Monat: Februar 2025

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Coinbase scores major win as SEC set to drop lawsuit

  • Coinbase says the SEC has agreed to dismiss its lawsuit against the US-based crypto exchange.
  • The SEC sued Coinbase in 2023 but with Gary Gensler’s exit, the regulator is eyeing better regulatory approach.

US-based crypto exchange Coinbase is set for a landmark development after the Securities and Exchange Commission reportedly agreed to dismiss its own lawsuit against the exchange.

Coinbase announced the huge news in a blog post on Friday, Feb. 21. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong also shared the development in an interview with CNBC’s Squawk Box.

“SEC staff has agreed in principle to dismiss its unlawful enforcement case against Coinbase, subject to Commissioner approval – righting a major wrong,” Coinbase chief legal officer Paul Grewal wrote.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong also shared the news via X.

SEC vs. Coinbase ending

According to the exchange, the regulator’s decision to withdraw the case follows a settlement that does not involve any financial penalty against Coinbase. The next move is for the SEC commissioners to ratify the agreement and end a major legal hurdle that set the US crypto market back.

“While dismissal will be a major win for the rule of law – and a clear vindication of our position – most of all it will be a win for the entire industry and the 52 million Americans who have owned a digital asset,” Grewal added.

The SEC filed its lawsuit against Coinbase in 2023, accusing the exchange of operating an unregistered securities exchange. The lawsuit also included allegations of offering unregistered securities.

Coinbase contested the charges and sought a dismissal, with industry players criticizing then SEC Chair Gary Gensler of overreach amid regulation by enforcement approach.Notably, the SEC had also sued Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange by trading volume. Other exchanges to come into the “rogue” agency’s cross-hairs is Kraken.

However, things at the securities watchdog have taken a crypto-friendly turn since Donald Trump’s election and the exit of Gensler and other Commissioners.

Acting chair Mark Uyeda has formed a crypto task force and renamed an enforcement unit amid the quest to balance compliance and the need to protect investors.

The post Coinbase scores major win as SEC set to drop lawsuit appeared first on CoinJournal.

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Mawari and Nankai Electric Railway partner for the Digital Entertainment City Namba project

  • The “Digital Entertainment City Namba” will be the world’s first smart city integrating AI, XR and DePIN.
  • Mawari will deploy edge computing and rendering devices across Nankai’s properties for decentralized streaming.
  • Nankai Electric Railway rail network spans over 100 stations across multiple lines in Japan.

In a groundbreaking collaboration, Mawari, a leader in spatial computing and decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN), has partnered with Nankai Electric Railway Co., Ltd., Meta Osaka Co., Ltd., and e-stadium Co., Ltd. to create the “Digital Entertainment City Namba.”

This ambitious urban development project, set to unfold in Osaka, Japan, promises to be the world’s first fully integrated ecosystem combining artificial intelligence (AI), extended reality (XR), and DePIN technologies at a city-wide scale.

The partnership brings together complementary strengths. Meta Osaka contributes strategic innovation and localized expertise, ensuring the project aligns with the region’s unique cultural and economic fabric.

On the other hand, e-stadium, a Nankai Group company, leverages its focus on e-sports and community engagement to address social challenges and foster a thriving digital culture. Together, these organizations are laying the groundwork for a smart city that integrates advanced technology with everyday life.

Mawari’s role is pivotal, deploying edge computing and rendering devices across Nankai’s properties to deliver decentralized streaming infrastructure. This setup brings computation closer to users, minimizing delays and enabling real-time interactions with 3D AI agents that possess both “body and soul,” as described by the company. The result is a scalable, efficient system capable of supporting a wide range of applications, from entertainment to practical services.

For Mawari, the project represents a milestone in its mission to democratize AI-driven immersive experiences. According to the CEO Luis Oscar Ramirez, “Uniting AI, XR, and DePIN in ‘Digital Entertainment City Namba’ is a landmark moment for the entire industry, demonstrating a clear path to mass adoption with tangible social impact.”

