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Riyad Bank’s Jeel Partners with Ripple on Blockchain Payments
Riyad Bank subsidiary Jeel has partnered with Ripple to explore blockchain-based payments, custody, and tokenization within Saudi Arabia’s regulated financial framework.
Jeel, an innovation subsidiary of Riyad Bank, has signed a partnership with blockchain firm Ripple to explore advanced applications in payments, custody, and tokenization across Saudi Arabia. The collaboration reflects rising institutional interest in blockchain infrastructure as the Kingdom continues to modernize its financial system.
The partnership will focus on evaluating blockchain-enabled cross-border payments, with an emphasis on improving speed, cost efficiency, and transparency across regional trade and remittance corridors. Jeel and Ripple will also assess digital asset custody frameworks and tokenization models, areas increasingly viewed as foundational to next-generation capital markets.
Testing will take place within Jeel’s regulatory sandbox, allowing proofs-of-concept to be developed under controlled and compliant conditions. For Ripple, the agreement provides strategic access to Saudi Arabia’s regulated banking ecosystem, while Jeel strengthens its role in piloting emerging financial technologies aligned with national digital transformation goals.
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.
Japan Crypto ETFs Seen Trading by 2028
Japan’s financial regulator is moving toward allowing crypto ETFs, with products potentially reaching markets by 2028 as major institutions prepare offerings.
Japan’s Financial Services Agency is preparing to classify cryptocurrencies as eligible assets for exchange-traded funds, potentially opening the door for crypto ETFs to trade by 2028, according to Nikkei. The move would allow digital assets to be included under the country’s Investment Trust Act, expanding regulated access for retail investors.
Industry estimates cited by Nikkei suggest crypto ETFs in Japan could attract up to 1 trillion yen, or about $6.4 billion, in assets. A 2028 launch would place Japan several years behind the US, where spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs have already accumulated significant institutional inflows since debuting in 2024.
Major financial groups including SBI Holdings and Nomura Holdings have indicated interest in launching crypto ETF products, though any offering would still require approval from the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The initiative reflects Japan’s broader effort to integrate digital assets into traditional capital markets under a regulated framework.
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.
First Avalanche ETF Launches in US Markets
VanEck has launched the first US-listed ETF offering exposure to Avalanche’s AVAX token, including potential staking rewards.
VanEck has launched the first US-listed exchange-traded fund tied to Avalanche’s native token, AVAX, marking another step in the expansion of crypto-linked investment products. The fund, trading under the ticker VAVX, began trading on Monday, January 26, and includes exposure to both AVAX price movements and staking rewards.
The ETF provides regulated access to Avalanche, an EVM-compatible blockchain developed by Ava Labs that focuses on scalability, interoperability, and smart contract functionality. AVAX is currently the 33rd-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, positioning the fund outside the dominant bitcoin and ether-focused ETF category.
VanEck said it will waive sponsor fees on the first $500 million in assets or until late February, after which a 0.20% fee will apply. The launch adds to VanEck’s growing lineup of crypto ETFs and reflects increasing institutional interest in diversified blockchain exposure beyond core 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.
Snowstorm Delays Senate Crypto Bill Markup
Severe winter weather in Washington has pushed back a key Senate Agriculture Committee vote on sweeping crypto market structure legislation.
A markup of comprehensive cryptocurrency legislation by the Senate Agriculture Committee has been postponed due to snowstorms in Washington, D.C. The committee rescheduled the session for Thursday morning (January 29), delaying what would be the Senate’s first formal move to amend and vote on a broad crypto market structure bill.
The legislation would expand the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s authority over digital assets, positioning the panel at the center of congressional crypto oversight. The delay follows earlier disruptions in the Senate Banking Committee, which oversees the Securities and Exchange Commission and has struggled to advance its own crypto bill amid internal disagreements.
The Agriculture Committee’s proposal has already faced political headwinds, with limited Democratic backing and amendments filed to address concerns around conflicts of interest tied to Donald Trump’s crypto ventures. The pause highlights ongoing legislative uncertainty as lawmakers attempt to align regulatory responsibilities across agencies.
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.
Kraken Launches DeFi Earn across Major Markets
Kraken has rolled out its DeFi Earn product across the US, EU, and Canada, offering onchain yield through managed DeFi vaults.
Kraken has introduced its DeFi Earn product in Canada, the European Economic Area, and most US states and expanded access to decentralized finance yield through its centralized platform. The offering allows users to earn variable returns, with advertised yields reaching up to 8%, while maintaining the operational interface of a traditional exchange.
The product is built on vault infrastructure provided by Veda, with initial USDC vaults managed by risk specialists Chaos Labs and Sentora. Funds are allocated to established onchain lending and liquidity protocols, including Aave, Morpho, Sky, and Tydro, with returns generated from borrower demand rather than incentives.
Kraken’s launch reflects a broader industry push to bridge centralized access with decentralized yield as exchanges and custodians seek compliant, scalable DeFi integrations. The model aims to address institutional concerns around transparency, risk management, and liquidity while expanding retail participation in onchain financial products.
