Binance trading volumes rise despite regulatory crackdown: Market wrap

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Updated 05 October 2021
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Binance trading volumes rise despite regulatory crackdown: Market wrap

  • Federal Reserve considers launching a digital currency

RIYADH: Bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency in trading internationally, traded higher on Tuesday, rising by 3.54 percent to $49,468.84 at 9:40 a.m Riyadh time.  

Ether, the second most traded cryptocurrency, traded at $3,390.61, up 1.13 percent, according to data from CoinDesk.

Other major crypto news:

Trading volumes at cryptocurrency exchange Binance soared between July and September, suggesting a recent crackdown by regulators across the globe has had little impact on the platform’s business.

Worried about consumer protection and the standard of anti-money laundering checks at crypto exchanges, regulators from Britain and Germany to Hong Kong and Japan have in recent months ratcheted up pressure on Binance.

Some have banned the platform from certain activities, while others have warned consumers it was not licensed to operate in their jurisdiction. Binance has in response tightened anti-money laundering checks and cut its product line-up.

Yet Binance’s spot cryptocurrency trading volumes totaled $789 billion in September versus $454 billion in July, data from UK researcher CryptoCompare compiled for Reuters showed, with Binance cementing its status as the world’s biggest digital asset platform.

Derivatives volumes jumped almost 25 percent to $1.7 trillion, the data showed.

A Binance spokesperson declined to comment.

New legislation

The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that the Federal Reserve is set to begin reviewing the risks and opportunities related to introducing a central bank digital currency as early as this week.

Federal Reserve officials will also release a paper requesting public comment on the matter. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell referred to the development of the digital dollar as “critical work” last week during a Senate Banking Committee hearing, adding that it would require legislation from Congress in order to move forward.

However, the decision to launch a central bank digital currency will only be made if there are clear and tangible benefits that outweigh any costs and risks. according to a report by the Wall Street Journal, according to the report.

Mining

Nasdaq-listed Marathon Digital Holdings Inc. has secured a $100 million revolving credit line with Silvergate Bank in bitcoin and dollars.

The loan will be used to fund the company’s bitcoin mining operations and acquire new equipment.

It also will be available for one year and can be renewed annually by agreement between Silvergate Bank and Marathon.

Marathon Digital said it has received 26,960 top-tier ASIC mining machines from Bitmain so far this year, with an additional 8,459 ASIC miners currently in transit. Its current mining fleet stands at 25,272 active miners producing approximately 2.7 EH/s.

Bitcoin is the new gold

Chamath Palihapitiya, Virgin Galactic chairman and CEO of Social Capital, said bitcoin has already taken the place of gold.

He also predicted that the price of the cryptocurrency would reach $200,000, adding that the market value of bitcoin would increase.

“It’s very hard for me sitting here to give you a price prediction, but I can pretty confidently say that bitcoin, I think, has effectively replaced gold. And it will continue to do so. And so that market cap is just going to grow,” Palihapitiya told CNBC.


Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

Updated 05 March 2026
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Saudi Maaden reports 156% profit surge to $2bn on strong commodity prices, record production

RIYADH: Saudi mining and metals company Maaden has reported a 156 percent jump in its net profit attributable to shareholders for 2025, driven by higher commodity prices, record production volumes, and a one-off bargain purchase gain.

The state-backed giant posted a net profit of SR7.35 billion ($1.95 billion) for the full year 2025, an increase from SR2.87 billion in the previous year. The firm’s revenue surged by 19 percent to SR38.58 billion, up from SR32.55 billion in 2024.

This comes as Saudi Arabia steps up efforts to expand its mining sector as a pillar of economic diversification, encouraging international participation and private investment to unlock the Kingdom’s estimated $2.5 trillion in untapped mineral resources under Vision 2030.    

In a statement on Tadawul, the company said: “Performance was led by record phosphate production, near record aluminum production, an increase in all three of Maaden’s main output commodity prices.”

The performance was also fueled by a 60 percent increase in gross profit, which reached SR14.79 billion. In its annual results announcement, Maaden attributed the top-line growth to “higher commodity market prices for phosphate, aluminum and gold business units,” as well as increased sales volumes in its phosphate and aluminum segments. This was partially offset by slightly lower sales volume in the gold unit.

Maaden’s CEO, Bob Wilt, hailed 2025 as a transformative year for the company, marked by strategic growth and operational excellence. “This was a great year for Maaden’s strategic growth. We delivered strong financial results and sustained operational excellence across the business,” he said in a statement.

“This was driven by growth in production across all businesses, including record-breaking DAP (di-ammonium phosphatevolumes), disciplined cost control across and a clear commitment to our role as a cornerstone of the Saudi economy,” Wilt added.

Profitability was further bolstered by an increased share of net profit from joint ventures and an associate. This included a one-off bargain purchase gain of SR768 million related to Maaden’s investment in Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. The company also benefited from lower finance costs.

The fourth quarter of 2025 was strong, with Maaden swinging to a net profit of SR1.67 billion, compared to a loss of SR106 million in the same period of the prior year. Quarterly revenue rose 7 percent to SR10.64 billion.

The firm achieved record production of di-ammonium phosphate, reaching 6.72 million tonnes for the year, a 9 percent increase. Aluminum production remained near-record levels, while the company added a net 7.8 million ounces to its reportable gold mineral resources through discovery and resource development.

The phosphate division saw sales jump 17 percent to SR20.77 billion, with the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization margin expanding to 47 percent. The aluminum business reported a 9 percent increase in sales to SR10.99 billion, with EBITDA more than doubling in the fourth quarter.

Looking ahead, Wilt emphasized that the pace of growth will accelerate as the company advances key initiatives, including the Phosphate 3 Phase 1 and Ar Rjum projects, which remain on budget and schedule. Maaden has also secured a gas supply for its future Phosphate 4 project.

“This pace of growth will only accelerate. Not only as we advance projects and increase the scale of our exploration program, but as we continue to grow production and implement technology that will further modernize, streamline and unlock value,” Wilt added.

Earnings per share for the year rose sharply to SR1.91, up from SR0.78 in 2024. Total shareholders’ equity increased by 18.7 percent to SR61.59 billion.