Theoriq has officially launched its Mainnet—an upgrade that may become one of the most important turning points in the evolution of decentralized finance. With this rollout, developers can now build, deploy, and scale autonomous onchain agents capable of executing real-time financial strategies, ushering in what Theoriq calls the future of AI-native programmable capital.

A Unified Infrastructure for AI-Native DeFi

Theoriq’s Mainnet brings together three critical components—agent logic, execution infrastructure, and liquidity—into one fully integrated, onchain environment. This marks a major leap forward from the fragmented tooling developers previously relied on when building autonomous DeFi automation.

With the launch of AlphaSwarm and AlphaProtocol, developers can now register verifiable AI agents, deploy autonomous strategies, and connect directly to decentralized capital sources, all within a unified system.

The Mainnet follows the strong performance of AlphaVault, Theoriq’s proof-of-concept vault that attracted over $21 million in TVL within four days, showcasing the appetite for agent-driven financial automation.

“The Mainnet creates a system where great AI agents can thrive, earn income, and help millions of people,” said Ron Bodkin, CEO and Co-Founder of Theoriq. “We’re building the infrastructure where autonomous intelligence meets usable, programmable capital.”

What Developers Can Do Starting Today

Theoriq’s Mainnet unlocks a suite of powerful capabilities:

Build & Register Onchain Agents

Using the Agent SDK, developers can:

• Create verifiable agent identities
• Register agents directly onchain
• Integrate seamlessly with AlphaProtocol

This ensures that agents are discoverable, verifiable, and securely connected to relevant contracts.

Access Capital & Execute Strategies

While advanced capital-routing features are still coming, the initial release already allows developers to:

• Coordinate strategies
• Deploy capital under controlled parameters
• Connect agents to DeFi protocols and liquidity sources

Operate Modular, Secure Intelligence

The Messaging Bus enables authenticated, tamper-resistant communication between agents and smart contracts — ensuring reliable execution for complex financial automation.

“Developers have been building amazing agents with nowhere to launch or monetize them,” said Jeremy Millar, Chairman of Theoriq. “Now they have a real onchain market—and users get AI that works for them, not just talks to them.”

THQ Staking Goes Live on Base

Alongside the Mainnet launch, Theoriq activated staking for $THQ, enabling participants to:

• Stake and receive sTHQ
• Contribute to network security
• Prepare for future governance utilities

Delegation is not yet active, but this staking layer establishes the groundwork for agent reputation systems and capital allocation models tied directly to agent performance.

A Step Toward Fully Autonomous DeFi

Theoriq’s Mainnet represents more than a technical upgrade—it’s a philosophical shift in how DeFi operates. Instead of manual user-driven strategies, Theoriq envisions a future where smart agents autonomously:

• React to market conditions
• Optimize liquidity
• Manage capital in real time
• Integrate across multiple chains and protocols

Pei Chen, Executive Director and COO of Theoriq, described the transition clearly:
“This isn’t just another upgrade. It’s the shift from manually operated DeFi to automated agent economies. We’re opening the door to a new frontier for DeFi.”

Backed by Leading Investors and Ecosystem Partners

Supported by $10.4 million in funding from notable VCs—including Hack VC, IOSG, HashKey Capital, and Foresight Ventures—Theoriq is positioning itself as a foundational layer for the next generation of AI-powered decentralized finance.

Its ecosystem partners include major players such as:

• Base
• Mellow
• Lido
• Uniswap

With Mainnet now open to developers globally, Theoriq is poised to become a leader in AI-native DeFi infrastructure.

PayPal is taking a major step toward reshaping the future of small business finance. The company has officially applied to establish a dedicated U.S. bank designed specifically to originate and manage PayPal small business loans. This strategic shift signals a powerful evolution for the fintech giant, putting it in direct competition with traditional lenders while offering entrepreneurs a more modern, data-driven alternative.

What PayPal’s New Bank Means for Small Business Owners

PayPal has submitted its application to the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). If approved, the institution will be focused exclusively on providing small business loans across the United States.

This would allow PayPal to originate, underwrite, and service loans directly—something it currently must do through bank partners. With complete control over the lending infrastructure, PayPal could offer faster approvals, more specialized loan products, and deeper integration with the existing PayPal business ecosystem.

For entrepreneurs, this means the potential to:

• Apply for financing directly inside their PayPal dashboard
• Access loans based on real PayPal sales data
• Receive faster decisions and more flexible credit options

For many small businesses that struggle to qualify for traditional bank loans, this represents a meaningful new source of capital.

Why PayPal Is Making This Strategic Shift Now

The timing of this move aligns with a major gap in the lending market. Traditional banks often view small business lending as risky and resource-intensive, leaving many entrepreneurs underserved.

