XRP traders clash over whether spot ETFs and escrow rules are draining exchange liquidity, with validators citing 16B XRP on CEXs versus viral 1.5B shock claims.
Summary
A viral post claimed XRP ETFs had cut exchange balances to 1.5B coins, projecting a 2026 supply shock tied to the proposed CLARITY Act. An XRP Ledger validator countered that major exchanges collectively hold about 16B XRP, arguing markets remain liquid and highly responsive to new supply. Other traders pointed to escrow unlocks, ETF custody wallets and institutional accumulation as factors that could still tighten effective circulating supply over time. A debate over XRP supply constraints has emerged among cryptocurrency market participants following circulation of exchange balance data and claims that exchange-traded funds are rapidly depleting available liquidity.
XRP and supply constraints A Dec. 27 post on social media platform X from account unknowDLT stated that XRP ETFs are absorbing supply, with approximately 1.5 billion XRP (XRP) remaining on exchanges and roughly 750 million absorbed in recent weeks. The post projected a potential supply shock by early 2026, linking the forecast to proposed regulatory legislation referred to as the “Clarity Act.”
An XRP Ledger dUNL validator operating under the name Vet disputed the analysis on Dec. 28, providing data indicating exchange balances closer to 16 billion XRP rather than 1.5 billion. According to Vet’s response, the higher figure represents XRP readily available to market participants.
Vet stated that exchange balances and order-book liquidity fluctuate based on price movements and market incentives, arguing that supply shock scenarios require immediate allocation imbalances rather than gradual accumulation trends. The validator noted that XRP holders can transfer tokens to exchanges within three to four seconds, creating dynamic rather than static supply conditions.
“Markets are too dynamic to statically plot movements,” Vet wrote in the Dec. 28 post, adding that buying pressure of varying magnitudes can produce different price effects depending on market conditions.
Questions regarding wallet identification accuracy emerged during the discussion. Cryptocurrency commentator Zach Rector raised concerns about specific data points in the exchange balance calculations. Vet responded that the published figures should be considered conservative estimates, citing Upbit as holding approximately 2 billion XRP across four wallet addresses, representing only a portion of that exchange’s total holdings.
Market participant Dman Trader countered that effective circulating supply could tighten due to custody structures, escrow release schedules, and institutional accumulation patterns. The account referenced monthly escrow mechanics and claimed ETF holdings stored in dedicated XRP Ledger wallets represent approximately 1% of total supply accumulated over recent months.
Vet acknowledged that Ripple facilitates supply transfers for ETFs according to company reports, but maintained that genuine supply shocks require immediate allocation imbalances rather than steady institutional buying. The validator stated that with 16 billion XRP on exchanges and additional billions in Ripple operational accounts, sufficient liquidity exists for current market demand.
The exchange highlights differing interpretations of on-chain data and market structure within the XRP trading community following the launch of spot XRP ETFs in the United States. Exchange balance trends and their implications for price discovery remain subjects of ongoing analysis among market participants.
Binance will remove 23 low-liquidity spot trading pairs on Jan. 9, 2026, deactivating bots while keeping the underlying tokens tradable via other pairs.
Summary
Binance will delist 23 spot trading pairs on Jan. 9, 2026, after a periodic market quality review. The exchange cites low liquidity and trading volume but keeps the underlying tokens tradable via other pairs. Automated spot trading bots on affected pairs will be shut down, and users are urged to adjust settings. Binance, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, announced plans to remove 23 spot trading pairs from its platform, effective January 9, 2026, at 06:00 UTC.
Binance to delist pairs The exchange stated in an official announcement that all spot trading pairs undergo regular reviews to protect users and maintain trading quality standards. The delisting decision resulted from factors including low liquidity, insufficient trading volume, and other elements affecting market efficiency, according to the company.
The removal of the trading pairs does not eliminate access to the underlying crypto assets on the platform, Binance stated. Users will retain the ability to trade the affected assets through alternative trading pairs that remain supported on the exchange.
Binance also announced that automated spot trading bots configured for the affected currency pairs will be deactivated at the specified date and time. The exchange advised users to update or deactivate their bot settings before the deadline to prevent potential losses.
The company conducts periodic reviews of its trading pairs as part of its platform maintenance procedures, according to the statement.
Based on our most recent reviews, Binance will remove and cease trading on the following spot trading pairs:
Citron says Brian Armstrong quit backing the CLARITY Act to shield Coinbase’s stablecoin yields, as DC, Ripple, and tokenization firms race to rewrite the bill.
Summary
Citron alleges Armstrong withdrew Coinbase’s support for the CLARITY Act to protect its stablecoin yield business from regulated tokenization rival Securitize. Armstrong warns the bill could ban tokenized equities, expand SEC control over DeFi, and end stablecoin rewards, arguing he’d rather see no bill than a bad one. Ripple’s Brad Garlinghouse and DC insiders say the bill might recover if banks, Coinbase, and Democrats strike a deal on stablecoin yields and tokenized securities rules. Citron Research on Thursday accused Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong of opposing the Senate’s CLARITY Act to protect the exchange’s stablecoin yield business from new competition, as debate over the bill intensified in Washington and across the crypto industry.
Citron Research In a post on X, Citron Research stated that Armstrong’s recent comments on CNBC showed concern about competition from tokenized securities firm Securitize, which holds the licenses needed to operate in that market. Citron alleged that Coinbase wants regulatory clarity without opening the door to rivals, claiming the crypto firm is pushing back because a revised version of the bill could favor Securitize over Coinbase.
Coinbase formally withdrew support for the crypto market structure bill on January 14, with Armstrong listing several objections in a public statement. These included what he described as a de facto ban on tokenized equities, expanded government access to DeFi user data, a shift of power away from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) toward the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and draft language that could end stablecoin rewards. Armstrong stated that Coinbase would “rather have no bill than a bad bill,” adding later the same day that he remained optimistic about possible changes.
Crypto YouTuber George Tung, known as CryptosRUs, defended Armstrong, arguing that banks are resisting stablecoins due to competition. Tung pointed to the gap between average U.S. savings account yields and stablecoin yields backed by short-term Treasuries, stating that clear rules should allow banks and crypto firms to compete.
The Senate Banking Committee postponed its scheduled markup of the crypto market structure bill on January 15. Committee chair Tim Scott said discussions were continuing across party lines and with industry, but no new date was set.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said during remarks at a CfC St. Moritz panel that Coinbase had raised “fair concerns” but expressed surprise at the strength of Armstrong’s opposition to the bill. Garlinghouse added that most of the industry was still engaged and trying to work through the issues.
Journalist Eleanor Terrett reported that tensions remain high behind the scenes, with some lawmakers, staffers, and industry players still angry about how the Banking Committee markup collapsed. However, she noted a belief among some stakeholders that the bill could recover if a deal on stablecoin yield is reached between banks, Coinbase, and Democrats in the coming days.
