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RYO Digital and GRNX Global Partner to Revolutionize Global Grain Trade with Blockchain Innovation

RYO Digital and GRNX Global Partner to Revolutionize Global Grain Trade with Blockchain Innovation

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Tokyo, May 6, 2025 – RYO Digital and GRNX Global have officially entered into a working agreement to redefine the global grain trading industry through blockchain technology. This strategic collaboration brings together RYO Digital’s next-generation digital payment ecosystem and GRNX Global’s GrainX Protocol grain tokenization platform, creating unparalleled efficiency, transparency, and accessibility in global commodity trading.

Transforming Global Grain Trading

The $1.6 trillion global agricultural commodities market has long been plagued by inefficiencies, slow transactions, and outdated financial systems. RYO Digital and GRNX Global are changing that by bringing decentralization, security, and frictionless payments to international grain trade.

Through this collaboration:

  • RYO Digital will serve as a trusted payment solution, offering lower costs, faster settlement, and enhanced security compared to traditional banking mechanisms.
  • GrainX Global will facilitate a seamless, traceable, and smart-contract-driven marketplace for Canadian grain exports, particularly to Japan’s multi-billion-dollar beer brewing industry.
  • GrainX Protocol will provide new financial tools to facilitate faster farmer payments and lower cost grain buyer inventory lending, which will strengthen the agriculture financial ecosystem.
  • Blockchain-backed lending pools will revolutionize trade finance, ensuring liquidity and reduced risk for producers, buyers, and traders alike.

A Groundbreaking Synergy

This alliance represents a powerful integration between digital assets and real-world commerce. RYO Digital, a project built from Japan, and recognized for its compliance with Japan’s stringent regulations, provides a stable and secure means for commodity transactions, eliminating inefficiencies associated with fiat-based trade. Meanwhile, GRNX Global’s platform enables real-time settlement, automated contract execution, and verifiable supply chain transparency for grain producers and exporters.

Disrupting Japan’s Agricultural Supply Chain

Japan’s agricultural and brewing industries rely heavily on high-quality Canadian grain. Through this partnership:

  • RYO Digital will enable Japanese buyers, including major brewing companies, to seamlessly purchase Canadian grain with instant, low-cost blockchain transactions.
  • GRNX Global will ensure full traceability, smart contract settlements, and improved financial instruments to modernize international trade.
  • The collaboration will support Japan’s push for blockchain adoption, ensuring compliance with financial regulations.

Blockchain’s Role in the Future of Commodity Trading

This partnership redefines how blockchain is applied to real-world industries. Beyond digital transactions, RYO Digital and GRNX Global are reshaping the way commodities are traded, financed, and settled.

  • Real-World Utility: Unlike speculative cryptocurrency projects, GrainX Protocol is directly tied to real-world trade, creating measurable economic benefits for businesses and industries.
  • Institutional-Grade Trust: By aligning with regulatory frameworks and integrating blockchain into established industries, RYO Digital, GRNX Global, and GrainX Protocol are positioned as the go-to digital asset for compliant and secure payments.
  • Scalability & Growth: The model created through this partnership can be replicated across other commodity sectors, including oil, metals, and other agricultural exports.
  • As part of their commitment to sustainable trade, RYO Digital and GRNX Global will explore blockchain-based carbon credit integration to incentivize eco-friendly agricultural practices. This initiative will enhance transparency in carbon trading while supporting greener supply chains.

Executive Endorsement

Anthony Diaz, Founder & Chairman of the RYO Project, stated: “This partnership with GRNX Global and GrainX Protocol is a game-changer. Together, we are not just integrating blockchain into commodity trading—we are transforming an entire industry. By bridging traditional markets with cutting-edge digital assets, we are creating real economic value, driving financial innovation, and setting a new global standard for efficiency, transparency, and accessibility in trade.”

Jason Dearborn, CEO of GRNX Global, added: “Partnering with RYO Digital allows us to unlock the full potential of blockchain in the agricultural trade sector. The integration of digital assets into global grain trading is long overdue, and this initiative will be a game-changer for exporters, buyers, and financial institutions alike. GRNX Global is looking forward to working with such an innovative and respected global digital payment ecosystem partner.”

