News linked to both this project and an event.
According to DL News, the Central Bank of Russia plans to require all cryptocurrency traders to undergo identity verification and push domestic exchanges to fully implement “Know Your Customer” (KYC) protocols to de-anonymize cryptocurrency transactions within the country. The related regulations are expected to take effect in July this year. The central bank also requires Russian citizens to declare their cryptocurrency assets held in overseas wallets to the Federal Tax Service. The new rules will also prohibit users from directly transferring assets from Russian custodial wallets to overseas non-custodial wallets; all transfers must go through official cryptocurrency custodians and exchanges. The central bank stated it will not confiscate citizens’ cryptocurrency assets but emphasized enhanced oversight of non-custodial wallets to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) and KYC requirements. Additionally, Russia plans to launch a blockchain-based digital ruble to improve economic transparency and curb capital flight.
According to Cointelegraph, Crypto.com has reached a definitive agreement with online casino company High Roller Technologies to officially enter the prediction markets sector. This partnership will enable Crypto.com to offer event-based prediction market services to U.S. users via the CFTC-registered CDNA exchange. High Roller stated that the collaboration establishes a strong foundation for both parties in the prediction markets space. Analysts project that the prediction markets sector could reach $1 trillion by 2030, driven by growing demand for contracts tied to economic, business, and political events. Following the announcement, High Roller’s stock (ROLR) on the New York Stock Exchange doubled to $10.77. Prediction markets continue to face legal challenges in multiple jurisdictions, while relevant authorities are actively advancing regulatory compliance efforts.
Odaily News Cantor Fitzgerald pointed out in its latest report that with the rapid rise of prediction markets, Robinhood and Coinbase are poised to become major beneficiaries in this sector, leveraging their massive retail user base and mature trading infrastructure. Although leading platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket remain private companies, Robinhood and Coinbase have already begun entering this market by integrating event-driven trading within their applications.Cantor noted that prediction markets allow users to trade contracts based on real-world events such as elections and economic data, with prices reflecting the crowd's probability judgments. This model is similar to stock and crypto trading platforms, primarily generating revenue through trading activity fees. Among them, Robinhood's prediction market product, launched after the US election, has grown rapidly and has become one of its fastest-growing revenue streams; Coinbase is gradually opening related features to users by integrating Kalshi's infrastructure.The report believes that prediction markets not only have retail trading potential but may also play a role in institutional hedging and macro forecasting in the future. However, regulation remains the biggest uncertainty, as its legal status is still debated between being classified as a derivative or gambling. (CoinDesk)
According to Cointelegraph, the blockchain payment network XRP Ledger (XRPL) has partnered with zero-knowledge infrastructure provider Boundless to integrate its zero-knowledge technology into the underlying network, aiming to enable confidential and compliant on-chain transactions for banks and asset management firms. Shiv Shankar, CEO of Boundless, stated that the solution protects sensitive information—including transaction size, frequency, and counterparty details—through selective disclosure and role-based access control, while ensuring regulatory authorities can audit related activities. This integration is expected to drive adoption across multiple institutional use cases on public blockchains, including cross-border corporate payments, treasury management, over-the-counter (OTC) trading, tokenized asset issuance, and decentralized finance (DeFi). Industry observers believe that striking a balance between privacy and compliance is becoming a key factor in driving institutional adoption of public blockchains.
The Jito Foundation announced a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with KODA, South Korea’s largest digital asset custodian. Under the agreement, both parties will jointly promote institutional access to the liquid staking token JitoSOL in the Korean market in compliance with applicable regulations. Collaboration activities include conducting market education for institutional investors, exploring compliant custody and staking solutions, and coordinating promotional efforts in alignment with developments in South Korea’s virtual asset regulatory framework. KODA offers cold wallet storage, MPC-based key management, institutional staking services, and $20 million in digital asset insurance underwritten by Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance. It also holds a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license and ISMS certification. Previously, the Jito Foundation had explored launching a JitoSOL ETF in partnership with Hanwha Asset Management, pending regulatory approval.
According to Cointelegraph, South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) stated that API-based cryptocurrency trading currently accounts for approximately 30% of market buy/sell volume. The FSS noted that some traders are using automated tools to inflate trading volumes and manipulate prices—for example, by repeatedly submitting small orders to create a false impression of market activity or placing high-limit buy orders to artificially boost prices. The regulator announced it would launch a targeted investigation into accounts suspected of abnormal API trading and urged investors to remain vigilant toward assets exhibiting sudden, unexplained spikes in price and trading volume. Previously, South Korea mandated that exchanges reconcile asset balances every five minutes and has been continuously tightening anti-fraud regulations; however, certain regulatory measures remain constrained by an incomplete legal framework.
