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As crypto continues to shift to a more fundamental focus, it makes sense that new metrics will be introduced — such as net new assets (NNAs). 

Blockworks Research defines them as “assets that didn’t previously exist and/or couldn’t exist without crypto rails.” And, to be fair, it’s not a new metric to track, according to my colleague Ryan Connor.

Connor penned a report on NNAs and how they play into the rise of consumer crypto, something I’m keenly interested in.

Basically, Connor makes the case that crypto is becoming more mainstream and rolling out the red carpet for the…

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Ben Allen has been named the third recipient of the Maelstrom Bitcoin Developer Grant, the family office of Arthur Hayes announced in a recent press release sent to Bitcoin Magazine. Over the next year, Allen will focus on enhancing the Payjoin Dev Kit project, a privacy-focused Bitcoin transaction tool designed to improve user anonymity and network scalability.

Payjoin, first introduced in 2019 by Nicolas Dorier in BIP 78, allows both the sender and receiver to contribute inputs to a single Bitcoin transaction. This disrupts common assumptions used by financial surveillance firms, namely the idea that multiple transaction inputs must come from a single entity. By breaking this…

Read more on BitcoinMagazine

“The root problem with conventional currency is all the trust that’s required to make it work. The central bank must be trusted not to debase the currency, but the history of fiat currencies is full of breaches of that trust. Banks must be trusted to hold our money and transfer it electronically, but they lend it out in waves of credit bubbles with barely a fraction in reserve.”— Satoshi Nakamoto (2009)

Bitcoin was created to eliminate the need for trusted intermediaries. It replaced opaque, permissioned systems with transparency, auditability, and decentralized verification. The ethos was clear from day one: don’t trust—verify.

And yet, many of the institutions…

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Bitwise’s Crypto Industry Innovators ETF $BITQ has officially crossed $200 million in assets under management signaling strong investor confidence in the growing crypto economy. The announcement was made on X as Bitwise highlighted the increasing demand for exposure to companies driving crypto innovation.

$BITQ offers investors indirect access to the crypto sector through leading firms actively shaping the digital asset space. Top holdings include MicroStrategy (11.78%), Coinbase (10.37%) and Marathon Digital (8.56%). Other notable names include Galaxy Digital (6.54%), Core Scientific (5.28%) and Riot Platforms (4.16%). These companies reflect the infrastructure backbone of the expanding crypto market.

While $BITQ does not invest directly in crypto assets the fund targets firms that use or hold crypto in their operations. Bitwise emphasized the need for investors to understand the risks including high volatility and regulatory uncertainties. The ETF’s continued growth shows rising interest in crypto-focused equities as traditional investors seek opportunities in the digital financial revolution.

DigiAsia Corp has announced plans to raise up to $100 million to create a bitcoin treasury reserve joining a growing number of public companies turning to crypto for balance sheet diversification. The company said it could allocate up to 50% of future net profits toward bitcoin purchases signaling a major strategic shift.

Shares of DigiAsia soared 91 percent during regular trading on Monday after the announcement before dipping 22% in after-hours trading. Despite the rally the stock remains over 50% down for the year. DigiAsia reported $101 million in revenue for 2024 and expects $12 million in earnings before interest and taxes.

The fintech firm is also exploring yield-generating opportunities such as institutional lending and staking through regulated platforms. Co-CEO Prashant Gokarn called bitcoin a compelling long-term investment and a strong foundation for modern treasury management. DigiAsia is reviewing funding options including convertible notes and crypto-linked instruments to back its bitcoin strategy.

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Breaking barriers the US Senate has advanced the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act also known as the GENIUS Act. This key crypto-friendly bill cleared a major hurdle with a 66-32 procedural vote setting up full debate on the Senate floor.

Momentum shifted as several Democrats changed their votes emphasizing America’s need to lead in blockchain technology. Senator Mark Warner voiced his concerns about past conflicts but declared that America cannot afford to stand by while other nations set the rules for crypto innovation. Supporters argue that the GENIUS Act offers robust protections while keeping the door open for US leadership in the rapidly growing $250 billion stablecoin market.

The GENIUS Act requires all stablecoins to be fully backed regular security audits and clear federal or state approval. Only licensed companies can issue these digital dollars while risky algorithmic stablecoins are restricted. Crypto advocates believe this bill will cement the US as a leader in financial technology innovation.

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JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon announced the bank will allow clients to buy Bitcoin marking a significant shift despite his longstanding skepticism. Dimon known for calling Bitcoin a Ponzi scheme and claiming it has no real value confirmed JPMorgan will enable Bitcoin transactions but clarified the bank itself will not hold custody of the cryptocurrency.

The move comes amid growing acceptance of digital assets by major financial institutions driven by recent support from the Trump administration and the Federal Reserve. Fed Chairman Jerome Powell previously stated that banks could offer cryptocurrency services if risks are effectively managed although he acknowledged regulatory standards remain high due to the asset class’s novelty.

Dimon who remains critical of blockchain technology despite JPMorgan’s extensive use said blockchain hasn’t achieved the anticipated impact. Still JPMorgan’s decision to support Bitcoin transactions reflects a broader industry trend towards crypto adoption suggesting mainstream finance may finally be warming up to digital currencies despite continued caution from traditional banking leaders.