Raydium introduces new features for creators and developers through its LaunchLab program.

The S&P 500 dropped 2.24% as chip stocks tumbled and Fed Chair Powell warned tariffs could fuel inflation, offering no clear rate outlook. Gold hit a record $3,343, up 3.5%, as U.S.-China trade tensions and a weaker dollar drove safe-haven demand. Falling yields and Fed inflation concerns added support. The Coindesk Indices, which tracks the broader crypto market, are up by 0.10%, with Bitcoin up 0.40% and Ether down 1.36% over the past 24 hours. Trade these markets and more with up to 500x leverage on Bybit MT5 using this 

Today's top performer is LAYER, up 5.1%, after the launch of the Emerald Card Program with $LAYER rewards.

Solayer (LAYER), launched in August 2024, is Solana's first native restaking protocol, allowing users to earn yield by securing decentralized apps with staked SOL or LSTs. Solayer has 

 the Emerald Card program, offering rewards in $LAYER for users who sign up, make a purchase, and share their purchase on X. Refunds are now available for users in restricted countries or who failed KYC. Pre-orders will be accepted starting today.

Check out the latest prices, charts, and data of 

 new features for creators and developers through its LaunchLab program. Creators can now earn 10% of trading fees from the AMM pool post-graduation. Tokens launched via LaunchLab have a simple fee structure, with 50% going to the community pool, 25% for $RAY buybacks, and 25% for program fees. The platform also offers a referral program, where users can earn 0.1% of swap volume in SOL. Additionally, LaunchLab provides enhanced distribution for developers, allowing tokens to be visible across trading apps and terminals from Day 1. Raydium has partnered with leading apps like Axiom.

Yesterday, Bitcoin spot ETFs saw $201.7M in net outflows, all from non-GBTC funds, while GBTC had no change.

, a verifiable data infrastructure platform using ZKPs and MPC, has launched its ONProver node. Users can run the lightweight node, complete tasks, and earn $ON tokens redeemable at TGE. The project has raised $12M and is live on the Monad Testnet. Early participants can join the airdrop by signing up, connecting an EVM wallet, and running the Prover.

Beginner

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Raydium launches new features with creator rewards, referral program, and enhanced developer distribution

The top industries you can make USDC payments in include retail, e-commerce, travel, entertainment, technology, digital services, philanthropy and more.

 is expanding beyond crypto trading to help create a more accessible and efficient global financial system. Several industries are rapidly adopting this regulated 

 as a payment method, offering consumers new ways to use their digital dollars for everyday purchases and services. This article examines the top seven industries where USDC payments are making the greatest impact today, how these transactions work behind the scenes and the advantages that make this stablecoin an attractive alternative to conventional payment methods.

USDC is a regulated stablecoin, issued by Circle, that maintains a fixed 1:1 value with the US dollar. It offers speed, efficiency and borderless transactions while eliminating the price volatility that makes many cryptocurrencies impractical for everyday transactions.

Each USDC token is fully backed by US dollars and short-term Treasury instruments held in regulated financial institutions. This transparent reserve structure ensures stability and builds trust among merchants and consumers, contributing to USDC's growing adoption as a payment method worldwide.

 to transfer value directly between digital wallets. When a user initiates a payment, their wallet creates a digitally signed transaction specifying the recipient's address and the USDC amount. This transaction is broadcast to the blockchain network, where validators verify the signature and confirm sufficient balance.

Once it’s validated, the transaction is added to the blockchain, and the USDC 

 automatically updates balances by reducing the sender's holdings and increasing the recipient's. This process typically completes within seconds to minutes, depending upon the specific blockchain network and its current congestion level.

For merchants, payment processors like Circle Business Solutions and BitPay handle the technical aspects by integrating with point-of-sale systems. These services can automatically convert incoming USDC to fiat currency (if desired), provide compliance support and generate financial reporting.

USDC operates across multiple blockchain networks, including 

. Specialized bridges enable transfers between these systems while maintaining the token's 1:1 dollar peg throughout the payment journey.

While USDC offers substantial benefits over traditional payment systems, it also presents the following challenges that users and businesses should consider before adoption.

Best industries in which to make USDC payments

USDC adoption continues to grow across numerous sectors, with specific industries leading the way in accepting this digital dollar for goods and services.

