In today’s highly interconnected economy, the need for quick, effective, and transparent payment solutions has reached an all-time high. From corporate finance and worldwide supply chains to workers and online commerce, countless individuals rely on daily cross-border payments, which is where stablecoins have stepped up. How Stablecoins Are Changing The Global Payments System Stablecoins are digital assets created and stored on the blockchain, designed to maintain a stable value by being pegged to a reserve asset, most commonly fiat currency, such as the US dollar or the Euro. Due to the implied resilience from this fact, they offer greater price stability than other cryptocurrencies, making them a good entry point into the crypto universe for more risk-averse individuals or institutions. These assets have been gaining significant traction across Web2 and Web3, and their increasing usage is further bolstered by their ability to enable more efficient cross-border payments, offer near-instant settlements, reduce costs, and be available 24/7. Stablecoins like USDT, USDC, and RLUSD, as well as region-specific tokens, are being integrated into wallets and payments platforms worldwide, particularly in areas where the local currency experiences greater volatility. Ripple’s New Value Report for 2025: Stablecoin Trends in Business and Beyond found that finance leaders worldwide are suggesting that stablecoins will primarily be used in international, consumer-to-business, and vendor-to-supplier payments. Some Popular Stablecoins For Business Payouts In 2025 Fiat-pegged assets can differ in various ways, including market availability, liquidity, supported blockchains, and more, so businesses and individuals should carefully consider how they can best serve the use case they are looking for. Here are some examples of stablecoin and cross-border payment providers reshaping the landscape of how payments are made around the world: Tether (USDT) – most widely used and largest by market cap ($163B+ at print time, as per data from CoinMarketCap) – popular in emerging markets where access to USD is limited – integrated into most major crypto exchanges and peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms Circle (USDC) – insured by cash-equivalent reserves – compliant and partnered with goliaths such as Visa, Stripe, and more – widespread use for business-to-business (B2B) payments Ripple (RLUSD) – backed by a segregated reserve of cash and cash equivalents – supports third-party payments globally, emerging markets included – integrated into a licensed cross-border payments solution – Ripple Payments Traditional Finance and Stablecoins A growing number of traditional finance (TradFi) transnational payment providers have begun incorporating stablecoins into their operations to provide more options for their customers and improve their internal treasury payments. Visa has been settling transactions in stablecoins since 2023, and to date, over $225 million has been processed through this method. Moreover, they have facilitated nearly $100B in purchases of cryptocurrencies and over $25 billion in such spending. Mastercard very recently announced an end-to-end payments system using stablecoins, and WorldPay has plans to enable payouts in this asset class to global enterprises. Businesses are also exploring how these assets can enhance their cross-border capabilities. Sending a wire transfer across the globe via traditional methods typically takes 3-5 business days to settle, and it also incurs high fees. By turning to stablecoins, entities using them can take advantage of precisely tracking their funds, near-instant settlement times, and reduced reliance on intermediaries. At the same time, this is possible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The growth of this asset class has been quite notable, as it has exploded from around $130 billion at the start of last year to over $265 billion as of today, according to data from DefiLlama. The post How Ripple Sees the Future: The Stablecoin Landscape for 2025 and Beyond appeared first on CryptoPotato .
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Bitcoin's price dipped below $115,000, entering a correction phase. Critical support levels are crucial for maintaining the bullish trend. Continue Reading: Bitcoin Holds Steady, Defying Market Volatility The post Bitcoin Holds Steady, Defying Market Volatility appeared first on COINTURK NEWS .
