CoinDesk

**Tether's Bold Move Backfires** Stablecoin giant Tether attempted a massive **$1.1 billion takeover** of Italian football powerhouse Juventus - but was swiftly rejected. **Market Reactions Split** - Juventus shares **surged** on takeover speculation - Club's fan token experienced **double-digit decline** - Mixed investor sentiment despite rejection **Previous Connection** This wasn't Tether's first Juventus play. Earlier in 2025, Tether's investment arm acquired a **minority stake** in the Turin-based club, setting the stage for this ambitious takeover attempt. **What's Next?** The rejection leaves questions about Tether's sports investment strategy and Juventus's future ownership structure.

**Ripple expands stablecoin testing** across multiple blockchain networks as it prepares for broader market deployment. The payments company is currently testing its **U.S. dollar stablecoin** on four major platforms: - Optimism - Base - Ink - Unichain **More blockchains planned** for 2025, though expansion depends on regulatory approval. This multi-chain approach builds on Ripple's earlier announcement to launch the stablecoin on XRP Ledger and Ethereum. The testing phase suggests Ripple is taking a **measured approach** to stablecoin deployment while navigating regulatory requirements. The move positions Ripple to compete in the growing stablecoin market across multiple blockchain ecosystems.

**Bitcoin faces a fundamental tension** between individual wealth preservation and network vitality, according to Terahash co-founder Hunter Rogers. **The core issue:** - Most Bitcoin remains unmoved in long-term storage - This behavior protects individual wealth accumulation - But it simultaneously **starves the network** of transaction activity **Supporting evidence:** - On-chain analytics show long-term holders maintaining firm positions - Limited Bitcoin flow into exchanges restricts liquidity - The storage-focused usage pattern persists across market cycles This creates a paradox where Bitcoin's success as a store of value may limit its functionality as an active network. The tension highlights ongoing questions about Bitcoin's evolution and optimal usage patterns. *Consider how your own Bitcoin usage contributes to this dynamic.*

A decentralized investment firm is implementing **token-based governance** and **DAO structures** to transfer direct control of energy and infrastructure projects to local communities in emerging markets. This approach represents a shift from traditional centralized investment models to community-driven ownership structures. Local residents can now participate in decision-making processes for projects that directly impact their regions. Key benefits include: - Direct community participation in project governance - Token-based voting mechanisms for infrastructure decisions - Local ownership of energy and development initiatives The model builds on growing momentum for **DAO-driven infrastructure** ownership, addressing the need for crypto projects to control their physical foundations rather than relying solely on centralized systems. This development could establish a new framework for **decentralized infrastructure investment** in developing regions.

Football clubs can now access immediate funding through a new DeFi model that converts future media and broadcasting revenues into **tokenized onchain assets**. This approach allows clubs to: - Unlock liquidity from future income streams - Access capital without traditional lending constraints - Leverage blockchain technology for financial flexibility The model represents a shift from previous player-focused tokenization to **revenue stream tokenization**, offering clubs direct access to working capital based on projected media earnings. This development could reshape how sports organizations manage cash flow and fund operations.

**MicroStrategy continues its Bitcoin acquisition strategy** despite ongoing share price challenges. - The company funded its latest Bitcoin purchase primarily through **common stock sales** - This marks the second consecutive week using the same funding approach - Share price struggles haven't deterred the company's Bitcoin accumulation strategy **Previous funding methods** have included combinations of common stock and preferred stock sales. The pattern suggests MicroStrategy remains committed to its Bitcoin treasury strategy regardless of market conditions.

Aave recently implemented what was described as an **execution upgrade**, but community delegates discovered an important side effect. **Key Issue:** - Swap-related fees are no longer flowing to the Aave DAO treasury - The change was initially presented as a technical improvement - Delegates raised concerns about the fee redirection This development comes after previous discussions about implementing a **fee switch** that would distribute DAO profits to token holders, as proposed by Marc Zeller in April 2024. The situation highlights the importance of transparency in protocol upgrades and their impact on DAO revenue streams.

Veteran trader **Peter Brandt** has issued a stark warning about Bitcoin's trajectory, suggesting the cryptocurrency's growth parabola has **fractured**. Brandt predicts Bitcoin could potentially drop to **$25,000** - a significant decline from current levels. This isn't his first bearish call; he previously warned traders about deeper downtrends in October 2024. Key concerns: - Growth pattern breakdown - Technical analysis pointing downward - Experienced trader's perspective The warning comes as Bitcoin faces increased volatility and market uncertainty. Brandt's track record as a seasoned trader adds weight to his technical analysis. Traders should monitor key support levels and consider risk management strategies as the market digests this bearish outlook.

A $4 trillion U.S. bank has launched its **tokenized money market fund** onchain, marking another major financial institution's entry into digital assets. The bank joins an expanding group of traditional finance giants offering blockchain-based MMFs: - **BlackRock** - **Franklin Templeton** - **Fidelity** This follows Goldman Sachs and BNY Mellon's collaboration on a similar tokenized money market product announced in July. The trend shows **mainstream adoption** of tokenized financial products as major banks integrate blockchain technology into traditional investment vehicles.

A significant short position placed during off-market hours caused EdgeX's XYZ100 perpetual contract to **decline nearly 4%**. The incident highlights **key risks** in equity-index perpetual contracts when traditional markets are closed: - Limited liquidity during off-hours creates vulnerability to large trades - Price discovery becomes less efficient without underlying market activity - Traders face increased slippage and volatility risks This event demonstrates how **24/7 crypto derivatives** can experience sharp moves when their underlying assets aren't actively trading. The timing suggests institutional or whale activity targeting periods of reduced market participation. Equity-index perps have grown popular for accessing traditional market exposure through crypto platforms, but this incident shows they carry unique risks during market closures.