BitcoinKE

Bitcoin treasury firm, Nakamoto Holdings (NAKA), has sold roughly 5% of its holdings, offloading 284 BTC for about $20 million in March 2026.

The sale was executed at an average price of around $70,400 per bitcoin, significantly below the company’s average acquisition cost of roughly $118,000, implying a sizable realized loss on the transaction.

MARKET ANALYSIS | Over 1/4 of Total Circulating #Bitcoin Supply is Sitting on Unrealized Loss

Data from @artemis shows that Bitcoin Treasury companies are 27% down over the last one month and 41% down over the last 3 months.https://t.co/CnW7fiFnd3 $BTC @BitcoinFear pic.twitter.com/JrQjYDVWkz

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) December 6, 2025

The Nakamoto Bitcoin sale move appears to be driven by short-term liquidity needs rather than a shift in long-term strategy. Proceeds from the sale are expected to

support operational expenses,

fund ongoing business activities, and

cover costs tied to recent mergers and integration efforts.

Despite the sell-off, Nakamoto retains the majority of its bitcoin treasury signaling that the transaction is a tactical adjustment rather than a broader exit from its bitcoin-focused balance sheet strategy.

EXPERT OPINION | Bitcoin, Digital Asset Treasuries and the Road to 2026: Director of Institutional at Gemini on Where Crypto Is Headed

According to Patrick Lo, the only reason a treasury company makes sense is if it offers leverage, financial engineering or unique access – for… pic.twitter.com/iEbhmZV97z

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) January 17, 2026

Nakamoto Holdings is run by David Bailey, a prominent Bitcoin entrepreneur, CEO of Nakamoto Holdings (NAKA), and former CEO of BTC Inc. (parent company of Bitcoin Magazine). Known as a Bitcoin advisor to Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign, he focuses on

institutional Bitcoin adoption,

treasury strategies, and

building Bitcoin-focused media and technology businesses.

Nakamoto raised $710 million in May 2025, the largest capital raise to launch a bitcoin treasury to date, to pursue a Bitcoin treasury strategy pushing its shares to an all-time high. Ironically, since then, its NAKA shares have falled by 99% from their all-time as of this writing.

The Nakamoto strategy was to accumulate bitcoin and grow per-share BTC holdings through

equity

debt, and

structured offerings.

EXPERT OPINION | ‘The Market Does Not Have an Appetite for Dozens of Digital Asset Treasuries,’ Says Director of Institutional at Gemini

 

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE on crypto developments globally. 

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________

Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) is rolling out a structured framework for crypto derivatives, introducing tightly controlled access for retail investors while reinforcing strict risk limits on leverage.

Under the framework, retail traders can now access regulated crypto derivatives products such as futures, options, and perpetual contracts through licensed platforms. The move marks a significant step in Dubai’s effort to build a mature digital asset market with institutional-grade oversight.

However, access comes with clear restrictions. VARA has imposed limits on leverage and tightened margin requirements, ensuring that risk exposure for retail participants remains controlled. In earlier rulebook updates, the regulator explicitly barred retail clients from high-risk leveraged trading and introduced strict collateral and liquidation standards.

Only firms with specific regulatory approval are allowed to offer derivatives and they must meet heightened compliance obligations including

capital requirements,

real-time risk monitoring, and

transparent client reporting.

The framework reflects a broader balancing act: enabling innovation and market access while prioritizing investor protection. Dubai has been positioning itself as a global crypto hub, but with a regulatory model that emphasizes oversight, segregation of client assets, and strict conduct rules for licensed operators.

The result is a cautious but deliberate expansion bringing retail traders into the derivatives market under guardrails designed to prevent the kind of excessive risk-taking seen in less regulated jurisdictions.

REGULATION | Dubai Regulator Warns Seychelles-Based Crypto Exchange, KuCoin, is Operating Without a License

 

Stay tuned to BitKE on virtual assets regulation globally.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________

KuCoin a fost interzis permanent de la operarea în Statele Unite după un ordin final de la Comisia pentru Comerțul Futures cu Materii Prime (CFTC), marcând cel mai recent pas într-o acțiune comună a mai multor agenții care a început cu un caz penal de aproape 297 de milioane de dolari adus de Departamentul Justiției.

Ordinul CFTC impune o penalizare civilă de 500.000 de dolari și interzice operatorului KuCoin, Peken Global, să ofere servicii de tranzacționare utilizatorilor din SUA, decât dacă se înregistrează corespunzător. Esențial, decizia elimină limita de timp pentru ieșirea anterioară a bursei din SUA, transformând ceea ce fusese o retragere temporară într-o interdicție nedeterminată.

Mitsubishi Corporation is turning to blockchain to streamline how money moves across its global operations, tapping infrastructure built by JPMorgan Chase.

The company plans to use Kinexys, a bank-led blockchain network designed to handle near-instant corporate payments as part of a broader push to modernize treasury and cross-border settlement systems.

