GM. Polymarket confirmed its long-awaited POLY token and airdrop, igniting record trading as users race for eligibility ahead of its relaunch in the United States.

Meanwhile, Trump defended pardoning Binance’s CZ, Rumble added Bitcoin tipping with Tether, and Counter-Strike’s latest update wiped billions in item value, reigniting the NFT debate.

Here’s what’s driving markets, politics, and digital ownership this week. 👇

Polymarket Confirms POLY Token and Airdrop Launch

Prediction market Polymarket will introduce its native POLY token and an accompanying airdrop, Chief Marketing Officer Matthew Modabber confirmed Thursday. The announcement comes amid record trading activity and accelerating institutional interest following a recent $2 billion investment.

Modabber said the company aims to create a token with “true utility and longevity,” prioritizing its upcoming US app rollout before launch. Polymarket’s founder, Shayne Coplan, previously revealed the firm had received regulatory clearance to operate again domestically after a two-year absence.

Speculation has mounted over airdrop eligibility, with users expecting allocations based on platform trading volume and engagement across verified markets. The confirmation has ignited renewed user activity as Polymarket and rival Kalshi recorded $1.4 billion and $2.9 billion in monthly volume, respectively.

Last Thursday, Bloomberg reported that Polymarket is now exploring new funding at a potential $15 billion valuation, up sharply from June’s $1.2 billion. The firm has also secured multi-year deals with DraftKings and the NHL, embedding prediction markets deeper into mainstream entertainment infrastructure.

Trump Defends Binance Founder’s Presidential Pardon

President Donald Trump defended his decision to pardon former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao during a Thursday press briefing. Trump said Zhao, who served four months in prison, had been unfairly prosecuted under the previous administration’s anti-crypto stance. He added that several trusted advisers recommended clemency, claiming CZ’s offenses were exaggerated and politically driven by Washington insiders.

Zhao’s 2023 guilty plea involved weak anti-money-laundering oversight, leading to a $50 million fine and Binance’s $4.3 billion settlement. The pardon renewed debate about Trump’s ties to digital asset leaders and his pro-innovation rhetoric ahead of next year’s election. Binance’s BNB token rose five percent following the announcement, while critics accused Trump of eroding accountability for corporate misconduct.

Rumble and Tether Launch Bitcoin Tipping for Creators

Video platform Rumble announced plans to launch Bitcoin tipping in partnership with Tether for more than 50 million users. CEO Chris Pavlovski confirmed Friday that beta testing is underway, with a global rollout expected between early and mid-December. Tether chief Paolo Ardoino said the system will finalize once interface adjustments and wallet security reviews are complete.

The feature allows fans to send Bitcoin directly through Rumble Wallet, potentially boosting global crypto adoption among independent creators. Rumble also partnered with MoonPay to add integrated wallets and began adopting a Bitcoin treasury strategy earlier this year. Ardoino noted that decentralized payments help protect speech and financial access for creators facing banking restrictions or political deplatforming.

CS2 Update Shakes $5.8B Market, Sparks NFT Debate

Valve’s newest Counter-Strike 2 update erased nearly $2 billion in item value from its vast skins economy. The company modified its trade-up mechanism, letting players combine lesser skins into rare knives or gloves once considered scarce. Analysts said the change instantly flooded supply, exposing the volatility of game economies reliant on centralized control and opaque rules.

Industry voices argue blockchain systems could prevent such losses by defining ownership and scarcity through smart contracts. NFTs can preserve transparent item limits, ensuring developers cannot alter digital assets without community consent. Advocates claim this model could stabilize online marketplaces as gaming economies increasingly rival traditional sectors in both size and complexity.

Data of the day

New research ranked Australia first globally for per-capita crypto engagement, ahead of South Korea and the United Kingdom. Data from Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto unit measured web traffic for token activity, excluding Bitcoin and stablecoins, across leading digital markets. The United States placed far lower, with analysts citing stricter regulation and slower mainstream participation as contributing factors.

Australia’s crypto market is projected to grow nearly twenty percent annually, reaching roughly $780 million in revenue by 2026. Surveys show younger investors regret missing early opportunities, fueling higher trading activity and expanding mobile wallet adoption nationwide. Analysts say growing retail participation positions Australia as a future hub for regulated digital asset innovation and education.

More breaking news

• Kyrgyzstan launched its som-pegged KGST stablecoin on BNB Chain and plans a digital som CBDC with Changpeng Zhao advising on blockchain development.

• Mid-tier Bitcoin miners like Cipher and Bitdeer are closing in on industry leaders as post-halving debt surges to $12.7 billion across the sector.

• CryptoCom applied for a US OCC national trust bank charter to expand custody and staking services after surpassing Coinbase in trading volume.

• JPMorgan is reportedly preparing to let institutional clients borrow against Bitcoin and Ether holdings, deepening Wall Street’s integration with digital assets.

• JPMorgan analysts estimate Coinbase’s Base token could reach a $34 billion valuation, underscoring its growing onchain monetization strategy and stablecoin-driven revenue.

• UK tax experts warn that even investors without HMRC “nudge letters” may owe taxes as the agency ramps up crypto data-sharing and enforcement efforts.

• Ledger’s new multisig system drew backlash over added transaction fees and dropped Nano S support, prompting accusations of monetizing wallet security features.

• Ripple, Coinbase, and other crypto firms reportedly donated to President Trump’s $300 million White House ballroom project, highlighting the industry’s deepening political influence.

For the latest updates on digital asset markets, follow us on X @Datawalletcom.

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