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BNP Paribas is a world-class financial group and the largest bank in France. The bank was formed on May 23, 2000 by the merger of two major French commercial banks, Banque Nationale de Paris and BNP Paribas.
Alpaca Completes $135 Million Financing, Advancing Tokenized Markets and AI-Native Financial Services Infrastructure
According to BusinessWire, Alpaca announced the completion of $135 million in financing, led by Peak XV with participation from Elefund, and new and existing shareholders also include Opera Tech Ventures and Unbound under the BNP Paribas Group. The company stated that the new funds will be used to accelerate the development of its agent-oriented brokerage infrastructure and API-centric prime brokerage business to support the development and expansion of investment products for traditional and on-chain markets.
AI and tokenized financial infrastructure Alpaca completes $135 million in funding, led by Peak XV
Alpaca, an AI and tokenized financial infrastructure provider, has announced the completion of a $135 million new funding round, led by Peak XV, with participation from Elefund, BNP Paribas' venture capital arm Opera Tech Ventures, and Unbound. To date, its total funding has reached $435 million. The new capital will be used to accelerate the development of its AI-native brokerage infrastructure and API-first prime brokerage services, helping fintech companies, banks, brokerages, wealth management institutions, and crypto financial platforms build investment products in traditional and on-chain markets, while also gaining access to more global crypto exchanges, asset tokenization platforms, and financial institutions. (Businesswire)
Strategy Bitcoin Banking Adoption Index: Fidelity Leads at 71%, BNY and Goldman Sachs Rank Second and Third
Strategy's newly launched Bitcoin Banking Adoption Index shows Fidelity leading at 71%, followed by BNY at 46% in second place, and Goldman Sachs at 45% in third. JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, and Citigroup each stand at 43%. The index evaluates the adoption of Bitcoin-related services across trading, custody, digital asset products, financing, and corporate participation among 25 major global institutions, with an overall adoption rate of 32%.The remaining institutions scored between 13% and 38%, with Wells Fargo at 38%, Banco Santander and Société Générale both at 35%, Charles Schwab and TD Bank both at 32%, BNP Paribas, HSBC, Crédit Agricole, and UBS each at 30%, Bank of America, Barclays, and Standard Chartered each at 28%, State Street at 27%, Mizuho and Deutsche Bank both at 22%, MUFG at 18%, Lloyd’s at 17%, and SMBC and Royal Bank of Canada both at 13% (Bitcoin.com News).
Digital Asset, developer of the Canton Network, has completed a $355 million funding round led by a16z.
According to CoinDesk, Digital Asset, the blockchain developer behind Canton Network, has announced a $355 million funding round led by a16z crypto, with participation from global institutions including ABN Amro, Apollo Funds, BNP Paribas, Citadel Securities, HSBC, SBI Group, and a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. The round exceeded its original target of $300 million, valuing the company at $2 billion. Canton Network is designed specifically for large financial institutions and enables the issuance and trading of tokenized real-world assets—such as bonds, loans, and funds—on a shared ledger, while maintaining privacy and meeting regulatory compliance requirements. In addition to financial support, a16z crypto will provide specialized assistance in development, policy, and research.
