News linked to this event type.
Kraken’s parent company, Payward, disclosed that its adjusted revenue for the first quarter of 2026 increased by 3% year-on-year to $507 million. During the period, daily average revenue-generating futures trades rose by 51%, helping the company sustain growth amid a weakening cryptocurrency spot trading market. Adjusted EBITDA for the same period declined to $18 million, primarily due to continued investments in acquisitions, product development, and compliance infrastructure. Payward stated that total platform trading volume for the first quarter reached $357 billion; funded accounts increased year-on-year to 6.1 million; and platform assets under management grew to $40 billion. Kraken’s spot market share rose to 5.2% in March.
OdailyOdaily reports that Standard Chartered expects the market capitalization of tokenized on-chain assets to reach $4 trillion by the end of 2028, split evenly between stablecoins and real-world assets.Geoffrey Kendrick, Global Head of Digital Assets Research at Standard Chartered, stated that established DeFi protocols with strong risk metrics will be the primary beneficiaries. The composability of DeFi is a core advantage, citing BlackRock's BUIDL fund, which has approximately $2.85 billion in assets under management, as an example. BUIDL allows investors to earn yield while using the fund as collateral and maintaining liquidity. The passage of the Clarity Act is seen as a near-term catalyst accelerating the shift from traditional channels to DeFi.Data shows that Aave, the largest DeFi lending protocol, once ranked 38th among US banks in terms of asset size. Daily on-chain stablecoin lending volume stands between $1.5 billion and $2 billion. The lending product offered by Coinbase in partnership with Morpho has reached a loan size of $1.75 billion. (The Block)
Verus confirmed on Platform X that its Verus-Ethereum cross-chain bridge has been attacked, resulting in the theft of ETH, USDC, and tBTC from the contract on the Ethereum chain. Other bridged assets are currently unaffected. The Verus network is now suspended, with most block-producing nodes voluntarily going offline after experiencing the cascading effects of the attack. The development team is fully investigating the scope of the incident, the attack vector, and the subsequent remediation plan, and will provide updates once more information is confirmed. Verus stated that it is willing to cooperate with relevant law enforcement agencies to pursue legal accountability; however, if the attacker returns all stolen funds, the project team is willing to offer a bug bounty and will not pursue further legal action.Verus also reminds users that anyone claiming to be part of the Verus team or community in public channels, private messages, or other avenues, and offering "compensation" or "remediation plans," is a scammer. The official statement emphasizes not to interact with anyone claiming there are compensation projects or offering payouts, and to promptly report such accounts to Discord or Platform X.Previously, it was reported that the Verus-Ethereum cross-chain bridge was attacked, resulting in losses of approximately $11.58 million.
the leadership of the U.S. House Agriculture Committee has urged President Trump to fill four vacant seats at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) as soon as possible.Relevant lawmakers warned that if the CLARITY Act is passed, granting the CFTC greater regulatory responsibilities over cryptocurrencies, the current institutional setup is not yet prepared. (Cointelegraph)
According to CoinDesk, leaders of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture have urged President Trump to promptly fill the four vacant commissioner seats at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), warning that with only one commissioner currently serving, the CFTC is ill-equipped to handle its expanding cryptocurrency regulatory responsibilities—especially ahead of the potential passage of the CLARITY Act.
Odaily. Bernstein stated in its latest research report that the newly reached compromise on stablecoin yields under the U.S. CLARITY Act is structurally beneficial for Circle and the USDC ecosystem.The report notes that the current version of the bill prohibits stablecoin issuers from paying interest to passive holders that is "economically equivalent" to bank deposits, but allows reward mechanisms tied to actual transaction, payment, and usage activities to continue. Bernstein believes this means Circle's current model, which relies on partners like Coinbase to provide USDC reward programs, will gain regulatory recognition, while also limiting the industry's ability to compete for market share through high yields.Bernstein points out that the bill effectively reinforces the positioning of stablecoins as "payment tools" rather than "deposit substitutes," helping to protect Circle's current business model that relies on reserve income. The firm maintains an "Outperform" rating for Circle with a $190 target price.Data shows that the total global supply of dollar-pegged stablecoins has surpassed $300 billion, with USDT and USDC collectively accounting for approximately 97% of the market share. Bernstein notes that USDC's share in on-chain payments and wallet transfers is steadily increasing, and its share of payments in the AI Agent payment protocol x402 has exceeded 99%.Additionally, Bernstein mentioned that Circle's ARC chain has cumulatively completed 244 million testnet transactions. The ARC token pre-sale previously raised $222 million, with investors including a16z crypto, Apollo Funds, ARK Invest, and BlackRock.However, the report also points out that the CLARITY Act still needs to complete multiple legislative procedures before it takes effect, including a 60-vote threshold in the full Senate and coordination with the House version. Polymarket currently estimates its probability of passage by 2026 at approximately 62%. (The Block)
Odaily Despite warnings and related bans issued by the Indian government, prediction market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket still allow Indian users to register and trade.According to reports, India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology stated in a letter last month that Indian users are still accessing "illegal and already blocked prediction markets and online entertainment platforms." The relevant announcement was subsequently published on the ministry's official website, specifically naming "Polymarket and other similar websites," stating that these platforms should have been blocked by Internet Service Providers (ISPs). (Bloomberg)
According to Bloomberg, last month India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology warned that prediction markets such as Polymarket and online gambling platforms are illegal and should be blocked. Nevertheless, Polymarket and Kalshi continue to allow Indian users to register and participate in trading. In an official notice posted on its website, the relevant Indian government department stated that users can still access these “illegal and blocked platforms,” despite domestic bans already being in place, and instructed internet service providers to cut off access.
