$106K Bitcoin A ‘Safer’ Buy Than $25K—XRP Lawyer Drops Bombshell

Visa and Chainlink just pulled off a slick cross-border transaction test using Hong Kong’s digital currency (e-HKD) and stablecoins, with big names like ANZ and Fidelity International in the mix. This wasn’t just a tech demo—it’s a real-world peek at how programmable money could streamline global payments, all running on blockchain.

Editor’s Note: Cross-border payments are notoriously slow and expensive, but this trial shows how CBDCs and stablecoins could change the game. If this tech scales up, it might mean faster, cheaper international transfers—something businesses and travelers would cheer for. Plus, it’s another step toward mainstream blockchain adoption, with heavyweights like Visa backing the play.

Avalon Labs just made a bold move by destroying 80 million of its AVL tokens—effectively taking them out of circulation forever. This isn’t just a random cleanup; it’s the start of a deliberate "deflationary phase" designed to make the remaining tokens scarcer and, in theory, more valuable over time. Think of it like a company buying back its own shares to boost stock prices, but in the crypto world.

Editor’s Note: Token burns like this are a big deal in crypto because they signal a project’s commitment to long-term value. By reducing supply, Avalon Labs is betting that demand will hold steady or grow, which could benefit holders. It’s also a confidence play—showing they’re not just printing endless tokens. For investors, it’s a sign the team is thinking strategically, but as always in crypto, the real test is whether the market agrees.

UMA, a cryptocurrency, just shot up by over 26% after bouncing off a key support level, sparking excitement among traders. But the rally hit a snag at $1.80, and now everyone’s watching to see if that support holds—because if it doesn’t, the gains could vanish as quickly as they appeared.

Editor’s Note: For crypto traders, this is a classic high-stakes moment—UMA’s recent surge could either be the start of a bigger rally or just a fleeting spike before a crash. It’s a reminder of how volatile crypto markets can be, where fortunes can flip in hours based on whether key price levels hold or break.

Paraguay's government is scrambling to contain the fallout after President Santiago Peña's X (formerly Twitter) account was apparently hacked. The compromised account posted a bogus announcement in English claiming Bitcoin had been approved as legal tender—a move that would've mirrored El Salvador's controversial crypto adoption. Officials quickly flagged the post as fraudulent, but not before it sparked confusion online.

Editor’s Note: This isn't just about a rogue tweet—it's a reminder of how vulnerable high-profile social media accounts can be to misinformation. With crypto scams already rampant, a hacked world leader's account could easily manipulate markets or erode public trust. Paraguay's swift denial helps, but the incident fuels broader concerns about the risks of blending politics and unverified digital platforms.

SEC Chair Paul Atkins made waves at a recent crypto roundtable by throwing his support behind decentralized finance (DeFi) and arguing against mandatory financial intermediaries. He framed crypto self-custody—holding digital assets without middlemen—as fundamentally aligned with American values of private property rights.

Editor’s Note: This isn’t just another dry regulatory speech—it’s a signal that key figures in the SEC might be warming to the idea of DeFi operating outside traditional banking structures. For crypto advocates, Atkins’ stance is a win, suggesting potential regulatory flexibility ahead. But it also raises bigger questions: How far will the SEC go in accommodating decentralization, and what does that mean for investor protections? Either way, it’s a notable shift in tone from a regulator often seen as skeptical of crypto’s wilder ambitions.