According to CoinDesk, the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York has charged three individuals in relation to the Evolved Apes non-fungible token (NFT) scam that occurred in 2021. The individuals, Mohamed-Amin Atcha, Mohamed Rilaz Waleedh, and Daood Hassan, are facing charges of wire fraud and money laundering. Evolved Apes was an NFT project that promised a unique video game. The project consisted of 10,000 unique NFTs and raised funds through the sale of these tokens. However, the game never materialized, and the website disappeared shortly after the fundraising was completed. The anonymous developer, known as Evil Ape, allegedly vanished a week after the project's launch, taking with him 798 ether, equivalent to $3 million at today's price or $2.7 million at the time. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams stated that the defendants allegedly ran a scam to inflate the price of digital artwork through false promises about the development of a video game. They are accused of taking investor funds, failing to develop the game, and pocketing the proceeds. Williams emphasized that while digital art may be a new field, the old rules still apply, and making false promises for money is illegal. This type of scam, known as a 'rug pull', involves developers raising funds from investors through the sale of tokens or NFTs, then abruptly shutting down the project and disappearing with the money. The De.Fi's Rekt database reports that over $14.5 billion has been lost to rug pulls since 2011. The largest rug pull to date involved the South African digital assets investment fund Africrypt, which disappeared with 69,000 bitcoins in 2021, worth nearly $4.8 billion.

According to Foresight News, Enjin, a blockchain game development platform, has announced that Apple has approved the cryptocurrency exchange functionality for its wallet. This development will allow users to directly exchange Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) from their wallets in the future. The approval from Apple signifies a significant step forward for Enjin and its users, as it opens up new possibilities for cryptocurrency transactions and NFT exchanges.

According to Odaily, a report released by CoinGecko reveals that the total market value of the top ten Bitcoin chain NFTs, including Ordinals and Runes, reached $1.03 billion by the end of May this year. The daily trading volume in May 2024 was $2.25 million. Specifically, NodeMonkes had a market value of $198.25 million (2880 BTC), Bitcoin Puppets had a market value of $144.12 million (1815 BTC), and Runestone had a market value of $87.85 million (1124 BTC). Despite the relatively lower sales of independent NFTs compared to the Ethereum ecosystem, global interest in Ordinals is rapidly increasing. Google searches for 'Ordinals' hit a historical high in April 2024, growing by 58% since January 2024. Similarly, Google searches for 'Bitcoin NFT' reached a historical high in March 2024, indicating a growing interest and adoption of the Bitcoin NFT ecosystem among investors this year.

According to Foresight News, Magic Eden, a notable NFT trading market, has announced the launch of its mobile wallet iOS version testing. This development is a significant step forward for the platform, as it seeks to expand its reach and improve its services. In a previous report by Foresight News, Magic Eden had revealed plans to introduce a token claim product within the wallet by the end of the third quarter. This feature is expected to enhance the user experience and provide more convenience for its users. The introduction of the mobile wallet iOS version testing is seen as a precursor to this planned development. The move by Magic Eden to launch the mobile wallet iOS version testing and the upcoming token claim product signifies the platform's commitment to innovation and user satisfaction. It also highlights the growing trend of NFT trading markets adopting advanced technologies to improve their services and stay competitive in the rapidly evolving digital asset landscape.

According to Odaily, Magic Eden has led the weekly NFT trade volume with a total of $69.4 million, accounting for 37.12% of the total trade volume. Following closely behind is Blur, which recorded a trade volume of $49.7 million in the past week, making up 26.59% of the total volume. These figures highlight the significant role these platforms play in the NFT market, contributing to a large portion of the weekly trade volume.

