Circle Issues 750 Million USDC on the Solana Network

On December 18, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) said during a year-end Q&A event: “Here’s how I evaluate early-stage projects: First, is the product solid? But more crucially, I use the product to gauge the team’s execution skills. Put simply—can they build a good product that meets current needs? And if requirements shift tomorrow? If they need to add new features or switch systems, can they deliver fast? To me, that matters more than the features they have right now. And let me be clear: All prediction market projects will eventually learn from one another.”

On December 18, the European Central Bank (ECB) held its deposit facility rate steady at 2%, matching market expectations—marking the fourth straight meeting with no policy changes. Its main refinancing rate and marginal lending rate were also kept unchanged at 2.15% and 2.40%, respectively. (FXStreet)

**Binance Founder CZ on BNB Chain: Prioritize Value, Execution Over Rankings** On December 18, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) shared his vision for BNB Chain during a year-end Q&A session: “My take on BNB Chain is simple: keep creating value for builders. Spend most of your time building—occasionally check the competitive landscape and industry trends to stay on track, but focus on execution. Rankings (1st, 2nd, 3rd) don’t matter; the key is to keep doing what you do best: consistent value creation. Looking ahead, the BNB ecosystem’s size should outpace any single business within it—including centralized exchanges and various protocols. That said, the ecosystem’s foundational layer could also be smaller than a specific token, much like how many Nasdaq-listed companies have market caps far bigger than the Nasdaq exchange itself. All outcomes are possible. BNB Chain already aligned product and market long ago. My message to builders? Adopt a long-term marathon mindset—bu

**CoinDesk: SoFi Launches U.S. Dollar Stablecoin SoFiUSD** December 18 — U.S.-listed fintech firm SoFi Technologies (SOFI) has launched the U.S. dollar stablecoin SoFiUSD, targeting faster, lower-cost fund transfers for banks, fintechs and enterprise platforms, per CoinDesk. Issued by SoFi Bank—an FDIC-insured U.S. national bank—the stablecoin marks the first time a U.S. national bank has opened stablecoin infrastructure to external parties. Initially restricted to internal use, SoFiUSD is set to roll out to a broader base of SoFi users in the coming months. Unlike stablecoins from native crypto companies, SoFiUSD is fully backed 1:1 by cash held at the Federal Reserve, enabling instant redemptions with no credit or liquidity risk. Deployed on a public blockchain, the stablecoin facilitates near-real-time, 24/7 fund movement at low cost.

On December 18, official sources confirmed that Fuse Energy—a decentralized finance (DeFi) project built on the Solana blockchain—has closed a $70 million Series B funding round. The round was co-led by Lowercarbon Capital and Balderton Capital, valuing the company at $5 billion.

On December 18, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) shared insights during a year-end Q&A event: Building professional connections takes time. While some founders see rapid growth right after launching an idea, such cases are rare. Most founders need to invest time in building their network before achieving meaningful success—that’s his advice. For entrepreneurs, there’s no fixed formula for success; paths to it are diverse. He urged attendees not to take his advice too literally, noting he only shared it to set a tone for future questions and keep the session efficient. There will be plenty of opportunities ahead. He encouraged everyone to keep building, keep learning, and move forward step by step.