TLDR:

• • Nonagon Capital and Startale Group partner to pioneer JPYSC agentic payment proof-of-concept initiatives in 2026.
    
  • JPYSC is Japan’s first trust bank-backed yen stablecoin, exempt from the JPY 1 million domestic transfer cap.
    
  • Deloitte projects AI agent-driven commerce will reach USD 17.5 trillion by 2030, fueling stablecoin demand.
  • Planned use cases include agent-to-agent settlements, autonomous purchasing, and real-time micropayments globally.

JPYSC, Japan’s first bank-backed yen stablecoin, is now part of a new strategic partnership. Nonagon Capital and Startale Group announced the collaboration on March 27, 2026.

Nonagon Capital is a San Francisco Bay Area venture fund focused on digital assets. Startale Group is a Singapore-headquartered global fintech company.

Both firms plan to run proof-of-concept initiatives for AI agent-driven payments using JPYSC. Deloitte projects AI agent-driven commerce will reach $17.5 trillion by 2030.

Japan’s Trust Bank-Backed Stablecoin Targets Enterprise Settlement

Shinsei Trust & Banking, a subsidiary of SBI Shinsei Bank, issues JPYSC under Japan’s Payment Services Act. It is classified as an Item (iii) Electronic Payment Instrument, taking the form of trust-beneficiary rights.

SBI VC Trade handles distribution, while Startale Group leads technical development. This includes smart contract architecture and security infrastructure.

Startale Group took to X to announce the collaboration, stating the two companies would work to “pioneer agentic payment use cases for Japan’s first bank-backed yen stablecoin.”

The post further referenced plans for “agent-to-agent settlements, autonomous purchasing & real-time micropayments.” These use cases are designed to serve global enterprises across multiple industries.

The announcement signaled both firms’ commitment to building next-generation payment infrastructure.

The stablecoin is not subject to Japan’s JPY 1 million per-transaction cap on domestic transfers. This makes it well-suited for large enterprise-grade financial settlements.

It also supports interoperability between traditional financial systems and blockchain networks. The official JPYSC launch is targeted for Q2 2026, subject to regulatory approvals.

JPYSC’s design combines institutional backing with blockchain-level programmability. Its trust bank structure provides regulatory credibility under Japanese law.

Its on-chain architecture also offers flexibility for cross-border enterprise use cases. This combination sets it apart from conventional digital payment instruments.

Partnership Proof-of-Concepts to Shape JPYSC Global Rollout

Nonagon Capital announced in February 2026 its strategic focus on the agentic payment space. The Startale Group partnership marks its first major initiative in that direction.

Both firms view the convergence of AI and blockchain as a pivotal economic development. Their joint effort begins with proof-of-concept experiments using JPYSC as the payment layer.

On-chain identity verification, referred to as Know Your Agent (KYA), is a core feature of JPYSC. This mechanism allows it to function natively within autonomous AI payment environments.

Programmable settlement capabilities further position it as a next-generation payment layer. These features support regulated digital yen transactions on a global scale.

These insights will form the operational blueprint for a swift global rollout. Both companies plan to use their combined international reach to scale results.

Further announcements will follow as developments progress. The partnership draws together expertise in digital assets, fintech, and AI infrastructure.

JPYSC’s programmable settlement rails make it suited for high-frequency AI transactions. Regulatory compliance and institutional backing from SBI Group add credibility to the framework.

As the Q2 2026 launch nears, both companies continue to refine their execution strategy. The agentic payment space is growing, and this partnership positions both firms at the forefront.

Worldcoin price has dropped over 30% this month as market sentiment remains risk-off amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

According to data from crypto.news, Worldcoin (WLD) was trading at $0.27 last check on Friday, March 27, with a market capitalization of over $867 million. The altcoin has fallen 15% over the past week and over 40% since the beginning of this year.

Worldcoin price fell as escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, particularly after Iran rejected a peace proposal from the U.S. to end the war between the two nations, triggered a risk-off sentiment among investors who are increasingly rotating their capital to gold and other traditional safety plays.

The downward momentum also intensified after reports revealed that the Worldcoin team transferred around $26 million worth of WLD tokens to centralized exchanges. Over the past week, the total amount of tokens held across all exchanges rose over 25% to $742 million, data from Nansen shows.

A jump in balances held on exchanges tends to increase selling pressure for a token as investors remain uneasy over a potential supply overhang should these entities decide to sell them.

Additionally, continued scrutiny of Tools for Humanity, the main developer behind the Worldcoin project, over biometric data collection has led to operational suspensions in countries like Brazil and Indonesia in early 2026, creating persistent investor uncertainty.

