ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, the European Central Bank's Governing Council has approved two research projects using central bank funds to settle transactions with distributed ledger technology (DLT), aimed at enhancing the efficiency of payment systems. The short-term solution "Pontes" will connect the DLT platform to TARGET services, with a pilot expected to launch in Q3 2026; the long-term solution "Appia" focuses on global operations and DLT solution analysis. The central bank stated that this move reflects its commitment to supporting innovation while ensuring the safety and efficiency of financial infrastructure.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, Italian banking giant UniCredit SpA has announced the launch of an innovative structured product for professional clients, which is linked to the BlackRock-owned iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF and offers 100% capital protection. This product has a five-year term, is denominated in USD, and aims to allow investors to participate in the digital asset market while avoiding risks.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, UniCredit Bank in Italy will offer a structured product linked to the Bitcoin spot ETF managed by BlackRock for its professional clients. It plans to issue a five-year dollar-denominated investment certificate linked to the Bitcoin spot ETF, which will provide 100% capital protection at maturity, as confirmed by the bank's memorandum.The memorandum states that the maximum return cap for the ETF is 85% of the performance, with a minimum investment threshold of $25,000.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jin10 data reports, ECB board member Müller stated that there is no need to adjust interest rates in July; even in the more distant future, interest rates may not necessarily need to be significantly lowered.

ChainCatcher news, according to Crowdfund Insider, Citibank has released two reports, "Investing in the Future" and "Real-Time Financial Systems," indicating that the global infrastructure investment demand will reach $58.6 trillion over the next 15 years. It calls for innovative financing models such as sovereign wealth funds and public-private partnerships (PPP) to fill the gap. The report states that current traditional financing models are constrained by budget deficits and need to attract institutional capital towards long-term yield areas such as renewable energy and digital infrastructure.The concurrently released "Real-Time Financial Systems" report reveals that Citibank's Citi Token Services, built using blockchain technology, has achieved 24/7 cross-border settlement, processing an amount equivalent to Germany's GDP on a daily basis. This solution utilizes smart contracts to optimize supply chain finance and trade settlement processes, with a network covering over 160 countries to provide real-time cash management services for businesses.The report cites Citibank DeFi strategist Alex Saunders, who believes that by 2025, crypto assets will continue to integrate into the mainstream financial system. Citibank emphasizes the need to collaborate with the government to address regulatory complexities and cybersecurity challenges to support the compliant development of real-time financial infrastructure.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, informed sources revealed that Deutsche Bank AG plans to launch its digital asset custody service next year (2026) and has invited the technology department of cryptocurrency exchange Bitpanda to assist in building the service.The sources stated that the bank's corporate banking division had publicly announced its custody business plans as early as 2022 and will continue to collaborate with Swiss technology service provider Taurus SA to advance this project. These sources requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the discussions. The advancement of this custody service comes as major financial institutions are increasingly focusing on crypto assets. The newly introduced European crypto regulatory framework and the gradual shift towards a favorable environment in the U.S. have led traditional institutions to show greater interest in digital assets.Bitcoin prices have continued to rise since Trump was re-elected president in November 2024. Trump appointed several officials who support cryptocurrencies to key regulatory positions and pushed for stablecoin regulatory reforms, boosting market confidence. According to earlier reports by Bloomberg, Deutsche Bank stated this month that it is exploring stablecoins and various forms of tokenized deposits, including issuing its own tokens or joining industry alliances. Additionally, the bank is also evaluating whether to develop its own tokenized deposit solutions for the payments sector.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jin10, the U.S. Senate voted to remove the artificial intelligence regulation ban from the Trump tax reform bill.

ChainCatcher message, Musk responded to Dave Lee's point that "as long as spending is controlled, the Republicans can keep Musk in the party" by saying, "I just hope we don't bankrupt America."

ChainCatcher news, according to The Block, Germany's largest banking group Sparkassen will add cryptocurrency trading services such as Bitcoin and Ethereum for private customer accounts, expected to officially launch in the summer of 2026. Previously, the bank had refused to enter this field due to volatility and risk factors, but is now restarting its layout with the assistance of Dekabank, in the context of the EU MiCA regulation having been officially implemented.

ChainCatcher news, Bitcoin Laws disclosed on platform X that Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has officially signed the state's "Bitcoin Reserve Ban." Connecticut is now prohibited from accepting, holding, or investing in digital assets.

ChainCatcher news, according to CNBC, stablecoin issuer Circle (CRCL.K) is applying to establish a national trust bank in the United States. Earlier this month, the company achieved a valuation of nearly $18 billion through its initial public offering, and this application is a key move following that.If the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) approves this charter, Circle will be able to act as a custodian for its own reserves and hold crypto assets on behalf of institutional clients. However, unlike traditional banks, this charter does not allow Circle to accept cash deposits or issue loans. Currently, the only digital asset company with a national trust bank charter is the cryptocurrency platform Anchorage Digital.Experts and analysts say that once the bill is signed into law, it could pave the way for more traditional financial institutions and retailers to incorporate stablecoins into their businesses.

ChainCatcher news, South Korea's IBK Industrial Bank and Shinhan Financial Group have applied for trademarks for the Korean won stablecoin. It is reported that IBK Industrial Bank applied for 10 trademarks such as "IBKKRW", "IBKRW", and "ONEIBK" on the 27th. These trademarks are intended for use in areas such as "stablecoin electronic transfer services" and "blockchain-based digital asset management services." Shinhan Financial Group applied for 21 trademarks related to stablecoins, including "KRWSHB", "SFGKRW", and "SHKRW" on the 26th, with application projects including "cryptocurrency financial trading services" and "cryptocurrency intermediary services."

