The United States Secret Service is ramping up its global crackdown on cryptocurrency scams that have proliferated around the world. The efforts center on sophisticated fraudulent schemes that trick victims into paying small profits and then losing their fortunes through fake investment platforms. The Secret Service’s Global Investigative Operations Center (GIOC) has seized nearly $400 million worth of digital assets over the past decade, a figure that has not been previously made public. The team uses software, subpoenas and patience to track down digital crimes, not guns or badges. “They send you a photo of a young person, but in reality it's probably an old man in Russia,” GIOC analyst Jamie Lam told a meeting in Bermuda last month, explaining how the scams start: “They send you a photo of someone who looks like they're a young person, but in reality it's probably an old man in Russia.” Fake investment sites offer victims small profits, then disappear as investments grow. Related News: Watch Out: Many Economic Developments and Altcoin Events in the Coming Week - Here's the Day-by-Day, Hour-by-Hour List The team can track down the criminals by tracking down the domains of fake platforms, crypto wallets, and sometimes IP addresses leaked through VPN errors. “Sometimes it just takes patience,” Lam says. “Victims often think they see opportunity. They think they’re safe when they use Bitcoin, but that’s not true,” Smith said during training in Bermuda. Bermuda Governor Andrew Murdoch warned: “Technology is great for economic growth, but it’s also open to abuse. You have to have strong investigative powers.” According to FBI data, of the $16.6 billion in total internet crime reported in the US in 2024, $9.3 billion was related to crypto. The elderly suffered the most losses, losing $2.8 billion to fake investment sites alone. The Secret Service is working closely with industry partners to recover stolen funds. Coinbase and Tether have assisted with wallet analysis and asset freezes in some cases. One scam in which $225 million in USDT was recovered was among the largest recoveries ever. *This is not investment advice. Continue Reading: U.S. Secret Service Releases Data on Cryptocurrency Fraud for the First Time – Warning Issued
Elon Musk has proposed his new political vehicle ‘America Party’, amid a feud with President Trump, confirming that the alternative to the Democratic-Republican duopoly will support Bitcoin. The Tesla CEO, in a thread on X, confirmed that the party will embrace Bitcoin, calling fiat as “hopeless.” Fiat is hopeless, so yes — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 7, 2025 Musk first confirmed the formation of his new political party on Saturday, following a poll on X. He said that the America Party would address the consistent rise in debts, which has been present irrespective of whichever party is in power. “The America Party is needed to fight the Republican/Democrat Uniparty,” he wrote to his 221.8 million followers . Musk criticised Trump’s 940-page “Big, Beautiful Bill“, which proposes tax breaks and sweeping cuts, warning of job loss and strategic harm, sparking conflict with the Trump administration. “When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy,” he wrote on another thread. “Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom.” Meanwhile, Trump posted on Truth Social that a third political party has never succeeded in the United States. He said that Elon Musk has gone completely “off the rails,” becoming a ‘TRAIN WRECK’ in the past weeks. Elon Musk America Party and Bitcoin Relationship – What it Means for BTC Musk noted that his party would support Bitcoin and focus on House and Senate races. Following his confirmation, Bitcoin jumped from $108,735.07 to $109,361.29 and is currently trading at $109.16K at press time. Musk has expressed a long-standing opinion about various cryptocurrencies, notably Bitcoin and Dogecoin, since 2014. One user called it a “ huge signal ” for Bitcoin, given Musk’s influence on the industry and current backing of BTC on a political level. Further, the community has been speculating over Elon Musk staking Bitcoin silently. The buzz started on July 2, when the crypto-focused handle on X pointed out Musk’s silence on Bitcoin lately. Another user suggested that perhaps Musk was just “ quietly stacking BTC .” The post “Fiat Is Hopeless”: Elon Musk Says ‘America Party’ Will Embrace Bitcoin appeared first on Cryptonews .
Bitcoin is currently trading just 2% below its all-time high as analysts predict new records this week, with the US trade tariff deadline an an upcoming “Crypto Week” potentially driving market volatility.
