OpenSea has added Solana NFT trading to its marketplace, allowing users to discover, buy and sell collections from the network alongside assets from more than 25 supported blockchains.

The digital asset marketplace said in an Aug. 31 announcement that the integration covers Solana-based collections including Claynosaurz, Mad Lads, Collector Crypt and Phygitals, extending its existing support for fungible tokens on the network.

OpenSea brings Solana NFTs into its multi-chain marketplace

Collectors can now browse and trade supported Solana NFTs using OpenSea without moving to a separate marketplace or changing their existing setup, according to the company. For creators on Solana, the integration provides another marketplace through which their collections can reach users outside platforms focused primarily on the network.

OpenSea co-founder and CEO Devin Finzer said the company wants its marketplace to serve collectors regardless of which blockchain their assets use.

“OpenSea should be the home for everything you collect, no matter which chain it lives on,” Finzer said. “Solana NFTs are now available right alongside its tokens on OpenSea. No switching wallets, no hunting across marketplaces, the whole ecosystem in one place.”

The rollout brings collections including Claynosaurz and Mad Lads directly into OpenSea. Mad Lads, created by Backpack and launched in April 2023, consists of close to 10,000 NFTs and has developed into one of the more established collections in the Solana ecosystem. Claynosaurz launched in November 2022 around a collection of clay-styled dinosaur characters and has since expanded into animation, gaming, merchandise and other digital collectibles.

Solana joins more than 25 networks supported by OpenSea, which now combines NFT trading, fungible token trading, cross-chain swaps and portfolio management through the same platform. The company said its marketplace has processed billions of dollars in transaction volume since launch.

The latest rollout effectively restores a product OpenSea first experimented with more than four years ago. OpenSea introduced Solana NFT support in beta in April 2022, initially covering a limited number of collections, but the product failed to gain the same traction as Solana-focused competitors.

Crypto.news covered the original Solana integration in 2022, when OpenSea began listing Solana collections and supporting wallets from the network.

Solana support follows OpenSea’s OS2 expansion

The new NFT integration comes after OpenSea rebuilt its marketplace around a multi-chain strategy that extends beyond digital collectibles.

Its OS2 platform, released from beta in May 2025, introduced trading for fungible and non-fungible tokens and removed the need for users to manually bridge or swap assets for some cross-chain transactions. OpenSea recorded 467,322 monthly active addresses in May 2025 following the launch, up 44% from the previous month, although monthly trading volume remained at $81 million.

OpenSea later acquired Rally Wallet in July 2025 as part of its push into mobile and token trading. Rally was designed as a mobile-first wallet for managing NFTs and fungible tokens, with plans to integrate the product into OpenSea’s services.

Solana fungible tokens returned to OpenSea through OS2 before the latest NFT rollout. The Aug. 31 announcement now places the network’s collectibles beside tokens already available through the marketplace.

OpenSea has continued adding products outside its original NFT business. In June, the company signaled plans to offer perpetual futures, with Product Marketing Lead Zack Brenner asking users about early access to the product.

When asked whether the planned contracts would use Hyperliquid infrastructure, Brenner responded “YES,” though OpenSea had not provided a launch date, complete list of assets or user terms at the time. The proposed Hyperliquid-powered perpetuals would expand a platform already combining NFTs, tokens and cross-chain trading.

OpenSea’s SEA token remains delayed

OpenSea’s product expansion has continued while its planned SEA token remains on hold.

The marketplace delayed the SEA token in March 2026, with Finzer citing challenging market conditions and declining to provide another launch date.

SEA was introduced in February 2025 and had been expected to play a role in OpenSea’s plan to build what the company described as a “trade everything” application combining NFT trading with fungible tokens and other crypto products.

Plans previously disclosed for SEA included utility and governance functions, discounted trading fees, staking tied to NFT collections and participation in platform decisions. OpenSea had initially targeted a March 30 rollout before postponing the event.

The delay came during a weak period for NFT trading. OpenSea’s monthly NFT volume had fallen below $500 million by March, compared with levels reached during the 2021 and 2022 NFT cycle, while total NFT market capitalization had dropped by more than half from mid-January levels, according to data cited by crypto.news at the time.

OpenSea continued its Waves rewards program following the postponement, while users who participated in Waves 3 through 6 were given the option to claim refunds on platform fees if they forfeited their Treasure Chest rewards. Finzer said the company planned a separate event focused on product updates in the following months.

Solana remains a key market for NFT platforms

Solana has retained a dedicated NFT marketplace ecosystem while competing platforms have changed their multi-chain strategies.

Magic Eden, which built its early business around Solana NFTs, moved in the opposite direction from OpenSea earlier this year by closing its Bitcoin and Ethereum Virtual Machine-based NFT marketplaces. The company kept support for Solana assets as it concentrated resources on the network where much of its historical trading activity originated.

