Daily News 19

Author: admin

  • Catherine O’Hara made joke about ‘dying’ a 12 months earlier than her tragic demise



    Catherine O’Hara cracked a joke about ‘dying’ virtually a 12 months earlier than she handed away.

    The movie legend’s demise was introduced on Friday (30 January), along with her representatives saying that she had suffered from a ‘temporary sickness’.

    Reviews have since emerged claiming that O’Hara, 71, was rushed to hospital in a ‘critical situation’ within the hours prior.

    She made her remaining public look in September final 12 months whereas attending the Emmy Awards, the place she was nominated for the gong for Excellent Supporting Actress In A Comedy Sequence.

    O’Hara, who’s extensively identified for her roles in Residence Alone, Beetlejuice, and Schitt’s Creek, was within the operating for the award due to her comedic position as Patty Leigh within the hit Apple TV collection, The Studio.

    She appeared alongside Seth Rogen, Kathryn Hahn, Ike Barinholtz, and Chase Sui Wonders within the star-studded collection, which debuted final March.

    Catherine O’Hara joked about her mortality with The Studio forged throughout an interview final 12 months (Apple TV)

    Chatting with LADbible forward of its premiere, the Canadian appearing legend stated it was ‘significantly spectacular’ to observe Rogen work because the present’s author, director and govt producer, particularly since he additionally stars within the collection.

    The pair bought alongside like a home on hearth each on and off set, and the Superbad star has since paid tribute to his late co-star, describing her as ‘the funniest particular person he’d ever had the pleasure of watching on display screen’.

    Their chemistry was evident when the pair sat down for an interview with their The Studio co-stars in March final 12 months, as they riffed off one another in an interview about the potential for O’Hara’s demise.

    Whereas the display screen stars have been chatting with Los Angeles Instances journalist Matt Brennan, the reporter requested whether or not the actors felt they’d ‘extra of a say, if not energy’ on movie units.

    A lot to the amusement of Rogen, Hahn, Barinholtz and Sui Wonders, O’Hara then hilariously responded saying: “I’ve been handled that approach recently…am I dying or one thing?”

    “That is how we needed to let you know,” Rogen quipped. “This man is definitely a physician. This can be a pretend interview.”

    Footage of the interview has resurfaced within the wake of O’Hara’s passing, prompting social media customers to share their condolences for the Residence Alone actress within the feedback.

    One stated: “She was such a beautiful actress – an incredible comic – so sorry,” whereas one other added: “Relaxation in peace. What a humorous girl. Liked her on Second Metropolis TV.”

    This wasn’t the primary time that O’Hara made gentle of her mortality, as she joked that she ‘could not consider’ she was nonetheless alive in an interview with Elle Canada in August 2024.

    “I’m fortunate [I get] to maintain doing issues like this at my age – I can’t consider it,” she instructed the publication.

    “Over the previous few years, after I’ve gotten scared or nervous, or if I begin grousing about one thing, I’ve tried to actually follow turning it round and being grateful.

    O’Hara handed away yesterday after a ‘temporary sickness’, in keeping with her representatives (Photograph by Distinctive Nicole/WireImage)

    The Schitt’s Creek star added: “Like, ‘How fortunate are you proper now to be alive? After which to have this chance proper right here on this second?’

    “I used to be nervous throughout this cowl photograph shoot [but] how loopy is it that at my age, I’m sporting these garments and I’m mendacity over this pool?”

    She confessed that she did ‘assume’ about her age, whereas revealing why she determined to develop outdated gracefully.

    “I really feel that now, tales about folks my age often need to do with demise and divorce and illness,” O’Hara continued. “So I’m actually lucky [to] have folks round me who respect growing older folks and who give me new experiences. I’d wish to assume that the sort of roles I’m attending to play now are roles that persons are attending to play in life.

    “[In The Studio], I’m enjoying a studio head who turns into an unbiased producer – how stunning is it that somebody my age is doing this? It’s the best way it must be.”

  • Catherine O’Hara rushed to hospital in ‘severe’ situation hours earlier than dying aged 71



    Catherine O’Hara was reportedly rushed to hospital in a ‘severe’ situation within the hours earlier than her dying.