Retail has embraced USDC as a payment option across diverse price points and product categories. Leading brands such as Home Depot, GameStop and Chipotle now accept USDC through payment processors like BitPay and Flexa, offering customers a streamlined checkout experience.

 the acceptance of USDC through Crypto.com's payment service, marking the electronics giant's first step into direct crypto transactions in the region. Online marketplaces and smaller e-commerce stores also incorporate USDC payment gateways to offer customers more flexibility while reducing transaction costs.

The travel industry has emerged as a front-runner in USDC adoption, offering travelers a convenient way to book overseas vacations without currency exchange complications. 

 (AVA), a blockchain-based travel booking platform, allows customers to pay with USDC for over 3 million travel products worldwide, including hotels, flights and car rentals.

Other travel providers like Cheapair.com and Alternative Airlines also accept cryptocurrency payments, including USDC, and provide travelers with seamless booking experiences regardless of location. This adoption is particularly valuable for international travelers, who can avoid currency exchange fees and enjoy faster transaction processing.

The entertainment sector has embraced USDC payments across various platforms. Major streaming services and content providers now accept cryptocurrency payments, allowing subscribers to access premium content using their digital assets.

In the gaming world, platforms such as Xbox and various online gaming services accept USDC through payment processors like BitPay, enabling gamers to purchase games, in-game items and subscriptions. Additionally, Twitch streamers can receive donations in USDC, creating new revenue streams for content creators.

Tech companies were among the earliest adopters of cryptocurrency payments. Microsoft, one of the world's largest technology corporations, accepts USDC through BitPay for various products and services, such as Microsoft account credits that can be used for Xbox games and apps.

Other tech vendors embracing USDC payments include Newegg, a popular electronics retailer; ExpressVPN, a leading virtual private network service; and Dish Network, which allows subscribers to pay for their TV services using cryptocurrencies. Software companies, web hosting services and cloud storage providers also integrate USDC payment options.

The automotive industry has begun exploring cryptocurrency payments, with companies like Tesla periodically accepting digital currencies for vehicle purchases. Platforms like 

 facilitate vehicle purchases using stablecoins such as USDC, connecting buyers with dealerships willing to accept cryptocurrency payments.

Luxury brands across various segments have also started accepting USDC, thus appealing to crypto-wealthy clientele. From high-end watches and jewelry to designer fashion and accessories, luxury merchants recognize the growing purchasing power of crypto holders and are adapting their payment systems accordingly.

Charitable organizations worldwide now accept USDC donations, offering donors a transparent and efficient way to support causes they care about. Major international organizations like Save the Children and The Water Project accept cryptocurrency donations, leveraging blockchain's transparency to show donors exactly how their contributions are being used.

Smaller nonprofits are also adopting USDC payment options, often benefiting from lower transaction fees as compared to traditional donation methods — especially for international contributions. This allows more of each donation to go directly to the cause, rather than being lost to processing fees.

Law firms, accounting services, consulting agencies and other professional service providers are increasingly accepting USDC payments, particularly those serving clients in the technology and finance sectors. These businesses benefit from immediate settlement and reduced transaction costs, especially when working with international clients.

USDC stands at the forefront of an emerging internet-native financial system that promises to transform global value exchange. With 

, UDSC is demonstrating its capacity to handle significant economic activity at scale.

Several complementary developments are driving USDC's growing role in payments: 

User experience (UX) innovations push technical complexities to the background, making the technology accessible to mainstream users. The expanding connections between USDC and traditional finance (TradFi) are unlocking practical payment applications beyond crypto trading, including global payroll, supplier payments, remittances and merchant services.

This progression mirrors the internet’s development, from dial-up connections and basic browsers to today's seamless digital experiences that serve billions of people. With traditional payment executives recognizing the need for instant payment infrastructure, USDC offers a solution that aligns with broader financial trends toward openness and frictionless value transfer.

USDC leverages blockchain's fundamental advantages — speed, cost-efficiency, global reach and programmability — to power frictionless value exchange across industries and borders, helping to build a more accessible and efficient global financial system.

With major corporations like Sony Singapore already embracing this regulated stablecoin, we're witnessing the early stages of what could become the new standard for digital payments in our increasingly connected global economy.

