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Multiple law enforcement agencies jointly oppose key provisions of the Clarity Act; negotiations continue
According to Crypto in America, the National District Attorneys Association, the National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the National Sheriffs’ Association jointly sent a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the White House Crypto Council, expressing strong opposition to Section 604 of the “Clarity Act”—the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA). Law enforcement groups argue that this provision could create regulatory loopholes exploitable by criminals for illicit activities including drug trafficking, fraud, child exploitation, sanctions evasion, and terrorist financing. Meanwhile, cryptocurrency-backed candidates achieved sweeping victories in primary elections across Maryland, New York, and Utah. Fairshake—a pro-crypto super PAC—has collectively spent over $7.6 million supporting these candidates, including $5.5 million backing Adrian Boafo, the candidate for Maryland’s 5th congressional district. Miller Whitehouse-Levine, founder of the Solana Policy Institute, warned that August 7, 2026, may be the final window for Congress to pass cryptocurrency market structure legislation. He stated that the industry is willing to make limited revisions to the BRCA provisions to address law enforcement concerns—but firmly opposes any fundamental changes that would weaken the core protections enshrined in the provision. Additionally, the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing on “The Future of Payments” the same day.
OpenAI Lawsuit: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Testifies in Court as Altman-Musk Dispute Escalates to Core Partnership Relations in the AI Giant
Odaily Odaily News: In the OpenAI lawsuit, Satya Nadella testified in court as Microsoft's CEO at the U.S. District Court in Oakland, California. The case centers on the ongoing legal dispute over OpenAI's non-profit structure and its path to commercialization. The lawsuit, filed by Elon Musk in 2024, accuses Microsoft of "aiding and abetting the breach of charitable trust obligations" during OpenAI's transition from a non-profit organization to a commercial entity. Microsoft has been making strategic investments in OpenAI since 2019, with cumulative investments reaching approximately $13 billion by 2023, making it one of OpenAI's most important external supporters.During the trial, Satya Nadella reviewed the early partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI, mentioning that the two parties had established deep technological and computing power collaboration before the launch of ChatGPT. In his earlier testimony, Musk stated that Microsoft's additional investment of approximately $10 billion in OpenAI in 2023 was the key turning point that prompted him to file the lawsuit, adding that the scale of the investment altered OpenAI's original non-profit-oriented structure. During the trial, Musk stated: "We are concerned they are turning a charitable organization into a commercial tool." He also questioned Microsoft's potential dominant position in the development of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and pointed out that its deep integration with OpenAI could impact the competitive landscape of the industry.The case is currently still under trial, and the debate surrounding OpenAI's governance structure, non-profit status, and control over the AI industry is expected to continue. (CNBC)
Kalshi, Polymarket Granted Federal Court Preliminary Injunction, Minnesota Prediction Market Ban Suspended
According to CoinDesk, U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Minnesota Katherine Menendez ruled on July 28 local time that the Minnesota state law criminalizing the operation of prediction markets likely violates the federal Commodity Exchange Act (CEA), and granted a preliminary injunction to Kalshi, Polymarket, and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to suspend the enforcement of the state law. The judge held that prediction market contracts structurally fall under 'swap' products within the CFTC's regulatory scope, federal law takes precedence over state law, and the three plaintiffs are 'likely to prevail in the formal trial'. Additionally, the judge noted that failing to suspend the enforcement of the law would cause 'irreparable harm' to Kalshi and Polymarket. The preliminary injunction will remain in effect until the final judgment of the case is issued.
Kalshi, Polymarket Obtain Temporary Halt of Minnesota Prediction Market Ban
U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez for the District of Minnesota ruled on Monday that a recently enacted Minnesota state law banning prediction markets may conflict with the Commodity Exchange Act. She granted a preliminary injunction in favor of Kalshi, Polymarket, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Kalshi, Polymarket, and the CFTC had sued the state of Minnesota earlier this year after the state passed a law classifying the operation of prediction markets within the state as a criminal offense. The three parties argued that prediction market contracts are structured as "swaps" and that the state law infringes upon the CFTC's regulatory authority over such products. In her ruling, Judge Menendez stated that the parties are likely to succeed on the merits of their claim that the federal Commodity Exchange Act preempts the state law.
