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Ljubljana in Slovenia Becomes World Most Crypto Friendly City

By
Paul Ugbede Godwin
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0

Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, has been named the world’s most crypto-friendly city in Multipolitan’s 2025 Crypto-Friendly Cities Index, surpassing major financial hubs like Hong Kong, Zurich, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi. The ranking is attributed to Ljubljana’s robust digital infrastructure, progressive regulations, and widespread real-world crypto adoption.

Over 150 crypto ATMs and high retail acceptance, with 12% of businesses accepting cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, compared to 3% in Hong Kong. Slovenia operates under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), providing a clear and supportive legal framework. The government has also recognized smart contracts since 2020 and applies 0% VAT on crypto transactions.

Ljubljana hosts Blockchain Alliance Europe and innovative platforms like Blocksquare, which recently partnered with Vera Capital to tokenize $1 billion in U.S. real estate. Events like the Crypto Winter Festival further embed crypto in the city’s social fabric. Slovenia leads Multipolitan’s Crypto Wealth Concentration Index, with the average crypto holder owning approximately $240,500 in digital assets, far ahead of Cyprus ($175,000) and Hong Kong ($97,500).

However, a proposed 25% tax on personal crypto gains, set to take effect in 2026, could impact Slovenia’s crypto-friendly status. Critics argue it may deter innovation or push talent elsewhere, though the government expects to generate €2.5–25 million annually. Ljubljana’s success highlights how a smaller city can lead in crypto adoption through clear policies, strong infrastructure, and organic community engagement, outpacing larger financial centers.

The crypto-friendly status draws blockchain startups, investors, and talent, boosting Slovenia’s economy. Partnerships like Blocksquare’s $1 billion real estate tokenization deal signal potential for high-value projects. Growth in crypto-related industries (e.g., blockchain development, fintech) creates jobs, particularly in tech and finance, strengthening Ljubljana’s role as a regional innovation hub.

Crypto events like the Crypto Winter Festival and the city’s digital payment infrastructure attract crypto enthusiasts, increasing tourism revenue. Ljubljana’s success under the EU’s MiCA framework offers a blueprint for smaller cities to compete with global financial hubs like Singapore or Dubai, emphasizing clear regulations and infrastructure over scale.

Slovenia gains international recognition as a forward-thinking nation, potentially influencing EU crypto policy and elevating its diplomatic profile. With 12% of businesses accepting crypto, Ljubljana normalizes digital currencies in daily life, fostering a tech-savvy culture and encouraging financial innovation among residents.

High crypto wealth concentration ($240,500 per holder) could widen inequality if gains are unevenly distributed, though it also empowers early adopters and entrepreneurs. The proposed 25% crypto gains tax in 2026 could deter investors and startups, potentially undermining Ljubljana’s ranking. Talent or capital flight to lower-tax jurisdictions like Dubai or Portugal is a risk.

Slovenia must maintain its progressive stance while addressing risks like money laundering or market volatility, ensuring compliance with EU regulations without stifling growth. Rivals like Hong Kong (with planned stablecoin regulations) or Abu Dhabi (with tax-free crypto trading) could overtake Ljubljana if they enhance infrastructure or offer more incentives.

As a smaller city, Ljubljana may face challenges scaling its ecosystem to handle rapid growth in crypto activity without straining resources or infrastructure. Ljubljana’s crypto-friendly status positions it as a global leader, driving economic and cultural benefits but requiring careful policy navigation to sustain its edge. The city’s success could redefine how smaller urban centers leverage emerging technologies to punch above their weight.

Stripe Announces Plan to Launch A New Stablecoin Product to Revolutionize Global Payments

By
Ojukwu Emmanuel
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0

Stripe, a platform for online payment processing and business operations, has announced plans to launch a new Stablecoin product powered by Bridge.

On X, the company’s CEO Patrick Collison reacted to a post, confirming that Stripe is actively developing a Stablecoin-based product, after a decade.

However, the company is yet to share in-depth details about this move. Plans suggest that the initial rollout will target businesses outside the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom.

Stripe foray into Stablecoins comes after the company in February this year, announced the acquisition of Bridge, the world’s leading Stablecoin orchestration platform for $1.1 billion.  Bridge enables businesses to do almost anything involving stablecoins. They make stablecoin-based applications easy to deploy and scale.

