🏗️ Companies Demanding Custom Blockspace

**Hyundai Card and Hyundai Motor Company** have successfully completed a stablecoin payment pilot on the Avalanche blockchain. The proof-of-concept involved: - Partnership with **Tether** (stablecoin provider) - Collaboration with **Axiym Finance** (payment infrastructure) - Testing real-world payment scenarios This marks a significant step toward mainstream adoption of blockchain-based payments by a major automotive manufacturer. The pilot demonstrates how traditional corporations are exploring stablecoin infrastructure for faster, more efficient transactions. [Read the full details](https://www.theblock.co/post/407660/hyundai-stablecoin-poc-avalanche-tether)

**Avalanche Payments Collective adds first agent-focused member** GoKiteAI has joined the Avalanche Payments Collective as its first agent-focused member, marking a shift toward infrastructure built specifically for AI agents as economic participants. **Key features:** - Gasless micropayments for AI transactions - Cross-chain payment capabilities - Full provenance infrastructure - Seamless AI-to-AI transactions The integration positions Avalanche to support the emerging AI economy with specialized payment rails designed for autonomous agents rather than traditional users.

**Crypto adoption accelerates in regions with high financial friction** Tokenized assets are enabling 1,500 fintech companies across Latin America and Asia-Pacific to deliver improved financial products, according to industry observations. The technology operates behind the scenes—users benefit from blockchain-powered services without knowing the underlying infrastructure. **Key developments:** - Adoption concentrates in markets where traditional financial systems create the most obstacles - End users interact with improved products without blockchain awareness - Fintech teams leverage tokenization to enhance service offerings This pattern mirrors broader institutional movement toward tokenized money, which enables faster settlement and continuous yield generation. Major asset managers have begun implementing these systems, recognizing operational advantages over legacy infrastructure. The growth suggests blockchain technology gains traction most effectively when it solves concrete problems rather than requiring user education about the technology itself.

Team1 has announced a new **Builder Grants program** offering up to **$30,000 per project** for developers building on their platform. **Key Details:** - Funding available for innovative projects - Accelerator grants include a **voting committee** of community contributors - Community-driven decision making process The program aims to support builders looking for additional resources to develop their projects. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis through their community channels. Interested developers can find more information and submit proposals through Team1's official channels.

The **Avalanche Payments Collective** has launched, bringing together 28 organizations that handle payment flows across 150+ countries, 96 currencies, and approximately 22 billion payout endpoints. **Key participants include:** - Financial institutions: Franklin Templeton, VanEck - Infrastructure providers: Anchorage Digital, Paxos, Agora - Payment platforms: Ethena, Rain, Axiym, Tassat The Collective spans the full payments stack: - Stablecoins and settlement - Treasury infrastructure and custody - Foreign exchange and card issuance - Business payments and global payouts Avalanche has quietly built one of the industry's broadest payments ecosystems over recent years. The Collective formalizes this network, addressing the reality that global money movement requires integrated solutions for liquidity, compliance, and local payment networks. More details: [avax.network/payments](http://avax.network/payments)