Bitcoin (BTC) has recovered during the ongoing session, with the price up 1.40%. The flagship cryptocurrency has reclaimed $114,000 and is currently trading around $114,175. Markets plummeted after a wave of news and data impacted investor sentiment, dragging crypto down as well. BTC’s decline is due to growing risk-off sentiment among investors. All major US stock indices are also down amid renewed trade uncertainty and a poor US jobs report. Solo Bitcoin Mining Returning? Solo Bitcoin miners are claiming full Bitcoin block rewards even as the network’s hash rate hovers around all-time highs. The network hash rate is currently above 900 exahashes per second (EH/s). The high hash rate indicates growing competition and higher mining difficulty, making it difficult for solo miners to win a block. However, one solo miner has defied odds to secure block 907,283 via the Solo CK Pool, earning the full 3.125 BTC rewards, worth over $372,000. The miner also received an additional $3,426 in transaction fees. This wasn’t an isolated incident; solo miners were increasingly securing blocks. Another miner with only 2.3 petahashes of power also claimed a full reward, with similar blocks also recorded in February, March, and June. Samuel Li, chief technology officer of ASICKey, stated, “We’re seeing solo miners win blocks not because of luck, but because they’re running powerful, efficient hardware.” Li added that efficiency is everything for solo miners, highlighting the company’s KEYMINER A1. The KEYMINER A1 is part of ASICKey’s latest hardware line. “Take our KEYMINER A1—it draws just 650 watts but delivers 1,100 TH/s on Bitcoin, with monthly profits around $1,200. For those diversifying into altcoins, it can earn up to $3,800 per month mining Dash.” However, Li stated that the fundamental odds of solo miners securing a full block had not changed despite improvements in ASIC efficiency. “Solo mining is still mostly a lottery, unless you control tens of PH/s, which is realistically the bare minimum for having a measurable statistical shot at success within a reasonable time frame.” Bitcoin Still In Mid-Cycle Range Bitcoin’s (BTC) push from $100,000 to a new all-time high has rekindled attention on on-chain metrics used to monitor the asset. One of these metrics, called the Satoshimeter, helps gauge Bitcoin’s price movements and positions. According to the analysis, the Satoshimeter indicates Bitcoin is far from levels observed during previous bull markets, with the flagship cryptocurrency’s rally in its mid-cycle or intermediate phase rather than the final leg of its cycle. The Satoshimeter is sitting well below upper extremes, suggesting that the price is not overheated. Bitcoin (BTC) Price Analysis Bitcoin (BTC) has registered a modest recovery during the ongoing session, with the price up almost 2%. The flagship cryptocurrency experienced a substantial decline on Friday, falling to $113,365. Sellers retained control on Saturday as price action remained bearish. As a result, BTC fell to a low of $112,104 before settling at $112,601. The current session sees BTC trading around $114,386. Maelstrom Fund CIO Arthur Hayes has warned that growing macroeconomic pressures could drive BTC to $100,000. He added that he had already taken profits in anticipation of such a decline. Hayes blamed the pullback on renewed tariff fears, a disappointing non-farms payrolls report, and macroeconomic uncertainty. Hayes' comments echo broader marketwide fears of macro headwinds that could stall bullish momentum. BTC is down nearly 8% from its all-time high of $123,091, set on July 28. BTC registered a sharp decline on Friday, falling to an intraday low of $114,779 as it entered the previous weekend in the red. It rebounded from this level to reclaim $117,000 and settle at $117,565, ultimately registering a 0.69% drop. Despite the selling pressure, BTC recovered over the weekend, rising 0.24% on Saturday and 1.31% on Sunday to reclaim $119,000 and settle at $119,398. The price was back in the red on Monday, dropping 1.11% to $118,069. Sellers retained control on Tuesday as BTC registered a marginal decline and settled at $117,925. Source: TradingView BTC fell to an intraday low of $115,772 on Wednesday before rebounding to reclaim $117,788, ultimately registering a marginal decline. Buyers retained control on Thursday as the price dropped 1.69% to $115,800. Selling pressure intensified as BTC fell over 2%, dropping below $114,000 and settling at $113,365. Price action remained bearish on Saturday as BTC fell 0.67% to $112,601. However, BTC has recovered during the ongoing session, with the price up 1.48%, trading around $114,267. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
