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Speculation about cryptocurrency integration in Grand Theft Auto 6 continues to circulate. These rumors have been ongoing for over a year. Now we've got yet another confirmation. Or have we? A recent tweet reignited the discussion. A Twitter influencer known as Gordon claimed Bitcoin support was "confirmed" in GTA 6. The post quickly gained traction, unsurprisingly. Gordon's tweet stated, "GTA 6 will enable cryptocurrency payments." It specifically mentioned Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT. The post included a fabricated game trailer. Despite the viral nature of the tweet, no official confirmation exists. Rockstar Games and Take-Two have made no announcements regarding cryptocurrency in GTA 6. The official trailers and statements contain no mention of crypto inclusion. Previous rumors from May 2023 remain unsubstantiated. The first official GTA 6 trailer, released in December, sparked further speculation. A leaked version featured a "BUY BTC" stamp, likely added by the leaker. The game's planned 2025 release leaves room for potential crypto integration. Such a move could significantly impact cryptocurrency adoption in mainstream gaming, many analysts think, as the game is immensely popular among children and youth. However, all claims of confirmed cryptocurrency features in GTA 6 remain unverified. Official announcements from Rockstar Games or Take-Two are still pending. And it's no wonder, as these guys are never quick to respond. And, honestly, never feel obliged to comment any rumors.

Opera's mobile browser, Opera Mini, is upgrading its cryptocurrency wallet MiniPay to include two of the world's most popular stablecoins - Tether's USDT and Circle's USDC. Users can switch between USD Coin and cUSD with minimal fees. The process uses a simple drag-and-drop motion. Jørgen Arnesen, Opera's executive vice president of Mobile, explained the feature. "It abstracts assets swapping in Web3," he said. "Users can effortlessly swap between all 3 stablecoins." Just to remind you, MiniPay was launched in September 2023 inside Opera Mini browser and run on the Celo blockchain. It uses Mento's cUSD, pegged to the US dollar. A kind of an own stablecoin, to be precise. The wallet initially targeted African markets. Opera said from the beginning that the browser wallet aimed to facilitate stablecoin transfers using mobile numbers. Arnesen discussed the rationale behind this focus. "We recognized the significant potential of blockchain-enabled peer-to-peer solutions within the continent," he stated. He noted common concerns among consumers. These included high fees, unreliable services, and lack of transparency in local payment options. All of that is supposed to be overcome by Opera's wallet built in the popular browser. MiniPay has also launched a Discover Page for decentralized applications (DApps). It organizes native DApps, providing direct access to various tools. Since its launch, MiniPay has seen rapid growth. It has over three million wallet activations across several African countries. Arnesen highlighted Africa's potential for digital asset adoption. He cited its young population and widespread smartphone use. Opera Mini is the most downloaded mobile browser in Africa. It boasts nearly 100 million users.

Circle has obtained registration as an electronic money institution in France. This grants the firm a crucial license to issue stablecoins under the European Union's new stringent crypto regulations. And thus Circle's USDC might finally get an edge over Tether's USDT. The approval comes from France's banking regulator, ACPR. Circle is now the first global stablecoin issuer to comply with the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, which many crypto fans have already dubbed 'demonic', 'unhealthy' and even 'orwellian'. The license enables Circle to issue its USDC and EURC tokens in the EU. These will now comply with MiCA's stablecoin rules. Circle is also launching its Circle Mint service in France. Jeremy Allaire, Circle's CEO, called the approval "a huge milestone". He emphasized the company's commitment to regulatory compliance since its founding and now this long-term investment has paid off. Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies pegged to traditional assets. They offer stability in the volatile crypto market. Traders use them to move quickly between cryptocurrencies. The EU passed MiCA last year. It's the world's first comprehensive crypto law. Also deemed as one of the harshest ones. MiCA outlines investor protection rules and safeguards against market manipulation. Stablecoin provisions under MiCA were approved last week. These rules are particularly strict. They limit trading volumes for certain stablecoins, especially those denominated in US dollars. Circle's French registration allows it to offer services throughout the EU. This includes minting and redeeming USDC via Circle Mint. MiCA permits crypto businesses to "passport" their services across the bloc. The remaining MiCA obligations will apply from December 30, 2024, but crypto companies will have until July 2026 to achieve full compliance. Two years isn't a very long period for the world of finance, to say the least. USDC is the second-largest stablecoin globally. It has $32.4 billion in circulation. Tether's USDT remains the largest, with $112.7 billion in circulation. Yet, Tether hasn't done crucial steps to comply with MiCA demands, and we will have to wait and see how it ends for the leading stablecoin. As well as for its competitors.

