Tether will launch USDT on RGB, a Bitcoin-tied protocol compatible with Lightning, to further expand USDT beyond Tron and Ethereum.
The recent passage of the GENIUS Act introduced a new regulatory framework for stablecoins, such as Tether (USDT), drawing increasing attention from traditional and cryptocurrency firms. Tether’s Regulatory Challenges And Rising Rivals With the stablecoin market growing from $120 billion in October 2023 to $288 billion as of August, Tether’s USDT continues to hold its position as the largest stablecoin. However, the Motley Fool team has identified three emerging contenders that are poised to disrupt the company’s dominance and present significant competition. Tether commands nearly 60% of the stablecoin market, but it has not been without controversy. In 2021, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) fined Tether $41 million for “misleading claims” regarding its reserves, which were allegedly not fully backed by US dollars. Furthermore, Tether’s current reporting practices do not align with the requirements set forth by the recently passed GENIUS Act, which mandates stablecoin issuers to publish monthly disclosures about their reserves. Notably, the stablecoin issuer only provides these reports on a quarterly basis, potentially opening the door for competitors to capture some of its market share, at least in the United States. Related Reading: Can Ethereum Really Hit $20,000 This Cycle? Analyst Maps The Path Among the most prominent challengers highlighted is USD Coin (USDC), which boasts a market capitalization of approximately $68 billion. Like Tether, USDC is a fiat-backed stablecoin; however, it has not faced any legal scrutiny regarding its reserves. The issuer, Circle, has consistently published monthly attestations since USDC’s inception in 2018. The Motley Tool team asserts that this commitment positions USDC as Tether’s primary competitor, especially as regulatory compliance becomes increasingly crucial. The competitive landscape is further complicated by regulatory developments in Europe. Under the European Union’s Market in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), stablecoin issuers must obtain regulatory approval and meet strict reserve requirements. Circle has already achieved compliance with both USDC and its Euro stablecoin, EURC, while Tether has opted to withdraw from the European market entirely. A New Contender With Ties To XRP Another contender is Dai, now rebranded as USDS, which differentiates itself by adhering to the principles of decentralization. Unlike Tether and USDC, Dai is managed by Sky, previously known as MakerDAO, a decentralized autonomous organization. This structure allows anyone holding SKY governance tokens to participate in decision-making processes concerning Dai. Rather than being backed by fiat reserves, Dai is a crypto-backed stablecoin, relying on overcollateralized crypto loans. Lastly, Ripple USD (RUSD) enters the fray as a smaller player with a market cap of around $667 million. Despite its size, the Motley Fool asserts that RUSD’s connection to XRP makes it a formidable competitor. Related Reading: Dogecoin Stalls Near $0.22: Analysts Say a Major Breakout Pattern Could Be Forming Ripple, the company behind XRP, has launched RUSD as part of its payment solutions for financial institutions, focusing on efficient cross-border transactions. Additionally, RUSD has received regulatory approval from the New York State Department of Financial Services, which adds a layer of credibility and could help it gain traction in the market. Despite the potential threat, Tether’s figures far surpass those of these three challengers. This suggests that the firm’s reign in the stablecoin market may continue for some time. One thing is certain, though: stablecoins are making a notable entrance into the broader financial landscape. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
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. Crypto payments are having a moment. From Circle’s billion-dollar IPO to the GENIUS Act clearing a path for stablecoin regulation, the tailwinds are blowing […]
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A major Bitcoin whale has begun offloading massive amounts of BTC while simultaneously accumulating ETH. Such whale activity has typically influenced sentiment and liquidity, with ETH stacking rising in pace as BTC reserves are reduced, as analysts watch to see whether whale conviction could tilt the balance between the two largest cryptocurrencies. Whale Unwinds 15,000 BTC Position A Bitcoin whale who once held 15,000 BTC is selling massive amounts of BTC and buying ETH, making waves across the crypto market. Analyst CryptoGucci has revealed on X that this wallet, which originally held 15,000 BTC, was moved from cold storage 7 years ago, and has aggressively sold thousands of BTC while buying up massive amounts of ETH. Related Reading: $500M Liquidations Rock Ethereum and Bitcoin: Is the Crash Fueling Whale Accumulation? In the past 24 hours, the whale has deposited 2,370 BTC worth $266 million in exchanges and has been steadily selling more BTC every few hours. This whale has been stacking ETH at scale. The whale’s holdings now sit at 167,629 ETH across 5 wallets, worth $706 million, which is spread across spot ETH, perpetual contracts, and Aave ETH positions in WETH and aEthWETH. Ethereum is rapidly gaining traction among corporate treasuries. According to CryptoRank_io’s update, the public companies now hold 2% of ETH’s total supply, marking a significant