Murtuza Merchant
366 News
1 Learns
Murtuza is a seasoned finance journalist with extensive experience covering cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. He has contributed to Benzinga and Cointelegraph, among other publications, reporting on emerging trends, the regulatory landscape, and more. Find him at @murtuza_merc on Twitter and mmerchant001 on Telegram.
Disclosure: Murtuza holds ATOM, AKT, TIA, INJ, and OSMO.
Classified Intel Or Lucky Guess? New Polymarket Account Profits $400K From Maduro Arrest
Mystery trader bet $30K on Nicolás Maduro's arrest on Polymarket, then US forces detained him 24 hours later. The $400K profit raises insider trading questions.
Murtuza MerchantJan 03, 2026
Why Crypto's $49B Funding Surge Went To Exchanges, Not Builders In 2025
Crypto venture funding hit $49.75B in 2025—up 433% YoY—but deal count fell 42%. Capital concentrated in exchanges, custody, and reserves, not early-stage startups.
Murtuza MerchantJan 03, 2026
Crypto's Biggest Critic Gone: SEC Commissioner Crenshaw Exits, Leaving All-Republican Panel
SEC Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw, a leading critic of crypto markets and Bitcoin ETFs, will step down Jan. 3, leaving an all-Republican commission.
Murtuza MerchantJan 02, 2026
Aave Labs Bows To Pressure: DeFi Giant Plans Revenue Sharing After Token Holder Revolt
Aave Labs will share non-protocol revenue with AAVE token holders and address IP rights after weeks of controversy over value capture and governance alignment.
Murtuza MerchantJan 02, 2026
Senate Crypto Bill Markup Set For Jan 2026 As Lummis Warns 'Companies Are Fleeing Offshore'
Senator Lummis calls for swift passage of crypto market structure legislation, detailing the bill’s development, House CLARITY Act approval and pending Senate markup in 2026.
Murtuza MerchantJan 02, 2026
'Robinhood Has The Retail Coinbase Wants': Armstrong's 2026 Vision Triggers Industry Alarm
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong outlined an ambitious 2026 roadmap, but traders and builders warn the exchange may be underestimating growing competition from Robinhood.
Murtuza MerchantJan 02, 2026
White House Declares America's 'Golden Age' As Family Wealth Soars $2.9B, Retail Investors Lose Millions
Trump family net worth jumped $2.9 billion from crypto ventures while the President reshaped industry policy. $320M came from meme coin fees as retail investors lost 87%.
Murtuza MerchantJan 01, 2026
Iran Is Now Accepting Crypto For Ballistic Missiles And Armed Drones
Iran's Ministry of Defence Export Center, Mindex, allows foreign buyers to pay in cryptocurrency for advanced weapons including Shahed drones, missiles and warships, signaling crypto's role in sanctions evasion.
Murtuza MerchantJan 01, 2026
Bitcoin's Q4 Pattern Held For A Decade, Then 2025 Delivered A -23% Outlier
Bitcoin and Ethereum ended Q4 2025 with some of their weakest fourth-quarter performances on record, according to Coinglass data. Bitcoin fell 23.07%, its second-worst Q4 ever, while Ethereum dropped 28.28%, marking a rare breakdown of crypto’s traditional year-end strength.
Murtuza MerchantJan 01, 2026
Will Michael Saylor’s Strategy Go Bankrupt If Bitcoin Drops To $74,000?
Fears that Strategy could go bankrupt if Bitcoin drops to $74,000 are spreading online. Company filings and executive statements tell a different story.
Murtuza MerchantJan 01, 2026
