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BlackRock has launched its first Bitcoin ETP in Europe, marking its debut in crypto-linked ETPs outside North America, with a temporary 10 basis point fee waiver. American financial giant BlackRock is stepping into the European crypto market with its first Bitcoin exchange-traded product , which will trade under IB1T on Xetra and Euronext Paris and as BTCN on Euronext Amsterdam, marking its expansion beyond North America. According to a Bloomberg report on Tuesday, March 25, the so-called iShares Bitcoin ETP (IB1T) will launch with a temporary fee waiver of 10 basis points, reducing its expense ratio to 0.15% until the end of the year. Manuela Sperandeo, BlackRock’s head of Europe & Middle East iShares Product, says the product reflects “what really could be seen as a tipping point in the industry — the combination of established demand from retail investors with more professionals now really getting into the fold.” The launch follows the success of BlackRock’s U.S.-listed iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), which amassed billions in assets and became the fastest-growing ETF in market history, allocating $48 billion in 2024, per data from VettaFi. While IB1T will initially have a fee waiver, it will eventually charge 0.25%, the same as CoinShares ‘ $1.3 billion physical Bitcoin product, Europe’s largest crypto ETP. In a commentary for Bloomberg, BlackRock confirmed that Coinbase will remain as its custodian for the physical Bitcoin backing the ETP. The product is designed for both institutional and informed retail investors and will be issued through a special-purpose vehicle based in Switzerland.

Rain, a global card issuing platform that uses stablecoins, has secured $24.5 million in funding led by Norwest Venture Partners. Additional participants include Galaxy Ventures, Goldcrest, Thayer, and Hard Yaka, alongside existing investors such as Lightspeed Venture Partners, Coinbase Ventures, Vinyl Capital, Canonical Crypto, and Latitude Capital. This investment will enable Rain to enhance interoperability with existing financial systems, broaden its global presence, and advance its stablecoin authorization and settlement infrastructure. The company has experienced significant growth, with a 15-fold increase over the past year and transaction processing in over 100 countries, according to a company release . Rain has also achieved principal membership with Visa , facilitating card issuance across Europe, the U.S., and Latin America. Its vertically integrated issuing stack allows the operation of card programs worldwide, settling transactions in stablecoins. The platform allows businesses to issue physical and virtual cards linked to various wallet types or traditional fiat accounts, with support for native settlement on multiple blockchain networks. Norwest Venture Partners, a global investment firm with over $15.5 billion in capital, has a history of supporting fintech innovations. Their portfolio includes investments in companies like Plaid, which streamlines financial data access between banks and consumers. Parker Barrile, a partner at Norwest Venture Partners, highlighted Rain’s significance in the evolving financial landscape. He noted that the company’s platform merges compliance with the flexibility of digital currency, positioning it as a leader in the growing adoption of stablecoins. This funding underscores the increasing interest in integrating stablecoins into mainstream financial services, highlighting Rain’s potential to bridge traditional finance with the expanding digital currency ecosystem.

