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BackToBitcoin (B2B) is a Defi solution for Bitcoin, built on the BTCB token with Binance proof of reserve. It enables enthusiasts of decentralized finance (DeFi) to participate in Bitcoin (BTC) exposure while also benefiting from direct on-chain yields. It is developing a specialized middleware for Bitcoin within the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) mesh system.
Ripple Strategically Invests in Notabene to Advance RLUSD Institutional-Grade Stablecoin Payments
According to PRNewswire, stablecoin operator Notabene announced it has received strategic investment from Ripple; the specific investment amount has not been disclosed yet. The two parties will collaborate on enterprise-level stablecoin payments, including integrating Ripple's USD stablecoin RLUSD into the Notabene Flow B2B stablecoin payment platform. Both parties also plan to further expand the application of RLUSD in institutional payment networks to accelerate the adoption of compliant stablecoin infrastructure by banks, payment institutions, and fintech companies.
Stablecoin cross-border commercial banking platform Flex completes $70 million Series B1 funding round, led by Halo Fund
stablecoin banking platform Flex has announced the completion of a $70 million Series B1 funding round, led by Halo Fund. The new capital will be used to expand Flex Global, its stablecoin-based cross-border commercial banking platform, helping mid-sized enterprises conduct global payments and treasury management via stablecoin infrastructure. Data shows that the annual stablecoin payment volume has reached approximately $390 billion, with B2B transaction volume growing roughly 733% year-over-year. Meanwhile, as of April 2026, Visa's stablecoin settlement volume had reached an annualized $7 billion, representing a 50% year-over-year increase. (Forbes)
Kraken’s parent company Payward acquires derivatives exchange Bitnomial for up to $550 million
According to CoinDesk, Payward, Kraken’s parent company, announced the acquisition of digital asset derivatives platform Bitnomial for up to $550 million in cash and stock. The deal values Payward at approximately $20 billion. Bitnomial is the first crypto-native platform in the U.S. to hold all three key regulatory licenses: a Designated Contract Market (DCM), a Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO), and a Futures Commission Merchant (FCM). Following the acquisition, Payward will instantly obtain all regulatory authorizations required to operate a full derivatives business in the U.S., significantly accelerating its path to compliance compared to building such capabilities organically. Post-integration, the combined platforms will launch spot margin, perpetual futures, and options products for U.S. customers. Through Payward Services’ B2B infrastructure, these regulated U.S. derivatives offerings will be made available to banks, fintech firms, and brokers via a single API. This acquisition marks Payward’s second major deal following its $1.5 billion acquisition of NinjaTrader in 2025. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026.
Ripple Strategically Invests in Notabene to Advance RLUSD Institutional-Grade Stablecoin Payments
According to PRNewswire, stablecoin operator Notabene announced it has received strategic investment from Ripple; the specific investment amount has not been disclosed yet. The two parties will collaborate on enterprise-level stablecoin payments, including integrating Ripple's USD stablecoin RLUSD into the Notabene Flow B2B stablecoin payment platform. Both parties also plan to further expand the application of RLUSD in institutional payment networks to accelerate the adoption of compliant stablecoin infrastructure by banks, payment institutions, and fintech companies.
BancaStato Launches Regulated Crypto Trading Services Through Sygnum
Odaily News, Swiss cantonal bank BancaStato has launched regulated cryptocurrency trading services, utilizing the systems of digital asset bank Sygnum and banking software provider Avaloq. The bank serves the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino in Switzerland. BancaStato has joined Sygnum's B2B banking platform, integrating Sygnum's trading and custody services into its existing Avaloq banking system. Clients can buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin, ETH, LTC, and SOL via the bank's web and mobile banking applications. Sygnum's B2B platform is already used by over 25 financial institutions, with its banking partners including Societe Generale-FORGE, PostFinance, and VZ Depotbank. In late June, Sygnum announced that its Liechtenstein subsidiary, Sygnum Europe AG, had obtained a license as a crypto asset service provider under the MiCA framework.
