Reddit plans to tighten verification processes after researchers used AI to manipulate users' opinions without consent.
Securitize, a leading digital securities platform, announced a strategic equity investment from Jump Crypto on May 8 to enhance institutional access to tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) and improve collateral management solutions. Strategic Tie-Up Aims to Bridge Traditional Finance With Onchain Assets The Jump Crypto and Securitize partnership aims to leverage blockchain technology to address liquidity,
Hedera (HBAR) has surged 6% in the past 24 hours as trading volume spiked by 19%, signaling renewed investor interest despite prevailing bearish trends. The price action indicates a potential
UAE’s ADGM approves Hidden Road to open crypto brokerage office in Abu Dhabi Ripple plans $1.25B Hidden Road acquisition to boost global institutional expansion UAE crypto framework gains traction as Hidden Road, Circle secure regulatory approvals Hidden Road, the multi-asset prime broker targeted for acquisition by Ripple, received in-principle approval from Abu Dhabi Global Market’s (ADGM) Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA). This initial nod allows Hidden Road to establish a new office in the UAE capital. Pending final regulatory sign-off, the firm will prepare to offer clearing and prime brokerage services to institutional clients in the region, a company statement shared with CoinDesk confirmed . Leadership and Governance Plans for Hidden Road Abu Dhabi Sources familiar with the plans confirm partner James Stickland will spearhead the new Abu Dhabi operation. Stickland, who joined Hidden Road over a year ago, previously served as CEO of Elwood Technologies and Elwood Asset Management. One source also indicated a member of an Abu Dhabi royal family may join the local board once final regulatory clearance comes through. Related: D… The post UAE Approves Ripple-Backed Hidden Road to Open Abu Dhabi Crypto Office appeared first on Coin Edition .
Meta seems to have caught the stablecoin bug and is reportedly testing crypto waters again. According to sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, claimed the company has been engaging crypto firms with plans to introduce stablecoins as a means to manage payouts. It has even allegedly hired a vice president of product with crypto experience to help steer the negotiations. Meta’s renewed interest in stablecoins due to growing popularity and adoption Meta’s recent interest in stablecoins comes as the tokens have become a globally relevant topic. From the recent $1.1 billion acquisition of the stablecoin startup Bridge by Stripe, to the financial firm Fidelity revealing it is developing its own stablecoin, the traditional world of finance has woken up to the use case of stablecoins, especially as a form of cross-border payments . The news about Meta’s interest in stablecoins comes months after the company hired Ginger Baker, who specializes in fintech and payments, as VP of product. Baker is well known in the fintech and crypto space, having previously worked as an executive at the fintech company Plaid and still serving on the board of the Stellar Development Foundation . One source revealed that she is helping Meta to navigate its stablecoin explorations thanks to her experience . As far as those explorations go, three sources have confirmed that Meta contacted crypto infrastructure companies earlier this year. They claim the talks are reportedly still at the preliminary stage and they focus on the ability of stablecoins to reach individuals across different regions without the high fees associated with other forms of payments, such as wire transfers . For now, the tech firm is described as being in “learn mode,” but if it decides to make payments via stablecoins, some think it would use a variety of stablecoins rather than choosing one provider, such as Circle’s USDC. It is not Meta’s first time dabbling in stablecoins Meta’s renewed interest in stablecoins has drawn a lot of attention because of its history. In 2019, Meta revealed a blockchain initiative that became known as Libra, a proposed consortium of companies that included Uber and PayPal that would have launched a stablecoin backed by a variety of fiat currencies . Learn about the design changes to the Libra payment system that will help developers build innovative, safe and compliant financial apps that can serve everyone. https://t.co/LdZKIWWOCV pic.twitter.com/AiHpPf8Hxi — Diem Developers (@DiemDevelopers) April 16, 2020 Meta renamed the project Diem in 2020 but had to abandon it in early 2022 because lawmakers and regulators in both the United States and Europe were worried about how such an offering by a company of Facebook’s scale would impact the financial system and the control central banks assert over money. The Diem group did not just roll over and let it di e. Indeed, they went above and beyond, assembling a small army of lobbyists, rebranding the project, downplaying Facebook’s involvement, and paring down their ambitions for a single digital currency. However, despite their efforts, they failed to change any mind s. That became obvious after David Marcus, Meta’s