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Superform Expands to the U.S. With Mobile App Launch for a User-Owned Neobank

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Superform Expands to the U.S. With Mobile App Launch for a User-Owned Neobank


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February 03, 2026

Superform Expands to the U.S. With Mobile App Launch for a User-Owned Neobank

New York, New York, United States, February 3rd, 2026, Chainwire

Superform brings a familiar mobile experience to onchain finance, helping users grow their money while keeping full control of their assets.

Today, Superform, the first user-owned neobank, announced its mobile app launch,marking a key milestone in its efforts to build a user-owned neobank. The app extends the reach of Superform’s SuperVaults: non-custodial onchain vaults that automatically deploy user capital across high-performing DeFi strategies such as stablecoin lending and liquidity provisioning. The launch makes DeFi more accessible by delivering a user experience that feels like seamless internet banking while providing access to powerful DeFi returns. The app allows users to earn more yield on their USD, BTC, and ETH, marking the company’s official expansion into the U.S. market.

The app is designed for users who want a simpler way to grow their money without the stress of managing wallets, understanding protocols or navigating multiple chains. Users can create an account, onramp with fiat, and start earning in minutes. Beyond earning, users can swap, send, and manage their money across chains, all while maintaining full custody and control of their assets. 

Deposits are routed through SuperVaults, Superform’s automated savings products that deploys capital across high-performing DeFi strategies such as stablecoin lending and liquidity provisioning. The experience is built to feel familiar to anyone who has used a fintech app while delivering yields that consistently outperform traditional benchmarks. SuperVaults have generated average returns of 8.4% APY, compared to just 4.3% for T-Bills.

“You should not need to be technical to earn more onchain,” said Vikram Arun, Co-Founder and CEO of Superform. “The mobile app is the next step in our mission to make crypto-native strategies feel like standard financial products. It offers a true set and forget experience where users can deposit once and earn automatically without needing to manage or monitor anything.”

While DeFi has matured significantly, consumers still lack a complete financial alternative to traditional banks. Traditional savings options provide near-zero returns after inflation, while crypto-native yield remains fragmented across multiple tools and protocols. Users are forced to choose between the simplicity of custodial platforms that control their assets, or the complexity of self-custody solutions that require technical expertise.

Superform addresses this by building infrastructure that consolidates and simplifies. SuperVaults offer users exposure to curated opportunities through a single, scalable product, eliminating the need to stitch together tools or analyze protocols. With features like boosted APYs, Superform Points, and tiered rewards, the platform combines the performance of DeFi with the usability of traditional financial apps. The mobile app builds on traction from Superform’s desktop platform, which currently manages over $180 million in user deposits across 1000+ vaults, with strategies spanning more than 70 protocols. 

This launch marks the first in a series of major product rollouts and upgrades coming to the Superform ecosystem through the end of the year. For updates, users can visit superform.xyz or follow @superformxyz on X.

About Superform

Superform is the first user owned neo-bank to effortlessly grow your crypto portfolio. Superform helps users maximize returns on their crypto by providing access to over 800 earning opportunities with $10B in TVL across 50 protocols. Superform’s SuperVaults product offers single-transaction deposits into multi-protocol, yield bearing vaults. These “set and forget” opportunities are focused on earning users stablecoin yields. SuperVaults have been audited by yAudit and multiple independent security researchers from Spearbit.

Since launching in Q2 2024, Superform has delivered secure and optimized yield to over 180,000 depositors. Currently, users are earning an average APY of over 8.4%. Backed by $11M in funding from leading investors including VanEck Ventures, Polychain Capital, Circle Ventures, BlockTower Capital, Maven11 Capital, CMT Digital, and Arthur Hayes, Superform Labs is simplifying the path to onchain wealth.

Contact

PR ManagerAarya Shah[email protected]

Disclaimer

In line with the Trust Project guidelines, please note that the information provided on this page is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of advice. It is important to only invest what you can afford to lose and to seek independent financial advice if you have any doubts. For further information, we suggest referring to the terms and conditions as well as the help and support pages provided by the issuer or advertiser. MetaversePost is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice.

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Tether Unveils Open-Source Mining OS and SDK at Plan ₿ Forum 2026

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Tether Unveils Open-Source Mining OS and SDK at Plan ₿ Forum 2026


Key Highlights

Tether open-sources its Mining OS at the Plan ₿ Forum, pushing Bitcoin mining toward open and decentralized infrastructure.MOS and the upcoming Mining SDK unify mining hardware, energy, and the data while enabling faster custom tool development.Open-source mining software shifts competition from access to efficiency, strengthening Bitcoin’s global mining ecosystem.

Tether, the issuer of the USDT stablecoin, has open-sourced its Bitcoin Mining Operating System (MOS), in a push toward more decentralized Bitcoin mining. The company announced the move on February 2, 2026, making the software publicly available to the mining community.  

This update was announced at the 2026 Plan ₿ Forum in San Salvador, highlighting Tether’s expanding focus on Bitcoin infrastructure development.

The announcement also marks a strategic pivot for the $120 billion plus company, aiming to break the “black box” of proprietary software that has long dominated industrial-scale mining operations.

A unified “nervous system” for miners

Current mining operations often resemble a patchwork of disconnected software: one for hashrate monitoring, another for electrical transformers, and a third for cooling systems. MOS seeks to replace this with a single operational layer.

It’s a special computer operating system for Bitcoin mining, designed specifically to run and manage mining hardware and operations. MOS provides end-to-end visibility across mining sites—covering:

Mining hardware performanceEnergy consumption and efficiencyDevice health and failuresInfrastructure and site-level operations

This flexibility removes the need for centralized third-party software and reduces dependence on proprietary mining management platforms.

“Whether it’s a small operator running a handful of machines or a full-scale industrial site, the same operating system can scale without reliance on centralized, third-party software,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether.

Introducing the Mining SDK

Alongside MOS, Tether unveiled the Mining SDK, the foundational framework behind the operating system. SDK stands for Software Development Kit. It is a modular toolkit for developers that makes it easier to build new mining software or tools by using ready-made building blocks instead of starting from scratch.

While MOS is ready for immediate deployment, the SDK is being released as a collaborative project to be finalized with the open-source community in the coming months.

The Mining SDK provides developers with:

Pre-built modular components (“workers”)Simple APIs for device and infrastructure integrationA UI development kit to quickly build dashboards and internal tools

This allows developers and mining companies to build custom mining software without core infrastructure, dramatically lowering development time and cost.

Shifting the competitive landscape

The move reflects a broader shift in Bitcoin mining, where competition is increasingly being defined by operational efficiency rather than access to proprietary technology. 

By open-sourcing its mining software stack, Tether aims to lower entry barriers for new miners, enable customization without vendor lock-in, reduce centralization in mining infrastructure software, and strengthen the long-term resilience of the Bitcoin network.

