Daily Brief: October 1, 2025
SWIFT Blockchain, SEC Crypto ETFs, Starknet Staking
TL;DR: SWIFT is teaming up with Consensys and major banks to bring blockchain into its global payment system, aiming for 24/7 cross-border transactions. This could change how traditional finance uses blockchain. Meanwhile, the SEC is speeding up crypto ETF approvals, which might lead to more investment and adoption. Starknet is rolling out a $100M initiative for Bitcoin staking on its network, enhancing Bitcoin's role in decentralized finance.
🌐 SWIFT's Blockchain Leap for Cross-Border Payments
SWIFT is integrating a blockchain-based ledger to enhance its global payment system, partnering with Consensys and over 30 major banks such as JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America. This initiative aims to enable real-time, 24/7 cross-border payments, marking a significant shift in how traditional finance interacts with blockchain technology.
The project will use smart contracts to validate and sequence transactions, ensuring secure and efficient processing. This integration is a major step toward merging traditional and decentralized finance. It has the potential to transform the global financial landscape by making tokenized assets and stablecoins more accessible.
SWIFT's blockchain ledger could reshape liquidity flows in crypto markets, particularly affecting Bitcoin and Ethereum. By serving as an interoperability layer, it allows banks to access tokenized asset networks without complex integrations. This could reduce costs and increase efficiency in cross-border transactions.
Why it matters: This development is crucial as it leverages blockchain to enable faster, more secure, and always-on cross-border payments, addressing longstanding inefficiencies in global finance. It also represents a major step towards mainstream adoption of digital finance technologies by established financial institutions.
🚀 SEC Streamlines Crypto ETF Approvals with New Standards
The SEC has updated its approach to crypto ETFs by adopting generic listing standards, eliminating the need for the lengthy 19b-4 review process. This change allows for quicker approvals, shifting the focus to the S-1 registration system. Analysts predict this will lead to a surge in approvals for altcoin ETFs, including Solana, XRP, and Dogecoin.
Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas suggests that the odds of approval for these altcoin ETFs have reached 100%. The streamlined process could result in over 100 crypto-related ETFs launching within the next year. However, SEC officials warn of potential risks to retail investors and stress the importance of clear investor protections.
The SEC's regulatory shift is a significant milestone for the crypto market, potentially speeding up the launch of ETFs covering a variety of digital assets. While this development could boost market liquidity and accessibility, the timing of approvals remains uncertain due to factors like potential government shutdowns.
Why it matters: This regulatory change simplifies and speeds up the approval process for crypto ETFs, potentially boosting institutional investment and mainstream adoption of digital assets.
🚀 Starknet's $100M Push for Bitcoin Staking
Starknet, an Ethereum layer-2 network, now allows users to stake Bitcoin to validate transactions and earn STRK tokens. This initiative aims to integrate Bitcoin more deeply into decentralized finance (DeFi) on Starknet. The Starknet Foundation is distributing 100 million STRK tokens to boost Bitcoin-related activity, while RE7 is developing a Bitcoin yield product on the network.
Starknet's BTCFi campaign encourages Bitcoin holders to stake wrapped BTC on its zk-rollup network. Unlike other platforms, Starknet allows staked Bitcoin to directly secure its network, fostering real economic activity. The program seeks to build liquidity around lending and yield strategies, moving Bitcoin beyond just being a passive store of value.
The initiative uses zk-STARK cryptography for secure staking, aligning with Bitcoin's vision of true ownership. Wrapped Bitcoin tokens like WBTC and tBTC participate in Starknet's consensus. This approach could activate dormant Bitcoin supply, enhancing network security and creating yield opportunities without losing custody.
Why it matters: This development enhances Bitcoin’s utility in DeFi by enabling staking without losing custody, potentially increasing adoption and positioning Starknet as a leading platform for Bitcoin financialization.
