Kategorie: Crypto Markets

• Nexo says 67% of affluent investors own crypto, but integration stays low.
• Security, fees and platform complexity emerge as key barriers to adoption.
• US investors show deepest crypto integration despite lower ownership rates.

High-net-worth investors are increasingly buying crypto, but many are still reluctant to make it a major part of their long-term wealth plans, according to a new Nexo survey.

The report found that 67% of affluent investors across the US, UK and Argentina already own crypto. However, security concerns, high fees and complicated platforms are stopping many from using digital assets for retirement planning or replacing traditional investments.

Nexo published its “Future of Digital Wealth 2026” report on September 23 after surveying 1,000 affluent investors. Its new Crypto Integration Index, which measures how deeply crypto is incorporated into investors’ finances, produced an average score of 4.83 out of 10.

Ownership outpaces deeper integration

Nexo said a score near the survey average of 4.83 represents a small, short-horizon crypto position outside retirement planning.

Only 4.7% of surveyed investors scored seven or higher, a level Nexo describes as structurally integrated, where crypto has replaced a traditional asset and forms part of longer-term financial planning.

The report found that just under 20% of respondents expect crypto to become their number-one personal wealth driver over the next decade, ahead of salary, equities and real estate.

More than 40% are already invested in crypto without yet building wealth with it.

“Once an investor gets past the risk perception stage, what’s left is security, fees, and platform user-friendliness and capabilities – the same things we’ve spent years building Nexo to solve,” said Neil Steinhardt, COO, Nexo US.

That’s the gap between owning crypto and actually building wealth with it, and it’s exactly where our platform is designed to meet investors.

Integration also varies by market. Argentina had the highest ownership rate at 74%, but a CII score of 4.62. The US had the lowest ownership at 62%, but the deepest integration with a score of 5.07.

The UK recorded 65% ownership and a CII score of 4.75.

Platform trust becomes the next hurdle

The report said crypto integration peaks among investors aged 35 to 44, with 28% treating digital assets as a core retirement asset.

Investors aged 18 to 25 reported the highest ownership and conviction, with more than 90% holding crypto, but only 2% maintaining a horizon of 10 years or longer.

Among structurally integrated investors with CII scores of seven or more, reported frictions shift towards platform trust. Security concerns were cited by 36%, high fees by 34%, and platform complexity by 28%.

“Risk perception used to be the story in every crypto adoption survey. It isn’t anymore,” said Iliya Kalchev, analyst at Nexo.

In our data, risk perception barely separates investors who’ve built real wealth with crypto from those who haven’t — what actually divides them is whether they’ve substituted crypto for a traditional asset and folded it into retirement planning. For affluent investors it’s the planning and the smoothness of operating with that crypto that remains to be resolved.

The survey was fielded in February and March 2026 through Attest. Respondents needed at least $100,000 in liquid assets in the US and UK, or $40,000 in Argentina, thresholds calibrated to capture the top 25% to 30% of each market by investable wealth.

The post Nexo says 67% of affluent investors own crypto but few make it central to wealth plans appeared first on CoinJournal.

• Several large exchanges removed Monero from 2024 onward, some everywhere and some for part of their users.
• Three routes remain: a swap from another coin, a direct trade with a person, and mining.
• Monero protects what is written on its chain, but timing and IP data sit outside it.

Monero (XMR) has become harder to find on large trading platforms.

Since early 2024, several big exchanges have removed it, some for all users and some for part of their user base.

For many holders, the practical question is now how to get Monero without an exchange account, and what that route asks of them.

This article looks at the routes that remain, the wallet to set up first, and the checks that matter during a swap.

For a full walkthrough, a step-by-step guide from HiddenSwap shows how to get Monero without KYC with a wallet and a single swap.

Key points

• Several large exchanges removed Monero from 2024 onward, some everywhere and some for part of their users.
• Three routes remain: a swap from another coin, a direct trade with a person, and mining.
• A wallet you control comes first, because every route pays out to an address.
• A swap turns coins you already have into XMR without creating an account.
• Monero protects what is written on its chain, but timing and IP data sit outside it.

