News linked to both this project and an event.
BlackRock has submitted a comment letter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), opposing the reserve asset restrictions proposed in its draft rules implementing the GENIUS Act. In the comment letter, the firm specifically targets the rules for "permitted payment stablecoin issuers," calling for no quantitative cap on tokenized reserve assets.BlackRock stated that the proposed restrictions are unrelated to regulatory objectives, and the risk of reserve assets should be determined by their credit quality, duration, and liquidity rather than whether they are held or transferred on a distributed ledger. This comment letter was submitted in response to multiple rule proposals from the OCC covering reserve composition, capital requirements, custody, and other related matters. (The Block)
U.S. lawmakers have reached an agreement on stablecoin yield provisions, a point of contention that had stalled the Clarity Act in the Senate for months. Senators Tom Tillis and Angela Alsobrooks have finalized the text of the related compromise. Section 404 of the agreement stipulates that crypto companies cannot offer interest or returns that are economically or functionally equivalent to bank deposits, but allows for incentives related to the use of genuine platforms.Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong stated that the Senate Banking Committee should be urged to deliberate on the bill as soon as possible. This development could provide momentum for what has been a long-stalled review process. (The Block)
According to The Block, MoonPay has launched the stablecoin debit card “MoonAgents Card,” enabling AI agents and users to spend directly from on-chain wallets. The card is integrated with the Mastercard network and issued by Monavate, a regulated global payment platform.
this week, U.S. Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden sent letters to Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, expressing concerns over a loan provided by Tether to a family trust fund benefiting Lutnick’s children.The letter notes that prior to becoming Commerce Secretary, Lutnick led Cantor Fitzgerald, which has served as the custodian for Tether’s reserves since 2021. The senators question whether the loan may have helped Lutnick’s children obtain funds to acquire their father’s stake in Cantor Fitzgerald, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest or bribery. Additionally, the senators expressed concerns over Tether’s past compliance record and its lobbying activities during the legislative process of the GENIUS Act, emphasizing the need to ensure that politically connected crypto stakeholders do not receive special treatment. (The Block)
Bitcoin remained near $76,000 on Thursday. After the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady, market attention quickly shifted to internal policy divergence and macroeconomic uncertainty. Analysts noted that Bitcoin remains suppressed below the key resistance range of $78,000 to $79,000, lacking short-term breakout momentum.Thomas Perfumo, Chief Economist at Kraken, stated that the market is currently more focused on policy uncertainty stemming from internal "divisions" within the Federal Reserve rather than the inaction itself. This is particularly true against the backdrop of Chairman Jerome Powell's continued tenure and the potential expectation of Kevin Warsh succeeding him, creating a lack of clear policy transition.Glassnode data shows that Bitcoin remains "trapped" below the True Market Mean, with resistance concentrated in the $78,000 to $79,000 range and support lying between $65,000 and $70,000. While selling pressure has eased, demand remains insufficient to support a sustained upward breakout.On the macro front, the Fed has shown rare, severe internal disagreements, interpreted by the market as rising uncertainty over the inflation path. Analysts from institutions like Bitget Wallet and 21Shares point out that the expectation of "higher rates for longer" is suppressing risk asset performance, pushing the crypto market into a wait-and-see phase.Regarding capital flows, U.S. Bitcoin spot ETFs have recorded net outflows for three consecutive days, with a single-day outflow of approximately $138 million on April 29. Ethereum ETFs saw outflows of about $87.7 million over the same period. Although individual products still saw inflows, the overall trend indicates cooling institutional demand.Meanwhile, CME open interest and ETF assets under management have stabilized but have yet to show strong signals of capital return. In the derivatives market, short positions in perpetual contracts have reached an all-time high, suggesting a potential squeeze if sentiment improves. However, the current market remains dominated by a low-volatility, low-confidence consolidation structure.Overall, Bitcoin is caught in a tug-of-war between an improving support structure and weak demand. Sustained ETF outflows, policy uncertainty, and macroeconomic risks collectively suppress its ability to break through the key resistance range. (The Block)
According to The Block, Gemini’s Olympus division has officially received a Derivatives Clearing Organization (DCO) license from the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), enabling it to serve as an internal clearing house for settlement, risk management, and collateral management—eliminating reliance on third-party clearing and potentially reducing operational costs. Combined with its previously obtained Designated Contract Market (DCM) license, Gemini now possesses full-stack, compliant capabilities across futures, options, perpetual contracts, and prediction markets. Gemini is currently pursuing a Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) license to complete its full suite of CFTC authorizations, positioning itself for direct competition with Kraken and Coinbase.