Commenting on the wide use case of Stablecoins, Stripe CEO Patrick Collison during the acquisition of Bridge, said,

“Stablecoins are room-temperature superconductors for financial services. Thanks to stablecoins, businesses around the world will benefit from significant speed, coverage, and cost improvements in the coming years.”

According to reports, Stablecoin circulation has exceeded $215 billion globally as of Q1 2025, with on-chain transaction volume hitting $5.6 trillion in 2024, equivalent to 40% of Visa’s payments volume. Once confined to crypto markets, stablecoins now power real-economy transactions at scale, from remittances to merchant payments.

The stablecoin market has expanded dramatically, more than doubling from under $120 billion in early 2023 to over $215 billion in early 2025. This growth underscores that stablecoins have broken out of niche crypto trading circles and become widely used digital cash. Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC) remain the giants – with ~$140B and ~$55B circulating respectively

Their role in cross-border finance is rapidly expanding, especially in emerging markets, while institutional adoption accelerates through initiatives from Visa, Stripe, and BlackRock. It is known that international money transfers have long been plagued by high fees (average ~6% for remittances) and slow settlement. Stablecoins change that dynamic by enabling near-instant, low-cost transfers of value over the internet.

Consider the transitions from coins to banknotes, from the gold standard to fiat currency, and from paper instruments to electronic payments, Stablecoins are a new branch of the money tree. This digital currency has four important properties relative to the status quo. They make money movement cheaper, they make money movement faster, they are decentralized and open access (and thus globally available from day one), and they are programmable. Everything interesting follows from these characteristics.

The speed and cost advantages that stablecoins now enjoy are recent advances in the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Beginning with the invention of modern cryptocurrency with the Bitcoin whitepaper of 2008, it has taken many years of research and patient systems engineering to make the decentralized technologies competitive with existing financial infrastructure.

The fundamentals for stablecoin adoption have only recently fallen into place, enabling the explosive growth we now see. The transaction volumes more than doubled and has now reached between Q4 2023 and Q4 2024, and the number of monthly active stablecoin wallets has 40 million.

Looking Ahead

Stripe’s stablecoin product positions it to compete with market leaders like Tether (USDT) and Circle (USDC), as well as emerging players like PayPal’s PYUSD. The Bridge acquisition accelerates Stripe’s entry, bypassing years of development and regulatory navigation.

By offering a stablecoin solution, Stripe can capture yield from stablecoin reserves and attract businesses seeking innovative payment options. As the stablecoin market grows toward $3.7 trillion by 2030, Stripe’s strategic move could cement its leadership in the next wave of financial innovation.

Stripe’s Entry Into Stablecoin Market Race Signals Growing Institutional Confidence

By
Paul Ugbede Godwin
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0

Stripe CEO Patrick Collison announced that the company is developing a new stablecoin-based payments product, targeting companies outside the United States, United Kingdom, and European Union. This follows Stripe’s $1.1 billion acquisition of Bridge, a stablecoin platform, in October 2024.

Collison noted on X that this initiative has been in development for nearly a decade and is now entering a testing phase, with the product leveraging Bridge’s infrastructure to facilitate cross-border transactions. The stablecoin market, projected to reach $3.7 trillion with present capitalization at over $235 Billion according to Coin Gecko’s data, is seen as a key area for Stripe to enhance global payment efficiency.

The stablecoin market refers to the ecosystem of cryptocurrencies designed to maintain a stable value, typically pegged to a fiat currency (like the US dollar), a basket of assets, or other stable benchmarks. Unlike volatile cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, stablecoins aim to minimize price fluctuations, making them suitable for payments, remittances, and as a store of value in digital transactions.

Most stablecoins are pegged 1:1 to assets like the US dollar (e.g., 1 USDC = $1). This stability is maintained through: Backed by reserves of fiat currency or cash equivalents (e.g., USDC, USDT). Over-collateralized by other cryptocurrencies (e.g., DAI). Use algorithms to adjust supply and demand to stabilize value (e.g., TerraUSD before its collapse). It facilitate fast, low-cost cross-border transactions (e.g., Stripe’s new product).

