Summary of the last week of October: Coinbase, Crypto.com, and TRON strengthen Web3’s global reach.

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Victoria d’Este

Posted: Oct 31, 2025 3:04 PM Updated: Oct 31, 2025 3:04 PM

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Correction and fact check date: October 31, 2025, 3:04 p.m.

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From Trump’s Truth Social jumping into prediction markets to Citi and Coinbase reshaping institutional payments, the last week of October blurred the lines between mainstream finance and technology and cryptocurrencies. Partnerships span banks, social platforms, and universities, with each move strengthening blockchain’s growing role in global payments, tokenization, and education.

Trump Media & Technology Group is bringing prediction markets to Truth Social through a partnership with Crypto.com, marking the first time a major social media platform has integrated such trading. The new feature, called Truth Predict, allows users to bet on election results, economic data, commodity prices, and sports outcomes through Crypto.com’s CFTC-registered derivatives platform.

Trump Media CEO Devin Nunes said the move will give users “access to prediction markets through a trusted network.” The partnership also expands Donald Trump’s growing cryptocurrency portfolio under Truth Social’s CRO rewards system and Crypto.com’s plans for a digital asset treasury company focused on the Cronos (CRO) token.

Crypto.com CEO Kris Marszalek described prediction markets as a “billion-dollar industry” and said the collaboration will provide the world’s first prediction market accessible directly through social media.

This integration blends Truth Social’s engagement system with Crypto.com’s crypto infrastructure, allowing users to convert “Truth gems” into CRO for predictive trading. Beta testing is underway ahead of a full U.S. launch, while international expansion awaits regulatory approval.

This initiative strengthens Truth Social’s innovative credentials while also renewing questions about the overlap of Trump’s political and financial interests amid the Trump administration’s evolving cryptocurrency regulations.

Coinbase and Citi partner to modernize institutional payments.

Coinbase and Citi have unveiled a groundbreaking partnership to transform the way institutions move funds internationally by combining traditional banking infrastructure with innovative crypto capabilities. The goal of this partnership is to enable Citi’s institutional clients to leverage stablecoins and digital assets to increase speed and efficiency in cross-border payments.

Citi’s global payments network, spanning 94 markets and 300 clearing systems, will integrate with Coinbase’s secure digital asset infrastructure to streamline fiat-to-crypto and on-chain stablecoin transactions. “Our collaboration with Coinbase is a natural extension of our ‘network of networks’ approach,” said Debopama Sen, head of payments and services at Citi.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong described the move as evidence that “cryptocurrencies and stablecoins are the tools to update the global financial system.” This initiative aims to make 24/7 payments and instant cross-border payments a reality for institutional customers.

This partnership is a strategic move for Coinbase to diversify at a time when banks are accelerating the adoption of digital assets. As for Citi, it plans to continue strengthening its cryptocurrency presence and launch custody solutions by 2026.

By combining Citi’s global presence with Coinbase’s blockchain expertise, this partnership marks a pivotal shift toward a unified financial infrastructure where digital assets work seamlessly alongside traditional currencies.

Crypto.com has partnered with Pineapple Financial (NYSE: PAPL) to drive a $100 million Injectable (INJ) digital asset financing strategy, making Pineapple the first public company to hold INJ. Under the partnership, Crypto.com will serve as the primary custody provider, managing secure storage, native staking and long-term yield generation for Pineapple’s INJ holdings.

The collaboration leverages Crypto.com’s regulated custody platform to ensure Pineapple’s treasury operations are compliant and scalable for institutional participation. Crypto.com’s US users can also invest directly in shares of Pineapple Financial through the app.

Crypto.com President and COO Eric Anziani said the partnership demonstrates the company’s “digital asset infrastructure leadership” by supporting institutional finance transformation. Pineapple Financial CEO Shubha Dasgupta noted that Injective’s strategy combines blockchain efficiencies with traditional financial standards to strengthen the company’s “commitment to responsible innovation.”