According to a report by digital asset firm CoinShares, Bitcoin could see a surge of more than 65% from today’s price if it wins just a small slice of major monetary pools. At its current level just above $113,500, that jump would take BTC up to about $189,000. It’s a simple idea with big implications. Related Reading: No Gold? No Problem: Why XRP Stands Strong On Its Own—Analyst Potential Market Share Based on reports, global liquidity—known as M2—is sitting at roughly $127 trillion, while all mined gold adds up to almost $24 trillion. CoinShares applies a so-called Total Addressable Market (TAM) model to those figures. If Bitcoin captures 2% of global M2 and 5% of gold’s market cap, the sum points to a $189,000 price tag. It doesn’t assume BTC will take over corporate treasuries or forex reserves, yet even that limited reach could send prices much higher. Some Bitcoin Investors Are Excited Many in the crypto crowd like how clear it is. You look at the size of the cash and gold markets. You pick some modest targets. Then you do the math. It shows that winning tiny slivers of those pools could be very rewarding. You don’t need a blanket take-over of every money market to make a strong case for Bitcoin as an investment. Top-Down Model In Action A TAM model starts at the top. It sizes up the biggest buckets—cash, deposits, gold—then assumes what share a newcomer might grab. It’s common in startup pitches. Here, CoinShares leans on data from the World Gold Council, Trading Economics and Glassnode to keep the numbers fresh. The big pools aren’t static, but they do highlight the scale of what’s out there. This method skips over many real hurdles. Regulation could slow adoption. New digital coins might offer competing features. Shifts in interest rates can shrink or swell M2 overnight. Even gold’s market value can dip if miners sell or central banks offload bars. That makes any model’s timeline shaky. Challenges And Timelines Based on projections, Bitcoin’s share of these markets might creep up over the next decade. That assumes steady gains in user trust, clearer rules from governments and smoother ways for big institutions to buy and hold crypto. Related Reading: XRP ETF Approval Incoming? Analyst Eyes September-October Window If that path holds, hitting 2% of global liquidity and 5% of gold could be realistic. But if policies shift or fresh tech disappoints, the climb could stall. Whether Bitcoin reaches $189,000 will depend on a mix of policy, innovation and investor appetite. For now, the TAM view gives a neat snapshot of what could happen if the top coin starts grabbing those market shares. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
Non-fungible token (NFT) sales saw an increase in July, jumping 50.14% higher than sales recorded in June. Despite the rise, NFT sales in July 2025 were still 35.02% lower than the numbers recorded at the end of 2024. From Bust to Bump: NFT Market Sees 50% Lift, but Is It Too Little, Too Late? This
A Boston car dealership owner has been indicted for allegedly stealing $1.3 million from the US government in a fraudulent tax refund scheme. According to a new press release from the Department of Justice (DOJ), 31-year-old Jessie El-Ghoul has been charged with one count of theft of government funds, one count of bank fraud and four counts of money laundering for allegedly defrauding the government. Authorities allege that El-Ghoul – who owned the Affordable Motor Group car dealership in Leominster – deposited a forged tax refund check worth $1.34 million into his business account originally made out by the U.S. Treasury Department to an unnamed Canadian firm. After depositing the fake check, El-Ghoul returned to the bank and took out four cashier’s checks payable to shell companies and a law firm as a means of laundering the funds. He was arrested and charged on June 6th. According to the press release, he faces up to 10 years for the theft of the funds, up to 30 years for bank fraud and up to 20 years for each count of money laundering. In June, the DOJ unveiled that El-Ghoul was allegedly part of a criminal ring that stole tax refunds from legitimate taxpayers. Authorities say that between 2023 and 2024, the organization – which included eight people – allegedly stole $8.8 million in tax refund checks and deposited the funds into accounts they controlled. As stated by United States Attorney Leah B. Foley at the time, “As alleged, these defendants stole millions in tax refunds owed to hardworking Americans and used Massachusetts businesses and community banks to defraud the U.S. Treasury. Would-be thieves should understand that taking government money is not a victimless crime.” Follow us on X , Facebook and Telegram Don't Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox Check Price Action Surf The Daily Hodl Mix Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at The Daily Hodl are not investment advice. Investors should do their due diligence before making any high-risk investments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or digital assets. Please be advised that your transfers and trades are at your own risk, and any losses you may incur are your responsibility. The Daily Hodl does not recommend the buying or selling of any cryptocurrencies or digital assets, nor is The Daily Hodl an investment advisor. Please note that The Daily Hodl participates in affiliate marketing. Generated Image: Midjourney The post Car Dealership Owner Allegedly Steals $1,344,863 From US Government in Fraudulent Tax Refund Scheme: DOJ appeared first on The Daily Hodl .
