Author: John Smith
Citibank has cut its 12‑month Bitcoin target to 112,000 dollars and Ethereum to 3,175 dollars, warning that stalled U.S. legislation and fading ETF enthusiasm are capping upside. Summary In a new note cited by ChainCatcher, Citibank cut its 12‑month Bitcoin target from 143,000 dollars to 112,000 dollars and lowered its Ethereum target from 4,304 dollars to 3,175 dollars, even as both trade near record levels. Citi blames stalled comprehensive U.S. crypto legislation, softer expectations for spot ETF inflows and underwhelming on‑chain usage, now projecting 10 billion dollars of net Bitcoin fund inflows and 2.5 billion dollars into Ethereum products over…
Arbitrum’s 2025 Transparency Report shows 2.1 billion transactions, 20 billion dollars in TVL, nearly 10 billion in stablecoins, and surging RWA and ETF activity as it courts institutions. Summary Arbitrum’s 2025 Transparency Report highlights more than 2.1 billion cumulative transactions, around 20 billion dollars in TVL, and stablecoin supply up 80% year‑on‑year to nearly 10 billion dollars. The ecosystem now hosts over 1,000 projects and 100‑plus chains, with Robinhood listing nearly 2,000 tokenized stocks and ETFs on Arbitrum and asset managers like Franklin Templeton and WisdomTree pushing RWA volume above 800 million dollars. With revenue engines such as Timeboost generating…
Vietnam is reportedly looking to tighten restrictions on overseas cryptocurrency trading as authorities move to bring more activity under domestic oversight. Summary Vietnam is preparing rules to restrict overseas crypto trading, with authorities aiming to curb capital outflows and tighten oversight of digital asset activity. Five firms, including affiliates of Techcombank, VPBank, and LPBank, have cleared an initial round to participate in the country’s pilot licensing program for domestic crypto exchanges. According to a Reuters report, Vietnam’s finance ministry is drafting rules that would prevent local residents from trading on foreign crypto platforms, in a bid to curb capital outflows…
Crypto.com has partnered with KG Inicis to introduce crypto payment options for foreign tourists visiting South Korea. Summary Crypto.com has partnered with KG Inicis to enable crypto payments for foreign tourists across South Korea through its merchant network. International travelers will be able to pay using digital assets, while merchants can choose to settle transactions in fiat or crypto instantly. The two companies plan to roll out Crypto.com Pay across KG Inicis’ merchant network, according to a March 17 press release. The integration will allow international travelers to pay for goods and services using digital assets at both physical stores…
An ex-Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deputy was sentenced to prison for his role in extorting victims alongside a jailed crypto figure. Summary Former LA County deputy Michael Coberg was sentenced to 63 months in prison and ordered to pay $127,000 for assisting crypto founder Adam Iza in multiple extortion schemes. Prosecutors said Coberg received at least $20,000 a month and used his position to help detain victims, force crypto transfers, and orchestrate a drug-related arrest setup. Michael Coberg, who served as a deputy with the department, was handed a 63-month prison sentence for helping jailed crypto founder Adam Iza…
Argentina has ordered a nationwide block of prediction market platform Polymarket, tightening its stance on what authorities describe as unlicensed online betting activity. Summary Argentina has ordered a nationwide block of Polymarket, citing illegal gambling concerns and risks tied to crypto payments and lack of identity checks. Regulators have directed ENACOM to enforce the ban and asked Google and Apple to remove the app following complaints from local gaming bodies. According to local media, a Buenos Aires court has directed regulators to move forward with enforcement after concluding that the platform operated outside the country’s legal gambling framework. Authorities highlighted…
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only. Skywinex highlights an infrastructure-driven model as web3 platforms prioritize automation and system control. Summary Skywinex builds infrastructure combining smart contracts with dedicated server systems. Skywinex uses blockchain smart contracts to automate deposits, fund allocation, and earnings distribution. The platform runs trading bots on dedicated servers designed for continuous 24/7 execution. As web3 platforms evolve, infrastructure is becoming just as important as product design. Beyond user interfaces and token mechanics, long-term viability increasingly depends on architecture, automation, and system control.…
A $10m SOFR options win on “higher for longer” rates shows where real money is made upstream of crypto, as oil‑driven inflation forces markets to kill early Fed cuts. Summary A trader reportedly made about $10 million this month on SOFR‑linked options initiated in January, effectively shorting the market’s dovish Fed path. Surging oil and Middle East risk have revived inflation fears, pushing yields higher, slashing odds of near‑term cuts, and revaluing the entire front‑end rates surface. Slower, shallower easing supports the dollar and front‑end yields, choking risk appetite for duration trades from long‑dated tech to high‑beta altcoins and DeFi.…
Streamex just hired ex‑Coinbase and Morgan Stanley veteran Christine Plummer as CFO, betting a Wall Street‑grade balance sheet can turn GLDY tokenized gold into real institutional plumbing. Summary Nasdaq‑listed Streamex hired former Coinbase global controller and long‑time Morgan Stanley MD Christine Plummer as chief financial officer. The firm is pushing GLDY, a gold‑backed tokenized security targeting up to 4% yield while keeping 1:1 exposure to physical bullion. Success depends on dealer networks, market‑makers, and compliance tight enough that funds can treat GLDY like any listed security, not an exotic crypto wrapper. Tokenization is getting a real CFO, not another web3…
Lido’s new IDVTC design lets verified solo stakers form DVT clusters, slashing collateral needs while hardening Ethereum validator risk and sustaining staking yields. Summary IDVTC groups four verified community stakers into one DVT-backed validator cluster, reducing single-operator failure risk. Lower collateral becomes viable as DVT makes slashing and downtime tail events instead of structural threats. Launch with CSM v3 in Q2–Q3 2026 positions Lido against rival restaking and LST platforms on resilience instead of raw TVL. Lido’s community staking module is about to stop pretending this is still a game for whales only. A new proposal to introduce an “Identified…