#USDC
29 articles tagged #USDC — curated RWA tokenization coverage.
Why EU Exchanges Are Delisting Tether Before the July 1 MiCA Deadline
The European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation reaches its final compliance deadline on July 1, 2026, forcing licensed exchanges to delist Tether's USDT. Because Tether failed to secure the mandatory e-money-token authorization required by EU law, its tokens are no longer permitted on regulated venues within the region. This regulatory shift creates a significant market divergence, as Circle’s USDC and EURC remain compliant and continue to be listed. While USDT maintains a global market capitalization of approximately $139 billion compared to USDC's $52 billion, the European market now prioritizes regulatory adherence over total liquidity. This event marks the largest forced restructuring of the stablecoin sector, effectively splitting the two dominant issuers based on their willingness to meet EU standards. The transition highlights how MiCA acts as a strict gatekeeper, requiring issuers to operate as authorized credit or electronic money institutions within the EU. Ultimately, this development forces European traders to navigate a new landscape where compliance status dictates asset availability regardless of global market share.
Kraken expands OTC lending with onchain facility in partnership with Maple
Kraken has integrated its over-the-counter lending desk with Maple Finance’s onchain credit infrastructure to facilitate USDC liquidity for institutional clients. This partnership establishes a revolving credit facility that allows accredited lenders on Maple to supply capital directly to Kraken’s Pro-level verified borrowers. With a minimum loan size of $500,000, the initiative targets funds and trading firms rather than retail participants. By leveraging Maple’s protocol, which has historically originated over $17 billion in loans, Kraken is adopting a capital-light strategy that decouples its lending growth from internal balance sheet constraints. This move represents a significant shift toward transparent, onchain credit markets following the industry-wide collapse of opaque lending platforms in 2022. The integration complements Maple’s existing presence in the Kraken ecosystem, including the deployment of syrupUSDC on the Ink L2 network. Ultimately, this collaboration provides a new distribution channel for Maple while offering Kraken a scalable, visible alternative to traditional bilateral lending arrangements.
What is MiCA? Europe’s crypto regulation explained
The European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation reaches a critical milestone on July 1, 2026, as the transition period for existing crypto firms expires. This comprehensive framework replaces fragmented national rules across twenty-seven member states with a unified, passportable licensing system for crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) and token issuers. MiCA categorizes assets into electronic money tokens (EMTs), asset-referenced tokens (ARTs), and other crypto-assets, imposing strict reserve and governance requirements on stablecoin issuers to prevent systemic financial risks. The regulation has already reshaped the market, notably forcing major European exchanges to delist non-compliant stablecoins like USDT while favoring authorized alternatives such as Circle’s USDC and EURC. By mandating that service providers adhere to traditional financial standards—including anti-money laundering controls and operational resilience—the EU aims to integrate crypto into the formal financial system. Firms failing to secure authorization by the July deadline face legal prohibition from serving European clients, effectively consolidating the market around compliant entities. This shift marks a tectonic transition for the RWA sector, as stablecoins serve as the primary liquidity layer for tokenized assets within the bloc.
Baillie Gifford Launches UK First Fully Tokenized Bond Fund on Blockchain
Baillie Gifford has launched the Baillie Gifford Enhanced Yield Fund (BAGEY), marking the United Kingdom's first fully native tokenized bond fund. Unlike traditional tokenized products that overlay digital wrappers on existing assets, BAGEY is issued directly on the Ethereum and Solana blockchains, which serve as the official register of record. This structural shift eliminates legacy infrastructure, providing investors with direct ownership and recourse through onchain tokens. The short-duration fixed income fund targets corporate bonds with a two-year duration and an average credit quality of BBB. Investors can access the daily-dealt fund with a minimum investment of $100, utilizing either fiat currency or USDC stablecoins. Partnering with BNY for tokenization and wallet infrastructure, the firm aims to modernize asset management by leveraging blockchain as the primary ledger. This development represents a significant milestone for the RWA market by demonstrating a fully onchain, regulated investment vehicle.
Coinbase launches pre
Coinbase has launched pre-IPO markets for non-US users, beginning with perpetual futures contracts tied to the valuation of SpaceX. These USDC-settled contracts allow 24/7 trading without expiry, enabling retail investors to gain exposure to private companies that were previously restricted to venture capital and institutional players. Upon a company's eventual public listing, these positions automatically transition into post-IPO perpetual futures. This move highlights a broader industry trend among major exchanges like Kraken, Binance, and Bitget to offer synthetic or tokenized access to private market assets. The initiative reflects growing demand for fractionalized exposure to illiquid assets, a sector currently experiencing significant expansion within the broader RWA market. With the RWA market reaching $51 billion, such products aim to bridge the gap between traditional private equity and crypto-native trading platforms. By targeting high-profile firms like SpaceX, which holds valuations reaching $1.75 trillion, Coinbase is positioning itself to capture market share in the increasingly competitive landscape of private market derivatives.
Binance adds US stock trading in push beyond crypto
Binance has officially launched US equities and ETF trading for eligible users, offering access to over 7,000 assets with zero commission and fractional share purchases starting at $5. This expansion marks a strategic pivot toward becoming a multi-asset financial super app, directly challenging competitors like Coinbase, Kraken, and Bitpanda. The platform facilitates 24/5 trading and allows users to earn passive income through Fully Paid Securities Lending. Furthermore, Binance plans to introduce bStocks, a suite of tokenized securities representing US stocks and ETFs, in the coming weeks. These tokenized assets will be issued by BTECH Holdings LTD, a Special Purpose Vehicle registered in the Abu Dhabi Global Market, and are currently pending regulatory approval from the FSRA. Purchases will be primarily conducted using Circle’s USDC, alongside other supported stablecoins and assets like BNB. This development signifies a major step in the convergence of traditional financial markets and digital asset infrastructure, aiming to increase accessibility and connectivity for global investors.