BitMEX Faces Class Action Lawsuit, Users Claim 622.66 BTC in Damages
Odaily Odaily News Crypto derivatives platform BitMEX is facing a proposed class action lawsuit, with BKX Services Inc. and David Namdar filing a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The plaintiffs allege they incurred combined losses of 622.66 BTC from forced liquidations on BitMEX, with BKX claiming losses of at least 305.81 BTC and Namdar claiming losses exceeding 316.85 BTC. The complaint alleges that BitMEX's internal trading desk had access to customers' private information and could continue trading during periods when the server was frozen and regular users were unable to access or close positions. The plaintiffs further claim that BitMEX allowed customers to use leverage of up to 100x and would automatically liquidate positions when the collateral value was still twice the loss amount, with the remaining BTC entering the platform's insurance fund. The plaintiffs are seeking the return of the allegedly withheld Bitcoin, as well as compensatory and punitive damages. They intend to represent U.S. customers who purchased BTC swap products since July 23, 2018. On the same day the lawsuit was filed, BitMEX announced that following a strategic review by its owner, HDR Global Trading, it will cease providing services on September 23, has already stopped accepting new registrations, and plans to prohibit users from opening new positions starting August 26.
Gemini donates $10 million in Bitcoin to Trump-supporting MAGA Inc.
Cryptocurrency exchange Gemini has donated approximately $10 million worth of Bitcoin to MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting former US President Donald Trump. According to a report filed with the US Federal Election Commission (FEC), Gemini co-founders Cameron Winklevoss and Tyler Winklevoss completed the donations in two installments on June 19, each worth over $5 million. This donation occurred about three weeks after the CFTC and Gemini jointly filed a motion with the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeking to vacate the $5 million settlement agreement reached in January 2025. The settlement stemmed from the CFTC's earlier allegations that Gemini had made false or misleading statements. MAGA Inc. can use these funds to support independent political expenditures for Donald Trump. Previously, the Winklevoss brothers each donated $1 million to Donald Trump's 2024 campaign and contributed $21 million worth of Bitcoin to the Digital Freedom Fund PAC to support the crypto policy direction of the Trump administration. Currently, the court has not yet ruled on the motion to vacate the settlement between the CFTC and Gemini. Meanwhile, CFTC Chairman Michael Selig remains the sole commissioner of the agency. As of June 30, MAGA Inc. has reported receiving over $397 million in funds.
U.S. SEC Agrees to Pay $150,000 to Settle FOIA Lawsuit Over Ethereum Investigation Records, Will Submit Remaining Documents
Odaily news The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has agreed to pay $150,000 to resolve a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit concerning its records on the Ethereum investigation. According to a joint case status report filed on July 22, the SEC and the plaintiff, History Associates Inc., have reached a settlement and have requested the United States District Court for the District of Columbia to dismiss the case.Under the agreement, the SEC will continue to provide the remaining relevant documents and pay a fixed amount to cover the plaintiff's legal fees. The lawsuit was filed by History Associates in June 2024. This agency, commissioned by Coinbase, demanded the SEC disclose materials related to its regulatory investigation of Ethereum, including investigation files on Zachary Coburn and Enigma MPC, as well as records of regulatory discussions regarding Ethereum's transition from proof-of-work (PoW) to proof-of-stake (PoS).Previously, this lawsuit prompted the SEC to deliver thousands of documents. The court also ordered the SEC to prioritize providing internal communications sent, received, or reviewed by then-Chairman Gary Gensler regarding Ethereum's migration from PoW to PoS.During the case, the SEC sparked controversy for deleting some of Gensler's text message records. The SEC's Office of Inspector General previously disclosed that the agency accidentally deleted Gensler's text messages from October 2022 to September 2023. Subsequent documents revealed that the SEC also wiped data from 21 senior officials' phones.Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong stated that the incident highlights transparency issues within government agencies during the crypto regulatory process and noted that the relevant lawsuits aim to promote public access to the basis for regulatory decisions. With the SEC completing the submission of the remaining documents, this lawsuit, which has lasted for over two years, will officially come to an end. (CoinDesk)
U.S. Department of Justice Seizes Over $25 Million in Cryptocurrency Linked to International Investment Fraud Network
