditional operating models and on-chain tokenization, particularly for use cases such as tokenized securities, deposits, and complex settlement flows.

Traditional finance demand for compliant blockchain infrastructure

Chris Zuehlke, Partner at DRW and Global Co-Head of Cumberland, argued that Canton’s architecture aligns closely with the needs of banks and institutional trading firms.

“Canton is purpose-built for regulated markets and offers the privacy, interoperability and scalability that will be in demand from traditional finance users,” Zuehlke said. “Fireblocks’ institutional-grade wallet provides the secure operational foundation needed to interact with Canton at scale.”

As institutional adoption evolves, this type of privacy enabled settlement framework may underpin new issuance, trading, and post-trade processes in tokenized markets. However, long-term growth will depend on regulatory clarity and continued infrastructure standardization.

Strategic expansion: Fireblocks acquires TRES for $130 million

The integration comes shortly after a major acquisition. In January, Fireblocks agreed to buy crypto accounting and tax platform TRES for $130 million, in a deal focused on strengthening compliance and reporting tools for institutions handling digital assets at scale.

The TRES acquisition is intended to complement Fireblocks’ transactional and custody stack with enterprise-grade accounting and tax capabilities. Moreover, it arrives as on-chain activity expands across corporate treasuries, payment systems, and capital markets workflows.

As corporate and institutional users push deeper into tokenized assets and digital instruments, the combination of Canton Network integration, Fireblocks Trust Company custody, and enhanced compliance tooling positions Fireblocks as a key hub in the emerging institutional digital asset ecosystem.

Following an extended policy session in Washington, officials described the latest white house crypto discussions with banking leaders as constructive and focused on concrete outcomes.

Trump administration highlights progress after policy meeting

Senior officials in the Trump administration reported progress after a White House meeting between major crypto firms and leading banking executives on market structure rules. According to participants, the talks concentrated on resolving remaining policy frictions rather than political messaging.

The administration said the discussion was grounded in facts and practical policy solutions. Moreover, the meeting aimed to remove roadblocks that have stalled the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act in the Senate for weeks. Stablecoin yield policy remains the most sensitive open issue and continues to dominate internal deliberations.

The White House wants revised legislative language soon so that Senate committees can restart action on the broader digital asset market structure bill. Officials stressed that timing is now critical if lawmakers are to keep the current 2026 calendar on track.

White House calls crypto banking meeting productive

The executive director under Donald Trump described the White House session as productive and solution driven. He said participants stayed focused on data, market mechanics, and policy details, rather than political talking points. That said, attendees still confronted difficult questions around stablecoin rewards and associated risk.

According to this official, the White House framed the gathering as a problem solving exercise. The group examined specific provisions now blocking legislative progress, especially those tied to yield-bearing stablecoin products. Furthermore, the administration emphasized the need for clear guardrails that markets can implement quickly.

Crypto executives and banking representatives met for more than two hours. They reviewed how stablecoin rewards work, what risks they might pose to deposits and lending, and how those mechanics interact with existing financial regulations. Officials repeatedly urged both sectors to prioritize practical outcomes over ideology.

Focus on facts, data, and policy mechanics

The executive director said the conversation stayed grounded in data and market evidence. Participants examined how stablecoin-linked yield could affect liquidity, competition for deposits, and lending flows across the banking system. Banking groups outlined concerns about balance sheet stability and regulatory expectations.

Crypto firms, in turn, explained in detail how reward mechanisms function inside current business models. They argued that clearly defined rules could support innovation while preserving safety. However, officials pushed all sides to narrow differences quickly so the bill can return to markup without further delay.

Throughout the meeting, the White House steered the conversation toward workable guardrails and implementable oversight. Attendees reviewed potential roles for existing regulators, including how yield rules would fit into the broader crypto market structure framework. The goal, officials said, is a framework that can be enforced consistently across both sectors.

Industry leaders show willingness to engage

Crypto advocacy groups attended alongside major banking trade associations, bringing together companies that often clash publicly. Although disagreements surfaced, participants remained engaged throughout the session. Moreover, both sectors have been active in previous crypto regulatory talks at the White House, which officials believe increases the odds of a workable compromise.