The move reflects growing institutional confidence in blockchain-based financial rails. Kinexys already processes billions in daily transaction volume and has handled more than $3 trillion cumulatively since its launch in 2020, with ambitions to scale to $10 billion in daily flows.

‘Institutions Don’t Want to Live on Competitors’ Rails,’ Says Chief Innovation Officer, SWIFT

For Mitsubishi, integrating the platform could

improve liquidity management,

reduce settlement times, and

simplify fund transfers across its vast international footprint

areas where traditional banking systems often introduce delays and costs.

Mitsubishi is one of Japan’s largest trading and industrial companes with extensive global operations across various industries. In 2025 alone, the company produced over 880,000 vehicles.

The partnership also underscores a broader shift: major corporations are no longer just experimenting with blockchain – they’re embedding it into core financial operations, particularly for high-volume, cross-border payments where efficiency gains are most immediate.

INTRODUCING | The Largest Bank in the United States Launches On-Chain Yield Fund on Ethereum

 

 

Want to keep up with the latest news on crypto developments globally?

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________

Global payments infrastructure firm, Nium, has launched a stablecoin card issuance platform that enables businesses to spend digital dollars directly through traditional payment networks, marking a significant step in bridging crypto and everyday commerce.

The new platform allows companies holding stablecoins to issue payment cards on both Visa and Mastercard via a single API integration removing the need for multiple partnerships or custom infrastructure.

By connecting stablecoin balances to established card networks, the solution enables spending at hundreds of millions of merchant locations worldwide, effectively turning digital assets into real-world purchasing power.

Nium, Which Leverages the Ripple Blockchain, Enables Bank and Mobile Money Transfers to 4 African Countries

A key feature of the platform is seamless crypto-to-fiat conversion at the point of sale. When a user pays with a stablecoin-funded card, the system automatically converts the balance into local currency, allowing merchants to receive payments as they would with any standard card transaction.

Nium says the platform is designed to complement existing financial systems rather than replace them, combining blockchain-based settlement with the reliability, compliance, and global acceptance of traditional payment rails.

One of the most powerful use cases for #stablecoins is connecting them to everyday spending through cards.

Stablecoins today move quickly across blockchains, but for most businesses and consumers the real world still runs on traditional payment networks. People pay with cards,… pic.twitter.com/sAxOvMIChC

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) March 31, 2026

According to Nium, stablecoin card issuing uncloks entirely new models for several types of companies:

Digital asset platforms and wallets that want to give their users real‑world spending capabilities. 

Fintechs operating globally that want faster and more efficient treasury management while still providing familiar payment instruments. 

Marketplaces and creator platforms that want to pay users globally while allowing them to spend funds instantly. 

Enterprises operating in multiple markets that want to reduce settlement friction and move value more efficiently across borders. 

 

“In short, stablecoin card issuing makes digital assets usable in everyday commerce.”

 

The launch comes as stablecoins gain traction as financial infrastructure, with growing regulatory clarity across major markets and an estimated $200 billion already in circulation.

By abstracting the complexity of compliance, banking relationships, and network integrations into a single layer, Nium aims to reduce deployment timelines from months to days, giving enterprises a faster route to integrating stablecoin-based payments into their operations.

PARTNERSHIP | Ecobank Partners with Ripple-Powered Payments Platform, Nium, to Unlock Real-Time Payments Across 35 African Markets

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE for deeper insights into the global crypto space.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_________________________________________

Ozow is sharpening its focus on governance, risk management, and regulatory alignment, signalling a broader strategic shift as fintechs navigate an increasingly complex payments environment.

The company has formalised a Chief Risk and Governance Officer (CRGO) function – an indication that risk and compliance are no longer back-office concerns but core pillars of sustainable growth in modern fintech.

This move comes as the industry contends with

tightening regulatory scrutiny,

rising fraud risks, and

the rollout of new payment frameworks

designed to more formally integrate non-bank players into the financial system.

PRESS RELEASE | South African Payment Processor, Ozow, Announces New Crypto Payments Solution Powered by MoneyBadger 

In this environment, governance structures and risk frameworks are becoming as critical as product innovation.

The expanded mandate consolidates enterprise-wide risk strategy, governance frameworks, and regulatory engagement under a single function. It also prioritises embedding risk-aware decision-making into product development, strengthening compliance systems, and ensuring readiness for licensing as the company scales into new markets.

This reflects a growing industry consensus: fintechs must align more closely with regulatory expectations while maintaining the agility to innovate. Activity-based regulation, in particular, is reshaping how companies approach compliance thereby shifting the focus from institutional labels to the actual financial services being delivered.

 

“Regulation is evolving to focus less on what an institution is, and more on the activities it performs,” the company noted.

“That shift requires a much more integrated and strategic approach to risk and governance.”

Three structural trends are now defining the fintech landscape in South Africa in 2026:

the rise of activity-based regulatory frameworks,

an intensified focus on fraud prevention, and

continued pressure to deliver financial inclusion responsibly.

