Crypto World
The network is moving away from being a slow giant to become a high-speed ‘internet of value’ by 2029
The Ethereum Foundation’s newly released “Strawmap” reads, at first glance, like something only a protocol researcher could immediately comprehend. It’s dense, diagram-heavy and packed with references to forks, zkEVMs and data availability sampling.
But beneath the technical language is a far simpler story: Ethereum — the second-largest blockchain with more than $200 billion market cap — is trying to decide what kind of infrastructure it wants to be by the end of the decade.
The ‘Strawmap’ — explicitly framed as a draft, not an official plan — sketches out Ethereum upgrades through 2029. It is not binding, but it signals where some of the network’s most influential researchers believe the base layer should head next.
“The Strawmap is largely independent from Ethereum governance… it’s a tool that helps inform R&D well ahead of Ethereum governance, potentially even years ahead,” Justin Drake, a prominent Ethereum Foundation researcher, told CoinDesk in an interview.
That direction has real consequences beyond core developers.
At the center of the document are five ambitions: near-instant transaction finality, dramatically higher throughput, built-in privacy, quantum-resistant cryptography and tighter integration between Ethereum’s base layer and its layer 2 ecosystem.
Stripped of jargon, the goal is straightforward: make Ethereum faster, more scalable, more private and durable enough to last a long time.
Today, Ethereum transactions are included in blocks quickly, but the point at which they are considered irreversible, known as finality, takes too long (roughly 16 minutes). For most casual users, that nuance is invisible. For exchanges, bridges and financial applications, it’s critical.
In a thread responding to the roadmap, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin laid out how that could change. “Today, finality takes 16 minutes,” he wrote, adding that the goal is to “decouple slots and finality” and move toward a system where “endgame finality time might be eg. 6–16 sec.”
Moving from minutes to seconds changes how comfortably large amounts of value can move across the network.
The Layer 2 debate
Earlier this month, Buterin argued that some of the assumptions behind the original layer 2 roadmap “no longer make sense” in their earlier form. Layer-2 networks were previously incorporated into Ethereum’s roadmap to scale the network by processing transactions off the main blockchain and settling them back to Ethereum, helping reduce congestion and fees.
However, as layer 1 or base layer scaling has improved and some rollups have taken longer than expected to decentralize, the idea that Ethereum would outsource most of its scaling burden entirely to L2s has become less clear-cut.
Instead, Buterin suggested a more balanced future — one where the base layer continues to strengthen while layer 2 networks evolve into more specialized roles, whether for privacy, specific applications or enhanced security models.
“Ultimately, we’re going to have finality in seconds,” Drake told CoinDesk, arguing that faster settlement will “help with bridging between the L2s” and improve user experience.
The Strawmap reflects that shift. It doesn’t necessarily say layer 2s will go extinct, but neither does it treat layer 1 as frozen. Instead, it builds on a stronger base layer, alongside improvements that enable significantly higher layer 2 capacity, which could be seen as a dual-track scaling strategy.
Privacy and quantum threat
Privacy marks another notable shift in the draft of the new roadmap.
Ethereum’s transparency has long been viewed as a positive, as every transaction is visible. But openness limits certain use cases. The Strawmap contemplates native “shielded” transfers at the base layer, which would allow ETH to move without exposing full transaction details publicly. For individuals, that’s a matter of financial discretion. For businesses, it could determine whether certain activities move onchain at all.
And then there’s the long game: post-quantum cryptography. Quantum computing remains a developing field, but if Ethereum is meant to secure trillions in value over decades, its security assumptions cannot remain static. The Ethereum Foundation recently brought together a post-quantum team, and the roadmap only shows that it continues to double down on these efforts.
For developers and businesses, the roadmap provides directional clarity. Ethereum has often been criticized for moving slowly or for perpetually delaying the timelines of upgrades. By publishing a multi-year sketch, researchers are signaling that the network’s next phase is not just about patching limitations.
Ethereum’s history, though, is full of ambitious timelines that are overstretched. Governance in a decentralized system ensures debate and revision. The Strawmap itself acknowledges it will evolve.
“For me, this is ultimately about Ethereum becoming the internet of value, and ether, the asset, becoming money for the internet,” Drake told CoinDesk.
Read more: Ethereum Foundation drops most ambitious roadmap in years, targets finality in seconds by 2029
Coinbase Asset Management has moved to tokenize its Bitcoin Yield Fund on the Base blockchain, unveiling a tokenized share class for the fund in partnership with Apex Group. The move is framed as a way to enable institutional access to a yield-bearing Bitcoin exposure while preserving regulatory compliance.
Apex Group said in a statement on Thursday that the tokenized share class of Coinbase Asset Management’s fund “is set up to interact with compatible platforms, wallets, and infrastructure without compromising compliance.”
Coinbase Asset Management president Anthony Bassili said the share class integrates “identity and eligibility at the token level” to support regulatory requirements. The approach reflects a broader push among traditional asset managers to bring tokenized investments—ranging from stocks and bonds to funds and real assets—onto public blockchains in pursuit of lower costs, faster settlement, and around-the-clock trading.
