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Circle shares have climbed despite a bearish analyst note from Jefferies, as fresh data has shown USDC processed more than twice the adjusted stablecoin trading volume of Tether’s USDT in June.

Summary

Circle shares gained despite a bearish Jefferies note as USDC led stablecoin trading volumes in June. Visa data showed USDC processed $1.21 trillion in adjusted volume, more than double USDT’s $573 billion. CRCL is rebounding from key support, but bulls must clear the Supertrend resistance to confirm a trend reversal. According to Grayscale Head of Research Zach Pandl, stablecoins recorded a record $1.78 trillion in adjusted trading volume during June 2026. Visa data cited by Pandl showed Circle’s USDC accounted for about $1.21 trillion of that activity, giving it a 67% share of total stablecoin trading volumes. USDT processed $573 billion during the same period.

June 2026 was another record month for stablecoin transaction volume (according to the Allium measure), just ahead of February 2026 pic.twitter.com/oEuT6ueuai

— Zach Pandl (@LowBeta) July 5, 2026 While Tether trailed USDC in transaction value, it handled the highest number of transfers, recording 145 million transactions compared with USDC’s 57 million.

Circle Internet Group’s stock has responded positively to those figures. CRCL closed 4% higher at $64 on July 2 and was trading around $66 in pre-market trading on July 6, extending gains even after Jefferies advised investors against buying the stock over concerns that a new rival stablecoin could pressure Circle’s market position.

Source: Yahoo Finance USDC volume lead eases pressure from new rival Jefferies warned investors on July 2 that the launch of the OUSD stablecoin could weaken Circle’s position in the stablecoin market and weigh on its valuation. The caution came after CRCL posted its largest one-day decline since March on June 30, when the stock sold off following OUSD’s launch and Circle’s removal from several Russell indexes.

However, some of those concerns have faded after questions emerged over Open Standard’s claims of having 140 partners. Samsung and Dunamu, both previously listed as partners, later distanced themselves from the project, casting doubt on some of the announced industry backing.

Institutional buying also provided support. On the same day Jefferies published its bearish note, ARK Invest disclosed purchases of roughly $17.8 million worth of Circle shares despite the cautious outlook.

USDC has nevertheless recorded a slight decline in supply. Circle’s stablecoin market capitalization slipped from $73.75 billion on June 30 to $72.87 billion by July 6, indicating some capital rotated elsewhere following the OUSD launch even as USDC maintained a commanding lead in transaction volume.

Technical rebound faces major resistance From a technical perspective, CRCL has rebounded after finding support near the 1.0 Fibonacci extension at $61.73 on the four-hour chart. Buyers have defended that level over recent sessions, helping the stock recover from around $62 to nearly $66.

CRCL 4-hour price chart — July 6 | Source: TradingView The recovery, however, has yet to change the broader technical picture. CRCL remains below the Supertrend indicator, which sits near $75.66 and continues to signal that sellers retain control. Reclaiming that level would be the first indication that bullish momentum is strengthening.

Momentum indicators are beginning to improve. The MACD histogram has almost returned to the zero line after several weeks of negative readings, suggesting selling pressure is fading. However, the MACD line remains below the signal line, meaning a confirmed bullish crossover has not yet occurred.

If buyers push the stock above the Supertrend resistance, the next upside levels to watch are the Fibonacci retracement zones near $78.47, followed by $91.61 and $100.84. On the downside, losing support around $61.73 would weaken the current recovery attempt and increase the risk of another move lower.

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino has chosen a hill to die on, and it happens to be the entire European Union’s crypto regulatory framework. On July 2, Ardoino confirmed that Tether deliberately did not apply for a MiCA license for USDT, calling the EU’s stablecoin reserve rules “dangerous” and “ill-conceived.”

The timing is not subtle. His statement landed one day after MiCA’s transitional period officially ended on July 1, triggering the delisting and geofencing of USDT across major EU-regulated platforms including Coinbase, Kraken, Crypto.com, and Binance in the European Economic Area.

The reserve rule Tether won’t touch At the heart of the dispute is a single requirement: MiCA mandates that significant stablecoin issuers, defined as those with over 5 billion euros in circulation or more than 10 million users, must hold at least 60% of their reserves in cash deposits at European banks.

Tether, with a market cap of approximately $184B and a user base Ardoino claims exceeds 400 million, would comfortably qualify as “significant” under those thresholds. Which is precisely the problem, from his perspective.

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Ardoino’s argument boils down to concentration risk. Parking tens of billions of dollars in European bank accounts means Tether’s reserves are only as safe as those banks. If a bank fails, a chunk of the reserves backing the world’s largest stablecoin could evaporate overnight.

It’s not a purely hypothetical concern. The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in March 2023 briefly caused Circle’s USDC to depeg when $3.3 billion of its reserves were trapped at the failing institution. Ardoino appears to be pointing at that exact scenario and saying, “Now imagine that, but mandated by law.”

Tether’s current strategy favors higher-yielding, more liquid assets, particularly US Treasuries. The company has repeatedly argued that short-dated government securities are safer and more transparent than fractional-reserve bank deposits.

What this means for European crypto traders The practical fallout is already here. European users of USDT are now locked out of trading pairs on several of the continent’s largest exchanges. Circle’s USDC and its euro-denominated EURC are fully authorized under MiCA and remain freely available on European platforms, while USDT is now effectively persona non grata in a market of 450 million people.

The competitive landscape shifts Circle is the obvious winner of this regulatory split, at least on paper. With USDC as the only major dollar-denominated stablecoin fully compliant with MiCA, the company has a clear runway to capture European market share that USDT is voluntarily surrendering.

That said, USDT’s $184B market cap dwarfs USDC by a significant margin. Tether’s dominance in global markets, particularly across Asia, Latin America, and emerging economies, remains largely untouched by European regulations. Ardoino has repeatedly framed Tether’s mission around serving the unbanked and underbanked, populations that are decidedly not the EU’s primary demographic.

The 400 million user figure Ardoino cited underscores this point. The vast majority of those users are outside Europe, and Tether’s growth strategy has long prioritized regions where access to stable dollar-denominated assets is a genuine lifeline rather than a trading convenience.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

Why Is Oobit Expanding in Latin America? Oobit has launched its crypto card in Guatemala and Paraguay, extending its Latin America expansion as stablecoin-based payments gain more traction across the region.

The non-custodial crypto payments platform, backed by Tether, said users in both countries can now spend and send crypto at merchants that accept Visa, both online and in-store. Payments can be made directly from supported wallets, including Phantom, MetaMask, Binance, and Trust Wallet, while merchants receive settlement in local currency.

