The Death of the SERP: Why Your Fintech GTM Strategy Is Already Obsolete
On GEO, AEO, and the New Discovery Layer for Neobanks, Stablecoin Rails, Digital Asset Treasuries, and the AI Agents Eating Your Org Chart
The biggest mistake in fintech and financial infrastructure marketing today isn’t about which channels you’re using, it’s about pretending the old discovery layer still works the same way for an entirely new category of financial product.
After launching go-to-market playbooks across neobanking, crypto rails, and enterprise SaaS, one lesson used to be clear: organic search wins. Google SEO, developer documentation, evergreen explainer content, and a steady drip of keyword-optimized blog posts consistently outperformed paid campaigns. Build great content, optimize for “best stablecoin payment rail” or “neobank for freelancers,” wait for Google to crawl, and watch the pipeline compound.
That playbook is not just dying. For the categories reshaping financial infrastructure, stablecoin-powered banking rails, digital asset treasuries (DATs), and AI agent frameworks may have never properly worked to begin with.
The Brutal Math of AI Search, Applied to Financial Products
In a recent interview at the 2025 Cannes Lions Axios event, Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince dropped a number that should force every fintech CMO to rebuild their attribution model: Google now crawls 18 pages for every single visitor it sends to publishers, up from 6 just six months earlier after the Gemini rollout. That delta, those 12 extra crawls per visitor, represents the growing surface area consumed by AI Overviews, where users get their answer and never touch your site.
Now apply that to a category like stablecoin rails or AI agents for finance. Your prospective buyer: a CFO evaluating whether to move treasury operations onto a DAT platform, or a COO exploring whether an AI agent framework can replace three headcount in AP/AR, is not typing queries into Google and clicking blue links. They’re asking ChatGPT, Perplexity, or increasingly their own deployed AI agent what the best option is. The answer to those systems’ surface is not determined by your domain authority or your meta title tags.
Your content still matters. You’re just not getting credit for it in the channels you’re measuring.
Welcome to the GEO/AEO Era for Financial Infrastructure
The shift is forcing a rethink of how financial products build discovery. Two frameworks now govern this:
Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) — optimizing your brand and product for discovery inside AI-driven interfaces. Not traditional search results, but the LLM’s summary window, where your product either gets cited or doesn’t exist.
Agent Engine Optimization (AEO) — the emerging frontier. As autonomous AI agents like OpenClaw and others are deployed across operational functions including accounting, legal, marketing, compliance, the way those agents discover, evaluate, and recommend tools becomes the primary acquisition channel for B2B financial software. The agent doesn’t search Google. It queries its tool registry, checks starred GitHub repos, surfaces upvoted Hacker News threads, and calls out to networked agent platforms where products have been indexed, reviewed, and ranked by other agents.
The old SEO search engine results page will matter far less than the surface areas crawlers and bots can find and trust: starred GitHub repositories, upvoted Hacker News posts, agent-native marketplaces like Moltbook, human-services networks like Rentahuman.ai, and protocol documentation that other LLMs have already ingested as training signal.
The Neobank Landscape Is a Four-Archetype Problem — And Each Needs a Different GEO Playbook
The Blockworks Research framework maps four archetypes converging on the same core question: who owns the primary financial relationship?
Banking-First players (Nubank, Revolut, SoFi, Chime) built their moat on net interest margin and interchange. Their GEO challenge is brand differentiation in a crowded LLM response landscape where all four get cited interchangeably. The winning move is community authority: dominating subreddits like r/personalfinance, r/Chime, r/sofi with genuine product expertise so that AI systems trained on Reddit data cite your product’s strengths accurately.
Superapps (MercadoPago, Grab, WeChat, Kakao) face a different problem. Their strength is the non-financial wedge (commerce, ride-hailing, messaging) that pulls users into financial services. GEO for superapps means seeding the narrative in category-specific communities where that wedge already lives: merchant forums, gig economy groups, Southeast Asian fintech Discords. The goal is to become the cited example when AI systems explain how financial services get embedded in commerce platforms.
Trading-First products (Robinhood, Coinbase, Binance, Bybit) have the highest existing Reddit and community presence but face the most citation volatility. One regulatory event, one hack, one enforcement action reshapes what LLMs say about you for months. AEO here means proactive community management, rapid technical documentation, and ensuring that when an AI agent queries “best crypto exchange for institutional custody,” your product’s safety and compliance record is what surfaces… not a year-old FUD thread.
Stablecoin-First platforms (KAST, EtherFi, Aave, Fuse, Phantom) are the most interesting GEO/AEO case. They operate at the intersection of DeFi protocol documentation, GitHub-native developer communities, and the emerging agent-to-agent discovery layer. A protocol like Aave doesn’t need a blog post to rank. It needs its documentation indexed accurately by LLMs, its GitHub stars to signal legitimacy, and its integration patterns to be the cited answer when an AI agent asks “what’s the best permissionless lending protocol for a treasury management workflow.”
Digital Asset Treasuries: The Category That Barely Exists in AI Citation Yet
Digital asset treasuries represent one of the most underleveraged GEO opportunities in financial infrastructure. DATs — platforms and protocols that allow corporate treasuries to hold, yield on, and transact in digital assets — are a genuine emerging category with real enterprise buyers and essentially no coherent citation presence in LLM responses today.
Search “corporate digital asset treasury strategy” in ChatGPT or Perplexity and you’ll get a thin mix of MicroStrategy references, generic Bitcoin treasury commentary, and perhaps a nod to Coinbase Institutional. The category hasn’t built the community authority, the technical documentation depth, or the developer ecosystem presence that would make AI systems cite it with confidence.
That’s the opportunity window. The companies investing in GEO for DATs now, seeding technical discussions in treasury management forums, publishing protocol-level documentation that LLMs can ingest, building GitHub presence that signals legitimacy to crawler systems — will own the citation landscape when the enterprise buyer wave arrives.
AI Agent Frameworks: Where AEO Is the Only Game That Matters
Here’s where the paradigm shift is most acute. A new category of AI agent frameworks: purpose-built to handle operational functions like accounting, marketing, compliance, and legal is restructuring how companies scale without scaling headcount.
For these products, the buyer isn’t doing traditional research. Their own AI system is doing the research for them. When a CFO’s financial operations AI agent needs to evaluate an AP automation tool, it doesn’t open a browser. It queries what other agents have used, checks what’s been upvoted on Hacker News by the communities it trusts, looks at GitHub stars as a proxy for developer validation, and surfaces what’s been listed and reviewed on agent-native platforms.
This means AEO for AI agent frameworks requires:
GitHub as a first-class distribution channel. Stars, forks, and issues aren’t just developer signals, they’re legitimacy signals that agent-discovery systems use to rank and recommend tools. A well-structured README with clear integration documentation is more valuable than a 3,000-word SEO blog post.
Hacker News presence as trust infrastructure. An upvoted Show HN post, a well-received product thread, or a cited technical comment in a relevant discussion functions as a citation anchor for AI systems trained on that corpus. This isn’t a hack, it’s building genuine community credibility where the agents looking for tools actually look.
Agent-native platform indexing. Platforms like Moltbook and Rentahuman.ai represent early infrastructure for agent-to-agent discovery. Being indexed, reviewed, and accurately described on these platforms is the equivalent of having a strong backlink profile, except the linkers are AI systems, not websites.
Protocol-level documentation that other LLMs have ingested. If your agent framework’s API documentation, integration guides, and capability descriptions are clearly structured and publicly accessible, they become a training signal. Accuracy and clarity in these documents isn’t just a developer experience concern — it’s AEO.
The New Playbook: Stratified Community Authority
At the intersection of GEO and AEO, the execution framework looks like this:
For consumer and SMB fintech (neobanks, superapps): Dominate the community surface areas where your target user congregates and where Reddit citation dominance is measurable. For a neobank targeting freelancers, that means r/freelance, r/digitalnomad, and relevant Discord servers, seeding genuine product discussions that compound into AI citation authority over 6-12 month time horizons.
For financial infrastructure (stablecoin rails, DATs): Build developer-first documentation and GitHub presence that signals legitimacy to both human developers and the AI systems those developers are deploying. Protocol transparency, clear documentation of how your rails work, what the risk model is, how integrations are structured, is the content that LLMs cite with confidence.
For AI agent frameworks: AEO is the primary channel. GitHub stars, Hacker News credibility, agent-native platform indexing, and structured API documentation are the four pillars. The traditional content marketing funnel doesn’t apply when your buyer’s buying agent is the one doing the research.
The Uncomfortable Truth for Fintech Marketers
If you’re a CMO at a neobank still allocating 60% of your content budget to keyword-optimized blog posts, you’re fighting yesterday’s war with yesterday’s weapons. If you’re building stablecoin payment infrastructure and your go-to-market is a landing page and a Webflow blog, you’re invisible to the AI systems that will determine your category’s narrative.
The companies winning in 2026 across neobanking, stablecoin rails, DATs, and AI operational frameworks understand three things:
AI citation is the new backlink. Being referenced accurately in a ChatGPT or Perplexity response when a CFO asks about treasury infrastructure options is worth more than ranking third on a Google results page.
Agent-to-agent discovery is the new enterprise sales motion. As AI agents handle more operational functions, their tool-selection behavior becomes the primary enterprise acquisition channel for financial software.
Community authority compounds differently for financial products. A single high-quality technical thread about stablecoin settlement mechanics can generate more qualified pipeline over 18 months than a dozen thin explainer posts, because it becomes the source AI systems cite when explaining the category.
The organic search playbook isn’t just changing for fintech. For the categories building the next layer of financial infrastructure, it’s being completely rewritten by systems that don’t read SERPs. The question is whether you’ll build your citation presence before those systems have already decided who the authoritative voice in your category is.
Because once the models have been trained on who’s credible and who isn’t, changing that narrative is an order of magnitude harder than building it correctly from the start.
About the Author:
Simon Yi is Co-founder and Head of Growth at Myosin, a marketing DAO and product studio focused on building and scaling innovative digital products. With over 12 years of experience, he has honed his expertise as a growth leader at global agencies including VaynerMedia, R/GA, and Wunderman.
Simon has led growth initiatives for multiple startups that were collectively acquired for over $625 million, demonstrating a strong track record of driving scalable, high-impact outcomes. Most recently, he served as Head of Growth at Tachyon, the Consensys Mesh accelerator, where he supported early-stage companies in the Web3 ecosystem.
STARTRADER Introduces 24/5 US Stock Trading, Expanding Access to Extended-Hours Markets
Dubai, UAE, March 27th, 2026, FinanceWire
The new launch enables traders to access leading US stocks beyond standard market hours with greater flexibility and continuity.