    It was introduced on Friday (30 January) that the beloved actress had handed away on the age of 71 following a quick sickness.

    Dwelling Alone actor Macaulay Culkin is among the many stars who’ve shared their unhappiness within the wake of the movie legend’s dying, as he poignantly paid tribute to his on-screen ‘mama’.

    “I assumed we had time,” he mentioned. I needed extra. I needed to sit down in a chair subsequent to you. I heard you, however I had a lot extra to say. I like you. I’ll goodbye.”

    O’Hara – famend for her roles in Schitt’s Creek and Beetlejuice – handed away at a Los Angeles hospital, her representatives mentioned.

    Additional particulars surrounding her dying haven’t but been launched, though reviews have now emerged claiming she suffered a medical emergency within the hours prior.

    Catherine O’Hara, pictured together with her husband Bo Welch, handed away on 30 January (MICHAEL TRAN/AFP through Getty Pictures)

    Emergency responders have been referred to as to O’Hara’s house in Brentwood, California, at 4.48am on Friday morning to offer medical help, a Los Angeles Hearth Division spokesperson advised Page Six.

    The publication reported that she was then rushed to hospital in a ‘severe situation’.

    It has additionally been claimed that the 71-year-old actress was set to start out filming the second season of Seth Rogen’s hit Apple TV present The Studio simply days earlier than her dying.

    Filming reportedly kicked off for the Golden Globe-winning collection final week; nonetheless, the taking pictures schedule is claimed to have been altered to accommodate O’Hara’s ‘private issues’.

    “She was scheduled to movie, however they reworked the schedule to concentrate on scenes with out her character,” a supply advised The Sun.

    “It was not broadly identified she was coping with any well being or main points. I don’t imagine she ever filmed something for season two.”

    The movie star was reportedly rushed to hospital in a ‘severe situation’ within the hours earlier than her dying (MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP through Getty Pictures)

    Rogen additionally shared an emotional tribute to O’Hara, with the comic describing her as a ‘hysterical, sort, intuitive, beneficiant’ particular person.

    He wrote in a social media publish: “Actually don’t know what to say… I advised O’Hara once I first met her, I assumed she was the funniest particular person I’d ever had the pleasure of watching on display.

    “Dwelling Alone was the film that made me wish to make films. Attending to work together with her was a real honour. She was hysterical, sort, intuitive, beneficiant… she made me wish to make our present adequate to be worthy of her presence in it. That is simply devastating. We’re all fortunate we acquired to dwell in a world together with her in it.”

    O’Hara’s unimaginable profession spanned 5 a long time, kicking off with the Canadian sketch comedy collection Second Metropolis Tv, for which she gained her first Emmy.

    She then went on to choose up one other Emmy, a Golden Globe, a Critics’ Alternative Award and different accolades.

    Her co-star Seth Rogen mentioned he was ‘devastated’ by her dying (Apple TV)

    Between 1996 and 2006, O’Hara collaborated with Christopher Visitor and appeared in quite a lot of his mockumentary movies, together with Greatest in Present and For Your Consideration.

    Along with showing on display, the icon voiced varied roles in well-liked animations comparable to The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas, Rooster Little, and Over the Hedge.

    Most not too long ago, she starred in The Studio and the HBO drama The Final of Us.

    Marking a resurgence in her profession, these roles adopted her unforgettable look as Moria Rose in Schitt’s Creek, which bagged her the second Emmy.

    The mother-of-two is survived by her two sons, Matthew, 31, and Luke, 29, in addition to her husband of 33 years, director Bo Welch.

  • Individuals couldn’t imagine how outdated Catherine O’Hara was as Kevin’s mum in Dwelling Alone



    Dwelling Alone star Catherine O’Hara has sadly died on the age of 71.

    Her supervisor confirmed to Variety that she had handed away following ‘a short sickness’, and tributes have began pouring in for a performer who spent many years on the display screen.

    Many will know her as Kevin’s mum from Dwelling Alone, however O’Hara began lengthy earlier than that with Canadian comedy sequence Second Metropolis Tv which earned her first Emmy.

