Industry News

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.

RootData: February 2026 Cryptocurrency Exchange Transparency Research Report

RootData's February 2026 Cryptocurrency Exchange Transparency Research Report highlights key industry trends and a top 10 exchange ranking: Binance, OKX, Coinbase, Kraken, Gate, Upbit, Kucoin, Crypto.com, HTX, and Bitget. The ranking is based on metrics like trading volume, reserves, listing performance, compliance, and transparency. In February, the overall spot trading volume fell 4.7% to $895.2 billion, attributed to weak market conditions, a lack of directional price movement, and the Chinese New Year holiday reducing activity. New token listings hit a low, with only 10-15 new tokens launched. A significant majority (82%) of newly listed tokens had a transparency score above 60%, indicating a strong preference for transparent projects. A notable trend was increased M&A activity in the Asia-Pacific region, with traditional finance giants acquiring exchanges like Korbit, Coinhako, and Independent Reserve. Key exchange performances varied: - **Binance** remained #1 but saw a 19.7% drop in volume, potentially due to negative press from a previous incident. - **OKX** rose to #2 with a 4.3% volume increase, maintaining a conservative listing strategy. - **Coinbase** saw a 2.3% volume rise and pursued an active, transparency-focused listing strategy. - **Gate's** volume fell 11.7% but it secured a key EU payment institution license. Other notable developments included Kraken launching tokenized stock perpetuals, Gemini exiting Europe and undergoing executive departures, and Crypto.com receiving conditional approval for a U.S. national bank charter.

marsbit03/17 10:35

RootData: February 2026 Cryptocurrency Exchange Transparency Research Report

marsbit03/17 10:35

Coin Stock Barometer丨Strategy Invests $1.57 Billion to Increase Holdings by 22,337 BTC; Bitmine, ARK Invest, and Others to Invest $125 Million in Eightco Holdings (March 17)

Crypto stocks demonstrated strong performance amid geopolitical tensions, with companies like Circle (CRCL) and Bitmine posting significant gains. MicroStrategy invested $1.57 billion to acquire 22,337 Bitcoin, bringing its total holdings to 761,068 BTC. Wall Street firms remain bullish on U.S. equities despite Middle East conflicts, with Bitcoin outperforming gold and global stocks as institutional adoption grows. Bitcoin ETF inflows totaled $2.1 billion over three weeks, capturing 6.1% of supply. Metaplanet plans to raise $234 million for Bitcoin purchases via warrants, while Ethereum Foundation sold 5,000 ETH to Bitmine for $10.2 million to fund ecosystem development. Eightco Holdings secured $125 million in funding led by Bitmine ($75M) and ARK Invest ($25M) to expand into AI and blockchain infrastructure. Other notable moves include Zeta Network’s $10 million convertible note for Bitcoin acquisition and Cypherpunk’s $5 million investment in Zcash development.

marsbit03/17 10:18

Coin Stock Barometer丨Strategy Invests $1.57 Billion to Increase Holdings by 22,337 BTC; Bitmine, ARK Invest, and Others to Invest $125 Million in Eightco Holdings (March 17)

marsbit03/17 10:18

Huang Reinforces Nvidia’s Role, Pushing AI Cryptocurrencies upwards

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's keynote at CES 2026 emphasized the company's pivotal role in the expanding artificial intelligence industry, projecting a $1 trillion chip demand through 2027. This announcement boosted Nvidia's stock by 1.63% and positively influenced AI-related cryptocurrencies. Tokens such as FOMO, LISA, and AIN saw significant gains, rising over 30%, while major AI cryptocurrencies like TAO and NEAR also advanced. The broader crypto market rally, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, further supported the upward trend. Additionally, Nvidia's collaboration with Samsung on the Groq LP30 chip, expected to ship in late 2026, was highlighted.

