Crypto Use Cases in 2025: Stablecoins, AI and Tokenization with Bit2Me, Arbitrum, Blockdaemon and Microsoft

Crypto use cases in 2025: stablecoins, AI, tokenization and Bitcoin treasury with Bit2Me, Arbitrum, Blockdaemon and Microsoft

Which use cases saved the year in crypto and what's next in 2026? In this MERGE Madrid opening panel, Bit2Me, Arbitrum Foundation, Blockdaemon and Microsoft review the milestones of 2025 —MiCA, GENIUS Act, Bitcoin all-time highs, stablecoins surpassing Visa and Mastercard volumes— and what's coming: agentic web, mass tokenization and new stablecoin models. Cases include Bit2Me partnerships with Telefónica, Unicaja, Cardano Foundation and Tether.

What you'll learn

• The year of stablecoins: how MiCA in Europe and the GENIUS Act in the US consolidate the regulatory framework and why USDT delisting in Europe is controversial
• Next-gen stablecoins: Ethena algorithmic with BTC/ETH short hedging, USDA backed by AI hardware and Bitso's MXMB Mexican peso on Arbitrum
• Banking integration with MiCA: Bit2Me offering B2B services to banks, Blockdaemon as institutional infrastructure for Citi, JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs
• AI + blockchain: agents operating with wallets, decentralized identity and why Microsoft works on confidential compute for agentic transactions
• What's coming in 2026: NL web (agentic web), Bitcoin treasury companies (190+, only 2 in Asia, none European in the top 20) and new yield-bearing asset platforms

Session summary

Stablecoins: the use case of the year. 2025 closes with stablecoins surpassing the combined volumes of Visa and Mastercard, clear regulatory frameworks (MiCA in Europe, GENIUS Act in the US) and new on-chain designs. Tether (USDT) remains the largest global issuer, but its delisting on European exchanges under MiCA is one of the friction points the sector wants reviewed to avoid pushing European users out of the regulated perimeter.

New stablecoin models. Bitso launches MXMB (tokenized Mexican peso) on Arbitrum. Ethena introduces an algorithmic stablecoin that shorts Bitcoin and Ethereum to maintain neutrality and shares yield with holders. USDA (USD AI) uses its collateral to lend to AI hardware providers: the stablecoin backed by GPUs.

Institutional integration and agentic AI. MiCA in Europe and US regulatory advances let tier-1 banks like Citi, JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs advance proofs of concept via Blockdaemon. Microsoft works on blockchain + AI + confidential compute convergence so AI agents can operate wallets and execute transactions verifiably and securely, with decentralized identity as a key piece.

What underperformed and what's next in 2026. CBDCs didn't take off due to lack of interoperability and on/off-ramps; tokenization advances but is still in transition —Bit2Me already completed pilots of €150K tokenized bonds with 3% yield via STX. For 2026 expect the NL web (agentic web with 90% automated transactions), the explosion of Bitcoin treasury companies (190+ corporates buying BTC) and new yield-bearing asset platforms.

Watch the full session

Watch the full opening panel on MERGE's YouTube channel, with Bit2Me, Arbitrum, Blockdaemon and Microsoft debating the crypto use cases that defined 2025 and those coming in 2026.

FAQs

What was the crypto use case of the year in 2025?
Stablecoins, consolidated by the GENIUS Act and MiCA, with volumes already surpassing Visa and Mastercard combined and new designs like Ethena, USDA and Bitso's MXMB on Arbitrum.

Why is USDT being delisted in Europe?
Due to MiCA: regulated exchanges like Bit2Me had to delist USDT as it doesn't meet the European framework, something the sector sees as a point to review to avoid pushing users outside the regulated perimeter.

What are tier-1 banks doing with crypto?
Citi, JP Morgan and Goldman Sachs are advancing proofs of concept via infrastructure providers like Blockdaemon (MPC wallets, staking, DeFi access), with MiCA enabling real integrations in Europe.

How does AI fit with crypto?
AI agents can operate wallets and execute transactions; the challenge is decentralized identity and confidential compute so those transactions are verifiable and secure, as Microsoft works on with fintechs.