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Coinbase Partners with Better to Launch Crypto-Backed Mortgages, Allowing BTC and USDC for Down Payments This Summer

According to Cointelegraph, Coinbase and Better Home & Finance announced they will launch a cryptocurrency-backed mortgage program in summer 2026, enabling qualified borrowers to use bitcoin (BTC) or USDC as collateral to fund down payments on mortgages backed by Fannie Mae. This initiative follows the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) directive in June 2025 instructing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to include crypto assets in mortgage risk assessments—without requiring conversion into fiat currency. Other lenders, including Newrez, have already begun adopting similar measures. However, some U.S. senators have expressed concerns that cryptocurrency price volatility could threaten housing market stability. Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis has introduced the “21st Century Mortgage Act,” aiming to codify this policy into law.

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Coinbase: First US Bitcoin-Backed Mortgage Successfully Issued

Coinbase announced on the X platform that the first mortgage in the United States backed by Bitcoin as the underlying asset and guaranteed by Fannie Mae has been successfully issued. The loan was originated and serviced by Better, with technology provided by Coinbase. Coinbase stated that the product will be rolled out nationwide this summer, offering innovative mortgage options for Bitcoin holders while advancing the application of crypto assets in traditional finance.

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OpenAI Founder-Backed Energy Startup Helion Raises $465 Million, Led by Thrive Capital

Helion, a nuclear fusion energy startup backed by OpenAI founder Sam Altman, has announced the completion of a $465 million funding round, led by Thrive Capital. The post-investment valuation has reached $15.5 billion, nearly three times its previous valuation of $543 million. It is reported that the company is dedicated to developing nuclear fusion technology to power data centers and other customers. However, it has yet to prove the feasibility of its technology in actual electricity production. Investors remain highly confident in its potential, and this round of funding will be used to accelerate technology development and commercial advancement. (The Information)

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Tether and Fasset Launch First Gold-Backed Visa Card

According to an official announcement, Tether has partnered with digital banking and investment platform Fasset to launch the world’s first gold-backed Visa card.

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WasabiCard Completes Nearly $10-Million Pre-A Round, Backed by Prominent Institutions Including Vernal Capital and Avenir Group

This round of financing will be used to build and improve the global payment infrastructure, compliance system, and business presence in key markets; enhance cross-border payment service capabilities and global operational capabilities; and further advance the company’s development of a new-generation financial infrastructure that is compliant, efficient, and built for the internet era.

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Solana Founder-Backed Perp DEX BULK Launches Season 1 Points Program

Solana ecosystem Perp DEX project BULK has announced the launch of its Season 1 points program. Pre-deposits are now open, with 1 million AURA (points) distributed weekly until the exchange officially goes live.Previously, BULK announced the completion of an $8 million seed funding round, led by 6th Man Ventures and Robot Ventures, with participation from Big Brain Holdings, Wintermute, and Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko, among others.

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Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party Pushes for Cryptocurrency ETF Legalization and Promotion of Yen-Backed Stablecoins in Asia

According to Cryptopolitan, Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Blockchain Promotion Group recently submitted a proposal to Finance Minister Kayoko Shiozawa, calling for the establishment of a legal framework for cryptocurrency ETF trading and promoting the yen-pegged stablecoin as a payment instrument in Asian markets. The proposal states that cryptocurrency ETFs are easier to operate than direct holdings of crypto assets and should receive formal recognition in the Japanese market. Meanwhile, LDP member Junichi Kanda expressed hopes of promoting the yen-pegged stablecoin policy during the 2027 Asian Development Bank Annual Meeting, which will be hosted in Tokyo. Currently, Japanese startup JPYC launched Japan’s first licensed yen-pegged stablecoin in October 2025, while Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and Mizuho Financial Group have jointly initiated a stablecoin pilot project. Previously, Japan’s Cabinet approved reclassifying cryptocurrencies as financial products, laying the groundwork for implementing the ETF framework.