Guatemala and Paraguay are the 10th and 11th countries included in Oobit’s Latin America rollout. The company is already active in Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, and other regional markets. The expansion follows Oobit’s May launch in Colombia and its integration of native Pix payment functionality in Brazil.

The company said the card is designed to let users keep custody of their assets rather than depositing funds with a third-party custodian before spending. That structure is central to Oobit’s pitch in markets where users may want crypto payment access without giving up direct wallet control.

How Does the Crypto Card Work? Oobit’s card connects user wallets to Visa-accepting merchants, allowing crypto to be used for everyday purchases while the merchant receives local currency. The model reduces the need for merchants to handle crypto directly, while giving users a way to spend digital assets across existing card payment rails.

The launch also gives users in Guatemala and Paraguay access to Oobit’s OOB cashback programme. The company said 74% of swaps over the past 30 days were from USDT to OOB, while 18% were from USDC to OOB. Users who swap into OOB before spending may receive cashback of up to 10%.

Oobit also said users in both countries will be able to join the waitlist for its AI Agent Cards. The company did not provide further launch details in the announcement, but the feature adds another product layer to its regional payments strategy.

The company’s Latin America expansion has been supported by Tether, a strategic investor in Oobit. Oobit said the partnership has helped its regional growth, particularly around stablecoin-based payments.

Investor Takeaway Oobit’s launch in Guatemala and Paraguay shows how crypto payment firms are targeting markets where stablecoins already serve practical use cases. The key commercial test is whether wallet-based spending can move beyond crypto-native users and become part of routine retail payments.

What Do Oobit’s Spending Figures Show? Oobit cited internal platform data showing higher use of crypto for everyday spending across Latin America. Average monthly spend per user reached $1,168 in June, while daily average spend per user rose from about $80 in March to about $200 in June. On peak days, daily average spend exceeded $480.

The company said spending activity was concentrated in categories including groceries, restaurants, taxis and ride-hailing, fast food, and convenience stores. Those categories are important because they point to recurring consumer payments rather than occasional crypto transactions.

Stablecoins accounted for a large share of payment activity. USDT represented 47% of payments on Oobit’s platform and about 60% of deposits, according to company figures. Brazil remains Oobit’s largest Latin American market by users, accounting for 61% of the regional total.

The data supports a broader industry trend in which stablecoins are being used less as trading instruments and more as payment and settlement tools in markets with remittance flows, currency volatility, or limited access to low-cost cross-border financial services.

Why Do Guatemala and Paraguay Matter? Guatemala and Paraguay give Oobit access to 2 markets where crypto usage is growing from different starting points. In Guatemala, remittances account for nearly 20% of GDP, making payment cost, dollar access, and cross-border transfer efficiency important parts of the financial landscape.

Oobit cited figures showing crypto adoption in Guatemala grew 88% in one quarter in 2025. The country also introduced proposed cryptocurrency legislation, Bill 6538, in May 2025, pointing to a market where digital asset activity is expanding while the policy framework continues to develop.

In Paraguay, Oobit said crypto activity grew 52% in the second quarter of 2025. The company also pointed to a tax reporting framework introduced in January 2025 as a sign of a more formalized digital asset market.

Across Latin America, crypto transaction volume reached nearly $1.5 trillion between July 2022 and June 2025, according to figures cited by Oobit. Stablecoins remain central to that activity, especially where users need dollar-linked instruments for payments, transfers, or spending.

For Oobit, the next stage is execution. The company is entering markets where crypto adoption is rising, but card-based crypto spending still needs merchant coverage, wallet integration, user trust, and clear compliance treatment. Guatemala and Paraguay add scale to its Latin America footprint, but the broader opportunity depends on whether stablecoin payments can become a regular consumer habit rather than a niche crypto feature.

Shares of Circle Internet Group (CRCL) fell on Tuesday after Open Standard unveiled Open USD (OUSD), a dollar stablecoin backed by more than 140 companies, including Visa, Mastercard, and Coinbase, that targets the market its USD Coin (USDC) token leads.

The launch puts payment networks, banks, and crypto firms behind a single token. It lands as Circle’s USDC and Tether’s USDT control most of the stablecoin market.

Circle (CRCL) Stock Performance. Source: TradingViewWhy Circle’s USDC Faces PressureOpen USD goes after the enterprise users that drive USDC adoption. Businesses can mint and redeem it for free, and partners keep the earnings on its reserves after a small fee.

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That model strikes at how Circle makes money. Reserve interest produced 99% of its revenue in 2024, its filing shows.

Circle paid Coinbase $908 million that year to distribute USDC. Now Coinbase has joined a rival that lets partners keep those reserve earnings.

Circle stock fell nearly 15% on the news, touching its lowest level of the session. It extended a weak run after Circle’s stock rally from $50 to $129 in six weeks earlier this year.

The bigger risk is distribution. Circle gained ground as USDC overtook Tether in corporate transfers. Yet Open USD’s backers include the networks that move most of that money.

Circle still holds advantages. Its USDC carries regulatory standing in the US and Europe and deep exchange liquidity.

A Consortium Stands Behind Open USDOpen Standard will run the token through an independent board of its partners. Zach Abrams leads the company on an interim basis. He co-founded Bridge, the stablecoin firm Stripe bought for $1.1 billion in 2025.

The backers span finance and technology, from BlackRock and BNY to Google and Shopify. Many already run their own stablecoins or build stablecoin infrastructure firms, echoing Mastercard’s recent stablecoin payment integrations.

Stripe tied its payments business directly to the token.

“Open USD will be the default stablecoin for businesses running on Stripe…” read an excerpt in the announcement, citing Will Gaybrick, president of technology and business at Stripe.

Circle, Tether, and PayPal all sat out the venture. Tether’s USDT leads at about $185 billion and Circle’s USDC follows near $74 billion.

Total Stablecoin Market Cap. Source: DefiLlamaAll these notwithstanding, the history is not encouraging for consortiums. Visa, Mastercard, and Stripe each backed Facebook’s Libra stablecoin in 2019, then abandoned it within months under regulatory pressure.

Open USD goes live later this year on Plasma and other chains built for stablecoin payments.

The timing matters for Circle, whose USDC revenue-sharing deal with Coinbase comes up for renewal in August.

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Local traders in India are now paying more than eight and a half percent extra for Tether’s USDT, a sharp dislocation from the typical 3% to 4% premium. The sudden jump points to a genuine supply shock rather than routine market noise. According to the market update citing The Economic Times, USDT was quoted at INR 102.88 on Saturday, while the dollar-rupee official closing rate sat at 94.65. The gap reveals a market scrambling for stablecoin liquidity at almost any price.

