Everything web3, crypto, defi, degen
In brief Polymarket is set to reopen to U.S. users, possibly as soon as tomorrow. The relaunch comes nearly four years after being banned by the CFTC and after its $112 million acquisition of CFTC-licensed exchange QCX LLC. The company has begun self-certifying event contracts including athletic events and election markets. Prediction market Polymarket is…
In brief The White House has abruptly ended Brian Quintenz’s candidacy to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Crypto lobbying, a dispute with Gemini co-founders the Winklevoss twins, and opposition to Quintenz’s Kalshi links may have played a role. Acting CFTC chair Caroline Pham will remain in place as new contenders are considered. The White…
In brief House Republicans have informed current SEC Chair Paul Atkins that they’re investigating the loss of nearly a year of text messages from former Chair Gary Gensler’s smartphone. Last month, the Office of the Inspector General report found IT staff failures and poor policies led to the permanent deletion of messages from October 2022…
In brief The pseudonymous Buzzlamic Jihad has joined Aptos as an advisor, after months of memes he posted on social media helped pump the token in February. Buzz told Decrypt he wants to fix Aptos’ image problem and position it as a premium stablecoin network. He also plans to leverage his long-time relationship with the…
In brief Schwartz is concluding his 13-year tenure as CTO at Ripple and will join its board to guide the company’s long-term vision. He plans to spend more time on an XRPL node, exploring new XRP use cases, and engaging in hands-on coding for community projects. Stablecoins, tokenized assets, and decentralization remain central to his…
In brief Phantom designed its own stablecoin—CASH—to underpin its new consumer financial platform Phantom Cash. Phantom Cash will offer unique features like peer-to-peer transactions, a Visa debit card, and rewards on unspent CASH. The wallet provider raised $150 million in January at a $3 billion valuation. Popular Solana crypto wallet Phantom unveiled CASH, a new…
In brief Kentucky Senator Brandon Smith faces two lawsuits over his Bitcoin mining repair company Mohawk Energy, including claims of misrepresentation and breach of contract. Smith, who authored Kentucky’s 2021 crypto mining tax incentive bill, denies all allegations and has filed counterclaims against both plaintiffs. The legal troubles highlight growing pains in the U.S. crypto…
In brief Bakkt’s share price was up about 17% on Tuesday. Benchmark raised its price target to $40, highlighting three areas for potential growth. The investment bank called the stock’s recent rally “a validation” of moves Bakkt CEO Akshay Naheta has made. Bakkt Holdings stock price jumped 17% on Tuesday, adding to its recent rally…
In brief Indonesia’s Universitas Gadjah Mada will pilot verifiable digital credentials, beginning with English proficiency courses. Students receive digital wallets preloaded with tokens for paying tuition and course fees, with no added costs. The pilot rollout will cover 60,000 students and run alongside a separate AI lab initiative. Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), one of Indonesia’s…
In brief The SEC and CFTC leadership have called for “harmonization” after years of overlap and conflict. The push comes amid rapid changes in U.S. crypto policy under the Trump administration. Officials stressed cooperation, not consolidation, as the crypto industry pushes for clarity. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading…
