Analytics firm TRM Labs reached a $1 billion valuation following the close of a $70 million Series C funding round led by Blockchain Capital. The round was backed by a mix of returning and new strategic investors, including Goldman Sachs, Bessemer Venture Partners, Brevan Howard Digital, Thoma Bravo, Citi Ventures, Galaxy Ventures, and DRW Venture Capital. Blockchain Capital, which also led TRM’s pre-seed round in 2018, returned as the lead investor. The San Francisco-based firm provides blockchain inte ...

Core Insights - Opinion, a blockchain-based prediction-market platform, raised $20 million in a pre-Series A funding round, indicating that certain segments of the crypto economy can still secure significant investment despite a downturn in broader markets [1] Company Overview - Opinion operates similarly to Polymarket, with markets settled on-chain, distinguishing itself from centralized exchanges like Kalshi [2] - The company accounts for approximately one-third of global prediction-market volume and has over $130 million in open interest, as reported by Dune Analytics [3] Industry Trends - The prediction-market industry is experiencing structural growth, with U.S. bank Citizens noting that these markets are evolving into a new asset class, achieving monthly trading volumes around $10 billion as they expand beyond sports into macroeconomic and policy outcomes [4] - The fundraising success of Opinion suggests that blockchain-native infrastructure addressing real demand, such as event trading, continues to attract investor capital even during a subdued crypto cycle [4] Strategic Focus - Opinion's strategy emphasizes diversification, engaging in trading across various sectors including macroeconomic events, pre-token generation events, culture, and crypto, rather than focusing solely on sports and politics [5] - The funding will be utilized to enhance the company's regional presence and facilitate global expansion in anticipation of the 2026 World Cup and upcoming elections [5]

Core Viewpoint - BLAQclouds, Inc. remains committed to transparency regarding its capital structure and liquidity, confirming it is debt-free and has not issued any new shares or debt as of February 4, 2026 [4][3]. Capital Structure - The authorized common shares of BLAQclouds, Inc. remain at 1,000,000,000, with 915,812,392 common shares issued and outstanding as of February 4, 2026 [2][4]. Debt Status - The company is 100% debt-free and has not issued any debt of any kind [3][4]. Trading Volume - Recent trading volume highlights include: - February 3, 2026: 76.85 million shares - January 28, 2026: 29.66 million shares - January 29, 2026: 26.93 million shares [5]. Product Launch - BLAQclouds, Inc. is launching "Enrollapalooza," a referral competition for ApolloCASH users starting February 4, 2026, where participants can earn referral fees [7][8]. Competition Details - The competition runs from February 4, 2026, to February 13, 2026, with a prize match of up to $1,000 for the first participant to reach $1,000 in referral fees [13][8]. Company Overview - BLAQclouds, Inc. focuses on bridging traditional finance with decentralized ecosystems, aiming to simplify commerce and payments through blockchain applications [10].

Core Viewpoint - BBVA has joined a consortium of 11 European banks to create Qivalis, a joint venture aimed at issuing a euro-linked stablecoin to facilitate faster and lower-cost payments and digital asset settlements within a regulated framework [1][2]. Group 1: Joint Venture and Regulatory Framework - Qivalis is established as an Amsterdam-based company and will operate under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets framework (MiCA), ensuring compliance with solvency, governance, and customer protection requirements [2]. - The venture is currently awaiting authorization from the Dutch central bank to function as an electronic money institution [4]. Group 2: Collaboration and Innovation - BBVA emphasizes the importance of collaboration among banks to create common standards that foster financial innovation and enhance the future banking model [3]. - The addition of BBVA to the consortium is seen as a significant advancement, bringing the total number of participating banks to twelve, all committed to developing a secure euro stablecoin framework [3]. Group 3: Use Cases and Benefits - A potential use case highlighted by the consortium involves enabling self-employed professionals to make quicker and cheaper payments to overseas suppliers through a euro-linked method integrated into their existing banking services [5]. - The shared stablecoin aims to provide new payment options and facilitate the settlement of tokenized financial assets on blockchain technology [4]. Group 4: BBVA's Commitment to Digital Assets - BBVA's involvement in Qivalis is part of its ongoing efforts to explore digital assets, building on previous initiatives such as a collaboration with SWIFT on a blockchain-based shared registry and participation in the Agorá initiative for improving cross-border payments [6].

