Stablecoin

On 27 February 2026, SBI Holdings and Web3 firm Startale Group unveiled plans for JPYS C, a Japanese yen-denominated stablecoin. The token is scheduled to launch in the second quarter with issuance handled by SBI Shinsei Trust Bank under Japan's trust-bank regulatory framework. The project aims to supply a regulated on-ramp for JPY-based trading, settlement, and DeFi activity amid intensifying global stablecoin competition.

On 25 February 2026, the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency outlined how it intends to enforce the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act, including strict limits on branded and white-label tokens. Under the proposal, permitted issuers would be capped at a single stablecoin brand, barred from offering yield, required to hold fully liquid 1:1 reserves and meet capital and reporting standards as the roughly $318 billion market shifts toward more heavily regulated players. The framework also opens a 60-day comment period ahead of rules that could become effective before January 2027.

PACT announced on February 26, 2026 in San Francisco that its native $PACT token is supported on Kraken, MEXC, and Gate. The token serves as the governance asset for the PACT DAO and supports staking and ecosystem incentives. The move broadens access to PACT's Aptos-based, programmable credit infrastructure for users, partners, and developers.

At the XRP Australia 2026 event in Sydney on Friday, Coinbase’s John O'Loghlen said Australia is seeing regulatory momentum and expanding institutional access through Bitcoin and Ether ETFs launched in June 2024 and October 2024. OKX’s Kate Cooper highlighted rising SMSF participation, while an Independent Reserve 2025 report showed crypto adoption at 31%, up from 28% in 2024.

Circle's stock jumped almost 50% in under two sessions after the USDC issuer reported stronger-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings and revenue. The rally triggered an estimated $500 million in losses for short sellers and followed a prior 80% drawdown, but analysts said the move was driven mainly by crowded bearish positioning rather than a fundamental turnaround.

Aptos [APT] jumped 13% and briefly reclaimed $1 before easing, as plans for the Decibel upgrade and broad altcoin rotation supported the move. The rally extended more than 37% from near $0.80, with RSI and MFI signaling strong inflows. Network usage also spiked, reaching 8.679 million weekly transactions and 10.4 million monthly active accounts.

Tether invested $200 million in Whop at a $1.6 billion valuation, aiming to move stablecoin use beyond exchanges and into digital marketplaces. Whop will integrate Tether's Wallet Development Kit to support USDT and USAT payments with self-custodial wallets and on-chain settlement. The deal targets creators and software vendors seeking dollar-denominated payments without reliance on card networks.

On February 26, Senate Democrats held a closed-door session to revisit the CLARITY Act ahead of a March 1 deadline set by the White House. The draft would split oversight between the SEC and CFTC, while rules on stablecoin yields remain the chief sticking point. a16z escalated GOP outreach and pledged $50 million to a new $100 million super PAC.

On 26 February 2026, global stablecoin supply reached a fresh all-time high, with roughly 99% of the market still denominated in USD. Non-USD tokens tied to currencies like the euro, ruble, and several emerging market fiats have been expanding, yet exchange net flows remain negative and nearly $10 billion has left trading platforms in recent weeks. This divergence suggests substantial liquidity exists in stablecoins, but it has not yet returned to centralized exchanges to support a sustained Bitcoin uptrend.

The U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has released draft GENIUS Act 2025 rules that would bring U.S. payment stablecoin issuers under federal banking supervision. The proposal sets a 60-day comment period and limits issuance to licensed entities, clarifying that compliant stablecoins are treated as payment instruments rather than securities.