Latest news with #blockchain
Forbes
6 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
How Blockchain Is Reshaping Commerce, One Wallet At A Time
Jamie Elkaleh is the Chief Marketing Officer at Bitget Wallet. In the world of shopping, blockchain is emerging as an undeniable game changer; from enabling faster, borderless payments to reducing fees and improving transaction efficiency, the possibilities are endless and exciting. One of blockchain's most remarkable capabilities is facilitating true democratization, empowering businesses and individuals: Web3 provides merchants with lower costs and eliminates reliance on banks, offering relief from geographic, political and regulatory complications. It functions transparently; everything is available on a public ledger, allowing businesses and consumers a clear view for navigating the digital economy. It creates access to digital-first customers, as well as an opportunity to "bank the unbanked," helping those traditionally excluded from financial services due to restrictive requirements. Blockchain wallets are no longer just a more sophisticated version of electronic money. They serve an array of real-world purposes beyond just storing assets: Users can earn interest, shop and send instant, low-cost borderless payments—especially for remittances, which are growing rapidly worldwide. With Web3 and blockchain, transactions that used to take days and involve high fees can now happen in seconds with much lower costs. Blockchain is opening a world of user-friendly payment alternatives that challenge traditional financial systems—offering solutions that are cheaper, faster and more accessible. Reducing Barriers To Entry Of course, there are obstacles to inclusion. One of the biggest is the technological learning curve. That's something our company is actively working to address by providing educational resources in local communities. Even with traditional banking, accessibility is an issue. More and more high-street banks are closing down, and the days of walking into a branch and speaking to someone in person are disappearing. Everything is moving online and becoming automated, or shifting to rely on AI chatbots. Consequently, we counter the argument that blockchain is 'too complicated' by asserting that even traditional finance is becoming harder to navigate for certain demographics. We believe strongly that putting technology directly into communities and making it as easy as possible to use is both a business and ethical imperative. Creating pathways for the comprehension and use of blockchain technology allows companies not only to expand their user base but also to help these users (for instance, by minimizing issues like chargebacks, since blockchain transactions are transparent and verifiable by anyone). Companies whose business is blockchain should consider the fact that in order to gain maximum buy-in, it's essential to upskill and educate users—particularly those in local constituent communities—on how blockchain can empower their daily lives. The mission cannot be merely about introducing people to 'your' proprietary technology; rather, it should be viewed as providing them with tools they can actually, meaningfully use for their own financial betterment. For our company, this has meant not just working with individuals but also onboarding merchants, so they can learn to accept digital payments and, in doing so, realize a huge gain (eliminating high banking fees, streamlining operations). By educating them, we're helping them increase profitability and expand their customer base. We believe this education is part of our role; our success relies on users understanding the potential of these solutions. Revolutionary Trust And Accessibility One of the reasons it's so important that individuals and merchants understand blockchain is that it has changed commerce dramatically—particularly the way people shop. Blockchain enhances trust between producers, merchants and consumers. Companies like Walmart and IBM are already using enterprise blockchain solutions to track their supply chains internally. The next step is making that information public—allowing consumers to verify a product's entire journey from production to purchase, allowing them to assess everything from freshness to authenticity to ethical sourcing. Blockchain is bridging the gap between digital currencies and everyday shopping. Millions of people worldwide already own digital assets; now, thanks to new infrastructure, they can spend them seamlessly, with some high-street banks now accepting digital currency deposits into traditional banking applications. Increasingly, companies at the vanguard want to take things a step further, enabling users to shop directly with their digital assets. They can use digital currency-backed payment cards, earn interest like a regular bank account, access cashback rewards and even take advantage of installment plans. Now, with integrations like Apple Pay, digital payments are becoming just as straightforward as traditional banking methods—something that wasn't possible in the recent past. Best Practices For Implementation One major challenge we've been grappling with is the stigma around Web3 and blockchain technology. Unfortunately, we've recently seen senior global leaders publicly discussing the space in ways that don't always align with its core principles. Web3 isn't just about speculation or meme coins; there are incredible builders in this space solving real-world problems with blockchain, such as providing financial access to millions of people who have been excluded from traditional banking systems. The focus should be on tangible solutions and real-world utility rather than just the headlines. For business leaders who are new to blockchain-based payments, we have some recommended best practices: 1. Start with pilot programs. Test blockchain integrations on a small scale before full implementation. Learn from the process and build solutions tailored to your organization's needs. 