Author: James Wilson
UK merchants have ranked cryptocurrency payments among emerging customer demands, even as security and payment simplicity remain their top priorities, according to a new whitepaper released by payment technology provider DECTA. Summary A DECTA survey found 11.8% of UK merchants believe customers want cryptocurrency payment options, with demand rising to 20.7% among the largest SMEs. More than half of surveyed UK SMEs already sell worldwide, placing greater focus on payment methods that support international commerce. Security remained the top payment priority for merchants, while interest in BNPL, open banking, and cryptocurrency continued to gain ground. A new DECTA whitepaper shared…
Kalshi has exceeded a $2 billion annualized revenue run rate as the prediction market operator has begun early discussions with investment banks about a potential initial public offering, according to a report from The Information. Summary Kalshi has reportedly begun early IPO discussions with investment banks after surpassing a $2 billion annualized revenue run rate. The prediction market platform recorded $16.81 billion in May trading volume and recently secured a $1 billion funding round at a $22 billion valuation. The Information, citing people familiar with the matter, reported that Kalshi has held informal talks regarding an IPO while continuing to…
Former Ethereum Foundation contributor Trent Van Epps has warned that Ethereum could face a core development funding gap within the next three to nine months. Summary Van Epps says Ethereum core development may need about $30 million yearly to remain stable. He links the pressure to EF spending cuts and the Client Incentive Program’s expiry now. Protocol Guild and new institutions are presented as possible routes for future Ethereum support funding. In a new article, he said the network may enter a “slow-burning funding crisis” as the Foundation reduces spending and a major client funding program ends. Van Epps worked…
Morgan Stanley has updated its proposed Ethereum and Solana exchange-traded funds with a staking structure that would allow 95% of staking rewards to remain within the trusts while charging a 0.14% annual sponsor fee. Summary Morgan Stanley amended its Ethereum and Solana ETF filings to include staking and a 0.14% annual fee. The proposed structure would keep 95% of staking rewards inside the trusts, with 5% paid to service providers. Ethereum filing data shows a 3.64 million ETH validator queue, implying a staking activation wait of about 63 days. According to amended S-1 registration statements filed by Morgan Stanley, both…
Malta’s financial regulator has proposed a new legal category for decentralized autonomous organizations as part of a consultation on how decentralized finance could be regulated under the European Union’s crypto framework. Summary Malta’s MFSA has proposed a new “software-based organization” category that would include DAOs and other DeFi entities. The regulator said many DeFi projects may not qualify as fully decentralized under MiCA due to concentrated governance. The consultation comes as EU regulators review DeFi oversight ahead of MiCA’s July 1, 2026, enforcement deadline. According to a discussion paper published by the Malta Financial Services Authority on June 12, the…
Ireland has identified crypto assets as a “very significant” money laundering and terrorism financing risk and has committed to introducing industry standards governing crypto-related sources of funds by the second half of 2027. Summary Ireland has classified crypto assets as a major money laundering and terrorism financing risk in its latest assessment. Authorities plan to introduce new standards for crypto-related sources of funds by the second half of 2027. The report comes as regulators worldwide tighten oversight of digital asset firms and compliance controls. According to Ireland’s Department of Finance, the policy forms part of an implementation plan released alongside…
BNB has fallen nearly 5% as uncertainty surrounding Binance’s European regulatory status collides with a risk-off move across crypto markets ahead of the EU’s MiCA enforcement deadline. Summary BNB fell nearly 5% as uncertainty around Binance’s MiCA approval weighed on sentiment. Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs recorded fresh outflows as traders adjusted to a hawkish Fed outlook. Technical indicators place key support at $582-$585, with a breakdown risking a move toward $556. According to data from crypto.news, Binance Coin (BNB) dropped to around $576 on June 18 after reports suggested Binance’s path toward a Markets in Crypto-Assets license (MICA) remains…
SpaceX has explored a bond offering worth as much as $20 billion while its publicly traded shares have fallen more than 9%, trimming Elon Musk’s fortune by roughly $59 billion from recent highs. Summary SpaceX is considering a bond sale of up to $20 billion to refinance debt due in 2027. SPCX shares fell more than 9% intraday, while Elon Musk’s net worth dropped by $59 billion. Major Wall Street banks remain involved in the financing effort despite investor concerns over leverage. Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that SpaceX and its banking partners are preparing investor discussions…
Kraken has expanded access to more than 2,500 Solana-based tokens through on-chain trading while SOL has fallen nearly 8% amid a wider crypto market selloff. Summary Kraken has launched on-chain trading for more than 2,500 Solana-based tokens across 100+ countries. The feature gives users access to many unlisted Solana tokens using USD or USDC. SOL fell nearly 8% as a broader crypto market selloff outweighed the positive platform update. According to Kraken, customers in the United States and more than 100 countries can now trade thousands of Solana ecosystem tokens directly through the exchange’s platform, including assets that have not…
Lite Strategy has invested $1 million in Litecoin Layer-2 developer ZK Innovations, extending its involvement beyond LTC accumulation and into infrastructure tied to the cryptocurrency’s future development. Summary Lite Strategy invested $1 million in LitVM, a Layer-2 project bringing smart contracts to Litecoin. The deal gives Lite Strategy governance rights and potential exposure to future LitVM tokens. Santiment data showed Litecoin whale wallets rising despite weak transaction activity and recent price declines. According to Lite Strategy, the funding gives the Nasdaq-listed company governance participation rights in the project and the opportunity to acquire a portion of LitVM’s future network tokens.…