USDTradFi-Crypto Ties This Week: Weekly Recap Unveils Game-Changing Partnerships and Surging Adoption
UAE Regulators Deny TON Crypto Visa Link, TON Plunges After False Claims
UAE regulators officially denied that staking $100,000 in Toncoin (TON) would qualify for a 10-year UAE Golden Visa, emphasizing no crypto-based visa pathway or government endorsement exists. The TON Foundation admitted their initiative is only an early-stage, independent exploration with a licensed partner and has no UAE government backing. TON initially surged 12% after the false visa claim but dropped 7.5% after authorities debunked it. Changpeng Zhao (CZ) and other industry figures raised concerns about the legitimacy prior to the official clarification, highlighting the importance of regulatory verification.
BBVA Expands Crypto Services in Spain, Launching Bitcoin and Ethereum Trading for Retail Customers
Spanish banking giant BBVA has expanded its crypto services, now offering Bitcoin and Ethereum trading and custody directly through its mobile platform for retail customers. This initiative follows regulatory approval from Spain’s CNMV in March 2025 and aims to simplify cryptocurrency investment, with 9% of Spaniards owning digital assets. BBVA's efforts contrast with the fact that 95% of EU banks avoid crypto. The bank has successfully operated crypto services in Switzerland since 2021 and is diversifying its offerings, including USDC stablecoin services, amidst significant growth in Spain’s cryptocurrency market, which received over $80 billion in crypto in 2024.
CoreWeave to Acquire Core Scientific in $9 Billion All-Stock Deal
CoreWeave has announced a $9 billion all-stock acquisition of bitcoin miner Core Scientific, offering a 66% premium over June prices. Core Scientific shareholders will receive 0.1235 CoreWeave shares, resulting in less than 10% ownership of the combined entity. This acquisition integrates Core Scientific's 1.2 GW data center network into CoreWeave's AI compute operations and cancels a previous $10 billion hosting agreement between the two firms. Following the announcement, Core Scientific's shares fell by approximately 20%. The deal has received board approval and is expected to close in late 2025, pending regulatory and shareholder consent.
JPMorgan's Kinexys Pilots Blockchain Tool for Carbon Credit Tokenization with Key Partners
JPMorgan's Kinexys is piloting a blockchain application for carbon credit tokenization with partners S&P Global, EcoRegistry, and the International Carbon Registry. The initiative aims to create a transparent, interoperable ecosystem to address fragmentation in the carbon credit market, focusing on account setup, project management, and credit lifecycle tracking. Already tested by EcoRegistry and ICR, S&P Global’s participation is forthcoming. This project enhances data integrity in carbon credit transactions and reflects a broader trend in the financial sector towards blockchain-driven environmental sustainability solutions. Additionally, Kinexys plans to launch a stablecoin-like digital deposit token called JPMD.
Emirates Partners with Crypto.com to Enable Cryptocurrency Payments for Flights
Emirates Airlines has partnered with Crypto.com to enable cryptocurrency payments for flights and services, aiming for a rollout next year. This initiative aligns with Dubai's goal to become a global crypto hub, enhancing modern payment options and attracting tech-savvy travelers. The deal, formalized on July 9, includes exploring integration of Crypto.com Pay into Emirates’ payment systems. The collaboration also focuses on marketing efforts to promote the new payment method. Emirates’ Deputy President noted this strategic move reflects the company’s commitment to innovation and customer flexibility, potentially setting a precedent for crypto use in the aviation industry.
BNY Custodies Ripple's RLUSD Stablecoin, Signaling Shift in Digital Asset Regulation
Ripple has chosen Bank of New York (BNY) as the primary custodian for its stablecoin, RLUSD, enhancing regulatory compliance and legitimacy for digital assets. Announced on July 9, 2025, BNY will manage the reserves supporting RLUSD, contributing to a trend dubbed "stablecoin summer," with major companies exploring similar projects. Ripple, founded 13 years ago, launched RLUSD in December 2024 and is pursuing a national banking charter. BNY, the oldest bank in the U.S., solidified its commitment to digital assets in 2021, indicating a growing Wall Street involvement in the stablecoin sector. Brad Garlinghouse will testify before the Senate on July 9.
Crypto.com Expands UAE Presence with Key Partnerships in Aviation, Real Estate, and Public Services
Crypto.com has expanded its presence in the UAE by forming significant partnerships across aviation, real estate, and public services. On July 9, a memorandum of understanding was established with Emirates Airlines to explore crypto payment solutions for travelers, aligning with Dubai’s D33 Agenda for modernization. Additionally, on July 6, Crypto.com partnered with the Dubai Land Department to create a blockchain infrastructure for virtual real estate, supporting the Real Estate Strategy 2033. Furthermore, a May agreement with the Dubai Department of Finance facilitates government service fee payments using cryptocurrencies, contributing to the city's Cashless Strategy.
