Coin360 weekly crypto news, cryptocurrency updates, market movement

Coin360 weekly crypto news

Coin360 Weekly Dispatch | Crypto Market Updates & Highlights | February 1-7, 2026

<h2>SAFU Fund Executes Multi-Day Bitcoin Conversion as Market Volatility Persists</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Binance completed a 3,600 BTC purchase for its SAFU fund on February 6, 2026, using $250 million in stablecoins.</li><li>Total SAFU Bitcoin holdings reached 6,230 BTC following a two-day, 2,630 BTC conversion earlier in February.</li><li>The moves are part of a previously announced plan to convert a $1 billion SAFU reserve into Bitcoin within 30 days.</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr><a href="https://coin360.com/review/binance">Binance</a> completed the&nbsp;<a href="https://intel.arkm.com/explorer/address/1BAuq7Vho2CEkVkUxbfU26LhwQjbCmWQkD">purchase</a> of 3,600&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a> for its Secure Asset Fund for Users on February 6, 2026, converting approximately $233 million in&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a> as part of an ongoing reserve restructuring. The exchange confirmed the transaction publicly, <a href="https://x.com/binance/status/2019738114454086105">stating</a>, “completed the purchase of 3600&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">BTC</a> for the SAFU Fund, amounting to 250M USD stablecoins,” adding that “our SAFU BTC&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/address">address</a> now holds 6230 #BTC.” The acquisition brought the emergency fund’s total Bitcoin balance to 6,230 BTC, with on-chain records reflecting the transfer on the same date.<figure class="image"><img alt="Image-100-1536x617.webp" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Image_100_1536x617_58cc7c48df.webp"></figure>The latest purchase followed an earlier two-day conversion sequence on February 2 and February 4, during which Binance added a combined&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/news/binance-safu-2630-btc-two-day-bitcoin-conversion">2,630 BTC</a> to the SAFU fund. The first tranche involved roughly 1,315 BTC valued near $100 million, with a second transaction adding another 1,315 BTC worth about $100.42 million. Those purchases occurred while Bitcoin traded within a $74,000 to $76,000 range, according to a&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index tracking broader crypto price movements and coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> fluctuations during that period.Binance had disclosed on January 30, 2026, that it would convert its entire SAFU reserve, valued at $1 billion, from stablecoins into Bitcoin within a 30-day window. The exchange indicated the conversion would be executed incrementally rather than as a single transaction, estimating an average pace of roughly $33 million per day to limit market disruption. At that rate, the plan implied the potential acquisition of approximately 11,900 BTC by early March if fully executed within the stated timeframe.The SAFU fund, established in July 2018, serves as an emergency insurance pool funded through trading fees to protect users during extreme events, including security breaches. Binance previously reported the fund reached a valuation of $1 billion by January 2022. The exchange has also stated it would rebalance the fund if its Bitcoin value fell below $800 million due to market fluctuations, committing to additional purchases to restore the reserve toward its target level.On-chain monitoring firms observed that the February transactions marked the first significant Bitcoin additions to the SAFU fund in nearly two years. The staged conversions took place amid heightened volatility across the crypto price landscape, with broader crypto price index measures reflecting sharp intraday swings and shifting coin market cap totals across major digital assets.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Binance SAFU executes Bitcoin purchase impacting crypto price stability

Binance Deploys $250M From SAFU Fund to Buy 3,600 Bitcoin

This week’s prediction market sector recap shows regulators easing, platforms scaling fast, and TradFi, crypto exchanges, and startups converging on event-based trading. Volumes are exploding, U.S. oversight is fragmenting, and product innovation is accelerating, turning prediction markets from fringe experiments into a contested financial battleground with global implications emerging quickly.<hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr><h2>CFTC Reverses Ban on Political Event Contracts, Signals New Direction for Prediction Markets</h2>The U.S. Commodity&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/futures-contract">Futures</a> Trading Commission (CFTC) is reversing its prior ban on political event contracts at prediction market firms like Kalshi and Polymarket. Chairman Mike Selig announced the withdrawal of a 2024 proposal equating these contracts with illicit activities, stating it was grounded in "merit regulation." Selig aims for new rulemaking that aligns with the Commodity Exchange Act and fosters innovation. This shift follows increased interest in prediction markets, particularly under the Trump administration, and hints at the CFTC's pivotal role in overseeing digital assets as Congress negotiates a broader crypto market structure.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Polymarket Files “POLY” Token Trademark, $7.7B Volume; Teams with Circle to Shift to Native USDC Settlement</h2>Polymarket filed U.S. trademarks for a “POLY/$POLY” token on February 4, 2026, aims to expand governance/staking roles and reported $7.7 B monthly trading volume, while polygon-based markets and 15-minute fee markets show strong fees and activity growth. Circle Internet Group partnered with Polymarket, to transition from bridged&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/usd-coin-usdc">USDC</a>.e to native USDC settlement, strengthening dollar-denominated on-chain infrastructure and enhancing market integrity, with rollout in the coming months; this has driven increased USDC demand and institutional interest across prediction market ecosystems.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Kalshi Seeks US Margin-Trading Approval and Taps Sleeper’s 10M Users to Drive $800M+ Super Bowl Prediction Market Volume</h2>Kalshi filed for U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission approval to offer margin trading to institutional investors, shifting from fully-collateralized contracts and seeking broader participation while adding an independent surveillance audit committee to monitor manipulation. The platform also integrated prediction markets into Sleeper’s app, aiming to expose its regulated event contracts to 10 million users ahead of Super Bowl 60, with annualized volume on Kalshi above $115 billion and the pro football market projected over $800 million in trades.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Jupiter Integrates Polymarket, Bringing On-Chain Prediction Markets to Solana DEX</h2><a href="https://coin360.com/coin/jupiter-space-station-jup">Jupiter</a>, a&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/solana-sol">Solana</a>-based&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/dex-aggregators">DEX aggregator</a>, has integrated Polymarket, marking the introduction of on-chain prediction markets within its platform. This integration establishes Jupiter as a potential central hub for prediction markets on Solana, combining its robust DEX infrastructure with event-based trading capabilities. Polymarket has become one of the leading prediction platforms, offering diverse markets covering politics, macroeconomic events, sports, and culture. Notably, despite facing stiff competition from Kalshi, Polymarket has seen significant growth, reporting an impressive $7.7 billion in trading volumes for January, reflecting escalating interest in event contract trading among users.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Cboe Plans to Revive Binary Options to Compete in Booming Prediction Market</h2>Cboe Global Markets is considering relaunching "all-or-nothing" binary options to tap into the booming prediction market sector, where Kalshi and Polymarket achieved a record $17 billion trading volume in January 2026. The proposed fixed-return contracts would pay a set amount or expire worthless, appealing to retail investors. Cboe previously discontinued these options in 2008 due to lack of traction and regulatory scrutiny. Cboe plans a rigorous compliance framework for the new contracts, which aim to attract new traders. Kalshi and Polymarket's volumes increased significantly, illustrating the growing mainstream visibility and capital within prediction markets.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Hyperliquid Launches "Outcomes" Feature to Enter Prediction Markets Amid Growing Demand</h2><a href="https://coin360.com/review/hyperliquid">Hyperliquid</a> is introducing a new "Outcomes" feature on testnet through its HIP-4 upgrade, aiming to expand from&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/understanding-crypto-perpetual-futures">perpetual</a> trading into prediction markets and limited-risk options. This framework offers fully collateralized contracts akin to binary options but eliminates leverage, margin calls, and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/understanding-liquidation-crypto-trading-guide">liquidation</a> risks. The rollout coincides with rising popularity in prediction markets, attracting interest from major exchanges like&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/coinbase">Coinbase</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/exchange/table">Gemini</a>, which compete with platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi. Outcomes will utilize Hyperliquid's USDH stablecoin and operate on its high-performance HyperCore execution engine, responding to increasing user demand for flexible, safe trading products.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Crypto.com Launches OG App for Prediction Markets as Volumes Soar to $17.5 Billion</h2><a href="https://coin360.com/exchange/crypto_com">Crypto.com</a> has launched a standalone app, OG, for prediction markets, capitalizing on growing interest with monthly trading volumes reaching nearly $17.5 billion in January 2026, up from $2 billion last August. The new platform targets U.S. users and focuses on contracts related to financial, political, cultural, and entertainment events, especially sports. CEO Nick Lundgren leads OG through Crypto.com’s U.S. derivatives arm, which is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. The app also plans to introduce margin and leveraged trading, marking a first for federally regulated prediction markets in the U.S., despite facing state-level regulatory challenges.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Coinbase Predict Launch Triggers Nevada Lawsuit Over Alleged Unlicensed Sports Betting</h2>Coinbase launched Coinbase Predict on Feb. 4, 2026, rolling out a nationwide, event-based trading platform embedded in its main app, enabling U.S. users to trade “yes/no” contracts on politics, sports, crypto, macro data, and culture, priced from $0 to $1 with $1 minimum trades, funded via USD or USDC, and built with CFTC-regulated Kalshi, as part of CEO Brian Armstrong’s “Everything Exchange” strategy targeting a $37 billion prediction market sector. This week, the Nevada Gaming Control Board filed a civil lawsuit, alleging Coinbase’s sports-linked contracts constitute unlicensed gambling under state law, seeking an injunction despite Coinbase arguing exclusive federal oversight.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Gemini Exits Europe and Australia, Shifting Focus to U.S. Prediction Markets Amid Workforce Cuts</h2>Gemini Space Station Inc. is ceasing operations in the U.K., EU, and Australia, cutting its workforce by 25% to concentrate on prediction markets in the U.S. Effective April 6, 2026, customer accounts in these regions will be withdrawn, after transitioning through eToro for asset transfer. The Winklevoss twins predict that prediction markets could surpass capital markets, revealing plans to launch their own marketplace, having already recorded over $24 million in trades from 10,000 users since December. Their shift responds to challenges abroad, asserting that the U.S. remains a vital market for Gemini's future growth and innovation.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Opinion Raises $20M in Series A to Expand Leading Decentralized Prediction Market Ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup</h2>Opinion, a decentralized prediction exchange, has raised $20 million in Series A funding, led by prominent firms like Hack VC and Jump Crypto. The platform, which launched in late 2025, has generated over $13 million in fees, distinguishing itself with a "macro-first" strategy focusing on central bank decisions, CPI data, and geopolitical events. Utilizing an on-chain orderbook and AI for event resolution, it provides real-time sentiment indicators for researchers and hedge funds. Performing robustly on the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/binance-coin-bnb">BNB</a> Chain, Opinion controls one-third of global prediction market trading volume, with open interest exceeding $130 million, aiming to expand ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Prediction markets regulation shifts as institutional barriers lift across US finance

Prediction Market Sector Weekly Recap: Regulation Softens as Volumes Surge and Platforms Converge

