The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), part of Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), has unveiled plans to develop a platform for trading and on-chain settlement of tokenized securities, marking a step toward digitizing core market infrastructure. The exchange said it will seek regulatory approvals before launching the platform, which is designed to support tokenized trading alongside traditional securities markets. A Platform Built for 24/7 Tokenized Trading NYSE’s proposed digital platform is designed to all ...

Core Insights - DeepMarkit Corp. has appointed Kevin Gopaul as a strategic advisor to enhance the development and positioning of its prediction markets platform [1][4] Group 1: Appointment and Experience - Kevin Gopaul brings nearly 30 years of experience in the financial services industry, including significant roles in capital markets and asset management [2] - He previously served as President and Chief Commercial Officer of BMO ETFs, contributing to the growth of one of Canada's leading ETF platforms [2][3] - Gopaul's recent role was as Chief Investment Officer and President of REX Financial Canada, where he was involved in investment product development and market strategy [3] Group 2: Strategic Focus - Gopaul's advisory role will concentrate on capital markets considerations and the broader positioning of DeepMarkit's prediction market platform [4] - The CEO of DeepMarkit emphasized Gopaul's experience in navigating market structures and investor expectations as valuable for the company's long-term strategy [4] Group 3: Company Overview - DeepMarkit Corp. is focused on building and acquiring platforms that facilitate next-generation digital experiences in prediction markets, blockchain, AI, and tokenization [5] - The company aims to target emerging ecosystems where innovative technologies can enhance user engagement and create long-term value [5] Group 4: Related Platform - Prospect Prediction Markets Inc. is a sports prediction market platform utilizing the Avalanche blockchain, aiming to transform passive sports viewership into active participation [6]

Core Viewpoint - Digital assets are transitioning from niche experiments to a structural financial layer, with 2026 anticipated as a pivotal year for broader market recognition [1] Group 1: Industry Transformation - The financial industry has been quietly retooling its infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and institutional workflows in preparation for a breakout year in 2026 [2] - Major banks and brokerages have made significant announcements in 2025, indicating a commitment to developing digital asset capabilities [3] - The cultural shift in 2025 marked the first year where market participants ceased to declare bitcoin "dead," reflecting a broader acceptance of digital assets [3] Group 2: Integration with Capital Markets - Digital assets are moving closer to integration with capital markets through exchange-traded products (ETPs), derivatives, tokenization, and evolving legal frameworks [4] - Tokenization involves converting real-world assets into blockchain-based tokens, enhancing accessibility for a broader investor base [4] Group 3: Institutional Demand - Institutions are expected to drive the evolution of digital assets, expanding synthetic exposure and participation in digital asset returns through derivatives and structured products [5] - Despite the growth of synthetic exposure, bitcoin will maintain its traditional appeal as a reserve asset [5]

Investment Strategy - A recommended investment strategy for $10,000 in crypto for 2026 includes splitting the amount between bitcoin (BTC), ether (ETH), and solana (SOL) [1] - Bitcoin is expected to reach $180,000 in the current cycle due to demand growth and global monetary shifts [3] Market Trends - Stablecoins are becoming integral to global payments, with transaction volumes projected to reach $33 trillion in 2025, up from $19.7 trillion in 2024 [2] - There is a significant global push towards AI infrastructure, which is expected to lead to currency debasement across fiat currencies, positively impacting bitcoin [4] Industry Insights - The crypto ecosystem is evolving with a focus on real use cases rather than speculation, particularly in stablecoin and payment sectors [5] - There is skepticism regarding the long-term value proposition of many crypto treasury companies, with a belief that they lack innovation [4][5] Future Outlook - The crypto market in 2026 is seen as still early but rapidly maturing, driven by practical applications [5] - The convergence of blockchain and AI, along with tokenization and on-chain prediction markets, presents promising growth opportunities [4]

Core Insights - Stablecoins emerged as a significant product in the crypto space in 2025, with the industry now focusing on tokenizing various assets for broader market integration in 2026 [1] - The tokenized asset market experienced substantial growth, nearly quadrupling to almost $20 billion by the end of 2025, indicating a shift from niche experimentation to mainstream adoption [2] - Legal clarity, interoperability, and shared identity frameworks are essential for the successful scaling of tokenized markets, preventing fragmentation [3] Market Projections - Tokenized assets are projected to exceed $400 billion by the end of 2026, a significant increase from $36 billion today, driven by user demand and capital flows [4] - The transition towards tokenization is characterized by a fundamental restructuring of value transfer, moving beyond speculation [4] Investment Dynamics - As cash becomes tokenized through stablecoins, there is an expectation for these funds to seek investment opportunities, bridging digital money with digital capital markets [5] - The foundational work required for scaling tokenized markets includes establishing legal clarity and interoperability between different blockchain networks [5] Institutional Adoption - 2026 is anticipated to mark a shift from pilot projects to actual implementation of tokenization by traditional financial institutions, as indicated by industry leaders [6] - Tokenization is becoming a mainstream tool for capital raising, with significant efficiency gains and broader access that cannot be overlooked [7] - Emerging markets are expected to lead in tokenization, allowing local issuers to bypass outdated infrastructure and provide global investors with access to new capital markets at reduced costs [7]

