Chainwire

Paris, France, March 26th, 2026, Chainwire

The French head of state will address stablecoins, the digital euro and Europe’s role in the new global financial architecture.
President Emmanuel Macron will deliver a special address at Paris Blockchain Week 2026, taking place April 15–16 at the Carrousel du Louvre, becoming the first sitting G7 head of state to speak at an institutional conference dedicated to digital assets. This announcement marks a historic milestone and confirms France’s position as the institutional driving force behind digital finance in Europe.
President Macron will address the conference’s 10,000 attendees on the strategic priorities shaping European digital sovereignty: the development of euro-denominated stablecoins, the introduction of a digital euro, and the establishment of regulatory frameworks to position Europe at the heart of the global digital economy. The conference will also welcome senior French government officials directly involved in European digital asset regulation, stablecoin policy and institutional financial infrastructure.
“Europe should also seek to strengthen the international role of the euro through the development of euro stablecoins and the introduction of a digital euro, as well as the creation of safe and liquid assets to finance defence and technology,” Emmanuel Macron, op-ed published in the Financial Times.
This address reflects the French President’s broader international positioning across successive global forums, notably at Davos, where he has repeatedly called on European governments and institutions to accelerate their engagement in digital financial infrastructure.
France has established itself as one of the most advanced G7 jurisdictions in digital assets. Building on the success of the PACTE law and the PSAN licensing regime, the government has made Paris and its surrounding area a major hub for global institutions. The Élysée’s engagement with Paris Blockchain Week, now in its seventh edition, reflects a deliberate strategy to position France as the benchmark regulatory model for the European Union under the MiCA regulation.
This edition will welcome attendees from over 100 countries on April 15–16 at the Carrousel du Louvre, including leaders from BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, Banque de France, HSBC, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and hundreds of other leading institutions. The week will open with the VIP Dinner at the Château de Versailles, a private evening gathering 500 leaders from finance, tech and institutions.
Paris’s standing as a global financial centre finds a strategic pillar in digital assets. Building on the entry into force of MiCA, France is consolidating its leadership in the supervision and development of the finance of tomorrow. Institutional partners and exhibitors will benefit from a unique platform to engage in dialogue on these sovereignty challenges, under the scrutiny of the international financial media.
ABOUT PARIS BLOCKCHAIN WEEK
Paris Blockchain Week is Europe’s leading institutional conference dedicated to blockchain technology and digital assets. Held annually in the French capital, it brings together heads of state, regulators, institutional investors and industry leaders to shape the future of the digital economy.

Contact
Lejla Muratcaus
lejla@chainof.events

Victoria, Seychelles, March 25th, 2026, Chainwire

Global crypto trading platform BYDFi is participating as a sponsor of Next Block Expo 2026, held March 24–25 in Warsaw, Poland. Now in its sixth edition, NBX positions itself as one of the largest crypto and blockchain gatherings in Central and Eastern Europe, with the 2026 event expanding into a larger venue and bringing together thousands of attendees, more than 140 speakers, and dozens of Web3 brands, builders, investors, and regulators for two days of networking, dealmaking, and industry discussion.
BYDFi at Next Block Expo 2026
Next Block Expo 2026 brings together keynotes, panels, workshops, networking formats, and side-event activations. The agenda spans themes such as DeFi and RWA, trading and investing, legal and compliance, infrastructure, AI, gaming, and startup fundraising, with features including a dedicated networking zone, investor speed-dating, a startup pitch arena, and a Web3 gaming zone. The event’s speaker lineup includes figures such as Robby Yung of Animoca Brands, Marouane Essaidi of the Solana Foundation, and Sławomir Mentzen, a Member of the Polish Parliament, underscoring the event’s role as a meeting point for markets, policy, and product builders.
At the event, the BYDFi team is on site to meet attendees, exchange product insights, and take part in the broader conversation around trading infrastructure and user experience. As part of its booth activation, BYDFi is introducing a mystery blind-box giveaway featuring limited-edition merchandise, including Newcastle United co-branded items tied to BYDFi’s ongoing partnership with the club, which is drawing strong visitor interest on the expo floor.
Built for Reliability in a Multi-Market Trading Environment
BYDFi sees NBX as a timely setting to show what it stands for as a platform built for reliability. As the market continues to mature, BYDFi believes long-term trust is earned through clear communication, consistent standards, and a responsible approach to market participation. In this context, BYDFi’s presence at NBX is also about engaging with the broader European blockchain community in a way that reflects stability, discipline, and a long-term user-first commitment.
Michael, Co-founder and CEO of BYDFi, said: “Next Block Expo brings together the conversations that matter most right now — infrastructure, regulation, product design, and how people actually participate in the market. For BYDFi, it is a valuable chance to listen, connect, and keep improving a trading experience that is built for reliability and trusted over time.”
Ahead of BYDFi’s 6th Anniversary
BYDFi’s participation in Warsaw also comes just ahead of a major milestone for the platform. Starting April 1, BYDFi will begin celebrating its 6th anniversary, with a full month of community-facing activities planned across platform campaigns, limited-time rewards, and exclusive X-based activations. The anniversary program is designed to mark BYDFi’s continued growth since launch in 2020 while giving both existing and new users additional ways to engage with the platform.
BYDFi is also preparing additional surprises for new users as part of the anniversary season. For those who have not yet joined BYDFi, this may be a timely opportunity to get familiar with the platform and upcoming community activities. Registration is available at https://www.bydfi.com/en/register
About BYDFi
Established in 2020, BYDFi is a global crypto trading platform that combines the power of a centralized exchange (CEX) with an integrated onchain trading module. BYDFi is Newcastle United’s Exclusive Official Crypto Exchange Partner. Recognized by Forbes as one of the Best Crypto Exchanges In Canada For 2026, BYDFi offers intuitive, low-fee trading across Spot and Perpetual Contracts to Copy Trading, and Automated Crypto Trading Bots, empowering both new and experienced traders to navigate digital assets with confidence.
BYDFi is dedicated to delivering a world-class crypto trading experience for every user.
BUIDL Your Dream Finance.
Website: https://www.bydfi.comSupport email: cs@bydfi.comBusiness partnerships: bd@bydfi.comMedia inquiries: media@bydfi.com

Contact
Senior Marketing Director
Chloe
BYDFi Fintech LTD
chloe@bydfi.com

Hong Kong, Hong Kong, March 27th, 2026, Chainwire

Financial Layer-1 blockchain Pharos Network today announced USDC and Circle Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP) will deploy on Pharos Mainnet, The Pacific Ocean, bringing widely-used stablecoin settlement and seamless cross-chain capital mobility to the network. The integration marks a significant step in Pharos’ mission to build an inclusive global settlement layer for RealFi.

The addition of USDC introduces an institutional-grade stablecoin to the Pharos ecosystem. As a transparent fully-reserved dollar-denominated stablecoin, USDC will serve as a core settlement and collateral asset across tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), DeFi trading and lending, and global payment flows. At the same time, CCTP establishes native cross-chain connectivity between Pharos and more than 20 supported blockchains, enabling over 400 secure transaction routes. By eliminating reliance on third-party bridges or wrapped assets, CCTP helps support both asset integrity and capital efficiency across supported networks.

With USDC settlement integrated at the protocol level, developers will be able to build lending markets, structured financial products, and always-on global payment networks on Pharos. Institutional capital can access onchain RWA markets within compliance-oriented infrastructure, while users worldwide gain broader access to real-world financial opportunities.

The integration of USDC and CCTP can unlock a wide range of financial applications across the Pharos ecosystem. In tokenized financial markets, USDC on Pharos can function as the primary settlement and collateral asset for instruments such as tokenized treasuries, private credit, and commodities, while also providing liquidity for DeFi trading and lending. Beyond trading activity, merchants and payment service providers can rely on USDC for efficient settlement, supported by transparent reserves and redemption infrastructure. At the same time, CCTP will enable seamless USDC transfers between Pharos and other supported blockchains, allowing capital to move freely across ecosystems while supporting more efficient liquidity management and cross-chain distribution of tokenized real-world assets.

Wish Wu of the Pharos Foundation said: "RealFi requires both trusted settlement and global accessibility. The integration of USDC and CCTP can bring institutional-grade reliability to Pharos while making that reliability accessible to developers and users worldwide. Our vision has always been to build truly inclusive infrastructure capable of supporting real-world financial markets."

