Blockchain
CES 2022: CoolBitX Unveils New CoolWallet Pro NFT features for Pioneering DeFi Hardware Wallet at TTA Pavilion

Crypto security pioneer CoolbitX has announced that it is debuting at CES 2022 the new in-app integrated non-fungible tokens (NFT) functions for its flagship CoolWallet Pro, the leading DeFi-focused mobile cold wallet with a credit card form factor at CES 2022.
The CoolWallet upgrade includes integrated support for the world’s leading NFT marketplaces OpenSea and Rarible and a daring metaverse-focused innovation lab comes in response to the growing evolution of digital assets in 2021, and positions it well for the expected boom in new NFT applications to be used across DeFi, GameFi, Web 3.0 and metaverse protocols in 2022.
CoolWallet Pro Answers Rising Demand for Opensea and Rarible NFTs
Launched in 2016, CoolbitX’s flagship product, CoolWallet allows users to not only safely store an ever-growing portfolio of elite digital assets, but to also interact with an integrated in-app marketplace that provides access to the world’s best decentralized finance protocols and exchanges, and the unique services they provide, such as DeFi staking, borrowing and lending.
NFTs have enjoyed incredible mainstream adoption and pop culture success in 2021, with projects like Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), NBA TopShots, and CryptoPunks generating millions in revenue and aligning with some of the world’s biggest brands such as Nike, Visa and Adidas. There is no question anymore that NFTs serve as a bridge between real-world and digital asset ownership. Practical enterprise applications and use-cases available across a variety of exciting new industries such as metaverse, Play-to-Earn (P2E) and Play-to-Learn (P2L) gaming are widely expected for 2022.
As such, CoolWallet Pro is now offering mobile in-app integrated NFT functions, which features support for leading NFT marketplaces such as OpenSea and Rarible. It not only benefits original CoolWallet users but also serves as an accessible portal to bring new audiences from outside the crypto space to participate in the industry.
“We have been committed to our mission of fostering the mass adoption of crypto assets since 2014, when we began work on the world’s first Bitcoin mobile hardware wallet. NFT support on the CoolWallet will help to seamlessly blend our users’ physical and virtual worlds, empowering them to manage and protect both their crypto assets and digital collectibles with confidence. At the same time, it opens the doors to limitless partnership opportunities with NFT creators and we look forward to many more exciting projects to come,” says Michael Ou, CEO and Founder of CoolBitX.
CoolWallet Pro supports more currencies
CoolWallet Pro users can earn passive income on their DeFi (decentralized finance) assets such as Polkadot (DOT), Cosmos (ATOM), and Tron (TRX), with support for Cardano (ADA), Polygon (MATIC), Solana (SOL), and other leading currencies in the pipeline.
This comes in addition to its existing native support of BTC, ETH, LTC, XRP, BCH, ZEN, BNB, DOT, ATOM, TRX, USDT, USDC, and ERC20, BEP20, and TRC20 tokens.
CoolBitX to make NFTs securely accessible to all
In the meantime, CoolBitX is exploring possibilities to attract audiences outside the crypto space through the newly launched “CoolBitX Innovation Lab“. It introduced its first ‘metaverse-like’ project, NAO NFT, which brings together the virtual and physical worlds through an exclusive collaboration with Jinguji Nao, a Japanese adult film actress.
The NAO NFT project includes four special auction items and limited blind box offerings that will be sold through the CoolBitX Innovation Lab project site. Each NAO NFT pack comes with a threefold surprise — an exclusive NFT; a dedicated Nao version CoolWallet Pro hardware wallet, and a possible mystery prize from Nao herself.
For many creators looking to enter the crypto industry, entry barriers are high and also require potential collectors to understand the value of this new form of content creation.
However, CoolWallet’s unique design provides a tangible aspect to the collector, which may be more familiar and hence more viable for mass-market adoption, whilst at the same time safe keeping the consumer’s digital assets and NFT collection.
Blockchain
U.S. Factoring Services Market Analysis by Product, Technology, Grade, Application and End-user (2019-2032) – Next-Gen Technologies Drive Surge in Alternative Financing Access for SMEs
Blockchain
Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – May 12, 2025 | Rootstock, Zimbabwe Carbon Registry, Fastex, 21Shares, The Blockchain Group

Welcome to Blocks & Headlines, your daily op-ed style deep dive into the most pivotal blockchain and crypto stories shaping today’s market. In this edition—May 12, 2025—we cover:
-
Bitcoin DeFi Security Strengthens as Rootstock garners 81% of Bitcoin’s hashrate
-
Zimbabwe’s Blockchain Carbon Credit Registry aims to restore investor trust
-
Token2049 Dubai Highlights spotlight Fastex’s Web3 innovations
-
21Shares’ New ETP for Cronos (CRO) bridges traditional finance and DeFi
-
The Blockchain Group’s €9.9 M Capital Raise fuels its Bitcoin treasury strategy
Below, each story is summarized with key takeaways and opinion-driven context.
