Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

#Breakout2024 – The Year of Radix

The plan involves several critical steps designed to stabilize the platform and position it for future growth. First, the recovery plan focuses on repaying the operational debt through two distinct PILOT sales. The first sale is targeted at clearing the $USDC debt, while the second will address the $USK debt. This dual approach will not only resolve the existing liabilities. Also, it helps in converting the BOW leverage liquidity positions into protocol-owned liquidity, enhancing the platform’s financial stability.

Steps to Resolve Debt and Improve Stability Another significant aspect of this recovery strategy is the opportunity it provides for community members. The PILOT sales will accept bids in both $USDC or $xUSDC for the first sale, and $USK or $xUSK for the second sale. This setup allows participants with funds locked in the GHOST lend vaults to use their xAssets to bid, making the process more inclusive and providing broader engagement opportunities.

Source: X Bidders will be vying for $rKUJI (recovery KUJI) tokens through the PILOT sales. These $rKUJI tokens will be redeemable 1:1 for $KUJI once the necessary balance is freed from collateral and undelegated. This mechanism is designed to ensure that participants who contribute to the recovery effort are compensated with tokens that will have future value as the platform stabilizes.

Details regarding the specific terms of the PILOT sales, including the cliff, vesting schedules, base price, and maximum discount, are still being finalized. The Kujira team has committed to providing further information on these aspects and the overall timing of the recovery process shortly. Here are more info about the recovery plan:

Source: X Additionally, the recovery plan includes significant structural changes within Kujira. These changes will necessitate further discussions and votes from the community. To manage the treasury and ensure transparency, a trusted committee—separate from the founding team—will be established. This committee will likely employ DA0 DA0 tooling for multisig wallets and other essential features to enhance governance and security.

Disclaimer The information discussed by Altcoin Buzz is not financial advice. This is for educational, entertainment, and informational purposes only. Any information or strategies are thoughts and opinions relevant to the accepted levels of risk tolerance of the writer/reviewers and their risk tolerance may be different than yours. We are not responsible for any losses that you may incur as a result of any investments directly or indirectly related to the information provided. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are high-risk investments so please do your due diligence. Copyright Altcoin Buzz Pte Ltd.

Stargate Finance Integrates Circle’s CCTP for Instant USDC Transfers

TLDR: Wormhole offered $120M USDC to acquire Stargate, exceeding LayerZero’s $110M proposal currently up for DAO vote. LayerZero’s deal dissolves Stargate DAO and swaps $STG for $ZRO at a fixed 1:0.08634 conversion ratio. Wormhole pledged to honor Stargate’s commitments for 12 months, pushing for a competitive process for $STG holders. Stargate DAO’s vote on the LayerZero acquisition runs until August 24, requiring 70% approval with 1.2M quorum. A takeover battle is heating up in DeFi. Stargate Finance, one of crypto’s largest cross-chain liquidity projects, is now caught between two buyers. 

LayerZero has already tabled a $110 million acquisition that dissolves Stargate’s DAO. Wormhole responded with a higher $120 million all-cash proposal, calling for more time before the vote ends. 

The race leaves Stargate’s community at the center of a fast-moving tug-of-war.

LayerZero’s $110M Stargate Proposal On August 17, Stargate Ecosystem shared details of a buyout plan from LayerZero. The terms place all circulating $STG, including staked tokens, into a fixed swap for LayerZero’s $ZRO at 1 STG to 0.08634 ZRO. 

Locked and staked tokens would be released, giving holders immediate liquidity through the swap.

LayerZero have proposed to acquire Stargate (STG).

A final proposal is now live on Stargate's Snapshot.

Voting to start precisely at August 17th, 00:24 GMT.
______________

Key implications of this proposal:

Acquisition terms: All circulating STG (including staked/voting STG)… pic.twitter.com/jXAeCDCPus

— StargateEcosystem (@StargateEco) August 16, 2025

The plan also introduces a revenue split. veSTG holders captured in the snapshot receive half of Stargate’s revenue for six months. The remaining revenue supports ZRO buybacks, with full buybacks starting after the six-month window.

Governance is also part of the deal. Stargate DAO would be dissolved, with its operations moving under the LayerZero Foundation. Voting for the proposal began on August 17 and is scheduled to close on August 24.

For approval, the Snapshot requires 1.2 million veSTG votes and at least 70 percent support. Stargate’s future hinges on whether holders agree to shift fully into LayerZero’s ecosystem.

Wormhole Counters With $120M Cash Offer Just days later, the Wormhole Foundation went public with a competing proposal. 

In a post on August 22, the group announced a $120 million all-cash offer, topping LayerZero’s initial $110 million valuation. The team emphasized the bid removes conversion risks and gives holders immediate USDC liquidity.

1/ The Wormhole Foundation has arranged financing and is prepared to make an initial offer of at least $120M USDC for @StargateFinance, exceeding the initial $110M ZRO bid. An all-cash purchase provides $STG holders with maximum certainty and immediate liquidity. No delays and no…

— Wormhole Foundation (@WormholeFdn) August 22, 2025

Wormhole stated it would honor Stargate’s existing agreements for 12 months, covering counterparties, integrators, and contributors. The group stressed that Stargate deserves a competitive process instead of a quick sale at what it views as a lower valuation.

The foundation also said Stargate would remain a key part of Wormhole’s broader product line. With resources behind it, contributors see room to expand usage and integrate with other Wormhole initiatives under development.

The move places pressure on Stargate’s DAO voters. With Wormhole urging a pause in the voting process, Stargate holders must now weigh immediate ZRO integration against a higher cash payout.

Reason to trust

Strict editorial policy that focuses on accuracy, relevance, and impartiality

Created by industry experts and meticulously reviewed

The highest standards in reporting and publishing

Strict editorial policy that focuses on accuracy, relevance, and impartiality

Morbi pretium leo et nisl aliquam mollis. Quisque arcu lorem, ultricies quis pellentesque nec, ullamcorper eu odio.

Bybit is now moving its options and future contracts to Tether (USDT) and will not issue new USDC contracts from February 26 in an effort to increase liquidity on the platform.

In times when the crypto landscape is gradually moving towards USDC, Bybit seems to be doing the opposite. This is because most of the traffic on Bybit comes from the Russian Federation.

USDT is still the most liquid stablecoin with a supply of $145.2B. USDC is second on the list with a supply of $54.9B.

It’s worth mentioning that Bybit posted good numbers ($22.2B in daily trading volume) on the back of the 2024 bull run. Unsurprisingly, $BTC and $ETH are the most active pairs of derivatives on the platform.

The current shift will affect SOLUSC and ETHUSDC futures. Bybit will ensure that the expiry of USDC and UDST contracts are on different dates so as not to fragment liquidity.

Bybit’s European Dream May Soon Become a Reality Despite being restricted in countries like Canada, France, China, the USA, and the UK due to regulatory reasons, Bybit has not given up hope on becoming a force to reckon with in Europe.

Recently, the exchange was removed from the French AMF blacklist after more than 2 years of working with the regulators. The platform is now working towards getting a MiCA license, as confirmed by CEO Ben Zhou himself.

As the crypto landscape becomes more inclusive with pro-crypto regulations, a large number of new investors will join in to benefit from the upcoming bull run.

If you’re looking for the best crypto to invest in, consider rallying behind the success of the most popular crypto wallet, Best Wallet, by purchasing Best Wallet Token ($BEST).

What Is the Best Wallet Token ($BEST)? $BEST is the in-house altcoin of the Best Wallet App, which is hands down the best crypto wallet available right now.

Best Wallet gives you access to more than 60 crypto chains, allowing you to manage your entire crypto portfolio from a single place.

The wallet is also non-custodial and decentralized and does not require you to complete any lengthy KYC process to get started. This makes it very beginner-friendly and easy to use.

Since its launch in November 2024, the wallet has amassed more than 500K total users, including 250K daily active users. That’s further proof of its utility and user-friendliness.

Check out our detailed Best Wallet review for more info.

Holding $BEST, though, will put the Best Wallet App on steroids, unlocking cool exclusive perks. For starters, you get access to the best crypto presales much before they go out on sale for the general public.

This allows you to identify potential 100x meme coins and altcoins before they skyrocket. Plus, as a $BEST token holder, you’ll be able to buy these cryptos directly on the Best Wallet App and at a lower fee than on any other crypto wallet.

More good news comes in the form of security. All the tokens will be vetted by the in-house $BEST team, meaning you won’t have to worry about falling prey to hoax or scam crypto projects.

Why Should You Invest in $BEST? To understand $BEST’s growth potential, it’s important to dig into the goals of Best Wallet.

Firstly, the non-custodial wallet market sits at a massive $11B, and Best Wallet aims to capture 40% of it all by the end of 2026. Secondly, the developers also have plans to launch a Best card and Best DEX (a native decentralized exchange). As the Best Wallet App gains more traction and becomes the go-to for crypto investors worldwide, it’ll be the $BEST token that will benefit big time.

Moreover, $BEST aims to build a strong community of crypto investors with rich learning resources. Token holders can complete daily or weekly quests to get free airdrops.

During the last 5 months, the community has seen a 7,000+ strong airdrop user base with over 75,000 quests. You can join its 48.8K-strong X community or stay updated through its Discord and Telegram channels.

Analysts expect a 13,000% surge in $BEST’s value by the end of 2025, which would drive up its price to $3.25. This bullish momentum is expected to continue in 2026, where $BEST can hit highs of $6.47.

The Best Wallet presale is currently live ($10M+ already raised), and you can get 1 $BEST for just $0.024 if you get in now.

The next price increase is set to take place in less than 12 hours, so this might be your last chance to buy $BEST for such a low price.

However, it’s best to do your own research before putting your hard-earned money in crypto, as the markets can be notoriously volatile.

Also, this article isn’t a substitute for financial advice, so consider consulting a professional before making any decisions.

Top 1 On-Chain Liquidation: ETH Bull Whale Hit With 4 Consecutive Forced Liquidations, $14.11 Million in Positions Liquidated

According to Hyperinsight monitoring, today’s largest liquidation on the Hyperliquid platform involved a high-leverage Ethereum (ETH) long whale. The address opened a long position yesterday when ETH was trading at roughly $1,661, and immediately incurred losses after entry. Triggered by ETH’s short-term dip below $1,600 in the early hours of today, the whale faced four consecutive liquidations, resulting in the forced closure of a total of 8,734 ETH positions valued at approximately $14.11 million. The address now holds less than $150,000 in remaining funds, with all positions fully cleared. Address: 0x1cb0b187c14a8c0fb36ca0dcbb775dcc7f02b408

22 minutes ago

A certain on-chain address opened long positions in BTC, ETH, and silver, and purchased $10.699 million worth of BTC and ETH spot.