STARTRADER has introduced 24/5 trading on 20 of the most actively traded US stocks. The new instruments, identified by a “.24H” suffix under a dedicated US.24H security group, are now live across STARTRADER’s trading platforms.
The launch of this product comes in response to the global demand for extended hours and broader market access. With exchanges such as Nasdaq preparing to offer 24/5 US equity trading and crypto platforms increasingly listing tokenized US stocks, STARTRADER joins a select group of brokers offering this capability, positioning itself at the forefront of this market development.
In addition to extended market access, 24/5 US stocks are offered with 5:1 leverage to support more stable liquidity during off-hours trading.
Clients seeking higher leverage can continue to trade standard US stock products at up to 33:1. This dual offering allows STARTRADER to cater to different trading strategies while maintaining a balanced risk environment.
As put in the words of the CEO of STARTRADER, Mr. Peter Karsten:
We know that our clients’ needs are different. Some look for opportunities beyond market hours; others seek higher potential, and STARTRADER responds to both while operating within a regulated framework. This approach reflects the company’s commitment to delivering flexible solutions while maintaining strong standards of transparency and client protection.
Indeed, STARTRADER is regulated across five jurisdictions, which shows that the broker continues to prioritize governance and transparency as it expands its product range. This positions the company among a limited group of brokers offering structured access to extended-hours US equity trading.
About STARTRADER
STARTRADER is a global broker that provides its clients with opportunities to trade financial instruments online. STARTRADER services both Partners and Retail Clients, who can trade using the MetaTrader Platform, the STAR-APP, and using STAR-COPY. As a global broker, STARTRADER holds a client-first approach as its core principle.
Regulated in 5 jurisdictions (ASIC, FSA, FSC, FSCA, and CMA), STARTRADER upholds strong governance alongside sustainable growth. STARTRADER’s team comprises dedicated professionals working collaboratively to deliver quality service to its Partners and Clients.
Contact
Global PR Manager Janna Magabilen STARTRADER Janna.magabilen@startrader.com
T-REX Network and Zama Launch Institutional-Grade Confidentiality Infrastructure for RWA Tokeniza...
Paris, France, March 26th, 2026, Chainwire
Zama becomes the default confidentiality layer for the T-REX Ledger
Privacy, compliance, and interoperability built into public blockchain infrastructure
FHE-powered confidential settlement enabling secure institutional adoption at scale
T-REX Network, the multi-chain RWA orchestration layer supported by Apex Group, which services $3.5 trillion in assets, has partnered with Zama, the pioneer in Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), to integrate native confidentiality into the T-REX Ledger. This collaboration marks a pivotal move in bringing regulated financial markets onchain by combining Zama’s encryption expertise with the ERC-3643 standard, which currently secures $32 billion in tokenized assets. The initiative is further bolstered by Apex Group’s recent commitment to adopt the T-REX Ledger as its default infrastructure, with a target of $100 billion in tokenized assets by June 2027.
The Missing Layer for Institutional Blockchain Adoption
Decentralized blockchains are public by design. Every transaction, balance, and position is permanently visible to anyone. For regulated financial markets, this is a fundamental dealbreaker. For years financial institutions responded by building private chains, seeking the control and confidentiality that public infrastructure could not provide. In doing so, they created new silos, sacrificed interoperability, and ultimately captured little of the efficiency that blockchain technology promised.
Institutions cannot risk exposing sensitive investor data, portfolio positions, and trading strategies on a public ledger. Yet without access to the public blockchain infrastructure, the efficiency and interoperability promised for tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) remains out of reach. Now with confidentiality and control directly at the token level, they can finally use interoperable public ledgers without sacrificing compliance and security. A crucial step for these institutions to scale RWAs.
Confidentiality, Compliance and Interoperability, Built Into the Same Infrastructure
The T-REX Ledger is a neutral Layer 2 blockchain for compliant and interoperable digital securities, serving as the single source of truth across a multi-chain environment. Built to serve tokens issued on the ERC-3643 standard, it unifies identity and compliance into a single interoperable infrastructure designed to connect with major public blockchains.
Through this partnership, Zama will provide the native confidentiality layer for the T-REX Ledger using FHE, a cryptographic solution that allows smart contracts to compute without ever needing to decrypt the data. This enables financial institutions to issue, manage, and trade digital assets on the upcoming T-REX public blockchains while keeping sensitive data confidential, with the same discretion expected from traditional financial systems.
The collaboration, born within a working group of the ERC3643 association, addresses one of the most significant barriers to institutional blockchain adoption: enabling the efficiency of public infrastructure while preserving the confidentiality required by regulated financial markets. Integrating Zama’s FHE protocol into the T-REX Ledger, results in a scalable, compliant, and privacy-preserving foundation for institutional finance to operate onchain.
Building the Standard for Confidential Onchain Finance
The T-REX Ledger was built to be the trusted multi-chain orchestration layer for institutional RWAs, but trust also means privacy,” said <strong>Joachim Lebrun, Co-Founder of T-REX Network and Lead Author of the ERC-3643 standard</strong>. “Integrating Zama’s FHE Protocol directly into the T-REX Ledger means institutions can finally operate fully onchain without exposing their confidential data to the world. That is the missing piece for unlocking real institutional scale.
Our goal is to make Zama the confidentiality layer for public blockchains, enabling institutions and investors to operate onchain with the same level of privacy they expect offchain,
said Dr. Rand Hindi, Co-Founder and CEO of Zama. This collaboration with T-REX Network demonstrates that confidentiality is not an optional feature for institutional blockchain adoption — it is foundational infrastructure. Together, we are enabling digital asset markets to scale securely, efficiently, and with trust.
Institutional Confidentiality as Shared Infrastructure
By embedding FHE confidentiality layer directly into the T-REX Ledger, T-REX Network and Zama are establishing privacy as a core infrastructure for institutional tokenization, rather than a standalone feature. This shared foundation enables regulated institutions to participate in public blockchain ecosystems without compromising operational security or market integrity.
The partnership represents a key step toward large-scale institutional adoption of tokenized real-world assets, where compliance, interoperability, and confidentiality are built into the infrastructure from the start.
About T-REX Network
T-REX Network is the largest ecosystem for compliant RWA tokenization built on the ERC-3643 standard, with more than $32 billion in assets tokenized. Born from years of industry collaboration, T-REX exists to solve the core challenge of scaling tokenization across blockchains without breaking compliance. Through T-REX Ledger, a canonical cross-chain compliance reference layer, and the T-REX AppStore, which connects ERC-3643 assets to natively compatible applications, T-REX Network enables regulated assets to move to wherever liquidity exists with speed, trust, and control. Its mission is to turn tokenization from isolated pilots into a connected, compliant open finance system that finally works at global scale.
About Zama
Zama is a cryptography company building state-of-the-art Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) solutions for blockchain. Its protocol enables confidentiality on public blockchains, allowing digital assets to be issued, managed, and traded privately onchain. Founded by FHE pioneer Dr. Pascal Paillier and entrepreneur Dr. Rand Hindi, Zama brings together one of the world’s largest teams of FHE researchers and engineers and supports a global ecosystem of developers building confidential applications.
Contact
PR & Communications Director Julia André Zama julia.andre@zama.org
Unlock Tokenized Stocks: Exchange xStocks on StealthEX
The tokenized stocks market has officially entered the mainstream. As of March 2026, the sector’s aggregate market cap has crossed the 1billion milestone, attracting over 185,000 holders, a staggering leap from roughly 20 million and fewer than 1,500 users just fifteen months earlier. At the forefront of this explosion sits xStocks, the leading tokenized equities platform by trading volume and holder count.
Now, exchanging xStocks tokens is easier than ever. 10 of the most popular xStocks tokens — spanning tech giants, ETF indices, and cultural icons — are available for seamless swap on StealthEX, the non-custodial crypto exchange where users can trade them against 2,000+ other cryptocurrencies with no account registration required.
What Is the xStocks Ecosystem?
xStocks is a tokenized equity platform that brings exposure to real-world stocks and ETFs onto the blockchain. Developed by Swiss company Backed Finance, the platform’s token issuance is handled by a separate regulated entity — Backed Assets (JE) Limited, registered and licensed in Jersey — ensuring the regulated activity remains ring-fenced from the broader DeFi ecosystem (bitrue.com).
Each xStock token is a 1:1 backed tracker certificate that provides economic exposure to the price movement of a corresponding stock or ETF. Crucially, these are not direct equity shares — holders do not receive voting rights. Instead, a real underlying share is held in a regulated custody account for every token in circulation, and this backing is verifiable at any time through a public Proof of Reserves dashboard. Dividends generated by the underlying assets are automatically reinvested into the token’s value rather than paid out as cash.
The tokens are deployed across multiple blockchains, including Ethereum, Solana, TON, and Ink, giving users flexibility in how and where they hold their tokenized equities.
As of early 2026, xStocks has recorded more than 25 billion in total trading volume with over 4 billion settled on-chain and 85,000+ unique holders. The platform accounts for roughly 25% of the total tokenized stock sector value and about 17% of its user base.
The real value of tokenized stocks goes far beyond 24/7 market access. The key upgrade lies in the ability to freely transfer assets on-chain, compose them within DeFi protocols, and use them as collateral — turning what was once a static brokerage position into a dynamic, capital-efficient financial instrument.
The 10 Top xStocks Tokens Available on StealthEX
Here are the ten xStocks tokenized stock tokens you can now exchange on StealthEX, each offering blockchain-based exposure to some of the world’s most recognized companies and indices.
Tesla xStock (TSLAX) — The flagship of the xStocks ecosystem. TSLAX tracks Tesla (TSLA) and is the largest xStock token by every measure: 20K holders, $86M market capitalization, and a token price of around $400 as of March 2026. For anyone seeking on-chain exposure to the electric vehicle and clean energy giant, TSLAX is the most liquid and widely held option.
NVIDIA xStock (NVDAX) — Tracking NVIDIA (NVDA), the semiconductor powerhouse behind the AI revolution, NVDAX is the second-largest xStock with 15,500 holders and a total market capitalization of $42,907,540. As demand for AI infrastructure continues to surge, NVDAX offers a tokenized way to gain exposure to one of the market’s most consequential companies.
S&P 500 xStock (SPYX) — Rather than tracking a single stock, SPYX mirrors the S&P 500 ETF (SPY), providing diversified exposure to 500 of the largest U.S. companies in a single token. With 12,5K holders and $61 million in market capitalization, SPYX is ideal for those seeking broad market exposure on-chain.
