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December ‘24 Protocol Highlight: Stellar
December 07, 2024
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$XLM is up over 5x in the last month. TVL is up 3x, and core fundamentals are up on Stellar.
 
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                                                   XLM vs TVL Chart Built Using Artemis

 

What is happening on Stellar, and what are real use cases?

How does activity look on Soroban, Stellar's smart contract platform launched in 2024?

Today, we highlight the Stellar as our protocol highlight.
We chat with Raja Chakravorti, Chief Business Officer at the Stellar Development Foundation, on his journey into crypto, real use cases on Stellar. We also do a deep dive on Stellar and Soroban metrics thanks to @ElBarto_Crypto and @0xUltraviolence.
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Without further ado! Please welcome @rajachak75 the CBO at SDF.

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Raja! What is your story?
How did you get into crypto, and how did you end up working at SDF?
I’ve been in the fintech, payments, and insurance industries for two decades now. Prior to joining SDF, I led product partnerships and business development for Universal Access at Plaid, a leading financial data network company, built and scaled Root Enterprise with a focus on B2B solutions, and drove revenue growth and partnerships for PayPal’s North America business. I’m thrilled to now have the opportunity to leverage all that experience to lead and scale financial services and technology businesses to support the growth of the Stellar ecosystem.
What is the mission behind SDF? What attracted you to the mission?
Throughout my career, I’ve been driven by the goal of creating broad and equitable financial access through technology. SDF’s mission to create more equitable access to the global financial system by supporting the Stellarblockchain directly aligns with my goals to drive greater access through innovative technology. As the child of parents who immigrated from India, I saw firsthand the challenges they faced, from accessing affordable credit to sending money home. These experiences have fueled my passion to make financial services more inclusive and accessible.
How do real-world users use Stellar?
Can you share stories of people who have benefited from the Stellar network?
There are so many examples of real world users leveraging Stellar-based solutions to access financial services in ways they’ve never been able to before, from freelancers getting paid all over the world, to refugees receiving cash aid in Ukraine, to defi lending protocols that are helping power microfinance programs in new ways. One of the stories we highlighted most recently comes out of San Francisco, Colombia. ​​The Decaf app, built on Stellar, has transformed life for a community providing a safe, blockchain-based payment solution. This real-world application addressed a critical issue faced by entrepreneur Zac Borrowdale, who was shot while carrying cash to pay his workers. Utilizing Decaf and MoneyGram's on/off-ramps on the Stellar network, workers can now receive payments safely and cash out locally, eliminating dangerous cash transports. This solution has particularly empowered women in the workforce, contributing to the town's revitalization. I highly recommend taking 11 minutes out of your day to
watch the video: 
 
