Chainlink’s price is wrestling with key support near $21, a level that has drawn heavy attention from traders and institutions alike. Chainlink (LINK) was down 2% to $22.30 as selling pressure weighed on the token. The move comes at a time when derivatives activity in the asset has jumped sharply, raising both expectations of a rebound and the risk of further losses.

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Institutional Pathway Through 21X

The network’s importance was reinforced after the launch of 21X, Europe’s first regulated tokenized securities platform. Approved under European rules, 21X connects financial institutions to blockchain infrastructure using Chainlink’s technology.

CEO Max Heinzle described Chainlink as a vital backbone for tokenized markets, stressing that global institutions are lining up behind tokenization projects. By building on a regulated platform, Chainlink gains credibility in bridging traditional finance with decentralized networks.

Europe’s first regulated tokenized securities platform 21X:

“The work that Chainlink is doing … with the involvement of the largest financial institutions in the world … could not be more at the forefront.”

Discover how tokenization is reshaping capital markets and why… pic.twitter.com/3SlmcNaWsA

— Chainlink (@chainlink) September 5, 2025

This development has been seen as a step toward establishing Chainlink as a core platform for tokenized assets. Its data feeds and interoperability features make it a practical link between standard securities and blockchain applications, adding momentum to its institutional appeal.

Support And Resistance Levels In Focus

Market watchers say LINK is testing major support at $22.10, with deeper support zones at $20.55 and $19. In a worst-case scenario, the coin could even revisit $17. On the upside, clearing the volume-weighted average price of $22.10 may open a path back to $24, and possibly $26, which marked the highs reached in August.

At the time of writing, LINK was trading at $23.17, up 0.3% and 1.9% in the daily and weekly timeframes, data from Coingecko shows.

Derivatives Market Points To Heavy Speculation

According to CoinGlass, LINK futures volume jumped 51% to over $2 billion. The increase in futures volume is in sync with open interest, whose numbers likewise soared over 2% to $1.5 billion. These increases show a sharp rise in speculative bets at current levels. Traders seem to be sitting tight, indicating anticipation of a decisive action over a pullback.

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There are warnings that the levels of leverage are so high that they will encourage volatility. If support is maintained, the bulls could be in charge to drive LINK to $26. But if it fails to hold present levels, liquidations and deeper losses could follow.

The coming sessions will be crucial. Chainlink, viewed as both a token and a critical piece of market infrastructure, now faces a battle around $22. How the price reacts here could determine whether optimism around institutional adoption translates into a sustained recovery, or if traders brace for another correction.

Featured image from 21x.eu, chart from TradingView

08 September Bitfinex Securities approaches $250 million tokenized securities milestone and sets up plans to acquire a full Astana International Finance Center license

Astana, Kazakhstan – September 8, 2025 – Bitfinex Securities, a regulated platform that allows entities to raise capital through a list of tokenized securities, has submitted an application to migrate from the Astana International Finance Center (AIFC) Fintechlab to confirm that it will be an accredited investment exchange.

Bitfinex Securities joined AIFC’s Fintech Lab in September 2021, a regulatory sandbox that supports the development of the local financial industry. Since then, it has issued $206 million worth of tokenization securities at AIFC Fintechlab, which includes Mikro Kapital’s regular tokenization bond program. Bitfinex Securities has been licensed separately from El Salvador since April 2023.

The Bitfinex Securities licensing expansion plan in Astana is of course, as the platform has shown significant momentum to assert Bitfinex Securities’ growth, as it confirms that it reaches $250 million tokenized assets across the platform. This year we have already seen many highlights, including:

• The direct list of Titan1 and Titan2, the first tokenized share issuance of Bitfinex Securities, amounts to a total of 143 million Gbp.
• Full redemption of Mikro Kapital’s first tokenized bond paid USDT 630,000.
• The direct list of Blockstream Mining Note 2 (BMN2) allows for secondary market trading opportunities of just under $9, based on fair value.

“We’re looking forward to seeing you in the process of doing things,” said Paolo Ardoino, CTO at Bitfinex Securities. “We continue to thank the support we have received from AIFC, a proven innovator in regulating digital assets. We confirm that we apply the upgrade to a full license in Astana after a successful initial license period. A regulatory environment to attract and nurture companies such as Bitfinex Securities.”

