The source article says Zcash rose 6% toward the $257 area while Avalanche kept building around institutions and RWAs. Its main focus, though, was BlockDAG, which it said reached a $300 million market cap and is now trading on several exchanges.
Chainlink is a decentralized oracle network linking smart contracts to off-chain data. It solves the oracle problem through multiple independent nodes, supporting DeFi, NFTs, and enterprise applications with services like Data Feeds, VRF, CCIP, and Proof-of-Reserve.
SWIFT confirmed its blockchain-based shared ledger is ready for initial use, enabling 17 banks across six continents to pilot real-time cross-border settlements with tokenized deposits while final settlement runs through existing systems.
SWIFT announced a pilot with 17 banks (HSBC, Citi, BNP Paribas, etc.) on a blockchain ledger for tokenized deposits, enabling 24/7 cross-border payments. This marks a milestone for regulated digital assets, with plans to scale functionality and access.
Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol, or CCIP, is being used in central bank digital asset pilot programs tied to Brazil’s Drex initiative and Hong Kong’s Ensemble network, according to Techub News, citing Bitcoinist. The work covers tokenized settlement and e-HKD+ related testing. The pilots also include tests linked to Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) and its A$DC stablecoin, with a focus on validating cross-chain messaging and payment functions for settlement use cases. While the projects remain at the trial stage, they show how regulated financial institutions are testing public blockchain infrastructure concepts in practice. The report said the pilots point to institutional demand for secure and compliant cross-chain interoperability infrastructure as the market prepares for a future digital asset environment where multiple networks operate side by side.
Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol, or CCIP, has been adopted in central bank-related projects tied to Brazil, Hong Kong, Australia, the UK, and mBridge, according to Techub, citing CryptoBriefing. The protocol is being used for data exchange involving central bank digital currencies and for cross-border settlement of tokenized assets. The report said the network has already enabled automated payments in a cross-border trade settlement pilot linked to Brazil’s central bank Drex project and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s e-HKD initiative. It also said Chainlink worked with Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, or ANZ, to complete a cross-chain atomic settlement involving stablecoins. Separately, the Bank of England selected the technology in February 2026 for securities atomic settlement testing. The mBridge project has also adopted the solution to address interoperability challenges across multiple currencies. The report centers on infrastructure use cases, with the cited deployments spanning CBDC connectivity, settlement automation, and multi-currency coordination.
SWIFT said its blockchain-based ledger has reached the minimum viable product stage and is set to enter an initial pilot, with 17 banks from six continents preparing to use tokenized deposits for real 24/7 cross-border payments. The rollout comes nine months after the project was first introduced at Sibos in September last year. The pilot group includes ANZ, BNP Paribas, BNY Mellon, Citi, DBS, First Abu Dhabi Bank, FirstRand, HSBC, Itaú Unibanco, Lloyds, Mashreq, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, OCBC, Standard Chartered, UBS, UOB and Wells Fargo. SWIFT said more than 40 institutions joined the early design phase before the field narrowed to the current participants. The ledger is built on Hyperledger Besu, an enterprise private-chain framework led by the Linux Foundation and compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine. It runs as a permissioned network where banks keep control of their private keys and custody arrangements. SWIFT acts as a coordination layer that records and verifies payment commitments in real time, while final settlement stays within existing systems and messaging follows ISO 20022. The report also noted that the ledger is designed to support interoperability with CBDCs, stablecoins and other tokenized assets.
Top investment banks like Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs expect the Fed to start cutting rates in September, with potential total cuts of 50 bps this year. Diverging views exist on pace and timing, as markets eye impacts on crypto and risk assets.
