• Asus mentioned an AMD microcode flaw in recent patch notes
• The flaw was not yet publicized by the processor manufacturer
• AMD has since confirmed the news

AMD has seemingly confirmed the existence of a microcode vulnerability which apparently spilled, unintentionally, from PC maker Asus.

Security researcher Tavis Ormandy recently spotted a BETA bios fix for a “microcode signature verification vulnerability” apparently plaguing Asus’ gaming motherboards, being mentioned in the company’s release notes.

With payment firm Stripe’s recent $1.1 billion acquisition of stablecoin platform Bridge.xyz sending shockwaves through the crypto payments sphere, attention is turning to the next generation of stablecoin payment infrastructure providers.

Among them is BlindPay, a 2024 Consensus hackathon winner and Y Combinator 2025 (W25) batch company that’s taking a distinct approach to the challenge of global payments (if you’d like to apply for the EasyA Hackathon at Consensus Hong Kong 2025, please go here).

While Bridge.xyz captured the U.S. and European markets with its enterprise-focused strategy, BlindPay is betting on emerging markets — particularly those in Latin America — as the key to widespread stablecoin adoption. This focus comes at a time when a16z crypto predicts increasing enterprise acceptance of stablecoins for payments, calling them “the cheapest way to send a dollar.”

“What differentiates us from Bridge is our focus on emerging markets,” says Bernardo Simonassi Moura, BlindPay’s 26-year-old CEO. “We already operate in Argentina, Mexico, Colombia and Brazil, and we have our compliance and regulations in place to onboard customers in those regions.”

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Unlike Bridge’s enterprise-centric model that relies on monthly commitment fees, BlindPay takes what Moura calls a “Shopify approach” of trying to democratize access to global payment rails for small and medium-sized businesses via a transaction-fee model. This strategy aligns with a16z’s prediction that small and medium-sized businesses will be among the first to embrace stablecoin payments in order to avoid the hefty transaction fees levied by traditional finance companies.

Since its launch in July, the approach has proven highly effective, with BlindPay securing 19 customers across gaming, payments, and DAOs, including notable names such as LootRush in gaming and Hifibridge and WalaPay in payments. Monthly payment volumes have grown from $30,000 at launch to over $300,000 recently, and Moura expects that figure to grow to $2.5 million by the addition of new customers.

BlindPay’s competitive advantage lies in its deep integration with Latin American markets, particularly Brazil, where crypto adoption ranks top ten globally, according to Chainlysis. In addition, Moura is focusing heavily on developer experience, drawing on his seven years of experience as a software engineer and product designer. “I always strive to bring the seamless and intuitive developer experience that platforms like Resend, Stripe, Ankey, SVX, and Clerk offer to the Web3 space,” he says.

The market opportunity

BlindPay’s potential market is substantial. The cross-border payment industry, currently dominated by SWIFT, processes approximately $33 trillion annually. Stablecoins, which moved $8.5 trillion in 2024, offer a compelling alternative. “If I want to send money from Brazil to Argentina using stablecoins, it takes 30 seconds, while SWIFT takes five business days,” Moura points out.

Looking ahead, BlindPay’s ambitions extend beyond stablecoin integrations. “We have a long-term strategy of leveraging our team’s fintech experience to launch banking-as-a-service features powered by stablecoins,” Moura says. To that end, the company plans to connect with card networks, enable stablecoin spending through card issuance and facilitate buying tokenized stocks from regulated regions.

With its four co-founders bringing experience from traditional fintech — including Silicon Valley’s Lending Club and Brazilian fintech unicorns — BlindPay is well positioned to bridge the gap between traditional finance and crypto-native solutions. As the stablecoin payment landscape evolves, their focus on emerging markets, developer-friendly infrastructure and developing a comprehensive stablecoin-powered banking ecosystem could prove to be a winning strategy in the race to revolutionize global payments.

Autograph, the NFT company co-founded by Tom Brady, is merging with the digital fitness company Future. As part of the merger, Brady will join the board of directors of Future and serve as co-chair of the company. 

Brady co-founded Autograph in 2021 to find ways to connect athletes and artists with fans, ultimately launching an NFT marketplace and raising more than $200 million valued at $3.1 billion, according to PitchBook. The company relaunched late last year, without the NFT component, as a platform that tracks fan engagements and rewards them for it. It counted the likes of Naomi Osaka and Tony Hawk on its board of advisers and was backed by Andreessen Horowitz and Lightspeed Venture Partners. 