Terrett added that the tokenized securities provision, known as Section 505, may be less contentious than initially thought. Some tokenization firms now say the language was taken out of context, while Armstrong and others have expressed hope that it could be changed or removed entirely, with the outcome of these adjustments possibly determining whether the CLARITY Act progresses or stagnates.
Bitget launches Gracy AI, an animated digital human modeled on CEO Gracy Chen to guide users on market cycles, strategy, and career decisions rather than price calls.
Summary
Bitget unveils Gracy AI, an animated digital human built around CEO Gracy Chen’s decision-making approach and leadership mindset for crypto users. The tool prioritizes market cycles, strategy, career paths, and uncertainty management over chart-watching or short-term price prediction, acting as a contextual guide. Gracy AI anchors Bitget’s Universal Exchange roadmap, tying into themed conversations like Valentine’s Day and Chinese New Year to keep AI interactions personal and timely. Cryptocurrency exchange Bitget has launched Gracy AI, a digital assistant designed to replicate the experience and decision-making process of Chief Executive Officer Gracy Chen, the company announced.
The AI tool represents the first animated digital human in the cryptocurrency sector created to provide leadership-oriented guidance through direct user interactions, according to the company. The technology aims to address market cycles, strategy development, career considerations, and decision-making frameworks rather than focusing on chart analysis or short-term market signals.
Gracy AI builds on GetAgent, Bitget’s existing AI platform for analytics and decision support. The new tool shifts focus toward interpretation and contextual understanding, allowing users to explore industry direction, uncertainty management, and decision-making approaches during volatile market conditions. The system does not predict prices but rather assists users in developing clearer analytical frameworks, the company stated.
“A big part of my job is listening to user concerns, getting close to the details, and helping people understand what’s really happening in the market,” Chen stated. “The team built Gracy AI around that same approach so more users can connect, learn and grow feeling supported by me and the team.”
The launch forms part of Bitget’s broader AI development roadmap within its UEX transformation initiative. While GetAgent established the exchange’s capabilities in analytics and decision support, Gracy AI represents the user-facing component of the strategy, emphasizing understanding over execution.
To accompany the launch, Bitget is introducing themed conversation modules tied to cultural moments. Valentine’s Day features self-care-focused interactions, while Chinese New Year includes guided conversations addressing goals, perspective, and planning. The campaigns aim to position AI interaction as personalized and contextual rather than transactional, according to the company.
The Gracy AI release follows Bitget’s ongoing integration of artificial intelligence across its platform, including AI-powered market insights, automated trading tools, and GetAgent’s volatility navigation features. The company stated the new tool extends its approach by incorporating experience and perspective into an accessible conversational interface as Bitget develops its Universal Exchange platform.
Introduction Imagine using the internet at home and the connection being shared by four users. So far so good. But if the fifth user joins the network, you might feel that your browsing has turned sluggish. The larger the number of users on a network, the slower it will get. You can block a few users from the controlling interface, but this is not possible when we think of the internet on larger scales. Since blockchain networks also operate on the internet, they also face the scalability problem. With the evolution in blockchain technology, a resounding discussion about scalability issues, sidechains, and payment channels has been taking place on the platform where users exist.
What are Scalability, Sidechains, and Payment Channels? Any crypto student is supposed to be familiar with the three times that every influencer uses every now and then on social media. The first of them, scalability refers to the ability of a blockchain network to handle an increasing number of transactions without getting slow. A sidechain is a scalability solution of a blockchain in the form of an independent blockchain that provides to-and-fro movement of assets to ease the load from the main blockchain.
As an off-chain scalability solution, a payment channel uses a smart contract to enable users to transact without publishing their transactions to the blockchain. It does so by using a software-enforced agreement between two participants. These scalability solutions aim to prevent congestion on the network and improve speed.
Early blockchains suffered from extremely sluggish speed and serious congestion, and this was not an attractive situation for the new users. Sidechains emerged to work just like an extra lane on a very busy expressway. They diverted substantial transactions and made the system smoother. Payment channels can be equated with options for the investor to settle the buying and selling, even repeated rounds of them, aside and bring the final result to the chain, making the ledger less crowded.
Why Blockchain Scalability Became a Major Challenge Pioneer blockchains like Bitcoin appeared with intentionally limited designs. Whenever a new transaction is proposed, the consensus rules require that as many nodes verify as possible. Although there is no hard and fast limit on the minimum number of nodes, data shows that when a transaction is followed by six others on top of it, it is considered valid. This widespread consensus mechanism needs a wide network of users to connect to one another, making the system crowded very soon and very often. Although originally intended for security and stability, the design started creating hurdles when adoption grew.
The need for scalability is direly felt when we consider that every full node should maintain an up-to-date copy of the blockchain, which is a daunting task. This storage and synchronization problem obstructs the growth of the network. The decentralization itself may struggle if blocks get too large, as the new, smaller nodes find it difficult to store and synchronize.
Sidechains and Their Working As hinted earlier, sidechains are independent blockchains with their own security rules and consensus mechanisms. The sole purpose of their existence is to make things easier on the main blockchains they are pegged to. The peg is always bidirectional to enable movement of the assets to and from the sidechain. This scalability solution lets developers build faster, more efficient, and specialized systems without changing the original blockchain.
The working of the sidechains is quite straightforward. You need to lock your coins on the main chain and get new coins issued on the sidechain worth the same value. When you use the coins on the sidechain and finish your activity there, you either burn those coins or lock them on the sidechain to unlock our assets on the main chain. Burning or unlocking depends on the nature of the smart contract on the sidechain.
Of course, the biggest benefit of developing a sidechain is that its transactions do not take any space on the main system. Consequently, the main chain does not get busy, and fees do not rise. Secondly, a glitch, bug, hacking attack, etc., on the main blockchain does not affect the working of the sidechain.
How Payment Channels Work in Practice In addition to sidechains, users can also use payment channels as a scalability solution. This solution involves getting off the chain and settling the transactions by using a smart contract and a multi-signature (multisig) wallet. Funds from such wallets cannot be moved until all the participants concerned sign the move. For example, user A and B decide to transfer 200 $ETH to a multisig wallet. They can own the funds in equal amounts or as they decide mutually. If they want to change the rules of ownership by reallocating the amount of $ETH, multisig wallets enable them to do so via cryptographic rules and specially designed scripts.
In networks such as the Lightning Network, payment routing allows users to transact with people they are not directly connected to by passing funds through intermediaries. These channel networks form complex webs that support rapid global payments.
Advantages of Payment Channels for Everyday Transactions Payment channels dramatically increase transaction speed by processing payments off-chain. Studies show that channel-based systems can achieve almost instant settlement and extremely low fees compared to traditional blockchain transactions. This makes microtransactions and frequent transfers economically viable.
Another advantage is privacy. Since only the opening and closing balances appear on the blockchain, individual transactions remain confidential between participants. Payment channels also reduce network congestion, allowing the main blockchain to focus on final settlement rather than handling every small transaction.
