Cryptopolitan

China’s economy slowed to its weakest pace in three years as Donald Trump’s trade war highlighted the country’s heavy reliance on Western markets. Although the tariffs have since been lifted, major sectors are losing momentum.

China is one of the world’s biggest economies, but its gross domestic product softened to about 4.5% in the last quarter of 2025, the slowest in three years. The full-year growth was projected at 5%, matching Beijing’s target.

Even at a slower rate, China’s economy delivered results far better than some anticipated at the beginning of 2025. But sluggish growth reveals that China still has spending issues, particularly at home.

Those issues make it more difficult for families and businesses to succeed. Growth appears weaker in part because many factories and stores are under pressure due to weak domestic spending, even as sales abroad are strong. That means that while China sells a lot to other countries, people inside the country are not buying as much as previously.

Strong exports offset weak consumer activity at home

One of the biggest sources of strength for the Chinese economy in 2025 was exports. China set a record trade surplus of nearly $1.2 trillion last year. A trade surplus means the country sold more to other countries than it bought from them. 

This occurred even though Chinese exports to the United States fell by about 20% due to higher U.S. trade tariffs under President Donald Trump. But China made up for this by selling more to countries such as Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Latin America.

Exports have been key to helping China reach its 2025 growth target. But domestic spending did not grow much. Consumers didn’t buy as much in stores, and many businesses didn’t build new factories or houses.

Since people are not spending more, the prices of many goods and services in China have remained the same or even fallen, leading to deflation. When people anticipate that prices will fall later, they may postpone spending, which slows economic growth.

On top of that, investment has been weak. Some forecasts indicate that fixed-asset investment, one of the largest parts of economic activity, fell or grew only slightly in 2025. These weak trends make it clear that the economy is unbalanced – exports are strong, but consumption and investment at home are slow.

China faces a tougher road ahead

Given these patterns, strong exports and weak domestic spending, many experts believe China will have to adjust its economic growth strategy. Leaders in Beijing have stated they want individuals to consume more goods and services domestically and depend less on exports. They are also trying to figure out how to promote company jobs and give people more freedom to spend. 

One idea is to lower interest rates so it is easier for businesses and families to borrow from banks. This could encourage individuals to purchase homes, start businesses, and spend more. China’s central bank has begun cutting some rates to help core industries like technology and agriculture, and could further boost the economy. Yet there are still dangers ahead. Growth is likely to slow further in 2026 to about 4.5%, and experts say that if exports slow, China will have to rely on other policies – including government spending – to promote the economy. 

Slow domestic spending, coupled with persistent deflation, also means China will need to make significant efforts to turn its economy around and put it on an upward trajectory. As a result, Chinese families and workers may expect fewer new jobs than before and slower income growth unless consumer confidence improves. Stores, eateries, and small businesses may still suffer if people continue to save rather than spend. Meanwhile, strong exports will remain a key factor in keeping the economy going.

Sharpen your strategy with mentorship + daily ideas - 30 days free access to our trading program

Interactive Brokers, a large, global electronic brokerage firm widely cited for its strong drive to become the number one stablecoin trading firm, integrated a new 24/7 trading feature into its system, enabling users to expand their stablecoin holdings in their accounts whenever they need.

This announcement was made public on Thursday, January 15. At this time, the brokerage firm noted some advantages of using stablecoins in trading, asserting that stablecoins are a swift, affordable, and globally available option compared to other methods, such as wire transfers, which are perceived as regular funding methods. 

To further elaborate on its unique features, Interactive Brokers noted that stablecoins can extend trading hours, unlike traditional wire transfers.

Interactive Brokers embraces a major move aimed at increasing USDC adoption globally 

Following these assertions from the company, Milan Galik, CEO of Interactive Brokers, argued that, “Using stablecoin funding gives international investors the speed and flexibility they need in today’s markets. Clients can move funds and start trading within minutes while lowering transaction costs.”

Immediately after his remarks, sources close to the matter, who wished to remain anonymous due to the confidential nature of the situation, clarified that Zerohash, a B2B crypto infrastructure provider, is the primary factor behind this incorporation’s success. Before initiating this upgrade, Interactive Brokers encouraged its retail investors in December to deposit several USDC in their individual brokerage accounts.

Notably, for the stablecoin to be effectively included in the client’s brokerage account, users were advised to transfer the cryptocurrency from their personal crypto wallets to a Zerohash wallet on a major network such as Ethereum, Solana, or Base that has current backing, thereby positioning this wallet as the most secure. Upon receipt of USDC, the digital asset is automatically converted to US dollars and added to the brokerage account.

Considering the increased adoption of stablecoins worldwide and their reshaping of global finance, Edward Woodford, the Founder and CEO of Zerohash, mentioned that the crypto infrastructure platform will charge a conversion fee as low as 0.30% per deposit, bringing the minimum charge to $1.

Apart from this fee, reports highlighted that users will also be required to pay the usual blockchain transaction charges. At this moment, sources highlighted that Mastercard proposed purchasing Zerohash for up to $2 billion. Acquisition talks proceeded; however, the current status of this discussion remains unclear.

Interactive Brokers positions itself as a leader in the crypto industry 

Interactive Brokers’ move to integrate 24/7 trading with USDC stablecoin funding comes as the firm seeks to launch more trading alternatives linked to stablecoins, potentially as early as next week. These options include RLUSD, a fiat-backed stablecoin issued by Ripple, and  PYUSD, a stablecoin from PayPal, pegged 1:1 to the US dollar.

Following this funding, reports from reliable sources indicated that the brokerage company publicly announced its intention to introduce its own stablecoin last year.

Meanwhile, it is worth noting that Interactive Brokers, founded in 1977, is widely known for its low fees in the crypto industry.

It began operations in late 2021, offering crypto trading and custody services for four major assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash. This operation took place in partnership with Paxos, a regulated blockchain infrastructure company. 

The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them.

Atomic Wallet submitted an online report regarding a user’s lost funds over the platform. It stated that they cannot confirm claims that a user lost 633 Monero tokens. The wallet provider reported that no support ticket was filed with them and that the available evidence does not prove the issue. 

The dispute emerged after an X user, going by the name Nicolas van Saberhagen, claimed that his claimed his Monero balance dropped to zero in real time after opening the Atomic Wallet app. He highlighted that 633 XMR were sent to the same address across multiple transactions. However, the application displayed a banner stating that funds were safe during the event. Those tokens were worth around $479,000 at that time.

Atomic Wallet flags unusual activity

In an X post, Atomic wallet assured that it reviewed the allegation of a $479,000 loss but found no verifiable proof so far. It mentioned that more than 20 hours had passed since the claim surfaced. Till now, they haven’t received any direct contact from the user through official support channels.

The company noted that screenshots alone cannot confirm a loss, as Monero transactions are private by design. Meanwhile, the wallet provider claimed that the same account later announced a 30 XMR giveaway shortly after reporting the alleged fund loss. Such behavior looks unusual.

