BLOCKCHAIN · PILOT
Standard Chartered's Anchorpoint issues first beta HKDAP stablecoin under Hong Kong license
Standard Chartered's Anchorpoint has launched the beta phase of its HKDAP stablecoin in partnership with licensed Hong Kong digital asset exchanges HashKey and OSL. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority issued the first two stablecoin issuer licenses in April, going to Anchorpoint and HSBC. This marks the first issuance of a stablecoin under Hong Kong's regulated framework.
Why it matters
Hong Kong now has a functioning regulatory pathway for stablecoin issuance, which is a concrete structural step that most jurisdictions have not completed. However, this remains a beta phase, meaning it is not yet a fully live commercial product, and real-world transaction volumes and adoption are unproven. Whether this framework attracts broader institutional use or remains a narrow pilot will depend on subsequent phases.
ledgerinsights.com
BLOCKCHAIN · PILOT
MUFG to test blockchain-based real-time settlement for Japanese government bonds
MUFG is planning to test real-time settlement of Japanese government bond trades using blockchain infrastructure. No further details were available in the article text provided.
Why it matters
Government bond settlement is a high-volume, highly regulated process where even marginal efficiency gains carry systemic implications. This is described as a test, not a live deployment, so whether blockchain settlement can meet the reliability and regulatory standards required for sovereign debt markets remains to be demonstrated. The outcome of such pilots in major bond markets tends to influence adoption decisions across the broader fixed-income industry.
coindesk.com
BLOCKCHAIN · LIVE
Figure reports doubled revenue as its blockchain loan marketplace volumes increase
Figure's revenue has doubled, driven by surging volumes on its blockchain-based loan marketplace. No further details on specific figures or timeframes were available in the article text provided.
Why it matters
Figure is one of the few blockchain lending platforms reporting material commercial-scale revenue growth rather than pilot activity, which is a meaningful distinction in a space dominated by proofs of concept. However, without specific volume or revenue figures, the durability and composition of this growth cannot be fully assessed. Concentration risk — whether growth depends on a narrow product or market condition — remains an open question.
coindesk.com
AI · FUNDED
Railway raises $100 million Series B to build AI-native cloud infrastructure
Railway, a San Francisco-based cloud platform, raised $100 million in a Series B round led by TQ Ventures, with participation from FPV Ventures, Redpoint, and Unusual Ventures. The company says it has accumulated two million developers without paid marketing. The funding is aimed at addressing what Railway characterizes as limitations in existing cloud infrastructure as AI application demand grows.
Why it matters
The round reflects continued investor appetite for infrastructure alternatives to the dominant cloud providers, particularly as AI workloads expose scaling and cost pain points. Railway's developer traction is notable, but moving from a developer-favored tool to an enterprise-grade platform capable of challenging AWS at scale is a different and much harder problem. The company has not yet publicly demonstrated the revenue or uptime track record that large enterprise customers typically require.
venturebeat.com
AI · LIVE
Salesforce makes rebuilt Slackbot generally available as an AI agent for enterprise customers
Salesforce has launched a fully rebuilt version of Slackbot, now generally available to Business+ and Enterprise+ subscribers. The updated tool is positioned as an AI agent capable of searching enterprise data, drafting documents, and taking actions on behalf of users, rather than functioning as a simple notification system. Salesforce framed the launch as a direct move to compete with Microsoft and Google in workplace AI.
Why it matters
General availability to paying tiers means this is a live product, not a preview, which raises the stakes for performance and reliability compared to earlier beta announcements in the agentic AI space. The competitive pressure from Microsoft's Copilot integration across Office and Google's Workspace AI means Salesforce is entering a market where rivals have deep existing user habits and data access. How well the agent performs on complex, multi-step enterprise tasks in real deployments — rather than curated demos — will determine whether it shifts user behavior.
venturebeat.com