Libre and the TON Foundation to launch a $500M Telegram Bond Fund

  • Libre and TON Foundation will launch a $500M Telegram Bond Fund on the TON blockchain
  • The tokenised bond fund offers accredited investors on-chain access to Telegram’s institutional-grade bond yields.
  • Tokenised bonds exemplify the transformative potential of blockchain to democratize access to sophisticated financial instruments.

Libre and the TON Foundation are collaborating to create a $500 million Telegram Bond Fund ($TBF) on the TON blockchain, marking one of the largest tokenised corporate debt ventures in history.

In a blog on TON’s website, Max Crown, the CEO of the TON Foundation, underscores that this collaboration “unlocks powerful new opportunities for TON’s community to engage with real-world assets in a secure and accessible way,” solidifying TON’s leadership in regulated asset tokenisation.

Tokenising Telegram bonds

By digitising a slice of Telegram’s $2.35 billion in outstanding bonds, $TBF offers accredited investors an unprecedented on-chain gateway to institutional-grade fixed-income products with yields reaching up to 9.4%.

The new fund introduces seamless subscription, redemption, and transfer capabilities through its multi-phase Libre Gateway infrastructure, leveraging Libre’s proven track record, which has tokenised over $200 million in assets alongside titans like BlackRock and Brevan Howard.

With TON’s deep integration into Telegram’s ecosystem of over 950 million users, investors can now access and manage their tokenised bond holdings directly from TON-native wallets, bridging the gap between fiat, stablecoins, and decentralised finance.

Through $TBF, tokenised bonds can serve not only as yield-bearing instruments but also as on-chain collateral for borrowing, yield farming, and a growing array of decentralised finance (DeFi) products built on TON’s scalable network.

Dr. Jez Mohideen, Chairman of Libre and CEO of Laser Digital, emphasises that TON’s unique symbiosis of mass-market usability and institutional infrastructure creates “a seamless bridge between TradFi and DeFi for a global, digitally native audience.”

The launch arrives amid an $18.9 billion surge in real-world asset tokenisation, where corporate debt has historically lagged behind commodities and real estate, positioning $TBF as a catalyst for broader market adoption.

By enabling future issuances of Telegram bonds to flow through the same compliant, on-chain framework, Libre and the TON Foundation are laying the groundwork for an enduring ecosystem of digital debt markets.

Institutional participants can now tap into a fully on-chain issuance stack that promises transparency, efficiency, and regulatory compliance, while retail users stand to benefit from a new frontier of yield and utility seamlessly embedded in their favourite messaging app.

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Arthur Hayes at Token2049 says Bitcoin will hit $1 million by 2028

  • Arthur Hayes has predicted Bitcoin price will reach $1 million in 2028.
  • Hayes shared the bold forecast during a keynote speech at Token2049 in Dubai.
  • Bitcoin price reached an all-time high of $109k.

Arthur Hayes, the former CEO of BitMEX, has again offered a massive prediction for Bitcoin (BTC), stating during a keynote speech at Token2049 in Dubai that the benchmark cryptocurrency could skyrocket to $1 million by 2028.

The Maelstrom CIO, known for his sharp market insights, told investors that this could be the time to “go long on everything.”

Hayes’ bullish prediction for BTC comes as the top coin’s price hovers near $95k, with buyers eyeing a march to $100k and potentially a new all-time high.

Notably, Bitcoin’s price has swung wildly in recent months amid tariffs uncertainty and broader risk-off sentiment.

What! Bitcoin to $1 million?

Bitcoin reached highs of $109k and analysts predict a run to $150k-$250k by end of 2025.

Above this, bulls, including Michael Saylor, see Bitcoin price going vertical to $1 million and beyond.

In his speech, which largely mirrored his perspectives on expected macroeconomic shifts, Hayes looked at the current global markets and US. fiscal policies.

According to him, the market is set for a flood of liquidity, and with it, Bitcoin’s parabolic surge to new heights.

Hayes grounds his analysis on the monetary policy, with comparisons to the outlook in the third quarter of 2022.

While the implosion of crypto exchange FTX later accelerated the bear market, investor sentiment was largely on the floor amid rate hike fears.

The US government’s pumping of $2.5 trillion into the system via its repo program in that year is a blueprint for what’s likely to come.

The BitMEX co-founder recently highlighted the US Treasury’s Quarterly Refunding Announcement for further context.

