Kategorie: Crypto Business

• Ran Neuner claimed a Truth Social meme coin was launching in 72 hours.
• Past TMTG plans had discussed a digital rewards token, but none were launched.
• Meme coin speculation around Trump-branded assets remains high.

A rumour about a Truth Social meme coin sent social media and crypto traders into a tailspin this week before being swiftly denied by all official Trump-linked entities.

The speculation started with a viral tweet from Crypto Banter host Ran Neuner.

Although these claims were quashed by Donald Trump Jr., World Liberty Financial (WLFI), and Truth Social itself, the use of “$DJT” in the platform’s X profile has kept speculation alive in some corners of the market.

Trump-linked groups deny claims

The controversy erupted on Monday when Neuner posted on X that a “Truth Social Memecoin” would be launching within 72 hours, suggesting it was being backed by the same team that previously launched the TRUMP token.

That post rapidly circulated among meme coin investors, who interpreted the news as a signal of a new Trump-themed token entering the market.

Enthusiasts drew parallels to the earlier TRUMP token, which gained traction during the US election season.

Some saw this as a potential signal for another rally tied to the political branding of Donald Trump.

Within hours of the rumour gaining traction, several official Trump-linked platforms and individuals issued denials.

Truth Social, operated by Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), made clear that no meme coin was in development or launch.

World Liberty Financial, a DeFi project associated with the Trump family, also clarified that it remains the only crypto project backed by them.

WLFI issued a warning to users, noting that “anyone pushing fake tokens” is likely running a scam targeting uninformed investors.

Donald Trump Jr. further emphasised that there was “no truth whatsoever” to the rumour and asked people to avoid falling for misleading claims.

Neuner later acknowledged the backlash, posting a follow-up to indicate that denials had been issued and no confirmation existed about a Truth Social-linked crypto token.

TMTG’s past token idea resurfaces

Although the current wave of speculation has been publicly denied, it follows earlier reports that Trump Media was exploring ways to monetise its digital platforms.

Devin Nunes, CEO and Chairman of TMTG, had previously mentioned a digital rewards programme that could involve a token launched within a Truth+ digital wallet.

Those ideas were floated in internal planning stages but never moved to public rollout or announcement.

Despite that, lingering memories of the proposal have resurfaced amid the current speculation, adding fuel to online forums discussing DJT-related meme coins.

The ticker “$DJT” itself — primarily used for TMTG’s stock — further complicated the matter.

Since X profiles can include dollar-sign tickers, users spotted that Truth Social’s X account includes “$DJT” in its handle.

This was interpreted by some as a crypto ticker, though it has no blockchain listing.

The post Trump-linked crypto rumour sparks frenzy as $DJT ticker fuels confusion appeared first on CoinJournal.

• Tether Investments S.A. de C.V.—the investment arm of the crypto firm—now holds a 6.18% voting stake in Juventus.
• Tether initially acquired an 8.2% stake in the Italian football giant in February.
• The stablecoin giant, which posted a $13 billion profit last year, has been deploying capital across a range of sectors.

Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin, has expanded its stake in Juventus Football Club to more than 10%, deepening its involvement with one of Europe’s most storied football institutions.

The move underscores Tether’s broader investment strategy that spans digital assets, media, and now, elite sports.

Tether Investments S.A. de C.V.—the investment arm of the crypto firm—now holds a 6.18% voting stake in Juventus, giving it a combined equity interest exceeding 10%.

Tether initially acquired an 8.2% stake in the Italian football giant in February.

Juventus, founded in 1897 and with 36 Italian league titles to its name, remains a powerhouse in both Italian and European football.

The club’s ownership structure now includes Tether as a key shareholder, placing it in a position to influence strategic direction.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino framed the investment as a long-term strategic partnership rather than a simple capital deployment.

“We believe Juventus is uniquely positioned to lead both on the field and in embracing technology that can elevate fan engagement, digital experiences, and financial resilience.”

The company also expressed willingness to participate in future capital infusions to preserve and enhance its ownership position.

Tether’s broader investment activity

The Juventus deal is part of a broader wave of investments by Tether.

The stablecoin giant, which posted a $13 billion profit last year, has been deploying capital across a range of sectors, including artificial intelligence, bitcoin mining, and agriculture.

The firm recently partnered with SoftBank, Bitfinex, and Cantor Fitzgerald’s Brandon Lutnick to form a $3 billion crypto acquisition vehicle.

It has also ramped up its presence in Bitcoin mining, deploying hashrate to Ocean’s mining pool and purchasing 8,888 BTC in the first quarter of 2025.

Tether’s Bitcoin holdings now stand at 95,721 BTC, worth roughly $8.89 billion, according to Arkham Intelligence.

