Stripe and Paradigm Incubate Tempo Blockchain for Stablecoin Payments
Paradigm and Stripe have launched a private testnet for Tempo, a payments-focused blockchain capable of over 100,000 transactions per second with sub-second finality. Design partners include Visa, Deutsche Bank and OpenAI, with support for stablecoin gas payments and Ethereum compatibility.
Stellar Protocol 23 Upgrade Triggers Exchange Trading Pauses
Major exchanges including Upbit suspended XLM trading ahead of the Stellar Protocol 23 network upgrade to ensure stability during the transition. XLM price action consolidated between $0.36 and $0.37, with resistance at $0.37 and support at $0.36. Participants await post-upgrade price levels and network performance.
Stellar’s Protocol 23 Upgrade Prompts Trading Pauses on Upbit
Upbit suspended XLM trading ahead of Stellar’s Protocol 23 upgrade to safeguard network stability. XLM price consolidated between $0.36 and $0.37, with traders eyeing key resistance at $0.45 and support near $0.30 post-upgrade.
Japan Post Bank unveils DCJPY digital yen for depositors
Japan Post Bank announces launch of DCJPY, a fully fiat-backed digital yen token, by fiscal 2026. Developed in partnership with DeCurret DCP, DCJPY allows depositors to convert yen into a 1:1 blockchain-tokenised currency for instant settlement of digital assets and securities transactions, enhancing payment efficiency.
Ethereum to sunset Holešky testnet post-Fusaka upgrade
Ethereum Foundation announces planned shutdown of the Holešky testnet after completion of the Fusaka fork, with migration to the Hoodi testnet. Holešky has served for over two years testing protocol upgrades including Dencun and Pectra. Migration will occur two weeks after Fusaka mainnet activation.
Bitcoin’s BRC20 Token Standard Launches ‘BRC2.0’ Smart Contracts
The new BRC2.0 standard extends Bitcoin’s Ordinals protocol, enabling EVM-style smart contracts on the Bitcoin blockchain. Developers can now issue fungible tokens and deploy programmable logic directly on Bitcoin, broadening on-chain capabilities.
Bitcoin Faces Fee Crisis That Threatens Network Security: Can BTCfi Help?
Bitcoin transaction fees have dropped over 80% since April 2024, pressuring miner incentives and risking network security as block rewards halve. BTCfi—onchain DeFi on Bitcoin—could restore fee revenue by driving sustained onchain activity.
Ethereum Foundation pauses open grant applications
Ethereum Foundation temporarily paused open grant applications for its Ecosystem Support Program to shift from a reactive to a proactive funding model. Support for existing grantees continues through Office Hours. New requests will resume under a revised process in Q4 2025.
Public Token Treasuries and Asset Tokenization Are Positive but Carry Risks
Public-company bitcoin treasuries and tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs) are accelerating institutional capital inflows, according to CZ. Stablecoins, treasury bills and real estate tokens are integrating into crypto. Future bear markets may expose treasury firm failures.
Solana Targets Near-Instant Finality as Alpenglow Upgrade Heads to Vote
Solana developers have proposed the Alpenglow consensus upgrade to replace Proof-of-History and TowerBFT with Votor and Rotor, aiming to cut finality times from over 12 seconds to approximately 150 milliseconds and enhance network resilience.
Chainlink and Pyth Selected to Deliver U.S. Economic Data on Blockchain
Chainlink and Pyth have been chosen by the U.S. Department of Commerce to provide official macroeconomic data feeds, including GDP and the PCE Price Index, onchain across ten blockchain networks. Feeds will update on traditional release schedules.
Google Advances Layer-1 Blockchain for Finance
Google Cloud’s Universal Ledger (GCUL) is moving toward a 2026 launch with CME Group integration completed and broader trials planned. The platform will support Python smart contracts and promote neutral infrastructure for institutions, differentiating from Stripe Tempo and Circle Arc. Details on performance and programmability have been outlined by head of Web3 strategy Rich Widmann.
