When Michael Selig stepped into the role of CFTC chair late last year, the crypto industry was already expecting a change in tone. This week, it got confirmation.

 

On January 20, Selig announced the launch of the CFTC’s new “Future-Proof” initiative, a program designed to rethink how U.S. markets regulate crypto, digital assets, and other fast-moving financial technologies. The message was clear. The old approach is no longer enough.

 

Rather than relying on enforcement actions and retroactive interpretations of decades-old rules, the CFTC wants to build regulatory frameworks that actually reflect how these markets function today.

 

For an industry that has spent years navigating uncertainty, that alone is a notable shift.

 

A Chair With Deep Crypto Roots

Selig is not new to crypto regulation. Before taking the top job at the CFTC, he worked closely with digital asset policy at the SEC and spent time in private practice advising both traditional financial firms and crypto companies. He also previously clerked at the CFTC, giving him an unusually well-rounded view of how regulators and markets interact.

 

That background shows up in his public comments. Since taking office, Selig has repeatedly emphasized predictability, clarity, and rules that market participants can actually follow without guessing how an agency might interpret them years later.

 

The Future-Proof initiative is the clearest expression of that philosophy so far.

 

What “Future-Proof” Really Means

At its core, Future-Proof is about moving away from improvisation. The CFTC wants to stop forcing novel digital products into regulatory boxes built for traditional derivatives and commodities.

 

Instead, the agency plans to pursue purpose-built rules through formal notice-and-comment processes. That means more upfront guidance and fewer surprises delivered through enforcement actions.

 

Selig has described the goal as applying the minimum effective level of regulation. Enough oversight to protect markets and participants, but not so much that innovation is choked off before it has a chance to mature.

 

For crypto firms, that approach could offer something they have long asked for but rarely received, which is regulatory certainty.

 

Why the Industry Is Paying Attention

The timing matters. Crypto markets are more institutional than they were even a few years ago. Large asset managers, trading firms, and infrastructure providers want clearer rules before committing serious capital. Uncertainty around jurisdiction and compliance has been one of the biggest obstacles.

 

If the CFTC follows through, Future-Proof could help define how derivatives, spot markets, and emerging products like prediction markets are treated under U.S. law. That would make it easier for firms to build, invest, and operate without constantly second-guessing regulators.

 

At the same time, clarity cuts both ways. More defined rules could also raise the bar for compliance, especially for smaller startups and decentralized platforms that have operated in legal gray zones.

 

 

Tennessee Attempts to Block Prediction Markets

 

 

A Broader Political Shift

Selig’s initiative does not exist in isolation. It comes as lawmakers in Washington continue debating how to split crypto oversight between the CFTC and the SEC. Several proposed bills aim to draw clearer lines around digital commodities and spot market regulation, potentially expanding the CFTC’s role.

 

Future-Proof appears designed to fit neatly into that broader push. If Congress hands the agency more authority, the CFTC wants to be ready with frameworks that can scale.

 

Still, challenges remain. The commission currently lacks a full slate of confirmed commissioners, raising questions about how durable these policy shifts will be. Coordination with the SEC is another open issue, especially where token classifications blur the line between securities and commodities.

 

What Does The Future Hold?

For now, Future-Proof is more direction than destination. The real test will be how quickly the CFTC turns principles into actual rules, and whether those rules survive political change and legal scrutiny.

 

But the tone alone represents a meaningful break from the past. After years of regulation by enforcement and ambiguity, the agency is signaling that crypto markets are not a temporary problem to be contained, but a permanent part of the financial system that deserves thoughtful governance.

 

Whether that vision becomes reality will shape the next phase of U.S. crypto regulation, and potentially determine whether innovation stays onshore or continues looking elsewhere.

 

 

 

How Should Crypto Protocols Actually Return Value to Token Holders?

 

Crypto has never been great at answering a simple question: what do token holders actually get?

For a long time, the answer was basically “number go up.” You bought a token because you believed the protocol would matter someday, and if that happened, the token would be worth more. Sometimes much more. And you could sell those tokens to someone else who believed that same as you, just a bit later in the timeline. That was enough in a market driven by growth, hype, and reflexivity.

But, now the industry is older, and presumably more mature. DeFi protocols generate real revenue. Some of them generate a lot of it. And once real money starts flowing through systems, people start asking uncomfortable but reasonable questions. Who benefits from this? Where does the value go? And why should I hold the token instead of just trading it to the next guy?

There are answers that show up again and again: burns, buybacks, and dividend-style payouts.

Each one says something different about how a protocol thinks about ownership.

 

The Good Old Token Burn: Familiar, Clean, and a Little Hollow

Burning tokens is crypto’s comfort food. It is simple, emotionally satisfying, and easy to explain on social media. Fewer tokens, more scarcity, higher price. Well, in theory.

And to be fair, burns can work, especially in strong markets. They create a sense of discipline. They tell holders that supply is being managed, that inflation is not running wild.

But burns do not actually give anyone anything. No cash, no yield, no participation in revenue. You are still relying on the market to do the rest of the work.

That can be fine if demand is strong. It is much less convincing when demand is uncertain. Scarcity alone does not create value, it only amplifies it if something else is already there.

Burns feel like an answer from an earlier era of crypto, when optics mattered more than fundamentals.

 

Token Buybacks: More Serious, Still Indirect

Buybacks feel like crypto growing up and borrowing language from public markets.

Instead of destroying tokens automatically, protocols use revenue or treasury funds to buy their own tokens on the open market. The signal is clear: the protocol believes the token is undervalued and is willing to spend real money to prove it.

That matters. Buybacks introduce actual demand. They are less abstract than burns. They also force protocols to think more carefully about treasury management and sustainability.

But at the end of the day, buybacks still work through price. If the market reacts, holders benefit. If it does not, they do not. There is no guarantee, no direct transfer of value, no moment where a holder can say, “I received this because the protocol performed well.”

In traditional finance, buybacks are often paired with dividends. In crypto, they are usually positioned as the whole story. That gap is something worth paying attention to.

 

Dividends and Revenue Sharing: The Awkward but Honest Option

Dividend-style payouts in crypto tend to make people uncomfortable. They feel a bit too close to traditional finance. And the instinctive reaction is usually something like, aren’t we supposed to be reinventing all of this?

In some ways, yes. There are definitely parts of the financial system that deserve to be challenged or rebuilt entirely. But that does not automatically mean everything old is useless. Some mechanisms stuck around because they solved real problems. Dividends are one of those.

At its core, the idea is pretty simple. If a protocol makes money, some of that money goes back to the people holding the token. Maybe you have to stake. Maybe you have to lock tokens for a while. Maybe the payout changes over time. The specifics can vary, but the relationship is clear enough. When the protocol does well, holders benefit.

That alone changes the dynamic. You are no longer just holding a token and hoping it becomes more desirable later. You are actually participating in the economics of the thing you own.

It also forces a kind of honesty. If revenue drops, payouts drop. If the protocol grows, holders feel it directly. There is not much room to hide behind supply tweaks or clever treasury narratives.

The objections are predictable. Regulation. Complexity. Governance risk. And to be fair, those are not imaginary concerns. Once you start sharing revenue, it starts to look a lot like ownership, and ownership comes with responsibilities that crypto has historically tried to sidestep.