Introduction
Today’s blockchain landscape is defined by two contrasting forces: institutional maturation—as legacy players and governments adopt tokenized assets and infrastructure—and startup-driven innovation—where Web3 pioneers push boundaries in DeFi, NFTs, and on-chain governance. Major trends include:
-
Security & Scalability: Layer-2 solutions and cross-chain bridges are gaining traction to secure and scale Bitcoin and Ethereum ecosystems.
-
Transparency & Trust: From carbon credits to capital markets, blockchain is repeatedly chosen to enhance auditability and investor confidence.
-
Mainstream Access: Crypto ETPs and regulated token offerings are lowering barriers for retail and institutional investors.
-
Treasury Management: Public companies are increasingly using Bitcoin and token holdings as strategic assets to hedge against macro volatility.
Let’s unpack today’s five developments and their broader implications.
1. Bitcoin DeFi Security Strengthens with Rootstock’s Hashrate Share
What happened: A new Messari report finds that Rootstock (RSK), Bitcoin’s oldest layer-2 smart-contract platform, now commands 81% of Bitcoin’s total hashrate, up from 56% before major mining pools Foundry and SpiderPool onboarded in February. Transactions on Rootstock are 95% cheaper than on-chain Bitcoin and 55% cheaper than Ethereum, positioning RSK for sustained DeFi growth in 2025.
Source: CoinDesk
Analysis & commentary:
Rootstock’s dominant hashrate share underscores two key shifts:
-
Security by Convergence: By leveraging Bitcoin’s massive mining network, RSK mitigates the common 51% risk faced by smaller chains.
-
Cost-Efficiency for DeFi: Lower fees make RSK an attractive alternative to Ethereum for yield protocols, lending markets, and decentralized exchanges.
However, challenges remain. Smart-contract developers must integrate robust cross-chain bridges—Rootstock’s partnership with LayerZero is a start—to attract liquidity. Moreover, regulatory scrutiny of DeFi is rising; RSK’s governance will need transparent on-chain dispute resolution and compliance tooling to win institutional adoption.
2. Zimbabwe’s Blockchain Carbon Credit Registry to Revive Investor Confidence
What happened: In Harare on May 9, the Zimbabwean government launched the world’s first blockchain-enabled carbon credit registry, developed by Dubai’s A6 Labs. The immutable ledger will record issuance, trading, and retirement of credits, addressing the fallout from 2023’s abrupt project cancellations and a 50% revenue levy that spooked developers. The new Zimbabwe Carbon Markets Authority (ZCMA) will oversee licensing via the zicma.org.zw portal.
Source: Bloomberg
Analysis & commentary:
Zimbabwe’s registry is an instructive case study in how blockchain can restore transparency and rebuild market trust:
-
Immutable Audits: Every credit’s provenance is verifiable on-chain, deterring double-counting and fraud.
-
Regulatory Framework: A dedicated authority streamlines approvals, balancing market access with environmental integrity.
-
Investor Reassurance: By codifying rules in smart contracts, Zimbabwe signals that future policy shifts will be governed by code, not sudden ministerial edict.
Nonetheless, blockchain is not a panacea. Effective enforcement still depends on reliable on-the-ground measurement and reporting. The real test will be whether smaller African producers—Kenya, Zambia—adopt interoperable registries, creating a pan-continental carbon marketplace.
3. Web3 Innovation Takes Center Stage at Token2049 Dubai
What happened: Between April 30 and May 1, Token2049 Dubai convened industry leaders in the Emirates. Fastex, a platinum sponsor, showcased its Bahamut blockchain (PoSA consensus), the YoWallet custodial solution, and a wave of new apps—YoHealth, YoPhone/YoSIM, YoBlog—all designed to expand Web3 use cases beyond finance. Fastex also co-hosted regulatory forums with Solidus Labs and launched the Bahamut Grants program to seed developer innovation.
Source: Cointelegraph
Analysis & commentary:
Token2049’s Dubai edition highlights an ecosystem maturation where:
-
Compliance & Growth Coexist: Legal breakfasts signaled that self-regulation and layered oversight can lower entry barriers without stifling ingenuity.
-
Beyond Finance: By unveiling telecom and health apps, Fastex challenges the notion that blockchain is niche—real-world use cases can drive mainstream adoption.
-
Brand Ambassadors: Football legend Patrice Evra’s presence at YoHealth’s booth illustrates how cultural icons can amplify blockchain’s reach.
Moving forward, projects must demonstrate measurable end-user utility and scalable infrastructure to avoid the “pilot-only” trap. Dubai’s supportive regulatory sandbox remains an ideal proving ground.
