News linked to both this project and an event.
Odaily News – The Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency in South Korea arrested 4 Uzbek nationals in April under the Prohibition of Funding for Terrorist Acts Act. Among them, the principal suspect has been indicted, detained, and is standing trial, while the other 3 are under investigation without detention; one individual has been placed on an Interpol Red Notice.Police allege that between August 2024 and April 2025, the principal suspect transferred 4,267 USDT in 7 separate transactions to Katibat Tawhid wal Jihad (KTJ), a Syria-based organization. Founded in 2014, KTJ is primarily composed of Central Asian militants and has been designated as a terrorist organization by both the United Nations and the United States.The investigation shows that the principal suspect also received cryptocurrency from KTJ and used it to purchase 11 used cars and 2 excavators, with a total value of 170 million KRW (approximately $121,000), and shipped the vehicles to Syria. The other 3 individuals are suspected of assisting with the procurement and export.Police stated that this case, which involves receiving cryptocurrency from a terrorist organization, purchasing and supplying vehicles, is the first of its kind in South Korea. The investigation also revealed that the principal suspect used 3 personal wallets and deposited vehicle payments into an account under his spouse's name. The case remains under investigation. (Decrypt)
According to Cointelegraph, Bitfinex Securities has announced the launch of five tokenized notes tracking the equity performance of Strategy, Metaplanet, Swedish H100 Group, French Capital B, as well as Strategy's variable-rate perpetual preferred shares, STRC. The notes are issued through the Luxembourg-based ORO II fund, backed by underlying securities held in custody by regulated financial institutions, but do not grant investors direct ownership of the corresponding company shares. The products support trading priced in USD, USDT, and BTC, with a minimum investment of approximately $1, and are exclusively available to qualified non-U.S. investors. Bitfinex Securities stated that this marks the first time such products have been traded on the secondary market within a regulated tokenized securities exchange, with the total value of listed assets on the platform now exceeding $500 million.
Odaily News - Bitfinex Securities, the tokenized investment platform under crypto exchange Bitfinex, has listed 5 tokenized notes, providing eligible investors with economic exposure to bitcoin treasury companies such as Strategy, Metaplanet, H100 Group, and Capital B. The platform has also listed Strategy's floating-rate perpetual preferred stock, STRC.The aforementioned notes are issued through the Luxembourg-based ORO (II) fund and managed by SICOS Securities. The underlying securities are held in custody by regulated financial institutions but do not grant investors direct ownership of shares in the corresponding companies. The products allow fractional investments starting from approximately $1 and support trading in USD, USDT, and Bitcoin, and are only available to eligible non-US investors.Bitfinex Securities stated that this marks the first time such products are available for secondary trading on a regulated tokenized securities exchange. Following the completion of a $50 million tokenized fundraising round for metals company Alkemya in August this year, the platform's total listed assets have surpassed $500 million. (Cointelegraph)
According to CoinDesk, Russia’s largest bank, Sberbank, plans to include Ethereum (ETH) and the Tether stablecoin (USDT) in its cryptocurrency collateral lending program, listed alongside Bitcoin (BTC) as acceptable collateral, once regulatory approval is granted. Deputy President Anatoly Popov stated that the bank will gradually expand its accepted asset scope after adapting to Russia’s new cryptocurrency regulations. Last August, the Central Bank of Russia had already placed BTC, ETH, and USDT on a draft list of digital currencies permitted for open trading at domestic exchanges. Sberbank had previously issued Russia’s first bitcoin collateral loan to mining firm Intelion Data last December. Notably, USDT carries additional sanctions risks; Tether can freeze tokens linked to sanctioned entities without a court order, while Sberbank has been subject to U.S. and EU sanctions since 2022. Russia’s new cryptocurrency law will officially take effect on September 1, and market participants must complete their licensing applications by July 2027.
