Cryptocurrency regulations are increasingly aligning with global standards; 73% of eligible jurisdictions have now passed laws to implement the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) Travel Rule. The Travel Rule mandates crypto service providers to collect and share users’ transaction data, similar to traditional finance requirements. On June 26, the FATF released its annual report that outlines how…

Crypto has a chance to court traditional finance players, who are already looking at non-traditional financial technology after being let down by banks, says Aave Labs founder Stani Kulechov. “Thanks to horrible banking experiences, we’ve seen a lot of finance coming into fintech, and fintech applications [have been] able to capture a lot of market…

The first US-staked cryptocurrency exchange-traded fund (ETF) will launch on Wednesday, allowing investors to hold Solana and earn yield through staking. Two days after Cointelegraph reported that the REX-Osprey Solana and Staking ETF could launch imminently, issuer REX Shares confirmed on Monday that the fund is set to debut. As the name suggests, the REX-Osprey fund will…

Robinhood’s push into real-world assets (RWAs) is gaining momentum, with the digital brokerage launching a tokenization-focused layer-2 blockchain and introducing stock token trading for users in the European Union. Built on Arbitrum, the new layer-2 network will enable the issuance of over 200 US stock and exchange-traded fund (ETF) tokens, giving European investors access to…

Japanese Bitcoin treasury firm Metaplanet has surpassed mining company Cleanspark in becoming the fifth-largest corporate holder of Bitcoin after buying another 1,005 BTC for $108 million. The firm now holds 13,350 BTC acquired for around $1.31 billion at around $97,832 per Bitcoin. At current market prices, the treasury is worth $1.45 billion. Bitcoin mining company…

Some crypto startups have raised concerns about Kenya’s proposed Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) Bill, warning that it could grant disproportionate influence to a Binance-linked lobby group and jeopardize fair competition in the country’s digital asset sector. According to disclosures seen by The Kenyan Wall Street, a private think tank called the Virtual Asset Chamber of Commerce…

Stablecoins have become the backbone of internet payments, with adoption now outpacing major traditional card networks in onchain volume, according to Noam Hurwitz, head of engineering at Alchemy. Hurwitz told Cointelegraph that stablecoins have seen “explosive” adoption, adding that they are “becoming the default settlement layer for the internet.” Companies like PayPal and Stripe are integrating stablecoins to…

ETF provider REX Shares is on the verge of launching the first-ever Solana staking exchange-traded fund (ETF), following what analysts describe as a successful response to feedback from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). “Rex also filed an updated prospectus, which totally filled in. Add it all up, and it appears as though all…

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has introduced a new kind of digital identity system dubbed “pluralistic identity,” arguing it could protect privacy while enabling fair participation in digital life. In a blog post published Sunday, Buterin explored the promise and pitfalls of zero-knowledge (ZK) proof-wrapped IDs, warning that even privacy-preserving systems can carry serious risks if they rigidly enforce one…

Crypto cards are beating traditional banks in Europe when it comes to small purchases, with 45% of crypto-linked card transactions under 10 euros ($11.7) — a category where cash has historically dominated. According to a report by CEX.IO shared with Cointelegraph, crypto card holders are showing spending patterns that mirror traditional bank card users while embracing online…