During a livestream hosted by the leading exchange HTX, Founder of TRON and Advisor to HTX, Justin Sun expressed confidence in the approval of the newly filed Canary Capital Group Staked TRX ETF, calling it a “non-replicable” opportunity for both investors and the broader crypto market.
The event, titled “TRX ETF is Coming? The First Altcoin ETF with Staking Rewards – Will It Spark a New Crypto Bull Run?”, featured @HTX_Molly and leading crypto influencers in discussion with Sun on the TRX ETF filing, the outlook for staking-based ETFs, and the path to regulatory compliance.
A First-of-Its-Kind ETF With Staking Rewards
The key differentiator of this TRX ETF application is its inclusion of a staking mechanism, which could provide investors with enhanced yield opportunities. Notably, the TRX ETF is among the few, out of all crypto ETFs with pending S-1 filings, to incorporate staking features.
While the application process for such ETFs is significantly more challenging than for spot ETFs – evidenced by the past failures of Staked ETH ETF applications – Justin Sun remains hopeful. He believes the SEC, under its new crypto-friendly Chairman Paul Atkins, is showing increased openness toward cryptocurrencies. Therefore, the TRX ETF application seeks immediate approval, aiming to be the groundbreaking cryptocurrency ETF to integrate staking. Its success, he asserts, would make its value “unreplicable.”
Sun: Market Is Undervaluing Approval Odds
“The market might be undervaluing the probability of the TRX ETF’s approval, a matter of which I am highly confident,” Justin Sun remarked. His confidence stems partly from his considerable experience with crypto ETF applications, including his involvement in securing approval for the initial Bitcoin futures ETFs and the subsequent Bitcoin spot ETFs. Furthermore, the TRX ETP’s successful listing and outperformance against Bitcoin and Ethereum equivalents in Europe provide a strong precedent.
Justin argues that the rarity of ETF applications reaching the S-1 filing stage indicates that approval for the TRX ETF may not be far off. He also noted that even if the SEC rejects the initial submission, the team will revise the S-1 document in accordance with the SEC’s recommendations and continue the application process.
TRX ETF Could Catalyze the Next Bull Market
Justin Sun suggests that the potential impact of TRX ETF approval is underestimated. “The approval of the Bitcoin spot ETF demonstrated that a few tens of billions of dollars in inflows could trigger a trillion-dollar market rally. This is a prime example of ‘confidence leverage.’ The TRX ETF’s approval could have a similar or even greater impact, potentially igniting the next bull run and attracting a new wave of institutional interest in crypto ETFs on Wall Street.”
Simultaneously, the ETF will facilitate RWA (Real-World Assets) growth. “The real breakthrough for RWA won’t just come from technological progress but from building a mutually beneficial ecosystem,” Justin explained. “Traditional institutions aren’t held back by technology. They’re limited by the absence of a clear mechanism to acquire public chain tokens and share in their appreciation. The ETF serves as the key to unlocking this – without it, large-scale institutional investment is unlikely, thus hindering the movement of trillions in assets onto the blockchain. The ETF isn’t just a price catalyst; it’s the decisive factor in the successful adoption of RWA.”
Looking ahead, Justin emphasized that this year will be pivotal for enhancing regulatory compliance and expanding collaborations within the U.S. market. “The TRX ETF application is just the beginning. TRON and HTX have significant developments planned for each subsequent quarter, with the necessary groundwork already underway.”
About HTX
Founded in 2013, HTX has evolved from a virtual asset exchange into a comprehensive ecosystem of blockchain businesses that span digital asset trading, financial derivatives, research, investments, incubation, and other businesses.
As a world-leading gateway to Web3, HTX harbors global capabilities that enable it to provide users with safe and reliable services. Adhering to the growth strategy of “Global Expansion, Thriving Ecosystem, Wealth Effect, Security & Compliance,” HTX is dedicated to providing quality services and values to virtual asset enthusiasts worldwide.
