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Centrifuge, a real-world asset (RWA) solution and a Parachain, has a plan for Polkadot, a smart contracts platform. In a proposal, the RWA platform suggests that the newly created Polkadot Community Foundation allocates $3 million USDC to their T-Bill pool. This pool is held within the Anemoy Liquid Treasury Fund and aims to serve multiple objectives.
Centrifuge Wants Polkadot To Invest $3 Million In T-Bills In their proposal, allocating the $3 million to T-Bill as an investment will benefit the broader ecosystem. Of note, it will help boost the long-term sustainability of the Polkadot Treasury. This is because the T-Bill pool will generate stable yields from real-world assets, thereby further increasing the financial health of the Treasury.
Though the funds will be from the foundation, Centrifuge argues that injecting the $3 million USDC into the T-Bill pool will help increase the network’s total value locked (TVL). Subsequently, this will also expand the Treasury’s assets.
The foundation might consider investing in RWAs, as proposed by Centrifuge, as it could foster the growth of this technology within Polkadot, pushing adoption and growth as a result.
Laying out their proposal, Centrifuge said if the foundation decides to invest, it would align with their previous investment in the Anemoy Liquid Treasury Fund. In turn, this may offer a unique opportunity for Polkadot to diversify and expand its investment basket. It is especially now that tokenization and RWA is picking up momentum.
RWA Picking Up Steam, Will DOT Reverse Losses? BlackRock, one of the top asset managers in the world, is one of the leaders in tokenizing treasury bills. On Ethereum, the manager has launched BUIDL, a platform where institutions can invest in tokenized Treasury bills. As of September 10, BUIDL is the largest tokenized Treasuries provider, managing over $514 million, according to RWA.xyz.
BlackRock BUIDL TVL | Source: RWA.xyz The proposal is so far garnering community support. Roughly a week before the decision, over 53% agreed with this proposal. However, some community members are expressing concerns.
Most of them point to the potential risks and the negative implications of this on the network’s Treasury. One concern is that if this is approved, it could increase DOT spending requests, eventually depleting its reserves.
While the prospect of RWA taking off in Polkadot is bullish, DOT is still under pressure. From the daily chart, DOT is down roughly 65% from March highs. It is also in a descending channel and retesting multi-month support.
Polkadot price trending downward on the daily chart | Source: DOTUSDT via Binance, TradingView The primary support lies at around $3.5. On the upper end, resistance is at $5. A break above this line will lift sentiment, propelling the coin towards $6.5 in a buy trend continuation formation.
Feature image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
With Nof1’s live AI trading competition and Coinbase’s newly launched x402 protocol becoming major industry talking points, AI Agents are rapidly expanding their use cases across finance and payments.
As a representative protocol for AI payments, how does x402 differ from traditional payment systems? What scenarios does it serve? And as AI payments mature, what other foreseeable applications might AI Agents unlock? This Guest Expert piece summarizes perspectives shared by Haipo Yang, Founder and CEO of ViaBTC, on the feasibility of x402 and the future potential of AI collaboration networks.
Q: x402 has recently become a hot topic in the industry. What is the view on using token payments—like x402—to solve payment problems for AI?
Haipo Yang: From an engineering standpoint, x402 is a relatively simple protocol. Its core value is not inventing a new payment method, but packaging on-chain payments as a standardized web service—and introducing a Facilitator to address trust and execution challenges in on-chain payments.
Many comparisons are made between x402 and traditional payment systems, but these systems serve different “users.” Alipay and Visa offer excellent payment experiences, but they are designed for humans, not for AI Agents. For AI Agents, traditional payment systems currently create two obvious obstacles:
1) High entry barriers: It is difficult for scripts to open bank accounts and complete KYC, while generating a wallet address capable of paying on-chain can be done with a single line of code. 2) High friction costs: AI interactions are high-frequency and fragmented. An Agent might call a data API once and pay $0.0001. Routing that through card networks can introduce fees that exceed the payment itself. In practice, x402 leverages token programmability—together with the intermediary role of the Facilitator—to enable automated micropayments. In this context, the Facilitator functions like “Alipay for the machine world,” absorbing on-chain confirmation complexity so Agents can complete high-frequency transactions in milliseconds.
In conventional on-chain payments, interactions can be slow and complex. x402’s approach allows a Facilitator to operate as an execution layer for on-chain transactions: verifying signatures, fronting gas, submitting transactions, and handling on-chain details. The payer submits a signature to the Facilitator rather than directly performing on-chain operations. For both buyers and sellers, this reduces integration complexity by centralizing trust and settlement in the Facilitator.
Q: What is the outlook for x402, and what limitations might it face in real-world adoption?
Haipo Yang: x402’s long-term value primarily lies in an Agent-to-Agent economic network rather than consumer-facing payment experiences. For end users, payments should become invisible. In the future, an AI Agent is unlikely to ask a user to “scan to pay.” Instead, a user might set an instruction such as “Analyze the market every morning at 9 a.m.” The Agent could then call multiple service providers in the background for news or social data. Fees generated by high-frequency API calls can be settled automatically through x402, enabling service consumption end-to-end with minimal human intervention.
