Crypto World
Bank of Japan eyes tokenized central bank money in blockchain push
Bank of Japan Governor Ueda Kazuo said the rapid integration of blockchain and artificial intelligence is reshaping the financial system, positioning central banks to play a pivotal role in anchoring trust as crypto-linked infrastructure matures.
Summary
- The BoJ is exploring issuing or connecting central bank money to blockchain networks, including through Project Agorá and domestic sandbox testing.
- Japan’s retail CBDC program remains active, with technical experiments aimed at preparing digital cash as a future “anchor of trust.”
- Ueda warned that fragmented blockchain systems could create systemic risk unless central bank money bridges networks and ensures settlement finality.
Bank of Japan’s Ueda backs blockchain settlements, advances CBDC experiments
Speaking at FIN/SUM 2026 in Tokyo, Ueda described blockchain as moving firmly into its “implementation phase,” with decentralized finance (DeFi), smart contracts and tokenized assets increasingly influencing settlement, payments and cross-border finance.
He emphasized that blockchain’s programmability, particularly atomic transactions that bundle multiple actions into a single execution, could streamline complex processes such as delivery-versus-payment (DvP) and cross-border transfers.
For crypto markets, the speech revealed two key themes: interoperability and settlement in central bank money.
Ueda warned that a fragmented ecosystem of multiple blockchains and traditional payment rails could create conversion bottlenecks and systemic risks if interoperability is not ensured. He suggested central bank money, potentially in tokenized form, could function as a bridge across networks, preserving the “singleness of money” while enabling innovation.
The BOJ is advancing several initiatives with direct implications for digital assets. Its retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilot continues technical testing, while Project Agorá — a joint effort with other central banks and major financial institutions — is exploring tokenized central bank deposits on blockchain networks for cross-border payments.
A separate BOJ sandbox is testing how current account deposits at the central bank could be used to settle transactions conducted on distributed ledgers.
Ueda also highlighted AI’s growing role in analyzing blockchain transaction data for risk management and AML/CFT compliance, signaling closer scrutiny of crypto-linked activity even as innovation expands.
The message to markets was clear: blockchain-based finance is no longer experimental. But its long-term stability, Ueda said, will hinge on central banks embedding trust, liquidity and settlement finality into the next generation of digital infrastructure.
Crypto World
How Account Abstraction Enhances UX for Crypto Exchange Software?
AI Summary
- The blog post discusses the importance of account abstraction in cryptocurrency exchange software to improve user experience by addressing wallet friction issues.
- It highlights how traditional wallet structures create complexities for users, leading to inefficiencies in trading processes.
- Account abstraction shifts execution control to smart accounts, offering benefits such as simplified trading flows, reduced gas fees, and improved security.
- By integrating this technology, exchanges can streamline trade execution, reduce confirmation steps, and enhance user retention rates.
- The post also outlines the security considerations and potential risks associated with implementing account abstraction, emphasizing the need for robust security measures.
Cryptocurrency exchange software has spent the past decade optimizing liquidity, matching engines, and trading interfaces, yet the most critical bottleneck, the wallet layer, sits outside. Externally owned accounts (EOAs), controlled by a user’s private key, underpin most crypto wallets today but were never actually built for high-frequency trading or mainstream usability. Users need to manually manage seed phrases, approve tokens, hold native gas tokens, and sign multiple transactions before executing a single trade. End users gain exposure to low-level blockchain mechanics and a fragmented flow that TradFi platforms eliminated years ago.
Account abstraction changes this model by moving transaction logic, fee handling, and authorization rules into programmable smart accounts. Instead of users adapting to blockchain constraints, the cryptocurrency exchange software can define how accounts behave by sponsoring fees, batching actions, delegating permissions, and enabling flexible authentication. The result is a trading experience that approaches Web2 simplicity while preserving self-custody at the settlement layer.
How Does Wallet Friction Break Crypto Exchange UX?
As stated earlier, the constraint is not liquidity or matching speed but the execution control. When trading relies on EOA-based execution, cryptocurrency exchange software cannot abstract gas management, approval logic, or transaction sequencing. Every trade inherits the blockchain-level constraints.
-
Gas Fees as a Trading Blocker
Exchanges that don’t implement account abstraction require users to
-
- Maintain native tokens (e.g., ETH) for execution
- Monitor gas balances before trading
- Absorb gas price volatility
- Face failed transactions when balances are insufficient
This places a critical part of trade execution outside the control of the crypto exchange software.
Business impact:
Gas dependency increases onboarding friction and introduces failure points during the first trade. Users who encounter gas-related errors early are less likely to complete activation, reducing onboarding completion and first-trade conversion rates. Users’ confidence in the cryptocurrency exchange software also declines.
-
Fragmented Trade Execution Model
EOA-based trading converts a single user intent into multiple independent blockchain actions. A simple trade may, therefore, involve:
-
- Token approval
- Trade submission
- Separate gas payments
- Waiting for on-chain confirmations
What appears as a single action in the UI becomes a sequence of protocol-level operations, increasing cognitive load and execution latency.
Business impact:
When wallet setup introduces additional steps before trading begins, abandonment increases. Each layer of required configuration, including gas funding, approvals, and transaction confirmation, raises entry friction for non-technical users. For active traders, it slows execution velocity and affects retention.
-
Approval Loops and Signature Fatigue
In an EOA-based model, validation occurs one transaction at a time.
-
- As said earlier, a single trade will involve a token approval, trade execution, and multiple gas payments. Each step will also demand a separate wallet confirmation.
