Core Viewpoint - Major crypto exchanges Binance and OKX are exploring the reintroduction of tokenized US stocks to diversify into real-world assets amid stagnant crypto trading volumes [1][4]. Group 1: Tokenized Stocks Initiative - Binance is considering relaunching tokenized stocks for non-US users, a product it previously tested in 2021 but abandoned due to regulatory challenges [2][3]. - The initial launch in April 2021 included stock tokens for major companies like Tesla, Microsoft, and Apple, issued by German broker CM-Equity AG [2]. - The service was discontinued in July 2021 under regulatory pressure from authorities such as Germany's BaFin and the UK's FCA, which viewed the offerings as unlicensed securities [3]. Group 2: Market Context and Motivations - Crypto exchanges are seeking new revenue streams due to persistent stagnation in trading volumes, with average daily spot volumes in January 2026 tracking 2% below December and 37% below November levels [5]. - Analysts indicate that crypto markets remain largely dormant, with volatility and trading volume near December's lows, suggesting a liquidity trap that amplifies risk for traders [6][7]. - The exploration of tokenized equities is seen as a "natural next step" for bridging traditional finance and crypto [4].

Ethereum's Position - Ethereum quietly reinforced its position at the center of onchain activity [2] - Ethereum remained the dominant settlement layer for stablecoins, real-world assets (RWAs), and tokenized financial infrastructure [2] Institutional Adoption - Large, risk-averse players overwhelmingly chose Ethereum for stablecoins, RWAs and tokenized financial infrastructure [2] - Institutions chose Ethereum because of its proven track record of security, liquidity, tooling, compliance pathways, and developer depth [2] Market Perception vs Data - Narrative might suggest Ethereum lost ground, but data indicates otherwise [1][2]

Core Insights - The recent gatherings in Dallas and New York City, led by futurist Armando Pantoja, indicate a shift in the crypto conversation towards a more traditional investment audience, moving beyond early retail traders and tech insiders [1][2][5] - The events emphasized the integration of real-world assets (RWAs) into blockchain technology, focusing on risk management and long-term wealth building rather than speculative hype [2][4] Group 1: Event Overview - More than 1,500 attendees participated in the events, which were characterized by a more professional and financially established demographic compared to earlier crypto gatherings [1][5] - The discussions centered around how RWAs like property and private credit can be tokenized, highlighting practical infrastructure and utility in the crypto space [2][3] Group 2: Speaker Insights - Speakers addressed the evolution of real estate and the importance of building a strong wealth base, with an emphasis on using familiar asset classes to balance risk [3] - The cultural perspective was provided by Johnny Marines, who discussed the potential of blockchain in reshaping rights and royalties in the music industry, indicating a broader application of crypto beyond traditional finance [4] Group 3: Demographic Shift - The audience at these events was older, wealthier, and more connected to traditional finance, contrasting with the younger, risk-tolerant demographic of early crypto adopters [5][6] - This demographic shift could be pivotal for the crypto industry, as seasoned investors may bring larger capital and a focus on due diligence, potentially reshaping the growth trajectory of crypto by linking it to established wealth-building vehicles [6]

Ecosystem Growth & Adoption - Ethereum ecosystem saw the launch of Ondo Global Markets with 100+ tokenized U S stocks & ETFs [0] - Pudgy Penguins launched its mobile game app globally, expanding NFT IP [1] - Aragon Project and MetaLex Labs introduced BORGs, bridging code & law for DAOs [2] - ChinaAMC, a major asset manager, launched on Ethereum, increasing liquidity [3] - EthereumPhone started shipping dGEN1, a mobile device built on Ethereum [5] Network Performance & Scalability - Stablecoin transfer volume on Ethereum surpassed $5 trillion in Q3 '25, an all-time high [6] - Layer 2 networks on Ethereum processed 25 million transactions in a single day, an all-time high [7] - Stablecoin supply on Arbitrum One reached $9 billion, an all-time high [9] - Fusaka upgrade was successfully deployed to the Holesky testnet [4] Real World Assets & Institutional Interest - Ethereum saw ~$25 billion worth of tokenized gold, demonstrating the movement of real-world assets (RWAs) to Ethereum [24] - Yunfeng Group purchased 10000 ETH as a 'reserve asset' [19] - FGNexusio announced it will bring dividend-paying preferred equity $FGNXP fully onchain and on Ethereum [12]

