# Settlement Related Articles

HTX News Center provides the latest articles and in-depth analysis on "Settlement", covering market trends, project updates, tech developments, and regulatory policies in the crypto industry.

After Tokenization of Assets, How to Exit?

Title: How to Exit After Asset Tokenization? Author: Symbiotic Compiled by: Hu Tao, ChainCatcher Summary: Tokenization addresses how assets go on-chain but largely leaves the redemption question unresolved. While tokenized assets can settle instantly, the underlying redemption for assets like treasuries, private credit, or real estate can take from T+1 to 180 days. This gap hinders DeFi adoption of Real World Assets (RWAs). Three emerging models aim to provide instant exit liquidity, differing primarily in their capital structure and efficiency: 1. **Balance Sheet Model (e.g., Grove Basin):** A single entity (like Sky) provides immediate liquidity from its balance sheet, acting as a bridge during the settlement period. It offers simplicity and deep initial liquidity but is constrained by a single entity's capacity and risk appetite. 2. **Asset-Specific Vault Model (e.g., Upshift Clear):** Independent liquidity providers fund dedicated vaults for each supported asset, earning fees. It decentralizes capital sources but isolates liquidity and capital per asset, leading to potential fragmentation. 3. **Shared Liquidity Layer Model (e.g., Symbiotic Liquid Lane):** A shared capital pool supports multiple RWA types simultaneously. Funds remain productive between redemptions (e.g., earning yield in lending markets). Exits are settled via a competitive RFQ market. This model aims for higher capital efficiency, scalability across assets, and serves longer-duration assets like private credit. Key differentiators are: 1) Source of capital and risk bearer, 2) Redemption pricing mechanism, 3) Capital efficiency, 4) Scalability to new asset types, and 5) Composability. The shared liquidity layer model represents a move from piecemeal solutions toward scalable infrastructure, enabling T+0 exits by pooling capital, maintaining yield, and using competitive pricing, thus enhancing RWA utility in DeFi.

marsbit06/16 06:09

After Tokenization of Assets, How to Exit?

marsbit06/16 06:09

The Value Distribution of Stablecoins

The Value Distribution of Stablecoins The article argues that stablecoins are evolving from a mere trading tool into a broad "dollar channel." It analyzes the industry's value chain through four layers: 1. **Issuance Layer (e.g., Tether, Circle):** The top layer that mints stablecoins, holds reserve assets, and captures the thickest interest rate spread. 2. **Infrastructure Layer (e.g., Bridge, BVNK):** Connects stablecoins to the traditional financial system, handling critical but complex "dirty work" like fiat on/off-ramps, banking integration, compliance (KYC/AML), and cross-border settlement. 3. **Acquiring/Distribution Layer (e.g., Stripe, Coinbase):** Embeds stablecoins into merchant systems, manages payment flows, and integrates with enterprise software. 4. **Application Layer:** End-users and businesses that ultimately use stablecoins for payments, settlement, or storing value. The author posits that while the issuance layer currently captures the most profit, the most overlooked and potentially critical layer is infrastructure. The core challenge for stablecoin adoption isn't the on-chain transfer (which is simple), but bridging the gap between blockchain and the real-world financial system. This involves solving practical problems for businesses: fiat conversion, reconciliation, tax handling, and user onboarding. Infrastructure companies are currently in a difficult "land-grab" phase—building networks, securing banking relationships, and achieving compliance country-by-country. They face pressure from both the profitable issuance layer above and distribution platforms below. However, the author suggests this layer is building a crucial moat. Once stablecoins become a default business rail, the infrastructure players who have done the hard work of integration may gain significant, durable value and pricing power.

链捕手06/15 14:36

Not All Chains Can Support Institutions, Why Canton Can

Canton aims to be the coordination layer for institutional financial workflows, enabling firms to run their own applications and ledgers while connecting to a common, synchronized infrastructure for transactions, collateral management, and settlements. Unlike many public blockchains, it focuses on privacy with selective data disclosure, uses the Daml smart contract language for embedded permissions and business rules, and offers features like asset locking (committed settlement) and atomic settlement (DvP). Its recent $355M funding round, led by a16z crypto, included strategic investors from traditional and crypto finance like Goldman Sachs, Citadel Securities, and BNP Paribas—many taking equity, not tokens. The network, with hundreds of partners and handling trillions in assets, uses its Canton Coin (CC) for network fees and incentives. While primarily improving efficiency within institutional workflows, its growth may indirectly expand the pool of on-chain assets and mature infrastructure, potentially benefiting broader decentralized finance over time.

