Coinbase Becomes Ethereum’s Largest Node Operator
Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has emerged as the largest node operator on the Ethereum network, controlling 11.42% of the total staked Ether, according to its latest performance report.
The company revealed that it had staked 3.84 million Ether (ETH), valued at approximately $6.8 billion, through its validators. As of 3 March, this accounts for 11.42% of the total staked ETH on the network.
Additionally, Coinbase reported that it exceeded its target for validator uptime, a key metric reflecting the percentage of time validators remain operational. The development highlights Coinbase’s increasing influence in Ethereum’s proof-of-stake (PoS) ecosystem.
Solana CEO Responds to Backlash Over Controversial Advert
Solana Labs CEO Anatoly Yakovenko has publicly addressed criticism over a controversial advertisement titled “America Is Back — Time to Accelerate.” The ad, which intertwined American patriotism, technology, and political messaging around gender identity, sparked significant backlash.
“The ad was bad, and it’s still gnawing at my soul,” Yakovenko stated in a 19 March post on X (formerly Twitter). He admitted he was “ashamed” for initially downplaying the controversy rather than openly condemning it.
Yakovenko also praised members of the Solana community who spoke out against the advert, which amassed around 1.2 million views and 1,300 comments before being deleted after nine hours. He vowed to ensure Solana remains focused on open-source software development and decentralisation, avoiding cultural and political debates.
SEC’s Case Against Ripple Collapses, Strengthening XRP’s Status
Crypto lawyer and former Massachusetts Senate candidate John Deaton has declared the SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple to be effectively over, reinforcing the argument that XRP is not a security.
In an interview, Deaton asserted that XRP should be classified as a digital commodity rather than a security. The SEC’s decision to drop its case against Ripple now gives the blockchain company an opportunity to renegotiate the $125 million penalty imposed upon it.
“Everything’s turned,” Deaton said, pointing to shifts in both the political landscape and the crypto industry. “The election’s turned, the industry turned, the SEC [has] completely done a 180 as it relates to the industry. Why should we pay $125 million?”
Earlier in the day, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse hailed the SEC’s reversal as a “victory for the industry and the beginning of a new chapter.” The decision could have broader implications for the regulatory approach to cryptocurrencies in the United States.