Group 1 - Standard Chartered encourages investors to focus on "quality" blockchain projects amid near-term volatility in digital assets [1] - The bank's Head of FX and Digital Assets Research, Geoff Kendrick, is actively accumulating digital assets during the downturn, viewing it as a defining moment for long-term positioning [2] - Kendrick identifies Ethereum and Solana as top layer-1 exposures, emphasizing that quality projects will prevail in the market [3] Group 2 - Standard Chartered has lowered its end-2026 price forecast for Solana (SOL) to $250 from $310, citing the time needed for the network's next major use case to mature [4] - Despite the price cut, the bank has raised its longer-term projections for Solana, asserting that its structural advantages remain intact [4] - The bank believes Solana's architecture positions it to dominate micropayments, especially as AI-driven applications and stablecoin transactions gain traction [6] Group 3 - If the thesis regarding Solana's dominance in micropayments holds, the bank expects SOL to outperform Bitcoin between 2027 and 2030, while gradually catching up to Ethereum [7] - There is a notable shift in Solana's decentralized exchanges, with trading flows moving from meme coins to SOL-stablecoin pairs [7] - Standard Chartered notes that these stablecoins are turning over two to three times faster than their Ethereum counterparts [8]

Core Viewpoint - Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency, has a market capitalization of $1.6 trillion, representing over half of the total cryptocurrency market valued at approximately $2.7 trillion [1] Group 1: Market Performance - Bitcoin reached a record high of over $126,000 last October but has since declined by roughly 40% as investors reduce exposure to speculative assets amid economic and political instability [1][2] - The cryptocurrency has experienced two significant crashes of at least 70% in the past decade but has recovered to set new record highs on both occasions [2] Group 2: Investment Perspective - Bitcoin is characterized as a unique, decentralized asset with a capped supply of 21 million coins, which creates a perception of scarcity [3] - Despite its potential to transform the financial system or serve as a store of value, Bitcoin struggles with its identity, with mixed opinions among investors regarding its future [4] Group 3: Historical Returns - Over the past decade, Bitcoin has delivered an extraordinary return of 20,810%, outperforming real estate, the stock market, and gold [5] Group 4: Adoption and Future Outlook - The case for owning Bitcoin may be narrowing, as there is little evidence to support its adoption as a global currency, with only 6,714 businesses accepting it as payment compared to 359 million registered businesses worldwide [6] - Even prominent Bitcoin advocates, such as Cathie Wood, have expressed doubts about its future, reducing long-term price targets due to competition from stablecoins, which offer lower volatility [7]

Core Insights - The regulatory environment for cryptocurrency prediction markets is becoming increasingly contentious, with Nevada regulators ordering Coinbase to cease its operations in the state, classifying its event contracts as unlicensed gambling under state law [1][2] Regulatory Actions - Nevada's Gaming Control Board has taken a firm stance against Coinbase, despite the company's federal strategy and partnership with CFTC-regulated Kalshi, indicating that state regulators prioritize the nature of the activity over the underlying technology [1][2] - This action is part of a broader trend, as Nevada has previously moved to shut down access to other platforms like Polymarket, highlighting the aggressive enforcement of licensing rules in the gambling hub [3][6] Market Dynamics - The prediction market sector has seen significant growth, with total monthly trading volume increasing from under $100 million in early 2024 to over $13 billion by the end of 2025, indicating a shift from a niche market to a financial powerhouse [4][8] - Kalshi has emerged as a strong competitor, processing $9.16 billion in monthly volume in January 2026, surpassing Polymarket's $7.66 billion, and achieving a remarkable 1,100% year-over-year growth in 2025 [8] Legal Challenges - Coinbase's Chief Legal Officer has characterized the Nevada suit as a "state power grab," asserting that the CFTC has exclusive jurisdiction over these contracts, and the company is currently engaged in legal battles in multiple states to establish federal preemption [7]

We came across a bullish thesis on Figure Technology Solutions, Inc. on Valueinvestorsclub.com by raf698. In this article, we will summarize the bulls’ thesis on FIGR. Figure Technology Solutions, Inc.'s share was trading at $52.31 as of February 2nd. FIGR’s trailing P/E was 228.86 according to Yahoo Finance. Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com Figure Technology Solutions, Inc., a financial technology company, provides blockchain-based products and solutions in the United States. FIGR represents a highly inno ...

New York — WisdomTree’s crypto business is no longer an experiment but core to the firm’s strategy and on the verge of turning profitable, CEO Jonathan Steinberg said in a fireside chat at the Ondo Summit in New York on Tuesday. “We want to continue to scale,” Steinberg said. “Last year, we went from like $30 million in assets to about $750 million in assets," adding that he firm doesn't currently make money on its digital asset efforts but is "in line of sight of taking this to a profitable business.” ...

西班牙红十字会已推出一个基于区块链的援助分发系统 RedChain。该系统旨在为捐赠者提供可验证的 资金流向透明性，同时保护受助者的身份隐私。RedChain 由西班牙红十字会与基础设施提供商 BLOOCK 及零知识凭证公司 Billions Network 合作开发，用基于以太坊发行的 ERC-20 援助信用额度取 代纸质代金券和预付卡。受助者通过手机钱包接收信用额度，并可在合作商户使用二维码进行支付。 （Cointelegraph） （来源：吴说） ...