But pretending that reality does not exist does not really help. And once protocols manage capital and distribute value, they are already doing financial work, whether they want to admit it or not.

Dividends do not invent that reality. They just stop dancing around it.

 

This Is Really About Maturity

Burns, buybacks, and dividends are not just technical choices. They are statements about what a protocol wants to be.

Burns prioritize simplicity and narrative. Buybacks prioritize signaling and market mechanics. Dividends prioritize alignment and accountability.

None of them are universally right or wrong. Early-stage protocols probably should not be paying out revenue. Infrastructure layers may prefer reinvestment. Some tokens are governance tools first and economic assets second.

But as DeFi matures, it is becoming harder to justify tokens that never touch the value they help create.

At some point, holders stop asking how clever the tokenomics are and start asking a simpler question: what do I get if this works?

Crypto does not need to become traditional finance. But it probably does need to answer that question more directly. Whether that leads to dividends, something like them, or an entirely new model is still open.

 

But what is beginning to feel increasingly outdated is pretending that question does not matter.

 

Stay Connected

You can stay up to date on all News, Events, and Marketing of Rare Network, including Rare Evo: America’s Premier Blockchain Conference, happening  July 28th-31st, 2026 at The ARIA Resort & Casino, by following our socials on X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Coinbase has sued Connecticut, Michigan, and Illinois today, but it does not look like a typical regulatory skirmish. On the surface, it was about a few cease-and-desist orders targeting prediction market contracts. In practice, it put a much bigger question on the table. What exactly are prediction markets supposed to be?

Are they casinos in disguise, digital poker rooms with better UX, or a new kind of financial market that belongs under federal oversight?

The answer matters, because the wrong classification could freeze a fast-growing corner of finance in legal limbo.

 

Why Coinbase Is Taking States to Court

The states argue that Coinbase’s prediction markets amount to illegal gambling. Users put money down on outcomes. Some win, some lose. No state gambling license, no approval.

Coinbase sees it very differently. These contracts, the company argues, are event-based derivatives. They look like futures, trade like futures, and are already subject to federal commodities law. The Chief Legal Officer for Coinbase, Paul Grewal, stated in an X post on Friday that the company filed the lawsuits to "confirm what is clear" and that prediction market should fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

If states are allowed to regulate these markets anyway, the logic goes, national liquidity disappears. A market that works in one state but not another stops being a market at all. But, there are comparisons to existing gambling laws and we broke those down for you.

 

The Casino Comparison Only Goes So Far

State regulators tend to reach for the casino analogy first, and it is easy to see why. There is money at risk. Outcomes are uncertain. The optics are not subtle.

But structurally, prediction markets do not behave like casinos. Casinos set the odds. The house always wins over time. The product is entertainment.

Prediction markets do not work that way. Prices are set by participants. New information moves markets. There is no built-in house edge. The value comes from aggregating beliefs into a number that says something useful about the future.

Calling that gambling because it involves money is a shortcut, and not a very precise one.

 

Poker Explains the Skill Argument, and Its Limits

Poker is the comparison that usually comes next. Courts have spent years debating whether poker is mostly luck or mostly skill. Many have concluded that skill dominates over time, even if chance plays a role in the short run.

Yet poker is still regulated as gambling in most places. Not because it lacks skill, but because the law never quite figured out where else to put it.

That history matters. It shows how activities that clearly reward information and decision-making can still end up trapped in gaming frameworks that were built for something else entirely.

Prediction markets risk repeating that mistake. Like poker, they reward skill. Unlike poker, they are not games. They are continuous markets with prices, liquidity, and arbitrage. Treating them like a card room because money changes hands misses the point.

 

Why Prediction Markets Look Like Futures Markets

If you strip away the cultural baggage, prediction markets start to look familiar. They are standardized contracts tied to future outcomes. Prices reflect probability. Traders respond to data.

That is the same basic logic behind futures contracts tied to interest rates, inflation, or commodities. Those markets involve speculation, risk, and uncertainty too. They are regulated, but they are not treated as gambling.

This is where Coinbase’s argument lands. Congress already created a regulator for markets like this. The CFTC exists to oversee contracts that trade future outcomes, including event-based ones. The fact that an outcome is an election or a policy decision does not change the structure of the market.

 

What Changes If Coinbase Wins

If Coinbase wins, the impact goes well beyond these three states.

First, jurisdiction becomes clearer. States would no longer be able to regulate federally governed prediction markets simply by labeling them gambling. That alone would remove one of the biggest sources of uncertainty hanging over the industry.

Second, the casino argument loses legal weight. Courts would be acknowledging that uncertainty plus money does not automatically equal gambling, especially when prices are discovered through open trading rather than set by an operator.

Third, prediction markets would finally escape the poker problem. They would not sit in a gray zone where skill is recognized but regulation never quite fits. Instead, they would fall under a framework designed for markets, not games.

With that clarity, these markets could scale. Liquidity would deepen. Institutional participants could step in. Contracts tied to economic data, climate outcomes, and corporate milestones could expand without the constant risk of state-level shutdowns.

Over time, prediction markets could start to look less like a regulatory headache and more like infrastructure. Another tool, alongside surveys and models, for figuring out what the world might do next.

 

A Bigger Signal About Regulation

This case is not really about Coinbase. It is about whether U.S. regulation can adapt when finance starts to blur into something new, a question that has stifled digital asset growth for years.

Casinos deal in chance. Poker deals in skill inside a gaming framework. Futures markets deal in information. Prediction markets belong in the third category, even if they make people uncomfortable.

If courts agree, it would send a signal that regulation can still be about function rather than analogy. That is not a radical idea. It is how most financial markets came to exist in the first place. Prediction markets are here to stay. We've seen huge partnerships with major media news outlets and exchanges. The regulatory details need to be clearly defined for this emerging industry.

 

And if that happens, prediction markets may finally stop being debated as gambling, and start being treated as what they have been trying to become all along. Markets that trade in probabilities, under rules built for markets, not casinos.

 

Stay Connected

You can stay up to date on all News, Events, and Marketing of Rare Network, including Rare Evo: America’s Premier Blockchain Conference, happening  July 28th-31st, 2026 at The ARIA Resort & Casino, by following our socials on X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

The End of Quantitative Tightening Might Be Exactly What Crypto Needed

If you’ve been watching the crypto market lately, it has not felt great. Bitcoin dipping into the low 90s usually sparks panic, threads full of doom and plenty of “it’s over” takes. But this time, the headlines do not tell the full story. Something different is happening underneath the surface. Something that actually looks pretty promising.

A few major shifts are lining up at once, and together they point in one direction.
We might be closing out the long, grinding downtrend that has weighed on crypto for nearly two years.

The Federal Reserve formally ended quantitative tightening on Dec. 1, coinciding with the New York Fed conducting approximately $25 billion in morning repo operations and another $13.5 billion overnight, the largest injections that we've seen since 2020.

 

A Quiet Turning Point: Institutions Are Opening the Doors

For years, crypto’s biggest obstacle has not been technology or innovation. It has been access. Most big financial institutions treated crypto like a guest they did not want at the party.

That wall is finally cracking.

