Crypto News Update: WETH Buy, Bit Digital Turnaround, SEC Delays Solana ETF

Coinbase’s $2.9 billion Deribit acquisition leads global crypto derivatives expansion as SEC delays Solana ETF decisions, Ethereum ETFs see strong inflows, and Hong Kong sets new custody standards.

Summary

Today’s crypto highlights include Coinbase completing a $2.9 billion acquisition of Deribit, establishing itself as the global leader in crypto derivatives. The U.S. SEC postponed decisions on Bitwise and 21Shares Solana ETFs to October 16. Citi is exploring custody and payment services for stablecoins and crypto ETFs. Ronin announced an upgrade from a sidechain to Ethereum Layer 2 by Q1–Q2 next year. Sequans revealed plans to acquire 100,000 BTC by 2030. Ethereum spot ETFs recorded $640 million in net inflows, while Bitcoin spot ETFs saw $231 million. Hong Kong’s SFC issued custody standards for virtual asset platforms, and USD.AI closed a $13 million Series A led by Framework Ventures.

Terms & Concepts
  • Ethereum Layer 2: A secondary framework built atop Ethereum to enhance transaction speed and reduce costs, while leveraging the security of the main Ethereum blockchain.
  • Spot ETF: An exchange-traded fund that holds the underlying asset directly, giving investors direct price exposure to the asset without derivatives.
  • Custody Services: Secure storage solutions for digital assets, safeguarding them against theft or loss through advanced security protocols.