Ardoino shared that the goal is to make Bitcoin mining more open, accessible, and competitive; a goal that “ultimately strengthens the resilience of the Bitcoin network.”

Also Read: Tether Posts $10B Profit as U.S. Treasury Holdings Hit Record $141B

Disclaimer: The information researched and reported by The Crypto Times is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional financial advice. Investing in crypto assets involves significant risk due to market volatility. Always Do Your Own Research (DYOR) and consult with a qualified Financial Advisor before making any investment decisions.



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Immutable zkEVM and X Merge: Unified Chain to Power Web3 Gaming in 2026 | NFT News Today

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Immutable zkEVM and X Merge: Unified Chain to Power Web3 Gaming in 2026 | NFT News Today


Immutable is finishing a major change to its ecosystem by merging Immutable X and Immutable zkEVM into one unified chain. This comes at a key time for Web3 gaming, as the industry is now focused on consolidation and building sustainable infrastructure instead of chasing hype.

Instead of focusing on quick growth, the industry is settling down. Immutable’s move matches this trend and puts the platform in a good spot as the market picks up again.

Immutable’s Position in Web3 Gaming Infrastructure

Immutable has spent years creating tools for large-scale games. Games like Gods Unchained, Guild of Guardians, and Illuvium depend on fast transactions, stable costs, and secure NFT ownership.

Those requirements shaped Immutable’s early design decisions. These needs also explain Immutable’s early choices, leading the company to run two Layer-2 solutions simultaneously. This approach worked initially, but as the market matured, the downsides became more apparent. Immutable X, an Ethereum Layer-2 using StarkWare’s ZK-rollups, addressed a real problem: gas fees made in-game NFTs impractical. Zero-fee minting and trading allowed games to issue millions of assets without pricing out players.

However, Immutable X had limitations. It didn’t support general-purpose smart contracts, so developers had to work within predefined flows. Immutable zkEVM, which reached mainnet in early 2024, addressed that gap. Built with Polygon’s Chain Development Kit, it offers full EVM compatibility. Studios can now deploy Solidity contracts, integrate DeFi primitives, and use ERC-1155 standards for high-volume assets.

Operating two chains fragmented liquidity, increased complexity, and created user confusion. The merge resolves these issues effectively.

The consolidation plan was announced on April 8, 2025. After months of staged migrations, the final phase begins in February 2026.

Key steps include:

Bridge Contract Upgrade

Scheduled to begin as early as February 11, 2026, Immutable will upgrade its bridge contracts. A mandatory two-week delay follows for security validation.

Automatic Asset Migration

Asset migration from Immutable X is expected around February 25, 2026, following the two-week security delay. Wallet addresses remain unchanged, and most users won’t need to take action.

Immutable X Deprecation

Also scheduled to begin as early as February 11, Immutable X write operations will stop. Minting and trading APIs will become read-only, and Immutable Link will be phased out.

Users who prefer to exit can withdraw to Ethereum Layer-1 before the cutoff. Passport users transition seamlessly. MetaMask and other EVM wallets display balances directly. Magic Wallet users may need to export keys.

What Developers Need to Change

Developers must migrate to the unified @imtbl/sdk and replace Immutable X RPC calls with zkEVM equivalents. Interactions now follow standard EVM patterns.

Immutable offers guides, sample code, and help for upgrading assets. Many studios are changing ERC-721 collections to ERC-1155 to boost liquidity and improve marketplace results.

Doing this work now makes future maintenance easier and allows for more advanced game features.

Web3 Gaming in 2026: Post-Hype, Not Post-Progress

Web3 gaming is not failing. It is just slowing down after a very active period in 2024 and early 2025.

Daily Unique Active Wallets (dUAW) reached almost 7 million in early 2025, but dropped as funding slowed, play-to-earn lost popularity, and weaker projects closed. By Q3 2025, gaming dUAW averaged about 4.7 million.

Gaming dUAW trend (DappRadar):

Complete Q4 2025 and early 2026 data isn’t public yet. Even so, gaming still represents roughly 25% of total dApp activity. Capital has rotated toward AI and memecoins, and token performance remains uneven. Those pressures explain the quieter market.

Why Immutable Still Shows Strength

Despite the downturn, Immutable’s metrics remain steady rather than volatile.

Over 227 million total transactions processed

Around 169,000 daily transactions on average

Approximately $148K in 24-hour DEX volume

Consistent NFT trading activity

zkEVM DeFi TVL near $11.4 million, reflecting a gaming-first focus

Other gaming-focused chains show resilience as well. Ronin continues to lead in engagement, validating the idea that specialized infrastructure outperforms general-purpose chains for games.

Immutable stands out through breadth. More than 680 games are building or live on the platform. Recent and upcoming launches include emoji™ Marble Dash with Epic-based quests, Zombie World free-to-play quests, and Ubisoft’s Might & Magic: Fates arriving February 4. Live titles such as Villains, Miomi, and Guild of Guardians continue to onboard players.

Guild of Guardians has already shown that big audiences are possible with blockchain when the process is smooth for users.

Why the Merge Matters Now

The timing of the merge aligns with the market’s needs. During expansion phases, fragmented tooling slows teams down. During consolidation phases, it becomes a liability.

By unifying liquidity, assets, and developer workflows, Immutable reduces overhead at a moment when studios are more selective. The platform becomes easier to build on, cheaper to maintain, and simpler to explain to players.

Immutable’s Role in the Next Growth Cycle

The Immutable merge won’t cause an immediate comeback, but it sets the stage for future growth.

Having one EVM-compatible chain with strong NFT support gives studios the confidence to invest again. Players will have fewer wallets and bridges to manage, and can keep ownership across games. Marketplaces will have more liquidity instead of being split up.

As Web3 gaming shifts from trying new things to actually building, solid infrastructure is more important than hype. Immutable’s unified chain shows this change and puts the platform in a good spot for the next growth phase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about this topic:

1. What is the Immutable chain merge happening in 2026?

Immutable is merging its two Layer-2 networks—Immutable X and Immutable zkEVM—into a single, unified Immutable chain. This move simplifies the developer experience, unifies liquidity, and reduces user confusion while retaining Ethereum compatibility and scalability.

2. Why did Immutable originally operate two separate Layer-2 chains?

Immutable X (launched in 2021) used StarkWare’s ZK-rollups to offer gas-free NFT minting, but lacked general smart contract support. Immutable zkEVM (launched in 2024) provided full EVM compatibility using Polygon’s CDK. Running both solved different problems—but eventually introduced friction, fragmentation, and developer inefficiencies.