The report found that the account making the claim was recently created and showed irregular follower growth. The wallet company allegedly has received impersonation reports linked to similar activity.

The firm also said the account making the claim was recently created and showed irregular follower growth. Atomic Wallet said it has received impersonation reports linked to similar activity. They clarified that it operates as a noncustodial wallet and does not control user funds. Users hold their assets on-chain under their own private keys. The company is still willing to investigate the matter once the user contacts its support team directly.

User blames closed-source wallet

Complainant’s account alleged that his Monero balance dropped to zero in real time after opening the Atomic Wallet app. He added that the tokens held in the wallet were not his main holdings. The Monero network processed valid transactions without discrimination. He said the cryptography behind the protocol did not fail. Instead, he framed the issue as a failure of trusting closed-source software with private keys.

So this just happened.

Opened Atomic this morning, watched my XMR balance go to zero in real time. 633 XMR total, sent to the same address in multiple transactions. At current prices, that’s roughly $479,000.

The app showed a nice little banner: “Your funds are safe.”

To be… pic.twitter.com/MAPlBmF7Vl

— Nicolas van Saberhagen (@nicolas_monero) January 14, 2026

This comes in when Monero price has spiked over the week. XMR price surged by more than 50% in the last 7 days. However, it saw a fresh sell-off, dragging XMR price down by around 5% in the last 24 hours. It is trading at an average price of $682 at the press time.

Claim your free seat in an exclusive crypto trading community - limited to 1,000 members.

DeadLock, a ransomware group that first emerged in July 2025, has made news again, and this time it is for abusing Polygon blockchain smart contracts to manage and rotate proxy server addresses, according to research published by cybersecurity firm Group-IB. 

The ransomware operation uses blockchain-based smart contracts to store the group’s proxy server URL, allowing frequent rotation that makes it difficult for defenders to permanently block infrastructure.

After encrypting a victim’s systems, DeadLock drops an HTML file that acts as a wrapper for the decentralized messaging platform, Session.

How does the DeadLock ransomware work on Polygon?

Embedded JavaScript code within the file queries a specific Polygon smart contract to obtain the current proxy URL, which then relays encrypted messages between the victim and the attacker’s Session ID.

These read-only blockchain calls generate no transactions or fees, making them cost-free for the attackers to maintain.

Group-IB researchers noted that the exploit of smart contracts to deliver proxy addresses is an interesting method where attackers can apply infinite variants of this technique, with imagination being the only limit.

The technique is not well documented and under-reported but its usage is gradually gaining traction in the wild, according to security researchers.

Investigation by Cisco Talos revealed that DeadLock gains initial access by exploiting CVE-2024-51324, a Baidu Antivirus vulnerability, using a technique known as “bringing your own vulnerable driver” to terminate endpoint detection and response processes.

DeadLock comes up with new extortion tactics

DeadLock is different from most ransomware operations because it abandons the usual double extortion approach and does not have a data leak site where it could publicize attacks.

Instead, the group threatens to sell stolen data on underground markets while offering victims security reports and promises not to re-target them if ransom is paid.

Group-IB’s infrastructure tracking has not drawn any threads between DeadLock and any known ransomware affiliate programs. In fact, the group maintains a relatively low profile. However, they found smart contract copies that were first created and updated in August 2025 and later updated in November 2025.

Group-IB stated that it successfully “tracked its infrastructure through blockchain transactions, revealing funding patterns and active servers.”

Nation-state actors adopt similar techniques

Google Threat Intelligence Group observed North Korean threat actor UNC5342 using a related technique called EtherHiding to deliver malware and facilitate cryptocurrency theft since February 2025.

According to Google, “EtherHiding involves embedding malicious code, often in the form of JavaScript payloads, within a smart contract on a public blockchain like BNB Smart Chain or Ethereum.”

Polygon happens to be a layer-2 blockchain that’s built on Ethereum’s layer-1 infrastructure.

While DeadLock remains low volume and low impact, security researchers warn that it applies innovative methods showcasing a skill set that might become dangerous if organizations do not take the threat it poses seriously.

Apart from calling on businesses to be proactive in detecting malware, Group-IB recommended that they should add more layers of security, such as multifactor authentication and credential-based solutions.

The cybersecurity firm also stated that businesses should have a data backup, train their employees, patch up vulnerabilities, and, very importantly, “never pay the ransom” but contact incident response experts as quickly as possible if they ever get attacked.

If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter.

investors are again posing the question how to position themselves before the next big crypto bull cycle. One of the most popular questions is the following: how to make $1,000 grow big without collecting the overvalued coins at the top? According to analysts monitoring new crypto listings, the largest upside is frequently seen prior to the live protocols. 

At this very moment, more and more commentators are observing Mutuum Finance (MUTM), a presale altcoin that costs $0.04. Some analysts are also of the view that early positioning will be reaped as a big multiplier in 2027 in case the project achieves what its roadmap promises.

Mutuum Finance (MUTM)

Mutuum Finance (MUTM) presale was opened in early 2025 at $0.01. The current stage of pricing has reached up to $0.04 due to the demand. When launching, it is projected to be at $0.06 that would provide an immediate discount to early buyers at the time of launch. 

The presale has brought in over $19.8M raised and has over 18,800 holders participating. Approximately, 830M tokens are already sold. The 4B total supply is approximately divided into the presale amounting to 1.82B tokens and 45.5% of the total supply.

Mutuum Finance is developing a decentralized lending algorithm. After V1 is operational, users can then lend and borrow money via pooled contracts rather than one to one matching. Borrowers will make collateral and suppliers will gain interest. This two sided market structure distinguishes Mutuum Finance among meme driven tokens since the value of tokens is pegged to the utilization and income earned and not to sentiment alone.

First Price Prediction

The official X post states that V1 protocol is ready to be deployed on the Sepolia testnet prior to the mainnet coming online. This is one of the milestones since lending protocols require test environments to authenticate collateral, liquidations and oracle pricing. When V1 is activated, the system is likely to start collecting fees on lending and borrowing..

Some analysts are projecting MUTM trading at a range of $0.18 to $0.25 in the first large scale expansion after the mainnet launch in a bullish situation. That would be approximately 4x to 6x of presale prices in case listing and usage of the exchange coincide. These estimations are pegged on the comparisons to previous DeFi crypto launches in the initial stages of liquidity.

Growth Features

When V1 is accessible, the suppliers will be given mtTokens, which are proportions of the liquidity pool and the interest rate. This will provide lenders with a clear picture when they give collateral to the protocol. There will be revenue in terms of borrow interest and fees. 

Part of that revenue will be utilized in the purchase of MUTM in the open market. MUTM bought in the open market is redistributed to the users who stake the mtTokens in the safety module. This is an important characteristic that analysts attribute to the fact that the use of protocols is connected to token demand.

