News linked to both this project and an event.
Odaily News – The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) announced that the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York has entered supplemental consent orders against Caroline Ellison, former CEO of Alameda Research, and Gary Wang, co-founder of FTX.Under the court orders, Ellison and Wang are required to continue cooperating with the CFTC's investigation, while also facing trading and registration restrictions. Specifically, Ellison received a 5-year trading ban and a 10-year registration ban; Wang received a 5-year trading ban and an 8-year registration ban. The relevant restriction periods begin from the date of the initial consent order, which was signed on December 23, 2022.Previously, on December 23, 2022, the court found Ellison liable for two counts of fraud alleged by the CFTC, and found Wang liable for one count of fraud. Their initial consent orders permanently prohibited them from violating the Commodity Exchange Act and the CFTC's related anti-fraud regulations.The head of the CFTC's Division of Enforcement, David I. Miller, stated that this ruling reflects the regulator's emphasis on "effective cooperation." Although Ellison and Wang, as executives of Alameda and FTX, were involved in the relevant fraudulent conduct and were held liable, the regulator granted leniency in light of their significant assistance in the FTX-related investigations.The CFTC stated that it will not currently require Ellison and Wang to pay restitution, disgorgement, or civil monetary penalties, primarily considering the extent of their cooperation in the investigations and related criminal cases, as well as the $11.02 billion asset forfeiture order involved in the U.S. criminal case. Both individuals have previously pleaded guilty in their criminal cases, including admitting to conspiracy to commit commodities fraud and multiple other charges.
Reform UK Chairman Lee Anderson called for an investigation into the $50,000 political donation accepted by Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, which was allegedly linked to FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried through a think tank.
According to Odaily, Randi Abernethy, Head of Clearing and Group Risk at Bullish, stated that the U.S. Senate's failure to pass the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (CLARITY Act) does not mean the digital asset market will stop developing; rather, it highlights the necessity of establishing a federal regulatory framework.Abernethy noted that during the Senate's consideration of the CLARITY Act, traditional U.S. financial institutions have continued to accelerate their entry into the on-chain market. JPMorgan Chase has explored tokenized ETF holdings through a production pilot with the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), and more than 50 institutions (including BlackRock and Goldman Sachs) are also participating in the development of tokenized stock and Treasury bond infrastructure. The current regulatory discussion is no longer just a "crypto industry issue," but one that concerns the future infrastructure of the entire financial system.Abernethy cited the 2008 financial crisis as an example, noting that financial risk spreads along shared infrastructure, and even institutions not directly involved in related assets can be affected. Today, the stablecoin market size has exceeded $100 billion, with a large portion of stablecoin reserves invested in U.S. Treasuries. If a major stablecoin were to face a crisis, it could impact liquidity in traditional financial markets. She stated that supporters of the CLARITY Act believe the bill could establish a unified regulatory framework for the digital asset market, including core investor protection mechanisms such as customer asset segregation, conflict of interest management, capital requirements, and information disclosure. (CoinDesk)
Odaily News - Karia Samaroo, founder and former CEO of Canadian crypto company WonderFi, recently stated that the company's acquisition by US trading platform Robinhood Markets for CAD 250 million was not due to a lack of growth potential, but rather because Canada's market environment has restricted local tech companies from continuing to scale.Samaroo said that WonderFi was founded in 2021. After several years of development, the company consolidated Canada's fragmented crypto market, built a nationwide brand, and survived the QuadrigaCX collapse, the FTX crash, and Canada's strict crypto regulatory environment. By 2023, WonderFi had become a leading crypto platform in the Canadian market.However, he believes that succeeding in Canada was not the company's ultimate goal. WonderFi had originally hoped to grow into a global enterprise, and Robinhood saw WonderFi as a strategic gateway into the Canadian market, which led to the CAD 250 million acquisition. Samaroo pointed out that Canada has long faced structural issues that limit companies' ability to scale, including insufficient venture capital, weak public markets, regulatory fragmentation, and declining attractiveness of entrepreneurial returns.For the crypto industry, the challenges are even more pronounced. Samaroo noted that after the QuadrigaCX incident, Canadian regulators established one of the world's strictest crypto regulatory frameworks. While the original intent was to protect investors, it also increased operational costs for businesses. International trading platforms including Binance, OKX, Bybit, and Gemini all entered the Canadian market previously and then exited. He believes that Canada's crypto regulations are not only strict but also compounded by fragmented securities regulatory systems, leading to higher financing costs, increased operational complexity, and diminished interest from overseas investors.Samaroo said that WonderFi is not an isolated case—many Canadian tech companies have followed a similar trajectory: growing domestically until hitting market ceilings, then ultimately seeking overseas capital or strategic buyers. Shopify founder Tobi Lütke has also previously criticized Canada for repeatedly "nurturing important companies only to send them abroad." Restricting corporate sales can easily become a political statement, but the real key to solving the problem lies in building a business environment that supports companies in financing, expansion, and competing globally.Robinhood previously announced the acquisition of WonderFi for approximately CAD 250 million. This deal also reflects the accelerating consolidation in the North American crypto industry, as US platforms expand into other markets through M&A. (Fortune)