A visionary fusion of technology and urban life

At the heart of the “Digital Entertainment City Namba” project is Mawari’s pioneering technology, which powers real-time 3D streaming of lifelike AI-driven avatars. These avatars, rendered with minimal latency, offer a new level of immersion and interactivity, capable of performing tasks such as guiding tourists, assisting customers, and facilitating human-like communication across language barriers.

Notably, the project builds on Mawari’s extensive experience, having successfully executed over 50 XR projects worldwide since 2019.

By integrating AI, XR, and a decentralized network of edge computing devices, the Digital Entertainment City Namba will transform Nankai’s railway stations and properties into vibrant digital hubs that seamlessly merge virtual and physical experiences.

Founded in 1885, Nankai Electric Railway is one of Japan’s oldest private rail operators, with a network spanning over 100 stations across multiple lines, including connections to Kansai International Airport and the Koyasan World Heritage Site.

Traditionally a transportation powerhouse, Nankai is now embracing a bold vision to evolve its infrastructure beyond mere transit points. Under the leadership of President and COO Nobuyuki Okajima, the company has been working since 2023 to reimagine the Namba area as an “ENTAME-DIVER-CITY” — a dynamic hub of entertainment and co-creation.

This vision gained momentum with the opening of the e-Stadium Namba Main Branch, an e-sports facility, in August 2024 at Namba Parks, a commercial complex operated by Nankai. The addition of Tsutenkaku, a historic Osaka landmark, to the Nankai Group in December 2024 further expands the scope of this digital transformation.

Through the Digital Entertainment City initiative, Nankai aims to weave immersive experiences such as virtual idols, anime characters, and interactive storytelling into these physical spaces, creating a next-generation entertainment ecosystem.

Projected impact of the Digital Entertainment City Namba

The Digital Entertainment City Namba is poised to make a significant impact across multiple sectors.

For tourism, the project taps into Japan’s growing inbound travel market, which saw 23 million foreign visitors in 2023. Multilingual 3D guides and XR content will offer tourists intuitive navigation and immersive cultural experiences, boosting local businesses and elevating Osaka’s global appeal.

Beyond tourism, the initiative addresses Japan’s looming labour shortage, projected to reach 11 million workers by 2040, by creating flexible, remote work opportunities. AI-driven avatars will enable diverse groups, including caregivers, seniors, parents, and people with disabilities, to participate in industries like customer service and tourism through immersive interfaces.

This inclusive approach not only enhances accessibility but also aligns with Japan’s need for innovative workforce solutions.

The post Mawari and Nankai Electric Railway partner for the Digital Entertainment City Namba project appeared first on CoinJournal.

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Franklin Templeton launches a Bitcoin and Ethereum index ETF

  • Franklin Templeton has launched EZPZ ETF tracking Bitcoin and Ether.
  • The EZPZ ETF is the second US crypto index ETF.
  • The other crypto index is Hashdex’s Nasdaq Crypto Index US ETF (NCIQ).

Franklin Templeton, a prominent global asset manager, has introduced a new exchange-traded fund (ETF) that provides investors with exposure to both Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum’s Ether (ETH).

Announced on February 20, 2025, the Franklin Crypto Index ETF, trading under the ticker EZPZ, marks the second crypto index ETF to launch in the United States, following closely on the heels of Hashdex’s Nasdaq Crypto Index US ETF (NCIQ), which debuted on February 14.

The Franklin Bitcoin and Ether Index ETF

The EZPZ fund is designed to track the US CF Institutional Digital Asset Index, a market capitalization-weighted benchmark managed by CF Benchmarks.

As of its launch date, the index allocates approximately 87% of its weighting to Bitcoin — currently priced at $98,706 — while Ether, valued at $2,755, accounts for about 13%.

Franklin Templeton has emphasized that this ETF offers a streamlined way for investors to gain exposure to these leading digital assets without the complexities of directly purchasing and managing them.

