Bitcoin DeFi key to unlocking $300T potential: Asymmetric Founder

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Serial entrepreneur Dan Held, whose past exits include Zeroblock and Interchange, sees Bitcoin DeFi as the largest untapped opportunity of his decade-long crypto career.

Speaking on the Supply Shock podcast Tuesday, Held told host Pete Rizzo that he sees decentralized finance (DeFi) as the key to unlocking bitcoin’s potential as a $300 trillion global asset. He pointed to the ability to earn yield for lending bitcoin — one of the many financial functions DeFi replicates without centralized intermediaries — as a major opportunity.

Held’s journey into Bitcoin DeFi began with his…

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Bitcoin Mining Pool Braiins Hits 1,000 Daily Payouts On Lightning Network

Bitcoin mining pool Braiins has reached a major milestone by processing over 1,000 daily payouts on the Lightning Network. This achievement demonstrates the potential for Lightning to enable instant, low-cost transactions at scale for the mining sector.

Since first introducing Lightning payouts in February 2024 through a partnership with payments platform Voltage, Braiins has experienced consistent double-digit monthly growth in Lightning transactions. Miners now have access to immediate payouts of their earnings rather than relying on slower, expensive on-chain settlement.

According to Braiins CEO Eli Nagar, “Lightning payouts have completely changed the way miners receive…

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LATEST: Coinbase Registers with FIU, Ready to Resume Crypto Trading in India

Coinbase has received approval from the Financial Intelligence Unit to make a significant return to the Indian market. This development follows their 2023 exit which was influenced by regulatory challenges. The US-based cryptocurrency exchange now plans to reintroduce retail services later this year promising a phased rollout of more investments and innovative products.

Having navigated through the stringent requirements of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act Coinbase’s re-entry is timed perfectly as India’s regulations now encompass virtual digital assets. Their relaunch aligns with other major platforms like Binance making a similar move last August indicating a strengthening global confidence in India’s crypto market potential.

The strategic expansion doesn’t stop at trading. Coinbase is set to enhance its developer relations in India by broadening access to its crypto platforms and tools aimed at fostering local innovations and enabling developers to make an impact globally. This move by Coinbase signals a robust commitment to facilitating blockchain technology’s growth in a compliant and forward-thinking manner.

Bitcoin Déjà Vu? If Trump’s Second Term Is Anything Like His First, BTC Could Touch This Eye-Popping Level

The ongoing cryptocurrency downturn has left investors reeling, wiping away a major chunk of their gains since Donald Trump emerged victorious in the 2024 presidential elections. 

Bitcoin BTC/USD, the world’s largest cryptocurrency by valuation, sank below $77,000 for the first time in four months and, trading down 21% since Trump was sworn in as president.

While Bitcoin did not get off to the best start under Trump’s presidency, it is worth remembering that the apex cryptocurrency had a fantastic run during his previous tenure.

What happened: Trump won the 2016 elections, with his tenure beginning on Jan. 20, 2017, and lasting till Jan. 20, 2021.

During this time, Bitcoin…

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LATEST: Deutsche Börse’s Clearstream to Offer Crypto Services for Institutions

Clearstream the central securities depository arm of Deutsche Börse Group is set to revolutionize the financial landscape by offering cryptocurrency custody and settlement services starting April. This initiative will enable 2,500 institutional clients to manage Bitcoin and Ethereum through their existing accounts with Clearstream Banking SA. Crypto Finance a majority-owned subsidiary will act as a sub-custodian facilitating these operations.

Expansion plans are ambitious as Clearstream aims to include additional cryptocurrencies and introduce services such as staking lending and brokerage. Jens Hachmeister head of issuer services and new digital markets at Clearstream mentioned that the firm intends to develop a comprehensive one-stop shop that may soon incorporate stablecoins and tokenized securities.

The announcement has stirred considerable interest among international banking clients with Crypto Finance CEO Stijn Vander Straeten revealing that there is very high demand for crypto services. This demand underscores the significant investment firms are willing to make to integrate crypto solutions which can reach up to €5 million for in-house development.

Bloomberg

NEW: Florida Governor Candidate Proposes Creating a State Bitcoin Reserve

US Congressman Byron Donalds proposes establishing a Bitcoin reserve in Florida to combat inflation and counter federal monetary policy errors. In a recent interview Donalds emphasized Bitcoin’s reliability as a long-term value holder comparing it to gold due to its scarcity and appreciative history. He suggested funding the reserve with state surpluses instead of new taxes likening the strategy to how pension funds operate.

Highlighting the potential of Bitcoin Donalds criticized the Federal Reserve’s monetary policies pointing to their role in devaluing the US dollar. His vision involves Bitcoin as a core component of Florida’s financial arsenal ensuring economic stability and anticipating significant long-term appreciation similar to strategic oil reserves.

Donalds’ proposal is part of a growing trend across US states exploring Bitcoin as a reserve asset. With Pennsylvania and Texas leading the way Florida’s push under Donalds’ vision could herald a new era in state-level financial innovation particularly if he wins the upcoming gubernatorial race.