Blockchain & Web3 Weekly Bytes Edition #74

📜 401(k)s Go Crypto, JPMorgan’s Onchain Repo, Web3 Gets AI Agents

Aug 9, 2025

Hello Blockchain Enthusiast,

Welcome to Edition #74 of Blockchain & Web3 Weekly Bytes. A new executive order allows U.S. 401(k) retirement plans to hold digital assets. JPMorgan has introduced an on-chain intraday repo service on its Kinexys network, giving repo traders faster settlements for cash and securities. Coinbase and PayPal are still offering stablecoin rewards despite recent restrictions on issuers.

Tech Spotlight: How AI agents are beginning to run tasks in Web3 apps, from executing trades to managing governance, and what that could mean for user experience.

Weekly Highlights: An oil and gas firm in the UK plans to mine Bitcoin on-site using natural gas. Michigan’s state pension fund triples its Bitcoin ETF holdings in the second quarter.

Affiliate Spotlight: Blockchain Council’s Certified Blockchain Expert program, a structured learning path for building blockchain expertise.

Chart of the Week: Larry Fink’s “everything can be tokenized” claim backed by fresh data showing the trend already underway.

🧠 Weekly Trivia

Which major museum has recently started logging artwork certificates on a blockchain to ensure transparent provenance?

A) The Louvre
B) The Smithsonian
C) The Prado
D) The British Museum

*Find the answer at the end of this newsletter.

🔦 Tech Spotlight – Web3 AI Agents Start Doing the Work

An AI agent in Web3 is more than a chatbot. It’s a program that can read blockchain data, make decisions, and take action on-chain without you having to approve every click.

That means an agent can claim staking rewards, move tokens between liquidity pools, or vote in DAO proposals while you sleep. On Ethereum, developers have tested agents that adjust DeFi strategies in real time. On Solana, trading bots are scanning order books and placing bids without missing a block. In blockchain games, AI-driven characters are renting out NFTs and collecting payments automatically.

The draw is simple: less time on repetitive actions, more time on what matters. You set the guardrails, the agent runs the tasks, and every move is recorded on-chain. It’s still early, but the first working versions are already showing how AI can become an everyday part of Web3 activity.

📰 This Week’s Blockchain and Web3 Highlights

401(k) Access to Digital Assets Approved: A new executive order allows U.S. retirement plans to hold cryptocurrencies, directing agencies like the SEC to develop supporting guidelines.

JPMorgan Deploys Onchain Intraday Repo: The bank’s Kinexys blockchain now supports same-day repo transactions, letting traders swap cash for securities on HQLAx with blockchain-based settlement.

Stablecoin Rewards Continue for Coinbase and PayPal: Both firms are offering 3% to 5% returns on stablecoin deposits. Loopholes in the GENIUS Act let them do so by outsourcing issuance to third parties.

UK Oil Firm Turns Gas Into Bitcoin Mining Power: Union Jack Oil plans to use excess natural gas for on-site Bitcoin mining at its West Newton site, with potential to add BTC to its treasury.

Ethereum Treasuries Outpace U.S. Spot ETFs: Standard Chartered reports that corporate treasuries now hold 1.6% of circulating ETH, matching ETF levels and benefiting from staking and DeFi exposure.

KakaoBank Considers Stablecoin Issuance: The bank is evaluating digital asset custody and issuance as South Korea pushes for a homegrown won-backed stablecoin market.

Michigan Pension Fund Triples Bitcoin ETF Holdings: The state’s retirement system increased its ARK Bitcoin ETF shares from 100,000 to 300,000 in Q2, while keeping a $13.6M position in Ethereum Trust.

😂 A Little Blockchain Humor Break 🤣

Source: Alan Watts

📊 Chart of the Week: When Larry Fink Talks Tokenization

Larry Fink has said that stocks, bonds, and real estate can all be moved on-chain. This week’s chart shows the first wave already in motion.

From treasuries to property shares, billions of dollars in assets now trade as tokens with live market activity. These are active markets recording and settling transactions on public blockchains daily.

The range of tokenized asset types continues to widen, and the volumes are becoming hard to ignore.

Source: Bitwise

That Wraps Up Edition #74

U.S. retirement plans can now hold cryptocurrencies under a new executive order. JPMorgan’s Kinexys network is live with intraday repo trades on-chain. Coinbase and PayPal continue offering stablecoin rewards through issuer partnerships.

🎯 Trivia Answer: ✅ D) The British Museum

The museum is issuing blockchain-based certificates of authenticity for select works and limited-edition merchandise, creating a verifiable record for collectors.

See you next Saturday.

Thank you,
Ajay Tomar
Founder & Creator
Blockchain and Web3 Insights LLC

🌐 blockchainweb3insights.com
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Disclaimer:

Content in this newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Always do your own research and consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. Blockchain and Web3 Insights LLC may earn commissions from affiliate links included here, at no extra cost to you. I only feature products and services I trust and believe provide genuine value to readers.

Published by Blockchain and Web3 Insights LLC