3 for Web3: Key Moments from May 12–18
Top stories from the world of Web3 last week ...
Welcome to 3 for Web3, where we boil down the chaos of the decentralized internet into three key stories you can read before your coffee gets cold. This week? Solana is having a moment — and not the embarrassing kind. Circle dropped a quarter-billion USDC on the network, and MetaMask finally decided Solana could sit at the cool kids’ table. Oh, and Apple? It’s loosening its death grip on crypto apps (gasp!).
Web3 is moving fast, but we’re keeping it witty. Let’s dive into what mattered last week — and why you might want to pay attention.
🟩 1. Circle Dropped $250M in Solana’s Wallet — Hey, But No Pressure!
Solana just got a major liquidity boost. Circle, the issuer of USDC, minted $250 million worth of the stablecoin on the Solana blockchain. The goal? Supercharge DeFi, pump up trading volume, and maybe to finally get Solana invited to Ethereum's family dinners.
With this move, Circle is betting that Solana isn't just fast — it's future-proof. The chain’s blazing speed and low fees make it an attractive home for stablecoin flows. This could also signal a broader trend: the stablecoin wars are heating up, and Solana is donning armor.
If you were wondering whether Solana was still relevant post-FTX, Circle just gave a $250M answer.
🟩 2. MetaMask + Solana = A Marriage of Convenience (And Strategy)
MetaMask, the Ethereum wallet everyone uses but pretends to hate, is letting Solana in the front door. That’s right — native Solana support is coming to MetaMask. No janky workarounds. No third-party bridges. Just pure, seamless integration.
For MetaMask, this is a strategic flex. It opens the door to millions of Solana users while unifying more of the multichain mess that Web3 wallets have become. For Solana? It’s a credibility bump and a reminder that it's not just Ethereum’s scrappy cousin — it's a network worth taking seriously.
And let’s be real: MetaMask supporting Solana is like Android and iPhone deciding to co-parent. It’s something you know you want to watch.
🟩 3. Apple Finally Loosens the Crypto Leash (Just a Tiny Bit)
In a plot twist no one saw coming, Apple has revised its App Store rules to be slightly less... Apple-y. Following a court order, devs can now tell users about alternative ways to purchase digital goods — including crypto-based payments — without being banished from the garden.
The update also loosens restrictions on displaying NFTs and digital collectibles, giving Web3 apps a little more wiggle room. It's not exactly a warm embrace of decentralization, but it's closer to a fist bump than the cold shoulder we’ve come to expect.
This change might not open the floodgates, but it’s a clear sign Apple sees the writing on the blockchain wall. Or at least, it’s reading the legal fine print more carefully.
The Final Block
That’s a wrap on this week’s 3 for Web3 — Solana’s swimming in stablecoins, MetaMask is playing multichain nice, and Apple is very cautiously making room for NFTs and alt payment options. Whether you’re a degen, a builder, or just lurking with curiosity, these are the kinds of shifts that quietly (or loudly) shape the next chapter of crypto.
If you found this roundup helpful, hit the share button, reblog on Hive, or forward it to a friend who still thinks “Web3” is a Wi-Fi network. Until next Monday, stay curious, stay sovereign, and don’t forget to verify before you trust.
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