From Mastercard to Hollywood: The Biggest Crypto Collaborations of the First Week of November

The opening week of November was marked by significant cryptocurrency collaborations interconnecting finance, entertainment and technology.

The combination of Ripple’s stablecoin project with Mastercard, Crypto.com going Hollywood, and Binance enabling Bahrain’s first crypto-as-a-service has demonstrated how large companies can bring cryptocurrencies closer to mainstream acceptance by integrating blockchain innovations with classic systems.

Crypto.com has entered into an exclusive partnership with Hollywood.com to introduce an entertainment-focused prediction market, giving fans the opportunity to trade outcomes related to movies, TV shows, Broadway, music and major awards.

Event contracts are available through Crypto.com Derivatives North America (CDNA), a CFTC registered platform, allowing users to make regulated predictions through Hollywood.com. Crypto.com’s head of capital markets said the partnership opens up a “new legal prediction market” for entertainment enthusiasts and expands the ways people engage with the content they love.

Hollywood.com’s co-CEOs noted that the collaboration is the first predictive platform dedicated entirely to pop culture and creative media, from chart-topping artists to reality show results.

By combining blockchain-based prediction markets with the entertainment industry, this partnership introduces a new interactive trading experience for fans. It blends finance, culture, and technology into one of the most accessible entry points for mainstream cryptocurrency participation.

Tink-Coinbase partnership simplifies cryptocurrency trading in Germany

Tink, a Visa-owned open banking platform, has teamed up with Coinbase to launch Pay by Bank for cryptocurrency purchases in Germany. This feature allows users to buy and sell digital assets directly from their bank account without requiring card information or manual data entry.

Pay by Bank leverages open banking APIs to enable secure account-to-account transfers under the EU’s PSD2 framework. The integration provides Coinbase users with a faster, more secure way to access the crypto economy, reflecting growing consumer demand for streamlined mobile payments.

Tink’s commercial director for Central Europe said the collaboration expands payment options for German users while supporting “the next wave of cryptocurrency adoption.” Coinbase’s German managing director added that it highlights the exchange’s goal to remain the “most trusted and compliant” cryptocurrency provider in the region.

The launch builds on Tink’s network of 13,000 financial institutions across 20 markets and partnerships with Vodafone Germany and Adyen. With Pay by Bank gaining popularity across sectors from telecoms to e-commerce, the move marks a broader shift towards low-cost, cardless payments. For both Tink and Coinbase, Germany’s mature banking infrastructure and growing cryptocurrency adoption make it a strategic market for innovation.

Ripple partners with Mastercard, WebBank, and Gemini to pilot stablecoin payments.

Ripple has teamed up with Mastercard, WebBank, and Gemini to test using RLUSD, a US dollar-backed stablecoin, for credit card payments. The pilot explores transaction processing for Gemini credit cards on the XRP Ledger (XRPL), marking a potential milestone for blockchain-based payments between regulated U.S. banks and major card networks.

Mastercard’s global head of digital commercialization said the partnership demonstrated how “open, regulated stablecoin payments” can enter the financial mainstream while maintaining consumer protection and compliance. This initiative also expands Ripple and Gemini’s ongoing collaboration following the launch of the XRP edition of the Gemini credit card earlier this year.

Authorized by NYDFS and fully backed by cash reserves, RLUSD currently has a market capitalization of $1 billion and liquidity is 80% in Ethereum and 20% in XRPL. The pilot highlights how stablecoins can provide faster and cheaper payments without sacrificing regulatory standards.

Ripple’s announcement coincides with a $500 million strategic investment led by Fortress Investment Group and Citadel Securities, valuing the company at $40 billion. The project highlights Ripple’s momentum as stablecoins, currently a $306 billion market, continue to gain traction in mainstream finance.

SoftBank and OpenAI Alliance Provide AI Opportunities for European Cryptocurrency Small and Medium Enterprises

The establishment of SB OpenAI Japan, a consortium of SoftBank and OpenAI, highlights the power of alliances to accelerate AI adoption across diverse sectors.

The target region of the project is Japan. However, Europe could also be the location for similar partnerships that provide efficient compliance tools for cryptocurrency-friendly small and medium-sized businesses.

The EU’s MiCA regulation, which will unify cryptocurrency laws, and the AI ​​Act, which will allow for sandbox testing, further strengthen the capabilities of European companies in the field of responsible AI integration. These frameworks lower licensing barriers while keeping innovation aligned with regulatory standards.

For businesses offering cryptocurrency payment solutions, AI offers huge benefits, such as automating AML and CTF compliance, expediting transactions, and improving overall safety. This kind of integration not only reduces the risks associated with operations, but also gains the trust of regulators and users.

The SoftBank-OpenAI partnership models a scenario where investment, development, and adoption all happen simultaneously. If Europe implements such a method, AI will become one of the determining factors in how crypto SMEs will grow and operate safely.

BBK and Binance launch GCC’s first cryptocurrency-as-a-service integration

Bank of Bahrain Kuwait (BBK) has teamed up with Binance to build the Gulf region’s first Crypto-as-a-Service (CaaS) integration, which is subject to approval by the Central Bank of Bahrain. The partnership was unveiled at the Gateway Gulf Investment Forum 2025 and is a significant step in enabling the merger of banking and digital asset services.

Thanks to the Binance Link program and Plug and Play API, BBK customers can buy, sell and manage cryptocurrencies directly from the BBK mobile app without the need to open a separate Binance account. This integration will facilitate a seamless transition where digital assets will be treated the same as traditional assets under BBK’s regulatory framework.

The Banking Group CEO pointed out that this is not just about new technology, but about a changing customer experience, while the Binance Bahrain General Manager added that this is an important step towards Bahrain’s financial inclusion goals.

This project is consistent with Bahrain’s digital economy strategy and strengthens the country’s position as a leader in cryptocurrency regulation and fintech adoption.

If approved, the plan will serve as a demonstration for compliant CaaS across the GCC, demonstrating how Web3 capabilities can be safely integrated into any bank.

For Binance, this ensures its position as the architecture provider that will bring the next wave of cryptocurrency adoption to the regulated financial ecosystem.

Bitpanda expands into UK with 600+ digital assets and institutional partnerships

Austrian cryptocurrency platform Bitpanda has officially entered the UK, offering a comprehensive and fully-fledged digital asset offering of over 600 tradable assets already in the UK. This decision reflects the growing acceptance of cryptocurrencies in Europe and the UK, establishing them as important markets for both retail and institutional investors.

With over 7 million users in Europe, Bitpanda works on the principle of mixing easy access with strict regulation, providing a customized and localized infrastructure for different levels of investors.

Bitpanda’s UK director said the company offers a “real alternative” that focuses on user experience, transparency and security. The company’s survey data shows that 15% of UK adults plan to invest in cryptocurrencies in the future, highlighting the growing demand.

Beyond retail access, Bitpanda’s technology solutions arm will provide white-label crypto tools to UK banks and fintechs. Through partnerships across Deutsche Bank, Société Générale, Raiffeisen and LBBW, and collaborations with Arsenal FC and the NFL, Bitpanda’s expansion has cemented its reputation as a trusted gateway for digital asset investments, bridging institutional finance and mainstream cryptocurrency adoption.