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Arbitrum DAO Income Hits $6.2M as Robinhood Chain Adds Revenue

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Arbitrum DAO generated $6.19 million in income during the first half of 2026, as one of Ethereum’s largest scaling ecosystems increasingly looks beyond transaction fees for revenue.

The Arbitrum Foundation said the income came from four sources: Arbitrum One transaction fees, Timeboost, licensing under the Arbitrum Expansion Program and returns from the DAO treasury. Combined gross margins on protocol revenue exceeded 97%, up from more than 90% for full-year 2025, according to its biannual progress report for the first half of 2026.

The figures show how Arbitrum is trying to turn its blockchain technology into a broader infrastructure business as financial companies build dedicated networks using its software.

“The first half of 2026 shows the Arbitrum ecosystem’s financial profile broadening,” Brendan Ma, head of investment strategy at the Arbitrum Foundation, said in a statement shared with AlexaBlockchain. “It now looks like a diversified economic enterprise, with four income lines at a blended gross margin above 97%.”

Robinhood Becomes a New Source of Revenue

That diversification accelerated after the reporting period ended.

Robinhood launched the public mainnet of Robinhood Chain on July 1. The Ethereum Layer 2 is built using Arbitrum technology and is designed to support tokenized assets, decentralized finance and other financial applications.

Under Arbitrum’s Expansion Program, chains that use its technology but settle outside Arbitrum One and Nova return 10% of their net protocol revenue to the ecosystem.

Robinhood Chain generated $360,000 in licensing fees for the ArbitrumDAO in July, according to the Foundation. That represented 35% of the DAO’s income for the month.

The contribution is significant because it gives Arbitrum a revenue model that does not depend solely on users transacting directly on Arbitrum One.

Robinhood Chain has also gained activity quickly. Robinhood said in August that the network had generated more than $18 billion in Dex trading volume and surpassed $840 million in total value locked since its July launch.

Transactions Reach 2.7 Billion

Activity on the broader Arbitrum ecosystem remained substantial during the first half.

Arbitrum-based networks processed 478 million transactions during the period, taking cumulative transactions to about 2.7 billion, according to the report.

The Foundation put what it calls “ecosystem GDP” — economic value generated by applications and protocols — at $206 million for the half and $1.7 billion since launch. An earlier update said cumulative chain GDP had risen about 45% from a year earlier.

Stablecoins have become another important part of that activity.

Average monthly stablecoin transfers exceeded $70 billion during the reporting period, according to the new report. The Foundation previously reported that Arbitrum had 10.5 million stablecoin holders and monthly transfers above $60 billion during the first half.

Traditional payment networks are also expanding onto the chain. Mastercard said in June that Arbitrum would be among the blockchain networks supported for settlement using regulated stablecoins including USDC, PYUSD and RLUSD.

Tokenized Assets Become a Bigger Focus

Arbitrum is also positioning itself as infrastructure for financial assets moving onchain.

The network had more than 2,000 real-world asset deployments during the first half, with roughly $850 million in RWA assets under management, according to Foundation data.

Robinhood is central to that strategy. Its chain was designed specifically around financial applications and real-world assets, after the brokerage began offering tokenized US stocks and ETFs to European customers through Arbitrum in 2025.

The DAO also held about $125 million in non-ARB treasury assets at the end of June, according to the report.

The above article “Arbitrum DAO Income Hits $6.2M as Robinhood Chain Adds Revenue” was first published on AlexaBlockchain. Read the complete article here: https://alexablockchain.com/arbitrum-dao-income-hits-6-2m-as-robinhood-chain-adds-revenue/

Read Also: This is the First U.S.-Chartered Depository Bank to Offer Stablecoin Invoicing

Disclaimer: The information provided on AlexaBlockchain is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Read complete disclaimer here.

Thailand Adopts Crypto Travel Rule With Self-Custody Checks

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Thailand is tightening oversight of crypto transfers, including transactions involving self-custodial wallets, as it moves to align with global Anti-Money Laundering (AML) standards.

Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued new Travel Rule regulations requiring digital asset operators to collect information about parties involved in crypto transfers, the regulator announced Wednesday.

The rules will take effect on Feb. 27, 2027, giving crypto businesses nearly six months to develop systems for transmitting, receiving and monitoring transaction information.

Thailand joins a growing global push to track who sends and receives crypto, as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) estimated that 83% of surveyed jurisdictions had passed Travel Rule legislation as of 2026.

Self-custodial wallets face ownership checks

Under the new framework, Thai digital asset operators must verify the ownership or control of self-hosted, or self-custodial, wallets when customers send crypto to or receive it from those wallets.

Unlike wallets managed by centralized exchanges (CEXs) or custodians, self-custodial wallets give users direct control over the private keys needed to access their crypto.

Operators must also retain information accompanying every digital asset transaction for at least five years and make the records available for regulatory examination.

The requirements put more responsibility on crypto companies to identify the parties behind transfers, including those involving self-custodial wallets. Pornanong Budsaratragoon, secretary-general of Thailand’s SEC, said the rules aim to “reduce the risk of digital asset operators being used for money laundering and terrorist financing.”

Thailand moves from consultation to final rules

The final rules follow two rounds of public consultation this year, starting with proposed principles in March and a draft notification in June. The SEC said most stakeholders supported the proposals.

The Travel Rule comes as Thailand considers expanding access to other regulated crypto products. On Monday, the SEC proposed allowing intermediaries to offer retail investors access to certain crypto derivatives traded on regulated overseas exchanges.

Days earlier, the regulator advanced draft rules for spot Bitcoin and Ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs), while also seeking feedback on requirements for foreign digital asset custodians used by funds investing in crypto.

Magazine: Thailand’s 0% crypto tax. Bitcoin Red Team forced to use Chinese AI: Asia Express

OpenAI says its new 'Astra' AI can build attacks without human help

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Astra is the first OpenAI model to reach its “Critical” cybersecurity threshold, meaning it can find previously unknown vulnerabilities and develop ways to exploit them across hardened systems.

SEC Proposes New Standards for US Transfer Agents

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The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed overhauling decades-old rules governing transfer agents as blockchain-based recordkeeping and tokenized securities become more prominent in US markets.

The proposal would update requirements covering registration, recordkeeping, safeguarding and securities transfers, while introducing new rules aimed at risks emerging from increasingly digital and automated market infrastructure.

“Market participants are actively seeking to bring blockchain-native, or ‘onchain’ transfer agents into the U.S. market,” the SEC said, pointing to models for blockchain-based recordkeeping, tokenized fund administration and cross-chain interoperability.

The agency said its existing framework does not adequately address those developments, particularly risks involving cybersecurity, operational resilience and the safeguarding of securities and investor records.

Under the proposal, transfer agents would face expanded reporting requirements and new compliance standards, including rules governing restrictive legends on securities and the use of third-party service providers.

SEC’s proposed Transfer Agent Rules. Source: SEC

The SEC said its transfer agent rules have not been substantively updated since the late 1970s and early 1980s, when the industry still relied heavily on paper certificates and manual recordkeeping.

The regulatory agency is seeking public comment on the proposed changes, with comments due 60 days after the proposal is published in the Federal Register.

Related: CFTC chair says agency will move forward on crypto regulation if CLARITY fails

SEC pursues broader securities rule changes

The SEC is “on a mission to simplify its rules,” according to analysis from law firm Cahill Gordon & Reindel sent to clients on Tuesday.

In May, the SEC proposed three major changes to public-company rules. The proposals would allow companies to opt for semiannual reporting, simplify the existing filer classification system and expand access to streamlined registered securities offerings.

