Core Insights - Fold Holdings has partnered with Visa and Stripe to launch the Fold Bitcoin Rewards Credit Card, aimed at making Bitcoin rewards accessible to mainstream consumers [1] - The credit card offers up to 3.5% back on purchases, with an unlimited 2% paid instantly in Bitcoin, and additional rewards at partner merchants [2][3] - The rewards system is entirely Bitcoin-based, avoiding complexities like token lock-ins or staking requirements, enhancing user accessibility [3][4] Company Developments - Fold has processed over $3.1 billion in transaction volume and distributed more than $83 million in Bitcoin rewards [5] - The company previously launched a Bitcoin Gift Card to facilitate Bitcoin purchases and gifting [5] - Fold's existing ecosystem includes a Bitcoin debit card, exchange, and gift card program, enhancing its product offerings [4] Industry Trends - Visa and Stripe are increasing their focus on crypto payments, particularly with the rise of stablecoins, which they view as complementary to their business [7] - The collaboration between Fold, Visa, and Stripe is positioned to leverage Visa's global reach and Stripe's infrastructure to deliver Bitcoin rewards at scale [3][4]

Core Insights - Y Combinator is collaborating with Base and Coinbase Ventures to foster the development of "Fintech 3.0" companies [1] - The initiative aims to expand the use of stablecoins, tokenize assets, and create consumer-facing applications [2] - This effort aligns with ongoing regulatory developments in the U.S. regarding cryptocurrency and stablecoin legislation [4] Group 1 - Y Combinator, Base, and Coinbase Ventures are seeking applications for "Fintech 3.0" companies [1][2] - Themes of interest include expanding stablecoins into local currencies and tokenizing various assets [2] - The collaboration aims to enhance on-chain business models and promote global economic participation [3] Group 2 - The GENIUS Act is a new U.S. law aimed at providing clarity for stablecoin regulations [4] - U.S. lawmakers are also working on broader legislation to structure the cryptocurrency market [4]

🚨🆙 Active loans of @ethena_labs' USDe stablecoin on @aave are up ~$1.4B since the start of the year.Aave 🤝 Stablecoins https://t.co/gEYCn3MZPb ...

Stablecoins move faster on Sei.LayerZero (@LayerZero_Core):@phillip_xyz Stablecoins move faster on Sei. ...

Crypto Industry Overview - The crypto industry has entered a golden age of building, with infrastructure and tools like stablecoins and chains in place, enabling entrepreneurs to create impactful businesses and consumer experiences [1][4] - Fintech is evolving from 1.0 (online payments) to 2.0 (friendlier consumer experiences) to 3.0, which aims to rewrite the financial system using crypto as a programmable software platform [1] - The industry is exploring different paths in layer 1 and layer 2 blockchains, converging learnings to build infrastructure for the next wave of adoption [2] Regulatory Environment - Regulatory uncertainty has hindered crypto innovation, with startups spending more on legal fees than engineering [3] - Increased regulatory clarity, such as with stablecoins and the Genius Act, is lowering the barrier to entry for entrepreneurs and fostering innovation [4] Stablecoins and Tokenization - Stablecoins enable programmable money to enter the existing financial system, providing access to dollars for individuals and businesses worldwide [4] - There are almost $200 billion of stablecoins in the market [4] - Tokenization involves moving asset classes from legacy systems to programmable environments, creating new opportunities for value creation [9] - New asset classes, such as content and creators, are emerging in the on-chain world, enabling creators to monetize their work [10][11][12] Building and Investment Opportunities - Opportunities exist in building interfaces for interacting with AMMs (Automated Market Makers) or exchanges, enabling seamless asset swaps [2] - US-centric builders can focus on rewriting legacy financial systems into programmable smart contracts, as demonstrated by the Shopify commerce payments protocol [6][7][8] - Founders should identify scaled network effects around intermediaries and use the open crypto platform to mediate transactions more efficiently [9] - Y Combinator is actively seeking to fund crypto startups with strong technical teams focused on solving real-world problems [35][36] AI and Crypto Intersection - Crypto can address AI's challenges by providing verification and authentication for AI-generated content [24] - Crypto serves as a native platform for AI agents to transact, enabling them to send and receive money through smart contracts [25][26]

