CoinDesk

**Hack VC** has led another significant funding round, securing backing from **Generative Venture** and **DWF Labs**. The round attracted notable participation from executives at traditional finance giants: - **Jane Street** (quantitative trading firm) - **Point72** (hedge fund) This marks Hack VC's second major lead investment this year, following their April round that included DAO5, L2Iterative, and several other crypto-focused VCs. The involvement of **traditional finance executives** signals growing institutional interest in crypto ventures, bridging the gap between legacy finance and digital assets.

A major bank has announced **regulated staking services** for Polygon's native token (POL), claiming to be the first financial institution to offer this service. Key details: - **Up to 15% rewards** for POL staking - First regulated offering of its kind - Marks institutional adoption of Polygon staking This development follows earlier signals that **POL staking was moving mainstream**, suggesting growing institutional interest in Polygon's ecosystem. The regulated approach could attract traditional investors who previously avoided crypto staking due to compliance concerns.

**Plume is gaining traction** with traditional investment funds as it expands its regulatory footprint. The platform is currently **receiving interest from 40 Act funds** - regulated investment companies that include mutual funds and ETFs. This signals growing institutional appetite for Plume's offerings. Concurrently, Plume is **actively seeking additional licenses** to broaden its operational capabilities and market reach. Key developments: - 40 Act fund interest demonstrates institutional validation - License expansion suggests strategic growth plans - Regulatory compliance remains a priority This dual approach of attracting institutional capital while securing regulatory permissions positions Plume for potential market expansion.

A penny stock company has announced plans to invest in cryptocurrency, which will be held directly on the company's balance sheet. This move follows a growing trend of corporations adding digital assets to their treasury reserves as a store of value and potential hedge against inflation. **Key Details:** - Investment will purchase cryptocurrency for balance sheet holdings - Represents corporate adoption of digital assets as treasury strategy - Follows similar moves by other public companies The announcement signals continued institutional interest in cryptocurrency as a legitimate asset class for corporate treasuries.

**Derivatives take the wheel** - Options trading has overtaken spot markets as the primary driver of Bitcoin price movements. Institutional traders are increasingly using **Deribit** (the largest crypto options exchange) and **IBIT** (BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF) to position themselves around market volatility rather than buying Bitcoin directly. This shift represents a **fundamental change** in how Bitcoin prices are determined: - Options flows now have more influence than traditional spot trading - Institutions prefer derivative instruments for volatility exposure - Price discovery is moving from spot exchanges to options markets The trend suggests Bitcoin markets are **maturing** toward traditional finance structures, where derivatives often lead spot price action.

**OpenAI has secured a major chip partnership with AMD**, marking a significant shift in the AI hardware landscape. The **multi-billion dollar agreement** is driving widespread gains across artificial intelligence and high-performance computing stocks. This deal represents a notable move away from the typical NVIDIA dominance in AI chip supply. **Key impacts:** - Sector-wide stock rallies in AI and computing companies - Increased competition in the AI chip market - Potential cost advantages for OpenAI's infrastructure needs The partnership signals AMD's growing presence in the AI acceleration market and could reshape how major AI companies approach their hardware strategies going forward.

A major firm has solidified its position as the **largest institutional holder of Ethereum**, now controlling over **2.83 million ETH tokens**. This significant treasury expansion demonstrates continued institutional confidence in Ethereum's long-term value proposition. The firm's growing ETH holdings represent billions in market value at current prices. **Key highlights:** - Treasury now exceeds 2.83 million ETH - Maintains position as largest institutional holder - Signals sustained institutional adoption The accumulation reflects broader institutional interest in Ethereum as digital infrastructure and store of value.

**GalaxyOne** has launched a new unified trading platform that combines traditional and digital assets under one roof. Key features include: - **4-8% yields** on deposits - Unified trading across **crypto, stocks, and ETFs** - Single platform for multiple asset classes The platform aims to bridge traditional finance with cryptocurrency markets, offering users a streamlined experience for diversified investing. *Ready to explore cross-asset trading opportunities?*

A broker has established a **$54 price target** for an unnamed stock, representing a significant **35% upside** from Friday's closing price of $40. This follows recent bullish sentiment from the same broker, which previously: - Maintained a **buy rating** on September 29th - Raised its price objective to $16 from $12 The substantial price target increase suggests growing confidence in the stock's potential performance. The 35% upside projection indicates strong expected returns for investors at current levels.

**Bitcoin reached a new all-time high** over the weekend, driving positive momentum across financial markets. Stock futures are trading higher in premarket action, with investors responding favorably to the cryptocurrency's latest milestone. The weekend rally demonstrates continued institutional and retail interest in digital assets, potentially signaling broader market confidence. - Bitcoin's record price adds momentum to crypto markets - Stock futures show positive correlation with crypto gains - Weekend trading activity suggests strong investor sentiment