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Hang Seng Launches Gold ETF with Tokenized Ethereum Units
Hang Seng Investment debuted a physically backed gold ETF in Hong Kong that includes a tokenized share class issued on Ethereum.
Hang Seng Investment has launched a new physically backed gold exchange-traded fund on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, introducing a tokenized class of units issued on Ethereum. The Hang Seng Gold ETF tracks the LBMA Gold Price AM and holds bullion in designated Hong Kong vaults, combining conventional commodity exposure with blockchain-based fund administration.
The tokenized units are initially issued on Ethereum, with the prospectus allowing for expansion to other public blockchains. HSBC is acting as the tokenization agent, though the units are not yet available for subscription and will only be released after regulatory approvals are finalized. Trading and redemption will be limited to qualified distributors, maintaining controls consistent with traditional ETF distribution.
The launch reflects Hong Kong’s broader strategy to integrate digital asset infrastructure into regulated financial markets. It also underscores growing institutional interest in using tokenization to improve settlement efficiency and operational transparency without altering investor protections.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
Strive Buys 334 Bitcoin, Cuts Debt after Semler Deal
Strive added 334 Bitcoin to its balance sheet and retired most of the debt inherited from its Semler Scientific acquisition, strengthening its treasury position.
Bitcoin treasury firm Strive said it purchased 333.9 BTC and retired 92% of the debt assumed from its Semler Scientific acquisition, following the close of a preferred stock offering. The company raised $225 million through its Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock after demand exceeded initial expectations, allowing it to reduce leverage while expanding its digital asset holdings.
Proceeds from the offering were used to retire $110 million in liabilities, including the repayment of a $20 million credit loan and the exchange of $90 million in convertible notes for preferred equity. Strive said its bitcoin holdings are now fully unencumbered, with the remaining $10 million of debt expected to be repaid in the coming months.
The latest purchase lifts Strive’s treasury to 13,132 Bitcoin, placing it among the largest corporate holders globally. The move highlights continued institutional experimentation with bitcoin treasury strategies, even as equity market performance reflects ongoing volatility and investor scrutiny.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
Sygnum Raises 750 BTC for Market-Neutral Bitcoin Fund
Swiss crypto bank Sygnum has raised more than 750 Bitcoin for its market-neutral BTC Alpha Fund as institutional investors seek yield-oriented crypto strategies.
Swiss digital asset bank Sygnum said its market-neutral BTC Alpha Fund raised more than 750 Bitcoin from professional and institutional investors, completing its seed phase just four months after launch. The fund reported an annualized return of 8.9% in the fourth quarter of 2025, despite a broader market pullback that saw Bitcoin decline roughly 25% over the same period.
The fund uses arbitrage and relative-value strategies across spot and derivatives markets on centralized exchanges, aiming to generate returns independent of Bitcoin price direction. According to Sygnum, strategies include cross-exchange arbitrage and leveraged carry trades, with returns accumulated in Bitcoin rather than distributed in cash.
The raise underscores a broader institutional shift toward structured crypto products designed to deliver yield while maintaining exposure to digital assets. As Bitcoin becomes a strategic allocation for more portfolios, demand is increasing for regulated, risk-managed strategies that resemble traditional alternative investment funds.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
South Korea Regulator Supports Ownership Caps for Crypto Exchanges
South Korea’s top financial regulator said crypto exchanges should face shareholder limits similar to securities markets as lawmakers finalize new digital asset legislation.
South Korea’s Financial Services Commission is backing ownership limits for crypto exchanges, signaling a tougher stance on governance as the country prepares a new regulatory framework for digital assets. FSC Chair Lee Eog-weon said exchanges should be treated as public-market infrastructure rather than ordinary private companies, aligning them more closely with securities platforms.
