News Roundup — Stablecoin Giant Tether Backs Ledn, Targets Global Crypto Lending

Major news stories this week:‍‍

1. Stablecoin Giant Tether Backs Ledn, Targets Global Crypto Lending
2. Did The UAE Just Ban Bitcoin?
3. Harvard Endowment Takes Rare Leap Into Bitcoin With $443M Bet on BlackRock’s IBIT
4. Singapore’s SGX to launch Bitcoin and Ether perps as institutional demand climbs
5. Luxembourg Sovereign Wealth Fund Chose Only Bitcoin: Minister

Story Summaries;

1. Tether, the issuer behind USDT, has invested in Bitcoin-backed loan platform Ledn, which operates in over 100 countries. This move signals a strategic push into crypto lending, aiming to give users access to credit without selling their crypto. It also highlights renewed institutional interest in BTC-backed finance post-Celsius era.
2. A sweeping regulatory update in the UAE has sparked fears of a de facto Bitcoin ban. The law mandates licensing for nearly all crypto tools, including wallets and data services, with penalties ranging up to $136 million in fines and possible jail time — underscoring tightening oversight in a once crypto-friendly jurisdiction.
3. Harvard University’s endowment disclosed a $443 million investment in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). This makes IBIT the endowment’s largest public equity holding and marks a significant institutional signal of confidence in regulated crypto exposure.
4. Singapore Exchange (SGX) is launching Bitcoin and Ether perpetual futures regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Aimed at institutional investors, the launch positions SGX to capture growing demand for regulated, high-liquidity crypto derivatives in Asia.
5. Luxembourg’s sovereign wealth fund (FSIL) has allocated about €7 million — roughly 1% of its portfolio — entirely into Bitcoin. This investment, executed through regulated ETFs, highlights the growing sovereign acceptance of BTC as an institutional-grade asset.

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And that’s all for last week’s news! Wishing you a great week ahead!

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