the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, in coordination with the U.S. Secret Service's Washington Field Office, announced that investigations into multiple international cyber fraud cases have led to the seizure of over $25 million in cryptocurrency. The funds were allegedly linked to crypto investment scams targeting residents of the United States and Canada.This action is part of the "Scam Center Strike Force," an initiative launched in 2025 by District of Columbia Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. To date, the task force has recovered assets totaling over $800 million. U.S. prosecutors stated that on July 21, 2026, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia filed five civil forfeiture complaints in the U.S. District Court, seeking the forfeiture of over $25 million in crypto assets recovered from various fraud investigations.Investigators indicated that these cases involve multiple money laundering networks with victims worldwide. Criminal groups lured victims into investing through fake crypto investment platforms and online romance scams, then laundered the funds through multi-layered wallet addresses and mixing operations to conceal the source of funds. The seized funds are associated with five major investigations:In one case, Canadian law enforcement provided the U.S. Secret Service with wallet addresses suspected of being used to transfer illicit proceeds. Investigators froze the relevant addresses and traced over 270 suspected victim transactions, involving approximately $10.4 million;The second case involved an online romance scam that defrauded over 200 victims. Illicit funds were transferred through hundreds of intermediate wallet addresses and commingled with funds from other victims, involving approximately $12.08 million;The third case involved a victim from the U.S. capital region who participated in a fraudulent crypto investment project. After failing to withdraw funds, the victim lost contact with the scammers, with the involved amount being approximately $1.23 million;In the fourth case, a victim transferred millions of dollars in cryptocurrency to a fake investment account. Investigators traced some of the funds to six wallet addresses and froze approximately $2.39 million;In the fifth case, scammers impersonated an agency that "recovers stolen funds" to trick victims into paying fees, with the involved amount being approximately $285,000.The U.S. Secret Service stated that these cases remain under active investigation. Law enforcement officials are tracking down the suspects behind the fraud network and will cooperate with international law enforcement agencies to hold them accountable.
Korea Sentences Fraud Case Under the Virtual Asset User Protection Act: Mastermind of Meme Coin "Rug Pull" Gets 4 Years in Prison
: South Korea today sentenced a fraud case involving unfair trading terms under the Virtual Asset User Protection Act in its first-instance trial. The Seoul Southern District Court sentenced Park, a cryptocurrency influencer who planned a Meme coin "Rug Pull" scam, to four years in prison. Two accomplices received sentences of two years and six months, and three years in prison with five years of probation, respectively.Prosecutors stated that the defendant issued a Meme coin through Pump.fun and used social media to spread false bullish information, such as "token lock-ups," inflating the coin's price approximately 1,001 times within 26 hours. This attracted about 6,000 investors to buy in, after which the group dumped their holdings to cash out. The gang spent only about 10 million Korean won on the scheme and illegally profited around 400 million Korean won. (Edaily)
U.S. Department of Justice Seizes Over $25 Million in Cryptocurrency Linked to International Investment Fraud Network
the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, in coordination with the U.S. Secret Service's Washington Field Office, announced that investigations into multiple international cyber fraud cases have led to the seizure of over $25 million in cryptocurrency. The funds were allegedly linked to crypto investment scams targeting residents of the United States and Canada.This action is part of the "Scam Center Strike Force," an initiative launched in 2025 by District of Columbia Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. To date, the task force has recovered assets totaling over $800 million. U.S. prosecutors stated that on July 21, 2026, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia filed five civil forfeiture complaints in the U.S. District Court, seeking the forfeiture of over $25 million in crypto assets recovered from various fraud investigations.Investigators indicated that these cases involve multiple money laundering networks with victims worldwide. Criminal groups lured victims into investing through fake crypto investment platforms and online romance scams, then laundered the funds through multi-layered wallet addresses and mixing operations to conceal the source of funds. The seized funds are associated with five major investigations:In one case, Canadian law enforcement provided the U.S. Secret Service with wallet addresses suspected of being used to transfer illicit proceeds. Investigators froze the relevant addresses and traced over 270 suspected victim transactions, involving approximately $10.4 million;The second case involved an online romance scam that defrauded over 200 victims. Illicit funds were transferred through hundreds of intermediate wallet addresses and commingled with funds from other victims, involving approximately $12.08 million;The third case involved a victim from the U.S. capital region who participated in a fraudulent crypto investment project. After failing to withdraw funds, the victim lost contact with the scammers, with the involved amount being approximately $1.23 million;In the fourth case, a victim transferred millions of dollars in cryptocurrency to a fake investment account. Investigators traced some of the funds to six wallet addresses and froze approximately $2.39 million;In the fifth case, scammers impersonated an agency that "recovers stolen funds" to trick victims into paying fees, with the involved amount being approximately $285,000.The U.S. Secret Service stated that these cases remain under active investigation. Law enforcement officials are tracking down the suspects behind the fraud network and will cooperate with international law enforcement agencies to hold them accountable.
