Dude where's my car? The blockchain may know

Good morning. Today in the CT5, some of the world's largest asset managers invest in stablecoin tech, the SEC v Ripple drama continues, and a blockchain startup may have the answer to "where's my car"? All that and more!

Programming note: we will be out the rest of the week playing hooky and returning bright and early Monday morning. Have a great weekend!

Market Update (as of 8:26am ET):

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Top 5:

1. BlackRock, Fidelity back stablecoin firm Circle. The issuer behind USDC, the second largest stablecoin, just received $400 million in funding from big names in the investment industry - BlackRock and Fidelity. The partnership will see BlackRock exploring capital market applications for the stablecoin and as recently as last month, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said the company is looking into how digital currencies and stablecoins can be deployed to support their clients.

2. SEC emails highlighting alleged conflict of interest set to take center stage in Ripple trial. The SEC v Ripple saga continues. A judge has ruled that the SEC cannot edit or clarify the contents of hundreds of emails between top officials that were released just a few days ago. There is speculation that the emails contain proof of the SEC's inconsistent action, when they ruled that the XRP token issuance was a securities offering and the ETH issuance was not. If inconsistent judgements can be proven, Ripple may be off the hook for their alleged violation of securities law.

3. Wallenius Wilhemsen invests in car transport blockchain Vinturas. Shipping firm Wallenius Wilhemsen (awesome name), has invested in Vinturas a blockchain platform that provides logistics for finished cars in Europe. The platform allows for secure data sharing between whitelisted partners and aims to increase transparency and collaboration in the global supply chain.

4. Animoca acquires Eden Games to make crypto racing games. Eden Games, best known for the Need for Speed racing series, has been acquired by crypto gaming company Animoca Brands for $16 million. Animoca already has a gaming ecosystem built around racing, called REVV and plans to use Eden's expertise in the space to build out that offering further. All Animoca's racing games are currently play-to-earn offerings that utilize the REVV token as currency.

5. Coinbase 'increasing transparency' for new listings. The exchange has posted a list of assets under consideration for listing as part of an effort to increase transparency and reduce information asymmetries in the market. The list includes 45 ERC-20 tokens and 5 SPL tokens which are under consideration for listing in Q2.

Updates and other stories:
- SoftBank leads $70 million round for DeFi firm BloXroute...Read More
- CBDC design consensus not a priority, says Bank of Canada...Read More
- Coinbase is launching a Bored Apes-themed film trilogy...Read More

Top Sharers of the Crypto Top 5:
1. Donna Y. - Nashville, TN
2. Jake Y. - Greenville, SC
3. Forrest H. - Evansville, IN

External Resources:
1. Cryptopedia from Gemini - if you see a word, acronym, or phrase in this newsletter that you don't understand, there's a good chance you can find an explanation here
2. Crypto Explainer+ - intro level courses on Bitcoin, Ethereum, decentralized finance, NFTs, and more
3. Crypto Jobs! - looking for a new job? Check out this page from Anthony Pompliano with hundreds, if not thousands of listings

Disclaimer: The information contained in this newsletter shall not be understood or construed as financial advice. I am not an attorney, accountant, or financial advisor, nor am I holding myself out to be, and the information provided is not a substitute for financial advice from a professional who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your individual situation.