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Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has voiced concerns over criticisms directed at Ethereum’s stance on blockchain-based gaming applications. During a Wednesday AMA session on the chat app Tako, Buterin addressed user Mable Jiang’s inquiry about moments in the past year that left him frustrated or disappointed with the Ethereum Foundation, its community, or the industry. Jiang also asked if he had ever considered taking a break. In response, Buterin expressed his disappointment, particularly over criticisms that Ethereum is “bad and intolerant” for not embracing blockchain-based casinos as openly as other networks. “Perhaps the most disappointing thing for me recently was when someone said that Ethereum is bad and intolerant because we don’t respect the ‘casinos’ on the blockchain enough, and other chains are happy to accept any application, so they are better.” He stated. Despite occasional online rants about the network, Buterin, however, noted he finds comfort in personal interactions with the Ethereum community, most of whom remain committed to the platform’s original values. “I have a responsibility to this community and cannot abandon them. We Ethereum need to work together to create the world we want to see,” he added. Buterin also suggested potential strategic shifts to enhance the network, emphasizing the need for structural improvements for the network and greater decentralization within the Ethereum Foundation. He noted that the foundation, which currently facing a backlash for lack of neutrality, might need to be less neutral at the application layer and take a more active role in supporting certain initiatives. “This will require some changes,” he stated, adding, “But this project is worth doing.” Notably, Buterin’s response comes amid an ongoing debate in the blockchain space about balancing ethical considerations with open access. Some networks, like Solana, have taken a more permissive approach, welcoming applications across various sectors, including gambling and speculative ventures. However, this openness has also led to high-profile failures, such as the collapse of LIBRA, a meme coin on the Solana network. Recently, LIBRA collapsed, wiping out $4.5 billion in investor funds and causing a 15% drop in Solana’s value. Ethereum, in contrast, has long positioned itself as a network focused on decentralization, innovation, and long-term sustainability. These qualities have attracted institutional interest, with entities like BlackRock launching tokenized investment funds on the Ethereum network. Meanwhile, beyond his frustrations, Buterin remains actively engaged in Ethereum’s evolution, particularly its scalability through Layer 2 (L2) solutions. In January, he reaffirmed Ethereum’s commitment to scaling via L2s, identifying key challenges such as insufficient space for BLOB objects and L2 heterogeneity. He detailed upcoming upgrades, such as the Pectra update, which aims to enhance Ethereum’s transaction throughput with long-term goals, including achieving 100,000 transactions per second (TPS). He also underscored the importance of Ethereum’s economic model, advocating for ETH to serve as a “triple point asset,” functioning as a means of exchange, a consumable product, and a store of value. To strengthen Ethereum’s economic position, he proposed incentivizing L2 projects, optimizing rollup revenue structures, and adjusting BLOB pricing strategies.

Solana launched Solana Smart Wallets, eliminating gas fees and private key risks. In collaboration with Crossmint and Squads Protocol, these wallets enhance security and user experience by removing transaction approval prompts. The integration also allows developers to integrate wallets with just ten lines of code, offering scalability to millions of users. Crossmint’s Solana Smart Wallets introduce an embedded wallet system designed for security and ease of use. Unlike traditional wallets, programmable smart contracts replace seed phrases, private keys, and gas fees. Developers can build applications without facing the usual challenges of crypto transactions. Unlike traditional embedded wallets, which typically just protect a wallet private key using social log-ins, smart wallets are a new generation of wallets built as programmable smart contracts. They unlock major UX and security improvements compared to standard wallets. — Crossmint (@crossmint) February 20, 2025 For enterprises, flexible custody structures allow multiple keys to control one wallet address. Users manage access through preferred non-custodial wallets like Phantom, while businesses integrate a server-side admin signer to automate transactions securely. Smart wallets streamline operations, delivering a faster and more efficient experience. Squads Protocol powers the system, securing