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What is the biggest misconception about  Stellar? What is crypto Twitter missing about Stellar?
Real world utility is something that SDF is very focused on. SDF’s goal is to create a more equitable global financial system that works for everyone, no matter where they live or what level of traditional financial services they may have access to. We believe that the best solutions to the problems people have are likely to come from within those communities. The Decaf use case in Colombia is a great example. The traditional financial system in Colombia created some real problems for Zac and his workers. Decaf is designed to solve those problems with communities like San Francisco, Colombia in mind. Product-market fit is so important for web3 technology and I think sometimes things get celebrated on crypto twitter that are not solutions for a problem that people have. If the goal is to grow adoption of blockchain technology, that technology needs to be solving problems for real people. At the Stellar Development Foundation, we are extremely outcome-oriented and we are looking for pragmatic solutions to difficult problems. We have a mission and are focused on that.
What are some interesting applications built on the Stellar smart contracts platform?
Why is the payment to DeFi integration so important with Blend?
Integrating new defi protocols like Blend with the payment infrastructure built over the last 10 years on the network is the Stellar ecosystem's superpower. Wallets and applications already serving users in global markets with global on and off-ramps can now plug into DeFi protocols and offer new opportunities like staking, lending, and borrowing while still being able to cash in and out without needing a bank account. This is what we mean when we give people access to "everyday financial services." To date, we’ve seen longtime Stellar project, ClickPesa, integrate with Blend to offer a new net offering, The ClickPesa Debt Fund, a platform for global investors to generate financial returns while supporting microloans for small and medium businesses in Tanzania. Meru, the one of the first wallets to directly integrate with Blend on Stellar, is seeing an exciting response to the now available new offerings. Giving the global majority access to savings, lending, borrowing, and more in a single application will change the game. It's never been easier to onboard users into DeFi.
What is the partnership with Moneygram like and why is that important?
We celebrated 2 years of MoneyGram Access, the first-of-its-kind cash-to-crypto solution, this year. It has been monumentally important in expanding what builders can do on Stellar, and who they can reach. When we launched this with MoneyGram, the goal was to solve the last mile problem that no other network had solved, and to expand the utility and use of digital assets by creating a seamless bridge between cash and crypto that allowed a new wave of users to access the digital economy (no bank account required). One of the most exciting things to me about rolling out a solution like this globally, is seeing how people use it in the real world. We started with 2 wallet integrations, and now 30 wallets have either integrated or are in the pipeline. Since launch, we’ve seen an average transaction size of about $480 dollars. The top cash in country is the US (also the top country for sending remittances), while the top cash out countries are Ukraine, Colombia, Mexico, Argentina (which are either developing/emerging economies or in Ukraine’s case, going through a rebuilding process). What we’re observing tracks with SDF’s thesis from the outset, which was that this solution is providing new utility for things like remittances, in small but meaningful amounts, in key markets. It also became the foundation for transformational solutions like Stellar Aid Assist and the Stellar Disbursement Platform. Now, with the Stellar smart contracts platform Soroban and cash-to-DeFi capabilities, we’ve entered a new phase of seeing what builders and users will do with this utility.
How does Stellar use or hope to use Artemis?
The Stellar integration with Artemis is about making blockchain data more accessible and meaningful. It's exciting for three key reasons: First, it gives us a clearer window into all the incredible activity happening on the Stellar network. Think of it as turning on the lights – suddenly we can better showcase the innovative projects and real-world solutions being built on Stellar. Second, it's a game-changer for analysis. Whether you're a researcher studying blockchain trends or a developer evaluating different platforms, Artemis makes it easier to understand how Stellar fits into the bigger picture of blockchain adoption and usage. Finally, and this is particularly cool, it democratizes access to Stellar data. By presenting the network data in Artemis's user-friendly "ez" table format, we're making it simpler for anyone in the Stellar ecosystem to conduct their own analysis and create reports. If you're already familiar with Artemis, you'll find it intuitive to start exploring Stellar data right away. Artemis isn't just about metrics – it's about transparency, understanding, and empowering the community with better tools to tell the Stellar story.

‍Key metrics: Stellar KPI Deep Dive vs Blockchains

👋 @ElBarto_Cryptohere, data scientist at Artemis. Today we do a deep dive on Stellar metrics versus other blockchains.Originally launched in 2016, Stellar has seen steady growth in the number of monthly operations. While activity on the chain dipped during the most recent bear market, it increased from 250mn monthly operations to 300mn monthly operations in November 2024.
 
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                                              Monthly Operations on Stellar Net using Artemis
 
A key advantage of Stellar is its low cost per transaction, making it ideal to perform payments on the network. Stellar consistently has one of the lowest average transaction costs across networks that Artemis tracks, and is similar to recently launched blockchains.
 
 
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                                          Stellar fees vs other chains via Artemis
 
Soroban is Stellar's smart contract platform that was announced in 2022 and launched on mainnet in 2024. To encourage users to build on it, the Stellar Development Foundation launched the $100M Soroban adoption fund to support developers building on the platform. Weekly transactions on the platform have spiked in November 2024, to around 10 - 14k per week.
 
 
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                                      Weekly Sorobon Transaction Count via Artemis
 
Stellar is a top blockchain for securitizing US Treasuries. Franklin Templeton first chose Stellar to tokenize one of its US treasury funds and it has grown to have over $400mn in assets under management. The fund ranks among the top 3 in assets under management and has steady growth throughout 2024.
 
