Adoption Friday: Hottest Blockchain News of the Week
Hey everyone,
Welcome back to Adoption Friday with adoption news from around the world. In this week’s batch:
- 🇺🇸 Ondo Finance launches tokenized US stocks
- 🇨🇭 BlackRock plans Bitcoin ETP in Europe
- 🇺🇸 Perplexity AI hints at crypto integration
- 🌐 Stablecoins outpace Visa & Mastercard
- 🇷🇺 Russia to launch crypto mining registry
🇺🇸 Ondo Finance launches tokenized US stocks
Ondo Finance has launched Ondo Global Markets (Ondo GM), a blockchain platform that tokenizes US stocks, allowing global investors to access assets like Apple, Tesla, and others using stablecoin transactions. The tokens maintain a 1:1 backing with the underlying securities, offering legitimacy and transparency. Ondo GM also provides APIs for integration, a legal framework for investor protection, and supports the growing trend of real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. This move reflects the surging adoption of RWAs and growing interest from traditional financial institutions in blockchain-powered investment solutions.
Our take: Ondo is making it super easy for investors around the world to access US stocks through a trusted, cutting-edge approach. It’s like bringing Wall Street to your digital wallet!
Read more here.
🇨🇭 BlackRock plans Bitcoin ETP in Europe
BlackRock is planning to launch a new Bitcoin exchange-traded product (ETP) in Europe, potentially domiciled in Switzerland. The company could begin marketing the product soon, and it is likely to have different fees in Europe compared to the US and Canada. However, the European market for crypto ETPs is relatively small compared to the US, and it may be less receptive to riskier investment products.
Our take: BlackRock jumping into Europe’s Bitcoin scene could be a game-changer. The company just needs to find a way to lure in those cautious European investors to explore crypto in a whole new way.
Read more here.
🇺🇸 Perplexity AI hints at crypto integration
Perplexity AI’s CEO hints at the possibility of integrating crypto into their platform, but no details have been provided yet. There is speculation about how the integration could happen, including the potential for crypto payments and AI-powered tools for assessing digital assets. Additionally, the company recently incorporated DeepSeek AI into its offerings, raising concerns about data security due to DeepSeek’s ties to China. However, the CEO clarified that DeepSeek operates exclusively through servers in the US and Europe to protect user data.
Our take: The combo of crypto and AI sounds pretty futuristic and exciting, but solid data security is going to be key to making this a hit.
Read more here.
🌐 Stablecoins outpace Visa & Mastercard
In 2024, stablecoin transfers surpassed the combined transaction volume of Visa and Mastercard. This trend was driven by high-speed and liquid networks like Solana. The report from CEX.IO highlighted that stablecoins consistently outperformed traditional payment providers throughout the year. The supply of stablecoins expanded by 59% during the period, surpassing $200 billion and representing 1% of the total US dollar supply. USDC emerged as the dominant stablecoin for on-chain transactions, with Solana becoming the most active blockchain for stablecoin transfers.
Our take: Stablecoins are quickly becoming the go-to payment method because they offer speed and liquidity that traditional payments just can’t match. Big players, take note!
Read more here.
🇷🇺 Russia to launch crypto mining registry
Russia is planning to launch a national registry for cryptocurrency mining equipment to crack down on illegal mining and ensure compliance with regulations. This move comes in response to concerns about unauthorized mining activities and aims to establish clearer criteria for classifying crypto mining operations. The government is introducing an online system to streamline tax reporting for cryptocurrency miners, aligning with broader efforts to integrate crypto into the economy.
Our take: By cataloging mining activities, Russia is definitely stepping up its game to legitimize the industry. Providing clear rules that could make life easier for everyone involved in crypto is a good thing.
Read more here.
And that’s it! What do you think about this week’s adoption news? Let us know in the comments!