Following the deployment of USDC and CCTP, Pharos will be fully open to developers, financial institutions, and enterprises seeking compliant, stable, and high-performance infrastructure for real-world financial applications. To further accelerate ecosystem growth, Pharos has also launched a $10 million ecosystem incubator program to support developers building native-to-Pharos applications. 

By providing USDC and CCTP for secure cross-chain capital mobility, Pharos is building the infrastructure layer for RealFi where institutional-grade assets can circulate onchain while remaining accessible to global participants, moving closer to making real-world finance open, transparent, and inclusive.

About Pharos Network

Pharos Network is a Layer-1 blockchain purpose-built for real-world financial applications, enabling seamless interaction between onchain systems and institutional-grade assets. The network features a modular architecture and deep parallel execution across both EVM and WASM environments, alongside built-in compliance-oriented capabilities designed to support the next generation of global financial infrastructure. Pharos is developed by a team of engineers from Ant Group and is backed by leading global investors including Hack VC and Faction VC.

Contact

Michelle Kangmichelle@pharoslabs.xyz Disclaimer. This is a paid press release.

Hong Kong, Hong Kong, March 26th, 2026, Chainwire

Mixin, the privacy-first transactional platform for digital assets, is expanding its gas fee subsidy program, enabling users to transfer assets across multiple blockchains with effectively zero net transaction costs.

Originally launched in 2025, the program allows users to import external Web3 wallets into the Mixin ecosystem and execute on-chain transactions while paying gas fees upfront, which are then fully reimbursed to their wallets at the beginning of the following month, effectively removing one of the most persistent barriers to everyday crypto usage.

Gas fees have long made small and frequent transactions impractical, particularly during periods of network congestion. Mixin’s subsidy model addresses this challenge by significantly improving the user experience, making everyday transfers across supported networks more accessible and cost-efficient.

"Our goal has always been to make cryptocurrency as simple and private as sending a text message," said Cedric Fung, Co-Founder of Mixin. "Gas fees have been one of the biggest barriers to everyday crypto usage. By subsidizing those costs across supported networks, we’re removing friction from how people move value online."

Once a Web3 wallet is imported into Mixin, users can transfer assets between imported wallets, move funds between Mixin Privacy Wallets and the imported  Web3 wallets,. The subsidy currently applies to major assets and networks including BTC, ETH, and SOL, alongside other supported chains. At present, there are no limits on the number of transactions or transfer amounts under the program.

It is important to note that transfers conducted within Mixin’s Privacy Wallet remain natively fee-free and are settled instantly via Mixin’s decentralized network. These transactions operate independently from the subsidy mechanism applied to on-chain transfers involving imported Web3 wallets.

This upgrade is part of Mixin’s broader effort to integrate encrypted messaging with privacy-focused financial infrastructure. Built using the Signal Protocol for end-to-end encrypted communication, the platform enables users to coordinate payments privately while managing assets within a chat-based interface.

"The future of finance is social, private, and multi-chain," Fung added. "Mixin is building a messaging layer where people can communicate, coordinate, and move value without friction."

About Mixin

Mixin is an open-source decentralized transaction network designed to connect multiple blockchains with high throughput and strong privacy guarantees. Founded in 2017, the platform combines a self-custodial multi-chain wallet with an encrypted messenger powered by the Signal Protocol. With more than 1 million users and over $1 billion in user-managed assets, Mixin continues to develop infrastructure aimed at simplifying the everyday use of digital assets.

Learn More

For detailed rules, eligibility, supported transfers, and updates on the Gas Fee Rebate Program, visit:

https://support.mixin.one/en/article/campaign-free-transactions-between-mixin-wallets-kozded/

Official website:

https://mixin.one/

Blockchain explorer:

https://mixin.space/

Contact

Sonny Liu sonnyliu@mixin.one Disclaimer. This is a paid press release.

Paris, France, March 26th, 2026, Chainwire

Zama becomes the default confidentiality layer for the T-REX Ledger

Privacy, compliance, and interoperability built into public blockchain infrastructure

FHE-powered confidential settlement enabling secure institutional adoption at scale

T-REX Network, the multi-chain RWA orchestration layer supported by Apex Group, which services $3.5 trillion in assets, has partnered with Zama, the pioneer in Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), to integrate native confidentiality into the T-REX Ledger. This collaboration marks a pivotal move in bringing regulated financial markets onchain by combining Zama’s encryption expertise with the ERC-3643 standard, which currently secures $32 billion in tokenized assets. The initiative is further bolstered by Apex Group’s recent commitment to adopt the T-REX Ledger as its default infrastructure, with a target of $100 billion in tokenized assets by June 2027.

The Missing Layer for Institutional Blockchain Adoption

Decentralized blockchains are public by design. Every transaction, balance, and position is permanently visible to anyone. For regulated financial markets, this is a fundamental dealbreaker. For years financial institutions responded by building private chains, seeking the control and confidentiality that public infrastructure could not provide. In doing so, they created new silos, sacrificed interoperability, and ultimately captured little of the efficiency that blockchain technology promised. 

Institutions cannot risk exposing sensitive investor data, portfolio positions, and trading strategies on a public ledger. Yet without access to the public blockchain infrastructure, the efficiency and interoperability promised for tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) remains out of reach. Now with confidentiality and control directly at the token level, they can finally use interoperable public ledgers without sacrificing compliance and security. A crucial step for these institutions to scale RWAs.

Confidentiality, Compliance and Interoperability, Built Into the Same Infrastructure

The T-REX Ledger is a neutral Layer 2 blockchain for compliant and interoperable digital securities, serving as the single source of truth across a multi-chain environment. Built to serve tokens issued on the ERC-3643 standard, it unifies identity and compliance into a single interoperable infrastructure designed to connect with major public blockchains.

Through this partnership, Zama will provide the native confidentiality layer for the T-REX Ledger using FHE, a cryptographic solution that allows smart contracts to compute without ever needing to decrypt the data. This enables financial institutions to issue, manage, and trade digital assets on the upcoming T-REX public blockchains while keeping sensitive data confidential, with the same discretion expected from traditional financial systems.

The collaboration, born within a working group of the ERC3643 association, addresses one of the most significant barriers to institutional blockchain adoption: enabling the efficiency of public infrastructure while preserving the confidentiality required by regulated financial markets. Integrating Zama’s FHE protocol into the T-REX Ledger, results in a scalable, compliant, and privacy-preserving foundation for institutional finance to operate onchain.

Building the Standard for Confidential Onchain Finance

“The T-REX Ledger was built to be the trusted multi-chain orchestration layer for institutional RWAs, but trust also means privacy," said Joachim Lebrun, Co-Founder of T-REX Network and Lead Author of the ERC-3643 standard. "Integrating Zama's FHE Protocol directly into the T-REX Ledger means institutions can finally operate fully onchain without exposing their confidential data to the world. That is the missing piece for unlocking real institutional scale.”

“Our goal is to make Zama the confidentiality layer for public blockchains, enabling institutions and investors to operate onchain with the same level of privacy they expect offchain,” said Dr. Rand Hindi, Co-Founder and CEO of Zama. “This collaboration with T-REX Network demonstrates that confidentiality is not an optional feature for institutional blockchain adoption — it is foundational infrastructure. Together, we are enabling digital asset markets to scale securely, efficiently, and with trust.”

Institutional Confidentiality as Shared Infrastructure

By embedding FHE confidentiality layer directly into the T-REX Ledger, T-REX Network and Zama are establishing privacy as a core infrastructure for institutional tokenization, rather than a standalone feature. This shared foundation enables regulated institutions to participate in public blockchain ecosystems without compromising operational security or market integrity.

The partnership represents a key step toward large-scale institutional adoption of tokenized real-world assets, where compliance, interoperability, and confidentiality are built into the infrastructure from the start.

About T-REX Network

T-REX Network is the largest ecosystem for compliant RWA tokenization built on the ERC-3643 standard, with more than $32 billion in assets tokenized. Born from years of industry collaboration, T-REX exists to solve the core challenge of scaling tokenization across blockchains without breaking compliance. Through T-REX Ledger, a canonical cross-chain compliance reference layer, and the T-REX AppStore, which connects ERC-3643 assets to natively compatible applications, T-REX Network enables regulated assets to move to wherever liquidity exists with speed, trust, and control. Its mission is to turn tokenization from isolated pilots into a connected, compliant open finance system that finally works at global scale.

