Alex Harutunian

Cork Protocol offers a novel way to hedge depeg risks through tokenized derivatives like Depeg Swaps and Cover Tokens. The model drew attention across DeFi, though a recent $12M exploit revealed critical vulnerabilities in its implementation.

Pakistan has launched its first government-led Bitcoin reserve, following a rapid policy shift in early 2025. Backed by high-level advisors and U.S. crypto ties, the move mirrors growing global interest—despite warnings from the IMF and World Bank about volatility and financial stability risks.

Circle's IPO opens the door for public investors to benefit from stablecoin seigniorage for the first time. Unlike crypto miners or exchanges, Circle profits from monetary demand for USDC—a zero-interest asset backed by interest-bearing reserves—and now shares that upside through equity.

Sui's leading DEX, Cetus Protocol, was exploited for over $220M, exposing critical weaknesses in DeFi infrastructure. The network's response—freezing funds—helped limit damage but raised serious concerns about decentralization and the true immutability of blockchain protocols

TONSWAP is a new DEX and launchpad planned on the TON blockchain, aiming to fix poor UX and low liquidity in TON DeFi. With Telegram integration, $100M projected funding, and a meme-savvy brand, it positions itself as the ecosystem’s go-to trading hub with seamless access and deep liquidity.

THORChain, a cross-chain decentralized exchange, faced solvency issues caused by its DeFi services. Imbalances between deposits of bitcoin and other assets created a net short position for the protocol that worsened in the bull market. The protocol had to issue rescue tokens to cover the gap

Reserve Bank of New Zealand study reveals consumers' worries, India's Reserve Bank Governor speaks about the digital rupee progress, while Fiji abandons CBDC plans

Despite PayPal’s dominant position in the payments business, its stablecoin project, PYUSD, has stalled. Numerous integrations have not managed to attract users. The company is now subsidizing the stablecoin’s yield on DeFi platforms. Can this become a standard feature of private money?