Industry players have been exploring tokenization across a spectrum of assets, with BlackRock, Fidelity Investments, and Franklin Templeton already launching tokenized funds on-chain. The Coinbase initiative adds another high-profile entry to a growing ecosystem of regulated, on-chain fund access.
The tokenized share class of Coinbase’s Bitcoin Yield Fund, which provides exposure to Bitcoin and a yield component, will be available on the Base network only to institutional and accredited investors outside the United States. The arrangement leverages the ERC‑3643 permissioned token standard to ensure that only eligible investors can access the yield product.
Apex acts as the on-chain transfer agent for this tokenized structure, responsible for managing token ownership, enforcing transfer and compliance rules, and maintaining a transparent record of transactions on Base.
Coinbase has signaled plans to broaden access by launching a tokenized share class of the Coinbase Bitcoin Yield Fund for U.S. investors in the future, expanding the program beyond the current non-U.S. eligibility window.
Historically, Coinbase’s non-U.S. version of the Bitcoin Yield Fund targeted an annual return in Bitcoin in the 4% to 8% range. Coinbase explained that the product was designed to provide native yield options for Bitcoin, addressing a gap created by the lack of yield-generating mechanisms for non-staking digital assets compared with proof-of-stake tokens like ETH or SOL.
The broader context for these developments is a formalization of on-chain access to traditional financial products. As institutions seek cost efficiencies and more flexible settlement, tokenized funds and other on-chain assets are becoming increasingly mainstream, albeit with careful attention to regulatory alignment and investor eligibility.
Key takeaways
- The Bitcoin Yield Fund now has a tokenized share class on Coinbase’s Base network, developed with Apex Group for compliant, on-chain handling.
- Access is limited to institutional and accredited investors outside the U.S. for the current tokenized offering, with plans to reach U.S. investors later.
- The token uses ERC‑3643, a permissioned standard designed to restrict ownership to eligible participants and support regulatory controls on-chain.
- Apex serves as the on-chain transfer agent, overseeing ownership, transfers, and compliance data on Base.
- Even as Coinbase rolls out this non-U.S. version, other asset managers including BlackRock, Fidelity, and Franklin Templeton have already launched tokenized funds on-chain, signaling a broader industry trend.
On-chain compliance and the promise of institutional tokenization
At the core of this initiative is a specialized focus on regulatory alignment. By insulating the tokenized share class behind a permissioned standard, Coinbase and Apex are aiming to prevent unauthorized access while enabling seamless interaction with compatible platforms, wallets, and infrastructure. The official framing from Apex emphasizes that the tokenized structure can operate across ecosystems without compromising compliance, a critical consideration for institutions weighing on-chain custody and transfer mechanisms.
Anthony Bassili’s emphasis on identity and eligibility at the token level underscores the shift from purely decentralized narratives toward regulated, auditable on-chain products. In practice, this approach means that investor verification and compliance checks can be encoded directly into the token’s lifecycle, potentially reducing friction in future cross-border and cross-platform dealings for regulated participants.
What’s next for investors and the market
The move arrives at a moment when large fund managers are increasingly experimenting with tokenized vehicles as a way to improve efficiency and broaden access. The non-U.S. version of Coinbase’s Bitcoin Yield Fund sets a precedent for cross-border issuance that prioritizes regulatory controls, while still tapping into the liquidity and programmability offered by Base’s blockchain infrastructure.
Coinbase’s stated intention to roll out a U.S.-based tokenized share class for the Bitcoin Yield Fund will be closely watched. If executed, it would position Coinbase alongside a growing cohort of traditional asset managers pursuing tokenized, yield-bearing offerings for a domestic audience—an area that has drawn attention from regulators and institutional participants alike.
Looking ahead, observers will want to see how broader adoption unfolds: Will more funds adopt ERC‑3643 or similar permissioned standards? How quickly will institutional custodians and exchanges integrate tokenized share classes with existing settlement rails? And what regulatory clarifications emerge as on-chain products expand from foreign-only access to domestic markets?
For now, the Coinbase-Apex collaboration marks a notable step in the ongoing evolution of regulated, on-chain asset issuance. The degree to which this model scales—across asset classes, jurisdictions, and investor bases—will help define the next phase of institutional tokenization in crypto finance.
Readers should watch for updates on the US-tokenized version’s timeline and for further announcements from Apex Group and Coinbase Asset Management regarding platform integrations, eligible investor criteria, and potential expansion to additional fund families.
Nigel Farage has been unknowingly shilling crypto pump and dump schemes. And it only cost scammers £72 a video.
Fraudsters exploited his Cameo profile to purchase personalized clips where Farage read scripts packed with crypto slogans. “To the moon.” “HODL.” Token names dropped in casually. All repurposed as official endorsements for obscure cryptocurrencies that have since collapsed to zero.
