Crypto

Stablecoin issuer Tether is now one of the world's biggest gold holders, keeping its precious metal in a former Swiss nuclear bunker.

The ECB has finished technical prep for a digital euro, Lagarde has said, as Cipollone has warned cash use fell to 24% of daily transactions by value in 2024. With EU legislation pending, pilots could start mid-2027 and issuance in 2029 if approved this year. He has cited reliance on US card rails, too. The post ECB Warns Europe Can’t Wait for Private Solution as Cash Use Plunges – Is CBDC the Answer? appeared first on Cryptonews.

Executives and industry groups pressed regulators to apply traditional securities rules to blockchain-based trading, pushing back on exemptions even as DeFi enters the debate.

The US financial regulator has just one Senate-confirmed commissioner, leading to lawmakers' concerns about the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's balance and effectiveness. US lawmakers are expected to return to Capitol Hill on Wednesday after inclement weather delayed committee meetings and votes, with attention turning to how senators will handle proposed amendments to a long-awaited crypto market structure bill. On Thursday, senators on the Senate Agriculture Committee are scheduled to meet for a markup on the Digital Commodity Intermediaries Act (DCIA), a bill to establish a digital asset market structure framework. The markup is one of the first attempts by the chamber to advance market structure legislation amid the Senate Banking Committee postponing its markup after Coinbase pulled its support for the bill. Read more

Zodia Custody founded by Standard Chartered, has partnered with Dubai Insurance to launch a digital wallet for the UAE’s insurance sector. Policyholders can pay premiums and receive insurance payouts in digital assets, using institutional-grade custody, compliance standards, and governance controls. The post StanChart’s Zodia Custody Partners With Dubai Insurance to Launch Crypto Digital Wallet in UAE appeared first on Cryptonews.

Bitcoin rallied above $90,000 as the US dollar index weakened, gold hit new highs and traders positioned ahead of Wednesday's FOMC. Will a rate cut or pause extend the BTC, altcoin rally? Key points: Bitcoin is facing resistance at $90,500, but a positive sign is that the bulls have kept up the pressure. Several major altcoins are attempting to start a recovery, but are expected to face selling at higher levels. Read more

The digital wallet allows insurance premiums and claims to be settled in crypto through a regulated custody partnership with Zodia Custody. Dubai Insurance has launched a crypto-enabled digital wallet that allows policyholders to pay insurance premiums and receive claims settlements in digital assets. The wallet is designed to support the receipt of premiums and the payment of insurance claims in digital assets and is built on institutional custody infrastructure provided by Zodia Custody. The company said the wallet operates within existing regulatory and compliance frameworks in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and described it as the first such offering in the country’s insurance sector. Read more

Mizuho's Dan Dolev revised his bearish outlook on the stablecoin issuer, upgrading the stock to neutral.

HSBC issued a directive on Jan. 27 for investors to stay aggressively risk-on. The bank recommends overweighting equities, high-yield debt, emerging-market bonds, and gold while underweighting sovereigns, investment-grade credit, and oil. The call rests on a specific macro view: US growth holds up, rate volatility stays contained, and markets tilt back toward mega-cap tech. Meanwhile, […] The post Urgent HSBC risk-on order issued as dollar hits 2021 lows which could flip Bitcoin’s next move appeared first on CryptoSlate.

U.K. officials say banks must treat crypto businesses fairly as final regulation nears. Strategy

XRP trades near $1.92 as analysts track a long-term channel structure, with key support holding and price targets ranging from $4.50 to $200.

Bitcoin disappointed with an apparent failed breakout above $90,000 after gold soared to fresh highs and US dollar strength nosedived. Bitcoin (BTC) attempted a rebound past $90,000 at Wednesday’s Wall Street open as markets awaited US macro cues. Key points: Bitcoin struggles to hold a $90,000 uptick as gold surges and US dollar strength crumbles. Read more

Fidelity will issue a stablecoin through its newly approved national trust bank, signaling deeper institutional use of blockchain-based payment infrastructure. Fidelity Investments plans to launch a new stablecoin next month, marking a logical next step for the asset manager as it expands its digital-asset infrastructure following conditional approval for a national trust bank from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Bloomberg reported Wednesday that the Fidelity Digital Dollar, or FIDD, will be issued by Fidelity Digital Assets, National Association, the national trust bank approved by US regulators in December.  Fidelity Digital Assets president Mike O’Reilly told the publication that stablecoins could “serve as foundational payment and settlement services,” citing benefits such as real-time settlement and round-the-clock availability. Read more

The bank argued that legislative momentum remains strong as industry heavyweights prioritize long-term regulatory certainty over unpredictable enforcement.

Plus: Solana’s latest phase, OP token buybacks and EF post-quantum security team.

It’s no secret that bitcoin’s infrastructure has historically been centered around miners, full nodes, and base-layer settlement. This model has managed to prove itself as very durable. At the same time, though, when it comes to transactional throughput, there are some clear constraints. As the adoption of Bitcoin accelerates beyond long-term holding and settlement, discussions […]

Vlad Tenev blamed the buying halt on its app in 2021 on bad infrastructure, a problem that he says tokenization would solve.

"Massive November pump, then straight off a cliff. Classic rug vibes," one X user argued.

BlackRock is moving deeper into the “Bitcoin as a portfolio sleeve” trade, this time by packaging the flagship digital asset's inherent volatility into distributable income. On Jan. 23, the $14 trillion asset management firm filed a registration statement for the iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF. This is a fund designed to track BTC's price (via […] The post BlackRock is cannibalizing Bitcoin gains for “income” in a move that could leave retail investors behind during rallies appeared first on CryptoSlate.

A former Jagex employee allegedly stole over 700 billion virtual gold pieces and sold them for almost $750,000 in crypto and fiat.