Avalanche has reached $2.1 billion in distributed tokenized real-world asset value after a 60.47% monthly increase, supported by a newly announced $11 billion institutional tokenization deal with Bridgetower.

According to data from RWA.xyz, Avalanche’s distributed tokenized asset value climbed to $2.1 billion over the past 30 days, lifting the network to fifth place among tokenization blockchains by distributed value.

The latest increase came as institutional issuers expanded their use of Avalanche for real-world asset deployments, strengthening its position in one of crypto’s fastest-growing sectors.

Bridgetower expansion has accelerated institutional adoption

Fresh momentum followed Bridgetower’s July 13 announcement that it had tokenized more than $11 billion in production-linked real-world assets on Avalanche using Chainlink infrastructure. The portfolio includes the Arizona Copper-Gold project and pushed Avalanche into the top five networks for net RWA inflows on RWA.xyz shortly after the announcement.

Commenting on the milestone, Ava Labs Vice President of Business Development Morgan Krupetsky wrote on X that Avalanche now ranks among the top five blockchain networks for tokenized assets by both distributed and represented value, adding that the network’s progress is “still just the beginning.”

Bridgetower’s deployment builds on an institutional base that was already expanding before the latest transaction. BlackRock’s BUIDL tokenized U.S. Treasury fund has grown to more than $900 million on Avalanche, making it the network’s second-largest tokenized asset after Ethereum, according to publicly available on-chain data.

Institutional participation has continued to widen beyond treasury products. Investment manager VanEck has announced plans for a portfolio focused on gaming, decentralized finance, artificial intelligence and real-world assets on Avalanche, while unused capital in the strategy will be allocated to tokenized money market instruments issued on the network.

Other financial institutions have also selected Avalanche for tokenized financial products. Franklin Templeton’s BENJI fund and Littio Bank both chose Avalanche for yield-related offerings, while previous industry research has identified the blockchain as one of the leading infrastructures for real-world asset tokenization.

Competition with Ethereum remains intense

Even after the recent growth, Avalanche remains well behind Ethereum in overall tokenized asset value. According to RWA.xyz, Ethereum continues to host roughly $16 billion in tokenized real-world assets, keeping a significant lead despite Avalanche’s recent gains.

Avalanche’s institutional appeal has largely centered on its subnet architecture, which allows organizations to launch dedicated blockchains with high throughput, low latency, and full Ethereum Virtual Machine compatibility. Ava Labs has consistently promoted these technical features as suitable for enterprise deployments requiring customized blockchain environments.

Growing tokenized asset activity also increases network usage because AVAX is required for transaction fees, staking and subnet deployment. The 60.47% monthly increase recorded by RWA.xyz therefore coincides with measurable on-chain activity rather than speculative trading alone.

Meanwhile, the Avalanche Foundation continues to support tokenization projects through its $50 million real-world asset initiative, with additional subnet launches expected as more institutions explore blockchain-based financial products.

Regulatory developments could also influence adoption. Earlier this year, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission discussed tokenization during a public roundtable, where Avalanche was identified among the blockchain networks attracting industry attention.

At the same time, competition remains strong as Ethereum layer-2 networks and other high-performance blockchains continue competing for institutional tokenization projects, leaving future market share dependent on adoption and regulatory progress rather than a single transaction.

Ripple has joined the x402 Foundation to expand payment capabilities for XRP and RLUSD across AI-driven digital transactions. The move strengthens Ripple’s role in building payment infrastructure for automated online services. It also places the company among major technology, finance, and blockchain organizations supporting the x402 protocol.

Ripple Strengthens XRP and RLUSD Payment Infrastructure

Ripple became a Premier Member of the x402 Foundation as development around automated digital payments continues to expand. The membership supports broader adoption of XRP and RLUSD for machine-to-machine transactions. It also aligns Ripple with efforts to standardize internet-native payment systems.

The company continues building payment tools on the XRP Ledger for automated transaction processing. Those tools support the x402 protocol, which allows software agents to complete payments using XRP and RLUSD. As a result, developers gain additional options for integrating blockchain payments into digital services.

Ripple has steadily expanded its infrastructure during recent months through several related initiatives. In June, it introduced the XRPL AI Starter Kit to simplify automated payment development. The company also supported the launch of the XRPL AI Hub through Ripple-backed t54.ai alongside the XRPL Foundation.

The XRP Ledger has already recorded increasing activity following support for the x402 protocol. Earlier this month, the XRPL Foundation confirmed that the network surpassed one million agentic transactions. That milestone reflected growing developer activity and increasing use of automated payment workflows across the ecosystem.

