Bittrex to Launch Fiat Trading Options After New Bank Partnership 500

Seattle-based crypto exchange Bittrex has managed to secure a banking agreement that will allow some customers to trade digital assets directly for U.S. dollars. The company has struck a deal with the New York-based Signature Bank amongst others.

Bittrex Hope to Attract More Users with Crypto to Fiat Trading Pairs

According to a report in Bloomberg, the exchange venue which supports the buying and selling of over 200 different crypto assets will soon be accepting deposits in fiat currency. Unfortunately, this will not be available for all customers just yet, however.

The CEO of Bittrex, Bill Shihara told the publication about the platform signing the deal with Signature Bank:

“It’s been a long path… It’s not just about banks being able to trust Bittrex. It’s about banks being able to trust crypto in general. And I think it’s really showing that crypto is turning the corner in terms of mainstream acceptance.”

Despite Shihara’s words indicating that cryptocurrency is emerging into the mainstream, larger institutions still treat digital currency with caution. This is largely due to the fact that they’re unwilling to risk their reputations by getting involved with an industry that is still marred by its past associations with criminality.

This has meant that many exchanges have had to exist only as venues to swap cryptocurrency for cryptocurrency. Without the support of banking institutions, they have been unable to provide the ‘off and on ramp’ to digital currency investment and trading that their customers are pining for.

That said, there are several examples of exchanges that have found support from banks. Industry stalwart Coinbase has managed to secure deals with three banks in the U.S. – Metropolitan Bank, Silvergate Bank, and Cross River Bank.

In addition, the almost household name of the cryptocurrency exchange industry has recently managed to secure support from Barclays PLC in the U.K. Meanwhile, rumours still abound about the relationship between Puerto Rican bank Noble Bank International and Bitfinex – a company long mired with accusations of dubious banking practices relating to their ‘stable coin’ Tether.

During his interview with Bloomberg, Shihara also commented about the process the company had to go through to ensure the deal went ahead:

“They really do look and pore through the entire business… They want to make sure that we’ve got robust AML/KYC processes, that we’ve got the right controls on our finances. They do background checks and everything. They really look at our business soup to nuts.”

For now, only a fraction of the three million Bittrex users will have access to the fiat service. It will be reserved for corporate customers in Washington, California, New York, and Montana. Not all 200 of the cryptocurrencies supported by the platform will receive fiat trading pairs either – just Bitcoin, Tether, and TrueUSD. The service is scheduled to launch on Thursday.

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$HLS Token Launches Across Major Tier-1 Exchanges 93

Helios is the ETF Layer for Cross-Chain Finance – a Layer 1 blockchain engineered to make automated, diversified, multi-chain portfolios a native blockchain primitive.

With the TGE now live, $HLS becomes available to the public, enabling broader participation in the Helios ecosystem as the network developers.

$HLS Now Live on Major Exchanges

At launch, $HLS is available for trading on multiple centralized exchanges, including:

  • KuCoin
  • BingX
  • MEXC
  • Weex
  • Lbank

This initial exchange availability is designed to provide global access and liquidity while Helios continues progressing toward its full mainnet launch.

Phased Launch Architecture

At TGE, $HLS is introduced as an ERC-20 token on Ethereum and Arbitrum, aligning with Helios’ current Mainnet Beta phase. This approach allows Helios to leverage established infrastructure and ample liquidity while continuing development of its Layer-1.

Helios Mainnet is scheduled to launch in Q1 2026, at which point $HLS will become native to the Helios chain. Following mainnet launch, users will be able to bridge $HLS to Helios Mainnet via Hyperion, Helios’ cross-chain execution modules designed to enable seamless interoperability across ecosystems.

Strong Financial Backing and Community Participation

Alongside the TGE, Helios also confirmed it has successfully secured $19 million in total funding to date.

This includes:

  • $15 million commitment from Bolts Capital, providing long-term strategic backing for product development and ecosystem growth
  • $4 million raised through launchpads, reflecting strong community participation and demand ahead of the TGE

The capital raised supports Helios’ continued development across core infrastructure, ecosystem incentives, and upcoming product launches.

