Core Insights - Polygon Labs is acquiring Coinme and Sequence to enhance its stablecoin payment capabilities, supporting its Open Money Stack framework set to launch in 2026 [1][6] Group 1: Acquisition Details - Coinme operates a regulated digital currency payments business, allowing users to convert cash into cryptocurrency, and holds money-transmitter licenses in 48 US states [2] - Coinme manages over 50,000 locations for cash-to-crypto exchanges and serves over one million users through its consumer payments app [2] - Sequence provides technology to simplify crypto transfers across multiple blockchains, complementing Polygon's interoperability efforts [3][4] Group 2: Technology and Infrastructure - Sequence's offerings include enterprise-grade smart wallets and a 1-click cross-chain routing engine called Trails, which simplifies the user experience by hiding blockchain complexities [4] - Sequence's infrastructure is already utilized across various blockchain ecosystems, including Polygon, Immutable, and newer networks like SKALE and Etherlink [5] - Once integrated, Sequence and Trails will function as an orchestration layer, facilitating seamless money transfers across different chains without user intervention [6]

Pakistan recently signed a memorandum of understanding with SC Financial Technologies, a company linked to World Liberty Financial. The deal focuses on the use of USD1 stablecoin for cross-border payments. According to a recent report by Reuters, the Pakistan Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority stated that the agreement opens formal technical coordination on digital payment systems. It covers stablecoin settlement, payment rails, and regulatory alignment within Pakistan’s financial system. This is the fi ...

Binance Wallet unveiled a feature allowing users to trade leveraged crypto futures bets directly while avoiding the risk of holding coins on a centralized exchange such as Binance itself, the industry's largest by volume traded. Following an agreement with Aster, the second-largest decentralized perpetuals platform, users are able to trade directly through the wallet while retaining complete control of their coins, Binance said Wednesday. The move reflects growing user demand for blending the speed of c ...

Core Insights - Bitcoin experienced a significant price surge, rising from approximately $91,000 to over $95,000 within a few days, indicating strong market momentum [1] - A substantial influx of Bitcoin into major exchange wallets has been observed, suggesting increased buying activity [2][3] Exchange Inflows - Binance wallets added 32,752 BTC, while Coinbase saw an increase of 26,486 BTC, contributing to a total of around $6 billion in inflows across major exchanges [2] - Smaller exchanges like Kraken and Bitfinex also reported notable inflows, with 3,508 BTC and 3,000 BTC added, respectively [2] Market Speculation - The scale of Bitcoin transfers has led to discussions about potential coordinated market activity, although Binance's CEO clarified that these deposits were user purchases rather than internal buys [3] - Analysts suggest that the data indicates strong participation from institutional and high-net-worth investors [3] ETF Inflows - Bitcoin ETF inflows reached $753 million, the highest since October 2025, with Fidelity's FBTC leading the inflows at $351 million [4][5] Price Projections - The bullish sentiment in the crypto market, alongside recent buying activity, positions Bitcoin towards the $100,000 mark [7] - Investors are considering macroeconomic factors such as inflation and central bank liquidity, which may influence Bitcoin's price trajectory [7] Long-term Value - The recent surge reinforces Bitcoin's status as a long-term store of value amid financial uncertainty and geopolitical instability [8] Market Dynamics - Arkham's data highlights a concentration of activity among major exchanges, which are critical for institutional buying, and such inflows typically precede significant price rallies [9]

Core Insights - The crypto market reacted positively to the US inflation report, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for December 2025 showing a 2.7% year-over-year increase, consistent with November's rate [1][2] - The CPI data is significant as it may influence the Federal Reserve's decisions regarding interest rates, with current inflation still above the 2% target [2] - Following the CPI release, Bitcoin surpassed $96,000 for the first time in two months, while Ethereum reached a two-month high of $3,340 [3] Market Reactions - The cryptocurrency market experienced a notable spike, leading to a 211% increase in total liquidations, amounting to $688 million, with $93 million in long positions and $595 million in short positions [4] - Bitcoin accounted for $294.7 million in daily liquidations, with $28 million in longs and $266.7 million in shorts, affecting 126,235 traders [5] - The largest liquidation occurred in the ETH/USDT pair on Binance, valued at $12.9 million [5] Investment Products - Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the US saw a net inflow of $753.8 million, the highest since October 7, 2025, driven by Fidelity's $351.4 million contribution [6] - Spot Ethereum ETFs also recorded a $130 million net inflow, led by BlackRock's $53.3 million investment [6] - Future market movements may be influenced by the upcoming US Federal Reserve rate decision and geopolitical tensions between Iran and the US [6]

Key Takeaways Russia plans to loosen its crypto rules, opening regulated trading to both retail and qualified investors by mid-2026. Under the proposal, retail users would face tight limits. The Central Bank’s resistance has begun to soften under the pressure of sanctions. Russia is moving closer to making crypto part of everyday life, even as resistance from its central bank lingers. After initially limiting crypto to trading and cross-border transactions, the government is now signaling a shif ...

