Core Viewpoint - The panel discussion at the World Economic Forum highlighted a contentious debate between Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and Bank of France Governor François Villeroy de Galhau regarding stablecoin yields and the implications for global competitiveness and consumer rights [1][2]. Group 1: Stablecoin Yields - The primary focus of the discussion was on whether fiat-pegged stablecoins should offer interest to holders, with Armstrong arguing that it would benefit consumers and enhance global competitiveness [2][3]. - Armstrong emphasized that allowing interest on stablecoins is crucial as it puts more money in consumers' pockets and prevents U.S. regulated stablecoins from being at a disadvantage compared to offshore competitors [3]. - Villeroy de Galhau opposed the idea, viewing interest-bearing private tokens as a systemic risk to traditional banking and asserting that a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) should not compete on yield [3]. Group 2: Industry Perspectives - Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters supported the notion that tokens need to offer yield to maintain their appeal as a store of value, stating that without yield, their attractiveness diminishes [5]. - Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse took a more neutral stance, acknowledging the importance of competition and a level playing field, while indicating that Ripple is not heavily invested in the yield debate [4]. - The panel included other notable figures from the financial industry, indicating a diverse range of opinions on the future of digital assets and their regulation [3]. Group 3: Legislative Context - The discussion also touched on the status of the CLARITY Act in the U.S. Senate, which has faced delays following Coinbase's withdrawal of support, although Armstrong described the situation as a revision process rather than a stall [6].

Core Insights - BlackRock acknowledges Ethereum's significant role in tokenization, suggesting it may become a central player in blockchain-based markets on Wall Street [1] - Ethereum currently supports 65% of tokenized assets, indicating its dominance in this sector and potential for value growth as more firms utilize it for digital asset representation [2][3] - The report highlights a trend where tokenized assets are gaining traction beyond speculative trading, with stablecoin adoption outpacing spot crypto trading volumes [2] Group 1 - Ethereum is seen as a potential "toll road" for blockchain markets, benefiting from increased trading activity and the issuance of stablecoins and real-world assets [1][3] - BlackRock's tokenized money market fund, BUIDL, has $1.6 billion in assets, with significant portions on Ethereum ($499 million) and Binance's BNB Chain ($503 million) [5] - The firm emphasizes the convergence of traditional markets with crypto, exemplified by the interest in spot exchange-traded funds for digital assets [5] Group 2 - BlackRock manages the largest ETFs for Bitcoin and Ethereum, with assets under management of $70.6 billion and $10.7 billion, respectively [6] - The report notes that while multiple networks can support tokenized assets, only Bitcoin and Ethereum are highlighted, indicating a focused strategy on these two [4] - Ethereum currently manages $13.2 billion in real-world assets, showcasing its capability in the tokenization space compared to other networks [4]

Jan 21 (Reuters) - F/m Investments said on Wednesday that the asset manager has filed with a regulator for approval to record ​ownership of tokenized shares in its U.S. Treasury 3-month bill (TBIL) ETF ‌on a permissioned blockchain. The filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission comes amid growing ‌efforts by asset managers and exchanges to bring tokenization into traditional markets, even as U.S. regulators assess how blockchain-based settlement and record-keeping can operate under long-stan ...

Core Viewpoint - BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) has made significant strategic moves, including a $200 million investment in Beast Industries, which positions the company at the intersection of digital assets and mainstream consumer engagement, particularly through the influence of MrBeast's brand [6][15][19]. Company Overview - Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Las Vegas, BitMine has evolved into a hybrid Bitcoin and Ethereum network company, focusing on digital asset exposure through mining operations, advisory services, and strategic capital raising [3]. - The company is currently valued at approximately $12.85 billion and operates across various verticals, including traditional Bitcoin mining and crypto consulting [3]. Financial Performance - BitMine's fiscal 2025 earnings reported revenue of $6.1 million, an 84% year-over-year increase, with a net income of $328.2 million and an EPS of $13.39 [10]. - The company's balance sheet shows crypto and cash holdings swelling to roughly $11.8 billion, solidifying its position in the digital asset space [10]. Strategic Moves - The company has committed $200 million to Beast Industries, which is expected to enhance BitMine's presence in mainstream digital commerce and leverage its Ethereum treasury for financial services [15][19]. - BitMine is also preparing to launch its Made-in-America Validator Network (MAVAN) in 2026, working with three staking partners to enhance its staking capabilities [13]. Market Position and Analyst Sentiment - Despite a recent decline of nearly 81% from its peak, there is a growing consensus among analysts that BitMine's strategic investments and strong financials could lead to significant upside potential [4][21]. - B. Riley has reiterated a "Buy" rating on BMNR with a price target of $47, indicating a potential upside of 50.8% based on the company's long-term strategy [18][20]. Investment Outlook - The average price target for BMNR is $48.67, suggesting an upside potential of 78% from current levels, with a Street high target of $60 indicating a potential 119.46% upside [22]. - The introduction of a dividend and share buyback program signals financial discipline, although execution remains critical for realizing the company's strategic goals [9][23].

