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KuCoin picked for Nigeria’s virtual asset pilot as sole global exchange

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KuCoin picked for Nigeria’s virtual asset pilot as sole global exchange

Summary

  • The Central Bank of Nigeria has launched a supervisory pilot for virtual asset providers, selecting KuCoin alongside five local fintech and crypto firms.
  • The program focuses on AML, CFT and CPF compliance in line with FATF standards, requiring detailed reporting and upgrades to governance, monitoring and Travel Rule controls.
  • KuCoin’s inclusion underscores its push to align with national regulatory frameworks in major emerging markets, rather than operating purely offshore.news.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has launched a pilot supervisory program for Virtual Asset Service Providers and selected a first cohort of six entities, with KuCoin standing out as the only global crypto exchange on the list. According to local press coverage, the initial phase includes Nigerian payment and crypto players cNGN, Flutterwave, Juicyway, KoinKoin and Paystack, alongside KuCoin, which serves a global user base but has significant volumes in Africa’s largest crypto market.

The pilot is designed to test how selected VASPs perform under direct central bank oversight on issues such as anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism financing and counter-proliferation financing, all framed against the Financial Action Task Force’s Recommendations 15 and 16. CBN statements cited by outlets including Leadership and AInvest describe the program as a structured effort to understand VASP business models, risk controls and data flows, and to push participants toward full FATF-aligned compliance.

Under the arrangements, participating firms must engage in regular, structured regulatory communications with the central bank and other agencies. They are required to submit periodic data on AML/CFT/CPF performance, undergo audits of customer onboarding and KYC, sanctions screening, transaction monitoring, and demonstrate credible plans to track cross-border flows under the Travel Rule for crypto transfers.

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The pilot, which is expected to run for six to nine months, does not itself confer licenses or formal approval, but it does bring KuCoin and the local platforms into what the CBN calls a “controlled and structured environment” for supervision. Authorities say the goal is to move from fragmented restrictions to a risk-based regime that can both weed out bad actors and keep Nigeria’s $92.1 billion annual crypto flows inside a more stable, transparent framework.

For KuCoin, being named in the first batch alongside domestic fintech leaders is a signal that Nigerian regulators see the exchange as a core liquidity node worth pulling into the official perimeter. Analysis from regional outlets notes that the pilot engages “Nigeria’s most visible VASPs,” suggesting KuCoin’s role in local crypto activity made it unavoidable for the CBN’s initial supervisory experiment.

The selection also fits KuCoin’s broader narrative of improving its compliance posture across emerging markets, as regulators from Africa to Asia tighten rules for offshore exchanges after years of largely unregulated growth. If KuCoin can meet Nigeria’s demands on governance, monitoring and Travel Rule adherence, it will strengthen the case that large global platforms can operate under domestic oversight rather than being pushed out of key markets.

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BitGo Mint Goes Live: Institutions Can Now Mint and Redeem Stablecoins from One Platform

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Brian Armstrong's Bold Prediction: AI Agents Will Soon Dominate Global Financial

TLDR:

  • BitGo Mint launches with support for USD1 and SoFiUSD, streamlining stablecoin operations for institutions.
  • The platform combines regulated custody, compliance tools, and in-platform reporting in a single workflow.
  • BitGo’s global network of market makers, banks, and fintechs gains direct access to native minting features.
  • BitGo plans to expand Mint support to tokenized financial products, including money market funds, over time.

BitGo Mint is now live, giving institutional clients a single destination to mint, redeem, and manage stablecoins. BitGo Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: BTGO) announced the launch, with initial support for USD1 and SoFiUSD.

The new tool integrates directly within the existing BitGo platform. It reduces the need to coordinate across multiple providers and manual processes. Institutions can now access minting and redemption from one regulated environment.

BitGo Mint Centralizes Stablecoin Operations for Institutional Clients

BitGo Mint brings minting and redemption into a unified workflow for institutional participants. Previously, institutions had to coordinate across several systems and service providers to complete these operations.

That process added complexity and created multiple points of failure. The new platform consolidates these steps into a single, familiar environment.

Clients using BitGo Mint can access regulated custody alongside policy controls and compliance tools. In-platform reporting keeps all activity visible from one dashboard, improving oversight.

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These features are already part of the BitGo platform that institutions rely on daily. Adding mint and redeem capability extends what they can do within that same infrastructure.

At launch, BitGo Mint supports two stablecoins: USD1 from World Liberty Financial and SoFiUSD from SoFi. Both are backed by BitGo’s Stablecoin-as-a-Service offering, which powers the minting and redemption process.