point person on the project, departed the project, followed by other key figures involved . Diem Association CEO Stuart Levey later revealed in a statement that even though they actively sought feedback from governments and regulators around the world, and received positive substantive feedback on the design of the network, it had become clear from dialogues with federal regulators that the project could not move ahea d. As a result, Meta sold Diem’s assets to the crypto-friendly bank Silvergate for around $182-$200 million in 2022, effectively drawing the curtains on the project. On Tuesday, Facebook’s founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, appeared at a Stripe conference, where he acknowledged Diem’s failure in an on-stage discussion with Stripe cofounder John Collison. “That thing’s dead,” Zuckerberg reportedly said and when he was asked about Meta’s tendency to be early to tech trends, Zuckerberg said it’s “certainly more fun when you’re early than when you’re late.” Then he added, “There’s plenty of things that [we’re] late to and have to claw our way back into the game, which I think we’re pretty good at that, too.” Cryptopolitan Academy: Tired of market swings? Learn how DeFi can help you build steady passive income. Register Now
The post SEC Files Settlement Agreement Letter: Here is What Next for XRP Price and Ripple Labs appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News The conclusion of the SEC vs Ripple case is a major milestone for the entire altcoin market amid the anticipated 2025 altseason. Ripple Labs has taken significant steps to grow the XRPL network amid crypto regulatory clarity in the United States. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a settlement agreement letter with U.S. District Court Judge Analisa Torres regarding the longstanding litigation against Ripple Labs. As a result, the SEC vs. Ripple lawsuit is officially closed after more than four years of relentless legal battles. Following the settlement agreement letter, Judge Torres needs to indicate whether the court would dissolve the injunction and release the $50 million in the escrow account back to Ripple Labs. If Judge Torres grants the settlement request , Ripple and the SEC will then turn their attention to the Second Circuit. “After the injunction is dissolved and the funds distributed, the SEC and Ripple will ask the Court of Appeals to dismiss the SEC’s appeal and Ripple’s cross-appeal. Then it will be over,” James K Filan, a top defense lawyer, noted . XRP Price Thrives on Ripple’s Success The closure of the SEC vs Ripple case will have a long-lasting impact on the company’s business model. As an American-based web3 company, Ripple is well-positioned to attract strategic partnerships from financial institutions in the near future. Meanwhile, on-chain data shows XRP whale investors, with an account balance of between 10 million and 100 million, added more than 880 million coins in the past month to currently hold about 7.75 billion units. Consequently, XRP price has gained bullish sentiment akin to Bitcoin and the wider altcoin market. In the past 24 hours, XRP price gained over 7.8 percent to trade at about $2.3 on Thursday, May 8 during the late North American trading session. If $XRP breaks through the $2.26 resistance, it could trigger a bullish breakout toward $2.60! pic.twitter.com/2bdG315vgi — Ali (@ali_charts) May 8, 2025 According to crypto analyst Ali Martinez, XRP price is well positioned to rally towards the next target of about $2.60 after breaching the resistance around $2.26.
Whale accumulation and derivatives momentum fuel optimism as Bitcoin tests the $100K ceiling. Realized Cap hits $890B as whale accumulation spikes 949% in one week. Bitcoin nears $100K but weak
Markets were flashing green on Thursday as trade tensions eased following confirmation of a trade agreement between Washington and London. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 254 points, or 0.62%, while the S&P 500 lagged slightly with a 0.58% gain. The Nasdaq outperformed, climbing 1.07%. Shares of Alphabet also rose after the company released a report stating its search traffic remains strong, despite earlier claims from an Apple executive that Safari search usage is declining due to rising AI adoption. Bitcoin ( BTC ) traded above the $100,000 mark for the first time since early February. Trade deal ‘in the coming weeks’ Investors were in a buying mood as U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that a trade deal with the United Kingdom may be finalized “in the coming weeks.” The agreement—the first of its kind since the Trump administration imposed widespread tariffs on trading partners—has fueled optimism that the era of steep tariffs might be temporary. Boeing stock gained nearly 4%, boosted by news that the deal includes a $10 billion order for Boeing aircraft from London. Trump also hinted at what he described as the “biggest tax cuts in history,” predicting that the U.S. economy would “soar like a rocket ship.” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are set to meet with their Chinese counterparts in Switzerland over the weekend to discuss trade and economic issues.
