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CME Group to Launch 24/7 Crypto Futures and Options Trading in Early 2026

by admin October 3, 2025

CME Group, a prominent exchange among institutions, announced plans on Thursday to offer around-the-clock trading for its cryptocurrency futures and options markets, a shift that would bring one of the largest regulated derivatives venues closer in line with the nonstop nature of crypto markets.

The service could start in early 2026 pending regulatory approval, the firm said.

“Client demand for around-the-clock cryptocurrency trading has grown as market participants need to manage their risk every day of the week,” Tim McCourt, CME’s global head of equities, FX and alternative products, said in a statement. “Ensuring that our regulated cryptocurrency markets are always on will enable clients to trade with confidence at any time.”

Currently, trading in CME’s crypto products pauses on weekends and outside business hours. Under the new model, traders will be able to access products such as bitcoin BTC$120.346,87 and ether ETH$4.504,16 futures and options through CME Globex at any time and day, with the exception of a short weekly maintenance window. Holiday and weekend trades will still settle on the next business day, maintaining consistency in reporting and clearing operations.

The move could appeal to institutions that want the stability of a regulated exchange without the constraints of traditional trading hours. If approved, CME’s around-the-clock access could give it an edge over offshore platforms that already offer 24/7 trading but operate with less regulatory oversight.

CME Group’s trading venue is a key marketplace for U.S. institutional investors to trade crypto derivatives. It’s the world’s leading exchange for BTC and ETH futures by open interest, with $16.8 billion and $9.8 billion in notional value of contracts, respectively, CoinGlass data shows.

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October 3, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

EA privately acquired in $55bn deal by group of investors, including Saudi Arabia’s investment fund and Donald Trump’s son-in-law

by admin September 30, 2025

EA has officially been acquired by a group of investors including Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund in a private transaction worth $55bn.

EA chairman and CEO Andrew Wilson will continue to lead the company – known for its sports games, BioWare’s RPGs, The Sims, and forthcoming shooter Battlefield 6 – with the transaction expected to be completed in Q1 FY27.

News of the acquisition came over the weekend, before an official announcement today. The investor group comprises the PIF, as well as investment firms Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners.

“Looking ahead, we will continue to push the boundaries of entertainment, sports, and technology, unlocking new opportunities. Together with our partners, we will create transformative experiences to inspire generations to come. I am more energised than ever about the future we are building.”

“Electronic Arts is an extraordinary company with a world-class management team and a bold vision for the future. I’ve admired their ability to create iconic, lasting experiences, and as someone who grew up playing their games – and now enjoys them with his kids – I couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead,” said Jared Kushner, CEO of Affinity Partners. Kushner is US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law.

PIF increased its stake in EA in 2023; now its 9.9 percent stake will roll over. The organisation also holds stakes in a number of gaming companies including Nintendo, Take-Two Interactive, Embracer, Capcom, and more.

Ubisoft is another, with Assassin’s Creed Mirage set to receive a surprise free DLC set in 9th century AlUla, an ancient Arabian city. The DLC follows reported funding from PIF.

The PIF was designed to diversify Saudi Arabia’s revenue via investment in foreign companies. It’s chaired by Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country’s controversial ruler blamed by the CIA for the assassination of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who has upheld the country’s notoriously poor human rights record.

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September 30, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

EA Announces Unprecedented $55 Billion Sale To Saudi Arabia, Jared Kushner’s Private Equity Group, And Others

by admin September 29, 2025

Another one of the biggest game publishers in the world is being sold. On Monday, Electronic Arts announced a $55 billion deal to take the publisher behind massive franchises like Madden, The Sims, and Apex Legends private, selling to Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Silver Lake, and President Donald Trump nephew Jared Kushner’s Affinity Partners.

The all-cash deal values the company at a 25 percent premium over its mid-august stock price and is set to be finalized by mid-2026 pending shareholder and regulatory approvals. Current CEO Andrew Wilson will remain the head of the publisher which will stay headquartered in California. Roughly $20 billion of the sale is debt-financed through JPMorgan Chase Bank.

