hodler

28 Apr 2026, 19:30

TON launches open self-custodial wallet standard that gives AI agents their own dedicated on-chain wallets

After riding the tap-to-earn wave and crashing dramatically, TON is making a strategic comeback. The network is placing itself in the race to become the go-to platform for autonomous AI agents by introducing a new open, self-custodial wallet standard, which grants each agent a personal on-chain wallet. Released today, April 28, 2026, the new standard introduced by the TON Tech team is pivotal to the network’s rise after its failed attempt at infiltrating the gaming era. With TON currently trading at $1.29 , the pressure is on the network to find the next credible growth engine. Toncoin price. Source: CoinMarketCap What is the agent wallet standard? TON’S new agentic wallet standard was created to give AI agents their own on-chain financial identity. Each wallet is made up of a smart contract that consists of two separate keys: one for the user and the other for the agent, allowing the agent to approve and carry out transactions using only its own operator key. This means the agent can make swaps, pay fees, and interact with decentralized apps on its own without needing access to the user’s main wallet or exposing user credentials. Additionally, the system is also designed to ensure users keep full control, as any fund placed in the agent’s control is limited to the amount the user chooses. Furthermore, the user can change the agent’s key, remove its access, or withdraw funds whenever they wish through a dedicated dashboard at agents.ton.org . Lastly, there’s no cap on how many agents a user can deploy, so users who wish to have multiple agents can do so, with each agent having access to its own independent wallet and balance. An earlier Cryptopolitan report cited McKinsey analyst projections that AI agents could be running anywhere from $3 trillion to $5 trillion of global consumer commerce by 2030. TON joins the agentic payment wave The agentic AI trend is growing immensely throughout the ecosystem, with TON’s edge in this race being its integration with Telegram , which grants developers direct access to over a billion daily users, an added benefit most chains can’t provide. While the future looks bright, it’s worth noting that the agentic wallet contracts have not yet passed a formal security audit. TON’s own documentation described the current version as a developer preview, hinting that the product needs further testing before being widely adopted. What TON has made clear, however, is that it is no longer counting on casual games to carry the network. However, given what happened with Hamster Kombat and its evident crash, the crypto market is going to need more than a promising architecture before rewarding TON with a sustained recovery. Can TON avoid a repeat of the tap-to-earn era downturn? In 2024, the TON blockchain introduced one of the fastest-growing digital products in history called Hamster Kombat . The project ended up pulling in over 300 million users and was publicly praised as a breakthrough moment in Web3 adoption. After the launch of its native token HMSTR in September 2024, Hamster Kombat lost over 260 million active players, thus shedding 86% of its users within three months. The token itself dropped more than 76% from its launch price, eventually taking a toll on other projects, including Catizen, Tapswap, and other tap-to-earn games. With the lessons from the collapse now in the history books, the question now is whether the TON blockchain can return to those highs. And if it does, how will it avoid returning to its current lows? Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .

28 Apr 2026, 19:05

XRPL Validator: XRP Escrow On Steroids Might Be Coming Soon

The XRP Ledger continues to expand far beyond its original role as a fast payment network . As blockchain adoption moves deeper into institutional finance, tokenized assets, and automated settlements, developers are focusing on infrastructure that can support more complex financial operations. One of the most important areas attracting attention is escrow functionality. XRPL validator Vet recently highlighted that the next step in a post on X, suggesting that what he described as “XRP escrow on steroids” could arrive soon. He pointed to zero-knowledge proofs, programmable smart escrows, and verified off-chain data, saying the combo could revamp escrows on the XRP Ledger. Moving Beyond Basic Escrow Functions The XRP Ledger already supports native escrow features that allow users to lock XRP until certain conditions are met, most commonly time-based releases. Users have relied on it for years to manage delayed payments, treasury functions, and secure token transfers. XRP Escrows on steroids might be coming soon. ZKP + Smart Escrows (programmable Escrows) are a powerful combo. Think of using off chain data via Chainlink in a ZKP that the XRPL verifies natively, allowing (token/RWA) escrows to trigger on verified (!) off chain events. — Vet (@Vet_X0) April 27, 2026 However, traditional escrow systems remain limited because they mainly depend on simple on-chain conditions. They cannot easily respond to real-world events happening outside the blockchain without external verification. Vet wants escrows tied to verified external events, moving beyond timestamps and manual approvals. How Zero-Knowledge Proofs Could Upgrade XRPL According to Vet, combining zero-knowledge proofs with smart programmable escrows could allow the XRP Ledger to verify off-chain events directly before releasing locked assets. This would let escrowed XRP, tokens, or real-world assets unlock automatically only after trusted conditions are met. For example, data provided through Chainlink could confirm that a shipment arrived, a contract was fulfilled, or a compliance requirement was completed. A zero-knowledge proof would allow XRPL to verify that the event is secure while protecting sensitive information. This structure would create much stronger programmable escrows for enterprise use, especially in tokenized finance and real-world asset management. We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1 — TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025 Why This Matters for Institutional Adoption Real-world asset tokenization continues to grow across global finance, and institutions need settlement systems that respond to verified business events rather than fixed blockchain timers. Banks, payment firms, and large enterprises require trust-based automation before they can move serious capital on-chain. Programmable escrows supported by verified oracle data could make XRPL far more attractive for trade finance, tokenized bonds, supply chain settlements, and cross-border enterprise payments. This aligns closely with Ripple’s broader strategy of positioning the XRP Ledger as institutional blockchain infrastructure rather than a network focused only on retail transactions. A Stronger Utility Case for XRP Vet’s post signals a broader shift in how developers view XRP’s long-term value. The focus is moving from transaction speed alone toward deeper financial utility and automation. Vet’s post signals a broader shift in how developers view XRP’s long-term value. Smarter escrows create smarter finance. If implemented successfully, this “escrow on steroids” model could become one of the most important upgrades for XRPL and a major step forward for XRP’s role in institutional finance. Disclaimer : This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are urged to do in-depth research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses. Follow us on Twitter , Facebook , Telegram , and Google News The post XRPL Validator: XRP Escrow On Steroids Might Be Coming Soon appeared first on Times Tabloid .

28 Apr 2026, 18:34

SWIFT Can’t Clone the XRP Ledger — Here’s Why

Ripple’s XRPL Patent Strategy Sparks Debate Over SWIFT’s Future in Global Payments A resurfaced document shared by crypto researcher SMQKE has reignited debate over Ripple’s XRP Ledger (XRPL) and its role in global payments. It argues that Ripple’s intellectual property, especially its patented design, could make it difficult for competitors to develop truly comparable blockchain-based payment systems. The document acknowledges that Ripple’s patent strategy is built to protect its core transaction architecture, effectively securing exclusive control over key elements of its payment system. In practice, this could make it difficult for competitors to replicate similar end-to-end settlement models without running into legal or technical restrictions tied to protected design features. This development ties into a long-running debate around Ripple: that legacy systems like SWIFT, despite their dominance in global banking, still struggle with the realities of cross-border settlement. Persistent delays, heavy reliance on intermediaries, and reconciliation frictions continue to expose inefficiencies in the final stage of international payments. XRP Ledger Gains Ground as Ripple Pushes for Faster, Smarter Global Payments The XRP Ledger is positioned as a streamlined alternative built for near-instant settlement and direct value transfer, removing the need for multiple intermediary layers. Well, this structure reduces cross-border friction, compressing settlement times from days to seconds while improving transparency and liquidity flow. Where SWIFT is often constrained by inefficiencies in the “last mile” of cross-border payments, Ripple’s system is already facilitating near-real-time settlement through the XRP Ledger, offering a more direct end-to-end transfer model. The renewed attention reflects Ripple’s broader ambition, not just to operate alongside legacy financial rails, but to integrate with and potentially reshape core components of them. At the center of this approach is XRP, the native asset of the XRPL, which serves as a bridge for liquidity, enabling faster and more efficient exchange between different currencies across global payment corridors. The resurfaced patent discussion underscores a recurring theme in the debate: Ripple’s strategy extends beyond technology into structural redesign. Rather than positioning itself purely as a blockchain provider, Ripple is building a real-time settlement framework that could complement, and in some scenarios challenge, traditional systems like SWIFT in global payments. By pairing intellectual property protections with a high-speed settlement network, the company continues to position the XRP Ledger as a credible contender in the broader shift toward faster, more efficient cross-border financial infrastructure.