<h2>Public Crypto Treasuries Sink Below Cost as Bitcoin Slides Toward $60,000 and Ethereum Breaks $2,000</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Public crypto treasury firms reported more than $25 billion in combined unrealized losses as of Feb. 5–6, 2026.</li><li>Strategy disclosed $9.2 billion in Bitcoin paper losses while BitMine reported up to $8.4 billion tied to Ethereum.</li><li>Executives said insolvency risk remains remote unless extreme price scenarios persist for years.</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>Publicly listed crypto treasury firms disclosed deepening&nbsp;<a href="https://app.artemisanalytics.com/digital-asset-treasuries">unrealized losses</a> across&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a> holdings as sharp declines in&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> dragged balance sheets below cost basis during the first week of February. Data compiled across multiple reports published between Feb. 5 and Feb. 6, 2026 showed aggregate paper losses exceeding $25 billion among companies whose primary strategy centers on accumulating digital assets rather than operating crypto infrastructure. The downturn coincided with steep weekly declines across major assets tracked by the crypto price index and followed heavy selling pressure across the broader coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a>.<figure class="image"><img alt="Screenshot 2026-02-06 190618.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_2026_02_06_190618_27db5917b5.png"></figure>Strategy reported the largest single paper loss among publicly traded crypto treasuries, with approximately $9.2 billion in unrealized losses tied to its Bitcoin holdings as of Feb. 5. The figure came after Bitcoin fell about 24% over seven days and roughly 13% in a 24-hour period, dropping to the $60,000 level at the time referenced in the reports. Strategy disclosed on Feb. 3 that it purchased&nbsp;855 Bitcoin for $75.3 million at an average price of $87,974, bringing total holdings to 713,502 Bitcoin acquired for approximately $54.26 billion at a blended average cost of $76,052.<figure class="image"><img alt="Screenshot 2026-02-06 191733.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_2026_02_06_191733_b7565a2269.png"></figure>Market pressure intensified as Strategy’s equity traded below the net asset value of its Bitcoin holdings, according to a separate report dated Feb. 6, limiting the company’s ability to raise capital without dilution. However, Strategy executive Phong Le&nbsp;<a href="https://www.strategy.com/press/strategy-announces-fourth-quarter-2025-financial-results_02-05-2026">said</a> the company would only face existential risk if Bitcoin were to crash to roughly $8,000 and remain at that level for multiple years, adding that current price levels did not threaten immediate insolvency.BitMine Immersion Technologies reported the second-largest unrealized losses among crypto treasury firms, tied primarily to Ethereum. One report dated Feb. 5 said BitMine was sitting on approximately $8.4 billion in paper losses after Ethereum dropped below $2,000, triggering an 8% decline in the company’s shares. Previously, a disclosure published Feb. 3 stated BitMine had expanded its Ethereum holdings to 4.285 million tokens, representing about 3.55% of circulating supply, while reporting $6.6 billion in unrealized losses as prices remained under pressure.BitMine chairman Tom Lee <a href="https://coin360.com/news/strategy-bitcoin-buy-bitmine-ethereum-unrealized-losses">rejected criticism</a> that the firm’s losses signaled structural weakness, saying drawdowns were “a feature, not a bug” of an Ethereum treasury strategy during market downturns. Lee said critics labeling the company “exit liquidity” misunderstood how long-duration exposure was intended to perform across full market cycles. The company reported total crypto and cash holdings of roughly $10.7 billion prior to the latest selloff, according to figures cited in the reports.Losses extended beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum-focused firms, with treasury companies holding&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/solana-sol">Solana</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/hyperliquid">Hyperliquid</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/binance-coin-bnb">BNB</a> also posting sizable unrealized declines. Data referenced in the reports showed more than $1 billion in paper losses at a Solana-focused treasury firm and over $100 million combined among companies holding Hyperliquid and BNB. Analysts quoted in the coverage said the downturn highlighted risks inherent in leveraged treasury models as falling crypto price and shrinking equity premiums constrained financing options across the sector.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot resists falling crypto price index amid institutional treasury stress

Crypto Treasury Losses Mount as Strategy, BitMine Report Billions in Unrealized Declines Amid Bitcoin, Ethereum Selloff

<h2>Exchange Operator Details Tokenized Cash Rollout Timeline and Institutional Collateral Use Case</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>CME Group is developing a tokenized cash product with Google for use as derivatives and crypto collateral.</li><li>CEO Terrence Duffy said the initiative could include a so-called “CME Coin,” stressing infrastructure over retail crypto.</li><li>The product is expected to roll out this year, with comments made public on February 4, 2026.</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>CME Group is developing a&nbsp;<a href="https://seekingalpha.com/article/4865794-cme-group-inc-cme-q4-2025-earnings-call-transcript">tokenized cash</a> instrument in collaboration with Google that could be used as collateral across derivatives and crypto-related markets, according to comments from Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Terrence Duffy reported on February 4, 2026. Duffy said the exchange operator is actively evaluating tokenized collateral solutions and confirmed the product is designed to function inside regulated market infrastructure rather than as a freely circulating digital asset. He described the initiative as part of CME’s broader “weighing of tokenized collateral” efforts tied to clearing and settlement operations.Duffy said the tokenized cash product could be informally referred to as a “CME Coin,” while stopping short of confirming an official product name. He said the concept is not intended to resemble a retail stablecoin and would instead be used within CME’s own ecosystem for margining and collateral purposes. The collaboration with Google centers on building the underlying technology and infrastructure needed to support the tokenized cash instrument inside CME’s existing market structure.CME said the tokenized cash coin is expected to roll out this year, with the exchange positioning it as a tool to improve collateral efficiency for institutional participants. The company did not disclose issuance size, blockchain network selection, or specific asset classes that would initially support the product. CME also did not provide details on custody arrangements or whether the token would operate on a permissioned system.The initiative places CME among a growing group of large financial institutions exploring blockchain-based representations of cash for institutional use. Duffy said the effort is focused on operational efficiency within derivatives markets rather than launching a new crypto trading product. CME operates one of the world’s largest regulated derivatives exchanges and has expanded its digital asset offerings in recent years while maintaining its existing clearinghouse framework.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Google blockchain infrastructure supports CME tokenized cash collateral operations

CME Group Advances Tokenized Cash Plans With Google Partnership, CEO Floats “CME Coin” for Crypto Collateral

<h2>Two-Day SAFU Bitcoin Accumulation Reaches $201 Million as Binance Publishes On-Chain Proof</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Binance converted about $201 million of its SAFU reserves into Bitcoin across two batches, totaling 2,630 BTC.</li><li>The purchases are part of a 30-day plan to shift a $1 billion user protection fund from stablecoins to Bitcoin.</li><li>The move unfolded amid market volatility and public debate over exchange risk management and liquidity stress.</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr><a href="https://coin360.com/review/binance">Binance</a> began executing a&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/news/binance-safu-bitcoin-okx-usde-liquidity-crash">planned conversion</a> of its $1 billion Secure Asset Fund for Users into&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a> on February 2, 2026, marking the first stage of a 30-day reallocation strategy previously disclosed on January 30. The exchange initiated the process with a Bitcoin purchase of approximately 1,315&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">BTC</a> valued at roughly $100 million, transferring the assets to its publicly known SAFU&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/crypto-wallets">wallet</a>&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/address">address</a>, 1BAuq7Vho2CEkVkUxbfU26LhwQjbCmWQkD, according to on-chain data referenced in public disclosures tied to the fund’s activity.A second Bitcoin purchase of a similar size followed on February 4, adding another roughly 1,315 BTC valued at about $100.42 million, bringing the total accumulation across two days to 2,630 BTC worth approximately $201.12 million.&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/blockchain">Blockchain</a> analytics firm&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/arkham-arkm">Arkham</a> identified the transactions and linked them directly to Binance’s SAFU address, confirming the staged execution of the reserve conversion during a period when Bitcoin was trading in a range between $74,000 and $76,000 per coin.Binance&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/binance/status/2018947297967788387">acknowledged</a> completion of the second tranche in a public statement, writing, “Binance has completed the second batch of Bitcoin conversion for the SAFU Fund, amounting to 100M USD&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a>. Our SAFU BTC address: 1BAuq7Vho2CEkVkUxbfU26LhwQjbCmWQkD. TXID: …” with the message published on February 4. The exchange has stated that the SAFU conversion will continue in smaller increments rather than a single large purchase to limit immediate market impact on&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> data tracked across the crypto price index and broader coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> benchmarks.<figure class="image"><img alt="tweet-2018947297967788387.webp" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/tweet_2018947297967788387_2a0f625811.webp"></figure>The two-day accumulation represents roughly 20% of the total $1 billion target for the SAFU restructuring, leaving the majority of the fund’s conversion scheduled for subsequent daily purchases over the remainder of the 30-day period. Binance has said the fund will be replenished if its total value falls below $800 million, committing to restore it to $1 billion, a policy intended to maintain the size of the user protection reserve during periods of market drawdowns.The SAFU fund was originally established to protect users in the event of extreme losses such as security breaches or system failures and had been held primarily in stablecoins prior to the current transition. Binance has positioned Bitcoin as the core reserve asset under the revised structure, citing transparency through publicly verifiable wallet addresses and transaction identifiers that allow independent tracking of the fund’s movements.The reserve shift unfolded against a backdrop of heightened market stress, with industry figures citing a $250 billion contraction across the digital asset sector tied to tightening U.S. dollar liquidity conditions. Separately, the chief executive of&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/okx">OKX</a> publicly alleged that Binance’s&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethena-usde-usde">USDe</a> yield product contributed to leverage buildup ahead of an October 10, 2025 market crash, comments that surfaced as exchanges faced renewed scrutiny over risk controls and liquidity practices during periods of sharp crypto price fluctuations.Binance’s SAFU Bitcoin accumulation has drawn attention from traders monitoring exchange reserves and institutional flows, particularly as consistent daily purchases introduce a steady source of spot demand visible on-chain. The exchange has not indicated any deviation from its published schedule, and all SAFU-related Bitcoin movements to date have been conducted through the same publicly identified address, with transaction data available for verification alongside broader crypto price index movements and changes in overall coin market cap metrics.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Binance SAFU robot secures Bitcoin reserves amid crypto price index shift

Binance SAFU Adds 2,630 Bitcoin in Two Days as $1 Billion Fund Shifts From Stablecoins

<h2>Data Shows Most Ethereum Rollups Underused as Vitalik Challenges Original L2 Rationale</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>More than 80% of 135 Ethereum layer-2 networks process under 1 user operation per second, while Arbitrum and Base handle about 90% of all rollup activity.</li><li>Vitalik Buterin said on Feb. 3, 2026 that “most existing Layer 2s no longer have a clear purpose,” calling the idea of “the same chain everywhere” effectively over.</li><li>Nearly all rollup value remains short of full decentralization, with 91.5% at Stage 1, 8.5% at Stage 0, and about 0.01% at Stage 2, which Buterin described as “basically empty.”</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr><a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a>’s layer-2 landscape faced renewed scrutiny in early February after base-layer transaction fees fell faster than many scaling roadmaps anticipated, weakening the long-standing assumption that Ethereum would remain structurally expensive. Vitalik Buterin&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/VitalikButerin/status/2018711006394843585">said</a> on Feb. 3, 2026 that “most existing Layer 2s no longer have a clear purpose,” tying the reassessment to lower Ethereum fees and slow progress toward fully decentralized rollups. He added that the long-promoted vision of “the same chain everywhere” no longer fits current technical and economic realities.Usage data released on Feb. 4, 2026 shows that more than 80% of 135 tracked Ethereum layer-2 networks record fewer than 1 user operation per second on a daily average basis. Only about 27 networks exceed that threshold, while roughly 109 networks operate below it, using user operations per second as a proxy for actual demand rather than theoretical capacity. The figures describe a landscape where many deployed rollups see minimal sustained activity.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/l2beat_1a4e7a64ac.webp" alt="l2beat.webp"></figure>Despite an aggregate scaling factor cited at roughly 97×, transaction flow remains heavily concentrated.&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/arbitrum-arb">Arbitrum</a> and Base together process approximately 90% of all Ethereum layer-2 activity, according to the same dataset. The concentration mirrors value distribution across the ecosystem, with the three largest rollups controlling about 71% of total rollup value, leaving a long tail of networks with limited liquidity and usage.Liquidity figures further outline the imbalance. Ethereum’s base layer holds around $68 billion in total value locked, compared with roughly $50 billion across all layer-2 networks combined. Several rollups were described as relying primarily on incentive programs to maintain activity, while Base was cited as frequently recording more daily users than Ethereum itself due to lower transaction costs and consumer-oriented onboarding.The discussion around decentralization centers on a stage framework used to classify rollups. Stage 0 rollups retain heavy reliance on centralized actors and emergency controls, Stage 1 rollups implement proof systems and partial safeguards but still depend on governance councils or upgrade keys, and Stage 2 rollups are defined as having “no training wheels,” with critical safety guarantees enforced by code rather than discretionary intervention. Distribution data places 91.5% of rollup value in Stage 1, 8.5% in Stage 0, and about 0.01% in Stage 2, which Buterin described as “basically empty.”Buterin linked the slow transition toward Stage 2 to both technical difficulty and governance inertia, noting that many rollups still maintain upgrade paths that can bypass delays or rely on small security councils. He said some projects labeled as layer-2 networks would be more accurately described as separate chains connected by bridges, arguing that security assumptions diverge materially from Ethereum’s base layer in those cases.Criticism of rollup guarantees extended beyond decentralization stages. One developer said, “Using&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/zksync-zk">ZK</a> to prove offchain compute does NOT make&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/decentralised-application">dapps</a> ‘unstoppable.’ Transformed data must be unlosable/replicated…”, raising concerns about data availability and long-term accessibility even when&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/zero-knowledge-proof">zero-knowledge proofs</a> are used. The statement was cited in discussions about whether cryptographic proofs alone are sufficient to inherit Ethereum-level security.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.65%;"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/tweet_2019006465747333134_20260205_101155_via_10015_io_bc85d84460.webp" alt="tweet_2019006465747333134_20260205_101155_via_10015_io.webp"></figure>Views across the ecosystem diverged on what role layer-2 networks should play as Ethereum scales. Some builders argued that layer-2s remain necessary for latency-sensitive applications and execution environments not addressed by the base layer. Others emphasized consumer adoption over raw throughput, with one industry figure stating, “Finance brought crypto this far. Entertainment brings everyone else onchain.”<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.66%;"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/tweet_2018868301917774180_20260205_101315_via_10015_io_20bda004bb.webp" alt="tweet_2018868301917774180_20260205_101315_via_10015_io.webp"></figure>Buterin also referenced research directions under discussion, including native verification modules and based rollups designed to improve composability and security guarantees. He noted these ideas remain conceptual rather than deployed as of Feb. 4, 2026, and should not be treated as near-term protocol changes.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Ethereum scaling debate highlights latency and MEV constraints for L2s

