Happy Friday! Binance Bytes is an initiative by the Research team to provide a quick round-up of the week.

Highlights đŸ§”:

1/ ItaĂș Unibanco, Latin America's largest bank, is exploring the launch of a stablecoin pegged to the Brazilian Real, pending regulatory clarity from the Central Bank. This move aligns with a broader trend of banks developing in-house stablecoins, driven by increasingly favorable regulatory environments — particularly in the U.S., according to the bank’s Head of Digital Assets.

2/ Block CEO Jack Dorsey confirmed the company is working to enable Bitcoin payments on its Square terminals and Bitkey wallet, stressing that Bitcoin must be usable for everyday transactions to stay relevant. He rejected criticism from Manna Wallet’s founder — who called the process “a simple flip of a switch” — by noting the technical complexity involved.

3/ Mastercard is developing a blockchain-powered Multi-Token Network to bridge traditional finance and digital assets, targeting seamless transactions similar to Venmo or Zelle. The company has partnered with major banks like JPMorgan and Standard Chartered, introduced over 100 crypto-focused card programs, and filed more than 250 blockchain-related patents.

Check out our latest publications from this week 🔎: Navigating Crypto: Industry Map