2. Educate and train your teams. Employees should understand both the opportunities and the risks of blockchain. Reducing resistance and increasing capability through education will ensure smoother adoption. 3. Acknowledge the stigma. There's no denying that digital currency, Web3 and blockchain still carry a certain air of disrepute. Breaking that down through transparency and education is important to diminishing that sensibility. 4. Respect regulations. Having a strong legal team ensures compliance and reduces risk, even in strict regulatory environments. 5. Focus on scalability. Any blockchain solution must be able to handle growth efficiently, or why bother? 6. Partner with experienced providers. While no one is a true 'expert' in such a rapidly evolving space, working with trusted, knowledgeable partners is essential (and can help sidestep many rookie mistakes). The Benefit Of An Open Mindset One of the difficulties faced by many blockchain startups (which we've dealt with several times, in our organization) is not yielding to the pressure to scale as quickly as possible. We have to remind ourselves sometimes that there's a benefit to prioritizing education and growing the wider space. We also strive to maintain an open mindset. We acknowledge that we exist in a space wherein competitors are aiming to do similar things to what we do; we have to remind ourselves that if a user comes in, likes the technology and then chooses to go with one of our competitors, that's still a win for the space as a whole. Obviously, we believe in our product and our services and hope that users will recognize the value we provide. However, the key to driving mass adoption is not just having people purchase your proprietary solution but encouraging people to explore and use the technology more broadly. If people engage with Web3, have a positive experience and share that experience, the entire ecosystem wins. Forbes Communications Council is an invitation-only community for executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative and advertising agencies. Do I qualify?
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
AVAX Breaks Out of Consolidation Phase
Avalanche's token AVAX recently broke out of a consolidation phase, establishing strong support levels, according to CoinDesk Research's technical analysis model. The token is up 0.8% in the last 24 hours. The CoinDesk 20 — an index of the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, except for stablecoins, exchange coins and memecoins — lost 0.4% over the same period. Technical Analysis • AVAX demonstrated resilient price action during the 24-hour period, establishing a small uptrend. • After initial consolidation between $17.13-$17.35, AVAX broke out with significant volume, forming strong support at $17.07 confirmed by above-average volume during reversal. • The asset established higher lows throughout the period, with resistance at $17.63 tested multiple times, suggesting accumulation phase completion and potential for continued upward momentum. • AVAX displayed significant volatility with a strong recovery pattern, rising from $17.37 to $17.45 (0.50% gain). • After an initial uptrend to $17.46, AVAX experienced a correction to $17.36, forming a double bottom pattern before staging a rally with increasing volume. • The final minutes showed price bouncing back from $17.37 to $17.46, suggesting renewed buying interest and potential continuation of the broader uptrend. Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Tokenized Apple stock? Reserve co-founder says it's been possible for a decade
Tokenized Apple stock? Reserve co-founder says it's been possible for a decade originally appeared on TheStreet. Reserve co-founder Nevin Freeman told TheStreet Roundtable that while blockchain is technically ready to host equities and bonds, the real barrier is regulation. 'It's really just a question of the regulatory path to doing so,' he said, noting that tokenized versions of traditional assets have stalled in the United States despite mature technology. Freeman pointed to SEC Chairman Paul Atkins's recent directive: 'I have directed the staff to consider a conditional exemptive relief framework or 'innovation exemption' that would expeditiously allow registrants and non-registrants to bring on-chain products and services to market.' He then explained that the crypto task force has been developing this very framework to let firms experiment under limited relief. Join the discussion with CryptoWendyO on. Freeman shared that during a two-hour meeting in Washington, task-force members were 'very excited' by Reserve's Digital Securities Initiative proposal and told him it was 'exactly the kind of thing they want to see tried' under the new exemption. To prepare for sandbox trials, Reserve launched the Digital Securities Initiative — an open working group drafting a full market-structure model for on-chain securities. Freeman described it as 'a comprehensive proposal for what DeFi market structure could look like that incorporates regulatory functions.' He invited industry participants to review the hour-long presentation at and collaborate on refining the sandbox rules. Once regulators finalize the Innovation Exemption Plan, Reserve can instantly absorb any approved tokenized assets — whether BlackRock's on-chain treasury tokens or future tokenized equities and bonds — into its decentralized token folios. Freeman said conversations with asset managers are already underway, but success depends on the SEC's willingness to let firms experiment under the new exemption. Join the discussion with Scott Melker on. Looking ahead, Freeman expressed optimism that the 'Innovation Exemption Plan' will bridge decentralized finance and traditional markets. 