The Magic Eden restructuring included plans to wind down its Bitcoin and EVM marketplaces in March 2026 and discontinue its multi-chain wallet, while Solana NFT support continued.

OpenSea’s latest integration places the two marketplaces on overlapping ground again. Their competition on Solana dates back to OpenSea’s first attempt to enter the network’s NFT market in 2022, when Magic Eden had already established a strong position among Solana collectors.

For its Aug. 31 rollout, OpenSea said the addition of Solana connects creators and collectors from the network with its existing multi-chain user base. The company identified Claynosaurz, Mad Lads, Collector Crypt and Phygitals among the collections available at launch, with support beginning Aug. 31.

DeFi Development Corp. has priced its Variable Rate Series C Perpetual Preferred Stock offering at $9 per share, according to an updated prospectus filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Solana treasury company plans to sell 2.2 million shares of the preferred security, known as CHAD Stock. The offering would produce $19.8 million in gross proceeds before underwriting commissions and other expenses.

That updates the company’s Aug. 31 announcement, which described a proposed offering of up to $20 million without disclosing the final share count or offering price.

R.F. Lafferty & Co. is the sole book-running manager. The underwriter received a 30-day option to acquire another 330,000 shares at the public offering price, minus commissions.

Full exercise of that option would increase the offering to 2.53 million shares and produce up to $22.77 million in gross proceeds.

CHAD Stock offers a 13% initial dividend

Each CHAD share has a $10 stated amount and an initial liquidation preference of $10. However, investors participating in the offering will pay $9 per share.

The initial annual dividend rate is 13%, calculated against the $10 stated amount. That represents $1.30 in annual dividends per share if the initial rate remains unchanged.

At the $9 offering price, the initial rate corresponds to an effective annual yield of approximately 14.44%. That calculation is based on the starting dividend and does not guarantee investors will receive that yield continuously.

The dividend is variable. DeFi Development’s board may review and adjust the rate at least monthly based on interest rates, CHAD’s trading price, comparable yields, liquidity needs and other factors.

The company can reduce the rate, although the prospectus limits a monthly reduction to 50 basis points from the preceding month. The filing warns that management could eventually set a rate below comparable securities.

The first dividend is scheduled for Oct. 1 and will cover the period from issuance through Sept. 30. After that payment, dividends will become payable on each business day, but only “when, as and if declared” by the board and when legally available funds exist.

A dividend reserve covers the first year at 13%

DeFi Development intends to place $1.30 per issued share into a separate dividend account when the offering closes. For 2.2 million shares, that would create an initial reserve of approximately $2.86 million.

The reserve represents 12 months of payments calculated at the initial 13% rate. DeFi Development said it would fund the account using existing cash, financial instruments or digital assets rather than relying solely on offering proceeds.

However, the prospectus says the company is not contractually required to increase the reserve if the dividend rises above 13% or if more CHAD shares are issued later.

Assets in the account could also remain available to creditors during insolvency or bankruptcy. The reserve therefore provides a designated funding source but does not constitute an independent guarantee.

CHAD is perpetual and has no maturity date. Holders generally cannot demand repayment except after certain qualifying corporate events. The shares also carry limited voting rights and rank below the company’s present and future debt.

DeFi Development can redeem CHAD at $11 per share, plus accumulated unpaid dividends, after the security becomes listed on Nasdaq. Separate redemption provisions apply after a tax event or when outstanding shares fall below 25% of all CHAD shares historically issued.

DeFi Development may use proceeds to acquire SOL

The company intends to use the net proceeds for general corporate purposes. Potential allocations include working capital, Solana purchases, other digital asset investments, acquisitions and strategic initiatives.

No fixed portion has been assigned to SOL. Investors therefore should not treat the full $19.8 million as a confirmed Solana purchase.

DeFi Development recently acquired approximately 19,000 SOL at an average price of $98.14. As previously reported, the purchase expanded its treasury to roughly 2.33 million SOL and SOL-equivalent assets.

The company has not provided a current breakdown separating native SOL from liquid staking tokens and other SOL-denominated positions. It stakes assets through its own and external validators to earn network rewards and fees.

The SEC filing warns that proceeds invested in SOL would remain exposed to price volatility. It also states that management has broad discretion and may allocate the money differently from its current plans.

CHAD seeks a Nasdaq listing as DFDV gains

DeFi Development has applied to list the preferred stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker CHAD. Trading is expected to begin after initial issuance, although Nasdaq approval remains pending.

The company also intends to establish an at-the-market program for additional CHAD sales following the listing. Terms have not been finalized, and further issuance could dilute existing holders’ rights or weigh on the security’s market price.

DFDV common stock closed Aug. 31 at approximately $5.38, up 7.8% during the session. The CHAD announcement arrived at 5:45 p.m. Eastern Time, after regular trading ended, so the daytime increase cannot be attributed to the offering.

The stock opened near $4.90 and traded between approximately $4.84 and $5.52. A verified regular-session reaction to the final CHAD terms will only become available after U.S. markets reopen.