According to on-chain analyst Ai Yi (@ai_9684xtpa)’s monitoring, address 0x960…3f0fc simultaneously went long on both futures and spot positions this early morning, opening long positions of 102.55 BTC, 954.38 ETH, and 8,790 silver units, with total position value around $8.29 million. It also purchased spot BTC and ETH worth approximately $10.699 million. Its current take-profit levels are set at $63,000 for BTC and $1,650 for ETH.

22 minutes ago

A whale that reaped over $23.77 million in profits from the Basic Attention Token (BAT) ICO has reawakened after six years of dormancy, offloading 12,600 ETH in the past two days.

According to monitoring by EmberCN, a whale address that participated in the BAT ICO in 2017 and generated approximately $23.77 million in total profits has started selling ETH recently after six years of inactivity. Over the past two days, the address has sold 12,586 ETH, receiving 20.59 million USDS in exchange, at an average selling price of roughly $1,636. The whale invested 17,789 ETH in the BAT ICO in May 2017, acquiring around 113.8 million BAT. It then sold BAT gradually over approximately two and a half years at an average price of $0.245, netting about $23.77 million in profits, with some of the BAT converted into 27,586 ETH. Since then, the ETH has remained inactive for a long time until it resumed reducing its holdings recently. Currently, the address still holds around 15,000 ETH, valued at approximately $24.29 million.

22 minutes ago

Japanese storage firm Kioxia plans to list American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) in the U.S. in April or May next year.

Market news: Japanese storage chip maker Kioxia plans to list its American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) in the U.S. in April or May next year. (Jinshi)

22 minutes ago

Micron's earnings report lifts SK Hynix's stock price 11%, trader 'yixie' expands their unrealized profit to $1.3 million.

According to Hyperinsight monitoring, Micron’s Q3 financial results exceeded all expectations, driving peer SK Hynix’s stock to rally nearly 11% from its recent low. On the Hyperliquid platform, SKHYNIX is currently trading at $1,821, up 6.2% in the past 24 hours. Prominent trader yixie (X: @yixie10) nearly doubled his principal during this rally; he is now holding a 2x long position of 2,289 SKHYNIX contracts at an average entry price of ~$1,239.9. Fueled by the rally, the position’s unrealized profit has expanded to $1.37 million, a 96% gain. As of press time, the trader boasts an 85% win rate in semiconductor storage stock trades since opening positions this year, with total historical profits of $6.68 million, including $4.25 million from Micron Technology trades. Address: 0xa65ce1d604fa901c13aa29f2126a57d9032e412b – HyperInsight Bot is now live. Add @HyperInsightBot to your Telegram group and set it as an admin (enable message sending permission) to automatically sync on-chain news.

22 minutes ago

STRC drops to near $80, marking another new all-time low.

According to Bitget market data, Strategy’s preferred stock STRC has dropped to a low of $80.26, hitting a new all-time low since its listing. Calculated based on a $100 par value, the current discount has reached 20%.

22 minutes ago

What is the difference between TradFi (traditional finance) and DeFi (decentralized finance)? Proponents of each often see one or the other as inherently superior. Native crypto users tend to ride hard for decentralization over everything; those in web2 and banking often argue that DeFi simply replicates TradFi but worse. This guide gets into the nitty gritty, covering the strengths and weaknesses of TradFi vs. DeFi. Here’s what to know in 2026.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
➤ TradFi and DeFi offer fundamentally different architectures — one built on institutions and law, the other on code and decentralization.
➤In DeFi, liquidity is a programmable primitive, whereas in TradFi, it is controlled and distributed through siloed institutions.
➤ Both systems rely on different trust models: TradFi assumes institutional reliability; DeFi minimizes trust through transparency and incentives.
➤ Rather than replacing TradFi, DeFi reimagines its core functions with new assumptions about access, risk, and control.

In This Guide:

What is TradFi?What is DeFi?A brief history of financeTradFi vs. DeFiTradFi vs. DeFi: Which one is better?Finance is not a zero-sum gameFrequently asked questionsWhat is TradFi?TradFi is a combination of the words traditional and finance; it refers to the established financial system predating blockchain technology. Traditional finance encompasses all financial institutions, products, and services that operate within regulated frameworks, including:

Central banks Commercial banks Payment networks Money markets TradFi includes lending, investing, clearing, and settlement mechanisms and monetary policy, typically mediated by centralized entities such as banks, brokers, and regulatory bodies.

Some of the markets that collectively make up TradFi include equities (encompassing stocks, ETFs, options, futures, and swaps); fixed income (such as corporate bonds, sovereign debt, and municipal bonds); foreign exchange (FX); commodities (including energy, metals, and agricultural products); real estate; and interbank money markets.

What is DeFi?Decentralized finance (DeFi) refers to a system of financial services built on blockchains that operates without centralized intermediaries.

DeFi replicates functions of traditional finance, such as lending, borrowing, trading, asset issuance, and payments, using smart contracts and decentralized protocols.

Governance and operations are typically enforced through code and consensus mechanisms, rather than through centralized institutions or legal contracts.

At its core, DeFi mirrors the products and services of TradFi, but reimplements them using open-source software, transparent ledgers, and programmable logic. DeFi does not simply recreate financial primitives like borrowing or lending; it also reinvents TradFi’s more abstract or structural elements.

The total value locked (TVL) of DeFi often exceeds $100 billion.

A brief history of financeTradFi is a concept that exists in contrast to DeFi; its definition emerged retrospectively rather than from a single point of origin. Still, important historical developments in traditional finance laid the groundwork for DeFi’s rise.

The trajectory of TradFi — toward increasing abstraction, complexity, and dependence on centralized infrastructure — ultimately created the conditions for its alternative: DeFi. Each stage of TradFi’s development left a structural or philosophical gap that DeFi attempts to address through code and decentralization.

For this guide, we refer to TradFi’s history in relation to the rise of centralized banking (e.g., Bank of England, Bretton Woods, and the Federal Reserve). Centralized banking refers to a system where a single institution, known as a central bank, manages a country’s monetary policy and controls the money supply.

Central banking laid the foundation for the modern financial system. While there were many tradeoffs, the emergence of central banks helped:

Standardize monetary policy Stabilize currency issuance Introduce a baseline of safety to the system Simply put, this meant that people could use fiat currencies and procure loans with ease and safety. This shift made fiat broadly usable and bank deposits more trustworthy, which in turn led to the growth of institutional finance.

However, the same institutions that made modern finance possible also introduced new forms of risk and exclusion.

Centralization created single points of failure, opaque governance led to mistrust, and growing reliance on intermediaries concentrated power into the hands of a few.

The 2008 financial crisis was a turning point and made these vulnerabilities apparent, exposing how complex, interconnected systems built on trust and opacity could fail.

Shortly thereafter, the enigmatic figure Satoshi Nakomoto created Bitcoin in 2009. This marked the beginning of crpto and blockchain technology and created the technological primitives and philosophical principles upon which DeFi eventually built.

16 years ago, Satoshi encoded “Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks” into bitcoin's genesis block, at a time when “Eat Out from £5” was still a standard deal.

Each anniversary, this headline reminds us how bailout-driven monetary expansion erodes purchasing power. pic.twitter.com/27OQidXY0A

— Onramp (@OnrampBitcoin) January 3, 2025 TradFi vs. DeFiHow does DeFi organize and compose financial activity differently from TradFi? In the following sections, this guide covers how DeFi differs from TradFi in philosophy, core primitives, assets, and risk management.

PhilosophyAt their core, TradFi and DeFi are not just different in how they operate, they are built on different philosophies. In TradFi, rules are enforced through laws. Banks are audited, exchanges follow rules because of regulators, and contracts are enforced through courts.

On the other hand, DeFi is governed by protocols and economic incentives. It operates based on the principle of trust minimization (i.e., why trust when you can verify). In this scenario, trust is placed in code, cryptography, and math, and game theory becomes the mechanism for aligning interests.

DeFi’s ethos is rooted in open-source transparency, censorship resistance, and accessibility. Whereas TradFi asks users to trust institutions.

It is important to keep in mind that both philosophies have tradeoffs. TradFi offers legal recourse and protections but can selectively enforce rules. DeFi offers transparency, self-custody, and availability but introduces unique attack vectors.

Institutions vs. protocolsIn TradFi, financial activity revolves around institutions. Liquidity flows through a network of banks, exchanges, broker-dealers, and clearinghouses — each siloed and bound by trust. However, the core of DeFi is the decentralized exchange (DEX), specifically pools of liquidity.

DEXs were initially and solely created as peer-to-peer (P2P) marketplaces where users could trade crypto without needing an intermediary. Today, other protocols integrate with DEXs to source liquidity, manage collateral, and create new financial primitives.

In other words, they have evolved beyond their traditional role and now function more like modular liquidity infrastructure as opposed to mere trading venues.

Flow of liquidity in DeFi: BeInCryptoIn traditional finance, liquidity flows through banks, exchanges, shadow banks, and similar institutions. Each of these institutions are fragmented, requiring licenses, credit relationships, legal agreements, and intermediaries.

Flow of liquidity in TradFi: BeInCrypto In summary, the financial system is built around regulated entities. These institutions are the building blocks that hold and move capital. In DeFi, the liquidity itself is the primitive. As a result, DEXs become public, programmable liquidity layers that other protocols can plug into.

TradFiDeFiTraditional finance is institution-centricDecentralized finance is protocol-centricLiquidity is fragmented across multiple institutionsLiquidity is concentrated in liquidity poolsRequires institutional trust and contractual arrangementsAccess is open and permissionlessCoordination via legal infrastructureCoordination via programmable infrastructureAssetsTradFi and DeFi don’t just differ in architecture, they differ in the composition and trust assumptions of the assets that underpin their systems. In TradFi, the assets that make up the foundation of liquidity are composed of fiat currencies, sovereign debt, and credit instruments, backed by trust and legal enforcement.

USD, for, example, is a fiat currency that serves as a global settlement layer. It is backed by the economic activity of the U.S. (and its military).

Share of global reserve currencies: wolfstreet.comIn DeFi, the analogues to these assets emanate from protocol design. For example, ETH is a base currency of the Ethereum network (analogous to USD and the U.S.). However, it is also a yield-bearing asset through staking — similar in function to a sovereign bond, such as U.S. treasuries.

LP tokens are like claims on underlying capital and have similar functionality to equity or structured notes. Lending protocol receipt tokens, like aUSDC or cDAI, are on-chain debt instruments backed by collateral in smart contracts.

