Author: Stephanie Bedard-Chateauneuf

Crypto Retirement Investments Get a Boost

Written by Stephanie Bedard-Chateauneuf on . Posted in Cryptocurrency.

A major shift in U.S. retirement planning is on the horizon—and crypto retirement investments may soon be at the center of it.

On Thursday, both cryptocurrencies and crypto-related stocks rallied in anticipation of a new executive order from President Donald Trump. The upcoming order aims to open 401(k) plans and other retirement accounts to alternative assets, including Bitcoin and private equity.

This marks a groundbreaking moment for crypto retirement investments, which have long been considered too speculative for traditional retirement vehicles.

Bitcoin and Crypto Stocks Surge on the News

Bitcoin (CRYPTO:BTC) soared above $116,000 on Thursday, climbing more than 1% intraday. Other major cryptocurrencies followed suit: Ether (CRYPTO:ETH) and XRP (CRYPTO:XRP) each gained over 4%.

Publicly traded crypto companies also rallied:

  • Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) jumped as much as 3%.

  • Robinhood (NASDAQ:HOOD) and MicroStrategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) gained over 1.5%.

The surge reflects investor enthusiasm over the potential for crypto retirement investments to become a mainstream option. If passed, Trump’s executive order could open trillions in retirement capital to digital assets.

What’s in the Executive Order?

President Trump is expected to direct the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to facilitate the inclusion of alternative assets in retirement portfolios.

Traditionally, 401(k) accounts offer a limited range of investments, mostly mutual funds or index-based products. Trump’s move would signal a paradigm shift—allowing digital assets, private equity, and other alternatives to enter the mix.

The order builds on momentum from Congress’s “Crypto Week” in July, which included the passage of:

  • The GENIUS Act (now signed into law), creating a regulatory framework for stablecoins.

  • The Clarity Act, defining crypto regulation boundaries.

  • The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act, aimed at limiting Federal Reserve-issued digital currencies.

Together, these efforts point to growing federal support for a more open crypto retirement investment ecosystem.

Wall Street Giants Back the Plan

Large asset managers are also warming to the idea. Firms like BlackRock (NYSE:BLK) and KKR (NYSE:KKR) have expressed support for expanding retirement portfolios to include private and digital assets.

In a recent investor letter, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink emphasized that private assets like crypto and real estate can help lift long-term returns and protect investors during downturns.

“Private assets are legal, beneficial, and becoming more transparent,” Fink wrote.

Their support signals that the rise of crypto retirement investments isn’t just a retail trend—it’s being embraced at the institutional level.

Caution Still Advised

Not everyone is celebrating. Financial advisors and retirement experts have urged Americans to approach crypto retirement investments with caution.

Digital assets are still volatile, and some private investments lack the liquidity and transparency typical of traditional retirement products.

That said, many see the executive order as a step toward democratizing access to high-growth assets once reserved for the ultra-wealthy or institutional investors.

What It Means for Investors

If signed, Trump’s order could transform how Americans plan for retirement. While regulatory details are still forthcoming, it’s clear that crypto retirement investments are moving into the mainstream.

For long-term investors, this could mean:

  • More options in 401(k) plans.

  • Access to higher-growth assets (with higher risk).

  • Increased flexibility in retirement strategies.

With crypto markets still relatively young, today’s rally suggests investors are optimistic about the future of digital assets—not just as speculative tools, but as part of long-term wealth planning.

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Corporate Ether Investments Surge in 2025

Written by Stephanie Bedard-Chateauneuf on . Posted in Cryptocurrency.

In the latest chapter of the digital asset revolution, corporate ether investments are emerging as a strategic play for small public companies looking to diversify and grow their balance sheets. Ethereum (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, is gaining favor over Bitcoin as a more dynamic and functional store of value, thanks to its staking rewards and the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem it powers.

According to a Reuters analysis of regulatory filings, publicly listed companies held at least 966,304 ether tokens as of the end of July 2025, representing nearly US$3.5 billion in value. That’s a massive leap from just under 116,000 ETH held at the end of 2024—an increase of more than 700%.

Why Ether is Replacing Bitcoin in Treasury Strategies

Ethereum offers advantages that Bitcoin lacks, particularly in utility and yield. While Bitcoin is primarily viewed as digital gold, ether powers a functional ecosystem and generates income through staking—a process that allows holders to lock their tokens to support the network and earn rewards.

