BlackRock Adds Bitcoin ETF to Portfolio With 1-2% Allocation + CME Group to Launch Solana Futures

Trump’s Firm Files Trademark Hinting at Possible NFT and Metaverse Platform

DTTM Operations, the company managing Donald Trump’s intellectual property rights, has filed a trademark application with the USPTO, signaling potential plans for NFTs and a metaverse platform. The filing includes blockchain-related goods and services such as NFT access, crypto transactions, and virtual reality software. While the details remain unclear, the application references digital collectibles featuring Trump’s likeness. If realized, this move could boost metaverse tokens like Sandbox (SAND) and Decentraland (MANA), though it remains uncertain whether the platform will launch.

CME Group to Launch Solana Futures on March 17

CME Group has announced plans to launch Solana (SOL) futures contracts on March 17, subject to regulatory approval. The contracts will offer both micro-sized (25 SOL) and larger-sized (500 SOL) options to market participants. These cash-settled futures will be based on the CME CF Solana-Dollar Reference Rate. The move is in response to growing client demand for regulated crypto products to manage price risk. CME’s crypto product suite already includes Bitcoin and Ether futures, with the addition of SOL futures reflecting the ongoing maturation of the cryptocurrency market and enhancing institutional access to digital assets.

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BlackRock Adds Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) to Model Portfolio With 1-2% Allocation

BlackRock has added the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) to one of its model portfolios, marking the first time the asset manager has included Bitcoin in its investment models. The portfolio, which allows for alternative assets, has allocated 1-2% to IBIT. Michael Gates, lead portfolio manager at BlackRock, cited Bitcoin’s potential as a store of value, a hedge against U.S. dollar hegemony, and a diversification tool. While this represents a smaller portfolio within BlackRock’s $150 billion model portfolio lineup, analysts see it as a significant step toward broader institutional adoption.

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SEC Commissioner Challenges Ruling That Memecoins Are Not Securities

SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw dissented from the agency’s recent stance that memecoins are not securities, arguing they could meet the Howey test due to coordination between developers and promoters. She warned that under the SEC’s new guidance, nearly all cryptocurrencies might be classified as memecoins. The statement comes amid increased scrutiny of the sector following high-profile scams and Trump’s controversial memecoin launch. Meanwhile, House Democrats are preparing the MEME Act, which would ban lawmakers and their families from sponsoring or endorsing digital assets. Legal experts predict clearer memecoin regulations within the next year.

FBI Seizes $8.2M in USDT Linked to Crypto Investment Scam Targeting Victims Across the US

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio has filed a forfeiture complaint against 8.2 million USDT seized from a cryptocurrency investment fraud scheme. The FBI identified 33 victims, with total losses exceeding $4.9 million, after scammers used fake “wrong number” texts to build trust before directing victims to fraudulent crypto platforms. A Lake County, Ohio woman lost her life savings of $663,352 before reporting the scam. Law enforcement traced stolen funds to three crypto addresses and seized them in November 2024. If successful, the U.S. aims to return funds to victims.

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