milestone in institutional adoption. Since April 1st, corporate ETH holdings have skyrocketed from $70 million to an impressive $10.9 billion, which reflects a surge in institutional confidence. Over the same period, the public companies BTC holdings also increased from 3.07% to 3.93% of total supply, showing a steady accumulation of both top crypto assets. BitMine is leading the pack, which now holds over 1.5 million ETH, making it the largest corporate ETH treasury in the world. Bitcoin And Ethereum Market Positioning HolaItsAk47 also stated the conversation around the 2025 bull run is heating up, and ETH keeps resurfacing. For years, Bitcoin has dominated as the undisputed leader of the crypto markets. This time, the fundamentals suggest that ETH is not just catching up to BTC, but it could take the lead in future finance. Related Reading: Ethereum Now Carries Tokenized Notes From Singapore’s Largest Bank With ETH leading the charge in the Stablecoin dominance, the network is becoming the backbone of digital finance, hosting top stablecoins like USDC, USDT, and more. Also, the GENIUS Act clarity regulatory developments are becoming clearer, paving the way for institutional adoption without compromising network utility to accelerate. Given the institutional inflows of billions pouring into Ethereum ETFs and corporate treasuries gradually increasing exposure, ETH is capturing serious institutional attention. Dencun Upgrade, slashing transaction fees by up to 98%, has massively improved scalability and usability. DeFi and tokenization remain the primary platforms for decentralized finance and tokenized assets in ETH, while reinforcing its central role in Web3. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com
Dogecoin, despite being held up around the $0.21 to $0.23 price zone, has seen its user base grow with adoption among crypto investors of all types. Notably, on-chain data shows that Dogecoin has now surpassed 8 million in terms of addresses holding a non-zero balance. On‑chain analytics from Santiment reveal that Dogecoin has risen from approximately 6.9 million holders earlier in 2025 to the latest 8 million milestone. Only Ethereum and Bitcoin exceed Dogecoin when it comes to user base size. Dogecoin Holder Count Keeps Surging The momentum behind Dogecoin’s adoption shows no sign of slowing down, and the number of addresses holding the meme cryptocurrency is now above 8 million. This trend in Dogecoin holders stems from the cryptocurrency increasingly becoming the go-to asset for many retail traders. This, in turn, has seen the number of Dogecoin holders continue to surge this year, especially as retail investors start to transition from other large market-cap cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, which many now argue is the crypto for institutions. Related Reading: 4-Year Cycle Says Dogecoin Price Will Reach $1, Here’s Why Although Dogecoin also saw a huge growth in the number of holders in 2024, the growth in 2025 is outpacing the trend seen in 2024, To put this into perspective, it took the whole year to add 1 million new DOGE holders in 2024, whereas in 2025, the same milestone has taken less than eight months. This is a substantial increase from about 6.9 million holders in the beginning of 2025. The latest figures place Dogecoin well ahead of other large market cap cryptocurrencies such as Cardano (ADA), Chainlink (LINK), and XRP, as well as major stablecoins including USDT and USDC, in terms of total holder count. Only Ethereum, with about 148 million addresses, and Bitcoin, with around 55 million, surpass Dogecoin’s adoption levels. DOGE Whales Continue Accumulating The steady increase in new Dogecoin addresses has been supported by a corresponding increase in whale accumulation. Trading data shows that large wallets have added more billions of Dogecoins in recent weeks. For instance, recent on-chain data shows that wallet addresses holding between 100 million and 1 billion Dogecoin recently added about 2 billion Dogecoin worth $448 million to their holdings within a week. At the institutional level, Bit Origin made headlines after committing $500 million to a Dogecoin treasury last month when the price was hovering around $0.24. Related Reading: Dogecoin Targets $1.25, But This 170% Move Is The Start Technical traders are also paying close attention. One analyst known as Trader Tardigrade pointed out that DOGE’s current chart setup is nearing the final stages of consolidation before a pump on the daily candlestick timeframe chart. If this pump were to manifest, the analyst projects a pump to $0.41 after breaking out of a triangular consolidation pattern. Interestingly, a longer-term analysis from the same analyst on the monthly candlestick timeframe chart shows that Dogecoin has built a support base and is ready for the next leg up that would take it to as high as $4. At the time of writing, Dogecoin is trading at $0.222, up by 4.3% in the past 24 hours. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com
Tether has hired Bo Hines, a former adviser to President Donald Trump, as its Strategic Advisor for Digital Assets and US Strategy. The company confirmed on Aug. 19 that Hines will immediately begin working with Tether’s leadership to guide its expansion and regulatory engagement in the United States. In his new role, Hines will oversee […]
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Bo Hines, who led the White House Crypto Council and aided the GENIUS Act, has joined Tether as strategic advisor as the firm moves to enter the U.S.