“We’ve seen the best of our customers,” said Jesse Knutson, operations manager of Bitfinex Securities. “To approach $250 million with tokenized assets on the platform is a significant milestone and a marker of trust we built together with the issuer. Given that all listings are supported by the liquid network, the Bitcoin ecosystem emphasizes that it plays a significant financial role. It continues to grow. We look forward to expanding our listings to make Bitfinex securities an outstanding platform for the full range of tokenized assets.”

Bitfinex securities are also regulated in El Salvador and were the world’s first international digital asset platform licensed under the country’s digital asset issuance law.

About Bitfinex Securities

Founded in 2021, Bitfinex Securities is looking to transform global capital markets by leveraging technological advances in the digital asset industry. With real-time payments, 24/7 trading capabilities, access to global liquidity and self-support, Bitfinex Securities aims to create more efficient, cost-effective, and seamless interactions between investors and issuers. Bitfinex Securities is licensed and regulated at the Astana International Financial Centre in Kazakhstan and El Salvador.

Bitfinex Securities Media Contact Information

(Email protection)

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitfinex-securities-approaches-250-million-tokenized-securities-milestone-and-sets-up-plans-to-acquire-a-full-astana-international-finance-center-license/feed/ 0 57514 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/wintermute-to-sec-stop-calling-network-tokens-securities/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/wintermute-to-sec-stop-calling-network-tokens-securities/#respond Sun, 07 Sep 2025 07:26:46 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/wintermute-to-sec-stop-calling-network-tokens-securities/

Wintermute, a trading firm involved in cryptocurrency markets, has requested that US regulators officially declare that certain blockchain tokens should not be subject to securities laws.

In a letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company argued that clearer definitions are necessary to prevent confusion regarding the regulation of blockchain tokens.

Wintermute focused specifically on “network tokens”, digital assets that are essential to running decentralized platforms. These tokens help blockchain systems operate by enabling functions such as transaction validation and access to services.

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According to Wintermute, this distinguishes them from financial instruments like stocks or bonds, which are typically the primary focus of securities regulations.

Bitcoin
BTC


$110,396.28

and Ethereum
ETH


$4,281.76

were highlighted as examples of tokens that should clearly not be treated as securities. The company warned that if such tokens were misclassified, even basic trades involving them might require complex regulatory approval. This would likely reduce trading activity in the US and increase costs for participants.

Wintermute also noted that labeling these tokens as securities could push developers and investors to relocate their activities to countries with more favorable regulations.

The company compared these tokens to items like real estate or rare collectibles, which people buy to earn money later, but that are not classified as securities.

According to Wintermute, the main difference is that network tokens are designed to facilitate system functionality, rather than granting ownership or profit rights to individuals.

Recently, a group of international regulators and exchange associations has asked the SEC to take a stance on tokenized stocks. What did they say? Read the full story.

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State Street launched its first digital debt securities using JPMorgan’s Digital Debt Service, executing a $100 million commercial paper transaction.

According to an Aug. 21 statement, State Street Investment Management purchased the commercial paper for its Short Term Investment Fund. 

The debt securities are issued, settled, and serviced using blockchain technology, delivering streamlined institutional market access.

State Street Investment Management’s global head of cash management, Pia McCusker, described the commercial paper investment as demonstrating tangible technology benefits for institutional clients.

McCusker added:

“Our successful investment in the first commercial paper transaction in blockchain format for our Short Term Investment Fund demonstrates the tangible benefits this technology brings to our clients and positions them at the forefront of the digital transformation in fixed income markets.”

Regarding JPMorgan’s blockchain platform, it allows T+0 settlement as an option, representing a significant advancement over standard settlement cycles for short-term debt instruments.

The digital debt securities utilize smart contracts to automate payments, redemptions, and corporate actions, eliminating manual processing typical in traditional debt markets. 

State Street noted that the $100 million transaction validates blockchain technology’s capacity to handle institutional-scale debt issuances. At the same time, it maintains regulatory compliance and security standards expected from traditional debt markets.

Market modernization impact

Chief product officer Donna Milrod characterized the digital debt launch as advancing State Street’s integrated blockchain-based solution across front-, middle-, and back-office functions. 

Further, the launch reflects State Street’s digital strategy, incorporating on-chain wallet management and blockchain network interoperability groundwork.

JPMorgan Markets Digital Assets Team credit lead Emma Lovett described the digital debt platform as a significant advancement in digital issuance evolution. It provides clients with opportunities to explore blockchain applications in capital markets for efficiency improvements. The technology unlocks ecosystem-wide efficiencies across bond lifecycles.