According to an official announcement, Bybit recently completed an innovative anti-money laundering (AML) research collaboration with a student team from The University of Hong Kong (HKU). This collaboration used Bybit’s February 2025 security incident as a case study, providing HKU Business School master’s students with hands-on experience in blockchain investigations and AML analysis.
According to CoinDesk, Simone Maini, CEO of blockchain analytics firm Elliptic, stated that the biggest emerging risk to crypto security is not larger-scale hacking attacks, but rather AI-driven financial activity operating at a speed and scale that human compliance teams cannot keep up with. As AI lowers the barriers to hacking, scams, and fraud, security firms like Elliptic are responding by deploying AI agents to analyze on-chain data in real time—sparking an automated arms race between adversaries and defenders. Maini noted that current compliance systems remain heavily reliant on manual review, and the global pool of compliance analysts specializing in digital assets is simply insufficient to meet future demand. Elliptic has raised $120 million in funding—including from Nasdaq and Deutsche Bank—to build an “agent-based compliance system” that leverages AI to automate transaction monitoring and investigation workflows, thereby reducing the cost per alert and per investigation.
According to The Block, Bitcoin Depot (BTM), a Nasdaq-listed Bitcoin ATM operator, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on the 18th in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, announcing an orderly liquidation and asset sale. CEO Alex Holmes stated that increasingly stringent state-level compliance requirements, transaction limit restrictions, and operational bans in certain regions have rendered the company’s existing business model unsustainable. Previously, the company suffered a security breach in April 2026, resulting in a $3.7 million loss; its Q1 2026 revenue declined 49.2% year-on-year, with a net loss of $9.5 million. Currently, all over 9,000 Bitcoin ATMs operated globally by Bitcoin Depot have been taken offline, and its overseas entities—including those in Canada—will also be shut down.
the Financial Services Commission (FSC) of South Korea is reviewing whether Hana Bank's acquisition of shares in Dunamu violates the regulatory rule of "separation between finance and virtual assets."The Virtual Asset Department of the FSC stated that Hana Bank indirectly holds equity in Dunamu by acquiring shares in Kakao Investment. This essentially constitutes an investment in a virtual asset trading platform and will therefore be reviewed under the same regulatory standards.According to reports, since 2017, the South Korean government has restricted financial institutions from holding or purchasing virtual assets or making equity investments in related companies through administrative guidance. If ultimately found to be in violation, Hana Bank's related transaction may not proceed.Additionally, Mirae Asset Consulting is currently pushing forward with the acquisition of management rights for Kobit, while Korea Investment & Securities remains cautious about related businesses. Hana Bank had previously announced plans to acquire approximately 6.55% of Dunamu's shares, but did not consult with regulators beforehand. (iNews24)
BIT announced Matrixport Technologies Ltd has officially obtained approval from the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (BVI FSC) for a Category II Investment Business License (Arranging Deals in Investments) under the Securities and Investment Business Act (SIBA), as well as VASP registration under the Virtual Asset Service Provider Act (VASP Act).
