Author: admin

• Cardano’s ADA as a payment currency in the 137 SPAR supermarkets in Switzerland is a great success in the effort to bring Cardano into stationary retail.
• The customer at the checkout pays from his Cardano wallet, while the SPAR store receives the amount directly in Swiss francs – without a third institution and in real time.

Open Crypto Pay forms the technical backbone of the new ADA payment option. Customers scan a QR code at checkout and confirm the payment in their wallet. The transaction is verified on the Cardano blockchain within seconds.

Merchants use existing POS systems that do not need to be modified. Processing takes place via DFX.swiss and its standard Open Crypto Pay. A major advantage lies in the fees.

According to DFX.swiss, the costs for merchants fall by around two thirds compared to classic payment card providers such as VISA and Mastercard.

DFX.swiss also provides extended on-off ramps. Customers exchange ADA directly for Swiss francs, without external intermediaries.

The Swiss crypto environment

Switzerland has been a crypto-friendly location for years. SPAR has previously tested Bitcoin payments via Lightning pilot projects. However, the ADA introduction is the practical blockchain-based payment option for everyday life.

The Cardano Foundation sees this as a major step forward: If payments with ADA become as commonplace as card payments, Cardano will move a lot closer to mass use in retail.

Linking to ADA “Savings Account”

In parallel to Cardano’s introduction of ADA for payment of purchases, the Swiss FinTech company Brick Towers is offering its app “Urble” for saving ADA in SPAR stores. This means customers can save ADA and spend it again at the SPAR store if necessary. This creates a consistent system network that enables paying and saving on the same technical basis.

Technical assessment and market reaction

Despite all this, the ADA price remained stable at around $0.27. Technical indicators such as the RSI and MACD show a wait-and-see attitude among market participants. So real-world retail utility doesn’t automatically lead to price movements, but it does show the importance of such applications for Cardano’s long-term direction as a company.

• Google has identified a sophisticated Apple iOS hacking toolkit that can be used to attack iPhone customers who have not updated to the latest version of the operating system.
• Seed phrases and other financial app credentials stored in the devices are read. The so-called Coruna kit uses five full exploit paths and a total of 23 vulnerabilities in iOS versions 13.0 to 17.2.1.

The attacks take place via prepared websites that are disguised as legitimate crypto and financial portals – also the name of the global crypto exchange WEEX was abused. As soon as a customer with a vulnerable iPhone opens such a website, JavaScript analyzes the operating system of the affected device and, if necessary, copies the malware to it.

The Coruna kit then searches messages, notes, files and app containers for terms such as “seed phrase”, “backup phrase”, “login”, “wallet” etc.

From security tool to crime tool

The Coruna kit first appeared at the beginning of 2025 in the environment of a security provider who apparently used it for attacks to detect vulnerabilities. Experts later found Coruna on Ukrainian websites that installed the malware on iPhones operated in certain regions.

At the end of 2025, Coruna was discovered more and more frequently on fraudulent Chinese financial websites – a clear indication that the tool from the security technology sector had reached the mass market of criminal wallet drain operations via state espionage.

Security experts at iVerify believe it is possible that Coruna originally came from a US environment, while security specialist Kaspersky sees no clear evidence of this.

One-Click-Attack auf 23 iOS‑Leaks

Coruna uses WebKit vulnerabilities for remote code execution and then bypasses protection mechanisms such as Apple’s Pointer Authentication Code. Coruna then gains administrator rights, searches the file system for wallet strings, extracts QR codes from the image database and reads unencrypted notes.

Customers who use self-custody wallets such as MetaMask, Uniswap or BitKeep on older iOS versions are particularly affected. The attacks are completely interactionless – just visiting the manipulated website is enough.

According to experts, tools that were once reserved for secret services are now being used for “everyday” crypto thefts.

Protective measures

Apple has now closed the vulnerabilities in iOS 17.3 and later versions. However, this only protects iPhone customers who actually keep the operating system up to date – and that’s by no means all of them.

The threat remains significant as many devices continue to run on older operating system versions. Google strongly recommends updating to the latest iOS version or alternatively activating lockdown mode, which makes attacks more difficult.

The case shows the crypto industry how attractive mobile wallets have become for attackers – and how quickly previously exclusive zero-day attack vectors fall into criminal hands. The combination of drive-by attacks with automated seed phrase extraction makes Coruna one of the most dangerous threats in recent years – and it is still relevant.

• Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has attacked the draft Digital Asset Market Clarity Act with unusual vehemence, calling it “appalling garbage.”
• The law is intended to create a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets, but Hoskinson sees it as a fundamental flaw.