In the event that V1 is adopted and buybacks are turned on, analysts have produced a second long term projection. In the given case, bullish research notes have referenced MUTM trading in the range of $ 0.60 to $0.80 in the year 2027. 

That would be about 15x to 20x above present pre sale pricing. This is in line with the opinion of investors who pose the question of whether spending $1,000 today may turn out to be $20,000 in the next crypto cycle in case the liquidity and usage increase.

Phase 7 Acceleration and Whale Entries

Phase 7 has been selling faster than previous phases due to pricing being on its way to narrowing down to launch value. Another confidence signal that has been being used by Whales during the recent period is the act of allocating. 

Whales will enter in case they observe an empty road to liquidity and prospective listings. In the case of coming up with tokens, it is usually a transition point between informal participation in the presale and more serious capital formation.

As presale demand continues to surge, audits are done, V1 is approaching testnet and analysts are giving positive price expectations, Mutuum Finance is making watchlists in traders looking to find the best crypto to buy to become a long-term performer. In case the road map plays out, and revenue switches on the $0.04 pricing presale can become an early entry point and not a peak.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://www.mutuum.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

State Street Corporation, a major global custody bank and financial services provider, has announced the launch of its new Digital Asset Platform. The endeavor is an attempt by the custody bank to grow in the asset class, which is increasingly becoming more popular. 

The new digital asset platform is being positioned as a secure, scalable infrastructure designed specifically for tokenized assets, which would make the firm a key bridge between tradfi and digital finance. 

It will focus on the development and support of various tokenized products, including ETFs, MMFs, and regulated stablecoins, according to what the  Boston-based company shared in an email to Bloomberg.

State Street launches digital asset platform 

The bank will collaborate with money managers and institutional clients, tapping into a deep network that currently runs into trillions in funds. That collaboration will also extend to its own asset-management arm, which has been launching separate products. 

Joerg Ambrosius, president of investment services, claims the platform’s launch is a step towards achieving State Street’s goals, which is to take things further where administration and accounting services are concerned. 

The firm already manages over $50 trillion for many of the world’s largest asset managers and institutions, while providing administration and accounting services for clients holding cryptocurrencies and crypto ETFs. 

The launch of its own digital asset platform means that it will no longer provide just back-office support, but also features like wallet management, custodial services, cash capability, and strong compliance controls. 

The main goal is to allow its institutional clients to access these products seamlessly across jurisdictions, not only on public permissioned channels but also on private blockchain networks. 

All of this was made possible by the POTUS’s support of the cryptocurrency industry as well as a more friendly outlook from regulators, which encouraged financial firms to expand in the asset class that the global finance world had relegated to speculative and risky. 

Tokenized fund launch with Galaxy Digital 

Last month, State Street Investment Management, an arm of the State Street Corporation, and Galaxy Asset Management, an affiliate of Michael Novogratz’s Galaxy Digital, unveiled plans to launch the State Street Galaxy Onchain Liquidity Sweep Fund (SWEEP), a tokenized private liquidity fund that is expected to serve as a bridge between traditional cash management and 24/7 liquidity. 

Aside from providing institutional investors with seamless, always-on liquidity for holding and managing cash-like assets in the digital space, the fund is designed to address the budding demand from crypto enthusiasts for instant redemptions as an alternative to traditional funds, which are limited to operating only during business hours. 

The redemptions will reportedly utilize PYUSD, which facilitates near-instant, on-chain processing. The endeavor is powered by Galaxy’s Digital Infrastructure, which will manage token issuance and provide secure blockchain infrastructure with State Street Bank and Trust Company acting as custodian for the fund’s treasury holdings. 

The fund is expected to make its debut in early 2026, with Solana chosen for the initial rollout because of its low cost and high throughput. It will expand to Stellar and Ethereum using  Chainlink for cross-chain interoperability. 

Ondo Finance is expected to provide a seed investment of $200 million to jump-start liquidity while encouraging an integration with Ondo’s ecosystem.

Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free.

The next wave of crypto investors is seeking the next cryptocurrency that will make it to the next rotation of the bull cycle. It is widely thought that the next best crypto to purchase will not be a product of the major alt coins but rather an altcoin that has the potential to capture a market share due to its usefulness. 

Analysts have begun to target the altcoin Mutuum Finance (MUTM) which is currently under $1 and which some analysts think may eventually be on the path to the top 20 cryptocurrencies by the year 2027 in case its roadmap is followed to the letter. The initial indication of this is the early movement of those who are tracking crypto prices today indicating that MUTM has multiple catalysts that are in the pipeline at the same time, some traders are positioning early.

Presale Structure and Metrics of Participation

In early 2025, Mutuum Finance began its presale at a price of $0.01. With the growing interest, the pricing progressed in different stages till it was at the level of $0.04 in the most recent phase. The MUTM launch is priced at $0.06 upon release and this puts the first movers in a good position in case the market justifies the price.

Mutuum Finance (MUTM) has raised more than $19.8M in pre-sale and over 18,800 holders, and sold tokens to the tune of 830M MUTM. As several analysts have observed, such numbers are favourable to a new altcoin that is currently under $1, when compared to most presale projects that became the greatest crypto investments once they became available on centralised exchanges.

What Mutuum Finance is Developing

Mutuum Finance is building a dual lending platform that will enable users to borrow and lend digital assets within a decentralized setting. After activation, asset supplying users will get the mtTokens which reflect the share of the liquidity pool. The interest earned and the position taken by the user will be tracked by the mtTokens. Borrowers will pledge collateral and pay interest after the platform is operational and this will generate fee flow into the system.

It is the revenue model that has attracted the attention of the crypto investing analysts. Some of the protocol revenue will be bought on the open market to purchase MUTM. Open market purchases of MUTM are reissued to users who use it by staking mtTokens in the safety module. Such construction establishes a connection between the use of protocol and the value of tokens that meme coins such as DOGE or SHIB do not provide.

Preparation of security has been done in advance. Mutuum Finance was also audited by Halborn and received a 90 out of 100 score on CertiK token scan. Such initial verifications assist in the development of trust prior to mainnet deployment, which is crucial to any new cheap crypto that involves collateral and liquidations.

Growth Catalysts

Stablecoins will be one of the central commodities on the platform since they will enable borrowers to take predictable credit without the concern of fluctuating repayment curves. Analysts claim that projects where users can stable lend tend to be popular in bull markets when traders use leveraged trades on crypto prices.

Chainlink will supply Oracle feeds, which will have fallback sources to achieve fair pricing. Correct oracles are essential in the lending markets as they influence the collateral values and liquidation. Lending protocols may not work in high volatility without powerful oracles.

Market analysts following what to invest in crypto have made optimistic predictions about MUTM in case the model is scaled well. In a bullish view, there are analysts who feel that Mutuum Finance would rise 400% to 700% above its predicted launch price as soon as it can be utilized and the fee flow generates buybacks. 