This model can shift API monetization from subscription memberships to truly pay-as-you-go usage, because x402 naturally fits machine-to-machine collaboration that is high-frequency and highly fragmented.
There is also an often-overlooked security advantage. Allowing an Agent to transact using a credit card number creates effectively unlimited liability. If an Agent is compromised or behaves incorrectly, it could generate uncontrolled spending. With a token wallet, spending limits can be enforced—for example, a capped “pocket money” balance of 100 USDC—keeping potential losses controllable.
However, x402’s simplicity also makes its limitations clear. The protocol relies heavily on Facilitators such as Coinbase. This simplifies development but introduces a centralization risk and a potential single point of failure. If a Facilitator goes offline, behaves maliciously, or censors transactions, the payment flow can break.
In addition, because x402 is designed to be simple, it does not cover certain real-world commerce requirements—such as refunds—within the protocol itself. Disputes around unfinished services or defective goods often require reversals, and irreversibility can make such flows harder to implement.
In parallel, broader Agent payment protocols are being explored, including Google’s AP2, with goals such as accommodating card networks, supporting cryptocurrencies, and handling complex flows like refunds. In the long run, more comprehensive standards may be desirable—but multi-stakeholder complexity can slow deployment. x402’s advantage is immediate usability: a wallet plus code is sufficient to start.
Q: In practice today, where are AI Agents delivering real value?
Haipo Yang: At present, the biggest beneficiaries of AI Agents remain developers. AI pair programming has become routine for many engineers, and tools such as Cursor have seen broad adoption. For large, architecturally complex projects, full responsibility is typically not delegated to Agents at this stage. But for tedious, time-consuming tasks—such as code review, unit testing, and parts of algorithmic logic generation—Agents can meaningfully reduce workload and save time.
Another notable area is enabling non-technical users. “Vibe coding” has attracted attention because it allows people without programming backgrounds to translate ideas into code through natural language. That said, Agent output often requires repeated debugging. Rapid prototyping becomes possible, but after many iterations codebases can become bloated and harder to maintain. Even so, a partial success rate can still be valuable because it enables a 0-to-1 leap for non-technical creators.
Agents are also increasingly useful for small, common workplace needs. For example, generating an icon, a button style, or a simple UI sketch previously required designer support. Agents can now produce quick drafts, reducing back-and-forth and accelerating iteration.
Despite current limitations, these capabilities are already sufficient for small teams and independent developers building demos or MVPs.
Q: Looking ahead, where is the biggest opportunity for AI Agents—and could crypto see similar new experiments?
Haipo Yang: Over a longer cycle, the opportunity for AI Agents is unlikely to remain confined to developer assistance. Future possibilities include more autonomous collaboration and autonomous procurement.
Industry experiments are emerging. For example, Nof1’s live AI trading competition effectively allows Agents built on different models to test strategy capabilities in real market environments. In this setting, Agents move beyond providing information to humans and begin forming closed loops of perception and action.
More exchanges are also starting to support MCP (Model Context Protocol). CoinEx, within the ViaBTC ecosystem, has published an MCP service on GitHub. With MCP services, an Agent can directly access an exchange’s real-time quotes, candlestick (K-line) data, and news feeds, then combine that data with model reasoning for deeper analysis. In principle, an Agent can generate strategies based on a user’s risk preferences and—when deployed locally—can also place orders automatically.
This trajectory enables automated trading and more intelligent market making. By observing real-time market depth, volatility, and trading volume, an Agent can dynamically adjust order prices and sizes, improving market efficiency and liquidity. These developments indicate a shift from “helping with research” to “supporting decisions and execution.”
Within this model, x402 can provide the economic rail for Agent collaboration. For example, an Agent tasked with producing an in-depth Bitcoin research report may lack certain data inputs. It can automatically call other Agents for on-chain position and transaction datasets, or for sentiment summaries aggregated from news, completing micropayments for each service behind the scenes. The end user receives a single report, while multiple Agent-to-Agent microtransactions occur in the background.
Taken together, Nof1 highlights decision-making in live environments, MCP supports data access and execution, and x402 enables economic collaboration among Agents. As Agents become capable of finding resources, purchasing services, invoking tools, and completing full task chains, the result increasingly resembles a digital economic system composed of many cooperating Agents.
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.
Liquity, a protocol that develops decentralized stablecoins on Ethereum, also known for creating the most reliable decentralized stablecoins, is pleased to announce that BOLD has gained an A- rating from Bluechip. BOLD is the second decentralized stablecoin created by Liquity. The main purpose of Liquity’s BOLD is to give a fully decentralized, crypto-backed stablecoin that removes bank, custodian, and censorship risk.
Bluechip is known as an independent stablecoin rating agency. The evaluation results put BOLD ahead of USDC (B+) and DAI (B+) with the perfect scores of 1.0 in Management, Decentralization, and Governance, and on par with PayPal’s PYUSD. BOLD is the only decentralized stablecoin that fully depends on Ethereum-native assets instead of banks, custodians, or off-chain reserves.
