News linked to both this project and an event.
the Bitcoin treasury company Nakamoto officially announced that it generated approximately $48 million in net proceeds by selling about 600 BTC and related derivative positions, thereby repaying approximately $45 million in outstanding debt to Kraken. This move is expected to reduce annual financing costs by approximately $4 million.Following the transaction, the company signed a new loan term sheet with Kraken for the remaining 165 million USDT, with a principal of 105 million USDT deferred to June 30, 2027, and an annual interest rate that can be reduced to 7.75% upon meeting the Bitwise custodied wallet collateral threshold. Additionally, the company’s board of directors has authorized a share repurchase program of up to $25 million. Currently, the company still holds approximately 4,467 BTC on its balance sheet. Furthermore, according to a notice from Nasdaq, the company has regained compliance with listing requirements.
Kaja Kallas, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, stated that the EU plans to introduce restrictive measures against 11 crypto platforms in the next (21st) sanctions package, as these services are accused of assisting Russian authorities and enterprises in circumventing international sanctions.Furthermore, the EU will strengthen the ban on crypto asset-related service provisions targeting certain third countries, expand the sanctions list, and prohibit transactions with the aforementioned 11 crypto platforms. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the new sanctions aim to intensify pressure on entities that help Russia maintain channels for international financial transactions.In addition to crypto services, the new round of sanctions will also involve the traditional financial sector, with approximately 90 Russian banks potentially facing additional restrictions, 31 of which are planned to be completely banned from conducting transactions. Previously, in the 20th sanctions package, the EU had already imposed sanctions on suppliers and platforms registered in Russia that allow cryptocurrency transfers and exchanges. That ban took effect on May 24. (bits.media)
Odaily Odaily Deputy Finance Minister Ivan Chebeсков said that Russia may introduce fees, recommendations, and technical protection mechanisms in "unfriendly" cryptocurrency transactions to protect Russian investors.During the preparation for the second reading of the bill on regulating the crypto market, one of the core topics debated was whether to allow specific digital assets, including USDT and BNB, to participate in transactions. Ivan Chebeсков noted that operations with such instruments could pose high risks for Russian users, and therefore additional protective measures are being considered. These include economic incentives such as fees or recommendations to encourage citizens to hold other assets.Previously, Russia's Ministry of Finance had considered excluding USDT from the cryptocurrency market regulatory system, but industry participants expressed their willingness to bear the risks of using this instrument on their own. Furthermore, in a regulatory concept proposed by the Central Bank of Russia last December, it suggested recognizing digital currencies and stablecoins as foreign exchange assets, permitting their purchase and sale but prohibiting their use for domestic payments for goods and services. Unqualified investors, after passing a specific test, would be allowed to purchase the most liquid cryptocurrencies, with the annual limit for purchasing assets through a single intermediary not exceeding 300,000 rubles. (TASS)
Following the introduction of centralized regulatory measures, different accounts held by the same investor within the Futu Niu Niu App have shown distinctly different trading statuses. The Futu Securities (Hong Kong) accounts of some existing domestic investors can no longer execute buy orders, requiring them to update their overseas identity documents. In contrast, the Moomoo accounts, which are serviced by U.S. licensed institutions, can still place orders normally. Furthermore, against the backdrop of ongoing regulatory rectification, account opening application channels for certain locally licensed Hong Kong brokers remain open. Some intermediaries are also still soliciting clients on social platforms by offering rebates and other incentives. (The Paper)
on-chain detective ZachXBT stated on platform X that the UK's recent inclusion of HTX in crypto sanctions lists constitutes overregulation.ZachXBT pointed out that, compared to previously sanctioned entities such as Huione, Blender, and Hydra, HTX has a large number of retail users in Asia. Placing HTX on the sanctions list has linked numerous legitimate on-chain addresses to the sanctions regime, worsening the issue of address contamination and gradually rendering the "risk" tag itself meaningless. He noted that while tracking on-chain cases, he has already been forced to ignore tags related to the sanctions category.Furthermore, ZachXBT also criticized UK regulators for failing to uncover a money laundering case involving $1.25 billion, arguing that this aligns with long-standing issues in how the UK handles crypto-related cases.
