# Stablecoins Related Articles

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

2026 Megatrends Outlook: Privacy Public Chains, Prediction Markets, and New Transformations

In this outlook for 2026, three key crypto and Web3 trends are highlighted. First, prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi have proven to be more than a temporary phenomenon, with trading volumes surging beyond election cycles due to sports, politics, and economic events. Their simplicity and 24/7 operation make them attractive for integration into consumer platforms like Robinhood and Coinbase. Second, privacy-focused stablecoins and blockchains are gaining traction by enabling "selective disclosure" through zero-knowledge proofs and encrypted mempools. This addresses the transparency issue of public ledgers, making blockchain more acceptable for enterprise use in payments and settlements. Third, the narrative of "unbundling" in crypto is shifting toward rebundling. Companies like Coinbase and Robinhood are consolidating fragmented services—trading, custody, staking, wallets—into unified apps to reduce user friction and leverage distribution advantages. These developments indicate a move toward broader, more practical adoption of blockchain technology in the coming year.

比推01/05 18:28

2026 Megatrends Outlook: Privacy Public Chains, Prediction Markets, and New Transformations

比推01/05 18:28

Crypto Payments Hit A Turning Point With Visa Card Use Up Over 500%

Visa-backed cryptocurrency cards experienced a dramatic surge in consumer spending in 2025, with a 525% increase in net spend—growing from $14.6 million in January to $91.3 million by December. Leading this growth were cards from EtherFi and Cypher, which dominated the majority of transactions. The steady, month-over-month rise indicates growing user adoption, with cardholders increasingly using crypto balances directly for everyday purchases instead of converting to fiat. Visa has expanded its support for stablecoins and tokenized payments, aligning with this trend. While still not mainstream due to regulatory and acceptance barriers, crypto payments are transitioning from niche experiments to real-world use.

bitcoinist01/05 15:03

Crypto Payments Hit A Turning Point With Visa Card Use Up Over 500%

bitcoinist01/05 15:03

U.S. Strike in Venezuela Ends in Maduro Arrest, Markets React Across Oil and Crypto

A U.S. operation led to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on charges of drug trafficking and corruption, causing significant reactions in traditional markets but relative stability in cryptocurrency markets. Oil prices plummeted to multi-year lows, with West Texas Intermediate crude falling to around $56.6 per barrel, while shares in companies like Chevron surged on speculation about renewed access to Venezuela's oil resources. In contrast, Bitcoin and Ethereum saw modest gains, and the total crypto market cap held steady at approximately $3.2 trillion. This stability highlights cryptocurrencies' growing insulation from geopolitical events and their entrenched role in Venezuela's economy, where stablecoins have become crucial due to sanctions and hyperinflation. The event underscores a shift in crypto's function from a temporary financial workaround to a fundamental part of economies under financial restrictions.

TheNewsCrypto01/05 13:11

U.S. Strike in Venezuela Ends in Maduro Arrest, Markets React Across Oil and Crypto

TheNewsCrypto01/05 13:11

What will happen to cryptocurrency market regulation in Russia in 2026

Russia's cryptocurrency market regulation is expected to undergo a major transformation in 2026, moving from a legal gray area to a comprehensive regulatory framework. Key drivers for this change include the rampant growth of an unregulated P2P exchange market, which has led to mass bank account freezes and increased fraud; the inability for legal domestic miners to sell their mined cryptocurrency within the country; the unresolved legal status of stablecoins creating judicial and tax uncertainty; and pressure from the FATF to comply with anti-money laundering standards. Predictions for 2026 involve the introduction of licensing for crypto exchanges and platforms by the Central Bank, with strict compliance, KYC, and security requirements. A transition period will be offered for existing market participants to comply. Retail investor access will be limited, with qualified investors facing higher asset thresholds and non-qualified investors subject to annual purchase limits. The legal vacuum around stablecoins is also expected to be addressed, granting them a distinct legal status to enable their use and issuance within Russia. This shift aims to create a legal, supervised market segment by the end of 2026, marking a pivotal turn for the Russian crypto industry.

