6 Aug 2025, 01:18

Asia Morning Briefing: Architect Bets Credit Will Outshine Crypto Equities as It Builds a Web3 Moody’s

Good Morning, Asia. Here's what's making news in the markets: Welcome to Asia Morning Briefing, a daily summary of top stories during U.S. hours and an overview of market moves and analysis. For a detailed overview of U.S. markets, see CoinDesk's Crypto Daybook Americas. The maturing digital assets market that has sophisticated market making, capital markets, and decentralized finance, is still lacking one key market infrastructure to compete with traditional finance: an institutional-grade credit agency. Architect aims to change this by launching crypto's first institutional-grade credit ratings service, similar to traditional finance's Moody's – because most TradFi ratings agencies just won't touch crypto. Sure, Moody's has dipped its toes into digital assets , but a full-blown credit agency that operates only in crypto is still missing. This is partly because crypto does not have a trusted intermediary to objectively assess creditworthiness, according to Ruben Amenyogbo, Architect's Managing Partner. The industry's anonymous actors, unconventional data, and opaque risk profiles make traditional underwriters nervous, leaving potential lenders reluctant to provide debt financing, Amenyogbo said. Then there is the ongoing surge of publicly traded companies, including miners and crypto treasury firms. They are all attempting to provide equity investors with exposure to crypto via stocks. But that market is now saturated and overvalued. “Crypto equity is extremely overvalued. Way too much money has been raised chasing equity opportunities in crypto,” said Amenyogbo. This combination of a lack of credit agencies and an exhausted equity market creates the perfect storm for a new opportunity in Web3. “There's a huge opportunity in credit, but no one's provided the missing market structure needed to assess risk properly," he said. This is where Architect comes in with plans to utilize its proprietary blockchain-based data to systematically evaluate credit risk and unlock new pools of institutional capital. Amenyogbo believes that the crypto market has now matured enough to support institutional-grade credit analysis. “With equity, you look forward, you assess future growth,” Amenyogbo said. “With credit, you must look backwards and ask, ‘Have these people reliably performed?’ Crypto was too young and unproven for that until recently, but now there’s enough history for meaningful credit analysis.” So who benefits from such service? Bitcoin miners and Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) primarily, according to the Architect. In theory, with access to fiat credit, miners could reduce forced selling, allowing them to stake more assets, generate greater on-chain activity, and shift from reactive outflows to productive economic contribution, a “double knock-on effect” that turns liquidity pressure into real value creation. Meanwhile, Architect sees Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) as a particularly attractive and underfunded niche for credit, with Amenyogbo explaining that DePIN provides real economic outputs rather than merely betting on digital asset price appreciation. "If I want to speculate on bitcoin, I would buy bitcoin. But as a credit lender, I can underwrite a bitcoin miner and make a bet on that mining operation and its cashflows outcompeting the market,” he said. In the end, Architect’s ultimate ambition isn’t just to lend, it’s to rebuild crypto’s capital stack from the ground up. By positioning itself as the first credible risk assessor for decentralized infrastructure and applying TradFi-grade underwriting standards, the firm hopes to unlock a new wave of institutional capital. “Raising a $100 million fund is cool, but it’s just a drop in the ocean,” Amenyogbo said. “What we’re really doing is laying the groundwork for crypto credit to scale the way traditional debt does, bundled, rated, insured, and syndicated into the largest pools of capital in the world.” Market Movers BTC: BTC is trading above $114K, with BTC dominance slipping to under 60%. "With funding and positioning in BTC beginning to look extended, traders may increasingly seek upside in high-beta names," market maker Enflux told CoinDesk in a note. ETH: ETH is trading at $3500, down 2.8% as ETF outflows ramp up. Gold: Gold prices dipped during the U.S. trading day, as a stronger U.S. dollar and falling oil prices weighed on sentiment, while silver saw modest gains and mixed global economic signals, including robust Chinese services data and growing Fed rate cut odds, added complexity to market direction. Nikkei 225: Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Tuesday after Wall Street losses, as investors digested weak U.S. economic data and new technology tariff remarks from President Trump, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipping 0.12%. S&P 500: The S&P 500 fell 0.49% Tuesday as weak economic data and fresh Trump tariff remarks fueled concern, though analysts expect the bull market to continue despite near-term volatility. Elsewhere in Crypto SEC Says Liquid Staking Doesn't Run Afoul of Securities Laws (CoinDesk) Why Ethereum Retail Investors Remain 'Sidelined'—Even as Institutions Buy Billions (Decrypt) Solana Mobile begins shipping second-gen Seeker smartphones to customers in over 50 countries (The Block)

