The global healthcare group Cosmos Health (COSM) just announced that it has secured funding to launch its Ethereum (ETH) digital asset treasury reserve strategy.

In a statement, the Chicago-based company says that it has entered into a securities purchase agreement with a US-based institutional investor.

The deal involves the issuance of up to $300 million in senior secured convertible promissory notes to support the company’s strategic accumulation of the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap.

The terms of the facility require Cosmos Health to allocate at least 72.5% of the net proceeds from each tranche for building its crypto treasury reserve. The rest will be used for working capital and growth initiatives.

The firm says it is stocking up ETH to bring more value to its long-term shareholders. The digital asset trust company BitGo will provide the institutional infrastructure to custody and stake the crypto assets.

Says Cosmos Health CEO Greg Siokas,

“This financing marks a strategic milestone for Cosmos Health, offering shareholders direct exposure to ETH, currently one of the most widely adopted digital assets in the world.

We are confident that the size and flexibility of this facility should position us to deliver long-term, sustainable value for our shareholders.”

The company’s share closed at $1.05, down by 8.7% from the previous closing price of $1.15.

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Tens of thousands of Americans are staring at the possibility of fraud after thieves stole their information from a healthcare firm.

In a notice to the Office of the Maine Attorney General, the Arkansas-based Highlands Oncology Group says 113,575 Americans are impacted by a massive cybersecurity incident.

In a data incident notice posted on its website, Highlands says that an unauthorized entity gained access to its systems and stole files that may include patients’ names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, driver’s license/state identification numbers, passport numbers, credit/debit card numbers, financial account numbers, medical treatment records, medical record numbers, patient account numbers,  and/or health insurance policy records.

“Highlands Oncology Group PA recently discovered a data incident that may have involved the personal information for certain individuals. On June 2, 2025, Highlands discovered it was the victim of a cyber-attack, and certain Highlands files and systems were inaccessible…

The forensic investigation determined that an unauthorized third party accessed Highlands’ computer network at times between January 21, 2025, and June 2, 2025, and encrypted some of its files. The investigation also determined that the third party may have accessed and acquired certain files from Highlands’ systems during this period.”

Highlands offers a full spectrum of cancer care services, including chemotherapy, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, as well as supportive services like rehabilitation, massage, lymphedema therapy, genetic counseling and pharmacy.

The firm says it has sent letters of notification to affected individuals, while offering complimentary identity theft protection services for those whose Social Security numbers, driver’s license or state ID numbers were involved in the incident.

Highlands is encouraging patients to stay vigilant by reviewing their account statements and reporting any suspicious activity that could suggest fraud or identity theft.

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Pharmaceutical giants Pfizer (PFE -0.45%) and Novo Nordisk (NVO -1.50%) have lagged the market over the past year, although Pfizer’s poor performance dates back much further. Though these companies have encountered challenges, there are good reasons to be bullish on their long-term prospects.

Pfizer could become an even bigger player in the oncology market (the largest therapeutic area in the industry by sales) over the next decade, while Novo Nordisk will be a major player in diabetes and the fast-growing weight management space. Both could produce excellent results along the way. Here’s the rundown.

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1. Pfizer

Pfizer’s financial results haven’t been great in recent years. To make matters worse, the company will face important patent cliffs by the end of the decade. One of them will be for Eliquis, an anticoagulant that is still one of its best-selling medicines. However, Pfizer has prepared for that eventuality.

The company made several acquisitions and licensing deals that significantly boosted its pipeline, especially in oncology. Pfizer spent $43 billion to acquire Seagen, a smaller cancer specialist whose lineup and pipeline were impressive for a company of its size. With the financial and strategic backing of the larger company, it should yield even more key approvals in the field in the coming years.

Pfizer also recently made an up-front payment of $1.25 billion to China-based 3SBio for the rights to SSGJ-707, an investigational bispecific antibody, a portion of the oncology market that’s gaining traction these days. 3SBio will be eligible for commercial and regulatory milestone payments of up to $4.8 billion, not including royalties.

These moves should eventually pay off for Pfizer and strengthen its position in oncology. The drugmaker plans to have eight blockbuster cancer medicines on the market by 2030, up from its current five, while doubling its reach from the current 1 million patients it serves. Of course, Pfizer isn’t just a cancer play. The company’s extensive pipeline should enable it to launch products in other areas and ultimately get back on track.

While its shares have been lagging the market significantly, that could change in the next decade as financial results rebound thanks to its innovative efforts. Pfizer’s shares look especially attractive when considering its valuation. Its forward price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 8.7, much lower than the healthcare sector’s 15.8. From their current levels, Pfizer’s shares could go on to generate excellent returns through 2035.

2. Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk pioneered the market for weight management medicines. However, Eli Lilly seems to have taken the lead in that field, at least for now. Novo Nordisk has faced some clinical setbacks, leading to a poor performance over the trailing-12-month period. Can the company rebound and perform well in the next decade? In my view, it can, and the market may be significantly undervaluing its potential.

Its sales of Wegovy, one of the top-selling anti-obesity medications, continue to grow rapidly. Novo Nordisk recently requested approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for oral semaglutide (the active ingredient in Wegovy). That’s good for patients who want a non-injected option, and helps counter Lilly’s up-and-coming oral GLP-1 medicine, orforglipron.

Elsewhere, Novo Nordisk recently started phase 3 studies for amycretin, a next-gen weight loss candidate. Amycretin is being investigated in both oral and subcutaneous formulations, and both are currently in late-stage clinical trials.

The company also enhanced its pipeline through licensing deals, including one with United Biotechnology, a subsidiary of the China-based company United Laboratories International Holdings, for UBT251. This potential anti-obesity medicine mimics the actions of three gut hormones: GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon. The transaction cost Novo Nordisk an up-front payment of $200 million and up to $1.8 billion in milestone payments.

Thanks to all these developments, Novo Nordisk should remain a leader in weight management in the next decade. Even though competition is mounting, no drugmaker not named Eli Lilly has a lineup or a pipeline as deep as Novo Nordisk’s. Furthermore, the Denmark-based pharmaceutical leader will also continue to dominate the diabetes market, as it has done for decades.

Novo Nordisk generates consistent revenue and earnings that typically grow faster than those of similarly-sized peers. Yet the stock’s forward P/E is 16.7, which is slightly above the industry average. In my view, that’s a bargain for a company that generates better-than-average results and has a deep pipeline in a fast-growing area — not to mention two of the world’s top 20 best-selling drugs, in Wegovy and Ozempic.

For investors willing to stay the course, Novo Nordisk’s future still looks incredibly bright.

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A patient in the United States has used Shiba Inu to pay a $5,000 dental bill, marking another step in crypto’s slow march into everyday payments. The transaction went through Zypto App, a popular wallet and payments service.

According to reports, the user “paid for a nicer smile” by selecting Shiba Inu in the app’s bill‑pay feature. The identity of the patient and the clinic remain under wraps, but the move highlights a small yet growing group of businesses willing to accept meme coins for real‑world services.

Payment Using Memecoin

The process took just a few taps. Zypto converted the SHIB to US dollars and deposited the funds into the merchant’s account within 48 hours. That window gave the clinic full protection from crypto swings and kept their books simple.

One user from the US just paid a $5,000 bill to their dental clinic using Shiba Inu.

Yes — you can literally pay for a nicer smile with Zypto.

You could even pay your AMEX bill too… for an even bigger smile
Try it now: https://t.co/yH2nTXaksB pic.twitter.com/itVw1Tn9lL

— Zypto App (@ZyptoApp) July 9, 2025

Michigan Clinic Joins Crypto Trend

Back on June 18 this year, Amore Smiles—a Michigan‑based orthodontist group—became one of the first dental suppliers to officially accept Shiba Inu alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum.

The firm also offers telemedicine solutions, letting patients consult remotely. Traditional methods like cash and credit cards still handle most payments, but the addition of SHIB gives customers more choice.

Amore Smiles has even started storing key patient data on a blockchain ledger, which it says can’t be tampered with. The company is filing for an FDA patent on its new Oral Clear Aligners design, making it one of the first patent‑seeking dental firms to take Shiba Inu.

Buzz And Billing Beyond Dentistry

Zypto didn’t stop at dental bills. The app teased that you could also settle your AMEX bill with crypto, hinting at broader plans to cover 10 or more service providers. That kind of marketing grabs headlines. Everyday people hear about someone paying $5,000 in crypto and they lean in.

Still, volatility is a real worry. If Shiba Inu’s price dips suddenly, the payer risks topping up more coins before the 48‑hour window closes. And fees on crypto conversions can eat into the total, especially for larger bills.

Outlook For Crypto Payments

Critics say these one‑off cases won’t sway the majority of businesses, but advocates point to growing interest. According to Zypto, more merchants are asking how to plug into the blockchain-powered rails.

Whether it’s for a dentist visit or an AMEX statement, the option exists. For now, most merchants still clear out to dollars immediately, which keeps them safe from price swings. Patients and customers, on the other hand, carry all the crypto risk up front.

Based on reports, paying a dental bill in Shiba Inu is more than a novelty. It’s a test run for mainstream crypto payments. The question is whether later adopters will join in or stick with plastic and bank transfers. Right now, the choice is there. Whether it becomes routine is another story.

Featured image from Local Dental Clinics, chart from TradingView

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The healthcare industry faces persistent challenges – inefficiencies in care delivery, lack of transparency in processes, fragmented patient data systems and misaligned incentives among stakeholders.

