A technical malfunction at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange froze futures trading for several hours on Friday, putting exchange operator stocks in the spotlight. The data center fault disrupted contracts for US indexes while premarket equity trading continued normally. Investors are closely watching CME Group, Intercontinental Exchange, and Nasdaq shares following the market infrastructure failure.
about CME Trading Freeze: Exchange Stocks in Focus After Glitch
NDAQ
Nasdaq Seeks Higher Bitcoin ETF Option Limits to 1M
The Nasdaq International Securities Exchange has formally requested SEC approval to quadruple position limits for options on BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) from 250,000 to 1 million contracts, signaling a major maturation milestone for Bitcoin markets as institutional demand surges beyond initial regulatory constraints.
about Nasdaq Seeks Higher Bitcoin ETF Option Limits to 1MCrypto Stocks Plunge as Bitcoin Dips Below $99K
Cryptocurrency mining stocks and major crypto-focused companies experienced significant declines on Thursday amid a broader market downturn. The selloff was fueled by persistent macroeconomic uncertainties that have plagued risk assets for weeks, with Bitcoin’s price dropping below $99,000 for the first time since early May and dragging down mining and crypto-related equities across the board.
about Crypto Stocks Plunge as Bitcoin Dips Below $99KCrypto Stocks Plunge Amid Macroeconomic Uncertainty
Crypto-related stocks suffered dramatic losses as macroeconomic headwinds overwhelmed positive company-specific news, with Robinhood shares dropping over 9% just one day after reporting strong Q3 earnings. Bitcoin fell below $101,000 before a partial recovery, while major crypto stocks including Coinbase and Galaxy Digital tumbled amid the worst government shutdown in U.S. history and deteriorating economic indicators that have sapped investor confidence in risk-on assets.
about Crypto Stocks Plunge Amid Macroeconomic UncertaintyOceanPal Raises $120M for NEAR-Based AI Venture
In a landmark move bridging traditional finance with emerging technologies, Nasdaq-listed OceanPal Inc. has secured $120 million through a private investment to launch SovereignAI, a subsidiary dedicated to commercializing the NEAR Protocol and developing privacy-preserving AI infrastructure. The venture represents one of the most significant corporate adoptions of crypto treasury strategies, with plans to acquire up to 10% of the NEAR token supply, creating a public market vehicle for exposure to blockchain and AI convergence.
about OceanPal Raises $120M for NEAR-Based AI VentureBenchmark Raises Canaan Price Target to $4 on Mining Demand
Investment bank Benchmark has dramatically increased its price target for Bitcoin mining hardware manufacturer Canaan to $4 per share, representing a potential 118% upside from current levels. The bullish upgrade follows Canaan’s successful navigation of Nasdaq listing requirements and its largest equipment order in three years, signaling renewed confidence in the company’s turnaround story despite broader cryptocurrency market volatility.
about Benchmark Raises Canaan Price Target to $4 on Mining DemandSEC’s Blockchain Stock Trading Plan: Winners & Losers
The Securities and Exchange Commission is developing a groundbreaking regulatory framework that would allow blockchain-based versions of traditional stocks to trade on approved cryptocurrency exchanges. This initiative could revolutionize financial markets by enabling 24/7 trading with near-instant settlements, potentially lowering costs while creating clear winners like Robinhood Markets and Coinbase Global, and posing significant challenges for traditional market makers like Virtu Financial.
about SEC's Blockchain Stock Trading Plan: Winners & LosersHashdex Seeks SEC Approval to Add SOL, ADA, XRP to Crypto ETF
In a significant move for the digital asset market, asset manager Hashdex has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to expand its Nasdaq Crypto Index US ETF beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. The filing, submitted under newly adopted generic listing standards, seeks approval to include Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), and XRP, potentially offering investors a more diversified crypto product. If successful, this expansion would mark a pivotal step in broadening mainstream access to a wider array of digital assets through a regulated exchange-traded fund.
about Hashdex Seeks SEC Approval to Add SOL, ADA, XRP to Crypto ETFBitcoin Stalls as Gold, Stocks Soar: Market Divergence Explained
While traditional safe-haven assets and equity markets reach unprecedented highs, Bitcoin remains stagnant in a puzzling market divergence that challenges its ‘digital gold’ narrative. This unusual disconnect between the flagship cryptocurrency and other major financial instruments is prompting analysts to question Bitcoin’s role during economic uncertainty, with internal selling pressure rather than macro trends appearing to drive its underperformance.
about Bitcoin Stalls as Gold, Stocks Soar: Market Divergence ExplainedGemini IPO Oversubscribed 20x, Caps at $425M
Gemini, the cryptocurrency exchange, is set to go public with an IPO that has generated exceptional investor interest, being oversubscribed over 20 times. The company and its bankers stopped accepting new orders on Thursday, an unusual step that capped proceeds at $425 million. Initially, Gemini had increased its fundraising target to $433 million and adjusted its prospective share price range to $24-$26 from a previous floor of $17-$19. This strong demand underscores the sustained investor confidence in crypto and blockchain enterprises, with notable backers like Nasdaq participating. The IPO is scheduled for Friday, marking a significant milestone in the integration of crypto firms into traditional financial markets.
about Gemini IPO Oversubscribed 20x, Caps at $425MMogu Invests $20M in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana
Nasdaq-listed Chinese fashion company Mogu saw its shares jump 76% after revealing a $20 million cryptocurrency investment strategy targeting Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. The board-approved plan aims to diversify the company’s treasury assets and enhance operational capabilities for future AI products. Mogu joins a growing trend of public companies adopting crypto treasury strategies pioneered by firms like MicroStrategy, though recent analyst notes suggest potential headwinds for such strategies due to market saturation and exclusion from major indices like the S&P 500. The company’s shares, which reached an all-time high above $37 in 2021, had been trading below $5 before the announcement.
about Mogu Invests $20M in Bitcoin, Ethereum, SolanaNasdaq Files to List Tokenized Stocks with SEC
Nasdaq has filed a rule change with the SEC to enable the listing and trading of tokenized stocks, marking a major step in integrating blockchain into traditional markets. The proposal allows shares to be traded in either traditional or tokenized form within the same order book, with execution priority maintained equally. Market participants can indicate their preference for tokenized settlement via a designated flag, communicated to The Depository Trust Company for clearing. This development is expected to drive adoption of blockchain networks like Ethereum, Solana, and XRP Ledger, with experts highlighting XRP’s potential role as a bridge currency for trillions in on-chain value. Analysts project significant price appreciation for XRP if global asset tokenization expands as anticipated.
about Nasdaq Files to List Tokenized Stocks with SEC