- Even when approvals are reused, every trade still requires a manual signature and gas confirmation since execution cannot be batched. For users, this creates an interruption at the exact moment when speed matters most.
Business impact:
Repeated confirmations reduce execution continuity for high-frequency traders and degrade overall crypto exchange software platform stickiness. Over time, this leads to lowered active trader retention.
-
Private Key Responsibility in Crypto Trading Environment
EOAs expose users to complexity and operational risks, including:
-
- Key storage and recovery
- Irreversible loss exposure
- Manual confirmation for every action
This transaction model is structurally incompatible with high-frequency trading, automated strategies, and mobile-first interfaces.
Business impact:
Wallet setup complexity increases onboarding drop-off, and recovery anxiety reduces user confidence in cryptocurrency exchange software. Support tickets related to lost keys, pending transactions, and gas confusion ultimately increase operational overhead.
How Account Abstraction Restructures Crypto Exchange Software Architecture and UX ?
Account abstraction shifts execution control from user-managed execution to programmable smart accounts. Instead of relying on EOAs that execute one signed transaction at a time, crypto exchanges integrating account abstraction operate through smart accounts that embed rules, validation logic, and fee policies directly into the account layer. It is a structural redesign of how transactions are authorized, validated, and executed within cryptocurrency exchange software.
-
Smart Accounts Replace Static EOAs
Under traditional EOA architecture:
-
- Each user controls an EOA via a private key.
- The account can only validate signatures.
- Each transaction is confirmed independently
- It cannot enforce custom rules or automate multi-step logic.
Also, each intent requires token approval, trade execution, separate confirmations, and gas payments, with each step requiring separate validation.
With account abstraction implemented in cryptocurrency exchange development:
-
- Each user operates through a smart contract-based account.
- The account can define validation rules beyond a simple private key signature.
- Execution logic can bundle multiple actions into a single atomic transaction.
Instead of signing multiple blockchain transactions, the user signs only once. This allows cryptocurrency exchange software to define how accounts behave without taking custody of assets.
UX Outcome For Crypto Exchange Software:
A trade that previously required approval + execution + separate confirmations can execute as a single action after cryptocurrency exchange development implements account abstraction. This leads to:
-
- One-click trades
- Reduced signature fatigue
- Faster execution perception
- Lower slippage risk in volatile markets
Users experience intent-based trading instead of transaction-based signing.
-
User Operation Flow Enables Programmable Execution
In an EOA model:
-
- The user signs a transaction.
- The transaction is broadcast to the network.
- The user pays gas directly.
In an account abstraction based cryptocurrency exchange development:
-
- The user signs a User Operation which is an instruction object, not a direct transaction.
- A bundler aggregates multiple User Operations.
- The bundled transaction is submitted on-chain.
- A paymaster can sponsor or manage gas payment.
This way, the user no longer interacts with raw blockchain transactions. Execution becomes purely programmable and policy-driven.
UX Outcome For Crypto Exchange Software
By integrating account abstraction into crypto exchange development, trading platforms can therefore abstract gas fees. Users no longer need to hold native tokens or manually manage fee volatility. Trade execution becomes predictable for users.
-
Fee Handling Becomes Platform-Controlled
EOAs require users to:
-
- Hold native gas tokens
- Estimate and manage gas costs
- Accept failed transactions due to insufficient gas
Account abstraction enabled smart accounts in cryptocurrency exchange software allow:
-
- Sponsored gas
- Stable coin-denominated fee deduction
- Gas fee abstraction at the infrastructure layer
UX Outcome For Crypto Exchange Development:
Since the user-managed gas fee model is eliminated and platforms abstract gas volatility for the users entirely, it results in reduced onboarding friction, higher first-trade success, and simplified mobile trading flows.
-
Authorization Becomes Policy-Based, Not Key-Based
In an EOA model, a transaction is valid if the private key signs it. Authorization is binary as it is either full approval or rejection.
Smart accounts powered by account abstraction introduce conditional validation. An action can be executed only if predefined rules are satisfied, such as:
-
- Multi-signature authentication
- Spending limits
- Time-bound permissions
- Role-specific access (trade allowed, withdrawal restricted)
- Delegated bot or API permissions
- Device-scoped authentication
Validation shifts from “Who signed this?” to “Does this action satisfy defined policy constraints?”
UX Outcome For Crypto Exchange Software:
-
- Session-based trading without repeated confirmations
- Controlled automation for bots and APIs
- Flexible recovery without custodial compromise or requiring users to confirm every transaction manually
This enables high-frequency trading and mobile-first interaction without degrading security posture.
Under EOA-based execution, users adapt to blockchain mechanics.
Under account abstraction based cryptocurrency exchange development, blockchain mechanics adapt to user intent. The exchange defines:
-
- Transaction sequencing
- Fee logic
- Authorization boundaries
- Execution batching
The user interacts with a trading interface where the platform manages the protocol complexity itself.