Such an increase would still bring MUTM way below the $1 level where valuations can be done over the long term. Bigger projections are more aggressive as it is projected to move into the top 20 market cap by 2027 in case of increased revenue and faster exchange listing.

V1 Protocol Launch & Why It Matters

As per official X announcement, V1 will be deployed to the Sepolia testnet before going to mainnet. This is an important stage that will move Mutuum Finance to working protocol. As noted by many investors, token revaluations that occur in DeFi tend to start when products have started operational, and not when they are in presale phases.

The increases involving whale allocations have been observed in past presale phases that some analysts perceive to be a confidence signal. Whales are likely to venture into projects in which they anticipate the formation of liquidity and long term price discovery can be realized. To investors who are required to know which crypto to purchase today to be exposed to the long-term, utility, and good token economics tend to be more important than short-term hype.

This presale data, revenue connection, protocol structure and future V1 introduction has placed Mutuum Finance as a low-price crypto to follow in the new cycle. Provided the adoption process goes on schedule, the analysts believe that its value under $1 will have a much different appearance by 2027.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://www.mutuum.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

Platforms like Avalanche are making strategic moves, such as its focus on real-world payments and rewards, and reaching a 5 million token burn milestone. As AVAX trades around $14.72, it highlights a market that values tangible utility. While this is great for the industry, it also means the days of explosive growth for early projects are becoming rare. This is why forward-thinking investors are turning to GeeFi, a high-utility decentralized wallet ecosystem that has already raised over $2.6 million in its presale and offers a ground-floor entry point.

GeeFi is building a comprehensive financial application centered on security, user experience, and real-world value. With its presale now entering the final stage of Phase 3, it presents an investment opportunity that is both timely and powerful.

A Secure and Private Decentralized Wallet

In an environment where asset security is paramount, GeeFi delivers a robust solution. The team has rolled out a major update to its decentralized wallet, integrating enhanced encryption and superior privacy features. This design gives users absolute control and sovereignty over their funds, eliminating the risks associated with centralized platforms. By building a secure and trusted environment, GeeFi is becoming the go-to platform for managing crypto assets with peace of mind.

Final Opportunity: Phase 3 Presale Is 90% Sold

The chance to invest in GeeFi at its current presale price is quickly disappearing. The presale is structured in multiple phases, with the token price increasing at each new stage. Phase 3 has already seen 90% of its token allocation sold, signaling immense investor confidence and placing it in its final stage. Those who act now can secure their tokens at the lowest possible price before the next inevitable increase, maximizing their potential returns.

A Clear Roadmap to Impressive Returns

GeeFi’s investment case is defined by powerful and transparent numbers. During this presale phase, the $GEE token is priced at just $0.10. However, the confirmed listing price for its public debut is $0.40, which locks in a 300% gain, a 4x return, for early backers from day one.

The long-term outlook is even more compelling. Analysts are projecting the $GEE token’s value will climb to $3.00 and beyond as the full ecosystem launches. An investment of just $1,000 today would acquire 10,000 $GEE tokens. At the projected $3.00 price point, that initial investment would grow to $30,000, showcasing the project’s significant wealth-building potential.

Boosting Gains with Community Rewards

GeeFi’s ecosystem is built to reward its community. The team recently announced on X an upcoming bonus program designed specifically to provide extra value for early investors. This initiative adds another layer of financial incentive on top of the already impressive ROI.

Furthermore, the platform offers powerful ways to generate passive income. A staking feature allows token holders to lock their $GEE and earn a steady yield. The platform also includes a lucrative 5% referral system, rewarding users directly for bringing new members into the growing GeeFi community. These features encourage long-term holding and active participation.

More Than a Wallet: A Complete Financial Hub

GeeFi’s ambition goes far beyond simple asset storage. The funds raised are being used to fast-track the development of a native Decentralized Exchange (DEX) and GeeFi-branded Crypto Cards. The DEX will enable seamless token swaps directly within the app, while the Crypto Cards will allow users to spend their digital assets on everyday purchases. This transforms GeeFi into a comprehensive financial tool, bridging the gap between crypto and real-world commerce.

Conclusion

While market leaders like Avalanche continue to build, the most exciting growth stories often come from innovative projects like GeeFi. With its unwavering focus on security, a rapidly selling-out presale, and a clear roadmap, GeeFi is a standout investment. The current $0.10 price is an entry point that will not last much longer.

Learn More

Website – geefi.io

Buy $GEE Token – hub.geefi.io/buy

Whitepaper – docs.geefi.io

Telegram Chat – @geefichat

Twitter/X – @GeeFiOfficial

Discord – discord.com/invite/geefi

Download App – geefi.io/download

CoinMarketCap – coinmarketcap.com/currencies/geefi/

Brian Armstrong showed up at the Capitol on Thursday to stop what he saw as a direct hit on Coinbase’s business. His goal was clear: keep the company’s stablecoin rewards alive.

Brian walked the halls himself, not sending anyone else, because a Senate committee was about to vote on a bill that could block the company from paying users rewards for holding stablecoins.

A day earlier, Brian had posted online slamming the bill. Within hours, Senate Banking Chair Tim Scott pulled it from the agenda. That single post stalled a bill that had been in the works for years.

Speaking to reporters, the Coinbase CEO said the company had several issues with the bill, but said “maybe the biggest” one was how bank lobbyists were trying to slip in rules that would shut down reward programs and make crypto platforms less competitive with banks.

Bankers pressure senators as Trump’s crypto law boosts stablecoin growth

Brian said it made no sense to keep pushing the bill forward when amendments were being considered that would kill reward payouts completely. He said he wanted lawmakers to go back and write something more balanced.

Stablecoins, which are tied to the dollar, have become a major business for companies like Coinbase. They’ve grown fast, especially after the GENIUS Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump last year, started rolling out. These rewards are profitable, and people like them. But banks don’t.

Bankers and their lobbyists have been hammering senators from both parties, asking them to ban rewards that look like interest. Their fear is simple: customers will yank their money out of banks that pay close to zero and move it into stablecoins that actually give returns.

If that happens, banks lose deposits. That hits their ability to give loans, especially to small businesses using local lenders.

One draft of the bill tried to compromise by banning yield but allowing other kinds of rewards, like ones tied to spending. But some senators weren’t having it. They were ready to vote on a full ban of all stablecoin rewards, not just yield. Brian didn’t want to sit back and watch.

The crypto industry was the biggest corporate donor in the 2023-2024 election cycle. Coinbase gave $1 million to Trump’s inauguration and is helping fund his White House ballroom project.

The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them.

Crypto stocks are getting crushed today. The biggest drops are coming from Circle, Robinhood, Coinbase, and Strategy. Circle is down 9.67%. Robinhood dropped 7.78%. Coinbase sank 6.49%. Strategy lost 4.68%.