The trigger is not a minor technical adjustment. India’s Enforcement Directorate recently cracked down on INR 250 billion in money transfers conducted through virtual digital assets. That action alone was enough to choke off the normal flow of USDT into domestic exchanges. With fewer fresh inflows arriving, the local order books have thinned, and the price of immediate settlement has shot upward. For traders who use USDT as their primary on-ramp to altcoin markets, the higher premium eats into margins instantly.

A Liquidity Freeze Across India’s Crypto Desks The 8.5% figure is not just an academic spread. It represents a real cost that Indian users must absorb every time they convert rupees into the most liquid dollar-pegged asset. Many exchanges in the country rely on peer-to-peer platforms and OTC desks to move large volumes of stablecoins, and those channels are now severely disrupted. When supply drops, market makers widen their bid-ask spreads, and the entire trading ecosystem slows down. The result is a self-reinforcing cycle: high premiums deter new capital, and lower liquidity pushes premiums even higher.

The Enforcement Directorate’s action focused on massive sums flowing through virtual asset rails, an area that has been under increasing scrutiny since India imposed a 30% tax on crypto gains and a 1% tax deducted at source on every transaction above a certain threshold. That tax regime already pushed many high-frequency traders offshore, and now the enforcement sweep is accelerating the exodus of liquidity. Less onshore USDT means less depth, and less depth means more volatility in the premium.

Regulatory Fear Adds a Risk Premium Purushottam Anand, founder of Crypto Legal, noted that the recent rise likely includes a risk premium driven by regulatory uncertainty. His observation points to a market that is not just responding to a supply shortage but also pricing in the probability of further enforcement actions. Every new probe or seizure redefines what market participants think about the safety of keeping assets on domestic platforms. That uncertainty gets baked into the price of the most critical settlement asset—USDT.

India’s relationship with virtual asset regulation has been ambivalent. While there is no outright ban, the government has used taxation and enforcement as indirect tools. The result is a gray zone where rules are enforced selectively, and the cost of compliance is unpredictable. This week’s premium surge is not the first time Indian traders have paid above market rates for stablecoins, but the magnitude suggests a growing discomfort. When the premium stays elevated, it can push users toward riskier unofficial channels, which paradoxically may be what regulators want to avoid.

While Indian authorities tighten the screws on virtual asset transfers, United States lawmakers face their own regulatory inflection point, with banking interests mobilizing to block a landmark crypto bill just days before a Senate vote. The contrast highlights a global regulatory patchwork that makes capital flows uneven and quick to react to local enforcement signals. Markets treat these events as liquidity events, and India’s premium spike is the latest example.

What Traders Are Watching Next The immediate question is whether new USDT inflows can normalize the premium in the coming days, or if the supply crunch will persist. Much depends on how seriously OTC desks and large holders interpret the Enforcement Directorate’s signals. A single large settlement or a clearer policy statement could bring the premium back toward 4% quickly. But if the current environment lingers, the Indian market may see more trading volume shift toward decentralized platforms and foreign exchanges that do not require onshore stablecoin pools.

The squeeze in India stands in stark contrast to the global surge in tokenized real-world assets, which recently crossed $20 billion in on-chain value as institutional adoption accelerates. While one corner of the crypto ecosystem faces a liquidity drain, another is absorbing record capital. This divergence underlines how local regulatory actions can create micro-market dislocations even when the broader industry trends remain upward.

Yet on the technical front, blockchain infrastructure shows no sign of retreat, with developer activity remaining concentrated across the top networks according to recent weekly data. Protocols continue to iterate, but for Indian crypto users, the immediate challenge is not code—it is access to the very asset that greases the rails of trading. Until the regulatory posture clarifies or fresh supply returns, the 8.5% premium will act as a tax on every trade.

AUTHOR

Freelance writer and crypto enthusiast with a focus on Web3, delivering clear and engaging articles. Known for his well-researched articles and insightful analysis, Shayan covers a broad range of topics including market trends, blockchain technology, decentralized finance (DeFi), and emerging crypto projects. His writing aims to educate both beginners and experts, providing clear, engaging content that helps readers stay informed about the fast-evolving crypto space. Shayan's expertise and dedication make him a trusted voice in the blockchain community.

Tether stablecoin USDt has become the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization as Ether fell to its lowest price of the year on Friday

Ether’s market capitalization dropped below $185 billion following a 5.2% price crash over 24 hours, sending the asset tumbling to $1,510 on Coinbase, according to TradingView. This allowed USDt, with a $186 billion market capitalization, to surpass the cryptocurrency. 

“[The] stablecoin overtake really highlights how the market still favors stability over ETH’s volatility right now,” Andri Fauzan Adziima, research lead at Bitrue Research Institute, told Cointelegraph. 

The development reflects accelerating stablecoin growth, which currently represents almost 15% of the entire crypto market capitalization. Stablecoin supply contracted more than 30% in the last bear market, but they’re hitting record highs this time, wrote 21Shares on Thursday, adding:

“To us, that is the strongest evidence yet that stablecoins are one of crypto’s defining use cases – demand that no longer depends on the cycle.”USDt flipped ETH in market capitalization. Source: CoinGecko

Alvin Kan, chief operating officer of Bitget Wallet, told Cointelegraph that the flip is a “notable milestone that highlights the explosive growth and dominance of stablecoins in today’s crypto ecosystem.”

“It demonstrates strong demand for reliable, liquid on- and off-ramps during periods of volatility, while serving as a reminder that ETH must continue delivering compelling utility and narrative momentum to maintain its position.” Kan said the development is positive for the broader market, as deeper stablecoin liquidity supports higher trading volumes and ecosystem innovation.

ETH prices are back at crucial support levels last visited in October 2023 and April 2025.

The Ethereum ecosystem has also faced internal changes recently, following several executive departures and a 20% workforce reduction at the Ethereum Foundation.

However, a new nonprofit organization called Ethlabs was launched this week by key EF developers and researchers and backed by Ether treasuries Bitmine and Sharplink. 

ETH prices are at a critical long-term support level. Source: TradingView

Not all are bearish  Some have taken Ether's decline as an opportunity.

Ether treasury company Sharplink bought the dip, making its first purchase in eight months, scooping up 5,000 ETH on Thursday. Bitmine, chaired by Tom Lee, has also been accumulating at these low prices, adding a further 76,881 ETH last week. 

Meanwhile, Circle’s USDC (USDC) also flipped Ripple’s XRP (XRP) in market capitalization as XRP fell back towards $1, its lowest level since November 2024, leaving XRP with a market capitalization of $64 billion compared with USDC's $73.6 billion.