The executive director said the meeting created new momentum for the legislative push. He noted that clarity on stablecoin yield could unlock broader progress on digital asset rules. Lawmakers paused the Senate Banking Committee markup in January, a delay that raised concerns about the bill’s overall timeline and investor uncertainty.

The administration now wants revised proposals ready soon, so that committees can re-engage without restarting negotiations from scratch. Officials indicated they will continue to press both crypto and banking representatives for detailed feedback on compromise language.

Senate timeline and pressure on CLARITY Act

The CLARITY Act passed the House last year, but the Senate process remains unfinished. The Banking and Agriculture Committees must still align their versions of the market structure package before a final chamber-wide vote. A full Senate vote on the crypto market structure bill, also referred to as CLARITY Act or FIT21, is expected in late Feb or March 2026.

However, the ongoing stablecoin yield debate continues to slow that process. Officials worry that extended delays could derail the effort or push it too close to the election cycle. They argue that legislative uncertainty weighs on both traditional institutions and fast-growing digital asset platforms.

The White House now sees tight coordination as essential. It plans to keep hosting focused policy sessions that resemble a targeted crypto summit white house rather than broad public events. Moreover, officials want stakeholders to return with concrete text changes, not only general principles, so that staff can translate ideas into statutory language.

Next steps for market structure negotiations

Administration officials believe that the latest meeting, which some attendees informally described as a white house crypto summit, shows that both sectors are willing to negotiate. They expect further sessions as market structure negotiations ongoing in Congress continue to evolve over the coming months.

For now, the focus remains on resolving stablecoin yield details and clarifying oversight roles without undermining financial stability. If those issues are addressed, officials say the broader digital asset market clarity act of 2025 package could move more quickly toward a final Senate vote.

In summary, the administration hopes that fact based dialogue, detailed industry input, and continued engagement between crypto and banking leaders will convert legislative gridlock into a workable framework for the U.S. digital asset market.

Barcelona, Spain — 3rd February 2026, 3 PM CET  — At a moment when humanitarian organizations worldwide face intensifying pressure over aid accountability, Creu Roja (Spanish Red Cross) has deployed a blockchain-based digital payments platform that delivers complete financial transparency to donors without compromising the privacy or dignity of vulnerable recipients, replacing manual and paper-based processes.

La piattaforma, sviluppata in collaborazione con l’azienda di infrastrutture tecniche di Barcellona BLOOCK, digitalizza l’intero ciclo di vita degli aiuti, dalla donazione all’erogazione, per creare una traccia di audit immutabile garantendo che nessun dato personale tocchi mai la blockchain pubblica. A differenza di alcune iniziative basate su blockchain che si affidano a identificatori biometrici o a una raccolta dati invasiva, il design della piattaforma Creu Roja verifica i risultati senza registrare chi ha ricevuto gli aiuti.

“Le persone in cerca di assistenza non dovrebbero scegliere tra ricevere aiuto e proteggere la loro privacy. Abbiamo progettato questo sistema affinché i donatori possano verificare che i loro contributi abbiano avuto un impatto reale, e i beneficiari possano accedere al supporto senza timore di essere tracciati, profilati o stigmatizzati” ha dichiarato Francisco López Romero, CTO di Creu Roja, Catalunya.

The deployment arrives amid growing scrutiny of international aid delivery, as affected communities increasingly identify corruption, favoritism, and lack of transparency as barriers to effective assistance. Blockchain solutions have emerged as a potential fix, yet most implementations require beneficiaries to surrender sensitive personal data, often including biometrics, raising concerns from privacy advocates that the cure may create new risks, with even well-intentioned projects at risk of exposing vulnerable populations to surveillance, profiling, and discrimination. Creu Roja’s blockchain serves purely as a verification layer, anchoring cryptographic proofs of transactions without storing any identifying information.