Ethereum Layer-2 Usage, Decentralization, and Identity Questioned as Fees Fall and Activity Concentrates

<h2>SpaceX–xAI Deal Reshapes Musk’s Wealth, Crypto Hiring, Market Reactions, and Regulatory Tensions</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Elon Musk’s net worth surged to $852 billion after SpaceX absorbed xAI, creating a combined entity valued at $1.25 trillion.</li><li>xAI launched a crypto-focused hiring push while Dogecoin rose 1.7% despite broader crypto weakness.</li><li>French political warnings and tech-sector backlash added geopolitical pressure around Musk-linked platforms.</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>Elon Musk’s net worth climbed to an estimated $852 billion after SpaceX announced the absorption of his artificial intelligence firm xAI, marking the first time an individual has exceeded the $800 billion threshold, according to Forbes estimates. The transaction added about $84 billion to Musk’s personal fortune and followed a Monday evening disclosure that the combined SpaceX–xAI entity would carry an estimated valuation of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/musks-spacex-merge-with-xai-combined-valuation-125-trillion-bloomberg-news-2026-02-02/">$1.25 trillion</a>. The increase placed Musk hundreds of billions of dollars ahead of other global billionaires and reset the top of global wealth rankings.SpaceX accounts for roughly $1 trillion of the combined valuation, while xAI contributes about $250 billion following recent private funding rounds. Musk is estimated to own around 43% of the merged company, valuing his stake at approximately $542 billion. Prior to the merger, Musk held close to 42% of SpaceX, and a December tender offer valued the rocket company at $800 billion, implying a stake worth about $336 billion at that time. His separate 49% holding in xAI had been valued at roughly $122 billion.Beyond the merged entity, Musk maintains exposure to Tesla through an ownership stake of about 12%, valued at $178 billion, alongside Tesla stock options estimated at $124 billion. Private-company valuations now represent the dominant share of his wealth as SpaceX’s revised valuation narrowed the gap with Tesla’s public&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market capitalization</a> of roughly $1.58 trillion. Forbes estimates show SpaceX has become Musk’s most valuable asset, overtaking Tesla as the largest contributor to his personal balance sheet.SpaceX generated approximately $15 billion in revenue last year, with historical profitability cited at about $8 billion in 2019, according to Reuters. Its operations include orbital launch services for government clients such as NASA and the U.S. Department of Defense, as well as the Starlink satellite internet network, which operates more than 9,000 satellites and serves an estimated 9 million customers worldwide. The scale of the infrastructure underpinned investor estimates used in the merger valuation.Parallel to the merger, xAI&nbsp;<a href="https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/xai/jobs/5040344007">opened a role</a> for a crypto quantitative expert as part of operational expansion. The job listing seeks specialists to generate annotated training data to teach AI models digital asset market mechanics, including derivatives trading, onchain analytics,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/decentralised-finance">DeFi</a> protocol analysis, MEV-aware execution, and cross-exchange arbitrage. Responsibilities include producing step-by-step reasoning data across text, voice, and video formats under a work-for-hire structure, with intellectual property owned by xAI.The hiring effort followed confirmation that the SpaceX–xAI combination was completed on February 2, 2026. Musk described the merged firm in a blog post as “the most ambitious, vertically-integrated innovation engine on (and off) Earth, with AI, rockets, space-based internet.” The recruitment move coincided with increased attention from crypto market participants tracking&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index movements, crypto price volatility, and shifts in coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> metrics linked to Musk-associated assets.Crypto markets showed mixed reactions during the same period.&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a> dipped toward $73,000 before rebounding above $76,000 as broader sentiment remained fragile.&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/dogecoin-doge">Dogecoin</a> moved in the opposite direction, posting a 1.7% gain over 24 hours following comments from Musk about putting a Dogecoin on the moon, even as weekly and monthly performance remained negative. The divergence occurred amid subdued activity across major assets and ongoing pressure visible across crypto price and coin market cap data.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.5%;"><img alt="tweet_2018586738999038103_20260205_064535_via_10015_io.webp" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/tweet_2018586738999038103_20260205_064535_via_10015_io_e05294255f.webp"></figure>Political tensions in Europe added another layer of scrutiny. A French politician&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/f_philippot/status/2018994620793836026?s=20">warned</a> on February 4, 2026, that Musk could be arrested if he travels to Paris, citing disputes between French authorities and Musk-owned platform X. The warning stated Musk would be jailed if he “makes the mistake of coming to France” after law-enforcement requests. Prosecutors have requested Musk and former CEO Linda Yaccarino to participate in "voluntary interviews" set for April 20. The episode escalated after Telegram founder Pavel Durov criticized France following police actions targeting social media platforms, calling the country “not a free country.”<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.27%;"><img alt="tweet_2018631767985664067_20260205_065150_via_10015_io.webp" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/tweet_2018631767985664067_20260205_065150_via_10015_io_4c2fc2f11c.webp"></figure>Musk’s ascent past $800 billion marked the fourth major wealth milestone achieved in recent months. He crossed $500 billion in October, $600 billion in mid-December after private investors valued SpaceX at $800 billion, and surpassed $700 billion days later following court developments related to Tesla stock options. The latest merger pushed his estimated wealth about $578 billion ahead of Google cofounder Larry Page, whose net worth stands at around $281 billion, according to Forbes.Market participants have also pointed to speculation that SpaceX is preparing for an initial public offering, a step that would expose its valuation to open-market pricing and regulatory review. No formal filing has been announced, and the company has not provided a timeline.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot merges SpaceX and xAI structures impacting crypto price index

Elon Musk’s Net Worth Jumps to $852 Billion as SpaceX Absorbs xAI in $1.25 Trillion Merger

<h2>UAE-Backed Stake in Trump Family Crypto Venture Raises Conflict Questions</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Trump-linked World Liberty Financial disclosed a major UAE-backed equity investment shortly before the 2026 inauguration.</li><li>Donald Trump publicly denied knowledge of the transaction, saying it was handled by his family.</li><li>The disclosure triggered political scrutiny and market pressure on the project’s associated token.</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr><a href="https://coin360.com/coin/world-liberty-financial-worldlibertyfinancial-com-wlfi">World Liberty Financial</a>, a cryptocurrency venture linked to the Trump family, was featured in&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/WSJ/status/2017820141967245388">reports</a> that say investors connected to the United Arab Emirates had committed $500 million for a 49% equity stake in the company. The confirmation followed earlier coverage by The Wall Street Journal and placed renewed attention on the firm’s ownership structure as Donald Trump entered his second presidential term. The company said the transaction was finalized shortly before Trump’s return to office and involved investors associated with senior Emirati leadership.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.4%;"><img alt="tweet_2017820141967245388_20260205_051140_via_10015_io.webp" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/tweet_2017820141967245388_20260205_051140_via_10015_io_8c209f7ed3.webp"></figure>World Liberty Financial was launched in late 2024 by Donald Trump’s sons alongside the sons of real estate developer and U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, with Trump and Witkoff listed as co-founders emeritus. The company said neither individual has operational involvement following Trump’s assumption of office. A spokesperson for the firm said, “We made the deal in question because we strongly believe that it was what was best for our company as we continue to grow,” adding that the investment was made independently of any government activity.The investors behind the transaction were reported to be linked to Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed al-Nahyan, the UAE’s national security adviser, with two figures from that network joining the company’s board following the deal. Reporting noted that the agreement was signed in January 2026, days before Trump’s second inauguration, a timing that has drawn attention as U.S. policy toward the UAE shifted weeks later, including changes to restrictions affecting advanced artificial intelligence chip exports.Donald Trump addressed the investment publicly on February 3, 2026,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Bitcoinblacck/status/2018467589744377983">distancing</a> himself from the transaction and denying direct knowledge of it. “I don’t know about it. My sons are handling that… my family is handling it. I guess they get investments from different people,” Trump said when asked about the reported deal. The White House has separately stated that Trump was not involved in the agreement and continues to perform his duties in an ethically sound manner.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.4%;"><img alt="tweet_2018467589744377983_20260205_051207_via_10015_io.webp" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/tweet_2018467589744377983_20260205_051207_via_10015_io_968de14f5f.webp"></figure>Additional reporting tied the World Liberty ecosystem to broader Gulf capital flows into the digital asset sector, including the use of the firm’s USD1 stablecoin by UAE-linked entities such as MGX and G42 in a $2 billion investment into&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/binance">Binance</a>. Critics cited the convergence of foreign capital, crypto infrastructure, and U.S. political leadership as grounds for further examination under existing ethics standards governing foreign influence.Market reaction followed the public disclosure, with data showing that the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/world-liberty-financial-worldlibertyfinancial-com-wlfi">WLFI</a>-associated token declined by more than 20%, briefly trading near $0.13, as investors assessed the political and governance risks surrounding the project. The outlet noted that the equity sale occurred while World Liberty Financial had not yet launched live products, and that the reported investor did not receive governance or token control rights as part of the transaction.Other outlets characterized the episode as damaging for the administration, citing documents reviewed by the Wall Street Journal that showed upfront payments of $187 million to Trump-linked entities and $31 million to affiliates connected to Witkoff as part of related arrangements. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren released a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.banking.senate.gov/newsroom/minority/statement-by-senator-elizabeth-warren-on-the-uaes-spy-sheikh-secret-stake-in-trump-crypto-company">statement</a> calling for action. "Congress needs to stand firm and put an end to Trump’s cryptocurrency corruption," Warren said. "The Trump administration should rescind its decision to sell critical AI chips to the United Arab Emirates." The disclosures have fueled ongoing debate among ethics experts and lawmakers over the intersection of private crypto ventures, foreign investment, and public office.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Trump crypto deal raises concerns over UAE foreign investment

Trump-Linked World Liberty Financial Draws $500 Million UAE Investment, Prompting Ethics Scrutiny and Public Denials

