In this Payments category, readers explore how digital assets move money in the real world. The coverage covers regulatory approaches, new payment rails, stability mechanisms, and the governance that underpins everyday transactions across fintechs, banks, merchants, and consumers. Expect analysis of tokenisation, real-time settlements, cross-border flows, custody implications, and the evolving relationship between on-chain activity and traditional finance. The aim is to illuminate practical implications for users and operators while clarifying how policy, technology, and market forces intersect in payments.
Payments
Payments: Discover crypto payment rails, stablecoins, and policy shifts shaping instant settlements and cross-border digital transactions.

Crypto News Summary June 1
Crypto News Summary June 1: Cash App's fee-free USDC transfers to 59M users drove the top adoption story, while XRP and WLFI remained secondary themes.

Crypto News Summary May 31
Crypto news for May 31: Cash App opens fee-free USDC transfers to 59 million users as stablecoin adoption grows and the XRP case nears final paperwork.

Cash App Opens USDC to 59 Million Users
Cash App rolls out fee-free, wallet-free USDC transfers to 59M users, spanning multiple chains and offering a one-tap path into Bitcoin.

Stablecoins Hit $322B as Real Use Grows
Stablecoins reached $322B, surpassing FX reserves of 95 nations as real-world use grows across trading, payments, settlement and tokenized finance.

Crypto News Summary May 22
Meta added USDC creator payouts on Solana and POL on Friday, giving crypto markets a late adoption headline after a risk-off, macro-driven sell-off.

Meta Adds USDC for Creator Payments
Meta now lets eligible creators get paid in USDC via Solana and Polygon, aiming for faster, lower-cost cross-border payouts than banks.

Meta Launches USDC Creator Payouts
Meta quietly rolls out USDC payouts for select creators in Colombia and the Philippines, using Solana and Polygon for cross-border payments.

RLUSD Moves $59M on XRP Ledger for $0.000188
Ripple's RLUSD settled $59 million on the XRP Ledger this week for just $0.000188, showcasing ultra-low fees and boosting XRP's payments narrative.

Visa Adds Base, Polygon as Stablecoin Volume Hits $7B
Visa added Base and Polygon to its stablecoin pilot as annualized settlement volume hit $7B, signaling growing real-world blockchain use.

Crypto News Summary May 12
Crypto News Summary for May 12: Squads raised $18M to expand Altitude, its stablecoin payments platform for businesses, signaling infra focus.

Crypto News Summary May 11
Crypto News Summary for May 11: Squads raised $18M led by Solana Ventures to expand Altitude, a stablecoin platform for business payments.

Canada Proposes Crypto ATM Ban
Canada proposed banning crypto ATMs in its April 28 Spring Economic Update 2026, saying kiosks are key tools for scams and money laundering.

Canada Weighs Crypto ATM Ban
Canada plans a nationwide crypto ATM ban after calling kiosks a key tool for scams and money laundering, while keeping other crypto purchase options open.

South Korea to Pilot Deposit Tokens in Q4
South Korea will pilot blockchain-based deposit tokens for government spending in Q4, aiming to cut audit burdens, tighten controls and lower payment costs.

Cato Pushes US to End Crypto Capital Gains Tax
Cato urges the US to end crypto capital gains taxes, arguing current rules make everyday spending and transfers impractical and curb currency competition.

SHIB Enters Japan Payments via Rakuten Wallet
SHIB launched on Rakuten Wallet in Japan on April 15, adding JPY trading and a potential path into Rakuten Pay's 44M users and 5M merchants.

Bitcoin Could Surpass Gold, Bitwise Says
Bitwise says Bitcoin could outgrow gold's $34T market if geopolitical stress boosts its role from digital gold to neutral settlement infrastructure.

XRP Comes to Rakuten Points and Payments
Rakuten began enabling XRP in Japan on April 15, letting users buy with points and spend via Rakuten Cash across millions of merchants.

South Korea Eyes Crypto Circuit Breakers
South Korea is weighing stock-style circuit breakers for crypto exchanges after Bithumb's February payout glitch exposed risks from trading errors.

Bitcoin Debate Grows Over Iran Crypto Toll Claim
Debate is growing over reports Iran may accept Bitcoin tolls at the Strait of Hormuz, with traders eyeing sovereign BTC use but little proof so far.
About Payments