Odaily News: Greg Cipolaro, Research Director at financial services firm NYDIG, stated that the most realistic legislative window for the U.S. Senate's crypto market structure bill is June to early August. If progress cannot be made during this period, the bill may face uncertainty extending beyond the midterm elections or even longer.Earlier, White House crypto advisor Patrick Witt had proposed July 4 as an ideal legislative timeline, but NYDIG considers this target overly optimistic. The bill still needs to clear multiple hurdles, including committee review, a full Senate vote, and House procedures.The bill aims to establish a clear regulatory framework for U.S. crypto assets and is regarded as one of the most critical pieces of legislation this year. However, it has faced repeated delays due to disagreements over stablecoin regulation, ethical clauses, and DeFi rules. The Senate Banking Committee has advanced the draft for a full Senate vote, but it still requires at least 60 votes to pass.Analysts point out that if the bill fails to pass before the election cycle, shifts in Republican and Democratic control of the Senate could further reduce legislative certainty, keeping the industry in a state of regulatory ambiguity.However, if the bill is ultimately passed and signed into law, it would bring regulatory clarity to the market. In particular, Bitcoin is expected to be clearly classified as a commodity, thereby reducing uncertainty for institutional entry. (Cointelegraph)
Odaily reports: Artificial intelligence company Anthropic has agreed to provide a special briefing to relevant officials of the Financial Stability Board (FSB) regarding its Mythos AI model. The briefing will focus on security vulnerabilities identified by the model within the defense systems of the global financial network.According to two sources familiar with the matter, the communication was proposed by Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey, requesting that Anthropic brief the FSB on its new preview version of the Claude·Mythos AI model. The FSB is currently compiling a report on compliance standards for the application of artificial intelligence in the financial industry, with a draft expected to be released next month for public consultation. Both the FSB and Anthropic have declined to comment on their recent communications. (Jiemian)
According to Cointelegraph, cryptocurrency analysts are divided on whether Bitcoin will reenact its historical “Sell in May” pattern in 2026. In the two midterm election years—2018 and 2022—Bitcoin experienced sharp declines in May, falling approximately 30% and 70%, respectively. Analyst Merlijn Enkelaar warned that this historical pattern could repeat, with Bitcoin potentially dropping to $33,000. Joao Wedson, CEO of Alphractal, also noted that if Bitcoin remains persistently below $78,000, the likelihood of a new capitulation phase increases. However, Jeff Ko, Chief Analyst at CoinEx, argued that past crashes stemmed from specific shocks—including the Mt. Gox incident, China’s ICO regulations, the Federal Reserve’s monetary tightening, and the collapses of Terra and FTX—not from calendar-based seasonality. He added that the launch of spot ETFs, corporate treasury allocations, and progress on the CLARITY Act have significantly broadened the institutional buyer base, making a 70–80% deep correction unlikely this cycle. Analyst Michaël van de Poppe highlighted $76,000 as the current critical support level; failure to hold it would likely trigger further downside pressure.
Bitcoin has fallen below the $77,000 mark, hitting a low of approximately $76,720. Analysts attribute the market decline primarily to multiple macroeconomic pressures, including the renewed escalation of tensions between the US and Iran, rising inflation concerns, and increased risk aversion across risk assets. Former US President Donald Trump issued a strong warning to Iran on social media, intensifying geopolitical uncertainty.Meanwhile, rising oil prices have further elevated inflation expectations, with Brent crude climbing to around $111 and WTI rising above $107. This has sparked concerns that the Federal Reserve may maintain higher interest rates for a longer period.The current selling pressure is also compounded by factors such as rising US Treasury yields, a strengthening US dollar, and ETF outflows. Data shows that Bitcoin ETFs saw net outflows of approximately $1 billion in the week ending May 17, ending six consecutive weeks of net inflows.In terms of market sentiment, the Bitcoin Fear and Greed Index has fallen back to 27, re-entering the "fear zone." Analysts believe that short-term trends will remain highly dependent on macroeconomic data and policy expectations. However, some institutions view the current correction as a "healthy digestion" period, suggesting the long-term structure remains unchanged. (The Block)
: White House Crypto Policy Advisor Patrick Witt stated that if the Clarity Act passes smoothly, it could provide approximately 90% of the regulatory framework and policy certainty needed by the crypto industry. The bill is seen as one of the most critical pieces of legislation in the current U.S. crypto regulatory system, expected to strike a significant balance between compliance, market structure, and industry development. (Cointelegraph)
: U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson, along with committee members, has sent a letter to President Trump urging him to promptly nominate a full five-member slate for the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The letter notes that the CFTC is currently led solely by Chairman Michael Selig. If the CLARITY Act is passed, the CFTC will face major rulemaking tasks, and a complete leadership team is crucial for addressing "pressing regulatory issues." As of now, Trump has not publicly announced any CFTC commissioner nominations, and any nominees would still require weeks or even months of Senate review and voting.
According to an official announcement by the U.S. Department of Justice, Olena Oblamska, a 42-year-old Ukrainian woman, was recently extradited from Thailand to the United States to face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Court documents allege that Oblamska and her co-conspirators marketed Forsage as a decentralized multi-level marketing project built on blockchain-based smart contracts, falsely promoting it to global investors as a low-risk, high-return investment opportunity—when in fact it was a Ponzi and pyramid scheme that defrauded victims of approximately $340 million. Oblamska has appeared in court and pleaded not guilty; jury trial is scheduled to begin on July 14, 2026. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The case was jointly investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Secret Service, and Homeland Security Investigations.