BTC gives up $70,000 level as markets mull higher interest rates

Bitcoin BTC$70,024.94 slipped back toward $69,000 on Tuesday morning as a broader pullback in equities spilled over into crypto markets. After trading near $71,000 earlier in the session, BTC fell to around $69,600 in the early U.S. hours, tracking a broader reversal in risk assets. Ether (ETH), Solana (SOL) and XRP (XRP) were also down…

Fira Debuts Fixed-Rate DeFi Lending Protocol with $450M in Deposits

Ethereum-based decentralized finance (DeFi) lending protocol Fira said on Tuesday it was launching with about $450 million in deposits, highlighting demand for fixed-rate onchain credit. Fira said the protocol’s fixed-rate credit market allows users to lock borrowing costs and lending returns for defined periods by organizing lending around maturities rather than floating utilization-based rates, according…

Cryptography Firm Zama Brings FHE Privacy to T‑REX Ledger

French cryptography startup Zama is integrating its protocol with Apex-backed T-REX Ledger to add a confidentiality layer for ERC-3643-based tokenized assets, a standard that lets issuers embed identity checks and transfer restrictions into tokenized securities. Zama, which raised $73 million in Series A funding in 2024 to commercialize fully homomorphic encryption (FHE), said the integration…

FSB Flags Dollar Stablecoins as Bigger Risk for Emerging Markets

The Financial Stability Board (FSB), a global financial watchdog hosted by the Bank for International Settlements, warned on Tuesday that foreign currency-denominated stablecoins can pose financial stability and macroeconomic risks for emerging market and developing economies. In its annual report for 2025, the FSB said that US dollar-denominated stablecoins circulating across multiple jurisdictions pose “potentially…

What Happens to Bitcoin If US Bond Yields Soar Above 5%?

Bitcoin (BTC) has been among the best-performing assets amid the US–Iran war, but signs of upside exhaustion are emerging due to an “out-of-control” bond market. Key takeaways: US benchmark yields may rise by 200 basis points if the US–Iran war drags on further. Past oil-linked conflicts boosted inflation and reduced risk appetite, hinting BTC price…

Tom Lee Says Mini Crypto Winter Ending as Bitmine Nears ETH Goal

Bitmine Immersion Technologies chairman Tom Lee says Ether’s “mini-crypto winter” may be in its final stages as the firm bought another $139 million worth of ETH, bringing it closer to its goal of acquiring 5% of the token’s circulating supply. Lee said in a statement on Monday that Bitmine has maintained a higher buying pace…

Bitcoin Bulls Fight To Hold $70K, Derivatives Data Signals Weakness

Key takeaways: Bearish Bitcoin futures premiums and low call option odds suggest traders remain skeptical despite BTC’s brief 4% relief rally. High oil prices and cautious Fed policy continue to pressure risk assets, while Bitcoin derivatives metrics signal a lack of conviction. Bitcoin (BTC) surged 4% within minutes of US President Donald Trump announcing his…

Aave DAO Supports V4 Rollout Plan in Snapshot Vote

Aave’s decentralized autonomous organization backed a proposal to move its V4 protocol toward deployment on Ethereum mainnet, signaling broader support for the upgrade after weeks of governance tension and contributor exits. On Monday, the proposal to deploy Aave V4 on the Ethereum mainnet garnered near-unanimous support from the DAO, with more than 645,000 votes in…

Tom Lee Says Mini Crypto Winter Ending as Bitmine Nears ETH Goal

Bitmine Immersion Technologies chairman Tom Lee says Ether’s “mini-crypto winter” may be in its final stages as the firm bought another $139 million worth of ETH, bringing it closer to its goal of acquiring 5% of the token’s circulating supply. Lee said in a statement on Monday that Bitmine has maintained a higher buying pace…

Balancer Labs to shut down following $110 million exploit, co-founder says in DAO post

The company that built decentralized finance (DeFi) powerhouse Balancer is closing. Balancer co-founder Fernando Martinelli announced Tuesday that Balancer Labs, the corporate entity that incubated and funded the decentralized exchange protocol, will be shutting down. The decision comes roughly five months after a v2 exploit in November 2025 that drained approximately $110 million in digital…