Staking yields currently range between 3% and 4%, adding an active return component that appeals to companies seeking yield on idle capital.

“Ether balances growth potential with the legitimacy of a blue-chip asset,” said Sam Tabar, CEO of Bit Digital (NASDAQ:BTBT), which holds ETH on its balance sheet. “It’s institutional-grade, but still early enough in its adoption curve to benefit from future upside.”

Ether’s Appeal: Not Just a Store of Value

Ether isn’t just a speculative asset—it’s the backbone of decentralized finance. The Ethereum blockchain supports a range of financial applications including lending, trading, and stablecoins, which makes ether comparable to oil, as opposed to Bitcoin’s gold-like qualities.

“Holding ether is more like owning oil,” said Anthony Georgiades, general partner at Innovating Capital. “It’s the foundation of decentralized finance, not just a pure store of value.”

Caution in the Face of Hype

The market has reacted strongly to announcements of ether acquisitions. Shares of BitMine (OTC:BTMN), which is backed by Peter Thiel, soared 3,679%, while GameSquare Holdings (NASDAQ:GAME) jumped 123% following similar disclosures earlier this year.

But not everyone is convinced the gains are sustainable.

“The share price response has the hallmarks of the meme craze,” warned Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at AJ Bell.

Indeed, ether’s volatility and the complexity of staking mechanisms present challenges for most corporate treasuries. Regulatory ambiguity also continues to cloud adoption.

Regulatory Gray Zones Remain a Barrier

Despite recent signals from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) suggesting a softer stance on staking, legal uncertainties persist. Key questions remain unresolved:

  • Are staking rewards considered taxable income?

  • Should locked ETH be recorded as a liability or asset?

  • Could offering staking services make companies de facto custodians?

“Every staking reward could be landing in a compliance gray zone,” said Michael Ashley Schulman, partner and CIO at Running Point Capital Advisors.

For many CFOs, these unanswered questions are enough to limit exposure.

“Most CFOs would not swap liquid cash for ether,” said Anuj Karnik, managing director at Straitsberg, a Singapore-based treasury advisory firm. “It remains a niche tool best left to tech-forward treasuries.”

Still, Companies Double Down on Ether

Despite the risks, several firms are going all in. BitMine recently raised US$182 million through a stake sale to ARK Invest, led by Cathie Wood. GameSquare CEO Justin Kenna also confirmed the company is considering selling stock to increase its ether holdings.

While it may not yet be mainstream practice, corporate ether investments are undeniably on the rise—and could become a defining trend in treasury strategy for risk-tolerant, forward-looking firms in 2025 and beyond.

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Coinbase Embedded Wallets Beta Launches

Written by Stephanie Bedard-Chateauneuf on . Posted in Cryptocurrency.

Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN) has taken a bold step forward in expanding its developer ecosystem with the launch of its beta for Coinbase Embedded Wallets. This strategic move aims to simplify crypto integration into third-party applications, while strengthening self-custody capabilities for users.

The Coinbase Embedded Wallets feature is a major component of the Coinbase Developer Platform (CDP), and could signal a major turning point for crypto application development.

What Are Coinbase Embedded Wallets?

At its core, Coinbase Embedded Wallets allow developers to integrate self-custodied crypto wallets directly into their apps through an API-powered interface. This eliminates the need for external browser extensions or complex wallet setup processes.

Instead of requiring users to manage private keys and seed phrases—often seen as a hurdle for crypto adoption—the embedded wallet system enables web2-style logins using email, SMS, or OAuth. These simplified onboarding methods drastically reduce friction, allowing non-technical users to create wallets in less than 200 milliseconds with a single command:

According to Coinbase’s blog post, this single command is enough to spin up a wallet tied to an email address, allowing developers to offer crypto functionality with minimal setup.

Coinbase Embedded Wallets Leverage TEE Security

Security is a cornerstone of the Coinbase Embedded Wallets initiative. The tool leverages the same infrastructure and security features as Coinbase’s flagship trading products, notably Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs).

TEEs isolate sensitive processes and store private keys in encrypted environments, adding a high level of protection without placing security burdens on the end user. Developers gain access to Coinbase’s mission-critical infrastructure, while retaining full control over user experience.

A unified API stack also powers advanced functionality such as:

  • Transfers and trades

  • Token balances

  • Staking and rewards

  • Cross-chain interactions

This infrastructure removes the heavy lifting for developers, allowing them to plug into Coinbase’s mature backend while building intuitive user interfaces.

