Vitalik Buterin Reveals Ethereum’s Long-Term Focus on Quantum Resistance

TLDR BlackRock (BLK) stock rose 1.19% to $1,082.20 despite winding down its Impact Opportunities Fund. The fund had invested in Tricolor, a subprime car lender that filed for bankruptcy in September. The closure marks a strategic pause in BlackRock’s social impact investment initiatives. BlackRock reported a 7.21% YTD return versus the S&P 500’s 14.40%. Financials [...] The post BlackRock Inc. (BLK) Stock: Steady as Firm Winds Down Impact Fund After Tricolor Collapse appeared first on CoinCentral.

The post Fed Decides On Interest Rates Today—Here’s What To Watch For appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. Topline The Federal Reserve on Wednesday will conclude a two-day policymaking meeting and release a decision on whether to lower interest rates—following months of pressure and criticism from President Donald Trump—and potentially signal whether additional cuts are on the way. President Donald Trump has urged the central bank to “CUT INTEREST RATES, NOW, AND BIGGER” than they might plan to. Getty Images Key Facts The central bank is poised to cut interest rates by at least a quarter-point, down from the 4.25% to 4.5% range where they have been held since December to between 4% and 4.25%, as Wall Street has placed 100% odds of a rate cut, according to CME’s FedWatch, with higher odds (94%) on a quarter-point cut than a half-point (6%) reduction. Fed governors Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman, both Trump appointees, voted in July for a quarter-point reduction to rates, and they may dissent again in favor of a large cut alongside Stephen Miran, Trump’s Council of Economic Advisers’ chair, who was sworn in at the meeting’s start on Tuesday. It’s unclear whether other policymakers, including Kansas City Fed President Jeffrey Schmid and St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem, will favor larger cuts or opt for no reduction. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said in his Jackson Hole, Wyoming, address last month the central bank would likely consider a looser monetary policy, noting the “shifting balance of risks” on the U.S. economy “may warrant adjusting our policy stance.” David Mericle, an economist for Goldman Sachs, wrote in a note the “key question” for the Fed’s meeting is whether policymakers signal “this is likely the first in a series of consecutive cuts” as the central bank is anticipated to “acknowledge the softening in the labor market,” though they may not “nod to an October cut.” Mericle said he…

XRPL introduces native smart contracts, expanding decentralized app development possibilities. WrathofKahneman supports XRPL programmability, citing efficiency and institutional adoption. New “Smart Escrows” feature to launch in early 2026. Blockchain analyst WrathofKahneman recently shared his changed stance on the integration of smart contracts into the XRPL. According to him, adding programmability can strengthen the network’s institutional appeal while maintaining its speed and simplicity. He emphasized that smart contracts could shift operational responsibility from validators to developers, allowing the ledger to stay stable and efficient. According to WrathofKahneman, institutions currently rebuild coordination systems off-ledger, which increases cost and slows adoption. Smart contracts, he explained, would simplify institutional workflows by enabling logic to exist directly within the ledger. Consequently, this shift could lower barriers to entry and encourage faster enterprise adoption. How Smart Contracts Could Transform Ripple’s Role and the XRPL Ecosystem He further pointed out that this development could reduce Ripple’s influence over the XRPL. By allowing developers to innovate independently, the network could become more decentralized and adaptable. Kahneman stressed that programmability should be minimal yet effective, preserving the XRPL’s core advantage of fast and reliable value transfer. Also Read: XRP Dream Scenario: This Pattern Could Push XRP to $10+ I have long been opposed to smart contracts on the #XRPL, preferring its speed & simplicity of form. Recently, my opinion has changed & I'd like to share why. You may think differently. I'd love to hear it. Here are my thoughts:/9 — WrathofKahneman (@WKahneman) November 10, 2025 According to him, the WASM-based framework already under consideration could achieve this balance by providing sandboxed, deterministic smart contract execution. This structure would allow institutions to build customized solutions without altering the ledger’s foundation, ensuring stability and high performance. New Phase for XRP Ledger Development The latest update marks the first time the XRP Ledger has introduced native Layer-1 smart contract capabilities, merging Ethereum-style functionality with XRPL’s unique transaction system. Developers can now create decentralized applications directly on the ledger, expanding beyond traditional token use. According to Angell, this advancement allows developers to access XRPL’s core features without UNL approval, offering greater flexibility and execution efficiency. The new framework includes multi-language support, on-chain ABIs, and enables diverse applications such as DeFi derivatives, staking tokens, and NFT marketplaces. The first smart contract extension, called “Smart Escrows,” is expected to debut in the first quarter of 2026. Also Read: XRP This Week, Here’s What Could Happen The post Smart Contracts on XRP Ledger, Here’s Why It Is a Good Idea appeared first on 36Crypto.