What Comes Next for Helios

Following the TGE, Helios enters a new execution phase focused on expanding network functionality and onboarding users and developers. Near-term priorities include:

  • Operating the Helios Mainnet Beta with supervised validators
  • Activating incentive program
  • Continued development toward a full permissionless mainnet in Q1 2026

Looking further ahead, Helios is building Forge, its application for creating and minting on-chain ETFs, alongside automation and AI-driven portfolio strategies designed to support a broad range of digital and real-world assets. Read more about Forge here:

About Helios

Helios is a Layer-1 blockchain platform designed to support the creation, management, and automation of on-chain ETFs and portfolio products. By combining native interoperability, automation modules, and asset-centric primitives, Helios aims to provide the infrastructure for next-generation decentralized investment products.

For more information, users can visit https://helioschain.network.

Curve Finance Strengthens Its Position as a Leading Ethereum DEX With 44% Fee Share 88

Ethereum’s market is one of the most competitive corners of DeFi, and it has virtually no “meme”-driven trading activity. This makes it easier to measure the more organic market volumes, where low fees and the trading of core assets such as ETH, BTC (wrapped), and stablecoins are predominant.

This week, Curve Finance delivered one of the clearest signals that it stands among the top players in this scene.

According to DeFiLlama’s data, Curve now ranks among the top Ethereum DEXs in terms of fees metrics over the past 30 days, overtaking other long-standing leaders in the space.

One thing that is particularly notable here is how much the scale has shifted. Around this time last year, Curve accounted for roughly 1.6% of all DEX fees charged on Ethereum. Today, its share stands at about 44%, marking the most significant overturn in fee dominance that DeFi has seen in 2025.

These figures highlight rising trader activity and fees paid by users on Curve. But it should be noted that this is not a reflection of profit or yield distributed among liquidity providers or the protocol itself.

There are several factors that drove this growth. Trading activity around Curve’s native crvUSD stablecoin has increased sharply, pushing volumes higher and reinforcing the protocol’s position as a core venue for on-chain stablecoin liquidity. By trading volume (24H), crvUSD has moved into the top 5 stablecoins, superseded only by major leaders like USDT and USDC. This reflects its rapid adoption and growing role in on-chain liquidity.

At the same time, integration with Yield Basis has concentrated the largest on-chain Bitcoin liquidity in DeFi on Curve, with the protocol now hosting three of the deepest on-chain BTC liquidity pools used by Yield Basis protocol. The pools rank at the very top by both TVL and depth, well ahead of BTC pools on other DEXs.

Here’s how Michael Egorov, founder of Curve Finance, has commented on this shift: “DeFi users are increasingly prioritising sustainable revenue models over short-term speculation. We’re seeing a clear move away from hype-driven trading and towards protocols with transparent economics and real yield. This change in long-term behaviour is reshaping where liquidity and volume ultimately settle.”

About Curve Finance

Curve Finance is one of the largest DeFi protocols, specializing in stablecoin trading with minimal fees and slippage. Launched in 2020, it has grown into a full ecosystem with liquidity pools, lending markets, its own stablecoin (crvUSD), and DAO governance, becoming a key infrastructure layer for Ethereum and other EVM networks.

Vantage Wins ‘Best Mobile Trading App – APAC’ at the UF Awards APAC 2025 80

Vantage, the leading multi-asset broker, is delighted to announce it has been awarded Best Mobile Trading App – APAC at the prestigious UF AWARDS APAC 2025, held during the iFX EXPO Asia 2025.

Now in its sixth edition, the UF Awards APAC recognise excellence across the Asia-Pacific region, celebrating the finest fintech and online trading brands that deliver outstanding products and services. This recognition was presented to the Vantage brand as part of the event’s regional award categories.

The Best Mobile Trading App award honours Vantage’s commitment to delivering a best-in-class mobile experience. With intuitive design, lightning-fast execution, and advanced features built for both new and experienced traders, Vantage’s mobile platform offers the tools and performance needed to trade confidently.

Marc Despallieres, CEO of Vantage, stated: “We are honoured to receive this recognition from the industry. Winning Best Mobile Trading App in the APAC region underscores our dedication to developing technology that empowers traders. We will continue to innovate and deliver mobile solutions that make trading smarter and more accessible.”

