Consortium Of 140 Companies Launches Stablecoin OUSD
Backed by over 140 companies, Open Standard unveiled Open USD (OUSD), a dollar-pegged stablecoin for global payments on Tuesday. A consortium of over 140 companies, including Visa, Mastercard, BlackRock, and. . .
Backed by over 140 companies, Open Standard unveiled Open USD (OUSD), a dollar-pegged stablecoin for global payments on Tuesday. A consortium of over 140 companies, including Visa, Mastercard, BlackRock, and Coinbase, has announced their backing for a stablecoin that shares reserve earnings with participating businesses. OUSD operates on a consortium model, allowing participating institutions to share the stablecoin’s reserve yields and related revenue. This marks a shift from the traditional model of single-issuer dominance to a collaborative revenue distribution system involving payment, asset management, and crypto platforms. This could enhance the integration of traditional finance with on-chain payments. The new model poses a competitive threat to existing stablecoins like USDT and USDC by offering strong incentives for adoption. By redistributing the majority of reserve income back to partners, OUSD aims to create a self-reinforcing network effect across the global payments and financial sectors. For investors, this indicates a potential transformation in the stablecoin market, moving away from single-issuer dominance towards a cooperative framework led by established financial institutions. This could significantly impact market share and profitability in the sector. In the wider cryptocurrency market, total market capitalisation fell by 1. 81% to $2. 11 trillion. Bitcoin dropped 1. 37% to $58,400, while Ethereum remained stable. Most market sectors experienced losses between 1% and 3%, except for the Real-World Asset (RWA) and SocialFi sectors, which saw minor gains of around 1%. Additionally, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has released its final regulatory framework for crypto assets, clarifying rules for capital requirements, market abuse, and stablecoins. Although the framework will not become mandatory until October 2027, it provides essential regulatory certainty for firms in the UK financial sector. The stringent requirements, including a 40% net risk position requirement for trading platforms, will likely increase operational costs but are intended to enhance investor protection and market integrity. This clarity is expected to lower regulatory risks for UK-based crypto businesses and could attract more conservative institutional investment, positioning the UK as a competitor to the EU’s MiCA framework. Bitcoin Price Declines to $59. 4k Amidst US Tech Stocks SlumpOlu AnisereOlu Anisere is a financial and economic journalist at MarketForces Africa, specialising in African macroeconomic policy, international finance, energy markets, and continental development. He covers major multilateral institutions, including the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), providing readers with frontline reporting on policies shaping Africa's economic trajectory. Olu has reported extensively on Nigeria's fiscal and monetary policy landscape, including CBN interest rate decisions, Nigeria's bond market, FX inflows, and the country's engagement with global financial institutions. His coverage spans IMF and World Bank Spring and Annual Meetings, African Ministers of Finance conferences, and high-level economic forums where Africa's development agenda is set. His reporting captures perspectives from Africa's most influential economic voices, including Tony Elumelu, senior IMF officials, and CBN leadership, bringing institutional insight and policy depth to MarketForces Africa's readers. Olu also covers Inside Africa — tracking economic, investment, and development stories from across the continent. Olu Anisere is based in Lagos, Nigeria.