Author: James Wilson

Slash raised $100M at a $1.4B valuation as it processes over $1B in annualized stablecoin payments for 5,000+ businesses, turning crypto into back‑office banking rails. Summary Enterprise banking platform Slash has raised $100 million in a Series C round led by Ribbit Capital, lifting its valuation to about $1.4 billion and bringing total funding to more than $160 million. The San Francisco‑based firm now serves over 5,000 corporate clients with a bundle that includes stablecoin payments, corporate and virtual accounts, expense management and real‑time payouts, and says annualized stablecoin volume has already crossed $1 billion less than a year after…

SEC Chair Paul Atkins launches “Material Matters,” with Hester Peirce and Mark Uyeda using the debut to pitch a more pro‑innovation crypto stance and clearer rulemaking. Summary SEC Chair Paul Atkins has launched “Material Matters,” a new agency podcast, using the first episode to spotlight a more openly pro‑innovation message for markets, including crypto. Commissioner Hester Peirce said she wants the U.S. to be “the place where people want to innovate whether it’s in crypto or something else,” while Mark Uyeda warned against straying from the SEC’s core responsibilities. The messaging caps a broader shift that includes a Uyeda‑led crypto…

Kraken parent Payward will buy Bitnomial for up to $550M, adding a full CFTC derivatives stack just as Deutsche Börse’s $200M stake backs its U.S. build‑out. Summary Payward, Kraken’s parent, plans to buy 100% of U.S. crypto derivatives venue Bitnomial for up to $550 million in cash and stock, pending CFTC approvals in H1 2026. Bitnomial is the first crypto‑native platform to hold all three key U.S. derivatives licenses — DCM, DCO and FCM — giving Payward a vertically integrated, onshore futures and clearing stack. The move follows Deutsche Börse’s $200 million investment for a 1.5% stake in Payward, valuing…

France’s finance minister backs bank‑issued euro stablecoins and Qivalis’ 2026 launch, pivoting policy to keep Europe’s digital rails denominated in euros, not dollars. Summary France’s finance minister Roland Lescure says Europe needs more euro-based stablecoins and urges banks to explore tokenized deposits. Qivalis, a 12‑bank alliance including ING, UniCredit, BBVA and BNP Paribas, is targeting a MiCA‑compliant euro stablecoin launch in H2 2026. The push marks a shift from France’s earlier hard‑line stance on private stablecoins and aims to curb “digital dollarization” in European payments and DeFi. France’s finance minister Roland Lescure has publicly called for more euro‑denominated stablecoins and…

Pi Network price rallied 8% on Friday as developers revealed a hard deadline for the Pi Network mainnet upgrade to version 22. Summary Pi Network price jumped 8% to a three-week high of $0.182 as developers confirmed a fixed timeline for the Protocol 22 upgrade. The update introduces structural changes, dual interface access, and phased node participation with mandatory KYC compliance. Bullish signals strengthen with a falling wedge breakout and strong inflows, with $0.204 as the next key level. According to data from crypto.news, Pi Network (PI) price rose to a three-week high of $0.182 on Friday, April 17, before…

HYPE is Hyperliquid’s native token. The cheapest and fastest place to buy it is directly on Hyperliquid — no centralised exchange account required. This guide shows you exactly how to buy HYPE from scratch: setting up a wallet, getting USDC, bridging to Hyperliquid, and executing the purchase on the spot market. For a full overview of the Hyperliquid platform, see our Hyperliquid review. Why Buy HYPE on Hyperliquid Instead of a CEX? FactorHyperliquid (Native)CEX (Binance/Coinbase)Trading fee0.045% taker0.1–0.5%SpreadTight (order book)Wide (market maker spread)KYC requiredNoYesStaking rewardsYes — stake directly on HLNo native stakingCustodyYour wallet (self-custody)CEX holds your HYPE Buying HYPE directly on…

Foundation, a prominent Ethereum-based digital art hub, has permanently ceased operations after a planned rescue acquisition by the platform Blackdove collapsed. Summary The planned acquisition of Foundation by the digital art platform Blackdove has collapsed, resulting in the permanent closure of the Ethereum-based marketplace. Foundation CEO Kayvon Tehranian confirmed the site is unable to remain online under its current standing but will return briefly to allow users to delist their assets. According to a Wednesday announcement on X by Foundation founder and CEO Kayvon Tehranian, the marketplace will not return to active service because the deal intended to sustain its…

Hyperliquid charges 0.045% taker / 0.015% maker at base tier — with zero deposit fees. That makes it one of the most competitive fee structures in crypto, beating Binance, Bybit, and dYdX on most metrics. This complete guide breaks down every fee you’ll encounter on Hyperliquid: perp trading fees, spot fees, withdrawal costs, vault fees, and how the volume tier system works. Hyperliquid Fee Schedule at a Glance Fee TypeAmountPerpetuals Taker Fee (Base)0.045%Perpetuals Maker Fee (Base)0.015%Spot Taker Fee0.045%Spot Maker Fee0.015%Deposit FeeFree (0%)Withdrawal Fee~$1–$2 flat (USDC deducted)Vault Withdrawal FeeOperator-set (typically 0–10% of profits) For full context on the platform, see our…

Finance ministers, central bankers, and senior financiers are increasingly focused on the potential risks posed by Anthropic’s Claude Mythos model, amid fears it could expose critical weaknesses in global financial infrastructure. Summary Global finance leaders warn Anthropic’s Mythos AI could expose critical flaws in financial and core IT systems. Banks and governments are testing the model early to identify vulnerabilities before any wider release. Officials caution that such tools could help cybercriminals exploit weaknesses even as they strengthen defenses. The model has already prompted high-level discussions and emergency-style meetings after early testing revealed vulnerabilities across major operating systems and widely…

Plans to release revised stablecoin yield language in the Clarity Act have been delayed, extending uncertainty around one of the bill’s most divisive provisions. Summary Release of the Clarity Act stablecoin yield draft has been pushed back as lawmakers wait for committee timing clarity. Draft language still restricts rewards on idle balances while allowing yield tied to transaction activity. According to a report from Politico, Senator Thom Tillis said the updated draft is unlikely to be made public this week, as lawmakers wait for clarity on the timing of the Senate Banking Committee’s upcoming markup before proceeding with a release.…