News linked to both this project and an event.
According to Insight Korea, South Korea’s digital bank K Bank has established a strategic partnership with blockchain company Ripple to advance the validation of next-generation blockchain-based cross-border remittance technologies. The two parties will focus on evaluating optimization opportunities in remittance speed, cost structure, and transaction transparency through Ripple’s Global Payments Network and infrastructure. Current collaboration includes a digital wallet proof-of-concept, joint development of cross-border remittance models, and expansion into the digital assets domain. The ongoing Phase II testing simulates connecting banks’ internal systems with customer accounts and tests on-chain fund transfers to the United Arab Emirates and Thailand. K Bank is also evaluating Ripple’s SaaS-based digital wallet, Palisade, to enhance compliance and deployment efficiency.
: The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that a 22-year-old California man, Evan Tangeman, has been sentenced to 70 months (approximately 5 years and 10 months) in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for his involvement in a criminal organization that stole approximately $263 million in crypto assets through social engineering fraud and home invasions.According to court documents, Tangeman pleaded guilty in December 2025, admitting to helping the criminal network launder at least $3.5 million in illicit funds.The criminal group allegedly used the stolen funds for lavish spending, including multi-million dollar nightclub bills, Lamborghini sports cars, and high-end assets like Rolex watches.U.S. District Attorney for the District of Columbia, Jeanine Pirro, stated in a release that the organization "built a criminal system based on nearly absurd greed," emphasizing that Tangeman not only participated in money laundering but also destroyed evidence after his accomplices were arrested, demonstrating clear criminal intent.This sentencing comes as data shows that the crypto industry suffered $482 million in losses from scams and hacks in the first quarter of 2026, with social engineering fraud and physical violent robberies on the rise. (Cointelegraph)
Fu Peng, Chief Economist of Xinhuo Group, posted on X stating that commodity ETFs are essentially regulatory-compliant products packaging the business model of “holding commodities long-term and generating rental income continuously.” Fund companies focus not on the commodity market’s outlook but rather on the asset’s ability to generate “rent” consistently. Since BitMEX launched the world’s first BTC perpetual contract and introduced the funding rate mechanism on May 13, 2016, long-term BTC holders have been able to earn rental income through hedging operations—transforming BTC from a pure faith-based speculative asset into a “rental asset” with stable positive cash flow logic. The costs paid by retail participants when trading derivatives constitute the foundation for large-position holders’ risk-free hedging rental income. This income is then packaged into ETF-like products sold to liquidity providers (LPs), whose raised capital is subsequently used to purchase Bitcoin—creating a virtuous cycle that reduces volatility and reinforces BTC’s income-generating attributes.
Polymarket posted on X platform, saying, "Last month, we released enhanced market integrity rules to combat insider trading. When we discovered that a user was trading based on government classified information, we referred the matter to the Department of Justice and cooperated with their investigation. Polymarket has zero tolerance for insider trading, and today's arrest proves the system is effective."The arrest referred to by Polymarket involved a special forces soldier who participated in the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and was taken into custody by U.S. federal authorities on Thursday. The soldier is suspected of profiting over $400,000 by betting on Maduro's removal from power. Sources say federal investigators believe that the commando placed over $33,000 in bets on the prediction market Polymarket just hours before President Trump announced Maduro's capture in January.For details on the insider trading related to the Maduro capture operation on Polymarket, please see When War is Settled Before the News is Out: How Prediction Markets "Priced In" Maduro's Capture 6 Days Early
According to CoinDesk, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul filed a lawsuit on April 24 against Kalshi, Coinbase, Polymarket, Robinhood, and Crypto.com, accusing these platforms of operating unlicensed gambling businesses under the guise of “event contracts.” The complaint cites marketing language used by the platforms themselves—for instance, Kalshi’s claim to be “the first legal sports betting platform in the U.S.,” and Polymarket’s statement that users can “bet on the outcomes of future events”—to argue that such contracts constitute wagering under Wisconsin law. The state government further noted that the platforms’ business model—charging fees per transaction—is functionally identical to casinos’ commission-based revenue structure. At the heart of this case lies a jurisdictional dispute: whether prediction market contracts fall under federal regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) or are subject to individual states’ gambling laws. Similar lawsuits have already been filed by multiple states, and this conflict is expected to ultimately be resolved by the U.S. Supreme Court.
