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Are big companies changing how they earn money from digital coins?

Research question: How do recent SEC filings indicate changes in how digital assets and tokenized services are being monetized by established firms?

Recent filings show USBC still building its tokenized deposit platform, with no revenue from customer contracts in Q2 2026 1. Its revenue share comes from the anticipated yield on tokenized deposit balances, which Vast Bank sets at its sole discretion 6. USBC also monetizes idle crypto by pledging Bitcoin as collateral for derivatives and a Bitcoin-backed credit facility 2812. Avalanche Treasury records staking rewards as staking revenue 13 and recorded $16.2 million of impairment losses on liquid staking tokens in the first half of 2026 24. The facts cover only a few companies, and the newest one is dated August 27, 2026, about two months before October 2026, so they do not establish a broad industry-wide shift 1224.

Checked 2026-10-13. Only documented and supported facts are used.
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Sources

[1] documented
USBC is still building its tokenized deposit platform and had not started revenue-generating operations, so it recognized no revenue from contracts with customers in the periods presented.
"is currently developing its tokenized deposit platform and has not commenced revenue-generating operations"
10-Q USBC, Inc. (USBC) (CIK 0001074828) 2026-08-07
[2] documented
USBC pledges Bitcoin as collateral for its derivative trading activities.
"The Company pledges Bitcoin as collateral for its derivative trading activities."
10-K USBC, Inc. (USBC) (CIK 0001074828) 2026-03-25
[3] supported
The paper argues that making an asset transferable, fractional, or digitally scarce does not by itself create value from tokenization.
"We show that tokenization does not create value merely by making an asset transferable, fractional, or digitally scarce."
Digital Ownership: The Tokenization of Real-World Assets (2026)
[4] documented
USBC's tokenized-deposit program divides roles among three parties: USBC runs the network, Vast Bank issues the customer deposit accounts, and Uphold handles platform integration and customer access.
"USBC will serve as the network operator, Vast Bank will serve as the issuing bank for customer deposit accounts, and Uphold will provide platform integration and customer access services."
10-Q USBC, Inc. (USBC) (CIK 0001074828) 2026-08-07
[5] documented
The company expects its Streamex platform to monetize through multiple fee-based and recurring revenue models across the commodity and digital asset lifecycle.
"outputs are expected to enable monetization through multiple fee-based and recurring revenue models across the commodity and digital"
10-K Streamex Corp. (STEX) (CIK 0001530766) 2026-03-31
[6] supported
Under the Tri-Party Agreement, Vast Bank, USBC and Uphold each receive a proportionate share of deposit revenue, which is calculated monthly from the anticipated yield on tokenized deposit balances, with Vast setting the yield in its sole discretion.
"Deposit Revenue shall be calculated monthly based on the anticipated yield attributable to the tokenized deposit balances allocated to each asset category as determined by Vast in its sole discretion."
10-Q USBC, Inc. (USBC) (CIK 0001074828) 2026-08-07
[7] supported
Under ASU 2023-08, USBC measures its digital asset receivable at fair value, with changes recorded in current-period earnings rather than through hedging or credit-based accounting alone.
"Throughout the period that the digital asset receivable is outstanding, the receivable will be measured at fair value of the underlying loaned digital asset with changes recorded in changes in fair value of digital assets in current period earnings."
10-K USBC, Inc. (USBC) (CIK 0001074828) 2026-03-25
[8] supported
USBC pledges Bitcoin as collateral for its derivative trading and records a digital asset receivable at fair value, with changes in value flowing through earnings, so it is monetizing idle crypto holdings as collateral.
"The Company pledges Bitcoin as collateral for its derivative trading activities."
10-Q USBC, Inc. (USBC) (CIK 0001074828) 2026-08-07
[9] supported
USBC does not hedge its Bitcoin price exposure, so the carrying value of its Bitcoin can fluctuate significantly.
"The Company does not use derivatives, futures, options, or other hedging instruments to mitigate its exposure to Bitcoin price volatility."
10-K USBC, Inc. (USBC) (CIK 0001074828) 2026-03-25
[10] supported
The GLDY yield arrangement is administered through a Tokenized Yield Partnership Agreement with Monetary Metals & Co., a Delaware corporation.
"by and between the Company and Monetary Metals & Co., a Delaware corporation (“Monetary Metals”)."
