📉 Federal Reserve Rate Cut Expectations Dwindle Ahead of FOMC Meeting

📅 Just over two weeks ago, there was a 39.8% chance that the U.S. Federal Reserve would reduce the federal funds rate by 25 basis points. However, as we approach the next Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on May 7, that probability has plummeted to just 7.8%.

📉 U.S. equity indexes fell in response to recent data indicating a contraction in gross domestic product (GDP), amidst ongoing trade negotiations and concerns over President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. The Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors will meet on May 7 to decide on the benchmark interest rate.

🗣 Trump's views on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell have shifted significantly. He initially criticized Powell for being slow and even suggested his removal. However, Trump later retracted those statements, asserting he had no intention of dismissing the Fed chair. At a rally in Michigan, he claimed to have superior knowledge in monetary matters, stating,

I have a Fed person who is not really doing a good job.

📊 According to projections from the CME Fedwatch tool, the chances of a rate cut are minimal, with markets favoring no change. While there is a slight 7.8% probability for a 25 basis point reduction, the overwhelming expectation is 92.2% for maintaining the current rate. The Fedwatch tool assesses these odds by analyzing fed funds futures prices to provide real-time market insights.

📈 A 2025 study published on SSRN credits the Fedwatch tool with an 88% accuracy rate in predicting Federal Reserve decisions. Meanwhile, Polymarket’s prediction market indicates a 93% chance of no rate change and a 7% chance of a cut, with $32 million in wagers placed. On Kalshi, the probability for a quarter-point cut is slightly higher at 10%.

💼 As traders overwhelmingly anticipate no changes to the rate, market sentiment reflects confidence in the Fed's ability to maintain its position during the upcoming May FOMC meeting. This confidence persists despite political pressure from Trump and economic uncertainties related to tariffs. The disparity between sentiment and speculation highlights how firmly entrenched expectations have become.

🔍 Whether the central bank will strictly adhere to data or yield to broader narratives could soon become a pivotal moment for its monetary credibility. However, with a week remaining before the meeting, there is still ample time for FOMC members to reconsider their positions.

📈 XRP's Current Market Position and Technical Analysis

💹 XRP is currently trading at $2.14 with a market capitalization of $125 billion and a 24-hour trading volume of $1.99 billion. The asset's intraday price range is between $2.09 and $2.16, indicating cautious buying pressure.

📊 On the 1-hour chart, XRP has recovered from a recent low of $2.077 and is moving towards $2.14. This short-term rally is supported by increased buying pressure, especially in green candle volumes. A potential rounded bottom pattern suggests that bullish sentiment may be building. Entry signals were identified in the $2.09–$2.10 range, with traders watching for minor pullbacks to reinforce support. Upside targets are near $2.15 to $2.17.

📉 The 4-hour chart shows a descending channel structure with lower highs and lower lows. XRP found support near $2.077 and is testing the upper resistance boundary of the channel. A sustained breakout above the $2.15–$2.16 resistance band with rising volume would provide stronger bullish confirmation. However, failure to clear this level could renew downward pressure.

📅 On the daily chart, there is a longer-term bearish trend following a decline from approximately $2.50 to a bottom of $1.611 in April. The market entered a gradual recovery phase but has struggled to decisively surpass the $2.16–$2.17 resistance area. Support remains in the $2.05–$2.10 zone while resistance lies between $2.30 and $2.35.

🔄 Oscillator data shows a broadly neutral sentiment. The relative strength index (RSI) is at 46.69, indicating neither overbought nor oversold conditions. However, the momentum indicator suggests mild bearishness, and the moving average convergence divergence (MACD) level issues a bearish signal.

📉 A review of moving averages highlights a broadly bearish bias across shorter time frames. The exponential moving averages (EMA) for 10, 20, and 30 periods reflect negative signals, although longer-term averages like the 200-period EMA and SMA imply that the current price is still above major support zones.

🔮 In conclusion, XRP is at a technical crossroads. While there are signs of short-term recovery, the overall sentiment favors caution due to the prevailing bearish configuration of oscillators and moving averages. Until a definitive breakout above $2.16 is confirmed with strong volume, the outlook remains neutral with a bearish lean. Traders should prepare for a binary outcome based on near-term price action at resistance.