The sale builds on Saudi Arabia’s existing 10 percent ownership of the company which was built up in recent years amid investments across the larger gaming industry. Those included the $4.9 billion purchase of Monopoly Go! mobile game maker Scopely in 2023 and the gobbling up of Pokémon Go and Niantic’s other gaming businesses earlier this year for $3.5 billion. The current $55 billion buyout of EA is not just the government-backed Public Investment Fund’s largest gaming acquisition to date, it’s also the largest sale ever to take an existing public company private.

“Our creative and passionate teams at EA have delivered extraordinary experiences for hundreds of millions of fans, built some of the world’s most iconic IP, and created significant value for our business. This moment is a powerful recognition of their remarkable work,” Wilson said in a press release. “Looking ahead, we will continue to push the boundaries of entertainment, sports, and technology, unlocking new opportunities. Together with our partners, we will create transformative experiences to inspire generations to come. I am more energized than ever about the future we are building.”

Founded back in 1982, EA’s gaming empire is vast with studios across the globe and franchises ranging from blockbusters like Battlefield and EA Sports FC (formally known as FIFA) to Mass Effect maker BioWare and smaller label signings this year’s critically-acclaimed GOTY-contender Split Fiction. It’s not yet clear how the deal will effect the size and scope of the roughly 15,000 person publisher, though this much money rarely changes hands without lots of people losing their jobs.

“EA has been challenged to innovate in the last decade,” Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter told Kotaku in an email over the weekend after news of the deal first leaked. “Several franchises have faded (Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Burnout, NFS), some failed (Anthem) and only a handful continue to produce. They suck at mobile and appear too focused on pleasing investors and not focused enough on pleasing gamers. I think the Saudis have the potential to jump start mobile and to try innovative moves like making Ultimate Team free. We’ll see if it works

Saudi Arabia’s funding partners include the private equity firms Silver Lake and Affinity Partners, the latter of which was founded by Kushner after Trump left office in 2021. Roughly half of its reported funding, approximately $2 billion, is also from Saudi Arabia. “Electronic Arts is an extraordinary company with a world-class management team and a bold vision for the future,” he said in a statement. “I’ve admired their ability to create iconic, lasting experiences, and as someone who grew up playing their games - and now enjoys them with his kids–I couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead.”

The deal arrives amid fresh criticism of people selling out to the Saudi Royal family despite its record of human rights abuses. Organizations backed by PIF held the Esports World Cup in Riyadh this summer and hosted talks with high-profile industry figures like Hideo Kojima and Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, whose company is currently producing an Assassin’s Creed DLC set in Saudi Arabia. Outside the world of gaming, famous comedians like Bill Burr and Dave Chappelle were recently criticized for attending the Riyadh Comedy Festival.

“From the folks that brought you 9/11,” quipped WTF podcast host Marc Maron last week. “Two weeks of laughter in the desert, don’t miss it! The same guy that’s gonna pay them is the same guy that paid that guy to bone-saw Jamal Khashoggi and put him in a f***ing suitcase. But don’t let that stop the yucks, it’s gonna be a good time!”

The full press release is below:

Under the terms of the agreement, the Consortium will acquire 100% of EA, with PIF rolling over its existing 9.9% stake in the Company. EA stockholders will receive $210 per share in cash. The per share purchase price represents a 25% premium to EA’s unaffected share price of $168.32 at market close on September 25, 2025, the last fully unaffected trading day, and a premium to EA’s unaffected all-time high of $179.01 at market close on August 14, 2025.

PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners bring deep sector experience, committed capital, and global portfolios with networks across gaming, entertainment, and sports that offer unique possibilities for EA to blend physical and digital experiences, enhance fan engagement, and create new growth opportunities. The transaction represents the largest all-cash sponsor take-private investment in history, with the Consortium partnering closely with EA to enable the Company to move faster and unlock new opportunities on a global stage.

“Our creative and passionate teams at EA have delivered extraordinary experiences for hundreds of millions of fans, built some of the world’s most iconic IP, and created significant value for our business. This moment is a powerful recognition of their remarkable work,” said Andrew Wilson, Chairman & CEO of Electronic Arts. “Looking ahead, we will continue to push the boundaries of entertainment, sports, and technology, unlocking new opportunities. Together with our partners, we will create transformative experiences to inspire generations to come. I am more energized than ever about the future we are building.”

