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ACX jumps 85% as Across Protocol weighs token-to-equity shift

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The price of Across Protocol token surged sharply after a governance proposal suggested a major structural shift for the project.

Summary

  • Across Protocol token jumped 85% as a proposal suggests converting tokens into company shares.
  • Holders could exchange ACX for equity in a new US C-corp or sell tokens for USDC in a buyout offer.
  • The move is meant to help the protocol secure institutional partnerships and commercial agreements.

ACX saw a sharp surge in activity, trading at about $0.063 at the time of writing. The token gained roughly 85% over the previous 24 hours, lifting its market capitalization to nearly $45 million.

Market participation also spiked. Daily trading volume climbed to approximately $51.7 million, representing an increase of more than 3,000% compared with the day before.

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A similar trend appeared in the derivatives market. CoinGlass data show that derivatives trading volume expanded dramatically, rising over 7,700% to $138 million. Meanwhile, open interest jumped by around 950%, reaching $20 million, pointing to a wave of new positions entering the market.

The sudden rally followed a proposal submitted on March 11 to the Across governance forum by Risk Labs, the core development group responsible for Across Protocol.

Proposal explores token-to-equity transition

The proposal, titled “The Bridge Across,” asks the community whether the protocol should transition from a token-based structure into a U.S. C-corporation.

If approved, a newly formed entity tentatively called AcrossCo would take over development, partnerships, and commercialization. The company would also hold the protocol’s intellectual property.

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The proposal gives ACX holders two possible paths. They can either swap their tokens for equity in the newly formed company or sell their holdings through a buyout offer.

For those choosing the equity route, the plan outlines a 1:1 conversion, meaning each ACX token would be exchanged for one company share. Holders with more than 5 million ACX would be able to convert their tokens directly into equity. Smaller holders, however, would gain exposure through a special purpose vehicle designed to pool their participation.

Token holders who would rather exit could instead accept a buyout offer set at $0.04375 per ACX, with payment made in USD Coin. That price represents roughly a 25% premium to the token’s average trading price over the past 30 days.

The buyout window would remain open for six months if the proposal ultimately passes. Funding for the offer would come from the protocol’s liquid treasury.

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Institutional partnerships driving the proposal

According to the proposal, the shift toward a traditional corporate structure is meant to address practical challenges faced by decentralized autonomous organizations.

DAO-based governance can make it difficult to sign enforceable contracts, establish liability frameworks, or negotiate certain types of commercial agreements. These limitations sometimes create barriers when dealing with institutional partners.

Risk Labs said the change could make it easier for the project to secure partnerships and revenue agreements while continuing to build the protocol’s infrastructure.

The proposal is currently a temperature check, meaning it is meant to gather community feedback before any binding vote takes place.

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The timeline outlined in the document suggests a governance vote could occur in early April. If approved, legal structuring and token conversion infrastructure would begin shortly afterward.

Across Protocol has spent several years building cross-chain bridging infrastructure, including fast transaction systems designed to move assets between blockchains in seconds.

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Crypto News Today: Bhutan Shifts $11.8M BTC to New Wallet While DeepSnitch AI, Zcash, and Dash Flash the Best Setups in Today’s Market

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Crypto News Today: Bhutan Shifts $11.8M BTC to New Wallet While DeepSnitch AI, Zcash, and Dash Flash the Best Setups in Today's Market

As per the crypto news today, Blockchain analytics platform Arkham flagged Bhutan shifting 175 BTC worth $11.85 million from its main national holding address to a fresh wallet that was created only a month ago and had already received 184 BTC from the government before today’s move.

That kind of structural buying at the macro level does not stay isolated at the Bitcoin layer for long. It filters down into the highest conviction plays sitting below it, and the presales like DeepSnitch AI with working utility and exchange listings still ahead are historically the first place that rotating capital lands when the market is in absorption mode like this.

Bhutan’s $11.8M BTC move can be a bull run loading signal?

Today, Bhutan sits at around 5,600 BTC, ranked the 5th largest among nation-state holders globally.  Arkham pointed out on X that the last time Bhutan executed a similar transfer in February, it sold $7 million worth of Bitcoin directly with QCP Capital, and historical patterns show the kingdom sells in consistent clips of $5 to $10 million with its heaviest activity running through mid-to-late September 2025.

This does not look like panic selling. Bhutan appears to be running a structured government-level selling strategy, offloading Bitcoin at prices far above its mining costs while the market steadily absorbs the supply.