28 Apr 2026, 18:14

Pax Gold vs Ayni Gold: The Difference Between Holding Gold and Earning Gold-Backed DeFi Yield

Hold PAXG. You earn nothing in the position. Hold AYNI and stake it. You earn quarterly staking rewards in gold, paid in PAXG itself. Both tokens put gold on a blockchain. Only one of them generates DeFi gold yield. That difference is structural, not marketing, and it determines which product fits which user. Ayni Gold is a DeFi protocol built on a Peruvian gold mine. PAXG, issued by Paxos, is a token backed one-to-one by physical gold sitting in a vault. PAXG tracks gold's price. Ayni Gold tracks gold's production. Demand for on-chain gold has climbed sharply in 2026. Bitget's TradFi desk crossed $6 billion in daily volume with gold as the top-traded pair . Both products benefit from that current. They serve different users. What Each Token Actually Represents The two tokens look similar from the outside but reference different underlying objects: one points to metal already in storage, the other to metal still being extracted. Pax Gold (PAXG): Token Backed by Vaulted Gold Each PAXG token corresponds to one troy ounce of London Good Delivery gold held by Paxos Trust Company in Brink's facilities. Holders can redeem PAXG for physical gold or for cash through Paxos directly. PAXG launched in 2019 and has grown into the largest gold-backed cryptocurrency by market capitalization. Vault attestations are published monthly by WithumSmith+Brown, an independent accounting firm. The price tracks the spot gold price closely, with small premiums or discounts based on liquidity. As a gold as a yield-generating asset, PAXG itself does no work. It sits on the chain. Any returns on the position come from the gold market or from external strategies a holder layers on top, such as lending, liquidity provision, or external staking platforms. Ayni Gold (AYNI): Stake in Gold Production Ayni Gold reverses the model. The AYNI tokenomics documentation explains that one AYNI token represents 4 cm³ per hour of mining capacity at the Minerales San Hilario concession, an 8 km² alluvial site in the Madre de Dios region of Peru. Total supply is fixed at 806,451,613 tokens. Minerales SH San Hilario S.C.R.L., the company operating the mine, holds concession No. 070011405 with INGEMMET, the Geological, Mining and Metallurgical Institute of Peru. The token is not redeemable for gold. It is a position in a productive asset, more like a mining royalty than a vault receipt. Users who stake AYNI receive income in PAXG proportional to mining production, net of costs and a success fee. The protocol burns 15% of accumulated success fees every quarter, shrinking the circulating supply over time. This makes AYNI a gold-backed crypto yield position with cash flow built in. How the PAXG reward is calculated The reward calculation is published in plain form: PAXG reward = (AYNI_staked × Mining_output × Time_factor) − Costs − Success_Fee Every input in that formula maps to a real number. The amount of AYNI staked is on-chain. Mining output, costs, and success fees are reported by the operator. There is no proprietary model layered on top, which makes the yield mechanics auditable in a way most DeFi protocols are not. On the smart contract side, the AYNI ERC-20 contract has been audited by CertiK (October 2025) and separately by PeckShield. Both reports live on the protocol's trust and audits page. Side by Side: The Six Dimensions That Matter The structural differences become clearest when laid out on the dimensions a buyer actually evaluates. PAXG Ayni Gold What the token represents One troy ounce of physical gold held in a Paxos vault 4 cm³/hour of mining capacity at the Minerales San Hilario concession in Peru Source of returns Gold price movement only Income in PAXG is proportional to real gold mining output, plus gold price exposure on the reward asset Native yield None Yes, paid in PAXG to AYNI stakers Custody Paxos vaults, audited monthly by WithumSmith+Brown INGEMMET-registered concession (No. 070011405); smart contracts audited by CertiK and PeckShield Best for Long-term gold holders who want price exposure on-chain Users who want gold exposure plus yield from real gold mining Two takeaways. PAXG is a stable, audited, redeemable claim on stored gold with no native yield. Ayni Gold is a yield-bearing claim on gold production, with returns tied to operational performance and a wider risk profile. Why PAXG Holders Should Care About Ayni Gold Most PAXG yield staking strategies require leaving PAXG. Holders deposit it on lending platforms, pair it in liquidity pools, or wrap it through external protocols. Each of those routes adds smart contract exposure, counterparty exposure, or impermanent