La piattaforma sostituisce i flussi di lavoro basati su carta e le tradizionali carte prepagate con un sistema digitale che separa ciò che i donatori devono sapere da ciò che non devono. I destinatari ricevono crediti di aiuto digitali depositati in un portafoglio mobile personale, senza necessità di conto bancario o storia creditizia, preservando la dignità e riducendo le barriere all’accesso. Questi crediti vengono spesi presso commercianti locali autorizzati tramite codice QR in transazioni indistinguibili da qualsiasi acquisto normale. Non ci sono “carte di aiuto” speciali o altri strumenti che identificano pubblicamente qualcuno come destinatario.

I donatori e gli amministratori ottengono visibilità in tempo reale sui flussi di aiuti aggregati, mostrando quanto è stato allocato, quanto è stato speso e dove sono andati i fondi. Una traccia di audit immutabile ancorata su una blockchain pubblica fornisce una prova crittografica che ogni euro ha raggiunto gli scopi autorizzati, garantendo al contempo zero accesso alle identità dei singoli destinatari.

“The architecture follows a principle we apply across all our enterprise deployments: blockchain should certify truth, not store content. Every transaction generates a cryptographic proof that’s permanently anchored and independently verifiable, but the proof contains no personal information,” said Lluís Llibre, CEO of BLOOCK

To date, the BLOOCK platform has processed more than 952,000 cryptographic transactions and over 257,000 data validations. The project was recognized with the Talent Chamber Award in the Innovation category in 2020, jointly awarded by the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce and Welcome Talent Society.

From an architectural perspective, RedChain implements a hybrid trust model, with beneficiary information, such as names, contact details, and case records remaining entirely off-chain in Creu Roja’s controlled systems. Aid credits exist as ERC-20 tokens on Ethereum smart contracts, representing allocated funds without identifying their holders. When transactions occur, only hashes, timestamps, and integrity anchors are written to the public blockchain, while actual spending records stay in off-chain databases with corresponding on-chain verification hashes. The complete audit trail can be reconstructed from on-chain proofs without ever exposing personal data.

The technology stack includes Ethereum for public blockchain anchoring, Solidity smart contracts for ERC-20 based credit issuance, a Go backend with REST API, Angular for administrative and merchant web interfaces, Ionic for the mobile wallet, and role-based access control with digital signatures throughout. This architecture ensures that even if external systems were compromised, the blockchain itself contains no exploitable personal information.

“Quello che Creu Roja ha costruito qui è un sistema di credenziali, non un sistema di sorveglianza. I destinatari possiedono la prova della loro idoneità nel proprio wallet. La presentano quando necessario, non rivelano nient’altro e continuano con le loro vite. È così che l’identità dovrebbe funzionare ovunque e specialmente nei sistemi umanitari e di interesse pubblico. Tu possiedi le tue credenziali, decidi cosa condividere e nessuno costruisce un profilo su di te senza il tuo consenso,” ha detto Evin McMullen, CEO & Co-Fondatore, Billions Network

The BLOOCK’s approach demonstrates how humanitarian organizations can combine accountability, privacy, and digital efficiency without introducing new risks for the people they serve.

-end-

Informazioni su Billions
Billions.Network (precedentemente Polygon ID) è la principale piattaforma di verifica umana e AI, costruita su una verifica mobile-first per scalare globalmente l’internet del valore. Creata dai custodi del principale framework di verifica a conoscenza zero al mondo, Circom, Billions protegge il lavoro di grandi organizzazioni ed ecosistemi blockchain che servono oltre 150 milioni di utenti a livello globale. La piattaforma fornisce soluzioni di identità digitale che preservano la privacy e funzionano sia con applicazioni Web2 che Web3.

For more information, visit https://billions.network

About BLOOCK

BLOOCK è una piattaforma software innovativa che integra i sistemi IT aziendali con la tecnologia blockchain in modo rapido, sicuro ed economico. Fondata a Barcellona nel 2020, BLOOCK ha implementato soluzioni per clienti nei settori farmaceutico, sanitario, dei servizi finanziari, dell’istruzione e della logistica, rendendo accessibili i benefici della blockchain senza complessità tecnica. Il framework di BLOOCK supporta i cinque pilastri della sicurezza delle informazioni: integrità, autenticità, disponibilità, riservatezza e non ripudio.

