Key Takeaways COIN will suspend USDC-ARS trades in Argentina from Jan. 31, 2026, though crypto trading will stay live.Crypto access in the Philippines was blocked after COIN ran into licensing issues with local regulators.COIN is targeting RWA perpetuals, DeFi infrastructure and AI to build an "everything exchange."Coinbase Global (COIN) has paused some of its Argentina operations. The crypto leader has suspended buying or selling the USDC stablecoin using Argentine pesos, effective Jan. 31, 2026. However, ...

Coinbase (COIN) is pulling back some of its operations in Argentina, less than a year after formally entering the country’s crypto market. The U.S.-based exchange informed users via an email shared widely on social media that it will suspend the ability to buy or sell the USDC stablecoin using Argentine pesos, effective Jan. 31, 2026. After that deadline, traders will no longer be able to withdraw pesos to local banks or on-ramp with fiat. The company described the move as a “deliberate pause,” saying i ...

Core Insights - The cryptocurrency industry experienced significant volatility in 2025, with Bitcoin reaching a record high of over $126,000 before closing the year below $90,000, indicating a lack of sustained gains despite positive regulatory developments [2][4][10] Market Performance - Bitcoin's price fluctuations reflect broader market sentiments, with retail investors feeling negative while institutional investors remain optimistic about future growth [4][11] - The passage of stablecoin legislation and a crypto-friendly regulatory environment are seen as potential catalysts for future market recovery [2][13] Institutional Interest - Institutional demand for Bitcoin is expected to outpace supply, with crypto ETFs having acquired over 700,000 Bitcoin since their launch in 2024, which is approximately double the new coins produced during the same period [7][6] - Major financial institutions, including Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch, are beginning to offer crypto ETFs, which could further drive demand [6] Future Outlook - Experts predict that 2026 could see Bitcoin breaking out of its current stagnation, with potential new highs driven by institutional buy-in and regulatory shifts [3][9] - The prospect of lower interest rates may enhance retail and institutional interest in cryptocurrencies [5] Regulatory Developments - The CLARITY Act aims to establish a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, which could improve the industry's outlook if passed [13][14] - The act would designate the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as the primary oversight agency for crypto, a move favored by industry stakeholders [14][15] Tokenization Trends - The tokenization of real-world assets, including stocks and stablecoins, is gaining traction, with significant players like Coinbase and BlackRock prioritizing this strategy [17] - The expansion of Circle's USDC stablecoin, which saw its circulating supply increase by over 50% in 2025, highlights growing interest in tokenized assets [15]

Welcome to Motley Fool Money. I'm your host Emily Flippen. Today, I'm joined by Fool analysts Jason Hall and Sanmeet Dao to discuss the IPO market. We'll be taking a look back at what reopened the IPO window over the course of the past year, run the biggest IPOs of 2025 through a rule Breakers lens, and make a few predictions for the 2026 IPO markets, including discussing if it really never makes sense to buy into an IPO. Now, the IPO market in 2025 was obviously much hotter than 2024. The third quarter of ...

Visa launches $USDC stablecoin settlement in the U.S. using the Solana blockchain ...

Core Insights - XYRA Corp. has secured a license agreement to accept and process digital assets in real time, including USDC stablecoin and major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether, with instant conversion to U.S. dollars or local fiat currencies [1][3] Group 1: Company Overview - XYRA Corp. is a subsidiary of Cavitation Technologies, Inc., focused on the crypto technologies market and holds an exclusive license for CTI's patented Cavitation Non-Thermal Plasma™ technology [5] - The company aims to capitalize on opportunities in cryptocurrency mining and data center immersion cooling markets [5] Group 2: Infrastructure and Technology - XYRA is developing proprietary infrastructure that enables instant settlements, global reach, and significantly lower fees compared to traditional banking, which typically incurs delays of 2-5 days and costs of 6-8% [2][3] - The newly secured infrastructure will allow XYRA to bring core functionality online faster while expanding its AI-driven, quantum-secure architecture [3] Group 3: Strategic Partnerships - XYRA has formed a strategic partnership with Bitcoin Bancorp, Inc. to integrate its payment and security infrastructure into Bitcoin Bancorp's licensed ATM network across North America [3][4] Group 4: Market Positioning - The company aims to enable merchants to accept crypto or stablecoin seamlessly without altering their existing workflow, providing instant settlements in fiat and supporting transactions in multiple currencies and digital assets [8]

