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Union is a yper-efficient interoperability protocol connects all blockchains and rollups, across any ecosystem. It's based on consensus verification and has no dependencies on trusted third parties, oracles, multi-signatures, or MPC.
Venture capital firm USV announces the closing of a $900 million new fund, betting on application-layer opportunities in the AI era.
USV announced that veteran venture capital firm Union Square Ventures (USV) has successfully raised a new $900 million fund to support startups positioned at the cusp of major market shifts. USV stated that AI infrastructure buildout is already fully underway. Just as the firm backed the internet revolution in 2004, it will apply the exact same logic to invest in the “age of intelligence.” The fund’s substantial increase from the previous $275 million is designed to address the realities of the AI era, which is characterized by larger funding rounds and higher valuations. Regarding investment focus, USV outlined three core themes: AI will reshape markets rather than merely automate them; unlocking previously inaccessible “edge data” (spanning robotics, manufacturing, sensor networks, etc.); and meeting the growing demand from consumers and enterprises for more robust intelligence and stronger trust alignment (categorized under the “Rebel Alliance” theme). Energy investments have also been integrated into the core fund.
Australia has cancelled, suspended, or refused to renew 45 crypto and remittance registrations over the past year
Odaily News: The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) has stated that over the past year, it has cancelled, suspended, or refused to renew 45 registrations for cryptocurrency and remittance businesses, targeting service providers that are inactive, insolvent, or not operationally capable.AUSTRAC CEO Brendan Thomas stated that businesses whose registrations have been cancelled are not permitted to continue operating, and that some individuals involved have been referred to Australian and overseas law enforcement or regulatory cooperation agencies. Additional issues cited include failure to report material changes, incorrect registration information, and significant money laundering or terrorist financing risks.AUSTRAC noted that the virtual asset service provider registration of GetCoins, a brand under BA Digital Ventures, was cancelled in June following customer complaints. The agency stated that GetCoins is suspected of being exploited by organized cryptocurrency investment scam activities, and that this action, taken in collaboration with the National Anti-Scam Centre, helped disrupt related activity.AUSTRAC did not disclose the full list of 45 businesses, nor did it provide a breakdown of crypto versus remittance service providers. The public VASP register shows that recent actions have also involved Cryptolink, Self Custody, Jam Xchange, and Coinsec Australia; AUSTRAC has also launched an investigation into Western Union and suspended Cryptolink's cryptocurrency ATM network. (Cointelegraph)
InvestiFi 完成 2000 万美元融资，Vibe Credit Union 领投
According to The Paypers, embedded investment platform InvestiFi announced the completion of a $20 million financing round, led by Vibe Credit Union, with participation from BankTech Ventures, Idaho Central Credit Union, Navari (formerly CUSG), United Financial Credit Union, Coastal Credit Union, Mid Minnesota Credit Union, Truity Credit Union, and Southpoint Credit Union. The InvestiFi platform enables credit unions and community banks to offer digital investment services directly within their existing online banking environments, covering features such as fractional share investing in stocks and ETFs, guided investing, IRA retirement accounts, cryptocurrency trading, and stablecoins. Its feature within a core patent application, "direct investing from checking accounts," allows users to complete investment operations without transferring funds to external brokerages.
Prediction market platform Pascal completes $9 million Series A funding round led by USV
: Prediction market platform Pascal has announced the completion of a $9 million Series A funding round. The platform aims to create a next-generation prediction market platform for professional traders and institutional users, challenging the current market landscape dominated by Kalshi and Polymarket.This funding round was led by Union Square Ventures (USV), with the specific valuation not disclosed. This financing expands on a $6 million seed round from August last year, with early investors including Wintermute Ventures and DBA.Headquartered in New York, Pascal positions itself as a prediction market platform similar to Kalshi, but aims to offer users lower fees, higher liquidity, and more specialized trading tools through a trading model closer to perpetual futures.Pascal co-founder Ivo Crnkovic-Rubsamen stated that the hope is to establish highly liquid prediction markets for real business risks in the future, allowing companies to utilize these markets for risk management and hedging. (Fortune)
Securitize plans to list on the NYSE on July 2, aiming to raise approximately $400 million
the business combination between Securitize and SPAC Cantor Equity Partners II (NASDAQ: CEPT) is expected to raise approximately $400 million (including PIPE, before deducting related expenses). Upon completion of the merger, the new company will be renamed Securitize Corp., and its common stock is planned to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker "SECZ" starting July 2. The CEPT shareholder meeting is scheduled to vote on the transaction on June 29, with the current redemption rate below 30%. Securitize claims to have obtained regulatory licenses related to digital securities infrastructure in both the United States and the European Union, managing over $4 billion in on-chain real-world assets. (PR Newswire)
OCC Proposes Applying the Bank Secrecy Act to Stablecoin Issuers
According to PYMNTS, on June 22, the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a proposed rulemaking requiring payment stablecoin issuers (PPSIs) under its supervision to comply with provisions of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and the GENIUS Act, and mandating that they implement anti-money laundering/combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) programs, sanctions programs, and reporting requirements administered by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The rule would also establish an OCC supervisory and enforcement framework for PPSIs’ AML/CFT obligations and clarify coordination mechanisms between the OCC and FinCEN in enforcement actions. Previously, the OCC had jointly sought public comment with the Federal Reserve, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), and the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) regarding requirements for stablecoin issuers to establish customer identification programs.