: In a speech during the "Regulatory PETshop" event series, U.S. SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce stated that privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) are crucial for the digital finance era, and regulators should not shape the trajectory of technological development based on expanding surveillance infrastructure.Hester Peirce pointed out that protecting financial privacy and security are not opposing forces. Cryptographic technology can help ordinary users guard against data breaches, theft, and malicious behavior. She criticized the current U.S. regulatory discussion for overemphasizing surveillance needs while neglecting the legitimate public demand for privacy-protective products. She also noted that existing regulations require securities transfer agents to record the names and addresses of holders, but the mechanism of public blockchain addresses can verify asset ownership without revealing personally identifiable information, thereby reducing the risk of sensitive data exposure for investors.Furthermore, Hester Peirce called on developers to collaborate with the SEC's Crypto Task Force to explore new technical solutions that reconcile KYC, anti-money laundering, and privacy protection requirements.
SUPERFORTUNE AI posted on X platform, stating that the team is investigating a GUA security incident that occurred on May 27. The incident led to drastic price fluctuations in the token. Preliminary investigations suggest the incident may involve address tampering during a multi-signature transaction.The announcement states that the original plan was to send additionally unlocked tokens to the airdrop claim contract address. However, during execution, the funds were mistakenly sent to a different hacker address. The team noted that this hacker address had never interacted with any SUPERFORTUNE-related addresses before, making an "address poisoning attack" less likely as the attack vector.Furthermore, SUPERFORTUNE stated that its internal processes include a multi-layered address verification mechanism. The team is continuing its investigation into the incident and will update the community on the latest developments subsequently.
According to a report by Cailian News, in response to the matter of “certain banks in Hong Kong requiring declarations for opening investment accounts,” the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) stated today that the relevant regulatory requirements were issued to all authorized institutions on May 22. Materials provided by the HKMA indicate that registered institutions must implement three additional measures when opening and managing investment accounts for Mainland Chinese investors, including: 1. Closing investment accounts opened using suspicious or forged documents, and identifying investment accounts held by customers—opened since January 2023 or during any other period specified by the HKMA—using such suspicious or forged documents, including identity documents; 2. Closing dormant investment accounts with zero balances—specifically, investment accounts held by Mainland Chinese investors that have no asset balance as of May 22, 2026 (the reference date), and have had no customer-initiated activity within the 12 months preceding the reference date; 3. Obtaining a written declaration from each Mainland Chinese investor upon opening a new investment account, confirming that all funds used to support investment activities and related settlements originate lawfully from outside Mainland China. The relevant documents clarify that these newly introduced additional regulatory measures apply solely to investment accounts—including investment sub-accounts within integrated banking accounts—and do not extend to non-investment functions (e.g., ordinary savings, current/time deposits, payments, loans, and credit cards). Furthermore, these additional measures apply only to individual customers and do not cover corporate or institutional clients.
Kenya's 2026 Finance Bill proposes a 10% consumption tax on Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs).The bill also requires crypto companies to pay a one-time licensing fee of 150 million Kenyan shillings and an annual renewal fee of 2 million Kenyan shillings before operating locally. Additionally, they must submit annual reports containing user and transaction details to the Kenya Revenue Authority.Analysts suggest this move could push some crypto platforms and users to relocate to countries more favorable to the crypto industry, potentially weakening Kenya's position in the African crypto market.Furthermore, Gen Z-led protests have resumed in cities like Nairobi, opposing rising taxes on digital services, cryptocurrencies, mobile phones, and financial transactions. (Cryptopolitan)
OdailyOdaily Planet Daily News Some career officials at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) were purged after raising compliance concerns about Polymarket, Crypto.com, and Gemini Titan, all of which are alleged to have business ties to the Trump family.The report states that then-acting CFTC Chairman Caroline Pham and Senior Legal Advisor Brigitte Weyls intervened in the relevant review process, helping these companies obtain approvals or avoid further investigations. The two later joined MoonPay and Gemini Titan, respectively.It is understood that the officials in question had previously expressed concerns that Crypto.com was not treating small retail investors fairly, that Polymarket's anti-fraud mechanisms were insufficient, and that Gemini Titan had not completed the review required for its launch.Furthermore, the report notes that during Trump's second term, the CFTC has dropped at least five crypto investigations and has only made public two enforcement cases involving digital assets, both targeting individual operators. In contrast, there were over 80 such cases during the Biden administration. (The New York Times)
