DeFi Technologies, the Toronto-based publicly traded company has striked a major move aimed at expansion. On Monday, it launched its new RWA tokenization-focused exchange, Kenya Digital Exchange (KDX).
The exchange, aimed at tapping into the growing digital market of Kenya, is launched with the collaboration of Kenya’s Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE).
Notably, the new exchange launch builds on the partnership signed last year between NSE, Defi Technologies’ subsidiary, Valour and SovFi.
The collaboration also involves the listing of Valour’s exchange-traded products (ETPs) on NSE by Q3 2025.
KDX: Why Defi Technologies is launching a new exchange
Curtis Schlaufman, the Vice-president of VP Marketing and Communications at DefiTech, revealed in a X post that the new Kenya Digital Exchange (KDX) aims at expanding his company’s role in global capital markets and digital asset innovation.
Given the ongoing growth in the RWA innovation and market, DeFi Tech’s KDX will work as a regulated platform for tokenizing real-world assets (RWAs) – equities, debt funds, and commodities.
KDX will enable primary issuance, trading, and liquidity provisioning for the tokenization of these instruments of traditional markets. It will leverage blockchain technology to ensure secure, transparent, and efficient transactions.
The platform will further integrate Hedera for settlement and to support smart‑contract–powered issuance and market‑making. This infrastructure is expected to serve both institutional and retail clients.
With Valous’ ETPs also in line, it aims to serve as a one‑stop marketplace for digital‑asset ETPs and other tokenized products.
To Provide Other Sevices too
As per the press release, implementation of KDX will occur in three phases:
1. initial platform design and compliance checks in late 2025,
2. pilot trading and ETP issuance in early 2026, and
3. full commercial launch by the second quarter of 2026.
The exchange’s revenue streams will include trading and listing fees, custody services, staking and liquidity‑provision charges, and other value‑added financial services. Curtis also informed that besides RWAs, Defi Tech’s KDX will also focus on token issuance, AI trading, market making, and global exchange interoperability.
Kenya has long been a global leader in P2P bitcoin trading – Chainalysis ranked it first worldwide in P2P trade volume in 2021, ahead of 154 other countries. The country ranks among the top 25 markets worldwide for crypto adoption.
With cryptocurrency transactions totaling an estimated USD 18.6 billion in 2022 and over six million users—roughly 10% of the population.
Smartphone penetration exceeds 85%, and the local fintech sector attracted USD 638 million in venture capital in 2024. This underscores strong consumer demand and robust digital‑finance innovation.
By tapping into a six‑million‑user market and nearly USD 20 billion in annual crypto transactions, KDX could catalyze a new wave of digital‑finance activity in East Africa.
During the 2025 edition of the Paris Blockchain Week, BeInCrypto sat down with Alexis Yellow, CEO of Yellow, a crypto project working on an entirely new paradigm based on Satoshi’s initial vision for Bitcoin.
He talks about the upcoming Yellow Tokens, a new smart contract mechanism, and making crypto projects more utility-driven.
Alexis, can you introduce yourself?
I’m Alexis, a software engineer by background. I worked at the European Space Center early in my career, but my crypto journey started quite unexpectedly.
Back in 2013, an old friend from school reached out—he was working at Goldman Sachs and told me about a project that needed help. He said, “There are 12 people in Silicon Valley printing fake money.” That project turned out to be Ripple.
Ripple ended up being our first client, and that experience really helped me grasp the potential of crypto.
Despite the skepticism surrounding the space, I saw real innovation. Ripple’s CTO was a Bitcoin Core contributor, and Vitalik Buterin was involved with the team before Ethereum.
Actually, Buterin was planning to join Ripple. He was especially excited about their consensus mechanism, which inspired me, too.
One thing that always stuck with me was Satoshi’s idea: We need systems where trust isn’t a prerequisite. That idea shaped a lot of my thinking.
Around 2018–2019, I decided to start Yellow. We later merged with a French exchange technology company called OpenWare. Combining my market experience with their tech, we launched Yellow Network.