A growing number of workers are now getting paid in crypto. In 2023, just 3% of those surveyed said part of their salary arrived as digital tokens. By 2024, that share jumped to 9.6%. Related Reading: Bitcoin Remains ‘Undefeatable’, Tether Chief Says This shift comes as blockchain firms and DAOs explore new ways to handle cross-border pay. Reports have disclosed that purely fiat payments fell from 95% to 85% over the same period. Our mission is to support the long-term success of both our portfolio companies and the broader crypto ecosystem. One major gap we’ve consistently seen? Reliable, transparent compensation data for crypto teams. That’s why we created our annual Crypto Compensation Survey – a… — Pantera Capital (@PanteraCapital) August 6, 2025 Rise In Crypto Payroll According to Pantera Capital’s 2024 Blockchain Compensation Survey, USDC leads the pack. It now makes up over 60% of all crypto wages. USDT trails with 28%. Smaller slices go to Solana at 1.9% and Ethereum at 1.3%. These numbers point to stablecoins becoming a regular tool for payroll. That’s a big change from just a year ago. Many companies are drawn by faster settlement times and lower fees. And workers in regions with shaky banking systems see real benefit. Reports have disclosed that Asia-based teams and contractors are among the biggest drivers of this trend. They often rely on stablecoins to avoid high transfer costs or strict local rules. A handful of firms now let staff split pay between cash and crypto. This hybrid model gives people the freedom to hold tokens or spend fiat. It also helps those who want to dollar-cost average into crypto markets. Pantera’s data shows these arrangements are on the rise, though full-crypto pay remains rare. Stablecoin Salaries Soar Circle’s decision to publish monthly reserve reports has strengthened trust in USDC. The company even secured access to US Treasuries for its backing. That transparency helps explain why more payroll departments pick USDC over other coins. Tax teams also get clearer data when they see monthly reserve disclosures. Related Reading: Bitcoin Insult Alert: Pro Trader Dubs HODLers ‘Idiots,’ Saylor Fires Back Behind the scenes, better payroll platforms and accounting tools have made on-chain payments simpler. Real-time rails now link digital wallets to corporate treasuries. And more firms are building internal processes to track taxable events. Based on reports from industry insiders, this is only the beginning. As more crypto-native companies formalize their operations, they’ll need reliable ways to pay people. And wider acceptance by regulators could give traditional firms the confidence to join in. Featured image from Young Platform, chart from TradingView
Tether has taken a minority stake in Spain’s MiCA-licensed exchange Bit2Me after disclosing $4.9 billion in profit for Q2 2025.
