WhiteBIT Nova has processed over 1 million transactions, suggesting crypto cards are making digital assets practical for everyday spending. These cards bridge the gap between cryptocurrency and conventional payment methods, offering benefits like enhanced privacy and crypto rewards. The global crypto credit card market, valued at USD 1.3 billion in 2024, is projected to reach … Read more
Republicans Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine, both backed by the crypto industry, have won special elections in Florida for the 1st and 6th Congressional Districts of the US House. Fairshake, a crypto-backed PAC supported by Coinbase, Ripple, and Andreessen Horowitz, contributed roughly $1.5 million to the campaigns of Patronis and Fine. Jimmy Patronis secured the … Read more
Kentucky is the latest state to back away from its legal fight with Coinbase over the exchange’s staking rewards program. The Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions dismissed its lawsuit on April 1, joining Vermont and South Carolina in dropping similar actions. Kentucky was one of 10 states that initially sued Coinbase in June 2023, the … Read more
Bitfarms is betting big on data centers, securing a $300 million loan from Macquarie Equipment Capital to get there. The Canadian Bitcoin mining firm finalized an agreement on April 2 for the private debt to boost its Panther Creek data center project in Pennsylvania. Bitfarms will initially receive $50 million, with the remaining funds released … Read more
Kristin Smith, CEO of the Blockchain Association, is stepping down next month to lead Solana’s Policy Institute as its president, effective May 19. Her departure from the Blockchain Association, where she helped influence the election of a pro-crypto president, is set for May 16. The Blockchain Association’s Board of Directors, according to communications lead Curtis … Read more
South Korea’s 7-Eleven stores are now accepting central bank digital currency (CBDC) payments as part of the country’s CBDC project test phase, running from April 1 to June 30. The convenience store chain will reportedly offer a 10% discount on all products purchased with CBDC during this trial period, according to Moon Dae-woo, head of … Read more
Kraken is doubling down on Canada as other crypto players retreat, securing a restricted dealer registration just months after rival exchange Gemini pulled out of the country. Announced on April 2nd, the registration underscores Kraken’s commitment to Canadian investors and comes as the exchange holds over $2 billion Canadian dollars—$1.4 billion USD—in custodied assets for … Read more
Here’s a transatlantic financial face-off brewing, and it’s not over trade tariffs. European regulators are casting a wary eye across the pond, concerned that the U.S.’s newfound crypto-friendliness could spill digital risk all over traditional markets. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) didn’t mince words, stating that America’s warm embrace of cryptocurrencies “has the … Read more
Looks like the SEC and Gemini might be calling a truce. They’ve jointly asked a New York court to put their lawsuit on ice for 60 days, hinting at a “potential resolution” to their standoff. The SEC originally went after Gemini in January 2023, arguing its Gemini Earn program was selling unregistered securities – you … Read more
CME Group’s crypto derivatives market isn’t just buzzing; it’s breaking records, clocking in a new quarterly high in trading volume thanks to the surging popularity of micro futures. The exchange reported that the average daily volume for its crypto derivatives hit 198,000 contracts in the first quarter, translating to a notional value of $11.3 billion. … Read more