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30 Jan 2026, 08:17

Binance Founder Takes a Stand Against Short-Sighted Crypto Criticism

Changpeng Zhao criticized the rise in toxic, price-focused criticism in crypto. Vitalik Buterin's reduced social media activity was highlighted as a negative impact. Continue Reading: Binance Founder Takes a Stand Against Short-Sighted Crypto Criticism The post Binance Founder Takes a Stand Against Short-Sighted Crypto Criticism appeared first on COINTURK NEWS .

30 Jan 2026, 08:07

Binance Makes a Bold Move with $1 Billion Bitcoin Conversion

Binance will convert $1 billion in SAFU funds into Bitcoin. The decision reflects Binance's confidence in Bitcoin's long-term value. Continue Reading: Binance Makes a Bold Move with $1 Billion Bitcoin Conversion The post Binance Makes a Bold Move with $1 Billion Bitcoin Conversion appeared first on COINTURK NEWS .

30 Jan 2026, 08:00

Assessing if Binance’s ApeChain integration can revive APE adoption

ApeChain expands exchange access via Binance, but on-chain data shows ApeCoin still struggling to convert liquidity into sustained usage

30 Jan 2026, 07:59

CFTC chair signals clearer rules for prediction markets, lawful innovation

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission will draft clear standards for prediction markets and withdraw proposals that would prohibit political and sports-related event contracts, Chair Michael S. Selig said Thursday. The move aims to end uncertainty and signal support for “lawful innovation” in event-based trading. “Despite their history, many view them [prediction markets], as novel or unsettled, and that uncertainty has not served our markets, nor has it served the public interest,” Selig said. CFTC pulls back prior guidance on sports and politics Selig directed staff to pull a 2024 proposal targeting political and sports contracts and a 2025 advisory cautioning on sports markets. He also said the agency will reassess its role in ongoing court cases and move toward a formal rulebook for event contracts. In his first public remarks as chairman, Selig said the CFTC is withdrawing earlier proposals and advisories that have contributed to market confusion. “It is time for clear rules and a clear understanding that the CFTC supports lawful innovation in these markets,” Selig said. He added that the current framework “has proven difficult to apply” and has “failed” market participants, and directed staff to begin drafting an event contracts rulemaking. Why it matters The shift comes as prediction platforms including Kalshi and Polymarket face lawsuits in multiple states over whether event contracts tied to sports constitute illegal gambling. In December, Coinbase filed lawsuits against Michigan, Illinois, and Connecticut, arguing the CFTC is the sole regulator of prediction markets, not state gaming authorities, and warning that state intervention could cause “immediate and irreparable” harm. Coinbase plans to enter the space through a partnership with Kalshi, a CFTC-regulated platform. State regulators and attorneys general argue that sports betting falls under state jurisdiction, while tribal nations have also challenged the spread of such contracts based on sovereign rights over gambling on their lands. Kalshi maintains that its products are not gambling, but federally regulated derivatives, and therefore not subject to state-level gaming laws. Oversight and jurisdiction Selig said the agency will reevaluate its participation in pending federal court matters and defend its exclusive jurisdiction over commodity derivatives where needed. He also said the CFTC is partnering with the Securities and Exchange Commission on “Project Crypto” to clarify jurisdictional lines and develop a clearer taxonomy for digital assets. That includes pursuing a joint interpretation tied to Title VII definitions to draw clearer boundaries between commodity and security options, CFTC-regulated swaps, and SEC-regulated security-based swaps. Not everyone is cheering the expansion of event-based trading. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, now a strategic advisor to the American Gaming Association, warned that rapid growth in sports-related prediction markets poses legal, economic, and ethical risks, could undermine state law, and may threaten the integrity of professional and amateur sports. Platforms welcome clarity as volumes grow Industry participants welcomed the regulator’s change in tone. A spokesperson for the Coalition for Prediction Markets said the decision marked “a key step to foster market clarity, responsible innovation, and trust in American markets.” Prediction markets have expanded rapidly, particularly among crypto-native traders seeking continuous exposure to real-time events. Polymarket has emerged as a major liquidity hub for political and current-event contracts, with some individual markets attracting tens to hundreds of millions of dollars in volume. The post CFTC chair signals clearer rules for prediction markets, lawful innovation appeared first on Invezz

30 Jan 2026, 07:50

CZ Reveals Why Vitalik Not Active on X

The Binance founder argues that toxicity over $ETH price drove @VitalikButerin away from X, creating a "net negative" for the crypto community.

30 Jan 2026, 07:22

Binance shifts SAFU fund to Bitcoin as user protection strategy evolves

Binance plans to convert its $1 billion Secure Asset Fund for Users into Bitcoin, signalling a change in how the exchange structures its emergency protection reserve during a volatile market phase. The move was outlined in an open letter posted on X and is set to be completed over the next 30 days. Once finished, the SAFU fund will be fully held in Bitcoin rather than a mix of stablecoins and other crypto assets. The exchange says the decision reflects long-term conviction in Bitcoin’s role within the crypto ecosystem, rather than a reaction to short-term price movements. Binance @binance · Follow An open letter to the crypto community 💛During periods of market volatility and pressure, the impact felt across the industry is naturally also felt by Binance.As a global industry leader, we hold ourselves to elevated standards and continually improve based on feedback from 10:24 AM · Jan 30, 2026 0 Reply Copy link Read more on Twitter SAFU fund overhaul The SAFU fund, launched in 2018, was created to protect users in cases such as security breaches or unexpected platform losses. Until now, the reserve has been maintained using a combination of dollar-pegged stablecoins and major cryptocurrencies. Binance said the fund will be monitored continuously, with a clear threshold in place. If Bitcoin price movements cause the SAFU balance to fall below $800 million, the exchange plans to replenish it to $1 billion. The exchange described Bitcoin as the foundational asset of the crypto market and said holding SAFU entirely in BTC aligns the fund with the long-term trajectory of the sector. Why Bitcoin now Binance framed the shift as a strategic repositioning rather than a defensive move, noting that Bitcoin’s liquidity and global recognition make it suitable for a reserve asset. By moving away from stablecoins, Binance is also reducing its exposure to assets that are tied to traditional currencies and regulatory oversight. The exchange said the change reflects confidence in Bitcoin’s durability across market cycles and its central role in the broader crypto economy. The conversion will take place gradually over the 30-day window, allowing Binance to manage execution risk and minimise market disruption while rebalancing the fund. Scale and reserves The SAFU announcement arrives alongside fresh disclosures about Binance’s scale. The exchange said it reached 300 million users in 2025 and processed $34 trillion in trading volume over the year. Binance also reported proof-of-reserves totalling $162.8 billion across 45 crypto assets, a figure it says underscores its liquidity position. These metrics are part of Binance’s broader effort to highlight balance sheet strength and operational reach as competition intensifies among global exchanges. Regulation and market signals Beyond the SAFU shift, Binance continues to navigate regulatory expansion and market positioning. The exchange recently applied for an EU Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) licence in Greece, which would enable unified operations across the bloc. Executives have also said Binance is taking a cautious approach to any potential return to the US market. At the same time, Binance is exploring the reintroduction of tokenised equities, a product it suspended in 2021. In public comments at Davos, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao said Bitcoin could enter a supercycle in 2026, potentially moving beyond the traditional four-year halving pattern as adoption widens and policy attitudes shift. The post Binance shifts SAFU fund to Bitcoin as user protection strategy evolves appeared first on Invezz