Infinite Launches Bank Account Service Integrating Fiat and Stablecoin Transfers, Supported by Erebor Bank
According to The Block, B2B stablecoin technology provider Infinite has launched Infinite Accounts—a banking account service for enterprises that supports deposits, withdrawals, ACH transfers, domestic and international wire transfers, as well as stablecoin minting, burning, and on-chain transfers—all accessible via a single API. This service is powered by the traditional banking infrastructure of Erebor Bank, which recently obtained its banking license. Infinite states that fiat balances held in these accounts may be eligible for FDIC insurance, whereas stablecoin balances are not. This launch comes amid continued growing institutional adoption of stablecoins.
Kraken’s parent company Payward acquires derivatives exchange Bitnomial for up to $550 million
According to CoinDesk, Payward, Kraken’s parent company, announced the acquisition of digital asset derivatives platform Bitnomial for up to $550 million in cash and stock. The deal values Payward at approximately $20 billion. Bitnomial is the first crypto-native platform in the U.S. to hold all three key regulatory licenses: a Designated Contract Market (DCM), a Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO), and a Futures Commission Merchant (FCM). Following the acquisition, Payward will instantly obtain all regulatory authorizations required to operate a full derivatives business in the U.S., significantly accelerating its path to compliance compared to building such capabilities organically. Post-integration, the combined platforms will launch spot margin, perpetual futures, and options products for U.S. customers. Through Payward Services’ B2B infrastructure, these regulated U.S. derivatives offerings will be made available to banks, fintech firms, and brokers via a single API. This acquisition marks Payward’s second major deal following its $1.5 billion acquisition of NinjaTrader in 2025. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026.
Tempo’s Launch of “Zones” Feature Sparks Privacy Controversy; Enterprise-Grade Stablecoin Privacy Solution Criticized for Centralization
According to Cointelegraph, Tempo—a payment-focused Layer-1 public blockchain backed by Stripe and Paradigm—recently launched its new “Zones” feature, enabling enterprises to conduct stablecoin transactions within permissioned environments while maintaining interoperability with public-chain liquidity. This functionality is primarily targeted at use cases such as payroll distribution, fund management, and B2B settlements. However, the feature has drawn criticism from industry observers due to its operator-centric design. Each Zone is controlled by a single operator who can view all transaction data and has the authority to suspend users’ transfer or withdrawal privileges in accordance with compliance requirements. Critics argue that this introduces a trust assumption akin to that of centralized exchanges, thereby deviating from blockchain’s core trustless principle.
Ripple Strategically Invests in Notabene to Advance RLUSD Institutional-Grade Stablecoin Payments
According to PRNewswire, stablecoin operator Notabene announced it has received strategic investment from Ripple; the specific investment amount has not been disclosed yet. The two parties will collaborate on enterprise-level stablecoin payments, including integrating Ripple's USD stablecoin RLUSD into the Notabene Flow B2B stablecoin payment platform. Both parties also plan to further expand the application of RLUSD in institutional payment networks to accelerate the adoption of compliant stablecoin infrastructure by banks, payment institutions, and fintech companies.
Former Microsoft AI Team Founds Skyfall AI, Bets $1 Million on ‘AI CEO’ Experiment to Run a Real Business
Skyfall AI, an artificial intelligence startup founded by former Microsoft AI team members, has announced it will spend up to $1 million to acquire a small B2B SaaS or e-commerce company, attempting to let an AI system fully take over operations to test whether an 'AI CEO' can manage a real commercial organization.Skyfall AI co-founder Sam Pasupalak and CTO Kaheer Suleman believe the current AI industry is largely focused on creating 'autonomous employees'—gradually replacing individual tasks—but this does not represent true enterprise autonomy. They aim to test whether AI can cover the full range of decisions, including pricing, marketing, customer support, finance, and operations, by running a real business.The project's goal is to have the AI serve as the core manager of the enterprise, driving revenue growth with reduced human intervention, while publicly documenting the successes and failures encountered during the experiment.Skyfall’s founders stated that while existing large language models (LLMs) perform well with known knowledge and in fixed environments, they still fall short in continuous learning when faced with competitive changes, shifts in customer behavior, and market dynamics. Therefore, the company is exploring a new AI architecture called 'Enterprise World Models,' aiming to enable AI to understand the operational state of a business and predict the impact of decisions on future development.Skyfall AI was founded by members of the Maluuba team. Maluuba was acquired by Microsoft for approximately $160 million in 2017, and its technology later became part of Microsoft's AI research presence in Canada. (Forbes)
Hong Kong-licensed virtual asset exchange VDX clarifies that there are currently no official apps open to the public
The Hong Kong licensed virtual asset exchange VDX has officially issued a statement warning against fraudulent activities conducted in the name of VDX, disclosing that fraudsters are illegally misusing the VDX brand name to launch a so-called "VDX App". The company stated that it is currently primarily a B2B platform serving institutional clients, and there is no official App open to the public at this stage. Any App, installation package, QR code, link, or third-party application claiming to be officially launched by VDX and requiring users to download or use is not officially released by VDX. Users are reminded to beware of impersonation and fraud.