Polyhedra Network’s ZKJ token crashed nearly 60% in under an hour on June 15, wiping out over $360 million in market capitalization.
KOGE, the governance token of 48 Club DAO, also dropped by 50% during the same window, losing more than $100 million in market cap.
ZKJ Faces Major Liquidity Mismanagement
The sharp sell-off began when the KOGE/USDT liquidity pool was depleted, leaving liquidity providers unable to exit. Panic selling followed as investors began converting KOGE into ZKJ.
According to early community reports, the KOGE team failed to add USDT to its liquidity pool. This triggered what some users called a “rug from both sides.”
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is quickly becoming a notable force in the push for global crypto adoption. With growing participation from institutions and enterprises and supportive regulations for Web3 technology, MENA is set to expand its impact.
BeInCrypto interviewed Stephan Apel, CEO of Outlier Ventures, to explore the characteristics of these tech-driven economies and their anticipated innovations.
Web3 Adoption and Market Growth
MENA has emerged as a significant center for Web3 development, facilitated by a combination of demographic, technological, and cultural factors. The region’s entrepreneurial spirit has also fostered an environment conducive to the adoption of decentralized technologies.
“The MENA market has set a standard for adopting next-gen technologies and using them to boost their economic transformation. This is especially true for Web3 technologies— the region recognised their potential early on, offering the resources needed for these projects to scale and thrive on both regional and global levels,” Apel told BeInCrypto.
Consequently, the region is witnessing an increase in startups, investors, and developers exploring Web3 and its diverse applications.
A 2024 Chainalysis report revealed that MENA was the seventh biggest crypto market worldwide. From July 2023 to June 2024, the region saw $338.7 billion in online crypto transactions, representing 7.5% of all crypto transactions globally.
Share of all cryptocurrency transaction value by region. Source: Chainalysis.
Notably, Turkey and Morocco ranked among the top 30 countries globally in crypto adoption. Turkey secured the 11th spot, while Morocco ranked 27th. These nations alone accounted for $137 billion and $12.7 billion in received cryptocurrency value, respectively.
Furthermore, the MENA region’s crypto activity is predominantly driven by institutional and professional players, as a substantial 93% of all value transferred involves transactions exceeding $10,000.
Meanwhile, Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) members have distinguished themselves through their ambitious technological initiatives.
MENA’s Strategic Shift Towards AI
The onset of artificial intelligence (AI) has prompted governments and businesses within the Middle East to acknowledge the global trend towards related advanced technologies. Countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are considering their strategic position concerning this technological transformation.
According to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), AI could contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy in 2030. The consulting firm predicts that the Middle East will bring 2% of the total global benefits, equal to $320 billion.
MENA’s pioneering role in AI development. Source: PwC.
The PwC report also indicates that Saudi Arabia will see the largest absolute gains from AI by 2030, with an estimated US$135.2 billion added to its economy, or 12.4% of GDP. In terms of GDP percentage, however, the UAE is expected to see the greatest impact, approaching 14% of its 2030 GDP. Meanwhile, for GCC states Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar, AI is expected to contribute 8.2% of their GDP.
Given the region’s latest initiatives and investments in AI innovation, these numbers come as no surprise.
Saudi Arabia’s AI Development Initiatives
In 2016, the Saudi Arabian government launched Vision 2030, a program to promote economic, social, and cultural diversification. Integral to this vision is a strategic shift towards artificial intelligence and data-driven innovation, a key component of the nation’s economic diversification efforts.
Saudi Arabia is making notable advancements in AI. The country aims to reduce its reliance on oil by developing advanced technology sectors through targeted investments, infrastructure development, and workforce training.
“Fueled by its Vision 2030 initiative, Saudi Arabia has already created a thriving startup ecosystem, dedicated significant investment in emerging technologies,and designed policies to attract global talent and entrepreneurship,” Apel told BeInCrypto.