🚨 Breaking: FED Leaves Interest Rates Unchanged at FOMC Meeting 🏛

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🛢 Emarat Partners with Crypto to Introduce Cryptocurrency Payments at Fuel Stations

🚀 Emarat, a leading fuel provider in the UAE, has teamed up with Crypto to offer cryptocurrency payment services at 10 of its fuel stations. This move highlights the UAE's growing reputation as a hub for financial innovation.

🗣 In a statement, Emarat announced plans to expand crypto payment options across its entire network of 155 service stations located in Dubai and the Northern Emirates. Alongside this initiative, they also introduced a fuel naming rights program.

📍 The statement mentioned,

As part of this collaboration, we are also launching the Emarat x Crypto Service Station on Al Wasl Road in Dubai — a flagship location under the world’s first-of-its-kind Project Landmark, which introduces naming rights for fuel stations.

🌍 This partnership between a major regional fuel provider and a leading cryptocurrency exchange highlights the increasing acceptance of digital assets in the MENA region. Dubai's blockchain strategy and regulatory frameworks are further promoting cryptocurrency adoption.

💡 The initiative aims to enhance retail convenience and improve customer experience at Emarat stations, positioning Emarat as a leader in digital payment solutions within the fuel retail sector. Emarat stated,

This partnership embodies our joint commitment to innovation, redefining retail convenience, and enhancing the customer journey through cutting-edge digital experiences.

💰 Bitcoin ETFs See Strong Inflows While Ether ETFs Recover

📈 Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) continued to attract significant investments, with a net inflow of $321 million, primarily driven by major players like Blackrock and Fidelity. In contrast, ether ETFs ended a three-day outflow streak with a modest inflow of $18 million, also led by Blackrock.

Bitcoin ETFs continue to demonstrate strong momentum,

said a market analyst. On May 9, the last trading day of the week, inflows totaled $334.58 million, highlighting ongoing institutional confidence. Blackrock’s IBIT was the standout performer, bringing in $356.20 million. Fidelity’s FBTC added $45 million and Vaneck’s HODL contributed $13.12 million. However, Grayscale’s GBTC experienced a significant outflow of $65.16 million and Bitwise’s BITB saw $14.59 million exit.

💪 Despite these outflows, the overall gains for bitcoin ETFs remained strong. Total trading volume reached $2.66 billion and net assets surged to $121.23 billion. This reflects a positive upward trend for the segment this month.

🌱 In the ether ETF market, sentiment shifted to a cautiously optimistic tone. A $17.61 million inflow into Blackrock’s ETHA ended three consecutive days of outflows for the category. While no other ether ETFs showed movement, this was sufficient to bring total net inflows to $18 million.

With bitcoin ETFs leading the way and ether showing signs of recovery,

the analyst noted,

the digital asset ETF space seems to be regaining its footing.

Ether ETF volume also increased significantly to $620.39 million and net assets rose to $8.02 billion, surpassing the $8 billion mark for the first time in weeks.

📉 Market Fatigue: Cryptocurrencies, Precious Metals, and Equities Decline

📉 Today, cryptocurrencies, precious metals, and equities experienced a decline after a recent rally. Signs of fatigue are becoming evident as momentum stalls across various asset classes. Bitcoin dropped to a mid-day low of $102,622.

📉 During Wednesday's mid-day session, BTC fell to $102,622 from an intraday peak of $104,836. Technical indicators suggest that overbought conditions have led to persistent selling pressure. This follows two unsuccessful attempts to突破 the $105,000 resistance level. Both BTC and ETH decreased by approximately 1%, while other top tokens saw even greater losses.

📉 The broader crypto market declined by 1.12% in the past 24 hours. Trade volume remained steady at around $146.31 billion. A few tokens—WAL, RAY, PENGU, and FORM—posted gains between 5% and 10%, while EOS, BRETT, WIF, and PI experienced losses ranging from 9.2% to 10%.

📉 Major U.S. stock indices also saw mixed results, with the Nasdaq holding up slightly amid rising bond yields. The NYSE Composite fell by 0.55%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped by 0.28%, and the S&P 500 inched down by 0.02%. Persistent recession forecasts and a tightening stance by the Federal Reserve continue to weigh heavily on investor sentiment.