Ecosystem Growth & Development - Colosseum's Cypherpunk Hackathon awarded $2.5 million in prizes and funding to Solana builders [1] - The National Bank of Kazakhstan launched the first tenge-backed KZTE stablecoin on Solana [1] - OSLdotcom rolled out USDC and USDT deposits and withdrawals on Solana [1] - ParallelColony early access is now exclusively available on the Solana Mobile Seeker for the next 3 months [1] - Bulktrade raised an $8 million seed round to accelerate perps trading on Solana [1] - Raikucom announced a $13.5 million raise, led by Pantera Capital [2] - Meleemarkets announced a $3.5 million pre-seed raise led by Variant Fund and DBA Crypto [2] Technology & Infrastructure - Dflowprotocol introduced just-in-time (JIT) Routing to optimize trade routes for better rates [1] - The Jump Firedancer team proposed SIMD-0370 to remove Solana's fixed compute unit block limit [1] - Users can now register and use their own .sol name to send and receive funds directly in MetaMask [1] - Tryaltitude went live, giving businesses in 150+ countries access to USD/EUR accounts, treasury management, and cross-border payments [2] Tokenized Assets & Stablecoins - The total value of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) on Solana surged to $671 million, a new all-time high [1] - Stablecoin supply on Solana reached a new all-time high of $13.44 billion [2]

Project Announcement - Chainlink introduces LlamaGuard NAV, a risk-adjusted oracle solution for pricing tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) [1] - The solution is a collaboration between Chainlink, LlamaRisk, and Aave [1] Technology & Infrastructure - LlamaGuard NAV is built on Chainlink's proven infrastructure [1]

RWA & DeFi Integration - Ithaca Protocol, a leading options protocol, leverages Chainlink Data Streams to expand its offerings in real-world assets (RWAs) [1] - The integration unlocks access to a $30 trillion tokenized RWA opportunity [2] - Chainlink Data Streams enables the deployment of new 1-minute options markets (ultra-short-duration options contracts) around RWAs [1] Technology & Security - Data Streams provides low-latency market data, ensuring verifiable and manipulation-resistant RWA prices [1] - This data is crucial for Ithaca when users open positions and at expiration [1]

Core Viewpoint - Future FinTech Group Inc. has appointed Professor Yu Xiong as Chief Blockchain Advisor to guide the company's entry into stablecoins and real-world asset (RWA) businesses, highlighting its strategic ambitions in the blockchain and fintech sectors [1][6][8]. Company Overview - Future FinTech Group Inc. (NASDAQ: FTFT) is a comprehensive financial and digital technology service provider, engaging in brokerage and investment banking services in Hong Kong, as well as supply chain trading and finance businesses in China [9]. Appointment of Professor Yu Xiong - Professor Yu Xiong is a globally recognized blockchain expert and Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement at the University of Surrey, with extensive experience in blockchain research and applications [2][3]. - His previous roles include Chair of the Advisory Committee for the UK Parliament's All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Metaverse and Web 3.0, and co-Founder of the Endless Protocol Foundation [2]. Professor Xiong's Contributions - Professor Xiong has facilitated significant investments, such as an £8 million investment to establish the Newcastle Tsinghua Science Park, impacting ecosystem innovation in northern England [4]. - He has contributed to the growth of over 40 companies in the UK and has held senior positions in various prestigious institutions [3][4]. Strategic Focus on Stablecoins and RWAs - Stablecoins are recognized as a foundational component of the cryptocurrency market, providing stability and being widely used in cross-border payments and decentralized finance (DeFi) [7]. - RWAs are seen as a bridge between traditional finance and cryptocurrencies, offering immense market potential by digitizing and tokenizing real-world assets [6][7]. Future Ambitions - The company aims to leverage Professor Xiong's expertise to explore innovations in stablecoins and RWA businesses, with a focus on R&D, compliance, and market expansion [8]. - CEO Hu Li emphasized that the decision to enter these new asset areas is based on deep insights into market developments and a strategy to capitalize on transformative changes in the sector [7][8].