Limitations and Risks of Sidechains and Payment Channels Despite their advantages, sidechains may involve tradeoffs between scalability and decentralization. Some sidechains rely on smaller validator groups or different security models, which can introduce risks if not properly managed. Users must trust the mechanisms that move assets between chains.
Payment channels also face challenges such as liquidity limits and channel management complexity. Funds must remain locked within channels during use, and participants must monitor activity to prevent dishonest behavior. Researchers continue to explore improvements that balance security with usability in off-chain networks.
Conclusion As blockchain adoption continues to grow, scalability remains one of the most critical challenges for long-term success. Sidechains and payment channels offer practical solutions by reducing congestion, lowering fees, and improving transaction speed without compromising the core security of main networks. While each approach has its own limitations, their combined use plays a vital role in making blockchain systems more efficient and user-friendly. Ultimately, these technologies bring decentralized networks closer to real-world usability by supporting faster, cheaper, and more scalable digital transactions.
Frequently Asked Questions What are sidechains in blockchain? Sidechains are independent blockchains connected to a main network that help reduce congestion by processing transactions separately while allowing assets to move between chains.
How do payment channels improve blockchain scalability? Payment channels enable users to conduct multiple transactions off-chain and record only the final result on the blockchain, making transactions faster and cheaper.
Are sidechains and payment channels secure? Yes, they are generally secure, but their safety depends on proper design, trusted validators, and smart contract reliability. Users should understand the risks before using them.
AUTHOR
Umair Younas is a cryptocurrency-related content writer linked with this work since 2019. Here, at Blockchainreporter, he serves as a news and article writer. He is a crypto, blockchain, NFTs, DeFi, and FinTech enthusiast. He has strong command over writing authentic reviews about brokers and exchanges and he has collaborated with our education team to write educational content as well. He has a dream to raise awareness among people about digital currencies. His works are well-researched and brimmed with information hence they provide fresh insights. Stay tuned to his posts if you want to stay up-to-date with the crypto-verse.
WLFI proposes 180-day staking, ~2% APR to align governance and USD1 arbitrage.
Summary
Unlocked WLFI must be staked at least 180 days to vote. Node (10m WLFI) and Super Node (50m WLFI) tiers add OTC USD1 access, incentives. Target ~2% APR from treasury; 7-day vote, 1b WLFI quorum for approval. World Liberty Financial (WLFI) has introduced a governance reform proposal that would require token holders to stake their assets to participate in voting, according to a proposal document released by the organization.
The WLFI Governance Staking System proposes linking influence and rewards to token lock-up duration, representing a potential shift in how governance power is distributed within the WLFI ecosystem, the document stated.
Under the proposal, holders of unlocked WLFI tokens would be required to stake their tokens for a minimum of 180 days to vote on governance matters. Voting power would be calculated using a square root formula that factors in both the amount of tokens locked and the remaining duration of the lock-up, according to the proposal.
Participants who stake their tokens and vote at least twice during their lock period would be eligible for a base reward of approximately 2% annual percentage rate, funded directly from the WLFI treasury, the proposal stated.
The proposal introduces two participation tiers for large stakeholders. The Node Tier would require a minimum stake of 10 million WLFI tokens and provide access to over-the-counter conversion pathways for stablecoins such as USDT and USDC into USD1, along with additional rewards tied to conversion volume, according to the document.
The Super Node Tier would require a minimum stake of 50 million WLFI tokens and provide priority access to the WLFI team for partnership discussions and potential economic incentives, the proposal stated.
According to the proposal document, the system aims to redirect arbitrage value back into the ecosystem. The proposal states that institutional market makers captured a significant portion of arbitrage opportunities during the expansion of the USD1 stablecoin.
The proposal is open for a seven-day community vote and requires a minimum quorum of 1 billion eligible voting tokens to pass. If approved, implementation would roll out in three phases, beginning with the activation of governance staking for all holders of unlocked WLFI tokens, according to the proposal.
Bitcoin’s on‑chain data is flashing a strange mix of softer retail‑style activity and still‑robust throughput, fees and capital flows that look more like consolidation than exhaustion.
Summary
Active Bitcoin addresses have dropped to roughly 660,000 on a seven‑day basis, a 12‑month low that coincides with more batching, consolidation and custodial use. The network still processes around 400,000–450,000 transactions per day, with average fees in a $2.50–$4.00 band that signals steady economic activity rather than a ghost chain. Research on Ordinals finds inscriptions contributed about 22% of fees between 2023 and early 2024, with each 1‑point blockspace share increase driving roughly 3.2% higher regular‑tx fees. Bitcoin’s (BTC) on‑chain data is flashing a strange combination: softer retail‑style activity, but still‑elevated throughput, fees and capital flows that look more like consolidation than exhaustion.
Activity and addresses: weak surface, noisy signal Metrics that usually stand in for “user activity” have rolled over. By December 2025, the seven‑day average number of active Bitcoin addresses had fallen to roughly 660,000, a one‑year low and well below the levels seen during the Ordinals craze at the end of 2024. On‑chain analysts at BecauseBitcoin and MEXC note that this drop coincides with more wallet batching, UTXO consolidation and the growth of custodial solutions, all of which can depress address counts without necessarily reflecting a collapse in real economic usage.
Transactions, volume and fees: consolidation, not coma Under the hood, the network is still busy. A February 2026 review of on‑chain data finds Bitcoin processing around 400,000–450,000 transactions per day, with relatively stable throughput even as prices chop. That same analysis highlights “robust institutional‑scale flows” visible in large transactions and cluster behaviour, describing current traffic as “genuine economic activity rather than speculative trading alone.”
Fees are sitting in an awkward middle zone that suits miners better than traders. Average transaction costs have hovered in roughly the $2.50–$4.00 range in early 2026 – far above the sub‑$1 lull of mid‑2025 but well below the $50‑plus spikes logged during prior bouts of memecoin and inscription congestion. A separate snapshot from early March puts 24‑hour BTC trading volume near $73 billion, roughly 5% of market cap, a ratio that MEXC flags as historically preceding “significant directional moves” as positioning builds.
Ordinals, inscriptions and blockspace demand Part of the fee story is structural. Academic and industry research on Ordinals and inscriptions estimates that between mid‑2022 and early 2024, inscription transactions accounted for about 22% of total Bitcoin fees and that a 1‑percentage‑point rise in their share of blockspace corresponded to roughly a 3.2% increase in fees paid by ordinary transactions. Galaxy Research and other desks have documented multiple periods where inscriptions generated more than 20% of daily fee revenue, effectively subsidizing miners while competing with payments and exchange transfers for blockspace.
Mixed but constructive into 2026 Taken together, the picture into 2026 is mixed but not obviously bearish. A composite view of “crypto on‑chain signals” described by Blockchain.News shows fundamental activity measures softening even as realized profit/loss and capital‑flow indicators stabilize, consistent with a market that is digesting past gains rather than falling apart. With Bitcoin trading in the low‑$70,000s and on‑chain volumes still punchy, the network looks less like a ghost chain and more like a maturing settlement layer where speculative froth has drained faster than institutional usage.