Bitcoin Liquid Staking Gains Momentum as Lombard Launches BARD Token and Foundation
Lombard launched the Liquid Bitcoin Foundation and $BARD token with a $6.75M sale to onboard LBTC holders. Bitcoin liquid staking market cap is $2.5B, with LBTC at $1.4B, enabling BTC in DeFi applications.
EU Exploring Ethereum and Solana for Digital Euro Infrastructure
The European Central Bank is reportedly evaluating public blockchains such as Ethereum and Solana for its digital euro design, marking a potential shift from private ledger models to open networks to enhance interoperability.
Ethereum News: BlackRock ETF Flows and Network Activity Drive Price Breakout
BlackRock’s ETHA ETF attracted USD 1.02 billion inflows on August 11, now holding nearly 58% of all Ethereum ETF assets. Robust network usage—1.74 million daily transactions in early August and 46.7 million in July—fuelled a bullish breakout above key resistance. Analysts highlight USD 4 150 as critical support; a weekly close above USD 4 550 may signal fresh highs, while breaks below USD 4 150 could see a correction to USD 3 650–3 750.
Early Bitcoin web domains from 2010 head to auction
A collection of over 280 Bitcoin-related .com domains, many registered shortly after Bitcoin’s 2009 launch, is up for auction as a single portfolio. Names span key sectors like payments, exchanges and infrastructure, reflecting early digital currency branding.
Japanese Startup JPYC to Launch First Yen-Pegged Stablecoin After Licensing
JPYC, a Tokyo‐based fintech, will issue Japan’s first yen‐pegged stablecoin following a new license. Backed by domestic savings and government bonds, the token aims to serve institutional clients initially and expand overseas to enable digital yen payments globally.
Why Circle and Stripe are launching their own blockchains
Circle and Stripe unveiled proprietary settlement networks, Arc and Tempo, to host stablecoins and tokenized assets on dedicated blockchains. Firms aim to boost control, reduce costs, embed compliance features, and compete with existing Layer 1 networks in high-throughput payments.
Stripe appoints Paradigm’s Matt Huang as CEO of new Tempo blockchain
Stripe has named Matt Huang, co-founder and managing partner of Paradigm, as chief executive of its forthcoming layer-1 blockchain, Tempo, designed for high-performance payments and Ethereum compatibility. The move aligns with a trend of stablecoin-focused networks and follows the passage of the GENIUS Act, which has bolstered institutional interest in regulated digital asset infrastructure. Launch timing and token plans remain undisclosed.
Asia Morning Briefing: Tokenized Assets Will Eclipse DeFi, Chronicle Founder Niklas Kunkel Says
Chronicle announced a partnership with Grove Protocol to support a $1 billion tokenized asset allocation in on-chain credit markets. Founding oracle provider Chronicle outlined how emerging tokenized real-world assets could inject trillions into DeFi and become central to future risk management frameworks.
Fundamental Global files $5 B shelf for Ethereum treasury strategy
Nasdaq-listed Fundamental Global filed a $5 billion shelf registration with the U.S. SEC to support its Ethereum accumulation plan. The initiative targets a 10 percent network stake, positioning the firm among the largest corporate ETH holders.
New SHIB Burn Mechanism Introduced Through Gaming Rewards
Shiba Inu has unveiled a gaming-integrated burning mechanism that rewards players while reducing token supply. The initiative aims to bolster tokenomics by burning SHIB via Shibarium transactions and is part of a broader decentralization roadmap.
SEC Green Light on Liquid Staking Sends ETH Past $4K, Spurs Broad Staking and Layer-2 Rally
SEC clarification on liquid staking boosted Ethereum above $4,000 and drove double-digit weekly gains in layer-2 tokens such as OP, Blast and MNT. Regulatory clarity may attract institutional capital into DeFi yield products.
Standard Chartered forms joint venture to issue stablecoins in Hong Kong
Standard Chartered has created a joint venture, Anchorpoint Financial, with Animoca Brands and HKT to seek a licence from the HKMA to issue fiat-pegged stablecoins following the enactment of Hong Kong’s stablecoin law. The move comes days after the new regulatory framework took effect on August 1, aiming to bring clarity and oversight to stablecoin issuance.
