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In brief The CFTC introduced an Innovation Task Force designed to help create a clear regulatory framework for derivatives markets in crypto, AI, and prediction markets. The task force is the latest endeavor from the regulator that aims to support innovation while making America the home for the “future of finance.” The task force will coordinate with other federal agencies like the SEC and its own Crypto Task Force. The United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) wants to create clear rules within U.S. derivatives markets for those building with new technologies, and has unveiled a new task force to…

Bitcoin is starting to trade like the market’s real-time geopolitical switchAfter Bitcoin moved back above $70,000, following President Trump’s five-day delay of planned strikes on Iranian infrastructure, the useful question is whether Bitcoin is now functioning as one of the fastest live markets for repricing geopolitical risk.The evidence increasingly supports this interpretation. Bitcoin is no longer reacting only to macro in the conventional sense. It is increasingly reacting to single geopolitical developments that reprice the macro path itself.Threat escalation produced a sharp selloff. De-escalation produced an immediate rally. The pattern carries more weight than any individual move.It suggests Bitcoin is starting to…

In brief Epic Games said it will lay off more than 1,000 employees. CEO Tim Sweeney said the cuts “aren’t related to AI.” The company cited declining Fortnite engagement and broader industry slowdown as factors behind the cuts. Epic Games announced on Tuesday that it will lay off more than 1,000 employees, and CEO Tim Sweeney addressed the technological elephant in the room: artificial intelligence.“Since it’s a thing now, I should note that the layoffs aren’t related to AI,” Sweeney wrote in a memo to staff that was also posted publicly. “To the extent it improves productivity, we want to…

In brief A U.S. court has sentenced Russian citizen Aleksei Volkov to 81 months in prison for his role in ransomware attacks causing over $9 million in actual losses. Volkov operated as an “initial access broker,” finding vulnerabilities and selling unauthorized access to ransomware groups who then encrypted victims’ data. The 26-year-old must pay $9.2 million in restitution to victims and forfeit equipment used in the crimes. A court in the Southern District of Indiana sentenced Russian citizen Aleksei Volkov, 26, to 81 months in prison Monday for assisting major cybercrime groups including the Yanluowang ransomware group in attacks that…

In brief Bernstein analysts wrote in a note on Tuesday that Strategy appears to have weathered the worst of crypto’s latest plunge from all-time highs. The Bitcoin-buying firm is set to notch its second-largest quarterly Bitcoin addition, partly due to its flagship preferred share, the analysts wrote. The analysts reaffirmed expectations that Bitcoin hits $150,000 this year, alongside a $440 price target for Strategy’s shares. Strategy showed its doubters that the Bitcoin-buying firm can weather the depths of crypto’s bear market and still extend its lead as the asset’s largest corporate holder, analysts at investment bank Bernstein wrote in a…

In brief BMO is the first bank to offer CME Group’s tokenized cash solution on Google Cloud Universal Ledger. The platform enables 24/7 margin, collateral, and settlement movements for institutional clients. BMO also plans tokenized deposits for B2B payments and treasury use cases. Bank of Montreal, which goes by BMO, is joining forces with derivatives marketplace CME Group and Google Cloud to launch a tokenized cash and deposit platform. This will make BMO the first bank to offer CME Group’s tokenized cash solution on Google Cloud Universal Ledger (GCUL), the three companies said Tuesday in a joint press release.The collaboration…

BlackRock’s 2026 chairman’s letter positions the digital wallet as asset management’s next major distribution frontier.In the letter, Larry Fink writes that “today, there’s very little access to traditional investment products in digital wallets” and that BlackRock plans to “lead the charge” in changing that.Numbers back the statement: BlackRock says it already has nearly $150 billion in AUM linked to digital assets, including $65 billion in stablecoin reserves and nearly $80 billion in digital asset ETPs.Fink describes wallets as an underbuilt distribution channel for mainstream investing, one where BlackRock sees a structural gap and plans to move.His vision is that a…

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure On Monday, TRON announced a significant expansion of its AI Fund, increasing its allocation from $100 million to $1 billion, signaling a major strategic shift toward the emerging agentic economy. This move reflects a growing conviction that the convergence of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology will require a new generation of financial infrastructure built specifically for autonomous systems. The expanded fund will focus on investments and acquisitions of early-stage companies developing core components of this ecosystem. TRON is prioritizing areas considered foundational to machine-driven economic activity, including…

In brief The New York Stock Exchange said that it’s working with Securitize on developing systems that will allow tokenized securities to trade round-the-clock. The companies are collaborating on standards that will shape tokenized securities on a platform affiliated with the largest stock exchange by market capitalization. Securitize CEO Carlos Domingo has advocated for “native” securities, which embody the rights of traditional counterparts while existing solely on-chain. The New York Stock Exchange said Tuesday that it’s collaborating with Securitize, the BlackRock-backed tokenization specialist, on a program aimed at accelerating Wall Street’s shift toward trading infrastructure underpinned by digital assets.As part…

Bitcoin continued its upward momentum above $71,000 on Tuesday as investors continued to weigh the market impact of President Donald Trump’s decision to pause planned US attacks on Iranian power and energy infrastructure for five days.Data from CryptoSlate showed that the top cryptocurrency was trading at around $71,185 as of press time, rising 4% during the session.The price broke through a level that traders have been watching as a test of whether institutional demand can continue to absorb pressure from war risk, rising energy prices, and a Federal Reserve that has signaled a slower path toward easier monetary policy.The latest…

In brief Tether says it will undergo its first full audit by a Big Four firm, but hasn’t disclosed which one. The audit would verify reserves backing USDT, which the company claims total around $192 billion. Completing the audit could help Tether comply with U.S. rules under the GENIUS Act. Tether, the world’s top stablecoin issuer, announced Tuesday it will soon make good on a yearslong promise to audit its sprawling stablecoin reserves—but won’t yet disclose which firm will actually do the job.Tether claims to hold some $192 billion in assets in reserve around the world to back the value…