Decentralized finance: lending, DEXs, stablecoins, yield, and liquidity. 435 stories curated by CryptoCatalyst.
Tether, the company behind the USDT stablecoin, has completed its first full audit, which it passed. This addresses the longest-running open criticism of the leading stablecoin company and confirms sufficient reserves.
Figure, a tokenization-focused lender, saw its quarterly revenue double to $226 million as its blockchain loan marketplace volume surged to $4.3 billion.
Tether said KPMG gave its 2025 financial statements a clean opinion, a milestone for the company after years of questions about the reserves backing USDT.
Standard Chartered's Anchorpoint has launched a Hong Kong dollar-pegged stablecoin, HKDAP, now available for institutional investors. HashKey Exchange and OSL Group are authorized distributors, enabling minting and redemption of the token.
Miden has introduced USDCx, a privacy-focused stablecoin that lets users transact without exposing balances, counterparties, or transaction histories, while allowing selective disclosure for compliance.
Russia's central bank has allowed trading of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Tether for retail investors, while keeping XRP and other cryptocurrencies off-limits. This move comes as part of a broader effort to regulate the crypto market in the country.
Jupiter, a major Solana-based lending platform, has launched Lend v2, which lets users earn higher returns by converting deposits and borrowed assets into trading liquidity. The returns depend on how much swap flow Jupiter's router can direct to the new vaults.
Starting January 1, 2027, Brazil will require a 24-hour waiting period for crypto transfers to self-custody wallets to combat fraud. This rule applies to all cryptocurrencies, including stablecoins.
Hyperliquid's revenue has dropped for four straight quarters while its open interest hit a record high. The decline is partly due to a fee-sharing program that gives half of the platform's volume to external builders.
Deposits in tokenized assets like gold, Treasuries, and the S&P 500 tripled to $7.4 billion in 2026, even as decentralized exchange volumes dropped by roughly 70%. This shift highlights growing interest in real-world asset (RWA) tokenization amid a broader DeFi slowdown.
Circle's USDC stablecoin is now available on OKX's X Layer, allowing users to transfer the stablecoin across different blockchains. This expansion makes USDC more accessible within the OKX ecosystem and beyond.
Tether, the company behind the USDT stablecoin, is entering Saudi Arabia's market with a focus on tokenizing institutional real estate assets. This move marks Tether's first venture into the Middle East and highlights the growing trend of tokenizing real-world assets on blockchain.
Western Union is introducing Stablecard, a stablecoin-linked payment card, across 37 markets. This move targets cross-border payments and consumers in volatile economies seeking US dollar-denominated savings.
Cloudflare has begun rolling out stablecoin wallets, allowing AI agents to pay for APIs and online content. Users can claim wallet handles now, with funding and payment features coming later.
Samsung is integrating stablecoin support into its Galaxy phones, potentially turning 800 million devices into crypto wallets. Analysts believe this move could make Samsung a major player in stablecoin distribution.
Tether, the company behind the world's largest stablecoin USDT, reported a $1.5 billion profit in Q2 2026. The company's reserves now include over 146 metric tons of gold, alongside U.S. Treasuries and repo agreements.
Circle has obtained a limited-purpose trust charter from New York's financial regulator, adding state-level oversight to its already federally approved stablecoin operations. This dual-layer regulation enhances the regulatory framework for USDC, the second-largest stablecoin by market cap.
Crypto exchanges built perpetual futures for digital assets. Now they are using them to offer 24/7 exposure to stocks, commodities and indexes, bridging the gap between crypto and Wall Street.
A major DeFi platform has abandoned its consumer app to focus on institutional clients, seeing revenue drop from $80 million to $20 million in the bear market. Its over-the-counter (OTC) lending business, now at $260 million outstanding, is growing rapidly and aims to hit $1 billion by year-end.
Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, has received a New York trust charter, adding to its recent federal banking approval. This move strengthens Circle's regulatory standing and could enhance its stablecoin operations.
The convergence of traditional finance with on-chain infrastructure is laying the groundwork for the next crypto market expansion. As decentralized applications adopt revenue-sharing tokenomics and tokenized real-world assets expand, smaller application tokens are gaining significant momentum.
Uniswap has introduced a new 'Earn' feature in partnership with Morpho, allowing users to earn yield on idle crypto assets through Gauntlet-curated vaults. This move aims to simplify yield farming for everyday crypto holders.
Circle, the company behind the USDC stablecoin, has received a trust charter from New York. This allows them to offer fiduciary and custody services, a significant step in the growing regulatory acceptance of crypto.
Tether, the company behind the USDT stablecoin, reported a $1.5 billion operating profit for Q2 2026. However, its reserve buffer fell by half, raising questions about its financial stability. The company added 14 metric tons of gold and 1,800 bitcoin to its reserves during the quarter.