Cardano (ADA) has achieved a significant milestone with the successful completion of its first-ever on-chain governance vote. For the first time, core development funding has been directly approved by the Cardano community, marking a significant step forward in the blockchain’s transition to fully decentralized governance. Reacting to the milestone, Cardano’s founder, Charles Hoskinson, shared his thoughts on the network’s progress. Cardano Enters New Era Of Decentralized Governance The Cardano ecosystem has reached a pivotal moment in its growth and evolution, marking a historic milestone with the recent execution of its first governance vote. The landmark event signals the beginning of a new phase for the blockchain, where decisions around core development funding are now being made directly by the community rather than centralized entities. Related Reading: Cardano Price Shows Seller Exhaustion Above $0.57 — Bullish Divergence Signals Rally Hoskinson publicly acknowledged the significance of the event in an X social media post on August 3. He praised the community for their support and trust, reinforcing the belief that decentralized governance is not just a vision but now an operational reality within the Cardano ecosystem. Hoskinson’s remarks came in response to an earlier post by Input Output Global (IOG), a blockchain research and development company behind Cardano’s development. IOG had commemorated the blockchain’s recent governance achievement by stating that the Cardano community had officially made history. The governance vote had approved direct funding for core development initiatives, representing a foundational shift in how the Cardano ecosystem grows and evolves. Rather than relying on a small group of decision-makers, the blockchain now empowers its global community to determine resource allocation collectively. Input Output Global praised both Cardano and its community’s efforts, calling the recent milestone the beginning of a new era of decentralized governance. Notably, the broader crypto community is already responding with enthusiasm, with many offering congratulations and support as Cardano celebrates this landmark event. The network’s successful governance vote sets a powerful precedent in the crypto industry, showcasing the potential of a blockchain governed directly by its users. Cardano Becomes Only Top 10 With On-Chain Governance In addition to its historic governance vote, Cardano has emerged as the only top 10 cryptocurrency by market capitalization to implement on-chain governance, setting a new benchmark for how blockchain ecosystems are managed and governed. Related Reading: A Breakout To Remember: Cardano Price Mirrors Market Conditions That Led To $3.10 ATH According to a report by Cardanians (CRDN) on X, the blockchain’s governance framework is actively functioning, with 39 treasury withdrawal proposals currently open for voting. These proposals allow Delegated Representatives (DReps) and the broader community to directly participate in shaping the ecosystem by deciding which initiatives receive funding and move forward. As of now, none of the other top 10 blockchains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, USDT, Binance Coin, Solana, USDC, Tron, and Dogecoin, have matched Cardano’s level of on-chain decision-making power. While these cryptocurrencies continue to lead in various areas, Cardano stands out as the 10th-largest cryptocurrency by market cap with a uniquely advanced governance system. Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from Tradingview.com
The altseason fanfare remains on the rise despite a broad altcoin rally two weeks ago that has quickly evaporated in a wider market correction. As investors continue to await a potential rebound from these price dips, a popular analyst with X user PlanD has highlighted the two crucial signals that may initiate an altcoin market surge. Related Reading: Ethereum Drops 6% After Hitting $3,800, But Analysts See New ATH Ahead Ethereum And USDT Market Key To Altseason Future In an X post on August 1, PlanD shared an in-depth technical analysis of multiple markets, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Bitcoin Dominance (BTC.D), and USDT Dominance. In studying the ETH market, PlanD highlights that the prominent altcoin faces major resistance at the $4,000, which has acted as the upper resistance level of a three-year symmetrical triangle. According to the presented analysis, Ethereum’s ability to effectively hold above the $4,000 price barrier is the first important developing situation for the altseason. Being the largest altcoin with a market cap of $424.48 billion, a successful breakout beyond this familiar price ceiling would encourage a rally by lower-cap alts to potentially initiate an altseason. Meanwhile, PlanD also draws attention to the USDT Dominance chart, which has just registered the breakout of a bearish flag. While there is potential to retest the breakout point at 4.71%, the analyst tells investors to monitor a potential fall to 3.81% which aligns with the breakout of a 1.5-year descending triangle and 3.21% i.e., the price target of the bearish flag. In particular, PlanD states a fall in USDT Dominance to 3.21% which suggests significant rotation of capital to other volatile assets is the “strongest signal” for an altcoin rally. Related Reading: If Dogecoin Loses This Level, Expect A Major Crash: Analyst Warns BTC.D Potential Rise Possesses Risk To Altcoin Market In analyzing the Bitcoin Dominance chart, PlanD notes this metric has twice successfully retested a key support at a three-year rising wedge at 60.30%; therefore, there is intense potential for a rebound. The top analyst notes that if BTC.D rises to retest the pivotal market levels at 64.60% and 64.80%, the altcoin market may see a general price loss ranging from 10%-20%. Meanwhile, PlanD is also backing Bitcoin to maintain its bullish form in the coming weeks with a projected price target of $160,000. Interestingly, the trading expert notes that there are two paths to this price, noting that Bitcoin may first find support at the $113,000, propelling a rebound beyond $118,700 and an eventual surge to $160,000. Alternatively, Bitcoin’s present correction may halt around $108,000 before rising towards the specified bull target. In this case, altcoins may also witness an initial 10-20% widespread price decline. Featured image from MEXC Blog, 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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The blockchain aims to enable fast, low-cost and stable digital payments using USDT as its gas token.