Top Account Abstraction Implementations 2025-2026
| Entity | Implementation Type | Key AA Features Delivered | Focus / Market Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| OKX Wallet | Smart Account (ERC-4337) | Gasless swaps (using USDT/USDC for fees), Social Recovery, One-click dApp interactions. | UX-first retail onboarding. |
| Coinbase | Coinbase Smart Wallet | Passkey-based login (no seed phrase), “Paymaster” gas sponsorship, Batch transactions. | Bridging CEX users to On-chain. |
| Binance | Binance Web3 Wallet | Hybrid MPC + AA, Secure Auto-Sign (SAS), Sponsored gas on opBNB/L2s. | “Keyless” security and speed. |
| Safe (Gnosis) | Safe Smart Account | Multi-sig governance, Spending/Velocity limits, Custom logic modules (Inheritance). | Institutional & Enterprise treasury. |
| Argent | Argent (ZkSync/Starknet) | Guardian-based Social Recovery, Daily spending limits, Session keys for Gaming. | Mobile-native L2 specialists. |
| Trust Wallet | Smart Accounts (Optional) | Transaction simulation (Security Scanner), Batching, Biometric-backed recovery. | High-security self-custody. |
| Visa | Visa Paymaster (Pilot) | Experimental deployment of contracts to allow auto-payments and ERC-20 gas fees. | Bridging TradFi and Web3. |
| Particle Network | Universal Accounts | “Chain abstraction” where one account works across all chains gaslessly using social login. | Developer-centric infrastructure. |
Security and Implementation Considerations Fpr Account Abstraction-Based Crypto Exchange Development
Account abstraction improves execution control, but it also shifts responsibility to smart account logic and platform infrastructure. The UX gains are meaningful only if risk boundaries are clearly defined and enforced during account abstraction-based cryptocurrency exchange development.
Below are the core security dimensions that cryptocurrency exchanges must address while implementing account abstraction:
1. Smart Account Contract Risk
Unlike EOAs, smart accounts are programmable contracts. That introduces:
-
- Contract-level vulnerabilities
- Logic flaws in validation rules
- Upgradeability risks
- Dependency risks from third-party libraries
If the account contract contains a flaw, the impact can span across all users using that implementation.
Mitigation Requirements:
-
- Independent smart contract audits
- Formal verification for validation logic
- Strict upgrade governance
- Minimal external dependency design
The wallet layer in crypto exchange software becomes protocol infrastructure. It must be treated accordingly.
2. Paymaster Abuse and Fee Sponsorship Risk
Gas sponsorship introduces a new attack surface that must be protected. Potential risks include:
-
- Spam UserOperations draining sponsored gas
- Transaction replay attempts
- Fee griefing attacks
- Exploitation of fee validation logic
If paymaster validation rules are weak, the cryptocurrency exchange software absorbs cost exposure.
Mitigation Requirements:
-
- Rate limiting per account
- Pre-execution validation checks
- Transaction simulation before sponsorship
- Spending caps per user or session
Fee abstraction should not mean unlimited liability. So, entrepreneurs must protect the paymaster and fee sponsorship contracts along with other vulnerabilities in crypto exchange software.
3. Session Key and Delegated Permission Controls
Session keys enable smoother trading but expand the authorization surface, exposing the cryptocurrency exchange to te following risks:
- Compromised session keys
- Overly broad permission scopes
- Infinite-duration trading access
- Delegated bot misuse
Without strict boundaries applied during account abstraction-based crypto exchange development, automation can bypass user safeguards.
Mitigation Requirements:
- Time-bound session keys
- Spending and frequency limits
- Explicit scope constraints
- Immediate revocation capability
Authorization must be granular, not binary.
4. Recovery Logic and Identity Boundaries
Flexible authentication improves UX, but recovery flows can introduce vulnerabilities if poorly designed. Primary risk areas include:
- Social recovery collusion
- Centralized override mechanisms
- Weak multi-signature thresholds
- Off-chain identity spoofing
If recovery mechanisms are easier to exploit than private keys, the security of crypto exchange software regresses.
Mitigation Requirements:
- Transparent recovery policy design
- On-chain enforcement of recovery thresholds
- No hidden administrative overrides
- Clear separation between the UX layer and the control layer
5. Operational and Infrastructure Dependencies
Account abstraction introduces additional components to crypto exchange development, including:
- Bundlers
- Paymasters
- Relayer infrastructure
- Transaction simulation systems
If these components fail or are centralized without redundancy, execution reliability degrades.
Mitigation Requirements:
- Redundant bundler architecture
- Failover infrastructure
- Clear monitoring and alerting systems
- On-chain transparency of execution rules
Execution control must not create invisible trust assumptions.
Where Account Abstraction Creates the Most UX Value for Crypto Exchange Software?
| Exchange Model | Execution Constraint Under EOAs | How Account Abstraction Changes It | UX & Business Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| High-Frequency & Active Trading Platforms | Repeated confirmations slow execution.
Manual gas handling interrupts strategy flow. |
Policy-based execution replaces per-transaction confirmation.
Session keys enable bounded automation. |
Improved trading continuity, reduced friction, higher active trader retention. |
| Mobile-First & Consumer Exchanges | Multi-step wallet confirmations increase abandonment.
Gas management confuses new users. |
Gas abstraction and batched execution simplify flows into single actions. | Shorter onboarding, higher first-trade conversion, improved mobile usability. |
| Automation, Bots & API-Driven Strategies | Bots require repeated signatures or full private key exposure. | Delegated permissions enforce role-bound execution without exposing custody. | Safer automation, expanded advanced trading support, and reduced operational risk. |
| Social & Copy Trading Platforms | Approval delays and execution fragmentation create slippage during replication. | Bundled execution enables synchronized strategy settlement. | Fairer copy performance, reduced slippage, stronger platform credibility. |
Strategic Takeaway
Account abstraction shifts wallet behavior from static key validation to programmable execution logic. For crypto exchange development, this means:
- Control over transaction sequencing
- Control over fee abstraction
- Control over authorization boundaries
- Control over execution experience
Cryptocurrency exchanges are no longer fighting over liquidity depth or interface design but claiming the execution layer.
