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VivoPower International’s electric-vehicle arm, Tembo, will start accepting Ripple USD (RLUSD) for payments, a move that could change how the company handles cross-border deals, a press release confirmed.

According to the company, the stablecoin will be used to speed up payments and cut the fees usually tied to bank wires.

Tembo Adopts RLUSD For Global Payments

Tembo serves clients in mining, agriculture, military, construction and humanitarian work. Many of those customers are in developing regions where bank transfers are slow and costly.

Based on reports, RLUSD can move value near-instantly across borders and at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods. That is the main reason VivoPower gave for the change.

The Vehicles And The Services Around Them

Tembo builds electric utility vehicles designed for both on-road and tough off-road tasks. The fleet is aimed at jobs where reliability matters more than style.

Charging, financing, battery swaps and even microgrids are offered alongside the vehicles. Those services are now available to be paid for in RLUSD, which could make transactions simpler for local dealers and international buyers alike.

$VVPR – VivoPower’s
Tembo to Accept Ripple USD (RLUSD) Stablecoin for Payments
Partners with Doppler Finance for Institutional XRP and RLUSD Yield Programs: Maximizing Returns on Crypto Treasury Strategy
Low Float/ OS near 4.5M shares

1.1% PreM/ $5.02 pic.twitter.com/Z6rUJ9G3nz

— John Zidar aka/ Stock Wizard (@JohnZidar) September 8, 2025

Ripple Partnerships And Market Moves

Reports have disclosed that RLUSD’s market capitalization rose roughly 10-fold since January. Ripple has been extending RLUSD’s reach through tie-ups with firms such as Chipper Cash, Yellow Card and VARL, and it recently rolled RLUSD into the Horizon RWA market owned by Aave.

Those moves are being watched closely by firms that handle cross-border trade. Adoption in Africa, parts of Southeast-Asia and the Middle East is reported to be growing.

Total crypto market cap at $3.87 trillion on the daily chart: TradingView

VivoPower’s Broader XRP Strategy

VivoPower has been clear that this is more than a single payment option. The company said it is shaping itself into what it calls an XRP-focused digital asset enterprise.

Holdings in XRP and equity in Ripple Labs are being added to the corporate portfolio. Some of those assets are being held for treasury purposes.

Other parts are planned to support decentralized finance infrastructure and real-world blockchain use cases connected to Tembo’s business.

Implications For Treasury, Liquidity And Local Markets

Market observers have pointed to links with institutional sponsors like Doppler Finance, suggesting RLUSD could play roles beyond payments — for liquidity management and corporate treasury planning.

If that happens, the stablecoin may be used as a bridge between fiat rails and DeFi tools in places where traditional banking is weak.

Vendors and partners in regions where Tembo operates could see faster settlements and fewer conversion fees.

Featured image from Westend61/Getty Images, chart from TradingView

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Luxury car manufacturer Automobili Lamborghini said it will debut its latest sports car in the metaverse.

The Temerario and its GT3 counterpart will be available as limited edition digital collectibles in open-world metaverse Wilder World, according to an emailed announcement shared with CoinDesk on Monday.

The metaverse is a virtual reality world allowing humans to interact with each other, play games and transact, often involving digital version of real-life items.

There was a lot of hype around the metaverse during the digital asset bull market of 2021, with Mark Zuckerberg renaming Facebook “Meta” to reflect its focus in this area.

However, much of this interest faded over the subsequent two years, as user engagement stagnated and many companies shifting their attention to artificial intelligence (AI).

Lamborghini however is seemingly undeterred, teaming up with Web3 investment and development heavyweights Animoca Brands last year to create digital experiences for fans and customers.

The Italian car company is offering 590 Temerario streetcars and 10 of the GT3 counterparts for $300 apiece from July 11. The digital sportscars will be mintable on Wilder World, non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace OpenSea and Lamborghini’s own Web3 platform Fast ForWorld.

DeLorean Motor Company has launched a blockchain-powered reservation system for its Alpha 5 EV, making it the first automaker to tokenize car reservations using NFTs on the Sui network.

Key Takeaways

• DeLorean uses Build Slot NFTs on the Sui blockchain to secure Alpha 5 EV reservations, enhancing transparency and traceability.

