Key Points
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RWA protocol stUSDT has ended yield accrual and opened a redemption window through May 14, 2027, nearly three years after its total value locked peaked at approximately $2.3 billion.
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MEGA, the organization behind MegaETH, has reduced its workforce by 20% while committing $30 million to artificial intelligence initiatives.
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OpenAI introduced AI-powered payments in ChatGPT through partnerships with Visa, Mastercard and American Express, initially targeting eligible US ChatGPT Pro subscribers.
stUSDT Begins Wind-Down After TVL Falls From $2.3 Billion
Real-world asset protocol stUSDT has started winding down operations, ending yield payments and establishing a redemption process for tokenholders. The decision comes nearly three years after the protocol reached approximately $2.3 billion in total value locked in November 2023.
According to the project’s announcement, interest accrual on stUSDT ended on Saturday. Holders of stUSDT and its wrapped version, wstUSDT, can redeem their assets through the official portal until May 14, 2027. Requests submitted after that deadline will be handled through customer support in monthly batches through August 2027.
The team did not disclose a specific reason for the shutdown but stated that underlying assets remain fully backed. Tokenholders whose assets are held on exchanges or decentralized finance platforms must first transfer them to personal wallets before submitting redemption requests.
The protocol’s decline has been substantial. DefiLlama data showed that its TVL stood at approximately $8.6 million on Sunday, compared with roughly $60 million a year earlier.
JustLend DAO has also announced plans to phase out supply and borrowing functions for its wstUSDT market as part of the transition.
Launched on Tron in July 2023 before expanding to Ethereum, stUSDT allowed users to deposit USDT and receive yields generated through investments in real-world assets, including short-term government bonds. Despite its name, the protocol is independent of Tether, which previously denied any affiliation with the project.
MegaETH Parent Reduces Workforce by 20% Amid AI Expansion
MEGA, the organization behind Ethereum layer-2 network MegaETH, has reduced its workforce by 20% following months of restructuring.
Co-founder Shuyao Kong said the organizational changes affected employees involved in the blockchain, wallet, ecosystem support and communications operations. She did not disclose the number of employees affected or when the departures occurred.
Kong said the founders, early employees and core engineering team remain committed to the organization, acknowledging that departing employees had contributed to building MEGA from its earliest days.
The restructuring comes as the organization expands its focus toward artificial intelligence products built around the MegaETH network. MEGA has committed $30 million to the initiative, although Kong did not directly connect the workforce reduction to the investment.
Co-founders Yilong Li and Lei Yang have also proposed an AI inference marketplace designed to give users access to competing service providers. The proposal addresses concerns about whether providers deliver the advertised AI models and how they handle customer data.
Kong said MEGA plans to launch a public inference market in December, marking another step in the organization’s expansion beyond blockchain infrastructure.
OpenAI Introduces AI-Powered Payments Inside ChatGPT
OpenAI has introduced a payment feature allowing AI agents to make purchases on behalf of users directly within ChatGPT, in collaboration with American Express, Mastercard and Visa.
The system allows users to authorize transactions through biometric verification, including facial recognition and fingerprints. Payment networks generate tokenized card credentials for approved purchases, preventing merchants and AI agents from accessing users’ actual card details.
The initial rollout is limited to ChatGPT Pro subscribers in the United States with eligible US-issued payment cards.
OpenAI also outlined plans to support purchases under preset spending limits and other restrictions, potentially allowing transactions without requiring individual approval each time.
The launch reflects a broader shift in AI development from providing recommendations and information toward executing tasks on behalf of users. By integrating payment capabilities into ChatGPT, OpenAI is moving into digital commerce through established payment infrastructure and fraud-prevention systems.
Market Developments to Watch
The three developments highlight different areas of change across the digital asset and technology sectors. stUSDT’s wind-down underscores the importance of redemption processes and transparency in real-world asset protocols. MegaETH’s restructuring signals a growing focus on AI applications within blockchain ecosystems, while OpenAI’s payment integration demonstrates how AI platforms are beginning to participate directly in commercial transactions.
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