According to Decrypt, Bitcoin financial services company Fold has launched a “Bitcoin Bonus Program” that allows businesses to distribute recurring bonuses to employees in Bitcoin. Steak ’n Shake is the first partner, offering over 10,000 hourly workers a Bitcoin bonus of $0.21 per hour worked, fully vesting after two years. The program is operated by Fold Business, which handles all custody and compliance requirements—enabling traditional enterprises to offer crypto-based incentives without managing technical infrastructure. Fold plans to expand its enterprise offerings to include payroll disbursement, corporate Bitcoin treasury management, and corporate cards.
the crypto advocacy groups Blockchain Association and CCI, together with over 120 industry institutions including Coinbase, Ripple, Kraken, and Circle, have sent a joint letter to the U.S. Senate Banking Committee, urging an accelerated review process for the CLARITY Act. The industry parties stated that the United States needs to establish a unified regulatory framework for digital asset markets, clarify regulatory responsibilities, and strengthen investor protection. They emphasized that relying solely on enforcement-based regulation cannot create a long-term stable environment. The institutions warned that prolonged policy ambiguity will lead to an outflow of capital, talent, and technology, weakening America's strategic advantages. They also called for the development of tailored federal unified regulatory rules for stablecoins, tokenized assets, and decentralized technologies.
According to the Financial Times, UK-based startup Stratiphy will offer both cryptocurrency exchange-traded notes (ETNs) and innovative finance ISAs (IF ISAs), enabling investors to hold crypto assets within capital gains tax-free accounts. Stratiphy provides three ETNs issued by 21Shares—the largest European crypto ETP issuer—which track Bitcoin, Ethereum, and a Bitcoin-and-gold composite product. The platform currently manages approximately £4 million in assets and serves around 2,000 clients. In October last year, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority lifted its four-year ban on retail investors purchasing exchange-traded notes (ETNs).
According to Caixin, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) released a consultation paper on April 17, 2026, proposing more accommodating regulatory capital guidelines for crypto assets on permissionless blockchains (i.e., public blockchains) ahead of implementing the Basel Committee’s new capital requirements for crypto assets. The current Basel framework is viewed as overly stringent in its classification of public blockchain-based assets, potentially stifling banking-sector innovation. MAS plans to abandon a “one-size-fits-all” classification approach and instead allow public blockchain-based crypto assets that meet a set of principle-based criteria to be classified as Group 1 crypto assets—carrying lower risk weights and less stringent prudential requirements—to achieve regulatory technology neutrality.
The Economic Daily published an article titled “Leveraging China’s Token Advantages,” which points out the need to clearly recognize potential risks associated with tokens, including identity theft due to token leakage, unauthorized access and theft of sensitive data through forged permissions, and user exploitation via agent-based commission schemes. Some lawbreakers have begun targeting tokens, setting up consumer traps disguised as “discounted token packages” or “token agents.” It is essential to continuously improve policy frameworks, regulations, and standards, and to standardize token trading秩序 by cracking down on price monopolies, false advertising, and illegal financial activities. Illegal and non-compliant activities—including speculative “hoarding for appreciation” and over-the-counter trading—must be resolutely curbed, guiding tokens back to their fundamental roles in technical services, value settlement, and rights transfer.
Odaily News: According to sources, UK-based digital bank Revolut plans to seek a valuation between $150 billion and $200 billion in its future IPO, a significant increase from its previous $75 billion valuation. The company's CEO, Nik Storonsky, also revealed that Revolut is preparing for a new round of secondary share sale in the second half of 2026, with a potential valuation exceeding $100 billion. (Financial Times)Previously, Nik Storonsky stated that the company's listing timeline is at least two years away, potentially delayed until 2028 at the earliest, with no immediate IPO plans. He pointed out that Revolut is currently focusing on expanding its presence in the US market, including applying for a banking license to gain access to the Federal Reserve's payment system and expand its lending and credit card businesses. Meanwhile, the company has already obtained a full banking license in the UK.
