Why 'Expensive' Ethereum Will Dominate Institutional DeFi

With over 100 layer-2 (L2) blockchains, you’re excused for thinking Ethereum is too expensive and too slow. But ask any institution preparing to settle a $500 million interest rate swap where they'll build, and the answer is Ethereum. The reason reveals everything about how institutional DeFi is likely to develop. The metrics that matter for … Read more

Multisig Failures Dominate as $2B Is Lost in Web3 Hacks in the First Half

Crypto investors lost around $2 billion to hacks in the first half of the year, with the first quarter alone topping all the losses of 2024, according to a report from security firm Hacken. The most intriguing finding was that multisignature wallets, which require several people to sign a transaction before it is executed were … Read more

US Bitcoin ETFs See $4.6 Billion in Volume in First Day of Trading, Grayscale and BlackRock Dominate

US-listed bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) saw $4.6 billion worth of shares trade hands as of Thursday afternoon, according to LSEG data, as investors jumped into the landmark products approved by the US securities regulator on Wednesday. The products mark a watershed moment for the cryptocurrency industry that will test whether digital assets – still viewed … Read more

XRP $3 Bets Dominate Trading Volumes as XRP/Bitcoin’s ‘Wedge’ Suggests Bull Market

Payments-focused cryptocurrency XRP has risen by over 3.5% in the past 24 hours, with volume in the Deribit-listed options market suggesting bullish expectations. Since July 1, higher-level July 25 call options at strikes of $3.00 and $4.00 and the Sept. 28 expiry call at the $2.80 strike have emerged as the most traded bets, according … Read more

CoinDesk Weekly Recap: Stablecoins Dominate the Cycle

With the near-passage of the GENIUS Act and a host of companies announcing stablecoin initiatives, stablecoin-related assets have been on a tear. Circle, issuer of USDC, has seen its stock rise about 500% since its debut on June 5. This week, the company was valued at a staggering $77 billion, which is well above the … Read more