Japan's Financial Services Agency Releases 609-Page Research Report on Overseas Crypto Regulation, Covering RWA Regulatory Frameworks in China, the US, Europe, and Hong Kong
Odaily reports: Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA) has published a commissioned research report on overseas financial regulatory systems, totaling 609 pages and authored by the Japanese law firm Atsumi & Sakai. The report covers 8 countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, China, and Hong Kong, and aims to provide reference for Japan's financial system planning and legislation.The report focuses on regulatory frameworks for crypto asset exchanges, stablecoins, and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization across various jurisdictions, including the US GENIUS Act, the EU's MiCA regulation, the UK's stablecoin regulatory proposal, and China's virtual currency and RWA regulations issued in February 2026. The report notes that under China's current rules, domestic RWA tokenized issuance, trading, and related services are in principle prohibited, except for businesses conducted with the consent of competent authorities and relying on specific financial infrastructure. Additionally, the report covers Hong Kong's expansion of the scope of tokenized securities trading and related market regulatory arrangements. (CoinPost)
Anchorage Digital Bank Provides Six-Blockchain Custody for MXNB, Bitso Lists USDPT and USAT
Odaily report: Federally regulated digital asset bank Anchorage Digital Bank has expanded its partnership with Bitso to provide custody services for MXNB across six blockchains: Arbitrum, Base, Ethereum, Polygon, Avalanche, and Arc. Bitso stated that its infrastructure already processes 15% of transaction volume on the U.S.-Mexico remittance corridor.Bitso has also listed the U.S. dollar stablecoins USDPT and USAT, issued by Western Union and Tether respectively. Mexican users can directly buy and sell USDPT with pesos through the Bitso app; Western Union agents operating Bitso Business accounts can also exchange USDPT for other supported currencies. (Bitcoin.com News)
Gate Founder and CEO Dr. Han will attend and speak at the Oxford Union, engaging in dialogue with diverse global perspectives
Odaily News: On November 12, from 15:30 to 16:30 (UTC), Gate Founder and CEO Dr. Han will be invited to attend and speak at The Oxford Union. The event will be held at The Oxford Union on St Michael's Street, Oxford, UK. Founded in 1823, The Oxford Union is an independent student debating society with over 200 years of history. It has long invited political and business leaders, renowned actors, Nobel laureates, and other distinguished figures from various fields to speak, and has historically hosted many notable figures including Albert Einstein.As one of the world's leading cryptocurrency trading platforms, Gate was founded by Dr. Han in 2013 and now serves over 61 million users globally, covering asset management, trading, payments, and other financial and lifestyle scenarios. Gate is also continuously expanding its digital financial services footprint, driving the connection between digital assets, fiat currencies, and payment services through Gate Money. Dr. Han's appearance on this international exchange platform will also create new opportunities for dialogue between Gate and global thought leaders and the next generation of talent, continuously expanding the connection between digital assets and traditional finance, and further showcasing Gate's practices and insights in global digital asset industry positioning, product innovation, and compliance development.
The second meeting of the China-EU Trade and Investment Dialogue Mechanism was held in Beijing.
On October 8 and 9, China and the European Union held the second regular meeting of the Trade and Investment Consultation Mechanism in Beijing. Both sides agreed to strengthen communication on export control policies, substantively launch the mutual case referral process, and advance progress on individual licensing cases for dual-use items.