📉 Precious metals were not immune to the downturn either. Gold declined by more than 2%, silver fell by 1.96%, platinum slipped by 0.85%, and palladium recorded a modest loss of 0.24%. The recent wave of optimism tied to trade negotiations appears to be tapering off. By 2:30 p.m. (ET), bitcoin managed to recover slightly, climbing back above the $103,000 range.

📈 XRP Market Analysis: May 18, 2025

📊 On May 18, 2025, XRP was trading at $2.39 with a market capitalization of $140 billion and a 24-hour trading volume of $2.07 billion. The price fluctuated between $2.30 and $2.407 throughout the day.

📈 The one-hour chart shows a slight uptrend for XRP after bouncing off the $2.30 level. There is a pattern of higher lows and sustained volume during bullish candles, indicating accumulation. The local resistance at $2.407 is crucial; a breakout above this level on volume would confirm short-term momentum. Aggressive traders may consider entering above $2.407, targeting $2.45 to $2.48, while conservative strategies prefer pullback entries around $2.37 to $2.38 with stops at $2.35.

🔄 The four-hour chart indicates a potential reversal from a recent decline off the $2.656 peak. The twice-tested $2.30 level suggests foundational support, and the modest upswing toward $2.40 shows early signs of recovery. Traders are looking for a breakout above $2.42 to validate this shift. Entry considerations align with a positive zone between $2.40 and $2.42, aiming for a $2.50 target with protective stops at $2.34.

📉 On the daily chart, XRP recently broke out to $2.656 but has since retraced and is consolidating just above the $2.30 support zone. This pullback seems driven by short-term profit-taking rather than fundamental weakness. The current price structure suggests the asset is forming a base for another upward leg. A daily close above $2.40 with renewed volume would likely attract bullish interest targeting the $2.60 to $2.65 range.

⚖️ Oscillators present a mixed but generally neutral outlook. The relative strength index (RSI) is at 55.34, indicating balanced buying and selling pressure. The Stochastic oscillator and commodity channel index (CCI) are also neutral. The average directional index (ADX) reflects a weak trend, while the Awesome oscillator remains neutral. Notably, momentum shows a negative signal advising caution, whereas the moving average convergence divergence (MACD) level offers a positive signal hinting at latent bullishness.

📈 Moving averages are predominantly bullish across timeframes. The exponential moving average (EMA) values from 10 to 200 periods are below the current price, indicating upward momentum. However, the 10-period simple moving average (SMA) issues a bearish signal. Conversely, the SMA values for the 20, 30, 50, 100, and 200 periods support a continued uptrend, suggesting buy conditions. This alignment underscores the technical strength in XRP’s broader price structure.

💪 Bull Verdict: XRP’s consistent support at $2.30, the formation of higher lows on intraday charts, and the alignment of moving averages suggest a structurally sound uptrend. If volume returns and XRP breaches $2.41 with conviction, the path to retesting $2.60–$2.65 remains viable in the short term.

⚠️ Bear Verdict: Despite bullish setups, XRP’s lack of decisive momentum and neutral oscillator readings suggest a fragile rally. Failure to clear $2.41 or a drop below $2.30 could expose XRP to deeper consolidation or a bearish reversal toward prior support levels.

🚀 Lightchain AI: Pioneering the Integration of Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence

🌐 Lightchain AI, a groundbreaking blockchain initiative that incorporates artificial intelligence, has announced its mainnet launch set for July 2025. This launch will unveil a decentralized AI marketplace, allowing creators and businesses to utilize the Lightchain Protocol’s Global Model, referred to as the Artificial Intelligence Virtual Machine (AIVM).

🔑 Central to Lightchain AI’s infrastructure are two innovative components:

1. Proof of Intelligence (PoI): This unique consensus mechanism rewards nodes for conducting valuable AI computations, such as model training and inference tasks. This ensures network security while directly contributing to AI development.