The clearest sign is Vanguard, managing roughly $9 trillion to $10 trillion in assets, opened its brokerage platform to third-party crypto ETFs and mutual funds tied to BTC, ETH, XRP, and SOL for the first time, creating immediate demand pressure.

This is a firm that has historically avoided anything remotely risky. They did not just ignore crypto; they actively rejected it. And now they are letting clients buy regulated crypto ETFs through the same accounts they use for retirement and index funds.

That is not a small change. When a company managing trillions finally decides that crypto belongs on the menu, it means something fundamental has shifted.

Even if only a small percentage of Vanguard’s clients add exposure, it creates a slow, steady flow of long term capital. That type of investor does not FOMO in or panic out. They allocate, rebalance and hold. That is the kind of capital that helps stabilize a market.

 

Crypto Moves on Liquidity, Not Hype

You can talk narratives all day, and crypto certainly loves its narratives. But the thing that consistently moves this market more than anything else is global liquidity.

And for the first time in a long while, liquidity is starting to return. The era of aggressive tightening looks like it is ending. If central banks start easing, capital gets cheaper, markets loosen up and investors take on more risk. Crypto usually reacts quickly.

The money supply had been shrinking for months. Now those indicators are stabilizing and, in some cases, ticking upward.

Look back at previous bull runs. They did not start because of tweets or new coins. They all aligned with periods of easier monetary policy.

We are entering one of those periods again.

 

ETFs Are Changing How Money Enters the Market

One of the underrated shifts happening right now is how investors access crypto.

Before ETFs, getting into Bitcoin or Ethereum meant dealing with exchanges, wallets, seed phrases and a bunch of complexity that ordinary investors simply did not want.

Now it is as simple as buying an index fund. ETFs are often part of automated portfolios. When crypto drops, the system buys more to rebalance. When it rises too fast, it trims. That smooths out volatility.

Investors trust the platforms they already use. If crypto is right there next to S&P 500 funds, the hesitation disappears. Those regulated products bring in the kind of capital that sticks around. Not tourists. Not gamblers. Long term investors.

This shift alone could reshape how crypto behaves during both rallies and corrections.

 

Why the End of Quantitative Tightening Is the Real Catalyst

The last couple of years have been rough for risk assets across the board. Higher rates, reduced liquidity and tighter financial conditions made it hard for anything speculative to breathe. Crypto got hit hardest.

Now that cycle is ending.

When quantitative tightening slows, liquidity flows back into the system. Banks lend more. Investors take more risk. Capital moves faster. Crypto is one of the first beneficiaries because it lives so far out on the risk curve.

Put simply, crypto does not need a hype cycle to turn around. It needs liquidity.

And liquidity is finally returning.

 

This Market Might Be Underestimating What Comes Next

People are tired. They are skeptical. And that is usually when markets quietly shift direction.

Think about the setup right now:

• Institutions are entering.

• ETFs are creating new pipelines.

• Liquidity is stabilizing.

• Rate cuts look increasingly likely.

• Crypto is oversold and structurally stronger than it was in past cycles.

This is the kind of macro environment where bottoms form, often long before sentiment catches up.

 

The Foundation for the Next Run Is Taking Shape

Downtrends do not end on good news. They end when conditions change behind the scenes while everyone is too focused on the price chart.

That is what seems to be happening now.

The end of quantitative tightening is not just another headline. It is the kind of shift that has historically marked the beginning of major reversals in risk assets. And with crypto gaining easier access, stronger infrastructure and broader institutional acceptance, this could be the setup for something bigger than most people expect.

 

Crypto might not just recover.
It may be preparing for a stronger, more mature cycle than anything we have seen before.

Vanguard Finally Opens the Door to Crypto ETFs

 

For years, Vanguard was the holdout. While BlackRock, Fidelity and nearly every major brokerage warmed up to Bitcoin and other digital assets, Vanguard kept the door shut. The message was always the same. Crypto is too volatile, too speculative and not aligned with the firm’s long term investment philosophy.

But that chapter is officially over.
Vanguard has reversed course and will now allow its clients to buy regulated crypto exchange traded funds. Considering the firm manages nearly 11 trillion dollars for about 50 million people, this is not a small policy change. This is one of the biggest signals yet that crypto has crossed into the financial mainstream.

And honestly, it is about time.

 

Why This Decision Matters So Much And What It Means For The Market

Let’s make this simple. When a financial giant the size of Vanguard changes its mind, everyone else pays attention. Before this shift, millions of Vanguard clients who wanted crypto exposure had to open accounts elsewhere. Now they can invest in Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana and other major assets directly through the platform they already use for retirement accounts, tax advantaged portfolios and long term investing.

That convenience alone is enough to drive new inflows.

For years, Vanguard executives wrote off crypto as noise. They did not want to offer products that they viewed as speculative. Investors disagreed. Crypto ETFs brought regulatory clarity, and retail demand never really disappeared. Eventually, the disconnect became too large to ignore.

The firm is not rushing into anything, but it is acknowledging reality. Crypto is not going away.

 

Andrew Kadjeski, head of brokerage and investments at Vanguard, reportedly said:

“Cryptocurrency ETFs and mutual funds have been tested through periods of market volatility, performing as designed while maintaining liquidity. The administrative processes to service these types of funds have matured, and investor preferences continue to evolve.”

 

Once the most conservative player in the room changes its tune, excuses start to disappear. If Vanguard believes regulated crypto ETFs are fit for millions of retirement portfolios, it becomes harder for other institutions to argue otherwise.

This could spark a wave of copycat decisions across the finance industry.What makes Vanguard’s move important is not how fast new money will flow in, but how stable that money tends to be. Vanguard’s capital is not like hedge fund cash that races in and out of positions. It is not like retail trading either, where sentiment can change overnight. Vanguard clients invest steadily, hold for years and rarely chase price swings. That kind of capital is long term and sticky.

Take a simple example. If an investor uses a “60, 40, 1” portfolio split across stocks, bonds and crypto, the system automatically keeps those weights balanced. If Bitcoin or Solana drops, the portfolio buys more to restore the target 1 percent allocation. If crypto rises too quickly, it trims the position back down. Even that small allocation, repeated across millions of accounts, can have real impact. When a firm with trillions under management opens a new asset class to its clients, it is not a niche development. It creates a steady, predictable pipeline of investment.

 

And whether the crypto community likes it or not, mainstream validation matters. For many everyday investors, seeing Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs listed next to S&P 500 index funds or bond ETFs instantly reframes how they think about digital assets. Buying crypto through a familiar brokerage account removes friction. It removes fear. It lets people treat crypto like any other part of their long term portfolio. For many, a regulated ETF inside a retirement account is the safest and simplest way to get exposure. Vanguard recognizing this is a meaningful signal.

 

What Vanguard Is Actually Allowing

It is worth being clear. Vanguard is not becoming a crypto company overnight.

• It will not launch its own crypto funds.

• It will only list approved, regulated ETFs from other issuers.

• It will not support speculative or meme based assets.

This is a cautious step, but it is still a big one. The firm has gone from “crypto is not welcome here” to “crypto is allowed if it is regulated, structured and aligned with long term investing.”

 

What Could Hold Things Back

Crypto still carries real risk. Prices remain volatile. Regulations are evolving. Not every Vanguard customer will jump into digital assets, and that is perfectly fine. This move is about access, not pressure.