Alphabet xStock (GOOGLX) — GOOGLX tracks Alphabet, the parent company of Google. With 11,3K holders and a $57.8 million market cap, it remains one of the most popular tokenized equities, reflecting Alphabet’s dominance in search, cloud, and AI.
Circle xStock (CRCLX) — A unique entry in the xStocks lineup, CRCLX tracks Circle — the company behind the USDC stablecoin. Holding $116.8 million in assets with 8,400 holders, CRCLX offers exposure to the growing stablecoin infrastructure sector directly on-chain.
MicroStrategy xStock (MSTRX) — Deployed on Solana, MSTRX tracks MicroStrategy, the enterprise software firm famous for its massive Bitcoin treasury strategy. With 6,400 holders and $138.5 million in assets, it effectively serves as a leveraged proxy for Bitcoin exposure through a tokenized equity.
Nasdaq xStock (QQQX) — Tracking the Nasdaq-100 ETF (QQQ), QQQX provides diversified exposure to the top 100 non-financial companies listed on the Nasdaq — a tech-heavy basket that includes Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon. The token market capitalization is $36M and appeals to those who prefer index-level diversification.
Meta xStock (METAX) — METAX tracks Meta Platforms (META), the social media and metaverse conglomerate. With 3,300 holders and a $42M market cap, it offers tokenized exposure to one of the world’s largest advertising and technology companies.
Amazon xStock (AMZNX) — AMZNX tracks Amazon (AMZN), the global leader in e-commerce, cloud computing (AWS), and increasingly, AI services. As one of the most recognized brands on the planet, Amazon’s tokenized counterpart is a natural fit for DeFi-native portfolios.
GameStop xStock (GMEX) — GMEX tracks GameStop (GME), the stock that became synonymous with the retail trading revolution and meme stock culture. While more speculative in nature, GMEX carries cultural significance and appeals to a community-driven investor base that values accessibility and decentralization.
How to Exchange xStocks on StealthEX
StealthEX is a non-custodial, instant cryptocurrency exchange — meaning it never holds your funds and requires no registration or account creation. Swapping any of the 10 xStocks tokens listed above for other digital assets takes just a few steps:
Choose the crypto pair and enter the amount, for example, BTC to TSLAX.
Click the “Start Exchange” button.
Provide the recipient crypto wallet address where you’d like to receive your swapped crypto.
Complete the swap. Send Bitcoin to the provided deposit address.
Tesla xStock will arrive directly in your wallet — no intermediary, no account lockup.
StealthEX offers competitive exchange rates, a clean and intuitive interface, and the peace of mind that comes from a fully non-custodial model. Whether you’re rotating from tokenized equities into stablecoins, diversifying into altcoins, or simply consolidating your portfolio, StealthEX makes the process frictionless.
About StealthEX
StealthEX is a non-custodial cryptocurrency exchange supporting 2,000+ digital assets. Designed with a privacy-first philosophy, StealthEX requires no account creation or sign-up — users simply select their trading pair, enter an amount, and swap. The platform is available as a web application and through API integrations for businesses and partners looking to embed exchange functionality into their own products. StealthEX also offers an exchange widget and an affiliate program, serving both retail users and enterprises. The mission is straightforward: make cryptocurrency exchange simple, fast, and accessible to everyone, regardless of technical expertise. Explore available trading pairs and start exchanging with StealthEX.io.
BYDFi Expands European Reach with Next Block Expo 2026 Sponsorship in Warsaw
Victoria, Seychelles, March 25th, 2026, Chainwire
Global crypto trading platform BYDFi is participating as a sponsor of Next Block Expo 2026, held March 24–25 in Warsaw, Poland. Now in its sixth edition, NBX positions itself as one of the largest crypto and blockchain gatherings in Central and Eastern Europe, with the 2026 event expanding into a larger venue and bringing together thousands of attendees, more than 140 speakers, and dozens of Web3 brands, builders, investors, and regulators for two days of networking, dealmaking, and industry discussion.
BYDFi at Next Block Expo 2026
Next Block Expo 2026 brings together keynotes, panels, workshops, networking formats, and side-event activations. The agenda spans themes such as DeFi and RWA, trading and investing, legal and compliance, infrastructure, AI, gaming, and startup fundraising, with features including a dedicated networking zone, investor speed-dating, a startup pitch arena, and a Web3 gaming zone. The event’s speaker lineup includes figures such as Robby Yung of Animoca Brands, Marouane Essaidi of the Solana Foundation, and Sławomir Mentzen, a Member of the Polish Parliament, underscoring the event’s role as a meeting point for markets, policy, and product builders.
At the event, the BYDFi team is on site to meet attendees, exchange product insights, and take part in the broader conversation around trading infrastructure and user experience. As part of its booth activation, BYDFi is introducing a mystery blind-box giveaway featuring limited-edition merchandise, including Newcastle United co-branded items tied to BYDFi’s ongoing partnership with the club, which is drawing strong visitor interest on the expo floor.
Built for Reliability in a Multi-Market Trading Environment
BYDFi sees NBX as a timely setting to show what it stands for as a platform built for reliability. As the market continues to mature, BYDFi believes long-term trust is earned through clear communication, consistent standards, and a responsible approach to market participation. In this context, BYDFi’s presence at NBX is also about engaging with the broader European blockchain community in a way that reflects stability, discipline, and a long-term user-first commitment.
Michael, Co-founder and CEO of BYDFi, said:
Next Block Expo brings together the conversations that matter most right now — infrastructure, regulation, product design, and how people actually participate in the market. For BYDFi, it is a valuable chance to listen, connect, and keep improving a trading experience that is built for reliability and trusted over time.
Ahead of BYDFi’s 6th Anniversary
BYDFi’s participation in Warsaw also comes just ahead of a major milestone for the platform. Starting April 1, BYDFi will begin celebrating its 6th anniversary, with a full month of community-facing activities planned across platform campaigns, limited-time rewards, and exclusive X-based activations. The anniversary program is designed to mark BYDFi’s continued growth since launch in 2020 while giving both existing and new users additional ways to engage with the platform.
BYDFi is also preparing additional surprises for new users as part of the anniversary season. For those who have not yet joined BYDFi, this may be a timely opportunity to get familiar with the platform and upcoming community activities. Registration is available at https://www.bydfi.com/en/register
About BYDFi
Established in 2020, BYDFi is a global crypto trading platform that combines the power of a centralized exchange (CEX) with an integrated onchain trading module. BYDFi is Newcastle United’s Exclusive Official Crypto Exchange Partner. Recognized by Forbes as one of the Best Crypto Exchanges In Canada For 2026, BYDFi offers intuitive, low-fee trading across Spot and Perpetual Contracts to Copy Trading, and Automated Crypto Trading Bots, empowering both new and experienced traders to navigate digital assets with confidence.
BYDFi is dedicated to delivering a world-class crypto trading experience for every user.
BUIDL Your Dream Finance.
Website: https://www.bydfi.com
Support email: cs@bydfi.com
Business partnerships: bd@bydfi.com
Media inquiries: media@bydfi.com
Twitter( X ) | LinkedIn | Telegram | YouTube | TikTok | How to Buy on BYDFi
Contact
Senior Marketing Director Chloe BYDFi Fintech LTD chloe@bydfi.com
B2PRIME Expands Digital Asset Offering with Crypto Spot and Perpetual Futures
Limassol, Cyprus, March 25th, 2026, FinanceWire
B2PRIME Group, a global financial services provider for institutional, professional and retail clients, is proud to announce the expansion of its digital asset ecosystem. By introducing Crypto Spot and Crypto Perpetual Futures (PF), B2PRIME, through its Bahamas-based entity, regulated by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas under the Digital Assets and Registered Exchanges Act (DARE) and the Securities Industry Act (SIA), now offers a comprehensive level of market access.
This expansion enables institutional and professional clients to manage their entire portfolio — spanning Forex, Metals, Indices, Commodities, Energies, NDFs, and Crypto, within a single, sophisticated technological framework.
Unified & Isolated Account Structures
B2PRIME introduces a versatile account architecture designed to align with diverse risk management and operational strategies. Clients can now choose between highly specialized or fully integrated environments:
The Unified Account: The flagship offering on B2TRADER Platform allows for seamless trading across FX, CFDs, Crypto CFDs, Crypto Spot, and Perpetual Futures from a single account. This environment supports cross-collateral margin, enabling clients to utilize digital assets (such as BTC, ETH, SOL, ADA, AVAX, BCH, BNB, DOT, DOGE, LTC, TRX, TON, XRP, USDT, USDC, USD, and EUR) as collateral for margin trading across all supported instruments. This eliminates the friction of internal transfers and ensures maximum capital efficiency.
Isolated Product Accounts: For clients requiring strict capital segmentation, there are dedicated accounts for FX & CFD trading, Spot trading, and Perpetual Futures trading.
B2PRIME ensures that institutional-grade execution is available wherever the client operates. The company’s infrastructure is fully responsive and accessible via:
Native Web Terminal: High-performance trading directly from the browser.
Mobile Ecosystem: Fully optimized iOS and Android applications for on-the-go management.
TradingView Integration: In a move to provide maximum flexibility, B2PRIME is natively integrated with TradingView. Traders can now execute orders and manage positions across all asset classes, including FX and Crypto, directly through the TradingView application or terminal.
High-Performance Trading Specifications
B2PRIME offers some of the most competitive trading conditions in the institutional sector, including the Tiered Commission Structure: Commissions are automatically calculated based on a 30-day rolling volume window per market category, with Spot tiers starting as low as 0.055% and Perpetual Futures from 0.0425%.
Global Funding & Multi-Network Support
An automated funding engine supports a vast array of Crypto, Fiat, and Local Currencies. B2PRIME provides native support for over 8 major blockchain networks for USDT and USDC, ensuring deposits and withdrawals are processed at industry-leading speed and reliability.
The digital asset market is evolving rapidly, and institutional participation is becoming a defining force in its development,
adds Eugenia Mykuliak, Founder and Executive Director of B2PRIME Group. For B2PRIME, expanding into crypto trading is a logical step in building a truly global multi-asset prime brokerage. By expanding our capabilities in this field, we continue building an ecosystem where clients can seamlessly access diverse markets through a single institutional-grade environment.
For us, this move into crypto is a direct response to what our clients are already asking for. They want the same level of execution quality, transparency, and infrastructure in digital assets that they are used to in traditional markets. That is exactly what we have built,
said Alex Tsepaev, Chief Strategy Officer at B2PRIME Group.
