This week, Circle reported a substantial 66% revenue growth, beating third-quarter expectations due to higher reserve income and rising USDC circulation. Uniswap announced the launch of the game-changing Continuous Clearing Auction Protocol. The new protocol is designed for price discovery and liquidity bootstrapping on Uniswap v4. Let’s look at some of the other major developments of the week. Ethereum The Ethereum Foundation unveiled an ambitious plan to make the Ethereum network the foundational infrastructure for decentralized commerce among artificial intelligence (AI) agents. The plan introduces the ERC-8004 and x402 standards to coordinate autonomous agents under open, auditable, and intermediary-free rules. DeFi Uniswap has launched the Continuous Clearing Auction Protocol, a potential game-changer in decentralized finance (DeFi). The protocol, designed for price discovery and liquidity bootstrapping of pools on Uniswap v4, will offer a seamless experience for traders and projects. Technology As blockchain technology and cryptocurrency become prevalent in mainstream finance and society, the need for clear and effective education and awareness is growing. Bridging knowledge gaps in blockchain understanding requires creative and strategic educational approaches. One such approach uses entertainment platforms such as iGaming to introduce people to basic blockchain and crypto concepts while they play. Business Coinbase has filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to move its state of incorporation to Texas, joining a growing number of companies leaving Delaware. The exchange cited unpredictable outcomes and rising uncertainty within the state’s legal framework as reasons for the move. Circle has beaten Wall Street and analyst expectations, posting a 66% revenue growth, thanks to rising USDC circulation and higher reserve income. However, the company’s shares fell due to concerns about competition and valuation. Coinbase has called off its $2 billion acquisition of stablecoin startup BVNK. A spokesperson for the exchange confirmed the development. Coinbase and Mastercard were in advanced negotiations to acquire the UK-based fintech firm. Vivek Ramaswamy’s Strive has purchased 1,567 BTC for $162 million at an average cost of $103,315 per coin. The acquisition takes the company’s Bitcoin holdings to 7,525 BTC, elevating it to one of the top 15 global corporate Bitcoin holders. Web3 World Liberty Financial (WLFI) registered a sharp rally as the US government shutdown neared its end. WLFI’s close association with President Trump saw its price surge after the President stated that a deal to end the shutdown was close. Security Wolf Capital CEO Travis Ford was sentenced to five years in prison for his role in a $9.4 million crypto investment scam. Ford pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in January. Authorities in Spain have arrested Alvaro Romillo, a crypto influencer and the brains behind an alleged Ponzi scheme, Madeira Invest Club (MIC) . According to the authorities, MIC defrauded over 3,000 investors, promising annual returns of up to 20%. Regulation The Czech Central Bank has purchased $1 million in Bitcoin (BTC) and other cryptocurrencies. However, it has clarified that it has no plans to add the flagship cryptocurrency to its reserves for the foreseeable future. Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) is mulling new rules to tighten oversight of its digital asset infrastructure by proposing new registration rules for crypto custodians and trading service providers. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued new regulatory guidance to allow Wall Street crypto products to stake their digital assets and share the staking yields with investors without creating tax complications. The Deputy Governor of the Bank of England has urged the bank to align its stablecoin regulations with those of the United States. The Bank of England recently published a proposal to soften its stance on stablecoin regulation. Debanking has become one of the biggest challenges facing cryptocurrency companies. As a result, they have struggled to get access to the traditional banking system as payment providers cite AML and reputational concerns. Crypto firms looking for a merchant account must turn to expert consultancy services to streamline onboarding and compliance. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