CategoryTradFiDeFiBase assetFiat currencies (USD, EUR, JPY)Native tokens (ETH, SOL, BTC)Risk-free yield Sovereign bonds (e.g., U.S. Treasuries)Staked ETH / LSTs (e.g., stETH)Credit instrumentsCorporate bonds, commercial paperLending protocol debt (e.g., aUSDC, cDAI), undercollateralized loans (Maple)Equity-likeStocks, ETFsProtocol tokens (e.g., UNI, AAVE), LP tokens (claim on revenue/yield)Collateral InstrumentsRepo securities, margin accountsLP tokens, vault shares, wrapped assets The big difference lies in the trust assumptions. TradFi relies on solvency of the nations and institutions issuing and custodying the assets; DeFi relies on code and incentive alignment.

StablecoinsStablecoins are somewhat of an anomaly, as they have ties to both worlds. They are the bridges between TradFi and DeFi. They allow DeFi protocols to price assets and settle trades, all while functioning on-chain.

Fiat-backed stablecoins (USDC and USDT) are on-chain liabilities of off-chain institutions, similar to how eurodollars are liabilities held in foreign banks. They rely on off-chain solvency, legal enforcement, and trust in the custodian. Because of this, fiat-backed stablecoins are more like a hybrid asset: neither fully DeFi nor TradFi.

Tell me without telling me you live in America.

Stablecoins have many use cases in the eurodollar system.

I have personally used them to pay for things in SE Asia and South America. They were preferred to local currency or bank dollars.

Walt is burying his head in the sand and… https://t.co/ZDPOYbxNlv

— Austin Campbell (@CampbellJAustin) December 13, 2024 Decentralized stablecoins (DAI and crvUSD), on the other hand, fit natively into DeFi’s trust model. They are backed by on-chain collateral, managed by smart contracts, and governed by decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs).

Risk management and designOne of the most important questions we must ask about every financial system is what happens when things go wrong? A financial system’s design addresses how it operates under both normal conditions and stress.

In traditional finance, a network of institutions and regulations manage risks. Banks have capital reserves, trading firms have margin requirements, so on and so forth. In this system, trust relies on legal enforcement and solvency.

Conversely, DeFi does not delegate risk management, it is resolved in real time. Protocols like Sky (formerly MakerDAO) and Aave mitigate credit risk through:

Over-collateralization Decentralized oracles Time weighted average prices (TWAP), Bots that execute liquidations automatically In this system there are no bailouts — just code and game theory.

Liquidation bot on Aave: app.blocksec.comOne of the tradeoffs of this design is that protocols and assets are more volatile in the short term, but resilient over time. On the other hand, TradFi buffers risk through institutional control. This design effectually hides risk until it reaches a breaking point.

one thing crypto has over tradfi is the high frequency of liquidations. liquidate early, liquidate often. accumulate data, improve at risk management, reduce systemic risk

tradfi does the opposite, putting the whole system at risk with just a couple days of bad price action

— juthica (@juthica) April 5, 2025 Both systems acknowledge that risk cannot be eliminated, only designed for. Each approach takes a different philosophy of control.

GFC vs. Terra-Luna and Celsius contagionThe Great (or Global) Financial Crisis (GFC) is an event that began in 2007 and peaked in 2008. It was a financial crisis that originated in the U.S., spread to other countries, and became widely recognized as the most significant economic downturn since the Great Depression.

The GFC exposed how interdependence and the lack of transparency can allow risk to accumulate quietly and spread systemically. Bailouts and quantitative easing ensured that the system remained operational. However, this also taught the world an important lesson: in TradFi, risk is socialized.

Much like the GFC spread to global financial markets, the Terra-Luna collapse was the catalyst for widespread contagion in crypto markets. This led to the collapse of Celsius, Voyager, Three Arrows Capital, and many other CeFi platforms.

The contagion revealed the systemic risks of centralized lending platforms operating under the banner of DeFi. Though this event spread throughout the crypto markets, leading to a collapse in asset prices, actual DeFi platforms remained operational.

TradFi vs. DeFi: Which one is better?Rather than question whether DeFi or TradFi is better, it’s smarter to consider what each system is designed for. TradFi is more mature and deeply embedded into the global economy. It supports everything from insurance, banking, real estate, and more. Entire industries rely on TradFi.

By contrast, DeFi is nascent, experimental, and narrow in practical application. Most of its activity centers around trading and lending. Its adoption is still niche and real-world application is still in its early phases.

However, DeFi reimagines core functions of the financial system. It is not meant to replace it entirely. TradFi builds around institutions and laws, whereas DeFi builds around protocols and minimized trust. It encodes rules on the blockchain, opens access to anyone, and allows users to hold and trade assets without intermediaries.

TradFi dominates in stability in scale, while DeFi is structurally more egalitarian. The real question is how will they influence each other in the future.

CategoryTradFiDeFiMaturityMature EmergingScopeBroadNarrowSystem designInstitution-centricProtocol-centricAccessPermissionedPermissionlessTransparencyOpaque systems, private ledgersFully transparent, real-time, on-chain dataRisk managementCentralized oversightOn-chain risk mitigationPhilosophyTrust in institutions and legal frameworksTrust minimized through open-source code and cryptographyValue propositionStability, scale, and economic integrationTransparency, composability, and financial inclusivityFinance is not a zero-sum gameTradFi and DeFi have two fundamentally different approaches to organizing and managing financial systems — one built on trust, the other on code. DeFi is still early but has introduced new possibilities. Conversely, TradFi is essential to global economies but subject to human error. The outcome of TradFi vs. DeFi is not a zero-sum game. The future of finance may not be one or the other but a marriage of both; something evidenced in the recent institutional adoption of crypto and popularity of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.

Frequently asked questions Both TradFi and DeFi have tradeoffs. While DeFi is better for transparency, TradFi is better for real world use. Both have strengths and weaknesses, however, TradFi is the more widely used of the two.

TradFi is the established financial system that predates DeFi. The term was created retrospectively as the alternative to DeFi. It comprises multiple institutions, such as banks, insurance, equities, real estate, and more.

DeFi is the collection of financial services on the blockchain. It replicates the function of traditional finance, such as lending, borrowing, trading, payments, and more. What separates DeFi from traditional finance is the decentralization of the systems that are built out from blockchain protocols.

Yes, it is possible to make money in DeFi. There are many protocols that replicate familiar products and services in traditional finance. Some of these include lending, borrrowing, and trading.

Chainlink and WEMIX Partner Up for Secure Cross-Chain Flow

Tether’s USDT at Risk as Coinbase Plans to Delist Non-Compliant Stablecoins in the EU

The Ethereum Foundation’s Privacy and Scaling Explorations team has rebranded as Privacy Stewards of Ethereum (PSE). Such a name change reflects its push to make end-to-end privacy an essential part of the network.

As highlighted on PSE’s new roadmap, the team’s role ‘isn’t to own every solution in the space, but to drive clarity, focus, collaborations, and outcomes across the ecosystem.’ This way, they can ensure ‘privacy is treated as a first-class feature at the application layer.’

Alongside these developments, Best Wallet emerges as an excellent partner. This non-custodial crypto wallet gives you full control of your assets on Ethereum and beyond with top-notch safeguarding measures.

Ethereum’s PSE Turns to Private Writes, Reads & Proving PSE’s ultimate vision is to make privacy on the Ethereum network a norm, not just an afterthought. It aims to achieve this through protections embedded across the entire stack, spanning protocol applications, wallets, and governance.

Their roadmap is structured around three key tracks:

Private writes: Makes private transactions, votes, and dApp interactions as easy and cost-effective as public ones; Private reads: Allows users to query balances, contracts, or data without exploring identity or intent; Private proving: Enables fast, zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) for secure, portable, and verifiable data sharing. To bring this to life, the PSE prioritizes transfers with PlasmaFold and privacy wallets, new voting systems with Aragon, and confidential DeFi standards for institutions.

They’re also working on privacy-preserving Remote Procedure Calls (RPCs), mixnets, ZK-based identity, and a faster proving system. And all while emphasizing user experience, such as making privacy tools powerful yet super easy to use.

Instead of building every solution itself, the PSE aims to collaborate openly with builders, researchers, and projects.

By steering the network while encouraging open collaboration, the PSE is laying the foundation for a privacy-first Ethereum. Given that Best Wallet shares a similar ethos, they work hand in hand to make crypto safer, more private, and user-centric.

Best Wallet Combines Security, Presales & Cross-Chain Swaps Available on iOS and Google Play, the Best Wallet mobile app positions itself as a highly secure way to manage crypto while on the move.

As a non-custodial wallet, it gives you complete access to your private keys. It also includes protections like 2FA, biometric, and local encryption, so only you can control your crypto holdings.

Even if you happen to lose account access, you’ll easily be able to retrieve your assets thanks to the wallet’s encrypted cloud backups (with no seed or recovery phrase required).

Better yet, it makes it super easy to buy, sell, manage, and swap 1K+ assets across not just Ethereum but other major chains like BNB Chain and Polygon.

In fact, it promises to support 60 networks in the future so that you can anticipate even broader crypto opportunities.

Moreover, the app has its very own launchpad, allowing you to access the best crypto presales. That, coupled with a swap engine, which scans more than 330 DEXs and 30 bridges, offers you the best possible rates.

It also plans to launch more advanced tools, including market intel analytics, stop-loss orders, and derivatives trading.

For more information on what else Best Wallet has up its sleeve, check out our comprehensive Best Wallet crypto review.

Source: Best Wallet Token By the way, Best Wallet’s native token – $BEST – makes all this possible. The reason is that a sizable 25% of its total token supply is earmarked for product development, ensuring long-term growth for the entire ecosystem.

And that’s not all. Holding $BEST unlocks additional benefits, including governance rights, staking rewards at an 84% APY, and lower gas fees.

To reap the perks, you can buy $BEST on presale for just $0.025645, using either $ETH, $BNB, $USDT, $USDC, $FLOKI, SHIB, $PEPE, $DOGE, or fiat.

Now’s a great time to do precisely that as new app developments could propel the token to $0.035215 this year – a potential ROI exceeding 35%.

Ready to jump in? Join the Best Wallet Token presale today.

