South Korea's FSC plans to introduce a consolidated Digital Asset Basic Act covering stablecoins and cryptocurrency, amid 10 pending bills. Separately, an opposition bill to repeal the upcoming 20% crypto income tax heads for review.
PayPal reports Q2 earnings of $1.26 per share, below estimates, with revenue up to $8.68 billion. Strategy focuses on stablecoins, AI-driven payments, and expanded payment network capabilities.
Samsung's announcement to support stablecoins in its Wallet app sparks competition among issuers and networks for integration, with the company's control over the interface giving it leverage in determining the distribution impact.
South Korean crypto exchange Korbit will rebrand as Digital X after its acquisition by Mirae Asset Group. Mirae founder Park Hyeon-joo announced the name, central to the group's "3.0" strategy to combine digital and traditional finance, with plans for RWA tokenization, security tokens, and stablecoins.
Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon supports the US Senate's Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act, acknowledging it's "not perfect" but necessary for market stability. His stance contrasts with other financial leaders like Jamie Dimon and many Democrats, who raise concerns about investor protection and ethics provisions related to presidential crypto investments.
Une étude de la Banque des règlements internationaux (BRI) révèle que les stablecoins, contrairement aux dépôts bancaires, contournent largement les contrôles de capitaux et les restrictions de change dans plus de 130 économies, accélérant la dollarisation et posant des défis à la souveraineté monétaire locale.
Fireblocks CEO Michael Shaulov states South Korea is at a "stablecoin inflection point" due to its strong tech ecosystem, positioning it for the next evolution of financial systems. The company, inspired by past cyberattacks in Korea, plans to expand its support for digital asset adoption among Korean financial institutions and businesses.
Sandy Kaul de Franklin Templeton et Jeremy Allaire de Circle affirment que la prochaine opportunité majeure de l'IA réside dans la blockchain, car les agents IA autonomes nécessitent une infrastructure de paiement sans compte bancaire. Le commerce agentique pourrait atteindre 3 000 à 5 000 milliards de dollars d'ici 2030, avec des protocoles comme x402 démontrant déjà des millions de transactions sur des réseaux comme Base.
Changpeng Zhao (CZ), fondateur de Binance, affirme que la capitalisation des cryptomonnaies représente moins de 1 % de la richesse mondiale, contredisant l'idée d'un marché saturé. Il identifie les passerelles fiat, le manque de stablecoins attractifs et la faible tokenisation des actifs réels comme les principaux freins et opportunités de croissance.
A Bank for International Settlements (BIS) study reveals dollar-backed stablecoins are fostering 'digital dollarization' in emerging markets, largely bypassing capital controls. This trend, driven by macroeconomic stress, challenges traditional monetary policy and necessitates new regulatory tools, despite offering financial access.
The European Central Bank (ECB) warns that stablecoins threaten European bank deposits by operating outside the traditional banking system, potentially reducing lending capacity. Executive board member Piero Cipollone presented the digital euro as a structural solution to safeguard deposits and transaction data for commercial banks.
SBI Holdings acquires majority stake in Coinhako, a Singaporean crypto platform, post-MAS approval, aiming to combine customer base and network with its financial and digital asset services.
A report by Australian crypto exchange Swyftx estimates that AI-native freelance workers could drive $262 billion in stablecoin transaction volume by 2033, as microbusinesses adopt AI and seek efficient cross-border payment solutions.
An IMF paper suggests stablecoins can improve foreign currency access in fixed exchange rate economies but may amplify currency runs during crises, prompting calls for transaction limits.
Hong Kong is positioning itself as a key hub for non-dollar financial activities, expanding yuan business facilities and bond connect quotas, and trialing a gold clearing system. This initiative aims to make yuan funding, gold settlement, and access to Chinese capital markets easier for institutions, offering an alternative to dollar-dominated systems.
Tether's USDT and Circle's USDC are carving out distinct market roles, with USDT dominating payments and USDC settling DeFi activity. Euro stablecoins are also gaining traction under MiCA regulations, diversifying the market beyond the US dollar. Meanwhile, traditional finance giants like Vanguard are increasingly embracing tokenization.
Kraken Co-CEO Arjun Sethi highlighted Hong Kong's century-long role as an international business gateway, now being reshaped by stablecoins and blockchain into a 24/7 liquidity hub. Payward's recent US$600M acquisition of Reap Technologies signals expansion into Asia via Hong Kong.
The EU is preparing to reopen its MiCA crypto rulebook, likely in 2027, to regulate non-EU stablecoin issuers and broaden its scope. This follows U.S. regulatory moves and concerns over dollar-backed stablecoins dominating the market, potentially impacting the euro's monetary sovereignty.
La Commission européenne prévoit de réviser MiCA en 2027 pour inclure les émetteurs de stablecoins hors UE, suite au GENIUS Act américain. La consultation publique pour "MiCA 2.0" est ouverte jusqu'au 31 août 2026.
JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon is strongly opposing the CLARITY Act, warning that stablecoins offering yield could lead to a 'shadow banking' crisis similar to 2008. Banks argue they lack regulatory safeguards, while crypto firms see them as consumer choice.
Stablecoin-settled perpetual contracts hit $1.1T in H1 2026. Adoption as stores of value and for cross-border payments, particularly in Latin America, is rapidly increasing, with transfer users doubling in the region.
The EU is reviewing its crypto regulations to address non-EU stablecoin issuers and emerging technologies like tokenization. Stakeholder consultations are ongoing, with lawmakers deeming a review inevitable due to global developments and institutional pressure.
Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a decree to regulate the digital asset market, introducing rules for stablecoin payments in cross-border trade, tax incentives for regulated crypto activity, and new energy options for digital mining, aiming to establish the country as a global crypto hub.
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon strongly opposes the CLARITY Act, warning that yield-paying stablecoins could create a 'shadow banking' crisis similar to 2008. He vows to fight the bill, which aims to regulate digital assets but faces debate over interest payments on stablecoins.