The next confirmed events will be the offering’s closing, Nasdaq’s listing decision and the first dividend payment on Oct. 1. Any subsequent SOL acquisition will require a separate company disclosure before it can be treated as completed.

The U.S. Marshals Service sold Anthropic shares forfeited by former FTX executives Caroline Ellison and Nishad Singh during 2025, according to an Aug. 31 Business Insider report citing a person familiar with the transaction.

Ellison and Singh purchased the shares for a combined $50 million during Anthropic’s 2022 Series B financing. Singh invested $40 million, while Ellison invested $10 million.

Federal courts later transferred their ownership interests to the U.S. government through criminal forfeiture proceedings connected to the FTX fraud case. However, the Marshals Service has not publicly confirmed the sale, identified the buyers or disclosed how much the government received.

Federal courts transferred the Anthropic shares in 2025

Ellison and Singh pleaded guilty to criminal charges arising from the collapse of FTX and Alameda Research. Both cooperated with prosecutors and testified against FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried.

Bankman-Fried was convicted of fraud and money laundering in November 2023. A federal judge sentenced him to 25 years in prison in March 2024.

Ellison served as chief executive of Alameda, while Singh worked as FTX’s engineering director. Their sentencing arrangements required them to forfeit assets, including their personal Anthropic holdings.

A court order finalized Ellison’s forfeiture in February 2025. The order identified Series B preferred shares acquired through a Simple Agreement for Future Equity purchased for $10 million in March 2022.

The government reportedly obtained Singh’s shares through a separate final order in April 2025. His attorney said during sentencing that Singh had purchased the shares before participating in the criminal conspiracy and “may have had a legitimate legal claim” to them.

Singh nevertheless surrendered the shares under his plea arrangement. His attorney told Business Insider that Singh wanted the sale proceeds distributed to FTX victims quickly.

U.S. Marshals reportedly sold to existing investors

Business Insider reported that the Marshals Service sold the combined holdings to existing Anthropic investors sometime during 2025. The publication attributed the information to one person with knowledge of the sale.

That account has not been independently confirmed through a Marshals Service announcement, public auction record or court filing identifying the purchasers.

The precise sale date remains unknown. The buyers, number of shares, transaction structure and price were also not disclosed.

The timing matters because Anthropic completed several funding rounds at rapidly increasing valuations. The company was valued at $61.5 billion in March 2025 before reaching $380 billion during another round in early 2026.

Anthropic announced a $65 billion Series H financing in May 2026 at a $965 billion post-money valuation. The company said its annualized revenue had exceeded $47 billion before the financing.

UCLA professor Olav Sorenson estimated that the shares may have been worth between $300 million and $1.1 billion when the government sold them, depending on the transaction date. PitchBook analyst Harrison Rolfes provided a lower estimated range of $250 million to $630 million.

These figures are outside estimates. Neither the Marshals Service nor Anthropic has confirmed the sale valuation.

Current $5B estimates do not show the sale proceeds

Based on Anthropic’s May valuation, Sorenson estimated that Ellison and Singh’s former holdings could now be worth between $4.17 billion and $5.03 billion. Rolfes estimated a current value of approximately $2.62 billion.

The wide range reflects uncertainty about dilution, security terms and the precise number of shares obtained through the original investments. Private-company shares can also carry transfer restrictions and different rights from shares issued in later rounds.

A reported secondary-market valuation of $1.5 trillion would produce an even higher theoretical value. However, secondary indications involving a limited number of shares do not necessarily represent the price available for the entire company or a large block of restricted stock.

Comparing those estimates with the original $50 million investment does not measure a confirmed government loss. The government acquired the shares through forfeiture without paying their original purchase price.

It is also unknown whether the Marshals Service could legally or practically have held the private shares through later financing rounds. Its complex-assets unit generally seeks to liquidate forfeited property while preserving recoverable value rather than operating as a long-term venture investor.

The sale is separate from the FTX bankruptcy estate’s liquidation of Bankman-Fried’s Anthropic investment. As crypto.news previously reported, the FTX estate sold its remaining Anthropic shares for $452 million in June 2024.

Together with an earlier transaction, the bankruptcy estate received approximately $1.3 billion from Anthropic shares originally purchased for $500 million.

FTX victims have not received identified sale proceeds

Prosecutors said during Ellison’s sentencing that forfeited assets could be returned to victims through remission. Unlike court-ordered restitution, remission is administered by the Justice Department.

The large number of potential FTX victims made an individual restitution process impractical, according to court filings. Prosecutors discussed either creating a separate claims system or coordinating with the FTX bankruptcy estate, where creditors substantially overlap with fraud victims.

Business Insider found no indication that proceeds specifically attributable to Ellison’s and Singh’s Anthropic shares had reached the bankruptcy estate by the end of June 2026.

