Circle aims to become a real bank

Circle wants to become a real bank

 Circle aims to transform into a federal fiduciary bank to better manage its USDC stablecoin. The company has officially filed an application with U.S. authorities to establish the “First National Digital Currency Bank,” a structure that will not offer deposits or loans, but will manage USDC reserves and provide custody services for institutional clients.

This move aligns with the upcoming Genius Act, a law that introduces strict rules on transparency, reserves, and compliance for stablecoin issuers. By becoming a bank, Circle wants to regain control over its assets and strengthen its regulatory standing.

This new status would also help Circle better compete with traditional banks while preparing for a future in which the sector becomes increasingly institutional. CEO Jeremy Allaire sees this as a decisive step toward a reliable digital financial system, where stablecoins play a central role.

This strategic decision is designed to reassure markets, anticipate upcoming regulations, and position USDC as a compliant, secure stablecoin that aligns with international banking standards.

Bitstack obtains MiCA license

 Bitstack, the French startup specializing in Bitcoin savings through automatic round-ups, has just received its MiCA license from the French financial markets authority. This certification now allows it to legally offer its services across all EU countries without going through additional local approval processes.

The app, which already has over 200,000 users in France, lets people invest small amounts of Bitcoin with every everyday purchase. For example, if a transaction costs €2.60, Bitstack rounds it up to €3 and invests the remaining €0.40. This automated savings system has become a hit among younger users and crypto beginners.

Thanks to the EU-wide passport granted by the MiCA license, Bitstack will now be able to expand across Europe while ensuring users enjoy a secure and regulated environment.

CEO Alexandre Roubaud sees this approval as a strategic milestone. He’s already announcing new products on the way, like a bank account with an IBAN and a Visa card offering Bitcoin cashback. These features aim to improve the user experience and boost loyalty within the Bitstack ecosystem.

Tether unveils a blockchain built for USDT

 Tether is launching its own blockchain, called Stablechain, specifically designed to optimize USDT payments. This new Layer 1 infrastructure uses USDT as its native token to pay transaction fees, eliminating volatility tied to gas tokens like Ether or MATIC. The goal is clear: make stablecoin payments smoother, faster, and more accessible.

Stablechain is compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine and promises block finality in under one second. Designed for businesses, the blockchain also offers tools such as batch processing, confidential transfers, and guaranteed block space allocation.

The roadmap has three stages: an initial launch with simplified wallets, scaling via parallel execution, and eventually moving to a DAG consensus model, which is much faster and more resilient. This approach aims to solve the limitations of general-purpose blockchains when it comes to micropayments or large-scale transfers.

Stablechain is positioning itself as a key solution for cross-border payments, peer-to-peer transactions, and the needs of financial institutions. By removing unpredictable fees and ensuring near-instant execution, it hopes to win over a broad range of users—from fintechs to e-commerce players.

Detroit sues RealT over 400+ properties

 The city of Detroit has filed an unprecedented lawsuit against RealT, a platform that specializes in real estate tokenization. The city accuses the company of owning, through a web of over 160 legal entities, more than 400 properties in severe disrepair that pose health and safety risks to residents.

According to the complaint, these properties are infested with mold, have suffered from flooding, lack heating, or are partially collapsed. Over 100 are vacant, and most of them have overdue taxes, putting them at risk of seizure or demolition. The city is demanding that the properties be brought up to code within 90 days or face municipal intervention billed to RealT, along with a $500,000 fine.

Tenants describe difficult living conditions, with no clear lease agreements or available contacts. Some have gone months without hot water or necessary repairs. The city criticizes RealT’s model for relying on anonymous, often foreign investors who take no responsibility on the ground.

In response to the accusations, RealT claims to have launched a compliance plan and blames local contractors for the issues. However, the city remains skeptical, pointing to the opaque legal structure that makes it difficult to enforce accountability.