Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Updated Jun 15, 2026, 9:08 a.m. Published Jun 15, 2026, 8:09 a.m.

2 min read

Eric Trump (Keith Tanner/CoinDesk)Summary

World Liberty Financial’s USD1 stablecoin, backed by the family of President Donald Trump, was used to pay $250,000 in fighter performance bonuses at UFC Freedom 250 on the White House lawn.The promotion comes months after World Liberty Financial borrowed $75 million from a DeFi protocol, which temporarily locked out retail USD1 depositors, and amid litigation with crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun.USD1’s circulating supply has grown to about $4.6 billion as World Liberty Financial seeks a federal banking license.USD1, the stablecoin issued by the Trump family's crypto venture World Liberty Financial, has gone from locking retail depositors out of a DeFi lending pool to being used to pay fighters on the White House lawn.

The UFC said Friday that World Liberty Financial would serve as the presenting partner of a $250,000 performance bonus pool at UFC Freedom 250, a mixed martial arts contest held on the south lawn of the presidential residence on Sunday, June 14, President Donald Trump's 80th birthday. The bonuses were paid out in USD1 to fighters across seven matches.

The awards are among the most prominent commercial deployments of USD1 to date.

The visibility push comes months after CoinDesk reported on a borrowing controversy that briefly hit prices of WLFI, World Liberty Financial's token, and rattled the project's sentiment in social circles.

The company had borrowed more than $75 million in stablecoins from Dolomite, a DeFi lending protocol whose co-founder Corey Caplan advises WLFI, using 3 billion of its own WLFI governance tokens as collateral and depositing its own USD1 as part of the arrangement.

The borrowing pushed the USD1 pool to 93% utilization, meaning retail depositors who had lent USD1 to the pool expecting to withdraw at will could not do so until the loans were repaid. WLFI repaid $25 million of the position, then minted $25 million in fresh USD1 days later, actively managing the token's supply through April. World Liberty Financial did not respond to a request for comment on the report.

World Liberty is also in litigation with Justin Sun, the crypto tycoon and early buyer of WLFI governance tokens, who sued the company, alleging it improperly froze his holdings. WLFI countersued for defamation.

Some observers said the commercial impact of Sunday's event is straightforward.

"Paying the fighters in the USD1 stablecoin would have the same economic function as writing them a check," Todd Phillips, a crypto expert at the Klaros Group, told The Guardian. "Announcing to the world they are doing it in USD1 sounds like they are advertising to the world that USD1 is out there and that it is connected to the UFC and the White House."

USD1's circulating supply has grown to around $4.6 billion from $3.3 billion on Jan. 1.

The company has also applied for a banking license from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Trump's financial disclosure lists his stake in World Liberty Financial at over $50 million. The administration maintains that there is no conflict of interest and that Trump's assets are managed by a trust run by his children.

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World Liberty Financial provided a $250,000 performance pool and the Performance of the Night bonuses in terms of USD1 stablecoin. USD1 experienced one of the largest real-life applications of the crypto currency when the UFC Freedom 250 fight was organized by the White House. UFC Freedom 250 gained a lot of media coverage as the event took place at the South Lawn of the White House premises. Several high-profile fights were scheduled at UFC Freedom 250, which garnered attention from sports enthusiasts as well as from cryptocurrency investors. While fights were taking place in the octagon, Trump-affiliated World Liberty Financial (WLFI) was sponsoring the USD1 stable coin at UFC Freedom 250.

WLFI, which is a Trump-backed financial company, was an official partner of UFC Freedom 250 and had sponsored the show as well. This organization gave out $250,000 to establish a Performance of the Night bonus pool for the fighters in the event. These bonuses were distributed in USD1 stable coin that was created by Trump-affiliated company WLFI. In consequence, USD1 received maximum exposure at a very popular sports event.

Before the event, the CEO of UFC, Dana White, shared details on the additional bonuses that would be given to the competitors. As stated by organizers of the event, the Performance of the Night awards were given to two athletes in the sum of $425,000 each. WLFI, backed by Trump, offered such bonuses based on the excellent performance of athletes during the event. This was part of the wider strategy aimed at expanding USD1 usage in other industries.

The event attracted significant attention from the sports world and the digital assets sphere. As noted by experts, WLFI, with support from Trump, showed how the stablecoin could be applied in the real world. Besides, the sponsorship gave opportunities for brand recognition on the worldwide stage due to the wide international presence of UFC. The analysts mentioned that the event was another example of the integration of cryptocurrencies into sports.

However, other crypto sponsors became involved in organizing those bonuses. Therefore, Crypto.com provided an additional bonus pool totaling $1 million thanks to its CRO cryptocurrency platform. Consequently, the contribution of crypto sponsors improved the total amount of digital assets given as bonuses during the match. UFC officials stated that the bonuses provide additional income and do not form part of the fighters’ standard compensation packages.

Experts in the industry are constantly monitoring the process of blockchain-based solutions utilization within sponsorship initiatives and transactions. The popularity of stablecoins is growing due to their constant value in comparison with fiat currency. This type of cryptocurrency is considered to be a good payment instrument. In addition, enterprises try to use major sporting events to promote crypto platforms and related services.

The White House event was very effective in promoting the use of USD1 and explaining its functions. This implies that the analysis of possible application scenarios of stablecoin technology in sports, entertainment, and finance deserves attention.

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BitGo Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: BTGO) has been named to the 2026 Fortune 500, becoming the first true digital asset infrastructure company to reach the list. The debut comes just five months after the company went public on the New York Stock Exchange in January 2026, with reported revenue of approximately $16.2 billion for 2025.

The 2026 Fortune 500 edition, which features President Donald Trump on the cover and is on sale now, includes BitGo at No. 273. BitGo also appears in related coverage, while CEO Mike Belshe is slated for prominent placement in the upcoming Fortune Crypto 100 list in August, including feature coverage and limited cover variants. 

While miners, major exchanges, and treasury-focused companies have gone public in recent years, BitGo stands out as the first dedicated infrastructure provider — focused on custody, wallets, settlement, and related services — to achieve Fortune 500 status so quickly after its public listing.

Background and Evolution

BitGo was founded in 2011 by Mike Belshe, its current CEO, alongside Bill Lee, Ben Davenport and Will O’Brien. It began as a provider of secure Bitcoin wallets and institutional-grade custody solutions, emphasizing multi-signature technology and enterprise security at a time when few reputable options existed for large holdings.

Over more than a decade, the company grew into one of the most recognized names in digital asset infrastructure, powering wallets, custody, trading, and operations for many prominent platforms, funds, and institutions in the Bitcoin and broader crypto industry.

Current Operations and Regulatory Standing

Today, BitGo functions as a full-stack infrastructure provider. It operates as BitGo Bank & Trust, National Association, a federally chartered national trust bank under the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). This designation, approved in December 2025, imposes stringent federal requirements — including enhanced capital standards, regular audits, comprehensive risk management, and fiduciary oversight — while delivering significant strategic advantages.

The OCC charter provides uniform federal supervision and regulatory clarity, replacing fragmented state-by-state licensing in many cases and offering institutions the certainty they expect from a federally regulated fiduciary. It enables nationwide service capabilities with federal preemption of certain duplicative state requirements. 

Nick Payton, VP of Marketing at BitGo, told Bitcoin Magazine that the OCC federal charter, combined with being a public company, unlocks regulatory clarity sought out by institutional clients. “We spent the money and made sure to take that burden off of our clients.” Payton also described the OCC federal charter as a moat that software alone can not easily unlock, even with the power of artificial intelligence.

Finally, the OCC federal charter also strengthened the company’s ability to expand services such as stablecoin infrastructure, staking from cold custody, Prime trading and derivatives, and tokenization activities under a clear federal framework, positioning BitGo as a key bridge between traditional banking rails and digital assets.

Its client base is primarily institutional, including exchanges, funds, and Bitcoin ETF issuers. Notable examples include 21Shares (custody for Bitcoin ETFs), Fold (which relies on BitGo infrastructure for core operations), World Liberty Financial (custody and infrastructure for its USD1 stablecoin), and SoFi (infrastructure and distribution support for SoFiUSD, positioned as the first U.S. national bank-issued stablecoin on a public blockchain).

High-net-worth individuals also use the platform for qualified custody, staking from cold storage, and Prime services. While some retail-facing tooling exists through the broader platform, BitGo has maintained a deliberate focus on institutional and sophisticated clients rather than becoming a mass-market retail platform.