Kraken Co-CEO Criticizes U.S. Crypto Regulatory Stance, Calls Europe's MiCA More Mature
Odaily reports: David Ripley, Co-CEO of U.S. cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, stated that Europe has taken a more pragmatic approach to crypto regulation, with the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) providing clarity on market rules. In contrast, the U.S. regulatory environment is more adversarial.Ripley noted that the CLARITY Act has been slow to advance, with related efforts ongoing for years. He believes that if the U.S. continues to delay pushing forward crypto regulatory legislation, it may cede its leadership in financial innovation to the European Union.Kraken obtained a MiCA license from the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) in June 2025, allowing it to operate across all 30 member states of the European Economic Area (EEA). (Bitcoin.com News)
Russia-Ukraine Situation Escalates; US Approves $2.7 Billion Arms Sales and Sanctions Bill Takes Effect
Fighting continues along the Russia-Ukraine front lines, with a cooling tower at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant hit. The United States officially signed a sanctions bill against Russia and approved nearly $2.7 billion in arms sales to Ukraine, while the European Union simultaneously allocated €3.3 billion in defense funding.
Stripe Bitcoin Fraudster Sentenced to 51 Months, Ordered to Pay $811K in Restitution
Odaily reports: Timothy Wadsworth has been sentenced to 51 months in prison and ordered to pay $810,965.19 in restitution after being convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the sentencing on October 23. Wadsworth is from Rochester, New York. His fraud scheme involved processing unauthorized credit card payments through Stripe, then transferring part of the funds to Coinbase to purchase Bitcoin and send it to co-conspirators.Between March 10 and May 15, 2020, Wadsworth used account information provided by co-conspirators to attempt to process 310 payments through Stripe totaling approximately $1.6736 million, of which 116 succeeded, amounting to about $730,700. The funds were moved through HSBC and Evolve Federal Credit Union accounts under his control, with some subsequently used to purchase Bitcoin.The judge also ordered the forfeiture of $810,956.19 in wire fraud proceeds. From March 2020 to September 2021, the actual and intended losses caused by the related fraud scheme totaled approximately $2.06 million, and also included disaster loans, Paycheck Protection Program loans, unemployment benefits, and other fraud proceeds targeting victims. (Bitcoin.com News)
Western Union Chooses Noah to Build Global Stablecoin Payment Network Covering Over 200 Countries and Regions
According to a Noah announcement, Western Union has selected it as its global stablecoin payment infrastructure provider, deploying an underlying on-chain banking network for the Receiver Redirect service that supports over 60 currencies across more than 200 countries and regions. Built on Western Union’s US dollar stablecoin USDPT (issued by Anchorage Digital Bank on Solana), the service leverages Noah’s infrastructure to handle pre-funding, conversion, and fund disbursements. Users can remit funds through Western Union’s global network of over 500,000 agent locations, while recipients can receive USDPT into their Western Union wallets and store related stablecoin assets via Stablecard.
Binance Alpha will delist 14 tokens including MTP and BDXN
Binance Alpha will remove a total of 14 tokens from its recommended list on September 4 at 16:30: MTP (Multiple Network), BDXN (Bondex Token), TALE (PrompTale AI), BOS (BitcoinOS), MAIGA (Maiga.ai), TIMI (MetaArena), SAROS (Saros), U (Union), SERAPH (SERAPH), RVV (REVIVE), AIAV (AI Avatar), PENGUIN (Nietzschean Penguin), ODOS (Odos), and SN3 (Nebula3). Following the removal, withdrawals and selling for these tokens will continue to be supported.
Binance saw $15.7 billion in net inflows in August, accounting for over 75% of all centralized exchange inflows
Odaily News: Cryptocurrency exchange Binance recorded $15.7 billion in inflows in August, setting a monthly record and capturing more than 75% of all centralized exchange inflows. During the same period, Bitcoin's price surged over 20% to break through $80,000, driving growth in exchange trading volumes.Binance Research noted that the $15.7 billion figure is approximately 8.4 times that of the exchange with the second-largest positive inflows, with Bybit and OKX ranking among the three exchanges with the highest liquidity concentration. Inflows at smaller platforms were more dispersed.Additionally, Binance faces allegations in the European Union of accepting local users without obtaining a license under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). (Bitcoin.com News)
Western Union Launches Stablecard in 37 Markets, Integrating USDPT Remittances
Western Union has partnered with stablecoin infrastructure provider Rain to launch Stablecard, a digital wallet and Visa-branded card that enables users to hold and spend US dollar-pegged stablecoins. The product is now available in 37 markets, with Western Union planning to expand to more than 60 markets by the end of this year. Stablecard supports USDPT, a US dollar-pegged stablecoin issued by Anchorage Digital Bank and running on the Solana blockchain. Users can directly receive Western Union remittances and transfer funds to compatible crypto wallets and exchanges. Users can also spend their balances at all Visa-accepting merchants, as well as through Apple Pay and Google Pay. Western Union also unveiled USDPT in May and expanded its ecosystem through exchange partnerships in June.