According to The Block, South Korean credit card company Shinhan Card has announced a partnership with the Solana Foundation to jointly advance a proof-of-concept project testing a real-world stablecoin-based payment system. The project aims to explore the feasibility of stablecoins in actual payment environments, leveraging the Solana network as the underlying infrastructure for transaction processing. Meanwhile, South Korea is actively advancing the legislative process for its Digital Asset Basic Act, a bill designed to establish a comprehensive and unified regulatory framework for the digital asset industry.
According to The Block, cryptocurrency venture capital firm Hashed has obtained a Financial Services Permission from the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM). With this license, Hashed plans to collaborate with institutional investors in the Middle East within a regulated environment.
: Solana ecosystem multi-signature protocol Squads announced the completion of an $18 million strategic funding round, led by Solana Ventures, with participation from Coinbase Ventures, Haun Ventures, L1D, and others. Its total cumulative funding has now reached $42.9 million. According to reports, Squads' stablecoin payment platform Altitude allows enterprises to conduct 24/7 global payment settlements in stablecoins through self-custodial wallets, and connects to the global payment network via its compliance and risk control system. (The Block)
Odaily Bitcoin remained consolidating above $77,000 on Wednesday, with markets cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision. According to market data, Bitcoin fluctuated within the range of approximately $75,689 to $77,837 during the session, and is currently trading around $77,100.This FOMC meeting is seen as a pivotal event. Markets widely expect interest rates to remain unchanged, but the real focus is on whether Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will signal a "higher-for-longer" hawkish stance. Additionally, this meeting may be his last as Fed Chair, with markets simultaneously pricing in uncertainty regarding policy direction and potential power transitions.On the capital front, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw a reversal after nine consecutive days of net inflows. SoSoValue data shows that on April 28, ETFs recorded net outflows of approximately $89.68 million. Among them, BlackRock's IBIT saw a single-day outflow of about $112 million. Meanwhile, Ethereum ETFs also logged net outflows of $21.8 million.On-chain data also signals caution. CryptoQuant noted that on April 27, exchange net inflows reached 9,905 BTC, the largest single-day inflow in nearly 30 days. Exchange reserves have also rebounded recently. If these inflows are not quickly absorbed, prices could retest the support range of $74,000–$75,000.On the macroeconomic front, fluctuations in crude oil prices and shifts in the Middle East energy landscape continue to influence inflation expectations. Some analysts believe this could limit the Fed's room for future easing. Meanwhile, market liquidity continues to weaken, with institutional trading volumes and perpetual contract activity both at low levels. This means any policy surprise could amplify price volatility.Overall, Bitcoin remains in a "low liquidity + high event risk" structure and may continue to oscillate within the $72,000 to $80,000 range in the short term, awaiting further clarity on the Fed's policy path. (The Block)
Odaily Macro investor and hedge fund manager Paul Tudor Jones stated in a recent podcast interview that Bitcoin is the "unequivocally the best inflation hedge" and called it a "knockout opportunity" in the market.Paul Tudor Jones pointed out that truly major trading opportunities often arise when market structures are imbalanced, assets are underallocated, or when policymakers misjudge the situation. He believes that due to its scarcity and decentralized characteristics, Bitcoin outperforms gold in inflation trades. He emphasized that Bitcoin's total supply is capped at 21 million coins, with less than 1 million remaining to be mined, while gold's supply continues to increase annually. Therefore, Bitcoin holds a stronger advantage in the dimension of scarcity.Paul Tudor Jones recalled that in 2020, against the backdrop of Federal Reserve and fiscal expansion, Bitcoin became one of the most outstanding inflation-hedging assets at the time, and he subsequently increased its allocation to around 5% of his investment portfolio. However, he also warned of risks: in the event of large-scale "momentum conflicts" or cyber warfare-level incidents, the electronic asset system could face systemic disruption risks, and Bitcoin may also be impacted. Additionally, future cryptographic risks driven by quantum computing and AI could become a source of long-term uncertainty. (The Block)
