Amazon and Walmart working on their own stablecoin

Amazon and Walmart working on their own stablecoin

Amazon and Walmart are seriously exploring the launch of their own stablecoin, backed by the imminent passage of the Genius Act in the U.S. Congress, which would establish a regulatory framework for these digital currencies. This project could allow these retail giants to bypass the high fees charged by Visa and Mastercard networks, potentially saving them billions each year.

Since stablecoins are pegged to fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar and backed by fiat reserves or Treasury bonds, they enable near-instant settlements. The final decision will depend on the adoption of the Genius Act, currently under debate in the Senate and House. Meanwhile, Amazon is also considering accepting an existing stablecoin through a partner consortium.

For consumers, these tokens promise faster payments at lower costs, with easier cross-border transactions. Amazon and Walmart see stablecoins as a strategic move: reducing their reliance on banking networks and improving user experience. However, success will depend on upcoming legal frameworks and actual consumer adoption.

Shopify & Stripe launch USDC payments in 34 countries

Shopify is preparing to activate USDC payments for its merchants in 34 countries, through partnerships with Stripe and Coinbase via the Base blockchain. This rollout aims to offer native stablecoin payments directly through Shopify Payments and Shop Pay.

By default, USDC payments will be enabled, with merchants having the option to disable it. Merchants who opt in will receive a 0.5% cashback and can be paid directly in USDC or local currency. Transactions via Base will reduce blockchain fees to under $0.01, with ultra-fast settlements (under 200 ms), which is a major advantage for e-commerce platforms.

In a market where stablecoin volumes have skyrocketed (from $2 billion to over $700 billion in just two years), this massive adoption marks a turning point for crypto integration in mainstream transactions. Shopify, already powering 10% of U.S. e-commerce, now offers its 875 million potential buyers a faster, lower-cost payment option.

Milei cleared by anti-corruption office

In June 2025, Argentina’s Anti-Corruption Office officially cleared Javier Milei in the $LIBRA memecoin scandal, determining that his promotion was personal and not an official government action. The investigation found that the February tweet involved no public funds or government resources. The Office stated that Milei was expressing his private opinion on his personal platform—a right protected by the Constitution. The unregulated memecoin peaked at $4 billion before crashing, causing estimated losses of $250 million. Despite the ethical charge being dropped, a separate criminal investigation is still ongoing in federal court. Meanwhile, the special investigative unit was dissolved in early May, drawing criticism from opponents accusing Milei of trying to bury the case.

Political opponents accuse Milei of using his presidential position to influence the market, calling it a "pump-and-dump" scheme. The opposition has filed several fraud complaints and considered impeachment proceedings, but failed to secure a congressional majority. Milei defended his stance, reminding critics that investors were aware of the risks, likening the situation to a "casino." Politically, the scandal has tarnished his reputation, lowered his approval ratings, and weakened his economic reform agenda. The case remains under close watch as it raises major questions about the ethics of crypto-influential public officials.

Plasma raises $500 million

On June 12, 2025, Plasma—a platform offering a Bitcoin-backed stablecoin with zero fees—announced it raised $500 million in deposits in less than an hour. The sale, open to the entire community, quickly surpassed the initial $500 million cap, which was doubled to $1 billion and fully reached within just 30 minutes. Some users reportedly paid up to $100,000 in transaction fees to secure their participation, fueling speculation about bots or sniper behaviors.

Plasma positions itself as a bridge between stablecoins and Bitcoin, aiming to combine the best of both worlds: stability, security, and efficiency. Funds are deposited via USDT on Bitcoin, using Layer 2 structures to keep costs near zero and enable instant settlements.

Analysts see this operation as a strong signal: investors consider this model a true financial innovation. Plasma's success could inspire other projects to experiment with hybrid stablecoins that blend traditional and crypto assets. Nonetheless, questions remain: how sustainable is this model? How will Plasma ensure security and regulatory compliance?