The panic started after a total collapse in Washington. There was a major crypto bill scheduled for a Senate vote. That was supposed to happen on Thursday. It would’ve been a big deal for the entire market. But late Wednesday night, Coinbase CEO Brian said:-

“Coinbase unfortunately can’t support the bill as written. This version would be materially worse than the current status quo. We’d rather have no bill than a bad bill.”

Hours later, the Senate Banking Committee pulled the whole thing.

Congress delay of crypto market structure legislation hits related stocks

Circle, which had made something of a history on Wall Street last year, dropped to $76.60 with $1.2 billion traded. Coinbase fell to $239.26 on $83.4 million volume. Robinhood crashed to $110.36. Strategy dropped to $170.93. Between them, more than $20 billion vanished.

The rest of the crypto sector went down too. Exodus dropped the most at 11.09%. Bitmine lost 5.48%. CleanSpark was down 4.42%. Riot Platforms fell 4.33%. MARA, Bitfarms, Bullish, and Canaan all took hits between 3% and 6%. PayPal, Block, SharpLink, Metaplanet, Hut 8, Neptune, and GREE all fell too. Nothing held up.

Even Exodus, with just $44K in daily trades, got caught in the selloff. Meliuz dropped 6.03%. American Bitcoin Corp fell 4.26%. Gemini, Bit Digital, and Semler Scientific also went red. CIFR, PRE, BOYAF, MARA, and MTPLF all turned negative.

Earlier this week, Bitcoin jumped from $90,000 to a two-month high, just as there were rumors about the U.S. getting involved in Iran. Over $1.7 billion poured into bitcoin ETFs in just three days, the longest inflow streak in months.

But now, that’s done too. Signs came out that the U.S. wasn’t going to touch Iran. That killed the rally. Traders pulled out. Stocks fell. No real buyers showed up. The ones who got in earlier this week are now running for the exit.

Some stocks held up. Galaxy Digital popped 13.46%, trading over $849 million. Bitdeer rose 3.39%. Nexon and Net Holding also went green. But those are the few exceptions. Most crypto names are getting crushed today.

The Dow somehow closed higher, up 292 points to 49,442. S&P 500 ended at 6,944, and the Nasdaq finished at 23,530. But none of that helped crypto stocks. They’re in their own world today, and that world is bleeding.

The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them.

The United States and Taiwan have signed a new trade deal to bring chip manufacturing directly onto American soil, the Commerce Department said on Thursday.

As part of the agreement, Taiwanese chip and tech companies will invest at least $250 billion into U.S. production.

On top of that, Taiwan’s government will guarantee another $250 billion in credit to back those companies.

In return, the U.S. will cut reciprocal tariffs on Taiwan from 20% to 15%. Tariffs will drop to zero for generic drugs, their ingredients, aircraft parts, and a few natural materials.

These changes are meant to push Taiwan-based firms to start building and expanding inside the U.S. instead of just exporting from Asia.

TSMC buys land for new expansion in Arizona

Taiwan Semiconductor (TSMC) is already ahead. The company bought more land next to its existing site in Arizona, according to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

“They just bought hundreds of acres adjacent to their property,” Howard said. “I’ll let them go through with their board and give them time.”

That land could soon turn into more chip factories, adding to what TSMC has already built in the state. The company has already spent up to $40 billion in Arizona to produce chips for Apple, Nvidia, and others, using grants under the CHIPS Act.

New factories being built by Taiwan companies in the U.S. will also get special treatment under Section 232 tariff rules. While under construction, they’ll be allowed to import 2.5 times their planned capacity without paying tariffs.

Once the sites go live, they’ll still be allowed to bring in 1.5 times their U.S. output without facing import taxes.

Section 232 exceptions will also apply to Taiwanese auto parts, wood products, and other related goods, keeping them under the 15% tariff limit.

This is all part of a broader plan to create long-term certainty for companies, especially those dealing with the back-and-forth policy swings from the Trump administration over the past year.

U.S. threatens 100% tariff for non-participating Taiwan firms

Howard made it clear that Taiwanese companies that refuse to build in the U.S. are not going to get off easy.

“That’s what they get if they don’t build in America, the tariff’s likely to be 100%,” he said. The government wants 40% of Taiwan’s chip supply chain moved to the U.S. as fast as possible.

The deal doesn’t stop TSMC or others from making chips in Taiwan for American companies. But if they choose to stay put and not expand here, they’ll face tough import costs. This is Washington’s way of using tariffs as a stick while holding out a very big carrot.

The pressure also comes with growing fear in D.C. about a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan.U.S. officials have warned that any cut-off from TSMC would leave the American economy exposed.

The race to secure access to AI chips has made this even more urgent. “We’re going to bring it all over so we become self-sufficient in the capacity of building semiconductors,” Howard said.

Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free.

Russia’s monetary authority intends to oblige commercial banks to provide detailed reports on their customers’ transactions related to cryptocurrency.

The policy is part of new reporting requirements that concern all cross-border transfers made by Russians and comes ahead of the full regulation of the crypto market planned for this year.

Bank of Russia wants to know more about citizens’ crypto activities

The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) is preparing amendments to the reporting rules for financial institutions regarding money transfers initiated by private individuals.

The upcoming requirements will also apply to banking operations related to cryptocurrency, local media revealed this week, quoting a draft regulation released by the authority.

It will compel banks to share comprehensive information about almost all international monetary transactions conducted by Russian citizens, the crypto news outlet Bits.media wrote on Thursday.

The items listed in the document include the status of both the sender and the receiver – it should be clear whether they are residents of the Russian Federation or another jurisdiction.

The exact method used to transfer the funds, the intermediary employed to process the transaction, as well as the fees charged, must be known.

The transaction’s type and source, which may include cash, a bank account, credit or debit card, and other electronic means, shall be stated, too.

Furthermore, purchases and sales of cryptocurrency will have to be reported separately, the Interfax news agency noted in its report on the changes.

A dedicated column will also be devoted to data on deals involving digital rights or tokenized real assets like securities and precious metals, as defined in the Russian law “On Digital Financial Assets” (DFAs), and similar instruments such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Besides investments and transfers of digital currencies and assets, purchases of video games and payments for computer, insurance, and communication services, among others, will also be recorded and reported in more detail.

Reporting standards update spurred by new economic phenomena

The Bank of Russia explains the reform in its reporting rules with the need to reflect new economic phenomena in the nation’s balance of payments, international investment position, and external debt.

Transactions and proceeds related to cryptocurrency mining, which was recognized as a legitimate industrial activity and regulated in late 2024, provide one such example.

In December 2025, a member of the Kremlin administration noted that income generated in the sector is already significant enough to consider it a “hidden export,” influencing the country’s currency market.

