News linked to this event type.
According to TASS, Ivan Chebeskov, Deputy Minister of Finance of Russia, stated that the Ministry of Finance is jointly refining the cryptocurrency market regulation bill with the Central Bank of Russia, and revisions are expected to be completed before its second reading in the State Duma next week. Under the regulatory framework previously proposed by the Central Bank of Russia, digital currencies and stablecoins will be classified as monetary value—allowing them to be bought and sold—but they may not be used as payment instruments within Russia. Non-qualified investors who pass a test may purchase highly liquid cryptocurrencies worth up to 300,000 rubles per year through a single intermediary.
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has filed a lawsuit against CoinFlip operator GPD Holdings, alleging that the cryptocurrency ATM network facilitated fraudulent transactions while charging high fees, violating the state's consumer protection laws.Over the past two years, Missouri has reported approximately 350 cases related to cryptocurrency ATMs, with losses potentially reaching millions of dollars. The lawsuit seeks consumer restitution, civil penalties of up to $1.826 million, and an injunction barring the company from operating in the state. (The Block)
According to The Block, the wife of Sebastien Borget, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of the metaverse project The Sandbox, was the target of an attempted kidnapping this week at their residence in Villenoy, France. As reported, the suspect gained access to the property posing as a delivery person; subsequently, five other masked accomplices broke in and attempted to forcibly take her to a vehicle. The attempt failed after neighbors heard her cries for help and intervened. French authorities have arrested two suspects, while four others remain at large. French media report that preliminary investigations suggest the incident may be linked to cryptocurrency. Data shows that since January 1, 2026, France has recorded 41 kidnappings or attempted kidnappings related to cryptocurrency.
FocusAI, the largest shareholder of the Busan Digital Asset Exchange, is moving forward with the acquisition of the South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Flybit. Both parties are in the final stages of discussions regarding details such as the share transfer from Flybit's largest shareholder and representative director, Kim Seok-jin.Flybit registered as a virtual asset service provider in 2021 but has since exited the Korean won market after failing to establish a real-name account partnership with a bank. Through this acquisition, FocusAI plans to build a composite digital asset platform that manages cryptocurrencies, real-world assets, and tokenized securities. The transaction is still subject to a review by the Financial Intelligence Unit regarding the change of major shareholder. (bizwatch)
According to The Block, IG Europe has partnered with Bitpanda to expand its digital asset product offerings across the European Union, driven by rising client demand for exposure to crypto assets. IG Europe stated that this move will provide European investors with a broader range of asset classes. IG Europe is part of IG Group and is regulated by Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). Recently, IG Group acquired Australian crypto exchange Independent Reserve, secured a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license enabling it to offer crypto products and services across the EU, and sold its previously acquired futures trading platform Small Exchange Inc. to Kraken. As of the end of 2025, Bitpanda had at least 7.4 million registered users.
According to K33’s official announcement, K33 AB (publ) released its Q1 2026 interim report on May 21, 2026. Revenue for the quarter reached 739,822 kSEK, representing a 64% year-on-year increase and a 73% sequential increase, despite an approximately 15% decline in overall spot market trading volume during the period. K33 Markets’ rolling 12-month trading volume amounted to approximately SEK 2.7 billion. Impacted by the decline in Bitcoin’s price, the quarter’s net loss widened to -35,815 kSEK (compared to -4,033 kSEK in the same period last year), with EBITDA at -6,103 kSEK. Operationally, K33 launched a crypto-asset collateralized lending service this quarter, completed a major platform upgrade with full bank integration, and expanded its Bitcoin strategic exposure through the acquisition of a 46% equity stake in Sixty Six Capital. The company stated it is prepared for MiCA compliance approval, which is expected in late Q2. Following the end of the quarter, Bitcoin’s price rebounded significantly, positively impacting the valuation of the Group’s Bitcoin exposure.
the U.S. SEC is seeking public comments on prediction market ETFs and has postponed the approval process for related "new-type ETFs."SEC Chairman Paul Atkins stated, "New products bring new questions," indicating that regulators need to further assess the impact of such products. Previously, Bitwise, Roundhill, and GraniteShares have submitted applications for prediction market ETFs, which would track the outcomes of events such as U.S. elections.Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas noted that the SEC is currently evaluating prediction market ETFs cautiously, similar to its previous approach to spot crypto ETFs. (Cointelegraph)
According to Cointelegraph, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has filed a lawsuit against GPD Holdings—the parent company of cryptocurrency ATM operator CoinFlip—accusing it of “intentionally facilitating fraudulent transactions and profiting from them,” with victims including elderly residents and veterans in the state. The lawsuit stems from a targeted investigation launched by Missouri in December 2025 into multiple crypto ATM companies, which alleged “deceptive fee structures” and fraudulent conduct. The Attorney General’s Office is asking the court to rule that CoinFlip violated the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act, prohibit it from continuing operations in the state, impose a $1,000 fine for each violation over the past five years (capped at $1.826 million), and provide restitution to affected consumers. CoinFlip currently operates 136 crypto ATMs in Missouri and 4,229 nationwide. Notably, Bitcoin Depot—another major crypto ATM operator—filed for bankruptcy earlier this month, and regulatory pressure is intensifying across the entire industry.
