Tag: Adoption & Partnerships

Visa is expanding its stablecoin payment offerings through a new arrangement with crypto infrastructure provider Zerohash. The integration allows eligible Visa Direct clients to prefund accounts and send payouts using stablecoins, a move designed to offer businesses greater liquidity management flexibility outside traditional banking hours and recipients the option to receive payouts directly in stablecoins.

According to Zerohash, the enhanced capabilities will be accessible via Visa Direct, Visa’s money movement network. “Unlocking stablecoin use cases at the core network level further accelerates adoption globally,” stated Edward Woodford, Zerohash founder and CEO. This functionality enables businesses to fund Visa Direct accounts with stablecoins prior to making payments, thereby managing liquidity more effectively outside standard banking hours. Recipients also have the choice to receive their payouts in stablecoins.

Zerohash, founded in 2017, provides crypto infrastructure for financial institutions. The company applied for a national trust bank charter in March to expand its custody and settlement services. In July, Zerohash was instrumental in powering Morgan Stanley’s introduction of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana trading on E*Trade.

This partnership represents Visa’s latest initiative in the stablecoin sector. In January, Visa collaborated with BVNK to pilot stablecoin prefunding and payouts on Visa Direct. This was followed by the launch of the Visa Stablecoin Platform in July, which equips banks and fintechs with tools to issue, hold, and transfer stablecoins, integrating them into existing treasury and payment systems.

“Stablecoins are creating new opportunities to make money movement faster and more flexible, particularly for cross-border use cases,” said Mark Nelsen, Visa’s global head of product. “Working with Zerohash helps us bring stablecoin capabilities to our clients at scale, in a way that’s reliable and interoperable with the financial systems they already rely on today.”

Why This Matters

The materials describe a narrow update: Visa is expanding its stablecoin payment offerings by partnering with Zerohash. The integration lets businesses fund Visa Direct accounts with stablecoins before making payments, allowing them to manage liquidity outside traditional banking hours.

Broader Context

Source materials place the factual news in this context: Visa is expanding its stablecoin payment offerings through an arrangement with crypto infrastructure provider Zerohash, allowing eligible Visa Direct clients to prefund accounts and send payouts using stablecoins.

Circle has announced the formation of the founding validator cohort for its new open blockchain network, Arc, with a public mainnet launch scheduled for September 16, 2026. The network is currently in a private mainnet phase, hosting over 100 ecosystem and institutional builders.

The founding validator group includes major financial institutions such as BlackRock, The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), Galaxy, Global Payments, ICE, Mastercard, MoneyGram, SBI Group, Standard Chartered, Sumitomo Corporation, and Visa. Circle stated that this group represents a model where institutions building on the network also contribute to its security, aiming to establish a foundation of trusted and globally distributed operators capable of supporting secure and scalable on-chain financial applications.

Institutional Integration and Asset Tokenization

BlackRock is expected to deploy its BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL) on Arc, leveraging the network’s native USDC integration. This setup is intended to allow institutional investors to subscribe to, redeem, and deploy fund assets within a single on-chain environment. Furthermore, Circle is collaborating with DTCC to enable the tokenization of assets custodied by The Depository Trust Company on Arc, with this integration planned to commence in the second half of 2027. The primary objective is to allow market participants to utilize third-party applications on the blockchain for stablecoin-native settlement against DTC-tokenized assets. DTCC indicated that this integration aligns with its multi-chain strategy, and DTC-tokenized assets will retain the same protections as traditionally held assets.

Mastercard’s Chief Product Officer, Jorn Lambert, commented on the development, stating, “As stablecoins and other digital assets move into real-world payments, settlement, and treasury flows, Mastercard is focused on helping customers operate across an increasingly diverse payments ecosystem. Our participation as a founding validator on Arc reflects that commitment — supporting trusted, interoperable infrastructure that can help connect emerging blockchain networks with the broader financial systems businesses rely on every day.”