According to The Block, a U.S. court sentenced Maximilien de Hoop Cartier—a descendant of the Cartier jewelry family—to eight years in prison for operating an unlicensed over-the-counter cryptocurrency exchange. Prosecutors stated that the exchange transferred over $470 million in drug proceeds through U.S. bank accounts to Colombia. Prosecutors alleged that Maximilien de Hoop Cartier falsely claimed his companies engaged in software publishing and software development. In reality, these companies were used to receive and transfer drug money and other illicit proceeds: drug funds were received in cryptocurrency, converted into fiat currency, deposited into shell company accounts under his control, and then forwarded to other nodes within the money-laundering network. These funds were ultimately withdrawn in Colombian pesos in Colombia. In addition to imprisonment, Maximilien de Hoop Cartier was ordered to pay a fine of approximately $2.36 million—representing commissions he earned from participating in the fraud scheme. The court also ordered the forfeiture of specific bank accounts held in the names of shell companies used in the scheme.
According to The Block, Visa has partnered with WeFi—a “blockchain-based bank” founded by Reeve Collins, former CEO of Tether—to enable users to hold digital assets in self-custodial wallets and spend them directly across the global Visa acceptance network, without depositing assets into centralized exchanges. Maksym Sakharov, Co-Founder and CEO of WeFi, stated that stablecoins are natively embedded into the underlying infrastructure, with settlements processed automatically in the background, delivering a user experience indistinguishable from conventional payments. This partnership will initially launch in select markets across Europe, Asia, and Latin America, with further expansion contingent upon regulatory approvals.
U.S. Representative Nick Begich stated at the Bitcoin 2026 conference that he plans to reintroduce his Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Act in the coming weeks, renaming the original "BITCOIN Act" to the "U.S. Reserve Modernization Act." The bill aims to codify President Trump's executive order into law, establishing a permanent Bitcoin reserve. It requires Bitcoin to be held for an "extended period" and to acquire 1 million BTC over five years through a "budget-neutral strategy." Begich stated that the renaming is intended to help Congress and the American people better understand the bill's objectives, ensuring Bitcoin is treated as a reserve asset. He also noted that given the uncertainty surrounding the next administration's stance on digital assets, now is the opportune moment to lock in gains by having Congress take action. (The Block)
According to The Block, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed House Bill 2505 on April 13, officially classifying cryptocurrency ATMs (virtual currency self-service terminals) as prohibited devices. The law will take effect on July 1, 2026. Passed unanimously by both chambers of the state legislature, the bill bans the installation or operation of cryptocurrency ATMs statewide. Violators face Class A misdemeanor charges, carrying a maximum penalty of one year’s imprisonment and a $2,500 fine. Notably, liability under this law extends not only to ATM operators but also to merchants permitting such devices on their premises. Tennessee thus becomes the second U.S. state—after Indiana—to implement a comprehensive ban. Previously, cryptocurrency ATMs had been extensively exploited by overseas fraudsters for financial scams; in 2025 alone, these scams caused approximately $390 million in losses, predominantly targeting elderly individuals. To date, 20 U.S. states have enacted regulatory frameworks governing cryptocurrency ATMs, though most adopt measures such as licensing requirements and transaction limits rather than outright prohibition.
