South Korea may fall behind as other countries launch crypto ETF. Experts say crypto ETFs can bring more investors and help the economy.

Welcome to Latam Insights Encore, a deep dive into Latin America's most relevant economic and cryptocurrency news from the past week. This edition examines how the Brazilian government is divided regarding crypto, and how this might affect the growth of its crypto economy.

DeFAI, Real-World Assets (RWA), and World Liberty Financial are three of the most relevant crypto narratives for this week. The DeFAI sector, which integrates AI agents into decentralized finance, saw heavy corrections in recent weeks but is now showing signs of recovery.

Wall Street's biggest banks are wasting no time. They've smelled opportunity, and it reeks of Bitcoin.

Crypto exchange, Gate.io has signed a multi-year partnership with Oracle Red Bull Racing, with the collaboration aiming to accelerate crypto adoption. Gate.io Partners with Red Bull Racing for Increased Crypto Visibility in Formula 1 Gate.io, a global crypto exchange has announced an exclusive partnership with Oracle Red Bull Racing, the eight-time championship-winning Formula 1 team.

Brian Armstrong and Tyler Winklevoss welcomed the CFPB's operational pause, with Armstrong labeling the agency as an "activist organization."

In an interview with Wired's Andy Greenberg, Tigran Gambaryan detailed his protracted legal issue in the hands of the Nigerian government.

KuCoin reported its 2024 annual review, driving new user growth to more than 38 million.

Proton, the team behind Proton Mail, has taken another step into the financial world by launching Proton Wallet beyond its early access phase. This self-custodial bitcoin wallet empowers users to control their BTC, secure their funds with cutting-edge encryption, and transact peer-to-peer using the Bitcoin via Email feature, streamlining what was once a complex process.

US House Financial Services Committee ranking member Maxine Waters suggested lawmakers look to bipartisan stablecoin legislation drafted in the 118th session of Congress.

Both House Republicans and Democrats have presented plans to regulate U.S. stablecoins, a sector evidently prioritized by lawmakers under President Trump.

In anticipation of a congressional hearing Tuesday (Feb. 11) on regulating digital assets, Rep. Maxine Waters of California introduced a bill that would establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for payment stablecoins, digital assets pegged to a stable value, like the U.S. dollar.

The leading Supreme Court lawyer was rearrested Monday after federal prosecutors told a judge he represented a "serious risk of flight" from his criminal tax evasion case after failing to disclose the existence of two cryptocurrency wallets through which he receive more than $8 million.

In a recent interview, Binance co-founder Yi He addressed concerns about the exchange's token listing process. The exchange has used similar KPI guidelines for several years, but the market is changing at a breakneck pace.

From market dominance to social media hype, here's what you need to keep an eye out for.

The “buy now, pay later” company is backed by venture capital firm, Sequoia Capital, which has a 22% stake.

Nineteen U.S. states are weighing bills to put public money into digital assets, some of them similar to the federal pursuit of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

KuCoin experienced growth across several areas, including global user base, spot trades, futures market, compliance, and token listings.

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Pump.fun co-founder Alon Cohen is denying reports that the Solana (SOL)-based memecoin launchpad will issue its own native token. Crypto reporter Colin Wu earlier said that Pump.fun is working on launching its own token and plans to use the Dutch auction system in the public offerings.

Deutsche Digital Assets has announced plans to open a Paris office as part of its European growth strategy. The move follows its recent ETP listings on Euronext Paris and Börse Stuttgart, reinforcing its presence in regulated crypto markets and meeting growing investor demand in France. The post Deutsche Digital Assets Expands European Presence with New Paris Office appeared first on Cryptonews.

FDIC Acting Chairman Travis Hill said the agency is overhauling its crypto approach, just as U.S. senators examine regulators keeping banks out of crypto.

Acting CFTC Chair Caroline Pham announced on Feb. 4 that the commission would essentially end its practice of regulation by enforcement.