Last week, the SEC sent a proposed overhaul of custody rules for investment advisers and investment companies to the White House for review, with potential changes covering how firms hold crypto assets for clients. The changes could provide clearer standards for how investment advisers and funds custody digital assets while complying with federal securities rules.

Magazine: Does the Bitcoin rally mean we haven’t wasted our lives in crypto?

SEC proposes transfer agent rule, sets event to figure out round-the-clock U.S. trading

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The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued an agenda for its 24-trading roundtable and proposed a new transfer-agent rule with blockchain implications.

UK Crime Agency Froze $13.5M Amid Probe into Premier League Crypto Sponsor

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All news, reviews, and analyses are produced with full journalistic independence and integrity. For more details on our standards and processes, please read our Editorial Policy.

Robinhood's new crypto network is printing cash, and it's sending Arbitrum's token soaring

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Revenue on Robinhood Chain hit a 24-hour record of $1.9 million, driving a 30% rally in ARB as traders chased downstream gains.

Crypto-Backed PAC Scales Back Ad Spending in Massachusetts Primary

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An affiliate of the political action committee (PAC) Fairshake, which was responsible for pouring more than $130 million in ads and media in the 2024 election cycle, is supporting at least one candidate in Tuesday’s primary in Massachusetts.

According to Federal Election Commission (FEC) records as of Tuesday, the Protect Progress PAC, a Fairshake affiliate, spent just over $189,000 on media to support Representative Jake Auchincloss running for reelection in Massachusetts’ 4th congressional district. Some of the funds, according to Democratic candidate Jason Poulos, were used to create “AI-generated slop mailers” supporting Auchincloss ahead of the Massachusetts primary, scheduled for Tuesday.

In an Aug. 16 letter, Poulos called on the Democratic lawmaker to “publicly renounce” Protect Progress’ efforts to potentially influence the primary and general election. The candidate claimed Auchincloss had accepted $77,500 directly from “crypto-industry sources” since 2020, pointing to the Massachusetts lawmaker’s record in voting for the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act in July 2025 — a market structure bill not signed into law as it awaits consideration in the Senate.

Protect Progress PAC mailer supporting Jake Auchincloss. Source: Jason Poulos

The $189,000 in spending marked Fairshake’s latest attempt to influence the 2026 elections through media and ads unrelated to candidates’ positions on crypto and blockchain. After the PAC and its affiliates spent about $3.6 million on House and Senate races in Alaska, Florida and Wyoming in August, Fairshake reported having $122 million cash on hand ahead of the 2026 midterms.

“With dozens of wins in House and Senate races across the country, and $122 million ready for the fall, we’re not slowing down heading into November,“ Fairshake spokesperson Geoff Vetter said in August.

Massachusetts will be one of the last US states to hold primaries, with just over two months until the general election. New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Delaware are all scheduled to hold primaries in September.

Related: Kalshi issues first lifetime ban for Republican politician over insider bets

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.

Citi, Goldman, other global banks and asset managers team up on stablecoin venture

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The group will focus first on a U.S. dollar stablecoin for payments and digital asset settlement, with a euro token a priority for expansion.

Blockticity Moves Trade Records Tied to $7.7 Billion in Assets Onchain

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  • Blockticity is moving more than 1 million authenticated trade records tied to $7.7 billion in goods onto decentralized storage network Walrus.
  • The partnership will preserve cryptographic proofs of certificates, laboratory reports and other supply-chain evidence, allowing businesses and regulators to verify that records have not been altered.

Blockticity is extending more than 1 million authenticated trade records representing $7.7 billion of goods onto Walrus, as the companies target one of global commerce’s persistent problems: proving that supply-chain documents are genuine.

The records include Certificates of Analysis, Certificates of Conformance, Certificates of Origin, laboratory reports and transportation documents. Blockticity says its system converts such records into tamper-evident evidence that can be independently verified. The platform currently protects $7.7 billion in verified products.

