Key Takeaways:
• Kraken acquires Backed Finance to internalize its tokenized-equity technology.
• Backed’s infrastructure powers many on-chain stock and ETF products across multiple blockchains.
• The acquisition strengthens Kraken’s tokenization strategy ahead of its planned 2026 IPO.

Kraken has made a major strategic move by announcing the acquisition of Backed Finance — a company widely recognized for building the core infrastructure behind today’s tokenized stocks and ETFs. The deal marks a significant milestone as Kraken seeks greater control over the entire lifecycle of tokenized assets, from issuance to trading, positioning itself as a leader in the rapidly expanding tokenization sector.

Backed Finance has become a foundational technology provider in the tokenized-asset space, offering on-chain versions of traditional equities tied directly to real underlying securities. Its infrastructure supports approximately seventy tokenized assets across several chains and has processed billions in cumulative trading activity. Much of this volume flows through Kraken’s own platform, particularly its xStocks marketplace, and Backed’s technology also powers tokenized equities on exchanges such as Bybit.

For Kraken, bringing this technology in-house is a strategic advantage. Instead of relying on an external issuer, Kraken will now gain full oversight of how tokenized equities are created, regulated, maintained, and integrated into its broader trading and collateral systems. This tighter control supports Kraken’s long-term roadmap as it prepares for its anticipated 2026 IPO — a process strengthened by a recent capital raise valuing the company near $20 billion and by strategic deals in derivatives and brokerage services.

The acquisition comes at a pivotal time. The tokenization of real-world assets is accelerating across the financial sector, with major institutions — including BlackRock — calling tokenized markets the next major evolution in global financial infrastructure. Standard Chartered forecasts the tokenized-assets sector to reach multi-trillion-dollar scale within the next few years, with Ethereum expected to host most of the activity. Meanwhile, analysts at RedStone highlight growing demand for tokenized yield products and stable collateral solutions as core drivers of expansion through 2025.

Backed, founded in 2021, will continue supporting its existing tokens during the transition. Once fully integrated, Kraken will gain a vertically unified ecosystem where traditional equities, crypto assets, and tokenized financial products coexist seamlessly. This acquisition marks a significant step forward in Kraken’s ambition to become a central hub in the next wave of real-world-asset tokenization and on-chain financial innovation.

Revolutionary: Sony’s Soneium Layer 2 Integrates Startale USD Stablecoin for Seamless Transactions

Sony’s Ethereum-based Soneium Layer 2 network has officially integrated the Startale USD stablecoin, marking a significant advancement for blockchain adoption. This move introduces a native digital dollar tailored for the Soneium ecosystem, setting the stage for smoother transactions and stronger Web3 utility. The integration highlights Sony’s strategy to make cryptocurrency both practical and accessible.

The Startale USD stablecoin, USDSC, now acts as the primary transactional currency within Soneium. According to Sota Watanabe, founder of Astar Network and CEO of Startale Labs, USDSC powers all financial operations in the Startale ecosystem. Users can expect low-cost transfers, minimal volatility, and fast settlement times across the network. This solves one of blockchain’s longstanding issues—reliable value transfer—by anchoring transactions to a stable asset that avoids the price swings of typical cryptocurrencies. Soneium leverages Ethereum’s security while delivering major improvements in scalability and speed through its Layer 2 architecture.

Sony’s stablecoin integration is an important marker for broader crypto adoption. It demonstrates how large corporations can collaborate with crypto-native projects to build real-world utility. With lower transaction fees, predictable pricing, and a frictionless user experience, Sony’s move opens the door for millions of users to interact with blockchain-backed applications for the first time. Stablecoins like USDSC eliminate volatility concerns, encouraging broader use of digital payments and decentralized financial tools.

This development also strengthens the wider Ethereum ecosystem. Corporate deployments on Layer 2 networks validate Ethereum’s scaling roadmap and encourage more developers to build applications using this approach. As major brands expand their Web3 footprints, Ethereum’s network effects deepen, driving further innovation and user adoption. However, regulatory pressures surrounding stablecoins remain a challenge, and Sony will need to navigate compliance carefully. User adoption will ultimately determine whether Soneium becomes a widely used blockchain environment.

Looking ahead, the integration of Startale USD is likely only the beginning of Sony’s blockchain ambitions. Potential future applications include seamless in-game payments, NFT-based collectibles, Web3 loyalty systems, decentralized identity tools, and interoperable digital assets across Sony platforms. By partnering with Startale Labs, Sony gains specialized blockchain expertise while focusing on its strengths in entertainment, gaming, and consumer technology.

Sony’s adoption of the USDSC stablecoin marks a major milestone in corporate blockchain integration. It blends the power of decentralized finance with the reach of a global tech leader, offering a practical pathway for mainstream audiences to interact with crypto-based systems. If successful, this model could inspire other major corporations to embrace blockchain technology and reshape digital finance for everyday users.

