Research Analyst

USD1 soars as Binance and MEXC roll out major incentives. * C. Monasterio * Published: April 7, 2026 * 10:02 pm * Updated: April 7, 2026 * 10:02 pm Home > stablecoins > USD1 soars as Binance and MEXC roll out major incentives. Table of Contents * Record volume: USD1 reached a cumulative volume of $30 billion during the first quarter of 2026, driven by Binance. * Binance Leadership: The platform recorded $7.8 billion in January and $8.6 billion in February, consolidating its position as the primary liquidity hub. * Active Incentives: MEXC and other exchanges such as Bullish and Gate.io have launched yield programs and liquidity rewards. During the first months of 2026, World LibertyFi's stablecoin - USD1 - experienced explosive growth in its trading activity. This is primarily due to the aggressive adoption strategies implemented by exchange giants such as Binance and MEXC. The ecosystem recorded significant technical achievements, with weekly volumes exceeding $1 billion in March. Although it still sits below leaders like USDT or USDC, USD1 has managed to capture a relevant market share thanks to yield farming programs and referral rewards that have skyrocketed its liquidity. Binance drives USD1 commercial growth. The engine behind these figures has been Binance. Since January, the exchange has facilitated billions in transactions while also integrating specialized liquidity programs that attract institutional and retail investors alike. On the other hand, the MEXC exchange reinforced this trend through incentives designed to encourage user retention in the asset. By offering competitive yields for providing liquidity, USD1 achieved price stability that facilitates its use in arbitrage and hedging operations. As more platforms like Bullish and Gate.io report steady increases, the asset positions itself as an emerging alternative. However, analysts warn that much of the current volume is tied to temporary incentives, which poses the challenge of retaining users in the long term. The success of USD1 at the start of 2026 demonstrates the effectiveness of strategic alliances between issuers and exchanges. The backing of World LibertyFi and the aggressive rewards policy have allowed this stablecoin to consolidate its presence in a highly competitive market.

Hoskinson sends Cardano community into A frenzy with cryptic post teasing forthcoming Midnight mainnet launch. March 24, 2026 Cardano co-founder Charles Hoskinson sparked curiosity by posting a short question hinting that the privacy-focused blockchain Midnight may be ready to launch. In a recent post on the X platform, Charles Hoskinson asked his over one million followers, "Who is ready for Midnight?" His post included a five-minute-plus compilation of Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield's legendary performance aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in 2013. The use of David Bowie's "Space Oddity" adds symbolic resonance, evoking exploration, transition, and the journey into uncharted territory - reflecting Midnight's role as Cardano's move into programmable privacy. Paired with the minimalist phrasing, it urges the community to brace for a major milestone, turning a simple question into a deliberate signal of what's coming next. Hoskinson's post has heightened anticipation, with the Midnight mainnet launch expected later this month, though the date has yet to be announced. Notably, the post quickly went viral, racking up over 42,000 views and more than 1,500 likes at press time. Meanwhile, members of the Cardano community, including Input Output Global, have expressed their readiness, further fueling momentum around the anticipated launch. Midnight scores major strategic partnerships. As previously covered by ZyCrypto, Midnight leverages zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs to enable selective data disclosure. Functioning as a partner chain to the Cardano smart contract platform, it delivers privacy and regulatory compliance for decentralized applications. The project has also formed partnerships with major tech platforms, including Google and Telegram, underscoring its potential for widespread adoption. Meanwhile, Midnight's native token, NIGHT, is now available for trading on major cryptocurrency exchanges. Additionally, the Midnight Foundation recently revealed that Worldpay and Bullish will run federated nodes for the Midnight network. In the lead-up to its expected mainnet launch, the NIGHT token climbed to $0.04768 within the last 24 hours. Despite this uptick, its market value - once above $1 billion shortly after its December debut - has declined to roughly $789 million, according to CoinGecko.