According to comments from Ripple CTO David Schwartz, XRP is still at the heart of Ripple’s payments system, even as the company highlights its new stablecoin, RLUSD. Related Reading: XRP Traders Pull Back $2.4B—Brace For Impact Or Buy The Dip? Ripple’s lead tech officer stressed that XRP remains the primary bridge asset in cross-border transactions—and that wider use of the XRP Ledger will keep boosting the altcoin’s utility and value. XRP Remains Core To Ripple Payments In a recent exchange, an XRP supporter pointed out that Ripple now mentions RLUSD more often than XRP. Schwartz replied that he doesn’t have the exact figures on hand, but he’s sure that Ripple uses XRP far more than any other digital asset for its payments service. I don’t have the numbers in front of me, but I’m pretty sure XRP’s use as a bridge in Ripple Payments dwarfs every other asset. I think stablecoins win for collateral use cases (volatile collateral is annoying) and edge use cases (volatility at the on/off ramps is also… — David ‘JoelKatz’ Schwartz (@JoelKatz) July 30, 2025 Based on reports, XRP still dominates as the bridge currency when moving money from one fiat to another. That role helps institutions send funds quickly and cheaply, even when market swings might make a stablecoin less ideal. Ripple launched RLUSD in December 2024 to meet demand for price stability. According to Schwartz, stablecoins like RLUSD make sense in use cases that depend on a fixed value—such as when firms use crypto assets as collateral or enter and exit markets without risking 5% swings overnight. He noted that Hidden Road, one of Ripple’s big partners that works with over 300 institutions, chose RLUSD as its main collateral asset in May 2025. That move shows RLUSD’s appeal for stability-focused tasks. Stablecoin Role Versus Altcoin Utility Schwartz drew a clear line between the two tokens. For tasks where price predictability matters most, a stablecoin helps avoid hiccups. But for the majority of payments, he believes a liquid asset like XRP does a better job—unless someone wants to avoid risk entirely. Holding major digital assets can capture upside, and XRP fits that need better than cash, he said. Adoption Drives XRP Demand Looking ahead, Schwartz stressed that real-world use of the XRP Ledger will naturally drive more demand for the crypto. As more projects and institutions tap into XRPL’s fast transaction speeds and low fees, they’ll need XRP to power each move. That design makes it harder to sidestep the coin’s native token than it is on other networks, where developers can wrap or bypass the base coin entirely. Schwartz’s remarks arrive amid community worries that XRP is being sidelined in favor of stablecoins. The choice by Hidden Road to back RLUSD raised eyebrows back in May 2025. Related Reading: Don’t Blink: 1,000 XRP Could Be The Best Move You’ve Made—Expert XRP’s Use Case But by highlighting how deeply XRP is woven into XRPL’s mechanics—and reminding investors that the altcoin’s volume still outstrips any other asset in Ripple Payments—Schwartz sent a clear message: XRP’s use won’t fade, even as stablecoins gain ground. Based on these comments, Ripple appears to be taking a two-pronged approach: use RLUSD where price stability is critical, and rely on XRP for its proven liquidity and built-in role on the ledger. That strategy could help keep both tokens busy in different parts of the crypto economy, ensuring XRP stays relevant even as new products emerge. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
The firm held roughly $8.9 billion in bitcoin in the reserves, translating to roughly 83,200 coins.
Tether has minted over $20 billion worth of USDT since the start of 2025, pushing the stablecoin’s total circulation beyond $157 billion, according to its quarterly attestation report released on July 31. The company noted that over $13.4 billion in USDT was issued during the second quarter alone, reflecting strong demand for the dollar-pegged token […]
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Visa's platform now supports four stablecoins across four blockchains, including Ethereum and Solana.
Hamilton Lane's tokenized HLSCOPE fund is backed by investments in senior secured private credit and senior secured loans.
Visa has added support for PayPal’s PYUSD, Paxos-issued USDG, Circle’s EURC, along with the Stellar and Avalanche blockchains.