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For traders watching the tape, that is actually a bullish signal. It shows that real demand is strong enough to absorb nation-state selling, and the traders already positioned in the right coins are usually the ones who benefit when the next rotation across the market begins.

Top three coins to watch in today’s market

1. DeepSnitch AI (DSNT)

The craziest crypto news in the presale market right now is that DeepSnitch AI is closing its presale on March 31, with the current entry sitting at $0.04399 per $DSNT while demand continues to push the price higher.

You can already open the platform and use five AI tools built to give you a real trading edge in a market where speed and information decide who wins. Just buy $DSNT and run SnitchGPT for market analysis, scan contracts with AuditSnitch, and track whale wallets with SnitchFeed before the crowd catches on. Every tool is live, in a unified dashboard, and designed to help you make smarter trades right now.

The latest crypto news today for presale hunters is that Uniswap is the first listing milestone, and rumored tier-1 and tier-2 CEX listings follow in Q2, meaning the traders who are in at $0.04399 right now are positioned ahead of every demand wave that exchange listings are going to bring.

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It is currently running a 150% bonus exclusively for entries of $10,000 or more on top of the already low presale price of $0.04399.

Run the math on a $10,000 entry at $0.04399 with the 150% bonus applied, and you are looking at roughly 568,000 $DSNT tokens. Now think about what happens if $DSNT reaches $30 post-launch. It sounds crazy at first, but remember how RENDER ran from under $1 to about $13.60 in one cycle on the decentralized GPU narrative. Or how TAO jumped from under $50 to over $700 simply on the decentralized AI infrastructure story.

DeepSnitch AI is not asking you to trust a narrative without a product behind it because five live AI tools are already generating real daily users, the smart contract has been independently verified by both Coinsult and SolidProof, and tier-1 exchange listings may be coming in Q2.

At $30 per DSNT, a 568,000 token bag becomes about $17 million.

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2. Zcash (ZEC)

The breaking crypto news on Zcash this week is that the Zcash Open Development Lab just raised $25 million from Paradigm, a16z crypto, and Coinbase Ventures in one of the most significant privacy coin funding rounds of the cycle, sending ZEC spiking 10.9% on the announcement alone.

ZEC is trading around $223 as of March 10, still miles below its $2,034 all time high from 2016, which is why a lot of traders see a solid recovery play here. If the privacy coin narrative comes back strong, the upside math from these levels starts looking pretty interesting.

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Some analysts are putting ZEC’s 2026 range between $480 and $850 if institutional interest in privacy infrastructure keeps building after the latest funding news. ZEC is a strong cycle hold with real money backing it, but at a $3.7 billion market cap, it is not the ground-floor entry that the $DSNT presale still offers at $0.04399.

3. Dash (DASH)

The cryptocurrency news update on Dash is moving fast in March 2026, and traders who have been sleeping on this one are going to feel it if the momentum holds.

On March 4 this week, Dash went live on NEAR Intents via a dedicated contract that now enables swaps across more than 35 blockchains, which is a meaningful DeFi expansion for a coin whose narrative has historically been limited to payments.

DASH is currently trading around $33 on March 10. Analysts are placing the 2026 range between $400 and $1,200 if the privacy coin rotation that already lifted XMR extends to the rest of the sector.

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Final thoughts

ZEC and DASH are both worth holding this cycle. Neither of them offers the ground-floor entry math that $DSNT still has available right now.

DeepSnitch AI is sitting at $0.04399 in presale with five working AI tools, over $2M raised, and a March 31 deadline that does not come back once it passes. The latest crypto news today for traders who want the highest conviction play before the market fully reprices is still the $DSNT presale entry that turns $10,000 into a whopping $17 million when the exchange listing hits.

Visit the official presale website and load your bags before the tier-1 exchange listing send this to the moon. Join X and Telegram for the latest updates before the presale closes.

FAQs

What does today’s breaking crypto news about Bhutan selling BTC actually mean for traders trying to time the market right now?

When a nation-state is selling Bitcoin in $5 to $10M clips, and the market holds above $70K, that is breaking crypto news, confirming demand is absorbing supply with ease. Rotate into the best crypto presale setups like DeepSnitch AI before the recovery fully prints.

Is Zcash the best privacy coin to hold based on the latest crypto news today, after the $25M Paradigm and a16z funding round?