Balancing these forces requires a more proactive approach to governance. Rather than acting as a constraint, risk management is increasingly being positioned as an enabler of innovation providing clear operational boundaries that allow teams to move faster and make informed decisions.

At Ozow, this philosophy is being operationalised by integrating risk considerations earlier in product development cycles allowing compliance and innovation to progress in parallel rather than sequentially.

The creation of a dedicated CRGO function also signals a deeper internal shift toward a governance-led operating model. Instead of fragmented or reactive risk management, the company is moving toward a unified, enterprise-wide framework that centralises oversight and improves coordination across business units.

Ultimately, this shift reflects a broader truth in fintech: trust is becoming the primary competitive advantage.

While speed and efficiency remain important, long-term success will depend on a company’s ability to demonstrate robust risk management, regulatory alignment, and transparent governance to both consumers and merchants.

As the payments ecosystem evolves, Ozow’s investment in governance and risk capability positions it to compete not just on innovation, but on resilience, credibility, and long-term sustainability.

REGULATION | All Apps Targeting South Africans Must Be Registered with the Financial Intelligence Centre, Says Updated Google Play Policy

Non-compliance could require removal of South Africa from the app’s distribution targeting.https://t.co/pd9rW8ZV4w @fscasouthafrica pic.twitter.com/r7eTjTNjdg

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) August 18, 2025

_________

About Ozow

Ozow is a leading South African fintech company transforming the way consumers and businesses transact through innovative, seamless, and secure payment solutions.

Founded in 2014, Ozow specialises in real-time digital payments, offering a range of products including Pay by Bank, Card Payments, PayShap Request, Instant Refunds, Payouts, and Cash Vouchers.

Trusted by South Africa’s biggest brands, Ozow enables millions of South Africans to transact effortlessly, helping merchants unlock growth, reduce friction at checkout, and improve financial accessibility.

Ozow is a licensed System Operator and Third-Party Payment Provider with the Payments Association of South Africa (PASA) and is fully compliant with industry regulations.

CASE STUDY | Illegal ‘No-KYC’ Crypto Cards and a Wake-Up Call for Africa’s Crypto Ecosystem

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE for deeper insights into the African fintech space.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_________________________________________

Hamilton Labs, o companie de infrastructură egipteană, a obținut o sumă nedivulgată de finanțare de la AXIAN Investment pentru a-și extinde infrastructura de stablecoin pe întregul continent african.

Când Mo Kasstawi a co-fondat compania egipteană de infrastructură financiară, nu a intenționat să lanseze doar un alt startup crypto. A răspuns unei realități familiare în întreaga lume: accesul la dolari stabili este în continuare tratat ca un privilegiu în loc de o necesitate financiară de bază.

Acum Hamilton Labs a obținut o nouă susținere de la AXIAN Investment, brațul de investiții al grupului pan-african AXIAN, pentru a-și extinde infrastructura de stablecoin pe întregul continent african. Suma rămâne nedivulgată, dar mesajul este clar. Unul dintre cele mai mari grupuri de investiții de pe continent pariază că activele digitale susținute de dolari ar putea deveni un pilon esențial al viitorului financiar al Africii.

Argentina has moved to block Polymarket, the leading prediction markets, nationwide arguing that the platform operates less like a financial tool and more like an unlicensed online betting service.

The decision came from a Buenos Aires court which ordered regulators to restrict access to the platform across the country. Authorities also instructed internet providers to block the site and asked major app stores to remove its mobile applications.

Gambling, Not ‘Prediction’

At the center of the crackdown is a simple legal argument: users are staking money on uncertain future events.

Regulators applied what they call an “economic reality” test focusing on how people actually use the platform rather than how it is branded.

Their conclusion: betting on outcomes like inflation data, elections, or global events closely resembles traditional gambling.

This classification places Polymarket outside Argentina’s legal framework where gambling platforms must be licensed and tightly regulated.

REGULATION | Gambling Rules Apply to Prediction Markets, Warns Major League Baseball of America

Authorities also pointed to major gaps in user protection. These included:

Limited identity and age verification

Potential access by minors

Use of crypto and credit card payments without strict oversight

Officials argued that these shortcomings exposed users to financial and legal risks, strengthening the case for enforcement.

Polymarket’s markets tied to Argentina’s inflation data intensified scrutiny.

Regulators flagged suspicious activity including sudden shifts in predictions shortly before official economic figures were released. This raised fears of

insider information,

market manipulation, and

the monetization of sensitive national data.

REGULATION | Insider Trading Risks Escalate on Prediction Markets as Enforcement Intensifies

Authorities in #Israel have arrested and charged two people, a military reservist and a civilian, for allegedly using classified information to place bets on the prediction market,…

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) February 16, 2026

The ban highlights a deeper global tension: are prediction markets financial tools, or just a new form of betting?

While some jurisdictions are exploring ways to regulate them as financial instruments, Argentina has taken a stricter approach grouping them with gambling and shutting them out entirely.