“PIF is uniquely positioned in the global gaming and esports sectors, building and supporting ecosystems that connect fans, developers, and IP creators,” said Turqi Alnowaiser, Deputy Governor and Head of International Investments at PIF. “PIF has demonstrated a strong commitment to these sectors, and this partnership will help further drive EA’s long-term growth, while fueling innovation within the industry on a global scale.”

“This investment embodies Silver Lake’s mission to partner with exceptional management teams at the highest quality companies. EA is a special company: a global leader in interactive entertainment, anchored by its premier sports franchise, with accelerating revenue growth and strong and scaling free cash flow. We are honored to invest and partner with Andrew – an extraordinary CEO who has doubled revenue, nearly tripled EBITDA, and driven a fivefold increase in market cap during his tenure,” said Egon Durban, Co-CEO and Managing Partner of Silver Lake. “The future for EA is bright, we are going to invest heavily to grow the business and we are excited to support Andrew and the EA team as the company accelerates innovation, expands its reach worldwide, and continues to deliver incredible experiences to players and fans across generations.”

“Electronic Arts is an extraordinary company with a world-class management team and a bold vision for the future. I’ve admired their ability to create iconic, lasting experiences, and as someone who grew up playing their games - and now enjoys them with his kids – I couldn’t be more excited about what’s ahead,” said Jared Kushner, Chief Executive Officer of Affinity Partners.

“The Board carefully evaluated this opportunity and concluded it delivers compelling value for stockholders and is in the best interests of all stakeholders,” said Luis A. Ubiñas, Lead Independent Director of EA’s Board of Directors. “We are pleased that this transaction delivers immediate and certain cash value to our stockholders while strengthening EA’s ability to continue building the communities and experiences that define the future of entertainment.”

Transaction Details

The transaction was approved by EA’s Board of Directors, is expected to close in Q1 FY27 and is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of required regulatory approvals and approval by EA stockholders. Following the close of the transaction, EA’s common stock will no longer be listed on any public market.

The transaction will be funded by a combination of cash from each of PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners as well as roll-over of PIF’s existing stake in EA, constituting an equity investment of approximately $36 billion, and $20 billion of debt financing fully and solely committed by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., $18 billion of which is expected to be funded at close. Each of PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners plan to fund the equity component of the financing entirely from capital under their respective control.

Upon completion of the transaction, EA will remain headquartered in Redwood City, California and continue to be led by Andrew Wilson as CEO.

Update: 9/29/2025 8:58 a.m. ET: Added more information about EA, details of the deal, and a quote from an analyst.

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September 29, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

EA is reportedly about to be sold in a record-setting $50 billion buyout to an investor group that includes private equity and Saudi Arabia

by admin September 27, 2025

As reported by the The Wall Street Journal, gaming giant EA is set to go private⁠—that is, no longer be traded on the stock market⁠—in a $50 billion deal with an investor group. This would be the largest such leveraged buyout ever recorded.

According to the WSJ’s anonymous sources, EA could be sold for as much as $50 billion, though the final price has not yet been agreed on, and EA has an estimated market value of $43 billion. The group of investors reportedly includes the private equity firm Silver Lake and the government of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.

The deal could be announced as early as next week, and would be the largest leveraged buyout ever recorded. A leveraged buyout is when a private equity firm uses a significant amount of borrowed money to seal the deal, with the asset set to be acquired used as collateral in the debt.

This effectively leaves the acquired company liable for the debt⁠—if its income can’t adequately service the debt, it will bear the consequences of a default, not the investors who made the purchase, and that usually means closures and layoffs. As reported by the Los Angeles Times, one such leveraged buyout eventually resulted in bankruptcy and closure for the once-ubiquitous toy retailer, Toys R Us.