Odaily Odaily報道， multiple senior officials at the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) who had raised compliance concerns regarding prediction market platforms were subsequently suspended, subjected to internal investigations, and ultimately forced to leave their positions. The report states that these officials had expressed concerns about the following companies: Polymarket lacking adequate anti-fraud mechanisms; Crypto.com not treating small bettors fairly; and a Gemini-affiliated company having not yet completed necessary regulatory reviews.The investigation noted that all the aforementioned companies are believed to have business ties with the Trump family. Sources said that the then-acting CFTC Chair Caroline Pham and her senior advisor intervened to help these companies secure regulatory approvals.As of the end of 2025, two officials who raised the questions were placed on administrative suspension and subjected to internal investigations, while three other officials responsible for crypto enforcement faced similar treatment, none of whom were informed of the specific reasons. The report suggests this has created a signal within the CFTC to "avoid creating trouble for the relevant industry."The CFTC significantly scaled back crypto enforcement during the Trump era: the agency initiated over 80 crypto enforcement actions during the Biden administration, but only two during the Trump administration, both targeting individual operators rather than large corporations. Furthermore, Caroline Pham left the CFTC to join MoonPay, which has a partnership with Polymarket; her former senior advisor, Brigitte Weyls, joined Gemini Titan as General Counsel. The current CFTC Chair, Michael Selig, previously worked as a corporate lawyer for several crypto companies. (Cointelegraph)
Binance CEO Richard Teng responded to a related report by The Wall Street Journal on platform X, stating that the report still contains "fundamental errors" regarding the facts and Binance's commitment to its compliance framework.Richard Teng stated that the transactions mentioned by The Wall Street Journal all occurred before the relevant individuals were sanctioned, and Binance did not allow any sanctioned individuals to trade on the platform.He also said that Binance had proactively investigated the matter before being contacted by The Wall Street Journal and had provided the relevant facts to the publication, but this information was not published.Furthermore, Richard Teng emphasized that Binance has a "zero tolerance" policy for illegal activities, has established an industry-leading compliance system, and will continue to cooperate with U.S. and global law enforcement agencies to combat financial crime.Previous news: WSJ: Over $850 Million in Funds Linked to Iranian Regime Transferred Through Binance Over the Past Two Years
the Hyperliquid Policy Center stated on X that Bloomberg’s coverage of some traditional exchanges’ concerns regarding the integrity and influence of Hyperliquid’s perpetual contract market is “unfounded.” Hyperliquid achieves market transparency through fully on-chain records, with every transaction publicly available in real-time, traceable, and immutable. This mechanism significantly reduces the potential for insider trading and price manipulation, and aids regulators and law enforcement in monitoring, identifying, and investigating activities.Furthermore, Hyperliquid emphasized that its 24/7 trading mechanism significantly enhances market efficiency, allowing prices to continuously reflect information changes even during traditional exchange holidays. This reduces price gaps and liquidity fragmentation caused by segmented trading hours, thereby optimizing overall price discovery.On regulatory matters, Hyperliquid pointed out that the current U.S. legal system has not yet fully adapted to the structure of public chain-based derivatives markets. However, it expressed a welcome and anticipation for cooperation with policymakers in Washington to progressively incorporate on-chain markets within the regulatory framework.
Odaily According to Trump's latest investment disclosure filing, he sold between $5 million and $25 million worth of Microsoft and Amazon stock this February, and repurchased shares in both companies in March. However, he failed to disclose these transactions within the statutory 45-day window, resulting in a $200 fine. This marks the third time this year he has been penalized for the same violation.Notably, Trump also purchased Nvidia stock on February 10th. Just days later, Nvidia announced a multi-year partnership agreement with Meta, causing its stock price to rise by approximately 2.5%. Furthermore, his purchases of Microsoft and Amazon stock preceded the Pentagon's announcement of contracts to deploy confidential computing network technology with both companies by several months. Trump has not sold any of his stock portfolio during his second term; his assets are held in a trust managed by his children, differing from the blind trust arrangements commonly adopted by previous presidents. Although members of both parties in Congress have repeatedly introduced legislation to prohibit officials from trading stocks while in office, progress on such legislation has stalled. (Washington Post)
Crypto.com has announced that its UAE entity, Foris DAX Middle East FZE, has obtained a Stored Value Facility (SVF) license from the Central Bank of the UAE, becoming the first Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in the region to receive this license.With this license, Crypto.com will officially launch a partnership with the Dubai Department of Finance, allowing UAE residents to use crypto assets to pay for government service fees. Related fund settlements will be conducted in UAE dirhams or dirham-pegged stablecoins approved by the Central Bank of the UAE.Furthermore, upon obtaining regulatory approval, Crypto.com also plans to leverage this license to advance the integration of crypto payments with Emirates Airlines and Dubai Duty Free.