PayPal, however, has access to years of real-time merchant transaction data, allowing it to evaluate creditworthiness with greater precision. By leveraging this advantage, PayPal aims to offer:

• Streamlined loan access with minimal paperwork
• Data-powered risk analysis that goes beyond credit scores
• A unified financial hub for payments, lending, and cash management

This evolution positions PayPal not just as a payments provider, but as a comprehensive business banking partner.

Challenges PayPal Must Navigate

Becoming a regulated bank introduces significant oversight and operational demands. PayPal will need to comply with strict capital requirements and supervisory expectations while preserving its fast-moving fintech culture.

Additional questions include whether:

• PayPal loans will be meaningfully better than existing lending options
• Merchants will trust PayPal as a true banking institution
• The company can balance innovation with regulatory obligations

Competition is also heating up. Square (Block) already operates a bank, and other fintechs are rapidly entering embedded finance.

A Glimpse into the Future of Business Banking

PayPal’s application marks a pivotal milestone for the future of embedded finance. It hints at a world where businesses manage payments, loans, and financial operations from the same digital platform they already use daily.

If approved, the PayPal small business bank could:

• Offer faster and more inclusive access to capital
• Redefine underwriting using real transaction data
• Push more fintechs to pursue similar regulatory pathways

This move could ultimately lead to a more agile, transparent, and digital-first financial system for entrepreneurs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Has PayPal’s bank been approved yet?
A: No. The application has been filed with the OCC, but regulatory review may take several months or longer.

Q: Will this change PayPal’s existing loan products?
A: Potentially. The new bank could expand or absorb programs like PayPal Working Capital, offering new lending tools with more control.

Q: Is this bank for personal loans?
A: No. The bank is designed exclusively for U.S. small business lending.

Q: How is this different from traditional bank loans?
A: Expect faster decisions, online applications, and credit assessments based on PayPal sales data rather than just credit scores.

Q: Would funds held in this new bank be insured?
A: If approved, deposits would likely be FDIC-insured up to standard limits.

Q: What does this mean for competitors like Square/Block?
A: It increases pressure in the embedded finance space. PayPal is now following a similar path to Square’s bank charter, intensifying competition.

Major U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs see a rapid sentiment shift as investors pull capital during heightened volatility.

The U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF market experienced a decisive pivot on December 15, marking one of its most significant outflow days in recent weeks. After a brief period of positive net inflows, regulated Bitcoin investment products saw a sudden $351.7 million exit, underscoring the speed at which sentiment can shift within the cryptocurrency investment landscape.

Massive Outflows Hit Spot Bitcoin ETFs

The downturn was led prominently by the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC), which recorded a substantial $230 million in single-day outflows. The movement was far from isolated — several major funds saw similar redemptions, indicating broad market caution rather than a fund-specific event.

Breakdown of December 15 Outflows

• Fidelity FBTC: –$230.0M
• Bitwise BITB: –$44.32M
• Ark Invest ARKB: –$34.49M
• Grayscale GBTC: –$27.51M
• VanEck HODL: –$21.25M

While most funds faced redemptions, one outlier stood firm: BlackRock’s IBIT posted zero flows, indicating a neutral stance among investors during the selloff. Valkyrie’s BRRR was the only product to attract new capital, gaining $6 million in net inflows.

Why ETF Flows Matter for Bitcoin

Spot Bitcoin ETFs offer an essential real-time indicator of institutional and retail demand. Unlike futures-based alternatives, these products require the direct purchase or sale of Bitcoin to match fund issuance and redemptions, making them a strong proxy for capital entering or exiting the asset.

A net outflow event of this size:

• Signals increased short-term risk aversion
• Potentially applies downward pressure on spot Bitcoin markets
• Reflects shifting macro sentiment or profit-taking behavior
• Highlights diverging investor strategies across ETF issuers

Market Sentiment and Forward Outlook

The reversal serves as a reminder that Bitcoin ETF flows can be highly cyclical, influenced by macroeconomic news, liquidity conditions, and investor positioning. While outflows are not unusual, their magnitude can reshape near-term market dynamics.

Fund behavior also revealed key differences:

• Some issuers faced heavy redemptions
• Others maintained stable positioning
• A few saw continued niche inflow interest

This divergence underscores the importance of evaluating ETF flow patterns alongside Bitcoin price movements for a fuller market perspective.

Conclusion: A Developing Market Still Finding Its Rhythm

The $351.7 million withdrawal highlights the evolving nature of spot Bitcoin ETFs as they integrate deeper into traditional markets. Though these products provide regulated and simplified exposure to Bitcoin, they remain sensitive to broader shifts in investor sentiment.

As Bitcoin matures within financial markets, sharp inflows and outflows will likely continue to shape price behavior and institutional engagement. For investors, understanding ETF flow dynamics remains a vital tool in navigating the rapidly changing digital asset ecosystem.