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Wells Fargo files trademark for WFUSD, hinting at potential bank stablecoin

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Wells Fargo files trademark for WFUSD, hinting at potential bank stablecoin

Wells Fargo has filed a trademark application for “WFUSD,” sparking speculation that the U.S. banking giant may be exploring a blockchain-based payment token or stablecoin.

Summary

  • Wells Fargo filed a trademark for “WFUSD,” covering crypto-related payment and digital asset services.
  • The move may signal exploration of a bank-issued stablecoin or blockchain-based settlement token.
  • The filing comes as Wall Street banks prepare for clearer U.S. stablecoin regulation and expanding digital asset adoption.

According to the filing, the mark covers financial services tied to digital assets, including cryptocurrency-related payments and electronic financial transactions.

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While Wells Fargo has not announced a product tied to the name, the application has raised the possibility that Wells Fargo could be preparing a dollar-pegged digital asset.

If launched, WFUSD would place the bank among a growing group of major financial institutions experimenting with blockchain-based settlement tools and tokenized payments. Banks have increasingly explored digital tokens as a way to move funds instantly and reduce costs in cross-border or institutional transfers.

The move would also reflect a broader trend of Wall Street firms expanding their crypto strategies. For example, JPMorgan Chase previously launched its blockchain-based payment token, JPM Coin, to facilitate institutional transactions across its internal network.

A potential stablecoin from Wells Fargo could emerge as regulatory clarity around digital dollar tokens improves in the United States. Policymakers have been working toward frameworks that would place stablecoin issuers under stricter oversight, a development that many analysts believe could favor large regulated banks entering the market.

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If regulatory rules solidify, traditional financial institutions may become major issuers of dollar-backed digital assets, competing with established stablecoin providers such as Circle and Tether Limited.

For now, the WFUSD filing does not confirm a forthcoming launch, but it shows how major banks are positioning themselves for a financial system increasingly influenced by blockchain-based infrastructure.

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Metaplanet (MTPLF) Stock Surges After Unveiling $25M Venture Fund and Miami Expansion

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3350.T Stock Card

Key Highlights

  • Two new wholly owned entities introduced: Metaplanet Ventures and Metaplanet Asset Management
  • Venture capital division plans to invest approximately 4 billion yen (~$25M) in Japanese Bitcoin infrastructure companies throughout the coming years
  • Initial portfolio investment announced — 400 million yen ($2.5M) stake in JPYC, a Japanese stablecoin provider, as part of its Series B funding
  • U.S.-based asset management division will operate from Miami, targeting Bitcoin financial products for investors across Asia and the West
  • MTPLF shares gained 5.53% Wednesday, finishing at $2.29; Tokyo shares declined 1.9% Thursday to 362 yen

The Tokyo-based Bitcoin treasury company Metaplanet has significantly broadened its strategic footprint. On Thursday, the firm unveiled two newly formed, fully owned subsidiaries — a venture capital division and an American asset management operation — signaling a major evolution in its Bitcoin-centric business model.


3350.T Stock Card
Metaplanet Inc., 3350.T

Chief Executive Simon Gerovich announced the developments on X, noting board approval for both entities. These strategic moves arrive as Japanese regulatory frameworks progress toward formal recognition of Bitcoin as a regulated financial instrument, with Metaplanet anticipating official classification by January 2028.

The venture capital subsidiary, Metaplanet Ventures, will concentrate investments in seed through growth-stage companies developing Bitcoin financial infrastructure across Japan. Priority sectors encompass lending platforms, payment solutions, custody services, stablecoin technology, derivative products, and compliance systems. Additionally, the venture division will operate an incubator alongside a grants initiative supporting nascent founders, open-source contributors, educators, and academic researchers.

The planned $25M capital deployment spans a two-to-three-year timeframe and will draw funding from Metaplanet’s Bitcoin-related revenue streams — explicitly avoiding liquidation of its existing Bitcoin treasury.