Prime Services and Global Footprint

BitGo has expanded its Prime desk to include OTC trading, electronic trading, and derivatives, which recently came online. This allows clients to access liquidity, execute strategies, and manage collateral directly from qualified custody. The service supports operational needs such as loans against Bitcoin holdings or yield generation without moving assets off-platform.

The company operates globally across more than 100 countries. It maintains regulated licenses and entities in key regions, including a VARA license in Dubai, an office in London, a Latin America headquarters in Mexico City, and an APAC base in Singapore, according to Payton.

Revenue Drivers

Payton also outlined the company’s primary revenue contributors today, which are primarily made up of custody fees, the company’s bread and butter, alongside other growing revenue sources like BitGo Prime, encompassing OTC, e-trading, and the newer derivatives offering.

Staking of crypto assets also made the short list of top revenue drivers for the company, enabling clients to earn yield on assets such as Ethereum and Solana while keeping them in cold custody.  Finally, Stablecoins have become a rapidly expanding segment of company revenue via their Stablecoin-as-a-Service platform, which handles minting, burning, and custody. Recent examples include support for World Liberty Financial’s USD1, which Payton described as one of the fastest-growing stablecoins, approaching significant circulation, and SoFi’s SoFiUSD with an initial mint of $150 million and plans to scale.

Payton also shared that “Bitcoin has always driven significant volume at BitGo. But Ethereum, Solana, and stablecoins are also prominent.” He added: “One major point we’ve never discussed publicly is that we’re among the top 10 largest entities holding Bitcoin globally, with over 470k BTC in custody,” making Bitgo one of the largest Bitcoin custodians in the world. For its own corporate treasury, BitGo Holdings, holds approximately 2,449 BTC as of the most recent public disclosures, this ranks BitGo as having the 32nd largest corporate treasury holdings in the world. 

Outlook on Tokenization

As for current areas of focus, Payton expressed clear enthusiasm for “tokenization,” a commonly heard though somewhat elusive term in the industry. He framed it as the cryptographic representation of traditional assets — particularly public and private equities — on blockchain infrastructure. 

“We are excited about the future of tokenization. We think it’s going to bring broader access to a wider range of people in public markets. We’re also looking into tokenizing private companies as well, traditional equity, not just public.” Payton said, cautioning that “It has to be done carefully. And safely. We don’t want it to turn into a bubble. It has to be done responsibly.”

PANews reported on June 17th that, according to The Block citing NOTUS, World Liberty Financial, a Trump-backed crypto project, is expected to soon receive approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to become a Federal Trust Bank. OCC Commissioner Jonathan Gould is expected to announce the decision soon, and two former OCC employees stated that approval is "almost a done deal." World Liberty submitted its application in January of this year. A Federal Trust Bank license would allow it to issue and redeem the USD1 stablecoin, manage reserves, and provide digital asset custody, conversion, and settlement services without relying on third-party intermediaries.

Donald Trump-backed World Liberty Financial (@worldlibertyfi) $WLFI is reportedly close to securing a federal trust charter from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), according to sources cited by NOTUS who described approval as highly likely.

What the Charter Would Mean for USD1The federal trust bank charter would allow World Liberty to issue and redeem its USD1 stablecoin, manage reserves, provide digital asset custody, and offer conversion and settlement services under a single federal regulator. This would also preempt many state regulations, enhance credibility with US institutions, and allow direct issuance without relying on third-party intermediaries. BitGo currently serves as its intermediary.

World Liberty Financial said WLTC Holdings LLC filed a de novo application with the OCC to establish World Liberty Trust Company National Association, a proposed national trust bank focused on stablecoin operations. WLTC plans to serve institutional customers, including cryptocurrency exchanges, market makers, and investment firms, and offer digital asset custody and conversion services that will enable holders of other stablecoins to shift to USD1.

USD1's Growing FootprintUSD1 has reached more than $3.3 billion in circulation within its first year, with usage concentrated among institutional customers for cross-border payments, settlement, and treasury. The stablecoin is fully backed by US dollars held at regulated depository institutions and funds invested in short-duration US Treasury obligations. The stablecoin operates across ten blockchain networks, including Ethereum, Solana, BNB Smart Chain, TRON, Aptos, and AB Core.

Stablecoins in the US are now generally governed under the GENIUS Act, signed into law by Trump, though the specific regulatory provisions are still being sorted out by federal agencies including the US Treasury Department.

The OCC approval, however, will likely fuel further political backlash over the current US president's potential conflicts of interest. The application has intensified concerns that the OCC's chartering framework is enabling politically connected crypto firms to obtain federal banking privileges, concerns magnified by the Trump family's direct financial stake in World Liberty Financial.

Sources:
The Block: World Liberty Financial nears OCC approval for federal trust charter
CoinDesk: Trump-linked World Liberty Financial applies for federal bank charter
Crypto Briefing: World Liberty Financial files OCC trust charter to launch USD1 stablecoin bank

PANews, June 22 – According to an official announcement, Binance will list the XLM/U and XLM/USD1 spot trading pairs on June 23, 2026, at 16:00 (UTC+8), and will simultaneously enable spot algorithmic order services. Additionally, Binance will launch a zero maker fee promotion for eligible users on the XLM/U spot and margin trading pairs, effective from June 23, 2026, at 16:00 (UTC+8) until further notice.

Binance Margin to Add XLM/U and XLM/USD1 Cross Margin Trading Pairs Today

PANews, June 23 – According to an official announcement, Binance Margin will add the XLM/U and XLM/USD1 cross margin trading pairs on June 23, 2026, at 16:00 (UTC+8).

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US Three Major Indexes Mixed, HOOD Down Over 6.11%

PANews Newsflash1 hour ago

Fri 12 Dec 2025 ▪ 4 min read ▪ by Eddy S.

Summarize this article with:

YouTube takes a new step in the evolution of digital payments by integrating PayPal’s stablecoin, PYUSD, to pay its American creators. This decision, announced in December 2025, marks a turning point for the content industry and cryptos. Analysis of an innovation that could well redefine online monetization standards.

In brief YouTube now allows American creators to receive their revenues in PYUSD, the stablecoin issued by PayPal. Stablecoins are gaining ground among technology giants, with players like Facebook also exploring this solution to pay creators. The collaboration between YouTube and PayPal could accelerate the adoption of PYUSD and transform online payments, despite regulatory and competitive challenges. Stablecoin: YouTube authorizes payments in PYUSD for American creators YouTube has just formalized the use of PYUSD, PayPal’s stablecoin, to compensate its creators based in the United States. This initiative currently concerns only revenues from advertising monetization, subscriptions, and super chats. Payments are made via PayPal or compatible crypto wallets, offering an alternative to traditional bank transfers.

Creators will benefit from nearly instant transactions, compared to several days with traditional methods. Reduced fees and the option to keep revenues in PYUSD or convert them to dollars add appreciated flexibility. However, this option remains limited to the United States, excluding international creators for now.

However, YouTube’s adoption of the PYUSD stablecoin raises questions about regulation and compliance, notably in terms of anti-money laundering. Despite these challenges, YouTube bets on this innovation to attract and retain talent while simplifying financial management for an increasingly digital-oriented community.

Stablecoins, new payment tools for tech giants Stablecoins are gradually establishing themselves as a preferred payment solution for tech companies. Beyond YouTube, Facebook (Meta) is also exploring this path to pay its creators, thus accelerating the transition to decentralized financial systems. These digital assets, backed by stable currencies like the dollar, offer speed and security.

For creators, this means revenues accessible faster and at lower costs, a major advantage in a competitive sector. However, if each tech giant develops its own solution, the risk of market fragmentation becomes real, complicating user experience.

Crypto: Could the PayPal – YouTube collaboration boost PYUSD? PYUSD, launched by PayPal in 2023, is a regulated stablecoin designed to facilitate digital transactions. Its integration by YouTube could make it a key player in the sector, thanks to the platform’s huge user base. Massive adoption could strengthen its credibility and liquidity, attracting other strategic partnerships. Yet, PYUSD’s success will depend on its ability to differentiate from established competitors like USDC or USDT.

Furthermore, American regulators, attentive to systemic risks, could also influence its development. However, if YouTube manages to convince its creators, PYUSD could become a standard for online payments. A collaboration that could inspire other platforms to adopt similar solutions, thus accelerating crypto adoption in the digital economy.

YouTube and PayPal’s PYUSD stablecoin therefore enter a new era of digital compensation. One day, undoubtedly, cryptos will definitively replace the traditional banking system. But for now, the content industry has just crossed a decisive milestone… And you, would you be ready to adopt stablecoins for your daily transactions?

