According to Amy Zhang, Head of Asia at Fireblocks, Asian banks are increasingly using stablecoins like USDT and USDC as defensive tools to mitigate deposit flight risks and lost transaction revenue. Zhang highlighted that major banks in Korea, such as KB Kookmin and Shinhan, are forming a consortium to launch a Korean won stablecoin by 2026, while Japanese institutions like MUFG, SMBC, and Mizuho are piloting yen-pegged stablecoins to streamline trade finance. Hong Kong's Bank of East Asia has also piloted a USD and HKD stablecoin settlement network. Payment service providers are accelerating adoption, with stablecoins accounting for about half of Fireblocks' $3 trillion transaction volume, driven by retail and gig economy usage. Visa Analytics data shows 30% higher stablecoin volumes on weekends, underscoring their role in emerging markets. Separately, Bakkt Holdings (BKKT) filed with the SEC to raise $1 billion for bitcoin purchases, signaling growing corporate BTC treasury strategies. Bitcoin held above $107K ahead of a major options expiry, and Ethereum tested resistance between $2,500-$2,600, with analysts noting potential breakouts to $4,000 amid falling exchange reserves.