'Unstable Velocity' — Standard Chartered Says Stablecoin Usage Rising Faster Than Expected
Naga Avan-Nomayo, the Block
Analysts at Standard Chartered said stablecoins are moving faster through the system than expected, complicating a core assumption behind their long-term growth forecasts.
In a new note, Geoffrey Kendrick, the bank’s global head of digital assets research, said stablecoin velocity — a measure of how often tokens change hands — has risen in recent months after years of relative stability. It’s a material change because the bank’s widely cited projection that stablecoin supply will reach $2 trillion by 2028 relies in part on how frequently those tokens are used…
Read MoreHow Regulated Payment Infrastructures Enable Crypto Platforms to Grow
Andy Wiggan, FinExtra
Crypto has spent years positioning itself as an alternative to traditional finance.
Faster, more open, less dependent on legacy systems; yet scratch beneath the surface and that isn’t always the case. Every user journey still touches fiat (traditional currency), whether that’s onboarding, trading, rewards, or withdrawals. As regulation tightens across the UK and Europe, that dependency is becoming the defining factor in whether crypto platforms…
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Google Warns That Quantum Computing Could Soon Crack Crypto Encryption
Wesley Grant, PaymentsJournal
The approval of bitcoin ETFs sent the price of bitcoin soaring to new heights last year, marking one of many milestones for the burgeoning digital assets industry.
While bitcoin has since pulled back, the financial services sector’s interest in digital assets has not waned, as evidenced by Mastercard’s recent $1.8 billion acquisition of stablecoin company BVNK. Among the technology’s primary selling points are the efficiency and security gains enabled by blockchain infrastructure. However, recent findings from Google…
Read MoreThe Clarity Act and the Future Digital Asset Market
Mahmoud Abuwasel, Reuters
The US is undergoing a historic shift regarding cryptocurrency regulation.
Lawmakers recently advanced the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act to establish clear federal oversight. This legislation seeks to resolve long-standing jurisdictional disputes between federal financial agencies. The US House passed the legislation with bipartisan support late last year. The bill creates a comprehensive market structure for digital commodities and securities…
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