Intermediate

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Top 7 industries that you can make USDC payments in

Ongoing US-China trade tensions are contributing to significant fluctuations in the cryptocurrency market.

On Apr 13, 2025, the cryptocurrency market faced a shock with the sudden collapse of MANTRA's OM token, plummeting from $6.35 to $0.37 — a drop of over 90% in just hours. This drastic decline reduced its market cap from $6.11 billion to approximately $683 million, prompting comparisons to past crypto disasters, such as the Terra LUNA collapse and the FTX scandal.

MANTRA CEO John Patrick Mullin attributed the crash to reckless forced liquidations initiated by 

 (CEXs) during low-liquidity hours that exacerbated the price drop. He insisted that neither the MANTRA team nor its investors were at fault, noting that the project’s core tokenomics remained sound. However, suspicions of insider trading emerged as on-chain analytics revealed significant deposits of OM tokens into exchanges just before the crash, raising concerns among investors.

The immediate aftermath saw a crisis of confidence, with MANTRA's Telegram group disappearing shortly after the crash, fueling speculation of a rug pull. Critics accused the MANTRA team of attempting to avoid backlash by removing communication channels. Major exchanges like Binance and OKX also faced scrutiny for their roles in the situation, with OKX launching an investigation into suspicious activities dating back to March 2025.

Despite a modest recovery to around $0.73 by April 15, down over 85% from pre-crash levels, confidence in MANTRA has been severely shaken. Mullin announced plans for a recovery strategy, including a token buyback and enhanced community engagement through the $109 million MANTRA Ecosystem Fund (MEF). However, investor skepticism remains high, with critics questioning the project's management and its reliance on CEXs.

In contrast to the turmoil surrounding MANTRA, XRP has emerged as a strong contender for the next US crypto spot ETF approval. Teucrium launched the first US-based XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF), a 2x leveraged product under the ticker XXRP, which saw over $5 million in volume on its launch day. XRP currently leads the ETF filing race with ten active applications, surpassing competitors like Solana and Litecoin.

XRP's market liquidity has significantly improved, as highlighted by Kaiko Indices, making it an attractive candidate for ETFs due to stable pricing and lower trade slippage. Analysts are particularly optimistic about an upcoming SEC decision on Grayscale’s XRP Spot ETF application on May 22, which could have substantial implications for XRP’s future.

With XRP trading at around $2.09, analysts are monitoring key resistance levels at $2.24 and $2.38. This momentum suggests that XRP may soon reclaim its market share, particularly as it has shown resilience against a backdrop of bearish sentiment in options markets. The structure of Teucrium’s ETF, which utilizes swap agreements and European benchmarks, may pave the way for more crypto ETFs, signaling a shift toward broader institutional acceptance of digital assets.

As the crypto market grapples with the fallout from the OM token collapse, the developments surrounding XRP provide a glimmer of optimism. With potential regulatory breakthroughs on the horizon, XRP’s position as a foundational asset in tokenized finance could accelerate its mainstream adoption, marking a pivotal moment for the cryptocurrency landscape.

Advanced

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Bybit x Santiment social sentiment report: OM collapse and hopes of XRP ETF approval

Bybit Launchpool is an asset issuance platform that allows users to stake various cryptocurrencies to earn new project tokens without any fees. Learn more here.

Cryptocurrency enthusiasts are always on the lookout for innovative ways to grow their investments, and Bybit Launchpool offers just that. Imagine 

 your favorite tokens to earn new, promising project tokens with no fees involved! With its user-friendly platform, competitive yields and enhanced liquidity, Bybit Launchpool is transforming the way investors engage with emerging cryptocurrencies. This comprehensive guide will provide you with everything you need to know about maximizing your earnings through Bybit Launchpool. 

 is an innovative asset issuance platform that enables users to discover quality crypto assets. By staking your cryptocurrency, you gain direct access to new tokens from vetted, emerging projects, providing a unique opportunity to engage with new projects. 

To begin using Bybit Launchpool, you must first create an account on Bybit and select from the available pools to stake. Once you’ve staked your funds, your daily Launchpool yield will automatically be calculated based on the proportion of your average staked amount relative to the total staked amount of all users. After the system calculates the daily average staked amount for all participants, rewards will be distributed to your Funding Account within a few hours after midnight (12AM UTC) each day.