3. Do users or developers need to do anything during the merge?

Most users won’t need to act. Wallets and asset ownership remain intact. However, developers must migrate to the @imtbl/sdk, replace old Immutable X RPC calls, and align with standard EVM workflows. Asset upgrades (like ERC-721 to ERC-1155) are also recommended for liquidity and performance.

4. How does this affect Web3 gaming in 2026?

The merge comes at a time of market consolidation and infrastructure focus. By simplifying tooling and improving performance, Immutable positions itself as a stable, scalable foundation for studios building long-term games—not just chasing hype.

5. Which games are launching or live on Immutable’s new chain?

Over 680 games are building or live on the platform. Notable titles include Guild of Guardians, Miomi, Villains, and upcoming launches like Ubisoft’s Might & Magic: Fates. These games benefit from better interoperability, reduced wallet friction, and improved asset liquidity.



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AI Diaries: This week in the world of artificial intelligence (February 3, 2026) | Metaverse Planet

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AI Diaries: This week in the world of artificial intelligence (February 3, 2026) | Metaverse Planet


If you felt like the ground shifted beneath your feet this week, you aren’t crazy. I have been covering technology for years, and I can honestly say this was one of the most intense, dense, and frankly exhausting weeks in the history of artificial intelligence.

We aren’t just talking about a new chatbot update or a slightly faster image generator. This week, we saw the definition of “video games” change forever, we watched humanoid robots gain full-body intuition, and we saw the financial markets panic in response.

I’ve sifted through the noise, read the technical papers, and analyzed the market movements to bring you what actually matters. Grab your coffee; we have a lot to cover.

The “World Model” Revolution: Google Genie 3

Let’s start with the elephant in the room. Google didn’t just release a tool; they dropped a bomb on the entertainment industry.

Project Genie 3 is finally here (for those willing to pay the steep $250/month for the Google AI Ultra subscription). But calling this a “video generator” is an insult to the engineering. Google defines Genie 3 as a “World Model.”

Here is why that distinction matters to me (and why it should matter to you):

It’s Not a Movie: Traditional AI video generates a clip you watch. Genie 3 generates a simulation you play.Real-Time Interaction: You can explore these environments, change them, and interact with them. The AI predicts the “future” of the environment based on your inputs instantly.

The Market Panic

I always say, “follow the money to see the truth.” Wall Street took one look at Genie 3 and realized that the traditional pipeline of making video games—hiring hundreds of artists to model trees and buildings—might be dead.

The fallout was brutal:

Unity Technologies: The engine behind half the world’s games tanked 18.80% in a single day.Roblox: Down over 13%.Take-Two (GTA): Dropped nearly 10%.

Investors are betting that in the future, we won’t “render” games; we will “dream” them into existence with AI.

Physical Intelligence: Figure’s Helix 02

While Google was handling the virtual world, Figure was busy solving the physical one. They introduced Helix 02, and it represents a massive leap in humanoid robotics.

For decades, robots were coded with strict rules: “If X happens, move arm to Y.” Helix 02 changes the game by using a single unified neural network for full-body autonomy.

What does this mean? The robot isn’t running separate scripts for walking and grabbing. It is processing visual data from its head and palm cameras, combining it with tactile sensations from its fingertips, and making a holistic decision to move its body—just like you do. It’s no longer “programming”; it’s intuition.

The “Adolescence” of Danger: Anthropic’s Warning

It wasn’t all fun and games this week. Dario Amodei, the CEO of Anthropic, published a sobering essay titled “The Adolescence of Technology.”

Reading through it, I got chills. Amodei argues that humanity is about to inherit “unimaginable power” before we have the social or political maturity to handle it. He specifically flagged:

Bioterrorism: AI making it easier for bad actors to create biological weapons.Authoritarian Control: Governments using advanced AI to tighten their grip on populations.

His core point is one I agree with: If we leave this technology solely to profit-driven companies without safeguards, we are inviting disaster.

Meanwhile, The “Dead Internet” is Here

In a bizarre twist that feels like a Black Mirror episode, a new social network called Moltbook launched.

Here is the catch: Humans aren’t allowed to post. It is a Reddit-style platform where AI agents talk to other AI agents, debate, upvote, and create content. We humans? We just watch. It is a fascinating, if slightly creepy, experiment in autonomous social interaction.

Practical Tools: Chrome & OpenAI Prism

a woman wearing a yellow robot garment

Moving away from the sci-fi stuff, two major releases dropped this week that will actually change how we work today.

1. Chrome’s Autopilot (Gemini 3)

Google is integrating a “Browse for Me” feature directly into Chrome. Using Gemini 3, the browser can now handle multi-step tasks.

Example: You type “Find me a plumber under $100 and book an appointment for Tuesday.”Action: The browser opens a new tab, navigates sites, fills forms, and shows you the progress with a glowing cursor.My Take: This is the end of administrative drudgery. Scheduling, tax forms, subscription management—the AI takes the wheel.

2. OpenAI Prism for Scientists

OpenAI launched Prism, a workspace specifically for researchers. Think of it as the “Cursor” (the famous AI code editor) but for science. Powered by GPT-5.2, it helps draft papers, organize citations, and structure arguments.

Importantly, OpenAI clarified this is not an autonomous scientist. It won’t cure cancer while you sleep. But it will make the people trying to cure cancer 10x more efficient.

The Hardware Wars: The Battle for Silicon

cropped-The-Transistor-Skyscraper-Worlds-Tallest-Chip-Takes-Moores-Law-to-the-Third-Dimension-1.webp

Software is nothing without the chips to run it. The hardware race heated up significantly this week.

Microsoft’s Azure Maia 200: Microsoft is trying to break free from Nvidia’s grip. Their new 3nm chip, packing 140 billion transistors, is designed specifically for AI inference (running the models).Neurophos & The Optical Chip: This is the wild card. Backed by Bill Gates, Neurophos announced an Optical Processing Unit (OPU). Instead of electricity, it uses light. They claim it is 10x faster than Nvidia’s best supercomputers for specific math tasks.Nvidia is still King: Not resting on their laurels, Nvidia released Earth-2, an open-source weather model that can predict storms 15 days out with insane accuracy, slashing the cost of traditional forecasting.

Creative AI: Hollywood and Music

The creative sector is adapting faster than anyone expected.

Darren Aronofsky’s AI Series: The director of Black Swan didn’t just use AI; he built a show around it. “On This Day… 1776” uses AI for almost all visuals, retelling the American Revolution. He used real actors for voices, proving that the future is likely a Hybrid Model (Human Soul + AI Visuals).New Tools Unleashed:Lucy 2.0: Edit videos by typing. “Make the banana blue.” Done.MOVA: Text-to-Video with sound.MiniMax Music 2.5: A new contender in the AI music generation space.

