&lt;p&gt;ZeroLend, a multi-chain DeFi lending protocol, has announced its shutdown after three years of operation, marking another chapter in the crypto industry&#039;s maturing pains. This decision highlights the harsh realities of decentralized finance amid shrinking liquidity and relentless security threats.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;The Rise and Rapid Peak of ZeroLend&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Launched as a lending platform on Ethereum Layer-2 networks and beyond, ZeroLend quickly gained traction by offering users the ability to deposit crypto for interest or borrow against collateral in a peer-to-pool model without traditional banks. At its height in November 2024, the protocol boasted a total value locked (TVL) of nearly $359 million, fueled by integrations across chains like Manta, Zircuit, and XLayer. The native ZERO token powered governance and revenue sharing, attracting stakers eager for deflationary buybacks and partner airdrops.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;Liquidity Drought Hits Hard&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;As crypto markets evolved, ZeroLend faced mounting headwinds from inactive or illiquid blockchains that once drove its growth. Networks like Manta Network, Zircuit, and XLayer saw user activity plummet, and capital migrate elsewhere, leaving assets trapped in low-liquidity positions. Oracle providers dropped support on some chains, crippling reliable price feeds essential for lending markets. These issues slashed TVL to just $6.6 million by early 2026, while thin profit margins eroded sustainability.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;Security Woes and the Final Exploit&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The protocol&#039;s expansion drew hackers and fraudsters, culminating in a February 2026 exploit that drained its BTC product on Base. Founder Ryker cited &quot;increased attacks&quot; and prolonged operating losses as key factors in the &quot;difficult decision&quot; to cease operations. Despite incentive programs and partnerships, recovery proved impossible, echoing broader DeFi struggles in a post-boom era.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;Protecting Users First&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;ZeroLend&#039;s team prioritized a safe wind-down, setting most markets to 0% loan-to-value (LTV) ratios to halt new borrowing and urging immediate withdrawals. For stuck funds on problematic chains, a timelock smart contract upgrade will redistribute assets, maximizing recovery. They&#039;ve also pledged partial refunds for exploit victims using Linea token allocations, setting a responsible precedent for DeFi closures. All user assets remain secure during this process.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;Broader Implications for DeFi&#039;s Future&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;ZeroLend joins a slew of 2026 shutdowns, signaling industry consolidation amid &quot;extreme fear&quot; in markets. It underscores the perils of multi-chain dependency: what boosts growth can become a liquidity trap. Yet, this orderly exit contrasts chaotic collapses, emphasizing robust security, sustainable economics, and adaptive models. For crypto enthusiasts and builders, it&#039;s a reminder that innovation thrives on resilience.&lt;/p&gt;

ZeroLend Winds Down

&lt;p&gt;The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has unveiled its new 35-member Innovation Advisory Committee. Announced this week, the committee brings together a powerhouse lineup of tech pioneers, financial heavyweights, academics, and regulators to guide the agency through the wild frontiers of digital assets, blockchain, and emerging markets.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;https://ds7uldi88krbs.cloudfront.net/posts/post_698e83399746a.png&quot; alt=&quot;CFTC unveils a 35 member Innovation Advisory Committee&quot; width=&quot;422&quot; height=&quot;300&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Image Source: &lt;a href=&quot;https://www.cftc.gov/PressRoom/PressReleases/9182-26&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noopener&quot;&gt;CFTC&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;A Star-Studded Lineup&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This committee is a dream team blending Silicon Valley disruptors, Wall Street veterans, and policy wonks. The committee boasts 35 diverse voices, including executives from crypto exchanges like Coinbase and Kraken, blockchain innovators from ConsenSys, legal eagles from firms like Sullivan &amp;amp; Cromwell, and academics from MIT and Stanford. Notable names include former CFTC Commissioner Brian Quintenz, now at a16z crypto, and tech leaders from Ripple and Chainalysis. This is a deliberate mix designed to bridge the gap between bleeding-edge tech and time-tested regulation. The CFTC, long tasked with overseeing derivatives and commodities, has been under pressure to adapt to DeFi, NFTs, stablecoins, and AI-driven trading. This committee steps in as an official advisory body, meeting regularly to dissect trends, flag risks, and recommend policies.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;Why This Matters&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The CFTC&#039;s proactive stance comes amid a regulatory tug-of-war with the SEC, where overlapping jurisdictions have stifled innovation. This committee could tip the scales toward clarity, potentially fast-tracking approvals for new products like spot ETFs or decentralized perpetuals. For global players, it&#039;s a beacon. With the EU&#039;s MiCA framework live and Asia&#039;s hubs like Singapore thriving, the U.S. risks falling behind. The committee&#039;s focus on &quot;innovation&quot; underscores a shift from pure enforcement to collaboration. Early signals suggest priorities like cybersecurity in DeFi and sustainable blockchain scaling, aligning with broader economic goals like energy-efficient proof-of-stake networks. Critics, however, caution against industry capture, urging diverse consumer protection voices.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;What&#039;s Next?&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Expect the committee&#039;s first meetings in Q2 2026, with public reports and recommendations flowing by year-end. They could influence everything from CFTC rulemaking to congressional testimony, potentially paving the way for a unified digital asset framework. For startups and traders, this means less guesswork and more growth runway. In the end, this 35-member brain trust is architecting crypto&#039;s American chapter. As markets evolve faster than ever, the CFTC&#039;s embrace of innovation could turn regulatory headwinds into tailwinds, fostering a safer, more vibrant ecosystem.&lt;/p&gt;