About RYO Digital

RYO Digital is a next-generation digital payment ecosystem designed to revolutionize global transactions by providing a compliant, efficient, and secure alternative to traditional financial systems. Built for mass adoption and real-world application, RYO Digital integrates cutting-edge blockchain technology with seamless payment solutions. www.ryocoin.com

About GRNX Global

GRNX Global is a Canadian partner-driven ecosystem committed to improving the financial outcomes for Canadian grain farmers and licensed grain buyers through integrated technology, services, and financing solutions. It is an innovative blockchain solutions provider focused on real-world asset tokenization, smart contract automation, and trade finance transformation. Through its flagship GrainX Protocol token, GRNX Global is pioneering the digitalization of agricultural commodity trading, enabling seamless cross-border transactions with blockchain technology. www.grnx.global

About GrainX Protocol

GrainX Protocol is a CeDeFi solution unlocking liquidity for the global grain trade by connecting onchain capital with real-world grain contracts, market data, and verified delivery records. Developed in partnership with GRNX Global, GrainX Protocol aims to become the financial layer for decentralized agricultural commerce. GrainX Protocol has recently opened their token seed round which is available to investors via a SAFT. www.grainx.fi

For media inquiries, partnership opportunities, or additional information, please contact: RYO:

pr@ryocoin.com www.ryocoin.com

GRNX Global:

Ken Jackson – kjackson@grnx.global www.grnx.global

REVOLUTIONIZING THE FUTURE OF GLOBAL TRADE WITH THE POWER OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY.

Tether charts its own path beyond U.S. borders

Tether charts its own path beyond U.S. borders

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Tether, the largest issuer of these digital tokens, says it will focus on markets beyond the United States as Congress further debates legislation to integrate stablecoins into the mainstream financial system.

On Monday, the Senate advanced an industry-supported regulatory bill called the Genius Act. Meanwhile, the House Financial Services Committee has approved its stablecoin legislation, though the full House has not yet passed it.

According to Paolo Ardoino, chief executive officer of Tether Holdings SA, they need to see how the Genius Act distinguishes between foreign and domestic issuers. He notes that their main interest will remain outside of the US.

Genius Act could reshape oversight for foreign issuers

Tether’s USDT stablecoin, based in El Salvador, represents over 60% of the stablecoin market and serves 420 million users across emerging markets. Despite facing conflicts with state and federal regulators over the years, the company has grown more active in the US, encouraged by a more crypto-friendly regulatory climate under President Donald Trump’s administration. 

Ardoino made his first trip to the US in March, stopping in Washington during Trump’s inaugural digital-asset summit. He noted that they are looking at the Genius Act in a way that will allow them to be compliant. He continued to say they could comply while focusing strongly on foreign markets.

The stablecoin bills currently under consideration in the House and Senate mandate that these tokens—typically pegged to the dollar or another currency—be fully backed by cash and “safe assets” like short-term Treasuries. They also require issuers to comply with the Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money-laundering regulations. Additionally, both bills would permit regulators to approve foreign issuers like Tether if they are governed by “comparable” regulations abroad.

However, uncertainty remains regarding how strictly the law will enforce compliance for those who fail to meet the requirements.

Ardoino said that stablecoins are important in the United States, but there are tons of ways to pay each other, such as Zelle, PayPal, debit cards, credit cards, and cash.

Although Tether does not currently serve US customers, most of the private company’s reserves consist of assets that would comply with the proposed US legislation. 

Tether eyes compliance while targeting the unbanked

However, the firm also backs its token with assets not permitted under the rules, such as Bitcoin and secured loans. Given its size, Tether would fall under federal regulation if it sought a US license under these regulations.

In 2021, Tether settled with US authorities over accusations that it misrepresented its reserves. Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., formerly led by Howard Lutnick, who served as Trump’s Secretary of Commerce, manages those reserves. Ardoino has indicated that the company may issue a new stablecoin designed to meet these regulatory requirements, potentially making it more appealing to institutional investors.

The more supportive regulatory climate in the US has also motivated Tether to move closer to obtaining a full audit of its reserves by a Big Four accounting firm, which Ardoino said is still under discussion. Currently, Tether provides quarterly attestations certified by BDO Italia SpA.