6 Aug 2025, 00:43

The Fed Avoids Quick Interest Rate Cuts Amid Economic Uncertainty

The Fed cautiously approaches interest rate adjustments amid economic uncertainty. Larry Summers warns of risks in premature rate cuts without comprehensive data. Continue Reading: The Fed Avoids Quick Interest Rate Cuts Amid Economic Uncertainty The post The Fed Avoids Quick Interest Rate Cuts Amid Economic Uncertainty appeared first on COINTURK NEWS .

5 Aug 2025, 23:50

Nasdaq-Listed CEA Industries Closes $500M Round to Fund BNB Treasury Strategy

Nasdaq-listed CEA Industries Inc. announced the successful closing of a $500 million private placement offering on Aug. 5, 2025, aimed at advancing its BNB treasury strategy. Strategic Realignment and Rebranding Nasdaq-listed CEA Industries Inc. announced on Aug. 5 the successful closing of a $500 million private placement offering to advance its BNB Treasury Strategy. The

5 Aug 2025, 22:50

Bitmine Becomes World’s Largest ETH Treasury With $2.9 Billion in Holdings

Bitmine Immersion has amassed over 833,000 ETH worth $2.9 billion, making it the world’s largest ethereum treasury. Backed by top investors, the company now ranks as the third-largest corporate crypto holder globally, behind MicroStrategy and MARA. BMNR Surges in Liquidity Rankings as Treasury Strategy Hits 833,000 ETH Bitmine Immersion Technologies (Nasdaq: BMNR) has cemented its

5 Aug 2025, 22:34

Metamask to enter $250B stablecoin market with ‘Metamask USD’ issued by Stripe

MetaMask is reportedly planning to join hands with Stripe to introduce a stablecoin called “MetaMask USD” in an initiative that was announced via a governance proposal. The ultimate aim of the stablecoin would be to reduce transaction volatility and enhance usability for altcoin transactions while leveraging Stripe’s already existing financial infrastructure to bridge traditional finance and decentralized platforms. Will Metamask launch a stablecoin? According to the proposal available , Metamask plans to launch a stablecoin (mmUSD) that will be issued by Stripe but will leverage the “M^0” network for unchained issuance and settlement. The stablecoin is reportedly being set up as a cornerstone asset for the Metamask ecosystem, providing a highly liquid base currency natively integrated across Metamask services. The proposal is being classified as part of a broader crypto growth trend, with the potential to not only reshape DeFi user behavior and market dynamics but also drive organic distribution and deepen stablecoin liquidity. Of course, the success of the stablecoin hinges on user adoption and the ability to keep its value stable. At this time, there has been no official confirmation from MetaMask or Stripe and specific details about the stablecoin’s structure, launch timeline, or regulatory considerations are limited. However, it would not be a shock to find that this is truly in the works. After all, stablecoins have quickly grown to become crypto’s fastest growing killer application, with over $250 billion in circulation today, a figure that significantly dwarfs the single-digit billions circulating in 2020. Currently, around 20 million addresses transact with stablecoins on public blockchains, and even Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller had to acknowledge their significance. Waller noted that about 99% of stablecoin market capitalization is linked to the US dollar, which has created a dynamic where crypto, actually serves to extend dollar usage globally rather than discourage it. Brian Brooks, former US Comptroller of the Currency, believes, “Stablecoins can keep the dollar the world’s reserve currency” by making it more accessible worldwide. Talks of a Metamask stablecoin follows the debut of its card The proposal to launch a Metamask stablecoin comes after the Web3 company unveiled its card in partnership with Baanx and Mastercard. According to an announcement from the company, the card will allow its holders to “pay with crypto with no extra steps, no banks, no unnecessary charges, or top-ups needed.” The card is a critical innovation that connects existing stablecoins directly to everyday payment systems without sacrificing the very principle that separates crypto from traditional finance: self custody. In an interview Simon Jones, Chief Commercial Officer at Baanx, highlighted the gap between crypto and tradfi and how it is finally being bridged through “non-custodial neobanking.” “We’ve kind of built a coalition of people around us ranging from our partnerships with people like MasterCard and Visa to our issuing platforms. We go all the way through from the blockchain to the consumer via the partner with the bits in the middle,” he said. In short, companies like Baanx are building systems that will allow users to spend crypto directly from their self-custody wallet without fully surrendering control to a bank or exchange. Want your project in front of crypto’s top minds? Feature it in our next industry report, where data meets impact.