Detailed trading specifications and institutional contract specifications are available on the B2PRIME website:
B2PRIME Group is a global financial services provider for institutional, professional and retail clients. Regulated by reputable authorities – including CySEC, FSA, FSCA, FSC Mauritius, and DFSA (Dubai) – the group of companies offer access to competitive liquidity across multiple asset classes. Committed to the highest compliance standards, B2PRIME provides institutional-grade trading solutions with a focus on reliability, transparency, and operational excellence.
The products and services offered by B2PRIME are not available to residents of all jurisdictions. Eligibility to access our services is determined by the regulatory permissions held by the relevant B2PRIME entity in your jurisdiction of residence. Where B2PRIME does not hold the requisite authorisation, services will not be made available. This website does not constitute an offer or solicitation in any jurisdiction where such offer or solicitation is not authorised.”
Maven Trading Launches WenCrypto, a Dedicated Crypto-Only Prop Firm Built by Proven Operators
Dover, Delaware, March 24th, 2026, FinanceWire
Maven Trading today announced the launch of WenCrypto, a dedicated crypto-only proprietary trading firm designed to give digital asset traders a platform built specifically for the way they trade.
For years, crypto traders have operated within platforms originally designed for forex, navigating tools and systems that were never fully aligned with the realities of a 24/7, high-volatility market. While functional, these environments often treated crypto as a secondary offering rather than a core focus.
Recognizing this gap, the team behind Maven Trading made a deliberate decision to build a separate, purpose-driven platform. Rather than adapting crypto to fit traditional trading infrastructure, WenCrypto was created as a standalone brand designed entirely around the speed, culture, and unique demands of digital asset markets.
Built on Maven Trading’s established track record in proprietary trading, WenCrypto reflects a commitment to providing crypto traders with a dedicated environment—one that prioritizes performance, clarity, and a trading experience aligned with the nature of the asset class itself.
Built on a Proven Foundation
WenCrypto did not emerge overnight. It was developed following more than three years of work by Maven Trading, including building infrastructure, refining systems, and establishing credibility in a highly competitive industry.
Maven’s platform has been utilized by a broad range of traders, whose ongoing feedback informs continuous platform improvements. This level of participation reflects an emphasis on consistency, transparency, and clearly defined processes.
Maven Trading established its position in the forex proprietary trading space through:
Fair evaluation structures
Clear payout systems
Transparent operating practices
With this background, the launch of WenCrypto represents a strategic expansion into crypto-focused proprietary trading, building on existing operational experience.
Tailored for the Crypto Market
Maven Trading is established in the forex prop trading world, but crypto is not forex and was never meant to be treated like it. Crypto moves at its own speed, has its own culture, and operates in a market that never sleeps.
Trying to fit it into systems designed for traditional trading can limit its potential, so the Maven team decided to give crypto its own identity.
WenCrypto is not a tab on a menu or an afterthought on a forex platform. It is a dedicated ecosystem for digital assets, built for traders who want a space aligned with how they trade and think. It is designed to accommodate the pace, volatility, and dynamics of the crypto market.
The goal is to provide a more engaging experience for crypto traders. Most prop firms offer crypto as an add-on, resulting in platforms that try to constrain it. WenCrypto is built for the nature of the market itself.
It is fast, community-driven, and responsive to how crypto traders operate. Wins are recognized, losses provide learning opportunities, and trading activity continues around the clock.
WenCrypto was built to match that energy.
What Makes WenCrypto Unique
1. Built by Real Crypto Traders
The founders have mined, traded, held, and navigated multiple market cycles. The rules, systems, and structures are based on practical experience rather than theory.
2. 100% Crypto Focus
No divided attention. No multiple asset classes competing for priority. WenCrypto is dedicated entirely to digital assets. Every tool, policy, and support system is designed for one purpose: giving crypto traders the best possible environment.
3. A Premium Trading Experience
WenCrypto is designed to feel clean, modern, and intentionally built for traders who value quality, clarity, and performance.
4. Backed by Maven’s Track Record
Maven Trading has already proven it can operate at scale, maintain trust, and build long-term credibility. WenCrypto benefits from that same operational discipline and experience from day one.
What WenCrypto Brings to the Table
WenCrypto is a crypto-focused trading platform that provides traders with access to firm capital without using their own funds. The platform is structured to reward skill and disciplined trading.
Evaluation Process
Every trader begins with an evaluation account. The goal is simple: traders prove they can trade profitably while managing risk responsibly. Successful performance qualifies the trader for a funded account.
Funded Accounts and Growth Opportunities
Once qualified, traders gain access to firm capital to trade crypto markets and keep a significant share of the profits. As consistency is proven, scaling opportunities increase. Profit splits are competitive, rules are transparent, and payouts are clear; everything is designed to let talented traders thrive.
Risk Management Framework
Success in crypto trading requires discipline. That’s why WenCrypto provides daily loss limits, maximum drawdown rules, and position sizing guidelines. These rules serve professional safeguards that protect both the trader and the firm, helping traders grow into true pros.
Infrastructure Built for Crypto
WenCrypto was designed from the ground up for digital assets. Proper leverage, fast execution, and tools aligned with the reality of crypto markets ensure that traders can act quickly, confidently, and strategically in an environment that moves 24/7.
Focused Crypto Trading Experience
WenCrypto provides a dedicated, focused crypto trading environment built on a proven foundation. The platform is designed to support a structured and professional trading experience aligned with the characteristics of digital asset markets.
About WenCrypto
WenCrypto is a proprietary trading firm offering crypto-only assets within a dedicated UX tailored to crypto traders. Traders complete a one-time evaluation to access funded accounts and keep up to 80% of the profits generated.
RIV Coin Launches on Solana to Bridge Institutional Capital with DeFi Infrastructure
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 24th, 2026, Chainwire
RIV Coin ($RIV), a Vault protocol token built on the Solana blockchain, has officially launched as the core token of a reserve-backed digital asset ecosystem. The project introduces a verifiable reserve framework that enables off-chain capital to interact with on-chain liquidity while maintaining institutional privacy and verification standards. By combining reserve-backed liquidity with decentralized settlement infrastructure, RIV Coin creates a secure, scalable bridge for institutional investors to access DeFi markets.
At the heart of the ecosystem is the On-Chain Vault, the transparent reserve engine that underpins the RIV network and supports its broader reserve-backed ecosystem. Within this structure, $RIV functions as the core utility and governance token, aligning ecosystem participation with long-term growth and credibility. Instead of relying on inflationary emissions, the model is designed to connect the role of $RIV to the expansion, strength, and utility of the network.
Accelerating Institutional DeFi Adoption
RIV Coin is developed within RIV Capital Group, an international group with an established presence across Europe and the MENA region. The capital from token purchases is allocated into a segregated vault within a regulated fund and invested through a diversified strategy that includes traditional financial assets and cryptocurrencies, connecting real financial activity with blockchain infrastructure.
The project is led by founder and CEO Roberto Rivera, former derivatives trader with over 27 years of experience at major financial institutions, including American Express, Lehman Brothers and Nomura. From a regulatory perspective, the group operates in alignment with the regulatory frameworks across Europe and the MENA region.
Beyond the token, the RIV ecosystem includes StablePay, a crypto-to-fiat payment solution for merchants, and the RIV Wallet, a multi-chain wallet integrating initially Cosmos, then Solana and Ethereum for secure digital asset management. Together, these solutions position RIV Coin to drive institutional adoption of DeFi and accelerate mainstream crypto investment.
The launch of this utility token represents a new paradigm in digital finance, combining institutional capital, verifiable reserves, and DeFi infrastructure to create a system where real economic activity drives rewards and protocol value. With its regulated, reserve-backed model, RIV Coin is on track to lead the next wave of institutional DeFi adoption and set a new standard for secure digital asset investments.
About RIV Coin
RIV Coin ($RIV) is a protocol token built on the Solana blockchain. The project introduces a verifiable reserve framework and a fee distribution model linked to real network usage. Operating within the RIV Capital Group ecosystem, a Luxembourg-based holding of investments, RIV Coin bridges institutional capital with decentralized finance markets, providing secure, regulated access to DeFi opportunities and positioning itself as a pioneering solution for institutional crypto adoption.
Disclosure: This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.
SEC and CFTC Unveil Landmark Token Taxonomy: Bitcoin and Ethereum Classified as Digital Commoditi...
By Rupam Roy
March 23, 2026
In a pivotal development for the cryptocurrency sector, SEC Chairman Paul Atkins addressed the DC Blockchain Summit on March 17, 2026, to outline a comprehensive token taxonomy. This joint interpretive guidance from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) establishes clear categories for digital assets under existing federal laws.
The framework divides crypto assets into five distinct groups based on their features, purposes, and operations: digital commodities, digital collectibles, digital tools, payment stablecoins (aligned with the GENIUS Act), and digital securities. This structured approach addresses years of uncertainty surrounding regulatory treatment.
Bitcoin and Ethereum Lead as Digital Commodities
Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) are explicitly categorized as digital commodities, alongside others such as Solana (SOL), XRP, Cardano (ADA), Avalanche (AVAX), Polkadot (DOT), Chainlink (LINK), Hedera (HBAR), Litecoin (LTC), Dogecoin (DOGE), Shiba Inu (SHIB), Tezos (XTZ), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Aptos (APT), and Stellar (XLM). These assets derive value primarily from decentralized network operations and market dynamics, placing them beyond the scope of securities regulations.
Digital commodities fall under CFTC oversight for certain aspects, while the SEC focuses elsewhere. This classification confirms that Bitcoin and Ethereum themselves do not qualify as securities.
Scope of SEC Oversight Narrowed
Only digital securities—tokenized representations of conventional financial instruments like stocks or bonds—remain subject to full securities laws. The other four categories generally escape securities classification, allowing broader innovation and activity in those areas.
Chairman Atkins highlighted that the SEC’s role now centers strictly on genuine securities transactions, marking a shift from prior approaches. He described the framework as grounded in longstanding legal principles, enhanced by extensive public feedback.
Investment Contract Analysis Remains Key
Even for non-security assets like digital commodities, securities laws can apply if distributed via an investment contract. The guidance refines the Howey test application in crypto contexts, requiring clear, explicit disclosures about any managerial efforts, promises, or expectations tied to the asset.
Project teams must transparently detail associated rights and responsibilities. Ambiguous or implicit assurances may trigger securities treatment, while fulfilled or abandoned promises can remove an asset from that category over time.
Additional Clarifications and Parallel Actions
The joint release covers related activities, including protocol mining on proof-of-work networks, staking on proof-of-stake systems, airdrops, and token wrapping—often aligning them with non-securities status when conducted appropriately.