The Kansas City Federal Reserve’s latest analysis indicates that stablecoins currently serve primarily as tools for cryptocurrency trading and liquidity provision within the financial ecosystem, rather than as mainstream payment instruments. According to the report, approximately 49% of stablecoin supply supports trading liquidity on centralized exchanges, decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, and broader crypto infrastructure; 29% is used for wallet-to-wallet transfers or internal fund operations; and 21% remains idle—with less than 1% actually deployed for real-world payments. The report notes that, as natively crypto-designed instruments, stablecoins face constraints in cross-chain interoperability and integration with traditional financial systems, hindering their large-scale adoption for payments. Although payment processors such as Mastercard and Visa announced support for related technologies in 2026, stablecoin-based payment use cases remain in their infancy. Future development hinges on resolving critical challenges including interoperability, regulatory compliance, and identity verification.
Shin Hyun Song, candidate for Governor of the Bank of Korea, stated on April 13 that central bank digital currency (CBDC) and deposit tokens—digital tokens issued by commercial banks based on CBDC—should serve as the core of the digital currency ecosystem. Shin Hyun Song noted that while he supports the introduction of won-denominated stablecoins, maintaining monetary trust remains the top priority. He believes stablecoins play a positive role in areas such as asset tokenization and programmability, and may complement or compete with deposit tokens in the future. Regarding the issuers of won stablecoins, he recommended initially permitting bank-led consortia, followed by gradual inclusion of non-bank institutions to ensure regulatory compliance. On the view that stablecoins could enhance foreign exchange transaction efficiency, he emphasized the need for careful assessment of whether blockchain technology can effectively meet relevant regulatory requirements.
Wang Yongli, former deputy governor of the Bank of China, authored an article titled “Dialectically Viewing U.S. Cryptocurrency Policy,” in which he stated that the interpretive and guidance-oriented implementing rules document—“Application of Federal Securities Laws to Certain Digital Assets and Related Transactions”—issued under the Cryptocurrency Liquidity and Regulatory Clarity Act (CLARITY Act) represents a significant advancement in the United States’ classification, characterization, and regulation of digital assets. This development merits global study and reference for understanding, characterizing, and appropriately regulating digital assets. Nevertheless, U.S. cryptocurrency policy must still be approached dialectically: its classification-based regulatory framework is worthy of emulation, and effective, proportionate regulation is essential to foster innovation in the digital asset space.
According to the Nikkei, Japan’s Cabinet formally approved an amendment to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA) on April 10. This amendment marks the first time that crypto assets (virtual currencies) have been brought under Japan’s financial instruments regulatory framework. It explicitly prohibits insider trading based on non-public information and requires issuers to make annual disclosures. Regulatory authority over crypto assets will thus shift formally from the Payment Services Act to the FIEA; accordingly, registered operators’ official designation will change from “Crypto Asset Exchange Operators” to “Crypto Asset Trading Operators.” Regarding penalties, the maximum term of imprisonment for unlicensed crypto asset sales operations has been increased from three years to ten years, and the maximum fine has risen from ¥3 million to ¥10 million.
According to an official announcement, Circle has officially launched CPN Managed Payments, a托管 payment service that enables banks, payment service providers (PSPs), fintech companies, and major technology firms to integrate fiat-to-fiat and fiat-to-stablecoin payment flows—without needing to build their own wallets or blockchain infrastructure. This service aims to address core challenges institutions face when adopting stablecoin payments—including digital asset custody, stablecoin minting and management, and the application for and maintenance of regulatory licenses. With CPN Managed Payments, Circle handles all these components centrally; financial institutions can integrate directly via API and operate on the CPN network without holding or managing digital assets themselves. Circle stated that this launch represents a significant expansion of its existing CPN services, leveraging over a decade of experience operating compliant cryptocurrency payment infrastructure to accelerate global financial institutions’ adoption of stablecoin-based payment solutions.
Securitize announced the appointment of Brett Redfearn as President and a member of its Board of Directors. Redfearn previously served as Chair of Securitize’s Advisory Board and has now been elevated to this senior leadership role. He brings extensive experience in regulatory and market structure matters from his prior roles at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), JPMorgan, and Coinbase. Securitize stated that Redfearn will lead the expansion of its regulated platform businesses—including compliant token issuance, trading, and fund management—and will focus on strengthening collaboration with regulators and institutional investors to support the development of a next-generation, tokenization-based financial infrastructure.
According to Crowdfundinsider, UK-based ClearBank has announced that it has received approval under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) and obtained a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) license from the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). The bank plans to launch digital asset services, including stablecoins, and stated it intends to support euro- and U.S. dollar–backed stablecoins—EURC and USDC—to enhance cross-border transfers and payments. Additionally, ClearBank said it will offer savings accounts through Coinbase and bring them under the protection of the UK’s Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).