Industry News

Tracks company news, strategic changes, funding activities, and personnel adjustments across the blockchain and crypto industries, delivering a full-spectrum industry overview for our users.

How crypto is used in 2025: YouTube, Pokémon cards and more

In 2025, cryptocurrency is increasingly used in specific digital workflows, though not yet as everyday money. A major use case is for payments: freelancers, YouTubers, and creators receive income in stablecoins like USDC and USDT, bypassing traditional payment delays and fees. Platforms like YouTube now allow payouts via PayPal’s PYUSD. Crypto is also used for purchasing digital goods and services, such as domain registrations, VPNs, and hosting, with companies like Namecheap and Mullvad accepting it. Additionally, crypto supports the digitization of physical collectibles, with tokenized versions of items like Pokémon cards gaining popularity. In DeFi and GameFi, users engage in token swaps, yield farming, and play-to-earn games, though these remain niche. Decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) use crypto for onchain governance, though participation is limited to crypto-native users. While challenges like banking restrictions and bot cheating persist, crypto is growing by reducing friction in global digital transactions.

cointelegraph12/15 14:05

How crypto is used in 2025: YouTube, Pokémon cards and more

cointelegraph12/15 14:05

JPMorgan to Launch Tokenized Money Market Fund on Ethereum

JPMorgan is launching a tokenized money market fund called the My OnChain Net Yield Fund (MONY) on the Ethereum blockchain. The bank is providing $100 million of its own capital to the fund, which will open to investors on Tuesday, December 16th. Built on JPMorgan's own tokenization platform, Kinexys, the fund will be available to qualified investors and institutions with minimum investments of $5 million and $25 million, respectively. Investors can contribute funds in US dollars or the USDC stablecoin and will get fund tokens delivered to their crypto wallets. Like traditional money market funds, MONY will hold low-risk, short-term securities, pay daily interest, and accrue dividends. JPMorgan cited significant client interest in tokenizing traditional financial instruments. The bank sees tokenized funds as appealing to crypto investors because they offer yield while keeping assets on the blockchain; such tokens can also be used as collateral on crypto exchanges. This launch occurs as the total assets in money market funds have grown to $7.7 trillion. The largest such fund remains BlackRock's BUIDL, which launched in early 2024 and has a total value locked (TVL) exceeding $2 billion.

RBK-crypto12/15 13:26

JPMorgan to Launch Tokenized Money Market Fund on Ethereum

RBK-crypto12/15 13:26

JPMorgan Bets on Ethereum With Tokenized Money Fund Launch — Is Tom Lee’s $20K Price Prediction More Likely Now?

JPMorgan Chase has launched its first tokenized money-market fund on the Ethereum, backed by $100 million of the bank’s own capital. The OnChain Net Yield Fund is built on the Ethereum blockchain and is now open to outside investors, targeting individuals with at least $5 million in assets and institutions with $25 million or more. The move signals growing institutional interest in tokenized assets, which combine traditional financial stability with blockchain efficiency. This development aligns with a bullish outlook from Fundstrat’s Tom Lee, who predicts Ethereum could surge beyond $20,000 within the next year. Lee argues that Ethereum is the primary blockchain for institutional tokenization efforts, with data showing it supports over 70% of tokenized real-world assets. He also believes Bitcoin could reach $300,000 by early 2026, further boosting Ethereum’s prospects. However, not all analysts are convinced. Technical analyst Valdrin Tahiri acknowledges Ethereum’s long-term potential but cautions that current market conditions don’t support such extreme short-term price targets. He notes that while Ethereum may outperform Bitcoin, neither asset shows signs of the explosive near-term growth Lee anticipates. Market outlook remains divided despite increasing institutional adoption.

ccn.com12/15 13:25

JPMorgan Bets on Ethereum With Tokenized Money Fund Launch — Is Tom Lee’s $20K Price Prediction More Likely Now?

ccn.com12/15 13:25

JPMorgan launches its first tokenized money market fund on Ethereum

JPMorgan has launched its first tokenized money market fund, called the My OnChain Net Yield Fund (MONY), on the Ethereum blockchain through its proprietary tokenization platform, Kinexys Digital Assets. The fund, available to qualified investors via the Morgan Money platform, invests in U.S. Treasury securities and repurchase agreements, allowing investors to earn yield and hold tokens directly on-chain. It offers daily dividend reinvestment and supports subscriptions and redemptions using both cash and stablecoins. The move represents a major step by a global systemically important bank into tokenized finance, enhancing transaction efficiency, transparency, and collateral utility within the blockchain ecosystem.

cointelegraph12/15 13:00

JPMorgan launches its first tokenized money market fund on Ethereum

cointelegraph12/15 13:00

Bhutan deepens green Bitcoin strategy with Cumberland-backed infrastructure

Bhutan has signed a multi-year memorandum of understanding (MoU) with crypto market maker Cumberland DRW to develop digital asset infrastructure in the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC). The partnership aims to support Bhutan’s vision of a sustainable digital economy aligned with its environmental and governance values. Cumberland will assist in Bitcoin reserve management, establish a presence in GMC, and help develop local talent. The collaboration will explore building a national crypto ecosystem, including sustainable mining, AI compute, yield generation, and stablecoin infrastructure. Bhutan, an early sovereign Bitcoin miner using hydropower, continues to integrate digital assets into its economic strategy, emphasizing long-term development over speculation.