Bitwise Highlights Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Chainlink as Key Tokenization Players
Bitwise has identified Ethereum, Solana, XRP, and Chainlink as leading blockchain projects for tokenization, driven by increasing institutional interest and recent developments. Major firms like Robinhood and Kraken have launched tokenized stock trading, while Wall Street invested $135 million in the Canton Network. Analysts are optimistic, predicting even small adoption could unlock trillions in value from an estimated $257 trillion tokenization market. They suggest that a 1-5% adoption within a few years might surpass Bitcoin’s significance. Investors are encouraged to diversify across top Layer 1 blockchains and related stocks to capitalize on this emerging trend.
Kraken Expands xStocks to BNB Chain, Unlocking Global Access to Tokenized US Equities
Kraken has expanded its xStocks product to the BNB Chain, enabling global investors outside the U.S. to trade tokenized equities like AAPLx and TSLAx as BEP-20 tokens. This initiative aims to create a “chain-neutral” capital market, facilitating instant global transfers and integration with DeFi platforms. With the tokenization market projected to reach $30 trillion by 2030, Kraken's move reflects a broader industry trend toward decentralized trading. As traditional exchanges face pressure from this shift, they must adapt to the new landscape of continuous trading and tokenized asset ownership to maintain market dominance and revenue sources.
NRW.BANK Issues €100 Million Blockchain Bond, Highlighting Shift to Digital Securities in Europe
Germany's NRW.BANK has issued a €100 million ($116.7 million) blockchain bond on the Polygon blockchain, marking a significant advancement in digital securities for public institutions. This two-year bond, registered via Cashlink Technologies under Germany's Electronic Securities Act (eWpG), represents NRW.BANK’s inaugural fully digital bond. Major players like Deutsche Bank and DZ BANK participated as joint lead managers, indicating strong institutional interest in tokenized finance, which offers benefits like faster settlement and lower costs. This issuance aligns with a larger trend in Europe, where firms like Siemens and AXA IM are also embracing blockchain for financial products.
Robinhood Launches $1 ETH and SOL Staking for U.S. Users, Excluding Some States
On July 10, 2025, Robinhood introduced Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) staking services for U.S. users, enabling participation with a minimum of $1. However, these services are not available in California, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Wisconsin due to state regulations. Starting in October 2025, Robinhood will implement a 25% fee on staking rewards. The Florida Attorney General's Office has initiated an investigation into Robinhood Crypto LLC for allegedly misrepresenting its fee structure to customers. Attorney General James Uthmeier stated that Robinhood’s claims of being the "least expensive way to purchase crypto" lack supporting evidence, potentially violating Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Practices Act. The investigation includes a subpoena for internal documentation regarding the company's pricing assertions.
Ant Group Partners with Circle to Integrate USDC Stablecoin into Blockchain Platform
Ant Group is partnering with Circle to integrate the USDC stablecoin into its blockchain platform, aiming to capitalize on China's growing interest in regulated digital assets. This collaboration follows increased lobbying for yuan-based stablecoins to enhance the yuan's global presence. Ant International, the company's global unit, is eyeing stablecoin licenses in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Luxembourg, having generated nearly $3 billion in revenue in 2024 and achieving two years of profit. The partnership aligns with Ant's strategic pivot post-2020 IPO halt, further supported by Circle’s rising prominence and recent stock surge of over 500%.
Gates Group Tokens $75 Million Tokyo Real Estate with Oasys Blockchain Partnership
Gates Group Inc., a Japanese real estate investment firm, has partnered with Oasys blockchain to tokenize $75 million worth of Tokyo real estate assets. This initiative allows global investors to achieve fractional ownership through Web3 wallet transactions, eliminating barriers like legal complexities and high fees. Gates CEO Yuji Sekino emphasized the company's credibility, with $145 million in revenue in 2024 and recognition from Financial Times. The plan aims to scale token liquidity to $34 billion and eventually tokenize over $200 billion in assets, representing about 1% of Japan's $20.5 trillion real estate market, with future expansions targeting international markets.
Ego Death Capital Raises $100M to Fund Revenue-Generating Bitcoin Startups
Ego Death Capital has raised $100 million for its second fund, focusing on scaling software startups that build on the Bitcoin protocol. The firm targets revenue-generating companies, specifically those earning between $1 million and $3 million, avoiding token speculation. Unlike broader crypto funds, Ego Death prioritizes real-world applications of Bitcoin, aiming to fill a gap in Series A funding. Recent investments include Bitcoin-native exchange Roxom and payments platform Breez. The firm sees sustainable Bitcoin-native businesses outperforming mere asset holding, advocating for an application-driven economy built on genuine business fundamentals rather than speculation.
Biosig and Streamex Secure $1.1 Billion for Gold-Backed RWA Tokenization Strategy
Biosig Technologies and Streamex Exchange have secured $1.1 billion in financing to launch a gold-backed treasury strategy and expand real-world asset (RWA) tokenization in commodities. This funding includes $100 million in senior secured convertible debentures and a $1 billion equity line of credit over 36 months. Biosig aims to become one of Nasdaq's largest gold bullion holders, targeting the $22 trillion gold market and bridging it with blockchain technology. CEO Henry McPhie emphasizes tokenized gold's potential to unlock liquidity and transparency, predicting it could surpass bitcoin's relevance in the upcoming financial era, given its $233 billion daily trading volume.
This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.