Farage charges around £72 per video. He appeared to read the scripts without verifying what he was actually promoting. Retail investors got lured in. The tokens dumped. The Reform UK leader had no idea he was the marketing engine the whole time.
- Scammers paid Nigel Farage for Cameo clips to promote dubious tokens like “Stonks Finance” and “Faragecoin.”
- The endorsed tokens followed a classic pump and dump pattern, crashing shortly after the videos circulated.
- Regulatory loopholes on platforms like Cameo are creating new risks for retail investor protection.
The Tokens Farage Plugged Have One Thing in Common: They Crashed
The Guardian investigation named the tokens. Stonks Finance. NIG Finance. Trump Mania. Faragecoin.
The playbook was identical every time. Video gets posted on X and Telegram alongside claims that Farage “knows what’s up.” Retail buyers pile in. Token spikes. Insiders dump their holdings. Price collapses to near zero. Late buyers absorb all the losses.
One Stonks Finance video alone triggered a brief speculative frenzy before the inevitable crash.
The damage for retail investors has been severe. The tokens are unregulated. The promoters are anonymous. Recovering funds is basically impossible. And the Cameo clips gave these projects just enough legitimacy to bypass the usual red flags most investors would catch.
Farage Has Not Claimed the Videos Were Financial Advice — But That Was Exactly How They Were Used
Farage has publicly positioned himself as a crypto advocate, citing his debanking experience as a reason for supporting Bitcoin as an anti-authoritarian tool. But the tokens in these videos have nothing to do with Bitcoin.
Whether Farage knew his clips were being used for financial promotion is still unclear. The line between a personal shout-out and a commercial endorsement is deliberately blurry on platforms like Cameo. That grey area is exactly what scammers exploit. He has not publicly addressed the allegations. The videos are still out there.
Regulators are struggling to keep up. The FCA and SEC have strict rules for financial promotions but personalized video content sits in a legal grey zone that enforcement consistently lags behind. ]
The market outcome is already settled. The tokens collapsed. The liquidity is gone. Investors learned an expensive lesson. A paid Cameo clip is not due diligence.
Discover: The best new crypto in the world
The post Nigel Farage Cameo Videos Exploited to Promote Pump and Dump Crypto Scams appeared first on Cryptonews.
Key takeaways:
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SOL derivatives signal bearish sentiment as funding rates hit 0% and put (sell) options trade at a premium.
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While Solana leads in DEX volume, it faces stiff competition from Hyperliquid in the perpetual contracts sector.
Solana’s native token SOL (SOL) faced a 3-day 11% decline after peaking at $97.70 on Monday. Thursday’s move down to $87 triggered $25 million in leveraged long positions being liquidated, negatively impacting trader sentiment. SOL derivatives currently point to fear of further downside and a lack of conviction from bulls, increasing the odds of retesting the $80 level.
The SOL perpetual futures annualized funding rate stood near 0% on Thursday, signaling a lack of demand for longs. Bears have dominated leverage demand for the past month, which is highly unusual for crypto markets as traders are historically optimistic. Moreover, the mere cost of capital and exchange risks usually drive the funding rate near 9% under neutral conditions.
SOL options markets confirm that professional traders are not comfortable that the $87 level will hold for long.
The delta skew (put-call) jumped to 12% on Thursday, meaning put options traded at a premium relative to equivalent call instruments. Whales and market makers are not comfortable holding downside price exposure, even as SOL trades 70% below its all-time high. Part of this bearishness can be explained by weaker demand for the decentralized applications (DApps) industry.
Solana DApps revenue dropped to its lowest level in 18 months at $22 million, down from $36 million two months prior. The issue is not exclusive to Solana, as DApps revenue declined by 52% on BNB Chain over the same period, but increased competition in perpetual contracts trading is somewhat concerning as Hyperliquid dominates the industry.
While Solana remains the undisputed leader in decentralized exchange (DEX) volumes, driven by Pump, Raydium and Orca, the situation in synthetic derivatives is reversed. Blockchains specifically designed to handle perpetual contracts trading, such as Hyperliquid, Edgex, Zklighter and Aster, handle more than 80% of the total volume.
Related: Altseason is dead, expect shorter cycles and ‘violent’ rotations: Crypto exec
Weak onchain data and bearish derivatives delay SOL price recovery
The launch of an officially licensed S&P 500 Index perpetual futures contract on Hyperliquid has likely contributed to the weaker demand for SOL. The product offer, available for eligible users based outside of the United States, was developed by Trade[XYZ] and adds to the aggregate tokenized equities markets that nears $1.1 billion in assets.
SOL’s current $51 billion market capitalization represents a 42% discount relative to competitor BNB (BNB) at $88 billion. However, the Solana network’s total value locked (TVL) stood at $6.9 billion, while BNB Chain held $5.7 billion in TVL. More importantly, Solana’s 30-day network fees totaled $20.8 million, while BNB Chain had $9.1 million in fees, according to DefiLlama data.
