The momentum behind stablecoin-based payments is gaining attention across the global commerce landscape. Reports suggest that Amazon $AMZN and Walmart $WMT are evaluating the launch of proprietary tokens, while Shopify $SHOP has begun supporting USDC $USDCUSD payments in over 30 countries. This marks a notable shift in how major retail players view blockchain-based settlement infrastructure. However, not all observers are convinced that this trend poses a disruptive threat to legacy networks like Visa $V and Mastercard $MA.

Coinbase $COIN has officially introduced Coinbase Payments, a three-tiered infrastructure designed to simplify the integration of USDC $USDCUSD transactions for commerce platforms. This strategic rollout positions Coinbase as a central payments enabler in the growing stablecoin economy, offering turnkey tools that bypass the need for direct blockchain deployment.

UBS $UBS has reiterated its negative outlook for the lithium mining industry, warning that the current oversupply and weak spot price, now below $600 per tonne, are likely to persist. Despite recent cost optimizations and industry consolidation, the investment bank sees little near-term relief for producers, citing muted market signals and structural rigidity within the supply chain.

Temu, the fast-growing e-commerce platform owned by PDD Holdings $PDD, is facing a sharp decline in its U.S. market performance as the company significantly cuts its digital advertising targeted at American consumers. The decision comes in response to heightened regulatory uncertainty following President Donald Trump's recent tightening of trade restrictions with China.

British fashion retailer River Island has announced plans to shutter 33 stores across the UK, a move driven by declining footfall and a strategic pivot toward digital retailing. The decision could impact hundreds of jobs and reflects mounting pressure on brick-and-mortar operations within the UK retail sector.

Stellantis N.V. $STLA has instructed UK owners of first-generation DS 3 and second-generation Citroën C3 vehicles, manufactured between 2009 and 2019, to stop driving their cars immediately. The directive follows renewed concerns over Takata airbag defects after a recent fatal incident in France.

Verve Therapeutics $VERV surged by over 80% this week after entering into a definitive agreement with Eli Lilly $LLY. The deal centers on the experimental cardiovascular therapy VERVE-102, positioning Lilly to deepen its role in gene-editing innovations targeting atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Aflac Inc. $AFL has confirmed a significant cybersecurity breach, potentially compromising Social Security numbers, insurance claims, and sensitive medical data of its clients. The incident marks a serious escalation in a wave of targeted cyberattacks against U.S. insurance providers and underscores rising systemic vulnerabilities in the sector. The breach, disclosed on Friday, positions Aflac, the second-largest provider of supplemental insurance in the United States with billions in annual revenue and millions of policyholders, as the most high-profile victim in this recent string of attacks.

Circle $CRCL, the issuer of the USDC $USDCUSD stablecoin, continued its market rally on Friday after the U.S. Senate passed the GENIUS Act, a bill focused on regulating stablecoins. Shares jumped nearly 17% in premarket trading, adding to significant gains earlier in the week. The legislation, designed to set compliance standards for fiat-backed digital currencies, now moves to the House of Representatives. Its Senate passage has amplified investor interest in Circle, which is seen as well-positioned under the proposed regulatory framework.

QXO Inc., led by industry veteran Brad Jacobs, has submitted a $5 billion all-cash acquisition proposal for GMS Inc. $GMS, aiming to expand its footprint in the fragmented building materials distribution sector. With a deadline of June 24, Jacobs has indicated that if GMS’s board rejects the offer, a hostile bid remains a strong possibility. The move follows Jacobs’ strategic pattern of building scale through acquisitions, reinforcing his plan to turn QXO into a $50 billion revenue enterprise within the next decade.

Accenture plc $ACN posted stronger-than-anticipated third-quarter revenue, reaching $17.7 billion, outperforming the average analyst forecast of $17.3 billion. This growth was largely fueled by sustained corporate demand for the firm’s AI-driven consulting services. However, investor sentiment remained cautious after the firm reported a notable decline in new business orders.

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