REGULATION | Gambling Rules Apply to Prediction Markets, Warns Major League Baseball of America

Under an ‘integrity protection’ memorandum of understanding, #MLB and the #CFTC will share information and coordinate #oversight to prevent market #manipulation and protect game… pic.twitter.com/MYOLpkrBcn

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) March 20, 2026

The move also reflects growing pressure from local gaming authorities who argue that platforms like Polymarket operate outside established rules while competing with licensed operators.

Argentina’s action signals that rapid growth and global reach won’t shield crypto platforms from local laws.

For prediction markets, the message is clear:

Compliance with gambling and financial regulations is unavoidable

User protection standards will be a key battleground

National regulators are willing to block access entirely if rules aren’t met

As more countries examine the space, Polymarket’s clash with Argentina may be a preview of wider regulatory pushback ahead.

INSIGHTS | Prediction Markets Have an Insider Trading Problem That Needs Fixing

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE for deeper insights into the global crypto space.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_________________________________________

Brazil has passed a sweeping anti-gang law that allows authorities to seize and liquidate cryptocurrencies linked to criminal activity with the proceeds redirected to fund police operations.

Signed into law by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the Legal Framework for Combating Organized Crime legislation, also know as the Raul Jungmann Law, expands judicial powers to freeze, confiscate, and even sell digital assets during investigations – not just after a conviction.

Courts can now authorize the early liquidation of seized crypto to avoid losses from market volatility and quickly channel funds into public security efforts.

Under the new framework, confiscated assets – including cryptocurrencies, stocks, and luxury goods – can be permanently forfeited and converted into cash to support police equipment, training, intelligence work, and special operations.

In some cases, authorities can provisionally use seized assets before a trial concludes, subject to judicial approval.

CRYPTO CRIME | International Law Enforcement Bodies Take Down CyberCrime Infrastructure, Confiscates Associated Crypto – BitKE https://t.co/6LDH4LLqC9

— Dr.Philippe Vynckier, CISSP – Influencer (@PVynckier) March 15, 2026

The law specifically targets organized crime groups such as militias and drug trafficking networks, while also giving authorities the ability to block access to crypto wallets, exchanges, and financial platforms during investigations.

The law introduces 2 criminial categories:

Structured social domination

Aiding structured social domination

which:

carry sentences of 12-40 years,

mandatory imprisonment in maximum-security federal facilities for ultraviolent criminal organizations, and

the use of encrypted messaging apps or privacy tools to conceal criminal activity is designated as an aggravating factor that increases sentences.

The new legislation also introduces financial incentives for cooperation: individuals who help authorities trace illicit assets can receive up to 5% of the recovered value once those assets are liquidated.

On top of that, the legislation mandates:

Creation of a national criminal database mapping financial structures of known criminal elements to improve police, prosecution, and judiciary coordination across Brazil.

International cooperation for asset recovery and intelligence to trace, trace, and recover illicit funds, and

Permanent barring of access of individuals from the formal financial and crypto systems including government contracting, participation in pubic tenders, and receiving fiscal incentives for 12-15 years.

More broadly, the move reflects a shift in how Brazil treats crypto, not just as an asset to regulate, but as one that can be actively repurposed to strengthen law enforcement and disrupt criminal financing networks.

CASE STUDY | How Spain’s Largest Crypto Exchange Pivot from Retail to Infrastructure for Banks and Law Enforcement is Proving Successful

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE on crypto developments in South America.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________

A European Central Bank (ECB) working paper has challenged one of DeFi’s core narratives concluding that decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) are far less decentralized than they claim.

The study examined governance structures across major DeFi protocols and found that token ownership and voting power are heavily concentrated among a small group of actors. In some cases, the top 100 holders controlled more than 80% of governance tokens, undermining the idea of broadly distributed control.

Less than 1% of Members on Most DAOs Have 90% Voting Power, Says Latest Chainalysis Report

DeFi-related DAOs have a giant lead accounting for 83% of all DAO treasury value and 33% of all of the DAOs by count.https://t.co/oSc9uUiCqG pic.twitter.com/5m6wUmMTZl

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) October 2, 2022

Voting dynamics appear even more centralized.

The report notes that governance decisions are often dominated by a handful of delegates with top voters controlling large portions of decision-making power. In certain protocols, a small group accounts for the vast majority of votes while many participants remain inactive or unidentified.

These findings raise questions about whether DAOs can truly operate without central authority. While DeFi promotes community-led governance, the reality, according to the ECB, is closer to power consolidation among insiders, large token holders, and intermediaries like exchanges.

The implications extend beyond theory. If DAOs are not ‘fully decentralized,’ they may fall within the scope of regulations such as the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, which excludes only genuinely decentralized systems.

 

The report says:

As already highlighted, it seems that DAOs often only claim to be decentralised.

 

The paper goes on to highlight the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority on the suggested principles to better understand when a DAO could be considered decentralized.

 

 

These principles are:

No identifiable controlling legal entity – A service is only “fully decentralised” if no legal person or entity controls the activity. If a company can be identified as having control, the activity is not decentralised and falls under regulation.

