SEC Chair Gary Gensler offered to advise Binance in 2019: CNBC
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler allegedly offered to serve as an advisor to Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, in 2019, according to a CNBC report on Wednesday that cited documents filed by the regulator.
Binance moved billions of dollars in client funds to accounts of company officials, SEC says in new filing
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has submitted a new court filing to support its lawsuit against the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance.
U.S. court orders SEC to respond to Coinbase’s rulemaking petition
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has been ordered on Tuesday by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit to respond to cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase’s pending petition for rulemaking within seven days.
Swift, Chainlink to test blockchain token transfers with at least 12 major banks
The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (Swift) and blockchain data provider Chainlink will work with more than 12 major banks across the world to test the use of existing Swift infrastructure to transfer tokenized assets across public and private blockchain networks, Swift said on Tuesday. See related article: SWIFT, Chainlink announce cross-chain interoperability partnership […]
China state media covers SEC’s lawsuit against Binance, CEO Changpeng Zhao
CCTV, China’s largest national TV broadcaster, ran about a minute-long segment on Tuesday flagging SEC’s lawsuit against Binance and its founder Changpeng Zhao.
USDC stablecoin issuer Circle obtains Singapore license for digital payments, others
Circle Singapore said Wednesday it has received a Major Payment Institution license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
SEC sues Coinbase for violating securities rules a day after Binance lawsuit
The U.S. SEC sued Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the U.S., for allegedly breaching securities rules, less than 24 hours after the regulator sued Binance on similar charges.
MUFG enables bank-backed stablecoin issuance amid new Japanese regulations
MUFG, Japan’s leading bank, is pioneering the crypto industry by supporting stablecoin issuance on the Progmat Coin platform, offering an alternative route for entry and exit in the volatile cryptocurrency market.
SEC targets US$115 billion of crypto following lawsuit against Binance: Bloomberg
The U.S. SEC has extended the list of cryptocurrencies it considers unregistered securities to cover US$115 billion worth of tokens following its Monday lawsuit against crypto exchange Binance, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday.
Binance, US platform, CEO face SEC lawsuit over alleged securities violations
The U.S. regulator alleges Binance and its leader of unregistered offers, sale of tokens, defrauding investors and manipulating trade volumes.
JPMorgan teams up with Indian banks for blockchain-based settlements: Bloomberg
JPMorgan has reportedly launched a pilot project with top private lenders in India for interbank dollar transaction settlements through its blockchain platform, Onyx.
Montenegro court approves second bail request for Terra-Luna founder Do Kwon
A court in Montenegro approved a second bail request for Terraform Labs co-founder Do Kwon, who faces allegations of using fake passports.
Bitcoin rises above US$27,000, Litecoin leads gains among top 10 cryptos
Bitcoin gained 1.08% on Friday afternoon and Ether strengthened 1.78%.
Japan’s ANA airline launches NFT marketplace, sees future in metaverse projects
Japan’s All Nippon Airways, or ANA Group, has launched a non-fungible token platform known as “ANA GranWhale NFT MarketPlace” to trade art and photograph collectibles through its metaverse subsidiary ANA NEO, the company tweeted on Thursday.
Bitcoin mining difficulty rises 3.4% to all-time high as hashrate jumps
Bitcoin’s mining difficulty level rose 3.4% on Thursday to an all-time high, as the network’s hashrate also increased to a record high.
Tether stablecoin issuer taps Uruguay for Bitcoin mining using renewable energy
Tether, the issuer of the world’s most traded stablecoin, will invest in power generation and Bitcoin mining in Uruguay to tap the country’s renewable energy resources, the company said on Tuesday.
UAE and Hong Kong central banks to collaborate on crypto regulation
The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority have agreed to strengthen cooperation in regulating virtual assets.
Bybit crypto exchange follows Binance in exiting Canada amid tightened rules
Dubai-headquartered Bybit said it will exit the Canadian crypto market and stop accepting new accounts from Wednesday, citing a “recent regulatory development.”
Ethereum NFTs now transferable to Bitcoin
Ordinals’ BRC-721E token standard is set to introduce NFT transfers from Ethereum to Bitcoin through a burn and claim process.
U.S. congressman says crypto mining tax scrapped in debt ceiling deal
A proposed tax on electricity used by cryptocurrency miners in the U.S. has been scrapped in the deal to raise the country’s debt ceiling, according to Republican congressman Warren Davidson.
Hong Kong Web3 industry forms new associations to push crypto hub ambition
Leaders in Hong Kong’s Web3 industry announced the formation of two new associations, Hong Kong Licensed Virtual Assets Association (HKLVAA) and Web3 Harbour, on Monday.
Singapore’s Temasek cuts employee compensation for failed FTX investment decision
Temasek, Singapore’s state-owned investment firm, said on Monday that it has cut the pay of senior management and the investment team involved in the decision to invest in the now-bankrupt FTX cryptocurrency exchange.