ZEC picking up $25M from Paradigm, a16z, and Coinbase Ventures is some of the most bullish latest crypto news today for the privacy sector. It’s a solid cycle hold, but DeepSnitch AI at $0.04399 still beats it on entry price and upside math.

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What is the most important cryptocurrency news update traders should act on before the end of March?

The most urgent cryptocurrency news update on any serious trader’s radar right now is the DeepSnitch AI presale closing March 31 at $0.04399. It has five live AI tools, $2M raised, and 500x potential.


Disclaimer: This is a Press Release provided by a third party who is responsible for the content. Please conduct your own research before taking any action based on the content.

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Binance Sues Wall Street Journal Over Iran Report

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TLDR

  • Binance filed a defamation lawsuit against Dow Jones in a federal court in New York.
  • The lawsuit targets a February 23 report published by The Wall Street Journal.
  • The report alleged that Iranian entities may have used Binance to evade U.S. sanctions.
  • Binance denied the allegations and called the claims false and defamatory.
  • The exchange stated that it provided factual corrections before the article was published.

Binance has filed a defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal in federal court in New York. The exchange sued Dow Jones after a report linked its platform to Iranian sanctions evasion. The filing comes days after a U.S. judge dismissed a separate case tied to alleged terror financing claims.

The complaint targets an article published on February 23 that cited a Justice Department probe. Binance claims the report contains false statements about its compliance controls. The exchange seeks compensatory damages, legal fees, and a jury trial.

Binance Challenges Report Over Iran Sanctions Claims

Binance filed the lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The company named Dow Jones, the publisher of The Wall Street Journal, is the defendant. The action followed a report that questioned whether Iranian entities used Binance to bypass sanctions.

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The article stated that the U.S. Justice Department had begun examining Iran’s use of the exchange. It cited concerns from investigators and lawmakers about possible sanctions violations. Binance rejected the claims and said the publication misrepresented its compliance framework.

An American reporter, Eleanor Terrett, disclosed details of the filing on March 11. She reported that Binance acted after the outlet published the February story. The lawsuit marks a direct legal response to the allegations.

Binance Seeks Jury Trial and Damages

In the complaint, Binance argued that the article included “false and defamatory” statements. The company stated that those claims harmed its reputation and business interests. It also asserted that it had provided factual corrections before publication.

Binance claimed that The Wall Street Journal ignored those corrections and proceeded with the story. The exchange stated that it maintains strict anti-money laundering and sanctions compliance procedures. It denied facilitating transactions for sanctioned Iranian entities.

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The lawsuit requests compensatory damages, though Binance has not disclosed the dollar amount. It also seeks recovery of legal fees and related costs. The company demanded a jury trial to resolve the dispute.

The filing follows a recent legal development involving Binance in another federal case. A U.S. judge dismissed allegations tied to an alleged terror financing matter. That dismissal cleared the exchange of those specific claims.

Binance now faces a new legal battle centered on defamation. The case will proceed in federal court in New York. Court records show that the complaint was filed on Wednesday, March 11.

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Stablecoins won’t get any kind of deposit insurance under GENIUS rules, says FDIC chief

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Stablecoins won't get any kind of deposit insurance under GENIUS rules, says FDIC chief

Stablecoin users won’t benefit from any government guarantee of their money when the new U.S. law is implemented to govern these tokens, said Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. (FDIC) Chairman Travis Hill.

He also specified that the ban will include protections known as “pass-through insurance” in which financial firms obtain the government protections on behalf of customers.

The Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act that’s being implemented now by U.S. markets and banking regulators included a ban on FDIC insurance for holdings of stablecoins, the tokens such as Circle’s USDC and Tether’s USDT that are designed to maintain the value of a U.S. dollar. That’s meant to distinguish them from bank deposits, which are guaranteed up to $250,000 by the U.S. backstop.

“The FDIC is planning to propose that payment stablecoins subject to the GENIUS Act are not eligible for pass-through insurance,” Hill told an audience Wednesday at an American Bankers Association summit in Washington. Though he said the GENIUS Act didn’t explicitly block those relationship, Hill said such a prohibition seems to follow the intent of the law.

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“It is difficult to estimate the extent to which stablecoin arrangements would qualify for pass-through insurance if they were eligible,” he said. “For example, current pass-through insurance rules require that the identities and interests of end-customers must be ascertainable in the regular course, which is not a common feature of large stablecoin arrangements today.”