over $10 billion in digital assets. Strong security measures support large-scale adoption, making the technology ideal for financial institutions, gaming platforms, and AI-driven applications. One of the biggest pain points in blockchain adoption has been gas fees and signing prompts, often discouraging new users. Solana’s gasless model removes that hurdle, making blockchain technology more appealing for everyday applications. AI-driven agents, gaming platforms, and financial services now have a smoother way to interact with users. They're perfect for: ~ AI Agent providers: Launch fleets of non-custodial agents, with wallets controlled by the agent and owner ~ Gaming & Social: Create app-scoped wallets, without scary gas or signing prompts, for everyday users ~ Financial applications: Protect your user’s… — Crossmint (@crossmint) February 20, 2025 For AI applications, businesses can launch non-custodial AI agents that control wallets on behalf of users. These AI-driven wallets function without human intervention, allowing for automated payments and digital asset management. In gaming and SocialFi, app-specific wallets eliminate the need for gas fees and manual approvals, allowing players to make in-game purchases seamlessly. This new model significantly reduces friction, opening doors for blockchain-based gaming to compete with traditional mobile and console platforms. Financial institutions have shown strong interest in integrating these wallets due to their security, scalability, and compliance-friendly architecture. By using programmable guardrails, fintech companies can offer non-custodial financial services without putting users at risk. They're perfect for: ~ AI Agent providers: Launch fleets of non-custodial agents, with wallets controlled by the agent and owner ~ Gaming & Social: Create app-scoped wallets, without scary gas or signing prompts, for everyday users ~ Financial applications: Protect your user’s… — Crossmint (@crossmint) February 20, 2025 One of the standout features is multi-party computation ( MPC ) and social logins, giving businesses flexibility in how they authenticate users. Unlike other wallets, there’s no vendor lock-in, allowing companies to switch providers without changing wallet addresses. This reduces dependency on a single infrastructure, making adoption more flexible and future-proof. Solana Smart Wallets also facilitate cross-chain transactions, allowing users to buy, sell, or trade assets across different networks without dealing with multiple wallets. This shift pushes blockchain closer to mainstream financial adoption, bridging the gap between traditional banking and digital assets.

Musk Wields Chainsaw Given by Milei Before a conservative audience at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) near Washington, billionaire Elon Musk took the stage wielding a red chainsaw— a gift from Argentina’s President Javier Milei—symbolising his call for drastic federal spending cuts. He accused Democrats of “treason” and pledged support for auditing the Federal Reserve. Now regarded as one of President Trump’s most influential advisers, Musk also criticised Biden’s immigration policies, singling out an app that granted one million people two-year work permits in the US. Musk Dubs Milei’s Gift as “The Chainsaw for Bureaucracy” Earlier, Musk met with Argentine President Javier Milei, who gifted him a chainsaw engraved with “Viva la libertad, carajo” (“Long live liberty, damn it”). Musk dubbed it “the chainsaw for bureaucracy” and jokingly remarked that Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele was concerned for his safety. 🚨NEW: Elon Musk comes out on stage at CPAC 2025 and is presented a golden chainsaw by Argentinian President, Javier Milei, and yells, “THIS IS THE CHAINSAW FOR BUREAUCRACY!” 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Rms8WujLZV — Autism Capital 🧩 (@AutismCapital) February 20, 2025 When asked about his mindset, Musk—sporting his signature black hat and sunglasses—simply described it as "a storm." Following Musk on stage, Steve Bannon received a more subdued response. He joked: “How did I draw the card to follow Elon Musk? I’m just a crazy Irishman!” Meanwhile, Musk is spearheading sweeping government cuts under President Donald Trump, affecting agencies from banking regulators to forest services and space programmes. On Thursday alone, 6,000 IRS employees were reportedly notified of their termination. As CEO of Tesla and the world’s richest man, Musk has openly championed Milei’s aggressive stance on reducing government size. Before becoming Argentina’s president in late 2023, Milei famously wielded a chainsaw at campaign rallies to symbolise his economic reforms. But as Musk brandished his own gifted chainsaw on stage, was it a bold statement against bureaucracy or just another political spectacle?