Beijing releases Web3 white paper, highlights challenges in talent, rules
Beijing’s local government on Saturday released a white paper outlining plans and challenges for development of the city’s Web 3.0 industry.
Warren Buffet-backed Nubank, Visa, Mastercard to join Brazil’s CBDC pilot
Banco Central do Brasil, the central bank of Brazil, has selected 14 institutions to participate in the pilot run of the country’s central bank digital currency (CBDC) named Real Digital.
China: Zhengzhou City proposes metaverse plan
China’s Zhengzhou city issued a set of policy proposals Wednesday to support metaverse companies, including a 10 billion yuan (US$1.42 billion) metaverse fund.
Binance launches NFT loan service to rival Blend
Binance Marketplace, Binance’s NFT trading platform, is launching a new service Friday where users can loan Ether by using NFTs as collateral.
South Korea: Former Coinone executive pleads guilty to bribery
A former executive at Coinone pleaded guilty on Thursday to accepting bribes in exchange for listing certain cryptocurrencies on the platform.
Nvidia chip boom a boost for AI-related cryptos
The stock price boost for tech giant Nvidia on the back of an AI chip boom has sent AI-related cryptocurrencies on a surge.
Hong Kong is world’s most crypto-ready jurisdiction, new study claims
Hong Kong is the most crypto-ready jurisdiction in the world, based on the number of blockchain startups per 100,000 people and the number of crypto ATMs proportional to the population, according to a new study by forex education platform Forex Suggest.
South Korea will require all public officials to disclose crypto holdings from 2024
South Korean lawmakers unanimously approved a new bill requiring public officials to disclose their crypto holdings to be implemented in December.
Hong Kong’s new crypto rules covered by China state TV in rare move from Beijing
Analysts say the move could signal a bull run in cryptocurrencies.
Terraform CEO Do Kwon’s bail revoked in Montenegro
The high court of Montenegro’s capital city Podgorica has revoked its decision to grant bail to Terraform Labs chief executive officer Do Kwon.
Japan to implement anti-money laundering rules for crypto: report
Japan will introduce strict anti-money laundering rules on cryptocurrency transactions from June 1, the Southeast Asian nation’s cabinet decided on Tuesday.
Singapore’s OCBC Bank, ADDX exchange launches tokenized structure notes
OCBC Bank will offer tokenized equity-linked structured notes to accredited investors, in a partnership with private market exchange ADDX.
China’s Nanjing city launches state-backed metaverse entity
China’s Nanjing City launched a state-backed organization on Monday to promote and enhance metaverse studies throughout the nation.
Only 4% of South Koreans use metaverses, survey reveals
Only 4.2% of South Korean citizens have said that they regularly use metaverse services, a recent survey results show.
Bitget crypto exchange registers in Poland
Seychelles-headquartered cryptocurrency exchange Bitget announced on Tuesday that it successfully registered as a virtual asset service provider in Poland.
Binance allegedly commingled customer funds: Reuters
Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has been accused of blending client funds with its own corporate revenue in violation of U.S. financial regulations, according to three unnamed sources cited by Reuters.
Hong Kong to open crypto to retail traders, plans guardrails
Hong Kong will allow licensed cryptocurrency trading platforms to offer services to retail investors and will implement a slew of measures to protect individual traders, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) said on Tuesday.
Governments could access Ledger wallet private keys, says CEO
Cryptocurrency wallet Ledger’s new update allows governments to access users’ seed phrases via subpoena, said Pascal Gauthier, the chief executive officer of Ledger.
Philippines regulator warns against Gemini Derivatives for unregistered securities
The Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission warned the public last week not to use crypto exchange Gemini’s derivatives platform.
Malaysian regulator orders Huobi crypto exchange to cease local operations
The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), the capital markets regulator, has charged cryptocurrency exchange Huobi Global and its chief executive officer Leon Li for operating a digital asset exchange (DAX) without registration.
Bitcoin, top 10 cryptos fall except Tron; U.S. futures slightly up; Asian equities rise
Bitcoin traded below US$27,000 in Monday afternoon trade in Asia.
S.Korean lawmakers propose public officials disclose crypto holdings
A South Korean ruling party lawmaker proposed all public officials and candidates disclose their crypto holdings in a new bill unveiled last Friday.
Ripple joins Hong Kong CBDC pilot, partners with Fubon Bank
Ripple Labs has launched a new payment platform for a central bank digital currency in Hong Kong.
Binance suspends Australian dollar services
World’s largest cryptocurrency exchange halts Australian dollar services after payment provider cuts off service.
Philippine telco giant partners BlockchainSpace for Web3 creator platform
Smart Communications, one of the Philippines’ largest telcos, is entering the Web3 space through a partnership with Web3 community enabler in Southeast Asia, BlockchainSpace.
Bitcoin mining difficulty rises to a new all-time high
Bitcoin’s mining difficulty level rose 3.22% on Thursday, hitting an all-time high, as the network’s hashrate also increased to a record high.