Charles Hoskinson says new crypto assets will automatically be considered securities, giving the SEC jurisdiction, and that the burden of proof to the contrary falls entirely on developers and project operators.

He argues that even established networks such as Cardano, Ethereum or XRP would have fallen under this classification in their early phases and would therefore have had little chance of developing.

SEC dominance as a core problem

Hoskinson warns that the bill gives the SEC broad powers beyond what the industry has previously experienced. He considers the proposed separation between digital commodities under the supervision of the CFTC and digital securities under the supervision of the SEC to be dangerous.

He describes the structure as a system that gives what he sees as a hostile authority additional points of attack. He is particularly critical of the fact that the path from security to commodity exists formally, but in practice depends on the SEC’s subsequent rulemaking.

This could result in delays, unclear definitions and requirements that are difficult to meet, which slow down new projects and hinder innovation in the USA.

No trust in politics

In addition to the technical criticism, Hoskinson focuses on the political dimension. He accuses the current US government of acting contradictorily and not seriously involving the industry.

Invitations to the White House were withdrawn at short notice, which he sees as a sign of lack of reliability.

If the Democratic Party wins the next election, he fears that the Clarity Act could become a tool that structurally weakens the industry and further strengthens the SEC.

Industry divided

The reactions to Hoskinson’s statements show a clear division. While he sees the Clarity Act as a step backwards, other industry representatives such as Ripple CEO Garlinghouse support the law. They see it as progress compared to the previous regulatory patchwork.

The debate illustrates how different interests are within the US crypto industry and how strongly the question of regulatory responsibility shapes the industry.

• The Netherlands is presenting digital identities with IOTA as the technical basis via Turing Certs at the INCYBER 2026 forum.
• The timing fits with the EU roadmap, according to which digital identity wallets should be available in all member states by the end of 2026.

The Netherlands is bringing the topic of digital identities to the big stage: the country will have its own pavilion at the INCYBER (FIC) 2026 Forum in Lille (March 31 to April 2). Via

Turing Space (Turing Certs) is a trust tech company that offers a blockchain-based platform for issuing, managing and verifying digital certificates based on IOTA and W3C standards. CEO Jeff Hu wrote via X:

“We are pleased to announce that Turing Certs will represent the Netherlands at the INCYBER forum in Lille. After establishing our EU headquarters, Turing Space is now strengthening eID and verifiable credentials across the EU. IOTA enables secure, decentralized identity management.”

A post from the Dutch Embassy in France states:

“In the NL Pavilion, 14 Dutch exhibitors will present innovative cybersecurity solutions and demonstrate the strength of the Dutch cyber ecosystem. We are honored that the Ambassador of the Netherlands to France, Jan Versteeg, will take part – together with Leah Postma, member of the management team of the Ministry of Economy and Climate Policy, and Ernst Noorman, the Dutch Special Ambassador for Cyber ​​Foreign Policy.”

Turing Space, EU Hub and IOTA

The INCYBER Forum is considered a European platform for cybersecurity and digital trust protection. For 2026 it will be the 18th edition at the Lille Grand Palais. The main theme is “Mastering Our Digital Dependencies”.

The IOTA Foundation commented on Turing Space’s announcement via What this specifically means remains unclear in the announcements.

A blog post from the IOTA Foundation from November last year reveals that Turing Space is part of the IOTA Business Innovation program. Here the company is described as a project that builds “secure digital credentials” that are intended to shorten verification processes. IOTA Identity is a central component as a product for verifiable credentials.

The timing is also noteworthy: at the EU level, digital identity wallets are expected to become widely available by 2026. The EU Commission describes that every member state should provide at least one wallet to securely prove, share and sign identity and digital documents. In addition, the Bundesdruckerei refers to the eIDAS 2.0 framework and the requirement that all EU states must offer a wallet solution by the end of 2026.

This creates a clear context for the appearance in Lille: When national delegations emphasize “digital resilience” and “cybersecurity by design” in 2026, identity and credentials stacks inevitably come to the fore.

However, it remains to be seen whether IOTA will establish itself as a building block for such EU-compatible proof of trust via Turing Certs in the context of the INCYBER Forum.

• Morgan Stanley filed an SEC amendment with new details on its proposed spot Bitcoin ETF on March 4, 2026.
• BNY Mellon and Coinbase assume central roles, while fees and some basket details are still open.

Morgan Stanley filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 4, 2026 the change (Amendment No. 1) was filed to register the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust, thereby submitting new details about the planned spot Bitcoin ETF. The focus is primarily on role distribution, custody and operational processing.