Higher borrowing estimates and a lower Treasury General Account (TGA) target, are factors that signal a potential short term flip for Bitcoin.

While tariffs could pose volatility risks, Hayes massive buying of Treasuries is what could boost liquidity indirectly, paving the way for Bitcoin’s ascent to $1 million by 2028.

Recently, Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest shared a $1 million price target for BTC by 2030.

Meanwhile, analysts at CryptoQuant are pointing to Bitcoin hitting new all-time highs in terms of realized capitalization.

Per the analysts, this metric hitting new ATHs has often preceded massive price gains for BTC.

On-chain data shows whales have been aggressive in the past fortnight.

Per crypto analyst Ali Martinez, whales bullish on BTC have accumulated more than 43,100 BTC in the past two weeks. The total value of the accumulated assets stood at nearly $4 billion.

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SEC delays decision on Franklin Templeton’s spot XRP ETF

  • The US SEC has delayed its decision to approve or disapprove Franklin Templeton’s application for a spot XRP ETF.
  • SEC has extended the period of review for the XRP ETF to June 17, 2025.
  • ETF expert James Seyffart says most of the final verdicts for most ETF proposals are made in October or later.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has postponed its decision on Franklin Templeton’s proposed spot XRP exchange-traded fund.

SEC’s announcement on April 29, 2025, states that the regulator will now have until June 17, 2025.

This is the date by which it will have to make a decision on whether to approve or reject the XRP spot ETF.

A fresh delay allows the agency more time to evaluate the Franklin Templeton proposal.

SEC postpones decision on Franklin Templeton’s XRP ETF

According to the SEC’s filing, the agency requires a longer period to assess Franklin Templeton’s application, which was initially filed on March 19, 2025.

The proposal aims to list and trade shares of the Franklin XRP Fund under NYSE Arca Rule 8.201-E.

SEC noted that the extended review period, now set at 45 days, may be further prolonged up to 240 days from the initial publication in the Federal Register, potentially delaying a final decision until mid-October 2025.

Per the SEC’s filing, the delay is within the law and offers it time to thoroughly examine the proposed rule change and its alignment with self-regulatory organization requirements.

Not entirely new, the move aligns with a pattern of cautious deliberation the SEC has adopted regarding crypto-related financial products, having taken years to approve spot Bitcoin ETFs and Ether spot ETFs.

ETF analyst on what’s next?

Despite delays, investor demand for such crypto ETFs continues to surge.

Over the past few months, issuers have filed over 70 proposals seeking a green light to list exchange-traded funds on top altcoins. XRP, Solana, Litecoin, Hedera, and Dogecoin are among the most highly anticipated.

Commenting on the delay, Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart said he expects more of these SEC delays this week and in the coming days.

Notably, the regulator has also deferred its rulings on Ethereum staking and Dogecoin ETFs.

Seyffart anticipates that final deadlines for most of the ETF filings will be in October 2025 or later.

“I am expecting more delays today or at least this week on some Solana and Hedera/HBAR ETF filings. This is expected IMO. Final deadlines for most of this stuff is in October 2025 or later,” Seyffart noted.

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Sonic (S) price prediction: Can native USDC launch on May 6 ignite a breakout?

  • Sonic is set to upgrade to native USDC and integrate with CCTP V2 for better liquidity and experience.
  • Sonic (S) price, currently at $0.5226, may hit $1.03 or fall to $0.3596 after the upgrade.
  • A successful transition could spark increased adoption and liquidity, potentially pushing the S price higher.

Sonic (S), the native token of the Sonic blockchain, has been trading in a tight range for the past 48 days, with investors eagerly awaiting the upcoming transition from bridged USDC to native USDC.

This transition, scheduled to begin on May 6, 2025, is expected to bring significant changes to the Sonic ecosystem, potentially impacting the price of Sonic (S).

As the market remains in a state of anticipation, understanding the implications of this transition and the current technical setup is crucial for predicting the future price movement of Sonic (S).

The upcoming bridged USDC to native USDC transition on Sonic

Bridged USDC, known as USDC.e, is a version of the widely used stablecoin USDC that has been bridged from another blockchain to the Sonic network.

This bridged form has been functional but carries limitations like potential liquidity fragmentation and dependency on third-party bridging mechanisms.

The shift to native USDC, issued directly by Circle on the Sonic blockchain, is designed to overcome these challenges and streamline operations.

Native USDC is fully regulated, backed by reserves, and redeemable on a 1:1 basis for US dollars, offering a robust and trustworthy stablecoin option.

