Core Insights - The cryptocurrency industry experienced significant volatility in 2025, with Bitcoin reaching a record high of over $126,000 before closing the year below $90,000, indicating a lack of sustained gains despite positive regulatory developments [2][4][10] Market Performance - Bitcoin's price fluctuations reflect broader market sentiments, with retail investors feeling negative while institutional investors remain optimistic about future growth [4][11] - The passage of stablecoin legislation and a crypto-friendly regulatory environment are seen as potential catalysts for future market recovery [2][13] Institutional Interest - Institutional demand for Bitcoin is expected to outpace supply, with crypto ETFs having acquired over 700,000 Bitcoin since their launch in 2024, which is approximately double the new coins produced during the same period [7][6] - Major financial institutions, including Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch, are beginning to offer crypto ETFs, which could further drive demand [6] Future Outlook - Experts predict that 2026 could see Bitcoin breaking out of its current stagnation, with potential new highs driven by institutional buy-in and regulatory shifts [3][9] - The prospect of lower interest rates may enhance retail and institutional interest in cryptocurrencies [5] Regulatory Developments - The CLARITY Act aims to establish a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, which could improve the industry's outlook if passed [13][14] - The act would designate the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as the primary oversight agency for crypto, a move favored by industry stakeholders [14][15] Tokenization Trends - The tokenization of real-world assets, including stocks and stablecoins, is gaining traction, with significant players like Coinbase and BlackRock prioritizing this strategy [17] - The expansion of Circle's USDC stablecoin, which saw its circulating supply increase by over 50% in 2025, highlights growing interest in tokenized assets [15]

Core Viewpoint - Soulpower Acquisition Corporation and SWB Holdings have announced the confidential submission of a draft registration statement for a proposed business combination, aiming to launch SOUL WORLD BANK™ and its affiliates [1][2][3] Company Overview - Soulpower Acquisition Corporation is a financials-focused special purpose acquisition company that raised $250 million in its initial public offering in April 2025 [5] - SWB LLC is a newly formed Cayman Islands company established to launch SOUL WORLD BANK™ and acquire various real-world assets [6] - SWB Holdings will be the publicly traded holding company of SOUL WORLD BANK™ and its affiliates upon the closing of the business combination [7] Business Combination Details - The proposed business combination was initially announced on November 24, 2025, and involves Pubco, Soulpower, and SWB LLC [2] - Pubco intends to list its non-voting Class A ordinary shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "SOUL" after the closing of the business combination [2][4] - The completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including shareholder approval and the effectiveness of the registration statement [3] Future Plans - The SOUL WORLD BANK™ aims to offer a suite of international financial services and operate as a licensed international financial institution, with a focus on integrating traditional markets with new technologies like AI and tokenization [3][7] - The asset portfolio held by SWB is designed to provide stable book value and opportunities for financial engineering [7] Regulatory Process - The confidential submission of the draft registration statement allows the parties to engage with the SEC before making a public filing [2][8] - A definitive Proxy Statement/Prospectus will be mailed to Soulpower shareholders after the registration statement is declared effective [8]

BlackRock (NYSE: BLK), the world's largest asset manager, hit a record milestone as its first tokenized money market fund completed distributing $100 million in payouts. It is a remarkable feat that demonstrates the cementing of the relationship between traditional finance and decentralized finance. Related: BlackRock shares 2026 shocking crypto outlook BlackRock's BUIDL hits $100M milestone In March 2024, the Wall Street giant launched the BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL). It ...

Real-world asset (RWA) protocols just passed decentralized exchanges (DEXs) to become the fifth-largest category in DeFi by total value locked (TVL), with around $17–30 billion now parked in tokenized Treasuries, private credit, and commodities. That means more money now sits in tokenized “real world” products than in many of the apps people use to swap tokens. For everyday investors, this signals a shift in DeFi from pure speculation to yield and stability during a shaky macro backdrop and higher-for-lo ...