'Technologically, we could have tokenized Apple stock almost a decade ago,' he noted — but it took a clear regulatory framework to make it possible. With the SEC's sandbox on the horizon, tokenized securities may finally have a runway to mainstream adoption. Tokenized Apple stock? Reserve co-founder says it's been possible for a decade first appeared on TheStreet on Jun 27, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
XRP Slides 5% as Selling Pressure Intensifies Despite Whale Transfers
XRP faced sharp downside pressure over the last 24 hours, falling 5.3% despite large-scale whale activity and easing geopolitical tensions. The asset dipped from $2.21 to a session low of $2.08 before a modest recovery to $2.10. While the broader crypto market attempted to stabilize following ceasefire agreements in the Middle East, XRP's momentum remained fragile, with technical resistance building at $2.17. Market sentiment improved slightly after former U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly helped broker a ceasefire between Iran and Israel, calming some investor fears. Despite that, XRP struggled to hold recent gains as traders reacted to large on-chain movements. Ripple transferred $439 million worth of XRP to an unknown wallet, and other whale wallets moved another $58 million to centralized exchanges — raising questions about potential distribution or internal reshuffling. Although these events drew attention, the token's inability to reclaim $2.14 resistance signals underlying bearish momentum. Technical analysts continue to monitor XRP's descending channel pattern, with expectations for a breakout or breakdown between July and September. For now, the $2.08-$2.09 zone remains a critical level to hold. XRP dropped from $2.21 to $2.10 over the 24-hour period, marking a 5.3% decline within a $0.13 range. The steepest selloff occurred between 12:00 and 16:00 UTC on June 26, with back-to-back hourly volume surges above 99 million XRP as price fell to $2.10. Resistance formed clearly at $2.17, with multiple rejection wicks above $2.12 later in the session. By midnight UTC, XRP had revisited its session low of $2.08. A modest bounce followed in the final hour of the session, as price climbed from $2.09 to $2.10, with short-lived momentum topping at $2.105. A drop in volume late in the session suggests buyer fatigue, though the $2.08 support zone held firm. • XRP declined 5.3% from $2.21 to $2.10, with a total intraday range of $0.13• Heaviest selling occurred from 12:00–16:00 UTC on volume over 114M and 99M XRP• Strong resistance formed at $2.17; key support tested at $2.08–$2.09• Recovery attempts failed at $2.14 and $2.12 before settling around $2.10• Final hour showed modest 0.54% gain from $2.09 to $2.10, with volume spiking to 930K XRP during 01:42–01:45• Consolidation near $2.10 in final 15 minutes suggests short-term stabilization Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bitcoin Miner Revenue Drops to 2-Month Low, but Selling Pressure Remains Absent: CryptoQuant
Bitcoin BTC miner revenues have slid to their lowest levels in two months, but there's still no sign of forced selling, even as profitability falls. Daily mining revenue dropped to $34 million on June 22, the weakest since April and among the lowest levels over the past year, CryptoQuant said in a weekly report shared with CoinDesk. The drop comes as transaction fees decline and bitcoin hovers near local lows, reducing overall incentives for miners to stay online. Hashrate has dipped 3.5% since June 16, marking the most significant pullback in network computing power since July 2024. While modest, it reflects mounting pressure on miners already grappling with tighter margins following the halving. Yet the expected wave of miner capitulation hasn't materialized. Outflows from miner wallets have remained muted, sliding from 23,000 BTC per day in February to around 6,000 BTC currently — with no exchange transfer spikes recorded. Even wallets tied to Satoshi-era miners, often a bellwether for long-term sentiment, have barely budged: just 150 BTC sold so far in 2025, compared to nearly 10,000 BTC offloaded in 2024. Satoshi-era miners refer to network participants who mined their coins during the very early days of the Bitcoin network, typically between 2009 and 2011, when Satoshi Nakamoto, Bitcoin's pseudonymous creator, was still active on online forums. Meanwhile, data shows miner reserves are growing. Addresses holding between 100 and 1,000 BTC — typically operated by mid-sized mining entities — have added 4,000 BTC since March, pushing balances to their highest levels since November 2024. The takeaway is miners are playing the long game, either anticipating a rebound or preferring to burn through cash rather than sell at current prices. 'This further suggests there's no selling pressure coming from miners at these price levels,' CryptoQuant concluded.