While stablecoins won’t get the FDIC insurance that’s buttressed American’s bank accounts for generations, the law mandates that they be fully reserved, so they’ll be protected by the issuers’ own safety net.

Protecting banks

Treating stablecoin holdings distinctly from bank deposits is a highly relevant arena of regulatory discussion, because the banking industry had halted progress on the crypto industry’s Digital Asset Market Clarity Act over whether stablecoins could be associated with yield.

Bankers have argued that such an arrangement could poison their relationship with depositors, which is at the core of that industry’s business model in which deposited funds fuel lending. Jefferies analysts even said this week that the boom in stablecoin could translate into 3% to 5% core deposit runoff over the next five years from banks, eating into their profits.

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But White House crypto adviser Patrick Witt has maintained a drumbeat in posts on the social media platform X that the Clarity Act objections are unfounded attempts to derail an important bill.

“The CLARITY Act must remain a pro-innovation piece of legislation,” he said in his most recent post on Tuesday night. “Attempts to hijack the legislative process and turn it into an anti-competition bill are shameful.”

Hill addressed the argument that customers may move their money out of banks and into stablecoins to chase higher rewards, contending that “a customer moving funds from a bank account into a stablecoin generally does not remove the funds from the aggregate banking system, but this would have impacts on the nature and distribution of deposits across the system.”

The FDIC chief also said his agency is weighing another position that the GENIUS Act didn’t address: tokenized deposits. Those are bank deposits represented as a programmable token on a blockchain. He suggested that such deposits probably need to be considered as deposits under the law, “regardless of the technology or recordkeeping utilized, and thus tokenized deposits should be eligible for the same regulatory and deposit insurance treatment as non-tokenized deposits.”

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Read More: U.S. FDIC proposes first U.S. stablecoin rule to emerge from GENIUS Act

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Binance Sues WSJ for Defamation as DOJ Opens Iran Sanctions Probe

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Binance Sues WSJ for Defamation as DOJ Opens Iran Sanctions Probe

The exchange’s lawsuit was filed the same morning the Journal reported a new federal investigation into whether Iran used Binance to evade U.S. sanctions.

Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, has filed a lawsuit against Dow Jones, publisher of The Wall Street Journal, over a February 23 article that the company calls “false and defamatory.”

The filing comes as the Journal further reported today that the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating whether Iranian networks used the exchange to move funds in violation of American sanctions.

“We view this lawsuit as a necessary step to defend ourselves against misinformation, hold The Wall Street Journal accountable for prioritizing clicks over journalistic integrity, and address the significant reputational harm and business consequences that have resulted,” said Dugan Bliss, Binance’s Global Head of Litigation, in a company blog post.

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The February article alleged that Binance dismantled an internal compliance investigation after its own investigators flagged $1.7 billion in crypto flows linked to entities connected to Iran-backed militant groups. The report also claimed that investigators who raised concerns were later suspended or fired.

Meanwhile, Fortune and The New York Times also cited anonymous sources and internal documents in reports claiming that Binance ignored internal warnings that sanctioned entities were using the platform to launder nearly $2 billion.

The reports triggered political fallout. U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal opened an inquiry into Binance’s sanctions compliance, writing that “Binance appears to have ignored clear warning signs, knowingly allowed illicit accounts to operate, and even provided hands-on support to entities engaged in money laundering.”

Binance flatly denies the allegations and says it did not fire employees for raising compliance concerns. Binance also claims the $1.7 billion in flagged funds “did not originate at Binance and did not end at Binance,” passing through multiple independent intermediaries.

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In 2023, Binance pleaded guilty to violating U.S. anti-money laundering and sanctions laws and agreed to pay $4.3 billion in penalties. Founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao also pleaded guilty and served four months in prison before receiving a presidential pardon in October 2025.

Binance previously sued Forbes over similar allegations in 2020 but dropped that case several months later.

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Here’s Why Ripple (XRP) Could be on the Verge of a Huge Move

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Spot XRP ETFs


XRP looks primed for significant volatility, yet it remains unclear whether that will translate into a rally or a steep pullback.

Ripple’s native cryptocurrency has been trading in a relatively tight range over the past few days, but one indicator suggests that a major price move could be on the way.

Opinions vary among analysts: some project substantial upside in the short term, whereas others see a renewed correction as the more probable outcome.

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Fasten Your Belts

After a period of heavy turbulence earlier this year, XRP’s price movement appears to have calmed down a bit lately. Over the last week, the asset has been hovering between $1.33 and $1.47, currently trading at around $1.40.