<h2>Banks, Crypto Firms, and Prosecutors Clash Over Stablecoin Rewards and Consumer Protections</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>White House meetings on stablecoin yield and the CLARITY Act ended without agreement amid sharp bank–crypto divisions</li><li>New York Attorney General Letitia James and four district attorneys criticized the GENIUS Act in a formal letter</li><li>Federal engagement intensified through a Trump-hosted crypto summit, with no policy changes announced</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>White House officials hosted multiple closed-door engagements with crypto companies, banking groups, and lawmakers during February 2–3, 2026, as disagreements over stablecoin rewards, regulatory authority, and consumer protections remained unresolved. Representatives from&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/coinbase">Coinbase</a>, crypto trade groups, and banking organizations met with senior administration officials to debate whether yield generated from stablecoin reserves should be permitted and which entities should be allowed to offer it. Banking representatives argued that interest-like rewards should be restricted to regulated deposit-taking institutions, while crypto advocates pushed for recognition of on-chain reward mechanisms distinct from traditional banking products, according to people familiar with the discussions.Participants from crypto advocacy groups described the White House meeting as “exactly the progress needed,” while acknowledging that the talks exposed deep structural disagreements between the two sides. A&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theblock.co/post/388106/inside-white-house-talks-crypto-banks-on-stablecoin-rewards-exactly-the-progress-needed">source</a> present at the meeting said bank representatives maintained a rigid stance, warning that allowing non-bank stablecoin rewards could undermine financial stability and encourage regulatory arbitrage. The meeting focused on whether third-party platforms or issuers should be permitted to distribute rewards derived from reserve assets, a question central to pending legislative frameworks tied to stablecoin oversight.White House officials separately attempted to mediate a dispute linked to the CLARITY Act later on February 3, 2026, bringing banks and crypto firms together to&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/address">address</a> the same yield-related questions. That session concluded without any formal agreement, with participants leaving key issues unresolved, including whether yield-bearing&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a> should be treated as deposits under federal law. Officials acted as facilitators rather than decision-makers, according to people briefed on the matter, as the disagreement continued to center on definitions of permissible activity under existing and proposed statutes.Donald Trump hosted a two-hour, behind-the-scenes crypto summit at the White House on February 3, 2026, convening industry executives and Wall Street leaders alongside policymakers. Discussions covered stablecoins, market structure, and the broader U.S. approach to digital assets, according to attendees, though no policy announcements followed the meeting. Industry participants described the summit as a signal of heightened federal engagement with the sector, while noting that uncertainty around stablecoin regulation remained unresolved following the discussions.State-level opposition to federal stablecoin policy intensified at the same time, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James. A letter sent last week to key Democratic lawmakers and signed by James and four New York district attorneys warned that the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act leaves fraud victims with limited avenues for restitution. “Since being signed into law, the Genius Act has provided stablecoins and stablecoin issuers the imprimatur of legitimacy, while still allowing issuers to avoid significant regulatory requirements that are needed to combat financing terrorism, drug trafficking, money laundering, and especially cryptocurrency fraud,” the letter stated.The GENIUS Act, signed into law last year by President Trump, requires stablecoins to be fully backed by U.S. dollars or similarly liquid assets and mandates annual audits for issuers with a&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market capitalization</a> exceeding $50 billion. New York prosecutors argued those provisions fall short, citing stablecoins’ role in illicit activity and the absence of explicit requirements compelling issuers such as Circle and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/tether-usdt">Tether</a> to return stolen funds. Prosecutors pointed to data estimating that 84% of all illicit crypto transaction volume in 2025 involved stablecoins, according to a cited report.Federal agencies have entered the implementation phase of the GENIUS Act, drafting rules to operationalize its requirements while facing ongoing criticism from state regulators. White House-facilitated talks during early February underscored the divide between efforts to establish national standards and demands from prosecutors for stronger enforcement mechanisms. Discussions across the meetings ended without consensus, according to people briefed on the sessions, as debates over stablecoin yield, banking competition, and consumer protection remained unresolved.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

White House stablecoin yield conflict blocks progress between banks and crypto

White House Crypto Talks Stall on Stablecoin Yield as GENIUS Act Draws State Pushback

<h2>Family Offices Cut Crypto Allocations, Banks De-Risk, and Liquidity Tightens Across Digital Asset Markets</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>JPMorgan data shows most family offices hold no crypto exposure, prioritizing artificial intelligence over digital assets in 2026 allocations.</li><li>Nomura reduced crypto exposure after Q3 2025 losses, while Multicoin Capital co-founder Kyle Samani stepped back to focus on AI and robotics.</li><li>Digital asset investment products have lost $73 billion since October 2025, with crypto prices pressured as volumes fall back to 2024 levels.</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>Family offices managing ultra-high-net-worth capital have sharply limited their exposure to digital assets, according to JPMorgan’s 2026&nbsp;<a href="https://assets.jpmprivatebank.com/content/dam/jpm-pb-aem/global/en/documents/2026-family-office-report/jp-morgan-private-bank-2026-global-family-office-report.pdf">Global Family Office Report</a> published in early February 2026. The survey covered 333 family offices across more than 30 countries, each overseeing an average net worth of $1.6 billion. The data showed that 89% of respondents reported zero exposure to cryptocurrencies, while only 17% identified crypto and digital assets as a priority investment theme for 2026.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_2026_02_03_215228_5f2425d9d3.png" alt="Screenshot 2026-02-03 215228.png"></figure>Artificial intelligence emerged as the dominant allocation focus, with 65% of family offices ranking it as a top investment theme. Healthcare innovation followed at 50%, while infrastructure investments were cited by 41%. Average crypto exposure across surveyed portfolios stood at 0.4% of assets, with&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a> accounting for roughly 0.2%. Despite macro uncertainty, 72% of family offices reported holding no gold, even as nearly 20% cited geopolitical risk as their top concern and around 60% identified inflation as a major risk factor.<figure class="image"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_2026_02_03_215341_a23932cd43.png" alt="Screenshot 2026-02-03 215341.png"></figure>JPMorgan Global Head of Alternatives Kristin Kallergis Rowland said alternatives “are no longer a tactical complement but a strategic pillar.” Diverging institutional sentiment was also evident, as a separate&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/coinbase">Coinbase</a> and Glassnode survey of 148 institutional investors conducted between December 2025 and January 2026 found nearly 70% viewed Bitcoin as undervalued, while 62% maintained or increased exposure during recent sell-offs.Traditional financial institutions have also reduced risk. Nomura Holdings, Japan’s largest investment bank and wealth manager,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/jp/news/articles/2026-01-30/T9O9TRKJH6V700">cut</a> its crypto exposure following losses at its digital asset subsidiary during Q3 2025. The move centered on Laser Digital Holdings, Nomura’s Europe-based crypto unit. Nomura CFO Hiroyuki Moriuchi said the reduction reflected tighter risk controls while maintaining the firm’s medium- to long-term digital asset strategy. Nomura manages approximately ¥153 trillion in client assets, and its annual net income fell 9.7% to ¥91.6 billion for the quarter ended December 31, with overseas profits dropping about 70% to ¥16.3 billion.Kyle Samani, co-founder and managing partner of Multicoin Capital, has also stepped back from his full-time role at the crypto-focused venture firm to pursue new technology initiatives centered on artificial intelligence and robotics, adding to signs of shifting priorities among influential crypto investors. Multicoin confirmed the decision in a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/KyleSamani/status/2019154455082725861">blog post</a> published Wednesday and signed by co-founder Tushar Jain, Samani, and the broader Multicoin team, stating the transition followed a deliberate, long-term process rather than a sudden exit.&nbsp;Samani, who co-founded Multicoin more than eight years ago, helped shape the firm into a major crypto venture capital player through early, high-conviction investments, particularly across the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/solana-sol">Solana</a> ecosystem, and was a vocal advocate of high-performance blockchain infrastructure.&nbsp;Jain wrote that Samani’s interests gradually expanded beyond crypto toward artificial intelligence, robotics, and longevity research, where he now plans to spend more time investing and experimenting. Samani will remain involved in crypto through several roles, including continuing as chairman of Forward, serving on the board of cryptography-focused project Zama following its ZAMA token launch, and supporting Multicoin portfolio companies while making personal investments, especially those related to Solana.&nbsp;Samani has also remained active in U.S. policy discussions, including meetings with the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Crypto Task Force on staking exchange-traded funds and public support for the proposed Clarity Act, while maintaining that crypto will ultimately reshape the financial system over time.Market data compiled by&nbsp;<a href="https://researchblog.coinshares.com/volume-271-digital-asset-fund-flows-weekly-report-5ef571b816e5">CoinShares</a> shows that since the October 2025 price peaks, digital asset investment products have lost roughly $73 billion in assets. Investors withdrew about $1.7 billion from these products, resulting in a net negative global outflow of approximately $1 billion that erased year-to-date gains. Bitcoin products led the outflows, while short-<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">BTC</a> funds recorded inflows as hedging demand increased amid volatility and macro pressure.Selling pressure pushed Bitcoin below key psychological levels, with prices trading near nine-month lows around $78,000, while major&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/altcoin">altcoins</a> remained near multi-month bottoms. Exchange data showed spot trading volumes on major centralized platforms declined from roughly $2 trillion in October 2025 to about $1 trillion by late January and early February 2026. Bitcoin spot volumes on&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/binance">Binance</a> fell from about $200 billion to roughly $104 billion over the same period.CryptoQuant contributor Darkfost&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/Darkfost_Coc/status/2018398580596232236">said</a> the contraction has brought volume metrics back to their lowest levels since 2024. The decline in activity coincided with stablecoin outflows from exchanges and an estimated $10 billion reduction in total stablecoin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market capitalization</a>, tightening liquidity across trading venues. Reuters reported approximately $2.56 billion in Bitcoin liquidations in early February 2026 during cross-asset sell-offs.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.63%;"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/twittershots_Darkfost_Coc_2018398580596232236_cabca03490.webp" alt="twittershots-Darkfost_Coc-2018398580596232236.webp"></figure>Macro developments also weighed on sentiment. Analysts cited expectations for tighter monetary policy, a stronger U.S. dollar, and higher real yields following Donald Trump’s nomination of&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/news/trump-kevin-warsh-fed-chair-crypto-markets">Kevin Warsh</a> as U.S. Federal Reserve Chair. During the drawdown, Bitcoin briefly dipped below $75,000, representing a 37% decline from October 2025 highs, as&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a>, crypto price index measures, and overall coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> adjusted amid reduced risk appetite.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Family offices shift allocations as crypto price relevance declines

Institutional Crypto Exposure Retreats as $73B Exits Since October 2025 and Trading Volumes Slide to 2024 Levels

<h2>USDC Processes $8.4T as Stablecoin Flows Reverse and Bitcoin Trades Near $78K</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>January crypto settlement volumes crossed $10 trillion, driven primarily by USDC activity.</li><li>Exchange-held stablecoin liquidity flipped to net outflows as market cap contracted.</li><li>Bitcoin traded near the high-$70,000 range amid thinner stablecoin availability.</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr><a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">Stablecoin</a> transaction activity reached a new peak in January 2026, with total on-chain volume exceeding&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/peterschroederr/status/2018368699258790225">$10 trillion</a> during the month, according to aggregated blockchain data cited in industry reports released on February 3, 2026.&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/usd-coin-usdc">USD Coin</a> accounted for more than $8.4 trillion of that figure, making it the dominant settlement asset across centralized exchanges, decentralized finance platforms, and institutional payment rails. The scale of activity placed stablecoin throughput above traditional card networks, whose combined monthly processing volume typically totals around $2 trillion, according to figures referenced alongside the data.Public commentary around the data focused on the concentration of activity within a single dollar-backed token. Peter Schroeder wrote, “Stablecoin transaction volume in January surpassed $10 trillion.&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/usd-coin-usdc">USDC</a> alone processed more than $8.4 trillion.” The data coincided with estimates showing total stablecoin supply approaching $310 billion, described by market participants as idle liquidity positioned across exchanges, custodial platforms, and on-chain protocols, contributing to broader&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index tracking and coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> calculations.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.48%;"><img alt="tweet_2018368699258790225_20260203_194022_via_10015_io.webp" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/tweet_2018368699258790225_20260203_194022_via_10015_io_dd4ead741a.webp"></figure>Equity markets moved in the opposite direction during the same period, with Circle’s publicly traded shares falling roughly 80% from recent highs, despite USDC’s expanding role in digital settlement infrastructure. Dan Tapiero&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/DTAPCAP/status/2018555798306144271">commented</a> on the divergence between usage metrics and investor sentiment, stating that the stablecoin addressable market could ultimately exceed $1,000 trillion over time. Circle did not issue new guidance alongside the stock movement, which occurred as USDC continued to gain share in crypto price-linked transaction flows.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.47%;"><img alt="tweet_2018555798306144271_20260203_194122_via_10015_io.webp" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/tweet_2018555798306144271_20260203_194122_via_10015_io_3e45e67bc4.webp"></figure>Exchange-level data&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/cryptoquant_com/status/2018235512658481413">published</a> on February 2, 2026, showed a contraction in deployable stablecoin liquidity, with net flows reversing after months of accumulation. Stablecoin inflows that reached approximately $9.7 billion in October 2025, largely attributed to&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/binance">Binance</a>, were followed by aggregate outflows totaling about $4 billion by early February. Separate market data placed total stablecoin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market capitalization</a> at $162 billion before declining to $155 billion during the same period, reflecting a reduction in exchange-held balances rather than transactional usage.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.59%;"><img alt="tweet_2018235512658481413_20260203_194319_via_10015_io.webp" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/tweet_2018235512658481413_20260203_194319_via_10015_io_4fa9083fea.webp"></figure><a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a> price action unfolded alongside the liquidity shift, with the asset trading within a range of roughly $77,700 to $78,700 during the period covered by the reports. Commentary cited in market coverage included calls for long-term focus from industry figures, including Ben Hart and Natalie Brunell, as price movements unfolded amid thinner stablecoin availability. Trading data from centralized venues showed reduced immediate buying power, even as overall crypto price and coin market cap metrics continued to factor in record settlement activity across stablecoin rails.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot observes stablecoin flows amid thinning liquidity and coin market cap

