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According to bits.media, Russia’s State Duma approved the government-submitted “Digital Currency and Digital Rights” bill at first reading, with 327 votes in favor, 5 against, and 8 abstentions. The bill stipulates that cryptocurrency transactions must be conducted exclusively through licensed intermediaries or exchanges. Ordinary investors must pass a test before purchasing cryptocurrencies included on a list designated by the Central Bank of Russia, with an annual purchase limit of 300,000 rubles; professional investors, after passing the test, may purchase any cryptocurrency without restriction. Banks are prohibited from transferring funds to domestic or foreign cryptocurrency platforms not authorized by the Central Bank. Russian residents must declare their foreign cryptocurrency assets and wallet information to the tax authorities. Furthermore, using cryptocurrencies for payments within Russia will incur administrative fines, while organizing illegal cryptocurrency circulation may carry a maximum prison sentence of seven years. The bill has previously drawn criticism from the banking sector and two State Duma committees, and regulatory treatment of non-custodial wallets remains contentious.
Odaily News Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a decree establishing the "Besqala Mining Valley" special cryptocurrency mining zone, aiming to develop green energy mining and attract international investment. Miners can sell crypto assets on local and overseas exchanges, with proceeds directly entering domestic bank accounts. Regarding policies, participants in the mining zone are exempt from income tax until 2035, only required to pay a 1% management fee on revenue; electricity prices are set at 1800 som per kilowatt-hour, with exceptional incentives provided for investment projects exceeding $100 million. Regarding access, only locally registered enterprises are eligible to apply, and they must possess power facilities and pass approval processes, with relevant personnel having no record of economic crimes. (Lex.uz)
Odaily News The Russian State Duma (the lower house of parliament) has passed the "Digital Currency and Digital Rights Bill" in its first reading, marking a crucial step towards the legalization of crypto assets in the country. According to the bill, the Bank of Russia will become the core regulatory body for the crypto market, responsible for issuing licenses, approving or prohibiting related transactions, and defining the legality of transactions.The bill intends to recognize cryptocurrencies as "property" but explicitly prohibits their use as a means of payment within the country, with the ruble remaining the sole legal tender. However, against the backdrop of Western sanctions, crypto assets can be used for cross-border trade settlements, including scenarios such as service payments and intellectual property transfers.Furthermore, the bill allows Russian residents to legally invest in crypto assets through licensed institutions, but will implement an investor classification system, setting up tests and annual investment quota limits (with a suggested cap of 300,000 rubles) for ordinary investors. Initially, only high-market-cap mainstream assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum will be permitted for trading, with a whitelist to be established by the central bank.The bill is expected to be formally passed and take effect no later than July 2026. However, some lawmakers and banking industry figures have criticized it for being overly strict in regulation, potentially affecting market activity and even leading to funds remaining in the gray market. Simultaneously, supporting legislation is also planned to introduce criminal penalties, with illegal crypto transactions potentially punishable by up to 7 years in prison. (Cryptopolitan)
The Economic Daily published an article titled “Leveraging China’s Token Advantages,” which points out the need to clearly recognize potential risks associated with tokens, including identity theft due to token leakage, unauthorized access and theft of sensitive data through forged permissions, and user exploitation via agent-based commission schemes. Some lawbreakers have begun targeting tokens, setting up consumer traps disguised as “discounted token packages” or “token agents.” It is essential to continuously improve policy frameworks, regulations, and standards, and to standardize token trading秩序 by cracking down on price monopolies, false advertising, and illegal financial activities. Illegal and non-compliant activities—including speculative “hoarding for appreciation” and over-the-counter trading—must be resolutely curbed, guiding tokens back to their fundamental roles in technical services, value settlement, and rights transfer.
Odaily News Wall Street investment bank Jefferies' analysis indicates that the approximately $293 million attack on Kelp DAO on April 18 exposed critical infrastructure risks, which may prompt traditional financial institutions to reassess the pace of blockchain and tokenization advancement.Jefferies believes the attacker triggered market sell-offs and liquidity stress by minting unbacked tokens and borrowing across platforms. The incident is suspected to be potentially linked to the Lazarus Group and also highlights the single point of failure in the validation mechanisms of cross-chain bridges. As institutions accelerate the tokenization of assets (such as funds, bonds, and deposits), related risks may cause some banks and asset management firms to temporarily pause deployments, prioritizing a review of system security. Especially in scenarios reliant on cross-chain infrastructure, security vulnerabilities could lead to market fragmentation, undermining the practical utility of tokenized assets.Despite short-term confidence being shaken, Jefferies still emphasizes that the long-term trend remains unchanged. Against the backdrop of regulatory progress and continuous infrastructure improvement, use cases like stablecoins still hold growth potential. However, the industry as a whole is still in its early development stage and requires time to enhance system robustness. (CoinDesk)
According to an official announcement by Volo, a security vulnerability occurred today on the Sui network involving Volo—a BTCFi and LST protocol—resulting in the theft of approximately $3.5 million in assets (including WBTC, XAUm, and USDC) from three specific vaults. Immediately after the incident, the team notified the Sui Foundation and ecosystem partners and froze all vaults to prevent further losses. Volo stated that the vulnerability affected only these three vaults; the remaining vaults are not exposed to the same attack vector, and the other ~$28 million in TVL remains secure. The official announcement emphasized that Volo will bear the loss entirely and will not pass it on to users. A comprehensive post-mortem report and remediation plan will be released upon completion of the investigation.