It is the only decentralized stablecoin that provides an alternative risk profile for institutions seeking diversification, purification in process, and on-chain stability. BOLD is over collateralized by more than 200%, utilizing $ETH and lending liquid staking tokens, which are wstETH and rETH. In addition, BOLD is providing a transparent and direct redemption mechanism. Liquity has released this news through its official social media X account.
A Credibly Neutral Stablecoin Built for Institutions Michael Svoboda, Founder of Liquity Protocol, expressed his thoughts. He said, “This rating reinforces a simple idea: stablecoins should be predictable systems, not discretionary products. BOLD is designed so users don’t need to trust issuers, banks, or governance committees, only the code. Receiving an A- rating with perfect scores for decentralization and governance validates that a credibly neutral, crypto-native stablecoin can meet institutional-grade risk standards without relying on centralized intermediaries.”
BOLD users have an advantage in that they can withdraw at any time without the need to get permission from any other authorities. Liquity V2 routes 100% of protocol revenues along with immutable smart contracts, and the absence of monitoring eliminates the risk of being locked or stopped at any time during the transfer process.
Liquity’s BOLD Sets a New Benchmark for Crypto-Native Stablecoins BOLD of is basically built for those users who want to get rid of any interruption during the whole process of transactions. The immutable and governance-free system eliminates ambiguity from users’ minds about minting and redemption with full on-chain data transparency. This is the best design for Decentralized Finance (DeFi) treasuries, funds, and power users seeking to expand stablecoin exposure at wider range.
Liquity Protocol ensures the certified record to BOLD’s design. In addition, the team has a successful previous record of LUSD, one of the longest-running decentralized stablecoins, which touched $5 billion in peak total value along with four successful years of operation. BOLD’s A-rating indicates that decentralized, crypto-native stablecoins can achieve top-tier safety ratings.
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.
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.
PANews reported on August 15th that, according to The Block , crypto derivatives exchange Deribit announced it will launch USDC -settled linear options and futures contracts on Bitcoin ( BTC ) and Ethereum ( ETH ) on August 19th , further expanding its stablecoin-settled product line. The new contracts will have a minimum order size of 0.01 BTC and 0.1 ETH , enhancing trading accessibility. Deribit launched USDC -settled linear options on Solana , Polygon , and XRP last year, but has since delisted the existing MATIC options. Deribit cited growing demand for stablecoin-settled derivatives from both institutional and retail investors as the catalyst for this expansion. The exchange, which recently was acquired by Coinbase for approximately $ 2.9 billion, saw trading volume exceed $ 185 billion this month.
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.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps warned that any vessels using the Strait of Hormuz route without Tehran's approval will be targeted.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a stern warning to international shipping on Wednesday, stating that any new shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz established without coordination with Tehran is unacceptable and dangerous, and threatening to take direct action against vessels that ignore its orders. The IRGC declared that vessels can only safely transit the Strait of Hormuz via routes designated by Iran. The IRGC Navy added that all vessels seeking to transit the strait must coordinate with the Iranian military via International Maritime Distress and Safety Frequency Channel 16, a requirement that effectively places Iranian military approval at the core of all commercial shipping transiting this key chokepoint. (Jinshi)
2 minutes ago
A crypto whale holding 120,000 ETH long positions has an unrealized loss of over $77 million, and added $8 million in margin in the early hours.
According to on-chain analyst ai_9684xtpa’s monitoring, a whale holding 120,000 ETH in long positions added $8 million in margin in the early hours. Currently, the total unrealized loss on its ETH long positions across four linked addresses stands at approximately $77.047 million, with an average entry price of around $2,265. Data shows the liquidation prices for the four addresses are $1,174.6, $1,059.1, $1,064.7, and $1,143.6 respectively. Despite the significant paper losses, there remains a large buffer before liquidation, and over 6 million USDC is still held on-chain to replenish margin, resulting in low short-term liquidation risk.
2 minutes ago
A crypto whale holding 120,000 ETH long positions is sitting on an unrealized loss of over $77 million, and added $8 million in margin in the early hours.
According to on-chain analyst ai_9684xtpa’s monitoring, the whale holding a long position of 120,000 ETH added $8 million in margin again in the early hours. Currently, the ETH long positions across its four associated addresses have accumulated an unrealized loss of approximately $77.047 million, with an average entry price of around $2,265. Data shows the liquidation prices for the four addresses are $1,174.6, $1,059.1, $1,064.7, and $1,143.6 respectively. Despite the massive unrealized loss, there is still a significant buffer before liquidation, and over 6 million USDC are still held on-chain to supplement margin, leading to low short-term liquidation risk.
2 minutes ago
Ripple's stablecoin RLUSD approved to enter Japanese market
According to official announcements, Ripple’s stablecoin RLUSD has been officially approved by Japan’s Financial Services Agency (JFSA) and launched in Japan. Through a partnership with SBI Group and its subsidiary trading platform VCTRADE, RLUSD will be accessible to institutional and retail users for use in scenarios including payments, asset tokenization, and collateral management.
2 minutes ago
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.
2 minutes 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.
PANews reported on March 26 that PeakAI, an AI-driven Web3 marketing analytics platform, has completed a $2 million seed funding round. Investors include Cogitent Ventures, Covey Network, CatcherVC, 10K Ventures, MARBLEX Corp., PAKA, and ViaBTC Capital.