Control over the service is the decisive factor – The assessment focuses on who actually controls the regulated activity, not just who provides access. Simply offering an interface or gateway does not automatically mean control of the underlying service.

Decentralisation must exist across the full value chain – To qualify as decentralised, no single party should control key components, including smart contracts, protocol governance, execution of transactions, and access points (interfaces, APIs). If control exists at any critical layer, the system may be considered partially decentralised (CeDeFi) instead of fully DeFi.

Use of smart contracts is not enough – Just using blockchain or smart contracts does not make a system decentralised. If a legal entity deploys, controls, or can modify the smart contracts, then the activity is not fully decentralised.

Ongoing ability to influence or intervene matters – If any party can upgrade contracts, pause the system,and change parameters, then that indicates centralised control. True decentralisation requires no unilateral intervention power.

Governance must be genuinely distributed – Decision-making should not be concentrated in a founding team, a foundation, or a small group of token holders. Governance mechanisms must reflect real dispersion of power, not just formal structures.

Access should not depend on a central intermediary – Users should be able to interact with the system directly on-chain. If access depends on a company-run frontend, or controlled infrastructure, this weakens decentralisation.

Distinction between CeFi, CeDeFi, and DeFi – The document emphasizes a spectrum:

> CeFi → fully controlled by a legal entity

> CeDeFi → partially decentralised but still controlled

> DeFi → no controlling entity at all

Only the last category qualifies as outside MiCA scope

 

Ultimately, the paper suggests that DeFi governance may resemble traditional finance more than its branding implies raising fresh concerns about transparency, accountability, and how regulators should approach the sector.

Less than 1% of Members on Most DAOs Have 90% Voting Power, Says Latest Chainalysis Report

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE for deeper insights into the crypto regulatory space.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_________________________________________

Canada has moved to ban cryptocurrency donations in election campaigns by introducing new legislation that mirrors similar steps recently taken in the UK.

If passed, the ban would broadly apply across the political system.

The proposed law, known as the ‘Strong and Free Elections Act’ (Bill C-25), would prohibit political parties, candidates, and third-party advertisers from accepting crypto donations citing concerns that such assets are difficult to trace and could be used to obscure the source of funds.

The bill follows years of warnings from Canada’s Chief Electoral Officer that crypto’s pseudonymous nature could undermine transparency in political financing. While crypto donations have technically been allowed since 2019, their actual use has been minimal with no reported contributions in recent federal elections.

How Crypto Got Included in Canada’s Emergency Act in 2022

Back in 2022, then Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, expanded the 1988 Act to include cryptocurrencies where crowdfunding platforms and payment services linked to them must register with the Financial Transactions… pic.twitter.com/1GaOmlrKVi

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) March 29, 2026

Previously, contributions above $200 had to be publicly identified with a name and address. Only cryptocurrencies with verifiable public blockchains were allowed, which meant privacy coins like Monero and ZCash were excluded. In addition, acceptable crypto donations still needed to be liquidated into fiat before they could be spent.

If passed,

campaigns would be required to return or dispose of any illegal crypto donations within 30 days.

Violations could attract penalties of up to twice the value of the donation.

Violations for corporation would attract an additional administrative penalty of $100,000.

Canada’s move comes shortly after the UK introduced a ban on crypto donations to political parties, part of broader efforts to limit foreign interference and improve transparency in election financing.

REGULATION | A UK Commissioned Report Recommends Halting Political Crypto Donations Due to Foreign Interference Risks

 

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE for crypto updates globally.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_________________________________________

Kalshi, a leading prediction markets platform, has secured regulatory approval to offer margin trading, a move that could help the firm attract hedge funds and other professional investors as prediction markets push further into mainstream finance.

The approval follows the registration of its affiliate, Kinetic Markets LLC, as a futures commission merchant with the National Futures Association, allowing users to open positions without posting the full value of a contract.

Margin trading is expected to improve capital efficiency and make the platform more appealing to institutional traders, a segment that has largely stayed on the sidelines due to the lack of leverage tools.

INSTITUTIONAL | World’s Largest Asset Manager Launches its First Crypto Staking ETF

Kalshi, which operates a federally regulated marketplace for event-based derivatives, has been seeking to expand its product suite and deepen liquidity as competition grows and Wall Street interest in prediction markets rises.

The focus on institutional investors is deliberately strategic. Institutional participants such as hedge funds and trading firms typically require:

robust legal frameworks

clear custody solutions

advanced trading mechanisms like margin

Kalshi aims to attract this institutional liquidty and more sophisticated trading strategies, such as margin trading, with increased institutional participation, by offering these services.

REGULATION | Gambling Rules Apply to Prediction Markets, Warns Major League Baseball of America

Under an ‘integrity protection’ memorandum of understanding, #MLB and the #CFTC will share information and coordinate #oversight to prevent market #manipulation and protect game… pic.twitter.com/MYOLpkrBcn

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) March 20, 2026

The broader impact of institutional focus could be substantial as it could bridge the gap betwen speculative event trading and traditional finance derivatives thus encouraging other platforms to seek similar regulatory clarity. Historical futures markets data shows a correlation between the introduction of regulated margin trading and increased trading volumes.