The CFTC complemented this with a no-action letter supporting certain non-custodial wallet operations for derivatives and prediction markets. Enforcement continues in specific cases, such as recent Arizona charges against a prediction market platform, showing ongoing vigilance.
This taxonomy represents a significant step toward harmonized oversight between the SEC and CFTC, fostering a more predictable environment for blockchain projects, developers, and participants in the evolving digital asset landscape.
PrimeXBT receives ‘Best Trading Conditions’ and ‘Best Forex & CFD Broker’ awards for Asia
Castries, Saint Lucia, March 24th, 2026, FinanceWire
PrimeXBT, a global multi-asset broker and crypto asset service provider, has won two awards at the World Business Outlook Awards 2026, receiving Best Trading Conditions – Asia and Best Forex & CFD Broker – Asia. This recognition underscores the company’s leadership in delivering consistently high-performance trading conditions, combining pricing efficiency, execution reliability, and platform innovation.
PrimeXBT provides access to more than 350 global markets through a unified trading environment that integrates PXTrader 2.0 and MetaTrader 5. This includes MT5 Pro for more advanced strategies, alongside PXTrader 2.0, which combines CFDs and Crypto Futures within a single account. This gives traders the flexibility to engage with multiple asset classes and strategies from one ecosystem, designed to accommodate different trading styles and experience levels.
The offering is supported by superior trading conditions and performance, including competitive pricing with reduced CFD spreads through the VIP tiers program, zero deposit and withdrawal fees, execution speeds below 30 milliseconds, and 99.98% platform uptime. The trading environment is further enhanced by advanced features such as cross and isolated leverage, hedge and netting modes, multiple order types, and TradingView-powered charting with 100+ indicators, alongside flexible funding options with over 100 payment methods, all within a transparent trading environment.
As the shift toward crypto–TradFi integration accelerates, PrimeXBT is pioneering this convergence by enabling traders to use digital assets as trading capital to access global markets. This unlocks broader opportunities across asset classes and allows for more efficient allocation as volatility shifts between markets.
Commenting on the recognition, Jonatan Randin, Senior Market Analyst at PrimeXBT, said:
Market conditions are becoming more fragmented, with volatility rotating between asset classes rather than concentrating in a single market. In this environment, the ability to access and manage multiple exposures within one infrastructure is becoming a key advantage, allowing traders to adapt more efficiently to changing macro and liquidity cycles.
These awards reinforce PrimeXBT’s position as a leading multi-asset broker, setting a benchmark for performance, transparency, and seamless cross-market access in line with the realities of today’s global financial landscape.
To learn more, users can visit PrimeXBT website.
About PrimeXBT
PrimeXBT is a global multi-asset broker and crypto asset service provider trusted by traders in more than 150 countries. The platform bridges traditional and digital markets within one integrated environment, redefining versatility and innovation in online trading. Clients can access Forex, CFDs on indices, commodities, shares, crypto, and Crypto Futures, as well as buy, store and exchange cryptocurrencies directly. This unified experience extends across both the native PXTrader 2.0 platform and MetaTrader 5, supported by advanced risk-management tools and a wide range of funding options in crypto, fiat and local payment methods. Since 2018, PrimeXBT has focused on empowering traders through broad multi-asset access, fair and transparent conditions, professional-grade technology and dedicated human support. By combining expertise, trust and a client-first approach, PrimeXBT sets a benchmark of excellence in the financial industry and provides traders with the tools they need to trade, grow and succeed with confidence.
Disclaimer: The content provided here is for informational purposes only and is not intended as personal investment advice and does not constitute a solicitation or invitation to engage in any financial transactions, investments, or related activities. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. The financial products offered by the Company are complex and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. These products may not be suitable for all investors. Before engaging, users should consider whether they understand how these leveraged products work and whether they can afford the high risk of losing their money. The Company does not accept clients from the Restricted Jurisdictions as indicated on its website / T&Cs. Some products and services, including MT5, may not be available in their jurisdiction. The applicable legal entity and its respective products and services depend on the client’s country of residence and the entity with which the client has established a contractual relationship during registration.
Liminal Custody and Securosys Launch Liminal HSM Vaults- a New Security Standard for Digital Assets
Singapore, Singapore, March 24th, 2026, FinanceWire
Built for banks and enterprises, the solution combines Liminal’s MPC-based authorization with Securosys’ certified HSM infrastructure.
Liminal Custody, a secure digital wallet and custody infrastructure platform, today announced the launch of Liminal HSM Vaults, a new institutional-grade solution designed to meet the security, control, and compliance demands of banks and enterprises entering the digital asset market.
Developed in partnership with Securosys, the Swiss cybersecurity and encryption specialist, Liminal HSM Vaults combines Liminal’s patent-pending Multi-Party Computation (MPC) authorization protocol with the proven security of Securosys Hardware Security Modules (HSMs). The solution was demonstrated using the Securosys Primus HSM E-Series, backed by FIPS 140-2 Level 3 certification (FIPS 140-3 Level 3 in process).
The institutional digital assets sector is experiencing significant growth, with assets under management (AUM) projected to exceed $10 trillion by 2030, according to Boston Consulting Group. This expansion is increasing the demand for certified, enterprise-grade security infrastructure within banks and large-scale enterprises. Additionally, the global Hardware Security Module (HSM) market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.6% through 2030, a trend largely attributed to the financial services sector’s requirement for compliant cryptographic infrastructure.
As financial institutions expand into digital assets, they face a defining challenge: adopting new asset classes without compromising the governance, resilience, and trust standards expected in traditional finance. Liminal HSM Vaults addresses this directly – uniting hardware-rooted protection with distributed authorization to deliver a defense-in-depth architecture that strengthens key control, minimizes single points of failure, and enables policy-driven authorization at institutional scale.
“At Liminal, we believe the future of institutional custody will be defined by security models that are both deeply resilient and operationally flexible,” said Mahin Gupta, Founder and CEO, Liminal Custody. “With Liminal HSM Vaults, we have combined the static security of the HSM with the distributed security of MPC to deliver a solution that stands apart. Our banking and enterprise customers can now manage digital assets with the level of confidence, control, and assurance they expect from mission-critical infrastructure.”
Liminal HSM Vaults enables institutions to incorporate both online and offline devices into the authorization process, while embedding teams across compliance, security, and custody operations directly into transaction workflows. The system generates cryptographic proofs that allow the HSM to verify each authorization as valid, correctly issued, and aligned with internal policy controls.
“Securosys is proud to partner with Liminal Custody to help institutions secure their digital asset operations with greater confidence,” said Robert Rogenmoser, CEO of Securosys. “By combining the certified protection of Securosys Primus HSMs with Liminal’s innovative MPC-based authorization model, Liminal HSM Vaults delivers the security, governance, and cryptographic trust that banks and enterprises need to scale digital asset services responsibly.”
Liminal HSM Vaults is designed for banks, custodians, fintechs, and enterprises seeking stronger key sovereignty, resilient authorization workflows, and secure digital asset operations at scale.
For more information, users can visit https://www.liminalcustody.com/hsm-vault/ .
About Liminal Custody
Liminal Custody is a digital asset management infrastructure platform, certified with ISO 27001 & 27701, and SOC Type 2 standards, offering secure wallet infrastructure and custody-technology solutions for institutions across the digital asset spectrum. Headquartered in Singapore, with offices across India, UAE, and Taiwan, Liminal serves clients across the globe, helping them scale and manage digital asset operations securely and in compliance with regulatory standards.
About Securosys
Securosys SA, based in Zurich, is a global leader in cybersecurity, encryption and digital identity protection. Their Swiss-built Hardware Security Modules (HSM) secure financial markets, serving over half of the Tier 1 banks worldwide. Certified to the highest standards, their on-premises and cloud HSM solutions offer secure key generation, encryption, digital signing, and post-quantum readiness for finance, healthcare, government, and other industries.
Video Link: https://youtu.be/15LET2kAvk0?si=mSwZQ6lNPwh
Contact
AVP- Global Brand and Communications Aanandita Bhatnagar Liminal Custody aananditabhatnagar@lmnl.app
SPAYZ.io Launches P2P Agent Dashboard for High Risk Merchant Payment Operations
Nicosia, Cyprus, March 23rd, 2026, FinanceWire
SPAYZ.io has announced the launch of its new P2P Agent’s Dashboard, a centralised and automated operating system to help merchants in high‑risk industries manage agent networks, reconcile transactions, and scale alternative payment methods across global markets. Built for sectors including iGaming, Forex, and Crypto, the new dashboard replaces fragmented and manual workflows with a unified platform offering complete visibility and automation.
SPAYZ.io’s dashboard consolidates agent activities into a single, exportable system where transactions are recorded in real time, merchant callbacks are instant, and balances update automatically.
Unlike generic CRMs, the platform is specifically designed for P2P transactions. It automates commission calculations, reduces errors associated with manual pay‑in and pay‑out tracking, and provides finance teams with a reliable and audit‑ready source of truth. Through integration with the SPAYZ.io gateway, merchants can connect agents across more than 35 markets, ensuring consistent workflows, faster GEO expansion, and smoother onboarding as their P2P operations scale.
Tatjana Meluskane, Chief Commercial Officer at SPAYZ.io, commented:
P2P agent networks are essential for high‑risk merchants, but they’ve been extremely difficult to manage at scale. Our new dashboard centralises workflows, improves transparency, and removes the operational friction that limits GEO expansion and slows down growth. “We listened to our partners and clients, took on board all of their needs, and have built this platform to give merchants complete clarity. I’m proud to say this is a market first, offering complete clarity with a new level of control and stability for businesses that rely on alternative payments.
SPAYZ.io is also supporting merchants with round‑the‑clock operational and technical assistance, including incident management, route adjustments, and customisable configurations. This ensures that payment models can be adapted quickly to market conditions without placing additional strain on merchant teams.
The launch reinforces SPAYZ.io’s commitment to building infrastructure that supports the evolving needs of high‑risk merchants and strengthens the company’s position as a leader in local payment solutions across high‑growth regions
Tatjana said.
About SPAYZ.io
SPAYZ.io is on a mission to redefine the world of payments. By offering innovative, secure, and scalable payment solutions, the company helps businesses navigate complex financial ecosystems with ease. With a growing presence across Europe, Asia, and Africa, SPAYZ.io is at the forefront of building a more connected and efficient financial future.
$METAWIN Raises $350,000 in Hours as First Two Tranches Sell Out – Sub-10c Pricing Closes Today!
Less than 12 hours after launch, the $METAWIN community token presale has raised $350,000 and sold out its first two tranches entirely. The raise happened in a matter of hours – a signal of the depth of demand that has been building across a 440,000-wallet community for four years.
