Author: James Wilson

Binance and RedotPay have given conflicting accounts of whether Singapore proceedings linked to their nearly $473 million legal dispute are being discontinued following an Aug. 7 court hearing. Summary Binance and RedotPay disagree over whether related Singapore proceedings are being discontinued. Binance says it is not abandoning its claims and has informed the court and RedotPay. RedotPay expects the Singapore case to be discontinued and plans to seek legal costs. The dispute is linked to a Hong Kong case seeking about $472.8 million in damages. Cointelegraph reported on Tuesday that RedotPay expects Binance to discontinue the Singapore case, while Binance…

Kalshi puts the Democratic House majority at 84%. Maxine Waters, Shontel Brown, and Elizabeth Warren would control the committees that write crypto law. The industry’s legislative window may be closing faster than its lobbyists admit. Summary Kalshi prediction market odds place the probability of a Democratic House majority at 84% for the 2026 midterms, a figure that would return Representative Maxine Waters to the chair of the House Financial Services Committee. The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act faces a recess deadline that Polymarket odds have already priced at under 50% for passage this session. If the CLARITY Act fails and…

H100 Group appointed Peter C. Warren as chief investment officer on Aug. 12, placing the veteran markets executive in charge of derivatives and risk management after the Swedish company nearly tripled its Bitcoin treasury through a Norwegian acquisition, according to a release. Summary H100 appointed Peter C. Warren chief investment officer after completing its 2,455 Bitcoin acquisition Monday. Warren previously managed approximately 2,450 Bitcoin with CEO Eirik Grøttum through Moonshot and PDI AS. H100 now holds 3,506.4 Bitcoin after acquiring Norwegian investment company NSD entirely through issued shares. Warren will oversee derivatives and risk management strategies intended to generate Bitcoin…

Ripple has renewed support for New York University Abu Dhabi’s blockchain research program, extending its University Blockchain Research Initiative partnership through 2027.  Summary Ripple renewed NYU Abu Dhabi blockchain research funding, extending UBRI support through 2027 for researchers. NYU Abu Dhabi says the grant supports Volta expansion, fintech education, venture development and research. Ripple said total funding for its NYU Abu Dhabi partnership exceeded $1 million during 2024. Volta uses blockchain infrastructure to support trade among smallholder farmers in Ghana, with expansion planned. Ripple’s UBRI spans more than 60 universities across 27 countries and 1,500 research projects. NYU Abu Dhabi…

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission used its emergency authority on Aug. 11 to direct KalshiEX to continue operating under its normal practices and the Commodity Exchange Act’s core principles, escalating a federal state dispute over prediction markets. Summary CFTC ordered Kalshi to continue exchange operations after declaring New York’s lawsuit a market emergency. New York seeks at least $36 billion and broad restrictions on Kalshi’s event contract business. Kalshi notified the CFTC that a temporary restraining order could force liquidations and disrupt markets. CFTC says derivatives law gives it exclusive jurisdiction over event contracts traded on registered exchanges. Courts remain…

Flowdesk has secured a full broker-dealer license in Dubai, allowing its local entity to provide regulated crypto services to qualified and institutional investors in and from the emirate. Summary Flowdesk Omega FZE has received a full broker-dealer license from Dubai’s VARA. The authorization covers services for qualified and institutional investors, rather than the general retail market. The full license follows an in-principle approval granted in June 2026. Flowdesk also holds MiCA authorization in France, giving it regulated access across the European Union. Flowdesk completes Dubai’s licensing process Flowdesk said Tuesday that the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority had granted the full…

Brazil’s largest bank by market value has joined a pilot involving more than 50 financial organizations to test the issuance, trading, and settlement of tokenized fixed-income securities and investment funds. Summary More than 50 financial organizations are participating in ANBIMA’s tokenization pilot. Itaú and OpenAssets will test the full lifecycle of tokenized bonds and funds. The project will assess technical, operational, and compliance standards for blockchain-based markets. Itaú previously participated in the Brazilian central bank’s Drex digital currency pilot. OpenAssets said in an Aug. 11 announcement that it has started working with Itaú Unibanco on a structured use case within…

Spritehood has sold 42,956 paid NFTs on Robinhood Chain in about 53 minutes, generating nearly $1.28 million for Pudgy Penguins co-founder Cole Villemain. Summary Paid buyers minted 42,956 Spritehood NFTs priced at either $17 or $117. The sale generated about $1.283 million, equal to roughly 684.28 ETH at the mint price. Another 1,488 NFTs were distributed free, bringing the reported collection total to 44,444. Spritehood’s Blockscout contract page displays unverified source code, limiting public review of its mechanics. Spritehood NFT sale reached $1.28 million The Defiant reported that Villemain launched Spritehood on Aug. 11 after previously being removed from the…

Coinbase has secured Abu Dhabi regulatory approval to arrange investment deals and provide custody as it prepares an international hub for tokenized securities and onchain capital markets. Summary Coinbase has received Financial Services Permission from Abu Dhabi Global Market’s financial regulator. The authorization covers arranging investment deals and providing custody for tokenized securities. Eligible token holders will receive shareholder rights, including dividends and voting rights. Coinbase plans to operate major tokenization and derivatives businesses from Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Coinbase secures approval for tokenized securities Coinbase said in an announcement published by Abu Dhabi Global Market that the Financial Services…

Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee has identified inflation above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target as the main U.S. economic problem while officials debate whether to raise rates from 3.50%–3.75%. Summary Goolsbee called inflation the economy’s biggest problem, while describing the labor market as stable but weak. The Fed held rates at 3.50%–3.75% in July, with three officials backing a 25-basis-point increase. Economists expect July headline and core CPI to slow to 3.4% and 2.5%, respectively. Bitcoin fell into the low-$63,000 range as oil prices and inflation concerns reduced demand for risk assets. Why Goolsbee sees inflation as the main challenge…