DeFi

DeFi eliminates intermediaries by using smart contracts on blockchains to provide financial services like lending, borrowing, and trading. In 2026, the "DeFi 3.0" era is defined by Institutional DeFi and the integration of Real-World Assets (RWA). From liquidity provisioning on Uniswap to advanced lending on Aave, this tag tracks the evolution of autonomous financial systems, yield optimization, and the rise of AI-driven portfolio management in the decentralized economy.

68165 Articles
Created: 2026/02/02 18:52
Updated: 2026/02/02 18:52
DeFi Education Fund Launches Nonprofit with Tax-Deductible Donations

DeFi Education Fund Launches Nonprofit with Tax-Deductible Donations

PANews reported on August 14th that The DeFi Education Fund (DEF), one of Washington's largest decentralized finance lobbying groups, is launching the DeFi Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization designed to

Author: PANews
Tempo, the new public blockchain, is a collaboration between Stripe and Paradigm. Project analysis and strategic intentions are analyzed.

Tempo, the new public blockchain, is a collaboration between Stripe and Paradigm. Project analysis and strategic intentions are analyzed.

Author: Zz, ChainCatcher In August 2025, a job posting briefly posted on the website of the crypto lobbying group "Blockchain Association" revealed for the first time that financial technology giant

Author: PANews
DeFi Education Fund, Andreesen Horowitz Demand SEC Create Blockchain ‘Safe Harbor’

DeFi Education Fund, Andreesen Horowitz Demand SEC Create Blockchain ‘Safe Harbor’

Crypto advocacy initiative the DeFi Education Fund and Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) are encouraging the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to develop a “safe harbor” for apps pertaining to the blockchain sector, according to an August 13 blog post published on the a16z website. SEC Asked to Create Blockchain Safe Harbor Both the DeFi Education Fund and a16z submitted proposals to the SEC on August 12 in a bid to persuade the federal regulator to create a “safe harbor” for blockchain-powered apps. We were thrilled to partner with @a16zcrypto in this safe harbor submission to the SEC. To learn more about our submission, check out our blog post in the reply 🫡 https://t.co/VObzHJoUBR pic.twitter.com/cYBEa4Z0Uq — DeFi Education Fund (@fund_defi) August 13, 2025 “The SEC has previously taken the position—through enforcement actions and Wells notices—that developers of apps could be deemed brokers if they enabled users to transact in securities,” the blog post reads. As a solution, the two entities posit that the SEC provides a “rebuttable presumption” that software interfaces used for peer-to-peer transactions would not be engaged in “broker-dealer activity.” “Concerns about the SEC’s prior approach aren’t just about inconvenient regulatory burdens,” the blog post states. “Requiring broker registration for neutral apps would force software developers to take on roles and responsibilities they never assumed—acting as gatekeepers, taking custody, and intermediating activity—all of which undermine the benefits of blockchain systems and create new risks for users,” the blog post continues. Will the SEC Go Through With the Crypto-Focused Proposal? News of a16z and the DeFi Education Fund’s submitted proposals comes just months after a16z urged SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce to construct a “digital collectible” safe harbor at the federal regulator . “The Commission should create a safe harbor (either through a Commission-level policy statement, by providing Commission-level guidance, or by adopting formal rules) that provides objective conditions under which ordinary transactions of collectible tokens are excluded from securities laws,” a16z’s March letter to Peirce states. Taken together, the proposals reflect a continuing push by industry advocates to persuade the SEC to carve out regulatory space that shields blockchain developers from unintended legal obligations while preserving the technology’s core benefits.

Author: CryptoNews
GENIUS Act Bombshell? Banking Groups Demand Stablecoin Interest Loophole Close Before Cash Flees

GENIUS Act Bombshell? Banking Groups Demand Stablecoin Interest Loophole Close Before Cash Flees