Western Union officially launches Stablecard stablecoin payment card, initially covering 37 markets
Odaily News: Global remittance giant Western Union has announced the official launch of Stablecard, built on Rain's stablecoin infrastructure. Users can directly receive USDPT, a stablecoin issued by Western Union and minted on Solana via Anchorage Digital Bank, and spend instantly at Visa-accepting merchants worldwide through the integrated Visa card, or choose to withdraw cash. Stablecard initially covers 37 markets, with Western Union planning to expand to over 60 markets by the end of the year. The company stated that stablecoins will help reduce upfront capital requirements for cross-border remittances, improve capital efficiency, and support the launch of additional digital financial services.
EU Sanctions "Most Prolific Ransomware Operator" Stern, Linked to Over $300 Million in Ransom Payments
the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom have jointly announced sanctions against a group of individuals involved in state-sponsored hacking organizations, cybercriminal groups, and their infrastructure providers. The targets are accused of causing billions of dollars in losses to global enterprises, critical infrastructure, and government agencies. Among them, the most notable is the EU's sanction against Russian cybercriminal Vitaly Nikolayevich Kovalev, also known as "Stern." The EU identified Stern as one of the core managers of the notorious Trickbot Group ransomware syndicate, which is behind high-risk ransomware variants such as Conti ransomware and Ryuk.On-chain analysis shows that wallet addresses linked to Stern have collectively received over $300 million in ransom payments, potentially making him the most prolific ransomware operator ever identified.According to the analysis, the $300 million figure represents only Stern's personal gains, while the total illicit income of the Trickbot Group could be significantly higher. On-chain fund flows indicate that Stern had transactional ties with multiple ransomware ecosystems, including Ryuk, Conti, Diavol, Karakurt, Royal, and Quantum.The investigation reveals that Stern played a role similar to a "CEO" within the Trickbot organization, responsible for budget management, personnel recruitment, infrastructure procurement, and attack planning. (Chainalysis)
France charges 88 suspects in crypto "wrench attack" cases, including over a dozen minors
the French National Organized Crime Prosecutor's Office (PNACO) issued a statement on Friday stating that France has launched judicial investigations into 12 cryptocurrency kidnapping cases orchestrated by organized crime groups, and has indicted 88 suspects, including more than 10 minors.According to statistics, since 2023, France has recorded 135 cryptocurrency-related attacks, including 18 in 2024, 67 in 2025, and 47 so far in 2026. The accused individuals face charges including kidnapping, illegal detention, extortion, and money laundering. Recently, police arrested six suspects in two operations targeting kidnapping cases, and all individuals are currently in preventive detention. CertiK blockchain intelligence analyst Jonathan Riss stated that the masterminds behind such criminal gangs are typically located outside the European Union.
Grinex Ceases Operations, Potentially Delivering a Heavy Blow to Russia’s Sanctions-Evasion Shadow Financial System
According to DL News, Russian cryptocurrency exchange Grinex announced last Wednesday that it would cease operations after suffering a cyberattack that resulted in the theft of over 1 billion rubles—approximately $13 million. The report states that Grinex had processed nearly $100 billion in trading volume for the sanctioned stablecoin A7A5 in 2025. Its shutdown is expected to weaken Russian companies’ ability to convert rubles into usable international currencies and deliver a severe blow to Russia’s shadow financial system designed to circumvent sanctions. Grinex was viewed as the successor to Garantex, which had previously been sanctioned and shut down. Both Grinex and Old Vector—the issuer of A7A5—were sanctioned in August 2025 by the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom.