DeFi: Serve as a stable medium in decentralized finance for lending, trading, and liquidity pools. It reduce fees and delays in international money transfers and act as a hedge against crypto volatility or unstable local currencies.

Fiat-backed stablecoins rely on audits to verify reserves (e.g., Circle’s USDC publishes monthly reports). Lack of transparency can lead to concerns, as seen with Tether (USDT) in the past. As of April 2025, the stablecoin market is valued at over $3.7 trillion, driven by increasing adoption in payments and DeFi. Major players include Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC), with USDT holding the largest market share due to its early dominance.

Growth is fueled by integration by payment giants like Stripe and PayPal. Demand for efficient cross-border transactions amd regulatory clarity in some regions, encouraging institutional adoption. Stablecoin transactions settle faster and cheaper than traditional banking systems, especially for international transfers. It enable financial inclusion in regions with limited banking infrastructure.

Interoperability: Work across blockchain networks, enhancing flexibility in digital ecosystems. Governments are concerned about money laundering, tax evasion, and financial stability. Regulations vary globally, with the EU’s MiCA framework and US proposals shaping the market. If reserves are mismanaged or not fully backed, stablecoins can lose their peg (e.g., TerraUSD’s 2022 collapse).

Fiat-backed stablecoins rely on centralized issuers, raising concerns about control and censorship. Crypto-backed and algorithmic stablecoins can be vulnerable to market crashes or algorithmic failures. Stripe’s entry, leveraging its $1.1 billion acquisition of Bridge, signals stablecoins’ growing mainstream adoption. By targeting non-US/UK/EU markets, Stripe aims to capture regions with high remittance needs and underdeveloped banking systems. This could accelerate stablecoin use in e-commerce and cross-border payments. Pressure competitors like PayPal and Square to expand their crypto offerings.

Influence regulatory discussions as major players advocate for clear frameworks. The stablecoin market is expected to grow as Blockchain technology improves scalability and interoperability. Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) complement or compete with private stablecoins. Companies like Stripe integrate stablecoins into everyday commerce, bridging traditional finance and crypto.

Biggest Victory in Professional Life is Victory Over Your Time

By
Ndubuisi Ekekwe
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0

The biggest victory in professional life is victory over your time. If you master your time, you will win your future. Greatness has been achieved not because of special talent but rather via total dedication, perseverance and commitment through mastering of time. A man who cannot manage his seconds will wander through the boundless of time.

Have a process and see how that process aligns with your goals in life. Students, look carefully, the bests in your classes are not necessarily the smartest but those smart enough to manage their clocks. Because the world is bounded by time, defined within 24 hours a day, companies and schools look for those “bests” as they have overcome by managing time. The best companies, the best universities, and the best leaders want them because if they continue on those paths, they will add values.

But managing time does not mean spending less time on something; it’s simply knowing what to spend time on, to advance that mission. Do not be like the lifeless feather which when tossed into the stream wanders wherever the stream current moves it. Be like the dragonfly which even though enjoying the mild current defines its path.

All paths of careers are defined by the ability to manage time. A man who is overwhelmed by the limitation of unbounded time quits. Yes, “I have decided to settle for C because I cannot cover all that would help me compete for A”. Do not show any pity: he wasted his time and the rationalization for poor grades cannot change the state of his records, for life! Do that many times, the person will turn a failure in everything.

Boss your time or it will box you! Why? The biggest professional failure is NOT fixing things that lead to failures of which TIME is a key component.

RockawayX’s $125M Bet on Solana’s Startups is Far Reaching

By
Paul Ugbede Godwin
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0

RockawayX, a crypto-focused venture capital firm based in Dubai, London, and Prague, has raised $125 million for its second early-stage fund, with 50-75% (approximately $62-94 million) allocated to startups building on the Solana blockchain.

The firm, which manages $2 billion in assets, has been a Solana supporter since 2018, backing over 15 projects including Kamino, Squads, Exponent, and DoubleZero. The fund, closed in Q1 2025, will also invest in decentralized finance (DeFi), infrastructure protocols, and decentralized networks, with about two-thirds for seed rounds and the rest for liquid assets.

