Blockchain & Web3 Weekly Bytes Edition #86

🧠 Telegram’s AI Network, Mastercard Enters Infra, Western Union Stablecoin

Nov 1, 2025

Hello Blockchain Enthusiast,

Welcome to Edition #86 of Blockchain & Web3 Weekly Bytes. This week, blockchain infrastructure and payments made steady progress. Telegram introduced Cocoon, a decentralized AI network on TON that pays GPU owners in crypto. Mastercard announced its plan to acquire Zerohash to extend its stablecoin and tokenization reach. Western Union confirmed it will issue a Solana-based stablecoin to modernize global remittances.

TLDR – This Week at a Glance:

Telegram rolls out Cocoon, a decentralized AI network rewarding GPU owners in crypto
Mastercard to acquire Zerohash to strengthen its stablecoin and tokenization stack
Western Union plans a Solana-based stablecoin for faster cross-border payments
Tech Spotlight: Decentralized Payrolls Take Off with Web3 firms paying contributors onchain
Chart of the Week: Standard Chartered sees tokenized assets nearing $2T by 2028
Affiliate Spotlight: 101 Blockchains Certified Web3 Blockchain Developer

🧠 Weekly Trivia

Which blockchain recently recorded over 700 million verified wallet addresses, marking a new milestone in user adoption?

A) Ethereum
B) BNB Chain
C) Polygon
D) Solana

*Answer revealed at the end 👇

📰 This Week’s Blockchain and Web3 Highlights

Telegram launches Cocoon, an AI network rewarding GPU owners in crypto: Telegram introduced Cocoon, a decentralized compute network built on TON that allows GPU owners to earn crypto for powering private AI tasks.

Mastercard moves to acquire crypto infrastructure firm Zerohash in $2B deal: Mastercard is reportedly finalizing a deal to acquire Zerohash, expanding its presence from payment rails to the infrastructure layer behind stablecoins and tokenized assets.

Western Union to issue a Solana-based stablecoin for cross-border transfers: Western Union announced plans to launch a stablecoin on Solana in early 2026, following strong growth in its digital wallet business.

Fold introduces Bitcoin Burger loyalty rewards with Steak ’n Shake: Fold partnered with Steak ’n Shake to launch a “Bitcoin Burger” promotion, giving customers bitcoin cashback through its rewards app.

Sam Altman’s World ID expands to major sports and gaming titles: Worldcoin’s proof of human ID system will integrate with Mythical Games titles including FIFA, NFL, and Pudgy Penguins to verify real players and curb bots.

IBM’s 120-qubit quantum test renews encryption concerns for Bitcoin: IBM scientists achieved a 120-qubit GHZ “cat state” with verified entanglement, a technical milestone that underscores long-term quantum security challenges for current cryptographic systems.

JPMorgan reports USDC’s onchain growth surpassing Tether’s USDT: USDC’s market cap has climbed 72% this year to around $74 billion, outpacing USDT’s 32% growth as clearer U.S. regulations boost institutional confidence in Circle’s stablecoin.

🔦 Tech Spotlight: Decentralized Payrolls Take Off

Crypto-native payroll systems are gaining real traction among DAOs and global teams. Instead of waiting for monthly transfers, contributors are now being paid continuously, on-chain, and in real time.

How it works

Streaming payments: Protocols like Superfluid and Sablier allow salaries to flow every second, removing delays and batch payments.
Stablecoin payouts: Teams rely on USDC or USDT to handle multi-currency needs without conversion losses or banking friction.
Automated distribution: Payroll smart contracts can divide payments for savings, taxes, and bonuses instantly.

Why companies are using it

Borderless workforce: Startups and DAOs pay contributors globally without intermediaries.
Transparent records: Every transaction is visible on-chain, simplifying audits and compliance.
Lower costs: By skipping banks and intermediaries, firms save on fees and processing time.

Takeaway: Decentralized payrolls show how programmable money can simplify compensation. By turning salaries into streams instead of transfers, organizations can make payments faster, fairer, and globally accessible.

📊 Chart of the Week: Standard Chartered’s $2T RWA Forecast

Standard Chartered estimates that tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) could reach $2 trillion by 2028, equaling the current size of the stablecoin market.

The bank projects tokenized government bonds and private credit to lead adoption, driven by institutional demand and the continued expansion of regulated on-chain infrastructure.

Standard Chartered’s outlook underscores a clear institutional path toward on-chain finance, where tokenized assets stand to rival stablecoins in size and utility within the next three years.

Source: Cointelegraph

😂 A Little Blockchain Humor Break 🤣

Source: Crypto.com

That wraps Edition #86 of Blockchain & Web3 Weekly Bytes. We covered Telegram’s new decentralized AI network, Mastercard’s move into blockchain infrastructure, Western Union’s stablecoin launch plan, our Tech Spotlight on decentralized payrolls, and Standard Chartered’s $2T RWA projection.

✅ Trivia Answer: D) Solana

Solana surpassed 700 million verified wallet addresses this month, driven by new activity in mobile payments, DeFi, and on-chain gaming.

See you next Saturday with fresh insights from Blockchain and Web3 Insights.

Thank you,
Blockchain and Web3 Insights

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