Today is the last opportunity to participate at a presale price below $0.10. When the current tranche closes, the next one opens at a higher price point. The presale may also close ahead of schedule at the issuer’s discretion.
What Is The $METAWIN Token Presale?
$METAWIN is the community token of the MetaWinners – one of the most active and long-standing prize ecosystems in crypto. The community didn’t need a token to prove itself. 440,000 connected wallets, $6.5 million distributed in prizes to NFT holders, and a sold-out 10,000-piece NFT collection were all built before a single token was issued. The presale is not funding something speculative – it is the entry point into a community with four years of proof behind it.
200,000,000 tokens – 20% of the fixed one-billion supply – are now offered to the public across rising tranches at the same price for every participant. There is no venture capital allocation, no institutional round, and no preferential pricing.
What Holders Get Access To
As an independent ecosystem partner, MetaWin.com expects to open a suite of voluntary community benefits to $METAWIN holders.
This includes exclusive prize competitions with instant pay-outs and no rollovers, stake-to-win access to major draws at no additional cost, and wager-to-vest programmes that allow active participants to accelerate their vesting schedules significantly.
The Airdrop
100,000,000 tokens – 10% of total supply – are allocated to Airdrop 1 at or around TGE. The primary recipients are MetaWinners NFT holders and community members who have participated in $METAWIN points campaigns on MetaWin.com. Eligibility criteria and snapshot dates will be confirmed ahead of TGE.
Participation is available at mw.xyz
@Meta_Winners on X provides live tranche updates.
About $METAWIN
$METAWIN is the token for the MetaWinners community – an army of crypto natives united by shared ambition and shared purpose.
Users can secure their token via the public presale on mw.xyz.
Presale price does not reflect or guarantee any live market price following TGE. $METAWIN is issued by TropiChain Inc., Republic of Panama. MetaWin.com is an independent ecosystem partner and is not the issuer or sponsor of this token. $METAWIN tokens are community tokens and do not represent equity, governance rights, or entitlement to revenues. Participation involves significant risk, including total loss of capital. Not financial advice. Full Litepaper available at mw.xyz.
5 Top Crypto Exchanges in India for Beginners in 2026
Crypto trading in India has grown steadily, with more platforms now offering INR deposits, mobile onboarding, and faster KYC. For beginners, picking the right exchange matters more than most realise, it affects how easily you can deposit money, buy crypto, and withdraw funds when needed.
Before getting started, two things are worth knowing. Crypto profits in India are taxed at a flat 30%, and a 1% TDS applies on transactions, according to the Income Tax Department’s virtual digital assets tax guidelines. Most exchanges also require PAN-based KYC before you can deposit or withdraw INR.
With that in mind, here are five of the top crypto exchanges in India worth considering.
Key Takeaways
INR support and simple onboarding make crypto more accessible, but beginners should compare fees, security features, and withdrawal reliability before choosing an exchange.
Different platforms serve different needs, from spot buying and long-term investing to futures and derivatives trading on more advanced platforms.
Indian traders must complete PAN-based KYC and follow tax rules, including the 30% tax on gains and 1% TDS on crypto transactions.
Top Crypto Exchanges in India for Beginner Traders
1. Delta Exchange
Delta Exchange is a crypto trading platform offering futures and options on major cryptocurrencies. It supports INR deposits and is suited for traders who want to go beyond simply buying and holding crypto.
Key Features:
Indian users can deposit INR directly, reducing the need for currency conversions before trading.
The exchange supports futures and options on major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Its web and mobile app allows users to place orders, track positions, and access algorithmic trading features as they advance.
Maker fees start at around 0.02% and taker fees at around 0.05%, with the fee structure clearly displayed before order execution.
2. Binance
Binance is one of the largest global cryptocurrency exchanges by trading volume and offers access to a wide range of cryptocurrencies. Its beginner mode simplifies order placement while still giving users access to more advanced tools as they gain experience.
Key Features:
Users can trade hundreds of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and emerging altcoins.
The interface includes a simplified buy/sell option for users placing their first trades.
Accounts can be accessed through both mobile apps and desktop dashboards.
High trading volume helps ensure faster order execution with minimal price slippage.
3. CoinDCX
CoinDCX is built specifically for the Indian market and integrates local payment methods familiar to Indian users. Its crypto trading app allows beginners to deposit funds, buy crypto, and track balances from a single interface.
Key Features:
Indian users can deposit and withdraw INR using supported banking channels.
The crypto trading app allows users to buy and sell cryptocurrencies directly after completing verification.
Multiple cryptocurrencies are available, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other major assets.
Account registration and KYC can be completed entirely online using PAN and identity documents.
4. CoinSwitch
CoinSwitch is designed for retail users entering the crypto market for the first time. Its mobile-first design focuses on simplifying crypto purchases and portfolio tracking without overwhelming beginners.
Key Features:
Users can fund their accounts using INR through supported Indian payment options.
The interface simplifies crypto buying by showing prices, balances, and transaction history clearly.
The crypto trading app allows users to monitor portfolio value and market price changes.
Major cryptocurrencies can be bought and sold directly within the app.
5. Mudrex
Mudrex is a crypto investment platform that focuses on portfolio-based investing rather than frequent manual trading. It supports INR deposits and provides tools that help users monitor and manage their crypto holdings over time.
Key Features:
Indian users can deposit and withdraw INR using supported local payment methods.
The platform provides access to major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Users can track portfolio performance and asset allocation from a single dashboard.
The service is accessible through both mobile apps and desktop browsers.
What to Look for as a Beginner
INR deposit and withdrawal support: Exchanges that support INR transactions make it easier for Indian users to fund accounts and withdraw money without relying on complex conversion methods.
Simple and intuitive interface: A beginner-friendly dashboard helps users understand prices, place trades, and track their portfolio without confusion.
Security and platform reliability: Choosing exchanges with strong security infrastructure and consistent platform performance reduces operational risks.
Transparent fee structure: Platforms that clearly display trading and withdrawal fees help beginners avoid unexpected costs.
Access to learning and advanced tools: Exchanges that offer educational resources and scalable trading features allow beginners to continue using the same platform as their experience grows.
Customer support and platform accessibility: Reliable customer support and easy platform access across devices can help beginners resolve issues quickly.
Conclusion
Choosing the best crypto exchange in India depends on whether you plan to invest long- term or actively trade. Each platform listed here serves a slightly different need, from active derivatives trading to simple portfolio investing. Assess what you actually want to do with crypto before signing up, and prioritise security and compliance from day one.
Indian traders looking to start their crypto journey can explore https://www.delta.exchange to access a platform that supports both beginner onboarding and advanced trading tools.
FAQs
Is crypto trading legal in India?
Yes. Crypto trading is permitted but regulated. Users are required to comply with applicable tax rules.
Can I withdraw INR from these exchanges anytime?
Withdrawals are processed through bank transfer and depend on exchange processing times and banking hours.
What is the minimum amount needed to start crypto trading in India?
Many exchanges allow users to start with small amounts, sometimes as low as ₹100–₹500. The exact minimum depends on the platform and the cryptocurrency being purchased.
Crypto Hedge Funds in 2026: Institutional Strategies, Market Leaders, and Evolving Opportunities
Key Insights
More than 55% of traditional hedge funds now hold digital assets, rising from 47% in 2024 (AIMA).
Major crypto-focused firms oversee portfolios ranging from hundreds of millions to several billion dollars.
Strategy focus has shifted toward relative value, volatility, and cross-market inefficiencies rather than simple directional exposure.
Entry thresholds typically range between $100,000 and $1 million, with standard hedge fund fee models still dominant.
The HFR Cryptocurrency Index recorded a 694.6% cumulative return over five years ending February 2025.
Institutional Participation Has Accelerated
Hedge funds have transitioned from cautious testing of digital assets to structured, long-term portfolio integration. Data from the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) shows that a majority of traditional hedge funds now maintain direct exposure to crypto markets.
This shift reflects a broader change in institutional thinking. Digital assets are no longer viewed as peripheral instruments but are increasingly treated as a core allocation alongside equities, fixed income, and commodities.
By 2026, large allocators—including pension funds, endowments, and family offices—are focusing on portfolio construction decisions such as allocation size, liquidity preferences, and strategy selection rather than debating whether crypto belongs in institutional portfolios.
Performance data has reinforced this trend. The HFR Cryptocurrency Index demonstrated strong multi-year performance, highlighting the expanding role of digital assets within hedge fund strategies.
Leading Firms in the Crypto Hedge Fund Space
Several asset managers have established themselves as dominant forces in digital asset markets:
Pantera Capital: One of the earliest institutional players in blockchain, offering venture, token, and liquid trading strategies.
Polychain Capital: Known for managing large-scale portfolios across diverse crypto sectors.
Multicoin Capital: Recognized for concentrated, high-conviction positions in emerging blockchain ecosystems.
Galaxy Digital: Combines trading, asset management, and financing services with multi-billion-dollar assets under management.
BH Digital (Brevan Howard): Integrates traditional hedge fund expertise with crypto-native talent, including engineers and data scientists.
These firms illustrate how institutional frameworks are being adapted to the unique characteristics of digital markets.
Strategy Evolution in Modern Crypto Funds
Crypto hedge fund approaches have become significantly more sophisticated. Early strategies focused heavily on price direction, but the current landscape emphasizes multi-dimensional trading methods.
1. Relative Value and Arbitrage
Funds analyze pricing discrepancies across exchanges, derivatives markets, and decentralized protocols. These inefficiencies are common due to fragmented liquidity and varying market structures.
2. Volatility and Options-Based Strategies
Advanced funds actively trade options and volatility products, capturing opportunities created by rapid price swings and shifting market sentiment.
3. Multi-Strategy Portfolio Design
Many firms now operate multiple independent strategy “books,” similar to traditional multi-manager hedge funds. This structure allows diversification across trading styles and time horizons.
4. Quantitative and Algorithmic Trading
Algorithm-driven funds execute high-frequency strategies across spot, futures, and options markets. These systems are particularly effective in crypto due to persistent inefficiencies and 24/7 trading.
5. DeFi Credit and Yield Structures
A growing segment of funds participates in decentralized finance as structured lenders, providing liquidity to protocols where demand for institutional-grade yield products continues to expand.
Capital Requirements and Fee Models
Access to crypto hedge funds remains limited to qualified participants.
Entry Thresholds
Typical minimum commitments range from $100,000 to $1 million
Some funds offer feeder structures with lower entry points
Investor Qualification (U.S.)
