Odaily Planet Daily News The European Central Bank (ECB) will launch a blockchain settlement pilot by the end of 2026 through a new program called "Pontes", aiming to connect the distributed ledger technology (DLT) platform with the eurozone's core payment system. The ECB approved a two-track plan on Tuesday to use central bank currency to settle DLT transactions, a move that could pave the way for the modernization of Europe's financial system. The first path, "Pontes", will focus on short-term solutions, connecting the blockchain-based DLT platform with the "TARGET" financial services system developed and operated by the Eurosystem (the system aims to promote payments and securities circulation in the eurozone), and is expected to launch a pilot at the end of the third quarter of 2026. The ECB said the pilot will use the results of its 2024 DLT exploratory trial (including more than 50 experiments and 64 participating institutions) to test the unified settlement system of central bank currency. "This decision is in line with the Eurosystem's commitment to supporting innovation while ensuring the security and efficiency of financial market infrastructure." (Cointelegraph)

According to BlockBeats, the European Central Bank (ECB) plans to initiate a blockchain settlement pilot named 'Pontes' by the end of 2026. This initiative aims to integrate distributed ledger technology (DLT) platforms with the eurozone's core payment systems. The ECB approved a dual-track plan on Tuesday to settle DLT transactions using central bank money, potentially modernizing the European financial system. The first track, 'Pontes,' will focus on short-term solutions by connecting blockchain-based DLT platforms with the euro system's 'TARGET' financial services system, which facilitates payments and securities circulation within the eurozone. The pilot is expected to commence by the third quarter of 2026. The ECB stated that the pilot will utilize findings from its 2024 DLT exploratory experiments, which included over 50 experiments and 64 participating institutions, to test a unified settlement system using central bank money. "This decision aligns with the euro system's commitment to supporting innovation while ensuring the safety and efficiency of financial market infrastructure."

According to PANews, Swiss financial authorities have issued a warning to Swissquote Bank, urging the institution to bolster its defenses against phishing and fraudulent transactions. Reports indicate that over 600 websites mimicking Swissquote Bank or using fake login pages were identified in the first half of the year. The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) highlighted that Swissquote's cryptocurrency trading app, Yuh, has become a prime target for scammers, necessitating stronger measures to mitigate such threats. Swissquote CEO Marc Buerki acknowledged the surge in fraudulent attempts, attributing it to recent advancements in artificial intelligence technology. Despite these challenges, Buerki assured that Swissquote's systems remain uncompromised.

Odaily Planet Daily News According to Bloomberg, JPMorgan Chase Group is developing a new service to tokenize carbon credits and has partnered with three carbon credit companies for preliminary trials. According to a statement on Wednesday, the bank's blockchain division Onyx will work with S&P Global Commodity Insights, carbon registry EcoRegistry and the International Carbon Registry to test a new application that converts carbon credits in the three institutions' regulatory registration systems into tokens. The parties will explore whether blockchain technology can be applied to the full life cycle management of carbon credits, including ownership tracking from issuance to cancellation. JPMorgan Chase said in a statement that the carbon market has "challenges such as inefficiency, lack of standardization, lack of transparency and market fragmentation," and the application of tokenization technology will bring significant benefits. The bank believes that building a unified tokenized ecosystem where "buyers and sellers can seamlessly transfer carbon credits" will help solve these problems.

Odaily Planet Daily News Bitget's 15th on-chain trading competition is about to start. Users who buy $500 of MPLX will have the opportunity to get $50 equivalent of BGB, and the total prize pool is about $100,000 equivalent of BGB. After the event, Bitget officials will announce the lucky UID tail number, and eligible users will share the total prize pool. The event time is from July 2nd 20:00:00 to July 6th 20:00:00 (UTC+8).

The European Central Bank will launch a blockchain settlement pilot by late 2026 under its new “Pontes” initiative, aiming to connect DLT platforms with the eurozone’s core payment systems. source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/ecb-launches-two-track-dlt-settlement-plan-2026?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound

TL;DR The Ethereum Community Foundation, led by Zak Cole, has raised millions in ETH to fund projects that directly bolster ETH’s value and accelerate its institutional adoption. All ECF-backed initiatives must be immutable and tokenless, incorporating ETH-burning mechanisms to drive scarcity and reward long-term holders. Priority programs span on-chain real-world assets and ecosystem-wide public goods. source: https://crypto-economy.com/ethereum-ecosystem-gains-support-from-new-community-foundation-what-is-it-all-about/

According to PANews, the European Central Bank's Governing Council has approved a study on using central bank funds to settle transactions via distributed ledger technology (DLT). This initiative aims to enhance the efficiency of its payment systems. The short-term project, named 'Pontes,' is set to begin a pilot phase in the third quarter of 2026, linking DLT platforms with the eurozone's TARGET payment system. In the long term, the 'Appia' project will support global operations and explore DLT solutions. The European Central Bank stated that this decision aligns with its commitment to support innovation while ensuring the safety and efficiency of financial infrastructure.

Odaily Planet Daily reported that Bitcoin asset management company K33 purchased another 10 bitcoins for approximately 10 million Swedish kronor and currently holds a total of 35 bitcoins.

머스크의 신당 창당 위협은 암호화폐 시장을 뒤흔들고 멤코인을 급등시켰습니다. source: https://ko.spaziocrypto.com/amhohwa/meoseukeu-teureompeue-dojeonhada-saeroun-jeongdangi-amhohwapyereul-honrane-bbaddeurida/

As Singapore tightens its regulatory stance on crypto firms operating without proper licenses, Binance is reportedly set to retain a significant portion of its workforce in the city-state—undeterred by new restrictions targeting offshore digital-asset activity.

The new wave of tokenized securities is backed by a more friendly policy environment and more mature technical solutions, and has a more solid foundation than the previous cycle.

A U.S. judge has allowed Celsius to sue Tether over the forced sale of 39,545 Bitcoin during its 2022 collapse, which Celsius says caused over $4 billion in losses. The court rejected Tether’s argument about being outside U.S. jurisdiction, meaning key claims like fraud and breach of contract will go ahead.

In the future, when stablecoins enter the regulatory compliance framework, the various costs that traditional cross-border payments should pay will also be imposed on stablecoins. Only practice can verify the cost advantage of stablecoin cross-border payments.

The SEC has approved Grayscale’s plan to turn its Digital Large-Cap Fund into an ETF, giving investors easier access to a basket of major cryptocurrencies. This move could lead to more crypto ETFs being approved in the US, including ones for altcoins like Solana, XRP, and Cardano.

Crypto billionaires are leveraging their wealth to pioneer a new paradigm in science, called "decentralised biotech".

Dissecting DYDX token economics, market listings, and exchange dynamics.

Unichain is quietly emerging as one of the most high-profile Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) projects, but has barely attracted widespread attention from the outside world.

Russian police shut down a large illegal crypto mining farm in St. Petersburg that stole electricity and caused over 10 million rubles in damage. At the same time, authorities warned the public about rising crypto scams where fake traders trick people into handing over their money and account access.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has signed into law one of the strictest anti-crypto measures in the United States, officially prohibiting the state from accepting, holding, or investing in digital assets.