Stablecoin Activity Tops $10T in January as USDC Leads Volumes While Exchange Liquidity Contracts

<h2>Corporate Crypto Treasuries Diverge as Strategy Buys Bitcoin and BitMine Scales Ethereum and Staking Operations</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Strategy disclosed the purchase of 855 bitcoin for $75.3 million as BTC briefly traded below its average cost basis.</li><li>BitMine expanded its ether holdings to 4.285 million tokens, representing about 3.55% of circulating supply, while ramping up staking.</li><li>BitMine reported unrealized losses of about $6.6 billion as ethereum prices remained under pressure.</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>Strategy&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sec.gov/ix?doc=/Archives/edgar/data/0001050446/000119312526032731/mstr-20260131.htm">disclosed</a> on Feb. 2, 2026, that it acquired 855 bitcoin for approximately $75.3 million during the prior week, with the purchases executed at an average price of $87,974 per coin. The disclosure came after bitcoin briefly traded below the company’s average acquisition cost for the first time since late 2023, according to the filing. Following the transaction, Strategy’s total bitcoin holdings rose to 713,502&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">BTC</a>, acquired for about $54.26 billion at a blended average price of $76,052 per bitcoin, based on company disclosures dated Feb. 1.<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a>’s market move coincided with heightened volatility across the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index, with BTC retreating sharply from earlier highs before stabilizing. Strategy’s filing detailed that the purchase was made using corporate funds and disclosed through a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission report. The company remains the largest publicly traded holder of bitcoin, with its treasury position continuing to anchor comparisons across the coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> rankings among public firms tied to crypto price movements.BitMine Immersion Technologies&nbsp;<a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bitmine-immersion-technologies-bmnr-announces-eth-holdings-reach-4-285-million-tokens-and-total-crypto-and-total-cash-holdings-of-10-7-billion-302676048.html">disclosed</a> that it expanded its ether treasury to approximately 4.285 million&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">ETH</a> after acquiring 41,788 tokens over the past week, according to a company statement released Monday. The Las Vegas–based firm said the purchases were made at an average reference price of about $2,317 per ether, valuing its&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a> position at roughly $9.9 billion at the time of the announcement. BitMine reported combined crypto, cash, and “moonshot” investments totaling about $10.7 billion, including $586 million held in cash.The accumulation pushed BitMine’s Ethereum holdings to about 3.55% of the network’s circulating supply of roughly 120.7 million ETH, placing the firm more than 70% of the way toward its stated internal goal of acquiring 5% of all ether in circulation. The company noted that just one week earlier, it had disclosed a separate purchase of slightly more than 40,000 ETH as part of the same buildup, according to its statement.BitMine said a growing portion of its ether balance is now generating yield, with total staked ETH reaching about 2.9 million tokens, an increase of nearly 900,000 ETH over the past week. At prevailing rates, the company estimated annualized staking revenue of about $188 million. The staking expansion is expected to be supported by its in-house “Made in America Validator Network,” or MAVAN, which BitMine plans to roll out in early 2026.Executive Chairman Thomas “Tom” Lee said the recent buying reflects what he described as a disconnect between Ethereum’s onchain activity and its market valuation, as&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ether</a> fell from levels near $3,000 earlier this year to around $2,300 despite record transaction counts and active addresses cited by the company. “BitMine has been steadily buying Ethereum, as we view this pullback as attractive, given the strengthening fundamentals,” Lee said in a statement. “In our view, the price of ETH is not reflective of the high utility of ETH and its role as the future of finance.”A separate analysis&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/2018251708833669137">published</a> on Feb. 2 showed BitMine’s unrealized losses on its Ethereum holdings had expanded to approximately $6.6 billion, even as the company confirmed its total ETH position had grown to 4.285 million tokens. Portfolio data cited in the report showed total invested capital of about $15.65 billion, compared with a current holdings value of roughly $9.04 billion, representing an unrealized drawdown of more than 42%. The company reported no realized gains or losses and said no ether had been liquidated during the period.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.29%;"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/tweet_2018251708833669137_20260203_085843_via_10015_io_d126c5a64b.webp" alt="tweet_2018251708833669137_20260203_085843_via_10015_io.webp"></figure>Market data referenced alongside the disclosure showed Ethereum trading near $2,317, remaining under pressure over a multi-week period, while BitMine’s equity&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market capitalization</a> stood at about $11.4 billion. BitMine shares closed about 5% lower on Friday and were down roughly 9% in premarket trading Monday, while ether was down about 2% on the day and more than 20% over the past week, according to price data tied to broader crypto price and coin market cap movements.BitMine chairman Tom Lee later&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/fundstrat/status/2018705853101072853">pushed back</a> against claims that the firm’s unrealized losses would cap Ether prices, calling such drawdowns “a feature, not a bug” of an Ethereum treasury strategy during downturns.&nbsp;<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.53%;"><img alt="twittershots-fundstrat-2018705853101072853.webp" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/twittershots_fundstrat_2018705853101072853_cea8dcae5f.webp"></figure>Responding to online commentary that labeled the company “exit liquidity” and pointed to roughly $6.6 billion in unrealized losses, Lee wrote that critics “miss the point of an Ethereum treasury,” adding that BitMine is structured to track Ether and outperform across a full market cycle. He compared the model to index exchange-traded funds that post losses during broad market declines, arguing that temporary drawdowns do not undermine the long-term thesis.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Ethereum losses weigh on BitMine as coin market cap contracts

Strategy Adds 855 Bitcoin at $87,974 as BTC Slips Below Cost Basis; BitMine Expands Ethereum Holdings to 4.285 Million ETH With $6.6 Billion Unrealized Loss

<h2>SAFU Reallocation, USDe Leverage Claims, and Macro Liquidity Pressure Converge</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Binance began reallocating $1 billion of its SAFU reserves into Bitcoin, starting with a 1,315 BTC transfer tied to a 30-day plan.</li><li>The OKX CEO accused Binance’s USDe yield campaign of amplifying leverage ahead of the October 10, 2025 market crash.</li><li>Raoul Pal attributed a $250 billion crypto market drawdown to U.S. dollar liquidity shortages rather than structural failure.</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr><a href="https://coin360.com/review/binance">Binance</a> initiated the&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/binance/status/2018263663094980734">first phase</a> of a planned $1 billion&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/news/binance-safu-bitcoin-october-19b-liquidation">Bitcoin reallocation</a> into its Secure Asset Fund for Users on February 2, 2026, transferring 1,315&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">BTC</a> valued at roughly $100 million at the time. The move followed a January 30, 2026 disclosure that the exchange would gradually shift SAFU reserves from&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a> into&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a> over a 30-day period. The fund, historically structured to preserve capital for user protection, will now be primarily denominated in Bitcoin, directly tying its valuation to&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> movements rather than dollar-pegged assets.The exchange stated that it would replenish the SAFU balance if its value drops below $800 million, setting a defined threshold as the fund transitions into a more volatile reserve asset. The reallocation spread purchases across multiple weeks rather than executing a single transaction, limiting immediate impact on spot markets tracked by the crypto price index and reducing abrupt changes in crypto price behavior during the transition period. The SAFU shift took place as broader attention remained fixed on exchange risk management and reserve composition across the coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> landscape.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.62%;"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/twittershots_binance_2018263663094980734_2cb4273aba.webp" alt="twittershots-binance-2018263663094980734.webp"></figure>Heightened scrutiny followed public remarks from the CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/okx">OKX</a>, who linked Binance’s&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethena-usde-usde">USDe</a> yield campaign to the <a href="https://coin360.com/news/binance-transparency-bnb-all-time-high-20b-liquidation">market crash</a> that unfolded on October 10, 2025. The OKX executive <a href="https://twitter.com/star_okx/status/2017411129501426064">argued</a> that Binance’s presentation of USDe encouraged users to treat the product as a stablecoin-like instrument despite its embedded leverage, stating that the exchange “turned a high-risk financial structure into something that appeared functionally equivalent to a stablecoin.” The comments framed USDe as a catalyst for leverage buildup across trading venues ahead of the downturn.According to the remarks, USDe’s yield mechanics allowed capital to be recycled through collateral and margin strategies, increasing interconnected exposure across centralized platforms before volatility accelerated. The criticism focused on product framing rather than a single failure point, with the CEO describing how leverage loops intensified&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/understanding-liquidation-crypto-trading-guide">liquidation</a> pressure once redemptions and margin calls converged during the October event. The accusations added to broader discussions around disclosure standards for yield-bearing exchange products.Separate from exchange-specific dynamics, macro investor Raoul Pal&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/RaoulGMI/status/2018033116351254664">addressed</a> the broader market context on February 2, 2026, attributing a $250 billion decline in total crypto market value to tightening U.S. dollar liquidity rather than internal crypto weaknesses. Pal cited Treasury cash management and capital withdrawal from long-duration assets as key drivers behind the sell-off, noting that Bitcoin’s decline moved in parallel with technology and SaaS equities during the same period.Pal rejected claims that crypto markets had structurally failed, saying Bitcoin had not “broken” but instead behaved consistently with other liquidity-sensitive assets during the contraction. The sell-off unfolded over a single weekend, coinciding with broader stress across risk assets and reinforcing the role of macro funding conditions in shaping near-term crypto price trends tracked across major crypto price index benchmarks.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Binance SAFU Bitcoin shift signals reserve strategy under pressure

Binance Moves $1B SAFU Reserves Into Bitcoin as OKX CEO Alleges USDe Role in October 2025 Crash Amid U.S. Liquidity Shock

Coin360 Weekly Dispatch | Crypto Market Updates & Highlights | January 25 - 31, 2026