Magazine: AI is banking the unbanked in Africa... faster than crypto

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.

The cryptocurrency Api3 (API3) reached an 8-month high today after Upbit, South Korea’s largest digital asset exchange, announced its listing.

The triple-digit price surge has also made API3 the top daily gainer on CoinGecko. Additionally, the announcement has sparked significant interest, propelling the token to the top of trending coins in the market.

Upbit Listing Triggers API3 Rally For context, API3 is a decentralized oracle network that connects decentralized applications (dApps) with real-world data using first-party oracles. In contrast to traditional oracle solutions, which rely on third-party intermediaries, API3 empowers API providers to run their own oracles, enhancing data authenticity and reducing trust-related issues.

The coin is already available on several major exchanges, including Binance, Coinbase, OKX, and more. Now, it has made its debut on Upbit.

API3 went live for trading at 17:00 Korean Standard Time (KST) on August 19. The exchange informed users that the token is available to trade against two pairs: Korean Won (KRW) and Tether (USDT).

“Please ensure you check the network before depositing the digital asset. Deposits and withdrawals made through networks other than the specified network will not be supported,” the notice read.

After the initial listing announcement, API3 surged by 121.43% from $0.84 to $1.86. The latter level was last seen in December 2024. At the time of writing, the price adjusted to $1.77, retaining gains of 112.5%.

Furthermore, the market capitalization also doubled from nearly $100 million to over $200 million at press time. The pump in market value has pushed API3 to become the 3rd largest oracle coin by market cap, trailing only behind Chainlink (LINK) and Pyth Network (PYTH).

API3 Price Performance Post Upbit Listing. Source: TradingViewThe price surge was accompanied by a massive rise in volume as trading began. The daily trading volume increased 409.6%, reaching $473 million. Importantly, much of this came from Upbit.

CoinGecko data showed that the South Korean exchange dominated 24.58% ( $118 million) of the volume, with trading only beginning just a few hours ago.

Meanwhile, the market reaction is typical for coins securing Upbit’s support. The exchange, which commands the highest trading volume in South Korea, has a history of influencing market performance through its listings. This pattern is seen with other tokens that experienced significant price movements following similar announcements.

Updated Jun 16, 2026, 6:23 a.m. Published Jun 16, 2026, 5:52 a.m.

2 min read

Bybit offers options tied to tether gold. (Scottsdale Mint/Unsplash/Modified by CoinDesk)Summary

Bybit has launched options trading on Tether Gold (XAUT).These options, settled in USDT, let traders hedge risk, speculate on gold prices. Bybit has partnered with options market maker Orbit Markets to ensure institutional-grade liquidity.Bybit, one of the world’s top cryptocurrency exchanges by trading volume, has launched options trading on Tether Gold (XAUT), a token that provides you ownership of real physical gold.

The XAUT options are now live and allow traders to hedge risk, speculate on gold price movements, trade volatility, and build custom strategies through Bybit’s Request for Quote (RFQ) system for over-the-counter (OTC) deals.

Bybit partnered with Orbit Markets, a leading crypto options market maker, to ensure deep liquidity from the start. Orbit’s team brings significant expertise, including former senior executives from precious metals trading desks, notably the ex-APAC Head of Currencies and Precious Metals at Deutsche Bank.

“As tokenization accelerates, we believe the distinction between crypto and TradFi will continue to narrow,” said Jimmy Yang, co-founder of Orbit Markets. “Gold options are a cornerstone of traditional derivatives markets, and we are excited to see growing interest in TradFi derivatives within crypto.”

The XAUT options are European-style contracts settled in dollar-pegged stablecoin USDT, with each options contract corresponding to one XAUT token, which itself represents one troy ounce of physical gold.

What Are Options?Options are derivative contracts that give the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell the underlying asset at a set price before or on a specific date. A call option gives the right to buy, while a put option gives the right to sell.

Think of it like paying a small fee (the premium) for the right to buy a property at today’s price in the future. If the price rises, you can still buy at the lower agreed price. If it falls, you can walk away and only lose the premium. That’s a call. A put works in the opposite direction.

Traders primarily use options to hedge directional risk or to express views on volatility.

Market sizeThe global gold options market is already a multi-billion-dollar industry, dominated by exchanges like the CME and India’s MCX, with a large portion of volume traded OTC.

Bybit’s launch brings this established asset class on-chain for the first time on a major crypto platform.

XAUT options have been available on smaller platforms like CoinCall since November 2024, but Bybit’s entry marks the first time a top-tier exchange has offered them with institutional-grade liquidity support.

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In a massive phishing scam, $12 million vanished from four victims within five days, exposing critical gaps in cryptocurrency security. The prevalent use of create2, a standard tool, empowers malicious actors to exploit temporary addresses and sidestep wallet defenses based on address blacklists. Moreover, the crypto scam drained millions worth of Chainlink (LINK), SatoshiVM (SAVM), Optimism (OP), Tether (USDT), USD Coin (USDC), Binance USD (BUSD) and SuperVerse (SUPER) tokens.

Details Of Recent Crypto Scam According to Scam Sniffer, a Web3 scam tracking platform, the ERC20 permit has become a standardized weapon. It intensifies the impact of wallet-draining attacks, with collateral tokens, including LP tokens and NFTs.

Moreover, the post highlighted that the calculated use of ERC20 permit signatures has become the primary mode of operation for such crypto scams. This is a significant peril to users who unsuspectingly fall prey to seemingly legitimate ERC721 signatures designed for gasless token approval.

In addition, the snapshots shared by Scam Sniffer on X reveal that apart from the above-mentioned digital currencies, collateral tokens, such as aEthWETH, aEthUNI, and aEthLink were also affected Furthermore, the most recent incident further underscores the severity of the threat.

The latest update underscores that a victim lost a staggering $2.34 million worth of SUPER to a crypto scam via phishing. This eventually caused an immediate 20% plummet in SUPER’s market cap within a mere 45 minutes.

Also Read: Bitcoin Price Jumps 5% In Catch-Up To Equities, $43,000 In Sight

Ripple CTO Unveils New OpenSea Scam Ripple Chief Technology Officer David Schwartz has recently revealed a phishing scam targeting users of OpenSea, a prominent NFT marketplace. He noted that the scam involves fraudulent emails that claim to be from OpenSea and notify users of bids on their NFTs.

Schwartz added that these emails contain a malicious link, disguised as a SurveyMonkey survey, redirecting users to a fake OpenSea page aiming to steal their credentials. The Ripple CTO’s revelation highlights the increasing sophistication of hackers in the digital asset space.