Foresight News06/12 08:38

Not All Chains Can Support Institutions, Why Canton Can

Foresight News06/12 08:38

MoneyGram: Why Did We Launch Our Own Stablecoin?

MoneyGram, a global leader in cross-border remittances for over 80 years, has launched its own stablecoin, MGUSD. The initiative aims to evolve from single-transaction services to becoming a more integral part of users' financial lives. By allowing customers to hold a stable US dollar balance within the MoneyGram app, MGUSD enables not only remittances but also everyday spending, currency exchange, cash access, and future financial services. Targeting the billions globally who face challenges like currency volatility or lack of bank accounts, MGUSD leverages Stellar blockchain technology with a self-custody wallet architecture. This gives users control over their assets while providing a secure, compliant experience through a trusted brand. The approach focuses on solving existing customer pain points within MoneyGram's established network, rather than competing for broad crypto market liquidity. A key advantage is MoneyGram's hybrid model, combining digital services with the world's largest physical network for crypto-to-cash conversions. The stablecoin also modernizes the company's internal infrastructure, streamlining treasury management and partner settlements, with annual forex volume via stablecoins already reaching $2 billion. The project was delivered in about a year, driven by a reorganization into agile, cross-functional teams that operate with startup-like speed while leveraging decades of institutional expertise. Partners include Stablecoin (issuance), Crossmint (wallet APIs), Fireblocks (enterprise treasury), m0 (smart contracts), and the Stellar network. MoneyGram emphasizes that enhancing direct consumer offerings strengthens its partner ecosystem. The future direction is clear: to provide users worldwide with stable value storage, better financial tools, and greater control over their funds through a trusted, existing network.

Foresight News06/12 08:03

MoneyGram: Why Did We Launch Our Own Stablecoin?

Foresight News06/12 08:03

The Counterattack of Traditional Finance: Consortium Blockchains Are Quietly Making a Comeback

The Counteroffensive of Traditional Finance: Consortium Blockchains Quietly Revive In June 2026, over a dozen major US banks announced a joint initiative to build a shared tokenized deposit network by early 2027, operated by The Clearing House. This move is a direct response to the erosion of traditional bank deposits by stablecoins, whose transaction volume now dwarfs traditional payment giants. Unlike stablecoins, which move funds outside the banking system, tokenized deposits keep funds within the regulated system while offering crypto-like speed and programmability. This initiative marks a practical revival of the "consortium blockchain" concept, but with a crucial difference: it's now driven by genuine, urgent demand (validated by stablecoins), supportive regulation (like the GENIUS Act), and proven transaction volume on existing institutional chains like Canton Network and JPMorgan's Kinaxis. The distinction between public chains and consortium chains is blurring, as banks like JPMorgan strategically deploy assets across private, permissioned, and public chains. The real competition is no longer about technology but about which infrastructure—traditional finance's regulated networks or crypto-native public chains—becomes the default foundation for the next decade of finance.

marsbit06/10 12:10

The Counterattack of Traditional Finance: Consortium Blockchains Are Quietly Making a Comeback

marsbit06/10 12:10

When Doing Cryptocurrency Payment, the First Thing is Licenses, What is the Second?

When launching a crypto payment business, obtaining the necessary licenses is the crucial first step. However, the second, and arguably more critical, step is designing a comprehensive operational framework that forms a coherent business loop. This loop must be clearly understood and executable by all stakeholders: banks, payment partners, exchanges, on-chain analytics providers, regulators, and your internal team. Many projects mistakenly believe a single license permits all operations. Licenses merely grant entry; they don't define how the specific business functions. The real challenge lies in detailing every aspect of the workflow. This involves clarifying the customer base, the flow of fiat and crypto assets, the settlement process, and establishing clear lines of responsibility for risks like AML compliance, sanctions screening, chargebacks, and regulatory inquiries. A robust framework must answer seven core questions: Who are the clients and merchants? Who collects fiat and crypto? Who handles conversion and custody? And who is ultimately accountable for compliance and risk management? Projects often fail not from a lack of licensing, but during due diligence when they cannot convincingly explain these operational details. Therefore, beyond securing licenses, the priority must be constructing a closed-loop system. This system ensures the business model is transparent, risks are managed, responsibilities are delineated, contracts are aligned, and the entire process is comprehensible to partners and regulators. The true competitive edge in crypto payments lies not in acquiring a license quickly, but in integrating licensing, banking, compliance, and operations into a sustainable and executable whole.