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Analysis: Bitcoin-Backed Lending May Unlock a Trillion-Dollar Market, Yet a Vast Gap Persists Between Potential Demand and Actual Usage

that, according to the latest report from crypto lending platform Ledn, the global market for Bitcoin-backed consumer lending could grow nearly 300 times over the next decade, reaching $1 trillion, while a significant amount of potential demand remains untapped.The report cites a survey conducted by consumer research firm Protocol Theory among 1,244 cryptocurrency holders in the United States and Australia. It shows that approximately 88% of respondents are willing to consider using crypto-backed loans or credit products, but only 14% have actually used such services, creating a so-called "6:1 interest-to-adoption gap."Ledn estimates that the current global market size for Bitcoin-backed consumer lending is around $3 billion. In comparison, Galaxy Research previously estimated the entire crypto lending market peaked at $73.6 billion in the third quarter of 2025. Ledn co-founder Mauricio Di Bartolomeo stated: "The demand-side problem has been solved. What the industry is truly missing right now is the trust infrastructure that allows borrowers to build confidence."The survey indicates that the core factors hindering user adoption of crypto-backed lending are not a lack of awareness, but concerns over price volatility, forced liquidation risks, and regulatory uncertainty. When choosing a lending platform, users prioritize platform reputation, custody security, transparency, and risk management over simple interest rates. The report argues that crypto-backed lending is essentially similar to "stock-backed financing" or "home equity loans" in traditional finance, allowing users to obtain liquidity without selling their long-term holdings. (CoinDesk)

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Bitget Wallet Integrates xStocks and Launches Tiered Trading Campaign with $100,000 Total Prize Pool

Bitget Wallet has announced the completion of its RWA trading upgrade and integrated xStocks as a new source of tokenized stocks, providing users with global tokenized stock trading capabilities. From May 19 to June 14 (Beijing time), Bitget Wallet users who complete tiered trading tasks can receive up to $264 in rewards, with a total prize pool of $100,000. Additionally, users who hold, add liquidity to, or participate in the lending market for any xStocks token will receive a 20% exclusive xPoints bonus.Through this upgrade, users can now trade over 300 types of RWA tokens across Ethereum, Solana, and BNB Chain, covering various assets such as US stocks, ETFs, oil, precious metals, and country indices. The service supports 24/7 trading, low transaction fees, and gas-free execution, with trading starting from $0 and no minimum threshold requirement. Currently, Bitget Wallet supports a dual RFQ + AMM trading mechanism, enabling instant execution and effectively reducing spread slippage. It has also integrated AI market signals to assist in trading decisions.xStocks is developed in collaboration between Kraken and Backed. Its tokenized stock products adopt a 1:1 full collateral mechanism with underlying assets. Since its launch in June 2025, the platform has processed a cumulative trading volume exceeding $30 billion. This integration will further advance Bitget Wallet's "Everyday Finance, Onchain" strategy, aiming to enable users to conduct daily trading of traditional financial assets through on-chain wallets, breaking down the geographical and entry barriers imposed by traditional financial infrastructure.

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Russia’s Ruble-Backed Stablecoin A7A5 Plans to Transform into a Long-Term Cross-Border Settlement Tool

According to CoinDesk, the ruble-pegged stablecoin A7A5 is transitioning from a tool for circumventing sanctions into a long-term settlement instrument for trade with Russia. Oleg Ogienko, an executive at A7A5, stated that even if sanctions are lifted, the stablecoin will remain competitive by offering fast, non-U.S. dollar cross-border settlements and yield tied to Russia’s high interest rates—currently around 13.5%. A7A5’s current market capitalization stands at approximately $500 million. However, its expansion still faces challenges stemming from restrictions imposed by Western financial infrastructure and from a draft Russian crypto regulation. The draft proposes capping annual investments by non-qualified investors at 300,000 rubles (roughly $4,000). Ogienko revealed that A7A5 is participating in consultations on this regulatory framework. He also noted that Russia’s future central bank digital currency (CBDC) will focus more on budgetary oversight than commercial applications—and therefore will not compete with A7A5.