Group 1: E-commerce Trends - U.S. online Black Friday sales reached a record $11.8 billion, marking a 9.1% increase year-over-year, significantly driven by AI-powered shopping tools which saw an 805% increase in traffic to retail sites [2][3][7] - Mobile shopping accounted for over half of all sales, with popular categories including video game consoles, electronics, and home appliances [3][7] - Cyber Monday is projected to continue the trend with anticipated sales of $14.2 billion, making it the largest online shopping day of the year [3] Group 2: Labor Market Dynamics - Entry-level job postings in the U.S. have declined by 16% year-over-year, raising concerns for young workers, particularly recent graduates and those aged 16 to 24, whose unemployment rate reached 10.5% in August [4][5][7] - Platforms like Handshake reported a 15% reduction in job listings compared to the last academic year, while applications per job increased by approximately 30%, indicating a mismatch in the labor market [5] Group 3: Technological Investments - Japan announced an additional budget allocation of approximately ¥252.5 billion (US$1.6 billion) to enhance its AI and semiconductor industries, part of a broader strategy that has committed around ¥5.7 trillion (US$36.5 billion) since 2021 [6][7][8] - The funding will support key projects, including the domestic chip venture Rapidus, which aims to mass-produce 2-nanometer chips by 2027 [7][8] Group 4: Cryptocurrency and Social Aid - A pilot Universal Basic Income program funded by Coinbase is distributing $12,000 in USDC stablecoin to 160 low-income residents in New York, exploring the effectiveness of cryptocurrency in social welfare [9][10] - The total funding for this project is approximately $2.6 million, with participants receiving payments in two stages [10] Group 5: Economic Policy and Market Performance - Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent credited President Trump's economic policies for a recovering bond market, with the U.S. Treasury market achieving a 6% total return year-to-date, its strongest performance since 2020 [11][12] - Plans for regulatory adjustments to enhance market liquidity include a revamped Treasury buyback program, with projections of a tenfold growth in the stablecoin market by the end of the decade [12]

Core Insights - Ark Invest, led by Cathie Wood, has increased its investment in crypto-linked equities by over $20 million during a market downturn, indicating a bullish stance on the digital asset sector [1][6]. Ark Invest Purchases - The firm disclosed its latest trades, which included significant purchases in Block Inc., Circle Internet Group, and Coinbase across multiple exchange-traded funds [2]. - Specific purchases included $1.52 million in Block Inc., $878,794 in Robinhood Markets, and $13.5 million in other crypto-related stocks [3][4][7]. Market Context - Crypto-linked stocks have experienced declines between 20% and 50% over the past month, with Block down more than 20%, Circle down over 50%, and Coinbase down 30% [6][9]. - The broader crypto market has also seen a significant downturn, with the total market capitalization of stablecoins decreasing by $4.6 billion as of November 1, and Bitcoin slipping nearly 25% to around $86,800 [10]. Focus on Ethereum - Ark Invest has recently increased its exposure to Ethereum-related companies, including a purchase of 240,507 shares of Bitmine Immersion, which has seen its shares grow over 250% over the past year despite a recent decline [11]. - Bitmine's upcoming staking solution is projected to generate a 2.79% pre-tax yield, potentially positioning it among the most profitable companies in the U.S. [12].

Market Catalysts & Trends - The crypto market anticipates a significant catalyst, potentially larger than previous ones like the Genius Act and ETF approvals, which could substantially increase the Bitcoin price [1][2] - Google searches for crypto are at a bottom, indicating minimal retail interest, which historically suggests a potential buying opportunity [2][3] - Stablecoin market share continues to grow, with Ethereum dominance increasing from approximately 49-50% to 55% [10][11] Regulatory Landscape - The Clarity Act (market structure bill) is identified as a potential catalyst for the crypto industry, similar to the Genius Act's impact on stablecoins [16][17] - Prediction markets suggest a 33% chance of the Clarity Act being signed into law in 2025, a decrease from 37% due to a previous government shutdown [20] - The Genius Act had bipartisan support, indicating broad interest in crypto regulation [23] Company Performance & Stablecoin Adoption - Circle, the company behind USDC stablecoin, reported a 66% year-over-year revenue growth, reaching $740 million [6] - USDC usage on blockchains saw an enormous increase, reaching $96 trillion of volume in the quarter, up from $59 trillion in the prior quarter and over 600% year-over-year [6] - Stablecoins are viewed as a "Trojan horse" and an on-ramp for capital into blockchain products, with potential for trillions of dollars to flow into stablecoins [12][13]

Stablecoin issuer Circle has disclosed plans for a native token on its Arc testnet, signalling a new phase in the company's ambitions beyond its flagship USDC stablecoin. Notably, the move comes amid ... ...