10-K Streamex Corp. (STEX) (CIK 0001530766) 2026-03-31
[11] supported
The company describes its digital asset and tokenization business as new and unproven, and it faces competition from established financial institutions and emerging technology firms.
"from both established financial institutions and emerging technology firms."
10-K Streamex Corp. (STEX) (CIK 0001530766) 2026-03-31
[12] documented
USBC uses Payward Financial, a Wyoming Special Purpose Depository Institution, for custodial services tied to its Bitcoin-backed credit facility.
"Under our Prime Broker Agreement with the Payward entities, Payward Financial, Inc., a Wyoming Special Purpose Depository Institution, provides Custodial Services to us in connection with our Bitcoin-backed credit facility."
S-1/A USBC, Inc. (USBC) (CIK 0001074828) 2026-08-27
[13] documented
The company recognizes staking rewards from its AVAX holdings as digital asset additions and as staking revenue in its income statement.
"Staking rewards earned by the Company through staking of these assets are recognized as an addition to digital assets and as staking revenue in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations in the period in which such rewards are recognized."
424B3 Avalanche Treasury Corp (AVAT) (CIK 0002092446) 2026-08-19
[14] documented
Exodus does not charge its users for its wallet. Its main revenue comes from fees charged to third-party API Providers.
"the Company does not earn revenue by charging users for products or services. The Exodus wallet is offered to users for free; the majority of the Company’s revenue is earned by charging fees to the API Providers"
CORRESP Exodus Movement, Inc. (EXOD) (CIK 0001821534) 2024-07-09
[15] documented
USBC pledges Bitcoin as loan collateral to Payward Interactive, with the collateral held in accounts subject to Payward Interactive's security interest.
"We use Payward Financial’s Custodial Services to hold Bitcoin pledged as Collateral under our Master Loan Agreement with Payward Interactive. The Collateral is held in Collateral Accounts for our benefit, subject to the security interest in favor of Payward Interactive."
S-1/A USBC, Inc. (USBC) (CIK 0001074828) 2026-08-27
[16] documented
Bit Digital early adopted ASU 2023-08 effective January 1, 2024, so certain cryptocurrencies are now measured at fair value with changes flowing through net income each period.
"Effective January 1, 2024, the Company early adopted ASU 2023-08, which requires entities to measure certain cryptocurrencies at fair value, with changes in fair value recorded in net income in each reporting period."
6-K Bit Digital, Inc (BTBT) (CIK 0001710350) 2024-05-15
[17] supported
Roughly $19.0 million of digital assets were classified as current because management expects to monetize them within twelve months to fund operations and liquidity.
"the Company’s digital assets were classified as current based on management’s expectation that such assets may be monetized within the next twelve months to support the Company’s operating and liquidity requirements."
424B3 Avalanche Treasury Corp (AVAT) (CIK 0002092446) 2026-08-19
[18] supported
For US users, Exodus charges API Providers a monthly tiered subscription fee, paid in arrears.
"For transaction services provided by API Providers to users located in the United States, we charge API Providers a monthly tiered subscription fee"
CORRESP Exodus Movement, Inc. (EXOD) (CIK 0001821534) 2024-07-09
[19] documented
The Payward custody terms prohibit the custodian from lending, rehypothecating, or margin-lending the pledged Bitcoin while the account control agreement is in effect.
"The related Account Control Agreement also provides that Payward Financial will not lend, rehypothecate, make margin loans or take similar action with respect to the Collateral while the Account Control Agreement is in effect."
S-1/A USBC, Inc. (USBC) (CIK 0001074828) 2026-08-27
[20] supported
Under the new fair-value accounting, Bit Digital no longer recognizes impairment of digital assets, which had been a charge of $2.2 million in Q1 2023.
"As a result of the adoption of ASU 2023-08 effective January 1, 2024, impairment of digital assets was no longer recognized."
6-K Bit Digital, Inc (BTBT) (CIK 0001710350) 2024-05-15
[21] documented
The company converts AVAX into liquid staking receipt tokens (stAVAX and sAVAX) through the Hypha Protocol and BENQI Protocol.
"The Company exchanges AVAX for liquid staking receipt tokens, including stAVAX and sAVAX, through the Hypha Protocol and BENQI Protocol, respectively, in connection with its liquid staking activities."
424B3 Avalanche Treasury Corp (AVAT) (CIK 0002092446) 2026-08-19
[22] documented
For users outside the US, Exodus charges API Providers a percentage of the underlying value of digital asset transactions.