Multiple companies that opted for a digital asset treasury strategy focused on SOL, such as Forward Industries (FWDI US) and DeFi Development Corp. (DFDV US) are underwater in their holdings, adding to the negative sentiment. Ultimately, the weakness in Solana onchain activity and lack of enthusiasm in derivatives markets hint that a bull run above $110 will take longer than anticipated.
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.
Artificial intelligence is undergoing a structural transformation. What began as conversational interfaces powered by large language models is rapidly evolving into autonomous systems capable of executing real world digital tasks. In this emerging landscape of AI agents, one name has attracted significant attention, OpenClaw.
OpenClaw is not merely another chatbot. It represents a broader shift in how artificial intelligence systems operate, moving from reactive text generation to proactive digital execution. Its rapid rise in popularity has positioned it at the centre of discussions surrounding autonomous AI, intelligent automation and the future of digital work.
This article explores what OpenClaw is, why it gained viral traction, how it works conceptually and what it signals for the next phase of AI agent development.
What Is OpenClaw?
OpenClaw is an AI agent designed to perform tasks in digital environments autonomously. Unlike traditional AI chat interfaces that generate responses based on prompts, OpenClaw aims to interpret objectives, plan actions and execute them across systems.
At its core, OpenClaw transforms a large language model from a conversational engine into an operational agent.
Rather than simply answering questions, an AI agent such as OpenClaw can interpret user goals rather than isolated prompts, break complex objectives into structured steps, interact with software interfaces and APIs, execute commands within digital environments, and adapt its actions based on contextual feedback.
This distinction is fundamental. The shift from responding to acting marks a qualitative evolution in artificial intelligence.
Why Did OpenClaw Go Viral?
Several factors contributed to OpenClaw’s rapid visibility within the AI and developer communities.
Compelling Demonstrations of Autonomous Behaviour
Public demonstrations showed the agent carrying out multi-step digital tasks with minimal supervision. Observers witnessed an AI system planning, executing and iterating, not merely producing text. This display created a strong perception of progress towards genuinely autonomous AI systems.
Alignment with the AI Agent Trend
The rise of autonomous AI agents has been one of the most discussed developments in the post-LLM era. As businesses search for scalable automation and developers explore agent-based frameworks, OpenClaw appeared at precisely the right moment in the innovation cycle.
Accessibility and Developer Interest
Projects that emphasise openness, experimentation and adaptability often gain rapid traction. The idea of an AI agent that developers could explore, extend or integrate resonated strongly with the technical community.
A Clear Narrative, From AI Assistant to Digital Worker
OpenClaw’s positioning as an autonomous agent rather than a chatbot reframed expectations. It was presented not as a conversational novelty, but as a prototype of the future digital workforce.
How Does OpenClaw Work?
While implementations evolve, AI agents like OpenClaw typically rely on a layered architecture that combines reasoning, planning and execution capabilities.
Large Language Model Core
At the cognitive centre of the system lies a large language model. This model interprets instructions, analyses context, reasons through objectives and generates structured action plans.
In this context, the language model is not the final output layer. It functions as the decision-making engine that informs action.
Task Planning Mechanism
A planning module translates high-level goals into manageable subtasks. If instructed to compile a report, the agent may identify required data sources, access relevant tools, extract information, structure the findings and format the output.
This decomposition capability is central to autonomous behaviour.
Execution Layer
The execution layer enables interaction with external systems. This function may involve calling APIs, navigating software interfaces, running scripts, interacting with operating systems or managing workflows across platforms.
This layer converts cognitive reasoning into operational activity.
Memory and Context Management
Persistent memory allows the agent to maintain coherence across extended tasks. Rather than treating each interaction in isolation, the system retains relevant context, previous steps, and intermediate outcomes.
This continuity is critical for complex, multi-stage processes.
OpenClaw Compared with Traditional Chatbots
Traditional chatbots primarily generate textual responses based on user prompts. OpenClaw, by contrast, is designed to execute digital actions in line with user objectives.
A chatbot focuses on conversational interaction. OpenClaw focuses on operational interaction with systems and tools.
Traditional chat interfaces typically lack persistent, task oriented memory. OpenClaw integrates contextual memory to manage longer workflows.
Chatbots do not directly manipulate external systems. OpenClaw is designed to integrate with tools, APIs and digital infrastructures.
In practical terms, a chatbot communicates information. An AI agent such as OpenClaw carries out tasks.
Potential Use Cases of OpenClaw
The strategic relevance of OpenClaw lies in its practical applications. AI agents capable of autonomous execution could reshape multiple sectors.
Enterprise Automation
Businesses increasingly rely on fragmented SaaS ecosystems. An AI agent can bridge tools and automate cross-platform workflows, including reporting pipelines, CRM updates, marketing automation tasks, and structured data processing.
This automated workflow reduces manual intervention and improves operational efficiency.