5 Aug 2025, 21:50

Foxconn reports a 7.25% sales rise in July, its slowest since January

Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., best known as Foxconn, saw its sales growth ease in July, suggesting that worries over U.S. tariffs are cooling demand for electronics. At the same time, the company is moving ahead with big bets on data-center gear, including the sale of a U.S. factory, as global tech firms pour money into artificial-intelligence infrastructure. Sales at Hon Hai rose 7.25% in July to NT $613.8 billion ($20.5 billion) as per Bloomberg , marking the slowest monthly gain since January. That fell short of analysts’ expectations for a 12.2% jump in third-quarter revenue. The company, which also makes iPhones for Apple, had previously said it expected both sequential and year-on-year sales growth in the July-to-September period. Last week, President Donald Trump imposed a 20% tariff on goods exported from Taiwan to the United States. While electronics shipments are currently exempt, they could still feel the impact of an ongoing U.S. probe under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, which includes semiconductors. Despite these headwinds, Hon Hai may find brighter spots ahead. As Cryptopolitan reported earlier, the world’s biggest tech names are ramping up capital spending to stay at the forefront of the AI boom. Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta are set to invest more than $344 billion this year combined, much of it aimed at building or upgrading data centers. Nvidia, a key Hon Hai partner on server assembly, has laid out plans to provide up to $500 billion worth of AI infrastructure in the U.S. over the coming years, working with manufacturers including Foxconn. Foxconn sells Ohio plant, shifts toward AI focus In a related move on Monday, Foxconn agreed to sell its former car plant in Lordstown, Ohio, for $375 million, machinery included. The company stressed it would continue using the site for a wider array of products that fit its long-term goals. Foxconn did not spell out exactly what it will build at Lordstown. It did note, however, that its cloud and networking-gear unit has seen “significant growth” in orders. An industry source familiar with the deal said the Ohio facility will support AI-focused data centers. At more than six million square feet (557,000 sqm), the plant is roughly six times the size of Foxconn’s Houston factory, which is being readied to produce Nvidia’s GB300 AI servers. The plant’s backstory dates to 2022, when Foxconn bought the former General Motors small-car factory there, named for the town, from now-defunct Lordstown Motors Corp. for $230 million. The two companies had teamed up to build electric pickup trucks at the site, but the venture unraveled when Lordstown Motors went under and filed suit against its partner. In its Monday announcement, Foxconn said it sold the factory to one of its “existing business partners” but offered no further details. It added that it remains committed to serving U.S. automotive clients and can quickly ramp up vehicle output if needed. Foxconn has been stretching beyond its roots as an iPhone maker. Just last week, it formed a strategic alliance with TECO Electric & Machinery (1504.TW) to develop data-center projects. Hon Hai’s broader business may also have been boosted by brisk demand for Apple gadgets. Apple reported its fastest quarterly revenue rise in more than three years on strong Chinese sales and said it expects current-quarter revenue to climb by mid-to-high single digits compared with a year earlier. Get seen where it counts. Advertise in Cryptopolitan Research and reach crypto’s sharpest investors and builders.