Barclays Makes a Move: Stablecoin Shenanigans and Regulatory Riddles!

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So, Barclays, the big British bank, decided to dip its toe into the wild world of stablecoins by acquiring a stake in some US-based firm called Ubyx. I mean, who wouldn’t want to invest in something that sounds like a sneeze? “Ubyx!” Bless you! 🤧

The bank confirmed this news to Reuters on January 7. Apparently, they think this move aligns with their grand plan to explore digital money while staying within those oh-so-fun regulatory limits. Because, you know, breaking the rules is so last season! 🥳

Now, here’s the kicker: no one knows how much Barclays actually invested. It’s like they went to a dinner party and forgot to mention the price of the wine. And just to be clear, they’re not planning on issuing their own retail stablecoin. They’re just going to hang out with Ubyx and develop tokenized money. Sounds like a fun couple’s retreat! 💑

What Ubyx Does

Ubyx rolled onto the scene in 2025 with a whole system for clearing and settling stablecoins. It’s designed to help you reconcile tokens from different companies across multiple blockchains. Yeah, because that’s exactly what everyone wants to do on a Saturday night! 😴

They’ve got this thing called universal redemption. Basically, it means you can deposit stablecoins from various issuers right into your bank account or fintech accounts. Finally, a way to make stablecoins easier to use-because they were getting too complicated for my taste. 😅

Oh, and by the way, Ubyx bagged $10 million in seed funding last year, led by Galaxy Ventures. It’s like the cool kids’ table at lunch, with Coinbase Ventures and Founders Fund joining in. What a party! 🎉

Banks Focus on Infrastructure, Not Issuance

This whole Barclays move shows that banks are more interested in building stablecoin rails rather than tossing their hats into the token ring. Back in October, they jumped in with a bunch of other big-shot institutions to explore a shared stablecoin pegged to G7 currencies. So, basically, they’re trying to create a stablecoin that even your grandma would approve of! 👵

Across Europe, there are separate bank-led initiatives working towards euro-denominated stablecoins launching sometime in 2026. Because, you know, timing is everything-like waiting five hours for a table at a restaurant! ⏳

Most big banks are still playing it safe, focusing on infrastructure instead of flashy consumer crypto products. Barclays has already put the kibosh on credit card crypto purchases. Talk about being a buzzkill. Just when you think you’re going to buy that meme coin, they say, “Not today!” 🙅‍♂️

Stablecoins Grow as Trading Slows

The total supply of stablecoins has climbed above $317 billion. USDT is hogging the spotlight with around $187 billion in circulation. It’s like the high school prom queen that everyone’s talking about! 👑

Most stablecoin action is tied to settlement and liquidity in crypto markets, with folks getting more interested in cross-border payments. But here’s the kicker: in December 2025, Barclays warned that spot crypto volumes are trending lower in 2026. Sounds like a party that’s starting to die down! 🎈

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2026-01-07 17:10