Solana’s Seeker Phone Enhances Crypto Usability with Streamlined Design
Solana Mobile’s second-generation Seeker smartphone has begun global shipping, delivering a lighter, faster device with integrated Seed Vault security and a mobile-native dApp store. Preorders exceeded 150,000 units across more than 50 countries, highlighting demand among active blockchain users.
Circle co-founder to create ‘AI-native’ bank after $18M raise
Sean Neville, co-founder of Circle, announced the launch of Catena Labs with $18 million in funding led by a16z Crypto to build the first fully regulated AI-native financial institution. The platform will leverage stablecoins for AI agent transactions, integrate an open-source Agent Commerce Kit for identity verification, and employ AI-specific risk and compliance controls.
Solana’s Seeker Mobile Crypto Phone Begins Global Shipments
Solana Mobile’s Seeker smartphone, designed for crypto-native usage, began shipping after pre-orders exceeded 150,000 units across 50 countries. The device improves battery life and usability over its Saga predecessor, targeting weekly on-chain transactors. The Seeker delivers mobile-first wallet integration and sub-second transaction speeds on the Solana network.
Babylon Launches Trustless Bitcoin Vaults Using BitVM3 Framework
Babylon introduced trustless Bitcoin vaults leveraging the new BitVM3 framework to enable BTC holders to deposit without intermediaries. The system uses off-chain computing and zero-knowledge proofs, aiming to facilitate BTC collateral in DeFi applications and native staking rewards. The white paper details on-chain vault security and programmable withdrawal conditions.
Base Says Sequencer Failure Caused Block Production Halt of 33 Minutes
Block production on Coinbase’s Base network was halted for 33 minutes due to a sequencer failover that did not recover automatically after on-chain congestion. Engineers manually intervened to restore operations, and Base plans infrastructure changes and enhanced test coverage to ensure backup sequencers are fully provisioned prior to failover events.
Base Outage: Sequencer Failover Left Network Offline for 33 Minutes
Coinbase’s Base network experienced a 33-minute outage after a sequencer failover attempted under congestion. The backup sequencer was not fully provisioned, requiring manual intervention to restore block production. Base plans infrastructure changes to prevent similar incidents.
Asia Briefing: Architect Launches Institutional-Grade Crypto Credit Ratings Service
Architect has introduced the first institutional-grade credit rating platform built for crypto, addressing the absence of a trusted risk assessment intermediary. The service leverages blockchain-based data to evaluate creditworthiness of miners and DePIN projects, aiming to unlock new financing channels in digital assets.
Base Network Suffers First Downtime Since 2023, Halts for 29 Minutes
Base, the Coinbase-backed Ethereum layer-2 blockchain, experienced a 29-minute outage due to an unsafe head delay. Network functions including block production, deposits and withdrawals were halted before a fix was deployed.
Solana's Jito Proposes Routing 100% of Block Engine Fees to DAO Treasury
Jito Labs has submitted governance proposal JIP-24 to redirect all Block Engine and Block Assembly Marketplace fees—currently split 50/50—into the Jito DAO treasury. If adopted, the DAO will control the full 6% protocol fee, empowering tokenholders and reducing the core team’s revenue share, while a subDAO plans budget allocations for yield initiatives.
Base Network Suffers 1st Downtime Since 2023, Halts Operations for 29 Minutes
Coinbase’s Base blockchain experienced a 29-minute outage on August 5, halting block production, deposits and withdrawals. The incident resulted from an “unsafe head delay” that was identified and resolved within minutes. With $4.2 billion TVL, the event underscores the network’s critical role and operational challenges.
Cardano community approves $71M treasury spend for network upgrades
Input Output Global secured approval to draw 96 million ADA (~$71 million) from the Cardano treasury for a 12-month plan focused on scalability, interoperability, and developer experience. Funding will be milestone-based, overseen by Intersect, with payments released upon delivery and monthly audits.