Software Development and Testing
Developers could leverage AI agents for automated code testing, environment configuration, continuous integration tasks, debugging assistance and deployment management.
An AI agent that understands project context could streamline development cycles and reduce repetitive workload.
Advanced Personal Productivity
Beyond enterprise environments, autonomous agents may assist individuals in managing complex digital workflows, including intelligent calendar coordination, automated document handling, research aggregation and workflow orchestration across multiple tools.
OpenClaw extends productivity beyond reminders and into active task completion.
Strategic Implications for the Future of AI Agents
OpenClaw represents more than a single project. It signals structural shifts in the development of artificial intelligence.
From Conversational AI to Autonomous Systems
The first generation of large language models focused primarily on dialogue. The next phase centres on execution. Competitive advantage will increasingly depend on agents that can act reliably in digital environments.
Emergence of Digital Labour
As AI agents become more capable, they may assume roles previously requiring human digital interaction. AI agents do not necessarily eliminate human oversight, but they do change the distribution of digital labour.
Routine operational tasks could become progressively automated.
Integration as Competitive Advantage
Future AI value may depend less on model size alone and more on integration capacity, specifically on how effectively agents interact with real-world software ecosystems.
OpenClaw reflects this integration-focused paradigm.
Risks and Challenges
Despite its promise, autonomous AI agents introduce substantial considerations.
Granting an AI system access to digital tools requires strict governance structures. A human administrator should manage security and permissions carefully.
Reliability remains critical. If an agent makes incorrect decisions during early stages of a workflow, those errors may propagate throughout the process.
Governance and accountability frameworks are still developing. Questions remain regarding responsibility when autonomous systems perform unintended actions.
There is also the risk of over-automation. Excessive reliance on autonomous systems could reduce human situational awareness in critical operations.
Balancing autonomy with oversight will be essential for responsible adoption.
Is OpenClaw the Beginning of a New AI Era?
The key question is not whether OpenClaw is technically flawless today. The more important consideration is what it represents.
It symbolises the evolution of artificial intelligence from passive assistant to active operator.
If the conversational AI wave defined the early 2020s, the coming phase may be characterised by autonomous AI agents capable of interacting independently with digital systems.
OpenClaw illustrates how large language models can transition from generating insight to delivering execution.
Whether it becomes a dominant platform or remains an early milestone, it clearly reflects a broader trajectory. Artificial intelligence is moving from conversation towards action.
Opinion by: Jason Dominique, co-founder and CEO of ONCHAIN® Labs
For years, whenever we explain what we’re building, the reaction is familiar. There’s curiosity, some skepticism, and then the question that almost always follows:
“If this is such a big problem, why hasn’t it been fixed already?”
The answer is not that the industry failed to notice it, nor that the technology was too immature to address it. Access remained broken because fixing it correctly required rearchitecting how coordination, execution and settlement work together, while leaving it broken was both easier and profitable.
By “access” we mean the path between intent and ownership: the rules, intermediaries and detours that determine whether someone can reach an onchain asset directly or only through a platform that controls the route.
For most of the industry’s history, access has been treated as something users must earn or purchase before participating. Assets must be listed. Wallets must support them.
What began as a pragmatic workaround hardened into a durable economic structure.
If an asset is listed, access is monetized directly. If it isn’t, the native asset required to reach it is still monetized. Either way, the detour pays, regardless of user intent.
In practice, this has created a vast, largely invisible rerouting of value. Today, significant onchain volume is not executed directly against the assets users intend to reach, but is first detoured through intermediary-controlled native assets required to transact on each network.
Access scarcity became an economic artifact
As onchain asset creation accelerated, platforms encountered a real constraint. No exchange, wallet or custodial ramp could realistically surface everything. Scarcity did not appear in liquidity or settlement. It appeared in distribution.
Listings became gates. Routing decisions determined reachability. Once these detours proved profitable, they stopped being temporary.
This was not a moral failure. It was an incentive-driven outcome. Monetizing access required far less coordination, capital and risk than redesigning how users reach onchain assets directly. Once intermediaries realized the detour itself could be priced, there was little reason to remove it, especially when removal required deep architectural changes few teams could afford.
Over time, users were trained to accept the detour as normal. Acquiring intermediary-controlled native assets unrelated to intent. Bridging value across chains. Approving opaque transactions. These steps stopped feeling like friction and started feeling inevitable.
What emerged was an unspoken economic tax on participation, charged not in explicit fees, but in prerequisite assets, extra steps, delayed execution and abandoned intent.
Execution matured but access did not
While access remained economically gated, the execution layer matured rapidly. Automated market makers, permissionless liquidity and composable smart contracts turned execution into a largely solved problem.
These systems were never meant to be destinations. They were plumbing. Early on, interfaces were necessary, so decentralized exchanges became places users “went,” and on-ramps became gateways. Over time, the industry confused those interfaces with the infrastructure itself.
Related: An overview of intent-based architectures and applications in blockchain
That confusion is now unraveling. People are no longer consciously navigating execution venues. Trading increasingly happens inside wallets and applications, with execution abstracted away.