Inaugural Investment: JPYC Stablecoin Platform

The venture arm moved swiftly with its debut investment. Metaplanet Ventures committed 400 million yen ($2.5M) to JPYC Inc., the company behind Japan’s first officially licensed stablecoin. This capital injection forms part of JPYC’s Series B funding round.

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JPYC debuted in October 2025 and maintains its 1:1 Japanese yen peg through a combination of bank deposits and government securities. The stablecoin operates across Ethereum, Avalanche, and Polygon networks. In recent weeks, JPYC established a strategic partnership with Sony Bank to penetrate Japan’s music and entertainment industries.

Gerovich articulated the strategic rationale behind the investment: “Every Bitcoin transaction has two sides: Bitcoin and a currency. As this market goes institutional, that currency side goes digital.”

Establishing U.S. Operations in Miami

The companion subsidiary, Metaplanet Asset Management, will establish headquarters in Miami, functioning as a “digital credit and Bitcoin capital markets platform.” The entity aims to bridge Asian and Western capital markets while delivering Bitcoin investment vehicles, capital markets consulting, and associated regulatory frameworks.

Management indicated forthcoming announcements regarding specific fund launches and investment approaches, spanning fixed income instruments through actively managed equity positions and volatility-based strategies.

Metaplanet’s current treasury contains 35,102 BTC — valued at approximately $2.45 billion — positioning the firm as the fourth-largest corporate Bitcoin holder globally. The company maintains an ambitious acquisition target of 210,000 BTC by the conclusion of 2027.

Financial results released last month showed a net loss of 95 billion yen ($598M) for 2025, primarily attributed to unrealized mark-to-market adjustments on Bitcoin holdings. Gerovich countered negative interpretations of the headline figure, highlighting a remarkable 1,695% year-over-year increase in operating profitability.

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“Even in this year’s down market, our stock fell 23% while Bitcoin fell 24% — we have not underperformed,” he stated.

MTPLF shares advanced 5.53% during Wednesday’s session, closing at $2.29. The Tokyo-listed equity experienced a 1.9% intraday decline Thursday, trading at 362 yen.

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Pi Network’s PI Token Listed on Major Exchange Ahead of Pi Day: Details

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What Pioneers Need to Know


PI has become one of the trendiest tokens today on CoinGecko, but its price has not benefited from the big announcement.

Ever since it saw the light of day over a year ago, the vast Pi Network community has speculated whether (or when) the underlying token will be listed on some of the largest and oldest crypto exchanges.

Although a few trading platforms continue to stay clear, the veteran US giant Kraken has joined the PI bandwagon following the likes of OKX, Bitget, MEXC, Gate, and others.

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There have been a growing number of speculations in the past month or so about this listing. In fact, one user tried to “manifest” precisely this – PI going live for trading on Kraken before March 14, known in the Pi Network community as Pi Day.

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The exchange stated that trading will commence tomorrow, March 13. Interestingly, there has been no positive reaction from the underlying asset despite this major announcement.

Big listings tend to boost the token, but PI has remained flat over the past 24 hours. However, it’s one of the best performers on a weekly and monthly scale, gaining 24% since last Thursday and a whopping 65.6% since February 12.

A large portion of its recent gains could be attributed to the protocol updates, as the team announced the successful implementation of v19.6 and v19.9 consecutively. The next version, 20.2, is actually expected to be introduced today.

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Ethereum Scarcity Index Turns Positive as ETH USD Pushed Back Above $2,000

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Could ETH USD be set for a surge above $2,200 as the Ethereum scarcity index flashes positive, with BlackRock and Bitmine still buying ETH

Ethereum has reclaimed $2,000 overnight with a modest +0.6% move to the upside as ETH USD continues to chop sideways as the broader market searches for direction.

However, under the hood on Binance, a key supply metric just flashed a positive 0.67 reading. While price action looks hesitant, this signal suggests the order book is thinning out in favor of sellers.