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.
BitMine Makes Largest Ether Purchase of 2026
BitMine added more than 40,000 Ether to its treasury last week, which marks its largest ETH acquisition of the year following a shareholder vote.
BitMine Immersion Technologies, the largest corporate holder of ether, acquired 40,302 ETH last week in its biggest purchase of 2026. The transaction, valued at roughly $117 million at current prices, increased the firm’s total holdings to more than 4.24 million ETH, representing about 3.5% of the circulating supply.
The purchase followed shareholder approval to expand BitMine’s authorized share count, allowing the company to raise additional capital through equity issuance. That decision provided renewed balance sheet flexibility after BitMine signaled earlier this month that accumulation could slow without fresh funding capacity.
BitMine has staked more than 2 million ETH, converting nearly half of its holdings into yield-generating assets. The scale of its staking activity has contributed to longer validator entry times on the Ethereum network, highlighting the growing influence of large treasury holders on network dynamics.
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.
Zerohash Seeks $250M Raise after Mastercard Talks End
Zerohash is in discussions to raise $250 million at a $1.5 billion valuation after stepping away from acquisition talks with Mastercard.
Blockchain infrastructure firm Zerohash is in talks to raise approximately $250 million at a $1.5 billion valuation, according to a person familiar with the discussions. The fundraising effort follows the company’s recent decision to walk away from acquisition talks with Mastercard, opting instead to remain independent. Discussions remain ongoing and the final terms could change.
Mastercard is still considering a strategic investment in Zerohash, despite no longer pursuing a full takeover. The move reflects broader interest from traditional financial institutions seeking exposure to crypto infrastructure without outright acquisitions. Demand for enterprise-grade platforms has increased as banks and fintechs expand offerings tied to tokenized assets, stablecoins, and onchain settlement.
Zerohash was valued at $1 billion in its October Series D-2 round and counts major financial firms among its investors and clients. The potential raise would position the company to scale its infrastructure amid growing institutional adoption of blockchain-based financial 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.
Farcaster to Repay $180 Million, Protocol to Continue
Farcaster plans to return $180 million raised from venture investors while continuing operations under new owner Neynar, focusing on developer-driven growth.
Decentralized social protocol Farcaster will return the full $180 million raised from venture capital investors as it transitions under new ownership, co-founder Dan Romero confirmed. The sale to Neynar, a developer-focused decentralized infrastructure firm backed by Haun Ventures, marks a strategic pivot while ensuring the protocol remains operational.
Romero emphasized that Farcaster is “not shutting down,” noting active user engagement with roughly 250,000 monthly users and over 100,000 funded wallets as of December 2025. Former Coinbase executive and early investor Balaji Srinivasan publicly supported the repayment plan, highlighting the protocol’s functional technology and long-term maturation potential.
Founded in 2020 by Romero and Varun Srinivasan, Merkle Manufactory, Farcaster’s parent company, is backed by leading venture firms, including a16z Crypto and Paradigm. The platform was last valued at $1 billion following a $150 million Series A in 2024, reflecting significant investor confidence in its Web3 infrastructure and community-driven model.
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.
Revolut Shifts Strategy, Eyes US Banking License
Revolut is reportedly planning to apply for a US banking license, dropping earlier plans to acquire a local lender as it accelerates its global expansion.
UK-based fintech Revolut is preparing to apply for a banking license in the United States. The company is said to be engaging with the Office for the Comptroller of the Currency as it abandons earlier plans to acquire a US bank.
The strategic shift follows Revolut’s 2025 consideration of a bank acquisition to accelerate its US expansion. Sources cited by the report said a takeover could have required maintaining physical branch networks, adding operational complexity. Applying directly for a license may offer a faster and more flexible path under the current US regulatory environment.
Revolut was valued at $75 billion following a November share sale and has committed $13 billion to global expansion over five years. While the company has yet to fully roll out banking services in its home UK market, the reported move underscores its ambition to establish a regulated banking presence in the US.
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.
Ledger Weighs US IPO as Hardware Wallet Demand Rises
Ledger is reportedly in talks with major banks about a potential US IPO that could value the crypto hardware wallet maker at more than $4 billion.
French crypto hardware wallet provider Ledger is exploring a potential initial public offering in the United States. The company is said to be in discussions with Goldman Sachs, Barclays, and Jefferies about a possible listing that could value Ledger at more than $4 billion.
The reported talks come amid rising demand for offline crypto storage as hacks and fraud continue to weigh on digital asset markets. More than $3.4 billion was stolen in crypto-related incidents in 2025, reinforcing the appeal of self-custody solutions. Ledger, founded in 2014, produces hardware wallets that store private keys offline to reduce exposure to online attacks.
Ledger posted a record year in 2025, with revenue reaching the hundreds of millions of dollars. While the company declined to confirm IPO plans, the discussions highlight renewed investor interest in crypto infrastructure firms following recent US listings in the custody sector.
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.
