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Babylon pushes Bitcoin into on-chain finance as a16z crypto backs expansion

  • Trustless BTCVaults aim to use Bitcoin as on-chain collateral without wrappers or custodians.
  • Babylon’s staking previously reached over $2 billion in total value locked.
  • An integration with Aave V4 is expected to bring native Bitcoin collateral to DeFi by April 2026.

Babylon is moving to widen Bitcoin’s role in on-chain finance, following fresh backing from venture capital firm a16z Crypto.

The investment supports Babylon’s transition from a single-purpose staking platform toward a broader financial infrastructure built directly on Bitcoin.

Rather than focusing only on yield, the project is positioning BTC as usable collateral across lending and other decentralised applications, without relying on wrapped tokens or custodial bridges.

The shift reflects a growing push across crypto markets to unlock capital efficiency from Bitcoin’s large but largely inactive supply, while keeping security anchored to the Bitcoin network itself.

a16z crypto investment

On Dec. 7, a16z Crypto disclosed a $15 million investment in Babylon, made through the purchase of Babylon’s native BABY tokens.

Babylon was originally developed as a Bitcoin staking protocol that allows BTC holders to earn yield without transferring assets off the Bitcoin network.

The firm said the investment reflects confidence in Babylon’s approach to extending Bitcoin’s functionality beyond staking, while preserving Bitcoin’s core security assumptions.

a16z positioned the project as a potential neutral alternative to wrapped BTC models, which currently dominate decentralised finance but introduce reliance on issuers, custodians, or multi-signature structures.

Trustless BTCVaults explained

Babylon is now expanding into lending infrastructure through what it calls Trustless BTCVaults.

These vaults are designed to allow Bitcoin to act as verifiable on-chain collateral without bridges, wrappers, or custodians.

The architecture relies on cryptographic tools such as witness encryption and garbled circuits to enable conditional execution tied directly to Bitcoin transactions.

The aim is to let Bitcoin interact with decentralised applications while remaining native to its own network.

According to a16z, this design could reduce counterparty and settlement risks that arise when BTC is represented on other blockchains via synthetic tokens.

Babylon’s approach targets the large pool of Bitcoin capital that currently sits idle, estimated at more than $1.4 trillion, by making it usable in lending, credit, and other capital-efficient use cases.

Founders and technical roots

Babylon was founded by David Tse and Fisher Yu.

Tse is a professor at Stanford University and is known for his academic work in information theory and blockchain research.

a16z highlighted Tse’s long-standing role in mentoring crypto founders and researchers as part of its rationale for backing the project.

The firm framed the investment as support for technically driven infrastructure that could reshape how Bitcoin integrates with decentralised finance, rather than incremental improvements to existing staking models.

From staking to DeFi integration

Babylon’s staking protocol has previously drawn significant demand.

Earlier staking caps recorded more than $2 billion in total value locked, with participation from institutional custodians such as BitGo and exchange partners including Kraken.

More recently, development has shifted toward BTCVaults and native Bitcoin lending.

In early December 2025, Babylon and Aave announced that native Bitcoin would be used as collateral on Aave V4.

The proposed integration includes Aave’s first Bitcoin-backed “Spoke”, enabling borrowing and lending against BTC without converting it into ERC-20 tokens.

The launch is expected around April 2026.

If successful, it could open new decentralised finance markets built directly on Bitcoin’s base layer, with potential extensions into perpetual futures, stablecoins, and other financial primitives.

The post Babylon pushes Bitcoin into on-chain finance as a16z crypto backs expansion appeared first on CoinJournal.

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Trump-Linked World Liberty seeks US trust bank charter for Stablecoin USD1

  • The proposed trust bank would operate solely within stablecoin services under OCC supervision.
  • USD1 has reached over $3.3 billion in circulation within a year of launch.
  • The stablecoin is fully backed by US dollars and short-term US Treasury assets.

World Liberty Financial, a crypto firm linked to the Trump family, has applied for a national trust bank charter, a move that would place its stablecoin issuance and custody activities within the traditional banking regulatory framework.

USD1’s circulation rapidly increased to more than $3.3 billion within a year of its issuance.

Trust bank filing

According to filings with the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, World Liberty Financial has applied to launch World Liberty Trust Company through its subsidiary WLTC Holdings LLC.

The proposal outlines a national trust bank designed solely for stablecoin-related activity.

The trust bank would be authorised to issue, redeem, and custody USD1. It would not offer traditional lending or retail banking services.

Instead, it would operate within the long-established OCC trust bank framework, which requires strict asset segregation, independent reserve oversight, and regular examinations.

