
Are you curious about the latest in the crypto world? Here’s a rundown of today’s key trends and events affecting Bitcoin prices, blockchain technology, DeFi, NFTs, Web3, and crypto regulations.
Asia takes top spot for crypto developers, US declines
According to a recent report, Asia has emerged as the leading region for cryptocurrency and blockchain development talent, overtaking North America.

In 2024, Asia's share of cryptocurrency developers reached 32%, a significant increase from just 13% in 2015, positioning it as the foremost region for developer talent. Over the same period, North America’s share of developers dropped to 24%, down from 44% in 2015, as noted by Maria Shen, General Partner at Electric Capital, in an October 30 post on X. The geographic distribution of cryptocurrency developers often indicates which regions will likely drive future blockchain innovation. A growing base of developers in any area signals a potential for greater adoption of blockchain technology, as it typically reflects an increasing interest in blockchain-based applications for consumers.

Despite this shift, the United States remains the global leader in terms of total cryptocurrency developers. Although 81% of all blockchain developers now reside outside the U.S., the country still has the highest concentration, with approximately 18.8% of all crypto developers, followed by India at 11.8% and the United Kingdom at 4.2%.
The research drew on data from more than 200 million crypto-related commits on GitHub, spanning 350,000 repositories. Additionally, location data was collected from over 110,000 developer wallets with self-reported geographic information.

Institutional interest in cryptocurrency is growing in Asia as well. For example, South Korea saw a 21% increase in crypto investors in the second half of 2024, boosting the cumulative operating profits of the nation’s top 21 centralized exchanges (CEXs) to over $4.2 billion—a year-on-year increase of 106%.
Crypto.com acquires SEC-registered broker to expand equities offerings
Cryptocurrency exchange Crypto.com has announced its acquisition of Watchdog Capital, a broker-dealer registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
This acquisition enables Crypto.com’s U.S. subsidiary to offer stocks and equity options to eligible traders, expanding its range of financial services beyond cryptocurrency. In an announcement dated October 31, Crypto.com highlighted that Watchdog Capital is also a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC).
Founded by Bruce Fenton, a long-time proponent of digital assets, Watchdog Capital has a strong reputation in the field.
“We are actively working to integrate traditional financial tools with digital financial capabilities while prioritizing responsible growth by securing necessary licenses and registrations to lead the industry,” said Kris Marszalek, CEO of Crypto.com, in a statement.
Blockchain Association says SEC has cost crypto industry $400 million since Gensler became chair
Member firms of the Blockchain Association report that they have collectively spent $400 million on costs related to enforcement actions initiated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under Chair Gary Gensler.
In partnership with global markets research firm HarrisX, the advocacy group shared this figure on Thursday, alongside additional survey results reflecting U.S. voters’ opinions on the SEC and cryptocurrency.
"According to data that was self-reported, anonymized, and aggregated by HarrisX, the U.S. digital asset industry has expended over $400 million defending itself against Chair Gensler’s SEC, with further untold losses in jobs, innovation, and U.S. investment," the Blockchain Association stated.
The group emphasized that the $400 million estimate represents only a "small slice of the industry" since it reflects data from a sample of Blockchain Association members, including Ripple, Coinbase, Crypto.com, Grayscale, Kraken, and others.
Since taking office in April 2021, SEC Chair Gensler has maintained that most cryptocurrencies qualify as securities and has urged crypto companies to register and comply with SEC regulations. Over the years, the SEC has brought numerous cases against major firms, including Coinbase and Kraken, some of which have recently launched counteractions against the agency.
Robert Leshner’s Superstate introduces real-time ‘continuous pricing’ for USTB tokenized Treasurys fund
Tokenization firm Superstate has introduced a groundbreaking “continuous pricing” feature to its USTB fund, which tracks U.S. government securities. This innovative feature updates the fund's net asset value (NAV).
With continuous pricing, USTB holders receive immediate interest accrual, bypassing the delays commonly associated with traditional market settlement cycles. As a result, investors can benefit from returns as soon as they invest without waiting for the next business day's NAV update.
The USTB fund currently manages over $145 million in assets and offers a yield of 4.80% over seven days. An ERC-20 token, USTB, represents fund ownership.
“This is the first time we’re focusing on enhancing the traditional finance (TradFi) aspect of our operations,” said Superstate founder Robert Leshner in an interview with The Block. “What if the TradFi side of a tokenized fund could incorporate blockchain principles to enhance the TradFi experience?”
Leshner also noted that continuous pricing is a foundation for future product developments at Superstate, including atomic minting and redemptions and enabling near-instant conversions between USTB and USDC.
Centralized stablecoins may pose risk to DeFi — Curve Finance founder
The potential risks associated with overcollateralized stablecoins have recently gained greater attention. Michael Egorov, founder of the decentralized borrowing and lending platform Curve Finance, contends that these risks are less about reserves and more about geopolitical factors, particularly the influence of government regulation.

In an interview with Cointelegraph, Egorov highlighted that the assets backing collateralized stablecoins—such as cash deposits held in financial institutions and government securities, including U.S. Treasury bills—are susceptible to asset freezes and potential seizures.
“For the U.S. dollar, the keys are never truly yours. This is a concern,” Egorov stated, adding that truly decentralized stablecoins provide “algorithmic assurance” to investors, protecting their funds from asset seizure risks.
Stablecoins backed by traditional fiat assets lack this assurance, Egorov emphasized, presenting a unique vulnerability within the stablecoin market.
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