The post TON Offers UAE Golden Visa for $100K Stake, Changpeng Zhao (CZ) Says “Too Good to Be True” appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News The Open Network (TON), a blockchain platform backed by Telegram, recently unveiled a unique offer that promised a 10-year UAE Golden Visa to those who stake at least $100,000 worth of Toncoin (TON) for three years. Moreover, TON also claimed the visa process could be completed in under seven weeks, with the entire process managed by UAE-based partners. The offer included additional benefits like an estimated 3 to 4 percent annual yield on staked TON and visa coverage for immediate family members. $100K Stake, $35K Fee—but Where’s the Proof? According to circulating reports , applicants would stake TON for three years and pay the hefty fee to access a long-term UAE visa. However, CZ points out that Golden Visas via agents usually cost around $1,000, making this offer unusually expensive. He also highlighted that staking is a regulated activity in the UAE and would likely need approval from local authorities such as VARA and ADGM, yet there has been no public statement from any official body. CZ Calls It “Too Good to Be True” I am a supporter of Durov, especially given his current situation. But I like to "trust but verify". I'd expect something like this to have a government partnership, and announcement. It might still be true, just saying I haven't been able to verify. — CZ BNB (@cz_binance) July 6, 2025 Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has expressed skepticism about the offer, questioning its legitimacy. He says the lack of confirmation from UAE government sources makes the deal “too good to be true.” While some users noted that Telegram founder Pavel Durov had reposted the offer, CZ remained cautious, stating he prefers to trust but verify. Despite his skepticism, CZ remains open to the idea. If the TON staking-for-visa claim turns out to be true, he said he would explore a similar opportunity using Binance Coin (BNB). Binance already has deep roots in the UAE, with CZ holding UAE citizenship and the exchange receiving regulatory approvals in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. UAE Regulators Deny Crypto-Based Visa Claims However, UAE regulators in a joint statement have denied offering Golden Visas to crypto investors, clarifying that such visas are limited to approved categories like real estate investors, scientists, and top graduates. They urged the public to avoid unverified offers of getting a UAE crypto visa and only deal with licensed crypto entities, stating no official backing exists for TON’s program. TON Price Rallies As speculation grows, the TON token is seeing a surge. It spiked 6% to $2.90, briefly touching $3.05 before settling. The trading volume has surged to $643 million in 24 hours, representing a 607% increase. With crypto markets experiencing an overall boost from a weekend rally, an official confirmation from the UAE could send TON even higher.
BitcoinWorld Unlocking Rapid AI Adoption: Brex’s Breakthrough Strategy for Enterprise AI Tools In the fast-paced world of technology, the evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) has presented both immense opportunities and significant challenges for businesses. Companies, from agile startups to established enterprises, often find themselves grappling with the speed at which AI tools emerge, making effective AI adoption a complex puzzle. This challenge is particularly acute when traditional, slow-moving procurement processes clash with the dynamic nature of AI innovation. Corporate credit card company Brex, a prominent startup, faced this very dilemma, realizing their conventional methods were holding them back from harnessing the full potential of new AI capabilities. The AI Adoption Challenge: Why Traditional Procurement Fails The advent of generative AI tools, spearheaded by innovations like ChatGPT, has dramatically accelerated the pace of technological change. For many organizations, the internal processes designed for slower, more predictable software cycles became immediate bottlenecks. Brex CTO James Reggio shared at the HumanX AI conference that their initial attempts to integrate new AI tools through standard procurement strategies proved ineffective. The core issue? A months-long piloting process that simply couldn’t keep up. Reggio explained the frustration: “In the first year following ChatGPT, when all these new tools were coming on the scene, the process itself of procuring would actually run so long that the teams that were asking to procure a tool lost interest in the tool by the time that we actually got through all of the necessary internal controls.” This revelation highlighted a critical disconnect: by the time a tool was vetted and approved, it was either outdated, or the internal teams had moved on to newer, more promising alternatives. This directly impacted their ability to achieve efficient AI adoption across the organization. Brex’s Revolutionary AI Procurement Framework Recognizing the urgency, Brex made a pivotal decision: to completely rethink its approach to software procurement. This wasn’t just about tweaking existing rules; it was about building a new framework from the ground up, specifically tailored for the unique demands of AI technologies. The focus shifted from rigid, sequential approvals to agile, rapid validation. Key elements of their transformed AI procurement process include: Streamlined Legal Validations: Brex developed new frameworks for data processing agreements (DPAs) and