News linked to this event type.
: The United States Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced that it has jointly filed for an exemption from judgment with Gemini Trust Company LLC regarding the lawsuit initiated against Gemini in 2022.It is reported that the case was filed in June 2022, and both parties reached a settlement agreement in January 2025. After a comprehensive review, the CFTC concluded that the case should not have been brought and would not be pursued under current enforcement standards.The review report identified six major issues, including: the lawsuit was primarily based on statements from a whistleblower known to lack credibility; the investigation targeted Gemini as the victim rather than focusing on the alleged fraudsters; doubts existed regarding the strength of evidence against Gemini; key evidence was not provided to commissioners during their vote; litigation attorneys used deliberative privilege to prevent Gemini from accessing defense materials; and personnel involved were suspected of using regulatory authority to pressure Gemini into a settlement.
: The U.S. Department of Justice has indicted Google software engineer Michele Spagnuolo for allegedly exploiting confidential internal Google information to trade on prediction markets via Polymarket, illegally profiting approximately $1.2 million.According to the indictment, Spagnuolo, operating under the account name "AlphaRaccoon" on Polymarket, placed bets totaling over $2.7 million related to Google's "Year in Search 2025" rankings. He is suspected of obtaining advance access to Google's internal data on the most searched personalities to guide his trading decisions.U.S. prosecutors stated that his actions allegedly violated his fiduciary duties to his employer and constitute insider trading. Google confirmed that the employee has been suspended and is cooperating with law enforcement authorities. Polymarket stated that it has cooperated with U.S. prosecutors and the CFTC, noting that blockchain transactions are transparent and traceable. (TechCrunch)
According to The Block, the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs has received the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) proposed rulemaking notice on prediction markets and is currently reviewing it. The CFTC stated it will provide further details after the interagency review process concludes. Recently, Trump publicly endorsed CFTC Chair Michael Selig’s position that prediction markets should fall under the CFTC’s exclusive jurisdiction. Over the past year, the CFTC has consistently reinforced its regulatory claims over prediction markets and has filed lawsuits against five states—Wisconsin, Illinois, Arizona, Connecticut, and New York—seeking to restrict Kalshi and Polymarket. TD Cowen believes Trump’s statement is unlikely to alter the legal dispute surrounding this matter in federal court.
According to Bloomberg, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) stated that it will soon launch trials of Project Agorá—a cross-border digital payments prototype—in partnership with others, conducting real-value transactions. First announced two years ago, Project Agorá is jointly advanced by the BIS, seven central banks, and over 40 regulated institutions. It has now entered a testing phase involving actual fund transfers.
U.S. SEC Chairman Paul Atkins stated that the SEC had long been out of step with new technologies and innovation, causing entrepreneurs to turn to overseas markets. He declared that this phase has ended. Under President Trump’s leadership—and with cooperation from the administration and congressional colleagues—the SEC is providing what it calls “much-needed clarity” to the digital asset market.
According to an official announcement, Aztec Labs has acquired Obsidion—the team behind ZKPassport. The Obsidion team will continue developing ZKPassport while also leading the development of new consumer-facing products. The ZKPassport protocol will remain open-source. Aztec Labs stated that ZKPassport enables users to prove attributes such as age, nationality, or sanctions status using government-issued identity documents—without uploading any personal data to a server and without personal data ever leaving the user’s device. It already supports over 130 countries and regions and has been used for nationality and sanctions compliance verification in the Aztec Network token sale.
TD Cowen stated President Trump’s public support for the CFTC’s stance on regulating prediction markets is unlikely to alter the legal debate surrounding event contracts. TD Cowen Managing Director Jaret Seiberg noted that the matter is now in federal court and cannot be decided by regulatory agencies or the executive branch. He still believes the Supreme Court will ultimately rule on whether Congress, in creating event contracts, preempts state sports betting laws. He added that states still hold the advantage in this debate, and litigation may take two years or more. Seiberg also pointed out that Trump’s post was more about defending CFTC Chairman Selig following a New York Times investigative report, rather than a substantive policy change. (TheBlock)
: Streamex, a tokenized commodity platform, has partnered with Orca, a Solana-based decentralized exchange, to launch a tokenized asset trading market on Solana. This market allows verified qualified investors to buy and sell Streamex's yield-bearing, gold-backed GLDY tokens through regulated on-chain trading pools. The system integrates identity and compliance checks into Streamex's KYC and qualified investor verification process, with trading access limited to approved investors. Transactions are conducted through permissioned liquidity pools on Orca. Investor wallets remain frozen until identity verification and certification are completed, and qualification data is updated on-chain in real time. Streamex and Orca stated that neither party will act as a broker or intermediary for investors reselling GLDY tokens. Orca noted that its automated market maker infrastructure has processed over $500 billion in cumulative trading volume since its launch.
