Blockchain & Web3 Weekly Bytes Edition #53

Blockchain-as-a-Service, BlackRock’s ETF Push & Bitcoin’s Supply Story

March 1, 2025

Hello Blockchain Enthusiast,

Welcome to Edition #53 of Blockchain & Web3 Weekly Bytes! This week, BlackRock is doubling down on Bitcoin ETFs, adding them to its portfolio models for financial advisors—a move that could bring even more institutions into crypto. Meanwhile, the SEC has officially dropped its case against Coinbase, marking a new chapter in regulatory battles. And Robinhood’s CEO is betting on tokenization to reshape markets, calling it the most exciting frontier for crypto.

Tech Spotlight: Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) is making blockchain easier for businesses—without the complexity of building from scratch.
Weekly Highlights: Deutsche Telekom is expanding its validator presence, memecoins dodge security classification, and Bitcoin rebounds after a rocky week.
Affiliate Spotlight: Trezor’s latest hardware wallets—secure your Bitcoin and digital assets with the newest models.
Chart of the Week: Gold supply grows predictably. The dollar expands aggressively. Bitcoin keeps its edge. A breakdown of how money supply has changed since 2020.

🧠 Weekly Trivia

Which country recently launched a government-backed Web3 platform to integrate blockchain into public services?

A) United Arab Emirates (UAE)
B) South Korea
C) Singapore
D) Switzerland

*Find the answer at the end of this newsletter.

🌟 Tech Spotlight – The Rise of Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS)

Setting up a blockchain network from scratch takes time, expertise, and resources. That’s why many businesses are choosing Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS)—letting them use blockchain without having to build or maintain the infrastructure themselves.

How BaaS Works

Think of it like renting a fully managed blockchain network instead of setting up your own. Just like companies use cloud services for data storage, they can now access blockchain solutions without handling nodes, security, or software updates.

Who’s Using It?

Banks are adopting blockchain services for cross-border payments instead of creating in-house networks. IBM’s Hyperledger is a popular choice.
Retail giants are using it for product authentication—LVMH developed AURA to verify luxury goods on-chain.
Logistics companies are integrating blockchain to track shipments—Walmart’s food tracing system is a prime example.

Leading Provider

Tech firms like Microsoft, Amazon, and Oracle have stepped into the BaaS space, offering ready-to-use blockchain tools. Other platforms like Ethereum, Hyperledger, and Avalanche Subnets cater to different industries—whether it’s finance, supply chain, or digital identity.

Why It’s Growing

BaaS is making blockchain practical for businesses that don’t want to manage their networks. It’s becoming part of everyday systems—running in the background while companies focus on their actual products and services.

📰 This Week’s Blockchain and Web3 Highlights

BlackRock Expands Bitcoin ETF Reach: BlackRock is adding its spot Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) to investment portfolios marketed to financial advisors, aiming to bring more institutions into the crypto space. However, IBIT saw record outflows amid market corrections.

Deutsche Telekom Strengthens Blockchain Presence: The telecom giant is now a validator for Injective, expanding its role in blockchain by also validating for networks like Polygon, Polkadot, Chainlink, and Celo.

Robinhood’s CEO Backs Tokenization for the Future of Finance: Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev sees tokenization as a major shift in crypto markets and plans to expand the platform’s crypto offerings, including through its Bitstamp integration.

Bitcoin Rebounds After Market Dip: Bitcoin saw an 8% bounce after a sharp market drop, following geopolitical tensions involving Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

SEC Drops Its Case Against Coinbase: In a major regulatory shift, the SEC has officially withdrawn its lawsuit against Coinbase, marking an unexpected turn in its stance on crypto exchanges.

Proposed Bill Seeks to Ban Lawmakers From Promoting Meme Coins: A new bill, The MEME Act, aims to prevent high-ranking government officials from profiting off meme coin promotions, imposing criminal and civil penalties.

SEC Says Memecoins Aren’t Securities, But Risks Remain: The SEC’s Corporation Finance Division clarified that memecoins do not qualify as securities, though concerns around fraud and manipulation remain.

😂 A Little Blockchain Humor Break 🤣

Source: Naiive

📊 Chart of the Week: Bitcoin’s Supply Stays Tight While the Dollar Expands

Not all money is created equal—Bitcoin, gold, and the U.S. dollar follow different supply paths, and the numbers tell a clear story.

🟢 The U.S. dollar keeps inflating, growing +3.7% in 2024 and averaging +6.8% annually since 2015—more printing, more supply.

🟡 Gold remains steady, increasing +1.95% this year, in line with its historic 2-3% annual growth rate since the 1800s.

🟠 Bitcoin keeps getting scarcer, adding just +0.85% in 2024, with new supply halving every four years until 2140—a built-in limit no other asset has.

Takeaway? While fiat keeps expanding, Bitcoin remains predictable—its hard cap of 21 million coins isn’t changing, no matter what.

Source: River

This week had no shortage of updates—BlackRock pushing Bitcoin ETFs into financial portfolios, the SEC backing off from Coinbase, and Robinhood doubling down on tokenization. Meanwhile, Bitcoin held its ground amid market swings, and memecoins dodged a securities classification.

Trivia Answer: B) South Korea

🇰🇷 The country recently launched a government-backed Web3 platform to integrate blockchain into public services, aiming to streamline digital identity, transactions, and transparency in administration.

I’ll be back next week with more updates. Stay tuned, and if you found this valuable, share it with a fellow blockchain enthusiast!

Thank you,
Ajay Tomar

Disclaimer:

Content in this newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as financial, tax, or legal advice. Always do your research and consult with a professional before making financial decisions. As a solopreneur, I may earn commissions from affiliate links in this newsletter at no extra cost to you. This support helps me bring you valuable content. I only endorse products I trust and believe could benefit you.