These issues erode trust, inflate costs and hinder innovation.

DAOs (decentralized autonomous organizations), powered by blockchain technology, offer a transformative approach to addressing these problems by fostering transparency, patient empowerment and community-driven governance.

This article explores how DAOs could reshape healthcare, diving into their mechanics, applications, real-world examples, challenges and future potential.

What are DAOs

DAOs are entities governed by smart contracts – self-executing code on a blockchain – rather than traditional hierarchical management.

DAOs operate without centralized control, relying instead on token-based voting systems where stakeholders (token holders) collectively make decisions.

These tokens represent voting power or ownership in the DAO, ensuring democratic governance.

Key features of DAOs include the following.

• Transparency – All transactions and decisions are recorded on an immutable blockchain, publicly verifiable by all members.
• Decentralization – No single entity controls the organization, reducing risks of corruption or mismanagement.
• Automation – Smart contracts enforce rules and execute decisions, minimizing human error and bureaucracy.
• Community governance – Stakeholders vote on proposals, from funding allocation to operational changes, aligning incentives.

In healthcare, these characteristics make DAOs uniquely suited to tackle systemic issues by empowering patients, providers and researchers to collaborate in a trustless, transparent ecosystem.

Addressing healthcare’s core challenges with DAOs

Transparent medical research funding

Medical research, particularly pharmaceutical development and clinical trials, often suffers from opaque funding processes and conflicts of interest.

Funding decisions may prioritize profit over patient needs, and lack of transparency can erode public trust.

DAOs offer a solution by decentralizing and democratizing research funding.

• Crowdsourced funding – DAOs allow stakeholders – patients, researchers, healthcare providers or even the public – to pool resources and vote on which research projects to fund. This ensures funding aligns with community priorities, such as rare disease research or underserved populations.
• Immutable accountability – All funding decisions and transactions are recorded on the blockchain, making it impossible to manipulate or hide allocations. This transparency builds trust and ensures funds are used as intended.
• Accelerated innovation – By involving diverse stakeholders, DAOs can prioritize innovative projects that might be overlooked by traditional funding bodies, potentially speeding up breakthroughs in treatments or diagnostics.

For example, a DAO could enable patients with a specific condition to fund research directly, ensuring their needs are addressed while giving researchers access to a transparent funding pool.

Patient data ownership and privacy

Fragmented patient data is a major barrier to efficient healthcare. EHRs (electronic health records) are often siloed across providers, making it difficult for patients to control or share their data.

This fragmentation hampers care coordination and limits the data available for research.

DAOs can empower patients through decentralized data management.

• Patient-centric data control – Using blockchain, DAOs can create secure, decentralized platforms where patients own their medical data. Patients can grant or revoke access to specific providers, researchers or institutions via smart contracts, ensuring explicit consent.
• Enhanced privacy and security – Blockchain’s cryptographic protocols protect sensitive health data, reducing risks of breaches common in centralized systems. Patients can share anonymized data for research without compromising privacy.
• Data monetization and research – DAOs can facilitate data marketplaces where patients voluntarily contribute anonymized data to research initiatives in exchange for tokens or other incentives. This fuels data-driven discoveries while rewarding patients for their contributions.

For instance, a patient could use a DAO to share their genetic data with a research institute studying cancer, receiving tokens in return while maintaining control over who accesses their information.

Decentralized health insurance models

Traditional health insurance systems are plagued by high administrative costs, opaque claims processes and slow payouts.

DAO-based insurance models can streamline operations and enhance fairness.

• Community-driven pools – DAOs can create peer-to-peer insurance pools where members contribute premiums (in tokens or cryptocurrency) and vote on claims. Smart contracts automate payouts based on predefined criteria, reducing overhead and delays.
• Transparency in claims – All claims and payouts are recorded on the blockchain, ensuring members can verify fairness and track fund usage.
• Lower costs – By eliminating intermediaries like insurance companies, DAOs reduce administrative fees, making coverage more affordable and accessible, particularly for underserved communities.

A DAO-based insurance model could, for example, provide affordable coverage for chronic disease management, with members collectively deciding coverage terms and claims criteria.

Community-driven health initiatives

Healthcare needs vary widely across communities, yet centralized systems often fail to address localized priorities.

DAOs enable grassroots health initiatives by empowering communities to pool resources and make decisions.

• Localized funding – Communities can create DAOs to fund local health projects, such as building clinics, supporting mental health programs, or providing vaccinations in underserved areas.
• Incentive alignment – DAOs align incentives by giving community members a stake in outcomes. For example, a DAO could reward participants for preventive health measures, like regular checkups, with tokens redeemable for services.
• Global collaboration – DAOs can connect communities worldwide, enabling knowledge-sharing and resource pooling for global health challenges, such as pandemics or climate-related health crises.

