In a recent clip shared by The Rollup on X, Carlos Domingo, the CEO of Securitize, dropped some eye-opening insights during an interview about blockchain's potential to transform traditional markets into always-on, 24/7 trading hubs. This snippet comes from their "Money Moves Fast" episode focused on the launch of RLUSD, Ripple's new USD-pegged stablecoin, and it's got implications that ripple—pun intended—right into the world of meme tokens.
Let's break it down. Domingo points out that the sluggish settlement times in traditional finance, like the T+2 (that's "trade date plus two days" for settlement) we see in stock markets, aren't due to regulations but outdated tech. He explains, "The fact that they don't settle faster, it's a pure technology issue because markets are antiquated." And on trading hours? "There's no regulation that prohibits you to trade a stock at 3 a.m. in the morning." It's all a construct from the old days, he says, and blockchain is here to flip the script.
This ties directly into the big news: Ripple and Securitize have teamed up to integrate RLUSD with major tokenized funds like BlackRock's BUIDL (a tokenized U.S. Treasury fund) and VanEck's VBILL (a tokenized money market fund). What does that mean? Investors can now swap these tokenized assets for RLUSD in real-time, 24/7, enabling instant settlements and what Domingo calls "programmable liquidity." Since its launch in late 2024, RLUSD has ballooned to over $700 million in market cap, and this move opens the door for more institutional players to dip into crypto with compliant, stable tools.
For those of us in the meme token community, this is huge. Meme tokens like DOGE or SHIB already thrive in a 24/7 environment on decentralized exchanges (DEXes) such as Uniswap or Raydium. No closing bells, no weekends off—trading happens whenever the vibe hits. But with RLUSD stepping in as a reliable, regulated stablecoin, it could supercharge liquidity for meme trades. Imagine pairing your favorite meme coin with a stable USD asset that's backed by real reserves and integrated with big-name funds. This could reduce volatility spikes during off-hours and attract more serious capital from tradfi (traditional finance) folks who were hesitant about the wild west of crypto.
Plus, as blockchain makes 24/7 the norm for every asset class, meme tokens stand to benefit from broader adoption. Tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) like stocks or bonds trading around the clock? That means more on-ramps for fiat-to-crypto conversions, potentially funneling fresh money into meme ecosystems. Domingo predicts, "You will see 24-7 markets like crypto becoming the norm for every asset class." If that's the case, meme tokens—already masters of viral, non-stop hype—could evolve into even more dynamic players, perhaps even inspiring tokenized versions of cultural assets or community-driven funds.
This development isn't just about stablecoins; it's a step toward a unified, always-active financial world where meme tokens aren't outliers but part of the mainstream flow. If you're building or trading in the meme space, keep an eye on RLUSD—it's bridging the gap between hype-driven tokens and institutional-grade stability. For the full interview, check out The Rollup's episode on YouTube or your favorite podcast platform. What's your take on how 24/7 markets will shake up meme tokens? Drop your thoughts in the comments!