The News Tribune Weekly!
Hello and cheers to a new edition of our weekly newsletter, where we explore the hottest and most relevant topics shaping our economic and digital world.
Without further ado, let’s move on to point 1!
💸 Stablecoins Keep Printing Revenue
The stablecoin market continues to expand, with the total valuation of the sector now standing at $305.804b. Recent analysis from Token Terminal highlights that stablecoin issuers are producing substantial, recurring revenue, largely by relying on Ethereum as their main settlement network. The data shows Ethereum’s central role in supporting the economic model behind the growing stablecoin ecosystem.
💰 Revenue Tied to Ethereum Settlement
According to Token Terminal, stablecoin issuers generated approximately $5 billion in revenue during 2025 from stablecoin supply issued and settled on Ethereum. Over the same period, the amount of stablecoins circulating on the network increased by roughly $50 billion. By Q4, total stablecoin supply on Ethereum had climbed beyond $180 billion. As issuance expanded, revenue growth followed a similar trajectory, reaching around $1.4 billion per quarter by the end of the year.
💹 Yield as the Core Revenue Source
The reported revenue is primarily driven by yield earned on reserve assets that back stablecoin issuance. Token Terminal notes that Ethereum consistently carries the largest share of stablecoin supply among major issuers, reinforcing its position as the dominant settlement layer for this segment of the digital asset market. This trend reinforces Ethereum’s importance within the stablecoin economy today.
💥 Vitalik Buterin Warns: Quantum Computers Could Threaten Ethereum as Early as 2028
At the Devconnect conference in Buenos Aires, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin sounded a rare but serious alarm about quantum computing risk. He put real numbers on what was often sci-fi speculation: there’s roughly a 20% chance that future quantum machines could break the cryptography that secures Ethereum (and Bitcoin) before 2030—and possibly as soon as before 2028.
🤔 Why This Matters—ECDSA Is Vulnerable Once Public Keys Are Visible
Today’s blockchains rely on elliptic-curve cryptography (ECDSA) to secure wallets and transactions. On classical computers this is safe—but a powerful quantum computer could run Shor’s algorithm to crack these protections. Buterin explained that as soon as a wallet broadcasts a transaction and reveals its public key on-chain, it becomes susceptible to future quantum attacks if strong quantum machines emerge.
🔓 Ethereum Is Not in Immediate Danger—but Preparation Must Start Now
Current quantum tech isn’t capable of breaking crypto now, and major advances are still likely years away. But the threat isn’t zero—and transitioning a global blockchain to quantum-resistant cryptography takes years, not months. That’s why Buterin wants the industry moving early.
🔥 Ethereum’s Quantum Emergency Plan
Buterin and Ethereum developers have sketched out what to do if a quantum threat becomes imminent:
Roll back the chain to a point before massive quantum theft is visible.
Freeze legacy EOA accounts that use ECDSA to stop further attacks.
Migrate users to quantum-safe wallets using smart contract accounts and zero-knowledge proofs.
🧠 Post-Quantum Cryptography Already Exists—Adoption Is the Goal
Standards bodies like NIST have already defined post-quantum signature and key schemes designed to resist quantum attacks. Some projects are beginning to build wallets and infrastructure using these new algorithms—but widespread adoption across Ethereum would still take time.
⚖️ Experts Disagree on Urgency
Not everyone sees the risk as immediate. Some prominent cryptography voices argue that quantum threats are decades away, and pushing rushed protocol changes could introduce new bugs. Others say that even if quantum danger isn’t here yet, planning now prevents dangerous scramble later.
📌 Key Points to Note
⚠️ 20% chance quantum computers could break crypto before 2030, potentially as soon as 2028.
🔑 ECDSA (used by Ethereum and Bitcoin) becomes vulnerable once public keys are revealed on-chain.
🛠️ Ethereum developers already have a quantum emergency plan involving rollback, freezing vulnerable accounts, and migrating to quantum-safe wallets.
📈 Post-quantum cryptography standards exist, but adoption and deployment take years.
🤝 Some experts urge caution, saying quantum threats may be further off, while others agree preparation must start now.
Weekly Recap: The Headlines That Made a Splash!
Like every Monday, here’s your pick of last week’s crypto news that you absolutely shouldn’t have missed!
However, if you’re the type who likes to stay updated every day, we’ve got just the thing for you. We’ve set up a Daily on our Substack. In just five minutes, you’ll be fully in the loop on everything happening in the crypto world! 😎
🌍 Stablecoins Advance in Africa as Inflation Erodes Local Currencies
Inflation and expensive remittance channels are driving growing stablecoin use across parts of Africa. As local currencies weaken, individuals and businesses increasingly rely on dollar-pegged tokens to transfer value and protect savings. Experts highlight faster settlement and lower fees, while uneven regulation continues to shape how crypto-based alternatives integrate into existing financial systems.
👉 Read the article
🐧 Viral Image Sends Obscure PENGUIN Token Soaring
A sudden viral image triggered an explosive rally in the little-known PENGUIN token, pushing its price sharply higher within hours. The move occurred without technical updates or official announcements, driven mainly by social momentum. Surging volumes and market activity illustrate how speculative tokens can react violently to online signals, especially during low-liquidity market conditions.
👉 Read the article
⚛️ Coinbase Prepares for Long-Term Quantum Computing Risks
Coinbase has established an expert advisory board to examine how future advances in quantum computing could affect blockchain security. Bringing together specialists in cryptography and quantum research, the initiative aims to assess long-term risks to existing encryption standards. While practical threats remain distant, the effort signals early planning to help networks adapt before potential vulnerabilities emerge.
👉 Read the article
⛓️ Ethereum Co-Founder Embraces Decentralized Web3 Social Platforms
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin will exclusively use decentralized social platforms like Firefly, which integrate protocols such as Lens and Farcaster, in 2026. He seeks to shift away from algorithmic, centralized services toward open, interoperable networks where users control their data and identities. His stance reflects a broader ideological push for an open social Web beyond commercial logic.
👉 Read the article
📉 Bitcoin vs. Gold Ratio Falls to Lowest Since 2023
Gold’s price rally amid geopolitical tensions and risk-off flows has driven the Bitcoin/gold ratio down to its lowest point since November 2023, signaling investors’ shift toward traditional safe havens. Analysts note that such extremes often precede rotational trends and that Bitcoin could regain ground if risk appetite returns in early 2026.
👉 Read the article
🏦 Kraken Custody Named Custodian for Ethena’s USDe Reserves
Kraken Custody has been chosen by Ethena Labs to serve as official custodian of the backing assets for the USDe synthetic dollar, following a review by Ethena’s Risk Committee. The partnership emphasizes institutional-grade security, asset segregation, and transparency, with Kraken participating in monthly attestations and weekly Proof of Reserves reporting starting in January 2026.
👉 Read the article
🏛️ CFTC Strengthens Leadership as Congress Considers Expanded Crypto Oversight
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has appointed senior advisers with crypto and regulatory expertise as it positions for possible expanded authority over digital assets. These leadership moves come amid ongoing congressional debate on giving the CFTC broader oversight powers over spot crypto markets, even as coordination with other regulators continues to evolve.
👉 Read the article
That’s the end of our weekly roundup! 😄
A big thank you for reading. We’ll see you next Monday with even more juicy news from the crypto world!
The Newsletter does not provide investment advice, nor does it offer recommendations to buy or sell financial securities. Any opinions or views that the Newsletter may express in the course of its research activities, particularly regarding markets and/or financial instruments, cannot be held financially liable. Any paid promotions will always be clearly indicated so as not to mislead the reader.
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