Visa Backs BVNK, EU Unveils Blockchain Rules, Vietnam Debuts Digital Network

Visa Invests in BVNK to Expand Stablecoin Payment Infrastructure

Visa has made a strategic investment in BVNK, a London-based startup specializing in stablecoin-based payment infrastructure for businesses, according to CoinDesk. BVNK processes $12 billion in stablecoin transactions annually and has recently expanded into the U.S. market, with offices in New York and San Francisco. The company has applied for licenses in all U.S. states and has already secured approval in several.

This investment follows BVNK's $50 million fundraising round, which included backers such as Haun Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, and Tiger Global. The move highlights a broader trend of mainstream financial firms adopting blockchain and stablecoins as faster, cheaper alternatives for payments. Other major players in the sector include Stripe, which is testing a stablecoin tool after its $1.1 billion acquisition of Bridge, and PayPal, which has introduced its own stablecoin. Visa itself has developed a platform to help banks issue stablecoins and tokenized assets.

"Visa’s deep expertise in building global payment networks, combined with our stablecoin infrastructure, creates powerful possibilities for redefining how businesses operate in today's digital economy," said Jesse Hemson-Struthers, BVNK co-founder and CEO.

Rubail Birwadker, head of growth products and partnerships at Visa, emphasized that stablecoins are becoming integral to global payment flows and that Visa is committed to investing in new technologies and companies like BVNK to stay at the forefront of commerce.

Company	Annual Stablecoin Volume	Recent Expansion	Recent Fundraising
BVNK	$12 billion	U.S. (New York, San Francisco)	$50 million

Visa's investment underscores the growing importance of stablecoins in global payments.
BVNK is expanding rapidly, with significant transaction volume and regulatory progress in the U.S.

Key Takeaway: Visa's investment in BVNK signals a strong commitment to stablecoin adoption and the modernization of payment infrastructure, with BVNK processing $12 billion in annual stablecoin transactions and expanding its U.S. presence. (Source: CoinDesk)

Women in Web3: Strategies to Increase Female Participation in Crypto

At the Blockchain Baddies event during Token2049 in Dubai, women in Web3 discussed the importance of clarity, education, and community in attracting more women to the crypto industry, as reported by Cointelegraph. Caroline York, marketing director at Serotonin, emphasized that making information more digestible and clear is essential for welcoming more women into the space. She highlighted the role of community-driven educational initiatives like SheFi in expanding female participation.

Saima Tariq Khan, an engineer and educator, pointed out that demystifying crypto’s complex vocabulary is crucial. She noted that while many women graduate from computer science courses, they remain underrepresented in the workforce. Khan believes that Web3’s remote-friendly nature offers an opportunity to engage this untapped talent pool.

Paloma Soria Brown, an author and SheFi scholar, stressed that financial literacy should be the starting point for education. She argued that increasing financial education and building trust are essential to attracting more women and people in general to the crypto space. Abigail Xavier, marketing manager at Fasset, stated that companies should actively seek input from women-focused communities to improve their products and make platforms more intuitive for female users.

Clarity and simplification of technical concepts are key to attracting women to Web3.
Community-driven education and financial literacy initiatives play a significant role.
Companies are encouraged to incorporate feedback from women-focused communities to enhance user experience.

Key Takeaway: The path to greater female participation in crypto lies in simplifying information, fostering community, and prioritizing financial literacy, with companies playing an active role in making platforms more accessible. (Source: Cointelegraph)

On April 14, 2025, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) released guidelines on processing personal data using blockchain technologies in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), according to NatLawReview.com. The guidelines address privacy challenges such as blockchain’s immutability, which conflicts with rights to data rectification and deletion (Articles 16 and 17 GDPR), and its decentralized nature, which complicates compliance with principles like data minimization and storage limitation (Article 5).

The EDPB recommends that organizations clearly define roles and responsibilities, especially for nodes in public permissionless blockchains, which may be considered data controllers. The use of a legal entity, such as a consortium, is encouraged when nodes jointly determine processing purposes. Technical and organizational measures should include assessing whether personal data will be stored, the necessity of using blockchain, and the type of blockchain to be used, with public blockchains to be avoided unless essential.

To limit the identifiability of personal data, the EDPB suggests techniques such as encryption, hashing, and cryptographic commitments. The guidelines also recommend off-chain storage of personal data, emergency protocols, breach notifications, and protections against 51% attacks. Public consultation on the guidelines is open until June 9, 2025, and the final version is expected to remain largely consistent with the draft.

GDPR Challenge	EDPB Recommendation
Immutability vs. Data Deletion	Use off-chain storage; anonymize data if erasure is required
Decentralized Control	Define roles; use legal entities for joint controllers
Data Minimization	Store only necessary data; avoid public blockchains unless essential

Clear role definition and technical safeguards are essential for GDPR compliance.
Public blockchains should be used only when necessary, with personal data stored off-chain when possible.

Key Takeaway: The EDPB’s guidelines provide a framework for GDPR-compliant blockchain use, emphasizing role clarity, technical safeguards, and minimizing on-chain personal data. (Source: NatLawReview.com)

Vietnam Launches “Make in Vietnam” Blockchain Network to Boost National Sovereignty

On May 6, 2025, 1Matrix, an ecosystem member of Techcombank, One Mount Group, Masterise Group, and Techcom Securities, officially launched its “Make in Vietnam” blockchain network, as reported by GlobeNewswire. The initiative, supported by the Vietnam Blockchain Association (VBA) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG), aims to empower Vietnam to master blockchain technology and establish a foundation for significant progress in the digital age.

1Matrix is building a Layer-1 blockchain network designed and operated by Vietnamese professionals, fully compliant with international interoperability standards. The project focuses on developing foundational technologies, including consensus algorithms, data mechanisms, network security, and user experience. Mr. Phan Duc Trung, Chairman of the Board of 1Matrix and the VBA, emphasized that complete control over blockchain technology and intellectual property will enable Vietnam to proactively apply the technology in its digital economic and societal development, strengthen national data sovereignty, and enhance cybersecurity.

Strategic cooperation agreements were announced between 1Matrix, the VBA, and BCG to realize the goal of building a Vietnamese blockchain network. Lieutenant General Dang Vu Son, former Head of the Government Cipher Committee, highlighted the need for more innovators and visionary enterprises like 1Matrix to establish Vietnam’s name on the global digital technology map. Additionally, the “VietChain Talents 2025” competition was launched, offering total prizes of USD 135,000 to identify and nurture high-quality talent for Vietnam’s blockchain sector.

Initiative	Key Partners	Prize Pool	Launch Date
“Make in Vietnam” Blockchain Network	1Matrix, VBA, BCG	USD 135,000 (VietChain Talents 2025)	May 6, 2025

Vietnam is focusing on mastering blockchain technology and building national digital infrastructure.
The initiative includes a major talent competition to foster blockchain expertise.

Key Takeaway: The launch of the “Make in Vietnam” blockchain network marks a significant step in Vietnam’s digital transformation, with a focus on national sovereignty, cybersecurity, and talent development. (Source: GlobeNewswire)

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