legal validations that could be applied much more quickly to potential AI tools. This cut down the bureaucratic red tape significantly. Faster Vetting and Testing: The accelerated legal process allowed tools to get into the hands of testers and pilot teams far sooner, enabling real-world evaluation in a timely manner. Empowering User Feedback: The new process emphasized immediate, practical feedback from the employees who would actually use the tools, ensuring that solutions were truly valuable and relevant. This agility ensured that Brex could assess and integrate promising AI tools without falling behind the innovation curve, directly addressing the core challenges of enterprise-wide AI implementation. Empowering Teams: The Brex AI Strategy in Action Beyond just speeding up legal checks, Brex introduced a novel approach to determine which AI tools were truly worth long-term investment. Reggio termed this a “superhuman product-market-fit test.” This method places significant decision-making power directly in the hands of the end-users – the employees who gain the most value from a particular tool. A standout component of the Brex AI strategy is the monthly budget allocated to engineers: Individual Spending Authority: Each engineer receives a monthly budget of $50 to license any software tools they deem beneficial from an approved list. Optimal Workflow Decisions: This delegation of spending authority empowers individuals to make choices that directly optimize their personal workflows and productivity. Organic Tool Adoption: Rather than a top-down mandate, this bottom-up approach allows for organic adoption of tools that genuinely resonate with users. Reggio noted, “It’s actually really interesting and we haven’t seen a convergence. I think that that has also validated the decision to make it easy to try a bunch of different tools, is that we haven’t seen everybody just rush in and say, ‘I want Cursor.'” This decentralized model not only fosters innovation but also provides valuable data on which tools are truly gaining traction, informing broader licensing deals for the company. Navigating the Landscape of Enterprise AI Tools Brex’s journey into widespread enterprise AI integration has led to a significant proliferation of tools within the company. Reggio estimates that Brex now utilizes “1,000 AI tools within our company.” This high volume naturally leads to a certain degree of experimentation and, inevitably, some cancellations. “We’ve definitely canceled and not renewed on maybe five to 10 different larger deployments,” he admitted. This outcome, however, is not seen as a failure but as an inherent part of the process. Reggio’s overarching advice for enterprises navigating the current AI innovation cycle is to “embrace the messiness.” He stresses the importance of accepting that the path to finding the right AI tools will be imperfect and iterative. Key takeaways for other organizations include: Accept Imperfection: Understand that not every initial decision will be the right one, and that’s perfectly acceptable in a rapidly evolving field. Prioritize Speed Over Perfection: “Knowing that you’re not going to always make the right decision out of the gate is just like paramount to making sure that you don’t get left behind,” Reggio emphasized. Avoid Overthinking: Spending excessive time (e.g., six to nine months) on meticulous evaluations can lead to missed opportunities, as the technological landscape can shift dramatically in that timeframe. This philosophy allows companies to remain agile, experiment frequently, and quickly pivot away from less effective solutions, ensuring continuous progress in their enterprise AI journey. Conclusion: Agility is Key to AI Success Brex’s proactive shift in its approach to AI procurement and AI adoption offers a compelling blueprint for other enterprises struggling to keep pace with the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence. By embracing a strategy that prioritizes speed, employee empowerment, and a willingness to “embrace the messiness,” Brex has transformed a potential bottleneck into a competitive advantage. Their experience underscores that in the age of AI, rigid, traditional processes are detrimental. Instead, fostering an environment where experimentation is encouraged, and decisions are delegated to those on the front lines, is crucial for successful integration of cutting-edge AI tools . The lesson is clear: don’t overthink, adapt quickly, and trust your teams to navigate the ever-changing AI landscape. To learn more about the latest AI market trends, explore our article on key developments shaping AI models and their institutional adoption. This post Unlocking Rapid AI Adoption: Brex’s Breakthrough Strategy for Enterprise AI Tools first appeared on BitcoinWorld and is written by Editorial Team
