News linked to both this project and an event.
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)
SoFi has launched a US dollar-backed stablecoin, SoFiUSD, on Ethereum and Solana, becoming the first U.S. national bank to directly offer a stablecoin to retail customers on a public blockchain. Nearly 15 million SoFi members can now buy, sell, hold, and exchange SoFiUSD within the app, with each token redeemable 1:1 for US dollars via SoFi Bank. SoFi stated that it plans to use SoFiUSD for traditional financial scenarios such as cross-border payments and B2B transactions, and intends to launch features including interest-bearing tokenized deposits, FDIC-insured accounts, and 24/7 cross-border transfers. (CoinDesk)
According to CoinDesk, the cryptocurrency Political Action Committee (PAC) spent a total of $9 million in Texas primaries, supporting winning candidates from both parties—demonstrating the industry’s active effort to secure political influence and laying early groundwork for the 2026 midterm elections.
According to CoinDesk, the UK has imposed sanctions on 18 entities and individuals accused of assisting Russia in circumventing Western restrictions and financing its war in Ukraine. Among those sanctioned are the cryptocurrency exchange Huobi Global S.A. (operated by HTX) and the stablecoin issuer Open Joint Stock Company “Virtual Asset Issuer.” This marks the first time the UK has applied Regulation 17A—which targets sanctioned banks—to cryptocurrency exchanges, requiring UK financial institutions and crypto service providers to freeze related funds, trace on-chain transactions, and refrain from maintaining correspondent relationships with or processing payments for sanctioned parties. The sanctions specifically target the A7 payment network.
According to CoinDesk, Base—the Ethereum Layer 2 network operated by Coinbase—has launched the AI-integration tool Base MCP, which connects users’ Base accounts to AI clients such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Cursor, enabling them to perform transactions—including fund transfers, token swaps, balance checks, transaction history reviews, and interactions with DeFi applications—using natural language.
Odaily President Trump posted on Truth Social, stating that it is crucial for the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to retain "exclusive jurisdiction" over prediction markets, echoing the stance of CFTC Chairman Michael Selig. Trump also stated that the U.S. is formulating relevant rules, referencing his campaign promise to make the U.S. a center for cryptocurrency and Bitcoin-related fields. Under the leadership of the sole commissioner, Selig, the CFTC has filed lawsuits and amicus briefs against several states to assert its jurisdiction over prediction markets. The dispute centers on whether prediction market contracts related to sports and entertainment constitute gambling products, and whether contracts offered by regulated Designated Contract Markets (DCMs) should fall under CFTC jurisdiction. New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a related lawsuit, Illinois has issued a cease and desist order, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed a law last week imposing criminal penalties for operating prediction markets. Indonesia, Spain, and India have recently banned the operation of prediction markets within their territories. An investigation into prediction markets by a U.S. House committee was also confirmed last week. (CoinDesk)
a report released by FalconX shows that the crypto derivatives platform Hyperliquid is expanding from perpetual contracts to pre-IPO trading, prediction contracts, and tokenized real-world assets, beginning to compete with traditional exchanges and prediction market operators. The report indicates that Hyperliquid's HIP-3 market allows users to trade stocks, commodities, forex, and pre-IPO contracts 24/7, with traders already using it for pre-IPO speculation on companies such as Cerebras, Anthropic, and SpaceX. The HIP-4 outcome market allows traders to place binary bets on political, economic, and crypto events.In terms of capital inflows, the HYPE spot ETFs launched by 21Shares and Bitwise have attracted a combined $53 million in inflows within just a few trading days. Hyperliquid's USDC partnership with Coinbase and Circle is expected to generate up to $160 million in annual protocol revenue. FalconX warns that CME and ICE have expressed concerns to regulators about potential market manipulation risks on the Hyperliquid market. Nevertheless, Hyperliquid continues to lead the decentralized perpetual contract market in terms of trading volume, revenue, and total value locked. (CoinDesk)
: The U.S. Federal Reserve Board has released an updated streamlined master account proposal, detailing plans to provide payment system access to fintech and crypto companies. The proposal updates an information solicitation document first released in December 2025, envisioning that relevant companies would not need to be chartered as Office of the Comptroller of the Currency banks to access the payment system. The same week, U.S. President Donald Trump signed two executive orders: one requiring federal regulatory agencies to review existing policies to better integrate digital assets into the payment system; the other requiring the U.S. Treasury Department and regulators to strengthen rules related to the Bank Secrecy Act. The executive orders also direct the Federal Reserve to review arrangements for non-depository institutions and their payment account access, and to have Federal Reserve member banks assess whether they can independently provide payment accounts to relevant entities. The U.S. Senate Banking Committee previously voted to advance the Clarity Act. The Senate then entered a Memorial Day recess without voting on a reconciliation bill that includes funding for the Department of Homeland Security. (CoinDesk)