RippleX's Mayukha Vadari brakes silence on talks about starting XRP Ledger from scratch using Rust
Blockchain has increasingly been positioned as a transformative technology for modernizing payment infrastructures across the financial sector. Ripple , a United States-based provider of blockchain-based banking payments technology, has maintained a prominent role in this evolution. A document shared by Crypto researcher SMQKE underscores that since 2014, numerous financial institutions, including HSBC, UBS, and Western Union, have initiated trials or advanced commercialization programs focused on Ripple’s solutions. This early experimentation has allowed major global banks to assess the feasibility of blockchain in reducing settlement times and lowering costs in cross-border payments. HSBC —> Announced advanced commercialization efforts using Ripple’s technology. Documented. https://t.co/Ei3AYY4iRv pic.twitter.com/R563HyVzrf — SMQKE (@SMQKEDQG) August 2, 2025 HSBC, in particular, has been identified as one of the financial institutions that progressed beyond limited pilot testing. The documentation highlights that HSBC formally announced advanced commercialization initiatives incorporating Ripple’s technology . These efforts have contributed to the gradual normalization of blockchain infrastructure in mainstream financial services, moving it from proof-of-concept trials to broader operational models. Formation of the Global Payments Steering Group The document further details that banks such as Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Santander , UniCredit, Standard Chartered, Westpac, and Royal Bank of Canada collaborated to establish the Global Payments Steering Group, known as GPSG. HSBC has been connected to this broader ecosystem through its commercialization programs. GPSG was organized to create common rules and governance frameworks that would guide the deployment of Ripple’s blockchain technology in global payments. This governance structure has played a role in establishing shared operational standards, ensuring interoperability, and clarifying compliance practices among participating institutions. The establishment of GPSG represents a key milestone in building collective industry commitment to blockchain infrastructure. The framework has been described as an important step toward addressing regulatory uncertainties while fostering cooperation among major international banks. New Expansion Plans for Blockchain Payment Services In the recent tweet thread, SMQKE shared additional disclosures from a private HSBC investor call held in July 2025. According to this communication, HSBC outlined plans to broaden its blockchain-based services significantly beginning in September 2025. Specifically, the bank intends to introduce “always-on” wholesale cross-border payments that will function 24/7. This development is designed to improve liquidity management and enable clients to settle wholesale transactions without traditional time constraints imposed by standard banking hours. The institution also indicated that preparations are underway for a United States rollout of wholesale blockchain payment services, projected for early 2026. This timeline has reportedly been accelerated by the enactment of recent federal legislation supporting pro-crypto policies. HSBC representatives on the investor call stated that the bank expects to proceed at a rapid pace in bringing these services to market. The commitment to expedite deployment signals a shift from exploratory and pilot activities toward full-scale commercial integration. We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1 — TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025 Transition from Planning to Large-Scale Deployment The tweet emphasized that HSBC’s remarks reflect a broader industry trend, with financial institutions moving decisively from conceptual planning to implementation of operational blockchain infrastructure. The statement that institutions are advancing toward full-scale deployment indicates that barriers such as regulatory uncertainty and technological integration challenges are being addressed with increasing urgency. Ripple’s role as a technology provider remains central to these developments. The underlying infrastructure that supports real-time cross-border settlement has been subject to years of validation, regulatory dialogue, and incremental commercialization. HSBC’s current initiatives and public disclosures demonstrate that blockchain’s role in wholesale payment systems is transitioning to a new phase defined by production-scale delivery. SMQKE’s coverage of the call and supporting documentation illustrates that HSBC is positioning itself to become a leading adopter of blockchain payments within the banking sector. Disclaimer : This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are advised to conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses. Follow us on X , Facebook , Telegram , and Google News The post HSBC Bank Advances Commercialization Efforts Using Ripple Tech appeared first on Times Tabloid .
