Tag: Crypto

Here is Why AI and Stablecoins Defy Crypto Market Weakness in 2026

admin

AI and stablecoin sectors continued to grow amid broader market weakness in 2026, showing remarkable resilience driven by the “strongest structural tailwinds,” a new analysis shows.  Key takeaways: AI sector posts smallest loss in Q1/2026, down just 14%. Stablecoin market cap hits a record $320 billion, with monthly transaction volumes at a record $1.8 trillion. AI and stablecoin sectors buck the trend Bitcoin (BTC) trades 18.5% lower in 2026, the total crypto market capitalization has slipped to $2.42 trillion, while most altcoins are lagging, as fear and uncertainty surrounding the US…

As Mass Adoption Approaches, Crypto Has Forgotten Its Roots

admin

Opinion by: Dr Corey Petty, chief evangelist at Logos When early cryptocurrencies were conceptualized, the vision was not one of complex leverage strategies, celebrity rugpulls and government treasuries. Rather, cypherpunks sought, through cryptographic tools, to empower people through the privacy-given freedom to exchange goods and services without the threat of government overreach and mass corporate surveillance The crypto landscape is turning from one of decentralized networks into an extension of traditional finance. Centralized exchanges regularly account for over 80% of daily crypto transactions. If crypto is to hold onto its…

Australia’s Hostplus Pension Fund Considers Adding Crypto for Members

admin

Hostplus, Australia’s third-largest pension fund by member count, is reportedly considering offering cryptocurrencies as an investment option, citing interest from its members in the asset class. “There’s certainly a demand from some of our members who write in and say, ‘Why can’t I have access to cryptocurrency?’” Sam Sicilia, the fund’s chief investment officer, told Bloomberg on Monday.  Investment offerings in crypto could be available as soon as next financial year, he said, with Bitcoin and other digital assets offered through its ChoicePlus investment option, which allows people to self-manage…

Circle Urges EU to Ease Markets Framework for Crypto

admin

Stablecoin issuer Circle has urged the European Commission to lower the barrier for institutions to engage with crypto-asset service providers in response to its proposed Market Integration Package — a policy initiative aimed at strengthening capital markets in Europe.  In a statement on Monday, Circle said the Commission’s MIP proposals represent a “meaningful step toward a digitally enabled financial system” but also outlined several areas for improvement. Those included reforming the DLT (distributed ledger technology) Pilot Regime and scaling what the Commission describes as e-money tokens (EMTs) by permitting more…

Senator Warren Questions whether MrBeast will Market Crypto to Kids

admin

Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren has raised concerns about whether YouTuber Jimmy Donaldson, better known as “MrBeast,” intends to market cryptocurrency to teenagers and young adults following his purchase of a mobile banking app. In a Monday letter to Donaldson, Warren questioned whether the online influencer planned to use his company’s acquisition of the mobile banking app Step to push crypto transactions and purchases on young people. Donaldson, a YouTuber who grew an online following due in part to his stunts and financial giveaways, founded his holding company, Beast Industries, in…

Michael Intrator: GPU technology’s adaptability beyond crypto, the monetization of AI through inference, and why GPU lifespan misconceptions are misleading

admin

Key takeaways The transition from crypto to other GPU applications demonstrates the technology’s adaptability. Initial GPU investments were crucial for scaling and learning in tech operations. Scaling laws in computing are essential for developing transformative AI models. Inference is a key economic driver in AI, monetizing the investment in artificial intelligence. CoreWeave plays a pivotal role in deploying Nvidia’s new architecture at scale. The GPU depreciation debate is influenced by traders with short positions, not market realities. Clients’ long-term contracts indicate GPUs retain value beyond short-term depreciation claims. GPUs have…

Ed Chin: Hedge funds can exploit crypto market inefficiencies, the need for a multi-strategy approach, and unique opportunities in private credit

admin

Key takeaways The crypto market is characterized by inefficiencies that present opportunities for hedge funds to capitalize on. Institutional investors face significant barriers in emerging markets due to a lack of investment products, leading to price premiums. The pace of evolution in the crypto market necessitates a multi-strategy approach to remain competitive. The private credit space in digital assets was virtually non-existent in 2021, offering unique investment opportunities. Regulatory constraints make it challenging for banks to maintain large Bitcoin exposures. Market makers face limited options for hedging Bitcoin exposure due…

Jane Khodarkovsky: $1.7 billion in crypto linked to Iran raises compliance concerns, the role of intermediaries in sanctions evasion, and the challenges of prosecuting violations

admin

Key takeaways $1.7 billion in crypto transactions linked to Iran flowed through Binance, highlighting potential sanctions violations. Geographic sanctions apply to countries, not necessarily to all individuals or entities within those countries. Sanctions evasion in crypto involves sophisticated actors, not just individuals using basic tools. Sanctions against Iran have created a need for intermediaries to facilitate financial transactions. Binance should have been more vigilant in monitoring accounts for suspicious activity related to sanctions evasion. OFAC’s actions can severely limit a company’s access to the US financial system, but its slow…

SEC Sends Proposed Crypto Interpretation to White House for Review

admin

The financial regulator’s plan to reinterpret how federal securities laws apply to crypto assets is ”pending review” by the White House’s Office of Management and Budget. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has forwarded its proposal to have most crypto assets not treated as securities under federal law to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget. According to information available through the US General Services Administration, on Friday the SEC sent two proposed rules to the White House for review, including its interpretative notice from last week regarding…

Crypto surges on Iran de-escalation hopes, but conflicting reports add uncertainty

admin

Geopolitics gave crypto traders whiplash on Monday. Bitcoin surged nearly 6% in a matter of hours on hopes that US-Iran tensions were cooling, only for the foundational claim behind that rally to get publicly disputed by Iran itself. The result is a market trading near session highs on a narrative that may or may not be real. Which, if we’re being honest, is kind of crypto’s whole thing. The rally, the claim, and the denial Here’s the sequence. President Trump posted that the US and Iran had held “very good…