Author: Ethan Carter
Ethan is a seasoned cryptocurrency writer with extensive experience contributing to leading U.S.-based blockchain and fintech publications. His work blends in-depth market analysis with accessible explanations, making complex crypto topics understandable for a broad audience. Over the years, he has covered Bitcoin, Ethereum, DeFi, NFTs, and emerging blockchain trends, always with a focus on accuracy and insight. Ethan's articles have appeared on major crypto portals, where his expertise in market trends and investment strategies has earned him a loyal readership.
Ripple has gained its inaugural European bank client for its licensed payments technology, with AMINA Bank in Switzerland choosing Ripple Payments to enable near-real-time cross-border transactions for crypto-focused clients, according to a Friday announcement from the company.AMINA, a digital asset bank regulated by FINMA, will leverage Ripple’s payment infrastructure to connect traditional banking systems with blockchain-based settlements, addressing a persistent operational hurdle for institutions servicing stablecoin issuers, crypto companies, and tokenized asset platforms.This development indicates a transformation in how compliant banks are integrating crypto payments as a core business function — a system needing to operate seamlessly with fiat currency…
A widening split has developed in Washington, D.C., between the cryptocurrency sector and labor unions as lawmakers discuss relaxing regulations that would permit cryptocurrencies in 401(k) retirement plans.This disagreement revolves around proposed market structure legislation permitting retirement accounts to gain crypto exposure, a step that labor organizations argue could subject workers to speculative risks. In a letter sent Wednesday to the US Senate Banking Committee, the American Federation of Teachers contended that cryptocurrencies are too volatile for pension and retirement savings, cautioning that workers might endure significant losses.The letter received immediate backlash from crypto investors and industry representatives. “The American…
YouTube has allowed U.S. content creators to receive payments in PayPal’s (PYPL) stablecoin PYUSD, as reported by Fortune, citing PayPal’s crypto head, May Zabaneh.“The beauty of our system is that YouTube remains uninvolved with crypto, allowing us to handle the complexities,” Zabaneh explained. She mentioned that PayPal rolled out the PYUSD payout feature for recipients in Q3 of 2025, with YouTube opting to make it available only to U.S. creators.This initiative underscores how leading tech platforms, like Apple, Airbnb, and X, are increasingly looking into stablecoins as a payout method, helping companies avoid direct engagement with digital assets. YouTube’s usage…
By Omkar Godbole (All times ET unless noted otherwise)Bitcoin BTC$90,250.55, the top cryptocurrency by market capitalization, remains in a stagnant position above $90,000, with implied volatility dwindling as the end of the year nears.Volmex’s BVIV, which assesses bitcoin’s 30-day options-based implied volatility, has fallen to an annualized 45.10%, the lowest since November 10, according to TradingView data. This is down from a high of 65% reached on November 21.Other coins such as ZEC and AAVE have surged over 9% in the last 24 hours, outperforming BTC and ether ETH$3,084.84. HYPE, TAO, and SUI have risen over 5%, whereas KAS and…
Crypto stablecoin issuer Tether has initiated a bid to fully acquire Juventus Football Club, an Italian professional soccer team, though reports indicate this attempt has already been rejected.Tether announced on Friday that it submitted a binding all-cash proposal to Exor, the Agnelli family’s holding company, for its 65.4% controlling stake in Juventus, which has been held for over a century.If Exor consents, Tether plans to make a “public offer for the remaining shares at the same price.” Juventus, a public entity, has a market capitalization of 944.49 million euros ($1.1 billion), with trading closing on Friday at a 2.3% increase,…
Bitcoin has a historical pattern of punishing consensus, and the price movement following the Federal Reserve’s December meeting provided a particularly stark illustration of market dynamics over macroeconomic reports.On the surface, the conditions seemed favorable: The central bank announced its third rate cut of the year, reducing the benchmark by 25 basis points, while Chair Jerome Powell indicated that further hikes were largely off the table.However, instead of sparking the liquidity-driven rally to $100,000 that some retail investors had anticipated, BTC fell back, dropping below $90,000.To an uninformed observer, this response suggests a broken correlation. Yet, the selloff was a…
Figure Technology, a blockchain-centric financial services firm dedicated to tokenized assets and lending, has initiated a second public offering aimed at issuing native equity directly on a public blockchain. This initiative, which comes after the company’s recent listing on Nasdaq, seeks to enhance decentralized finance (DeFi) applications on Solana.During the Solana Breakpoint conference, Figure’s executive chairman Mike Cagney announced that the company has filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to introduce what he referred to as “a new version of Figure equity on a public blockchain,” specifically on Solana.Cagney stated that the blockchain-native equity would not be…
According to John Ameriks, the global head of quantitative equity at Vanguard, Bitcoin is no more than a speculative asset, comparable to a collectible toy.“I find it hard to view Bitcoin as anything beyond a digital Labubu,” Ameriks stated at Bloomberg’s ETFs in Depth conference in New York City.Labulus are plush collectible toys that feature anthropomorphic animals. Despite his criticism, Ameriks noted that Bitcoin (BTC) could potentially hold value beyond mere financial speculation in specific future scenarios.He pointed out that in cases of significant fiat currency inflation or political instability, the cryptocurrency could have practical applications, driving the adoption of…
Coinbase is reportedly gearing up to introduce its own prediction markets, powered by U.S.-based operator Kalshi. This development could broaden the variety of assets available on the exchange as investor interest in cryptocurrencies wanes, according to reports from Bloomberg and CNBC. The announcement is anticipated next week, coinciding with Coinbase’s “Coinbase System Update” showcase on Dec. 17. While the exchange has not confirmed specific details, it has encouraged users to tune into the livestream for updates. Speculation about the new prediction markets has been circulating for nearly a month. In mid-November, tech researcher Jane Manchun Wong shared a screenshot that…
Key takeaways:SOL funding rates indicate a lack of bullish conviction following a 46% price decrease, even with Firedancer’s launch and increasing Solana network activity.Solana DApp revenues and DEX engagement have significantly declined, pointing to broader market fatigue despite Solana’s ecosystem development.Solana’s native token, SOL (SOL), has struggled to maintain prices above $145 for the past month. A drop in network activity amid lower demand for decentralized applications has adversely affected SOL’s outlook. With Solana’s total value locked (TVL) now over $10 billion lower than its September peak, on-chain metrics suggest that user engagement is declining more rapidly than anticipated. Solana TVL…