The fact that the reported cost of the deal—up to $50 billion—is close to EA’s estimated value (what’s $7 billion between friends?) could give reason for optimism that EA’s debt burden would be proportional to its means. Even aside from eventual bankruptcy, though, there’s precedent for acquisitions like this causing massive disruptions to the company: Microsoft cut 1,900 jobs at Xbox in January 2024 shortly after its acquisition of Activision-Blizzard, and Blizzard Entertainment was heavily affected in particular.

The other known quantity in the purported deal, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, has been making inroads in games for several years as part of a multifaceted push into global media and entertainment. This has included:

Critics of the Saudi Arabian government have called this practice “sportswashing,” or using a growing influence and ubiquity in the entertainment industries to distract from the government’s human rights record.

EA, much like its competitor Ubisoft, has struggled in recent years. Once formidable titans, both have been left behind as consolidation efforts have turned Microsoft and Sony into unassailable super heavyweights. At the same time, smaller publishers like DreadXP, Devolver, and Playstack have become ubiquitous at the other end of the budget spectrum.

EA lost the lucrative FIFA license, leading to its new, genericized EA FC series. Beloved RPG developer BioWare was sharply downsized after Dragon Age: The Veilguard proved a relative sales failure. The impending release of Battlefield 6, which has seen massive beta numbers and a positive critical reception, is looking like a much-needed win for the company.

Should the deal go through, here are some of the major studios and games that could be affected:

BioWare: Mass Effect and Dragon Age.
Respawn: Titanfall, Apex Legends, the Star Wars: Jedi series.
DICE (and the other ‘Battlefield Studios’): Battlefield and Mirror’s Edge
Maxis: The Sims 4 and Project Rene.
The Madden NFL and EA Sports College Football series (and other EA Sports games).
The dormant Dead Space and Need for Speed series.
The once-dormant Skate, recently resurrected.
The Command & Conquer series.
The Origin Systems back catalogue, including Ultima and Wing Commander. Pepperidge Farm remembers.

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September 27, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

Smart Digital Group stock crashes 87% after crypto pivot announcement

by admin September 26, 2025

Smart Digital Group faced a brutal investor revolt as its Nasdaq-listed shares imploded following a surprise announcement to establish a diversified cryptocurrency asset pool, a move markets likely viewed as a high-risk diversion.

Summary

Smart Digital Group stock collapsed 87% after announcing plans for a diversified crypto asset pool targeting Bitcoin and Ethereum.
The move likely drew investor backlash due to vague details, diverging from peers that saw stock surges after similar pivots.
Meanwhile, regulators are probing trading activity in companies adopting crypto treasury strategies, adding systemic risk to such moves.

On Sept. 26, Smart Digital Group Limited (SDM) publicly unveiled its strategy to deploy capital into a pool of cryptocurrency assets, naming Bitcoin and Ethereum as primary targets for their perceived “stability and transparency.”

“This move is designed to strengthen Smart Digital Group position in the digital asset ecosystem while leveraging the growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies in global markets. By allocating resources to established digital assets, the company aims to enhance portfolio diversification and capture value in the evolving digital economy,” the company said.

The announcement, intended to position the firm within the growing digital asset ecosystem, instead triggered an immediate and devastating sell-off. By the end of the trading day on Sept. 25, preceding the official press release, SDM’s stock had been decimated, collapsing 86.84% to $1.88 from a previous close of $13.60.

A pivot that defied the playbook

The dramatic collapse of Smart Digital Group’s valuation stands in stark contrast to the market’s typical reaction to such announcements. According to a 2025 Animoca Brands report, companies announcing corporate crypto-treasury strategies have surged an average of 150% within 24 hours of disclosure. This pattern has played out repeatedly in recent months.

Brera Holdings, a small European soccer club investor, saw its stock skyrocket as much as 464% after revealing its plan to rebrand as Solmate and transition to a Solana-based digital asset treasury, a move backed by a $300 million private placement from names like ARK Invest and the Solana Foundation. Similarly, Chinese EV technology firm Juizi Holdings enjoyed a 25% stock bump following its authorization of a $1 billion Bitcoin treasury initiative.

