Edgen Crypto·Nov 14 2025, 06:07
[1] a16z: Arcade Tokens, the Most Undervalued Type of Token - Deep Tide TechFlow (https://www.techflowpost.com/article/detail_2 ...)[2] Understanding <b>Arcade Tokens</b>: A New Frontier in Digital Economies - Blockchain.News (https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/groun ...)[3] Arcade tokens: The most underappreciated token type - a16z crypto (https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/groun ...)
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Nov 14 2025, 07:54
Asia-Pacific Leads Global Digital Asset Adoption with Nearly 25% Adult Penetration
## Executive Summary The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region has emerged as a leading hub for digital asset adoption, with nearly one in four adults, or 24.3%, utilizing cryptocurrencies. This figure significantly surpasses the global average of 16.9% and positions APAC as the fastest-growing driver of crypto activity in 2025. The region accounts for approximately six in ten of the world's digital asset users, driven by factors such as remittances, mobile-first finance, and stablecoin transactions. Awareness of cryptocurrency is high, with over 90% of adults in the region reporting familiarity, and more than half expressing intent to use digital assets within the next year. ## The Event in Detail Findings from the "APAC Digital Asset Adoption 2025: Stablecoins, Tokenization & Integration" report indicate that 24.3% of adults with internet access across the Asia-Pacific region use digital assets. This is considerably higher than the global average. Stablecoins have been particularly influential, with almost one in five adults across the region utilizing them. A notable disparity exists between emerging and developed APAC economies: stablecoin adoption in emerging markets stands at 17.8%, roughly three times that of developed economies, which record 5.8%. Countries like Thailand lead stablecoin adoption at 30%, followed by the UAE at 26%, and Hong Kong at 18%. Japan, in contrast, shows the lowest adoption rate in the study at 2%. The report underscores a shift in digital asset usage from speculative investment to embedded financial infrastructure, particularly through remittances. The APAC region has also seen its trading volume increase by 69% year-over-year, rising from $1.4 trillion in June 2024 to $2.36 trillion in June 2025, with countries such as Vietnam, Pakistan, India, and South Korea contributing significantly to this growth. ## Market Implications The accelerated integration of digital assets into mainstream finance is a dominant theme in 2025, propelled by institutional adoption and regulatory clarity. The approval of spot **Bitcoin** (**BTC**) ETFs in early 2024 and **Ether** (**ETH**) ETFs in July 2024 has opened avenues for substantial institutional capital. Similar approvals are anticipated for other single-token cryptocurrencies like **Solana** (**SOL**) and **XRP** (**XRP**). This trend, coupled with maturing infrastructure and an expanding array of practical use cases, is fostering increased crypto adoption across both institutional and consumer segments. Globally, regulatory advancements such as the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR), fully operational since January 2025, and the U.S. GENIUS Act, signed in July 2025, are reducing regulatory uncertainty and attracting more participants. In Asia, key jurisdictions including Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Japan are actively refining their regulatory frameworks. Hong Kong's ASPIRe roadmap, South Korea's Digital Asset Basic Act, and Singapore's Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA) exemplify this regional commitment to legal and supervisory models supporting long-term market integration. Tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) now exceed $22.5 billion on-chain, and institutional **Bitcoin** holdings have nearly doubled in 2025. ## Expert Commentary Despite the rapid growth, challenges such as scalability, interoperability, and user-friendliness persist, though continuous innovation is actively addressing these hurdles. A J.P. Morgan survey of CFOs and treasurers in Asia Pacific revealed that 40% cite regulatory uncertainty as the main barrier to digital currency adoption. Furthermore, 60% of respondents rated their understanding of digital currencies as low or very low, highlighting a significant need for greater education and clarity in this evolving space. ## Broader Context Asia's rapid growth in crypto adoption, outpacing regions such as the United States and Europe, signifies a pivotal shift in the global digital asset landscape. Stablecoins have gone mainstream, with adjusted transaction volumes approaching $1.25 trillion monthly by September 2025, rivaling traditional payment systems. The repeal of SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 121 (SAB 121) in the U.S. and its replacement with SAB 122 has removed a major hurdle for institutional custody services by eliminating the requirement for banks to classify crypto assets as liabilities. This regulatory environment, combined with sustained institutional interest and clear policy frameworks, reinforces the transition of cryptocurrencies from a volatile outlier to a strategic asset class, particularly evident in the dynamic APAC market.