Authored by Aaron Walker, NewsBTC – www.newsbtc.com/news/best-wallet-non-custodial-combo-with-ethereum-privacy

Top 1 On-Chain Liquidation: ETH Bull Whale Hit With 4 Consecutive Forced Liquidations, $14.11 Million in Positions Liquidated

According to Hyperinsight monitoring, today’s largest liquidation on the Hyperliquid platform involved a high-leverage Ethereum (ETH) long whale. The address opened a long position yesterday when ETH was trading at roughly $1,661, and immediately incurred losses after entry. Triggered by ETH’s short-term dip below $1,600 in the early hours of today, the whale faced four consecutive liquidations, resulting in the forced closure of a total of 8,734 ETH positions valued at approximately $14.11 million. The address now holds less than $150,000 in remaining funds, with all positions fully cleared. Address: 0x1cb0b187c14a8c0fb36ca0dcbb775dcc7f02b408

3 minutes ago

A certain on-chain address opened long positions in BTC, ETH, and silver, and purchased $10.699 million worth of BTC and ETH spot.

According to on-chain analyst Ai Yi (@ai_9684xtpa)’s monitoring, address 0x960…3f0fc simultaneously went long on both futures and spot positions this early morning, opening long positions of 102.55 BTC, 954.38 ETH, and 8,790 silver units, with total position value around $8.29 million. It also purchased spot BTC and ETH worth approximately $10.699 million. Its current take-profit levels are set at $63,000 for BTC and $1,650 for ETH.

3 minutes ago

A whale that reaped over $23.77 million in profits from the Basic Attention Token (BAT) ICO has reawakened after six years of dormancy, offloading 12,600 ETH in the past two days.

According to monitoring by EmberCN, a whale address that participated in the BAT ICO in 2017 and generated approximately $23.77 million in total profits has started selling ETH recently after six years of inactivity. Over the past two days, the address has sold 12,586 ETH, receiving 20.59 million USDS in exchange, at an average selling price of roughly $1,636. The whale invested 17,789 ETH in the BAT ICO in May 2017, acquiring around 113.8 million BAT. It then sold BAT gradually over approximately two and a half years at an average price of $0.245, netting about $23.77 million in profits, with some of the BAT converted into 27,586 ETH. Since then, the ETH has remained inactive for a long time until it resumed reducing its holdings recently. Currently, the address still holds around 15,000 ETH, valued at approximately $24.29 million.

3 minutes ago

Japanese storage firm Kioxia plans to list American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) in the U.S. in April or May next year.

Market news: Japanese storage chip maker Kioxia plans to list its American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) in the U.S. in April or May next year. (Jinshi)

3 minutes ago

Micron's earnings report lifts SK Hynix's stock price 11%, trader 'yixie' expands their unrealized profit to $1.3 million.

According to Hyperinsight monitoring, Micron’s Q3 financial results exceeded all expectations, driving peer SK Hynix’s stock to rally nearly 11% from its recent low. On the Hyperliquid platform, SKHYNIX is currently trading at $1,821, up 6.2% in the past 24 hours. Prominent trader yixie (X: @yixie10) nearly doubled his principal during this rally; he is now holding a 2x long position of 2,289 SKHYNIX contracts at an average entry price of ~$1,239.9. Fueled by the rally, the position’s unrealized profit has expanded to $1.37 million, a 96% gain. As of press time, the trader boasts an 85% win rate in semiconductor storage stock trades since opening positions this year, with total historical profits of $6.68 million, including $4.25 million from Micron Technology trades. Address: 0xa65ce1d604fa901c13aa29f2126a57d9032e412b – HyperInsight Bot is now live. Add @HyperInsightBot to your Telegram group and set it as an admin (enable message sending permission) to automatically sync on-chain news.

3 minutes ago

STRC drops to near $80, marking another new all-time low.

According to Bitget market data, Strategy’s preferred stock STRC has dropped to a low of $80.26, hitting a new all-time low since its listing. Calculated based on a $100 par value, the current discount has reached 20%.

3 minutes ago

Nick Sawinyh on 11 Mar 2026

Stablecoins are blockchain tokens pegged 1:1 to a fiat currency, usually the U.S. dollar. They give you the programmability and speed of crypto without the price swings. That simple combination has turned them into plumbing for DeFi, cross-border payments, remittances, treasury management, and on-chain settlement.

The market crossed $250 billion in total supply by mid-2025 and has continued growing. As of early 2026, total stablecoin market capitalization is above $310 billion according to DefiLlama data. Tether’s USDT sits around $183-187B (roughly 60% of the market), Circle’s USDC around $74-76B. Growth has been driven by regulatory clarity in the U.S. and EU and a wave of institutional adoption.

This article is for anyone considering issuing a stablecoin, evaluating the infrastructure to do so, or trying to map the competitive field. It covers issuance models, regulatory frameworks, technical architecture, service providers, the new “stablechains,” step-by-step launch guidance, and the risks worth planning for.

How stablecoin issuance works Issuing a stablecoin means designing, launching, and operating a token where new units are minted only when equivalent reserves or collateral are locked up. Tokens can be burned (destroyed) when someone redeems. The issuer’s job is keeping that mint-burn cycle trustworthy, transparent, and compliant.

You can either build it yourself with custom smart contracts, banking partnerships, and compliance infrastructure, or use a turnkey platform (often called “Stablecoin-as-a-Service”). Most organizations in 2026 choose the turnkey route, at least to start. But understanding both matters. Even turnkey solutions force architectural decisions that stick with you for years.

Which issuance model fits? Every stablecoin starts with a model decision. Your choice determines capital requirements, regulatory burden, revenue mechanics, and risk profile.

Fiat-backed (custodial / off-chain reserves) The dominant model, accounting for over 90% of the market. Also the one regulators prefer.

Users or institutions deposit fiat (USD cash, Treasuries, repos, money market funds, or insured bank deposits) with the issuer or a qualified custodian. The issuer mints an equivalent number of tokens on-chain. When someone redeems, the tokens get burned and the reserves are released. Reserves sit in segregated, audited accounts.

The economics: issuers earn yield on reserves, primarily from short-term Treasuries. That’s how Circle, Tether, and Paxos make money.

The trade-off is centralization. You depend on banks and custodians, you need licenses, and you’re subject to ongoing audits. But for most businesses, this is the right starting point. USDC, USDT, PayPal’s PYUSD, and newer entrants like KlarnaUSD (issued via Bridge) all use this model.

Crypto-collateralized (on-chain, over-collateralized) Users deposit volatile crypto (typically ETH) into smart contracts at 120-200% collateralization ratios. Price oracles are central to this model. They’re external data feeds (Chainlink is the most widely used) that supply real-time asset prices to on-chain contracts. If oracle data is stale, manipulated, or delayed, liquidations can misfire or fail entirely, potentially threatening the peg. Oracle risk is one of the less-discussed but more dangerous failure modes in crypto-collateralized stablecoins. If the collateral ratio drops below a threshold, automatic liquidation kicks in. Minting and burning happen entirely through smart contracts.

This model is fully transparent and doesn’t need traditional banking relationships. The downside is capital inefficiency: you lock up significantly more value than you mint. Liquidation risk during volatile markets is real. MakerDAO’s DAI is the best-known example. Ethena’s USDe is a newer hybrid.

Revenue comes from stability fees and liquidation penalties rather than reserve yield.

Algorithmic / hybrid Pure algorithmic stablecoins use smart contracts to expand and contract supply through incentive mechanisms, with little or no collateral backing. After the TerraUSD collapse in 2022, this model is largely discredited. Most regulators have banned or restricted it. The EU’s MiCA framework prohibits purely algorithmic stablecoins outright.

Hybrids like FRAX combine partial reserves with algorithmic mechanisms, but adoption remains niche. Unless you have a very specific reason, avoid this model in 2026.

Tokenized deposits / bank-integrated Tokens represent direct claims on insured bank deposits or tokenized reserves on permissioned or public chains. JPMorgan’s JPM Coin (now JPMD) is the primary example. These stablecoins integrate directly with traditional banking rails.

The advantage is deposit insurance and the trust infrastructure of established banks. The downside is ecosystem lock-in and limited multichain reach. This model works best for large financial institutions that already have a banking charter and want to extend their rails onto blockchain.

Regulatory frameworks in 2026 Regulation is simultaneously the biggest barrier and biggest enabler of stablecoin issuance. If you don’t understand the regulatory environment, the rest of this article won’t matter much.

The global picture has converged around a few core requirements: 1:1 reserves in high-quality liquid assets, licensing, redemption rights at par, regular audits, and AML/KYC compliance. Most frameworks also restrict or prohibit yield payments directly to stablecoin holders, keeping the instrument classified as a payment tool rather than a security. But the specifics vary by jurisdiction, and the debate around yield-bearing stablecoins is active (the White House held closed-door meetings on this topic as recently as February 2026).

United States: the GENIUS Act and federal/state oversight The GENIUS Act, passed in 2025, created the first comprehensive federal framework for stablecoin issuance. Only “permitted” issuers can operate: FDIC-insured banks and their subsidiaries, or federally/state-qualified non-bank issuers.

An important structural detail: oversight is split between federal and state regulators depending on issuer type and size. Non-bank issuers with under $10B in circulation can be regulated at the state level under existing money transmitter frameworks. Larger issuers and bank-affiliated issuers fall under federal oversight via banking regulators, with the OCC playing a role for non-bank issuers at the federal level. It’s not a single-regulator model.

Requirements: 1:1 reserves in cash, Treasuries, repos, and insured deposits. Monthly attestations and annual audits for large issuers. Redeemable at par. No interest payments to holders under the current framework. Foreign issuers face restrictions unless their home jurisdiction has equivalence arrangements.

European Union: MiCA The Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation took effect across 2024-2025 and creates two categories: e-money tokens (EMTs, pegged to a single currency) and asset-referenced tokens (ARTs). Issuers must be EU credit institutions or authorized electronic money institutions. Reserves must be held in high-quality liquid assets at EU banks.

Pure algorithmic stablecoins are banned. Redemption at par is mandatory, often without fees. The ECB has oversight authority for systemically important stablecoins. Full authorization is required by July 1, 2026 for all issuers operating in the EU.

Other jurisdictions The UK is building its framework through FCA and Bank of England e-money rules, with caps for systemic stablecoins. Singapore requires a MAS license and full backing. Japan restricts issuance to banks and trust companies. Hong Kong has introduced HKMA licensing for HKD-pegged stablecoins.

The pattern across all of these: convergence on reserves, redemption rights, and licensing. Differences mainly come down to issuer eligibility and acceptable reserve assets. The U.S. favors Treasuries, the EU favors bank deposits.

Technical architecture: what a modern stablecoin stack looks like Whether you build or buy, you need to understand the components.

Core smart contracts Deployed on one or more blockchains (Ethereum, Solana, Algorand, others), these handle minting, burning, and transfer logic. For 2026 compliance, your contracts need role-based access control (minter, burner, pauser, blacklister, clawback roles), pause and freeze functionality for AML and sanctions enforcement, and blacklisting and clawback for court orders.