Future, meanwhile, connects people with digital fitness coaches and builds personalized fitness routines for users.  

Autograph faced some challenges, especially after the crypto market crashed and the NFT market cooled. In 2023, the company had layoffs and at one point was down to 30 people, as reported by Fast Company. 

Rishi Mandal, co-founder and CEO of Future, made the announcement on LinkedIn. Speaking to TechCrunch, Mandal said he and Brady met through Richard Rosenblatt, co-founder of Autograph, and discussed partnerships but ultimately decided they should be one company, he said. While all parties are calling this a merger, not an acquisition, the company will retain the name Future. Mandal said it was too early to announce new products but said that Future will look to combine Autographs’ celebrity connections with Future’s athletic mission. The goal is to find a way to let people train with top athletes and receive expert coaching. 

Future has raised more than $100 million and was last publicly valued at $275 million, according to PitchBook.

This story was updated to clarify how Mandal and Brady met.

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Arbitrum, Avalanche, and Solana are gearing up for significant moves in 2025, with the emerging meme coin Catzilla also joining the ranks.

The crypto market is showing strong signs of recovery, bringing excitement and optimism among investors. Arbitrum (ARB), Avalanche (AVAX), and Solana (SOL) are catching attention with their potential for significant moves this year. As the market shifts, these cryptocurrencies stand out as intriguing prospects, sparking curiosity about their future paths and encouraging investors to explore their potential.

Catzilla: A new era in meme coins

Catzilla, the ultimate hero in the world of DeFi, is here to take on corrupt systems and promote financial opportunities for all. With a spirit of innovation and community, Catzilla aims to bring together crypto enthusiasts, meme fans, and investors in a collective pursuit of financial growth.

The project is committed to long-term value and growth. While others may offer empty promises, Catzilla seeks to provide substantial potential with a structured presale starting at $0.0002 and progressing to $0.0016 over 14 stages. Early participants are able to grab the CATZILLA token with an 88% discount.

The CATZILLA token offers multiple utilities to enhance the crypto experience:

1. Governance – Participate in shaping Catzilla’s future through community decisions.
2. Incentives – Earn rewards for engagement and support.
3. Staking – Hold and stake CATZILLA tokens to potentially earn passive income.

Catzilla aims to create a new environment for those eager to join a collaborative and transformative crypto community. For experienced investors, fans of memes, and those who enjoy combining fun with financial opportunities, Catzilla offers a platform where creativity meets potential.

Interested investors can be part of the CATZILLA movement via presale.

Arbitrum set for rebound

Arbitrum’s current price floats between $0.68 and $0.83 and has been falling over the last month. But with an RSI at 39.77, the coin is near oversold territory, suggesting a possible price rebound. 

The nearest resistance is just over $0.91, and breaking this could push ARB toward the $1.09 level, marking a potential growth of around 30% from its current range. Although recent months have seen declines, this sets up an interesting opportunity for those expecting a turnaround. Traders are keeping an eye on the support levels, especially $0.5457, as breaking this could signal further price drops.

AVAX eyes breakout

Avalanche is currently trading between $34.71 and $42.01. The coin has been on a declining trend, with a drop of close to 10% in the past week. However, a stronger long-term picture emerges with a 22% uptick over six months. 

Near-term, AVAX faces its first challenge at the resistance level of $45.75. The coin’s RSI level at 32.78 indicates it might be oversold, suggesting potential for a bounce. If momentum shifts, AVAX could break past the $45 mark and aim for the next significant level at $54.75. However, it should stay above the strong support line at $27.77 to sustain any upward move.

Solana’s path

Solana is battling within a tight price range of $213 to $294. The coin has shown promise with a 28% rise in the past month and over 33% growth in 6 months. Its nearest resistance sits at $320, a challenging but achievable target if momentum continues. 

The current RSI at 38 hints at potential upward movement from an oversold position. However, surpassing the $491 mark requires more steam. Solana’s current price is below its simple moving average, but the recent month’s positive change shows potential for a surge. If Solana can break the $320 barrier, it could see a significant increase, possibly over 40%.

Conclusion

While Arbitrum, Avalanche, and Solana show promise, their short-term potential is limited. In contrast, Catzilla emerges as the ultimate meme coin hero, offering a remarkable 700% ROI during its presale. With governance features, rewards for loyalty, and staking options, it looks to unite crypto enthusiasts, meme fans, and anime lovers in the quest for financial freedom.

For more information on Catzilla, visit their website, X, or Telegram News.