Qtum balances technical updates with bets on ecosystem development. Here are the latest developments:
Announcement of Stablecoin Plans (July 18, 2025) – The native stablecoin aims to enhance the use of decentralized finance (DeFi).
Increase in Staking Rewards (August 13, 2025) – 40,000 QTUM were generated last month through staking.
Block Explorer Maintenance (August 19, 2025) – Temporary downtime for backend improvements.
In-depth Overview
1. Announcement of Stablecoin Plans (July 18, 2025)
Overview: Qtum founder Patrick Dai announced plans to launch a native stablecoin pegged to a stable asset, aiming to enhance liquidity in decentralized finance, facilitate interaction between different networks, and reduce reliance on bridge-based stablecoins like USDT. This aligns with Qtum's hybrid architecture that combines Bitcoin and EVM, along with ongoing research to improve scalability.
What this means: This development is positive for QTUM as it may attract developers looking for stable transactions on the network and institutional interest in decentralized finance. However, success depends on regulatory compliance and competition with existing stablecoins.
2. Increase in Staking Rewards (August 13, 2025)
Overview: Over 40,000 QTUM were generated through staking in July, with rewards distributed weekly. Users can delegate their wallets to 'major participants' or run their wallets independently, benefiting from Qtum's Proof of Stake (PoS) mechanism that offers annual returns ranging from 5-10%.
What this means: High staking activity indicates network security and holder confidence, although the 1.35% increase in QTUM price over 90 days reflects moderate demand driven by yields. It is important to monitor the staking participation rate against price trends.
3. Block Explorer Maintenance (August 19, 2025)
Overview: The main Qtum block explorer is undergoing temporary downtime for backend improvements, and users have been directed to a backup explorer. The team explained that the updates included enhancements to CPU and memory to handle increased load.
What this means: Neutral impact in the short term – maintenance reflects active development but highlights reliance on centralized infrastructure. Improving the explorer may facilitate developer onboarding post-update.
Summary
Qtum's efforts in launching the stablecoin and staking rewards highlight its dual focus on innovation in decentralized finance and network security, while infrastructure improvements aim to enhance reliability. With the price of QTUM rising by 33.7% over 60 days, can this hybrid blockchain carve out a unique position against new layer-one competitors?