July 17, 2026 @ 3:37 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

ETRADE from Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS) has officially enabled direct cryptocurrency trading, allowing eligible U.S. clients to buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL) within their brokerage accounts. This launch integrates digital assets seamlessly alongside traditional holdings such as stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds, marking a… Read More

July 17, 2026 @ 3:34 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

CoinShares (NASDAQ: CSHR) indicated that sentiment around Bitcoin has begun to improve, driven primarily by broader economic indicators rather than sector-specific developments. Following an extended period of outflows from digital asset products, fresh capital has started flowing back in, reflecting renewed optimism tied to evolving… Read More

July 17, 2026 @ 3:31 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Crypto.com has secured a substantial $400 million strategic investment from Citadel Securities. Announced on July 16, 2026, the deal values the platform at $20 billion and represents its first major institutional funding round since its founding a decade ago. This partnership arrives at a pivotal… Read More

July 17, 2026 @ 3:10 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

SBI Holdings has wrapped up its acquisition of Coinhako, a Singapore-based cryptocurrency exchange and services provider. The deal, which secures a controlling interest for SBI, marks the latest step in the company’s ambitious push to build a comprehensive global network for tokenized assets, stablecoins, and… Read More

July 17, 2026 @ 10:54 am By Omar Faridi  |  

S&P Global has announced a strategic investment in SSImple, a fintech firm specializing in Standing Settlement Instructions (SSIs). The development, revealed on July 14, 2026, builds on an existing partnership and highlights the financial industry’s push toward greater efficiency, reduced risks, and smoother transitions to… Read More

July 17, 2026 @ 8:46 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Decentralized perpetuals trading platform Ostium, focused on real-world assets on the Arbitrum network, has suffered a substantial security incident resulting in the loss of approximately $18 million from its liquidity vault. The attack, which occurred on July 15, 2026, prompted the immediate halt of all… Read More

July 17, 2026 @ 8:29 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Stable, the Layer-1 blockchain developed in close alignment with Tether and backed by entities like Bitfinex, has rolled out StablePay, its flagship consumer application designed to transform how people and businesses handle stablecoin transactions. This move marks a significant step forward in creating practical, everyday… Read More

July 17, 2026 @ 8:28 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Feathery has closed a new funding round totaling $30 million. This capital infusion aims to expand the company’s capabilities as a comprehensive AI operating and decisioning system tailored for the insurance and wealth management sectors. The round underscores growing investor confidence in solutions that streamline… Read More

July 17, 2026 @ 8:28 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Visa (NYSE: V) has introduced a comprehensive new platform that streamlines the use of stablecoins for banks, fintech companies, and other payment providers. This development marks another milestone in the payments giant’s ongoing efforts to integrate blockchain technology into mainstream financial operations, offering a unified,… Read More

July 17, 2026 @ 6:48 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Venture investment in financial technology companies worldwide totaled $28.6 billion in the opening six months of 2026, according to Crunchbase data. This performance highlights ongoing interest in digital finance solutions even as the broader venture ecosystem experiences intense concentration around artificial intelligence initiatives. The total… Read More

July 17, 2026 @ 1:47 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Remitly Global, Inc. has obtained a Stored Value Facilities (SVF) license paired with an Exchange Business Category IV authorization from the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates (CBUAE). This approval positions the company among the early international remittance specialists to gain such credentials in… Read More

July 16, 2026 @ 4:34 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Digital payments processor Visa (NYSE: V) has highlighted how stablecoins could unlock a new wave of ultra-small-scale transactions, particularly suited to an economy driven by intelligent, self-operating AI systems. As artificial intelligence evolves from helpful tools into proactive agents capable of handling complex tasks independently,… Read More

July 16, 2026 @ 4:27 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The Linux Foundation has officially activated a new initiative aimed at creating standardized, built-in payment capabilities for the web. This effort centers on the x402 protocol, designed to make financial transactions as straightforward as data exchanges between machines, applications, and AI systems. The x402 Foundation… Read More

July 16, 2026 @ 4:25 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Jesse Pollak, the key architect of Coinbase‘s (NASDAQ:COIN) Base layer-2 blockchain, has publicly recognized shortcomings in the project’s earlier consumer strategy centered on on-chain social experiences. In a detailed reflection shared on social media, Pollak described how his emphasis on creator-driven content, messaging apps, and… Read More

July 16, 2026 @ 8:23 am By Omar Faridi  |  

BlackRock (NYSE:BLK) has articulated a forward-looking strategy centered on the fusion of cryptocurrency and traditional finance (TradFi). The world’s largest asset manager is increasingly positioning its offerings as bridges that connect these once-distinct worlds, with heightened emphasis on creating sophisticated investment vehicles tailored to evolving… Read More

July 16, 2026 @ 8:17 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Fintech division of Brazil’s digital bank Inter has announced the introduction of its innovative contactless payment wearables to customers in the United States. This expansion brings stylish, convenient payment solutions—specifically designed rings and wristbands—directly to the US market, allowing users to make seamless transactions… Read More

July 16, 2026 @ 6:28 am By Omar Faridi  |  

A significant Bitcoin holder has moved approximately 5,908 BTC, valued at around $383 million, from a wallet that had remained untouched for nearly eight years. This large-scale transaction highlights the enduring presence of early Bitcoin accumulators and raises questions about potential market implications as the… Read More

July 16, 2026 @ 5:25 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Mastercard (NYSE:MA) has designated the country as its primary testing ground for an advanced “agentic AI” sandbox environment. This initiative reflects the payments giant’s commitment to responsibly developing next-generation artificial intelligence systems capable of independent decision-making and complex task execution within regulated financial ecosystems.Agentic AI… Read More

July 16, 2026 @ 12:52 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Volvo Group, a key global player focused primarily on heavy-duty trucks and industrial vehicles, is pushing the boundaries of supply chain technology by testing a custom-built cryptocurrency for internal transactions. This initiative is part of a broader effort to harness blockchain to enhance efficiency,… Read More

July 16, 2026 @ 12:26 am By Omar Faridi  |  

CB Insights has pointed out that global venture capital activity in the second quarter of 2026 showed continued strength in total dollars deployed. According to CB Insights’ latest State of Venture report, funding surpassed $200 billion for the second consecutive quarter, building on the record… Read More