Background developments also support Ripple’s broader payment strategy across blockchain infrastructure. The company has continued expanding enterprise payment solutions alongside stablecoin services through RLUSD. At the same time, XRP remains a core settlement asset within Ripple’s payment ecosystem.

Linux Foundation Launches X402 Foundation Under Open Governance

The Linux Foundation officially launched the x402 Foundation after Coinbase completed its contribution to the x402 protocol. The operational launch places protocol development under an open governance structure. That framework allows participating organizations to guide future technical improvements together.

The Foundation brings together technology companies, payment providers, financial institutions, and blockchain organizations. Premier members include Ripple, Coinbase, Circle, Google, Mastercard, Amazon Web Services, Visa, Stripe, Shopify, Cloudflare, Adyen, American Express, Fiserv, Monad Foundation, Solana Foundation, Stellar Development Foundation, and MoonPay. Their participation supports collaborative protocol development across multiple industries.

General members include Injective, Near Foundation, Polygon Labs, and World Liberty Financial. Associate members include the Cardano Foundation, Casper, the BSV Association, the Japanese Contents Blockchain Initiative, and OMA3. Together, these organizations broaden participation across blockchain ecosystems and technology sectors.

The x402 protocol aims to simplify native internet payments between software services and applications. Open governance allows participating members to contribute technical standards and implementation improvements. This structure also encourages wider compatibility across payment networks and blockchain platforms.

Ripple’s participation adds another payment-focused blockchain network to the Foundation’s growing membership. The company continues expanding real-world payment applications through XRP and RLUSD across multiple initiatives. Meanwhile, the Foundation provides a shared environment for advancing internet payment standards through collaborative development.

The cryptocurrency market erased more than $20 billion after fresh geopolitical tensions pushed traders toward safer assets. Bitcoin led the decline as oil prices climbed sharply following new comments from U.S. President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, liquidations accelerated across major digital assets before key United States economic events.

Trump’s Remarks On The Strait Of Hormuz Deepen Pressure Across Risk Markets

President Donald Trump increased market uncertainty after discussing the Strait of Hormuz and ongoing tensions involving Iran. He stated that the United States would take control of protecting the strategic shipping route. Consequently, energy markets reacted quickly as geopolitical risks intensified.

Brent crude advanced above $79 per barrel after gaining nearly 5% during renewed military developments. At the same time, reports indicated continued exchanges between the United States and Iran across the region. Iran also announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, although U.S. Central Command rejected that claim.

Higher oil prices added fresh pressure across global financial markets and reduced demand for risk-sensitive assets. As a result, cryptocurrencies joined broader market declines during the trading session. The latest developments also extended uncertainty surrounding international trade and energy supplies.

The market weakness followed separate reports involving American Bitcoin, the mining and treasury company backed by Eric Trump. Bloomberg reported that the company’s shares had declined more than 95% from their previous peak. The decline also reduced the value of Eric Trump’s reported stake by more than $600 million.

American Bitcoin reportedly closed at a record low of $6.13 on July 10. The company had recently completed a one-for-15 reverse stock split before reaching that level. As a result, the broader crypto sector faced additional negative sentiment alongside geopolitical concerns.

Rising energy costs often increase inflation expectations and reduce demand for speculative assets. Therefore, cryptocurrencies experienced additional selling pressure as market participants adjusted their positions. The combination of geopolitical uncertainty and higher oil prices strengthened the broader risk-off environment.

Bitcoin Leads Crypto Decline As Liquidations Accelerate

Bitcoin fell more than 3% during the selloff and traded near $62,389 during the latest session. Earlier, the cryptocurrency reached an intraday low of approximately $62,120 after trading above $64,300. The decline reflected broad weakness across the digital asset market.

Ethereum also moved lower as selling pressure spread across major cryptocurrencies. XRP, BNB, Solana, Hyperliquid, Zcash, and Cardano declined between 2% and 6% during the session. Consequently, losses expanded across both large-cap and alternative digital assets.

According to CoinGlass, the crypto market lost nearly $20 billion in value during the downturn. The data provider also reported almost $40 million in liquidations across multiple digital asset positions. Furthermore, approximately 73,000 traders faced liquidations within the previous 24 hours.

Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Hyperliquid, SPCX, SNDK, and MU positions recorded notable forced liquidations. Leveraged positions amplified losses as prices declined across the broader market. Therefore, liquidation activity accelerated throughout the trading session.

CoinGlass also reported the largest single liquidation on the Hyperliquid platform. The closed XYZ: SKHX position carried an estimated value of approximately $4.86 million. That transaction highlighted the impact of leverage during periods of heightened market volatility.

