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At Cryptopolitan, we research, analyze, and deliver news—daily. From breaking updates to in-depth analysis, educational guides, and market insights, we’re here to keep you informed with neutral and authentic news. Thank you for trusting us to be your go-to source!
At Cryptopolitan, we research, analyze, and deliver news—daily.

From breaking updates to in-depth analysis, educational guides, and market insights, we’re here to keep you informed with neutral and authentic news.

Thank you for trusting us to be your go-to source!
Stablecoins set to surpass Visa and Mastercard by 2035Stablecoins have become more than just a niche crypto tool and are beginning to rival traditional payment giants. According to a new report from Chainalysis, the blockchain-based stable asset could handle more transaction volume than both Visa and Mastercard combined by 2035. New research by the blockchain analytics platform forecasts that the transaction volume of price-pegged cryptocurrencies could reach as much as $1.5 quadrillion by 2035, driven by the broad adoption of on‑chain payment rails and changing generational preferences toward digital money. If current trends continue, on‑chain stablecoin transactions could match or exceed Visa and Mastercard’s off‑chain transaction counts sometime between now and 2035, a milestone indicating a fundamental shift in global payment infrastructure. While much of the growth remains future‑oriented, recent data highlight the rapid expansion of stablecoin use today. In 2025, global stablecoin transaction volumes soared past $33 trillion, surpassing the combined throughput of Visa and Mastercard, according to several industry reports and analytics sources. Even if substantial advances aren’t made, the current rate of growth over the current time frame alone will drive adjusted stablecoin value to around $719 trillion annually, and even then, just not significantly faster. If significant economic and technological trends materialize, this could more than double, and stablecoins will surpass card networks as the clear leader in use. One of the leading factors behind this projection is a huge intergenerational transfer of wealth in the near future. Some analysts predict that an additional $100 trillion will flow from older generations to Millennials and Gen Z. According to survey data cited in the report, nearly half of Millennials and Gen Z already own or hold crypto. Since this generation inherits wealth, they might favor faster, more flexible payment systems such as stablecoins. Chainalysis projects that the same trend could generate roughly $508 trillion in overall stablecoin transaction volume by 2035. This shift isn’t just about the investment preferences. For many younger end-users, instant payments, mobile-first tooling, and international accessibility play into their expectations. As the activity moves online, these things become more valuable. The report argues that this generational shift could redefine global money flows. Rather than banks and card networks, consumers and companies could increasingly turn to blockchain-derived payment rails. That shift could severely undermine the dominance of legacy payment systems. Point-of-sale adoption and corporate deals accelerate stablecoin growth Another major catalyst is the growing acceptance of the price-pegged cryptocurrencies in everyday commerce. Point-of-sale integration alone could contribute as much as $232 trillion to the economy by 2035. But as merchants have begun managing stablecoins directly, they’re turning them into practical tools rather than merely trading instruments. So, bulk financial companies are preparing for this. Now that Stripe recently purchased Bridge for $1.1 billion, Mastercard said it would be acquiring BVNK for up to $1.8 billion. These actions demonstrate that traditional payment institutions view stable digital assets as part of future structures and systems rather than a fad. Regulatory changes are also driving adoption. Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act last summer, as proof that policymakers began to take stablecoins more seriously, the report calls out as a case in point. Clearer rules could give companies a reason to develop products and services in stablecoins, reducing uncertainty. This combination of both corporate investment and regulatory clarity brings stablecoins closer to mainstream use. Payment companies won’t wait until 2035. Instead, they’re currently designing systems that could be applied to the larger-scale delivery of stablecoin payments. Faster, cheaper payments are challenging traditional networks There’s also a powerful economic case for stablecoins. In contrast to conventional payment rails, which involve multiple intermediaries and batch processing, stablecoins settle almost immediately. They work 24/7 and cross borders without the delays of correspondent banking. Such benefits can lower payment charges and settlement times and ease reconciling. They are embedded in software to seamlessly integrate stablecoin payments into a business or system, automate workflows, and move funds from one place to another without waiting days or weeks for settlement. That is already driving adoption across remittances, business-to-business payments, and treasury management. The current data shows how fast the market is growing at a moment’s notice. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter.

Stablecoins set to surpass Visa and Mastercard by 2035

Stablecoins have become more than just a niche crypto tool and are beginning to rival traditional payment giants. According to a new report from Chainalysis, the blockchain-based stable asset could handle more transaction volume than both Visa and Mastercard combined by 2035.

New research by the blockchain analytics platform forecasts that the transaction volume of price-pegged cryptocurrencies could reach as much as $1.5 quadrillion by 2035, driven by the broad adoption of on‑chain payment rails and changing generational preferences toward digital money. If current trends continue, on‑chain stablecoin transactions could match or exceed Visa and Mastercard’s off‑chain transaction counts sometime between now and 2035, a milestone indicating a fundamental shift in global payment infrastructure.

While much of the growth remains future‑oriented, recent data highlight the rapid expansion of stablecoin use today. In 2025, global stablecoin transaction volumes soared past $33 trillion, surpassing the combined throughput of Visa and Mastercard, according to several industry reports and analytics sources.

Even if substantial advances aren’t made, the current rate of growth over the current time frame alone will drive adjusted stablecoin value to around $719 trillion annually, and even then, just not significantly faster. If significant economic and technological trends materialize, this could more than double, and stablecoins will surpass card networks as the clear leader in use.

One of the leading factors behind this projection is a huge intergenerational transfer of wealth in the near future. Some analysts predict that an additional $100 trillion will flow from older generations to Millennials and Gen Z. According to survey data cited in the report, nearly half of Millennials and Gen Z already own or hold crypto.

Since this generation inherits wealth, they might favor faster, more flexible payment systems such as stablecoins. Chainalysis projects that the same trend could generate roughly $508 trillion in overall stablecoin transaction volume by 2035. This shift isn’t just about the investment preferences. For many younger end-users, instant payments, mobile-first tooling, and international accessibility play into their expectations.

As the activity moves online, these things become more valuable. The report argues that this generational shift could redefine global money flows.

Rather than banks and card networks, consumers and companies could increasingly turn to blockchain-derived payment rails. That shift could severely undermine the dominance of legacy payment systems.

Point-of-sale adoption and corporate deals accelerate stablecoin growth

Another major catalyst is the growing acceptance of the price-pegged cryptocurrencies in everyday commerce. Point-of-sale integration alone could contribute as much as $232 trillion to the economy by 2035.

But as merchants have begun managing stablecoins directly, they’re turning them into practical tools rather than merely trading instruments. So, bulk financial companies are preparing for this. Now that Stripe recently purchased Bridge for $1.1 billion, Mastercard said it would be acquiring BVNK for up to $1.8 billion.

These actions demonstrate that traditional payment institutions view stable digital assets as part of future structures and systems rather than a fad. Regulatory changes are also driving adoption.

Donald Trump signed the GENIUS Act last summer, as proof that policymakers began to take stablecoins more seriously, the report calls out as a case in point.

Clearer rules could give companies a reason to develop products and services in stablecoins, reducing uncertainty. This combination of both corporate investment and regulatory clarity brings stablecoins closer to mainstream use.

Payment companies won’t wait until 2035. Instead, they’re currently designing systems that could be applied to the larger-scale delivery of stablecoin payments.

Faster, cheaper payments are challenging traditional networks

There’s also a powerful economic case for stablecoins. In contrast to conventional payment rails, which involve multiple intermediaries and batch processing, stablecoins settle almost immediately.

They work 24/7 and cross borders without the delays of correspondent banking. Such benefits can lower payment charges and settlement times and ease reconciling. They are embedded in software to seamlessly integrate stablecoin payments into a business or system, automate workflows, and move funds from one place to another without waiting days or weeks for settlement.

That is already driving adoption across remittances, business-to-business payments, and treasury management. The current data shows how fast the market is growing at a moment’s notice.

If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter.
XRP becomes quantum-resistant powerhouse while whales go on a buying spreeXRP is growing stronger and more in demand as most of its supply remains safe, and big investors buy millions of tokens each day. According to a new review, several Ripple token accounts holding around 2.4 billion XRP remain “quantum safe” because their public keys have never been exposed on‑chain, making them inherently less vulnerable to theoretical quantum attacks.  Adding to this narrative, reputable asset manager Grayscale highlighted XRPL’s proactive steps toward post‑quantum security in a recent industry report. Developers have been testing ML‑DSA, a post‑quantum signature algorithm, in XRPL’s AlphaNet test environment and are exploring upgrades to enable key rotation and quantum‑resistant transactions without disrupting the live network. XRP keeps most of its supply safe from quantum risk. 300,000 XRP accounts are safe from possible quantum attacks because, despite holding 2.4 billion Ripple tokens, they have never made a single transaction, so their public keys remain unknown. Quantum attacks need a visible public key to work, but when the key remains hidden, hackers have nothing to go with, so these untouched XRP accounts don’t need extra tools or upgrades to stay protected. According to data, only about 0.03% of the total Ripple’s token supply is exposed, so the network faces minimal risk. At the same time, vulnerable whales on the network are almost nonexistent: only two dormant whale accounts have exposed public keys, holding a mere 21 million XRP, which is a fraction of the total supply. Compared to Bitcoin, the pressure on Ripple’s token is too small because many large BTC wallets have been inactive for years and still use older formats that expose public keys, creating long-term risk for holders. Furthermore, XRP accounts are less likely to be exposed in the long term because most are active, allowing users to rotate or change keys when risks arise. On top of that, the XRP ledger already supports key rotation, so users won’t lose access to their funds or change how they use the network whenever they change their signing keys.  The XRP network remains stable because, out of the 7.7 million accounts, only 1.1 million are dormant, with most holding between 10 and 20 XRP, so there’s really no risk involved. Ripple’s token has secured a safe spot in a future where quantum technology will become more powerful, thanks to its hidden keys, more active users, low exposure, and flexible tools like key rotation. XRPL builds quantum-safe systems while whales buy more Ripple’s token Despite the low risk to the XRP network, developers are still building tools to protect it in a future where quantum computing could become more advanced and threaten digital security. Measures such as key rotation allow users to rotate their signing keys without changing their wallet addresses. When combined with hybrid cryptography (integrating traditional cryptography with post-quantum cryptography), the network can begin testing new quantum-resistant signatures and safely transition without leaving security gaps. In fact, XRP’s developer test network, AlphaNet, uses NIST-approved ML-DSA to safely handle transactions, accounts, and consensus operations in ways that resist attacks from advanced quantum computers. AlphaNe now supports quantum accounts for safely storing funds, quantum transactions to prevent unauthorized access, and quantum consensus to ensure validators communicate securely, even if quantum computers exist. However, transactions with quantum-resistant signatures take up more space, require more storage, and process more slowly than before because they are nearly 40 times larger than the old signatures. However, engineers expect the pace to increase over time and even catch up to the old models. Meanwhile, whales have started buying more than 11 million XRP every day after seeing the network taking proactive steps to improve security. As prices stabilize and selling pressure continues to decline, large investors are moving more of Ripple’s token from exchanges into private wallets. The current price of XRP is around $1.37, and its market capitalization is about $84 billion. Trading volume has also risen sharply, showing just how confident investors have become in the network. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter.

XRP becomes quantum-resistant powerhouse while whales go on a buying spree

XRP is growing stronger and more in demand as most of its supply remains safe, and big investors buy millions of tokens each day. According to a new review, several Ripple token accounts holding around 2.4 billion XRP remain “quantum safe” because their public keys have never been exposed on‑chain, making them inherently less vulnerable to theoretical quantum attacks. 

Adding to this narrative, reputable asset manager Grayscale highlighted XRPL’s proactive steps toward post‑quantum security in a recent industry report. Developers have been testing ML‑DSA, a post‑quantum signature algorithm, in XRPL’s AlphaNet test environment and are exploring upgrades to enable key rotation and quantum‑resistant transactions without disrupting the live network.

XRP keeps most of its supply safe from quantum risk.

300,000 XRP accounts are safe from possible quantum attacks because, despite holding 2.4 billion Ripple tokens, they have never made a single transaction, so their public keys remain unknown.

Quantum attacks need a visible public key to work, but when the key remains hidden, hackers have nothing to go with, so these untouched XRP accounts don’t need extra tools or upgrades to stay protected.

According to data, only about 0.03% of the total Ripple’s token supply is exposed, so the network faces minimal risk. At the same time, vulnerable whales on the network are almost nonexistent: only two dormant whale accounts have exposed public keys, holding a mere 21 million XRP, which is a fraction of the total supply.

Compared to Bitcoin, the pressure on Ripple’s token is too small because many large BTC wallets have been inactive for years and still use older formats that expose public keys, creating long-term risk for holders.

Furthermore, XRP accounts are less likely to be exposed in the long term because most are active, allowing users to rotate or change keys when risks arise.

On top of that, the XRP ledger already supports key rotation, so users won’t lose access to their funds or change how they use the network whenever they change their signing keys. 

The XRP network remains stable because, out of the 7.7 million accounts, only 1.1 million are dormant, with most holding between 10 and 20 XRP, so there’s really no risk involved.

Ripple’s token has secured a safe spot in a future where quantum technology will become more powerful, thanks to its hidden keys, more active users, low exposure, and flexible tools like key rotation.

XRPL builds quantum-safe systems while whales buy more Ripple’s token

Despite the low risk to the XRP network, developers are still building tools to protect it in a future where quantum computing could become more advanced and threaten digital security.

Measures such as key rotation allow users to rotate their signing keys without changing their wallet addresses. When combined with hybrid cryptography (integrating traditional cryptography with post-quantum cryptography), the network can begin testing new quantum-resistant signatures and safely transition without leaving security gaps.

In fact, XRP’s developer test network, AlphaNet, uses NIST-approved ML-DSA to safely handle transactions, accounts, and consensus operations in ways that resist attacks from advanced quantum computers.

AlphaNe now supports quantum accounts for safely storing funds, quantum transactions to prevent unauthorized access, and quantum consensus to ensure validators communicate securely, even if quantum computers exist.

