This week's crypto stories highlight significant developments across various sectors. Google is integrating prediction market data into its search results, Spain is preparing to sell a substantial stash of 13-year-old Bitcoin, and Pi Network has launched its latest desktop upgrade. Additionally, the Bank of England has set new stablecoin limits, Hong Kong is expanding its blockchain bond offering, and Zypto has integrated ETN payments across its ecosystem, aiming to provide faster, low-cost, and environmentally friendly blockchain transactions.
Google Finance Integrates Prediction Market Data
Google is incorporating prediction market data from Kalshi and Polymarket into its search results as part of its AI-powered upgrade. This integration will enable users to view real-time probabilities for future market events directly within Google Search.
According to a Google announcement, the prediction market data will become available within the next couple of weeks. This feature is a key component of a broader AI-powered revamp of Google Finance, which also includes the introduction of Deep Search, driven by its Gemini models, and new live earnings features.
The inclusion of prediction market data allows users to view market odds on significant events, such as elections, inflation trends, and regulatory outcomes affecting both digital and traditional assets. Users can also track how these forecasts have evolved over time by simply typing a relevant question into Google's search bar.
Kalshi operates under the oversight of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), while Polymarket runs on blockchain infrastructure, specifically Polygon, outside of the regulated derivatives space. Their presence on Google Finance suggests that institutional investors and data providers are increasingly viewing event contracts as valuable sentiment indicators rather than purely speculative instruments.
This integration blurs the lines between traditional financial data and decentralized information flows. For years, prediction markets were largely confined to niche platforms within crypto communities. However, by surfacing this data through Google Finance, prediction-based insights are being normalized alongside established financial information like stock and commodity data.
Financial analysts suggest that this move could significantly enhance market sentiment analysis. Prediction contracts often react more swiftly than equities or bonds to political or macroeconomic signals, offering traders an early indication of shifting market expectations. Consequently, these datasets may soon serve as a valuable complement to conventional economic indicators, such as Consumer Price Index (CPI) forecasts and Treasury yields.
This development occurs as U.S. regulators continue to debate the classification of event contracts. Kalshi's regulated model stands in contrast to Polymarket's decentralized operations, which have previously faced enforcement actions from the CFTC. Nevertheless, both platforms are gaining traction, particularly as crypto-native investors explore event trading as a means of hedging against macroeconomic uncertainty.
Furthermore, other companies have been integrating prediction markets into their platforms. In March, Robinhood launched a prediction market hub directly within its app. In October, World App integrated Polymarket, and MetaMask announced similar plans.
If mainstream platforms like Google continue to integrate prediction market data, it may prompt greater policy clarity from regulators. It could also accelerate the acceptance of decentralized markets as a legitimate component of the overall financial information landscape, mirroring Bitcoin's gradual integration into traditional market dashboards over the past decade.
Spain Plans to Sell 13-Year-Old Bitcoin Stash
Spain's Institute of Technology and Renewable Energies (ITER) is preparing to sell a Bitcoin reserve valued at millions of dollars, according to reports from Spanish media. The public research institute, based in Tenerife, had previously acquired 97 BTC for a mere $10,000 as part of a blockchain study, a holding that has now appreciated to over $10 million.
Thirteen years after the initial purchase, the Tenerife Island Council is finalizing the sale through a Spanish financial institution that is authorized by the Bank of Spain and the National Securities Market Commission (CNMV).
The institute's Bitcoin was originally acquired not as an investment, but as a tool for technological research. However, the asset's remarkable appreciation has transformed it into a significant financial windfall for the island's public research sector.
Upon completion of the liquidation, the proceeds will be channeled to support scientific innovation. Funds generated from the sale will be redirected to ITER's upcoming research programs, with a specific focus on quantum technologies.
Spain's move comes at a time of increasing regulatory scrutiny of the crypto sector. The Spanish government has recently intensified its oversight of cryptocurrencies, introducing more stringent tax reporting and disclosure requirements for both individuals and institutions. These measures are part of Spain's broader effort to align with the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework.
Under the new regulations, crypto holders are mandated to declare all transactions and balances. Companies offering digital asset services will face heightened scrutiny from the Bank of Spain and the CNMV.
This stricter regulatory stance reflects growing concerns about financial crimes and the potential misuse of cryptocurrencies. Earlier this year, Spanish authorities, in collaboration with Europol, dismantled a cryptocurrency fraud network valued at $540 million.