Why fewer exchange accounts offer Monero

The removals came in steps. In January 2024, one large exchange delisted XMR, stating that the coin no longer fit its listing standards.

The next month, a second big platform ended XMR trading after reviewing which assets it would keep.

In late October 2024, a third halted XMR trading and deposits for a group of its customers.

The announcements pointed to listing criteria and asset reviews. Monero’s design is part of the picture too.

An exchange cannot read the history of XMR on the chain the way it can with Bitcoin, because Monero keeps that data private by design.

None of this changed how the network itself works.

XMR kept in a private wallet is not affected, and the chain runs as before. What changed is where people can get XMR.

Routes that remain for Monero without an exchange account

Three routes are left. The first is a swap, where you send a coin you already have, such as Bitcoin or Tether, and receive XMR at your own address.

The second is a peer-to-peer trade with another person. The third is mining, which pays new XMR in return for computing work.

Each route has a cost. A direct trade depends on trust in the other side, and scams are common where no escrow protects the deal.

Mining needs hardware and electricity, and it pays out in small amounts over time.

For most people who already own some crypto, a swap is the shortest path.

HiddenSwap (hiddenswap.com) is a no KYC crypto exchange for crypto-to-crypto swaps: no account, no email, and no ID are needed to swap.

The user gives a receiving address, sends the deposit, and gets XMR in a wallet they control.

Set up a Monero wallet first

Every route ends with coins sent to an address, so the wallet comes first.

The Monero project publishes an official wallet in two versions: a graphical app (GUI) and a command-line tool (CLI). Both are free and open source, and both are available on getmonero.org.

A new wallet shows a seed phrase when it is created. Write it down offline and never share it.

Anyone who has the seed controls the coins, and no honest swap service will ever ask for it.

The wallet then needs to sync with the network before it can show incoming coins.

Running your own node gives the most privacy. A remote node is quicker to start with, but its operator can see your IP address unless you connect through Tor.

Swapping another coin into XMR

A swap needs the coin you send and its network, the amount, and your XMR address.

An address for refunds, on the network of the coin you send, is optional.

It protects you if the swap cannot finish, which matters most when you send from a platform account.

Copy the XMR address your wallet shows under Receive, then look at the pasted text once more before you continue.

A new subaddress for each swap keeps your payouts separate from each other.

Send the exact amount in one transaction, on the network the order page names.

After the XMR arrives, it cannot be spent until 10 more blocks have been added, which takes about 20 minutes.

That lock is a Monero network rule, not a delay added by the swap service.

What Monero protects, and where metadata leaks

By default, Monero hides the amount, the sender, and the receiver of every payment.

Ring signatures blur which coin was spent, one-time addresses separate each payment from the public address, and RingCT hides the amount.

The project explains each of these on getmonero.org.

Metadata is a different layer. The point where coins enter from a public chain, the timing of payments and your IP address can still show patterns.

A wallet that connects over Tor and a fresh subaddress for each payment reduce what others can link.

The coin you send into a swap also keeps its own record.

A Bitcoin deposit stays visible on the Bitcoin chain. Only the Monero side of the swap gets Monero’s protections.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get Monero if I have no crypto yet?

A swap needs coins to send, so it only helps people who already have some crypto. Without any, the options are mining or a direct trade with another person. Both take more time and more care.

Which coins can be swapped into XMR?

Common choices are Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ether and Tether. HiddenSwap lists more than 1,000 coins and networks. Always send on the network the order page shows.

When can I spend the XMR I receive?

The deposit first needs confirmations on its own network. After the payout arrives, Monero locks the new coins for 10 blocks. Then they can be spent like any other XMR.

A wallet you control and one careful swap are all you need to get started with Monero without an exchange account today.

The post Getting Monero without an exchange account in 2026 appeared first on CoinJournal.

