Coincheck Group will acquire Canadian digital asset manager 3iQ in a $112 million stock transaction, expanding its reach in regulated crypto investment products.
Coincheck Group, the Nasdaq-listed parent of a major Japanese cryptocurrency exchange, has agreed to acquire a 97% stake in Canadian digital asset manager 3iQ in a stock transaction valued at approximately $112 million. The deal values 3iQ shares at $4 each and is expected to close in the second quarter, pending regulatory approvals.
Founded in 2012, 3iQ specializes in regulated digital asset investment products, including exchange-listed crypto funds, staking-based ETFs, and managed strategies tailored primarily to institutional investors. The acquisition would give Coincheck greater exposure to regulated asset management and deepen its footprint in North America.
The transaction reflects a broader industry trend of crypto exchanges expanding beyond spot trading into asset management, staking, and institutional services. For Coincheck, which listed on Nasdaq in late 2024, the deal supports its strategy of building diversified revenue streams while strengthening compliance-focused offerings in mature regulatory markets.
BitMine staked an additional $60 million worth of Ether, lifting its total staked ETH to $2.62 billion as it deepens an Ethereum-focused treasury strategy.
BitMine has staked an additional 19,200 Ether valued at roughly $60 million, bringing its total staked balance to about $2.62 billion. The move continues a rapid staking expansion that began in late December, signaling a more active approach to managing its growing Ethereum treasury rather than holding assets passively.
The firm now controls more than 4 million ETH, valued at approximately $12.8 billion, making it the largest known corporate holder of Ethereum. Nearly one-fifth of those holdings are staked, allowing BitMine to earn protocol yield while supporting network security. At current staking rates, the strategy could generate meaningful recurring income at scale.
The expanded staking footprint also aligns with BitMine’s plans to launch a US-based Ethereum validator network in 2026. As more institutional players deploy capital into staking, the trend underscores Ethereum’s increasing role as a balance-sheet asset and raises broader questions around validator concentration and market structure.
Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour endorsed proposed legislation that would ban insider trading on prediction markets, aligning regulated platforms with traditional market standards.
Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour said he supports new legislation aimed at banning insider trading on prediction markets, endorsing a bill introduced by Representative Ritchie Torres. In a public statement, Mansour said Kalshi already enforces restrictions that prevent users with access to non-public information from trading on sensitive markets.
The proposed Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act of 2026 would prohibit federal officials and government employees from placing bets tied to political outcomes or government actions. The bill follows heightened scrutiny of prediction markets after reports that a large wager on a foreign political event generated significant profits, raising concerns about potential misuse of insider information.
Mansour emphasized a distinction between US-regulated platforms and offshore operators, arguing that regulated markets already apply standards similar to those used by major stock exchanges. The debate highlights growing regulatory attention as prediction markets expand in volume and attract participation from both financial and crypto-native firms.
Solana Accelerate will kick off Consensus Hong Kong on February 11, bringing developers, institutions, and policymakers together at the Asia-focused crypto conference.
Solana Accelerate will open Consensus Hong Kong on February 11, marking a deeper collaboration between CoinDesk and the Solana Foundation as the conference expands its institutional focus in Asia. The one-day event is designed to bring Solana developers and founders into direct conversation with investors, regulators, and enterprise participants attending Consensus.
Consensus Hong Kong, running from February 10 to 12, has positioned itself as a regional hub for digital asset markets, with programming spanning regulation, tokenization, and capital formation. Events such as PitchFest and the Consensus EasyA Hackathon aim to connect builders with funding, while policy-focused sessions reflect growing engagement from governments and financial institutions.
For the Solana Foundation, embedding Accelerate within Consensus underscores a strategy to engage beyond crypto-native audiences as blockchain infrastructure matures. The structure signals a broader industry shift toward integrating technical innovation with regulatory and institutional dialogue.
World Liberty Financial has applied for a national trust banking charter to internalize issuance and custody of its USD1 stablecoin and expand institutional use.
World Liberty Financial, a crypto platform associated with the Trump family, has filed for a national trust banking charter with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The move would allow its subsidiary, WLTC Holdings, to issue, custody, and convert its USD1 stablecoin internally, reducing reliance on third-party service providers.
If approved, the charter would enable fee-free minting and redemption of USD1, direct conversion between US dollars and the stablecoin, and custody services for USD1 and other digital assets. The company said institutional clients are already using USD1 for cross-border payments, settlement, and treasury operations, and that tighter integration could support broader adoption.
The filing comes as US regulators increasingly grant conditional banking approvals to crypto-native firms, signaling a gradual opening of the traditional banking framework. However, World Liberty’s application may attract additional scrutiny given political sensitivities and concerns raised by lawmakers around governance and potential conflicts of interest.
Wyoming has rolled out its state-issued FRNT stablecoin to the public, marking the first fully reserved, fiat-backed token launched by a US public entity.
