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RealEstate.Exchange, also known as REX, selected Polygon because of its low transaction fees, fast settlement times and security features.
The article discusses the launch of RealEstate.Exchange (REX), a tokenized real estate trading platform built on the Polygon blockchain. Developed by DigiShares, REX aims to make real estate investments more accessible and liquid by allowing fractional property ownership and secondary market trading.
REX will initially feature two luxury property listings in Miami, Florida: The Legacy Hotel & Residences and a 38-unit residential complex managed by Trade Estate. The platform leverages Polygon's blockchain for its efficiency, low transaction fees, and security.
To ensure regulatory compliance, REX is licensed in the U.S. through Texture Capital, a registered broker-dealer. It is also part of an EU blockchain sandbox and is seeking further regulatory approval in South Africa and the UAE. The launch aligns with the growing trend of real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, which has already reached $62 billion, with real estate expected to see significant growth in the coming years. Source
Crypto-friendly trading app eToro files for a Nasdaq IPO, aiming for a $5 billion valuation, after past attempts to go public in the United States.
eToro, a popular trading platform, has publicly filed for an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States, seeking to list its shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the ticker "ETOR." The company aims for a valuation of over $5 billion. In its filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), eToro highlighted strong growth in 2024, including a 46% increase in commissions, totaling $931 million, and a net income of $192 million—up from $15.3 million in the previous year. This growth is largely driven by a surge in cryptocurrency trading, which accounted for 38% of the company’s commissions in 2024, up from 17% in 2023.
The IPO proceeds will be used to expand eToro’s services and enhance its platform. This marks eToro's second attempt at going public in the U.S., following the termination of a previous merger with a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) in 2021 due to unfavorable market conditions. eToro has enlisted top investment banks such as Goldman Sachs, Jefferies, UBS, and Citigroup to manage the offering. The IPO is expected to take place once the SEC completes its review process and market conditions are favorable. Source
North Carolina lawmakers have introduced twin bills in the House and Senate which could see up to 5% of crypto assets allocated to state retirement funds.
The article discusses two bills introduced in North Carolina’s House and Senate that propose allowing the state's treasurer to invest up to 5% of various state retirement funds in cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin. The bills, titled the Investment Modernization Act (House Bill 506) and the State Investment Modernization Act (Senate Bill 709), aim to modernize the state's investment strategy by incorporating digital assets into its retirement portfolios.
If passed, the legislation would establish an independent investment authority under the state’s Treasury. This authority would be tasked with evaluating and selecting suitable digital assets for investment, while also ensuring the funds are securely stored and that the associated risks are carefully assessed. The bills reflect a growing interest among U.S. states to explore cryptocurrency as part of their public pension fund strategies. Source
Ripple chief legal officer Stuart Alderoty said the firm had agreed to drop its cross-appeal with the SEC and will be refunded roughly $75 million from an August 2024 judgment.
Ripple Labs has decided to withdraw its cross-appeal against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), effectively bringing an end to a legal battle that has lasted over four years. This decision follows a judgment from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in August 2024, where Ripple was found liable for $125 million in penalties.
Under the new settlement agreement, the SEC will keep $50 million of this fine, which is currently held in escrow, while Ripple will receive a refund of the remaining $75 million. Additionally, the SEC has agreed to request that the court lift a standard injunction that had been imposed on Ripple.
This settlement, still subject to approval from both the SEC and the presiding judge, represents a significant development in the ongoing regulatory challenges faced by the cryptocurrency industry. Source
AI startup Infinite Reality has bought the former music-sharing platform Napster, with plans to add a music-focused metaverse to the music-streaming app.
Napster, the once-pioneering music-sharing platform that became a symbol of music piracy, has been acquired by Infinite Reality for $207 million. The acquisition plans to pivot Napster into a music-focused metaverse, enhancing the way artists and fans interact. The revamped platform will feature virtual spaces for concerts, social listening events, and virtual merchandise sales, blending physical and digital experiences.
Additionally, Napster will offer musicians AI-powered tools for managing customers and communities, with access to analytics and cross-promotion opportunities through Infinite Reality’s other entertainment ventures, such as esports. Jon Vlassopulos will remain as CEO post-acquisition. Infinite Reality aims to lead the shift from a traditional 2D web to a more immersive 3D internet experience. The deal is expected to close in the coming weeks. Source
Markethive, a blockchain-based social market broadcasting network designed for entrepreneurs, has introduced Version 2 of its Mini Blog Newsfeed. This update aims to enhance user experience by offering a more organized and visually appealing content display. The newsfeed now features a uniform layout with thumbnails and videos, streamlining content consumption and addressing issues of clutter found in traditional social media feeds.
Additionally, Version 2 introduces enhanced privacy controls, including a self-destruct button for posts, allowing users to set content to automatically delete after a specified time frame (e.g., 1 hour, 24 hours, or 7 days). It also offers a scheduling feature, enabling posts to be published at designated future dates and times. These functionalities provide users with greater control over their content and engagement.
Looking ahead, Markethive is preparing for the release of Version 3, which is anticipated to bring further enhancements to the platform's features and user interface. Source
In a recent interview, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse shared his belief that the "Trump effect" will drive a significant wave of cryptocurrency adoption in 2025. He highlighted that before Donald Trump's presidency, Ripple faced many regulatory challenges, including lawsuits, which limited its growth in the U.S. However, since Trump’s election, Ripple has signed more deals in just six weeks than in the previous six months, signalling a shift in the crypto industry's regulatory environment.
