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Tracks company news, strategic changes, funding activities, and personnel adjustments across the blockchain and crypto industries, delivering a full-spectrum industry overview for our users.

Tether Smashes Q4 Records as Crypto Slows — $187B, 534M Users, $4.4T Move

Tether's Q4 2025 attestation, audited by BDO, reported record growth despite a broader crypto market slowdown. USDT's market cap reached $187.3 billion, with over $10 billion in annual profit driven by U.S. Treasury interest and diversified assets. The user base grew to 534.5 million, adding 35.2 million new users, while on-chain transfers hit a record $4.4 trillion in volume. However, Tether scaled back its fundraising target from $20 billion to $5 billion due to investor pushback and valuation concerns. Despite a 23.7% market decline in Q4, USDT dominance in stablecoin markets grew, accounting for 65.9% of transactions and 61.5% of centralized exchange spot trading.

ccn.com02/05 07:28

Tether Smashes Q4 Records as Crypto Slows — $187B, 534M Users, $4.4T Move

ccn.com02/05 07:28

SBI Backs Layer-1 Push for Tokenized Stocks With Startale

SBI Holdings is advancing its blockchain strategy by investing in a Layer-1 blockchain project through Startale Group, focused on tokenizing traditional stocks. This move highlights Japan’s growing institutional interest in leveraging blockchain for real-world assets like equities. Tokenized stocks offer benefits such as faster settlement, fractional ownership, and global accessibility. The initiative aims to build a compliant, secure, and scalable infrastructure tailored to financial regulations, rather than using general-purpose public blockchains. This partnership underscores the strategic convergence of traditional finance and Web3, positioning Japan at the forefront of tokenization innovation with potential global impact.

TheNewsCrypto02/05 07:10

SBI Backs Layer-1 Push for Tokenized Stocks With Startale

TheNewsCrypto02/05 07:10

14 Years After Incubating Coinbase, YC Finally Decides to Issue Investment Funds in USDC

Y Combinator (YC), the renowned startup accelerator behind companies like Airbnb, Stripe, and Coinbase, announced on February 3 that, starting from the Spring 2026 batch, it will offer its startups the option to receive their $500,000 investment in USDC stablecoin. This marks the first time YC has officially introduced a stablecoin payment method for its investments. The decision follows the U.S. GENIUS Act passed in July 2025, which established a federal regulatory framework for stablecoins, requiring 1:1 reserve backing and granting holders redemption rights. This regulatory clarity has removed a major barrier to institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies. YC's move is significant because it signals a shift from being a crypto investor to an active participant using stablecoins in its core operations. Benefits include near-instant, low-cost transactions, especially beneficial for international startups in regions like India and Latin America, where traditional banking can be slow and expensive. YC specifically selected USDC due to its U.S.-based issuer, Circle, and regulatory compliance. The accelerator will support USDC on Ethereum, Base, and Solana blockchains. While crypto-native VCs have used stablecoins before, YC’s standardized integration into its process for all startups—not just crypto projects—represents a major step for mainstream venture capital. This shift reflects broader trends: 90% of financial institutions are integrating stablecoins, which saw $46 trillion in transaction volume in 2025. YC continues to seek founders in areas like stablecoin applications, tokenization, and on-chain ventures through its Fintech 3.0 initiative.

marsbit02/05 06:33

14 Years After Incubating Coinbase, YC Finally Decides to Issue Investment Funds in USDC

marsbit02/05 06:33

From Quiet Exit to Relaunch: Traditional Options Exchange Cboe Competes with Prediction Markets for Entry

Cboe Global Markets is considering reintroducing "all-or-nothing" binary options to attract retail investors, as prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket surge in popularity. These contracts offer fixed payouts if specific conditions are met, such as an index reaching a certain level, otherwise expiring worthless. Cboe had previously launched similar products tied to the S&P 500 and VIX in 2008 but failed due to low liquidity and limited retail participation at the time. The current move is driven by the explosive growth in event-based trading and retail derivative activity, fueled by mobile apps and social media. Unlike the earlier institutional-focused offering, the new binary options are explicitly targeted at散户, with simpler, event-driven contracts designed to compete directly with prediction markets. Cboe emphasizes strict regulatory oversight by the SEC or CFTC and clearing via the OCC to distinguish its products from unregulated platforms. This relaunch represents a strategic effort by traditional exchanges to reclaim retail interest in outcome-based trading, leveraging today’s mature distribution channels and heightened investor appetite for straightforward, short-term derivatives. Success hinges on delivering an intuitive, low-friction experience that can effectively rival prediction markets while operating within a clear regulatory framework.

marsbit02/05 06:27

From Quiet Exit to Relaunch: Traditional Options Exchange Cboe Competes with Prediction Markets for Entry

marsbit02/05 06:27

Tom Lee Says BitMine’s Ethereum Losses Are ‘A Feature, Not A Bug’

Tom Lee, chairman of BitMine, has responded to criticism regarding the company's significant unrealized losses, stating they are "a feature, not a bug." Following a major market downturn where Ethereum's price dropped nearly 25%, BitMine, the largest corporate holder of ETH, saw its holdings of 4.285 million ETH fall into substantial loss. Lee argued that these losses are expected during market downturns and are part of the firm's design to track and outperform Ethereum's price over a full market cycle. He compared the strategy to index ETFs, which also experience periods of unrealized losses. Amid the decline, BitMine has staked approximately 67% of its ETH holdings to generate passive income. Ethereum's price recently rebounded to $2,250 after a sharp drop.

