News linked to both this project and an event.
Investment bank TD Cowen stated that as the relevant political environment continues to deteriorate, the likelihood of the US crypto market structure bill, the "Clarity Act," passing this year is declining.TD Cowen analyst Jaret Seiberg pointed out that while the Senate Banking Committee advanced the bill earlier this month, this does not signify a substantive bipartisan agreement; rather, it merely pushes the controversy to the full Senate floor.The report indicated that the escalating controversies surrounding US President Donald Trump and his administration related to crypto in recent days are making it harder for Democrats to support the bill. If the bill does not include clear conflict-of-interest provisions, it will face even greater difficulty in gaining sufficient support in the current political environment.
Odaily报道 The Digital Chamber, a crypto industry group, has responded to Senator Elizabeth Warren’s questions regarding recent approvals of OCC national trust charters, stating that her claim of crypto companies receiving "improper approvals" is unfounded.Earlier, Warren sent a letter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), arguing that recent approvals granted to digital asset companies such as Ripple, Circle, Paxos, Fidelity, BitGo, and Coinbase may violate the National Bank Act and fail to adhere to the same regulatory standards applied to traditional banks.The Digital Chamber stated that the OCC has the authority to grant national trust charters to qualified institutions, and that such arrangements do not equate to relaxed oversight. Representing over 250 crypto-related entities, the organization believes these charters help integrate digital asset services into a clearer federal regulatory framework.
the Spanish government is taking action to block Polymarket and Kalshi, stating that the two prediction market platforms are operating in the country without obtaining gambling licenses, allegedly violating the law. Spain's consumer affairs department stated that it has issued preventive blocking orders targeting the websites of Polymarket and Kalshi. Officials will investigate suspected violations of gambling laws, with the relevant procedures expected to last three to four months.The Spanish Gambling Regulatory Authority stated that when prediction platforms allow users to place bets on uncertain outcomes, they carry gambling risks, and companies seeking to offer such services require specific administrative licenses. Currently, Polymarket and Kalshi have not responded to requests for comment. (WSJ)
According to The Block, JPMorgan analysts noted in their latest report that tokenized money market funds currently account for only about 5% of the stablecoin market size and are expected to continue growing—but unless there is a significant shift in the regulatory environment, they are unlikely to surpass a market share ceiling of 10%–15%. The analysts believe stablecoins remain the preferred cash instrument in the crypto ecosystem due to their widespread use in trading, settlement, cross-border payments, and liquidity management. In contrast, tokenized money market funds—classified as securities—are subject to structural regulatory disadvantages, including requirements for registration, disclosure, and transfer restrictions, making them difficult to circulate freely within on-chain ecosystems. Although the U.S. SEC has introduced streamlined processes for issuing on-chain money market funds, JPMorgan analysts view this as only a “marginal improvement,” insufficient to fundamentally alter the market dynamics between these two asset classes.
: The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Hockey League (NHL) to strengthen the regulation of prediction markets. The two parties will enhance information sharing and collaboration to safeguard the fairness and integrity of the market for contracts related to professional hockey games and related events. This includes strengthening their existing event integrity monitoring systems and improving their ability to identify, prevent, and respond to potential risks. As platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket continue to gain traction, especially following the 2024 U.S. election cycle, sports and event-based prediction markets are increasingly moving into the mainstream financial and regulatory spotlight. (The Block)
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.
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.
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 The Block, Sarah Breeden, Deputy Governor for Financial Stability at the Bank of England, stated that the UK’s future financial system will advance tokenization, with the retail payments system incorporating tokenized deposits, regulated stablecoins, and potentially a retail central bank digital currency (CBDC). The Bank of England plans to publish a draft regulatory framework for systemic stablecoins next month and finalize it by the end of 2026—imposing temporary caps on stablecoin issuance volumes if necessary. Breeden also noted that the Bank of England will continue supporting banks in developing tokenized deposits and advancing initiatives such as the Digital Securities Sandbox and Digital Gilt.
According to The Block, Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has officially approved a policy proposal to build a next-generation national financial system based on blockchain and AI. The proposal also supports advancing tokenized deposits and yen-denominated stablecoins. The report notes that this initiative is being formally advanced at the ruling party level and involves strategic directions for Web3 and financial infrastructure development.
the U.S. state of Minnesota has officially passed and signed into law Bill HF 3709, allowing banks and credit unions to offer cryptocurrency custody services, further clarifying the business boundaries of financial institutions in the digital asset space. The bill, signed by Governor Tim Walz, will take effect on August 1, 2026. It stipulates that relevant financial institutions must establish risk management, internal control, and security policies before engaging in crypto custody, submit a notification to the state's Department of Commerce 60 days prior to launching services, and ensure that client assets are strictly segregated from the institution's own assets.The bill aims to enable local financial institutions to offer crypto services within a regulatory framework, reducing users' reliance on overseas or unregulated platforms and enhancing asset security. At the same time, Minnesota recently passed Bill SF 3868, which prohibits the establishment of new crypto ATMs within the state and requires existing machines to be phased out, sparking market concerns about further tightening of on-ramp access for cryptocurrencies.Currently, several U.S. states, including New York, Wyoming, and Virginia, already permit banks to engage in crypto custody services, indicating a divergence in regulatory paths at the state level. (The Block)
According to The Block, the Ethereum Foundation has recently experienced another wave of talent attrition: researchers Carl Beek and Julian Ma announced their departures this Monday. Beek had worked at the Foundation for seven years and led the development of Ethereum’s Beacon Chain, making significant contributions to Ethereum’s transition to the Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism; Ma had been with the Foundation for approximately four years, contributing to mechanism design, cryptoeconomics, and protocol scalability, and co-authored EIP-7805—a proposal aimed at enhancing Ethereum’s censorship resistance. Earlier this year, in February, Co-Executive Director Tomasz K. Stańczak resigned; multiple other senior figures—including Josh Stark, Barnabé Monnot, and Tim Beiko—have also departed in succession.
According to The Block, GalaxyOne Prime NY, a subsidiary of Galaxy Digital, has obtained both a BitLicense and a money transmitter license from the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), officially authorizing it to provide digital asset trading and custody services to residents, institutions, and businesses in New York State.
According to The Block, crypto infrastructure provider Zerohash Europe has obtained an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license from the Dutch Central Bank (DNB), becoming the first company to hold both a European MiCAR license and EMI authorization. Zerohash previously secured its MiCAR license in October 2025; this dual licensing enables it to legally provide crypto-asset services and process traditional electronic money flows across the European Economic Area (EEA), and to directly serve institutional clients such as banks, brokers, fintech firms, and payment platforms. The company is already collaborating with partners including Interactive Brokers Europe and has applied to the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national trust bank charter. Additionally, Zerohash is reportedly seeking $250 million in funding at a $1.5 billion valuation.
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)
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)
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.
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)
VanEck filed the fifth amendment to its BNB ETF registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on May 15. Grayscale also submitted the second amendment to the Grayscale BNB ETF prospectus on the same day.Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart stated that the simultaneous submission of amended documents by both institutions indicates they are responding to SEC feedback and may be planning to advance product launches in the near term.James Seyffart also noted that BNB could become the next crypto asset to pass SEC review and potentially be listed in the United States. (The Block)