On the daily chart, Worldcoin price has been trading within a descending parallel channel pattern since early October 2025 while forming lower highs and lower lows. As long as the asset price remains within the two parallel trendlines that mark the boundaries of the ongoing Worldcoin price decline, the token will likely remain trapped in a bearish structure.

The Supertrend indicator has flashed a red sell signal, which means that the bearish momentum is still firmly in control. Additionally, the MACD lines have confirmed a bearish crossover with both lines remaining below the zero line, a sign that selling pressure is accelerating rather than cooling off.

For now, traders would likely be keeping an eye on $0.25, as this level serves as a critical support zone. A break below which could further deteriorate market sentiment for the token and likely lead to a deeper plunge toward $0.20.

On the contrary, a break above $0.35 could spark a bullish exit from the upper side of the descending channel, potentially ending the months-long downtrend.

Anchorage Digital, the first crypto firm to get a U.S. banking charter, said it will add support for the Tron blockchain, starting with institutional custody for TRX, the network’s native token.

The announcement gives institutions a regulated way to hold TRX through the company’s platform and its self-custody wallet, Porto. Anchorage Digital said support for TRC-20 assets and native TRX staking be added later.

Tron has become one of the busiest networks for moving stablecoins and other digital assets. DeFiLlama data shows that the supply of stablecoins on the network has grown steadily over the last three years and now stands at $86 billion. That’s more than a quarter of the total stablecoin supply.

Anchorage is pitching the integration as a compliance-focused bridge between traditional institutions and a network that has seen heavy use in crypto payments. CEO Nathan McCauley said the addition brings “one of crypto’s largest ecosystems into an institutional framework.”

The rollout will happen in stages. First comes custody for TRX, with plans to add Tron-based TRC-20 assets later. That’s followed by staking for institutions that want to earn rewards while taking part in network validation.

Anchorage already supports major networks including Ethereum and some of the biggest layer-2 networks such as Arbitrum, Optimism, Base and Linea. It also supports bitcoin BTC$67,685.57 and solana (SOL) tokens, and other major layer-1 networks like Avalanche and BNB Chain.

Key Highlights

• Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest partners with Kalshi to integrate prediction market intelligence into investment strategy
• Prediction market insights will support portfolio research, risk assessment, and hedging strategies
• Cathie Wood describes prediction markets as “a natural next step for innovation in financial research”
• Federal Reserve researchers and Cornell University academics have validated prediction market data’s utility
• Kalshi recently achieved a $22 billion valuation following a $1 billion capital raise

Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest has revealed a strategic partnership with Kalshi, a regulated prediction markets platform, marking a significant shift in how institutional investors approach market intelligence.

According to the announcement, ARK Invest will integrate Kalshi’s prediction market data across three critical functions: enhancing its proprietary research with real-time crowd-sourced forecasts, monitoring key performance metrics such as trading activity, and implementing risk controls tied to specific market events.

The investment firm also intends to utilize Kalshi’s platform for hedging strategies designed to protect against adverse scenarios impacting its holdings, spanning both macroeconomic developments and industry-specific vulnerabilities.

“We believe these signals can enhance our research process and provide valuable context around key drivers across disruptive sectors,” Wood stated in Thursday’s announcement.

Nick Grous, ARK’s Director of Research, characterized prediction markets as delivering “some of the purest expressions of risk around key economic and company-specific outcomes.”

ARK has actively collaborated with Kalshi to develop specialized markets aligned with the firm’s analytical priorities.

Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour disclosed that multiple ARK-requested markets have already launched, including contracts tracking non-farm payroll data and deficit-to-GDP ratios.

Understanding Prediction Markets

Prediction markets function as trading platforms where participants buy and sell contracts based on future event outcomes. The fundamental premise holds that when participants risk actual capital, market prices become efficient aggregators of collective knowledge and unbiased probability assessments.

Kalshi stands as one of America’s leading regulated prediction market operators. Its primary competitor, Polymarket, functions predominantly within the cryptocurrency ecosystem.

Throughout the previous year, prediction markets recorded over $10 billion in monthly transaction volume, attracting increasing institutional adoption.

Institutional Validation Growing

ARK Invest joins a expanding roster of established institutions recognizing prediction market value. Recently, Federal Reserve researchers released a study contending that Kalshi’s data offers superior real-time measurement of macroeconomic expectations compared to conventional forecasting instruments.

Federal Reserve analysts concluded that Kalshi markets deliver “a high-frequency, continuously updated, distributionally rich benchmark” valuable for both academic researchers and monetary policy officials.

Academic institutions have similarly engaged with prediction market analytics. Cornell University researchers examined Polymarket data to investigate trader behavior during significant political moments, including the 2024 presidential debate series and the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump.

Kalshi’s recent $1 billion funding round established the platform’s valuation at $22 billion, underscoring growing confidence in prediction markets as financial infrastructure.