This accolade adds to Vantage’s growing list of international honours and reinforces the brand’s position as a leading mobile-first trading platform.

About Vantage

Vantage Markets (or Vantage) is a multi-asset CFD broker offering clients access to a nimble and powerful service for trading Contracts for Difference (CFDs) products, including Forex, Commodities, Indices, Shares, ETFs, and Bonds.

With 16 years of market experience, Vantage goes beyond the role of broker, providing a reliable trading platform that provides clients access to trading opportunities.

HaHa Wallet Partners with Onramper to Expand Access to the Monad Ecosystem 87

Partnership follows Monad Mainnet launch to unlock global onboarding

Onramper, the world’s leading fiat-to-crypto onramp aggregator, today announced a strategic partnership with HaHa Wallet, next-generation, Monad-native crypto wallet, to broaden global accessibility for users engaging with Monad ecosystem.

Through the integration, HaHa Wallet users can now buy crypto using over 130 local payment methods across 190+ countries, benefiting from competitive rates and optimized fees. Following the launch of Monad’s public Mainnet in November 2025, the partnership makes it easier for users worldwide to enter Monad and begin trading, bridging, and exploring dApps.

HaHa Wallet has quickly become a leading gateway into Monad, offering a fast, intuitive, and reward-driven user experience. With Onramper’s global payments coverage and smart routing engine, users can move from fiat to crypto in just a few clicks and start interacting onchain.

“Realizing Monad’s full potential depends on frictionless onboarding,” said Thijs Maas, CEO of Onramper. “Our partnership with HaHa Wallet brings trusted, localized payment access directly into the Monad ecosystem. Together, we’re making it easier than ever for people everywhere to get started on Monad.”

Monad’s unique architecture enables parallel transaction execution, delivering faster speeds, quicker finality, and lower fees without sacrificing decentralization. Combined with Onramper’s global payment infrastructure, HaHa Wallet provides users with a streamlined entry point into Monad’s high-performance blockchain environment.

“Our focus is building the simplest possible entry point into the Monad Ecosystem,” said Mu Li, founder of HaHa Wallet. “Integrating Onramper allows us to offer trusted local payment methods, helping users get onchain quickly and confidently, no matter where they are in the world.”

Onramper continues to lead the onramp aggregation space, connecting more than 30 global fiat gateways and supporting over 2,000 digital assets, driving greater accessibility and inclusivity across Web3.

To learn more, please visit onramper.com and haha.me

About Onramper

Onramper is the leading fiat-to-crypto payments aggregator, providing a turnkey API-based solution for dynamically routing fiat-to-crypto onramp flows based on algorithms optimizing for conversion, fees and payment methods. Onramper’s platform allows users of clients to buy 2000+ digital assets, in over 190 countries with over 130 payment methods in 120 currencies, with advanced routing options and unified analytics. The company is based in the Netherlands. To learn more about Onramper, visit www.onramper.com.

‍About HaHa Wallet

HaHa Wallet is the Monad native, high performance smart wallet built to maximise how users earn and participate on chain. Purpose built for Monad’s low latency, parallel execution environment, HaHa delivers lightning fast swaps, deep native integrations with Monad dApps and ecosystem campaigns, and seamless access to multiple EVM chains through a single non custodial experience. Users earn Karma for meaningful on chain activity, unlocking rewards, ecosystem access, and future HaHa token utility, positioning HaHa Wallet as the primary consumer gateway to Monad and a rewards driven hub for Web3 participation.

Sushi Announces Strategic Investment and New Leadership to Accelerate Next Phase of Growth 81

This week, Sushi announced a major strategic development in the protocol’s long-term roadmap, backed by a significant investment from Synthesis, led by entrepreneur Alex McCurry. As part of this investment, Synthesis has acquired more than 10 million $SUSHI tokens, underscoring its conviction in Sushi’s future and its role in the evolving DeFi landscape.

Alex McCurry will join the Sushi Protocol as its new chief executive. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and seasoned founder, Alex has built and scaled eight-figure software companies and brings deep operational, product, and DeFi expertise to Sushi’s next chapter.