Ali Martinez noted the reduced volatility, claiming that a huge move could be on the horizon given the squeezed Bollinger Bands. The technical indicator, developed by John Bollinger in the 1980, helps traders spot oversold or overbought conditions.

It is made up of a moving average with upper and lower bands that widen or narrow as market conditions change. When the bands tighten, it signals a period of low volatility that sometimes precedes a strong rally or a sharp decline.

The analysts on X have been quite divided in XRP’s potential future performance. Some, like Trading Shot, think the valuation could plummet below $1, whereas WealthManager alerted that a “huge drop could be imminent.”

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Others, including EGRAG CRYPTO, emphasized that XRP’s RSI has fallen on a weekly scale, entering its most oversold level in history. Such a trend is typically followed by a price pump, whereas overbought territory is seen as a warning for an incoming correction.

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Crossing This Zone is Crucial for the Bulls

Another industry participant who touched upon XRP’s performance is X user CRYPTOWZRD. They argued that the asset needs to reclaim $1.4230 to enter bullish territory, whereas a rejection could offer a further decline and short opportunities.

The fading interest in spot XRP ETFs is another development that won’t sit well with the bulls. Data shows that outflows have surpassed inflows over the past four days, suggesting that major institutional players, such as pension funds, hedge funds, and asset managers, have been scaling back their positions.

Spot XRP ETFs
Spot XRP ETFs, Source: SoSoValue

The first company to launch a spot XRP ETF in the US, which has 100% exposure to the token, is Canary Capital. This happened in November 2025, and shortly after, Bitwise, Grayscale, Franklin Templeton, and 21Shares followed suit. According to data from SoSoValue, these financial vehicles have generated a cumulative net inflow of $1.21 billion to date.

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Revolut, crypto-friendly fintech, becomes fully licensed UK bank

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Crypto-friendly fintech giant Revolut files for U.S. banking license

Revolut, the London-based crypto-friendly fintech, said it received a full U.K. banking license, allowing it to offer a wider range of services and providing deposit protection for eligible funds almost two years after receiving a restricted registration.

The company, valued at about $75 billion in a funding round in November, set up a new entity called Revolut Bank UK Ltd. and will migrate customer accounts in coming months, according to a statement on its website.

The development completes a regulatory process that began years earlier. In 2024, Revolut secured a restricted U.K. license and entered a mobilization stage designed for new banks. Approval comes shortly after Revolut filed for a U.S. banking license.

The bank is supervised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the same regulatory framework that governs traditional U.K. banks. The change means eligible customer deposits will qualify for protection under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FCSC), which covers up to £120,000 ($160,000) per person if a bank fails.

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Converting accounts to the new bank will take place in stages, and users will receive notice through email or in-app messages when their accounts are ready to move.

Most day-to-day features will remain the same. Account numbers, sort codes and IBAN details will not change, the company said, and the Revolut app will continue to show past transactions and statements.

Some services will remain outside the new banking entity. Savings balances will still be held with partner banks, each with its own FSCS coverage limits. Crypto trading, commodities and stock services will continue to operate through separate Revolut entities.

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Open World names Dr. Al-Khaldi to lead Saudi RWA tokenization hub

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Crypto Breaking News

Editor’s note: Open World’s leadership move underscores its strategy to build sanctioned, sovereign-grade digital asset infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. By naming Dr. Salman Salem Al-Khaldi as Regional President and Managing Director for Open World Saudi Arabia, the company positions itself to launch Saudi Arabia’s first licensed RWA Tokenization Center of Excellence in 2026, operating under local regulatory and data sovereignty requirements. In this role, Dr. Al-Khaldi will steer regional strategy, regulatory engagement and partnerships with the Saudi Central Bank and the Capital Market Authority as operations expand. This follows Open World’s broader merger plans with VerifyMe to scale tokenization and digital-asset services.

Key points

  • Appointment designates Dr. Salman Al-Khaldi to lead Open World Saudi Arabia, setting strategy and partnerships.
  • Plan to launch Saudi Arabia’s first licensed RWA Tokenization Center of Excellence in 2026 under regulatory and data sovereignty rules.
  • Center will focus on tokenizing energy assets, real estate and carbon credits in the Kingdom’s energy and industrial ecosystem.
  • Open World’s merger with VerifyMe positions the combined company to offer tokenization and digital asset infrastructure solutions publicly.