The dollar index fell below 100 as traders sold the greenback after the Fed meeting, with USD/JPY sliding on rising BOJ hike and intervention risks and mixed signals for emerging markets and Bitcoin.
Summary
DXY slid 0.5% to 99.79 and USD/JPY dropped 1% to 158.22 as traders unwound crowded dollar longs after the Fed flagged sticky inflation but acknowledged rising macro uncertainty. Markets now eye a possible BOJ move toward 1% and FX intervention if USD/JPY threatens 160, shifting rate divergence away from a one-way dollar trade. A weaker dollar gives only limited relief to crypto, with Bitcoin still down over 4% around $71,313 as the Fed’s higher-for-longer stance and oil shock overshadow FX tailwinds. The U.S. Dollar Index (DXY) fell below the psychologically significant 100 level on Thursday, sliding 0.5% to 99.79 as markets digested the aftermath of Wednesday’s Federal Reserve meeting and recalibrated positions across currency markets. USD/JPY dropped 1% to 158.22, one of its sharpest single-session declines in weeks, as a combination of post-FOMC profit-taking, rising rate divergence expectations, and the looming prospect of Bank of Japan intervention weighed on the dollar against the yen.
The move is notable precisely because of its direction. As recently as last week, the DXY had broken back above 100 for the first time since late 2025, driven higher by safe-haven demand from the Iran conflict and inflation fears stemming from the Strait of Hormuz disruption. That rally had pushed USD/JPY as high as 159.40 during Tuesday’s Asian session. Thursday’s reversal therefore represents a meaningful technical breakdown, with the 100 level now flipping from support to resistance.
The Post-FOMC Paradox The dollar’s weakness in the wake of a hawkish Fed statement appears counterintuitive on its surface — Powell raised the 2026 inflation forecast to 2.7%, signalled only one rate cut for the year, and explicitly cited the oil shock as a persistent inflationary risk. In a traditional macro framework, that combination should support the dollar. But currency markets have responded differently, focusing instead on three complicating factors.
First, much of the hawkish repricing had already occurred in the days leading up to the FOMC meeting, with market expectations for Fed easing having compressed from two-to-three cuts earlier in the year to just one. With that narrative largely priced, the announcement became a sell-the-news event for dollar bulls who had positioned for upside. Second, Powell’s acknowledgement of heightened economic uncertainty — including the risk that the oil shock could simultaneously depress growth while keeping inflation elevated — raised fresh concerns about the dollar’s medium-term trajectory if the U.S. economy weakens while the Fed’s hands remain tied by inflation. Third, and critically, the divergence between the Fed and other major central banks is shifting.
The Bank of Japan held its policy rate unchanged at 0.75% on Thursday — its highest since September 1995 — but markets are pricing a rate increase to 1.00% by end-June. Mizuho Financial’s markets co-chief Kenya Koshimizu told Reuters in February that up to three BOJ hikes in 2026 are entirely possible. Japan’s Finance Minister has also stated explicitly that authorities stand ready to intervene in FX markets if yen weakness persists, with USD/JPY above 160 viewed as a potential trigger for BOJ action. Thursday’s 1% drop in USD/JPY, pulling the pair to 158.22, suggests markets are pre-empting that intervention risk.
The dollar’s stumble below 100 is also a signal to emerging markets and commodity-linked currencies. The Philippine peso breached the 60-per-dollar level on Thursday as oil costs weighed on the country’s import bill, while gold stabilised following a sharp 4% decline in the prior session. For crypto markets, a weaker dollar historically provides modest tailwind support — but with Bitcoin already down 4.62% to $71,313 on the day, macro headwinds from the Fed’s inflation posture are currently overwhelming any currency-driven relief.
Robert Kiyosaki says an imminent “biggest financial bubble in history” will end in a crash that sends Bitcoin to $750k and Ethereum to $95k within a year, even as critics doubt his methods.
Summary
Kiyosaki argues a financial bubble inflated since 2008 will soon burst and forecasts Bitcoin at $750,000 and Ethereum at $95,000 within one year of that crash, alongside gold at $35,000 and silver at $200. He frames BTC, ETH, gold, and silver as scarce “escape hatches” from fiat, noting he recently bought another 1 BTC around $67,000 and claims he would still buy more even if price fell to $6,000. Critics highlight his decade-long record of missed crash calls and say his numbers lack rigorous modeling, but his alarm now lands amid tighter Fed policy and rising geopolitical risk. Robert Kiyosaki, the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad and one of the crypto space’s most vocal mainstream advocates, has issued his most dramatic price predictions yet — forecasting Bitcoin (BTC) at $750,000 and Ethereum at $95,000 within one year of what he describes as an imminent and catastrophic global financial crash.
Speaking on X, Kiyosaki framed his outlook around the thesis that the world is approaching the “biggest financial bubble in history” — one he argues has been inflating since the root causes of the 2008 financial crisis were papered over with stimulus and monetary expansion rather than resolved structurally. His message was unambiguous: the question is no longer whether a crash will happen, but when.
The post-crash price targets Kiyosaki outlined are striking in their scale. For Bitcoin, he projects a rise to $750,000 per coin within a year of the collapse — a roughly 10x move from current levels near $69,900. For Ethereum, his target of $95,000 implies an approximately 45x gain from where ETH trades today at around $2,130. He also projected gold reaching $35,000 per ounce and silver hitting $200 in the same post-crash window — suggesting a broad revaluation of scarce, non-sovereign assets as confidence in fiat currencies erodes.
The underlying logic Kiyosaki applies is consistent with his long-held worldview: when the traditional financial system fractures, assets with capped supply or physical scarcity — Bitcoin, gold, silver — will be the primary beneficiaries of the capital flight that follows. He has continued to put his money where his mouth is, most recently disclosing the purchase of an additional 1 BTC at approximately $67,000, and stating he would consider buying more if prices fell to $6,000.
Critics, however, are quick to note the limitations of Kiyosaki’s track record. His crash predictions span more than a decade, with calls for collapses in 2016 and 2020 that did not materialize as forecast. One response to his latest post on X summarized the skeptical view plainly: his forecasts are “big numbers to grab attention,” lacking the methodological grounding of rigorous financial analysis. Others pointed out that major crashes rarely stem from a single trigger, but rather from compounding pressures — tighter monetary policy, credit contraction, and forced asset repricing — a dynamic already partly visible in current market conditions.
That said, Kiyosaki’s warnings land at a moment when macro conditions are unusually fraught. The Federal Reserve held rates steady this week while signaling fewer cuts ahead. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are escalating. Bitcoin’s 30-day correlation with equities is at its highest of 2026. Whatever one thinks of his methodology, the macro backdrop he has been warning about for years looks more plausible today than at any point in recent memory.
