SINGAPORE, Jan. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The DeFi landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation since the “DeFi Summer” of 2020. With Donald Trump assuming office as the President of the United States, a new era of growth for DeFi is emerging, characterized by deeper integration with traditional finance.

HTX Ventures, the global investment division of HTX, has released a forward-looking report titled “A New Era for DeFi with Crypto Compliance and New Opportunities in RWA-Fi and Stablecoin Payments.“ This report analyzes the evolving environment of crypto trading in 2025, focusing on the significant opportunities and challenges RWAFi and stablecoin payments are facing.

Changes in the Crypto Trading Environment Favor Stablecoins and RWAs Prospects

The gradual easing of crypto regulatory policies is facilitating greater institutional investor participation within the crypto ecosystem. This shift has seen stablecoins and RWAs (Real-World Assets) emerge as crucial bridges connecting the traditional finance and decentralized finance worlds.

Data shows a remarkable surge in stablecoins usage in blockchain transactions, which has risen from 3% in 2020 to over 50% by the end of 2024. The core value proposition of stablecoins lies in their ability to facilitate seamless cross-border payments, making them strategically important in international trade.

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The report underscores the immense potential of stablecoins, stating, “At present, the global cross-border B2B payments market processed through traditional channels is valued at approximately $40 trillion, while the consumer remittance market generates hundreds of billions of dollars in annual revenue. Stablecoins offer a new alternative for efficient cross-border payments via crypto channels. As the adoption gains momentum, stablecoins are set to penetrate and disrupt this market segment, becoming a key player in the global payments landscape.”

Furthermore, the U.S. House Financial Services Committee is actively preparing to introduce a stablecoin bill, which has the potential to be the first comprehensive crypto legislation passed by Congress. This legislation could drive widespread adoption of crypto wallets, stablecoins, and blockchain-based payment channels among traditional banks, enterprises, and individuals. Notably, several prominent traditional financial giants, including PayPal and Stripe, have already initiated active exploration within the stablecoin sector.

The RWA market saw positive growth during the recent bear market cycle, primarily driven by its stable returns. Unlike cryptocurrencies, the value of RWAs remains largely unaffected by the inherent volatility of the crypto market, a crucial characteristic for building a robust DeFi ecosystem. Industry leaders like Binance project that the RWA market could expand to $16 trillion by 2030. This immense market potential has driven companies like BlackRock and Tether to explore tokenized assets, leading to the emergence of compliance tools for RWA token issuance, such as Securitize.

Opportunities and Challenges for DeFi Projects

As stablecoins and RWAFi emerge as the cornerstones of the evolving DeFi landscape, project teams are tasked with developing innovative products tailored to the new environment and demands. While challenges are inevitable, these transformative shifts also unlock numerous opportunities.

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In terms of realizing the vision of yield-generating stablecoins, the report identifies two prevailing market trends:

• Treasury-backed Stablecoins:
  This approach involves utilizing the U.S. Treasury bonds as the underlying assets for stablecoins, effectively introducing traditional financial assets onto the blockchain through tokenization. This methodology preserves the stability and low-risk nature of Treasury bonds while seamlessly integrating the high liquidity and composability inherent to DeFi. Examples include USDY by Ondo Finance and a range of Treasury-backed Vault products from OpenTrade.

• Volatility-driven Yield: 
  The alternative approach leverages crypto market volatility and MEV to generate low-risk returns. Ethena, along with its native stablecoin USDe, serve as a prime example of this strategy.

Seamlessly integrating DeFi applications with RWAs presents another critical challenge for project teams. On one hand, the inherent stability of RWAs can effectively mitigate risk in DeFi applications. Collateralized Debt Position (CDP) stablecoins, such as Curve’s crvUSD, are increasingly incorporating RWAs as collateral to enhance their stability. On the other hand, the flexibility of DeFi can significantly boost the utilization rate of tokenized RWAs. Pendle’s newly introduced RWA section, boasting a current TVL of $150 million, exemplifies this synergy. Leveraging the composability of DeFi Lego, Pendle’s diverse yield-generating assets can offer highly attractive APYs, incentivizing users to invest in RWA stablecoins.

Emerging DeFi projects still possess significant untapped potential within niche sectors, such as addressing defaults scenarios within the private credit market within RWA domain and  effectively leveraging RWA public chains to empower institutional finance. Looking ahead, the report suggests that on-chain forex, cross-border payment stacks, and multi-pool stablecoin aggregation platforms are among the promising development directions in the “New DeFi” era.

About HTX Ventures

HTX Ventures is the global investment arm of HTX, integrating investment, incubation, and research to identify and discover the best and most innovative projects in the market. Visit us here.

