CertiK joins XDC Network to secure trade finance and RWA tokenization

  • CertiK joins XDC Network as institutional masternode validator.
  • Partnership strengthens security, resilience and decentralization.
  • SkyNode infrastructure delivers 24/7 protection and monitoring.

CertiK has joined the XDC Network as an Institutional Masternode Validator, marking a new step in the network’s push to build trusted blockchain infrastructure for enterprise finance, trade finance, and real-world asset tokenization.

The New York-headquartered Web3 security services provider has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with XDC Network under which it will deploy and operate validator nodes on the blockchain.

The partnership will use CertiK’s enterprise node solution, CertiK SkyNode, to strengthen XDC Network’s security, resilience, and decentralization.

The move comes as digital assets and traditional finance continue to converge, with institutions increasingly looking for blockchain networks that can support secure settlement, asset tokenization, and operational resilience at scale.

CertiK to operate validator nodes on XDC Network

Under the agreement, CertiK will participate as an Institutional Masternode Validator on the XDC Network, an open-source, EVM-compatible Layer-1 blockchain built for payments, trade finance, and real-world assets.

XDC Network’s hybrid architecture combines public transparency with private subnetwork capabilities.

The network is designed to support institutional settlement and RWA tokenization, while offering high throughput, low fees, and enterprise-grade security.

By joining as a validator, CertiK will embed security controls into the infrastructure layer of the network.

The companies said this is aimed at reducing operational and network-related risks as enterprise blockchain adoption gathers pace.

“CertiK is one of the most recognized names in blockchain security, and having them validate our network is a meaningful signal to institutions,” said Atul Khekade, Co-founder, XDC Network.

This is not just a technical partnership. It is a statement about the standard of infrastructure we are building for enterprise finance. The institutions moving into trade finance and asset settlement are making long-term infrastructure decisions, and we want XDC Network to be the answer they keep coming back to.

Security focus targets institutional adoption

CertiK will use its SkyNode infrastructure to provide 24/7 proactive defences for XDC Network.

These include continuous vulnerability scanning, automated threat mitigation, and node-level penetration testing.

The infrastructure will also use a multi-region sentry node architecture with redundant failover protection.

According to the companies, this setup is designed to maintain consensus continuity and support high availability during periods of peak network congestion.

For institutions evaluating blockchain rails for trade finance and asset settlement, operational resilience remains a central requirement.

The collaboration is positioned around that need, with CertiK bringing its security and infrastructure expertise to XDC Network’s validator ecosystem.

“CertiK is honored to join the XDC Network as an Institutional Masternode Validator,” said Ronghui Gu, Co-Founder and CEO of CertiK.

Traditional trade finance and RWA tokenization require rigorous risk management, strong security foundations, and operational resilience. Through this collaboration, we are bringing our security and infrastructure expertise to help strengthen the network and support the trusted infrastructure needed for institutional adoption.

XDC expands validator ecosystem for enterprise finance

The partnership adds CertiK to a wider group of institutional validators already supporting XDC Network.

These include regulated financial institutions, global telecoms companies, and Web3 digital asset firms.

XDC Network’s existing institutional validators include Animoca Brands, BCW Group, Blueprint, Clearpool, Credora, Deutsche Telekom, HashKeyCloud, Hivemind Digital Group, InvestaX, IXS, RedStone, Republic Crypto, SBI Holdings, StakeFi, and UOB Venture Management.

The collaboration will focus on supporting trusted infrastructure for trade finance, asset tokenization, and institutional digital asset ecosystems.

Both organizations said they aim to support the secure adoption of blockchain technologies across these areas.

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World expands AgentKit to connect human verified AI agents to World ID

  • World expands AgentKit for verified AI agents using World ID.
  • AI agents can act online on behalf of verified human users.
  • System aims to prevent bots while enabling trusted automation.

World is expanding access to AgentKit, its framework designed to create human-verified AI agents and allow individuals to connect those agents to a verified World ID.

The system enables AI agents to act on behalf of users across the internet while maintaining identity verification through World’s network.

The development comes as AI agents become increasingly capable of performing online tasks such as shopping, making reservations, navigating websites, and interacting with digital services.

This growing capability has created a challenge for businesses in distinguishing between agents representing real users and automated bot networks.

AgentKit is positioned as a response to that issue by linking AI agents directly to World ID, allowing websites and applications to verify when an agent is acting on behalf of a unique human.

The framework is designed to support task delegation while maintaining safeguards tied to identity verification and user control.

How AgentKit links AI agents to verified identity

To begin using AgentKit, individuals require a verified World ID, access to World App, and a supported AI agent, including tools such as Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Hermes, or OpenClaw.

Users connect their proof of human through World’s ToolRouter interface, generate an API key, and link their AI agent within minutes.

Once connected, the agent can interact with services that support AgentKit and perform tasks on behalf of the user.

The system is designed to allow individuals to delegate digital tasks to AI agents while preserving controls tied to verified identity.

According to the framework description, this structure is intended to ensure that AI activity remains attributable to a real human user rather than anonymous or automated systems.