SoFi launches US dollar-backed stablecoin SoFiUSD, available to nearly 15 million users
SoFi has launched a US dollar-backed stablecoin, SoFiUSD, on Ethereum and Solana, becoming the first U.S. national bank to directly offer a stablecoin to retail customers on a public blockchain. Nearly 15 million SoFi members can now buy, sell, hold, and exchange SoFiUSD within the app, with each token redeemable 1:1 for US dollars via SoFi Bank. SoFi stated that it plans to use SoFiUSD for traditional financial scenarios such as cross-border payments and B2B transactions, and intends to launch features including interest-bearing tokenized deposits, FDIC-insured accounts, and 24/7 cross-border transfers. (CoinDesk)
Wallet infrastructure company Dynamic integrates Aleo, enabling developers to build payment applications with private transaction capabilities.
Dynamic, a wallet infrastructure company, has integrated Aleo, enabling developers to build payment applications that support private transactions and enterprise-grade security. Itai, co-founder of Dynamic, stated that real-world payment scenarios have a rigid demand for privacy: users typically do not publicly disclose their salary information and should not be required by default to broadcast stablecoin transactions across a public network. Moreover, enterprises do not wish to place payroll records on a public ledger, and B2B teams do not want transaction volumes exposed to competitors.
a16z Explains Its Investment Logic for Arc: $9 Trillion Stablecoin Market as the Catalyst—The “Economic Operating System” Will Reshape Onchain Finance’s Foundation
a16z Crypto published a post explaining its investment rationale for Arc, noting that stablecoins have evolved from crypto-native trading tools into the foundational layer of global financial infrastructure—and are now driving blockchain’s evolution from “application-layer finance” to a “system-level economic operating system.” Last year, stablecoin transaction volume reached approximately $9 trillion—placing it on par with global payment networks such as Visa and PayPal. The total supply of USD-pegged stablecoins has surpassed $270 billion. Cross-border payments, B2B settlements, and foreign exchange transactions are emerging as core use cases for stablecoins, positioning them increasingly as the “global capital flow upgrade layer.” a16z Crypto stated that existing blockchain infrastructure remains primarily geared toward crypto-native users and individual developers, lacking native support for large-scale institutional requirements. Its participation in building the ARC token ecosystem stems from the expectation that, as global finance gradually migrates on-chain, only a select few public blockchains will be capable of serving as the foundational bedrock for “on-chain economic systems.”
Related news
Luno to Cut 20% of Global Workforce and Restructure into Three Business Units
cryptocurrency exchange Luno announced on July 28 that it will cut 20% of its global workforce and restructure its operations into three business units. The company did not disclose the total number of affected employees, with South African staff also included in the layoffs. Luno is headquartered in London, with operations spanning Africa and Asia, and is owned by US-based Digital Currency Group. CEO James Lanigan stated that the cyclical decline in retail crypto trading activity and the adoption of automation tools are the main reasons for this restructuring. Luno previously cut 35% of its staff in January 2023, when its total workforce was approximately 960 employees. Following this restructuring, the company will integrate its consumer platform and B2B API services, and establish a local currency stablecoin solutions unit along with an institutional business unit. Luno has notified users in certain markets that related services will be discontinued on September 1, 2026. Account deposit and purchase functions were already closed on June 1, and users are required to liquidate their holdings and withdraw funds to local bank accounts by August 31.