However, transactions with quantum-resistant signatures take up more space, require more storage, and process more slowly than before because they are nearly 40 times larger than the old signatures. However, engineers expect the pace to increase over time and even catch up to the old models.

Meanwhile, whales have started buying more than 11 million XRP every day after seeing the network taking proactive steps to improve security. As prices stabilize and selling pressure continues to decline, large investors are moving more of Ripple’s token from exchanges into private wallets.

The current price of XRP is around $1.37, and its market capitalization is about $84 billion. Trading volume has also risen sharply, showing just how confident investors have become in the network.

If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter.
Iran says it will only allow 12 ships per day to pass through the Strait of HormuzIran is telling ships that under terms passed through mediators, it plans to let only about 12 ships cross the Strait of Hormuz each day during the two week ceasefire agreed with Trump. Pakistani mediators said ships must coordinate with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, before they pass. Cryptopolitan had earlier reported that shipbrokers and mediators said toll terms must be settled in advance, not after arrival, and the money must be paid in cryptocurrency or Chinese yuan. Iran forces ships to seek formal approval before entering Hormuz During the war, which was started by US and Israel unprovoked, Iran took practical control of the waterway by striking ships that tried to pass without permission. Media outlets linked to Iran added even more tension to the picture. Press TV said the Strait of Hormuz had been closed. Earlier, the state news agency Fars said oil tanker traffic through the strait had been halted while Israel kept attacking Lebanon. Meanwhile, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliamentary speaker, accused the U.S. on Wednesday of breaking the two week deal. In a statement posted on social media, he said, “The deep historical distrust we hold toward the United States stems from its repeated violations of all forms of commitments, a pattern that has regrettably been repeated once again.” On Wednesday, only four ships were allowed through, S&P Global Market Intelligence said, which was the lowest daily count so far in April. Wall Street keeps betting Trump will pull back before the worst case hits While shipping companies dealt with tolls, permits, and restricted passage, traders on Wall Street kept trading a different idea, one famously called the TACO trade, short for Trump Always Chickens Out. That belief showed up clearly before Trump paused planned strikes on Iran just minutes before an 8 p.m. ET deadline, and crypto + stocks surged, while oil crashed. Earlier that Tuesday, Trump had warned that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.” But traders had already been leaning that way before the pause became official, seeing as the S&P 500 had just posted its first weekly gain in six weeks, rising 3.4%. Barclays said S&P 500 options showed only a modest risk premium into the deadline. Adam Kobeissi wrote in an X post, “Systematic investors are operating in what may be the most profitable market conditions in history right now.” The Mizuho trading desk wrote, “It’s probably a mix of complacency and confidence. Investors aren’t ignoring the risks, but they’re clearly leaning on history.” The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them.

Iran says it will only allow 12 ships per day to pass through the Strait of Hormuz

Iran is telling ships that under terms passed through mediators, it plans to let only about 12 ships cross the Strait of Hormuz each day during the two week ceasefire agreed with Trump.

Pakistani mediators said ships must coordinate with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, before they pass.

Cryptopolitan had earlier reported that shipbrokers and mediators said toll terms must be settled in advance, not after arrival, and the money must be paid in cryptocurrency or Chinese yuan.

Iran forces ships to seek formal approval before entering Hormuz

During the war, which was started by US and Israel unprovoked, Iran took practical control of the waterway by striking ships that tried to pass without permission.

Media outlets linked to Iran added even more tension to the picture. Press TV said the Strait of Hormuz had been closed. Earlier, the state news agency Fars said oil tanker traffic through the strait had been halted while Israel kept attacking Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s parliamentary speaker, accused the U.S. on Wednesday of breaking the two week deal. In a statement posted on social media, he said, “The deep historical distrust we hold toward the United States stems from its repeated violations of all forms of commitments, a pattern that has regrettably been repeated once again.”

On Wednesday, only four ships were allowed through, S&P Global Market Intelligence said, which was the lowest daily count so far in April.

Wall Street keeps betting Trump will pull back before the worst case hits

While shipping companies dealt with tolls, permits, and restricted passage, traders on Wall Street kept trading a different idea, one famously called the TACO trade, short for Trump Always Chickens Out.

That belief showed up clearly before Trump paused planned strikes on Iran just minutes before an 8 p.m. ET deadline, and crypto + stocks surged, while oil crashed.

Earlier that Tuesday, Trump had warned that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.”

But traders had already been leaning that way before the pause became official, seeing as the S&P 500 had just posted its first weekly gain in six weeks, rising 3.4%. Barclays said S&P 500 options showed only a modest risk premium into the deadline.

Adam Kobeissi wrote in an X post, “Systematic investors are operating in what may be the most profitable market conditions in history right now.”

The Mizuho trading desk wrote, “It’s probably a mix of complacency and confidence. Investors aren’t ignoring the risks, but they’re clearly leaning on history.”

The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them.
Nikon’s NEMO will launch on the ISS this weekNikon has announced it will be providing its tech for a new mission project to the International Space Station to research the effect of microgravity in drug discovery, life science, and potentially elucidate the reason why humans age on Earth.  In a report on Wednesday, Nikon said its live cell observation system, known as Nikon Experimentation Microscope in Orbit (NEMO), was selected to launch on the ISS aboard NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 mission this Friday.  NEMO was developed by Nikon and its U.S.-based subsidiary Nikon Instruments Inc. (NII). It comprises Nikon’s live cell observation microscope and an automated cell culture incubator from BioServe Space Technologies.  The launch of NEMO on the ISS could mark a big breakthrough in life science research. It was even signed off by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), according to the announcement. Why NEMO’s ISS launch matters for life science research NEMO is going to help researchers understand the effects of microgravity on life sciences and drug discovery right on the ISS.  Microgravity has been found to act as an accelerator for certain biological processes that resemble aging or age-related diseases on Earth. In space, astronauts can lose 1–2% bone mineral density per month. There are also reports that a short spaceflight of 7 days can increase epigenetic acceleration by up to 1.91 years, although reversal upon return to Earth. Hence, the mission is an important one that could help scientists observe better how microgravity affects cell behavior, tissue responses, drug interactions, and potentially accelerate insights into aging processes that are hard to obtain on the ground. According to Nikon, there are actually two focuses with the microgravity research. Understanding its effects on biological tissues will not only elucidate the causes of diseases and aging in living organisms but also accelerate human extraterrestrial activities.  All of these observations, which will be done using MPS or Microphysiological Systems, will be conducted using NEMO, Nikon said in the announcement. MPS are advanced 3D cell culture models capable of closely modeling tissue changes more accurately than simple cell cultures. So, you have a better cell culture model and a high-precision live-cell observation system in space, which only translates to a highly controlled study of cells and tissues under microgravity that is difficult to replicate on Earth. NASA is taking 11,000 pounds of science to space The Northrop Grumman CRS-24 mission is currently targeting liftoff this Friday, April 11th, and will deliver up to 11,000 pounds of science and supplies to the space station, which include Nikon’s NEMO.  The mission will debut several other scientific research projects, including a new module for the Cold Atom Lab to improve computing and advance quantum science. There will also be an investigation, dubbed Nanoracks-ITS, to understand how solar activity and space weather affect radio signals, such as GPS and radar, sent from Earth.  Gut microbiome. Source: NASA Another separate investigation will uncover how spaceflight can alter the relationship between organisms and their gut microbiome to help identify ways to keep astronauts healthy for future Moon and Mars missions. There’s a middle ground between leaving money in the bank and rolling the dice in crypto. Start with this free video on decentralized finance.

Nikon’s NEMO will launch on the ISS this week

Nikon has announced it will be providing its tech for a new mission project to the International Space Station to research the effect of microgravity in drug discovery, life science, and potentially elucidate the reason why humans age on Earth. 

In a report on Wednesday, Nikon said its live cell observation system, known as Nikon Experimentation Microscope in Orbit (NEMO), was selected to launch on the ISS aboard NASA’s Northrop Grumman Commercial Resupply Services 24 mission this Friday. 

NEMO was developed by Nikon and its U.S.-based subsidiary Nikon Instruments Inc. (NII). It comprises Nikon’s live cell observation microscope and an automated cell culture incubator from BioServe Space Technologies. 

The launch of NEMO on the ISS could mark a big breakthrough in life science research. It was even signed off by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (CASIS), according to the announcement.

Why NEMO’s ISS launch matters for life science research

NEMO is going to help researchers understand the effects of microgravity on life sciences and drug discovery right on the ISS. 

Microgravity has been found to act as an accelerator for certain biological processes that resemble aging or age-related diseases on Earth. In space, astronauts can lose 1–2% bone mineral density per month. There are also reports that a short spaceflight of 7 days can increase epigenetic acceleration by up to 1.91 years, although reversal upon return to Earth.

Hence, the mission is an important one that could help scientists observe better how microgravity affects cell behavior, tissue responses, drug interactions, and potentially accelerate insights into aging processes that are hard to obtain on the ground.

According to Nikon, there are actually two focuses with the microgravity research. Understanding its effects on biological tissues will not only elucidate the causes of diseases and aging in living organisms but also accelerate human extraterrestrial activities. 

All of these observations, which will be done using MPS or Microphysiological Systems, will be conducted using NEMO, Nikon said in the announcement. MPS are advanced 3D cell culture models capable of closely modeling tissue changes more accurately than simple cell cultures.

So, you have a better cell culture model and a high-precision live-cell observation system in space, which only translates to a highly controlled study of cells and tissues under microgravity that is difficult to replicate on Earth.

NASA is taking 11,000 pounds of science to space

The Northrop Grumman CRS-24 mission is currently targeting liftoff this Friday, April 11th, and will deliver up to 11,000 pounds of science and supplies to the space station, which include Nikon’s NEMO. 

The mission will debut several other scientific research projects, including a new module for the Cold Atom Lab to improve computing and advance quantum science. There will also be an investigation, dubbed Nanoracks-ITS, to understand how solar activity and space weather affect radio signals, such as GPS and radar, sent from Earth. 

Gut microbiome. Source: NASA

Another separate investigation will uncover how spaceflight can alter the relationship between organisms and their gut microbiome to help identify ways to keep astronauts healthy for future Moon and Mars missions.

There’s a middle ground between leaving money in the bank and rolling the dice in crypto. Start with this free video on decentralized finance.
Polygon Labs plans to raise $100 million to fund its payments business expansionPolygon Labs is in advanced talks to raise up to $100 million to fund a dedicated stablecoin payments business, according to a report by The Information. This development is coming around the same time the network is making serious advancements in its payments features, the latest being its third mainnet upgrade in four months. For much of the past two years, Polygon’s network economy has had one major catalyst: Polymarket. Polymarket accounted for over half the transactions on Polygon and 67% of its gas fees in March 2026, making it far and away the largest platform operating on the L2 network. However, the divorce between Polygon and Polymarket is imminent after Polymarket suffered downtime in December 2025 following a Polygon network outage. Not long after the incident, a team member from Polymarket confirmed that the company was building its own proprietary Ethereum Layer 2 network, internally referred to as POLY. For a platform that had grown into one of the most liquid prediction markets in the world, dependence on a general-purpose chain it could not control had become a liability. Polymarket announced on April 6 what it called its biggest infrastructure change to date: a rebuilt trading engine, upgraded smart contracts, and the launch of Polymarket USD, a new collateral token backed one-to-one by Circle’s USDC, replacing the bridged USDC.e it had long relied upon. So, Polymarket’s L2 going live is not a matter of if but when. What is Polygon ahead of Polymarket’s exit? In January, Polygon signed definitive agreements to acquire Coinme, one of the first licensed digital currency exchanges in the United States, and Sequence, a smart wallet and cross-chain infrastructure provider, in a combined deal worth more than $250 million. Together, the acquisitions form the backbone of what Polygon is calling the Open Money Stack, a vertically integrated platform designed to move stablecoins from fiat bank accounts through to on-chain settlement via a single API. Coinme brings regulated fiat on- and off-ramps operating across 48 US states under money-transmitter licenses, along with more than one million existing users. Sequence adds enterprise smart wallets and a one-click cross-chain orchestration engine. Co-founder Sandeep Nailwal described the combined strategy as a “reverse Stripe,” a reference to the payments giant’s own acquisition-led push into stablecoin infrastructure. Polygon Foundation founder Sandeep Nailwal reportedly said, “Polygon Labs is becoming a full-blown fintech company.” The fresh $100 million raise, if completed, would add more weight to that bet. The Giugliano hardfork, activated on Polygon’s mainnet at block 85,268,500 today, Wednesday, April 8, is the technical complement to that commercial strategy. Can Polygon win as a payments layer for everyone else? The commercial landscape gives Polygon reason for both confidence and caution. Its on-chain stablecoin supply is currently around $3.4 billion, suggesting that demand for its settlement rails remains substantial even as its most prominent application prepares to exit. Shift4 Payments, Revolut, Mastercard, Stripe, and Flutterwave are among the enterprises currently using the network. The US GENIUS Act of 2025 has handed regulated infrastructure providers like Polygon a clearer path to market. Coinme’s money-transmitter licenses and compliance infrastructure are now a strategic asset rather than a regulatory footnote. However, the competitive pressure is real and continues to build up. Stripe and Paradigm have built Tempo, a Layer-1 blockchain focused on stablecoin-native payments, signaling its intent to own the full stack from settlement to custody. The pace of acquisitions, protocol upgrades, and fundraising activity that Polygon has embarked on points to the organization deciding with some urgency that its future lies in being the payments chain for everyone instead of the home chain for one, in this case, Polymarket. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free.

Polygon Labs plans to raise $100 million to fund its payments business expansion

Polygon Labs is in advanced talks to raise up to $100 million to fund a dedicated stablecoin payments business, according to a report by The Information. This development is coming around the same time the network is making serious advancements in its payments features, the latest being its third mainnet upgrade in four months.

For much of the past two years, Polygon’s network economy has had one major catalyst: Polymarket.