2. Artificial Intelligence Virtual Machine (AIVM): A specialized layer designed for executing AI-specific tasks within the blockchain ecosystem. The AIVM allows developers to deploy models from popular AI frameworks like TensorFlow and PyTorch, enabling the creation of decentralized, real-time AI applications.

🌱 In preparation for the mainnet launch, Lightchain AI has launched several initiatives to promote ecosystem growth:

- Developer Grants: A grant program totaling $150,000 has been established to support builders, researchers, and emerging projects within the Lightchain ecosystem.

- DeFi Partnerships: Strategic collaborations with decentralized finance protocols are planned to implement yield strategies, data-backed derivatives, and decentralized compute markets on Lightchain upon mainnet launch.

- Developer Portal: A dedicated portal will be launched alongside the mainnet, providing access to documentation, software development kits (SDKs), and grant application channels to attract core contributors from the AI and blockchain communities.

💰 The native token of the Lightchain AI ecosystem, LCAI, is currently in its presale phase. The token serves multiple functions within the platform, including payments for AI tasks, staking for governance participation, and transaction settlements.

🔮 With the mainnet launch scheduled for July 2025, Lightchain AI is set to make significant advancements in merging AI and blockchain technologies. The introduction of a decentralized AI marketplace aims to democratize access to AI resources, empowering creators and companies to develop and deploy AI-driven applications in a transparent and scalable environment.

💰 Standard Chartered Stands Firm on $500K Bitcoin Prediction Amidst Surge in Sovereign Investments

📈 Bitcoin's journey towards $500,000 has gained significant traction as sovereign funds and major institutions invest heavily, supporting Standard Chartered's optimistic outlook with tangible capital. This week, Standard Chartered Bank reaffirmed its long-term bitcoin projection, asserting that the cryptocurrency could reach $500,000 by the end of Donald Trump’s second term.

📊 In a report released on Tuesday, Geoffrey Kendrick, the bank’s global head of digital assets research, pointed to recent investment disclosures indicating a surge in institutional and sovereign interest in bitcoin. He stated,

The latest 13F data from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) supports our core thesis that bitcoin will reach the $500,000 level before Trump leaves office as it attracts a wider range of institutional buyers.

📉 The 13F data refers to quarterly filings by institutional investment managers with over $100 million in assets, detailing their equity holdings. The report noted a rising trend of sovereign accumulation of MicroStrategy (Nasdaq: MSTR) shares—often viewed as a proxy for bitcoin exposure—due to regulatory restrictions on direct cryptocurrency holdings. Notably, France and Saudi Arabia initiated MSTR positions, while entities in Norway, Switzerland, and South Korea increased their stakes. Additionally, several U.S. state retirement systems, including those from California, New York, North Carolina, and Kentucky, collectively added the equivalent of 1,000 BTC.

📈 Kendrick elaborated,

As more investors gain access to the asset and as volatility falls, we believe portfolios will migrate towards their optimal level from an underweight starting position in BTC.

He underscored the broader implications for bitcoin’s price trajectory:

The quarterly 13F data is the best test of our thesis that BTC will attract new institutional buyer types as the market matures, helping the price reach our USD 500,000 target level.

He added,

When institutions buy bitcoin, prices tend to rise.

🔍 While concerns about regulatory clarity and volatility persist, bitcoin advocates view the increasing accumulation by sovereign and institutional investors as a positive sign for long-term value appreciation.

🚀 Lightchain AI: Pioneering the Future of Decentralized AI on Blockchain

🌟 Lightchain AI is set to revolutionize the intersection of blockchain and artificial intelligence with its innovative approach as an Ethereum fork chain. This platform is not just another addition to the blockchain landscape; it represents a significant advancement aimed at overcoming major challenges in blockchain and AI deployment. By integrating features like Decentralized AI Virtual Machines (AIVM) and the Proof of Intelligence (PoI) consensus mechanism, Lightchain AI is creating a unique decentralized ecosystem.

⚡️ One of the standout features of Lightchain AI is its Proof of Intelligence (PoI) mechanism, which redefines traditional consensus methods. Unlike the energy-intensive proof of work (PoW) or the limited proof of stake (PoS), PoI rewards nodes for performing AI computations. This approach not only reduces computational waste and energy consumption but also makes participation accessible to anyone with computational resources, fostering a more sustainable and intelligent future.