Bitcoin treasury company Nakamoto plans to implement a 1:40 reverse stock split to push its share price back above $1, thereby meeting Nasdaq listing compliance requirements.According to the plan, the company's outstanding shares will be reduced from approximately 696.1 million to about 17.4 million after the split, which is expected to take effect on May 22.Previously, Nakamoto reported its Q1 2026 financial results, with a net loss of $238.8 million. Of this amount, approximately $107.7 million came from write-downs related to the acquisition of pre-paid options, while another approximately $102.5 million in losses resulted from the book loss on its holdings of 5,058 BTC during a 23% decline in Bitcoin prices that quarter. (Decrypt)
James Seyffart, ETF analyst at Bloomberg, revealed that Defiance ETFs has filed an application for a new money market ETF compliant with the GENIUS Act. The Act establishes a federal regulatory framework for reserve requirements applicable to payment stablecoin issuers in the U.S., imposing more conservative standards on underlying assets than traditional money market funds. The fund’s investment strategy is designed to meet the qualified reserve asset requirements stipulated under the U.S. stablecoin legislation.
Eric Balchunas, Bloomberg ETF analyst, stated in a post that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair is soliciting public comments on prediction market ETFs. Balchunas noted that the Commission is clearly researching and evaluating such products and seeks additional time and input. He believes prediction market ETFs are a novel concept—akin to cryptocurrencies—and regulators aim to ensure their safety before formally approving them.
Singapore's Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has revoked the Major Payment Institution license of crypto liquidity provider Bsquared Technology (BSQ) due to serious violations in its digital payment token business.MAS stated that the issues included weak risk management and conflict of interest controls, breaches of outsourcing regulations, and repeated submission of false or misleading statements during the licensed period. The revocation took effect on May 14.MAS noted that BSQ currently holds no outstanding customer assets but is still required to submit a closure certificate from an auditor. The regulator also said it is reviewing the responsibilities of BSQ's key management personnel. Currently, Singapore has 37 digital payment token service providers holding relevant licenses. (TechinAsia)
Odaily Odaily News: Flipcash, an app created by Kik founder Ted Livingston, has launched a native stablecoin USDF on Solana, based on Coinbase's "Stablecoin as a Service" platform.According to reports, USDF is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar and fully backed by USDC. Coinbase handles issuance, reserves, and compliance matters. Flipcash has become the first application to use the Coinbase stablecoin-as-a-service platform.It is understood that USDF will primarily be used for cash-like payment scenarios within the Flipcash app. Flipcash is a digital payment application built on Solana, allowing users to create and trade "community currencies" with a fixed supply.Coinbase launched its stablecoin-as-a-service platform in late 2025, aiming to help enterprises issue branded stablecoins without needing to build their own infrastructure. (The Block)
According to CoinDesk, U.S. bipartisan lawmakers Steven Horsford, Max Miller, Suzan DelBene, and Mike Carey jointly reintroduced the Digital Asset Protection, Accountability, Regulation, Innovation, Taxation, and Yield Act (the “EQUAL Act”) on Wednesday. The revised bill primarily includes the following provisions: (1) specifying that regulated payment stablecoins generate no gain or loss if their cost basis is no less than 99% of their redemption value; (2) establishing a safe harbor for broker transactions or taxpayer account transactions; (3) clarifying how “wash sale” rules apply to digital assets; and (4) requiring the IRS to assess the current tax burden associated with small-value cryptocurrency transactions and study the feasibility—and potential for abuse—of introducing a tax exemption for transactions under $200. The crypto industry has long advocated for tax exemptions on small-value transactions to promote cryptocurrency adoption in everyday payment scenarios. Representative Horsford stated that tax policy forms the foundation of the crypto regulatory framework, and that current tax law remains silent on numerous core issues concerning digital assets.
