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📰 Digital Asset Weekly 📰
February 15, 2025
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This week, global trade tensions and Fed policy shifts kept crypto markets on edge, while tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs) gains momentum. In this issue:

  • FTX creditors get refunds.

  • MicroStrategy rebrands as Strategy.

  • Tokenization is scaling fast.

  • This week's digital asset market briefing.


Digital Asset Market Briefing

Crypto market sentiment gauge showing fear at 48, with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP price changes over the past week.
 
                  Digital asset market development: February 4—9, 2025

The crypto market remained under pressure last week, with total market cap declining from $3.36 trillion to $3.28 trillionBitcoin fell nearly 3%, while its dominance climbed from 56.3% to 58%, reflecting a shift away from altcoins. Ethereum dropped to 10% market share (from 10.8%), with major altcoins following suit, signaling cautious sentiment.

Macroeconomic Headwinds Weigh on Markets

The primary catalyst for the downturn was ongoing global trade tensions. U.S. President Trump’s announcement of a 25% tariff hike on Canadian and Mexican imports triggered panic across markets, with Mexico and Canada responding with retaliatory tariffs. Bitcoin briefly hit $92K, while Ethereum dipped just above $2.1K before recovering slightly. Meanwhile, whale accumulation surged, with XRP whales buying 520 million tokens, suggesting potential accumulation despite weak sentiment (Fear Index: 48).

Shifting Focus: Fed Policy & Treasury Yields

Comparison of historical Fed decisions and their impact on treasury yields, showing rate cut trends over multiple cycles.
 
Comparison of historic Fed decisions and net changes in yield (in percentage points) from day of first rate cut (Source: Reuters)

Amid rising market uncertainty, U.S. Treasury yields have become the administration’s key focus. The 10-year yield declined from 4.8% to 4.4%, easing pressure on the Fed to cut rates. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s focus on bond markets signals a shift in economic priorities, potentially stabilizing borrowing costs but adding complexity to Fed policy.

Market Sentiment & Outlook

Graph displaying daily crypto exchange trading volume with a 7-day moving average, showing recent spikes in market activity.
 
                 Daily exchange volume (7-day moving average) (Source: The Block)

Despite the downturn, crypto trading volume peaked at $90 billion daily, up from $65 billion the prior week, indicating heightened activity. While macro uncertainty persists, rising whale activity suggests institutional interest remains strong, possibly setting the stage for a recovery.

 
 
 

Top 3 News

FTX Creditors Get 120% Payout

FTX creditors receive 120% repayment, but stablecoins are used instead of Bitcoin or Ethereum as per court ruling.
 

FTX creditors with claims up to $50,000 will receive full repayment plus 9% annual interest by February 18, 2025. However, the bankruptcy court denied requests for repayment in Bitcoin or Ethereum, opting for stablecoin payouts instead.

MicroStrategy Rebrands to ‘Strategy’

MicroStrategy changed its name to
 

MicroStrategy is now Strategy, marking its transformation into the world’s first Bitcoin Treasury Company. The firm holds 470,000+ BTC worth $30 billion and plans to raise $42 billion for further accumulation.

Fed Explores Tokenized Reserves

Fed Governor Waller confirms ongoing research into tokenized bank reserves under Project Agorá for cross-border payments.
 

Fed Governor Waller confirmed the U.S. will continue exploring tokenized bank reserves in Project Agorá, aiming to improve cross-border payments without issuing a wholesale CBDC.


What Else Happened?

  • The American House released a draft Stablecoin Bill, sparking comparisons with the Senate’s GENIUS Bill as regulatory debates intensify.

  • BlackRock plans to list a Bitcoin exchange-traded product (ETP) in Europe, expanding institutional access to BTC.

  • Crypto exchange Gemini is exploring an IPO, signaling renewed interest in public markets for crypto firms.

  • Coinbase CEO urges a blockchain-based U.S. Treasury after Musk’s DOGE agency reportedly saved taxpayers $36 billion.

  • Tether’s CEO warns that quantum computing could unlock lost Bitcoin wallets—some fear it could destabilize Bitcoin’s scarcity model.

Chart of The Week

Survey results from JP Morgan showing 71% of institutional traders have no plans to invest in crypto, while 13% currently trade digital assets.
 

This Week’s Focus

Redefining Finance: The Rise of Tokenized Real-World Assets

Chart showing the market capitalization growth of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) by category, highlighting the rise in government securities and commodities.
 
          Development of real-world asset market capitalization (Source: The Block)

Tokenization is reshaping financial markets, unlocking liquidity, streamlining transactions, and enabling fractional ownership. The market capitalization of tokenized Real-World Assets (RWAs) has surged to $4.5 billion, driven by growing adoption in government securities, commodities, and asset-based finance. Institutional giants like JPMorgan, UBS, and HSBC are actively exploring tokenization, while regulatory initiatives in the EU, UK, and APAC signal accelerating global acceptance.

