Marcel van Oost’s Post

Everyone wanted open networks. Now they’re begging for permissioned access. Circle’s Arc just proved it. 100+ institutions, Visa, BlackRock, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Amazon Web Services (AWS), are testing a blockchain built for stablecoins, FX, and capital markets. It runs on USDC, not volatile tokens. It’s public, EVM-compatible, and regulatory-first. This isn’t the return of corporate blockchains. It’s their evolution. Arc isn’t here to disrupt banks. It’s here to onboard them. Every partner thinks they’re testing blockchain. In reality, they’re entering Circle’s financial stack, a system where USDC is the settlement layer. It’s not about decentralization anymore. It’s about who owns the rails. DeFi didn’t get adopted, it got absorbed. The new systems speak crypto, but they think legacy.

𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻: 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 The 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 is predicted to reach 𝗨𝗦𝗗 𝟳.𝟳𝟴 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 by 2030 with a 𝗖𝗔𝗚𝗥 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟯.𝟬% by 2030. 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲- https://lnkd.in/g3y53Pbd The global Smart Contract Market is rapidly transforming how businesses, governments, and individuals conduct transactions — eliminating intermediaries, increasing transparency, and enhancing security in digital agreements. They enable automatic, tamper-proof, and transparent exchanges across sectors such as finance, supply chain, real estate, and healthcare. By removing the need for third-party verification, smart contracts significantly reduce operational costs, mitigate human errors, and accelerate transaction speeds. The market’s growth is fueled by the increasing adoption of blockchain-based solutions, the surge in cryptocurrency usage, and the rising demand for secure and reliable digital transaction frameworks. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲: MONAX INDUSTRIES LIMITED – Known for pioneering enterprise-grade smart contract frameworks that enhance blockchain compliance and scalability. Blockstream– A leader in blockchain infrastructure, developing tools that enable smart contract integration into Bitcoin’s ecosystem. Coinbase– One of the largest cryptocurrency platforms, facilitating smart contract functionality within its decentralized finance and crypto asset services. Bitfinex– Innovating in blockchain and DeFi through smart contract-powered trading, lending, and asset management solutions. BlockCypher – Provides developer-friendly APIs and blockchain tools that support smart contract deployment and automation. 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁- https://lnkd.in/gGYayPjs 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 Moreover, governments and enterprises worldwide are exploring the integration of smart contracts into legal, financial, and trade systems, which could redefine how digital agreements are authenticated and enforced. The Smart Contract Market represents more than just a technological innovation—it’s a paradigm shift toward a transparent, autonomous, and secure digital future. As blockchain continues to mature, smart contracts will play a pivotal role in building trust and efficiency across every digital transaction. #SmartContracts #BlockchainTechnology #DigitalTransformation #DeFi #Innovation

💥 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗿𝘆𝗽𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 — 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁. In 2018, crypto was a “rebellion.” In 2025, it’s a 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆. From 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸’𝘀 𝗕𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗘𝗧𝗙 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘁𝘀, the financial giants are no longer on the sidelines — they’re building the infrastructure of the 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗿𝗮. 💡 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴? Traditional finance is 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 with blockchain — not replacing it. Banks, asset managers, and exchanges are testing how 𝘁𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 (putting real-world assets like bonds, funds, and property on-chain) can unlock: ✅ 𝗟𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘆 — fractional ownership of assets once limited to institutions ✅ 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 — faster settlements and lower operational costs ✅ 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 — new retail participation in private markets 📊 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆:  • Over $𝟭.𝟱𝗕 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 now live on-chain (up 600% YoY)  • 𝟱𝟬%+ 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 have blockchain initiatives  • The 𝗘𝗨’𝘀 𝗠𝗶𝗖𝗔 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗞𝗼𝗻𝗴’𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 have created regulatory clarity that was missing just two years ago This isn’t about “crypto hype.” It’s about 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 — the same way the internet modernized communication, blockchain is now modernizing value exchange. The question isn’t “𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘱𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘺𝘱𝘵𝘰?” It’s “𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘵 — 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘰’𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥?” 💭 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸? Will traditional finance make crypto mainstream — or lose its soul trying? #FinTech #CryptoAdoption #Tokenization #DigitalAssets #FutureOfFinance #Blockchain #Innovation

