News linked to both this project and an event.
According to CoinDesk, Katie Harries, Coinbase’s Head of European Policy, stated that Coinbase is not concerned about increased participation in the cryptocurrency space by major Wall Street institutions and traditional financial institutions, noting that the crypto industry possesses a community foundation that traditional financial institutions cannot replicate. She pointed out that the advocacy group Stand With Crypto already has over 3.7 million members worldwide, who have contacted legislators more than 2.5 million times. Harries also emphasized that cryptocurrency voters have become a lasting force in the global political landscape, and policymakers should urgently advance a coordinated and reasonable regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies.
According to Cointelegraph, Binance CEO Richard Teng denied a Wall Street Journal report claiming that the platform processed approximately $850 million in Iran-related transactions ultimately destined for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), calling the report “completely inaccurate.” The report stated that Babak Zanjani—a figure recently re-sanctioned by the U.S.—and his associated network transferred funds via Binance accounts over a two-year period. Richard Teng stated that Binance has never permitted sanctioned individuals to trade on its platform, and any flagged activity occurred prior to the imposition of U.S. sanctions. Previously, the Wall Street Journal also reported that Binance’s internal compliance team had issued multiple alerts regarding these accounts.
According to Wall Street Insights, Futu Holdings disclosed that it has received investigation notices and a pre-notification letter of administrative penalties from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) and its Shenzhen Branch. The CSRC stated that certain Futu-affiliated companies in mainland China and Hong Kong conducted securities business, public fund sales business, and futures business in mainland China without obtaining the required licenses or approvals, allegedly violating the Securities Law, the Securities Investment Fund Law, and the Futures and Derivatives Law. The CSRC intends to order the relevant companies to rectify or cease such activities, confiscate unlawful gains, and impose fines totaling approximately RMB 1.85 billion. Additionally, the CSRC intends to impose a fine of RMB 1.25 million on Li Hua, Futu’s founder and CEO.
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 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is preparing to introduce a new regulatory framework for trading tokenized stocks, which could be announced as early as this week. It is reported that the SEC is studying an "innovation exemption" mechanism, allowing trading platforms to offer digital versions of listed securities on-chain under more relaxed regulatory conditions. This move is seen as a significant signal that U.S. regulators are further shifting towards supporting tokenized securities.Currently, multiple Wall Street institutions have accelerated their layout in related businesses. The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) plans to launch limited production trading of tokenized assets in July and expand promotion in October; Nasdaq is developing a blockchain-based stock issuance framework; and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) is advancing tokenized stocks and crypto-related products through its partnership with OKX.SEC Chairman Paul Atkins previously stated that the SEC is considering establishing formal rules for on-chain trading systems, blockchain settlement infrastructure, and crypto custody models, and believes that existing securities regulations are no longer suitable for on-chain protocols that integrate trading, clearing, and settlement. (CoinDesk)
According to Bloomberg, academic research and Bloomberg data analysis show that prediction market platform Kalshi has not yet demonstrated a statistically significant advantage over traditional economists in forecasting U.S. nonfarm payrolls. Over the past 33 months, the average forecast error of Kalshi traders and Bloomberg survey economists both exceeded 60,000 jobs—showing no statistically meaningful edge. For example, in April 2026, when the official U.S. nonfarm payroll report revealed an increase of 178,000 jobs, Kalshi’s final forecast error exceeded 90,000 jobs. Some Wall Street economists argue that prediction markets resemble “a new form of gambling,” offering limited analytical value for deeper labor-market structural data.
according to The Wall Street Journal, crypto trading platform Bullish will acquire stock transfer agency Equiniti for $4.2 billion (including debt). The acquisition of Equiniti is expected to close in January next year, pending regulatory approval. Equiniti serves nearly 3,000 listed companies, including Berkshire Hathaway and Moody's.
Nick Timiraos, known as the "Fed Mouthpiece," wrote in The Wall Street Journal that the discussion within the Federal Reserve regarding the interest rate path has undergone a noticeable shift. The focus is no longer primarily on when to restart rate cuts but has begun to consider under what conditions rate hikes might be necessary again. Since the Fed began releasing policy statements in 1994, disagreements over how to describe the policy direction—rather than actual rate changes—have been rare.Three regional Fed presidents, including Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan and Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari, opposed retaining the wording "the next move is more likely a rate cut" at this week’s policy meeting, arguing that the next rate adjustment could be either a hike or a cut. Outgoing Fed Chair Jerome Powell stated that the committee is gradually shifting from a "rate-cut bias" to a "neutral stance" and noted that if rate hikes become necessary in the future, the Fed would first move to a neutral position before signaling increases. (WSJ)
According to The Wall Street Journal, on April 27, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed a lawsuit against New York State in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, seeking a court ruling that the CFTC holds exclusive regulatory authority over prediction markets—aiming to halt New York State’s enforcement actions. Previously, New York State had filed lawsuits against cryptocurrency exchanges Coinbase and Gemini over their prediction market operations. Earlier this month, the CFTC also initiated similar lawsuits against Arizona, Illinois, and Connecticut, intensifying jurisdictional disputes between federal and state regulatory agencies.