About Zama

Zama is a cryptography company building state-of-the-art Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) solutions for blockchain. Its protocol enables confidentiality on public blockchains, allowing digital assets to be issued, managed, and traded privately onchain. Founded by FHE pioneer Dr. Pascal Paillier and entrepreneur Dr. Rand Hindi, Zama brings together one of the world’s largest teams of FHE researchers and engineers and supports a global ecosystem of developers building confidential applications.

Contact

PR & Communications Director Julia André Zama julia.andre@zama.org Disclaimer. This is a paid press release.

Paris, France, March 26th, 2026, Chainwire

The French head of state will address stablecoins, the digital euro and Europe’s role in the new global financial architecture.

President Emmanuel Macron will deliver a special address at Paris Blockchain Week 2026, taking place April 15–16 at the Carrousel du Louvre, becoming the first sitting G7 head of state to speak at an institutional conference dedicated to digital assets. This announcement marks a historic milestone and confirms France’s position as the institutional driving force behind digital finance in Europe.

President Macron will address the conference’s 10,000 attendees on the strategic priorities shaping European digital sovereignty: the development of euro-denominated stablecoins, the introduction of a digital euro, and the establishment of regulatory frameworks to position Europe at the heart of the global digital economy. The conference will also welcome senior French government officials directly involved in European digital asset regulation, stablecoin policy and institutional financial infrastructure.

“Europe should also seek to strengthen the international role of the euro through the development of euro stablecoins and the introduction of a digital euro, as well as the creation of safe and liquid assets to finance defence and technology,” Emmanuel Macron, op-ed published in the Financial Times.

This address reflects the French President’s broader international positioning across successive global forums, notably at Davos, where he has repeatedly called on European governments and institutions to accelerate their engagement in digital financial infrastructure.

France has established itself as one of the most advanced G7 jurisdictions in digital assets. Building on the success of the PACTE law and the PSAN licensing regime, the government has made Paris and its surrounding area a major hub for global institutions. The Élysée’s engagement with Paris Blockchain Week, now in its seventh edition, reflects a deliberate strategy to position France as the benchmark regulatory model for the European Union under the MiCA regulation.

This edition will welcome attendees from over 100 countries on April 15–16 at the Carrousel du Louvre, including leaders from BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole, Banque de France, HSBC, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and hundreds of other leading institutions. The week will open with the VIP Dinner at the Château de Versailles, a private evening gathering 500 leaders from finance, tech and institutions.

Paris’s standing as a global financial centre finds a strategic pillar in digital assets. Building on the entry into force of MiCA, France is consolidating its leadership in the supervision and development of the finance of tomorrow. Institutional partners and exhibitors will benefit from a unique platform to engage in dialogue on these sovereignty challenges, under the scrutiny of the international financial media.

ABOUT PARIS BLOCKCHAIN WEEK

Paris Blockchain Week is Europe’s leading institutional conference dedicated to blockchain technology and digital assets. Held annually in the French capital, it brings together heads of state, regulators, institutional investors and industry leaders to shape the future of the digital economy.

Contact

Lejla Muratcaus lejla@chainof.events Disclaimer. This is a paid press release.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, March 24th, 2026, Chainwire

RIV Coin ($RIV), a Vault protocol token built on the Solana blockchain, has officially launched as the core token of a reserve-backed digital asset ecosystem. The project introduces a verifiable reserve framework that enables off-chain capital to interact with on-chain liquidity while maintaining institutional privacy and verification standards. By combining reserve-backed liquidity with decentralized settlement infrastructure, RIV Coin creates a secure, scalable bridge for institutional investors to access DeFi markets.

At the heart of the ecosystem is the On-Chain Vault, the transparent reserve engine that underpins the RIV network and supports its broader reserve-backed ecosystem. Within this structure, $RIV functions as the core utility and governance token, aligning ecosystem participation with long-term growth and credibility. Instead of relying on inflationary emissions, the model is designed to connect the role of $RIV to the expansion, strength, and utility of the network.

Accelerating Institutional DeFi Adoption

RIV Coin is developed within RIV Capital Group, an international group with an established presence across Europe and the MENA region. The capital from token purchases is allocated into a segregated vault within a regulated fund and invested through a diversified strategy that includes traditional financial assets and cryptocurrencies, connecting real financial activity with blockchain infrastructure.

The project is led by founder and CEO Roberto Rivera, former derivatives trader with over 27 years of experience at major financial institutions, including American Express, Lehman Brothers and Nomura. From a regulatory perspective, the group operates in alignment with the regulatory frameworks across Europe and the MENA region. 

Beyond the token, the RIV ecosystem includes StablePay, a crypto-to-fiat payment solution for merchants, and the RIV Wallet, a multi-chain wallet integrating initially Cosmos, then Solana and Ethereum for secure digital asset management. Together, these solutions position RIV Coin to drive institutional adoption of DeFi and accelerate mainstream crypto investment.

The launch of this utility token represents a new paradigm in digital finance, combining institutional capital, verifiable reserves, and DeFi infrastructure to create a system where real economic activity drives rewards and protocol value. With its regulated, reserve-backed model, RIV Coin is on track to lead the next wave of institutional DeFi adoption and set a new standard for secure digital asset investments.

About RIV Coin

RIV Coin ($RIV) is a protocol token built on the Solana blockchain. The project introduces a verifiable reserve framework and a fee distribution model linked to real network usage. Operating within the RIV Capital Group ecosystem, a Luxembourg-based holding of investments, RIV Coin bridges institutional capital with decentralized finance markets, providing secure, regulated access to DeFi opportunities and positioning itself as a pioneering solution for institutional crypto adoption.

Disclosure: This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice.

Contact

Guido Rocco grk@riv-capital.com Disclaimer. This is a paid press release.

London, UK, March 24th, 2026, Chainwire

Appointment strengthens executive leadership team as OpenPayd expands global banking partnerships and financial infrastructure

OpenPayd, a leading provider of financial infrastructure, today announced the appointment of Barry O’Sullivan as Chief Banking Officer, strengthening its executive leadership team as the company continues to scale its global banking network and financial infrastructure.

O’Sullivan joined OpenPayd in 2022 and now formally joins the company’s executive leadership team. In his role, he will lead OpenPayd’s global banking partnership and expansion team, overseeing relationships with banking partners while driving the strategic expansion of the company’s network across new jurisdictions.

Over the past year, OpenPayd has continued to expand its global financial infrastructure, significantly increasing the breadth of its multi-currency capabilities and extending domestic virtual IBAN coverage across key European markets. These enhancements enable businesses to open and hold accounts in a wider range of currencies, collect and reconcile payments through dedicated virtual IBANs, and move funds internationally with greater efficiency through a single API. The expansion strengthens OpenPayd’s ability to support digital-first businesses operating across multiple jurisdictions while simplifying global money movement for its growing client base.

With more than 20 years of experience across financial services and technology, O’Sullivan has worked extensively with organisations managing FX risk and optimising global payment operations. Prior to joining OpenPayd, he held senior roles at XE.com, Vitesse PSP and Kyriba.

Iana Dimitrova, Chief Executive Officer at OpenPayd, said:

“Barry has built out OpenPayd’s banking partner ecosystem and has been instrumental in developing our global footprint. As we continue to scale our financial infrastructure and expand into new markets, his leadership will play an important role in strengthening the banking partnerships that underpin our platform and support our clients’ global growth.”

Barry O’Sullivan, Chief Banking Officer at OpenPayd, added:

“OpenPayd’s mission is to provide the financial infrastructure that enables businesses to move and manage money globally. Strong banking partnerships are fundamental to that mission. I’m looking forward to continuing to grow our global network and supporting clients as they expand into new markets.”

About OpenPayd 

OpenPayd is building the universal financial infrastructure for the digital economy. Their rails-agnostic platform enables businesses to move and manage money globally – across fiat and digital assets – through a single, powerful API. OpenPayd provides embedded accounts, FX, domestic and international payments, Open Banking, and stablecoin on/off ramps – delivering interoperability between traditional finance and digital assets. With one of the most comprehensive banking networks in the market, OpenPayd enables real-time money movement, everywhere. 

