Invest ideasNews
31 Mar 2026, 05:36
Pendle joins Vietnam IFC delegation alongside BlackRock, Morgan Stanley, and Deutsche Bank
Singapore, Singapore, March 31st, 2026, Chainwire Pendle announces its CEO TN Lee represented the protocol at a high-level financial delegation in New York alongside representatives from Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, and Anchorage Digital. The group met with Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister to build the investment case for Vietnam's International Financial Center , a landmark initiative positioning Southeast Asia as a destination for global institutional capital. For Pendle, this is more than a diplomatic milestone. It signals the moment when DeFi protocols earn a seat at the table with the world's most powerful financial institutions. RWA in DeFi Real World Assets (RWAs) in DeFi are tokenized versions of traditional financial instruments, including government bonds, treasuries, real estate, and private credit, brought onchain so they can generate yield in a permissionless, transparent environment. Unlike holding a bond directly, tokenized RWAs can be traded, split, and composed with DeFi protocols without the friction of traditional settlement systems. As institutions like BlackRock and Franklin Templeton accelerate their tokenization strategies, Pendle's yield infrastructure becomes increasingly critical. The protocol already supports yield trading on tokenized treasuries, making it one of the few DeFi platforms positioned to serve both retail users and institutional-grade asset flows. Drivers of Institutional Interest in Pendle’s Yield Tokenization Pendle has emerged as infrastructure-layer DeFi because it solves a problem that tokenized RWAs introduce: yield volatility. When BlackRock or Franklin Templeton tokenize a treasury product, the yield on that token fluctuates. Pendle's yield trading mechanism allows institutions and sophisticated users to separate, price, and trade that yield independently, a function that makes tokenized RWAs more useful as financial instruments rather than passive holdings. The protocol already supports yield trading on tokenized treasury products, positioning it as one of the few DeFi platforms capable of serving institutional-grade asset flows alongside retail participants. Pendle’s Role in the Vietnam Delegation as a Signal for Institutional DeFi Adoption Pendle's participation in the Vietnam IFC delegation alongside Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley, BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, and Anchorage Digital signals that DeFi yield infrastructure is now being considered as part of sovereign financial policy discussions not just as a retail product category. As governments define regulatory frameworks for tokenized asset markets, the presence of DeFi protocols in those conversations influences the technical standards that will govern the next decade of finance. The convergence of crypto-native custody (Anchorage Digital), TradFi distribution (Deutsche Bank, Morgan Stanley), and yield-layer infrastructure (Pendle) represents a complete institutional DeFi stack present at the same table. Vietnam's International Financial Center represents a compelling greenfield opportunity: A regulatory framework designed to attract global capital combined with DeFi-native yield infrastructure could unlock a new class of financial products for Southeast Asian investors who currently lack access to competitive yield markets. The presence of Anchorage Digital alongside traditional banks underscores a broader trend, the convergence of crypto-native custody and TradFi distribution is no longer theoretical. The tokenized asset market is projected to reach $16 trillion in on-chain value by 2030, according to BCG . Pendle's yield trading infrastructure is designed to be foundational to this market, not as a destination for tokenized assets, but as the layer that makes yield on those assets tradeable, hedgeable, and composable. About Pendle Pendle is the world's largest crypto yield trading platform empowering the tokenization and trading of yield-bearing assets. Pendle unlocks sophisticated yield strategies for retail and institutional participants alike redefining the future of onchain fixed income. [email protected] Disclaimer: This is a sponsored press release and is for informational purposes only. It does not reflect the views of Crypto Daily, nor is it intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, or financial advice.
31 Mar 2026, 05:13
Bitcoin Rises With Risk Assets on Trump Iran War Report
Cryptocurrencies rose with stocks and bonds in Asia Tuesday as investors weighed a report that US President Donald Trump is considering ending the war with Iran.