The estate reported receiving $638 million from Justice Department-controlled assets during 2025. Bankruptcy filings indicate that nearly all of that amount came from Robinhood shares previously linked to Bankman-Fried.

The estate expects approximately $400 million more from the government, including proceeds from cryptocurrencies and other investments. It has not identified the Anthropic sale as part of that expected amount.

The Marshals Service declined to discuss the transaction. A Justice Department representative said asset-sale and victim-compensation information was confidential.

The department said the matter remained ongoing and that it “prioritizes victim compensation from forfeiture.” That statement does not confirm that the Anthropic proceeds will be transferred to the FTX estate or paid through a separate remission process.

Stablecoins account for 94% of Argentina’s peso-denominated cryptocurrency trading volume, according to an a16z Crypto analysis published on Aug. 30 using market data from Artemis.

The share was the highest among the major fiat currencies tracked by Artemis. The finding suggests that many Argentines use cryptocurrency primarily to obtain digital dollars rather than to speculate on volatile tokens.

The analysis estimated that one in five Argentines uses cryptocurrency. It also cited data showing that downloads of the country’s 15 leading crypto applications increased 93% during 2024 from the previous year.

Argentina stablecoins function as digital dollars

Argentina has a long history of households saving in U.S. dollars. Banking restrictions, currency devaluations and persistent inflation have reduced confidence in the peso across several economic cycles.

Stablecoins extended that practice into digital wallets. Dollar-linked tokens such as USDT and USDC allowed users to obtain dollar exposure without holding banknotes or entering the official foreign-exchange market.

Demand accelerated after Argentina reintroduced currency controls in 2019. Individuals were eventually restricted to purchasing $200 through the official market each month, while additional eligibility rules prevented some residents from buying dollars entirely.

Stablecoins remained accessible through cryptocurrency exchanges and peer-to-peer markets. They could be purchased around the clock, transferred between wallets and used for international payments.

The 94% figure refers to trading volume involving the Argentine peso. It does not mean that stablecoins represent 94% of every cryptocurrency held by Argentine users.

Lemon’s customer data show why that distinction matters. The company’s 2024 report said Bitcoin represented more than 36% of Argentine assets held through its platform. Stablecoins accounted for approximately 27%, while pesos represented 18%.

Trading flows therefore show strong demand for dollar conversion, while wallet balances may include more Bitcoin and other assets accumulated over time.

Stablecoin use persists as inflation slows

Argentina’s monthly inflation rate reached 25.5% in December 2023. Annual inflation later climbed to 289% in April 2024, according to figures referenced by a16z.

The inflation shock coincided with greater use of USDC among Argentina-based contractors paid through Deel. The payroll company serves contractors and employers across more than 160 countries.

However, the chart published by a16z does not disclose the raw percentage of Argentine contractors receiving USDC. Both contractor payments and inflation were indexed to their January 2024 levels, showing relative changes rather than absolute adoption.

By July 2026, the indexed share of contractors paid in USDC and year-over-year inflation had each fallen to about one-fifth of their respective peaks. The similar movement suggests a relationship, but it does not prove that inflation alone caused contractors to choose or abandon stablecoins.

Official figures show that monthly inflation stood at 2.1% in July 2026, compared with 1.9% in June. Annual inflation reached 33.8%, according to Argentina’s central bank.

The decline has not eliminated cryptocurrency use. a16z reported that Lemon downloads increased during every quarter covered by its comparison, even as monthly inflation fell sharply.

That behavior supports the possibility that stablecoins are becoming embedded in payments and savings. It does not establish that usage will remain at the same level if inflation, exchange rates or regulations change.

As crypto.news previously reported, inflation above 270% drove increased Argentine interest in cryptocurrency during 2024. The newer data indicate that some activity survived after the most severe inflationary pressure eased.

Currency reforms narrowed the stablecoin premium

Argentina’s central bank removed restrictions on individual foreign-currency purchases on April 11, 2025. Residents could then buy foreign currency through official and securities markets without limits on the amount or intended use.

The policy formed part of a wider shift toward a floating exchange rate within moving bands. According to the BCRA, individuals bought $2.25 billion for foreign-asset formation during April 2025.

Before the changes, the gap between official and parallel exchange rates had exceeded 100% during parts of 2023. Stablecoins frequently traded closer to the parallel-dollar price because many residents could not obtain dollars through official channels.

That gap narrowed after the restrictions eased. a16z estimated that a digital dollar cost approximately 4% more than an official-market dollar on Aug. 28, 2026.

A smaller premium reduces the financial incentive to buy stablecoins solely to bypass currency controls. Continued usage may instead reflect convenience, access to international transfers, contractor payments and the ability to hold dollars in a mobile wallet.

Stablecoins still carry risks that physical dollars and regulated bank deposits address differently. Users depend on the issuer maintaining reserves and honoring redemptions. They may also face exchange, custody, compliance and blockchain risks.