Why this matters

This move demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s intent to build regulated, scalable digital infrastructure for real-world assets, aligning with Vision 2030’s digital economy goals. By licensing the center in-Kingdom and engaging with regulators, Open World aims to foster institutional trust and enable compliant asset tokenization across energy, real estate, and carbon markets, anchored by local data sovereignty and governance.

What to watch next

  • Licensing and 2026 launch of the RWA Tokenization Center of Excellence in the Kingdom.
  • Regulatory approvals and ongoing engagements with the Saudi Central Bank and CMA.
  • Progress of the VerifyMe merger and potential public listing of the combined entity.
  • Initial tokenization pilots for energy assets, real estate and carbon credits within Saudi Arabia.

Disclosure: The content below is a press release provided by the company/PR representative. It is published for informational purposes.

Open World Appoints Dr. Salman Al-Khaldi as Regional President and Managing Director of Open World Saudi Arabia to Lead Kingdom Operations as RWA Tokenization Center of Excellence Launches

Appointment signals Open World’s commitment to compliant, sovereign-grade digital asset infrastructure in Saudi Arabia

AL KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia-Open World Ltd. (“Open World”), a blockchain infrastructure company advancing real-world asset (RWA) tokenization across global markets, today named Dr. Salman Salem Al-Khaldi as Regional President and Managing Director of Open World Saudi Arabia. The appointment positions the firm to launch Saudi Arabia’s first licensed RWA Tokenization Center of Excellence in 2026, operating under Saudi regulatory and data sovereignty requirements.

In his role, Dr. Al-Khaldi will oversee regional strategy, regulatory engagement and institutional partnerships, working closely with the Saudi Central Bank, the Capital Market Authority and other stakeholders as operations expand.

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“We are investing in Saudi Arabia for the long term,” said Matt Shaw, CEO and co-founder of Open World. “Dr. Al-Khaldi has delivered complex, multi-billion-dollar initiatives within the Kingdom and understands the standards required to operate here. His leadership will define how we earn the trust of Saudi institutions and deliver infrastructure that meets the Kingdom’s standards.”

Dr. Al-Khaldi brings more than two decades of executive leadership across the technology, petroleum and petrochemical sectors. At Saudi Aramco, he led projects valued at more than $7 billion, overseeing financial planning, workforce development and large-scale stakeholder coordination from design through commissioning. He has advised the Ministry of Petroleum & Mineral Resources and consulted with the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries through the Saudi Energy Information System, contributing to national-level systems and policy initiatives. His experience spans Saudi commercial law, government contracting and cross-border partnerships.

“Saudi Arabia is building regulated digital infrastructure at a national scale, and the timing is deliberate,” said Dr. Al-Khaldi. “The RWA Tokenization Center of Excellence gives us a licensed, in-Kingdom foundation to deliver compliant tokenization of energy assets, real estate and carbon credits; initiatives that directly support Vision 2030’s digital economy targets. I look forward to ensuring execution meets the standards Saudi institutions require.”

The RWA Tokenization Center of Excellence will operate as a licensed, in-Kingdom entity focused on the compliant tokenization of real-world assets, including energy infrastructure, real estate and carbon reduction credits, in accordance with Saudi regulatory and data requirements. The Center is designed to support sovereign and enterprise-scale initiatives across the Kingdom’s energy and industrial ecosystem, including assets associated with Saudi Aramco and its joint ventures.

Dr. Al-Khaldi’s selection follows Open World’s previously announced definitive merger agreement with VerifyMe, Inc. (NASDAQ: VRME), which is expected to position the combined company as a publicly traded provider of tokenization and digital asset infrastructure solutions.

About Open World

Open World is a blockchain infrastructure company specializing in regulated digital asset solutions for sovereign, institutional and enterprise clients. The firm has supported the development of more than 20 companies since 2023 and has advised on projects representing over $65 billion in aggregate network value across advised projects, measured at peak fully diluted valuations. Open World’s capabilities span RWA tokenization, stablecoin issuance, traditional finance (TradFi) strategies, governance structuring, public markets advisory and policy engagement. The firm works with teams backed by leading global venture capital firms, including a16z, Multicoin Capital, Dragonfly and Founders Fund. Open World is expanding its focus to regulated, real-world asset markets in the Gulf region and globally. To learn more, visit https://www.openworld.dev.