The digital debt launch follows February reports that State Street was considering crypto custody services for institutional investors. 

A bank executive indicated that State Street planned to roll out crypto custody services next year, with the institution positioning itself alongside other major custody banks entering digital asset services. 

State Street’s blockchain-based debt issuance represents concrete progress toward digital asset integration beyond speculation about future custody offerings.

Mentioned in this article

August 20th Bitfinex Securities Market Inclusion Report unveils challenges and opportunities for Latam Capital Market

San Salvador, El Salvador – August 20, 2025 – Bitfinex Securities El Salvador Sa de CV has announced the release of its first Latin American Market Inclusion Report, highlighting the tokenization as a transformative socioeconomic opportunity in Latin America.

Building on expert interviews and regional analysis, this study identifies systematic barriers to Latin American capital markets, ranging from relatively high fees and complex bureaucratic hurdles to deep and low market financial literacy. These barriers are seen to contribute to the difficulties entrepreneurs and investors have experienced from accessing the region’s fair and efficient capital markets.

This report identifies the phenomenon of “liquidity delay” in the region. This refers to the current obstacles and inefficiencies of the traditional Ratum capital market that slowed capital flows and hindered investment. Factors contributing to this include high fees, complex regulations and limited market participation. Structural issues such as working hours, technology barriers, high start-up costs, and bureaucratic and regulatory hurdles have also been identified as pose challenges to business and investment growth in the region.

The Bitfinex Securities Market Inclusion report includes analysis, findings and experts from eight different Latin American countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama and Peru.

Tokenization is presented as providing a solution to the “liquidity latency” problem identified in Latin America. Tokenized assets digitize the ownership of bonds, stocks or funds by issuing tokens on a blockchain in which each token corresponds to the fund’s share or unit. This structure allows for decentralized ownership and management, with several other benefits, including accessibility, transparency, and efficiency.

By increasing issuance costs to just 2-4%, reducing listing times to 60-90 days, and enabling fractional ownership, blockchain-based securities can make investments dramatically more comprehensive and efficient.

“Tokenization represents the first true opportunity for a generation to rethink finance,” said Jesse Knutson, Head of Operations at Bitfinex Securities. “It reduces costs, accelerates access and creates more direct connections between issuers and investors.”

With regulatory advances in countries such as El Salvador, Argentina and Brazil, the report suggests that Latin America is being put into place on its own to accept tokenized markets. For example, in 2021, El Salvador became the first country to recognize Bitcoin as fiat currency, and despite recent changes to the law, digital asset technology has firmly established itself in the country’s economy. In 2023, El Salvador passed the Digital Asset Issuance Act (Lead) to create a fully regulated framework for tokenization of assets.

Bitfinex Securities calls this not only economic change, but broader socioeconomic opportunities for the region to overcome historic barriers and promote growth.

As shown in the report, tokenization technologies could improve accessibility for both capital and investors by reducing the costs of capital investment and capital raising, accelerating the pace of listings, providing investment efficiency, accessibility, democratization, and expanding financial inclusion. Tokenization may open up brighter opportunities in the region, and the report highlights and dives these possibilities.

To access the report, click here: (go.bitfinex.com/market-inclusion-report)

About Bitfinex Securities

Founded in 2021, Bitfinex Securities seeks to apply the technological benefits of the digital asset industry to the global capital market. Through real-time settlements, 24/7 trading, access to global liquidity, and the ability to independent assets, Bitfinex Securities allows for more efficient, cheaper and easier interactions between investors and issuers.

Bitfinex Securities Media Contact Information

Email: (Protected Email)

]]> https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitfinex-securities-market-inclusion-report-unveils-challenges-and-opportunities-for-latam-capital-market/feed/ 0 54230 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/sec-chair-confirms-very-few-cryptos-are-securities-but-markets-continue-to-correct/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/sec-chair-confirms-very-few-cryptos-are-securities-but-markets-continue-to-correct/#respond Wed, 20 Aug 2025 07:46:13 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/sec-chair-confirms-very-few-cryptos-are-securities-but-markets-continue-to-correct/

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has clarified that certain cryptocurrency liquid staking activities do not constitute securities offerings, a notable step in the agency’s ongoing effort to provide clearer guidance on digital asset regulation.