CFTC unveils a 35 member Innovation Advisory Committee

&lt;p&gt;Binance is flexing its commitment to user safety like never before. The exchange&#039;s Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU) scooped up 4,545 Bitcoin worth a hefty $304.58 million, pushing its total stash to 15,000 BTC, valued at a clean $1 billion. This caps off a bold accumulation plan that had everyone watching on-chain data, it&#039;s a statement in a market still shaking off recent dips.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;The Big Buy&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Binance announced back on January 30, 2026, that it&#039;d convert $1 billion from stablecoins into Bitcoin over 30 days. They weren&#039;t kidding around. This latest grab of 4,545 BTC at around $67,000 apiece completes the mission, as confirmed by blockchain sleuths like Arkham Intelligence. Earlier tranches included 4,225 BTC for $300 million just days prior, building the war chest step by step despite BTC&#039;s price rollercoaster from $60K lows to $70K bounces.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;Why now?&amp;nbsp;&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;SAFU, born after the 2019 hack scare, has always been the user&#039;s safety net - fully funded, transparent, and audited. Swapping stablecoins for BTC amps up its firepower against inflation and fiat risks, turning it into a battle-tested reserve. On-chain trackers show the fund&#039;s wallet bulging at 15,000 BTC, one of the fattest exchange-held piles out there. No market manipulation here; these were internal shifts.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;The Strategic Power Play&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Bitcoin as insurance may sound wild, but Binance sees it as digital gold. Stablecoins like USDT face their own drama (depegs, regs), so BTC offers uncorrelated upside. CZ and team have preached this: In extreme scenarios, like exchange blowups, BTC holds value when fiat wobbles. This move echoes corporate treasuries (think MicroStrategy) stacking sats, but for user protection. Market reaction was electric. BTC ticked up post-announcement, with traders cheering the vote of confidence from the world&#039;s biggest exchange. Analysts note it&#039;ll auto-rebalance if the fund dips below $800 million, keeping it robust. For the 250 million Binance users, it&#039;s peace of mind that your funds backed by a billion-dollar BTC fortress.​&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;What It Means for Crypto&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;This isn&#039;t isolated. It screams institutional maturity. With Trump&#039;s pro-crypto White House in play since 2025, exchanges are bulking up reserves to dodge FTX-style ghosts. Expect copycats: OKX, Bybit watching closely. For retail traders, it&#039;s bullish - more liquidity, trust, and BTC demand without direct selling pressure. SAFU&#039;s glow-up underscores crypto&#039;s evolution from Wild West to walled garden. In a year of ETF booms and RWA surges, this cements Binance&#039;s dominance, handling $10 trillion in 2025 volume.&lt;/p&gt;