If approved, World Liberty Financial would operate under the same federal supervision applied to traditional trust institutions.

Stablecoin services

World Liberty Trust Company plans to offer three core services under US regulatory supervision.

These include minting and redeeming USD1, enabling conversion between US dollars and the stablecoin, and providing custody for USD1 and other approved stablecoins.

At launch, minting and redemption are expected to be fee-free.

All services would follow anti-money laundering rules, sanctions screening, and enhanced security controls.

The structure is also designed to align with the proposed GENIUS Act, which aims to establish clear federal standards for stablecoin issuers operating in the US.

USD1 growth

USD1 has expanded quickly since its launch, reaching about $3.3 billion in circulation within its first year. This growth places it among the fastest-scaling stablecoins so far.

The token is fully backed by US dollars and short-term US Treasury assets held with regulated financial institutions.

The stablecoin already operates across multiple blockchains, including Ethereum, Solana, BNB Smart Chain, TRON, Aptos, and AB Core.

It is also listed on major exchanges such as Binance and Coinbase, making it accessible to both retail and institutional users.

Regulatory pathway

If the OCC grants approval, the trust bank would initially focus on institutional clients seeking regulated stablecoin issuance and custody services.

The review process is expected to be detailed, covering capital adequacy, compliance infrastructure, and risk management systems.

The move follows earlier steps by US regulators to engage with crypto firms.

In December last year, the OCC issued conditional approvals to firms including Fidelity Digital Assets, Ripple, Paxos, and Circle.

More recently, Crypto.com and Coinbase have also submitted applications, reflecting a broader industry push toward federally regulated crypto banking structures.

The post Trump-Linked World Liberty seeks US trust bank charter for Stablecoin USD1 appeared first on CoinJournal.

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Wyoming launches state-backed stablecoin as public finance experiment

  • Wyoming has launched FRNT, the first stablecoin issued and backed by a US state government.
  • The dollar-pegged token is fully backed by cash and Treasuries and managed by Franklin Templeton.
  • Interest from reserves is directed to Wyoming public schools rather than token holders.

Wyoming has formally entered the digital asset market by issuing the first stablecoin created and backed by a US state government.

The launch places a publicly managed dollar-pegged token directly onto open crypto networks, marking a shift from privately issued stablecoins that currently dominate the market.

Known as the Frontier Stable Token (FRNT), the project reflects years of legal and technical groundwork and positions Wyoming as a testing ground for how blockchain-based money could function inside public finance systems.

The token’s debut also arrives as US regulators continue to debate how digital dollars should be governed, leaving states to explore their own approaches within existing frameworks.

How the token enters crypto markets

The Frontier Stable Token went live on January 7, according to an announcement carried by Wyoming Public Media and confirmed by the state’s Stable Token Commission.

Trading is initially available on Kraken, a Wyoming-based cryptocurrency exchange, with issuance beginning on the Solana blockchain.

While Solana is the first network used, the token has been designed for broader reach.

Through Stargate, the stablecoin can move to Ethereum, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Base, Optimism, Polygon, and Solana.

This multi-chain structure allows the token to circulate beyond a single ecosystem, increasing its potential use across decentralised finance applications and payment rails without being locked into one network.

Backing structure and reserve controls

Wyoming has allocated $6 million to the project so far, with further funding still under discussion as public trading begins.

The reserves backing the token are held in a Wyoming-chartered trust and managed by Franklin Templeton.

Those reserves are reported to be fully backed, consisting of US dollars, cash equivalents, and short-term US Treasury securities.

Rather than being distributed to token holders, interest generated from the reserve assets is directed to Wyoming public schools.

Why holders receive no yield

At launch, the stablecoin does not offer yield to users who hold it.

State officials have linked this decision to regulatory uncertainty in the US surrounding interest-bearing digital assets.

By avoiding yield payments, Wyoming aims to reduce legal risk while federal rules remain unsettled.

Officials have indicated that the structure could be revisited in the future if clearer guidance emerges at the national level. Any changes would depend on how regulators define the boundaries between stablecoins, securities, and banking products.

Testing payments inside government systems

Beyond acting as a digital dollar, the stablecoin is also being explored as a payment tool for government services.

Wyoming officials have highlighted the cost of card processing fees, which can significantly reduce net revenue for local administrations.

In counties with high transaction volumes and fixed margins, these fees are seen as a growing strain.

By settling payments on-chain, the state is examining whether digital tokens could lower costs and speed up settlement while keeping more value within public systems.

The public launch follows several delays over the past year, although no technical or liquidity issues have been reported so far.

Early trading volumes remain modest, which is typical for a newly issued stablecoin, particularly one issued by a government.

