News linked to both this project and an event.
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.
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.
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.
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)
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.