After a relatively quiet week for altcoins, XRP, Dogecoin, and Shiba Inu received a fresh wave of attention thanks to a major update from Gemini. The US-based crypto exchange announced that it is now officially allowing these three tokens, as well as Bitcoin Cash and Solana, as cross-collateral assets for its derivatives platform. Major Boost For XRP, Dogecoin, And Shiba Inu Gemini’s decision allows XRP, DOGE, and SHIB holders to use their tokens as collateral for GUSD-settled perpetual contracts, a feature that was previously limited to BTC, ETH, USDT, and Gemini stablecoin GUSD. All five newly supported tokens come with varying collateral “haircuts,” meaning only a portion of their value is counted toward margin requirements. XRP and Solana each have a 15% haircut, while Dogecoin and Shiba Inu face a more severe 30% haircut due to their higher volatility profiles. Related Reading: XRP Price Set To Teleport As Major Financial Players Tap In — Opportunity Window Closing Fast Gemini has made it easier for users to trade derivatives using a broader range of holdings by bringing these newer assets into the fold. This move not only deepens the utility of these cryptocurrencies but also opens up new use cases for traders who want to leverage their holdings in perpetual contracts without converting to stablecoins. It’s a particularly meaningful step for XRP, which has been working to strengthen its institutional appeal and global payments utility. The move is also beneficial for meme coins Dogecoin and Shiba Inu, which are seeing increasing demand outside of the meme coin niche. This expansion also shows a larger trend in crypto derivatives. Many crypto exchanges, especially those in the US, are increasingly opening their doors to altcoins. It is also a drastic turnaround from the state of the crypto market some years back. For nearly three years, XRP was delisted or unavailable on most US-based trading platforms due to the legal battle between Ripple and the US Securities and Exchange Commission. It wasn’t until July 2023, following Judge Analisa Torres’s partial ruling that XRP was not a security when sold on exchanges, that the token began to make its return to major US platforms, including Gemini. Price Action Trending Downwards At the time of writing, XRP is trading around $3.13, a 1.4% decline from the previous day but still holding within its recent range between $3.06 and $3.18. Dogecoin is trading at $0.2226, with modest intraday movement after failing to sustain its push above $0.23. The king of meme coins is down by 3.2% and 14.2% in the past 24 hours and seven days, respectively. Related Reading: Dogecoin Price Breaks Above $0.26 In Weekend Rally As Pundit Predicts 2,600% Surge Shiba Inu, meanwhile, is trading at $0.000013, also down by about 4% in the past 24 hours and over 13% in the past seven days. Nonetheless, many analysts still maintain a bullish long-term outlook for these cryptocurrencies. Forecast models project that Dogecoin could climb to $1 in the current bull cycle, while SHIB is expected to reach at least $0.000045. XRP’s trajectory is even more ambitious among many crypto analysts, with price targets ranging from $9 to $10 if adoption momentum continues and pending US Spot ETF applications finally receive approval from the SEC. Featured image from iStock, chart from Tradingview.com
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
Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin USDT, has disclosed a portion of its investment portfolio, revealing an involvement in cryptocurrencies that extend beyond Bitcoin (BTC). The announcement comes as Tether reports record profits in 2024, which have been used to fund these strategic investments in more than 120 companies across multiple sectors. Tether Expands Investment Portfolio Beyond Bitcoin Tether has unveiled a glimpse into its expansive investment portfolio, marking a significant pivot in its capital allocation strategy beyond just Bitcoin. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tether, Paolo Ardoino, confirmed in an X social media post that the stablecoin firm has invested in over 120 companies as part of its Tether Investment division. He added that this number is expected to grow in the coming months and years. Related Reading: Today In Crypto: 3 Major Bills Passed In The US House, Here’s What You Should Know Notably, Ardoino disclosed that these investments are funded exclusively through the company’s record profits from 2024, which total $13.7 billion. He emphasized that none of the funds were obtained from reserves backing Tether’s stablecoin. Interestingly, Tether’s profits, generated from yield on its holdings of over $130 billion in US Treasuries, are