Trusted by global brands including eToro, Kraken, OKX, and B2C2, they process more than $180 billion in annual volumes for over 1000 businesses. OpenPayd is the infrastructure layer powering the next generation of financial services.

Contact

OpenPayd press@openpayd.com Disclaimer. This is a paid press release.

Tortola, British Virgin Islands, March 24th, 2026, Chainwire

Two linked governance proposals eliminate token emissions, give LPs 75% of swap fees, and commit $3.6 million to a BAL buyback and burn. The protocol is building its future on real revenue.

Most DeFi protocols dilute their token to attract liquidity. Balancer is taking a different approach. The protocol currently distributes roughly 3.78 million BAL per year in emissions. Two governance proposals now on the Balancer forum would change that entirely.

The governance proposals outlined below represent the next step forward. Following the November 2025 exploit of Balancer V2 pools, the protocol has recovered approximately $26.4 million in affected funds, with a claiming process for affected LPs now live and recovery efforts ongoing. These proposals build on that progress, restructuring Balancer's economics for long-term sustainability.

LPs earn more from every pool

Liquidity providers currently retain 50% of swap fees on Balancer. The proposed model raises that to 75%, with all remaining fees flowing to the DAO Treasury to fund operations and build long-term reserves. Balancer pools compete on infrastructure quality, rewarding LPs directly for the liquidity they provide. Without emissions subsidizing capital allocation, organic liquidity becomes both the goal and the standard.

“The technology works. The products generate real revenue. These proposals fix the economics to match,” said Marcus Hardt, CEO of Balancer Labs, leading the transition to Balancer OpCo.

The DAO commits $3.6M to a BAL buyback

The proposal earmarks $3.6 million, roughly 35% of the DAO Treasury, for a BAL buyback and burn priced at net asset value (NAV) per token. NAV is calculated as total Treasury value divided by circulating supply, currently approximately $0.16, which sits above the current market price. If fully exercised, the program would retire approximately 22.7 million BAL, roughly 35% of circulating supply.

The buyback window opens approximately 12 months after the governance snapshot, timed to coincide with vote-locked BAL (veBAL) lock expirations. A separate $500,000 compensation campaign for veBAL holders whose locked positions lose economic rights under the new model will be distributed over six months.

"Balancer is weathering the storm. These proposals give BAL holders the flexibility to exercise the buyback option at net asset value, or remain part of a DAO built for the long-haul," said Daniel Koch, Head of Operations at the Balancer Foundation.

Build around the products that generate real revenue

A companion operational proposal consolidates all activity with a leaner team under the Balancer Foundation, following the wind-down of Balancer Labs. Balancer will focus on core revenue-generating products and chains, with all other deployments under review. 

Both proposals are submitted to Balancer governance as a linked package for community feedback. Full proposal text is available on the Balancer governance forum (forum.balancer.fi).

About Balancer

Balancer is a decentralized protocol for programmable liquidity founded on Ethereum and deployed across multiple networks. Balancer V3 provides infrastructure for custom automated market makers, boosted pools, and concentrated liquidity products used by protocols, DAOs, and liquidity providers. More information is available at balancer.fi.

Contact

Growth Marcus Balancer marcus@balancerlabs.dev Disclaimer. This is a paid press release.

Tel Aviv, Israel, March 23rd, 2026, Chainwire

Playnance has introduced the first Democratic Social Gaming Protocol, a new model for decentralized, participation-driven digital economies. In an industry where platforms are built to profit from user activity, Playnance introduces a fundamentally different approach: a system where users can participate in protocol-based rewards linked to network activity.

Powered by GCOIN, the protocol reimagines how social gaming platforms operate by aligning users, partners, and token holders within a shared economic framework. At its core is a powerful idea: a system where the community actively participates in the ecosystem rather than remaining passive users.

Traditional platforms are designed to extract value from user activity. The Playnance protocol aims to flip that model. Economic activity flows across the ecosystem, allowing participants to take part in the network’s growth through protocol-driven mechanisms rather than remaining passive consumers. With this approach, Playnance is driving a structural shift toward decentralized entertainment economies and bringing the global social gaming industry on-chain.

The protocol combines Web2 simplicity with Web3 infrastructure. Users interact through a seamless interface while the underlying mechanics run fully on-chain. Transparent, provably fair systems replace opaque operator control, introducing a new level of trust to social gaming environments. Every interaction flows through GCOIN, directly linking user activity to network participation and protocol dynamics. 

This dynamic is already reflected in Playnance’s staking program, with over 1.3B GCOIN staked and more than 58M GCOIN in the staking rewards treasury. As ecosystem activity grows, so does the reward treasury, reinforcing a system where participation can be rewarded through network-driven distributions.

“Today, we are introducing a new protocol that redefines the rules of the social gaming industry,” said Pini Peter, CEO of Playnance. “For decades, the gaming industry was built to profit from players. We are changing that with a community-first protocol as its core. We are leading a global shift toward a decentralized, fair, and transparent entertainment economy. This marks the beginning of a new era.”

The model is already operating at scale through Playnance’s Be The Boss program, where more than 3,000 partners form a global network of operators running their own gaming environments within the ecosystem, collectively generating over $2.3 million in earnings to date, as part of more than $5.3 million generated across the Playnance ecosystem. This creator-driven framework positions Playnance as the Shopify of social gaming, enabling a new generation of entrepreneurs to launch, promote, and scale platforms while driving traffic into the broader Playnance ecosystem.

About Playnance

Founded in 2020, Playnance is a Web3 infrastructure company developing live, non-custodial, on-chain products designed to onboard mainstream Web2 users into blockchain environments. The company builds consumer-facing platforms powered by shared wallet systems and high-volume on-chain execution, currently processing approximately 2 million transactions per day. Playnance focuses on removing friction between user experience and blockchain infrastructure by abstracting complexity while maintaining full on-chain transparency and non-custodial architecture.

Contact

Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Sarah Peter press@playnance.com Disclaimer. This is a paid press release.

Panama City, Panama, March 20th, 2026, Chainwire

$METAWIN Raises $350,000 in Hours as First Two Tranches Sell Out - Sub-10c Pricing Closes Today!

Less than 12 hours after launch, the $METAWIN community token presale has raised $350,000 and sold out its first two tranches entirely. The raise happened in a matter of hours - a signal of the depth of demand that has been building across a 440,000-wallet community for four years.

Today is the last opportunity to participate at a presale price below $0.10. When the current tranche closes, the next one opens at a higher price point. The presale may also close ahead of schedule at the issuer's discretion.

What Is The $METAWIN Token Presale?

$METAWIN is the community token of the MetaWinners - one of the most active and long-standing prize ecosystems in crypto. The community didn't need a token to prove itself. 440,000 connected wallets, $6.5 million distributed in prizes to NFT holders, and a sold-out 10,000-piece NFT collection were all built before a single token was issued. The presale is not funding something speculative - it is the entry point into a community with four years of proof behind it.

200,000,000 tokens - 20% of the fixed one-billion supply - are now offered to the public across rising tranches at the same price for every participant. There is no venture capital allocation, no institutional round, and no preferential pricing.

What Holders Get Access To

As an independent ecosystem partner, MetaWin.com expects to open a suite of voluntary community benefits to $METAWIN holders.

This includes exclusive prize competitions with instant pay-outs and no rollovers, stake-to-win access to major draws at no additional cost, and wager-to-vest programmes that allow active participants to accelerate their vesting schedules significantly.

The Airdrop

100,000,000 tokens - 10% of total supply - are allocated to Airdrop 1 at or around TGE. The primary recipients are MetaWinners NFT holders and community members who have participated in $METAWIN points campaigns on MetaWin.com. Eligibility criteria and snapshot dates will be confirmed ahead of TGE.

Participation is available at mw.xyz

@Meta_Winners on X provides live tranche updates.

About $METAWIN

$METAWIN is the token for the MetaWinners community - an army of crypto natives united by shared ambition and shared purpose.

Users can secure their token via the public presale on mw.xyz.