Most teams start with audited frameworks like OpenZeppelin’s ERC-20Upgradeable combined with Pausable, AccessControl, and UUPS proxy patterns for upgradeability. Some blockchains offer built-in compliance controls at the protocol level. Algorand, for instance, has native freeze and clawback functions that make it attractive for institutional issuers without requiring custom contract logic.

Advanced standards like Tempo’s TIP-20 (on their payments-first L1) add native protocol-level features: built-in mint/burn/transfer restrictions, RBAC, transfer memos for reconciliation, and native yield distribution, all without extra contract complexity.

Issuer backend system A secure, centralized system (typically API-driven) that authorizes minting and burning events. It verifies that fiat deposits arrived before instructing the smart contract to mint, and confirms burn events before releasing fiat for redemption. This is the operational core that ties on-chain activity to off-chain banking.

Custody and reserve layer Fiat and other reserve assets sit in custody accounts at regulated banks or trust companies. Qualified custodians provide regular attestations. Typical reserve composition includes cash, short-term U.S. Treasuries, repos, money market funds, and insured bank deposits. Increasingly, reserves also include tokenized Treasuries from providers like BlackRock, WisdomTree, and Superstate, which generate yield while maintaining liquidity. As a point of reference, Tether’s Q4 2025 attestation reported $141 billion in total U.S. Treasury exposure (direct holdings plus overnight reverse repos), making it one of the largest holders of U.S. sovereign debt globally.

Compliance and identity layer KYC/AML checks and transaction monitoring tools integrate with the issuance and redemption flow. Only verified users can mint or redeem. All on-chain activity gets screened for illicit finance. Blockchain analytics providers like Chainalysis and Blockaid are standard parts of the stack.

Fiat on/off-ramps The bridges between blockchain and traditional finance. Licensed money services businesses like Coinme provide the infrastructure to move funds between bank accounts, cards, and on-chain stablecoins.

Multichain deployment Most stablecoins in 2026 operate across multiple chains. You can deploy natively on each chain, use cross-chain bridges or interoperability protocols (Axelar, LayerZero, Circle’s CCTP), or issue on specialized payment-focused L1s. The choice depends on your target users and use cases.

Security Multiple independent audits are table stakes. Beyond that: timelocks on critical contract functions, multi-sig governance, invariant checks, and HSM or MPC-based key custody. Daily reconciliation between on-chain supply and off-chain reserves is standard practice, along with monthly attestations.

Stablecoin-as-a-Service providers Most businesses in 2026 use a turnkey provider rather than building from scratch.

Paxos The most established player, operating since 2018. Paxos is the issuer behind PayPal’s PYUSD and has partnerships with Interactive Brokers and other large enterprises. They handle regulatory compliance, reserve custody, and minting/redeeming technology across multiple blockchains.

They’ve processed over $180B in activity and focus on enterprise partnerships. Expect enterprise-level pricing to match.

Circle Circle is first and foremost the issuer of USDC, the second-largest stablecoin. They don’t offer white-label issuance of fully custom-branded stablecoins the way Brale or Bridge do. What they do offer is programmable wallets, Circle Mint for institutional USDC access, and the Circle Payments Network (CPN) for connecting financial institutions. If you want to build payment products on top of an existing, highly regulated stablecoin rather than issuing your own, Circle’s stack is the natural choice.

Circle supports 20+ blockchains, offers API-based integration, and charges transaction-based fees. Their cross-chain transfer protocol (CCTP) is a real differentiator for multichain deployments. Circle also went public on the NYSE in 2025, adding another layer of transparency.

Brale A U.S.-regulated issuance platform that lets businesses create and manage their own fiat-backed stablecoins. Brale acts as the legal issuer under its money transmitter licenses, handling custody, reserve management, and compliance while providing APIs for minting and burning across 20+ blockchains.

Good option for organizations that want a custom-branded stablecoin without building the regulatory infrastructure themselves. Revenue-share pricing model.

Bridge (Stripe-acquired) Bridge offers an Open Issuance API to launch and manage a branded stablecoin with minimal code. They handle reserves, liquidity, compliance, and fiat on/off-ramps. Stripe’s acquisition gives Bridge access to an enormous merchant network.

Bridge has received preliminary approval to establish a national trust bank, which would let them offer regulated custody and reserve management under a federal framework.

Coinbase Custom Stablecoins Launched December 18, 2025, this is Coinbase’s “stablecoin-as-a-service” offering. It lets businesses create custom-branded stablecoins backed 1:1 by USDC and other USD-stablecoins, with Coinbase handling issuance, smart contracts, compliance, and custody. First partners include Flipcash, Solflare, and R2. Separately, Coinbase is also powering stablecoin-denominated institutional funding for Klarna via USDC.

Important nuance: at launch, Custom Stablecoins use USDC as the underlying collateral rather than direct fiat reserves. That means Coinbase is acting as an issuance layer on top of Circle’s stablecoin, not as a direct fiat-to-stablecoin issuer like Paxos or Brale. Coinbase has applied for an OCC national trust charter, which could eventually allow it to custody reserves directly.

Frax Finance Known for its hybrid stablecoin model, Frax now offers “GENIUS-compatible” white-label infrastructure. Per project announcements, Sonic Labs used Frax’s framework to launch a USSD stablecoin backed by tokenized Treasuries. Frax provides modular smart contract infrastructure with built-in composability through LayerZero.

The DeFi-native option, designed for teams comfortable with on-chain tooling.

Stably A primary partner for blockchain platforms like Algorand and Stacks. Stably provides a Stablecoin-as-a-Service suite including fiat on/off-ramps, multi-chain issuance, and compliance. They specialize in stablecoins pegged to various fiat currencies beyond the dollar.

M0 M0 is a programmable stablecoin issuance protocol that separates token logic from reserve custody. It lets businesses build “stablecoin extensions,” which are custom-branded tokens with their own compliance rules, yield mechanics, and access controls, all built on a shared liquidity and interoperability layer. M0 raised a $40M Series B and has over $779M in on-chain supply minted. Bridge (Stripe) uses M0’s protocol under the hood for stablecoin issuance, as confirmed when MetaMask launched mUSD. MoonPay’s PYUSDx framework also runs on M0 infrastructure.

Worth watching closely. M0’s approach of decoupling reserve management from token issuance could become the default pattern for application-specific stablecoins.

Other providers worth noting Agora offers regulated stablecoin issuance with a trust-based approach. Bastion takes a similar regulated trust posture. Anchorage Digital is primarily a federally chartered crypto bank providing qualified custody and regulated banking services. It’s not a full stablecoin issuance platform, but it plays a role in the custody and compliance layer that issuers need. Fireblocks provides infrastructure and custody tooling (MPC wallets, workflow automation, settlement) across 100+ chains. It processes roughly 15% of global stablecoin volume and is used by 300+ banks and payment providers, but it’s infrastructure plumbing, not a legal issuer of stablecoins. BitGo offers qualified custody infrastructure. Cobo provides full-suite payment operations, combining MPC custody, payment APIs, and Wallet-as-a-Service across 80+ chains. Tassat focuses on tokenized deposits and real-time settlement for institutional digital asset operations, including its Link platform for real-time collateral and settlement workflows.

The stablechains: purpose-built L1s for stablecoin payments This is probably the most interesting development in stablecoin infrastructure right now. Starting in 2025, a new category of “stablechains” appeared: Layer-1 blockchains built specifically for stablecoin payments and issuance. Instead of deploying on general-purpose chains like Ethereum or Solana, issuers can use infrastructure where stablecoins are first-class citizens rather than an afterthought.

Three projects lead this category: Tempo, Circle Arc, and Tether Plasma. All three are EVM-compatible, target sub-second finality, and aim to make stablecoin transactions competitive with Visa, ACH, and SWIFT. They differ in philosophy, ecosystem, and who they’re designed for.

A word of caution: this category is very early. As of March 2026, only Plasma has a live mainnet with real production volume. Tempo and Arc are on public testnet with mainnet launches expected later in 2026. Performance claims (TPS targets, finality times) are based on testnet data or design targets, not proven production metrics at scale. Partnership announcements reflect stated intentions and early pilots, not necessarily live integrations processing real money. That said, the backers (Stripe, Circle, Tether) have the resources and distribution to make these projects matter, which is why they’re worth tracking closely.

Tempo Incubated by Stripe and Paradigm with over $500M raised. Tempo is a payments-first L1 that takes a deliberately neutral approach. No native token. Gas fees can be paid in any stablecoin through an enshrined AMM that auto-swaps to validators. Issuers aren’t forced into any single stablecoin ecosystem.

Tempo’s native TIP-20 token standard includes built-in mint/burn restrictions, protocol-level compliance (TIP-403 Policies), delegatable RBAC with on-chain audit logs, transfer memos for off-chain reconciliation, and native yield distribution. Design targets include 100,000+ TPS and roughly 0.6-second deterministic finality (no re-orgs), though these are pre-mainnet projections, not production-verified metrics.

Other protocol primitives: a Fee AMM (pay gas in any stablecoin, creating structural demand), a native stablecoin DEX for on-chain liquidity and FX (on roadmap), dedicated payment lanes with guaranteed blockspace, and account abstraction with passkey support.

Per Tempo’s announcement materials, the ecosystem roster includes Stripe, Shopify, Nubank, Klarna, DoorDash, Deel, Revolut, Visa, Anthropic, and Deutsche Bank. These are announced partnerships, not necessarily confirmed live integrations. Klarna’s involvement is separately confirmed through its Coinbase stablecoin funding announcement.

Status: public testnet live, mainnet expected H1 2026.

Best for issuers who want maximum flexibility, multi-stablecoin support, and deep payments integration with minimal vendor lock-in. Contact: [email protected].

Circle Arc Circle’s own L1, announced August 2025. Arc makes USDC the native gas token, creating a fully dollar-denominated chain. It uses Malachite BFT consensus for sub-second finality (around 780ms) and targets over 50,000 TPS.

The defining feature is a built-in FX engine with on-chain RFQ and PvP settlement, which makes it attractive for cross-currency treasury operations. Arc deeply integrates Circle’s stack: CCTP, native mint/burn, Gateway, and on/off-ramps. It also offers opt-in privacy designed for compliance-ready institutional use.

Partners include BlackRock, Visa, Goldman Sachs, Mastercard, HSBC, AWS, Coinbase, and OpenAI.

Status: public testnet with 100+ institutional participants, strong activity since October 2025. Mainnet expected 2026.

