What a week in crypto! From the ECB bringing central bank money to tokenized finance to Binance betting $100M on Circle and BlackRock taking portfolios onchain, institutions kept reshaping digital finance this week 🏦
🇪🇺 The
@ECB launches Pontes, letting banks settle wholesale tokenized asset transactions in central bank money. Santander, Deutsche Bank, Société Générale and Cecabank are among the first participants, with full rollout expected by 2028.
💵
@Binance invests $100M in
@Circle as part of a five-year deal to expand USDC, with a focus on emerging markets. Binance bought Class A shares at a 5% discount, with a lock-up of up to two years.
📊
@BlackRock and
@Ondo Finance launch Ondo Intelligent Portfolios, packaging three BlackRock-designed strategies into single tokens on Ethereum and BNB Chain for eligible investors outside the U.S.
𝕏
@X brings trading to the timeline. Its Cashtag Partner Program connects U.S. users with Coinbase, Gemini, Kraken, Interactive Brokers and Moomoo, while X itself does not execute trades or hold assets.
🏆
@Datablocks_app wins the MERGE Startup Contest 2026 among 12 international Web3 projects, with Shellment and Orion Finance completing the podium. All three will pitch on the main stage at MERGE Madrid.
Join us at MERGE Madrid (October 27 to 29) where these conversations shape tomorrow's infrastructure.