BitMine, SharpLink, and Joe Lubin Back New Ethereum Nonprofit ETHLabs

A group of former Ethereum Foundation (EF) researchers has launched Ethlabs, an independent nonprofit R&D organization aimed at accelerating Ethereums adoption as a global financial settlement layer, with backing from crypto companies Bitmine and Sharplink as well as Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin.  This is happening at a time when the EF itself is deliberately pulling back and leaving room for new institutions to take on more of the ecosystems core research and development work.  What Ethlabs Is and Whos Behind It  According to a June 22 post on X, Ethlabs was founded by five former Ethereum Foundation researchers, with a mission to make “Ethereum the settlement layer of the global economy.”  The organization will sit between builders working at the application layer and the core protocol itself, helping translate real-world needs into shared standards and infrastructure.  One of the labs founders, Julian Ma, who spent 4 years at the EF before leaving earlier this year, explained his reasoning for staying in the ecosystem.  “We are at the moment Ethereum was built for,” he wrote on X. “Ethereum is best positioned to become the base layer for worldwide finance.”  He also said that his focus at Ethlabs will be on supporting builders and improving infrastructure. The organization will

06-23

MoneyGram dumped Ripple for Stellar. Does XRP lose anything?

The headline reads like a fresh defection. The timeline tells a different story, and the real loss for $XRP is smaller and stranger than the framing suggests.  MoneyGram launched its own dollar stablecoin, MGUSD, on the Stellar blockchain. The product is built into the MoneyGram app as a non-custodial wallet, issued through Stripes Bridge platform, with smart contracts handled by M0 and wallet security by Fireblocks.  The pilot opened in the United States, with a global rollout planned across MoneyGrams network of roughly 500,000 cash-in and cash-out locations. The crypto press framed it the way it always does: MoneyGram picked Stellar, MoneyGram snubbed Ripple, $XRP just lost a giant.  The framing is tidy and mostly wrong about the timing. To work out whether $XRP actually loses anything, you have to separate three things that the headline blends together: what MoneyGram built, when MoneyGram and Ripple actually parted ways, and what $XRP the token was ever getting from that relationship in the first place.  What MoneyGram actually launched  MGUSD is a dollar-pegged stablecoin, one more entry in a crowded field, but the way it is wired tells you what MoneyGram is trying to do.  The token is issued through Stripes Bridge, the stablecoin infrastructure platform Stripe acquired

06-23

MoneyGram stablecoin launch shows why XRPs bridge model is fading

MoneyGrams stablecoin launch on Stellar is being read as a fresh blow to Ripple and $XRP. The reality is more complicated — and more revealing about where the entire cross-border payments industry is heading.  Key takeawaysMoneyGram ended its partnership with Ripple in 2021, years before MGUSD launched on Stellar in 2026.MGUSD is a dollar-pegged stablecoin issued via Stripes Bridge, with smart contracts by M0 and wallet security by Fireblocks.The stablecoin connects digital dollars to roughly 500,000 physical cash locations in MoneyGrams global remittance network.Issuing a stablecoin lets MoneyGram earn interest on user balances, a revenue model that is reshaping the entire payments sector.MoneyGram has also become a validator on Solana, signaling a multi-chain strategy rather than a single-chain bet.  MoneyGrams Shift From Ripple to Stellar  The breakup with Ripple happened long before any stablecoin entered the picture. Between 2019 and 2021, MoneyGram and Ripple ran one of the most cited partnerships in crypto. Ripple invested around $50 million in MoneyGramand integrated its On-Demand Liquidity service, which used $XRP as a bridge asset to move money across borders without pre-funded accounts sitting idle in every destination currency. For a stretch, MoneyGram was the flagship proof that $XRP had a real, household-name use case.  That arrangement