Binance SAFU Fund Hits $1B Milestone

&lt;p&gt;LayerZero has unveiled Zero, a groundbreaking blockchain architecture promising up to 2 million transactions per second (TPS) per zone, powered by zero-knowledge proofs and a revolutionary split validator model. Announced on February 9, 2026, this is a direct shot at making blockchains handle Wall Street-scale volume while staying permissionless.​&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;Breaking the Scalability Ceiling&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For years, blockchain&#039;s Achilles&#039; heel has been speed. Ethereum chugs at 15-30 TPS, Solana hits around 4,000 on a good day, but Zero is aiming for 100,000x Ethereum&#039;s performance through four massive leaps: compute, storage, networking, and ZK tech. The magic lies in its heterogeneous design, ditching the old &quot;every node does everything&quot; model. Instead, it splits execution from verification using ZK proofs and tools like Jolt. Validators focus on what they&#039;re best at, proving validity without redundant grunt work, resulted Near-zero fees at $0.000001 per tx and unlimited blockspace. Bryan Pellegrino, LayerZero&#039;s CEO, calls it a &quot;decade ahead,&quot; positioning Zero to onboard the entire global economy on-chain.​&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;Big Names, Bigger Backing&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Zero is backed by heavyweights like Citadel Securities, which invested in ZRO (LayerZero&#039;s native token) and will test it for high-frequency trading and settlement. The Depository Trust &amp;amp; Clearing Corporation (DTCC) is collaborating to supercharge tokenization services. Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) and Google Cloud round out the partners, while a star-studded advisory board features Cathie Wood of ARK Invest, Michael Blaugrund from ICE, and ex-BNY Mellon digital assets head Caroline Butler. Frank La Salla, DTCC&#039;s President, nailed it: &quot;Blockchain&#039;s full potential has been elusive due to speed limits. Zero could unlock collateral mobility and programmable assets with real scalability.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;The Future of Modular Chains&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Launching fall 2026 with three initial zones, Zero reimagines blockchains as specialized, interoperable hubs. One&#039;s a general-purpose EVM playground for Solidity devs; another&#039;s privacy-focused payments; the third&#039;s tuned for global trading. Fully permissionless, users own and govern them via ZRO staking. LayerZero&#039;s omnichain tech connects Zero to 165+ existing chains, ensuring seamless asset flows. It&#039;s permissionless infrastructure, anyone can validate, build, or transact. Early zones target pain points: EVM compatibility for devs, stablecoin rails for payments, and hyper-fast markets for traders.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;Why This Matters Now&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;In 2026, RWAs are exploding, and ETFs are mainstream. Zero arrives at the perfect time. It bridges crypto&#039;s wild west with regulated finance, potentially slashing clearing times from days to seconds. ZRO holders get governance over this beast, and with Citadel&#039;s bet, expect liquidity fireworks. There are risks also there, like Execution on such ambitious TPS, plus regulatory scrutiny. But if Zero delivers even half its promise, it could eclipse Solana and challenge Visa.&lt;/p&gt;

