Binance has called on governments around the world to consider adding Bitcoin to their national reserves, positioning the digital asset as a strategic hedge amid growing global economic uncertainty.

The push comes as part of Binance’s broader initiative to promote Bitcoin’s role in the evolving financial landscape. The exchange argues that Bitcoin’s decentralized nature, limited supply, and resilience to inflation make it an ideal alternative to traditional reserve assets like gold and foreign currencies.

In a public statement, Binance suggested that countries could benefit from incorporating Bitcoin into their sovereign wealth strategies, especially those seeking greater monetary autonomy or facing currency volatility. The exchange also emphasized that holding Bitcoin can help nations diversify their reserve portfolios and reduce reliance on any single fiat currency, particularly the U.S. dollar.

Binance highlighted El Salvador as a pioneering example of this approach, where Bitcoin has been adopted as legal tender and accumulated as part of its national reserves. The company believes more governments will follow suit as digital assets continue to gain legitimacy and institutional interest.

While some policymakers remain cautious about integrating cryptocurrencies into national finance, Binance maintains that proactive engagement and investment in Bitcoin could provide long-term economic advantages and strengthen financial sovereignty.

Prime brokerage firm Hidden Road, reportedly in acquisition talks with Ripple, has successfully obtained registration with the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), signaling a major step forward in its U.S. expansion strategy.

The FINRA approval officially registers Hidden Road as a broker-dealer, allowing the firm to operate within regulated financial markets in the United States. This milestone comes as speculation swirls over Ripple’s interest in acquiring the brokerage to bolster its infrastructure and compliance capabilities amid increasing scrutiny from U.S. regulators.

Although neither Ripple nor Hidden Road has confirmed the acquisition, industry insiders suggest that the move would align with Ripple’s broader ambitions to deepen its footprint in traditional finance and enhance institutional access to digital assets.

Hidden Road, known for offering prime brokerage services across traditional and digital asset markets, has rapidly gained prominence by providing institutional-grade trading infrastructure and risk management solutions. The FINRA registration is expected to further legitimize its presence in the U.S. and attract more institutional clients.

The development marks a strategic win for Ripple as it navigates ongoing regulatory challenges in the U.S., while also reinforcing its focus on global growth and integration between blockchain technology and traditional financial services.

Crypto exchange Bybit has announced the termination of four more services, continuing a broader restructuring strategy that began with the recent shutdown of its NFT marketplace.

The platform revealed it will discontinue its lending, leveraged token, dual asset mining, and Bybit Web3 Custody services. The decision is part of a strategic realignment to optimize operations and focus on core offerings. The affected services will be phased out gradually over the coming weeks, with users advised to withdraw assets or settle positions before the respective cutoff dates.

Bybit’s NFT marketplace, which was closed earlier in 2024, marked the beginning of the exchange’s shift away from underperforming or non-core business segments. In a statement, the company emphasized that the latest move reflects its commitment to long-term sustainability and enhancing its user experience through a more streamlined product suite.

Despite the cutbacks, Bybit remains one of the top centralized exchanges by trading volume and continues to expand in other areas, including derivatives trading and international regulatory compliance.

Users have been notified of the changes through direct communication channels, with the exchange assuring a smooth transition process and ongoing support. The company has not ruled out the possibility of revisiting any of the discontinued services in the future, should market conditions and demand warrant it.