So, it’s a trading infrastructure designed to let institutions, like Société Générale, trade directly with major players like Binance without needing to trust them.
Trading with exchanges like Binance without trusting them, do you mean trust as a counterparty?
Exactly that’s at the core of Satoshi’s vision. At Yellow, we’re working on a different model of trustlessness using state channels, which represent a new paradigm compared to traditional blockchain systems like Bitcoin or Ethereum.
In those systems, you have tens of thousands of nodes, say, around 30,000, validating each transaction. It’s a powerful model for security, each validator has a financial incentive to be honest, and there’s no way to roll back a confirmed transaction.
The same applies to staking networks. But that structure just doesn’t work for high-frequency trading. You can’t have 30,000 nodes verifying every microsecond trade. It’s simply too slow and inefficient.
For example, some networks try to solve this by reducing the number of validators to 21, but that compromises the level of trust and decentralization. Our approach is fundamentally different. The Lightning Network inspires it, but we’ve taken it in a new direction.
With the Lightning Network, you can move money instantly by opening a state channel. At Yellow Network, we use similar state channels but instead of transferring funds directly, we transfer profit and loss in real time.
For instance, if you buy a Bitcoin for $100,000 and it rises 5%, the $5,000 profit is immediately transferred to your wallet. The trade is settled instantly, peer-to-peer, with cryptographic proof.
To ensure security and fairness, we’ve built a smart contract called ClearSync. If a counterparty refuses to settle, as we saw with the HyperLiquid issue recently, ClearSync can step in and arbitrate the trade.
It verifies the claim and, if valid, ensures the rightful party receives what they’re owed. So, it’s a trustless system that still allows for the speed and flexibility traders need.
1/ $JELLYJELLY on @HyperliquidX and what happens when we rely on trust.
No, it’s peer-to-peer trading. Nothing is faster or more efficient than a direct state channel between two parties. Profit is transferred instantly. That’s the core of this new paradigm: trustless trading, where settlement happens in real time.
Let’s say we’re trading and the connection drops, no problem. If I made a profit, it’s already secured. I might not receive the asset, like Bitcoin, but my profit in dollars is locked in. There’s no need to trust the other party to settle correctly.
Is it effective profit or a claim to profit?
It’s effective profit, denominated in dollars or whatever currency is locked as collateral. Here’s how it works – two parties lock in $20,000 to trade Bitcoin. That amount represents the maximum they’re willing to risk.
If the trade results in a $5,000 profit for one side, that amount is instantly settled, even if the other party refuses to finalize the trade.
If both agree to settle, I send you $100,000, you send me one Bitcoin, and both our collaterals unlock.
Can you switch to stablecoin?
Absolutely. In fact, we’re working with stablecoin issuers to create partnerships and potential investments in Yellow.
Can you give us an idea of the size of the Yellow Group? How many people are there? How many transactions do you process ?
We haven’t officially launched. Before the war in Ukraine, we had a large team of over 100 people. Many have since relocated, mostly to Poland, but we still have staff in Ukraine. Right now, we’re about 50 people globally.
Meanwhile, you can track activity on our analytics site, BundleBear. On Polygon, we’re already the fourth most active app. On Linea, a new protocol by Consensys, we’re number one with over 229,000 users despite not being live yet.
We can see on your website that you are offering your technology so that you can list any token without going through a CEX or a DEX. Is that part of the project?
Exactly. The Yellow Wallet is like a Layer 3; it lets users interact with any chain seamlessly. It now supports cross-chain swaps, like moving tokens from Polygon to Binance Smart Chain, with zero fees. It’s designed to remove friction from cross-chain trading.
Seamless cross-chain swaps, all in your Yellow Wallet!
Swap between BNB, Base, Arbitrum, AVAX, Polygon, OP, Linea, and Scroll with ease.
No, not for the state channels themselves. We don’t monetize trades directly. The Yellow token plays a security role, a “necessary evil,” like ETH or BTC.
Your security deposit gets burned if you behave badly and refuse to settle. It ensures honesty in a peer-to-peer environment. Think of it like a miner losing their reward for trying to cheat.