According to The Wall Street Journal, North Carolina Republican Senator Thom Tillis said Sunday local time that he would support the confirmation of Kevin Warsh as Federal Reserve Chair, thereby clearing the final major hurdle for Trump’s chosen successor to Powell. Tillis had refused for months to vote in favor of Warsh, stating he would not advance any Fed nominee’s confirmation while the Justice Department’s criminal investigation into Powell remained ongoing—calling the probe an attack on the central bank’s independence. However, that investigation appears to have concluded last Friday. (Jin10)
: Quantitative trading firm Jane Street has filed a motion with the court to dismiss the insider trading and market manipulation lawsuit filed by Terraform Labs, which accuses the firm of causing the collapse of the UST/LUNA algorithmic stablecoin.In its filing submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Jane Street stated that the lawsuit is "baseless" and represents an attempt by Terraform's bankruptcy estate to shift responsibility for the collapse of a multi-billion dollar ecosystem onto a third party.The firm has requested the court to dismiss the entire case "with prejudice," meaning the plaintiff cannot refile the same claims.Jane Street further pointed out that the fraudulent conduct associated with Terraform has already been prosecuted, adjudicated, and penalized, and that it was not involved. Do Kwon has previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy and wire fraud charges and is currently serving a 15-year sentence. A jury has also found Terraform and Kwon liable for securities fraud.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Bitcoin financial services company Fold has announced the launch of its Bitcoin Bonus Program, enabling employers to issue recurring Bitcoin bonuses to employees—including vesting schedules—without modifying their existing payroll systems and without assuming custody or compliance responsibilities. This program is Fold Business’s first offering. Fold disclosed that Steak ’n Shake has joined as the flagship partner, extending the program to thousands of hourly employees.
Odaily News Wall Street investment bank Jefferies' analysis indicates that the approximately $293 million attack on Kelp DAO on April 18 exposed critical infrastructure risks, which may prompt traditional financial institutions to reassess the pace of blockchain and tokenization advancement.Jefferies believes the attacker triggered market sell-offs and liquidity stress by minting unbacked tokens and borrowing across platforms. The incident is suspected to be potentially linked to the Lazarus Group and also highlights the single point of failure in the validation mechanisms of cross-chain bridges. As institutions accelerate the tokenization of assets (such as funds, bonds, and deposits), related risks may cause some banks and asset management firms to temporarily pause deployments, prioritizing a review of system security. Especially in scenarios reliant on cross-chain infrastructure, security vulnerabilities could lead to market fragmentation, undermining the practical utility of tokenized assets.Despite short-term confidence being shaken, Jefferies still emphasizes that the long-term trend remains unchanged. Against the backdrop of regulatory progress and continuous infrastructure improvement, use cases like stablecoins still hold growth potential. However, the industry as a whole is still in its early development stage and requires time to enhance system robustness. (CoinDesk)
According to The Wall Street Journal, prediction market platforms Polymarket and Kalshi have both announced plans to launch perpetual futures contracts. Polymarket posted a video on X on Tuesday stating it will list perpetual futures products tied to crypto tokens, U.S. equities, and commodities; Kalshi has a similar plan. Perpetual futures are crypto-native derivatives with no fixed expiration date. It remains unclear whether Polymarket will offer these products in the U.S. market, as such products face relatively strict regulatory restrictions in the United States.
According to Sing Tao Daily, two mainland Chinese men holding Two-way Permits—Wang Bochuan (27 years old, business consultant) and Xu Zilan (24 years old, salesperson)—were charged with raping a woman on November 4, 2025, at Regal Hotel Mong Kok (23 Tai Nan Street). Both defendants faced one count of rape and have been in custody since mid-November 2025—over five months. The case was mentioned today (April 18) at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts, where the prosecution’s application to withdraw the charges was granted. One defendant applied for costs of the proceedings; the prosecution opposed the application, stating that both defendants had admitted to having sexual intercourse with the complainant and only agreed to provide their mobile phone passwords to police for investigation in the month following their charge. Based on this, the prosecution sought further legal advice before deciding to withdraw the charges. The judge ruled that the defendant had not incriminated himself and approved the application for costs. It has been confirmed that the two individuals were formerly BD staff at ME (formerly MetaEra).
