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Spanish Red Cross Taps Ethereum to Protect Privacy of Aid Recipients

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Spanish Red Cross Taps Ethereum to Protect Privacy of Aid Recipients


The national affiliate of the International Red Cross has rolled out a blockchain-based aid system that uses ZK proofs to protect sensitive data.

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Canadian Regulator Sets Tighter Crypto Custody Standards to Curb Losses

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Canadian Regulator Sets Tighter Crypto Custody Standards to Curb Losses

Canada’s top investment industry watchdog has rolled out a new set of rules aimed at tightening how crypto assets are held and safeguarded, as regulators move to limit losses linked to hacks, fraud, and weak governance.

Key Takeaways:

  • Canada introduced new interim crypto custody rules to curb losses from hacks and fraud.
  • Custodians now face tiered limits based on capital strength, oversight, and resilience.
  • The framework adds stricter governance, insurance, and audit requirements while supporting innovation.

The Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) on Tuesday published its Digital Asset Custody Framework, outlining detailed expectations for dealer members that operate crypto asset trading platforms.

The framework is designed as an interim measure and will be enforced through membership terms and conditions, allowing CIRO to react more quickly to emerging risks while longer-term rules are developed.

Canada Introduces Tiered Custody Rules

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CIRO said the framework directly addresses the “technological, operational, and legal risks unique to digital assets,” drawing on lessons from past failures, including the collapse of QuadrigaCX in 2019, which left thousands of customers unable to recover funds.

At the core of the new regime is a tiered, risk-based structure for crypto custodians. Under the model, custodians are placed into one of four tiers based on factors such as capital strength, regulatory oversight, insurance coverage, and operational resilience.

Top-tier custodians may hold up to 100% of client crypto assets, while lower-tier providers face progressively tighter limits, with Tier 4 custodians capped at 40%.

Dealer members that choose to custody assets internally are limited to holding no more than 20% of the total value of client crypto.

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The framework also imposes a broad set of operational requirements. These include formal governance policies covering private key management, cybersecurity controls, incident response procedures, and third-party risk management.

Custodians must carry insurance, undergo independent audits, provide security compliance reports, and conduct regular penetration testing.

Custody agreements are required to spell out liability in cases where losses stem from negligence or preventable failures.

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CIRO said the approach is intended to be proportionate, balancing stronger investor protection with room for innovation and competition.

The rules were developed in consultation with crypto trading platforms, custodians, and other industry participants, and were benchmarked against international practices.

Canada Steps Up Crypto Enforcement After Major FINTRAC Fines

The move comes amid heightened scrutiny of crypto compliance in Canada. In October, the country’s financial intelligence agency, FINTRAC, fined local exchange Cryptomus roughly $126 million for failing to report suspicious transactions tied to darknet markets and fraud.

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Earlier in the year, FINTRAC also imposed penalties on offshore platforms KuCoin and Binance for similar breaches.

As a self-regulatory body, CIRO has the authority to investigate misconduct among its members and impose sanctions, including fines and suspensions.

As reported, Canada is preparing to roll out its first comprehensive framework for fiat-backed stablecoins under the 2025 federal budget, closely mirroring the regulatory path taken by the United States earlier this year.

The Bank of Canada is expected to spend $10 million over two years, starting in fiscal year 2026–2027, to oversee the rollout.

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The move comes just months after the US passed its GENIUS Act in July, a landmark stablecoin bill that heightened global regulatory momentum.

The post Canadian Regulator Sets Tighter Crypto Custody Standards to Curb Losses appeared first on Cryptonews.

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Aave Shuts Down Avara Brand and Family Crypto Wallet

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Crypto Breaking News

Aave Labs is consolidating its branding around core decentralized finance offerings, signaling a shift away from its umbrella project Avara. The reorganization follows a string of moves intended to streamline product focus and accelerate mainstream adoption of Aave’s DeFi stack. In a post on X, founder and CEO Stani Kulechov explained that Avara—an umbrella for projects including the Family crypto wallet and Lens-related initiatives—will be deprecated as the team doubles down on bringing Aave to a wider audience. The announcement underscores a broader theme in the ecosystem: simplifying user experiences to drive mass adoption rather than expanding brand reach through ancillary products.

Key takeaways

  • Aave Labs replaces Avara as the central branding home for current and future products, including Aave App, Aave Pro, and Aave Kit.
  • The Family wallet on iOS is winding down, with onboarding of new users halted and a slated wind-down over the next year.
  • Lens governance has shifted away from Aave, with stewardship handed to Mask Network and Aave taking on a primarily advisory role for Lens-related work.
  • The change is part of a broader strategic refocus on DeFi product development and ecosystem integration rather than broad branding expansion.
  • Aave remains the dominant DeFi protocol by total value locked (TVL), hovering around $30 billion, well ahead of competitors.