Best for institutions already in the USDC ecosystem, or those needing on-chain FX and capital markets infrastructure.

Tether Plasma The only stablechain with a fully live mainnet as of March 2026. Plasma is Tether’s chain, built around USDT with a zero-fee transfer model using a Paymaster contract. Sub-second finality at 1,000+ TPS. Over $373M raised.

Plasma supports 25+ stablecoins but is clearly USDT-centric. Per Tether’s communications, it has attracted significant deposits and become one of the larger USDT networks by balance. It includes a native Bitcoin bridge and optional confidential transactions. The ecosystem spans 100+ DeFi partners (including Aave) per project announcements.

Best for USDT-focused use cases, retail and emerging-market payments, and anyone who wants live production volume today.

How to choose between them The decision comes down to a few questions.

What’s your primary stablecoin? USDT points to Plasma. USDC points to Arc. Multi-stablecoin or custom-branded points to Tempo.

Who are your target users? Retail and emerging-market payments: Plasma. Enterprise and institutional capital markets: Arc. Fintechs, merchants, embedded finance: Tempo.

How much execution risk can you tolerate? Plasma is live but carries heavier regulatory scrutiny as a Tether-affiliated project. Tempo and Arc have strong backers but are pre-mainnet.

Many issuers are hedging by testing or launching on multiple chains simultaneously.

End-to-end launch stacks Several providers bundle token issuance, reserve management, compliance, and payment rails into a single integrated offering.

Polygon’s Open Money Stack bundles blockchain settlement, enterprise-grade wallets, and regulated fiat on/off-ramps (via Coinme) into one API. Transactions settle in under 2 seconds at roughly $0.002 each. Institutions can move money from a bank account into a stablecoin, settle on-chain, and convert back to fiat without juggling multiple vendors.

Cobo combines MPC custody, payment APIs, and Wallet-as-a-Service for high-volume stablecoin operations. It supports 80+ chains and plugs into existing treasury systems.

Brale’s unified platform lets an enterprise launch a stablecoin and have it instantly provisioned with on/off-ramps, pricing, APIs, and reporting, all under Brale’s regulatory umbrella.

Step-by-step: how to issue a stablecoin in 2026 The practical sequence, from concept to production.

1. Define purpose and structure. What is the stablecoin for? Payments, treasury management, loyalty programs, embedded finance? Your answer determines which issuance model, platform, and chain make sense. Fiat-backed is the right choice for most use cases. Pick your platform early since switching later is expensive.

2. Secure banking and reserves. Partner with qualified custodians or banks. Set up segregated 1:1 reserve accounts holding cash, short-term Treasuries, repos, money market funds, or insured deposits. Diversify across custodians where possible. Stress-test your liquidity for redemption spikes. Turnkey providers like Brale or Paxos handle much of this, but you still need visibility into the reserve structure.

3. Develop or integrate the technology. If building custom: write and audit your smart contracts (start with OpenZeppelin frameworks), implement compliance controls (RBAC, pause, freeze, clawback), choose your target chains, and get multiple independent security audits. If using a platform: integrate via API (Bridge, Brale) or deploy using native token standards (TIP-20 on Tempo).

4. Set up issuance and redemption flows. Mint tokens when verified fiat deposits arrive. Burn tokens on redemption and release corresponding reserves. Build continuous reconciliation between on-chain supply and off-chain reserves. Publish monthly attestations.

5. Ensure compliance and transparency. Obtain the necessary licenses (or confirm your turnkey provider holds them). Implement KYC/AML for all mint and redeem operations. Set up transaction monitoring. Publish reserve reports and audit results. Under the GENIUS Act, large issuers need monthly attestations and annual audits. MiCA requires full authorization by mid-2026.

6. Launch and distribute. Deploy on your target chain(s). Get listed on exchanges and DEXs. Provide initial liquidity. Monitor the peg continuously. Integrate into real payment flows: payroll via Deel on Tempo, merchant checkout through Stripe, remittance corridors.

7. Ongoing operations. This is where most of the work lives. Regular audits, risk monitoring, smart contract upgrades, regulatory reporting, and responding to compliance events (sanctions, court orders, suspicious activity). It never stops.

Provider comparison Provider Core capability Target customers Supported chains Complexity / cost Paxos Regulated issuance, custody, proven at scale Large enterprises, fintechs Ethereum, others Medium. High cost (enterprise contracts) Circle USDC issuer, programmable wallets, CPN, high liquidity Startups to enterprises 20+ chains Low. Transaction-based fees Brale Full-stack issuance, acts as legal issuer, multi-chain Startups to enterprises 20+ chains Low. Revenue-share pricing Bridge (Stripe) Open Issuance API, fiat on/off-ramps, Stripe distribution Enterprises, fintechs Multiple chains + Tempo Low. Transaction-based fees M0 Programmable issuance protocol, shared liquidity layer Developers, fintechs, wallets Ethereum, multi-chain Low-medium. Protocol-based Coinbase Custom Stablecoins Stablecoin-as-a-service, USDC-collateralized branded tokens Enterprises, fintechs Base, Ethereum (expanding) Low. Revenue-share Frax White-label modular infrastructure, RWA backing Blockchain networks, protocols EVM-compatible via LayerZero Medium. Variable cost Polygon End-to-end “Open Money Stack” Institutions, payment companies Polygon, multi-chain via Agglayer Low. Volume-based pricing Cobo Enterprise payments, MPC custody, treasury automation High-volume institutions 80+ chains Medium. Institutional pricing Fireblocks Infrastructure/custody tooling, MPC wallets, settlement (not an issuer) Large institutions 100+ chains Medium. Institutional licensing Stablechains comparison Aspect Tempo Circle Arc Tether Plasma Backing Stripe + Paradigm ($500M+) Circle Tether/Bitfinex ($373M+) Status (March 2026) Public testnet, mainnet H1 2026 Public testnet, mainnet 2026 Mainnet live Performance 100k+ TPS target (unverified), ~0.6s finality (design) 50k+ TPS target, ~780ms finality (testnet) 1k+ TPS, sub-second finality (production) Gas model Any stablecoin (no native token) Native USDC USDT-native + Paymaster (zero-fee USDT) Stablecoin focus Issuer-agnostic, multi-stablecoin USDC-centric USDT-centric (25+ supported) Key primitives Stable DEX, payment memos, dedicated lanes, TIP-20 FX engine, opt-in privacy, CCTP integration Zero-fee USDT, Bitcoin bridge, confidential txs Target users Fintechs, merchants, embedded finance Institutions, capital markets Retail, emerging markets, DeFi Real-world examples A few cases that show how this infrastructure comes together in practice. Note: some of these are announced projects or early-stage deployments, not fully scaled production systems. Where possible, I’ve verified against public announcements and press coverage.

MetaMask USD (mUSD) on M0/Bridge. Announced August 2025 by Consensys, MetaMask’s native stablecoin is the first issued by a self-custodial wallet. It uses Bridge for issuance and reserve management with M0’s protocol for the on-chain infrastructure. Planned to launch on Ethereum and Linea, with spending via MetaMask Card at Mastercard merchants.

Klarna’s stablecoin initiatives. Klarna partnered with Coinbase in December 2025 for USDC-denominated institutional funding. Separately, Tempo’s announcement materials list Klarna as an ecosystem partner launching “KlarnaUSD” via Bridge on Tempo, but public documentation of that specific deployment is limited beyond Tempo’s own communications. Worth monitoring but not yet a confirmed live product.

Sonic Labs’ USSD via Frax. Per Frax and Sonic project communications, Sonic used Frax’s white-label infrastructure and backed USSD with tokenized Treasuries. Independent documentation is thin, but it illustrates the modular approach: a blockchain network launching a native stablecoin by composing existing infrastructure rather than building from scratch.

Stablecorp’s QCAD. A Canadian dollar stablecoin that uses VersaBank as federally regulated custodian for reserves through VersaBank’s VersaVault platform. Stablecorp manages issuance and compliance while leaning on established banking infrastructure for credibility.

Stable Sea with BitGo. A B2B infrastructure platform that partners with BitGo for regulated custody and trading. Newer platforms can assemble best-in-class services from existing providers rather than building everything internally.

Risks worth planning for Good infrastructure reduces risk. It doesn’t eliminate it. Here’s what actually goes wrong.

Depegging. Market shocks, collateral liquidation cascades, or loss of confidence can push a stablecoin off its peg. Even fiat-backed stablecoins aren’t immune. USDC briefly lost its peg in March 2023 when Silicon Valley Bank failed with a portion of Circle’s reserves held there.

Custody and banking failures. Your stablecoin is only as safe as your custodian. Diversify where possible and understand the insolvency protections (or lack thereof) for your reserve accounts.

Smart contract bugs. A vulnerability in your minting or burning logic can be catastrophic. Multiple independent audits are the minimum. Timelocks, multi-sig controls, and bug bounty programs add layers of defense.

Regulatory changes. The GENIUS Act and MiCA are still relatively new. Rules will evolve. Non-compliance carries real consequences: fines, loss of license, blocked market access. Build compliance into the product from day one, not as an afterthought.

Sanctions and illicit finance exposure. Stablecoins are tools, and bad actors use them. You need transaction monitoring and the ability to freeze or clawback assets when legally required.

Operational risk. Stablecoin operations run around the clock. Reconciliation errors, oracle failures (for crypto-collateralized models), and infrastructure outages compound quickly.

Algorithmic model risk. If you’re considering an algorithmic or lightly collateralized design, this carries the highest systemic risk. The TerraUSD collapse proved that incentive mechanisms alone can’t maintain a peg under stress.

Best practices for 2026 issuers Automate reconciliation between on-chain supply and off-chain reserves. Manual processes break at scale.

Use bankruptcy-remote structures for reserve accounts. If your company has financial trouble, the reserves should be legally protected for token holders.

Build compliance into the product. Freeze, clawback, and blacklisting capabilities aren’t just regulatory checkboxes. They’re what institutional customers and regulators look for before working with you.

Partner with blockchain analytics providers from day one. Chainalysis, Blockaid, and similar firms provide transaction monitoring that regulators expect.

Publish clear redemption policies. Specify timelines, fees (if any), minimum amounts, and the process for large redemptions. Ambiguity erodes trust.

Start with a USD peg for maximum liquidity and market access. Non-USD pegs have their place, but infrastructure, liquidity, and regulatory clarity are all strongest for dollar stablecoins.

Plan for multichain or dedicated-chain deployment from the start. Retrofitting cross-chain support later is painful.

Consider starting on a turnkey platform or specialized L1 for speed, then evaluate custom infrastructure as you scale.