Circle will bring native USDC and CCTP v2 to Hyperliquid, shifting the DEX from bridged dollars to directly issued USDC with 1:1 cross-chain transfers.
Stable, a new blockchain built for stablecoins, has raised $28 million in seed funding as it bets on USDT as the future of onchain payments.
Coinbase and JPMorgan have forged a strategic partnership, signaling institutional embrace of crypto infrastructure, the Wall Street broker said.
Visa has revealed that it settled more than $200 million in stablecoin transactions during the second quarter of 2025, marking a notable step in its broader digital asset push. The company shared the update in its quarterly report, linking the rise in volume to its expanded stablecoin settlement framework. The payments giant said its 7-day-a-week […]
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The investment comes as Falcon Finance surpasses $1 billion in circulating supply following its public launch.
TradFi apologists can't imagine what a crypto-based financial system can offer, according to Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan.
Falcon Finance is founded and backed by the same team behind DWF Labs — a controversial player in the crypto ecosystem.
In a recent expert commentary, executives from BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager and a leading issuer of cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs), identified a significant trend in the cryptocurrency market, particularly for Bitcoin (BTC). They foresee a major surge ahead, driven by recent US legislative developments such as the signing of the GENIUS Act. They assert that these developments bolster the role of stablecoins as key players in the future of digital payments. New Regulatory Landscape For Stablecoins Central to BlackRock’s analysis is the recently enacted GENIUS Act, legislation that aims to establish a comprehensive framework for stablecoins as a means of payment. Stablecoins, digital tokens pegged to traditional currencies such as the US dollar, are gaining significant traction among traditional finance firms seeking to modernize their transactions, and could solidify the dollar’s dominance in global markets. Related Reading: Bitcoin Demand Drops Among US Investors—Is a Price Correction Coming? Though their current market share is about 7%—equating to approximately $250 billion—the rapid adoption of stablecoins since 2020 indicates a growing acceptance within the financial landscape. The GENIUS Act delineates stablecoins as payment methods rather than investment products, which includes provisions to prohibit interest payments and restrict issuance to federally regulated banks and select nonbanks. This regulatory framework is poised to create a tokenized ecosystem centered around the US dollar, facilitating easier access for users in emerging markets while potentially limiting adoption in major economies due to the ban on interest payments. Additionally, the act specifies the types of assets that stablecoin issuers can hold in reserve, predominantly consisting of repurchase agreements, money market funds, and US Treasury bills with short maturities. Notably, major stablecoin issuers like Tether (USDT) and Circle (USDC) currently hold over $120 billion in Treasury bills, yet this represents only a small fraction of the total outstanding US Treasury bills. BlackRock Optimistic About Bitcoin’s Potential BlackRock’s commentary also suggests that while the demand for Treasury bills may increase as the stablecoin market grows, the overall impact on yields could be limited. This is due to a likely offsetting shift of funds from similar assets rather than generating significant new demand. Furthermore, the US Treasury’s inclination to increase short-term debt issuance to address persistent budget deficits may also dampen any upward pressure on yields. Beyond US borders, other regions are also taking steps to regulate stablecoins. Hong Kong is implementing new regulations aimed at fostering innovation in stablecoins, while Europe is exploring the concept of a digital euro, albeit with limitations to protect traditional banks. Related Reading: XRP Dormant Coins On The Move: Reason Behind Price Plunge? Should other nations allow interest-bearing stablecoins or pursue central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), the US dollar’s role in trade finance could be at risk, the experts assert, potentially prompting the US to reconsider its stance on interest payments. As digital assets continue to gain mainstream acceptance, the combination of regulatory support and US administration backing suggests a future where Bitcoin and stablecoins play a more integral role in financial systems. BlackRock remains optimistic about Bitcoin’s potential as a distinct return driver and a key asset in diversified investment portfolios. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
Hong Kong’s new stablecoin regime is set to take effect on Aug. 1 to mandate licensing from the HKMA for stablecoin issuers.