Japan's Financial Services Agency Releases 609-Page Research Report on Overseas Crypto Regulation, Covering RWA Regulatory Frameworks in China, the US, Europe, and Hong Kong
Odaily reports: Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA) has published a commissioned research report on overseas financial regulatory systems, totaling 609 pages and authored by the Japanese law firm Atsumi & Sakai. The report covers 8 countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, China, and Hong Kong, and aims to provide reference for Japan's financial system planning and legislation.The report focuses on regulatory frameworks for crypto asset exchanges, stablecoins, and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization across various jurisdictions, including the US GENIUS Act, the EU's MiCA regulation, the UK's stablecoin regulatory proposal, and China's virtual currency and RWA regulations issued in February 2026. The report notes that under China's current rules, domestic RWA tokenized issuance, trading, and related services are in principle prohibited, except for businesses conducted with the consent of competent authorities and relying on specific financial infrastructure. Additionally, the report covers Hong Kong's expansion of the scope of tokenized securities trading and related market regulatory arrangements. (CoinPost)
Anchorage Digital Bank Provides Six-Blockchain Custody for MXNB, Bitso Lists USDPT and USAT
Odaily report: Federally regulated digital asset bank Anchorage Digital Bank has expanded its partnership with Bitso to provide custody services for MXNB across six blockchains: Arbitrum, Base, Ethereum, Polygon, Avalanche, and Arc. Bitso stated that its infrastructure already processes 15% of transaction volume on the U.S.-Mexico remittance corridor.Bitso has also listed the U.S. dollar stablecoins USDPT and USAT, issued by Western Union and Tether respectively. Mexican users can directly buy and sell USDPT with pesos through the Bitso app; Western Union agents operating Bitso Business accounts can also exchange USDPT for other supported currencies. (Bitcoin.com News)
Western Union Chooses Noah to Build Global Stablecoin Payment Network Covering Over 200 Countries and Regions
According to a Noah announcement, Western Union has selected it as its global stablecoin payment infrastructure provider, deploying an underlying on-chain banking network for the Receiver Redirect service that supports over 60 currencies across more than 200 countries and regions. Built on Western Union’s US dollar stablecoin USDPT (issued by Anchorage Digital Bank on Solana), the service leverages Noah’s infrastructure to handle pre-funding, conversion, and fund disbursements. Users can remit funds through Western Union’s global network of over 500,000 agent locations, while recipients can receive USDPT into their Western Union wallets and store related stablecoin assets via Stablecard.
NCUA Proposes 26 New Stablecoin Reporting Fields
Odaily report: The U.S. National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) released a stablecoin reporting proposal on October 9, which would add 26 new data fields to the quarterly financial report Form 5300, applicable to federally insured credit unions engaged in stablecoin business, with a target reporting implementation date of March 31, 2027.Among the proposed new fields, 8 involve reserve assets held for authorized third-party issuers, 9 involve cryptographic key custody and control, 5 involve financial exposure to issuers, and 4 involve payment stablecoins held on institutional balance sheets.The information collection is expected to cover 4,224 federally insured credit unions, with an annual reporting burden of 794,112 hours, and a complete quarterly report requiring an average of 47 hours. The NCUA will seek public comment before December 8, and the feedback will be publicly submitted as part of the approval application. (Bitcoin.com News)
Venture capital firm USV announces the closing of a $900 million new fund, betting on application-layer opportunities in the AI era.
USV announced that veteran venture capital firm Union Square Ventures (USV) has successfully raised a new $900 million fund to support startups positioned at the cusp of major market shifts. USV stated that AI infrastructure buildout is already fully underway. Just as the firm backed the internet revolution in 2004, it will apply the exact same logic to invest in the “age of intelligence.” The fund’s substantial increase from the previous $275 million is designed to address the realities of the AI era, which is characterized by larger funding rounds and higher valuations. Regarding investment focus, USV outlined three core themes: AI will reshape markets rather than merely automate them; unlocking previously inaccessible “edge data” (spanning robotics, manufacturing, sensor networks, etc.); and meeting the growing demand from consumers and enterprises for more robust intelligence and stronger trust alignment (categorized under the “Rebel Alliance” theme). Energy investments have also been integrated into the core fund.
Reform UK Plans to Establish Crypto Industry Union in Response to Foreign Donation Restrictions
According to The Daily Mail, Aaron Banks, a senior figure in Reform UK, stated that if the Labour government tightens regulations on foreign donations, the party plans to establish the "Computer and Cryptocurrency Workers' Union" to represent professionals in the information technology, artificial intelligence, and cryptocurrency sectors, and legally register it in the UK. The report also noted that Reform UK may encourage its supporters to join existing trade unions to expand its influence within union organizations. These plans have not yet been formally implemented.
