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Robinhood's crypto revenue nearly doubled to $160 million in the second quarter, contributing to a 45% year-on-year increase in total net revenue. Despite these strong financial results, the company's shares experienced a slight dip in after-hours trading. The CEO, Vlad Tenev, highlighted that crypto trading volumes saw a 32% increase to $28 billion during the quarter. He underscored the company's strategic focus on becoming a leader in real-world asset tokenization, a sector he views as the decade's biggest innovation.
As part of this strategy, Robinhood launched its own layer 2 blockchain, Robinhood Chain, for stock trading in Europe. The company's vision for the US market is to tokenize alternative assets such as private shares, venture capital funds, and real estate, making them more accessible to retail investors. This initiative comes on the heels of its recent $200 million acquisition of crypto exchange Bitstamp, which is expected to be a key component of its tokenization efforts. However, these new offerings have already attracted legal scrutiny in Lithuania, and the company has received a public warning from OpenAI regarding its private equity tokens. Source
As Ethereum celebrates its tenth anniversary, industry experts are debating what the next decade holds for the blockchain. Despite its past success in pioneering DeFi and NFTs, the network's leading position is being challenged by competitors. According to Jamie Elkaleh, CMO at Bitget Wallet, Ethereum must continuously earn its place as the default Layer-1 blockchain by focusing on infrastructure maturity, not a "killer app." He believes that the network's future success hinges on improving interoperability, composability, and accelerating technical upgrades to enhance user experience and transaction speeds.
Steven Pu, co-founder of Taraxa, offers a different perspective, arguing that Ethereum should abandon its reliance on Layer-2 solutions, which he describes as "centralized, insecure, and parasitic." He suggests that the most effective way for the network to remain competitive and deliver on its promise of decentralization is to focus on scaling the Layer-1 chain itself. Both experts agree that the key challenges for Ethereum in the coming decade are increasing its speed and efficiency to keep up with emerging competitors while maintaining its core principles. Source
After the speculative hype of the play-to-earn era, blockchain gaming is experiencing a quiet resurgence focused on sustainable growth and strong fundamentals. The industry has shifted from prioritizing token pumps and speculative rewards to developing games with engaging gameplay, cross-platform compatibility, and robust economic models. This renewed focus on player experience is attracting significant capital from discerning investors who are conducting thorough due diligence and supporting projects with real-world traction and proven teams. The industry is moving beyond being a niche crypto trend and is now integrating blockchain technology as a subtle, underlying feature that enhances, rather than defines, the gaming experience.
This maturation is further evidenced by a new wave of partnerships with traditional AAA studios, which are exploring how blockchain can complement their existing expertise in game development and distribution. Mainstream companies are now licensing their intellectual properties, signalling a long-term confidence in the sector's viability. Additionally, unexpected regions like Spain are emerging as key hubs for Web3 gaming, driven by supportive regulatory environments, like regulatory sandboxes, and a strong talent pool. Spain's strategic position provides a unique advantage by blending EU-level infrastructure with access to a fast-growing, Spanish-speaking market, proving that the next era of blockchain gaming is focused on building lasting, enjoyable experiences. Source
Coinbase has announced the addition of two altcoins, Bio Protocol (BIO) and Euler (EUL), to its listing roadmap. This move signals that the popular US cryptocurrency exchange is considering listing these assets for trading in the near future. The listing roadmap was created in 2022 to enhance transparency and mitigate the risk of investors "frontrunning" official listing announcements. Following the news, both altcoins experienced price rallies. The native token for Bio Protocol, a biotechnology-focused project, saw a significant price increase, though it later fell from its daily high.
Similarly, Euler’s native governance token, EUL, surged after the announcement before its price settled back down. Bio Protocol aims to accelerate biotechnology research by allowing global communities to collectively fund and own tokenized projects. Meanwhile, the Euler protocol is a decentralized finance platform designed to make borrowing and lending more efficient and versatile, providing users with the freedom to explore new opportunities in DeFi. Source
Visa's CEO, Ryan McInerney, reported that while the company processed over $200 million in stablecoin settlements, he views the technology as being in its early stages. Despite strong fiscal Q2 results with a 14% year-over-year revenue increase, the CEO noted that stablecoin adoption remains a relatively small portion of Visa's overall settlement volume. He emphasized that for stablecoins to achieve broader scale, a clearer and more pragmatic regulatory framework is essential, both in the US and globally.
The company is actively investing in stablecoin infrastructure to prepare for future growth, including its Visa Tokenized Asset Platform for banks to leverage programmable finance. Visa has also made strategic moves in the stablecoin space through partnerships and investments in companies like BVNK and Bridge to offer stablecoin services in various regions, including Latin America. While the total volume of stablecoin transactions is still modest compared to Visa's daily volumes, industry experts believe that with clearer regulations, the sector is poised for significant growth in the coming decade. Source
Markethive's business model is designed to create a stable, diversified, and predictable revenue stream that is not solely dependent on the volatile cryptocurrency market. The company’s financial stability is built upon a strategic blend of traditional and blockchain-based revenue sources. A core component of this model is its subscription services, which offer tiered access to a comprehensive suite of marketing and broadcasting tools for entrepreneurs. These recurring fees provide a consistent income stream, supporting long-term planning and platform development. Additionally, Markethive generates revenue through premium feature upgrades, enabling users to unlock advanced functionalities and exclusive tools.