multiple blockchain and post-quantum cryptography researchers have warned that artificial intelligence (AI) is accelerating the development of quantum computing and could potentially impact the security systems of mainstream blockchains, including Bitcoin and Ethereum, earlier than anticipated.Alex Pruden, CEO of Project Eleven, a firm focused on quantum-resistant infrastructure, stated that the combination of AI and quantum computing is fundamentally reshaping the future security landscape. "People will no longer be able to rely on existing security assumptions as they have in the past," he said.Researchers point out that AI is already being used to optimize quantum error correction, which is one of the key technical bottlenecks in the development of quantum computing. Illia Polosukhin also noted that AI has been accelerating scientific breakthroughs for years, and in the future, there may even be a circular acceleration effect where "AI helps build the next generation of quantum computers."One of the industry's biggest current concerns is the "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" strategy, where governments or advanced attackers begin mass-collecting encrypted data now, waiting to decrypt it all at once once quantum computing matures. Polosukhin warned that if quantum computers become viable within a few years, "most of today's important data on the internet could be decrypted in the future."Given that most blockchain networks and internet infrastructure currently rely on elliptic curve cryptography (ECC), a sufficiently powerful quantum computer could theoretically derive a private key from a public key, directly breaking wallets and on-chain systems. Simultaneously, AI itself is strengthening hacking capabilities. Pruden stated that AI models are becoming increasingly adept at discovering software vulnerabilities and cryptography implementation flaws, and may even be able to crack some encryption algorithms directly in the future.However, AI is also being used by developers for code auditing, formal verification, and testing post-quantum security systems, creating a "long-term security arms race" with simultaneous upgrades on both the offensive and defensive sides. Researchers believe the most significant change brought by AI and quantum computing together is that the core assumption of "long-term cryptographic reliability" in the digital age is being challenged. Future security systems may shift from "static upgrades" to continuous dynamic evolution. (CoinDesk)
Hyperliquid has recently significantly outperformed the broader market. Its token, HYPE, hit an all-time high following the launch of two related ETFs in the United States. Meanwhile, European traders are accelerating their migration to the platform due to restricted access to perpetual contracts on regulated exchanges. Market analyst Michael van de Poppe stated that with Hyperliquid's continued rally and renewed interest in AI-related crypto projects, signs of improving risk appetite are emerging in the altcoin market. Hyperliquid’s expansion into tokenized stocks, commodities, and pre-IPO assets is strengthening the on-chain asset tokenization trend. He suggested that if market sentiment continues to improve, HYPE’s price could target $100 or even higher.However, Michael van de Poppe also stressed that while Hyperliquid holds a short-term advantage, Solana offers greater long-term investment certainty, transitioning from a "speculative ecosystem" to institutional-grade infrastructure. In the AI track, he noted that NEAR Protocol and Bittensor remain significantly undervalued, citing a disconnect between their fundamental growth and valuations. He pointed out that NEAR’s revenue growth potential and Bittensor’s subnet expansion could support higher valuation ranges. Additionally, he indicated that the privacy sector retains long-term demand, but fully anonymous systems face regulatory pressure. The future is more likely to be dominated by zero-knowledge proofs and compliant privacy solutions.On the macro level, Michael van de Poppe highlighted that bond yields and central bank policies remain the core drivers of the crypto market, with changes in Japanese government bond yields potentially serving as a key barometer. (CoinDesk)