Lemon’s disclosures state that its “digital dollars” are stablecoin virtual assets rather than legal tender or bank deposits. The balances are not protected under Argentina’s bank-deposit guarantee framework.

Different datasets measure separate forms of adoption

The figures cited by a16z come from several sources and should not be treated as one unified market measurement. Artemis tracks trading volume, Deel covers contractor payments and Lemon reports activity involving its applications and customers.

The one-in-five adoption estimate also relies on research cited from Argentina’s blockchain industry. Survey-based ownership estimates can vary according to sample selection, definitions and whether occasional users are included.

App downloads provide another incomplete measure. A download does not confirm that the person completed identity verification, funded an account or continued using the platform.

Even so, the datasets point in the same broad direction. Argentina has developed substantial demand for dollar-linked digital assets, and that demand has not disappeared after inflation declined and official dollar access improved.

The next evidence will come from transaction counts, active-wallet data, stablecoin balances and payroll figures after the exchange-rate changes have operated for a longer period.

Argentina’s regulatory approach will matter as well. Virtual-asset providers must register with the National Securities Commission, while platforms continue adapting their custody, reporting and anti-money-laundering systems.

Polymarket is reportedly raising approximately $1 billion at a $21 billion valuation, with Donald Trump Jr.-linked 1789 Capital planning to contribute about $300 million.

The Wall Street Journal reported the financing plans on Aug. 31, citing people familiar with the round. Alexa Henning, a spokesperson for 1789 Capital, separately confirmed the planned investment and valuation to The Business Times.

The transaction has not been announced as completed. The final amount, participating investors and ownership distribution could change before the round closes.

1789 Capital could invest $500M across two rounds

The planned $300 million contribution would follow approximately $200 million that 1789 Capital previously invested in Polymarket. Combined, the commitments would give the firm about $500 million of exposure based on the reported investment amounts.

US-listed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) returned to inflows on Monday, led almost entirely by BlackRock, while Ether, XRP and Solana funds continued attracting capital.

SoSoValue data showed that Bitcoin ETFs recorded $216.7 million in net inflows on Monday, reversing the $201.8 million in withdrawals recorded on Friday. 

The Friday outflows ended a nine-session run that brought more than $3 billion into the funds. Bitcoin (BTC) was trading near $78,700 at the time of writing, up about 1.5% over the past 24 hours, according to CoinGecko. 

Meanwhile, Ether ETFs extended their inflow streak to 11 trading sessions, while XRP and Solana funds each recorded a 10th consecutive positive session.

US spot Bitcoin ETF flows. Source: SoSoValue

BlackRock accounts for 95% of Bitcoin ETF inflows

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) led Monday’s Bitcoin ETF rebound with $205.9 million in net inflows, accounting for about 95% of the category’s daily total, according to Farside Investors. 

Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) added $6.9 million, followed by the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB) with $4.3 million. Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin Trust added $3.6 million, while Grayscale’s Bitcoin Mini Trust attracted $9.4 million.

Related: Strategy buys $370M Bitcoin in first corporate purchase since June

VanEck’s Bitcoin ETF (HODL) was the only fund to record withdrawals, posting $13.4 million in net outflows. The remaining funds reported no flows. 

US spot Bitcoin ETF flows per fund. Source: Farside Investors 

Ether, XRP and Solana ETFs extend inflow runs

Spot Ether ETFs attracted $87.7 million on Monday, marking their 11th consecutive trading session of inflows.

BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA) led with $59.9 million, followed by Grayscale’s Ethereum Mini Trust with $13.5 million and Fidelity’s Ethereum Fund with $9.3 million, according to Farside.

XRP ETFs extended their positive run to 10 sessions with $5.64 million in net inflows, according to SoSoValue. The funds have attracted capital during every US trading session since Aug. 18. 

Solana ETFs also posted a 10th consecutive positive session, though daily inflows slowed to $925,010 from $18.1 million on Friday. Monday’s figure was the category’s weakest inflow during its current run. 

Magazine: Mystery surrounds why an OG burned $1M in Bitcoin

Intercontinental Exchange agreed on Aug. 31 to invest in tZERO and license its blockchain patents as the companies develop infrastructure for an upcoming NYSE-affiliated tokenized securities platform.

The agreements make tZERO a design partner for digital transfer-agent and broker-dealer systems intended to support the issuance, trading and on-chain settlement of public securities. ICE owns the New York Stock Exchange and several major clearing houses.

The companies did not disclose the size of ICE’s investment, tZERO’s valuation or a timetable for completing the financing round. The platform also remains subject to regulatory, technical and operational requirements.

ICE adds tZERO to its tokenized securities program

Under a memorandum of understanding, ICE plans to consult tZERO while creating standards for digital transfer agents, tokenization agents and broker-dealers connecting to the planned Digital Trading Platform.

