Latest news with #JoseFernandezdaPonte
CNBC
28-06-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Stablecoins go mainstream: Why banks and credit card firms are issuing their own crypto tokens
A $44 billion IPO. A Senate bill with bipartisan momentum. And now, a wave of Fortune 500 firms launching crypto tokens of their own. Stablecoins — once a niche corner of the cryptocurrency world — are entering the corporate and policy mainstream, potentially reshaping how money moves in the United States and around the world. "Many of the users out there today are not aware of stablecoins, or not interested in stablecoins, and they should not be," said Jose Fernandez da Ponte, PayPal's SVP of blockchain, crypto and digital currencies. "It should just be a way in which you move value, and in many cases, is going to be an infrastructure layer." For corporations, stablecoins are an opportunity to slash millions in transaction fees and turbocharge payment infrastructure with instantaneous settlement. USDC issuer Circle's long-awaited public debut exposed a wave of pent-up demand for digital dollars as investors sent the stock soaring as much as 750% in June. Partnerships, and competition, quickly followed. Coinbase announced a deal with e-commerce platform Shopify to bring USDC payments to merchants. Payments firm Fiserv announced a stablecoin to pair with the 90 billion transactions it processes every year. "We're entering the utility phase right now, where the technology has matured. It's gotten fast, it's gotten cheap," said Jesse Pollak, head of base and wallet at Coinbase. "It's gotten easy to use, and that's leading to real-world adoption across businesses and consumers." Base is Coinbase's Ethereum layer-2 network, designed to make blockchain applications faster, cheaper, and more accessible to developers and users. Merchants are a particular focus for stablecoins, as payment processing fees for these businesses totaled a record $187.2 billion in 2024, according to the Nilson Report. Payment companies are looking to fend off potential disruption by stablecoin issuers. Mastercard this week announced support for four stablecoins on its Multi-Token Network. The private blockchain is targeted toward institutions and promises 24-hour settlement. Visa's CEO told CNBC the payment processor is modernizing its infrastructure with the help of stablecoins. "Visa and MasterCard are leaning into the disruption," said Nic Carter, founding partner at Castle Island Ventures. "They're trying to disrupt themselves, so they seem to be ahead of the curve." JPMorgan took a slightly different approach to the crypto token boom on Wall Street. The financial giant launched a token backed by commercial bank deposits rather than U.S. dollars. JPMorgan's Naveen Mallela, global co-head of Kinexys, the bank's blockchain unit, told CNBC the JPMD token would allow for round-the-clock settlement for institutional clients looking for faster, cheaper transactions while staying connected to the traditional banking system. The boom in crypto adoption on Wall Street is bolstered by growing support in Washington. The Senate passed its framework of rules for stablecoins, called the GENIUS Act. The bill includes guidelines for consumer protections, reserve requirements for issuers, and anti-money laundering guidance. Stablecoins and other cryptocurrencies have faced criticism for their use in illicit activity, and some Democrats argue the bill doesn't do enough to address those concerns. Those lawmakers also argue the bill doesn't curtail conflicts of interest, including the recent launch of a stablecoin tied to President Donald Trump through World Liberty Financial. The crypto-focused firm run by his family is behind the dollar-pegged token USD1. When asked about Trump's ties to crypto projects in his name, the White House told CNBC there are no conflicts of interest and the president's assets are in a trust managed by his children. "I think it was a mistake for Trump to have a Trump-affiliated DeFi project issue a stablecoin. I think that really set back his stablecoin legislative agenda," Carter said. "I think we could do it a lot more in terms of tackling these conflicts of interest. And I completely understand the Democrats when they try and weed this out." Watch the video above to learn why corporate giants are racing to launch their own crypto tokens
Arabian Post
10-06-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Industry Giants Forge Ahead with Blockchain Adoption
Sixty per cent of Fortune 500 companies are now engaged in blockchain initiatives, according to the second-quarter 'State of Crypto' report from Coinbase. The survey, conducted among executives of America's largest firms, reveals that blockchain is no longer peripheral but central to corporate strategy across sectors. The survey also highlights a dynamic surge in stablecoin use, with supply growing 54 per cent year-on-year. Small and medium-sized US businesses are following suit: about one-third currently use crypto, a share that has doubled since 2024. Among SMBs not yet involved, 46 per cent plan to adopt crypto within the next three years, and 82 per cent view it as a remedy for key financial challenges. Institutional interest remains robust, with over 80 per cent of large investors planning to expand crypto exposure this year. Furthermore, a fifth of Fortune 500 executives perceives on‑chain blockchain efforts as integral to long-term strategy. ADVERTISEMENT The report underscores a notable shift in corporate attitudes: 83 per cent of Fortune 500 executives familiar