marsbit06/09 06:31

When Doing Cryptocurrency Payment, the First Thing is Licenses, What is the Second?

marsbit06/09 06:31

Uncovering the Truth About Agent Commerce, Payments, and Infrastructure

Decoding Agent Commerce, Payments, and Infrastructure: The Reality Over the past year, I've been building infrastructure for the Agent economy, engaging with major players like Stripe, Visa, Coinbase, Google, and dozens of startups. A clear conclusion emerges: true, large-scale demand does not yet exist. Startups face structural challenges. Data points illustrate this gap. Stripe's Agent commerce platform has over 1,000 merchants but only single-digit transacting agents. Visa's Agent payment token requires 9-month KYC and a $250M revenue threshold, accessible only to giants like Amazon. On-chain analysis reveals actual daily Agent transaction volume is around $17k, half of which are test transactions. The article analyzes four potential markets: **1. Agent-to-Merchant (A2M):** Current AI shopping UX is often inferior to traditional e-commerce for visual, comparison-heavy purchases (clothing, electronics). Chat interfaces are a step back. Real merchant interest is defensive "Agent Engine Optimization," fearing future obsolescence, not current demand. Potential exists in high-frequency, low-decision purchases (e.g., food delivery) or simplifying terrible UX (complex checkouts, non-native shoppers), but these require massive consumer distribution channels dominated by giants like DoorDash and Amazon. **2. Agent-to-API (A2A):** Developers already have subscriptions and billing for core APIs (compute, data). The argument for micro-payments via crypto for sub-dollar API calls is addressed by pre-paid balances today. The deeper issue is supplier resistance; major SaaS firms rely on enterprise contracts, not fractional cent pricing. Opportunity lies in the long tail of niche services, but this is a smaller market catering to developers, a historically low-paying group. **3. Agent-to-Agent (A2A):** This remains a theoretical long-term vision with near-zero current transaction volume. It involves unique challenges: discovery, trust, negotiation, dispute resolution. When it materializes, it will require a fundamentally new settlement infrastructure for high-speed, variable-value, multi-party transactions. It's a real long-term bet, but not the current market. **4. Agent-to-Finance (A2F):** This is the only category with existing, paying demand. Integrating AI into financial workflows (trading, portfolio management) is a natural evolution and enables new capabilities like autonomous rebalancing. However, competition favors incumbents with regulatory licenses, compliance infrastructure, and existing client relationships. **The Real Issue:** Why is infrastructure still being built? Incumbents can afford long-term bets, and payment companies see every problem as a nail for their payment hammer. However, payment is just one piece. The core challenge is *coordination*—orchestrating work between Agents and humans, verifying outcomes, and settling results. Payment is part of settlement, which is part of coordination. Companies that solve the coordination problem will subsume payments, not the other way around. Startups lack the infinite runway of giants and must find today's real market, which, after a year of exploration, lies outside these four categories—in an area with real, growing, and underserved activity.