Nov 14 2025, 07:05
Decentralized Sequencer Project Astria Shuts Down Development Firm After $18 Million Funding
## Executive Summary Decentralized sequencing project **Astria** has announced the closure of its development firm, a decision made less than two years after securing approximately **$18 million** in funding, prompting market discussion on the viability of specialized blockchain infrastructure. ## The Event in Detail **Astria**, a project focused on decentralized sequencing, confirmed the cessation of operations for its development corporation. Founder **Josh Bowen** publicly stated that the decision was difficult but necessary. This announcement follows a significant **$18 million** in total funding raised by the firm, highlighting the operational challenges faced even by well-funded projects within the cryptocurrency sector. The team has communicated that its engineers are actively seeking new employment opportunities. ## Financial Mechanics and Strategic Context **Astria** had successfully completed a **$12.5 million** strategic fundraising round in 2024. This round was spearheaded by **dba** and **Placeholder VC**, with additional participation from **RockawayX**. Prior investors such as **Maven11**, **1kx**, **Figment Capital**, and **Batu** also contributed, alongside angel investors including **Yuki**, **DCBuilder**, **Hasu**, **Will Price**, and **Jason Yanowitz**, and **Bankless Ventures**. These funds were designated for the ongoing development of the **Astria Sequencing Layer** and the **Astria Stack**, aiming to enable the deployment of permissionless rollups without reliance on a centralized sequencer. The project’s core objective was to address the challenge of centralized sequencers, which many rollups currently depend on, by offering a shared, decentralized sequencing layer. ## Market Implications and Broader Context The shutdown of **Astria** carries implications for the broader Web3 ecosystem, particularly for **modular blockchains** and the concept of **shared sequencers**. Astria's solution aimed to improve decentralization, resilience, and censorship resistance within the blockchain space by fostering interoperability and reducing fragmentation among various blockchain networks and Layer 2 solutions. The closure, despite the project's contributions to the modular stack, underscores the significant difficulties in navigating volatile market cycles, even for technologically advanced teams. This event may introduce uncertainty regarding the future development and adoption of shared sequencing networks, which are viewed as crucial for enhancing scalability and decentralization in the rollup-heavy blockchain environment. The project previously indicated potential funding pressures in August 2025, when it shut down its **Celestia** validator and urged delegators to redelegate.
Nov 14 2025, 06:40
Trump's Potential Fed Picks Signal Shift on Quantitative Easing, Prompting Crypto Market Scrutiny
## Executive Summary Donald Trump's potential Federal Reserve Chairman selections advocate for re-evaluating quantitative easing, signaling a potential shift in monetary policy that could significantly influence cryptocurrency markets and investor sentiment. ## The Event in Detail Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has confirmed a shortlist of five candidates for the next Federal Reserve Chairman, expected to be announced before the end of the year. The candidates include Christopher Waller, Michelle Bowman, Kevin Warsh, Kevin Hassett, and Rick Rieder. These potential appointees are currently debating the extent to which the Federal Reserve should reduce its intervention in future economic downturns, particularly concerning the limitation of quantitative easing (QE). Several candidates have expressed specific views on digital assets. Christopher Waller describes **Bitcoin** as "electronic gold" and believes stablecoins can enhance competition within the financial system. He has advocated for direct access to the Fed's payment infrastructure for crypto companies, viewing digital assets as an integral part of the financial system. Michelle Bowman has stated that regulators should not be "overly cautious" regarding digital assets and suggests that Fed employees could benefit from experiencing digital assets in small amounts. This discussion signals a potential departure from current policy regarding the Fed's financial asset holdings and its approach to the digital asset ecosystem. ## Market Implications The Federal Reserve's monetary policy decisions, specifically quantitative easing (QE) and quantitative tightening (QT), have historically demonstrated a significant influence on cryptocurrency markets. QE, characterized by the acquisition of financial assets to inject liquidity into the economy and lower long-term interest rates, has typically boosted investor risk appetite and driven bullish trends in cryptocurrencies. For instance, during the COVID-era QE (2020–2021), **Bitcoin** surged from approximately $7,000 to over $60,000. Conversely, periods of QT, which reduce liquidity, tend to lead to bearish market conditions for cryptocurrencies. **Bitcoin** prices fell when the Fed announced intentions to raise rates in November 2021 and throughout 2022 during aggressive rate hikes. High interest rates generally deter investment in riskier assets like cryptocurrencies, while lower rates are viewed positively by the crypto investor community. A Trump-appointed Chair could pursue earlier and deeper interest rate cuts, creating a more liquidity-rich environment that historically favors crypto markets. Deutsche Bank forecasts a return to QE in 2026, which could coincide with critical drivers such as **Bitcoin** halving cycles and growing institutional interest, potentially leading to price elevations. The anticipation of such shifts can cause market reactions, as observed when a hint of a rate cut cessation in late October contributed to **Bitcoin** trading closer to $100,000 from a previous high. ## Expert Commentary Financial experts emphasize the link between Fed policy and market valuations. Octavio Sandoval, principal at Illumen Capital, notes that the restrictive monetary policies and interest rate increases in 2022 led to a decline in the valuation of equity markets and cryptocurrencies. Steve Azoury, head of Azoury Financial, highlights that the stock market is perpetually concerned about future interest rates, given their impact on borrowing costs across all investment and purchasing activities. Dan Raju, CEO of Tradier, points out that crypto prices are influenced by the same directional sentiment affecting retail stock investors. He reiterates that high interest rates typically deter riskier investments like crypto, while lower rates are generally seen as beneficial by the crypto community. The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has cautioned that the growing adoption of cryptocurrencies and decentralized finance (DeFi) could pose risks to the traditional financial system and exacerbate wealth inequality, highlighting investor protection as a significant regulatory concern and emphasizing the role of stablecoins in transferring value within the crypto ecosystem. ## Broader Context The ongoing debate among potential Federal Reserve Chairman candidates regarding the future of quantitative easing and the integration of digital assets underscores a pivotal moment for monetary policy and the Web3 ecosystem. Any policy shifts, particularly those influencing the Fed's balance sheet and interest rate trajectory, will directly impact market liquidity and investor risk appetite, thereby shaping the price dynamics of major cryptocurrencies like **Bitcoin** and **Ethereum**. The candidacies of individuals who are openly "crypto-friendly" suggest a potential for increased regulatory clarity and smoother integration pathways for digital assets into the broader financial system, contrasting with concerns previously raised about the Fed's expanded power and its impact on wealth inequality. This evolving landscape requires continuous monitoring for its implications on investment strategies and the trajectory of corporate adoption of blockchain technologies.