The race to develop stablecoin infrastructure is heating up across Wall Street and corporate America. Citigroup is moving ahead with plans to expand its stablecoin payment capabilities, amid growing speculation that major financial institutions are exploring stablecoin initiatives following the passage of the US GENIUS Act — comprehensive legislation expected to take effect in early 2027.
The momentum extends beyond banks. Western Union announced plans to build a stablecoin payment network on Solana, underscoring how traditional payment providers are embracing blockchain for faster and cheaper cross-border transactions.
Meanwhile, the Bitcoin (BTC) mining landscape is becoming increasingly competitive, with smaller operators rapidly closing the gap on industry leaders. And in digital lending, Ledn reported more than $1 billion in Bitcoin-backed loan originations this year — evidence that investors are increasingly opting to borrow against their BTC holdings rather than sell.
Citi partners with Coinbase on stablecoin payments
Citigroup is eyeing stablecoin payments as its next major growth driver, partnering with crypto exchange Coinbase to expand its digital asset capabilities. The initiative initially focuses on making it easier for clients to move between crypto and fiat currencies.
Debopama Sen, Citi’s head of payments, said the move reflects growing client demand for faster, more programmable payment options. The bank is “exploring solutions to enable onchain stablecoin payments for our clients,” Sen said.
The announcement comes roughly a month after Citi projected that the stablecoin market could surge to $4 trillion by 2030, up from about $315 billion today.
Following the passage of the US GENIUS Act, several major Wall Street banks, including JPMorgan and Bank of America, are reportedly exploring their own stablecoin initiatives.
Stablecoins have quickly surpassed $300 billion in circulating value. Source: DefiLlamaWestern Union selects Solana for stablecoin settlement network
Global remittance giant Western Union is developing a new digital asset settlement system built on the Solana blockchain, a move highlighting the company’s focus on transaction speed and scalability as it embraces digital assets.
During its third-quarter earnings call, Western Union announced plans to launch an ecosystem that includes a US Dollar Payment Token (USDPT) and a Digital Asset Network, developed in partnership with Anchorage Digital Bank, a federally chartered crypto bank that provides custody and infrastructure services.
USDPT is expected to debut in the first half of 2026, with partnerships across several crypto exchanges to enhance accessibility and liquidity.
“We looked at alternatives, and came to the conclusion that Solana was the right choice,” Western Union CEO Devin McGranahan said at the Money 20/20 USA conference.
Mid-tier Bitcoin miners gain ground in post-halving shakeup
The Bitcoin mining industry is growing increasingly competitive in the post-halving era, as a new wave of mid-tier companies rapidly gains market share and challenges established leaders.
According to data from The Miner Mag, smaller publicly listed miners, including Cipher Mining, Bitdeer and HIVE Digital, have significantly boosted their realized hashrate after years of heavy infrastructure investment. These companies are now narrowing the gap with top players such as MARA Holdings, CleanSpark and Cango.
“Their ascent highlights how the middle tier of public miners — once trailing far behind — has rapidly scaled production since the 2024 halving,” The Miner Mag wrote in a recent newsletter.
Some of these companies, notably HIVE Digital, are also diversifying beyond Bitcoin mining into artificial intelligence and high-performance computing workloads — signaling a broader strategic shift within the industry.
Year-over-year growth in realized hashrate among public Bitcoin miners. Source: The Miner MagLedn’s Bitcoin-backed loan originations surpass $1 billion in 2025
Digital asset lender Ledn reported a record quarter for its Bitcoin-backed credit products, highlighting a growing trend among long-term holders who prefer borrowing against their assets rather than selling them.
The company originated $392 million in BTC-backed loans during the third quarter, pushing its year-to-date originations above $1 billion. Since inception, Ledn has issued more than $2.8 billion in total loans.
Ledn is regarded as one of the three largest centralized finance (CeFi) lenders, alongside Tether and Galaxy Digital. Together, these firms account for roughly 89% of the CeFi lending market.
Borrowing against Bitcoin has become increasingly popular as the cryptocurrency’s price continues to climb, allowing investors to unlock liquidity without giving up exposure to the asset’s long-term upside.
Source: LednCrypto Biz is your weekly pulse on the business behind blockchain and crypto, delivered directly to your inbox every Thursday.
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