"Cboe Proposes Crypto Staking for ETF, Robinhood Crypto Volume Surges 400%"

The Cboe BZX Exchange has filed a proposal with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to introduce staking for the 21Shares Core Ethereum ETF. This marks the first initiative by an ETF to seek approval for crypto staking from the SEC, which previously approved the ETF without the staking elements. The regulatory body is generally shifting towards a more crypto-friendly approach, potentially classifying some tokens as non-securities.

Robinhood, a commission-free brokerage, observed a 400% increase in crypto trading volume in Q4, reaching $70 billion. This surge is in contrast to the declining volumes earlier in the year and reflects a continuing strong interest in crypto trading. The firm's transaction-based revenues increased significantly, largely driven by crypto trading which generated $358 million, up 700% from last year. During the same period, Robinhood also expanded its crypto offerings in the US and launched Ethereum staking in the EU.

Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan identifies a significant opportunity in the crypto market due to contrasting sentiments between institutional and retail investors. Hougan notes institutional sentiment towards crypto is highly bullish, evidenced by substantial investments, including exchange-traded funds and corporate acquisitions of Bitcoin. Meanwhile, retail sentiment is at a low, affected by poor performance in altcoin investments compared to Bitcoin. Despite current retail pessimism, Hougan is optimistic about the long-term prospects for altcoins, highlighting potential regulatory clarity and the role of stablecoins as factors driving future growth.

The US Consumer Price Index (CPI) in January 2025 recorded a higher than anticipated annual increase, reaching 3%, a significant rise from the previous value of 2.9%. Core CPI, excluding food and energy, also saw a year-over-year rise to 3.3%. On a monthly basis, the CPI went up by 0.5% due to rising costs in shelter, energy, and food. This increase marks the largest annual CPI rise since June 2024.

Bitpanda has received approval from the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to extend its crypto operations into the UK, offering the largest selection of over 500 crypto tokens available on the market. The expansion also includes plans to open a London office and the addition of tailored financial products such as staking and crypto indices for UK investors. This