Latest news with #blockchain
Finextra
2 hours ago
- Business
- Finextra
Lithuanian fintech granted first DLT licence in Baltics
Axiology, a Lithuania-based tech firm operating in the digital assets space, has been granted a licence from the Bank of Lithuania to carry out digital bond issuance via the blockchain. 0 This content has been selected, created and edited by the Finextra editorial team based upon its relevance and interest to our community. The licence, authorised under the EU's DLT Pilot Regime, is the first such one to be issued in the Baltics-Nordics region. It also makes Axiology only the second firm in Europe to receive such authorisation. As a result, it will be to ramp up its service providing digital bond issuance, trading and settlement to SMEs and retail investors in the region. According to a statement from Axiology, the firm uses a permissioned version of the XRP ledger as the backbone of its digital assets market infrastructure. 'Despite years of policy work, Europe's capital markets remain costly, fragmented, and inaccessible to smaller participants,' said Marius Jurgilas, Axiology's CEO. 'This licence allows us to operate the full capital market stack under a single, digital-native structure providing process synergies, cost savings and efficiency gains.' The licence award comes at a time when Lithuania looking to build on its status as one of Europe's most active fintech domiciles by amending its regulatory framework to lower the compliance burden for low-risk companies. According to Invest Lithuania, the country's investment promotuion agency, the new framework has been developed to be more in line with the EU's latest Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing rules by enabling companies with lower-risk business models to apply a risk-based approach for simplified due diligence processes.
Forbes
3 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
The Meme Era Ends—What Comes After Pump.Fun?
CoinMarketCap's Altcoin Season Index Chart shows Altcoin Season's continued growth as Bitcoin Season ... More begins to steady As Bitcoin flirts with new all-time highs, it's tempting to focus solely on the headlines. But beneath the surface, a more interesting shift is happening in crypto markets—one that could mark the end of one era and the quiet rise of another. Over the weekend, pulled off what can only be described as a staggering feat: raising $600 million in just 12 minutes. That makes it the third-largest ICO in crypto history. Co-founder Elon Cohen confirmed 150 billion tokens were sold at $0.004 in the public sale on July 12, following a 180 billion token private sale. Altogether, the project has now raised $1.32 billion. Major exchanges like Kraken, BitGo, Gate, Bybit, MEXC, etc. were among those allocated tokens—a clear signal that this wasn't just another memecoin sideshow. Experimentation Fuels the Next Crypto Wave This frenzy is not happening in isolation. Plasma, a new Bitcoin-based blockchain designed specifically for stablecoins, is holding its private sale on July 17. Backed by big names like Framework Ventures, Peter Thiel, and Tether's CEO, it already raised $20 million earlier this year. Its core asset is an 'exploit token'—suggesting experimentation is far from over, but the terrain is shifting. Perhaps most notably, Binance has now entered the bonding curve arena, launching a token sale through its wallet. This model allows token prices to rise dynamically as more buyers enter—a gamified pricing system that rewards early entrants. While these tokens aren't tradable during the bonding curve period, they become fully transferable afterward, injecting even more complexity (and potential) into the market. For Binance, this could catalyze a new wave of altcoin experimentation—not just on BNB Chain, but ecosystem-wide. Is the peak or the swan song of the meme coin cycle? Much like DeFi Summer found its bookend in SushiSwap's launch and the NFT boom was crystallized by Blur's airdrop, might be the moment meme coin mania burns its brightest before dimming. History suggests that when the leading platform of a trend tokenizes, the narrative is near its end. has distilled meme speculation into a single tradable vehicle. Why bet on individual coins when you can simply buy exposure to the entire meme phenomenon through its token? But in doing so, it may be cannibalizing the market it helped create. As liquidity shifts from memecoins to meta-memecoins, the once-chaotic playground of high-risk speculation starts to look institutionalized—and exhausted. This meme cycle has already exceeded expectations, lasting around six months, far longer than typical technical narratives that run their course in two to three. Passing the baton to Real-world assets (RWAs) and stablecoins Plasma's architecture and Binance's fair-launch bonding curve model both signal a turn toward utility. Crypto's challenge is no longer just mass adoption—it's about building platforms that distribute value more equitably. In that sense, bonding curve and fair launch format may be its true legacy: a bridge between speculative chaos and structured participation. The meme season may be cooling, but the market isn't. It's simply rotating. As always in crypto, attention flows to what's next.