“The statement clarifies the division’s view that, depending on the facts and circumstances, the liquid staking activities covered in the statement do not involve the offer and sale of securities,” the regulator said Tuesday, referring to key sections of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

In its Staff Statement, the SEC defined liquid staking as the process of staking digital assets through a protocol and receiving a “liquid staking receipt token,” which serves as evidence of the staker’s ownership.

“Today’s staff statement on liquid staking is a significant step forward in clarifying the staff’s view about crypto asset activities that do not fall within the SEC’s jurisdiction,” SEC Chair Paul Atkins said in a statement. 

The SEC’s clarification comes amid rising institutional interest in liquid staking exchange-traded funds (ETFs), with firms like Jito Labs, VanEck and Bitwise urging the agency to approve liquid staking strategies for Solana (SOL)-based funds.

Liquid staking has become one of the largest subsectors in crypto, with total value locked (TVL) nearing $67 billion across all protocols, according to DefiLlama. Ethereum alone accounts for $51 billion of that total.

Related: Crypto Biz: Digital gold rush intensifies as Tether Gold surges, institutions double down on BTC

SEC adopts pro-crypto approach under Paul Atkins

The announcement follows the SEC’s launch of Project Crypto — a sweeping initiative to overhaul the regulatory framework for cryptocurrency trading in the United States. As SEC Chair Paul Atkins noted last week, the project was developed in response to recommendations from the White House’s Working Group on Digital Assets

Since taking office, Atkins has led a more lenient approach to digital asset regulation, moving away from the agency’s prior “regulation by enforcement” stance under former Chair Gary Gensler. That shift included a May clarification that proof-of-stake protocols do not constitute securities transactions.

Under Atkins’ leadership, the SEC has also taken meaningful steps to ease regulatory burdens on cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Notably, on July 29, the agency approved in-kind creations and redemptions for Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) ETFs, allowing authorized participants to exchange ETF shares directly for the underlying assets rather than cash.

The US crypto industry is also gaining momentum from sweeping policy reforms designed to make digital assets more accessible. These include the passage of the GENIUS Act, a landmark stablecoin bill, and House approval of market structure and anti-CBDC legislation ahead of the August recess.

Related: SEC ends ‘regulation through enforcement,’ calls tokenization ‘innovation’

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Hester Peirce, head of the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Crypto Task Force, said that putting securities on a blockchain “does not have magical abilities to transform the nature of the underlying asset.” 

In a July 9 statement, Peirce emphasized that tokenized shares, notes, or entitlements “are still securities,” requiring issuers, intermediaries, and traders to adhere to existing federal law when creating, selling, or transferring them.

Legal obligations

Peirce’s bulletin notes that tokenization can occur in two ways: an issuer can mint blockchain versions of its own shares, or a custodian can wrap third-party securities and issue receipts.

She warned that the second model introduces counterparty risk because the token holder depends on the custodian’s solvency and control of the underlying shares. 

Peirce urged distributors to consult the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance’s “staff statement” on disclosure duties and to meet with agency staff early if they seek bespoke exemptions.

She also flagged that the rules might classify specific token formats as “receipts for a security” or, if they lack beneficial ownership rights, as “security-based swaps” barred from off-exchange retail trading.

Peirce wrote:

“The same legal requirements apply to on- and off-chain versions of these instruments.” 

Growing on-chain stock activity

Peirce’s remarks arrive as tokenized equity volumes accelerate. Solana-based stock tokens issued under Backed Finance’s xStocks framework reached a combined market value of $48.53 million as of July 4.

Dashboard snapshots from data provider RWA.xyz show that the total surpassed the $50 million mark on July 6.

Furthermore, xStocks is now moving to other venues. BNB Chain announced that it will list Apple, Tesla, and other equity tokens as BEP-20 assets in partnership with Kraken and Backed, providing users with 24-hour access and DeFi composability.

Market participants largely welcomed the clarity. Backed Finance co-founder Adam Levi said in a statement that the company “designed xStocks to mirror traditional equity custody so regulatory treatment remains straightforward.” 

Kraken added that DeFi integrations on BNB Chain will let users post tokenized stocks as collateral without altering their securities status.

Separately, Bitget integrated xStocks into its on-chain platform on July 9, enabling customers to trade the same tokens from their spot accounts without the need for separate wallets.

Peirce closed by signaling openness to modernization, saying the Commission “stands ready to work with market participants to craft appropriate exemptions and modernize rules” where technology exposes gaps. 

Mentioned in this article