• REAL Finance’s $ASSET white paper is now listed in ESMA’s MiCA register.
• ESMA listing gives $ASSET a standardised disclosure reference across Europe.
• REAL Finance targets over €3.5 billon in tokenised assets across Europe.

Real Technologies Inc., issuer of the $ASSET token used by the REAL Finance network, has had its crypto-asset white paper listed in the European Securities and Markets Authority’s Interim MiCA Register, giving the project a centralised disclosure reference under the European Union’s crypto rules.

The entry sits in the register for crypto-assets other than asset-referenced tokens and e-money tokens, which falls under Title II of MiCA.

ESMA stresses that white papers appearing in the register have not been reviewed or approved by an EU competent authority, leaving responsibility for their contents with the issuer.

MiCA listing adds a regulatory reference

For REAL Finance, the listing creates a common disclosure point that exchanges, institutions and other counterparties can consult when assessing $ASSET across European Economic Area markets.

The move follows the token’s listing on Kraken, where trading went live on April 30. REAL Finance says $ASSET has also traded on KuCoin and MEXC since April.

“Being listed in ESMA’s Interim MiCA Register gives institutions and exchanges a single, transparent reference for evaluating $ASSET instead of thirty separate national processes. It’s a foundational step for how we want to operate in Europe,” said Ivo Grigorov, CEO of REAL Finance.

The company said the notification addresses a different layer from exchange access, providing standardised regulatory disclosure rather than guaranteeing that any platform will list or continue supporting the token.

REAL Finance pushes deeper into tokenised assets

REAL Finance is positioning the network around the tokenisation of real-world financial assets, an area attracting growing attention from banks, asset managers and regulators.

The company says it aims to tokenise more than €3.5 billion of assets through its European ecosystem and is working with regulated partners, including Austria’s Wiener Privatbank, on custody and structuring.

The MiCA register entry does not amount to regulatory approval of $ASSET. ESMA explicitly states that white papers in the register are not reviewed or endorsed by competent authorities.

Real Technologies also said individual trading venues retain discretion over listing decisions.

That distinction is important as MiCA brings more standardised disclosure to Europe’s crypto market without turning white-paper publication into an official investment endorsement.

The post REAL Finance’s $ASSET joins ESMA’s Interim MiCA Register as Europe push deepens appeared first on CoinJournal.

• Geely Sweden CEO Per Ansgar joins Concordium Foundation board.
• Concordium expands focus on verified AI agents and digital payments.
• Geely and Concordium deepen partnership on autonomous transactions.

Concordium Foundation has appointed Per Ansgar, chief executive officer of Geely Sweden Holdings AB, to its board, strengthening the blockchain platform’s relationship with the Geely group as it develops infrastructure for verified digital interactions and autonomous AI agents.

The appointment adds more than 26 years of automotive and financial experience to Concordium’s board.

Ansgar has held senior roles at Volvo Cars, Polestar and companies within the wider Geely group.

His appointment also extends a partnership between Concordium and Geely that began in 2021.

Concordium and Geely deepen five-year partnership

The relationship between Concordium and Geely began with a shared focus on autonomous driving and was formalised in 2022 through a joint venture based in Wuxi, China.

The partnership has also explored applications in which vehicles can interact directly with infrastructure and service providers through machine-initiated payments.

These applications include connected vehicles potentially settling charging, toll, and service payments without direct intervention from a driver.

Concordium is now expanding its focus toward infrastructure for verified digital interactions, including transactions involving AI agents.

As software becomes capable of initiating transactions independently, the company is developing systems intended to establish who owns and authorises an AI agent and who is accountable for its actions.

Ansgar said vehicles and the software embedded in them are increasingly becoming parties to transactions.

He added that trust now requires proof of who authorised a payment and who is responsible for it, describing this as the problem Concordium is addressing.

Ansgar brings automotive and financial experience

Ansgar has been CEO of Geely Sweden Holdings since November 2024, having previously served as the company’s chief financial officer.

Before joining Geely Sweden Holdings, he spent 26 years at Volvo Cars, where he held positions including deputy CFO and CFO of Volvo Cars China.