 
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                                                      US Treasuries Gragh vi Artemis
 
Stablecoins, remittances, and payments are other key focus areas for Stellar. Through the “anchor” system which allows the blockchain to interact with traditional finance rails, over 40 million payments have been facilitated. Payment volume through the >100 anchors has increased since inception in 2021, averaging over 40,000 payments per day in 2024. Circle, the issuer of USDC and an early anchor has processed over $15B in payments volume.
 
 
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BNY Mellon , @ripple Custody Partner, Q2 2025 Earnings Call😉
00:03:01
👀Dr. Robert Malone says RFK Jr. receive👽

Dr. Robert Malone says RFK Jr. received a classified briefing on UFOs, UAPs, and whether they could be interdimensional beings or time travelers.

Malone claims a federal investigator told him "alien encounters" are ramping up—and confirms they’re real.

OP: Shadowofezra

00:02:02
"The next 12-24 months you're going to start to see Trillions of dollars flowing into crypto"
00:01:14
👉 Coinbase just launched an AI agent for Crypto Trading

Custom AI assistants that print money in your sleep? 🔜

The future of Crypto x AI is about to go crazy.

👉 Here’s what you need to know:

💠 'Based Agent' enables creation of custom AI agents
💠 Users set up personalized agents in < 3 minutes
💠 Equipped w/ crypto wallet and on-chain functions
💠 Capable of completing trades, swaps, and staking
💠 Integrates with Coinbase’s SDK, OpenAI, & Replit

👉 What this means for the future of Crypto:

1. Open Access: Democratized access to advanced trading
2. Automated Txns: Complex trades + streamlined on-chain activity
3. AI Dominance: Est ~80% of crypto 👉txns done by AI agents by 2025

🚨 I personally wouldn't bet against Brian Armstrong and Jesse Pollak.

👉 Coinbase just launched an AI agent for Crypto Trading
📈The Psychology Of A Market Cycle 📈

It's no where near over folks, I see hope.. 😉

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👀 XRPL Decisions are being made today.

If restarting the XRP ledger from scratch, Ripple CTO David Schwartz discusses using "Rust" is definitely talked about.

Proposals from an outside company are currently being considered for a possible modular revamp of pieces.

(Rust is a general-purpose, multi-paradigm programming language)

This video offers an insightful conversation with David Schwartz, a founding core developer of the XRP Ledger. It explores the Ledger’s origins, unique technical design, and the philosophy guiding its development from 2012 onward.

✨ Video Highlights:

🔹 Early creation of the XRP Ledger as a Bitcoin alternative using leaderless distributed consensus instead of proof of work

🔹 Use of Bitcoin’s cryptography foundations and C++ for XRP Ledger’s core implementation

🔹 Introduction of a multi-asset system enabling the first decentralized exchange and support for stablecoins

🔹 Consensus mechanism based on validator proposals needing 80% agreement, recognizing ...

📰 Ripple’s OCC Banking License application is now available! Vol. 1 is the public release. The application provides some clues about Ripple’s intentions and structure to consider.
1/6 🧵

https://x.com/WKahneman/status/1951452765043171337?s=19

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Understanding the Crypto Alt Season

The next altcoin season is poised to ignite the crypto market, promising to turn savvy investors' portfolios into goldmines. As Bitcoin's dominance wanes, a new era of blockchain innovation is dawning—are you ready to ride the wave?

Market behavior often exhibits distinct patterns and cycles. One such phenomenon that has captured the attention of traders and investors alike is the "Alt Season"—a period when alternative cryptocurrencies, or "altcoins," outperform Bitcoin and experience significant price surges.

The concept of market cycles and seasonality is not unique to crypto; it's a well-established principle in traditional financial markets. However, in volatile crypto space, these cycles can be more pronounced and occur with greater frequency.  