31 Mar 2026, 05:00
US Labor Department Eyes 401(k) Crypto Access, Bitcoin Considered In New Rule
The US Labor Department published a proposed regulation on Monday intended to give 401(k) participants access to alternative investments, including crypto assets such as Bitcoin (BTC). The Employee Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) framed the rule as “historic,” saying it lays out a clear, process-driven framework that plan fiduciaries can follow when evaluating non-traditional assets for defined contribution plans. Safe‑Harbor Rules For 401(k) Considering Crypto At the heart of the proposal are safe-harbor procedures designed to guide plan managers through the selection of designated investment alternatives. Under the rule, fiduciaries would be required to evaluate potential alternatives, addressing factors such as expected performance, fees, liquidity, valuation methods, appropriate performance benchmarks, and the complexity of the crypto assets. The department emphasized that the rule is intentionally neutral with respect to asset classes: it does not endorse any particular type of investment but instead sets out a prudent process for review and selection. Related Reading: XRP Price Alert: Expert Predicts $0.80 On Bitcoin’s Potential Retreat To $60,000 The move follows President Trump’s executive order, “Democratizing Access to Alternative Assets for 401(k) Investors,” and represents an attempt to translate that directive into practical regulatory guidance, according to the statement on the matter. Labor Department officials say the proposed rule returns the agency to a long-standing approach that focuses on fiduciary process rather than picking winners and losers among asset types. “The department’s days of picking winners and losers are over. Our rule clearly spells out that managers must evaluate any and all potential product offerings by following a prudent process,” said Deputy Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling. Treasury And SEC Back Labor Proposal The EBSA noted that the Biden administration’s 2022 compliance guidance — which effectively discouraged fiduciaries from offering crypto options — diverged from the Employee Retirement Income Security Act’s (ERISA) requirements, contributing to the limited uptake of alternatives in retirement plans. The new proposal aims to remove that regulatory uncertainty by providing concrete, process-based protections for fiduciaries who choose to consider crypto investments. Officials from other agencies welcomed the initiative as part of a broader push to expand retirement investment options. Related Reading: XRP Nears Key Turning Point As Descending Wedge Tightens Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent praised the Labor Department’s rulemaking as “another step in ushering in President Trump’s Golden Age,” saying the proposal seeks to broaden access to additional retirement options for “millions of Americans” while protecting retirement assets. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Paul Atkins also expressed support, noting that enabling Americans to participate in innovation and economic growth through diversified, long-term investments is important for retirement planning and that the SEC helped formulate the proposal. If finalized, the rule would provide plan fiduciaries with a structured path to consider crypto and other alternative assets without immediately exposing them to the compliance risks that had discouraged inclusion in recent years. At the time of writing, Bitcoin was trading at $66,580, having failed to capitalize on moves slightly above $68,000 earlier on Monday. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
31 Mar 2026, 04:55
Justin Sun case in spotlight as SEC enforcement chief exits abruptly
US lawmakers have renewed scrutiny of the Securities and Exchange Commission after it dropped its case against Tron founder Justin Sun, a decision that has now been tied to internal tensions leading up to the resignation of the agency’s enforcement chief. In a letter sent Monday to SEC Chair Paul Atkins, Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal questioned why the agency moved to dismiss its fraud case against Justin Sun just 11 days before former Enforcement Director Margaret Ryan stepped down in March. The case had been one of the SEC’s more prominent actions against a crypto executive, and its sudden resolution has become central to broader concerns over how enforcement decisions are being handled. Sun had originally been charged under the Biden administration with unregistered securities offerings tied to TRX and BTT tokens, alongside allegations of wash trading and undisclosed celebrity promotions involving figures such as Lindsay Lohan and Jake Paul. In March, however, the SEC dismissed the charges against Sun, the Tron Foundation, and BitTorrent, now known as Rainberry, with the latter agreeing to pay a $10 million civil penalty. The resolution followed a multi-year legal battle in which Sun neither admitted nor denied the allegations. Ryan exit raises e n forcement questions Blumenthal pointed to the timing of the dismissal and Ryan’s departure as raising “serious questions,” particularly in light of reports that she had pushed to pursue enforcement actions involving individuals linked to President Donald Trump, while facing resistance from senior leadership. A Reuters report cited sources familiar with the matter who said Ryan had sought to intensify fraud probes tied to Trump’s circle, an approach that was not supported by Atkins and other Republican commissioners. A separate letter from Sen. Elizabeth Warren echoed those concerns, asking whether Ryan encountered pushback when attempting to pursue cases involving politically connected actors. Warren described the circumstances around Ryan’s short tenure as “troubling,” adding to a growing list of Democratic inquiries into the SEC’s recent enforcement posture. At the centre of the scrutiny remains Sun’s relationship with Trump-linked crypto ventures. Sun has publicly backed Trump and invested tens of millions of dollars into projects tied to his family, including