According to Chainalysis's estimates, crypto-related scams and fraudulent activity may have caused over $17 billion in losses in 2025 The blockchain data firm also highlighted a concerning trend, as scammers are increasingly turning to impersonation schemes to deceive unsuspecting users. According to the report, impersonation scams rose by nearly 1,400% year over year. Crypto Crime Hits New Highs in 2025, Losses May Top $17 Billion 2025 has gone down as the worst year on record for crypto crime, with a ...

Core Viewpoint - 21shares, in collaboration with A&G Banco, has launched the 21shares Flexible Crypto Index ETP (FLEX), aimed at providing diversified and risk-adjusted exposure to leading digital assets through a single ETP [1]. Product Overview - FLEX is designed to offer structured exposure to the most liquid and established cryptocurrencies while minimizing concentration risk and adapting to market conditions [3]. - The ETP tracks the 21Shares Flexible Crypto Index, developed with MarketVector Indexes™, which selects cryptoassets based on size, liquidity, and regulatory criteria [4]. - A&G Banco's proprietary model determines portfolio allocation using a minimum-variance framework and positive momentum signals, optimizing the risk-return profile of the crypto ecosystem [4]. Risk Management Features - FLEX includes a built-in risk management framework that allows for up to 30% of the portfolio to be allocated to cash via USDC, enhancing defensive positioning during market volatility [5]. - This tactical cash allocation enables the strategy to remain agile and capture growth opportunities when market conditions stabilize [5]. Strategic Collaboration - The launch of FLEX combines 21shares' expertise in crypto ETP infrastructure with A&G Banco's quantitative investment knowledge, targeting regulated advisory frameworks in private banking and wealth management across Europe [5][6]. - The product is fully physically backed and supported by 21shares' institutional-grade custody infrastructure, marking a significant advancement in the professionalization of crypto investing in Europe [7]. Market Demand - There is a growing demand from investors for diversified, systematic crypto exposure that aligns with institutional risk standards, which FLEX aims to address [6]. - The allocation model of FLEX reflects how professional investors manage risk in volatile markets, combining minimum-variance construction, momentum signals, and a dynamic cash component [7]. Company Background - 21shares AG is a leading provider of cryptocurrency ETPs, with a mission to bridge traditional finance and decentralized finance, having launched the first physically-backed crypto ETP in 2018 [10]. - A&G Banco, founded in 1987, is a prominent independent financial services group managing over 17 billion euros as of December 2025, with a strong track record in wealth advisory and asset management [11].

KARACHI, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Pakistan has signed an agreement with a firm connected to World Liberty Financial, the main crypto business of the family of ​U.S. President Donald Trump, to explore using World Liberty’s stablecoin for cross-border payments, ‌a source involved with the deal ​said on Wednesday. The deal represents one of the first publicly announced tie-ups between World ‌Liberty, a crypto-based finance platform launched in September 2024, and a sovereign state. It also comes amid a warming of ...

Core Viewpoint - Precious metals like gold and silver continue to perform well into 2026, reaching new highs, prompting the CME to adjust margin requirements to curb speculative trading [2][4][12]. Margin Adjustments - CME has changed the margin requirements for gold, silver, platinum, and palladium from fixed amounts to a percentage of the contract's nominal value, effective January 13 [2][12]. - For gold, the initial margin requirement is now set at 5%, resulting in a margin of $23,000 for a standard contract, slightly lower than the previous fixed amount of $24,000 [2][12]. - For silver, the margin requirement has increased to 9%, leading to an initial margin of $38,700 for a standard contract, significantly higher than the previous fixed amount of $32,500 [4][14]. Market Reactions - Despite the margin adjustments, silver prices have surpassed $88, and gold remains above $4,600, indicating strong market demand [4][14]. - Historical trends suggest that frequent margin adjustments by exchanges may signal the nearing end of a bullish phase in the market [4][14]. Bitcoin Developments - Bitcoin has surpassed $95,000, marking a two-month high, with significant purchases by Strategy, which acquired 13,627 bitcoins valued at approximately $1.25 billion [4][14]. - This acquisition has led to a rise in the company's total bitcoin holdings, estimated to exceed $60 billion, positively impacting its stock price [4][14]. Economic Indicators - The U.S. December CPI remained stable at 2.7%, with core CPI at 2.6%, aligning with expectations and limiting the Federal Reserve's room for interest rate cuts [5][15]. - Market expectations indicate a 97% probability that the Fed will maintain current rates in January, supporting the dollar's strength [5][15].