1 May 2025, 19:03

Tether CEO defends decision to skip MiCA registration for USDT

Paolo Ardoino, CEO of stablecoin issuer Tether, addressed criticism over the company's decision not to seek registration under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, arguing that the regulations were risky for stablecoins. Speaking to Cointelegraph at the Token2049 conference in Dubai, Ardoino reiterated that Tether had no plans to apply for its US dollar-pegged stablecoin USDt — the largest by market capitalization — to be compliant under MiCA in European countries, potentially forcing exchanges to delist the stablecoin. He added that though crypto firms had to follow regulations, there was a “fear of compliance” among companies in the EU. “[...] MiCA license is very dangerous when it comes to stablecoins, and I believe that is even more dangerous for the small, medium banking system in Europe,” said the Tether CEO, adding that banks in the region could “go belly up” in the next few years thanks to MiCA's requirements, such as keeping 60% of stablecoins reserves in insured cash deposits in European banks. Ardoino added: “I decided to not apply to the MiCA license because I need to protect the 400 million+ users that we have around the world. They are not as lucky as Europeans. I love Europe, but I think that unfortunately European Central Bank is more interested [in pushing] the digital euro as a way to control people and control how they spend their money.” Related: Paolo Ardoino: Competitors and politicians intend to ‘kill Tether’ After years of planning and research, EU officials began to implement requirements under MiCA in December 2024. Tether, which is regulated and headquartered in El Salvador , is required to comply with MiCA regulatory requirements if offering products or services in EU member states. Since the regulations went into effect, many crypto exchanges acted to ensure their platforms listed MiCA-compliant tokens. Kraken delisted 5 stablecoins , including USDt, and Crypto.com announced plans to delist 10 stablecoins as of January. On nations establishing crypto reserves Speaking on its intentions for operating in the United States, Ardoino said the country “would require a different type of product,” given the competition with local stablecoin issuers. He added that the US’s and other countries’ efforts to establish a Bitcoin ( BTC ) stockpile were “just inevitable.” “In the medium to long term, the more Bitcoin education, the more companies will set the example then everyone else will follow,” said the Tether CEO. “It’s never too late to buy Bitcoin.” Ardoino’s statements came the same day that Tether announced roughly $120 billion in exposure to US Treasurys as of the first quarter of 2025. As of May 1, USDt had a market capitalization of roughly $149 billion. Magazine: Crypto wanted to overthrow banks, now it’s becoming them in stablecoin fight

1 May 2025, 18:55

Plume CEO says tokenized asset market still too small for institutional capital

Chris Yin, CEO and co-founder of Plume, argues that while real-world asset tokenization is growing in the crypto world, the market is not yet mature enough for institutional investors. He claimed that the RWA market is still too small and that institutions will take time to see its value. Yin also compared the current state of RWAs to Bitcoin and stablecoins in their developing stages, contending that they must first draw in multiple more users to attract institutional attention. He said, “Only now, 10 years later, are they beginning to think about using the stablecoin. The same thing is going to happen in tokenized assets or tokenization.” Yin claims RWAs are worth only about $10 billion, contrary to most market analyzes Yin believes current market estimates of real-world asset (RWA) capitalization are significantly overstated. While some place the market’s value at over $21 billion, he argues the true figure is closer to $10 billion, which he claims is majorly Treasury bills, gold, and a little private credit. He even argued that the prevailing interpretation of the $21 billion figure is wrong, saying, “The perspective that most people have is wrong with this, which is I take this $21 billion in assets.” As per RWA.xyz data, real-world assets market capitalization had settled at $21.96 billion on April 30. Private credit led the chart of all RWAs, worth $12.87 billion, while treasury bills accounted for $6.33 billion and commodities $1.62 billion. However, Stobox co-founder Ross Shemeliak’s estimations partially differ from RWA.xyz estimations, projecting that private credit does not account for most RWAs but tokenized Treasurys and bonds. He estimates that tokenized Treasurys and bonds account for about 60–65% of RWAs. Shemeliak did acknowledge that gauging the size of the RWA market is highly challenging, especially since private asset data is often inaccessible or fragmented. He added that nearly all companies globally are private, and almost all of them are “untapped candidates for tokenization.” Yin advised the RWA market to depend more on the native community than institutional investors Yin also said that institutions wait for projects to get bigger so they can invest, thinking they can make more money that way. He pointed out that tokenized assets have attracted these institutional investors because they are looking at ways to bring in money, not save money or improve efficiency. He added that the RWA market should primarily depend on the native community and not necessarily institutional investors. Yin believes that institutions are not injecting any money on-chain and are only looking for ways to drain money out of the community by selling their products to them. Shemeliak, however, contended that RWA tokenization would not survive long-term without institutional capital. He even likened RWA tokenization without institutions’ backing to having a stock exchange without regulators or custodians. Cryptopolitan Academy: Coming Soon - A New Way to Earn Passive Income with DeFi in 2025. Learn More

