Things We're Reading – Week of September 29, 2025

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has updated its standards for launching cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs), reducing the approval timeline from up to 270 days to just 75 days. This change has led to a surge of new ETF filings from asset managers eager to capitalize on investor enthusiasm for digital assets.

Institutional interest in Solana has surged, with 13 entities now holding 8.689 million SOL valued at $1.77 billion. Key holders include Sharps Technology and Upexi, with significant portions staked to generate yields.

The stablecoin market has experienced significant growth, driven by a surge in institutional investments. This trend is reshaping the cryptocurrency landscape, highlighting the increasing role of stablecoins in digital finance.

Grayscale has introduced the CoinDesk Crypto 5 ETF (GDLC), the first U.S. fund to track the top five cryptocurrencies by market cap, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Cardano. The ETF began trading recently, offering broad exposure to the crypto asset class.

Nvidia has invested $5 billion in rival chipmaker Intel, becoming one of its largest shareholders. The partnership includes co-development of custom CPUs for AI platforms and integrated solutions combining Nvidia GPUs with Intel processors.

PayPal has expanded its peer-to-peer payment system by introducing direct cryptocurrency transfers and the PayPal Links feature, allowing users to send Bitcoin, Ethereum, and PYUSD stablecoin between PayPal, Venmo, and external wallets.

DeepSeek, an AI system widely deployed across China's tertiary hospitals since January 2025, has enhanced diagnostic accuracy, streamlined workflows, and improved patient management. Its integration raises critical regulatory and ethical challenges, particularly regarding accountability in AI-assisted diagnosis.

Metaplanet intends to raise $880 million through an international share offering, primarily to fund Bitcoin acquisitions. The company currently holds 18,991 BTC, making it one of Asia's largest corporate Bitcoin holders.

The Plasma blockchain will officially launch its mainnet and XPL token on September 25, positioning itself as a specialized infrastructure for stablecoin transactions, focusing exclusively on fast, low-cost stablecoin transfers.

Circle has announced native USDC integration with Hyperliquid's HyperEVM, enabling seamless cross-chain transfers and deeper infrastructure integration. This strategic move aims to reinforce USDC's position in the global stablecoin competition.