Looking ahead, Franklin Templeton plans to expand the fund’s holdings as additional cryptocurrencies are incorporated into the underlying index, subject to regulatory approval. This forward-thinking approach positions EZPZ as a potential “one-stop-shop” for US investors seeking a diversified crypto portfolio through a single investment vehicle.

The launch of EZPZ comes amid a wave of cryptocurrency ETF developments in the US. Hashdex’s NCIQ, trading on the Nasdaq, similarly focuses on Bitcoin and Ether with plans to broaden its scope over time.

The broader market has also seen a surge in ETF filings throughout 2024, with asset managers submitting proposals for funds tied to altcoins such as Solana (SOL), XRP, and Litecoin (LTC).

In October, NYSE Arca sought approval to list a Grayscale ETF based on the Grayscale Digital Large Cap Fund, a diversified crypto portfolio established in 2018 that includes Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, and XRP, among others.

Additionally, Bitwise recently filed for a 10 Crypto Index Fund ETF with the SEC, further underscoring the growing demand for crypto investment vehicles.

Analysts at Bloomberg Intelligence have expressed optimism about the regulatory outlook, suggesting “relatively high odds of approval across the board” for these new crypto ETF proposals. This momentum highlights a pivotal moment for the integration of digital assets into traditional finance, offering investors more accessible and regulated options to participate in the crypto market.

Franklin Templeton’s entry into the crypto ETF space with EZPZ signals both the firm’s confidence in the maturing digital asset ecosystem and the increasing appetite among mainstream investors for cryptocurrency exposure. As the index evolves and regulatory hurdles are cleared, EZPZ could pave the way for broader adoption of crypto-focused ETFs, bridging the gap between conventional investment strategies and the rapidly expanding world of blockchain-based assets.

For now, the fund stands as a milestone in making Bitcoin and Ether more accessible to US investors, with the promise of further growth on the horizon.

The post Franklin Templeton launches a Bitcoin and Ethereum index ETF appeared first on CoinJournal.

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Tether leads $10m round for cross-border payments firm Mansa

  • Tether has backed the $10 million round for cross-border payments firm Mansa.
  • Venture capital firm Polymorphic co-led the round, which saw investors raise $7 million to add to $3 million raised earlier.

Tether, issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, led the $10 million funding round of MANSA, a cross-border payments provider.

MANSA announced the close of the $10 million financing round on Thursday, Feb. 20, noting that the capital injection would be key to the fintech company’s plans to bolster cross-border payments by addressing liquidity challenges facing providers.

Venture capital firm Polymorphic Capital co-led the round, which also attracted the participation of top VC platforms Octerra Capital, Faculty Group and Trive Digital. Mansa had previously raised $3 million in a pre-seed round, with the $7 million secured from investors in the latest raise bringing the total to $10 million.

Per details in a blog post, the company plans to use these funds on its Latin America and Southeast Asia expansion effort. The funding will also go into fresh bespoke liquidity as well as ancillary solutions set to bring payments on-chain.

“By bringing payments on-chain and leveraging efficient liquidity solutions, we are addressing critical challenges in cross-border transactions—making payments faster, cheaper, and more reliable worldwide,” Mouloukou Sanoh, chief executive officer & co-founder of MANSA, said.

Payments firm eyes global expansion

MANSA launched in August 2024 and has grown rapidly amid major partnerships in the payment space.

Its footprint includes integrations with payment providers in Africa, Asia, and South America.

The company’s growth saw it notch $11 million in on-chain transactions in January 2025, a figure that represents a 574% year-over-year increase. Growth comes amid increased stablecoin adoption. USDT is a major player in this effort.

“By leveraging USDT for real-time settlements and instant payouts, MANSA is solving critical pain points for payment companies operating in emerging markets. We are proud to collaborate with MANSA and support their efforts to reshape global payment infrastructure.” Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino, added.

The post Tether leads $10m round for cross-border payments firm Mansa appeared first on CoinJournal.