Blockchain & Web3 Weekly Bytes Edition #71

📈 Schwab Enters BTC, GENIUS Act Signed, BTCFi in Focus

July 19, 2025

Hello Blockchain Enthusiast,

Welcome to Edition #71 of Blockchain & Web3 Weekly Bytes!

I'm back after a short break. Thanks for sticking around.

This week, the GENIUS Act was signed into law, giving stablecoins a clear legal framework.
Charles Schwab confirmed it will launch spot Bitcoin and Ethereum trading.

BTCFi is starting to show practical signs of life, away from the noise.

I’ve also included one resource I personally trust if you're looking to build real knowledge — 101 Blockchains.

Plus a sharp ETF inflow chart, a quiz that might trip you up, and a roundup of the week’s most relevant updates.

🧠 Weekly Trivia

Which stablecoin protocol now lets you earn yield from tokenized US Treasury bills directly through your wallet?

A) MakerDAO
B) Ethena
C) Mountain Protocol
D) Frax

*Find the answer at the end of this newsletter.

🔦 Tech Spotlight – BTCFi Outlook

BTCFi has been a long-running idea. Now it’s slowly becoming something you can use.

Unlike Ethereum, where DeFi started with tokens and snowballed into liquidity loops, Bitcoin’s version is moving at its own pace. It’s built more around collateral, utility, and security.

Here’s what’s live:

Stacks has passed $100 million in total value, with activity growing around lending and wrapped BTC. Developers are also using it to create NFT apps and smart contracts tied back to Bitcoin.
Rootstock continues to gain users who want Ethereum-like tools secured by Bitcoin. It supports lending, swaps, and on-chain wallets with familiar interfaces.
Spiderchains and Botanix are testing different ways to scale Bitcoin’s utility with Layer 2 designs that rely on validator coordination instead of central bridges.

What sets BTCFi apart is the approach. These tools don’t depend on synthetic yields or complex liquidity farming. Most are anchored in lending, settlement, and extending Bitcoin’s reach without diluting its design.

Progress is steady. Not fast. But far from idle.

📰 This Week’s Blockchain and Web3 Highlights

GENIUS Act Clears Congress, Becomes Law: Stablecoins now have a defined legal framework in the US. The new legislation opens the door for banks, payment companies, and retailers to issue and trade them under formal oversight.

Citi Confirms Stablecoin Ambitions: CEO Jane Fraser says the bank is actively exploring a stablecoin launch along with custody and reserve management services for digital assets.

Schwab Set to Roll Out Spot BTC and ETH Trading: The brokerage giant is preparing to let clients trade spot Bitcoin and Ethereum, responding to strong demand from crypto ETF holders.

JPMorgan: Tokenized Deposits Gaining Ground Abroad: Analysts say tokenized bank deposits are being welcomed by global regulators, especially as an alternative to stablecoins.

XMTP Raises $20M, Goes Native on Coinbase’s Base App: Decentralized messaging protocol XMTP has relaunched as native infrastructure inside Base, following a fresh $20 million raise and $750 million network valuation.

Talos Acquires Coin Metrics in $100M+ Deal: The Citi-backed infrastructure firm has acquired blockchain analytics platform Coin Metrics, aiming to streamline services for institutional players.

France Eyes Bitcoin Mining to Use Surplus Energy: A new bill proposes a five-year trial that would let energy producers use excess electricity to mine bitcoin. Lawmakers estimate it could bring in $100 to $150 million annually from just one gigawatt of capacity.

😂 A Little Blockchain Humor Break 🤣

Source: Naiive

📊 Chart of the Week: When Everyone Expected Hesitation

On Monday, US spot Bitcoin ETFs absorbed more than 7,500 BTC.
A bold inflow by any measure.

But the real story unfolded on Tuesday.

Instead of pausing or hedging, institutions added another 3,400 BTC—a second wave with zero hesitation.

No outflows worth noting. No mixed signals.

The chart tells it plainly: capital moved in, stayed there, and kept going.

Every major issuer participated. None pulled back.

Source: Glassnode

That wraps up Edition #71.

We covered the newly passed GENIUS Act, Schwab’s entry into spot BTC and ETH trading, and how BTCFi is moving from theory to tools.

🎯 Trivia Answer: ✅ C) Mountain Protocol

USDM pays yield from short-term Treasury bills, directly to your wallet. No staking. No lock-ups. Fully backed. Fully regulated.

Another new edition hits your inbox next Saturday. Thanks again for reading.

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

🌐 blockchainweb3insights.com
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