Transfer agents maintain official ownership records, process corporate actions and update shareholder information. These functions must remain accurate when securities move across blockchain addresses rather than conventional record-keeping systems.

tZERO is expected to become an approved digital transfer agent and platform subscriber if it satisfies the applicable requirements. The wording does not guarantee approval, designate tZERO as the platform’s exclusive provider or confirm that commercial operations have started.

ICE Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Michael Blaugrund described tZERO as a “valuable partner” for the digital transfer-agent program. The statement represents ICE’s assessment of the partnership rather than a confirmed measure of the platform’s future performance.

tZERO will also license blockchain technology to ICE. The company says its portfolio contains 103 patents across 23 families covering compliance-aware transfers, smart-contract upgrades, corporate actions and identity management between broker-dealers.

The portfolio has become the subject of a separate dispute. As crypto.news reported, Securitize challenged tZERO’s patent allegations in a Delaware federal court. Securitize argues that its products do not infringe tZERO’s intellectual property. The court has not decided those claims.

NYSE’s blockchain platform targets continuous settlement

NYSE first announced the tokenized securities platform in January. Its proposed design combines the exchange’s Pillar matching engine with blockchain-based systems for settlement and custody.

Subject to approval, the venue would support 24/7 trading, immediate settlement, fractional shares, dollar-denominated orders and stablecoin-based funding. ICE said the post-trade architecture could support several blockchains rather than depending on one network.

The platform would accommodate blockchain-native securities and tokenized versions of conventionally issued stocks. ICE says tokenized shareholders would retain conventional rights, including dividends and participation in corporate governance.

Those features would distinguish regulated tokenized securities from offshore products that merely track stock prices. Some synthetic tokens do not represent legally recognized company shares or provide direct ownership rights.

The project does not mean that the existing NYSE market is moving entirely onto a blockchain. ICE plans a separate venue distributed through qualified broker-dealers and aligned with established U.S. market-structure requirements.

No final platform rules, supported blockchain networks, stablecoins, listing standards or public launch date have been announced. The companies also have not identified which SEC applications or exchange-rule filings will be required before trading begins.

tZERO joins Securitize among ICE’s design partners

tZERO is not the first infrastructure company recruited for the project. NYSE signed a separate memorandum with Securitize in March, naming it as the first digital transfer agent eligible to mint blockchain-native securities for participating corporate and ETF issuers.

That earlier agreement also covered transfer-agent standards and broker-dealer participation. Securitize Markets is expected to become a platform participant if it meets the necessary requirements.

Adding tZERO indicates that ICE is building a network of infrastructure providers rather than relying on one tokenization company. Each provider could connect issuers, brokers and investor records to the exchange’s trading and settlement systems.

The arrangement also gives ICE access to tZERO’s experience operating regulated digital-securities infrastructure. tZERO’s subsidiaries include an SEC-registered broker-dealer, alternative trading system and transfer agent.

In related coverage, crypto.news reported that NYSE’s on-chain settlement plans moved beyond their initial announcement as ICE worked with banks and infrastructure companies on trading, custody and around-the-clock funding.

The expansion comes as tokenized equities attract exchanges, brokerages and asset managers. Public blockchain data can show token transfers, but legal ownership still depends on issuer records, securities laws and approved market infrastructure.

Tokenized collateral could extend beyond the NYSE venue

ICE and tZERO will also evaluate whether tZERO-issued tokenized assets can be used as collateral across ICE clearing houses and other affiliates. This portion remains exploratory and does not confirm that any token has been approved for margin purposes.

ICE operates six clearing houses covering markets that include energy contracts and credit-default swaps. Using tokenized collateral could allow clearing members to move qualifying assets outside conventional banking hours.

ICE is separately working with BNY and Citi on tokenized deposits. The company has said these instruments could help clearing members transfer funds, meet margin requirements and manage liquidity across jurisdictions and time zones.

Before accepting tokenized assets, clearing houses would need rules for valuation, custody, eligibility, settlement finality and risk controls. ICE and tZERO did not provide a testing schedule or name potential collateral instruments.

ICE shares closed Aug. 31 at $160.70, down approximately 1% for the session. The stock traded between $158.40 and $162.01. No verified evidence links the decline directly to the tZERO announcement.

The next concrete milestones will be regulatory filings, approved technical standards and the designation of participating transfer agents and broker-dealers. Until those steps occur, the agreements advance development but do not authorize public trading.

Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission proposed new rules on Aug. 31 that would let licensed intermediaries facilitate retail investment in qualifying digital asset derivatives traded overseas.

The proposal covers retail, high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth investors. It does not authorize unrestricted access to every crypto futures or options product listed outside Thailand.

Eligible contracts would have to resemble digital asset derivatives permitted in Thailand. The SEC identified the underlying asset, maturity, leverage, delivery method and settlement structure as relevant comparison points.

The consultation will remain open through Sept. 30. The regulator has not announced when final rules could take effect or which foreign exchanges and contracts would qualify.