The data reflects this shift. In 2025, the DEX-to-CEX spot volume ratio crossed 21% and peaked above 37% earlier in the year. Centralized platforms still matter, but decentralized execution is becoming the default regardless of where users interact.
As execution fades into the background, the remaining bottleneck becomes impossible to ignore.
Builders are running into a ceiling
For builders, access has quietly become the limiting factor. Reaching users often requires relationships, listing approvals, or forcing users through native assets unrelated to the product’s core value.
This distorts incentives. Innovation slows not because ideas dry up, but because permission becomes the bottleneck. Teams optimize for gatekeepers rather than users. Distribution depends on capital and relationships instead of relevance.
Scale amplifies the problem. Even after issuance slowed in 2025, tens of thousands of tokens continued launching each day. Listing-based access cannot keep up with permissionless creation.
Permissionless issuance paired with permissioned access does not produce open markets. It produces fragmentation.
Access is moving to the transaction layer
The alternative is not another marketplace or aggregator. It is a redefinition of where access lives.
In intent-based and abstracted systems, users express outcomes rather than routes. Transactions dynamically source liquidity, assets and execution at the protocol level. Access stops being something granted by platforms and becomes something enforced by the network itself.
This shift is structural. Solving access at the transaction layer requires deep changes to coordination, execution and settlement, changes that were expensive, risky and slow to implement. That is precisely why monetized detours persisted for so long.
Once access becomes native to the network, the economics of the stack change. Listings lose leverage. Discovery becomes emergent rather than negotiated. Liquidity competes on execution quality rather than placement.
Execution works. Settlement scales. Value moves instantly and globally. The remaining question is whether access continues to be routed through detours users did not choose.
A quiet but irreversible transition
This transition will not arrive with a single protocol launch or headline-grabbing announcement. Systems built on structural friction rarely unwind overnight.
Access is moving closer to execution. When it does, the center of gravity in crypto shifts away from intermediaries and back toward networks.
The change will not be loud. It will be structural. By the time access feels “solved,” the old gates will already be impossible to justify.
Opinion by: Jason Dominique, co-founder and CEO of ONCHAIN® Labs.
This opinion article presents the author’s expert view, and it may not reflect the views of Cointelegraph.com. This content has undergone editorial review to ensure clarity and relevance. Cointelegraph remains committed to transparent reporting and upholding the highest standards of journalism. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research before taking any actions related to the company.
Bitcoin (BTC) rebounded from weekly lows into Thursday’s Wall Street open as inflation targeted BTC price strength.
Key points:
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Bitcoin price action preserves its new local trading range between 2021 highs and 2025 lows.
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Gold leads a macro asset sell-off after the Federal Reserve continued a hawkish stance on interest-rate policy.
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Fed Chair Jerome Powell says that the next rate cut depended on inflation “progress.”
Bitcoin struggles after hawkish Fed meeting
Data from TradingView showed a drop to $69,500 on the day, with BTC/USD reaching the area of its old all-time high from 2021.
The pair then returned above the $70,000 mark before circling the 2021 level, helping preserve a narrative of comparative strength despite various macro pressures.
On Wednesday, the focus switched from the Middle East and oil to US inflation as the Federal Reserve chose to hold interest rates at previous levels.
“Uncertainty about the economic outlook remains elevated. The implications of developments in the Middle East for the U.S. economy are uncertain,” Chair Jerome Powell said in an official statement.
Powell’s subsequent press conference reiterated that “progress” was required on inflation for rates to come down — a key tailwind for crypto markets.
“The rate forecast is conditional on the performance of the economy, so if we don’t see that progress, you won’t see the rate cut,” he told reporters.
SUMMARY OF FED DECISION (3/18/2026):
1. Fed halts rate cuts for the second straight meeting
2. Fed projects one rate cut in 2026, one in 2027
3. Fed 2026 PCE inflation forecast revised higher to 2.7%
4. Fed says implications of Middle East developments are “uncertain”
5. Fed…
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) March 18, 2026
With just a single cut in 2026 now expected, risk assets felt pressure from the Fed, with US stocks ending the day down by around 1.5%.
Trader: BTC price needs weekly close near $75,000
On Thursday, however, it was gold leading the comedown, falling 2.3% below $4,700 per ounce for the first time since Feb. 6.
Related: $58K BTC price still in play? Five things to know in Bitcoin this week
“All assets, except Oil, continue to sell off,” crypto analyst Michaël van de Poppe responded in a post on X.
“Not a bad case here. The opposite: Bitcoin is also correcting, and it’s correcting less than I would assume.”
BTC price action thus returned to a range bordered by the 2021 all-time high and the lowest level of 2025 at around $74,500.
“$BTC is still rejecting 2025 Yearly Lows. Won’t be of significance during the week, need weekly close above there,” trader Castillo Trading told X followers on Wednesday.
