Category: Uncategorized

As crypto-centric firms file for array of products, the world’s largest asset manager seeks to grow AUM in existing funds
Michael Vi/Shutterstock modified by Blockworks

This is a segment from the Forward Guidance newsletter. To read full editions, subscribe.
New US crypto ETF launches remain on pause given the ongoing government shutdown. 
This just means there’s more time to make sense of what the upcoming product wave will look like — and how the world’s largest asset manager will (or won’t) participate.
Being on the Digital Asset Summit stage in London last week with BlackRock’s Matt Kunke and 21Shares’ Mandy Chiu gave me a unique chance to explore the different product development approaches of a TradFi incumbent and a crypto-centric firm. 
With the SEC offering generic listing standards around what crypto assets would be allowed in the ETP wrapper, Kunke noted: “There will probably be an asset manager that will launch everything that you can imagine that falls within this scope.”
It’ll be a “Cambrian explosion” of sorts, he added, alluding to the period of rapid animal diversification 540 million years ago (Google’s AI overview helped me with that).

A provider of 50 or so ETPs in Europe already, 21Shares (set to be acquired by FalconX) is among those that will indeed look to offer many similar access points for US investors. You’ll see the firm’s name peppered throughout this long proposals list shared by Bloomberg Intelligence analyst James Seyffart in August (and there have been plenty more filings since):
Newsletter
Subscribe to Forward Guidance Newsletter

Chiu said her team considers onchain data, tokenomics, risk and governance when choosing which crypto ETPs to file for. But there’s one thing above all.
“I would simplify it by saying there’s no difference between crypto vs. other asset classes,” she told me. “It’s about whether or not you have the investment case and are we ready to get behind it as an asset manager.”
But Kunke said BlackRock — which manages ~$13.5 trillion in assets — is not ready to commit to launching more spot crypto ETFs after its successful BTC and ETH product launches last year. 

“It’s a client demand question,” he said, noting that his meetings with pro investors suggest demand is “overwhelmingly skewed toward bitcoin.”
Passage of the GENIUS Act and the narrative of ETH being “the institutional smart contract chain” has helped awareness of the second-largest crypto asset in recent months. But those asking about solana and XRP represent only “a very small fraction” of the investors/institutions BlackRock is speaking to, Kunke added.  
“Given the relative size of [BTC and ETH] markets compared to some of the smaller ones, I think commercially we’re probably better off prioritizing and elevating those two main products from an education perspective and a marketing perspective,” the BlackRock exec said.
Chiu pointed out an interesting stat. AUM in US crypto ETFs is roughly 6% of the total crypto market cap. Meanwhile, assets in US equity ETFs are about 20% of the US equity market size.

“I’m not saying we’ll reach 20% anytime soon,” she said. “But it’s definitely moving toward that direction and there’re still huge pockets of investors who haven’t gotten in yet.”
BlackRock’s bitcoin ETF (IBIT) and ether ETF (ETHA) tout AUM totals of ~$90 billion and ~$16 billion, respectively. IBIT (with weekly flows shown below) is the fastest-growing ETF in history and recently cracked the top 20 in AUM.
So back to BlackRock’s decision to hold off on more crypto ETF filings, Kunke said: “I don’t think we’re at saturation. These are scarce assets with a lot of capital that still have barriers inhibiting that.” 
The barriers are eroding though. An example, ironically, came the day of this panel discussion. On Oct. 15, Morgan Stanley started allowing its advisers to pitch crypto funds to any client (previously they could only do that for those with aggressive risk tolerances and $1.5 million or more in assets).
BlackRock competitor Vanguard still doesn’t allow clients to trade crypto ETFs on its platform. Kunke didn’t want to comment much on that, but did note Vanguard’s stance “wasn’t terribly surprising” given the index fund giant’s focus on stocks and bonds.     
When will more wirehouses follow Morgan Stanley in lifting other crypto investing restrictions?
“I would say months, not years,” Kunke said. “Conversations are accelerating.” 
Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:
Newsletter
The Breakdown
Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily, with Byron Gilliam.
Upcoming Events
Digital Asset Summit 2026
Tues – Thurs, March 24 – 26, 2026
Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.
recent research
Research
Meteora’s TGE will take place on Thursday, October 23. At launch, 48% of MET’s supply will be circulating, a relatively high float compared to other notable token launches on Solana. Meteora has become a key player in Solana's DEX landscape, strengthening its distribution via Jupiter and its partnership with select launchpad partners like Believe, positioning as the go-to venue for high profile launches like TRUMP and WLFI. In our view, a P/S between 6x and 10x is most likely for MET at launch based on how RAY and ORCA have been historically priced by the market. As such, we could reasonably expect MET to trade between $450M and $1.1B after TGE (circulating market cap).
by Carlos Gonzalez Campo
/