1 May 2025, 18:21

New Mastercard Document Acknowledges XRP as a Bridge Currency

Prominent crypto influencer JackTheRippler (@RippleXrpie) recently drew attention to a special mention of XRP in a MasterCard-published remittances report titled The Future of Remittances in Latin America. Sharing an image of the document, the influencer emphasized the relevance of XRP being identified by a global financial institution as a bridge currency in cross-border payment flows. This reference appears in the report, titled “Blockchain technology fuels new remittances business cases,” where MasterCard describes how digital assets and blockchain-based systems are being integrated to improve the efficiency of cross-border transfers. The document states: “SBI Remit is using Ripple’s XRP as a bridge currency to allow fast and cost-effective remittances.” It is grouped alongside examples involving MoneyGram and Stellar, indicating broader institutional experimentation with crypto assets for remittance solutions. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!! A new Mastercard document mentions #XRP as a bridge currency! pic.twitter.com/1EDT98Lupj — JackTheRippler © (@RippleXrpie) April 29, 2025 Institutional Integration Strengthens XRP’s Position Ripple and XRP’s inclusion in a MasterCard report reflects an ongoing trend of major financial institutions acknowledging blockchain infrastructure as a viable part of modern payment systems. SBI Remit, the Japan-based remittance service, has had a long-standing relationship with Ripple, and its use of XRP in payment corridors across Asia has been well-documented. However, the reference in an official MasterCard document adds further credibility by linking this real-world use case to a respected global payments leader. MasterCard’s report is intended to highlight trends shaping the evolution of remittances, with examples drawn from across regions and technologies. We are on twitter, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1 — TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) July 15, 2023 XRP’s role is presented not as a speculative asset but as part of a functioning remittance network contributing to lower costs and improved speed in cross-border value transfers. This reference supports Ripple’s positioning of XRP as utility-focused and technology-driven. XRP and the Remittance Use Case Ripple has consistently advocated for XRP as a bridge asset to facilitate liquidity between fiat currencies worldwide. This model aims to eliminate the need for pre-funded accounts and reduce foreign exchange costs, particularly for underserved corridors. MasterCard’s acknowledgment reinforces the digital asset’s relevance in these scenarios and aligns with Ripple’s business strategy of targeting institutional use rather than consumer adoption. The recognition of Ripple’s XRP in MasterCard’s remittance trends report is a meaningful development for XRP holders and Ripple supporters. It signals mainstream recognition for the digital asset, showing that institutions know its role in cross-border payments and consider it significant enough to include in publications aimed at industry stakeholders. 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 X , Facebook , Telegram , and Google News The post New Mastercard Document Acknowledges XRP as a Bridge Currency appeared first on Times Tabloid .

1 May 2025, 18:16

Binance Announces Support for a New Altcoin Network and Airdrop

Binance Wallet has officially integrated support for Sonic Chain, a new blockchain network formerly known as Fantom (FTM). The announcement also shared plans to distribute special “S” coins and other Sonic Chain ecosystem assets to active investors using Binance Alpha on Sonic Chain. While full details of the airdrop campaign are expected to be announced soon, Binance confirmed that eligible transactions include those made through Binance Wallet or the Binance Alpha platform. To access Sonic Chain, users can do the following via the Binance app: Select Markets → Alpha → Sonic or follow the same path via Binance Wallet. Related News: Here's the List of the 10 Altcoins with the Most Increased Whale Activity in the Last Week However, Sonic has been notable for its poor performance since the day it switched from Fantom. The coin, which caused its users to have expectations with the big update, has lost 30% of its value since the transition period. Sonic, a major project worth $1.65 billion, is headed by Andre Cronje, who is also the lead developer of Fantom and is considered by some to be the founder of the DeFi world. *This is not investment advice. Continue Reading: Binance Announces Support for a New Altcoin Network and Airdrop

