NewsBriefs - Avalanche Foundation launches Visa card to boost crypto usability

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  • Coindesk

    Avalanche Foundation launches Visa card to boost crypto usability

    The Avalanche Foundation has launched the Avalanche Card. This Visa credit card enables users to purchase with Avalanche tokens (AVAX), wrapped AVAX, and stablecoins USDT and USDC at any Visa-accepting location. Developed in partnership with Rain, the card is designed to facilitate the integration of crypto into mainstream financial transactions and broaden its adoption, with a particular focus on users in Latin America, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Africa. This initiative is part of Avalanche's commitment to expand decentralized finance (DeFi) accessibility.

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    • Coindesk

      Ondo Finance joins Mastercard network to offer tokenized real-world assets

      Ondo Finance, a tokenized real-world asset issuer, has joined the Mastercard network to facilitate better cross-border payments and provide business access to yield through tokenized assets. Ondo's Short-Term US Government Treasuries Fund will be part of Mastercard's Multi-Token Network, leveraging API-enabled blockchain tools for efficient transaction processing. This collaboration underscores the growing integration of traditional finance and blockchain technology, allowing easier access to crypto and digital assets.

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    • Coindesk

      Avalanche Foundation launches Visa card to boost crypto usability

      The Avalanche Foundation has launched the Avalanche Card. This Visa credit card enables users to purchase with Avalanche tokens (AVAX), wrapped AVAX, and stablecoins USDT and USDC at any Visa-accepting location. Developed in partnership with Rain, the card is designed to facilitate the integration of crypto into mainstream financial transactions and broaden its adoption, with a particular focus on users in Latin America, the Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Africa. This initiative is part of Avalanche's commitment to expand decentralized finance (DeFi) accessibility.

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    • PRNewswire

      Immutable partners with Japan's top mobile developer to launch TOKYO BEAST on Web3 platform

      Immutable, a leading Web3 gaming platform, has partnered with Japan's premier mobile gaming developer to launch TOKYO BEAST, an innovative blockchain game featuring advanced mechanics and global tournaments. This partnership, marking Immutable's third with a unicorn developer, further solidifies its leadership in the Asian Web3 gaming market. TOKYO BEAST introduces a pooled NFT system and competitive features designed to attract both Web2 and Web3 players, aiming to set new standards in blockchain-based gaming.

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    • Cointelegraph

      Kaspersky reveals hundreds of fake GitHub projects spreading crypto malware

      Hackers are creating numerous fake GitHub projects to disseminate malware that steals crypto and user credentials according to Kaspersky. The campaign, titled 'GitVenom,' features repositories filled with various malware types aimed at tricking users into downloading them. These projects look authentic and are often disguised as useful tools, but instead harbor info stealers and clipboard hijackers that compromise crypto transactions. The schemes have targeted users globally, with a notable focus on Russia, Brazil, and Turkey.

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    • Hand-Picked

      PayPal to enhance stablecoin PYUSD adoption, targeting global merchant transactions

      PayPal Holdings Inc. plans to expand the use of its stablecoin, PYUSD, across its payment ecosystem, focusing on integrating it into products to serve its 20 million small-to-medium sized merchants. The initiative includes facilitating payment to vendors through an upcoming bill-pay product and enabling PYUSD payouts via Hyperwallet for global payments. The move aims to simplify cross-border transactions, reduce currency conversion friction, and enhance transaction speed, with key implementations set for completion by the end of 2025.

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    • Hamster Kombat

      Hamster Kombat launches its own TON layer-2 network

      Hamster Kombat, a popular Telegram crypto game, has launched its own layer-2 blockchain, the Hamster Network, on The Open Network (TON). This new network aims to provide a scalable, low-cost transaction platform specifically for games and apps. It features the TON Virtual Machine for seamless compatibility with existing TON dapps, includes a wallet, a bridge for token transfer, and a dedicated decentralized exchange. The Hamster Network, with its pilot game Hamster Boost, seeks to expand its user base by offering interactive gaming experiences.