The post Web2 Giants Are Playing Their Part to Support Crypto Purchases Everywhere appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News Once upon a time, crypto was called the wild west, an arid playground run by cowboys with wallets full of BTC and dreams of Lambos. Fast forward to 2025, and that rugged landscape’s been significantly tamed – but has retained its ability to consistently surprise. One of the more pleasant surprises to have surfaced in recent years has been the willingness of businesses once branded the enemy of crypto to support its infiltration into every payment systems. Web2 giants – those familiar names powering your online life – are saddling up, bringing their muscle to the crypto corral. PayPal, Visa, Mastercard: they’re all cantering in, and it’s a genuine game-changer. Why? Because when these titans join the party, crypto stops being a fringe fantasy and starts feeling like something you’d actually use on the daily. They don’t often receive credit for their Damascene conversion, but plaudits are due for the web2 players who’ve come full circle. Financial Players with Skin in the Game Let’s start with the big guns. PayPal kicked things off in 2020, letting users buy, sell, and hold cryptos such as BTC and ETH. By 2024, they’d upped the ante, integrating stablecoin PYUSD and rolling it out to 430 million users worldwide. Visa’s not far behind; since 2021, they’ve settled over $2.5 billion in crypto-linked transactions. Mastercard, meanwhile, are pushing crypto debit cards and piloting blockchain payments. From a user perspective, it means that if you’re already on PayPal or swiping a Visa, crypto’s not a leap – it’s a sidestep. These giants are effectively turning “what’s a wallet?” into “oh, I already have that.” Neo-banks, the cool kids bridging old money and new, are also doing a lot of the heavy lifting here. Take Crypto.com, over 80 million users strong and with billboards at seemingly every major sporting event. Great name, globally recognizable brand. They’ve just added PayPal as a payment method, letting you fund your crypto buys straight from your PayPal balance. This means no interminable transfers, no extra apps: just seamless integration into a platform you already trust. It’s like adding crypto to your financial toolbox without needing a manual. Neo-banks like Crypto.com aren’t so much lowering crypto’s adoption curve as steam-rollering it till it’s pancake flat. Don’t Forget the Partnerships Driving Adoption Web3 projects love a good partnership announcement, and in collaborating with web2’s major players, they’ve inked deals that are more than mere vapor. PayPal and Visa teamed up last year to streamline crypto payouts – think freelancers getting paid in USDC via Visa Direct. Mastercard’s collab with wallet providers like MetaMask and Trust Wallet, meanwhile, let users top up cards with crypto in seconds. Then there’s Mercuryo, the rising fintech star, partnering with web3 heavyweights like Polygon and now powering euro crypto cards with Mastercard. These tie-ups aren’t just headlines; they’re highways, paving the way for crypto to flow into everyday life. Whether you position it as a web2 player streamlining access to web3 or vice-versa, the upshot is that Mercuryo and other payment providers are now mainstays for much of the money that flows between the on- and off-chain worlds 24/7. Why Now? What’s fueling this fire in web2 giants? They’re not entering web3 out of FOMO – they’re smarter than that. Rather, their decision to support the cryptoconomy rather than sit it out on the sidelines is driven by more rational reasoning. With much of the regulatory risk and “exoticness” of crypto having been tempered, it’s a lot safer for these TradFi titans to enter the fray. And there’s money for them to make by connecting the old world with the new. As for the competencies they bring to bear within the crypto arena, first there’s user experience: we’re talking apps so intuitive even your grandma could buy ETH. Second, there’s security: Visa’s fraud protection and PayPal’s two-factor authentication make crypto feel less like a gamble. Third, familiarity: linking crypto to Apple Pay, Google Pay, or your trusty Visa card shrinks the learning curve to a blip. That’s the vibe: safe, simple, and second nature. Case Studies: The Proof’s in the Pudding The partnership between Mercuryo and MetaMask is a masterstroke for simplifying crypto onboarding. Their integration lets users buy crypto with a bank card in under a minute – no wrestling with seed phrases or navigating convoluted exchange signups. By tapping into Mercuryo’s payment infrastructure, MetaMask users can fund their wallets seamlessly, whether it’s ETH for gas fees or stablecoins for DeFi. Mercuryo’s not stopping there. Their focus on localized solutions, such as SEPA transfers in Europe or OVO in Indonesia, means users globally can jump into web3 without friction. The MetaMask hookup has evolved with features like no-KYC purchases up to €699, slashing barriers for newcomers. Users appear to be relishing the ability to top up their wallet with a tap, then spend via Mercuryo’s Mastercard-backed crypto card. It’s a full-circle play: buy crypto fast, spend it faster. PayPal has been a crypto trailblazer since 2020, with 35 million merchants and crypto trading live since 2021. They’ve onboarded millions to crypto, leveraging a user base of 430 million. The real kicker? Their stablecoin, PYUSD, launched