DeFi News page 13

Both tech giants are recruiting specialists tied to stablecoin work, according to reports from CryptoBriefing and crypto.news. Apple and Google are recruiting for positions tied to stablecoins, according to separate reports from CryptoBriefing and crypto.news.

A proposed SEC innovation exemption for tokenized stocks may hand structural advantages to firms already active in crypto infrastructure. Analysts covering the crypto and brokerage sectors say Coinbase, Robinhood and Circle could be among the first firms to benefit from a Securities and Exchange Commission proposal covering tokenized stocks.

The multi-asset trading venue will launch its token through an initial exchange offering, according to a company announcement. Monochrome Exchange has announced plans to launch its native token, $MCR, through an initial exchange offering. The platform describes itself as a multi-asset trading venue. The news was reported by Finbold, Crypto Daily, and Brave New Coin.

A single exploiter reportedly hit both AI-focused crypto projects, sending NuNet's NTX token crashing to an all-time low. Fetch.ai and NuNet, two protocols operating in the decentralized artificial intelligence sector, were exploited by the same attacker, according to reports from BeInCrypto and The Cryptonomist. The combined losses across both platforms reached approximately $2 million.

Banks and asset managers are prioritizing institutional clients as they roll out tokenized deposits and money-market products. Large financial institutions are moving into tokenization, but their early products are built for institutional clients rather than everyday consumers. According to CoinDesk, Wall Street firms are focusing tokenized money initiatives on banks, asset managers, and trading desks.

The crypto infrastructure firm moves closer to operating under a federal banking charter after clearing an initial regulatory hurdle. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has granted Bastion conditional approval to move forward with a national trust bank charter.

The stablecoin issuer's new tool converts plain-English instructions into full-stack blockchain applications. Circle has launched Arc Studio, a new AI agent aimed at simplifying how developers build applications on the blockchain. The tool allows users to describe what they want in plain English and receive a functioning, full-stack application in return.

Galaxy's data shows venture investment in crypto and blockchain startups jumped roughly 31% from the prior quarter. Venture capital deployed into crypto and blockchain startups totaled $5.68 billion in the second quarter, according to figures published by research firm Galaxy.

Treasury's Iran sanctions filing is the sole primary document on record this cycle; three widely carried launches are company announcements with no regulator behind them. Treasury's Iran sanctions filing is the sole primary document on record this cycle; three widely carried launches are company announcements with no regulator behind them.

Singapore-based dtcpay adds SBI Group as an investor, growing its Series A round to US$25 million. dtcpay has expanded its Series A funding round to US$25 million, with backing from SBI Group. The announcement was reported by Fintech News Singapore and The Block on September 18, 2026.

The collaboration is designed to help smaller regional lenders offer digital asset and stablecoin services to their customers. Coinbase has entered into a partnership with Stablecore aimed at bringing crypto capabilities into US community banks, CryptoBriefing reported.

The identity-focused crypto project expands into payments through a partnership with payments giant Stripe. World has introduced World Money, a self-custodial application described as a financial 'super app,' in more than 150 countries. The launch was reported by crypto.news and Cointelegraph on September 18.

The upgrade introduces on-chain lending features that could lock XRP for periods ranging from minutes to decades, according to reporting on the release. The XRP Ledger has launched version 3.4.0, bringing a set of lending protocol amendments to the network's base layer.

The crypto wealth platform says users can now move USDC onto Arc without paying steep third-party bridging costs SwissBorg has integrated direct USDC deposits on Arc Network, according to reporting from CryptoBriefing and The Cryptonomist. The update lets users send Circle's dollar-pegged stablecoin straight into Arc without relying on a separate bridging service.

The tokenization platform is expanding its real-world asset lineup onto BNB Chain, using RedStone's oracle infrastructure to support the new offering. OpenEden has expanded its tokenized fixed-income offerings to BNB Chain. The platform is bringing a high-yield bond fund backed by BNY, one of the world's largest custodian banks, onto the network.

The banking and payments firm says its rails already handle billions in volume for major fintech clients. Column has introduced stablecoin infrastructure designed to let users move between USDC and USDT instantly. The company positions the launch as a direct answer to a persistent friction point in digital dollar markets.

The New York senator says a recent setback does not mark the end of efforts to pass the Clarity Act. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said Democrats have not abandoned efforts to pass the Clarity Act, according to The Block. She described a recent setback in the legislative process as temporary, not final.

The test explored moving funds directly between Japan and South Korea using stablecoins instead of traditional banking rails. Ripple has completed a pilot program with Japan's SBI Holdings and South Korea's Kyobo Life Insurance to test direct stablecoin transfers between the two countries.