How do you make money from the usage of your service?
The token economy is the foundation. Just like ETH or BTC derive value from usage and network participation, the Yellow token does too.
It’s needed to place security deposits in the network, and over time, its utility and adoption by industry players will drive its value.
If someone cheats, their token gets burned—creating deflationary pressure and reinforcing good behavior.
Is the token already traded?
Not yet, but we’re planning to launch in the next couple of months. We’ll mint 10 billion Yellow tokens; ideally, that number stays close to that.
If too many tokens get burned, it could indicate issues in the system. It’s a built-in signal to monitor the health and integrity of the network.
Are you going to start it with an airdrop or something of the sort?
No, we’re focused on utility-based distribution. Most tokens will be sold directly in the markets where they’re used. Ethereum didn’t launch with an airdrop. Neither did Bitcoin.
This is a B2B infrastructure project—just like Ethereum and Ripple. While the network is open to everyone, our core users are businesses and institutional players.
That said, the beauty of crypto is that the ecosystem is open. Anyone who believes in the project can get involved and benefit from the network effect, without needing to be a developer or an insider.
Anything important that we left out?
Yes, very few cryptocurrencies are used in the real world today. Bitcoin has proven its value as a store of wealth.
Ethereum demonstrated its utility during the ICO boom. USDT fills a vital gap in places where dollars are hard to access.
We believe Yellow can become the fourth pillar. It’s solving a real need in crypto markets: scalable, trustless, high-frequency trading. And we’re making it open source so the whole industry can benefit.
It’s obvious that Web3 applications will need infrastructure to reach the scale of platforms like Twitter or YouTube.
At Pragma today, @Yellow‘s Louis Bellet shared the secret weapon Ethereum already has to achieve this today.
I think this approach, state channels for speed and smart contracts for resolution, will redefine how trading infrastructure works. It’s ideal for gaming and other fast-paced applications where blockchains never truly fit.
Blockchain isn’t always the answer, especially if you’re using 30,000 nodes to validate a game move. That’s just not efficient.
With Yellow, the trading side is handled through cryptographic state channels not full decentralization. But if something goes wrong, we still fall back to a smart contract to arbitrate. That’s the balance we’re bringing.
Also, we’re working on a new ERC standard for this. In the next 3–4 years, I expect that 10–20% of new crypto projects will adopt this architecture.
Overall, We’re not just building a product, we’re introducing a new philosophy for how decentralized systems can operate more efficiently.
Cardano (ADA) is up more than 12% over the last seven days and is now trading above $0.70 for the first time since the end of March. Trading volume is also rising, up 33% in the past 24 hours to reach $723 million.
Despite the price recovery, some technical indicators suggest that ADA’s momentum is weakening and approaching key decision points. Here’s a closer look at Cardano’s current setup as the new week begins.
Cardano BBTrend Weakens After Positive Streak
Cardano BBTrend indicator is currently at 7.55, down from 13.27 just three days ago. This sharp decline shows that the strength of recent price expansion has cooled, even though the asset has posted positive daily closes over the last four days.
The falling BBTrend suggests that while ADA has been moving higher, the expansion’s underlying momentum is losing intensity.
The BBTrend, or Bollinger Band Trend indicator, measures the strength of a price trend based on the expansion or contraction of Bollinger Bands.
A rising BBTrend typically signals strong momentum and increasing volatility, while a falling BBTrend suggests weakening momentum or the start of a consolidation phase.
With ADA’s BBTrend now at 7.55, the indicator still points to some positive momentum, but at a much weaker pace than earlier in the week.
If the BBTrend continues to decline, ADA could enter a consolidation phase, but if buying pressure returns, the token could extend its current positive streak.
ADA Faces Indecision as Buyers and Sellers Battle for Control
Cardano Directional Movement Index (DMI) shows its Average Directional Index (ADX) currently sitting at 17.14, a notable drop from 31 two days ago.