LayerZero Unleashes Zero

&lt;p&gt;Backpack Exchange has reached a $1 billion unicorn valuation on the back of an ambitious tokenization strategy that aims to reshape how users share in an exchange&amp;rsquo;s growth. In a market still defined by caution after the collapses of major platforms, Backpack&amp;rsquo;s rise stands out as a story of calculated innovation rather than reckless speculation.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;From FTX&amp;rsquo;s Shadow to Center Stage&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Backpack is the product of a team that lived through one of crypto&amp;rsquo;s darkest chapters. Founded by former FTX and Alameda employees and led by Solana developer Armani Ferrante and former FTX executive Tristan Yver, the exchange has positioned itself as part of a new generation determined to rebuild trust in centralized platforms. Its core offering combines a regulated spot and derivatives exchange with a non-custodial, multi-chain wallet, allowing users to trade while retaining meaningful control over their assets. The company&amp;rsquo;s growth has been steady rather than explosive. After raising $17 million in a Series A round in February 2024 at a $120 million valuation, backed by funds such as Placeholder, Jump Crypto, Hashed, Amber Group, Wintermute, and Delphi Digital, Backpack spent the next year quietly building infrastructure, licenses, and liquidity. Today, it reports daily trading volumes in the tens of millions and reserves exceeding $170 million, with SOL/USDC as its most active pair.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;The $1 Billion Moment&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;According to multiple reports, Backpack is now in talks to raise about $50 million at a pre-money valuation of $1 billion, effectively catapulting it into unicorn territory even before the launch of its native token. Sources suggest that the total raise could end up higher, reflecting strong investor appetite for exchanges that combine regulatory rigour with fresh token models.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;At the heart of this valuation is Backpack&amp;rsquo;s newly unveiled tokenization push. The exchange plans to align long-term incentives through a carefully structured token strategy designed to reduce dilution for retail users and avoid the &amp;ldquo;VC-heavy&amp;rdquo; tokenomics that have plagued many past launches. As part of this, Backpack has committed to an airdrop of 250 million tokens to early supporters, particularly those who participated in its Backpack Points program, with an additional 1 million tokens earmarked for holders of its flagship Mad Lads NFT collection.​&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;Building on Regulation&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Backpack&amp;rsquo;s push into tokenization is striking precisely because it comes from a platform that has built its brand around regulatory compliance rather than evasion. The exchange holds a virtual asset service provider license from Dubai&amp;rsquo;s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) and has secured MiFID II authorization for derivatives trading in the European Union, giving it a rare foothold in tightly regulated markets. More notably, Backpack has become the first centralized exchange to list natively issued SEC-registered equities directly on a blockchain, blurring the line between traditional finance and crypto-native infrastructure.​&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;Tokenization Race&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The timing of Backpack&amp;rsquo;s move is significant. Investor interest in crypto infrastructure remains selective. For a pre-token exchange to seek unicorn status under these conditions suggests that tokenization is no longer seen as a speculative buzzword, but as a concrete route to sustainable business models.​&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;By tying its future to a token that rewards real users and early adopters, while simultaneously maintaining regulatory licenses and conservative custody practices, Backpack is trying to walk a narrow line between crypto&amp;rsquo;s experimental ethos and the discipline demanded by global regulators. If the funding round closes at the rumoured valuation, it will send a clear signal that the next wave of exchange growth may be built less on leverage and hype, and more on thoughtful token design and compliance-first expansion.&lt;/p&gt;

Backpack Exchange Hits $1 Billion Unicorn Valuation

&lt;p&gt;Tether is channelling a staggering portion of its profits, estimated at $13 billion last year, into a whopping 140 diverse investments spanning agriculture, sports, tech, and beyond. This isn&#039;t just smart money moves; it&#039;s a bold statement that Tether is evolving from stablecoin issuer to a global financial juggernaut.​&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;From Profits to Power Plays&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Tether&#039;s USDT boasts a $187 billion market cap, commanding 61% of the stablecoin universe and fueling 75% of exchange trading volume. Those eye-watering profits didn&#039;t sit idle. Instead, Tether&#039;s deploying them strategically, as highlighted in a fresh Financial Times report. We&#039;re talking real-world bets, from sustainable farming ventures in emerging markets to major league sports franchises and cutting-edge blockchain infrastructure.​&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Recent headlines paint the picture. Just this month, Tether pumped $150 million into Gold.com, snagging a 12% stake and forging a partnership to supercharge its gold-backed XAU₮ stablecoin. Days earlier, a $100 million equity injection went to Anchorage Digital, the U.S.-chartered crypto bank, beefing up regulated custody as institutions pile in. These aren&#039;t one-offs; they&#039;re threads in a massive tapestry of 140 deals, diversifying far beyond crypto into tangible assets that scream long-term stability.&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;Why Now?&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;With stablecoin markets exploding to $318 billion in 2026, demand for reliable dollar pegs is off the charts, especially in shaky economies like Venezuela, where locals flock to USDT amid government wobbles. Profits from issuance fees, reserves, and yield on Treasuries have ballooned, but Tether&#039;s not hoarding. CEO Paolo Ardoino has long teased this expansion, and now it&#039;s full steam ahead.​&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;The main strategy is to build &quot;durable infrastructure&quot; that bridges TradFi and crypto. Gold investments tap into tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), a red-hot 2025 narrative still sizzling. Sports and ag bets hedge against volatility while tapping underserved sectors. Plus, Tether&#039;s scaling its team to 450 employees, signaling aggressive growth. It&#039;s a masterclass in turning paper profits into real influence.​&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;Big Wins and Bigger Implications&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;Take the Gold.com deal: Tether&#039;s nominating a board seat, integrating USDT for gold buys, and cross-promoting stablecoins. XAU₮, already 60% of the $5.5 billion gold stablecoin market (up from $1.3 billion last year), gets a massive distribution boost. Anchorage bolsters compliant custody, crucial as banks eye crypto. These moves counter past criticisms, showcasing transparency via daily attestation.​&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For crypto users, this means more utility: Buy physical gold with USDT, earn yields on tokenized assets, or tap global liquidity without borders. Broader market? It validates stablecoins as infrastructure, not just trading fodder. Sure, skeptics point to Tether&#039;s scrapped $15-20 billion fundraising amid valuation doubts, but these investments scream confidence.​&lt;/p&gt;
&lt;h1&gt;What&#039;s Next?&lt;/h1&gt;
&lt;p&gt;As gold hits records and stablecoins redefine money, Tether&#039;s 140 bets position it as a one-stop financial ecosystem. Expect more RWAs, AI plays, and emerging-market pushes. In a world craving stability amid uncertainty, Tether&#039;s not just holding dollars, it&#039;s reshaping how we spend them.&lt;/p&gt;

