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Key Takeaways:

• Tornado Cash uses Zero-Knowledge proofs to break the on-chain link between the sender and receiver of funds.
• The US government sanctioned the protocol in 2022, arguing it was a tool for money laundering by state-sponsored hackers.
• The legal battles surrounding the developers have set a critical precedent regarding whether open-source code is protected speech.

Tornado Cash is arguably the most controversial protocol in the history of cryptocurrency. To privacy advocates, it is a vital tool for human rights, allowing users to transact on Ethereum without exposing their entire financial history to the world.

To government regulators, it is a weapon. In 2022, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned the protocol. This marked the first time a piece of code, rather than a person or country, was added to a sanctions list. Even in 2026, the legal shockwaves of this decision are still shaping how developers build privacy tools.

What Is Tornado Cash?

At its core, the protocol is a "coin mixer." On a public blockchain like Ethereum, every transaction is visible. If you pay someone, they can see your wallet balance and your entire transaction history.

Tornado Cash solves this transparency problem. It breaks the link between the source and the destination addresses.

Users deposit cryptocurrency into a shared pool (the "smart contract"). The funds sit there, mixing with funds from thousands of other users. Later, the user withdraws the funds to a brand new, clean wallet.

How Does the Technology Work?

The magic behind the protocol is Zero-Knowledge Proofs (zk-SNARKs). This cryptography allows a user to prove they own funds in the pool without revealing which specific deposit was theirs.

When you deposit, you get a secret "note" (like a password). When you want to withdraw, you provide a cryptographic proof derived from that note.

The smart contract verifies the proof is valid and releases the funds to your new address. Because the contract never sees the link between the deposit and the withdrawal, the on-chain trail is effectively cold.

Why Was It Sanctioned?

The anonymity provided by Tornado Cash attracted legitimate users, but it also attracted criminals. The Lazarus Group, a North Korean state-sponsored hacking organization, used the mixer to launder hundreds of millions of dollars stolen from crypto bridges.

OFAC argued that the protocol was a national security threat. By placing it on the SDN list, they made it illegal for any US citizen or entity to interact with the smart contracts. This forced major infrastructure providers like Infura and Circle (USDC) to blacklist the protocol's addresses immediately.

Is Code Free Speech?

The sanctions led to the arrest of the developers behind Tornado Cash, sparking a massive legal battle that continues to define the industry in 2026. The core legal question is simple: Is writing open-source code protected by the First Amendment?

Defenders argue that the developers simply built a tool (like a hammer) and shouldn't be jailed because someone else used it for a crime. Prosecutors argue that the developers profited from the laundering and failed to implement controls. This case has drawn a line in the sand between decentralized privacy and centralized compliance.

Conclusion

The story of Tornado Cash is a tragedy of the dual-use nature of technology. It proved that perfect privacy is possible on a public blockchain, but it also highlighted the severe consequences when that privacy collides with national security.

Stablecoin Payment Flows Could Reach $56 Trillion by 2030, Bloomberg Predicts

Stablecoins are rapidly moving from the margins of crypto markets into the heart of global finance, and their growth trajectory shows no signs of slowing. According to new projections from Bloomberg Intelligence, payment flows powered by stablecoins could surge to nearly $56.6 trillion by 2030, positioning them as one of the most influential payment mechanisms worldwide.

Such a leap would represent a dramatic expansion from the estimated $2.9 trillion in stablecoin payment flows recorded in 2025. To reach Bloomberg’s forecast, the sector would need to sustain an eye-catching compound annual growth rate of roughly 81% over the next five years, a pace rarely seen in traditional financial systems.

Bloomberg analysts attribute this potential explosion to a combination of institutional adoption and growing demand from regions facing persistent inflation, currency devaluation, and economic uncertainty. In these environments, dollar-pegged stablecoins are increasingly viewed as a practical alternative to local currencies.

From Niche Crypto Tool to Global Payment Rail

Stablecoins are no longer limited to trading desks and crypto-native users. Instead, they are becoming everyday financial tools for cross-border payments, savings, and commercial settlements. Bloomberg Intelligence notes that this evolution could place stablecoins alongside, or even ahead of, legacy payment networks in certain markets.

Emerging economies play a particularly important role in this trend. As geopolitical tensions and monetary instability intensify, individuals and businesses alike are turning to US dollar-backed digital assets to preserve value and move money efficiently across borders.

USDT Leads Centralized Finance as USDC Gains Ground in DeFi

While the stablecoin ecosystem is expanding as a whole, competition between major issuers remains fierce. Bloomberg’s data highlights a clear division in usage patterns between the two dominant players: Tether’s USDT and Circle’s USDC.

USDT continues to be the preferred stablecoin for centralized finance, everyday payments, and business transactions, especially in developing regions. Its widespread availability and deep liquidity have made it a default choice for users seeking stability outside traditional banking systems.

USDC, however, has carved out a strong position within decentralized finance. On DeFi platforms, it remains the stablecoin of choice due to its regulatory posture and perceived transparency.