Free Access Until September 30, 2025

To accelerate adoption of Coinbase Embedded Wallets, the company is offering free access for Onramp customers until September 30, 2025. This promotional window lowers the barrier for startups, web3 builders, and creators to experiment with the technology and integrate it into their products.

Coinbase is betting that this early-stage incentive will drive usage and help expand its developer base significantly—especially as blockchain adoption continues to grow across finance, gaming, and social platforms.

Use Cases: From DeFi to Creator Economy

The use cases for Coinbase Embedded Wallets span a wide range of industries. In its announcement, Coinbase highlighted potential applications in:

  • Remittance platforms for fast, cross-border payments

  • DeFi marketplaces for swapping and staking assets

  • B2B payroll systems handling tokenized compensation

  • Creator economy tools for tipping, donations, or rewards

  • Blockchain games with integrated wallet and token features

Early adopters like Zylu and Stablelink are already demonstrating real-world applications. Zylu, for instance, enables frictionless payments between countries, while Stablelink simplifies donation flows for nonprofits.

Coinbase’s Broader Strategy

The launch of Coinbase Embedded Wallets aligns with the company’s broader push into infrastructure-as-a-service for the crypto industry. As regulatory pressure grows on centralized exchanges, Coinbase is positioning itself not just as a trading platform, but as a foundational layer for web3 developers.

By offering tools like Embedded Wallets, Coinbase could begin competing with infrastructure providers such as Alchemy, WalletConnect, and even MetaMask. If successful, this beta could evolve into a new revenue stream while reinforcing Coinbase’s relevance in a rapidly evolving decentralized ecosystem.

Final Thoughts

The Coinbase Embedded Wallets beta represents a key inflection point for both Coinbase and the broader crypto development community. With simplified onboarding, powerful APIs, and top-tier security, the tool has the potential to radically lower barriers to blockchain adoption.

As Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) continues to pivot from consumer-facing exchange to full-service infrastructure provider, innovations like Embedded Wallets will be critical in maintaining its edge in the web3 race.

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Digital Asset Treasury Companies Face Growing Risks

Written by Stephanie Bedard-Chateauneuf on . Posted in Cryptocurrency.

Digital asset treasury companies (DATCOs) are on the rise, but their rapid expansion may be building systemic risk into the crypto ecosystem. A new report from Galaxy Digital, a leading crypto financial services firm, warns that these companies may be repeating dangerous patterns from history—patterns that could unravel the very market they’re helping to build.

DATCOs are public companies that use their equity capital to accumulate Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and other digital assets. The model, made famous by MicroStrategy Inc. (NASDAQ:MSTR), is now being mimicked by a growing list of firms such as Metaplanet Inc. (TSE:3350) and SharpLink Gaming Ltd. (NASDAQ:SBET). Altogether, DATCOs now hold more than $100 billion in digital assets.

The Fragile Math Behind DATCOs

The financial structure of digital asset treasury companies relies on one crucial condition: that their stock price remains higher than the net asset value (NAV) of their holdings. As long as this equity premium exists, they can raise capital by issuing new shares, buy more crypto, and boost their NAV even further.

But if this premium evaporates—or worse, flips into a discount—the model breaks down. Galaxy compares this reflexive loop to the investment trust bubble of the 1920s, where speculative fever drove investors into highly leveraged entities like the Goldman Sachs Trading Corporation, which was essentially the MicroStrategy of its time. The bubble eventually burst with devastating consequences.

Galaxy warns that a similar speculative pathology could be at play today. “The playbook is clear, and capital is pouring in,” the report notes. “But this is part of the risk.”

A Crowded and Correlated Trade

If a handful of companies followed this strategy in isolation, the risks might be manageable. But Galaxy observes that “ten or so firms a week are now crowding into this trade.” These digital asset treasury companies are not only pursuing the same strategy—they’re highly correlated to one another and to the underlying crypto markets.

This creates a structurally fragile situation: if investor sentiment turns, crypto prices drop, or liquidity tightens, redemptions and stock buybacks could cascade across the sector. As companies begin selling off assets to support their stock prices or operations, it could create significant downward pressure on crypto prices, Galaxy said.

Even a halt in net accumulation could remove one of the strongest supports for Bitcoin this cycle—namely, the persistent buying from corporate treasuries.