Trend Research withdrew 20,850 ETH, worth $63.28 million, from Binance on Sunday and immediately borrowed an additional $40 million in USDT through the lending protocol Aave, which indicates continued aggressive accumulation as Ethereum trades near $3,000. The institutional arm of Easy Come Easy Go now controls 601,074 ETH valued at $1.83 billion across five addresses, having borrowed a total of $958 million in stablecoins to fund purchases at an average price of roughly $3,265 per token, according to on- ...

Tom Lee is looking past short-term market noise and laying out a simple thesis for 2026. If big technology stocks continue to anchor risk markets and the Federal Reserve turns more supportive as the year progresses, he believes both equities and crypto could be setting up for another leg higher. In a CNBC interview released on Dec 26, the Fundstrat co-founder said the recent pullback in digital assets looks less like a broken market and more like a temporary liquidity shock. He tied his longer-term opti ...

Ethereum’s total value locked could rise tenfold in 2026 as institutional participation deepens and new use cases gain traction, according to Joseph Chalom, co-CEO of Sharplink Gaming. Key Takeaways: Ethereum’s TVL could jump 10× in 2026 as institutions and tokenized assets move on-chain. Stablecoin growth toward $500B is seen as a major driver of Ethereum activity. Ether’s price remains weak despite improving adoption trends. The forecast comes as major financial firms expand their presence on p ...

Key Takeaways BlackRock is hiring senior leaders in New York and Singapore to lead firmwide digital assets initiatives.The move follows the spot Bitcoin ETF success and a tokenized liquidity fund on Ethereum.Since spot ETF approval, iShares Bitcoin Trust has become BlackRock's leading revenue generator.BlackRock Inc. (BLK) is accelerating its hiring as it prepares for the next leg of its crypto push. BlackRock is hiring senior leaders in New York and Singapore to drive firmwide digital assets initiatives, i ...

Crypto’s biggest wins are often tightly connected to the rise in asset prices, but Ripple’s 2025 successes extend far beyond the price of XRP—the Ripple-linked asset that sits inside the top five crypto assets by market capitalization.  Instead, most of the biggest headlines attached to the financial services organization were irrelevant to trading screens, most notably the conclusion to its years-long battle with the SEC, major acquisitions to propel its future growth, and the launch of a billion-dollar st ...

Core Insights - Robinhood Markets Inc. has experienced a significant surge of over 220% in 2025, driven in part by the rapid growth of prediction markets, which have become the fastest-growing product in the company's history [1] Financial Performance - In Q3, Robinhood reported revenue of $1.27 billion, reflecting a 100% year-over-year increase, with net income reaching $386 million, up 105% [2] - The full-year revenue for 2025 is projected to be between $4.6 billion and $4.7 billion, representing a 55% increase from 2024, with EPS estimates ranging from $1.95 to $2.07, an increase of 79% [2] - Equity trading volume reached a record $647 billion in Q3, marking a 126% year-over-year growth [2] Customer Growth and Activity - The customer base has expanded to approximately 27 million funded accounts, holding over $300 billion in assets, with deposit growth exceeding 40% annually [3] Growth Catalysts - Prediction markets have emerged as a key growth driver, with over 9 billion contracts traded by Robinhood customers in the first year, generating annualized revenues exceeding $100 million [4] - The partnership with Kalshi to launch event contracts in March 2024 has led to the fastest adoption of any product in Robinhood's history [4] Strategic Acquisitions - Robinhood and Susquehanna International Group have agreed to acquire 90% of LedgerX, a regulated derivatives exchange, aiming to create a fully vertically integrated prediction markets platform, with a new exchange expected to launch in 2026 [5] Crypto and Tokenization - Crypto trading volumes reached $80 billion, with revenue in Q1 hitting $252 million, doubling year-over-year and accounting for about 27% of transaction revenue [6] - The launch of crypto-based "stock tokens" for EU customers allows trading of over 200 U.S. equities and ETFs on blockchain infrastructure [6] - This tokenization strategy positions Robinhood at the intersection of traditional finance and decentralized infrastructure [8]