How Morgan Stanley designs its Bitcoin ETF

The updated prospectus explains that the spot ETF is intended to passively track the Bitcoin price. The price is measured based on the CoinDesk Bitcoin Benchmark 4PM NY Settlement Rate and adjusted for costs. It literally says:

“The Trust is a passive investment vehicle that does not seek returns beyond tracking the price of Bitcoin. This means that the Delegated Sponsor will not sell Bitcoin speculatively when the price is high, nor will it buy speculatively when the price is low in anticipation of future price increases. Additionally, the Trust will not use leverage, derivatives or similar constructions to achieve its investment objective.”

Several central service provider roles are new. BNY Mellon Bank will act as administrator, transfer agent and cash custodian for the trust’s cash and cash equivalents. At the same time, BNY Mellon also acts as custodian, together with Coinbase Custody Trust Company, LLC.

In addition, the dependence on Coinbase in another function explicitly appears in the risk section: Coinbase Inc. is named as a prime broker, which, among other things, enables the sale of Bitcoin to pay the sponsor fee and certain expenses.

The document mentions both cash and in-kind creations: Authorized participants can purchase shares for cash, after which a named counterparty purchases Bitcoin and deposits it with the custodians; Alternatively, direct delivery of Bitcoin is possible. Returns are also possible as cash or in-kind redemptions.

It is also noticeable that important economic parameters are still listed as placeholders: The delegated sponsor fee is still specified in the document with a placeholder, and open fields for basket sizes or seed details also appear in several places.

Reactions from the Bitcoin community

On John Haar (Swan) summarized The most important points are summarized as follows: “More information about the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin ETF: Coinbase becomes custodian. BNY Mellon becomes administrator/transfer agent. Authorized participants are still open.”

But the most important insight for him is:

“Morgan Stanley would not launch its own Bitcoin ETF – in a world where there have already been 11 other Bitcoin ETFs for two years – unless MS is confident that Bitcoin will continue to be a consistent part of its wealth management clients’ portfolios.”

Joe Consorti (Theya and Horizon) sees that similar. Morgan Stanley is sending a clear sales signal with this step:

“Morgan Stanley has 16,000 wealth managers with $6 trillion in AUM. They’re launching their own Bitcoin ETF because they see where a relevant portion of that $6 trillion is going – and they want the fees. That’s the signal.”

Jeff Park (ProCap/Bitwise) also interpreted the move as more than just another product in the already competitive spot ETF market. For him, it’s “the most bullish thing ever.”

It is still unclear whether and when the ETF will launch. This depends on when the next amendments to fees, basket details and the AP schedule follow and how long the SEC takes to process them.

• The Netherlands is presenting digital identities with IOTA as the technical basis via Turing Certs at the INCYBER 2026 forum.
• The timing fits with the EU roadmap, according to which digital identity wallets should be available in all member states by the end of 2026.

The Netherlands is bringing the topic of digital identities to the big stage: the country will have its own pavilion at the INCYBER (FIC) 2026 Forum in Lille (March 31 to April 2). Via

Turing Space (Turing Certs) is a trust tech company that offers a blockchain-based platform for issuing, managing and verifying digital certificates based on IOTA and W3C standards. CEO Jeff Hu wrote via X:

“We are pleased to announce that Turing Certs will represent the Netherlands at the INCYBER forum in Lille. After establishing our EU headquarters, Turing Space is now strengthening eID and verifiable credentials across the EU. IOTA enables secure, decentralized identity management.”

A post from the Dutch Embassy in France states:

“In the NL Pavilion, 14 Dutch exhibitors will present innovative cybersecurity solutions and demonstrate the strength of the Dutch cyber ecosystem. We are honored that the Ambassador of the Netherlands to France, Jan Versteeg, will take part – together with Leah Postma, member of the management team of the Ministry of Economy and Climate Policy, and Ernst Noorman, the Dutch Special Ambassador for Cyber ​​Foreign Policy.”

Turing Certs, EU Hub and IOTA

The INCYBER Forum is considered a European platform for cybersecurity and digital trust protection. For 2026 it will be the 18th edition at the Lille Grand Palais. The main theme is “Mastering Our Digital Dependencies”.

The IOTA Foundation commented on Turing Space’s announcement via What this specifically means remains unclear in the announcements.

A blog post from the IOTA Foundation from November last year reveals that Turing Space is part of the IOTA Business Innovation program. Here the company is described as a project that builds “secure digital credentials” that are intended to shorten verification processes. IOTA Identity is a central component as a product for verifiable credentials.

The timing is also noteworthy: at the EU level, digital identity wallets are expected to become widely available by 2026. The EU Commission describes that every member state should provide at least one wallet to securely prove, share and sign identity and digital documents. In addition, the Bundesdruckerei refers to the eIDAS 2.0 framework and the requirement that all EU states must offer a wallet solution by the end of 2026.

