LATEST: US CFTC Adopts Nasdaq Surveillance Tech To Monitor Digital Asset Markets

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has officially adopted Nasdaq’s Market Surveillance platform to boost its oversight of derivatives and digital asset markets. The move replaces the agency’s decades-old system and marks a major step in modernization under Acting Chair Caroline Pham. She emphasized that as financial markets evolve, it is vital for regulators to stay ahead with tools that can detect fraud, manipulation, and abuse in real time.

Nasdaq’s surveillance system, already trusted by over 50 exchanges and 20 global regulators, brings automated alerts, cross-market analytics, and advanced monitoring across multiple asset classes. The technology offers real-time analysis with access to comprehensive order book data, giving the CFTC stronger tools to protect both traditional and crypto markets. Its flexible design also allows rapid scaling during periods of heightened trading activity.

The adoption comes as the CFTC expands its role in digital assets. Just last week, the agency launched a new phase of its “Crypto Sprint” initiative, inviting public input on regulations for leveraged and margined retail crypto trading.

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Understanding futarchy on Solana – Blockworks

This is a segment from the Lightspeed newsletter. To read full editions, subscribe.

DAO governance has long struggled with plutocratic voting, insider problems and voter apathy, among many other problems.

Over the years, several teams in crypto have explored the idea of using futarchy to solve these problems. The MetaDAO team on Solana is at the forefront of this effort.

To date, MetaDAO has onboarded at least a dozen teams creating active proposals, including Drift, Sanctum, Marinade and more.

Futarchy is simply a decision market. Think Polymarket, but rather than betting on an outcome, you’re betting on consequences, or what should happen.

Why would a trader with…

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Lightning Is Misunderstood

The Lightning Network is one of the most exciting and innovative technologies built on Bitcoin, but it’s also one of the most misunderstood. From its early days with grassroots efforts like “PLEBNET,” to ambitious visions of Lightning Applications (LApps), and the idea of earning passive yield as a routing node operator, enthusiasm around Lightning has often outpaced its practical realities.

Many Bitcoiners expected Lightning to be a seamless, plug-and-play extension of the Bitcoin network — just as sovereign, decentralized, and accessible as running a full Bitcoin node. But the reality is more complex. Setting up and maintaining a well-connected Lightning node involves…

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LATEST: DDC Enterprise Surpasses 1,008 BTC, Enters Top 45 Bitcoin Treasury Holders

DDC Enterprise Limited has officially crossed the 1,000 BTC mark in its corporate treasury, just 96 days after making its first Bitcoin purchase. The company’s latest addition of 120 BTC brings its total holdings to 1,008 BTC, positioning DDC as the 42nd largest public Bitcoin treasury globally. With an average purchase cost of $108,384 per coin, the firm is showcasing rapid accumulation at scale.

The aggressive strategy includes five purchases made in August 2025 alone, driving an astonishing 1,798% yield growth compared to its entry in May. Shareholders now hold an equivalent of 0.121298 BTC for every 1,000 shares, highlighting Bitcoin’s rising importance in DDC’s value creation strategy.

Founder and CEO Norma Chu called the milestone a crucial step forward, but not the final destination. “Crossing 1,000 BTC is an important milestone—but it’s just one step in our journey,” she said. DDC has set its sights on a bold target of 10,000 BTC by year-end, strengthening its commitment to becoming a leading force in corporate Bitcoin adoption.

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Polymarket is close to crossing the culture chasm

This is a segment from the Empire newsletter. To read full editions, subscribe.

Like all good things, it turns out that killer apps come in threes.

Polymarket, Hyperliquid, pump.fun. These are the voyages of modern-day crypto enterprise.

And before you tell me that stablecoins are crypto’s fourth killer app, thereby ruining this airtight metaphor: No. 

Stablecoins are a tool. Wallets are apps (but only barely). I will die on this hill.