“They are going through a phase of adjustment, but a full audit is our priority,” Ardoino said.

Stablecoins have become crucial to the functioning of crypto markets, with about $243 billion of them in circulation in May 2025. 

On Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported that a consortium of major banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo, are exploring whether to issue a stablecoin jointly.

Ardoino expressed confidence that competition from traditional banking giants would have minimal impact on Tether’s core business.

While major U.S. banks are considering launching their own stablecoin, Tether remains focused on underserved global markets. According to Ardoino, these banks are likely to concentrate on Western economies, whereas Tether continues to target the roughly 3 billion unbanked individuals worldwide who remain outside the traditional financial system.

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Is the GENIUS Act protecting consumers at the expense of innovation?

Is the GENIUS Act protecting consumers at the expense of innovation?

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The Senate voted 66–22 to advance the GENIUS Act, showing strong support from both Democrats and Republicans and signaling that the U.S. government is finally ready to take crypto regulation seriously. 

The Act still raises concerns about whether it goes too far or not far enough in protecting consumers and whether it will hurt innovation.

Supporters say the bill will open doors for more businesses to safely enter the market and build better tools for payments and finance. Still, critics warn that the GENIUS Act may either be too soft on risky players or too harsh on small startups and innovators who can’t meet all the new requirements.

Supporters say the bill keeps consumers safe

Supporters of the GENIUS Act believe the bill helps prevent disasters like the 2022 collapse of Terra Luna, which caused billions in losses and sent shockwaves through the entire industry. The Act reduces the risk that coins will lose their value suddenly by forcing stablecoin providers to keep 100% of reserves in safe assets like cash or U.S. Treasury bills so that consumers can’t cash out. 

The law also ensures consumers handling more than $50 billion in stablecoins publish monthly reports about their reserves and go through annual financial audits to help buyers trust the coins they use or hold because the company stands by its promise. If a stablecoin company collapses, the GENIUS Act gives everyday users priority when getting their money back.

Critics, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, argue that the law doesn’t do enough to prevent powerful people from using stablecoins for personal gain while still influencing public policy. For example, the bill doesn’t fully deal with Trump’s USD1 stablecoin, which was created by a crypto company linked to the president.

The law, Senator Warren says, will enable anonymous buyers, foreign governments, and big corporations to use stablecoins to hide money, evade regulation, and perhaps secure special treatment like pardons or special arrangements from officials who have conflicts of interest.

Warren and other critics fear that the system could fall apart once more if companies follow the rules on paper but engage in similarly reckless behavior in practice — only this time, the losses would likely be larger, especially if foreign players or major firms abuse the system without being identified in time.

Supporters argue that the Act provides new startups and established banks with clear rules to follow. They say companies will build useful tools that attract responsible investors, encourage long-term planning, and introduce creative solutions.

Supporters also believe that setting strict standards will allow companies to compete based on the quality of their services.

Critics say strict rules hurt small startups

On the other hand, critics worry that the GENIUS Act’s strict rules might only work for big firms and shut out smaller innovators because it requires firms to create separate subsidiaries to issue stablecoins.

Opponents also fear that the bill’s long list of monthly reserve reports, annual audits, liquidity rules, and marketing limit requirements could make small teams or international developers who want to build for U.S. users feel locked out. 

There’s also concern that if only a few big companies control most of the stablecoin market, they could set the terms for everyone else and cause less diversity in products, fewer choices for consumers, and more market power in the hands of a few firms. 

We must find a fair balance between safety and growth

The GENIUS Act is a historic step in bringing order to stablecoins because, for the first time, stablecoin issuers will have to answer to clear federal laws, something supporters say is long overdue.

However, critics are not wrong when they say important protections are missing because the bill could do more to limit political influence, protect users from abuse, and make room for new voices and ideas in the market. Many fear the law could favor powerful players at the expense of small innovators and everyday users.

Still, the GENIUS Act remains a step, but whether it moves the U.S. forward, backward, or sideways will depend on how it’s enforced, how it evolves, and who it truly serves in the long run. 

