OpenSea Plans SEA Token Launch in 2026
OpenSea, formerly the dominant marketplace for digital collectibles, is gearing up to introduce its native token, SEA, by the first quarter of 2026. This strategic move follows a significant increase in platform activity after OpenSea broadened its scope beyond NFTs to encompass trading across all digital assets.
On October 17, Devin Finzer, co-founder of OpenSea, confirmed that the SEA token will be central to the platform’s evolving identity, representing OpenSea’s vision for a more open and liquid on-chain economy. He stated, “Integrating SEA into OpenSea will be the opportunity to show the world our vision. It will shine a spotlight on everything we’re building.”
According to Finzer, half of SEA’s total supply will be allocated to the community, with a substantial portion distributed through an initial claim process. Prioritization will be given to long-term users and participants in OpenSea’s loyalty programs. The SEA token will feature staking capabilities, enabling holders to earn rewards while contributing to network growth. Additionally, 50% of the token’s launch revenue will be used for token buybacks, aiming to enhance liquidity and align user interests.
OpenSea’s token initiative is part of a larger strategy to transform the platform into a comprehensive trading venue for all digital assets. The company is also developing a mobile application, perpetual futures trading, and cross-chain abstraction tools, all designed to make on-chain trading as straightforward as using a centralized exchange.
Finzer elaborated that OpenSea’s initial focus was on onboarding artists, collectors, and gamers into Web3 via NFTs. The current phase aims to provide users with a unified platform to manage and trade various asset types without the need for custodial intermediaries.
This strategic shift has already shown promising results for the established NFT platform. This month, OpenSea processed over $2.6 billion in total trading volume, with more than 90% originating from token trades. Data indicates that on October 15, the platform achieved its highest single-day decentralized trading volume, reaching approximately $462.7 million, positioning it as a rapidly growing DEX in the competitive DeFi landscape.
These figures suggest a resurgence for a platform that had been overshadowed by newer competitors. With the impending launch of SEA, OpenSea is positioning itself as a foundational liquidity layer for the broader on-chain economy, moving beyond its role as solely an NFT marketplace.
Ripple Explores $1 Billion XRP Token Purchase for Treasury
Ripple Labs is reportedly preparing to initiate a fundraising effort aimed at acquiring $1 billion worth of its XRP token to establish a digital asset treasury. This fundraising is being organized through a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), as reported by CoinTelegraph.
The proposed digital asset treasury (DAT) will comprise newly purchased XRP, supplemented by a portion of Ripple's existing holdings. The precise terms of this transaction are still under negotiation and may be subject to change before the deal is finalized.
Ripple Labs is already a substantial holder of XRP. According to its market reports from May, the company held over 4.5 billion XRP. Additionally, Ripple Labs has another 37 billion XRP tokens locked in an on-ledger escrow, which are released on a monthly basis. If the reported $1 billion acquisition materializes, it could add approximately 427 million XRP to its holdings.
This potential acquisition would solidify Ripple Labs' position as the primary XRP treasury. A key question arises regarding Ripple's motivation to raise external capital when it possesses significant XRP reserves in escrow.
XRP community analyst Nietzbux has addressed this query, confirming that numerous community members share the same question. His speculative theory suggests that Ripple may have already entered into agreements that effectively pre-sold a substantial portion of its escrowed XRP to institutional investors. While these tokens would still appear in escrow accounts, they would no longer be owned by Ripple. If this theory holds true, it could explain the rationale behind Ripple's potential XRP buyback through a fundraising mechanism.
Furthermore, Ripple Labs is aligning with a growing trend among institutions. The company is joining a movement that has gained considerable momentum in recent months, and the timing appears deliberate given the actions of other firms. VivoPower made headlines earlier this month by raising $19 million to expand its XRP treasury. Other companies, such as Everything Blockchain and Trident Digital, have also announced plans to establish similar treasury structures, which have been viewed positively by many XRP holders.
MrBeast Files for a Crypto Banking App Trademark
Jimmy Donaldson, the 27-year-old creator behind the globally recognized YouTube channel MrBeast, has filed a trademark application for a banking platform. A filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on October 13 reveals the creator's application to trademark "MrBeast Financial."
The application outlines potential offerings including the issuance of credit and debit cards, processing cryptocurrency payments, facilitating crypto exchanges through decentralized platforms, and providing other investment services.
This move signifies MrBeast's transition from entertainment into the realm of blockchain-driven financial services. If approved, it could establish him as the first influencer to launch a mainstream, large-scale banking brand in the United States.
Under the USPTO's standard review process, the trademark application is expected to undergo its initial examination around mid-2026, with a final decision likely before the end of next year.
This venture into financial services is not MrBeast's first engagement with cryptocurrencies. Last October, he was involved in controversy after crypto investigator SomaXBT alleged that the creator had profited over $10 million from backing low-cap tokens. Additionally, Loock Advising claimed the YouTuber had profited at least $23 million from insider trading incidents linked to rug pulls.
However, MrBeast's latest filing suggests a move towards formalizing his involvement in finance after years of cryptocurrency experimentation.
The success of MrBeast Financial, whether it becomes a legitimate banking platform or another influencer-led venture, will serve as a test of how far digital creators can extend their influence beyond entertainment into the financial sector.