There is also the chance that Vanguard may expand slowly. It will likely start with a small list of ETFs and add more only after seeing how clients respond.

But the important part is that the door is open. Even a cautious opening is still an opening.

 

This Is a Turning Point

The truth is simple. Vanguard was one of the last major hurdles between crypto and true mainstream adoption. Now that barrier is gone.

This does not guarantee a bull market. It does not promise returns. But it does mark a new stage. Crypto now sits alongside traditional assets inside one of the most respected financial institutions in the world.

People who would never consider setting up a crypto exchange account can now invest in digital assets the same way they invest in index funds or bonds.

That is how real adoption grows. That is how new capital enters. And that is how crypto becomes part of normal investing instead of something people talk about from the sidelines.

 

Vanguard did not just allow crypto ETFs.
It helped legitimize the entire space.

 

Stay Connected

You can stay up to date on all News, Events, and Marketing of Rare Network, including Rare Evo: America’s Premier Blockchain Conference, happening  July 28th-31st, 2026 at The ARIA Resort & Casino, by following our socials on X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Kalshi and Polymarket Post Record Volume as Prediction Markets Hit Nearly $10 Billion in November

Prediction markets are entering their strongest era to date. In November 2025, Kalshi and Polymarket collectively recorded nearly 10 billion dollars in trading volume, marking the most active month in the history of the sector. This surge shows that prediction markets are no longer niche experiments. They are becoming influential financial instruments used by millions of traders, analysts and institutions.

The industry’s rapid expansion reflects growing interest in real world event trading, increased liquidity and a shift in how investors view information markets.

 

How Kalshi and Polymarket Reached New Heights

Institutional Investment and Regulatory Clarity

Kalshi has positioned itself as the regulated prediction exchange in the United States. With a green light from federal derivatives regulators, the platform attracted significant institutional investment. Its most recent funding round valued the company at approximately 11 billion dollars.

Polymarket, on the other hand, grew from the crypto native community. Its decentralized architecture and global accessibility attracted users drawn to event based markets that operate without borders. As Polymarket expanded, its volume accelerated sharply, particularly in 2024 and 2025.

Together, the two platforms now represent the core of the prediction market ecosystem. One operates with traditional oversight, and the other leverages blockchain transparency. Both models have succeeded by meeting rising demand for trading around news, sports, politics and global uncertainty.

Surge in Demand From Sports, Politics and Macroeconomics

The November boom appears to have been driven by significant events across sports and entertainment, along with heightened activity in political and macroeconomic markets. Major sporting events, international political developments and volatility in global markets created a perfect environment for event driven speculation.

Polymarket in particular saw sharp month over month growth, with more than 3 billion dollars traded in October followed by an even stronger November contribution. Kalshi also reported record numbers across political, sports and economic categories.

 

What This Means for the Future of Prediction Markets

Prediction Markets Are Becoming a Serious Asset Class

A combined 10 billion dollars in monthly trading volume places prediction markets in the realm of legitimate financial instruments. This surge demonstrates that traders are increasingly comfortable speculating on real world outcomes using structured markets rather than informal sentiment or traditional betting platforms.

Liquidity and Market Depth Are Strengthening

As more capital enters the ecosystem, liquidity improves and spreads tighten. Higher liquidity reduces volatility and improves price accuracy, allowing events to reflect true market expectations. This makes prediction markets more reliable indicators of sentiment around elections, economic reports, policy shifts and high profile entertainment events.

Traditional Finance Meets Crypto Native Innovation

Kalshi and Polymarket represent two very different models. Kalshi is regulated, compliant and geared toward traditional market participants. Polymarket is decentralized, global and capable of listing a wide variety of markets. The success of both platforms shows that prediction markets can appeal to different audiences and regulatory frameworks while still growing in parallel.

New Hedging and Speculation Tools

Prediction markets enable traders to hedge against real world uncertainty. Instead of relying solely on equities, commodities or forex markets, users can now hedge or speculate directly on election outcomes, interest rate decisions, policy changes or cultural events. This is a fundamental expansion of what financial markets can price.

 

Challenges That Still Remain

Prediction markets face headwinds even as they achieve record volume.

• Regulatory uncertainty. Some jurisdictions classify certain event markets as gambling, while others treat them as derivatives.

• Concentration of liquidity. Large events dominate attention, leaving smaller markets with limited participation.

• Volatility around major events. Binary markets can swing sharply as news breaks, creating risk for traders and market makers.

• Infrastructure demands. Platforms must scale securely to handle institutional interest and larger volumes.

How Kalshi, Polymarket and future competitors handle these challenges will help determine whether prediction markets can sustain long term growth.

 

Final Thoughts

The combined 10 billion dollar surge in November volume from Kalshi and Polymarket signals a major shift in the financial landscape. Prediction markets are becoming mainstream. They are attracting serious capital, gaining institutional legitimacy and proving that people want tools that let them trade on real world information.

Whether it is politics, macroeconomics, sports or cultural events, prediction markets offer a new expression of financial participation. If growth continues, they may soon become a standard part of global finance, sitting alongside equities, futures, options and digital assets.

 

This moment marks the transition from niche concept to powerful market infrastructure. The prediction market revolution is now fully underway.

 

Stay Connected

You can stay up to date on all News, Events, and Marketing of Rare Network, including Rare Evo: America’s Premier Blockchain Conference, happening  July 28th-31st, 2026 at The ARIA Resort & Casino, by following our socials on X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Why Tom Lee Is Betting Big on Ethereum, and Why He Thinks the Best Is Still Ahead

When Tom Lee makes a bold call, people pay attention. He has built a reputation for spotting major market trends early, and now he is putting that conviction behind Ethereum in a very real way. His firm, BitMine Immersion Technologies, just picked up another 97,000 ETH, increasing its total holdings to 3.73 million tokens, worth about $10.5 Billion at latest prices. That is not a casual trade. It is a signal that Lee believes Ethereum is on the edge of something much bigger.

Instead of waiting for a hype cycle or chasing a rally, Lee is buying during a quieter period in the market. And based on his recent comments, there is a clear reason why. He sees a combination of catalysts lined up at the same time, and he believes they give Ethereum one of the strongest setups of any major asset heading into 2026.

 

BitMine’s ETH Strategy Is Not a Short Term Play

Lee has been gradually stacking ETH throughout the year, and the latest acquisition is simply the biggest chapter in that story. Multiple large purchases over several months paint a clear picture. This is not a speculative gamble or a quick swing trade. BitMine is positioning Ethereum as a long term strategic asset on its balance sheet.

It is the kind of move you normally see from companies preparing for a shift in market conditions, or from firms that believe a key technology is about to break out. In this case, Lee seems to believe both are true.

 

What Is Driving Tom Lee’s Confidence

Ethereum Looks More Like Financial Infrastructure Than a Crypto Coin

One point Lee keeps returning to is the idea that Ethereum is becoming the backbone of digital finance. Between stablecoins, DeFi platforms, real world asset tokenization and on chain identity systems, Ethereum has become much more than a place to speculate.

Lee’s view is simple. If financial markets continue moving toward tokenization, Ethereum stands to benefit more than almost any other chain. It has the developers, the users and the network effects that make growth not just possible, but likely.

