The past week has been packed with developments.
Standard Chartered’s $250 million digital asset fund targeting the Middle East. Credit Saison’s $50 million blockchain initiative connecting U.S. startups with Asia. Meanwhile, Fundstrat’s Tom Lee predicts a “monster move” for Bitcoin and Ethereum, when Swiss banks mark a milestone by completing the world’s first legally binding blockchain-based payment.
Top Gainers and Losers
1. Aster (ASTER) - incredible 685.38% this week, to a toal price of $0.6628
2. Immutable (IMX) - IMX with their 50.07%, and a total price of $0.8726
3. Avalanche (AVAX) - rise of 19.73%, to a price of $34.02
1. MYX Finanace (MYX) - lost 24.50% this week to a price of $12.212.
2. Raydium (RAY) - 12.62% loss after a week, with a total price of $3.213.
3. Ethena (ENA) - 10.66% drop after a few days, with end price of $0.6694
Standard Chartered Taps Middle East Capital for $250M Digital Assets Fund
Standard Chartered’s venture arm, SC Ventures, is preparing a $250 million fund focused on digital assets in financial services, with backing from Middle Eastern investors.
Launching in 2026, the vehicle will target tokenization, blockchain infrastructure, and other regulated digital asset opportunities.
The initiative extends Standard Chartered’s growing crypto footprint.
Earlier this year, the bank became the first global institution to offer spot Bitcoin and Ethereum trading in the U.K. It also secured a Luxembourg crypto custody license under the EU’s MiCA framework, launched a Hong Kong–backed stablecoin with Animoca Brands, and expanded custody services in Dubai through the DFSA.
At the same time, SC Ventures is eyeing a $100 million Africa fund, underscoring the region’s accelerating fintech momentum. According to Magnitt, MENA startups raised $274 million in the first half of 2025, with Saudi Arabia leading activity. Payment provider Hala secured $157 million, while BNPL player Tamara landed a $2.4 billion facility from Goldman Sachs and Citigroup.
Credit Saison Launches $50M Blockchain Fund to Connect U.S. Startups With Asia
Japanese financial giant Credit Saison, the country’s third-largest credit card issuer, is launching a $50 million venture fund aimed at early-stage blockchain startups, according to CoinDesk Japan and Nikkei.
The vehicle, branded Onigiri Capital, has already secured $35 million in commitments and will target real-world asset tokenization, stablecoins, DeFi products, and digital payment infrastructure. Managing partner Qin En Looi said Onigiri will leverage Credit Saison’s banking relationships and regulatory knowledge across the Asia.
After raising $86 billion across 329 funds in 2022, only $3.7 billion has been raised across 28 funds this year, according to PitchBook data. Higher interest rates and the collapse of firms like FTX and Terra have weighed on sentiment, but investors remain active in financial infrastructure, an area Onigiri Capital is explicitly targeting.
Tom Lee Predicts Bitcoin and Ether “Monster Move”
Fundstrat’s Tom Lee has doubled down on his bullish view, telling CNBC that Bitcoin and Ether could stage a “monster move” in the final quarter of 2025.
His case hinges on the Federal Reserve’s expected shift toward easing, starting with a likely 25 basis point rate cut this week, that could inject liquidity into risk assets.
History gives weight to his optimism.
In 1998 and again in 2024, Fed pivots marked turning points for equities and alternative assets. If the same dynamic plays out now, Bitcoin’s current consolidation above $116,000 and Ether’s steady climb near $4,500 could indeed set the stage for outsized gains. But macro sensitivity cuts both ways. A premature rate cut could signal economic weakness, potentially dragging crypto with equities in a downturn. And if inflation resurges, forcing the Fed to pause or even hike again, risk markets could see sharp reversals.
Lee’s view of Ethereum as a “growth protocol” is compelling, especially given its role in tokenization, stablecoin settlement, and the intersection of AI with blockchain. His firm BitMine has backed that thesis aggressively, accumulating over 2.15 million ETH (SEC filings).
Yet Ethereum also faces structural risks: competition from faster chains like Solana, the still-uncertain regulatory classification of ETH in the U.S., and reliance on validator concentration that could raise centralization concerns.
Swiss Banks Execute First Blockchain-Based Legally Binding Payment
Switzerland has taken a notable step in merging traditional finance with blockchain. Under the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA), UBS, Sygnum Bank, and PostFinance completed what they claim is the first legally binding interbank payment carried out via a public blockchain.
The proof-of-concept tested deposit tokens, essentially blockchain-based representations of fiat deposits, across multiple scenarios, including customer transfers and an escrow-like exchange of tokens for real-world assets. In their press-release, SBA said the experiment proved that smart contracts can enable “verifiable processes, technical security, and compliance with regulatory requirements” while still operating on public chains.
Interoperability between traditional bank money and decentralized rails is edging closer to reality. UBS’s digital assets lead, Christoph Puhr, argued that the test accelerates tokenized asset innovation and
“makes it possible to actively shape the future of financial systems — both nationally and globally.”
Still, challenges remain. The SBA stressed that true scalability will require broader collaboration between banks, infrastructure providers, and regulators. The findings echo research from the Bank for International Settlements and the New York Fed earlier this year, which found that smart contracts could give central banks more flexible, real-time tools in a tokenized financial system, though infrastructure gaps remain.
The PoC adds to growing momentum around institutional blockchain adoption. With Switzerland already home to progressive digital asset regulation, the move could position its banks as first movers in bridging regulated finance with DeFi-style infrastructure.
Gunel Ismayilova
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