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Bitcoin Sistemi
The US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has proposed banning Cambodia-based Huione from the US financial system due to allegations of money laundering and connections to North Korean hacker groups. Huione allegedly laundered over $4 billion earned from cybercrimes, heavily involving cryptocurrencies. The National Bank of Cambodia also revoked Huione’s banking license, enforcing a local ban on digital asset transactions.
Movement Labs
Movement Labs has suspended co-founder Rushi Manche following an ongoing investigation by Groom Lake into governance and incidents with a market maker. Concurrently, Coinbase announced it will cease trading of Movement’s MOVE token on May 15 due to the token not meeting its listing standards after a routine review. Following these developments, the price of MOVE dropped to a record low, further impacted by controversies involving alleged token manipulation by the market maker and internal disputes within Movement Labs.
Pixels
Pixels has launched $PIXEL Staking, enabling players to stake tokens in various games within its ecosystem including Core Pixels, Forgotten Runiverse, and Pixel Dungeons. This new system allows players to earn rewards linked to game success and influence future developments through a stake-to-vote mechanism. The $PIXEL PopRank system rewards games with more staking support and player engagement, boosting their visibility and share of ecosystem rewards. With phased rollouts planned, Pixels aims to build a decentralized, data-driven publishing ecosystem, enriching player engagement and expanding its play-to-earn model.
The Block
Tether announced its total exposure to US Treasurys nearly reached $120 billion at the end of March, with $99 billion as direct exposure. The company, issuer of the stablecoin USDT, revealed over $1 billion in operating profit from traditional investments for the quarter. Additionally, Tether is diversifying its investments, including $2 billion in long-term initiatives in emerging technologies, while operating under new regulatory supervision in El Salvador.
The Block
21Shares has filed an S-1 registration statement with the SEC to launch a spot Sui ETF in the US, offering direct exposure to SUI tokens, with assets held in custody by Coinbase. The ETF will not engage in staking but will allow share redemptions and creations in cash. Alongside this ETF, 21Shares announced a strategic partnership with the Sui network, focusing on global expansion and product collaborations. This ETF and partnership underscore a heightened institutional interest in the Sui ecosystem.
Crystal Intelligence
Crystal Intelligence plans to acquire Scam Alerts from Whale Alert to enhance reporting and combat crypto scams. Post-acquisition, Scam Alerts will operate as a non-commercial entity within Crystal Intelligence, focusing on increasing crypto adoption through scam reduction. The acquisition, expected to close by the end of May, includes Whale Alert serving as an advisory partner and Crystal Intelligence enhancing data collection and international cooperation on scam investigations.
Tether
Tether announced the successful acquisition of a 70% stake in Adecoagro, marking a significant expansion from digital finance to global real-world infrastructure. This move builds on Tether’s initial $100 million investment in Adecoagro in 2024, emphasizing its strategic shift towards supporting sustainable real-world asset production in energy, agriculture, and more. The acquisition aligns with Tether’s focus on economic freedom and resilience in emerging markets, and positions Tether to intensify Adecoagro’s growth and strategic direction towards renewable energy and efficient resource use.
Metaplanet
Metaplanet, a Japanese public company focused on Bitcoin, announced the establishment of a US subsidiary, Metaplanet Treasury, in Miami, Florida, to enhance its global Bitcoin treasury activities. This strategic move aims to improve liquidity access, execution speed, and strengthen its presence in the US market, capitalizing on Miami’s status as a hub for Bitcoin innovation. The company plans to begin operations of its Miami subsidiary in May 2025 with an initial $10 million investment, gearing towards a strategic positioning for growth in Bitcoin-centered financial activities.
The Block
Ripple offered to pay between $4 billion and $5 billion to acquire crypto firm Circle, the issuer of the stablecoin USDC. Circle, valued at $9 billion during its attempt to go public in 2022, rejected the offer, considering it too low. Despite the rejection, Ripple remains interested in acquiring Circle. This follows Circle’s recent filing for an initial public offering.
Bitcoin Sistemi
Eric Trump, who has invested in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum, Solana and Sui, criticized traditional banks as costly and inefficient compared to crypto alternatives. Speaking to CNBC, he highlighted the speed and cost-efficiency of crypto transactions and warned that banks must adapt to this evolving landscape or risk becoming irrelevant within a decade. He also supported decentralized finance as a viable alternative to the traditional banking system.
The Block
ZachXBT revealed that the recent theft of $330 million in bitcoin involved an elderly individual in the US, targeted through a social engineering scheme. The stolen bitcoins were transferred and subsequently laundered into Monero via multiple exchanges, causing a significant price surge in XMR.
The Block
The US Securities and Exchange Commission has concluded its investigation into PayPal’s PYUSD stablecoin, which began with a subpoena in November 2023, without taking any enforcement action. This conclusion was disclosed in PayPal’s recent Form 10-Q filing. The investigation closure follows PayPal’s various initiatives to increase PYUSD’s market engagement, including a partnership with Coinbase eliminating trading fees for PYUSD and its integration into the Solana blockchain.
SEC
BlackRock has filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to create a blockchain-enabled digital share class for its $150 billion Treasury Trust Fund. Named DLT Shares, this class will use blockchain technology for share recordkeeping but will not involve blockchain in managing the fund’s portfolio or holding crypto assets. BNY Mellon is set to provide the required blockchain infrastructure, focusing on maintaining real-time ownership records, and the offering will target institutional investors with a minimum investment requirement of $3 million.
The Block
Mark Carney has been re-elected as Canada’s prime minister in a snap election, defeating Pierre Poilievre, a pro-crypto candidate. Despite being labeled ‘somewhat pro-crypto,’ Carney has historically expressed skepticism towards crypto and blockchain technologies. While his views may have evolved, his past comments and current regulatory stances suggest a cautious approach to integrating crypto with traditional financial systems, with an emphasis on stringent regulation.
Circle
Circle has secured In-Principle Approval (IPA) from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) to operate as a money services provider in the Middle East and Africa (MEA). This development is a step forward in obtaining a Financial Services Permission (FSP). It marks a continuation of Circle’s regional expansion strategy, emphasizing compliance and innovation in stablecoins within dynamic regulatory environments. This approval builds on Circle’s ADGM incorporation in December 2024 and aligns with its strategic collaborations with regional entities like Hub71, strengthening its role in advancing digital finance and stablecoin adoption.
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NewsBriefs – AWS outage impacts major crypto exchanges and wallets including Binance and KuCoin – Crypto Briefing