Beyond crypto, Tether is making moves in media and digital content. It recently invested €10 million in Italian media firm Be Water and injected $775 million into Canadian video platform Rumble, which has since integrated Tether’s USDT wallet support.

While some analysts point to Tether’s recent investment spree as a hedge against US dollar weakness amid global macroeconomic shifts and rising protectionism, others see it as a calculated bid to secure influence across decentralized finance, infrastructure, and consumer engagement platforms.

The post Tether raises Juventus stake above 10% appeared first on CoinJournal.

Nestled in the Himalayas between India and China, the Kingdom of Bhutan is charting an unconventional economic course, harnessing its abundant hydropower resources to mine “green” cryptocurrencies.

The nation’s sovereign wealth fund sees this strategy not just as a potentially lucrative investment, but as a vital tool to diversify the economy, generate employment, and combat a worrying exodus of its young, educated populace.

Harnessing hydropower for digital assets

Ujjwal Deep Dahal, the chief executive of Bhutan’s sovereign wealth fund, Druk Holding and Investments Ltd (DHI), outlined the nation’s unique approach.

Green cryptocurrencies, unlike their more energy-intensive counterparts often reliant on fossil fuels, are mined using renewable energy sources.

For Bhutan, this means leveraging its status as a country running entirely on clean hydropower.

“We are a nation that runs 100% on hydropower, and every digital coin we mine in Bhutan using hydropower offsets that coin which gets mined using fossil fuels,” Dahal explained to Reuters on Tuesday.

So a coin mined in Bhutan will contribute to the green economy.

DHI, which also controls the country’s primary power generation utility, began incorporating cryptocurrencies into its investment portfolio back in 2019.

Dahal described the move as both a “tactical investment” and a potential “gamechanger” for the nation, long renowned for prioritizing its unique Gross National Happiness (GNH) index over traditional GDP metrics.

This index considers factors like sustainability and well-being alongside economic output.

The crypto mining operations involve using energy-intensive supercomputers, powered entirely by Bhutanese hydropower, to generate digital assets for the blockchain.

Beyond revenue: tackling brain drain and tapping ESG

The strategy has already yielded tangible results.

According to senior officials in the capital, Thimphu, Bhutan has earned millions of dollars from its crypto investments in recent years, even using some profits to cover government salaries for a two-year period.

Beyond direct financial gains, the initiative aims to address pressing domestic challenges.

Bhutan, with a population of around 800,000, is grappling with significant “brain drain.”

Government estimates suggest over 10% of its young people emigrated between 2022 and 2023, contributing to a youth unemployment rate of 16.5% in 2024.

DHI sees the burgeoning digital asset sector as a potential solution. “Bitcoin has not just given more value to hydropower energy, it has also increased access to liquidity in foreign currency,” Dahal stated, adding that training Bhutan’s youth in “blockchain and AI techniques would fuel jobs.”

Furthermore, officials are exploring an intriguing avenue: positioning Bhutan’s verifiably “green” coins as attractive assets for large corporations seeking to meet their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) targets.

This could create a premium market for Bhutanese-mined cryptocurrencies.

Powering the ambition: the hydropower hurdle

However, the success and scalability of Bhutan’s green crypto ambitions hinge critically on significantly expanding its hydropower infrastructure.

Analysts note that realizing the vision of becoming a global hub for green digital currency requires moving beyond the current generating capacity of approximately 3.5 gigawatts towards harnessing a potential estimated at 33 gigawatts.

Dahal acknowledged this necessity, outlining concrete expansion plans.

“We have plans to generate 15 gigawatts in the next 10 to 15 years,” he added, signaling a long-term commitment to building the energy foundation required for this innovative economic diversification strategy.

The kingdom is thus embarking on a journey where sustainable energy and cutting-edge digital finance intertwine, aiming to secure both economic prosperity and the well-being of its future generations.

The post Bhutan’s hydro-powered crypto gamble: can green mining fuel economic growth? appeared first on CoinJournal.

• a16z says stablecoins are a “WhatsApp Moment” for money transfers.
• Stablecoins eliminate historical gatekeepers in the payments industry.
• Stablecoins offer a clean-slate alternative to costly and outdated systems.

Remember when making international calls or sending text messages across borders meant hefty fees?

Modern messaging apps like WhatsApp have made those costs a thing of the past.

Now, venture firm Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) believes stablecoins could revolutionize money transfers in a similar way, democratizing the payments industry by dismantling traditional gatekeepers and eliminating inefficiencies.

“Just as WhatsApp disrupted costly international phone calls, blockchain payments and stablecoins are transforming global money transfers,” the firm stated in a blog post published on Wednesday, laying out its vision for the future of money.

A new era for global payments

The current global payment infrastructure is a complex and often convoluted web, involving a multitude of intermediaries: points of sale, payment processors, acquiring banks, issuing banks, correspondent banks, foreign exchanges, and card networks.