In this article, we’ll try to cover these and other topics: 

  1. The nature and characteristics of Alt Seasons
  2. The importance of recognizing market cycles in cryptocurrency trading
  3. Alt Season indicators and how to interpret them
  4. Predictions and speculatins about the next potential Alt Season

What Is Crypto Alt Season?

Crypto Alt Season, short for "Alternative Cryptocurrency Season," refers to a period in the cryptocurrency market when alternative cryptocurrencies (altcoins) significantly outperform Bitcoin in terms of price appreciation. During an Alt Season:

  1. Many altcoins experience rapid price increases.
  2. The market share of altcoins grows relative to Bitcoin.
  3. Trading volume for altcoins typically increases.
  4. Investor attention shifts from Bitcoin to various altcoin projects.

An Alt Season can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months. It's often characterized by increased risk appetite among investors, who are willing to allocate more capital to smaller, potentially higher-risk crypto projects in search of higher returns.

Is Crypto Season the Same As Crypto Alt Season?

While related, Crypto Season and Crypto Alt Season are not exactly the same:

  1. Crypto Season:
    • Refers to a broader bullish period in the entire cryptocurrency market.
    • Typically includes price appreciation for both Bitcoin and altcoins.
    • Can be longer in duration, sometimes lasting for many months or even a year or more.
    • Often starts with a Bitcoin rally, followed by increased interest in the broader crypto market.
  2. Crypto Alt Season:
    • Specifically focuses on the outperformance of altcoins compared to Bitcoin.
    • Can occur within a broader Crypto Season but is more narrowly defined.
    • Generally shorter in duration than a full Crypto Season.
    • May happen towards the latter part of a broader Crypto Season, as investors seek higher returns in smaller cap coins.

Key Differences:

  • Scope: Crypto Season encompasses the entire market, while Alt Season focuses on altcoins.
  • Duration: Crypto Seasons are generally longer than Alt Seasons.
  • Market Dynamics: In a Crypto Season, Bitcoin often leads the rally, while in an Alt Season, altcoins outperform Bitcoin.

It's important to note that these terms are not officially defined and can be subject to different interpretations within the cryptocurrency community. However, understanding the distinction can help investors and traders better analyze market trends and potential opportunities in different segments of the crypto market.

What Is Alt Season Indicator?

The Alt Season Indicator is a tool used by cryptocurrency traders and investors to gauge whether the market is entering or currently in an "Alt Season" — a period when altcoins are outperforming Bitcoin. While there isn't a single, universally accepted Alt Season Indicator, several metrics and tools are commonly used to assess the likelihood of an Alt Season. Here are some key aspects of Alt Season Indicators:

Bitcoin Dominance

One of the most widely used indicators is Bitcoin Dominance, which measures Bitcoin's market capitalization as a percentage of the total cryptocurrency market cap.

  • Calculation: (Bitcoin Market Cap / Total Crypto Market Cap) * 100
  • Interpretation: A declining Bitcoin Dominance often signals a potential Alt Season, as it indicates that capital is flowing from Bitcoin into altcoins.
  • Threshold: Some traders consider Bitcoin Dominance below 50% as a potential indicator of an Alt Season.

Altcoin Market Cap Ratio

This indicator compares the total market capitalization of altcoins to Bitcoin's market cap.

  • Calculation: Total Altcoin Market Cap / Bitcoin Market Cap
  • Interpretation: An increasing ratio suggests growing strength in the altcoin market relative to Bitcoin.

Top 10 Altcoins Performance

This indicator tracks the performance of the top 10 altcoins by market cap (excluding Bitcoin) compared to Bitcoin over a specific period.

  • Calculation: Average percentage gain of top 10 altcoins vs. Bitcoin's percentage gain
  • Interpretation: When a majority of top altcoins consistently outperform Bitcoin, it may indicate an Alt Season.

Alt Season Index

Some crypto data platforms offer a proprietary Alt Season Index, which combines various metrics to provide a single score indicating the likelihood of an Alt Season.

  • Scale: Often presented as a percentage or a 0-100 score
  • Interpretation: Higher scores (e.g., above 75%) suggest a higher probability of an ongoing Alt Season

Trading Volume Ratios

This indicator compares the trading volumes of altcoins to Bitcoin's trading volume.