This sharp decrease signals that the strength of ADA’s recent trend has weakened significantly. Meanwhile, the +DI (positive directional indicator) is at 19.95, up from 15.96 a few hours ago but still down from 26 two days ago.
The -DI (negative directional indicator) sits at 19.07, slightly down from 21.16 earlier but up compared to 14.49 two days ago, reflecting mixed momentum between buyers and sellers.
The ADX measures the strength of a trend without indicating its direction.
Readings above 25 typically suggest a strong trend, while readings below 20 point to a weak or consolidating market. With ADA’s ADX now at 17.14, trend strength is weak, and neither buyers nor sellers currently have a clear advantage.
Cardano’s Bullish Structure Faces Critical Test Near $0.69
Cardano’s Exponential Moving Average (EMA) lines suggest an uptrend, with the short-term EMAs positioned above the long-term ones.
However, Cardano price has repeatedly tested the support level at $0.69 and is trading very close to it.
This price action signals that while the broader trend remains positive, the bullish momentum has weakened, and the $0.69 support is becoming a critical zone.
If ADA loses the $0.69 support, the next downside targets would be around $0.63, followed by $0.609 and potentially $0.59 if selling pressure accelerates.
On the other hand, if buyers step back in and reinforce the uptrend, ADA could rally to retest resistance at $0.746.
A breakout above $0.746 could open the door for a move toward $0.77, offering a strong bullish setup if momentum strengthens again.
On May 3, 2025, Justin Sun, the founder of TRON, revealed a significant upgrade to the TRON ecosystem. The news caused a surge in TRX prices, but it was also overshadowed by a security breach: the official TRON DAO Twitter account was hacked, and scammers used it to steal user funds.
TRON’s Major Update Sends TRX Price Skyrocketing
Sun’s announcement about the TRON upgrade led to an immediate market reaction. Within the first hour, TRX saw a 7.2% price increase, rising from $0.122 to $0.130. Trading volumes surged by 43%, with 1.2 billion TRX traded across major exchanges like Binance, OKX, and KuCoin.
On top of this, on-chain data from TronScan showed a 15% jump in transaction volume, with over 5.8 million transactions processed on the TRON network by 1:00 PM UTC. These numbers highlight the strong market interest and growing adoption of TRON’s latest improvements.
Hack of TRON DAO Twitter
While TRON’s upgrade grabbed the spotlight, a more troubling issue emerged: the TRON DAO’s official Twitter account was hacked. The hackers used the account to promote a scam, attempting to steal funds from unsuspecting users.
In response, Justin Sun acted quickly, reaching out to crypto exchange OKX and urging them to freeze any assets linked to the scam. He emphasized the need for swift action to prevent further exploitation.
“We trust that OKX will act swiftly and responsibly, ensuring that its platform does not become a safe haven for scam proceeds,” Sun said in his post on X
Law Enforcement Involved in the Investigation
Justin Sun didn’t stop at contacting OKX. He also involved law enforcement, sharing critical details to help trace and recover the stolen funds. Sun directly addressed the scammers, urging them to return the stolen assets:
“To the scammers involved: we strongly urge you to return the stolen funds immediately. We commit to redistributing all recovered funds back to the community. There is still a chance to do the right thing,” he said.
The funds have been traced to a specific wallet address, and two transaction hashes were shared to aid the investigation.
Can TRON Overcome the Challenges?
TRON now faces the dual challenge of advancing its technology while managing the fallout from this hack. The upgrade brought a positive market response, but the breach highlights the ongoing security risks in the crypto space.
Sun’s leadership will likely be under the microscope as the situation unfolds. However, TRON’s quick response to the hack shows a commitment to protecting its users.
The balance between innovation and security will be crucial for TRON’s future.
The post Justin Sun’s TRON Upgrade Sends TRX Price Soaring Despite Twitter Hack appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
One announcement can change a lot in crypto. On May 3, 2025, Justin Sun, the founder of TRON, revealed a significant upgrade to the TRON ecosystem. The news caused a surge in TRX prices, but it was also overshadowed by a security breach: the official TRON DAO Twitter account was hacked, and scammers used it …