Blockchain & Web3 Weekly Bytes Edition #64

🧠 BlackRock Taps DeFi, Mastercard Goes Stable, Bitcoin Rewrites Internet Layers

May 17, 2025

Hello Blockchain Enthusiast,

Welcome to Edition #64 of Blockchain & Web3 Weekly Bytes! BlackRock launched its first on-chain DeFi integration through sBUIDL, pushing tokenized Treasuries into Avalanche’s ecosystem. Mastercard is partnering with MoonPay to enable stablecoin payments across 150 million merchants worldwide. Meanwhile, the Dubai government plans to accept crypto payments, and Bitcoin continues to outpace gold on institutional inflows.

Tech Spotlight: Can blockchain help tackle the rise of deepfakes? From watermarking tools to content authentication networks, some early answers are emerging.
Weekly Highlights: JPMorgan, Chainlink, and Ondo test cross-chain Treasury settlement, Brazil’s Méliuz adds 274 BTC to its balance sheet, and more.
Affiliate Spotlight: Trezor still leads for one reason—ownership without middlemen. Every transaction stays yours. Check them out.
Chart of the Week: The Internet of Value isn’t waiting for consensus. It’s already here, and Bitcoin sits at its base layer.

🧠 Weekly Trivia

Which major social media platform recently integrated Web3 identity support via ENS (Ethereum Name Service) and Lens Protocol profiles?

A) Farcaster
B) Reddit
C) Warpcast
D) Bluesky

*Find the answer at the end of this newsletter.

🌟 Tech Spotlight – Blockchain vs. Deepfakes

What used to be a novelty is now a problem no one can ignore.

From celebrity face swaps to cloned voices in phone scams, deepfakes are flooding timelines, search results, and inboxes. The challenge? Most people can’t tell what’s been edited—or invented.

But there’s progress. And blockchain is at the center of it.

Tech giants and camera makers are now embedding cryptographic proof of origin directly into photos and videos. The Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI), backed by companies like Adobe and Sony, adds tamper-evident metadata that travels with the file wherever it goes.

Nikon’s new camera model includes built-in content credentials. Leica and Canon are building similar features. These signed media files can be verified using public keys—many of which are stored on-chain.

In parallel, platforms like X and decentralized tools like Lens Protocol are enabling creators to publish signed images and videos anchored to a wallet or verified identity, making it easier to prove what’s original.

There’s still a long way to go. Instead of racing against fakes, blockchain is offering something simple: a record that doesn’t lie.

📰 This Week’s Blockchain and Web3 Highlights

JPMorgan, Chainlink & Ondo trial cross-chain treasury settlement: A live run of tokenized Treasuries across blockchains is no longer theory. TradFi and DeFi just co-signed a test that worked.

Mastercard x MoonPay: 150M merchants, one stablecoin card: Mastercard goes live with global stablecoin cards, taking its crypto playbook beyond pilots and press releases.

BlackRock’s $3B fund taps Avalanche for first DeFi protocol link: sBUIDL just integrated with Euler Finance — the first time BlackRock’s tokenized product has connected directly with a DeFi protocol.

JPMorgan favors Bitcoin over gold in the second half: With demand from U.S. states and corporates still climbing, JPMorgan says the upside favors BTC, not bullion.

Dubai government preps for crypto payments: In a bid to go fully cashless, Dubai teams with Crypto.com to bring digital assets to the city’s official payment rails.

Brazil’s Méliuz doubles down on Bitcoin: The country’s first listed bitcoin treasury firm added 274 BTC to its balance sheet. Shares have already doubled since March.

Bitcoin stays above $100K with strong institutional demand: Analysts say accumulation between $93K–$95K is forming a new floor as institutions keep buying the dips.

😂 A Little Blockchain Humor Break 🤣

Source: Bitwise

📊 Chart of the Week: What You Can Actually Own

No one ever owned TCP/IP.

It powered the rise of Facebook, Google, and Netflix—but stayed invisible, unaffiliated, and unmonetized at the base.

Bitcoin rewrites that story.

This chart captures the difference between broadcasting information and transmitting value. For the first time, the foundation of a global network is also accessible to the people using it.

The Bitcoin protocol is finite. The rules don’t change. And ownership doesn’t rely on gatekeepers.

That’s not a theory—it’s a timestamped ledger backed by 21 million units.

Source: Jesse Myers

This week, Mastercard expanded its stablecoin play, JPMorgan crossed chains with Chainlink, and Dubai greenlit crypto for public payments. BlackRock’s sBUIDL fund tapped DeFi directly. Bitcoin held above $100K as analysts shifted their focus to institutional flows.

🎯 Trivia Answer: ✅ C) Warpcast

Warpcast now supports ENS and Lens Protocol profiles, giving users a way to carry their Web3 identity across verified posts and apps.

📬 Want your brand in front of 1,000+ forward-thinking readers each week? Sponsor the next edition.

See you next Saturday.

Thank you,
Ajay Tomar

Disclaimer:

Content in this newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as financial, tax, or legal advice. Always do your research and consult with a professional before making financial decisions. As a solopreneur, I may earn commissions from affiliate links in this newsletter at no extra cost to you. This support helps me bring you valuable content. I only endorse products I trust and believe could benefit you.