Matthew Sigel, Head of Digital Assets Research at VanEck, stated he expects Bitcoin to revisit its all-time high within the next 12 months. This is because the current correlation between BTC and the Nasdaq index is near a five-year high, and the resilience of the US stock market provides support for this rebound. However, the derivatives market has not yet shown significant optimism; futures and options trading largely reflects short covering and hedging demand. From a contrarian perspective, this suggests the Bitcoin rally may still have room to continue.Matthew Sigel also noted that a central bank has already announced plans to include Bitcoin in its foreign exchange reserves this year, indicating that BTC is gradually evolving into a global asset suitable for large-scale cross-border settlements. He believes this will become a long-term trend. In terms of investment direction, he favors a further increase in Bitcoin's market dominance, as well as Bitcoin mining companies poised to benefit from the trend of AI integration. He believes mining companies are increasingly becoming significant beneficiaries of AI infrastructure, and as AI-related businesses grow, the pressure on miners to sell BTC for financing is also decreasing.Furthermore, Matthew Sigel believes that if the CLARITY Act is eventually passed, it could revitalize sentiment in the altcoin market. However, currently, most institutional investors remain cautious towards the majority of altcoins due to regulatory and investor protection concerns.
: South Korea's crypto industry has expressed strong concerns over proposed amendments to anti-money laundering (AML) regulations, arguing that the rules could impose excessive compliance burdens on Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs).According to Yonhap News Agency, the Digital Asset eXchange Alliance (DAXA), representing 27 VASPs including Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit, and Gopax, submitted comments opposing the classification of all overseas virtual asset transfers exceeding 10 million won (approximately $6,800) as suspicious transaction reports.DAXA warned that this rule could cause the number of suspicious transaction reports from South Korea's top five exchanges to skyrocket from approximately 63,000 last year to over 5.4 million—an increase of about 85 times—severely impacting the efficiency of actual compliance execution. Furthermore, the industry also opposes a new obligation requiring exchanges to verify the accuracy of customer information, arguing it exceeds the scope of current legal authorization.South Korea's Financial Services Commission (FSC) and Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) proposed the relevant amendments on March 30, which have now entered a public comment period, with final deliberation expected to be completed in July.Meanwhile, legal disputes between Korean exchanges and regulators over AML penalties continue. Multiple platforms are challenging previous business restrictions and fines through the courts, reflecting an escalating tension between regulatory tightening and the industry's execution capabilities. (Cointelegraph)
on-chain sleuth ZachXBT posted on platform X, publicly criticizing Tokenlon and imToken, claiming they have become high-risk channels for illegal fund flows and stating that further action will be taken against the relevant platforms. According to him, the majority of Tokenlon's transaction volume originates from pig butchering scams, investment fraud, and various illegal market activities, and he directly stated that its co-founder, Ben He, should "bear legal responsibility for the relevant actions." He indicated that he will continue to investigate and take action against the Tokenlon and imToken ecosystem in the future. Tokenlon has almost no real transaction demand outside of Southeast Asia, and a significant proportion of its on-chain activity is related to illegal fund flows, with this issue having markedly intensified since 2022.Furthermore, ZachXBT also named several so-called offshore large-scale trading and aggregation platforms, including Butter Network, HiFiSwap, Bridgers / SWFT, and Tokenlon, stating that they should face stricter regulation and enforcement due to potential criminal activities.
According to an official announcement, Upbit and Bithumb have stated that member companies of the Korea Digital Asset Exchange Association (DAXA) plan to terminate trading support for DRIFT. The reason for terminating DRIFT trading is that the foundation’s explanatory materials alone are insufficient to alleviate concerns that led to the project’s inclusion on the “Trading Caution List.” Furthermore, after a comprehensive review of all aspects related to the project’s progress, it was determined that the project fails to meet the criteria required to maintain trading support. DRIFT trading (buy/sell) will end on June 1, 2026, at 16:00 KST. Support for DRIFT withdrawals will be terminated on July 1, 2026, at 16:00 KST.
CFTC Chairman Mike Selig, in an interview with CoinDesk, stated that the CFTC is developing tools leveraging AI to review registration applications for the U.S. crypto market and monitor trading activity. Mike Selig noted that due to federal government layoffs, which have reduced the agency's workforce by more than one-fifth, AI and automation technologies will be used to fill the manpower gap and improve the efficiency of document review. Currently, his employees are undergoing training on Microsoft Copilot, while the agency is also developing internal tools for reviewing swaps data and market surveillance.Furthermore, Mike Selig stated that the digital asset classification guide jointly released by the CFTC and the SEC is the most important initiative during his tenure, aimed at providing regulatory clarity for market participants. Regarding prediction markets, Mike Selig reiterated the CFTC's exclusive jurisdiction and emphasized that strict enforcement actions will be taken against violations such as insider trading.