BIS maps stablecoin yield models. Do interest bans target the right one?
The Bank for International Settlements (BIS) has released a bulletin categorizing stablecoin yield models into reserve-based and activity-based structures, highlighting significant differences in risk profiles. Reserve-based models, such as Coinbase's USDC implementation, pass through returns from reserve assets and closely track the federal funds rate. Conversely, activity-based models like Binance's Simple Earn deploy customer funds into lending and trading operations, with yields driven primarily by crypto market volatility rather than benchmark interest rates. During 2024, Binance USDT borrowing rates reached 40-50%, reflecting high counterparty risk due to the commingling of assets. The BIS warns that current regulatory interest prohibitions in the EU and US often target the lower-risk reserve-based model while potentially overlooking the systemic risks inherent in activity-based platforms. This distinction is critical for the RWA market as it clarifies how stablecoin yields are generated and where hidden counterparty exposures reside. The collapse of Genesis and the subsequent impact on Gemini Earn users serve as a cautionary example of the risks associated with non-segregated client funds in activity-based models.
USDT Loses Its Last EU Foothold As MiCA Deadline Hits July 1
The European Union's MiCA transitional window concludes on July 1, 2026, effectively forcing unlicensed crypto firms out of the market and removing Tether's USDT from regulated European platforms. With only 194 companies securing licenses out of over 3,000 previously registered firms, regulators anticipate that 75% of legacy entities will lose their ability to serve EU clients. Tether, the issuer of the $175 billion USDT stablecoin, has declined to seek authorization due to MiCA's requirement that 60% of reserves be held in European banks. Major exchanges including Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, and Crypto.com have already delisted USDT for European users to comply with these tightening regulations. This regulatory shift creates a significant market advantage for Circle, whose USDC and EURC tokens are currently the only top-ten stablecoins with full MiCA clearance. France has adopted a particularly strict stance, threatening criminal charges, prison time, and fines for firms that continue operating without proper authorization after the deadline. This development marks a pivotal moment for the RWA sector, as stablecoins serve as the primary liquidity layer for tokenized assets, and their regulatory status directly impacts the accessibility of on-chain financial products in the region.
Tether’s USDT Faces EU Delistings as MiCA Rules Reshape Stablecoin Market
The European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation is set to trigger a significant shift in the stablecoin market as the July 1 deadline for legacy operators approaches. Tether’s USDT, which currently holds a dominant 58.78% share of the global stablecoin market, faces widespread delisting across EU exchanges due to its lack of authorization under the new framework. This regulatory transition puts approximately $17.5 billion in USDT liquidity at risk, forcing exchanges like Binance, OKX, and Kraken to restrict services for European customers. In contrast, Circle’s USDC has secured an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license, positioning it as the primary beneficiary for liquidity migration. This shift highlights how stringent licensing requirements can reshape market dominance and settlement layers within the digital asset ecosystem. Furthermore, the EU's experience serves as a critical case study for South Korea, which is currently debating its own Digital Asset Basic Act. The outcome of these regulatory frameworks will likely dictate which stablecoin issuers become the default standard for global crypto trading and payments.
Archax introduces real-time yield payments for tokenized securities on Hedera
Archax has launched a real-time yield payment system on the Hedera network, enabling interest from tokenized securities to be distributed continuously in USDC. Unlike traditional periodic payment models, this mechanism ensures that cash flows automatically follow the underlying asset as it moves between wallets. This innovation supports complex financial applications, including real-time coupon payments and automated revenue-sharing arrangements. The development builds upon Archax's previous integration of Pool Tokens on Hedera, which bundled assets from major managers into single onchain instruments. Currently, the Archax platform hosts over $300 million in tokenized assets from six different asset managers. This shift toward continuous settlement addresses market inefficiencies and represents a significant evolution in how yield-bearing assets function on blockchain infrastructure. As the RWA sector experiences rapid growth, with tokenized bonds and money market funds adding approximately $6.5 billion in value since early 2025, such technical advancements are critical for institutional adoption.
Circle’s EURC Gains Ground Under MiCA as USDC Faces Rising Competition Concerns
Circle Internet Group is leveraging the European Union’s MiCA framework to solidify its position in the digital finance sector, with its euro-pegged EURC stablecoin capturing approximately half of the MiCA-approved market. This regulatory tailwind provides a strategic advantage as non-compliant tokens face delisting, positioning EURC as a critical tool for regional payments and corporate treasury operations. Despite this growth, Circle faces significant market volatility and investor skepticism regarding its ability to convert scale into durable profitability, as evidenced by a negative price-to-earnings ratio and recent earnings misses. The company’s core revenue engine, USDC, also faces potential competitive threats from rumored stablecoin initiatives involving major payments players like Stripe, Visa, and Mastercard. While Circle reported a 20% year-over-year revenue increase to $694.13 million in Q1 2025, its stock performance remains inconsistent, trading significantly below analyst consensus targets. The divergence between Circle’s regulatory success in Europe and its competitive challenges in the U.S. highlights the broader tension in the RWA market between achieving compliance-driven adoption and maintaining long-term earnings power. Ultimately, Circle’s future hinges on its ability to defend its stablecoin distribution rails while navigating a complex, evolving landscape of public and private digital money.