Stablecoin

On 12 December 2025, Hex Trust announced a wrapped version of XRP designed to operate across multiple blockchains, initially launching on Solana. The new wXRP token is fully backed by native XRP held in regulated, audited custody and connects via LayerZero's OFT standard to support cross-chain DeFi use cases. The rollout begins with more than $100 million in total value locked, creating new liquidity routes and trading pairs with Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin as the XRP Ledger upgrades to v3.0.0.

DAS Research outlines Ripple's strategy to make XRP core payments infrastructure, highlighting Q2 2025 ODL volumes of $1.3 billion and growing institutional adoption. The report notes regulatory milestones in 2025 and surging on-chain activity since Q3 2024, as Ripple integrates RLUSD and expands settlement corridors.

In a report released this week, Global Ledger said sanctioned exchange Garantex rebuilt an on‑chain payout system, with linked Bitcoin and Ethereum wallets holding more than $34 million and at least $25 million already disbursed. Funds flow through Tornado Cash and cross‑chain bridges, while A7A5, launched in early 2025, has reportedly supported over $87 billion in volume.

Do Kwon received a 15-year U.S. federal sentence for deceiving investors during TerraUSD's collapse. He pleaded guilty to two counts, while prosecutors sought at least 12 years and the defense asked for no more than five. He also agreed to an $80 million SEC civil penalty and a ban on crypto-related activities.

Michael Selig, Donald Trump's nominee to lead the CFTC, faces a full Senate confirmation following a 12–11 party-line committee approval last month. The decision comes after the CFTC's Dec 4 move to permit spot crypto trading on futures exchanges and a Dec 8 pilot allowing Bitcoin, Ether, and USDC as derivatives collateral.

Terraform Labs founder Do Kwon was sentenced to 15 years in a New York federal court on December 12, 2025. The case involves fraud linked to TerraUSD and Luna, whose 2022 collapse erased about $40 billion in market value. He pleaded guilty in August to wire fraud and conspiracy, and prosecutors sought additional financial penalties.

On a Tuesday in late 2025, Poland's government re-approved the same crypto-asset regulation bill that President Karol Nawrocki vetoed, intensifying an institutional clash over how to implement MiCA-style rules. Prime Minister Donald Tusk and key ministers argue the law is needed to counter security threats, while critics warn its strict licensing, KNF powers and penalties could damage a market serving around three million users and exceed EU requirements. The deadlock leaves Poland as the only EU state without national MiCA-aligned crypto rules ahead of the July 1, 2026 compliance date.

On December 11, 2025, World, Sam Altman's biometric identity project, unveiled an app update adding end-to-end encrypted chat and in-chat crypto payments. The announcement said World Wallet supports USDC, EURC, wrapped Bitcoin and Ethereum, plus 100+ tokens, and introduces virtual accounts for send, deposit and withdraw. Altman and CEO Alex Blania outlined privacy features at a San Francisco event.

YouTube has introduced an option for eligible U.S. creators to receive their earnings in PayPal's U.S. dollar–pegged stablecoin PYUSD, according to PayPal executive May Zabaneh. The feature relies on PayPal's existing payouts infrastructure, reflects Big Tech's gradual embrace of stablecoins, and follows broader moves by PayPal and other firms to expand real-world uses for blockchain-based payment assets.

Binance said on Thursday it added fee-free USD1 pairs with Ether, Solana and BNB, further integrating the Trump family–linked stablecoin. The exchange will convert remaining BUSD collateral to USD1 at a one-to-one rate within a week, while USD1’s market value stands at $2.7 billion and is issued on Ethereum and BNB Chain.