According to CoinDesk, Wall Street brokerage Bernstein released a research report stating that prediction market trading volume is expected to grow from $5.1 billion in 2025 to approximately $100 billion in 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of roughly 80%. Trading volume is projected to reach $24 billion in 2026, while Polymarket and Kalshi combined have already generated $60 billion in trading volume year-to-date. The report identifies three core drivers of this growth: increasing regulatory clarity at the federal level, blockchain infrastructure enabling global liquidity, and integration with mainstream trading platforms. Industry revenue is expected to rise from approximately $400 million in 2025 to about $10.8 billion in 2030. Distribution capability is viewed as a key competitive barrier. Robinhood has achieved an annualized revenue run-rate of $350 million from prediction markets and is advancing its exchange infrastructure development; Coinbase, meanwhile, offers nationwide access to over 1,000 contracts via the Kalshi platform. Bernstein maintains an “Outperform” rating on both companies.
According to Bloomberg, cryptocurrency hedge funds are extending their trading activities into traditional commodities and stock indices. Previously, these funds operated in the cryptocurrency markets—long overlooked by Wall Street—trading tokens on 24/7, clearinghouse-free, and unregulated platforms. Now, traditional assets such as crude oil, copper, and the Nasdaq-100 Index are increasingly appearing on these platforms, signaling that cryptocurrency trading infrastructure is penetrating mainstream financial assets.
According to Fox News and NBC News, a spokesperson for OpenAI confirmed that San Francisco police arrested a suspect early Friday morning for throwing a Molotov cocktail at the residence of OpenAI’s co-founder and CEO Sam Altman, as well as for making threats outside the AI giant’s San Francisco headquarters. OpenAI stated: “Fortunately, no one was injured.” The company added: “We are deeply grateful to the San Francisco Police Department for their swift response and thank the city government for its support in ensuring the safety of our employees. The suspect has been taken into custody, and we are cooperating fully with law enforcement in their investigation.” As of now, Altman has not issued any public statement regarding this arrest. In a separate statement, the San Francisco Police Department said officers responded early Friday to a residential property in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood “for a fire investigation.” The suspect fled on foot, and his description was immediately disseminated to all officers. Later, the San Francisco Police Department received a report and dispatched officers to a business located at 1400 Third Street to address “an unidentified male threatening to burn down the building.” (OpenAI’s headquarters is located at 1455 Third Street.) The department stated: “Upon arriving at the scene, officers recognized the male as the same suspect involved in the earlier incident and immediately took him into custody.” The suspect is reported to be a 20-year-old man.
According to Cointelegraph, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent published an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal urging Congress to swiftly pass the Crypto Asset Market and Regulatory Clarity Act (CLARITY Act) to clarify regulatory rules for cryptocurrencies, tokenized assets, and decentralized exchanges. He warned that the global cryptocurrency market has reached $3 trillion, challenging America’s leadership in financial innovation, and stressed that with limited time remaining on the Senate’s legislative calendar, delaying action is not an option. The bill passed the House of Representatives in July 2025 but has remained stalled in the Senate over disagreements regarding how to regulate stablecoin yield. A report by the White House Council of Economic Advisers found that banning stablecoin yield would have a negligible impact on bank lending—increasing it by only about $2.1 billion—while costing users approximately $800 million annually in lost welfare. Additionally, under the GENIUS Act, the Treasury Department has proposed new rules requiring stablecoin issuers to establish anti-money laundering (AML) compliance programs and granting them authority to freeze or intercept specific transactions.
According to The Wall Street Journal, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent wrote on April 8 that the United States has long led in setting global financial market regulatory standards—but this leadership is not guaranteed. He urged Congress to promptly pass the Clarity Act to establish a clear regulatory framework for digital assets. Citing data, Bessent noted that global digital asset market capitalization fluctuated between $2 trillion and $3 trillion over the past year, and approximately one-sixth of Americans hold some form of digital asset. Applications of blockchain technology in payments, settlements, and physical asset exchange continue to expand. He emphasized that cryptocurrencies are no longer niche experiments but technologies undergoing broad global adoption—and the U.S. must take proactive steps to maintain its leadership in shaping rules for this domain.