He later became chief financial officer of Polestar. Ansgar also holds board positions across the Geely group and serves on the nomination committee of Volvo Car AB.

His appointment brings senior Geely leadership into Concordium’s governance as the company works on infrastructure that connects verified humans and AI agents to transactions.

The Concordium Foundation Board is chaired by founder Lars Seier Christensen.

Other members include Ueli Maurer, professor of cryptography at ETH Zurich; Swiss commercial lawyer Simone Monnerat; and digital executive Nibras Stiebar-Bang.

Concordium expands AI agent infrastructure

Concordium’s focus is increasingly centered on establishing verifiable identities for AI agents that can act autonomously.

The company says its infrastructure is designed to allow counterparties to verify that an agent has been authorised by a verified human or organisation.

Its Agent Registry went live in May 2026 and has since registered more than 1,600 AI agents, according to the company. Each registered agent is linked to a verified owner and receives a Verified by Concordium Badge.

The badge can be used across networks including Ethereum and Solana, allowing AI agents to provide information about their owners without exposing the underlying company documents.

Concordium describes itself as an AI infrastructure platform for the agentic economy, built on a regulatory-grade blockchain with identity and trust incorporated into its protocol.

Ansgar’s appointment therefore comes as Concordium seeks to extend its earlier automotive-focused relationship with Geely into a broader model in which vehicles, software and AI agents can conduct transactions while remaining connected to identifiable and accountable owners.

The post Geely Sweden CEO joins Concordium Board to advance AI Agent trust appeared first on CoinJournal.

• KuCoin launches KCUSD with a base APR of up to 4%.
• KCUSD offers daily returns on eligible stablecoin balances.
• KuCoin plans to expand KCUSD into collateral and trading utility.

KuCoin has launched KCUSD, a new Earn product designed to help stablecoin holders generate returns on otherwise idle balances.

The product will be available to eligible retail, high-net-worth, and institutional users, with subscriptions initially starting from as little as 1 USDT, USDC, or USDG.

KCUSD will offer a dynamic base annual percentage rate (APR) of up to 4%, with users able to earn returns simply by holding the asset.

KuCoin said there will be no subscription fee, while redemptions will be available in the same asset used for subscriptions.

Returns will be credited daily and automatically added to users’ KCUSD balances.

This structure allows returns to compound daily without requiring users to manually reinvest their earnings.

During the initial launch period, eligible users who participate with qualifying new funds may receive a promotional APR of up to 6%, according to the company.

Product targets idle stablecoin balances

KuCoin said stablecoins play a central role in digital asset market liquidity, but significant balances can remain idle in trading accounts.

Users may keep stablecoins available for margin requirements or time-sensitive trading opportunities, potentially leaving those assets without a yield.

The exchange said moving such balances into traditional staking or standalone Earn products can reduce their immediate trading utility.

The trade-off is particularly relevant for institutions, market makers, professional trading firms, and high-net-worth users that maintain large stablecoin balances for extended periods.

KCUSD initially addresses this issue through a hold-to-earn model, allowing users to generate returns while holding the product.

KuCoin also plans to expand KCUSD’s utility in the future by integrating it as collateral or margin.

The company said this planned functionality is intended to reduce the trade-off between earning returns and maintaining access to capital for trading activities.

KuCoin plans broader utility for KCUSD

KuCoin CEO BC Wong said the launch reflects the company’s view that digital asset infrastructure needs to focus not only on access and liquidity but also on how efficiently capital can be deployed.

“Our long-term view is that yield, liquidity and risk utility should not remain in separate silos,” Wong said.

KuCoin described KCUSD as an infrastructure layer that could connect liquidity, asset productivity and risk management across its ecosystem. The product is expected to begin with yield generation before progressively expanding toward collateral and trading utility.

The company said the development reflects a broader shift in digital finance, with stablecoins increasingly being positioned as productive capital rather than solely as settlement assets or reserves.

The post KuCoin launches KCUSD with up to 4% base APR on Stablecoins appeared first on CoinJournal.