Hunter Horsley, CEO of Bitwise, believes blockchain has the potential to revolutionize global interactions and organizational structures, similar to the internet’s impact on society. He sees blockchain as a key enabler of financial independence and security, and believes initiatives like NFTs are making the crypto world more accessible. Horsley’s optimistic outlook is shared by many in the industry, who see blockchain as a transformative technology with long-term potential.
Worldcoin, the cryptocurrency-based identity verification project founded by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, has rebranded to ‘World’ and announced the launch of its own Layer-2 blockchain. This comes alongside a revamped biometric imaging device called ‘Orb 2.0’ and a new blockchain designed for customized needs, sparking discussions about data privacy and the future of digital identity.
A new report from a16z crypto reveals the explosive growth of the cryptocurrency industry, highlighting record-breaking activity, infrastructure improvements, and the emergence of crypto as a key political issue. The report analyzes seven key takeaways, including the rise of stablecoins as a dominant force, the growth of decentralized finance, and the burgeoning intersection of crypto and AI.
Vice President Kamala Harris’s focus on AI and digital assets has sparked interest from the tech industry, with a major crypto player donating to a pro-Harris super PAC. Experts discuss the potential benefits and dangers of AI in politics, the need for regulation, and how blockchain could help address concerns about authenticity and copyright in the age of AI-generated content.
Ripple has launched its US dollar-pegged stablecoin, RLUSD, aimed at enterprise applications. This move comes as Donald Trump’s World Liberty initiative advocates for stablecoins over Bitcoin. RLUSD offers financial institutions a compliant and reliable digital asset for cross-border payments, leveraging Ripple’s recent legal victory.
AQGroup, Kazakhstan’s leading green electricity producer, and MVGX Group, a Singapore-based digital green fintech group, have formed a strategic partnership to develop a green energy ecosystem. The partnership aims to create a tokenized fundraising platform and carbon credit trading exchange, leveraging the expertise of both countries in renewable energy and financial technology.
Visa has unveiled its new Visa Tokenized Asset Platform (VTAP), designed to facilitate the issuance and management of fiat-backed tokens on blockchain networks. This platform aims to bridge the gap between traditional fiat currencies and the world of blockchain technology, enabling banks to offer innovative financial solutions.
The global banking network SWIFT is set to pilot live transactions involving digital currencies and tokenized assets next year, marking a significant leap in integrating these assets into mainstream finance. This move aims to streamline trading by using blockchain-based tokens to represent traditional assets like bonds, leading to faster, cheaper, and more efficient transactions.
Ripple, the blockchain-based payment network, has received in-principle approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) to offer its services from the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). This move allows Ripple to introduce its cross-border payment solutions, including Ripple Payments Direct (RPD), to customers in the UAE, reflecting Dubai’s growing interest in blockchain technology and its ambition to become a global fintech hub.
Changpeng Zhao, the founder and former CEO of Binance, has been released from prison after serving a four-month sentence for anti-money laundering violations. In a tweet, he expressed gratitude for his supporters and outlined his plans for the future, including a continued focus on blockchain technology and education.