Rapid Fire: The News You Might Have Missed

The volume of news this week was overwhelming. Here is a curated list of other critical developments to keep you in the loop:

Apple’s Quiet Move: Apple bought Q.ai. This is their second-biggest acquisition ever. Keep an eye on “silent communication” features in the next iPhone.Space AI:Alibaba’s Qwen-3 is now running in orbit on a satellite (a world first).NASA used Claude to navigate the Mars Perseverance rover.ESA used AI on Hubble data to find 1,300 missed cosmic anomalies.The “Rebel Alliance”: Mozilla is raising $1.4 Billion to build an open-source alternative ecosystem to fight the dominance of OpenAI and Google.Geopolitics: China authorized Alibaba and Tencent to buy 400,000 Nvidia H200 chips. The AI arms race is global.Legal Trouble: The EU is investigating Elon Musk’s Grok for non-consensual deepfakes. The potential fine? 6% of global revenue.GPT-4o Retirement: OpenAI is retiring older models next month. If you are building on them, time to upgrade.Data Loop: It was revealed that GPT-5.2 used xAI’s Grokipedia as a training source. The AI models are now learning from each other’s homework.

Final Thoughts: Are We Ready?

When I look at Genie 3 creating worlds on the fly and Moltbook creating a society without humans, I realize we have crossed a threshold. We are no longer just building tools; we are building entities and environments that can function without us.

The technology is maturing at a rate that makes the “Internet Revolution” look like it happened in slow motion.

My question to you this week: With tools like Genie 3 potentially replacing game developers and robots like Helix 02 aiming for physical labor, are we moving toward a world of “super-abundance,” or are we building a future where human contribution becomes obsolete?

I’ll be in the comments discussing this. Let me know what you think.

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DOJ Emails Reveal Jeffrey Epstein Invested $3M in Coinbase in 2014

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DOJ Emails Reveal Jeffrey Epstein Invested M in Coinbase in 2014


Key Highlights

Jeffrey Epstein invested $3 million in Coinbase in 2014 after working with Brock Pierce and Blockchain Capital.Epstein sold half of his Coinbase stake in 2018, receiving nearly $15 million, while keeping the other half.Epstein had meetings with top crypto and tech figures, including Michael J. Saylor and Reid Hoffman.

Newly released emails from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed that Jeffrey Epstein made a $3 million investment in the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase in December 2014. For the unversed, Epstein, an influential American financier, later became widely known for serious crimes, including sex trafficking of minors. He also had strong ties with people in politics and the technology sector.

The recently released emails reveal that the investment was arranged through Brock Pierce, co-founder of Tether and Blockchain Capital, and that Coinbase co-founder Fred Ehrsam was aware of the arrangement.

In one message dated December 3, 2014, Ehrsam wrote, “I have a gap between noon and 3pm today, but again, not crucial for me, but would be nice to meet him if convenient. Is it important for him?”

Epstein’s Coinbase investment and cash-out

According to the documents, the investment took place in 2014 when Coinbase was valued at $400 million. Today, the exchange is worth about $51 billion. 

In 2018, Epstein sold half of his Coinbase equity back to Blockchain Capital, receiving nearly $15 million, while retaining the other half of his stake. Brock Pierce confirmed the transaction in emails and at one point questioned whether the deal was fully completed, suggesting some confusion over the arrangement.

Epstein also had connections with other cryptocurrency ventures. The emails show he invested in Blockstream, a company co-founded by early Bitcoin developer Adam Back. He also met with prominent figures in tech and finance, including former U.S. Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, at his Manhattan townhouse to discuss Bitcoin. 

Pierce described the Coinbase fundraising round as “the most platinum-plated deal in the space.”

Epstein also asked LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman for advice on how much he should invest. Hoffman replied, “I probably wouldn’t play. But I may not be up-to-date on interesting internal news.”

Tax concerns and other connections 

Epstein-related filings show he was concerned about cryptocurrency taxation in the United States. In a February 2018 email, he asked former White House advisor Steve Bannon for guidance on how the Treasury Department would respond to crypto-related questions.

Epstein’s involvement in cryptocurrency came after he was convicted in 2008 for procuring a child for prostitution and soliciting a prostitute, making him a registered sex offender at the time of the Coinbase investment. The newly unsealed records highlight his connections to wealthy investors and the early cryptocurrency world, without alleging any criminal wrongdoing in these deals.

Other high-profile figures appear in the email records, including Michael J. Saylor, Executive Chairman of Strategy, who was mentioned in a 2010 email from Hollywood publicist Peggy Siegal. The email described Saylor attending a charity event after giving a $25,000 donation. The records have caused discussions online about Epstein’s influence in the crypto space.

Also Read: XRP Maxis Blame Bitcoiners for Linking Ripple to Epstein Files

Disclaimer: The information researched and reported by The Crypto Times is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional financial advice. Investing in crypto assets involves significant risk due to market volatility. Always Do Your Own Research (DYOR) and consult with a qualified Financial Advisor before making any investment decisions.



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Navigating AI At Scale: Strategic Insights For CEOs And CIOs From Farida Gibbs

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Navigating AI At Scale: Strategic Insights For CEOs And CIOs From Farida Gibbs


In Brief

Enterprise AI adoption is reaching a tipping point in 2026, as organizations worldwide move beyond pilots to embed AI into core operations, industrialize agentic systems, and scale strategic, regulated implementations across key sectors.

Navigating AI At Scale: Strategic Insights For CEOs And CIO From Farida Gibbs

With global spending on AI systems expected to surpass $2 trillion in 2026, the spotlight is firmly on why this year is shaping up as a defining moment for enterprise AI adoption. Organizations worldwide are moving beyond pilots and proof-of-concepts, embedding AI into core operations, navigating regulatory requirements, and industrializing agentic systems at scale. In regions such as the Middle East and India, adoption is accelerating rapidly. Finance, energy, government, and digital services are leading the charge, with India emerging as a major AI talent and execution hub, while the Middle East is driving large-scale, strategic implementation of sovereign models, national data platforms, and sector-specific initiatives.

In this interview, Farida Gibbs, CEO of Gibbs Consulting, explores the forces driving enterprise AI adoption, the sectors leading the way, and provides practical guidance for CEOs and CIOs seeking to balance innovation, governance, and long-term business transformation in an era of autonomous and agentic AI.

2026 As The Inflection Point: How The Middle East Is Moving AI from Pilots To Production Across Key Sectors

You argue 2026 will be a turning point for enterprise AI adoption—what key developments are driving this inflection point?

“2026/2027 marks the pivot point because regulatory obligations are becoming enforceable, sovereign deployment patterns are becoming implementable, and AI is finally being embedded into core business processes rather than just pilot programmes.”

On the Middle East specifically, Farida notes: “In the Middle East we are seeing organisations industrialising AI as part of platform modernisation, product-aligned delivery teams, and a shift from innovation labs to operational ownership, even if initially at the trustworthy data level.”