"For transaction services provided by API Providers to users located outside the United States, we generally utilize a transaction-based structure to charge API Providers a percentage of the underlying value of"
CORRESP Exodus Movement, Inc. (EXOD) (CIK 0001821534) 2024-07-09
[23] documented
USBC entered a strategic partnership with Vast Bank and Uphold, a three-party arrangement that is listed as an exhibit to the filing.
"Strategic Partnership Agreement, dated as of January 20, 2026, by and among the Company, Vast Bank and Uphold"
S-1/A USBC, Inc. (USBC) (CIK 0001074828) 2026-08-27
[24] supported
The company recorded impairment losses of $11.1 million and $16.2 million on its liquid staking tokens for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026, caused by declines in the underlying AVAX value.
"The Company recognized impairment losses on its liquid staking digital assets of $11.1 million and $16.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026, respectively."
424B3 Avalanche Treasury Corp (AVAT) (CIK 0002092446) 2026-08-19
[25] supported
Staking partner Everstake pays Exodus a subscription fee based on the amount of assets users stake, for access to the Exodus Platform, and Exodus has no control over the staked assets.
"Everstake is a staking service provider that pays Exodus a subscription-based fee, based on the amount of assets staked by users, for the ability to connect to the Exodus Platform and interact with users."
CORRESP Exodus Movement, Inc. (EXOD) (CIK 0001821534) 2024-07-09
[26] supported
In October 2023 Bit Digital moved 2,701 Ethereum worth $4.7 million into an investment fund, which was subsequently consolidated.
"On October 1, 2023, the Company made of investment of 2,701 Ethereum, with a fair value of $4.7 million, into Bit Digital Innovation Master Fund SPC Ltd. (the “Fund”)."
6-K Bit Digital, Inc (BTBT) (CIK 0001710350) 2024-05-15
[27] supported
Redeeming liquid staking tokens produced gains of $1.8 million on stAVAX and $2.1 million on sAVAX, arising from the gap between carrying amounts and the AVAX received.
"In addition, in connection with the redemption of its liquid staking assets during the three and six months ended June 30, 2026, the Company recognized gains of $1.8 million related to stAVAX and $2.1 million related to sAVAX."
424B3 Avalanche Treasury Corp (AVAT) (CIK 0002092446) 2026-08-19
[28] supported
Bit Digital's filing says it may need to raise capital to fund its high performance computing services, showing that the company is diversifying beyond mining into compute services alongside digital asset production.
"regardless of our ability to generate revenue from our digital assets or our high performance computing services, we may need to raise additional capital in the form of equity or debt to fund our operations and pursue our business strategy, including purchases in order to fund our high performance computing services."
6-K Bit Digital, Inc (BTBT) (CIK 0001710350) 2024-05-15
[29] documented
The company stopped offering non-custodial staking tools to third parties and now only conducts solo-staking.
"Please note that the Company has ceased providing non-custodial staking tools to third parties and is only conducting solo-staking."
CORRESP MarsProtocol Inc. (CIK 0001953021) 2023-09-08
[30] documented
As of July 1, 2023, the company stopped its StaaS (staking-as-a-service) business model and shifted focus to solo-staking.
"We respectfully advise that as of July 1, 2023, the Company stopped providing its StaaS business model and is focusing on solo-staking."
CORRESP MarsProtocol Inc. (CIK 0001953021) 2023-09-08
[31] documented
The company's crypto revenue from solo-staking came in the form of ETH, including staking fees and Miner Extractable Value (MEV) revenues.
"the Company earned fees and Miner Extractable Value (“MEV”) revenues in the forms of ETH from solo-staking."
CORRESP MarsProtocol Inc. (CIK 0001953021) 2023-09-08
[32] supported
Tokenized treasury yields are significantly lower than those of comparable T-bill ETFs, even before gas fees and platform costs are counted.
"Tokenized treasury yields are significantly lower than those of comparable T-bill ETFs, even before accounting for gas fees and platform costs."
Democratization or Illusion? Evaluating Tokenized Real-World Assets from a Retail Investor Perspective (2026)
[33] supported
The company stopped accepting Bitcoin, ETH, USDT, or USDC as payment from customers, including for its airline leasing business, because it no longer has customers and is focused on solo-staking.
"As such the Company no longer accept accepts Bitcoin, ETH, USDT, or USDC from its customers, if any, or as a form of payment"
CORRESP MarsProtocol Inc. (CIK 0001953021) 2023-09-08