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The world is evolving and adaptation is the best weapon to survive in this undulating universe. Originally a crypto community manager, I am interested in anything that is directly or indirectly related to blockchain and its derivatives. To share my experience and promote a field that I am passionate about, nothing is better than writing informative and relaxed articles.

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Cover image via youtu.be Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

TL;DRXRP/BTC rebound: After a nerve-wracking dip toward 0.000018, XRP reclaimed the 0.00002088 level versus Bitcoin, effectively dodging a catastrophic breakdown as the month of February expires.Buterin’s philanthropy: Ethereum’s founder follows his plan to donate 7,386 ETH ($15.51M) to open-source and biotech projects with new selling on-chain.SHIB versus PYUSD: A $400 million valuation gap is all that stands between Shiba Inu and PayPal USD, and historical March volatility suggests a ranking reshuffle is back on the menu.XRP news: XRP escapes breakdown versus Bitcoin in FebruaryAs the final full week of February 2026 begins, the digital asset market is revealing that the XRP/BTC pair displayed by TradingView is providing a masterclass in "clinging to the edge." For much of the month, the chart resembled a slow-motion crash, with XRP teetering on the brink of a new multi-year low against the largest cryptocurrency.

However, the monthly close tells a different story, one of stubborn resilience. Closing near 0.00002088 on Binance, XRP managed to avoid a definitive settlement below 0.00002 BTC — a price point where the foundational middle Bollinger Band is stretched on the monthly XRP/BTC chart by TradingView — which would have signaled a "lights out" scenario for bulls.

XRP/BTC Monthly Chart by TradingViewExamining the chart reveals a substantial upper wick from earlier in the year near 0.000030 — a faint memory of a rally that failed to endure — yet the underlying structure remains curiously unbroken. While the lower Bollinger Band is creeping up toward 0.00000813, suggesting that the long-term floor is rising, the immediate concern is the mid-band rejection. However, the higher-low sequence established in late 2024 remains the dominant narrative.

HOT Stories

As long as the 0.000018 panic wick from earlier this month is not breached on a closing basis, the "breakdown" will remain a "shakeout."

On the daily chart, the technical tug-of-war is even tighter. XRP is currently sandwiched between its short-term moving averages at 0.00002083 and 0.00001969 per BTC. With Bitcoin maintaining a dominant posture in Q1, XRP is not looking to lead the market.

However, its refusal to collapse suggests that liquidity is rotating back into the "old guard" just as the bears were getting comfortable. If XRP can punch through 0.0000219 next week, the conversation will shift from survival to a potential recovery to 0.000024 per BTC.

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Ethereum news: Vitalik Buterin keeps selling ETH for charityWhile technical traders scrutinize XRP’s candles, Vitalik Buterin reminds the market that Ethereum is, at its core, a social utility tool. The Ethereum co-founder has been systematically selling portions of his holdings, but the on-chain data offers a much more sophisticated picture than the "dump" narrative suggests.

Since Feb. 2, Buterin has moved 7,386 ETH, netting approximately $15.51 million at an average realized price of $2,100. The donations continued this weekend.

Vitalik Buterin's Latest On-Chain Activity by ArkhamThe latest move, originating from the now-famous "0xfEB0...03B2" address, saw 428.57 ETH converted into about $850,178 worth of GHO. These funds are earmarked for high-impact sectors, such as biomedical research (like the Kanro Foundation) and open-source software development.

What’s interesting here is the "how." Buterin is not selling on the market on Coinbase and driving down the price for everyone else. Instead, he is using CoW Swap and Aave, leveraging batch auctions and decentralized liquidity protocols to ensure his transactions have the least possible impact on the order books.

Even after these million-dollar distributions, Buterin remains the heavyweight champion among individual ETH holders, with over 240,000 ETH (equal to around $467 million).

SHIB news: Shiba Inu's (SHIB) path to dethroning PayPal USDFinally, in this morning's crypto update, the market is witnessing a showdown between the largest meme coin on Ethereum and a stablecoin backed by a global payments giant as Shiba Inu (SHIB) inches closer to overtaking PayPal USD (PYUSD) in the CoinMarketCap ranking. With SHIB's market cap at around $3.67 billion and PYUSD at $4.07 billion, the difference is only $400 million. In a market as volatile as we have seen this February, that is essentially a rounding error.

SHIB is currently trading at $0.000006239, and while its monthly performance has been lackluster — down about 8.31% in February — history suggests that "SHIB Season" is approaching. Looking back at February 2024, it was a modest precursor to a massive 145% explosion in March. If history repeats itself, the current 24-hour trading volume of $96 million could be the calm before the storm.

CoinMarketCap Ranking with PayPal USD and Shiba Inu (SHIB)The "dethroning" of PayPal USD would be a substantial symbolic victory. PYUSD is designed to stay pinned to $1.00, and its market cap only grows when new institutional money enters the PayPal ecosystem. SHIB, on the other hand, grows through retail enthusiasm and ecosystem expansion. If SHIB can reclaim the $4 billion valuation threshold, it will not just surpass a stablecoin but also signal a shift in market psychology from "defensive stability" to "speculative appetite."

To achieve this in March, SHIB must clear the $0.0000069 resistance level. If it fails, the likely path is a slide back to $3.3 billion, but with the "March effect" looming, the big players are probably keeping a close eye on that $400 million gap.

XRP, ETH, SHIB: Key levels to watch last week of FebruaryAs we transition into the final days of February and look toward a fresh March monthly open, the road map for these three assets is clearly defined by structural floors rather than speculative ceilings.

XRP and Bitcoin (BTC): The line in the sand is 0.0000205. If we close a daily candle below this, the "escape" was a fake-out, and we go back to testing the 0.000018 abyss. On the flip side, a move above 0.0000219 validates the monthly recovery.Ethereum (ETH): The $1,900-$2,100 pocket is the battlefield. We need to see ETH hold this level despite the ongoing $15M+ distribution from Buterin. If it holds, the next stop is to reclaim $2,250.Shiba Inu (SHIB): Forget the price for a second and watch the $4.0 billion market cap. This is the psychological trigger point. If SHIB’s valuation crosses this line, expect a surge in "flippening" narratives that could carry it toward the $0.0000075 price target.The market is not screaming for a moonshot yet, but it looks like it is done falling. We are in the "digestion phase," where smart distributions and defenses set the stage for the next major leg.

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PANews reported on February 27th that, according to Cointelegraph, payment giant PayPal, in partnership with MoonPay and stablecoin platform M0, has launched PYUSDx. This product aims to help developers create stablecoins pegged to the US dollar and backed by PayPal USD (PYUSD) for use within specific applications, platforms, or ecosystems. The product is scheduled to officially launch next month.

PYUSDx is a tokenization and issuance framework provided by MoonPay Digital Assets, independent of the native PYUSD. Developers can leverage this framework to quickly launch branded, cross-chain-enabled stablecoins with reserve transparency, without having to build monetary infrastructure from scratch. Currently, the DeFi protocol USD.ai has become the first developer to build a dedicated stablecoin for AI infrastructure on this platform. It's important to note that the PYUSDx token is independent of PayPal USD and cannot be directly used, sent, or stored in PayPal or Venmo accounts.

THE BLOCK: MoonPay unveils PYUSDx framework for app-specific stablecoins tied to PayPal USD

TLDR: PYUSDx allows developers to launch application-specific stablecoins backed by PayPal USD without building full issuance systems. The platform combines MoonPay distribution tools with M0’s token framework for faster stablecoin deployment. PYUSDx tokens remain separate from PayPal and Paxos products and cannot be used inside PayPal or Venmo apps. USD.ai is the first project using PYUSDx to power a stablecoin designed for AI infrastructure payments. Thestablecoin market is shifting toward tokens built for specific apps and ecosystems. MoonPay, M0, and PayPal have introduced PYUSDx as new infrastructure for issuing application-focused stablecoins. 

The platform connects PayPal USD with developer tools designed for faster deployment. The move reflects rising demand for branded stablecoins that avoid complex back-end setup.

PYUSDx platform targets application-specific stablecoin growth PYUSDx allows developers to create their own stablecoins backed by PayPal USD without building full issuance systems. The platform combines M0’s token framework with MoonPay’s distribution infrastructure.

According to a joint announcement from MoonPay and M0, the goal is to shorten launch timelines from months to days. Developers can issue branded tokens tied directly to PYUSD reserves.