Deutsche Börse stakes its claim, literally. Last week, Crypto Finance (Deutschland) GmbH, part of the Deutsche Börse Group, officially launched institutional staking services for Ethereum and Solana across Europe. In partnership with Figment, a heavyweight in institutional-grade staking infrastructure, the service allows clients to earn yield while enhancing blockchain security. Why it matters? Because a traditional finance giant is validating crypto. The move marks a deeper integration of regulated players into crypto’s most important layer: consensus. Let’s connect the dots: - Crypto Finance holds multiple MiCA licenses - It already provides regulated custody and trading - Now, it offers staking, a core Web3 primitive This is bringing security, legitimacy, and scalability to institutions interacting with Ethereum and Solana. At OffChain Luxembourg, we welcome this shift. It shows how staking is evolving, not being an "exclusive" for DeFi bros, but becoming a pillar of Europe’s compliant crypto ecosystem. Crypto’s infrastructure is maturing and that’s bullish for all of us building for the long term. What do you think? Will more TradFi follow?

𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀: 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 The 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 is predicted to reach 𝗨𝗦𝗗 𝟳.𝟳𝟴 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 by 2030 with a 𝗖𝗔𝗚𝗥 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟯.𝟬% by 2030. 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲- https://lnkd.in/g3y53Pbd The global Smart Contract Market is rapidly transforming how businesses, governments, and individuals conduct transactions — eliminating intermediaries, increasing transparency, and enhancing security in digital agreements. They enable automatic, tamper-proof, and transparent exchanges across sectors such as finance, supply chain, real estate, and healthcare. By removing the need for third-party verification, smart contracts significantly reduce operational costs, mitigate human errors, and accelerate transaction speeds. The market’s growth is fueled by the increasing adoption of blockchain-based solutions, the surge in cryptocurrency usage, and the rising demand for secure and reliable digital transaction frameworks. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲: MONAX INDUSTRIES LIMITED – Known for pioneering enterprise-grade smart contract frameworks that enhance blockchain compliance and scalability. Blockstream– A leader in blockchain infrastructure, developing tools that enable smart contract integration into Bitcoin’s ecosystem. Coinbase– One of the largest cryptocurrency platforms, facilitating smart contract functionality within its decentralized finance and crypto asset services. Bitfinex– Innovating in blockchain and DeFi through smart contract-powered trading, lending, and asset management solutions. BlockCypher – Provides developer-friendly APIs and blockchain tools that support smart contract deployment and automation. 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁- https://lnkd.in/gGYayPjs 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 Moreover, governments and enterprises worldwide are exploring the integration of smart contracts into legal, financial, and trade systems, which could redefine how digital agreements are authenticated and enforced. The Smart Contract Market represents more than just a technological innovation—it’s a paradigm shift toward a transparent, autonomous, and secure digital future. As blockchain continues to mature, smart contracts will play a pivotal role in building trust and efficiency across every digital transaction. #SmartContracts #BlockchainTechnology #DigitalTransformation #DeFi #Innovation

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀: 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 The 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 is predicted to reach 𝗨𝗦𝗗 𝟳.𝟳𝟴 𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 by 2030 with a 𝗖𝗔𝗚𝗥 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟯.𝟬% by 2030. 𝗗𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲- https://lnkd.in/g3y53Pbd The global Smart Contract Market is rapidly transforming how businesses, governments, and individuals conduct transactions — eliminating intermediaries, increasing transparency, and enhancing security in digital agreements. They enable automatic, tamper-proof, and transparent exchanges across sectors such as finance, supply chain, real estate, and healthcare. By removing the need for third-party verification, smart contracts significantly reduce operational costs, mitigate human errors, and accelerate transaction speeds. The market’s growth is fueled by the increasing adoption of blockchain-based solutions, the surge in cryptocurrency usage, and the rising demand for secure and reliable digital transaction frameworks. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗸𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗲: MONAX INDUSTRIES LIMITED – Known for pioneering enterprise-grade smart contract frameworks that enhance blockchain compliance and scalability. Blockstream– A leader in blockchain infrastructure, developing tools that enable smart contract integration into Bitcoin’s ecosystem. Coinbase– One of the largest cryptocurrency platforms, facilitating smart contract functionality within its decentralized finance and crypto asset services. Bitfinex– Innovating in blockchain and DeFi through smart contract-powered trading, lending, and asset management solutions. BlockCypher – Provides developer-friendly APIs and blockchain tools that support smart contract deployment and automation. 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁- https://lnkd.in/gGYayPjs 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 Moreover, governments and enterprises worldwide are exploring the integration of smart contracts into legal, financial, and trade systems, which could redefine how digital agreements are authenticated and enforced. The Smart Contract Market represents more than just a technological innovation—it’s a paradigm shift toward a transparent, autonomous, and secure digital future. As blockchain continues to mature, smart contracts will play a pivotal role in building trust and efficiency across every digital transaction. #SmartContracts #BlockchainTechnology #DigitalTransformation #DeFi #Innovation