Furthermore, similar scams have been reported, suggesting a growing trend of fraudulent activities in the crypto community. Moreover, this displays the necessity for heightened vigilance and security measures among users and industry platforms.

Also Read: 7 Reasons To Buy Solana (SOL) This Year

Gold-backed crypto sounds straightforward until you check the redemption rules, custody setup, and issuer terms. In practice, two tokens may track the same ounce of gold while offering very different rights to the holder.

That gap between price exposure and holder rights is drawing more attention in 2026 as tokenized gold trading volume rises and products like Pax Gold (PAXG) and Tether Gold (XAUT) pull in more activity across crypto markets. This guide explains how tokenized gold works, how PAXG and XAUT differ, and what buyers should check before they treat a token like physical bullion.

KEY TAKEAWAYS
➤ Tokenized gold tracks physical bullion, but holder rights, redemption terms, and custody structures can differ sharply between issuers.
➤ Tokenized gold trading volume reached $90.7 billion in Q1 2026, with PAXG and XAUT leading the category’s growth.
➤ Issuer risk, redemption limits, wallet controls, and regional regulations still affect how tokenized gold works in practice.
➤Tokenized gold gives crypto users 24/7 transferability and wallet access, but it does not remove traditional gold-market risks.

In this guide:

What is tokenized gold? How gold-backed crypto works in 2026PAXG vs. XAUT, side by sideDo you own real gold with PAXG and XAUT?Can you redeem PAXG and XAUT for physical gold?Tokenized gold vs. gold ETFs vs physical bullionTokenized gold risks and how to mitigate themHow to buy tokenized gold in 2026Frequently Asked Questions What is tokenized gold? How gold-backed crypto works in 2026 Tokenized gold is a digital token issued on a blockchain that is backed by physical gold stored in audited vaults. Gold has long attracted buyers who want a hard asset outside fiat currencies, but physical settlement, storage, and transfers can be slow or expensive.

This “tokenized” model has brought two markets together that rarely interacted in the past. One is physical gold, which offers a 5,000-year store-of-value record but settles slowly, trades on dealer hours, and is hard to fractionalize. The other is public blockchains, which can settle transactions in seconds, run 24/7, and split assets into tiny units.

A gold-backed token bridges the two by locking real bullion with a custodian and minting transferable claims on it.

What is a troy ounce and London Good Delivery gold?

A troy ounce is the standard unit used in global precious-metals markets and equals about 31.1 grams. “London Good Delivery” refers to large gold bars that meet quality and purity standards accepted by major bullion markets, central banks, and institutional traders.

How tokenization works An issuer such as Paxos or TG Commodities acquires physical gold from refiners or bullion dealers and stores it with a professional custodian. The issuer then creates a matching amount of blockchain-based tokens tied to that gold reserve. Token holders can buy, sell, transfer, or self-custody the assets like other crypto tokens.

When holders redeem tokens through the issuer, the corresponding amount of gold leaves the reserve pool and may be sold, transferred, or delivered physically if redemption minimums are met. Independent attestors or audit firms publish reserve reports on a scheduled basis to verify that the token supply matches the underlying gold holdings.

Why tokenized gold is exploding in 2026 Adoption has accelerated through 2025 and into 2026 as real-world asset (RWA) tokenization moved from pilots to live products. Tokenized gold achieved $90.70 billion in total spot trading volume in Q1 2026, surpassing the $84.64 billion traded throughout 2025, according to CoinGecko’s RWA Report 2026.

Meanwhile, on March 19, 2026, the World Gold Council and Boston Consulting Group proposed a “Gold as a Service” framework designed to standardize custody, reconciliation, compliance, and redemption processes across digital gold products.

Tokenized gold is not a stablecoin. Its price moves with the spot price of gold, so holders gain or lose value as bullion rallies or falls. The “stability” only refers to the 1:1 backing, not a fixed dollar peg.

The combination of rising gold prices, clearer rules in some jurisdictions, and on-chain demand for non-dollar collateral has produced what looks like a structural rather than cyclical lift.

The tokenized gold market includes smaller products such as Kinesis Gold (KAU), Comtech Gold (CGO), VeraOne (VRO), and Matrixdock Gold (XAUM). Even so, market activity and liquidity remain concentrated around Pax Gold (PAXG) and Tether Gold (XAUT), which makes them useful reference points for how large-scale gold-backed tokens currently operate.

Top tokenized gold products by market cap: CoinGecko PAXG vs. XAUT, side by side Pax Gold (PAXG) and Tether Gold (XAUT) together hold roughly nine-tenths of the gold-backed token market. They follow the same backing standard, but their regulator, chain support, audit cadence, redemption process, and US availability are not the same.

AttributePAXGXAUTIssuerPaxos Trust CompanyTG Commodities Limited (Tether)RegulatorOCC, U.S. federal oversight; previously NYDFSCNAD, El SalvadorBacking1 token = 1 troy ounce LBMA Good Delivery1 token = 1 troy ounce LBMA Good DeliveryVault locationBrink’s vaults, LondonSwiss vaults via MKS PAMP and LoomisAuditor and cadenceKPMG LLP, monthlyBDO Italia, quarterly ISAE 3000ChainsEthereum (ERC-20)Ethereum, TRON, Polygon, Solana via LayerZero, BNB ChainIssuance and redemption feeTiered 1% down to 0.125%Flat 0.25%Minimum physical redemption430 tokens for a full bar, 1 gram and up via Alpha Bullion430 tokens for a full bar, no fractional partnerOwnership typeAllocated gold with Paxos bar lookupUndivided gold rights with Tether Gold bar lookupReserve and oracle supportPaxos attestations, allocation lookup, and Chainlink reserve-related infrastructureTether Gold attestations, wallet/bar lookup, and Chainlink XAUT/USD market-data feedsUS retail availabilityListed on Coinbase, Kraken, Gemini, Crypto.comRestricted, not directly available to US retailMarket cap (May 2026)About $2.2 billion per CoinGeckoAbout $2.6 to $2.7 billion per CoinGecko Pax Gold at a glance PAXG launched in September 2019, when Paxos operated under its NYDFS trust-company framework. Paxos later received approval to convert to a national trust charter overseen by the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Current PAXG terms say PAXG is issued pursuant to specific OCC approval.

Paxos assures that the underlying gold is stored in Brink’s vaults in London, and each PAXG token is linked to a specific serial-numbered gold bar that holders can verify through Paxos’ allocation lookup tool. KPMG took over the monthly attestation in February 2025, replacing WithumSmith+Brown, and the reports are published on the Paxos site.