Digital Asset Completes $355 Million Funding Round Led by a16z crypto
According to Odaily, Digital Asset, the developer of the Canton network, has announced the completion of a $355 million equity funding round, led by a16z crypto. Participating investors include subsidiaries of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Apollo Funds, BNP Paribas, Citadel Securities, CME Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, HSBC, S&P Global, SBI Group, SoFi, Tradeweb, and others. The project's primary business is developing the Canton blockchain network designed for institutions. The funds will be used to accelerate partnerships with institutional players, pursue mergers and acquisitions, and participate in related projects. (The Block)
Revolut seeks $115 billion valuation and plans multiple secondary transactions before IPO
: According to sources, London-based digital bank and financial super app Revolut is quietly seeking a round of secondary equity transactions, targeting a valuation of $115 billion. If successful, this valuation would surpass Barclays and Deutsche Bank, and approach the scale of BNP Paribas.Founded in 2015 and led by CEO Nik Storonsky, Revolut plans to conduct multiple rounds of secondary transactions before its IPO to provide liquidity for internal shareholders while gauging the market's tolerance for its valuation. Storonsky has stated that an IPO is still at least two years away.Based on current revenue of $600 million and profits of $2.3 billion, the $115 billion valuation would give it a price-to-earnings ratio similar to high-growth technology companies. If the transaction goes through, Storonsky's stake would be worth at least $36 billion, placing him among the world's wealthiest fintech founders.Previously, Revolut was already Europe's most valuable private technology company at a valuation of $75 billion. A $115 billion valuation would now propel it into the ranks of top global financial institutions, setting a high bar for its future IPO and signaling investors' optimistic outlook on the company's valuation. (Bloomberg)
Analyst: Tesla and SpaceX Merger Remains Distant
Analysts at BNP Paribas expressed skepticism about the near-term possibility of a merger between Tesla and SpaceX, stating: "The significant cash burn at both companies and substantial regulatory risks complicate any potential merger between SpaceX and Tesla." Tesla investor sentiment, which has improved due to merger speculation, may be overly optimistic. The bank maintains its "underperform" rating and $280 price target. "We are concerned that Tesla will face formidable KPIs in its robotaxi and Optimus businesses over the next two years, posing downside risks to its core business before any SpaceX merger can truly materialize."
Digital Asset, developer of the Canton Network, has completed a $355 million funding round led by a16z.
According to CoinDesk, Digital Asset, the blockchain developer behind Canton Network, has announced a $355 million funding round led by a16z crypto, with participation from global institutions including ABN Amro, Apollo Funds, BNP Paribas, Citadel Securities, HSBC, SBI Group, and a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. The round exceeded its original target of $300 million, valuing the company at $2 billion. Canton Network is designed specifically for large financial institutions and enables the issuance and trading of tokenized real-world assets—such as bonds, loans, and funds—on a shared ledger, while maintaining privacy and meeting regulatory compliance requirements. In addition to financial support, a16z crypto will provide specialized assistance in development, policy, and research.
Qivalis Euro Stablecoin Project Gains Support from 37 European Banks and Has Applied for a License with the Dutch Central Bank
According to the Financial Times, Amsterdam-based company Qivalis has secured support from 37 European banks—including BNP Paribas, ING, and UniCredit—for its yet-to-launch euro-pegged stablecoin, making it the single euro stablecoin project with the largest number of European backers to date. Newly added supporters include ABN AMRO, Intesa Sanpaolo, and Rabobank. Qivalis has applied for a license from the Dutch Central Bank (De Nederlandsche Bank), aiming for approval in the second half of this year, and plans to complete operational readiness upon license issuance.
Deputy Governor of the Bank of France Publicly Disagrees with Christine Lagarde, Strongly Advocates for Public-Private Collaboration in Developing the Digital Euro
According to CoinDesk, Denis Beau, Deputy Governor of the Bank of France, has publicly called on Europe’s public and private sectors to jointly advance the development of euro-tokenized money to counter the dominance of U.S. dollar–pegged stablecoins. This stance stands in clear contrast to that of European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde, who remains cautious toward private stablecoins—citing financial stability risks posed by USDT, USDC, and others—and favors a central bank–led digital euro initiative expected to launch in 2029. Beau outlined a “triple objective” for Europe’s development: aligning with central bank monetary services; enabling regulated institutions to issue pan-euro tokenized private money; and strengthening the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulatory framework. His position closely aligns with that of the Qivalis consortium—a group comprising 12 major European banks, including ING, BBVA, and BNP Paribas—which plans to launch a private digital euro this year. Beau also revealed that the eurosystem will roll out its first tokenized wholesale central bank money service before year-end.
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.
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.
