Author: John Smith

The first regulated crypto company to land a Premier League shirt deal did so three months after the Financial Conduct Authority told clubs to stop signing “dodgy” sponsors. Circle is not dodgy. But the product on the shirt exists in a regulatory gap that will stay open until October 2027. Summary Circle (NYSE: CRCL) signed a one-year Principal Partner deal with Chelsea FC worth an estimated 33.6 million to 50 million pounds, placing “USDC by CIRCLE” across men’s, women’s, and academy shirts for the 2026/27 season. The kit debuted on August 31 during Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Brighton, Xabi Alonso’s…

Fintech veteran Wojciech Kaszycki has identified three tests for real bank adoption of Bitcoin: client custody balances, credit-funded spot trades and its use as loan collateral, following Standard Chartered’s launch of deliverable BTC and ETH trading for eligible UAE institutions. Summary Standard Chartered now offers institutional BTC/USD and ETH/USD trading through its existing electronic channels. Kaszycki said bank credit lines, custody, and back-office integration matter more than a familiar trading screen. Bitcoin-backed loans with published collateral haircuts would show that banks can price and manage the asset’s risk. Crypto-native venues may retain their advantage in weekend liquidity, derivatives, and trading…

Coinbase has expanded its Morpho-powered lending product to eligible Brazilian customers, offering market-based returns on USDC without a fixed lock-up period. Summary Brazilian users can allocate USDC to Morpho through the Lending tab in the Coinbase app. Deposits enter an audited vault curated by Steakhouse Financial, with rates set by lending demand. Coinbase said users can withdraw their USDC and accrued rewards at any time. The product has attracted nearly $500 million in deposits since its initial US launch. Coinbase brings USDC lending to Brazilian users Coinbase said in a Sep. 9 announcement that its DeFi Earn product would become…

Corn has launched a private members club for digital asset holders after closing its Bitcoin layer-2 network, as a third investment from Polychain Capital has taken its total funding to $19 million. Summary Corn’s former Bitcoin layer 2 ceased operations on June 30 after holding around $1 billion at its peak. Polychain has invested three times, though Corn has not disclosed the size of its latest contribution. Members can deposit USDC and USDT, with card balances settling in USDC on Base. Rain issues and processes the card, which will be available in over 50 countries, including the United States. Corn…

Germany has prepared a 25% flat tax on cryptocurrency gains from 2028, potentially ending the country’s long-standing exemption for Bitcoin and other digital assets held for more than one year. Summary Germany plans to tax crypto gains at a flat 25% rate from 2028, replacing the current system that exempts assets held for more than one year. The proposed rules would cover crypto assets bought after Jan. 1, 2027, while the treatment of previously purchased holdings has yet to be decided. The Finance Ministry expects the measure to generate roughly €350 million in additional tax revenue. Crypto gains could be…

BitMart appointed Alvarez & Marsal as its financial adviser on Sept. 9 as the crypto exchange reviews its financial position, withdrawal restrictions and possible paths following the suspension of trading. Summary BitMart appointed A&M to assess finances, stakeholder claims and withdrawal arrangements with its legal advisers. Five business days is BitMart’s deadline to publish a dedicated user feedback portal online publicly. BitMart expects to announce its action plan and consultation details within three weeks of Wednesday. BitMart halted trading on August 26 after announcing an orderly platform wind-down in July 2026. No audited asset balance, creditor recovery rate or withdrawal…

CleanSpark produced 593 Bitcoin in August 2026 as rising Bitcoin prices improved mining revenue during the second half of the month. Summary CleanSpark mined 593 bitcoin in August as average operating hashrate reached 38.3 exahashes per second. CleanSpark sold 821 bitcoin and ended August holding 13,703 coins, including 3,951 tied to derivatives. August hashprice averaged $34.63 per petahash daily, its highest monthly level since May 2026 data. CleanSpark’s peak efficiency implied electricity-only breakeven near nine cents per kilowatt-hour before other operating costs. Efficient fleets earned about $87 per megawatt-hour during August, before non-energy mining expenses were deducted. The Nasdaq-listed company…

Malone Lam pleaded guilty on Sept. 8 to participating in a racketeering conspiracy that U.S. prosecutors linked to more than $245 million in cryptocurrency thefts. Summary Malone Lam pleaded guilty to one RICO conspiracy count involving $245 million in cryptocurrency thefts. Prosecutors said Lam organized an international network using social engineering and occasional residential break-ins worldwide. More than 4,100 Bitcoin were stolen from one Washington resident during the August 2024 attack. The criminal enterprise operated from October 2023 through at least May 2025, court documents show. Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly scheduled a December 8 status hearing without announcing Lam’s sentencing date…

Traditional digital asset returns often rely on price increases. Whether it’s XRP, BTC, or other crypto assets, prices are influenced by various factors such as market sentiment, liquidity, and policy environment. Therefore, solely relying on price increases for returns carries significant market volatility risk. Summary XRPPower offers short and long term digital asset service plans for XRP, BTC, ETH and USDT holders. Some plans advertise potential earnings of up to $50,000, with returns dependent on the selected plan and participation conditions rather than being guaranteed. New users receive a $21 registration bonus that can be used for daily contracts, while…

BitMine Immersion Technologies has purchased 28,086 ETH worth about $70.1 million, raising its Ethereum treasury to 5.93 million tokens as Chairman Tom Lee predicts further gains for the asset. Summary BitMine acquired 28,086 ETH last week, lifting its holdings to 5,929,198 tokens. The company now owns 4.9% of Ethereum’s estimated 122 million-token supply. More than 5.06 million ETH is staked, with projected annual revenue of $330 million. Tom Lee cited U.S. crypto legislation, tokenization, and blockchain-based AI as possible market catalysts. BitMine’s Ethereum treasury has reached 5.93 million ETH BitMine said in a Sep. 8 treasury update that it held…