loss to a position that started as simple gold exposure. Ayni Gold solves that asymmetry differently. The protocol does not ask PAXG holders to leave PAXG. It pays them in PAXG. Users stake AYNI and earn PAXG payouts that track output at the concession. For users who want to earn yield in gold without giving up gold-denominated exposure, the architecture matters. The PAXG use case PAXG fits one need cleanly: putting gold price exposure on-chain in a form crypto-native users can hold and use as collateral. Six years of operational history, billions in market cap, and direct redemption to physical gold. The product matches the use case. PAXG also serves as infrastructure across the broader gold-on-chain category: Lending platforms accept it as collateral Stablecoin protocols use it as a non-fiat reserve asset TradFi gold instruments may settle into or against it The Ayni Gold use case Ayni Gold solves something PAXG cannot. The protocol pays out in PAXG, sourced from gold extracted at the Minerales San Hilario concession, letting holders earn yield without leaving the asset. Hold the position. Receive gold. An AYNI position gives holders five things no vault-backed token offers: Yield paid in PAXG, denominated in gold not dollars Exposure to mining throughput rather than static stored metal Returns tied to actual mining output, not market sentiment or stored inventory No need to move capital across multiple protocols to chase income Gold-backed yield without giving up gold-denominated returns This is the underserved audience in DeFi: users who want gold exposure and income from it, in one position. Until this category emerged, the only options were vault tokens with no yield or DeFi strategies with no gold backing. Ayni Gold fills that gap directly. Where Each One Fits PAXG fits one use case directly. Users who want gold on-chain in a form that works in any DeFi wallet, settles cleanly, and redeems back to physical gold get exactly that. The limitation is what PAXG cannot do by design. The token represents stored gold, and stored gold produces nothing. Yield strategies built on PAXG require leaving the asset and accepting risk elsewhere. Ayni Gold answers the gap. The position pays out in PAXG, so the gold-denominated exposure stays intact, and the yield comes from extraction at the mine. For users who want gold exposure and staking rewards in gold without juggling protocols, that combination exists in only a handful of products. PAXG vs Ayni Gold is the wrong question. The real question is whether the gold a user holds should sit still or earn income while it sits. The Bottom Line PAXG represents a static asset: stored gold backing each token. Ayni Gold represents a productive asset: a share of the capacity that produces gold. PAXG gives price exposure with no native yield. Ayni Gold gives yield from real gold mining output, paid in PAXG itself. In the broader category of gold-backed tokens vs stablecoins, both products offer something stablecoins do not: durable value tied to gold. Only one of them adds yield to that exposure. For users weighing where to allocate, the question is what kind of gold position fits the goal. Stored gold for price exposure. Mining capacity for DeFi gold yield backed by real production. FAQ Should I hold PAXG or Ayni Gold? Neither answer is universal. PAXG fits users who want stable, audited, redeemable gold price exposure on-chain. Ayni Gold fits holders who pair that exposure with mining-output yield. Some users hold both for different reasons. Is Ayni Gold's yield paid in AYNI or in PAXG? Yield is paid in PAXG, not in AYNI. Holders receive a gold-backed stable yield, with the reward denominated in gold instead of tied to a project token that could move independently. How often are PAXG rewards distributed? Distribution is quarterly. AYNI stakers receive PAXG rewards every three months, with the amount tied to mining output for the quarter, net of operational costs and the protocol's success fee. What happens to yield if mining output drops? Yield drops with it. Returns track operational performance at the concession, so a quarter with lower extraction means a smaller PAXG distribution. The exposure works in reverse on stronger quarters as well. Can I redeem PAXG for physical gold? Yes, through Paxos directly. Holders with at least 430 PAXG (one London Good Delivery bar) can redeem for physical gold. Smaller positions can be redeemed for cash. Can I redeem AYNI tokens for physical gold? No. AYNI is not a redemption claim on stored gold. It is a position in mining capacity that pays out PAXG rewards from production. The PAXG received as rewards can, in turn be redeemed at Paxos. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

