Circle (CRCL), the firm behind the $76 billion stablecoin USDC$0.9998 is inching closer towards launching its payments-focused Arc blockchain, starting a test phase with a wide roster of institutional partners. The firm said on Tuesday it has deployed Arc’s public testnet version, allowing over 100 financial institutions, asset managers and tech firms already involved, such
South Korea’s central bank is contemplating a return to gold buying for the first time since 2013, signaling a potential shift in its reserve management strategy. The move comes amid growing demand for the precious metal, as investors seek protection from inflation and currency weakness. Bank of Korea Weighs Buying Gold Again According to the
Hong Kong authorities have concluded the second phase of the e-HKD pilot program, with the central bank digital currency launch mostly aimed at institutional clients. Summary The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has completed Phase II of its digital Hong Kong dollar pilot program, revealing that both e-HKD and tokenized deposits enable cost-effective, programmable, and
Hunter Horsley, chief executive officer at Bitwise Invest, has predicted that “every” Wall Street institution will be doing something in crypto within the next 12 months. “Software is eating the world. Crypto is going to eat capital markets,” Horsley said in a recent social media post. Widespread adoption According to a recent chart developed by
Key Takeaways Strive Asset Management’s stock jumped 49% after Mike Alfred purchased over one million shares. Strive’s acquisition of Semler Scientific aims to boost its Bitcoin holdings and position in corporate crypto acquisitions. Shares of Strive Asset Management (ASST) rallied 49% on Monday after hedge fund manager Mike Alfred said he purchased over one million
Richard Ujueta, president of Cavecom‑e (the Venezuelan Electronic Commerce Chamber), said that because of scarce dollar cash, most payment activity has moved to USDT. He added that banks should implement USDT payments in point‑of‑sale devices by December. Venezuelan Banks Should Adopt USDT by December, Analyst States The Facts: Venezuela is advancing towards a real integration
The crypto market saw a burst of optimism Monday, pushing Bitcoin above $116,000 and Ethereum past $4,240, both two-week highs, according to Santiment data from yesterday. This surge was clearly driven by traders positioning ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s critical two-day policy meeting (October 28-29), betting heavily on another interest rate cut. 📈 On
The Fed is expected to lower the target range for the federal funds rate by 25 basis points to 3.75%–4.00% on Wednesday. However, Generali Investments predicts that this decision could be made through a “three-way split” vote. According to the institution, one member could vote for a larger 50 basis point cut, while others could
Good Morning, Asia. Here’s what’s making news in the markets: Bitcoin hovered near $114,000 and Ethereum traded around $4,120 early Tuesday Hong Kong time as markets entered one of the most consequential weeks of the year, defined by U.S.–China diplomacy, a Federal Reserve policy pivot, and a packed schedule of Big Tech earnings. Polymarket traders