crypto

Sage D. Young3/18/26

Payward, parent company of crypto exchange Kraken, puts plans for IPO on hold

Payward, crypto exchange Kraken’s parent company, has paused its plans for an initial public offering until market conditions improve, according to a report from CoinDesk that cited two people with knowledge of the matter.

Since the firm announced in November its preparation for an IPO of its common stock, the total market capitalization of the crypto industry has shed around $652.2 billion, from $3.2 trillion to $2.5 trillion as of Wednesday, data from CoinGecko shows.

The news comes two weeks after Kraken received approval for a master account from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, allowing the crypto exchange to connect to the Fed’s payment infrastructure used by traditional banks and credit unions.

Last year, Kraken raised $800 million at a $20 billion valuation from institutional investors such as Jane Street and Citadel Securities.

Payward, parent of crypto exchange Kraken, has put its IPO plans on hold

Payward, parent of crypto exchange Kraken, has put its IPO plans on hold

The news comes two weeks after Kraken received approval for a master account from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, allowing the crypto exchange to connect to the Fed’s payment infrastructure used by traditional banks and credit unions.

Last year, Kraken raised $800 million at a $20 billion valuation from institutional investors such as Jane Street and Citadel Securities.

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Yaël Bizouati-Kennedy4h

Strategy dips following mixed Q1 earnings

Strategy, the largest corporate bitcoin holder, with 818,334 bitcoin, reported its first-quarter earnings, missing analysts’ earnings-per-share estimates but beating on revenue. Shares dipped in after-market trading.

For the first three months of 2026, Strategy reported:

Revenue from its legacy software business of $124.3 million, above analysts’ consensus estimate of $121 million.

But the main focus is on its bitcoin operations. Strategy, with a $65 billion market cap, purchased its bitcoin at an average price of $75,537. The company reported a $14.46 billion unrealized loss on its digital assets in its first quarter, according to an April 8-K filing, following bitcoin’s descent over the past three months.

This compares to an unrealized loss on digital assets of $5.91 billion for the first quarter of 2025.

It also reported a bitcoin yield of 9.4% in 2026 year to date, and a bitcoin gain of $4.97 billion in 2026 YTD.

Ahead of earnings, the company skipped buying bitcoin this week, the second weekly break this year.

Proceeds from STRC, Strategy’s perpetual preferred equity instrument, launched in July 2025, have enabled the firm to maintain its acquisition pace despite bitcoin’s tumble this quarter. This includes a massive purchase of 34,164 bitcoin for $2.54 billion in April, its largest acquisition since November 2024. STRC raised $5.58 billion, a 189% growth in 2026 YTD.

In April, TD Cowen analysts reiterated their “buy” rating on Strategy, as their “top digital asset pick,” with a $385 price target, saying the continued innovation at the instrument level “remains a key differentiator supporting long‑term shareholder value creation.”

crypto

Sage D. Young8h

TON springs on news Telegram will act as a “driving force” for the network

Toncoin, the native token for The Open Network, has jumped more than 26% in the last 24 hours after Telegram CEO Pavel Durov said the popular messaging app will play a larger role in the ecosystem.

Telegram will become the largest validator for The Open Network and replace the TON Foundation “as the driving force behind TON,” Durov wrote in a Monday message shared on Telegram and X.

Digital assets within the TON ecosystem have also rallied on the news, with canine-based coin DOGS rising 81% and gaming token NOTCOIN increasing 14%. Despite the ongoing rally, TON hitting $1.80 is still a far cry from its all-time high of $8.25 set in 2024, data from CoinGecko shows.

The Open Network is a layer 1 blockchain that last year became the exclusive network for Telegram’s mini apps ecosystem, which includes an embedded crypto wallet.

Jakob Palmstierna, president of crypto trading firm GSR, said the announcement is more akin to a reunion than a pivot. “TON was originally created to be Telegram’s financial infrastructure, and the foundation spinout was largely a regulatory workaround,” Palmstierna told Sherwood.

He added, “Telegram stepping in now is simply completing the road map, turning one of the world’s largest messaging platforms into a true super app with a native monetary layer.”

Bitwise research analyst Ish Asad told Sherwood, “Telegram has already been the primary driver and source of usage for the TON chain, and this new development should further strengthen their alignment.”

Yaël Bizouati-Kennedy

Bitcoin passes $81,000 as optimism builds

One expert said “these levels could represent the critical ‘demarcation line’ between bull and bear market.”

A Bitcoin ATM in Hong Kong...

crypto

Sage D. Young10h

Bullish soars on $4.2 billion deal to acquire transfer agent Equiniti

Shares of crypto exchange Bullish spiked on news that the firm agreed to acquire transfer agent Equiniti for $4.2 billion, comprising $1.85 billion of assumed debt and $2.35 billion in Bullish stock consideration.

The deal is Bullish’s latest effort to build out its tokenized securities capabilities for around-the-clock trading and instant settlement, per a Tuesday press release.

Equiniti is one of the largest transfer agents, providing services to around 3,000 companies including Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, luxury automobile maker Rolls-Royce, and credit ratings giant Moody’s, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.

“Tokenization is a once-in-a-generation shift in how capital markets operate, the defining infrastructure trend of the next 25 years,” according to Bullish CEO Tom Farley, who was the former president of the New York Stock Exchange. “I believe it uniquely positions us to lead the transition to tokenized securities,” Farley continued in a statement.

Crypto Exchange Bullish Strikes $4.2 Billion Deal for Transfer Agent in Tokenization Push

Crypto Exchange Bullish Strikes $4.2 Billion Deal for Transfer Agent in Tokenization Push

Equiniti is one of the largest transfer agents, providing services to around 3,000 companies including Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, luxury automobile maker Rolls-Royce, and credit ratings giant Moody’s, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.

“Tokenization is a once-in-a-generation shift in how capital markets operate, the defining infrastructure trend of the next 25 years,” according to Bullish CEO Tom Farley, who was the former president of the New York Stock Exchange. “I believe it uniquely positions us to lead the transition to tokenized securities,” Farley continued in a statement.

Yaël Bizouati-Kennedy

Bitcoin briefly reclaims key $80,000 level

A late Friday compromise on the CLARITY Act is boosting optimism for bitcoin in the longer term as well as shares of Circle and Coinbase today.

bitcoin symbol in poland

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