now being directed into transformative industries through some of the most prominent companies. Its venture arm has expanded its focus past Bitcoin, now investing in areas like Artificial Intelligence (AI), renewable energy, privacy infrastructure, tokenization, agriculture, and others. When asked by Crypto Tale how this diverse portfolio supports USDT’s position amid an increasingly stringent global regulatory environment, Ardoino underscored its strategic importance. On the question of USDT’s future in Europe under the continent’s new MiCA regulations, the Tether CEO stated that the stablecoin company would only consider re-entry once the regulatory landscape offers stronger protections for both consumers and stablecoin issuers. Companies In Tether’s Venture Portfolio On its official website, Tether shared a partial list of some of the companies among the 120 it has invested in. These range from blockchain infrastructure platforms like Synonym and Holepunch, to AI-focused firms like Crystal Intelligence, and payment technology providers such as CityPay.io and Sorted Wallet. The presence of companies like Blackrock Neurotech and Adecoagro reflects a commitment to broader technological and environmental impact, reaching into neuroscience and agriculture, respectively. Related Reading: Michael Saylor Reveals The Only Thing ‘Better Than Bitcoin’ As MSTR Stock Outperforms Tether’s investment narrative is framed not solely in financial terms but as a deliberate push toward catalyzing decentralization and empowering individuals. The stablecoin firm declared its capital as a “catalyst for change,” invested in projects that reduce reliance on centralized systems and promote global equity. This mission-driven approach is visible across its portfolio, which also includes companies involved in data sovereignty like Northern Data, cross-border financial solutions such as Quantoz and OrionX, and privacy-first communication platforms. Mansa, a DeFi fintech venture, and Oobit, a global crypto payment platform, have also joined Tether’s investment portfolio, marking another step toward the company’s push toward real-world crypto adoption. Both firms expressed appreciation for the support, aligning with Tether’s broader vision to integrate stablecoins into everyday payment systems. Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from Tradingview.com
A coalition of fintech and crypto trade groups is urging the White House to defend open banking and stop JPMorgan from charging fees to access customer data.
Beijing once warned of stablecoin risks. Now it’s turning to them to help stem the growth of U.S. dollar-pegged tokens in Asia.
The past week has been nothing short of interesting for XRP. Notably, the cryptocurrency has been on an extended run of increases in the past seven days, which saw it momentarily touch the $3 price level for the first time in months. This interesting move came after reports broke of the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s approval of the ProShares Ultra XRP ETF, which allowed XRP to extend its upward movement. However, this momentum didn’t just affect price; it also had major effects on XRP’s standing in the overall crypto market. XRP Becomes Top 3 Crypto The SEC’s decision to approve the ProShares Ultra XRP ETF, which offers 2x daily exposure through futures contracts, is an interesting milestone for XRP. After years of legal scrutiny and uncertainty, especially following the SEC’s 2020 lawsuit against Ripple, the ETF approval is a remarkable change in the SEC’s stance with XRP. It shows that XRP has not only survived the challenges but has also earned a place in the next phase of institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies. Related Reading: XRP ETF Race Heats Up: Why July 14, July 21, And July 25 Are Important After news of the ProShares ETF approval, XRP rallied sharply and outperformed many other top assets on both the daily and weekly timeframes. This surge came as a continuation of bullish momentum already building from Bitcoin’s recent breakout to new all-time highs above $122,000. However, even while Bitcoin corrected back to below $118,000, XRP managed to keep up with the pace of inflows. At the time of writing, XRP is up by about 25.7% in a seven-day timeframe. This notable increase has allowed its market cap to increase to $173.4 billion, effectively overtaking that of Tether USDT’s market cap of $159.8 billion. This means that XRP is now back to being the third-biggest cryptocurrency by market cap and it is now closing in on Ethereum in rankings. Can The Altcoin Flip ETH? XRP’s climb past USDT in market capitalization reflects both a solid price surge and its strength in the crypto market. The