BlackRock stated that stablecoins now sit at the heart of the “future of finance,” and the recently approved GENIUS Act gives them a clear lane as everyday payment instruments. In a July 28 report, the BlackRock Investment Institute wrote that stablecoins “look here to stay” and that recent legislation cements their use in payments rather […]
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The Hong Kong Monetary Authority encouraged firms to apply for a stablecoin license by the end of August.
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has invited stablecoin issuers to begin applying for licenses as the city’s stablecoin regulations are enacted in August. In a statement released on July 29, the HKMA said interested firms can submit preliminary applications by Aug. 31. This early stage is designed to help applicants understand regulatory expectations and […]
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In the first quarter of this year alone, Coinbase earned roughly $300 million in distribution payments from Circle, and that's just the start.
U.S. dollar stablecoins will cement their dominance unless alternatives like the digital euro arise, an adviser to the European Central Bank said.
Stablecoin search interest reached an all-time high this month, days before the White House signed the GENIUS Act into law. New Google Trends data shows that search activity for “stablecoins” peaked globally just as U.S. policymakers finalized a federal framework for payment stablecoins, the first of its kind in the country. Interest in the term […]
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The Bitcoin Stablecoin Supply Ratio (SSR) points at thinning liquidity in the sector, potentially explaining the consolidation in the asset’s price. Bitcoin SSR Rose Alongside The Earlier Price Surge As pointed out by an analyst in a CryptoQuant Quicktake post, the Bitcoin SSR has witnessed an increase recently. The “SSR” here refers to an indicator that measures the ratio between the market cap of Bitcoin and that of the stablecoins. Related Reading: Bitcoin Open Interest Sets New Record As Price Plunges To $115,000 Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies that peg themselves to the price of a fiat currency, with USD-based tokens being the most popular. Investors generally use stables when they want to escape the volatility associated with other digital assets like Bitcoin. Many holders who keep their capital stashed away in stablecoins, however, eventually plan to re-invest into volatile coins. As such, some view the supply of these cryptocurrencies as a measure of the ‘dry powder‘ available in the sector for BTC and other assets. Since the SSR compares the market cap of Bitcoin against this dry powder, it tells us about which part of the sector investor capital is dominating right now. When the metric goes up, it means that capital is transferring from stablecoins to BTC or if both are receiving inflows, that the latter is just seeing more of them. In either case, relative dry powder is going down. Similarly, the metric registering a decline implies capital is shifting towards stables. Such a trend can be a sign that investors have more purchasing power relative to BTC’s market cap. Now, here is a chart that shows the trend in the Bitcoin SSR over the last few months: As displayed in the above graph, the Bitcoin SSR tracked the earlier BTC price surge almost 1:1, indicating that the increase in the asset’s market cap outpaced any rise in stablecoin liquidity. Since the peak in the cryptocurrency’s price, the indicator has declined a bit, but its value still remains at a significant level of 18.8. This means that the asset’s total value is currently 18.8 times the supply of the stablecoins. “This indicates a temporary saturation in the market unless we see additional stablecoins entering,” notes the quant. The recent high values in the Bitcoin SSR may at least be in part behind the consolidation that the cryptocurrency has been facing. Related Reading: This Bitcoin Metric Often Flags Turning Points—What’s It Saying Now? It now remains to be seen where the metric would go next. A drop in its value would naturally suggest stablecoins are witnessing inflows, which could potentially set up the next leg in the BTC rally. BTC Price Bitcoin briefly declined below $115,000 on Friday, but the coin has since bounced back as its price is now trading around $118,800. Featured image from Dall-E, CryptoQuant.com, chart from TradingView.com
Interactive Brokers is considering launching a stablecoin for customers, a move that would add one of the world’s largest discount brokerages to the list of firms using crypto, Reuters reported on July 28. Founder Thomas Peterffy said in an interview with the newswire that the company is “working on potentially issuing stablecoins.” However, a final […]