1 May 2025, 18:15

Bitcoin Exchange Balances Hit 5-Year Low as Price Approaches $97,000

The volume of bitcoins on centralized crypto exchanges has reached its minimum value for the last five years: this was reported by analysts of the Swan platform in a fresh report. At the same time, the last days the cost of the main cryptocurrency balanced in the zone of 95 thousand dollars and until today did not show sharp jumps. It turns out that there is indeed a correlation between these two indicators. In this regard, experts explained when to expect a new, larger BTC growth wave. What will happen to the Bitcoin price? Bitcoin exceeded the level of 97 thousand dollars this afternoon. The 15-minute chart of the cryptocurrency on the Binance exchange ends up looking like this: All this is happening against the backdrop of the withdrawal of coins from trading platforms. According to CryptoPotato source, some BTC is leaving exchanges for cold wallets, which is traditionally a bullish signal due to investors' long-term confidence in Bitcoin's growth. However, a significant portion of the coins are going into institutional storage. These are structures like ETF, which attract funds from major industry players. Here's a comment on what's going on. The coins aren't disappearing anywhere. They are simply moved to a new location for active use. In addition, not all of these BTC remain unmoved. Some are stored passively and some participate in structured products, yield platforms or are used as collateral. That is why the price of the first cryptocurrency does not grow instantly, analysts note. This is also true for the whole crypto market, as altcoins are largely dependent on what happens with BTC. Bitcoin is still a market, and in a market, sellers don't disappear anywhere. Some market players are traders aiming for short-term profits. Others are long-term holders locking in profits. There are also those who never realized what they bought. Experts also commented on the ongoing accumulation of bitcoins by Michael Saylor's Strategy company. According to them, miners mine about 13,500 BTC per month, but Strategy, resorting to various capital borrowing instruments, has been buying more than the aforementioned value of bitcoins for several months in a row. Thus, the company, which has become the largest institutional holder of BTC, has produced a kind of ”synthetic halving,” that is, a reduction in the volume of available cryptocurrency. They're not just hoarding, they're shrinking Bitcoin's supply curve externally. So yes, supply is shrinking. But the price moves when demand breaks equilibrium. And with an infinite volume of currency and a truly scarce asset, Bitcoin's next spurt won't be linear. It will be dramatic. And most likely irreversible. At the end of April, Bitcoin was up 14 percent, while Ethereum fell in price by 1.5 percent. Solana showed the best result and rose in price by 18.7 percent. Adoption of cryptocurrencies in the US Meanwhile, the North Carolina House of Representatives has passed a bill that would authorize the state to invest in digital assets - the initiative now moves to the Senate for further debate. The bill, HB92, was introduced on Feb. 10 and passed its third reading in the House on Wednesday. The document, chiefly authored by Republican Speaker Destin Hall, would allow the state to invest in qualified digital assets and consider including them in retirement plans for public employees. The bill directs the state treasurer's office to study suitable investment vehicles, propose contribution limits and develop educational materials explaining the risks of investing in digital assets. HB92 also proposes to investigate the possibility of creating a state reserve for confiscated or seized crypto assets, which would be overseen by the state Bureau of Investigation in coordination with law enforcement. On March 19, a second piece of legislation, SB 327, was filed in support of the House bill in North Carolina. This initiative would allow up to 10 percent of state funds to be channeled into Bitcoin, creating a formal reserve and enabling strategies for steaking, lending, and yield. The document, introduced by Republican Senators Todd Johnson, Brad Overkesh and Timothy Moffitt, positions Bitcoin investment as a ”financial innovation strategy” to enhance the state's economic potential. It has already passed its first reading in the Senate and has been sent to committee, where it must overcome several steps, including further readings, to become law. North Carolina isn't the only state going down the path of crypto adoption. Arizona, New Hampshire and Texas are also considering similar Bitcoin reserve legislation. At least a dozen other states are considering similar initiatives, some of which are simultaneously working on multiple cryptocurrency bills. A number of states, including Indiana and Florida, are discussing adding digital assets to the list of options for retirement systems. The bottom line The declining volume of bitcoins on exchanges and active purchases by institutional investors are creating a foundation for the next stage of market growth. Although the price is still reacting with restraint, experts have no doubts about the industry's prospects. In their opinion, the shortage of supply and growing interest on the part of the authorities and large investors in the United States will sooner or later end with a noticeable increase in the volatility of the digital asset.

1 May 2025, 17:59

MOVE drops 20% as Coinbase announces trading suspension on May 15

Coinbase announced on Thursday that it will suspend trading of the Movement token on May 15 at 2:00 p.m. ET, citing routine asset reviews to ensure that listing standards are met. The exchange said MOVE ( MOVE ) order books have already been switched to limit-only mode, meaning users can place or cancel limit orders, but trading at the market price is disabled. MOVE’s price dropped roughly 20% following Coinbase’s announcement, falling from $0.25 to $0.20. You might also like: Ethereum layer-2 Aztec Network launches public testnet to advance on-chain privacy MOVE’s controversy The decision comes amid controversy surrounding MOVE’s market activity and governance. In mid-April, the Movement Network was scrutinized after co-founder Cooper Scanlon took a leave of absence and reports surfaced of “market maker abnormalities.” Those abnormalities are now at the center of an investigation into a potential pump-and-dump scheme linked to a market maker called Web3Port. Internal documents obtained by CoinDesk reveal that Web3Port, a China-based firm, was assigned over 5% of MOVE’s total token supply, which was then allegedly routed through an obscure entity called Rentech. This arrangement allowed Rentech to offload MOVE tokens if the project’s fully diluted value exceeded $5 billion—an event that reportedly occurred on December 9, the day MOVE launched on Binance. BREAKING : $MOVE will delisted from @coinbase . Congratulations 🎊 to @movementlabsxyz @rushimanche pic.twitter.com/2MU1z5xWbz — Drop Bureau (@dropbureau) May 1, 2025 On that day, Web3Port liquidated 66 million MOVE tokens, generating $38 million in sales and triggering a sharp price decline. Those same tokens are now worth about $15.7 million. Contracts reportedly split the profits from such sales 50/50 between Rentech and the Movement Foundation. The Movement Foundation and Web3Port both have ties to World Liberty Financial Inc., a crypto venture backed by members of the Trump family. In January, WLFI purchased 3.42 million MOVE tokens for $1.5 million and also received a $10 million investment from Web3Port. Coinbase has not directly cited the pump-and-dump allegations in its delisting rationale but reiterated that it regularly monitors assets for compliance with listing standards. You might also like: Sam Altman-backed World App launches human-focused DeFi with Morpho