Kraken has revealed that its tokenized equities platform has now passed a total of $5 billion in trading volume. Alongside that, the company said revenue from the product has doubled, showing real user activity rather than just occasional testing. This milestone isn’t just a nice round number. It points to a genuine interest in tokenized stocks and signals that this part of Kraken’s business is starting to scale incredibly. What Kraken’s Equity Tokens Actually Do The platform lets users trade tokenized ...

Core Viewpoint - The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has initiated a lawsuit against HTX, formerly known as Huobi, for unlawfully promoting cryptoasset services to UK consumers without proper authorization [1][2]. Regulatory Actions - The FCA's lawsuit represents a significant civil action against a major global exchange, emphasizing its commitment to consumer protection and the integrity of UK financial markets [1][2]. - HTX is accused of breaching the UK's financial promotions regime by targeting UK users without the necessary authorization or registration [2][4]. - The FCA has previously issued multiple consumer alerts regarding HTX's unauthorized operations in the UK [4]. Legal Framework - Under the UK's Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA), firms must not promote investment activities unless authorized by a licensed entity, applicable to both domestic and foreign companies influencing UK consumers [6]. - Violating this regulation can lead to severe penalties, including up to two years in prison and unlimited fines [6]. Industry Implications - Regulated institutions that collaborate with unregistered crypto entities may face enforcement actions, compliance issues, and reputational damage [7].

Core Points - FINTRAC has imposed a fine of nearly $177 million on Xeltox Enterprises, the parent company of Cryptomus, for non-compliance with anti-money laundering regulations [1][2] - The fine is the largest ever issued by the Canadian financial regulator, highlighting significant compliance failures [3] - Xeltox Enterprises failed to submit suspicious transaction reports on 1,068 occasions in July 2024 and did not report virtual currency transactions exceeding $10,000 on 1,518 occasions [2][3] Regulatory Context - The fine was issued under Part 1 of the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act, indicating serious regulatory breaches [2] - FINTRAC emphasized that the violations were linked to severe criminal activities, including trafficking in child sexual abuse material and ransomware payments [4] Industry Implications - FINTRAC has raised concerns about vulnerabilities in the digital asset industry, suggesting that without proper compliance controls, the sector remains at risk of exploitation by illicit actors [5] - The regulator's actions reflect a growing urgency for robust compliance frameworks within Canada's expanding virtual currency sector to mitigate risks associated with money laundering and terrorist financing [5][6]

Core Viewpoint - The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has initiated legal action against HTX, a global crypto exchange, for unlawfully promoting crypto asset services to UK consumers without proper authorization [2][4]. Group 1: Regulatory Actions - The FCA has filed civil proceedings in London's High Court against HTX, formerly known as Huobi, for breaching the UK's financial promotions regime [2]. - HTX is not authorized to operate in Britain, as indicated on the FCA's website [2]. - The FCA aims to protect consumers and maintain the integrity of UK financial markets through this action [2]. Group 2: Company Background - HTX was founded in 2013 and is advised by Chinese entrepreneur Justin Sun, who is also a significant investor in various crypto ventures [3]. - Sun has invested at least $75 million in the Trump family's crypto project, World Liberty Financial, and is linked to the top holder of Donald Trump's "$TRUMP" memecoin [3]. Group 3: Compliance and Regulations - The FCA introduced new rules in 2023 requiring firms promoting crypto assets to obtain authorizations and register under money laundering regulations [4]. - HTX is currently listed on the FCA's warning list, which identifies companies that consumers should avoid [4]. Group 4: Legal Scope - The FCA's case includes Huobi Global and four groups identified as "persons unknown," covering individuals such as owners and operators of the business [5].

Core Insights - The crypto market is experiencing significant exchange listings, indicating increased recognition for emerging cryptocurrencies [1] - Major listings are anticipated to enhance liquidity, visibility, and price momentum for listed tokens [1] Exchange Listings - Upbit, South Korea's largest crypto exchange, will list SynFutures (F) with KRW and USDT trading pairs starting October 21 [1] - Bithumb, the second-largest exchange in South Korea, confirmed listings for ZORA and RECALL on October 21, both paired with KRW [3] Market Reactions - The F token surged over 50% in the past 24 hours, with trading volume increasing nearly 500% to around $180 million [2] - Zora's price increased by 6% following its listing announcement, trading around $0.1010, with a market capitalization growth of 125% over the past month [3] - RECALL has not yet reacted to its listing, trading near $0.39 with slight downward movement [4] New Initiatives - Binance announced the launch of its 55th HODLer Airdrop project, Turtle (TURTLE), with trading set to open on October 22 [4] - The Turtle project rewards users for on-chain actions without requiring smart contracts, and includes an airdrop of 15 million TURTLE tokens [5]