Anthony Scaramucci is openly backing Michael Saylor’s high‑yield Bitcoin strategy at the same time he jolts markets with a tongue‑in‑cheek X video announcing a 2028 presidential run, sharpening the line between his crypto advocacy and broader economic message.
Summary
Scaramucci calls himself a “big fan” of Michael Saylor while dissecting Strategy Inc.’s roughly 11.5% perpetual yield tied to Bitcoin, warning that leverage and drawdowns remain real risks. In a previous crypto.news story, he linked that same wealth‑gap narrative to stalled CLARITY legislation in Washington and his long‑term Bitcoin thesis. His April 1 “Mooch 2028” video on X, framed as an April Fools’ gag, doubles as a campaign‑style address on inequality, debt and digital assets. In a recent episode of the All Things Markets podcast, SkyBridge Capital founder Anthony Scaramucci and Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz pulled apart Strategy Inc.’s (NASDAQ: MSTR) use of high‑yield perpetual securities, which Scaramucci said can deliver “four quarterly dividend payments equivalent to a yield of approximately 11.5%” for Bitcoin believers. He was explicit about his own position: “I’m a big fan of Saylor, and obviously SkyBridge owns a lot of Bitcoin. We don’t hold any of those assets, but I just wanted to disclose that to people.”
After years of telling everybody else how to run the country and months of deliberation, I have a special announcement:
I’m running for President of the United States in 2028.
I am aware of what happened the last time I worked in the White House.
But I do believe I can help… pic.twitter.com/O2wPkq4Ob8
— Anthony Scaramucci (@Scaramucci) April 1, 2026 Saylor’s 11.5% Bitcoin‑backed yield under scrutiny Novogratz stressed the structure’s dependence on leverage: “It’s leverage on the strategy,” he said, arguing Saylor currently enjoys a “big margin of safety” because of his large Bitcoin corpus but that a sharp drop in BTC would “inevitably” eat into that cushion. He warned that if Bitcoin crashed to around $30,000, perpetual investors “naturally” fear losing principal, because they “don’t have the right to get their money back” and Saylor can theoretically halt dividends, which would likely push the instrument to a steep discount.
From “Mooch 2028” to CLARITY gridlock That nuanced pitch to yield‑hungry Bitcoin holders landed just hours before Scaramucci’s latest viral video on X, where he stood in his office wearing a “Mooch 2028” cap and declared, “I’m running for President of the United States in 2028… Join me and help me heal America.” The clip, posted on April Fools’ Day, was quickly framed by outlets like Benzinga and Breitbart as a prank, but it reads like a test balloon: he references his ill‑fated 11‑day stint in Donald Trump’s first White House and insists, “I do believe I can help guide this country in the right direction.”
In a separate BeInCrypto interview covered by BloomingBit, Scaramucci said that passing the CLARITY Act, Washington’s flagship crypto market‑structure bill, is “not an easy situation,” adding that “in the current political environment, securing 60 votes in the Senate is almost impossible.” Earlier comments to Coinness underscored how partisan rancor over Trump’s launch of a memecoin, which he said earned between $600 million and $700 million, has further poisoned the well for bipartisan crypto rules.
Price‑wise, Scaramucci has hardly turned cautious: in February he told Benzinga that Bitcoin “doesn’t reward being early, but being patient,” even as BTC traded near $70,981, down about 7.2% on the day, and more recently has floated scenarios of $2 million to $3 million per coin over the next decade. For a would‑be “Mooch 2028” candidate, the message is clear enough — leverage can juice returns, but the real bet is that Bitcoin outlasts U.S. political dysfunction.
Binance is seeing fresh turnover in its compliance ranks as key financial‑crime and sanctions staff depart. Chief Compliance Officer Noah Perlman is in talks over a possible exit, raising questions about Binance’s post‑settlement clean‑up. The moves follow Binance’s $4.3b US plea deal and ongoing scrutiny of the exchange’s anti‑money laundering controls. Binance’s effort to rebuild its compliance operation after a $4.3 billion US guilty plea is under renewed pressure as several staff overseeing financial‑crime monitoring and sanctions checks leave and Chief Compliance Officer Noah Perlman weighs his own departure, according to Bloomberg. Bloomberg reported that personnel changes have hit units responsible for financial‑crime surveillance and sanctions compliance, while Perlman is discussing “future departure matters” with management and may leave as soon as this year or next.
Perlman, who joined Binance as global chief compliance officer in January 2023, was hired to overhaul sanctions enforcement and anti‑money‑laundering (AML) systems after the exchange admitted to US law‑enforcement failures and agreed to one of the largest corporate penalties in US history. As part of that plea deal, Binance and founder Changpeng Zhao acknowledged violations of the Bank Secrecy Act and sanctions rules, with US Attorney General Merrick Garland stressing that the $4.3 billion package, including $2.5 billion in forfeiture and a $1.8 billion criminal fine, “sends an unmistakable message” to the crypto industry. In a previous crypto.news story, US regulators were shown to have collected over $32 billion from crypto companies, with Binance’s $4.3 billion settlement one of the largest single components. In that story, regulators highlighted that Binance’s case stemmed from rule‑breaking on AML and sanctions obligations rather than traditional fraud.
Binance insists Perlman remains in role In response to Bloomberg’s report, Binance said it “currently has no departure timeline and has not determined a successor,” adding that Perlman “remains focused on his current work” overseeing the group’s global compliance program. The company has repeatedly pointed to growing headcount and investment in compliance since 2023, saying it expanded compliance‑related staff by more than 30% and cut its direct exposure to illicit activity by 96% between January 2023 and June 2025. “A 96% reduction in illicit exposure is a testament to our infrastructure and the 1,500+ professionals working behind the scenes to protect our 300M users,” Perlman said in March, arguing Binance has built a system that “doesn’t just react to threats, it anticipates them.”
Those claims have been challenged by a recent Financial Times investigation, which found that Binance continued to allow suspicious accounts tied to terror financing and other red flags to operate even after the 2023 plea agreement. The FT reported that hundreds of millions of dollars in suspect flows moved through the platform despite the promised monitoring upgrades, raising fresh questions over whether Binance’s revamped compliance apparatus is working as advertised.
Post‑plea pressure on Binance’s compliance model The latest turnover comes as Binance seeks to ease US oversight of its internal controls. The Wall Street Journal has reported that executives have lobbied Washington officials to remove an independent US monitor installed to oversee the exchange’s AML compliance following the plea deal. At the same time, crypto.news has documented how Binance’s global market share and governance have been reshaped by regulatory pressure, from Zhao’s resignation and guilty plea to ongoing scrutiny of its US affiliate’s asset‑custody practices. In one crypto.news story on Zhao’s plea, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen accused the exchange of allowing funds to flow to terrorists and cybercriminals while it “turned a blind eye” to basic AML obligations.