Odaily, Dallas-based United Texas Bank has converted from a Texas state-chartered bank to a national bank approved by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, positioning itself as an institution connecting global crypto companies with the U.S. banking system. United Texas Bank stated that it now holds the same federal license as major money center banks and has direct access to the Federal Reserve. The bank currently clears approximately $10 billion in monthly USD transaction volume for global crypto companies. The bank is launching UTB Atomic, a 24/7 AI-driven payment network, paired with its compliance platform UTB Prism Sentinel, to restore around-the-clock crypto liquidity and meet emerging federal rules related to digital assets and stablecoins.
Trump stated at today's Cabinet meeting that the U.S. economy has continued to improve under his administration, emphasizing that ordinary families, pension accounts, and capital markets have all benefited.Trump said that this year, the average tax refund for ordinary American families is "close to $5,000," and noted that since he took office, the U.S. stock market has hit 68 record highs.He also mentioned that the average growth of Americans' 401(k) retirement accounts is nearly $30,000, adding, "The Americans are benefiting."Market analysts believe that the Trump administration has been steadily reinforcing the "economy and market performance" narrative, seeking to highlight the positive impacts of rising capital markets, growing household wealth, and tax policies. (Fox News)
Wall Street investment bank Jefferies stated that as institutional investors accelerate their shift towards blockchain-based financial infrastructure, the crypto and blockchain sectors could see a new wave of IPOs over the next two years, forming a public market worth $1 trillion within five years.Jefferies released a report indicating that the current industry focus is shifting from speculative crypto asset prices to the comprehensive integration of blockchain infrastructure by banks, exchanges, asset managers, and payment institutions. Companies like Payward (parent company of Kraken) and Securitize are advancing their IPO plans, and it is expected that more crypto-related companies will enter the public market in the future. Tokenization is seen as a key driver of this structural transformation, with money market funds, private credit, and on-chain settlement systems already entering practical implementation phases. Increasing regulatory clarity will further accelerate institutional adoption.Currently, the market is moving from short-term hype to long-term technological reassessment. Crypto IPOs could serve as a crucial gateway connecting traditional capital markets with the on-chain economy. (CoinDesk)
as anticipation builds for several potential major IPOs, "prediction market trading" centered around high-profile pre-IPO companies is rapidly heating up, with users betting on pre-IPO performance through prediction contracts.Platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi have become primary channels, allowing users to engage in "yes/no" contract trading on key metrics such as valuation ranges and listing timelines. Prices are quoted in cents, settling at $1 if the outcome is correct.Given that ordinary investors cannot directly participate in equity investments in popular private companies like SpaceX and OpenAI before their IPOs, prediction markets are converting related expectations into tradeable, event-driven assets.Analysts believe that as the window for potential "mega IPOs" approaches, prediction markets are leveraging public sentiment and capital attention to turn IPO narratives into short-term volatility opportunities on both on-chain and compliant trading platforms, further expanding their influence in financial speculation and information pricing. (The Information)
Nasdaq-listed Alpha Compute has announced the completion of its acquisition of a majority stake in GAMEE, a gaming and digital rewards platform, securing a 60% controlling interest. The transaction has now met all regulatory and closing conditions.According to the agreement, Alpha Compute acquired GAMEE from Animoca Brands for a consideration of approximately $11 million, implying an enterprise valuation of roughly $18 million. The transaction structure includes cash, stock, and future performance-based earnouts, along with an EBITDA milestone incentive clause over two years. Additionally, approximately 878 million GMEE tokens associated with Animoca are also included in the transaction arrangement.Following the transaction, Alpha Compute will establish a new AI gaming division named Alpha Games, with GAMEE founder Bozena Rezab serving as Executive Vice President. GAMEE will be integrated into Alpha Compute's AI infrastructure system, working in synergy with its GPU computing platform.