next target on the leaderboard, however, is much more formidable. To flip ETH in market cap, XRP would need to more than double from its current $173.46 billion to exceed Ethereum’s $381.13 billion. Assuming the current circulating supply of 59.13 billion XRP tokens is kept at this level, this translates to a required price of roughly $6.60 per XRP in order to reach a $381.13 billion market cap. Related Reading: Official Ripple Document Surfaces Online, Revealing What Will Drive The XRP Price Higher XRP overtaking ETH would also be somewhat of a hard task, considering the fact that ETH has also kept up interesting price gains in the past few days. Particularly, the leading altcoin is also up by about 20.2% in the past seven days. Ethereum’s price performance can be attributed to the steady inflows into Spot Ethereum ETFs, which have witnessed $1.55 billion inflows in July. However, XRP still has a chance of overtaking Ethereum, especially when a Spot XRP ETF is approved by the SEC. An important moment could happen on July 25, when the SEC is expected to decide on the REX-Osprey XRP ETF, which is a spot-based ETF. Some analysts believe XRP’s price could skyrocket toward $1,000 under a scenario of full-scale institutional adoption. If that vision materializes, XRP wouldn’t just surpass Ethereum; it would be positioned to compete with Bitcoin in market cap. At the time of writing, XRP is trading at $2.93. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com
Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer, minted an additional $2 billion USDT on July 16 on the Ethereum blockchain. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino confirmed the mint via a post on X, clarifying that the new mints were an “inventory replenish” on Ethereum. This means the funds serve as inventory for future issuance and blockchain swaps, […]
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Tether’s latest move aims to streamline its stablecoin operations. The company plans to end USDT redemptions and token issuance on five older blockchains by September 1, 2025. Any tokens left on Omni Layer, Bitcoin Cash SLP, Kusama, EOS and Algorand will become frozen after that date. Related Reading: Analyst Sounds The Alarm: Shiba Inu Primed For Over 1,500% Breakout Focus Shifts Away From Legacy Chains Based on reports from Tether, these five networks once helped drive its early growth. But current data shows a big drop in USDT activity there. Usage has been mostly flat for months. And with few new transactions, keeping those chains alive no longer makes sense. Tether to Wind Down USD₮ Support for Five Legacy Blockchains as Part of Strategic Infrastructure Review Learn more: https://t.co/MxVGdUnEhA — Tether (@Tether_to) July 11, 2025 The decision follows a careful infrastructure audit. Teams looked at chains with low usage and slow growth. They found that less than 0.1% of Tether’s total supply moves on those networks. Every dollar spent maintaining them now offers little benefit. Embracing Fast, Scalable Networks According to CEO Paolo Ardoino, Tether will put more energy into chains that can grow quickly. He pointed to real‑time scaling solutions and rising adoption as key factors. The company plans to boost support for Layer 2 systems such as the Lightning Network. It also wants to explore partnerships with newer blockchains that offer low fees and better interoperability. Experts agree with Tether’s approach. Kevin Mehrabi of StableTech said networks with weak developer traction tend to stall. And once growth stops, token circulation follows. By focusing on blockchains with active builders, Tether hopes USDT will see more real use in DeFi, micro‑payments and cross‑border transfers. Related Reading: Don’t Hold Back—Expert Recommends Full Stake In XRP What Token Holders Should Do Now Holders of USDT on the affected chains must act before the September 1, 2025 cutoff. Official Tether services will let existing clients reissue their tokens on supported networks. Other users can rely on third‑party bridges or custodians, depending on each provider’s policy. If nobody moves their coins in time, those balances will be frozen—completely inaccessible. By reallocating technical and operational resources, Tether aims to improve transaction speeds and cut costs. The company’s long‑term plan is to back ecosystems that show real growth and practical use cases. For users, the key takeaway is clear: move your USDT off those legacy rails now, or risk losing access later. Featured image from Vecteezy, chart from TradingView
The decision is due to declining usage of USDT on these networks over the past two years and as the company moves its focus to newer platforms such as Layer 2s.
