October 22 brought a new financing partnership for the XRP Ledger, an interest-paying digital deposit from SoFi and expanded trading capabilities at Uniswap. The day’s announcements also included regulatory action against Coinbase Ireland, a major venture-capital rebrand and a governance decision at Starknet.
Ripple and Arf Target Payment Firms’ Funding Needs
Ripple and Arf announced a partnership to provide licensed payment companies with short-term financing in RLUSD through the XRP Ledger. The funding is intended to cover the period while international payments settle, with Arf’s financing typically repaid within one to five days. A later phase would use XRPL’s proposed native lending features once the required amendments are activated.
SoFi Introduces a Tokenized Deposit Paying 4.40% APY
SoFi unveiled SOFIE, a tokenized bank deposit offering a variable 4.40% annual percentage yield, with deposits eligible for FDIC insurance within applicable limits. Customers can exchange SOFIE for SoFiUSD at a one-to-one rate, then use the stablecoin for crypto purchases or transfers to supported external wallets. Access is being introduced to SoFi Crypto members in stages through November.
Uniswap Expands Access to Liquidity From Other Exchanges
Uniswap Labs activated aggregator hooks on Ethereum, Base and Robinhood Chain, allowing its trading system to draw on liquidity from external platforms. Seven sources are available initially through the web app and API, giving the system additional prices and trading routes to compare. Swaps using these connections also generate protocol fees that contribute to UNI token burns.
Coinbase Ireland Receives €3.25 Million Penalty
Ireland’s central bank announced a €3.25 million penalty against Coinbase Ireland for shortcomings in protecting customer funds and overseeing outsourced operations. The settlement was reached on October 21 and disclosed on October 22, with the sanctions still requiring High Court confirmation. Coinbase said it had corrected the issues and that customers had neither lost money nor been prevented from accessing their funds.
Starknet Voters Support Research Into an Independent Blockchain
A Starknet poll that closed on October 22 recorded more than 93.5% of voting power in favor of researching a transition from an Ethereum Layer 2 into an independent blockchain designed for post-quantum security. StarkWare plans to prepare a draft whitepaper for public review in November. Any actual network transition would require further governance approval.
a16z Crypto Adopts the Frontier Name and Broadens Its Focus
Andreessen Horowitz announced that a16z Crypto is becoming a16z Frontier as its new fund expands into a wider range of emerging technologies. Managing partner Chris Dixon identified opportunities around artificial intelligence, new computing devices and other businesses that may take years to develop. The firm said cryptocurrency investments and its work on crypto regulation will continue under the broader mandate.
Dune Launches Faster Data Feeds for Onchain Markets
Dune introduced a market-data service that delivers information about blockchain trades roughly one second after execution, according to its announcement. Its spot coverage spans more than 200 trading venues across 12 networks, while a separate feed covers perpetual futures on Hyperliquid and Lighter. The service supplies standardized trade details and links them to the underlying blockchain transactions.
Fireblocks Rejects Report of Acquisition Talks With Visa
Fireblocks disputed an October 22 Axios report claiming Visa was in advanced discussions to acquire the company for approximately $2.5 billion. In a response to The Block, Fireblocks said the reported talks were untrue at that time, while Visa declined to comment. The companies have announced no acquisition agreement.