Category: Reviews

Polygon Acquires Coinme and Sequence for $250M

Key Notes Coinme holds federal money services registration and operates crypto kiosks at more than 50,000 retail locations, including Coinstar machines. Polygon described the strategy as a reverse of Stripe’s approach, adding regulated financial services to its existing blockchain network. Coinme faced $300,000 in California penalties and a Washington cease-and-desist order that was stayed after the company segregated customer funds. Polygon Labs POL $0.16 24h volatility: 0.8% Market cap: $1.65 B Vol. 24h: $222.57 M announced on Jan. 13 it would acquire crypto payments company Coinme and infrastructure provider Sequence…

Kazakhstan Cracks Down on Illegal Crypto Exchanges

Key Notes The frozen bank cards and shut-down exchanges laundered proceeds from drug trafficking and fraud across Kazakhstan. Authorities liquidated 15 criminal groups and shut down 29 illegal cash-out platforms with turnover exceeding $251 million. The financial sector terminated relationships with 2,000 companies and flagged 56,000 individuals for suspected money laundering. Kazakhstanโ€™s Agency for Financial Monitoring shut down 22 unlicensed cryptocurrency exchanges and blocked more than 1,100 illegal online crypto services in 2025, AFM Chairman Zhanat Elimanov reported during a Jan. 12 meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Authorities also froze…

Kraken-Backed SPAC Files for Nasdaq IPO

Key Notes KRAKacquisition plans to raise $250 million through a Nasdaq-listed SPAC offering. The company will target businesses across the cryptocurrency industry. The filing supports Krakenโ€™s broader push toward public markets. Kraken-backed SPAC KRAKacquisition Corp. has filed for a $250 million initial public offering. The move represents another effort by the crypto exchange to grow its presence in public markets through a blank-check company targeting digital asset businesses Kraken-Affiliated SPAC Targets Crypto Industry Deals KRAKacquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company backed by an affiliate of Kraken, plans to list…

MYX Finance Gains 19% After KuCoin Alpha Listing

Key Notes MYX climbed 19% to $6.43 before pulling back to $6.15 at press time. KuCoin Alpha listed MYX on January 12, expanding access to the exchange’s user base. The token remains 68% below its all-time high of $19.03 reached in September 2025. MYX Finance climbed 19% to hit $6.43 before pulling back to $6.15, where it traded at press time. The rally followed the tokenโ€™s listing on KuCoin Alpha on Jan. 12. Daily trading volume climbed to $32.2 million, up 27% from the previous day, according to CoinGecko data.…

zkSync Targets Banks and Privacy for 2026

Key Notes zkSync plans to focus on real-world infrastructure to support banks and regulated institutions this year. The roadmap highlights privacy, compliance, and system reliability as core standards for adoption. New tools like Prividium, ZK Stack upgrades, and Airbender aim to support large-scale use. Ethereum ETH $3 128 24h volatility: 0.5% Market cap: $377.59 B Vol. 24h: $23.19 B Layer-2 protocol zkSync ZK $0.0360 24h volatility: 7.3% Market cap: $308.33 M Vol. 24h: $68.81 M has outlined a clear shift toward real-world infrastructure in its 2026 roadmap. Per the plans,…

Bitcoin and Gold ETF (BOLD) From 21Shares Goes Live on London Stock Exchange

Key Notes The Bitcoin and Gold ETF (BOLD) offers Bitcoinโ€™s growth potential with goldโ€™s store-of-value characteristics. The fund has delivered a 122.5% return in sterling terms since its 2022 launch in Switzerland. The launch follows the U.K.โ€™s removal of crypto ETP restrictions and rising institutional demand. On January 13, 21Shares launched its Bitcoin and Gold ETF (BOLD), which began trading on the London Stock Exchange. This offers investors a regulated vehicle, offering exposure to both physical gold and digital gold. The BOLD ETF is also the first in the United…

Bitwise Challenges Warren on Bitcoin 401(k)

Key Notes Bitwise CIO Hougan said that stocks like Nvidia are also volatile, and so, it might not be a valid reason behind blocking crypto assets. Warren has asked the SEC to explain how it would manage risks if cryptocurrencies are allowed in retirement accounts. The dispute highlights a wider policy divide as crypto firms push for inclusion in 401(k). Crypto asset manager Bitwise has criticized Senator Elizabeth Warren over her recent efforts to block Bitcoin BTC $91 904 24h volatility: 1.5% Market cap: $1.84 T Vol. 24h: $45.26 B…

Former NYC Mayor Eric Adams Suspected of Rug Pull in Latest Token Launch

Key Notes Eric Adams is linked to the NYC Token launch that sparked rugpull concerns. One trader, Dr6s2o, lost roughly $473,500 within minutes during the selloff. A deployer-linked wallet withdrew about $2.5 million, triggering panic selling. Eric Adamsโ€™ rug pull claims have surfaced online after the former New York City mayor launched the NYC Token. As detailed, liquidity was pulled near the price peak, triggering a sharp crash that wiped out millions in minutes. This left traders accusing the project of a coordinated exit amid panic selling. Eric Adams Rug…

PancakeSwap Opens CAKE Supply Reduction Proposal for Discussion, Price Surges

Key Notes The proposal aims to lower CAKEโ€™s hard cap from 450 million to 400 million. CAKE supply has stayed net deflationary since April 2025 after daily emissions were cut. CAKE trading volume jumped about 30% on Jan.13, with the price near $1.98. The PancakeSwap community has opened a discussion on a proposal to permanently reduce CAKEโ€™s maximum supply by 50 million tokens. If approved, the hard cap would fall from 450 million CAKE to 400 million. ๐Ÿฅž Discussion of Proposal to Reduce CAKE Max Supply Following the rollout of…

Crypto Market Structure Bill Further Delayed to January 2026 End, Here’s Why

Key Notes Lawmakers are concerned that advancing the bill too quickly without sufficient Democratic backing could cause it to fail on the Senate floor. The passing of the crypto bill requires a 3/5 majority. The bill must still be aligned between the Senate Banking and Agriculture Committees for final passing. The much-awaited crypto market structure bill, previously scheduled for Jan. 15, has been delayed further to the end of the month. This is because the Senate Banking Committee needs more time to secure bipartisan support. Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis stated…