Hey crypto fam,
Here’s Your Week in Web3 at a Glance:
- The White House has inched closer to establishing a U.S. strategic Bitcoin reserve
- Bitcoin stays locked within the $75K-$79k range amid derivatives pressure, even as conviction buyers continue heavy accumulation
- Ethereum continues to dominate real-world asset markets as institutions favour its liquidity, security, and DeFi integration
- Stablecoins cross major adoption thresholds, but face rising regulatory scrutiny over financial stability risks
- Visa and global banks push forward with AI-driven “agentic payments” pilots, moving toward automated financial systems
- Regulatory pressure intensifies across stablecoins, exchanges, and digital asset frameworks as policy coordination accelerates
This week again showed how fast digital assets are becoming part of the mainstream economy, from the White House showing interest in a national Bitcoin reserve to Wall Street’s continued foray into tokenized finance. Bitcoin continues to show strength, even with some short-term ups and downs, as the market weighs confidence against caution. Ethereum still leads in real-world asset markets, stablecoins are being used more in payments despite some regulatory worries, and DeFi activity is shifting between different platforms. Meanwhile, new AI-powered payment systems and experiments with institutional infrastructure point to a slow shift toward more automated financial systems, even as global regulators increase their oversight.
Let’s break down the major stories of the week. If you’re not yet a subscriber, you might want to hit that button to get this update delivered weekly to your inbox.
Lead Story of the Week:
White House Nears Breakthrough on U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (more)
What happened:
- The White House is moving closer to full implementation of a U.S. strategic Bitcoin reserve, shifting the initiative from policy concept to execution
- The reserve was originally created in March 2025 via executive order by President Donald Trump, using seized Bitcoin from criminal and civil forfeitures
- Officials say a formal announcement on the next phase could be released within weeks, marking a key step in how the government manages digital assets
- White House adviser Patrick Witt said internal work is focused on building the legal and structural framework for integrating Bitcoin into federal balance sheet systems
- Lawmakers are also pushing to codify the reserve into law, with the BITCOIN Act being rebranded as the American Reserves Modernization Act (ARMA)
Current situation:
- The initiative is now progressing on two tracks: executive implementation and legislative formalization
- Current holdings are mainly based on seized assets, while expansion funding options such as gold reserve revaluation are still being explored
- The broader direction is clear: the U.S. is shifting toward a formal sovereign Bitcoin reserve, but legal clarity and funding structure are still being finalized. Read full story
Market Update
Bitcoin
- Bitcoin Slips Below $78K as Derivatives Sell-Off Blocks $80K Breakout (more)
- Bitcoin ‘Conviction Buyers’ Add 1.47M BTC in Q1 Despite Market Weakness (more)
- Saylor’s STRC Faces Pressure as Bitcoin Funding Tests mNAV Stability (more)
Macro Signals
- Bitcoin Swings Wildly as Iran–U.S. Proposal Sparks Market Jitters (more)
- Trump Rejects Iran’s Latest Peace Proposal, Raising Stakes for Oil and Crypto Markets (more)
Signal: Bitcoin’s long-term conviction remains strong, but short-term price action is under pressure. Derivatives-driven sell-offs have pushed BTC below $78K, blocking the $80K breakout, while “conviction buyers” continue accumulating significant supply. However, funding strain in leveraged structures like STRC is adding stress to market stability.
Macro volatility is rising, with geopolitical tensions between Iran and the U.S. and renewed uncertainty in oil markets amplifying swings. This has also affected Bitcoin, keeping it locked in a volatile, directionally uncertain phase, as investors tread with more caution.
Trading & Market Structure
- Ethereum Continues to Dominate the Real-World Asset (RWA) Sector (More)
- Ethereum dominates key RWA segments, holding majority share in stablecoins (59%), commodities (94%), and leading tokenized equities ($534M of $1.2B total).
- Despite growing activity on alternative chains, institutions continue to favour Ethereum due to deeper liquidity, stronger security history, and broader DeFi integration.