The market capitalization of the two largest stablecoins — USDT and USDC — reached new records this week, a sign that capital is flowing into digital asset markets.
Stablecoin issuer Tether has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Adecoagro S.A. to explore a strategic collaboration centered on renewable-powered Bitcoin mining, according to a July 3 statement. Adecoagro, one of South America’s leading producers of sustainable agricultural goods and energy, is evaluating how its more than 230 MW of renewable energy capacity can […]
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With rising rates and over $100 billion in reserves, Tether turned monetary policy into profit, and it’s not alone.
PLUS: Bakkt is entering the BTC Treasury market with a $1 billion BTC purchase.
Speaking on The Block's Big Brain podcast, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said USDT and Bitcoin will power transactions among AI agents.
Based on reports, stablecoin issuance has kept climbing for the past 90 days, with billions of dollars flowing in each week. Investors appear to be waiting for a clear sign before moving capital. Right now, USDT holds over 66% of that market, while USDC and DAI share the rest. In total, stablecoins account for about $250 billion, or almost 8% of all crypto assets. Related Reading: Bunker Buster: Ethereum Titans Stake $100 Million Amid US-Iran Hostilities Stablecoin Supply Hitting New Highs Demand for a trusted dollar peg is driving this growth. Tether leads by a wide margin because many traders trust its stability. Stablecoin reserves have swelled, even as other segments stay quiet. This points to plenty of cash on the sidelines. ????Billions in Stablecoins are issued weekly, and the 90-day change for all Stablecoins shows a large amount of liquidity available in the market. Tether (USDT) stands out, representing 66.2% of the entire Stablecoin market. Currently, the Stablecoin market cap is close to $250B… pic.twitter.com/DugpqDiEPl — Alphractal (@Alphractal) June 24, 2025 Bitcoin And Stablecoin Dominance Bitcoin and stablecoins together make up roughly 74% of the total crypto market. That’s a big number. In past cycles, once those balances peak, money often moves into smaller tokens. Right now, Bitcoin’s price is steadying after recent swings. Stablecoin balances keep growing. I can’t promise anything, but there’s a strong chance that a powerful Altcoin Season will take hold in the third quarter of 2025. I had already mentioned this in some posts before, about June and July, and I still stand by that analysis. The main reasons are the large amount of… https://t.co/TjRyxBxSKs — Joao Wedson (@joao_wedson) June 24, 2025 Altcoin Season On The Horizon Based on forecasts from analyst Joao Wedson, altcoins could see a lift in Q3 2025. He points to the huge amount of stablecoin liquidity and persistent doubt among retail and big players. That stage of doubt has come before in other cycles, and it usually marks a turning point. When confidence returns, altcoins tend to surge. Investors Poised On The Sidelines Many holders seem ready to hit buy. They’re holding onto stablecoins until charts, on-chain data or macro news clear up. A boost in stablecoin flows to exchanges could be one early hint that rotation is starting. Large moves by whale wallets into low-cap tokens may follow. In recent weeks, inflows of stablecoins into trading platforms have ticked higher. That’s a key signal to watch. If weekly inflows rise sharply—say above $5 billion—it may show serious appetite building. Past cycles saw similar spikes just before altcoin rallies began. Another one to monitor is decentralized finance platform volume. When stablecoins move from wallets to lending or liquidity pools, it usually indicates that traders are looking for return and preparing to swap to other tokens. Related Reading: Bitcoin Paces $15 Billion YTD Influx Amid 10-Week Fund Flow Streak Market observers will also be monitoring Bitcoin’s consolidation range closely. If it remains above recent lows for a few weeks, that would give confidence a boost everywhere. Then we could see smaller cryptocurrencies move higher on new liquidity. Based on these signals, it looks like we’re in a waiting game. Stablecoin supplies are at record levels, Bitcoin is settling, and altcoin sentiment remains low. When all that lines up just right, funds are likely to rotate. Then the altcoin sector could see new life. Featured image from Imagen, chart from TradingView
Some uncertainties remain around the GENIUS Act that could establish U.S. stablecoin rules, and theories abound about how Tether may respond.