Crypto Card Payments Hit Record $12.5B As Adoption Surges

More people are using crypto cards than ever before to make payments.

• Crypto card payment volume has surged to a record $12.5 billion, a 140% increase year-to-date, driven by stablecoin adoption and demand for faster cross-border transactions.
• Major players like Fold Holdings (using Visa and Stripe) and Aven are entering the crypto card space, offering features like bitcoin rewards and crypto-backed loans.
• The growth in crypto card usage, including QR-code payments, signifies a new phase of adoption for digital assets in everyday transactions.

Topics: Payment system integration, Scalability, Institutional adoption, Stablecoin payments remittances, Retail global adoption, Payment network integration

Tags: #cryptocards #paymentvolume #stablecoins #crossbordertransactions #recordgrowth #visanetwork #bitcoinrewards #jupiterspend #foldholdings #aven

Read more

Saudi Arabia withdraws from mBridge CBDC project backed by China

Saudi Arabia’s central bank has withdrawn from mBridge, a China-backed project aimed at enabling cross-border transactions between central banks using digital currencies on a shared infrastructure. The Financial Times reported that the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) join...

• Saudi Arabia's central bank (SAMA) has withdrawn from the China-backed mBridge CBDC project after completing its proof of concept.
• mBridge aims to facilitate cross-border transactions using central bank digital currencies on a shared ledger, distinct from stablecoin-reliant systems.
• The withdrawal highlights practical limits of CBDC experimentation and geopolitical scrutiny, particularly concerns from US policymakers regarding sanctions evasion.

Topics: Jurisdictions, Blockchain usage, Payment system integration, Cross jurisdictional policy, Private enterprise ledgers, Wholesale cbdc settlement

Tags: #mbridge #cbdc #saudiarabia #china #crossbordertransactions #digitalcurrencies #bis #ussanctions #stablecoins #centralbankdigitalcurrency

Read more

How XRP Is Filling the Cash Gap: South Korea Debuts Stock Market on the XRP Ledger as Ripple Expands

In a move to meet demand for faster, cheaper, and more transparent digital asset infrastructure, Ripple continues to expand globally, positioning XRP as a core settlement asset.

• South Korea's Financial Services Commission (FSC) is launching a tokenized securities market on the XRP Ledger, starting with privately placed corporate bonds and money market funds.
• This initiative aims to transition the country's capital market to 24/7 trading, with Ripple's strong existing collaborations in the region making it a key beneficiary.
• The move signifies an expansion of tokenized assets beyond real estate and royalties to include traditional securities like stocks, bonds, and funds, leveraging XRP's efficiency for cross-border transactions and DeFi integration.

Topics: Asset types, Jurisdictions, Integration with defi, Financial instruments, Emerging hubs, Rwa collateral lending

Tags: #xrpledger #southkorea #ripple #tokenizedsecurities #stockmarket #financialservicescommission #fsc #crossbordertransactions #defi #xrp

Read more

Citi tests Swift ledger in live payment pilots

Citi is using Swift’s blockchain-based ledger to process live cross-border transactions with First Abu Dhabi Bank and OCBC as part of a pilot running through December 2026

• Citi has successfully conducted live cross-border payment pilots using Swift's blockchain-based ledger, involving banks like First Abu Dhabi Bank and OCBC.
• The initiative aims to leverage shared blockchain infrastructure for 24/7, multi-currency, and multi-bank transactions, integrating with existing services like Citi Token Services.
• This pilot explores tokenized deposits and securities to enhance global payment and settlement efficiency, fostering interoperability between traditional and digital financial networks.

Topics: Payment system integration, Banks bankingsystems, Blockchain usage, Crossborder transactions, Wholesale cbdc settlement, Ethereum evm l 1 s

Tags: #citi #swift #ledger #crossbordertransactions #pilot #blockchain #tokenizeddeposits #digitalassets #fab #ocbc

Read more

Jackson Hole and G20 Map a Future of 24/7 Payments and AI

Cross-border transactions remain costly and slow, while tokenized markets still need money for settlement outside normal operating hours.

• Global financial discussions at Jackson Hole and the G20 highlighted the persistent challenges of slow and costly cross-border payments, exacerbated by the rapid potential growth of AI and robotics.
• A key issue for tokenized markets is the lack of 24/7 settlement using central bank money, which limits their efficient scale and could create financial stability concerns.
• The path forward involves making cross-border payments faster and cheaper, and developing robust settlement mechanisms for continuous tokenized trading, with AI potentially increasing transaction volumes.

Topics: Public debt, Integration with defi, Payment system integration, Tokenized us treasuries, On chain treasury management, Cross border settlement

Tags: #jacksonhole #g20 #247payments #ai #crossbordertransactions #tokenization #settlement #stablecoins #ustreasuries #programmableledgers

Read more

Major Banks Execute Live Cross-Border Swaps on Swift’s Blockchain Ledger

Institutional banking infrastructure crossed a major operational milestone in August 2026.

• HSBC and Standard Chartered successfully executed live cross-border bank-to-bank transactions using Swift's blockchain ledger and tokenized deposits.
• This deployment bypasses traditional correspondent banking inefficiencies, making global money movement instantaneous.
• The initiative demonstrates DLT's integration with existing financial infrastructure to address structural inefficiencies in global trade and payments.

Topics: Banks bankingsystems, Crossborder transactions, Blockchain usage, Custody asset servicing, Remittances low cost payments, Trade finance settlement, Cross border settlement, Private enterprise ledgers

Tags: #swift #blockchain #tokenizeddeposits #crossbordertransactions #hsbc #standardchartered #settlement #correspondentbanking #dlt #citigroup

Read more

South Korea’s PPP Lawmaker Calls For Bank-Led Won Stablecoin Rollout, With Fintech Expansion Later

South Korea's PPP lawmaker Kim Sang-hoon proposes bank-led won stablecoin rollout with later fintech expansion, balancing stability and innovation.

• A South Korean lawmaker proposes a two-track strategy for won stablecoin rollout, prioritizing bank-led issuance for stability before fintech involvement.
• This approach aims to balance regulatory concerns and innovation, addressing the stalled digital asset legislation in the country.
• The proposal seeks to enhance payment efficiency and cross-border transactions, positioning South Korea as a digital finance hub.

Topics: Jurisdictions, Legal regulatory, Blockchain usage, Established hubs, Securities law classification, Ethereum evm l 1 s

Tags: #wonstablecoin #southkorea #bankledissuance #fintechexpansion #digitalassetlaw #kimsanghoon #501rule #regulatoryframework #crossbordertransactions

Read more