The platform reportedly combines blockchain data with decentralized marketing infrastructure to help brands conduct marketing campaigns through micro-influencers and settle transactions in USDC.
Stablecoin issuer Circle said it plans to launch its own version of a wrapped Bitcoin, which would put it against incumbents Coinbase and BitGo as it targets institutional users.
The asset, called cirBTC and announced on Thursday, is set to launch on Ethereum, backed 1:1 by bitcoin (BTC) and aimed at over-the-counter desks, market makers and lending protocols.
Circle said the asset is designed to provide institutions with a “highly secure and neutral version of wrapped BTC.”
Financial institutions, which have become significant buyers of Bitcoin, have been actively exploring decentralized finance. Wrapped versions of Bitcoin would allow the asset to be used on other chains, such as Ethereum, giving them access to DeFi.
In addition to Ethereum, the new asset will also launch on Circle’s layer-1 blockchain Arc and its Circle Mint platform, said Circle.
Cointelegraph contacted Circle for further details, but did not receive an immediate response.
Circle joins race led by Coinbase and BitGoCircle’s new wrapped Bitcoin joins a market currently led by BitGo’s Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) and Coinbase Wrapped Bitcoin (cbBTC).
Coinbase’s cbBTC was launched in September 2024 and has a current market capitalization of $5.9 billion and a current supply of 88,800 tokens.
BitGo’s wBTC is the dominant wrapped Bitcoin token, with a market capitalization of about $8 billion and 119,157 tokens in circulation. However, that figure is roughly half its November 2021 peak, when Bitcoin hit its cycle all-time high.
WBTC supply has declined over the past few years. Source: Dune
Crypto exchanges launched their own wrapped BitcoinSeveral crypto exchanges have launched variations of wrapped Bitcoin, including Kraken Wrapped BTC (KBTC), Gate Wrapped BTC (GTBTC), Binance Wrapped BTC (BBTC), Huobi BTC (HBTC) and OKX Wrapped BTC (XBTC), but their market caps are a fraction of the two leaders.
The total combined supply of wBTC and cbBTC stands at roughly 208,000 BTC, according to CoinGecko.
Magazine: Your guide to surviving this mini-crypto winter
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.
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)
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).
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)
The stablecoin total market cap has reached $320.85 billion, as per DeFiLlama data. This marks a massive growth, as the stablecoin market went from $5 billion to $300 billion in just five years, as reported by the World Economic Forum.
Source: DeFiLlama In this growth, Tether’s USDT and Circle’s USDC played a major role, contributing 99.93% of the stablecoin market, according to Messari.
However, with the rise of various other stablecoins, the dominance that the U.S. was witnessing seems to be fading away. As Mesari noted,
Several nations have expressed interest in new currency-backed stablecoins.
In short, besides USDT and USDC, multiple stablecoins are becoming the new favorites.
European, Chinese stablecoins steal the spotlight In Europe, the EURC, despite a small market share of 0.07%, is gaining traction.
EURC has become the largest stablecoin, with a $430 million market cap, thanks to the EU’s MiCA (Markets in Crypto Assets) framework. If the growth momentum continues, EURC is likely to reach €1.1T by 2030.
The second one is a CNY-backed stablecoin in China. Though no CNY stablecoin is live yet, the test mode in Hong Kong is already enough to grab users attention.
The latter aims to boost Renminbi [RMB] internationalization, reducing the dependence on U.S. dollars. Moreover, Circle’s CEO Jeremy Allaire also predicted a yuan-backed stablecoin to be live in the next 3-5 years.
Japan’s JPY is no exception Lastly, there are Japan’s JPY stablecoins. This stablecoin plans to issue $66 billion and provide tough competition to the European digital assets once alive.
The idea of stablecoin in Japan is to provide Japan’s users with additional digital payment options besides Japan’s cash-dominated framework.
Amidst such a rise, the BIS’s General Manager, Pablo Hernández de Cos, recently called for “international cooperation” on multiple regulatory stablecoin frameworks across jurisdictions.
Regulatory developments in the U.S. around stablecoins This comes on the heels of the US seeing regulatory developments like the GENIUS Act passed in 2025. Additionally, there has been ongoing progress around the passage of the CLARITY Act. Senator Cynthia Lummis put it best when she said,
It’s time Congress passes the CLARITY Act. It’s now or never.
All in all, these developments show that besides the U.S., other nations stablecoins are making room to dominate the stablecoin space.
Final Summary Besides U.S.-backed USDC and USDT, multiple other stablecoins are destined to see massive growth. Tether and Circle stablecoins contribute 99.93% of the $320.858 billion stablecoin market cap.
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)
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)
TLDR: INFINIOS will integrate USDC, EURC, and Circle’s API-enabled payment rails into its platform. The deal targets cross-border payments, treasury management, and embedded finance use cases. Both firms align on KYC, AML/CFT, and data protection standards for regional compliance needs. Circle’s Middle East expansion accelerates as demand for internet-native financial infrastructure grows. INFINIOS Circle’s new strategic agreement marks a significant move in the region’s financial technology landscape.