Forbes
5 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Stablecoins: The First Tokenized Asset That Set The Stage For Digital Finance
Geoff Ira is the CEO of TradeTogether , a Web3 firm specializing in digital assets and wealth management. getty When people speak of tokenized assets today, they often think of real estate, treasury bonds, securities or even rare whisky entering blockchain markets. But long before these sophisticated use cases, one simple product laid the groundwork: the stablecoin. Born out of necessity, stablecoins were the first widely adopted tokenized assets. At a time when blockchains lacked a digital equivalent of fiat money, private players stepped in. They created tokens pegged to real-world currencies, mainly the U.S. dollar, that could be transacted as seamlessly as Bitcoin but without the volatility. Yet beneath their surface simplicity lies a deep technological and governance question: What really backs a 'stable' coin? Not all stablecoins are created equal. While they share the same goal—price stability—their designs differ significantly: • Fiat-Backed Stablecoins: These tokens—like USDC, USDT or TrueUSD—are backed 1:1 by fiat reserves, offering familiarity and strong institutional traction. Their credibility, however, depends on the transparency of audits and asset backing. PwC, in collaboration with the AICPA, advanced this conversation through its 2024 report on reserve attestations. A 2025 follow-up builds on this foundation, reinforcing the push for greater visibility and standardisation around custodial assets. • Crypto-Collateralized Stablecoins: These coins, like DAI, are backed by other digital assets (such as Ether) and often over-collateralized to absorb price volatility. The system runs on smart contracts that liquidate positions if the collateral drops too far. These models offer transparency and decentralization but can falter during sharp crypto downturns. • Commodity-Backed Stablecoins: These are backed by tangible assets such as gold. While appealing to those hedging against inflation, they face storage, liquidity and audit challenges. • Algorithmic Stablecoins: Arguably the boldest and riskiest category, these coins rely on algorithms to adjust supply and demand to maintain a peg, without underlying collateral. TerraUSD (UST), which collapsed in 2022, became the textbook example of how quickly algorithmic mechanisms can unravel. The Federal Reserve's own research noted that such models are particularly vulnerable to 'run-like dynamics' in the absence of credible backing. Institutional research has caught up with the rapid evolution of the stablecoin space: • PwC's 2025 Stablecoin Outlook emphasized their role in cross-border payments and highlighted the growing need for unified compliance frameworks, especially in emerging markets like MENA. • The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and Financial Stability Board (FSB) have both pushed for international coordination. In 2023, the FSB published 10 key recommendations to ensure stablecoins don't threaten monetary stability. • The Federal Reserve, in multiple papers, has outlined scenarios where algorithmic coins may mimic the fragility of traditional banking runs, especially without real assets backing them. The Regulatory Shift: The GENIUS Act In June 2025, the U.S. Senate passed the GENIUS Act (Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins), introducing the first comprehensive federal framework for stablecoins. The law enforces 1:1 reserve backing, monthly disclosures and strict consumer protections—effectively turning stablecoins into regulated financial instruments. While the legislation is U.S.-centric, its influence is likely to extend far beyond. Other financial centers, particularly in Europe and Asia, may look to the GENIUS Act as a reference point for developing their own regulatory frameworks that balance innovation with systemic trust. Beyond The Peg: What's At Stake What started as a workaround to blockchain limitations is now central to the Web3 economy. For blockchain to move beyond experimentation and into real-world adoption, users needed three things: speed, security and price stability. Early blockchains struggled to offer all three—particularly due to volatile native tokens and latency in settlement finality. Stablecoins emerged as a technological bridge, preserving the advantages of blockchain (such as programmability and near-instant settlement) while anchoring value in a predictable form. This stability is essential for activities like payments, staking, and lending, where users and institutions simply cannot absorb the risk