RockawayX’s strategy emphasizes hands-on support, providing engineering, liquidity, and infrastructure resources. It runs validators, develops protocol-ready hardware, and is launching Solana City, a Dubai-based accelerator hub with the Solana Foundation and Helius Labs. The fund’s limited partners include Rockaway Capital, family offices, private equity firms, high-net-worth individuals, and Solana co-founders Anatoly Yakovenko and Raj Gokal. The raise follows a strong track record, with RockawayX’s 2021 fund achieving a 2.1x DPI and 5.4x MOIC, driven by investments in Solana, Wintermute, and Morpho Labs.

This move comes despite a 30% drop in Solana’s total value locked ($9.16 billion) and a 41% decline in its token price ($148.26) over the past three months, reflecting confidence in Solana’s long-term potential. The $125M fund raised by RockawayX for Solana ecosystem startups has several implications. Allocating 50-75% ($62-94M) to Solana-based startups signals strong confidence in Solana’s scalability and developer adoption, despite recent declines in its total value locked (30%) and token price (41%).

This could drive innovation in DeFi, infrastructure, and decentralized networks, strengthening Solana’s competitive position against rivals like Ethereum. The fund’s focus on seed-stage investments and hands-on support (engineering, liquidity, infrastructure) via initiatives like Solana City in Dubai could lower barriers for early-stage Solana startups, fostering a robust pipeline of projects and enhancing ecosystem resilience.

The participation of high-profile LPs, including Solana co-founders and family offices, alongside RockawayX’s strong 2021 fund performance (2.1x DPI, 5.4x MOIC), may attract more institutional interest to Solana, potentially stabilizing its market perception amid volatility. The Solana City accelerator in Dubai, backed by RockawayX, Solana Foundation, and Helius Labs, positions the UAE as a hub for blockchain innovation, potentially drawing global talent and investment to the region.

The heavy Solana focus carries risks, given its recent market downturn. A bearish crypto market or failure to deliver scalable solutions could limit returns. Additionally, the fund’s success hinges on identifying high-potential startups in a competitive landscape. The fund could catalyze Solana’s growth and solidify its ecosystem, but its impact depends on market conditions and the quality of supported projects.

Solana’s scalability challenges stem from its high-throughput design, which prioritizes speed and low costs but introduces trade-offs. Solana’s architecture, processing up to 65,000 transactions per second (TPS) via Proof of History (PoH) and Proof of Stake (PoS), has faced congestion during peak usage, notably in DeFi and NFT surges. Historical outages (e.g., 17-hour downtime in September 2021, multiple in 2022) exposed vulnerabilities in transaction prioritization and spam handling, eroding user trust and developer confidence.

Solana’s validators require powerful hardware (e.g., 12-core CPUs, 128GB RAM) to handle its high TPS, increasing operational costs. This raises barriers for decentralization, as only well-funded entities can run validators, potentially concentrating network control compared to lighter chains like Ethereum.  Solana’s low transaction fees (~$0.00025) encourage spam attacks, where bots flood the network with low-value transactions, clogging queues. Unlike Ethereum’s dynamic fee market, Solana’s static fees struggle to prioritize legitimate transactions, leading to delays or failed transactions during spikes.

Solana’s high transaction volume generates massive state data, inflating storage needs for nodes (currently ~1TB for full history). This could deter smaller validators, further centralizing the network and increasing costs for infrastructure providers. Solana’s unique architecture (e.g., PoH, parallel transaction processing) requires developers to master complex tools like Rust and its account model, steeper than Ethereum’s Solidity. This learning curve can slow dApp development, limiting ecosystem growth.

Implications for RockawayX’s Investment

Startups building on Solana may face delays or user attrition if network instability persists, impacting RockawayX’s returns. Solana’s ongoing upgrades (e.g., QUIC protocol, fee market reforms, Firedancer client by Jump Crypto) aim to address congestion and reliability. RockawayX’s hands-on support (engineering, validators) could help portfolio companies navigate these challenges.

Continued scalability issues could dampen Solana’s appeal, reducing the fund’s ability to attract top-tier projects or exit investments at high valuations. If Solana resolves these issues, its high TPS and low costs could outpace competitors, boosting RockawayX’s portfolio, especially in DeFi and infrastructure.

Solana’s scalability challenges are significant but not insurmountable. RockawayX’s $125M bet hinges on the network’s ability to deliver promised upgrades while maintaining developer and user momentum.

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