Morning Minute is a daily newsletter written by Tyler Warner. The analysis and opinions expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Decrypt. Subscribe to the Morning Minute on Substack. GM! Today’s top news: Crypto majors mostly chop on day; BTC at $87,000 Visa expanded its stablecoin settlement to U.S. banks, leveraging Solana FDIC greenlights proposal showing how U.S. banks can issue their own stables Rainbow Wallet announces TGE for Feb 5, 2026 along with airdrop Cantor Fitz ...

Core Insights - Visa has selected two small state banks, Cross River Bank and Lead Bank, to pilot its stablecoin settlement solution in the U.S., which could significantly impact global payment systems [1][4][7] Group 1: Visa's Stablecoin Initiative - Visa's stablecoin journey began in 2021 with the use of USDC for cross-border payments, and it has accelerated efforts in 2025 to expand the pilot across various regions [2] - The company is transitioning from experimentation to real-world implementation of stablecoin settlements, focusing on its largest market [3] Group 2: Benefits of Stablecoin Settlement - Financial institutions in the U.S. are seeking faster, programmable settlement options that integrate with existing treasury operations while ensuring security and compliance [5] - Advantages of stablecoin settlement include seven-day availability, which eliminates delays for merchants receiving card payments on weekends [5] Group 3: Role of Selected Banks - Cross River Bank and Lead Bank, while lacking significant retail presence and national bank charters, are vital players in the U.S. fintech ecosystem [7] - Cross River Bank, established in 2008, serves as a "banking-as-a-service" (BaaS) provider for fintech companies [8]

Core Insights - Akamai Technologies and Visa have announced a strategic collaboration to enhance identity and security controls in agentic commerce through the integration of Visa's Trusted Agent Protocol with Akamai's behavioral intelligence [1][3][4] Group 1: Challenges in Agentic Commerce - As autonomous AI agents increasingly engage in online shopping, merchants face challenges in authenticating these agents and ensuring secure interactions [2] - The lack of a trust layer can lead to loss of control over personalization, security, and consumer relationships for merchants [2] Group 2: Trusted Agent Protocol Features - The Trusted Agent Protocol provides a framework for agent authentication, enabling merchants to gain real-time insights into AI agent activities before they access sensitive systems [3][5] - This protocol allows agents to transmit information to merchants, ensuring that they are approved for specific shopping missions and securely passing payment information [5][6] Group 3: Benefits for Merchants - Merchants can clearly identify legitimate AI agents and their intents, differentiating between browsing and payment activities with the help of Akamai's real-time behavioral intelligence [6] - The protocol enables secure payment interactions by assisting agents in conveying payment information as expected by merchants, while Akamai provides end-to-end protection against fraud [7] Group 4: Industry Context - Akamai's 2025 Digital Fraud and Abuse Report indicates a 300% surge in AI-powered bot traffic over the past year, with over 25 billion AI bot requests in the commerce sector during a two-month period [4] - Nine of the world's top 10 retailers utilize Akamai's services to enhance their digital commerce capabilities, ensuring fast and secure shopping experiences [8]

🚨 @SOLANA POWERS VISA USDC SETTLEMENT FOR US BANKS!Visa now allows American banks to settle network obligations in USDC on Solana. Crucial details 👇https://t.co/uycfQbeIVK ...

Core Insights - Visa has announced that it will allow U.S. banks and fintech companies to use Circle Internet Group's USDC stablecoin for settlement transactions, integrating blockchain and stablecoins into the traditional financial system amid a supportive regulatory environment [1] - The initial banks participating in this service include Cross River Bank and Lead Bank, which have begun settling transactions with Visa using USDC on the Solana blockchain, with plans to expand to more U.S. institutions by 2026 [1] - Visa is also a design partner for Circle's new blockchain, Arc, which is currently in public testing, and will use Arc for USDC settlements once it goes live [1] - Circle's stock rose nearly 10% following the announcement, reflecting positive market sentiment [1] Group 1 - Visa's global head of growth products and strategic partnerships, Rubail Birwadker, stated that financial institutions are seeking faster, programmable settlement methods that seamlessly integrate with existing operations [2] - The introduction of USDC settlements has led Visa to launch a "stablecoin consulting business" to provide insights and advice on market fit, strategy, and implementation for banks, fintech companies, merchants, and enterprises [2] - Visa and its competitor Mastercard are exploring stablecoin applications to enhance payment efficiency rather than being disrupted by the technology originally intended for decentralized finance [2] Group 2 - Last month, Ripple partnered with Mastercard and Gemini Space Station to pilot stablecoin settlements on the XRPL [3] - In October, reports indicated that Mastercard was in advanced talks to acquire the crypto and stablecoin infrastructure company Zero Hash [3]

Core Insights - Circle Internet Group's shares increased by nearly 10% following Visa's launch of a new stablecoin settlement service in the U.S. [1] Group 1: Visa's Stablecoin Initiative - Visa's banking partners will be able to settle obligations using Circle's fully reserved, dollar-denominated stablecoin, USDC [3] - The new settlement service promises faster fund transfers via blockchain technology, available on weekends and holidays, without altering the card user experience [3] - Visa aims to enhance treasury efficiency while ensuring security, compliance, and resiliency standards [4] Group 2: Market and Financial Data - Circle Internet Group's current stock price is $7.04, with a market capitalization of $18 billion [5][6] - The annualized stablecoin settlement volume for Visa has already exceeded $3.5 billion [7] - Initial banking partners for the new service include Cross River Bank and Lead Bank, with plans to expand to more clients by 2026 [6]

Core Insights - Visa will enable US institutions to settle transactions using Circle's USDC token on the Solana blockchain, indicating a significant shift towards blockchain technology in financial transactions [1] Group 1: Visa's Strategic Move - The integration of USDC token for transaction settlements reflects Visa's commitment to embracing cryptocurrency and blockchain solutions [1] - Cuy Sheffield, Head of Crypto at Visa, highlighted the growing demand from global clients for stablecoin usage, suggesting a trend towards digital currencies in mainstream finance [1] Group 2: On-Chain Settlement - On-chain settlement is already operational and expanding, showcasing the potential for increased efficiency in transaction processing [1] - The discussion on "Bloomberg Markets" emphasizes the importance of adapting to evolving financial technologies to meet client needs [1]

About this content About Emily Jarvie Emily began her career as a political journalist for Australian Community Media in Hobart, Tasmania. After she relocated to Toronto, Canada, she reported on business, legal, and scientific developments in the emerging psychedelics sector before joining Proactive in 2022. She brings a strong journalism background with her work featured in newspapers, magazines, and digital publications across Australia, Europe, and North America, including The Examiner, The Advocate, ...

Visa is expanding its stablecoin settlements to the U.S. using USDC for settlement on the Solana blockchain with its first two partners. https://t.co/22C8cFi8Dd ...

Visa is expanding its stablecoin pilot to include settlements in the United States using Circle's USDC on the Solana blockchain.  The expansion will allow U.S. acquirer and issuer partners of the payments giant to settle in USDC, starting with initial banking partners Cross River Bank and Lead Bank. The firm is expecting a broader rollout in 2026.  “Visa is expanding stablecoin settlement because our banking partners are not only asking about it—they’re preparing to use it,” said Visa’s Global Head of Grow ...