The platform's native crypto token, Hivecoin, is directly tied to the economic activity within the Markethive ecosystem. The token serves as the primary medium of exchange, and users are incentivized to use it by receiving discounts on services. This approach links the value of Hivecoin to real-world value creation on the platform. The company's strategic blend of traditional and innovative approaches also includes a unique commitment to its Entrepreneur One members, who receive a monthly payout of 25% of Markethive's net revenue through the Incentivized Loan Procurement (ILP) program, establishing them as genuine stakeholders in the platform's success. Source
India's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND) has initiated an investigation into the global crypto exchange Binance over concerns regarding potential loopholes in cross-border digital asset transfers. The investigation, which involves the Enforcement Directorate (ED), is particularly focused on unusual wallet-to-wallet transactions linked to accounts in Pakistan and recipients in sensitive regions of India, such as Jammu and Kashmir. Authorities are worried that these unregulated and hard-to-track transfers could be used for illicit funding, money laundering, or even for financing terrorism and separatist activities.
This increased regulatory scrutiny is part of a broader trend in India to tighten oversight of cryptocurrency exchanges. While Binance had recently re-entered the Indian market after resolving compliance issues, including paying a fine and registering with the FIU-IND, some of its bank accounts have been frozen as part of the ongoing investigation. The probe highlights the global challenges posed by the anonymity of crypto wallets and the need for stricter regulations to combat financial crimes, aligning with international efforts to balance innovation with financial integrity. Source
The trading platform eToro is planning to launch tokenized versions of the 100 most popular US stocks and ETFs as ERC-20 tokens on the Ethereum blockchain. This initiative will allow users to trade these assets 24/5 and eventually transfer them off the platform for self-custody or use in decentralized finance protocols. According to eToro's CEO, Yoni Assia, the move is part of the company's commitment to tokenization, which he believes will democratize finance by providing more transparency and control. This is not eToro's first foray into tokenization, as it previously launched tokenized versions of gold and silver in 2019.
eToro's announcement comes as the broader trend of tokenizing real-world assets is gaining significant momentum. Other major players, including Robinhood and Backed Finance, have also recently launched similar tokenization initiatives. While tokenized stocks currently make up a small fraction of the total tokenized real-world asset market, many in the industry are optimistic about its growth potential. Experts believe the market for tokenized assets could become a trillion-dollar industry, with tokenized stocks having considerable room for expansion. Source
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has approved a new rule allowing in-kind creations and redemptions for cryptocurrency exchange-traded products, or ETPs. This decision permits authorized participants to exchange shares directly for the underlying crypto assets, such as Bitcoin or Ether, instead of cash. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins stated that this move is a key priority of his chairmanship and aims to create a "fit-for-purpose regulatory framework" for the crypto market. The new rule is expected to make crypto ETPs more efficient and less costly for issuers, participants, and investors by reducing transaction costs and avoiding the need to sell assets on the open market during redemptions.
This approval is a significant shift from the SEC's previous stance, which had only allowed cash redemptions for spot crypto ETFs when they were first approved in 2024. The change reflects a broader, pro-crypto policy trend, which has gained momentum following the Trump administration's commitment to supporting the crypto sector. The move aligns crypto ETPs with the operational standards of other commodity-based ETPs and comes amidst growing demand for these products, with US spot Bitcoin ETFs recording substantial inflows and BlackRock's Ethereum ETF quickly reaching a significant milestone in assets under management. Source
The article argues that Web 3.0 founders must fundamentally change their approach to survive and thrive, as the AI industry has demonstrated a superior ability to innovate and capture market share. Web 3.0's emphasis on decentralization has led to a fragmented ecosystem of thousands of projects, many of which lack a clear solution to a real-world problem. This has made it difficult for investors and the public to distinguish between legitimate projects and those driven by hype or scams. In contrast, AI companies are focused on building groundbreaking technology from the ground up, and the market has quickly identified a few centralized powerhouses, such as OpenAI and Google, which are attracting the most capital and strategic partnerships.
The author contends that the idealism of Web 3.0's decentralization is proving to be at odds with reality, and the quest for democratized value creation has stalled. To succeed, Web 3.0 companies must pivot from their reliance on social media promotion and focus on delivering tangible utility. This new strategy involves seeking partnerships with established tech giants and Fortune 500 companies that control vast resources and data. The article suggests that the most successful blockchains of the future will be those that integrate with traditional financial and technology systems to provide practical solutions like supply chain tracking, rather than competing in a fragmented and self-contained ecosystem. Source
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed a civil forfeiture complaint to seize approximately $2.3 million in Bitcoin. These funds are alleged to be the proceeds of money laundering and ransomware attacks carried out by a member of a newly identified group known as Chaos. The FBI's Dallas division successfully seized the 20.3 Bitcoin in April from a member of the group, identified as "Hors," who is linked to several attacks, including some against residents in Texas. The civil complaint, which is a legal action against the property itself rather than a person, details how the government was able to access the funds from a Bitcoin wallet using a recovery seed phrase. The Bitcoin is currently held in a government-controlled wallet.
Chaos, which cybersecurity experts believe emerged in February, operates as a ransomware-as-a-service group. It provides cross-platform software to affiliates who encrypt victims' data and then demand a ransom payment in cryptocurrency, often threatening to leak confidential information. The DOJ's action in this case represents the government's growing success in disrupting ransomware-related crypto flows. The largest seizure of this kind remains the Bitcoin tied to the infamous Silk Road marketplace, which amounted to 69,370 BTC. 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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