Announced on June 24, 2026, in Manama, Bahrain, the deal links INFINIOS, a Bahraini fintech company, with Circle Internet Financial.
Together, they plan to expand digital payment and treasury infrastructure across the Middle East and beyond, targeting businesses and financial institutions seeking faster, more connected financial solutions.
Stablecoin Integration at the Core of the Agreement Under the agreement, INFINIOS will integrate Circle’s financial infrastructure into its platform. This includes USDC, EURC, and API-enabled onchain payment capabilities for payouts and treasury operations. The integration gives INFINIOS access to globally recognized stablecoin rails designed for institutional use.
The arrangement covers a broad range of enterprise and institutional use cases. These include cross-border payments, treasury and liquidity management, merchant settlement, and platform payouts. Tokenized financial services and embedded finance solutions are also part of the scope.
Both companies have emphasized a shared commitment to regulatory compliance throughout the collaboration. The agreement aligns with KYC, AML/CFT, and data protection standards relevant to financial operations in the region. This focus on compliance positions the partnership as a trust-based infrastructure initiative.
INFINIOS CEO Sherif Abdelsalam framed the deal as a turning point for regional digital finance. He said the partnership combines INFINIOS’s market expertise with Circle’s technology to unlock real-time, global financial connectivity.
He added that the goal is to build infrastructure that enables seamless, compliant, and scalable financial innovation globally.
INFINIOS Eyes Broader Regional and Global Connectivity Circle’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, pointed to accelerating demand for modern financial infrastructure across the region.
She noted that businesses and financial institutions are actively seeking faster, more connected ways to move value globally.
The collaboration with INFINIOS, she said, is designed to expand access to Circle’s stablecoin infrastructure across key markets.
Dr. Jaffar also stated that the partnership aims to enable new payment, treasury, and embedded finance use cases across the region.
She described the joint effort as advancing trusted, internet-native financial infrastructure built for greater interoperability, efficiency, and global connectivity. Her remarks reflect Circle’s broader strategy of deepening its footprint in emerging fintech markets.
Circle Internet Group trades on the NYSE under the ticker CRCL and operates as a leading global financial platform company.
Its subsidiary, Circle Internet Financial, brings established stablecoin infrastructure to the partnership. This gives INFINIOS a globally recognized technology backbone for its regional expansion plans.
The collaboration between INFINIOS and Circle reflects a broader trend of traditional and digital finance converging in the Middle East.
As the region’s fintech ecosystem matures, partnerships of this kind are becoming increasingly common. The agreement sets a framework for interoperable, efficient digital finance infrastructure built to scale globally.
Circle and INFINIOS team up on stablecoin infrastructure@circle and Bahrain-based fintech @InfiniosCom have signed a strategic agreement to expand stablecoin infrastructure across the Middle East. Under the agreement, INFINIOS will integrate with Circle's financial infrastructure, including $USDC, $EURC, and API-enabled onchain payment capabilities for payouts and treasury operations. The collaboration is designed to help INFINIOS deliver faster, more secure, and more globally interoperable digital payment and treasury solutions for businesses and financial institutions.
Through its integration with Circle's infrastructure, INFINIOS aims to support institutional and enterprise use cases including cross-border payments, treasury and liquidity management, and merchant settlement. The deal effectively plugs Circle's dollar and euro tokens into INFINIOS's existing payment and card stack, creating a regulated onramp for stablecoin-based finance in the Gulf.
INFINIOS is the first in the region to operate stablecoin settlements and is one of the largest regional issuers and processors of Virtual Commercial Cards. Formed in 2014, INFINIOS is licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of Bahrain as an Ancillary Services Provider, Payment Services Provider, and Card Processor. The deal pairs one of crypto's most prominent stablecoin issuers with a regional payments specialist that already holds principal membership with Mastercard.
A deepening push into Gulf marketsThe agreement is the latest move in Circle's broader regional strategy. The company incorporated an entity within the Abu Dhabi Global Market in late 2024, establishing a formal regulatory foothold. Circle previously formed a partnership with LuLu Financial Holdings to power USDC-based remittances in the region.
INFINIOS has also been building its stablecoin credentials ahead of this deal. In December 2025, INFINIOS partnered with Mastercard to adopt stablecoin settlement capabilities, specifically for $USDC and $EURC, focusing on enabling stablecoin-based funding and payments across the region. Bahrain itself has moved to create a clear legal framework for the asset class. The introduction of a licensing and regulatory framework for stablecoin issuers by the Central Bank of Bahrain signals a new era of legitimacy and regulatory clarity within the financial system, according to experts.
The Circle-INFINIOS tie-up reflects a broader race to wire Gulf payment infrastructure to stablecoin rails before the market matures. Tether has its own Middle Eastern ambitions, and local stablecoin projects are emerging as well. For Circle, securing a regulated, Mastercard-connected partner in Bahrain gives $USDC a meaningful distribution channel into a region that is moving quickly to embrace digital finance.
