BlackRock Moves Into DeFi as Bitcoin, Ether Rebound Amid ETF Outflows

XRP logged $1.2 billion in 24-hour trading volume on major South Korean exchanges, outpacing local BTC and ETH activity. The surge highlights strong regional retail demand and could shape near-term market sentiment.

Aave founder Stani Kulechov proposed a DeFi protocol to use tokenized solar assets as collateral, aiming to tap a proposed $50 trillion renewable energy market. The idea would let lenders and borrowers access real-world solar infrastructure value on-chain.

Standard Chartered sharply cut its price forecasts, warning bitcoin could slide toward $50,000 and ether to about $1,400 in the coming months before recovering. The bank said the revisions reflect mounting stress across digital assets even as it retains a constructive long-term view.

Apollo, the asset manager with more than $900 billion in assets under management, may buy up to 90 million MORPHO tokens as part of a partnership to support the DeFi credit market. The move marks another large institutional signal into decentralized lending.

Brazil has introduced legislation to accumulate 1 million BTC over five years under a new RESBit framework, backed by national reserves. If passed, it would create the largest sovereign Bitcoin reserve and reshape reserve strategy.