Attention has now shifted toward the upcoming United States economic releases scheduled for this week. Markets will receive the latest Consumer Price Index inflation report before additional policy signals emerge. Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh will also deliver testimony that could influence expectations surrounding future interest rate decisions.

Velocity, a stablecoin treasury and settlement infrastructure provider, has raised $38 million in a Series A round as it seeks to deepen the plumbing enterprises need to use stablecoins for cross-border payments and finance operations. The deal brings the company’s total funding close to $50 million since it launched in 2025, according to Velocity.

The round was led by Dragonfly and FirstMark, with participation from Activant Capital, Capital One Ventures, QED Investors, Coinbase Ventures, Wintermute Ventures and Ripple. Velocity said it will use the proceeds to expand its banking and payments network, create new products, and strengthen its regulatory capabilities.

Key takeaways

• Velocity raised $38 million in Series A funding to scale stablecoin treasury and cross-border settlement infrastructure.
• Backers include Dragonfly and FirstMark, alongside strategic investment from firms such as Coinbase Ventures and Ripple.
• The company says its software connects stablecoin networks to banking, custody, compliance and settlement systems for enterprises.
• Funding lands amid intensifying competition for the enterprise stablecoin market, including initiatives such as Open USD.

What Velocity is building for enterprise finance

Founded in 2025, Velocity develops software designed to bridge stablecoin networks with traditional financial rails. The company’s focus is on connecting stablecoin-based value transfer to the systems enterprises rely on—banking connectivity, custody, compliance workflows and settlement processes.

Velocity’s stated customers include enterprise finance teams, payment providers, fintech firms and financial institutions that want to incorporate stablecoins into cross-border payment flows and treasury operations. In practice, that means the product is less about issuing tokens itself and more about making stablecoin usage operational inside existing financial processes.

According to Velocity, the latest financing will support expansion of its banking and payments network and help it develop additional products. It also highlights “regulatory capabilities” as a priority, underscoring that firms moving stablecoin treasury workflows into regulated contexts need more than basic on-chain transfer functionality.

More capital flows into stablecoin infrastructure

Velocity’s Series A adds to a broader pattern: investors are funding infrastructure players that sit between stablecoin networks and real-world financial operations. In earlier coverage this year, Tether participated in a $5.2 million round for Ark Labs, which is building stablecoin issuance and settlement infrastructure on Bitcoin. The project focuses on a programmable execution layer intended to enable faster payments and more complex financial applications.

Other enterprise-focused infrastructure investments cited by Cointelegraph include OpenFX, which raised $94 million in a Series A to expand a stablecoin-based foreign exchange network. Trace Finance also secured $32 million to grow cross-border payment infrastructure that combines banking, foreign exchange and stablecoin settlement services.

Taken together, these moves point to a market where differentiation increasingly depends on integration depth—how smoothly stablecoin flows plug into liquidity management, compliance and settlement—and less on purely offering a token. Velocity’s emphasis on expanding its banking and payments network fits that trend, suggesting investors view “connective tissue” as a major constraint on enterprise adoption.

Enterprise stablecoin competition heats up

Competition for enterprise stablecoins is not standing still. In June, more than 140 companies backed the launch of Open USD (OUSD), a dollar-pegged stablecoin supported by major payments and crypto players including Visa, Mastercard, Coinbase and Ripple. That development signals how quickly enterprise-facing stablecoin initiatives are moving from concept to rollout.

Velocity’s timing appears deliberate. Rather than competing directly as a stablecoin issuer, the company is positioning itself as the system layer enterprises can use regardless of which dollar-pegged stablecoin rail they choose. Still, as more stablecoin ecosystems and industry consortia emerge, the integration and compliance demands for treasury operations are likely to increase rather than decrease.

For investors and operators, the key question is whether these infrastructure providers can maintain flexibility across networks while meeting the regulatory expectations of banks, payment providers and financial institutions. Velocity’s stated commitment to regulatory capabilities suggests it views governance, controls and compliance tooling as part of the competitive edge.

Why investors care: stablecoins are moving into payment reality

The funding momentum also aligns with reported usage data indicating stablecoins are becoming part of everyday payment flows. A joint analysis by McKinsey and Artemis Analytics, referenced in the source reporting, estimated that stablecoins processed $390 billion in annualized real-world payments in 2025. The figure includes about $226 billion in business-to-business transactions.