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SEC charges Unicoin and three top executives for $100 million securities fraud

SEC charges Unicoin and three top executives for $100 million securities fraud

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged New York-based Unicoin Inc. and three of its senior officers with fraud. The trio misled investors while selling “rights certificates” linked to an unissued Unicoin token.

The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on Tuesday, May 20, names chief executive and board chairman Alex Konanykhin, former president Silvina Moschini, and former chief investment officer Alex Dominguez.

According to the SEC, the defendants inflated asset values and wrongly implied federal approval to boost sales.

“We allege that Unicoin and its executives exploited thousands of investors with fictitious promises that its tokens, when issued, would be backed by real-world assets including an international portfolio of valuable real estate holdings,” said Mark Cave, associate director in the SEC’s Division of Enforcement.

“But as we allege, the real estate assets were worth a mere fraction of what the company claimed, and the majority of the company’s sales of rights certificates were illusory,” he added.

The agency says Unicoin placed ads in airports, thousands of New York City taxis, on television, and on social media, portraying the certificates as a safe “next-generation” digital investment.

More than 5,000 people bought in, believing each certificate would later convert one-for-one into Unicoin tokens.

Unicoin CEO sold 37.9 million of his own certificates

Investigators highlight three key misstatements. First, executives said the future tokens were “asset-backed” by billions of dollars in property and stakes in pre-IPO firms, even though company assets were only a fraction of that figure.

Second, they boasted of selling more than $3 billion in certificates, while actual proceeds never exceeded $110 million. Third, they described the certificates and tokens as “SEC-registered” or “U.S. registered,” though no registration had been filed.

The complaint also accuses Konanykhin and the company of running unregistered offerings. Regulators say the chief executive sold more than 37.9 million of his own rights certificates, often at a discount.

Unicoin, Konanykhin, Moschini, and Dominguez are charged with violating antifraud provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

The SEC asked the court for “permanent injunctive relief, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains with prejudgment interest, and civil penalties ” and orders barring the trio from serving as officers or directors of public companies. The action also seeks civil fines against the company itself.

The suit further names general counsel Richard Devlin, alleging he repeated similar false claims in private placement memoranda. Without admitting or denying the allegations, Devlin has agreed to a settlement that imposes a permanent injunction and a $37,500 civil penalty.

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Bithumb grabs 25% of Korea’s crypto market ahead of $1B IPO

Bithumb grabs 25% of Korea’s crypto market ahead of $1B IPO

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South Korea’s biggest crypto exchange by trading volume, Bithumb, has bounced back, easily regaining more than a quarter of the country’s total digital currency trading volume ahead of its anticipated $1 billion IPO in late 2025.

The rise is a welcome return to form for Bithumb, which has had a torrid 12 months. Founded in 2014 under the name Xcoin and rebranded in 2015, Bithumb once ruled the roost in South Korea with over 70% of trading volumes.

However, the exchange began to fade after suffering hacks, including one in 2018 that saw it lose about $30 million. Meanwhile, rival Upbit rose to prominence after partnering with internet-only Kbank, which could help process new exchange users digitally.

But by 2024, Bithumb came roaring back. It raised marketing expenses more than tenfold to 192 billion won in 2024, from 16 billion in 2023.

Data from market data provider Kaiko shows that Bithumb held 36% of the trade in January 2024. Though those figures have since waned, the firm has maintained around 25%. That’s quite a bit higher than its high single-digit market share at the start of 2023.

Bithumb’s sudden resurgence is throwing the market into disarray in a country where Upbit has long held a near-monopoly. 

For years, Upbit was a primary growth driver with Kbank, and it was able to roll out a digital onboarding process for customers. The return of Bithumb, however, indicates that the market is now better positioned to compete.

Bithumb sets the stage for public listing

Bithumb is presently in preparation for IPO. The exchange is now racing to reach 1 billion dollars in IPO goals.

A listing is scheduled for the second half of 2025, with Samsung Securities as the lead underwriter. The bourse plans to list South Korea’s KOSDAQ stock market and is considering a dual listing of the cryptocurrency exchange operator on the United States’ NASDAQ market to attract more global investors, KRX said.