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ECB President Christine Lagarde Warns of Financial Stability Risks Posed by Euro-Backed Stablecoins

According to Bloomberg, European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde stated in a speech delivered on May 8 local time that even euro-denominated stablecoins would pose risks to financial stability and monetary policy transmission, and she questioned the necessity of introducing such instruments. Lagarde noted that while euro stablecoins might help reduce financing costs in the euro area and enhance the euro’s global influence, the associated trade-offs “cannot be ignored.”

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Hut 8 Enters $200 Million Bitcoin-Backed Credit Agreement, Replaces Previous Coinbase Credit Facility

Hut 8 announced its subsidiary has entered into a $200 million, 364-day bitcoin-backed credit agreement with FalconX to replace the previous financing arrangement from Coinbase Credit. The new financing carries an annualized fixed interest rate of 7.0%, a reduction of 200 basis points from the previous 9.0% rate on the Coinbase facility. During the period from December 2023 to March 2025, this financing cost had reached as high as 10.5%–11.5%, meaning cumulative reductions of up to 450 basis points, demonstrating continued progress in optimizing debt costs.Following this refinancing, approximately 3,300 BTC held by Hut 8 have been converted to an unencumbered state, valued at approximately $260 million based on market capitalization as of May 1, 2026. This significantly enhances the flexibility and liquidity capacity of its balance sheet. Additionally, the credit structure maintains key risk control provisions, including a limited recourse structure, a no-rehypothecation clause, and a fixed LTV threshold design to avoid triggering additional margin calls in the event of a decline in bitcoin prices.Hut 8 management stated that this financing not only reduces capital costs but also releases more unencumbered bitcoin assets, helping to enhance capital allocation flexibility across different market cycles. FalconX emphasized that this transaction reflects its growing capability in providing institutional-grade bitcoin credit solutions. (PRNewswire)

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Riot Amends $200M Bitcoin-Backed Credit Line Terms with Coinbase

Odaily Bitcoin mining firm Riot Platforms has amended its $200 million bitcoin-backed credit agreement with Coinbase, switching the floating interest rate linked to the U.S. Federal Funds Rate to a fixed annual interest rate, and introducing a two-day consecutive trigger mechanism to reduce the impact of short-term bitcoin price volatility on margin calls and forced deleveraging.The new agreement was signed on April 21, 2026, with an option for a one-year extension. Documents show that Riot sold 3,778 bitcoins in the first quarter of 2026, generating approximately $289.5 million in revenue. As of March 31, its restricted bitcoin collateral had increased to 5,802 bitcoins. (TheEnergyMag)

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Paradigm-Backed Project Succinct Launches Anti-AI Spoofing Camera App ZCAM

Succinct Labs, backed by Paradigm, has launched the iPhone camera app ZCAM, which uses cryptographic technology to generate a "digital fingerprint" for photos and videos, addressing the risk of forgery brought by AI-generated content (AIGC).ZCAM can sign images at the moment of capture, creating an immutable record and binding the content to the capture device. This allows users to independently verify whether the footage comes from a genuine device, has been tampered with, or was generated by AI.Unlike solutions that rely on AI detection, Succinct chooses to start at the device hardware level, generating a unique cryptographic signature for each shot. The company states that existing AI detection tools are prone to failure, whereas this approach enhances the reliability of authenticity verification.Similar projects include World, which reduces risks by distinguishing between real people and AI identities.

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Qivalis Partners with 12 European Banks to Advance Euro-Backed Stablecoin, Expected Launch in H2 2026

According to CoinDesk, custody provider Fireblocks will handle the issuance and distribution of the Qivalis consortium’s euro-pegged stablecoin. The project is expected to launch in the second half of 2026, under supervision by the Dutch Central Bank and in compliance with the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). Qivalis members include 12 European banks, such as BBVA, BNP Paribas, ING, and UniCredit. The report notes that the current stablecoin market size stands at approximately $30.5 billion, of which about 99% consists of U.S. dollar–pegged stablecoins, while euro-pegged stablecoins account for roughly $650 million. Qivalis aims to boost institutional adoption of euro stablecoins through a compliant product.