Could ETH USD be set for a surge above $2,200 as the Ethereum scarcity index flashes positive, with BlackRock and Bitmine still buying ETH
SOURCE: CryptoQuant

The Scarcity Index, tracked by CryptoQuant analysts, measures the deviation of exchange reserves against historical baselines. A positive reading indicates that the platform’s available inventory is dropping below average levels, reducing the liquidity cushion for sell orders.

At 0.67, the index isn’t screaming an immediate supply shock, but it marks a definitive structural shift. Historically, similar transitions from negative to positive scarcity values have preceded recovery phases, as sell-side pressure exhausts itself against steady accumulation.

Could ETH USD be set for a surge above $2,200 as the Ethereum scarcity index flashes positive, with BlackRock and Bitmine still buying ETH
SOURCE: TradingView

Ethereum Price Prediction: Can the Scarcity Signal Push ETH Back Above $2,200?

ETH is currently compressing in a tight range between $1,900 and $2,100. The asset remains significantly below its 50-day simple moving average of $2,278 and the 200-day average near $3,038.

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This technical weakness suggests that while supply is shrinking, demand has not yet risen enough to overcome overhead resistance.

If bulls can leverage the thinner order books to push past $2,150, the next major resistance cluster sits at $2,200–$2,400. A reclaim of the $2,278 level would align the technicals with the bullish on-chain data.

Some analysts argue that smart money is positioning for the long haul, as Wall Street shows signs of choosing Ethereum as a backbone for future finance.

However, if the consolidation breaks downward, the scarcity signal will be invalidated by sheer selling volume. A daily close below $1,900 opens the door to a retest of the $1,800 support zone.

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DISCOVER: Next Crypto to Explode in 2026

What Traders Are Watching Next for ETH USD

The key to validating the 0.67 scarcity reading is volume. Traders are watching for a spike in spot buying activity amid the reduced supply. Without volume, low liquidity simply means price action remains choppy.

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Per CoinGlass data, institutional flows also remain a wildcard with BlackRock beginning the week by selling over 28,000 ETH ($55M). However, the past two days have finished in the green, with nearly +$70M in positive flows across March 10 and 11.

ETF data needs to maintain the positive momentum of the past few days to support the spot market recovery and any ETH USD push toward $2,200 and above.

Away from ETFs, Digital Asset Treasury firms like the Tom Lee-led Bitmine continue to scoop up ETH USD, adding to the scarcity as the company has now locked over 3M ETH, totalling around $6Bn at current prices.

Investors are monitoring regulatory headlines, such as recent news that Binance is suing the WSJ over defamation claims, which can impact user sentiment and flow dynamics on the platform.

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If the Scarcity Index climbs above 1.0 while price holds $2,000, the probability of a supply-shock rally increases significantly.

EXPLORE: Best Crypto Presales to Buy in 2026

The post Ethereum Scarcity Index Turns Positive as ETH USD Pushed Back Above $2,000 appeared first on Cryptonews.

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Will XRP price react as Ripple launches $750M buyback plan?

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Will XRP price react as Ripple launches $750M buyback plan? - 2

Ripple has unveiled a $750 million buyback plan for the XRP token, sparking speculation about whether the move could trigger renewed bullish momentum for the XRP price.

Summary

  • Ripple announced a $750M buyback plan that could tighten circulating supply of XRP.
  • On-chain data from CryptoQuant shows XRP reserves on Binance dropping to a 10-month low of $3.7B, signaling potential accumulation.
  • XRP price remains in consolidation near $1.37, with $1.50 acting as key resistance and $1.30 as immediate support.

Corporate buybacks are often interpreted as a signal of confidence in an asset’s long-term value. In crypto markets, similar strategies can also affect liquidity by reducing circulating supply, potentially supporting prices if demand remains strong.