The Macro Environment Could Create Fuel

Another major part of his thesis is tied to the Federal Reserve. Lee thinks the Fed may start cutting interest rates in the coming year. If that happens, liquidity usually returns to risk assets, and crypto tends to be one of the biggest beneficiaries.

In past easing cycles, assets with high growth potential often outperformed. Lee sees ETH in that category today, especially with everything happening on chain.

The Fusaka Upgrade Could Kick Off a New Phase

Ethereum’s next upgrade, called Fusaka, is coming soon. Lee views it as a serious quality of life improvement for the entire network. Cheaper data availability, more efficient rollups and improved scalability have the potential to bring even more activity into the ecosystem.

If applications become cheaper and faster to run, it opens the door for new waves of DeFi tools, enterprise systems and consumer apps. That kind of expansion is exactly the type of catalyst Lee likes to position around before the crowd catches on.

 

Why This Institutional Move Matters

Institutional buying during sideways markets has a different energy than buying during bull runs. It comes from research, planning and long horizon thinking, not excitement or fear of missing out.

Lee is not buying ETH on a whim. He is building what looks like a strategic treasury position, much like companies that accumulate energy reserves, metals or other foundational commodities. When firms treat ETH as infrastructure instead of speculation, it sends a message. It suggests they believe Ethereum is becoming a permanent part of the financial landscape.

And when a well known market voice makes a move like this, it often encourages others to re-evaluate their assumptions.

 

Of Course, There Are Still Risks

Lee is bullish, but he is not blind. He has acknowledged several things that could slow Ethereum down.

• The economy could stay tight if inflation refuses to cool

• Technical delays could undermine upgrades

• Regulation could shift unexpectedly

• Competing blockchains are not standing still

None of these risks are trivial. But Lee’s argument is that Ethereum has enough traction, developers and real world use cases to keep moving forward regardless.

 

Final Thoughts

Tom Lee’s purchase of 97,000 ETH is more than a headline. It is a statement. He believes Ethereum is undervalued, underappreciated and on the verge of a major turning point. Between the Fusaka upgrade, the potential for a friendlier macro environment and Ethereum’s expanding role in tokenized finance, his case is not hard to understand.

You do not accumulate this much ETH unless you think the future is brighter than the present. And Lee clearly does.

 

If he is right, Ethereum could be gearing up for one of its strongest chapters ever.

 

Stay Connected

You can stay up to date on all News, Events, and Marketing of Rare Network, including Rare Evo: America’s Premier Blockchain Conference, happening  July 28th-31st, 2026 at The ARIA Resort & Casino, by following our socials on X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

BlackRock Says Bitcoin ETFs Are Now Its Top Revenue Source, Marking a Major Shift in Institutional Finance

BlackRock, the largest asset manager in the world, has confirmed that its Bitcoin exchange traded funds have become its single most profitable product line. The company’s U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF, the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), along with related crypto investment offerings, now generate more annual revenue than any other BlackRock ETF category. This development signals a powerful shift in how traditional finance views crypto assets. Bitcoin is no longer at the fringe of the investment landscape. It is becoming a core part of institutional portfolios.

 

The Rapid Rise of IBIT

BlackRock launched IBIT in early 2024. In less than two years the fund surged to tens of billions of dollars in assets under management. IBIT’s fee revenue now rivals, and in many cases exceeds, long established equity and index funds that were once the backbone of BlackRock’s ETF business.

The growth was faster than almost any ETF in history. Internal reports also show that BlackRock’s own multi asset portfolios have increased their IBIT exposure over the past year, signaling strong conviction from the firm’s internal investment teams.

The message is clear. Bitcoin is not only an asset class investors want. It is an asset class that produces serious fee revenue for traditional institutions.

 

Why This Matters for Global Finance

1. Bitcoin Has Moved From Speculation to Foundation

The overwhelming demand for Bitcoin exposure through regulated ETFs shows that the asset has crossed a threshold. For years it was considered too volatile or too risky for institutions. Now the largest asset manager on the planet is stating publicly that Bitcoin has become its most profitable ETF category. That represents a structural change.

This shift encourages pension funds, endowments and corporate treasuries to consider Bitcoin exposure through safe, regulated channels. It legitimizes the asset in ways no amount of marketing or evangelism could ever achieve.

2. Fee Revenue Validates Long Term Sustainability

For institutions, large inflows are only part of the story. Sustainable, recurring fee revenue is the real prize. Bitcoin ETFs are proving they can deliver consistent income to managers, something that reinforces long term commitment to the product line. This encourages competitors to join the market and expands access for investors.

3. Liquidity and Market Maturity Improve

When institutional inflows grow, liquidity becomes deeper and more stable. Bitcoin has historically suffered from sharp market swings amplified by retail activity. With more participation from institutional ETFs, price discovery becomes smoother and more efficient. This maturation attracts even more institutional participants.

4. Crypto Native Firms Face Pressure to Evolve

As traditional finance embraces Bitcoin through regulated ETFs, crypto native platforms that previously benefited from being the main entry point into the ecosystem now face increased competition. Investors may favor regulated products, compelling exchanges and custodians to improve compliance, transparency and user protections.

 

Risks and Challenges Still Linger

Despite the momentum, several risks remain.

• ETF inflows are sensitive to macroeconomic conditions. Periods of volatility can trigger outflows even for successful funds.

• Regulatory changes remain a constant factor. Any shift in U.S. or international policy could affect accessibility and demand.

• Concentration risk is increasing. If too much institutional capital is routed through a handful of ETFs, any operational issue could create market wide instability.

• The infrastructure powering these funds, from custody to auditing, is still relatively new compared to traditional financial systems.

The crypto markets may be maturing, but they are not yet fully stable.

 

What Comes Next

Given the trajectory, several outcomes appear increasingly likely:

• More asset managers will expand their crypto ETF offerings to capture demand.

• Bitcoin ETFs may find their way into pension fund models, sovereign wealth funds, and insurance allocation strategies.

• New hybrid funds could emerge, combining Bitcoin with equities, commodities and fixed income into a diversified multi asset product.

• As custodial technology matures, institutions will grow even more comfortable allocating large amounts of capital.

• Regulatory clarity in major markets will continue to strengthen, reducing uncertainty and encouraging broader adoption.

In other words, Bitcoin is rapidly becoming intertwined with mainstream finance rather than existing apart from it.

 

Final Thoughts

BlackRock’s confirmation that Bitcoin ETFs are now its top revenue source represents a profound moment in financial history. For the first time a major global asset manager is not only offering Bitcoin exposure but generating more revenue from it than from any other ETF product. This is a powerful endorsement of Bitcoin’s staying power, its commercial viability and its growing role in global markets.

Skeptics who once dismissed Bitcoin as a passing trend may now find themselves reassessing their position. Institutions thrive on scale, predictability and revenue. Bitcoin ETFs are now providing all three.

 

This milestone signals that the era of institutional Bitcoin is not approaching. It is already here.

Franklin Templeton Debuts XRPZ ETF, Signaling a Major Shift for XRP and Institutional Crypto

Franklin Templeton has officially launched its spot XRP exchange-traded fund, the XRPZ, marking a watershed moment for the tokenized asset ecosystem. The debut of this ETF puts XRP in the spotlight as institutional capital flows begin to align with altcoins beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.