    Her profession would see her earn one other Emmy, a Golden Globe and varied different awards for her performances, with the likes of Schitt’s Creek and her appearances in Christopher Visitor’s mockumentary movies filling out an enviable profession.

    She had additionally lately appeared in Apple TV’s The Studio and HBO’s The Final of Us.

    Catherine O’Hara has died on the age of 71, her supervisor confirmed (Kevin Winter/Getty Photos)

    Whereas some viewers assumed she was older throughout filming of the long-lasting Christmas film, O’Hara was truly 36 years outdated whereas taking pictures her scenes as Kevin’s mom.

    Varied followers of Dwelling Alone had expressed their shock at studying this, notably as a few of them had reached that age and realised how time works.

    One particular person took to X to share their shock: “It blows my thoughts that Catherine O’Hara was my age when she filmed Dwelling Alone. I feel she appears a lot older than I really feel.”

    One other wrote: “Watching Dwelling Alone with the youngsters. Catherine O’Hara is identical age as me however seems to be extra like a grown up than I do. Is that this the factor with older movies? Like how the dad and mom in Father of the Bride are literally of their 40s.”

    And a 3rd penned: “My mates and I decided that Catherine O’Hara was my age in Dwelling Alone. I have to lie down.”

    She performed Kevin McCallister’s mum Kate in Dwelling Alone (twentieth Century Fox)

    Now, together with her passing, individuals are praising her as a ‘titan’ and ‘one of many funniest Canadians of all time’, as a lot praised her expertise and expressed their shock at her demise.

    Her Dwelling Alone co-star Macaulay Culkin shared an emotional tribute, writing: “Mama. I assumed we had time.

    “I wished extra. I wished to sit down in a chair subsequent to you. I heard you however I had a lot extra to say.

    “I really like you. I’ll so long.”

    The pair reunited when he bought his star on the Hollywood Stroll of Fame as O’Hara gave a speech that introduced him to tears.

    She stated: “Dwelling Alone was, is and all the time shall be a beloved international sensation … the explanation households all around the world cannot let a 12 months go by with out watching and loving Dwelling Alone collectively is due to Macaulay Culkin.

    “I do know you labored actually laborious, I do know you probably did, however you made appearing seem like essentially the most pure factor on this planet to do.”

    Final 12 months, O’Hara additionally advised LADbible that whereas working with Seth Rogen on The Studio, she ‘would by no means understand it’ if he was stoned all day since she thought he was ‘extra conscious of the whole lot happening on the set’ than just about anybody else she’d ever labored with.

  • Michael Jackson’s former PR makes bombshell little one abuse declare



    Warning: This text comprises dialogue of kid abuse which some readers might discover distressing.

    Michael Jackson’s former PR has made a bombshell declare concerning the little one abuse allegations launched in opposition to the legendary singer.

    A second Channel 4 documentary detailing the allegations made in opposition to Michael Jackson dropped final yr, with the Discovering Neverland movies sharing the experiences of former little one companions Wade Robson and James Safechuck, who each filed lawsuits in relation to long-term abuse.

    Jackson, who handed away in 2009, first had molestation allegations filed in opposition to him in 1993 however he was by no means formally charged, though he did settle a $23 million civil case with teenager Jordan Chandler.

    Forward of the upcoming biographical movie Michael, which is ready to launch in cinemas in April, the King of Pop’s former PR Vincent Amen has now given his ideas relating to the long-list of allegations introduced in opposition to Jackson each earlier than and after his loss of life.

    He advised The Telegraph: “I completely imagine that Michael Jackson is responsible of kid abuse and molestation. I imagine there was a cover-up for therefore a few years.”

    The singer had confronted a variety of scrutiny from the media as soon as the information of the settled case with Chandler first broke, and Martin Bashir’s notorious Residing with Michael Jackson documentary on ITV in February 2003 did not assist issues both.

    Michael Jackson and Wade Robson (Channel 4)

    The movie captured Jackson holding palms with 13-year-old Gavin Arvizo whereas the teenage laid his head on the famous person’s shoulder. He and his household had hung out residing on the now-infamous Neverland Ranch a couple of years prior, whereas the younger boy was being handled for most cancers.

