Robinhood (NASDAQ:HOOD) recently received a Wells Notice from the Securities and Exchange Commission, which was unexpected given the company’s conservative approach to cryptocurrency listings, according to a KBW research report released on Monday.

KBW highlighted that Robinhood offers a relatively modest selection of fifteen cryptocurrencies on its U.S. platform, in contrast to some competitors who list over two hundred digital assets. Analysts led by Kyle Voigt believe that Robinhood’s crypto operations in the U.S. will remain unchanged, and they anticipate the SEC will likely file a lawsuit in the coming months.

“Our preliminary assessment suggests that Robinhood would opt to contest the SEC in court and stands a better chance of prevailing than many of its U.S. peers, should they face similar challenges. This is due in part to Robinhood’s stringent listing criteria,” the KBW report stated.

Cryptocurrency trading accounts for 12% of Robinhood’s total revenue. KBW speculates that the SEC’s focus might be on a specific group of digital assets offered on the platform. From a revenue risk standpoint, the most critical scenario would be if the SEC decides to classify Ethereum as a security, since it represents approximately 25% of Robinhood’s crypto trading volume.

The brokerage maintains a market perform rating on Robinhood’s stock with a target price of $20. Following the news, Robinhood’s shares saw a slight increase, trading up by 1.3% early Tuesday, at around $18.

According to KBW, Robinhood shareholders may not receive a definitive resolution on the potential legal case until late 2025 at the earliest, drawing parallels to the ongoing regulatory proceedings against Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN).

Featured Image: Megapixl ©Malirvik

Please See Disclaimer

MPCH, a provider of cryptographic storage solutions, has partnered with global specialty and property and casualty reinsurer Canopius to deliver enhanced insurance coverage for digital assets held in custody. This new collaboration seeks to bolster the security framework for digital assets by offering specialized custody insurance, further protecting against potential losses or damages to crypto assets that could render them irrecoverable.

MPCH utilizes advanced cryogenic cold storage solutions equipped with Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities, custom Hardware Security Modules designed based on zero-trust and zero-knowledge principles, and Multi-Party Computation technology. Canopius brings its insurance expertise into the partnership, offering products that are tailored to address the unique risks associated with digital asset security.

Miles Parry, CEO of MPCH, commented on the partnership, stating, “Our collaboration with Canopius is a significant milestone in the evolution of security within the tokenized ecosystem. By combining our advanced cryptographic storage capabilities with Canopius’s robust insurance solutions, we are better equipped to protect sensitive digital assets and provide our clients with the confidence they need to operate in the digital world. Our aim is to deliver scalable, customized insurance solutions that effectively address the challenges of protecting private keys.”

This announcement follows Canopius’s recent initiative to enhance its cyber insurance offerings in collaboration with Group-IB, and the launch of a new insurance facility by Marsh in March, which provides up to $825 million in coverage for digital asset custodians globally, covering various custody solutions including both cold storage and other methods.

Featured Image: Freepik

 Please See Disclaimer

Ethereum’s ongoing evolution takes a significant leap towards enhancing the accessibility of crypto wallets with the introduction of ‘EIP-3074’. This Ethereum Improvement Proposal is poised to streamline user experiences, marking a crucial stride in the quest for mainstream adoption.

The Ethereum community’s focus on improving wallet usability has intensified, with developers deliberating on key enhancements for the blockchain’s forthcoming hard fork, Pectra. Among the proposed changes, EIP-3074 stands out, aiming to elevate the functionality and ease of use for wallets on the Ethereum network.

Unlike previous iterations, which aimed to enhance externally owned accounts through concepts like account abstraction, EIP-3074 takes a significant leap forward by empowering smart contracts to authorize EOAs. This shift promises to revolutionize wallet user experience, potentially offering a tenfold improvement, according to Paradigm Chief Technology Officer Georgios Konstatonopolous.

The proposal introduces innovative features, including the ability for users to batch transactions, delegate transaction capabilities to smart contracts, and enable third-party sponsorship for transaction fees. Additionally, it allows users to sign transactions submitted by other parties, offering enhanced flexibility and security.