Key Takeaways: U.S. banking associations want Congress to close an interest-payment loophole in the GENIUS Act for stablecoin affiliates. The debate could expand into a broader discussion on the role of U.S. stablecoins in international payment systems. Future political shifts may influence whether current restrictions are tightened, relaxed, or adapted to global regulatory norms. Major U.S. banking trade groups are calling for Congress to block stablecoin issuers and affiliated firms from paying interest to token holders, warning that the practice could drain deposits from banks and reduce lending to households and businesses. In digital asset market structure legislation, it is important that the requirements in the GENIUS Act prohibiting the payment of interest and yield on stablecoins are not evaded. The latest from BPI, @ABABankers , @ConsumerBankers , @FSForum and @ICBA : https://t.co/YOta4d4UDA — Bank Policy Institute (@bankpolicy) August 12, 2025 In a joint statement published recently, organizations including the American Bankers Association, Bank Policy Institute, Consumer Bankers Association, Financial Services Forum, and Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) said current provisions under the GENIUS Act leave a gap that allows exchanges and related entities to offer yield on payment stablecoins, despite a statutory ban on issuers doing so. GENIUS Act Under the Magnifying Glass The groups argued that without an explicit prohibition covering distribution partners, the intent of the law will be undermined. They pointed to Treasury Department estimates that stablecoins capable of offering interest could result in up to $6.6 trillion in deposit outflows, intensifying funding pressures for banks and money market funds. The statement emphasized that bank deposits remain a key source of loan funding, while money market funds operate under securities regulations that permit them to offer yield. Payment stablecoins, the groups noted, are not structured to fund loans and do not face the same supervisory oversight. “Incentivizing a shift from bank deposits and money market funds to stablecoins would end up increasing lending costs and reducing loans to businesses and consumer households,” the statement said. Under the GENIUS Act, payment stablecoin issuers are prohibited from offering interest, yield, or other financial rewards. The banking associations said exchanges and affiliates acting as distribution channels can still provide such incentives under current language, creating a pathway for indirect interest payments that sidestep the restriction. Stablecoins, the Trump Administration, and Political Shifts They warned that joint marketing arrangements between issuers and exchanges could accelerate deposit outflows during periods of financial stress, reducing credit supply and raising borrowing costs for Main Street borrowers. The letter urged lawmakers to extend the prohibition to all entities facilitating stablecoin transactions, including affiliated platforms and intermediaries, to preserve the stability of traditional funding sources. Looking ahead, the debate over the GENIUS Act could intersect with political shifts, especially if a Trump administration revisits federal priorities on digital asset oversight. Any future policy recalibration could influence how aggressively agencies enforce or revise restrictions on stablecoin activity, including interest-related provisions. Industry participants are also watching whether international developments will affect U.S. positions. If other major jurisdictions permit yield-bearing stablecoins under regulated frameworks, pressure could mount on Congress and regulators to balance domestic credit stability concerns with the competitive positioning of U.S.-issued stablecoins in cross-border markets. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) How might closing the stablecoin interest loophole affect global payments? Tighter rules could limit the appeal of U.S.-issued stablecoins abroad, especially in markets where regulated yield-bearing tokens are permitted. What role do payment stablecoins play in cross-border trade? They can facilitate near-instant settlement in multiple currencies, offering an alternative to traditional correspondent banking systems in international commerce. What other industries could be impacted by changes to stablecoin regulation? E-commerce platforms, remittance providers, and decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols could all be affected depending on how payment token rules evolve.

Author: CryptoNews
President Trump Signs Order Letting Americans Add Crypto to 401(k) Plans – Here’s the Risk

President Trump Signs Order Letting Americans Add Crypto to 401(k) Plans – Here’s the Risk