    Jackson advised Bashir: “I’ve slept in a mattress with many kids… Probably the most loving factor to do is to share your mattress with somebody.”

    Two years later and Arvizo accused Jackson of molestation however the singer was acquitted on all 14 fees after the defence argued that the Arvizo household had a historical past of fraud.

    Jackson additionally had a historical past of controversial friendships with little one stars, together with Macauley Culkin, however the House Alone alum has by no means prompt that he acted appropriately.

    Now, greater than 20 years on, a brand new four-part Channel 4 documentary is ready to give attention to that exact four-month trial, with Amen including gas to the hearth along with his feedback.

    He added: “From what I do know now, intercourse abuse victims reveal details about their abuse, piece by piece, over time.”

    Amen additionally remembers a time the place {a magazine} he alleges belonged to Michael featured ‘bare youngsters’ the place he had circled some ‘to be ordered’.

    “Discovering that, I realised, ‘One thing is happening right here’. The place there’s smoke, there’s hearth,” he prompt.

    “It was a crossroads second [that] put all of it collectively for me.”

    “We stay totally assured that Michael is harmless of those allegations, that are opposite to all credible proof and impartial corroboration, and which had been solely first made years after Michael’s loss of life,” Jonathan Steinsapir, legal professional for the property of Michael Jackson, stated in April 2023.

    “We belief that the reality will finally prevail with Michael’s vindication but once more. Michael Jackson himself stated, ‘Lies run sprints, however the fact runs marathons.’ “

    LADbible Group has contacted the property of Michael Jackson for remark.

    Should you’ve been affected by any of those points and need to communicate to somebody in confidence relating to the welfare of a kid, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 10am-8pm Monday to Friday. In case you are a baby in search of recommendation and assist, name Childline free of charge on 0800 1111, 24/7.

  • Ex-Ripple CTO Schwartz dampens XRP dreams: Why $100 isn’t “inevitable.”

    Ex-Ripple CTO Schwartz dampens XRP dreams: Why $100 isn’t “inevitable.”



    • Former Ripple CTO David Schwartz dampens $50-$100 XRP expectations in new X post.
    • He clarifies that his 8-year-old statement “XRP can’t be cheap” was in the payments and exchange context.

    An XRP supporter publicly called on former Ripple Chief Technology Officer (CTO) David Schwartz on There are always wild theories circulating on crypto Twitter as to why an XRP price of $100 is realistic or “unavoidable” in the long term.

    Can the XRP price realistically reach $100?

    Schwartz, who resigned as Ripple CTO at the end of 2025, did not want to meet the demand directly – but did not contradict the core statement either. Schwartz wrotehe doesn’t feel comfortable commenting on such a statement:

    “I don’t feel comfortable saying something like that. While I don’t think it’s likely, I also didn’t think it was likely that XRP would ever reach $0.25. I started selling XRP at $0.10 because it seemed absurd. I remember when Bitcoin at $100 seemed like an impossible dream.”

    The crucial point of his answer: If a relevant number of rational investors were to seriously price in three-digit XRP prices, this should already be reflected in the market price today. According to this logic, anyone who sees a real chance of triple-digit XRP prices and risks capital for it would have to act differently than many are currently doing.

    “If many rational people believed that there was a 10% chance of XRP reaching $100 within a few years, they would definitely not sell for much less than $10 today,” Schwartz wrote, adding:

    “Those with this belief would quickly buy up most of XRP because they place a higher value on it than those without this belief – and soon the supply of XRP would dry up well below $10.”

    For Schwartz, exactly that – a price well below 10 dollars – is already a signal: only a few believe in a “10% chance of 100 dollars” with enough conviction to position their money accordingly.

    “The fact that the current trading price is well below $10 shows that there are not very many people who actually believe there is a 10% chance of reaching $100 within a few years – with enough conviction to position their money accordingly,” said Schwartz.

    Anyone who claims the opposite is “not telling the truth”. According to Schwartz, the thought game can be calculated as desired using other target prices, probabilities and time windows.