Exchanges that continue combating while they still rely on EOA mechanics inherit blockchain-level constraints, while those adopting account abstraction will design trading experiences around user intent.
Antier builds exchange infrastructures that integrate account abstraction at the protocol and execution layers, enabling gas abstraction, delegated trading logic, and policy-driven security within production-ready architectures.
Share your requirements with the best crypto exchange development company today!
Frequently Asked Questions
01. What is the main issue with traditional cryptocurrency wallets for high-frequency trading?
Traditional cryptocurrency wallets, which rely on externally owned accounts (EOAs), require users to manually manage seed phrases, approve tokens, and handle gas fees, creating a fragmented and cumbersome trading experience.
02. How does account abstraction improve the user experience in cryptocurrency trading?
Account abstraction simplifies the trading process by moving transaction logic and fee handling into programmable smart accounts, allowing exchanges to manage fees, batch actions, and enable flexible authentication, thus enhancing usability while maintaining self-custody.
03. What are the consequences of gas fee dependency in cryptocurrency exchanges?
Gas fee dependency increases onboarding friction and introduces failure points during trades, leading to potential errors, reduced user confidence, and lower conversion rates for first-time traders.
Crypto World
Arthur Hayes Says Bitcoin Price at $750,000 by 2027 Because Of Money Printing
Arthur Hayes is not backing down on his Bitcoin price predictions.
The BitMEX co-founder is sticking to his bold call: $250,000 Bitcoin in 2026, then $750,000 in 2027. In his view, this cycle is not about charts. It is about liquidity.
Hayes argues the Trump administration will eventually flood the system with money to stabilize growth and keep voters calm. That wave of liquidity, he says, is rocket fuel for hard assets like Bitcoin.
While retail panics through corrections, Hayes is betting on fiscal dominance. His thesis is simple. Governments spend. Currencies weaken. Scarce assets go vertical.
- Arthur Hayes projects $250,000 BTC in 2026 and $750,000 in 2027.
- The forecast relies on the Liquidity Cycle driven by U.S. fiscal spending.
- Institutional flows remain strong with $458.2M entering ETFs Monday.
Arthur Hayes: Why Trump’s Money Printing Could Send Bitcoin Price to $750,000
Governments facing voter pressure will spend aggressively, even if inflation lingers. More spending means more debt. More debt eventually means more money creation. And that is bullish for scarce assets.
Hayes is framing this around one thing: liquidity.
He also ties it to geopolitics. A prolonged U.S.-Iran conflict, in his view, gives the Federal Reserve cover to ease policy again. History shows that during major wars, liquidity tends to expand, not contract. If conflict is financed through debt, the system absorbs it through monetary expansion.
At around $65,000 today, a move to $250,000 by 2026 would mean nearly a 4x return. The 2027 forecast of $500,000 to $750,000 is where the thesis goes exponential. That implies double-digit multiples from current levels.
Is This the Setup for Bitcoin Supercycle Run?
Institutional flows are not matching retail panic.
U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs just pulled in $458.2 million in one session, with BlackRock’s IBIT alone accounting for $263.2 million. It fits the pattern we have seen before, where extreme fear brings fresh institutional capital back into crypto.
On the chart, $63,000 remains the key support. As long as that holds, the structure stays intact. The real breakout trigger is $72,000. Clear that level and momentum likely shifts toward previous highs.
If $60,000 breaks, though, the correction could extend before any major liquidity wave arrives. For now, $72,000 is the confirmation level that decides whether the next leg up begins.
Discover: The best new crypto in the world
The post Arthur Hayes Says Bitcoin Price at $750,000 by 2027 Because Of Money Printing appeared first on Cryptonews.
Crypto World
AAVE plunges 10%, leading index lower
CoinDesk Indices presents its daily market update, highlighting the performance of leaders and laggards in the CoinDesk 20 Index.
The CoinDesk 20 is currently trading at 1924.9, down 3.3% (-66.23) since 4 p.m. ET on Monday.
One of the 20 assets are trading higher.

Leaders: NEAR (+1.3%) and CRO (-1.6%).
Laggards: AAVE (-10.0%) and ADA (-5.9%).
The CoinDesk 20 is a broad-based index traded on multiple platforms in several regions globally.
Crypto World
Justin Sun’s TRON stock is dying
Justin Sun, the creator and face of TRON, went public with a company called TRON Inc. last year. Since then, its price has tumbled from a high of $12.80 to a recent close of $1.36 — a fall of nearly 90% in eight months.
But what exactly does TRON Inc. do and why is it fairing so poorly?
A toy company with a TRON treasury
TRON Inc. “specialize[s] in creating imaginative, high-quality toys and products that celebrate the world’s most beloved characters.”
These beloved characters include The Smurfs, Zoonicorns, and ICEE. However, TRON doesn’t control the intellectual property for these brands; instead it produces related merchandise, including, but not limited to, plushies, backpacks, and dinnerware.




Read more: ‘Biggest NFT trading platform on TRON,’ AINFT, has $6 in volume
For some reason, it also purchased the rights to the film The Kid, starring Ethan Hawke, Chris Pratt, and Vincent D’Onofrio (RottenTomatoes: 43%, IMDb: 5.9/10).
Importantly, however, that’s not everything. There’s also TRX.
The company calls the TRX token “an attractive digital asset which can create long-term value for… shareholders.”