Ecosystem Support and Product Suite

The Arc network is set to be supported by a range of DeFi protocols and capital allocators, including Aave, Aerodrome, FalconX, Galaxy, GSR, Keyrock, Morpho, Nonco, Uniswap, and XFX, which will facilitate borrowing, trading, and on-chain capital deployment. Payment providers such as Rain, Thunes, and Wirex will handle stablecoin payment and settlement flows. Additionally, Binance Wallet, Chainlink, Fireblocks, Kraken, Ledger, MetaMask, Uniswap Labs, and Upbit will provide access to USDC on Arc, custody services, and cross-chain asset movement.

At its launch, Circle plans to introduce a product suite for Arc. This suite will include tools for common on-chain workflows, AI-powered applications, smart contract development, tokenized real-world asset management, and interfaces designed for developers, users, and agents. The public mainnet launch is scheduled for September 16, 2026, with the DTCC integration expected to begin in the latter half of 2027.

Why This Matters

The materials describe a narrow update: Circle has launched the founding validator cohort for its new open blockchain network, Arc. The exact nature and extent of ‘AI-powered applications’ to be introduced at launch.

Broader Context

Source materials place the factual news in this context: Wall Street Meets Web3: BlackRock, Visa, and Mastercard Back Circle’s New Arc Blockchain.

The Pi Network development team, known for its consistent efforts to enhance the network through updates, new features, and redesigns, has recently seen a notable shift in investor sentiment.

Payment Partnership with RoboPay

The latest announcement from the Pi Network team details a new partnership with RoboPay, designating it as a payment partner. This collaboration is set to provide “tens of millions of Pi users” with direct access to robotic services using their existing Pi holdings. This means users will be able to spend Pi for a range of services, including grocery deliveries, property patrols, industrial inspections, and humanoid assistance.

RoboPay is an on-chain system developed by the non-profit Fabric Foundation, designed to enable AI agents to autonomously discover, hire, and pay robots.

“This partnership marks a fundamental shift in how humans are able to interact with robotics,” the announcement stated. “Instead of purchasing robots themselves, users will be able to simply purchase outcomes. Physical intelligence becomes an on-demand service that is discoverable, programmable, and instantly payable through a shared economic network.”

Token Launch Strategy and Testnet Engagement

The Core Team has consistently differentiated its token launch approach from other blockchain projects, which typically retain raised funds. Pi Network, in contrast, directs committed Pi coins into a liquidity pool paired with newly issued ecosystem assets.

In a recent update, the team elaborated on how this process is designed to boost user engagement and real-world application functions. Over 240,000 Pioneers participated in the distribution of the Testnet token, SLICE. According to the team, users committed approximately 16 million Test-Pi for 10 million SLICE tokens.

The newly issued asset, which is exclusively in test mode and will not transition to the mainnet, is linked to the game “Slice of Pi.” Its purpose is to test engagement-based bonuses and prioritize product utility over capital raising.

Protocol Upgrades and Node Operator Requirements

Pi Network confirmed the completion of protocol version 25 at the end of July and set August 11 as the deadline for the deployment of version 26. The team described this as a significant milestone leading to the final planned upgrade, version 27, following eight successful migrations.

Subsequently, a reminder was issued to node operators, emphasizing the necessity of upgrading their systems by the specified deadline to avoid disconnection from the network.

Recent Price Action for PI Token

The PI token recently experienced a significant downturn, plummeting to an all-time low of just over $0.07 less than a month ago. This decline followed a series of breakdowns and the loss of key support levels.

However, the bulls intervened, driving the price up to $0.10 within days. This rally was short-lived, as another rejection occurred, pushing PI back below $0.09 and $0.08. Despite this, the support level at $0.074 held, and the asset has maintained a position above $0.08 for several consecutive days.

Earlier today, the token saw a jump from under $0.083 to over $0.086 before facing resistance. It currently trades just below that mark. Nevertheless, the price remains 22% higher than its mid-July all-time low. A substantial portion of these gains can be attributed to the team’s announcement regarding the upcoming version 26.