    In another X post, Schwartz was asked about an earlier sentence of his that is often quoted in XRP circles to argue that the price must be much higher in the long term. It’s about Schwartz’s oft-quoted sentence: “XRP can’t be cheap.” In November 2017, he wrote via X: “It can’t be dirt cheap. That doesn’t make sense […] higher prices make payments cheaper.”

    Since then, this phrase has attracted a lot of speculation in the XRP community. Yesterday, Schwartz added that his statement was not aimed at speculation, but at usage costs in the payment and exchange context.

    “This means that a low price for XRP actually makes it more expensive to use for payments and on exchanges,” he replied. He did not provide a detailed derivation in the post.

    In closing, Schwartz made it clear that he doesn’t think crypto prices are fundamentally irrational: most of the time they reflected a “reasonable analysis” of possible future prices and associated probabilities. He explained strong rallies with external changes that were difficult to model – not with clearly derivable price targets such as $100.

  • Binance open letter to the community: No more excuses

    Binance open letter to the community: No more excuses



    • In an open letter to the global crypto community, Binance sent a signal that it should also put an end to its own dazzling past.
    • In the letter, Binance presents itself as the largest crypto exchange in the world, for which “responsibility” is no longer a PR word but a strategic necessity.

    The crypto industry is reorganizing itself between growing regulation, growing institutional clientele and growing security risks.

    Binance has this situation in mind in the open letter, which conveys a clear message: investor protection is non-negotiable. More than 38,000 incorrect deposits were corrected last year and around $48 million was refunded to customers.

    Billions of dollars in customer refunds

    Since the company was founded, refunds have totaled over a billion dollars. At the same time, the exchange reported that internal risk controls protected more than five million customers from potential losses and thwarted more than $6.6 billion in suspected fraud attempts. It is a set of figures that is less concerned with self-praise than with the message:

    “We understood what was at stake.”

    Binance is particularly clear when it comes to cooperation with law enforcement authorities. $131 million in illicit funds were frozen in 2025 while compliance structures were further strengthened and AI-powered monitoring systems were implemented.

    No more gray areas

    The times when Crypto exchanges in a gray area – a circumstance that Binance itself exploited for years and which has only become a thing of the past since the entire management was replaced – should finally be over.

    The decision to shift the SAFU fund entirely into USDC is attracting additional attention. The fund, which serves as a safety net for customers and has a volume of around one billion dollars, will be balanced regularly in the future. If the value falls below $800 million, Binance automatically restocks. The message:

    Security is not diversified, but rather concentrated on the “value anchor” of the system. It is a symbolic step that shows how Binance understands its own role in the market – as a stability factor, not as a speculator.

    The new Binance transparency

    The stock exchange is also trying to raise the bar when it comes to transparency. The open letter refers to proof-of-reserve data worth $162.8 billion, spread across 45 assets. Binance wants to continue to update this evidence regularly so that institutional investors and regulators can understand this up to date. At a time when trust has become the market’s hardest currency, this is a strategic move.

    At the same time, Binance emphasizes that it will continue to list new projects. New spot listings are spread across 21 blockchains, including Ethereum, BNB Chain and Solana. At the same time, the company announces that it will expand community programs, educational initiatives and developer funding to accelerate the global adoption of Web3 technologies.

    Institutional Digital Assets Infrastructure Solutions
    Image created using ChatGPT AI (DALL·E)

    The message: Binance doesn’t just want to trade, it wants to create. The letter ends with an appeal that sounds less like a wish and more like an announcement:

    The industry must move away from short-term hype cycles and instead focus on sustainable infrastructure, robust security standards and transparent processes. Binance sees itself as part of this new phase – as an exchange that is not only a market leader, but also a responsible person.

    With the open letter, Binance is trying to redefine its own position in the global crypto structure. 2026 should not be a year of excuses, but one of professionalization.

    For the community this means: The Wild West era of the crypto industry is over.