Net worth exceeding $1 million (excluding primary residence), or
Annual income above $200,000 ($300,000 jointly) over two years
Fee Structures
Standard model: 2% management fee + 20% performance fee
In the UK, minimum participation levels generally range between £50,000 and £250,000 for FCA-authorized funds.
Risks and Market Challenges
Crypto hedge funds operate within a rapidly evolving and sometimes unpredictable environment. Key considerations include:
Market Volatility
Price swings remain significantly higher than in traditional asset classes. Long-biased strategies have historically experienced steep drawdowns during market downturns.
Regulatory Uncertainty
Global regulatory frameworks are still developing. Changes in policy can directly affect fund operations, asset accessibility, and strategy viability.
During periods of market stress, liquidity fragmentation can lead to pricing dislocations and execution challenges.
Infrastructure and Market Maturity
Despite these risks, the supporting ecosystem has strengthened considerably:
Expansion of institutional-grade custody solutions
Approval of spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs
Regulatory developments such as stablecoin frameworks
Improved risk management and compliance standards
These developments have contributed to a more stable and scalable environment for hedge fund participation in digital assets.
Frequently Asked Questions
What defines a crypto hedge fund?
A crypto hedge fund pools capital to trade and manage digital assets using strategies such as arbitrage, algorithmic trading, DeFi participation, and venture exposure.
What is the typical minimum allocation?
Most funds require between $100,000 and $1 million, though some structures allow smaller commitments.
How are fees structured?
The industry commonly follows a management fee plus performance fee model, often referred to as “two and twenty,” with some variation among newer funds.
Are crypto hedge funds regulated?
They operate under existing securities frameworks in many jurisdictions, though regulatory oversight differs globally.
What strategies are most common?
Key approaches include long/short trading, quantitative models, arbitrage, volatility trading, and decentralized finance participation.
What are the primary risks?
Volatility, regulatory changes, operational vulnerabilities, and liquidity disruptions are among the most significant factors.
Insurance Incentives for New Customers Spark Debate Over Fair Pricing and Loyalty Costs
Promotional rewards tied to new insurance policies are drawing attention in New Zealand, as industry observers and consumers question how these offers affect long-term customers already facing rising premiums.
A recent campaign offering Prezzy cards to individuals taking out new cover has triggered discussion about pricing structures across the general insurance market. While such promotions are designed to attract new business, critics argue they may unintentionally disadvantage existing policyholders who renew year after year without similar perks.
Concerns Around Incentives and Customer Fairness
Insurance broker Glenn Marshall raised concerns after seeing a promotion across multiple brands owned by Insurance Australia Group (IAG), where new policies came with a $200 Prezzy card. Speaking as a consumer, he questioned whether these offers create an uneven playing field.
Marshall pointed out that customers switching providers—or even moving between brands—could access benefits not typically extended to loyal clients. He suggested that this dynamic may shift costs onto long-standing policyholders, particularly at a time when many households are already managing higher insurance expenses.
According to his account, IAG clarified that the reward was not a price reduction but a promotional incentive available to both new customers and existing clients who add additional cover. Despite this explanation, concerns remain about how these campaigns influence overall pricing strategies.
Marshall has also brought the issue to the attention of the Financial Markets Authority (FMA), which oversees financial conduct in New Zealand.
Regulator Monitoring Promotional Activity
The FMA has acknowledged awareness of these types of marketing campaigns. While the regulator does not currently view such offers as inherently problematic, it continues to observe how they are used within the industry.
Officials note that incentives can encourage competition by prompting consumers to compare providers and review their coverage. At the same time, the FMA has indicated that it remains open to hearing from individuals who feel misled or disadvantaged by promotional activity.
“Loyalty Tax” Remains a Key Concern
Consumer advocacy group Consumer NZ has highlighted a broader issue often referred to as the “loyalty tax.” This concept describes a situation where long-term customers pay more over time compared to new or switching customers who receive promotional benefits.
Insurance spokesperson Rebecca Styles explained that many people rarely review their policies, leading to missed opportunities for better pricing or improved coverage. This “set-and-forget” behavior can leave loyal customers paying higher premiums than necessary.
She emphasized the importance of regularly comparing policies, noting that while promotional offers can be appealing, they should be evaluated alongside coverage details and overall cost.
Insurance Costs Adding Financial Pressure
Recent tracking by Consumer NZ shows insurance is becoming a more significant burden for households, alongside expenses like housing, food, and debt. Premium increases across home, contents, motor, and health insurance are contributing to financial strain.
As costs rise, accessibility is becoming a growing concern. Some consumers report difficulty maintaining adequate coverage, particularly when policies become more complex or less transparent. This has contributed to declining trust in the insurance sector.
Switching Trends Show Limited Movement
Despite ongoing cost pressures and the availability of incentives, many New Zealanders remain with the same insurer for extended periods.
Research commissioned by the Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ) reveals:
20% of respondents changed insurers in the past two years
34% switched within the past five years
32% have never changed providers
Only about one in five policyholders actively compares options at renewal time, while a quarter say they never explore alternatives.
The data also shows that younger consumers are more likely to switch providers, whereas older individuals tend to stay with their existing insurer. Regional and income differences also influence switching behavior.
Affordability, Trust, and Climate Risk
Insurance affordability continues to be shaped by broader economic and environmental factors. Rising premiums are often linked to increased claims costs, inflation, and heightened exposure to climate-related risks.
In areas more vulnerable to natural hazards, some policyholders face higher premiums or reduced access to coverage. This has raised concerns about protection gaps and long-term resilience for affected communities.
At the same time, declining trust in insurers—alongside other sectors like healthcare and energy—suggests a need for clearer communication around pricing, policy terms, and claims outcomes.
Key Takeaway
Promotional rewards for new insurance policies are adding momentum to an ongoing debate about fairness, transparency, and customer treatment in New Zealand’s insurance market. While incentives can drive competition, they also highlight the importance of regularly reviewing coverage and understanding how pricing structures impact both new and long-term policyholders.
Bitcoin Surges Amid Market Recovery, Abra Eyes Nasdaq Listing in Major Move
The cryptocurrency sector showed robust activity on March 16, 2026, with leading assets posting notable advances driven by easing geopolitical tensions and renewed institutional participation. Here’s a snapshot of the market as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.
Bitcoin Climbs on Relief Rally
Bitcoin (BTC) traded at approximately $74,861, reflecting a 3.3% increase in the prior 24 hours. This uptick follows reports of safe passage for vessels through the Strait of Hormuz on March 15, signaling reduced immediate risks in key global routes and supporting broader risk appetite across markets.
Experts point to on-chain signals suggesting the asset may be transitioning from a prolonged downturn phase. Short-term trading bands for Bitcoin are estimated between $68,000 and $84,000, with potential for further movement tied to liquidity conditions and external events.
Institutional interest appears to be strengthening, evidenced by consistent inflows into spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds totaling hundreds of millions recently. Analysts describe Bitcoin as increasingly viewed as a resilient store of value, though near-term adjustments from profit realization and policy factors remain possible influences.
Ether and Altcoins Lead Weekly Performance
Ether (ETH) reached $2,328.85, marking a 10.3% rise over the last day and contributing to stronger weekly performance among major altcoins.
Other highlights include:
XRP (XRP) at $1.59, up 8% in 24 hours.
Solana (SOL) at $94.97, advancing 7.8% in the same period.
These movements highlight diversified momentum beyond Bitcoin, with several tokens benefiting from broader sector enthusiasm.
Abra Sets Path to Public Markets via SPAC Deal
Abra Financial Holdings, a platform specializing in digital asset custody, yield options, lending, and real-world asset tokenization, revealed intentions to list publicly. The company agreed to a business combination with New Providence Acquisition Corp. III (NASDAQ: NPACU), establishing a pre-money valuation of $750 million for Abra.
The merged entity plans to operate under the ticker ABRX on Nasdaq. Existing shareholders from firms like Adams Street, Blockchain Capital, Pantera Capital, RRE Ventures, and SBI will retain their holdings. The structure could deliver up to $300 million in proceeds from the SPAC trust (post-redemptions and costs) to fuel Abra’s expansion in regulated on-chain services.
CEO Bill Barhydt emphasized the role of Bitcoin, stablecoins, and tokenized real-world assets in shaping tomorrow’s finance, positioning the firm to offer institutional-level wealth solutions globally.
The transaction remains subject to approvals and customary conditions.
HIVE Subsidiary Scales AI Infrastructure, Shifts from Swedish Bitcoin Mining
BUZZ High Performance Computing, part of HIVE Digital Technologies (TSXV:HIVE, NASDAQ:HIVE), disclosed plans to quadruple its liquid-cooled AI data center capacity in partnership with Bell Canada AI Fabric. Critical IT load will expand from 4 MW in Manitoba to 16.6 MW across provinces, including an immediate 5 MW site in British Columbia and potential for 7.6 MW more in 2027.
This supports deployment of thousands of advanced AI GPUs, aiming for over 6,000 units total and targeting $200 million in annualized contracted revenue by March 31, 2027.
Concurrently, HIVE is winding down ASIC Bitcoin mining in Sweden due to regulatory uncertainties, redirecting resources to high-performance computing and AI upgrades, including NVIDIA GB300-compatible setups.
Industry Defends Bitcoin Against Ponzi Claims
Recent commentary from former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson labeling Bitcoin a “Ponzi scheme” prompted swift rebuttals. Industry leaders clarified that Bitcoin functions as a decentralized, code-governed network without central operators or promised returns funded by new participants—key hallmarks absent in its design.
Global Efforts Target Crypto Fraud Recovery
Authorities from Canada, the US, and UK launched Operation Atlantic to assist victims of “approval phishing” scams, where irreversible transactions complicate fund recovery. Teams, including exchange representatives, coordinated from a Washington, DC command center.
Australia Advances Crypto Oversight Framework
A Senate committee endorsed the Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025, recommending integration of crypto intermediaries under existing financial regulations. The approach emphasizes licensing for exchanges, custodians, and token managers while preserving consumer safeguards, with a six-month compliance window post-enactment.
Mastercard Bolsters Stablecoin Ecosystem
Mastercard added Borderless.xyz to its Crypto Partner Program. The firm’s API connects wallets to numerous licensed stablecoin issuers across 94 countries and 63 fiat currencies, enhancing blockchain payment capabilities alongside over 85 collaborators.
MEXC Introduces Zero-Fee Prediction Platform
Exchange MEXC rolled out a prediction market featuring no trading fees, high-speed execution (up to 30x faster than peers), robust security, and seamless integration with standard crypto accounts for easy fund transfers.
This update captures pivotal shifts in pricing, corporate strategies, regulatory progress, and infrastructure evolution shaping the digital asset space.