Tether Gold at a glance XAUT was launched by TG Commodities Limited in January 2020 and is now operated under a license from El Salvador’s National Digital Assets Commission, known by its Spanish initials CNAD.

The bullion is stored in Swiss vaults, with MKS PAMP and Loomis named in TG Commodities’s attestation materials. XAUT launched on Ethereum and TRON before expanding to additional networks through the XAUT0 cross-chain system. Tether later announced Polygon, Solana, and BNB Chain integrations between late 2025 and early 2026.

BDO Italia issues an ISAE 3000 opinion on the reserves on a quarterly basis.

Fees, audits, and oracle data PAXG’s fee structure has changed over time. As of May 2026, Paxos advertises zero on-chain transfer fees and zero storage fees for PAXG, although its terms still reserve the right to impose storage fees in the future with notice. Its terms also govern conversions into USD, unallocated gold, or allocated gold through the Paxos platform.

XAUT says it charges no custodian fee and applies a one-time 25 basis point fee when verified customers purchase or redeem XAU₮ through TG Commodities.

Chainlink has supported reserve-related infrastructure for PAXG, while Chainlink also provides XAUT/USD market-data feeds. A price feed is not the same as a reserve feed. In both cases, users still need to check issuer attestations, custody disclosures, and official lookup tools rather than relying on oracle data alone.

Do you own real gold with PAXG and XAUT? The short answer is that both products describe gold ownership, but the issuer structure, custody chain, legal terms, and redemption process are not the same.

PAXG gives holders ownership rights to allocated London Good Delivery gold held under Paxos custody. XAUT gives holders undivided ownership rights to gold on specified bars, with bar details available through Tether Gold’s lookup system.

The practical question is not only whether gold backs the token, but how each issuer records, verifies, and redeems that claim.

How ownership is recorded PAXG uses an allocated-gold structure. Paxos says each PAXG represents one fine troy ounce of a London Good Delivery gold bar held in professional vaults. Its terms also say that when a holder is not allocated a full bar, the holder owns a pro rata share of that bar based on their PAXG balance. Paxos’ lookup tool lets eligible on-chain holders view bar details tied to their holdings.

XAUT uses a different legal structure. Tether Gold says XAU₮ gives holders undivided ownership rights to gold on specified bars. It also says the allocated gold is identifiable by serial number, purity, and weight through Tether Gold’s lookup system.

So, the cleaner distinction is not “specific bar versus pool.” Both products describe a bar-level link. The real differences come from issuer structure, custodian arrangements, jurisdiction, disclosure cadence, redemption rules, and the legal terms behind each token.

Bankruptcy remoteness and counterparty risk The difference matters most if the issuer fails. Paxos Trust Company is a New York limited-purpose trust company that holds the bullion as a bailee, a structure designed to be bankruptcy remote, meaning the bullion would not be available to general creditors.

TG Commodities is a private Tether subsidiary under El Salvadoran oversight rather than a US trust company, which leaves the holder’s claim subject to El Salvadoran insolvency rules.

As of May 2026, neither structure has faced a major issuer failure or large-scale court test, so the legal outcome in a stress event remains untested.

Insurance and custody disclosures Paxos says each PAXG is backed by one fine troy ounce of gold held in LBMA vaults in London. Its allocation lookup tool lets holders of PAXG in on-chain Ethereum wallets view serial-number and bar information, though the tool does not apply to tokens held through custodial exchanges or wallets. Paxos also publishes monthly PAXG attestation reports.

XAUT’s terms refer to custodian insurance, but the public disclosures do not itemize coverage at the same level of detail. XAUT’s terms refer to custodian insurance, but they also say there is no assurance that the custodian will maintain adequate insurance, or any insurance.

The public terms do not give the same bar-level insurance detail that a cautious buyer may want before they rely on insurance as a risk control. Holders should review the latest issuer terms, reserve reports, and custody disclosures before they treat insurance as meaningful protection.

Allocated ownership is one of the strongest legal protections available in the gold market, but it depends entirely on the custody chain functioning as advertised. Always read the latest attestation rather than relying on marketing language.

Can you redeem PAXG and XAUT for physical gold? Eligible verified holders can redeem both PAXG and XAUT for physical bullion, but the rules are not necessarily retail-friendly in the same way.

PAXG supports direct full-bar redemption through Paxos and smaller physical-gold redemptions through partnered retailers. XAUT redemptions, by contrast, occur through TG Commodities and must be tied to full gold bars.

PAXG redemption Paxos says holders can convert PAXG into USD, unallocated gold, or allocated gold through the Paxos platform, subject to its terms.

Direct allocated-gold redemption requires at least 430 PAXG plus the applicable fee for each London Good Delivery gold bar. Paxos also says customers with smaller holdings can redeem fractional amounts through partnered gold retailers.

Alpha Bullion, a platform tied to Bullion Exchanges and Paxos, says it lets PAXG holders redeem physical gold in sizes from 1 gram to 1 kilogram.

Note that Alpha Bullion requires account verification before order fulfillment. Because product availability, fees, taxes, and delivery terms can change, holders should check Alpha Bullion’s current checkout terms before they treat PAXG as an easy route to small physical-gold delivery.

XAUT redemption XAUT redemption follows a relatively stricter process. Tether Gold says only KYC-verified customers can redeem through the Tether Gold website, and redemptions can occur only for full gold bars. Since those bars usually range from about 385 to 415 fine troy ounces, holders are generally asked to deposit at least 430 XAU₮ to cover a full-bar redemption.

After redemption, the gold can be delivered to the verified customer’s chosen location in Switzerland, with delivery costs payable by the customer. Tether Gold says it does not currently offer delivery outside Switzerland.

Instead of physical delivery, a verified customer may ask Tether Gold to attempt a sale of the gold bar in the Swiss gold market and return the USD proceeds, minus the redemption fee. That sale is subject to available rates and counterparties, and Tether Gold says it has no obligation to repurchase the tokens or gold bars.

How to verify your gold on-chain Both issuers offer on-chain transparency tools. For PAXG, holders enter an Ethereum address into the Paxos lookup page and see the serial numbers of the underlying bars. For XAUT, the Tether site shows the gold attributed to a wallet at a given time.

These tools can help holders check issuer-level allocation data, while Chainlink infrastructure can support market-data or reserve-related checks depending on the token. Users should still treat issuer attestations, custody disclosures, and official lookup tools as the main sources for reserve verification.

That is the redemption side. The next question is how tokenized gold stacks up against the alternatives most investors already know.

Tokenized gold vs. gold ETFs vs physical bullion Tokenized gold is right there in between two long-established options. The table below compares the three on the dimensions that drive most allocation decisions.