Tether Unleashes Profits into 140 Investments

&lt;p class=&quot;mb-2 text-sm text-gray-800&quot;&gt;In partnership with Oxbull - Cryptobuddy community members will get &lt;span class=&quot;text-blue-900 font-bold&quot;&gt;10&lt;/span&gt; exclusive whitelist spots (Tier 3) for the upcoming IDO.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;mb-2 text-sm text-gray-800&quot;&gt;MetaFighter is a skill-based Play-to-Earn fighting game in Binance Smart Chain Network which captures the essence of arcade fighting classics like Street Fighter, Virtua Fighter and Soul Calibur, while delivering an in -game economy that rewards players for their combat prowess. Launching on Oxbull with &lt;span class=&quot;text-blue-900 font-bold&quot;&gt;130K&lt;/span&gt; initial market cap&lt;/p&gt;

Uponly × Cryptobuddy Airdrop Giveaway

In partnership with Oxbull - Cryptobuddy community members will get 10 exclusive whitelist spots (Tier 3) for the upcoming IDO.MetaFighter is a skill-based Play-to-Earn fighting game in Binance Smart Chain Network which captures the essence of arcade fighting classics like Street Fighter, Virtua Fighter and Soul Calibur, while delivering an in -game economy that rewards players for their combat prowess. Launching on Oxbull with 130K initial market cap

MetaFighter Oxbull IDO - Whitelist for Cryptobuddy Community

In partnership with Oxbull - Cryptobuddy community members will get 10 exclusive whitelist spots (Tier 3) for the upcoming IDO.Fantom Pad has developed the first Hybrid Incubator-DEX built on the Fantom network, creating a safer, seamless environment for all emerging projects. Launching on Oxbull with 144K initial market cap

FantomPad Oxbull IDO - Whitelist for Cryptobuddy Community

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In partnership with Oxbull - Cryptobuddy community members will get 10 exclusive whitelist spots (Tier 3) for the upcoming IDO.Shark Race Club is an interesting and unique NFT play-to-earn racing game that is featuring a variety of Shark NFT Characters. Launching on Oxbull with 328K initial market cap

Shark Race Club Oxbull IDO - Whitelist for Cryptobuddy Community

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In partnership with Oxbull - Cryptobuddy community members will get 10 exclusive whitelist spots (Tier 3) for the upcoming IDO.Crimecash is a game where you can buy weapons and loot other players. Crimecash is launching on Oxbull

CrimeCash Oxbull IDO - Whitelist for Cryptobuddy Community

CrimeCash

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ZeroLend Winds Down

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Binance SAFU Fund Hits $1B Milestone

LayerZero Unleashes Zero

Backpack Exchange Hits $1 Billion Unicorn Valuation

Tether Unleashes Profits into 140 Investments

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