Pineapple recently completed the $8.9 million purchase of INJ, launching an infusion treasury program aimed at bridging institutional finance and blockchain. This initiative also lays the foundation for tokenized financial applications in lending, securitization, and payments, positioning Pineapple as a pioneer in the emerging multi-trillion dollar asset tokenization market.

ClearBank Joins Circle Payments Network to Modernize Cross-Border Payments

UK-based ClearBank has partnered with Circle Internet Group to integrate its cloud-based banking platform into the Circle Payments Network (CPN) and connect existing banking rails with blockchain infrastructure to deliver faster, more transparent cross-border payments.

This partnership connects ClearBank’s regulated banking ecosystem with Circle’s USDC and EURC stablecoins, which are fully reserved and MiCAR compliant. This move will give institutions access to real-time payments, liquidity management, and stablecoin issuance and redemption through Circle Mint.

After regulatory hurdles delayed its own stablecoin plans, ClearBank decided to partner with Circle, an approach that would accelerate blockchain adoption while maintaining regulatory compliance. Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire said the partnership reflects growing demand for “tokenized currencies that meet regulatory standards.”

By joining CPN, ClearBank will gain access to programmable payment tools and blockchain-based treasury operations, reducing reliance on slow and costly correspondent banking systems. This collaboration also paves the way for tokenized asset settlement and instant liquidity transfer.

Industry analysts see this partnership as a model for regulated banks to enter blockchain finance, combining innovation and oversight. For ClearBank, this is a pragmatic, forward-thinking step to modernize payments without compromising trust or compliance.

Streamex leverages Chainlink to increase transparency and interoperability of tokenized gold

Streamex has partnered with Chainlink to power its gold-backed token, GLDY, with improved validation and cross-chain capabilities. This new partnership aims to bring more trust, transparency and liquidity to the digital gold market.

GLDY acts as a stablecoin backed by physical gold and provides investors with a yielding blockchain-based alternative to holding traditional gold. Our partnership with Chainlink introduces proof-of-reserve and price feeds that allow real-time verification that each GLDY token is fully backed by real gold stored in a secure vault, rather than relying on blind trust, paving the way toward stricter regulatory expectations for asset-backed tokens in a blockchain-based world.

The partnership also introduces Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) to Base and Solana, allowing GLDY to move across blockchain networks. Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Token (CCT) standard provides secure, compliant, and efficient transfer of GLDY between these two ecosystems, improving liquidity and functionality for users when using GLDY across multiple ecosystems.

As several industry experts have pointed out, the integration of GLDY and Chainlink is part of a broader trend surrounding verifiable and interoperable tokenization frameworks.

GLDY, with Chainlink’s infrastructure, is well-positioned to serve as a model for how real-world assets can be securely represented within an on-chain ecosystem and ultimately traded with other decentralized finance protocols. This proves that traditional commodities like gold are not only historical but also relevant in innovative spaces.

TRON DAO Expands University Partnerships with Harvard and Columbia Blockchain Clubs

TRON DAO, a decentralized organization founded by Justin Sun, has expanded its TRON Academy initiative to include blockchain clubs at Harvard University and Columbia University, strengthening relationships with leading academic institutions in the US and Europe.

The Academy has already partnered with and supports blockchain clubs at several prominent universities, including Cornell, UT Austin, UC Irvine, Princeton, and Boston University, through mentorship, hackathons, and research funding.

Sam Ellfarra of the TRON DAO community said the initiative aims to “lay the foundation for a decentralized future” by empowering student innovation and research.

In addition to sponsorships, TRON Academy offers workshops, developer training, and seed funding connections. Recent activities include supporting the UT Austin Smart Contracts Workshop and blockchain sustainability research.

With the addition of Harvard and Columbia, TRON DAO continues to connect academia and Web3 to help students explore real-world blockchain applications and career paths.

About the author

Victoria is a writer covering a variety of technology topics, including Web3.0, AI, and cryptocurrency. Her extensive experience allows her to write insightful articles for a wider audience.

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