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, the German Savings Bank Group (Sparkasse) has decided to open cryptocurrency trading services, such as Bitcoin, to private customers, breaking a long-standing ban by the institution. Meanwhile, the German Cooperative Banking System (Volks- und Raiffeisenbanken) has already begun developing related services, with plans to officially launch them this summer.The German Savings Banks and Giro Association (DSGV) announced on Monday: "The Savings Bank Financial Group will establish reliable channels for accessing regulated cryptocurrency services." In the future, self-directed customers will be able to use the cryptocurrency services provided by its subsidiary DekaBank through the Savings Bank APP. This securities service company is jointly owned by various savings banks. A DekaBank spokesperson revealed to Bloomberg that the related services are expected to be completed within a year, and customers may start cryptocurrency trading in the summer of 2026.About three years ago, an internal committee of the savings bank system recommended not to provide cryptocurrency trading services to customers. However, recent signs indicate that interest in this area is warming up. Matthias Dießl, president of the Bavarian Savings Bank Association, clearly stated in an exclusive interview with Bloomberg in April: "We savings banks should also offer our customers the option of cryptocurrency trading."

ChainCatcher news, according to Kazinform, the Governor of the National Bank of Kazakhstan, Timur Suleimenov, stated that Kazakhstan will establish a national cryptocurrency reserve. The National Bank is conducting in-depth research on the formation and management concept of the national cryptocurrency reserve, including the development of the cryptocurrency reserve based on the National Bank's affiliated institutions.Kazakhstan plans to follow international best practices in sovereign fund management to ensure the transparent accounting and storage of cryptocurrency assets, as well as the transparency and security of cryptocurrency reserve management. Confiscated cryptocurrency assets and proceeds from state-participated cryptocurrency mining will become sources for this reserve. Considering the volatility and risks of cryptocurrency asset storage, a centralized management institution will be the main safeguard to ensure the security of national cryptocurrency assets. The specific mechanisms for building the national cryptocurrency reserve will be further developed in conjunction with law enforcement and relevant national agencies.

ChainCatcher news, according to Maeil Business Newspaper, the CBDC project led by the Bank of Korea has been suspended before the second round of testing. The decision to suspend the CBDC project was made due to an increase in complaints from banks participating in the pilot project and growing discussions about introducing a Korean won stablecoin.Currently, Korean banks KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori, NH Nonghyup, IBK Company, iM Bank, Suhyup, and K-Bank are participating in the open blockchain and DIDIA project to lead the issuance of stablecoins in the banking sector, while Busan Bank, Gyeongnam Bank, and Toss Bank are also considering joining.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi Data, the Bank for International Settlements stated that Trump's criticism of the Federal Reserve's interest rate decisions does not threaten its independence. The uncertainty of U.S. economic policy is suppressing economic growth, but no "concerning" signs related to the decline of the dollar exchange rate have been found; the rise of protectionism and trade fragmentation is "particularly worrisome."

ChainCatcher news, according to a report by Cointelegraph, a report shared by CEX.IO shows that 45% of cryptocurrency card transaction amounts in Europe are below 10 euros (approximately 11.7 dollars), surpassing traditional banks in this traditionally cash-dominated small payment sector.The report indicates that the number of newly ordered CEX.IO cryptocurrency cards in Europe is expected to grow by 15% by 2025, suggesting that user interest is increasing as more Europeans turn to using digital assets for everyday payments. Online transactions by cryptocurrency card users account for 40%, nearly double the eurozone average of 21% reported by the European Central Bank.The spending patterns of cryptocurrency cardholders show that they are using the cards for everyday expenses, with groceries accounting for 59% of purchases, and dining and bar expenses making up 19%. Notably, the average transaction amount for cryptocurrency cards is 23.7 euros (27.8 dollars), lower than the 33.6 euros (39 dollars) for bank cards. The data also shows that stablecoins supported 73% of transactions, while major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, Ether, Litecoin, and Solana are also used for groceries, dining, and transportation payments.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, Ripple Labs announced the withdrawal of its cross-appeal against the U.S. SEC and will execute the relevant terms determined by the previous court ruling. This decision signifies that the multiple rounds of legal battles since the SEC filed a lawsuit against Ripple in 2019 may come to an end.Abandoning the appeal means Ripple will accept the initial ruling of a $125 million civil penalty and may retain a permanent injunction. In 2023, Judge Torres ruled that the sale of XRP to retail investors on public exchanges does not constitute a securities transaction, but the sale to institutional investors violates securities laws.

ChainCatcher news, according to social media information, Ripple Labs CEO Brad Garlinghouse announced that Ripple will abandon its cross-appeal in the case against the SEC, and Ripple will completely turn the page on this chapter, focusing on the most important thing—building the Internet of Value, the overall situation is set.ChainCatcher news, according to previous reports, U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres in the Southern District of New York has twice rejected the SEC's and Ripple's settlement request yesterday. The request aimed to reduce the fine to $50 million and lift the permanent injunction, but the judge believes that Ripple still has the potential to violate the law again, and the injunction must be maintained.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cryptonews, the Central Bank of Russia has announced that the country's central bank digital currency (CBDC) digital ruble will be officially launched nationwide on September 1, 2026. Russia's largest commercial bank is expected to offer customers a full range of CBDC trading options starting in September next year, while small and regional banks will follow in September 2027.