  • Calculation: Total Altcoin Trading Volume / Bitcoin Trading Volume
  • Interpretation: An increase in this ratio may indicate growing interest in altcoins, potentially signaling an Alt Season.

Important Considerations:

  1. No single indicator is foolproof. Traders often use a combination of indicators for a more comprehensive analysis.
  2. Market conditions can change rapidly, and past patterns don't guarantee future results.
  3. Different traders may use different thresholds or interpretations of these indicators.
  4. The crypto market's evolving nature means that indicators may need to be adjusted over time to remain relevant.

Understanding and effectively using Alt Season Indicators can help traders and investors make more informed decisions about allocating their resources between Bitcoin and altcoins. However, it's crucial to combine these indicators with broader market analysis and risk management strategies.

Alt Seasons: Historical Perspective, Current Situation, and Future Predictions

Previous Altcoin Seasons

In crypto, two periods stand out as particularly significant for altcoins. These "alt seasons" saw unprecedented growth and interest in cryptocurrencies beyond Bitcoin, reshaping the landscape of digital assets.

The 2017-2018 Alt Season

Duration: December 2017 to January 2018

Context:

  • Bitcoin (BTC) experienced its most remarkable bull run to date, reaching nearly $20,000 in December 2017.
  • This surge in Bitcoin's price and public interest created a ripple effect throughout the crypto market.

Key Developments:

  1. Proliferation of New Coins: The success of Bitcoin catalyzed the launch of numerous new cryptocurrencies.
  2. Investor Frenzy: Buoyed by Bitcoin's success, investors eagerly sought the "next Bitcoin," pouring capital into various altcoins.
  3. ICO Boom: This period saw a surge in Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs), with many projects raising millions in a matter of hours or days.
  4. Market Expansion: The total cryptocurrency market cap reached unprecedented levels, briefly surpassing $800 billion in January 2018.

Notable Altcoins: Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), and Litecoin (LTC) saw significant price increases during this period.

The 2020-2021 Alt Season

Duration: December 2020 to April 2021

Context:

  • Bitcoin broke its previous all-time high, surpassing $60,000 in March 2021.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic had accelerated digital adoption and increased interest in alternative investments.

Key Developments:

  1. DeFi Explosion: Decentralized Finance (DeFi) projects gained massive traction, with many tokens seeing exponential growth.
  2. NFT Boom: Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) entered the mainstream, driving interest in blockchain-based digital assets.
  3. Institutional Adoption: Major companies and institutional investors began adding cryptocurrencies to their balance sheets.
  4. Technological Advancements: Many altcoins introduced innovative features, scaling solutions, and use cases.

Notable Altcoins: Ethereum (ETH) reached new highs, while projects like Binance Coin (BNB), Cardano (ADA), and Polkadot (DOT) saw remarkable growth.

Comparative Analysis: Both alt seasons shared some common characteristics:

  • They were preceded by significant Bitcoin price rallies.
  • New projects and tokens gained rapid popularity and valuation.
  • Retail investor participation increased dramatically.
  • The overall cryptocurrency market capitalization reached new heights.

However, the 2020-2021 alt season was marked by greater institutional involvement and a broader range of technological innovations, particularly in DeFi and NFTs.

Is It Alt Season?

Based on the indicators discussed above, it's not currently an altcoin season. The Altcoin Season Index at 41 and Bitcoin's market dominance at 61.3% both suggest that Bitcoin is still the dominant force in the crypto market at this time.

When Is Alt Season?

Based on the information we could gather from various experts, we can analyze the predictions for the next altcoin season as follows:

  • Based on the latest analysis from experts and on-chain data, here’s what we know about the next altcoin season:

     

    Current Status (August 2025):

     

    • The altcoin season index—a metric that signals how many altcoins outperform Bitcoin—currently sits around 37. For a “full-blown” alt season, it typically needs to rise above 75.

