21 Feb, 2025

The Rise and Fall of Memecoins in Crypto’s Wild West

Key Takeaways● Argentina’s President Javier Milei and the failed Libra token fuel fresh scrutiny on memecoins.● Crypto insider trading and front-running have reached new levels of absurdity.● Industry voices, including Travis Kling, warn of a worsening "nihilistic" trend in crypto.● Memecoins dominate Solana’s blockchain activity, but long-term viability remains uncertain.● Crypto’s regulatory landscape is shifting, with potential support at high levels of U.S. government.As the latest memecoin frenzy implodes, the crypto world finds itself once again staring into the abyss. This time, the spectacle centers around Argentina’s President Javier Milei and the ill-fated Libra token, a debacle that has reignited debates over front-running, insider trading, and the sheer absurdity of the memecoin market.The Crypto CasinoIkigai Asset Management founder Travis Kling, a vocal critic of the industry's recent trajectory, sees this latest scandal as a symptom of a deeper rot. "We are, I guess, now speed-running a post-Gensler SEC regulation-free slash regulation-light… People have been calling it crime season," he said. Kling points to the increasing involvement of political figures like Donald Trump and Javier Milei as evidence that the crypto space has become a parody of itself."Iggy Azalea crawled so Donald J. Trump could walk," he quips, underscoring the bizarre cast of characters now profiting from the memecoin casino. What was once an underground phenomenon has become mainstream financial theater, complete with rug pulls and overnight fortunes.Inside the MachineCrypto’s latest poster boy for opportunism, Hayden Davis, pulled back the curtain on this ecosystem in a recent interview with Coffeezilla: "It is an insider’s game. This is an unregulated casino." And yet, despite acknowledging the risks, Davis played the game expertly—profiting handsomely while retail investors were left holding the bag.Kling, exhausted by the relentless cycle, puts it bluntly: "We have now distilled the con down into the president of Argentina running a five-hour con on the crypto ecosystem." The rapid churn of these scams has accelerated. Where once we saw multi-year token schemes, today’s cons are over in hours.Memecoins and the Solana BoomWhile memecoins have driven unprecedented on-chain activity—especially on Solana—Kling warns that this may not be the sustainable growth metric some investors hoped for. The prevailing institutional thesis has been to "own the casino," but as Solana’s memecoin-fueled surge faces sustainability issues, that bet suddenly looks riskier.Some, like Pantera’s Portfolio Manager Cosmo Jiang, argue that Solana’s strength goes beyond memecoins. "Solana provides the best experience for launching tokens, moving them around, trading them, holding them in your wallet," said Mert, a Solana builder. The infrastructure is there, but whether meaningful projects emerge remains an open question.What Does Crypto Stand For?For Kling, the memecoin frenzy underscores a deeper issue: crypto’s ongoing utility problem. "If you had numerous alt projects with significant real-world traction, it would be a different conversation. But the list is quite short."Despite the rampant grifting, Kling still sees a reason to stay in the fight. While the industry grapples with an identity crisis, crypto-friendly moves within the Trump administration—including the appointment of David Sacks and regulatory clarity discussions—suggest that institutional backing might provide a path forward."It’s a fight worth fighting," Kling says. But whether the industry takes this moment to self-regulate or continues down the road of unchecked speculation remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that the days of effortless grift may be numbered.

17 Feb, 2025

Standard Chartered Plans to Launch HKD-Backed Stablecoin With Animoca Brands and HKT

Quick Take● Standard Chartered, Animoca Brands and HKT have teamed up to issue a Hong Kong dollar-backed stablecoin.● The initiative comes as Hong Kong prepares to pass a bill regulating stablecoins.Standard Chartered Plans to Launch HKD-Backed Stablecoin With Animoca Brands and HKTStandard Chartered's Hong Kong unit, web3 investor Animoca Brands and telecom company Hong Kong Telecommunications (HKT) have teamed up to form a joint venture to issue a stablecoin pegged to the Hong Kong dollar.The joint venture plans to apply for a license from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) under the city's upcoming stablecoin regulatory regime, aiming to be among the first regulated stablecoin issuers, according to an announcement Monday.The planned stablecoin will draw on Standard Chartered's banking infrastructure, Animoca's crypto expertise and HKT's mobile wallet technology. The companies aim to develop use cases in payments, finance and cross-border transactions.Hong Kong's Planned Stablecoin Regulatory FrameworkHong Kong is moving toward a regulated stablecoin framework as part of its broader digital asset strategy. In December 2024, the government published the Stablecoins Bill, which would establish a licensing and regulatory regime for fiat-backed stablecoin issuers. Last month, Hong Kong's Legislative Council held its first discussion on the bill, noting that stablecoin issuers will need to obtain an HKMA license.Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong), Animoca Brands and HKT have already been involved in shaping the regulatory framework. In March 2024, the HKMA included them in its stablecoin issuer sandbox, allowing them to explore how stablecoins could bridge web3 and traditional finance and contribute to Hong Kong's position as a global digital assets hub."As a participant of the HKMA's stablecoin issuer sandbox, Standard Chartered looks forward to becoming one of the first issuers launching an HKD-backed stablecoin together with our strategic partners, bringing an innovative medium of exchange to Hong Kong and charting a new chapter for Hong Kong's digital asset market," said Mary Huen, CEO of Standard Chartered Hong Kong and Greater China and North Asia."By leveraging the bank's and our partners' core strengths, we aim to launch a stablecoin that can be used securely by institutions and individuals across a wide number of use cases," Huen added.