The companies pointed to data showing a sharp increase in new stablecoins exceeding $10 million in supply during 2025. That trend signals growing interest in application-level monetary systems.

PayPal described the initiative as part of a broader shift toward building financial tools directly inside apps. PYUSDx supports this approach by offering a standardized base layer for developers.

The framework also aims to reduce regulatory and operational complexity. PYUSD itself is issued by Paxos Trust Company, giving the backing asset a regulated foundation.

How PYUSDx connects developers to PayPal USD liquidity PYUSDx functions as a tokenization and issuance framework operated by MoonPay Digital Assets Limited. It enables third parties to create new stablecoins that remain fully backed by PayPal USD.

The platform supports cross-chain compatibility through M0’s ecosystem. Developers can deploy tokens across multiple blockchain networks using the same underlying reserve asset.

Reserve transparency forms another core feature. PYUSDx includes on-chain reporting tools and validation processes designed to show backing assets clearly.

The first project building on PYUSDx is USD.ai. The company is developing a stablecoin for payments tied to AI infrastructure services.

Regulatory distinctions remain central to the rollout. PYUSDx tokens are not issued by PayPal or Paxos and do not function inside PayPal or Venmo accounts.

MoonPay stated that licensing and compliance depend on the jurisdiction where each token launches. Responsibility remains with each issuer using the framework.

The companies framed PYUSDx as infrastructure rather than a consumer product. Its purpose is to let developers focus on product design while relying on existing stablecoin rails.

By connecting branded tokens to PayPal USD liquidity, the platform seeks to streamline how applications integrate stablecoin payments and settlements.

How Does the New Funding Model Work? TCS Blockchain, a transportation trade finance provider, is integrating PayPal USD (PYUSD) into its invoice financing workflow to offer same-day funding and onchain settlement for trucking carriers across North America.

Under the structure outlined by the company, carriers that complete delivery jobs can exchange the rights to their invoices for TCS utility tokens. Those tokens are then traded on the INX-Republic exchange for PYUSD. TCS subsequently collects the U.S. dollar payment from the shipper or broker when the invoice matures.

According to the release, financing flows “first move through TCS Token – on the INX-Republic exchange – and then through the PYUSD stablecoin.” The model is designed to shorten payment cycles that traditionally stretch from 30 to 180 days.

TCS says the integration could reduce costs by up to 90% compared with traditional invoice processes, while accelerating settlement.

Investor Takeaway If tokenized invoice funding gains traction, it could pressure traditional freight factoring firms by offering faster liquidity with lower fee structures.

Why Target Freight Factoring? Freight carriers often rely on factoring companies to access immediate cash. TCS noted that “carriers have been forced to sell freight invoices to factoring companies (financial intermediaries) to avoid 30-180 day pay terms – often surrendering 30% or more of their net revenues just to get paid.”

By tokenizing invoice rights and routing settlement through PYUSD, TCS is attempting to bypass that model. Instead of selling invoices at a discount to a third-party factor, carriers convert them into digital tokens and then into stablecoins, while TCS handles receivables collection.

The approach combines trade finance with blockchain settlement infrastructure. TCS settled its first freight invoice onchain in 2022 and reports that it has since utilized 30,000,000 TCS Tokens in B2B settlement flows.

Chief Executive Todd Ziegler said the company “is on pace” to record more than $1 billion in annual freight invoice flows in 2026.

What Role Does PYUSD Play? PayPal launched PYUSD in 2023 with support from Paxos. The dollar-backed stablecoin is integrated into PayPal and Venmo ecosystems and can be used for peer-to-peer transfers, merchant payments where PayPal is accepted, and cross-border remittances via Xoom.

By incorporating PYUSD into freight settlement, TCS is linking real-world trade receivables to a regulated dollar-backed digital token. In theory, this reduces settlement friction and gives carriers immediate access to a stable digital asset that can be converted or spent within PayPal’s network.

“With PayPal USD, TCS can offer even greater savings on invoice settlement to carriers, and the best fuel card on the market. The engagement is a tremendous win for truckers, freight brokerages, and at-scale carriers,” Ziegler said.

Investor Takeaway Stablecoins tied to major payment networks are moving beyond crypto-native use cases and into working-capital finance, where speed and cost can directly affect margins.

How Does This Fit Into PayPal’s Broader Strategy? PYUSD is currently among the largest stablecoins by market capitalization. Its use in trade finance extends its footprint beyond peer transfers and retail payments into business-to-business settlement.

PayPal’s equity performance has faced pressure over the past year, with the stock down more than 40% during that period. Shares were trading at $46.35 at the time of publication, up 1.58% on the session.

Reports have also surfaced that Stripe is exploring a potential acquisition of all or part of PayPal, though no transaction has been confirmed.

That said, the TCS integration adds a commercial invoice-financing use case to PYUSD’s portfolio. Whether trucking carriers adopt the tokenized structure at scale will depend on execution, liquidity on INX-Republic, and how reliably the process delivers faster funding compared with traditional factoring arrangements.

About the Author: Abdelaziz Fathi

Abdelaziz Fathi covers the intersection of forex/CFD brokerage, regulation, liquidity, fintech, and digital assets. With a B.A. in Finance and hands-on industry exposure, Aziz blends analytical rigor with clear storytelling to make complex market structure understandable for traders, brokers, and fintech professionals.

PANews reported on March 9th that, according to CoinDesk, global insurance brokerage giant Aon, in collaboration with Coinbase and Paxos, has completed a proof-of-concept test of stablecoin premium payments, using USDC (Ethereum) and PayPal USD (PYUSD, Solana) to settle insurance premiums. Aon stated that this is the first time a major global insurance brokerage has used stablecoins in premium settlement. Currently, cross-border premium settlements largely rely on bank clearing, which takes several days. This test aims to evaluate the potential advantages of on-chain payments in terms of settlement efficiency, cost, and transparency, and to prepare for the future introduction of stablecoins into the existing financial system, against the backdrop of the US passing the Genius Act, which establishes a federal regulatory framework for stablecoin issuers.

Rubio: US and Iran to continue technical consultations at the end of this month

Multiple foreign media outlets reported on the 24th that US Secretary of State Rubio said technical teams from the United States and Iran will hold further talks in Switzerland by the end of June. (Xinhua News Agency)

4 hours ago

Over the past 24 hours, total crypto market liquidations hit $606 million, with more than 130,000 traders liquidated.

According to Coinglass data, the global cryptocurrency market recorded $606 million in liquidations over the past 24 hours, including $542 million in long-position liquidations and $68.22 million in short-position liquidations. A total of 135,785 traders worldwide were liquidated in the same period, with the largest single liquidation order occurring on Binance’s BTCUSDT trading pair, valued at $12.0111 million.

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Bitcoin falls below $60,000

According to HTX market data, Bitcoin has fallen below $60,000, with a 4.3% drop in the past 24 hours.

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US Treasury Secretary: AI boom may boost productivity and help curb inflation.

US Treasury Secretary Bessent told CNBC in an interview that he hopes the Federal Reserve will remain "open-minded" about the inflation pattern after the reversal of Iran-related energy price hikes. Bessent noted that the U.S. could enter an economic environment marked by high GDP growth without a corresponding rise in traditional inflation. He cited that in the 1990s, Alan Greenspan foresaw that office modernization and the internet could drive non-inflationary growth, and allowed the economy to keep expanding. Bessent believes the U.S. has a strong chance of seeing a similar scenario again. When asked whether the Fed still needs to worry about potential inflation and whether interest rate cuts are possible this year or next, Bessent declined to comment. However, he argued that it is necessary to stay open-minded about the price or inflation impacts from the Iran conflict, and monitor inflation performance after those effects subside. Bessent also said an open mind is needed, as the AI boom could boost productivity and deliver disinflationary effects, helping inflation return to the Fed’s target level. He added that he believes Kevin Warsh will choose the optimal path that meets both the Fed’s inflation and growth mandates. Bessent also noted that Warsh previously took a hawkish stance on inflation.

4 hours ago

US stocks' intraday storage sector sees broad declines, with Western Digital and Seagate Technology both falling over 4%.

According to Bitget data, during U.S. stock trading hours, the storage sector saw broad declines: Western Digital (WDC) fell 4.47%, Seagate Technology (STX) dropped 4.17%, SanDisk (SNDK) declined 2.31%, and Micron Technology (MU) edged down 0.96%. Most optical communication concept stocks rose, with Corning (GLW) leading the gains at 9.75%, followed by Ciena (CIEN) up 3.24%, Coherent (COHR) rising 2.93%, Lumentum (LITE) gaining 2.61%, and Nokia (NOK) advancing 1.82%. Additionally, Marvell Technology (MRVL) fell 2.59% and Applied Optoelectronics (AAOI) declined 1.90%.

