Tether USDT challenges Circle’s lead on BitPay payments in 2025

    USDC, the second-largest stablecoin by market capitalization, has been losing market share against its main rival, Tether’s USDt, on the major payment platform BitPay in 2025. After dominating stablecoin transactions on BitPay in 2024, Circle’s USDC saw its transaction share plummet against Tether’s USDt, according to BitPay data shared with Cointelegraph. In January 2024, USDC’s transaction…

    ECB to pilot blockchain-based euro settlement system by 2026

    The European Central Bank (ECB) has approved a two-track plan to settle distributed ledger technology (DLT) transactions using central bank money, which could pave the way to modernizing Europe’s financial system. The first track, dubbed Pontes, will focus on a short-term solution by linking blockchain-based DLT platforms with TARGET Services, a suite of financial services developed and…

    Ripple applies for US banking license, joining crypto rush for legitimacy

    Crypto firm Ripple Labs is applying for a banking license in the US, following a similar move by stablecoin issuer Circle Internet Group as crypto firms look to be regulated to deepen ties with traditional finance. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse confirmed on X on Wednesday that the company is applying for a license with the US Office…

    First Solana staking ETF hits $12M in ‘healthy’ first trading day

    The United States’ first Solana staking exchange-traded fund (ETF) ended its debut trading day with $12 million in inflows — a positive sign for crypto staking-enabled ETFs. The REX-Osprey Solana Staking ETF debuted on the Cboe BZX Exchange on Wednesday, recording $33 million in trading volume and $12 million in inflows, according to Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas. The fund, trading…

    Deutsche Bank to launch crypto custody accounts in 2026: Report

    Germany’s biggest bank, Deutsche Bank, is reportedly planning to allow its clients to store cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin next year. Deutsche Bank plans to launch a digital assets custody service in 2026 in collaboration with the technology unit of Austria-based Bitpanda crypto exchange, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday. The crypto custody service’s development will also involve Deutsche Bank-backed Swiss technology…

    SEC approves conversion of Grayscale’s large-cap crypto fund into ETF

    Asset manager Grayscale received approval from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Tuesday to convert its Digital Large-Cap Fund into an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The fund consists of the five biggest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization featured in the CoinDesk Five Index. Roughly 80.2% of the weighted fund is Bitcoin (BTC), followed by Ether…