of high price fluctuations. Today, stablecoins enable everything from decentralized finance (DeFi) to tokenized treasuries. According to Citi, stablecoins could surpass $3 trillion in circulation by the end of the decade if regulatory clarity and institutional trust are reinforced. Yet with growth comes responsibility. Transparency in reserve management, clarity in algorithmic logic and adherence to global standards are no longer optional—they're prerequisites for survival. The Takeaway Stablecoins were never just a convenience; rather, they were a catalyst. They marked the first real-world bridge between traditional finance and digital infrastructure. As the ecosystem matures and tokenization expands to broader asset classes, the stablecoin remains a mirror of the larger challenge: blending speed and innovation with trust and compliance. Not all stablecoins will survive. But those that embrace transparency and regulatory engagement might just define the next phase of financial infrastructure. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
Associated Press
6 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
The Crypto Company (OTC: CRCW) Joins New OTCID Market Tier, Marking Commitment to Innovation, Transparency, and Strategic Growth
MALIBU, CA - July 15, 2025 ( NEWMEDIAWIRE ) - The Crypto Company (OTC: CRCW), today announced its transition to the OTCID(TM) market tier, the newly launched and modernized platform by OTC Markets Group Inc. This move reflects the Company's continued commitment to transparency, regulatory compliance, and strategic positioning as the OTCID market reshapes the U.S. over-the-counter equities landscape. The OTCID market is a major structural upgrade to the U.S. OTC equity markets, designed to provide enhanced disclosure standards, better technology infrastructure, and increased investor confidence. TCC's inclusion in this platform positions the Company among a select group of emerging issuers actively working to meet market expectations for operational integrity and forward-looking growth strategies. 'TCC's mission has always been to bridge traditional capital markets and the rapidly evolving blockchain/crypto sector,' said Ron Levy, CEO of The Crypto Company. 'Our upgrade to the OTCID tier is a testament to the progress we've made and the ambitions we hold. As the OTCID platform gains momentum, we're excited to be part of a market that values innovation, accessibility, and investor trust.' The Company joins other notable technology and blockchain-forward companies that have upgraded to OTCID in recent weeks as part of the inaugural cohort on the platform. For more information about The Crypto Company and its initiatives, email: [email protected] About The Crypto Company The Crypto Company (TCC) brings together sophisticated operating entities, Web3 assets, education and training under one roof. TCC was one of the first public companies (2017) to implement a crypto treasury strategy. As a leader in Web3 solutions, TCC creates synergies between traditional finance and the decentralized economy. Contact information: The Crypto Company Phone 424-228-9955 Email: [email protected] View the original release on
Globe and Mail
9 hours ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
1 Top Cryptocurrency to Buy Before It Soars 1,850%, According to VanEck
Key Points VanEck sees Solana's price soaring to $3,200 in its bull case scenario. To reach that price, it would need to host more than 100 million daily active users. That kind of growth would require several 'killer apps' to launch on its blockchain. 10 stocks we like better than Solana › Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) was launched on March 24, 2020 with an initial coin offering price of $0.22 per token. Today, it trades at $164 -- so a $100 investment then would be worth about $75,000 today. That 74,900% gain was fueled by the growth of its ecosystem for developing decentralized finance (DeFi) apps and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), its speed and scalability, and Solana Pay's growing number of fintech and e-commerce partnerships. Yet some investors expect Solana's price to soar even higher. VanEck, which submitted the first U.S. application for a Solana exchange-traded fund (ETF) last year, expects its price to surge another 1,850% to more than $3,200 by 2030 in its bull case scenario. Let's see why the investment firm expects Solana to rally, and if investors should buy the token before it heats up again. Why did Solana soar during the past five years? Like Ethereum, Solana's blockchain uses a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism to validate its transactions. That approach consumes less energy than the proof-of-work mechanism used to mine Bitcoin, since its tokens are only staked (locked up for interest-like rewards) instead of mined. PoS blockchains also support smart contracts, which are used to develop decentralized applications (dApps) and other tokens. Many developers launched new tokens on Ethereum's blockchain, but Solana operates its own independent blockchain. It differentiates itself from its competitors by upgrading its own PoS blockchain with a proprietary proof-of-history (PoH) mechanism, which helps it process transactions at much faster speeds than Ethereum's main Layer-1 blockchain. Solana has a theoretical maximum speed of 65,000 transactions per second (TPS), compared to Ethereum's theoretical top speed of 30 TPS for its Layer-1 transactions. But for real-world transactions, which face network congestion and other limitations, Solana has a daily average speed of 1,436 TPS -- versus Ethereum's daily average speed of 19 TPS. That superior speed makes Solana a popular blockchain for developing DeFi apps and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). In early 2022, its developers launched Solana Pay, an open peer-to-peer payment protocol that let merchants accept stablecoins, Solana, and other Solana-based tokens at high speeds with near-zero fees. Visa, Shopify, and other companies subsequently integrated Solana Pay into their digital wallets and e-commerce ecosystems. The bull case for Solana VanEck's 2030 outlook for Solana features a price target of $9.81 in its bear case scenario and a target of $3,211.28 in its bull case scenario. Its "baseline" estimate only sees Solana roughly doubling to about $335 per token during the next five years. Its bull case relies on the expansion of Solana's DeFi ecosystem and increased user growth. Solana only serves about 1.5 million daily active users (DAUs), according to Artemis Analytics, but VanEck thinks its user base might expand to more than 100 million DAUs as it hosts more DeFi, metaverse, social, gaming, and infrastructure applications. VanEck admits that achieving that explosive growth would rely on "killer apps" that finally turn Solana into a mainstream platform for processing digital transactions. But it also warns that hosting an application with more than 100 million users on its blockchain would push its scalability "to its limits." Any congestion would also reduce the speed of its transactions, but Solana's planned Firedancer upgrade this year might allay some of those concerns. Another potential catalyst could be the approvals of the first Solana ETFs. Those listings could stabilize its price by attracting more retail and institutional investors. Declining interest rates could also drive more investors back to Solana and other cryptocurrencies. The bear case against Solana VanEck's bull case for Solana is highly speculative, but the bear case is more straightforward. Solana is an inflationary token with no maximum supply, so its value will always be pinned to the growth of its developer ecosystem instead of its scarcity. It's impressing its developers with the speed of its unique PoS/PoH mechanism, but it still faces tough competition from Ethereum's Layer-2 rollups, which bundle together its transactions and process them off-chain at real world speeds of 1,000 to 4,000 TPS. Unlike Ethereum, Solana isn't cross-compatible with other blockchains, and its Rust and C developer languages have a steeper learning curve than Ethereum's Solidity. So even if a "killer" DeFi app finally arrives, it might launch on Ethereum instead of Solana. All of those challenges could hold Solana back during the next five years. Should you buy Solana? Solana's proprietary mechanism, speed, and low fees will help it stay more relevant than other blockchains for the foreseeable future. But it's simply not as compelling an investment as Bitcoin, which is valued by its scarcity, or Ethereum, which remains the top developer blockchain. So for now, I'd stick with those two blue chip cryptocurrencies instead of putting too much faith in VanEck's bull case scenario for Solana. Should you invest $1,000 in Solana right now? Before you buy stock in Solana, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Solana wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $671,477!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,010,880!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor 's total average return is1,047% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to180%for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 14, 2025
