Core Insights - Bakkt Holdings, Inc. has announced the acquisition of Distributed Technologies Research Ltd. (DTR), enhancing its global stablecoin settlement and programmable payments strategy [1][2] - The company will operate under the name "Bakkt, Inc." starting January 22, 2026, and plans to host an Investor Day on March 17, 2026 [1][4] Acquisition Details - Bakkt will issue shares of its Class A common stock representing 31.5% of the "Bakkt Share Number" as consideration for DTR, amounting to approximately 9,128,682 shares [2] - The final number of shares will be determined according to the Cooperation Agreement and may change before the transaction closes [2] - The acquisition is expected to accelerate Bakkt's time-to-market for stablecoin settlement and reduce third-party dependency [2] Governance and Approval - The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and stockholder approval [3] - An independent special committee of Bakkt's Board of Directors evaluated and approved the transaction to ensure robust governance [3] Strategic Implications - The acquisition is seen as a strategic fit that will consolidate Bakkt's stablecoin settlement infrastructure and support its neobanking strategy [4] - Bakkt aims to create a unified global financial infrastructure platform by integrating DTR's technology with its own market presence and regulatory framework [4] - The transaction is expected to unlock new capabilities and efficiencies for merchants, financial institutions, and end users [4]

RT Jeremy Allaire - jda.eth / jdallaire.sol (@jerallaire)Today we announced a strategic partnership with @intuit, one of the world's leading financial technology and software companies, a firm that powers financial activity for 100M customers, spanning households and small and medium businesses. Circle and Intuit are working together to bring the power of USDC and Circle's broader platform infrastructure, enabling Intuit to use "a programmable, 24/7, low-friction money rail that can be embedded across the I ...

programmable money without privacy is programmable control ...

Company Overview - First Digital Group is a leading provider of stablecoin and digital asset infrastructure, known for its flagship product FDUSD, which is the third most-traded stablecoin globally [1][17] - The company operates under a compliance-first model and has established a strong presence in multiple jurisdictions since its founding in 2019 and restructuring in 2022 [2][17] Product and Market Performance - FDUSD is a USD-denominated stablecoin fully backed by cash and cash equivalents, achieving a market capitalization of over US$1 billion within four months and a peak circulation of over US$4.4 billion [3] - The stablecoin has processed more than US$2 trillion in cumulative trading volume, indicating strong liquidity and demand in global markets [3] - First Digital expects to report approximately US$80-$90 million in unaudited revenue for 2025, highlighting its growth trajectory in the digital asset economy [4] Strategic Developments - First Digital has entered a non-binding letter of intent for a proposed business combination with CSLM Digital Asset Acquisition Corp III, which aims to enhance its public listing and expand its product offerings [1][7] - The company is set to launch Finance District, a decentralized finance ecosystem that will utilize its agentic payments layer, Prism, to facilitate AI-powered transactions [5] Regulatory and Compliance Framework - First Digital operates with a compliance-first approach, holding licenses and registrations in key financial centers, which positions it favorably in a sector experiencing increasing regulatory clarity [4][7] - The company emphasizes transparent reserves and regulated structures, which are critical for building trust in the digital finance landscape [9][17] Leadership and Vision - The CEO of First Digital, Vincent Chok, emphasizes the significance of taking an APAC-rooted stablecoin issuer public, marking a milestone in the evolution of digital finance [9] - The partnership with KOYN is seen as a strategic move to scale globally and shape the future of trusted digital dollars [9][8]

RT CoinDesk Podcast Network (@CoinDeskPodcast)🌐 The financial system is undergoing a foundational shift "similar to the early internet."@the_tq, SVP of Marketing, @circle, joins #GenC to share why stablecoins like USDC are creating the "Economic OS for the internet." He details how this programmable money will converge with Gen AI and why every major corporation is now prioritizing a stablecoin strategy.Thank you @MidnightNtwrk 👋 for being a sponsor of the CoinDesk Media Network. ...