It claims, “Our TRX token strategy generally involves from time to time… (i) issuing debt or equity securities or engaging in other capital raising transactions with the objective of using the proceeds to purchase TRK tokens, and (ii) acquiring TRX tokens with our liquid assets that exceed working capital requirements.”
What TRON Inc. is engaging in is akin to the Strategy Bitcoin Treasury concept, but with fewer guardrails, a very small product line outside of the TRX token treasury, and a just as significant dependence on unrealized gains.
A family company failing miserably
While TRON Inc. is now basically a penny stock, barely sitting above the $1/share price, Sun has built up a strange board of directors.
This board includes his father Weike Sun, who’s being paid in private investment in public equity (PIPE) offerings and warrants, and a 27-year-old blockchain investor and Chinese national named Zi Yang, who also works for Tronscan (the barely functional explorer that’s supposed to allow TRX users to view wallet addresses and transactions on the blockchain).
The executive leadership and board of directors have collectively been able to accumulate millions of shares of TRON Inc. through these PIPE offerings and warrants (Weike Sun isn’t listed as an insider).

Left to right: TRON Inc. CEO Douglas McKinnon, TRON founder Justin Sun, and Sun’s father Weike Sun on July 24, 2025.
No real path to profitability
Outside issuing debt to fund more TRX purchases, TRON Inc.’s 10-Q from September points to a company that’s completely unprofitable, with no path toward a way of making money.
Its merchandising business, when coupled with operating expenses and the cost of sales, is a net loser for the company, and without the unrealized gains from TRX tokens and the unrealized gains from staking TRX tokens, it bled over $5 million last year.

Read more: CHART: Strategy and TRON Inc. down bad compared to bitcoin this year
How TRON Inc. is able to profit from the unrealized gains of its crypto treasury is unclear. However, what’s more understandable is that it’s essentially become a vehicle for Justin Sun to purchase hundreds of millions of TRX tokens to prop up the price of his personal cryptocurrency.
Since Sun rang the opening bell on Nasdaq, TRON Inc. is down ~90%, but TRX is down only 9%, in stark contrast to bitcoin which is down more than 43% over the same period.
Got a tip? Send us an email securely via Protos Leaks. For more informed news and investigations, follow us on X, Bluesky, and Google News, or subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Crypto World
Visa and Stripe’s Bridge Expand Global Stablecoin Card Program
Global payment giant Visa is expanding its stablecoin card partnership with Stripe-owned Bridge, expanding the rollout of stablecoin-linked Visa cards worldwide and testing onchain settlement.
Visa and Bridge are expanding their joint card program to 18 countries, with plans to reach more than 100 across Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East by the end of the year, according to a Tuesday announcement.
The expansion follows the program’s initial launch in April 2025, which first supported markets in Latin America, including Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Chile.
In addition to the expansion, the companies are testing stablecoin settlement through Visa’s pilot program, enabling issuers and acquirers to settle transactions using stablecoins rather than fiat.
The move highlights the ongoing stablecoin race in the payments industry, with Mastercard recently enabling stablecoin card spending in the US via the self-custodial crypto wallet MetaMask.
Onchain support enabled through Bridge’s partnership with Lead Bank
When the card program launched in 2025, transactions were processed by Bridge, deducting funds from the customer’s stablecoin balance and converting them into fiat, allowing merchants to receive payment in local currency like any other card transaction.
Under the new collaboration, enabled by independent commercial bank Lead Bank, settlement is now set to occur directly in stablecoins.

“Now, through Bridge’s partnership with Lead Bank, these card transactions can be settled onchain with Visa,” the announcement noted.
“Visa is committed to meeting businesses where they operate, and increasingly, that’s onchain,” Visa’s head of crypto, Cuy Sheffield said. “Expanding our work with Bridge gives us one more way to bring the speed, transparency and programmability of stablecoins directly into the settlement process,” he added.
Related: Stripe considers acquiring some or all of PayPal: Report
Additionally, Visa is evaluating potential support for Bridge-issued assets, or stablecoins created and managed using Bridge’s infrastructure platform. Unlike major stablecoins such as Tether’s USDt (USDT) or Circle’s USDC (USDC), Bridge-issued stablecoins are created programmatically by businesses rather than a third-party issuer.
“This expansion of our work with Visa will enable businesses launching their own custom stablecoins to use them seamlessly within their card programs,” Bridge co-founder and CEO Zach Abrams said.
Magazine: Clarity Act risks repeat of Europe’s mistakes, crypto lawyer warns
Crypto World
Ripple (XRP) News Today: March 3rd
Ripple continues to draw attention due to important developments concerning its entire ecosystem.
The company’s native token, XRP, has posted a minor recovery over the past week, but some indicators suggest a renewed downfall could be knocking on the door.
Ripple & Hidden Road
The firm made the headlines in April last year when it announced it would purchase the brokerage platform Hidden Road for a whopping $1.25 billion. The official conclusion of the deal occurred in October 2025.
Some industry participants described the acquisition as a “game changer” because it gives Ripple direct control over a prime brokerage that processes over $3 trillion in volume every year. This makes it much easier for banks, hedge funds, and other large players to use XRP in settlements, thereby increasing its institutional adoption.
A recent DTCC notice revealed that Hidden Road has officially gone live on the National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCC) on March 2nd. The X account BankXRP shared the news, arguing:
“Ripple Prime’s role in bridging TradFi and DeFi will likely move post-trade volume to the XRPL.”
David Schwartz – one of the original architects of the XRP Ledger and CTO Emeritus at Ripple – also touched upon the matter, saying that the development “seems important.”