Presale price does not reflect or guarantee any live market price following TGE. $METAWIN is issued by TropiChain Inc., Republic of Panama. MetaWin.com is an independent ecosystem partner and is not the issuer or sponsor of this token. $METAWIN tokens are community tokens and do not represent equity, governance rights, or entitlement to revenues. Participation involves significant risk, including total loss of capital. Not financial advice. Full Litepaper available at mw.xyz.

Contact

METAWIN TOKEN support@mw.xyz Disclaimer. This is a paid press release.

Montreux, Switzerland, March 19th, 2026, Chainwire

Everything.inc today announced the upcoming launch of its EV/USDT pre-market liquidity pool, marking the initial rollout of its unified DeFi architecture. The system combines token swapping, permissionless lending, and margin trading within a single on-chain liquidity pool.

Alongside the launch, the project will introduce a Public Dynamic Funding Round, replacing an earlier plan to pursue a $60 million fundraising round with institutional investors. After extensive discussions, the team chose not to proceed, citing investor conditions that would have created preferential terms and conflicted with the protocol’s principle of equal access.

Instead, Everything will open funding directly to the market through a dynamic valuation model starting at $40 million and scaling up to $150 million as trading activity increases. Up to 8.5% of the EV token supply will be made available through the round, in addition to the 5.5% previously sold during the project’s initial funding round.

The restructuring also improves conditions for early participants. Tokens purchased during the $30 million round will begin distribution at the start of the dynamic round rather than at the token generation event, and the vesting period has been reduced from 18 months to 12 months.

The dynamic funding round will make 1% of the EV token supply accessible through a single EV/USDT liquidity pool governed by one smart contract. Users will be able to trade, lend, borrow, and open leveraged positions within the same pool. The launch network will be Arbitrum, with further details to be announced soon.

The unified model addresses a structural limitation in DeFi where liquidity is fragmented across automated market makers, lending markets, and derivatives platforms. In these systems, capital must be deployed separately to generate swap fees, lending interest, or trading yield, leaving large portions idle.

Everything restructures this model by allowing a single deposit to support multiple market functions. Within the pool, 85% of liquidity supports borrowing, margin trading, and swaps, while the remaining 15% is dedicated exclusively to swap liquidity. Liquidity providers can therefore earn swap fees, borrowing interest, and liquidation fees through one contract.

The protocol operates without external price oracles. Its margin engine relies on an internal tick-based framework with deterministic liquidation parameters designed to limit bad debt and reduce systemic risk.

Trading in the EV/USDT pool will include lending, borrowing, and leveraged trading from launch. During the dynamic funding phase, a 5% trading fee on swaps and leverage will support ecosystem development.

When the funding round reaches a $150 million valuation before the scheduled pre-market launch date, the pre-market will open early and incentives for EV liquidity pools will be activated.

About Everything

Everything is a unified DeFi protocol that combines Automated Market Making, lending, borrowing, and margin trading within a single smart contract architecture. Built as the evolution of the SMARDEX infrastructure, the system introduces a consolidated liquidity model where one pool powers multiple market functions. Everything uses a tick based liquidity framework, oracle less leverage execution, and deterministic liquidation mechanics to improve capital efficiency and reduce systemic risk. The protocol is designed to support permissionless market creation, generate multisource yield for liquidity providers, and serve as a foundation for streamlined on chain financial infrastructure. Everything aims to advance liquidity efficiency across DeFi through a roadmap of features that extend the earning potential of collateral, orders, and pooled assets.

Contact

Mikael Cruchon m.cruchon@ra2.tech Disclaimer. This is a paid press release.

Tel Aviv, Israel, March 18th, 2026, Chainwire
Today, Playnance has officially launched GCOIN trading, marking a significant milestone in the expansion of its Web3 entertainment ecosystem. The token is now live on MEXC, with GCOIN/USDT trading opening on March 18, 2026 at 13:00 UTC following the project’s Token Generation Event earlier the same day.
The listing introduces GCOIN to the open market, unlocking broader access to the Playnance ecosystem and opening the door to a potentially enormous global user base. The launch follows strong early momentum, including high participation in MEXC’s Kickstarter campaign, where users competed for a share of a 50,000 USDT airdrop. 
‏Ahead of the Token Generation Event, the GCOIN community demonstrated strong demand, with over 1 billion GCOIN locked in staking within hours of the staking program going live.
As the Exosystem’s native token, GCOIN powers transactions, rewards, and participation across a rapidly growing Web3 entertainment network. Beyond adoption metrics, GCOIN is designed to bridge Web2 and Web3 by offering seamless, Web2-like on-chain experiences that lower the barrier to entry for mainstream users. This approach is already enabling Playnance to onboard large volumes of new users, converting them into active participants within the ecosystem. The ecosystem already includes over 300,000 GCOIN holders, reflecting strong early adoption and continued expansion at scale.
The exchange debut represents a major step forward in accessibility, allowing global users to engage with the ecosystem through a liquid and scalable market environment. Deposits for GCOIN are already open on MEXC, with withdrawals scheduled to begin on March 19, providing users with full flexibility to trade and manage their holdings.
“Today marks a defining moment for Playnance,” said Pini Peter, CEO of Playnance. “We identified early the opportunity to bring real scale into Web3 entertainment, and we’re building one of the leading ecosystems to support it. With GCOIN now live, we’re opening the door to what comes next - a new wave of users, new models, and a much larger shift in how entertainment moves on-chain. This is just the beginning.”
Playnance has built its token model around ecosystem-driven rewards, linking value distribution directly to platform activity rather than relying on fixed emissions. The platform already supports more than 10,000 on-chain games and processes over 2 million on-chain transactions daily, reflecting strong user engagement and growing adoption across its network.
With GCOIN now live, Playnance is entering a new phase focused on accelerating growth, expanding its global reach, and driving deeper participation across its Web3 entertainment ecosystem.
About Playnance
Founded in 2020, Playnance is a Web3 infrastructure company developing live, non-custodial, on-chain products designed to onboard mainstream Web2 users into blockchain environments. The company develops consumer-facing platforms built on shared wallet systems and high-volume on-chain execution, currently processing approximately 2 million transactions per day. Playnance focuses on reducing friction between user experience and blockchain infrastructure by abstracting complexity while maintaining full on-chain transparency and non-custodial architecture.

Contact
Sarah Peter
Press@playnance.com

London, United Kingdom, March 18th, 2026, Chainwire

TezDev, the annual gathering of the Tezos ecosystem, is returning to Cannes on March 30th for its fifth edition. Taking place once again at the iconic Hôtel Martinez, just a short seaside walk from the Ethereum Community Conference, TezDev is a free, one-day event that brings together developers, creators, and blockchain enthusiasts from around the world. 

This year, TezDev introduces the XP Zone, an interactive experience space that allows attendees to interact with projects live on Tezos from within the event's signature 360° immersive room. TezQuest, a series of hands-on challenges hosted at the project booths, will simultaneously run, with a prize pool of up to $7,000. Projects that will have a booth at the TezDev XP Zone include Ledger (wallets), Sogni (AI platform), uranium.io (tokenized uranium marketplace), Hanji (DEX), Art on Tezos (Tezos art community), and Fortify Labs (Tezos accelerator). 

TezDev 2026 brings together builders, creators, and thought leaders shaping the future of the Tezos ecosystem. This year’s program features keynotes, panels, deep-dive presentations, and immersive sessions highlighting DeFi, gaming, infrastructure, and digital art. 

Attendees can look forward to learning what it actually takes to build at the frontier of multi-runtime blockchain infrastructure. Expect technical sessions on native atomic composability, EVM-compatible interface, Etherlink's instant confirmations, and the mechanics of intents and RFQ-based bridging, alongside conversations about what real-world asset tokenization looks like when it moves beyond proof of concept. 

Arthur Breitman, co-founder of Tezos, will deliver a keynote exploring the network’s next phase of development, focusing particularly on the importance of products and experiences in accelerating real-world adoption. The day closes with an immersive art show featuring artists from Tezos' art community. 

Other highlights include:

A keynote by Arthur Breitman, co-founder of Tezos, followed by a panel on the evolution of crypto yield and onchain earning moderated by Ryan Rodenbaugh (CEO and co-founder, Vaults.fyi) and featuring Owen (Hasheur) Simonin (founder and CEO, Meria) and Dmitry Kovalevskiy (founder, Hanji).