Prediction markets have historically operated in a regulatory grey area.

Kalshi had already set a regulatory precedent by being a designated contract market for event contracts. However, this latest regulatory approval of this model is a novel development as other crypto-native entities have pursued similar paths but for different asset classes like Bitcoin and Ether futures.

The margin product is expected to launch first for institutional users though a timeline has not been publicly disclosed.

REGULATION | Insider Trading Risks Escalate on Prediction Markets as Enforcement Intensifies

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE for deeper insights into the global crypto regulatory space.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_________________________________________

Bitcoin miners are increasingly pivoting toward artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing selling off their bitcoin holdings to fund the transition as mining economics deteriorate.

According to a recent report, listed mining firms could generate up to 70% of their revenue from AI by 2026, up from roughly 30% today.

The shift is being driven by falling mining profitability. Rising production costs, estimated at around $80,000 per bitcoin, now exceed market prices forcing miners to seek more stable and higher-margin revenue streams.

This is not sustainable. In fact, a sustained low price is expected to trigger larger capitulations that in turn lowers mining difficulty thereby benefiting survivors.

To finance the transition, mining companies are selling significant portions of their bitcoin reserves and taking on debt. Public miners have collectively reduced their holdings by more than 15,000 BTC, with firms like Core Scientific and Riot Platforms offloading large amounts to fund AI infrastructure and data center expansion.

BITCOIN | Bitcoin is Bleeding Mining Power to Artificial Intelligence as Crypto Revenue Shrinks

The move comes as AI and high-performance computing contracts across the sector surpass $70 billion, offering more predictable income compared to the volatile returns of crypto mining. Some miners are now effectively operating as data center providers with bitcoin mining becoming a secondary business line.

However, the transition raises concerns for the bitcoin network. A sustained shift away from mining could impact network security and reduce hashrate which has already declined from late-2025 levels alongside multiple downward difficulty adjustments.

The #hashrate data already reflects this.

The network peaked at approximately 1,160 exahashes per second in early October 2025 and has since declined to roughly 920 EH/s, with three consecutive negative difficulty adjustments, the first such streak since July 2022.

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) March 28, 2026

Still, markets are rewarding the pivot. Mining firms with AI exposure are increasingly viewed as more attractive investments as the industry evolves from pure-play crypto mining toward broader digital infrastructure and compute services.

It is very likely that the current mining sector will look very different from the past decade as the transition accelerates, largely disrupted by AI.

BITCOIN | Bitcoin Experiences One of the Sharpest Mining Difficulty Declines in 2026

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE for deeper insights into the evolving Bitcoin space.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_________________________________________

Morgan Stanley is preparing to launch a spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund priced at just 0.14%, undercutting existing low-cost rivals and potentially triggering a new fee war in the sector, according to a recent regulatory filing.

The proposed fee, equivalent to 14 basis points, would be lower than current market leaders such as

Grayscale’s Bitcoin Mini Trust at 0.15% and

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust at 0.25%,

making it the cheapest spot Bitcoin ETF if approved.

The filing, submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, signals Morgan Stanley’s shift from distributing crypto products to issuing its own, leveraging its vast wealth management network to capture market share.

Morgan Stanley oversees trillions in client asets with one of the largest adviser networks in the wealth management industry. A small allocation from its wealth management arm is thus quite significant and entering the market at the lowest fee positions Morgan Stanley for quick uptake and growing the market share.

BITCOIN | Institutions Now Hold ~12% of the Total Bitcoin Supply – a 5% Increase in Just One Year

Because spot Bitcoin ETFs offer near-identical exposure to the asset, cost remains one of the few differentiators. Analysts say even a small fee advantage can drive capital flows, as investors and advisors can switch between funds with minimal friction.

Cost and access often supersedes structure in determining which funds gain market share.

Lower-cost products have tended to attract inflows before while higher-fee funds have seen assets departure with the GrayScale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) being a classic example. The ETF now holds ~$10 billion in assets compared to ~$29 billion at launch in January 2024.

Bitcoin becoming mainstream:https://t.co/cshTV8jpvG

— Market Cap Trainers (@NSE_Investors) January 11, 2024

If approved, the move could intensify competition among issuers and accelerate a broader trend of declining fees across the rapidly growing Bitcoin ETF market.

INSTITUTIONAL | World’s Largest Asset Manager Launches its First Crypto Staking ETF

 

 

Want to keep up with the latest news and updates on Bitcoin adoptoin globally?

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________

Ripple CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, said stablecoins may represent a breakthrough moment for the cryptocurrency industry, comparing their potential impact on business adoption to that of ChatGPT in artificial intelligence.

 

Speaking to FOX Business, Garlinghouse said executives across major corporations are increasingly asking finance teams how to integrate stablecoins into operations, signaling rising institutional interest.