This weekly crypto ETF recap tracks how asset managers are rapidly expanding beyond Bitcoin into income strategies, altcoins, staking, and tokenized real-world assets. From BlackRock and Grayscale to VanEck and Hong Kong issuers, institutional capital is reshaping how crypto exposure, yield, and regulation converge in global markets.<hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr><h2>BlackRock to Launch Bitcoin Income ETF, Raising Concerns Over Market Volatility Management</h2>BlackRock is launching the iShares&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a> Premium Income ETF, aiming to generate income through selling call options linked to Bitcoin. The fund will manage a portion of its assets (25%-35%) for options trading, distributing premiums as cash flow. However, concerns exist over market dynamics, as increased call selling could lower implied volatility premiums, impacting returns. Notably, BlackRock's IBIT ETF has $69.2 billion in net assets and has seen cumulative flows of $62.8 billion since launch. The structure of IBIT, with actual share backing, may offer advantages over other bitcoin ETFs focused on covered-call strategies.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Grayscale Launches Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF on Morgan Stanley’s E*TRADE, Tapping $7.4 Trillion Market</h2>Grayscale has launched its Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF on Morgan Stanley’s E*TRADE platform, expanding Bitcoin investment options for U.S. financial advisors and potentially accessing $7.4 trillion in client assets. This move is seen as a pivotal moment for institutional adoption of Bitcoin, with CEO Peter Mintzberg calling it a significant step for integrating Bitcoin into regulated investment portfolios. The ETF provides regulated access to Bitcoin, aligning with the CFTC’s advisory on cryptocurrency risks. This listing underscores the growing acceptability of Bitcoin among institutional investors, further catalyzing developments in the digital asset sector.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Hong Kong Launches First Gold ETF with Ethereum-Backed Tokenized Units</h2>On January 29, 2026, the Hang Seng Gold ETF (3170.HK) launched on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, marking the region's first gold ETF featuring tokenized units on the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a> blockchain. Managed by Hang Seng Investment Management, it tracks the LBMA Gold Price AM and is backed by physical gold stored in secure local vaults. The ETF opened at HK$17.39, rising nearly 9% on its debut. Notably, it offers physical gold redemption, with custody by HSBC. This launch supports Hong Kong's vision to integrate Traditional Finance with blockchain, enhancing transparency and operational efficiency in asset management.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>VanEck Launches First AVAX ETF on Nasdaq, Boosting Blockchain Adoption</h2>VanEck launched the first&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/avalanche-avax">AVAX</a> ETF, VAVX, on Nasdaq on January 26, 2026, marking a significant step in institutional blockchain adoption. The ETF offers spot exposure to&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/avalanche-avax">Avalanche</a> (AVAX) while allowing for potential staking rewards, with VanEck waiving fees for the initial $500 million in assets. Avalanche is currently priced at $11.70 with a&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> of $5.05 billion and a 0.17% market dominance. A recent surge in trading volume, up 71.88% to $347.41 million, indicates increased market interest, potentially enhancing AVAX's liquidity and price stability amid evolving blockchain landscapes.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Grayscale Advances Sui ETF Proposal Amid Growing Institutional Interest</h2>Grayscale is advancing its proposal for a&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/sui-sui">Sui</a>-based ETF in response to a more favorable regulatory environment for crypto assets beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. This initiative aims to combine price tracking with staking-based returns and is supported by major firms like Bank of New York Mellon and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/review/coinbase">Coinbase</a>. Other issuers, such as Bitwise and Canary Capital, are also exploring Sui-related products, indicating growing institutional interest. While regulatory approval remains uncertain, the momentum generated by multiple applications and standardized frameworks suggests Sui may play a significant role in the next wave of ETF expansions, revitalizing trader interest.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Bitwise Registers Delaware Trust for Potential Uniswap ETF as SEC Scrutiny Eases Amid Governance Concerns</h2>Bitwise has registered a Delaware statutory trust for a potential&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/uniswap-uni">Uniswap</a> ETF, signaling early preparation amid easing SEC scrutiny. This filing follows the SEC's closure of its investigation into Uniswap Labs in February 2025, shifting regulatory focus to market structure and execution quality. Despite Uniswap’s high trading volume, governance issues persist, particularly following the contentious launch of Unichain and the UNIfication vote, which merged the Uniswap Foundation with Uniswap Labs. Analysts note that any future ETF must tackle concerns around pricing mechanisms and trading depth, while&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/uniswap-uni">UNI</a> remains under pressure amid ongoing governance debates.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>Grayscale Advances U.S. Spot XRP ETF Filing with Pricing Method Update</h2>Grayscale Investments has moved closer to launching a U.S. spot&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/xrp-xrp">XRP</a> exchange-traded fund (ETF) by filing a Form 8-K amendment with the SEC on January 20, 2026. This update builds on a prior S-1 registration, focusing on the trust's XRP pricing methodology. Grayscale revised the CoinDesk XRP Benchmark to enhance price accuracy by including more high-liquidity exchanges while removing less reliable ones. These changes aim to bolster trust among institutional investors. As XRP remains a top liquid asset, the potential launch of an ETF follows trends seen with Bitcoin and Ethereum, enhancing cryptocurrency market participation.<div class="page-break" style="page-break-after:always;">&nbsp;</div><h2>21Shares Launches JitoSOL ETP for Liquid Staking Exposure to Solana in Europe</h2>21Shares has launched the Jitosol ETP, offering European investors exposure to&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/solana-sol">Solana</a> through liquid staking, combining traditional staking rewards with transaction-related revenues. The ETP, trading under the ticker JSOL, is listed on Euronext Amsterdam and Paris in USD and EUR, with a total expense ratio of 0.99%. JitoSOL token allows investors to maintain full exposure to&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/solana-sol">SOL</a>'s price without managing wallets or validators. This launch reflects increasing institutional interest in Solana, highlighted by major firms exploring onchain settlement. The move also aligns with ongoing discussions in the U.S. regarding staking and yield in ETF and ETP frameworks.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Crypto ETFs evolve beyond Bitcoin toward diversified institutional exposure.

This Week in Crypto ETFs: Staking Options and Tokenization Accelerate

<h2>Nomination Confirms Speculation After Overnight Betting Surge</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Donald Trump announced Kevin Warsh as his nominee for Federal Reserve chair on January 30, 2026, after prediction markets moved sharply in his favor.</li><li>Warsh previously served as a Federal Reserve governor from 2006 to 2011 and is known as a monetary policy hawk with relatively crypto-friendly views.</li><li>Trump highlighted Warsh’s current roles at the Hoover Institution, Stanford Graduate School of Business, and Duquesne Family Office alongside Stanley Druckenmiller.</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>President Donald Trump&nbsp;<a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115983891481988557">announced</a> on January 30, 2026, that he is nominating Kevin Warsh to serve as chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, confirming speculation that intensified overnight as prediction market odds swung decisively in Warsh’s favor. The announcement was made publicly after traders and political observers noted a rapid repricing of expectations during late trading hours, indicating that Warsh had emerged as the clear front-runner before formal confirmation was issued.Trump disclosed the decision in a post on Truth Social, writing, “I am pleased to announce that I am nominating Kevin Warsh to be the CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM.” In the same post, Trump cited Warsh’s previous experience as a Federal Reserve governor, his current work as a fellow at the Hoover Institution, his role as a lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, and his position as a partner at Duquesne Family Office, where he works alongside investor Stanley Druckenmiller.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75.13%;"><img alt="Screenshot 2026-01-30 190317.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_2026_01_30_190317_0c9068789d.png"></figure>Trump added a personal endorsement of the nominee, stating, “I have known Kevin for a long period of time, and have no doubt that he will go down as one of the GREAT Fed Chairmen, maybe the best.” The president also described Warsh as “central casting,” and said he would “never let you down,” according to the same post announcing the nomination.Warsh previously served on the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors from 2006 to 2011, a period that included the global financial crisis and the early expansion of emergency monetary policy tools. During that time, he developed a reputation as a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.investing.com/news/economy-news/who-is-kevin-warsh-and-what-does-his-pick-as-fed-chair-mean-for-markets-4477158">policy hawk</a>, frequently voicing concern about inflation risks and the long-term consequences of prolonged accommodative monetary policy.The nomination has drawn attention within the digital asset sector due to Warsh’s history of expressing comparatively open views toward financial innovation, including cryptocurrencies, relative to other past or potential Fed leaders. While he has not been identified as an advocate for digital assets, Warsh has previously argued that innovation should not be constrained by regulatory uncertainty, a stance that has earned him a reputation as more crypto-friendly than many of his peers.Market participants reacted quickly to the confirmation, noting that Warsh’s hawkish credentials could influence expectations around interest rate policy and liquidity conditions. His nomination still requires Senate confirmation, a process that is expected to include hearings examining his views on inflation, financial stability, banking oversight, and the Federal Reserve’s approach to emerging financial technologies.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Federal Reserve policy transition illustrated through Kevin Warsh leadership handover

Trump Names Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve Chair Pick as Prediction Markets Shift and Crypto Community Watches

<h2>Exchange cites macro shock behind historic deleveraging while shifting user protection reserves into BTC</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Binance is converting its roughly $1 billion SAFU user protection fund entirely into Bitcoin over 30 days.</li><li>The exchange says an October liquidation event totaling about $19 billion was driven by macro conditions, not platform failure.</li><li>Binance outlined post-incident safeguards as scrutiny persists despite the reserve move.</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr><a href="https://coin360.com/review/binance">Binance</a> said on January 30, 2026, that it is converting its Secure Asset Fund for Users into&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a>, shifting roughly $1 billion in reserves away from&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a> and into&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">BTC</a> over a 30-day period. The exchange said the SAFU balance would be restored if its value falls below $800 million. Binance described Bitcoin as the “core long-term asset of the crypto ecosystem,” positioning the reserve shift as a structural change to how user protection funds are held, with custody tied to regulated infrastructure in Abu Dhabi Global Market and on-chain balances available for verification.<div class="raw-html-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">An open letter to the crypto community During periods of market volatility and pressure, the impact felt across the industry is naturally also felt by Binance. As a global industry leader, we hold ourselves to elevated standards and continually improve based on feedback from… <a href="https://t.co/HvWEQYjuKZ">pic.twitter.com/HvWEQYjuKZ</a>— Binance (@binance) <a href="https://twitter.com/binance/status/2017098967570641362?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 30, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The SAFU fund was launched in 2018 and was first deployed following a 2019 security breach involving about 7,000 BTC, which Binance covered without impacting user balances. At current&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> levels, the conversion implies the acquisition of more than 12,000 BTC. Binance disclosed that its year-end 2025 proof-of-reserves showed approximately $163 billion in user assets backed across 45 tokens, alongside disclosures that security teams helped prevent roughly $6.7 billion in scam losses and recovered $48 million from incorrect deposits during the year.The reserve announcement followed renewed attention on a sharp&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/news/binance-transparency-bnb-all-time-high-20b-liquidation">market selloff</a> on October 10, 2025, when crypto derivatives markets recorded about $19 billion in liquidations across major venues. Binance&nbsp;<a href="https://www.binance.com/en/blog/all/the-october-10-crypto-market-flash-crash-what-happened-and-binances-response-421499824684904119">said</a> the event was caused by a “macro shock — not an exchange failure,” citing risk-off sentiment tied to global market conditions. According to the exchange, roughly 75% of liquidations occurred before any internal system degradation, with long positions accounting for the majority of forced closures during the cascade.Exchange-level data released after the incident showed long liquidations of about $1.39 billion on Binance and short liquidations of roughly $965 million during the same window, while other platforms recorded larger totals. Binance acknowledged temporary asset transfer disruptions and abnormal index price deviations involving&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethena-usde-usde">USDe</a>, WBETH, and BNSOL under thin liquidity. The exchange said index deviation thresholds and monitoring systems were adjusted following the event, alongside capacity upgrades to handle extreme volatility.Industry reaction extended beyond Binance.&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/tron-trx">Tron</a> founder Justin Sun said he would increase his own Bitcoin holdings after the SAFU announcement, aligning publicly with the exchange’s BTC-centric reserve stance. Market observers noted that sentiment toward centralized exchanges remains mixed following the October selloff, even as Binance expands disclosures around reserves, security operations, and incident response.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.53%;"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/tweet_2017147681781797240_20260131_065557_via_10015_io_3f2a8a56ad.png" alt="tweet_2017147681781797240_20260131_065557_via_10015_io.png"></figure>The developments unfolded as broader market participants continued to track crypto price movements through composite benchmarks such as the crypto price index, amid fluctuations in crypto price levels and shifts in overall coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> following the October deleveraging event.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot installs safeguards after crypto price index volatility event

Binance Converts $1 Billion SAFU Fund to Bitcoin as Exchange Details October $19 Billion Liquidation Cascade

<h2>Committee Vote, Regulator Signals, and White House Talks Converge on Digital Asset Legislation</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Senate Agriculture Committee advanced a crypto market structure bill by a 12–11 vote on Jan. 29, 2026.</li><li>Democrats withheld support, citing concerns tied to President Donald Trump’s crypto interests.</li><li>SEC and CFTC leadership publicly endorsed clearer rules as Trump scheduled a Feb. 2, 2026 meeting with industry leaders.</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>The U.S. Senate’s push to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets crossed a procedural threshold after the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced its version of a crypto market structure bill by a 12–11 party-line vote on Jan. 29, 2026, marking the first time such legislation has cleared a Senate committee. The measure would expand the Commodity&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/futures-contract">Futures</a> Trading&nbsp; Commission’s authority over large segments of the crypto industry while addressing long-standing jurisdictional disputes with the Securities and Exchange Commission, according to lawmakers involved in the markup.Democrats on the committee declined to back the bill, pointing to concerns over President Donald Trump’s personal and family involvement in crypto ventures. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said bipartisan negotiations had produced a discussion draft released in November 2025 before talks stalled, telling colleagues, “But then I come back to Washington and start the year with the news that my Republican colleagues were walking away from the bipartisan process that produced the draft.” Booker added, “Let's get back to work,” and said, “We can finish this in the next week or two in a bipartisan way.”Republican members rejected claims that negotiations had collapsed over substance, arguing that Trump’s crypto ties were being used to justify a partisan break from months of committee-level collaboration. The vote set the stage for a potential full Senate consideration later this year, though the bill’s path forward remains contested as lawmakers continue to debate regulatory scope, consumer protections, and the balance of power between financial watchdogs.Regulatory leaders weighed in as the bill advanced, with SEC Chair Paul Atkins saying “time is right for pension funds to include crypto,” and CFTC Chair Mike Selig stating that “digital assets set to flourish” once Congress resolves market structure authority. Both comments were made publicly on Jan. 29, 2026, as agencies prepared for potential statutory changes tied to the legislation.Political momentum extended beyond Capitol Hill, with President Trump scheduled to host senior executives from crypto firms, banks, and trade groups at the White House on Feb. 2, 2026. The meeting is intended to&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/address">address</a> the stalled Digital Asset Market Clarity Bill and ongoing disputes over stablecoin regulation, according to people familiar with the plans, as the administration seeks to broker agreement between traditional financial institutions and crypto-native companies.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

