PayPal to integrate its PYUSD stablecoin into payment transactions for 20 million merchants.
PayPal (NASDAQ:PYPL) plans to integrate its PYUSD stablecoin into more of its products by 2025 to unite merchants under a single platform. PYUSD will be offered as a payment option for 20 million small and medium-sized merchants. As specified by the top manager Michelle Gill, the company expects corporate clients to attract their suppliers to the PayPal network to simplify transactions.
SEC accepted the application for a spot ADA-ETF from Grayscale
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has considered the application for the creation of a spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) based on the native token of the Cardano blockchain (ADA) from the investment company Grayscale. If approved, the product will be traded on the NYSE, like other crypto ETFs from Grayscale: based on Bitcoin (tickers GBTC and BTC) and Ethereum (ETHE and ETH).
The Hunt Begins: A $140 Million Reward for the Capture of the Hackers Who Robbed Bybit
The cryptocurrency exchange Bybit announced a reward of $140 million for assistance in capturing the organizers of the largest cryptocurrency heist in history. It should be noted that unknown hackers managed to steal assets worth about $1.4 billion. This unprecedented event shook the crypto industry and prompted the exchange to take decisive steps to find the perpetrators.
XRP may have another reason for a sharp bullish breakout
XRP may demonstrate a powerful bullish breakout after Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong made an important statement regarding the lawsuit from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). According to him, Coinbase reached an agreement with the SEC to terminate the lawsuit against the cryptocurrency exchange. This means that charges of trading unregistered securities may be dropped against Coinbase as early as next week.
Spot ETF ā Now for XRP: What Has Changed in the Crypto Market
The Ripple cryptocurrency fell by 3% in seven days from February 14 to 21. The beginning of the week was successful for XRP: it managed to rise above $2.8. However, the following five out of six trading sessions were negative, which predetermined the final negative dynamics. Despite the drop in value, the news background for Ripple over the past seven days has been positive and rich. In the United States, the US Department of Justice Civil Division, together with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), officially recognized XRP as a āconvertible virtual currency.ā The decision means that the Ripple coin now complies with US banking laws, making it the first regulated cryptocurrency in the United States. The news has stirred up investors and users, which has resulted in an increase in trading volumes and active addresses on the network.
Bybit Hacked: Over $1.46 Billion in Ethereum Stolen
Cryptocurrency exchange Bybit has suffered what could be the largest hack in digital currency history, with $1.46 billion in Ethereum (ETH) being withdrawn from hot wallets. Bybit CEO Ben Zhou confirmed the hack via social media, saying that the hacker had taken control of a specific ETH cold wallet and transferred its entire contents to an unknown address.
Suspicions of a hack were raised when blockchain data showed a massive transfer of 401,346 ETH, worth approximately $1.13 billion, from a Bybit hot wallet to an unknown wallet. Not only did this transfer raise alarms about a possible hack, it also impacted the market price of Ethereum, which fell more than 4% after the stolen funds began to be liquidated.
Zhou assured users that despite the hack, all other cold wallets remain safe and withdrawals are working normally.
The method used in the Bybit hack is very similar to techniques used in previous major hacks, such as the WazirX and Radiant Capital hacks in 2024.
Litecoin Transaction Volume Surges Amid US ETF Listing Excitement
Litecoin network activity has surged, with daily transaction volumes reaching $9.6 billion, fueled by growing excitement around potential Litecoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) listed on a US exchange. According to a February 21 report from network analytics platform Santiment, the surge in network utility played a key role in the 46% increase in Litecoinās (LTC) market cap between February 2 and February 19.
These changes mark a significant increase since late August, when Litecoin processed around $2.8 billion in daily transactions, representing a 243% surge in just five months.
What else do we know? LTCās price has doubled since early November to $134, outpacing the broader cryptocurrency market, which has risen around 42% over the same period. Investor enthusiasm has been heightened by developments surrounding the proposed Litecoin ETF.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) accepted rule changes on February 19 for the CoinShares Spot Litecoin ETF, which will be listed on Nasdaq. $LTC
The cryptocurrency exchange Binance has once again started buying Solana in large quantities.
The cryptocurrency Solana (SOL) has experienced a sharp decline from the January peak of $293 to a recent low of $160. However, the situation may change as the largest cryptocurrency exchange Binance has resumed purchasing the altcoin in significant amounts. This was indicated by crypto analyst MartyParty.
He clarified that the exchange sold its SOL reserves near the January peak, and after the altcoin sharply depreciated, it began to accumulate it again. When institutional investors and large market participants buy during a dip, it can provide strong support for a potential price increase of the asset.
The approval of a spot SOL-ETF in the USA may also positively influence the price of Solana. Currently, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is awaiting the applications for an altcoin-based exchange-traded fund from investment companies Grayscale, 21Shares, Bitwise, and VanEck. $SOL
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially accepted Bitwise's application for an exchange-traded fund (ETF) for XRP, submitted through the Cboe BZX exchange. This marks an important step towards the integration of regulated XRP investment products into traditional financial markets. According to the document dated February 18, the SEC will now open a 21-day public comment period before making a decision to approve, deny, or extend the review for up to 240 days.
What else is known? The proposal highlights the role of XRP as a fast and inexpensive solution for cross-border transactions, distinguishing it from Bitcoin and Ethereum, which are widely recognized as stores of value. Attention is also directed at the liquid, decentralized, and resilient market structure of XRP. Bitwise referred to last year's SEC ruling against Ripple Labs, which determined that the software sales of XRP by Ripple do not constitute securities transactions. If approved, the ETF will provide regulated investment access to XRP without the need for self-custody.