News linked to both this project and an event.
the deliberation of the "Cryptocurrency Market Structure Act" (i.e., the CLARITY Act) has commenced in the U.S. Senate Banking Committee. As of now:1. An amendment proposed by Senator Mike Rounds to create an AI regulatory sandbox was passed with 15 votes in favor and 9 against, indicating some bipartisan support, despite Senator Elizabeth Warren urging Democratic members to vote against it.2. An amendment proposed by Elizabeth Warren, aimed at "preventing high-risk assets from entering retirement accounts," was rejected with 11 votes in favor and 13 against.3. An amendment previously proposed by Senator Katie Britt of Alabama, which would have allowed certain retirement accounts to invest in pooled investment vehicles, was withdrawn before the vote.It is reported that one of the most contentious amendments comes from Elizabeth Warren, concerning the strengthening of sanctions authority over cryptocurrency mixers. In her remarks, she referenced the U.S.-sanctioned mixing protocol Tornado Cash, stating it has been used to launder over $7 billion for criminal organizations and North Korean hacker groups, including over $450 million in related funds. Warren argued that the current bill does not grant the U.S. Treasury Department sufficient legal authority to isolate or restrict mixer services, potentially creating loopholes in anti-money laundering oversight. In response, Cynthia Lummis countered that the illegal financial activities are already covered in Parts Two and Three of the bill.
Polish Sejm Speaker Włodzimierz Czarzasty announced the parliament has officially begun deliberations on four competing bills for crypto asset regulation, following President Karol Nawrocki's two vetoes of related legislation. The review involves legislative proposals from the government, the Presidential Office, the Poland 2050 party, and the Confederation party, with the second reading vote expected on Thursday. Key disagreements center on the scope of the Polish Financial Supervision Authority's (KNF) power to freeze accounts and the maximum penalties for violations. The president's draft sets a maximum fine of approximately 20 million zloty (about $5.5 million), while the Treasury's version raises it to 25 million zloty (about $6.9 million).Meanwhile, the opposition Law and Justice party (PiS), after withdrawing support for an earlier regulatory proposal, submitted a separate bill on Monday advocating for a complete ban on crypto asset-related activities in Poland, further complicating the regulatory debate. Speaker Czarzasty stated that the PiS ban draft will enter the deliberation process only after the four main regulatory bills are completed, and questioned the links between crypto industry funds and political activities, specifically naming potential political funders including zondacrypto. (The Block)
Genius Group, a Nasdaq-listed bitcoin treasury company, has disclosed a strategic investment of $5 million in digital bank Jewel Bank, acquiring a 9.9% equity stake in the company. It is reported that Jewel Bank is developing a U.S. dollar stablecoin, JUSD, planned to be backed by a 1:1 reserve of cash and U.S. Treasury bonds, with a target launch in the second half of 2026. The bank will also launch a real-time settlement system and offer white-label banking and stablecoin infrastructure services for enterprises. Following this investment, Genius Group will enter the regulated digital banking and stablecoin issuance sector. (Globenewswire)
: Crypto analyst Axel Adler Jr stated that although Bitcoin rebounded after falling from around $125,000 to $60,000, the current trend remains a "repair after decline" and has not yet been confirmed as entering a new bull market cycle.He pointed out that from an on-chain data perspective, multiple key indicators have not yet entered the historical bear market bottom range. This includes the "Supply in Loss" and 90-day UTXO-related metrics, which have not yet shown a sufficient cyclical bottom structure. Meanwhile, the "LTH Realized Supply" has also not displayed the typical accumulation pattern seen at the end of a bear market, indicating that the market has not yet entered a deep reallocation phase.Additionally, spot selling pressure indicators have not shown obvious "capitulation selling", suggesting that a typical comprehensive market cleansing has not occurred during this decline. Axel Adler Jr believes that before improvements are seen simultaneously in on-chain structure, spot demand, and supply pressure, the current upward move is more likely a technical rebound rather than a trend reversal.On a macro level, he pointed out that the global risk environment remains tight. The conflict between the US and Iran has pushed Brent crude oil close to $100 per barrel, reigniting inflationary pressure. Consumer confidence and financial health indices are weakening, indicating pressure on the demand side. Meanwhile, US Treasury yields remain high, with real interest rates and inflation expectations rising concurrently, further suppressing risk asset valuations.He also mentioned that the leadership of the US Federal Reserve is about to enter a potential transition phase, but the interest rate market is no longer pricing in rapid rate cuts and has even begun to price in the probability of rate hikes. Market expectations have clearly shifted towards "higher for longer". In an environment of high oil prices, high interest rates, and uncertain monetary policy, overall financial conditions remain tight.Axel Adler Jr stated that the current market needs to wait for clearer on-chain bottom structures and signs of demand-side recovery. Until then, he maintains a cautious stance on the market outlook.
