Today in crypto, Aster surged 30% after Binance co-founder revealed on X that he had bought around $2.5 million of the token using his personal funds. Coinbase is nearing a deal to acquire stablecoin startup BVNK and Romania’s gambling regulator has blacklisted prediction market Polymarket.
Aster token goes flying after CZ reveals $2.5M personal stake
The native token for the decentralized exchange protocol Aster spiked over 30% on Sunday after Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao disclosed that he now holds over $2.5 million in Aster.
CZ shared his wallet holdings in an X post on Sunday, and said he bought “some Aster today, using my own money on Binance.”
“I am not a trader. I buy and hold,” he added.
The post prompted Aster to jump from $0.91 to a peak of $1.26, according to CoinGecko.
Coinbase mulls $2B BVNK startup acquisition in stablecoin push: Report
Coinbase Global Inc., the world’s third-largest cryptocurrency exchange, is continuing its stablecoin push after key legislation in the United States sparked a renewed wave of corporate interest in blockchain-based payments.
Coinbase exchange is reportedly in late-stage talks to acquire stablecoin infrastructure startup BVNK in a $2 billion deal, according to a report by Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter.
The $2 billion acquisition is expected to close later this year or in early 2026, pending due diligence from the exchange, according to the anonymous source.
The stablecoin push could bring an additional source of revenue for Coinbase, which primarily relies on cryptocurrency trading fees to generate profits.
However, about $246 million, or 20% of Coinbase’s revenue, came from stablecoins during the third quarter of 2025, according to the exchange’s earnings results, published on Thursday.
Founded in 2021, London-based BVNK offers merchants enterprise-grade stablecoin payments. Coinbase’s venture capital wing, Coinbase Ventures, is an investor in the stablecoin infrastructure startup.
BVNK raised $90 million in funding over the past four years, from investors including Citi Ventures, Visa and Haun Ventures, according to the startup’s homepage.
Romania blacklists Polymarket for illegal crypto betting amid $600M election wagers
Romania’s National Office for Gambling (ONJN) has blacklisted leading prediction market Polymarket, calling it an unlicensed gambling platform operating outside state oversight.
The decision follows what regulators described as a surge in crypto-based betting during Romania’s presidential and local elections, where Polymarket’s trading volume reportedly exceeded $600 million, according to a recent statement from the regulator.
ONJN added that the platform’s activity constitutes “counterpart betting,” meaning users wager money against one another on the outcomes of future events, a model that falls squarely under gambling laws, regardless of its blockchain-based format.
ONJN President Vlad-Cristian Soare stressed that the move “is not about technology, but about the law.” He said that whether bets are made in lei or crypto, they still qualify as gambling and must be licensed.
