Acquisition Details - Mastercard is considering acquiring ZeroHash for $15 billion to $2 billion [1] - ZeroHash previously raised $104 million at a $1 billion valuation in 2022 [2] ZeroHash's Business - ZeroHash provides infrastructure for stablecoins and crypto, including payments, crypto trading, and tokenization APIs [1] - ZeroHash's backers include Interactive Brokers, Apollo, Point72 Ventures, and Nyca [1] Strategic Rationale - Mastercard aims to secure stablecoin capabilities amid growing interest from global payments companies [3] - Blockchain settlement offers faster speeds and lower costs compared to traditional systems [3] - Stablecoins are evolving into core financial instruments for cross-border payments and settlements [4] Industry Context - Mastercard acquired CipherTrace in 2021 and joined a stablecoin consortium with Robinhood and Kraken [3] - Stripe acquired Bridge for $11 billion, and Coinbase held exclusive talks to buy BVNK [4]

Core Insights - Bitpanda Technology Solutions (BTS) has partnered with Ondo Finance to provide digital asset infrastructure in Latin America, marking its first collaboration in the region [1][2] - The partnership aims to meet the rising demand for secure and compliant access to cryptoassets in a rapidly growing fintech market [3][5] Company Expansion - This partnership signifies Bitpanda's expansion beyond Europe and the Middle East, bringing its institutional-grade crypto infrastructure to Latin America [2] - The collaboration operates under a Bring Your Own License (BYOL) model, allowing Ondo Finance to align with local regulations while utilizing Bitpanda's technology [4] Market Demand - Latin America is identified as a dynamic fintech market with increasing demand for simple and secure crypto access, despite facing fragmented infrastructure and inconsistent regulation [3] - The partnership is expected to enhance the user experience for Ondo Finance's clients by leveraging Bitpanda's trading and custody technology [4][6] Infrastructure and Features - The partnership introduces an API-first architecture, enabling Ondo to integrate trading and custody capabilities directly into its platform [6] - Bitpanda will manage liquidity and USD/stablecoin settlement, with a gradual rollout of digital assets starting from stablecoins and major cryptocurrencies [6][7] - Optional advanced features such as staking, swaps, and savings plans will be available as demand evolves [7] Leadership Perspectives - Bitpanda's CEO emphasized the growing demand for digital assets in Latin America and the need for solutions that combine innovation with regulatory standards [5] - Ondo Finance's CEO highlighted the confidence gained from partnering with Bitpanda, focusing on long-term growth and the adaptation of global best practices to the local market [6]

`` "Mr. Wonderful" Kevin O'Leary, the Canadian businessman well-known for his appearance on the TV show "Shark Tank," thinks FTX will be "the most successful bankruptcy in American history." `` `` ```` O'Leary made the remark during a conversation with the personal wealth and finance specialist Nicole Lapin on the "Money Rehab" podcast that aired on Sep. 15. `` `` During the course of the conversation, he shared his crypto recommendations, outlook on crypto's future, and interest rate policy, among other to ...

Crypto infrastructure provider SignalPlus and derivatives exchange Deribit announced the conclusion of the 2025 Summer Trading Competition. First launched in November 2023 with around $1 billion in trading volume, this year’s event scaled up significantly, surpassing $10 billion in total volume and setting a new record.https://t.co/xmKcISEeQA ...

Acquisition & Strategy - Ripple is acquiring Rail Financial to strengthen its crypto infrastructure and stablecoin payments capabilities [1] - The acquisition adds Rail's back-office and virtual account capabilities to Ripple's global payments network [1] - This deal enhances Ripple's leadership in the crypto space [1] Focus Area - The acquisition focuses on stablecoin payments and virtual account capabilities [1]

Group 1 - Bakkt Holdings, Inc. is conducting its Q1 2025 earnings conference call, highlighting its strategic transformation towards becoming a pure play crypto infrastructure company [1][2] - The company is expected to finalize a cooperation agreement with Distributed Technologies Research (DTR) and a commercial agreement by Q3 2025, which will integrate DTR's stablecoin and AI payment infrastructure with Bakkt's regulated platform [3] - Bakkt is divesting its custody business to ICE and is in ongoing discussions regarding its loyalty business, indicating a shift in focus towards the stablecoin payments market and regulatory environment [3]