According to Foresight News, Galaxy Digital Holdings LP, founded by billionaire Michael Novogratz, is expanding its loan business to new customer groups. The latest transaction involves a multi-million dollar loan, with a violin once owned by Russian Empress Catherine II as collateral. Galaxy and Yat Siu, co-founder of Animoca Brands, stated that Galaxy lent the funds to Siu, who purchased the 1708 Stradivarius violin at an auction last year for an estimated $9 million. Galaxy will hold a tokenized version of the instrument in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), as well as the violin itself. Both Galaxy and Siu declined to comment on the specific terms or amount of the loan, only revealing that the loan amount is 'up to several million dollars'. The violin will be held in custody in Hong Kong, and both parties must sign an agreement to remove the violin. Tokenization refers to the process of representing traditional assets such as stocks, bonds, and artworks with tokens on the blockchain. Galaxy Digital has provided loans through its trading and investment banking division, Galaxy Global Markets. The violin loan represents the company's initial efforts to attract different customer groups benefiting from the rise in cryptocurrency prices and the resulting wealth growth. According to Galaxy's financial statements, as of March 31, the company's average book loan size for the first quarter was $664 million, a 5% increase from three months ago. Thomas Cowan, Vice President of Galaxy's tokenization business, stated that this situation could improve as physical assets begin to be issued on the blockchain. In an interview, Cowan stated that tokenizing physical assets such as artworks or musical instruments 'allows us to provide more loans to customers than more volatile assets such as Bitcoin or Ethereum. Today it's a violin, tomorrow it could be real estate.' Siu stated that he might use the loan proceeds to invest in new cryptocurrency-related projects or artworks. 'I'm thinking about how we can create something special that more people can use,' Siu said of the tokenization process. Regarding the violin collateral loan, he added, 'This is also a good way to get additional liquidity, although it is not necessary.' Galaxy tokenized the violin in collaboration with its subsidiary GK8 and Siu. Siu stated that he ultimately hopes to allow others to purchase ownership of the tokenized violin through 'splitting', but he added that there are currently no plans to do so.

According to PANews, a collection of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) previously owned by the now-bankrupt hedge fund, Three Arrows Capital, is set to be auctioned at Sotheby's on June 18. The collection includes one Golden Ape BAYC, two MAYC, and one BAKC. Three Arrows Capital had invested heavily in NFTs. In February of last year, the liquidator of Three Arrows Capital stated in a court document that they planned to sell a large batch of NFTs valued at millions of dollars to offset some of the losses. The upcoming auction represents a significant development in the ongoing liquidation process of the defunct hedge fund.

According to Odaily, Sotheby's is preparing to auction a Golden Gorilla Non-Fungible Token (NFT), created by Yuga Labs. The auction will test the endurance of gorilla-themed assets in the art world. The items up for auction include an NFT from the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) and other rare digital artworks. The Golden Gorilla NFT is a unique digital asset that represents ownership of a specific piece of content. The auction will provide an opportunity to gauge the market's interest in such assets, particularly those with a gorilla theme. The Bored Ape Yacht Club is a well-known collection of NFTs, and the inclusion of one of their pieces in the auction further highlights the growing popularity of digital art. This auction is a significant event in the digital art world, as it will test the staying power of these unique assets. The results could provide valuable insights into the future of NFTs and digital art as a whole.

According to Odaily, Stashh Labs, an NFT platform, has announced the completion of a funding round that raised $3.3 million. The investors involved in this round included Animoca, 6th Man Ventures, and Shima Capital. Stashh Labs plans to use these funds to further build an NFT platform for creators and collectors within various decentralized ecosystems. In addition, the funding will support the development of Stashh 2.0, which aims to expand support for more blockchain ecosystems, attract more creators, and launch more news, games, and other social features on its platform.

According to Odaily, MintSwap NFT Marketplace has launched on the Mint mainnet. The platform now supports the listing, trading, and data indexing of NFT projects on the Mint mainnet. MintSwap is a DEX & NFT Marketplace trading protocol developed on the Mint Blockchain. It provides Token DEX, NFT trading, and NFTFi functions for the Web3 network. MintSwap's launch on the Mint mainnet marks a significant step in the expansion of the platform's capabilities. The integration of the Mint mainnet will allow for a more seamless and efficient trading experience for users. The platform's support for listing, trading, and data indexing of NFT projects on the Mint mainnet will also provide users with more opportunities to engage with and invest in NFT projects. The MintSwap platform is a DEX & NFT Marketplace trading protocol that has been developed on the Mint Blockchain. This development allows MintSwap to provide a range of services to the Web3 network, including Token DEX, NFT trading, and NFTFi functions. These services are designed to enhance the trading experience for users and provide them with more opportunities to engage with the NFT market. In conclusion, the launch of MintSwap on the Mint mainnet is a significant development in the NFT market. The platform's enhanced capabilities will provide users with a more seamless and efficient trading experience, as well as more opportunities to engage with and invest in NFT projects.

