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- Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cosmos and more Week 12 2025
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cosmos and more Week 12 2025
Keeping you updated on crypto, web3 and blockchain
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TL;DR
MicroStrategy’s $500M Stock Raise for Bitcoin
Brazil Moves to Allow Bitcoin Salary Payments
Ethereum’s $10K Target Cut to $4K
U.S. Treasury Lifts Tornado Cash Sanctions
$NIL Token Launching on Binance March 24
Drop Unveils dNTRN for Liquid Staking on Neutron
Telegram CEO Durov Leaves France
SEC Drops Ripple Lawsuit
and much more!
Market, Airdrop & Memecoin Update
Before we dive in, make sure to check out our recent Market, Airdrop and Memecoin updates:
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Bitcoin Highlights of the Week
MicroStrategy announced a $500 million preferred stock offering to acquire more Bitcoin. The company will issue 5 million shares of its new Series A perpetual preferred stock (STRF), featuring a 10% annual cash dividend. Despite this, MicroStrategy’s stock fell 5% amid market turbulence.
The firm’s Bitcoin holdings now total 499,226 BTC, reinforcing its ongoing accumulation strategy. Led by Michael Saylor, the company remains committed to expanding its BTC reserves despite market fluctuations, positioning itself as a major institutional Bitcoin holder. The move underscores its long-term confidence in Bitcoin as a strategic asset.
Xapo Bank has introduced a Bitcoin-backed lending product, enabling select customers to borrow up to $1 million without selling their BTC. With a conservative 20%-40% loan-to-value ratio, the loans provide a cushion against forced liquidation. Repayment terms range from 30 days to a year, with no early penalties.
Unlike past failed lenders, Xapo ensures customer BTC isn’t rehypothecated. Available in Europe and Asia but not the U.S., the service is designed for long-term holders seeking liquidity for major expenses while retaining Bitcoin exposure. The launch signals growing institutional interest in Bitcoin-backed financial services.
Brazil is considering a new bill that would allow workers to receive up to 50% of their salary in Bitcoin, with the rest in Brazilian reais. Proposed by federal deputy Luiz Philippe of Orleans e Bragança, the law aims to modernize the financial system and attract investment.
Employers must provide exchange rate transparency and educate workers on risks. Foreign workers and contractors may receive full Bitcoin salaries. If passed, Brazil will join countries like Japan and Switzerland in permitting Bitcoin wage payments. The bill is under review and requires approval from Congress and the president to become law.
Minnesota state Senator Jeremy Miller has introduced the Minnesota Bitcoin Act, allowing the state to invest in Bitcoin and enabling residents to use BTC for tax payments. Initially skeptical, Miller became a believer after research and constituent feedback.
The bill would let state employees add Bitcoin to retirement accounts and exempt BTC investment gains from state income taxes. Minnesota joins 23 states exploring Bitcoin reserves, following a broader trend in U.S. crypto adoption. The move aligns with federal efforts like Senator Cynthia Lummis' BITCOIN Act, pushing for government Bitcoin holdings.
The Bank of Korea has stated it has not reviewed or discussed holding Bitcoin as part of its foreign exchange reserves, citing high volatility and liquidity concerns. Responding to inquiries from lawmakers, the central bank emphasized the need for a “cautious approach” and noted that Bitcoin lacks investment-grade credit ratings.
This stance comes amid global discussions on Bitcoin’s role in national reserves, following the U.S. executive order establishing a strategic Bitcoin reserve. Meanwhile, South Korea’s regulators are assessing Japan’s approach to crypto ETFs as part of broader financial policy considerations.
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Ethereum Highlights of the Week
The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) has endorsed Ethereum’s ERC-3643 token standard for permissioned securities, joining the ERC3643 Association to drive its adoption. The move signals growing regulatory acceptance of blockchain tokenization, aligning with the U.S. push to become a crypto hub.
ERC-3643 enables controlled issuance and transfer of security tokens via a decentralized identity protocol. DTCC has been an early blockchain adopter, previously testing tokenized U.S. Treasury settlements and launching ComposerX for digital asset transactions. This development strengthens Ethereum’s role in regulated financial markets.
Coinbase now controls 11.42% of staked Ethereum, making it the largest node operator. The exchange has staked 3.84 million ETH worth $6.8 billion, surpassing other operators in network share. Coinbase’s validators achieved 99.75% uptime and participation rates, outperforming the Ethereum network averages.
The firm credits its strong performance to a 2024 upgrade that enabled seamless beacon node maintenance. Despite being a centralized exchange, Coinbase distributes validators across multiple global regions to support Ethereum’s decentralization. Following the report, Ether surged past $2,000, with accumulation addresses significantly increasing their holdings.
Securitize and Ethena have introduced Converge, an Ethereum-compatible blockchain aimed at bridging traditional finance (TradFi) with decentralized finance (DeFi). Designed for tokenized real-world assets, Converge supports Ethereum smart contracts and dApps without modifications.
The project has secured partnerships with Avara, Pendle, Morpho, and Maple Finance, alongside custodians Copper and Fireblocks. Converge’s governance model leverages Ethena’s ENA token, allowing staking via permissioned validators linked to TradFi institutions, reinforcing regulatory compliance while integrating DeFi mechanisms.
