Global Stock Markets Mostly Rise Ahead of Key U.S. Inflation Data

Ripple CTO David Schwartz broke his silence about his long-running XRPL Hub by posting its operational data, network details and performance graphs, turning a low-profile internal node into a public reference point for anyone running an XRPL setup. 

Schwartz disclosed that his hub has been running version 2.6.2 for more than a month without a single issue, offered its hostname and port for operators who want to connect, and shared charts showing peer counts, latency profiles, traffic load, and disconnection metrics. 

The hub is under capacity, which explains why peer reservations have not been needed, yet Schwartz said he can enable them if demand surges.

The post came out when there was a lot of talk about XRPL programmability again. In the replies, Schwartz disagreed with the idea of adding features only to allow validators to make money from validation. In his opinion, that rationale is weak and does not align with the chain's design. It is more compelling to let XRP holders stake for revenue, but that alone is not enough to warrant major changes. 

What does it all mean for XRP?

The bottom line is that he thinks XRP Ledger's financial primitives should be used in more situations, not just for quick payouts to a small group.

Schwartz also acknowledged the risk side. Making radical smart-contract additions requires a lot of engineering, creates unpredictable outcomes and changes parts of XRPL that he thinks are essential. Even successful experiments like AMM cannot guarantee usage levels, so new functionality needs proof that it can drive real demand before the ecosystem commits.

With the hub disclosure, it looks like Ripple's CTO is ready to prioritize transparency in operations while keeping protocol changes on a strict, evidence-driven track.

TORTOLA, British Virgin Islands, Dec. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Worldwide Stablecoin Payment Network (WSPN), a leading provider of next-generation stablecoin infrastructure, today announced the launch of its White-Label Stablecoin Solution, enabling enterprises and financial institutions to rapidly deploy their own branded stablecoins using WSPN's production-grade infrastructure.

https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2429245/WSPN_logo_Logo.html

The offering leverages WSPN's proven stablecoin technology stack, which already powers WUSD in live production. By providing a turnkey solution, WSPN eliminates the technical complexity and regulatory burden traditionally associated with launching a stablecoin.

"Building a scalable stablecoin from scratch requires significant engineering resources, regulatory expertise, and operational infrastructure," said Raymond Yuan, Founder & CEO of WSPN. "Our White-Label Solution allows enterprises to launch their own branded stablecoins in a fraction of the time and cost, backed by the same infrastructure that powers our own tokens."

The solution includes four core components: client-controlled mint and burn smart contracts/infrastructure, custody and wallet infrastructure, KYT compliance layer for regulatory adherence, and user front-end with APIs for seamless integration.

WSPN is already powering a euro-denominated stablecoin for an EU-based partner and is actively onboarding additional clients across multiple jurisdictions and currency denominations. The solution is designed for financial institutions, payment providers, and enterprises seeking to leverage stablecoin technology without building infrastructure from the ground up.

For more information, contact WSPN's business development team or visit www.wspn.io. 

About WSPN

WSPN is a leading provider of next-generation stablecoin infrastructure, dedicated to building a more secure, efficient, and transparent global payment ecosystem. Our flagship stablecoin, WUSD, is fully backed and pegged 1:1 to the U.S. Dollar, serving as the foundation for a suite of integrated financial solutions. These solutions support a range of financial applications from institutional treasury management to programmable payments and decentralized finance. With a strong focus on transparency, regulatory compliance, and user accessibility, WSPN bridges the gap between Web3 innovation and traditional financial systems, driving the global adoption of stablecoins at scale.

Learn more: www.wspn.io | X | LinkedIn

Aptos has become one of the toughest stories in the altcoin market this year. The APT price has collapsed nearly 90% from its highs close to $20, turning what was once a next-gen Layer-1 contender into one of the most heavily discounted cryptos of the cycle. Retail faith has evaporated, builders have gone quiet, and social sentiment has flatlined. Yet, one group still hasn’t walked away—the major investors who backed Aptos early.

By Kaname Sugimoto

Yomiuri Shimbun Staff Writer

Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc. (MUFG) announced Thursday that it will establish a money management fund (MMF) — an investment trust that mainly invests in short-term government and corporate bonds — in 2026.

This marks the group's return to the market a decade after the group's withdrawal. Due to the arrival of a "world with interest rates" in Japan, the group expects to see demand even at relatively low interest rates.