According to BeInCrypto, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit officially issued the mandate in the SBF case on August 4, marking the formal conclusion of Sam Bankman-Fried's appellate proceedings. The one-page order affirmed the original verdict without providing any new reasoning, leaving his 25-year prison sentence and approximately $11 billion forfeiture order unchanged. Previously, on June 12, the panel rejected SBF's appeals on all seven counts. In the opinion, Judge Parker noted that while SBF publicly assured customers, investors, and regulators of the safety of FTX funds, he misappropriated customer funds for real estate, political donations, and personal investments. Currently, SBF's only remaining judicial recourse is to petition for a writ of certiorari from the U.S. Supreme Court within 90 days, but the Supreme Court's acceptance rate is extremely low. Additionally, SBF has separately submitted a clemency application to the Department of Justice, but Senators Cynthia Lummis and Ruben Gallego have jointly introduced a resolution opposing the granting of clemency to him.
as the suspected hacking incident involving Coldcard wallets continues to unfold, Bitcoin small-value transfers have surged significantly, reaching their highest level since the FTX exchange collapse, reigniting market discussions on Bitcoin self-custody security.Julio Moreno, Head of Research at CryptoQuant, disclosed data on X platform showing that the number of on-chain Bitcoin transfers below 1 BTC has risen to its highest level since November 2022, with approximately 39,600 BTC transferred in a single day—only about 300 BTC below the record of 39,900 BTC set on November 16, 2022, just days after FTX filed for bankruptcy. He believes that users proactively taking action to address risks is a positive signal. Additionally, Eric Balchunas, Senior ETF Analyst at Bloomberg, noted that Bitcoin ETFs, backed by a mature regulatory framework and convenience, may offer some users a safer investment approach.However, industry insiders point out that the Coldcard incident more likely reflects issues with a single wallet provider or specific security processes, rather than indicating a failure of the entire Bitcoin self-custody system. This event once again highlights the importance of security awareness, risk diversification, and wallet usage habits in personal asset management.
Analyst Murphy stated that Bitcoin's current chip concentration is similar to that before the 2022 FTX collapse, and a highly concentrated chip structure could amplify price volatility. Jiang Zhuoer believes that if the CLARITY Act fails to pass before Congress adjourns, Bitcoin may witness the final drop of the bear market.
a16z partner and head of a16z crypto, Chris Dixon, stated on the X platform that the U.S. should push for the passage of the CLARITY Act. Dixon noted that the GENIUS Act has proven that clear regulation can drive market growth, with the stablecoin market currently valued at approximately $315 billion, growing over 50% in the past year. Major institutions including BlackRock, JPMorgan, Visa, and Mastercard are deeply investing in blockchain infrastructure.He believes that while stablecoins currently represent only a part of the crypto market, the underlying blockchain networks they rely on still lack a unified regulatory framework. The CLARITY Act would establish clear rules for blockchain networks, clarify regulatory responsibilities in the digital asset market, and set unified standards to promote transparency, risk control, and market competition. The bill can also draw on traditional financial regulatory principles to reduce the risk of incidents similar to FTX.Dixon concluded that if the CLARITY Act passes, the U.S. will once again lead the future, just as it did during the commercial internet era. Without action, innovation may move to other countries and follow rules set by others there.
U.S. Senate Republicans on Wednesday released a 616-page draft of the new Clarity Act, a significant legislative development in Congress's efforts to comprehensively regulate the digital asset industry. The crypto industry widely welcomed the draft, noting it retains protections for software developers and is expected to provide long-missing regulatory clarity for the U.S. digital asset market.Crypto Council for Innovation CEO Ji Hun Kim stated that bipartisan support is "critical" for the bill's passage. Solana Policy Institute CEO Miller Whitehouse-Levine called on Congress to seize the opportunity, while Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong remarked that the lack of a federal regulatory framework had previously allowed bad actors like FTX to harm consumers and forced a substantial amount of crypto business to move overseas.However, several Senate Democrats quickly voiced opposition, arguing that the ethics provisions in the new text addressing conflicts of interest related to Trump's crypto assets are too weak. Senator Angela Alsobrooks stated that the current proposal put forward by Republicans is still "not enough," and that provisions concerning elected officials' ethics, consumer protection, illicit finance, conflicts of interest, and market integrity all require strengthening.