4 hours ago

During intraday trading in U.S. stocks, crypto-related concept stocks fell broadly, with MSTR dropping more than 7%.

According to Bitget market data, the three major U.S. stock indexes rose broadly: the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.94%, the S&P 500 increased 0.60%, and the Nasdaq rose 0.63%. Crypto-related stocks fell across the board, with declines as follows: Strategy (MSTR) down 7.33%; Circle (CRCL) down 4.35%; Bitmine (BMNR) down 3.97%; Coinbase (COIN) down 3.73%; Robinhood (HOOD) down 3.70%; Gemini (GEMI) down 3.27%; Bullish (BLSH) down 3.25%; Sharplink (SBET) down 3.19%.

4 hours ago

Wed 18 Mar 2026 ▪ 4 min read ▪ by Fenelon L.

Summarize this article with:

PayPal’s stablecoin finally leaves its American stronghold. The company has just announced its deployment in 70 countries, an expansion that confirms its global ambition. Facing the giants Tether and Circle, the battle for cross-border transfers is officially launched.

In brief PayPal deploys its PYUSD stablecoin in 68 new countries, bringing total coverage to 70 markets. Users can now receive, hold, and send PYUSD, with rewards on their holdings. The expansion targets Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and North America regions. A global offensive to democratize the stablecoin PayPal announces the expansion of its stablecoin PYUSD to 70 countries, covering Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North America. Until now limited to the United States and the United Kingdom, this deployment marks a change of scale. The goal is clear: to integrate the stablecoin at the heart of daily uses.

Practically, users can now send, receive, and hold digital dollars directly from their PayPal account. This evolution meets a real need, especially in emerging markets where international transfers remain costly and slow.

” Activating PYUSD in 70 markets offers users faster access to their funds, cheaper international transfers, and a more direct path to the global economy,” explains May Zabaneh, Head of Crypto at PayPal.

PYUSD acts here as an optimization lever. By removing certain banking intermediaries, it reduces frictions. In countries with strong monetary restrictions, it also allows retaining exposure to the dollar without immediate conversion.

Beyond simple transfers, users in new markets can also earn rewards on their PYUSD holdings, an advantage that enhances the stablecoin’s attractiveness compared to traditional bank accounts, often low-yielding in emerging countries.

A defensive… and offensive strategy against competition This expansion does not come out of nowhere. It occurs in a context of increased pressure on PayPal. Between the rise of solutions like Apple Pay or Google Pay, and the ambitions of Stripe, the group must reinvent itself.

The stablecoin then becomes a strategic tool. Since its launch in 2023 with Paxos, PYUSD has experienced rapid growth. Its market capitalization exploded by 600% in 2025, rising from about 500 million dollars at the start of the year to 4.1 billion dollars. It now ranks seventh worldwide among dollar-pegged stablecoins, according to CoinGecko.

Ranking of the eight largest dollar-pegged stablecoins by market capitalization. Source: CoinGecko This trajectory fits into an equally ambitious technical expansion strategy. In September 2025, PayPal had already extended PYUSD to nine new blockchains, including Tron and Avalanche, thanks to the LayerZero protocol. A diversification that strengthens the stablecoin’s liquidity and opens the way to broader DeFi uses.

Despite this momentum, competition remains fierce. Tether dominates largely with 171 billion dollars in capitalization, followed by Circle with 74 billion. Facing these giants, PYUSD remains modest. However, PayPal has a major asset: a base of over 430 million users and a solid reputation built over two decades in online payments.

Finally, the timing of this expansion is no coincidence. Both in the US and Europe, regulators are advancing on the framework for stablecoins. In this new regulatory context, established, compliant, and credible players have a competitive advantage that new entrants will find hard to match.

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Fenelon L.

Passionné par le Bitcoin, j'aime explorer les méandres de la blockchain et des cryptos et je partage mes découvertes avec la communauté. Mon rêve est de vivre dans un monde où la vie privée et la liberté financière sont garanties pour tous, et je crois fermement que Bitcoin est l'outil qui peut rendre cela possible.

DISCLAIMER

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.

PayPal’s stablecoin, PayPal USD (PYUSD), has reached a market capitalization of $4.11 billion, marking one of the fastest growth phases in the stablecoin space. The token has expanded rapidly since mid-2025, rising from around $500 million to over $4 billion. 

In contrast, Ripple’s RLUSD, which once touched nearly $1.6 billion, has recently pulled back to around $1.42 billion.

PYUSD Growth Driven by Real Usage, Not HypePYUSD’s rise is not just about market cycles, it is driven by actual usage.

PayPal has expanded the stablecoin across 13 blockchain networks in 2025, including Ethereum, Solana, Arbitrum, and Stellar. This multi-chain approach allows users to move funds easily across networks, making PYUSD more accessible for both payments and DeFi.

A key push came through a LayerZero integration, which allowed PYUSD to move freely across nine additional chains. 

On Solana alone, PYUSD became the second-largest stablecoin on the Kamino lending platform, with over $500 million in deposits. This shows strong demand beyond simple trading.

Even recently, Coinpedia news reported that YouTube announced that eligible U.S. creators can get paid directly in PayPal’s PYUSD stablecoin.

Yield and Rewards Attract UsersAnother key reason behind PYUSD’s growth is incentives.

PayPal introduced around 3.7% yield on PYUSD balances, giving users a reason to hold the token instead of just using it for transfers. The stablecoin is currently trading close to $1, maintaining its peg, while daily trading volumes range from $85 to $100 million.

On top of that, features like cashback rewards linked to PYUSD created a real use case for everyday users.

Ripple RLUSD Faces a Tough Competitive MarketPYUSD surged over 600% in 2025, rising to $4.11 billion in market cap, while RLUSD dropped from its peak to around $142 billion. 

Ripple’s RLUSD started strong after its launch in late 2024. It quickly grew to nearly $1.6 billion by early 2026, showing early traction. However, growth later slowed, and it dropped to around $1.42 billion.

The main reason is strong competition. 

RLUSD entered a market led by USDT at $184 billion and USDC at $77 billion, making it hard to grow fast. 

It also depends on the XRP ecosystem, and with XRP down over 40% in 2026, interest has weakened.

Signs of a Comeback for RLUSDDespite the drop, RLUSD is not out of the race.

Ripple has been expanding its technology, allowing cross-chain transfers on networks like Base and Optimism, which improves its use in DeFi.

Recent data shows growth picking up again, suggesting a possible recovery phase.

With strong growth signals returning from March 31 onwards and new infrastructure coming online, RLUSD could be setting itself up for a run at new all-time highs in the months ahead.

Story Ends Here

Trust with CoinPedia:CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.

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Solana memecoin launchpad pump.fun launched GO last week, a new onchain bounty platform that allows users to create and complete tasks in exchange for cryptocurrency rewards. The platform aims to connect people willing to pay for specific actions with participants willing to complete them, creating what Pump.fun describes GO as a marketplace where anyone can "pay anyone to do anything."

The launch has quickly attracted attention, not only because of the size of some rewards being offered, but also because of growing concerns about the types of tasks that could emerge on the platform. At the time of writing, more than $205,000 worth of bounties remain open and unclaimed.

What Is Pump.fun GO? According to Pump.fun, GO functions as an onchain bounty marketplace where users can post tasks with attached rewards, and participants can submit proof of completion to claim payouts.

The platform allows bounty creators to connect their X account and crypto wallet, create a task with specific requirements and deadlines, deposit a reward of at least $5 into escrow, and then wait for pump.fun to review submissions and determine whether participants have successfully completed the bounty.

Participants follow a similar process. They connect their accounts, complete the assigned task, submit proof, and wait for pump.fun's review decision.

Under the platform's terms, bounty creators cannot withdraw rewards after publication. Funds remain locked in escrow until the bounty expires or a winner receives payment. Pump.fun retains authority to moderate submissions and determine successful entries.

Large Rewards Draw Early Attention Several listings quickly attracted attention due to their unusual requirements and sizeable payouts. Among the highest-value bounties that have been listed is a reward of $56,971 for someone willing to skydive into a World Cup match while dressed as a memecoin mascot.