The SEC’s recent settlement with Ripple Labs marks a significant milestone in the ongoing legal battles within the cryptocurrency sector, particularly regarding the status of XRP. This $50 million settlement
Key Takeaways: SOL Strategies has signed an MOU with Superstate to explore tokenizing its public shares on the Solana blockchain through the Opening Bell platform. BlackRock’s expansion of its $1.7 billion BUIDL fund to Solana adds institutional credibility to the blockchain’s use for regulated financial products. Robinhood is reportedly preparing to launch tokenized stock trading in the EU, potentially using Solana. SOL Strategies is exploring a move to bring its public equity on-chain through a potential partnership with blockchain infrastructure firm Superstate. According to an announcement today, the companies signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) on April 25, 2025, to examine the feasibility of issuing tokenized shares of SOL Strategies on the Solana blockchain using Superstate’s new “Opening Bell” platform. The move would mark one of the first attempts by a publicly traded company to put regulated equity on a high-performance blockchain. BIG NEWS SOL Strategies is working to become the FIRST public company to bring registered shares on Solana through @superstatefunds ' Opening Bell platform. We believe tokenized equity represents the natural evolution of capital markets, and we're excited to pioneer this… — SOL Strategies (CSE: HODL | OTCQB: CYFRF) (@solstrategies_) May 8, 2025 For SOL Strategies, an active validator and ecosystem builder within Solana, the move reflects its mission to expand institutional trust and participation in decentralized networks. However, the company emphasizes that the project remains exploratory, with no immediate plans to issue tokens or convert existing shares, and regulatory engagement is still pending. Building Regulated Equity Infrastructure on Solana Superstate’s “Opening Bell” platform, launched alongside this announcement, seeks to modernize capital markets by allowing SEC-registered equities to be issued and traded on blockchain networks. As a junior transfer agent, Superstate would handle the backend infrastructure to allow SOL Strategies’ common shares to be represented as tokens on the Solana network. According to the announcement, key benefits of such an infrastructure include real-time settlement, interoperability with DeFi protocols, and expanded access to investors globally. According to CEO Leah Wald, SOL Strategies sees Solana’s speed and scalability as important advantages for tokenized financial products. “Publicly listed tokenized equity represents a natural evolution in capital markets,” she said. Still, the company has made no financial commitment, set no timeline, and has not approached regulators like the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) to begin formal proceedings. The plan remains entirely experimental to assess viability without impacting current shareholders or operations. This cautious, compliance-first strategy aligns with growing regulatory interest in tokenized assets and blockchain’s use in traditional finance. While still early-stage, if the effort succeeds, SOL Strategies could set a precedent for how traditional equities work with public blockchains like Solana. SOL Strategies’ exploration comes as major fintech platform Robinhood is reportedly preparing to offer tokenized stock trading to its European Union users. Robinhood is set to launch a blockchain-based platform that will provide European retail investors with access to US stocks, expanding trading opportunities. #Robinhood #Securities https://t.co/SgNj3E1Vr4 — Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) May 8, 2025 Although not officially confirmed, reports suggest the platform may deploy this product using either Arbitrum or Solana as the underlying blockchain infrastructure. The tokenized stocks will allow European investors to trade fractionalized, blockchain-based versions of public equities, opening new pathways for real-time trading, broader access, and potentially lower settlement risks. If Solana is chosen, it would strongly reinforce the network’s viability as a platform for regulated financial instruments, especially given its reputation for low fees and high throughput. BlackRock’s BUIDL Fund Expansion Instills Institutional Confidence in Solana This isn’t the first institutional move to use Solana for tokenized finance. BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, recently expanded its $1.7 billion BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL) to the Solana blockchain, adding another layer of credibility to Solana’s viability for regulated assets. @BlackRock expands its $1.7B tokenized money market fund, BUIDL, to Solana, leveraging the blockchain’s speed and low fees for enhanced on-chain access to U.S. dollar yields. #Crypto #Tokenization https://t.co/nUUkiEFJGR — Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) March 25, 2025 Launched in March 2024, BUIDL offers qualified investors on-chain access to U.S. Treasury-backed yields with daily dividends and near-instant peer-to-peer transfers. Initially issued on Ethereum, BUIDL has since expanded to seven different blockchains, including Aptos, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Optimism, Polygon, and now Solana, with Wormhole providing the cross-chain bridge. Solana’s high throughput and low transaction costs were cited as the reasons for this expansion. The post SOL Strategies Partners with Superstate to Pilot Solana Equity Tokenization on Surging Demand appeared first on Cryptonews .