Retail access would carry product and exchange limits

Under the proposal, an overseas crypto derivative offered to noninstitutional clients must have characteristics consistent with products traded domestically. That condition is intended to prevent intermediaries from directing retail clients toward contracts carrying unfamiliar structures or substantially greater leverage.

The SEC did not publish a list of eligible cryptocurrencies, exchanges or maximum leverage levels in its English-language announcement. Those details may depend on the domestic contract specifications being developed with the Thailand Futures Exchange.

The overseas exchange must use a central counterparty, or CCP, to clear trades. A CCP becomes the buyer to each seller and the seller to each buyer, reducing direct counterparty exposure between market participants.

The exchange must also be supervised by a regulator that is a Signatory A to the International Organization of Securities Commissions’ Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding, or belong to the World Federation of Exchanges.

Those criteria create a regulatory test rather than a blanket country list. An offshore platform would not qualify merely because it offers Bitcoin or Ether futures to customers in another jurisdiction.

Institutional investors could access broader products

Crypto derivatives that fail the proposed retail conditions could only be offered to institutional investors. The SEC said these investors are better equipped to assess complex products and manage losses from leverage, volatility and settlement risks.

This distinction means qualifying the exchange alone would not be enough. The specific contract would also need to match the relevant Thai product characteristics before an intermediary could make it available to retail or wealthy individual clients.

Existing Thai rules already let intermediaries facilitate overseas derivatives investments for retail and high-net-worth clients when the foreign instruments resemble products tradable in Thailand. The new proposal creates tailored conditions for crypto because overseas contracts vary widely in leverage, maturity and settlement.

Perpetual futures may require particular scrutiny because they have no fixed expiry and use recurring funding payments. The SEC did not state whether such products would meet the similarity test. Their eligibility will depend on the final rules and domestic specifications.

The proposal also concerns regulated intermediaries facilitating access. It does not legalize direct use of every offshore crypto exchange by Thai residents or override restrictions affecting unlicensed foreign platforms.

Thailand is still designing domestic crypto contracts

Thailand expanded its derivatives framework earlier in 2026 by adding cryptocurrencies and digital tokens as eligible underlying assets under the Derivatives Act.

As crypto.news previously reported, Thailand formally recognized cryptocurrencies as permissible underlyings for regulated futures and options. The SEC Board’s related notification was dated March 5.

The regulator is now discussing contract specifications with TFEX. Those discussions are expected to address the underlying assets, contract sizes, margin requirements, leverage and settlement methods needed for a domestic product.

TFEX had not listed a cryptocurrency futures or options contract as of Sept. 1. Its public product directory showed equity index, single-stock, precious metal, currency, interest-rate and agricultural derivatives, but no digital asset category.

The absence of a domestic contract creates an open question for the overseas-product comparison. The SEC may need to complete or substantially define the TFEX framework before intermediaries can determine which foreign contracts meet the similarity requirement.

Thailand has separately considered allowing crypto businesses to obtain derivatives licenses without establishing new corporate entities. The planned change would let qualified firms expand within one regulated structure while maintaining controls for conflicts and customer protection. The earlier licensing proposal sought to reduce duplicate corporate requirements.

Sept. 30 feedback will shape the final rules

Investors, intermediaries, banks, digital asset businesses and other stakeholders can submit comments through the SEC’s consultation page, Thailand’s Legal Hub or the email addresses provided by the regulator.

The consultation asks respondents whether noninstitutional investors should receive access when every prescribed condition is met. It separately asks whether institutional investors should be allowed to access products outside those conditions.

After Sept. 30, the SEC can revise the proposal before approving final amendments. No statutory deadline requires the regulator to complete that process immediately after comments close.

Further information will also be needed from TFEX. Contract specifications would determine which overseas instruments have sufficiently similar leverage, maturities and settlement arrangements.

The proposal produced no verified market movement directly attributable to the announcement. It did not approve a particular cryptocurrency, exchange, broker or derivatives contract.

Thailand is also developing locally regulated crypto exchange-traded funds. In related coverage, proposed spot Bitcoin and Ether ETF rules set an 80% minimum digital asset exposure. Together, the initiatives show the regulator expanding supervised investment access while retaining product-level restrictions.

Ireland has excluded crypto and derivatives from tax-advantaged investment accounts due to the launch in 2027, while allowing listed stocks, bonds, ETFs and retail investment funds.

Ireland’s Department of Finance said in its retail investment roadmap that crypto assets and derivatives will remain outside the new account because the government considers them “highly complex and risky” products.

The account will instead cover listed shares, listed bonds, financial instruments traded on regulated markets, and funds considered suitable for retail customers. Exchange-traded funds and certain insurance-based investment products will also qualify.

Scheduled to become available next year, the structure will be open to Irish tax residents aged 18 or older who hold a Personal Public Service Number. Each person may have one account, and approved providers will calculate, report and pay any tax owed to Ireland’s Revenue Commissioners on the investor’s behalf.