“You have boards of directors and CEOs of companies, whether it’s Fortune 500 or Fortune 2000, they’re asking their treasurers, they’re asking their CFOs, ‘what are we doing with stablecoins.’

“Giving the treasurer and the CFO that option is the unlock.”

He noted that stablecoins processed over $33 trillion in trading volume last year [2025], dominated by USDT and USDC, and could become a core global payments rail.

Garlinghouse also highlighted that the CLARITY Act regulations currently undertaking debate, would also be an ‘unlock’ for the world.

Garlinghouse believes building bridges between the traditional and decentralized finance and Ripple is seeing clients leaning into this much more especially in 2026.

 

“We’re seeing a shift from the JP Morgans. We’re seeing more people being more exploratory – ‘how could we use stablecoins?’

The other unlock around stablecoins is you can now use them 24/7. They don’t close at 3 o’clock on a Friday afternoon and you can’t settle a real estate transaction on Saturday.

It’s a big shift.”

 

Ripple has also entered the market with its RLUSD stablecoin as it seeks to expand its enterprise payments business.

REGULATION | Dubai Regulator Greenlights Ripple’s $RLUSD Stablecoin Within the Economic Zone Serving Middle East, Africa, and South Asia

 

 

Want to keep updated on stablecoin developments globally?

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_______________________________

The Federal Court of  Australia has fined Binance’s local derivatives arm 10 million Australian dollars ($6.9 million) after the company admitted to widespread client onboarding failures that exposed retail investors to high-risk crypto products without proper protections.

The Federal Court found that Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) identified that more than 85% of Binance Australia’s client base had been misclassified.

Out of the 524 users,

460 retail investors incorrectly classified as meeting the Sophisticated Investor Test

33 were incorrently classfied as meeting the Individual Wealth Test

26 did not provide sufficient evidence that they met and were incorrectly classified as meeting with the Large Business Test

between July 2022 and April 2023.

EXPERT OPINION | Crypto Regulation Focus Should Be on the Economic Function, Not the Delivery Technology – Australian Regulator

As a result, those clients were able to access complex cryptocurrency derivatives without the consumer safeguards required under Australian law, later incurring millions in trading losses and fees.

Binance admitted to multiple compliance failures in a statement of agreed facts, including

inadequate onboarding procedures,

poor staff training, and

weak internal oversight.

The company also allowed users to repeatedly attempt a multiple-choice test until they qualified as “sophisticated investors,” and in some cases relied on self-certification without proper verification.

Regulators said the exchange failed to meet key obligations such as

providing product disclosure statements,

complying with Australia Financial Services license conditions,

Inadequtely training employees,

making target market determinations, and

maintaining a compliant dispute resolution system.

The penalty comes in addition to roughly 13.1 million Australian dollars ($9 million) already paid in compensation to affected users in 2023.

The Binance Australia Derivatives license was later cancelled by the securities regulator in early 2023 after a targeted review of Binance’s operations in the country.

ASIC described the case as a warning to global financial services firms operating in Australia emphasizing that proper client classification and onboarding processes are critical when offering high-risk financial products.

CRYPTO CRIME | Report Alleges Binance Allowed ‘Suspicious’ Accounts to Move Billions in Niger and Other Countries Despite U.S. Plea Deal

 

 

Want to keep updated on global developments around crypto regulation?

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_______________________________

Tether has engaged KPMG to conduct its first full independent financial audit, marking a major step toward greater transparency for the world’s largest stablecoin issuer, according to multiple reports.

The long-awaited audit will cover the company’s balance sheet, including

reserves backing its USDT token

internal controls,

governance and

compliance systems,

moving beyond the periodic attestations Tether has relied on for years.

PwC has also been brought in to help prepare Tether’s internal systems and reporting processes ahead of the review, sources said.

INSTITUTIONAL | The Largest Stablecoin Company Secures a ‘Big Four’ Audit Firm for the First Full Audit

The move represents a shift for Tether which has faced longstanding scrutiny over whether its dollar-pegged tokens are fully backed by reserves. Unlike attestations, which provide snapshot confirmations, a full audit examines financial statements and internal processes under established auditing standards.

Tether, which issues the USDT stablecoin used widely in crypto trading and payments, has delayed a comprehensive audit for nearly a decade despite repeated promises.

The audit is expected to scrutinize assets including

U.S. Treasuries,

cash equivalents and

digital holdings,

as well as liabilities tied to tokens in circulation in what the company has described as a landmark review.

The engagement comes as Tether seeks to expand its presence in the United States and improve institutional trust amid tightening regulatory scrutiny of stablecoins.

KPMG declined to comment while Tether has not publicly confirmed details of the auditor’s mandate.

2026 OUTLOOK | The ‘Big Four’ Accounting Firms Looking to Ramp Up Crypto Services in 2026

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE for crypto regulatory updates globally.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_________________________________________

Pe măsură ce Africa de Sud își propune să aprofundeze incluziunea financiară, nu trebuie să înceapă de la zero. În întreaga Sud Global, țări precum Brazilia (cu PIX) și India (cu UPI) au construit deja modele puternice pentru extinderea accesului la servicii financiare, oferind lecții practice despre cum politica, infrastructura și inovația pot colabora pentru a ajunge la populațiile defavorizate.

