July 18, 2026 @ 12:32 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas has outlined a compelling historical parallel between Bitcoin exchange-traded funds and gold ETFs, suggesting that investors in the newer products could experience a similar mix of rapid early success, extended periods of disappointment, and eventual recovery. In his latest commentary,… Read More

July 18, 2026 @ 11:30 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Gate US has formed a key partnership with SoFi (NASDAQ: SOFI), a nationally chartered banking institution. This collaboration positions SoFi as a vital infrastructure partner, enhancing Gate US’s capabilities to deliver secure, efficient, and regulation-compliant financial services to US based users. The partnership underscores Gate US’s… Read More

July 18, 2026 @ 10:18 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Recent analysis from on-chain intelligence platform Token Terminal highlights a significant milestone for Ethereum in the evolving landscape of tokenized financial products. Over the past year, the network has recorded the highest absolute capital inflows into tokenized exchange-traded funds (ETFs) compared to any other blockchain…. Read More

July 18, 2026 @ 10:17 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The estate of the collapsed crypto exchange FTX is set to release approximately $900 million to eligible claimants in what represents its fifth major wave of repayments. This development, detailed in a recent announcement, highlights the continued progress in addressing obligations stemming from the exchange‘s… Read More

July 18, 2026 @ 9:24 am By Michael Wong  |  

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is considering an investment of up to $150 million equivalent in euros in a green bond to be issued by Bank Zachodni WBK S.A., with the potential to mobilize a further $100 million, or its euro equivalent, from other investors…. Read More

July 18, 2026 @ 6:18 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Digital bank Revolut has obtained in-principle approval to deliver virtual asset services across the UAE. The Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) in Dubai granted the preliminary license, positioning the company to introduce broker-dealer activities, asset management and investment services, as well as exchange functionalities in… Read More

July 18, 2026 @ 4:21 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Criminal organizations continue to leverage virtual assets (VAs) for cross-border movement of illicit proceeds, capitalizing on inconsistencies in global oversight and incomplete adoption of international guidelines. In response, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has issued its latest assessment, underscoring both advancements and critical shortcomings… Read More

July 17, 2026 @ 5:27 pm By JD Alois  |  

Nasdaq Private Markets highlights the performance of private securities when compared to more traditional public listings. The number of public firms has been in decline for years due to aggressive over-regulation and the cost of compliance. Meanwhile, there is an ocean of sophisticated money that… Read More

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 @ 12:55 pm By JD Alois  |  

Today, the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology, and Artificial Intelligence held a “field hearing” (in New York City) on the CLARITY Act – pending legislation that was approved in the House last year but remains in legislative purgatory in the Senate…. Read More

July 17, 2026 @ 12:39 pm By JD Alois  |  

This week, the UK government published its strategy for wholesale financial markets and its digital asset strategy. HM Treasury outlined a path to remove barriers and acknowledged the need to update regulations. The goal is to seek greater efficiency, lower costs, improved liquidity/resilience, better support… 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