According to Odaily, Taiko has announced the launch of Taikoons mint on the X platform. Whitelisted users can now acquire this NFT through the official website. In the upcoming Trailblazers event, at the end of each season, Taikoons holders will receive double experience points (XP). In a previous announcement in April, Taiko stated that it would issue the Genesis NFT series Taikoons, with a total of 888 units. Taikoons represents the first instance of community building and empowerment on the Taiko blockchain. This move is seen as a significant step in the development and expansion of the Taiko platform and its community.

According to Odaily, the co-founder of STEPN GO, Yawn Rong, has disclosed the results of the second round of 'Co-founder Q&A'. In response to queries about the number of Genesis Sneakers within the STEPN GO application, Rong stated that the total number of Genesis Sneakers for both STEPN and STEPN GO is 20,000 pairs. The maximum number of Genesis Sneakers within STEPN GO will be 20,000 minus the number already existing within STEPN. This implies that there are approximately 8,000 pairs of Genesis Sneakers still available within the STEPN GO application.

According to Odaily, the Ethereum address rayjang.eth has reportedly fallen victim to a cyber phishing attack by Fake_Phishing187019. The attack resulted in the theft of the digital asset CloneX #6753, which was held by the victim. The incident underscores the increasing risk of cyber attacks in the digital space, particularly phishing attacks that target unsuspecting users. It serves as a reminder for users to exercise caution and implement robust security measures to protect their digital assets. Further details about the incident, including the value of the stolen CloneX #6753 or any potential leads on the perpetrators, were not provided. The incident is a stark reminder of the potential risks associated with digital asset ownership and the importance of maintaining strong security protocols.

According to Odaily, Galaxy Digital, a company led by Michael Novogratz, has announced the tokenization of a Stradivarius violin owned by Yat Siu, the co-founder of Animoca Brands. The violin, which was crafted in 1708 and is worth approximately $9 million, was once owned by Catherine the Great of Russia. Galaxy Digital stated that the tokenization of this iconic instrument, renowned for its unparalleled craftsmanship and long history, signifies a significant advancement in the application of blockchain technology in unlocking the value of unique real-world assets. The company also revealed that Siu will use the tokenized violin as collateral for financing in the Galaxy Global Markets business. This move by Galaxy Digital highlights the growing trend of tokenizing physical assets, allowing them to be traded and owned in a digital format. It also underscores the potential of blockchain technology in transforming the way we perceive and handle valuable assets.

According to Odaily, court documents released on Monday reveal that Dapper Labs, the company behind NBA Top Shot and other NFT series, has reached a settlement with disgruntled customers over a years-long class-action lawsuit. The customers believed that Top Shot NFTs were illegally offered securities. As part of the settlement, Dapper Labs will pay the plaintiffs $4 million. These funds include compensation for the plaintiffs' claims and will cover legal costs. If the settlement is approved, the plaintiffs will relinquish any future rights to claim that Top Shot NFTs are securities. Dapper Labs CEO Roham Gharegozlou stated that the settlement provides legal clarity and allows the Dapper Labs team to focus on its core mission of providing an unparalleled experience for its core users. In February of last year, a federal judge ruled that the lawsuit could proceed because NBA Top Shot NFTs 'might' meet the definition of securities issuance. The key to the judge's ruling was that NBA Top Shot NFTs exist on the Flow blockchain network, originally developed by Dapper. The judge considered Flow to be a 'private' blockchain, unlike Bitcoin or Ethereum networks, which are not controlled by any entity. The company has always insisted that Flow is sufficiently decentralized and not under Dapper's control, as the network is maintained by the independent Flow Foundation. However, a Dapper co-founder added that the plaintiffs in the class-action lawsuit demanded the company make 'certain business changes' as conditions of the settlement. These demands have been accepted by Dapper, including the company transferring all its FLOW tokens to the Flow Foundation. Other demands, such as allowing third-party markets other than Dapper to trade NBA Top Shot NFTs and the company's requirement to process withdrawals more promptly, were resolved years ago.