A presentation on native atomic composability by François Thiré (Product Manager, Nomadic Labs), exploring how Tezos X solves cross-runtime coordination at the protocol level.

A presentation by Yann Régis-Gianas (Head of Core Engineering, Nomadic Labs) on how AI agents are being used in software development within the Tezos ecosystem. 

A session on Etherlink's instant confirmations, which have cut transaction latency from ~500ms to under 50ms, featuring the engineers and protocol builders behind the technology.

A panel on the next phase of commodity tokenization and what it means to bring physical assets onchain, featuring Ben Elvidge (Head of Commercial Applications, Trilitech).

A discussion unpacking intents, RFQ models, and the future of cross-chain bridging, featuring Alessandro Losi (Senior Product Manager, Dune) and Anastasiia Kondaurova (DeFi Technical Lead, Trilitech).

An art panel hosted by Aleksandra Artamonovskaja (Head of Arts, Trilitech) that explores how creative communities are building in the online, onchain, and generative era. 

Over the past year, the Tezos ecosystem has reached a series of significant milestones: Etherlink’s total value locked grew by over 6,200% in a year following the launch of the Apple Farm incentive program. The Calypso upgrade brought instant confirmations to Etherlink, cutting transaction latency to under 50ms, and major protocols, including Gearbox, Lombard Finance, Uniswap via OKU, and Midas, deployed on the network. On the real-world assets front, uranium.io expanded its token availability to KuCoin, MEXC, and Gate.io, drawing widespread media attention and winning numerous awards. In 2025, the Tezos art ecosystem saw over half a million NFTs sold, more than 700 visitors at Art on Tezos Berlin, landmark institutional acquisitions, and major partnerships with MoMI, the Processing Foundation, and leading art fairs worldwide.

TezDev is open to everyone interested in discovering the Tezos ecosystem. To register for this free event and view the full agenda, click here: https://luma.com/tezdev-2026. 

About Tezos

Tezos is an open-source and energy-efficient blockchain designed to empower institutions, developers, and businesses and facilitate value transfer in a digital environment. It is designed for the scalable deployment of decentralized applications. As one of the first Proof of Stake blockchains, Tezos is globally supported and valued for its strong governance, long-term upgradability, and smart contract capabilities. For more information about Tezos, visit http://www.tezos.com. 

Contact

Sara Moric sara.moric@trili.tech Disclaimer. This is a paid press release.

George Town, British Virgin Islands, March 18th, 2026, Chainwire

Aster, a trading ecosystem backed by YZi Labs, today announced a major expansion of its collaboration with World Liberty Financial (WLFI).

The collaboration introduces USD1-denominated perpetual contracts and new trading incentives, including WLFI token rewards and reduced fees on USD1 pairs, while also allowing users to earn additional rewards on their holdings.

The integration is intended to support USD1 liquidity on the platform, laying the groundwork for Aster Chain, the project's newly-launched Layer 1 blockchain.

Building a Diverse Foundation for Aster Chain

Adding USD1 as collateral and USD1-denominated perpetual markets reduce Aster's reliance on any single stablecoin, giving users greater flexibility as the Aster Chain launches.

WLFI's global community helps support Aster’s efforts to expand access to USD1 markets within DeFi.

"Aster Chain's success depends on the depth of its underlying liquidity," said Leonard, CEO at Aster. "By bringing USD1 into our core trading engine during this phase, we're building the trading foundation for the Aster Chain launch. Our 0-bps maker fees are designed to encourage participation in USD1 markets on Aster as the mainnet launch."

“Perpetual markets are where a significant portion of trading volume lives. Aster listing USD1 perps pairs and matching USDT collateral ratios means traders can use USD1 in a manner similar to any major stablecoin. That's the bar we set: functional parity, rather than positioning USD1 a secondary option.” said Zak Folkman, Co-founder & COO of World Liberty Financial.

Establishing the USD1 Trading Hub

Aster supports USD1-denominated perpetual contracts, launching with BTC, ETH, and SOL pairs, with an additional 10+ pairs planned in the coming weeks.

To encourage market participation, Aster is offering zero-bps maker fees and a competitive 0.5-bps taker fee. USD1 is also supported as a core margin asset and collateral, with a collateral ratio on par with USDT – allowing traders to maximize capital efficiency.

Rewards for Early Adopters

This partnership introduces several incentives as part of Aster Chain's mainnet launch:

USD1 Perp Trading Rewards: Up to 2.5 million WLFI tokens distributed monthly through the USD1 perpetual trading incentive program based on trading activity, with rewards distributed weekly. WLFI reserves all rights regarding program interpretation and distribution.

USD1 Holding Incentives: Users holding USD1 on Aster may be eligible to participate in platform incentive programs.

Reduced Trading Fees: Zero maker fees and 0.5-bps taker fees on all USD1 pairs, a significant reduction compared to USDT pairs.*

Aster will also launch tracking tools including integrated Points Program entry points across web and mobile, allowing users to monitor their progress and participation in early Aster Chain market activity.

*Aster's standard taker fee on USDT pairs is 4 bps. USD1 taker fee is 0.5 bps, representing an approximate 87.5% reduction. Maker fees on USD1 pairs are 0 bps. All fees are set by Aster and subject to change. See Aster's fee schedule at Aster fee page for current rates.

About Aster

Aster is a privacy-first onchain trading platform backed by YZi Labs, featuring innovations like Hidden Orders to shield user trading activity. It offers perpetual contracts across crypto, stocks and commodities, as well as crypto spot trading, and is powered by Aster Chain, a Layer 1 blockchain built to power the future of decentralized finance.

Users can learn more about Aster on the official website or follow Aster on X.

About World Liberty Financial (WLFI)

World Liberty Financial (WLFI) operates at the intersection of traditional financial infrastructure with blockchain innovation, creating accessible, transparent, and scalable solutions for a new era of digital finance. This documentation is intended for developers, integrators, researchers, and community members seeking to understand the World Liberty Financial ecosystem.

Contact

PR & Content Manager Lola Chen Aster lola.chen@asterdex.com Disclaimer. This is a paid press release.

New York City, New York, March 18th, 2026, Chainwire

Newhedge.io, a Bitcoin analytics platform focused on on-chain market intelligence, today announced the launch of the Newhedge API, providing developers, institutions, and analysts with direct programmatic access to advanced Bitcoin on-chain metrics.

The Newhedge API allows applications, trading systems, research platforms, and data pipelines to integrate structured Bitcoin analytics through simple REST endpoints and JSON responses.

With this release, Newhedge is making the same datasets used across its analytics platform available to developers and financial institutions building applications around Bitcoin.

“Bitcoin data should be accessible, transparent, and easy to integrate,” said Alon Shvartsman, founder and CEO of Newhedge. “The Newhedge API allows developers, trading desks, researchers, and fintech platforms to plug directly into Bitcoin’s most important market and on-chain indicators.”

The API provides access to a wide range of Bitcoin datasets used to analyze market structure, network activity, and long-term adoption trends.

Key capabilities of the Newhedge API include:

• On-chain market indicators

Programmatic access to widely used metrics such as MVRV, Realized Price, Realized Profits and Losses, and SOPR. Important metrics used to analyze Bitcoin market cycles and valuation.

• Supply and holder analytics

Datasets covering Long-Term vs Short-Term Holder supply, HODL Waves, coin age distribution, and realized price cohorts to track accumulation and distribution behavior.

• Network activity metrics

Insights into Bitcoin adoption through active addresses, transaction volume, address growth, and fee dynamics.

• Mining and network security data

Hashrate, hashprice, mining difficulty, miner revenue, forward-looking difficulty adjustment estimates used to evaluate mining economics and network health.

• Developer-friendly infrastructure

Demand for reliable Bitcoin data infrastructure has grown rapidly as institutional participation in the Bitcoin ecosystem expands. Trading firms, research desks, and treasury companies increasingly rely on structured on-chain datasets to analyze market behavior and build financial products.

The Newhedge API provides a unified data layer designed to bridge raw Bitcoin blockchain data with actionable analytics.