Sources:
INFINIOS and Circle Sign Strategic Agreement to Advance Digital Finance Infrastructure (MarketScreener / Circle official release)
Circle partners with INFINIOS to enhance digital finance infrastructure in Middle East (Crypto Briefing)
New era of legitimacy for stablecoins in Bahrain (Pinsent Masons)
Binance will remove several spot trading pairs, including ADA/BNB and DUSK/BTC, on June 12.
PANews reported on June 9th that, according to an official announcement, based on recent review results, Binance will remove and cease trading the following spot trading pairs at 11:00 AM (UTC+8) on June 12, 2026: ADA/BNB, DUSK/BTC, EGLD/ETH, ENSO/BNB, LSK/USDC, NIGHT/BNB, and S/BNB.
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Suspicious attack on DLMC token on BSC chain, loss of approximately $222,600
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.
10 minutes 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.
10 minutes 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.
10 minutes 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.
10 minutes 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)
10 minutes ago
Crypto token M plunged over 80% in a short period, hitting a low near $0.5.
According to HTX market data, the token M saw a sharp short-term price plunge, with its decline once exceeding 80% and hitting a low of around $0.5, and is now trading at $0.54.
At least two DeFi projects were targeted by significant exploits in the early hours of today, resulting in millions of dollars in losses.
Sonne Finance exploitedDecentralized liquidity provider Sonne Finance fell victim to a $20 million exploit on its Optimism network-based USDC and Wrapped Ethereum (WETH) contracts, according to blockchain security firm Cyvers.
In a May 15 statement, the DeFi protocol confirmed the incident and attributed the exploit to a donation attack on its Compound v2 forks. It stated:
“We avoided the issue in the past, by adding the markets with 0% collateral factors, adding collateral and burn them, only then increase the c-factors according to the proposals.”
However, an integration attempt of VELO into the Optimism market allowed the attacker to exploit the protocol unnoticed, resulting in the loss.
Meanwhile, security experts prevented an additional $6.5 million theft by injecting $100 VELO as collateral into the soVELO pool.
Sonne Finance has expressed readiness to offer a bounty to the attacker as efforts to recover the funds continue.
Following the theft, the price of SONNE, a digital asset connected to the project, fell by more than 60% to $0.02617 as of press time.
Bitcoin DeFi project lose over $4 millionALEX Lab, a Bitcoin DeFi application, lost over $4 million in various tokens to a hacking incident earlier today.
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Blockchain security firm CertiK reported that the attackers likely gained access to the private key controlling ALEX's XLink bridge. This service enables users to transfer tokens across different blockchains.
The hacker successfully moved approximately $300,000 worth of BTC, $3.3 million in stablecoins, and $75,000 of Sugar Kingdom tokens.
ALEX Lab developers confirmed the hack and asserted that they had identified the attacker. The team also stated:
“A significant amount of the funds associated with the hacker has been frozen by major exchanges, preventing further misuse.”
Nevertheless, the project offered a 10% bounty to the hacker, adding that:
“ALEX assures that upon compliance, there will be no further pursuit or law enforcement involvement. This offer stands until 18 May at 0800 UTC. The individual responsible should contact [email protected].”
Transak, a global fiat-to-crypto payments infrastructure provider, has teamed with Opera’s MiniPay, a leading dollar stablecoin wallet based on the Celo blockchain. This partnership enhances MiniPay’s capacity to enable seamless on-and off-ramping of stablecoins — Celo Dollar (cUSD), Tether USD (USDT), and USD Coin (USDC) — in over 50 countries, with a wider selection of local payment options.
As part of this partnership on- and off-ramping is available with zero fees for a limited period, enabling users to interact with stablecoins without the traditional obstacles of fees and further pushing adoption by making cross-border payments more inexpensive. The objective behind the inaugural zero-fee promotion is to allow more people to experience stablecoins’ attribute of near-instant cross-border payments and settlements without the technological bells and whistles.
MiniPay allows near-instant, low-cost transfers of stablecoins with costs as low as $0.001 per transaction, owing to the efficiency of the Celo blockchain. Onboarding needs only an email address and phone number, making it simple for anybody to start using stablecoins. In certain markets, consumers may even acquire as low as five dollars of stablecoins, making it affordable for anyone. Users may also pay bills and utilities in specific markets at zero cost.
Here’s how it works:
On-Ramping: By buying stablecoins directly with local currencies using a variety of payment options, including as credit/debit cards, Google Pay, and Apple Pay, users may fill up their MiniPay wallet. Off-Ramping: By converting stablecoins into local currencies and sending the money straight to their bank accounts or credit cards, users may take money out. Carlo de Luca Gabrielli, Global Director of Sales at Transak stated:
“We believe financial tools should be accessible to everyone, everywhere. By joining forces with MiniPay, we’re not only making digital finance affordable but also promoting inclusiveness for communities that need it the most.”
MiniPay has more over 5 million active wallets since its September 2023 debut, demonstrating widespread use and demand for inexpensive, international transactions. Transak’s goal of making web3 accessible to everyone in a non-custodial way is perfectly aligned with the ultralight (2MB) wallet’s impressive success in emerging markets.
MiniPay’s dedication to giving consumers simple access to stablecoins and promoting their widespread adoption is further strengthened by the partnership with Transak.