RBK-crypto01/05 08:40

What will happen to cryptocurrency market regulation in Russia in 2026

RBK-crypto01/05 08:40

Do Stablecoins Really Count as Cash? After the Genius Act, Accounting Standards for Stablecoins May Be Adjusted

The U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has added two crypto-related projects to its 2026 agenda: whether certain stablecoins can be classified as cash equivalents, and how to account for transfers of crypto assets. This follows the passage of the Genius Act, a regulatory framework for stablecoins, and reflects ongoing political support for the crypto industry from the Trump administration. FASB’s move aims to address accounting grey areas, such as when to derecognize crypto assets and how to treat wrapped tokens. These issues impact financial transparency, risk disclosure, and comparability for investors. Although FASB introduced fair-value accounting rules for crypto in 2023, significant gaps remain, particularly around the definition and treatment of stablecoins. Some critics argue the agenda is politically motivated rather than driven by widespread corporate adoption. However, as the Genius Act takes effect in 2027, stablecoin usage is expected to grow, increasing the urgency for clearer accounting guidance. FASB Chair Rich Jones emphasized the importance of defining what does—and does not—qualify as a cash equivalent. The SEC has also acknowledged the difficulty of applying existing accounting frameworks to crypto assets.

marsbit01/05 04:12

Do Stablecoins Really Count as Cash? After the Genius Act, Accounting Standards for Stablecoins May Be Adjusted

marsbit01/05 04:12

The U.S. Can No Longer Control Latin America, So They Took Maduro

US influence over Latin America is waning, as evidenced by the recent US military operation to extract Venezuelan President Maduro. For decades, the US maintained control through three key financial tools: debt, dollarization, and sanctions. In the 1980s, Latin America’s foreign debt reached 50% of GDP, but today it stands at just 20%, partly due to China’s rise as a major lender and trading partner since the 2000s. Countries like Brazil and Argentina used commodity-driven revenue to pay off IMF debts and reduce dependency. Dollarization, once a means of control, has evolved into “de-Americanized dollarization”—people use the dollar for stability but reject US political influence. Meanwhile, extreme sanctions, such as those imposed on Venezuela, backfired. Instead of crushing resistance, they spurred the growth of a parallel financial ecosystem. This new system includes: - Stablecoins like USDT, used for 80% of Venezuela’s oil revenue - Local fintech platforms (e.g., Brazil’s Pix and Nubank) serving millions - Non-dollar trade channels, such as currency swaps with China - A thriving underground economy and crypto markets US policies—like proposed taxes on remittances and Wall Street’s “de-risking”—have unintentionally accelerated this shift. As the US tightens control, dollar usage becomes more decentralized, echoing the historical decline of the British pound. The very tools meant to enforce dominance are now fueling its erosion.

marsbit01/05 04:03

The U.S. Can No Longer Control Latin America, So They Took Maduro

marsbit01/05 04:03

Multicoin: Why Are We Bullish on Stablecoins Becoming FinTech 4.0?

Multicoin Capital argues that stablecoins represent the next major evolution in financial technology (FinTech 4.0), fundamentally transforming how money moves, unlike previous fintech eras that only improved user interfaces and distribution while relying on legacy banking infrastructure. FinTech 1.0 digitized distribution (e.g., PayPal), FinTech 2.0 introduced neobanks (e.g., Chime), and FinTech 3.0 enabled embedded finance via APIs—yet all still depended on traditional, closed payment networks (ACH, Visa), leading to high costs, regulatory burdens, and homogenization. Stablecoins disrupt this by replacing core banking functions with open, programmable networks. They enable instant, low-cost, borderless settlements without intermediaries, drastically reducing the fixed costs of launching a fintech product from millions to thousands of dollars. This democratizes access, allowing startups to serve niche, underserved communities profitably (e.g., adult creators, athletes, luxury dealers) with tailored financial products. By lowering barriers, stablecoins unlock hyper-specialized "stablecoin-native fintechs" that focus on specific user needs, improve unit economics, and leverage community-driven growth. The shift moves competitive advantage from scale and marketing to deep understanding of niche audiences and their unique financial behaviors.

marsbit01/04 12:48

Multicoin: Why Are We Bullish on Stablecoins Becoming FinTech 4.0?

marsbit01/04 12:48

Based on a16z's Annual Predictions, Which Crypto Projects Are Worth Watching?