The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) spearheads Saudi Arabia’s push into artificial intelligence, shaping and implementing the country’s national data and AI strategy. The National Data Bank is a cornerstone of their efforts. It is designed as a central hub for data access and analysis, facilitating AI applications across public and private sectors.
Last November, Saudi Arabia also unveiled Project Transcendence. The $100 billion investment initiative focuses on accelerating the integration of AI and advanced technologies.
Similar to its neighbor, the UAE has actively pursued AI adoption.
UAE’s AI Strategy and Investments
In 2017, the UAE launched its National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, which aims to make the country a global leader in the field by 2031. The UAE AI and Blockchain Council oversees this strategy, which impacts sectors like education, energy, and tourism.
The UAE is already reaping the benefits of its AI initiatives. In April, Microsoft announced a $1.5 billion investment in G42, an Abu Dhabi-based technology holding company. G42 is known for its data centers and the development of Jais, a leading Arabic-language AI model.
In September, G42 and Nvidia partnered to create AI-driven solutions for improved weather forecasting. The collaboration aims to advance climate-related technologies by using Nvidia’s Earth-2 platform, which enables AI-augmented climate and weather simulations.
Three months later, Abu Dhabi-based global technological ecosystem Hub71 partnered with Google to boost startup growth in the UAE. This collaboration will bring Google’s “Google for Startups” program to Abu Dhabi, including a dedicated accelerator for Hub71 startups in 2025.
He also drew attention to the planned convergence of AI and Web3 technologies in these prominent regions.
Convergence of AI, Web3, and IoT
Integrating the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and AI technologies is gaining traction among businesses in the Middle East. By combining these technologies, organizations can access new avenues for growth, increase efficiency, and create novel user experiences.
In 2018, the Dubai Airport Freezone Authority launched Dubai Blink, a platform that integrates AI, blockchain, and virtual licenses to facilitate global trade. This system enhances supply chain innovation through ‘smart commerce’ by expediting trade with a unified online platform. Furthermore, it addressed the cumbersome process of supplier identification by using AI algorithms to streamline and accelerate the validation process.
Ultimately, MENA’s proactive approach to technological advancement, coupled with its strategic focus on Web3 and AI, signals a future where the region will be a pivotal architect in shaping the digital economy.
GRVT co-founder Hong Yea left behind a rising executive career at Goldman Sachs to launch a hybrid crypto exchange as the market collapsed.
Four months after the mainnet, it has processed over $5 billion in volume. Yea tells BeInCrypto how his Wall Street roots helped engineer a decentralized trading powerhouse.
A Leap of Conviction in a Market on Fire
When Hong Yea left a decade-long career at Goldman Sachs, where he had risen to executive director, crypto markets were in freefall. It was late 2022, and FTX had just collapsed.
Confidence in centralized platforms had evaporated. But for Yea, the implosion was not a deterrent—it was validation.
“FTX crystallized our thesis. Centralized counterparties are single points of systemic failure. We saw that coming—and built GRVT to be the opposite,” Yea told BeInCrypto in an interview.
That conviction would be tested. While former colleagues moved toward managing director promotions and fatter bonuses, Yea built a next-gen exchange from scratch. One that would fuse institutional-grade speed and compliance with the decentralization ethos of Web3.
Today, just four months after its public mainnet launch, GRVT has processed over $5 billion in trading volume.
It is the first licensed decentralized exchange (DEX) under Bermuda’s Class M framework and one of the few platforms bridging Wall Street’s rigor with blockchain’s permissionless infrastructure.
Why a Goldman Exec Bet on Blockchain
For Yea, the pivot was not sudden. A trader by training, he spent years inside Goldman watching promising financial products die behind walled gardens.
“I saw brilliant tools and strategies that never reached beyond institutional silos. At the same time, DeFi lacked the risk controls, performance, and compliance needed to scale. I realized: if we could combine both worlds, we could unlock finance for everyone,” he explains.
The spark came at a 2022 crypto conference in Barcelona. Yea saw clearly that blockchain was not just speculative—it was a superior substrate for finance.