According to CoinDesk, citing the Financial Times, Revolut—the largest fintech company in Europe and a crypto-friendly platform—has informed investors that its target valuation range for its IPO is $150 billion to $200 billion, with the earliest possible listing date no earlier than 2028. Previously, in November 2025, the company completed a share sale at a valuation of $75 billion—representing over a 125% increase from that figure. Meanwhile, Revolut is reportedly preparing for a secondary share sale in the second half of 2026, with an expected valuation of approximately $100 billion. Financially, the company’s pre-tax profit for 2025 rose 57% year-on-year to £1.7 billion (approximately $2.3 billion). On the operational front, Revolut obtained a full UK banking license in March this year and has applied to the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a U.S. banking license, accelerating its global market expansion. However, insiders indicate that a formal valuation target has not yet been finalized.
According to CoinDesk, the U.S. Senate’s Digital Asset Market Clarity Act has been delayed by several months, though a path forward remains amid a tight legislative calendar. Sources indicate that the bill’s original April timeline is now largely unattainable; the earliest it could reach committee review in the Senate is May. If the Senate manages to complete its vote before July, the bill could still become law in 2026. However, analysts note that, given the limited legislative window and overlapping political priorities, the probability of the bill passing in 2026 stands at approximately 50%. Should significant disagreements emerge later, the bill risks further delay—or even being shelved entirely.
According to Cointelegraph, bipartisan U.S. lawmakers jointly unveiled the “PACE Act,” which proposes to establish a unified national payment license for fintech and cryptocurrency companies, to be regulated by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).
Odaily News Trump's pick for Fed Chair, Powell, went all out during his confirmation hearing: refusing to answer whether Trump lost the election, being angrily called a "puppet" by Warren; countering by blasting the Fed for "losing its way and playing politics"; and repeatedly denying promising low interest rates to the President. Nick Timiraos, often referred to as the "Fed's mouthpiece," wrote that Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, in her opening statement, characterized Powell as both Trump's "puppet" and an opportunist. Warren's argument was that a Fed Chair who wouldn't even dare state a simple fact that might displease the President who nominated him would not stand up to that President at critical moments. This theme ran throughout the hearing, with Democrats returning to it multiple times.Powell also stated that the Fed needs "fundamental policy reform," including a new inflation framework, new tools, and new communication methods. While Powell sidestepped Trump's public attacks on the Fed, he repeatedly denied to senators from both parties that Trump had ever sought any promises on interest rates. "The President never asked me to pre-determine, promise, commit to, or decide on any interest rate decision, not in any of our discussions, and I would never agree to do so." (WSJ)
According to The Block, New York State Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against Coinbase and Gemini on Tuesday, accusing both companies of violating New York’s gambling laws through their prediction market platforms and permitting users aged 18 to 21 to participate—despite New York law requiring participants in mobile sports betting to be at least 21 years old. The state is seeking at least $2.2 billion in damages from Coinbase and at least $1.2 billion from Gemini, along with civil penalties, refunds to users, and forfeiture of illicit proceeds. In response, Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal stated that prediction markets fall under the regulatory authority of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and the company will continue defending federal regulatory jurisdiction. The dispute over regulatory authority for prediction markets has now increasingly moved into the judicial arena; the CFTC has previously sued several state governments attempting to shut down such platforms.
According to The Wall Street Journal, prediction market platforms Polymarket and Kalshi have both announced plans to launch perpetual futures contracts. Polymarket posted a video on X on Tuesday stating it will list perpetual futures products tied to crypto tokens, U.S. equities, and commodities; Kalshi has a similar plan. Perpetual futures are crypto-native derivatives with no fixed expiration date. It remains unclear whether Polymarket will offer these products in the U.S. market, as such products face relatively strict regulatory restrictions in the United States.