Argentine judge orders freeze on wallets linked to Libra, involving $8.2 million in funds
Argentine Federal Judge Marcelo Martinez ordered the identification and freezing of a group of wallets linked to Libra, after the Federal Police Cybercrime Technical Department tracked the flow of related funds across multiple crypto networks since May. The investigation involves 8 wallets labeled "Libra team," which are directly connected to the token issuance.The report shows that 4 of these wallets had funneled nearly $57 million to an address, which was previously frozen and then unfrozen by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. On May 10, related funds were transferred to a Tron address via an interoperability protocol, with the amount close to $500,000. At least 10 out of 17 transactions passed through Binance, while another 8 wallets are associated with Bybit, 2 with OKX, and 2 with Bitfinex. Some users involved in the $8.2 million in funds could potentially be identified through the KYC rules of centralized exchanges. The remaining funds are currently managed by Libra Trust, which plans to distribute them as grants to Argentine companies by November. There are already 71 applications pending approval.
CFTC Charges North Carolina Man in $14 Million Crypto and Futures Fraud Scheme
Odaily, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed a lawsuit against North Carolina resident Trevor Vernon and his company, Argent Capital Management LLC, accusing them of defrauding approximately 60 investors out of a total of $14 million through a fraudulent commodity pool.According to the complaint filed by the CFTC on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina, the commodity pool operated by Vernon and his company involved trading in multiple asset classes, including stock index futures options, stock index futures contracts, and crypto assets.The CFTC alleges that Vernon misled investors by portraying himself as a "successful trader" through quarterly financial updates and monthly performance review emails. In reality, however, he incurred substantial losses while trading with investor funds.The regulator stated that Vernon suffered cumulative losses of at least $8.6 million from trading futures, options, and crypto assets. The CFTC claims that his actual trading results were marked by "consistent and catastrophic losses," which significantly contradicted the profitability he presented to investors.
American Judge Revives Fraud Claims Against Barry Silbert and DCG
Odaily A federal judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut has revived common law fraud claims in the Genesis Yield lawsuit against Digital Currency Group founder Barry Silbert, DCG, and other defendants, while allowing federal securities law claims in the case to proceed.The ruling amends a prior decision by the court from February of this year. The plaintiffs had argued that the court has jurisdiction to hear their state law claims under the Class Action Fairness Act. Judge Stefan Underhill accepted this argument and reopened the relevant state law claims.The case revolves around the defunct Genesis Yield lending program, which allowed users to deposit crypto assets and earn interest. Investors allege that Silbert, DCG, and other defendants misled customers about the company's financial health and risk controls before Genesis suspended withdrawals and filed for bankruptcy in early 2023.However, not all state law claims were revived. The court dismissed consumer protection claims from four states and stayed related claims from three others. Overall, the ruling re-centers the dispute regarding fraud liability for DCG and Silbert as a focal point of the case. (The Block)
A man illegally crossed the border to engage in telecom fraud in Myawaddy, Myanmar, inducing victims to invest in virtual currencies and receiving a prison sentence
the Shanghai Baoshan District Procuratorate disclosed a case yesterday. The defendant, Huang, illegally crossed the border to participate in telecom fraud activities abroad, inducing victims to invest in virtual currencies. After the dissolution of the Myawaddy compound in Myanmar, he continued to engage in "pig-butchering" scam fraud. By using methods such as AI face-swapping and communicating through foreign models, he gained victims' trust and then guided them to participate in cryptocurrency investments. Subsequently, a team leader would take over, tricking the victims into registering, depositing, and investing on fake websites. He was ultimately sentenced by the court to two years and six months in prison for fraud, and fined 30,000 Chinese yuan. (CCTV News)
U.S. Department of Justice Seizes Over $25 Million in Cryptocurrency Linked to International Investment Fraud Network