BlackRock has launched 12 new tokenized share classes across six European money market funds, representing $311 billion in assets, to provide on-chain access. The initiative leverages Ethereum and J.P. Morgan’s Kinexys platform for managing transactions.

These tokenized share classes are available for euro, sterling, and U.S. dollar strategies and operate under Europe’s UCITS regulatory framework. According to BlackRock, the tokens represent shares in the underlying funds, with a traditional shareholder register maintained by a transfer agent. Smart contracts enable the transfer of holdings between approved investor wallets, offering 24/7 transferability and near real-time visibility.

The offerings are targeted at professional and qualified clients, excluding retail investors. This expansion follows BlackRock’s earlier launch of its tokenized money market fund, BUIDL, on Ethereum in March 2024. The BUIDL fund, which requires a minimum investment of $5 million, currently manages over $2.6 billion.

J.P. Morgan’s Kinexys platform facilitates the minting and burning of tokens and acts as an intermediary for on-chain transactions. BlackRock stated that these tokenized versions maintain the same standards for capital preservation, liquidity, and risk management as their traditional counterparts.

Executives at BlackRock, including CEO Larry Fink and COO Rob Goldstein, have characterized tokenization as a significant evolution in market infrastructure. Beccy Milchem, Head of Global Product Strategy for BlackRock’s Cash Management business, commented that these launches mark an important step in modernizing capital markets infrastructure and how investors access and manage cash. Kara Kennedy, Head of Digital Assets for BlackRock’s Global Product Group, noted that tokenization has progressed from concept to execution.

BlackRock anticipates potential use cases in corporate treasury management, digital collateral, and distribution channels for banks and wealth managers. Previously, the firm issued tokenized money market funds on Solana, Ethereum, and Stripe’s Tempo, with Securitize serving as the transfer agent, primarily for stablecoin reserve management.

It remains uncertain how much of the $311 billion in existing assets BlackRock anticipates moving onto the blockchain. This launch signifies a growing adoption of tokenization within traditional finance and an ongoing evolution of capital markets infrastructure.

Why This Matters

The materials describe a narrow update: BlackRock introduced 12 new tokenized share classes across six European money market funds, representing $311 billion in assets. How much of the $311 billion in existing assets BlackRock expects to move on-chain.

Broader Context

Source materials place the factual news in this context: The launch lands a day after BlackRock issued tokenized money market funds recording ownership on Solana, Ethereum and Stripe’s Tempo, with Securitize as transfer agent, aimed at stablecoin reserve management.

Ripple announced on August 3, 2026, strategic equity investments in UK-based firms Zilo and Licuido. The move aims to integrate regulated transfer agency, issuance, and collateral mobility into Ripple’s capital markets infrastructure built on the XRP Ledger (XRPL).

This initiative targets a critical bottleneck in institutional tokenization: while minting a token is straightforward, the subsequent processes of financing, pledging, and settling it with conventional financial reliability remain complex. Institutional real-world asset (RWA) tokenization has frequently encountered a structural failure where tokenized fund shares are issued but then remain idle due to these complexities. Historically, the ownership record, issuance rail, and settlement mechanisms have been managed by disparate, often incompatible legacy systems not designed for on-chain collateral markets.

Ripple’s strategy is to address these challenges simultaneously on the XRPL. Zilo, a provider of regulated transfer agency and fund administration services, will supply the regulated ownership record, a crucial element for lenders considering credit against tokenized fund positions. Zilo’s client roster includes major financial institutions such as Citi, Fidelity International, and State Street, offering Ripple a direct connection to incumbent custody and transfer agency infrastructure.

Licuido, an FCA-regulated platform, will manage the issuance, distribution, and execution of tokenized assets, enabling traditional financial assets, including fund shares, to function as digital collateral through on-chain atomic settlement. Licuido is already operational, having served as the tokenization infrastructure for the Aviva Investors USD Liquidity Fund, which launched on XRPL on July 29, 2026. This fund was the first tokenized structure approved by the Central Bank of Ireland on a public blockchain.

