Cryptocurrency continues to evolve rapidly, and though it has been no less volatile in 2025, 2026 could be a pivotal year for digital assets. With increased institutional adoption, regulatory clarity and the rise of decentralized finance (DeFi), earning passive income with crypto is more accessible and, fingers crossed, potentially more profitable than ever. Check Out: 3 Safest Investments To Hold In The Current Trump Economy For You: 9 Low-Effort Ways To Make Passive Income (You Can Start This Week) Yes, ...

Paxos, a company known for issuing stablecoins like PayPal USD, is acquiring Fordefi, an institutional crypto wallet startup, for over $100 million. The acquisition addresses rising demand from Paxos’ customers for regulated access to decentralized finance (DeFi) products, according to the company. Fordefi operates multi-party computation (MPC)-based wallets that enable secure crypto custody and DeFi protocol interaction for about 300 clients, based on the announcement. The startup will continue operating ...

Core Insights - Figure Technology Solutions, Inc. announced the minting of $YLDS, a registered public debt security stablecoin, on the Solana blockchain, aimed at providing fiat on/off ramp capabilities and continuous yield backed by U.S. Treasuries [1][2] - The collaboration with Provenance Blockchain aims to enhance real-world asset applications in decentralized finance (DeFi) on Solana, allowing users to access yields from various Figure assets [2][4] - $YLDS is designed to serve multiple applications including payments, cross-border remittances, and yield generation, with Exponent Finance being the first platform to utilize it [1][3] Company Overview - Figure Technology Solutions operates a capital marketplace that connects origination, funding, and secondary market activities, having originated over $19 billion in home equity financing [5] - The company is recognized as a leader in real-world asset tokenization, with its recent securitization receiving a AAA rating from S&P, marking a significant achievement in blockchain finance [7] Product Features - $YLDS offers real-world utility by providing immediate applications in DeFi, being backed primarily by U.S. Treasuries and already integrated into Figure's existing products [6] - The stablecoin is built for composability within Solana's DeFi ecosystem, allowing developers to integrate it into their protocols easily [6] - Figure's compliance-first approach and the SEC registration of $YLDS provide institutional-grade credibility, distinguishing it from speculative projects in the market [6]

Key Points Real-world asset tokenization is being embraced as a major trend by key Wall Street players. Chainlink, Ondo, and World Liberty Financial are among the cryptocurrencies that could benefit the most from the trend. Real-world asset tokenization is still in its infancy, so investors would be best off to stick with high-market-cap tokens that have significant support from mainstream financial institutions. 10 stocks we like better than Chainlink › In October, BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) CEO Larr ...

Group 1: Market Overview - The Korean won and the Taiwan dollar are restricted by local rules, limiting their international flow [1] - Japan's yen is fully convertible, making it suitable for a stablecoin that can operate in decentralized finance (DeFi) [2][3] - The launch of JPYC's yen-backed stablecoin marks Japan's entry into the global fiat-pegged token market [2] Group 2: Impact on Decentralized Finance - The new stablecoin could transform Japan's low-rate liquidity into a funding source for DeFi, allowing traders to borrow digital yen at low rates [3] - The yen carry trade now has a programmable, blockchain-based counterpart that connects DeFi yields to Bank of Japan policy [3][4] - Current on-chain yields in DeFi platforms significantly exceed Japan's traditional money market rates [5] Group 3: Regulatory and Market Constraints - JPYC currently limits redemptions to $6,500 per day, which may not significantly impact market movements [5] - Japan's cautious financial architecture continues to influence the operation of digital currencies, reflecting a conservative approach [6] Group 4: Bitcoin Market Movements - Bitcoin is trading at $110,432, down 1.6% in the last 24 hours, indicating a cooling demand from U.S. investors [7] - Spot ETF outflows have averaged 281 BTC over the past week, suggesting profit-taking and reduced domestic interest following a recent rally [7]

Core Insights - Ethereum has established itself as a leader in the blockchain space by pioneering smart contracts and transitioning from a proof-of-work to a proof-of-stake validation system, which is more energy-efficient [1][3] - The decentralized finance (DeFi) industry heavily relies on Ethereum, with over 60% of total value locked in DeFi platforms and more than 50% of stablecoins circulating on its network [3][4] - Ethereum's role in tokenizing real-world assets positions it as a key player in the emerging utility of cryptocurrencies [4][7] Industry Position - Ethereum's dominance in the DeFi sector is underscored by its significant share of total value locked and stablecoins, indicating its foundational role in the industry [3][9] - The potential for stablecoins and real-world asset tokenization to enhance asset ownership and trading efficiency highlights Ethereum's importance in the evolving crypto landscape [4][5] Competitive Landscape - Despite its strong position, Ethereum faces competition from newer, faster, and lower-cost projects like Solana and Cardano, which may coexist and capture market share [6][5] - The future of Ethereum may be influenced by how traditional financial giants choose to integrate blockchain technology, potentially impacting decentralized projects [5][6] Future Outlook - Ethereum's achievements and ongoing development suggest it has the necessary leadership and vision to adapt to future challenges in the cryptocurrency space [7]

