Tag: Launch

Ex-Coinbase, Airbnb execs launch programmable stablecoin platform for fintechs, enterprises

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Dakota, a stablecoin-focused neobank founded by veterans of Coinbase, Square, and Airbnb, has launched a platform that allows fintechs and enterprises to embed regulated, programmable global money movement via APIs. Cross-border money movement remains slow and expensive, and while stablecoins offer speed, adoption has been limited by regulatory and operational challenges. Dakota wants to address this by providing infrastructure that works across jurisdictions and rails, unlocking scalable global payments. The platform enables companies to offer payments, treasury, and payouts using stablecoins directly in their products, bridging digital assets with real-world…

Fidelity to Launch Stablecoin Through National Trust Bank

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Fidelity Investments plans to launch a new stablecoin next month, marking a logical next step for the asset manager as it expands its digital-asset infrastructure following conditional approval for a national trust bank from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Bloomberg reported Wednesday that the Fidelity Digital Dollar, or FIDD, will be issued by Fidelity Digital Assets, National Association, the national trust bank approved by US regulators in December.  Fidelity Digital Assets president Mike O’Reilly told the publication that stablecoins could “serve as foundational payment and settlement services,”…

BlackRock files S-1 to launch Bitcoin income-focused ETF

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BlackRock, through its iShares entity, has filed a registration statement with the SEC seeking approval to launch the iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF, a new fund that would provide exposure to Bitcoin while generating recurring income through a covered call options strategy. The ETF will be structured as a Delaware statutory trust and will hold bitcoin, shares of the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT), and cash, including premiums generated from options activity, according to the filing. The fund’s objective is to provide exposure to Bitcoin price movements while delivering enhanced…

Binance to launch Tesla perpetual contract with up to 5x leverage

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Binance will launch a Tesla equity perpetual contract on its futures platform on Wednesday, allowing traders to speculate on Tesla Inc. stock (TSLA) with up to 5x leverage, according to a recent announcement. The TSLAUSDT contract tracks Tesla’s Nasdaq-listed common stock and settles in USDT. Trading will be available 24/7 with a minimum trade amount of 0.01 TSLA and a minimum notional value of 5 USDT. Multi-asset mode is supported, enabling users to trade using alternative margin assets like Bitcoin, according to Binance. The exchange noted that it may adjust…

Fedi, Cornell And Bitcoin Think Tank Launch US Financial Privacy Study

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The Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI), Fedi and Cornell University are launching a two‑year study on how Americans view financial privacy, the trade‑offs they will accept and how regulation shapes their behavior.  The initiative brings together a Bitcoin (BTC) wallet company with an academic center and a policy think tank, aiming to connect how privacy tools are built, researched and ultimately governed. According to Fedi and BPI, the research will combine quantitative surveys with qualitative interviews to examine attitudes toward financial privacy and their evolution.  Cornell’s Brooks School Tech Policy Institute…

Solana Mobile SKR Jumps 38% On Airdrop Launch

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Solana Mobile, a subsidiary of Solana Labs, the organization behind the Solana blockchain, has launched a token airdrop for holders of its Web3 smartphone, Solana Seeker. The Seeker (SKR) token, the utility and governance asset of the Solana Mobile ecosystem, went live on Wednesday, the company said in a post on X. Users of the Solana Seeker smartphone have 90 days to claim SKR tokens as part of the airdrop, which can be staked to earn rewards. The airdrop is available to at least 100,000 users and 188 developers, with…

Galaxy to Launch $100M Hedge Fund to Trade Crypto Upside and Downside

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Mike Novogratz’s digital asset firm Galaxy is preparing to launch a $100 million hedge fund aimed at profiting from both rising and falling crypto prices. The fund is set to launch in the first quarter and will be structured to take long and short positions across digital assets and traditional equities tied to financial infrastructure, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday. Up to 30% of the fund’s capital will be allocated directly to crypto tokens, with the remainder deployed into financial services stocks expected to be shaped by digital asset…

OpenAI plans to launch its first AI device in H2 2026

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Key Takeaways OpenAI plans to launch its first hardware device in the second half of 2026. The device may be a simple, screenless wearable, but specifics remain undisclosed. Share this article OpenAI is aiming for a late 2026 debut of its first hardware device, said policy chief Christopher Lehane at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos. Lehane sees AI in devices as a near-future innovation that brings AI into people’s daily tools and gadgets. “I think maybe towards the latter part of the year, you’ll see AI…

IBM and e& launch agentic AI for enterprise compliance

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Key Takeaways IBM and e& have launched agentic AI aimed at transforming enterprise compliance and governance. The platform supports continuous, governed automation of compliance tasks, improves decision consistency, and provides 24/7 organizational access. Share this article At the 2026 World Economic Forum, IBM and e& unveiled a governed, action-oriented agentic AI solution built on watsonx Orchestrate, IBM’s platform built to power AI-driven automation of advanced business tasks. Designed to move beyond simple chatbots, the system embeds directly into core operations, starting with risk, compliance, and policy management, to help auditors…

KBC Bank To Launch MiCA-Regulated Crypto Trading in Belgium

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KBC, one of Belgium’s largest banks, is set to roll out Bitcoin and Ether trading to retail investors next month via its own custodial solution and investment platform. From Feb. 16, KBC customers will be able to buy and sell crypto assets through the online investment platform Bolero, the bank announced Thursday. “This will enable self-directed investors in Belgium to invest in cryptocurrencies within a secure and fully regulated environment, a first in Belgium,” KBC said. Launched in compliance with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), KBC’s crypto…