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Contacts

Media Contact:
Abby Lynne
openworld@wachsman.com

Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

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Mastercard Enlists Ripple, Binance, and PayPal in New Crypto Partnership

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Mastercard Enlists Ripple, Binance, and PayPal in New Crypto Partnership


The program’s main goal is to connect blockchain tech with Mastercard’s global payments infrastructure.

Payments giant Mastercard unveiled a new Crypto Partner Program aimed at connecting the rapidly developing world of blockchain tech with its vast global payments infrastructure.

According to the company’s statement, more than 85 blockchain and fintech-focused firms have joined the initiative, with some of the major names including Binance, Ripple, Gemini, PayPal, Paxos, and Circle.

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Mastercard’s Program

The official press release indicated that this joint venture signals another step by traditional financial networks toward integrating cryptocurrency assets into mainstream commerce.

Given the substantial number of big crypto and fintech names joining the program, Mastercard noted that they plan to explore how on-chain tech, including programmable payments and tokenized assets, can integrate with TradFi payment systems used by merchants, banks, and consumers worldwide.

The program itself will focus on developing practical applications where blockchain can complement existing financial rails rather than replace them.

Mastercard execs Raj Dhamodharan and Sherri Haymond claimed that crypto assets have entered a new phase, which could boost them further into the traditional financial system.

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“As digital asset technologies mature, Mastercard will continue focusing on what we do best: enabling trust, setting standards, and connecting systems at scale. By bridging on-chain innovation with the framework that powers everyday payments, we’re helping ensure that what’s next works with what already does,” they added.

Broader Push

Bloomberg added that the new program builds on several earlier initiatives aimed at integrating the digital asset class into its ecosystem. It previously supported crypto-linked payment cards, invested in blockchain startups via its Start Path accelerator, and introduced services designed to help banks manage industry-related compliance and risk.

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Although cryptocurrencies have risen in popularity in the past half a decade, their integration into everyday payments remains a complex challenge. Mastercard aims to address that by positioning itself as a bridge between the emerging blockchain economy and the traditional financial system.

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Binance probed by DoJ, files lawsuit against WSJ

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Binance probed by DoJ, files lawsuit against WSJ

Binance has launched a lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) over a series of allegedly “defamatory” articles that revealed how the exchange shut down an internal investigation into billions of dollars worth of crypto flowing to Iran.

The February articles detailed how Binance fired its investigators shortly after they found Chinese entities sending $1.7 billion worth of crypto to accounts linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Corps.

Now, the WSJ reports that these findings have led to an investigation from the US Department of Justice (DoJ). 

The DoJ is reportedly reaching out to people with knowledge of the transfers and firings, but hasn’t disclosed if Binance or the Chinese entities are the focus of the investigation.   

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US senators launched their own inquiry last month, demanding Binance share documents on a trove of data, from information on the dubious accounts to the internal reports filed by compliance investigators.

Binance lawsuit claims WSJ ‘sacrificed truth for profit’

Binance has maintained that the WSJ’s reporting has been incorrect since it was published.

Now, the lawsuit claims the “false, defamatory, and reckless” findings have led to this “metastasized” response from US officials that continues to damage its reputation.

The suit denies that it fired compliance staff for investigating transactions, shuttered the investigation without further action, failed to comply with law enforcement requests, and knowingly registered customers with false details. 

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It also claims that the WSJ didn’t include its responses to initial questions before publishing the piece, and that it did so to beat the New York Times to the scoop.

Read more: Binance demands the Wall Street Journal remove ‘damaging’ article

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“Instead of actually engaging with Binance, the Wall Street Journal prioritized filing quickly on the heels of the NYT so that it could maximize views of the article,” the lawsuit claims. 

It also alleges, “The Wall Street Journal’s failure to respond to Binance’s request for an extension until the deadline arose and its decision to move that deadline up without a substantive response from Binance demonstrates its rush to publish the article to keep up with a competitor, regardless of the truth.”

The suit adds, “The Wall Street Journal must not be allowed to set aside journalistic standards and publish false, defamatory, and sensationalized narratives that sacrifice truth for profit.”

Binance is seeking damages for the reputational harm it claims has been caused, attorney fees, and a trial by jury. 

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Senators say Binance is repeating the crimes of its past

Binance was fined $4.3 billion in 2023 for failing to implement adequate anti-money-laundering and sanctions checks. Its former CEO, Changpeng Zhao, was sentenced to four months in prison. 

As part of this settlement, Binance agreed to onboard a compliance monitor that would ensure the exchange was up to code. 

