Company Overview - BitGo achieved a valuation of $2.59 billion after its stock opened 24.6% higher at $22.43 per share, surpassing the $18 offer price in its New York debut [1] - The company sold 11.8 million shares, raising $212.8 million, with the offering price exceeding the marketed range of $15 to $17 [2] - BitGo is positioned as a profitable and regulated "digital asset infrastructure company," which may insulate it from daily price fluctuations of cryptocurrencies [5] Market Context - BitGo's IPO is seen as a significant indicator of market appetite for crypto listings in 2026, following a period of low activity in the sector [3] - The crypto market has faced volatility, particularly after a selloff in the fourth quarter of 2025, with Bitcoin experiencing a 6.4% decline for the year [4] - A more favorable regulatory environment under the Trump administration has encouraged crypto-linked businesses to pursue capital markets [3] Regulatory Developments - BitGo received approval from a top U.S. banking regulator to convert its state trust bank charter to a national charter, enabling nationwide operations [6]

Core Insights - Base has emerged as a leading layer-2 network, achieving over 10 million daily transactions and a total value locked (TVL) exceeding $5.1 billion, indicating strong market activity and user engagement [1] - The competitive landscape is intensifying with other rollups like Ink launching utility tokens, prompting Base to consider formalizing its tokenomics to maintain its market position [1] - Coinbase has a unique opportunity to create a differentiated token model that ties on-chain governance to off-chain corporate power, potentially decentralizing ownership and influence among a broader base of token holders [1][2] Token Design and Governance - A proposed structure for the Base token would link it directly to voting power over Coinbase, similar to the Rainbow wallet's Class F stock model, which ties token holders to equity exposure [2] - The Base Foundation could raise approximately $35 billion to acquire up to 50% of Coinbase shares, effectively turning the Base token into a proxy for corporate ownership and aligning its value with Coinbase's long-term performance [4] - This model would decentralize power by allowing a diverse group of token holders to exercise shareholder rights without diluting existing Coinbase equity holders' interests [5] Market Implications - If Base successfully ties its token to Coinbase, it would create a new asset class of on-chain equity reflections, representing economic exposure to a regulated U.S. company rather than merely a speculative token [8][9] - This could prompt other crypto projects to rethink their governance models, moving towards direct value capture rather than relying on traditional incentive structures [10] - The Base DAO's acquisition of Coinbase shares would establish a precedent for network-level governance with real-world assets, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape of layer-2 solutions [10] Strategic Considerations - The proposed structure would not weaken Coinbase's control but rather formalize a new class of transparent, long-term aligned shareholders, enhancing the company's strategic position [13][14] - Engaged shareholders could provide durable capital and strategic coherence, aligning their interests with Coinbase's growth rather than short-term earnings [14] - Coinbase retains operational control while benefiting from a globally distributed constituency that mirrors the company's long-term success [15][16] Industry Context - As decentralized exchanges grow to represent about 25% of all spot trading, Coinbase must extend its influence beyond its centralized exchange business [17] - A Base token linked to Coinbase would transform the monetization dynamic, creating a governance base with economic incentives to expand the Base network's usage [17] - The industry has a significant opportunity to demonstrate that tokens can represent true ownership and utility, rather than just speculative assets [18]

Cathie Wood's Ark Invest scoops up more Coinbase shares following crypto exchange's 'System Update' event https://t.co/iKqVzX24fP ...

Coinbase (COIN), the crypto exchange that plans to add prediction markets to its platform, is taking legal action in Connecticut, Illinois and Michigan over the states' attempts to regulate those markets. The company filed lawsuits to "confirm what is clear," Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal wrote in a post on X on Friday: that prediction markets fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and not individual state gaming regulators. Prediction markets let users spec ...

LATEST: 📊 Crypto exchange HashKey had a rocky debut on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong on Wednesday, with its shares falling around 3% by midday despite raising $206 million in its IPO. https://t.co/jQEueazNVi ...