Wyoming has made its Frontier Stable Token (FRNT) publicly available, becoming the first US state to issue a fully reserved, fiat-backed stablecoin. Governor Mark Gordon said the token is designed to provide faster, lower-cost digital payments while generating interest income for the state through its reserve structure.
FRNT is backed one-to-one by US dollars and short-term Treasurys and is overseen by the Wyoming Stable Token Commission. The token is live on the Solana blockchain and accessible through major crypto platforms, with interoperability across multiple networks. State officials highlighted reduced transaction fees compared with traditional card payments as a key benefit for both citizens and public agencies.
Wyoming plans to expand FRNT usage throughout 2026 by onboarding additional partners and deploying the token across more government services. The initiative reflects broader experimentation by public institutions exploring stablecoins to modernize payments and improve operational efficiency.
Dfns, a digital wallet infrastructure provider and partner of IBM, has integrated Concordium’s layer-1 blockchain into its wallet-as-a-service platform to support identity-verified Web3 wallets. The integration allows enterprises and financial institutions to deploy compliant wallets without building proprietary identity systems, according to a joint announcement.
Concordium’s blockchain includes a built-in identity layer designed to link wallets to real-world identities while preserving user privacy. Combined with Dfns’ WaaS offering, the solution aims to simplify regulatory compliance for organizations issuing or managing tokenized assets, stablecoins, and on-chain financial services. The companies framed the move as a response to increasing regulatory scrutiny across digital asset markets.
The integration follows Dfns’ recent collaboration with IBM on digital asset infrastructure for institutional clients. As banks and fintech firms explore Web3 use cases, compliant wallet infrastructure is emerging as a critical component for scaling adoption without compromising security or regulatory requirements.
Morgan Stanley has filed for a spot Ethereum ETF that includes staking, signaling deeper institutional interest in regulated yield-generating crypto products.
Morgan Stanley has filed an S-1 registration with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to launch the Morgan Stanley Ethereum Trust, a spot Ether ETF that would include staking as a source of additional yield. The proposed fund aims to track the price of Ether while using third-party providers to stake a portion of its holdings, according to the filing.
The Ethereum filing follows similar submissions for Bitcoin and Solana ETFs, underscoring the bank’s expanding crypto strategy. Morgan Stanley Investment Management is listed as the sponsor, though custodians and exchange details have not yet been disclosed. The filing reflects growing institutional interest in combining regulated market exposure with blockchain-native yield mechanisms.
If approved, the ETF would add to the evolving US crypto fund landscape, where staking has emerged as a key consideration for Ether-based products. The move also aligns with Morgan Stanley’s broader efforts to integrate digital assets into traditional investment portfolios as regulatory clarity gradually improves.
CoinFlip has launched a payroll-based crypto investing benefit, allowing US employees to allocate a portion of wages into digital assets through automatic deductions.
CoinFlip has introduced a payroll-based cryptocurrency investing benefit that enables US employees to purchase digital assets directly through automatic paycheck deductions. The program allows workers to allocate as little as $25 per pay period into assets such as Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, and select stablecoins, embedding crypto exposure into existing payroll workflows.
The launch aligns with broader trends in workplace-based investing, where dollar-cost averaging through payroll contributions is widely used in retirement plans. CoinFlip positions the product as a gradual and accessible entry point for employees seeking portfolio diversification without active trading, reflecting growing institutional interest in integrating digital assets with traditional financial habits.
The move comes as policymakers and financial firms reassess how alternative assets fit into long-term savings frameworks. With regulators reviewing crypto’s role in retirement-linked products, payroll-based investing could emerge as a parallel channel for exposure, offering employers a new benefit while signaling the continued convergence of digital assets and mainstream finance.
JPMorgan plans to extend JPM Coin onto the Canton Network, signaling a broader push to use public, institutional-grade blockchains for regulated digital cash.
JPMorgan’s Kinexys unit is preparing to deploy its US dollar deposit token, known as JPM Coin, natively on the Canton Network. The move would extend the bank’s digital cash offering beyond its proprietary infrastructure and recent pilots on Base, aligning with a broader multi-chain approach to institutional blockchain payments.
JPM Coin represents a digital claim on JPMorgan deposits and is designed for wholesale clients seeking faster settlement and around-the-clock liquidity. By targeting Canton, a public but institution-focused blockchain, JPMorgan aims to combine regulated bank money with interoperable blockchain rails used for tokenized assets and synchronized settlement workflows.
The initiative reflects growing demand among financial institutions for onchain cash that can integrate with tokenized securities and other digital markets. For Canton, the partnership adds credibility as banks explore public blockchains under regulatory oversight. For JPMorgan, it signals a gradual shift from closed systems toward shared infrastructure without relinquishing control over compliance and risk management.
XRP has been identified as the top-performing cryptocurrency of 2026, outperforming Bitcoin and Ethereum during the year’s early weeks. CNBC highlighted the Ripple token’s 20% gain over a seven-day period, noting $1 billion in ETF inflows and zero outflows as drivers of the rally. The token’s performance coincides with the resolution of Ripple’s SEC litigation, providing regulatory clarity for investors.
