**RIPPLE APPLIES FOR A BANKING LICENSE IN THE UNITED STATES**

* Ripple has submitted an application to the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national banking license.

* Obtaining the license would allow the company to offer cryptocurrency services under federal supervision, aiming to enhance the security of its RLUSD stablecoin.

* This is a key step in Ripple's strategy to integrate more deeply with the traditional financial system and strengthen regulatory compliance.

**BLACKROCK’S BITCOIN ETF GENERATES MORE REVENUE THAN ITS S&P 500 FUND**

* BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), managing $52 billion in assets, is currently generating higher annual fee revenue than the flagship iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV).

* Although the S&P 500 fund manages significantly more capital (\$624 billion), IBIT’s higher fee structure results in greater earnings for the company.

* These figures highlight the high profitability of new Bitcoin-based financial products, even with fewer assets under management.

**FIRST U.S. SOLANA ETF WITH STAKING BEGINS TRADING**

* The first U.S. ETF for Solana that also offers staking income has launched.

* On its first trading day, the fund saw $33 million in trading volume and attracted $12 million in assets under management.

* It is the first regulated financial product in the U.S. combining a cryptocurrency investment with the ability to earn through staking.

**JPMORGAN AND S&P GLOBAL TEST CARBON CREDIT TOKENIZATION**

* JPMorgan's blockchain division, Kinexys, has partnered with S\&P Global to explore the tokenization of carbon credits.

* The goal is to create a more transparent and efficient market for trading emissions allowances — digital certificates representing CO2 reduction.

* The tests involve creating, tracking, and managing digital versions of carbon credits on a blockchain network.

**MASTERCARD AND BITGET LAUNCH CRYPTO PAYMENT CARD**

* Mastercard, in collaboration with crypto exchange Bitget, has launched a payment card that allows spending digital assets.

* Cardholders can pay with cryptocurrencies at over 150 million merchants worldwide.

* This initiative is another step toward making cryptocurrencies easier to use in the global payment system.

**NEW BANK EREBOR BACKED BY PETER THIEL TO FOCUS ON CRYPTO AND AI**

* A new bank named Erebor is being established, supported by prominent tech investors including Peter Thiel and Joe Lonsdale.

* The bank aims to fill the gap left by the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and provide financial services for startups in the crypto and AI sectors.

* Erebor is seeking a national banking license to legally serve these rapidly growing industries.

**ADDENTAX CORPORATION PLANS TO PURCHASE 12,000 BITCOINS**

* Publicly traded company Addentax has announced plans to acquire up to 12,000 Bitcoins.

* The company intends to finance this purchase through the issuance of new shares.

* This is yet another example of a public company deciding to add Bitcoin to its reserve assets.

CheckDot is SAFU research CheckDot.