Key Points:
Berachain launches EVM-compatible mainnet and offers $80 million BERA airdrop
Coinbase CLO Paul Grewal to Testify Before Congress on Alleged Crypto Unbanking
MetaMask launches a feature that allows users to pay gas fees with tokens
Berachain is a community-driven Layer-1 blockchain that officially launched its Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible mainnet on February 6, distributing nearly 80 million BERA tokens through airdrops, with the largest share allocated to Bong Bears NFT holders. BERA immediately began trading on major exchanges such as Binance, Bybit, and KuCoin, with a market value of up to $1.17 billion. Proof of Liquidity, a key innovation in blockchain, enhances the traditional delegated proof-of-stake model by embedding liquidity pools directly into the chain, ensuring seamless flow of funds between applications. With the support of investors such as Polychain Capital, Brevan Howard Digital, and Framework Ventures, Berachain has raised a total of $142 million in two rounds of financing, consolidating its position in the highly competitive Layer-1 field.
Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal will testify before the U.S. Congress this week as lawmakers investigate allegations that federal regulators pressured banks to cut off financial services to cryptocurrency companies. The hearing, titled “Operation Chokepoint 2.0: The Biden Administration Puts Crypto in the Crosshairs,” comes amid concerns that regulators, including the FDIC, are involved in an unofficial campaign to restrict cryptocurrency access to banking. Grewal will testify alongside industry leaders before the House Financial Services Committee’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee on Feb. 6. A separate Senate Banking Committee hearing on Feb. 5 will examine broader unbanking practices. Unredacted documents recently obtained by Coinbase through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) reveal letters from the FDIC blocking banks from using public blockchain networks, fueling allegations of overregulation. As scrutiny of financial blacklists continues, these hearings could have a significant impact on the future of cryptocurrency in the U.S. financial system.
MetaMask has launched a new feature called Gas Station, which allows users to pay gas fees with selected tokens when using MetaMask Swap, solving the common problem of transaction failures due to insufficient ETH. The update released on February 4 allows payments to be made with USDT, USDC, DAI, ETH, wETH, wBTC, wstETH, and wSOL, ensuring that network fees are included in the quote for a smoother experience. Currently available on the MetaMask extension for the Ethereum mainnet, with a mobile version expected soon, the update coincides with Ethereum's recent increase in the Gas limit from 30 million to a planned 36 million, thereby improving scalability and reducing congestion for DeFi applications.
news
Berachain's $1.1 billion airdrop and mainnet launch ignites the market
Coinbase CLO to Discuss Operation Chokepoint 2.0 at Congressional Hearing
Elon Musk proposes putting the US Treasury on blockchain
Trump's Crypto Czar Is Studying Feasibility of US Bitcoin Reserve
product
MetaMask launches feature that allows users to pay gas fees with tokens
Franklin Templeton seeks SEC approval to launch new crypto index ETF
Trump Media ’s fintech platform is taking shape, including a Bitcoin ETF and Patriot Economics’ America First investment fund
BlackRock May Launch European Bitcoin ETP: Report
Regulation
Kraken receives EU MiFID license to launch regulated derivatives
Trump sets crypto-friendly agenda, pushes for stablecoin legislation
SEC seeks more time to consider Ethereum ETF options
Brazil's central bank pushes for cryptocurrency regulation as stablecoin use surges
funds
Cryptocurrency liquidation reaches $10 billion, 0G launches $88 million DeFi AI agent fund: Finance Redefine
Austin College to launch $5 million Bitcoin fund, develop 5-year HODL strategy: report
Coinbase and MetaMask’s NFT infrastructure provider Reservoir raises $14 million
Crypto wallet Keplr raises $5 million seed round at $50 million valuation