with crypto or blockchain confirm their companies have launched or are planning initiatives. Of these, the lion's share—approximately 60 per cent—have progressed from pre-launch to live status since 2022. Tech, finance and retail dominate these efforts. Data collection and management rank as leading use cases, followed by infrastructure concerns. Experts describe blockchain as 'foundational' for enhancing transparency and automating operations. Larry Fink, chair and chief executive of BlackRock, noted that blockchain could 'change the whole ecosystem' of securities trading by enabling 'instantaneous settlement' and complete transparency of ownership. Stablecoins, deemed a 'killer application' by Jose Fernandez da Ponte, SVP of Blockchain, Crypto and Digital Currencies at PayPal, have gained traction for facilitating global payments and preserving the dollar's reserve status. BlackRock's tokenised Treasury fund, BUIDL, has outpaced Franklin Templeton, now standing at approximately US $382 million, and is routinely used by hedge funds as collateral. Yet regulation remains a critical concern. According to Coinbase's findings, 90‑plus per cent of surveyed executives insist on the need for new rules specifically tailored to crypto and blockchain technologies rather than adapting obsolete frameworks. Eighty-seven per cent assert that clearer regulation is essential for preserving US leadership in the global financial system. This regulatory environment has significant implications. Coinbase warns the US risks losing up to one million web3 developer jobs and three million related non‑technical positions by 2030 if regulatory ambiguities persist. Its share of global crypto development has already dropped from 40 to 29 per cent over the past six years. ADVERTISEMENT Executives also cite talent shortages: nearly one in three identify insufficient skilled personnel as a major barrier, surpassing concerns about regulation. Among small businesses, half intend to seek finance, legal or tech professionals with crypto expertise in their next hiring round. Despite headwinds, many companies push ahead. JPMorgan Chase executed its first DeFi transaction on a public blockchain, while ExxonMobil piloted crypto‑mining operations powered by excess gas. Retailer Lowe's implemented blockchain and NFTs to combat theft by tracking stolen tools, and Nike integrated apparel NFTs into video games through a collaboration with EA Sports. On the SMB front, crypto usage has grown dramatically. One in three US small and medium enterprises is already harnessing crypto for payments, payroll or treasury functions, up from one in six last year. Among those not yet using crypto, almost half aim to adopt it within three years. Four in five believe crypto could alleviate financial pain points such as transactional delays and steep fees. The report indicates a tipping point. On‑chain U.S. Treasury holdings have topped $1.29 billion, representing a tenfold increase since early 2023. Total assets under management in spot Bitcoin ETFs now exceed $63 billion, and the U.S. stablecoin market cleared $10 trillion in annual transaction volume last year. With blockchain moving from pilot to scale, traditional institutions like PayPal and Stripe are making stablecoin integration simple for merchants and users. Stripe now enables USDC payments across Ethereum, Solana and Polygon, with fiat conversions handled automatically. PayPal supports cross‑border stablecoin transfers in around 160 countries, eliminating transaction charges typically levied by remittance services. These developments coincide with a broader surge in Web3 infrastructure investment. Total value locked in tokenised real‑world assets—ranging from fixed income to environmental credits—is approaching $2.4 billion, with US tokenised Treasuries alone surpassing US $1.2 billion in Q1 2024. Global institutional adoption continues apace, and tokenised assets are projected to reach US $16 trillion by 2030—equivalent to the EU's GDP.
CNBC
14-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
PayPal crypto chief discusses adoption of its native stablecoin
Jose Fernandez da Ponte, SVP and general manager of blockchain, crypto and digital assets at PayPal, joins CNBC Cryoto World's MacKenzie Sigalos at Consensus 2025 to discuss adoption of its stablecoin, PYUSD, and regulatory hurdles ahead of the crypto industry.
CNBC
14-05-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Crypto and stock trading app eToro shares soar in Nasdaq debut: CNBC Crypto World
On today's episode of CNBC Crypto World, shares of eToro soared in the crypto and stock trading platform's Nasdaq debut. Plus, Johann Kerbrat, the general manager of Robinhood Crypto, discusses the company's new deal with a Canadian crypto firm from Consensus 2025. And, Jose Fernandez da Ponte, general manager of the blockchain, crypto and digital currencies team at PayPal, discusses the company's stablecoin PYUSD.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How PayPal Plans to Bring 400M Users to Crypto
Jose Fernandez da Ponte, Senior Vice President of Blockchain at PayPal, joins CoinDesk to discuss the payment giant's new reward program with PYUSD. Plus, how they plan to expand the stablecoin business and bring more than 400 million customers to the crypto space. Jose Fernandez da Ponte will be joining CoinDesk at Consensus 2025 in Toronto from May 14-16. Get your tickets here: This content should not be construed or relied upon as investment advice. It is for entertainment and general information purposes. Sign in to access your portfolio