Alpaca Completes $135 Million Financing, Advancing Tokenized Markets and AI-Native Financial Services Infrastructure
According to BusinessWire, Alpaca announced the completion of $135 million in financing, led by Peak XV with participation from Elefund, and new and existing shareholders also include Opera Tech Ventures and Unbound under the BNP Paribas Group. The company stated that the new funds will be used to accelerate the development of its agent-oriented brokerage infrastructure and API-centric prime brokerage business to support the development and expansion of investment products for traditional and on-chain markets.
Swift Teams Up With 17 Global Banks to Launch Blockchain Ledger Pilot, Enabling Round-the-Clock Cross-Border Payments
According to CoinDesk, Swift announced that its blockchain-based shared ledger platform is ready and will launch real-time transaction testing with 17 major banks. Participating institutions include HSBC, UBS, BNP Paribas, Citi, BNY, and Wells Fargo, among others, covering six continents. The platform aims to enable 24/7 cross-border payments through tokenized deposits, allowing banks to transfer funds for customers during nights and weekends, and providing liquidity support before final settlement is completed in existing payment systems. Swift clearly stated that the ledger system is positioned as a complement to existing payment rails, not a replacement.
Digital Asset, developer of the Canton Network, has completed a $355 million funding round led by a16z.
According to CoinDesk, Digital Asset, the blockchain developer behind Canton Network, has announced a $355 million funding round led by a16z crypto, with participation from global institutions including ABN Amro, Apollo Funds, BNP Paribas, Citadel Securities, HSBC, SBI Group, and a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority. The round exceeded its original target of $300 million, valuing the company at $2 billion. Canton Network is designed specifically for large financial institutions and enables the issuance and trading of tokenized real-world assets—such as bonds, loans, and funds—on a shared ledger, while maintaining privacy and meeting regulatory compliance requirements. In addition to financial support, a16z crypto will provide specialized assistance in development, policy, and research.
Qivalis Euro Stablecoin Project Gains Support from 37 European Banks and Has Applied for a License with the Dutch Central Bank
According to the Financial Times, Amsterdam-based company Qivalis has secured support from 37 European banks—including BNP Paribas, ING, and UniCredit—for its yet-to-launch euro-pegged stablecoin, making it the single euro stablecoin project with the largest number of European backers to date. Newly added supporters include ABN AMRO, Intesa Sanpaolo, and Rabobank. Qivalis has applied for a license from the Dutch Central Bank (De Nederlandsche Bank), aiming for approval in the second half of this year, and plans to complete operational readiness upon license issuance.
Deputy Governor of the Bank of France Publicly Disagrees with Christine Lagarde, Strongly Advocates for Public-Private Collaboration in Developing the Digital Euro
According to CoinDesk, Denis Beau, Deputy Governor of the Bank of France, has publicly called on Europe’s public and private sectors to jointly advance the development of euro-tokenized money to counter the dominance of U.S. dollar–pegged stablecoins. This stance stands in clear contrast to that of European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde, who remains cautious toward private stablecoins—citing financial stability risks posed by USDT, USDC, and others—and favors a central bank–led digital euro initiative expected to launch in 2029. Beau outlined a “triple objective” for Europe’s development: aligning with central bank monetary services; enabling regulated institutions to issue pan-euro tokenized private money; and strengthening the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulatory framework. His position closely aligns with that of the Qivalis consortium—a group comprising 12 major European banks, including ING, BBVA, and BNP Paribas—which plans to launch a private digital euro this year. Beau also revealed that the eurosystem will roll out its first tokenized wholesale central bank money service before year-end.
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.
Related news
BIS Project Agorá Completes $1 Million Tokenized Cross-Border Payment Test
Odaily News The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) stated that Project Agorá has completed a real-value test of tokenized wholesale cross-border payments, with 28 financial institutions and central banks settling approximately 800,000 Swiss francs (around $1 million) across 17 transaction scenarios. The test utilized tokenized central bank reserves and commercial bank deposits, with settlement currencies including the Swiss franc, euro, pound sterling, Japanese yen, Korean won, and US dollar, and an average settlement time of approximately 80 seconds. Participants included the Bank of England, Banque de France, Bank of Japan, Bank of Korea, and Swiss National Bank, as well as commercial banks such as JPMorgan, Citi, Deutsche Bank, BNP Paribas, UBS, Standard Chartered, and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group. Project Agorá is an initiative launched by the BIS in 2024, aimed at exploring how tokenized commercial bank deposits and central bank reserves can improve wholesale cross-border payments. The BIS stated that the July test was an important milestone, and testing will continue as Project Agorá progresses.