    • Bitcoin dominance is approximately 61-62%. Historically, dropping below 60% often coincides with a rapid rotation into altcoins and the start of alt season.

     

    Key Indicators to Watch:

     

    • Altcoin Season Index (ASI): Above 75 signals a true altcoin season.

    • Bitcoin Dominance: A move below 60% usually marks the transition; sub-50% dominance is associated with peak alt season inflows.

    • Market Activity: Increasing volumes in major altcoins and Layer 1s, meme coin rallies, and spikes in DeFi activity are early warning signs.

    • Ethereum Outperformance: When ETH surges relative to BTC, this historically precedes broader altcoin rallies.

     

    Expert Predictions for 2025:

     

    • Analysts point to a pivotal window for alt season starting as early as August 2025 and extending through the fall, with many expecting true acceleration of altcoin gains if Bitcoin’s price consolidates and capital rotates further into alts.

    • There is strong consensus that macroeconomic catalysts, such as potential U.S. interest rate cuts and ongoing Bitcoin ETF momentum, could fuel a major altcoin rally in late 2025 if positive conditions persist.

    Summary Table: Key Factors & Targets

    SignalAlt Season TriggerStatus (Aug 2025)
    Altcoin Season Index (ASI)>75 ~37
    Bitcoin dominance<60% ~61–62% (near trigger)
    Altcoin trading volumeSustained surge across many alts Rising, but not explosive
    Ethereum outperformanceETH/ BTC breakout, >$3,700 Near, ETH ~$3,500
    Market narrativesAI, DeFi, meme coins, new L1 inflows Strengthening
     

    Bottom Line:
    Most analysts agree the groundwork for altcoin season in 2025 is building. We are currently in a transition phase: if Bitcoin dominance continues to fall and the Altcoin Season Index rises above 75, a full-fledged alt season could ignite during the second half of 2025. Monitor these key indicators to stay ahead as market momentum shifts from Bitcoin into a broader range of altltcoins.

Key Factors to Consider

  • Technology: Look for coins with innovative solutions to existing blockchain challenges.
  • Adoption: Consider projects with growing partnerships and real-world use cases.
  • Market Position: Established coins with room for growth may offer a balance of stability and potential returns.
  • Tokenomics: Understanding supply dynamics can help predict potential price movements.

It's crucial to conduct thorough research before investing. The cryptocurrency market is highly volatile, and past performance doesn't guarantee future results. Always invest responsibly and within your risk tolerance.

How to Win in Next Alt Season?

Capitalizing on the next altcoin season requires a strategic approach. Here's how to maximize potential gains:

  • Research and Diversification: Thoroughly research potential investments, analyzing both fundamentals and technical aspects to identify promising altcoins. Diversify your holdings across different projects to mitigate risk and maximize potential returns. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
  • Strategic Timing: Utilize technical analysis tools like support/resistance levels and RSI to pinpoint optimal entry and exit points. Monitor market sentiment and price trends to make informed decisions. A clear entry and exit strategy is crucial for managing risk and maximizing profits during volatile periods.
  • Newer Projects: Consider participating in newer altcoin projects. This provides early access to potentially high-growth projects at discounted prices. Research upcoming defi projects with use cases, focusing on innovative projects with strong potential. Investing early can yield substantial returns as the project develops.

Conclusion

In summary, an altcoin season, marked by significant price increases in non-Bitcoin cryptocurrencies, may be on the horizon.  This potential surge could be driven by investors seeking higher returns in smaller-cap cryptocurrencies, technological advancements in altcoin projects, increased blockchain adoption, and the transition of projects from speculative ventures to real-world applications

Remember, while the potential for significant gains exists during an altcoin season, the cryptocurrency market remains highly volatile. Always invest responsibly.

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PYTH: We'll Always Have Coldplay

Welcome back to The Epicenter, where crypto chaos meets corporate cringe.

But surprisingly, crypto has not been the most chaotic corner of the internet as of late.

That honor goes to the startup Astronomer, whose CEO’s cheating scandal broke the web in a glorious meme-fueled media frenzy. The company’s damage control? Hiring Gwyneth Paltrow as a “temporary spokesperson.” Do we think they’re grasping at straws or setting a new standard for PR?