Odaily News: Stablecoin issuer Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino stated that stablecoins are a more credible form of money than tokenized bank deposits, as the former is almost fully backed by U.S. Treasuries, while the latter typically has only 10% liquid asset backing.Pablo Hernandez de Cos, General Manager of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), said stablecoins raise concerns regarding redemption capacity, supply, interoperability, and their potential to facilitate criminal activity, adding that tokenized bank deposits represent a more direct path to preserving the foundations of the monetary system while leveraging tokenization.Ardoino noted that USDT's market capitalization has surpassed $183 billion and is used in some emerging markets for domestic and cross-border commerce. In discussions surrounding the CLARITY Act, banks have expressed concerns that allowing crypto exchanges to offer incentives on stablecoins could trigger deposit outflows. (Bitcoin.com News)
Odaily News: Anatoly Popov, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board at Sberbank, Russia's largest bank, stated that the country's compliant crypto trading is expected to reach at least 4 trillion rubles (approximately $46.43 billion) in its first year. The bank projects that as investors shift toward the official trading system, this figure could grow to approximately 7.5 trillion rubles (around $87.06 billion) by 2029.He noted that the majority of crypto trading volume will still flow outside the regulated exchange system, with only about 20% of trading volume—amounting to 3.5 trillion to 4 trillion rubles per year—expected to be conducted through exchanges in the first year. The relevant framework will take effect on September 1, allowing investors to legally purchase crypto assets through brokers.Non-qualified investors will be permitted to purchase up to 300,000 rubles in crypto assets annually through a single licensed intermediary, and must pass a risk awareness test; qualified investors have a higher annual cap of 3 million rubles. Official exchanges will initially only be allowed to trade Bitcoin, Ethereum, and USDT, with all other altcoins excluded; exchanges must complete their registration by July 1, 2027. (Bitcoin.com News)
Bitget has added two new stock spot rTokens: rDJT (Trump Media & Technology Group) and rPURR (Hyperliquid Strategies). As of now, the Bitget platform supports a total of 695 rTokens. Identified by an "r" prefix followed by the stock ticker (e.g., rNVDA for Nvidia), rTokens are issued by Reality, a licensed RWA protocol under Bitget. Through a partnership with the regulated brokerage Alpaca, they connect directly to global liquidity pools including Nasdaq and the NYSE. Key features include underlying assets backed 1:1 and held by licensed custodians, stock dividends distributed 1:1 in token form, synchronous mapping of corporate actions (such as stock splits and consolidations), and the eligibility of holdings to serve as joint margin for unified accounts and USDT-margined contracts, enabling users to hold global stock assets while maintaining flexible fund management.
Odaily News: The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas (Dallas Fed) reported that tokenized deposits could allow customers to move funds more quickly in search of higher yields, potentially undermining bank funding stability. The bank estimates that a 10% increase in deposit rate sensitivity could reduce banks' interest rate risk-bearing capacity by approximately $700 billion.The report notes that tokenized deposits differ from stablecoins like USDT and USDC, as they are regulated, interest-bearing deposits. However, instant settlement, smart contracts, and AI could lower deposit stickiness. If demand deposits become easier to transfer rapidly between institutions, banks' willingness to hold long-term fixed-rate assets may decline.The bank also stated that if the weighted average maturity of deposits shortens by 10%, the banking system's maturity transformation capacity could decrease by $580 billion. Institutions including Custodia, Vantage, Barclays, BMO, and Swift have already tested or advanced projects related to tokenized deposits and 24/7 settlement. (Decrypt)
According to an investigation by ZachXBT, French cybercriminal M1llionz (RichMilly666) is suspected of laundering cryptocurrency assets obtained from two violent home invasions in France in April 2026, totaling approximately $667,000. Currently, around $93,000 worth of related Tether assets have been frozen.
