Kraken

Payward has joined Anthropic’s Project Glasswing, gaining access to Claude Mythos 5 for defensive cybersecurity work. The Kraken parent plans to use the model across its environments and disclose third-party open-source vulnerabilities to maintainers.

Banking lobbyists and crypto advocates are locked in a renewed fight over whether platforms should be allowed to offer rewards tied to stablecoin holdings. The dispute has become a central threat to the Clarity Act as lawmakers weigh bank concerns against the crypto sector’s push for market structure rules.

BitGo is set to replace LayerZero with Chainlink CCIP as the exclusive cross-chain provider for WBTC, adding major weight to a broader infrastructure migration. The announced LayerZero-to-Chainlink shift now covers roughly $14.6 billion following heightened scrutiny after the Kelp DAO bridge exploit.

A supervisory FBI special agent with top secret clearance has been arrested and accused of stealing more than $1 million in cryptocurrency from wallets connected to agency investigations. Court filings describe alleged transfers through crypto platforms and travel planning that investigators are treating as part of the case.

Strategy is publicly monitoring Bitcoin’s 200-week moving average and the cryptocurrency’s premium or discount to that level. The focus comes as Bitcoin trades near the historically important long-term trend line, with market participants watching whether support holds.

Bitcoin holders are moving funds back to centralized exchanges after a Coldcard hardware wallet vulnerability raised fresh concerns about self custody. On chain data shows smaller transfers and exchange deposits spiking in a pattern that contrasts sharply with the response to FTX’s collapse.

Payward is widening its xStocks framework beyond U.S. equities with plans to add Hong Kong-listed shares and later U.K., European and South Korean stocks, pending regulatory approvals. The move intensifies the race to bring global stock markets onchain as tokenized securities gain momentum across crypto and traditional finance.

Augustus has raised $180 million at a $1 billion valuation as it seeks to modernize clearing infrastructure for banks, fintechs and crypto firms. The company is not issuing its own stablecoin, instead positioning itself as a bridge between traditional payment rails and blockchain networks.

Kraken has introduced European-style, cash-settled bitcoin and ether options on Kraken Pro for eligible international clients. The exchange is betting that simpler product design, USD settlement and a unified trading account can help expand crypto options beyond institutional-heavy venues.

Binance.US is pushing to regain ground in the U.S. crypto exchange market after a prolonged period of regulatory pressure and slower growth. The exchange is leaning on ultra low fees, liquidity rebuilding efforts and a wider regulated product roadmap to compete with major domestic platforms.

Crypto companies are facing a tougher path to public markets as investor caution, weaker trading conditions and capital rotation into artificial intelligence weigh on listing plans. Market participants say access to capital, not regulation, has become the central obstacle for would be crypto IPO candidates.

Kraken is pursuing a full banking license in Europe, with Lithuania emerging as the focal jurisdiction for the plan. The move would deepen the crypto exchange’s regulated financial services ambitions as its parent company Payward seeks broader licensing worldwide.

Kraken is evaluating a deal to acquire a 15% stake in DeFi lending protocol Aave at a valuation of $385 million, according to sources. The move comes as Payward seeks to diversify ahead of a possible IPO and as Aave rebuilds after the KelpDAO fallout.

Kraken parent Payward has asked a U.S. federal court for discovery tied to PowerTrade and its co-founders, escalating a dispute over alleged missing funds. The company says the move is aimed at identifying assets that could be frozen to prevent further harm.

Bitcoin’s brief dips below its 200-week moving average have historically been followed by strong rebounds, according to Kraken. The exchange says buyers who held through those periods faced limited drawdowns and saw median one-year gains above 100%.

Kraken has introduced regulated perpetual futures for U.S. customers through Kraken Pro, marking a major expansion of crypto derivatives access onshore. The rollout starts with bitcoin, ether and solana as the exchange looks to broaden contracts and collateral options.

Kraken parent Payward will acquire Hong Kong-based Reap Technologies in a $600 million deal as the crypto exchange expands its stablecoin payments infrastructure and Asia operations.