CZ deleted his tweet denying involvement after Kyrgyzstan credited him for inspiring Bereket Bank. | Credit: Getty Images. Key Takeaways Kyrgyzstan launches Bereket Bank, its first private bank dedicated to digital assets. President Sadyr Japarov credited Binance founder CZ for inspiring the idea, but he denies involvement. CZ continues to advise Kyrgyzstan on digital asset policies and stablecoin development. Kyrgyzstan has officially launched Bereket Bank, the country’s first private financial i ...

A key agency within the Treasury Department granted a conditional bank charter Wednesday to a crypto-focused bank for the first time under the current Trump administration, and only the second time ever, in a move likely to disrupt the exploding stablecoin sector. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency today conditionally approved a bank charter application for Erebor, a crypto-focused bank with ties both to Silicon Valley’s most powerful players and President Donald Trump.  The bank, named after the ...

Crypto neo-bank Shield announced on Monday that it has raised a $5 million seed round led by Giant Ventures. The company launched in 2022 and pivoted to payments in 2024. It allows exporters and importers to conduct cross-border transactions in US cryptocurrencies, while also providing compliance screenings, such as addressing sanctions and money laundering threats. Emmanuel Udotong, co-founder and CEO, said he and his team started Shield because they were “disappointed by the lack of completing mainstr ...

Core Insights - Metalpha Technology Holding Limited has announced a strategic partnership with AMINA Bank AG to co-develop digital asset solutions, starting with the Principal Fund I, aimed at professional investors in Hong Kong [1][2] - The partnership is launched amid record institutional demand for crypto exposure, with US Bitcoin ETFs reaching over $150 billion in assets under management since early 2024 [2] - Principal Fund I offers exposure to a portfolio of listed equities in the crypto ecosystem, outperforming its benchmark index by over 20% since August 2024 [2] Company Overview - Metalpha Technology Holding Limited is one of Asia's largest digital asset-focused wealth management companies, aiming to provide institutional-grade services in the digital asset space [5][6] - AMINA Bank AG, established in Switzerland, is a pioneer in the crypto banking industry and has received multiple licenses from regulatory authorities, including the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority [7][8] Product Details - Principal Fund I is designed for qualified professional investors with a minimum investment of $1 million USD, focusing on achieving better risk-adjusted returns over Bitcoin through sophisticated derivatives [2][3] - The fund includes equities from industry leaders such as Coinbase, Circle, and MicroStrategy, as well as companies listed in Hong Kong [2] Market Context - The partnership aims to enhance digital asset wealth management capabilities in Hong Kong, addressing the needs of family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and institutional investors [3] - The collaboration is positioned to bridge traditional finance and digital assets, creating a unique value proposition for sophisticated investment strategies [3]