Polymarket accounted for over half the transactions on Polygon and 67% of its gas fees in March 2026, making it far and away the largest platform operating on the L2 network. However, the divorce between Polygon and Polymarket is imminent after Polymarket suffered downtime in December 2025 following a Polygon network outage.

Not long after the incident, a team member from Polymarket confirmed that the company was building its own proprietary Ethereum Layer 2 network, internally referred to as POLY.

For a platform that had grown into one of the most liquid prediction markets in the world, dependence on a general-purpose chain it could not control had become a liability.

Polymarket announced on April 6 what it called its biggest infrastructure change to date: a rebuilt trading engine, upgraded smart contracts, and the launch of Polymarket USD, a new collateral token backed one-to-one by Circle’s USDC, replacing the bridged USDC.e it had long relied upon.

So, Polymarket’s L2 going live is not a matter of if but when.

What is Polygon ahead of Polymarket’s exit?

In January, Polygon signed definitive agreements to acquire Coinme, one of the first licensed digital currency exchanges in the United States, and Sequence, a smart wallet and cross-chain infrastructure provider, in a combined deal worth more than $250 million.

Together, the acquisitions form the backbone of what Polygon is calling the Open Money Stack, a vertically integrated platform designed to move stablecoins from fiat bank accounts through to on-chain settlement via a single API.

Coinme brings regulated fiat on- and off-ramps operating across 48 US states under money-transmitter licenses, along with more than one million existing users.

Sequence adds enterprise smart wallets and a one-click cross-chain orchestration engine. Co-founder Sandeep Nailwal described the combined strategy as a “reverse Stripe,” a reference to the payments giant’s own acquisition-led push into stablecoin infrastructure.

Polygon Foundation founder Sandeep Nailwal reportedly said, “Polygon Labs is becoming a full-blown fintech company.”

The fresh $100 million raise, if completed, would add more weight to that bet.

The Giugliano hardfork, activated on Polygon’s mainnet at block 85,268,500 today, Wednesday, April 8, is the technical complement to that commercial strategy.

Can Polygon win as a payments layer for everyone else?

The commercial landscape gives Polygon reason for both confidence and caution. Its on-chain stablecoin supply is currently around $3.4 billion, suggesting that demand for its settlement rails remains substantial even as its most prominent application prepares to exit. Shift4 Payments, Revolut, Mastercard, Stripe, and Flutterwave are among the enterprises currently using the network.

The US GENIUS Act of 2025 has handed regulated infrastructure providers like Polygon a clearer path to market. Coinme’s money-transmitter licenses and compliance infrastructure are now a strategic asset rather than a regulatory footnote.

However, the competitive pressure is real and continues to build up. Stripe and Paradigm have built Tempo, a Layer-1 blockchain focused on stablecoin-native payments, signaling its intent to own the full stack from settlement to custody.

The pace of acquisitions, protocol upgrades, and fundraising activity that Polygon has embarked on points to the organization deciding with some urgency that its future lies in being the payments chain for everyone instead of the home chain for one, in this case, Polymarket.

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Grayscale’s Head of Research is looking at Aave becoming a household nameAave’s token traded into green territory today as two institutional papers reviewed the protocol favorably this month.  On one hand, Zach Pandl, the Head of Research at Grayscale, shared his thoughts about whether Aave could become a household name. On the other hand, the Bank of Canada, in what was its first formal central bank study of the protocol, called DeFi lending with proper governance “operationally viable.” AAVE currently trades around $93.4, after peaking near $96.5 during the day. The token has spent most of 2026 under pressure, with other first-quarter governance crises that resulted in the departures of BGD Labs and Aave Chan Initiative (ACI). Aave has reversed a negative price trend today. Source: CoinMarketCap Grayscale sees Aave becoming a household name  Grayscale’s sentiments about Aave have been fairly public for over a year. In October 2024, Grayscale launched the Grayscale Aave Trust, with its Head of Product and Research, Rayhaneh Sharif-Askary, describing the protocol as having “the potential to revolutionize traditional finance.” Additionally, in February 2026, Grayscale filed with the SEC to convert its trust into a spot-traded ETF targeting an NYSE Arca listing. This move was similar to the same paths they took with Bitcoin and Ethereum, and would open AAVE exposure to a far wider base of regulated investors if it is approved. Grayscale’s latest research post formalizes the investment thesis.  In its 2026 Digital Asset Outlook report, Grayscale had initially highlighted Aave as one of the primary beneficiaries of a DeFi acceleration it expects to happen through the year. It was a trend that, according to the outlook, it expects “core DeFi protocols to benefit, including lending platforms like AAVE.” The post also argued that the protocol’s combination of TVL dominance, fee generation, institutional integrations, and regulatory clarity positions it not just as a DeFi leader but as a mainstream financial brand in the making.  With the protocol generating $141.8 million in revenue by 2025, and commanding up to 60% of the DeFi lending market by TVL, Aave’s fundamentals seem to be evidence of that theory. Why is the Bank of Canada bullish on Aave?  The Bank of Canada’s DeFi Lending: Returns, Leverage and Liquidation Risk paper, written by Jonathan Chiu and Furkan Danisman, was released as something unusual: an in-depth central bank study of a DeFi protocol using transaction data.  According to the paper, protocol earnings were concentrated in just a few tokens, with WETH, USDT, and USDC driving approximately 83% of Aave’s total earnings.  Apparently, highly active and wealthy users making up approximately 2% of the platform were also involved in risky margin trading. Because these traders leverage heavily to improve their trades, they get liquidated twice as fast as everyday traders, which in turn causes major liquidation waves during market downturns.  It is not unusual for borrowers to face between 10 to 30% in lost collateral when liquidations occur, with the ten largest liquidation waves accounting for over 80% of total liquidated volume.  Nonetheless, the paper acknowledged that despite these risks and the platform’s issues with capital efficiency, liquidation risk, and systemic fragility, they believe that nothing is wrong with the core technology and that it only needs better rules and management to effectively handle such extreme events. It must be noted, however, that the Bank of Canada’s paper studied V3, not V4, which launched on Ethereum on March 30, 2026.  The transition to V4 has singlehandedly become the most contentious issue in Aave’s recent history. If Aave manages to solidify its governance and V4 delivers, then Grayscale’s household name thesis might hold. Your keys, your card. Spend without giving up custody and earn 8%+ yield on your balance with Ether.fi Cash.

Grayscale’s Head of Research is looking at Aave becoming a household name

Aave’s token traded into green territory today as two institutional papers reviewed the protocol favorably this month. 

On one hand, Zach Pandl, the Head of Research at Grayscale, shared his thoughts about whether Aave could become a household name. On the other hand, the Bank of Canada, in what was its first formal central bank study of the protocol, called DeFi lending with proper governance “operationally viable.”

AAVE currently trades around $93.4, after peaking near $96.5 during the day. The token has spent most of 2026 under pressure, with other first-quarter governance crises that resulted in the departures of BGD Labs and Aave Chan Initiative (ACI).

Aave has reversed a negative price trend today. Source: CoinMarketCap

Grayscale sees Aave becoming a household name 

Grayscale’s sentiments about Aave have been fairly public for over a year. In October 2024, Grayscale launched the Grayscale Aave Trust, with its Head of Product and Research, Rayhaneh Sharif-Askary, describing the protocol as having “the potential to revolutionize traditional finance.”

Additionally, in February 2026, Grayscale filed with the SEC to convert its trust into a spot-traded ETF targeting an NYSE Arca listing. This move was similar to the same paths they took with Bitcoin and Ethereum, and would open AAVE exposure to a far wider base of regulated investors if it is approved.

Grayscale’s latest research post formalizes the investment thesis. 

In its 2026 Digital Asset Outlook report, Grayscale had initially highlighted Aave as one of the primary beneficiaries of a DeFi acceleration it expects to happen through the year. It was a trend that, according to the outlook, it expects “core DeFi protocols to benefit, including lending platforms like AAVE.”

The post also argued that the protocol’s combination of TVL dominance, fee generation, institutional integrations, and regulatory clarity positions it not just as a DeFi leader but as a mainstream financial brand in the making. 

With the protocol generating $141.8 million in revenue by 2025, and commanding up to 60% of the DeFi lending market by TVL, Aave’s fundamentals seem to be evidence of that theory.

Why is the Bank of Canada bullish on Aave? 

The Bank of Canada’s DeFi Lending: Returns, Leverage and Liquidation Risk paper, written by Jonathan Chiu and Furkan Danisman, was released as something unusual: an in-depth central bank study of a DeFi protocol using transaction data. 

According to the paper, protocol earnings were concentrated in just a few tokens, with WETH, USDT, and USDC driving approximately 83% of Aave’s total earnings. 

Apparently, highly active and wealthy users making up approximately 2% of the platform were also involved in risky margin trading. Because these traders leverage heavily to improve their trades, they get liquidated twice as fast as everyday traders, which in turn causes major liquidation waves during market downturns. 

It is not unusual for borrowers to face between 10 to 30% in lost collateral when liquidations occur, with the ten largest liquidation waves accounting for over 80% of total liquidated volume. 

Nonetheless, the paper acknowledged that despite these risks and the platform’s issues with capital efficiency, liquidation risk, and systemic fragility, they believe that nothing is wrong with the core technology and that it only needs better rules and management to effectively handle such extreme events.

It must be noted, however, that the Bank of Canada’s paper studied V3, not V4, which launched on Ethereum on March 30, 2026. 

The transition to V4 has singlehandedly become the most contentious issue in Aave’s recent history. If Aave manages to solidify its governance and V4 delivers, then Grayscale’s household name thesis might hold.

Your keys, your card. Spend without giving up custody and earn 8%+ yield on your balance with Ether.fi Cash.
Anthropic launches Claude Mythos Preview but is keeping it away from the publicAnthropic has on Wednesday launched Claude Mythos Preview, a new cyber AI model, but the public cannot use it. Speaking via a blog post, the company said, “AI models have reached a level of coding capability where they can surpass all but the most skilled humans at finding and exploiting software vulnerabilities.” The AI company said it has estimated global cybercrime costs at around $500 billion a year. According to Anthropic, its launch group for Mythos Preview includes Amazon Web Services, Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, CrowdStrike, Google, JPMorgan Chase, the Linux Foundation, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Palo Alto Networks. More than 40 other organizations that build or maintain critical software also got access. Anthropic said it will provide up to $100 million in usage credits and $4 million in direct support for open source security groups. In its press release, Anthropic claims that Mythos Preview has allegedly found thousands of high-severity vulnerabilities across every major operating system and every major web browser. One example was a 27-year-old flaw in OpenBSD that could let an attacker remotely crash a machine just by connecting to it. Another was a 16-year-old flaw in FFmpeg hiding in code that automated tools had hit five million times without catching the issue. The model also found and chained several flaws in the Linux kernel so an attacker could move from ordinary user access to full control of a machine. Anthropic said for other bugs, it plans to publish cryptographic hashes now and will reveal more once fixes are in place, as the model found nearly all of those vulnerabilities and built many related exploits on its own. On CyberGym, Mythos Preview scored 83.1% on vulnerability reproduction, compared with 66.6% for Claude Opus 4.6. VentureBeat separately reported 93.9% on SWE-bench Verified, versus 80.8% for Opus 4.6. Anthropic then explained that recent frontier systems have cut the cost, effort, and skill needed to find and exploit security holes. Glasswing gives partners a head start in a faster cyber fight Under Project Glasswing, partners will use Mythos Preview for defensive work on internal systems and open source code. Anthropic said the work will include local vulnerability detection, black box testing of binaries, endpoint security, and penetration testing. After the research preview, participants will be able to access the model through the Claude API, Amazon Bedrock, Google Cloud Vertex AI, and Microsoft Foundry at $25 per million input tokens and $125 per million output tokens. The company also said it gave $2.5 million to Alpha-Omega and OpenSSF through the Linux Foundation, plus $1.5 million to the Apache Software Foundation. AWS said it analyzes more than 400 trillion network flows a day, Microsoft said the model showed gains on CTI-REALM, CrowdStrike said the gap between finding a flaw and exploiting it has collapsed, and Google said it will make the model available through Vertex AI, while Palo Alto Networks said defenders need these tools before attackers get them. The New York Times reported that late last year, Anthropic said state-backed Chinese hackers used its AI in an effort to target about 30 companies and government agencies, with human operators doing only 10% to 20% of the work. The report also said attackers are already using AI to draft phishing emails, write ransom notes, sort stolen data, and speed up breach sales. Your bank is using your money. You’re getting the scraps. Watch our free video on becoming your own bank

Anthropic launches Claude Mythos Preview but is keeping it away from the public

Anthropic has on Wednesday launched Claude Mythos Preview, a new cyber AI model, but the public cannot use it.

Speaking via a blog post, the company said, “AI models have reached a level of coding capability where they can surpass all but the most skilled humans at finding and exploiting software vulnerabilities.”

The AI company said it has estimated global cybercrime costs at around $500 billion a year.

According to Anthropic, its launch group for Mythos Preview includes Amazon Web Services, Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, CrowdStrike, Google, JPMorgan Chase, the Linux Foundation, Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Palo Alto Networks.

More than 40 other organizations that build or maintain critical software also got access. Anthropic said it will provide up to $100 million in usage credits and $4 million in direct support for open source security groups.

In its press release, Anthropic claims that Mythos Preview has allegedly found thousands of high-severity vulnerabilities across every major operating system and every major web browser.

One example was a 27-year-old flaw in OpenBSD that could let an attacker remotely crash a machine just by connecting to it. Another was a 16-year-old flaw in FFmpeg hiding in code that automated tools had hit five million times without catching the issue.

The model also found and chained several flaws in the Linux kernel so an attacker could move from ordinary user access to full control of a machine.

Anthropic said for other bugs, it plans to publish cryptographic hashes now and will reveal more once fixes are in place, as the model found nearly all of those vulnerabilities and built many related exploits on its own.

On CyberGym, Mythos Preview scored 83.1% on vulnerability reproduction, compared with 66.6% for Claude Opus 4.6. VentureBeat separately reported 93.9% on SWE-bench Verified, versus 80.8% for Opus 4.6.