Where this is heading The infrastructure to launch a compliant stablecoin in 2026 exists. You can go from concept to live product in weeks through turnkey providers and purpose-built L1s. That speed would have been absurd even two years ago.

The decisions you face: which issuance model fits (fiat-backed for almost everyone), which platform or chain to deploy on (determined by your target users and stablecoin preference), and how much infrastructure to own versus rent.

White-label platforms like Bridge, Paxos, Brale, and Coinbase, issuance protocols like M0, or payments-optimized L1s like Tempo, offer the lowest barrier for most businesses. Custom builds still make sense for large institutions that need complete control and have the engineering team to maintain it.

One thing I’d flag: the temptation to over-engineer early is strong, especially for technical teams. The businesses actually getting stablecoins into production in 2026 are the ones that started with a turnkey provider, shipped, and iterated from there. The fundamentals, robust reserves, transparent operations, and clear redemption policies, matter more than the specific technology stack underneath.

3 US Crypto Stocks to Watch After the GENIUS Act Passed

Table of contents

Alchemy Pay, a renowned cryptocurrency-fiat payment gateway, is pleased to announce its strategic partnership with Coinbase, a prominent U.S.-based cryptocurrency exchange for buying, selling, and storing digital assets. The main mission behind this collaboration is to increase access to $USDC (US-pegged stablecoin issued by Circle) by providing low-cost fiat-to-crypto mainstream adoption for global users. Alchemy Pay has released this news through its official social media X account.

🌟 #AlchemyPay and @coinbase are expanding access to USDC! Score ZERO ramp fees on USDC buys through @coinexcom! Unlock seamless fiat-to-crypto bridges today—dive in now and supercharge your portfolio without the extra costs. Rally your crew and join today—the bridge is open!… pic.twitter.com/EeTQO3n9X1

— Alchemy Pay|$ACH: Fiat-Crypto Payment Gateway (@AlchemyPay) January 7, 2026 Alchemy Pay and Coinbase to Accelerate $USDC Adoption Worldwide Alchemy Pay is widely known for its best fiat-to-crypto and crypto-to-fiat payment gateway. The partnership between Alchemy Pay and Coinbase plays a crucial role in the global adoption of $USDC. The best thing is that both platforms are giving a unique opportunity to get access to $USDC with zero ramp fees offered by CoinEx.

 Alchemy Pay and Coinbase offer users to get the $USDC via CoinEx with zero ramp fees. This golden opportunity has a limited time frame from 5th Jan 2026- 4th Feb 2026.  So, this is the best chance to grab the opportunity and take advantage of it. Now, $USDC is widely accepted for its usage in trading, decentralized finance (DeFi), payments, and on-chain savings and remittances.

Strengthen the Web3–TradFi Bridge for Cheaper Payments Due to this synergy, both fintech firms would be able to catch the attention of users in a huge number, because it is the psyche of the human mind always attracted toward the benefits that are cheaper and easily accessible. On the other hand, Alchemy Pay provides a strong bridge between traditional finance (TradFi) and Web3.

The alliance of Alchemy Pay and Coinbase is much more than an ordinary partnership; rather, it is a miracle in this material world where people think about their benefits without taking care of others. In addition, it is a chance to strengthen the portfolio status without extra costs and supercharge it fully.

AUTHOR

Crypto journalist with years of experience providing in-depth analysis and news on blockchain and decentralized finance. With a keen eye for detail, Shahzaib delivers insightful articles that explore the latest trends, market movements, and innovations within the crypto and blockchain ecosystem. His work focuses on educating readers while offering expert commentary on the evolving landscape of digital assets, DeFi protocols, and the broader impact of blockchain technology.

Top AI IPOs To Watch in 2026: OpenAI, Anthropic, SpaceX, and More

Top Crypto News This Week: Kaito Airdrops, JD Vance at Bitcoin Conference, $5 Billion FTX Creditor Payouts, and More

If you’re thinking of launching your own token on Solana, Raydium LaunchLab could be a name to know. The platform promises simple no-code token creation with real DeFi juice. Whether you’re building a meme coin, a serious utility project, or just experimenting, LaunchLab aims to give you the tools (and curves) to make it happen. So, is it as good as it looks from the outside? Here’s what to know in 2026.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
➤ Raydium LaunchLab provides customizable token launches with features like bonding curves, vesting schedules, and integration with Raydium’s AMM.
➤ Unlike platforms such as Pump.fun and Pompom, LaunchLab supports multiple quote tokens (SOL, USDC, USDT, jitoSOL).
➤ LaunchLab enhances the Solana ecosystem by enabling token creation and liquidity integration.

In this guide:

What is LaunchLab?How does LaunchLab work?What are LaunchLab’s key features?Is there a LaunchLab airdrop?How is LaunchLab different from Pump.fun and Pompom?Why LaunchLab matters for SolanaWhat is LaunchLab?Built into the Raydium ecosystem, LaunchLab is a no-code, permissionless token launchpad that lets anyone create and launch a token in minutes.

LAUNCHLAB REWARD POOL IS GROWING 🪂

Throughout the past 2 weeks, we have allocated a total of 400,000 RAY to eligible LaunchLab users

Another 50,000 in RAY rewards is now available, this time with even more token creator rewards 🪂 pic.twitter.com/PdsjZZIG4z

— Raydium (@RaydiumProtocol) April 30, 2025 ​​Think of it as a vending machine for tokens: you plug in your details, pick your bonding curve, set a few parameters, and your token goes live.

Did you know? A bonding curve is a mathematical pricing formula that determines how a token’s price increases as more of it gets bought. With LaunchLab, you can choose curves like linear, exponential, or logarithmic, meaning you control how price and demand interact right from the start.

It’s not just about launching. Once your token hits certain thresholds, LaunchLab connects it to real liquidity via Raydium’s AMM (automated market maker). That means your token can be bought and sold directly on Raydium, just like any major coin, without manual listings or middlemen.

Why was LaunchLab created?Before LaunchLab, launching a token meant losing sleep over smart contracts, begging for AMM listings, and hoping your liquidity pool didn’t get drained by snipers. It was technical, slow, and mostly built for developers, not creators.

Raydium built LaunchLab to change that and give every creator a chance to launch with full control, smart liquidity flows, and pricing curves to match their project’s vibe.

Raydium LaunchLab interface: RaydiumWhether you’re testing an idea or building a movement, Raydium LaunchLab makes it feel native — because that’s what it is.

How does LaunchLab work?So, how does Raydium LaunchLab actually work behind the scenes? The good news is that you don’t need to be a dev. Here’s a quick example of the token creation process.

To create a token on LaunchLab you must:
• Pick a launch mode
• Enter token details
• Hit launch

Step 1: Pick your launch modeYou’ll start by choosing between two modes:

JustSendIt – for folks who want to go live now, with minimal fuss. LaunchLab Mode – for those who want customization: bonding curve shape, token supply, fees, vesting, etc. Token creation method one: LaunchLabStep 2: Enter your token detailsThis is your token’s bio. You name it, assign a symbol, upload a logo if you like, and set the total supply. Then, you decide what % you want to sell to the public.

There’s a minimum raise target (e.g., 30 SOL), and you decide the bonding curve logic.

You can choose from the following bonding curve logics:

Linear: Price rises steadily. Exponential: Starts low, then shoots up — great for rewarding early buyers. Logarithmic: Price climbs fast early, then slows — good for smoothing late entries Note: This curve becomes your token’s pricing engine during the launch window.

Token creation method two: LaunchLabStep 3: Hit launch, and optionally, be firstOnce you hit launch, anyone can start buying tokens along the curve. But LaunchLab gives you a cool option: you can make the first buy yourself. That stops bots and snipers from messing up your initial momentum.

Step 4: Automatic liquidity kick-inOnce the raise hits your predefined goal (let’s say 85 SOL), LaunchLab automatically pushes your token and the collected SOL into a liquidity pool on Raydium’s AMM. It even burns the LP tokens, so the liquidity is locked. You can’t pull it, and neither can anyone else.

Step 5: Earn from trading feesHere’s the kicker. If you enable creator fee share, you earn 10% of all LP trading fees from that pool. You get an NFT (“fee key”) that proves you’re the creator, and yep, that NFT is the key to claiming those earnings.

That’s it. From token creation to price logic and real, functioning liquidity in one smooth workflow.

Additional token creation details: LaunchLabWhat are LaunchLab’s key features?You’ve seen the workflow. Now let’s talk about what makes Raydium LaunchLab not just functional, but also powerful.

These features are designed to help you launch like a pro, even if it’s your first time deploying a token.

Full customization with Bonding curves & capsYou’re not locked into one-size-fits-all logic. LaunchLab lets you shape how your token behaves, starting with your bonding curve (linear, exponential, or logarithmic) and ending with your raise cap. So whether you’re rewarding early buyers or trying to maintain price stability, you get to call the shots.

Built-in liquidity via Raydium’s AMMOnce your raise completes, LaunchLab pushes your token and funds into Raydium’s AMM automatically, something we mentioned earlier while discussing the platform’s modus operandi. 

Did you know? Many launch platforms rely on manual liquidity adds or third-party DEX listings. LaunchLab skips that entirely by integrating with Raydium, one of Solana’s top AMMs.

Enable Creator Fee Share, and you earn 10% of all trading fees from your token’s AMM pool. You’ll receive a unique Fee Key NFT, which acts like a revenue pass. As long as it’s in your wallet, you can earn from every trade your community makes.

Support for multiple quote tokensYou’re not limited to SOL. With Raydium LaunchLab, you can set your raise in SOL, USDC, USDT, or jitoSOL, depending on what fits your strategy or audience best.

Did you know? jitoSOL is a liquid staking token built on Solana by Jito Labs. Jito Labs, the team behind jitoSOL, is one of the key players in Solana’s infrastructure scene. The team is known for building tools that optimize staking, validator performance, and MEV (Maximal Extractable Value) solutions — basically helping Solana run faster, fairer, and more efficiently.

Vesting & token unlock optionsIf your project isn’t just a meme (and you’re thinking long-term), LaunchLab has you covered. You can set up vesting schedules, delayed unlocks, and custom distribution plans — all without writing a single line of code.

JustSendIt mode for one-click launchesWant to skip all the custom options? Use JustSendIt Mode, set the basics, and go live in minutes. Perfect for meme coins, experiments, or fast-moving trends.

Is there a LaunchLab airdrop?Be honest; you were hoping for some alpha here, right? So far, there’s no official LaunchLab token, but there have been whispers.

The Raydium team recently dropped a tweet with an airdrop emoji, and the community’s been speculating ever since. So, while there’s nothing confirmed, if you’re interacting with Raydium LaunchLab now, you might be early.