Other prominent listings include offers of $22,847 to interview Henry Nowak's killer's family, $3099 to tattoo a ticker on your forehead, and $2924 to quit your job on camera. These examples helped generate discussion around the platform's potential reach, while simultaneously raising questions about participant safety, legality, and the practical limits of crowdsourced incentives.

Forehead Tattoo Bounty Becomes Early Flashpoint One of the platform's viral incidents involved an Indian participant known online as @Arivulife. A bounty offered 40 $SOL to anyone willing to tattoo "$boutywork" on their forehead. The participant accepted the challenge, visited a tattoo shop, recorded the process, and had the text permanently tattooed on his forehead.

However, the reward never arrived. The bounty creator later argued that the listing contained a typo and that the intended text should have been "$Bountywork" with an additional "n". As a result, the payout request was denied.

Rather than ending there, the story took another turn when traders launched a Solana memecoin called $BOUTYWORK using the participant's selfie as its logo. The token reached a market capitalization of $800,000 and generated more than $43,000 in creator fees for the tattoo recipient.

Criticism Arrives Almost Immediately The platform's launch also attracted criticism from outside the crypto ecosystem. New York Governor Kathy Hochul publicly condemned the concept, posting: "Offering a bounty on the first bill introduced to ban this dystopian nightmare."

The comment amplified broader concerns surrounding the platform and helped push discussion beyond crypto circles into political and regulatory conversations.

Reaction from crypto participants has been sharply divided. Nick Almond, Head of Governance at Jito, responded to the platform's launch by writing: "Jesus Christ, this is going to end badly."

Other commentators raised concerns that open-ended bounty systems could incentivize increasingly dangerous behavior. One user wrote, "There's no way this doesn't become assassination markets."

Others focused on the platform's moderation model, particularly Pump.fun's authority to determine successful submissions. Referring to the terms and conditions, one commentator wrote, "I will NOT get arrested just to maybe be picked by pf after"

Some criticism centered on ethical concerns. One social media user argued: "This is a horrible market. It's like playing with poor people's lives and paying them to entertain you”, adding, “It should be banned immediately."

Supporters, however, contend that bounty markets simply create voluntary transactions between willing participants and that responsibility ultimately rests with individual users.

Echoes of Previous Pump.fun Controversies The controversy surrounding GO follows a pattern that Pump.fun has faced before. In November 2024, the platform came under intense scrutiny over its livestreaming feature. During that period, streamers performed increasingly extreme acts in attempts to gain attention and increase token values.

Reports from the time described incidents involving threats, abuse, self-degrading behavior, and other harmful conduct designed to attract viewers. The backlash prompted calls throughout the Solana ecosystem for stronger moderation.

Pump.fun co-founder Alon acknowledged concerns at the time, stating that moderation was in place but not perfect. He argued that similar challenges affect many online platforms and emphasized that users could choose what content they viewed. While the livestreaming feature generated significant attention, the trend ultimately proved short-lived and failed to become a lasting part of the platform's ecosystem. The episode highlighted both pump.fun's ability to rapidly attract user engagement and the challenges of sustaining controversial product experiments over time.

Pump.fun’s GO platform has already garnered attention, but it remains to be seen if onchain bounties can achieve lasting product-market fit or ultimately go the way of the previous livestream experiment.

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Jito’s Lucas Bruder Joins The Big Picture

PANews reported on June 9th that, according to CoinDesk, the GO bounty feature on Pump.fun, the Memecoin issuance platform, has sparked controversy. This feature allows users to post tasks and receive rewards upon completion. One user posted a task requiring the tattooing of a token code on their forehead. A user named Arivu completed the task, but tattooed "$boutywork," a misspelled word in the task description, instead of the correct spelling. This misspelling subsequently became the tradable token BOUTYWORK, whose market capitalization once exceeded $600,000 and whose 24-hour trading volume exceeded $3.5 million.

Other controversial tasks included interviewing homeless people in Los Angeles slums, drinking an entire bottle of alcohol, shaving one's head, and shouting "Jobcoin." Observers have criticized the crypto industry, saying it has become an industry that "forces the poor to do shameful things." Pump.fun has previously been embroiled in controversy for livestreaming suicide threats and death threats. Industry insiders point out that such behavior is damaging the reputation of mainstream cryptocurrency adoption.

In a single 24-hour stretch, roughly 42,000 new tokens appeared on Solana. The overwhelming majority were minted through Pump.fun, the no-code launchpad that has quietly become one of the most prolific token factories in crypto history.

That number is staggering on its own. For context, Pump.fun has facilitated over 11.9 million token launches since it went live on January 19, 2024, and has accounted for as much as 83% of all Solana token launches on its busiest days.

The Pump.fun machine Pump.fun’s pitch is deceptively simple: anyone can create a token without writing a single line of code. The platform uses bonding curves to enable instantaneous trading the moment a token is born, meaning there’s no waiting period, no liquidity bootstrapping phase, and virtually no barrier to entry.

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That frictionless design has turned into a revenue machine. Cumulative revenue generated by the platform exceeds $800 million, all from a modest 1% trading fee.

The platform’s business model got even more ambitious in July 2025, when Pump.fun launched its own native PUMP token through an ICO that raised approximately $1.3 billion. That figure included around $600 million from public contributions and roughly $700 million from private investors.

More recently, in May 2026, Pump.fun introduced USDC trading pairs for new token launches. The idea is straightforward: pairing freshly minted tokens against a stablecoin instead of solely against SOL gives traders a more stable denominator.

The survival rate problem Fewer than 2% of tokens created on Pump.fun ever graduate to decentralized exchanges like Raydium. That means for every hundred tokens minted, roughly 98 of them never achieve enough traction, liquidity, or community interest to move beyond the bonding curve stage.

Pump.fun has consistently hovered in the 71% to 83% range of all Solana token launches on peak activity days.

What this means for investors For traders who thrive on volatility, this environment offers exactly what they’re looking for. Early entries into tokens that do manage to graduate to DEXs can produce outsized returns in compressed timeframes. But the math is unforgiving: with a sub-2% graduation rate, the overwhelming majority of bets placed on newly launched Pump.fun tokens will go to zero.

The introduction of USDC trading pairs adds an interesting wrinkle. By decoupling new token prices from SOL’s own volatility, Pump.fun is making participation slightly more palatable for traders who want speculative exposure without the added variable of their base currency swinging 5% to 10% in a day.

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

Table of contents

Quick Answer: Creating a meme coin on Solana in 2026 takes less than 10 minutes and costs under $1 using Pump.fun or LetsBONK.fun — no coding required. Connect a Phantom or Solflare wallet with a small amount of SOL, go to your chosen launchpad, fill in your token name, ticker, supply, and image, then deploy. Your token is immediately tradeable on the platform’s bonding curve and graduates to PumpSwap or Raydium once it hits the liquidity threshold. Creating the token is trivial; building the community and liquidity that make it survive beyond launch day is where most projects fail.

Key Takeaways Solana is the dominant meme coin chain in 2026 — ultra-low fees (~0.000005 SOL per transaction), 400ms block times, and an ecosystem purpose-built for token speculation Pump.fun remains the most widely used launchpad; LetsBONK.fun overtook it in market share in mid-2025 (66.5% vs 22%), offering higher creator revenue (0.1% vs 0.05%) Creating a meme coin costs under 0.1 SOL (~$15) on launchpads; manual SPL token creation with Raydium liquidity requires ~0.8 SOL+ Only ~1.5% of Pump.fun tokens ever “graduate” (hit the $69K liquidity threshold to move from bonding curve to PumpSwap) — the vast majority become worthless within hours A Phantom or Solflare wallet is required; fund it with at least 0.5–1 SOL before starting Key post-launch success factors: Twitter/Telegram community, influencer mentions, DEXScreener trending status, and ideally an Elon Musk or celebrity reference in the concept Meme coin creation carries significant financial risk — most tokens go to zero; never invest more than you can afford to lose entirely Why Solana Is the #1 Meme Coin Chain in 2026 Solana became the default chain for meme coin creation for three structural reasons:

Speed: Solana processes transactions in 400 milliseconds with ~400,000 TPS capacity — fast enough that buying a new meme coin token feels as instant as clicking a button, critical for the “ape in early” psychology that drives meme coin speculation.

Cost: Transaction fees on Solana are approximately $0.000005 — essentially free. Creating a token costs under $1 on launchpads. Compare this to Ethereum where gas fees alone can exceed $50–$200 for token deployments.