Standard Chartered has lowered its Ethereum price forecast from $10,000 to $4,000 by year-end, citing ongoing underperformance. Ethereum’s value has dropped 48% in the past year, while Bitcoin and XRP have gained. The Dencun upgrade has failed to retain economic value, as layer 2 networks like Base siphon fees away.
Analysts warn that without a major shift—such as taxing layer 2s—Ethereum’s struggles may persist. While weak ETF inflows offer little relief, some believe a turnaround is possible if institutional interest grows. However, the Ethereum Foundation’s current non-commercial approach makes a recovery unlikely.
The U.S. Treasury has removed Tornado Cash from its sanctions list, acknowledging that its smart contracts are not the property of a foreign national and thus cannot be sanctioned. Despite this, co-founder Roman Storm still faces legal action over alleged sanctions violations.
The move clarifies the legal status of decentralized protocols, but enforcement actions against individuals involved remain ongoing. In response to the news, the TORN token surged 40%, reflecting renewed market confidence. The decision marks a shift in the U.S. government's approach to regulating decentralized finance and blockchain-based privacy tools.
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Cosmos Highlights of the Week
Nillion has unveiled its roadmap and $NIL tokenomics, with a total supply of 1 billion tokens and an initial circulating supply of 19.52%. $NIL will be listed on Binance on March 24. The token plays a key role in network security, governance, and transactions.
Allocation includes 29% for ecosystem and R&D, 20% for community, and 10% for protocol development. Nillion’s Blind Compute technology aims to enhance data privacy, addressing the $9.5T annual loss from data leaks. As AI advances, Nillion positions $NIL as a cornerstone for secure computation in the digital era.
Elys Network has completed Phase 1 of its incentivized mainnet, with Phase 2 now launching. Since the campaign began, daily users surged from 500 to 4,500, liquidity grew from $400K to $2M, and monthly trading volume doubled to $7.3M. The project prioritizes organic growth, focusing on staking, liquidity provision, and sustainable yield generation.
Phase 2 will emphasize trading volume, educating users on arbitrage opportunities. Stakers of $ELYS and $EDEN benefit from USDC rewards, with increased fees enhancing long-term incentives. More details on Phase 1 distribution and Phase 2 goals will be released after data processing.
Drop has launched dNTRN, a liquid staking token (LST) for Neutron’s NTRN holders. This enables users to stake NTRN while maintaining liquidity, supporting DeFi activities like lending and trading.
The initiative aligns with Neutron’s ICS migration, bootstrapping liquidity with 225M NTRN staked, 25M NTRN on Astroport for swaps, and 5M NTRN on Mars Protocol for lending. dNTRN also offers earning multipliers through the Droplets Program. The move enhances capital efficiency while maintaining staking rewards. A Twitter livestream on March 20 will provide further insights into dNTRN and its role in Neutron’s ecosystem.
Namada has entered Phase 3, allowing users to shield assets like OSMO, TIA, and ATOM in preparation for Phase 4’s upcoming shielding rewards. By using the IBC Transfer module in Namadillo, users can securely transfer assets while maintaining privacy. Namada also now supports shielded transactions on Ledger devices following a recent update.
As Phase 4 approaches, users will soon be able to earn rewards while benefiting from Namada’s privacy-preserving features in cross-chain DeFi. More details on the shielding process are available in Namada’s latest guide.
Agoric’s Fast USDC service enables users to earn passive income by depositing USDC into a liquidity pool. Participants receive a share of transaction fees from cross-chain USDC transfers, with flexible deposits and real-time earnings distribution.
The platform ensures security through audited smart contracts. Users can start earning by connecting their wallet and depositing USDC via fastusdc.agoric.app. This initiative enhances cross-chain liquidity while providing a low-barrier opportunity for users to generate income.
Other Highlights of the Week
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has returned to Dubai after being detained in France for seven months amid an investigation into the platform’s alleged role in criminal activities, including CSAM distribution. French prosecutors scrutinized Telegram’s moderation policies, as the platform remains a tool for cybercriminals despite its partnerships to combat illegal content.
Durov thanked investigative judges and legal teams while reaffirming Telegram’s commitment to legal compliance. His release marks a critical moment in ongoing debates over platform accountability and regulation, as authorities continue to examine Telegram’s role in facilitating illicit activities.
The U.S. SEC has officially dropped its lawsuit against Ripple, marking a major victory for the company and the broader cryptocurrency industry. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse confirmed the decision, calling it a turning point for crypto regulation. The case, which lasted over four years, had significant implications for XRP and digital asset classifications.
While Ripple celebrates the outcome, details on potential fines or settlements remain undisclosed. This decision strengthens Ripple’s position as it considers its next legal moves, potentially setting a precedent for future regulatory actions in the crypto space.
Former Congressman Wiley Nickel emphasized that lasting crypto regulation must be enacted through Congress rather than executive orders, which can be easily reversed by future administrations. He urged bipartisan efforts to pass comprehensive legislation, highlighting recent moves such as Rep. Tom Emmer’s CBDC ban and Sen. Cynthia Lummis’ Bitcoin Act.
Additionally, Rep. Byron Donalds aims to codify a Bitcoin strategic reserve into law. The House recently repealed the IRS broker rule, signaling progress toward clearer regulations. Lawmakers, including Rep. Ro Khanna, anticipate passing stablecoin and market structure bills by 2025 to solidify the regulatory framework.
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