Against this backdrop, ITER's upcoming Bitcoin sale carries significant weight. The institute's decision to liquidate its decade-old holdings through authorized financial channels aligns with Spain's cautious approach to digital assets. If successfully completed, this transaction will represent one of the country's most notable public-sector cryptocurrency liquidations.
Pi Network Rolls Out New Upgrade
The Pi Core Team announced the release of Pi Node version 0.5.4 on November 6. The application has also been rebranded as "Pi Desktop" to better reflect its expanded functionality. Users can now access the Node, the mining app, and Pi App Studio through a unified interface.
This upgrade introduces several key enhancements, including fixes for community-reported issues related to Node mining rewards, automatic updates, and block container creation. It also features a new open port verification system designed to ensure accurate Node bonus calculations.
Furthermore, Pi Desktop now permits approved external links, allowing users to access blogs and resources directly from the mining app and Pi App Studio. These improvements collectively aim to boost performance and enhance the overall user experience for Pi Node operators.
“As announced in the recent update, Pi App Studio is now directly accessible from the top navigation bar in Pi Desktop, positioned alongside the Pi mining app and Node. An App Studio display issue where deployed apps were not displaying previews correctly has been resolved.”
This release builds upon the OpenMind pilot project, which demonstrated Pi Network's capability for decentralized AI training. OpenMind reported that over 350,000 active nodes participated in the proof-of-concept, successfully completing image recognition workloads.
Moreover, this partnership marked Pi Network Ventures' first investment, signaling a strategic shift towards real-world blockchain applications.
Bank of England Caps Individual Stablecoin Holdings at £20,000
The Bank of England has unveiled comprehensive stablecoin regulations that will impose a cap of £20,000 on individual holdings. This temporary limit is intended to safeguard traditional banking systems as the adoption of digital money expands, although certain requirements must be met.
Businesses will face a £10 million cap, with provisions for exemptions for larger firms. However, these rules specifically apply to sterling-denominated "systemic" stablecoins used for payments, and not for cryptocurrency trading. The Bank of England will mandate that these issuers back their tokens with specific assets.
Issuers will be required to hold 60% of their backing assets in short-term UK government debt, with the remaining 40% to be held in unremunerated accounts at the Bank. New issuers deemed systemic at launch will have the option to hold up to 95% in UK government debt.
The Bank is also considering emergency liquidity arrangements for systemic stablecoin issuers. In times of market stress, the central bank would provide liquidity if issuers are unable to sell their backing assets in private markets. This backstop mechanism is designed to reinforce financial stability.
The UK will divide stablecoin oversight between two regulatory bodies. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will be responsible for consumer protection, conduct issues, and the regulation of non-systemic stablecoins primarily used for crypto trading. The Bank of England will oversee prudential regulation, financial stability risks, and the regulation of systemic stablecoins once they are designated by HM Treasury.
Collectively, the regulators plan to publish a joint approach document in 2026, which will detail how this division of responsibilities will function in practice.
The £20,000 individual cap is designed to address concerns about rapid deposit outflows from traditional banks. If a large number of individuals were to move their savings into stablecoins simultaneously, banks could experience a significant loss of funding, which is crucial for lending to the real economy.
The Bank of England has conducted analyses of these risks, and thus, the holding limits are considered temporary. They are expected to be lifted once the financial system has sufficiently adapted to the presence of digital money without posing a threat to credit availability.
These limits do not extend to stablecoins utilized for wholesale financial market settlement within the Bank and FCA's Digital Securities Sandbox.
Hong Kong Issues Third Blockchain Bond Offering
Hong Kong is marketing its third blockchain bond offering across four currencies as the city intensifies its efforts to establish itself as Asia's leading crypto hub. The government intends to sell tokenized green bonds denominated in U.S. dollars, Hong Kong dollars, euros, and offshore yuan.
This initiative marks Hong Kong's third blockchain-based bond sale since 2023. The city is employing blockchain bonds as a strategy to demonstrate that distributed ledger technology is capable of supporting institutional-grade finance, extending beyond crypto-native innovation.
Hong Kong is digitizing traditional financial products to showcase to mainstream institutions that blockchain infrastructure is an effective and reliable solution for regulated securities. This approach appears to be yielding positive results.