TheNewsCrypto03/17 09:37

Huang Reinforces Nvidia’s Role, Pushing AI Cryptocurrencies upwards

TheNewsCrypto03/17 09:37

RWA Weekly Report｜Total Market Cap Hits New High; US Stablecoin Legislation Nears Consensus, Yield Issue Remains Key Breakthrough (3.11-3.17)

RWA Weekly Report: Market Cap Hits New High; US Stablecoin Legislation Nears Consensus (Mar 11–17) The RWA market continues to grow, with the on-chain total value of real-world assets reaching $27.05 billion, a weekly increase of 2.35%. Representative assets also rose to $346.79 billion. The number of asset holders increased to 675,000. U.S. Treasury tokenizations grew to $11.2 billion, while commodity assets remained stable at ~$5.7 billion. Credit assets like asset-backed credit ($3.1B) and specialized finance ($2.1B) saw growth, indicating a slight rise in risk appetite. Key developments include the SEC considering an "innovation exemption" to facilitate tokenized securities trading. U.S. stablecoin legislation is nearing consensus, though debates continue over yield provisions. The European Central Bank unveiled a strategy for a tokenized wholesale financial ecosystem to enhance EU financial autonomy. Notable updates: USDC's circulation surpassed $80 billion for the first time. Ondo Finance launched tokenized stocks as collateral in DeFi via Chainlink oracles. MSX introduced a Pre-IPO investment section. DWF Labs noted a shift in institutional capital towards BTC, ETH, and RWA, reducing traditional "altseason" dynamics. ShapeShift's founder accumulated ~$23.76M in tokenized gold. Overall, the RWA market is expanding with clearer regulatory momentum and institutional adoption.

Odaily星球日报03/17 09:32

RWA Weekly Report｜Total Market Cap Hits New High; US Stablecoin Legislation Nears Consensus, Yield Issue Remains Key Breakthrough (3.11-3.17)

Odaily星球日报03/17 09:32

Matrixdock Launches Silver Token XAGm, Building On-Chain Silver Reserve Asset Based on FRS Standard

Matrixdock, a leading RWA platform, has launched XAGm, an institutional-grade silver token backed by fully allocated physical silver. The token is supported by LBMA Good Delivery standard silver bars, enabling this widely traded precious metal to enter the on-chain financial ecosystem. XAGm expands Matrixdock’s on-chain precious metals system, supporting use cases such as trading, collateralization, and DeFi applications. Unlike gold, which primarily serves as a store of value, silver possesses both investment and industrial demand, introducing stronger cyclical dynamics and diversified utility in on-chain markets. XAGm is one of the few institutional-grade tokenized silver products, with verifiable asset backing held in professional vaults. The token is issued under Matrixdock’s FRS (Fungible Reserve Standard) framework, which ensures transparent and sustainable alignment between on-chain tokens and underlying physical assets. Initially deployed on Ethereum, XAGm is set to expand to other blockchain ecosystems to improve accessibility and liquidity. This launch further develops Matrixdock’s Reserve Layer, combining gold and silver to create a more resilient and diversified on-chain asset base for the decentralized financial system.

marsbit03/17 09:09

Matrixdock Launches Silver Token XAGm, Building On-Chain Silver Reserve Asset Based on FRS Standard

marsbit03/17 09:09

Lowest Fee + Strongest Endorsement: BlackRock's Ethereum Staking ETF's 'Dimensional Reduction Strike'

BlackRock launched the iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHB) on Nasdaq on March 12, 2026, its third crypto ETF. ETHB provides investors with Ethereum price exposure and staking rewards, differentiating it from non-staking ETH ETFs. It gathered $15.5 million in volume on its first day and $76 million on the second, with assets under management growing from $1 billion to approximately $1.7 billion. While not the first U.S. Ethereum staking ETF, ETHB is the most significant due to BlackRock’s scale and influence. It operates under the 1933 Securities Act, following a full regulatory approval process, unlike earlier products like REX-Osprey’s ESK (using a 1940 Act workaround) and Grayscale’s ETHE (an upgraded existing trust). ETHB’s management fee is 0.25% (0.12% promotional rate), lower than ETHE’s 2.50%, making it more attractive to institutional investors. The ETF stakes 70–95% of its ETH holdings via Coinbase, which shares 18% of staking rewards with sponsors and service providers. After fees, investors net an estimated 1.35%–2.05% annual yield from staking, based on current network rewards of 2.78%. ETHB offers a compliant, simplified way for traditional investors to gain staking-derived returns without direct blockchain involvement.

marsbit03/17 07:31

Lowest Fee + Strongest Endorsement: BlackRock's Ethereum Staking ETF's 'Dimensional Reduction Strike'

marsbit03/17 07:31

Ethereum Foundation Moves $10M ETH After First-Ever Staking — More Coming?