With the backing of a $1.5 trillion asset manager, the XRPZ ETF offers regulated exposure to XRP via familiar equity channels, dramatically reducing operational, custody and regulatory friction for large allocators. It is a major validation of XRP’s role in what is evolving from retail crypto trading to long-term institutional infrastructure.

 

What the XRPZ ETF Involves

The IRA filings, S-1 amendments and DTCC listings confirm that Franklin Templeton is serious about launching the ETF under the ticker XRPZ. Among the structural details:

• The fund is designed to hold XRP tokens as its primary asset, tracking the spot price of XRP rather than derivatives exposure.

• Franklin used a shortened “8(a)” clause in its amended S-1 filing, enabling automatic effectiveness after 20 days unless the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission intervenes, mirroring strategies used for altcoin ETFs earlier in the year.

• The fund appeared on the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) database ahead of trading, an early signal that the operational infrastructure (fund registration, clearing, custody) is in place.

• The ETF carries a low management fee (notably 0.19 %) and in some reports the sponsor fee is waived for the first USD 5 billion in assets under management, enhancing appeal for large institutions.

• Analysts estimate that XRP spot ETFs, including XRPZ, could attract billions of dollars in inflows over the coming months, materially altering supply-demand dynamics for XRP.

The significance lies in the nature of the issuer. Franklin Templeton is a deeply established financier, trusted by pension funds, retirement plans and advisory networks. Its entry into XRP means the asset is now accessible through mainstream legacy finance rather than purely crypto-native channels.

 

Institutional Implications: Opening the Floodgates for XRP

1. Institutional On-Ramp

Large financial advisory firms, traditional asset managers and pension portfolios previously avoided exposure to altcoins due to custody, regulatory and operational challenges. With XRPZ, they can gain XRP exposure through a familiar wrapper, potentially unlocking large amounts of capital.

2. Shift in Narrative

XRP has long been viewed as a remittance or settlement token rather than a broad investment asset. The ETF elevates XRP into the asset allocation conversation. The narrative now becomes about yield, infrastructure, tokenized finance and institutional adoption.

3. Supply Pressure Relief

Spot ETFs create demand that pulls tokens off open markets and into long-term holders. As XRP becomes part of ETF-held assets, fewer tokens circulate, tightening supply. At the same time, inflows from new investors broaden the holder base beyond short-term traders.

4. Regulatory Maturation

The fact that prime asset managers are being approved to list spot XRP ETFs signals institutional-grade regulatory comfort with what was once considered controversial. This legitimacy is critical for large scale adoption and asset allocation.

 

Market & Price Impact: What to Watch

While the broader crypto market remains volatile, the launch of the XRPZ ETF offers several catalysts for XRP’s next phase:

• Analysts suggest that first-day volumes for XRP ETFs could approach or exceed $200 million, rivaling other major altcoin ETF launches earlier in 2025.

• XRP price behavior may respond to the ETF wave rather than purely market sentiment. Analysts now forecast higher endpoints for XRP, ranging USD 3.50 to USD 4.50 or more, if institutional flows continue.

• Supply metrics such as tokens on exchanges, large-wallet accumulation and daily active holders will become increasingly relevant. Any sustained reduction in exchange reserves supports upward pressure.

• The token unlock schedule for XRP and the ETF’s holdings will influence whether the move becomes a sustained trend or a short-term spike.

• ETF adoption is likely to materialize gradually, peppered through advisory firm allocations, retirement plan inclusions and wealth-management flows rather than a single instant tsunami.

 

Key Considerations and Possible Risks

Even with the positive outlook, several factors remain uncertain:

• Regulatory risk persists. Although the filing uses “automatic-effect” language, the ETF still depends on the SEC not blocking the listing within the timeframe.

• Market timing. If broader crypto sentiment remains weak, the ETF launch may be delayed, muted or overshadowed by macro factors.

• Supply-side pressure. If a large number of XRP tokens come off lock-ups or distributions coincide with the launch, price impact may be dampened.

• Competition. Other digital asset products and ETFs are launching across altcoins. XRP must deliver utility, not just access, to maintain momentum.

• Implementation risk. Even with an ETF wrapper, custody, audit, tracking and infrastructure must work faultlessly to satisfy institutional standards.

 

Why XRPZ Could Mark a Turning Point

Franklin Templeton has chosen a moment where regulatory, market and institutional conditions align. The ETF is not merely a product, it is a signal that crypto infrastructure is entering the mainstream. XRP’s upgrade from speculative token to a major asset allocation tool is underway.

For investors evaluating crypto beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum, XRP offers a new frontier. Its lineage in settlement, its emerging ETF access, and the institutional backing now assembling make it uniquely positioned. Provided adoption continues, the tailwinds may significantly favor XRP in 2026.

The debut of the XRPZ ETF by Franklin Templeton represents a milestone in the evolution of digital assets. It paves the way for institutional capital to flow into XRP via conventional investment vehicles and sets a precedent for other altcoins. The long-term outlook for XRP may now shift from speculative volatility toward infrastructure-driven growth.

 

If institutions commit, supply tightens and adoption accelerates, XRP could quietly become one of the most important digital assets in the next phase of blockchain evolution. Its moment has arrived—and the system is ready to scale.

 

Stay Connected

You can stay up to date on all News, Events, and Marketing of Rare Network, including Rare Evo: America’s Premier Blockchain Conference, happening  July 28th-31st, 2026 at The ARIA Resort & Casino, by following our socials on X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Coinbase and Morpho Team Up: Borrow Up to $1 Million Against ETH

Coinbase has launched a major upgrade to its crypto-lending services, enabling U.S. users (excluding New York residents) to borrow up to $1 million in USDC using their Ethereum as collateral. This capability is powered by Morpho Labs’ on-chain lending infrastructure, and it represents an important step toward mainstream access to decentralized finance (DeFi) via a trusted exchange.

The initiative ties together four critical trends: demand for liquidity without selling crypto, institutional-grade DeFi infrastructure, user-friendly platforms, and evolving regulatory comfort around crypto-backed loans.

 

How the Offering Works

• Borrowers pledge Etherum (ETH) which is converted into Coinbase Wrapped Ethereum (cbETH) on Base, Coinbase’s layer-2 blockchain. The cbETH is then deposited into a Morpho smart contract as collateral.

• In exchange, users receive USDC in their Coinbase account almost instantly. The loan product is integrated directly into the Coinbase mobile app, removing the user-experience friction common in traditional DeFi protocols.

• The maximum borrowing amount stands at $1 million USDC per user, depending on collateral value and eligibility.

• There are no fixed repayment schedules or deadlines—borrowers can repay any time. The key constraint is maintaining a healthy loan-to-value (LTV) ratio. If the outstanding loan amount including interest reaches approximately 86% of the collateral’s value, the position can be liquidated.

• Rates are variable and determined by the open lending market on Morpho, and as part of Coinbase’s interface the process is designed to feel familiar to users of mainstream financial apps.

