Also, if more assets are going to be treated as balance-sheet tools (staked assets, stablecoins, RWAs, tokenized credit), then the market has to get sharper on how those instruments behave under stress, how they connect to financing, and where friction still hides.That’s why Liquidity 2026 kept steering toward how liquidity is produced, priced, and risk-managed across venues. The program reflected that directly, with sessions on “Trading Is Merging – How Institutional Liquidity Is Bridged, Priced, and Risk- ...

Core Viewpoint - Bridgepoint Group has agreed to acquire a majority stake in ht.digital, a company specializing in financial audits and proof of reserves attestations for cryptocurrency firms, with the deal reportedly valued at £200 million ($262 million) [1][2]. Company Overview - ht.digital provides essential services in the cryptocurrency sector, focusing on independent audits and asset transparency, which have become increasingly important following the collapse of FTX [2]. - The company was established from the accountancy firm Harris & Trotter in 2023 and combines blockchain expertise with accounting knowledge and proprietary tools for on-chain verification [4]. Industry Trends - There is a growing regulatory demand for independent, institutional-grade assurance services in the cryptocurrency market, driven by the need for transparency among trading platforms [2][3]. - The investment in ht.digital aligns with two significant trends: the institutional adoption of digital assets and the increasing regulatory scrutiny requiring independent audits [3]. Investment Details - The acquisition will be funded through Bridgepoint Development Capital V, which focuses on supporting fast-growing businesses across Europe [4]. - The transaction is expected to be completed in the first half of 2026 [5].

Group 1 - Brian Armstrong, CEO of Coinbase, predicts Bitcoin price will reach $1 million within the next 5 years, driven by current industry outlook and sentiments [1][2] - Armstrong emphasizes the importance of robust regulatory frameworks in the US, such as the GENIUS Act, which could significantly boost Bitcoin prices [3] - Institutional adoption of Bitcoin is increasing, with firms like Strategy and Metaplanet accumulating substantial amounts of Bitcoin [4] Group 2 - Nasdaq-listed Fold Holdings is set to launch a Bitcoin Rewards Credit Card in collaboration with Stripe and Visa, indicating growing mainstream adoption of Bitcoin [5] - Armstrong points out Bitcoin's fixed maximum supply of 21 million, which contributes to scarcity and is expected to trigger a price rally [6] - Other prominent figures in the crypto space, including Jack Dorsey and Cathie Wood, have expressed similar bullish sentiments regarding Bitcoin's price potential [7]