🌐 Lightchain AI also excels in scalability, crucial for handling the demands of AI workloads. Its self-scaling ecosystem can manage large datasets and complex analytics seamlessly. Additionally, the platform ensures unbreakable security and ethical AI practices through blockchain's transparency, keeping data private and tamper-proof.

🚨 Currently, Lightchain AI is in its Bonus Stage with a limited allocation of tokens available before the mainnet launch. Early participants not only receive discounted tokens but also gain exclusive perks to influence the platform's future. This is an opportunity to be part of a technological movement poised to disrupt the blockchain and AI sectors.

🤝 Joining the Lightchain AI community means collaborating with developers, crypto enthusiasts, and visionaries to push the boundaries of decentralized AI systems. With innovations like Proof of Intelligence and AIVM, Lightchain AI is paving the way for a future where technology serves humanity.

🌟 Don't miss the chance to be part of this groundbreaking initiative. Claim your tokens now and prepare to witness how Lightchain AI will redefine our understanding of AI and blockchain integration.

🆕 Grayscale Launches Artificial Intelligence Crypto Sector

🚀 Grayscale has officially launched its Artificial Intelligence Crypto Sector, marking a significant development in the intersection of decentralized AI and cryptocurrency. This new sector, announced on May 27, is a response to the rapid growth of decentralized AI over the past two years. Grayscale stated,

In light of the rapid growth and development of decentralized AI over the last two years, we are creating a new Artificial Intelligence Crypto Sector.

💡 This sector is the sixth addition to Grayscale’s Crypto Sectors framework and includes tokens that were previously categorized under other sectors like Smart Contract Platforms and Consumer & Culture. Currently, it comprises 20 tokens with a total market capitalization of $21 billion, a significant rise from $4.5 billion in Q1 2023. The largest project in this sector by market cap is Bittensor, a platform for AI development.

🔍 The Artificial Intelligence Crypto Sector is divided into three main subsectors: AI Platforms, AI Tools & Resources, and AI Apps & Agents. AI Platforms like Bittensor and Near provide the essential infrastructure for decentralized AI development. The AI Tools & Resources subsector includes projects such as Grass and Akash, which offer crucial data and computing resources for AI model development. Lastly, the AI Apps & Agents subsector focuses on applications that engage with end users, including autonomous AI agents and solutions for AI-related issues like identity verification and intellectual property management.

🌱 Grayscale highlights the potential of decentralized AI technologies to democratize access, reduce bias, and enhance transparency within the AI industry. The firm anticipates further growth in this sector, driven by the increasing adoption of blockchain-based AI projects and innovations like distributed training and stablecoin integration.

These advancements could transform the sector, enabling more efficient AI model training and facilitating microtransactions for AI agents.

With the AI Crypto Sector still in its infancy, Grayscale believes it will play an increasingly vital role in the broader crypto landscape.

🚀 NBX Launches Bitcoin Treasury Strategy in Norway

📰 The Norwegian Block Exchange (NBX) has made headlines by becoming Norway's first publicly listed bitcoin treasury company. The company has initiated a bitcoin treasury strategy by acquiring six bitcoins and plans to increase its holdings to approximately 10 BTC by the end of June.

💼 This strategy is designed to enhance NBX's core operations and create new revenue streams, especially for private and corporate customers such as hedge funds that utilize NBX's trading, consultancy, and custody solutions. NBX is known for issuing the world's first credit card with bitcoin cashback and aims to leverage its position as the sole European issuer of the MiCA compliant stablecoin on the Cardano blockchain (USDM) to generate yield on its bitcoin holdings.

🔒 The company has stated that it will not sell or short its bitcoin. Instead, NBX is actively seeking to raise additional capital from high-net-worth individuals and family offices to further expand its bitcoin acquisitions.

🪙 Trump Memecoin Wallet Canceled Amid Family Feud

🚨 The announcement regarding the Trump memecoin wallet was made by the president's son, Eric Trump, after a series of warnings to the company behind the wallet. This comes amidst a public dispute involving U.S. President Donald Trump, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and the Trump family.