World Liberty Financial and the $TRUMP memecoin. World Liberty Financial itself has accumulated significant holdings in Tron-related assets, deepening questions over potential conflicts of interest. Since early 2025, the SEC has dropped or paused multiple enforcement actions against major crypto firms, including Coinbase, Kraken, and Binance. House Democrats have argued that the rollback coincides with at least $85 million in political contributions from crypto companies to Trump’s campaign and inauguration efforts, raising what they described as an “unmistakable inference of a pay-to-play scheme.” Blumenthal, in his letter, went further by linking enforcement decisions to risks within the crypto sector. He cited estimates that illicit crypto activity reached $154 billion in 2025, alleging that Tron accounted for a disproportionate share. “While Tron accounts for a third of all payment tokens in the crypto ecosystem by some metrics, 58% of all illicit finance in crypto occurred on Tron’s network in 2024,” he wrote. His letter requests extensive documentation from the SEC, including internal communications between the Division of Enforcement and senior leadership since Jan. 20, 2025, as well as any correspondence involving the Trump and Witkoff families. Political pressure on the agency has continued to build as Democrats question whether enforcement decisions are being applied consistently. The scrutiny has also been fuelled by other developments, including Trump’s pardon of former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao in October and the SEC’s retreat from several high-profile cases. While the SEC has not directly addressed Ryan’s departure, a spokesperson said the agency continues to base its enforcement decisions on “facts, the law, and policy, not politics.” The post Justin Sun case in spotlight as SEC enforcement chief exits abruptly appeared first on Invezz
31 Mar 2026, 04:04
Senators Question SEC Over TRX and Sun Lawsuit
Democratic senators Blumenthal and Warren are questioning the SEC over Margaret Ryan's resignation and the case against TRX founder Justin Sun. Trump-linked closed investigations are being examined...
31 Mar 2026, 02:30
Charles Hoskinson Blasts Ripple For Backing Bill That Could Crush Competition
Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson used a lengthy weekly livestream to level one of his sharpest recent attacks at Ripple, arguing that the company is backing legislation that could entrench incumbents, weaken DeFi protections, and make it harder for new crypto projects to compete. The core of Hoskinson’s complaint was not aimed at XRP holders, but at what he described as Ripple’s policy posture in Washington and the behavior of CEO Brad Garlinghouse . In Hoskinson’s telling, Ripple is pushing for rules that would classify new tokens as securities by default while benefiting from carve-outs that would leave larger, established players in a stronger position. Hoskinson Takes Aim At Ripple Over Competition Fight Hoskinson said Garlinghouse was “trying to pass a bill that makes everything by default a security until proven otherwise,” calling that framework a non-starter for the broader market. He argued that such an approach would effectively recreate the kind of regulatory pressure that former SEC Chair Gary Gensler brought to the sector, only this time through legislation supported by industry actors rather than enforcement alone. “He’s trying to pass a bill that makes everything by default a security until proven otherwise, which was the treatment Gary Gensler inflicted on his own ecosystem,” Hoskinson said. “It’s a non-starter, because he knows that he’s going to get an exemption and it reduces competition. So, [expletive] the whole industry. It’s bad behavior.” That argument sat at the center of a wider rant about market structure, lobbying, and what Hoskinson sees as crypto’s growing willingness to trade open competition for regulatory protection. He said he had already laid out “four different attack vectors” the SEC could use if such a bill were enacted, and warned that the damage would not stop with token issuers. According to Hoskinson, the proposal would also leave open-source developers exposed by stripping out protections for DeFi builders. “The bill also removed all developer protections for DeFi developers,” he said. “Who takes care of the Tornado Cash people and these other people writing open-source software? We can’t live in a space where you have transitive unlimited liability.” He extended that point with one of the livestream’s longer analogies, arguing that holding software developers liable for downstream use of their code would amount to a category error. “You write code and people you’ve never met use that code in places you’ve never been to and you’re held absolutely liable for that,” Hoskinson said. “That’s equivalent to you writing a book, someone reads the book and murders somebody based on a character in your book and then you get charged with murder. It’s basically the same thing.” Hoskinson also took aim at what he described as the XRP community’s reflexive defense of Ripple whenever he criticizes the company. He said there is “no path for people to listen to the content” of his argument because any criticism of Garlinghouse is treated as an attack on XRP itself. He pushed back on that framing by noting that he publicly supported Ripple when the SEC sued the company years ago, but said that did not obligate him to back its current lobbying goals. “Guys, I did support you when you got sued by the Securities Exchange Commission,” he said. “There’s videos of me. You can pull them up from years ago where I said it was the wrong decision.” From there, Hoskinson shifted into one of crypto’s oldest fault lines: token distribution. He argued that Ripple had no need for outside help in its legal fight because the organization “gave themselves a mammoth premine,” saying the company already had the resources to defend itself and pursue acquisitions. He contrasted that with Cardano, saying, “I didn’t give myself 70% of the ADA supply.” At press time, XRP traded at $1.35.