  • Bitpanda, MiCAR and EU – claim and reality

    Bitpanda, MiCAR and EU – claim and reality



    • It started with great expectations when Bitpanda received its German license in 2022, and the mood was euphoric.
    • While other crypto exchanges argued with the authorities or withdrew into offshore zones, Bitpanda presented itself as a solid European showcase project. Wrongfully so, as one can assume today after official audits.

    2023 ordered the BaFin the first special audit according to Section 44 of the Banking Act (KWG) at Bitpanda Asset Management GmbH. Such tests are common after a license has been granted, but the results were dismal. The inspectors found 16 defects, five of them serious.

    Risk management, IT organization, outsourcing controls and internal documentation were particularly affected – areas that are essential for a regulated financial institution. Internally it was said that the IT was “not yet sufficiently developed to be fully tested”.

    BaFin leaves it at the finding of Bitpanda violations

    At the end of 2024, BaFin wrote to Bitpanda management that although most of the deficiencies had been remedied, the organization still did not meet the requirements of the KWG. It wasn’t a sanction, but a clear request that improvements needed to be made.

    Bitpanda, in turn, publicly emphasized that the deficiencies would be fully remedied by the beginning of 2025. Reference was made to KPMG audit reports and its own – albeit self-ascribed – role as one of the “most strictly regulated” companies in Europe.

    BaFin did not confirm this self-assessment and remained silent, but granted the German MiCA license.

    Extended list of defects and the question of the future

    In January 2026, internal BaFin documents became public. Media reports made the list of defects known and put Bitpanda Germany in a critical light.

    At the same time, the company expanded into new segments such as traditional stocks and ETFs, raising questions about how this could be possible given deficiencies in core areas that remained after two years.

    While the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) provided Bitpanda with a comprehensive MiCA license, the German offshoot continued to get tangled up in the regulatory jungle despite its own Bafin license.

    In the meantime, however, a new, unflattering aspect has become known that affects not only the regulatory authorities in Germany but throughout the EU: The MiCAR cannot be implemented sensibly for the time being because essential implementing regulations are simply unsuitable or missing – CNF reported. The EU flagship project could therefore be delayed by more than a year.

    This in turn raises the question: Who actually examines the auditors?

  • IOTA co-founder shares the “sad truth” about the current crypto crash

    IOTA co-founder shares the “sad truth” about the current crypto crash



    • IOTA co-founder Schiener soberly comments on the October 10th crypto crash as a “sad truth”.
    • The focus is on decoupling and deleveraging, while IOTA counters with TWIN/ADAPT/Salus and strong on-chain growth.

    The crypto market experienced a hard break on October 10, 2025 and IOTA co-founder Dominik Schiener came to an unusually sober conclusion. Dominik Schiener responded on January 29 on X, saying: “Sad truth. But we must keep building – and our industry will only emerge stronger from this phase.”

    With his comment, Schiener referred to an X-Post by Ceteris Paribus, the Head of Research at Delphi Digital. Paribus shared a chart and wrote: “It’s really crazy how much the 10/10 has broken everything down.”

    Instead of short-term price targets, the debate was primarily about responsibility and what the crash did to the market. The focus is on the striking decoupling: Bitcoin and the rest of the crypto market tipped over, while classic markets continued to rise.

    The chart shows: Until the beginning of October, Bitcoin was roughly in step with other markets, after which there was a significant break. In the comparable period, Bitcoin is at -15.30% – while the S&P 500 (+15.70%), Nasdaq 100 (+21.59%), EFA (+27.67%) and EWC (+35.82%) are significantly up.

    Bitcoin vs. traditional financial markets
    Bitcoin vs. traditional financial markets | Source: X @ceterispar1bus

    October 10th was a turning point for the crypto market. The trigger was a deleveraging spiral: around $19 billion in leveraged positions were liquidated in around 24 hours. Bitcoin crashed, altcoins even more violently.

    A possible trigger is seen as a software error at Binance, which triggered de-pegging of individual assets. Official figures have not been published. However, Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz estimated the event wiped out around 30% of market makers.

    Paribus interprets the crash as a possible structural reset: “I can appreciate the idea that 10/10 was the necessary final nail in the coffin of our old, broken market structure. At the same time, the correction went far too far over the target.”