4. 21Shares Launches ETP for Cronos (CRO) – Bridging TradFi and DeFi
What happened: Swiss issuer 21Shares listed a new ETP (CRON) on May 12, offering direct exposure to CRO, the native token of Cronos—a Layer 1 chain built for DeFi, NFTs, and cross-chain interoperability with Ethereum and Cosmos. Investors can now trade CRO through regular brokerages without managing private keys or wallets.
Source: The Paypers
Analysis & commentary:
Tokenizing blockchain assets into regulated ETPs remains one of the most powerful drivers of institutional capital inflows:
-
Familiar Interfaces: By packaging CRO as a ticker, 21Shares lowers the learning curve for asset managers and pension funds.
-
Regulatory Alignment: ETPs fall under securities law, offering clear governance compared to unregulated spot tokens.
-
Ecosystem Growth: Cronos stands to benefit from increased liquidity and brand recognition, which in turn fuels DeFi activity on its network.
ETPs also invite scrutiny: fees, redemption mechanics, and underlying custodial risks must be transparent to preserve investor trust. As competition heats up—with products for BTC, ETH, SOL, and more—issuers will vie on pricing, ease of access, and institutional credibility.
5. The Blockchain Group’s €9.9 M Capital Raise Advances Bitcoin Treasury Strategy
What happened: Europe’s first Bitcoin Treasury Company, The Blockchain Group (ALTBG), completed a €9.888 million capital increase at €1.0932 per share on May 7, 2025. Proceeds will bolster its strategy to accumulate Bitcoin per fully diluted share while expanding consulting and AI-driven blockchain services.
Source: ActusNews via MarketScreener
Analysis & commentary:
The Blockchain Group’s financing round underscores a new corporate paradigm where holding BTC is core to the business model:
-
Shareholder Alignment: By tethering equity value to Bitcoin accumulation, management and investors share upside in crypto markets.
-
Operational Synergies: Subsidiaries in data intelligence and decentralized consulting can monetize both service fees and on-balance-sheet Bitcoin appreciation.
-
Regulatory Compliance: As a publicly listed entity on Euronext Growth Paris, ALTBG navigates EU financial rules, offering a transparent vehicle for crypto exposure.
Yet this approach carries volatility risk: sudden BTC price swings can compress earnings per share and spur shareholder activism. Mitigation strategies—such as hedged derivatives and staggered BTC purchases—will be critical to sustain growth without alarming investors.
Conclusion
Today’s highlights reveal a blockchain industry at once foundational and frontier:
-
Security & Scale: Rootstock’s hashrate gains fortify Bitcoin DeFi’s underpinnings.
-
Transparent Markets: Zimbabwe’s carbon registry sets a template for blockchain-backed commodity markets.
-
Web3 Diversification: Token2049 Dubai shows that true mass adoption demands real-world applications in health, telecom, and beyond.
-
Institutional Access: ETPs like CRON democratize token ownership for mainstream investors.
-
On-Balance-Sheet Crypto: The Blockchain Group exemplifies the rising class of publicly traded crypto-native firms.
As blockchain extends into supply chains, tokenized securities, and identity, the winners will be those who blend innovative protocol design with pragmatic regulatory alignment. Keep tuning into Blocks & Headlines for tomorrow’s top stories.
The post Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – May 12, 2025 | Rootstock, Zimbabwe Carbon Registry, Fastex, 21Shares, The Blockchain Group appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.
Blockchain
Astra Fintech Announces Establishment of Korea HQ, Strengthening Commitment to Solana Ecosystem and Regional Expansion

Astra Fintech
-
Blockchain Press Releases7 days ago
HTX Premieres USD1 Stablecoin Globally, Partnering with World Liberty Financial to Forge a New Era of Decentralized Economy
-
Blockchain6 days ago
Colb Asset SA Raises $7.3 Million in Oversubscribed Round to Bring Pre-IPO Giants to Blockchain
-
Blockchain Press Releases5 days ago
HTX and Justin Sun Launch $6M Mars Program Special Edition, Offering One User a Historic Space Journey
-
Blockchain5 days ago
Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – May 9, 2025 | Robinhood, Solana, Tether, China, Women in Web3
-
Blockchain4 days ago
Bitget Blockchain4Youth sostiene l’innovazione del Web3 e dell’IA all’hackathon “Build with AI” di Google Developer Group
-
Blockchain6 days ago
Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain – May 7, 2025 | Coinbase, Riot Games, Curve DAO, Litecoin, AR.IO
-
Blockchain Press Releases4 days ago
Bybit Surpasses 70 Million Users, Reinforces Commitment to Transparency and Institutional Growth
-
Blockchain Press Releases7 days ago
JuCoin made a global impact at TOKEN2049 Dubai, advancing its ecosystem with the “Peak Experience” vision and JuChain’s robust tech.