This complex network not only creates friction but also adds significant costs and delays to international transactions.

a16z points out that remittance fees can reach as high as 10%, a burden reminiscent of the high costs associated with cross-border calls and texts before the advent of instant messaging apps.

Stablecoins on the blockchain

Enter blockchain and stablecoins – cryptocurrencies that are pegged to stable assets like the U.S. dollar, offering a more stable and predictable value.

“Stablecoins offer a clean-slate alternative. Instead of stitching together clunky, costly, and outdated systems, stablecoins flow seamlessly on top of global blockchains,” the blog post argues, emphasizing the potential for streamlined transactions.

“Already, stablecoins are slashing the cost of remittances: Sending $200 from the US to Columbia using traditional methods will cost you $12.13; with stablecoins, it costs $0.01,” a16z stated, highlighting the significant cost savings that can be achieved.

The transformative potential of stablecoins extends far beyond remittances.

They could also revolutionize business-to-business (B2B) payments on a massive scale.

a16z uses business transactions from Mexico to Vietnam as an example, noting that these transactions can take three to seven days to process and cost anywhere from $14 to $150 per $1000 transacted, often passing through as many as five intermediaries, each taking a cut.

The adoption of stablecoins could make such transactions nearly free and almost instantaneous, eliminating the delays and expenses associated with traditional methods.

Corporate adoption: SpaceX leads the way

Some forward-thinking corporations have already taken notice.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX, for example, is using stablecoins to manage its corporate treasuries, seeking to shield itself from foreign exchange (FX) volatility, demonstrating the practical applications of stablecoins in the business world.

These trends help explain why the total market capitalization of stablecoins has surpassed $200 billion, and the annualized transaction value of stablecoins in 2024 reached $15.6 trillion – figures that are roughly 119% and 200% that of Visa and Mastercard, respectively, underscoring the growing importance of stablecoins in the global economy.

However, the rise of stablecoins has not been without its challenges.

Regulatory bodies have scrutinized their use, creating significant hurdles for bridging traditional finance to stablecoins, according to a16z.

The landscape is now evolving, as policymakers are actively working to shape rules to recognize and regulate stablecoins in the US.

“A forthcoming bill clarifying this regulation could pave the way for even broader adoption and integration into the global financial system,” the blog post predicts.

As the financial landscape rapidly evolves and cryptocurrency adoption becomes more mainstream, stablecoins are poised to emerge as a transformative force, revolutionizing the future of money.

“Just as WhatsApp disrupted costly international phone calls, blockchain payments and stablecoins are transforming global money transfers,” concludes a16z, reiterating its bullish outlook on the future of stablecoins.

The post The future of payments? a16z bets on stablecoins to revolutionize money transfers appeared first on CoinJournal.

XRP investors are facing a challenging moment as the digital currency has dropped 16% to $1.76 amid widespread selling across cryptocurrency markets.

The decline reflects broader turmoil, with major cryptocurrencies also taking a hit. Bitcoin values have plummeted more than 8% to $76,000.

The sell-off appears to be part of a larger crypto sector trend, leaving investors questioning their next moves.

Vincent Van Code, a well-known software engineer, has weighed in, expressing confidence in XRP despite the sharp price drop.

He attributes the decline to fear-driven market sentiment rather than any fundamental issues with the token itself.

XRP price spike tied to political optimism

Van Code suggests that XRP’s previous price surge, which saw it rise from $0.54 to $3.40, was largely driven by political optimism surrounding the new US administration’s pro-cryptocurrency policies.

This indicates that the token’s value has been heavily influenced by external political factors rather than solely technical advancements or adoption rates.

Despite the recent fall, Van Code maintains that nothing has fundamentally changed about XRP’s prospects.

He links the current market instability to spillover effects from traditional markets, noting reports of the US stock market losing approximately $6.5 trillion in value over two days last week due to global trade tensions.

This broader economic context, he argues, is amplifying the pressure on cryptocurrencies.

Expert warns of economic reset and market shorting

Van Code connects the ongoing volatility to what he describes as a “global financial reset,” suggesting that the US government’s actions are destabilizing multiple economies as part of a transformative process.

He warns that such sweeping changes often require the breakdown of existing structures before rebuilding, urging investors to brace for further turbulence.

Rather than viewing the decline as a reason to panic, Van Code sees it as potentially deliberate, with influential market players profiting by shorting the market ahead of the drop.

He predicts these investors will soon reverse their positions, potentially triggering a “miraculous” market bounce.

Drawing an analogy to swimming near whales in a stormy sea, he emphasizes the need for strategic patience.

Van Code advises XRP investors against closing their positions, asserting that a significant price recovery remains possible once market conditions stabilize.

The post XRP holds potential despite 16% plunge, expert urges caution appeared first on CoinJournal.