MARA Cuts 15% of Workforce After Selling $1.1 Billion in Bitcoin to Pivot Business Focus

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.

The European Union is expected to approve the flow of stablecoins issued outside the bloc into the continent, a move that could benefit U.S. dollar-backed stablecoins. Moody's believes this shift is influenced by recent stablecoin legislation in the United States.

The crypto market remains relatively stable after the Israel-Iran ceasefire, with only a few coins showing significant gains. Bitcoin Cash experiences a 6% surge, breaking a critical resistance level, while technical indicators suggest bullish momentum and a strong trend.

SoFi will reintroduce crypto trading later this year, offering users the ability to trade popular cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. The firm previously offered crypto services but stopped in 2023 after careful consideration, and now plans to provide stablecoins and crypto staking features.

Barclays, one of the U.K.'s largest banks, will block customers from using credit cards to buy cryptocurrency due to risks associated with potential price drops and lack of asset protection. The decision aligns with actions taken by other banks like Nationwide and HSBC in the past.

Bernstein upgraded Coinbase's price target by 65%, citing the company's initiatives and market dominance. The analysts believe that regulatory headwinds have eased, making Coinbase the premier crypto financial platform in the U.S.