The high-ranking aide to President Putin suggested adding it to the balance of payments. The head of the Russian central bank later admitted the industry is actually making the ruble stronger.

The authorities in Moscow now want to properly regulate other crypto-related activities as well, like crypto investment and trading.

In late December, the CBR published the highlights of its new regulatory concept for the market, as reported by Cryptopolitan.

The plan is to grant digital currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum the status of “monetary assets” and expand investor access to include ordinary Russians.

Ahead of the adoption of the already drafted legislation, which is expected by the summer, the central bank also intends to conduct a thorough analysis of the financial market to identify crypto-linked transactions.

The probe will cover several banks, which will be asked to provide information on their investments in digital assets and lending to crypto companies.

The main goal of the study is to determine the extent to which Russia’s regulated institutions are exposed to cryptocurrencies. The monetary policy regulator announced in October that it will allow commercial banks to work with crypto assets.

Join a premium crypto trading community free for 30 days - normally $100/mo.

In just the last 30 days, retail traders have shoved over $920 million into silver-linked ETFs. That’s the biggest ever. The two big names getting all the action are iShares Silver Trust (SLV) and ProShares Ultra Silver (AGQ).

Every single day, more retail cash piles in. SLV has now had 169 straight sessions of inflows.

Ashwin Bhakre from VandaTrack, the firm tracking all this madness, called it “unprecedented.”On Wednesday, SLV recorded its second-highest day of net buying ever.

Trump backs off tariffs as silver hits all-time high

Silver surged by over 20% in four days, hitting another record high of $94 on Wednesday before crashing 7.3% on Thursday as some people took profits.

The rally came while everyone waited on President Donald Trump to decide whether to hit critical minerals like silver and platinum with new tariffs. Instead, Trump said no to sweeping tariffs. He’s going for one-on-one talks with countries and might push price floors instead. That announcement came after months of security reviews over mineral imports.

Just the fear of tariffs had already locked up supply. Warehouses in the U.S. have been holding more silver, waiting. That started a massive short squeeze last year, and it’s still messing with supply in 2026.

Last year, silver crushed gold, jumping nearly 150%. People moved out of gold when it got too pricey and looked at silver instead. At the same time, demand from the solar industry helped push prices even higher. And then traders in China went wild and added more fuel to the fire.

Ashwin said silver has more momentum now than gold and crypto combined. He also pointed out that inflows this year are already more than twice the three-month average. “This isn’t just a meme-stock spike. We are witnessing a structural accumulation.”

Christopher Wong from Oversea-Chinese Banking Group said the outlook is still strong in the medium term. He pointed to tight supply, steady industrial demand, and people still buying gold. But he did throw in a warning. “The velocity of recent moves warrants some near-term caution.”

This week, it wasn’t just silver. A wave of money hit commodities across the board. Tin, copper, and gold all hit record levels. The Trump administration, ramping up pressure on the Federal Reserve, played a part. So did chaos overseas. The U.S. grabbed Venezuela’s leader, talked about seizing Greenland again, and things are heating up around Iran. All that chaos? It’s only pushing more people toward silver.

Get seen where it counts. Advertise in Cryptopolitan Research and reach crypto’s sharpest investors and builders.

Austan Goolsbee, president of the Chicago Fed, said on Thursday that trying to weaken the Fed’s independence would bring inflation roaring back.

“Anything that’s infringing or attacking the independence of the central bank is a mess,” Goolsbee said. “You’re going to get inflation come roaring back if you try to take away the independence of the central bank.”

Goolsbee’s warning, of course, came right after Jerome Powell, the Fed chair, confirmed that the Justice Department had served him a subpoena in what he calls an illegal case involving the massive renovation of the Fed’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The Chicago Fed president backed Powell’s recent statement that this whole thing could be a pretext for Donald Trump to influence rate policy.

Trump pushes Powell while legal heat builds

“I agree with it, with his argument that if you’re investigating as a pretext because you disagree with the rate decisions, that’s a mess,” Goolsbee said. “We should not be in that place.”

Trump’s pressure on Powell hasn’t let up. He’s slammed him with insults and called for much lower rates. He even gave Powell a nickname: “Too Late.”

All this while the Fed has already cut its main interest rate three times since September 2025. But that hasn’t been enough for Trump. He wants more. And now he’s going after Powell with the full weight of the federal government.

Powell’s time as chair ends in May, but he can stick around as a Fed governor until 2028 if he wants. Still, the attacks aren’t just about him. Goolsbee said this kind of thing isn’t normal in serious economies.

“I know that there have been countries that had criminal investigations of their central banks,” he said. “But those countries are Zimbabwe and Russia and Turkey and a bunch of places that you would not characterize as advanced economies.”

He’s not wrong. Once a central bank loses its independence, credibility goes with it. And once that’s gone, inflation usually follows.

Goolsbee has been around politics. Before joining the Chicago Fed in December 2022, he worked with Barack Obama and advised Joe Biden during his 2020 campaign. But on Thursday, he said none of that matters anymore. “Once you’ve become a sworn member of the Federal Reserve, you’re out of the elections business.”

He also didn’t hold back on praising Powell’s past work, calling him a “first-ballot Hall of Famer” for cutting down inflation without pushing the country into a recession.

Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free.

Recently the crypto chart of Pepecoin (PEPE) has indicated a sudden drop of approximately 16 percent and some investors are now seeking other more advantageous risk-reward curves. As the crypto prices decline, traders tend to divert capital to projects with more defined utility or more fundamentals. 

That change is currently becoming reflected in interest in Mutuum Finance (MUTM), a new cheap cryptocurrency with protocol launch catalysts. Market pundits are wondering whether this is a change in terms of what crypto to buy now.

Pepecoin (PEPE)

One of the higher-ranking meme tokens in the crypto world is pepecoin (PEPE). It is trading at around $0.000006 and it has a market cap of about $2.5B. PEPE has emerged due to community interest and viral attention like many other meme coins. These can rest on the prices without much hesitation but they may not be a good long term price support.

Considering the crypto charts, PEPE has resistance at major levels. A zone traders resistance is observed to be in the range, around $0.000008 and this is where the previous rallies have leveled and profit squeegee has been used. 

The stronger resistance band seems to have been nearer to $0.000010 as this is the nearest mark to both the psychological and technical barrier. When PEPE ruptures on these levels with volume, the sentiment may be enhanced. However, with no obvious drivers of growth, it may be difficult to emerge out of these zones.

Mutuum Finance (MUTM)

Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is an upcoming cheap crypto pegged to a decentralized lending protocol which is anticipated to launch its V1 protocol on the Sepolia testnet in early 2026. The system is developed to enable the lending and borrowing of assets by pooled contracts as opposed to matching individually. When the protocol is operational, suppliers will get mtTokens which will reflect their percentage of a pool and their interest in this pool.