Ethereum has reclaimed the $2,250 level amid a short-term bullish market recovery. The Ethereum Foundation has drawn significant on-chain attention after staking ETH for the first time about three weeks ago, marking a strategic shift from its historical approach of holding or selling assets. This move signals potential confidence in Ethereum’s long-term network economics. Recently, the Foundation transferred $10M worth of ETH to a new wallet, sparking speculation that it may be preparing additional staking operations. If staked, these funds would generate yield and contribute to network security, reinforcing the Foundation’s evolving role in Ethereum’s proof-of-stake ecosystem.

bitcoinist03/17 06:01

Ethereum Foundation Moves $10M ETH After First-Ever Staking — More Coming?

bitcoinist03/17 06:01

FMAC IPO Approved by SEC: Raises $100 Million, Targets AI and Web3 Leaders

Future Money Acquisition Corp (FMAC) has received approval from the U.S. SEC for its IPO, marking a significant milestone. The company plans to raise $100 million by offering 10 million units at $10.00 each and will list on Nasdaq under the ticker "FMAC." FMAC is a SPAC focused on acquiring leading companies in high-growth sectors including artificial intelligence (AI), Web3, and advanced manufacturing. The firm aims to identify globally oriented industry leaders with strong potential for growth and strategic acquisitions. Although the management has strong Asian investment experience, FMAC's acquisition strategy is global and not limited to mainland China. The leadership team includes Siyu Li as Chairman and CEO, founder of FutureMoney Group and advisor to Nasdaq-listed BTC Digital, and Steven Markscheid as CFO and Director, an experienced financial expert with a background in SPACs and cross-border mergers. With SEC approval secured, FMAC moves into its public offering phase, positioning itself as a bridge between traditional capital markets and the digital economy.

marsbit03/17 04:37

FMAC IPO Approved by SEC: Raises $100 Million, Targets AI and Web3 Leaders

marsbit03/17 04:37

XRP Ledger Is A ‘Ghost Chain,’ Chainlink Community Liaison Claims

Chainlink Community Liaison Zach Rynes sparked a debate by labeling the XRP Ledger a "ghost chain," arguing its core investment thesis has failed. He contends that XRP's proposed role as a global bridge currency has been overtaken by stablecoins and modern interoperability infrastructure, which institutions now prefer. Rynes criticized XRPL's low adoption in tokenized assets and stablecoins, stating USD stablecoins have become the dominant bridge asset. He also accused Ripple of socializing costs to XRP holders while privatizing gains for shareholders. XRP advocates, like lawyer Bill Morgan, countered that Ripple and XRPL are separate entities and defended Ripple's business structure. XRP price was $1.4757 at the time of reporting.

bitcoinist03/17 02:45

XRP Ledger Is A ‘Ghost Chain,’ Chainlink Community Liaison Claims

bitcoinist03/17 02:45

Hyperliquid "Invades" Wall Street: A Playground for On-Chain Whales, Facing Compliance Pressure Head-On

Hyperliquid, a leading decentralized exchange (Perp DEX) for perpetual futures, is gaining significant traction by expanding into traditional asset trading through its HIP-3 market, which includes commodities like WTI crude oil and stock indices. With a monthly trading volume of $173.4 billion and over 4.11 trillion in total volume—81% of which comes from the top 100 addresses—it has become a hub for institutional and professional traders rather than retail users. Recent geopolitical tensions, such as the U.S.-Iran conflict, have accelerated adoption, as Hyperliquid offers 24/7 price discovery even when traditional markets are closed. This growth occurs amid a broader shift of liquidity from centralized exchanges (CEX) to DEXs, with Perp DEX volumes surging 346% in 2025. However, Hyperliquid faces mounting regulatory challenges. The CFTC is expected to introduce policies for crypto perpetual futures in the U.S. within a month, which may force platforms like Hyperliquid to adopt stricter compliance measures, including KYC—potentially undermining their permissionless appeal. To navigate these issues, Hyperliquid established a policy center in Washington D.C., led by crypto lawyer Jake Chervinsky, aiming to shape DeFi regulation and ensure long-term legitimacy. The platform’s founders emphasize building a sustainable, financially neutral infrastructure, recognizing that compliance is essential for broader adoption in traditional finance.

marsbit03/17 01:15

Hyperliquid "Invades" Wall Street: A Playground for On-Chain Whales, Facing Compliance Pressure Head-On