‍OpenSea to Launch SEA Token in Q1 2026, Pivoting to Crypto Exchange OpenSea has announced the launch of its native token, SEA, in Q1 2026. This signifies a strategic shift for the platform from an NFT marketplace to a comprehensive crypto exchange. CEO Devin Finzer stated that NFTs were "chapter one" for OpenSea, as the platform aims to become the primary on-chain trading layer for various digital assets. The SEA token will allocate 50% of its supply to users via a claim program. Additionally, 50% of OpenSea's revenue will be used to buy back SEA tokens from the market, creating a feedback loop between platform growth and token value. https://cryptovka.ru/en/news/None/opensea-s-sea-token-q1-2026-launch-marks-major-shift-to-broader-crypto-exchange
‍Evernorth to Go Public, Aiming to Create Largest Institutional XRP Treasury Evernorth Holdings Inc. intends to become a publicly traded company via a business combination with Armada Acquisition Corp II, with the combined entity expected to list on Nasdaq under the ticker "XRPN" in Q1 2026. The transaction is projected to yield over $1 billion in gross proceeds, including a $200 million investment from SBI and contributions from Ripple, Pantera Capital, Kraken, and GSR. Funds will primarily support open-market XRP purchases for an institutional treasury. Evernorth plans to grow its XRP per share over time through institutional lending and DeFi yield opportunities, leveraging XRP's regulatory clarity and utility in global payments. Led by CEO Asheesh Birla, the company aims to catalyze broader XRP ecosystem adoption through use cases, developer grants, and infrastructure investments.
‍Bitget's US Stock Futures Exceed $200M in Volume Bitget has announced its US stock futures have surpassed $200 million in cumulative trading volume, highlighting strong demand for integrated TradFi and crypto investments. Top traded assets include Tesla (TSLA) and NVIDIA (NVDA). The platform now offers USDT-margined perpetual futures on 25 US stocks, providing up to 25x leverage and competitive fees. This move aims to bridge traditional and digital assets, offering a 24/7 trading venue for real-world assets via crypto-native derivatives.
‍Jupiter Launches Ultra V3: Redefining Solana DeFi Trading Jupiter, the leading liquidity aggregator on Solana, has introduced Ultra V3, a new trading engine featuring advanced technologies like Iris router, ShadowLane, and Predictive Execution. This upgrade promises 34x better MEV protection, positive slippage, and 8-10x lower fees. Ultra V3 enhances trade execution through precise routing, private transaction landing, and real-time slippage prediction. Key features include enhanced gasless support, just-in-time market revival, and native integration across Jupiter platforms. Siong, co-founder of Jupiter, stated, "Ultra V3’s Predictive Execution gives you what you actually get at execution, not what looked good at quotation."
‍BlackRock Launches Bitcoin ETP in UK Following FCA Policy Shift BlackRock has officially launched its iShares Bitcoin ETP on the London Stock Exchange, offering UK investors regulated exposure to Bitcoin's price movements. This follows the FCA's decision to ease restrictions on certain crypto investment vehicles, allowing retail investors to access Bitcoin through traditional brokerage accounts. The FCA's move signals a growing acceptance of crypto-linked products, which are now considered "more mainstream and better understood." While the ban on crypto derivatives remains, the UK continues to explore blockchain technology for fund tokenization. This development provides regulated access, simplified investment, and diversification opportunities for investors.
‍Jiuzi Holdings and BitFi Partner for Bitcoin-Centric Finance Jiuzi Holdings (NASDAQ: JZXN) has announced a strategic cooperation agreement with Bitcoin fintech platform BitFi. This partnership positions JZXN as an integrated Bitcoin financial services provider, utilizing BitFi's expertise in yield generation and its management of approximately US$2.75 billion in total value locked (TVL). The collaboration includes a phased capital injection into BitFi's asset pool and the formation of a joint committee for product innovation, focusing on cross-chain liquidity and compliant tokenization. JZXN aims to provide transparent, auditable, and SEC-compliant BTC exposure channels.
‍AWS Outage Highlights Risks of Centralized Cloud Infrastructure for Crypto Exchanges An Amazon Web Services (AWS) outage recently impacted major platforms like Coinbase and Robinhood, underscoring the risks of relying on centralized cloud providers for financial infrastructure. Many leading exchanges, including Binance and Kraken, also utilize AWS, creating single points of failure. This recurring vulnerability fuels the demand for decentralized alternatives. Projects like Vanar Chain, Internet Computer Protocol (ICP), Filecoin, Akash Network, and Render Network are developing Web3-based infrastructure to enhance resilience, security, and user autonomy. The shift towards decentralized systems is becoming an operational necessity for the evolving digital economy.
‍KuCard and Plaza Premium Lounge Partner for Crypto Travel Perks KuCard, a Visa card from KuCoin, has partnered with Plaza Premium Lounge, the world's largest independent airport lounge network. This collaboration allows KuCard users to spend cryptocurrencies directly and gain access to over 600 lounges globally. As an introductory offer, KuCard holders receive a 20% discount on lounge access. Axl Zhong, Lead of KuCard, highlighted the significance of merging cryptocurrency with hospitality, creating new models for crypto adoption and interoperability between fintech and travel sectors.
‍New York Proposes New Taxes on Crypto Mining New York is considering significant excise taxes on energy-intensive Proof-of-Work (PoW) crypto mining operations. Companion bills A9138 and S8518 propose tiered taxes based on electricity consumption, aiming to fund energy affordability programs. Operations consuming up to 2.25 million kWh annually would be exempt. Higher consumption levels would face rates from 2 to 5 cents per kWh. Mining facilities powered entirely by renewables and operating off-grid would be exempt. Senator Liz Krueger stated the bill ensures "companies driving up New Yorkers' electricity rates pay their fair share." However, industry experts like Nic Puckrin warn such measures could make mining "unviable," potentially leading operations to relocate to more crypto-friendly states. The proposed tax would take effect January 1, 2027.
‍Algorand Enhances Humanitarian Aid Transparency with Aid Trust Portal Algorand's new Aid Trust Portal leverages blockchain technology to bring unprecedented accountability to humanitarian operations. The platform offers real-time visibility and verifiable tracking of aid disbursements, addressing long-standing trust issues in aid delivery. Key features include interactive network diagrams, intuitive timeline tools, and analytical overlays to identify suspicious patterns. This allows donors, program managers, and regulators to trace funds from sender to recipient, ensuring aid reaches those in need more efficiently. HesabPay in Afghanistan is already integrating the portal, demonstrating its practical value in improving aid distribution and rebuilding donor confidence.