The U.S. Congress has finally given the encryption world a "shot in the arm" - the GENIUS Act has passed! This is not only an acknowledgment of stablecoins but also feels like a passport for blockchain projects like @Aptos, preparing to usher in a new era of digital finance in the U.S.

First, let's talk about why the GENIUS Act is so important. In the past, stablecoins seemed to exist in a legal "gray area," neither being securities nor commodities, with unclear regulation. This act clearly defines stablecoins as legitimate participants in the financial system, delineating their boundaries and bringing confidence to the market. Even more remarkably, the act recognizes the status of decentralized networks in the digital economy, acknowledging that they are not "fringe players," but rather core infrastructure.

This is simply a perfect combination of timing, location, and human factors for Aptos. From the very beginning, Aptos has aimed at security, speed, and inclusiveness, creating a Layer-1 Blockchain capable of supporting large-scale applications. Traditional financial giants like Franklin Templeton and Blackrock have launched tokenized funds on Aptos, and the on-chain total value of stablecoins $USDC and $USDT has exceeded $1.3 billion. In other words, Aptos is not just a "rookie" in terms of technology; it has already begun to take root in the real financial world.

Interestingly, the DeFi ecosystem on Aptos is also starting to shine, especially @ThalaLabs. This veteran who has fought through the bear market has become a backbone of Aptos DeFi. It not only has its own decentralized exchange Thalaswap but also the stablecoin MOVE Dollar, zero-fee liquidity staking services, as well as a launchpad and governance platform, forming a closed-loop ecosystem. At its peak in 2024, Thala's TVL (Total Value Locked) reached about $250 million, and even now, there is still $156 million locked, making it a "heavyweight bomb" in the Aptos ecosystem.

Thala's "DeFi super application" model is particularly noteworthy: users can complete the entire process from minting, trading, and staking to participating in new projects on a single platform, greatly enhancing the coherence and convenience of the experience. Especially its liquid staking (LSD) project, with a zero-fee design that has attracted a large amount of APT, steadily increasing the TVL to 64 million USD, truly allowing users to earn transparently.

After reading this, you may wonder: Can Aptos truly become the "engine" of digital finance in the United States and even globally with the dual push from traditional financial giants and emerging DeFi projects? A deeper question is, as regulations gradually become clearer, where exactly is the balance between decentralization and compliance? This is a topic for the community and industry to ponder.

I personally believe that the stories of Aptos and Thala tell us that the maturity of technology and ecology is not achieved overnight, but rather through persistence and refinement. The future of financial infrastructure is not just about technology stacking, but also a combination of user trust and policy support. The passage of the GENIUS Act has given us a signal: the United States is ready to embrace the future of digital assets, and Aptos has already positioned itself at the forefront.

May the new day bring further progress for Aptos and DeFi.