AttributeTokenized gold (PAXG, XAUT)Gold ETFs (GLD, IAU, GLDM)Physical bullionCustodyLBMA vault held by issuer custodianLBMA vault held by ETF trusteeSelf-custody or third-party vaultTrading hours24/7/365Stock market hoursDealer hoursAnnual fee0% storage, 0.125% to 1% issuance and redemption0.17% to 0.40% expense ratioDealer spread plus storage and insuranceSettlementSeconds, on-chainT+1Same day at dealerRedemption for physicalYes, with minimumsNo, cash settlement onlyAlready physicalDeFi useCollateral, lending, yieldNoneNoneUS tax treatmentProperty treatment likely, still developingCollectibles 28% per IRS guidanceCollectibles 28% per IRS guidance Fee math at retail scale Headline fees can look simple until you apply them to a real position size. For example, take a $10,000 PAXG buy held for 12 months. If that order falls into Paxos’ 2–25 PAXG fee tier, the 1% entry fee comes to about $100.

Paxos currently advertises zero on-chain transfer fees and zero storage fees for PAXG.

If the position is sold or converted through the Paxos wallet at the same fee tier, the exit fee would add another $100. That puts the direct Paxos round-trip cost at about $200 on a $10,000 position held for one year, before spreads, gas, taxes, exchange fees, or any third-party platform costs.

Cost note: This example assumes direct Paxos wallet creation and sale or conversion at the 1% fee tier. If you buy or sell PAXG through an exchange, your actual cost may come from trading fees, spreads, withdrawal costs, and venue-specific rules instead.

A $10,000 GLD position over the same period pays the 0.40% expense ratio, or about $40, before any broker-specific costs. A $10,000 GLDM position is cheaper still at 0.10%, or roughly $10 for the year.

On direct fees alone, a lower-cost gold ETF such as GLDM can be much cheaper than a direct PAXG round trip at the 1% tier. PAXG’s case becomes stronger only if the holder values features an ETF cannot provide, such as crypto-wallet custody, around-the-clock transfers, DeFi use, or PAXG-specific redemption routes.

Tax treatment In the United States, the Internal Revenue Service classifies physical gold and most gold ETFs as collectibles, which carry a long-term capital gains rate of up to 28% rather than the standard 20%.

As of May 2026, tokenized gold is in a less settled position. Some practitioners argue it should follow the underlying asset and be treated as a collectible, while others apply general property rules for digital assets. UK, EU, and UAE treatments vary and depend on whether the holder uses an exchange domiciled in a regulated venue.

Always confirm with a tax professional before relying on any single framing.

Tokenized gold in DeFi The structural advantage of tokenized gold over an ETF is on-chain usability. PAXG is listed as collateral on the Aave deployment on Ethereum and trades in Curve and Uniswap pools, while XAUT has integrations on TRON-based DeFi venues and emerging yield vaults on platforms such as Falcon Finance.

Yields available in 2026 have ranged from low single digits to mid single digits, depending on the pool and risk tier, with strategies that wrap gold collateral into lending or basis trades.

Tokenized gold risks and how to mitigate them The risks attached to tokenized gold are not the same as the risks attached to physical bullion or to an ETF. Buyers should weigh three categories before committing.

Issuer and depeg risk Both PAXG and XAUT depend on a single issuer to honor redemptions and report reserves. A failure at Paxos or TG Commodities would cap the value of the token at whatever a court determined was the holder’s claim on the bullion.

Token prices can also drift from spot during stress events. PAXG traded at a premium to spot during the February 2025 London bullion shortage as physical delivery times stretched, an episode that reminded the market that on-chain liquidity does not always equal physical liquidity.

Smart contract, sanctions, and wallet freezing PAXG and XAUT contracts both include administrative functions that allow the issuer to freeze tokens in specific wallets. Paxos has used the function to comply with US sanctions enforcement, and Tether has frozen XAUT-related addresses tied to flagged activity. The functions exist for legitimate compliance reasons, but they mean a holder who trips a sanctions flag could lose access to their tokens.

Both tokens can be frozen by the issuer. A buyer who values censorship resistance above gold exposure should consider physical bullion or self-custody alternatives instead.

Regulatory risk Paxos previously operated under NYDFS oversight and is now OCC-regulated as a national trust institution.

XAUT has a narrower U.S. retail access path. Tether Gold says U.S. persons cannot purchase or redeem XAU₮ directly through its issuer platform, which means U.S. users should not assume they can access issuer-level redemption features.

In the European Union, MiCA rules for asset-referenced tokens and e-money tokens became applicable on June 30, 2024, while broader crypto-asset service provider rules followed on Dec. 30, 2024. Paxos says it operates under MiCA compliance through FIN-FSA in the EU, but its current PAXG page also says PAXG is unavailable in the EU.

Put simply, access can depend on the issuer, exchange, user location, and product feature. So, as a buyer, you should check current exchange notices and issuer disclosures before they assume PAXG or XAUT is available in the jurisdiction you are in.

How to buy tokenized gold in 2026 Tokenized gold trades on both centralized exchanges and on-chain venues. Most retail buyers start on a centralized exchange for the smoothest path, then move tokens to self-custody or a DeFi position if they want to use the gold as collateral.

Buying on a centralized exchange PAXG is listed on Coinbase, Kraken, Crypto.com, Binance, and Bitpanda, among others. The standard flow is to fund an account with fiat, place a market or limit order against the PAXG pair, and either keep the tokens on the exchange or withdraw them to a personal wallet.

XAUT is listed on a smaller set of venues, with Bitfinex and several non-US exchanges providing the deepest order books. US residents typically cannot buy XAUT directly through a domestic exchange.

Buying on a DEX On Ethereum, PAXG can be bought on Uniswap and Curve pools using ether or a stablecoin, though gas costs and pool depth should be checked before larger trades.

XAUT liquidity tends to sit in TRON-based and non-EVM venues, which makes the operational steps more involved. Buyers who use a DEX should always verify the token contract address from the issuer’s official site to avoid scam tokens.

Other gold-backed tokens worth knowing PAXG and XAUT dominate the market, but several other gold-backed tokens are worth knowing. Kinesis Gold (KAU) and Kinesis Silver (KAG) pay a share of network fees back to holders, which gives them a yield profile unlike PAXG or XAUT. CACHE Gold (CGT) uses a fractional-gram model with on-chain bar serial assignment.

AurusX (AWG) and Matrixdock XAUM are relatively newer entrants targeting cross-jurisdictional retail demand. Comtech Gold (CGO) markets a Shariah-compliant structure aimed at Middle East and South Asian buyers.