RLUSD’s Progress
Ripple’s stablecoin, dubbed RLUSD, officially saw the light of day in late 2024 and has been gradually advancing ever since. The product, pegged 1:1 to the US dollar, received backing from numerous exchanges and renowned banking institutions, such as the oldest American bank, BNY Mellon.
RLUSD’s market cap now nears $1.6 billion, with X user SMQKE recently noting that the stablecoin has grown “much faster” than Circle’s USDC in its first year.
Several hours ago, another 69 million tokens were minted at the RLUSD Treasury, with Vet emphasizing that this is the largest single mint to date.
The ETFs
In November last year, Canary Capital became the first company to launch a spot XRP ETF in the US, which has 100% exposure to the token. The renowned names that followed suit shortly after include Bitwise, Franklin Templeton, 21Shares, and Grayscale.
Initially, the investment vehicles were a major success, with millions of dollars pouring in during the first weeks, generating a cumulative net inflow of roughly $1.25 billion to date. Lately, though, that momentum has noticeably faded.

XRP Price Outlook
As of this writing, Ripple’s native cryptocurrency trades around $1.35, representing a minor 1.5% increase on a weekly scale. However, the market’s overall bearish condition, as well as certain indicators, hint that a new pullback could be on the way.
For example, almost 500 million XRP (worth around $650 million) have been transferred to Binance following the escalating military conflict between the USA and Iran. This is considered a bearish factor as it may suggest that investors are preparing to cash out.
On the other hand, XRP’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) has fallen to 30 on a weekly scale. The development indicates that the asset is oversold and could be due for a short-term resurgence. The metric runs from 0 to 100, where anything above 70 is seen as bearish territory.

The post Ripple (XRP) News Today: March 3rd appeared first on CryptoPotato.
Crypto World
Ethereum’s First Sell Signal Faces $2.8 Billion Demand Zone
Ethereum has recently seen a struggle in its price recovery, primarily due to growing uncertainty in the market. After multiple failed attempts to rally, Ethereum’s price is currently facing pressure from both selling activity and a crucial demand zone.
While the demand zone, hovering around $1,880, has provided support, it is also preventing any immediate price reversal.
Ethereum Selling Is Necessary
For the first time in over two months, Ethereum is flashing a key sell signal as its Price DAA Divergence metric shows a concerning trend. The metric compares daily active addresses (DAA) against Ethereum’s price, providing insights into investor sentiment.
As DAA begins to fall alongside Ethereum’s price, it signals that the network is experiencing a decrease in activity, suggesting rising selling pressure. This trend is reflected in the appearance of a red bar, which indicates mounting bearish sentiment.
Want more token insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Crypto Newsletter here.
The drop in DAA suggests that fewer users are engaging with the network, which typically leads to a weakening market structure. When both DAA and price decline together, it’s often a sign that Ethereum’s bullish momentum has stalled, and a price dip could be imminent.
Interestingly, while the rising selling pressure around Ethereum might appear negative at first glance, it could be the catalyst for a much-needed price reversal. Ethereum’s MVRV (Market Value to Realized Value) pricing bands are signaling that ETH is nearing a pivotal moment. MVRV below 0.8 has historically indicated that the altcoin is undervalued, suggesting that ETH is due for a rebound.
With Ethereum trading below the Extreme Lows for approximately 5% of trading days, the MVRV signal is often a precursor to a price reversal. However, Ethereum needs more than just market signals—it requires investor confidence to push through. The current selling pressure may be limiting this momentum, but the situation remains fluid. If investors hold onto their positions rather than sell, ETH could soon see a price rebound.
Investors Are Blocking ETH Recovery
The most significant support level Ethereum currently faces is the $1,880 demand zone, formed by ETH holders who have accumulated 1.406 million ETH worth over $2.81 billion. This price range has been a critical level, with price dips to this area being met with a strong bounce back. Ethereum’s price has consistently been supported at this level, demonstrating that investors are reluctant to sell below it.
If Ethereum’s price does fall to this demand zone again, it is likely to be met with buying pressure. This would prevent further downside movement. However, should selling activity intensify and Ethereum slip below $1,880, this would trigger a sharper decline.
Such a drop would likely trigger the reversal Ethereum needs, but it would also leave the cryptocurrency vulnerable to even lower levels. The balance at this demand zone is crucial in determining Ethereum’s immediate future.
ETH Price Has Some Resistance Ahead
Ethereum is currently trading at $1,998, facing resistance along a downtrend line. This bearish momentum could suppress Ethereum’s price in the short term, making it difficult to initiate a rally. As a result, the price is likely to remain subdued, limiting the possibility of an immediate recovery.
With the ongoing bearish factors, there is a chance that Ethereum could drop toward the $1,902 support. A break below this level could see the price falling further, potentially reaching the $1,816 mark or lower. Such a move would be necessary to trigger the reversal that Ethereum needs to regain its upward momentum.
Alternatively, if investor sentiment improves and macroeconomic conditions turn favorable, Ethereum could push past the current downtrend line. A move above this resistance would bring Ethereum closer to the $2,165 mark. This would invalidate the current bearish outlook and open the door for potential price rallies.
Crypto World
Ondo Finance’s tokenized stock on Binance win Abu Dhabi regulatory approval
Binance’s renewed push into tokenized stocks gained regulatory backing Tuesday as the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) approved trading of Ondo Finance’s tokenized equities on the exchange’s regulated platform.