When combined with Ripple’s stablecoin, RLUSD, which acts as the regulated cash leg for delivery-versus-payment transactions, the integrated offering creates a comprehensive operating model. This three-part stack—Zilo for regulated record-keeping, Licuido for issuance and collateral mobility, and RLUSD for the cash leg—is designed to provide institutions with a unified approach for tokenized fund assets from issuance through financing. This integration facilitates simultaneous asset transfer and payment settlement, a significant improvement over sequential processes.

Ripple reported that the XRPL has processed over four billion transactions since 2012, with transactions typically settling in three to five seconds. A protocol upgrade, xrpld 3.3.0, focused on enhancing XRPL infrastructure and institutional finance functionality, was expected shortly after the announcement.

These investments build upon pre-existing partnerships, signaling a strategic approach. Ripple is also participating in a UK government task force dedicated to developing tokenized wholesale financial market use cases. The effectiveness of this integrated infrastructure will be evaluated over the next 12 to 24 months, as the market determines whether tokenized fund shares generate genuine secondary liquidity and serve as effective working collateral in live credit markets. Key uncertainties persist regarding whether these tokenized assets will overcome the issue of remaining idle, a problem Ripple is explicitly aiming to resolve.

Why This Matters

The materials describe a narrow update: Ripple announced strategic equity investments in Zilo and Licuido, UK-based firms, to integrate regulated transfer agency, issuance, and collateral mobility into its XRP Ledger-based capital markets infrastructure. Whether tokenized fund shares will generate genuine secondary liquidity and serve as working collateral in live credit markets over the next 12 to 24 months.

Broader Context

Source materials place the factual news in this context: Ripple announced strategic equity investments in two UK-based firms, Zilo and Licuido, on August 3, 2026, converting existing commercial partnerships into ownership positions to complete a full-lifecycle institutional capital markets stack on the XRP Ledger.

1win has introduced a new Web3 authentication system that allows users to log in and deposit funds using their cryptocurrency wallets, eliminating the need for traditional email registration and passwords. The announcement, reported on August 4th, 2026, marks a significant step in simplifying user onboarding for the platform.

According to 1win, users can now connect supported crypto wallets, including Trust Wallet, MetaMask, and those utilizing WalletConnect, to authenticate their identity. This process automatically creates and links a new 1win account to the connected wallet. Deposits are then reported directly within the wallet application, with support for EVM-compatible networks and TRON connections. 1win stated that this integration removes common friction points, offering a more streamlined user experience from the outset.

The platform highlighted its position as an early adopter of seamless wallet onboarding for the TRON network, emphasizing the continued relevance of USDT (TRC-20) as a popular payment method. With this new system, a crypto wallet effectively becomes the user’s primary account identity on 1win.

Founded in 2016, 1win operates across Asia, Latin America, and Africa, offering a diverse range of entertainment products. The company has established collaborations with notable public figures such as Luis Suarez, Jon Jones, Gable Steveson, Tyga, and Ilia Topuria. The integration of Web3 authentication is viewed as a strategic move towards greater adoption of decentralized technologies within the online entertainment sector.

This innovation is poised to enhance platform accessibility for crypto enthusiasts and Web3 users, potentially influencing broader industry trends in user onboarding and digital identity management.

Why This Matters

The materials describe a narrow update: 1win introduced a Web3 login and deposit system that uses crypto wallets (Trust Wallet, MetaMask, WalletConnect) for authentication, eliminating the need for traditional email registration and passwords. The new verification mechanism eliminates the need for email registration, passwords, or manually copying wallet addresses.

Broader Context

Source materials place the announcement in this context: 1win, a crypto entertainment platform, has launched a new Web3 authentication system that allows users to register, sign in, and deposit funds using a crypto wallet.

Ripple announced on August 3rd its strategic investments in Zilo and Lucuido, two companies focused on developing infrastructure for tokenized funds and institutional asset trading. This move is part of Ripple’s broader strategy to expand its digital capital markets offerings.