Group 1 - The best cryptocurrencies to own in 2026 are those that will benefit from real-world blockchain adoption, particularly in stablecoins and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization [1] - Solana is highlighted for its processing capabilities, being one of the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market cap, with potential for exponential growth if tokenization takes off [1][3] - Solana has averaged around 1,000 transactions per second (TPS) over the past three months, with a test run reaching 100,000 TPS, indicating strong speed advantages [3] Group 2 - The Alpenglow upgrade for Solana, focused on efficiency and resilience, is crucial for its plans to partner with financial institutions on tokenization and payments [4] - The market for U.S.-backed stablecoins could reach $2 trillion, while real-world asset tokenization could reach an additional $2 trillion or more by 2030, according to estimates [6] - Solana has captured around 4.5% of both the stablecoin and RWA market, which could significantly increase its value on-chain if the market reaches $4 trillion [8]

Core Insights - Grant Cardone is expanding a strategy that links Bitcoin with income-generating real estate amid political and regulatory uncertainty in the U.S. housing market [1] Group 1: Strategy Overview - The strategy involves combining large apartment complexes with Bitcoin holdings, tokenizing ownership, and planning to take the structure public as a single tradable vehicle [2] - This approach balances risk and return by linking multifamily housing, which provides steady cash flow, with Bitcoin, which offers liquidity but comes with price volatility [3] Group 2: Implementation and Scale - Cardone's firm is executing this model at scale, having acquired a $366 million multifamily project from Blackstone, which can be tokenized into hundreds of millions of units, allowing participation from investors with as little as one dollar [5] - The tokenization process removes geographic and capital barriers, enabling broader access to large real estate deals for investors outside the U.S. or those without significant capital [6] Group 3: Financial Performance and Goals - Cardone Capital manages over 14,000 apartment units across the U.S. and approximately $5.1 billion in assets, with a strategy of steadily adding Bitcoin to its balance sheet [6] - The firm disclosed the purchase of 1,000 BTC worth over $100 million in June 2025 and added another 130 BTC in August as part of a refinancing deal, targeting up to 4,000 BTC to become one of the largest non-mining corporate holders [7] Group 4: Market Positioning - Cardone's model is positioned as distinct from pure Bitcoin treasury companies, emphasizing that housing generates recurring cash flow regardless of market cycles [8]

Core Insights - Visa has announced support for Chinese Visa cardholders to use Apple Pay for payments at overseas merchants, enhancing mobile payment options for consumers [1][2] - The collaboration aims to provide a secure and seamless payment experience, with Visa increasing investments in data and payment security [2] - The initial group of participating banks includes major institutions such as Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and Bank of China, with plans to expand to more banks in the future [2][10] Group 1: Payment Features - Apple Pay allows users to make contactless payments by authenticating with Face ID, Touch ID, or a device passcode, ensuring transaction security [3] - Consumers can use Apple Pay for faster payments in overseas mobile apps and online without repeatedly entering personal information [4] - The system uses tokenization technology to enhance security, ensuring that actual card numbers are not stored on devices or servers [5] Group 2: User Experience and Benefits - Setting up Apple Pay is straightforward, allowing users to add Visa cards easily through the Wallet app [6] - Cardholders retain the same rewards and benefits as with physical cards, along with exclusive offers such as first-time binding bonuses [7] - Visa promotes its "V Select" WeChat Mini Program for users to access more information on benefits [7]

Core Insights - BlackRock Inc. is making a significant strategic investment in private markets, aiming to raise $400 billion in gross private-market assets by 2030, focusing on retirement accounts, insurance portfolios, and digital finance [1][2] Group 1: Private Market Strategy - The company reported $40 billion in net inflows for private markets in the last year, primarily driven by private credit and infrastructure investments [2] - BlackRock plans to integrate private-market investments into mainstream retirement accounts, with the launch of a LifePath target date fund that includes private markets expected later this year [3] - Technology and data play a crucial role in this strategy, highlighted by the $3.5 billion acquisition of Preqin, a private markets data company [3] Group 2: Indexing and Tokenization - BlackRock is working on creating investable indices for private markets, aiming to launch these in the coming years [4] - The company is exploring the role of tokenization in private markets, allowing investors to hold tokenized money-market funds alongside other assets, which could enhance the liquidity and distribution of illiquid assets [4] Group 3: Financial Performance - BlackRock's shares increased by 5.93% following the announcement of fourth-quarter results, with revenue reaching $7.01 billion, a 23% increase year-over-year, surpassing expectations [5] - The total assets under management rose to $14 trillion, up from $11 trillion the previous year, with $698 billion in net inflows for the full year [6]

Core Insights - BitMine, the largest Ethereum treasury firm, anticipates generating over $400 million in annual pre-tax income from its $13 billion ETH holdings primarily through staking [1] - The firm claims to have saved approximately $400 million on ether purchases in recent months, attributing this to the execution strategy from investment advisory firm MOZAYXX and trader Tom DeMark [1] - Despite these savings, BitMine is facing around $2.3 billion in unrealized losses since it began purchasing ETH in July, amid significant market volatility [2] Investment Strategies - BitMine has made a $200 million investment in a media company led by YouTube creator MrBeast, which is viewed as a promising opportunity with potential for a 10x return [2] - The firm sees value in connecting Ethereum with younger audiences, including Gen Z, Gen Alpha, and millennials, through partnerships with influential content creators [3] - Plans are underway for BitMine to launch a mobile app and to pursue "moonshot" investments in the tokenization sector, although specific details are still limited [3]