during a recent Senate Banking Committee hearing, substantial progress was achieved in advancing the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (CLARITY Act). The bill passed with a 15-9 vote, moving to the full Senate for consideration.Several bipartisan lawmakers emphasized during the discussions that the United States urgently needs to establish a unified regulatory framework for digital assets, clarifying asset classification, trading platform oversight, and market structure rules to provide long-term certainty for the industry. Angela Alsobrooks pointed out from a family perspective that younger generations show a natural interest in digital assets, and the regulatory system should strike a balance between "opportunity and protection" to prevent technological development from escaping regulatory oversight. Tim Scott stressed the need to advance legislation from the standpoint of economic opportunity and the American Dream, while Cynthia Lummis noted that the legislative process has already demonstrated a clear foundation for bipartisan cooperation.Supporters argue that digital assets have become an irreversible trend, with approximately 68 million Americans currently holding related assets. However, a significant volume of transactions still occur on overseas platforms, underscoring the urgent need for the U.S. to establish a domestic regulatory framework to enhance market transparency and investor protection. Analysts point out that the CLARITY Act is seen as a crucial complement following stablecoin-related legislation (the GENIUS Act). Without supporting rules at the market structure level, the U.S. risks losing its dominant position in the competition for digital financial infrastructure.As the bill advances to the full Senate, observers are closely watching whether it can complete final legislation based on bipartisan consensus, thereby establishing the core rules of the U.S. digital asset regulatory framework. (CoinDesk)
the "Transparency Alliance," initiated by Blockworks, has been officially established, garnering support from over 40 crypto enterprises including Coinbase, Kraken, and Binance.US. The alliance aims to jointly develop unified token information disclosure standards to enhance market transparency and attract institutional capital. Based on Blockworks' Token Transparency Framework, the alliance seeks to establish a standardized information disclosure mechanism for crypto assets, similar to that of the stock market, enabling investors to gain a clearer understanding of token structures and risks.Reportedly, the framework covers details such as token issuance structure, internal holdings allocation, market maker arrangements, exchange listing terms, and repurchase mechanisms. It distinguishes between two types of document systems: "one-time pre-issuance disclosure" and "ongoing update disclosure." To date, 44 projects, including Morpho, Jupiter, Spark, and dYdX, have completed the relevant filings.Industry insiders point out that this initiative aims to establish a unified information infrastructure for the crypto market to meet institutional investors' demands for transparency and compliance. Blockworks stated that it has communicated with relevant personnel from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Analysts believe that this alliance signifies the crypto industry is accelerating its shift towards an "institutionalized information disclosure system." However, its ultimate impact will depend on whether the market translates these disclosure standards into widespread industry consensus. (CoinDesk)
decentralized derivatives platform Hyperliquid has launched a pre-listing perpetual contract for SpaceX (SPCX-USDC) via Trade.xyz, sparking controversy over a global regulatory gap. The contract provides leveraged trading without requiring users to hold any SpaceX stock or authorization from the company. Initially priced at $150, corresponding to an implied valuation of approximately $1.78 trillion, the contract surged to $216 shortly after launch.According to reports, the contract is settled in USDC, with prices derived from market oracles and not linked to SpaceX's actual financials or equity structure. SpaceX itself has neither authorized nor participated in this market, yet its valuation is being priced and traded in real-time on-chain, raising concerns that "decentralized derivatives are taking over price discovery for private companies." This market originates from Hyperliquid's HIP-3 mechanism, suggesting that private company valuations may increasingly be re-priced by on-chain derivatives, while regulatory frameworks have yet to establish corresponding standards. (Forbes)
: Payment giant Mastercard has announced that it has obtained a BitLicense from the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), allowing it to conduct digital asset-related businesses under a strict regulatory framework, including stablecoins and blockchain settlement infrastructure. The license was obtained by Mastercard Transaction Services (U.S.) LLC, marking the company's further expansion into digital payments and on-chain settlement infrastructure. BitLicense is one of the strictest crypto regulatory frameworks in the United States, requiring firms to meet multiple standards for capital reserves, compliance, security, and consumer protection.Mastercard stated that this approval will support its strategic layout in stablecoins and tokenized payments. Company executives pointed out that a clear regulatory framework helps drive digital assets from the experimental stage toward practical applications.Recently, several institutions, including Galaxy Digital and Strike, have also successively obtained BitLicenses, indicating that U.S. regulatory approvals are accelerating the opening up to compliant digital asset enterprises. (CoinDesk)
: Prediction market Polymarket is facing increased pressure from regulatory and sanctions compliance. It is reported that the platform is pushing traders to undergo identity verification (KYC) to mitigate potential legal and compliance risks.Although Polymarket's betting platform rules do not permit such activities in certain regions, some users have still been participating in market trading through automated trading bots and other methods, forming gray usage pathways in areas such as Russia. Some developers have even utilized tools like Telegram to organize trading traffic and expand their user base. As the platform scales and regulatory scrutiny intensifies, Polymarket is being forced to seek a balance between the decentralized prediction market model and compliance requirements to address potential sanctions and legal risks. (The Information)
Falcon Finance officially announced the launch of its U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin, fUSD, in collaboration with Anchorage Digital Bank. Positioned as an institutional-grade payment stablecoin compliant with the GENIUS Act framework, fUSD is now live on Ceffu’s custody and collateral infrastructure. Reportedly, fUSD is backed by reserves including U.S. Treasury securities and is issued by Anchorage Digital Bank—but does not pay interest or returns directly to holders.
Odaily reports, Singapore police have filed six charges of fraud against Zhu Juntao, the former CEO of the defunct crypto lending platform Hodlnaut. The charges allege that during the TerraUSD collapse in 2022, he instructed employees to issue false statements, misleading users to believe that Hodlnaut had no direct exposure to TerraUSD and had not suffered any losses from the incident. According to the prosecutor, the false information was published on Hodlnaut's Telegram channel, customer emails, and Zhu's own X (formerly Twitter) account. Under Singapore law, if convicted, Zhu faces a maximum of up to 20 years in prison, a fine, or both for each charge. (CoinDesk)