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Building Customer Trust in AI with Blockchain

Blockchain is emerging as a critical tool in addressing the trust deficit in artificial intelligence. By leveraging decentralized ledgers, companies can provide transparent data provenance, ensuring that AI algorithms operate ethically and without bias. This integration allows customers to verify the origins of data used in AI models, fostering greater confidence.

Businesses deploying blockchain for AI governance must prioritize simplicity and accessibility in their implementations. While the technology’s potential is immense, it is essential to communicate its benefits in a manner that resonates with non-technical stakeholders.

Source: Harvard Business Review

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Blockchain at a Crossroads: Balancing Promise and Peril

As blockchain technology matures, it finds itself at a crossroads. On one side, the promise of decentralization continues to captivate industries, offering solutions for supply chain management, finance, and digital identity. On the other, challenges such as regulatory scrutiny, scalability issues, and energy consumption threaten to impede its growth.

The path forward will require a concerted effort from developers, regulators, and industry leaders. Collaborative frameworks that address these challenges while preserving blockchain’s core principles of decentralization and transparency are key to ensuring its sustained relevance.

Source: Cointelegraph

BRICS vs. USD: Blockchain’s Role in Economic Shifts

The BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) are exploring blockchain-based solutions to reduce their reliance on the US dollar in international trade. By adopting decentralized technologies, these nations aim to foster economic independence and promote stability in the face of geopolitical tensions.

This initiative exemplifies blockchain’s potential to redefine global financial systems. However, its success hinges on addressing interoperability issues and fostering international collaboration. The evolution of blockchain-based trade networks could mark the beginning of a new era in economic diplomacy.

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Source: CoinGeek

Hungri Games Expands MetaHorse Unity to Base Blockchain

Hungri Games has announced the expansion of its MetaHorse Unity project to the Base blockchain, aiming to enhance the gaming experience with improved scalability and lower transaction costs. This move aligns with the growing trend of integrating blockchain into gaming to create transparent and secure ecosystems.

By adopting Base, a layer-2 blockchain, MetaHorse Unity seeks to offer players a seamless and cost-effective gaming experience. The partnership highlights the potential of blockchain to transform the gaming industry, enabling innovative monetization models and fostering player engagement.

Source: CoinTrust

Nano Labs Purchases Trump Tokens to Celebrate Presidency

Nano Labs commemorated former President Donald Trump’s legacy with the acquisition of 47 Trump Tokens. This symbolic gesture underscores the intersection of blockchain technology and cultural milestones, showcasing how tokens can represent historical and social narratives.

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The purchase also highlights the increasing role of blockchain in creating unique, tradable assets that capture moments in time. As tokenization continues to gain traction, it is redefining how value and significance are assigned in the digital age.

Source: PRNewswire

Final Thoughts: Blockchain’s Expanding Horizons

This week’s developments highlight the diverse applications of blockchain technology, from fostering trust in AI to reshaping global economic systems. As the industry navigates challenges and opportunities, collaboration and innovation will be crucial in unlocking blockchain’s full potential.

While hurdles such as scalability and regulation persist, the technology’s ability to drive transparency, security, and inclusivity remains unparalleled. The coming years will undoubtedly see blockchain continue to evolve, solidifying its role as a transformative force across sectors.

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The post Blocks & Headlines: Today in Blockchain (BRICS, Hungri Games, Nano Labs, MetaHorse Unity) appeared first on News, Events, Advertising Options.

Bullish Exchange Launches CoinDesk 80 Index Perpetual Futures

NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — CoinDesk Indices is proud to announce the launch of the CoinDesk 80 Index, designed to track the performance of the next 80 leading digital assets after the CoinDesk 20 Index. This innovative index provides seamless and diversified exposure to the evolving digital asset landscape, meeting the growing demand from institutional trading firms for liquidity on a larger breadth of digital assets.

As the digital asset market matures, institutional participation continues to accelerate. Investors are increasingly seeking opportunities beyond bitcoin and ether to diversify their portfolios. Since its debut in January 2024, the CoinDesk 20 Index has become the industry benchmark for larger-cap digital assets, driving over $12 billion in total trading volume and underpinning more than a dozen investment products globally. The CoinDesk 80 Index builds on this success by capturing the next tier of large and liquid digital assets.

To support this launch, Bullish Exchange, one of the fastest-growing regulated digital asset exchanges, has listed a CoinDesk 80 Index Perpetual Futures Contract (CD80/USDC-PERP). Bullish, which has surpassed $1 trillion in cumulative trading volume since its launch in November 2021, continues to expand its offerings to meet institutional and retail demand. In 2H 2024, the platform recorded average daily trading volumes exceeding $2 billion.

Maxime Seiler, CEO, STS Digital Ltd, Bermuda said, “The CoinDesk 80 Index Perpetual Future will enable us to efficiently manage market exposure arising from our wide-ranging altcoin option offering to our clients. It is another innovative product from Bullish, enhancing their strong product suite and bringing index derivatives forward.”