Binance’s internal metrics tell a more upbeat story. Company communications and recent media interviews have highlighted that sanctions‑related exposure fell from 0.284% in January 2024 to just 0.009% in July 2025, a 96.8% decline, alongside the processing of over 71,000 law‑enforcement requests and the facilitation of about $131 million in confiscations linked to illicit activity. Whether those improvements can be maintained amid continued staff churn — and the potential exit of the executive hired to lead the clean‑up — will determine how regulators and markets price Binance’s compliance risk going forward.
Polygon Labs is seeking up to $100m to cement its pivot from generic L2 infra to a regulated stablecoin payments stack built around Coinme, Sequence and its Open Money Stack.
Summary
Polygon Labs is reportedly seeking as much as $100 million to scale a dedicated on‑chain payments unit, according to The Information as cited by ChainCatcher. The move follows over $250 million in deals for Coinme and Sequence as Polygon pivots from generic L2 infra to a regulated stablecoin payments business. Polygon’s rails already process trillions in value and lead in non‑USD stablecoin payments, putting it in direct competition with Solana and other stablecoin networks. Polygon Labs is seeking up to $100 million in fresh capital to expand its payments business, a move that would formalize the company’s pivot from general‑purpose Layer‑2 scaling to purpose‑built consumer and merchant payment rails, according to a report.
The targeted raise would sit on top of a previously announced $250 million acquisition program for U.S. crypto payments firm Coinme and wallet‑infra provider Sequence, giving Polygon a vertically integrated stack spanning fiat on‑ and off‑ramps, card and ATM distribution, and developer APIs. CEO Marc Boiron has framed the strategy bluntly:
“Our ambition is to establish ourselves as a regulated payments entity in the U.S. Payments represent the most compelling use case,” he told Reuters in January.
The new funding comes after Polygon, which earlier raised about $450 million from investors including Sequoia Capital India, SoftBank and Tiger Global, began consolidating its bet that stablecoin flows will define the next decade of blockchain adoption.
In a recent podcast, Boiron said Polygon had already helped move roughly $2.3 trillion on‑chain and concluded that “stablecoin payments was the standout vertical,” pushing the team to “bet everything on payments” as generalized L1 and L2 performance began to converge. Polygon’s own blog now describes its “Open Money Stack” as a modular payments platform aimed at making cross‑chain, cross‑currency transactions feel like a single network for fintechs and enterprises.
Building a regulated payments stack Polygon’s shift from token incentives to fee‑driven payments economics is already visible in hard numbers. Combined, Polygon, Coinme and Sequence have processed more than $1 billion in off‑chain sales and over $2 trillion in on‑chain value transfers, according to a January briefing on the Coinme and Sequence deals. The network has also surpassed $11.1 billion in lifetime non‑USD stablecoin transfer volume and now handles more than 43% of all non‑USD stablecoin transfers on public blockchains, positioning it as a leading home for local‑currency payments, Polygon Labs said in an April ecosystem update. Separate analytics from Allium cited by MEXC show Polygon processed 178.1 million USD‑stablecoin transactions in a single month, including 42.7 million operations in the last week of March alone, underscoring its role as a high‑frequency payments rail.
On‑chain payments race heats up With dedicated capital for payments layered on top of its infrastructure roadmap, Polygon is setting itself up as a direct rival to Solana‑based payment protocols and bank‑integrated stablecoin rails rather than just another Ethereum scaling option. Boiron has argued that as chain architectures converge, “differentiation through speed and low fees is over,” and that the real moat will be regulated distribution, enterprise integration and the ability to move real‑world money at scale. If Polygon successfully closes a $100 million round into this vertical, it will sharpen a broader market contest over who owns the plumbing for global dollar and local‑currency stablecoin flows—a contest that increasingly looks less like speculative DeFi and more like the next iteration of Visa, Mastercard and Stripe on‑chain.
Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire ruled out issuing a Korean won stablecoin for now, but called a privately led KRW token “essential” and said Circle will expand in South Korea once clear rules are in place.
Summary
Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire says the firm has “no plans” to issue a Korean won stablecoin. Allaire still calls a won‑pegged stablecoin “essential” and wants to support local issuers with Circle’s tech stack. Circle could apply for a license and set up a Korean unit if lawmakers finalize a stablecoin framework that admits foreign players. Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire has ruled out issuing a Korean won‑pegged stablecoin for now, even as he pushes to deepen Circle’s presence in South Korea and backs the idea of a locally led KRW token as “essential” for the country’s competitiveness. Speaking at a press conference in Seoul and in comments reported by DL News and local outlets, Allaire said he does not “believe Circle would issue a Korean won stablecoin,” but stressed that the company is closely watching pending legislation and is ready to expand “within the local compliance framework” if the rules open the door to global firms.
Allaire’s stance reflects a strategic split between issuance and infrastructure. He has argued that a won‑denominated stablecoin is needed and should be linked with Circle’s dollar‑backed USDC, but insists that the actual KRW token will likely come from a consortium of Korean banks, fintechs and digital‑asset companies rather than Circle itself. “We may find ways to partner with Korean won issuers, and to be supportive of these emerging consortiums as they look to build Korean digital currencies,” he said, positioning Circle as a technology provider rather than a direct competitor to domestic issuers.
Circle bets on USDC and infrastructure in Seoul Circle is already the issuer of USDC, one of the world’s largest dollar stablecoins, and has been stepping up its Korean outreach as the country finalizes a stablecoin framework under the broader Digital Asset Basic Act. As reported by KuCoin, both Circle and Tether have expanded local operations ahead of rules that could require overseas issuers of won‑pegged stablecoins to establish a local branch and maintain 100% reserve backing, with larger issuers designated as “significant digital payment tokens.”
Instead of a KRW coin, Allaire is offering Circle’s infrastructure as the backbone for future Korean stablecoins. He has highlighted the firm’s Arc blockchain, a network “specifically designed for stablecoin transactions,” and the Circle Payments Network, which he says can connect traditional rails to on‑chain payments and support local institutions that choose to issue their own tokens. During his Seoul visit, Allaire also signed new USDC distribution partnerships with Korean firms and told local media that “currencies without a stablecoin will be left behind in future competition,” underscoring why he sees a privately led won stablecoin as inevitable even if Circle is not the one minting it.
For Circle, the bet is that USDC and its underlying technology can become the default settlement layer linking any future KRW stablecoin to global liquidity, much as dollar tokens already serve as the main bridge for South Korean exchanges and remittance platforms. In previous crypto.news coverage of stablecoin regulation and Asia’s digital money race, that kind of infrastructure‑first strategy has been framed as a way for global issuers to stay relevant in tightly regulated markets without clashing head‑on with local monetary politics, a balance Circle is now trying to strike in Seoul in this story, this story and this story.
Sentient’s suspected team wallet just moved 687 million SENT — around $11.52 million and 9.49% of supply — into a fresh address, putting AI-token treasury risk back in focus.
Summary
Suspected Sentient team multisig moves 687m SENT, or 9.49% of circulating supply Transfer worth about $11.52m raises fresh questions over token supply overhang Move follows months of volatile SENT trading as AI-linked tokens stay in focus A suspected Sentient (SENT) team multi-signature wallet has transferred 687 million SENT, worth around $11.52 million, into a new address, on-chain data from Arkham Intelligence shows.
