Launch of fsBTC - October 23rd
-
fsBTC enables businesses and corporations to incorporate Bitcoin into their balance sheets as a permanent capital structure. By issuing a Bitcoin security, Frictionless Markets opens the door for companies, both public and private, large or small, to access the inflation-resistant performance that Bitcoin offers. This strategy allows businesses to hold Bitcoin in a secure, fully-backed manner, benefiting from its long-term growth potential while reducing exposure to fiat currency inflation.
-
By leveraging fsBTC, businesses can not only hedge against inflation but also take advantage of Bitcoin’s upward potential, unlocking new financial strategies for corporate treasuries. This positions Bitcoin as a key asset for companies looking to truly optimize their cash and capital management.
-
fsBTC, is a fully backed 1:1 by Bitcoin (BTC), issued by Frictionless Markets as a classical security, ensuring that each token represents an actual claim on Bitcoin held in secure custody. fsBTC is made transparent and trustworthy by integrating Chainlink's Proof of Reserve (PoR) technology, Proof of Reserve ensures that investors can independently verify that their funds are fully collateralized by actual BTC, reducing counterparty risk and enhancing trust in the system.
Bitcoin for Business
-
In conjunction with the launch of fsBTC, Frictionless Markets is introducing a ground-breaking strategy that enables investors to leverage the risk-free rate to generate daily Bitcoin (BTC) yields directly in BTC, rather than traditional fiat currencies.
-
This approach transforms the traditional yield from cash management into permanent capital, unlocking the potential for long-term outsized performance from Bitcoin. By integrating Bitcoin's growth with the stability of traditional cash strategies, this innovative model aims to offer both principal preservation and an inflation-resistant yield.
Chainlink Cross-Chain & Proof of Reserve
-
Frictionless Markets is leveraging two advanced blockchain technologies—Chainlink CCIP and Proof of Reserve (PoR)—to ensure secure, transparent, and decentralized financial services, particularly in the management of underlying money market funds and multi-currency institutional deposit tokens.
- These technologies are central to Frictionless Markets' goal of enabling the digital transformation of capital, providing secure, compliant, and cutting-edge solutions for institutional investment.
👀 Watch out for our announcement later in the week.
BlackRock's MMF Token Poised to Shake Up Derivatives Market
- BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, is in discussions with major cryptocurrency exchanges about using its tokenized MMF token as collateral for derivatives trades. The company is reportedly in talks with prominent platforms such as Binance, OKX, and Deribit to have tokenized MMF accepted as a form of collateral. This move positions tokenized MMF, which is tied to the US dollar and offers interest to holders, as a potential competitor to established stablecoins like Tether's USDT in the derivatives market.In addition to these major exchanges,
- BlackRock has already made progress with other financial institutions. Prime brokers FalconX and Hidden Road currently allow their hedge fund clients to use tokenized MMF as collateral, and custodian Komainu has recently joined this list. BlackRock's push to have tokenized MMF more widely accepted as collateral for crypto derivatives trades is part of a broader strategy by Wall Street firms to deepen their involvement in digital asset markets. If successful, this initiative could significantly expand tokenized MMF's market reach and potentially position BlackRock as a major player in the crypto derivatives space, which accounted for over 70% of all crypto trading volume in September 2024.
State Street Advances Tokenization of MMFs and Bonds for Collateral Use
- BlackRock is not the only one initiating use of tokenized assets as collateral. State Street, the Boston-based banking and asset management giant, is making significant progress in its digital asset strategy by focusing on the tokenization of bonds and money market funds (MMFs). The company is currently working on projects to tokenize a bond and an MMF specifically for use as collateral. This innovative approach aims to allow these assets to be used as collateral without the need for liquidation, potentially enabling instant settlement and more efficient margin calls in trading operations. State Street's efforts demonstrate that major financial institutions are increasingly exploring this technology.
- Despite earlier speculation, State Street has clarified that it has no immediate plans to issue a stablecoin or develop tokenized deposits. Instead, the company is concentrating on establishing tokenized collateral systems that traders can use to meet margin requirements without having to sell their holdings. This strategy could help mitigate crises similar to the "liability-driven" event of 2022, where pension funds were forced to liquidate assets to meet margin calls. State Street's measured approach to tokenization underscores its commitment to leveraging blockchain technology in traditional finance, particularly in areas where it can provide tangible benefits such as improved collateral management and market efficiency.
Ripple Enters Stablecoin Market with RLUSD Launch
-
Ripple, the digital asset infrastructure provider, is launching RLUSD, a USD-denominated stablecoin entering the competitive $170 billion stablecoin market. RLUSD will be issued under a New York Trust Company Charter, focusing on enterprise use cases such as cross-border payments, tokenization of real-world assets, and decentralized finance. Ripple has partnered with exchanges including Bitstamp, Bitso, and Bullish for distribution, while B2C2 and Keyrock will provide liquidity support. The stablecoin will be integrated into Ripple's existing payment solutions and will operate on both the XRP Ledger and Ethereum blockchains.
-
To address regulatory concerns, Ripple has formed an advisory board led by former FDIC Chair Sheila Bair and commits to monthly, third-party audited attestations of reserve assets. The company aims to position RLUSD as a compliant option for institutional and cross-border payments. However, RLUSD faces significant competition from established stablecoins and will need to overcome adoption hurdles in a market already dominated by major players. The success of RLUSD will depend on its ability to differentiate itself through regulatory compliance and enterprise adoption, as well as its performance in real-world applications.
Stablecoins Gain Momentum in Business Transactions, Led by Major Financial Players
-
PayPal has made significant strides in the adoption of stablecoins for business transactions, completing its first enterprise payment using its in-house stablecoin, PYUSD, to accounting firm Ernst & Young via an SAP SE platform. This move is part of a broader trend, with other major financial players like Visa, Circle, and Ripple also integrating stablecoins into their payment solutions. Visa is collaborating with Solana and has acquired companies to support USDC payments, while Circle has launched a "Virtual stablecoin card" on the Mastercard network. Ripple has partnered with the government of Palau to issue a local stablecoin, and Standard Chartered's Zodia Markets platform now enables cross-border payments using stablecoins.
-
The adoption of stablecoins in business transactions offers several advantages, including lower transaction costs, faster settlement times, increased transparency, and potential hedges against inflation and currency instability. However, regulatory considerations remain crucial. Christopher Waller, a governor of the U.S. Federal Reserve, has acknowledged that properly regulated stablecoins could benefit the traditional financial system, particularly in reducing cross-border payment costs. As stablecoins continue to gain traction in the business world, the focus remains on developing clear regulatory frameworks to ensure their safe and effective use in the global financial system.