Fox Business crypto journalist posted on platform X, stating that the bill specifies the rules for handling digital assets when an exchange or custodian becomes insolvent. This legislation helps ensure customer assets receive the same protections as traditional financial assets and remain the property of the customers, rather than becoming part of the company's bankruptcy estate. This could help prevent a repeat of situations like FTX.
Odaily Odaily Planet Daily Report: The Clarity Act will establish clear federal rules for centralized platforms, brokers, dealers, and custodians used by consumers to buy, sell, and hold digital assets. These rules cover registration, supervision, disclosure, custody, asset segregation, market integrity, conflicts of interest, fraud prevention, and bankruptcy. Nearly four years after the collapse of FTX, many consumers are still unable to confirm where their assets are held, whether those assets are separated from platform funds, or how their assets would be handled if the company fails. Regulators, bankruptcy courts, and law enforcement agencies subsequently addressed these issues.
Odaily News, Crypto journalist Eleanor Terrett analyzed that the US Senate recently passed a resolution opposing the pardon of FTX founder SBF unanimously. The resolution, co-sponsored by Senators Ruben Gallego and Cynthia Lummis, serves to record the Senate's opposition to pardoning SBF publicly. The analysis points out that this resolution is merely a political statement, carries no legal binding force, cannot restrict the US President's power to grant pardons, and will not alter the current judicial process of the SBF case.
: Ripple’s Global Head of Public Policy and Government Affairs, Lauren Belive, stated that opposing the CLARITY Act is not opposition to the crypto industry, but rather opposition to consumers, and would continue exposing crypto holders to bad actors who exploit regulatory arbitrage. Belive noted that while a digital asset market already exists in the United States, federal rules protecting consumers have not kept pace. She pointed out that the regulatory gaps that led to the collapse of FTX and the loss of customer funds still persist. Belive indicated that the CLARITY Act would grant the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) clear joint jurisdiction over the digital asset market, requiring tokens to undergo regulatory oversight before entering the market. Stuart Alderoty, Chief Legal Officer of Ripple and Chairman of the National Cryptocurrency Association, stated that opposing the CLARITY Act would allow the current unregulated status quo to continue and be exploited by bad actors.
According to CNBC reports, Temasek Global Head of Investments Nagi Hamiyeh said in an interview with CNBC that due to the massive losses previously incurred by the FTX crypto exchange, coupled with industry regulatory uncertainty, the company currently does not hold any direct cryptocurrency investments, and crypto investments are "still not under consideration".
Payward, the parent company of Kraken, has won its arbitration against former auditor Mazars USA, with the arbitrator ruling that Mazars must pay Payward $22 million. Payward is now seeking confirmation of the arbitration award and a final judgment from the Delaware Court of Chancery.The dispute originated during the peak of the so-called "Operation Choke Point 2.0" in 2022. Payward claimed that Mazars abruptly withdrew from a nearly completed audit of Kraken without finding any issues with the company. However, the move caused reputational damage to Kraken and forced the company to spend years and incur significant legal fees to clarify its position.Arjun Sethi, co-CEO of Payward, stated that audits are not a "favor" for crypto companies but rather critical infrastructure necessary for maintaining banking relationships, licenses, counterparty trust, and regulatory confidence. When an auditor withdraws without negative findings, it unfairly leaves a cloud of suspicion over the company."Operation Choke Point 2.0" is the crypto industry's term for regulatory pressure during the Biden administration, referring to the period after the FTX collapse when US regulators informally pressured banks to limit services to crypto companies. Sethi noted that the US FDIC sent at least 25 letters to 24 banks, requesting them to pause or avoid expanding crypto-related business. This ruling is also seen as a legal countermeasure by the crypto industry against such regulatory pressure.
Alex Svanevik, CEO of on-chain data analytics platform Nansen, posted on X stating that from a hindsight perspective, if Binance founder CZ had completed the acquisition of FTX back then, his potential asset structure would have changed significantly. He would now likely hold an indirect exposure of approximately 8% stake in Anthropic, about 5% stake in the AI coding tool Cursor, as well as some investment interests related to SpaceX.It is reported that in November 2022, CZ had disclosed his intention to acquire FTX but later abandoned the plan after due diligence uncovered issues beyond his control. Subsequently, FTX filed for bankruptcy protection.