Breaking headlines across our core coverage categories.
The Breakdown
María Corina Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize should change the way the world sees bitcoin
Business
Digital asset firm reports record quarterly earnings with $11.5B in assets, boosted by trading, inflows, and Helios expansion
Business
Sign’s raised over $55 million throughout three rounds
BusinessMarkets
Three founders confirmed that Binance asked for some token supply in exchange for a listing
BusinessWeb3
Echo founder Cobie says the sale to Coinbase was an unlikely outcome for his “noble failure” turned Web3 fundraising success
BusinessDeFi
Praise from EF leaders, warnings from skeptics — and a community deciding whether this is a threat or a forcing function
newsletter
The Breakdown
Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily, with Byron Gilliam.
blockworks research
Unlock crypto's most powerful research platform.
Our research packs a punch and gives you actionable takeaways for each topic.
Blockworks Inc.
133 W 19th St., New York, NY 10011

source

Top Crypto Coins Right Now
Permanent link to this press release:

Delete press release

Edit press release

All 5 Releases

source

FalconX’s takeover of 21Shares adds to a surge of crypto consolidation as asset managers and trading firms race to meet institutional demand for ETFs.
FalconX is expanding its reach into fund management. The crypto-trading firm said it will acquire 21Shares, one of the largest issuers of exchange-traded funds tied to digital assets. The move comes as competition intensifies to capture institutional money flowing into crypto products.

The combined company plans to develop new crypto funds focused on derivatives and structured products. Executives said the deal was financed through a mix of cash and equity, though financial terms were not disclosed.
Moreover, FalconX has grown quickly since its founding in 2018 by Raghu Yarlagadda. The company has processed more than $2 trillion in crypto trades for over 2,000 institutional clients. It raised $150 million in venture funding in 2022, valuing the firm at $8 billion. Yarlagadda said the company is now considering an initial public offering as its next step.
In addition, 21Shares brings significant scale and credibility to the deal. The firm manages more than $11 billion across 55 listed crypto exchange-traded products. It is best known for launching one of the first U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs with Cathie Wood’s ARK Investment Management in 2024.
The surge in spot Bitcoin ETFs led by BlackRock (IBIT) and Fidelity has sparked a rush among asset managers to launch similar products. Many are now expanding into funds that track smaller, higher-risk cryptocurrencies as regulatory clarity improves.
“Bitcoin flows are now happening through what we call traditional wrappers, and that’s a fundamental shift in market structure,” Yarlagadda said. He added that merging FalconX’s trading infrastructure with 21Shares’ fund expertise will help bring new products to market faster.
Meanwhile, regulators are opening the door for more innovation. In September, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved new listing standards that simplify the launch process for crypto ETFs. The updated rules shorten approval timelines and reduce administrative hurdles, creating room for faster product rollouts.
President Trump’s recent support for digital assets has accelerated deal-making across the industry. Companies are moving to secure partnerships and assets ahead of what they expect will be a friendlier regulatory environment.
Last week, Ripple acquired corporate treasury software provider GTreasury for $1 billion. On Tuesday, Coinbase Global (COIN) agreed to buy Echo, a blockchain capital-raising platform, in a $375 million deal, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Together, these deals reflect a maturing industry. FalconX’s purchase of 21Shares adds to that trend, linking trading infrastructure with fund management at a time when institutional interest in crypto is surging. For investors, it could signal another step toward bringing digital assets deeper into mainstream finance.
As crypto pushes further into the mainstream, companies with exposure to the sector could see their revenues climb. Of course, it depends on the business, but for investors, now’s a smart time to keep an eye on how their favourite crypto stocks are performing. Markets shift fast—and staying ahead means staying informed. You can compare top crypto-exposed stocks side-by-side using the TipRanks Crypto Stocks Comparison tool. Click on the image below to find out more.

Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue

source

XRP Price Wrestles With $2.40 as Evernorth’s $1Bn Push and David Schwartz Fuel Institutional Bullishness  99Bitcoins
source

In August 2025, Valour Inc., a subsidiary of DeFi Technologies listed on Nasdaq, launched the VALOUR PI (PI) SEK ETP on the Swedish Spotlight Stock Market. The product marks one of Pi Network’s most notable steps toward entering traditional finance.
Kim H. Wong, an EECS engineer and crypto analyst, said the launch connects Pi Network’s native token with regulated markets. He described it as an important moment for linking Pi’s mobile-based ecosystem to standard financial structures.
Making Pi Accessible to Regular Investors
Wong explained that the Valour PI ETP allows ordinary investors to gain exposure to Pi through their brokerage accounts. He added that this access could help improve market confidence and reduce the barrier between digital assets and regulated trading platforms.
The product trades under ISIN CH1108681540 and carries a 1.9% management fee.
Wong said this move could mark Pi’s formal entry into regulated markets. He noted that if the ETP draws meaningful investment, it could increase demand for $PI and bring greater price stability.
“If the ETP attracts sizeable investment, this could increase demand for $PI, in turn potentially supporting token value,” Wong wrote.
Pi’s Current Market Standing
Pi (PI) is trading at $0.2026, up 0.23% in the past 24 hours. Its daily trading volume stands at $18.94 million, up 38.64% from the previous day. Despite the rise, the token remains under mild bearish pressure in the broader market.
Analysts Expect Slow but Steady Growth
Some analysts continue to express long-term confidence in Pi. Dr. Altcoin, a well-known crypto researcher, said he expects Pi to follow a long-term recovery trend similar to Bitcoin’s early growth phase.
He added that upcoming developments, such as Protocol Upgrade Version 23, could support that shift.
FAQs
The Valour PI ETP is an investment product on the Swedish stock market that lets you invest in Pi Network’s token through a regular brokerage account, bridging crypto and traditional finance.
Some analysts project slow, steady growth for Pi, comparing its potential trajectory to Bitcoin’s early years, but as with any crypto asset, this involves significant risk.
Currently, there is no clarity on the launch of Pi coin on Binance.
Select market data provided by ICE Data Services. Select reference data provided by FactSet. Copyright © 2025 FactSet Research Systems Inc.Copyright © 2025, American Bankers Association. CUSIP Database provided by FactSet Research Systems Inc. All rights reserved. SEC fillings and other documents provided by Quartr.© 2025 TradingView, Inc.

source

Credit: kaboompics / Pixabay.com
Credit: kaboompics / Pixabay.com
A 67-year-old Fairfield Twp. woman was scammed out of $88,000 in a cryptocurrency scheme last December.
The Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) and the Butler County Prosecutor’s Office jointly investigated the scam that was reported following the Dec. 4, 2024, theft.
The Fairfield Twp. woman who was victimized reported a prompt appeared on her computer screen suggesting the device was hacked. A number was provided on the prompt and that led her to “a Microsoft technician.”
That technician was a scammer, according to BCI and the county prosecutor’s office. The woman then talked to people who posed variously as representatives of her bank and the Social Security Administration.
Investigators say these bad actors persuaded the woman to buy a new laptop and grant them access to it. She was then instructed to withdraw money from her banking accounts — $88,000 in total — and deposit it into a cryptocurrency kiosk.
It was only after she had done as the scammers asked she realized she had been defrauded and called the Fairfield Twp. Police Department. BCI’s Electronic Financial Investigations unit was called in to assist.

Butler County Assistant Prosecutor Garrett Baker said bad actors lie to victims, often telling them their bank accounts had been misused and they could be arrested as a result.
“Then the fear kicks in and people start to panic, they’re told to transfer money out of their bank account,” he said. “If anybody says you need to use a crypto ATM (they’re) a scammer.”

In this case with the Fairfield Twp. woman, she bought a new laptop and they were able to transfer funds.
“This is a scam I’m starting to see with increase frequency,” he said, advising people to “never give people remote access to your computer, certainly not someone from Microsoft and a bank would never ask for that.”
Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser said while scammers use technology to steal from the elderly population, “we can use that same technology and the long arm of the law to get those stolen funds back.”
BCI and the Butler County Prosecutor’s Office were able to trace the money and placed a freeze on additional transfers to the scammer.
With the help of search warrants and a court order, $36,000 was recovered and returned to the victim.
“Technology drives innovation, but sometimes cybercriminals are behind the wheel,” said Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. “While we can help after the fact, your best defense is to be skeptical anytime a stranger asks you to make a financial transaction.”
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Education and prevention are the best weapons against cryptocurrency scams, according to the Ohio AG’s office.
Targets of fraud have typically been older adults who appear to be vulnerable or confused. They may be prompted to call a phone number, and then directed, as the Fairfield Twp. woman had, to withdraw a large amount of cash and deposit into a Bitcoin ATM.
There are various fake reasons used when targeting victims, including:
Consumers are encouraged to be skeptical if asked by unknown individuals to make financial transactions. Suspected scams should be reported to local law enforcement immediately.
Credit: Michael D. Pitman
Credit: Michael D. Pitman
About the Author