Zilo specializes in transfer agency and fund administration technology for tokenized funds, while Lucuido operates an FCA-regulated platform designed for the issuance, distribution, trading, and collateralization of digital assets. The integration of these capabilities into Ripple’s XRP Ledger infrastructure aims to enable institutions to issue, hold, move, and utilize tokenized assets as collateral more efficiently.

Nigel Khakoo, SVP, Trading and Markets at Ripple, stated that Zilo and Lucuido provide essential capabilities for scaling the shift towards tokenized assets, including regulated digital transfer agency infrastructure and liquidity for issuance and collateral mobility. He added that these investments are just the beginning and represent a significant opportunity to bring efficiencies to the investment sector over the next decade.

These acquisitions are intended to allow asset managers to leverage these tools at scale. Ripple plans to integrate Zilo’s transfer agency and fund administration technology and Lucuido’s platform for digital asset issuance and trading into its XRP Ledger infrastructure. This integration will facilitate institutions in issuing, holding, moving, and using tokenized assets as collateral.

RLUSD is positioned to serve as the regulated cash component for delivery-versus-payment transactions on the XRP Ledger, enabling the asset and payment sides of a trade to settle together. This development builds on Ripple’s existing work with institutional partners such as Aviva Investors, Franklin Templeton, and DBS on tokenized fund and collateral projects.

In recent months, Ripple has also launched Ripple Mint and made an investment in the compliance provider Notabene, further strengthening its institutional offerings in digital capital markets. These initiatives collectively aim to enhance the infrastructure available to institutions utilizing RLUSD.

The size of the investments in Zilo and Lucuido was not disclosed.

Why This Matters

The materials describe a narrow update: Ripple has invested in Zilo and Lucuido, companies focused on infrastructure for tokenized funds and institutional asset trading. The size of the investments in Zilo and Lucuido was not disclosed.

Broader Context

Source materials place the factual news in this context: Ripple has expanded its digital capital markets strategy.

PayPal reported its second-quarter financial results on July 28, revealing a 10% year-over-year increase in total payment volume to $486.4 billion and a 5% rise in revenue to $8.68 billion. The company also reported a significant corporate reorganization, establishing a dedicated division for cryptocurrency operations named Payment Services & Crypto, and identified stablecoins as a key area for future expansion.

Financial Performance and Guidance

In the second quarter, PayPal’s non-GAAP earnings per share reached $1.38, exceeding analyst estimates. Transaction margin dollars increased by 1% to $3.9 billion, and adjusted free cash flow was reported at $1.83 billion. The company raised its full-year transaction margin guidance to approximately $15.6 billion and adjusted the lower end of its full-year earnings per share range to roughly $5.38.

Net losses on strategic investments and crypto assets held for investment amounted to $81 million in the quarter, compared to $74 million in the first quarter. PayPal anticipates that its full-year 2025 GAAP earnings will see a positive impact of about $0.14 per share from this investment portfolio.

Crypto Division and Stablecoin Strategy

The newly formed Payment Services & Crypto division will operate alongside other key units such as Checkout Solutions & PayPal and Consumer Financial Services & Venmo. This structural change underscores PayPal’s strategic focus on integrating and developing its cryptocurrency-related services.

PayPal’s stablecoin, PYUSD, has seen its supply decrease to approximately $2.8 billion in mid-July, down from over $4 billion in March. Despite this reduction, the stablecoin launched natively on the Polygon network on July 9 and is reportedly available in 70 markets. YouTube began utilizing PYUSD for payments to US creators in December.

Market data indicates that PYUSD and Societe Generale’s EURCV hold a small share of the fiat-backed stablecoin market. Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC) collectively account for 93.5% of the total fiat-backed stablecoin supply, according to CryptoPotato’s reporting on CoinGecko research.