A rural community, for instance, could establish a DAO to fund a mobile clinic, with residents voting on its services and operations to ensure it meets local needs.

Real-world examples of healthcare DAOs

Several projects are already exploring DAO applications in healthcare, demonstrating their potential, including the following.

• Healthereum – This platform uses blockchain and DAO principles to enhance patient engagement. Patients receive tokens for adhering to treatment plans or attending appointments, incentivizing proactive health management. Providers benefit from streamlined workflows and transparent patient interactions.
• Robomed network – This DAO integrates blockchain to automate healthcare processes, such as patient-provider agreements and care delivery. It aims to improve efficiency and reduce costs through decentralized governance and smart contracts.
• Molecule – A DAO focused on decentralized biotech research, Molecule enables communities to fund and govern drug development projects. It connects researchers, patients and investors to accelerate innovation transparently.

These projects illustrate how DAOs can bridge gaps between stakeholders, creating more equitable and efficient healthcare systems.

Challenges and barriers to adoption

Despite their potential, healthcare DAOs face significant hurdles.

• Regulatory compliance – Healthcare is heavily regulated, with strict laws like HIPAA (in the US) governing data privacy and medical practices. DAOs must navigate these regulations to ensure compliance, which may limit decentralization or require hybrid models.
• Technological complexity – Blockchain and DAOs require technical expertise, which can be a barrier for patients, providers or communities unfamiliar with the technology. User-friendly interfaces and education will be essential for adoption.
• Scalability and adoption – Blockchain networks can face scalability issues, such as slow transaction speeds or high costs, which could hinder large-scale healthcare applications. Widespread adoption also requires buy-in from stakeholders accustomed to traditional systems.
• Equity concerns – Token-based governance risks excluding those who cannot afford tokens or lack access to blockchain infrastructure, potentially creating new disparities. Addressing these challenges will require collaboration between technologists, healthcare professionals, regulators and communities to balance innovation with practicality.

The road forward

The potential of DAOs to revolutionize healthcare lies in their ability to create a transparent, patient-centric and collaborative ecosystem.

As blockchain technology matures and adoption grows, DAOs could do the following.

• Empower patients – By giving individuals control over their data and healthcare decisions, DAOs shift power from institutions to patients.
• Foster innovation – Transparent funding and data-sharing accelerate research and development, addressing unmet medical needs.
• Reduce costs – Decentralized models eliminate intermediaries, making healthcare more affordable and accessible.
• Build trust – Immutable records and community governance restore confidence in healthcare systems.

To realize this vision, stakeholders must invest in user-friendly platforms, regulatory frameworks and education to bridge the gap between blockchain’s potential and real-world implementation.

Pilot projects, like those mentioned, will serve as critical testing grounds for refining DAO models.

Conclusion

DAOs represent a paradigm shift for healthcare, offering solutions to inefficiencies, opacity and disempowerment.

By leveraging blockchain’s transparency and decentralization, DAOs can create a future where patients control their data, communities drive health initiatives and research aligns with public needs.

While challenges remain, the growing interest in blockchain and decentralized governance signals a promising path forward.

As DAOs evolve, they could redefine healthcare as a collaborative, equitable and innovative ecosystem, putting power back into the hands of patients and communities.

Tony Stash is a blockchain analyst and crypto enthusiast with a passion for exploring how decentralized technologies can solve real-world problems. With a background in healthcare policy and technology, Tony focuses on the intersection of blockchain and healthcare, advocating for solutions that empower patients and foster innovation.

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The stock of a healthcare technology company tanked after it announced a new initiative to use XRP in its treasury reserve and for payments.

Wellgistics Health (WGRX), which specializes in pharmaceutical distribution and healthcare infrastructure, notes in a new press release that it secured a $50 million credit facility to support the use of XRP in real-time settlement as well as a treasury reserve asset.

Wellgistics says it is developing a platform that enables instant payments between pharmacies, suppliers and manufacturers. The platform will also allow smart rebates while introducing XRP-backed credit lines for independent pharmacies.

Says Brian Norton, the firm’s chief executive,

“Our blockchain-enabled payment system and ledger is just the next logical step in healthcare evolution, allowing us to hardwire speed, liquidity, and transparency into a system that’s long been starved of all three. I believe that the future winners in healthcare won’t be the companies with the biggest buildings… they’ll be those with the fastest rails, cleanest data, and most efficient platforms. We’re betting on infrastructure… not inertia.”

It doesn’t appear that shareholders share Norton’s confidence, however. WGRX is down more than 9.5% in the past day and nearly 40% in the past five days.

XRP, by contrast, is up more than 2.5% in the past day and more than 7% in the past week and is trading for $2.35 at time of writing.

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