“It’s like a smarter internet. Not just for data, but for logic. Immutable, programmable, global. That’s what finance needs,” he articulates.
The Hybrid Advantage: CEX Speed Meets DEX Trustlessness
In the interview, Hong Yea presented GRVT as a purpose-built hybrid, not a traditional DEX or a centralized exchange with a Web3 gloss.
The platform, he said, separates matching and risk logic off-chain from settlement and custody on-chain. With this, users get the speed of centralized venues without ceding control of their assets.
“Every trade is executed with sub-millisecond latency, but settled on-chain via smart contracts that never touch user funds. It’s trustless execution at institutional speeds,” Hong Yea remarked.
Users sign trades cryptographically using SecureKey technology, which combines multi-party computation (MPC) with biometrics for maximum safety. At the same time, onboarding feels like Web2—email, password, 2FA.
Behind the scenes, GRVT’s zero-knowledge chain ensures privacy while keeping settlements transparent. Crucially, the platform allows users to instantly rehypothecate margin across markets—an edge even legacy prime brokerages rarely offer.
GRVT’s “CeDeFi” architecture combines off-chain order matching and risk management with on-chain self-custodial settlement using a private zk-powered Validium chain. It eliminates intermediaries, avoids on-chain custody fees, and enables users to maintain sole control of their assets.
“Trades execute in sub-millisecond latency but clear trustlessly in users’ own wallets,” Yea said.
This design directly targets the weaknesses of both CEXs and DEXs:
CEXs offer convenience and speed but force users to relinquish custody, introducing counterparty risk.
DEXs provide transparency and control but suffer from latency and fragmented liquidity.
GRVT bridges that divide. Users sign trades with biometrics via a SecureKey while all assets remain in their wallets.
“We blend Web2 login flows with cryptographic controls and one-click trade signing,” Yea explained. “It’s the speed of Binance with the self-custody of Uniswap—minus the trade-offs.”
$5 Billion in 120 Days With Regulation As The Blueprint
According to Hong Yea, GRVT’s explosive growth was engineered through raw performance, ecosystem incentives, and early partnerships. Its matching engine operates with latency under 10 milliseconds, outpacing Ethereum-based DEXs, Solana (SOL), and even newer Layer 2 solutions.
However, it is not just about speed. GRVT rewards market makers, community contributors, and liquidity providers, and creates a balanced, multi-stakeholder system.
Reportedly, more than 40 institutions, including CoinRoutes and top prime brokers, now trade on GRVT, injecting deep liquidity from day one.
Moreover, in a post-FTX playing field, the timing is opportune. Retail users demand transparency; institutions demand compliance. GRVT meets both demands without compromise.
“We’re not a niche. We’re a bridge. Retail wants safety, institutions want access. We offer a platform where both can trade on equal footing,” Yea added.
While most DEXs attempt to dodge regulation, GRVT leaned in. It became the world’s first licensed DEX under Bermuda’s Digital Asset framework.
“We treat compliance as code. Our chain enforces KYC and trade surveillance at the protocol level. That’s not just policy—it’s unbreakable,” Yea emphasized.
Reportedly, GRVT is now in active discussions with regulators across Asia, Europe, and North America, working toward multi-jurisdictional licensing for a globally compliant rollout. Yea believes this regulatory adoption is not a constraint but a critical enabler.
“Rules aren’t the enemy—they’re the gateway to institutional trust,” he stated.
Meanwhile, GRVT’s vision does not end with crypto trading. Yea sees a future where tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), including equities, funds, and institutional strategies, trade peer-to-peer (P2P) on a decentralized, composable platform.
“Wall Street is warming up. However, this time, they will come not to dominate, but to integrate,” Yea concluded.
Building long-term trust on a blockchain may seem like a leap for a trader who once priced risk in microseconds. However, for Hong Yea, it was a calculated trade—and so far, it is paying off.
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Binance Alpha volumes collapsed = whales & bots dominate