💰 The Trump memecoin, launched by entrepreneur and Trump supporter Bill Zanker in January, quickly became the most successful memecoin on the market. However, tensions arose when Fight announced a partnership with Magic Eden to launch a new wallet for the memecoin. Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. publicly opposed the project, stating that their family's crypto firm, World Liberty Financial (WLFI), plans to launch its own wallet.

📜 Following this, WLFI sent a cease-and-desist letter to Fight. Eric Trump later announced that the wallet launch had been canceled but revealed that WLFI would make a significant investment in Fight's Trump token. He stated,

I am proud to announce the $TRUMP memecoin has aligned with World Liberty Financial... we’re proud to announce that World Liberty Financial plans to acquire a substantial position in $TRUMP for their long-term treasury.

🤔 Bitcoin reached out to Magic Eden for comments but has not yet received a response.

🚀 Michael Saylor's Optimistic Bitcoin Forecast

📈 Michael Saylor, the executive chairman of Microstrategy, recently shared his bullish outlook on Bitcoin during a CNBC interview. He projected a 30% annual growth for the next two decades, citing increasing institutional adoption, tightening supply, and regulatory clarity as key factors driving his optimism.

I'm getting more bullish on that forecast. I'm certainly comfortable forecasting 30% a year on average for the next 20 years,

Saylor stated. He recalled his previous $13 million Bitcoin price forecast for July 2024, which was based on a 29% annual appreciation over 21 years. At that time, Bitcoin was trading around $65,000. With current prices exceeding $100,000, Saylor's confidence has only grown.

🔍 Saylor pointed to several macroeconomic and regulatory changes that he believes strengthen Bitcoin's investment case. These include its official classification as a digital commodity by U.S. regulators, the adoption of fair value accounting rules, and new legal clarity for banks offering Bitcoin custody services. He noted,

There's like 100 public companies or more. They're holding Bitcoin on their balance sheet.

This indicates a shift in corporate treasury management strategies towards Bitcoin.

💰 Supply dynamics also play a crucial role in Saylor's outlook. He highlighted that only 450 new bitcoins are mined each day, amounting to approximately $45 million to $50 million at current prices. This limited issuance is being fully absorbed by institutional buyers, including ETFs and corporations.

📊 Comparing asset class performances, Saylor pointed out Bitcoin's 57% compound annual return over the past four and a half years, which is twice that of the Magnificent Seven stocks, four times the S&P 500, and eight times the real estate average. He concluded that Bitcoin's growth outlook may exceed earlier assumptions, stating emphatically,

I'm very bullish.

🛡 Bitget's 2025 Anti-Scam Research Report: A Call for Enhanced Security in Cryptocurrency

📈 Bitget, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, has unveiled its 2025 Anti-Scam Research Report, revealing a staggering $4.6 billion loss due to crypto scams in 2024. This report, produced in collaboration with SlowMist and Elliptic, highlights the increasing sophistication of scams, particularly through deepfake technology and social engineering.

🔍 The report categorizes scams into three main types: deepfake impersonation, social engineering schemes, and Ponzi-style projects disguised as DeFi or NFT ventures. It also details the complex methods used by scammers to launder stolen funds, which often involve cross-chain bridges and obfuscation tools.

🗣

The biggest threat to crypto today isn’t volatility—it’s deception,

said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. She emphasized the importance of the Anti-Scam Month initiative, stating that AI has made scams faster, cheaper, and harder to detect.

Our goal is to help users trade smarter, not just faster,

she added.

🛠 The report outlines Bitget's proactive measures against scams, including the Anti-Scam Hub, advanced detection systems, and a $500M+ Protection Fund. Insights from SlowMist and Elliptic shed light on various scam tactics and the laundering patterns of stolen cryptocurrency.

Criminals are constantly evolving their methods of attack, using AI and finding new ways to scale their activities,

warned Arda Akartuna, Lead Crypto Threat Researcher at Elliptic.

Users must be informed, skeptical, and security-minded at all times,

added Lisa from SlowMist.

📋 The report concludes with practical recommendations for users and institutions to recognize scam red flags and avoid common pitfalls in DeFi, NFT, and Web3 environments.