Shares of the biggest banks in Europe have jumped to levels not seen since the 2008 financial crash, driven by a sharp rise in long-term interest rates that’s turning into serious earnings growth. HSBC, which trades in London, hit a record high just before releasing its second-quarter earnings this week. Barclays and Santander both climbed to their highest since 2008. In Italy, UniCredit surged to a peak it hadn’t reached since 2011. Even with a pullback after President Donald Trump announced new tariffs on dozens of countries on Friday, the banking sector on the Stoxx 600 is still up 34% for the year. That’s not only ahead of U.S. banks but also better than the sector’s performance in 2021, and it could become their strongest run since 2009. The growth stands out because this sector was once seen as a lost cause in global markets. “Europe’s banks have shifted from pariah status to market darlings,” said Justin Bisseker, a European banks analyst at Schroders. He said the turnaround is tied to three things: “the transformative impact on revenues of higher interest rates,” a stable economy, and internal cost-cutting by banks to become more efficient. Higher long-term rates lift net interest income Long-term borrowing costs in Europe are now climbing faster than short-term ones. This is key for banks because it boosts their net interest income, which is the gap between what they earn on loans and what they pay depositors. In Germany, 30-year bond yields are now 1.3 percentage points higher than two-year yields. In the UK, the difference is even wider at 1.5 percentage points. That steep curve didn’t exist just two years ago. Back then, the long-term rates were actually below short-term ones, making it hard for banks to profit off lending. The reversal started after the COVID-19 pandemic, when central banks began hiking interest rates to fight off inflation and cut back on their massive bond-buying programs. Source: FT Markets Some lenders are also gaining from volatile financial markets triggered by Trump’s trade policies. The latest wave of tariffs sparked sharp market moves that gave banks with trading desks a big advantage in earnings. Still, even with these new sources of revenue, there’s uncertainty about how long the ride will last. The current earnings momentum depends heavily on long-term rates staying elevated, something nobody can guarantee. While HSBC shares slid slightly after its Q2 earnings failed to meet expectations on Wednesday, they still sit at the highest point since 2001. Valuations rise, but sector faces political roadblocks For the first time in years, banks across Europe are being valued at their book value, meaning their stock price matches the value of their assets. By comparison, JPMorgan trades at 2.4 times book value, while Goldman Sachs trades at 2 times. That discount is pulling more investors in. “These banks are cheap and uniquely positioned for a pick-up in domestic demand,” said Luca Paolini, chief strategist at Pictet Asset Management. Part of the draw is economic optimism. If the European economy keeps improving, banks could see stronger loan growth. But not everyone is convinced the boom will keep going. Francesco Sandrini, global head of multi-asset strategies at Amundi, warned that “banks appear the cleanest shirt in the basket,” but also added there’s “a growing feeling the best may be past.” He said analysts have waited years for major bank consolidation to shake up the sector, but it just hasn’t happened. Efforts to merge banks are running into political blocks. BBVA’s plan to acquire Sabadell was met with pushback. So was UniCredit’s attempt to buy BPM. Without these deals, the industry’s ability to expand or compete more aggressively is limited. Meanwhile, banks have tried to reduce their reliance on interest rates by expanding into wealth management, but that shift hasn’t been tested under falling rates yet. Whether those strategies will work if rate hikes slow down remains to be seen. Even with doubts, key performance metrics look stronger than they’ve been in years. Many banks are reporting return on tangible equity above 10%, a milestone that was out of reach during the low-rate era. They’re also trading at 10 times forward earnings, while U.S. competitors sit above 13 times, based on Bloomberg’s numbers. Want your project in front of crypto’s top minds? Feature it in our next industry report, where data meets impact.