Cost Savings and Future Outlook

As part of a broader financial restructuring effort, CEO Enrique Lores, who assumed the role on March 1, is targeting at least $1.5 billion in gross run-rate savings over the next two to three years. Approximately $400 million of these savings are expected to be realized by the end of the current year. The savings plan, extending to 2029, is driven by three primary factors: simplifying the company’s structure, optimizing operations and portfolios, and accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence. PayPal projects that AI adoption will contribute around 40% of the total projected savings.

Why This Matters

The materials describe a narrow update: PayPal announced its second-quarter financial results, reporting a 10% year-over-year increase in total payment volume to $486. The specific reasons for the decrease in PYUSD supply from March to mid-July.

Broader Context

Source materials place the factual news in this context: PayPal has reported $486.4 billion in total payment volume for the second quarter on July 28, up 10% year over year.

Japan has provided XRP holders with a mainstream on-ramp that many Western markets still lack, a development that could prove bullish for Ripple’s price prediction. However, the current market pullback tells only part of the story. Tokyo’s latest move in the cryptocurrency space may hold more significance than today’s price action suggests.

New Loyalty Program Integrates Crypto Redemption

Effective July 31, 2026, SBI VC Trade and Orient Corporation will launch a pioneering integration. Holders of Orico credit cards will soon be able to convert Orico Points into Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), or XRP directly through the VCTRADE platform. The conversion rate is set at 1,200 Orico Points for ¥1,000 worth of cryptocurrency.

Orico cards typically earn points at a base rate of 1.0%, which increases to 2.0% for new cardholders during their initial six months. This marks the first time cryptocurrency has been introduced as a redemption option within the Orico Points program. The launch signifies SBI’s ongoing efforts to bridge traditional finance with digital assets.

Normalizing XRP for Millions

A loyalty program that allows everyday spending to translate into XRP exposure could help normalize the token for millions of Japanese consumers. This initiative has the potential to gradually reduce the disparity between retail interest and actual blockchain activity. While cryptocurrency prices remain volatile, increased accessibility often fosters long-term adoption.

XRP Price Analysis and Outlook

XRP is currently trading near $1.05 following a volatile week, with bulls finding themselves confined to a familiar trading range. Recent weakness appears to stem from cautious market sentiment rather than significant XRP-specific selling. Meanwhile, relatively light trading volumes suggest consolidation rather than heavy distribution.

Support for XRP is currently established between $1.00 and $1.02, levels where buyers have consistently defended the price. A daily close below $1.00 would undermine the current market structure and elevate downside risk. Resistance is observed between $1.08 and $1.10, areas where recent attempts at recovery have faltered.

Over the next two days, XRP is likely to trade within the $1.00 to $1.10 range, unless a new catalyst shifts market sentiment. A move above $1.10 could pave the way for a test of $1.15. Conversely, a breach of the $1.00 support level might trigger a renewed test of the $0.95 region.

Longer-term bullish forecasts, projecting prices above $2.00, remain contingent on sustained institutional adoption. Japan’s newfound embrace of crypto initiatives could bolster this case over time. Nevertheless, investors are likely to await tangible user activity before factoring in a lasting breakout.

At its current price, XRP presents a viable holding for exposure to Japan’s institutional adoption narrative. However, achieving significant upside at its current market capitalization necessitates a multi-month timeline and broader macroeconomic predictions. Traders seeking asymmetric early-stage returns are increasingly focusing on infrastructure projects that have yet to reach their full valuation potential.

Bitcoin Hyper: A Promising Infrastructure Play

Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is positioning itself as precisely this type of infrastructure investment. The project is the first Bitcoin Layer 2 solution to integrate the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM), enabling smart contract execution at speeds comparable to Solana but built upon Bitcoin’s security layer. This offers a distinct value proposition compared to existing on-chain solutions.

The presale has already raised $32.9 million, with the current price at $0.0136839. Staking is already available for participants. The combination of a unique technical selling point, a substantial presale fundraise, and the positive institutional momentum surrounding Bitcoin makes $HYPER a project worth researching.