BitcoinWorld Google AI Overviews Face Alarming EU Antitrust Complaint In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, where content is king and attention is currency, news of a major antitrust complaint against tech behemoths like Google sends ripples across industries, including the crypto world. Just as decentralized finance seeks to empower individuals, the current dispute over Google AI Overviews highlights the critical need for fair play and equitable compensation for content creators. The European Union is once again at the forefront, challenging Google’s practices regarding its AI-generated summaries, a move that could redefine the future of online publishing and content monetization. The Escalating EU Antitrust Complaint Against Google AI Overviews A significant legal challenge is brewing across the Atlantic, as a coalition of publishers has formally accused Google of anti-competitive practices. The Independent Publishers Alliance (IPA) has lodged an EU antitrust complaint with the European Commission, directly targeting Google’s controversial AI Overviews feature. This complaint, reported by Reuters, alleges that Google is “misusing web content” to power its AI summaries, leading to substantial harm for publishers. The core of the accusation is that these AI Overviews, which appear prominently at the top of Google Search results, are directly siphoning off traffic, readership, and ultimately, revenue from original content creators, including vital news publishers. Publishers’ Rights Under Threat: The Impact on Publisher Traffic The heart of the publishers’ grievance lies in what they describe as a forced participation model. According to the complaint, publishers are left with a stark choice: either allow their content to be scraped and summarized by Google’s AI, or face the risk of disappearing entirely from Google search results. This ‘no opt-out’ scenario is particularly concerning for media outlets that rely heavily on search engine referrals for their audience. Since their introduction just over a year ago, Google AI Overviews have expanded significantly, despite initial glitches that produced ‘spectacularly off-base’ answers. The IPA asserts that this expansion is directly correlating with ‘major traffic declines’ for news publishers, undermining their business models and threatening the very sustainability of independent journalism. This situation raises profound questions about the balance of power between platform giants and content producers. Navigating the Future of AI Content Usage in Search Google, for its part, maintains that its new AI experiences are designed to ‘enable people to ask even more questions, which creates new opportunities for content and businesses to be discovered.’ The tech giant also challenges the validity of claims regarding web traffic losses, suggesting that such assertions are ‘often based on incomplete data’ and that ‘sites can gain and lose traffic for a variety of reasons.’ However, this argument does little to assuage the fears of publishers who see their primary source of audience engagement being eroded by AI-generated summaries that often negate the need for users to click through to the original source. The debate over AI content usage in search results is not just about clicks; it’s about the fundamental value exchange in the digital ecosystem. As AI capabilities advance, the lines between aggregation, summarization, and outright content replacement become increasingly blurred, posing a critical challenge to the established norms of intellectual property and fair compensation. Understanding the EU Antitrust Landscape for Digital Publishing The European Union has a long history of scrutinizing the market dominance of major tech companies, particularly in the digital sphere. This latest EU antitrust complaint is not an isolated incident but rather a continuation of the EU’s proactive stance on ensuring fair competition and protecting smaller entities from the potentially monopolistic practices of tech giants. Previous actions have seen the EU impose significant fines and demand changes in business practices from companies like Google and Microsoft. For the sector of digital publishing , this complaint represents a pivotal moment. It highlights the growing tension between technological innovation and the need to preserve a diverse and economically viable media landscape. The outcome of this complaint could set a precedent for how AI is integrated into search engines globally, influencing everything from content licensing to the very architecture of information discovery. The antitrust complaint filed against Google over its AI Overviews is more than just a legal skirmish; it’s a battle for the future of content creation and consumption in the digital age. Publishers are demanding fair treatment and the ability to control how their valuable content is used by powerful AI systems. The European Commission’s response will be closely watched, as it could significantly impact how AI technologies are deployed in search, how publishers are compensated, and ultimately, the sustainability of independent journalism and diverse content sources online. This case underscores the urgent need for robust regulatory frameworks that can keep pace with rapid technological advancements, ensuring innovation serves all stakeholders equitably. To learn more about the latest AI market trends, explore our article on key developments shaping AI Models and their institutional adoption. This post Google AI Overviews Face Alarming EU Antitrust Complaint first appeared on BitcoinWorld and is written by Editorial Team