The integration does not mean $7.7 billion of physical assets are being tokenized on Walrus. Instead, cryptographic proofs and supporting evidence connected to those goods are being preserved so companies, regulators and trading partners can check whether documents have been altered.

Blockticity said its first records are already live on Walrus. It is working toward mirroring more than 15 terabytes of authenticated records and supporting evidence across five commercial verticals.

Why Trade Documentation Matters

The partnership targets a trade system that remains heavily dependent on documents moving between exporters, importers, laboratories, logistics companies, banks and customs authorities.

World merchandise exports reached $26.3 trillion in 2025, according to UN Trade and Development. An estimated 4 billion paper documents circulate through global trade each day, according to the World Economic Forum.

That dependence creates problems when documents need to be checked years after they were created.

Blockticity’s approach is designed to create a cryptographic record showing that a document presented later matches the version originally authenticated. Walrus adds decentralized storage and data-integrity infrastructure designed to keep that evidence available across independent storage nodes.

Walrus launched its mainnet in March 2025 with more than 100 storage nodes. The network uses erasure coding to distribute data while providing availability and integrity guarantees.

“Markets don’t need another self-reporting system. They need trusted evidence,” Blockticity CEO Mike Coner said in a statement shared with AlexaBlockchain. “Walrus strengthens that foundation by helping preserve the integrity of those authenticated records across independent infrastructure without exposing sensitive commercial information.”

There is an important technical distinction around that privacy claim.

Walrus data is publicly accessible by default and the storage protocol itself does not provide confidentiality. Sensitive information therefore has to be encrypted before being stored. Mysten Labs’ Seal system, for example, provides encryption and onchain access controls that can be paired with Walrus.

Regulation Is Increasing the Need for Verifiable Data

Governments are demanding more detailed information about products and their supply chains.

The European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism entered its definitive phase on January 1, requiring covered importers to report embedded emissions and ultimately surrender certificates. The bloc is also preparing Digital Product Passports that will progressively carry information about products, including regulatory compliance and sustainability data.

Implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation is also moving forward, with its information system designed to handle due-diligence statements and declarations.

Those regimes increase the value of records whose origins and integrity can be independently checked.

“A trade certificate has to convince a customs officer in another jurisdiction, a decade from now, with no one left to vouch for it,” said Kostas Chalkias, co-founder and chief cryptographer at Mysten Labs. “Walrus makes that a property of the data itself: proof anyone can check, with contents that only authorized parties can view.”

Blockchain Trade Platforms Have Had Mixed Results

Blockticity and Walrus are not alone in trying to remove paper from global commerce.

Global Shipping Business Network has used blockchain infrastructure for electronic bills of lading, with more than 550,000 eBLs processed by mid-2025 across more than 100 countries. Yet UN ESCAP estimated electronic bills represented only about 2% to 5% of bills of lading in 2025, showing how slowly industry-wide digitization has progressed.

An earlier attempt provides another warning. IBM and Maersk shut down their TradeLens blockchain trade platform after concluding that it had failed to achieve the industry collaboration needed for commercial viability.

Blockticity has taken a narrower approach centered on authentication rather than replacing the entire trade workflow. Earlier this year, it worked with XDC Network on a Philippine cacao-export pilot in which authenticated trade documents could be validated across networks and used in trade-finance applications.

The Blockticity-Walrus partnership is therefore a test of whether decentralized storage can find a practical role in regulated commerce: not by moving the physical asset onchain, but by making the evidence behind it harder to alter and easier to verify.

The above article “Blockticity Moves $7.7 Billion of Trade Records Onto Walrus in Compliance Push” was first published on AlexaBlockchain. Read the complete article here: https://alexablockchain.com/blockticity-moves-trade-records-tied-to-7-7-billion-in-assets-onchain/

Read Also: This is the First U.S.-Chartered Depository Bank to Offer Stablecoin Invoicing

Disclaimer: The information provided on AlexaBlockchain is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Read complete disclaimer here.