The region is moving from AI ambition to action, with governments and enterprises investing in sovereign compute, national data platforms, and sector-specific programmes that push AI from pilots into production. Companies are transitioning AI from innovation labs to operational teams, focusing on trustworthy data and platform modernization to accelerate adoption across key sectors.

The Middle East is making large investments in national AI strategies. What are the most impactful initiatives you’re seeing in that region?

“The initiatives showing the greatest impact are sovereign compute and models, national data platforms, and sector-specific adoption programmes led by governments in the Middle East.”

These initiatives enable local model training and deployment under national policy frameworks, reduce latency and cross-border data friction, and provide public and private actors with the infrastructure to move workloads from pilot environments into sustained production.

What industries or sectors are currently leading in AI maturity across these geographies, and why?

“IT infrastructure, banking, government, and energy are leading due to a focus on strong data foundations, ROI-driven use cases, and central mandates.”

The outlined sectors benefit from large, structured datasets, clear efficiency or revenue levers (fraud detection, grid optimization, citizen services), and often direct regulatory or ministerial sponsorship—conditions that make enterprise-grade AI adoption both practical and measurable.

Navigating Agentic AI: Leadership, Governance, And Operational Strategies For Safe Enterprise Adoption

Autonomous and agentic AI systems are gaining traction. What new challenges do these technologies pose for leadership and workforce planning?

“Agentic systems introduce new challenges around operational risk, workforce redesign, and the need for continuous oversight of systems that can independently act. However, the human in the loop is an essential component, as is auditable transparency.”

Commenting on what new roles, reporting lines, and accountability mechanisms CEOs should create to safely operationalize agentic AI, Farida explains: “Businesses should create clear AI product ownership, independent risk accountability, and formal change controls so autonomous systems can be deployed safely, at scale, with full traceability of decisions.”

This leads naturally to the broader question of balancing innovation with governance: How can enterprises balance AI innovation with governance, especially in regulated sectors like finance or government?

“Enterprises must innovate and automate quickly in low-risk areas while embedding auditability, decision traceability, and tiered governance for regulated use cases from day one.”

As companies prepare for large-scale AI implementation, what should be the top priorities for decision-makers over the next 12–24 months?

“Decision-makers should prioritise high-value workflows, enterprise AI control planes, trustworthy data foundations, and operating-model redesign over chasing the latest hype.”

Scaling AI With Confidence: Strategic Guidance For CEOs And CIOs

Gibbs Consulting advises clients on aligning AI strategy with business transformation goals. Farida Gibbs shares: “At Gibbs Consulting, we align AI programmes to business outcomes by designing and combining trusted data platforms, regulation-first architecture, and safely governed and traceable agentic automation.”

With the pace of AI evolution accelerating, many executives feel pressure to act quickly yet responsibly. What advice would you offer to CEOs and CIOs who feel overwhelmed but don’t want to fall behind?

“My advice is to focus less on hype and more on business automation—something we have been doing since the industrial revolution. Building durable enterprise capability based on trustworthy data, quality controls, and operating models is the foundation for this. AI reasoning should only be implemented where it provides a clear business benefit and never to make automated decisions without subject-matter experts in the loop. That way, organisations can scale AI with confidence.”

Disclaimer

In line with the Trust Project guidelines, please note that the information provided on this page is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of advice. It is important to only invest what you can afford to lose and to seek independent financial advice if you have any doubts. For further information, we suggest referring to the terms and conditions as well as the help and support pages provided by the issuer or advertiser. MetaversePost is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice.

About The Author

Alisa, a dedicated journalist at the MPost, specializes in cryptocurrency, zero-knowledge proofs, investments, and the expansive realm of Web3. With a keen eye for emerging trends and technologies, she delivers comprehensive coverage to inform and engage readers in the ever-evolving landscape of digital finance.

More articles

Alisa, a dedicated journalist at the MPost, specializes in cryptocurrency, zero-knowledge proofs, investments, and the expansive realm of Web3. With a keen eye for emerging trends and technologies, she delivers comprehensive coverage to inform and engage readers in the ever-evolving landscape of digital finance.

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The End of Darkness? Neuralink’s “Blindsight” is Ready for Its First Human Patient | Metaverse Planet

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The End of Darkness? Neuralink’s “Blindsight” is Ready for Its First Human Patient | Metaverse Planet


I remember watching Star Trek: The Next Generation as a kid and being fascinated by Geordi La Forge. He was blind, but his iconic visor allowed him to “see” things no normal human could—like heat signatures and energy waves. It felt like pure fantasy back then.

But this week, Elon Musk and Neuralink made an announcement that gave me goosebumps: The fantasy is becoming reality.

Neuralink has officially announced that “Blindsight,” their revolutionary device aimed at restoring vision, is ready to be implanted in a human for the first time. If regulatory bodies give the green light, we aren’t just talking about a medical procedure; we are talking about a historical pivot point for humanity.

A New Hope for the “Uncurable”

It’s been exactly two years since Neuralink implanted its first “Telepathy” chip into a paralyzed patient (remember Noland Arbaugh playing chess with his mind?). Now, the team is shifting gears to something arguably even more complex: Vision.

What struck me most about this announcement is the confidence. The company has expanded its clinical trials from 12 participants to 21 worldwide. They aren’t just testing the waters anymore; they are diving in.

For decades, if you lost your optic nerve—the cable connecting your eye to your brain—that was it. Game over. There was no way to bridge that gap. Blindsight changes the rules of the game.

How on Earth Does This Work?

I dug into the technical details, and the approach is fascinating because it completely ignores the eye itself.

If your eyes are broken cameras, Blindsight doesn’t try to fix the lens. Instead, it bypasses the camera and plugs the video feed directly into the “TV screen” (your brain).

Here is the process in simple terms:

The Input: A small camera (likely embedded in a pair of glasses) captures the world around you.The Bridge: That visual data is processed wirelessly.The Output: An implant sitting on the visual cortex of the brain stimulates neurons directly to recreate the image.

Musk stated something that blew my mind: “Even if someone has lost both eyes and their optic nerve, provided the visual cortex is intact, they could see again.” He even theorized that people who have been blind since birth could gain sight for the first time.

Managing Expectations: It Starts with “Atari Graphics”

The Ultimate Multitasker

I appreciate that Musk—usually known for his hyper-optimistic timelines—is managing expectations here. He was very clear: Don’t expect 4K vision on day one.

The first patients won’t see the world in high definition.

The vision will likely look like early 8-bit Nintendo graphics.It will be low-resolution, pixelated, and strange.

But think about it—if you have lived in total darkness for years, seeing a pixelated shape of your loved one or navigating a room without a cane isn’t “low res.” It’s a miracle.