Michael D. Pitman has been a reporter in southwest Ohio since 1999. He's covered local governments in Warren and Butler counties, as well as state and national issues. He currently covers the cities of Fairfield and Hamilton.

source

The XRP Ledger data shows a 60% increase in daily activations, along with a notable increase in new XRP accounts, that has captured market attention this week. More than 5,000 new accounts were created on Oct. 21, the most in weeks, indicating a resurgence of user interest at a time when the larger XRP market has been having trouble stabilizing.
XRP is growing on-chain
Despite the fact that price action is still muted, trading at about $2.38 following several unsuccessful attempts to break through the resistance level of $2.70, this on-chain activity may indicate underlying accumulation or an impending network event. Historically, either as early adoption stages or as speculative build-ups, comparable spikes in user creation have come before significant price movements.XRPUSDT Chart by TradingView">
But the on-chain data presents a complex picture. The volume of payments between XRP accounts and the number of successful transactions have been steadily declining since early October, despite the increase in new users. The number of transactions has decreased from almost one million to less than one million per day, and the volume of payments has decreased from more than one billion XRP to about 500 million.
RSI pushing to weak momentum
Although new users are joining the network, this divergence implies that real on-chain utility is still low. The 50-, 100- and 200-day major moving averages are all serving as resistance above the current price levels, and XRP is still in a descending channel, when looking at the market structure. The Relative Strength Index, which is currently at 38, suggests that momentum is weak and that bearish pressure may continue to prevail unless XRP makes a strong break above $2.70.
If this spike in new accounts results in active usage in the near future, especially in terms of increased transaction volume or payment throughput, there will be a new wave of growth on the market. If so, it might be an indication of increased remittance or institutional activity, which could support a recovery. However, if the increase is only speculative, XRP may experience another decline to $2.20 or even lower.
The abrupt surge in new users has temporarily raised cautious optimism, but the market is still in a wait-and-see phase in the absence of a corresponding increase in activity or price.
Select market data provided by ICE Data Services. Select reference data provided by FactSet. Copyright © 2025 FactSet Research Systems Inc.Copyright © 2025, American Bankers Association. CUSIP Database provided by FactSet Research Systems Inc. All rights reserved. SEC fillings and other documents provided by Quartr.© 2025 TradingView, Inc.

source

XRP Price Analysis: Ripple Lags Market Rally but Volume Tells a Different Story  CoinDesk
source

XRP, the digital asset powering the XRP Ledger, continues to attract institutional attention due to expanding legal clarity and regulatory reforms. Since its launch in 2012, the token has enabled fast and low-cost cross-border transactions. Following years of legal uncertainty, 2025 has marked a turning point for Ripple and the broader XRP community.
Recent developments include favorable outcomes in Ripple’s long-running case with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Key charges were dismissed, easing long-standing regulatory concerns. Alongside this, the introduction of the GENIUS Act and progress on the CLARITY Act have strengthened the policy foundation for digital assets, especially stablecoins like Ripple’s RLUSD.
Speculation has intensified around the possibility of XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) gaining regulatory approval. Several applications are currently pending before the SEC, with expectations pointing to a decision in early autumn. Market analysts suggest that ETF approval could draw big liquidity from the open market, influencing trading volumes and pricing behavior.
The anticipation of ETF listings has already drawn cautious positioning from large investors, who appear to be preparing for possible price movement once institutional access broadens.
XRP’s corporate treasury scene has expanded, now encompassing 11 entities collectively holding over $2 billion in XRP reserves. These include Ripple-backed Evernorth, with $1 billion, Trident, with $500 million, and Webus International, with $300 million.
Other participants include VivoPower with $121 million and Wellgistics with $50 million. Hyperscale and Everything Blockchain (EBZT) each manage $10 million in holdings, while Japan-based Gumi controls about ¥2.5 billion, equivalent to roughly $17 million. Smaller corporate treasuries include Worksport with $5 million, BC Bud with $250,000, and Digital Comm with $225,000.
As of now, there are 11 XRP Treasury companies: 🚀🚀🚀
1.Evernorth — $1B (Ripple-backed; expected to deploy on Flare for yield)
2.Trident — $500M
3.Webus Int’l — $300M
4.VivoPower — $121M (will be staking in Flare for yield)
5.Wellgistics — $50M
6.Hyperscale — $10M
7.Everything…
— BD (@DiepSanh) October 22, 2025

