Weekly Article Recap: 7/01-7/04

The Stories that You Can’t Afford to Miss This Week

As the DeFi and crypto space continues to evolve at a rapid pace, it's essential to stay informed 

about the latest developments and trends. Our weekly recap provides a concise yet comprehensive overview of the most significant news and trends in the DeFi and crypto space, helping you stay informed and up-to-date with the latest happenings.

BNB Chain Goes Sub Second with Maxwell Upgrade

BNB Chain’s Maxwell hard fork is now live, cutting average block times from 1.5 to 0.8 seconds, with a target of 0.75. The upgrade improves validator coordination, extends proposal turns from 10 to 16 blocks, and doubles epoch length to 1,000 blocks. These changes aim to reduce missed votes, boost throughput, and strengthen network stability—bringing BNB Chain closer to high-speed rivals like Solana.

Find details on BNB Chain’s Maxwell hard fork. 

Nano Labs Acquires $50M BNB in Strategic Crypto Shift

Nasdaq-listed chipmaker Nano Labs has purchased 74,315 BNB tokens for $50 million in an OTC deal, averaging $672.45 per token. The China-based firm, known for Bitcoin mining and AI chips, plans to hold up to 10% of BNB’s total supply. With this move, Nano Labs becomes the first U.S.-listed company to adopt BNB as a treasury asset. Its crypto holdings now total around $160 million.

Read the full story. 

Robinhood Unveils Layer-2 Blockchain to Power Tokenized Stocks With Arbitrum

Robinhood has rolled out over 200 tokenized U.S. stocks and ETFs for European users, enabling 24/5 trading via its crypto app. The assets run on a new Arbitrum-based Layer-2 chain, offering zero-commission trades, dividend payouts, and real-time price exposure. The move positions Robinhood as a crypto-powered, all-in-one investment platform.

Find details in the article. 

The First Solana Staking ETF in the US: All You Need to Know

The REX-Osprey Solana + Staking ETF (SSK) began trading on July 2, 2025, on the Cboe BZX Exchange—becoming the first U.S.-listed ETF to offer direct exposure to Solana (SOL) and its staking rewards. Following Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, Solana is now the third major crypto asset with a spot ETF. The product opens new access for investors to tap into Solana’s $81B market cap and passive income potential via traditional brokerage platforms.

Learn about the development here. 

NYSE-Listed DDC Enterprise Raises $528M to Build Bitcoin Treasury

NYSE-listed DDC Enterprise has closed a $528 million funding round to acquire Bitcoin. The deal, announced July 1, marks one of the largest BTC-focused raises by a non-crypto U.S. public company. Backers include Anson Funds, Animoca Brands, and Kenetic Capital.

Read the full story.