While these estimates describe annualized payment activity rather than balances held on exchanges or in wallets, they matter for enterprise adoption because they point to sustained transactional demand. As stablecoin rails get integrated into treasury and settlement workflows, companies may look for providers that can reduce operational friction—such as reconciling transfers, managing liquidity and handling compliance requirements—without forcing teams to rebuild core financial processes from scratch.

Velocity’s focus on connecting stablecoin networks to banking, custody, compliance and settlement systems suggests it is targeting that operational gap. If stablecoin payment volumes keep scaling, the “last mile” of infrastructure—network connectivity and regulated settlement execution—may become a deciding factor for who can serve institutional and enterprise users reliably.

Next, investors and potential customers should watch whether Velocity can broaden its banking and payments network quickly while demonstrating that its compliance and settlement tooling supports real cross-border treasury workflows. With enterprise stablecoin competition accelerating—from initiatives like Open USD to other infrastructure funding—execution and integration depth will likely determine which providers become essential partners rather than optional add-ons.

The US Senate is nearing a vote on the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act, a market-structure bill backed by Republicans that would set new rules for digital-asset activity. But a vocal bloc of Senate Democrats and civil-society groups says the legislation is incomplete, arguing it fails to address ethics concerns tied to President Donald Trump’s financial relationships with parts of the crypto industry.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Senators Chris Murphy, Jeff Merkley, and Chris Van Hollen—along with representatives for Americans for Financial Reform and Indivisible and actor Ben McKenzie—criticized the bill for what they characterized as “Trump’s crypto corruption.” The lawmakers argued that passing a new regulatory framework without curbing potential conflicts would effectively “protect” the President’s ability to influence the sector.

Key takeaways

• Democratic senators Murphy, Merkley, and Van Hollen signaled they will not back the CLARITY Act unless ethics safeguards are added.
• The bill’s Senate path is tight: it must clear a 60-vote threshold and then return to the House, meaning some Democratic support is likely required.
• Majority Leader John Thune says the Senate will vote before the Aug. 10 work period, though the exact timing was not confirmed in the Senate calendar as of Tuesday.
• The CLARITY Act has support from at least two law-enforcement organizations, which argue it would help combat digital-asset crime.

Ethics fight threatens a bipartisan milestone

The CLARITY Act has been moving through Congress for roughly a year, having already passed the House as part of a broader Republican “Crypto Week” agenda. As the bill heads to the Senate floor, opposition has focused less on whether rules are needed—and more on whether the proposed framework includes sufficient ethics provisions.

In the Tuesday remarks, Murphy argued there is “no reason” to create a new regulatory system for crypto if it does not prevent what he described as corruption across the industry. He warned that legislation could become “in and of itself a fundamental corruption” if it effectively shields the President’s influence over how the sector is regulated.

Other Senate Democrats have raised similar concerns. Van Hollen, Murphy, and Merkley cited recent disclosure activity by Trump as part of the broader push for safeguards. The article notes that Trump disclosed that he earned $1.4 billion from crypto ventures in 2025, a point connected to objections about the bill’s ethics posture. Senator Elizabeth Warren—an influential critic of many crypto-related policies—has also called for the bill to address “brazen financial corruption,” aligning her position with the group opposing the legislation’s current form.

Still, the ethics dispute also has practical implications: with the CLARITY Act requiring 60 votes, any Democratic refusal could make passage difficult even with Republicans’ slim majority. The Senate’s voting arithmetic becomes especially relevant as party leaders consider whether they can secure enough support to avoid a failed floor vote.

What the Senate vote means for timing and leverage

Majority Leader John Thune told Bloomberg Government News that the Senate would hold a vote before the August recess/work period, which is scheduled to begin Aug. 10. As of Tuesday, the precise timing was reportedly not yet reflected in the official Senate calendar.

Thune’s pledge matters because it compresses the window for negotiations that could produce amendments or side arrangements. If lawmakers expect a vote before Aug. 10, there is less time to resolve disagreements over ethics language, stablecoin provisions, or other implementation details.

The political pressure around timing has also been heightened by developments on the Republican side. The article says Trump urged senators to pass the bill “in honor of” Senator Lindsey Graham after his death over the weekend. While the article notes that Graham did not appear to make public statements directly supporting CLARITY, it frames the President’s comments as additional momentum for the vote.

At the same time, the article highlights the narrowness of Republican numbers in the chamber following Graham’s passing, and notes that Senator Mitch McConnell was still hospitalized as of Tuesday. With the party reportedly holding a 52-47 majority after Graham’s death, the chamber’s effective attendance could be even more consequential for a time-sensitive floor schedule.

Law enforcement support adds a counterweight

Despite the ethics-focused pushback, the CLARITY Act also has backing from law enforcement organizations. The article says the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives and the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association have endorsed the bill, arguing it would help address digital-asset-related crime.

