Defi
Arx Research Launches “Burner Terminal” to Enable Tap-to-Pay Stablecoin Transactions
Arx Research has introduced its Burner Terminal, a handheld POS (point-of-sale) device that allows merchants to accept stablecoins like USDC and USD II on the spot via tap, smartphone scan, or card. The terminal also supports traditional EMV payments, positioning itself as a bridge between crypto native rails and conventional payment systems.
Designed for small-business environments such as food trucks, salons, and pop-up shops, the Burner Terminal packs WiFi and LTE connectivity, rechargeable battery power, and full EMV certification. It operates not just like a crypto terminal, but also as one that supports the cards you see in every checkout lane today.
Key Features That Matter
- Tap-to-Pay Stablecoins: At launch the device supports USDC and USD II on the Base network, with no gas fees passed to the merchant transactions are sponsored by Arx.
- Dual Payment Support: Merchants can accept both crypto and cards. The Burner Terminal is EMV-certified and supports Visa/Mastercard chip-and-PIN, contactless, and mobile-tap payments.
- Open Wallet Integration: Initially tap-to-pay will be via the Burner wallet, but Arx has committed to opening the interface so other compatible wallets can integrate in future.
- Low-Cost Merchants: Because stablecoins settle instantly and eliminate charge-backs and high interchange fees, merchants can access nearly fee-free crypto settlement—while still offering card rails for customers who prefer them.
Why This Signals a Payment Disruption
The launch of the Burner Terminal marks a step toward everyday crypto utility: stablecoins aren’t just for trading or on-chain transactions, they’re now entering physical retail checkout lanes. In real terms, this means consumers and merchants could use stablecoins as easily as tapping a card or scanning a QR code—bringing digital-asset settlement into the point-of-sale ecosystem.
For the broader crypto world, this could nudge adoption in two ways:
- Merchant readiness: Smaller businesses, often left behind in the crypto payments wave, gain an accessible device to accept digital assets without building custom infrastructure.
- Consumer transition: Users familiar with wallets can now use stablecoins in real-world retail, while those loyal to traditional finance gain exposure to a crypto-enabled world through cards and tap-payments.
Looking Ahead
Arx plans to begin commercial availability of the Burner Terminal in early 2026, with pricing expected to be under $200 per unit. The company’s $6.1 million seed-funding round led by Castle Island Ventures and joined by Inflection, Placeholder, Seed Club Ventures, and 1kx will help scale manufacturing and expand into U.S., Latin American, and European markets.
As stablecoins mature in regulation and infrastructure, devices like the Burner Terminal could play a pivotal role in transitioning crypto from niche to mainstream retail. The next 12–18 months will reveal how many merchants adopt this hybrid payment rail and whether stablecoins can truly become everyday tender at the checkout.
Also Read: MoonPay Acquires Iron to Enhance Stablecoin Payment Solutions
Optimism Foundation has proposed a new plan to buy back OP tokens using 50% of the revenue generated by the Superchain. The proposal is part of a broader effort to better connect the OP token with the real growth of the Optimism ecosystem.
The update was shared by OP Labs CEO and Optimism co-founder Jinglan “Jingle” Wang in a public post, where he said the goal is to align everyone building on Optimism around a shared future. According to Wang, the Superchain has grown into global infrastructure, and the OP token should reflect that progress.
Linking OP to Superchain growth
The Superchain is a network of blockchains built using the OP Stack. Today, it processes around 13% of all blockchain transactions and controls more than 61% of the layer-2 fee market. This growth has been driven not only by Optimism’s core teams, but also by major projects such as Base, Worldcoin, Celo, Zora, and others that chose to build on the OP Stack.
Despite this success, the OP token has historically had no direct connection to Superchain performance. The Foundation says this proposal aims to change that by tying OP more closely to network usage and revenue.
How the buyback plan works
Every blockchain in the Superchain contributes a portion of its earnings back to Optimism. Over the past 12 months, this added up to 5,868 ETH in revenue, all of which was sent to a treasury managed by Optimism governance.
Under the new proposal, 50% of incoming Superchain revenue would be used to buy OP tokens on a monthly basis for the next year. The OP tokens bought through this program would return to the ecosystem treasury and could later be burned or used for rewards, depending on future decisions.
The remaining 50% of the revenue would be managed by the Foundation to fund operations and support further Superchain growth.