The proposal under discussion would cap major shareholders’ stakes at roughly 15% to 20%, a shift that could significantly reshape ownership structures at leading domestic exchanges. The measure is part of the broader Digital Asset Basic Act, which would move exchanges from a renewable registration system to a formal authorization regime with stricter oversight and governance standards.
Lawmakers are still negotiating sensitive provisions ahead of a mid-February deadline, including shareholder limits and stablecoin oversight. While capital requirements for stablecoin issuers appear close to agreement, ownership caps remain one of the most contested elements of the bill.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
ECB Executive Backs Digital Euro as Payments Sovereignty Tool
An ECB executive said the digital euro is becoming a strategic necessity as geopolitical tensions expose Europe’s reliance on non-European payment systems.
The digital euro is increasingly central to Europe’s financial sovereignty as global tensions turn payment systems into strategic infrastructure, according to ECB executive board member Piero Cipollone. He described the digital euro as public money in digital form, designed to complement cash and modernize payments as e-commerce and digital transactions continue to grow.
Cipollone said Europe’s heavy reliance on non-European payment providers creates structural vulnerabilities in a world where financial tools can be weaponized. He argued that a European-controlled system, built on domestic technology and standards, would reduce dependencies while ensuring continuity of payments under stress scenarios.
The ECB official also emphasized that the digital euro would carry legal tender status, requiring acceptance by merchants that already support digital payments. He said a single, open standard could encourage banks and fintechs to build a unified European payments layer, addressing fragmentation while preserving public oversight of money in an increasingly digital economy.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
WisdomTree Expands Tokenized Fund Offering to Solana
WisdomTree has added Solana to its multi-chain strategy, making its full lineup of tokenized funds available on the high-speed blockchain for institutional and retail users.
WisdomTree said it has expanded its tokenized fund offerings to the Solana blockchain, adding the network to its regulated multi-chain distribution strategy. The move allows users to mint, trade, and hold the firm’s full suite of tokenized funds directly on Solana, including money market, equity, fixed income, alternative, and asset allocation products.
The asset manager already offers tokenized funds across several other networks, including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Base, and Optimism. Adding Solana reflects a growing focus among asset managers on diversifying blockchain infrastructure to improve efficiency while maintaining regulatory standards for digital asset products.
Solana currently ranks as the fourth-largest network for distributed tokenized assets, with about $1.3 billion in on-chain value. WisdomTree cited Solana’s transaction speed as a key factor in the expansion, positioning the network as a complementary venue for scaling regulated real-world asset distribution as institutional participation in on-chain markets continues to develop.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
Ripple Launches Treasury Platform for Cash and Digital Assets
Ripple has introduced a new corporate treasury platform that integrates cash management with digital asset operations following its acquisition of GTreasury.
Ripple has unveiled Ripple Treasury, a corporate treasury platform that brings together traditional cash management and digital asset operations in a single system. The launch marks the first major product integration since Ripple’s $1 billion acquisition of treasury software provider GTreasury in October, extending Ripple’s push into enterprise financial infrastructure.
The platform is designed to address common frictions in corporate treasury operations, including delayed cross-border settlements and fragmented reconciliation processes. Ripple said the system enables three- to five-second international settlements using its RLUSD stablecoin and provides a unified interface for managing both fiat and digital assets through API-based integrations.
The rollout comes as Ripple expands its regulated footprint across key markets, including recent licensing approvals in the UK and Luxembourg. The company is positioning the platform as a bridge between legacy treasury systems and onchain liquidity, reflecting growing institutional demand for integrated digital finance tools.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
Wallet Linked to Alleged US Seizure Theft Launches Memecoin
A Solana memecoin launched from a wallet linked to an alleged theft of US government-seized crypto collapsed 97%, raising fresh concerns over memecoin launch practices.
A wallet linked by blockchain investigators to an alleged theft of crypto assets seized by the US government has launched a Solana-based memecoin that quickly collapsed. The token, John Daghita (LICK), was created on Pump.fun and briefly reached a market capitalization of about $915,000 before falling below $25,000 within a day.