• These NFTs are tradable on a dedicated marketplace using the USDC stablecoin, allowing flexible reservation management.

• Vehicle data—like maintenance history and battery health—is stored immutably onchain via the FLUX protocol for buyer assurance.

• Introducing the DeLorean ($DMC) utility token adds an incentive layer to user engagement and ecosystem participation.

• This approach marks DeLorean as the first to tokenize reservations on Sui.

What Is DeLorean’s Blockchain Initiative?

DeLorean’s blockchain project integrates digital innovation with its automotive heritage. Through the Sui network, the company introduces Build Slot NFTs—unique digital tokens that give holders priority purchase rights for the upcoming Alpha 5 electric vehicle.

These NFTs are stored on a secure, object-oriented blockchain, ensuring verifiable ownership and reducing ambiguity in reservations.

Accompanying this is the $DMC utility token, which expands the brand’s blockchain functionality and incentivizes community participation. According to the DeLorean Labs website, $DMC combines real-world utility with cultural appeal and the credibility of an iconic Web2 brand. Beyond future rewards and access, it may be used to purchase DeLorean vehicles and participate in limited-edition product collaborations with major global brands.

By embedding vehicle data into the FLUX protocol—a decentralized framework for storing vehicle information—DeLorean also aims to ensure a tamper-resistant, transparent vehicle history.

Source: DeLorean

How DeLorean’s Tokenized Reservation System Works

• NFT Reservations: Buyers purchase Build Slot NFTs, which serve as digital placeholders granting the right to buy the Alpha 5 EV.

• Marketplace Activity: These NFTs are listed on a proprietary marketplace where users can trade or sell their slots using USDC.

• Data Integrity: Every Alpha 5 vehicle is paired with onchain data such as maintenance history, battery performance, and odometer records.

• User Incentives: $DMC tokens may be used to unlock future benefits or services. Specific use cases are yet to be detailed.

This system digitizes the purchase process and adds flexibility and potential resale value compared to traditional reservation models.

How Blockchain Could Rewire Car Ownership

DeLorean’s implementation reflects some broader Web3 adoption trends.

By recording performance metrics and ownership history onchain, the secondary car market benefits from improved data verification. Buyers can assess a vehicle’s condition more reliably than through centralized service records alone.

This use of NFTs aligns with other blockchain applications like property tokenization and digital ticketing, where verifiable digital ownership supports more secure and efficient exchanges.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes the DeLorean blockchain system different from traditional car reservations?

Traditional reservations offer limited visibility or transferability. DeLorean’s NFT-based model enables transparent, verifiable, and transferable ownership rights.

Can reservation holders sell or trade their NFT slots?

Yes. NFT holders can trade Build Slot NFTs on a dedicated marketplace using USDC, offering flexibility for both end-users and speculators.

What kind of data is stored on the blockchain for each Alpha 5 vehicle?

Data includes battery health, accident records, maintenance logs, and odometer readings—secured via the FLUX protocol. The FLUX protocol is a decentralized storage method that maintains immutable, timestamped vehicle data.

Are there any risks to using this system?

Yes, such as regulatory ambiguity, technical learning curves, and price volatility. DeLorean must address these by educating users and maintaining platform stability.

What is the $DMC token used for?

The $DMC token is expected to provide rewards and access to services within DeLorean’s blockchain platform. However, comprehensive use cases and tokenomics are pending formal release.

Conclusion

DeLorean’s approach to blockchain-based car reservations offers a practical example of how digital tools can improve the way vehicles are reserved and sold. By using NFTs, a utility token, and secure onchain records, the company is testing a new model for ownership and data transparency.

There are still open questions—especially around regulation and how easily people can adopt this technology—but the effort points to a broader shift. As more industries explore decentralized solutions, DeLorean’s system could be an early step in rethinking how we manage car ownership.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged television director Carl Erik Rinsch with defrauding a major streaming company of $11 million.