06-23

Luxembourg's CSSF issues green light for Ripple's preliminary CASP approval

Ripple announced that the Luxembourg Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) has issued a Green Light Letter granting preliminary CASP approval under the EUs Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. However, the approval is tentative, subject to meeting outstanding final conditions.   Ripple had already acquired the EMI License in Luxembourg, and this additional milestone allows Ripple to start scaling its regulated cryptoasset services to other financial institutions and corporates across the entire European Economic Area (EEA).  More licensing momentum!  The license comes during a week when institutional attention in Europe is unusually high as the MiCA CASP deadline looms. For Ripple, this milestone marks the end of a multi-year regulatory build-out that started with its registration of Ripple Payments Europe.  How Ripple benefits from EMI and CASP licenses  The EMI license held by Ripple covers fiat-denominated electronic money services. It allows for regulated stablecoin payments, direct debit, and e-money issuance. On the other hand, the CASP layer covers crypto-asset exchange, transfer, and custody services under MiCAs unified rulebook.  With both licenses, Ripple can now handle the full spectrum in-house. The platform can now legally handle a customer sending euros by converting them into RLUSD or $XRP, then routing the payment cross-border and issuing the local

06-23

Ripple Wins Preliminary MiCA Nod in Luxembourg, Full License Still Pending

Ripple has won preliminary approval from Luxembourgs financial regulator to operate as a crypto-asset service provider across the European Union, a step that still leaves the firm short of a full license.  Ripple Joins the MiCA Queue  The Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier issued what Ripple called a green light letter, an early-stage sign-off that remains subject to final conditions before the company can scale regulated services in the bloc.  The permission, once finalized, would let Ripple offer cryptoasset services to banks, fintechs and corporate clients in all 30 countries of the European Economic Area.  It builds on an electronic money institution license the company already holds in Luxembourg, which together with the crypto permission would make Ripple compliant with the EUs Markets in Crypto-Assets regime, the firm said.  More licensing momentum!  Ripple has secured its preliminary Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) license in Luxembourg, paving the way for the full rollout of Ripple Payments across the EEA and full MiCA compliance:  That mirrors the path Ripple Ripple Ripple was co-founded by Jed McCaleb and Chris Larsen and was debuted in 2012 as both a digital disbursement network and a pre-mined digital coin denoted as $XRP. Possessing less market cap than both Bitcoin and Ethereum, Ripple

06-23

Ripple Secures Preliminary MiCA License: Here‘s Why That’s Important

Ripple announced today that it has managed to secure preliminary approval for a Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) license from Luxembourg‘s Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation (MiCA).  The approval was issued through a Green Light Letter and remains subject to final conditions. However, if granted entirely, it could allow the firm to roll out regulated cryptoasset services throughout the EEA.  It‘s worth noting that this move builds on Ripple’s earlier push into Luxembourg. As CryptoPotato previously reported, the firm had already obtained preliminary approval for an Electronic Institution license in the country, which allows it to provide digital payment services once granted. The CASP approval adds another layer to the strategy, as the firm continues to expand its $RLUSD stablecoin, which recently gained more visibility through Mastercards broader stablecoin settlement plans.  A Larger European Payments Push  Ripple said the CASP license, combined with its existing EMI license, would allow European banks, fintechs, and corporates to access its cryptoasset and stablecoin payments infrastructure through a single integration. This includes actions such as collecting, exchanging, and disbursing funds across supported rails.  This matters. MiCA has become the EUs main framework for regulating crypto companies, stablecoin issuers, and service

06-23

Bithumb to list Canton in KRW market as CC momentum stays weak

Bithumb, South Koreas second-largest crypto exchange, will add Canton (CC) to its Korean won market on June 23.  The exchange said deposits and withdrawals would open within two hours of the notice, while trading would start at 14:00 local time.  The exchange will support Canton through Canton Mainnet only. Bithumb set the reference price at 234 won and said it would apply its usual trading limits for new listings. It said, “Canton (CC) will be added to the KRW market,” while warning users that crypto assets carry high risk.  Under the listing rules, buy orders will face a five-minute pause after trading starts. Sell orders will also face a five-minute price band linked to the reference price. For about two hours after launch, Bithumb will allow limit orders only.  Canton (CC) is the native token of Canton Network, an institutional blockchain developed by Digital Asset for privacy-preserving tokenization, trading and settlement of real-world assets, with backing and participation from major Wall Street firms including Goldman Sachs, Citadel…  Canton attracts Wall Street and Korean attention  Canton (CC) is the native token of Canton Network, a blockchain built by Digital Asset for privacy-focused tokenization, trading and settlement. The project targets institutions that need blockchain settlement while keeping selected