Note that liquidity for these smaller tokens is thinner, so always check the on-chain market depth before committing.

Frequently Asked Questions What is tokenized gold and how does it work? Tokenized gold is a digital token on a blockchain that represents ownership of physical gold held in an audited vault. Each token typically equals one troy ounce of London Good Delivery bullion held by a custodian on behalf of the issuer. Holders can transfer the token like any other crypto asset and, in some cases, redeem it for physical metal when minimums and verification rules are met.

Do you own real gold with PAXG? Yes. PAXG uses an allocated ownership model in which each token is mapped to a portion of a specific London Good Delivery bar identified by serial number. Paxos publishes a lookup tool that lets a wallet holder view the bars assigned to their address. The bullion is held in Brink’s vaults in London and is described by Paxos as legally separate from the company’s general balance sheet.

Can you redeem PAXG for physical gold? Yes, with two paths. A holder with 430 PAXG or more can redeem directly through Paxos for a full London Good Delivery bar, subject to Paxos’ terms. Holders below that threshold can use Alpha Bullion’s partner route for smaller physical-gold redemptions from 1 gram upward, subject to identity verification, product availability, taxes, delivery terms, and any current checkout costs.

Can you redeem XAUT for physical gold? Yes, but only at the full-bar level and only in Switzerland. A holder must accumulate at least 430 XAUT, complete identity verification with TG Commodities, and arrange Swiss delivery or cash settlement at spot. There is no fractional retail partner equivalent to Alpha Bullion, so most XAUT holders treat the token as a price exposure rather than a redemption vehicle.

What is the difference between PAXG and XAUT? The main differences are issuer structure, regulatory profile, chain support, audit cadence, and redemption rules. Paxos previously operated under NYDFS oversight and is now OCC-regulated as a national trust institution. PAXG uses monthly attestations and links holdings to allocated London Good Delivery gold. XAUT is issued through TG Commodities, operates under El Salvador’s CNAD framework, uses quarterly assurance reports, and gives holders undivided gold rights with Tether Gold’s bar lookup system. PAXG is Ethereum-based, while XAUT is available across several networks.

Is tokenized gold safe and what are the main risks? Tokenized gold inherits the price behavior of physical gold and adds three risk categories on top. Issuer risk covers the potential failure of Paxos or TG Commodities, smart contract risk covers code or governance failures, and sanctions risk covers the issuer’s ability to freeze tokens in flagged wallets. Holders mitigate these risks by reading the latest attestations, splitting positions across issuers, and avoiding behavior that could trigger a wallet freeze.

World Liberty Financial, a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform backed by President Donald Trump and his family, is poised to launch its WLFI token, which could hold significant profits for early investors. 

WLFI Token Launch Approaches The company announced on July 4 that it has initiated steps to have its flagship token listed on cryptocurrency exchanges, marking a crucial milestone after months of anticipation. 

The WLFI token, which was introduced last year as a non-transferable governance token, is designed to facilitate community voting on the project’s future direction. 

Secondary market trading has already commenced on platforms like Whales.market and MEXC, where WLFI has recently traded between $0.13 to $0.18, a notable increase from its initial sale prices of $1.5 and $0.5. 

According to the project’s white paper, entities affiliated with the Trump family may collectively hold about one-third of WLFI’s total supply of 100 billion tokens. At current prices, these holdings could represent billions of dollars on paper.

Bruno Ver, market expert and investor in the WLFI token, expressed optimism about its potential value, predicting it could reach between $2 and $5 in the near future. 

If the token were to climb to $2, the stake held by the founding entities could theoretically be worth around $60 billion, making it one of the most lucrative Trump-related crypto ventures to date. 

Recent estimates suggest that crypto businesses have already added approximately $620 million to Donald Trump’s personal net worth, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.

Experts Warn Of Risks Despite the enthusiasm surrounding WLFI, the White House has emphasized that President Trump is distanced from his business interests, having placed his assets in a family-controlled trust. 

The current proposal for token release, dated July 4, aims to unlock a portion of tokens held by “early supporters,” although the term lacks a specific definition within the documentation. 

Remaining tokens, including those held by founders and team members, would be subject to future votes and longer lock-up periods to signal a commitment to the project. The proposal is expected to undergo discussion and voting on the Snapshot platform, with a potential timeline extending into August. 

However, experts caution that the path to a successful launch might come with risks for early holders. Lex Sokolin, managing partner at Generative Ventures, pointed out that tokens with substantial founder and investor allocations often experience significant price declines over time. 

World Liberty Financial’s token launch and the Trump family’s increased interest in digital assets comes on the heels of notable regulatory changes in the US as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has adopted a more lenient stance toward crypto. 

This may signal a sense of confidence from WLFI regarding regulatory scrutiny. Hilary Allen, a law professor at American University, noted that this shift suggests WLFI no longer perceives a threat from the SEC.

The 1D chart shows Trump’s official memecoin struggling to break free from its current downtrend. Source: TRUMPUSDT on TradingView.com Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com

CoW Protocol’s native token has soared 46% after South Korean exchange Upbit announced it will be listing the token on its platform on Feb. 25.

According to a recent notice, Upbit will be listing COW (COW), the CoW Protocol native token starting from Feb. 25 at approximately 20:30 KST. The Ethereum (ETH)-based token will be available for trading on the Korean won, Bitcoin (BTC) and Tether (USDT) markets. Users can begin depositing COW on Upbit at 19:30 KST.

Shortly after Upbit announced it will be listing COW, the token saw a major leap in price. COW soared as high as 46% mere minutes after the notice was posted, reaching a peak of $0.46 in daily trading. At the time of writing, COW is trading hands at $0.43.

According to the Upbit notice, the previous day’s closing price for COW was around 418 Korean won or equal to $0.29. In the past week, COW has seen a rise in value by 34.2% but it has experienced a decrease by nearly 30% in the past month.

Price chart for CoW Protocol’s native token, February 25, 2025 | Source: crypto.news The CoW Protocol native token has a market cap of $173.6 million and a fully diluted valuation which stands at $420 million. In the past 24 hours, COW’s trading volume has seen a 568.60% increase to $114 million in the past 24 hours, indicating a significant rise in trading activity.

Buy orders for COW will be restricted for five minutes after trading support begins. While all types of orders, with the exception of limit orders, will be restricted for an hour after trading support begins. Sell order prices are capped at a minimum of 10% less than the previous day’s closing price.

The CoW Protocol is a decentralized trading platform with intent-based aggregator as its main service. It also provides features like Maximal Extractable Value blockers, Remote Procedure Call solutions, and Automated Market Makers. COW is the CoW Protocol’s native token and is used for governance.

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.