Japan's Banks May Soon Hold Bitcoin
Japan's financial sector is undergoing a significant digital transformation. The Financial Services Agency (FSA) is currently considering regulatory reforms that would permit domestic banks to acquire and hold non-backed crypto assets, such as Bitcoin, for investment purposes.
The FSA's deliberations indicate a notable reevaluation of its previously conservative regulatory approach. Historically, supervisory guidelines updated in 2020 effectively prohibited bank groups from acquiring crypto assets for investment, citing concerns over extreme volatility.
The domestic crypto market, however, is demonstrating considerable maturity. Reports suggest that the number of crypto accounts opened in Japan surpassed 12 million by the end of February this year, marking a 3.5-fold increase over the past five years.
While supporting institutional crypto investment, the agency remains committed to establishing robust safeguards. Key discussions at the Financial System Council will center on implementing measures to ensure the financial soundness of the system, which will involve mandating strict requirements for banks.
This measured, dual approach—allowing market entry while rigorously managing risk—aligns with the global regulatory philosophy of fostering innovation within a controlled framework.
The collaborative effort on stablecoins is further accelerating Japan's digital asset integration. The nation's three major banking groups—Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG), Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group (SMFG), and Mizuho Financial Group—are progressing with plans to jointly issue corporate-use stablecoins. Initially, the focus will be on a yen-pegged version, with subsequent plans to introduce a US dollar-pegged coin.
This initiative leverages the updated Payment Services Act of 2023, which establishes a clear legal framework for stablecoin circulation. The banks intend to utilize the system developed by the fintech firm Progmat Inc., with a key innovation being the establishment of a unified standard for these stablecoins to ensure interoperability and seamless fund transfers among the corporate clients of all three banks.
The primary objective is to employ blockchain technology to facilitate faster, more cost-effective, and efficient corporate payments and cross-border remittances, thereby reducing the administrative burdens for Japanese corporations.
Furthermore, the FSA is actively supporting infrastructure development by considering allowing bank groups to register as Crypto Asset Exchange Service Providers. This move would solidify the role of highly compliant traditional finance (TradFi) institutions within the broader digital asset ecosystem.
Coinbase Acquires NFT for $25 Million
Coinbase has accepted a notable offer, purchasing another season of the UpOnly podcast for $25 million. The podcast hosts had promised to release eight more episodes if a benefactor purchased a unique NFT.
UpOnly, a popular crypto podcast, concluded several months ago. However, one of its co-hosts presented a peculiar challenge: if anyone purchased a $20 million NFT, the program would be revived for another season.
The offer included stipulations such as the absence of sponsorship rights or editorial control over the program. It also stated that the hosts retained full freedom to disregard Coinbase's generosity or even mock the company during its airtime, but the podcast would be resurrected.
Remarkably, an unexpected buyer accepted the hosts' 'joke' offer. Coinbase not only purchased UpOnly's NFT but also overpaid the asking price by $5 million.
Since this transaction, the crypto community has been in an uproar. Jordan Fish, the UpOnly co-host who initially minted the NFT, expressed his disbelief at Coinbase's purchase succinctly.
Frankly, no one anticipated this outcome. There is no publicly stated reason for Coinbase's decision to spend $25 million on eight episodes of UpOnly, but it appears to be a public relations maneuver. Nevertheless, for a PR stunt, this appears to be a rather inventive one.
Additional context may help explain why Coinbase chose this particular time to renew UpOnly. Coinbase had recently experienced technical difficulties due to an Amazon Web Services (AWS) outage that disrupted its premium trading platform and other services. Despite several hours of work, the issues persisted, and some users were even warned that their account balances might display zero for certain tokens.
Now, however, Coinbase has successfully shifted the crypto community's attention to UpOnly, diverting focus from its significant infrastructure problems. Considering the exchange's billions in annual revenue, $25 million appears to be a modest price for altering the public narrative.
Furthermore, this acquisition might create an opportunity for a company representative to appear as a guest on the revived podcast.
Zypto Enhances Growth Through Referrals and Rewards Hub
Zypto's in-app Rewards Hub continues to set a high standard for user engagement, with its referral-driven rewards model gaining significant momentum.
Users earn ZYP points for each referral and for qualifying activities within the Zypto App. These points can then be redeemed for crypto cards, bill payments, mobile top-ups, and Vault Key Cards.
The program also offers daily rewards for Zypto Token holders through Zyptopia, managed by the Zypto Foundation. This reinforces Zypto's position as one of the few DeFi ecosystems that reward users for both their activity and their loyalty.
Final Remarks
MrBeast Financial positions MrBeast as a leading influencer venturing into a mainstream US banking brand linked to blockchain innovation. Successful approval could be a potential game-changer for the industry.
The pattern of institutional fundraising suggests that investors are increasingly viewing XRP as a long-term strategic asset rather than purely a speculative token. This trend is contributing to bullish XRP price predictions.
Japan's three largest banking groups are pursuing a joint plan to issue yen-pegged stablecoins. This combined effort by regulators and major traditional finance (TradFi) entities aims to expedite the integration of digital assets into the mainstream economy.
Regardless of Coinbase's motivations, the UpOnly NFT acquisition presents a truly unusual situation. It is hoped that the podcast hosts will not resent their new benefactor for prompting the revival of their canceled program.
Finally, Zypto's expanding Rewards Hub and referral system highlight a DeFi model built on loyalty and tangible utility, which is driving long-term ecosystem growth.