Anthropic then explained that recent frontier systems have cut the cost, effort, and skill needed to find and exploit security holes.

Glasswing gives partners a head start in a faster cyber fight

Under Project Glasswing, partners will use Mythos Preview for defensive work on internal systems and open source code.

Anthropic said the work will include local vulnerability detection, black box testing of binaries, endpoint security, and penetration testing.

After the research preview, participants will be able to access the model through the Claude API, Amazon Bedrock, Google Cloud Vertex AI, and Microsoft Foundry at $25 per million input tokens and $125 per million output tokens.

The company also said it gave $2.5 million to Alpha-Omega and OpenSSF through the Linux Foundation, plus $1.5 million to the Apache Software Foundation.

AWS said it analyzes more than 400 trillion network flows a day, Microsoft said the model showed gains on CTI-REALM, CrowdStrike said the gap between finding a flaw and exploiting it has collapsed, and Google said it will make the model available through Vertex AI, while Palo Alto Networks said defenders need these tools before attackers get them.

The New York Times reported that late last year, Anthropic said state-backed Chinese hackers used its AI in an effort to target about 30 companies and government agencies, with human operators doing only 10% to 20% of the work.

The report also said attackers are already using AI to draft phishing emails, write ransom notes, sort stolen data, and speed up breach sales.

Your bank is using your money. You’re getting the scraps. Watch our free video on becoming your own bank
Članek
Currenc Group partners with Securitize and Animoca to tokenize Nasdaq shares on Ethereum and SolanaCurrenc Group (Nasdaq:CURR) has partnered with Securitize to tokenize its shares on the Ethereum and Solana blockchains. The company has also partnered with Animoca Brands to bridge on-chain finance and traditional trading infrastructure. Currenc Group has picked Securitize as one of the top platforms for asset tokenization. The decision closes the circle for a crossover between a Nasdaq-listed company and Web3 projects.  We’ve partnered with Currenc Group (Nasdaq: CURR) to tokenize their shares on Ethereum and Solana. pic.twitter.com/LnajAodSSJ — Securitize (@Securitize) April 8, 2026 Currenc Group partnered with Animoca Brands in a reverse merger, thus giving the Web3 company exposure to a top-tier stock exchange, after its shares were delisted from the Australian Securities Exchange in 2020. With the new tokenization partnership, Currenc Group also aims to give global access to its on-chain tokens.  Currenc Group combines fintech and cross-border payments, e-wallet infrastructure, and AI analytics tools, adding the Web3 influence of Animoca Brands.  Can Currenc Group revive demand for DAT company shares?  Currec Group and Animoca Brands offer a stock with exposure to over 600 Web3 projects that have survived over multiple crypto seasons. CURR thus represents a digital asset conglomerate, surpassing the exposure of digital asset companies.  CURR tokens may be returned to crypto-native traders, offering them exposure to another Nasdaq-listed asset.  Recently, tokenized equities saw increased trading volumes as interest shifted from crypto tokens to equities. CURR is also riding the trend toward an equity structure rather than issuing native tokens, which have lost their appeal to crypto-native traders.  CURR has the advantage of access to NASDAQ liquidity and to the Animoca Brands portfolio of companies. The fund has made 474 investments, with an average of 4 additional investments in the past few months.  The main obstacle is the unrealized loss on Animoca Brands projects, which stands at 28.1% on average. As a result, CURR traded at around $2.97, down from a peak above $11 before the merger.  CURR expanded in 2026, sparking hopes of a recovery of interest for Web3 and the Animoca Brands portfolio of digital assets. | Source: Google Finance However, CURR has also shown signs of revival, with shares rising by over 52% to date in 2026.  CURR shares can be open to DeFi integration Securitize opens other opportunities for CURR shares. Securitize allows 24/7 trading of its assets, lower settlement costs, fractional ownership, and DeFi integration as collateral.  ‘With Currenc, we are continuing to show what issuer-led tokenization can look like when the token represents the real security and the company is actively involved in the process,’ said Carlos Domingo, Co-Founder and CEO of Securitize. Existing CURR owners can also tokenize their shares. CURR will become available for international on-chain trading, with expanded ownership opportunities in crypto lending.  The addition of CURR is also a move toward Securitize’s expansion. The platform has tokenized 21 assets, with a notional value of $3.86B. Ethereum carries 12 of the assets, with three on Solana.  Most of the value tokenized by Securitize, around $2.4B, is U.S. Treasury debt. Tokenized stocks usually belong to crypto companies and projects that went public and were seeking additional representation on crypto markets. There’s a middle ground between leaving money in the bank and rolling the dice in crypto. Start with this free video on decentralized finance.

Currenc Group partners with Securitize and Animoca to tokenize Nasdaq shares on Ethereum and Solana

Currenc Group (Nasdaq:CURR) has partnered with Securitize to tokenize its shares on the Ethereum and Solana blockchains. The company has also partnered with Animoca Brands to bridge on-chain finance and traditional trading infrastructure.

Currenc Group has picked Securitize as one of the top platforms for asset tokenization. The decision closes the circle for a crossover between a Nasdaq-listed company and Web3 projects. 

We’ve partnered with Currenc Group (Nasdaq: CURR) to tokenize their shares on Ethereum and Solana. pic.twitter.com/LnajAodSSJ

— Securitize (@Securitize) April 8, 2026

Currenc Group partnered with Animoca Brands in a reverse merger, thus giving the Web3 company exposure to a top-tier stock exchange, after its shares were delisted from the Australian Securities Exchange in 2020. With the new tokenization partnership, Currenc Group also aims to give global access to its on-chain tokens. 

Currenc Group combines fintech and cross-border payments, e-wallet infrastructure, and AI analytics tools, adding the Web3 influence of Animoca Brands. 

Can Currenc Group revive demand for DAT company shares? 

Currec Group and Animoca Brands offer a stock with exposure to over 600 Web3 projects that have survived over multiple crypto seasons. CURR thus represents a digital asset conglomerate, surpassing the exposure of digital asset companies. 

CURR tokens may be returned to crypto-native traders, offering them exposure to another Nasdaq-listed asset. 

Recently, tokenized equities saw increased trading volumes as interest shifted from crypto tokens to equities. CURR is also riding the trend toward an equity structure rather than issuing native tokens, which have lost their appeal to crypto-native traders. 

CURR has the advantage of access to NASDAQ liquidity and to the Animoca Brands portfolio of companies. The fund has made 474 investments, with an average of 4 additional investments in the past few months. 

The main obstacle is the unrealized loss on Animoca Brands projects, which stands at 28.1% on average. As a result, CURR traded at around $2.97, down from a peak above $11 before the merger. 

CURR expanded in 2026, sparking hopes of a recovery of interest for Web3 and the Animoca Brands portfolio of digital assets. | Source: Google Finance

However, CURR has also shown signs of revival, with shares rising by over 52% to date in 2026. 

CURR shares can be open to DeFi integration

Securitize opens other opportunities for CURR shares. Securitize allows 24/7 trading of its assets, lower settlement costs, fractional ownership, and DeFi integration as collateral. 

‘With Currenc, we are continuing to show what issuer-led tokenization can look like when the token represents the real security and the company is actively involved in the process,’ said Carlos Domingo, Co-Founder and CEO of Securitize.

Existing CURR owners can also tokenize their shares. CURR will become available for international on-chain trading, with expanded ownership opportunities in crypto lending. 

The addition of CURR is also a move toward Securitize’s expansion. The platform has tokenized 21 assets, with a notional value of $3.86B. Ethereum carries 12 of the assets, with three on Solana. 

Most of the value tokenized by Securitize, around $2.4B, is U.S. Treasury debt. Tokenized stocks usually belong to crypto companies and projects that went public and were seeking additional representation on crypto markets.

There’s a middle ground between leaving money in the bank and rolling the dice in crypto. Start with this free video on decentralized finance.
South Korea tightens crypto withdrawal rules to curb fraud after 170 billion won lossesSouth Korean authorities have implemented a standard rule for all exchanges that restricts users from easily bypassing withdrawal delays, especially in cases where they are linked to fraud.  A loss of 170.5 billion won was recorded between June and September of 2025 due to criminals exploiting the differing exception requirements of various exchange platforms.  South Korean exchanges can no longer make their own rules  South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) and the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) announced on April 8 that they are implementing an “enhanced virtual asset withdrawal delay system.” The previous withdrawal delay system, which was designed to hold new users’ funds for 24-72 hours, allowed for “exceptions.” However, each exchange had different standards for granting these exceptions.  Some exchanges allowed users to skip the delay if they simply met a minimum number of transaction days or deposit/withdrawal counts, allowing fraudsters to move stolen funds off platforms within minutes after manipulating their trading history to match the exchange’s specific criteria.  The process often took less than an hour, making it impossible for banks or police to freeze the assets. According to official data, between June and September of last year, 59% of fraudulent activities (1,490 out of 2,526) occurred in accounts that were exempt from withdrawal delays. In terms of financial damage, 170.5 billion won, representing 75.5% of the total 225.7 billion won lost, was withdrawn without any friction through these exempted accounts. Now, to qualify for an immediate withdrawal, a user must pass a strict evaluation that mandatorily includes factors such as transaction frequency, transaction period, and deposit/withdrawal amounts.  Specific “non-exception” requirements have also been codified to prevent loopholes. Which users will be able to withdraw crypto quickly? The FSC has stated they will “minimize consumer inconvenience by allowing withdrawal delay exceptions if immediate withdrawal is required for reasons unrelated to voice phishing, such as liquidation.” Simulations run by the authorities applying the new standard show that the number of customers who will get access to withdrawal delay exceptions is expected to be “significantly reduced to less than 1% of existing customers.”  Furthermore, for the tiny fraction of users who do qualify for an exception, follow-up management will be extremely strict. Exchanges are now required to conduct enhanced customer verification (KYC) procedures on these accounts at least once a year, including checking the source of funds.  A separate intensive monitoring system is also being established to collect and analyze data on virtual asset withdrawals and detect abnormal transactions.  South Korean authorities have been tightening legislation for the crypto industry. Cryptopolitan recently reported that the FSC mandated that all five major virtual asset exchanges compare their ledgers and wallet balances every 5 minutes. This measure was prompted by the recent Bithumb Bitcoin overpayment incident.  The FSC has vowed to continue monitoring the effects of the new system, stating that it will “regularly reconsider the adequacy of the standards to prevent new bypass methods from occurring.” The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them.

South Korea tightens crypto withdrawal rules to curb fraud after 170 billion won losses

South Korean authorities have implemented a standard rule for all exchanges that restricts users from easily bypassing withdrawal delays, especially in cases where they are linked to fraud. 

A loss of 170.5 billion won was recorded between June and September of 2025 due to criminals exploiting the differing exception requirements of various exchange platforms. 

South Korean exchanges can no longer make their own rules 

South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) and the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) announced on April 8 that they are implementing an “enhanced virtual asset withdrawal delay system.”

The previous withdrawal delay system, which was designed to hold new users’ funds for 24-72 hours, allowed for “exceptions.” However, each exchange had different standards for granting these exceptions. 

Some exchanges allowed users to skip the delay if they simply met a minimum number of transaction days or deposit/withdrawal counts, allowing fraudsters to move stolen funds off platforms within minutes after manipulating their trading history to match the exchange’s specific criteria. 

The process often took less than an hour, making it impossible for banks or police to freeze the assets.

According to official data, between June and September of last year, 59% of fraudulent activities (1,490 out of 2,526) occurred in accounts that were exempt from withdrawal delays. In terms of financial damage, 170.5 billion won, representing 75.5% of the total 225.7 billion won lost, was withdrawn without any friction through these exempted accounts.

Now, to qualify for an immediate withdrawal, a user must pass a strict evaluation that mandatorily includes factors such as transaction frequency, transaction period, and deposit/withdrawal amounts. 

Specific “non-exception” requirements have also been codified to prevent loopholes.

Which users will be able to withdraw crypto quickly?

The FSC has stated they will “minimize consumer inconvenience by allowing withdrawal delay exceptions if immediate withdrawal is required for reasons unrelated to voice phishing, such as liquidation.”

Simulations run by the authorities applying the new standard show that the number of customers who will get access to withdrawal delay exceptions is expected to be “significantly reduced to less than 1% of existing customers.” 

Furthermore, for the tiny fraction of users who do qualify for an exception, follow-up management will be extremely strict. Exchanges are now required to conduct enhanced customer verification (KYC) procedures on these accounts at least once a year, including checking the source of funds. 

A separate intensive monitoring system is also being established to collect and analyze data on virtual asset withdrawals and detect abnormal transactions. 

South Korean authorities have been tightening legislation for the crypto industry. Cryptopolitan recently reported that the FSC mandated that all five major virtual asset exchanges compare their ledgers and wallet balances every 5 minutes. This measure was prompted by the recent Bithumb Bitcoin overpayment incident. 

The FSC has vowed to continue monitoring the effects of the new system, stating that it will “regularly reconsider the adequacy of the standards to prevent new bypass methods from occurring.”