While EIP-3074 has garnered widespread support within the Ethereum community, it has also sparked concerns, particularly regarding security implications associated with batched transactions. Some members, including Safe co-founder Lukas Schor and Argent wallet co-founder Itamar Lesuisse, have expressed apprehension over potential security vulnerabilities and the risk of wallet exploitation.

Despite these reservations, Ethereum developers remain committed to advancing wallet usability while addressing security concerns raised by the community. As Ethereum continues its journey towards greater accessibility and usability, EIP-3074 represents a significant milestone in achieving these objectives.

Featured Image: Freepik

Please See Disclaimer

April witnessed a monumental surge in the total volume of stablecoins traded on Ethereum, with DAI emerging as the dominant contributor to this unprecedented growth. The rise in DAI volume can be attributed to its increasing involvement in complex Miner Extractable Value (MEV) transactions, often facilitated by flash loans.

Record-Breaking Month

After several months of stagnant activity, Ethereum’s total monthly stablecoin volume has experienced a consistent uptick for the past three months, culminating in April’s historic milestone. It’s essential to note that flash loan activity is included in these figures, amplifying the overall volume significantly.

DAI’s Role in the Surge

DAI has emerged as the primary catalyst behind Ethereum’s soaring stablecoin volume, with its involvement in complex MEV transactions drawing significant attention. Notably, one transaction alone added nearly $1 billion in DAI volume, showcasing its pivotal role in Ethereum’s ecosystem.

DAI’s April Performance

In April, DAI’s volume surged to $636 billion, constituting the majority of Ethereum’s total on-chain stablecoin volume, which reached nearly $1.2 trillion for the month. DAI’s supply has also experienced substantial growth, adding approximately $1 billion worth of tokens since March 7, bringing the current supply to 5.44 billion.

Potential Challenges Ahead

While DAI’s performance has been stellar, competitors like Ethena’s USDe and Ripple’s upcoming stablecoin pose potential challenges to its dominance. Nevertheless, DAI’s supply has continued to expand, with an additional $220 million added since May 1, as reported by MakerBurn.

Market Response

Despite the surge in DAI volumes, the price of Maker, the token associated with MakerDAO, experienced a decline throughout April. However, a slight uptick in early May hints at potential market resilience amid DAI’s growing prominence in the stablecoin landscape.

Featured Image: Freepik

Please See Disclaimer

Ethereum (ETH) witnessed a significant decline in daily ETH burned, hitting a yearly low primarily due to decreased gas fees. Gas fees currently range between 5 and 10 gwei, marking one of the lowest levels observed this year.

The Ethereum network experiences a notable decrease in the daily volume of ETH burned, reaching its lowest point this year, largely influenced by a recent decline in average gas fees. Presently, gas fees fluctuate between 5 and 10 gwei, representing one of the lowest levels recorded year-to-date and impacting ETH issuance.

The reduction in network fees translates to a decrease in ETH burned. On Sunday, only 610 ETH were burned, marking a record low for the year, while Ethereum’s gas fees remained minimal. In contrast, the daily volume of ETH burned during the first four months of this year consistently exceeded 2,500–3,000 ETH.

The ongoing decline in gas fees is attributed partly to a shift in activity towards Layer 2 scaling solutions and the increasing adoption of blob transactions introduced with the Dencun upgrade in March, which helps alleviate transaction costs on Layer 2s.

The dynamics of gas fees and ETH burning are closely monitored aspects of the network’s economic model. While low fees benefit network users, the recent decrease in ETH burn impacts Ethereum’s deflationary characteristics.

The London hard fork, also known as EIP-1559, implemented in August 2021, fundamentally altered Ethereum’s fee structure. The upgrade introduced a base fee that is burned and a priority fee acting as a tip to validators. As the base fee correlates with network usage, higher fees result in a greater amount of ETH being removed from circulation through burning.

In the past week, Ethereum’s supply has turned inflationary, with a growth rate of 0.49%, contrasting its previous deflationary trend, as reported by ultrasound.money. If activity surges and more ETH is burned than issued, Ethereum will return to a deflationary state.

Featured Image: Freepik

Please See Disclaimer