How a forgotten protocol rebuilt itself into Solana’s liquidity backbone—and the battles that shaped its rise.

It All Started With a Name Everyone Forgot

On Solana, projects rise and vanish faster than most people can track. When the FTX collapse tore through the ecosystem in late 2022, Mercurial became one of the many casualties.
Its treasury was trapped, its token collapsed, and the once-active community faded into silence.

Most people moved on.

But a small faction didn’t.
The group that would eventually build Meteora refused to walk away. They knew Mercurial couldn’t be revived—the damage was too deep. So instead of trying to fix the past, they chose to rebuild everything from scratch.

Their mindset shifted:

“Don’t repair the old machine. Build something engineered for Solana’s speed.”

And so Meteora was born—not a rebrand, but a complete reboot designed to answer one question:

What should liquidity look like on a chain that operates faster than anything else in crypto?

Where Meteora Began: Reinventing Liquidity

The answer became the Dynamic Liquidity Market Maker (DLMM).

Unlike traditional AMMs with smooth pricing curves, DLMM uses:

• Discrete price bins
• Zero-slippage trades inside each bin
• Bin-to-bin price progression
• Real-time liquidity intelligence

This wasn’t a pool—it was a high-speed liquidity engine, built to operate in milliseconds, just like Solana itself.

By early 2024, momentum exploded:

• Trading volume surged
• TVL stabilized
• Market makers migrated from Raydium and Orca
• Jupiter began routing heavy flow to DLMM

By early 2025, Meteora was processing $33 billion in monthly volume.
A protocol once written off as dead had become Solana’s liquidity backbone.

But Solana rewards speed—and punishes hesitation.

And soon, Meteora faced the first real test of its new era.

Glory and Pressure in the Age of Algorithms

DLMM turned Meteora into a star.
LPs earned more, traders got better quotes, and Jupiter treated DLMM as the default route.

Then came HumidiFi—out of absolutely nowhere.

It had:

• No front end
• No community
• No public LPs
• Zero transparency

Yet it instantly competed with Meteora.
Sometimes it even won.

Why?
HumidiFi operated like a dark pool on Solana, run by a private market-making entity.

Its spreads were razor-thin—as low as five basis points.

Jupiter didn’t care about decentralization.
It cared about the best price.

For Meteora, this wasn’t just rivalry—
It was an existential question:

Can open liquidity survive in a market where secrecy performs better?

DLMM’s full transparency—once its greatest strength—became a tactical weakness.
Competitors could study it in real time.
HumidiFi revealed nothing.

As one developer joked:

“Meteora showed everyone its engine. HumidiFi covered its engine in smoke—and somehow went faster.”

And just as the team began adapting to this new reality, a storm hit from an entirely different direction.

The TGE That Tested Everything

On October 23, 2025, Meteora launched its long-awaited token through a “Liquid Launch”:

• No lockups
• No VC allocations
• No vesting
• Nearly half of the supply—48%—released on day one

It was radical transparency.

But Solana moves at lightning speed.
Within seconds, the entire float was absorbed.
Sell pressure exploded.
Buy walls couldn’t form fast enough.

Within days, $MET fell over 70%.

Supporters admired the honesty.
Critics called it irresponsible.

Before sentiment recovered, another blow landed:
Co-founder Ben Chow was named in a class-action lawsuit tied to unrelated memecoin projects.

It wasn’t connected to Meteora—but timing is everything in crypto.

Confidence slipped.
FUD spread.
Every crack became visible.

But the engine?
It kept running.

• DLMM executed flawlessly
• Billions flowed through daily
• LP yields held strong
• Jupiter kept routing to Meteora

Beneath the surface, the real question lingered:

Can a radically transparent protocol survive in a market that rewards shadows?

What Comes Next

By early 2026, Meteora made its move—not by retreating, but by doubling down.

Key initiatives included:

Launch Suite 2.0

A rebuilt, safer, more transparent token-launch framework.

Enhanced Anti-Bot Infrastructure

Designed for Solana’s extreme speed environment.

DLMM Upgrades

Faster bin adjustments, better fairness, smarter liquidity logic.

HumidiFi remained a rival—but Meteora chose not to copy it.
Instead, it leaned harder into:

• Openness
• Design precision
• Engineering excellence

Their philosophy became clear:

You don’t beat dark pools by becoming a dark pool—you beat them by out-engineering them.

A Protocol Forged in Chaos

Solana hasn’t slowed down, and neither has Meteora.

Despite storms, controversies, rivals, and market volatility, Meteora continues to anchor massive trading flows across the network. Its story mirrors Solana’s own:

• Brutal
• Fast
• Relentless
• Always moving forward

Born in collapse.
Rebuilt through innovation.
Tempered by volatility.

Meteora is no longer a comeback story—it’s a reminder of what still drives Solana:

Speed, risk, and the belief that better systems are always possible.