the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia, in coordination with the U.S. Secret Service's Washington Field Office, announced that investigations into multiple international cyber fraud cases have led to the seizure of over $25 million in cryptocurrency. The funds were allegedly linked to crypto investment scams targeting residents of the United States and Canada.This action is part of the "Scam Center Strike Force," an initiative launched in 2025 by District of Columbia Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro. To date, the task force has recovered assets totaling over $800 million. U.S. prosecutors stated that on July 21, 2026, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia filed five civil forfeiture complaints in the U.S. District Court, seeking the forfeiture of over $25 million in crypto assets recovered from various fraud investigations.Investigators indicated that these cases involve multiple money laundering networks with victims worldwide. Criminal groups lured victims into investing through fake crypto investment platforms and online romance scams, then laundered the funds through multi-layered wallet addresses and mixing operations to conceal the source of funds. The seized funds are associated with five major investigations:In one case, Canadian law enforcement provided the U.S. Secret Service with wallet addresses suspected of being used to transfer illicit proceeds. Investigators froze the relevant addresses and traced over 270 suspected victim transactions, involving approximately $10.4 million;The second case involved an online romance scam that defrauded over 200 victims. Illicit funds were transferred through hundreds of intermediate wallet addresses and commingled with funds from other victims, involving approximately $12.08 million;The third case involved a victim from the U.S. capital region who participated in a fraudulent crypto investment project. After failing to withdraw funds, the victim lost contact with the scammers, with the involved amount being approximately $1.23 million;In the fourth case, a victim transferred millions of dollars in cryptocurrency to a fake investment account. Investigators traced some of the funds to six wallet addresses and froze approximately $2.39 million;In the fifth case, scammers impersonated an agency that "recovers stolen funds" to trick victims into paying fees, with the involved amount being approximately $285,000.The U.S. Secret Service stated that these cases remain under active investigation. Law enforcement officials are tracking down the suspects behind the fraud network and will cooperate with international law enforcement agencies to hold them accountable.
US Department of Justice indicts two Chinese citizens suspected of laundering over $43 million for "pig butchering" scams
According to an announcement from the U.S. Department of Justice, Eastern District of New York Office of the United States Attorney, two Chinese citizens, Zhuoying Chen (aka "Jolene", 27, Brooklyn) and Haojie Zhang (aka "Kevin", 38, Queens), were formally indicted on July 16 at the Brooklyn Federal Court on charges of conspiracy to launder money. According to the allegations, between 2020 and 2022, the two managed a money laundering network of more than ten people in Queens and Brooklyn, New York, using approximately 45 shell companies and 140 corporate bank accounts to transfer at least $43 million in proceeds from "pig butchering" investment fraud to accounts within China. "Pig butchering" scams contact victims through social media or instant messaging software, gaining trust with false high-return investment opportunities before absconding with the funds. This case was jointly investigated by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, IRS-CI, and the United States Postal Inspection Service. If convicted, the two defendants each face up to 20 years in prison.
Coinbase assists Brooklyn District Attorney in combating impersonation scam, involving approximately $16 million
Coinbase officially stated it is cooperating with the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office in New York to assist in investigating a long-term impersonation scam targeting platform users and supporting victims in recovering funds.According to the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office, a Brooklyn man has been charged with long-term impersonation of Coinbase customer service. Using social engineering tactics, he tricked users into believing their accounts had been compromised and instructed them to transfer funds to a "secure wallet," subsequently moving and stealing the funds. The case involves approximately 100 victims, with the total amount involved nearing $16 million. Over $600,000 has been recovered so far.Coinbase stated that this type of scam does not stem from platform security vulnerabilities but is a social engineering attack exploiting user trust and a sense of urgency. Common methods include identity forgery, impersonating customer service, and creating panic over account risks. The company stated it has cooperated with law enforcement agencies to complete various investigative tasks, including identifying suspects, assisting with victim notifications, providing data support for legal requests, and conducting on-chain fund tracing. It emphasized that blockchain traceability helps law enforcement track the flow of funds.Coinbase also reminded users that the platform will never ask them to transfer funds to a "secure wallet" or request 2FA codes, seed phrases, or password reset links. It recommends that users only contact customer service through official in-app channels. The company will continue to strengthen its anti-fraud mechanisms, user education, and cooperation with law enforcement agencies to address increasingly sophisticated crypto asset fraud activities.
