Crypto exchange OKX is set to enhance its offerings by launching six new trading pairs for USDC, the second-largest stablecoin by market capitalization.
This expansion will occur today, October 14, featuring pairs such as AEVO-USDC, ATH-USDC, CATI-USDC, ETHFI-USDC, JUP-USDC, and ZETA-USDC.
This move comes amid a less favorable outlook for stablecoin providers. A recent CCData report suggested that the stablecoin sector, including USDC and others like USDT and TUSD, may face difficulties following the Federal Reserve’s first interest rate cut since March 2020.
With nearly 80.2% of their reserves in US Treasury Bills, these stablecoins could experience a significant annual loss in interest income—approximately $625 million for every 50 basis point reduction.
Tether, for instance, holds around $93.2 billion in US Treasury Bills and related agreements, which contributed to a $5.2 billion net profit in the first half of 2024. In comparison, USDC has $28.7 billion in Treasury Bills via its Circle Reserve Fund, while FDUSD, PYUSD, and TUSD collectively manage Treasury assets totaling around $3 billion.
Coinbase has officially rolled out CFTC-regulated futures contracts tied to XRP, marking a significant step forward for institutional adoption of the Ripple-associated token.
A fresh wave of speculation has hit the crypto market following a hefty stablecoin issuance by Tether, which quietly minted $1 billion worth of USDT on the Tron network earlier today.
Binance is adding more firepower to its Spot trading platform, announcing fresh USDC trading pairs and expanded support for auto-trading features set to go live on April 22.
The XRP network is flashing early warning signs, with a steep drop in newly created wallet addresses raising concerns about fading interest.