Jørgen Arnesen, EVP of Mobile at Opera stated:
“We’re thrilled to collaborate with Transak to offer MiniPay users a wider range of local payment options as we expand our stablecoin wallet to more countries worldwide. By eliminating fees, we’re breaking down financial barriers, making cross-border transactions and remittances more accessible and affordable, and driving the adoption of stablecoins even further.”
Because they provide a reliable substitute for conventional methods, stablecoins are becoming an increasingly important tool for remittances. This fee-free access is revolutionary because it eliminates the obstacles that usually make international payments expensive and time-consuming. MiniPay guarantees that users can transfer money across the globe swiftly and affordably, whether for regular transactions or remittances. This makes it an accessible option for individuals, families, and businesses in need of quick, dependable, and reasonably priced financial tools.
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Wanchain deployed a direct USDC bridge connecting VeChain and Sui blockchains on August 27, 2025. This enables seamless stablecoin transfers between the enterprise-focused network and the high-performance DeFi platform. VeChain's corporate users now have access to Sui's $2 billion total value locked and connections to global USDC liquidity networks processing trillions in annual volume.
VeChain officially celebrated the launch by retweeting Wanchain's announcement. The company highlighted connections to substantial stablecoin liquidity and "new users and growth opportunities." This marks a practical bridge between enterprise blockchain applications and high-yield DeFi protocols.
How Does the Wanchain USDC Bridge Work?Users connect wallets to Wanchain's portal at bridge.wanchain.org. They select USDC from either VeChain or Sui, then confirm transactions with fees typically under $1. Transfers complete within minutes using decentralized validators rather than centralized custodians.
Wanchain maintains a perfect security record. Seven years and $1.5 billion in bridged volume with zero incidents. This track record contrasts sharply with the $2.17 billion in bridge exploits that hit other platforms in 2025 alone. Currently, Wanchain connects 42 networks and supports 134 assets.
What DeFi Opportunities Open Up for VeChain Users?Sui's DeFi ecosystem doubled its value throughout 2025. Native USDC integration and protocol expansions drove this growth. VeChain users can now access double-digit yields through lending platforms like Suilend and Navi.
Several key opportunities await users:
Lending protocols offer USDC integration for yield generationDecentralized exchanges like Cetus enable token swappingBTCfi initiatives include wrapped Bitcoin strategiesGaming protocols leverage Sui's object-centric architectureNative USDC on Sui has grown to approximately $580 million in circulating supply as of August 2025, demonstrating rapid adoption since its October 2024 launch. This outpaced established chains like Algorand and Hedera. Sui also reportedly reached over 3 million daily active users in August 2025, with some metrics indicating it is competing closely with Solana for user engagement. USDC inflows exceeding $500 million partly drove this growth.
How Does This Impact Enterprise Users?Corporate partners can now leverage stablecoin rails for international settlements. No more foreign exchange risks. Companies like Walmart China have used VeChain for supply chain tracking since 2019. They now gain access to new payment infrastructure.
Several practical applications emerge from this connectivity:
Carbon credit settlements can occur in USDCSupply chain payments reduce expenses versus traditional bankingBitcoin yield strategies become accessible through Sui's BTCfi protocolsEthereum's congested infrastructure becomes less necessary. Average gas fees reached $5 in mid-2025 compared to VeChain's sub-cent transaction costs.
Why Does This Bridge Matter Now?VeChain's July 2025 Wanchain integration already connected it to over 40 chains. This demonstrates accelerating interoperability adoption. However, this direct Sui bridge specifically targets DeFi access rather than general connectivity.
Cross-chain infrastructure addresses a major problem. Liquidity fragmentation spans over 100 competing layer-1 blockchains. Global USDC transactions are trending toward $20 trillion annually in 2025, based on quarterly volume patterns. Regulatory clarity from the US stablecoin framework supports cross-chain usage.
Market projections look promising. Some analysts suggest VeChain's total value locked could potentially triple by year-end 2025. Cross-chain capital inflows will partly drive this growth. Sui's institutional partnerships with Grayscale and Amina Bank signal the maturation of its infrastructure, ready for integration with traditional finance.
Wanchain benefits from deflationary tokenomics. The platform burned 900,000 WAN tokens by August 2025, creating economic incentives tied to bridge usage. Both networks can now benefit from 2025's trend toward hybrid blockchain usage. Projects are increasingly leveraging multiple specialized networks rather than remaining confined to a single ecosystem.
Sources:Wanchain Official Bridge Launch Announcement (August 27, 2025)VeChain Official Social Media Confirmation (August 27, 2025)Sui Network DeFi Analytics and Performance Data (2025)Cross-Chain Bridge Security Analysis (2025)
U.S. Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday introduced a new stablecoin bill, aiming to define how these digital tokens will operate within the American financial system.
What Happened: Under the proposed legislation, companies issuing stablecoins for payments would face stricter requirements, Coindesk reported.
The bill specifies that these assets are designed to serve as a medium for payment or settlement and mandates issuers to maintain one-to-one dollar reserves but does not classify the asset as a security.
