Blockchain & Web3 Weekly Bytes Edition #101

🌐 MetaMask Card, Morgan Stanley Crypto Desk, Stablecoin Velocity

Feb 28, 2026

Hello Blockchain Enthusiast,

Welcome to Edition #101 of Blockchain & Web3 Weekly Bytes! Payments, custody, and stablecoin policy all tightened up this week. MetaMask teamed up with Mastercard for a nationwide US card with on-chain rewards. Morgan Stanley confirmed plans to build its own Bitcoin custody and trading stack. Barclays is studying blockchain settlement tools as stablecoin forecasts stretch higher.

TLDR – This Week at a Glance:

MetaMask and Mastercard launch a US self-custodial payment card with up to 3 percent rewards in mUSD
Morgan Stanley confirms Bitcoin custody, trading, lending, and yield roadmap
Barclays evaluates blockchain settlement rails as stablecoin forecasts expand
Tech Spotlight: Stablecoin Velocity and what usage data reveals
Chart of the Week: Bitcoin loss probability collapses over longer holding periods
Affiliate Spotlight: Ledger hardware wallets for protection across multiple digital assets

🧠 Weekly Trivia

On which network are transaction fees burned as part of the protocol?

A) Solana
B) Cardano
C) Avalanche
D) Ethereum

*Answer revealed at the end 👇

📰 This Week’s Blockchain and Web3 Highlights

MetaMask + Mastercard Roll Out On-chain Rewards Card in the US: MetaMask introduced a self-custodial payment card across the United States in partnership with Mastercard. Users can earn up to 3% cash back in MetaMask’s mUSD stablecoin.

Morgan Stanley Confirms In-House Bitcoin Custody and Trading Buildout: A senior executive confirmed the bank plans to offer proprietary Bitcoin custody and trading. Lending and yield services are also under review.

Barclays Studies Blockchain Settlement Infrastructure: Barclays is exploring blockchain settlement tools as banks prepare for projected growth in stablecoin. Rather than issuing tokens directly, the bank has focused on backend settlement systems and consortium participation.

OCC Seeks Feedback on GENIUS Act Implementation: The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency opened public comment on proposed rulemaking tied to the GENIUS Act. The framework could take effect as early as January 2027, depending on implementation timing.

MoonPay Introduces PYUSDx Framework Linked to PayPal USD: MoonPay unveiled a framework allowing apps to deploy their own branded stablecoins tied to PayPal USD liquidity. The goal is to position MoonPay as backend infrastructure for fintech and AI builders.

Hong Kong Signals First Stablecoin Licenses in March: Hong Kong’s Financial Secretary confirmed the first batch of stablecoin issuer licenses will be issued next month. A bill to regulate digital asset dealers and custodians is also expected this year.

🔦 Tech Spotlight: Stablecoin Velocity

Stablecoin velocity measures how frequently each token changes hands over a given period. A stablecoin sitting idle in wallets signals savings or treasury use. High velocity suggests active payments, trading, or settlement.

Recent on-chain data shows USDC and USDT velocity rising during periods of heavy exchange activity and institutional settlement flows. In contrast, lower velocity phases often coincide with treasury allocations or parked liquidity during market pauses.

Why it matters:

Payments use cases drive recurring transaction volume
• Institutional settlement compresses transfer cycles
• Treasury holdings reduce short-term velocity but signal long-term allocation

Takeaway: Velocity helps separate speculation from utility. It shows where stablecoins are actually being used rather than just held.

📊 Chart of the Week: Probability of Loss per Holding Period

Data compiled by Glassnode and Bitwise shows that the probability of a loss drops sharply as holding periods extend.

1 day: 47%
1 year: 24%
3 years: under 1%
10 years: effectively zero based on historical sample

The takeaway is simple. Time reduces short-term volatility risk. The longer the holding window, the lower the historical loss probability.

Source: Bitwise

😂 A Little Blockchain Humor Break 🤣

Source: CoinMarketCap

MetaMask brought a self custodial Mastercard to the United States with mUSD rewards. Morgan Stanley confirmed it is building Bitcoin custody and trading in house. Barclays is testing blockchain settlement rails. MoonPay introduced PYUSDx tied to PayPal USD. That rounds up Edition #101.

✅ Trivia Answer: D) Ethereum

Since the 2021 EIP-1559 upgrade, Ethereum burns a portion of transaction fees at the protocol level, permanently removing that supply based on network activity.

We will continue tracking where usage, regulation, and capital meet next. See you again on Saturday.

Thank you,
Blockchain and Web3 Insights

🌐 blockchainweb3insights.com
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