The critical difference lies in the details markets are now scrutinizing. Companies rewarded by investors have presented clear funding mechanisms, high-profile backers, and specific operational roadmaps.

Smart Digital’s announcement, by comparison, lacked concrete details on the size of the planned asset pool, its funding source, or any strategic partnerships. This vagueness, coupled with the absence of a clear, crypto-native business synergy, transformed a potential growth narrative into a red flag for shareholders concerned about uncalculated risk and diluted corporate focus.

Regulators take note of crypto treasury companies

This escalating trend has not gone unnoticed by regulators. The Securities and Exchange Commission and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority have reportedly initiated a broad probe into trading activity surrounding more than 200 companies that have announced crypto-treasury plans, according to WSJ.

The core of the investigation revolves around suspicious stock-price increases in the days preceding public announcements, a potential sign of selective disclosure or insider trading that would violate Regulation Fair Disclosure.

While Smart Digital’s pre-announcement trading involved a plunge rather than a gain, the intense regulatory spotlight adds a layer of systemic risk to any public company making a crypto pivot, potentially spooking institutional investors.

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September 26, 2025 0 comments

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried (Nikhilesh De/CoinDesk)

GameFi Guides

IG Group Buys Majority Stake in Australian Crypto Exchange Independent Reserve for $72M

by admin September 20, 2025

Online trading platform IG Group has acquired a majority stake in Australian cryptocurrency exchange Independent Reserve for 109.6 million Australian dollars ($72.4 million).

The deal, the company said, aims to strengthen IG’s position in Asia-Pacific’s fast-growing crypto markets and complements its recent crypto rollouts in the U.K. and U.S.

Independent Reserve is one of Australia’s oldest regulated crypto platforms, IG’s managing director for Asia Pacific and the Middle East, Matt Macklin, said. It also supports trading in 34 cryptocurrencies across Australian and Singaporean markets.

IG will initially acquire 70% of the company, with the option to buy the remaining 30% based on future performance. The deal is subject to regulatory approvals and expected to close in early 2026 for a total of 178 million Australian dollars ($117.6 million).

Independent Reserve CEO Adrian Przelozny said the transaction gives the exchange a bigger platform to grow while staying aligned with its goal of secure, regulated trading.

The move fills a regional product gap for IG, giving the firm “immediate access” to Australia and Singapore.

Independent Reserve reported revenue of $23.3 million for the fiscal year ending June 2025, up 88% year-over-year, the announcement adds. The platform also saw a 60% increase in monthly active users, reaching around 11,600, and has $1.12 billion in assets under custody from 129,400 funded accounts.

IG Group said the deal will be accretive to earnings starting in fiscal year 2027. Its shares are down 1.8% in today’s trading session.

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September 20, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

London Stock Exchange Group Debuts Blockchain Platform For Private Funds

by admin September 15, 2025

Update Sept. 15, 7:58 am UTC: This article has been updated to include another section on LSEG and Microsoft’s collaboration.

The London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) launched a blockchain-based infrastructure platform for private funds, making it the first major global stock exchange to use such a system.

The platform, called Digital Markets Infrastructure (DMI), supports the full lifecycle of digital assets, from issuance and tokenization to post-trade settlement. It was developed with Microsoft and runs on Microsoft Azure, the exchange said on Monday.

LSEG said the system was designed to provide interoperability between distributed ledger technology and traditional financial systems as part of its goal to become the first global exchange group to support clients across the “full funding continuum.”

Private funds are the first asset class to go live on the DMI, with plans for additional asset classes.

As part of the initial offering, private funds on the DMI will be discoverable by Workspace’s users, enabling general partners to interact with professional investors on these platforms.

Capital management firm MembersCap and London-based Archax, a Financial Conduct Authority-regulated crypto exchange, were the first clients onboarded. MembersCap conducted the platform’s debut transaction with Archax acting as a nominee for the Cardano Foundation.

Related: RWAs: new institutional ‘trust’ layer to boost tokenized ESG investment

Microsoft, LSEG aim to unlock new opportunities for customers

Microsoft’s collaboration with LSEG on the new blockchain-based platform is a “powerful example of the innovation driving our strategic partnership,” according to Bill Borden, corporate vice president of worldwide financial services at Microsoft.

