Just like most government services, which are typically inefficient and authoritarian, authorities must impose them on the populace by force. That's why currencies are dubbed "fiat"—mandated by decree. CBDCs will be no different; they'll be thrust upon us too.
William K⚡Santiago🔑☢️
williamsantiago@getalby.com
npub1h3fz...96sj
CEO, at PrivKey LLC, Blockchain strategist, cybersecurity.
The Mission: The Separation of Money and State.
The stablecoin duopoly is ending
The stablecoin market, long dominated by Tether and Circle's USDC with roughly 85% of the $300 billion supply, is fracturing as new entrants erode their duopoly through lower issuance costs, yield-sharing innovations, and regulatory shifts.
Intermediaries like exchanges, wallets, and DeFi protocols—such as Phantom's Bridge-issued Phantom Cash and Hyperliquid's USDH—are launching proprietary stablecoins to capture user deposit yields, while emerging players like Ethena's USDe ($14.7 billion supply), PayPal's PYUSD, and Ondo's USDY gain traction by offering competitive returns, contrasting Tether's zero-yield model and Circle's limited sharing via Coinbase.
Fixed costs have plummeted thanks to white-label providers like Anchorage and Stripe's Bridge, enabling easier entry, and post-GENIUS regulations now allow banks like JPMorgan and Bank of America to issue stablecoins backed by high-quality liquid assets without new charters, potentially via consortia including Paxos and Robinhood. Enhanced cross-chain swapping technologies further commoditize stablecoins, diminishing network effects and fueling a "race to the bottom" on yields, with the market poised for explosive growth as competition intensifies.

The stablecoin duopoly is ending
Three's a crowd
GM #plebchain, stay humble, keep stacking bits/sats, embody these virtues:
- Courage
- Justice
- Temperance
- Wisdom
Think for yourself and strive to be a sage.
Seneca believed fear is a self-imposed affliction that can be overcome through rational reflection, acceptance of nature’s course, and a commitment to living virtuously.
Tether Adds Over 8,800 Bitcoin Worth $1 Billion, Boosting Treasury Holdings
Tether purchased nearly 8,889 bitcoin today, adding more than $1 billion worth of the asset to its balance sheet.
Tether is gearing up to introduce USAT, a stablecoin that adheres fully to U.S. regulations and targets the domestic American audience.
Earlier this year, the company revealed plans to reintegrate USDT with Bitcoin through Taproot Assets, beginning with issuance on Bitfinex and seamless integration with the Lightning Network.
Are traditional central banks and established financial players tuned in to these shifts? Or are they moving too sluggishly to keep pace with crypto innovations and AI broadly, ultimately saddling everyday people with fiat obligations and stunted economic growth?

Bitcoin Magazine
Tether Buys $1 Billion In Bitcoin, Adding 8,888 BTC To Holdings
Tether purchased nearly 8,889 bitcoin today, adding more than $1 billion worth of the asset to its balance sheet.
Gold and Bitcoin, as sound money, endure with stoic resilience, unmoved by the fleeting whims of markets or the folly of human excess.
Tesla is a neural processing unit (NPU) company, not just a car manufacturer.
GM #plebchain, stay humble, keep stacking bits/sats, embody these virtues: Courage, Justice, Temperance, Wisdom, think for yourself and strive to be a sage.
On this Sunday, awaken with serene determination, letting virtue guide your path. Each moment offers a chance to cultivate wisdom and inner strength.
Approach advice from older generations cautiously. The world they knew has changed dramatically.
Their lives followed a pattern similar to their predecessors: work diligently, secure a job, rely on the system. That era is over. Many are entrenched in old mindsets and struggle to grasp today's realities or anticipate the future.
Don't base your life on an obsolete framework.
GM #plebchain, stay humble, keep stacking bits/sats, embody these virtues: Courage, Justice, Temperance, Wisdom, think for yourself and strive to be a sage.
On this Saturday, greet the morning with calm resolve, anchoring your soul in virtue. Let each action reflect a steadfast commitment to wisdom.
GM #plebchain, stay humble, keep stacking bits/sats, embody these virtues: Courage, Justice, Temperance, Wisdom, think for yourself and strive to be a sage.
On this Friday, embrace the dawn with unwavering focus, letting virtue shape your deeds. Each choice today builds the foundation for a wiser tomorrow.
PoNv Poof of Node v😉