“The regulatory framework for stablecoins is absolutely critical to maintaining the U.S. dollar’s dominance,” stated Senator Gillibrand.
She highlighted that the legislation aims to preserve the traditional dual banking system while integrating necessary consumer protections, such as banning algorithmically managed stablecoins, which are often undercollateralized and maintain value through computational strategies.
Senator Lummis echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the bill addresses “the growing demand for our ever-evolving financial industry” and upholds the U.S. dollar's preeminence in the global financial system.
Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: How The Bitcoin Halving Could Transform The Market
Both senators have previously collaborated on various digital asset initiatives, including legislation that delineates legal boundaries for decentralized finance and clarifies the extent of federal regulatory oversight.
The legislation also sets a significant operational threshold for stablecoin issuers; a cap of $10 billion has been placed on non-depository trusts’ stablecoin issuance.
Beyond this limit, entities must qualify as depository institutions recognized as national payment stablecoin issuers.
This provision aims to differentiate between smaller enterprises and large-scale operators that might pose systemic risks.
For context, Circle, the largest U.S. stablecoin issuer with $33 billion in USDC (CRYPTO: USDC) in circulation, exceeds this threshold and would require appropriate institutional status under the new law.
Discussions about integrating stablecoin regulation with other essential legislative measures have also surfaced.
Reports from Punchbowl News indicated that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) considered merging stablecoin regulations with the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration, a strategy to ensure passage.
Moreover, Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), chair of the Senate Banking Committee, suggested he would support advancing stablecoin legislation if it included robust safeguards.
What’s Next: These topics are expected to be thoroughly explored at Benzinga’s upcoming Future of Digital Assets event on Nov. 19.
Read Next: Peter Schiff Debates Natalie Brunell On Bitcoin: ‘If Natalie Were Smart, She Would Sell All’
Photo: Wikimedia
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A third-party provider failure caused Revolut’s app to show wildly inaccurate crypto prices on Friday, the company confirmed, after users flooded social media with screenshots of Bitcoin listed at just 2 cents.
Third-Party Provider Blamed For Pricing Chaos Revolut acknowledged the problem in a public statement, saying engineers were working on a fix and urging customers to check its status page for updates.
Hi. We want to help resolve the issues you’re facing with the Bitcoin price notification. We’re currently experiencing issues affecting some of the app’s functionalities. Please be assured that our colleagues are working on this as we speak. Please keep an eye on our status page…
— Revolut Support (@revolutsupport) May 8, 2026
A company spokesperson later confirmed the disruption had been resolved, attributing it to a service failure at an unnamed external pricing provider.
The company said it was still evaluating the full details of what went wrong.
UPDATE: It wasn’t just Bitcoin.
Multiple coins on Revolut appeared to flash-crash/glitch at the same time.
Looks like a pricing/chart glitch — but for a few seconds, everyone thought they discovered the biggest crypto discount of all time.#Crypto #Bitcoin #Revolut pic.twitter.com/fIelIbAOor
— Dave Flowman (@_btcd) May 8, 2026
The glitch wasn’t limited to Bitcoin. Users reported seeing simultaneous price drops across XRP, Solana, and even stablecoins like USDT and USDC — assets designed to hold steady at one dollar.
Screenshots shared on X and Reddit showed Bitcoin’s 24-hour chart registering a roughly 50% intraday plunge, with the price briefly anchoring near $39,900 before snapping back.
Some users also received push notifications warning that BTC had hit a 52-week low of 2 cents.
According to Revolut, The price of Bitcoin has just dropped to $0.02
I guess its time to buy! 😂 pic.twitter.com/YIbwBGrkeT
— That Martini Guy ₿ (@MartiniGuyYT) May 8, 2026
No Matching Moves On Any Other Platform Pricing data on major aggregators showed nothing unusual during the same window. Bitcoin’s price on CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko held steady, with no sign of any crash in derivatives markets either. The anomaly appeared entirely contained within Revolut’s app.
Ranveer Arora, a former PwC quantitative trading lead and co-founder of Altura.trade, told reporters two explanations are in play.
The first is a corrupt data tick pushed through Revolut’s pricing system — a single bad data point that briefly anchored the chart before being corrected.
Bitcoin is now trading at $80,625. Chart: TradingView Because Revolut is not an exchange and pulls prices from outside providers, one faulty input can be enough to produce exactly this kind of chart distortion.
The second possibility is a transient liquidity gap. Revolut’s order book is shallower than what you’d find on a full exchange, so a large sell order could theoretically exhaust available bids and print a sharp downward wick before prices recover.
Arora noted, however, that the lack of matching prints on any other platform makes the data feed explanation more likely.
Why Retail Apps Face Unique Data Risks Marc Tillement, director of blockchain price oracle Pyth Data Association, said the episode shows how quickly a single bad data point can distort price perception — particularly in retail-facing systems where users may not think to cross-check what they’re seeing.
Tillement said that as markets grow more data-dependent, the reliability of pricing infrastructure becomes central to how much traders can trust what’s in front of them.
Transparent, verifiable data layers, he argued, are what separate a glitch from a crisis.
Featured image from Pixabay, chart from TradingView
