FanDuel has partnered with CME Group to introduce event-based contracts linked to financial benchmarks such as the S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, oil, gold and key economic indicators. The contracts, which are regulated financial products, will allow users to make "yes" or "no" bets for as little as $1.

China is reportedly considering allowing yuan-backed stablecoins to boost global adoption of its currency as part of a plan that could be approved this month. The plan would be a significant shift from China's previous ban on cryptocurrency trading and mining.

Crypto trading firms are increasingly turning to prime brokers, with 51% of crypto specialists working with at least one, according to a report from Acuiti. Another 21% of respondents are considering using prime brokers. The report notes that while prime brokerage in crypto derivatives has gained momentum, issues remain regarding credit risk and service completeness.

Prime Trading has launched a new floor operation at the Cboe Options Exchange in Chicago. By entering the S&P 500 options pit, Prime joins a growing group of market makers investing in physical trading venues since the floor's 2022 revamp. This move highlights Prime's commitment to expanding its presence in the index options space.

A Coalition Greenwich report reveals that 68% of buy-side traders prioritize customer service and desk coverage when selecting brokers for high-touch trades, despite the rise of electronic execution. The report also highlights challenges such as execution quality, commission management, and operational issues, emphasizing the need for brokers to build strong relationships to gain a competitive edge.

The London Metal Exchange is implementing measures to enhance electronic trading and liquidity in the futures market, aiming to develop a robust options market. The latest reforms include automated crossing and new block trading thresholds, set for February 2026.

Bullish has become the first company to use stablecoins in an initial public offering, raising $1.15 billion through stablecoins such as Circle's USDC and Societe Generale-FORGE's EUR CoinVertible. Jefferies coordinated the process, while Coinbase is holding the stablecoins in custody.

BlackRock is advising institutional investors to increase hedge fund allocations by up to 5 percentage points due to global economic uncertainty, inflation volatility and geopolitical instability. This is the largest hedge fund allocation increase recommended by BlackRock Investment Institute, which sees hedge funds as key to portfolio construction.

Banks are prioritizing cyber risk in operational risk management, with 90% of banks maintaining a dedicated second line of defense for information security, up from 88% in 2024, according to a Risk Benchmarking survey. However, staffing for other areas, such as change management and resilience, has lagged behind projections, and regulators are pushing for more staffing in second-line IT and information security teams, highlighting the need for a strong, dedicated function in these areas.

US Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins has introduced a significant policy shift at the Wyoming Blockchain Symposium, arguing that only a small number of crypto tokens should be categorized as securities. Atkins emphasized the importance of examining the context and structure of digital assets rather than broadly labeling them securities.