The trend of institutional investors embracing Bitcoin continues to gain momentum, with the “HODL Top 70” list of companies now collectively holding a staggering 670,153 BTC. This increasing accumulation of Bitcoin by corporate entities reflects a growing confidence in the cryptocurrency’s long-term value proposition. In the past week alone, five companies further expanded their digital asset portfolios, adding a total of 7,349 BTC to their already substantial reserves. Which Companies Are Leading the Charge in Bitcoin Accumulation? When it comes to individual corporate Bitcoin holdings, Strategy (MSTR) remains the undisputed leader , currently possessing an impressive 506,137 BTC. The company’s well-known and aggressive Bitcoin accumulation strategy keeps it significantly ahead of all other publicly traded firms in this space. Following Strategy is Marathon Digital (MARA) with a substantial 46,374 BTC, maintaining its position as a key player in the Bitcoin mining industry. Riot Platforms (RIOT) holds 18,692 BTC, further demonstrating its strong commitment to Bitcoin as a core asset in its treasury. Related: Strategy (Formerly MicroStrategy) Launches $2.1 Billion Share Sale to Fund Further Bitcoin Acquisitions Tesla (TSLA) continues to hold a significant amount of Bitcoin, retaining 11,509 BTC, which reflects its sustained investment in the cryptocurrency despite the market’s inherent volatility. Cleanspark (CLSK) has accumulated 11,177 BTC, further solidifying its position within the Bitcoin mining sector. Hut 8 (HUT) closely follows with 10,237 BTC, remaining one of the industry’s leading Bitcoin mining companies. Coinbase (COIN), a major cryptocurrency exchange, holds 9,480 BTC, ensuring it has significant exposure to Bitcoin’s price fluctuations. Block (formerly known as Square) owns a notable 8,485 BTC, underscoring its long-term belief in Bitcoin’s potential as a transformative technology and asset. Galaxy Digital (GLXY), a prominent investment firm focused on digital assets, holds 4,848 BTC, showcasing its commitment to Bitcoin as a key component of the evolving financial landscape. Bitcoin Group SE (BTGGF), a European institutional investor, has accumulated 3,605 BTC, further strengthening its presence in the Bitcoin market. Metaplanet recently increased its holdings, now reaching a total of 3,350 BTC. This strategic move aligns with the company’s publicly stated bullish outlook on Bitcoin’s future. Semler Scientific (SMLR) holds 3,192 BTC, maintaining a significant corporate stake in the cryptocurrency. Hive Digital (HIVE) possesses 2,620 BTC, supporting its operations in the digital asset mining space. Cango (CANG) has also increased its exposure to Bitcoin, now holding 1,944 BTC. Exodus (EXOD) follows with 1,900 BTC, using Bitcoin as part of its reserves to support its digital wallet services. BitFuFu (FUFU) owns 1,800 BTC, reflecting the broader trend of increasing institutional adoption of Bitcoin. Nexon (NEXOF) holds 1,717 BTC, demonstrating continued corporate confidence in Bitcoin’s long-term value as an asset. Related: Bitcoin Bet Pays Off: Strategy₿ (MSTR) Outperforms Top Stocks Fold (FLD) has accumulated 1,485 BTC, highlighting its ongoing commitment to the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Canaan (CAN), a major manufacturer of Bitcoin mining hardware, holds 1,355 BTC, maintaining its presence within the Bitcoin industry. This sustained and growing institutional adoption signals a strong and enduring corporate belief in Bitcoin’s potential as a valuable long-term investment asset. Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is for informational and educational purposes only. The article does not constitute financial advice or advice of any kind. Coin Edition is not responsible for any losses incurred as a result of the utilization of content, products, or services mentioned. Readers are advised to exercise caution before taking any action related to the company.

Crypto exchanges and stablecoin issuers in Australia could soon face stricter licensing rules under a proposed regulatory shake-up. On March 20, the Treasury released a new policy paper outlining plans to bring key parts of the digital asset industry under existing financial services laws. According to authorities, the regulations would help “identify opportunities, manage risks, unlock innovation, protect consumers and uphold market integrity.” Under the proposed framework, crypto platforms that hold digital assets for customers, such as exchanges, custodians, and certain brokerages, will need to operate under an Australian Financial Services Licence. Platforms that deal in tokenized stored-value facilities, such as some stablecoin issuers, will also be brought into the fold. These issuers will need to meet the same requirements as other stored-value providers, including clear rules for redeeming value and safeguarding customer assets. Authorities noted that this approach would “address the unique risks of [Digital Asset Platforms] and Tokenised SVFs,” with additional disclosure rules to be implemented for tokens that don’t have clear issuers. However, businesses that create digital assets for non-financial purposes, maintain infrastructure or build blockchain software won’t be regulated under the new laws. Small-scale and early-stage platforms could also get a pass from full licensing requirements, though they may still need to meet some tailored compliance rules according to the policy paper. Stablecoins used for payments will face oversight similar to that of traditional non-cash payment systems, as they’ll be treated as stored-value facilities under the broader payments reform. However, dealing in these tokens or trading them on secondary markets won’t automatically count as financial dealing. The platforms involved in such trades won’t be considered financial markets simply because they list stablecoins or wrapped tokens. A draft law is expected to drop sometime in 2025, with rollout dates to be confirmed once the legislation is finalized. The government also addressed the growing problem of de-banking, where crypto businesses are denied banking services. Officials said they’re working closely with Australia’s major banks to “understand the extent and nature of de-banking.” In recent years, de-banking has become a major headache for crypto firms in Australia, with big players like Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, NAB, and HSBC Australia cutting off or restricting services to such entities. “De-banking can have a devastating impact on de-banked businesses and individuals. It can also stifle competition and innovation in the financial services sector and negatively impact Australia’s economy,” authorities noted, adding that the proposed framework would strengthen risk management across the crypto sector and, in turn, improve trust with banks. Looking ahead, regulators will also explore how tokenisation could reshape asset markets, assess crypto tax reporting standards, monitor DeFi developments, and weigh the potential benefits of a central bank digital currency for Australia’s financial system.