Six corporate issuers have successfully raised $1 billion through tokenized bonds in Hong Kong this year. Additionally, state-backed Chinese companies, Shenzhen Futian Investment Holdings and Shandong Hi-Speed Holdings, have recently priced blockchain bonds in the city.
The blockchain bond offering is integral to Hong Kong's comprehensive strategy to dominate the Asian crypto landscape. The city has launched numerous digital asset initiatives throughout 2025.
In August, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) introduced a licensing regime for stablecoin issuers. The new regulations stipulate that any entity issuing fiat-referenced stablecoins must obtain approval from the HKMA.
Hong Kong approved Asia's first spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs in April 2024. In October, it also approved the spot Solana ETF, preceding the United States. These ETFs provide retail and institutional investors with regulated access to cryptocurrency without the need for direct token ownership.
Asian policymakers are actively working to match the pro-crypto policies enacted by U.S. President Donald Trump, which have increasingly made America an attractive destination for digital asset businesses. Hong Kong offers compelling advantages in this regard.
The city maintains a 0% capital gains tax on crypto for individuals. Furthermore, the government recently waived taxes on cryptocurrency investment gains for hedge funds and private equity firms.
While these tokenized bonds utilize private blockchain infrastructure rather than public networks like Ethereum, they serve to legitimize distributed ledger technology for traditional finance. Success with government blockchain bonds could accelerate the tokenization of other real-world assets.
USDC Payroll Goes Mainstream
Paystand, a B2B payments platform that processes $20 billion annually, has acquired Bitwage, a crypto payroll service that has managed over $400 million in digital wages across 200 countries since 2014. This acquisition integrates USDC and USDT salary payment capabilities into enterprise workflows.
Bitwage's infrastructure supports more than 90,000 workers and freelancers by converting fiat salaries into stablecoins through the Circle and Tether platforms. Paystand's existing client base of 1,000 enterprises will now gain access to this capability.
The combined platform aims to eliminate ACH processing delays, weekend cutoffs, and cross-border foreign exchange fees associated with traditional payroll systems. While Bitwage has historically supported Bitcoin and Ethereum, the merged entity will prioritize layer-2 solutions and Solana for faster settlement.
Companies will be able to initiate payroll transactions outside of traditional banking hours, with employees receiving USDC for conversion into local currency via exchanges or digital banking services. Bitwage reports a history of no security incidents during its 11 years of operation.
This acquisition occurs amidst notable regulatory developments in the United States. The Trump administration has voiced support for cryptocurrency initiatives, and the SEC has provided guidance on stablecoin custody requirements.
Moreover, several other companies have engaged in partnerships with the crypto industry this year. Visa completed a $1 billion acquisition of Bridge, a stablecoin platform. Mastercard has a USDC settlement program designed to introduce on-chain dollar transactions. Additionally, Japanese enterprises can now integrate JPYC following the launch of the All Banking System API gateway.
The crypto payroll market includes platforms such as Deel and Rippling, both of which offer cryptocurrency payment options. According to DataIntelo, the market is projected to reach $6.38 billion by 2023.
Electroneum Payments Go Live Across Zypto Ecosystem
Zypto has officially integrated ETN payments across its entire ecosystem, thereby expanding the real-world utility for Electroneum users. ETN can now be utilized within the Zypto App and at Zypto.com to pay for crypto cards, mobile top-ups, bill payments, and even USDC-to-cash transactions.
This integration provides near-instant, low-cost transactions powered by Electroneum's efficient blockchain. It represents another significant step in connecting the ETN community with Zypto's comprehensive suite of DeFi products.
Closing Remark
Google Finance's new feature underscores the growing relevance of crowd-based forecasting within the broader financial ecosystem. The growth potential and global usability of Bitcoin are further demonstrated by the actions of the Spanish Institute of Technology and Renewable Energies.
The Bank of England's analysis represents a major step toward implementing the UK's stablecoin regime. Hong Kong's accelerated efforts to become a crypto hub are a response to shifting global dynamics, positioning it as a significant player in the industry.
The 2025 stablecoin transfer volume reached $9 trillion, with a survey indicating that a majority view stablecoins as providing a competitive advantage. This outlook bodes well for the crypto industry amidst an increasingly favorable regulatory environment.
Finally, Electroneum payments are now live across the Zypto ecosystem, linking one of crypto's fastest blockchains with Zypto's expanding array of real-world payment tools.