Ecosystem: Pump.fun, LetsBONK.fun, PumpSwap, Raydium, Jupiter, DEXScreener, and DexTools are all deeply integrated with Solana, creating a seamless pipeline from token creation to trading discovery to viral distribution.

As blockchainreporter has reported, Pump.fun tokens dominate Solana DEXScreener charts — all top 10 trending Solana coins on DEXScreener in a single day were launched through Pump.fun, with Introvert Coin posting a 1,508% gain within 11 hours of launch.

What You Need Before You Start 1. A Solana wallet

Phantom (phantom.app) — most popular; browser extension and mobile app Solflare — alternative with strong hardware wallet support Backpack — newer option popular with advanced users Install the browser extension or mobile app, create a new wallet, and back up your seed phrase securely — this is non-negotiable.

2. SOL for fees

Launchpad creation (Pump.fun / LetsBONK.fun): ~0.02–0.1 SOL Initial liquidity (optional but recommended): 0.5–2 SOL+ Manual SPL token creation + Raydium liquidity pool: ~0.8–1.5 SOL Buy SOL on Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, or directly via MoonPay inside Phantom 3. Token assets

Token name (e.g., “DogeFather”, “BabyPepe”, “Musk Inu”) Ticker symbol (3–6 characters, e.g., DGFR, BPEPE, MINU) Token image (PNG or GIF, ideally 500×500px — this is your most important branding asset) Short description (1–2 sentences for the launchpad listing) Social links (Twitter/X, Telegram — set these up before launch) 4. Concept The meme concept is more important than any technical detail. In 2026, winning themes include: animal memes (dogs, cats, frogs), celebrity parodies (Elon Musk, Trump, AI figures), current viral events, internet culture references, and AI-themed names. Research trending Twitter hashtags and Reddit threads before finalizing your concept.

Method 1: Create a Meme Coin on Pump.fun (No-Code, Fastest) Pump.fun is the default starting point for most meme coin creators. It handles smart contracts, bonding curve pricing, and initial liquidity automatically — no coding required.

How Pump.fun works:

Every token launches on a bonding curve: price increases as more people buy, decreasing as they sell When a token reaches $69,000 in liquidity, it “graduates” — the bonding curve ends and the token migrates to PumpSwap (Pump.fun’s native DEX, launched March 2025) with a locked LP As blockchainreporter reported, PumpSwap launched with zero migration fees (down from 6 SOL), instant migrations, improved liquidity, and creator revenue sharing Step-by-step:

Step 1: Go to pump.fun and connect your wallet Navigate to pump.fun in your browser. Click “Connect Wallet” and select Phantom or Solflare. Approve the connection in your wallet pop-up.

Step 2: Click “Create a new coin” Located on the homepage. You’ll see a token creation form.

Step 3: Fill in your token details

Name — your meme coin’s full name Ticker — 3–6 character symbol Description — 1–3 sentences; include references that will resonate with your target community Image — upload your token logo (PNG/GIF, square format recommended) Twitter/X link — strongly recommended; copy directly from your new account Telegram link — strongly recommended; set up a group before launch Website — optional but adds credibility Step 4: Set your initial buy (optional but important) Pump.fun allows you to buy a portion of the supply immediately at launch, before anyone else can. This provides initial liquidity and signals creator confidence. Even 0.1–0.5 SOL here shows community commitment — but be aware this also means you hold tokens at risk.

Step 5: Click “Create coin” and confirm in your wallet Pump.fun charges approximately 0.02 SOL (~$3) as a creation fee. Confirm the transaction in your Phantom/Solflare wallet. Your token is now live on the Solana blockchain.

Step 6: Share your token page immediately Your token’s Pump.fun page URL is your primary marketing asset in the first hour. Post it on Twitter/X, Telegram, and relevant Discord servers immediately. The first 30 minutes after launch are critical — bonding curve tokens that don’t attract buyers quickly become dormant.

Method 2: Create a Meme Coin on LetsBONK.fun LetsBONK.fun overtook Pump.fun as Solana’s largest meme coin launchpad in market share during mid-2025. As blockchainreporter reported, LetsBONK.fun captured 66.5% of Solana’s memecoin launchpad market while Pump.fun fell to 22%.

Key advantages over Pump.fun:

Higher creator revenue: 0.1% per trade vs Pump.fun’s 0.05% BONK token integration: BONK holders receive additional benefits Slightly different community: tends to attract a different speculator base than Pump.fun Process: Nearly identical to Pump.fun — connect wallet, fill in token details, set initial buy, deploy. The UI is similar enough that anyone familiar with Pump.fun can use LetsBONK.fun within minutes.

Method 3: Create an SPL Token Manually (More Control) For creators who want full control over supply distribution, liquidity, and token authorities, the manual SPL token route via Smithii or Solana Token Creator is the better choice.

Why choose manual SPL creation:

Control over initial token distribution (airdrops, presales, team allocation) Ability to launch directly on Raydium with custom liquidity amounts Revoke mint and freeze authorities for increased trust and rugpull resistance Not limited to Pump.fun’s bonding curve structure Tools needed:

Smithii.io — Solana Token Creator with LP creation, no coding required Raydium (raydium.io) — for creating your liquidity pool Phantom or Solflare wallet with 0.8–1.5 SOL General steps:

Go to Smithii’s Solana Token Creator Enter token name, symbol, supply (typically 1 billion tokens for meme coins), decimals (6 recommended for SOL meme coins), and image Configure authorities: consider revoking freeze authority (prevents anyone from freezing wallets) and mint authority (prevents new tokens from being minted) — these improve community trust Deploy the token (fee ~0.1–0.3 SOL) Create a Raydium liquidity pool pairing your token with SOL Optionally burn your LP tokens to demonstrate permanence Launchpad Comparison 2026 PlatformCreation CostCreator RevenueGraduation TargetDEX After GraduationBest ForPump.fun~0.02 SOL0.05% per trade$69K liquidityPumpSwapFastest launch, widest audienceLetsBONK.fun~0.02 SOL0.1% per tradeSimilarRaydium/PumpSwapHigher creator yield, BONK communityPumpup.ai~Lower than PumpAI discovery toolsSimilarRaydiumAI-powered trending toolsSmithii / Manual SPL~0.8–1.5 SOL total100% controlN/A (direct Raydium)Raydium from day 1Full control, custom distribution Pumpup.ai emerged as a second major Solana meme coin launchpad, offering AI-powered hot lists and approximately 16 SOL lower liquidity costs per token than Pump.fun.

After Launch: What Determines Success or Failure The token creation itself is the easy part. Over 2 million tokens were launched on Pump.fun in 2025; only ~1.5% graduated. Here’s what separates the few that survive from the overwhelming majority that go to zero within hours:

Twitter/X Community Post your token immediately on Twitter/X with a dedicated account. Crypto Twitter influencers (KOLs) with audiences in the 50K–500K range are the primary viral distribution vector for Solana meme coins. Even one retweet from an active crypto account can 10–100x volume overnight.

Telegram Group Create a Telegram community before launch. A token with an active, growing Telegram group signals social proof to potential buyers on Pump.fun or DEXScreener. Use a pinned message with token details, contract address, and buy link.

DEXScreener Trending DEXScreener (dexscreener.com) is the primary discovery tool for Solana meme coin traders. When your token trends on DEXScreener’s “Hot Pairs” or “New Pairs” lists, volume spikes dramatically. High transaction count and consistent buy activity are the metrics that drive trending placement.

Volume and Bot Activity Many creators use volume bots (legal, available through tools like Smithii) to simulate transaction activity and boost trending scores. While controversial, this is standard practice in the Solana meme coin market and can be the difference between a token being discovered and being ignored.

Influencer Mentions Elon Musk, Donald Trump, or any major celebrity mentioning a meme concept — even indirectly — can drive explosive short-term demand. Many creators specifically build tokens around trending celebrity names or events for this reason. Note: using real celebrity names or trademarks carries legal risk in many jurisdictions.

Narrative Timing The most successful Solana meme coins launch during or immediately after a viral news event. Having a concept ready to deploy in minutes when a major meme breaks is a strategic advantage.

Risks and What to Expect Realistically Most tokens fail. On July 30, 2025, 2,008 meme coins were created on Pump.fun; only 31 graduated (~1.54%). The overwhelming majority of tokens lose all value within 24–72 hours as initial buyers take profits and liquidity drains.

Rugpull risk. Meme coin markets are full of bad actors who create tokens, drive initial hype, and then sell all their holdings (“rug pull”) — collapsing the price and leaving other holders with worthless tokens. As a creator, never sell all your holdings abruptly and be transparent about your allocations.

