‍Vanguard Ends Crypto ETF Ban, Expands Trading Options Vanguard, a leading asset manager, has reversed its policy, now allowing clients to trade cryptocurrency-focused ETFs and mutual funds on its platform. This change provides over 50 million brokerage customers access to regulated digital asset products, including funds holding Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana. The strategic shift, influenced by persistent client interest and the success of spot Bitcoin ETFs, marks a significant step for institutional acceptance of cryptocurrencies. Vanguard's new CEO, Salim Ramji, a former iShares executive, has been a public advocate for Bitcoin and blockchain technology.
‍Forward Industries Appoints Ex-ParaFi Executive to Spearhead Solana Treasury Strategy Forward Industries has appointed Ryan Navi, formerly of ParaFi Capital, as its new Chief Investment Officer. Navi will oversee the company's significant investments in Solana (SOL), directing capital markets opportunities and leveraging staking infrastructure for SOL accumulation. Forward Industries holds over 6.9 million SOL tokens, valued at approximately $863.5 million, representing over 1% of the total supply. The company also operates an institutional-grade validator node on the Solana blockchain. This strategic move occurs amidst market volatility impacting Solana treasury companies, with SOL prices declining significantly in recent months. Forward Industries' stock has also experienced a notable decrease from its September peak.
‍Kalshi Tokenizes Bets on Solana, Valuation Hits $11 Billion Leading predictions platform Kalshi has launched tokenized versions of its event contracts on the Solana blockchain. This move aims to integrate traditional event-based betting with DeFi, attracting crypto users and enhancing market liquidity. John Wang, Kalshi's head of crypto, stated, "This is about tapping into the billions of dollars of liquidity that crypto has." DeFi protocols Jupiter and DFlow will facilitate this integration. In November, Kalshi raised $1 billion, achieving an $11 billion valuation, underscoring its growing influence in the prediction market sector.
‍New Lawsuit Accuses Coinbase C-Suite of Billions in Insider Trading Scheme Shareholders have filed a lawsuit against Coinbase leadership, alleging a years-long insider trading scheme. Top executives, including CEO Brian Armstrong and board member Marc Andreessen, are accused of selling billions in company stock while concealing critical information about KYC/AML failures, data breaches, and regulatory investigations. The suit claims insiders sold an estimated $4.2 billion in stock at artificially inflated prices. This occurred despite leadership's alleged prior knowledge of significant compliance failures, including a $100 million settlement with the NYDFS in early 2023 and a data breach first known in January but disclosed in May. The plaintiffs seek multi-billion dollar damages and board seats. Coinbase recently announced a move from Delaware to Texas, citing Delaware's Chancery Court as unpredictable.
‍Republicans Allege "Debanking" of Digital Assets, Call for Clarity Act A report from Republican lawmakers on US House committees details concerns about the alleged "debanking of digital assets" under the previous administration. The report claims regulators used vague rules and enforcement actions to discourage banks from serving crypto companies, an approach termed "Operation Choke Point 2.0." Lawmakers are urging Congress to pass legislation, including the CLARITY Act, to provide clear guidelines for the digital asset industry and allow banks to engage with the ecosystem. This push follows recent shifts in the regulatory landscape under the current administration.
‍BitMine Immersion Expands Ethereum Holdings Amid Market Downturn Bitcoin miner BitMine Immersion recently acquired 96,798 ETH, valued at over $265 million, bringing its total holdings to nearly 3.73 million ETH ($10.1 billion). The company also holds 192 BTC and significant cash reserves. Despite a market dip and a 12% drop in its stock, BMNR maintains a 301% year-to-date gain. Tom Lee, Chair of BitMine Immersion, cited confidence in ETH's future, stating, "We stepped up our weekly purchases of ETH by 39%." Recent market volatility and scrutiny of digital asset treasury strategies continue, impacting companies like Strategy and BitMine. Predictions for Ethereum's future price vary widely among market participants.
‍Crypto Funds Attract $1 Billion Amidst Market Volatility Digital asset ETPs saw $1.07 billion in inflows last week, reversing four consecutive weeks of outflows. Bitcoin ETFs led with $464 million, followed by Ethereum funds ($309 million). XRP recorded its largest ever weekly inflows at $289 million. The U.S. was the primary driver of inflows ($994 million). Despite positive fund flows, spot markets for Bitcoin and other major cryptocurrencies experienced a downturn this week. This divergence highlights institutional interest in regulated crypto investments versus short-term price fluctuations.
‍Toobit: Pionering "Non-Mandatory KYC" for Crypto Compliance and User Freedom Toobit is introducing a "non-mandatory KYC" model to balance regulatory demands like MiCA with user privacy and access. CEO Ray Lee highlighted how the platform serves over 4 million traders with daily volumes exceeding $30 billion. The exchange employs advanced risk management, including Know Your Transaction (KYT) monitoring with Elliptic and Beosin, ISO-level security, and conditional verification for traders. This approach upholds safety while preserving user choice. Toobit's "Bee-Safe" strategy includes a $50 million shield fund, institutional custody via Fireblocks and Cobo, and full reserve transparency, ensuring assets are secured in cold storage. Innovations like zero-slippage copy trading, event contracts, and TradingView integration aim to democratize access to sophisticated trading tools for all participants.
‍Bitcoin Tumbles Below $84K Amid Macro Pressures; Crucial Week Ahead for 2025 Outlook Bitcoin (BTC) has fallen below $84,000 following a significant sell-off driven by macro headwinds, with analysts marking this week as pivotal for the cryptocurrency's 2025 trajectory. Daily losses exceeded 7%, reaching $83,814 on Bitstamp. Factors contributing to the decline include Japan's interest rate hike, thin market liquidity, and potential sell-offs from corporate Bitcoin treasuries. While the U.S. Federal Reserve concluded its quantitative tightening, questions remain about BTC defending prior lows amid bearish sentiment and liquidity conditions. Trader sentiment is divided. Some highlight a negative Coinbase Premium and urge holding above $85.2K. Others see the dip below $84,000 as a "massive opportunity" for long-term investors. The interplay of these forces will shape Bitcoin's performance throughout 2025.
‍Kyrgyzstan Launches $50 Million Gold-Backed USDKG Stablecoin The Kyrgyz Republic has introduced USDKG, a gold-backed stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the U.S. dollar, with an initial issuance of $50 million. Launched on the Tron blockchain, USDKG aims to modernize cross-border payments and foster financial inclusion. The stablecoin is issued by a state-owned entity under the Ministry of Finance, adhering to the nation's 2022 Law on Virtual Assets. The project's operator, Gold Dollar, plans to expand gold reserves to $500 million in the next phase and $2 billion long-term. USDKG complies with FATF KYC/AML standards.