Early Warning Signs and What Comes Next

The cracks are already showing. Some DATCOs are beginning to trade below their NAV, prompting stock buybacks to close the discount. One such example is Bitmine, which has secured board approval to repurchase up to $1 billion in shares.

Galaxy suggests this could lead to a new wave of consolidation in the sector. Premium-trading firms like MicroStrategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) may acquire smaller players trading at a discount, effectively buying Bitcoin at a reduced price using their own overvalued stock. But this only works as long as the acquiring firms themselves maintain that premium.

If sentiment shifts and premiums vanish, the DATCO model could collapse under its own weight.

Implications for the Broader Crypto Market

As digital asset treasury companies grow larger, their market impact intensifies. An unwind of this strategy could dampen institutional enthusiasm for crypto and slow inflows into crypto ETFs—a key channel for retail and professional investors alike.

Galaxy concludes that if this cycle ends in a mass unwind, it could “weaken the strongest tailwind crypto has had”: the normalization of digital assets on corporate balance sheets. Without that support, the crypto market may face a more volatile and uncertain future.

Crypto Exchange USA Growth: Gate Leads New Wave

Written by Stephanie Bedard-Chateauneuf on . Posted in Cryptocurrency.

The crypto exchange USA landscape is evolving rapidly in 2025, with established global players entering or reentering the American market. One of the latest platforms to join the fray is Gate.io, which has officially launched spot trading services in the United States. Founded in 2013 by Chinese scientist Lin Han, Gate has long been one of the world’s largest exchanges by trading pairs and volume. Its U.S. launch signals both renewed regulatory clarity and growing optimism about the American crypto sector.

Why Gate Is Betting on the U.S. Market

Gate’s move into the crypto exchange USA space comes as Washington begins to firm up its long-awaited digital asset framework. According to Gate, the decision to launch in the U.S. was motivated by “improved regulatory clarity.” The company plans to roll out crypto trading pairs first, with fiat on- and off-ramps and custodial wallet services to follow.

As of July 24, 2025, Gate supports more than 3,800 trading pairs—making it one of the most diverse crypto exchanges in the world. In just 24 hours, the platform saw $6.8 billion in spot trading volume, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

Gate’s leadership views the U.S. not only as a massive market, but also as a global hub for regulatory leadership, fintech innovation, and capital formation. The platform’s entry into the U.S. underscores a broader shift: international crypto exchanges are no longer avoiding the American market—they’re doubling down on it.

Legislation Brings Clarity to Crypto Exchanges

The crypto exchange USA trend has gained momentum in part due to a more favorable political climate. President Donald Trump recently declared his ambition to make the U.S. “the world capital of crypto,” a pledge that seems to be moving from rhetoric to policy.

Two proposed bills—the GENIUS Act and the CLARITY Act—aim to establish a consistent legal framework for crypto trading, lending, and asset custody. These efforts are attracting major global exchanges back to the United States.

For example, OKX reentered the market in April 2025 following a $505 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice. The company is also rumored to be eyeing an initial public offering (IPO) on an American exchange. Meanwhile, Binance.US has reportedly been preparing to restart services for U.S. customers after a turbulent regulatory period.

The American Crypto Market: A Global Giant

The crypto exchange USA space remains the largest globally. According to Chainalysis, between July 2023 and June 2024, U.S. crypto users received over $750 billion in digital assets, far outpacing the United Kingdom and Russia.

The adoption rate is also striking. A 2025 Security.org survey found that 28% of American adults, or around 65 million people, currently own cryptocurrency. Additionally, 14% of non-owners plan to make their first crypto purchase this year. Of those who already hold digital assets, 67% said they intend to buy more in 2025.

Bitcoin (BTC) remains the most widely held cryptocurrency, followed by Ethereum (ETH). These trends illustrate that U.S. investors remain deeply engaged in the market—making the country a prime target for global exchanges.

What’s Next for Gate and the Industry

With its U.S. launch, Gate joins a growing list of platforms eager to claim a piece of the world’s most active crypto economy. If legislative progress continues and consumer demand holds steady, the crypto exchange USA trend is likely to intensify.

Gate’s phased approach—starting with spot trading and expanding to fiat services and wallet infrastructure—reflects a strategic bid to gain trust in a historically cautious market. For retail investors and institutions alike, the return of major exchanges like Gate and OKX could signal a more mature and secure era for U.S. crypto trading.

As the industry navigates its next chapter, one thing is clear: the crypto exchange USA revival is no longer theoretical—it’s happening now.

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