Visa has made a strategic investment in BVNK, a London-based startup specializing in stablecoin payment infrastructure, through its Visa Ventures arm. This move underscores Visa’s commitment to integrating digital assets into global payment systems.

BVNK, which processes approximately $12 billion in stablecoin transactions annually, offers a platform that connects banks and blockchains via a single API. The company emphasizes compliance, utilizing automated onboarding, real-time sanctions screening, and transaction monitoring, supported by partnerships with firms like Chainalysis and Elliptic.
Electronic Payments International

Jesse Hemson-Struthers, CEO of BVNK, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating that combining Visa’s expertise in global payment networks with BVNK’s stablecoin infrastructure presents significant opportunities to redefine business operations in the digital economy.

Rubail Birwadker, Visa’s head of products and partnerships, highlighted the growing role of stablecoins in global payment flows and reaffirmed Visa’s dedication to investing in emerging technologies that shape the future of commerce.

This investment follows BVNK’s $50 million Series B funding round in December 2024, led by Haun Ventures, with participation from Coinbase Ventures, Scribble Ventures, DRW VC, and existing investors Avenir and Tiger Global. The company plans to leverage this momentum to expand its presence in the United States, aiming to develop local banking infrastructure and obtain operational licenses to serve domestic companies.

Visa’s engagement with BVNK aligns with its broader strategy to embrace digital currencies and blockchain technology. In late 2024, Visa introduced the Visa Tokenized Asset Platform, designed to facilitate the issuance and management of tokenized assets, including stablecoins and central bank digital currencies. Additionally, Visa enabled real-time fund transfers for Coinbase users with eligible Visa debit cards, further integrating cryptocurrency into its payment ecosystem.

The collaboration between Visa and BVNK signifies a pivotal step toward modernizing global payment systems, enhancing efficiency, and promoting the adoption of stablecoin-based transactions in mainstream commerce.

Italy’s central bank has expressed concerns over the growing divergence between the European Union and the United States regarding cryptocurrency regulation. In a recent report, officials emphasized that while the EU has adopted the comprehensive Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework to provide regulatory clarity, the U.S. continues to rely on enforcement actions rather than clear legislative guidelines. This disparity, they warn, could create market inefficiencies and regulatory arbitrage, where companies choose jurisdictions based on more favorable oversight.

The report also highlighted the risks posed by an uncoordinated regulatory approach, particularly in ensuring investor protection and financial stability. The Italian central bank stressed the importance of global cooperation, noting that the lack of a unified framework could leave gaps in oversight, making it easier for bad actors to exploit regulatory loopholes. Additionally, they pointed to the challenges of monitoring decentralized finance (DeFi) and stablecoins, which require cross-border regulatory alignment.

In contrast to the U.S., the EU’s MiCA regulation is set to introduce clear rules for stablecoin issuers, crypto exchanges, and custodial services, providing businesses with a structured compliance roadmap. While some industry participants have welcomed MiCA’s clarity, others remain concerned about excessive regulatory burdens that could stifle innovation. Meanwhile, the Italian central bank believes a more proactive regulatory approach in the U.S. could help align global standards and reduce uncertainty for crypto firms operating internationally.

As the global crypto market evolves, Italy’s central bank has urged policymakers to engage in more collaborative discussions to bridge regulatory gaps. They argue that without a coordinated international effort, the industry could face increasing fragmentation, making it harder to develop a stable and transparent digital asset ecosystem. Whether the U.S. will adopt a more structured regulatory approach or continue its enforcement-heavy stance remains a key question for the future of the global crypto industry.

UWU Lend, a prominent decentralized finance (DeFi) platform, has reported a second security breach, resulting in significant losses for its users. In response to this incident, UWU Lend has announced a reimbursement plan totaling $20 million to compensate affected users for their losses.

The security breach, which marks the second hack on the UWU Lend platform, highlights the ongoing challenges faced by DeFi protocols in ensuring robust security measures and protecting user funds. While the details of the breach are still under investigation, UWU Lend has taken immediate steps to address the issue and mitigate further damage to its users.

The $20 million reimbursement plan is a testament to UWU Lend’s commitment to prioritizing the safety and security of its users’ funds. By offering compensation for the losses incurred as a result of the hack, UWU Lend aims to restore confidence in its platform and demonstrate its dedication to supporting its community members during challenging times.

In addition to the reimbursement plan, UWU Lend has also announced plans to enhance its security infrastructure and implement additional measures to prevent future security breaches. These efforts underscore UWU Lend’s proactive approach to addressing security vulnerabilities and safeguarding user funds against potential threats.

As the DeFi landscape continues to evolve, incidents like the recent hack on UWU Lend serve as important reminders of the importance of robust security measures and risk management practices in the decentralized finance space. Despite the challenges posed by security breaches, UWU Lend remains committed to its mission of providing innovative financial services while prioritizing the safety and security of its users.