To calculate your daily yield, use the following formula (where β refers to the Launchpool reward): 

Daily β yield = (Your average daily staked amount in the pool / total staked amount of all participants in the pool) × daily β reward pool

Note that you'll only receive a payout if your yield equals or exceeds 0.01 USDT equivalent.

Bybit Launchpool has introduced several enhancements that improve user experience and increase earning potential.

The new Bybit Launchpool allows you to stake an increased variety of tokens, providing multiple opportunities to earn rewards. Participants can select from different projects and pools, enabling them to diversify their staking strategies and maximize their potential returns. This flexibility encourages broader participation and engagement with emerging cryptocurrency projects.

Another key upgrade is the chance to earn higher yields. By staking tokens in the Launchpool, users can acquire new tokens before they officially hit the market. This early access provides the potential to profit from price gains as demand for these tokens usually grows after listing, offering an edge over traditional trading.

The updated mechanism for reward distribution allows users to more quickly receive their earnings. Instead of waiting for days to receive their yields, users now receive their rewards within just a few hours after the daily calculation period. This faster payout system enhances liquidity and makes it easier for participants to reinvest or use their earnings sooner, adding convenience to the overall experience.

Bybit Launchpool offers a range of benefits for users looking to grow their crypto investments. By staking tokens, you can earn additional coins — including exposure to new cryptocurrencies — while 

 through daily rewards. The platform’s flexibility allows you to unstake tokens at any time, maintaining liquidity without any fees. 

VIP users on Bybit enjoy higher staking caps and/or estimated APRs as compared to regular users, allowing them to earn more from their staked assets — an appealing benefit for those with larger investments. They also gain priority access to new projects and tokens, which gives them a head start on emerging opportunities before they become widely available. 

Bybit Launchpool makes it easy to stake your cryptocurrencies and earn new tokens. Please note that you’ll need to 

 and complete Identity Verification before you can proceed with Bybit Launchpool. If you don’t already have a Bybit account, you can follow our guide 

Once you’ve created your Bybit account, here’s how to get started with Bybit Launchpool. 

: Log in to your Bybit account and hover your cursor over the 

tab on the navigation bar at the top of the page. Then, hover your cursor over 

: Scroll down to view the available Launchpools. Then, click on 

button of the corresponding Launchpool you would like to participate in.

: Input the amount you would like to stake, read and agree to the terms, and click on 

Congratulations! You’ve successfully staked tokens for a Launchpool project!

To view your staked tokens, simply navigate to the 

Once you’ve earned rewards (worth a minimum of 0.01 USDT equivalent), they’ll be automatically credited to your account daily.

Trading Launchpool Tokens on Bybit Pre-Market

Bybit's Spot Pre-Market Trading product allows users to trade Launchpool-listed tokens before they officially debut on the Spot market. To participate, users must create an account and upgrade to a 

. The trading process involves two key roles: Makers, who place orders at set prices, and Takers, who fulfill these orders completely. Both parties incur transaction fees, and sellers must provide collateral based on each token’s risk. If a seller fails to deliver on time, the buyer receives a portion of the collateral as compensation. This feature not only gives traders early access to new tokens but also aids in determining the market value of each token, enhancing the overall trading experience and offering opportunities for potential profits.

Bybit Launchpool provides an excellent opportunity for cryptocurrency enthusiasts to earn new tokens through staking, with no fees involved. The platform offers competitive APRs, a user-friendly interface and the flexibility to unstake your tokens at any time. With diverse token options and transparent daily yield calculations, Bybit Launchpool caters to both casual and serious investors, making it a valuable tool for anyone looking to engage with emerging projects while generating passive income.

Bybit Launchpool.png

Bybit Launchpool: Everything you need to know (updated 2025)

Blockchain

DeFi

An impermanent loss will only incur on paper and only becomes realized once it's withdrawn from the liquidity pool. Learn how it works.

 (DeFi) is liquidity mining, which is how users place their cryptocurrencies into liquidity pools on 

 (LPs) earn rewards for increasing the liquidity available in these DEXs for market participants to swap.

These AMM DEXs utilize algorithms that drive the token rebalancing formula for the pools, allowing for sustainable swapping. However, using such algorithms result in divergence between the new price of the cryptocurrency in the liquidity pool and the original price at which LPs have deposited it. This difference in price is known as impermanent loss, and becomes greater when the change in price is larger.