marsbit06/07 06:08

Uncovering the Truth About Agent Commerce, Payments, and Infrastructure

marsbit06/07 06:08

It Took Me a Year to See the Bitter Truth About Agent Payments

After a year building infrastructure for the Agent economy, engaging with major players like Stripe, Visa, and Coinbase, the author shares a sobering analysis of the current state of Agent payments. The core finding is a stark lack of genuine, immediate demand across most envisioned use cases. The article breaks down four key market segments: 1. **Agent-to-Merchant (Consumer Shopping):** For most product categories (e.g., clothing, electronics), conversational AI shopping is a step backwards from visual e-commerce interfaces. While agents excel at understanding needs, they can't replace side-by-side product comparison. Real merchant interest is defensive "Agent Engine Optimization," not driven by current customer demand. Potential exists for high-frequency, low-decision purchases (like food delivery) or navigating complex store UIs, but these require massive B2C distribution channels dominated by giants like Amazon. 2. **Agent-to-API (Developer Services):** Developers already have subscriptions and billing relationships for APIs (compute, data). Prepaid balances solve micro-payment issues for low transaction volumes. A deeper structural problem is that major SaaS vendors' business models rely on enterprise contracts, resisting granular pay-per-call pricing. While protocols like MPP and x402 serve the long tail of niche services, this market is small and developers are historically low-willingness-to-pay. 3. **Agent-to-Agent:** This remains largely theoretical with minimal transaction volume. While it represents a long-term bet on a fundamentally new transaction infrastructure (sub-second, micro-penny to million-dollar, multi-party settlements), it does not constitute a present market. 4. **Agent-to-Finance:** This is the only category with existing, paying demand. Integrating AI into financial workflows (trading, portfolio management) is a natural evolution and enables new capabilities like autonomous rebalancing. However, competition favors established, regulated institutions. The "real problem" is not moving money between agents, but the broader challenge of **coordination**—orchestrating work between agents and humans, verifying outcomes, and settling results. Payment is just one component of settlement, which is itself part of coordination. Companies that solve the coordination layer will subsume payment, not the other way around. While well-funded incumbents build defensively for a long-term future, startups must find where the market is today—which, for the author's team, lies outside these four categories in an area of real, growing, and underserved activity.

marsbit06/06 10:19

It Took Me a Year to See the Bitter Truth About Agent Payments

marsbit06/06 10:19

It Took Me a Year to See the Hard Truth About Agent Payments

**Title: It Took Me a Year to See the Hard Truth About Agent Payments** Over the past year, I've worked on infrastructure for the Agent economy, engaging with major players like Stripe, Visa, Coinbase, and numerous startups. The findings reveal a stark reality: genuine, widespread demand for Agent-based payments does not yet exist. **Key Observations:** * **Agent-to-Merchant (Shopping):** The user experience for AI shopping often falls short, especially for visual product discovery. While AI excels at understanding needs, conversational interfaces can't yet replace browsing and comparing multiple products visually. Current merchant interest is largely defensive ("Agent Engine Optimization") for a future that hasn't arrived. High-frequency, low-friction purchases (like food delivery) are potential fits, but lack open APIs and face high AI inference costs. Simpler, more affordable, or cross-language interactions for complex UIs are a niche opportunity but require massive consumer distribution to scale. * **Agent-to-API (Developer Tools):** Developer payment needs for APIs (computing, data, models) are already met through subscriptions and prepaid credits. The core challenge is not payment friction but supplier economics: most large SaaS providers prefer enterprise contracts over micropayments for API calls. Protocols like MPP and x402 suit the long-tail of smaller services but cater to a developer market historically reluctant to pay for these tools. Major infrastructure needs at the top of the stack are already being addressed. * **Agent-to-Agent (Machine Commerce):** This is a long-term vision with almost no current transaction volume. While a future with high-speed, high-frequency, multi-party machine-to-machine transactions would require novel infrastructure, it remains theoretical. The market is not here yet. * **Agent-to-Finance:** This is the only category with clear, present demand. Financial professionals and DeFi users already pay for tools, and AI augmentation is a natural evolution. Autonomous AI agents can enable entirely new financial strategies. However, competition is fierce from established, regulated incumbents who can more easily layer AI onto their existing products. **The Core Insight:** Companies, especially giants with long time horizons, are building defensively for a potential future of mass machine commerce. For them, early investment is a low-cost hedge. For startups, the current market reality is different. The primary challenge isn't just moving money between agents (payments). The larger, unsolved problem is **orchestration** – coordinating work between agents and humans, verifying outcomes, and then settling. Payment is just a part of settlement, which is just a part of orchestration. Companies that solve the orchestration problem will subsume payments, not the other way around. After a year of building, we see the real, growing, and underserved market opportunity lies in this broader domain of orchestration.

链捕手06/06 09:55

Crypto.com Launches Fully Funded OTC Options for Institutional Traders

Crypto.com Exchange has launched Fully Funded Over-the-Counter (OTC) Options for institutional clients, including foundations and VIP traders. This new service provides a private, off-orderbook venue to execute custom European-style vanilla options, addressing issues like slippage and information leakage common in public markets. Key features include customizable tenors of up to three months, 100% collateralization by sellers to mitigate liquidation risk, and physical settlement upon expiration. The offering is highlighted by USD options for covered call strategies, instant quoting via dedicated Telegram/Slack channels, a secure Sales Portal for booking, and automated settlement based on exchange index prices.

TheNewsCrypto06/06 03:40

Crypto.com Launches Fully Funded OTC Options for Institutional Traders