U.S. Senate crypto bill races through committee vote momentum

U.S. Senate Crypto Market Structure Bill Advances 12–11 as Partisan Rift Deepens

<h2>Board Backs Equity and Warrant Issuance to Fund Bitcoin Purchases and Debt Reduction</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Japanese firm Metaplanet approved a large capital raise focused on Bitcoin accumulation and balance sheet management</li><li>The financing combines new share issuance and stock acquisition rights aimed at overseas investors</li><li>The announcement triggered a same-day decline in Metaplanet’s Tokyo-listed shares</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>Metaplanet said its board approved a&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/gerovich/status/2016825254057046499">capital-raising plan</a> on Jan. 29, 2026, authorizing up to ¥21.0 billion, or about $137 million, to support additional&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">Bitcoin</a> purchases, partial debt repayment, and general corporate purposes. The Tokyo-listed firm said the financing will be executed through a third-party allotment of newly issued common shares and stock acquisition rights, rather than a public offering, targeting select institutional and overseas investors as it continues to reposition itself as a Bitcoin-focused treasury company.The company disclosed plans to issue approximately 24.53 million new common shares at a price of ¥499 per share, generating around ¥12.24 billion in initial proceeds. The pricing represents a premium to the prior trading close, according to the company’s filing. Payment and allotment for the shares are scheduled for Feb. 13, 2026, based on the same disclosure.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:80.45%;"><img alt="Screenshot 2026-01-30 190647.png" src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/Screenshot_2026_01_30_190647_6e5c64f3c1.png"></figure>Alongside the equity issuance, Metaplanet approved the issuance of about 15.94 million stock acquisition rights, equivalent to roughly 0.65 rights per share. The warrants carry a fixed exercise price of ¥547 and can be exercised during a one-year window running from Feb. 16, 2026, through Feb. 15, 2027. Full exercise of the rights would raise an additional ¥8.9 billion, the company said.Metaplanet stated that roughly ¥14 billion of the total funds are earmarked for additional Bitcoin purchases, while about ¥5.2 billion will be used to repay part of its outstanding debt. Another ¥1.5 billion is allocated to Bitcoin-related income-generation activities and general corporate needs, according to company explanations accompanying the announcement.At the time of the announcement, Metaplanet reported holdings of approximately 35,102&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/bitcoin-btc">BTC</a>, placing it among the largest publicly listed corporate Bitcoin holders globally. The company has described its strategy as building a Bitcoin treasury rather than holding digital assets as a peripheral investment, positioning its balance sheet as a direct proxy to&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> movements tracked by various crypto price index benchmarks and the broader coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a>.The firm also disclosed that it carried roughly $280 million in outstanding debt prior to the transaction and had previously recorded a non-cash Bitcoin impairment of ¥104.6 billion. Management noted that the impairment did not affect cash flow or daily operations, according to regulatory filings cited in local media reports.Market reaction was immediate following the disclosure. Metaplanet shares closed down about 4% on the day of the announcement, ending the session at around ¥456, as investors weighed potential dilution from the new shares and warrants despite the premium pricing. Trading activity in the stock coincided with broader volatility across digital assets, with crypto price fluctuations remaining sensitive to shifts in global risk appetite and movements in the aggregate coin market cap.Dylan LeClair, head of Bitcoin strategy at Metaplanet, described the structure of the financing in public comments, saying, “The financing structure enables Metaplanet to capitalize on common stock volatility to sell shares at a premium to market while raising capital today… The 65% warrant coverage exercisable at ¥547 for one year is a fixed strike.”This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Equity issuance tightens as Metaplanet expands Bitcoin exposure across coin market cap

Metaplanet Approves ¥21 Billion Capital Raise to Expand Bitcoin Treasury, Shares Fall 4%

<h2>Central Bank–Registered USDU Debuts as UAE’s First Regulated Dollar Stablecoin</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>UAE central bank approved and saw the launch of USDU, the country’s first USD-backed stablecoin, on January 29, 2026</li><li>USDU is issued by Abu Dhabi-based Universal Digital and operates under the Payment Token Services Regulation</li><li>Token is backed 1:1 by U.S. dollars held with UAE banks and supported by institutional distribution partners</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates&nbsp;<a href="https://mena-fintech.org/news/universal-launches-uaes-first-central-bank-registered-usd-stablecoin/">approved</a> and saw the market debut of USDU on January 29, 2026, marking the first USD-backed stablecoin formally registered under the country’s national payment token framework. The approval places USDU within the Central Bank’s Payment Token Services Regulation, a regime governing issuance, reserve backing, custody, disclosures, and compliance for digital payment tokens operating in the UAE. The launch positions USDU as a regulated settlement instrument for digital asset transactions, distinct from unregistered foreign&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a> circulating in global crypto markets tracked by the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> index and coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> data.USDU is issued by Universal Digital International Limited, an Abu Dhabi-based firm regulated by the Financial Services Regulatory Authority of the Abu Dhabi Global Market. Universal Digital became the first entity registered as a Foreign Payment Token Issuer under the Central Bank’s rules, granting the token a unique regulatory status for institutional use. The stablecoin maintains a fixed 1:1 peg to the U.S. dollar, with each token backed by an equivalent dollar reserve, a structure designed to preserve parity with the U.S. currency used widely across global crypto price benchmarks.Reserves backing USDU are held onshore in UAE bank accounts with Emirates NBD, Mashreq, and Mbank, embedding the token’s collateral within the domestic banking system. The reserve structure is subject to independent monthly attestations conducted by an international accounting firm, providing verification of backing levels under the regulatory framework. The Central Bank’s rules restrict registered foreign payment tokens from functioning as general-purpose money for everyday retail payments, limiting usage to approved digital asset and financial settlement contexts rather than consumer commerce.The regulatory framework stipulates that digital asset and derivative transactions conducted within the UAE must be settled in fiat currency or in a registered foreign payment token, placing USDU among a narrow set of compliant instruments. Juha Viitala of Universal Digital said the approval gives institutions clarity, stating that the registration provides “the clarity and confidence they have been waiting for.” The structure differentiates USDU from widely used dollar stablecoins that remain outside the Central Bank’s registration regime despite their visibility in global coin market cap rankings.Aquanow, a crypto infrastructure firm regulated by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, was appointed as USDU’s global distribution partner, enabling access for institutional participants where permitted by local regulations. Emirates NBD confirmed its role in supporting the reserve framework, with Anith Daniel, Group Head of Transaction Banking Services, saying the initiative aligns with the UAE’s regulated digital finance infrastructure and contributes to the country’s broader digital asset ecosystem. The approval follows recent stablecoin developments by other large financial players, including Fidelity’s move into regulated <a href="https://coin360.com/news/fidelity-digital-dollar-ethereum-trial-national-trust-bank">dollar-denominated</a> digital assets and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/tether-usdt">Tether</a>’s expansion of <a href="https://coin360.com/news/tether-usat-stablecoin-launch-gold-reserves-tokenized-market">compliance-focused</a> products, as stablecoins increasingly intersect with formal financial systems.Universal Digital has also referenced potential technical alignment with AE Coin, a dirham-pegged stablecoin that received in-principle approval from the Central Bank in 2024, allowing operational interaction between dollar- and dirham-based tokens within regulated environments, while broader crypto price movements continue to be reflected across global trading venues and coin market cap data.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

USDU reserves secured onshore to support crypto price stability

UAE Central Bank Approves First USD-Backed Stablecoin USDU Under National Payment Token Framework

<h2>Foundation Sets Post-Quantum Roadmap as Hegota Upgrade Targets Censorship Resistance</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Ethereum advances post-quantum security with live devnets and dedicated research teams</li><li>Researchers propose FOCIL to harden censorship resistance in the 2026 Hegota upgrade</li><li>Unclaimed DAO hack funds, now valued near $200M, redirected to Ethereum security efforts</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr><a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a> developers and researchers are advancing parallel efforts to harden the network against future&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/quantum-computing">quantum computing</a> threats while embedding stronger censorship-resistance directly into the protocol, according to recent disclosures from the Ethereum Foundation and core researchers published in late January 2026. The initiatives include the formation of a dedicated post-quantum team, live multi-client development networks, new research incentives totaling $2M, and a proposal to modify Ethereum’s fork-choice rule under the upcoming Hegota upgrade.Ethereum Foundation cryptographer Antonio Sanso&nbsp;<a href="https://cointelegraph.com/news/ethereum-post-quantum-resilience-interview">said</a> the network is currently about 20% of the way toward full post-quantum resilience when considering the execution layer, consensus layer, and data availability components together. Sanso said progress is uneven across those areas and stressed that post-quantum security is not a single switch but a collection of changes that must be coordinated across the protocol. “The research part is probably the part that has been already figured out… we have a clear plan in mind, and we’re probably going to execute in the next years,” Sanso said.The Ethereum Foundation has established a dedicated post-quantum team led by cryptographic engineer Thomas Coratger, with contributors including Emile, who is involved in the&nbsp;<a href="https://leanroadmap.org/">leanVM</a> project, a minimalist zero-knowledge virtual machine intended to support future cryptographic primitives. The Foundation has begun running multi-client post-quantum devnets involving consensus and execution clients such as Lighthouse, Prysm, Grandine, and Zeam, alongside bi-weekly coordination calls focused specifically on post-quantum engineering.<figure class="image image_resized" style="width:90.32%;"><img src="https://prod-coin360-cms.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/tweet_2014791629408784816_d5152d8b6d.webp" alt="tweet-2014791629408784816.webp"></figure>Developers involved in the effort said post-quantum signatures are significantly larger than existing elliptic-curve signatures, with even the smallest candidates being roughly 10× larger, creating cost and bandwidth challenges. To address this, Ethereum researchers are exploring zero-knowledge STARK-based compression techniques and dedicated protocol precompiles to handle post-quantum signature verification more efficiently, according to the interview.The Foundation has also introduced new financial incentives to attract external cryptographers. A $1M Poseidon Prize was announced to strengthen the Poseidon hash function’s resistance in a post-quantum context, complementing the previously announced $1M Proximity Prize. Researchers said these initiatives are intended to accelerate work on cryptographic primitives that are critical for Ethereum’s long-term security roadmap.Alongside cryptographic changes, Ethereum researchers are proposing protocol-level defenses against transaction censorship. Thomas Thiéry, a researcher with the Robust Incentives Group, has introduced Fork Choice-Enforced Inclusion Lists, known as&nbsp;<a href="https://ethereum-magicians.org/t/hegota-headliner-proposal-focil-eip-7805/27604">FOCIL</a> and tracked as EIP-7805, as a candidate feature for the Hegota upgrade planned for the second half of 2026. The mechanism would require validators to favor forks that include a defined set of valid transactions, rather than relying on external builders or relays to guarantee inclusion.Thiéry said the goal is to distribute censorship resistance across the validator set and reduce dependence on centralized block-building infrastructure. “Without FOCIL, the protocol would remain vulnerable to large-scale censorship events. Ethereum should proactively design for long-term resilience, rather than reactively respond,” he said. The proposal modifies fork-choice logic so that transaction inclusion guarantees are enforced by the protocol itself.Developers noted that FOCIL is still under active discussion and does not yet support blob transactions or private order flow mechanisms. The proposal had previously been considered for an earlier upgrade but was deferred, and researchers said further testing and specification work is ongoing as part of core development discussions tied to Hegota.Ethereum researchers have framed both post-quantum security and censorship resistance as long-term protocol design challenges rather than short-term fixes, with work progressing through devnets, research grants, and formal Ethereum Improvement Proposals during 2026.Ethereum’s security push is also being reinforced through capital redeployment tied to one of the network’s earliest crises. Longtime Ethereum developer Griff Green said unclaimed funds from the 2016 DAO hack are being redirected into a newly established Ethereum security initiative. “The DAO is back!” Green said, adding that funds originally set aside to reimburse so-called edge-case victims would now be used “to support Ethereum security.” Green said about 20% of the original $6 million in restitution funds were never claimed and are now valued at “somewhere around $200 million.”&nbsp;According to a <a href="https://paragraph.com/@thedao.fund/thedao-security-fund-activating-75000-eth-for-ethereum-security">blog post</a> published Thursday, the initiative, called TheDAO Security Fund, will deploy approximately 70,500 ETH from an ExtraBalance Withdrawal contract and about 4,600 ETH in ether and DAO tokens from The DAO’s curator multisig, which Green said has no clear claimants. The assets will be staked, with generated revenue directed toward security-focused operations aligned with the Ethereum Foundation’s Trillion Dollar Security initiative.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Ethereum prepares Hegota upgrade with protocol-level security restructuring