Chart illustrating the surge in German tokenized securities, driven by ECB blockchain settlement trials and regulatory advancements.
 
            German tokenized security issuances development (Source: The Ledger)

Germany’s digital securities market underscores this momentum, with tokenized issuances surging 162%—from €235M in early 2024 to €615M in the second half. On the infrastructure front, Ondo Finance’s launch of a layer-1 blockchain for institutional tokenization highlights the growing demand for scalable and compliant solutions.

RWA Opportunities:

  • Fractional Ownership & Liquidity: Tokenization makes traditionally illiquid assets (real estate, private equity, bonds) more accessible to investors.

  • Automated & Cost-Effective Settlement: Blockchain reduces intermediaries, cutting costs and accelerating transactions.

  • Security & Transparency: Smart contracts enforce compliance and reduce fraud risks.

RWA Challenges:

  • Regulatory Uncertainty: Despite progress in Singapore, Hong Kong, and the UK, global frameworks remain fragmented.

  • Infrastructure & Interoperability: Seamless integration between blockchains and traditional finance is still evolving.

  • Institutional Hesitation: Compliance and stability concerns slow widespread adoption.

Why This Matters

With $16 trillion in tokenized assets projected by 2030, the financial landscape is shifting. From programmable payments to tokenized real estate and commodities, tokenization is redefining asset ownership and market efficiency. However, regulatory clarity and scalable infrastructure will determine its full potential.

Key Takeaways

  1. Institutional adoption is accelerating, with major banks driving real-world trials.

  2. Regulation and interoperability remain the biggest hurdles to widespread implementation.

  3. Government securities, real estate, and commodities are leading the tokenization wave.

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What kind of material behaves like this?

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People near it reported metallic taste, nausea, and phones going haywire. David Vélez wore an anti-static suit just to touch it.

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Same shape, movement, and equatorial line.
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With cross-border payments representing a multi-trillion-dollar corridor, that’s where the largest capital will flow and the greatest returns will come from.

At this point, you’re the gatekeeper to the digital economy. Everything else follows or fades away once regulations take effect.

You either see it or you won’t until it’s too late.

~The Black Swan Capitalist

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

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Beyond Stellar, McCaleb is also known for founding the aerospace company Vast, which is developing artificial gravity space stations; he currently serves as Vast’s chairman and sole funder. According to Forbes, McCaleb’s net worth is estimated at $2.9 billion as of April 2025.

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Whitepaper: https://docsend.com/view/dftxunt
Coin: SHX
Coinmarketcap: https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/stronghold-token/
Max Supply: 100B SHX
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Stellar Contract Address: GDSTRSHXHGJ7ZIVRBXEYE5Q74XUVCUSEKEBR7UCHEUUEK72N7I7KJ6JH

👇 How to buy: Swap XLM --> SHX via the StellarX Dex 👇
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Musk Turns On Starlink to Save Iranians from Regime’s Internet Crackdown

Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and a visionary behind SpaceX, has flipped the switch on Starlink, delivering internet to Iranians amid a brutal regime crackdown.

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The former Department of Government Efficiency chief activated Starlink satellite internet service for Iranians on Saturday following the Islamic Republic's decision to impose nationwide internet restrictions.

As the Jerusalem Post reports, that the Islamic Republic’s Communications Ministry announced the move, stating, "In view of the special conditions of the country, temporary restrictions have been imposed on the country’s internet."

This action followed a series of Israeli attacks on Iranian targets.

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Elizabeth MacDonald, a Fox News contributor, highlighted its impact, noting, "Elon Musk turning on Starlink for Iran in 2022 was a game changer. Starlink connects directly to SpaceX satellites, bypassing Iran’s ground infrastructure. That means even during government-imposed shutdowns or censorship, users can still get online, and reportedly more than 100,000 inside Iran are doing that."

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Musk confirmed the activation, noting on Saturday, "The beams are on."

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Adding to the tension, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the Iranian people on Friday, urging resistance against the regime.

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Meanwhile, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last monarch, called on military and security forces to abandon the regime, accusing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a Persian-language social media post of forcing Iranians into an unwanted war.

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Conservative talk show host Mark Levin praised Musk’s action, reposting a message stating that Starlink would "reconnect the Iranian people with the internet and put the final nail in the coffin of the Iranian regime."

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GENIUS Act lets State banks conduct some business nationwide. Regulators object

The Senate passed the GENIUS Act for stablecoins last week, but significant work remains before it becomes law. The House has a different bill, the STABLE Act, with notable differences that must be reconciled. State banking regulators have raised strong objections to a provision in the GENIUS Act that would allow state banks to operate nationwide without authorization from host states or a federal regulator.