Multiple law enforcement agencies jointly oppose key provisions of the Clarity Act; negotiations continue
According to Crypto in America, the National District Attorneys Association, the National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the National Sheriffs’ Association jointly sent a letter to Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the White House Crypto Council, expressing strong opposition to Section 604 of the “Clarity Act”—the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA). Law enforcement groups argue that this provision could create regulatory loopholes exploitable by criminals for illicit activities including drug trafficking, fraud, child exploitation, sanctions evasion, and terrorist financing. Meanwhile, cryptocurrency-backed candidates achieved sweeping victories in primary elections across Maryland, New York, and Utah. Fairshake—a pro-crypto super PAC—has collectively spent over $7.6 million supporting these candidates, including $5.5 million backing Adrian Boafo, the candidate for Maryland’s 5th congressional district. Miller Whitehouse-Levine, founder of the Solana Policy Institute, warned that August 7, 2026, may be the final window for Congress to pass cryptocurrency market structure legislation. He stated that the industry is willing to make limited revisions to the BRCA provisions to address law enforcement concerns—but firmly opposes any fundamental changes that would weaken the core protections enshrined in the provision. Additionally, the House Financial Services Committee held a hearing on “The Future of Payments” the same day.
U.S. Law Enforcement Agencies Jointly Warn That the “Clarity Act” Could Weaken Investigations into Cryptocurrency Crimes
According to The Block, four major U.S. law enforcement organizations—the National District Attorneys Association, the National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and the National Sheriffs’ Association—jointly wrote to the Department of Justice and the White House, warning that Section 604 of the “Clarity Act” (i.e., the “Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act”) contains regulatory loopholes. This provision offers a “safe harbor” exemption for non-custodial developers; law enforcement agencies contend that it could shield individuals or entities assisting in the transfer of crypto assets, hinder investigations and prosecutions of crypto-related crimes, and weaken the existing anti-money laundering framework.
Nanjing Police Crack China’s Largest Gold Theft Case Worth 27 Million Yuan, Recovering All Stolen Assets
Odaily Odaily News: Jiangsu Nanjing police, in collaboration with the Chongzuo Border Management Detachment in Guangxi, successfully solved a major gold theft case involving 27 million yuan. The masterminds, Wang and Tong, driven by massive gambling debts, teamed up with another accomplice to plan and execute a theft targeting a luxury store in Jiangning District, Nanjing. They stole a total of 37 gold items, weighing 27 kilograms.After the crime, the main suspect Tong fled south with part of the gold by ride-hailing car, attempting to cross the border illegally via a small path. He was precisely intercepted and arrested by police from the Chongzuo Aidian Border Police Station just 100 meters from the China-Vietnam border, with 8.75 kilograms of gold seized on the spot. Subsequently, another suspect, Wang, who had already fled to Thailand, was captured in Bangkok and extradited back to China. Currently, all 11 suspects in the case have been apprehended, and the 27 kilograms of stolen gold have been fully recovered. (China News Weekly)
Decentralized storage project Storj Labs files for bankruptcy protection
According to Cointelegraph, decentralized cloud storage provider Storj Labs has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of West Virginia. The company stated that during the restructuring, the network will maintain normal operations, customer service will not be affected, and parent company Inveniam will continue to provide support. Storj management plans to propose a mechanism allowing STORJ token holders to participate in the equity of the restructured company, but specific eligibility criteria, token snapshots or lock-up arrangements, and equity allocation ratios have not yet been disclosed; any plan must be approved by the court.
BitMEX Faces 623 BTC Class-Action Lawsuit on Day of Closure Announcement
According to Cointelegraph, BitMEX was sued in a class-action lawsuit by BKX Services Inc. and David Namdar in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on July 24. The plaintiffs allege that BitMEX's internal trading team used privileged access during server freezes to illegally obtain customer Bitcoin collateral by manipulating the forced liquidation mechanism. The two plaintiffs suffered a combined loss of 622.66 BTC (BKX lost at least 305.81 BTC, and Namdar lost over 316.85 BTC). The plaintiffs demand the return of the seized Bitcoin and seek compensatory and punitive damages, representing U.S. users who purchased BTC swap products since July 23, 2018. Notably, the lawsuit was filed on the same day as the announcement of BitMEX's closure—BitMEX's parent company HDR Global Trading announced it will cease services on September 23 and has stopped accepting new user registrations. Following the announcement, the price of its BMEX token plummeted by approximately 90%.
Gemini donates $10 million in Bitcoin to Trump-supporting MAGA Inc.