The announcement follows a pivotal year for Sushi: in 2024, the protocol became profitable, generating over $10 million in revenue across its Automated Market Maker (AMM), aggregator, and related product lines. With Synthesis’s backing, Sushi aims to scale this annual revenue in the coming years through disciplined growth, clear execution, and sustainable business fundamentals.

Sushi’s ecosystem continues to expand through key partnerships, including the rapid growth of Katana, a Layer 2 (L2) network supported by Polygon. Katana has accumulated over $100 million in TVL on Sushi, strengthening Sushi’s position as a foundational liquidity and routing layer for established and emerging networks.

As part of this transition, Sushi Labs managing director Jared Grey will step down from his leadership role and transition into an advisory position, continuing to support Sushi with long-term strategic guidance.

Under Alex’s leadership, Sushi will focus on four core priorities:

  • Deepening liquidity and execution quality across the protocol
  • Expanding protocol-owned liquidity (POL) and sustainable revenue streams
  • Strengthening tokenomics and aligning long-term incentives across the ecosystem
  • Supporting partners and builders who choose Sushi as their liquidity home

This leadership transition and strategic investment mark the beginning of a renewed phase of growth for Sushi, with an emphasis on operational excellence, ecosystem expansion, and user-aligned value creation.

About Sushi

SushiSwap is a leading decentralized exchange (DEX) and Aggregator that lets you SWAP ANYTHING. Powered by an advanced aggregation stack, SushiSwap ensures optimal pricing for swaps and seamless user experiences across dozens of networks.

Sushi Labs, the development arm of Sushi DAO, is building a multi-DEX powerhouse with strategic partnerships and cutting-edge DeFi primitives.

Superfortune launches AI-powered mobile app, targeting $392 billion metaphysics market beyond Web3 90

Superfortune, the web3 AI application incubated by Manta Network, has launched the first version of its mobile app, marking a strategic expansion beyond crypto-native users into the global consumer market. The app brings AI-powered metaphysics — including systems such as BaZi and Feng Shui — to a broader audience through personalized, data-driven readings and guidance.

The launch follows Superfortune’s early success within web3. The platform currently serves more than 20,000 daily active users and ranks as the top AI application on BNB Chain, signaling early product-market fit prior to its mobile expansion.

The move reflects Superfortune’s broader strategy to build consumer-facing applications that extend blockchain utility beyond financial use cases. While metaphysics-based services represent a multi-hundred-billion-dollar global market — particularly across East and Southeast Asia — the space has historically remained fragmented and offline. Superfortune aims to modernize this category by combining traditional metaphysical frameworks with scalable AI infrastructure.

The mobile app is powered by a proprietary, domain-specific AI system fine-tuned for metaphysics and personalized readings. By leveraging large language model configurations trained on structured metaphysical knowledge, the system delivers contextual guidance while maintaining consistency and cultural grounding at scale. The Manta Network team is expanding the AI model configuration to enable even more unique features for the mobile application.

The application will support several core use cases, including daily personal guidance and self-reflection, decision support for business and professional contexts — particularly in Asia — and access to real-world temples and practitioners for users seeking more personalized experiences.

“The Web3 industry has spent years building financial primitives, but real adoption comes from applications people actually use every day,” said Kenny Li, cofounder of Manta Network. “Superfortune shows how AI and blockchain can support consumer-facing experiences with real users, real engagement, and real revenue.”

The mobile launch complements Superfortune’s existing on-chain features, including its Qi Purification mechanism released in collaboration with Trust Wallet and Four.meme, which allows users to convert dormant or low-value digital assets into the platform’s native token. Together, these features position Superfortune as a hybrid Web2–Web3 application focused on utility, engagement, and long-term sustainability.

The Superfortune mobile app is available now on the Google Play Store with a future release soon on the iOS App Store. More information can be found at https://Superfortune.xyz.

About Superfortune

Superfortune is an AI-powered metaphysics platform that combines traditional Asian systems such as BaZi and Feng Shui with modern machine learning and blockchain infrastructure. Incubated by Manta Network, the platform serves more than 20,000 daily active users and ranks as the top AI application on BNB Chain.