According to The Block, OSL Group has announced a partnership with Circle’s affiliated entities to expand USDC integration across its payment and trading platforms. Through OSL Global, users can exchange USD for USDC at a 1:1 ratio and trade BTC, ETH, SOL, USD, and USDT pairs in a dedicated USDC trading zone. Meanwhile, OSL has adopted USDC as its unified margin asset and integrated USDC into its payment services to support compliant digital dollar settlement and payment use cases. OSL also stated that it plans to support Circle’s tokenized money market fund, USYC, subject to regulatory requirements and platform eligibility criteria.
According to The Block, Jaret Seiberg, Managing Director of the Washington Research Group at investment bank TD Cowen, stated that stablecoin yield issues are not the sole obstacle to the passage of the Clarity Act—and cited the following five additional hurdles: 1. A severe shortage of Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) commissioners: only Chairman Michael Selig remains in office, and the process to appoint new commissioners could take several months, while the bill must complete its review by the end of July; 2. Complex regulatory questions surrounding prediction markets—including concerns about insider trading and potential conflicts of interest involving the Trump family—which may prompt Democratic lawmakers to withdraw their support via related amendments; 3. Ongoing controversy surrounding World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency project affiliated with the Trump family, increasing political resistance from Democrats toward supporting the bill; 4. Reports indicating Iran is discussing requiring vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz to pay tolls in cryptocurrency—a development that could trigger contentious anti-money laundering (AML) amendments, potentially serving as a “poison pill” for the bill; 5. Risk that the Credit Card Competition Act could be attached to the Clarity Act, jeopardizing the entire bill’s progress. Regarding stablecoin yield issues, Senator Thom Tillis indicated that the Senate Banking Committee will not vote on the bill until as early as May. TD Cowen maintains its assessment that the bill has approximately a one-in-three chance of passing this year, while Galaxy Digital estimates the probability at roughly 50%.
According to The Block, B2B stablecoin technology provider Infinite has launched Infinite Accounts—a banking account service for enterprises that supports deposits, withdrawals, ACH transfers, domestic and international wire transfers, as well as stablecoin minting, burning, and on-chain transfers—all accessible via a single API. This service is powered by the traditional banking infrastructure of Erebor Bank, which recently obtained its banking license. Infinite states that fiat balances held in these accounts may be eligible for FDIC insurance, whereas stablecoin balances are not. This launch comes amid continued growing institutional adoption of stablecoins.
According to The Block, Russia’s State Duma has approved the cryptocurrency regulation bill at its first reading. The bill proposes classifying cryptocurrencies as “property,” designating the Central Bank of Russia as the authority responsible for licensing and supervising market participants, and introducing a tiered access framework for both qualified and non-qualified investors. The bill explicitly prohibits the use of cryptocurrencies for domestic payments—while the ruble remains the sole legal settlement currency—yet permits Russian companies to use cryptocurrencies for settlements with foreign counterparties in cross-border trade, thereby circumventing sanctions restrictions. The bill still requires approval at the second and third readings, followed by review by the Federation Council, before being submitted to the President for signature. If formally enacted, it is expected to enter into force on July 1, 2026.
According to The Block, New York State Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against Coinbase and Gemini on Tuesday, accusing both companies of violating New York’s gambling laws through their prediction market platforms and permitting users aged 18 to 21 to participate—despite New York law requiring participants in mobile sports betting to be at least 21 years old. The state is seeking at least $2.2 billion in damages from Coinbase and at least $1.2 billion from Gemini, along with civil penalties, refunds to users, and forfeiture of illicit proceeds. In response, Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal stated that prediction markets fall under the regulatory authority of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and the company will continue defending federal regulatory jurisdiction. The dispute over regulatory authority for prediction markets has now increasingly moved into the judicial arena; the CFTC has previously sued several state governments attempting to shut down such platforms.