in 2023 with Paxos, is now a checkout option across their network. Moving beyond mere hodling, PayPal’s pushing real spending: users can settle tabs with PYUSD at merchants or send it fee-free to friends in the U.S. It’s crypto with training wheels, wrapped in a familiar interface. The numbers back it up: PYUSD’s market cap has climbed past $700 million, fueled by integrations like Venmo and Crypto.com. PayPal’s not just playing in web3; they’re reshaping it for the mainstream. With no fees for buying, selling, or sending PYUSD within their ecosystem (network fees apply externally), PayPal’s betting on trust and scale. It’s a bold pivot from their 1998 roots, proving they can still make an impact on the evolution of digital finance. As a final case study to indicate the role web2 giants are now playing, Visa’s launch of Visa+ is a slick move to link digital wallets for instant payments and their crypto ambitions shine through. A pilot with Coinbase in 2024 saw 10,000 users moving USDC cross-border without the usual remittance headaches. Built on blockchains like Solana, Visa+ leverages stablecoin speed (think sub-second settlement) while keeping the familiar swipe-and-go vibe. It’s a lifeline for freelancers or small businesses, cutting costs that legacy systems like SWIFT pile on. What This Means for Traditional Users For the average Joe, all of this is good news. Barriers are rapidly crumbling and crypto’s no longer a techie’s toy. The interfaces mimic your banking app, so the learning curve’s virtually non-existent. There’s also the deep trust that comes when Visa or PayPal’s involved – these aren’t shady startups. A 2024 Deloitte survey found 62% of U.S. adults would try crypto if offered by a known brand. That’s the web2 effect: turning skeptics into spenders, one big brand at a time. And all of this is just the warmup. Imagine crypto woven into every transaction: paying rent with ETH via PayPal, splitting dinner with Visa+ in USDC. Web2 giants aren’t stopping at buying and selling; they’re eyeing loyalty programs and cross-border micropayments. By 2030, Statista predicts 20% of global payments could involve crypto if integration keeps accelerating. Web2 giants are no longer the NPCs playing a bit part in crypto adoption: they’re web3’s wingmen, dragging the industry from the fringes to the forefront. PayPal, Visa, Mercuryo and their ilk are rewriting digital finance, making it less about geeky experimentation and more about everyday ease. As these titans flex their reach, crypto’s shedding its mystique for something better: everyday utility.

The field of cryptocurrencies maintains quick advancement while major stakeholders advance essential innovations to boost usability and generate superior benefits to users. StormX together with Cardano and Dogecoin establish their position through crypto cashback rewards and decentralization of applications as well as building powerful community-based adoption models. These digital assets drive financial world changes by leveraging blockchain innovations together with viral internet cultural influences. The different impacts of these platforms are highlighted in the following information. Current price: $0.005311 Market cap:$65.55M The cryptocurrency-based cashback platform StormX pursues ongoing development of its worldwide presence. The company established itself in 2015 with a service that enables users to collect cryptocurrency during their online shopping. Customers can earn cashback rewards through the mobile app and browser extension features of StormX while the company collaborates with Samsung Nike and Lego and other leading enterprises. Users who stake the STMX token can further boost their rewards. Investments from Blockfolio, the Litecoin Foundation, and Kyber Network have contributed to the company’s growth. StormX is attracting attention by offering cashback of up to 87.5% for selected purchases. Current price: $0.7664 Market cap:$26.98B Cardano operates as a proof-of-stake blockchain platform which continues building its technology base for decentralized applications and smart contracts. Cardano launched in 2017 with the purpose of demystifying centralized power systems through improved security while increasing transparency for all users. ADA functions as the native token of the Cardano blockchain which lets owners engage in network management operations. The Alonzo hard fork activated smart contract functionality during its launch in September 2021 and enabled more than 100 smart contracts to operate successfully during the first day. The technology from Cardano has started its implementation in supply chain monitoring and safe credential management systems. Current price: $0.2440 Market cap:$36.14B Dogecoin remains an important cryptocurrency because it started its journey in the crypto space as an entertaining digital payment system. The Litecoin fork of 2013 led to the creation of Dogecoin by Billy Markus and Jackson Palmer. Beyond its initial reputation as a meme cryptocurrency Dogecoin built popularity with a Shiba Inu as its brand symbol. Executives at Tesla led by Elon Musk have done multiple social media promotions of Dogecoin which helped keep it in the public eye. The Dogecoin community actively supports different projects which bolsters the accessibility of this digital asset. DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice. We encourage you to do your own research before investing.