Several of these firms, particularly Evernorth, VivoPower, and EBZT, plan to stake holdings on the Flare Network to generate yield.
With supportive legislation advancing and major ETF filings pending, XRP’s institutional positioning is expanding beyond payment use cases. The alignment of policy clarity, treasury adoption, and market anticipation underscores how 2025 may serve as a defining year for XRP’s financial integration.
Stay informed with daily updates from Blockchain Magazine on Google News. Click here to follow us and mark as favorite: [Blockchain Magazine on Google News].
Disclaimer: Any post shared by a third-party agency are sponsored and Blockchain Magazine has no views on any such posts. The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the clients and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Blockchain Magazine. The information provided in this post is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial, investment, or professional advice. Blockchain Magazine does not endorse or promote any specific products, services, or companies mentioned in this posts. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified professional before making any financial decisions.
Blockchain Magazine is a leading global platform covering Web3, DeFi, NFTs, and blockchain trends—empowering innovation through news, insights, interviews, and expert-driven content.
About
About
Editorial Team
Careers
BM Press
Get in touch
Contact Us
Advertise
Sitemap
Author Program
Fine Print
Editorial Policy
Privacy Policy
Ethics Policy
Terms of Use
Important Links
About
About
Editorial Team
Careers
BM Press
Get in touch
Contact Us
Advertise
Sitemap
Author Program
Fine Print
Editorial Policy
Privacy Policy
Ethics Policy
Terms of Use
Important Links
© 2015 – 2025 Blockchain Magazine Now in USA | Singapore | India • All Rights Reserved.
Looking to expand your reach in the blockchain industry? Advertise with Blockchain Magazine and connect with a highly engaged global audience.
📧 Reach us at: [email protected]
💬 Or DM us on Telegram: @bcm_media
For more information on our audience demographics, statistics, and advertising opportunities, visit our detailed Advertise page.
Press “ESC” key to close
Stay ahead of the curve with expert analysis, market updates, and exclusive content curated by our team of blockchain enthusiasts.

source

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.
Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
Swipe for next article
First lady’s image exploited ‘to sell legitimacy to unsuspecting investors,’ new legal filing argues
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Two men behind a range of cryptocurrencies promoted by the likes of First Lady Melania Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei have been accused of engaging in fraud and exploiting “celebrity association and ‘borrowed fame’ to sell legitimacy to unsuspecting investors,” according to a new legal filing.
A federal class action lawsuit was first brought against Benjamin Chow and Hayden Davis, co-founders of the crypto exchange Meteora and the venture capital firm Kelsier Labs, respectively, in April this year, reports Wired.
The duo was initially accused of a multimillion-dollar scam involving a single memecoin, $M3M3, but an amended complaint from the same plaintiffs later expanded the allegations to include racketeering practices, accusing them of rigging the market to benefit $LIBRA, a coin promoted by Milei, which plummeted in value soon after launch.
The latest proposed version of the complaint, submitted to court on Tuesday, drags in the first lady, accusing Chow and Davis of pumping and dumping at least 15 crypto coins, one of which was $MELANIA.
Melania Trump posted a promotion for the coin on X on January 19 this year, the day before her husband Donald Trump’s second inauguration, in which she directed her followers to its website and wrote: “The Official Melania Meme is live! You can buy $MELANIA now.”
She is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, which instead claims she was used as “window dressing for a crime engineered by Meteora and Kelsier.”
The Independent has contacted the White House for comment.
Chow and Davis had developed a “repeatable six-step ‘playbook’ for pump-and-dump fraud” by the time they came to launch $MELANIA in January, the plaintiffs claim in the proposed amendment.
They allege that Meteora was responsible for the technical infrastructure used in the creation of the coins, while Kelsier supplied the start-up capital and handled promotions. In the case of $MELANIA, the latter allegedly recruited a network of crypto influencers to promote the coin on social media for a fee.
The immediate response to its January launch was highly positive, with the coin’s value increasing 12-fold to a peak of $1.6 billion, although it has reportedly since lost 95 percent of its worth.
“Investors reasonably interpreted the use of Melania Trump’s name and likeness as evidence of legitimacy and due diligence – trusting that no one of her stature would knowingly associate with a fraudulent venture,” the latest version of the complaint contends.
But, in fact, crypto wallets controlled by Meteora and Kelsier had accumulated almost a third of the entire $MELANIA supply, the lawsuit states, meaning: “Insiders had already cornered the market before a single public buyer could act.”
Those wallets duly sold off their coins once their price began to climb, earning millions of dollars. This ultimately caused $MELANIA’s value to tumble, leaving any outsiders who had bought in facing considerable losses.
“The misuse of Melania Trump’s name magnified the harm,” the amended complaint concludes.
“It corrupted public trust and injected an element of political and cultural credibility into what was, in reality, a standard pump-and-dump.”
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in

source