Odaily News Letitia James has filed lawsuits against Coinbase and Gemini, alleging that they provide "disguised gambling" services through their prediction market platforms, violating New York state law.Regulators argue that this type of trading based on event outcomes (such as sports, elections) is essentially a form of gambling activity. They particularly question the platforms allowing participation from users aged 18 to 21, while New York law sets the minimum age for sports betting at 21. Prosecutors are seeking substantial fines and the disgorgement of profits, including claims of at least $2.2 billion from Coinbase and at least $1.2 billion from Gemini.The two companies have not yet formally responded, but Coinbase stated that prediction markets are regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, implying their legality falls under federal jurisdiction.
According to the official announcement, Layer 1 public blockchain Pharos has unveiled the tokenomics for its native token PROS, with a total supply of 1 billion tokens. The initial supply allocation is as follows: Foundation Treasury (16%), Lab Co. Treasury (9%), Team (20%), Investors (20%), Ecosystem & Community (21%—including 6% for community airdrops: 1% unlocked at TGE and 5% reserved for future community growth and airdrop incentives), and Node & Liquidity Incentives (14%). Core team members and private-sale investors are subject to a 12-month lock-up period followed by a 36-month linear vesting schedule. Certain treasury and incentive allocations extend vesting periods to 48–60 months. PROS serves multiple functions: transaction fees, PoS staking, validator participation, governance, ecosystem incentives, and potential RWA-specific use cases. The staking issuance policy adopts a phased approach: zero inflation during the first six months following mainnet launch; starting in Month 7, annual inflation is set at 5%, subject to dynamic adjustment by the Foundation based on network operational conditions.
According to CoinDesk, KAIO, a regulated tokenization firm based in Abu Dhabi, has announced the completion of an $8 million strategic funding round, with investors including Tether. Combined with its prior funding, KAIO’s total capital raised now stands at $19 million. KAIO primarily provides infrastructure for asset management firms to distribute funds on-chain, enabling products from institutions such as BlackRock, Brevan Howard, and Hamilton Lane to be integrated into blockchain systems. KAIO stated it plans to expand into credit, structured investment products, and ETFs, and intends to launch on-chain funds in partnership with Mubadala Capital. The company reported currently managing approximately $100 million in assets and having processed over $500 million in cumulative transactions.
According to The Block, the cryptocurrency venture capital sector is undergoing a structural shift. Investors now broadly require startups to demonstrate real users and revenue before committing capital—marking the end of the era when early-stage fundraising was easy. Token-based exit strategies have become significantly less reliable; low-liquidity, high-valuation token launches continue to underperform the broader market, prompting investors to revert to traditional equity-oriented thinking. Meanwhile, the rise of the AI sector has siphoned off substantial LP capital and entrepreneurial talent, further intensifying fundraising challenges for crypto VCs. Nonetheless, several investors note that reduced competition, more rational valuations, and an improving regulatory environment point to 2026–2027 as the strongest investment years since 2018. Future capital will focus on areas with clear business models—including stablecoins, payments, tokenization, real-world assets (RWAs), and financial infrastructure—while the boundaries between crypto VCs and traditional VCs accelerate toward convergence.
According to Caixin, the one-month public consultation period for the “Draft Financial Law of the People’s Republic of China” concluded today (April 19), marking the first overarching financial law—both in China and globally—to bear the name “financial law.” A key issue drawing intense market attention is the draft’s expansion of financial regulators’ powers into quasi-judicial authority. Under Article 55 and related provisions, financial regulatory authorities are empowered to review and copy property rights information, communication records, and transaction records of relevant entities and individuals during investigations into financial violations; where evidence exists indicating suspected transfer or concealment of illicit funds or securities, authorities may directly freeze or seal such assets; and even suspects may be barred from leaving the country during the investigation period. Moreover, Zeng Gang, Chief Expert and Director of the Shanghai Financial Development Laboratory, argues that the Financial Law should also strengthen its focus on and coverage of emerging financial sectors. Issues already sparking broad global debate—including AI-driven financial decision-making, the legal status of digital currencies, and the regulatory boundaries for crypto assets—are barely addressed in the draft. Striking a dynamic balance between rule-of-law-based regulation and innovation-friendly inclusivity remains an unresolved challenge posed by this legislation.