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“CoinDesk Indices is committed to creating tradable and trusted benchmarks,” said Alan Campbell, President of CoinDesk Indices. “With the CoinDesk 80, we’re addressing institutional demand for exposure beyond the top 20 digital assets. This index provides a scalable solution for trading, risk management, and allocation. We’re thrilled to see early adoption and growing liquidity as we expand our suite of regulated indices.”

The next tier is here. Key Features of the CoinDesk 80 Index:

• Liquidity and Scalability: Focused on assets with high liquidity and significant market size.
• Minimal Exclusions: Stablecoins, wrapped, pegged, staked, and gas tokens.
• Comprehensive Liquidity Screening: Evaluates /USD, /USDC, and /USDT pairs on top-tier exchanges ranked by CCData, an affiliate of CoinDesk.
• Market Cap Weighting: Constituents are weighted by market cap, with a 5% cap per asset to ensure diversification.
• Quarterly Reconstitution: Aligns with CoinDesk 20 reconstitutions, using buffers to reduce turnover and adhering to a robust governance framework.

“The demand for index products is growing as digital assets become an established part of global financial markets,” said Tom Farley, CEO of Bullish. “We are excited to launch the CoinDesk 80 Index Perpetual Futures Contract on our platform, leveraging our tight spreads, deep liquidity, and robust regulatory framework to support market participants.”

To learn more about the CoinDesk 80 Index, please visit coindesk.com/price/cd80.

For more information on CoinDesk 80 perpetual futures offered by Bullish, please get in touch with a Bullish Relationship Manager.

About CoinDesk Indices

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Since 2014, CoinDesk Indices has been at the forefront of the digital asset revolution, empowering investors globally. A portfolio company of the Bullish Group, our indices form the foundation of the world’s largest digital asset products. Through the recent addition of CC Data Limited, an FCA regulated benchmark administrator, CoinDesk Indices now offers BMR-compliant products across multi-asset indices, reference rates, and strategies. Flagships such as the CoinDesk Bitcoin Price Index and the CoinDesk 20 Index set the industry standard for measuring, trading, and investing in digital assets. With tens of billions of dollars in benchmarked assets, CoinDesk Indices is a trusted partner.

Discover more at coindeskmarkets.com.

About Bullish

With a focus on developing products and services for the digital assets sector, Bullish has rewired the traditional exchange to benefit asset holders, enable traders and increase market transparency. Supported by the Group’s well-capitalized treasury, Bullish’s digital asset spot and derivatives trading services utilize high-performance central limit order matching and proprietary market making technology to deliver deep liquidity and tight spreads within a compliant framework.

Launched in November 2021, the exchange is available in 50+ select jurisdictions in Asia Pacific, Europe, Africa, and Latin America. Bullish prioritizes compliance and safeguarding customer assets through robust security measures and regulatory oversight. The business is licensed by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission. For more information on Bullish, please visit bullish.com and follow LinkedIn and X.

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Disclaimer

CoinDesk is a portfolio company of the Bullish Group. CoinDesk Indices, Inc., including CC Data Limited, its affiliate which performs certain outsourced administration and calculation services on its behalf (collectively, “CoinDesk Indices”), does not sponsor, endorse, sell, promote, or manage any investment offered by any third party that seeks to provide an investment return based on the performance of any index. CoinDesk Indices is neither an investment adviser nor a commodity trading advisor and makes no representation regarding the advisability of making an investment linked to any CoinDesk Indices index. CoinDesk Indices does not act as a fiduciary. A decision to invest in any asset linked to a CoinDesk Indices index should not be made in reliance on any of the statements set forth in this document or elsewhere by CoinDesk Indices. All content displayed here or otherwise used in connection with any CoinDesk Indices index (the “Content”) is owned by CoinDesk Indices and/or its third-party data providers and licensors, unless stated otherwise by CoinDesk Indices. CoinDesk Indices does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, adequacy, validity, or availability of any of the Content. CoinDesk Indices is not responsible for any errors or omissions, regardless of the cause, in the results obtained from the use of any of the Content. CoinDesk Indices does not assume any obligation to update the Content following publication in any form or format. © 2025 CoinDesk Indices, Inc. All rights reserved.

Bullish Exchange is operated by Bullish (GI) Ltd which is licensed by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (DLT license: FSC1038FSA). High risk product. Only available to eligible professional investors in select locations. Not available to persons located in the United Kingdom unless they are investment professionals or high net worth entities, as defined in Article 19 and 49 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotions) Order 2005 (as amended). Important info and risk warnings here: bullish.com/legal.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may include “forward-looking statements” relating to future events or the Bullish Group’s future financial or operating performance, business strategy, and potential market opportunity. Such forward-looking statements are based upon estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Bullish Group, are inherently uncertain and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made, and the Bullish Group undertakes no duty to update these forward-looking statements.

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