It also introduces institutional on/off-ramps via Circle Mint, enabling eligible businesses to seamlessly engage with the Sonic ecosystem.

The integration with CCTP V2 further enhances this upgrade by facilitating fast, secure, and efficient cross-chain USDC transfers across supported blockchains.

Scheduled to start on May 6, 2025, the transition will pause bridging activity on the Sonic Gateway between Ethereum and Sonic for about a week.

During this time, Circle will assume ownership of the bridged USDC contract, enabling the switch to native USDC without requiring user intervention.

Once completed, native USDC will be fully operational, promising improved liquidity and a better user experience across the Sonic network.

Sonic (S) price forecast

Sonic (S) has been locked in a consolidation phase for the past 48 days, encountering resistance at key technical levels such as the VWAP SR, 0.618 Fibonacci level, and the value area high.

Trading volume has remained consistently low, reflecting a lack of strong momentum or conviction among market participants.

The current price of $0.5226 sits near the midpoint of this range, making it a pivotal level for determining the next move.

A successful transition to native USDC could spark increased adoption and liquidity, potentially pushing the price above the established resistance zone.

Historically, such upgrades to native stablecoins have bolstered blockchain ecosystems by attracting more users and developers, though price impacts depend on broader market dynamics.

Conversely, any setbacks or delays in the transition could erode investor confidence, risking a drop below the midpoint toward lower support levels.

Volume will play a critical role in signalling the direction of any breakout, with a surge alongside a move above resistance suggesting a bullish trend.

Should this scenario unfold, Sonic (S) could aim for its previous all-time high of $1.03, offering a potential 97% gain from its current price.

On the flip side, a breakdown below the range, especially with heightened volume, might see the price retest its all-time low of $0.3596, a decline of roughly 31%.

Investors should keep a close eye on volume and price behaviour around these key levels as the USDC transition unfolds to assess the market’s response.

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Nasdaq files to list 21Shares’ Dogecoin ETF

  • Asset manager 21Shares has submitted a proposal to list a spot Dogecoin exchange-traded fund (ETF).
  • Other firms, including Grayscale, Bitwise, and REX Shares, have also submitted applications for similar Dogecoin ETFs.
  • The SEC is currently said to be reviewing over 70 crypto ETF applications,

Asset manager 21Shares has submitted a proposal to list a spot Dogecoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), marking the latest in a series of filings aimed at bringing crypto-related investment products to the mainstream.

The Nasdaq Stock Market filed the necessary 19b-4 document on Tuesday, a required step in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) ETF approval process.

The 19b-4 filing follows 21Shares’ initial S-1 registration submitted on April 9.

In the earlier filing, the firm disclosed an exclusive partnership with the House of Doge to create funds backed by the Dogecoin Foundation.

Once the SEC acknowledges the 19b-4, it will be published in the Federal Register, beginning the formal review period.

Other firms, including Grayscale, Bitwise, and REX Shares, have also submitted applications for similar Dogecoin ETFs.

The filings come as the SEC signals a departure from its previous approach to digital assets.

Leadership change at the SEC

The regulatory shift follows the appointment of Paul Atkins as SEC Chairman on April 21.

Nominated by President Donald Trump, Atkins has taken a critical view of the agency’s prior policies under the Biden administration and former Chairman Gary Gensler.

“Innovation, unfortunately, has been stifled for the last several years due to market and regulatory uncertainty that unfortunately the SEC has fostered,” Atkins said last week.

Atkins’ confirmation, following a contentious Senate vote, is expected to accelerate decisions on a growing number of crypto-related proposals.

Acting Chair Mark Uyeda had previously delayed major rulings, and insiders attribute this to the lack of permanent leadership.

Crypto ETF backlog grows

The SEC is currently said to be reviewing over 70 crypto ETF applications, including products tied to major altcoins such as XRP, Solana, and Litecoin, as well as meme-themed and leveraged offerings.

Analyst Eric Balchunas called the ETF queue “wild,” noting the inclusion of everything from “Penguins, Doge, and 2x Melania.”

Bloomberg analysts in February estimated the highest probability of approval for Litecoin ETFs at 90%, followed by Dogecoin at 75%.

This recent push follows the agency’s approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024 and spot Ethereum ETFs in July, both of which were seen as watershed moments for the crypto investment landscape.

As of the time of writing on Tuesday, the price of Dogecoin was up 0.4% to $0.1789.

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