In this guide, we’ll discuss impermanent loss, the pros and cons involved in providing liquidity, and how you can avoid or minimize your level of impermanent loss.

Liquidity Pools and Automated Market Makers (AMMs)

In order to understand how impermanent loss works, it’s vital to be familiar with AMMs and liquidity pools.

DEXs were developed to enable token exchanges that don’t need to use a reliable intermediary. Assets never leave users’ wallets, and are never in the possession of the exchange, unlike when using a centralized exchange (CEX). DEXs preserve decentralization through AMM algorithms and liquidity pools, two blockchain-based inventions.

Understanding Automated Market Makers (AMMs)

Traditional order book models depend upon the matching of buyers and sellers in order to carry out transactions. When you use an AMM DEX, you’re trading against pools of tokens instead of other traders, with the liquidity in the pool provided by LPs. Although liquidity pools can be made up of multiple tokens, they are usually just made up of two pools of tokens. The ratio of tokens available within these pools is controlled by the following algorithm:

 represent the value of each type of token in the pool. 

 is the fixed constant that keeps the total liquidity of the pool constant.

According to this formula, the total value of each liquidity pool are always equal to each other. The fixed constant creates an automatic pricing mechanism  that maintains the equal value of each token pair.

A liquidity pool (LP) usually comprises two tokens, known as a pair. For instance, DAI and ETH form a pair. The weightage of both cryptocurrencies is equal in value to make it simpler for users to conduct trading. The number of tokens can be different in each pool but the total value of each pool must equal each other. For example, in terms of dollar value, the ratio will be 50% DAI and 50% ETH in this pool.

Liquidity pools are essentially smart contract–enforced deposits of two tokens needed to enable swaps on a DEX.

, there’s a constant formula-based algorithm that ensures the values of the two cryptocurrencies remain the same. Moreover, the algorithm allows liquidity to be provided, no matter the trade’s magnitude.

 increasing a token’s price as its desired quantity rises. As a result, the price of a token in a liquidity pool is dictated by the proportion of that currency.

For example, when you purchase DAI from an ETH/DAI pool using ETH, you are essentially reducing the supply of DAI in the pool. At the same time, the supply of ETH increases as you add ETH to the ETH/DAI pool. In such a situation, the quantity of ETH increases and DAI decreases, which results in each ETH being worth less DAI. 

Since these pools offer a better trading experience, some systems have begun to incentivize liquidity providers with additional tokens to provide liquidity to some pools. This process is more commonly called liquidity mining.

When you deposit into a liquidity pool and the price of the tokens change compared to when you deposit them, this is referred to as impermanent loss. 

Another way to look at impermanent loss is when you provide liquidity by depositing two cryptocurrencies in a liquidity pool, and make a profit that’s less than what you would have made by simply holding the two cryptocurrencies. It occurs when a cryptocurrency’s market price shifts, depreciating the value of the cryptocurrency you deposited in a liquidity pool below its current market value. The loss is even greater with a greater price change.

Impermanent loss can be negated if the token price reverts to its previous value, making the loss "impermanent", or “temporary”. It's also critical to remember that this loss does not account for trading fees that investors receive in exchange for supplying liquidity, which can cancel out losses.

If investors remove their cryptocurrencies from the pool, the impermanent loss becomes realized. In order to make up for this loss, pools have trading fees that go to liquidity providers to hopefully make up for their impermanent loss.

Which Pools Are Prone to Impermanent Loss?

Some pools are more prone to impermanent loss than others. Typically, these pools contain volatile cryptocurrencies. If the price of a cryptocurrency has been volatile for a while, it makes for a risky cryptocurrency pair, since price fluctuations will likely result in impermanent loss.

Likewise, a pool with cryptocurrencies that are correlated, such as a liquidity pool consisting of ETH and cryptocurrency correlated to ETH such as frxETH, or USDT and USDC that are both correlated to the USD, will have no impermanent loss as prices move in tandem with each other. 

You can take some precautions, discussed further in this article, in order to avoid impermanent loss.

How Does Impermanent Loss Happen in DeFi?