The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them.
French crypto owners to declare self-hosted wallets to the stateTax authorities in France will be going after cryptocurrency investors under a new law that obliges them to declare any wallet holding a few thousand euros’ worth of coins. The upcoming legislation, which has just overcome a parliamentary hurdle in Paris, is expected to increase state surveillance over the digital assets of the French people. France to boost monitoring of crypto holdings France’s National Assembly has backed a bill “on the fight against social and tax fraud,” which concerns taxpayers, particularly cryptocurrency owners. The draft law was approved by the lower house of parliament on first reading this Tuesday, local media reported, citing the chamber’s announcement. The legislation introduces a new obligation for crypto investors: to declare each self-hosted wallet that holds €5,000 worth of digital coins (nearly $5,900 at the time of writing). This particular provision is meant to reduce the opacity of digital financial flows, which have been harder to trace than fiat transfers through traditional bank accounts, the Journal du Coin noted. By adding it to the legal document, the government hopes to tap into wealth that has been escaping detection until now, the crypto news outlet wrote in an article on Wednesday. The move comes after a successful 2025 for the French tax authority, which increased reported amounts by €249 million and collected over €17 billion in taxes and penalties. This was achieved by improving the monitoring of citizens’ assets, and crypto will now be integrated into the agency’s surveillance mechanisms, boosting its investigative capabilities. When is the end of crypto anonymity coming? Cryptocurrency enthusiasts will have some time before the legislation begins to end the anonymity of their holdings in France. After passing the Assembly, the bill must be reviewed in the Senate, too, and given the nod by a joint committee, possibly in May, before it’s finally adopted. Its implementation will also depend on the introduction of bylaws that will specify the mechanisms and procedures for monitoring and auditing. Thus, the reporting obligation for non-custodial wallets and the respective surveillance mechanism are more likely to be enforced towards the end of this year or in early 2027. France is tightening tax enforcement French authorities have been taking steps to improve tax collection. The implementation of electronic invoicing, aimed at curbing VAT fraud, is one such example. “The 2025 results already show a 148% increase in the results of tax credit refund audits, a sign of an overall tightening of enforcement action,” Journal du Coin pointed out. The addition of cryptocurrencies to the list of assets subject to audit gives the French finance ministry another tool to combat fraud networks, the report highlighted, adding: “Taxpayers will have to anticipate increased transparency regarding their digital assets, under threat of sanctions comparable to those for undeclared work or unreported foreign bank accounts.” France has been moving in that direction for at least a couple of years, and the update of its tax legislation to account for new financial technologies was expected. After audits powered by artificial intelligence proved their effectiveness last year, the integration of new detection tools targeting crypto holdings is likely to be swift and smooth. Under the new legal framework, digital currency wallets will be included in France’s annual tax audit. Pressure on crypto owners to declare all their holdings to the state has been increasing in other jurisdictions as well. A recently proposed bill requires all Russian residents to report their offshore crypto wallets to the country’s tax authority. If you want a calmer entry point into DeFi crypto without the usual hype, start with this free video.

French crypto owners to declare self-hosted wallets to the state

Tax authorities in France will be going after cryptocurrency investors under a new law that obliges them to declare any wallet holding a few thousand euros’ worth of coins.

The upcoming legislation, which has just overcome a parliamentary hurdle in Paris, is expected to increase state surveillance over the digital assets of the French people.

France to boost monitoring of crypto holdings

France’s National Assembly has backed a bill “on the fight against social and tax fraud,” which concerns taxpayers, particularly cryptocurrency owners.

The draft law was approved by the lower house of parliament on first reading this Tuesday, local media reported, citing the chamber’s announcement.

The legislation introduces a new obligation for crypto investors: to declare each self-hosted wallet that holds €5,000 worth of digital coins (nearly $5,900 at the time of writing).

This particular provision is meant to reduce the opacity of digital financial flows, which have been harder to trace than fiat transfers through traditional bank accounts, the Journal du Coin noted.

By adding it to the legal document, the government hopes to tap into wealth that has been escaping detection until now, the crypto news outlet wrote in an article on Wednesday.

The move comes after a successful 2025 for the French tax authority, which increased reported amounts by €249 million and collected over €17 billion in taxes and penalties.

This was achieved by improving the monitoring of citizens’ assets, and crypto will now be integrated into the agency’s surveillance mechanisms, boosting its investigative capabilities.

When is the end of crypto anonymity coming?

Cryptocurrency enthusiasts will have some time before the legislation begins to end the anonymity of their holdings in France.

After passing the Assembly, the bill must be reviewed in the Senate, too, and given the nod by a joint committee, possibly in May, before it’s finally adopted.

Its implementation will also depend on the introduction of bylaws that will specify the mechanisms and procedures for monitoring and auditing.

Thus, the reporting obligation for non-custodial wallets and the respective surveillance mechanism are more likely to be enforced towards the end of this year or in early 2027.

France is tightening tax enforcement

French authorities have been taking steps to improve tax collection. The implementation of electronic invoicing, aimed at curbing VAT fraud, is one such example.

“The 2025 results already show a 148% increase in the results of tax credit refund audits, a sign of an overall tightening of enforcement action,” Journal du Coin pointed out.

The addition of cryptocurrencies to the list of assets subject to audit gives the French finance ministry another tool to combat fraud networks, the report highlighted, adding:

“Taxpayers will have to anticipate increased transparency regarding their digital assets, under threat of sanctions comparable to those for undeclared work or unreported foreign bank accounts.”

France has been moving in that direction for at least a couple of years, and the update of its tax legislation to account for new financial technologies was expected.

After audits powered by artificial intelligence proved their effectiveness last year, the integration of new detection tools targeting crypto holdings is likely to be swift and smooth.

Under the new legal framework, digital currency wallets will be included in France’s annual tax audit. Pressure on crypto owners to declare all their holdings to the state has been increasing in other jurisdictions as well. A recently proposed bill requires all Russian residents to report their offshore crypto wallets to the country’s tax authority.

If you want a calmer entry point into DeFi crypto without the usual hype, start with this free video.
Iran ceasefire in unclear limbo as many ships keep waiting for approvalIran wants oil tankers to pay a steep new fee to cross the Strait of Hormuz after last night’s ceasefire announcement, with the bill set at $2 million per fully loaded supertanker. The Iranians are demanding that the $2 million be paid in Bitcoin, and sometimes Chinese yuan, but mostly it’s going to be crypto. Hamid Hosseini, a spokesperson for Iran’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union, allegedly told the Financial Times that Iran wants to monitor everything entering and leaving the strait during this period. Iran ceasefire in unclear limbo as many ships keep waiting for approval Hosseini said vessels would go through a review process in which, first, an email request arrives, Iran finishes its assessment, and then the vessel gets only seconds to make payment in Bitcoin, which, of course, is already a major piece of Iran’s $7.8 billion crypto ecosystem. “Everything can pass, but the procedure for each vessel will take time, and Iran is in no hurry,” Hosseini added. On Wednesday, tankers in the Persian Gulf got a radio warning saying they could be hit by military force if they tried to pass without prior permission from Iranian authorities. The warning said, “If any vessels attempt to transit without permission, [they] will be destroyed.” At the same time, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that the passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz had been halted. Iran also vowed to abandon the ceasefire deal and resume attacks if Israel continues to strike Lebanon, and it is preparing possible responses. Reacting to the ceasefire talks, Foreign Minister Professor Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on X: “What we care about are the terms of a conclusive and lasting END to the illegal war that is imposed on us.” Oil tankers stranded as traders expect slow release amid uncertainty Meanwhile, in Hungary on Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance called the Iran ceasefire a “fragile truce,” and said Iran’s foreign minister had reacted well, but others inside the country had been “lying” about the deal. Vance said, “This is why I say this is a fragile truce.” He added, “You have people who clearly want to come to the negotiating table and work with us to find a good deal, and then you have people who are lying about even the fragile truce that we’ve already struck.” JD also said the U.S. had “clear military, diplomatic and, maybe most importantly, we have extraordinary economic leverage” over Iran. While campaigning for Viktor Orbán’s reelection in Hungary, he said the president had given Iran an ultimatum: “Open up the streets, stop trying to hold the world’s economy hostage, and we’ll engage in a ceasefire.” He then said, “That’s exactly the agreement that we came to last night.” Out on the water, Kpler said about 175 million barrels of oil and petroleum products are loaded on 187 tankers in the Persian Gulf, with 300 to 400 vessels waiting to leave once it becomes safe, calling the area a “parking lot.” Cryptopolitan expects the next few days may look like the last two weeks, with only a limited number of Iran-approved vessels allowed through a specific route. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth continues to claim that “The strait is open,” and urges countries to simply send their ships through. Trump’s Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine, when asked if it was open at this moment, also said, “I believe so, based on the diplomatic negotiation.” Then came ship tracking data. MarineTraffic said on X early Wednesday that two vessels, the Greek-owned NJ Earth and the Liberia-flagged Daytona Beach, passed through overnight. But both were bulk carriers, not oil tankers, meaning they carry dry cargo, not crude. So those sailings did not prove that tanker traffic had truly restarted after the ceasefire, according to Kpler. Trump, for his part, said this morning: “A Country supplying Military Weapons to Iran will be immediately tariffed, on any and all goods sold to the United States of America, 50%, effective immediately. There will be no exclusions or exemptions!” The crypto card with no spending limits. Get 3% cashback and instant mobile payments. Claim your Ether.fi card.

Iran ceasefire in unclear limbo as many ships keep waiting for approval

Iran wants oil tankers to pay a steep new fee to cross the Strait of Hormuz after last night’s ceasefire announcement, with the bill set at $2 million per fully loaded supertanker.

The Iranians are demanding that the $2 million be paid in Bitcoin, and sometimes Chinese yuan, but mostly it’s going to be crypto.

Hamid Hosseini, a spokesperson for Iran’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union, allegedly told the Financial Times that Iran wants to monitor everything entering and leaving the strait during this period.

Iran ceasefire in unclear limbo as many ships keep waiting for approval

Hosseini said vessels would go through a review process in which, first, an email request arrives, Iran finishes its assessment, and then the vessel gets only seconds to make payment in Bitcoin, which, of course, is already a major piece of Iran’s $7.8 billion crypto ecosystem.

“Everything can pass, but the procedure for each vessel will take time, and Iran is in no hurry,” Hosseini added.

On Wednesday, tankers in the Persian Gulf got a radio warning saying they could be hit by military force if they tried to pass without prior permission from Iranian authorities. The warning said, “If any vessels attempt to transit without permission, [they] will be destroyed.”

At the same time, Iran’s Fars News Agency reported that the passage of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz had been halted.

Iran also vowed to abandon the ceasefire deal and resume attacks if Israel continues to strike Lebanon, and it is preparing possible responses.

Reacting to the ceasefire talks, Foreign Minister Professor Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on X:

“What we care about are the terms of a conclusive and lasting END to the illegal war that is imposed on us.”

Oil tankers stranded as traders expect slow release amid uncertainty

Meanwhile, in Hungary on Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance called the Iran ceasefire a “fragile truce,” and said Iran’s foreign minister had reacted well, but others inside the country had been “lying” about the deal.

Vance said, “This is why I say this is a fragile truce.” He added, “You have people who clearly want to come to the negotiating table and work with us to find a good deal, and then you have people who are lying about even the fragile truce that we’ve already struck.”

JD also said the U.S. had “clear military, diplomatic and, maybe most importantly, we have extraordinary economic leverage” over Iran. While campaigning for Viktor Orbán’s reelection in Hungary, he said the president had given Iran an ultimatum: “Open up the streets, stop trying to hold the world’s economy hostage, and we’ll engage in a ceasefire.” He then said, “That’s exactly the agreement that we came to last night.”

Out on the water, Kpler said about 175 million barrels of oil and petroleum products are loaded on 187 tankers in the Persian Gulf, with 300 to 400 vessels waiting to leave once it becomes safe, calling the area a “parking lot.”

Cryptopolitan expects the next few days may look like the last two weeks, with only a limited number of Iran-approved vessels allowed through a specific route.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth continues to claim that “The strait is open,” and urges countries to simply send their ships through.

Trump’s Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Caine, when asked if it was open at this moment, also said, “I believe so, based on the diplomatic negotiation.” Then came ship tracking data.

MarineTraffic said on X early Wednesday that two vessels, the Greek-owned NJ Earth and the Liberia-flagged Daytona Beach, passed through overnight.

But both were bulk carriers, not oil tankers, meaning they carry dry cargo, not crude. So those sailings did not prove that tanker traffic had truly restarted after the ceasefire, according to Kpler.

Trump, for his part, said this morning: “A Country supplying Military Weapons to Iran will be immediately tariffed, on any and all goods sold to the United States of America, 50%, effective immediately. There will be no exclusions or exemptions!”

The crypto card with no spending limits. Get 3% cashback and instant mobile payments. Claim your Ether.fi card.
Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) dismisses fears that stablecoin yields will impact lendingThe Trump White House, via its Council of Economic Advisors (CEA), has dismissed the fears that community bankers and traditional stakeholders have raised concerning the yield clause in the CLARITY Act. The report described the effect of yield-bearing stablecoins as “quantitatively small” rather than the existential threat that the banking lobby claims.  The Council of Economic Advisors’ computations projected a minimal 0.02% increase in lending, amounting to an additional $2.1 billion. Big banks are responsible for 76% of the extra lending, while community banks have to make up another $500 million, which adds a meager 0.026% on top of their current lending businesses.  With those published numbers, the CLARITY Act may finally be ready to move out of bureaucratic limbo, as the Trump White House-appointed committee has declared its position on the highly contentious yield clause in the bill, building on the parameters set in the GENIUS Act, which became law in July last year.  Trump White House: Stablecoin yields won’t affect banks The report published today, April 8, reached strong conclusions: the issue of yield prohibition has no meaningful impact on stablecoin issuers, community banks, or traditional big lenders, no matter how the final draft shakes out.  According to the Trump White House, the traditional banking lobby is fighting over an additional 0.02% (about $2.1 billion) in lending business, while community banks (with assets under $10 billion) are on the hook for an additional $500 million in obligations.  In the hypothetical presented by the council, the CLARITY Act is being held up by a 0.026% additional overhead for community banking business and a corresponding $800 million net welfare costs.  And even under the worst-case scenario, where the stablecoin business increases sixfold from its current $317 billion market size to nearly $2 trillion and other dominoes unexpectedly fall, bank lenders still won’t have to deal with more than a 4.4% hit, worth an extra $531 billion. As for the community bankers, the number goes from $500 million to $129 billion, a 6.7% increase on their current workload.   The CEA ruled out any scenario in which consumers win, dismissing conditions for positive welfare impacts as “implausible.”  The document concluded that: “Yield prohibition would do very little to protect bank lending, while forgoing the consumer benefits of competitive returns on stablecoin holdings.” Yield prohibition math may be contested  The paper by the CEA acknowledged that not everyone calculates the impact of allowing yields to rise the same way, noting that some “analyses estimate the effect on lending in the trillions of dollars.”  That is not the first time the administration has evaluated situations differently from others, as seen in multiple clashes with the Federal Reserve’s interest rate strategy under Chair Jerome Powell. Disagreements over job numbers also led to the ousting of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Commissioner Erika McEntarfer in August 2025.  Cryptopolitan has reported on monthly downward revisions of jobs data by the Trump administration. The banking lobby is expected to push back at some point. Regulators advance crypto clarity  The Trump admin continues to deliver on its campaign commitment to provide regulatory clarity for the crypto sector, following the enforcement-heavy tenure of Gary Gensler at the SEC.  On April 7, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) released a joint statement calling for public input on a proposed rule to set anti-money laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) up to the standards presented by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).  The agencies are pushing to apply the same rules across the board, whatever is agreed upon, with special emphasis on “higher-risk customers and activities, consistent with the risk profile of the institution,” rather than wasting resources on lower-risk situations.  One day earlier, on April 6, Trump-appointed SEC Chair Paul Atkins teased a future in which DeFi projects can legally raise funds and distribute tokens to investors through the “Reg Crypto” exemption under the Securities Act of 1933.  Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free.

