Custodia's Caitlin Long on stablecoins vs. tokenized deposits

americanbanker.com Jul 14, 2026

Custodia’s Caitlin Long on stablecoins vs. tokenized deposits

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Jul 14, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Caitlin Long, founder and CEO of Custodia Bank, discussed the launch of the Hazel Network, a permission‑less blockchain platform created in partnership with Vantage Bank, at the American Bankers Digital Banking Conference in Orlando. The collaboration merges a stablecoin issuance framework with tokenized deposits, leveraging Vantage’s master account and Custodia’s chartered issuer status to enable direct settlement between the two institutions. Long emphasized that the network’s permission‑less design taps existing developer tooling, avoiding the “walled‑garden” approaches historically favored by large banks. She positioned the Hazel Network as the first community‑bank‑driven payment system in the United States, contrasting it with legacy solutions such as Zelle, Visa, Mastercard and ACH that were built by major banks.

💡 Why It Matters

· It demonstrates how community banks can harness open‑source blockchain infrastructure to compete with entrenched payment giants, potentially reshaping the U.S.
· payments landscape.

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Datavault AI and Patriot Strategic Metals Partner to Modernize Critical Minerals Management

Datavault AI and Patriot Strategic Metals have announced a strategic partnership to co-develop a comprehensive digital platform designed for the management of critical mineral assets. This collaboration aims to modernize the sector by integrating real-world asset tokenization, artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, and trade finance solutions. The resulting platform is intended to support the entire mineral supply chain, addressing the increasing global demand for strategic minerals that are essential components in the development of artificial intelligence infrastructure. By combining advanced digital tools with traditional resource management, the two companies seek to create a more efficient and transparent system for tracking and trading these vital resources. The initiative reflects a broader trend of leveraging emerging technologies to optimize supply chain operations in the mining and energy sectors, ensuring that critical materials are managed effectively to meet the rigorous requirements of modern technological advancements and industrial applications worldwide.

💡 The convergence of blockchain and AI in mineral supply chains directly addresses the physical bottlenecks threatening the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence hardware. This partnership establishes a new standard for asset transparency, potentially reducing friction in the procurement of materials necessary for next-generation computing infrastructure.

afr.com · Jul 12

The media outlet making millions from bitcoin (but not by buying it)

A prominent media outlet has generated millions of dollars in revenue by leveraging its Bitcoin coverage without directly investing in the cryptocurrency. The company capitalizes on high‑traffic articles, video content, and podcasts that attract cryptocurrency enthusiasts, selling premium advertising slots to exchanges, wallet providers, and blockchain startups. It also earns affiliate commissions from referral links that direct readers to trading platforms and educational services. The outlet’s editorial team maintains a clear separation between content and commercial partnerships, disclosing sponsorships to comply with regulatory guidelines. This business model has surged as Bitcoin’s price volatility drives increased public interest, prompting advertisers to allocate larger budgets toward crypto‑focused media. The strategy illustrates how traditional publishing can profit from the digital asset boom while sidestepping market risk.

💡 It shows that media can monetize crypto hype through ad and affiliate streams, turning audience curiosity into a stable revenue engine without exposing themselves to price swings.

itsecuritynews.info · Jul 12

Injective Labs GitHub Compromise Distributes Malicious npm Package Targeting Crypto Wallet Keys

Cybersecurity researchers identified a sophisticated supply chain attack targeting Injective Labs, where threat actors compromised a trusted maintainer’s GitHub account to distribute a malicious npm package. The backdoored @injectivelabs/sdk-ts version 1.20.21 was published on July 8, 2026, and later deprecated, though distribution channels remained active. The malware, disguised as performance telemetry, targeted cryptographic functions within wallet generation features. Unlike typical install-time malware, it exfiltrated mnemonic seed phrases and private keys only when developers utilized specific SDK functions. Attackers aggregated data exfiltration into single encrypted HTTPS sessions to evade detection. The compromise affected seventeen related packages, including utility and networking modules, potentially impacting developers who did not directly install the SDK. Researchers confirmed the threat intercepted master recovery phrases, granting adversaries full access to wallet funds. Injective Labs released version 1.20.23 to mitigate the vulnerability. Security experts advise developers to update immediately and review their private key management practices to prevent unauthorized access to blockchain assets.

💡 By hijacking legitimate OpenID Connect publishing pipelines, attackers bypassed traditional security checks, proving that trusted infrastructure is a critical vulnerability in software supply chains. This stealthy, usage-triggered exfiltration method renders standard installation-time malware detection ineffective, forcing developers to rethink how they verify cryptographic dependencies.

prnewswire.co.uk · Jul 11

AFX Surpasses $1.1 Billion in Total Trading Volume, Highlighting Capital Efficiency in…

AFX, a sovereign Layer 1 blockchain designed for decentralized derivatives, announced it has surpassed $1.1 billion in cumulative trading volume during its initial operational period. This milestone, achieved through over 8.6 million trades, positions the platform as a rapidly growing entity in the 2026 Web3 landscape. Notably, AFX reached this volume with a lean Total Value Locked of approximately $23.4 million, demonstrating superior capital efficiency compared to protocols requiring massive liquidity reserves. The high volume-to-TVL ratio highlights the platform’s advanced liquidity architecture, appealing to professional high-frequency traders seeking sub-100ms execution. Ken C, Head of Growth, stated that the achievement validates their vision for high-velocity, community-centric infrastructure. Currently, AFX is running its Season 1 Rewards program, offering weekly points and approximately 11% APY from protocol fees. The platform supports 39 listed markets, including crypto and synthetic TradFi assets, aiming to bridge centralized performance with decentralized sovereignty while allocating 65% of its token supply to the community.

💡 Achieving over $1.1 billion in volume with only $23.4 million in locked capital proves that decentralized derivatives can match centralized exchange efficiency without requiring massive liquidity pools. This model challenges the industry standard that deep order books necessitate high Total Value Locked, offering a more capital-efficient path for institutional-grade trading.

analyticsinsight.net · Jul 9

AI Crypto Picks I’m Keeping on My Radar in July 2026

In July 2026, several AI-focused cryptocurrencies are gaining attention for their roles in advancing decentralized artificial intelligence development. Projects like Bittensor, Render, and io.net are leveraging blockchain to provide computing resources, while others such as NEAR Protocol and The Graph are enhancing AI data accessibility and application scalability. These platforms aim to support global AI innovation by offering secure, efficient, and decentralized infrastructure for machine learning and intelligent automation.

💡 The integration of AI and blockchain is reshaping how developers access and utilize computing power, enabling more efficient and transparent AI development. By decentralizing resources and data, these platforms reduce reliance on centralized cloud providers and foster a more open ecosystem for innovation.

koreatimes.co.kr · Jul 9

Hyundai Card tests stablecoin in live cross-border corporate payment

Hyundai Card announced the completion of its first stablecoin-based intercompany payment between Hyundai Motor’s U.S. and Mexican subsidiaries, marking a significant step toward broader corporate adoption of digital currencies. The pilot converted $20,000 into a U.S. dollar‑pegged stablecoin, transferred it across borders, and reconverted it back to dollars in Mexico, completing the transaction in about seven minutes—far faster than the typical three to four hours for bank transfers. Partners included Tether, Avalanche, and Axiym. A second trial with European subsidiaries is planned for later this month, and Hyundai Card intends to expand stablecoin use to treasury and global fund transfers.

💡 By proving stablecoins can streamline cross‑border corporate settlements, Hyundai Card demonstrates a viable alternative to traditional banking, potentially reshaping multinational payment workflows.