Cryptocurrency exchange Gemini has donated approximately $10 million worth of Bitcoin to MAGA Inc., a super PAC supporting former US President Donald Trump. According to a report filed with the US Federal Election Commission (FEC), Gemini co-founders Cameron Winklevoss and Tyler Winklevoss completed the donations in two installments on June 19, each worth over $5 million. This donation occurred about three weeks after the CFTC and Gemini jointly filed a motion with the US District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeking to vacate the $5 million settlement agreement reached in January 2025. The settlement stemmed from the CFTC's earlier allegations that Gemini had made false or misleading statements. MAGA Inc. can use these funds to support independent political expenditures for Donald Trump. Previously, the Winklevoss brothers each donated $1 million to Donald Trump's 2024 campaign and contributed $21 million worth of Bitcoin to the Digital Freedom Fund PAC to support the crypto policy direction of the Trump administration. Currently, the court has not yet ruled on the motion to vacate the settlement between the CFTC and Gemini. Meanwhile, CFTC Chairman Michael Selig remains the sole commissioner of the agency. As of June 30, MAGA Inc. has reported receiving over $397 million in funds.
ByteDance Launches Seed STEM Scientist Program, Inviting 100 Scholars to Empower Scientific Research with AI
ByteDance has officially launched the Seed STEM Scientist Program, planning to invite 100 outstanding scholars in cutting-edge scientific fields for industry-academia-research collaboration, leveraging artificial intelligence technology to accelerate exploration and breakthroughs across various scientific domains. The program is led by ByteDance's Seed Edge research team, offering sufficient computing resources and competitive compensation, with two participation roles available: Scientist Advisor and Doctoral Intern. The initial project cycle is approximately 6 months, with the work location set in Beijing's Haidian District. The talent application channel remains open until September 30, 2026. (IT Home)
Fairshake-affiliated PAC spends over $986,000 in Michigan Democratic primary race
documents filed by Protect Progress PAC, an affiliate of the crypto-focused political action committee Fairshake, with the U.S. Federal Election Commission (FEC) show that as of Tuesday, it has spent over $986,000 to support current Democratic Representative Shri Thanedar in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District and oppose challenger Donavan McKinney. The expenditure occurs two weeks before the August 4 Democratic primary, which will determine the party’s nominee for the November general election. Protect Progress PAC spent approximately $1 million in 2024 to support Thanedar, who received 54.9% of the vote in that year’s Democratic primary and went on to secure 68.6% of the vote in the November general election. Fairshake and its affiliated organizations report having a $191 million war chest to influence key elections. Other crypto industry-related political action committees include the Fellowship, backed by Cantor Fitzgerald and Anchorage Digital, and the Blockchain Leadership Fund, supported by Anchorage and Chainlink Labs. Protect Progress PAC has also spent over $100,000 to support Arizona Representative Greg Stanton’s re-election. Meanwhile, Defend American Jobs PAC has spent over $65,000 to support Amanda McKinney, the Republican candidate in Washington’s 4th Congressional District.
Kalshi's Preliminary Injunction Motion Denied in Key Southern District of New York Case, Potentially Creating Ripple Effects for Other Litigation
Crypto journalist Eleanor Terrett tweeted that Judge Analisa Torres of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York denied its preliminary injunction application in the case involving Kalshi, allowing the case to proceed to the motion to dismiss stage. The court held that New York State gambling law applies to Kalshi's sports event contracts, and such application is not preempted by the Commodity Exchange Act. This ruling means Kalshi has suffered another unfavorable setback in the relevant legal dispute.
Related news
Kalshi, Polymarket Granted Federal Court Preliminary Injunction, Minnesota Prediction Market Ban Suspended
According to CoinDesk, U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Minnesota Katherine Menendez ruled on July 28 local time that the Minnesota state law criminalizing the operation of prediction markets likely violates the federal Commodity Exchange Act (CEA), and granted a preliminary injunction to Kalshi, Polymarket, and the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to suspend the enforcement of the state law. The judge held that prediction market contracts structurally fall under 'swap' products within the CFTC's regulatory scope, federal law takes precedence over state law, and the three plaintiffs are 'likely to prevail in the formal trial'. Additionally, the judge noted that failing to suspend the enforcement of the law would cause 'irreparable harm' to Kalshi and Polymarket. The preliminary injunction will remain in effect until the final judgment of the case is issued.
Kalshi, Polymarket Obtain Temporary Halt of Minnesota Prediction Market Ban
U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez for the District of Minnesota ruled on Monday that a recently enacted Minnesota state law banning prediction markets may conflict with the Commodity Exchange Act. She granted a preliminary injunction in favor of Kalshi, Polymarket, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Kalshi, Polymarket, and the CFTC had sued the state of Minnesota earlier this year after the state passed a law classifying the operation of prediction markets within the state as a criminal offense. The three parties argued that prediction market contracts are structured as "swaps" and that the state law infringes upon the CFTC's regulatory authority over such products. In her ruling, Judge Menendez stated that the parties are likely to succeed on the merits of their claim that the federal Commodity Exchange Act preempts the state law.