“Together, we’re reshaping the future of global finance to empower our customers to unlock new opportunities and drive meaningful change.”

Today’s private market processes are ripe for innovation. LSEG aims to improve investor access to capital markets and enhance liquidity, according to Darko Hajdukovic, head of digital markets infrastructure at LSEG.

“We intend to do this by continually working with all stakeholders to enhance efficiencies and connectivity for both digitally-native and traditional assets,” Hajdukovic said, adding that there is significant “appetite for an end-to-end, interoperable, regulated financial markets DLT infrastructure.”

Related: Trump-linked WLFI’s 40% decline causes millions in losses for crypto whales: Finance Redefined

Ultimately, the platform aims to provide more investor access to private market investment opportunities that were previously difficult to discover and participate in.

Blockchain-based incentives from traditional finance giants may accelerate the convergence of traditional and decentralized finance (DeFi), which may come sooner than most expect, according to Nelli Zaltsman, head of blockchain payments innovation at JPMorgan’s Kinexys.

“Our goal has always been to find the best way to work with the public blockchain, regulatory environment permitting,” said Zaltsman, speaking alongside Chainlink Labs co-founder Sergey Nazarov at the RWA Summit Cannes 2025.

In June, the banking giant piloted synchronized settlement technology with Chainlink, allowing JPMorgan’s blockchain-based deposits to orchestrate transactions across different blockchains.

Magazine: The one thing these 6 global crypto hubs all have in common…

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September 15, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

Capital Group Grows Bitcoin Bet to $6B Through Treasury Stock Surge

by admin September 14, 2025

Capital Group, a 94-year-old mutual fund powerhouse known for its conservative investment approach, has grown a $1 billion position in Bitcoin-related stocks into more than $6 billion.

Mark Casey, a portfolio manager with 25 years at Capital Group, led the firm’s move into Bitcoin. Casey, who describes his investment style as shaped by Benjamin Graham and Warren Buffett, has become an advocate for Bitcoin (BTC), according to a Sunday report by The Wall Street Journal.

“I just love Bitcoin, I just think it is so interesting,” Casey said during a podcast interview with venture firm Andreessen Horowitz. He called Bitcoin “one of the coolest things that has ever been created by people,” per the WSJ report.

Over the past four years, Capital Group has built its exposure primarily through investments in so-called Bitcoin treasury companies, public firms that accumulate and hold Bitcoin on their balance sheets.

Top 15 Bitcoin treasury firms. Source: BitcoinTreasuries.NET

Related: Ether vs. Bitcoin treasuries: Which strategy is winning

Capital Group’s biggest Bitcoin bet is on Strategy

Capital Group’s most notable holding is in Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), the software firm transformed into a Bitcoin vehicle by founder Michael Saylor.

In 2021, Capital Group acquired a 12.3% stake in Strategy for over $500 million. That stake, now diluted to 7.89% due to share issuance and some trimming, is worth about $6.2 billion following a more than 2,200% surge in Strategy’s stock over five years.

Casey said he and his colleagues analyze these companies the same way they assess firms involved in commodities like gold or oil. “We view Bitcoin as a commodity,” he told the WSJ.

Capital Group’s Bitcoin exposure also includes a 5% stake in Japan-based Metaplanet, a hotel operator-turned-Bitcoin holder, and shares of mining company Mara Holdings.

Related: Bitcoin in consolidation as treasuries eye altcoins: Novogratz

Corporate Bitcoin treasuries top 1 million BTC

As Cointelegraph reported, corporate Bitcoin treasuries now hold over 1 million BTC worth more than $117 billion, according to BitcoinTreasuries.NET.

Michael Saylor’s Strategy remains the top holder with 636,505 BTC, followed by MARA Holdings with over 52,000 BTC. Newcomers like XXI and Bitcoin Standard Treasury are quickly gaining ground, while firms like Metaplanet, Bullish and Coinbase round out the top 10.