OP price reaction and Next Steps
Following the announcement, OP’s price began moving up slowly, reflecting positive market sentiment around the buyback plan. While gains have been modest so far, traders appear encouraged by the idea that OP will now benefit more directly from ecosystem growth.
The proposal will move to a governance vote on January 22. If approved, the buyback program is expected to begin in February. The Optimism team has also announced a public discussion session where community members can ask questions ahead of the vote.
According to the Foundation, this proposal marks the beginning of a new phase for OP, with more changes expected as Optimism continues to scale.
Coinbase has introduced CDP Server Wallets, also known as Embedded Wallets, enabling developers to seamlessly integrate secure, managed wallets into their applications with no private key handling. These wallets are deployed and controlled through Coinbase’s Developer Platform (CDP) via fast APIs.
What Are Embedded Wallets?
CDP Server Wallets offer a turnkey solution for builders needing programmatic access to on-chain execution without self-custody burdens. Wallets are hosted in secure enclaves, enforce transaction limits and allowlists, and provide smart policy controls—such as spend caps or contract access restrictions—all managed via API.
These wallets support multiple blockchains (EVM-compatible and Solana) and are compatible with standard developer tools like ethers.js, wagmi, and viem, allowing deployment in under 200 milliseconds.
Use Cases and Utility
Embedded Wallets are tailored for builders creating apps that require native wallet integration:
- Mass payments and payroll bots
- AI agents executing trades
- Smart contract interactions in apps and dApps
- Onrampenabled flows via Coinbase tooling
With no seed phrases or pop-ups, this solution reduces onboarding friction—ideal for Web2-like experiences in crypto-native apps.
Security at the Core
Key security features include wallet policies that block dangerous transactions by design: e.g., validating destinations, restricting amounts, or blocking known malicious smart contracts. These controls operate in Coinbase’s Trusted Execution Environment.
Wallet keys are never exposed even to Coinbase, ensuring high trust while preserving decentralization benefits.
Developer-Ready Ecosystem
Coinbase is actively promoting embedded wallets through its CDP Builder Grants, offering up to $30K in funding for developers integrating wallets, Onramp, and Swap APIs in their user flows.
An early-access program is also live for teams eager to test Embedded Wallets ahead of general availability.
Strategic Significance
Embedded Wallets represent a major architectural shift—bridging traditional Web app user experiences with on-chain execution. By abstracting key management and security policies, Coinbase enables developers to onboard new types of users into crypto-native products with minimal friction. This toolset echoes broader efforts to define wallet-as-a-service solutions for mainstream adoption.
Binance Coin (BNB) recently reached a new all-time high near $800, but the lackluster trading volume behind the move has sparked concerns about a weakening rally and potential correction.
Struggling with Resistance
After touching the $800 mark, BNB has failed to close decisively above it. Price appears to be capped at the upper boundary of its range, with no strong follow-through to confirm a sustained breakout. Without a strong volume push, analysts warn that this lack of conviction could lead to a pullback.
Volume Weakness: Key Warning Sign
Volume trends reveal a lack of backing behind BNB’s latest surge. While price inches higher, traders show hesitation, suggesting the rally could be a short-term exhaustion move. On the weekly chart, a slight upper wick has formed—another red flag indicating potential resistance at current levels.
Support Zones to Watch
If BNB begins to retreat, initial support lies around $600, the midpoint of its multi-month trading range and a high-volume node. A deeper pullback could test the $540 level, representing the lower edge of the range and another point of prior accumulation. Failure to hold these zones may invite a deeper slide toward $400.
Market Implications
BNB’s pause at resistance and weak volume occur against a backdrop of mixed signals in Altcoin markets. With Bitcoin consolidating near $120K and some altcoins stalling, a broader corrective phase could be underway. A sustained BNB dip may pressure sentiment across the crypto ecosystem.
- Bull Case: A strong breakout above $800—ideally on rising volume—could validate a new leg upward toward $900+.
- Bear Case: Continued volume weakness may force BNB to retrace to $600 or below, possibly retesting $540 to reset before another test. Lower support at $400 sets the stage for a prolonged consolidation.
Takeaway
Traders should watch for a weekend close above $800 with reliable volume to confirm breakout strength. Absent that, prepare for a test of mid-range support levels.
This moment is a reminder of how volume validates moves BNB’s next direction hinges not just on price, but sustained trader conviction.