Asia stock markets declined on Monday after President Trump confirmed that significant tariffs will start on August 1, not July 9. Treasury Secretary Bessent mentioned tariffs would return to April 2 levels for non-agreement countries. U.S. President Donald Trump announced Sunday that any country aligning with the "anti-American policies" of the BRICS bloc will face an additional 10% tariff. “There will be no exceptions to this policy. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Gold fell to around $3,310 per ounce on Monday, hitting a one-week low. Japan ( NKY:IND ) fell 0.60% to around 39,690, while the broader Topix Index slipped 0.3% to 2,220 on Monday as weaker-than-expected wage data tempered expectations for further Bank of Japan rate hikes. The Japanese yen weakened toward 145 per dollar on Monday, reversing gains from the previous session. Japan’s foreign reserves increased by S15.6 billion to $1.314 trillion in June 2025, hitting the highest level since July 2022. Nominal wages rose just 1% in May, well below market forecasts of 2.4%, marking a third straight month of deceleration. Real wages, adjusted for inflation, fell 2.9%—the sharpest drop in nearly two years and the fifth consecutive decline. Japan’s index of coincident economic indicators, which reflects trends in factory output, employment, and retail sales, edged down to 115.9 in May 2025 from 116.0 in the previous month. China ( SHCOMP ) fell 0.20% to below 3,470, while the Shenzhen Component fell 0.6% to 10,450 on Monday, as mainland stocks gave back some of last week’s gains amid lingering trade uncertainty, and the offshore yuan slipped to around 7.17 per dollar on Monday, pulling back gains from the previous session, as caution built ahead of the US tariff deadlines. China’s finance ministry announced on Sunday it will restrict government purchases of EU medical devices exceeding CNY 45 million, following the EU’s decision in June to bar Chinese firms from bidding on public tenders for medical devices worth EUR 60 billion annually, citing unfair access for EU companies in China. Attention now turns to upcoming key economic releases, such June CPI and PPI data, after consumer prices fell for the fourth month in May and producer prices saw the steepest drop in nearly two years. Investors also hope for fresh stimulus signals from China’s Politburo meeting this month. Hong Kong ( HSI ) fell 0.41% to 23,804 in early trade Monday, extending losses for the third session amid lingering tariff uncertainty as several countries continue trade talks with the U.S. India ( SENSEX ) fell 0.15% trading around 83,418 in early deals on Monday, following gains in the previous session. Australia ( AS51 ) fell 0.20% to around 8,600 on Monday, halting gains from the previous session. The Australian dollar weakened to below $0.653 on Monday, marking its third consecutive session of losses, as investors braced for the Reserve Bank of Australia’s interest rate decision this week. ANZ-Indeed Australian Job Ads rose 1.8% month-over-month in June 2025, rebounding from a downwardly revised 0.6% fall in the previous month. U.S. stock futures dropped sharply on Monday, despite Trump clarifying that the tariffs would take effect on August 1—not July 9 as previously feared: Dow -0.36% ; S&P 500 -0.48% ; Nasdaq -0.53% . Attention will also turn to the release of the FOMC minutes, as traders look for further clarity on the Fed’s policy direction for the rest of the year. Currencies: ( JPY:USD ), ( CNY:USD ), ( AUD:USD ), ( INR:USD ), ( HKD:USD ), ( NZD:USD ). More on Asia: U.S.-China trade agreement leads to lifted chip design software restrictions Australia's trade surplus narrows to five-year low in May, missing forecasts amid export dip Australia's manufacturing contraction deepens in May; retail sales miss estimates China's factory activity returns to expansion at 50.4, new orders surge amid better trade Japan's manufacturing PMI revised downward to 50.1 in June; Nikkei index drops as Trump threatens new tariffs
Cardano price started a fresh increase from the $0.5650 zone. ADA is now consolidating and might attempt a clear move above the $0.5925 zone. ADA price started a fresh increase from the $0.5650 support zone. The price is trading above $0.5750 and the 100-hourly simple moving average. There was a break above a key bearish trend line with resistance at $0.5760 on the hourly chart of the ADA/USD pair (data source from Kraken). The pair could start a fresh increase it clears the $0.600 zone. Cardano Price Eyes Upside Break In the past few sessions, Cardano saw a decent upward move from the $0.5650 zone, like Bitcoin and Ethereum . ADA was able to recover above the $0.5750 and $0.580 resistance levels. The bulls pushed the price above the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $0.6107 swing high to the $0.5630 low. Besides, there was a break above a key bearish trend line with resistance at $0.5760 on the hourly chart of the ADA/USD pair. Cardano price is now trading above $0.5750 and the 100-hourly simple moving average. On the upside, the price might face resistance near the $0.5925 zone. It is close to the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $0.6107 swing high to the $0.5630 low. The first resistance is near $0.60. The next key resistance might be $0.620. If there is a close above the $0.620 resistance, the price could start a strong rally. In the stated case, the price could rise toward the $0.650 region. Any more gains might call for a move toward $0.6650 in the near term. Another Decline In ADA? If Cardano’s price fails to climb above the $0.5920 resistance level, it could start another decline. Immediate support on the downside is near the $0.5850 level and the 100 hourly SMA. The next major support is near the $0.5650 level. A downside break below the $0.5650 level could open the doors for a test of $0.5450. The next major support is near the $0.5320 level where the bulls might emerge. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for ADA/USD is gaining momentum in the bullish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for ADA/USD is now above the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $0.5850 and $0.5650. Major Resistance Levels – $0.5920 and $0.6000.