The controversial clause permits a state bank with a regulated stablecoin subsidiary to provide money transmitter and custodial services in any other state. While host states can impose consumer protection laws, they cannot require the usual authorization and oversight typically needed for out-of-state banking operations.

The Conference of State Bank Supervisors welcomed some changes in the GENIUS Act but remains adamantly opposed to this particular provision. In a statement, CSBS said:

“Critical changes must be made during House consideration of the legislation to prevent unintended consequences and further mitigate financial stability risks. CSBS remains concerned with the dramatic and unsupported expansion of the authority of uninsured banks to conduct money transmission or custody activities nationwide without the approval or oversight of host state supervisors (Sec. 16(d)).”

The National Conference of State Legislatures expressed similar concerns in early June, stating:

“We urge you to oppose Section 16(d) and support state authority to regulate financial services in a manner that reflects local conditions, priorities and risk tolerances. Preserving the dual banking system and respecting state autonomy is essential to the safety, soundness and diversity of our nation’s financial sector.”

Evolution of nationwide authorization

Section 16 addresses several issues beyond stablecoins, including preventing a recurrence of the SEC’s SAB 121, which forced crypto assets held in custody onto balance sheets. However, the nationwide authorization subsection was added after the legislation cleared the Senate Banking Committee, with two significant modifications since then.

Originally, the provision applied only to special bank charters like Wyoming’s Special Purpose Depository Institutions or Connecticut’s Innovation Banks. Examples include crypto-focused Custodia Bank and crypto exchange Kraken in Wyoming, plus traditional finance player Fnality US in Connecticut. Recently the scope was expanded to cover most state chartered banks with stablecoin subsidiaries, possibly due to concerns about competitive advantages.

Simultaneously, the clause was substantially tightened. The initial version allowed state chartered banks to provide money transmission and custody services nationwide for any type of asset, which would include cryptocurrencies. Now these activities can only be conducted by the stablecoin subsidiary, and while Section 16(d) doesn’t explicitly limit services to stablecoins, the GENIUS Act currently restricts issuers to stablecoin related activities.

However, the House STABLE Act takes a more permissive approach, allowing regulators to decide which non-stablecoin activities are permitted. If the House version prevails in reconciliation, it could result in a significant expansion of allowed nationwide banking activities beyond stablecoins.

Is it that bad?

As originally drafted, the clause seemed overly permissive.

The amended clause makes sense for stablecoin issuers. They want to have a single regulator and be able to provide the stablecoin services throughout the United States. But it also leans into the perception outside of crypto that this is just another form of regulatory arbitrage.

The controversy over Section 16(d) reflects concerns about creating a regulatory gap that allows banks to operate interstate without the oversight typically required from either federal or state authorities. As the two Congressional chambers work toward reconciliation, lawmakers must decide whether stablecoin legislation should include provisions that effectively reduce traditional banking oversight requirements.

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

💳 PayPal: 
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Dubai regulator VARA classifies RWA issuance as licensed activity
Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) leads global regulatory framework - makes RWA issuance licensed activity in Dubai.

Real-world assets (RWAs) issuance is now licensed activity in Dubai.

~ Actual law.
~ Not a legal gray zone.
~ Not a whitepaper fantasy.

RWA issuance and listing on secondary markets is defined under binding crypto regulation.

It’s execution by Dubai.

Irina Heaver explained:

“RWA issuance is no longer theoretical. It’s now a regulatory reality.”

VARA defined:

- RWAs are classified as Asset-Referenced Virtual Assets (ARVAs)

- Secondary market trading is permitted under VARA license

- Issuers need capital, audits, and legal disclosures

- Regulated broker-dealers and exchanges can now onboard and trade them

This closes the gap that killed STOs in 2018.

No more tokenization without venues.
No more assets without liquidity.

UAE is doing what Switzerland, Singapore, and Europe still haven’t:

Creating enforceable frameworks for RWA tokenization that actually work.

Matthew White, CEO of VARA, said it perfectly:

“Tokenization will redefine global finance in 2025.”

He’s not exaggerating.

$500B+ market predicted next year.

And the UAE just gave it legal rails.

~Real estate.
~Private credit.
~Shariah-compliant products.

Everything is in play.

This is how you turn hype into infrastructure.

What Dubai is doing now is 3 years ahead of everyone else.

Founders, investors, ecosystem builders:

You want to build real-world assets onchain.

Don’t waste another year waiting for clarity.

Come to Dubai.

It’s already here.

 

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🙏 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]

Or Buy me a coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/thedinarian

Your generosity keeps this mission alive, for all! Namasté 🙏 Crypto Michael ⚡  The Dinarian

 

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