Council of Economic Advisors (CEA) dismisses fears that stablecoin yields will impact lending

The Trump White House, via its Council of Economic Advisors (CEA), has dismissed the fears that community bankers and traditional stakeholders have raised concerning the yield clause in the CLARITY Act. The report described the effect of yield-bearing stablecoins as “quantitatively small” rather than the existential threat that the banking lobby claims. 

The Council of Economic Advisors’ computations projected a minimal 0.02% increase in lending, amounting to an additional $2.1 billion. Big banks are responsible for 76% of the extra lending, while community banks have to make up another $500 million, which adds a meager 0.026% on top of their current lending businesses. 

With those published numbers, the CLARITY Act may finally be ready to move out of bureaucratic limbo, as the Trump White House-appointed committee has declared its position on the highly contentious yield clause in the bill, building on the parameters set in the GENIUS Act, which became law in July last year. 

Trump White House: Stablecoin yields won’t affect banks

The report published today, April 8, reached strong conclusions: the issue of yield prohibition has no meaningful impact on stablecoin issuers, community banks, or traditional big lenders, no matter how the final draft shakes out. 

According to the Trump White House, the traditional banking lobby is fighting over an additional 0.02% (about $2.1 billion) in lending business, while community banks (with assets under $10 billion) are on the hook for an additional $500 million in obligations. 

In the hypothetical presented by the council, the CLARITY Act is being held up by a 0.026% additional overhead for community banking business and a corresponding $800 million net welfare costs. 

And even under the worst-case scenario, where the stablecoin business increases sixfold from its current $317 billion market size to nearly $2 trillion and other dominoes unexpectedly fall, bank lenders still won’t have to deal with more than a 4.4% hit, worth an extra $531 billion.

As for the community bankers, the number goes from $500 million to $129 billion, a 6.7% increase on their current workload.  

The CEA ruled out any scenario in which consumers win, dismissing conditions for positive welfare impacts as “implausible.” 

The document concluded that: “Yield prohibition would do very little to protect bank lending, while forgoing the consumer benefits of competitive returns on stablecoin holdings.”

Yield prohibition math may be contested 

The paper by the CEA acknowledged that not everyone calculates the impact of allowing yields to rise the same way, noting that some “analyses estimate the effect on lending in the trillions of dollars.” 

That is not the first time the administration has evaluated situations differently from others, as seen in multiple clashes with the Federal Reserve’s interest rate strategy under Chair Jerome Powell. Disagreements over job numbers also led to the ousting of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Commissioner Erika McEntarfer in August 2025. 

Cryptopolitan has reported on monthly downward revisions of jobs data by the Trump administration.

The banking lobby is expected to push back at some point.

Regulators advance crypto clarity 

The Trump admin continues to deliver on its campaign commitment to provide regulatory clarity for the crypto sector, following the enforcement-heavy tenure of Gary Gensler at the SEC. 

On April 7, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) released a joint statement calling for public input on a proposed rule to set anti-money laundering (AML) and countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) up to the standards presented by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). 

The agencies are pushing to apply the same rules across the board, whatever is agreed upon, with special emphasis on “higher-risk customers and activities, consistent with the risk profile of the institution,” rather than wasting resources on lower-risk situations. 

One day earlier, on April 6, Trump-appointed SEC Chair Paul Atkins teased a future in which DeFi projects can legally raise funds and distribute tokens to investors through the “Reg Crypto” exemption under the Securities Act of 1933. 

Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free.
Adam Back denies Satoshi Nakamoto claims from New York Times investigationAdam Back is back at the center of the Satoshi Nakamoto mystery after New York Times reporter John Carreyrou published a very long investigation that says the clues point to him more than anyone else. John says he first got pulled into this investigation spotting Adam get visibly tense when his name came up as a suspect while watching that disappointing HBO documentary that promised to uncover Satoshi’s real identity. Carreyrou finds old Back posts that sound too close to Bitcoin John explains that the strongest new material came from old cypherpunk archives, where he found that Adam Back had written about a digital cash system years before Bitcoin launched, and the ideas were not vague. John says Adam described privacy for sender and receiver, a network spread across many computers, built in scarcity, and a public way to verify everything without trusting one bank or one person. “Mr. Back had invented Hashcash, a statistical puzzle-solving system that Satoshi borrowed for the mining of bitcoins. Satoshi had cited Mr. Back and Hashcash in his white paper.” John also said: “I  remembered that Satoshi had mentioned an obscure Russian online currency called WebMoney in one of his emails to Mr. Malmi. I now compared those four names with the eight who had hyphenated ‘proof-of-work.’ Only one overlapped: Mr. Back.” Adam Back denies everything and says Carreyrou’s case is built on coincidence John said he gave Adam Back plenty of chances to talk to him, as he met him in Las Vegas first, then later tried emailing and also confronting him in El Salvador, but according to John, “Mr. Back insisted he wasn’t Satoshi and chalked it all up to a series of coincidences. But at times, his body language told a different story.” “When I emailed Mr. Back my request, he hadn’t replied. I wasn’t sure if he was ghosting me or just busy and I didn’t want to spook him by immediately following up, so I waited eight days to send him another email. Again, radio silence. I had clearly touched a nerve. But why? With the precautions Satoshi had taken, what was there to even hide? Unless Satoshi had made some sort of mistake?” said John. In El Salvador, John says Adam denied being Satoshi more than half a dozen times. He told him the evidence still did not prove anything. He said it was hard to prove a negative. He also said one reason he could not be Satoshi was that he had misunderstood a basic Bitcoin point when he first showed up in developer chat. John says he checked the logs and could not find that mistake there. After the story came out, Adam quickly posted a long denial on X, reiterating that he is not Satoshi. He admitted that yes, he had been deeply focused on cryptography, privacy, and electronic cash since the early 1990s, so it was normal for people to find early ideas in his work that looked a lot like Bitcoin. Adam said, “John, like Aaron van Wirdum before him, was finding many interesting bitcoin analogs in early attempts to create a decentralized ecash, in effect prototype ideas trying to figure out a bitcoin-like thing, including p2p, BGP, proof of work.” He added that his line about doing a lot of talking on the lists was being read the wrong way, as the point was that heavy posting can create confirmation bias because “due to my volume I’d more likely have commented than others with similar interests but posting 20x less. I offered this to John as an explanation of why this can be seen as a form confirmation bias, that should be statistically corrected for.” “I also don’t know who satoshi is, and i think it is good for Bitcoin that this is the case, as it helps bitcoin be viewed a new asset class, the mathematically scarce digital commodity,” said Adam. Your bank is using your money. You’re getting the scraps. Watch our free video on becoming your own bank

Adam Back denies Satoshi Nakamoto claims from New York Times investigation

Adam Back is back at the center of the Satoshi Nakamoto mystery after New York Times reporter John Carreyrou published a very long investigation that says the clues point to him more than anyone else.

John says he first got pulled into this investigation spotting Adam get visibly tense when his name came up as a suspect while watching that disappointing HBO documentary that promised to uncover Satoshi’s real identity.

Carreyrou finds old Back posts that sound too close to Bitcoin

John explains that the strongest new material came from old cypherpunk archives, where he found that Adam Back had written about a digital cash system years before Bitcoin launched, and the ideas were not vague.

John says Adam described privacy for sender and receiver, a network spread across many computers, built in scarcity, and a public way to verify everything without trusting one bank or one person.

“Mr. Back had invented Hashcash, a statistical puzzle-solving system that Satoshi borrowed for the mining of bitcoins. Satoshi had cited Mr. Back and Hashcash in his white paper.”

John also said: “I  remembered that Satoshi had mentioned an obscure Russian online currency called WebMoney in one of his emails to Mr. Malmi. I now compared those four names with the eight who had hyphenated ‘proof-of-work.’ Only one overlapped: Mr. Back.”

Adam Back denies everything and says Carreyrou’s case is built on coincidence

John said he gave Adam Back plenty of chances to talk to him, as he met him in Las Vegas first, then later tried emailing and also confronting him in El Salvador, but according to John, “Mr. Back insisted he wasn’t Satoshi and chalked it all up to a series of coincidences. But at times, his body language told a different story.”

“When I emailed Mr. Back my request, he hadn’t replied. I wasn’t sure if he was ghosting me or just busy and I didn’t want to spook him by immediately following up, so I waited eight days to send him another email. Again, radio silence. I had clearly touched a nerve. But why? With the precautions Satoshi had taken, what was there to even hide? Unless Satoshi had made some sort of mistake?” said John.

In El Salvador, John says Adam denied being Satoshi more than half a dozen times. He told him the evidence still did not prove anything. He said it was hard to prove a negative. He also said one reason he could not be Satoshi was that he had misunderstood a basic Bitcoin point when he first showed up in developer chat. John says he checked the logs and could not find that mistake there.

After the story came out, Adam quickly posted a long denial on X, reiterating that he is not Satoshi. He admitted that yes, he had been deeply focused on cryptography, privacy, and electronic cash since the early 1990s, so it was normal for people to find early ideas in his work that looked a lot like Bitcoin.

Adam said, “John, like Aaron van Wirdum before him, was finding many interesting bitcoin analogs in early attempts to create a decentralized ecash, in effect prototype ideas trying to figure out a bitcoin-like thing, including p2p, BGP, proof of work.”

He added that his line about doing a lot of talking on the lists was being read the wrong way, as the point was that heavy posting can create confirmation bias because “due to my volume I’d more likely have commented than others with similar interests but posting 20x less. I offered this to John as an explanation of why this can be seen as a form confirmation bias, that should be statistically corrected for.”

“I also don’t know who satoshi is, and i think it is good for Bitcoin that this is the case, as it helps bitcoin be viewed a new asset class, the mathematically scarce digital commodity,” said Adam.

Your bank is using your money. You’re getting the scraps. Watch our free video on becoming your own bank
Članek
BTC buyers return to Binance as US strikes temporary Iran peace dealDemand for BTC returned immediately following the news of the Iran ceasefire. While a lasting peace is still evasive, the recent BTC price moves show buyers are ready to jump in on positive news.  BTC buyers returned, with a spike in taker buy orders on Binance. The shift in trader behavior signaled that BTC was ready for a shift in sentiment. Additionally, accumulation continues despite the sideways trading in the past months.  BTC recovered above $72,000, later retreating to $71,538.59. For now, BTC is still trading in a range, pressured by sellers once the $70,000 level is broken. Despite this, the buyer-taker trades signal willing buyers that are also accumulating and expecting a breakout.  On Binance, cumulative net taker volume climbed to $1.02B, spiking to one of the highest levels in March after a week of low taker volume. Binance taker buy volume spiked in the past day, signaling a sentiment reversal after the news of a two-week ceasefire in Iran. | Source: Cryptoquant The increased volume signals aggressive buying of BTC in expectation of an Iran peace deal that could reignite positive sentiment. For now, the taker buy/sell ratio is still slightly negative, showing some traders rushed to realize profits after the recent price recovery. BTC acts as a risk-on asset During the latest downturn, BTC did not behave as a store of value. The oil shock left the BTC market stagnant. At the same time, the potential removal of the gridlock in the Straits of Hormuz shifted global market sentiment to risk-on trading.  The recent BTC expansion is not crypto-specific, boosting assets that rely on stability and growth. The past few weeks also show BTC demand is agile, with immediate withdrawal during turbulent times.  Liquidity flows into Binance derivative markets BTC open interest increased by 5% on derivative markets, with $7.8B in positions concentrated on Binance. Open interest recovery has been anticipated for months, as traders were searching for an event to trigger a strong directional move.  BTC open interest increased to $22.3B, with a strong effect from trading on Binance. The 15% oil crash unleashed a rapid liquidity inflow into Binance derivatives. A total of $2.7B flowed in after the announcement, of which $1.2B flowed in just in anticipation of a ceasefire.  BTC derivative traders repositioned for the short term, increasing the BTC fear and greed index from 11 points to 17 points. The overall sentiment is still fearful, despite the rapid repositioning.  The current trading setup is still sensitive to negative geopolitical news and increased uncertainty. Most of the long positions are placed at $70,000 or just below, while the $72,000 range remains uncertain.  Short positions are accumulating at $74,600, with most of the short open interest below $75,000. The recent positive sentiment still cannot help BTC break out to a higher range, and traders are still using strong downside protection.  Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free.

BTC buyers return to Binance as US strikes temporary Iran peace deal

Demand for BTC returned immediately following the news of the Iran ceasefire. While a lasting peace is still evasive, the recent BTC price moves show buyers are ready to jump in on positive news. 

BTC buyers returned, with a spike in taker buy orders on Binance. The shift in trader behavior signaled that BTC was ready for a shift in sentiment. Additionally, accumulation continues despite the sideways trading in the past months. 

BTC recovered above $72,000, later retreating to $71,538.59. For now, BTC is still trading in a range, pressured by sellers once the $70,000 level is broken. Despite this, the buyer-taker trades signal willing buyers that are also accumulating and expecting a breakout. 