Montenegro prosecutors appeal court ruling to allow bail for Terraform Labs CEO Do Kwon
Montenegro prosecutors have filed an appeal against a local court decision to approve bail for the detained Terraform Labs CEO Do Kwon.
Conflux Network, China Telecom unveil blockchain-based SIM card
Conflux Network and China Telecom on Tuesday unveiled their first blockchain-based SIM card, which will be piloted in Hong Kong.
Bitget crypto exchange doubles down on expansion, to hire 300 more
Bitget is looking to hire 300 more people across operations, compliance, research and development, and customer support, the cryptocurrency exchange said.
Ripple Labs acquires digital asset custody provider Metaco for US$250 mln
San Francisco-based Ripple Labs, a technology and financial services firm built around the XRP cryptocurrency, said it will acquire Metaco, a Swiss-based tokenization and digital asset custody provider, for US$250 million.
UK lawmakers propose cryptocurrency regulation as gambling
In a new report, U.K. lawmakers suggest treating Bitcoin and Ether like gambling due to significant consumer financial risks.
China’s top prosecuting body issues warnings, guidance about country’s NFT market
China’s top legal authority issued a commentary on Monday about the risks and potential in NFTs, highlighting the need for legislation.
XRP lawsuit: Judge denies SEC motion to seal documents in win for Ripple
A U.S. federal judge has denied a motion by the SEC to seal internal documents related to a speech given by the SEC’s former director on whether cryptocurrencies are securities.
EU’s MiCA gets unanimous nod from European Council
European Union finance ministers unanimously approved MiCA, a set of cryptocurrency rules aiming to reshape the digital asset industry across the EU bloc.
SEC in no rush to respond to Coinbase calls for regulatory clarity
As part of the ongoing legal dispute between the two, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said it would not be hurried into a response to Coinbase demands.
South Korea raids firms Upbit, Bithumb, Kakao over local lawmaker’s crypto scandal
South Korean prosecutors have raided Upbit, Bithumb and the crypto wallet unit of Kakao, as part of their investigation into lawmaker Kim Nam-kuk.
Head of U.S. DOJ crypto enforcement eyes crackdown on non-compliant crypto exchanges: FT
The U.S. Department of Justice is aiming to crack down on cryptocurrency exchanges that help criminals facilitate money laundering
China’s Jiangsu Province to expand digital yuan adoption in education sector
China’s Jiangsu Province plans to expand the use of digital yuan to its public education system, as the province seeks to spearhead the country’s CBDC pilot.
China’s Fuzhou City offers cash, subsidies to attract blockchain companies, investment
China’s Fuzhou City on Friday unveiled a raft of policies to attract investment by blockchain-related companies, including rent subsidies and cash awards.
Binance exits Canada amid increased regulation in North America
Regulatory hurdles have once again hit Binance in North America, with the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange announcing on Friday that it would cease operations in Canada due to tightened crypto rules.
Binance.US may reduce founder Changpeng Zhao’s ownership stake: The Information
Binance.US is reportedly exploring ways to cut founder Changpeng Zhao’s ownership stake in the company, The Information reported on Thursday, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
Terraform’s Do Kwon pleads not guilty to passport forgery; lawyers propose US$437,000 bail
Terraform Labs chief Do Kwon denied charges of attempting to travel with fake travel documents during a court hearing Thursday in Montenegro.
Animoca Brands says it holds US$3.4 bln in assets
Animoca Brands revealed US$2.7 billion in off-balance sheet token reserves in its latest unaudited financial update.
China’s national blockchain research center aims to train 500,000 blockchain professionals
China’s national blockchain research center was launched in Beijing on Wednesday and plans to train over 500,000 blockchain professionals for the country.
Tether more than doubles net profit in Q1, says holds most assets in U.S. Treasury bills
The issuer of the world’s most traded stablecoin raked in US$1.48 billion in net profit for the first quarter of this year, more than double the previous quarter, according to the company’s reserves report on Wednesday.
South Korea sets May 26 trial date for Terraform Labs co-founder Daniel Shin, others
Terraform Labs co-founder Shin Hyun-seung and seven others will face trial on May 26 on charges of fraud related to the Terra-Luna crypto collapse.
Bitcoin busts through US$28,000 as U.S. inflation falls to 4.9%
Bitcoin and major cryptocurrencies reacted positively to the latest CPI report that stated annual inflation in the U.S. rose 4.9% in April, beating market expectations.
Ernst & Young launches blockchain to track carbon credits and emissions
EY OpsChain ESG enables companies to better understand their carbon footprint by tracking carbon credits through tokenization.
Hong Kong will have ‘tight’ crypto regulation, says HKMA chief Eddie Yue
Cryptocurrency firms moving to Hong Kong should expect tight regulations as part of the city-state’s new regulatory regime, said Eddie Yue.
South Korea freezes US$176 mln of Terraform CEO Do Kwon’s domestic assets
A South Korean court has approved prosecutors’ request to freeze assets and properties worth 233.3 billion Korean won that belong to Kwon.