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Spark Strategy Lead: ETH Market Faces Liquidity Risk Due to Potential 10-15% Cut in rsETH-Backed Loans

Odaily News, Spark's strategy lead monetsupply.eth posted on X, stating that as the stablecoin market begins to face a liquidity shortage, the situation is entering a more dangerous phase, in my opinion. Approximately 16.5% of the ETH market is backed by rsETH. If losses on rsETH-backed loans are shared across the mainnet and external chains, they could face a 10% to 15% cut in emode, with the remaining 2% to 3% cut left for ETH suppliers to flatten the umbrella structure. ETH suppliers naturally tend to exit as soon as possible to avoid this risk, so utilization is locked at 100%, and the borrowing rate is insufficient to incentivize the repayment of unrelated LST loops (wstETH, weETH) to release liquidity. Since ETH cannot be withdrawn, users who borrowed stablecoins like USDT using ETH as collateral cannot close their positions even when stablecoin borrowing rates rise, which cuts off the typical incentive mechanisms that maintain market health. Currently, there are two unhealthy incentives causing market utilization to be locked at 100%:1) ETH holders cannot close positions to maintain a healthy LTV, and liquidators cannot atomically withdraw or sell collateral. A drop in the ETHUSD price could lead to bad debt.2) Users supplying USDT, in order to exit their holdings, tend to maximize borrowing of other stablecoins. This position is currently generating positive yield (temporarily), so the exit cost is low; if conditions worsen, they can recover at least 75% of the position's value.The bottom line is that for these pooled/restaking lending markets to function properly, liquidity must be maintained at all costs. The recent weakening of the slope2 for Aave's maximum borrowing rate is having a negative impact and significantly increasing the risk of cascading market failure.

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French Finance Minister Calls for Expansion of Euro-Backed Stablecoins, Marking Major Shift in Policy Stance

According to CoinDesk, French Finance Minister Roland Lescure publicly stated on April 17 that Europe needs more euro-denominated stablecoins and strongly encouraged EU banks to explore launching tokenized deposits. Lescure explicitly backed the Qivalis consortium—a group of 12 European banks including BBVA, ING, UniCredit, and BNP Paribas—that plans to launch a euro-pegged stablecoin in the second half of 2026, aiming to counter U.S. dominance in digital payments. He also noted that the current scale of euro-pegged stablecoins remains far smaller than that of dollar-pegged stablecoins—a situation he described as “unsatisfactory.” This statement marks a clear departure from France’s previous hardline regulatory stance: former Finance Minister Le Maire had declared that private stablecoins “have no place in Europe,” while Bank of France Governor Villeroy de Galhau has repeatedly warned that stablecoins pose risks of monetary privatization.

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Circle CEO: There Is a “Huge Opportunity” for RMB-Backed Stablecoins; China May Launch One Within 3–5 Years

According to The Block, Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire stated in an interview with Reuters that there is a “huge opportunity” for a renminbi (RMB)-backed stablecoin. If Chinese authorities wish to enhance the RMB’s global competitiveness, stablecoins could serve as a key technological tool for currency internationalization, and he predicted China may launch an RMB-backed stablecoin within the next three to five years. Notably, the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) and multiple other regulatory bodies explicitly prohibited, as of February 2026, the issuance of RMB-backed stablecoins outside mainland China without prior regulatory approval. In contrast, Hong Kong’s regulatory stance is markedly different: last week, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) issued the first stablecoin licenses to HSBC and Anchorpoint Financial—a joint venture among Standard Chartered, Animoca Brands, and Hong Kong Telecom.

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