STABLECOIN
A stablecoin (or stable coin), as its name indicates, is a stable cryptocurrency designed to be resistant to the type of price volatility synonymous with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether. The key is to understand "stable": what is "stable"? which references are pegged to make its value "stable"? In terms of what we measure the "stability".
Visa New Crypto Initiative
Visa is developing a new crypto product to promote the adoption of public blockchain networks and stablecoin payments. The company is seeking software engineers with experience in programming, Web3 technologies, and Solidity to build the product.
Terraform Labs Co-Founder Indicted for Terra Stablecoin Collapse
Shin Hyun-seong, co-founder of Terraform Labs, has been indicted along with nine other individuals for the collapse of the Terra stablecoin ecosystem. They are accused of fraud, breach of trust, and embezzlement, with illicit profits of nearly $350 million suspected. Prosecutors have seized assets worth a total of $180 million.
Terraform Labs co-founder defends against SEC allegations
Do Kwon, co-founder of Terraform Labs, has defended himself against allegations of fraud from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Kwon’s lawyers have requested the dismissal of the lawsuit, claiming that the SEC's allegations are unfounded and that US law prohibits regulators from asserting jurisdiction over the digital assets in question. The lawyers also argued that the SEC failed to prove Kwon’s involvement in the collapse of Terra’s stablecoin, UST.
Terraform Labs Co-Founder Argues Against SEC Lawsuit
Terraform Labs co-founder, Do Kwon's lawyers have argued in court against the SEC's lawsuit for illegally offering unregistered securities. The lawyers claim the SEC's acquisitions are unfounded and that the stablecoin in question is a currency, not a security. Additionally, Kwon's arrest and subsequent extradition remain uncertain.
BTG Pactual Launches Stablecoin Backed by USD
Brazilian investment bank BTG Pactual has launched its own stablecoin, BTG Dol, which is pegged to the value of the US dollar on a 1:1 ratio. The stablecoin will allow customers to "dollarize" a portion of their equity and will facilitate interaction between traditional finance and the digital economy.
Bermuda Remains Committed to Crypto Despite FTX Collapse
Bermuda's Premier and Finance Minister, Edward Burt, stated that despite the collapse of crypto exchange FTX in nearby Bahamas, Bermuda will continue to accommodate digital asset and blockchain technology companies due to the benefits they offer. The territory, which implemented a regulatory framework for digital assets, recently released its first stablecoin powered by the Polygon blockchain.
MakerDAO Keeps USDC as Primary Collateral for Dai
MakerDAO has voted to keep USDC as the primary collateral for Dai, rejecting a proposal to diversify into GUSD and USDP. The decision was made based on reduced risks from a cascading bank run in the US and USDC's return to a $1 peg.
Mastercard Enables USDC Spending in Asia
Mastercard has partnered with Stables to allow retail customers in the Asia-Pacific region to spend and save USDC through its network. Meanwhile, worldwide banking turmoil has not slowed the blending of traditional and decentralized finance (DeFi). Global payment provider Mastercard has expanded its partnership with the Australian stablecoin platform, Stables, to enable retail customers in the Asia-Pacific region to spend and save USDC anywhere Mastercard is accepted. The wallet will accept deposits in several stablecoins, including Tether (USDT) and Binance USD (BUSD), with all deposits automatically converted into USDC. This move comes as worldwide banking turmoil and regulatory crackdowns continue to impact the crypto space.
USD Coin Chief Strategy Officer Twitter Account Hacked
Circle's USD Coin (USDC) stablecoin chief strategy officer Dante Disparte's Twitter account has been hacked, with the account reportedly promoting fake loyalty rewards to long-time users of USDC.
DeFiChain Becomes One of the First Blockchains to Fully Integrate Euro Coin, a Euro-backed Stablecoin
DeFiChain, the world’s leading blockchain on the Bitcoin network dedicated to bringing decentralized financial applications and services to everyone, has announced the debut of the Euro-backed stablecoin Euro Coin (EUROC) on its native blockchain. DeFiChain is one of the first blockchains to fully integrate a Euro-backed stablecoin.
Circle's Stablecoin USDC Affected by Collapsed Bank
Circle's USDC stablecoin briefly de-pegged after news that $3.3 billion of its cash reserves were stuck with collapsed bank Silicon Valley Bank. USDC's dollar peg has since recovered, but mass redemptions have led to a drop in the stablecoin's market cap by nearly 10% since March 11.
KuCoin Ventures Invests in Yuan-Pegged Stablecoin
KuCoin Ventures leads a $10 million investment in CNHC, a Chinese yuan-pegged stablecoin issuer and blockchain payment service provider.
Cryptocurrency Firms Deny Exposure to Troubled US Banks
Major cryptocurrency firms, including Tether, Crypto.com, Gemini, BitMEX, and others, have denied exposure to dissolved U.S. banks like Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. The firms have taken to social media to assure their users that their funds are safe and accessible despite ongoing issues in the U.S. banking system.
Cryptocurrency Community Debates Fallout from Closure of Major American Banks
The closure of three major American banks that serve cryptocurrency firms, including Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, has sparked debate within the cryptocurrency community. The closure of Silicon Valley Bank, which held over $3.3 billion of USD Coin issuer Circle's $40 billion reserves, has caused particular concern. As a result, the cryptocurrency ecosystem is now exploring neobank services and other options to bridge the gaps exposed by the latest mainstream banking failure.
Circle Partners with Cross River Bank for USDC Production and Redemption
Circle has partnered with Cross River Bank for USDC production and redemption, as well as expanded relationships with other banking partners like BNY Mellon. The USDC stablecoin recently experienced a peg-breaking incident but has since recovered.