Alpaca Completes $135 Million Financing, Advancing Tokenized Markets and AI-Native Financial Services Infrastructure
According to BusinessWire, Alpaca announced the completion of $135 million in financing, led by Peak XV with participation from Elefund, and new and existing shareholders also include Opera Tech Ventures and Unbound under the BNP Paribas Group. The company stated that the new funds will be used to accelerate the development of its agent-oriented brokerage infrastructure and API-centric prime brokerage business to support the development and expansion of investment products for traditional and on-chain markets.
AI and tokenized financial infrastructure Alpaca completes $135 million in funding, led by Peak XV
Alpaca, an AI and tokenized financial infrastructure provider, has announced the completion of a $135 million new funding round, led by Peak XV, with participation from Elefund, BNP Paribas' venture capital arm Opera Tech Ventures, and Unbound. To date, its total funding has reached $435 million. The new capital will be used to accelerate the development of its AI-native brokerage infrastructure and API-first prime brokerage services, helping fintech companies, banks, brokerages, wealth management institutions, and crypto financial platforms build investment products in traditional and on-chain markets, while also gaining access to more global crypto exchanges, asset tokenization platforms, and financial institutions. (Businesswire)
Strategy Bitcoin Banking Adoption Index: Fidelity Leads at 71%, BNY and Goldman Sachs Rank Second and Third
Strategy's newly launched Bitcoin Banking Adoption Index shows Fidelity leading at 71%, followed by BNY at 46% in second place, and Goldman Sachs at 45% in third. JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, and Citigroup each stand at 43%. The index evaluates the adoption of Bitcoin-related services across trading, custody, digital asset products, financing, and corporate participation among 25 major global institutions, with an overall adoption rate of 32%.The remaining institutions scored between 13% and 38%, with Wells Fargo at 38%, Banco Santander and Société Générale both at 35%, Charles Schwab and TD Bank both at 32%, BNP Paribas, HSBC, Crédit Agricole, and UBS each at 30%, Bank of America, Barclays, and Standard Chartered each at 28%, State Street at 27%, Mizuho and Deutsche Bank both at 22%, MUFG at 18%, Lloyd’s at 17%, and SMBC and Royal Bank of Canada both at 13% (Bitcoin.com News).
Swift Teams Up With 17 Global Banks to Launch Blockchain Ledger Pilot, Enabling Round-the-Clock Cross-Border Payments
According to CoinDesk, Swift announced that its blockchain-based shared ledger platform is ready and will launch real-time transaction testing with 17 major banks. Participating institutions include HSBC, UBS, BNP Paribas, Citi, BNY, and Wells Fargo, among others, covering six continents. The platform aims to enable 24/7 cross-border payments through tokenized deposits, allowing banks to transfer funds for customers during nights and weekends, and providing liquidity support before final settlement is completed in existing payment systems. Swift clearly stated that the ledger system is positioned as a complement to existing payment rails, not a replacement.
Analyst: Tesla and SpaceX Merger Remains Distant
Analysts at BNP Paribas expressed skepticism about the near-term possibility of a merger between Tesla and SpaceX, stating: "The significant cash burn at both companies and substantial regulatory risks complicate any potential merger between SpaceX and Tesla." Tesla investor sentiment, which has improved due to merger speculation, may be overly optimistic. The bank maintains its "underperform" rating and $280 price target. "We are concerned that Tesla will face formidable KPIs in its robotaxi and Optimus businesses over the next two years, posing downside risks to its core business before any SpaceX merger can truly materialize."