Live from DAS New York — and the energy’s wild.
🚨 Coinbase is buying Deribit. The #1 BTC & ETH options exchange ($1.2T in 2023 volume).
It’s a monster move. If it goes through, Coinbase won’t just be leading in spot — they’ll be king of crypto derivatives too. Expect consolidation.
Meanwhile, CME Group, the world’s largest derivatives marketplace, has officially launched Solana (SOL) futures. And, a16z proposes a "control-based decentralization framework" to SEC before Crypto Task Force Roundtables.
We just published our big flagship report on The Future of Ticketing.
Ethena Labs and Securitize have announced Converge, a new blockchain designed for DeFi and tokenized assets. [Announcement]
What you should know: Converge is optimized for both retail and institutional DeFi, providing compliant access to on-chain financial markets.
Converge is expected to launch in Q2 2025.
Why it matters: Converge aims to be the backbone for tokenized assets, making it easier for institutions to access DeFi while ensuring compliance. By using a vetted whitelist for DeFi applications and a permissioned validator set, it creates a controlled environment that could attract institutional capital. While some argue this goes against decentralization, it also removes key barriers that have kept institutions on the sidelines.