Crypto exchange Luno launches global restructuring and lays off about 20%
According to Bloomberg, Digital Currency Group (DCG)-owned cryptocurrency exchange Luno will lay off 20% of its staff. Luno is currently undergoing restructuring to adapt to current market conditions, while expanding its B2B business and cutting costs. Luno CEO James Lanigan stated that this move is to optimize operations, but did not disclose the specific number of affected employees.
Ripple Strategically Invests in Notabene to Advance RLUSD Institutional-Grade Stablecoin Payments
According to PRNewswire, stablecoin operator Notabene announced it has received strategic investment from Ripple; the specific investment amount has not been disclosed yet. The two parties will collaborate on enterprise-level stablecoin payments, including integrating Ripple's USD stablecoin RLUSD into the Notabene Flow B2B stablecoin payment platform. Both parties also plan to further expand the application of RLUSD in institutional payment networks to accelerate the adoption of compliant stablecoin infrastructure by banks, payment institutions, and fintech companies.
BancaStato Launches Regulated Crypto Trading Services Through Sygnum
Odaily News, Swiss cantonal bank BancaStato has launched regulated cryptocurrency trading services, utilizing the systems of digital asset bank Sygnum and banking software provider Avaloq. The bank serves the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino in Switzerland. BancaStato has joined Sygnum's B2B banking platform, integrating Sygnum's trading and custody services into its existing Avaloq banking system. Clients can buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin, ETH, LTC, and SOL via the bank's web and mobile banking applications. Sygnum's B2B platform is already used by over 25 financial institutions, with its banking partners including Societe Generale-FORGE, PostFinance, and VZ Depotbank. In late June, Sygnum announced that its Liechtenstein subsidiary, Sygnum Europe AG, had obtained a license as a crypto asset service provider under the MiCA framework.
Former Microsoft AI Team Founds Skyfall AI, Bets $1 Million on ‘AI CEO’ Experiment to Run a Real Business
Skyfall AI, an artificial intelligence startup founded by former Microsoft AI team members, has announced it will spend up to $1 million to acquire a small B2B SaaS or e-commerce company, attempting to let an AI system fully take over operations to test whether an 'AI CEO' can manage a real commercial organization.Skyfall AI co-founder Sam Pasupalak and CTO Kaheer Suleman believe the current AI industry is largely focused on creating 'autonomous employees'—gradually replacing individual tasks—but this does not represent true enterprise autonomy. They aim to test whether AI can cover the full range of decisions, including pricing, marketing, customer support, finance, and operations, by running a real business.The project's goal is to have the AI serve as the core manager of the enterprise, driving revenue growth with reduced human intervention, while publicly documenting the successes and failures encountered during the experiment.Skyfall’s founders stated that while existing large language models (LLMs) perform well with known knowledge and in fixed environments, they still fall short in continuous learning when faced with competitive changes, shifts in customer behavior, and market dynamics. Therefore, the company is exploring a new AI architecture called 'Enterprise World Models,' aiming to enable AI to understand the operational state of a business and predict the impact of decisions on future development.Skyfall AI was founded by members of the Maluuba team. Maluuba was acquired by Microsoft for approximately $160 million in 2017, and its technology later became part of Microsoft's AI research presence in Canada. (Forbes)
Stablecoin cross-border commercial banking platform Flex completes $70 million Series B1 funding round, led by Halo Fund
stablecoin banking platform Flex has announced the completion of a $70 million Series B1 funding round, led by Halo Fund. The new capital will be used to expand Flex Global, its stablecoin-based cross-border commercial banking platform, helping mid-sized enterprises conduct global payments and treasury management via stablecoin infrastructure. Data shows that the annual stablecoin payment volume has reached approximately $390 billion, with B2B transaction volume growing roughly 733% year-over-year. Meanwhile, as of April 2026, Visa's stablecoin settlement volume had reached an annualized $7 billion, representing a 50% year-over-year increase. (Forbes)