    IOTA relies on adaptation in the crisis

    Schiener’s “sad truth” sounds more like a work order than a surrender: carry on, build, deliver. As CNF reported, Schiener recently released the “IOTA Manifesto.”

    In the manifesto, IOTA describes itself as an infrastructure that wants to bring “the real world onchain” – with a focus on trustworthy, regulated and scalable applications rather than relying on crowded crypto niches.

    Just yesterday the TWIN Foundation published the TWIN White Paper v1.0. TWIN is presented as a reference architecture and building block for interoperable digital trading solutions – modular, standards-based and intended as an interplay of software layers and services.

    In addition, ADAPT runs as an Africa initiative for digital trade infrastructure: By 2035, trade clearances in 55 African nations are expected to become significantly faster, costs will fall and trade volumes will grow. A first pilot test is already underway in Kenya. The initiative is supported by the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in collaboration with the IOTA Foundation, the World Economic Forum and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI).

    At Salus, IOTA focuses on raw material supply chains: documents on the ownership and chain of origin of critical minerals are anchored as NFTs on the IOTA ledger.

    The on-chain data also provides a clear signal. Encapsulate HQ (@encapHQ) shared yesterday via X:

    “The growth of the IOTA ecosystem is accelerating rapidly. The number of mainnet accounts increased from around 300,000 six months ago to over 3.65 million today. This corresponds to growth of more than 1200% within half a year for IOTA. The momentum is constantly increasing in the areas of staking, dApps and everyday acceptance.”

    IOTA Accounts
    IOTA Accounts | Quelle: X @encapHQ

  • OKX Card is coming to Europe – with rewards instead of fees

    OKX Card is coming to Europe – with rewards instead of fees



    • OKX is bringing its new OKX Card to Europe – sending a clear signal for the future of stablecoin payments.
    • The card offers self-custody, no fees and instant rewards. It positions OKX as strong competition for the established providers in the EU.

    With the introduction of the OKX Card, the exchange is pursuing a clear goal: stablecoins should finally be used as a means of payment in everyday life. The card is directly connected to the OKX Pay Smart Wallet, allowing customers to hold their stablecoins themselves until the moment of payment.

    Only at checkout will USDC or USDG be automatically converted into euros and merchants will receive fiat money while the customer remains onchain. The card works on all Mastercard terminals and can be easily integrated into Apple Pay and Google Pay.

    Rewards instead of fees

    The “fees” are particularly progressive. OKX completely waives issuing, monthly and transaction fees. There are even no foreign currency fees, which makes the card attractive for frequent travelers. Only a small spread remains during conversion. At the same time, OKX offers attractive rewards.

    Up to 20% cashback in the first 30 days should make it easier to get started, after that the amount depends on the VIP level. This means that OKX takes advantage of established providers such as Crypto.com and Binance, which have reduced their cashback models several times in recent years.

    Regulation and positioning

    The card is issued via a European payment service provider and is fully AML and KYC compliant. For OKX, the launch is a step in its European strategy, which relies on MiCA compatibility and stable infrastructure.

    OKX Mastercard
    Image created using ChatGPT AI (DALL·E)

    While other exchanges in Europe come under regulatory pressure, OKX is taking the opportunity to position itself as a reliable provider. Mastercard, in turn, aims to bring stablecoins into the mainstream – and in OKX it has found a partner that focuses on self-custody and DeFi integration.

    Importance for the market

    The OKX Card creates a new model for Crypto payments in Europe: self-stored, free of charge and immediately usable. If the product becomes established, it could significantly stimulate competition in the payment sector. Banks and FinTechs have to adapt to customers who not only hold stablecoins, but also actively use them in everyday life.

    For OKX, the launch is a strategic step to take a leading role in the MiCAR-regulated EU – and for customers the final proof that the stablecoins have finally arrived in Europe.

  • Sygnum Bank launches market-neutral Bitcoin fund and collects over 750 BTC

    Sygnum Bank launches market-neutral Bitcoin fund and collects over 750 BTC



    • The Swiss crypto bank Sygnum has sent a strong signal to the institutional market in a very short time with its BTC Alpha Fund.
    • In just four months since its launch in October, over 750 Bitcoin flowed into the fund from professional and institutional investors.

