Stablecoin issuers, reserves, bank settlement, payments and regulation, with reporting on USDT, USDC and other digital currencies.
A crypto user lost nearly $50M in USDT after copying a poisoned wallet address from transaction history. The incident highlights how address spoofing scams exploit habit and speed, not technical flaws.
StraitsX plans to bring its Singapore dollar and US dollar stablecoins to Solana by early 2026, targeting payments, DeFi and AI-driven use cases. The move reflects growing demand for regulated, high-speed stablecoin infrastructure as real-world adoption accelerates across Asia.
Ripple is piloting its RLUSD stablecoin on Ethereum layer 2s including Optimism and Base using native crosschain transfers. The move signals a broader multichain push as Ripple positions RLUSD as a regulated, scalable stablecoin for both DeFi and institutional use.
Visa has launched a global stablecoin advisory unit to help banks and fintechs deploy dollar-backed tokens for payments. The move reflects how stablecoins have become crypto’s most widely adopted use case, while Bitcoin increasingly settles into a store-of-value role rather than a payments rail.
UK FCA will fast-track pound stablecoin payments in 2026 with a new sandbox for issuers, as the region accelerates efforts to stay ahead in global stablecoin regulation.
Polygon’s Madhugiri hard fork increases throughput, reduces consensus time to one second, and adds new Fusaka EIPs to improve efficiency. The upgrade strengthens Polygon’s foundation for stablecoin and RWA growth, following recent major improvements and a brief network outage.
Quick Take: Circle has received approval to operate as a Money Services Provider in Abu Dhabi, aligning with the UAE’s broader push to expand its crypto and DeFi regulatory framework. The move positions USDC for wider adoption across the region as the UAE continues to establish itself as a leading global hub for digital assets.
President Trump defended pardoning Binance’s CZ, claiming no personal connection and calling the case politically motivated. He dismissed reports linking Binance to a $2B stablecoin deal tied to Trump’s WLFI platform, emphasizing his focus on “making crypto great for America.” The move underscores his pro-crypto stance — and reignites debate over political influence in digital asset regulation.
AllUnity’s euro-backed stablecoin EURAU, backed by Deutsche Bank and DWS, is going multichain using Chainlink’s CCIP. The MiCA-regulated stablecoin will connect to Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, and other major networks, marking a key step toward building Europe’s interoperable and regulated tokenized finance ecosystem.
Circle’s Arc blockchain is gaining momentum as BDACS prepares to launch South Korea’s first won-backed stablecoin, KRW1, connecting Korean fintech to global crypto infrastructure. The move comes amid debate over whether banks should control stablecoin issuance — highlighting Korea’s balancing act between regulation and innovation.
Citi Ventures has invested in London-based BVNK, underscoring Wall Street’s growing embrace of stablecoin infrastructure. The move follows improving U.S. regulation, particularly under the GENIUS Act, and aligns with Citi’s broader push into blockchain payments and digital assets.
Rezolve AI has acquired Smartpay, a fintech platform processing $1B in annual USDt payments, to expand its AI-driven blockchain payment network across Latin America and Africa. The deal strengthens Rezolve’s partnership with Tether and highlights the growing convergence of AI, payments, and crypto adoption worldwide.
Vietnam’s crypto trading pilot remains stalled as no companies have applied to join the program. The country’s $379 million capital requirement and bans on stablecoins and tokenized securities have discouraged participation, putting it out of step with regional leaders like Singapore and Hong Kong.
Multicoin Capital’s Tushar Jain says the GENIUS Act could signal the end of banks’ dominance over low-interest deposits, as stablecoins offer faster transactions and up to 10x higher yields. With Big Tech reportedly preparing to enter the market, a $6.6 trillion liquidity shift may soon reshape how consumers save, spend, and earn.
Paxos Labs’ Bhau Kotecha says AI agents could transform stablecoin markets by routing liquidity to the most efficient issuers, turning fragmentation into an advantage. With stablecoins surpassing $300 billion and companies like Cloudflare and Coinbase exploring AI-powered payment solutions, AI agents may soon become the dominant force in stablecoin adoption.
Kazakhstan is piloting both a CBDC (digital tenge) and a state-backed stablecoin (Evo), insisting they are complementary rather than competing. The digital tenge aims to strengthen sovereignty and interbank settlement, while Evo enables ecosystem integration and global crypto participation. Together, they anchor Kazakhstan’s ambition to become Central Asia’s crypto hub.
OpenAI has reached a record $500 billion valuation, overtaking SpaceX to become the world’s largest startup. While crypto companies like Tether and Coinbase trail far behind, analysts see synergies between AI agents and stablecoins, with bots already driving the majority of stablecoin transactions. Yet, questions remain over the sustainability of AI’s energy needs as the sector scales at breakneck speed.
Tether’s USDT and Circle’s USDC still dominate the stablecoin market but have slipped from over 91% market share in 2024 to 84% today. Analysts say yield-bearing competitors like Ethena’s USDe and incoming bank-backed tokens will further erode their dominance, signaling the end of the stablecoin duopoly.