Key Insights

• Garlinghouse remains confident the Clarity Act will pass despite industry divisions and Coinbase resistance.
• SEC and CFTC recognition of assets like XRP signals growing regulatory clarity in the crypto sector.
• Ripple sees limited need for multiple USD stablecoins, positioning for a compliant, institution-focused alternative.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has expressed confidence that the US Senate’s stalled Clarity Act will eventually pass, even as opposition from Coinbase continues to complicate negotiations.

Speaking at the FII PRIORITY Miami summit, Garlinghouse emphasized that Ripple is not directly involved in the dispute. ‘Ripple doesn’t have a big dog in this fight,’ he said, noting the company is largely observing developments from the sidelines.

Regulatory Momentum Builds

The Clarity Act aims to introduce more transparent regulations concerning the digital assets, especially relating to the classification and regulation. It has drawn the attention of the crypto industry, which has long wanted regulatory certainty in the United States.

Garlinghouse pointed to growing institutional and political backing as a positive signal. ‘White House support pushing the Clarity Act forward has been profound,’ he stated, suggesting momentum remains intact despite setbacks.

However, Coinbase’s rejection of a recent compromise has slowed progress. The exchange has pushed towards more desirable terms, marking continuing divisions in the industry on how regulation is to be designed.

SEC, CFTC and Existing Clarity

Garlinghouse also referenced existing regulatory developments, noting that assets like XRP have already seen classification progress. According to him, both the SEC and CFTC have acknowledged certain digital assets as commodities.

‘There is already some clarity,’ he said, adding that industry participants are growing impatient. ‘People are annoyed. They are exhausted. So, hopefully we get something done.’

Stablecoin Debate Intensifies

Beyond legislation, Garlinghouse addressed the proliferation of stablecoins, particularly those pegged to the U.S. dollar. He argued that the market does not need excessive duplication.

‘My head starts to hurt if you think about the proliferation,’ he said, referencing the growing number of USD-backed tokens, including USDC.

He disclosed that Ripple had already minted a substantial share of USDC, implying that the company is equipped with the infrastructure to issue its own stablecoin. Having a strong balance sheet, Ripple aims to establish itself as a compliant, institution-oriented player.

Market Outlook

As regulatory discussions continue, XRP market sentiment is still closely linked to legislative progress and developments around ETFs. The implementation of the Clarity Act may help give a more transparent framework for institutional adoption.

The Financial Times reported Friday that Tether has hired KPMG to conduct its first full audit of USDT’s financial statements and brought in PwC to help prepare its internal systems, citing people familiar with the matter.

The reported mandate follows Tether’s Tuesday announcement that it had formally engaged a Big Four firm for an inaugural financial statement audit, without naming the provider, and comes after years of pledges to deliver a full review of its books while relying instead on periodic reserve attestations from BDO Italia, the Italian member firm of the BDO global accounting network that has been producing USDt (USDT) assurance reports since 2022.

The move comes as Tether (USDT) weighs a major equity raise and a push into the US under the new federal stablecoin framework created by the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act. 

USDT, a dollar-linked token with about $185 billion in circulation, is the largest stablecoin by market capitalization, according to CoinGecko. Tether said in January that it held more than $122 billion in direct US Treasury securities and about $141 billion in total Treasury exposure, including related instruments such as overnight reverse repurchase agreements.

Related: Tether CEO slams S&P ratings agency and influencers spreading USDt FUD

A comprehensive audit by KPMG is expected to go beyond snapshots of reserves, covering Tether’s assets, liabilities and internal controls across its sprawling balance sheet, a process the company has billed as “the biggest ever inaugural audit in the history of financial markets.” 

Tether said the Big Four firm was chosen through a competitive process and that it already operates at Big Four “audit standards,” but has not yet committed publicly to when the audit will be completed.

Cointelegraph reached out to Tether and KPMG but had not received a response by publication. PwC refused to comment on the matter.

KPMG audit and Tether’s funding ambitions 

Bloomberg reported in September 2025 that Tether was exploring raising as much as $20 billion in fresh equity, implying a valuation of $500 billion. Tether CEO Paulo Ardoino refuted these claims, telling Cointelegraph in February that such a figure had not been agreed upon, while maintaining its $500 billion valuation target based on the company’s profits.

The company has previously paid a $41 million Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) fine over what the regulator called “untrue or misleading statements” about its reserves.

In a separate case, Tether agreed to an $18.5 million settlement with the New York Attorney General over allegations it concealed losses and misled investors about USDT’s backing. Under the NYAG deal, Tether was compelled to provide detailed quarterly reserve reports for two years and later dropped its opposition to the release of those materials. 

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