Visa, EY & Google Go Crypto

Hey, it’s Marc ??

What a week! We’ve seen a wave of institutional adoption in payments and tokenization. Plus: The biggest VC funding round ever. ??

Let’s dive in ??

?? Read time: 3min | Focus: Crypto, Macro & AI

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?? Crypto & Macro

Crypto.com sues SEC ??

• Crypto.com just sued the SEC after being accused of operating as an unregistered broker-dealer.

• CEO Kris Marszalek says the company is "protecting the future of crypto in the U.S." and staying "very bullish" on the industry.

Be smart: The agency, under Chair Gary Gensler, has turned to litigation to set crypto policy, bypassing clear rule making.

Keeping track: Who else is in a battle against the SEC?

• Coinbase
• Ripple
• Kraken
• Binance
• Uniswap Labs

Why it matters: This isn’t just about one company. This is a power game. These lawsuits could set a key precedent for the entire industry.

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Banking Reimagined with Tokens ??

Visa has launched the Visa Tokenized Asset Platform (VTAP) on Ethereum.

The goal? Enabling financial institutions to issue fiat-backed tokens on blockchain networks.

It’s first customer? BBVA. The 2nd biggest bank in Spain, with over €750B in assets.

What you should know: Visa has partnered with BBVA to use VTAP to launch a stablecoin in 2025.

Why it matters: Visa's entry into tokenization with VTAP signals institutional adoption of blockchain technology. With a strong network of merchants and users, it can connect traditional finance with decentralized finance through VTAP, empowering RWA (Real-world asset) space.

Key Features of VTAP:

• Easy Integration: Access to a complete suite of VTAP services via APIs
• Programmability: Supports digitization and automation of existing workflows
• Interoperability: Enables interactions across multiple permissioned and public blockchain networks

Stepping back: Visa began its journey into tokenization 10 years ago. It has issued over 10B payment tokens under Visa Token Service (VTS).

By the data: The tokenized market capitalization is expected to reach around $2T by 2030, driven by the adoption of tokenization in mutual funds, bonds, ETNs, loans, securitization, and alternative funds, excluding cryptocurrencies.

• Tokenized payments have helped save $650M in fraud within the last year.
• Businesses globally have generated over $40B in additional eCommerce revenue through the adoption of tokenized payments.

What they’re saying:

“With the introduction of VTAP we are once again setting the pace for the industry. We're excited to leverage our experience with tokenization to help banks integrate blockchain technologies into their operations.”

So what? Visa is tackling tokenization’s cold start problem head-on by adding credibility and accessibility.

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More Crypto Highlights:

• PayPal completed its first business transaction using its PYUSD stablecoin, paying an invoice to Ernst & Young via Coinbase. Link
• Grayscale has launched its decentralized AI fund for accredited investors, spotlighting altcoins like NEAR, TAO, RNDR, and FIL. Link
• ...

?? See more highlights

??Artificial Intelligence

Meta introduces MOVIE GEN??

Meta just dropped Meta Movie Gen, a generative AI tool designed to create and edit videos based on simple text prompts.

Why it matters: Meta has big plans to bring Movie Gen to creative professionals. By removing the technical and financial barriers to high-quality video creation, MOVIE GEN could transform how videos are created and consumed.

Applications for Brands? Read the full story??

More AI Highlights:

• Microsoft has officially stopped production of its HoloLens 2 headset, with support lasting until December 2027. Link
• OpenAI introduced ChatGPT's new Canvas interface allows users to collaborate more effectively on writing and coding projects. Link
• ...

?? See more highlights

That’s all for now, folks.

As always, subscribe here for the full edition.

Talk soon,

– Marc & Team

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