Looking ahead, companies like Metaplanet and Semler Scientific have revealed aggressive accumulation targets, aiming to acquire 210,000 BTC and 105,000 BTC by 2027, respectively.

Magazine: Bitcoin is ‘funny internet money’ during a crisis: Tezos co-founder

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September 14, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

Snapchat rolls out Group Streaks and ‘Infinite Retention’ for chats

by admin September 14, 2025

Snapchat has introduced a couple of new features it says are “highly requested” by its users. The first is “Infinite Retention,” which as its name implies will allow you to keep a chat history like you could on a messaging app and prevent your messages from disappearing. “We’ve often heard from our community that Snapchatters want to save their chats forever and wish they could build streaks with their favorite groups,” its announcement reads.

The app has been testing the feature since 2024, and now it’s being rolled out broadly. You could already save messages in the app by tapping on them inside the chat, but this one makes things easier. It’s a setting you’ll just have to switch on or off for each conversation. If you enable the setting, the other person in the conversation will get a notification that you did, and they will be able to switch it off if they want. You can, for instance, switch Infinite Retention on for a close friend but keep it off for acquaintances.

In addition, Snapchat is rolling out Group Streaks that will let you contribute to a collective Streak with your friends. To keep up individual Streaks, you’ll have to send and receive at least one photo or video Snap with a friend every day. Group Streaks are easier to keep going, since several people can participate. You can also restore a Group Streak within a week in case it ends.

Jim Lanzone, the CEO of Engadget’s parent company Yahoo, joined the board of directors at Snap on September 12, 2024. No one outside of Engadget’s editorial team has any say in our coverage of the company.

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September 14, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

Blockchain Powers Jack Ma’s $8-B Ant Group Energy Asset Strategy

by admin September 9, 2025

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

According to Bloomberg, Ant Digital Technologies has linked more than 60 billion yuan (about $8.5 billion) of energy infrastructure to its AntChain blockchain platform, in what reports call a major push to turn physical power assets into tradable digital records.

The move ties generators and charging equipment to a blockchain so their output and outages can be recorded in a way that can’t be changed.

Scale And Scope Of The Blockchain Project

Ant’s system already connects about 15 million devices, including wind turbines and solar panels. More than 9,000 charging units are on the ledger as well.

Based on the report, the company has also tied the work to Ant’s Whale blockchain, which handles a share of the more than $1 trillion that Ant’s global payments network processed last year. The scale puts this effort well beyond many pilot programs elsewhere.

A unit of Ant Group is quietly making inroads to link over $8.4 billion worth of energy infrastructure and other real-world power assets to its blockchain, according to sources https://t.co/5jCqXZgnqN

— Bloomberg (@business) September 9, 2025

Ant Has Backed Tokens With Real Assets

The project does more than log data. Tokens have been issued against some of the linked assets, and those tokens were used to raise money.

Financing of roughly 300 million yuan (about $42 million) has been arranged for three clean energy projects under the new setup.

In earlier deals, Ant helped Longshine Technology Group raise 100 million yuan, and later arranged over 200 million yuan by connecting photovoltaic assets to the chain for GCL Energy Technology.

BTCUSD trading at $113,060 on the 24-hour chart: TradingView

Tokenization And Funding Details

Reports explain that these tokens represent slices of ownership or revenue streams from the projects. By offering tokens directly, operators can tap investors without going through traditional loan officers or underwriters.

Jack Ma is a Chinese business magnate and philanthropist, and the co-founder of Alibaba Group, a multinational technology conglomerate. Source: Businessabc

That can speed up capital flows for project developers. Executives are also weighing whether to let the tokens be traded on offshore exchanges to create more liquidity, but those plans hinge on regulators granting permission.

Where It Fits Globally

The initiative joins a broader trend of putting real-world assets on blockchains. Companies like Securitize have worked on equities and bonds, while other teams focus on tokenized Treasuries and fractional property ownership.

Ant’s focus on energy adds a large, infrastructure-heavy example to the list. The technology could make it easier for smaller investors to own a piece of projects that were once accessible only to big institutions.

Featured image from Meta, chart from TradingView

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September 9, 2025 0 comments