Alex Thorn (@intangiblecoins), Head of Research at Galaxy Research, published a post revealing that Galaxy Research has released a new report refuting banking industry claims that the GENIUS Act would erode U.S. bank deposits—and providing quantitative estimates. Key findings from the report include: - Under the GENIUS Act framework, 60%–70% of new stablecoin issuance would originate overseas; inflows of foreign deposits would be approximately twice the volume of domestic deposit migration—indicating a net increase in total deposits rather than a zero-sum reallocation. - Each newly minted GENIUS stablecoin would generate approximately $0.32 in net credit for the U.S. economy. - In the base-case scenario, total credit expansion by 2030 would reach roughly $400 billion; under the optimistic scenario, it could reach $1.2 trillion. - Short-term U.S. Treasury yields (T-bills) would compress by 3–5 basis points, potentially saving taxpayers up to $3 billion annually in borrowing costs. - The report also notes that the interest pass-through mechanism does not pose an existential threat to U.S. banks—it merely represents a reallocation of profit margins and will not reduce overall credit capacity.
According to Decrypt, the now-defunct cryptocurrency exchange Bittrex filed a motion this week with a federal judge seeking to vacate its $24 million settlement agreement with the SEC reached in 2023 and requesting that the SEC fully refund the penalty. In the motion, Bittrex’s attorneys argued that while the SEC had alleged in its lawsuit that the relevant crypto tokens constituted unregistered securities, the SEC has since publicly acknowledged—following the Trump administration’s return to power—that this legal theory was flawed. The agency has accordingly dismissed nearly all similar cases, leaving only the Bittrex case unresolved. Bittrex contends this treatment is unfair and demands equal treatment. Notably, the SEC initiated procedures in March 2026 to transfer the $24 million to the U.S. Treasury for distribution to harmed customers. Bittrex’s attorneys are urgently requesting that the court issue an order directing the return of the funds before the transfer occurs. The SEC has declined to comment on the matter.
Alex Thorn, Head of Research at Galaxy, posted on X stating that the CLARITY Act has taken on heightened urgency, partly due to the exceptionally tight race for control of the U.S. Senate. If Democrats regain control of the Senate, former Senator Sherrod Brown could resume his role as Chair of the Senate Banking Committee; alternatively, if Brown fails to win re-election to the Senate from Ohio but Democrats still secure Senate control, the committee may instead be led by Elizabeth Warren. Such potential leadership changes could significantly influence the regulatory direction for the crypto industry, thereby increasing the practical urgency of advancing the CLARITY Act. Note: Elizabeth Warren is not friendly toward the crypto industry. She has urged the U.S. Department of the Treasury to issue stringent implementing rules for the GENIUS Act and explicitly issued guidance prohibiting the use of federal resources—including the Exchange Stabilization Fund or Federal Reserve emergency lending facilities—to backstop stablecoins or the broader crypto industry.
According to Cointelegraph, Stable Sea, an enterprise treasury management platform, has integrated WisdomTree’s tokenized U.S. Treasury money market fund WTGXX onto its platform, enabling corporate clients to allocate idle funds into the fund to generate returns. As of April 28, WTGXX’s total assets under management stood at $857.6 million, with a daily yield of 3.43%. WTGXX primarily invests in short-term U.S. Treasury securities; its shares are recorded on-chain, supporting faster settlement and automated trading. Stable Sea’s core functionality automatically sweeps corporate cash balances into yield-bearing instruments—and this integration extends that capability to tokenized funds. Clients remain subject to standard compliance review processes. Tokenized money market funds are now accelerating institutional adoption. WisdomTree has received SEC approval for 24/7 trading of WTGXX; Franklin Templeton is collaborating with Binance to promote tokenized fund shares as over-the-counter (OTC) collateral; and Standard Chartered has launched a framework enabling BlackRock’s tokenized Treasury fund to serve as collateral for trading on OKX.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent stated that it would be unusual for outgoing Federal Reserve Chair Powell to remain as a Fed governor. For someone who has always emphasized norms, his unilateral decision would run counter to tradition. Kevin Warsh will bring a fresh perspective to the Federal Reserve with a clear system of accountability, effective management mechanisms, and sound policy-making.
On April 17, South Africa’s National Treasury released the Draft Capital Flow Management Regulations (2026) for public consultation. The draft proposes incorporating crypto assets into the foreign exchange control framework to address associated risks and strengthen oversight of emerging financial instruments. It also aims to align the foreign exchange control framework with recommendations from the OECD and the FATF on combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and illicit financial flows, further clarifying exemptions, licensing requirements, and conditions of application, while imposing administrative penalties for violations.