Core Viewpoint - JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon expressed concerns that persistent inflation may hinder further Federal Reserve rate cuts, contradicting market expectations for aggressive monetary easing through 2025 [1][5]. Economic Pressures - Dimon highlighted multiple inflationary pressures, including global fiscal deficits, potential world remilitarization, trade restructuring, and reduced immigration to the U.S., which could sustain price pressures and push wages higher [2][3]. - Federal Reserve officials, including St. Louis Fed President Alberto Musalem and Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic, have also indicated skepticism about the feasibility of further rate cuts, suggesting that the September cut may be the only reduction needed this year [1][5]. Banking Industry Perspectives - Dimon dismissed concerns within the banking industry regarding stablecoins threatening traditional deposit bases, emphasizing the legitimacy of blockchain technology while differentiating it from speculative crypto trading [3]. - His views contrast with other major bank executives who have warned of potential deposit flight reminiscent of the 1980s money market fund crisis [4]. Federal Reserve's Stance - The Federal Reserve's recent rate cut of 25 basis points to a range of 4.00%-4.25% has led to internal divisions over the pace of future reductions, with some officials questioning the timing of the cut given ongoing inflation pressures [2][5]. - New Fed Governor Stephen Miran advocated for aggressive rate cuts totaling 1.25 percentage points across the remaining 2025 meetings, arguing that current rates are too tight and could lead to unnecessary unemployment [6].

The integration of #stablecoins into finance is accelerating 🌍How will this reshape global payment systems? ...

Overview of ASX's NFT Yield Distribution - ASX Capital has successfully completed another yield distribution to holders of its two sold-out NFT collections [1] - These NFTs generate yield from real estate income, backed by investments in premium residential properties in the United States [1] Automation and Distribution Process - Distributions for ASX's NFT holders are automated, eliminating the need for manual claims [2] - Income from properties is converted into stablecoins like USDC and USDT [2] - Stablecoins are used to purchase the official ASX token from the open market [2] - A snapshot is taken to determine eligible wallets for distribution [3] - ASX tokens are distributed proportionally to those whitelisted in the snapshot [3] NFT Availability - ASX Capital's NFTs are available on the secondary market via BlockzGG, Coredao_Org's premier NFT marketplace [3]

Where we're going, we won't need banks.Big week for stablecoins.Big week for Plasma.New card, new app, new neobank all in one. Mainnet on Thursday.Plasma CEO on stream this week.Trillions. See you soon.Plasma (@PlasmaFDN):Introducing Plasma One: the one app for your money. https://t.co/5IgcCon5g8 ...

Core Insights - Shield, a crypto neo-bank, has raised $5 million in a seed round led by Giant Ventures to enhance its payment services for cross-border transactions in US cryptocurrencies [1][6] - The company aims to address the challenges faced by trade businesses in regions like Latin America, Africa, and parts of Asia, which often experience delays and high fees in international transactions [4] Company Overview - Shield was launched in 2022 and pivoted to focus on payments in 2024, providing compliance screenings to mitigate risks such as sanctions and money laundering [1][4] - The company has processed over $100 million in payments since its inception, with $40 million processed in the last month alone [5] Leadership and Vision - Co-founder and CEO Emmanuel Udotong expressed disappointment with the mainstream use cases for crypto and the presence of "bad actors" in the space, motivating the creation of Shield [2][3] - The leadership team includes Udotong, his brother Isaiah, and college friend Luis Carchi, who aimed to leverage stablecoins for international payments [3] Market Context - The crypto industry has seen a resurgence, creating new unicorns and attracting significant investment after a challenging period [5] - Shield faces competition from numerous startups and established players like PayPal's Xoom and Stripe's Bridge [5] Funding and Future Plans - The recent funding will be utilized to secure additional banking partnerships and enhance compliance products, including transaction monitoring and fraud detection [7] - Shield has raised a total of $7 million to date, with strategic investments from notable entities such as Coinbase and Bank of America [6][7]