According to Arkham’s monitoring dashboard, the funds moved from address 0x5b54…9C0f to 0xF9D7…262A roughly 20 minutes before the alert was published, marking one of the largest single shifts in SENT supply since the token’s launch.
Data from CoinMarketCap indicates that the 687 million SENT represents about 9.49% of the token’s 7.23 billion circulating supply, underscoring how concentrated holdings in team-linked wallets remain.
Sentient supply overhang back in spotlight At current prices near $0.017 per SENT, the transfer’s implied value aligns with Arkham’s roughly $11.52 million estimate, although SENT has traded as high as $0.0231 in recent weeks amid renewed interest in AI-related tokens.
Arkham describes its platform as “a comprehensive blockchain intelligence platform designed to make understanding blockchain activity easier for its users,” a toolset that has increasingly been used by traders to track large team and whale movements across tokens.
The firm has previously flagged activity in long-dormant Bitcoin wallets moving more than $250 million in BTC, showing how similar alerts can precede shifts in market sentiment when large holders reposition.
For SENT holders, the key question is whether the 687 million tokens have been repositioned for custody, internal restructuring or eventual distribution, since any sizable redeposit to exchanges could increase perceived sell pressure.
SENT’s circulating supply of 7.23 billion sits against a total supply of 34.35 billion, leaving significant headroom for future unlocks or transfers from team and treasury wallets, a dynamic that has been a recurring risk factor across the AI-token sector.
Recent coverage on crypto.news of Arkham-tracked whale moves, including a dormant Bitcoin whale moving $250 million in BTC and activity around Satoshi-linked addresses, has shown how on-chain forensics can front-run major flows in both blue-chip and niche assets.
As Arkham notes in a broader guide to blockchain intelligence, on-chain monitoring is now a core part of trading, compliance and even law enforcement workflows, and large internal transfers like today’s Sentient move will likely remain under close watch from market participants.
Stockcoin.ai has raised a seed round led by Amber Group to build an AI-native trading OS that pipes on-chain signals into stock and crypto futures flows while adding Hong Kong IPO and US pre‑IPO access from a single interface.
Summary
AI-native trading platform Stockcoin.ai has closed a seed round led by Amber Group, with backing from angel investors across crypto and traditional finance. The startup plans to bridge on-chain data with global stock and crypto futures markets, and will add Hong Kong IPO subscription and US pre-IPO access. The raise underscores Amber Group’s continued push into AI-driven trading tools, following similar bets on platforms like OlaXBT. Stockcoin.ai, an AI-driven platform for stock and cryptocurrency futures trading, has completed its seed financing round led by digital asset heavyweight Amber Group, the company announced on X. According to the disclosure, a group of unnamed angel investors from both the crypto and traditional finance sectors also joined the round, though terms and valuation were not made public.
Positioning itself as an “AI native” trading operating system, Stockcoin.ai says it focuses on fusing on-chain signals with listed equity and futures markets, giving traders a single interface to deploy algorithmic strategies across crypto and stocks. Amber Group, which offers trading, market‑making, lending, and asset management for institutional and retail clients, framed the investment as part of its broader push into data‑driven trading infrastructure.
In its announcement, Stockcoin.ai added that it will “subsequently launch Hong Kong IPO subscription and US Pre‑IPO features,” opening the door for users to access primary and late‑stage equity deals through the same platform. That would mirror how brokers such as Interactive Brokers and other Hong Kong platforms let clients subscribe to IPOs directly from trading accounts, but with AI tools layered on top to screen deals and size orders.
Amber Group has been active in backing AI‑driven trading startups, having previously led a $3.38 million seed round for AI crypto trading venue OlaXBT, which also emphasized algorithmic execution and data‑driven strategies. According to Amber Group, the firm manages more than $5 billion in client assets and has raised hundreds of millions in venture funding to expand its product suite.
If Stockcoin.ai follows through on its Hong Kong IPO and US pre‑IPO roadmap, it will be entering an increasingly competitive segment where exchanges and brokers are racing to list private and pre‑IPO assets for a broader retail audience. A recent Yahoo Finance report noted that major crypto venues have begun listing pre‑IPO instruments, bringing exposure to tens of millions of users.
For readers tracking related capital‑markets infrastructure, crypto.news has previously covered how tokenized Treasury products and AI‑driven quant platforms are blurring the line between TradFi and on‑chain markets in stories such as this analysis, a feature, and a recent report.
MegaETH has activated a MEGA token buyback program funded entirely by net revenue from its USDm stablecoin, turning Treasury‑backed yield into a standing bid for its “real‑time Ethereum” L2 token after a sharp post‑launch selloff.
Summary
The MegaETH Foundation has kicked off a MEGA token buyback program, completing its first purchase using all net earnings generated by USDm through the end of April. USDm’s current supply is about $480 million, and future MEGA buybacks will run programmatically, with size determined by USDm supply and yield on its reserve assets. The foundation stresses that USDm is not issued or operated by MegaETH or MegaLabs, even as its revenue stream becomes a core economic engine for MEGA demand. The MegaETH Foundation says its MEGA token buyback plan is now live, with the first repurchase funded entirely by net earnings from USDm accumulated through the end of April. In an announcement on X, the foundation said it had “completed the first MEGA buyback using all net income generated by USDm’s issuer as of April 30,” framing the move as the start of an ongoing demand loop where the ecosystem’s stablecoin revenue is recycled into the native token.
MEGA buyback goes live, tied directly to USDm revenues Importantly, the foundation reiterated that “USDm is not issued or operated by the MegaETH Foundation or MegaLabs,” clarifying that the stablecoin’s issuer is a separate entity even though its economics are tightly coupled to MEGA. USDm is a yield-bearing stablecoin built on Ethena’s USDtb rails, with reserves primarily invested in BlackRock’s tokenized U.S. Treasury fund BUIDL via Securitize, alongside liquid stables for redemptions. Those reserves generate a predictable yield, which flows to the USDm issuer and, under the new scheme, is then used as the funding source for MEGA buybacks.
CoinMarketCap’s overview of MegaETH notes that the MEGA token has a fixed supply of 10 billion and is used for gas, staking and governance within the “real-time Ethereum” L2, which targets sub-millisecond latency and over 100,000 transactions per second. By tying MEGA buybacks to USDm’s revenues, the foundation is effectively turning stablecoin growth and on-chain economic activity into a direct support mechanism for MEGA’s price and scarcity.
Programmatic buybacks, variable size, and market impact According to the foundation, future MEGA buybacks will be executed “as programmatically as possible,” running automatically according to preset rules instead of being manually timed by the team. The size of each operation “will not be fixed,” it said, but will depend on “changes in USDm supply and the yield of the underlying reserve assets,” meaning that as USDm circulates more widely and its Treasury-backed yield rises or falls, the buyback firepower will adjust in tandem.