Demo shows real-world use case

The technology was recently demonstrated through a limited-edition release of 500 “Human in the Loop” hats available exclusively to verified World ID holders.

During the demonstration, AI agents discovered the drop, verified eligibility, navigated the storefront, and completed purchases on behalf of users while maintaining one-item-per-person limits tied to verified identities.

All 500 hats were claimed by verified individuals across multiple countries, including the United States, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom.

The demonstration was used to show how AI agents can execute real-world transactions while preserving identity-based constraints designed to limit abuse.

The example highlighted how businesses could allow AI agents to complete tasks on behalf of users while still preventing exploitation by bot networks.

Building a trust layer for the agent economy

As more services integrate AgentKit, World aims to create what it describes as a trust layer for an emerging agent economy.

The goal is to enable AI agents to transact and interact online while remaining accountable to the humans they represent.

The system is intended to support a growing range of use cases where AI agents operate autonomously but within a framework of verified identity and user authorization.

This includes both commercial applications and broader digital service interactions.

The World project was originally conceived by Sam Altman, Max Novendstern, and Alex Blania, and aims to provide proof of human, finance and connection for every human in the age of AI.

The company says AgentKit is part of its broader effort to support identity verification in an environment where AI agents are becoming increasingly capable of acting independently across online platforms.

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KuCoin Pay expands crypto payments across Bangladesh, Mexico, Zambia

  • KuCoin Pay expands crypto payments to Bangladesh, Mexico, and Zambia.
  • Platform links stablecoins with local banks and mobile money rails.
  • KuCoin targets real-world crypto use in high-growth emerging markets.

KuCoin Pay, the cryptocurrency payment platform developed by KuCoin, has expanded its transfer-based payment capabilities across Bangladesh, Mexico, and Zambia.

The move aims to connect digital assets with widely used local payment systems in high-growth markets.

The rollout integrates cryptocurrencies and stablecoins with established banking and payment networks across the three markets.

These include the bKash and Nagad mobile payment platforms in Bangladesh, SPEI-compatible bank transfer routes in Mexico, and mobile money services offered by MTN Group and Airtel Africa in Zambia.

The expansion reflects the growing role of local bank transfers and mobile money services in emerging economies, where consumers increasingly rely on these systems for salary payments, remittances, merchant transactions, and peer-to-peer transfers.

Integration with local financial infrastructure

KuCoin Pay said its platform is designed to integrate digital assets with familiar financial systems, reducing the complexity often associated with moving cryptocurrencies into everyday financial activity.

The company noted that its technology supports localized payment routing through deep integration with local banking and payment rails.

Rather than requiring users to navigate complex backend processes, the platform identifies appropriate payment routes through a unified technical interface.

According to the company, this approach allows digital asset transactions to function more like traditional e-wallets, mobile money services, or local bank transfer tools.

By connecting cryptocurrencies and stablecoins with existing financial infrastructure, KuCoin Pay aims to make digital assets more practical for real-world use cases while reducing friction and simplifying the transfer process.

Focus on practical crypto applications

KuCoin executives said payments represent one of the most important pathways for digital assets to gain broader utility within the real economy.

“Crypto is emerging as a new asset class with growing relevance in the real economy, and payments are one of the most important ways for this value to reach users,” said Alicia Kao, Managing Director of KuCoin.

“Through KuCoin Pay, we are building trusted and localized connections between digital assets and existing banking, mobile money and transfer rails. By integrating crypto with the financial systems people already use, we are helping digital assets move beyond holding and trading into practical financial activity, while supporting more inclusive and future-ready financial ecosystems in high-growth markets.”

The company said the expansion is intended to improve accessibility to digital assets by enabling users to interact with cryptocurrencies through payment systems they already use in their daily lives.

Further expansion planned

Looking ahead, KuCoin Pay said it plans to continue expanding compatibility with local banking and payment systems in additional markets.

The company also intends to improve technical response speeds and broaden practical cryptocurrency payment applications across supported regions worldwide.

The latest expansion underscores a broader industry trend toward integrating digital assets with existing financial infrastructure, particularly in emerging markets where mobile money and local transfer networks play an increasingly central role in everyday commerce and financial inclusion.

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XRP struggles below key resistance amid geopolitical tensions

Key takeaways

  • Risk sentiment across financial markets remained fragile following conflicting statements from US and Iranian officials.
  • XRP risks dropping below $1.0 if the bearish trend persists. 

Ripple’s XRP remained under pressure on Wednesday, trading below $1.10 and maintaining a broader bearish outlook. 

The remittance-focused cryptocurrency failed to extend an early-week recovery attempt as investors reacted to renewed geopolitical uncertainty surrounding negotiations between the United States and Iran.

Mixed US-Iran signals fuel market uncertainty

Risk sentiment across financial markets remained fragile following conflicting statements from US and Iranian officials after the first round of peace negotiations held in Switzerland.

US Vice President JD Vance said late Monday that Iran had agreed to allow inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) back into the country. However, Iranian authorities disputed the claim, insisting that Tehran had made no additional commitments during the discussions.