The minting of USDT, the world's largest stablecoin by market capitalization, has dramatically declined on Ethereum and Tron networks. Over the past six months, issuance has fallen from $7 billion to just $1 billion. Sound like a catastrophy, yet it isn't. This sharp decrease coincides with a broader market contraction in June. It indicates reduced trading activity and waning demand for cryptocurrencies during this period. The question is, however, how serious this might be in a long-term perspective. An analyst on X highlighted this trend. And came up with a possible explanation, saying that the decline in minting activity reflects diminished blockchain utilization on both networks. Tron remains a preferred network for USDT minting despite Ethereum's dominance. It offers superior scalability and lower transaction costs. Ethereum has made strides in scaling. The emergence of layer-2 platforms like Base and Arbitrum has bolstered its ecosystem. Recent upgrades, such as Dencun, aim to reduce transaction costs on these layer-2 solutions. The drop in USDT minting suggests a broader decline in crypto demand. Historically, large-scale USDT minting has correlated with rising Bitcoin and crypto prices. Until minting activity resumes on these leading smart contract platforms, Bitcoin and major altcoin prices may remain suppressed. Tether, USDT's issuer, recently partnered with Uquid. The collaboration aims to modernize payments for the Philippines' Social Security System using the TON blockchain. Simultaneously, Tether announced the cessation of USDT minting on Algorand and EOS networks. Redemptions will continue for another year. USDT can still be minted on over ten platforms. The total USDT minted to date exceeds whopping $110 billion. Who says cryptocurrency isn't conquering the world right now?

The Philippines has adopted Tether's USDT for social security contributions. This move marks a significant shift in government payment systems. In some ways, this innovation might be considered as significant as El Salvador's Bitcoin adoption in 2021. The Social Security System (SSS) in the Philippines now includes USDT its payment options. Tether's USDT is the world's largest stablecoin by market capitalization. The SSS is a state-run social insurance program. It covers employees in the official, informal, and private sectors. The program provides support during difficult times. It manages two key initiatives: social security and employee compensation. Tether has partnered with Uquid, a Web3 shopping and infrastructure firm. This collaboration enables Filipino citizens to pay SSS contributions using USDT on The Open Network blockchain. Uquid emphasized the potential of stablecoins. "This partnership highlights how stablecoins like USDT and crypto can simplify our daily lives," a company spokesperson said. Uquid is a decentralized commerce infrastructure platform. It uses blockchain technology to offer crypto payment options. The company has built a user base of over 260 million in eight years. It supports merchants and customers across various markets. Tran Hung, CEO of Uquid, commented on the partnership. "This marks a significant milestone in bridging digital currencies and daily transactions," he said. "It makes crypto micropayment applicable." Stablecoin demand is rising globally. Just to quickly remind you, PayPal has launched its native stablecoin, PayPal USD, and Ripple plans to introduce its own stablecoin in early 2025. Stablecoins are increasingly used for cross-border payments at an institutional level. They have evolved from exchange on-ramps to key liquidity providers in various markets. And maybe Satoshi wasn't expecting this, but stablecoins might eventually become a more powerful force that Bitcoin itself in terms of making crypto a driving force in the world of finance.