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Wyoming treasury should run on blockchain — Stable Token Commission boss
The executive director of the Wyoming Stable Token Commission says the impending launch of its fully backed and compliant stablecoin could lay the groundwork for the State Treasurer’s Office to run on blockchain.
“I certainly think so. I think there is a need for transparency across government spending,” executive director Anthony Apollo told Cointelegraph, echoing Elon Musk’s call for the US federal Treasury to be put on the blockchain.
Apollo said the existing WyOpen digital platform highlighted the state’s willingness to embrace financial transparency:
“I think that’s a great starting point. But I do think having a real-time, traceable ecosystem is exponentially better,” he said.
“There should be an expectation that taxpayer funding is made readily apparent to the citizens who put those dollars forward. I’m not going to speak on behalf of any directors or other agencies, but that is my own personal opinion. I think that in Wyoming, that will go far.”
Apollo revealed that the stable token will likely hit testnet in the next six weeks and launch next quarter.
Wyoming is known for its forward-thinking approach to blockchain technology. It’s home to Caitlin Long’s digital asset bank, Custodia Bank; Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson; and Bitcoin reserve bill proponent Senator Cynthia Lummis. Read More
Tether signs agreement with Guinea to explore blockchain tech
Crypto stablecoin issuer Tether has inked an agreement with the African nation of Guinea for the country to explore the adoption of blockchain and peer-to-peer tech.
Tether said in a Feb. 17 blog post that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that “hopes to establish the groundwork for the country’s adoption of blockchain technologies and create an environment conducive to innovation.”
The agreement aims to share best practices with the West African nation, focusing on education, innovation, and sustainable tech practices, the company added.
The crypto firm operates the largest stablecoin by value, Tether. It signed a similar agreement last March with Uzbekistan’s crypto and capital markets regulator for the Central Asian nation to explore blockchain, stablecoins and tokenization. Read More
AI-driven crypto scams set to surge in 2025 as fraud tactics evolve
Crypto scams are preparing for what could be their most successful year yet in 2025, with AI and scam-as-a-service operations making it easier than ever for fraudsters to deceive their victims.
According to blockchain analytics corporation Chainalysis, generative AI is driving fraud by making it less expensive, more scalable, and harder to detect.
In its Crypto Scam Revenue 2024 report, the company painted a concerning picture of how fraudsters are harnessing AI to push their schemes to new levels.
“GenAI is amplifying scams, the leading threat to financial institutions, by enabling high-fidelity, low-cost, and highly scalable fraud that exploits human vulnerabilities,” said Elad Fouks, Chainalysis’ head of fraud products.
He explained that AI-powered tools can create fake identities and synthetic content, allowing scammers to impersonate real users and bypass identity verification systems. Read More
Predictions for Tech in 2025
The tech world in 2024 was nothing short of a rollercoaster, from the relentless advancements in generative AI to surprising moments like the Crowdstrike outage, catching many off guard.
These moments show just how unpredictable the tech landscape can be.
With the arrival of 2025, the tech world is buzzing with potential breakthroughs that could reshape the way we think about modern technology.
Having spent decades in the industry, I wanted to share some of my thoughts on what lies ahead – like the even more explosive growth of generative AI and other developments poised to reshape how we think about technology.
The seismic shift is coming. The very foundations of modern technology are about to be rewritten.
And I’m not just talking about incremental tweaks – I’m talking about a full-blown revolution. Get ready for the most transformative year in tech history.
Here’s what I see on the horizon. Read More
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino Actively Working With US Lawmakers To Shape Stablecoin Laws: Report
The chief executive of USDT stablecoin issuer Tether is reportedly working with US authorities to construct laws around dollar-pegged crypto assets.
In a new post on the social media platform X, Fox Business journalist Eleanor Terrett reports that Paolo Ardoino and Tether are “actively engaging” with the US government on how to best form laws around stablecoins.
According to Ardoino, not only will Tether advise on the stablecoin bills unveiled this month, the firm will comply with the law whichever way the regulation goes.
“We are going to work within the regulatory framework, and we are going to try to advise on every single one of these field proposals to make sure that our voice is heard…
We are not going to just throw in the towel and let Tether die just for the sake of not adapting to U.S. legislation. But there is still a lot of uncertainty over what’s actually going to happen, and we want our voice to be heard in the legislative process.” Read More
A New Crypto Category Has Emerged. What Impact Will it Have…Will It Evolve Into A Significant Narrative?
US-based cryptocurrency initiatives have historically been reticent about their origins. However, during Gary Gensler's tenure, they became vulnerable to aggressive scrutiny from the SEC, and numerous projects found themselves in the regulatory crossfire. Being a US-based project has often been a liability rather than a benefit in recent years.
The cryptocurrency industry has been electrified by the outcome of the U.S. Presidential election, with Donald J. Trump's victory sparking widespread anticipation. The regulatory shifts expected under Trump's leadership are poised to grant the crypto sector unprecedented freedom in the United States.
A new cryptocurrency category has surfaced amid this enthusiasm: "Made in the USA." This category includes cryptocurrencies that are closely linked to the United States, whether through headquarters located in the US or ties to notable American personalities. With Trump backing crypto, this category could see substantial growth, likely surpassing many others.