Iran’s chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stated that the United States had agreed to release approximately $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump warned reporters that Washington would take further action if Iran failed to comply with the terms of any agreement.

The conflicting messages have contributed to risk-off sentiment across cryptocurrency markets, limiting demand for digital assets and reinforcing bearish pressure on XRP.

Investor sentiment across the cryptocurrency market remains weak despite a slight improvement in confidence levels.

The Crypto Fear & Greed Index registered a reading of 23 on Monday, remaining firmly in “Extreme Fear” territory. While the index improved marginally from 20 recorded a day earlier, market participants continue to adopt a cautious stance amid macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties.

The subdued sentiment suggests that traders remain reluctant to aggressively accumulate risk assets, increasing the likelihood that short-term rallies could face selling pressure.

XRP price forecast: Bears continue to control the trend

From a technical perspective, XRP continues to exhibit a bearish structure on the daily timeframe.

The token is trading well below its key Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs), including the 50-day EMA at $1.25, the 100-day EMA at $1.35, and the 200-day EMA at $1.56.

XRP also remains below the middle Bollinger Band near $1.15, reinforcing the current downward bias.

Momentum indicators further support the cautious outlook. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) sits around 38, signaling weak bearish momentum without yet reaching oversold conditions. 

Meanwhile, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) histogram remains slightly positive around the zero line, indicating tentative stabilization rather than a decisive trend reversal.

For XRP to regain bullish momentum, buyers must overcome several important resistance zones.

The first hurdle lies at the Bollinger Band midpoint near $1.15, followed by resistance at the upper Bollinger Band around $1.22.

Beyond that, the 50-day EMA at $1.25 and a descending trendline near $1.28 create a significant supply zone. Additional resistance levels are located at the 100-day EMA around $1.35 and the 200-day EMA near $1.56.

A successful break above these barriers would be required to shift the broader market structure back toward a bullish outlook.

On the downside, XRP’s immediate support is located near the lower Bollinger Band at $1.07.

A decisive breakdown below this level could accelerate selling pressure and expose the token to a retest of the recent support zone around $1.05.

XRP/USD 4H Chart

Should bearish momentum intensify further, traders may look toward the psychologically important $1.00 level as the next major area of demand.

Until buyers reclaim key resistance levels, XRP remains susceptible to additional downside risk in the near term.

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Ethereum reclaims $1,650 as Ethereum Foundation cuts 20% of workforce

Key takeaways

  • The Ethereum Foundation has reduced its workforce by 20% following the completion of a major reorganization.
  • ETH is up by 1% and is now trading above $1,650.

The Ethereum Foundation (EF) has completed a broad organizational restructuring that includes reducing its workforce by approximately 20%, affecting 54 employees across multiple teams.

In a blog post published Tuesday, the Foundation said the changes conclude a months-long reorganization process tied to the implementation of its updated mandate and treasury management strategy.

Ethereum Foundation introduces new organizational structure

As part of the overhaul, the EF has reorganized its operations into five core clusters: Protocol Layer, Access Layer, User Layer, Community Layer, and Institutional Layer. Two additional clusters will oversee management and operational functions.

According to the Foundation, each cluster has been designed with specific responsibilities, accountability frameworks, and internal structures tailored to its objectives.

“Each domain of work requires a different approach, is held accountable for different kinds of results, and has a different internal structure tailored to the work that needs to be done,” the EF stated.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin revealed in a post on X that the workforce reduction comes as the Foundation pursues a significant spending reduction strategy.

The EF plans to lower annual spending from approximately 15% of its remaining treasury before 2026 to a long-term target of 5% after 2030. As part of this effort, the Foundation is reducing its budget by roughly 40% this year.

Buterin acknowledged the human cost of the restructuring, rejecting the notion that the layoffs were simply an efficiency exercise.

“Often, when an organization goes through something like this, people try to pretend that nothing of great value was lost,” Buterin wrote. “I will not try to pretend this. I respect my EF colleagues far too much to pretend that there was not much that is lost.”

The Foundation said affected employees will receive severance packages and transition assistance, similar to support provided to previous departing team members.

Ethereum price forecast: ETH risks further decline below key support

Ethereum continues to face downside pressure, with liquidation data highlighting persistent weakness in market sentiment.

On the 4-hour timeframe, ETH continues to trade below its 20-day, 50-day, and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs), located near $1,753, $1,901, and $2,064, respectively.

The cryptocurrency also remains below a previously broken descending trendline around $1,729 and a key horizontal resistance zone near $1,741. These technical barriers suggest the broader bearish structure remains intact.

Ethereum is now approaching the important support level at $1,611 after being rejected near the convergence of the descending trendline and the 20-day EMA.

ETH/USD 4H Chart

A decisive break below $1,611 could expose the next major support zone at $1,524. If selling pressure intensifies, additional downside targets emerge at $1,404 and potentially $1,155.

Unless buyers reclaim key resistance levels, Ethereum’s price action remains vulnerable to further losses in the near term.

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