Industry Overview - Fintech is transforming the global financial landscape by embedding financial services into everyday experiences, enabling programmable money, and leveraging AI for personalized interactions and risk management [1] - The rise of embedded finance integrates payments, lending, insurance, and investments into non-financial platforms, reducing distribution costs and enhancing customer loyalty [2] - Open banking and open finance empower customers with control over their data, fostering faster onboarding and customized products [2] - Programmable money powered by stablecoins and real-time payment rails is revolutionizing treasury, payroll, and cross-border transfers through instant settlement [2] - AI is becoming the new operating system for the financial industry, driving decision-making in underwriting, cybersecurity, and compliance [3] Future Trends - The future financial system will be open, data-permissioned, AI-native, and instant in settlement, with long-term winners being fintechs and incumbents that master interoperability and trusted customer relationships [4] - Stocks like Upstart Holdings, Affirm Holdings, and Nu Holdings are gaining investor attention as they adapt to these trends [4] Company Insights: Upstart Holdings, Inc. (UPST) - Upstart is an AI-driven fintech that uses machine learning to evaluate non-traditional data points for lending, allowing broader loan approvals while maintaining strong credit performance [6][7] - The company acts as an intermediary, earning revenues through referral fees, loan servicing fees, and income from loan sales and securitization [7] - Upstart's direct-to-consumer platform enables individuals to apply for loans directly, leveraging automation and data analytics to disrupt traditional lending [8] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for UPST's 2025 sales and EPS implies year-over-year growth of 51.4% and 930%, respectively [9] Company Insights: Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) - Affirm operates in the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) and embedded finance space, allowing consumers to split purchases into installments at the point of sale [10] - The company uses data-driven underwriting and real-time credit assessment to manage risk dynamically [11] - Affirm differentiates itself by focusing on larger-ticket purchases and flexible repayment options, supported by a robust capital model [12] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for AFRM's fiscal 2026 sales and EPS implies year-over-year growth of 23.9% and 473.3%, respectively [14] Company Insights: Nu Holdings Ltd. (NU) - Nu Holdings targets underserved and digitally native consumers in Latin America with a suite of app-based services across lending, banking, and investing, amassing 123 million customers as of June 30, 2025 [15][16] - The company has reduced operational costs while boosting efficiency and accessibility, promoting financial inclusion in underserved markets [16] - Nu's diversified revenue streams from lending, interchange fees, and marketplace services offer resilience and scalability [17] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for NU's 2025 sales and EPS implies year-over-year growth of 32.2% and 24.4%, respectively [19]

Core Insights - Wirex forecasts that Europe's stablecoin market could reach €1 trillion this decade, driven by euro-denominated tokens compliant with the EU's new MiCAR regulation [1][2] - The stablecoin market currently shows 90-95% of global circulation in USD-denominated tokens, with EUR-backed tokens representing less than €350 million [2] - Wirex projects a 10-15x growth for MiCAR-compliant euro tokens and emphasizes the need for coordinated EU incentives to promote EUR-backed stablecoins [2] Programmable Money and Banking Infrastructure - The whitepaper discusses the integration of stablecoins into mainstream finance as payment instruments under MiCAR's regulatory framework, marking a shift from mobile banking to programmable money [3] - The concept of agentic payments is introduced, where AI- and smart-contract-driven transactions operate autonomously for users [4] - Wirex anticipates the emergence of stablecoin-native challenger banks that will integrate non-custodial wallets, on-chain settlement, and card networks across various FinTech services [4] Wirex Strategy and Industry Context - Wirex has established its European headquarters in Milan in 2025, viewing MiCAR compliance as a competitive advantage [5] - The platform has processed over $20 billion in transactions since its inception [5] - Other payment firms, such as Western Union and Circle, are also entering the stablecoin space, with Circle obtaining an e-money license in France for its EURC stablecoin [6] Policy Recommendations - The whitepaper recommends harmonizing MiCAR implementation across EU Member States to avoid regulatory fragmentation [7] - It suggests merchant-level incentives for EUR-stablecoin adoption, including lower fees and faster settlement [7] - The report calls for expanded regulatory sandboxes and ensuring interoperability between the digital euro and private stablecoins [7]

RT Circle Developer (@BuildOnCircle)Bitcoin proved money could be programmable.Stablecoins proved money could be programmable and are designed to maintain a stable value.In this episode of Stablecoin 101, @corey__cooper from the Developer Relations team explains:✅ What stablecoins are and why they were created✅ The main models: fiat-backed, crypto-backed, algorithmic✅ How developers can build with them for real-world applications ...

Crypto Adoption & Market Position - Brazil ranks in the Top 5 globally for crypto adoption [1] Technological Advancements - PIX facilitates instant payments in Brazil [1] - Ethereum enables programmable money and assets [1] Future Outlook - The future of finance is emerging, linked to events like ETHLatam & EFDevcon [1]

Core Viewpoint - Digital asset treasury (DAT) firms have the potential to evolve from speculative entities into sustainable economic engines for blockchain networks, as argued by Syncracy Capital co-founder Ryan Watkins [1][2]. Group 1: Current State of DAT Firms - DAT firms currently hold approximately $105 billion in assets across major cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ether, a scale that has not been fully recognized by market participants [2]. - The focus has primarily been on short-term trading dynamics, such as premiums to net asset value and fundraising announcements, rather than the long-term potential of these firms [3]. Group 2: Future Potential and Operations - A select number of DATs may develop into durable operators that finance, govern, and build within the networks of the tokens they hold, potentially becoming for-profit, publicly traded counterparts to crypto foundations [3][4]. - DATs can exert influence within ecosystems due to their control over significant portions of token supply, allowing them to act as policy and product levers [4]. Group 3: Economic Models and Strategies - Access to large, permanent pools of native assets can enable DATs to bootstrap and scale their operations effectively [5]. - Unlike MicroStrategy's bitcoin-only strategy, which focuses on capital structure, DATs can utilize programmable tokens on smart contract platforms for various on-chain activities, such as staking for fees and providing liquidity [6][7]. - Winning DATs can be compared to a hybrid model that combines elements of closed-end funds, banks, and Berkshire Hathaway, with returns accruing in crypto per share rather than through management fees [7][8].