Author: James Wilson

Prediction market traders trimmed the odds of a presidential pardon for former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried after his parents renewed their public defense of him in a CNN interview.  Summary Polymarket and Kalshi lowered Sam Bankman-Fried pardon odds after his parents defended him on CNN. Joseph Bankman and Barbara Fried argued Alameda borrowed customer funds but did not misuse them. The family appeal challenges claims that FTX was insolvent and customers lacked repayment options altogether. Polymarket placed the chance of a pardon this year at 11%, while Kalshi showed 9%, both lower than before the March 21 interview. The move…

Canada has moved to restrict how political groups receive campaign funds, with a new bill that targets cryptocurrency donations.  Summary Canada introduced a bill to ban crypto donations to parties and third parties in elections. The proposal also bans prepaid cards and money orders over tracing and anonymity concerns nationwide. The bill adds fines, deepfake rules, and tighter controls aimed at protecting election financing systems. The proposal forms part of a wider push to reduce foreign interference risks and tighten rules around election financing before the next federal vote. Canada’s federal government has proposed a full ban on cryptocurrency donations…

Google is preparing to support a large data center project in Texas that Anthropic has leased, as major AI companies race to secure more computing power in the United States.  Summary Google is expected to help finance Anthropic’s Texas campus as AI infrastructure demand keeps rising. The Nexus site could deliver 500 megawatts by late 2026 and expand to 7.7 gigawatts. A federal judge blocked the Pentagon from branding Anthropic a supply-chain risk during litigation now. The project links a fast-growing AI developer with one of its biggest cloud partners at a time when Anthropic is also fighting a legal…

Kalshi is facing a new legal challenge after Washington state sued the prediction market operator over its event-based contracts.  Summary Washington sued Kalshi, alleging its contracts broke gambling and consumer protection laws in the state. Kalshi moved the Washington case to federal court and said the state gave no warning. Nevada and Arizona also challenged Kalshi as pressure on prediction markets grew across several states. The case adds to a growing list of state actions against the company as regulators question whether its products amount to unlicensed gambling. Washington Attorney General Nick Brown filed the complaint on Friday, alleging that…

Onchain commodity trading is drawing more attention as traders look for round-the-clock access to oil, gold, and index products.  Summary Hyperliquid recorded $5.4 billion in macro perpetual volume as silver, oil, gold and indices led. Weekend access kept onchain markets open while traditional commodity venues stayed closed to active traders. Thin liquidity and wider spreads still keep onchain commodity trading below institutional size and execution. Recent volume data shows that demand is rising, but limited liquidity still keeps traditional markets ahead in scale and execution. Hyperliquid’s HIP-3 market reached a new record on March 23. The platform posted about $5.4…

Bitcoin margin long positions on Bitfinex have climbed to levels not seen since November 2023, drawing fresh market attention during a period of weak price action.  Summary Bitfinex margin long positions climbed to 79,193 BTC, the platform’s highest level since November 2023. Adam Back said buyers may use TWAP strategies to accumulate Bitcoin below $69,000 during pullbacks. Back estimated leveraged accumulation now exceeds 300 BTC daily, or about $20 million each day. The move has added a new data point to the wider debate over whether large buyers are building exposure during the current correction. Recent market data shows Bitfinex…

Bitcoin held above $66,000 through most of the weekend, even as some traders expected sharper moves.  Summary Bitcoin stayed above $66,000 for 36 hours after rebounding from Friday’s four-week low near $65,500. Major altcoins showed limited movement, while Bitcoin dominance slipped to 56% and market cap stalled. SIREN surged 13% to $1.80, while PI rebounded above $0.18 after recent weakness. The steady action followed a volatile week that pushed the asset from near $72,000 to a four-week low before it recovered. Most large-cap altcoins tracked Bitcoin’s calmer pace. Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and BNB posted only small moves, while a few…

World Foundation disclosed that its token issuance unit, World Assets, completed $65 million in over-the-counter sales of WLD tokens.  Summary World Assets sold 239 million WLD tokens for $65 million at about $0.2719 per token. WLD traded near $0.27 after hitting a record low of $0.2444 earlier during Saturday session. A July 2026 unlock will cover 52.5% of supply, equal to 169% of float currently. The update came as WLD traded near its recent low and as the market watched future token supply. World Assets said it sold WLD tokens to four counterparties over the past week. The first settlement…

A new report about possible US ground action in Iran has added fresh tension to global markets.  Summary Washington Post said planners reviewed Iran ground raid options while Bitcoin held near $66,500 Sunday. Bitcoin stayed flat through Sunday trading as investors waited for traditional markets to reopen overnight. Officials kept diplomacy in focus even as reports outlined possible raids near Iran’s Kharg Island. Bitcoin stayed near $66,500 on Sunday, but traders are watching whether broader risk assets react more sharply when US markets reopen. The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon is preparing options for ground operations in Iran that…

BNP Paribas is widening its digital asset offering in France by adding six crypto-linked exchange-traded notes for retail investors.  Summary BNP Paribas will launch six Bitcoin and Ether ETNs for clients in France on Monday. Clients can access crypto price exposure through securities accounts without buying or storing Bitcoin directly. The launch extends BNP Paribas’ digital asset push after tokenized fund and blockchain bond activity. Meanwhile, the move gives clients access to Bitcoin and Ether through regulated market products without requiring direct crypto custody. The launch also adds to the bank’s wider blockchain and tokenization activity across Europe. BNP Paribas…