Tickers mentioned: $AAVE

Price impact: Negative. The AAVE price recently declined about 0.7% in the last 24 hours, trading around $127.40.

Market context: The move comes as the DeFi sector consolidates leadership around core lending and borrowing protocols. With Aave at the forefront of TVL—roughly $30 billion, according to DefiLlama—the branding simplification may help streamline user onboarding and product development amid fluctuating risk sentiment and regulatory scrutiny that has grown tighter around decentralized finance offerings.

Why it matters

The decision to sunset Avara and consolidate into Aave Labs signals a strategic bet on a more focused, product-led growth path. By winding down the Family wallet and relegating Lens governance to a governance partner, Aave appears to be prioritizing a seamless end-user experience and clear product ownership. For investors and developers, the move provides a more direct line of accountability for delivering DeFi features that scale: a more cohesive roadmap, clearer product boundaries, and less fragmentation across brands.

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On the user experience front, the Family wallet’s wind-down represents a realignment of resources toward experiences that encourage sustained engagement, such as savings-oriented features rather than open-ended wallet functionality. While the wallet’s iOS app will be phased out over the coming year, existing users will still be able to access their funds via Aave’s web interfaces through at least 2027. This keeps funds secure and accessible while the underlying infrastructure continues to support Aave Labs’ broader product ecosystem.

The Lens protocol transition, previously under Aave stewardship, to Mask Network, underscores a broader industry trend: governance and development responsibilities are increasingly distributed to specialized teams. While Aave maintains an advisory role, the strategic emphasis remains on preserving protocol integrity and enabling DeFi deployment at scale. This alignment could help reduce overlaps and accelerate deployment timelines for core Aave products in areas like lending, borrowing, and asset management, reinforcing the network’s competitive position in a crowded DeFi landscape.

In formal terms, Aave Labs will house all current and future offerings, including the Aave App, Aave Pro, and Aave Kit. The branding simplification aims to minimize confusion for users navigating a growing suite of tools and services. By concentrating branding under a single umbrella, the company aims to deliver a more coherent user journey—from onboarding to advanced use cases—without sacrificing the security and reliability that have underpinned its market leadership.

From a market perspective, Aave’s status as the largest DeFi protocol by total value locked provides a cushion against volatility in the broader crypto markets. With TVL around $30 billion and Lido’s staking protocol trailing at roughly $21.7 billion, the competitive landscape remains robust. The price action of AAVE—which traded around $127.40 after a 0.7% daily dip—reflects the typical sensitivity of blue-chip DeFi tokens to broader liquidity and regulatory dynamics, even as the core product suite continues to evolve in line with the company’s strategic reorientation.

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What to watch next

  • April 1: No new users will be onboarded to the iOS Family Wallet, marking a hard stop for new installations.
  • April 1, 2027: Existing Family Wallet users retain access to their funds via Aave’s web interfaces; iOS app access ends, completing the wind-down.
  • Updates on Aave App, Aave Pro, and Aave Kit within Aave Labs, including roadmap milestones and governance developments.
  • Lens protocol governance and collaboration with Mask Network—monitor any public governance proposals or technical integrations.

Sources & verification

  • Stani Kulechov’s X post announcing the sunset of Avara and the move to focus on bringing Aave to the masses.
  • Avara blog post detailing that current and future products will operate under Aave Labs and the wind-down of the Family wallet on iOS.
  • DefiLlama TVL data confirming Aave as the largest DeFi protocol with approximately $30 billion in total value locked.
  • CoinGecko price data showing AAVE trading around $127.40 with a ~0.7% daily decline.

Why it matters

The branding consolidation is a signal of maturity for Aave as it increasingly treats DeFi tooling as an integrated ecosystem rather than a set of standalone products. By aligning development under Aave Labs, the project can allocate resources more efficiently, reduce friction for users, and accelerate delivery of core DeFi capabilities that have driven adoption since the early days of the protocol.

For builders, the move clarifies accountability and ownership for each product, potentially speeding up integration work and reuse of components across the Aave ecosystem. For users, a streamlined brand can translate into a simpler onboarding flow, more consistent user interfaces, and fewer disruptions caused by shifting project scope. Regulators, too, may appreciate a well-defined product suite with centralized governance and clearer risk management practices across Aave’s core offerings.