RAY REWARDS FOR TRADERS AND CREATORS 🪂

Traded OR launched a LaunchLab or @bonk_fun token?
Rewards are claimable for eligible participants

More trades AND more tokens launched = better odds 🪂

And yes, another 50,000 $RAY has been added to the prize pool.
Run it back! pic.twitter.com/8dDjYRRyff

— Raydium (@RaydiumProtocol) April 29, 2025 It’s also worth noting that there’s already a referral rewards program tied to LaunchLab launches. Share a project and if someone swaps through your link, you get 0.1% of that volume airdropped directly in SOL. Not a massive bag — but it’s clean, real, and instant. So, no token drop (yet), but definitely a few perks floating around.

How is LaunchLab different from Pump.fun and Pompom?At first glance, all three might look like token launch platforms riding the same meme wave. But dig a little deeper, and it’s clear that Raydium LaunchLab plays a different game. Here is a quick comparison table to validate that notion.

FeatureRaydium LaunchLabPump.funPompomCustomization levelHigh: bonding curves, vesting, multiple token pairsLow: one-click, minimal setupMinima: meme-first, visual-firstLiquidity handlingAuto-migrated to Raydium AMM with LP burnInitially Raydium, now uses PumpSwapNo direct AMM integrationSupported quote tokensSOL, USDC, USDT, jitoSOLSOL onlyMostly SOLPost-launch toolsFee share via NFT, locked liquidityNone (highly experimental)Basic trading, no fee-sharingIdeal forBuilders, long-term projects, serious launchesFast meme coins, viral dropsMeme vibes, visual discovery, and rapid spin-upsWhy LaunchLab matters for SolanaRaydium LaunchLab isn’t just another Solana token launch platform; it’s an infrastructure layer that makes token creation, liquidity, and discovery feel native. By combining deep AMM integration with permissionless tools and bonding curve logic, it helps creators and strengthens Solana’s DeFi flywheel. Whether you’re shipping a meme or a serious project, LaunchLab brings long-term mechanics to what used to be short-term hype.

While it might just be the right time to start exploring it in depth, it’s important to proceed with caution, particularly if you’re looking at investing in LaunchLab-made meme coins. Be wary of scams and fishing links and prioritize safety whenever interacting in such new, decentralized spaces. 

OKX Singapore has launched what it claims is the first stablecoin-powered scan-to-pay service in the city-state, enabling customers to spend USDC or USDT at GrabPay merchant locations by scanning standard SGQR codes.

The service, launched today through partnerships with stablecoin issuer StraitsX and payments platform Grab, allows OKX customers to convert their stablecoins into Singapore dollars at point of sale across Grab's extensive merchant network. Transactions settle through StraitsX's XSGD stablecoin using Singapore's Purpose Bound Money framework, which applies programmable logic for compliant conditional settlement.

The OKX Pay rollout addresses a longstanding challenge in cryptocurrency adoption: bridging the gap between digital asset holdings and everyday merchant acceptance. While crypto payment cards have existed for years, direct scan-to-pay integration with established merchant networks represents a more seamless user experience.

OKX Singapore's service targets the company's existing customer base, who can now utilize stablecoin holdings for daily purchases rather than converting to fiat before spending. The instant conversion mechanism addresses volatility concerns by settling transactions at real-time exchange rates.

"OKX Pay addresses real needs for customers by expanding DPTs' use beyond trading and investing to everyday payments - from a morning coffee to dining out with friends," said Gracie Lin, OKX Singapore CEO, in a statement shared with Blockhead.

The integration operates through the OKX SG app with instant USDT/USDC-to-XSGD-to-SGD conversion, while merchants receive settlement in Singapore dollars without directly handling digital payment tokens. Each transaction executes as a blockchain transfer with embedded compliance checks and real-time validation through the PBM framework.

Lim Kell Jay, regional head of Grab Financial Group, emphasized the benefit for merchant partners: "By integrating OKX Pay with GrabPay through StraitsX's settlement network, we are enabling our merchant-partners to benefit from expanding acceptance to a broader range of users and payment options, without any change to their existing flows."

The launch represents a practical application of Singapore's regulatory framework for digital payment tokens, which OKX Singapore operates under as a licensed DPT platform. The company received Major Payment Institution status from the Monetary Authority of Singapore in September 2024, allowing it to provide digital payment token services in the jurisdiction.

StraitsX serves as the regulated payment service provider enabling the settlement layer. The company's XSGD stablecoin maintains a 1:1 peg with the Singapore dollar and provides the bridge between cryptocurrency holdings and local currency merchant settlement.

"The future of payments will be defined by trust, speed, and interoperability – and stablecoins are at the heart of this shift," said Tianwei Liu, StraitsX CEO and co-founder. "The launch of OKX Pay is more than a new service but a blueprint for how stablecoins will underpin global commerce in the years ahead."

StraitsX has established integrations beyond Grab, that enables acceptance at merchants supporting regional wallets like GCash, KakaoPay, and Touch 'n Go. These partnerships position XSGD as infrastructure for cross-border stablecoin commerce across Asia.

Singapore's Purpose Bound Money framework provides the regulatory infrastructure enabling such implementations. The PBM system allows digital currencies to carry programmable conditions governing their use, ensuring transactions meet compliance requirements without manual intervention.

The launch comes as Singapore positions itself as a hub for regulated digital asset activity. The Monetary Authority of Singapore has pursued a measured approach to cryptocurrency regulation, establishing licensing frameworks while maintaining strict compliance requirements for operators.

Whether the service gains significant traction depends on user adoption patterns and merchant awareness. Grab's extensive merchant network provides broad potential acceptance, though merchant education about accepting stablecoin-originated payments may require time.

Over 300 Stablecoins On CoinGecko, But Are All The Same?

Pike Finance clarifies ‘USDC vulnerability’ statement on $1.6M exploit

Circle’s cirBTC Takes Aim at Coinbase’s $6 Billion cbBTC Months Before Key Deal Renewal

PANews reported on April 11 that, according to Crowdfundinsider, ABN AMRO ClearBank announced it has received approval under the EU's Crypto Asset Markets Regulation (MiCA) and obtained a Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) license from the Dutch Financial Markets Authority (AFM). The bank will launch digital asset services, including stablecoins. ClearBank stated it also plans to support euro- and dollar-based stablecoins (EURC and USDC) to improve the efficiency of cross-border transfers and payments. Furthermore, ClearBank announced it will offer savings account services through Coinbase and will be covered by the UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

Who Really Runs Stablecoin Settlement? A Structural Analysis

PANews reported on May 4 that stablecoin issuer Circle announced that its French entity, Circle France, received approval from the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF) on April 20, 2026, to provide crypto-asset-related services under the EU's Crypto Asset Markets Regulation (MiCA) framework. This approval also signifies a further expansion of Circle's stablecoin and compliant payment infrastructure footprint in the EU.

This approval allows Circle France to provide custody and transfer services for its issued stablecoins USD Coin (USDC) and Euro Coin (EURC) in accordance with Article 60(4) of the MiCA and to offer such services to customers within the European Economic Area (EEA).

Circle stated that this development marks a significant step in its efforts to advance digital financial infrastructure within the European compliance framework. Chief Strategy Officer Dante Disparte said it reflects Circle's ongoing commitment to building a "trustworthy digital financial system" in France and across the EU.

WSJ: CoinEx Linked to Iran-Related Cryptocurrency Fund Flows

According to a Wall Street Journal report, since 2019, wallets linked to Iran have transferred over $3.84 billion in assets via cryptocurrency exchange CoinEx. On-chain data shows that CoinEx’s custodial wallet received crypto proceeds from hacks tied to Iran’s central bank, and conducted direct transactions with accounts previously designated by U.S. officials as belonging to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Additionally, in 2024, CoinEx replaced Binance to become the largest overseas counterparty for Iranian exchange Nobitex, with the two parties recording over $763 million in fund flows last year. Between 2022 and 2025, CoinEx’s custodial wallet also processed transactions involving individuals suspected of participating in the sanctioned Iranian oil sales network.

1 seconds ago

Market Sentiment: Current sentiment among smart money and retail funds in the market is at a neutral level.

According to the latest data from SentimenTrader, as of June 24, the Smart Money Confidence Index stands at 0.56, while the Dumb Money Confidence Index is at 0.49. Both smart money and retail investor sentiment are currently in the neutral range, with no clear optimistic or pessimistic bias emerging in the market.

1 seconds ago

Sandisk's tokenized stock SNDK is now live on the Solana network.

According to official announcements, Sandisk’s tokenized stock SNDK has officially launched on Solana via Sunrise. SNDK is the tokenized stock representing SanDisk, the storage chip manufacturer. Users can now trade SNDK 24/7 through various wallets and applications within the Solana ecosystem, even when traditional stock markets are closed.

1 seconds ago

Jiang Zhuoer: This round of Bitcoin bear market may bottom out in Q4 2026, with a target range of $42,000 to $44,000.

BTC.TOP founder Jiang Zhuoer wrote in a post that Strategy’s modified net asset value (mNAV) has fallen to 0.72, near the 0.7 low hit in May 2022 during the last bear market. Citing recent market sentiment events including STRC’s depegging, he noted that mNAV is now in the bottom zone of this cycle. mNAV usually bottoms roughly six months before Bitcoin’s price. Using the "four-year cycle" and volatility decay model, Jiang projected that this Bitcoin bear market will likely bottom between October and December 2026, with a target price range of $42,000 to $44,000. He added that his recent medium-short term strategy remains focused on selling spot assets and holding short positions, and will switch to buying spot and going long once the expected bottom arrives.

1 seconds ago

The VIX Fear Index for the US stock market stands at 18.63 today, with fear sentiment intensifying in the crypto market.

According to Cboe data, the U.S. stock market's VIX Fear Index stands at 18.63 as of today, down 0.86 points from the prior reading of 19.49, marking a decline of approximately 4.41%. Separately, per Alternative data, the Crypto Fear & Greed Index is at 12 today (compared to 17 yesterday), indicating intensifying extreme fear sentiment.

1 seconds ago

Bank of Japan Board Member: Should Accelerate Pace of Interest Rate Hikes If Upside Inflation Risks Intensify

Bank of Japan (BOJ) Policy Board member Naoki Tamura stated that if upside risks to price growth intensify further, the BOJ should not hesitate to accelerate the pace of interest rate hikes or raise rates by a larger margin. He projected that the BOJ will implement interest rate hikes every few months until its policy rate reaches the neutral level of around 2%. (Golden Ten)

1 seconds ago