In a March 18 statement, Acting US Attorney Matthew Podolsky said:

“Carl Erik Rinsch orchestrated a scheme to steal millions by soliciting a large investment from a video streaming service, claiming that money would be used to finance a television show that he was creating. But that was fiction. Rinsch instead allegedly used the funds on personal expenses and investments, including highly speculative options and cryptocurrency trading.”

If convicted, Rinsch faces severe legal penalties. The wire fraud charge carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, while the money laundering charge could add another 20 years.

Additionally, he faces five counts of illegal monetary transactions, each carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Production funds misuse

Rinsch initially secured funding from a streaming platform—reportedly Netflix—to produce his television series, White Horse.

Between 2018 and 2019, the company paid him approximately $44 million to cover existing episodes and complete the project. However, between 2019 and 2020, he demanded an additional $11 million, claiming it was necessary to finish the series.

Instead of allocating the funds to production, Rinsch funneled the money into personal investments. He transferred the funds from his company account into a brokerage account, engaging in speculative securities trading.

His strategy proved disastrous, and over half of the funds were lost in under two months.

Despite these financial setbacks, Rinsch did not redirect the remaining funds toward White Horse. Instead, he spent the money on lavish purchases, including $1.7 million on credit card payments, $3.7 million on furniture and antiques, and $2.4 million on luxury cars.

He also allocated approximately $1 million to legal expenses, including lawsuits against the streaming company and divorce-related costs.

Additional extravagant purchases included high-end wristwatches, luxury bedding, and extended stays in five-star hotels.

Car tokenization is redefining vehicle ownership. By turning cars into digital tokens on a blockchain, it is now possible to own a fraction of a car, and it’s a trend growing in the automotive and tech space. Curious how it works? Dive in to learn about a new way to invest in luxury and collectible cars.

What is Car Tokenization?

In simple terms, car tokenization means creating digital tokens that represent vehicle shares. These tokens are stored on a blockchain, a secure and transparent digital ledger. Each token represents a part of the car’s ownership, so multiple people can own a fraction of the car. This can apply to any type of car, from Ferrari and Lamborghini to vintage classics.

The beauty of car tokenization is that it lowers the financial barrier to owning high-end vehicles. Instead of needing the full amount to buy a luxury car, investors can buy a share of the car. It’s a new way of thinking about car ownership, combining traditional investment with the latest tech.

Why Tokenize Cars?

Tokenizing cars brings several benefits that are changing how we think about car ownership:

1. Fractional Ownership: Instead of one person owning the whole car, multiple people can own a part of it. So more people can invest in high-value vehicles without the big upfront cost.

2. Easier Trading: Digital tokens are easy to trade, so buying and selling shares in a car is a breeze. This adds liquidity to the market, which is often missing with traditional car investments.

3. Shared Costs: Owning a car outright can be costly with maintenance, insurance and storage costs. With tokenization, these costs can be shared among the token holders, reducing the burden.

4. New Investment Opportunities: Car tokenization creates a new asset class, so investors can put their money into tangible, real-world assets that can appreciate in value, like rare classic cars or limited edition luxury models.

How Does It Work?

The process of tokenizing a car starts with selecting a car to be tokenized. This can be a brand-new sports car, a classic collector’s item or even a high-performance electric car. Digital tokens are then created to represent shares of the car. These tokens are stored on a blockchain, so ownership is secure and transparent.

Ownership transfers and transactions are managed through smart contracts and automated programs that enforce the terms of the agreement. So, when someone buys or sells tokens, the transaction is recorded on the blockchain, reducing the risk of fraud or disputes. Investors can trade their tokens on digital marketplaces, so buying or selling is easy.

Real-World Example: Renegade and Mulsano

A recent example of car tokenization in action is the partnership between Renegade, a crypto-banking firm, and Mulsano, a German luxury car dealership. They are offering a range of high-end collector cars as tokenized assets, with these NFT shares available for purchase at $100 each.

Renegade handles the payment infrastructure so investors can use traditional currencies and cryptocurrencies. Mulsano provides rare and desirable cars, which are then split into digital tokens. The cars stay on display in Mulsano’s showroom, and when one is sold at a profit, the token holders get their share of the earnings.