---

Strategic Significance

Unlocking Liquidity Without Selling

A major advantage of this offering is that users retain exposure to their underlying crypto holdings while accessing cash liquidity. This can help avoid tax-triggering events that might come from selling crypto assets, while still unlocking value for things like down payments, major purchases, or diversifying other investments.

DeFi Infrastructure Meets Mainstream Exchange

Coinbase is leveraging Morpho’s protocol layer so that the decentralized lending infrastructure handles execution and risk, while Coinbase manages the user interface, onboarding, and regulatory overlay. This model blends DeFi innovation with the user experience and brand trust of a regulated exchange.

Regulatory Evolution and Risk Management

Crypto-backed loans have a checkered history, with industry failures in recent years (for example, centralized lenders filing for bankruptcy). This time, Coinbase and Morpho appear to be building with lessons learned: a trusted exchange interface, modern risk controls, transparent collateral mechanics, and clear liquidation thresholds. The exclusion of New York is a nod to continuing regulatory variations across jurisdictions but demonstrates broader U.S. availability.

 

What the Data and Context Reveal

• Morpho reports that its protocol supports billions in locked liquidity and has enabled institutions and exchanges to offer lending services in a modular, compliant way.

• One source places the collective crypto-backed loan market at over $1 billion already in a short period, driven by this Coinbase-Morpho product and similar initiatives.

• Earlier versions of Coinbase’s lending offering were closed suddenly amid regulatory issues, so this relaunch signals renewed confidence in design, oversight, and market timing.

• The Base blockchain integration gives the service lower cost, faster transactions and more seamless experience compared to older DeFi on-ramps, improving accessibility for mainstream users.

 

Risks and Considerations

• Volatility risk: If Ethereum’s price drops significantly, borrowers may face liquidation if the collateral value falls and the loan-to-value ratio breaches thresholds.

• Liquidity and contract risk: While Morpho is audited and established, smart contract protocols always carry some risk of bugs, hacks or operational failure.

• Regulatory change: Although the product is live, evolving regulation in the U.S. could alter lending terms, disclosure obligations or tax treatments tied to crypto-backed loans.

• Cost of borrowing: Rates are variable and market-driven; high demand or collateral stress could increase borrowing costs unexpectedly.

• User experience vs. risk exposure: The seamless interface may mask underlying complexity; users still need to monitor LTV, collateral status and market conditions.

 

Implications for Crypto and Finance

• The introduction of high-limit crypto-backed loans via a mainstream exchange opens the door for wealthy and institutional crypto holders to access large liquidity without asset sales, blurring lines between traditional finance and DeFi.

• This offering may accelerate use cases where holding crypto is strategic (for tax or value appreciation reasons) while accessing fiat liquidity for spending, investing or diversification.

• If this model succeeds, more exchanges may follow, and lending protocols may become core infrastructure rather than niche DeFi tools—potentially reshaping the financial profile of crypto markets.

 

Final Thoughts

Coinbase’s collaboration with Morpho to offer up to $1 million in USDC loans backed by Ethereum is more than a product launch. It is a signal that crypto infrastructure is maturing from experimental protocols to user-friendly, high-scale financial services.

For crypto holders, it offers a new pathway to liquidity without sacrificing exposure. For the broader market, it shows that DeFi protocols and mainstream exchanges can integrate to deliver real-world services.

The key will be execution, risk control, user adoption and regulatory acceptance. If all elements align, this could mark a pivotal moment where crypto-native finance moves into mainstream modes and the borrowing-against-assets model becomes widely accessible.

 

Stay tuned as this space evolves, products like this may become standard components in how we finance, borrow and invest in the crypto age.

 

Stay Connected

You can stay up to date on all News, Events, and Marketing of Rare Network, including Rare Evo: America’s Premier Blockchain Conference, happening  July 28th-31st, 2026 at The ARIA Resort & Casino, by following our socials on X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Ethereum’s Breakout Moment Is Here and BlackRock’s ETF Filing Proves It

While headlines fixate on short-term price swings, Ethereum may be at the cusp of its next major wave. At the center of this shift is BlackRock’s amended filing for its iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA), which proposes to bring institutional-grade staking and regulated access to ETH. This is not just a finance story—it’s a structural paradigm change for how Ethereum is invested and valued.

If approved, BlackRock’s ETF could act as a catalyst—unlocking massive new inflows, embedding ETH in mainstream portfolios, and turning institutional interest into tangible upside.

 

What BlackRock Filed and Why it’s Huge

BlackRock has submitted an amendment to the ETHA ETF that would allow the trust to stake ETH and treat the rewards as income, effectively transforming the product from simply price exposure to yield-bearing crypto exposure. This amendment includes:

• A proposal to delete a prior clause preventing the trust’s ETH holdings from participating in validation.

• A mechanism to stake “all or a portion” of ETHA’s holdings via trusted providers, with rewards flowing back to shareholders.

• A shift to align with new regulatory frameworks that streamline approval of commodity-based ETFs and staking products.

Regulators have already acknowledged the filing and opened the standard review period, triggering a countdown to what many analysts believe could be an approval by late 2025. When you combine this regulatory momentum with BlackRock’s track record—an almost flawless ETF approval history—the odds for ETH explode upward.

 

Why This Launch Could Define Ethereum’s Next Cycle

1. Institutional Capital Deployment

With ETH ETFs now live and staking potentially baked in, large capital allocators—pension funds, endowments, sovereign wealth—can meaningfully access Ethereum in regulated wrappers. That changes the demand dynamic forever.

2. Yield Gains as Unique Edge

Ethereum already offers staking yield, unlike many alternative blockchains. By giving ETF-holders access to that yield through BlackRock’s product, ETH becomes not just a growth asset but an income asset—making it far more palatable to traditional allocators.

3. Structural Asset Upgrade

Ethereum is moving beyond speculative narratives into real infrastructure status. It is the settlement layer for DeFi, tokenization, Web3 apps and smart contracts. With staking built into ETF exposure, ETH’s role becomes even more core.

4. Timing with Market Positioning

Recent price consolidation and quiet sentiment have created the ideal setup for a catalyst. With few eyes on ETH right now and fundamental forces aligning behind the scenes, this could be the calm before the breakout.

 

Technical & Market Indicators Align

• ETH trading near long‐term support zones with major moving averages acting as floors.

• ETF flow data showing institutional interest remains strong even while retail sentiment fades.

• On-chain metrics such as declining exchange reserves and increasing staking participation pointing toward supply tightening.

• The ETF filing and staking mechanism represent a potential inflection point that could drive a re-rating.

 

Why ETH Has Unique Advantages Going Forward

• Largest ecosystem of smart contracts, developers and real-world use cases among Layer-1 blockchains.

• Staking income combined with price appreciation offers a differentiated proposition.

• Institutional access improving rapidly thanks to regulated ETFs, bridging DeFi and traditional finance.

• Upgrade roadmap remains robust with scalability, rollups and data availability enhancements creating optionality.

• BlackRock’s move validates ETH’s role not just as a crypto asset but a mainstream digital asset infrastructure.

 

Bullish Outlook & Price Implications

Given all these factors, Ethereum is positioned for a meaningful re-rating, not just a rebound from cyclical lows. When catalysts align we could see ETH back into the multiple thousands of dollars range. Analysts looking at yield, ecosystem growth and institutional flows place year-end targets above $5,000, with upside into $6,000 plus if staking gets approved and inflows accelerate.