The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of ADGM cleared Ondo Global Markets’ tokenized stocks and ETFs to trade on Binance’s FSRA-regulated Multilateral Trading Facility, according to a press release shared with CoinDesk. The listing includes tokenized versions of Amazon, Alphabet, Apple, Circle, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia, Tesla and the Invesco QQQ ETF. The products are available for non-U.S. users.
This is the first time the ADGM approved tokenized securities trading under the its regulatory framework, allowing UAE-based financial institutions, intermediaries, and counterparties deal in token versions of equities, Ondo said.
“Through offering Ondo tokenized stocks for trading on Binance, we are expanding access to hundreds of millions of investors,” Ian de Bode, president of Ondo Finance, said in a statement.
The approval gives Binance a regulated venue to trade tokenized equities, nearly five years after it shut down a similar service following scrutiny from U.K. and German regulators. The move comes after Binance listed Ondo’s tokenized equities on its Alpha platform, dedicated to riskier, early-stage projects.
Tokenized stocks have drawn interest from crypto exchanges such as Kraken, brokerages like Robinhood and traditional market operators like Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange. The market’s total value has surpassed $1 billion, RWA.xyz data shows.
Supporters argue that putting equities on blockchain rails can widen investor access and allow the assets to move across trading and lending platforms more easily, linking stock markets with decentralized finance.
Ondo structures its products as equity-linked notes tied to the underlying shares. The firm says it has processed more than $11 billion in cumulative trading volume with over $600 million in total value locked since launching its offering less than six months ago.
Last year, Ondo secured approval for its base securities prospectus in the European Union, allowing public distribution across the European Union.
Crypto World
Best Buy (BBY) Stock Jumps 12% After Quarterly Earnings Exceed Projections
Key Takeaways
- Best Buy (BBY) exceeded Q4 adjusted EPS projections at $2.61 compared to analyst expectations of $2.47, driving shares up approximately 12% during premarket hours.
- Quarterly revenue totaled $13.81 billion, representing a 1% year-over-year decline and falling short of the $13.87 billion consensus estimate.
- Comparable store sales decreased 0.8%, contrasting with analyst predictions of a 0.1% increase.
- Annual guidance disappointed: EPS range of $6.30–$6.60 versus analyst expectations of $6.66, with comparable sales projected between -1% and +1% against estimates of +1.63%.
- The electronics retailer increased its quarterly dividend payout by one cent to $0.96 per share, delivering the strongest yield within the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF.
Best Buy (BBY) unveiled its fiscal fourth-quarter financial performance on Tuesday, delivering earnings that exceeded Wall Street predictions — though top-line results and forward guidance disappointed investors.
Shares surged as much as 11.8% during premarket hours following the earnings release, bouncing back from an 11-month trough reached just one trading session earlier.
BBY concluded Monday’s session with a 0.6% decline to $61.59, marking the end of a challenging four-month period that witnessed a nearly 25% depreciation. Entering Tuesday’s announcement, market sentiment was already subdued.
Adjusted profit per share reached $2.61, improving from $2.58 in the year-ago period and comfortably surpassing analyst projections of $2.46–$2.47. This positive surprise provided the catalyst shares needed.
Top-line results for the quarter concluding January 31 totaled $13.81 billion, reflecting a 1% year-over-year contraction and marginally trailing the consensus projection of $13.87 billion.
Comparable store sales contracted 0.8%, falling short of predictions calling for a 0.1% expansion. While disappointing, this decline remains manageable within the current retail environment.
Chief Executive Corie Barry emphasized that overall market positioning remained stable throughout the holiday quarter, notwithstanding softer consumer appetite across the electronics retail sector.
Cost of goods sold totaled $10.93 billion, down from $11.03 billion in the prior-year period — indicating effective cost management strategies.
Barry additionally highlighted that comparable sales for the complete fiscal year returned to positive territory for the first time in three years, and that Best Buy’s advertising division delivered solid performance.
Annual Projections Fall Short of Expectations
The retailer projected full-year revenue between $41.2 billion and $42.1 billion, trailing the consensus estimate of $42.2 billion. Comparable sales are anticipated to range from negative 1% to positive 1%, underperforming the analyst projection of 1.4% growth.
Adjusted EPS guidance spanning $6.30–$6.60 similarly disappointed relative to the $6.63–$6.66 consensus band.
CFRA Research analyst Ana Garcia characterized the quarter as evidence of “operational resilience,” while acknowledging “mounting headwinds” approaching fiscal 2027.
Evercore ISI’s Greg Melich adopted a more balanced perspective, noting the guidance “signals modest growth with overall demand normalization — which was better than feared.”
Wedbush’s Matthew McCartney had indicated prior to the release that diminished expectations were already reflected in valuations, with limited catalysts visible to reignite investor enthusiasm. The earnings surprise provided markets with a positive data point.
Dividend Payout Receives Incremental Increase
Best Buy elevated its quarterly dividend distribution by one cent to $0.96 per share. Using Monday’s closing price as a reference, this translates to an annualized yield of 6.23%.
This represents the most attractive dividend yield among all constituents of the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF — and exceeds five times the implied yield on the S&P 500 of 1.16%.
Management referenced a “mixed macro environment” as a contributing factor to its conservative annual outlook, with consumers facing pressure from tariff-driven cost escalations and an unpredictable employment landscape.
BBY has declined 29% over the trailing 12 months through Monday, while the S&P 500 advanced 17.6% during the identical timeframe.
Adjusted Q4 EPS of $2.61 exceeded projections of $2.46, whereas full-year EPS guidance spanning $6.30–$6.60 trailed the $6.63 consensus estimate.