the proposed U.S. crypto market structure bill, the "Clarity Act," could foster a new "Yield-as-a-Service" market in the crypto industry. It may also push the sector away from a passive "hold-to-earn" model toward an AI-driven compliant yield infrastructure.Currently, the core of the debate centers on Section 404 of the bill, which would prohibit Digital Asset Service Providers (DASPs) from directly offering yields solely based on users holding a specific digital asset. Joe Vollono believes this means the industry will shift from "Hold-to-Earn" to "Use-to-Earn," making the future market more reliant on active and compliant yield strategies.Joe Vollono, Chief Business Officer at STBL, stated that the bill could drive development in areas such as DeFi infrastructure, treasury management, collateral management, automated capital management, on-chain lending, and reward systems. AI is expected to become a crucial foundational layer for coordinating regulated capital flows.At this stage, the Clarity Act has passed the U.S. Senate Banking Committee. It is expected to move next to a full Senate vote, where it will be reconciled with the version from the Agriculture Committee. The market generally believes this bill could, for the first time, establish a complete regulatory framework for the U.S. digital asset market, clearly defining the regulatory boundaries between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for digital assets. This would pave the way for large institutional capital to enter the crypto market. (CoinDesk)
CoinDesk’s April 2026 Exchange Report recently revealed that HTX (formerly Huobi) increased its spot market share among global centralized exchanges by 0.88%, ranking third in growth. With a 3.79% spot market share, HTX ranks among the top four Chinese-language centralized exchanges. Additionally, in the derivatives market share ranking for centralized exchanges, HTX holds 1.98%, placing sixth among Chinese-language exchanges.
A recent exchange report published by CoinDesk shows that Gate continues to maintain a leading global position in both spot and derivatives markets. In April, Gate's spot trading volume reached $39.3 billion, while its derivatives trading volume hit $350 billion. Combining both spot and derivatives, its total trading volume ranked fourth globally. Meanwhile, Gate also secured the fourth spot in the global derivatives exchange ranking, holding a 9.86% market share and maintaining its position as a top-tier trading platform worldwide.The report indicates that despite a general decline in overall derivatives market activity, the open interest on centralized exchanges saw a counter-trend increase of 16.9% in April, reaching $105 billion—a new high since February this year. Gate ranked fourth among global retail trading platforms in terms of open interest, with a 9.45% market share, reflecting its ongoing advantages in liquidity depth, trading activity, and competitiveness within the derivatives market.Beyond trading services, the CoinDesk report also highlighted multiple advancements in Gate’s products and ecosystem. Gate has become the first centralized exchange to integrate Polymarket, allowing users to participate in prediction market trading directly through the Gate App using USDT. Currently, Gate has established a systematic framework focusing on the convergence of AI and Web3, progressively forming an AI ecosystem comprising Gate.AI, Gate for AI Agent, GateRouter, and GateClaw. This positions Gate to accelerate its evolution into a key gateway for next-generation AI and on-chain interactions.
MoonPay has announced the launch of a new platform, MoonPay Trade, designed for banks, fintech companies, and enterprise clients. It provides unified access to tokenized assets, decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, and stablecoin liquidity across over 200 blockchain networks.The platform is powered by Decent.xyz, a cross-chain routing infrastructure company recently acquired by MoonPay for a reported "high eight-figure USD amount." MoonPay stated that this product will serve as the core execution layer for its institutional business, MoonPay Institutional, which is led by former Acting Chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Caroline Pham.MoonPay Trade will support subscriptions for tokenized funds, collateral transfers, and integrations with DeFi protocols such as Aave, Morpho, and Maple Finance, enabling institutions to conduct lending and yield generation operations directly on-chain.Industry data shows that the current scale of tokenized real-world assets (RWA) has exceeded $33 billion, growing threefold within a year. Traditional financial institutions, including BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, and JPMorgan, have successively launched tokenized fund products, accelerating the influx of institutional capital into on-chain finance.MoonPay stated that as institutions continue to advance their tokenized asset strategies, its goal is to provide traditional financial institutions with the infrastructure capabilities for compliant access to on-chain markets through a unified interface. (CoinDesk)
According to CoinDesk, cryptocurrency custody firm Copper is seeking to sell the company at a valuation of approximately $500 million and has engaged Wall Street investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald to assist with the transaction. Copper’s core asset is its ClearLoop custody-based settlement system, which enables institutional clients to execute delivery versus payment (DvP) transactions without moving assets on-chain, effectively eliminating settlement risk. The company currently boasts over 1,000 active counterparties and processes over $50 billion in notional trading volume monthly. Copper had previously considered an IPO, but the broader crypto IPO market has entered a wait-and-see phase amid sluggish Bitcoin prices and the capital-attracting effect of the AI sector.