⚠️ Bank of Ghana Warns Against Unlicensed Digital Payment Platforms

🚫 The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has issued a warning to the public and financial institutions about two digital payment platforms, Yellowpay and Hanypay, affiliated with Yellow Card. In a notice dated June 11, the central bank stated that these platforms are operating without the required licenses and approvals in Ghana.

❌ The BoG emphasized that Hanypay is neither licensed nor authorized to operate within the country. The notice concluded by urging all stakeholders to immediately cease any engagement with Yellow Card and Hanypay Ghana.

💰 JPMorgan's JPMD Token: A New Era for Onchain Banking

🚀 JPMorgan Chase & Co. has announced the launch of a pilot for its JPMD token, a digital deposit token representing U.S. dollar holdings. This move marks a significant expansion of the bank's blockchain operations into public infrastructure. The announcement followed the bank's filing for a service mark for JPMD, indicating its intent to formalize and commercialize the product.

🔗 As part of the pilot, JPMorgan will transfer a fixed amount of JPMD from its digital wallet to Coinbase Global Inc., the leading U.S. crypto exchange. This transaction will occur on Base, a blockchain built as an Ethereum Layer 2, decentralized with the Optimism Superchain, and incubated by Coinbase. Initially dollar-denominated, JPMD may expand to include other currencies and broader access depending on regulatory approval.

📢

Welcome onchain, JPMorgan

said Coinbase.

J.P. Morgan is bringing banking onchain. Kinexys by JPMorgan is launching JPMD, a USD deposit token for institutional clients, on Base. It will be the first token of its kind on a public blockchain, enabling fast, secure, 24/7 money movement between trusted parties

Base detailed.

📝 The JPMD token is unique as it directly represents claims on commercial bank deposits, offering potential features such as interest and deposit insurance. Naveen Mallela, global co-head of Kinexys by JPMorgan, stated:

It’s the first time that a commercial bank is putting commercial money, a deposit-based product, on a public chain and we are starting with Base

He emphasized that

from an institutional standpoint, deposit tokens are a superior alternative to stablecoins. Because they are based on fractional banking, we think it is more scalable

🔄 This pilot builds on JPMorgan’s existing Kinexys Digital Payments platform, which facilitates over $2 billion in daily corporate transactions. With JPMD, the bank aims to provide institutional clients with compliant and efficient alternatives to stablecoins, amidst a regulatory environment increasingly open to blockchain innovation.

🇺🇸 Donald Trump Calls Jerome Powell An American Disgrace Over Rate Cut Delays 📊

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🌍 Visa's Bold Move: Embracing Stablecoins for Global Payments

💡 On June 18, Visa (NYSE: V) made a significant announcement regarding the future of financial transactions, highlighting the urgent need for stablecoin integration in the global payments landscape. The company emphasized that stablecoins are becoming a strategic necessity for institutions involved in money movement. As part of this initiative, Visa revealed its plans to expand its stablecoin settlement capabilities in the Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA) region through a new partnership with pan-African fintech Yellow Card.

🗣 Godfrey Sullivan, Visa’s Senior Vice President and Head of Product and Solution for CEMEA, stated,

In 2025, we believe that every institution that moves money will need a stablecoin strategy.

He pointed out the growing adoption of blockchain-powered payments as evidence that stablecoins are set to transform settlement infrastructure, enabling faster, cheaper, and continuous cross-border transactions. Visa's own stablecoin settlement solution, which allows select issuers and acquirers to process USD cross-border payments via blockchain, has already processed over $225 million in stablecoin volume since its pilot in 2023.

🤝 The partnership with Yellow Card aims to explore stablecoin applications in its licensed African markets to streamline treasury operations and enhance liquidity. The companies plan to test integration with Visa Direct to broaden cross-border payment capabilities. Yellow Card CEO Chris Maurice remarked,

Together with Visa, we’re building a bridge between traditional finance and the future of money movement.

He added,

We look forward to continuing to innovate new solutions that can transform how money moves for even more secure, efficient, and transparent payment solutions.

📈 Advocates believe that despite regulatory uncertainties, stablecoins have the potential to democratize access to financial services, lower fees, and enhance efficiency, particularly in underserved regions.