According to the Hong Kong Commercial Daily, in response to growing discussions in Hong Kong about “Middle Eastern capital flowing into the city,” Mr. Chan Ho-lam, Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the Hong Kong SAR Government, stated that there has indeed been an increase in client inquiries regarding how to transfer funds to Hong Kong or open accounts here. He emphasized that exchanges between Hong Kong and the Middle East are two-way: a licensed virtual insurance company based in Hong Kong has already expanded its operations into Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates; Hong Kong’s tokenized funds have been listed on Middle Eastern wealth management platforms; and Asian investors can purchase Islamic bond ETFs in Hong Kong—providing Middle Eastern investors with a familiar and trusted market. Mr. Chan stressed that the Hong Kong government is actively promoting fintech and digital assets. It is currently formulating legislative proposals for licensing regimes covering digital asset trading and custody services, aiming to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework and position Hong Kong as a global hub for digital asset innovation.
According to CoinDesk, Kelp DAO’s LayerZero-based cross-chain bridge was attacked, with the attacker withdrawing 116,500 rsETH—worth approximately $292 million at current prices, or roughly 18% of its circulating supply. This incident has become the largest DeFi attack of 2026 to date. In response, Aave, SparkLend, and Fluid have frozen rsETH-related markets, and Lido Finance has suspended new deposits into its earnETH product. Kelp DAO stated it is jointly investigating the incident with LayerZero, auditing firms, and external security experts.
According to CoinTelegraph, at the 2026 Paris Blockchain Week, Thomas Vogel, a partner at law firm Latham & Watkins, stated that Europe faces significantly different regulatory constraints compared to the U.S. regarding the issuance of financial instruments such as convertible bonds. Differences in capital market depth, regulatory environments, and investor behavior make it difficult for European companies to directly replicate MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin treasury strategy. Alexandre Laizet, Head of Bitcoin Strategy at French treasury firm Capital B, noted that European firms are instead turning to local market infrastructure—such as France’s public markets and Luxembourg-based structures—to raise Bitcoin-linked capital. Currently, major Bitcoin-holding enterprises in Europe lag far behind their U.S. counterparts in scale: Germany’s Bitcoin Group SE holds 3,605 BTC (approximately $268 million); Capital B holds 2,925 BTC at an average purchase price of $99,932, resulting in an unrealized loss of approximately 25.6%; the Netherlands’ Treasury holds 1,111 BTC at an average price of $111,857, with an unrealized loss of roughly 33.5%; and Sweden’s H100 Group holds 1,051 BTC at an average price of $114,615, incurring an unrealized loss of about 35.1%.
According to The Block, the Washington-based think tank Cato Institute published a critique of the U.S.’s current Bitcoin tax policy. Researcher Nick Anthony pointed out that the existing tax framework—which classifies Bitcoin as “property” rather than “currency”—requires users to calculate capital gains or losses for every single transaction, including routine, small-value purchases. This makes tax filing extremely cumbersome and effectively hinders Bitcoin’s adoption as a payment instrument. In response, the Cato Institute proposed several reform measures, including fully eliminating capital gains taxes on cryptocurrency payments and introducing a de minimis exemption threshold for small transactions. The report also referenced the existing Virtual Currency Tax Fairness Act—a bill that would exempt crypto transactions under $200—but Anthony argued that this threshold is too low to reflect real-world consumer spending levels. Currently, the Trump administration has expressed support for establishing a de minimis exemption for cryptocurrency transactions and will continue evaluating related legislative options.