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    • The Block

      Leveraged ETFs tied to Bitcoin stacker Strategy plunge nearly 50% in five days

      Two leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs) linked to the bitcoin stockpiler Strategy, MSTX and MTSU, saw nearly a 50% drop in value within five days. This decline coincided with a significant drop in bitcoin price, which fell to below $87,000. The ETFs, which are designed to amplify returns by using derivatives and debt, experienced increased trading volumes and high risk, leading to steep losses. The equity market also faced challenges, influenced by upcoming tariffs announced by the US president, exacerbating the volatile trading environment.

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    • The Block

      Ethereum's Pectra upgrade debuts on Holesky testnet

      The Pectra upgrade, significant for Ethereum, was launched on the Holesky testnet, marking a critical phase before its mainnet deployment. Although the upgrade initiated correctly, it faces finalization issues, with ongoing investigations by developers. The next planned testnet deployment is on Sepolia, contingent on resolving Holesky's problems. Pectra aims to enhance Ethereum's scalability, security, and usability with features like increased stake limits and enhanced rollup capabilities.

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    • Metaplanet

      Metaplanet acquires $12.9 million worth of Bitcoin

      Metaplanet Inc., listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, has expanded its Bitcoin holdings by purchasing an additional 135 coins. This acquisition increases its total holdings to 2,235 Bitcoin, as part of the company's Bitcoin Treasury Operations. The recent purchase involved an aggregated investment of 1.939 billion yen at an average price of 14,360,449 yen per token, with the goal of increasing shareholder value through enhanced BTC Yield, a performance metric showcasing growth in relation to fully diluted shares.

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    • The Block

      DOJ and OKX affiliate settle for over $500 million in unlicensed money transmitting case

      The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has finalized a settlement with Aux Cayes FinTech Co. Ltd., an affiliate of crypto exchange OKX. Aux Cayes will pay more than $500 million, including $84 million in penalties and about $421 million in forfeited fees from US customers, for operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. Additionally, OKX has implemented measures to enhance compliance and plans to maintain these improvements.

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    • Bloomberg

      DekaBank introduces crypto trading services for institutional clients

      DekaBank is now providing crypto trading, custody, and management services exclusively for institutional clients, not for private customers. The bank has acquired a crypto custody license under the German Banking Act with approvals from the European Central Bank and the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bafin). DekaBank aims to leverage its high security standards and well-established infrastructure to support institutional crypto activities, distinguishing itself from other competitors. It continues to assess approaches for private customer engagement in the crypto market.

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    • Cointelegraph

      USDC and EURC are the first legal stablecoins recognized under Dubai's crypto framework

      The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) has approved Circle's stablecoins, USD Coin (USDC) and EURC, as the first recognized tokens under its crypto regime. This allows entities in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) to utilize these stablecoins in various digital asset applications such as payments and treasury management. This approval marks a significant step in regulatory clarity and progresses the crypto infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), supported by recent legal frameworks and licensing systems for stablecoins.

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    • Certora

      Certora open-sources its Prover tool to enhance smart contract security

      Certora has open-sourced the Certora Prover, a leading Formal Verification engine supporting Ethereum, Solana, and Stellar. This move aims to make high-level smart contract security accessible and integrated directly into the development process, promoting efficiency and inclusivity across the DeFi space. The tool, which has secured over $100 billion in total value locked and supports multiple major DeFi projects, now offers an open, community-driven model for securing smart contracts against potential exploits.

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    • The Block

      YZi Labs invests in crypto-AI startup Vana, Changpeng Zhao joins as advisor

      YZi Labs (formerly Binance Labs) has invested an undisclosed amount in Vana, a crypto-AI startup focusing on data ownership, marking its first AI investment since rebranding. Binance co-founder Changpeng 'CZ' Zhao has also joined Vana as an advisor. The investment follows Vana's recent mainnet and token launch, planning to expand its DataDAO ecosystem and develop further AI integration.

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    • PancakeSwap

      PancakeSwap goes live on Monad testnet with ultra-low fees and enhanced features

      PancakeSwap has launched on the Monad Testnet, introducing low trading fees, enhanced liquidity, and greater capital efficiency to the DeFi trading space. This test phase allows users to experience improved trading conditions with fees as low as 0.01%, but it involves using test tokens, meaning no real transactions, rewards, or burns will occur. The full capabilities of PancakeSwap on Monad, supporting both v2 and v3 liquidity options, aim to provide a scalable, fast, and cost-effective trading environment.

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