Odaily News: According to sources, UK-based digital bank Revolut plans to seek a valuation between $150 billion and $200 billion in its future IPO, a significant increase from its previous $75 billion valuation. The company's CEO, Nik Storonsky, also revealed that Revolut is preparing for a new round of secondary share sale in the second half of 2026, with a potential valuation exceeding $100 billion. (Financial Times)Previously, Nik Storonsky stated that the company's listing timeline is at least two years away, potentially delayed until 2028 at the earliest, with no immediate IPO plans. He pointed out that Revolut is currently focusing on expanding its presence in the US market, including applying for a banking license to gain access to the Federal Reserve's payment system and expand its lending and credit card businesses. Meanwhile, the company has already obtained a full banking license in the UK.
Odaily News Kevin Warsh stated during a Senate hearing that digital assets "have become part of the U.S. financial system" and supports their inclusion into the financial system to provide investors with more opportunities and protection.This statement is seen as a signal of a generally more open policy towards the cryptocurrency industry should he become the Federal Reserve Chair. Warsh has previously referred to Bitcoin as an "important asset that aids in policy-making."However, Elizabeth Warren expressed concerns during the hearing, mentioning potential risks in the crypto space such as "sock puppet" accounts, emphasizing the need for enhanced regulation and prevention of abuse.
Odaily News Letitia James has filed lawsuits against Coinbase and Gemini, alleging that they provide "disguised gambling" services through their prediction market platforms, violating New York state law.Regulators argue that this type of trading based on event outcomes (such as sports, elections) is essentially a form of gambling activity. They particularly question the platforms allowing participation from users aged 18 to 21, while New York law sets the minimum age for sports betting at 21. Prosecutors are seeking substantial fines and the disgorgement of profits, including claims of at least $2.2 billion from Coinbase and at least $1.2 billion from Gemini.The two companies have not yet formally responded, but Coinbase stated that prediction markets are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, implying their legality falls under federal jurisdiction.
Odaily News The PACE Act, proposed by bipartisan U.S. lawmakers, aims to allow compliant non-bank payment institutions direct access to the Federal Reserve's payment system, garnering support from the cryptocurrency industry.The bill would establish a federal framework overseen by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, providing a unified registration pathway for payment companies and requiring them to maintain 1:1 reserves while meeting risk control and record-keeping compliance requirements. Eligible institutions would gain access to core payment networks such as Fedwire, FedNow, and FedACH.The legislative goal is to reduce payment costs, improve speed and reliability, making the transfer experience as simple as "sending a text message." Industry perspectives suggest this move could potentially break the traditional banking monopoly on underlying payment infrastructure, opening a crucial gateway for stablecoins and crypto payment companies, further promoting openness and competition within the financial system.
According to CoinDesk, U.S. Representatives have introduced the “PACE Act,” aimed at modernizing the U.S. payment system. The bill would allow qualified companies direct access to the Federal Reserve’s payment rails to reduce payment delays, lower transaction fees, and accelerate fund transfers for consumers and businesses. The report notes that the proposal has garnered support from fintech and cryptocurrency groups, with the goal of making the payment system faster, lower-cost, and more competitive.
According to Cointelegraph, Poland’s parliament has yet to pass the domestic legislation aligning with the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulatory framework, making Poland the last EU member state to complete this legislative process. With the MiCA transition period set to end on July 1, continued delays in enacting the bill could pose greater compliance challenges for local crypto businesses operating in the European market; some companies are already considering relocating to countries such as Latvia and the Czech Republic. Previously, Polish President Karol Nawrocki vetoed the bill twice, citing its overly burdensome regulatory requirements and potential adverse impact on small enterprises.
According to CoinDesk, a UK economic development agency this week invited Bybit’s management team to London for meetings with the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and representatives of the House of Lords to discuss topics including cryptocurrency regulation, corporate establishment, and job creation. Bybit CEO Ben Zhou stated that the UK aims to attract major enterprises to set up local headquarters and drive innovation through stablecoins, tokenization, and payment system reforms. The report notes that this invitation coincides with the UK’s FinTech Week and reflects the UK’s intent to reverse the trend of capital and corporate migration toward the UAE.
U.S. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins stated that, one year into his tenure, the SEC has proposed a strategy to modernize its regulatory framework, clarify jurisdictional boundaries, and reform regulatory rules. This includes laying the groundwork for “making America the global center of cryptocurrency,” safeguarding market integrity and protecting U.S. investors, and advancing the modernization of capital markets regulation. It also aims to resolve the long-standing jurisdictional dispute between the SEC and the CFTC and expand Project Crypto. Atkins added that the SEC is pushing forward reforms to IPO rules—returning to the “materiality” principle—and ending the practice of “enforcement-as-regulation.”