Developers can access documentation at:

https://docs.newhedge.io

More information about the API is available at:

https://newhedge.io/api

About Newhedge

Newhedge is a Bitcoin analytics platform focused on delivering transparent, data-driven insights into the Bitcoin network and market. The platform provides on-chain metrics, market indicators, and research tools designed to help investors, analysts, and institutions understand Bitcoin’s long-term fundamentals and market structure.

Contact

Founder Alon Shvartsman Newhedge alon@newhedge.io Disclaimer. This is a paid press release.

Paris, France, March 18th, 2026, Chainwire

In an era of fragmented information, Proof of Talk returns to the Musée des Arts Décoratifs at the Louvre Palace on June 2 & 3 to serve as the definitive Court of Record for the digital asset Industry. Increasingly seen by investors, asset managers, digital asset institutions, and policymakers as a venue where future trajectories are set, Proof of Talk expands the vision of Davos. Rejecting the standard conference format, Proof of Talk is bringing together a curated room of 2,500 decision-makers, where the world's most influential leaders will converge to break news, sign term sheets, and dictate the 2026–2027 market trajectory.

The Content Council: 15+ Years on the Front Line of Digital Assets

The 2026 agenda is engineered by the Content Council, a body of Editorial Architects with a combined 15+ years of dedicated digital asset coverage across Bloomberg, Fox Business, CoinDesk, and Forbes. Their collective record spans every major market cycle, regulatory inflection point, and institutional breakthrough the industry has produced.

The Council's mandate is to shape the agenda of Proof of Talk 2026, turning it into a forum for serious, practical, and impact-driven conversations. It is led by Ben Schiller, Christine Lee, Eleanor Terrett, Frank Chaparro, Jacquelyn Melinek, Lisa Cameron, Michael del Castillo, and Pete Rizzo — eight of the most sourced journalists in the space.

The Podcast Powerhouse: The Primary Source for Global Announcements

Proof of Talk introduces the Podcast Powerhouse, a high-caliber media engine designed to capture and amplify world-first announcements. Featuring the industry's most trusted voices — Andy C (The Rollup), Amanda Cassatt (Endgame), Kevin Follonier (When Shift Happens), Marc Baumann (FiftyOne), and Michaël van de Poppe (New Era Finance) — this collective will serve as the primary source for global market announcements.

The 95% C-Level Standard: Franklin Templeton, SWIFT, JP Morgan, & More

In a room representing over $18T in AUM, the 2026 roster features the founders, C-level executives, and builders of the new financial order, brought to the table to provide proof of their vision.

Confirmed speakers include:

Jenny Johnson, CEO of Franklin Templeton; Tom Zschach, CIO of SWIFT; Carlos Domingo of Securitize; Diogo Mónica of Anchorage Digital, the first regulated crypto bank in America and a portfolio company of Haun Ventures; Emma Landriault, leading the JPM Coin Global Initiative at JP Morgan; Stani Kulechov of Aave, with $26 billion in TVL; Caroline Pham, former Chair of the CFTC; Arnaud Caudoux of Bpifrance, France's €80 billion sovereign wealth fund; Julian Sawyer, CEO of Zodia Custody (founded by Northern Trust and Standard Chartered) and co-founder of Temple Digital; Tom Lee of Fundstrat/Bitmine; Rob Hadick of Dragonfly — among dozens of other elite speakers.

The agenda is built around five themes: Tokenisation of Finance (Stablecoins, RWAs, and DeFi), Investing in Digital Assets, Bitcoin, Privacy, and a Decentralised AI & Bittensor Track.

The Court of Record for a Maturing Asset Class

As capital consolidates, regulatory frameworks solidify, and infrastructure reaches institutional grade, 2026 represents a structural inflection point for digital assets.

By convening global allocators, system-level builders, and the journalists who chronicle market truth in real time, Proof of Talk establishes a disciplined forum for price discovery of ideas, mandates, and long-term conviction.

In a market defined by cycles, Proof of Talk 2026 aims to define the next one.

Passes to Access the Event:

https://tickets.proofoftalk.io/passes 

Contact

Chiara Munaretto events@proofoftalk.io Disclaimer. This is a paid press release.

Lugano, Switzerland, March 17th, 2026, Chainwire

On St. Patrick's Day, as 2 million spectators flood the streets of New York City, USA₮, a digital dollar issued by Anchorage Digital Bank, is taking over Times Square. The brand activation combines synchronized digital billboards with a street-level campaign designed to introduce digital dollar payments to a mainstream audience. The activation coincides with the New York City St. Patrick's Day Parade, the world's oldest and largest, drawing more than 150,000 marchers through the heart of the city.

The campaign will feature coordinated imagery across several of Times Square's most recognizable digital screens, culminating in a synchronized share-of-voice takeover that transforms multiple screens into a single, unified visual, showing how digital dollars move between people in an instant.** At street level, brand ambassadors will distribute 25,000 promotional postcards throughout Times Square and along the parade route, inviting passersby to scan a QR code to download the Rumble Wallet and claim $10 in USA₮, free, right from their phone. The activation kicks off at 10 AM ET and ends at 11:59 PM ET.

The activation reflects a growing shift in fintech marketing toward experiential campaigns that translate complex financial technology into tangible consumer experiences, using high-traffic cultural moments and large-scale digital displays to capture public attention.

The mechanic is simple by design. Scan. Download. Receive. It is the same technology that already moves money for more than 550 million people worldwide, now available to anyone walking through Times Square with a smartphone in their pocket.

Stablecoins are blockchain-based digital dollars designed to maintain a stable value while enabling instant, internet-native payments between digital wallets. They combine the price stability of traditional currency with the speed and programmability of blockchain networks.

“USA₮ builds on the principles that made USD₮ the most widely used stablecoin in the world,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether. “Today, USD₮ is used by more than 550 million people globally, helping move digital dollars across the internet instantly and reliably. USA₮ brings those same foundations to a new audience, making it easier for people to experience how digital dollars can function in everyday life.”

"Times Square on St. Patrick's Day is one of the most electric environments in the world," said Bo Hines, CEO of Tether USA₮. "We are not just running ads, we are handing people the future of money and letting them use it on the spot. This activation invites people to experience the next generation of money right on their smartphones. By pairing digital billboards with a dynamic street activation, we are turning a complex technology into something people can see, experience, and use for themselves."

Digital dollars no longer require a tutorial. They require an opportunity. Large-scale activations like this have become an increasingly common strategy for fintech and technology brands looking to bridge the gap between digital infrastructure and mainstream awareness - and USA₮ is making that bridge as short as a QR code scan.

USA₮ is a digital dollar designed to maintain a 1:1 value with the U.S. dollar while enabling instant digital payments through blockchain networks. Send it, receive it, spend it - globally, in seconds, using compatible wallets and applications**. Moving money should feel as simple as sending a message. With USA₮, it does.

About USA₮

USA₮ is a U.S.-regulated dollar-backed stablecoin that Tether, the global leader in stablecoin technology, is supporting. Purpose-built to serve the U.S. market and support American regulatory standards, USA₮ is the foundational rail for the next generation of American commerce, trade, and finance.

Tether’s support for USA₮ underscores its commitment to driving U.S. dominance and leadership in the evolving digital asset economy. As part of the broader Tether ecosystem, USA₮ will set a new benchmark in the U.S. for utility-driven stablecoins designed to deliver long-term value, strong governance, and real-world applications.

Important Note:

USA₮ is not legal tender (as described in section 5103 of title 31, United States Code) and is not issued, backed, approved, or guaranteed by the U.S. government. USA₮ is not subject to the insurance protections of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC), or any other government agency. The press release is published by Tether Operations, S.A. de C.V. for informational purposes only.

Tether Operations, S.A. de C.V. is not the issuer of USA₮. The issuer of USA₮ is Anchorage Digital Bank, N.A.

Contact

Tether Team Tether press@tether.to Disclaimer. This is a paid press release.

Austin, Texas, March 17th, 2026, Chainwire

Maestro today went live with Mezzamine, the Bitcoin-native credit market for the mining economy, deploying its first live program with Sazmining, a leading Mining-as-a-Service provider powered by 100% renewable energy. The facility allows institutional Bitcoin holders to deploy idle BTC and earn an estimated 8–9% BTC annual yield, backed by hashrate and delivered through mining rewards.