The probe launched by senators, however, claims that the WSJ’s findings show Binance is a “repeat offender” revisiting the crimes of its past. 

Read more: Justin Sun nears $10M deal to settle SEC’s Tron lawsuit

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Democrat Senator Richard Blumenthal wrote, “Binance appears to have ignored warnings and recommendations to prevent Iranian money laundering schemes on its cryptocurrency exchange, allowing $1.7 billion in transfers to Iran.

“These transactions have helped prop up Iranian-linked terrorist organizations and illicit Russian oil sales.”

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Bloomberg strategist doubles down on $10,000 bitcoin call but peers say its ‘silly’

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Bitcoin price on Wednesday (CoinDesk data)

Bloomberg Intelligence senior commodity strategist Mike McGlone, who previously said bitcoin could drop to $10,000, is reiterating his call that bitcoin could still fall below that level, an outlook several market analysts said would require an extreme macroeconomic shock.

In an interview with EllioTrades, McGlone said the crypto bear market may not be over and warned that bitcoin could remain vulnerable if global risk assets reprice sharply.

McGlone’s forecast was met with rebuttals from several market analysts who said that while they agree a further downside for bitcoin is possible, a drop to $10,000 would likely require an extraordinary global liquidity event.

“Analysts often get lost in short-term macro noise, and sometimes they extrapolate that into silly conclusions,” said Mati Greenspan, founder and CEO of Quantum Economics.

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“For an asset like bitcoin, which regularly sees tens to hundreds of billions of dollars in daily trading volume across global markets, to revisit $10,000 we’d need a global liquidity crisis, a nuclear war, and the internet to stop working.”

Bitcoin is currently hovering around $70,000, after trading between $69,000 and $71,000. BTC’s price rise appeared to coincide with oil quickly reversing most of its session’s large gains, dropping $3 per barrel in minutes. Other crypto assets, including ether (ETH), solana (SOL) and XRP, also saw upward moves.

Bitcoin price on Wednesday (CoinDesk data)
Bitcoin price on Wednesday (CoinDesk data)

McGlone based his bearish analysis on broader macroeconomic conditions. He believes bitcoin has increasingly traded in tandem with other speculative assets as institutional participation in crypto markets has grown, weakening the narrative that crypto serves as an uncorrelated hedge against traditional markets.

According to McGlone, the crypto sector remains trapped in a broader macroeconomic unwind driven by deflationary pressures, excess speculative supply and what he sees as an unfinished correction in traditional risk markets.

Further downside still possible

Other analysts, who see potential for further bitcoin price decline, also echoed Greenspan’s sentiment that McGlone’s price target is unlikely.

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“A move toward levels like $28,000 would likely require a meaningful contraction in global liquidity, widening credit spreads, or a broader financial stress event rather than just a late-cycle slowdown,” said Jason Fernandes, co-founder and market analyst at AdLunam.

Jonatan Randin, senior market analyst at PrimeXBT, also said bitcoin could see further downside but described the $10,000 prediction as highly improbable.

“There will always be analysts calling for extreme price targets during a bear market,” Randin said. “Can we go down to $10,000? Yes, it’s possible, but I see it as highly unlikely.”

Randin expects bitcoin to gradually drift lower in the coming months, adding that the next major accumulation zone could emerge between $30,000 and $40,000.

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“If the market is in a downtrend, you are in a bear market,” Randin said. “You’re going to remain in a bear market until the primary trend shifts.”

In the shorter term, however, he expects bitcoin to remain largely range-bound between $60,000 and $70,000, warning that even a rally toward $80,000 could prove temporary if broader macro pressures persist.

The bottom may already be in

Greenspan said identifying an exact market bottom is difficult, but he noted that bitcoin may have already completed its major bear-market correction.

“Trying to pick an exact bottom is a fool’s errand,” he said. “Structurally, bitcoin already cleared its major bear market in 2022. We’re currently looking at roughly a 50% retracement from the all-time high, which is not unusual for bitcoin.”

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He added that recent price action has been encouraging and that it is “quite possible we’ve already seen the bottom.”

McGlone, however, believes the market still needs to go through a prolonged cleansing of speculative excess before a durable bottom can form.

“I think it’s going to last a while, and I don’t think it’s going to end until we purge some of these excesses,” he said.

“It’s a bear market,” McGlone added. “Sell rallies.”

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Read more: Next week could spice things up for bitcoin as seven central banks face an inflation test

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