Source Mulsano

The Challenges of Car Tokenization

Despite the potential, car tokenization is not without its challenges. One of the biggest is regulatory uncertainty. Digital assets and blockchain are still evolving, and many countries have not established clear regulations for tokenized ownership. This can be a problem for companies and investors.

Another challenge is education and awareness. Car tokenization is new to many, and there’s a learning curve when it comes to understanding how it works and what the risks are. Blockchain can be complex, and not everyone is familiar with digital tokens.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Car Ownership

Tokenizing cars could have a big impact on the future of car ownership and investment. As blockchain becomes more mainstream and the regulatory landscape clears, we’ll see more companies start to explore tokenization as a way to offer fractional ownership of cars. This could mean new investment opportunities in cars, from high-end luxury cars to electric and sustainable models.

Car tokenization may not replace traditional ownership, but it offers an alternative that will appeal to a new generation of investors. By allowing you to own a share of a rare or valuable car, tokenization provides a flexible and innovative way to participate in the automotive market. It’s just getting started but it could change the way we think about car ownership and investment.

Editor’s note: Written with the assistance of AI – Edited and fact-checked by Jason Newey.

Nissan Motor is driving into the digital future with the beta launch of the Nissan Web3 Passport, a blockchain-powered platform designed to strengthen its relationship with customers.

By embracing Web3 technology, Nissan is reshaping customer loyalty through features like NFT memberships, a dedicated Web3 wallet, and a rewards program—all aimed at making car ownership more rewarding and interactive.

Blockchain Meets the Automotive World

You’ve heard of blockchain in the context of cryptocurrency or NFTs, but Nissan is taking it beyond digital collectibles. With Nissan’s Passport, the company is using blockchain to give you a more personalized and secure car ownership experience.

So, what does that mean for car owners? Picture this: You buy or service your car and earn rewards automatically. You can then redeem these tokens for special experiences, discounts, or even exclusive merchandise. All of this happens securely through a blockchain-powered Web3 wallet, ensuring that your data stays private and tamper-proof.

Nissan’s move is part of a broader trend where carmakers are exploring how blockchain can build stronger customer connections. In a world where loyalty is about more than just points, Nissan’s platform creates a digital ecosystem that’s transparent, secure, and designed for long-term engagement.

Japan has been quick to embrace blockchain, with strong support from the government driving Web3 innovation across the country. Nissan’s latest move shows how Japanese companies are tapping into this tech to stay ahead in an increasingly digital world.

Source Nissan

Making Life Easier for Customers

The Nissan Passport has a customer-first approach, creating a platform that makes life easier for car owners through four key features:

1. NFT Memberships: Think of these as digital membership cards with real perks. Nissan will issue 5,523 membership NFTs, which give access to special services and experiences. Winning one through the lottery could mean getting exclusive offers or invites to Nissan events.

2. Web3 Wallet Integration: You don’t have to be a tech expert to benefit. The platform includes a secure wallet, making it easy for users—even Web3 beginners—to manage their digital perks and assets without a learning curve.

3. Rewards Program: Complete specific actions like car maintenance or Nissan events, and you’ll earn tokens. These tokens can unlock rewards like VIP experiences, limited edition merchandise or exclusive content.

4. Community Engagement: Nissan is also launching a private Discord community where members can connect, share experiences, and even earn special roles and badges through participation. It’s like joining an exclusive car club, but digital.

Personalized Membership Tiers

To make it even more personalized, the Nissan Web3 Passport has four types of membership NFTs designed to match different customer lifestyles. These digital memberships act like personalized passes, unlocking special features and evolving based on how active you are within the platform.

For tech lovers, the ‘Futuristic’ tier has access to the latest experiences and innovation-focused perks. For driving enthusiasts who love performance, the ‘Performance’ tier is all about the automotive features and events.

For those who love classic car designs, the ‘Classic’ tier celebrates Nissan’s heritage and iconic models. For those who want a connected and convenient life, the ‘Smart Life’ tier is all about comfort and modern car tech.

Nissan isn’t just selling cars – it’s building a tech-enabled environment where loyalty, security and customer experience come first. Could it be a preview of how carmakers will engage with customers in the future?

Editor’s note: Written with the assistance of AI – Edited and fact-checked by Jason Newey.