According to Odaily, Alchemy Pay, a provider of cryptocurrency payment solutions, has announced that its NFT Checkout solution is now available for purchasing physical digital collectibles. The solution has reportedly been integrated into the Web3 physical digital fashion platform, Another-1, which is built on Polygon. This development marks a significant step forward in the integration of blockchain technology into the world of fashion and collectibles. The NFT Checkout solution by Alchemy Pay allows users to purchase physical digital collectibles using cryptocurrency, thereby bridging the gap between the digital and physical worlds. The integration of the NFT Checkout solution into the Another-1 platform, which is built on the Polygon blockchain, further enhances the platform's capabilities. This collaboration is expected to provide a seamless and efficient purchasing experience for users interested in acquiring physical digital collectibles. In conclusion, the launch of Alchemy Pay's NFT Checkout solution and its integration into the Another-1 platform is a significant development in the world of digital fashion and collectibles. It not only enhances the purchasing experience for users but also demonstrates the potential of blockchain technology in transforming various industries.

According to Foresight News, Smart Layer, a programmable service network, has announced that current Smart Cat holders can now mint Seven Dragons NFTs. The minting portal is currently open and will close in nine days. In addition, if users successfully pledge assets on the Smart Layer Launchpad, each wallet will be able to mint a maximum of two NFTs. The Seven Dragons NFTs can be used to earn and collect points, and offer priority participation in events and experiences. This move by Smart Layer provides an opportunity for Smart Cat holders to further engage with the platform and potentially increase their digital assets.

According to Foresight News, former professional boxer Floyd Mayweather has been accused of involvement in several NFT (Non-Fungible Token) scams. The allegations were made by blockchain detective ZachXBT, who noted that Mayweather had posted and subsequently deleted tweets containing fraudulent information. ZachXBT revealed that Mayweather had previously been involved in NFT scams including Mayweverse and RealFloydNFT. He also allegedly promoted fraudulent projects such as Ethereum Max, Bored Bunny, Moonshot, and a 2018 ICO. However, the tweets related to these scams have since been removed from Mayweather's account. The accusations against Mayweather highlight the potential risks associated with the rapidly growing NFT market. As the popularity of NFTs continues to rise, so does the number of scams related to them. This incident serves as a reminder for investors to exercise caution when dealing with NFTs and other digital assets.

According to Odaily, Magic Eden, a notable player in the NFT market, has achieved a significant milestone. Data from the website tiexo.com reveals that in the past 24 hours, Magic Eden has ranked first in trading volume across the three major NFT ecosystems of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. This achievement underscores Magic Eden's growing influence in the NFT market, which is increasingly becoming a significant part of the digital economy. The platform's success in these three major ecosystems demonstrates its ability to navigate and succeed in diverse digital environments. However, it's important to note that the NFT market is highly volatile and subject to rapid changes. Therefore, while Magic Eden's current performance is impressive, its future position in the market remains uncertain and will be influenced by various factors, including market trends and consumer preferences.

According to PANews, the US Treasury Department has recently published its inaugural risk assessment report on Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs). The report scrutinizes the tendency of NFTs to be misused by illicit actors. It highlights numerous risks associated with NFTs, including fraud, scams, copyright and trademark infringements, and vulnerabilities to money laundering activities. The report states, 'The assessment found that NFTs are highly susceptible to fraud and scams and are prone to theft. Moreover, some NFT companies and platforms lack appropriate control measures to mitigate risks to market integrity, as well as combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and sanction evasion. The assessment found that insufficient cybersecurity protection, challenges related to copyright and trademark protection, and the hype and price volatility of NFTs and NFT platforms, could enable criminals to commit fraud and theft related to NFTs and NFT platforms.'