Africa de Sud (cu PayShap), în ciuda faptului că dispune de unul dintre cele mai avansate sisteme financiare de pe continent, se confruntă în continuare cu o paradox: o penetrare bancară ridicată pe hârtie, dar o excluziune persistentă în practică. Milioane rămân neasigurate din cauza accesului inegal la credit, conectivitate și instrumente financiare accesibile.

Kenya is moving to tighten oversight of its fast-growing crypto sector with new draft rules proposing steep entry requirements for stablecoin issuers and other virtual asset firms.

Under proposals released by the National Treasury, companies looking to issue stablecoins would be required to:

Hold a minimum paid-up capital of KES 500 million (about $3.85 million), one of the highest thresholds in the framework.

Hold capital equivalent to 100% of current liabilities for 30 days minimum.

Not issue or grant interest related to stablecoins.

For tokenized asset offerings, issuers will need:

Capital requirements of ~$1.5 million in paid-up capital

Liquid capital of ~$310,000

The draft regulations aim to formalise the country’s digital asset market, strengthen consumer protection, and address concerns raised by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which has pushed for stricter oversight of crypto activity in high-usage markets like Kenya.

Beyond capital requirements, stablecoin issuers would need to fully back their tokens with high-quality liquid assets such as cash or bank deposits. These reserves must be segregated from company funds, held with approved custodians, and readily available for redemption at all times.

The rules also introduce disclosure obligations similar to capital markets prospectuses. Issuers would be required to publish detailed white papers outlining their operations, governance, risk factors, and how user funds are managed, with company directors held accountable for the accuracy of this information.

Regulatory oversight will depend on how the assets are used: stablecoins functioning as payment instruments would fall under the Central Bank of Kenya, while tokenised real-world assets classified as investments would be supervised by the Capital Markets Authority.

REGULATION | USDC Stablecoin Issuer, Circle, Already in Talks with Kenyan Government to Launch its Payments Network

While the framework could boost trust and institutional participation, it may also raise barriers to entry. Smaller startups could struggle to meet capital, compliance, and liquidity requirements, potentially leaving the market dominated by banks and well-capitalised global players.

Industry stakeholders have until April 2026 to submit feedback, with some already advocating for a tiered approach that would ease requirements for smaller projects while maintaining stricter standards for large-scale issuers.

REGULATION | ~50 Virtual Asset Firms Looking to Set up Regional HQs in Kenya, Says Nairobi International Finance Center (NIFC)

 

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE for crypto regulatory updates from across Africa.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_________________________________________

The United Kingdom (UK) has imposed sweeping sanctions on Xinbi, a major crypto-linked black market, as part of a broader crackdown on global scam networks tied to Southeast Asia.

Announced by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the measures target Xinbi – described as a Chinese-language online marketplace facilitating fraud – as well as individuals and entities connected to large-scale scam operations. Authorities say the platform has enabled the sale of stolen personal data, money laundering services, and communications tools used by criminal networks.

Blockchain analytics estimates suggest Xinbi processed nearly $20 billion in transactions between 2021 and 2025, much of it linked to illicit activity.

Under the sanctions, any UK-based assets tied to Xinbi will be frozen and the platform is cut off from the country’s financial system. UK businesses, including banks and crypto firms, are prohibited from providing services, funding, or infrastructure to the network.

 

The government press release reads:

The UK’s sanctions will isolate the platform from the legitimate crypto ecosystem, significantly disrupting its operations by affecting its ability to send and receive cryptocurrency transactions. 

BYEX, another cryptocurrency platform that had been used to launder the proceeds of scams, shut down following the UK’s sanctions last year. 

The crackdown also extends to operators of scam compounds in Cambodia, including those linked to “#8 Park,” a large facility allegedly used to run industrial-scale fraud schemes. These operations have been associated with human trafficking with victims forced to conduct online scams such as fake investment pitches and romance fraud.

Following the UK actions, Cambodia’s government has launched its largest ever crackdown on the scam economy, with local authorities estimating that 2,500 sites have been raided, leading to the closure of hundreds of scam centres and the release of tens of thousands of foreign nationals.

Officials say the goal is to isolate key infrastructure supporting global crypto-enabled scams disrupting both the financial flows and tools that sustain them. Xinbi’s role as a hub for illicit services – including data trading and crypto laundering – has made it a central target in efforts to dismantle what authorities describe as a rapidly growing transnational fraud economy.

The move marks one of the UK’s most significant actions against crypto-enabled crime to date and builds on earlier coordinated efforts with international partners to shut down scam networks and seize illicit assets.

REGULATION | U.S. Court Dismisses Lawsuit Seeking Regulatory Protections for Non-Custodial Software Solutions

 

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE on crypto regulatory updates globally.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________