Blockchain investigator ZachXBT said the wallet is connected to addresses holding large sums of crypto believed to originate from US government-controlled seizures in 2024 and 2025. The US Marshals Service has confirmed the matter is under investigation, though no charges have been announced.
Onchain data shows the deployer controlled roughly 40% of the token supply at launch, according to Bubblemaps, a level of concentration often viewed as a structural risk. The episode adds to broader concerns around memecoin tokenomics, insider activity, and the lack of standardized protections in open launch environments.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
Bitget Names Oliver Stauber to Lead EU MiCA Expansion
Bitget has appointed former Bitpanda legal chief Oliver Stauber as CEO of Bitget EU to oversee its MiCA licensing process and establish a Vienna-based hub.
Bitget has appointed Oliver Stauber, former chief legal officer at Bitpanda, as CEO of Bitget EU to lead its expansion under Europe’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation. The exchange is building a regional headquarters in Vienna and expects to receive regulatory approval in Austria by mid-2026.
Under Stauber’s leadership, Bitget EU will operate a broker-led model, ring-fencing European Economic Area users from its offshore platform through enhanced KYC and IP controls. The company said it will not onboard EU users until authorization is granted, aligning with MiCA’s requirements for licensing, disclosure, and consumer protection.
The move reflects intensifying competition among global exchanges to secure regulated EU footholds as MiCA reshapes the market. Vienna’s selection as a compliance hub positions Bitget alongside peers building localized governance structures to meet Europe’s stricter standards for digital-asset services.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
OKX Launches EU Stablecoin Payment Card
OKX has introduced a Mastercard-linked payment card in Europe that allows verified users to spend USDC and USDG through a regulated issuer.
OKX has launched a stablecoin payment card for European users, allowing spending of USDC and USDG at merchants that accept Mastercard. The card is issued through Monavate, a regulated electronic money institution, and is available to users who complete identity verification.
The rollout comes as crypto firms expand payment offerings under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation. OKX operates as a regulated crypto-asset service provider in the EU, while Monavate provides the licensing and compliance framework for card issuance across the European Economic Area.
The product highlights growing competition among exchanges to integrate stablecoins into everyday payments. By combining exchange access, self-custody wallets, and regulated payment rails, OKX is positioning stablecoins as a practical settlement tool while aligning with stricter compliance standards for consumer-facing crypto services.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
Coinbase Advances Plans for Custom Stablecoins
Coinbase is testing Flipcash’s USDF stablecoin as it develops tools that would allow businesses to issue branded, dollar-backed tokens.
Coinbase is moving closer to launching custom stablecoins after enabling backend testing of Flipcash’s USDF token on its exchange infrastructure. The test is part of Coinbase Custom Stablecoins, a feature introduced in December to support business-issued, dollar-backed tokens collateralized by USDC.
The initiative reflects growing institutional interest in stablecoins for payments, treasury management, and cross-border settlement. Coinbase has positioned the product as infrastructure rather than a consumer-facing asset, with testing limited to internal operations and no trading or transfers currently available.
Strategically, the move deepens Coinbase’s exposure to the stablecoin economy while complementing its existing partnership with Circle. Stablecoins already represent a meaningful revenue stream for the exchange, and the broader market continues to expand amid regulatory scrutiny and rising demand for programmable, dollar-denominated settlement assets.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
Arthur Hayes: Fed Backstop of Japan Bonds Could Lift Bitcoin
Arthur Hayes argues potential US intervention in Japan’s bond market could expand global liquidity, creating supportive conditions for Bitcoin.
BitMEX founder Arthur Hayes said potential Federal Reserve intervention to stabilize Japan’s bond market could become a liquidity catalyst for Bitcoin. He pointed to rising Japanese government bond yields alongside a weakening yen as signs of stress that may force coordinated action by the Bank of Japan and the Fed.