Garlinghouse predicts that over the next decade, blockchain technology, particularly in payments, securities, and real estate, will transform various sectors. He emphasized that this acceleration in cryptocurrency adoption will be largely due to the changing political and regulatory landscape under Trump's influence. Source
SBI VC Trade is preparing for an imminent rollout of USDC, with domestic exchanges planning to list and distribute USDC in the near future.
Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, has expanded its operations in Japan through a strategic partnership with SBI Group, a major Japanese financial services company. This partnership has led to the creation of Circle Japan KK, a new entity that will focus on managing the company’s local operations and further integrating USDC into Japan’s financial ecosystem. This move follows Japan's recent implementation of a new regulatory framework for stablecoins, which now allows USDC to be the first stablecoin approved for use under these new regulations. This development is seen as a significant milestone for Circle as it aims to strengthen its presence in the Japanese market.
As part of the partnership, SBI VC Trade, a prominent Japanese cryptocurrency exchange, will begin trading USDC starting March 26, 2025. This will enhance liquidity and make the stablecoin more accessible to Japanese consumers and traders. Several major cryptocurrency exchanges in Japan, including Binance Japan, Bitbank, and BitFlyer, have also announced their plans to list USDC. The partnership between Circle and SBI Group is expected to accelerate the adoption of stablecoins and blockchain technology in Japan, fostering a more inclusive and efficient financial system. Source
The new Kentucky law also clarifies that neither mining nor staking rewards are classified as securities.
Kentucky has passed a new law to protect cryptocurrency users’ rights, particularly regarding Bitcoin and Ethereum self-custody. Governor Andy Beshear signed House Bill 701 (HB701) into law on March 24, 2025, which ensures that residents can legally hold and manage cryptocurrencies in self-hosted wallets without interference. This legislation also clarifies that activities like mining and staking are not considered securities, and that operating a node doesn’t require a money transmitter license. This law provides a more favorable environment for cryptocurrency enthusiasts and businesses within the state, giving individuals the freedom to manage their digital assets without legal restrictions.
The passing of HB701 has already had legal consequences. For instance, the law led to the dismissal of a lawsuit against Coinbase, showing its immediate effect in resolving legal uncertainties surrounding cryptocurrency in Kentucky. This new legislation positions the state as a leader in pro-crypto regulations, potentially attracting more crypto-related businesses. It also signals Kentucky's commitment to embracing blockchain technology and innovation in the digital asset space. Source
To bridge to Solana, select a trusted bridge platform, connect your wallet, choose your asset and source chain, and initiate the transfer to Solana.
Bridging to Solana allows users to move their digital assets from other blockchains, such as Ethereum or Binance Smart Chain (BSC), to Solana, opening up access to Solana's decentralized applications (DApps), decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Several bridge platforms, like Wormhole, Allbridge, and Portal, facilitate this process by supporting asset transfers between blockchains. To begin bridging, users need to choose a reliable bridge platform, connect a Solana-compatible wallet (such as Phantom, Sollet, or Solflare), and select the asset they wish to transfer. Once the transfer is initiated, the asset is locked on the source blockchain, and an equivalent "wrapped" version is minted on Solana, making it usable within the Solana ecosystem.
Recent advancements in Solana's bridging capabilities include the Portal Testnet V2, which enables direct Bitcoin-to-Solana swaps, bypassing centralized intermediaries. Additionally, Wormhole's integration with World ID enhances cross-chain compatibility and improves user verification processes for decentralized applications. Bridging assets to Solana not only increases the utility of digital assets but also enriches the user's experience by providing access to Solana's growing ecosystem. It’s important to ensure that the chosen asset is supported on both the source and destination blockchains before proceeding with the transfer. Source
A recent survey conducted by Bitget Wallet has revealed that security concerns are a major barrier to the adoption of cryptocurrency payments. The survey, which involved 4,599 users, found that 37% of participants cited security risks as the primary obstacle to using crypto for payments. Despite these concerns, 46% of respondents expressed a preference for cryptocurrency payments over traditional fiat payments due to the speed and efficiency they offer. This highlights the potential of crypto payments but also emphasizes the need to address security fears to encourage broader adoption.
To combat these security concerns, Bitget Wallet has introduced several protective measures. These include Miner Extractable Value (MEV) protection across major blockchains like Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Solana to prevent risks such as front-running and sandwich attacks. Additionally, the wallet features the GetShield engine, which scans smart contracts, decentralized applications (DApps), and URLs for malicious activities, offering real-time warnings before users approve transactions. The company has also set up a $300 million user protection fund to cover potential asset losses resulting from platform-related issues. Furthermore, the survey found strong interest in cryptocurrency payments in regions like Africa and Southeast Asia, where users are attracted to the lower remittance costs and easier access to financial services offered by crypto. Bitget’s wallet also offers a non-custodial solution supporting over 130 blockchains and stablecoins, allowing users to send and receive value globally without relying on traditional banking systems. Source
Disclaimer: These articles are provided for informational purposes only. They are not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other advice.
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