An official White House fact sheet notes that more than 90 million Americans participate in employer-sponsored defined-contribution plans. Data from the Investment Company Institute further indicates that total U.S. retirement assets were valued at $43.4 trillion as of March 31, 2025. These statistics demonstrate that the majority of Americans plan to have enough financial assets to eventually retire. However, most people are currently restricted from investing in alternative assets. This will soon change, though. U.S. President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order (EO) that will allow American workers to add alternative assets to the ir 401(k) portfolios , including private equity, real estate, and cryptocurrency. HUGE NEWS: Crypto can now be part of your 401k. @POTUS just signed an executive order allowing digital assets in retirement accounts — another major step toward mainstream adoption. A reminder that when we advocate together, leaders listen. https://t.co/sIfVPCARAY — Stand With Crypto🛡️ (@standwithcrypto) August 7, 2025 Milestone Moment for the Crypto Sector While this EO is meaningful for American workers, it also represents a major milestone for the crypto sector . Petr Kozyakov, CEO of payment infrastructure platform Mercuryo, told Cryptonews that the inclusion of Bitcoin in 401(k) plans reflects the growing mainstream acceptance of digital assets. “For years, alternative investments have been a staple of institutional and high-net-worth investor portfolios, offering diversification and potentially higher returns,” Koyzakov said. “By allowing a small, measured allocation to Bitcoin, everyday retirement savers have the opportunity to allocate to digital gold.” Echoing this, a Paxos spokesperson told Cryptonews that the blockchain infrastructure provider has long viewed crypto as a legitimate and advantageous investment. “We are still waiting for some details of this executive order, and there are some administrative hurdles; however, this is a huge milestone for mainstream adoption,” the spokesperson said. They added that this move will likely encourage a much larger customer base to hold crypto or tokenized assets, with the backing of Paxos’ secure and regulated products. Crypto is now included in 401(k) retirement plans. With roughly $9 trillion in current 401(k) assets, a minimum 1% crypto allocation over two years could channel $90 billion into crypto markets. Prices are rising preemptively as this narrative front-runs capital deployment. pic.twitter.com/w6XmsqrhQR — Tide Capital (@tidecap) August 8, 2025 Risks Associated with Crypto in 401(k) Plans On the flip side, there are a number of risks associated with adding crypto to a 401(k) portfolio . Miles Fuller, director of government solutions at Taxbit, told Cryptonews that even before the recently signed EO, there was no legal barrier to 401(k)s offering crypto investments. Yet Fuller noted that the main issue was—and still is—about risk. “Employers and, more specifically, plan administrators hired by employers, are fiduciaries subject to a variety of rules under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA),” Fuller said. “Those rules may impose liability on the plan administrators if things go wrong (think investment losses) for plan participants (employees) and the fiduciary requirements were not met.” Fuller added that the fiduciary rules set forth by ERISA are not always clear or easy to apply. As such, administrators tend to take a conservative approach to plan administration to minimize liability risk. “The volatility of crypto as an investment class makes it harder, but not impossible, to manage that fiduciary risk as a plan administrator, which has resulted in crypto being avoided historically,” Fuller elaborated. While this may be, Fuller pointed out that plan administrators like ForUsAll and Fidelity are already managing that risk by offering plans with direct crypto investment options for employees. Additionally, Fuller pointed out that the recently signed EO doesn’t contemplate direct investment in crypto. Rather, the document refers to indirect investments in digital assets, such as holdings in actively managed investment vehicles that may be investing in crypto. “This is likely managed mutual funds or private equity funds that invest in crypto, rather than direct crypto investment for employees,” Fuller said. “With that said, consumer protection and financial education are necessary elements as well. The funds involved here are real people’s retirement nest eggs, not everyday investments.” Combating Risk in 401(k)s While market volatility seems to be the biggest risk associated with adding crypto to 401(k) portfolios, Kyle Chassé—founder of MV Global—told Cryptonews that this risk can be combated with a long-term, dollar-cost averaging strategy. “Investing in a 401(k) is inherently a multi-decade play, which perfectly aligns with the long-term growth trajectory of crypto,” Chassé said. He added that this risk can be mitigated by investing in a diversified portfolio of crypto assets, as well as a mix of other traditional assets. “Investing with qualified custodians and taking advantage of BTC or ETH exchange-traded products are also great ways to mitigate risk.” When Will Americans Add Crypto to Their 401(k)? Risks aside, the implementation of crypto investments in 401(k) plans will likely take time. Q. Ghaemi, a member of investment platform Swan Bitcoin’s private team, told Cryptonews that this policy adoption will likely take months or even a year. “Regulators still need to finalize guidance, and plan providers need to build compliant offerings. The demand is there, but the infrastructure and fiduciary frameworks need to catch up,” Ghaemi stated. While this may be, Fuller noted that adoption could be immediate. “Because the law already allows it and the EO clearly indicates a favorable view, I anticipate that we will reasonably quickly see a few other plan administrators begin to allow these options,” he remarked. Fuller added that growth is likely to continue once the U.S. Department of Labor completes its review of policies and regulations over the next six months. “The most interesting downstream impact will be seeing what new investment vehicles begin to take shape that include crypto as a component. Those new products may take some additional time to be designed and go through the approval process, but some already exist in the form of crypto-based exchange-traded funds that could be offered within 401(k) plans,” he said.

Author: CryptoNews
Google Play’s new crypto rules could lock DeFi apps out of major markets

Google Play’s new crypto rules could lock DeFi apps out of major markets

Google Play's new rules could ban DEXs from its app stores in the U.S., EU, and other major jurisdictions.