While the company has not disclosed the precise timeline or execution strategy, reports on the buyback has already drawn attention from traders looking for potential catalysts in a market that has been largely range-bound in recent weeks.

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The move comes as XRP price continues to attract institutional interest and broader adoption across cross-border payment networks tied to Ripple’s ecosystem.

Exchange supply tightening signals potential pressure

Recent on-chain data from CryptoQuant suggests that exchange supply for XRP is already tightening.

According to the analytics firm, Binance’s XRP reserves have dropped sharply to $3.7 billion as of March 10, the lowest level recorded in 10 months. The metric tracks the total value of XRP held on the exchange and reflects both token balances and price fluctuations.

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Will XRP price react as Ripple launches $750M buyback plan? - 2

Earlier in 2025, reserves on Binance exceeded $10 billion during peaks in January and July. Those periods were followed by steep corrections that pushed XRP prices below $1.20.

The continued decline in reserves, down from roughly $3.9 billion on March 6, could indicate that traders are withdrawing XRP from exchanges, often interpreted as a signal of accumulation or long-term holding.

If the buyback initiative coincides with shrinking exchange supply, the combination could create upward pressure on prices.

XRP price analysis

Based on the latest XRP/USDT daily chart, the token remains locked in a consolidation phase despite the broader bullish narrative.

Will XRP price react as Ripple launches $750M buyback plan? - 3
XRP price analysis | Source: Crypto.News

XRP is currently trading near $1.37, hovering within a relatively tight range that has formed since early February following a sharp correction from higher levels.

The $1.45–$1.50 zone remains the immediate hurdle for bulls. A decisive breakout above this region could open the door for a push toward the $1.70–$1.80 range.

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The chart shows strong support around $1.30, with deeper support near $1.20 if selling pressure intensifies.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is currently hovering around 45, indicating neutral momentum. The reading suggests the asset is neither overbought nor oversold, leaving room for a potential move in either direction

Meanwhile, the Accumulation/Distribution indicator continues trending slightly downward, hinting that market participants remain cautious despite improving fundamentals.

For now, the market appears to be waiting for a decisive catalyst. If Ripple’s buyback plan and declining exchange reserves translate into stronger demand, XRP could attempt to break out of its current consolidation range.

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Otherwise, the token may continue trading sideways as investors assess the broader crypto market environment.

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Bonk.fun Domain Hijacked to Push Crypto Wallet Drainer

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Bonk.fun Domain Hijacked to Push Crypto Wallet Drainer

Bonk.fun warned users not to use its site after attackers hijacked the domain and pushed a fake wallet-draining prompt.

The domain of Solana-based platform memecoin launchpad Bonk.fun has been hijacked after attackers gained access to a team account and deployed a wallet-draining scheme through the site.

The Bonk.fun account on X warned users early Thursday not to interact with the website while the team worked to secure the domain. “A malicious actor has compromised the BONKfun domain, do not interact with the website until we have secured everything,” the project wrote in a post on X.

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X user Tom, who is an operator behind Bonk.fun, said the attackers used the compromised access to push a fake message designed to trick visitors into signing a malicious transaction.

Bonk.fun domain hijacked. Source: Tom

In a follow-up post, Tom said the exploit targeted users who signed a fraudulent terms-of-service prompt that appeared on the site during the breach. Users who had previously connected wallets to Bonk.fun were not affected, and traders interacting with Bonk-related tokens through external terminals were also safe.

Related: Trust Wallet adds real-time scam address checks for crypto users

Some users report losses

Some users reported losses in replies to the warning posts. One user claimed roughly 50 Solana (SOL) had been drained from their wallet, while another said they lost about 10 SOL. More users claimed varying amounts of losses.

Meanwhile, Tom said the incident was contained quickly and that reported losses appear limited so far. “We understand a lot of people are scared and rightly so but we’re doing everything in our power to fix the situation,” he added.

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Cointelegraph reached out to Tom for comment but had not received a response by publication.

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