GM #plebchain, stay humble, keep stacking bits/sats, embody these virtues: Courage, Justice, Temperance, Wisdom, think for yourself and strive to be a sage.
On this Thursday, face the day with disciplined resolve, grounding your actions in clarity. Let each moment refine your pursuit of a virtuous life.
I am standing on the shoulders of AI.
GM #plebchain, stay humble, keep stacking bits/sats, embody these virtues: Courage, Justice, Temperance, Wisdom, think for yourself and strive to be a sage.
On this Wednesday, rise with steadfast purpose, letting reason guide your heart. Each challenge met with virtue strengthens your path to wisdom.
GM #plebchain, stay humble, keep stacking bits/sats, embody these virtues: Courage, Justice, Temperance, Wisdom, think for yourself and strive to be a sage.
On this Tuesday, anchor your actions in disciplined resolve, letting wisdom shape your path. Face each moment with clarity and unwavering strength.
GM #plebchain, stay humble, keep stacking bits/sats, embody these virtues: Courage, Justice, Temperance, Wisdom, think for yourself and strive to be a sage.
On this Monday, face the week with steadfast resolve, letting reason guide your actions. Embrace each challenge as a chance to grow in virtue.
IMF Insists El Salvador Isn't Buying Any More Bitcoin—So What's Going On?
Salvadoran president and Bitcoin advocate Nayib Bukele says he buys 1 BTC per day. The IMF says he doesn't. Who's wrong?
The article reveals a conflict between El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele's claims of buying 1 Bitcoin (BTC) daily for the nation's reserves and the IMF's statement that no new Bitcoin purchases are taking place.
Bukele's reported purchases, reflected in blockchain data showing transfers to government wallets, may involve shifting existing Bitcoin between wallets rather than selling fiat currency for BTC, which the IMF considers a true purchase.
This suggests El Salvador might be reclassifying internal transfers as “buys” to project ongoing accumulation, possibly using Bitcoin acquired before a December 2024 IMF agreement that limited new purchases.
By framing these transfers as buys, Bukele could be signaling a strategic move to distance El Salvador from devaluing, dying fiat currencies globally, positioning Bitcoin as a hedge against fiat leaks and economic instability.
The lack of transparency, as analysts note, obscures whether these are fresh acquisitions or maneuvers to defy IMF restrictions while maintaining public defiance.

Decrypt
IMF Insists El Salvador Isn't Buying Any More Bitcoin—So What's Going On? - Decrypt
El Salvador's president Nayib Bukele claims his government is still buying Bitcoin, despite the IMF claiming otherwise. What's going on?
GM #plebchain, stay humble, keep stacking bits/sats, embody these virtues: Courage, Justice, Temperance, Wisdom, think for yourself and strive to be a sage.
On this fresh and beautiful Saturday, recall the words of Seneca: "True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future."
A civil war is one of the worst things that can happen to a country, tearing apart communities and wrecking the economy. I think the chances of a real civil war in the U.S. are low, but if it happens, it won’t be like old battles in open fields. It would be more like the Spanish Civil War, with neighbors fighting each other, terrible acts on both sides, and the country struggling financially for years.
Even if we avoid that disaster, the U.S. might still face a long period of increased political violence, like Italy’s Years of Lead or Northern Ireland’s Troubles. Ordinary people might feel too tired to take back control, leaving politics to those who spread hate, encouraged by America’s enemies and the worst people among us.
Regular Americans need to push back against the harmful idea that our neighbors are enemies, or it could become true. Using reliable digital money like Bitcoin and gold might sound odd, but they could help bring people together and encourage clear thinking.
GM #plebchain, stay humble, keep stacking bits/sats, embody these virtues: Courage, Justice, Temperance, Wisdom, think for yourself and strive to be a sage.
To overcome fear, recognize it as a fleeting emotion, not a reflection of reality, and focus on what you can control—your thoughts and actions. Practice courage by facing small fears daily, building resilience through deliberate, rational choices.