Finance

Stablecoins: The Future of Finance or a Threat to Stability?

Digital assets, particularly cryptocurrencies, are often seen as speculative tools—volatile, risky, and relegated to the edges of mainstream finance. However, beyond the fluctuating price charts and meme coin crazes, something more profound appears to be emerging. The ascent of stablecoins—and their expanding role in cross-border payments, treasury management, and tokenization—is sparking a seismic shift in the global financial system.

In 2024 alone, stablecoin transactions exceeded a remarkable $27.6 trillion, surpassing the combined transaction volume of Visa and Mastercard. Companies like Circle, Coinbase, and Tether have been major players in this space, though many may still be unaware of its growing momentum. Stablecoins have gained particular traction in regions like Latin America and Africa, where local currencies are often viewed as unstable. What’s unfolding is not merely a payment trend—it’s a fundamental transformation in how money flows in an increasingly digital world.

Investor confidence in the sector is also on the rise. Recently, Utila secured an $18 million Series A round, led by Nyca Partners, with participation from seed investors like Wing VC and NFX, as well as venture funds including Haymaker Ventures, Gaingels, and Cerca Partners.

TECH

The End of the Tech Perk Era: Employees Brace for Change

A combination of economic factors, pandemic-driven shifts, and political pressures is reshaping tech culture. From major tech giants to Silicon Valley startups, companies are striving to "do more with less." Leaders are no longer hesitant to assert their authority and rally around a relentless strategy.

For years, Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke was known for growing the $125 billion e-commerce company while avoiding the grueling hours typically associated with startup founders.

"My job is incredible, but it's still just a job. Family and personal health come before everything else," he shared in a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter) just before the pandemic, as reported by Business Insider at the time. "The only times I worked more than 40 hours in a week were when I truly felt the need to do so."

CRYPTO

XRP Price Soars: What Ripple’s SEC Victory Means for the Crypto Market

XRP was edging higher on Thursday, despite some investors taking the opportunity to lock in profits after a recent rally.

The token, which facilitates transactions on Ripple Labs' digital-payments platform, began the day in the red but gradually climbed, according to Kraken data. By midmorning, it was up 0.7%, reaching $2.51.

On Wednesday, XRP surged around 9% following a post by Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse on X, revealing that the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had dropped its case against the company, bringing an end to a legal battle that had lasted over four years. The SEC declined to comment when contacted by Barron’s.

Earlier this month, former President Donald Trump listed XRP as one of the cryptocurrencies that could potentially be added to the U.S. government's crypto stockpile. Garlinghouse also expressed confidence on Wednesday that an exchange-traded fund (ETF) tracking XRP’s price would be approved later this year.

These kinds of developments are the kind of catalysts XRP needs to continue its rally, especially now that Ripple’s protracted legal dispute with the SEC seems to be resolved.

In a video address to the Digital Asset Summit 2025 in New York on Thursday, Trump stated that his administration’s plans would ensure the U.S. becomes the global leader in crypto. "We will ensure that the U.S. is the crypto capital of the world," he said.

Trump also claimed his administration had ended the "weaponization" of the legal and regulatory system against crypto and called on Congress to create new legislation for the sector. "With the right legal framework, institutions large and small will be able to partake in one of the most exciting technological revolutions in history," he added. "It’s so big. It’s as big as it gets."