Circle has launched the Arc blockchain testnet, taking a major step toward building regulated infrastructure for institutional finance. This move shows how Circle is growing from a USDC issuer into a blockchain provider for banks, asset managers, and fintech firms. Arc focuses on compliance, interoperability, and verified on-chain identity, creating a space where traditional finance can explore blockchain under trusted conditions. Arc’s early participants show how serious this project is. BlackRock and Goldman Sachs are testing tokenized fund settlements, Visa is exploring payment integrations, and Elliptic and Anthropic are providing compliance and AI-driven tools. Together, they are shaping a framework that could guide the future of regulated tokenized finance. This launch reflects how institutions are beginning to use blockchain for real financial operations. With Arc, Circle is helping them gain blockchain’s efficiency while maintaining strong oversight. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵. 👇

🌐 Blockchain Consensus Unveiled: PoW vs. PoS vs. Ripple Understanding blockchain consensus mechanisms is key to navigating crypto’s potential. Let’s break down Proof of Work (PoW), Proof of Stake (PoS), and Ripple’s XRP Ledger Consensus Protocol. 1. Proof of Work (PoW) How it works: Miners solve complex puzzles to validate transactions and add blocks, earning rewards. Pros: Ultra-secure (e.g., Bitcoin). Cons: Energy-hungry, slower transactions. Use case: Decentralized networks prioritizing security. 2. Proof of Stake (PoS) How it works: Validators stake crypto to create blocks; misbehavior risks their stake. Pros: Energy-efficient, scalable (e.g., Ethereum). Cons: Risk of centralization if wealth concentrates. Use case: Eco-friendly networks needing speed. 3. Ripple’s Verification (XRP Ledger) How it works: Trusted validators vote, reaching 80%+ consensus to close ledgers in seconds. Pros: Fast (3-5s), low-cost, energy-efficient. Cons: More centralized due to pre-selected validators. Use case: Cross-border payments (e.g., RippleNet). In short: PoW is secure but heavy, PoS is green and swift, Ripple is fast and practical. Which mechanism sparks your interest for the future of finance? #Blockchain #Crypto #FinTech #Innovation #Finance

Zepz, owner of Sendwave Wallet, introduces USDC transfers to streamline global payments and boost financial inclusion in key corridors. #Crypto #Remittances #USDC #Blockchain https://lnkd.in/ecAUSjhg

𝐁𝐢𝐭𝐆𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐬 BitGo has announced custody support for Canton Coin (CC) the native token of the Canton Network, a privacy-enabled blockchain designed for regulated financial markets. This marks the first time institutions can securely hold and manage CC with a U.S.-based qualified custodian, empowering them with: ✅ Qualified cold-storage custody ✅ $250M insurance protection ✅ Self-custody wallets ✅ Scalable, compliant infrastructure Together, BitGo and the Canton Network are bridging traditional finance and digital assets — ensuring security, compliance, and privacy at scale. “BitGo’s support represents a major step toward institutional adoption and a more connected, privacy-preserving financial ecosystem,” said Melvis Langyintuo, Executive Director, Canton Foundation. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 : https://lnkd.in/encjcE9z 𝐀𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 - Financial Technology Insights, we’re proud to spotlight groundbreaking collaborations like this, while also conducting executive interviews, guest posts, and covering must-know news across AI, blockchain, and capital markets. 𝗪𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘂𝘀? Contact Us : https://lnkd.in/gAgD9Du3 #BitGo #CantonNetwork #DigitalAssets #Blockchain #InstitutionalFinance #Custody #CryptoCustody #Fintech #Web3 #Tokenization #FinanceInnovation