Core Insights - The price of bitcoin (BTC) surged over 2.8% to exceed $90,000, leading to a rally in crypto-linked companies [1] - Mining stocks, trading platforms, and cryptocurrency infrastructure firms experienced significant gains due to the price increase [2] Group 1: Company Performance - Bitcoin miner Hut 8 (HUT) saw a notable increase of 14.4% to $42, while CleanSpark (CLSK) rose 5.1% to over $12, and Riot Platform (RIOT) increased by 3.5% to nearly $14 [2] - Hut 8's surge was further fueled by a 15-year, $7 billion lease agreement with AI infrastructure firm Fluidstack, which contributed to a 20% rise in early trading [3] - Coinbase (COIN), the largest publicly traded crypto exchange in the U.S., gained 2.27% to $258, benefiting from increased trading volume during volatile market conditions [5] Group 2: Market Trends - The broader crypto market is showing renewed momentum after a period of consolidation, with several cryptocurrencies, including ether and XRP, also experiencing price increases [6][7] - Bitcoin treasury firm Strategy (MSTR), holding 671,268 BTC valued at $60.3 billion, rose 1.6% to $170 [6] Group 3: Market Catalysts - Potential catalysts for the rally include speculation around Fed Governor Chris Waller as a frontrunner to succeed Jerome Powell, with his dovish comments influencing market sentiment [4] - Despite the perceived dovish outlook, prediction markets indicate a 77% probability of no rate cut next month, suggesting mixed expectations regarding future Federal Reserve policy [5]

RT Timmy Shen (@timmyhmshen).@HashKeyGroup 's Hong Kong debut gets a mixed reception.Its shares slipped 3% by midday after the crypto exchange raised $206M in its IPO, pricing at HK$6.68 — near the top of the range.Read full story @TheBlock__ https://t.co/KWYYEaUNu8 ...

🚨 UPDATE: Crypto exchange Paxful will be sentenced on Feb 10, 2026, after agreeing to plead guilty, pay $7.5M, and cease operations while refunding users. https://t.co/cCrkQjTwaX ...

Core Insights - The year 2025 has been marked by significant controversies in India's startup ecosystem, shifting from behind-the-scenes disputes to public meltdowns and regulatory confrontations [1][2][3] Controversies Overview - The controversies have led to serious consequences including arrests, asset freezes, market bans, and leadership exits, highlighting the ecosystem's vulnerabilities [1][3] Eggoz Controversy - A viral video claimed Eggoz's eggs contained cancer-linked chemicals, raising public health concerns [5] - Eggoz's founder denied the claims and stated that independent tests showed compliance with permissible limits [8] WinZO's RMG Reckoning - WinZO's founders were arrested for money laundering, with allegations of mishandling INR 43 Cr of gamers' funds after a ban on real-money gaming [11][12] - The Enforcement Directorate froze assets worth INR 505 Cr, escalating the legal crisis for the gaming platform [15][16] Dataisgood Founder’s Arrest - Dataisgood's founder was detained at the airport amid allegations of cheating and fund misuse, leading to a significant legal battle [17][18] - The Supreme Court ordered his surrender after multiple bail pleas were rejected [21] BluSmart's Financial Issues - BluSmart faced scrutiny after defaulting on non-convertible debentures, revealing deeper financial misconduct linked to its founders [23][29] - SEBI's investigation uncovered unaccounted funds exceeding INR 260 Cr, leading to a governance crisis [28][29] Medikabazaar's Governance Crisis - Medikabazaar's boardroom conflict escalated into a public battle over financial irregularities, resulting in the ousting of its CEO [30][34] - The board accused the CEO of inflated metrics and misreporting, leading to a significant indemnity claim from investors [36] DroneAcharya's Financial Irregularities - SEBI's investigation revealed that a third of DroneAcharya's reported revenue was fabricated, leading to penalties and a ban on its promoters [37][42] - The company misused IPO funds, diverting them from intended purposes [42] EaseMyTrip vs MakeMyTrip - EaseMyTrip's cofounder accused MakeMyTrip of having Chinese influence, raising national security concerns amid geopolitical tensions [45][46] - MakeMyTrip refuted the claims, emphasizing its compliance with Indian laws [52] CoinDCX Crypto Heist - CoinDCX reported a major security breach resulting in the loss of $44.2 million in crypto assets, prompting scrutiny over its operational security [54][58] - The company launched a recovery bounty to trace the stolen funds [59] Government Crackdown on OTT Platforms - The Indian government banned 25 OTT platforms for hosting obscene content, citing repeated violations of multiple laws [60][64] - Stricter warnings were issued to digital intermediaries regarding compliance [66] Urban Company's 'Insta Maids' Controversy - Urban Company's new service faced backlash for its name and pay structure, leading to a rebranding to 'Insta Help' [92][98] - The controversy highlighted broader issues in the gig economy regarding worker dignity and fair wages [99] Lenskart IPO Valuation Debate - Lenskart's IPO raised concerns over inflated valuations amid weak profitability in the consumer tech sector [100][104] - Critics drew parallels to past IPOs that underperformed post-listing, questioning investor decisions [104]

Huge thanks to @LBank_Exchange for sponsoring our State of Memecoins Report 2025!With 20M+ users across 160+ countries, LBank is a leading crypto exchange and a pioneer in the memecoin market, listing 300+ major memecoins and ranking first globally in the proportion of 100x tokens. ...