This integration makes these functions accessible to a broad range of institutional participants. Market makers, exchanges, banks, asset managers, and fintechs are all among the targeted clients.

Mike Belshe, CEO and Co-founder of BitGo, addressed the platform’s purpose at launch. “BitGo Mint brings minting and redemption into a unified institutional workflow,” he stated.

He noted that clients can reduce operational complexity while staying within the platform they already use. The statement reflected BitGo’s focus on building practical, scalable digital asset infrastructure.

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Issuers and Partners Gain Broader Network Access Through BitGo Mint

BitGo Mint also opens a new distribution channel for stablecoin issuers on the platform. Stablecoins powered by BitGo’s Stablecoin-as-a-Service product suite can be made available through the tool.

This gives issuers direct access to BitGo’s global network of institutional clients. The network includes liquidity providers, market makers, financial institutions, and fintech firms.

World Liberty Financial and SoFi both confirmed their assets are available on the new platform. Their handles, @worldlibertyfi and @SoFi, were cited in the official BitGo announcement.

USD1 and SoFiUSD are the first two assets supported at launch. BitGo has indicated plans to expand native mint and redemption support to additional assets over time.

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Among the assets expected to be added are tokenized financial products, including money market funds. This expansion aligns with the growing role of tokenized instruments in institutional finance.

BitGo is building infrastructure to support the full lifecycle of these assets. That covers issuance, movement, settlement, and safekeeping — all within one platform.

BitGo Mint reflects the company’s broader strategy to serve growing institutional demand in digital assets. Stablecoins now play a central role in how institutions transfer and settle value digitally.

Having minting and redemption in one place removes friction across trading and liquidity operations. The platform offers a compliant, practical solution for institutions that operate at scale.

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Paradigm develops prediction markets trading terminal for pro traders: Fortune

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Paradigm develops prediction markets trading terminal for pro traders: Fortune

Paradigm is building a prediction markets trading terminal aimed at professional traders and market makers, with partner Arjun Balaji leading the effort since late 2025.

Venture capital firm Paradigm is developing a prediction markets trading terminal targeted at professional traders and market makers, according to Fortune. Paradigm partner Arjun Balaji is spearheading the project, which has been in development since late 2025. The move comes as Paradigm has emerged as one of the most active backers of prediction markets, participating in three successive funding rounds for leading platform Kalshi in 2025.

Paradigm’s push into prediction markets infrastructure reflects growing institutional interest in the sector. The venture firm’s involvement with Kalshi, combined with this new trading terminal development, signals deepening commitment to the prediction markets ecosystem as platforms like Kalshi and Coinbase’s prediction markets offering expand.

Sources: Fortune

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This article was generated automatically by The Defiant’s AI news system from publicly available sources.

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XRP Transactions on Binance Hit 2025 Low as Withdrawals Continue to Outpace Deposits

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XRP Transactions on Binance Hit 2025 Low as Withdrawals Continue to Outpace Deposits

TLDR:

  • XRP deposit transactions on Binance totaled 310,500 over the past 30 days, a yearly low figure.
  • Withdrawals reached 329,400, creating a net negative transaction balance of roughly -18,900 in total.
  • Transaction volumes once exceeded 6 million in a 30-day window before sharply declining in mid-2025.
  • Steady XRP outflows from Binance may reflect cold wallet transfers and long-term accumulation behavior.

XRP transaction activity on Binance has dropped to its lowest point this year. Over the past 30 days, deposit transactions totaled around 310,500, while withdrawals reached approximately 329,400.

This resulted in a net negative count of roughly -18,900 transactions. The data reflects a clear decline in trader and investor activity, pointing to a period of visible market stagnation.

Transaction Volumes Reach Year-Long Lows on Binance

XRP deposits and withdrawals on Binance were considerably higher earlier in the year. At certain points in 2025, total transactions exceeded 6 million within a single 30-day window.

A sharp decline began in mid-2025, and volumes have remained subdued since then. The current figures mark the lowest activity levels recorded since that earlier peak.

Source: Cryptoquant

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This drop in volume reflects reduced short-term trading interest across the platform. Fewer transactions generally correspond to lower speculative activity in the market.

As buying and selling pressures ease in tandem, price volatility tends to follow suit. The overall environment points to a quieter phase in XRP trading.

Earlier in 2025, stronger engagement from retail and institutional traders drove higher transaction counts. The mid-year reversal was swift, pulling volume down within a short timeframe.