Regulatory risk. Launching a token that resembles a security (promises of profit, investment returns) can attract regulatory attention. In 2026, US and EU regulators have become more active in pursuing meme coin creators who make explicit profit promises.

Tax implications. In most jurisdictions, creating a token and selling it is a taxable event. Trading profits from meme coins are typically subject to capital gains tax. Maintain records of all transactions.

Frequently Asked Questions How much does it cost to create a meme coin on Solana in 2026? Using Pump.fun or LetsBONK.fun, the cost is approximately 0.02–0.05 SOL (~$3–$8) for the token creation fee alone. If you add an initial buy to provide early liquidity, budget 0.5–2 SOL total. For manual SPL token creation with a Raydium liquidity pool, expect ~0.8–1.5 SOL minimum. All costs exclude the capital you allocate to initial liquidity.

Do I need coding skills to create a meme coin on Solana? No. Pump.fun, LetsBONK.fun, and Smithii's no-code token creator allow anyone to deploy a Solana meme coin with zero programming knowledge. You need only a wallet, SOL for fees, and a token concept with image.

What is the difference between Pump.fun and LetsBONK.fun? Both are Solana meme coin launchpads using bonding curve mechanics, but LetsBONK.fun offers higher creator revenue (0.1% per trade vs 0.05%) and integrates with the BONK token ecosystem. As of mid-2025, LetsBONK.fun held 66.5% of Solana launchpad market share versus Pump.fun's 22%. Process and cost are nearly identical.

What does "graduation" mean on Pump.fun? Graduation refers to a token reaching $69,000 in cumulative liquidity on its bonding curve, triggering automatic migration to PumpSwap (Pump.fun's native DEX) with the LP locked. Approximately 1.5% of Pump.fun tokens graduate. Most tokens never graduate and lose all value before reaching this threshold.

Can my meme coin make me money? Meme coins are highly speculative. A small number of Solana meme coins have returned 1,000x or more to early holders; the vast majority return zero. Success depends almost entirely on community growth, timing, and viral distribution — not on technical factors. Never invest funds you cannot afford to lose entirely.

THE BLOCK: Pump.fun activity craters 80% in three months, dragging Solana fees lower as traders rotate into perps

PANews reported on June 17th that, according to The Block, activity on Pump.fun, the once dominant meme coin launch platform on Solana, continues to deteriorate, with token graduation rates, revenue, and network fees all declining sharply. The 7-day average Pump.fun token graduation rate dropped to 0.26% last week, a decrease of 80% in three months. Daily revenue in June was only about $800,000, far below the $4.8 million six months ago. The PUMP token has fallen 40% over the past six months.

The decline of Pump.fun has impacted the Solana network, with daily fees dropping to 5,300 SOL in June, significantly lower than the 33,000 SOL in January. Analysts believe that a large amount of capital previously invested in the Solana meme has shifted to perpetual contract trading on Hyperliquid, consistent with the rapid growth of HIP-3.

Pump.fun, the Solana-based memecoin factory, has launched a new bounty marketplace called GO that lets anyone post a task with crypto rewards held in escrow. Complete the task, get paid.

The kinds of tasks people are posting, and completing, range from absurd to genuinely alarming.

From toilet bowls to mountain peaks GO launched on June 4 and immediately became a content machine. One of the highest-profile bounties offers roughly $50,000 to $59,000 in SOL for someone willing to place a bet on prediction market Howl.com from the summit of Mount Everest.

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Other bounties have been more achievable, if no less questionable. Multiple users have claimed rewards for getting forehead tattoos, with at least one misspelled result becoming the foundation for an entirely new memecoin.

That token, BOUTYWORK, reportedly hit a market cap exceeding $600,000. A typo, permanently inked on someone’s face, became a six-figure speculative asset.

The platform operates on a straightforward mechanic. Users post bounties funded in SOL or associated memecoins. The crypto sits in escrow until the task is verified as complete. Hundreds of bounties have appeared since launch, with over $336,000 in unclaimed rewards sitting on the platform as of mid-June.

The $690,000 problem Shortly after GO launched, a bounty related to suicide appeared on the platform, valued at approximately $690,000. The backlash was swift and loud across social media, with critics calling the platform reckless for allowing such content to surface at all.

Pump.fun says it moderates bounties, but the approach appears reactive rather than preventive. A bounty has to exist, and often gain attention, before it gets flagged and addressed.

The viral loop economy What makes GO particularly notable is the feedback loop it creates. A bounty gets posted. Someone completes it. The completion itself becomes content. That content spawns a new memecoin. The memecoin generates trading volume. The trading volume attracts more attention to the platform.

BOUTYWORK is the clearest example. A misspelled tattoo bounty led to a token that briefly became a tradeable asset with real market cap. The person with the tattoo became a walking advertisement for both the platform and the token.

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

Pump.fun’s new crypto bounty feature is facing growing criticism after users began posting and completing tasks involving public humiliation, tattoos, workplace confrontations and risky stunts in exchange for digital asset rewards. The feature, called GO, allows users to create bounties, lock crypto rewards in escrow and pay participants who submit approved proof of completion.

The Solana-based memecoin launchpad introduced GO in early June with the premise that users could pay others to complete public challenges. Since launch, the platform has reportedly paid out more than $370,000, while hundreds of open bounties remain available. Some tasks have been harmless or charitable, including feeding stray cats and donating clothes. Others have drawn criticism for encouraging degrading, unsafe or legally questionable behavior.

Reported bounties have included putting a face in a toilet, quitting a job on camera, getting crypto-themed tattoos and attempting extreme promotional stunts. One widely cited example involved a man in the Philippines reportedly receiving $15,000 after tattooing “bounty.fun” on his forehead. Other listings have included large rewards for climbing Mount Everest or attending World Cup matches while displaying crypto-related signs.

Bounties revive moderation concerns The controversy has revived concerns that Pump.fun’s product design rewards shock value over safety. Critics argue that the bounty model can pressure economically vulnerable users into performing humiliating or dangerous acts for small payouts, while project creators and token promoters benefit from viral attention.

The structure of GO makes those concerns more acute. Users can create public tasks tied to memecoins or online campaigns, while participants compete to produce content that attracts attention and qualifies for payment. Pump.fun acts as an intermediary by holding funds in escrow and reviewing submissions, but its terms place responsibility for actions, wallet security, submissions and legal compliance on users.

That model creates a difficult moderation challenge. If bounties are too open-ended, they can quickly become vehicles for harassment, exploitation or unsafe public behavior. If the platform intervenes too aggressively, it risks weakening the viral, permissionless appeal that made the feature attractive to memecoin communities in the first place.

The backlash also follows Pump.fun’s earlier livestream controversies, when users performed extreme or offensive acts to promote tokens and attract traders. The platform previously paused livestreaming after incidents raised safety and moderation concerns. GO is now being criticized as a new version of the same problem: financial rewards attached to viral spectacle.

Memecoin incentives face scrutiny The broader issue is not only individual stunts, but the incentive structure behind memecoin promotion. Pump.fun became one of crypto’s most visible retail trading platforms by making it easy to launch Solana-based tokens. That helped fuel a wave of speculative coins, many of which relied on online attention rather than underlying utility.

GO extends that attention economy into real-world actions. Instead of merely posting memes or promoting tokens online, users can now fund public performances designed to generate clicks, outrage and price speculation. That may increase engagement, but it also blurs the line between marketing, gambling, entertainment and exploitation.

For regulators and consumer protection advocates, the feature raises several questions. Platforms may face scrutiny if paid tasks encourage trespassing, harassment, self-harm, unsafe travel, workplace disruption or other unlawful conduct. Even when tasks are user-generated, a platform that hosts, promotes and approves bounty submissions may face pressure to explain its safeguards.

The reputational risk for Pump.fun is also rising. The platform is already associated with volatile memecoin trading, pump-and-dump accusations and speculative retail behavior. A bounty system built around viral dares could deepen the perception that the platform profits from reckless incentives rather than sustainable crypto adoption.

Supporters may argue that GO is simply a marketplace for user-created tasks and that participants choose whether to take part. But the criticism reflects a broader discomfort with crypto products that convert financial desperation and online humiliation into tradable attention.

For now, GO appears to be drawing both activity and controversy. The more important question is whether Pump.fun can moderate the feature before it produces a serious safety incident. If it cannot, the bounty marketplace may become another example of memecoin culture pushing product growth faster than platforms, users and regulators can manage the consequences.