USDT-Powered Fin Secures $17M from Pantera, Sequoia to Revolutionize Cross-Border Payments

In a significant development for stablecoin adoption in traditional finance, former Citadel engineers have raised $17 million in Series A funding for Fin, a payments startup leveraging stablecoins like USDT for instant cross-border transactions. Led by Pantera Capital with participation from Sequoia Capital and Samsung Next, this investment signals strong institutional confidence in stablecoin utility beyond speculative trading. The startup, founded by ex-Citadel employees Ian Krotinsky and Aashiq Dheeraj, aims to simplify international money transfers by abstracting away blockchain complexity while utilizing the speed and low cost of stablecoin settlements. Fin's approach targets the $150+ trillion cross-border payment market, where traditional systems often suffer from delays, high fees, and opacity. By building a user-friendly interface atop stablecoin infrastructure, Fin enables businesses to send and receive payments globally within seconds rather than days, with transaction costs potentially reduced by up to 80% compared to conventional wire transfers. The platform initially focuses on USD-pegged stablecoins like USDT, providing regulatory clarity and price stability crucial for business adoption. Scheduled to pilot with import-export businesses next month, Fin represents a tangible step toward mainstream stablecoin integration in B2B commerce. This funding round coincides with growing regulatory acceptance of dollar-pegged stablecoins as payment instruments, particularly following recent U.S. legislative frameworks recognizing their role in maintaining dollar hegemony in digital finance. Pantera Capital's lead investment reflects their thesis that stablecoins will capture substantial value from traditional payment rails over the next decade. For cryptocurrency markets, this development reinforces USDT's positioning as the dominant settlement layer for real-world transactions, potentially increasing its circulating supply and utility demand. As more enterprises adopt stablecoin payment solutions, network effects could accelerate, further cementing USDT's market leadership while driving blockchain scalability innovations. The involvement of traditional finance veterans from Citadel bridges institutional expertise with crypto-native technology, suggesting accelerated convergence between legacy finance and decentralized systems. Looking toward 2026, expect increased venture capital flow into stablecoin infrastructure projects as the technology evolves from trading instruments to global payment solutions.

Ex-Citadel Engineers Raise $17M for Stablecoin Payments Startup Fin

Former Citadel employees Ian Krotinsky and Aashiq Dheeraj have secured $17 million in funding for Fin, a stablecoin-powered payments app designed to enable instant cross-border money transfers without the complexity of traditional crypto platforms.

Pantera Capital led the investment round, with participation from Sequoia and Samsung Next. The startup plans to pilot its service with import-export businesses next month, capitalizing on the explosive growth of the stablecoin sector, which now exceeds $300 billion in market capitalization.

Fin targets large-value transactions, offering users the ability to send money to other Fin users, bank accounts, or crypto wallets. The platform leverages stablecoin rails to drastically reduce transfer fees compared to traditional banking channels.

Krotinsky describes Fin as 'the payments app of the future,' emphasizing its global accessibility and simplified user experience that harnesses the benefits of stablecoins without technical complexity.

Breakout Alert: Mutuum Finance (MUTM) Gains 250% as Final Allocation Stage Nears Completion

Mutuum Finance's MUTM token has surged 250% year-to-date, now trading at $0.035 after starting 2025 at $0.01. The lending protocol's final allocation stage is underway, with analysts noting unusually rapid momentum that may close earlier than anticipated.

The project has raised $19.1 million from 18,300 holders, selling 810 million of its 4 billion token supply. Phase 6 of the presale, which allocated 1.82 billion tokens, is nearing completion. Mutuum's protocol enables ETH/USDT deposits with interest paid in mt Tokens, featuring liquidity-based rates and transparent collateral mechanisms.

Mutuum Finance's $0.035 Token Gains Traction Among Crypto Investors for Q4 2025

Mutuum Finance (MUTM), a decentralized lending protocol, is capturing attention with its $0.035 token as top investors pivot toward high-upside opportunities. The project's dual-market system rewards liquidity providers with interest-bearing mtTokens, while borrowers benefit from dynamic rates tied to pool liquidity.

The protocol's self-stabilizing mechanics—including LTV-based liquidations and discounted collateral auctions—aim to mitigate systemic risk. Market participants increasingly view such innovations as critical for scaling DeFi beyond the dominance of large-cap assets.

Mutuum Finance's Sub-$0.1 Altcoin Nears Phase 6 Completion as Lending Protocol Development Accelerates

Mutuum Finance (MUTM), an emerging altcoin priced below $0.10, is approaching the final stage of its allocation phase amid surging trader interest. Market observers note the project's momentum has exceeded expectations, with development updates fueling attention as Q4 2025 approaches.

The protocol is building a decentralized lending system that generates yield through mtTokens, which appreciate as borrowers repay interest. Its dynamic rate model adjusts borrowing costs based on real-time liquidity conditions, while automated LTV safeguards trigger liquidations to maintain system stability.

According to project communications, a V1 testnet launch is slated for late 2025. The mechanism allows ETH or USDT depositors to earn yield tied directly to platform utilization rates—$500 in ETH collateral, for instance, WOULD see corresponding mtTokens appreciate with lending activity.

UK Grants Legal Property Status to Bitcoin and Crypto Assets

The UK has enacted landmark legislation recognizing cryptocurrencies as property under English law. The Property (Digital Assets etc.) Act 2025 received Royal Assent on December 2, creating a new category of personal property for digital assets across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

This legal clarity resolves years of uncertainty, allowing courts to enforce ownership claims for Bitcoin, stablecoins, and tokenized assets. The law builds on prior judicial rulings—including a 2019 High Court case treating BTC as property and a 2023 decision affirming USDT's property rights.

Notably, the act doesn't mandate crypto acceptance as payment or alter exchange regulations. Instead, it provides owners stronger legal standing in disputes—a framework long advocated by legal experts who argued crypto meets traditional property criteria: definability, transferability, and durability.

$0.035 DeFi Token MUTM Poised for 800% Rally on V1 Model Projections

Mutuum Finance (MUTM), a DeFi lending protocol trading at $0.035, has drawn analyst attention with fresh V1 models forecasting an 800% upside. The projection hinges on sustained development momentum and user adoption, mirroring early-stage patterns of previous breakout tokens.

The protocol's dual-market mechanism allows lenders to earn interest via mtTokens (pegged to collateral like ETH/USDT) while borrowers access dynamically priced loans. Liquidity-driven rate adjustments and automated LTV safeguards aim to stabilize the system.