Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken announced that it can now expand its offerings and across European Union’s member states after securing a license under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. In a Wednesday notice, Kraken said it had received the MiCA license from the Central Bank of Ireland, allowing the exchange to offer regulated services to residents…
Welcome to The Protocol, CoinDesk’s weekly wrap-up of the most important stories in cryptocurrency tech development. I’m Margaux Nijkerk, CoinDesk’s Tech & Protocols reporter. In this issue: Ethereum Developer Proposes 6-Second Block Times to Boost Speed ZKsync’s Airbender zkVM Proves Ethereum Blocks in 35 Seconds Norway Plans Ban on New Crypto Mining Data Centers XRP…
Nine asset managers are now looking to launch an exchange-traded fund (ETF) tracking Solana, with Invesco the latest to join the bidding as the firm looks to push products beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. In a regulatory filing on Wednesday, Invesco and Galaxy Digital put forward the Invesco Galaxy Solana ETF, which aims to track the…
Bitcoin miner and ASIC manufacturer Bitdeer Technologies (BTDR) has completed a $330 million private placement of convertible senior notes maturing July 1, 2031. The notes bear interest at 4.875% and feature a conversion price of $15.87 per share — about 44% above BTDR’s current $11 trading price. The bond’s conversion rate of 62.9921 Class A…
Key takeaways: Ether drops 4% drop despite ETF inflows, and this shows traders are skeptical about a move back to $3,000. Negative funding and options metrics signal low confidence in ETH’s short-term price strength. Ether (ETH) price lost 4% in the past seven days while the broader cryptocurrency market capitalization gained 1%, calling into question…
Bit Digital (BTBT) is changing course to become a dedicated ether staking and treasury operation, the company said Wednesday. The New York-based firm will exit the bitcoin mining business entirely, repurposing its assets and capital into its growing ETH strategy. The company began building its ether position and Ethereum staking infrastructure in 2022. As of…
Kalshi, a prediction market and competitor to Polymarket, has reportedly closed a $185 million funding round that values the company at $2 billion, indicating growing investor appetite for the emerging sector. The round was led by crypto investment company Paradigm, with participation from venture capital companies Sequoia Capital, Multicoin Capital and other investors, The Wall…
Bitcoin continued its gentle rise on Wednesday as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — which play a pivotal role in issuing mortgages to U.S. homeowners — were ordered by the William Pulte, Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), to prepare to accept cryptocurrencies as part of applicants’ assets. Back above $107,000, the top…
Key takeaways: Avenir Group and Glassnode data conclude that a significant portion of spot BTC ETF inflows are unhedged, long-only positions, indicating genuine institutional conviction rather than reliance on short-term arbitrage strategies. BTC continues to behave like a traditional macro asset with strong correlations to equities, gold, and liquidity cycles, while inversely tracking the dollar…
U.S.-based fintech platform SoFi (SOFI) said on Wednesday it will introduce international remittances through blockchain and stablecoins and allow users to invest in cryptocurrencies this year, making good on its promised digital asset push. The upcoming remittance service will let users send U.S. dollars and select stablecoins to recipients abroad with “well-known” blockchain networks processing…