Freedom Bank Kazakhstan Receives Its First Moody’s Rating at Ba3 with Stable Outlook
New York, United States, March 18th, 2026, FinanceWire
Freedom Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: FRHC), an international fintech group founded by entrepreneur Timur Turlov, announces that Moody’s Ratings has assigned its subsidiary, Freedom Bank Kazakhstan, a long-term deposit rating of Ba3 with a stable outlook. This marks Moody’s first rating of the bank and an important milestone in its development and international recognition.
The rating reflects the bank’s solid capitalization, dynamic growth in its customer base and deposit portfolio, and continued development of its retail and digital businesses. Moody’s also highlights the important role of Freedom Bank within the ecosystem of Freedom Holding Corp., which integrates financial and digital services.
The stable outlook reflects the agency’s expectation that the bank’s financial performance and business model will support balanced growth over the next 12–18 months. At the same time, the rating also takes into account the bank’s high-growth phase, including the ongoing transformation of its business model, a reduction in reliance on more volatile income sources, and the continued development of its lending operations.
Freedom Bank will continue to implement its strategy to diversify income sources, develop its loan portfolio, and improve operational efficiency.
In Kazakhstan, Freedom Bank is among the country’s largest financial institutions. The number of SuperApp users reached 5 million, doubling over the past year, and is expected to grow to 8 million by the end of the year.
As part of its broader growth strategy, CEO Timur Turlov plans to further scale the company’s SuperApp ecosystem while expanding Freedom Holding Corp.’s international banking footprint. The company has recently expanded into Tajikistan and is in the process of acquiring a bank in Georgia. It has also agreed to acquire a bank in Turkey, strengthening its presence in a key regional market. Freedom Holding Corp.’s strong financial position is further supported by its “B-” credit rating with a stable outlook from S&P Global Ratings.
About Freedom Bank Kazakhstan
Freedom Bank Kazakhstan is a universal bank within the ecosystem of Freedom Holding Corp., providing a wide range of financial services to both retail and corporate clients, including digital banking solutions, lending, investment, and insurance products. The bank also provides access to government services through its digital platform.
About Freedom Holding Corp.
Freedom Holding Corp. provides financial services in 21 countries, including Kazakhstan, the United States, Cyprus, Poland, Spain, Uzbekistan, and Armenia. The Company’s principal executive office is located in New York City. In Kazakhstan, Freedom is actively developing its financial and digital ecosystem, which includes Freedom Bank, Freedom Broker, the insurance companies Freedom Life and Freedom insurance, as well as a lifestyle segment that features Arbuz.kz, Freedom Ticketon, and Freedom Travel.
Freedom Holding Corp. shares are traded on the U.S. technology exchange NASDAQ, the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE), and the Astana International Exchange (AIX) under the ticker symbol FRHC. Freedom Holding Corp. is regulated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the common stock is included in Russell 3000 Index.
Contact
PR Department Natalia Kharlashina Freedom Holding Corp. prglobal@ffin.kz +77013641454
Changelly and SafePal Introduce Limited Edition Hardware Wallet
Kingstown, St. Vincent and Grenadines, March 17th, 2026, FinanceWire
Changelly, a leading instant crypto exchange, and SafePal, a next-generation non-custodial crypto wallet manufacturer, are joining forces to help users strengthen the security of their funds while keeping everyday crypto swaps fast and simple. Bringing together Changelly’s instant exchange infrastructure and SafePal’s cold storage expertise, the initiative introduces a limited-edition collection of SafePal S1 hardware wallets to the Changelly community.
According to a recent Changelly survey, over 52% of users prioritize strong asset protection and full control over their funds when choosing a crypto wallet. At the same time, convenience and ease of use remain key factors.
In response to these insights and as part of the collaboration, the companies are introducing a co-branded Limited Edition hardware wallet that integrates Changelly’s seamless swap experience with SafePal’s self-custody infrastructure.
250 Limited-run hardware wallets released exclusively for the Changelly App users
The co-branded Limited Edition SafePal S1 features a design created specifically for the Changelly partnership and is unavailable through standard retail channels. Starting from March 17, any user who swaps in the Changelly mobile app can participate in daily raffles, where 10 Limited Edition SafePal S1 wallets are awarded every 24 hours throughout the campaign period.
Compact and lightweight—roughly the size of a credit card—the SafePal x Changelly hardware wallet provides direct access to Changelly’s favorable rates for crypto-to-crypto swaps. The device stores private keys fully offline and uses QR-code-based transaction signing through an integrated camera to maintain safe transaction authorization. The wallet supports multiple blockchain networks, allowing users to manage 1,000+ cryptocurrencies through a connected mobile app.
Changelly App giveaway campaign
All registered and logged-in users are eligible for the giveaway—they just need to confirm their participation with a click on the in-app main page banner. Any crypto-to-crypto transaction with a value of $50 or higher made through the app enters the 24-hour raffle after confirmation of participation.
To participate in the campaign and get one of the Limited Edition hardware wallets, users need to download the Changelly mobile app via the App Store or Google Play, register or log in to their account, and confirm participation on the dedicated campaign screen. After that, completing a crypto-to-crypto swap of $50 or more automatically enters the user into the daily raffle. Participants can follow in-app updates and check their email to see whether they have been selected as a winner.
Users can increase their chances by completing additional qualifying swaps and entering the raffle on multiple days during the campaign period. Additional entries may also be earned by sharing campaign information on social media.
Full campaign terms & conditions are available here.
A partnership focused on strengthening self-custody
This collaboration comes amid a broader market shift toward self-custody following recent market cycles that reinforced the importance of asset control and counterparty risk awareness. Demand is increasingly focused on solutions that combine secure private key ownership with seamless access to liquidity—positioning infrastructure partnerships like Changelly and SafePal at the center of this trend.
With over 10 years of experience, Changelly is trusted by millions of crypto users across the globe. To its community, Changelly delivers instant crypto-to-crypto swaps and accessible fiat-to-crypto purchasing options. The company’s partners benefit from its APIs, which have been recognized within the industry for their performance and reliability.
SafePal serves over 30 million users globally across 200+ regions and countries in 16 languages. It encompasses a diverse mix of crypto asset management solutions like cross-chain swapping, trading and yielding tools, centralized exchange (CEX) mini-programs, a banking gateway, and Mastercard for users.
About Changelly
Changelly is an instant crypto exchange trusted by over 10 million users worldwide. Founded in 2015, the platform offers secure, intuitive crypto-to-crypto swaps for over 1,000 cryptocurrencies and 24/7 live customer support. Changelly also features a built-in smart fiat on-ramp aggregator, giving users access to up to 220 competitive offers from verified providers, enabling seamless purchases of 350+ cryptocurrencies using 20+ global payment methods.
Changelly is available on desktop (website), iOS (App Store), and Android (Google Play).
About SafePal
Founded in 2018, SafePal is a next-generation non-custodial crypto wallet suite backed by Animoca Brands, Binance, and Superscrypt. The suite empowers access to decentralized and centralized finance on 200+ blockchains across its hardware, software, and browser extension wallet solutions.
Contact
Head of Marketing & PR Ashley Vancouver Changelly pr@changelly.com
Aster Chain Launch: Defining a New Era for Onchain Privacy and Transparency
George Town, British Virgin Islands, March 17th, 2026, Chainwire
Aster, a privacy-focused trading ecosystem backed by YZi Labs, today announced the official launch of Aster Chain Mainnet. This purpose-built Layer 1 blockchain is designed to dismantle the “transparency trap” of modern DeFi, offering institutional-grade privacy and CEX-level performance to professional and retail traders worldwide.
Ending the Era of Onchain Position Hunting
Transparency is a defining characteristic of decentralized finance, supported by public ledgers, verifiable transactions, and open protocols. However, transparency between protocols and users differs from transparency among market participants. When trading activity, including order placement, position size, and liquidation levels, is fully visible on-chain, such information may be observed and used by other participants in the market.
Position hunting – where traders identify a large position, see its liquidation price, and coordinate to trigger a forced liquidation – has cost traders millions of dollars on fully transparent platforms. Infamously, in March 2025, a trader opened a $375 million BTC 40x short on a fully transparent platform. Traders quickly began openly coordinating on Twitter to pool funds and hunt the position.
Aster’s default privacy removes that attack surface entirely.
The Aster Thesis: Privacy is a Fundamental Right
Unlike existing solutions that treat privacy as an opt-in feature or a third-party wrapper, Aster Chain embeds encryption directly into the execution layer. On Aster, privacy is the default, not a privilege.
The Aster privacy stack utilizes a ZK-verifiable encrypted architecture:
ZK-Verifiable Encryption + Stealth Address Mechanism: Every order is ZK-verifiable encrypted before it reaches the chain; with Account Privacy enabled, orders are routed through unique stealth addresses, ensuring no link between users’ wallets and their trading activity, and preventing any third party from tracing, correlating, or reconstructing trades.
Selective Disclosure: While asset transfers remain traceable for compliance, the execution layer shields strategic intent. Users who want their activity visible can choose to make it public. With Account Privacy enabled, users can generate a Viewer Pass to share with selected parties, allowing only those with access to the pass to view their private orders.
Zero Performance Trade-off: Aster Chain achieves peak throughput of 100,000+ TPS and a median block time of 50ms, all without gas – performance that matches the speed traders expect from a centralized exchange.
“Transparency between a protocol and its users is a fundamental feature, but transparency between a trader and their competitors is a critical vulnerability,” said Leonard, CEO at Aster. “Aster Chain is the only architecture that treats privacy as a fundamental requirement for a fair market, neutralizing predatory attacks at the base layer.”
CEX Speed Meets DEX Principles
Aster Chain delivers the sub-second finality and high-leverage experience of a CEX while upholding the core tenets of decentralization: self-custody, verifiability, and permissionless access. Trading privacy removes the last reason to stay on a centralized exchange. The network is supported by a native bridge to BNB Chain and proprietary oracles to ensure high-fidelity price data.
Fuelling the Next Wave of Innovation
The mainnet launch marks the start of a phased expansion. Beyond the flagship Aster trading UI, the ecosystem is inviting builders to create specialized vaults and collaborative DeFi products through Aster Code.
To coincide with the launch, Aster will initiate a Staking Program within a week to reward early supporters and liquidity providers.
About Aster
Aster is a privacy-first onchain trading platform backed by YZi Labs, with unique features like Hidden Orders to protect user trading activity. It offers perpetual contracts across crypto, stocks and commodities, as well as crypto spot trading, and is powered by Aster Chain, a Layer 1 blockchain built to power the future of decentralized finance.
Users can learn more about Aster on the official website or follow Aster on X.