The presale of MUTM started with an opening price of $0.01 in early 2025 and has risen in stages until it reaches $0.04 which is approximately 300% higher than its initial stages. It is estimated that at the time of launch, prices will be $0.06, and therefore early presale holders will be at a 500% upside opportunity at the time of launch, provided the markets and adoption work. Mutuum Finance has collected a total of $19.8M to date, and over 18,800 of the holders have been sold and 830M of the tokens have sold.

PEPE vs MUTM Price Predictions

The market commentators tracking meme coins will tend to warn that PEPE has a finite ceiling because of its design. In the absence of a roadmap that is connected with actual utilization, analysts believe PEPE could continue to trade within sideways movements or within the regions that are already known to have resistance without any real breakouts. 

There are predictions that even in a robust bull cycle, PEPE may not break out of the $0.000010 level without another outburst of viral hype or a massive burn of a large number of tokens. Such a move is but a short-term payoff to risk when it comes to the investors posing questions on what they can buy as long-term returns on crypto.

In contrast, the price prospectus of Mutuum Finance indicates the design of its protocol. Since the token will be pegged to a lending market which is likely to be launched, analysts expect the crypto to perform better than most of the meme coins once it starts being used. In a bullish case, certain predictions indicate that MUTM could be trading more than $0.20 in 12-18 months after launch in case the revenue begins to flow and exchanges list the token. 

Whale Allocations and Security

One reason that Mutuum Finance appears in some lists of cheap crypto to buy now is because of its security and community incentives. The protocol passed an independent audit by Halborn and received 90/100 in a CertiK scan of the token. It also has a code bug bounty program with a reward of $50,000 to find code vulnerabilities before release of the mainnet.

There is increased investor activity. Whale allocations have been rising in the presale stages, a fact that some market commentators view as confidence. Another feature of the project is a 24 hour leaderboard where the best contributor is rewarded with $500 of MUTM which could be used as a form of gamification and therefore increase participation.

With the volatile crypto prices and the changing stories, a comparison of the developed meme coins such as PEPE to the ones currently being developed in protocols will show the line of thought of the investors. 

Traders seeking crypto to purchase at the moment can put emphasis on not just the charts and resistance zones but also fundamentals and protocol execution. The presale and future V1 launch of Mutuum Finance may have a varying risk-reward curve in comparison to a token using community sentiment as a primary driver.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://www.mutuum.com

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

The crypto market is active in early 2026, Ethereum continues to break records in wallet growth and price resistance, yet many investors are looking ahead to the next wave of innovation. Among the rising projects, GeeFi stands out for its decentralized wallet that prioritizes privacy, security, and a user-friendly experience. The most recent update to the GeeFi app brings $GEE token presale integration, and paves the way for a decentralized exchange (DEX) and crypto-to-fiat card features, signaling a thoughtful push toward an all-in-one digital asset platform.

GeeFi’s approach is less about following hype and more about delivering meaningful improvements to the digital asset management landscape. With a focus on real user needs and steady platform development, GeeFi is positioning itself as a strong candidate for future growth.

A Wallet Designed with the User in Mind

GeeFi’s decentralized wallet addresses a core challenge in crypto: making asset management simple and secure. Whether you’re new to digital currencies or experienced with DeFi, the current GeeFi interface is designed for accessibility. Enhanced encryption and privacy protocols ensure users maintain full control over both their funds and personal information.

The latest app update is already live, reflecting the team’s ongoing commitment to privacy, security, and transparency. These features are essential in today’s environment, where users want effective solutions without sacrificing security standards.

Presale Progress: What to Know

The $GEE token presale has made considerable progress, with Phase 3 now well underway. Over 90% of tokens for this phase have been sold, equating to less than 3 million tokens remaining and more than $2.6 million raised so far. While demand has been strong, there is still an opportunity for interested investors to participate before the price adjusts in the next round. The presale structure offers early participants a fixed price of $0.10 per token, ahead of the scheduled listing price of $0.40.

It’s important to remember that while early access can present advantages, GeeFi’s core value remains rooted in the usability and security of its platform, not just short-term scarcity or trends.

Understanding the Investment Potential

GeeFi’s vision extends beyond the current presale. As the ecosystem grows with the introduction of a DEX and the Crypto Card, the token’s utility and demand are expected to increase. Market analysts have suggested the potential for $GEE to reach $3.00 in the future, enhanced by the platform’s expanding features and user base.

For those considering an investment, a $1,000 purchase at the current price would secure 10,000 tokens. As GeeFi hits these projected milestones, the growth potential is undeniable, driven by the platform’s consistent development and the rapidly accelerating adoption of its ecosystem.

Added Value: Bonus Programs and Community Engagement

GeeFi values its early supporters by offering an upcoming bonus program for initial investors. Alongside this, staking options enable token holders to earn additional returns over time, and a 5% referral system encourages community growth and rewards those who help expand the network.

These programs reflect GeeFi’s broader mission of building an active, invested community around its platform, supporting organic network effects as adoption continues.

Looking Ahead

GeeFi’s development signals more than a passing trend, it represents a dedicated effort to create a secure and accessible decentralized wallet. By combining user-friendly design with high security and privacy standards, the project is set to resonate with a broad range of crypto users.

As Ethereum highlights the increasing market appetite for decentralized solutions, GeeFi offers an intriguing option for those seeking both innovation and practicality. The current presale stage presents a chance to be an early supporter, but the long-term value rests on the platform’s commitment to quality and user empowerment.

Learn More

Website – geefi.io

Buy $GEE Token – hub.geefi.io/buy

Whitepaper – docs.geefi.io

Telegram Chat – @geefichat

Twitter/X – @GeeFiOfficial

Discord – discord.com/invite/geefi

Download App – geefi.io/download

CoinMarketCap – coinmarketcap.com/currencies/geefi/

Crypto cards solidified their position as a payment tool in 2025. Over the past two years, some of the most popular cards have achieved monthly volumes of $1.5B. 

Crypto card usage has picked up since 2023, expanding from $100M in monthly payments to over $1.5B. Crypto cards were attempted multiple times, with projects facing difficulties due to unclear regulations. On average, annual growth reached 106%, driven by both adoption and an improved tech stack.

Crypto cards use the infrastructure of VISA and Mastercard, while facilitating crypto payments. Usage picked up as stablecoins became the main payment infrastructure. While initial crypto cards could spend other tokens, stablecoins were the perfect fit for predictable payments. 

Payments in 2025 reached $18B, almost even with the $19B in payments from P2P stablecoin usage, based on Artemis data. 

VISA carries more than 90% of crypto cards 

Cards now rely on a stabilized stack, using the established VISA and Mastercard networks. The next layer includes card program managers, who have become more reliable and less likely to cancel cards. The consumer-facing elements are the apps and products that tie the card to crypto wallets. 

