Celo, the blockchain network launched in 2020, has officially transitioned from a layer-1 chain to an Ethereum layer-2 protocol. Celo announced the successful transition in a March 26 X post, stating that “Celo is officially an Ethereum layer 2” protocol. In the thread, the organization claimed the new protocol features one-second blocks, sub-cent transaction costs,…
Update March 26, 2:36 pm UTC: This article has been updated to include quotes from Brickken CEO Edwin Mata. BlackRock’s Ethereum-native tokenized money market fund has more than tripled in value over the past three weeks, nearing the $2 billion mark amid rising demand for safe-haven digital assets. BlackRock’s USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL)…
Crypto community members are growing more optimistic about an XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) approval following the resolution of a multi-year legal battle between Ripple and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). On March 19, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse announced the case had concluded. In an X post, the Ripple executive said the SEC…
Ethereum developers are under pressure as the Pectra upgrade moves to a new testnet following a series of unexpected issues that have delayed its mainnet deployment. The Pectra upgrade, which was expected to hit the Ethereum mainnet in March, was deployed into the network’s Holesky testnet on Feb. 24. However, the upgrade failed to finalize…
Google Play implemented access restrictions to 17 unregistered overseas crypto exchanges catering to local users in South Korea at the request of the country’s regulators. On March 21, the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of the South Korean Financial Services Commission (FSC) said it was considering sanctions against operators that did not report to the relevant…
Polymarket, the world’s largest decentralized prediction market, is under fire after a controversial outcome raised concerns over potential governance manipulation in a high-stakes political bet. A betting market on the platform asked whether US President Donald Trump would accept a rare earth mineral deal with Ukraine before April. Despite no such event occurring, the market…
Update (March 26, 6:12 am UTC): This article has been updated to add information on Ben Armstrong’s prior arrest and background. Crypto influencer Ben Armstrong, also known as “BitBoy,” has been arrested in Florida after disclosing on social media just days ago that a warrant was out for his arrest. Florida’s Volusia County Division of…
The US Securities and Exchange Commission will host four more crypto roundtables — focusing on crypto trading, custody, tokenization and decentralized finance (DeFi) — after hosting its first crypto roundtable on March 21. The series of roundtables, organized by the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, will kick off with a discussion on tailoring regulation for crypto…
Artificial intelligence startup Infinite Reality has acquired the music-pirating app turned music streaming service Napster in a $207 million deal and plans to add a music-focused metaverse. Infinite Reality said in a March 25 statement that Napster would offer “branded 3D virtual spaces” to allow virtual concerts and “social listening parties” along with the ability…
US derivatives exchange operator CME Group is piloting solutions for tokenized assets using Google Cloud Universal Ledger (GCUL), a new distributed ledger that was designed for traditional financial institutions. CME has begun integrating GCUL to improve capital market efficiency and wholesale payments, the company announced on March 25. CME Group Chairman and CEO Terry Duffy…