Odaily News - Investment manager Lawrence Lepard, author of The Big Print, stated that even if the CLARITY Act (Digital Asset Market Clarity Act) passes the Senate with 60 votes, stablecoin demand will not be sufficient to improve the current state of the U.S. Treasury market.He noted that the current stablecoin market cap stands at approximately $255 billion, primarily backed by U.S. Treasuries purchased by Circle and Tether, down from $263 billion in January. The U.S. Treasury needs to roll over more than $8 trillion in debt annually, with stablecoins covering only about 3% of that amount.In 2025, the share of U.S. debt held by foreign entities has dropped to 32%, down from 57% after the financial crisis. Coinbase Chief Policy Officer Faryar Shirzad stated that dollar-backed stablecoins could convert overseas demand for digital dollars into demand for U.S. Treasuries. (Bitcoin.com News)
According to a report by Caixin, the Hong Kong High Court of Appeal rejected the sentence reduction application of Ma Zhihao, the ringleader of an online fraud and human trafficking syndicate, yesterday, upholding the original 56-month imprisonment term. During the investigation, Hong Kong police traced the criminal funds through blockchain and cryptocurrency transaction records, pinpointing key transactions involving his receipt of ransoms and illicit proceeds. It is reported that the family members of a victim paid approximately 9,527 Tether (USDT) to a cryptocurrency wallet designated by the perpetrators. Blockchain tracking records conclusively proved that 8,127 USDT flowed into an exchange account registered under Ma Zhihao’s real name and Hong Kong identity card. The assets were subsequently converted into approximately HK$63,000 and transferred to his personal HSBC bank account, serving as crucial evidence of his participation in the crimes and his financial gains. The Court of Appeal noted that, were it not constrained by the seven-year maximum sentencing limit prescribed for the District Court, the penalties faced by the defendant would have been significantly more severe.
Odaily News: According to the official announcement, Bitget has listed 23 stock spot rTokens, including rHDV (iShares Core High Dividend ETF), rJEPI (JPMorgan Equity Premium Income ETF), rLUV (Southwest Airlines), and rOMC (Omnicom Group), covering multiple sectors such as financials, healthcare, and consumer goods. To date, the Bitget platform supports a total of 682 rTokens.It is reported that rTokens, identified by the letter "r" followed by a stock ticker (e.g., rNVDA for Nvidia), are issued by Reality, Bitget's licensed RWA protocol, and provide direct access to global liquidity pools such as Nasdaq and NYSE through a partnership with the compliant broker Alpaca. Their features include: 1:1 reserve backing of the underlying assets, held by licensed custodians; stock dividends distributed 1:1 in token form; support for synchronized mapping of corporate actions (such as stock splits); and the ability to use holdings as joint margin for unified accounts and USDT-margined contracts, allowing users to flexibly manage their funds while holding global equity assets.
Odaily News: Cryptocurrency exchange Binance will stop processing transactions involving 16 crypto asset service providers, with restrictions taking effect in three batches on August 7, August 13, and August 23. Users will not be allowed to send or receive assets directly or indirectly with the relevant entities after the corresponding dates. The affected platforms include Shelbit, Aban Tether Exchange, A7 Nigeria, A7 Africa, HTX, EXMO, Rapira, Bitpapa, and Exnode, among others. Transactions initiated after the effective dates may be temporarily withheld and subject to compliance review, and affected wallets may face temporary restrictions. The United States has imposed sanctions on Shelbit and Aban Tether, which are linked to an Iranian crypto network; the UK has also imposed sanctions on Russia-related trading platforms and the A7 network. A7 claims it transferred over $90 billion in funds last year. (Bitcoin.com News)
Dubai cryptocurrency exchange Bybit has launched pre-market perpetual contracts linked to Chinese robotics company Unitree and AI startup Moonshot AI. The contracts are denominated and settled in USDT and do not involve ownership of shares in the respective companies. Bybit stated that its traditional finance perpetual contract product lineup has grown to over 200 since its launch in April, covering stocks, ETFs, commodities, indices, and pre-market companies. Unitree received approval from Chinese securities regulators in July to list on the Shanghai STAR Market. RWA.xyz data shows that the distribution value of tokenized stocks has reached $2.38 billion, with 1.31 million holders, a 123.62% increase in the latter over the past 30 days. (Cointelegraph)
According to crypto.news, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was re-elected as an MP with 63.34% of the vote in the Clacton by-election, and the UK Parliamentary Standards Commissioner subsequently reopened an investigation into his undeclared financial interests. The investigation covers two items: first, personal payments of approximately $6.7 million (approximately £5 million) received from Christopher Harborne, a billionaire investor and shareholder of stablecoin issuer Tether; second, benefits provided by long-term advisor George Cottrell, including drivers, security, social media staff, and a five-story luxury mansion in London. Farage previously denied wrongdoing on the grounds that the "gifts occurred before taking office as an MP," and resigned in July this year, causing the investigation to be suspended. After this re-election, he must redeclare financial interests within one month, and disclose registrable interests received within the 12 months prior to the election. Meanwhile, UK Labour Party MPs are pushing to upgrade the temporary ban on crypto political donations into permanent legislation.