This is less about short-term trading and more about stepping into a new phase of digital asset infrastructure. Ethereum isn’t just recovering, it is transforming.

 

Final Thoughts

BlackRock’s staking-enabled Ethereum ETF filing may be the single most important development for ETH in 2025. It turns regulatory signals into capital access, theoretical yield into actual income and “crypto asset” into “institutional allocation.”

For long-term believers, Ethereum offers one of the most compelling asymmetric opportunities in all of crypto. It combines infrastructure dominance, yield potential, deep liquidity and a clear growth trajectory. The market may appear quiet now, but the pieces are aligning for something much bigger.

 

If history and fundamentals hold true, ETH’s next chapter could be far greater than its last. The moment may be quiet, but the setup is anything but.

 

Stay Connected

You can stay up to date on all News, Events, and Marketing of Rare Network, including Rare Evo: America’s Premier Blockchain Conference, happening  July 28th-31st, 2026 at The ARIA Resort & Casino, by following our socials on X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Cardano Foundation Confirms ADA ETF Effort as Institutional Momentum Builds

Cardano is no longer in the “ETF someday” category. At Cardano Summit 2025 in Berlin, Cardano Foundation CEO Frederik Gregaard publicly stated that the organization is actively working on a United States based ADA exchange traded fund. He described the initiative as a strategic priority aimed at expanding regulated access to Cardano’s multibillion dollar ecosystem and accelerating institutional participation.

This shift marks one of the clearest signals yet that a Cardano ETF is moving from speculation into an organized, deliberate effort.

 

Cardano Foundation confirms it is developing an ADA ETF

At the summit, Gregaard explained that the Foundation is pursuing a United States listed ETF that would give investors direct regulated exposure to ADA. He emphasized that the initiative aligns with the Foundation’s long term strategy of expanding adoption, strengthening Cardano’s financial infrastructure, and positioning ADA as a legitimate allocation within traditional markets.

Additional background from the Foundation in recent months shows:

• The Cardano Foundation has scaled substantially, growing from roughly 30 staff to more than 100 in the past few years, and maturing its operational structure and compliance efforts.

• The organization has been coordinating with exchanges, specialized ETF issuers, and service providers in preparation for eventual product listings.

• Technical upgrades focused on scalability, security, and interoperability are being prioritized to meet the expectations of regulated financial products.

Gregaard described the ETF as something that supports multiple strategic objectives at once. It expands institutional access, introduces a familiar investment wrapper for traditional market participants, and reinforces Cardano’s positioning as a public blockchain infrastructure network rather than a purely speculative asset.

 

How this aligns with the current ETF landscape for Cardano

Although the Foundation’s involvement is new, Cardano’s ETF journey has already been building for over a year and the environment around it has shifted dramatically.

1. A spot Cardano ETF filing is already in the system

Earlier this year, a major United States asset manager filed for a spot Cardano ETF. The proposed product would hold ADA directly in cold storage, offering regulated exposure through brokerage accounts without requiring users to interact with exchanges or self custody wallets.

2. The decision window was delayed, not rejected

Regulators extended the review period for the ADA ETF filing and pushed the decision deadline further into 2025. These delays are normal in the ETF approval process. They do not imply rejection, but they confirm that the application remains active.

3. Cardano already has regulated ETPs outside the U.S.

European markets have listed Cardano based exchange traded products for years. Some are pure ADA trackers and others are diversified digital asset baskets that include ADA. These products demonstrate that ADA has already been packaged successfully into regulated investment structures in major jurisdictions.

4. The United States ETF environment is far more open in 2025

Several developments have made altcoin ETFs significantly more achievable:

• Exchanges now have generic listing standards for commodity style crypto ETFs. This streamlines the process for non Bitcoin products.

• Multiple spot ETFs for Solana, Litecoin, Hedera, and other altcoins have already launched successfully.

• A digital large cap ETF that includes Cardano has been approved, confirming that ADA exposure already meets regulatory comfort levels in multi asset funds.

Many market analysts now place the probability of an ADA ETF approval in the high double digits. They cite Cardano’s long lifespan, consistent top ten market cap, and increasing classification as a “mature blockchain ecosystem.”

 

Why a Cardano ETF would matter

Mainstream portfolio access

A spot Cardano ETF would allow investors to buy ADA exposure from conventional brokerage platforms, retirement accounts, and institutional mandates that require regulated instruments.

This would create several important effects:

• Lower barriers for financial advisors and institutions that want crypto exposure but cannot interact with direct tokens.

• Clearer regulatory boundaries, since ETF issuers must comply with formal custody, disclosure, and compliance frameworks.

• New liquidity sources from large capital pools that are currently sidelined.

For Cardano, this would represent a major reputational milestone. It would place ADA alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum in the category of assets viewed by institutions as suitable for a broad investment audience.

Reinforcing Cardano’s identity as infrastructure

The ETF effort complements the Foundation’s broader goal of defining Cardano as public infrastructure.

The network has emphasized scientific peer review, predictable upgrades, staking sustainability, and structured governance. Cardano also promotes real world adoption through enterprise pilot programs, digital identity initiatives, and global development partnerships. These traits align well with the risk frameworks used by institutional allocators.

An ETF would act as long term validation of Cardano’s technical and governance roadmap.

 

What an ADA ETF might look like

Based on existing filings and European products, there are several likely structures.

Pure spot ADA ETF

A simple product that holds ADA directly, with pricing tied to spot markets. This is the most likely first approval.

Index based ETF

A multi asset fund where ADA represents a percentage of the portfolio. These are already live in Europe and are gaining traction in the United States.

Staking aware ETF

A future category could attempt to reflect staking yield through derivatives or structural adjustments. This would require more regulatory clarity.

The Cardano Foundation would not issue the ETF itself, but it would provide technical support, network documentation, and ecosystem coordination while a professional asset manager handles regulatory filings.

 

Remaining uncertainties

Even with strong momentum, several factors can influence the final outcome:

• Regulators can still deny or indefinitely delay a spot ADA ETF.

• Political changes or shifts in regulatory priorities may slow down altcoin product approvals.

• Market reactions are not guaranteed. ETF launches do not always lead to immediate price appreciation, especially during wider market downturns.

Investors must remember that ETF exposure carries ADA’s market volatility and ecosystem risks, even when held through a brokerage account.

 

Final thoughts

The confirmation from Cardano Foundation CEO Frederik Gregaard that a United States ADA ETF is actively being developed is a major milestone for the ecosystem. Combined with existing ETF filings, the evolving regulatory landscape, and multiple successful altcoin ETF approvals, the pathway to a Cardano ETF is clearer than ever.

 

For the first time, an ADA ETF is not merely a wish from the community. It is an active strategic initiative with real institutional traction behind it. If approved, it will open the door to a wider class of investors, strengthen Cardano’s position in the regulated financial world, and reinforce its role as a durable blockchain infrastructure platform.

 

Stay Connected

You can stay up to date on all News, Events, and Marketing of Rare Network, including Rare Evo: America’s Premier Blockchain Conference, happening  July 28th-31st, 2026 at The ARIA Resort & Casino, by following our socials on X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.