Despite a noticeable shift away from decentralized platforms in overall transaction share during 2025, USDC still recorded higher total transaction volume, reaching $18.3 trillion, compared with $13.3 trillion for USDT. Together, the two assets accounted for more than 95% of the $33 trillion in total stablecoin transaction volume, which itself marked a 72% year-on-year increase.

From a market capitalization standpoint, USDT maintains a commanding lead, with a valuation approaching $187 billion, while USDC stands at approximately $75 billion.

Market Size Expands as Governments and Institutions Step In

The broader stablecoin market is now valued at around $312 billion, and expectations for future growth are accelerating. The US Treasury previously estimated that the sector could expand to $2 trillion by 2028, a target that now appears increasingly plausible given recent developments.

Regulatory momentum is also building. Following the signing of the GENIUS Act by US President Donald Trump in July, countries such as Canada and the United Kingdom have intensified efforts to introduce comprehensive stablecoin frameworks, with implementation expected in 2026 or shortly thereafter. These moves signal a growing willingness among governments to formally integrate stablecoins into mainstream financial systems.

Traditional Payment Giants Embrace Stablecoins

Institutional adoption is advancing just as rapidly. Legacy financial and payment firms are no longer experimenting quietly; they are committing publicly. Western Union, one of the world’s largest remittance providers, is preparing to launch a stablecoin-based settlement system on the Solana blockchain in the first half of 2026.

At the same time, companies like MoneyGram and Zelle are developing their own stablecoin solutions, aiming to reduce costs and settlement times for international transfers. These initiatives reflect a broader realization that blockchain-based payments may offer efficiencies that traditional rails struggle to match.

A Defining Decade for Stablecoins

If Bloomberg’s projections hold true, the coming decade could redefine how money moves across borders. Stablecoins, once dismissed as a speculative crypto experiment, may soon underpin a significant share of global payment flows.

As regulation matures, institutional confidence grows, and adoption spreads in both developed and emerging economies, stablecoins appear increasingly positioned to become a foundational layer of the future financial system rather than a parallel alternative.

For e-commerce merchants, chargeback fraud is a silent killer of profits. A customer buys a product, receives it, and then disputes the charge with their credit card company, leading to forced refunds and penalty fees for you. This practice, often called "friendly fraud," costs businesses billions. But there is a technology that stops it completely: cryptocurrency.

What is Chargeback Fraud and Why Does it Happen?

The traditional payment system is built to favor the consumer. If a cardholder claims a transaction was unauthorized or the product wasn't delivered, the burden of proof falls on the merchant. This system is easily abused, leaving you with lost products, lost revenue, and penalty fees.

The Blockchain Solution: Irreversible Transactions

Cryptocurrency transactions, once confirmed on the blockchain, are final and irreversible. There is no central authority like a bank that can step in and reverse a payment. When a customer sends you Bitcoin or another crypto, the payment is yours permanently. The concept of a chargeback simply does not exist.

The Benefits for Your Business:

•100% Protection from Friendly Fraud: You will never lose a sale to a fraudulent dispute again.

•Reduced Administrative Burden: No more wasting hours gathering evidence and fighting with payment processors.

•Increased Security: You take control of your revenue without needing to rely on a third party to validate your sales.

How to Get Started

The first step to gaining this protection is to implement a crypto payment gateway on your website. This service will handle the customer checkout process securely. (You can learn more in our main guide to the best crypto payment gateways).

Securing Your Revenue for the Long Term

Eliminating chargebacks means your revenue is truly yours. The final step is to manage that revenue on a secure and professional platform. Whether you want to hold your crypto, trade it for other assets, or convert it to cash, using a trusted exchange is crucial for financial management.

For any business, transaction fees are a significant cost. While credit cards can take 2-4% of every sale, crypto payment gateways offer a powerful alternative, often charging just 1% or less. But which gateway is the cheapest? This guide breaks down the fee structures of top processors to help you keep more of your hard-earned money.

Understanding Fee Structures

Before comparing, it's important to know what you're looking for:

•Transaction Fee: A percentage or flat fee charged on every payment you receive.

•Withdrawal Fee: A fee for moving your crypto out of the gateway's wallet or for converting it to fiat currency.

•Setup/Monthly Fees: Most gateways don't have these, but it's always good to check.

Low-Fee Crypto Gateway Comparison

Important Note: Cheapest Isn't Always Best

While a 0.5% fee is attractive, don't forget to consider other factors. A gateway that is slightly more expensive but offers better security, 24/7 customer support, and seamless integration with your website might be a much better long-term choice. Always balance cost with reliability.

Managing Your Funds After a Low-Cost Transaction

Choosing a low-fee gateway is the first step to maximizing profit. The second is efficiently managing the crypto you receive. You'll need a reliable platform to hold your funds, exchange them for stablecoins to avoid volatility, or convert them into fiat currency to pay for business expenses.