28 Apr 2026, 17:12

Aave Outlines Steps to Rebuild rsETH Collateral

Aave has announced a recovery plan following an April 18 exploit that affected its liquidity markets and collateral positions on several chains. The update explains how DeFi United, a group of ecosystem participants, intends to restore the backing of rsETH and bring affected markets back to normal. Recovery Process The issue started when an attacker exploited a vulnerability in rsETH’s bridge from Unichain to Ethereum, causing a fake transaction to be processed on Ethereum. Therefore, 116,500 rsETH was released to multiple addresses, some of which were used as collateral on Aave 3 and some bridged to Arbitrum. Early damage-control measures included the Arbitrum security council freezing 30,766 ETH linked to the exploit. However, this still left a huge balance and had a major impact on the markets. At the moment, about 107,000 rsETH from the stolen amount remains locked in active positions on Aave and Compound. To fix this, the protocol organized a coordinated industry response under the DeFi United initiative, later sharing a detailed procedure on social media to revive the token’s backing so that it matches its expected value of 1.017 ETH. Aave said that the plan is to convert that ETH into rsETH in stages and deposit it into the bridge lockbox, which will allow the system to safely resume normal operations. At the same time, LayerZero and KelpDAO have added extra security measures to reduce the risk of similar issues happening again. According to an article it posted on X, Aave will work on clearing the affected positions through governance proposals on Ethereum and Arbitrum. The process will also temporarily adjust the price of rsETH to allow for easier liquidations. The protocol will then send the recovered tokens to a multisig wallet held by DeFi United, which will be redeemed for ETH via Kelp’s standard process and used to cover the shortfall on the affected markets. Aave Shares Recovery Projections The firm estimates that these efforts will help it recover around 13,000 ETH on Aave, while Compound will regain approximately 16,776 ETH. It also clarified that all WETH and rsETH reserves on Ethereum Core, Arbitrum, Base, Mantle, and Linea will remain frozen throughout the period. Aave also warned that while the procedure aims to restore the rsETH without spreading losses to users, it also comes with some execution risks. For one, the outcome will depend on whether the protocol will get the required governance approvals. Another thing that could pose a challenge is the possibility of the attacker interfering during the recovery process. Furthermore, the new security measures will need to be effective once fully implemented. The project’s team finished by asserting that following this plan will fully restore the rsETH and settle the markets. “The successful coordinated execution of these steps as planned ensures that rsETH backing is fully restored, and all affected markets are stabilized.” The post Aave Outlines Steps to Rebuild rsETH Collateral appeared first on CryptoPotato .

28 Apr 2026, 17:10

The New Power Players: How Crypto Companies Are Building The Next Generation Of AI Agents

For years, crypto and artificial intelligence evolved on parallel tracks—one focused on decentralization and financial infrastructure, the other on data, models, and automation. Today, those worlds are converging in a way that could redefine both industries. A new wave of companies is emerging at the intersection, using blockchain principles and high-throughput infrastructure to build AI agents that can operate, transact, and coordinate work autonomously.