    Die Sygnum Bank expects an annual return of eight to ten percent in BTC and relies on market-neutral arbitrage strategies that are intended to generate ROI regardless of the BTC spot price.

    The fund was founded jointly with Starboard Digital Strategies and is explicitly aimed at professional and qualified investors in regulated markets such as Switzerland and Singapore. The BTC Alpha Fund is domiciled in the Cayman Islands, a common location for alternative investment instruments with an international investor base.

    Market Neutral Bitcoin Strategy

    The fund’s rapid capital formation and initial performance underline a clear trend: Institutional investors are increasingly looking for Bitcoin strategies that not only rely on price increases, but also generate ongoing income.

    Markus Hämmerli is Head of Portfolio Management and responsible for the BTC Alpha Fund Offering at Sygnum. He comments:

    “As Bitcoin increasingly becomes a core allocation for institutional investors, we see growing demand for strategies that can generate returns beyond simple price gains. The fund’s fourth quarter performance shows that professional Bitcoin management can deliver substantial results even when spot markets are flat or falling.”

    The BTC Alpha Fund follows a market-neutral approach: Instead of speculating on rising or falling prices, the strategy exploits price differences and inefficiencies between different markets and instruments. The focus is on arbitrage approaches between spot and derivatives markets, which are intended to systematically record price differences and convert them into income.

    BTC return independent of spot price

    Specifically, the strategy aims to capture price dislocations across major crypto markets by exploiting arbitrage opportunities between spot and derivative instruments. At the same time, the aim is to achieve market-neutral exposure, which is intended to limit the dependence on daily Bitcoin price fluctuations. This means: The fund attempts to largely neutralize the pure market risk of Bitcoin and instead focus on structural inefficiencies and spread opportunities.

    The BTC Alpha Fund comes with monthly liquidity and follows a disciplined risk management framework tailored to professional and institutional investors.

    Sygnum and Starboard raise more than 750 BTC for BTC Alpha Fund
    Quelle: Sygnum

    The goal: to offer high-quality return opportunities within an institutional structure – including clear governance, regulated service providers and custody of assets outside of stock exchanges.

    The custody and structuring of the fund are based on institutional standards: Sygnum has positioned itself as a regulated crypto bank for years with a focus on professional investors and combines banking licenses, crypto expertise and asset management offerings.

    A special feature of the fund is its integration with Sygnum’s other banking services. Fund shares are permitted as collateral for USD Lombard loans for selected customers.

    This allows investors to access liquidity for other investment opportunities without having to sell their positions in the fund – a common dilemma for long-term Bitcoin holders who do not want to reduce their exposure but still need capital.

    This functionality strengthens the role of Bitcoin and Bitcoin-based products as collateralizable assets in an institutional context. At the same time, it shows how the financialization of Bitcoin is continuing to deepen: BTC and BTC-based fund shares are increasingly being integrated into classic credit and collateral logic.

    Fund screams as “Proof-of-Concept”

    Nikolas Skarlatos from Starboard Digital says:

    “Generating a return on Bitcoin while maintaining exposure to its upside potential has been an ongoing challenge for institutional investors.
    The fund’s early results confirm institutional-grade Bitcoin yield strategies and target returns of 8-10% per year across a range of market conditions.”

    The fund thus solves a central problem for many institutional Bitcoin investors: either they hold BTC passively and are completely dependent on price developments, or they take on additional risks, for example through lending, unregulated platforms or complex derivatives.

    The launch of the BTC Alpha Fund fits into a broader trend. Current industry data shows that a majority of institutional investors have already invested in Bitcoin ETPs and will do so soon. At the same time, there is growing demand for professionally managed, return-generating strategies that are based on Bitcoin but do not depend exclusively on the price.

    The BTC Alpha Fund from Sygnum and Starboard Digital is therefore more than just another crypto product: It exemplifies the next phase of institutional Bitcoin adoption – away from price bets and towards structured, market-neutral and yield-oriented strategies that fit perfectly into existing portfolio and risk management frameworks.