Earlier this year, the MegaETH Foundation outlined a broader economic model in which USDm functions as an “economic engine” for the L2: yield from its reserves is used to subsidize sequencer costs and network fees and, now, to fund ongoing MEGA purchases from the market. MEXC’s summary of the plan notes that USDM (often stylized as USDm) “is backed by Ethena and BlackRock’s BUIDL fund,” and that the project will “trigger MEGA token generation based on KPIs” such as reaching $500 million in USDm circulation, launching 10 apps on MegaETH, or having at least three apps generate $50,000 in fees for 30 consecutive days. DefiLlama data show USDm’s broader MegaETH stablecoin stack now has a market cap of about $810.6 million, with USDm itself accounting for roughly 58% dominance, implying a USDm supply in the neighborhood of $470–$480 million.
The timing of the first buyback is notable. AInvest reported that MEGA fell about 38% from its April 30 launch price to $0.138 amid heavy post‑TGE selling pressure from early participants. CoinMarketCap’s explainer on MegaETH says the ecosystem was designed from the outset to “use its native stablecoin’s reserve yield to fund MEGA buybacks,” positioning this week’s announcement as the moment when that theoretical flywheel actually starts to spin. If USDm continues to grow and on-chain yields remain robust, the programmatic buyback mechanism could become a persistent marginal buyer of MEGA in secondary markets, linking the token’s long-term value more tightly to real usage and stablecoin demand rather than one-off hype cycles.
Bermuda is moving government payments onto Stellar, piloting USDC‑based rails with Circle and Coinbase as it chases a fully on‑chain national economy and cheaper cross‑border flows.
Summary
Bermuda’s government is migrating parts of its payments infrastructure to the Stellar blockchain as it pursues a fully on-chain national economy. The move builds on Bermuda’s digital asset strategy and Premier David Burt’s engagement with U.S. policymakers at the DC Blockchain Summit. It coincides with Stellar’s push as a stablecoin settlement layer, reinforced by a new integration with crypto payments network Mesh. The government of Bermuda is moving elements of its public payment infrastructure onto the Stellar blockchain, advancing its ambition to become the world’s first fully on-chain national economy, according to an official government announcement.
Bermuda deepens on-chain economy bet with Stellar The British Overseas Territory said government agencies will “begin piloting stablecoin-based payments,” with financial institutions integrating tokenization tools and residents transacting via digital wallets as part of a “modern, efficient” on-chain economy.
Unveiled at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the plan aims to “make the British Overseas Territory the world’s ‘first fully on-chain national economy’,” as reported by GlobalGovernmentFinance. Bermuda is partnering with Circle, issuer of the USD Coin (USDC) stablecoin, and crypto exchange Coinbase to deliver the digital asset infrastructure, with government agencies piloting on-chain payments and local financial institutions “integrating tokenisation tools” into their services.
Authorities argue that embedding blockchain-based payments directly into day-to-day economic activity is a response to structural constraints faced by small island economies, including high transaction costs and limited access to global banking networks. The government said the transition to an on-chain economy is expected over time to deliver “lower transaction costs” and “greater access to global finance through modern digital wallets,” while keeping “economic value circulating locally,” according to its statement.
Premier David Burt has been actively selling that vision abroad, most recently at the DC Blockchain Summit in Washington, where he met U.S. policymakers and industry leaders to discuss “stablecoin frameworks, tokenised markets, digital asset insurance and financial market integrity,” the government said in a separate update. Burt has pointed to Bermuda’s 2018 Digital Asset Business Act and the island’s regulatory regime as examples of how “responsible digital asset innovation and regulation” can co-exist, positioning the country as a testbed for on-chain public finance.
At the same time, Stellar is consolidating its role as a stablecoin settlement layer, with crypto payments network Mesh announcing that it has integrated Stellar as a “core settlement layer across the Mesh ecosystem,” according to a PRNewswire release. “Stellar has been running the financial rails that institutions trust for over a decade, with the uptime, fiat connectivity, and cross-border reach that serious payment flows demand,” Mesh co-founder and CEO Bam Azizi said, adding that the partnership “creates a framework for deeper collaboration as demand for stablecoin payments continues to grow.”
With stablecoin market capitalization on Stellar recently surpassing $400 million, driven largely by USDC, the network is proving its ability to handle real-world payment flows, according to coverage from altFINS. For Bermuda, anchoring government payments and future public services to that infrastructure is a bet that blockchain rails can cut fees, speed up settlement and widen access to dollar liquidity for residents and businesses alike.
StraitsX will launch XSGD and XUSD on Solana in early 2026, targeting on-chain FX, cross-border settlement, and AI-driven payments with x402 support.
Summary
StraitsX will deploy its SGD- and USD-pegged stablecoins XSGD and XUSD on Solana in early 2026, making it the first L1 to host both assets natively. The launch targets on-chain FX, instant SGD–USD swaps, and cross-border settlement, leveraging Solana’s high throughput and low fees plus liquidity pools on CEXs and DEXs. Both stablecoins will support the x402 payment standard to enable machine-to-machine and AI-agent micropayments in what StraitsX calls the emerging “agentic economy.” StraitsX announced a partnership with the Solana Foundation to deploy its Singapore dollar-backed stablecoin (XSGD) and U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin (XUSD) on the Solana blockchain, with an initial rollout targeted for early 2026, according to a company statement.
The collaboration will make Solana the first Layer 1 blockchain to host both XSGD and XUSD simultaneously, StraitsX said. The company stated the integration is designed to support on-chain foreign exchange use cases and real-time cross-border settlement, utilizing Solana’s high throughput and low transaction costs.
The deployment aims to enable near-instant swaps between SGD and USD without traditional intermediaries, according to the announcement. StraitsX said the launch will facilitate instant currency conversion and settlement for businesses and developers operating on-chain, allowing users to move between SGD and USD within a single ecosystem.
Stablecoin leading crypto infrastructure push Both stablecoins will support the x402 payment standard, enabling machine-to-machine payments, automated transactions, and AI-agent micropayments, the company said. StraitsX described this functionality as positioning the stablecoins for use within the emerging “agentic economy,” where software agents and machines transact autonomously.
StraitsX plans to collaborate with centralized and decentralized exchanges to establish liquidity pools for XSGD and XUSD on Solana, stating that liquidity provisioning will be prioritized to ensure efficient foreign exchange swaps and settlement at scale.
The Solana expansion follows previous issuance of XSGD on Ethereum, Polygon, and Coinbase’s Base Layer 2, extending the stablecoin’s multichain presence.
StraitsX operates as a Major Payment Institution licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. The company reported its stablecoins have processed more than $18 billion in cumulative on-chain transaction volume to date. The firm stated the Solana deployment aims to combine regulatory-grade stablecoins with high-performance public blockchain infrastructure for use cases including cross-border payments, foreign exchange settlement, programmable finance, and AI-driven transactions.