Crypto World
AI-Driven Deflation Could Push Bitcoin To $11 Million By 2036, Strive Says
Technological deflation driven by artificial intelligence could help push Bitcoin above $10 million within a decade by pressuring central banks to keep expanding the money supply, according to a report from Strive strategist Joe Burnett.
Burnett, Strive’s vice president of Bitcoin strategy, said in a report published Monday that faster productivity gains from AI will push down prices across goods and services, squeezing margins and prompting policymakers to respond with sustained monetary expansion. His “base case” calls for Bitcoin (BTC) to reach $11 million in the first quarter of 2036, he wrote.
”My base case for Q1 2036 is $11 million per Bitcoin.”
The forecast rests on a set of aggressive assumptions, including that Bitcoin would grow to about 12% of the value of global financial assets and that global wealth would compound at 7% annually through 2036. With Bitcoin currently accounting for about 0.2% of all financial assets, this would involve an over 176-fold increase in Bitcoin’s market capitalization during the next decade to hit $230 trillion.

The forecast would imply that Bitcoin becomes the dominant global reserve asset along with structurally loose monetary policy over the next decade, Nic Puckrin, co-founder and lead market analyst of educational platform Coin Bureau, told Cointelegraph.
”The forecast implies Bitcoin would become around 10 times as large as the current US M2 money supply, nearly four times as large as the US equity market today, and nearly double current global GDP.”
The prediction would also imply a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 53% per annum, which is not unprecedented considering Bitcoin’s average 60% CAGR between 2015 and 2024, but a slowdown may be expected due to its larger market capitalization, added Puckrin.
AI deflation engine to lead to structural monetary expansion
Burnett’s thesis centers on what he described as an “AI deflation engine,” arguing that AI-driven automation and cost reductions could create persistent deflationary pressure.
In a debt-based fiat system, sustained deflation can strain credit markets because wages and asset prices may fall while debt obligations remain fixed in nominal terms, he wrote, potentially pushing central banks and fiscal authorities to add liquidity to avoid a deflationary spiral.
Related: Bitcoin manipulation claims face pushback as ETFs snap 5-week outflow run: Finance Redefined
”Under a debt-based fiat framework, persistent deflation destabilizes credit markets because wages and asset prices decline while mortgages, corporate loans, and sovereign debt remain fixed in nominal terms,” Burnett said.
”As AI drives real-economy deflation, central banks and fiscal authorities expand liquidity to prevent a deflationary spiral.”

Burnett said this will lead to a persistent increase in money relative to the supply of scarce assets.
Related: Solo Bitcoin miner bags over $200K block reward using rented hashrate
Emergence of digital credit set to bolster Bitcoin demand
The report also points to what Burnett calls the emergence of “digital credit” models promoted by companies including Strategy, the largest corporate Bitcoin holder.
Digital credit provides US dollar income to investors through publicly traded securities backed by large Bitcoin balance sheets issued by treasury firms as a means to raise capital to acquire more Bitcoin.

Burnett foresees digital credit products creating a ”reflexive loop” between global yield demand and Bitcoin accumulation, marking the ”early stage of a credit system built on verifiably scarce money.”
Still, the $11 million forecast stands well above most bullish scenarios that use shorter time horizons. For instance, ARK Invest predicted a 2030 Bitcoin price target of $1.5 million in the company’s bull case and a $300,000 price target in the bear case, Cointelegraph reported in November 2025.
Magazine: Bitcoin’s ‘biggest bull catalyst’ would be Saylor’s liquidation — Santiment founder
-
Politics5 days agoITV enters Gaza with IDF amid ongoing genocide
-
Fashion4 days agoWeekend Open Thread: Iris Top
-
Tech2 days agoUnihertz’s Titan 2 Elite Arrives Just as Physical Keyboards Refuse to Fade Away
-
Politics7 hours agoAlan Cumming Brands Baftas Ceremony A ‘Triggering S**tshow’
-
Business7 days agoTrue Citrus debuts functional drink mix collection
-
NewsBeat6 days agoCuba says its forces have killed four on US-registered speedboat | World News
-
Sports3 days ago
The Vikings Need a Duck
-
NewsBeat3 days agoDubai flights cancelled as Brit told airspace closed ’10 minutes after boarding’
-
Tech7 days agoUnsurprisingly, Apple's board gets what it wants in 2026 shareholder meeting
-
NewsBeat6 days agoManchester Central Mosque issues statement as it imposes new measures ‘with immediate effect’ after armed men enter
-
NewsBeat3 days agoThe empty pub on busy Cambridge road that has been boarded up for years
-
NewsBeat2 days ago‘Significant’ damage to boarded-up Horden house after fire
-
NewsBeat3 days agoAbusive parents will now be treated like sex offenders and placed on a ‘child cruelty register’ | News UK
-
NewsBeat7 days agoPolice latest as search for missing woman enters day nine
-
Entertainment1 day agoBaby Gear Guide: Strollers, Car Seats
-
Business5 days agoDiscord Pushes Implementation of Global Age Checks to Second Half of 2026
-
Business5 days agoOnly 4% of women globally reside in countries that offer almost complete legal equality
-
Tech4 days agoNASA Reveals Identity of Astronaut Who Suffered Medical Incident Aboard ISS
-
Politics3 days ago
FIFA hypocrisy after Israel murder over 400 Palestinian footballers
-
Crypto World7 days agoEntering new markets without increasing payment costs