Lumia and Polygon Labs, two notable players in the blockchain space, are set to transform the real estate industry via tokenization. Lumia CEO Kal Ali disclosed a collaboration with Polygon to build the world’s first crypto real estate project, Lumia Towers. The Lumia Towers, estimated at $220 million, are anticipated to be completed and fully tokenized by the second quarter of 2026. This massive infrastructure, a pair of skyscrapers spanning over 50,000 square meters, is located in Istanbul, the largest city in Turkey. It is set to house 300 residential and commercial units and is poised to become a global crypto hub. According to Ali, Lumia Towers represents a breakthrough in how people approach real estate ownership. Leveraging the tokenization model, Lumia plans to make the real estate market more accessible, open, and seamless for retail investors. According to Landshares data , tokenized real-world assets are valued at around $187 billion. In the bear-case scenario, they are estimated to rise between $3.5 trillion and $10 trillion in the bull case by 2030, reflecting a potential 50-fold growth. Ventures attempting to fractionalize high-value assets through blockchain technology are largely responsible for this explosive expansion. They make it possible for investors to own commercial and residential properties by buying tokens. However, despite the promise of democratizing real estate investment, challenges like regulatory complexities and market liquidity issues still exist. This could lead to potential risks down the line for Lumia. For instance, investors may find it difficult to buy or sell real estate ownership tokens if there is no sufficient trading volume, limiting the anticipated liquidity benefits. In previous instances, other tokenization projects focused on existing buildings. In the US, Tokeninvest purchased a $740,000 building in Longmont, Colorado, and tokenized it. This allowed third-party investors to supply 97% of the purchase capital directly. Boris Spremo, Head of Enterprise and Financial Services for Polygon Labs, admitted that barriers to entry in the real estate market are “sky-high.” However, real estate prices have continued to rise in Turkey, where the Lumia Towers will be built. Ali explained that Lumia will grant ownership rights for the tokenized twin skyscrapers through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs). Users can receive shares of the SPVs minted on-chain as ERC-20 tokens. These tokens give holders governance rights, allowing them to vote on decisions regarding the use of the property, like whether to rent or sell. Ali added that Lumia Towers tokens will launch on the Lumia Chain, granting easier access for retail investors. Polygon will play a key role in ensuring that developers like Lumia can customize their blockchain for this specific use case. Boris Spremo explained that Polygon will lower the cost of tokenizing ownership of the $220 million infrastructure without compromising security. Ali disclosed plans to expand the Lumia Towers model to other regions, such as the Middle East and North Africa, the US, and Europe. The Lumia Towers announcement comes amid a surge in real-estate tokenization. As we discussed earlier, Tether has partnered with Reelly Tech to integrate USDT into UAE’s booming real estate market. Before this integration, the New York Real Estate Fund (NYREF) tokenized an $18 million property in the heart of New York City. In a previous article we examined , Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse revealed increased demand for XRP as a preferred payment solution within the real estate sector.