The surge underscores XRP’s positioning as a bridge asset, primarily focused on cross-border payments. Unlike Bitcoin and Ethereum, which are widely used as stores of value or for smart contract platforms, XRP is leveraged for fast, low-cost value transfers, attracting institutional and retail adoption. ETF inflows have concentrated on XRP-focused funds, signaling growing investor confidence in altcoins relative to traditional cryptocurrencies.
Analysts note that Ripple’s decision to remain private has not hindered interest in XRP. The combination of regulatory resolution, active use in payments, and strong liquidity flows positions XRP as a notable alternative to more traditional crypto assets. Market participants are observing how demand for bridge assets could influence broader capital allocation across the crypto ecosystem in 2026.
DeFi Development Corp is deploying a portion of its Solana treasury into yield-generating strategies with Hylo to enhance SOL reserves and fund operations.
Nasdaq-listed DeFi Development Corp (DFDV) announced plans to deploy a share of its Solana treasury into on-chain yield strategies through a partnership with Solana-native protocol Hylo. The move aims to generate revenue, increase SOL holdings, and support operational expenses while leveraging the growing DeFi ecosystem. Hylo, which has quickly expanded to over $100 million in total value locked, will facilitate compounding of DFDV’s digital assets.
The strategy represents a shift in corporate treasury management, treating crypto holdings as active operational assets rather than static reserves. CEO Joseph Onorati noted that the initiative aligns with the company’s “Treasury Accelerator Program” and broader strategy to optimize on-chain yield opportunities for Solana and related assets. Revenue from the initiative will support day-to-day operations and help reinforce the company’s Solana reserves.
DFDV’s approach reflects an industry trend in which crypto-focused firms increasingly use staking, lending, and DeFi strategies to generate yield from treasury assets. Ethereum and Solana-focused firms, including BitMine, Sharps Technology, and Coinbase, are similarly leveraging on-chain protocols to enhance capital efficiency without liquidating core holdings.
Ripple-backed corporate treasury provider GTreasury has acquired Solvexia, a no-code automation platform specializing in reconciliation and regulatory reporting. The acquisition aims to reduce manual processes, enhance audit controls, and ensure compliance across traditional and digital asset financial operations. GTreasury cited improvements in verification speed and accuracy, noting a 100-fold reduction in reconciliation time and a 98% drop in errors.
The integration combines GTreasury’s existing digital asset infrastructure with Solvexia’s automation tools, enabling enterprise finance teams to streamline governance and audit procedures. The platform supports treasury, compliance, and reporting workflows while maintaining interoperability with traditional banking systems, easing corporate adoption of blockchain-based payments and real-time settlement solutions.
The acquisition comes amid continued market volatility for XRP, which retraced to $2.28 following an almost 30% rally over the prior week. Futures open interest saw minor fluctuations across CME and Binance, reflecting cautious institutional positioning as Ripple expands its corporate treasury and regulatory infrastructure.
Brian Quintenz, ex-CFTC commissioner and former a16z crypto policy lead, has joined SUI Group’s board to support its SUI token-focused treasury strategy.
SUI Group, a Nasdaq-listed firm associated with the Sui blockchain ecosystem, has appointed former CFTC commissioner Brian Quintenz as an independent director. Quintenz will also serve on the company’s audit committee, providing regulatory oversight as the firm advances its SUI token-centered treasury strategy.
Quintenz’s experience spans derivatives markets and digital assets. After his tenure at the CFTC, where he oversaw early Bitcoin futures regulation, he served as global head of policy at a16z crypto and currently sits on the board of Kalshi. His background offers institutional and regulatory insight for SUI Group’s efforts to develop an institutional-grade digital asset treasury platform.
The appointment follows adjustments to the SUI Group board, now comprising five members with three independent directors. The company emphasized that Quintenz’s participation reinforces its regulatory credibility and aligns with its long-term plans for the Sui ecosystem, combining specialized finance operations with digital asset treasury initiatives.
Prediction market platform Polymarket has made a subtle but notable change to its trading model by introducing taker fees on 15-minute crypto up/down markets. The adjustment appeared through updates to the platform’s documentation rather than a public announcement.
Under the new structure, only takers are charged fees, while the collected amounts are redistributed daily to liquidity providers in USDC. Polymarket does not retain the revenue, positioning the change as a liquidity incentive rather than a new source of protocol income. The fee level varies with market odds, peaking when probabilities are near even and tapering off as prices approach certainty.
The move applies exclusively to short-duration crypto markets. Longer-term event contracts, political markets, and non-crypto predictions remain unaffected and continue to operate without fees. According to archived documentation, this fee language was not present previously, suggesting a recent and deliberate update. Community reaction has framed the change as a market-structure refinement. Traders noted that the fees may discourage wash trading and high-frequency bot activity while encouraging tighter spreads and more reliable liquidity through maker rebates.