Company Overview - Gemini Space Station, a cryptocurrency exchange, had a tumultuous IPO debut, initially priced at $28 per share and opening at $37, but has since dropped to around $20, influenced by a crypto selloff and profitability concerns [2][6] - The company manages over $21 billion in assets and serves approximately 10,000 institutions globally, positioning itself as a regulated and compliant entity in the crypto industry [4] Business Model - Gemini's revenue model is heavily reliant on transaction fees from volume-based trades, despite diversifying into custody services, credit card interchange fees, and treasury yields from its stablecoin [4][5] - The introduction of a crypto-linked credit card aims to create new revenue streams and enhance customer engagement, as many cardholders subsequently use the exchange [5] Financial Performance - In 2024, Gemini's revenues increased by approximately 40% to $136 million, but growth has slowed, with a forecast of only around 22% for the current year [6][7] - The company reported significant net losses, reaching $282 million in the first half of 2025, totaling about $400 million in the trailing 12 months, a sharp increase from $159 million in 2024 [7] Market Position and Analyst Sentiment - Gemini's price-to-sales ratio stands at about 16x projected revenue, which is considered high given its decelerating growth trajectory [6][8] - Increased analyst attention has been noted, with most major banks adopting positive or neutral perspectives on the stock, potentially stabilizing its price [8]

Crypto exchange, Gemini, founded by the Winklevoss twins, announced the launch of a Solana edition credit card that lets users earn up to 4% back in SOL and auto-stake rewards. CoinDesk's Jennifer Sanasie explains what this news means for Solana's momentum in today's "Chart of the Day," presented by Crypto.com. ...

Core Insights - Coinbase Global (COIN) has announced a strategic investment of $2.45 billion in CoinDCX, a leading crypto exchange in India and the Middle East, as part of its international expansion strategy [1][2] - The company views India and the Middle East as key regions for crypto growth due to high adoption rates, supportive regulations, and significant economic potential [1][2] - International revenues for COIN have increased to 16.8% of total revenues in 2024, nearly tripling year over year, indicating a successful diversification of revenue streams [3][7] Investment and Market Position - The investment in CoinDCX highlights the potential seen in the Indian and Middle Eastern markets, which have over 1.4 billion people and more than 100 million crypto owners [2] - COIN's international operations span multiple countries, including Australia, Brazil, and Japan, and the company has recently obtained Virtual Asset Service Provider registration in Argentina, allowing legal operations there [2] Competitive Landscape - Circle Internet Group (CRCL) has strengthened its global position through international expansion, enhancing access to regulated digital markets and promoting USDC adoption [4] - Robinhood Markets (HOOD) is also expanding internationally to meet rising global retail investing demand, establishing operations in the U.K. and Asia to diversify revenue streams [5] Financial Performance - COIN shares have gained 57.3% year to date, outperforming the industry [6] - The company's price-to-earnings ratio stands at 53.42, significantly above the industry average of 23.62, indicating a potentially expensive valuation [8] Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for COIN's third and fourth-quarter 2025 EPS has seen a slight upward adjustment, while the full-year 2025 estimate remains unchanged [9] - Revenue estimates for 2025 and 2026 indicate year-over-year increases, but EPS estimates for the same years suggest a decline [10]

Core Insights - Gemini has launched the Solana Card, which offers instant Solana (SOL) rewards and an optional auto-staking feature to enhance rewards [1][2] - The Solana Card allows users to earn up to 4% back on purchases in instant crypto rewards, similar to Gemini's other credit cards [1][4] - The auto-staking feature enables users to stake their earned SOL for up to 6.77% APY, providing flexibility in managing their rewards [2][3] Product Features - The Solana Card includes an auto-staking option for SOL rewards, allowing users to earn interest on their staked tokens [2] - Users can unstake their SOL tokens at any time, although withdrawal times may vary from a few hours to several days [3] - Gemini's credit cards offer category-based rewards: 4% on gas and electric vehicle charging, 3% on dining, 2% on groceries, and 1% on all other purchases [4] Market Context - The decision to launch the Solana Card is attributed to Solana's strong momentum and active developer community, making it a top ecosystem for new projects [5] - Historical data indicates that users who held Solana as their reward token for at least one year have seen an appreciation of around 300% since 2021 [5] - Solana's price has experienced significant volatility, trading below $10 in early 2021, peaking above $250, and then crashing to about $8 in late 2022 before rebounding to a new high of $293 earlier this year [6] Company Performance - Gemini completed its IPO on the Nasdaq Exchange, raising over $425 million with shares initially offered at $28, although they closed at $19.68, down nearly 20% over the previous month [7]

Core Insights - OpenSea has announced the launch of its SEA token, expected in Q1 2026, marking a significant shift from being solely an NFT marketplace to a broader crypto exchange [2][3] - The company reported a trading volume of $2.6 billion this month, with over 90% attributed to token trading rather than NFTs [2][3] - The SEA token will allocate 50% of its supply to the community through a claim program, linking platform growth to token demand by committing 50% of revenue to buybacks [3][4] Company Strategy - OpenSea aims to transform from an "NFT marketplace" to a comprehensive on-chain trading platform [4] - The company has undergone a complete overhaul, including a new team and technology stack, to regain market relevance and share [5][7] - Incentive programs have successfully helped OpenSea reclaim the top position in NFT market share, with a significant increase in trading volume [7] Market Context - The competitive landscape has shifted, with platforms like Blur and Magic Eden gaining traction, prompting OpenSea's strategic pivot [5][6] - The SEA token's launch and associated incentives are seen as crucial for maintaining user engagement and market position [7]