This matters for lawmakers trying to bridge the gap between regulatory design and political feasibility. While ethics provisions may be the deciding factor for some Democrats, law enforcement endorsements provide a separate policy narrative: the claim that clearer rules would improve compliance, investigation, and prosecution in markets historically associated—rightly or wrongly—with illicit activity.

The tension between those two narratives—ethics safeguards versus criminal enforcement benefits—could become the central question for observers watching the Senate whip count. If the ethics amendments are viewed as non-negotiable by some senators, the enforcement arguments may not be enough to secure the 60-vote threshold.

Where the bill stands and what to watch next

The CLARITY Act is expected to return to the House if the Senate amends it, meaning any changes—whether aimed at ethics, stablecoin-related details, or other market-structure mechanics—could restart parts of the legislative process. With the bill already cleared the House nearly a year after “Crypto Week,” supporters will likely want to avoid a cycle that delays implementation.

For investors, builders, and market participants, the upcoming Senate floor vote is less about short-term price noise and more about policy certainty. The key question now is whether Senate Democrats who raised ethics objections can be brought on board through clarifications or carveouts—or whether their opposition will be strong enough to force either a delay or a reshaped bill.

As senators head toward a vote before Aug. 10, watch for when the bill’s final text is released, whether ethics language becomes a sticking point on the floor, and how quickly negotiations can turn opposition into enough votes to reach the 60 threshold.

JPMorgan has lowered its earnings forecasts for Circle and Coinbase after a new USDC revenue-sharing agreement with Hyperliquid changed how income from the stablecoin’s reserves will be divided.

According to a JPMorgan research note, the revised agreement could reduce the long-term profitability of the USDC business for both companies, even as they continue pursuing higher adoption of the dollar-backed stablecoin.

The bank argued that competition among distribution partners may force issuers to give away a larger share of reserve income to secure market share.

New revenue-sharing terms reduce reserve income

Under the arrangement highlighted by JPMorgan, Coinbase will classify USDC held on Hyperliquid as “on-platform” balances. As a result, Coinbase will receive the reserve income generated by those deposits but will return 90% of that revenue to Hyperliquid instead of splitting the proceeds with Circle under the companies’ existing economic arrangement.

JPMorgan estimated that Hyperliquid currently holds about $6 billion worth of USDC, representing roughly 8% of the stablecoin’s circulating supply. Because of the platform’s growing role in the USDC ecosystem, the bank believes the revised economics could have a noticeable effect on future earnings for both Circle and Coinbase.

Describing the competitive dynamic, JPMorgan said both companies face pressure to increase USDC usage even if doing so requires surrendering a larger portion of reserve revenue to distribution partners. The bank characterized the situation as one in which efforts to expand adoption could come at the cost of lower profitability.

The revenue-sharing concerns follow an announcement made on May 14, when Circle and Coinbase revealed a partnership with Hyperliquid to deepen USDC integration across the crypto trading platform. Hyperliquid operates both a Layer-1 blockchain and a decentralized exchange offering spot and perpetual futures markets.

Since June 11, USDC has become Hyperliquid’s preferred stablecoin, strengthening the platform’s importance within Circle’s distribution network. JPMorgan said the commercial terms supporting that expansion, rather than the growth in usage itself, have become the main issue for investors evaluating future earnings.

Wall Street remains divided on Circle’s outlook

Elsewhere on Wall Street, analysts have reached different conclusions about Circle’s long-term prospects. Mizuho has also taken a more cautious stance on the company, downgrading the stock as concerns grow over whether expanding USDC adoption will continue to generate attractive economics.

By contrast, Bernstein and William Blair have maintained positive ratings on Circle, indicating they still expect the stablecoin issuer to benefit from continued growth in digital dollar usage despite increasing competition for distribution partnerships.

Even after cutting its earnings estimates, JPMorgan said it continues to forecast growth in USDC-related earnings through 2027. The bank attributed that expectation to its interest-rate outlook, which now includes a 25-basis-point Federal Reserve rate increase at the October 2026 meeting.

Higher rates generally increase the income earned on the cash and Treasury reserves backing USDC, providing an offset to the revenue-sharing concessions outlined in the Hyperliquid agreement.

For investors, the latest debate has shifted attention away from USDC’s circulating supply alone and toward how reserve income is divided among issuers, exchanges, and distribution partners. JPMorgan’s analysis suggests that while adoption can continue rising, the financial value retained by Circle and Coinbase may come under increasing pressure as more platforms negotiate similar commercial terms.