cointelegraph12/15 12:41

Bhutan deepens green Bitcoin strategy with Cumberland-backed infrastructure

cointelegraph12/15 12:41

Crypto.com Announces Updated App Referral Feature to Expand User Participation Across the Crypto.com Platform

Crypto.com has announced an updated App Referral feature designed to expand user participation and enable both referrers and referees to earn up to US$100 in CRO rewards. The enhanced feature includes a dedicated dashboard for tracking referral activity and rewards, along with trading-based earnings that increase with referred users' trading volume. It also offers personalized sharing options for referral codes. The update emphasizes ease of use, transparency, and scalability, supporting Crypto.com's goal to mainstream cryptocurrency adoption. Both existing and new users can participate and benefit from the program.

bitcoinist12/15 12:32

Crypto.com Announces Updated App Referral Feature to Expand User Participation Across the Crypto.com Platform

bitcoinist12/15 12:32

Base’s Jesse Pollak backs Soulja Boy token as ZachXBT revives past rug pull claims

Blockchain investigator ZachXBT warns traders to be cautious about a new memecoin endorsed by rapper Soulja Boy on Base network, citing the artist’s history of promoting fraudulent tokens. ZachXBT referenced a 2023 thread detailing six previous rug pulls linked to Soulja Boy, which collectively earned him an estimated $730,000 during the 2021 bull market. Coinbase’s Base co-founder Jesse Pollak drew criticism after publicly investing $1,500 in the new token, triggering renewed scrutiny. The token has so only reached an $85,000 market cap with 331 holders. Soulja Boy responded on X, apologizing for past “paid promos” and claiming he was unaware of scams at the time. He also referenced a 2022 class-action lawsuit that named him among celebrities accused of participating in a SafeMoon pump-and-dump scheme.

cointelegraph12/15 12:10

Base’s Jesse Pollak backs Soulja Boy token as ZachXBT revives past rug pull claims

cointelegraph12/15 12:10

Vitalik Buterin pitches ZK-proofs to audit X algorithm and rankings

Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, has proposed that social media platform X use zero-knowledge proofs (ZK-proofs) and blockchain technology to make its content-ranking algorithm transparent and verifiable. He argues this would prove the fairness of algorithmic decisions, prevent censorship, and ensure data integrity by timestamping content on-chain. Buterin also suggests publishing the full algorithm code with a 1-2 year delay. His comments follow criticism of Elon Musk’s leadership and X’s opaque content policies. The proposal aligns with broader SocialFi and decentralized social media principles, emphasizing the need for transparency amid growing regulatory scrutiny, such as the EU’s Digital Services Act, which recently fined X for non-compliance. Buterin’s stance highlights concerns about social media’s impact on free speech and misinformation.

cointelegraph12/15 11:21

Vitalik Buterin pitches ZK-proofs to audit X algorithm and rankings

cointelegraph12/15 11:21

MEXC December Proof of Reserve Confirms Major Assets Fully Backed, BTC Coverage at 141%

MEXC has released its December Proof of Reserve (PoR) report, confirming that all major user assets are fully backed with reserve ratios exceeding 100%. The report shows 141% coverage for BTC, 126% for USDT, 127% for USDC, and 107% for ETH. In total, MEXC holds 5,401.59 BTC, 2.32 billion USDT, 126.5 million USDC, and 57,457.10 ETH in reserves. The exchange uses a Merkle Tree system to allow users to independently verify their balances while maintaining privacy. MEXC has expanded its collaboration with the independent security firm Hacken, which now conducts and publishes monthly PoR audits. MEXC COO emphasized the company’s commitment to transparency and full asset backing. The full report is available on MEXC’s Proof of Reserves page.

TheNewsCrypto12/15 10:19

MEXC December Proof of Reserve Confirms Major Assets Fully Backed, BTC Coverage at 141%

TheNewsCrypto12/15 10:19

Breakpoint 2025 Reflections: Crypto Has Grown Up, We've Put Our Shirts Back On

Breakpoint 2025, held in Abu Dhabi, showcased a crypto industry in transition. Attendees noted a more mature but subdued atmosphere compared to previous years. Investor Jason Choi described widespread fatigue among VCs and founders, with stagnant sentiment despite well-organized events. DePIN and DeSci emerged as rare bright spots, though still niche. In contrast, Kamino’s Marius observed strong institutional engagement and real-world utility, highlighting the tokenization of stocks and bonds on Solana as a major leap. The conference felt less narrative-driven and more focused on practical applications. daddy fiskantes of Sigil Fund noted crypto’s evolution into “fintech 2.0,” integrating with traditional finance rather than disrupting it. Early idealists are departing, while institutional adoption grows. The focus has shifted from revolutionary gains to efficiency, scalability, and neutral strategies like arbitrage. High-return opportunities remain in areas like DePIN and DeSci, but the era of rapid 100x returns may be fading.

marsbit12/15 09:39

Breakpoint 2025 Reflections: Crypto Has Grown Up, We've Put Our Shirts Back On