This has the potential to evolve into a significant narrative; thus, this article explicitly addresses cryptocurrencies based in the United States, the reasons this narrative could gain prominence, and the cryptocurrencies that may benefit from a Trump administration. To commemorate President Trump's inauguration, a newly established cryptocurrency category titled 'Made in USA' has been incorporated into price tracking platforms, including CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko. Read More
Fed Governor Calls for Regulatory Framework Allowing Banks and Institutions To Issue Stablecoins
A member of The Board of Governors of the U.S. Federal Reserve is calling for laws that would allow banks and institutions to issue dollar-pegged digital assets.
In a speech given by Christopher J. Waller at a recent conference in San Francisco, the Fed governor argues for a regulatory framework that would allow blue-chip financial institutions to issue regulated stablecoins.
According to Waller, stablecoins could be extremely beneficial to the financial system because they have numerous use cases such as broadening access to US dollars, easy cross-border payments and retail payments.
“The first theme I will explore is one that I have discussed in the past – the safety and soundness of stablecoins and the need for a clear regulatory regime for stablecoins in the United States…
This framework should allow both non-banks and banks to issue regulated stablecoins and should consider the effects of regulation on the payments landscape, including competing payment instruments.” Read More
Italy engages with crypto firms on regulatory safeguards
Italy’s central bank and securities regulator are in discussions with crypto service providers to ensure adequate safeguards against financial and cybersecurity risks, according to Bank of Italy Governor Fabio Panetta.
Panetta discussed key issues related to crypto assets, digital finance and cybersecurity risks pertaining to global and European regulations at the 31st Assiom Forex Congress on Feb. 15.
According to Panetta, the crypto ecosystem is under global regulatory scrutiny due to risks including money laundering and financial stability concerns.
He emphasized that while Europe has adopted the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) to protect investors, the United States continues to regulate crypto on a case-by-case basis depending on whether assets are classified as securities.
Panetta pointed to the differences in approach between Europe and the US, noting that the Trump administration’s executive order on digital financial technology, issued on Jan. 23, suggests an inclination toward integrating crypto assets into the financial system.
Panetta said that crypto operators may exploit the regulatory differences and hamper the integrity of the financial system, adding:
“These regulatory divergences between the United States and Europe will need to be carefully assessed, once the US authorities’ position becomes clearer, in order to understand their international implications.” Read More
What is agentic AI, and how does it work?
Agentic AI refers to a type of AI designed to act on its own behalf, with a level of independence and decision-making power.
This kind of AI doesn’t just process data or respond to commands; instead, it can set goals and make decisions in pursuit of those goals, often in a way that mimics human agency.
It’s like giving AI a sense of purpose and the ability to pursue that purpose with minimal human intervention.
This sets it apart from traditional AI, which typically requires human input or predefined rules for its operation. Agentic AI is self-directing, meaning it can make decisions in real-time based on the environment and its objectives.
Agentic AI works through a combination of advanced machine-learning techniques, decision-making algorithms and continuous feedback loops.
Think of it like a robot that learns from experience and then uses that knowledge to influence its future actions. It often works in the following way:
The key here is the AI’s ability to set its own course of action based on real-time inputs, allowing it to act with more autonomy than traditional AI systems. So, why all the excitement around agentic AI? Read More
Coinbase Targets USDT Stablecoin Rival Tether With an $86 Billion 'Stretch Goal' for USDC
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said Thursday that the crypto heavyweight is taking off its gloves for a renewed fight in the stablecoin ring.
During the company’s fourth-quarter earnings call, Armstrong said the firm will aim to challenge Tether’s position as the industry’s reigning stablecoin issuer. The ultimate goal is to make Circle’s USDC the world’s “number one dollar stablecoin.”
Armstrong characterized this new aim as a “stretch goal,” signaling it represents an ambitious yet potentially achievable feat, which will nonetheless push Coinbase outside its comfort zone.
As the second largest stablecoin, USDC’s market cap stands at $56 billion after hitting an all-time high last week. Still, that leaves a lot of ground for USDC to cover as it works to overtake Tether. As of this writing, USDT currently accounts for a hulking 60% of the stablecoin market at $142 billion market capitalization, per CoinGecko.
Because stablecoins are designed to maintain a 1:1 peg with another currency, in this case the U.S. dollar, the market capitalization tends to be a reliable indicator of issuance. Read More
How to tokenize real-world assets on Bitcoin
Understand the process of tokenizing real-world assets on the Bitcoin blockchain, from creating digital representations to ensuring secure transactions and ownership.
Key takeaways
The way the world thinks about ownership and investing is shifting fast. Tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs) is rising as a concept that promises to reshape how you interact with everything from real estate to art.
Now it’s even possible to do this with the support of the crypto mothership that is Bitcoin blockchain. By the end of this article, you’ll understand why and how to tokenize real-world assets on Bitcoin. Plus you’ll find out the use cases and potential challenges in the process. Read More
Disclaimer: These articles are provided for informational purposes only. They are not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other advice.
Featured Image Source: Pixabay