Decentralized storage project Storj Labs files for bankruptcy protection
According to Cointelegraph, decentralized cloud storage provider Storj Labs has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of West Virginia. The company stated that during the restructuring, the network will maintain normal operations, customer service will not be affected, and parent company Inveniam will continue to provide support. Storj management plans to propose a mechanism allowing STORJ token holders to participate in the equity of the restructured company, but specific eligibility criteria, token snapshots or lock-up arrangements, and equity allocation ratios have not yet been disclosed; any plan must be approved by the court.
Bitcoin mining pool Poolin files for bankruptcy protection, plans to sell Texas mining assets for $52 million
Bitcoin mining pool Poolin has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a US court and plans to cease operations by selling its Bitcoin mining assets in Texas, USA. According to court documents, Poolin and its two US affiliates, Lonestar Dream Inc. and Lonestar Taproot LLC, filed for voluntary bankruptcy on July 22 with the US Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. Poolin currently estimates it has between 10,000 and 25,000 creditors, with assets ranging from approximately $1 million to $10 million and liabilities between approximately $100 million and $500 million.Michael DuFrayne, Poolin's Chief Restructuring Officer, stated that the company's pre-bankruptcy debt amounts to approximately $173.1 million, of which about $163.7 million consists of unsecured IOU debts issued to Poolin Wallet users following the suspension of withdrawals during the crypto market crash in 2022.This Chapter 11 process is not intended to reorganize the business but to facilitate the sale of assets under court supervision. Poolin's Pyote and Tarbush mining sites in Texas ceased mining and hosting operations on July 10, retaining only a small number of employees to maintain the assets and advance the sale process.Currently, Poolin has entered into an asset purchase agreement with Thor CALAP LLC, which has proposed to acquire the related mining assets for $52 million. This includes: $15 million for the Pyote site, along with associated power rights and equipment; and $37 million for the power rights and equipment at the Tarbush site. This offer will serve as a "stalking horse bid" in the bankruptcy auction, setting a minimum price for subsequent bids. The transaction remains subject to higher offers and court approval. (Theenergymag)
BitMEX Faces 623 BTC Class-Action Lawsuit on Day of Closure Announcement
According to Cointelegraph, BitMEX was sued in a class-action lawsuit by BKX Services Inc. and David Namdar in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on July 24. The plaintiffs allege that BitMEX's internal trading team used privileged access during server freezes to illegally obtain customer Bitcoin collateral by manipulating the forced liquidation mechanism. The two plaintiffs suffered a combined loss of 622.66 BTC (BKX lost at least 305.81 BTC, and Namdar lost over 316.85 BTC). The plaintiffs demand the return of the seized Bitcoin and seek compensatory and punitive damages, representing U.S. users who purchased BTC swap products since July 23, 2018. Notably, the lawsuit was filed on the same day as the announcement of BitMEX's closure—BitMEX's parent company HDR Global Trading announced it will cease services on September 23 and has stopped accepting new user registrations. Following the announcement, the price of its BMEX token plummeted by approximately 90%.
BitMEX Faces Class Action Lawsuit, Users Claim 622.66 BTC in Damages
Odaily Odaily News Crypto derivatives platform BitMEX is facing a proposed class action lawsuit, with BKX Services Inc. and David Namdar filing a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. The plaintiffs allege they incurred combined losses of 622.66 BTC from forced liquidations on BitMEX, with BKX claiming losses of at least 305.81 BTC and Namdar claiming losses exceeding 316.85 BTC. The complaint alleges that BitMEX's internal trading desk had access to customers' private information and could continue trading during periods when the server was frozen and regular users were unable to access or close positions. The plaintiffs further claim that BitMEX allowed customers to use leverage of up to 100x and would automatically liquidate positions when the collateral value was still twice the loss amount, with the remaining BTC entering the platform's insurance fund. The plaintiffs are seeking the return of the allegedly withheld Bitcoin, as well as compensatory and punitive damages. They intend to represent U.S. customers who purchased BTC swap products since July 23, 2018. On the same day the lawsuit was filed, BitMEX announced that following a strategic review by its owner, HDR Global Trading, it will cease providing services on September 23, has already stopped accepting new registrations, and plans to prohibit users from opening new positions starting August 26.