Odaily Celsius founder Alex Mashinsky has filed a motion with a New York court, seeking to overturn his 12-year sentence for fraud and market manipulation.Court documents show that Mashinsky chose to proceed pro se after his lawyers withdrew, claiming they 'stopped communicating' with him, forcing him to file documents personally with the court. He argues that his previous defense constituted 'ineffective assistance of counsel' and invokes the 'fruit of the poisonous tree' doctrine, challenging the legality of certain evidence in the case.In his filings, Mashinsky also accused Sam Bankman-Fried of intending to 'destroy Celsius' and attributed market manipulation related to the CEL token to FTX. Additionally, he publicly disclosed text messages with former Celsius Chief Revenue Officer Roni Cohen-Pavon, alleging that Cohen-Pavon attempted a 'hostile takeover' of the company.In 2025, Mashinsky pleaded guilty to commodities fraud and securities fraud, was ordered to forfeit $48 million, and must also pay a $10 million settlement to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Cohen-Pavon, who previously testified as a cooperating witness for the prosecution, has been sentenced to 'time served' and ordered to pay over $1 million in fines. (Cointelegraph)
According to Cointelegraph, cryptocurrency analysts are divided on whether Bitcoin will reenact its historical “Sell in May” pattern in 2026. In the two midterm election years—2018 and 2022—Bitcoin experienced sharp declines in May, falling approximately 30% and 70%, respectively. Analyst Merlijn Enkelaar warned that this historical pattern could repeat, with Bitcoin potentially dropping to $33,000. Joao Wedson, CEO of Alphractal, also noted that if Bitcoin remains persistently below $78,000, the likelihood of a new capitulation phase increases. However, Jeff Ko, Chief Analyst at CoinEx, argued that past crashes stemmed from specific shocks—including the Mt. Gox incident, China’s ICO regulations, the Federal Reserve’s monetary tightening, and the collapses of Terra and FTX—not from calendar-based seasonality. He added that the launch of spot ETFs, corporate treasury allocations, and progress on the CLARITY Act have significantly broadened the institutional buyer base, making a 70–80% deep correction unlikely this cycle. Analyst Michaël van de Poppe highlighted $76,000 as the current critical support level; failure to hold it would likely trigger further downside pressure.
according to crypto journalist Eleanor Terrett, sources say a small bipartisan group of U.S. Senate lawmakers held negotiations last night over the CLARITY Act, attempting to secure concessions from Democrats on at least two outstanding issues, but ultimately failed to reach an agreement.Senator Cynthia Lummis stated that the two sides have reached consensus on "99% of the content" of the bill and expressed hope that Democrats would continue to resolve the remaining issues after the bill clears the committee. Otherwise, if another incident similar to FTX occurs in the future, "they have only themselves to blame."According to reports, Democratic Senators Adam Schiff and Ruben Gallego have been pushing for a compromise on ethics and conflict-of-interest provisions related to the president's family before the committee review, making it a condition for their support of the bill.Additionally, some Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about provisions in the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA), which aims to prohibit non-custodial software developers from being prosecuted under money transmission laws.Sources say that while both sides had made substantial progress on ethics and conflict-of-interest issues, disagreement over amendments to the BRCA ultimately led to the collapse of negotiations. The market now widely expects the upcoming committee markup to be distinctly partisan.
According to the SEC’s official website, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul S. Atkins delivered a speech on May 8 at the Special Competitive Study Project’s AI+ Expo, outlining the SEC’s regulatory approach toward AI and on-chain financial markets. Atkins stated that the SEC will advance several regulatory initiatives targeting on-chain markets, including: establishing rules defining “exchanges” for on-chain trading systems; clarifying the applicability of definitions for “brokers” and “dealers” to on-chain activities; delineating the scope of the “clearing agency” definition as it applies to on-chain clearing and settlement activities; and issuing regulatory guidance for activities related to “crypto vaults.” Regarding AI regulation, Atkins emphasized that the SEC will not mandate specific AI models for firms but will uphold its core mission of protecting investors, maintaining fair and efficient markets, and facilitating capital formation—while requiring firms to take responsibility for the outputs of their deployed AI tools. Atkins also urged Congress to promptly send the CLARITY Act to the President for signature, thereby providing long-term regulatory certainty for digital asset markets through legislation. He warned that driving innovation offshore would repeat the FTX debacle and harm U.S. investors.