Van de Poppe said that he would be a “big buyer” of Bitcoin if it were to drop back to the low $60,000 zone.
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.
Coinbase Asset Management’s Anthony Bassili says the Bitcoin Yield Fund’s tokenized share class checks “identity and eligibility at the token level” for compliance.
Coinbase has brought its Bitcoin Yield Fund onto its Base blockchain, launching a tokenized share class for the fund in partnership with the financial services firm Apex Group.
Apex said in a statement on Thursday that the tokenized share class of Coinbase Asset Management’s fund “is set up to interact with compatible platforms, wallets, and infrastructure without compromising compliance.”
Coinbase Asset Management president Anthony Bassili said that the share class integrates “identity and eligibility at the token level” for regulatory compliance.
Financial institutions have been tokenizing stocks, bonds, funds, commodities and real estate on the blockchain in search of lower costs, faster settlement and round-the-clock trading.
Asset managers like BlackRock, Fidelity Investments and Franklin Templeton have already launched tokenized funds on-chain.
Apex enables institutions to access ERC‑3643 tokens
The tokenized share class of Coinbase’s fund, which offers exposure to Bitcoin (BTC) and yield, will be available on Base only to institutional and accredited investors outside of the US.
The share class uses the ERC‑3643 permissioned token standard to ensure only eligible investors have access to the Bitcoin yield product.
Coinbase plans to launch a tokenized share class of the Coinbase Bitcoin Yield Fund for US investors in the future.
Related: SEC gives go-ahead to Nasdaq for tokenized trading trial
Apex acts as the on-chain transfer agent for the tokenized Coinbase Bitcoin Yield Fund, and is tasked with handling token ownership, enforcing compliance and transfer rules and maintaining a record of transactions on the Base blockchain.
Coinbase launched a non-US version of the Coinbase Bitcoin Yield Fund in April and a US version in October.
The non-US version targets a 4% to 8% annual return in Bitcoin. Coinbase said at the time that it launched the product to address Bitcoin’s inability to generate native yield, unlike proof-of-stake assets such as Ether (ETH) and Solana (SOL).
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Key Takeaways
- Bitcoin fell to $70,000 as the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady and geopolitical tensions drove energy prices higher
- Nearly $600 million in leveraged crypto futures liquidations occurred in 24 hours, particularly wiping out long positions.
- Altcoins struggled on thin liquidity, though NEO and ETHFI recorded gains.
- Fear metrics spiked with bitcoin volatility jumping over 5%.
Bitcoin fell below $70,000 on Thursday as soaring energy prices and the Federal Reserve’s decision to hold interest rates steady weighed on risk assets globally.
BTC traded near $70,000, down 1.6% since midnight UTC, while Ether declined 1.7% to $2,160. The moves tracked a broader market selloff after the Fed maintained rates in the 3.50-3.75% range on Wednesday, bolstering the U.S. dollar and triggering risk-off sentiment across equities and crypto.
Energy markets amplified the pressure. Brent crude oil surged to $114, and Oman crude jumped to $150 after Iran attacked key Gulf energy infrastructure following an Israeli strike on its South Pars gas field. European natural gas futures spiked approximately 25% to above $78 per MWh. Nasdaq 100 futures fell around 0.3%, underscoring the broader market selloff.
Liquidations Hit $600 Million
The overnight decline sparked significant derivative liquidations, with nearly $600 million in leveraged crypto futures bets wiped out over 24 hours. Long positions accounted for most of the losses, indicating bullish traders were caught off guard.
Futures open interest fell 5.6% to $106.90 billion. Ether futures open interest dropped 9% alongside a 6% decline in ETH’s spot price, signaling capital outflows. Negative funding rates across BTC, ETH, BNB, SOL, and other tokens indicate bearish short positions are gaining favor again.
Fear metrics also deteriorated. Volmex’s BVIV, which measures 30-day implied bitcoin volatility, jumped over 5% to 58.36%, ending a week-long decline.
Altcoins Struggle on Thin Liquidity
The altcoin market faced headwinds from limited liquidity in a fractured ecosystem still recovering from October’s $19 billion leverage wipeout. Bittensor fell 8.8%, and hyperliquid declined 6.5% since midnight.
A few tokens bucked the trend. NEO gained 4.2% while restaking token ETHFI added 1.5% to reach $0.55, continuing its strong start to 2026. The CoinDesk 20 fell around 1%, while the DeFi Select Index and CoinDesk Memecoin Index declined 1.4% and 2%, respectively.
What’s Next
The market remains caught between macro headwinds from geopolitical tensions and monetary policy uncertainty. Bitcoin’s struggles below $70,000 suggest further volatility could test support levels as investors reassess risk exposure amid elevated energy costs and the Fed’s extended pause on rate cuts.
After rallying to a multi-week high of $1.60, XRP price crashed amid a market-wide downtrend triggered by escalating geopolitical and macroeconomic tensions.