VISA, through early legacy partnerships, took over 90% of the on-chain card volume. The card issuer established links with the earliest infrastructure providers. VISA uses program managers that handle the banking side of settlement and the swap between crypto assets and fiat. Additionally, cards expanded through companies like Rain and Reap, which offer full-stack services, including card issuance. 

Mastercard expands its crypto cards through direct partnerships with exchanges. Issuers include Revolut, Bybit, and Gemini. Mastercard’s volumes reflect the size of the exchange user bases, resulting in a smaller volume.

Crypto cards often circumvent bank dependencies and offer cheaper transactions. Full-stack issuers are also capturing the trend of fintech apps with a blockchain component. 

Crypto cards capture emerging markets, stablecoin whales

Crypto cards are used as a way to offset inflation or find a more convenient payment tool. As a result, crypto cards found wide adoption in India and Argentina, especially for spending USDC. 

For developed markets, crypto cards solve the problem for large-scale stablecoin owners. Cards allow more convenient spending without the need to swap or move funds. 

Crypto cards also boost the adoption of stablecoins for merchants. A card remains the best-known interface, while stablecoin apps face slower adoption. Cards already offer the acceptance, while VISA and the fintech apps handle the payment process seamlessly.

Crypto card payments still settle through fiat, but require no special merchant integration. The conversion of stablecoins to fiat happens before settlement, making the transaction similar to any other VISA or Mastercard transfer.

Partner banks usually settle the fiat side of the payment, and include Lead Bank and Cross River Bank. Apps like Rain handle the stablecoin liquidation or the selling of crypto assets. 

Join a premium crypto trading community free for 30 days - normally $100/mo.

Swift has announced the successful completion of a major digital asset interoperability pilot in collaboration with BNP Paribas Securities Services, Intesa Sanpaolo, and the blockchain arm of Société Générale, FORGE. 

The landmark trial demonstrates how tokenized bonds can be seamlessly issued, exchanged, settled, and serviced across both traditional financial systems and blockchain platforms, all while facilitating payments in fiat currency and digital currencies, including stablecoins. 

Swift goes all-in on tokenized assets 

According to the announcement shared on X, Swift’s recent work with Chainlink and UBS Asset Management has successfully demonstrated that connecting tokenized assets to existing payment rails is possible. 

Swift reportedly worked closely with SG-FORGE, leveraging their digital asset platform and euro-donominated stablecoin EURCV. This trial was focused on critical capital markets processes, including delivery-versus-payment settlement of tokenized bonds, interest payouts, and redemption of the bonds, and support for fiat and stablecoin payments. 

According to the post, BNP Paribas Securities Services and Intesa Sanpaolo played critical roles during the trial, acting as paying agents and custodians, handling standard institutional functions, and in the process, confirming what blockchain adoption proponents already knew: tokenized assets can integrate with established market roles and infrastructure. 

This trial has been described as the first time Swift has orchestrated tokenized asset transactions as a single coordinated process bridging blockchain and tradfi systems. 

The pilot has also highlighted Swift’s goal of acting as a neutral coordination layer between traditional finance systems and emerging blockchain ecosystems. It builds on Swift’s broader montage of digital asset experiments, which have involved various partners, including UBS and Chainlink. Citi, HSBC, and several others, while leveraging standards like ISO 20022. 

What’s next after the Swift pilot? 

According to Swift, since this series of successful trials is now completed, they are now focused on adding a blockchain-based ledger to their technology infrastructure. 

This ledger is expected to initially focus on enabling real-time, 24/7 cross-border payments, designed in collaboration with over 30 banks worldwide.

“In a multi-modal world where new assets and platforms are proliferating, we’re working alongside our community to drive a new era of interoperability,” official documents read. “Our aim is to seamlessly interconnect emerging networks and new forms of value, delivering a best-in-class experience aligned with the G20 objectives for cross-border payments.” 

All of that is supposed to be built on a critical foundation of trust and operational excellence, enabling instant and frictionless transactions across the global financial ecosystem. 

The move is a significant step towards the mainstream adoption of tokenization in capital markets and is expected to connect fragmented digital ecosystems without needing existing institutions to abandon their current rails and models.

Sharpen your strategy with mentorship + daily ideas - 30 days free access to our trading program

Microsoft Corp. is using its partnership with BlackRock to co-fund and accelerate its AI infrastructure development, reducing the direct burden on its funds. BlackRock has now raised $12.5 billion of its total $30 billion goal for its AI infrastructure partnership with Microsoft. 

BlackRock is investing in the power grids and energy sources needed to keep modern data centers running. They require so much constant and high-voltage power that industry experts estimate that data centers could consume up to 4% of all global energy by 2029. 

How is BlackRock supporting Microsoft’s AI plan? 

BlackRock Inc. has successfully raised $12.5 billion as part of its massive “Global AI Infrastructure Investment Partnership” with Microsoft Corp. The firm is now closer to its $30 billion goal for private equity investment. 

The company combined Global Infrastructure Partners’ (GIP’s) expertise with Microsoft’s technology to solve the “energy bottleneck” that threatens to slow down AI development. Larry Fink told analysts that mobilizing private money for these projects is the only way to meet the demand, as the costs are too high for any single government or company to handle alone.

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink explained to analysts during a fourth-quarter earnings call that the AI partnership continues to attract a lot of money from investors who want to profit from the current tech boom.

BlackRock recently reported that its total assets under management have hit $14 trillion for the first time due to record net inflows of nearly $700 billion over the full year of 2025. Fink described the current period as a time of “accelerating momentum.” 

He also added that clients are increasingly approaching BlackRock to handle complex infrastructure projects that require billions of dollars in upfront cash.

Companies are investing in physical AI infrastructure 

Microsoft recently signed a 20-year deal with Constellation Energy to restart a nuclear reactor at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania. The project, called the Crane Clean Energy Center, will provide carbon-free electricity for Microsoft’s data centers. 

Investments like these in AI infrastructure have hurt Microsoft’s stock, with its shares dropping to $459 from a high of $555 in 2025. Investors have grown wary of the company’s strategy after it spent nearly $35 billion in a single quarter to build AI infrastructure. 

Through its partnership with BlackRock, Microsoft will be able to scale and develop its AI technology without putting the burden fully on its balance sheet. 

Meta also recently announced its own deals with three nuclear energy companies to secure 6.6 gigawatts of power. 

BlackRock’s partnership with Microsoft also includes Nvidia Corp. and the Abu Dhabi-backed investment group MGX. Additionally, Elon Musk’s xAI joined the partnership in early 2025. 

Nvidia functions as a technical advisor and helps to design the data centers so they are optimized for AI chips, while MGX provides massive amounts of capital from the United Arab Emirates.

This collaboration allows the group to use “leverage,” which means taking on debt to increase their total spending power. While the initial goal is $30 billion in private equity, the partnership expects to eventually reach $100 billion in total investments. This money will primarily be spent in the United States, but some will also go to U.S. partner countries.

Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free.