06-23

Coinbase Expands Pre-IPO Trading With OpenAI and Anthropic Futures

Coinbase has widened its pre-IPO trading lineup by launching perpetual futures tied to OpenAI and Anthropic, two of the most closely watched artificial intelligence companies. The move gives eligible international traders a new way to speculate on the firms valuations before either company reaches public markets. The launch also signals growing demand for products that offer exposure to private technology giants, especially as investor interest in AI continues to accelerate across global financial markets.  Coinbase Deepens Its Push Into Pre-IPO Markets  The exchange officially opened trading for its ANTHROPIC-PERP and OPENAI-PERP contracts on June 22. Shortly after launch, Coinbase enabled a full range of trading functions, including market, limit, stop, and stop-limit orders.  The new products follow the companys earlier introduction of SpaceX-linked perpetual futures. That launch attracted significant attention from traders seeking access to private firms with strong brand recognition and high growth expectations.  Two of the biggest, most hyped private companies are due to go public soon (OpenAI and Anthropic).  But because they‘re private, regular people can’t get exposure.  We launched pre-IPO perps for both these companies on Coinbase (non-US customers).   Consequently, Coinbase has moved quickly to broaden its offerings in the emerging pre-IPO derivatives sector. The company aims to provide alternative ways for

06-23

OpenAI and Anthropic Pre-IPO Trading: Coinbase Launches Exposure to 2 AI Giants Still Private

Coinbase Promotes New Access to OpenAI and Anthropic Valuations  Crypto exchange Coinbase (Nasdaq: COIN) has introduced pre-IPO perpetual futures (perps) tied to OpenAI and Anthropic, offering eligible non-U.S. customers a way to trade exposure to two of the most closely watched private artificial intelligence (AI) companies. The launch expands Coinbase International Exchanges lineup of perpetual products into private-market valuation trading.  Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong highlighted the challenges retail investors face when trying to access private companies before public listings. OpenAI and Anthropic remain privately held, limiting traditional investment opportunities for most market participants.  On June 22, Armstrong wrote on X:  “Two of the biggest, most hyped private companies are due to go public soon (OpenAI and Anthropic). But because they‘re private, regular people can’t get exposure. We launched pre-IPO perps for both these companies on Coinbase (non-US customers).”  Platform access is restricted to eligible users outside the United States through Coinbase International Exchange. The contracts allow traders to take long or short positions while using the exchanges existing perpetual futures infrastructure, including margin requirements, funding mechanisms, and risk controls.  Valuation-Based Contracts Transition Into Equity-Linked Perpetual Futures  Coinbases pre-IPO perpetual futures use company-wide valuation metrics instead of hypothetical share prices, reflecting the lack of finalized capital structures before

06-23

Trump launches quantum race as crypto faces Q-Day threat

President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders designed to accelerate U.S. quantum computing development and prepare federal agencies for the potential security risks posed by future quantum machines.  According to the White House, Trump approved the measures on June 22 as part of a broader effort to strengthen American leadership in quantum technologies, a field widely viewed as critical for future advances in computing, communications, and cybersecurity.  Investing in American quantum leadership like never before.  President Trump signs executive orders on quantum, supercharging a national effort in innovation in quantum technologies, ensuring national security and continuing American growth in a critical industry.   Speaking during the signing event, Trump said “quantum technologies represents the next generation of innovation across computing, sensing, and networking,” adding that the sector carries significant implications for economic growth, scientific research, and national security.  The first order, Executive Order 14411, establishes the Quantum Computer for Application Development and Discovery Science, or QC-ADDS, initiative. Under the directive, the Department of Energy must identify technical requirements for an advanced quantum computer within 90 days and work toward deploying at least one such system at a federal research facility.  The Department of Commerce is also tasked with exploring ways to encourage participation from private-sector

06-23
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