Singapore-based fintech MetaComp has secured new funding backed by Chinese tech giant Alibaba, bringing the company’s total capital raised to $35 million as it accelerates the global expansion of its stablecoin payment infrastructure.

New Zealand’s financial regulator has ruled that the New Zealand dollar-pegged stablecoin NZDD does not qualify as a financial product, a move that could provide greater regulatory clarity for stablecoins operating in the country.

UAE banks are now using blockchain for real transactions, not just experiments. Clear rules and approved stablecoins have helped them scale safely.

A group of 29 US lawmakers is pushing for a permanent ban on a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), arguing that a proposed housing bill only delays it until 2031. They warn a digital dollar could allow government financial surveillance and give the Federal Reserve too much control over Americans’ money.

Western Union is launching the USDPT stablecoin on Solana, letting users send digital dollars that can be picked up as cash worldwide. It will be issued by Anchorage Digital Bank and link blockchain payments to Western Union’s cash network.

Australia’s regulator ASIC has granted AUDC Pty Ltd a full licence to operate the AUDD stablecoin, allowing banks and businesses to use it legally for digital transactions on the XRP Ledger and other blockchains. The stablecoin is fully backed by Australian dollars in trust accounts, making it an institutional-grade payment option with clear regulatory approval.

President Donald Trump fired off a Truth Social salvo Tuesday, accusing major banks of “threatening and undermining” the crypto revolution — and urging Congress to fast-track the CLARITY Act before U.S. digital assets get sidelined overseas.

Circle’s stock extended its breakout Monday, climbing another 15% and pushing gains to roughly 60% since last week’s fourth-quarter earnings report, as investors rotate into stablecoin-linked equities amid a broader crypto rebound.

SBI Holdings and Startale Group have launched JPYSC, Japan’s first trust bank-backed yen stablecoin for corporate and cross-border use. The stablecoin will be issued by SBI Shinsei Trust Bank, distributed via SBI VC Trade, and is set to launch in the second quarter of 2026 pending regulatory approval.

Tether has invested $200 million in digital marketplace Whop, giving the platform a $1.6 billion valuation. The deal will integrate Tether’s stablecoins into Whop, allowing creators to receive payments directly and expand globally.