For the sake of being pedantic, let’s separate Circle, with its wildly successful IPO, into a separate category: “fintech on the blockchain.”

There’s suddenly no question that Polymarket, Hyperliquid and pump.fun are the…

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LATEST: Japan’s Metaplanet Raises $837M To Buy More Bitcoin Holdings

Japanese investment firm Metaplanet has approved a massive $1.2 billion overseas share issuance to strengthen its Bitcoin strategy. According to a Wednesday filing, the company will issue up to 555 million new shares, potentially raising its total stock to 1.27 billion. The pricing will be finalized between September 9–11, with settlement shortly after.

Most of the funds — around $837 million — will be directed toward new Bitcoin purchases, adding to Metaplanet’s existing 18,991 BTC reserves, valued at over $2.1 billion. Another $440 million will fuel its “Bitcoin Income Business,” a program generating revenue through covered call options on its BTC holdings. Executives said the move aims to shield against a weak yen, hedge inflation risks, and boost long-term corporate value.

Metaplanet’s bold expansion comes alongside its inclusion in the FTSE Japan Index after strong Q2 results, securing automatic entry into the FTSE All-World Index. The company’s ultimate goal is to hold more than 210,000 BTC by 2027 — over 1% of the global supply.

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LATEST: Survey Reveals 1 In 4 UK Adults Open To Crypto Retirement

A new poll by UK insurer Aviva has revealed that 27% of British adults are open to including cryptocurrency in their retirement plans. Conducted between June 4–6 with 2,000 participants, the survey highlighted that more than 40% of those in favor cited the potential for higher returns as their primary motivation. Nearly one-quarter of respondents said they would consider withdrawing some or all of their existing pensions to invest in crypto.

The findings come at a time when pensions in the UK collectively hold assets worth £3.8 trillion ($5.12 trillion). Around one in five adults, equivalent to 11.6 million people, have already invested in crypto, with many in the 25–34 age group even tapping into pension funds for such investments. However, risks remain a major concern, with 41% citing hacking and 37% pointing to regulatory gaps as key worries.

Despite the rising interest, options to include crypto in UK retirement funds remain limited. This trend mirrors developments in the US, where a recent executive order from President Donald Trump allowed 401(k) plans to include cryptocurrencies, unlocking access to more than $9 trillion in assets.

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LATEST: Nasdaq-Listed KindlyMD Targets $5 Billion Raise For Bitcoin Treasury

KindlyMD, a Nasdaq-listed healthcare services company, revealed Tuesday that it has filed a shelf registration with the SEC for an at-the-market equity offering program worth up to $5 billion. The firm intends to use proceeds for general corporate needs, including growing its bitcoin treasury.

The program gives KindlyMD flexibility to issue and sell common stock through major agents such as TD Securities, Cantor Fitzgerald, and B. Riley Securities. Shares will be sold at prevailing Nasdaq market prices, with timing and volume determined by the company. The shelf registration allows KindlyMD to raise capital over time without seeking new approvals for each offering.

This move follows the company’s merger with bitcoin-focused Nakamoto Holdings earlier this month, a deal that signaled its strategic shift into crypto. Shortly after, KindlyMD disclosed its first bitcoin purchase of 5,744 BTC, underscoring its commitment to digital assets as part of its long-term growth plan.

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Conditions are setting up a possible ‘altcoin autumn’

This is a segment from the Forward Guidance newsletter. To read full editions, subscribe.

Those who got into the crypto space via bitcoin are likely having trouble ignoring all the other crypto token names they come across. 

Bitcoin’s digital gold narrative has resonated with retail investors and institutions alike. Though BTC’s price has dropped of late (trading below $110,000 on Tuesday, down nearly 7% over the past month), it’s up ~70% from a year ago.

Altcoin rallies typically follow strong bitcoin performance as investors assess the potential of other projects, notes zondacrypto CEO Przemyslaw Kral. That’s one reason why he’s expecting an “altcoin…

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