Let’s use an example: As a liquidity provider, Jack stakes 1 ETH and 100 USDT. According to the AMM concept, the staked tokens need to be of equivalent value. Thus, Jack’s 1 ETH would be equal in value to 100 USDT. At that moment, Jack’s stakes translate to 10% of the total of 10 ETH and 1,000 USDT in the liquidity pool.

One week later, the price of 1 ETH is equivalent to 400 USDT. Thus, the pool is now imbalanced as 10 ETH is worth 4,000 USDT but the pool is paired with only 1,000 USDT. 

Arbitrageurs will quickly spot this pricing inefficiency in this pool and buy up ETH from the pool with USDT, removing ETH and adding USDT, until the total value of ETH in the pool is equal to the total value of USDT in the pool, also known as rebalancing the pool. In this case, arbitrageurs will rebalance the pool until there is 5 ETH and 2,000 USDT left, as 5 ETH at 400 USDT is equal to 2,000 USDT. 

To know if Jack will suffer an impermanent loss or profit from his stakes, he’ll have to withdraw 10% of his share from the liquidity pool of 0.5 ETH and 200 USDT, which amounts to $400:

200 USDT + $200 = $400. However, Jack would have made $500 if he’d held onto his ETH and USDT because 1 ETH has increased in value to $400.

By providing liquidity in an AMM, Jack’s gains are 50% less than they would have been if he’d held his cryptocurrencies. 

This loss is called “impermanent” because it is not realized before the LP position is withdrawn. Also, if ETH’s value returns to 100 USDT in the above example, the loss will be reversed. Therefore, it’s an 

 loss that changes with the dynamism in the market.

As discussed above, liquidity providers don’t always experience a monetary setback because of impermanent loss. However, it can happen in some cases, such as the example below.

Suppose you have $500 worth of two cryptocurrencies. We’ll use UNI and ETH for this example. Let’s assume you have 150 UNI and 1 ETH, that 1 ETH is worth 150 UNI, and that the total value of each is $500. However, once you deposit both the currencies in the pool, the ratio will differ, since the currencies will fluctuate in terms of price as trades occur in the market.

, you might have more UNI or more ETH in the pool. So, what happens when the rate differs from the time you deposited both the currencies? You’ll suffer from impermanent loss once your cryptocurrencies are withdrawn from the liquidity pool. 

Keep in mind that the rates have changed since you first deposited the currencies. Therefore, when you withdraw them, you may have more of one currency and less of the other — or vice versa.

What if you’d just held your assets and hadn’t provided them as liquidity? You would have more of both currencies, which would translate to a higher value.

For an advanced impermanent loss calculation with formula, 

By becoming an LP and providing liquidity to AMM DEXs, you receive rewards in the form of platform trading fees. With increased trading activity and higher volatility, the rewards earned by LPs also increases. Hence, with sufficient trading volume on the platform, it’s likely that the accumulated fees earned by LPs will be able to cover their impermanent losses, making the liquidity provision profitable.

More recently, AMM DEXs have also begun to reward LPs with their governance tokens. Examples include UNI, CRV and BAL. Such tokens can either be utilized elsewhere in the DeFi ecosystem or traded on exchanges for a profit.

However, the profitability of being an LP is highly dependent on the time and pool you choose to provide liquidity to. Picking a pool with high trading activity fueled by market conditions is often profitable for LPs.

The most prominent disadvantage of liquidity pools is impermanent loss, because it can occur regardless of the direction in which the market moves.

In some cases, if the market is volatile an impermanent loss is inevitable, since prices are bound to fluctuate. However, you can take some steps to make sure you avoid impermanent loss— or at least don’t suffer a heavier blow when prices move.

If you want to avoid impermanent loss altogether, you can consider providing liquidity to a stablecoin pair. For example, if you provide liquidity using USDT and USDC, there will be no risk of impermanent loss, since stablecoin prices are meant to be stable.

However, the major downside to this approach is that you won’t benefit from any rise in the market. If you’re liquidity mining in a bull market, there’s no point in holding stablecoins, because you won’t receive any returns on them.

However, if you’re liquidity mining in a bear market, try to provide liquidity with stablecoins and earn trading fees. This way, you’ll be profiting through trading fees without losing any money.

How to Avoid Impermanent Loss When Providing Liquidity in DeFi

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