Core Insights - Ethereum is the second-largest cryptocurrency with a market cap of approximately $480 billion as of October 21, experiencing significant price movement from under $1,400 in April to nearly $5,000 in August, followed by a 22% pullback due to a broader crypto market slump [1] Group 1: Decentralized Finance (DeFi) Growth - Decentralized finance is rapidly expanding, leveraging blockchain technology as an alternative to traditional finance, with smart contracts enabling various financial services [3][4] - The U.S. passed the Genius Act in July 2025, regulating stablecoins, contributing to the stablecoin market's growth from $205 billion at the start of the year to $308 billion [3] - The value of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) increased from $16 billion to $34 billion during the same period [3] Group 2: Ethereum's Market Position - Ethereum is the most popular blockchain platform for DeFi applications, holding over 50% of the total value locked (TVL) in DeFi, which is currently $151 billion, with approximately $86 billion on Ethereum [5][7] - Ethereum commands 54% of the stablecoin market, benefiting from its first-mover advantage in smart contract capabilities [7] Group 3: Future Projections - The DeFi market is expected to grow at an annual rate of 27% through 2032, indicating strong future demand [8] - The stablecoin market is projected to reach a value of $2 trillion by 2028, further supporting Ethereum's growth potential [8]

Core Insights - Ethereum's DeFi platform showcased its value during market turmoil, with the main Ethereum chain remaining operational while some Layer-2 chains experienced issues [1][4] - The decentralized exchanges (DEXs) within Ethereum's ecosystem absorbed significant trading volume, reaching a record of nearly $177 billion, demonstrating effective risk transfer [2][10] - Bitcoin exhibited relative strength during the market crash, stabilizing quickly, which reinforced its position as a durable asset despite not reaching previous highs [3][10] Market Dynamics - On October 10, a new tariff announcement triggered a rapid decline in cryptocurrency prices, with Bitcoin dropping approximately 12%, Ethereum and Solana falling between 15% to 30%, and many altcoins experiencing declines over 70% [4][5] - The event marked the largest notional crypto deleveraging, with over $19 billion in leveraged positions liquidated within 24 hours [4][5] Performance Analysis - Solana demonstrated superior performance during the crash, maintaining high transaction throughput and remaining operational under extreme load, which highlighted its usability [7][10] - The resilience of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana during the crisis suggests their long-term viability and potential for future investment [8][12] Investment Thesis - Bitcoin's value proposition as a store-of-value was validated during the crash, while Ethereum's DeFi markets proved capable of self-correction under stress [10][11] - Solana's ability to handle high transaction volumes during peak stress periods supports its growth narrative [10][11] Strategic Recommendations - Investors are encouraged to accumulate Bitcoin as a foundational asset, Ethereum for its market infrastructure, and Solana for its high-performance growth potential [11][12] - The ongoing macroeconomic uncertainties suggest that assets demonstrating resilience under stress will continue to attract investment flows [12]

Core Insights - Stablecoins have emerged as a popular investment option for risk-averse investors, providing a safer alternative compared to traditional cryptocurrencies [2] - The primary goal of stablecoins is to maintain a value of $1.00, with the majority pegged to the U.S. dollar [3] - Stablecoins can facilitate faster and cheaper cross-border transactions and offer higher yields compared to traditional savings options [4] Comparison of Stablecoins - Ethena USDe and Dai are both pegged to the U.S. dollar but are not backed by actual U.S. dollars or Treasuries, differentiating them from stablecoins like USD Coin and PayPal USD [6] - Ethena USDe utilizes a mix of crypto assets and employs a balancing strategy between long and short positions in crypto to maintain its peg to the U.S. dollar [7][8] - Dai uses smart contracts to hold crypto assets as collateral while maintaining its peg to the U.S. dollar [9]

Core Insights - VisionSys AI (VSA), a Beijing-based publicly-traded company focused on brain-machine interface technologies and AI systems, announced a $2 billion treasury strategy involving Solana (SOL) [1][4] Company Strategy - The initiative, spearheaded by VisionSys subsidiary Medintel Technology, plans to acquire and stake $500 million in SOL over the next six months, partnering with Marinade, a major staking operator on Solana [2] - The appointment of Hakob Sirounian, an early Solana supporter, as chief strategy officer indicates a strategic focus on blockchain and decentralized technologies [3] Market Performance - Following the announcement, VisionSys AI's stock experienced a 20% decline in premarket trading, despite a remarkable increase of over 300% since its trading debut in April [3] - SOL was noted as one of the top performers in the crypto market, rising 6% to $219 on the same day [3] Industry Trends - VisionSys AI joins a growing list of public companies adopting direct cryptocurrency holdings, following the lead of early adopters like MicroStrategy [4] - The trend of holding digital assets has expanded beyond Bitcoin (BTC) to include other tokens like Ether (ETH) and SOL, with companies seeking income through yield-earning strategies in decentralized finance (DeFi) markets [5] - Firms in the Solana ecosystem, such as Forward Industries, Defi Development, and Upexi, collectively hold over $3 billion in SOL [5]