In the broader crypto market, the emphasis on DeFi-focused growth comes at a time when liquidity and risk appetite remain uneven. However, as institutional and retail demand for scalable, compliant, and user-friendly DeFi tools persists, Aave’s renewed focus could bolster confidence in its trajectory and reinforce its position as a leading provider of decentralized financial primitives.

What to watch next

  • Roadmap updates for Aave App, Aave Pro, and Aave Kit under Aave Labs in the coming quarters.
  • Any governance proposals related to Lens or other partnerships tied to the Lens ecosystem.
  • Evolving product onboarding experiences aimed at broad user segments, including savings-focused features.

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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XRP ETFs Post Record Outflows as Ripple Extends Price Slide

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XRP price faces heightened downside risks following massive outflows from US Spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) amid risk-off sentiment in the broader crypto market.

Rising US and Japan bond yields signal macroeconomic stress, dragging the total crypto market capitalization 32% below its October 2025 peak.

BTC, ETH, and XRP retested their lowest levels in more than two weeks after crypto and stock markets digested US President Donald Trump’s fresh round of tariff threats.

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The potential tariffs are an attempt by the administration to convince Denmark to reconsider its control of Greenland.

The S&P 500 index fell 1.9%, while gold prices surged to a new all-time high of around $4,885/ounce, and the crypto market capitalization dropped to $3 trillion, down from nearly $3.2 trillion, according to Coingecko data.

XRP dropped nearly 1% in the last 24 hours to trade at $1.90 as of 4:39 a.m. EST, with an intraday low of around $1.89.

Spot XRP ETFs Records $53.32 Million in Net Outflows

According to Coinglass data, spot XRP ETFs recorded $53.32 million in net outflows on Tuesday, January 20, marking their second-ever daily capital outflow and the largest since they began trading in November 2025.

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spot XRP ETFsspot XRP ETFs

The outflow was from Grayscale’s GXRP ETF, which recorded a total outflow of $55.39 million. Meanwhile, Franklin’s XRPZ recorded $2.07 million in inflows.

Following the latest outflow, total net inflows since launch now stand at $1.22 billion.

The recent bearish spell was not unique to XRP, as most other crypto ETFs also saw outflows. Specifically, the BTC ETFs recorded $479.70 million in outflows, while the ETH ETFs recorded $230 million.

Can XRP Stabilize or Is More Downside Ahead?

XRP price is currently trading around $1.90–$2.00, sitting directly on top of the 200-day Simple Moving Average (SMA) near $1.90, which has become a critical long-term support level. The price remains well below the 50-day SMA at $2.39, highlighting persistent medium-term bearish pressure.

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After peaking near the $3.60–$3.70 region, XRP entered a prolonged corrective phase, forming a falling channel pattern.

Despite this, XRP has so far managed to defend the $1.85–$1.90 zone, an area that also aligns with a major Fibonacci extension level from the prior advance.

The 50-day SMA remains downward-sloping, signaling that trend momentum has not yet shifted in favor of the bulls. As long as the price of XRP trades below this SMA.

Overhead, the $2.20–$2.40 region stands out as a heavy resistance band, combining the descending channel top and the 50-day SMA.

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XRP’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) is currently hovering around 41, below the neutral 50 level. This suggests weak momentum, though RSI is not yet deeply oversold.

XRP/USD Chart Analysis Source: TradingViewXRP/USD Chart Analysis Source: TradingView
XRP/USD Chart Analysis Source: TradingView

The higher-timeframe XRP/USD chart suggests the Ripple token may attempt a short-term stabilization above the $1.85–$1.90 support zone, given the confluence with the 200-day SMA. A sustained hold here could allow for another corrective move toward $2.10–$2.30, where prior breakdown levels and channel resistance converge.

A decisive daily or multi-day close above the $2.30–$2.40 region would be required to weaken the bearish structure.

On the downside, a clean break below the 200-day SMA and $1.85 support would significantly change the bearish structure. As a result, XRP could slide toward the $ 1.35–$ 1.50 demand zone.

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Crypto.com Launches Standalone US Prediction Markets Platform OG

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Crypto.com Launches Standalone US Prediction Markets Platform OG

Crypto.com has spun out its prediction markets business into a standalone platform called OG, marking a fresh push into one of the fastest-growing corners of digital finance and putting it in direct competition with Polymarket and Kalshi.