According to CoinDesk, Timothy Massad, former Chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), stated that although former President Trump has publicly pledged opposition to central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and government-backed dollar-pegged stablecoins, the U.S. may ultimately launch a government-backed on-chain digital dollar initiative, driven by the global advancement of tokenized finance. Massad noted that the White House is conducting closed-door research into the relevant infrastructure, and the U.S. has already joined the Bank for International Settlements’ (BIS) Project Agora. Meanwhile, Mark Gould, Head of Payments at the Federal Reserve, said that a digital dollar currently falls outside the Federal Reserve’s mandate—but if a government-backed digital dollar were to be launched, the Federal Reserve would assume responsibility for it.
According to CoinDesk, German stablecoin startup AllUnity plans to launch SEKAU—a Swedish krona-pegged stablecoin—in June, following final regulatory and operational approvals, and will issue it under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulatory framework. Meanwhile, AllUnity has also launched Agentic Payments, enabling businesses to receive transactions initiated autonomously by AI software agents and settle funds directly into local bank accounts. The system adopts Coinbase’s x402 payment standard and targets online digital services, content, and data sales. AllUnity is backed by DWS, Flow Traders, and Galaxy Digital, and is regulated by Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
According to CoinDesk, crypto infrastructure firm Zerohash is seeking new funding at a valuation exceeding $1.5 billion. This comes after Mastercard abandoned its investment plans for Zerohash following its $1.8 billion acquisition of UK-based stablecoin infrastructure company BVNK. Founded in 2017, Zerohash provides APIs and embedded development tools to financial institutions and fintech companies, enabling support for cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and tokenized products. The company now serves over 5 million users across 190 countries, with clients including Morgan Stanley, Stripe, Interactive Brokers, BlackRock’s BUIDL Fund, and Franklin Templeton. In September 2025, Zerohash closed its $104 million Series D-2 round, valuing the company at $1 billion at that time.
According to CoinDesk, U.S. President Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday local time, directing the federal government to update its regulatory framework to integrate digital assets and innovative technologies into traditional financial services and payment systems. The order requires financial regulatory agencies to review existing rules within three months to identify barriers hindering collaboration between fintech firms and federal regulators, and to implement measures to encourage innovation within six months. Additionally, the executive order specifically directs the Federal Reserve to review regulations governing non-bank financial institutions’ access to payment accounts and services—a move that could directly benefit Wyoming’s Special Purpose Depository Institutions (SPDIs) and companies operating under similar frameworks. Firms such as Kraken have previously actively sought access to Federal Reserve master accounts.
According to CoinDesk, decentralized exchange Ostium has announced it is the first on-chain trading platform to offer perpetual contracts on individual U.S. equities powered by Nasdaq data, enabling users to gain exposure to U.S. stocks via blockchain infrastructure. Built on Arbitrum, Ostium focuses on perpetual futures pegged to real-world assets, supporting trading in equities, stock indices, foreign exchange, and commodities. Official data shows that since its launch in 2024, the platform has recorded over $50 billion in cumulative trading volume and attracted more than 26,000 traders. This partnership reflects the growing adoption of equity perpetual contracts in on-chain markets and highlights Nasdaq’s accelerated efforts to build tokenized stock trading infrastructure.