Odaily News The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) on Friday granted initial conditional approval to World Liberty Trust Company, National Association, bringing Trump-backed World Liberty Financial one step closer to obtaining a national trust bank charter.In its letter, the OCC stated that World Liberty's charter application met certain regulatory and policy requirements, leading to the initial conditional approval. However, this does not constitute final approval, and the OCC may still rescind the approval.Earlier this year, World Liberty Financial established a new trust company with the aim of applying for a bank charter from the OCC. The company has previously stated that the charter would support its provision of services including stablecoin issuance and redemption, fiat on/off ramps, custody, and exchange. WLF currently issues the stablecoin USD1, which has a market cap of approximately $4 billion, making it the fourth-largest stablecoin after Tether and USDC.WLF CEO Zack Witkoff said on X on Friday that the company aims to build "the world's most trusted and widely used digital dollar" while strengthening the dollar's role in the global economy. Zack Witkoff is the son of Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Overall, this approval could further strengthen WLF's position in the U.S. stablecoin and digital asset banking infrastructure, though its political ties may continue to raise regulatory and ethical concerns.
According to Binance's official announcement, due to recent changes in regulatory requirements, Binance will stop processing relevant transactions involving multiple crypto asset service providers in batches. Among them, platforms such as HTX (Huobi Global SA), EXMO Ltd, BitPapa, and Rapira will take effect from August 23, 2026. Previously, Shelbit and Aban Tether Exchange took effect on August 7, and A7 Nigeria, PilotFinance Ltd, and others took effect on August 13. Binance reminds that if users attempt to trade with relevant entities after the above dates, they will face additional compliance reviews, and relevant wallets may be restricted.
Odaily News, according to official announcements, Bitget has added 14 stock spot rTokens including rPDD (Pinduoduo), rABNB (Airbnb), and rSONY (Sony) with weekend trading support. Following this update, the number of stock tokens supported for weekend trading on the platform has increased to 93. During US market closures, the platform will generate continuous weekend trading prices based on Friday closing prices, market maker quotes, and market expectations. This feature supports limit orders and take-profit/stop-loss settings. To prevent abnormal fluctuations, the system imposes a protection limit of approximately ±20% on weekend limit orders.It is understood that rTokens, identified by the letter r + stock ticker (e.g., rNVDA for Nvidia), are issued by Reality, a licensed RWA protocol under Bitget. Through a partnership with compliant broker Alpaca, they connect directly to global liquidity pools such as NASDAQ and the New York Stock Exchange. Their features include: 1:1 reserve backing of underlying assets held by licensed custodians, stock dividends distributed 1:1 in token form, corporate actions such as stock splits and reverse splits mirrored synchronously, and the ability to use holdings as cross-margin for unified accounts and USDT-margined contracts, allowing users to manage funds flexibly while holding global equity assets.
Odaily News: Digital asset company Tether has announced the completion of a full independent audit by KPMG U.S. of the financial statements of Tether International, S.A. de C.V. for the year ended December 31, 2025. KPMG U.S. issued an unqualified audit opinion. The audit covered transactions, systems, ownership records, valuations, counterparties, and financial statement evidence, and also examined the balance sheet, income statement, statement of changes in equity, and cash flow statement. KPMG U.S. also physically counted and inspected every single gold bar held by Tether. Tether CFO Simon McWilliams said that the 2025 audited financial statements show that its reserve assets exceed its liabilities by $6.814 billion. Tether stated that this audit is an important step in fulfilling its long-term commitment to financial transparency. (Tether News)
Odaily News: Sui announced on the X platform that Hadron by Tether is now live, providing institutions with the infrastructure to issue tokenized stocks, bonds, commodities, and other assets. The infrastructure is designed with compliance at its core and built for scalable growth.