Stablecoin & Payments Update
- Meta Launches USDC Stablecoin Payouts for Creators via Polygon and Solana (More)
- Stablecoins Cross $1 Trillion Monthly Volume as Onchain Finance Expands (More)
- Sui Introduces USDsui Stablecoin to Expand Payments and DeFi Infrastructure (More)
DeFi & On-Chain Finance
- Apyx TVL Crosses $220M as DeFi Tranching Goes Live via Royco (More)
- Tokenized Real-World Assets Near $30B as Onchain Capital Continues to Grow (More)
- Tokenized Real Estate Hits $386M as Onchain Property Market Expands (More)
Industry Development
- Gate Joins Mastercard Program to Push Crypto Payments Into Real-World Use (More)
- Ripple Opens Full-Scale Regional DIFC Headquarters in Dubai (More)
- OKX Integrates BlackRock’s BUIDL Fund as Collateral in Institutional Trading Push (More)
Regulation & Policy Watch
- Blockchain Association Backs Fed Move to Eliminate ‘Reputation Risk’ in Crypto Banking Oversight (More)
- Banking Circle Expands Stablecoin Settlement Services After Regulatory Approval (More)
- South Korea Speeds Up Crypto Tax Plans Ahead of 2027 Rollout (More)
Market Movers
Top Gainers 📈
- OKZOO (AIOT) +186.5%
- Nockchain (NOCK) +97.1%
- RIV Coin (RIV) +83.9%
- Superform (UP) +80.6%
- Zerebro (ZEREBRO) +52.4%
Top Losers 📉
- MemeCore (M) −26.0%
- USD.AI (CHIP) −25.5%
- PlaysOut (PLAY) −25.3%
- RaveDAO (RAVE) −21.0%
- BabyBoomToken (BBT) −19.4%
Source: CoinGecko
Project Spotlight
Visa Rolls Out Agentic Payments Pilot in Singapore With Banks and Crypto Partners
Visa has launched a new “Agentic Ready” programme in Singapore, bringing together 13 banks and fintech firms to test AI-driven payments where software agents can initiate transactions on behalf of users.
The initiative stands as one of the clearest moves yet toward automated commerce, with financial institutions including DBS Bank, HSBC, Standard Chartered, and crypto-linked firm StraitsX participating in early trials.
Why it matters:
- Signals a shift from human-initiated payments to AI agents executing financial transactions autonomously
- Shows major banks and fintechs (DBS, HSBC, Standard Chartered) are actively testing programmable, automated payment systems
- Brings crypto infrastructure (like StraitsX and stablecoins) closer to traditional finance through machine-to-machine settlement experiments
- Marks Visa’s push to build the infrastructure layer for secure, scalable AI-driven global commerce
What to Watch Next Week
- Will U.S. policymakers move from “breakthrough signals” to formal execution of a strategic Bitcoin reserve, or remain stuck between executive rollout and legislative approval?
- Can Bitcoin stabilize after derivatives-driven volatility below $78K, or will macro shocks and geopolitical tensions push the market into a new directional phase?
- Will rising institutional accumulation and ETF-linked positioning translate into stronger, sustained conviction, or continue acting as a defensive rotation into Bitcoin dominance amid uncertainty?
- Is the rapid expansion of stablecoins, tokenized assets, and AI-driven payment pilots signalling a shift toward fully automated financial systems, or will regulatory friction slow real-world deployment?
Disclaimer: This roundup is intended solely for informational purposes and should not be considered trading or investment advice. Nothing herein should be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Trading or investing in cryptocurrencies carries a considerable risk of financial loss. Always conduct due diligence.
Enjoyed this? Bookmark DeFi Planet, explore related topics, and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and CoinMarketCap Community for seamless access to high-quality industry insights.
“Take control of your crypto portfolio with DEFI PLANET PRO, DeFi Planet’s suite of analytics tools.”