Kansas Lawmakers Propose State-Managed Bitcoin Reserve
Kansas lawmakers introduced a bill to create a state-managed Bitcoin and digital assets reserve funded by unclaimed crypto and staking rewards.
Lawmakers in Kansas are considering legislation that would establish a state-managed Bitcoin and digital assets reserve funded through unclaimed property rather than direct cryptocurrency purchases. Senate Bill 352 would create the reserve within the state treasury and place it under the administration of the state treasurer.
Under the proposal, the reserve would be capitalized using abandoned digital assets collected under Kansas’ unclaimed property laws, including staking rewards, airdrops, and interest earned on those assets. The bill explicitly avoids authorizing the state to buy Bitcoin on the open market, aligning with broader federal approaches that rely on forfeited or unclaimed crypto holdings.
The measure also updates Kansas statutes to formally define digital assets and airdrops, clarifying how such property is treated when deemed abandoned. Kansas joins a growing number of US states exploring crypto-related legislation as policymakers weigh potential benefits, risks, and governance frameworks for digital assets within public finance.
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.
Binance Seeks MiCA Approval in Greece Ahead of EU Deadline
Binance has applied for a MiCA license in Greece as EU regulators press crypto firms to meet June compliance deadlines or exit key markets.
Binance has submitted an application for authorization under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation in Greece, signaling a push to secure a regulatory footing ahead of looming compliance deadlines. The exchange confirmed it is working with the Hellenic Capital Market Commission as MiCA transitions toward full enforcement across the bloc.
The move follows warnings from France’s Autorité des Marchés Financiers, which recently flagged Binance among firms still operating without a MiCA license. France has notified registered crypto companies that its transition period ends on June 30, after which non-compliant providers must cease local operations. MiCA, which entered into force in late 2024, establishes a unified framework for crypto-asset service providers across the EU.
Greece has yet to issue its first MiCA license, according to EU regulatory data, placing Binance among early applicants in the jurisdiction. The filing highlights intensifying competition among EU member states to attract regulated crypto activity, while exchanges face growing pressure to align operations with the bloc’s standardized rules.
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.
Space Protocol Defends $20M Token Sale after Backlash
Space Protocol pushed back against criticism after its public token sale raised more than $20 million, far above initial expectations.
Space Protocol defended its recent public token sale after demand surged past $20 million, significantly exceeding the $2.5 million target widely discussed ahead of the offering. The Solana-based project said the figure represented a soft cap rather than a hard limit and rejected comparisons to other controversial crypto fundraises.
The team said it ultimately allocated 19.6% of the total token supply to the sale and returned more than $7 million in excess capital. According to Space, the retained funds are intended to support liquidity provision, exchange listings, security audits, and long-term development of its leveraged prediction market platform.
Criticism has continued across social media, with some commentators questioning disclosure practices, marketing tactics, and the backgrounds of the founding team. The episode highlights ongoing sensitivity around token sale mechanics as prediction markets regain traction amid tighter scrutiny of crypto fundraising structures.
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.
Justin Sun Invests $8M in River as Leverage Signals Emerge
Tron founder Justin Sun invested $8 million in DeFi protocol River, as analysts flagged unusually high leverage during a sharp rally in the RIVER token.
Tron founder Justin Sun invested $8 million in DeFi protocol River, the project said Wednesday, positioning the funding as a strategic move to deepen integration across the TRON ecosystem. River focuses on cross-chain stablecoin infrastructure, enabling collateral deposited on one blockchain to mint a unified stablecoin usable across networks.
Following the announcement, River’s RIVER token rose about 24% within a day, significantly outperforming the broader crypto market. The rally pushed the token to new highs and lifted its market capitalization close to $900 million, according to market data.
However, analysts at CoinGlass flagged trading conditions around the move, noting that RIVER futures volume exceeded spot trading by roughly 80 times. Such imbalances, the firm said, suggest price action driven primarily by leverage and liquidation dynamics rather than organic demand, underscoring ongoing volatility risks in smaller-cap DeFi tokens.
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.
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Strategy Credit Risk Eases as Preferred Equity Overtakes Debt
Strategy’s growing reliance on perpetual preferred equity has reduced refinancing risk as it overtakes the firm’s outstanding convertible debt.
Credit risk at Strategy has eased as the notional value of its perpetual preferred equity surpassed its outstanding convertible debt, according to company disclosures. Preferred equity now totals about $8.36 billion, exceeding roughly $8.2 billion in convertibles, signaling a structural shift in how the Bitcoin-focused firm finances its balance sheet.
The move away from maturity-based convertible bonds reduces refinancing pressure and dampens equity-linked volatility. Perpetual preferred shares carry fixed dividends but no repayment obligation, offering more stable, long-duration capital compared with debt that matures and fluctuates with stock price movements.
The change comes as Strategy continues to expand its Bitcoin holdings while managing leverage risk. A larger equity base and significant cash reserves further improve dividend coverage and reduce near-term funding concerns, supporting a more durable capital structure amid crypto market volatility.
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.