Jacquelyn Melinek
Senior Reporter, Crypto, TC+
The Latest from Jacquelyn Melinek
Chris Lehane: The SEC isn’t handling crypto regulation ‘strategically’
As developers turn their gears in the crypto world, regulatory uncertainty is casting a shadow over the work they’re doing.
Here’s the crypto news you missed at Disrupt 2023
Welcome back to Chain Reaction. This week I’ve been in San Francisco for TechCrunch Disrupt 2023. It's been a three-day journey jam-packed with panels, booths and conversations.
Alpha3D wants to accelerate digital asset and AI-powered generation through cheaper, hyperscaling technology
Alpha3D, a generative AI–powered platform, is a participant of the Startup Battlefield 200 cohort to showcase a technology that can hyperscale digital assets.
Aptos Labs adds Coinbase Pay to its Petra crypto wallet
Petra, a crypto wallet built by Aptos Labs, is integrating Coinbase Pay onto its desktop and mobile applications in hopes of alleviating web3’s growing pains, the companies exclusively told TechCrun
After cutting ties with Binance, Checkout.com says crypto companies are about 4% of its total processing volume
Credit cards payment processor Checkout.com views crypto as a meaningful space for merchant relationships but needs to continue to focus on regulatory growth, according to Céline Dufétel, president
8 web3 gaming experts discuss hurdles and opportunities in the road to wider adoption
What will it take to spur more mainstream gamers to pick up and play web3 games? We asked eight web3 gaming experts to find out.
Blockchain Capital launches two new funds for a total of $580M
The crypto bear market may be ongoing, but Blockchain Capital is still going big. It closed two new funds for a total of $580 million, the firm’s general partner Spencer Bogart told TechCrunch. The
Web3 adoption could come via the enterprise, but the real boom will be through startups
While the use cases in enterprise are more incremental, the real drivers of the tech might be coming from startup land.
Circle expands Asia focus, Mila Kunis and Stoner Cats face SEC, Telegram adds crypto wallet and more
Welcome back to Chain Reaction. To get a roundup of TechCrunch’s biggest and most important crypto stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday at 12 p.m. PT, subscribe here. Another week in crypt
USDC issuer Circle expands Asia focus in push to enter the region’s flourishing payments ecosystem
How can Asian businesses send and receive payments cheaper, faster and more securely? Circle thinks the answer may come from blockchain and stablecoins.
Former DCG, Blockchain Capital investors launch $20M early-stage fund at crypto advisory firm Reverie
After a couple years of dabbling in angel investments, crypto advisory firm Reverie is now bringing a bigger checkbook to bear. The firm is launching a flagship $20 million fund to invest in pre-seed
Institutional crypto adoption in Asia is growing as the US market remains a question mark
After multiple industry-changing events crippled the industry’s advancement last year, the positive shift is welcome, according to several industry players in the region.
Korea Blockchain Week focused on web3 gaming, institutional involvement, investors, regulation…and more
Welcome back to Chain Reaction. To get a roundup of TechCrunch’s biggest and most important crypto stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday at 12 p.m. PT, subscribe here. Annyeong, or hello, f
Blockchain tech needs a ‘ChatGPT moment’ to scale enterprise adoption
Big names like Starbucks and Nike were quick to adopt blockchain tech, but it will still be a while until we see the enterprise space embrace the tech.
Chris Lehane of Haun Ventures to dive into firm’s investing strategy and the web3 VC landscape at TechCrunch Disrupt
Chris Lehane, chief strategy officer at Haun Ventures, will bring his unique career experience and investing expertise to TechCrunch Disrupt 2023. Prior to joining the firm, Lehane was an executive at
Crypto funding in August wasn’t as good as the numbers may lead you to believe
At this point, it seems the only thing that could shake up the seemingly never-ending decline in venture interest in crypto would be a drastic thawing of the crypto winter.
Grayscale wins lawsuit against SEC, while the agency settles first NFT case and Friend.tech hype crashes
If you’ve been dreaming about bitcoin spot ETFs, it’s time to talk to someone outside of the crypto world. This is coming from someone who literally had a dream about them this week.
Grayscale’s legal head says bitcoin spot ETF approval is a ‘matter of when, not if’
The exact timeline is difficult to predict, but if there’s no “rehearing,” then it will be smooth sailing ahead, Grayscale's chief legal officer Craig Salm said.
As appeals court rules in favor of Grayscale, a bitcoin spot ETF could be on the horizon
The ruling is in response to Grayscale’s lawsuit against the SEC, which denied the firm’s application to convert its Grayscale Bitcoin Trust into an ETF.
MoonPay launches venture arm to invest in web3 infra, gaming and fintech
Web3 infrastructure firm MoonPay has launched an investment arm that will focus on early-stage startups in web3, gaming and adjacent fintech categories, TechCrunch has exclusively learned. The investm