On Binance, cumulative net taker volume climbed to $1.02B, spiking to one of the highest levels in March after a week of low taker volume.

Binance taker buy volume spiked in the past day, signaling a sentiment reversal after the news of a two-week ceasefire in Iran. | Source: Cryptoquant

The increased volume signals aggressive buying of BTC in expectation of an Iran peace deal that could reignite positive sentiment. For now, the taker buy/sell ratio is still slightly negative, showing some traders rushed to realize profits after the recent price recovery.

BTC acts as a risk-on asset

During the latest downturn, BTC did not behave as a store of value. The oil shock left the BTC market stagnant. At the same time, the potential removal of the gridlock in the Straits of Hormuz shifted global market sentiment to risk-on trading. 

The recent BTC expansion is not crypto-specific, boosting assets that rely on stability and growth. The past few weeks also show BTC demand is agile, with immediate withdrawal during turbulent times. 

Liquidity flows into Binance derivative markets

BTC open interest increased by 5% on derivative markets, with $7.8B in positions concentrated on Binance. Open interest recovery has been anticipated for months, as traders were searching for an event to trigger a strong directional move. 

BTC open interest increased to $22.3B, with a strong effect from trading on Binance. The 15% oil crash unleashed a rapid liquidity inflow into Binance derivatives. A total of $2.7B flowed in after the announcement, of which $1.2B flowed in just in anticipation of a ceasefire. 

BTC derivative traders repositioned for the short term, increasing the BTC fear and greed index from 11 points to 17 points. The overall sentiment is still fearful, despite the rapid repositioning. 

The current trading setup is still sensitive to negative geopolitical news and increased uncertainty. Most of the long positions are placed at $70,000 or just below, while the $72,000 range remains uncertain. 

Short positions are accumulating at $74,600, with most of the short open interest below $75,000. The recent positive sentiment still cannot help BTC break out to a higher range, and traders are still using strong downside protection. 

Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free.
Coinbase to offer regulated derivatives to retail investors on new Australian licenseCoinbase has secured an Australian Financial Services License, positioning itself early as the country moves toward mandatory licensing for crypto firms. The approval gives the exchange a regulatory advantage ahead of incoming rules that will require all operators to meet strict financial standards. As a result, Coinbase can now offer retail derivatives trading in Australia. The company confirmed that its initial rollout will include crypto and equity perpetuals. Over time, it plans to introduce futures and options, expanding its reach across both digital and traditional financial markets. The timing aligns with Australia’s evolving regulatory framework. Lawmakers have already passed the Corporations Amendment Digital Assets Framework Bill 2025, which is expected to enforce licensing requirements across the sector once it takes effect.  Coinbase expands licensed trading products and services Coinbase is moving beyond spot crypto trading as it introduces regulated derivatives products in Australia. The license enables the exchange to operate under the same conduct, governance, and disclosure standards applied to traditional financial firms. Initially, the company will focus on crypto and equity perpetuals. However, it plans to broaden its offerings with futures and options tailored to local investors.  At the same time, Coinbase aims to integrate crypto-based efficiency into conventional services. The company outlined plans to enter stock trading and payments, positioning itself as a competitor to established financial providers. According to regional managing director John O’Loghlen, the strategy centers on combining the speed of blockchain systems with the structure of regulated finance.  O’Loghlen stated, “As we expand the Everything Exchange, we’re going to compete with traditional financial services on stock trading, payments, and other TradFi products with the speed and execution of crypto.” Moreover, Coinbase will scale its local operations to support this growth. The firm plans to hire across legal, compliance, marketing, and operations, ensuring it meets regulatory expectations while expanding its product base. Australia moves toward full crypto oversight Australia is advancing toward a more structured digital asset environment, and Coinbase’s approval reflects that shift. The new legislation, passed on April 1, is awaiting royal assent and is expected to come into force within 12 months. Once implemented, the law will require all crypto exchanges and custodians to hold an Australian Financial Services License. That requirement introduces a uniform compliance framework across the industry. In turn, regulators aim to strengthen consumer protection while supporting market stability. Coinbase’s early licensing gives it a clear operational pathway under these rules. Meanwhile, other firms may need to adjust their structures to meet the same standards. Ripple, for example, has already indicated plans to secure a similar license to expand its payment services in the region. Coinbase’s expansion in Australia is part of a wider push to operate within regulated financial systems. The company recently received conditional approval for a national trust company charter in the United States. That approval would allow it to offer digital asset custody and settlement services under a regulated banking structure. The crypto card with no spending limits. Get 3% cashback and instant mobile payments. Claim your Ether.fi card.

Coinbase to offer regulated derivatives to retail investors on new Australian license

Coinbase has secured an Australian Financial Services License, positioning itself early as the country moves toward mandatory licensing for crypto firms. The approval gives the exchange a regulatory advantage ahead of incoming rules that will require all operators to meet strict financial standards.

As a result, Coinbase can now offer retail derivatives trading in Australia. The company confirmed that its initial rollout will include crypto and equity perpetuals. Over time, it plans to introduce futures and options, expanding its reach across both digital and traditional financial markets.

The timing aligns with Australia’s evolving regulatory framework. Lawmakers have already passed the Corporations Amendment Digital Assets Framework Bill 2025, which is expected to enforce licensing requirements across the sector once it takes effect. 

Coinbase expands licensed trading products and services

Coinbase is moving beyond spot crypto trading as it introduces regulated derivatives products in Australia. The license enables the exchange to operate under the same conduct, governance, and disclosure standards applied to traditional financial firms.

Initially, the company will focus on crypto and equity perpetuals. However, it plans to broaden its offerings with futures and options tailored to local investors. 

At the same time, Coinbase aims to integrate crypto-based efficiency into conventional services. The company outlined plans to enter stock trading and payments, positioning itself as a competitor to established financial providers. According to regional managing director John O’Loghlen, the strategy centers on combining the speed of blockchain systems with the structure of regulated finance. 

O’Loghlen stated, “As we expand the Everything Exchange, we’re going to compete with traditional financial services on stock trading, payments, and other TradFi products with the speed and execution of crypto.”

Moreover, Coinbase will scale its local operations to support this growth. The firm plans to hire across legal, compliance, marketing, and operations, ensuring it meets regulatory expectations while expanding its product base.

Australia moves toward full crypto oversight

Australia is advancing toward a more structured digital asset environment, and Coinbase’s approval reflects that shift. The new legislation, passed on April 1, is awaiting royal assent and is expected to come into force within 12 months.

Once implemented, the law will require all crypto exchanges and custodians to hold an Australian Financial Services License. That requirement introduces a uniform compliance framework across the industry. In turn, regulators aim to strengthen consumer protection while supporting market stability.

Coinbase’s early licensing gives it a clear operational pathway under these rules. Meanwhile, other firms may need to adjust their structures to meet the same standards. Ripple, for example, has already indicated plans to secure a similar license to expand its payment services in the region.

Coinbase’s expansion in Australia is part of a wider push to operate within regulated financial systems. The company recently received conditional approval for a national trust company charter in the United States. That approval would allow it to offer digital asset custody and settlement services under a regulated banking structure.

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Solana shuts down sandwich attack vulnerabilitySolana is no longer threatened by sandwich attacks. A mix of slower token activity and more efficient transaction ordering and protection has solved the issue. Solana activity is no longer defined by sandwich attacks, and daily losses are limited. Most of the sandwich attacks happen for transactions under $1, with no significant daily losses. The main reason is the slowdown in token trading, with more deliberate DEX activity. Solana is still a leader for DEX trading, but MEV attackers have also given up on intercepting transactions. In the past month, MEV attackers only paid 5 SOL for bot activity, based on Dune Analytics data. Malicious sandwich attacks are no longer the main use of MEV techniques. Solana has evolved to use transaction ordering for better efficiency, rather than front-running token deals. As Cryptopolitan reported, Jito has been one of the main drivers in limiting Solana sandwich attacks.  Solana transaction ordering still matters Solana users have still spent a significant amount of fees on Solana ordering. In 2025, the network evolved as block transaction ordering became essential. Jito is still the main hub for efficient app transactions, which shifted chain usage from sandwich attacks to other types of block space ordering. Solana has increased its safety with more efficient apps, anti-spam measures, and improved validator rules, noted Lucas Bruder, co-founder and CEO of Jito Labs. “Malicious extraction now represents a very small fraction of blockspace activity, while the majority of transaction ordering value reflects legitimate competition for inclusion and speed,” stated Bruder in an X post. Solana has also added private transaction routing, a trusted execution environment, such as Jito’s Block Assembly Marketplace, and a new proposal process that makes transactions confidential until execution. This makes predatory MEV bot strategies much harder to execute. Solana may switch to permissioned systems According to Jito’s plans, Solana may switch to new techniques for block ordering. MEV is not as efficient, as it leads to heightened competition. For instance, users paid over $1.5M in a single hour on January 20, 2025, to mint Official Trump (TRUMP) tokens. Jito can keep altering Solana block ordering, as currently nearly 90% of transactions use Jito as their main safety tool. The validator and block builder have proposed a switch to Transaction Ordering Value, a neutral priority system that still recognizes the scarcity of block space, while not allowing malicious activities. Solana block ordering also depends on infrastructure and proximity, similar to the traditional financial system when using electronic tools. Jito will keep capturing its usual fees, mostly by providing the best infrastructure for the increased Solana speed of execution. The MEV debate versus rational block ordering shows Solana has evolved in the past year and may bring a more efficient block-building structure. Otherwise, competitive and haphazard MEV usage has generated up to $720M in annual bribes to find scarce block space, but has become too expensive for the old type of sandwich attacks. The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them.

Solana shuts down sandwich attack vulnerability

Solana is no longer threatened by sandwich attacks. A mix of slower token activity and more efficient transaction ordering and protection has solved the issue.

Solana activity is no longer defined by sandwich attacks, and daily losses are limited. Most of the sandwich attacks happen for transactions under $1, with no significant daily losses.

The main reason is the slowdown in token trading, with more deliberate DEX activity. Solana is still a leader for DEX trading, but MEV attackers have also given up on intercepting transactions. In the past month, MEV attackers only paid 5 SOL for bot activity, based on Dune Analytics data.

Malicious sandwich attacks are no longer the main use of MEV techniques. Solana has evolved to use transaction ordering for better efficiency, rather than front-running token deals. As Cryptopolitan reported, Jito has been one of the main drivers in limiting Solana sandwich attacks. 

Solana transaction ordering still matters

Solana users have still spent a significant amount of fees on Solana ordering. In 2025, the network evolved as block transaction ordering became essential.

Jito is still the main hub for efficient app transactions, which shifted chain usage from sandwich attacks to other types of block space ordering. Solana has increased its safety with more efficient apps, anti-spam measures, and improved validator rules, noted Lucas Bruder, co-founder and CEO of Jito Labs.

“Malicious extraction now represents a very small fraction of blockspace activity, while the majority of transaction ordering value reflects legitimate competition for inclusion and speed,” stated Bruder in an X post.

Solana has also added private transaction routing, a trusted execution environment, such as Jito’s Block Assembly Marketplace, and a new proposal process that makes transactions confidential until execution. This makes predatory MEV bot strategies much harder to execute.

Solana may switch to permissioned systems

According to Jito’s plans, Solana may switch to new techniques for block ordering. MEV is not as efficient, as it leads to heightened competition. For instance, users paid over $1.5M in a single hour on January 20, 2025, to mint Official Trump (TRUMP) tokens.

Jito can keep altering Solana block ordering, as currently nearly 90% of transactions use Jito as their main safety tool. The validator and block builder have proposed a switch to Transaction Ordering Value, a neutral priority system that still recognizes the scarcity of block space, while not allowing malicious activities.

Solana block ordering also depends on infrastructure and proximity, similar to the traditional financial system when using electronic tools. Jito will keep capturing its usual fees, mostly by providing the best infrastructure for the increased Solana speed of execution.

The MEV debate versus rational block ordering shows Solana has evolved in the past year and may bring a more efficient block-building structure. Otherwise, competitive and haphazard MEV usage has generated up to $720M in annual bribes to find scarce block space, but has become too expensive for the old type of sandwich attacks.

The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them.
WhiteBIT wins approval for crypto derivatives trading in GeorgiaLeading European crypto exchange WhiteBIT has obtained a license in Georgia that will allow it to start trading derivatives based on digital assets. The Ukrainian-rooted coin trading platform already offers spot trading in the country, which is a promising market with crypto-friendly regulation. Crypto exchange WhiteBIT secures broker license in Georgia Popular European cryptocurrency exchange WhiteBIT has been issued a broker license by the monetary authority of Georgia, the company announced Tuesday. The authorization, granted by the National Bank of Georgia (NBG) to its local entity, WhiteBIT Broker, will allow it to begin trading crypto derivatives, including perpetual futures. WhiteBIT currently supports spot trading for Georgian customers through a separate subsidiary, the platform noted in the press release, highlighting: “The newly licensed WhiteBIT Broker will focus on providing regulated access to derivatives and other broker-led financial instruments, also accessible through whitebit[.]ge” The regulatory approval provides Georgian traders and investors with access to a compliant platform for crypto derivatives that offers protection for capital, the exchange emphasized. The licensing, secured in collaboration with the consulting firm Clarsen, is part of WhiteBIT’s push to expand across regulated markets. The company believes it will also help the development of the digital asset ecosystem of Georgia, which has established itself as an emerging crypto hub. Cryptocurrencies have enjoyed a growing popularity in the South Caucasian nation, which has a favorable regulatory framework in place. According to the 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index by Chainalysis, Georgia is a leading destination in terms of crypto adoption, the exchange remarked. When adjusted for population size, the blockchain analytics firm’s index ranks it third, right after Ukraine and Moldova, two other former Soviet republics in Eastern Europe. Georgia on its way to becoming a regional crypto hub WhiteBIT believes its expansion in Georgia will help reinforce the country’s position as a new center for financial innovation in the region. The small nation appeared on the global crypto map as a mining hotspot a few years ago. It offers companies in the industry low-cost hydroelectric power and friendly regulations. This week, the Georgian energy and water supply regulator, GNERC, unveiled that electricity usage in the sector, which doubled in 2025, has continued to grow in 2026, despite the market downturn. The majority of the data processing centers in the country, located in free economic and industrial zones, are engaged in the minting of digital coins. But it’s not just mining that Georgia is actively supporting. For example, its central bank recently allowed companies to issue asset-backed stablecoins, as reported by Cryptopolitan. Besides, the government in Tbilisi maintains a crypto-friendly tax regime. It does not collect capital gains tax or personal income tax on trading profits from individuals, which it considers foreign-sourced. WhiteBIT is arguably Europe’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by traffic. It offers more than 340 assets and over 900 trading pairs and supports eight fiat currencies. The platform, founded by Ukrainian entrepreneur Volodymyr Nosov in 2018, is registered in Lithuania as part of the W Group and has a global reach, with more than 35 million users worldwide. Nosov, who is also WhiteBIT’s chief executive, has gained recognition for his and his company’s role in promoting crypto adoption, including in his native Ukraine. They have actively supported the country in the face of the full-scale military invasion launched by Russia in early 2022, for which the entrepreneur received several national honors. In January of this year, the authorities in Moscow declared WhiteBIT’s activities “undesirable” in the Russian Federation, although the exchange had long pulled out of this market. As evident from the Georgian licensing, Russia’s move is not having any significant effect on its expansion elsewhere in the region. If you want a calmer entry point into DeFi crypto without the usual hype, start with this free video.