Mezzamine is the first open on-chain capital market for Bitcoiners: miners can tap into BTC growth capital to expand hashrate, and institutional investors can earn Bitcoin yield by financing hashrate mining. In doing so, it offers a native Proof-of-work yield akin to POS rewards. 

New Bitcoins are mined every 10 min, with Mezzamine BTC holders can earn and share block rewards with miners. To achieve this, we've built the first on-chain Bitcoin credit market, enabling native yield through institutional-grade structured instruments powered by real mining operations” — Marvin Bertin, Co-Founder & CEO, Maestro

Addressing the BTC Miner Financing Gap

Bitcoin mining secures the network, yet the capital markets supporting the mining industry remain underdeveloped.

Historically, miners have had limited financing options: borrowing USD against BTC collateral or raising via equity, the latter largely available only to public companies. Because miners generate revenue in BTC while most liabilities are denominated in dollars, the industry has been exposed to persistent currency risks that repeatedly destabilized operators in market downturns, most notably in 2022, resulting in numerous miner bankruptcies.

The result is a structural gap in Bitcoin’s financial infrastructure: ample BTC capital is seeking yield, but most BTC credit products break down in bear markets.

A New Category of BTC Structured Credit

Mezzamine launched the first BTC-native structured credit facility that aligns with mining profitability cycles and provides bear market protection for miners and investors. The structured credit product integrates miner cycle-aware BTC price and miner fleet hedging to stabilize loan performance across market regimes.

With Mezzamine, mining operations deliver base yield across moderate and bullish markets, while embedded BTC hedging mechanisms protect investors in bear markets.

The structure intentionally shifts economics across the cycle: miners pay higher financing costs in bull markets in exchange for greater credit capacity and resiliency in bear markets.

"Mining is the only way to generate new bitcoin, and Mezzamine lets us finance that capability in bitcoin itself — no dilution, no fiat liabilities. For a 100% renewable mining operation like Sazmining, this is exactly the kind of capital structure the industry has needed." — Kent Halliburton, CEO, Sazmining

The Inaugural Program: Sazmining

Sazmining pioneered Bitcoin Mining-as-a-Service, earning Bitcoin revenue via a customer-aligned model, while managing the full mining stack for its customers across renewable-powered data centers in Paraguay, Norway, North America, and South America. Its operations currently span more than 4,000 mining rigs generating approximately 1.75 BTC per week at roughly 0.67 EH/s, with all facilities powered by hydropower and other carbon-free energy sources.

Sazmining grew 350% year-over-year in 2025 and is targeting 60% additional hashrate growth in 2026. The Mezzamine facility is designed to finance that expansion, funding new rig deployments and site acquisition over a 12-to-18-month horizon without requiring Sazmining to assume fiat-denominated liabilities.

"Mezzamine leverages the power of on-chain rails and Bitcoin liquidity to bridge the gap between capital financing, energy, and Bitcoin mining. As a result, mining will become more decentralized, creating arbitrage opportunities for investors and a more secure network for Bitcoiners." — Varderes Barsegyan, Co-Founder & CTO, Maestro

Pipeline and Platform Expansion

Maestro reports more than 1,500 BTC in borrower demand from qualified mining operators currently exploring financing. Eligible participants include publicly traded mining companies, mid-sized operators, and infrastructure providers.

As additional programs come online, Maestro plans to introduce an on-chain secondary market and tradable mining credit-backed instruments, where miners and BTC holders can participate in a decentralized capital market.

Eligibility and Access

The Sazmining program is open to institutional investors, corporate treasuries, asset managers, family offices, and registered investment advisers with a minimum allocation of $100,000 equivalent. All participants complete standard KYC/AML onboarding prior to deployment. The program is available to participants in eligible jurisdictions, subject to applicable regulatory requirements.

For More Information

Apply as an investor or miner: mezzamine.com/participate

View live programs: app.mezzamine.com

Learn about Sazmining: sazmining.com

Media Contact: Davis Richardson — drichardson@gomaestro.org

About Maestro

Maestro is a leading enterprise-grade infrastructure provider accelerating the world's transition to Bitcoin-native capital markets. From robust developer tooling to compliant, in-kind BTC yield products for institutions, Maestro is at the forefront of transforming Bitcoin into the financial rails of tomorrow. Its flagship product, Mezzamine, is the first Bitcoin-native institutional credit market, connecting institutional BTC holders and mining operators in a single on-chain structure with built-in bear market protection. Maestro's infrastructure is trusted by leading protocols and platforms, including ICP, Flowdesk, Liquidium, Canton Network, and more.

Website: gomaestro.org/institutional

All terms, rates, and figures shown are illustrative examples and not binding offers or commitments.

Contact

Davis Richardson drichardson@gomaestro.org Disclaimer. This is a paid press release.

George Town, British Virgin Islands, March 17th, 2026, Chainwire

Aster, a privacy-focused trading ecosystem backed by YZi Labs, today announced the official launch of Aster Chain Mainnet. This purpose-built Layer 1 blockchain is designed to dismantle the "transparency trap" of modern DeFi, offering institutional-grade privacy and CEX-level performance to professional and retail traders worldwide.

Ending the Era of Onchain Position Hunting

Transparency is a defining characteristic of decentralized finance, supported by public ledgers, verifiable transactions, and open protocols. However, transparency between protocols and users differs from transparency among market participants. When trading activity, including order placement, position size, and liquidation levels, is fully visible on-chain, such information may be observed and used by other participants in the market.

Position hunting – where traders identify a large position, see its liquidation price, and coordinate to trigger a forced liquidation – has cost traders millions of dollars on fully transparent platforms. Infamously, in March 2025, a trader opened a $375 million BTC 40x short on a fully transparent platform. Traders quickly began openly coordinating on Twitter to pool funds and hunt the position.

Aster's default privacy removes that attack surface entirely.

The Aster Thesis: Privacy is a Fundamental Right

Unlike existing solutions that treat privacy as an opt-in feature or a third-party wrapper, Aster Chain embeds encryption directly into the execution layer. On Aster, privacy is the default, not a privilege.

The Aster privacy stack utilizes a ZK-verifiable encrypted architecture:

ZK-Verifiable Encryption + Stealth Address Mechanism: Every order is ZK-verifiable encrypted before it reaches the chain; with Account Privacy enabled, orders are routed through unique stealth addresses, ensuring no link between users’ wallets and their trading activity, and preventing any third party from tracing, correlating, or reconstructing trades.

Selective Disclosure: While asset transfers remain traceable for compliance, the execution layer shields strategic intent. Users who want their activity visible can choose to make it public. With Account Privacy enabled, users can generate a Viewer Pass to share with selected parties, allowing only those with access to the pass to view their private orders.

Zero Performance Trade-off: Aster Chain achieves peak throughput of 100,000+ TPS and a median block time of 50ms, all without gas – performance that matches the speed traders expect from a centralized exchange.

"Transparency between a protocol and its users is a fundamental feature, but transparency between a trader and their competitors is a critical vulnerability," said Leonard, CEO at Aster. "Aster Chain is the only architecture that treats privacy as a fundamental requirement for a fair market, neutralizing predatory attacks at the base layer."

CEX Speed Meets DEX Principles

Aster Chain delivers the sub-second finality and high-leverage experience of a CEX while upholding the core tenets of decentralization: self-custody, verifiability, and permissionless access. Trading privacy removes the last reason to stay on a centralized exchange. The network is supported by a native bridge to BNB Chain and proprietary oracles to ensure high-fidelity price data.

Fuelling the Next Wave of Innovation

The mainnet launch marks the start of a phased expansion. Beyond the flagship Aster trading UI, the ecosystem is inviting builders to create specialized vaults and collaborative DeFi products through Aster Code.

To coincide with the launch, Aster will initiate a Staking Program within a week to reward early supporters and liquidity providers.

About Aster

Aster is a privacy-first onchain trading platform backed by YZi Labs, with unique features like Hidden Orders to protect user trading activity. It offers perpetual contracts across crypto, stocks and commodities, as well as crypto spot trading, and is powered by Aster Chain, a Layer 1 blockchain built to power the future of decentralized finance.

Users can learn more about Aster on the official website or follow Aster on X.

Contact

PR & Content Manager Lola Chen Aster lola.chen@asterdex.com Disclaimer. This is a paid press release.