Over time, as the brain adapts and the hardware improves (more electrodes = more pixels), the resolution will sharpen.

The FDA and the Skeptics

The Smart Home, Smarter Brain

Of course, we have to look at the other side of the coin. Is this safe?

The FDA seems to think it has merit. In September 2024, they granted Blindsight “Breakthrough Device” status. This doesn’t mean it’s approved for sale, but it means the FDA considers it critical enough to fast-track the review process.

However, I also read a study from the University of Washington published recently, and the academic community is cautious.

The Challenge: Our brains don’t work like computer monitors. You can’t just light up a neuron and expect it to act like a perfectly colored pixel.The Risk: There is a fear that the image might be distorted or hard for the brain to interpret.

I think this skepticism is healthy. We need scientists to question the safety while engineers push the boundaries.

Beyond Therapy: The “Geordi La Forge” Era

WifeOS 7.0.1 – Emotion Filter Installed. Upgrade to ‘Actual Listening’ for $9.99?

Here is where my inner sci-fi geek starts hyperventilating. Musk hinted that Blindsight isn’t just about restoring “normal” vision. It’s about expanding it.

Once you have a digital interface connected to your visual cortex, why stop at the visible light spectrum?

Infrared Vision: Seeing heat signatures (night vision).Ultraviolet Vision: Seeing colors flowers use to attract bees.Radar: “Seeing” distance and solid objects through fog.

This is the transition from medical restoration to transhumanist enhancement. We are approaching a future where a blind person might eventually have better vision than a sighted person.

The Next Step

We are waiting for the final regulatory nod for that first surgery. When that happens, the world will be watching. It won’t be perfect, it will be glitchy, but it will be the first light in the dark for millions.

I have to ask: If you had the option to upgrade your healthy eyes to see in Infrared or Zoom in like a camera, would you get a brain chip, or is that crossing a line for you? Let’s talk in the comments!

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CryptoQuant CEO Signals Bitcoin Downtrend, Warns Of Sideways Consolidation Amid Profit-Taking Phase

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CryptoQuant CEO Signals Bitcoin Downtrend, Warns Of Sideways Consolidation Amid Profit-Taking Phase


In Brief

Bitcoin faces sustained selling pressure and declining ETF inflows, briefly falling below $80,000, with the market showing signs of a prolonged sideways consolidation amid macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties.

CryptoQuant CEO Signals Bitcoin Downtrend, Warns Of Sideways Consolidation Amid Profit-Taking Phase

Institutional-grade data and analytics platform CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju shared his market outlook on social media platform X, highlighting that Bitcoin is experiencing continued downward pressure as selling persists and new capital inflows have largely disappeared. 

He noted that while a severe 70% crash similar to prior cycles is unlikely without selling from MicroStrategy’s Michael Saylor, the market has not yet established a clear bottom and may enter a prolonged period of sideways consolidation.

According to him, Bitcoin’s recent decline is driven by sustained selling pressure combined with a lack of fresh investment, as reflected in the Realized Cap, which has remained flat. In such an environment, any drop in market capitalization is not indicative of a bullish trend. 

Early holders, who accumulated Bitcoin through exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and MicroStrategy purchases, have been realizing profits since early 2025, and while strong inflows previously helped keep the price near $100,000, those inflows have now largely ceased.

MicroStrategy played an important role in supporting the prior rally, and Ki Young Ju suggested that unless Michael Saylor liquidates his holdings, a collapse of the magnitude seen in past cycles is improbable. Nevertheless, ongoing selling activity indicates that the market bottom remains uncertain, with a bear market likely to transition into an extended sideways range.

He highlighted that Bitcoin had entered a profit-taking phase in November 2025, with the PnL Index—which measures profit and loss across all wallets based on cost basis—signaling a potential entry into a bear cycle. He added that only significant macroeconomic liquidity could offset this natural profit-taking phase, similar to the market conditions observed in 2020.

Bitcoin Falls Below $80K Amid $1.6B ETF Outflows As Macro And Geopolitical Risks Weigh On Markets

As of the latest trading session, Bitcoin is priced at $76,731, reflecting a decline of more than 2.17% over the past 24 hours, with intraday lows reaching $74,567 and highs at $79,117, according to CoinMarketCap data. The cryptocurrency fell below $80,000 on Saturday, marking the first time it has traded under that level since April 2025.

US spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced large net outflows during the final week of January, totaling approximately $1.49 billion, with Thursday alone accounting for $818 million, the largest single-day withdrawal of the month. Overall, January 2026 saw roughly $1.6 billion in total net outflows from Bitcoin ETFs, representing the third-worst month on record for these investment products.

The decline pushed Bitcoin briefly below MicroStrategy’s cost basis of $76,037 per coin, a level not breached since October 2023. ETF flows indicate that institutional investors were reducing overall exposure to cryptocurrencies rather than reallocating between assets, a departure from earlier in the month when Ethereum inflows partially offset Bitcoin weakness.

The selloff accelerated following the nomination of former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh as the next chair, which markets interpreted as a bearish signal for risk assets. Additional geopolitical developments, including reports of an explosion at Iran’s Bandar Abbas port and a brief US government shutdown, further contributed to a cautious, risk-off environment.

Disclaimer

In line with the Trust Project guidelines, please note that the information provided on this page is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of advice. It is important to only invest what you can afford to lose and to seek independent financial advice if you have any doubts. For further information, we suggest referring to the terms and conditions as well as the help and support pages provided by the issuer or advertiser. MetaversePost is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice.

About The Author

Alisa, a dedicated journalist at the MPost, specializes in cryptocurrency, zero-knowledge proofs, investments, and the expansive realm of Web3. With a keen eye for emerging trends and technologies, she delivers comprehensive coverage to inform and engage readers in the ever-evolving landscape of digital finance.

More articles

Alisa, a dedicated journalist at the MPost, specializes in cryptocurrency, zero-knowledge proofs, investments, and the expansive realm of Web3. With a keen eye for emerging trends and technologies, she delivers comprehensive coverage to inform and engage readers in the ever-evolving landscape of digital finance.

More articles





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The OpenSea $SEA Airdrop is Launching This Month. Check Your Wallet Eligibility Now! | NFT News Today

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The OpenSea $SEA Airdrop is Launching This Month. Check Your Wallet Eligibility Now! | NFT News Today


The OpenSea airdrop has shifted from rumor to inevitability. After nearly a year of farming, snapshots, and public signals, the SEA token launch now sits firmly in the Q1 2026 window. For many users, eligibility is already locked in. For others, the opportunity lies in understanding what this airdrop represents and why it matters far beyond free tokens.

OpenSea’s Position in Crypto Didn’t Happen by Accident

OpenSea started in 2017 and became the main NFT marketplace before NFTs were widely known. In 2021 and 2022, it handled over 90% of all NFT trades. This dominance is important because airdrops reward users for their past activity, and a bigger platform means bigger rewards.