WhiteBIT wins approval for crypto derivatives trading in Georgia

Leading European crypto exchange WhiteBIT has obtained a license in Georgia that will allow it to start trading derivatives based on digital assets.

The Ukrainian-rooted coin trading platform already offers spot trading in the country, which is a promising market with crypto-friendly regulation.

Crypto exchange WhiteBIT secures broker license in Georgia

Popular European cryptocurrency exchange WhiteBIT has been issued a broker license by the monetary authority of Georgia, the company announced Tuesday.

The authorization, granted by the National Bank of Georgia (NBG) to its local entity, WhiteBIT Broker, will allow it to begin trading crypto derivatives, including perpetual futures.

WhiteBIT currently supports spot trading for Georgian customers through a separate subsidiary, the platform noted in the press release, highlighting:

“The newly licensed WhiteBIT Broker will focus on providing regulated access to derivatives and other broker-led financial instruments, also accessible through whitebit[.]ge”

The regulatory approval provides Georgian traders and investors with access to a compliant platform for crypto derivatives that offers protection for capital, the exchange emphasized.

The licensing, secured in collaboration with the consulting firm Clarsen, is part of WhiteBIT’s push to expand across regulated markets.

The company believes it will also help the development of the digital asset ecosystem of Georgia, which has established itself as an emerging crypto hub.

Cryptocurrencies have enjoyed a growing popularity in the South Caucasian nation, which has a favorable regulatory framework in place.

According to the 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index by Chainalysis, Georgia is a leading destination in terms of crypto adoption, the exchange remarked.

When adjusted for population size, the blockchain analytics firm’s index ranks it third, right after Ukraine and Moldova, two other former Soviet republics in Eastern Europe.

Georgia on its way to becoming a regional crypto hub

WhiteBIT believes its expansion in Georgia will help reinforce the country’s position as a new center for financial innovation in the region.

The small nation appeared on the global crypto map as a mining hotspot a few years ago. It offers companies in the industry low-cost hydroelectric power and friendly regulations.

This week, the Georgian energy and water supply regulator, GNERC, unveiled that electricity usage in the sector, which doubled in 2025, has continued to grow in 2026, despite the market downturn.

The majority of the data processing centers in the country, located in free economic and industrial zones, are engaged in the minting of digital coins.

But it’s not just mining that Georgia is actively supporting. For example, its central bank recently allowed companies to issue asset-backed stablecoins, as reported by Cryptopolitan.

Besides, the government in Tbilisi maintains a crypto-friendly tax regime. It does not collect capital gains tax or personal income tax on trading profits from individuals, which it considers foreign-sourced.

WhiteBIT is arguably Europe’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by traffic. It offers more than 340 assets and over 900 trading pairs and supports eight fiat currencies.

The platform, founded by Ukrainian entrepreneur Volodymyr Nosov in 2018, is registered in Lithuania as part of the W Group and has a global reach, with more than 35 million users worldwide.

Nosov, who is also WhiteBIT’s chief executive, has gained recognition for his and his company’s role in promoting crypto adoption, including in his native Ukraine.

They have actively supported the country in the face of the full-scale military invasion launched by Russia in early 2022, for which the entrepreneur received several national honors.

In January of this year, the authorities in Moscow declared WhiteBIT’s activities “undesirable” in the Russian Federation, although the exchange had long pulled out of this market.

As evident from the Georgian licensing, Russia’s move is not having any significant effect on its expansion elsewhere in the region.

If you want a calmer entry point into DeFi crypto without the usual hype, start with this free video.
UAE’s Ctrl Alt wins FCA nod to expand tokenizationTwo months after UAE regulated UAE regulated Ctrl Alt, a tokenization provider was approved to participate in the Bank of England’s Digital Securities Sandbox and Synchronization Lab program as a Synchronization Operator (SO), it has now secured a direct authorization for the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) which will enable it to offer regulated investment services and expansion of its tokenization and capabilities. As per the press release, the authorization places Ctrl Alt Ltd, a subsidiary of Alt Ltd, on the FCA’s register under the UK framework for investment firms, which will enable the firm to expand its digital capital markets services and support the end-to-end lifecycle of tokenized assets. Matt Ong, CEO & Founder of Ctrl Alt, said, “This authorization is an important step for Ctrl Alt and for financial innovation in the UK as a whole. It allows us to continue expanding our tokenization capabilities and support the development of more efficient and accessible financial markets.” In both the sandbox and lab, Ctrl Alt is already exploring the use of its tokenization infrastructure for the issuance, trading, and settlement of securities, as well as testing synchronization capabilities with the Bank’s renewed real-time gross settlement service, respectively. Ctrl Alt has already tokenized over $1.2 billion in assets As of April 2026, Ctrl Alt has tokenized over $1.2 billion in assets, spanning real estate, private credit, funds, commodities, and more. In February of this year, Billiton Diamond, a Dubai based diamond management and auction services provider of rough and polished diamonds, and Ctrl Alt, tokenized $280 million worth of diamonds held in the UAE, secured through Ripple custody, with the aim of expanding access to diamond investment using blockchain and its power of tokenization. Ctrl Alt is also the tokenization partner for the Dubai Land Department, which is tokenizing real estate using the XRP Ledger Blockchain. The initiative, which is being carried out alongside Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), the Dubai Future Foundation, and PRYPCO, seeks to tokenize real estate to develop the future of property investment in Dubai through fractional ownership. It is projected to contribute to the growth of an AED 60 billion ($16 billion) tokenized real estate market by 2033, equivalent to 7% of Dubai’s total property transactions. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free.

UAE’s Ctrl Alt wins FCA nod to expand tokenization

Two months after UAE regulated UAE regulated Ctrl Alt, a tokenization provider was approved to participate in the Bank of England’s Digital Securities Sandbox and Synchronization Lab program as a Synchronization Operator (SO), it has now secured a direct authorization for the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) which will enable it to offer regulated investment services and expansion of its tokenization and capabilities.

As per the press release, the authorization places Ctrl Alt Ltd, a subsidiary of Alt Ltd, on the FCA’s register under the UK framework for investment firms, which will enable the firm to expand its digital capital markets services and support the end-to-end lifecycle of tokenized assets.

Matt Ong, CEO & Founder of Ctrl Alt, said, “This authorization is an important step for Ctrl Alt and for financial innovation in the UK as a whole. It allows us to continue expanding our tokenization capabilities and support the development of more efficient and accessible financial markets.”

In both the sandbox and lab, Ctrl Alt is already exploring the use of its tokenization infrastructure for the issuance, trading, and settlement of securities, as well as testing synchronization capabilities with the Bank’s renewed real-time gross settlement service, respectively.

Ctrl Alt has already tokenized over $1.2 billion in assets

As of April 2026, Ctrl Alt has tokenized over $1.2 billion in assets, spanning real estate, private credit, funds, commodities, and more.

In February of this year, Billiton Diamond, a Dubai based diamond management and auction services provider of rough and polished diamonds, and Ctrl Alt, tokenized $280 million worth of diamonds held in the UAE, secured through Ripple custody, with the aim of expanding access to diamond investment using blockchain and its power of tokenization.

Ctrl Alt is also the tokenization partner for the Dubai Land Department, which is tokenizing real estate using the XRP Ledger Blockchain. The initiative, which is being carried out alongside Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), the Dubai Future Foundation, and PRYPCO, seeks to tokenize real estate to develop the future of property investment in Dubai through fractional ownership. It is projected to contribute to the growth of an AED 60 billion ($16 billion) tokenized real estate market by 2033, equivalent to 7% of Dubai’s total property transactions.

Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free.
Članek
ZEC surges as Iran ceasefire revives risk appetiteZCash (ZEC) was one of the coins that immediately responded to the news of a two-week ceasefire between the USA and Iran. ZEC rallied above $300, becoming one of the day’s top gainers.  ZEC responded to the risk-on trade after BTC also recovered to the $72,000 range. The privacy coin peaked above $240 during the recent rally, adding over 21% in the past 24 hours. Volumes also expanded to a one-month peak of nearly $800M in the past day.  ZEC rallied to over $320 following a short squeeze and a general return to optimism for the crypto market. | Source: CoinGecko. Open interest on derivative markets also rose by 26% in the past day, with most of the activity concentrated on Binance. ZEC showed the crypto market was ready to pivot despite the months of bearish sentiment, boosting assets that showed a potential for strong directional moves.  ZEC open interest is still below its levels at the end of 2025, standing at $386M. This time around, ZEC has a limited breakout compared to its record-breaking climb in November 2025.  Is the ZEC rally sustainable?  ZEC has raised some skepticism in the past months, as the late 2025 rally was heavily promoted by influencers. Later, some ZEC whales sold a part of their stake. ZEC went through dramatic price drops as well.  Despite this, ZEC still has a community and the opportunity for short-term risk-on rallies. ZCash has a 0.5% mindshare, up by 25% in the past day. This level of exposure on social media remains higher compared to other altcoins and tokens.  ZEC is still viewed with suspicion, and the current rally may be the result of a short squeeze. Based on the currently open short positions, ZEC can continue with its liquidations in the $330 range, but the rally may stall and face resistance.  The last day led to $2.85M in short liquidations and may lead some traders to close their positions.  The latest ZEC rally helped other privacy coins. XMR added another 3% to over $337. Smaller privacy coins were also in the green, boosted by the general crypto market recovery.  ZCash shielding continues to grow ZCash shielding continues to grow quietly, despite the slowdown of the influencer campaign. There are no signs of unshielding or selling, and the total shielded supply is up to a record of over 5.17M.  ZCash mining is also near an all-time peak, unaffected by market swings. Despite this, the current rally may be rejected, and ZEC may return to its bearish structure.  One of the narratives for ZEC was its usage in Solana DeFi. Currently, Solana-based DeFi is slowing down following the Drift Protocol hack, increasing user skepticism.  ZEC will have to prove its presence as a risk-on trade, avoiding the fate of most altcoin and token projects. The privacy narrative has remained a key topic in the crypto space, even without the short-term hype. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter.

ZEC surges as Iran ceasefire revives risk appetite

ZCash (ZEC) was one of the coins that immediately responded to the news of a two-week ceasefire between the USA and Iran. ZEC rallied above $300, becoming one of the day’s top gainers. 

ZEC responded to the risk-on trade after BTC also recovered to the $72,000 range. The privacy coin peaked above $240 during the recent rally, adding over 21% in the past 24 hours. Volumes also expanded to a one-month peak of nearly $800M in the past day. 

ZEC rallied to over $320 following a short squeeze and a general return to optimism for the crypto market. | Source: CoinGecko.

Open interest on derivative markets also rose by 26% in the past day, with most of the activity concentrated on Binance. ZEC showed the crypto market was ready to pivot despite the months of bearish sentiment, boosting assets that showed a potential for strong directional moves. 

ZEC open interest is still below its levels at the end of 2025, standing at $386M. This time around, ZEC has a limited breakout compared to its record-breaking climb in November 2025. 

Is the ZEC rally sustainable? 

ZEC has raised some skepticism in the past months, as the late 2025 rally was heavily promoted by influencers. Later, some ZEC whales sold a part of their stake. ZEC went through dramatic price drops as well. 

Despite this, ZEC still has a community and the opportunity for short-term risk-on rallies. ZCash has a 0.5% mindshare, up by 25% in the past day. This level of exposure on social media remains higher compared to other altcoins and tokens. 

ZEC is still viewed with suspicion, and the current rally may be the result of a short squeeze. Based on the currently open short positions, ZEC can continue with its liquidations in the $330 range, but the rally may stall and face resistance. 

The last day led to $2.85M in short liquidations and may lead some traders to close their positions. 

The latest ZEC rally helped other privacy coins. XMR added another 3% to over $337. Smaller privacy coins were also in the green, boosted by the general crypto market recovery. 

ZCash shielding continues to grow

ZCash shielding continues to grow quietly, despite the slowdown of the influencer campaign. There are no signs of unshielding or selling, and the total shielded supply is up to a record of over 5.17M. 

ZCash mining is also near an all-time peak, unaffected by market swings. Despite this, the current rally may be rejected, and ZEC may return to its bearish structure. 

One of the narratives for ZEC was its usage in Solana DeFi. Currently, Solana-based DeFi is slowing down following the Drift Protocol hack, increasing user skepticism. 

ZEC will have to prove its presence as a risk-on trade, avoiding the fate of most altcoin and token projects. The privacy narrative has remained a key topic in the crypto space, even without the short-term hype.

If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter.
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