Based on a16z's 2026 predictions, several key crypto sectors and projects are worth watching. 1. **Payments & Stablecoins**: Stablecoins are becoming the internet's settlement layer. Key projects include Circle (USDC) for regulatory compliance, m0 for zero-fee USDC issuance, Ether_fi and Plasma as crypto-native neobanks, and x402 for agent-native programmable payments. 2. **RWA & On-Chain Credit**: The focus shifts from tokenization to native on-chain credit origination for efficiency. Projects to watch: Centrifuge, Blackrock's BUIDL, Maple, Plume, Pendle, Ondo, and Backed. 3. **AI Agents & Payments**: As autonomous AI agents transact, payments must become internet-native, instant, and programmable. Key players: Catena (KYA standards), Nevermined (data markets), KiteAI, ASI, EigenCloud, Fetch, and x402 implementations. 4. **Privacy**: Privacy creates user lock-in and becomes a key moat. Projects: Aztec, Nillion, Arcium, Aleo, Walrus/Seal (Sui), Payy_link, Zcash, and Monero. 5. **Security**: The shift from "code is law" to "spec is law" requires runtime enforcement and continuous monitoring. Leaders: OpenZeppelin, Trailofbits, SpearbitDAO, Cyfrin, and Immunefi. 6. **Prediction Markets**: Evolving from niche betting to real-time information infrastructure. Top platforms: Polymarket, Kalshi, FractionAI, Opinion, and Myriad Markets. 7. **zkVMs & Verifiable Computation**: zkVMs are making verifiable computation a viable systems primitive. Key projects: RiscZero, Succinct, Brevis_zk, Axiom_xyz, and ZKML stacks. 8. **On-Chain Wealth Management**: Active, personalized portfolio management becomes automated and ubiquitous. Watch: Veda, Upshift, Midas, Base (Coinbase), Morpho, and Infinit.

marsbit01/04 11:38

Based on a16z's Annual Predictions, Which Crypto Projects Are Worth Watching?

marsbit01/04 11:38

Analyzed all transaction data of x402 in December: Nearly 60% used for practical purposes rather than speculation

Analysis of all x402 transaction data from December reveals a new era of practical micro-payments powered by stablecoins. With 63 million transactions totaling $7.5M USDC, the ecosystem demonstrates AI agents can efficiently pay for services at scale. The average transaction was just $0.12—far below Visa's viable threshold—enabled by low-fee stablecoins. Over 1,100 projects participated, with 76% of services costing ≤$0.10. Key use cases are data services (31%), AI/LLMs (25%), and blockchain infrastructure (15%), indicating real utility over speculation. While 47% of transactions were for leaderboard farming, they represented only 14% of total value. Base (53%) and Solana (37%) lead as primary developer and production environments, respectively. Critical unsolved challenges include agent authentication (KYA), reputation systems, and dispute resolution. The protocol is proven; the infrastructure is growing. The question remains: what will you build?

marsbit01/04 07:05

Analyzed all transaction data of x402 in December: Nearly 60% used for practical purposes rather than speculation

marsbit01/04 07:05

What BlackRock, JPMorgan, and 12 Other Giants Say About the Crypto Industry in 2026...

Wall Street giants and major crypto institutions, managing approximately $22 trillion in assets, have released their 2026 outlook for the crypto industry. Key themes include regulation, stablecoins, AI integration, and privacy. BlackRock highlights that stablecoins may challenge government monetary control, especially in emerging markets. Coinbase sees AI and crypto convergence as a fundamental shift, driving demand for privacy tokens like Zcash and Monero. Fidelity predicts more nations will adopt Bitcoin as reserve assets, following countries like Brazil. JPMorgan expects significant industry growth despite a market cap decline, aided by favorable U.S. regulations. a16z foresees AI agents revolutionizing payments and banking, with privacy becoming a major competitive advantage. DefiLlama and partners note that regulatory clarity, including the U.S. Genius Act and E.U.’s MiCA, will boost stablecoin adoption. Galaxy Digital is bullish on Bitcoin, predicting it could reach $250,000 by 2027, and expects privacy token market cap to exceed $100 billion. VanEck anticipates consolidation rather than a boom or crash, while Pantera Capital sees U.S. crypto policy moving from uncertainty to enforcement. OKX Ventures expects more real-world assets, like gold and stocks, to be tokenized. Silicon Valley Bank predicts increased VC funding in institutional crypto products and more mergers between fintech and crypto firms. 21Shares forecasts crypto ETF assets surpassing $400 billion, and TRM Labs envisions a more regulated, mature market with heightened national security focus on blockchain.

比推01/02 21:17

What BlackRock, JPMorgan, and 12 Other Giants Say About the Crypto Industry in 2026...