bitcoinist02/05 05:07

Tom Lee Says BitMine’s Ethereum Losses Are ‘A Feature, Not A Bug’

bitcoinist02/05 05:07

Crypto Downturn Slams Galaxy Digital With $241 Million Annual Loss

Galaxy Digital reported a significant annual loss of $241 million, driven by a sharp downturn in crypto markets. The fourth quarter alone saw a net loss of $482 million due to declining digital asset valuations and reduced trading volumes. These results fell well below Wall Street expectations. The company also incurred one-time charges related to mining infrastructure and reorganization. Despite the losses, Galaxy strengthened its liquidity, ending the year with $2.6 billion in cash and stablecoins. It is expanding into data centers and cloud partnerships to create more stable revenue streams. Market reaction was negative, with shares declining as analysts remain divided on the company’s near-term prospects.

bitcoinist02/05 04:02

Crypto Downturn Slams Galaxy Digital With $241 Million Annual Loss

bitcoinist02/05 04:02

The Man Who Best Promoted SOL Exits the Crypto World

Kyle Samani, co-founder and managing partner of Multicoin Capital, has stepped down from his daily operational and management roles at the crypto-focused venture firm and transitioned to an advisory position. Known as one of the most vocal proponents of Solana, Samani was instrumental in Multicoin’s early and heavy investments in the blockchain, famously declaring “Solana is always the answer” and publicly criticizing Bitcoin and Ethereum. Under his leadership, Multicoin achieved extraordinary returns from Solana, though the fund also faced significant losses during market downturns. Despite his exit from Multicoin, Samani remains committed to the crypto space, particularly Solana, and will continue personal investments in the ecosystem. He will retain his role as chairman of Forward Industries, a digital asset treasury company heavily invested in SOL. Samani plans to redeem his Multicoin stake not in cash but in shares and warrants of Forward Industries to increase his exposure. His departure is driven by a growing interest in emerging technologies such as AI, longevity science, and robotics. Samani has indicated he will take time to explore these areas but remains a firm believer in crypto’s potential to reshape global finance.

marsbit02/05 03:10

The Man Who Best Promoted SOL Exits the Crypto World

marsbit02/05 03:10

AI Is Paying Humans to Do That

A new platform called RentAHuman.ai has been launched, positioning itself as a "physical layer interface" for AI agents. It allows AI to hire humans to perform real-world tasks that require physical presence, such as picking up packages or trying new restaurants. The platform connects AI agents with over 59,000 registered humans who offer their skills, location, and expected hourly wage, with payments made in stablecoins via MCP or REST API. In a notable early example, the platform’s founder was hired by an AI agent to promote Crustafarianism—a religion created by AI—on the streets of San Francisco. This highlights how AI is not only generating concepts but also attempting to propagate its own culture in the physical world. Furthermore, AI-driven platforms like Clawnch have integrated RentAHuman’s functionality, enabling AI to recruit humans at scale. Clawnch is even advertising for a human CEO to handle external communication, compliance, and partnerships, with a salary of up to $3 million, while the AI retains control over product and code decisions. This development suggests a shift toward a human-AI hybrid economy, where AI leverages human physical capabilities through crypto payments and open protocols, potentially redefining traditional roles between humans and artificial intelligence.

Odaily星球日报02/05 03:05

AI Is Paying Humans to Do That

Odaily星球日报02/05 03:05

Is CME Also Issuing a Coin? Decoding the Triple Strategy Behind CME's Digital Hunt

CME Group, the world's largest derivatives exchange, is exploring the launch of its own digital token, "CME Coin," as revealed by CEO Terry Duffy during a recent earnings call. Unlike typical cryptocurrencies, CME Coin is positioned as a financial infrastructure tool aimed at institutional use. It is designed to function on a decentralized network and is separate from CME’s existing tokenized cash initiative with Google Cloud. The move aligns with CME’s broader digital strategy, addressing key challenges such as weekend liquidity shortages in crypto futures trading and reclaiming interest revenue currently captured by stablecoin issuers like Tether and Circle. By offering a trusted, compliant alternative backed by its status as a systemically important financial market utility (SIFMU), CME aims to create a high-standard, institutional-grade digital asset ecosystem. CME Coin is expected to serve as a settlement instrument and tokenized collateral, enabling real-time, 24/7 transactions and improving capital efficiency. This initiative mirrors efforts by other traditional finance giants like JPMorgan, which recently launched its JPM Coin on Coinbase’s Base blockchain. Rather than embracing decentralization, CME’s approach reinforces its central role in the financial system, potentially reshaping market dynamics and marginalizing existing private stablecoins and smaller bank-issued tokens.

marsbit02/05 02:44

Is CME Also Issuing a Coin? Decoding the Triple Strategy Behind CME's Digital Hunt

marsbit02/05 02:44

Crypto Morning Report: US ADP Data Falls Short of Expectations, Binance SAFU Fund Buys Another $100 Million in Bitcoin

U.S. ADP employment data fell short of expectations, reporting 22,000 jobs vs. 48,000 expected. Binance's SAFU fund purchased an additional $100 million worth of Bitcoin. In regulatory news, U.S. Senate Democrats are discussing crypto market structure, while the SEC charged three crypto market makers—ZM Quant, Gotbit, and CLS Global—with market manipulation. CME Group is exploring the launch of its own cryptocurrency, "CME Coin." On the investment front, TRM Labs raised $70 million, while Tether lowered its fundraising target to $5 billion amid investor skepticism. Solana co-founder updated his profile picture, sparking speculation about Backpack's upcoming TGE. Yi Lihua’s Trend Research transferred significant amounts to Binance, likely for loan repayments. Prediction markets Opinion and BLUFF secured $20 million and $21 million in funding, respectively.

marsbit02/05 01:35

Crypto Morning Report: US ADP Data Falls Short of Expectations, Binance SAFU Fund Buys Another $100 Million in Bitcoin

marsbit02/05 01:35

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