The Wyoming Stable Token Commission is scheduled to meet on January 15 to review early performance and discuss next steps as the experiment moves forward.

The post Wyoming launches state-backed stablecoin as public finance experiment appeared first on CoinJournal.

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Bitcoin price slips below $91,000 after $95K rejection as bears regain control

  • Bitcoin price saw a slight dip and sat near $91,300 at the time of writing.
  • Gains on Tuesday followed bullish news from the MSCI.
  • Will BTC bounce to reclaim $94,000, or will another rejection push prices under $90,000?

Bitcoin slipped to below $91,000 after hitting a fresh rejection near the $95,000 resistance level.

The decline came amid a 3% dump for the bellwether cryptocurrency in the early US trading session on January 7, 2026.

Market data shows the price of Bitcoin fell to lows of $90,986 across major exchanges. However, bulls were showing resilience as the price moved back above $91,300 at the time of writing.

Mixed market sentiment as Bitcoin slips to $91k

Bitcoin price faced renewed selling pressure on Wednesday as bearish forces regrouped and looked to regain control after the crypto market’s brief rally.

On Tuesday, Bitcoin had jumped to near $95,000 before hitting a fresh rejection.

The dip to under $91,000 showed a mixed market outlook regarding the MSCI announcement that the index provider would not remove Strategy and other digital asset treasury companies from its benchmarks.

As seen across the market, this decision alleviated fears of forced selling by passive funds, sparking optimism and contributing to BTC’s temporary pump.

Morgan Stanley’s filing for spot Bitcoin and Solana ETFs also acted as a fresh tailwind.

However, amid outflows from spot Bitcoin ETFs, the positive sentiment soon gave way to some jitters. Bulls showed hesitation as investors weighed what the MSCI planned ahead of the upcoming review.

While many celebrated the news, some pointed to what the index noted.

CryptoQuant analyst Maartunn shared this cautious outlook via X:

“MSCI didn’t reject the idea of excluding crypto-heavy firms. They’re just delaying the decision and plan a broader review of investment-style companies,” he posted. “This feels more like a warning shot than a green light.”

Bitcoin price jitters

Bitcoin’s next move will be key for both bulls and bears.

Trading volumes have remained elevated in the past 24 hours, despite overall weakness and macroeconomic readings. A rebound from the pullback will accelerate a new rally.

But persistent bearish pressure could yet lead to another rejection. The RSI and MACD indicators on the 4-hour chart suggest sellers have an upper hand.

If prices slip under $90,000, a deeper correction may mean a revisit of support at $87k and then $85k.

Bitcoin Chart
Bitcoin 4-hour chart by TradingView

In the short term, the $91,000 zone will act as a pivotal support.

An uptick and decisive close above $92,500 could signal renewed bullish conviction, potentially opening the door for a bullish retest of $95,000 and higher targets toward $100,000.

 

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Cardano price prediction: ADA eyes $0.50 despite market correction

Key takeaways

  • ADA is trading at $0.40 after losing 5.5% of its value in the last 24 hours.
  • The altcoin could rally towards $0.50 if the bullish trend resumes. 

ADA could slip below $0.40

The cryptocurrency market is undergoing a correction following a strong start to the week. Bitcoin has dropped below $92k, while Ether is trading below $3,100 per coin.

ADA, the native coin of the Cardano blockchain, has lost 5% of its value in the last 24 hours and is now trading above $0.40. However, it could still rally higher in the near term amid strong fundamentals. 

The rally could be fueled by growing Open Interest. According to CoinGlass, ADA’s OI now stands at $796 million, up from the $662 million recorded a week ago. The growing OI hints at the possibility of ADA’s price rallying higher in the near term. 

The confidence encourages retail investors to lean into risk, which contributes to buying pressure.

ADA eyes $0.50 despite market correction

The ADA/USD 4-hour chart remains bullish and efficient despite the recent bearish performance. At press time, ADA has dropped below the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) of $0.43 and is now trading at $0.403.

Despite that, the coin’s short-term outlook remains bullish, supported by the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator, which has maintained a positive divergence over the past few days. 

ADA/USD 4H Chart

The RSI of 64 also shows buying pressure has resumed, with the coin set to enter the overbought region if the bullish bias remains. 

If the bulls regain control, ADA could rally past the 100-day EMA resistance at $0.505. An extended rally could see ADA challenge the 200-day EMA zone at $0.593.

However, if the correction persists, ADA could retrace below the $0.40 level and retest the $0.3827 support.

The post Cardano price prediction: ADA eyes $0.50 despite market correction appeared first on CoinJournal.