Healthy consumer spending helped buoy Bank of America’s revenues in the second quarter.By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions .Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.The banking giant reported quarterly earnings Wednesday (July 16) showing a con ...

Key Takeaways The cryptocurrency rally is gathering steam rapidly, with Bitcoin (BTC) hitting a new all-time high earlier this week. Bitcoin has seen a significant surge this year, following a stellar 2024 with the cryptocurrency more than doubling in value over the past 12 months. With geopolitical tensions easing and optimism surrounding rate cuts, Bitcoin is expected to continue its northbound journey. The House of Representatives is expected to discuss and likely approve a batch of cryptocurrency-relate ...

Bitcoin dominance is falling and altcoin season is calling. Who's calling. And this has everyone scrolling through the front page of sites like Coin Market Cap wondering which altcoins have the most potential in the coming months.The two that stand out the most are Ethereum and Solana. ETH and Soul have both been beaten down in recent months, but are recovering quickly and could see the biggest gains among large cap altcoins. And that's why today we're going to compare Ethereum and Salana to figure out whet ...

Core Insights - Bullet Blockchain, Inc. has entered a strategic partnership and licensing agreement with Innovative Payment Solutions, Inc. to enhance Bitcoin ATM transactions across Mexico [1][2] - The partnership aims to secure and expand the cryptocurrency payment ecosystem in North America, with IPSI paying a royalty fee for each transaction through Bullet Blockchain's network [2][4] Licensing Agreement - IPSI will gain licensed access to Bullet Blockchain's intellectual property portfolio, which includes critical technologies for Bitcoin ATMs [2][5] - Bullet Blockchain is actively pursuing licensing agreements with Bitcoin ATM operators to foster a regulated infrastructure and avoid litigation [3][6] Consumer Protection - The partnership emphasizes consumer safety by addressing concerns related to unlicensed Bitcoin ATMs, which pose risks of fraud and illicit activities [4] - Bullet Blockchain and IPSI are committed to consumer protection and industry regulation through this licensing agreement [4] Intellectual Property - Bullet Blockchain owns two key patents related to Bitcoin ATM technology, which are essential for the operation and security of these machines [5] - The company continues to advance its licensing initiatives, offering various partnership models to operators and manufacturers [6] Company Overview - Bullet Blockchain is a diversified software development and blockchain technology company, publicly traded on the OTC Markets under the symbol BULT [7] - The company is focused on driving innovations in digital and blockchain-related platforms, aiming for rapid growth and increased shareholder value [7]

Citigroup weighs issuing stablecoin to expand digital payment capabilities: Reuters https://t.co/vfHKjoNZyK ...

Summary of Conference Call on Stablecoins Industry Overview - The discussion revolves around the stablecoin market, particularly in the context of regulatory developments and market dynamics affecting the Hong Kong and global markets [1][9][10]. Core Insights and Arguments - **Stablecoin Definition and Purpose**: Stablecoins are designed to facilitate the conversion between traditional fiat currencies and cryptocurrencies, addressing the volatility issues of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum [1][25]. - **Types of Stablecoins**: Stablecoins can be categorized into four main types: fiat-collateralized, crypto-collateralized, algorithmic, and commodity-backed. As of May 2025, fiat-collateralized stablecoins dominate the market, accounting for 97% of the total market capitalization [3][27]. - **Regulatory Landscape**: - The European MICA regulation and Hong Kong's stablecoin regulations impose strict compliance requirements on stablecoin issuers, including the need for regular audits and transparent asset reserves [9][10][11]. - The U.S. is advancing the Genius Act, which mandates that stablecoin issuers maintain a 1:1 ratio of high-quality liquid assets to support their stablecoins [11][12]. - **Market Dynamics**: The total market capitalization of stablecoins was approximately $215.2 billion as of March, with a 2.1% month-over-month growth in April. Tether and Circle's USDC together hold over 90% of the market share [18][19]. Important but Overlooked Content - **Risks of Algorithmic Stablecoins**: Historical failures, such as the collapse of UST and LUNA, highlight the vulnerabilities of algorithmic stablecoins during extreme market conditions [5][27]. - **Impact on U.S. Treasury Demand**: As stablecoin demand increases, issuers may become significant buyers of short-term U.S. Treasuries, although their current holdings are not substantial [18][19][29]. - **Cross-Border Payment Advantages**: Stablecoins offer significant advantages over traditional SWIFT systems in terms of speed and cost for cross-border transactions, with transactions potentially settling within minutes compared to days for SWIFT [15][16][17]. - **Need for Practical Applications**: The growth in stablecoin demand is contingent upon the development of practical applications and use cases, such as in DeFi and cross-border payments, rather than just regulatory compliance [21][22][29]. Conclusion - The stablecoin market is poised for growth, driven by regulatory clarity and the need for efficient payment solutions. However, the actual demand will depend on the successful implementation of stablecoins in real-world applications and the assurance of full asset backing by issuers [22][29].

Australian regulators will look into a potential framework for the distribution of physical money across the country as increasing use of online and card payments add to complexities of keeping cash in circulation. https://t.co/T7ME1HtKkQ ...

Digital Payments & Innovation - Citigroup is considering issuing its own stablecoin to facilitate digital payments [1] Leadership - CEO Jane Fraser announced Citigroup's stablecoin consideration [1]

Stablecoin Adoption & Market Impact - The stablecoin market is projected to reach trillions of dollars in adoption [1] - Stablecoin issuers are currently the 16th largest holders of US treasuries globally and are expected to become the largest, surpassing China and Japan [3] - Increased stablecoin adoption could significantly impact the US economy, especially concerning the national debt [4] Regulatory & Technological Advancements - The "Genius Act" is expected to pass, leading to a rapid implementation of tokenized dollars [2] - Each tokenized dollar issued will be backed by one dollar held in reserves, typically in US treasuries [3] - The current payment systems operate with outdated 20th-century technology, hindering efficiency [1] Efficiency & Productivity Gains - Stablecoins are expected to bring substantial efficiency gains and productivity growth to the macro environment [6] - Current payment mechanisms like Venmo can take 3-5 days for transactions to settle, highlighting the need for faster solutions [6] - Stablecoins facilitate productivity growth, moving beyond static wealth transfers [5]

RT frankie (@FrankieIsLost)onchain trading, capital formation, and payments are nearing the point where they’re just better products than offchain alternatives. once we cross that threshold things will change fast ...