Bithumb has already broken its non-exchange businesses into smaller units to make the company easier to manage ahead of the IPO chase. NYC 5G (Bithumb A) was spun off on 31 July 2025. This move is intended to simplify its corporate setup and remove core trading functions from other projects, such as “blockchain research, consulting, and NFT efforts.”

Solid financials back Bithumb, and its upcoming IPO is seen as a strategic step toward greater transparency. The move comes as the company works to rebuild trust following past controversies, including investigations into former executives over allegations of fraud and embezzlement.

Bithumb remains under regulatory scrutiny

Despite a few recent wins, Bithumb remains under intense regulatory scrutiny. South Korea enforces some of the world’s strictest crypto regulations, where violations can result in severe penalties.

In the first half of 2025, Bithumb was warned about potential regulatory suspension due to Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations. The Financial Services Commission had to develop a countermeasure for over 400 suspected user accounts.

That backdrop has pushed many smaller Korean crypto exchanges out of the business. Only two big players remain in the country: Bithumb and Upbit. International exchange players like Binance also encountered challenges from the authorities, and the tight data privacy law proved difficult to sidestep.

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SEC delays decision on 21Shares and Bitwise spot Solana ETF application

SEC delays decision on 21Shares and Bitwise spot Solana ETF application

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The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has postponed its decision on applications for spot Solana ETFs from 21Shares and Bitwise.

The decision disclosed in a regulatory filing comes as the commission initiates formal proceedings to judge those proposals.

The Commission announced that it is initiating proceedings to allow more time to assess whether the proposed rule change aligns with Section 6(b)(5) of the Act.

This section requires, among other provisions, that the rules of a national securities exchange be designed to prevent fraudulent and manipulative practices and to protect investors and the public interest.

The SEC initially accepted both applications earlier this year. Bitwise first submitted its proposal in January 2025 via the BZX Exchange. The agency issued its first delay on March 11, and with this latest development, the review process has now moved into a more formal and detailed stage.

21Shares, which already operates spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, was one of the earliest companies to apply for a Solana-based ETF in America’s market. However, like its competitors, the company has been stymied by regulation, as the SEC continues to be wary of financial products based on crypto.

This delay is nothing out of the ordinary. The SEC also pushed off a decision on Grayscale’s proposed Solana ETF earlier this month, indicating the glacial pace of most digital asset ETF applications.

Analysts predict high odds for Solana ETF in 2025

For their part, ETF experts remain unbothered by the latest delay. Bloomberg analysts James Seyffart and Eric Balchunas argue there’s still a good chance (70% in 2025) that there’s a Solana ETF approved in the U.S.

The rush isn’t limited to 21Shares and Bitwise. Heavyweights like VanEck and Franklin Templeton have also filed for Solana ETFs. This demand for Solana suggests strong institutional demand for regulated SOL exposure vehicles.

ETF products are also eyeing other altcoins like Litecoin and XRP. Litecoin ETF’s likely approval rates are around 90%, and XRP ETFs are at 85%. Dogecoin and Cardano ETFs follow closely, with approval probabilities of approximately 80% and 75%, respectively.

However, approval for all of those products is still pending. The approval process is slow and unpredictable. Some of these filings may not receive final action until late-2025.

Investors respond to SEC delays

The price of Solana saw a small bump on the news. SOL/USD has suffered the most in the last 7 days, with a loss of about 1.2% to trade around $166 at the time of writing. The market is also heavily sensitive to any whiffs of regulation, particularly on how they’d impact investor confidence and future ETF product availability.

Paradoxically, this decline is taking place at a time when institutions are showing even more interest in Solana. Some analysts believe the sluggish market may not be a long-term condition. As per recent trends, Solana has never been overbought. Thus, we can expect a more or less mid-term recovery.

Adding to the bullish action is the word from CME Group that it will launch Solana’s future contracts. If successful, these futures would allow investors to hedge or speculate on SOL’s price in a regulated setting. And while the move is parsed as incremental, it is also predicted to make it easier for future ETFs to be approved.

Futures products do not manage the ETF but enable institutions to speculate on Solana without owning the coin. This is especially important because the regulatory outlook for spot crypto markets remains highly uncertain.

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