An asset management company and a securities company both under the MUFG umbrella were among those that made the announcement.

Utilizing digital technologies like blockchain, the group aims to develop Japan's first "tokenized investment trust." The planned MMF will be the first offering under the initiative.

MMFs do not include stocks, and primarily invest in government bonds and corporate bonds with short-term maturity. Considered highly safe, this type of financial product was once popular. However, their appeal diminished after the Bank of Japan introduced a negative interest rate policy in 2016, leading companies to withdraw from the market.

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This article is from The Yomiuri Shimbun. Neither Dow Jones Newswires, MarketWatch, Barron's nor The Wall Street Journal were involved in the creation of this content.

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Regulators in Washington on Thursday cleared a major step that lets Americans trade spot Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies on federally registered exchanges for the first time.

According to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, listed spot crypto products may now be offered on exchanges registered with the agency, a move announced on December 4, 2025.

Regulated Spot Trading Begins

The action comes from a CFTC press release labeled Release No. 9145-25 and that the change allows spot crypto contracts to be listed on futures exchanges that are registered with the CFTC.

The regulator said its rules now permit such listings to trade under the oversight and surveillance standards those exchanges already follow.

Bitnomial Leads The Way

Bitnomial, a Chicago-based derivatives exchange, is set to be the first exchange to list such products, with plans to offer both leveraged and non-leveraged spot trading on its platform.

Market notices and statements show Bitnomial moved quickly to use the new framework, announcing a launch and filings that position it as the first US venue to trade listed spot crypto under CFTC rules. What This Means For Investors

According to market commentators and reporting, the shift brings spot trades under long-standing market protections like clearing, surveillance and execution rules that apply to other listed products.

That can make some institutional players and big funds more willing to trade onshore. At the same time, regulators say this is meant to pull activity away from unregulated offshore venues and improve market oversight.

Acting Chairman Caroline Pham said the move is meant to strengthen the US position in the crypto market while giving traders access to safer and more transparent trading venues. Risks Remain

Reports have disclosed that the change does not remove the underlying risks of crypto: prices can swing widely, and no regulatory move can stop market volatility.

Also, only exchanges that seek and obtain the proper CFTC registration will be able to use this route, so most offshore platforms remain outside US oversight for now.Next Steps

Observers will be watching whether other US exchanges follow Bitnomial, how many retail investors gain access, and how the SEC responds on parallel issues such as token classification and custody rules.

The CFTC had flagged this pathway in August as part of a broader initiative to allow listed spot crypto trading, and agencies have since coordinated on guidance and public engagement.

The CFTC’s Acting Chairman said this brings spot crypto trading into a regulated setting Americans can trust, and that exchanges with the right protections can now list these products.

This development is part of a months-long policy push by the administration to create clearer rules for digital assets.

Featured image from Barron’s, chart from TradingView

Italy's financial watchdog has issued a reminder to crypto operators and investors ahead of a key regulatory deadline, urging close attention to the Dec. 30 cutoff for compliance with the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) framework.

Under MiCA's transitional rules, Italy's currently registered virtual asset service providers (VASPs) may continue operating only until Dec. 30, 2025, unless they file an application to become licensed crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) in Italy or another EU member state, according to a Thursday statement released by Consob, the country's financial market regulator.

Firms that submit applications by the deadline may continue operating until their authorization is approved or rejected, but no later than June 30, 2026. Consob also reiterated its expectations for VASPs that do not intend to seek MiCA authorization. Such firms must cease operations in Italy by Dec. 30, terminate existing contracts, and return customer assets.

Italy's present regime requires VASPs merely to register with the OAM, the national agents and brokers body. CASPs, by contrast, must obtain full authorization from supervisory authorities and are subject to ongoing oversight. 

Consob noted that the reminder aligns with a separate statement published Thursday by the European Securities and Markets Authority, which is coordinating the EU-wide transition.

Macroprudential concerns rise

Separately, Italy's Committee for Macroprudential Policies — comprising the Bank of Italy, Consob, IVASS, COVIP and the Treasury — met Thursday in Rome to review financial stability risks, according to a press release. 

While members assessed that the country's economic conditions remain broadly favorable, they warned that vulnerabilities linked to crypto assets could be increasing due to "growing interconnections with the financial system" and uneven global regulation.

The Ministry of Economy and Finance has launched an in-depth review of safeguards for retail investors' direct and indirect exposure to crypto assets, the statement said.

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