Elon Musk said that his new party would embrace Bitcoin because “fiat is hopeless,” in a post on X when asked by user ‘Renato Lima’ on Monday. His latest mention of Bitcoin has been viewed by analysts and commentators as warming up to the asset again. “You were the first to break Elon’s long silence on Bitcoin,” said one user. The America Party is the solution https://t.co/KryqdEcqIU — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 6, 2025 Enter The America Party “The America Party is needed to fight the Republican/Democrat Uniparty,” Musk said on X on Sunday evening. Elon Musk announced the creation of his new political party on July 5, following through on his promise to start a third one if Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” passed. Musk is a vocal critic of the policy bill, arguing that it will “cause immense strategic harm” to America on account of the trillions of dollars it is projected to add to the country’s already gargantuan national debt. “When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste and graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy,” he said on Saturday. By a factor of 2 to 1, you want a new political party and you shall have it! When it comes to bankrupting our country with waste & graft, we live in a one-party system, not a democracy. Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your freedom. https://t.co/9K8AD04QQN — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 5, 2025 The former close ally of Trump parted ways with the US president in early June in a very public ending of the ‘bromance’ that sent crypto markets into freefall. Musk’s new strategy plans to “laser-focus on just two or three Senate seats and eight to ten House districts” to gain decisive influence over “contentious” legislation, leveraging “razor-thin legislative margins” to serve as the deciding vote. Musk endorsed a platform that would reduce debt through responsible spending, modernize the military with AI and robotics, foster AI development, reduce regulation in the energy sector, and advocate free speech. Musk’s new party was officially registered with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) on July 6 under the ‘America Party (AMEP).’ The America Party is needed to fight the Republican/Democrat Uniparty https://t.co/fEqDuddOoI — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) July 6, 2025 Bitcoin Price Reacts Bitcoin prices reacted with a 1.5% gain, climbing from $108,000 to top $109,550 in an intraday high during early trading in Asia on Monday morning. The asset had retreated slightly at the time of writing but was still hovering above $109,000, just 2.2% away from its all-time high. This week’s trade tariff deadline on July 9 could also be pivotal for Bitcoin, which could reach a new peak if tariffs are postponed or major deals are made . The post Elon Musk’s New Political Party Will Embrace Bitcoin appeared first on CryptoPotato .
Mercado Bitcoin, one of Latin America’s leading crypto exchanges, announced it will tokenize $200 million in RWAs on the XRP Ledger. Boston Consulting Group estimates that the tokenized RWA market could hit $19 trillion by 2033.Meanwhile, Hong Kong is expanding its tokenized green bond program and refining its digital asset framework, including new rules for stablecoins and digital asset platforms. In the US, Robinhood’s plan to tokenize equities via its new Ethereum-compatible blockchain could disrupt Wall Street by moving trading on-chain and extending market access to 24/7. Latin American Exchange Joins Tokenization Wave Mercado Bitcoin, one of Latin America’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, announced on Friday that it will tokenize $200 million worth of real-world assets (RWAs) on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). According to a joint announcement with Ripple, the tokenized assets will include a mix of fixed-income and equity financial instruments. This initiative is part of the trend in the crypto and financial sectors to digitize traditional assets through blockchain technology, despite ongoing regulatory uncertainty. Press release from Ripple A report by Boston Consulting Group and Ripple projected that the tokenized RWA market could reach a staggering $19 trillion in market capitalization by 2033, thanks to the strong institutional interest in the space. The move by Mercado Bitcoin comes at a time when crypto firms and asset managers are calling for clearer regulatory frameworks, particularly in the United States, to support the growth of tokenized equities and other digital representations of traditional financial assets. RWA tokenization market overview (Source: RWA.xyz ) On the same day, Ondo Finance, a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform, acquired Oasis Pro , a US-regulated alternative trading system. The goal of the acquisition is to strengthen Ondo's foothold in the RWA space by leveraging Oasis Pro's ability to settle digital securities in both fiat currency and stablecoins. Meanwhile, Centrifuge , a blockchain company specializing in RWAs, unveiled plans to tokenize the S&P 500 stock index, which could bring a major benchmark of the US equity market onto the blockchain. Earlier this year, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink even urged the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to authorize the tokenization of stocks and bonds. However, there are still some major regulatory challenges in the way. John Murillo, chief business officer at B2BROKER, warned that tokenized equity instruments currently exist in a regulatory grey area. Unlike traditional stocks, they may not offer direct claims on company assets, voting rights, or access to internal financial disclosures. He advised investors to thoroughly examine the specific terms of any tokenized RWA they consider, and pay very close attention to potential cash flows, dividend rights, legal protections, and smart contract-related risks. Hong Kong Expands Tokenized Bond Strategy Hong Kong is also moving to expand its tokenized bond program with a third batch of tokenized green bonds. This could mean that the government is planning to make such offerings a permanent part of its debt issuance strategy. At the Hong Kong Digital Finance Awards 2025, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui pointed out that the upcoming tokenized bond sale builds on the momentum of two successful issuances in 2023 and 2024. These bonds were recorded and settled by using distributed ledger technology, and authorities are now exploring measures like stamp duty exemptions on tokenized exchange-traded funds to further incentivize adoption. This initiative is part of Hong Kong’s broader digital asset push, as laid out in its newly released Digital Asset Development Policy Declaration 2.0. The government’s updated strategy places a lot of emphasis on the regulation of stablecoins and the promotion of asset tokenization under its “LEAP” framework , which focuses on legal clarity, ecosystem development, real-world use cases, and talent cultivation. As part of this plan, a licensing regime for stablecoin issuers will go into effect on August 1, to help encourage practical adoption of tokenized solutions. Hong Kong’s ‘LEAP’ framework At the same time, public consultations are underway for proposed licensing regulations governing digital asset trading platforms and custodians, with the consultation period set to close by the end of August. Additionally, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX) launched the city's first digital asset indexes, offering institutional investors benchmark pricing for Bitcoin and Ethereum during Asian trading hours. To help boost its digital finance ambitions even more, Hong Kong’s financial authorities recently announced plans to introduce digital asset derivatives trading targeted at professional investors. This follows a wave of regulatory progress, including the approval of spot cryptocurrency ETFs, futures contracts, and staking services. In April, licensed exchange HashKey was also cleared to offer staking . To add to this, the region’s Legislative Council passed the Stablecoin Bill in May. This laid the regulatory foundation for a secure and structured environment for digital assets and Web3 innovation. Tokenized Stocks Could Disrupt Wall Street Robinhood’s plan to tokenize stocks through a new Ethereum-compatible blockchain, known as Robinhood Chain, could disrupt traditional financial markets by shifting trading activity away from legacy exchanges like the NYSE. At the EthCC conference, CEO Vlad Tenev introduced the project as a layer 2 blockchain built on Arbitrum Orbit that will allow users to trade tokenized derivatives of stocks directly on-chain. The goal of this initiative is to provide near-instant settlement and extend trading hours to 24/5 initially, with plans for 24/7 trading in the future. By minting token wrappers tied to real equities held by a US broker-dealer, Robinhood will enable users to self-custody their assets or interact with decentralized applications. Galaxy Digital shared in a report released Friday that Robinhood’s move brings assets on-chain, bypassing traditional markets and potentially undermining the liquidity dominance and revenue models of centralized exchanges. The architecture of Robinhood Chain resembles Coinbase’s Base, as it allows the company to control its own sequencer and capture transaction fees across its trading ecosystem. Galaxy estimates that Base earns over $150,000 in daily fees for Coinbase, a model Robinhood may replicate. (Source: Galaxy Digital ) The benefits of tokenization extend beyond just expanded trading hours. Programmable assets could be used as collateral in DeFi applications or automate dividends. Galaxy warned that if established exchanges fail to adapt, they could be reduced to custodians of a less functional version of the same assets, losing relevance as traders migrate to more versatile blockchain-based platforms. However, the model is not without challenges. Around-the-clock trading could increase volatility risks for retail investors by exposing them to unexpected price swings outside standard market hours. Regulatory uncertainty is another obstacle, as the SEC has yet to weigh in on Robinhood’s approach. Currently, access to tokenized stock trading is limited to users in the European Union. Meanwhile, the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) has already urged the SEC to reject trading of tokenized equities outside the current Regulation NMS framework.