Key Takeaways:

  • Crypto.com has launched OG as a standalone, US-only prediction markets platform built on its CFTC-regulated derivatives infrastructure.
  • The spinout follows explosive growth, with Crypto.com reporting 40x weekly increases in prediction market activity over the past six months.
  • OG enters an increasingly competitive market as major crypto and Wall Street players expand into event-based contracts.

OG, which went live this week, is powered by Crypto.com Derivatives North America (CDNA), a CFTC-registered exchange and clearinghouse affiliated with Crypto.com.

The company said the platform is currently available only to users in the United States, underscoring its focus on operating within the country’s regulated market structure.

Crypto.com Spins Out OG After Surge in Prediction Market Activity

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The decision to launch OG as a separate platform follows rapid growth in Crypto.com’s prediction market offerings.

The firm first entered the space in 2024 and rolled out a “sports event trading” product for US users in December of that year. According to co-founder and CEO Kris Marszalek, activity has surged since then.

“We’ve experienced 40x weekly growth in our prediction market business over the last six months,” Marszalek said, adding that the pace justified a dedicated platform rather than keeping the product bundled within Crypto.com’s broader ecosystem.

OG will be led by Nick Lundgren, Crypto.com’s chief legal officer, who takes on the role of CEO.

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Lundgren described prediction markets as a “deca-billion dollar industry,” pointing to rising interest from both retail users and institutional players.

Still, the field is becoming increasingly crowded. Coinbase launched a US-focused prediction market product in partnership with Kalshi in late January, while Hyperliquid recently outlined plans to expand into event-based markets.

The timing of OG’s debut reflects broader momentum across the sector. Prediction markets have grown from less than $100 million in monthly volume in early 2024 to more than $13 billion by the end of 2025, according to industry data.

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Combined volumes on Polymarket and Kalshi alone reached $37 billion last year, as Wall Street and crypto firms alike explore new uses for event contracts beyond online betting.

State Opposition to Prediction Markets Builds Over Consumer Concerns

State opposition to prediction markets has been building for months.

In 2025, the SWC urged the CFTC to prohibit sports event contracts, arguing that such products bypass state safeguards such as age verification, responsible gaming rules and anti-money laundering requirements.

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As reported, a new legislation to limit the interactions between government officials and the prediction markets is being supported by more than 30 Democrats in the US House of Representatives, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The lure behind new restrictions is a controversial Polymarket bet, which started as a bet of $32,000 but eventually became more than $400,000 shortly before the unexpected detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The bill proposed by the New York Representative Ritchie Torres is the Public Integrity in Financial Prediction Markets Act of 2026.

The post Crypto.com Launches Standalone US Prediction Markets Platform OG appeared first on Cryptonews.

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Crypto.com Launches OG Prediction Market Platform

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Crypto.com Launches OG Prediction Market Platform

Crypto.com has spun out its prediction markets business, first launched in 2024, into a standalone platform called OG, competing with the likes of Polymarket and Kalshi. 

OG is powered by Crypto.com Derivatives North America (CDNA), a Commodity Futures Trading Commission-registered exchange and clearinghouse and affiliate of Crypto.com

OG said on Tuesday that it is only available in the United States for now.

Entering a ‘deca-billion dollar’ industry

Kris Marszalek, co-founder and CEO of Crypto.com, highlighted the firm’s growth in the prediction market space as the reason for launching a dedicated platform. 

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Crypto.com first announced the launch of a “sports event trading” product for US users in December 2024.

“We’ve experienced 40x weekly growth in our prediction market business over the last six months. This type of growth warrants a concerted effort with a standalone platform.”

Related: Polymarket strikes prediction market deal with major US soccer league

Nick Lundgren, chief legal officer of Crypto.com and new CEO of OG, described prediction markets as a “deca-billion dollar industry.” 

However, OG is entering a crowded space. Coinbase launched its own prediction market platform in the US in partnership with Kalshi in late January, while Hyperliquid proposed plans to expand into prediction markets on Monday. 

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Boom time for prediction markets

OG is debuting amid accelerating growth in prediction markets, with Wall Street exploring event contracts for new use cases beyond blockchain betting.

Prediction markets have seen 130-fold growth, from less than $100 million per month in early 2024 to over $13 billion by the end of 2025, according to International Banker. 

The combined volume for market leaders Polymarket and Kalshi was $37 billion in predictions placed in 2025, and the two platforms raised $3.6 billion in equity investment in 2025.

Meanwhile, prediction market firm revenues are expected to balloon from around $2 billion annually to over $10 billion by 2030, according to the Citizens Financial Group.

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Polymarket and Kalshi volumes, categories, and top markets. Source: DeFi Rate

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