For more information, visit https://bloock.com or write to [email protected]

About Creu Roja

Creu Roja (Spanish Red Cross) is a voluntary humanitarian institution serving as the Spanish affiliate of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Founded in 1864, it operates at local, provincial, regional, and national levels across Spain, providing emergency healthcare, social inclusion services, employment support, and disaster response. 

Website: www2.cruzroja.es 

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | 2–4 February 2026 | Sheraton Riyadh Hotel & Towers

The Women Leaders Summit & Awards 2026 – KSA, one of the Middle East’s most respected leadership platforms, will return to Riyadh for its 7th edition, convening influential women leaders, senior government officials, global policymakers, and industry decision-makers from across the region and beyond.

Scheduled to take place from 2 to 4 February 2026 at the Sheraton Riyadh Hotel & Towers, the summit aligns closely with Saudi Vision 2030, highlighting the Kingdom’s continued commitment to inclusive leadership, human capital development, and women’s advancement across strategic sectors.

Distinguished Global & Government Leadership

The 2026 edition will feature an exceptional lineup of speakers shaping policy, investment, development, and national transformation, including:

H.E. Javier Carbajosa Sánchez, Ambassador of Spain to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Embassy of Spain – Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation

Noha Kattan, Deputy Minister for National Partnerships & Talent Development, Ministry of Culture

Dr. Maram Al-Otaiby, CEO, Health Support Services Center, Ministry of Health

Dr. Hanadi Al-Hokair, Director General, Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development

Dr. Nada Khalid Alhassan, Director of Training and Development, Ministry of Investment

Dr. Margaret Jones Williams, Deputy Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Bedor Alrashoudi, Chief Strategy Officer, Soudah Development

 Recognising Excellence: Women Leaders Awards 2026

A defining highlight of the event is the Women Leaders Awards 2026, which will recognise and honour outstanding women leaders who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact across government, investment, healthcare, sustainability, human development, corporate leadership, and social progress.

The awards aim to celebrate real leadership stories, amplify role models, and acknowledge women who are actively shaping policies, institutions, and future-ready economies—both regionally and globally.

Sponsors & Solution Showcases

The summit is supported by leading organisations that will be showcasing their solutions and expertise throughout the event, including: Omorfia Group (Bedashing + Tips & Toes), Shiseido, SS&Co, Independent Learning Center, ArcelorMittal, Afraa Boutique and more 

Their participation reinforces the importance of cross-sector collaboration in advancing leadership, innovation, and inclusive growth.

A Platform Built on Purpose and Impact

Speaking on the vision behind the initiative, Sabah Parvez, Managing Director, Verve Management, said:

“The Women Leaders Summit & Awards was founded with a clear purpose to create a credible, high-impact platform where leadership, policy, and action come together. As we mark our 7th edition in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, this initiative reflects the powerful role women are playing in shaping national agendas, global investments, and sustainable development. Our focus has always been on recognising real leadership, fostering meaningful dialogue, and enabling partnerships that create long-term impact aligned with Vision 2030.”

Over the past seven editions, the Women Leaders Summit & Awards has established itself as a trusted international forum, bringing together senior leaders from governments, multinational organisations, development agencies, and the private sector, positioning Riyadh as a global hub for leadership excellence and collaboration.

PR & Marketing ContactRiya Jain
PR & Marketing
E- [email protected]

European institutions are gaining new regulated routes into digital assets as a major partnership focuses on enhancing mica crypto trading within the region’s evolving regulatory framework.

Deutsche Börse’s 360T links up with Bitpanda

Deutsche Börse Group‘s FX and digital assets arm 360T has entered a strategic partnership with Austrian Bitpanda to expand institutional access to crypto trading across Europe. The agreement, announced in a press release shared with CryptoNews, targets banks and financial institutions seeking regulated exposure to digital assets.

