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Coinbase-backed crypto trading firm hits $1 billion valuation after fresh funding round

Amber Group, a cryptocurrency financial services firm, has raised $100 million as investors rush to back companies in the industry.

The fresh funding round values the Hong Kong-based start-up at $1 billion.

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Amber Group, a cryptocurrency financial services firm, has raised $100 million as investors rush to back companies in the industry.

The fresh funding round values the Hong Kong-based start-up at $1 billion.

Investment bank China Renaissance led the round with participation from other high-profile investors including New York-based Tiger Global Management. Existing investors, which includes Coinbase’s venture arm, were involved.

The latest funding round continues a flurry of funding activity in the cryptocurrency industry.

In the second quarter of 2021, venture capital investment into cryptocurrency and blockchain start-ups totaled $14 billion, according to data from PitchBook provided to CNBC. That compares to just $600 million in the same period last year.

Interest in cryptocurrencies, particularly in bitcoin, rose this year as institutional investors and large corporations jumped in. Payments processor Square and electric vehicle maker Tesla are among the companies that have purchased bitcoin.

But after touching a record high of $64,829.14 in April, bitcoin has plunged by nearly half.

Business model
Amber Group has typically sold products to institutional investors and wealthy individuals including algorithmic trading and lending products.

Rather than being a cryptocurrency exchange that allows users to trade individual digital coins, Amber Group CEO Michael Wu said the company is bringing a “private banking experience to every day customer.”

Wu says the company offers investors a number of different cryptocurrency products to invest in.

Amber Group said it is on track to book revenue of $500 million by the end of this year and has been profitable “since inception.”

According to Wu, between 70% and 80% of the company’s revenue comes from so-called net interest margin — a measure of lending profitability. Amber Group takes on customers’ deposits and offers them an interest rate. They then lend out the money from a pool of deposits to other entities at higher interest rates and make money from that spread.

About 15% of revenue comes from trading fees.

While the majority of the company’s customers are institutional investors, Wu said Amber Group is making a push to gain individual investor customers.

“We don’t advocate heavy speculation or high use of leverage, rather we want our customers to be more long term, focus on risk management and get stable and attractive yield,” Wu said.

Strategic acquisitions
The CEO said the fresh capital raised will be used to “hire even more aggressively” and to make strategic acquisitions in areas such as cybersecurity.

But Wu said the company is also looking to acquire others that have regulatory licenses in certain jurisdictions, which could allow Amber Group to enter a new market.

Regulation around cryptocurrency investing differs around the world and is quite fragmented.

“I think regulation is always a challenge for this industry because it’s a very global industry,” Wu said. “It’s always about staying ahead, or at least staying aware of the different regulation. We always take a very conservative approach to that.”

Source Credits: CNBC

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Coinbase Derivatives lists XRP futures

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Coinbase has announced the official listing of XRP futures contracts on its derivatives platform, marking a significant step toward expanding its offerings for institutional investors. The move comes after receiving approval from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), signaling further regulatory clarity for the exchange’s derivatives arm.

The newly listed XRP perpetual futures contracts are now live on Coinbase Derivatives, catering to growing interest in the asset class amid renewed attention on altcoins. Each contract represents 10 XRP and is designed to provide traders with increased exposure and flexibility in managing risk.

Coinbase highlighted that the contracts will be available to both retail and institutional clients through third-party broker intermediaries and its own Coinbase Advanced platform. The exchange cited robust market demand for XRP derivatives as part of its broader strategy to support regulated crypto futures trading in the U.S.

This listing follows similar futures products introduced by Coinbase for Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), and other major digital assets, further positioning the platform as a key player in the crypto derivatives space.

Coinbase’s move also comes amid ongoing regulatory scrutiny and legal battles involving XRP and its issuer, Ripple Labs. However, the CFTC-regulated status of the futures contracts is expected to provide additional confidence to traders and institutions exploring XRP exposure.

With the launch, Coinbase continues its push to expand regulated offerings, bridging traditional finance with digital assets and reinforcing its role in shaping a compliant U.S. crypto market infrastructure.

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El Salvador works with Nvidia to develop sovereign AI infrastructure

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El Salvador is embracing artificial intelligence as a key pillar in its national development strategy, announcing plans to leverage high-performance computing infrastructure powered by NVIDIA technology.

The country revealed it is establishing the “National Center for Artificial Intelligence,” a government-led initiative aimed at promoting AI integration across sectors including education, healthcare, and public services. The center will be built around NVIDIA’s DGX SuperPOD—an advanced AI system designed to support large-scale machine learning workloads.

President Nayib Bukele’s administration emphasized that the move aligns with the country’s broader vision of technological modernization. The AI center will be housed within El Salvador’s National Library and is expected to become operational by the end of 2024. According to officials, the facility will enable the government to train AI models locally, process massive datasets, and accelerate digital transformation initiatives.

El Salvador’s adoption of NVIDIA’s platform follows a trend of emerging markets turning to AI and blockchain innovation to leapfrog traditional development paths. The country’s partnership with NVIDIA underscores its commitment to building a high-tech economy and cultivating digital talent.

The initiative will also include educational and research programs to equip Salvadorans with skills in AI and data science. Government officials noted that students, academics, and startups will be given access to the infrastructure, creating a public-private ecosystem around innovation.

As one of the first Latin American countries to formally integrate AI at a national scale—with infrastructure supported by a global tech leader—El Salvador is positioning itself as a pioneer in regional digital transformation.

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CZ receives fake ‘Grok’ coins amid new wave of Elon Musk scam tokens

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Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has issued a strong warning to the crypto community about the proliferation of fraudulent tokens exploiting the names of high-profile individuals and AI ventures—specifically, a fake “Grok” token falsely claiming ties to Elon Musk.

In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), CZ cautioned users to avoid any coin marketed as connected to Musk’s artificial intelligence project, xAI’s Grok chatbot. He emphasized that Musk has not launched any such token and labeled all “Grok” coins as scams. “There is no Grok token,” CZ wrote. “All of them are scams.”

CZ’s statement echoes similar alerts made in the past, including direct posts from Musk, who has repeatedly distanced himself from crypto projects using his name or companies as bait to attract investors. Despite these warnings, scam tokens continue to appear, often taking advantage of trends involving meme coins, AI hype, or celebrity branding.

The rise of fake tokens has become increasingly problematic, particularly on decentralized exchanges where listings are not subject to the same scrutiny as centralized platforms. Many of these coins gain rapid popularity due to viral marketing or misleading claims, only to end in rug pulls or liquidity drains.

CZ’s warning adds to growing calls from industry leaders and regulators for better investor protection and education amid the booming—but often unregulated—crypto landscape. As fraudulent activity rises, users are urged to conduct thorough due diligence and remain skeptical of tokens tied to celebrities or trending tech with no verified backing.

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