Ethereum Expands Security Push With Post-Quantum Plans, FOCIL, and DAO-Backed Funding

<h2>From Tokenized Gold Reserves to a Regulated U.S. Dollar Stablecoin</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Tether disclosed close to 140 tons of physical gold backing its tokenized gold strategy, stored in a former Swiss nuclear bunker and valued around $24 billion.</li><li>CEO Paolo Ardoino said Tether is buying one to two tons of gold per week and aims to operate as a “gold central bank” in a post-dollar world.</li><li>Tether launched USAt, a U.S.-regulated dollar stablecoin issued via Anchorage Digital, with an initial supply of $10 million.</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr><a href="https://coin360.com/coin/tether-usdt">Tether</a>’s tokenized gold business has moved into focus as the stablecoin issuer disclosed that it now holds close to 140 tons of physical gold, positioning the company among the largest private holders globally. The reserves are stored in a Cold War–era nuclear bunker in Switzerland and are primarily associated with&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/tether-gold-xaut">Tether Gold</a>, its tokenized gold product known as&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/tether-gold-xaut">XAUT</a>. The company said the gold holdings are currently valued at about $24 billion, reflecting recent strength in precious metals markets and providing the underlying collateral for its gold-linked digital assets.Paolo Ardoino, Tether’s chief executive officer, described the company’s ambitions for its bullion operations in an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-28/tether-is-shaking-up-the-gold-market-with-massive-metal-hoard">interview</a> cited by Bloomberg, saying Tether intends to become a “gold central bank” as confidence in fiat currencies weakens. Ardoino said gold is “logically a safer asset than any national currency,” adding that geopolitical rivals to the United States are likely to pursue gold-backed alternatives to the dollar. He said Tether continues to reinvest earnings into gold and is purchasing one to two tons per week, with plans to maintain that pace for “definitely the next few months.”Beyond passive custody, Tether has begun preparing for active participation in bullion markets. Ardoino said the company plans to trade its gold reserves and is evaluating strategies to capture arbitrage opportunities. To support that effort, Tether has hired two senior gold traders from HSBC and has taken equity stakes in precious-metals companies including Elemental Altus Royalties and Gold Royalty Corp. The expansion coincides with a surge in gold prices, which Bloomberg cited at approximately $5,234 per troy ounce at the time of reporting, later soared to a new all-time high of $5,400.Tether Gold remains the largest tokenized gold product by market share, holding more than half of the gold-backed token market with a capitalization of $2.62 billion. Despite that position, the company acknowledged increased competition as rival tokenized gold offerings gained traction. The gold strategy is funded by cash flows from Tether’s flagship stablecoin,&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/tether-usdt">USDT</a>, which has more than $186 billion in circulation and continues to dominate stablecoin liquidity tied to&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/">crypto price</a> movements tracked across the crypto price index.After outlining its gold strategy, Tether turned attention to regulated dollar issuance with the launch of&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/news/tether-usat-stablecoin-launch-gold-reserves-tokenized-market">USAt</a>, a U.S.-focused stablecoin designed to operate fully within the American banking system. The token is issued through Anchorage Digital, a federally chartered crypto bank, and is available to U.S. customers, unlike USDT. Tether said USAt was introduced with an initial supply of $10 million and deployed on&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a>, with distribution planned through multiple centralized trading platforms as part of its integration into domestic financial infrastructure.The USAt rollout followed the appointment of Bo Hines, a former White House crypto policy advisor, to the stablecoin’s leadership team. Tether framed the launch as part of a broader effort to align with U.S. regulatory requirements while maintaining parallel strategies across tokenized gold, global&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a>, and traditional financial assets. The disclosures come as market participants continue to monitor crypto price volatility, coin&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/market-capitalization">market cap</a> shifts, and the growing intersection between digital assets and physical commodities.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Gold-centered finance reshapes coin market cap dynamics globally.

Tether Expands Tokenized Gold Footprint as Holdings Near 140 Tons and USAt Debuts in U.S. Banking System

<h2>Asset Manager Pushes Regulated Funds Onchain While Gulf Region Maps Large-Scale Tokenization</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>WisdomTree expanded its regulated tokenization platform to Solana on January 28, 2026.</li><li>Solana real-world assets exceeded $1 billion in onchain value as institutional products broaden.</li><li>GCC tokenization opportunity projected to reach $500 billion by 2030, led by UAE initiatives.</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>WisdomTree&nbsp;<a href="https://ir.wisdomtree.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/774/wisdomtree-expands-tokenization-ecosystem-to-solana">disclosed</a> on January 28, 2026, that it has expanded its tokenization ecosystem to the&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/solana-sol">Solana</a> blockchain, extending access to its regulated digital funds for both institutional and retail clients. The New York Stock Exchange-listed asset manager said the deployment allows tokenized products to be minted, held, and transferred directly on Solana, integrating with the firm’s existing digital asset infrastructure. The move forms part of WisdomTree’s multichain approach to real-world assets, which already includes&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/ethereum-eth">Ethereum</a> and several layer-two networks, while adding a high-throughput blockchain designed for continuous settlement and onchain fund management.The expansion covers WisdomTree’s full range of tokenized products, including money market funds, equity strategies, fixed income vehicles, alternatives, and diversified portfolios. Institutional users can access these products through WisdomTree Connect, which enables onchain subscriptions and redemptions under regulated conditions, while retail users can interact through WisdomTree Prime using&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/stablecoin">stablecoins</a> such as&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/usd-coin-usdc">USDC</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/coin/paypal-usd-pyusd">PYUSD</a> native to Solana. The firm said the setup enables self-custody and onchain portability without requiring investors to leave blockchain rails for traditional settlement processes.Maredith Hannon, head of business development for digital assets at WisdomTree, said the Solana integration was driven by demand for performance and regulatory clarity, stating that “Solana’s speed and scalability, combined with our regulated tokenization framework, allow us to meet both institutional standards and crypto-native expectations.” The platform supports continuous liquidity and stablecoin-based access, with fund issuance and management occurring directly onchain through&nbsp;<a href="https://coin360.com/glossary/smart-contracts">smart contract</a> infrastructure overseen by the asset manager.The Solana Foundation said the addition of WisdomTree’s products builds on existing momentum in onchain real-world assets. Nick Ducoff, head of institutional growth at the foundation, said assets in this category on the network have already surpassed $1 billion in value. He said the integration demonstrates how traditional asset managers are beginning to deploy regulated financial products on high-speed blockchains rather than limiting tokenization efforts to experimental pilots.Alongside product expansion in public blockchains, a separate industry&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kearney.com/service/digital-analytics/article/real-world-asset-tokenization-a-500-billion-opportunity-for-the-gcc">report</a> released during the same period outlined the scale of tokenization ambitions in the Gulf Cooperation Council region. Research conducted by management consultancy Kearney estimated that tokenized real-world assets across the GCC could reach $500 billion by 2030, driven by adoption across private markets, public equities, funds, real estate, commodities, and bank deposits.The report noted that the onchain real-world asset market, excluding stablecoins, has grown from about $1.1 billion in early 2023 to nearly $20 billion by January 2026. It cited active government-backed initiatives, including tokenized funds operating in the Dubai International Financial Centre and a national real estate tokenization program targeting AED 60 billion in assets by 2033. Projects linked to infrastructure and property have also been initiated in Saudi Arabia under similar frameworks.Elias Aad, partner at Kearney Middle East and Africa’s digital and analytics practice, said tokenization addresses structural inefficiencies in large asset classes, stating that “fractional ownership, faster settlement, and streamlined structures can materially improve access and liquidity in private markets and real estate.” Ctrl Alt chief executive for the Middle East and North Africa Robert Farquhar said regulatory coordination has been critical, noting that “progressive regulatory environments, particularly in the UAE, are enabling institutional-grade tokenization to move from concept to live deployment.”Separate coverage of the report highlighted the potential influence of sovereign investors, including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, which manages approximately $913 billion in assets. The analysis said large institutional balance sheets could accelerate adoption if tokenization is integrated into existing fund and custody infrastructure, with regulatory readiness and enterprise-level systems identified as prerequisites for sustained implementation.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Solana real-world assets exceed scale with regulated institutional custody

WisdomTree Expands Tokenized Funds to Solana as GCC Tokenization Market Targets $500 Billion by 2030

<h2>Five Years After GameStop Halt, Robinhood Reframes Market Failures Around Tokenization</h2>TL;DR<ul><li>Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev said tokenized stocks and real-time settlement could have prevented the GameStop trading freeze.</li><li>He tied the 2021 halt to legacy clearing systems and settlement delays rather than brokerage intent.</li><li>Tenev said regulatory clarity remains a prerequisite for deploying tokenized equity markets at scale.</li></ul><hr>We’ve launched the all-new COIN360 Perp DEX, built for traders who move fast!Trade 130+ assets with up to 100× leverage, enjoy instant order placement and low-slippage swaps, and earn USDC passive yield while climbing the leaderboard. Your trades deserve more than speed — they deserve mastery.<div class="raw-html-embed"><div style="box-sizing: inherit; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: white; display: flex; align-items: center; justify-content: center;"><a href="https://dex.coin360.com/" ref="noopener nofollow noreferrer" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: white; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer; background-color: #4CAF50; padding: 5px 30px; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; margin: 5px 2px; border-radius: 5px;">Start Trading on COIN360 Today!</a></div></div><hr>Robinhood co-founder and CEO Vlad Tenev&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/vladtenev/status/2016500601798992083">said</a> the trading restrictions imposed during the GameStop volatility episode could have been avoided if U.S. equities had been issued and settled on blockchain-based infrastructure. The comments were published on January 28, 2026, marking five years since Robinhood and other brokerages halted purchases of several heavily traded stocks during extreme market conditions. Tenev described the episode as “one of the strangest and most visible equity market failures in recent history,” framing the event as a systemic breakdown rather than a firm-specific decision.Tenev said the underlying cause of the halt was the structure of equity settlement and clearing, which at the time relied on a two-day settlement cycle that required brokers to post large amounts of collateral during periods of volatility. He argued that tokenized stocks settled in real time would remove the need for brokers to manage such intraday clearing risk, eliminating the mechanism that forced temporary trading restrictions during the GameStop surge.During the 2021 episode, GameStop shares recorded a closing price of $347.51 on Jan. 27 before briefly reaching an intraday high of $483 and later falling below $100 as volatility intensified. Robinhood raised $3 billion in emergency funding to meet clearinghouse requirements while limiting purchases of certain securities, a move that sparked public backlash and congressional scrutiny at the time.Tenev acknowledged subsequent market reforms, including the transition to a one-day settlement standard, but said those changes stop short of addressing the root issue. He said settlement delays remain incompatible with modern, high-speed markets and global trading demand, repeating that blockchain-based settlement could operate continuously without requiring intermediaries to manage multi-day exposure.Regulatory uncertainty remains the central constraint, according to Tenev, who said technological readiness alone is insufficient. “Without regulatory clarity, such efforts are moot,” he wrote, referring to the deployment of tokenized equities within the existing legal framework governing securities issuance, custody, and investor protections.Robinhood has already begun experimenting with tokenized financial instruments outside the United States, including offering stock-linked tokens to European users through blockchain infrastructure designed to support extended trading hours. Tenev has said those efforts are constrained domestically by regulatory ambiguity, particularly around the classification and treatment of on-chain representations of traditional securities.The renewed focus on tokenization comes as traditional exchanges and financial institutions explore blockchain-based platforms capable of supporting continuous trading, fractional ownership, and instant settlement. Tenev has positioned tokenization as a structural alternative to legacy clearing systems, arguing that future equity markets could operate without the settlement bottlenecks that defined the GameStop episode.This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.

Robot upgrades legacy settlement system toward real-time blockchain settlement