Meanwhile, the markets didn’t blink. BTC is still flexing near its all-time highs. Michael Saylor’s bringing a bitcoin-adjacent money-market product to Wall Street. A pharma company just earmarked $700M to stack BNB, and analysts are calling time of death on the four-year crypto cycle. It’s a steady boom now, kittens.

A few things that are also worth noting: Winklevoss vs. JPMorgan, Visa’s take on stablecoins, and Robinhood’s Euro drama that defies the chillness of eurosummer.

Let’s get into it 👇

⛓️ The On-Chain Pulse: What’s Happening on the Front Lines of Finance

This week’s biggest news in crypto and all things digital assets

🗣️ Word on the Street: What the Experts are Saying

Stuff you should repost (or maybe even cough reword and take credit for)

Meme of the Week

🏦 Kiss my SaaS: What’s Changing the Game for Fintech

Things you should care about if you want to impress your coworkers

Closing Thoughts

From meme-fueled PR stunts to Bitcoin-backed money-market funds, this week reminded us that markets move fast—and headlines move faster. With Wall Street automating itself, fintechs beefing with banks, and even your smartphone becoming a miner, anything is possible. Stay curious, stay cynical, and as always—stay sharp and stay liquid. We’ll see you back here in two weeks.

— The Epicenter, powered by Pyth Network

 

🙏 Donations Accepted 🙏

If you find value in my content, consider showing your support via:

💳 PayPal: 
1) Simply scan the QR code below 📲
2) or visit https://www.paypal.me/thedinarian

🔗 Crypto – Support via Coinbase Wallet to: [email protected]

 

Read full Article
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4 Fintech Companies 💸& Things To Know About 🤔

The fintech revolution is reshaping the way we manage, invest, and move money, breaking down traditional barriers and empowering individuals worldwide. As financial technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, a select group of innovative companies are leading the charge by offering groundbreaking solutions that redefine banking, payments, and digital assets. Whether you’re a savvy investor, an industry professional, or simply curious about the future of finance, discovering these trailblazing fintech companies is essential to understanding today’s dynamic financial landscape.

 

  1.  Alina Invest - The AI Wealth Manager for GenZ Women

Alina is aimed at women under 25 who identify as beginner investors. They're an SEC-registered investment advisor that charges $120/year for membership. The service "buys and sells for you" and gives up notification updates of recent transactions like a wealth manager would.

👉 Getting people to invest early is crucial to building long-term wealth. One thing that holds them back is a lack of confidence and experience. Being targetted "for beginners" and people who live on TikTok should appeal. I love the sense of "we're buying and selling for you." Funds always do that, but making it an engagement mechanic is very smart. The risk here is that building a wealth business will take decades for the AUM to compound. But the next generations, Wealthfront or Betterment, will look something like Alina.

2. Blue layer - The Carbon project funding platform

Bluelayer allows Carbon project developers to take from feasibility studies to issuing credits, tracking inventory, and managing orders. Developers of reforestation, conservation, direct air capture, and other projects can also directly report to industry registries. 

👉 Carbon investing and tax credits are heavily incentivized but need transparent data. By focusing on the developers, Bluelayer can ensure the data, reporting, and credits lifecycle is all managed at the source. This is smart.

3. Akirolabs - Modern Procurement for enterprise

Akiro is a "strategic" procurement platform aiming to help enterprise customers identify risks, value drivers, and strategic levers before issuing an RFP. It aims to bring in multiple stakeholders for complex purchasing decisions at multinationals. 

👉 Procurement is a great wedge for multinational corporate transformation. Buying anything in an enterprise that uses large-scale ERPs is a nightmare of committees and spreadsheets. Turning an oil tanker-sized organization around is difficult, but the right suppliers can have a meaningful impact in the short term. That only works if you can buy from them. Getting people on the same page with a single platform is a great start.