When interest in NFTs slowed after 2022, OpenSea had to decide whether to stick to its niche or try something new. The team chose to expand.

This led to OS2, a new version of the platform launched in February 2025. OS2 turned OpenSea into a ‘trade everything’ app. NFTs were still central, but now users could also swap tokens across different blockchains and, later, trade perpetual futures. This change set the stage for a token with real economic use.

Why the SEA Token Exists at All

SEA wasn’t created just to follow trends. It was launched as part of a bigger change to the platform.

The OpenSea Foundation introduced SEA with OS2 and made it clear that loyal users would get ownership. There was no private sale or early VC allocation. Instead, tokens would be given out based on how people used the platform and took part in its history.

This approach is similar to how the best crypto networks started. Early users got rewards because they took risks before the project was proven. SEA is following that same idea.

How the OpenSea Airdrop Actually Works

The airdrop is designed to reward two main groups.

The first group is historical users. These are wallets that traded NFTs on OpenSea long before the token was announced. Their activity is recorded on the blockchain and can’t be changed after the fact.

The second group is active participants. In February 2025, OpenSea launched an XP system. Users could earn points by trading, bridging, joining weekly Voyages, and opening Treasure Chests. As users opened more chests, they moved up through different levels, showing more involvement.

Snapshots recorded both types of activity. There were several rounds, each collecting more data. By late 2025, OpenSea said that half of all SEA tokens would go to the community, with most of that available right at launch.

U.S. users can still take part. There is no KYC required to claim tokens.

Timeline: From Quiet Beta to Imminent Launch

The SEA airdrop was not rushed. It happened step by step.

The OS2 beta started in February 2025. The XP system was added quietly. In May, Voyages began, encouraging regular use. In September, OpenSea briefly doubled its fees to fill a Reward Vault with OP, ARB, and NFTs. This showed they were getting ready for something big.

In October 2025, CEO Devin Finzer announced that the token would launch in Q1 2026. That plan has stayed the same. Recent mobile app updates and hints about perpetual futures suggest the final steps are almost done.

Most people now expect the launch in February or March 2026. Betting markets are confident about this timing, even though there isn’t much trading volume yet.

What Past Airdrops Teach Us About SEA

Looking at past events can help us understand what to expect.

SuperRare gave rewards to early artists and collectors who supported on-chain art before it was popular. These rewards mattered because they recognized people’s cultural contributions, not just trading activity.

Exchange tokens are another example. Platforms like Binance and Coinbase have shown that marketplaces can create lasting demand for their tokens when they use buybacks and align fees with token holders.

SEA uses ideas from both of these examples. It sees OpenSea as part of the culture and builds value based on how people use the platform and the revenue it generates. This mix is unusual for a platform as large as OpenSea.

SEA Tokenomics Explained Without the Spin

We’ll get all the details at launch, but some key points are already clear.

Half of all SEA tokens will go to the community. This makes SEA one of the most fairly launched tokens. Since there’s no presale, early recipients face a different risk profile. Buybacks are another important part. OpenSea will use half of its launch revenue to buy back SEA tokens. Ongoing fees will also help fund rewards and incentives. This ties the platform’s success directly to demand for the token.

The token’s main use is for participation. Staking can support collections or projects. Holders can vote on fees and product changes. Discounts and special access are also possible, but not confirmed yet.

The team hasn’t shared details about vesting for themselves and contributors yet. Some lockups are expected, since mature markets usually require them.

Valuation Expectations and Market Psychology

There’s always speculation with big airdrops like this. Some people compare SEA to major exchanges and expect it to be worth billions. Even cautious estimates put SEA ahead of many smaller projects with less revenue and weaker brands.

But this doesn’t mean the price will stay steady. Some people will sell early, and many are already tired from waiting. Still, OpenSea’s size is important. It’s a place where attention, money, and culture all come together.

Big airdrops can seem disappointing at first, but over time, how people use the token can change the story.

Risks Worth Acknowledging

Delays have made users frustrated, and poor communication hasn’t helped. There could be short-term price swings after the claim event, especially if the unlock schedule is unexpected.

These risks don’t change the main idea—they help define it. The long-term value of SEA depends on whether OpenSea stays important as a trading platform. The launch of OS2 shows they are working toward that goal.

Final Perspective on the OpenSea Airdrop

The SEA airdrop is part of a careful, long-term plan, not just a way to get attention. It rewards past users, supports future growth, and links the token’s value to real activity on the platform.

Many wallets already qualify. Others may have missed the largest allocations but still gain exposure through participation and governance. Either way, SEA marks a defining moment for OpenSea and for how large Web3 platforms distribute ownership.

The claim event will be over fast, but its effects will last much longer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about this topic:

What is the OpenSea airdrop?

The OpenSea airdrop is the distribution of the SEA token to users who have interacted with OpenSea. The airdrop rewards both long-time users and recent participants based on historical activity and engagement during the OS2 rewards program.

Who is eligible for the SEA airdrop?

Eligibility falls into two main groups:

Historical users who traded NFTs on OpenSea before the SEA token was announcedActive users who earned XP through OS2 by trading, bridging assets, completing Voyages, and opening Treasure Chests

Snapshots have already captured much of this activity, meaning eligibility for many wallets is already fixed.

Do U.S. users qualify for the OpenSea airdrop?

Yes. OpenSea has confirmed that U.S. users are eligible to receive SEA tokens. There is no KYC requirement to claim the airdrop.

Is there still time to qualify?

Most of the largest allocations are tied to past activity, especially pre-2025 usage. That said, continued engagement may still matter for ecosystem rewards, governance participation, and future incentives tied to SEA.

Missing early farming doesn’t remove all upside, but it likely reduces the airdrop size.

When will the SEA token launch?

OpenSea has consistently stated that the SEA token will launch in Q1 2026. Current market expectations point to February or March 2026, based on public statements, platform updates, and recent feature rollouts.

No exact date has been announced yet.

How will the SEA airdrop be claimed?

Users will claim SEA through connected wallets on OpenSea. Wallet history is scanned on-chain, and allocations are determined by snapshots, XP totals, and chest tiers.

The claim process is expected to be straightforward and self-custodial.

How many SEA tokens will be distributed?

OpenSea has confirmed that 50% of the total SEA supply is allocated to the community. More than half of that amount is expected to be available at launch, with the remainder distributed over time through rewards and incentives.

There was no private sale.

What is the SEA token used for?

SEA is designed for active participation in the OpenSea ecosystem. Expected uses include:

Staking behind collections or projectsGovernance voting on fees and platform upgradesPotential fee discounts and access-based perks

The token is also tied to platform revenue through buybacks.