According to CoinDesk, Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM) has officially launched the “Stablecoin Reserve Portfolio” (MSNXX), a government money market fund specifically designed for stablecoin issuers. The fund invests exclusively in highly liquid instruments such as U.S. Treasury securities and repurchase agreements backed by government securities, targets a net asset value of $1.00, and offers daily liquidity. This move aims to provide stablecoin issuers with a compliant, low-risk custodial solution for reserve assets.
the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has announced sanctions against Cambodian Senator Kok An, accusing him of controlling "fraud compounds" across the country that defrauded U.S. victims through crypto investment scams.According to an OFAC statement released on Thursday, in addition to Kok An, 28 other individuals and entities have been added to the sanctions list, all believed to be linked to his fraud network. The network allegedly lured victims into sending crypto assets by promising "high-return investments."This action follows a raid by Cambodian police on two fraud centers in the border town of Poipet. Kok An had previously been accused of operating fraud hubs in that area.OFAC stated that fraudsters typically gain victims' trust by establishing "friendships" or "romantic relationships," then guide them to participate in so-called crypto investment platforms to defraud funds, with total losses reaching millions of dollars.Notably, some individuals involved in the fraudulent activities are themselves victims of human trafficking, forced to engage in illegal acts under threats of violence. OFAC pointed out that these fraud centers are often located in casinos or repurposed office parks, serving not only as hubs for money laundering but also as bases for committing fraud and human rights abuses against U.S. citizens.Additionally, regulators have simultaneously seized over 500 domain names of fake websites used for crypto investment scams, indicating that the U.S. is further intensifying its crackdown on related criminal activities.
Odaily News Aurise Foundation announced the launch of the yield-bearing gold token XAUE on Ethereum, designed to serve as a yield-bearing treasury for Tether Gold (XAU₮). XAUE targets compliant institutional participants, introducing crypto-native yield to traditional non-yielding gold through quantitative strategies and institutional lending, transforming it into a programmable and capital-efficient on-chain asset.Current ecosystem partners Aurelion and Antalpha have jointly contributed 16,052 XAU₮ (approximately $76 million) to XAUE. The protocol employs an exchange rate growth model, where the gold value pegged to each XAUE increases as yields accumulate, and it will integrate with more decentralized finance protocols such as DEXs in the future.
According to The Block, the UK Treasury has unveiled a payment regulatory reform proposal that aims to bring traditional payment services, stablecoins, and tokenized deposits under a unified regulatory framework. The proposal also plans to regulate stablecoins used for payments through subsequent issuance rules. Additionally, it seeks to expand the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) supervisory authority over open banking and explore regulatory adjustments for payment activities conducted by AI agents. Meanwhile, the UK Treasury will provide £1 million in funding to the Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology starting in April and has appointed Chris Woolard CBE to lead the development of a tokenized financial system for wholesale digital markets.
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 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.
Alex Thorn, Head of Research at Galaxy Digital, stated that the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions list—the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) List—has historically included 518 Bitcoin addresses, which collectively received 249,814 BTC and sent 239,708 BTC, leaving a current net balance of approximately 9,306 BTC—valued at roughly $707 million at current market prices. Thorn also noted that OFAC sanctions represent only one of several U.S. tools for intercepting illicit assets, and the CLARITY Act would further expand the Treasury Department’s related authorities.
According to CoinDesk, Liz Truss—former UK Prime Minister and the shortest-serving in British history—said in an interview that the UK economy is on a “very negative trajectory,” with high taxation, excessive regulation, and energy costs making entrepreneurship “a risk rarely worth the reward.” She attributed inflation and wealth inequality to “currency devaluation” and noted that discussions about monetary policy within government have become “taboo”—a phenomenon she described as “quite alarming.” Truss said she is “very interested” in Bitcoin, viewing it as a vital tool for countering currency devaluation and resisting centralized financial control. She revealed she first encountered Bitcoin during her tenure as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. She is now actively building CPAC UK and plans to host a three-day conference bringing together entrepreneurs and activists to advance a movement for “sovereignty and freedom,” declaring outright: “There are only two options—either sink or radically transform.”
According to Fortune, on April 17, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (Democrat, Connecticut) sent a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) under the U.S. Department of the Treasury, requesting clarification on the current status of two compliance monitors assigned to Binance—the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. Earlier reports indicated that internal Binance investigators had warned executives that over $1 billion in funds had flowed to wallets linked to Iran, but were subsequently fired. Binance denies any connection between the dismissals and the investigation findings, asserting that its compliance system is rigorous. Notably, the DOJ has previously terminated independent monitoring requirements for Glencore and Boeing. This has raised external concerns about whether the monitoring mechanism may likewise be suspended for Binance. In 2023, Binance was fined $4.3 billion for failures in anti-money laundering (AML) and sanctions compliance; the two monitors were part of the settlement agreement reached at that time.
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%.