According to the statement, the deal combines Bitpanda’s digital asset infrastructure with 3DX, 360T’s MiCA-regulated crypto-asset trading platform. This comes as financial institutions increasingly look for compliant, transparent ways to enter the digital asset market under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA).

Moreover, the companies stressed that the partnership is designed to support institutional clients that want to offer crypto services while still meeting stringent European regulatory requirements. In practice, this could accelerate the rollout of new digital asset products by traditional financial players.

3DX and Bitpanda combine institutional and retail capabilities

Under the agreement, 360T’s 3DX will operate as a MiCA-regulated trading venue built on institutional-grade technology. That said, Bitpanda will supply the underlying infrastructure needed for retail-facing crypto services, effectively linking wholesale liquidity with consumer distribution channels.

The firms said this integration will allow banks and other financial institutions to offer digital asset services to end-users without building complex systems in-house. This model aims to lower barriers to entry for traditional players that lack native crypto technology stacks but want to participate in regulated digital asset markets.

Each party will remain fully responsible for its own regulated activities, ensuring a clear separation of responsibilities as the sector matures. However, the cooperative framework is designed to provide flexibility as MiCA rules continue to be implemented across the European Union.

Europe positions itself as a digital asset hub

Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad, CEO of Bitpanda, described the partnership as a key milestone in building the next generation of institutional crypto infrastructure in Europe. He argued that Europe is increasingly setting the pace for digital asset regulation and market structure.

“Together with Deutsche Börse Group, we are building the infrastructure that will enable the next generation of institutional digital asset adoption,” Enzersdorfer-Konrad said in the press release. “Partnering with 3DX is an important step as we continue to scale our partner solutions.”

Moreover, Enzersdorfer-Konrad said the collaboration underscores Europe’s expanding role in shaping global digital asset markets via regulated frameworks and established financial institutions. As MiCA takes effect, he expects Europe to attract more institutional capital into compliant digital asset products.

Deutsche Börse broadens client options

Carlo Kölzer, CEO of 360T and Global Head of FX & Digital Assets at Deutsche Börse Group, said 3DX was specifically designed to give institutions compliant access and flexibility in digital asset trading. He emphasized that the platform aims to align with both regulatory expectations and operational needs.

“By integrating Bitpanda’s services, we are expanding the options available to our clients, particularly those looking to support downstream use cases such as client-facing digital asset offerings, without having to build sophisticated infrastructure themselves,” Kölzer said.

However, he also highlighted that both sides will maintain strict regulatory oversight of their respective services. This approach is intended to reassure supervisors and clients that robust governance remains in place as demand for digital assets grows.

Further cooperation beyond trading

Both companies noted they are already exploring additional areas of cooperation beyond trading functionality. Potential extensions include connectivity improvements, workflow integration and broader infrastructure development tailored to institutional and retail use cases.

The partnership reflects rising demand among European financial institutions for regulated crypto trading venues and service providers. In particular, firms are looking for solutions that can support both institutional liquidity management and retail distribution through a single integrated framework for digital assets.

As MiCA implementation progresses, collaborations such as that between 360T and Bitpanda are expected to play a central role in shaping Europe’s institutional digital asset landscape. In this context, mica crypto trading is likely to become a core pillar of the region’s financial market infrastructure over the next few years.

Bitpanda eyes Frankfurt listing in 2026

In a further sign of maturation, Bitpanda is preparing for a potential stock market debut in Frankfurt in the first half of 2026. The plan would move one of Europe’s largest retail crypto platforms from bull market beneficiary to a publicly listed company subject to ongoing market scrutiny.

Moreover, a successful initial public offering would cement Bitpanda’s position within Europe’s regulated financial ecosystem. It would also underscore investor interest in companies building infrastructure for compliant digital asset access, both for institutions and retail clients.

Overall, the 360T-Bitpanda deal underlines how Europe’s regulatory clarity under MiCA is encouraging established market operators and crypto-native platforms to collaborate. If successful, this model could become a blueprint for integrating digital assets into mainstream financial markets.