Will OpenSea buy back SEA tokens?

Yes. OpenSea has stated that 50% of launch revenue will be used for SEA buybacks. Ongoing platform fees also contribute to rewards and incentives, linking token demand to real usage.

Is there a risk of a large sell-off after the airdrop?

Short-term selling is likely. That’s common with large airdrops. Price volatility should be expected early on, especially before full details on vesting and unlock schedules are released.

Long-term performance will depend on adoption, platform usage, and how well OpenSea executes its broader trading vision.

What makes the OpenSea airdrop different from others?

Scale and structure. Few platforms have OpenSea’s historical user base, revenue footprint, or cultural relevance. SEA combines elements of NFT culture, exchange-style economics, and community ownership in a way that’s rare at this size.

That combination is why the airdrop has drawn so much attention.



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Weekly Wrap: India’s Budget 2026, Trump Picks Warsh, Japan’s Crypto ETFs, & Tether’s $10B Profit

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Weekly Wrap: India’s Budget 2026, Trump Picks Warsh, Japan’s Crypto ETFs, & Tether’s B Profit


Key Highlights

India’s Union Budget 2026 keeps crypto taxes unchanged, maintaining the 30% gains tax and 1% TDS.Trump nominates Kevin Warsh for a key Federal Reserve role, sparking debates on liquidity and its impact on risk assets, including Bitcoin.Tether reports $10B profit and U.S. Treasury holdings hit $141B, reinforcing its role as a major liquidity provider in crypto markets.

Crypto markets moved through a week driven mainly by policy decisions and institutional activity rather than price action. Regulators across regions continued to clarify how digital assets will be treated, with Japan signalling a shift toward crypto ETFs and India keeping its existing tax regime unchanged. 

Developments in U.S. politics, corporate treasury moves, and blockchain infrastructure also influenced sentiment during the week.

Below is a recap of the developments that mattered most.

Top Headlines

Trump picks Kevin Warsh for Fed Role, stirring market debate

U.S. President Donald Trump’s backing of Kevin Warsh for a senior Federal Reserve role brought monetary policy back into focus. Warsh, a former Fed governor, has long criticised extended quantitative easing and has raised concerns about the side effects of aggressive central bank intervention.

The development drew attention across financial markets, including crypto. Market participants pointed to Warsh’s views on inflation control, balance sheet management, and asset valuations as factors that could influence liquidity conditions. Any move toward tighter policy is seen as relevant for Bitcoin and other risk assets, especially as institutional participation remains closely linked to macro policy signals.

Tether posts $10B profit as U.S. treasury holdings hit record $141B

Tether reported over $10 billion in profit for 2025, with reserve assets growing to nearly $193 billion. Its U.S. Treasury holdings hit a record $141 billion, making it one of the largest private holders of government debt. The stablecoin now serves more than 530 million users, underlining its dominance as a key liquidity provider in crypto markets.

Japan lays out crypto ETF roadmap for 2028

Japan indicated a possible shift in its approach to digital assets after reports suggested crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) could be allowed by 2028. While regulators have not announced any immediate approvals, discussions are reportedly underway to bring Japan’s framework closer to global standards.

The move stands out for a market that has traditionally taken a cautious stance following earlier exchange failures. If implemented, crypto ETFs could allow greater participation from institutional investors, including asset managers and pension-linked funds, though the proposed timeline points to a gradual rollout.

Union Budget 2026 leaves India’s crypto policy unchanged

India’s Union Budget 2026 did not introduce any changes to crypto taxation or regulation. The government retained the 30% tax on crypto gains and the 1% TDS on transactions, with no reference to licensing, classification, or oversight.

For India’s estimated 90 million crypto users, the outcome reinforced concerns around prolonged uncertainty. Industry participants said the lack of movement continues to limit domestic participation and innovation, while encouraging startups, traders, and capital to move offshore.

Strategy Inc. and Bitmine extend corporate accumulation

Corporate accumulation remained active during the week. Strategy Inc. disclosed the purchase of 2,932 Bitcoin for $264 million, bringing its total holdings to 712,647 BTC. The company continues to expand its Bitcoin treasury through periodic purchases.

Bitmine disclosed this week that its Ethereum holdings have climbed to 4.2 million ETH, with a total valuation of about $12.8 billion. The update places the company among the largest known corporate holders of Ether. The disclosure also reinforces the steady interest from institutions treating Ethereum as a long-term balance sheet asset rather than a short-term trade.

Ethereum prepares ERC-8004 mainnet rollout

Ethereum developers confirmed that ERC-8004 is scheduled to go live on the mainnet. The new standard is intended to support AI-driven agents that interact directly with smart contracts and manage assets on-chain.

According to developers, ERC-8004 is aimed at simplifying automated contract interactions across decentralized applications. While usage is still expected to be limited in the early stages, the rollout reflects continued development work linking artificial intelligence tools with Ethereum’s existing infrastructure.

Hyperliquid leads liquidity rankings

Hyperliquid topped global crypto liquidity rankings during the week, moving ahead of several centralized exchanges in reported market depth. The data showed increased activity on the decentralized derivatives platform, pointing to growing trader participation outside traditional centralized venues.

Following the rankings, Hyperliquid’s HYPE token rose about 20%, reflecting increased activity on the platform.

News you might have missed

Winter Storm Frenan caused a 60% drop in Foundry USA’s mining hashrate as operations were temporarily halted.Fake Clawdbot tokens surged amid online speculation before being flagged as scams; the Moltbot founder said he would “never do a coin.”Binance shifted $1 billion from its SAFU fund into Bitcoin, adjusting its user protection reserves.The U.S. government built cash reserves ahead of a possible shutdown as Trump initiated legal action against his administration.The SEC reiterated that tokenized securities fall under the same rules as traditional assets.OFAC sanctioned UK-based crypto exchanges over alleged Iran-linked activity.The Czech central bank governor reaffirmed support for a Bitcoin pilot.Justin Sun claimed trillions could move to Tron in 2026.OKX’s CEO criticized Binance over responsibility for the October market crash.Silver gained 100% in 50 days, while gold prices declined sharply.The U.S. DOJ forfeited $400 million tied to a major cryptocurrency mixer.

What to expect next week

Market sentiment is expected to stay closely tied to macro and political developments, especially around Federal Reserve leadership and ongoing fiscal uncertainty in the U.S. Ethereum developers will be watching the rollout of ERC-8004, while markets across Asia look for more clarity on Japan’s ETF plans. In India, focus remains on whether any regulatory direction emerges following the Union Budget 2026.

Disclaimer: The information researched and reported by The Crypto Times is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional financial advice. Investing in crypto assets involves significant risk due to market volatility. Always Do Your Own Research (DYOR) and consult with a qualified Financial Advisor before making any investment decisions.



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