Since then, no notable recovery has appeared in the available data. This extended period of low activity is consistent with the broader market slowdown.

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Fewer deposit transactions also suggest a reduced appetite for exchange-based trading. When assets enter platforms at a lower rate, traders are typically less active in short-term positioning.

This aligns with the declining engagement trend observed on Binance. Together, these factors suggest the market has entered a consolidation phase.

Net Negative Transactions Reflect Steady XRP Outflows From Binance

With withdrawals consistently outpacing deposits, a net negative transaction balance has formed. The -18,900 gap reflects a steady movement of XRP away from the Binance platform.

This outflow pattern has persisted throughout the 30-day observation period. Even at low volumes, sustained outflows carry relevance when tracked over time.

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This behavior is sometimes linked to accumulation strategies among longer-term holders. Some traders may be shifting XRP into cold wallets or private storage.

This is a common pattern during quieter market periods when speculation recedes. It does not signal selling pressure but rather a shift in asset management approach.

Moving assets off exchanges during calm periods is a recognized risk management strategy. It gradually reduces exchange-held supply, which is a measurable data point.

This trend does not indicate distress but rather deliberate repositioning by holders. Tracking this movement in the coming weeks will provide additional market clarity.

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The current XRP data shows reduced activity and steady outflows on Binance. Volumes remain at yearly lows, and assets continue moving off the platform.

These trends reflect observable exchange data. The market is in a low-momentum phase as traders await clearer direction.

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Polymarket Introduces Equity and Commodity Markets Powered by Pyth

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United Kingdom, Stocks, Tesla, Chainlink, Polymarket, Kalshi, Prediction Markets

Polymarket has added markets tied to equities, commodities and exchange-traded funds, using price data from blockchain oracle provider Pyth Network as the resolution source to determine outcomes for daily contracts.

The new markets include daily up-or-down and closing price contracts for major equity indexes, commodities such as gold and oil, and a range of US-listed stocks, with outcomes settled automatically based on Pyth’s real-time price feeds. The contracts reset at the end of each trading session.

According to the announcement, the offering includes more than a dozen US-listed stocks, including Tesla, Nvidia and Apple, alongside commodities and equity indices.

United Kingdom, Stocks, Tesla, Chainlink, Polymarket, Kalshi, Prediction Markets
Source: Pyth Network

By making Pyth the resolution layer for these markets, Polymarket is supplanting manual or exchange-specific references with a standardized data source aggregated from trading firms and market makers.

Zug, Switzerland-based Pyth said it also launched a data interface called Pyth Terminal, where users can track live price feeds and the reference values used to settle markets on Polymarket. Traders can follow a live “price to beat” that updates continuously as markets move.

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Polymarket allows users to take positions on the outcomes of real-world events, such as sports, elections, financial markets and weather, with contracts resolving based on whether specific conditions are met.

Last week, Intercontinental Exchange, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, said it had completed a $600 million cash investment in Polymarket and plans to acquire up to an additional $40 million in shares from existing holders as part of a broader multibillion-dollar commitment to the platform.

United Kingdom, Stocks, Tesla, Chainlink, Polymarket, Kalshi, Prediction Markets
Event contracts on Polymarket. Source: Polymarket

Related: Polymarket fee expansion boosts revenue amid regulatory pressure

Oracles expand beyond crypto into real-world data infrastructure

Oracle networks, which bring offchain data such as prices, foreign exchange rates and commodities onto blockchains, are expanding beyond crypto into financial, government and prediction-based applications.

Their role has begun to extend into official data systems, with Chainlink and Pyth Network selected by US government agencies to publish economic data onchain, including GDP and inflation metrics. The announcement sent the PYTH (PYTH) token up more than 70% on the day, lifting its market capitalization past $1 billion.

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The announcement comes as oracle providers are being used to power prediction markets and real-world event data, with RedStone integrating data from the CFTC-regulated platform Kalshi across more than 110 blockchains in October.

They are also playing a growing role in connecting crypto platforms to traditional financial markets. In January, Chainlink said it would roll out 24/5 price data for US equities and ETFs to crypto platforms, enabling trading, lending and derivatives tied to tokenized stocks beyond standard market hours.

The following month, Ondo Finance said it had integrated Chainlink as the data provider for tokenized US equities on its Ondo Global Markets platform, where the feeds are used to support lending and collateralization.

Data from DeFiLlama shows a highly concentrated oracle market, with Chainlink accounting for around 64% of total value secured. Other providers, including RedStone and Pyth Network, hold much smaller shares at around 5% each.

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Source: DefiLlama

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