North Dakota Takes First Steps Towards State Bitcoin Reserve

The Blockchain Game Alliance reports a shift in the gaming sector as traditional developers like Sony and Square Enix enter the blockchain gaming space through layer-2 solutions. Despite efforts to improve user experience, public perception remains a challenge, with 66% of projects still working to establish credibility.

The Federal Reserve's hawkish pivot led to a sharp decline in both crypto and equities, with Bitcoin dropping 5% and major indices like the Nasdaq and S&P 500 falling significantly. The Fed's updated policy expectations for 2025 now project two rate cuts, down from the previous forecast of three cuts.

BiT Global's request for a temporary restraining order against Coinbase's delisting of WBTC was denied by a federal judge due to lack of evidence of imminent harm. Coinbase's decision was motivated by concerns over control falling into the hands of Justin Sun, a Tron co-founder.

Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Dogecoin plummeted following Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's announcement of an expected interest rate cut, causing investors to shy away from risky assets. The largest digital asset, Bitcoin, dropped by nearly 5% to $101,430 after hitting a new all-time high.

The vote to reconfirm SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw was canceled, likely ending her chance of securing another term. The Senate Banking Committee was set to vote but it's now listed as canceled with no possibility of rescheduling.

Kraken's layer-2 rollup network, Ink, based on the OP stack, has launched ahead of schedule. Kraken received 25 million OP tokens as part of the deal to build on the OP Stack, contributing to the wider “Superchain” ecosystem strategy.

Bitwise has introduced a Solana Staking ETP in Germany, catering to European investors' interest in the sixth-largest digital coin. Staking involves locking up digital coins to support a crypto network and earn additional tokens as rewards.

The stopgap bill, aimed at preventing a government shutdown, includes the "Deploying American Blockchains Act" to promote blockchain technology. The bill requires the Department of Commerce to advise the president on crypto matters and establish a National Blockchain Deployment Advisory Committee.

Europol, in collaboration with six countries, dismantled an international drug trafficking ring utilizing cryptocurrency for financial operations. The operation resulted in the arrest of nine suspects and the seizure of assets worth €27 million, including €25 million in cryptocurrencies.

The developer of Farm Frens and Everseed plans to launch its token and airdrop on Ethereum's Base network next month, connecting the two games. Airdrop allocations will be based on in-game achievements and NFT holdings, with the specific date yet to be announced.