Near Blockchain Community Weighs Slashing Staking Rewards

Kraken has obtained a regulatory license from the Central Bank of Ireland, allowing it to provide crypto services in 27 EU member states and three EEA member states. This move aligns with the EU's Markets in Crypto Assets framework, emphasizing responsible innovation and regulatory compliance.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has appointed a panel to investigate the Australian Securities Exchange's internal operations, focusing on governance, capability, and risk management frameworks. The inquiry follows the ASX's failed blockchain project that cost $250 million and was abandoned in 2023.

Opyl Limited, an Australian AI-biotech company facing financial stress, recently acquired two Bitcoin through a non-dilutive finance facility to strengthen its treasury diversification. With just $64,000 in cash and pending deals, the company seeks fresh capital to sustain operations.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency has directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to prepare for accepting cryptocurrency as a form of mortgage payment, aiming to expand access to homeownership for qualified borrowers. This move follows a previous instruction to study how crypto assets could impact mortgage qualification criteria.

The SEC is considering multiple altcoin-based ETF applications, including Solana, XRP, Dogecoin, Cardano, Polkadot, and Hedera. Staking, a contentious issue among regulators, is being clarified in ETF filings. Analysts predict high odds of approval for Solana, XRP, and Litecoin spot ETFs by 2025.

Kalshi, a predictions market startup, raised $185 million in a Series C round led by Paradigm, elevating its valuation to $2 billion. The funds will be used to expand the technology team and integrate with brokers, following a successful growth in prediction markets.

Bit Digital is transitioning to focus solely on Ethereum, with plans to convert its remaining Bitcoin holdings into ETH. To fund this shift, the company is selling off its Bitcoin mining operations and reinvesting the proceeds in Ethereum. The move comes amidst challenges in the mining industry post-BTC halving.

GameStop has raised an additional $450 million in funding, bringing its total convertible notes offering to $2.7 billion, allowing for potential Bitcoin purchases. The company's recent filing with the SEC indicates plans for general corporate purposes and investments, including the possibility of acquiring Bitcoin.

SharpLink Gaming and Upexi saw their stock prices plummet over 60% after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved their registration-of-shares filings. These companies had raised funds through private investments in public equity, allowing them to quickly raise capital. The effectiveness of the registration filing can lead to significant gains for investors.

Zama, a cryptography startup, has secured $57 million in Series B funding, reaching a valuation of over $1 billion. The company focuses on bringing privacy to public blockchains through homomorphic encryption, allowing for confidential on-chain payments.