This creates a clear context for the appearance in Lille: When national delegations emphasize “digital resilience” and “cybersecurity by design” in 2026, identity and credentials stacks inevitably come to the fore.

However, it remains to be seen whether IOTA will establish itself as a building block for such EU-compatible proof of trust via Turing Certs in the context of the INCYBER Forum.

• VISA and the payment infrastructure provider Bridge, which specializes in stablecoins, are intensifying their cooperation and will bring stablecoin-compatible VISA cards onto the market.
• It is building on pilot projects for which Bridge has already provided the infrastructure. Now they are going one step further and want to use stablecoins to process regular card transactions.

The core of the process is this Use of stablecoins like USDC for settlement between issuing banks, merchants and VISA.

Nothing changes for cardholders. You pay as usual, while the transaction between the parties involved is processed in the background using a stablecoin.

Bridge provides the technical layer that connects different blockchains and automates processing. According to VISA, this is intended to reduce costs, shorten processing times and simplify international payments.

Particularly in regions with weak banking infrastructure, there is potential for faster, more reliable processes while at the same time saving costs.

Access for fintechs and banks

A central element of the expanded cooperation is the opening up to FinTechs and banks that want to set up their own card programs.

Bridge provides a modular infrastructure that includes both the issuance of cards and the management of stablecoin processing.

VISA takes over the integration into the existing dealer network. What this means for companies is that they can offer digital payments based on stablecoins without their own blockchain integration.

VISA ensures that all processes comply with applicable regulatory requirements, particularly with regard to money laundering prevention and proof of origin.

Importance for global payment transactions

Stablecoins are increasingly being used as a technical basis for international payments. For years, VISA has pursued the strategy of embedding digital assets into existing processes without making them more complicated for customers. Together with Bridge they now want to enter the mass market.

If the model works in the initially targeted hundred countries, it will lead to broader acceptance of dollar stablecoins and increase competition in international payment transactions.

The coming months will show whether and how quickly banks and fintechs will integrate the offer into their own products.

• Ripple Payments is to be comprehensively reorganized and expanded.
• The result should be nothing less than a turnkey, globally functioning RWA and digital asset infrastructure for companies.

While global banks are working to make stablecoin payment processes market-ready, Ripple is relying on its licensed end-to-end service that offers global fiat and digital money movements.

Through its international network with new functions for custody and collection processes via defined virtual accounts, Ripple enables FinTechs to securely enter the onchain economy.

Sustainable payment and transaction system

Ripple designed the payment process for global money movements – without fragmented systems and independent of providers, regions and time zones.

Through the acquisition of Palisade – custody and treasury automation – and Rail – virtual accounts and collection services – customers can now receive, hold, exchange and withdraw fiat and stablecoins.

This includes virtual accounts and wallets, automated collection flows, and exchange and settlement into operational accounts – all in the same, unified system.

Ripple President Monica Long explains it like this:

“For the global financial system to evolve, FinTechs and financial institutions need an infrastructure that treats digital assets with the same care as traditional financial instruments.

Success in this area requires an enterprise-ready infrastructure, numerous licenses and high liquidity – requirements that few can meet. Ripple has created the blockchain-based applications that work globally in the regulated financial environment.”

Image created with ChatGPT-AI (DALL-E)

Ripple is already present in over 60 international markets. They provide the global payment channels necessary for scalable processes with simplified onboarding – all from a single source. In detail it is about

• Managed Custody: Secure, scalable receiving capabilities, large-scale wallet deployment, fast signing and efficient sweeping into operational accounts;
• Uniform reception structure: Fiat and stablecoin payments via defined virtual accounts and wallets, automatic conversion and settlement in a consolidated account;
• More liquidity: Precise management of liquidity regardless of assets, regions and dates.

Novel transaction procedures

Fintechs and financial institutions are increasingly using stablecoins. Their global transaction volume reached $33 trillion last year. Stablecoins now account for 30% of total onchain sales.

Ripple Payments has processed over $100 billion and is experiencing strong demand from global FinTech companies that use stablecoins to solve liquidity and settlement issues in international payments.

Regulatory compliance first

Ripple is one of the most trusted and highly regulated crypto companies in the world and as a result has well over 70 operating and money transfer licenses.

This firm regulatory base — including a NYDFS trust charter — enables Ripple to move money on behalf of customers, work directly with banks and payment providers, and operate through regulated financial channels.

Ripple takes a compliance-first approach that ensures stability and regulatory compliance for financial institutions. With over a decade of experience, Ripple’s processes and organizational procedures are aligned with the security and operational standards of FinTech market leaders.