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PayPal Holdings Inc. has rolled out a way for US merchants to accept crypto payments. The company set a flat fee of 0.99% per transaction. That’s a hefty cut compared with the near 2.99% merchants often pay on cross‑border credit card sales. Related Reading: Bitcoin’s New Clock: How Wall Street Killed The Old Cycle, According To Expert According to PayPal, businesses can save up to 90% on transaction costs when buyers pay with digital coins. Flat Fees For Crypto Payments Based on reports, every sale automatically converts crypto into fiat or stablecoins when the merchant chooses. Companies can pick from more than 100 tokens under its “Pay with Crypto” feature. Bitcoin and Ethereum lead the list. Other picks include USDT, XRP, BNB, Solana and PayPal’s own PYUSD. That stablecoin is backed by US dollar deposits, short‑term Treasuries and cash equivalents. Merchants who stick with PYUSD earn 4% rewards on balances held in their PayPal account. ????BREAKING: PayPal will allow U.S. merchants to accept over 100 cryptocurrencies with a 0.99% transaction fee for the first year, increasing to 1.5%. #CryptoPayments #Fintech — Michael Pace (@mjpgroup) July 28, 2025 Wide Range Of Wallets And Coins The American payments processing firm also tied this service into wallets beyond its own. Coinbase, MetaMask, OKX, Binance, Kraken, Phantom and Exodus all plug in. That opens the door to some 650 million crypto users around the globe. PayPal says it’s tapping into a $3 trillion market that has grown fast over the past decade. Smaller businesses in particular could find it easy to add crypto as a payment option without heavy engineering work. A Nod To Global Ambitions The launch follows PayPal’s introduction of PayPal World, a platform that links five digital wallets worldwide. PayPal then struck a deal with Fiserv to spread stablecoin use further abroad. Together, those moves hint at an effort to build plumbing for fast, low‑cost money transfers everywhere. Merchants in the US won’t see surprises at checkout. That 0.99% fee covers network charges and conversion work. By comparison, traditional cross‑border credit card sales often carry fees that climb past 3%. It’s easy math for sellers: a $1,000 sale in crypto costs $9.90 instead of about $30. That margin could be the difference between profit and loss. Related Reading: Memecoins, NFTs Get Called Out By Their Own Architect: ‘Zero Intrinsic Value’ Regulatory Approval Still Pending According to PayPal, the rollout will begin in the US “in the coming weeks.” One catch: New York merchants must wait on permission from the New York State Department of Financial Services. PayPal says it hasn’t secured that approval yet. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from TradingView
The funding is more than seven times the amount the project sought to raise, as it sets out to provide free USDT transfers.
The Series A funding round was led by Pharsalus Capital and included contributions from Circle Ventures, The Operating Group and XVC Tech
Interactive Brokers, founded in 1978, is reportedly considering launching a stablecoin to support 24/7 funding for brokerage accounts.
Binance has launched RWUSD, a new principal-protected yield product offering up to 4.2% APR benchmarked against tokenized U.S. Treasury bills and other real-world assets. The offering aims to continue Binance’s plan to incorporate off-chain financial instruments into its Earn product suite while avoiding direct exposure to tokenized assets. Users can subscribe to RWUSD using stablecoins […]
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Welcome to Slate Sundays, CryptoSlate’s new weekly feature showcasing in-depth interviews, expert analysis, and thought-provoking op-eds that go beyond the headlines to explore the ideas and voices shaping the future of crypto. If 2024 was the year of the dragon, 2025 has been the year of the stablecoin. U.S. dollar-backed digital assets, in particular, have taken […]
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Nigeria’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has expressed support for stablecoin businesses that operate within the bounds of the country’s digital asset regulations. During the Nigeria Stablecoin Summit held in Lagos, SEC Director-General Emomotimi Agama reportedly said the African country is ready to embrace blockchain-based payment innovations as long as they comply with existing laws. […]
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