Author: John Smith
Polygon‑incubated Katana has acquired veteran DEX IDEX to launch Katana Perps, folding a decade of exchange tech into its DeFi stack as it races Hyperliquid and dYdX for onchain derivatives volume. Summary Polygon‑incubated DeFi chain Katana has acquired veteran DEX IDEX to power Katana Perps, a new perpetual futures platform that natively integrates spot and derivatives trading. CEO Matthew Fisher says the goal is to “own more of the trading stack and the revenue that comes with it” as onchain derivatives volumes and always‑on markets surge. Market makers including GSR, Selini Capital, and Auros are seeding liquidity, positioning Katana as a full‑stack DeFi chain spanning spot, lending, launches, and…
Two early Kalshi alumni are raising up to $35M for 5c(c) Capital, a fund backed by Kalshi and Polymarket CEOs to invest in market makers, indices and tooling for prediction markets. Summary Former Kalshi staffers are raising up to $35 million to back prediction market infrastructure startups. The new fund, 5c(c) Capital, has support from Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour, Polymarket CEO Shayne Coplan, and top venture firms. The vehicle plans to make around 20 investments over two years across market makers, indices, and tooling for event‑based markets. Former employees of regulated prediction market venue Kalshi are raising up to $35 million for…
Altcoins are stuck in one of the deepest drawdowns of this cycle, with just 5% of Binance‑listed tokens trading above their 200‑day moving average and spot volumes down roughly 80% from October peaks, even as on‑chain and sentiment indicators quietly set the stage for a violent rotation. Summary Altcoin spot volume on Binance has collapsed from $40–$50 billion a day in October 2025 to about $7.7 billion, while the altcoin‑to‑Bitcoin volume ratio on CEXs has slid from around 3.5 in 2025 to near 2.2 in early 2026. Only about 5% of Binance‑listed altcoins currently sit above their 200‑day simple moving…
The Russell 2000’s 2% rebound after a 10% correction signals a tentative risk‑on turn in U.S. stocks, giving Bitcoin and altcoins fresh “permission to breathe. Summary The small-cap Russell 2000 index jumped about 2% after a bruising correction, signaling a tentative return of risk appetite in U.S. equities. Traders say the move is part of a broader “relief rally” that has also lifted high‑beta crypto and altcoins after weeks of macro and geopolitical stress. Rising stock–crypto correlation means small‑cap strength is increasingly viewed as a green light to rotate from cash into higher‑volatility tokens and perps. The Russell 2000’s roughly 2% intraday…
Summary Origins Network has raised $8 million in strategic funding to build a modular blockchain tailored for AI agents with verifiable computation. The round includes Animoca Brands and other Web3 investors, with the project pitching a “Proof of Computation” design that separates heavy AI workloads from onchain verification. Origins is already working with AWS, Tencent Cloud, and Alibaba Cloud, positioning itself at the intersection of crypto infrastructure and the fast‑growing agentic AI stack. Origins Network has secured $8 million in strategic financing to build a modular blockchain purpose‑built for AI agents, betting that verifiable compute will be the missing trust layer for the next wave of autonomous systems.…
Polymarket is tightening insider‑trading and manipulation bans across its DeFi app and CFTC‑regulated U.S. exchange, adding surveillance, NFA oversight and formal whistleblower channels. Summary Polymarket rolls out enhanced market integrity rules for both its DeFi platform and CFTC-regulated U.S. exchange. New policies sharpen bans on insider trading, manipulation, and abusive tactics, backed by multi-layered surveillance and public reporting channels. Move comes as regulated prediction markets scale rapidly under U.S. CFTC oversight and institutional interest in crypto-linked event trading surges. Polymarket has published upgraded market integrity rules spanning its DeFi platform and its CFTC‑regulated U.S. exchange, tightening prohibitions on insider trading,…
The SEC and CFTC say most crypto assets aren’t securities, map out a token taxonomy and paths out of “investment contract” status, but shift enforcement toward DeFi interfaces. Summary SEC and CFTC issue joint guidance stating that “most crypto assets are not themselves securities,” and create a formal token taxonomy for the U.S. market. The interpretation explains how non-security tokens can enter and later exit “investment contract” status, and explicitly addresses airdrops, protocol staking, mining and wrapped assets. Lawyers say the move delivers “the most significant regulatory clarity crypto has received in the US in over a decade,” but warn…
Strategy added more bitcoin during the latest market pullback, extending a buying pattern that has continued through recent volatility and rising geopolitical tension. Summary Strategy bought 1,031 BTC at $74,326, raising its total bitcoin holdings to 762,099 BTC. The latest purchase was smaller than last week’s 22,337 BTC acquisition worth $1.57 billion. Bitcoin fell below $70,000, leaving Strategy under pressure on its latest purchase during market volatility. Meanwhile, the company disclosed that it bought 1,031 BTC for $76.6 million, bringing its total holdings to 762,099 BTC. The latest purchase came as bitcoin traded above $74,000 early last week before falling…
Two NYSE-linked exchanges have put new crypto ETF options rules into effect after filings cleared the SEC process. Summary NYSE Arca and NYSE American removed position limits on options tied to 11 crypto ETFs. The SEC waived the usual waiting period, allowing the new crypto options rules to take effect immediately. The rule change gives institutions more flexibility and allows crypto ETF options to trade as FLEX contracts. NYSE Arca and NYSE American removed the 25,000-contract position and exercise limit for options tied to 11 spot Bitcoin and Ether exchange-traded funds, giving those products broader trading terms. NYSE Arca filed…
Bithumb is moving to retain CEO Lee Jae-won as the South Korean crypto exchange faces regulatory pressure and fresh scrutiny over compliance controls. Shareholders are expected to vote on his reappointment at the company’s regular meeting on March 31. Summary Bithumb seeks CEO Lee’s reappointment despite AML penalties and ongoing regulatory investigations in South Korea. Exchange faces transfer restrictions, fines, and scrutiny over a major Bitcoin promotion error. South Korea’s growing crypto market adds pressure as Bithumb prepares for license renewal. Bithumb will reportedly ask shareholders to approve another two-year term for Lee Jae-won. His current term ends at the…