Author: Crypto.news
Solana price pushes past $200 on increased institutional confidence

Solana price pushes past $200 on increased institutional confidence

Solana has once again touched the $200 level, backed by institutional interest and DeFi growth.

Author: Crypto.news
Coinbase partners with Squads to accelerate USDC adoption on Solana

Coinbase partners with Squads to accelerate USDC adoption on Solana

Coinbase is teaming up with Squads to bolster the adoption of the USDC stablecoin on the Solana blockchain. Squads, a decentralized finance layer on Solana (SOL), announced the strategic partnership with Coinbase on Aug. 13, noting the collaboration aims at…

Author: Crypto.news
3 key reasons Cardano could hit new highs in 2025, and 1 other coin to watch closely

3 key reasons Cardano could hit new highs in 2025, and 1 other coin to watch closely

Cardano gains momentum as ADA builds quietly, while another under-the-radar project heats up for a potential breakout. #partnercontent

Author: Crypto.news
Centrifuge COO Jürgen Blumberg: “DeFi Is Having Its ETF Moment”

Centrifuge COO Jürgen Blumberg: “DeFi Is Having Its ETF Moment”

After more than two decades scaling exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and capital markets businesses at Goldman Sachs, Invesco, and BlackRock, Jürgen Blumberg has joined Centrifuge as chief operating officer. Centrifuge is a DeFi platform for tokenizing real-world assets (RWAs) and using them as collateral in decentralized lending. Blumberg believes the decentralized finance sector is now experiencing a turning point—one that mirrors the transformative rise of ETFs in traditional finance. From ETFs to DeFi Disruption Asked why he chose this moment to leave traditional finance for DeFi, Blumberg frames it in the context of what he calls the industry’s “ETF moment.” He sees clear parallels between the early skepticism around ETFs and the current perceptions of DeFi, noting that both began as disruptive innovations challenging entrenched systems. “I was always fascinated by the markets—how order books work, how instruments exchange on different venues,” Blumberg says. “The first five years of my career were in trading, and then I moved into my first ETF role. Even back then, I was convinced ETFs would replace mutual funds. It took 15 years, but now ETFs as a category are bigger than mutual funds.” He sees parallels between ETFs’ early days and the current DeFi sector : “ETFs were a new technology in traditional finance. Today, DeFi is a completely new ecosystem aiming to disrupt, offering solutions to the cost, time, and access limitations of traditional products. In DeFi, everybody can access markets—24/7.” Clearing Misconceptions About DeFi Blumberg explains that many in traditional finance view DeFi as volatile or risky, but that perception overlooks its structural advantages. “Those who take the time to understand DeFi will see it’s similar to traditional finance—just with different terminology. TVL is the same as AUM, liquidity pools are like exchanges, and derivatives exist on both sides. It’s a fascinating world with the power to disrupt how things are done today.” Tokenization: Not All Tokens Are Equal Recalling an old ETF industry saying—“not every ETF is created equal”—Blumberg applies it to tokenization. The phrase means that while all ETFs fall under the same general category, their structure, risk profile, and quality can vary. “There are tokens that are derivative structures and not fully backed by the underlying asset. Then there are fund tokens, like ours, that are fully backed, giving holders direct access to the assets. Just because something is called a token doesn’t mean it carries the same structure or risk.” Global Regulatory Competition and Centrifuge’s Growth Blumberg also sees regulatory momentum happening worldwide. “At the moment, progress is coming from the U.S. But Europe is moving forward too—Luxembourg is making progress, the EU has MiCA , and many ETP issuers choose Switzerland as their domicile. In Asia, Hong Kong and Singapore are advancing in certain areas. There’s a global competition to attract the smartest ideas and allow controlled innovation.” Centrifuge, he adds, is on the cusp of major progress. “We’re approaching the $1 billion TVL mark. With partnerships such as S&P and others we’ll soon announce, we’re well positioned to keep growing.” ONE. BILLION. DOLLARS. TVL.🔥 The flywheel is spinning. We've been heads down building since 2017, and now our onchain ecosystem has hit its first billion. The first billy was the hardest. The next ones are inevitable. 🚀 Onwards and upwards!!! pic.twitter.com/Ip4pq0qDzY — Centrifuge (@centrifuge) August 12, 2025 For Blumberg, the decisive reason to leave the security of large financial institutions was his conviction that the most meaningful innovation in the next decade will come from startups, not incumbents.

Author: CryptoNews