Top Democrat Rep. Waters released a discussion draft on Monday to regulate stablecoins, according to a copy obtained by Punchbowl News.

A memecoin launched on the BNB Chain put up massive gains after top global crypto exchange Binance rolled out support for it.

Social media giant cuts jobs amid AI-focused restructuring.

Top cryptocurrencies show signs of price stagnation due to long positions and liquidation zones.

Cryptocurrency community faces growing physical security threats as Spanish trader breaks ankles escaping abductors, following recent Ledger co-founder kidnapping.

Tuttle Capital Management CEO and CIO Matthew Tuttle discusses the Rareview 2X Bull Cryptocurrency & Precious Metals ETF (ticker: BEGS) and says we're entering the golden age of crypto. He speaks with Scarlet Fu and Eric Balchunas on "ETF IQ.

Alon Cohen denied reports of a PUMP token launch, urging users to ignore rumors and wait for official team announcements.

A South Korea judge acquitted an elected official of all charges for not disclosing the full extent of his $6.8 million crypto holdings.

Japan's FSA considers changing its crypto regulations.

On this episode of Markets Daily, host Jennifer Sanasie breaks down the wild swings in the memecoin market. Pump.fun token launches have plunged 50%, but at the same time, TST, JAILSTOOL, and CAR have skyrocketed.

Base sends sequencer fees to Coinbase, citing security and audit needs. Critics question transparency and Ethereum alignment.

Rumors recently circulated on X that Pump.fun, the leading Solana-based memecoin launchpad, was gearing toward a Dutch auction.

TL;DR Cycle Network has launched operations on the Symbiotic mainnet, enabling cross-chain transactions with its Verifiable State Aggregation (VSA) technology. The platform features a three-layer structure to ensure security and proper state verification across chains. Cycle allows transactions between more than 20 blockchains, offering capital efficiency by using a single collateral to secure all transactions.

North Korean hackers and shattered on-chain dreams have left multiple DeFi chains in limbo with tens of millions in user asset outflows.

TL;DR Coinbase has experienced a significant increase in its trading volume in Q4 2024, driven by the market rally following the U.S. elections. The platform still relies primarily on cryptocurrency trading for revenue, with more than 50% of its earnings coming from this area. Its market share in staking has decreased by 3.

Klarna is set to “embrace crypto” and is asking crypto fans to share ideas of how it can do so. “Ok. I give up.

Experts speculate on the potential launch of memecoin ETFs, with issuers already filing for funds tied to tokens like Trump's memecoins.

Crypto-based prediction markets, casinos and sports betting are reshaping the iGaming sector while generating billions of dollars in trading volume.

Devising clear rules for the industry is important, but it can also help to wait for others to move first, argues Chiu.

GameStop shares surged by over 7% on Monday, while Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) gained 2.6%, after GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen posted a photo with Michael Saylor, chairman of Strategy and a proud Bitcoin maxi. The photo instantly triggered speculation of a possible crypto collaboration between the two companies, sending retail investors into a frenzy.

A new report highlights how ransomware criminals are shifting away from crypto mixers, increasingly using centralized exchanges and cross-chain bridges. Experts warn of the growing role of AI-driven automation in cybercrime, potentially enabling faster, more precise attacks. Law enforcement efforts and security measures remain key concerns. The post Crypto Mixers Used Less By Ransomware Criminals, AI Agents Pose New Threat appeared first on Cryptonews.

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Beginning with the 2025 season, Gate.io branding will be featured on key team assets including apparel and racing cars.

Crypto exchange KuCoin's expansion in 2024 saw record adoption in LATAM and MENA, driving its user base to nearly 40 million.

TL;DR Crypto investment funds recorded net inflows of $1.3 billion last week, nearly doubling the previous figure and marking five consecutive weeks of growth. Despite volatility caused by Trump's tariff announcements, Bitcoin and Ethereum showed significant recoveries after initial declines.