Odaily OpenAI has been working with investment banks to prepare for the submission of an initial public offering (IPO) application in the coming days or weeks. Investment banks including Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley are assisting OpenAI in drafting its IPO prospectus. The company plans to confidentially file documents with regulators soon, potentially as early as this Friday. According to some informed sources, OpenAI aims to launch its listing as early as September, though the plans remain subject to change and may still shift.Earlier this week, OpenAI cleared a major hurdle on its path to an IPO: The company prevailed in a legal dispute with Musk, a co-founder who has since become a rival of CEO Altman. Musk stated that he plans to appeal the ruling. OpenAI still faces a series of other challenges, most notably concerns about whether it can generate sufficient revenue to support its massive data center spending commitments. (WSJ)
USDF, a custom stablecoin on the Solana blockchain jointly launched by Coinbase and Flipcash, has gone live. It is part of the "Custom Stablecoins" initiative, enabling businesses and protocols to easily issue their own branded USD stablecoins for payments, payroll, cross-border settlements, and more, while maintaining regulatory compliance.
fintech company Mercury has announced the completion of a new $200 million funding round, led by TCV with participation from Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), Coatue Management, and other institutions.Mercury primarily provides banking services to startups. It currently serves over 300,000 clients and has achieved approximately $650 million in annualized revenue. The company stated that the recent surge in AI entrepreneurship has significantly driven demand for new company registrations and account openings, serving as a key growth driver.Meanwhile, Mercury also announced that it has received conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to apply for a federal banking charter. This would enable it to expand lending capabilities, gain access to payment networks like Zelle, and reduce its reliance on partner banks. The company's founder stated that the long-term goal remains an independent IPO rather than an acquisition. (CNBC)
According to an official announcement, Plume stated that it has obtained a Digital Asset Business License from the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA), making it the world’s first regulated on-chain vault manager. Plume noted that this positions it alongside other BMA-regulated entities such as Circle, Coinbase, and Kraken, and said it brings the company closer to realizing its vision of open finance.
Odaily reports, In a recent video interview with Cointelegraph, Gate Founder and CEO Dr. Han stated that the crypto industry is transitioning from a primarily speculation-driven market towards a phase focused on infrastructure development and real-world applications. Dr. Han pointed out that stablecoins, RWA, AI, and asset tokenization are becoming core directions for the industry, and that clearer regulatory frameworks (such as the CLARITY Act) are expected to further drive innovation in DeFi, payments, and on-chain finance.Dr. Han also mentioned that high user entry barriers, security risks, and liquidity fragmentation remain significant challenges facing the industry. In the future, the crypto industry will further integrate with traditional finance, playing a more important role in areas such as payments, settlement, and the circulation of digital assets.Gate continues to deepen its multi-asset and TradFi strategy. In addition to expanding into assets such as stocks, metals, forex, indices, and commodities, it has also launched Pre-IPOs with the first project, SpaceX (SPCX). At the same time, as one of the first CEX platforms to integrate Polymarket, Gate is continuously promoting the development of the prediction market ecosystem, accelerating the construction of a comprehensive trading platform that spans crypto and traditional finance.
LayerZero Labs has released a recent incident report stating that on April 18, 2026, the KelpDAO rsETH cross-chain bridge, built on its cross-chain communication protocol, suffered an attack resulting in the theft of approximately 116,500 rsETH (around $292 million). Multiple security organizations, including Mandiant, CrowdStrike, and independent researchers, have attributed this attack to the North Korea-linked hacker group TraderTraitor (UNC4899).According to the report, the attack began on March 6, 2026. The attackers compromised a LayerZero developer account through social engineering, obtained session keys, and penetrated the RPC cloud environment. They further contaminated internal RPC node data and manipulated the returned results to deceive monitoring systems and the Decentralized Verification Network (DVN). Subsequently, the attackers launched a denial-of-service attack against external RPC providers, forcing the verification system to rely on the compromised nodes to generate forged cross-chain proofs, thereby successfully extracting the funds.LayerZero pointed out that the core vulnerability of this incident lay in the affected application adopting a "single-verifier" configuration. This allowed the target contract to execute asset releases upon receiving only a single valid signature, leading to the theft of rsETH.Following the incident, LayerZero Labs announced an adjustment to security policies. This includes no longer allowing its own DVN to act as the sole signer in a single-verifier configuration, rebuilding the affected cloud infrastructure, and introducing short-term credentials, instant permission upgrades, and multi-party approval mechanisms to enhance security. Additionally, zeroShadow and law enforcement agencies have initiated investigations and asset tracing. LayerZero stated it will continue to collaborate with ecosystem partners to strengthen the cross-chain security framework to address increasingly sophisticated nation-state attack threats.