4. NeoTax - Automated Tax R&D Credits

NeoTax allows companies to connect their engineering tools to calculate available tax advantages automatically. Once calculated, the tax fillings are clearly labeled with supporting evidence for the IRS.

👉 AWS and GCP log files and data are a goldmine. Last week, I covered Bilanc, which uses log files to figure out per-account unit economics. Now, we calculate R&D tax credits. The unlock here is LLM's ability to understand unstructured data. The hard part is understanding the moat, but time will tell.

In an era where technology and finance are increasingly intertwined, these four fintech companies stand out as catalysts for positive change. By driving progress in digital payments, asset management, lending, and decentralized finance, they are not only making financial services more accessible and efficient—they are also paving the way for a more inclusive and empowered global economy. Staying informed about their innovations can help you seize new opportunities and take part in the future of finance.

 

👀Things to know 👀

 

PayPal issued low guidance and warned of a “transition year.” The stock is down 8% in extended trading despite PayPal reporting a 9% growth in revenue and 23% EBITDA. Gross profit is down 4% YoY. PayPal's total revenues were $29Bn for the year

Adyen reported 22% revenue growth and an EBITDA margin of 46% for the full year. Adyen's total revenues were $1.75bn for the full year. The margin was down from 55% the previous year, impacted by hiring ahead of growth.

🤔 PayPal’s Braintree (unbranded) is losing market share in the US, while Adyen is winning it. eCommerce is growing ~9 to 10% YoY, and PayPal’s transaction revenue grew by 6.7%. The higher interest rate environment meant interest on balances dragged up the total revenue figure. Their core business is losing market share. Adyen is outgrowing the market by ~12%.

🤔 The PayPal button (branded) is losing to SHOP Pay and Apple Pay. The branded experience from Apple and Shopify is delightful for users; it’s fast and helps with small details like delivery tracking. That experience translates to higher conversion (and more revenue) for merchants.

🤔 The lack of a single global platform hurts PayPal, but it helps Adyen. In the earnings call, the new CEO admitted their mix of platforms like Venmo, PayPal, and Braintree are holding them back. They aim to combine and simplify, but that’s easier said than done.

🤔 Making a single platform from PayPal, Venmo, and Braintree won’t be easy. There’s a graveyard of payment company CEOs who tried to make “one platform” from things they acquired years ago. It’s crucial if they’re going to grow that they get their innovation edge back. Adyen has one platform in every market.

🤔 PayPal’s UK and European acquiring business is a bright spot. The UK and EU delivered 20% of overall revenue, growing 11% YoY. Square and Toast don’t have market share here, while iZettle, which PayPal acquired in 2018, is a strong market player. Overall though, it’s yet another tech stack and business that’s not part of a single global platform.

The two banks provided accounts to UK front companies secretly owned by an Iranian petrochemicals company. PCC has used these entities to receive funds from Iranian entities in China, concealed with trustee agreements and nominee directors. 

🤔 This is the headline every bank CEO fears. Oof. Shares of both banks have been down since the news broke, but this will no doubt involve crisis calls, committees, appearing in front of the regulator, and, finally, some sort of fine.

🤔 The "risk-based approach" has been arbitraged. A UK company with relatively low annual revenue would look "low risk" at onboarding. One business the FT covered looked like a small company at a residential address to compliance staff. They'd likely apply branch-level controls instead of the enterprise-grade controls you'd see for a large corporation. 

🤔 Hiring more staff won't fix this problem; it's a mindset and technology challenge. In theory, all of the skill and technology that exists to manage risks with large corporate customers (in the transaction banking divisions) are available to the other parts of a bank. In practice, they're not. Most banks lack a single data set and the ability for compliance officers in one team to see data from another part of the org. Getting the basics right with data and tooling is incredibly hard and will involve a multi-year effort. 

🤔 These things are rarely the failure of an individual or department; the issue is systemic. While two banks are named in this headline, the issue is everywhere. Banks need more data and better data to train better AI and machine learning. That all needs to happen in real-time as a compliment to the human staff. Throwing bodies at this won't solve the visibility issue teams have.

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