From Speculative Tools to Digital Dollar Access When the first wave of decentralized finance (DeFi) swept through the global economy, stablecoins were primarily viewed as speculative lubricants, but that narrative is rapidly fading away. In emerging markets and across global commercial corridors, stablecoins are about access to the U.S. dollar. As global macroeconomic environments shift,
Artificial intelligence (AI) stands to generate more than $1 trillion in economic and sustainability value in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) by 2030, according to a report by the World Economic Forum (WEF) and Bain & Company. The report highlights opportunities in sustainable finance, energy, public investment, asset protection, and business-government partnerships. The
Pendle underscores the burgeoning potential of tokenized real-world asset (RWA) markets, projecting a market size between $3 trillion and $10 trillion by 2030. This insight, shared via a tweet from the Pendle account, highlights the various asset classes included in these markets, such as tokenized stocks and private equity funds. The implications of this growth
The Breakdown MSCI announced on Oct. 15, after U.S. markets closed, that companies which mainly hold assets rather than run a business will lose index eligibility. Friday was the first full trading day to digest it and here’s how the Saylor-adjacent board closed: Strategy (MSTR): $151.29 to $136.83, down 9.56%. Stretch (STRC): $99.53 to $97.72,
Tokenization, or the process of bringing financial and real-world assets onto a blockchain, has been generating headlines in recent months, with a growing number of companies saying they’re offering, or planning to offer, versions of equities, bonds and commodities that can be traded around the clock with few, if any, geographic restrictions. Not surprisingly, Wall
Crypto enthusiasts have spent years telling that finance – stocks, bonds and other financial assets – would eventually move onto blockchains. Now, an influential research firm that Wall Street investors pay attention to has made the case for them. Citrini Research, better known for its work on broader technology, AI and market trends than for
Banks may be able to slow the growth of stablecoins like $USDT and $USDC by paying savers more, according to a working paper published by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). Researchers Rashad Ahmed and Iñaki Aldasoro studied weekly data from January 2019 to June 2025, accounting for bitcoin prices, Treasury yields and broader financial
There’s a Bitcoin company that’s now offering investors a 15% annual dividend, paid in small installments every business day. While a 15% dividend is high enough to grab everyone’s attention, the more revealing number is what buyers agreed to pay for it. On Oct. 15, Strive priced seven million shares of its new SATS preferred
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said September’s 3.8% euro area inflation rate largely reflected high energy costs, which the ECB expects to ease next year. Lagarde said while an energy shock is expected to keep euro-area inflation above the bank’s target through the first half of 2027, a measured policy response remains appropriate, according
SBI Holdings and Startale Group said on October 16 that they have joined Open Standard, the alliance behind the U.S. dollar stablecoin Open USD ($OUSD), and will explore a pilot linking $OUSD with JPYSC, the yen-denominated trust-type stablecoin issued by SBI Shinsei Trust Bank, according to the companies’ announcement. The two firms frame the move