Related news
Japan's Financial Services Agency Releases 609-Page Research Report on Overseas Crypto Regulation, Covering RWA Regulatory Frameworks in China, the US, Europe, and Hong Kong
Odaily reports: Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA) has published a commissioned research report on overseas financial regulatory systems, totaling 609 pages and authored by the Japanese law firm Atsumi & Sakai. The report covers 8 countries and regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, China, and Hong Kong, and aims to provide reference for Japan's financial system planning and legislation.The report focuses on regulatory frameworks for crypto asset exchanges, stablecoins, and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization across various jurisdictions, including the US GENIUS Act, the EU's MiCA regulation, the UK's stablecoin regulatory proposal, and China's virtual currency and RWA regulations issued in February 2026. The report notes that under China's current rules, domestic RWA tokenized issuance, trading, and related services are in principle prohibited, except for businesses conducted with the consent of competent authorities and relying on specific financial infrastructure. Additionally, the report covers Hong Kong's expansion of the scope of tokenized securities trading and related market regulatory arrangements. (CoinPost)
Anchorage Digital Bank Provides Six-Blockchain Custody for MXNB, Bitso Lists USDPT and USAT
Odaily report: Federally regulated digital asset bank Anchorage Digital Bank has expanded its partnership with Bitso to provide custody services for MXNB across six blockchains: Arbitrum, Base, Ethereum, Polygon, Avalanche, and Arc. Bitso stated that its infrastructure already processes 15% of transaction volume on the U.S.-Mexico remittance corridor.Bitso has also listed the U.S. dollar stablecoins USDPT and USAT, issued by Western Union and Tether respectively. Mexican users can directly buy and sell USDPT with pesos through the Bitso app; Western Union agents operating Bitso Business accounts can also exchange USDPT for other supported currencies. (Bitcoin.com News)
JPMorgan: AI Shopping Agents Roll Out, Payments Still Run on Card Networks
JPMorgan assesses that AI shopping agent workflows more closely mirror traditional e-commerce, with limited short-term impact on payment stocks. Payment networks are benefiting from card transactions, while the moats of trust and lending around online checkout remain intact, and the operating environment for traditional acquirers is improving. Regarding ratings, Affirm, Chime, Marqeta, Remitly, and Toast are upgraded to Overweight; PayPal and Klarna are maintained at Neutral; and Western Union is downgraded to Underweight.
Stripe Bitcoin Fraudster Sentenced to 51 Months, Ordered to Pay $811K in Restitution
Odaily reports: Timothy Wadsworth has been sentenced to 51 months in prison and ordered to pay $810,965.19 in restitution after being convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the sentencing on October 23. Wadsworth is from Rochester, New York. His fraud scheme involved processing unauthorized credit card payments through Stripe, then transferring part of the funds to Coinbase to purchase Bitcoin and send it to co-conspirators.Between March 10 and May 15, 2020, Wadsworth used account information provided by co-conspirators to attempt to process 310 payments through Stripe totaling approximately $1.6736 million, of which 116 succeeded, amounting to about $730,700. The funds were moved through HSBC and Evolve Federal Credit Union accounts under his control, with some subsequently used to purchase Bitcoin.The judge also ordered the forfeiture of $810,956.19 in wire fraud proceeds. From March 2020 to September 2021, the actual and intended losses caused by the related fraud scheme totaled approximately $2.06 million, and also included disaster loans, Paycheck Protection Program loans, unemployment benefits, and other fraud proceeds targeting victims. (Bitcoin.com News)
Western Union Chooses Noah to Build Global Stablecoin Payment Network Covering Over 200 Countries and Regions
According to a Noah announcement, Western Union has selected it as its global stablecoin payment infrastructure provider, deploying an underlying on-chain banking network for the Receiver Redirect service that supports over 60 currencies across more than 200 countries and regions. Built on Western Union’s US dollar stablecoin USDPT (issued by Anchorage Digital Bank on Solana), the service leverages Noah’s infrastructure to handle pre-funding, conversion, and fund disbursements. Users can remit funds through Western Union’s global network of over 500,000 agent locations, while recipients can receive USDPT into their Western Union wallets and store related stablecoin assets via Stablecard.
US Ambassador to the European Union Warns: If EU Restricts Starlink Spectrum Access, It Will Face “Devastating” Retaliation
According to the Financial Times (FT), U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Andrew Puzder warned that if Brussels continues to advance plans to restrict non-EU companies' access to spectrum, Europe will face "devastating" retaliation.