Summary
- XRP fell over 8% from its weekly high to $1.46 amid a broader crypto market downturn driven by geopolitical tensions and hawkish Fed signals.
- Network fundamentals strengthened, with XRP wallet addresses hitting a record 7.7 million and daily active users rising to a five-week high.
- Technical indicators point to a potential bullish reversal, with an Adam and Eve pattern forming, though a break below $1.44 could invalidate the setup.
According to data from crypto.news, XRP (XRP) price fell 4.4% over the past 24 hours to $1.46 at the time of writing, extending its losses to over 8% from its weekly high of $1.60.
XRP price dropped amid deteriorating market sentiment for risk assets as Bitcoin fell below the $70,000 support, sparking market concerns of a potential drop to $60,000 next. This occurred as investors turned cautious amid rising oil prices that followed Israel’s drone strike against one of Iran’s largest gas facilities at South Pars.
The altcoin’s drop also follows bearish macroeconomic signals after the Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s latest speech cast doubt on further interest rate cuts over this year, as the central bank intends to maintain a data-driven approach amid stubbornly sticky inflation.
While the market has not yet recovered from the shock, with the crypto market cap still struggling at the time of writing, a few metrics that have strengthened seem to point to a long-term silver lining for XRP.
Notably, on-chain tracker Santiment recently shared that XRP holders have climbed to a new all-time high of 7.7 million wallets, a sign of growing adoption despite the price volatility.
At the same time, daily active addresses on the network have risen to a 5-week high of 46,767 active addresses this week.
Together, these metrics mean the underlying utility and network participation are robust, which could sustain demand once the broader market stabilizes.
As reported by crypto.news earlier, whales have also entered an accumulation phase after months of distribution. Typically, such shifts often precede broader market recoveries as retail investors follow smart money flows.
On the daily chart, XRP price has formed an Adam and Eve pattern, a highly reliable bullish reversal pattern in technical analysis. XRP price touched the neckline of the pattern at $1.60 earlier this week but has since pulled back. A confirmed breakout could spark a massive rally, at least in the short term.
The 20-day SMA appears to be closing in on a bullish crossover with the 50-day SMA. At the same time, the MACD lines have pointed upwards, suggesting that bullish momentum is quietly building beneath the surface.
For now, traders will be keeping an eye on the $1.50 psychological resistance, a break above which could embolden bulls to target a breach of $1.60, which would also confirm the Adam and Eve pattern. The next potential target would be the 100-day SMA at $1.70.
On a bearish note, a drop below $1.44, the 50-day SMA, could invalidate the bullish prediction.
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
Singapore-headquartered cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com is set to cut up to 12% of its workforce due to company-wide artificial intelligence (AI) integrations, joining a growing list of companies announcing AI-linked mass layoffs, according to the exchange’s founder and CEO, Kris Marszalek.
Crypto.com recently expanded its AI offering and launched the AI agent platform ai.com on Feb. 9, which it positioned as a core business. The company also said it was the first crypto platform to receive the ISO/IEC 42001:2023 certification for AI system management in February.
“We are joining the list of companies integrating enterprise-wide AI,” Marszalek said in a Thursday X post, warning that companies that don’t pivot will fail.
Crypto.com lists around 1,500 employees, meaning that the 12% layoff would affect about 180 staff members. It marks the latest AI-linked large-scale layoff in the crypto and tech space, underscoring concerns over AI replacing more of the human workforce.
“We are joining the list of companies integrating enterprise-wide AI,” a spokesperson for Crypto.com told Cointelegraph, adding that the layoffs are part of the platform’s plans to “prioritize resources around key growth areas.” The spokesperson declined to comment on the roles that were affected by the layoffs.
Crypto and tech companies stage AI-linked mass layoffs
Other large crypto and tech companies have also announced AI-linked mass layoffs in recent months.
On Monday, blockchain analytics platform Messari announced more staff cuts as part of its pivot to an AI-first company. The company previously laid off roughly 15% of its full-time employees in January 2025 and made a similar workforce reduction in February 2023.
On Wednesday, the Algorand Foundation, the organization behind Layer-1 blockchain Algorand, also announced a 25% staff reduction, citing macroeconomic uncertainty and the current crypto market slump.
On Feb. 26, Jack Dorsey’s payment company Block announced cutting about 40% of its staff, citing the rapid acceleration of AI. However, some of the 4,000 fired workers have already returned to the company, according to multiple employees who were part of the initial layoffs.
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Large tech companies have also announced AI-linked mass layoffs. On Jan. 27, visual discovery engine Pinterest announced it was cutting up to 15% of its staff to pivot to an AI-centric approach.
On March 11, software company Atlassian announced it was cutting 10% of its staff, or about 1,600 employees, as part of a restructuring to self-fund further AI investments.
Meta, Facebook’s parent company, is also reportedly planning a workforce cut of up to 20%, seeking to enable AI efficiencies and offset the costs of AI infrastructure, insiders familiar with the matter told news outlet Reuters on Saturday.
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