Hayes suggested Japanese investors could sell US Treasuries to rotate into higher-yielding domestic bonds, creating spillover risks for global markets. In response, he believes the Fed could expand its balance sheet by creating dollar reserves, intervening in currency markets, and indirectly supporting Japanese bonds, increasing overall dollar liquidity.
From Hayes’ perspective, Bitcoin tends to benefit from periods of monetary expansion rather than tightening. While he framed the scenario as conditional on central bank action, the comments reflect broader market sensitivity to cross-border liquidity dynamics and the role of Bitcoin as a potential hedge during periods of currency and sovereign debt stress.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
UK Regulator Bans Coinbase Ads Over Risk Messaging
The UK advertising watchdog has banned several Coinbase ads, citing concerns that they downplayed crypto investment risks amid economic stress.
The UK Advertising Standards Authority has banned a series of Coinbase advertisements, saying they irresponsibly portrayed cryptocurrency as a response to cost-of-living pressures while minimizing investment risks. The ads included a satirical musical-style video and posters displayed across major transit hubs.
According to the regulator, the campaigns used humor and social commentary to frame crypto as an accessible alternative to economic hardship without adequate disclosure of potential losses. The decision builds on an earlier rejection of the video for television broadcast, though the ads continued to circulate online and in public spaces.
The ruling underscores the UK’s tightening approach to crypto promotion, aligning with broader Financial Conduct Authority rules requiring prominent risk warnings. As regulators seek to balance innovation with consumer protection, the decision highlights the increasing scrutiny facing crypto firms marketing to retail audiences in traditional media channels.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
Kalshi Expands Washington Presence with New Policy Office
Prediction markets platform Kalshi has opened a Washington, D.C. office to strengthen federal and state-level policy engagement amid ongoing regulatory disputes.
Kalshi has established a new office in Washington, D.C., signaling a more formal push into US policy engagement as regulatory scrutiny around prediction markets intensifies. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission-regulated platform appointed veteran political strategist John Bivona as its first head of federal government relations to lead outreach with lawmakers and regulators.
The company also hired Blake Bee, a former Amazon public policy executive, to oversee state-level engagement. The expansion comes as Kalshi reports rapid growth in trading activity, with monthly volumes reaching $6.58 billion in December, driven in part by demand for sports-related event contracts.
Despite its federal approval, Kalshi faces enforcement actions from multiple US states that argue its sports contracts amount to unlicensed gambling. Court rulings have varied by jurisdiction, underscoring unresolved tensions between federal oversight and state gaming laws as prediction markets seek broader acceptance.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.
Majority of Top US Banks Prepare Bitcoin Services
A growing share of leading US banks are offering or planning Bitcoin-related services, signaling a shift in institutional attitudes toward crypto.
More than 60% of the largest US banks have either launched or announced plans for Bitcoin-related services, according to data shared by Bitcoin financial services firm River. These offerings include trading, custody, and lending products tied to digital assets, marking a notable shift from earlier industry resistance.
The trend was echoed by Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, who said discussions with bank executives at the World Economic Forum in Davos suggested growing openness to crypto. Several senior banking leaders reportedly view digital assets as strategically important, with some describing crypto adoption as a competitive necessity rather than an optional experiment.
While institutions such as JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Citigroup have moved forward with crypto initiatives, others remain cautious. Concerns around stablecoins, regulatory clarity, and systemic risk continue to limit broader adoption, indicating that while momentum is building, the banking sector’s embrace of crypto remains uneven.
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: CoinScreamer is an independent media brand owned by NuvexMedia LLC, providing news, research, and market insights. NuvexMedia LLC invests in and collaborates with various companies across the digital asset and technology industries. Despite these partnerships, CoinScreamer operates with full editorial independence to deliver accurate, timely, and objective information about the crypto market. Below are our current financial and business disclosures. © 2025 NuvexMedia LLC. All Rights Reserved. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of professional advice.