Core Viewpoint - Ondo Global Markets has expanded its operations to the Solana blockchain, enabling on-chain exposure to tokenized publicly traded securities, which enhances trading opportunities for users in the Solana ecosystem [1][3]. Group 1: Expansion and Offerings - Ondo Global Markets is now the largest and most liquid catalog of tokenized equities on the Solana blockchain, providing access to over 200 U.S. stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for the first time [2][3]. - The expansion allows more than 3.2 million daily active users within the Solana ecosystem to trade these tokenized assets [3]. Group 2: Liquidity and Trading Mechanism - Instead of relying on on-chain liquidity pools, Ondo utilizes the liquidity from major exchanges like NASDAQ and NYSE, enabling large trade sizes with minimal slippage [4]. - The trading process is facilitated by leading ecosystem infrastructure, such as Jupiter, which helps in discovering and executing trades seamlessly [4]. Group 3: Market Impact and Future Outlook - The introduction of tokenized stocks at brokerage prices provides Solana users with confidence in trading on-chain, marking a significant step in integrating real-world assets into the blockchain ecosystem [5]. - The Solana Foundation emphasizes the importance of real-world assets in the future of internet capital markets, indicating a broader trend towards the integration of traditional finance with blockchain technology [5].

This has second-order effects on liquidity. Capital trapped in legacy settlement cycles gets unlocked. Stablecoins and tokenised money-market funds become the connective tissue between asset classes, enabling instant movement across previously siloed markets; order books deepen, trading volumes rise and the velocity of both digitised and fiat money accelerates as settlement risk falls away.Tokenization removes that drag. When collateral becomes fungible and settlement happens in seconds rather than days, in ...

Core Insights - BlackRock identifies cryptocurrency and tokenized assets as significant investment themes shaping markets in 2026, alongside artificial intelligence and energy infrastructure [1][2] Investment Themes - The report emphasizes that cryptocurrencies like bitcoin (BTC), ether (ETH), and stablecoins are part of a broader list of themes driving market changes [2] - Tokenization is highlighted as a growing trend, representing real-world assets in digital formats, which is changing how investors access markets [4] Market Trends - The iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), BlackRock's spot bitcoin ETF, is noted as the fastest-growing exchange-traded product in history, with net assets exceeding $70 billion, indicating strong investor interest in bitcoin [3] - The Ethereum blockchain is recognized for its dominance in tokenized assets, holding over 65% of the market share, and is seen as a key player in the growth of tokenization [5] Broader Implications - The inclusion of crypto and tokenized assets in the report suggests that BlackRock views them as part of transformative "mega forces" affecting economies and portfolio management [6] - The report indicates a shift towards mainstream acceptance of blockchain technologies, with potential for modernizing financial infrastructure [7]

Everyone says tokenization is being held back by regulation, custody infrastructure, or institutional conservatism. But I don't think that's true. The technology works. Assets settle perfectly onchain. Yields are competitive, ranging from safe US Treasury bets at 3% up to 10% for riskier instruments. Compliance frameworks exist. Custody solutions from reputable providers are live. But even with all that working smoothly, institutional adoption is only moving forward at a fraction of what its speed could ...

Core Insights - The NYSE's announcement of a new platform for tokenized securities marks a significant moment for blockchain technology, indicating its mainstream acceptance [2] - There is a strong likelihood that Congress will pass legislation to integrate crypto services into the financial system, suggesting a future where equities are tokenized and regulated [3] - Despite the optimistic outlook, there are doubts about the NYSE's ability to maintain its dominance in the evolving financial landscape, similar to AT&T's experience in the late 1990s [4] Group 1 - The NYSE's announcement is filled with hype but lacks specific details regarding its plans for tokenization, raising questions about its seriousness in the blockchain space [5] - Key unanswered questions include which blockchains and stablecoins the NYSE will support, the programming languages and token standards it will adopt, and the jurisdictions it will serve [6] - The NYSE's plans are pending regulatory approvals, and the lack of detailed information is particularly concerning given the complexities involved for a major exchange [7]

Partnership brings compliant institutional grade market infrastructure to support a secondary market for GLDYLOS ANGELES and NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Streamex Corp. (“Streamex”) (NASDAQ: STEX), and tZERO Group, Inc. (“tZERO”), leading innovators in blockchain-powered tokenization infrastructure, are joining forces to support secondary trading of GLDY, a soon-to-be-launched, gold-linked tokenized security, on tZERO’s SEC- and FINRA-regulated alternative trading system (ATS). The collaborat ...