No minimum contribution will apply, although the government plans to impose an annual contribution limit. The size of that limit, the tax-free threshold, and the low annual flat tax rate on balances above the threshold will be announced in Budget 2027, scheduled for Oct. 6.

Ireland investment accounts will simplify retail taxes

Investments held within the account will not fall under Ireland’s existing investment tax rules, including the deemed-disposal system. Under the current framework, certain funds are treated as sold after eight years, requiring investors to pay tax on gains even when they continue holding the investment.

By removing deemed disposal from the account and assigning tax administration to providers, the government plans to reduce the filing work handled by individual investors. Account holders will also be able to access their money when needed rather than facing restrictions commonly attached to retirement products.

Cash deposits will not qualify as investments inside the account. According to the roadmap, providers may hold cash only temporarily while an account holder purchases another eligible asset.

Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris said Irish households save at high rates but invest comparatively little through capital markets. Central Bank of Ireland research cited when the proposal was discussed in March found that households held only 2.3% of their financial assets in listed shares and debt securities, compared with an EU average of 7.5%.

Roughly €170 billion was held in Irish bank deposits at the time, according to figures reported by Reuters. Harris said inflation can reduce the value of money left in low-yield accounts, while the proposed structure would bring several investment types together under one tax system.

Legislation establishing the accounts is due to appear in Ireland’s Finance Bill. The roadmap also lists possible reforms from Budget 2028 onward, including a lower investment tax rate, changes to deemed disposal and simpler administration across the existing retail tax framework.

Crypto remains outside Ireland’s tax preference

Excluding crypto means Irish residents will not receive the account’s tax treatment when buying Bitcoin, Ether or other digital assets directly. The roadmap does not prohibit residents from owning or trading crypto through services that are otherwise permitted to operate in Ireland.

Irish authorities have separated market access from tax eligibility by allowing regulated crypto activity under European Union rules while keeping digital assets outside the new retail account. The Central Bank of Ireland oversees crypto service providers operating from the country under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation.

As crypto.news reported in August, Ireland’s national AML strategy requires service providers to conduct enhanced checks on some transfers involving self-hosted wallets. For transfers exceeding €1,000, regulated firms must take steps to assess whether a customer owns or controls the private address involved.

Ireland’s 12-month MiCA transition period ended on Dec. 30, 2025, earlier than the final EU-wide cutoff of July 1, 2026. Firms previously operating under national registrations needed MiCA authorization or another lawful route to continue providing covered services.

A separate Irish risk assessment published in June classified digital assets as a “very significant” money laundering and terrorist financing risk. The assessment cited crypto-related fraud, sanctions evasion, tax enforcement difficulties, and activity in less-regulated areas such as decentralized finance.

Central bank data included in that assessment showed that about 10% of Ireland’s population had invested in crypto as of December. Authorities also assigned the Gambling Regulatory Authority of Ireland responsibility for establishing standards on crypto-linked sources of funds by the second quarter of 2027.

MiCA controls access without granting tax benefits

Under MiCA, an authorized crypto asset service provider may use passporting rights to serve customers across EU and European Economic Area markets. Ireland has become one of the jurisdictions used by firms seeking regulated access to the region, including Kraken, which received its MiCA authorization from the Central Bank of Ireland in June 2025.

Authorization has not been extended to every provider. An August analysis found that 1,062 EEA firms in a TRM Labs dataset had not obtained MiCA approval after the final EU transition deadline. Only 281 of the 1,343 providers examined had secured authorization by July 1.

TRM Labs found that 12% of unauthorized providers carried a High or Severe risk rating, compared with 2% of authorized firms. Unauthorized providers also sent $5 billion directly to sanctioned counterparties, nearly three times the $1.7 billion linked to authorized firms, according to the blockchain intelligence company.

MiCA governs matters such as authorization, custody, disclosures, and consumer protection for crypto service providers. Ireland’s investment account follows a separate tax policy, allowing the government to keep regulated crypto services available while limiting the assets that receive preferential retail tax treatment.

U.S. investors can access crypto through some IRAs

Ireland’s decision differs from the approach available to some American investors. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s investor education office says custodians of self-directed IRAs may allow retirement money to be invested in alternative assets, including crypto.

The SEC warns that self-directed accounts can carry fraud, custody, and valuation risks. Custodians generally do not evaluate the quality or legitimacy of an investment, leaving account holders responsible for checking the asset and the promoter offering it.

Outside a tax-advantaged account, the Internal Revenue Service treats digital assets as property rather than currency for federal tax purposes. U.S. taxpayers may need to report income, gains, and losses from crypto transactions, including sales and exchanges between different digital assets.

The IRS has also introduced Form 1099-DA reporting for certain broker-handled digital asset transactions. Under current instructions, covered brokers must provide information related to qualifying sales, while taxpayers remain responsible for reporting taxable digital asset income even if they do not receive the form.