Author: Tristan Lodenberg

Singapore Gulf Bank has introduced a new service allowing institutional clients to mint and redeem stablecoins directly from their bank accounts, enabling continuous settlement between fiat and digital assets. The system operates on the Solana blockchain, providing round-the-clock transaction capabilities without depending on traditional banking settlement hours. The service initially supports transactions involving USD Coin issued by Circle, with a minimum transfer threshold set at $100,000. The bank also announced temporary fee waivers for minting and redemption transactions conducted through the Solana network, aiming to encourage early institutional adoption. Additional stablecoins, including Tether, USDe and Global Dollar, are expected to…

Energy Policy Takes Center Stage in Crypto Advocacy The Crypto Council for Innovation announced the addition of the Digital Energy Council as its first member dedicated specifically to digital energy policy, marking a significant step toward integrating energy considerations into cryptocurrency development strategies. According to the announcement, the Digital Energy Council will focus on advancing policies that promote energy development, grid resilience, U.S. competitiveness and national security. The move comes as demand for electricity continues to rise alongside the expansion of crypto mining, artificial intelligence data centers and other compute-intensive technologies that rely on stable and scalable power infrastructure. Shifting…

French Government Supports Euro-Pegged Stablecoin Expansion Roland Lescure has called for stronger adoption of euro denominated stablecoins and urged European Union banks to explore tokenized deposits, marking a notable shift in France’s stance on digital assets. His remarks signal growing support within the French government and may indicate a softer regulatory approach from policymakers who previously expressed skepticism toward privately issued digital currencies. Lescure backed the banking consortium Qivalis, which includes major institutions such as BBVA, ING, UniCredit and BNP Paribas. The group is preparing to launch a euro-pegged stablecoin in the second half of 2026, aiming to strengthen Europe’s…

Richard Blumenthal has sent a new letter to the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of the Treasury seeking detailed information about oversight measures imposed on Binance following its 2023 guilty plea. In November 2023, Binance admitted to failing to register as a money transmitting business and breaching U.S. sanctions laws. The company agreed to pay more than $4 billion in penalties and retain an independent compliance monitor for three years. Blumenthal’s latest inquiry specifically asks about the status of that monitor and whether any misconduct reports have been filed since the settlement. Reports of Iran-Linked Transactions Trigger…

Acquisition Brings Full Licensed Derivatives Infrastructure Payward, the parent of Kraken, has agreed to acquire Bitnomial for up to $550 million in cash and stock, giving the firm control of a fully licensed U.S. crypto derivatives stack. The transaction covers 100% of Bitnomial’s equity and is expected to close in the first half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals and customary conditions. Founded more than a decade ago, Bitnomial became the first crypto native platform to secure all three required U.S. derivatives licenses: a designated contract market, a derivatives clearing organization, and a futures commission merchant license. The acquisition effectively shortens…

Donald Tusk accused a crypto company of ties to Russian criminal and intelligence networks while claiming it provided financial support to his political rivals. The remarks were made during a parliamentary vote aimed at overturning a presidential veto blocking new cryptocurrency regulations in Poland. Tusk alleged that the crypto firm Zondacrypto had links to Russian funding sources connected to the so-called Bratva, described as one of Russia’s most influential organized crime groups. He further claimed the company’s financial success was tied not only to Russian mafia resources but also to Russian secret services. Political Sponsorship Claims Spark Wider Controversy According…

Trump Claims Crisis Resolved and Rejects NATO Support Offer Donald Trump said the situation surrounding the Strait of Hormuz has been resolved, adding that he declined an offer of assistance from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization after the crisis had already ended. In a public statement issued Thursday, Trump said NATO contacted him to ask whether the United States required support following tensions in the region. According to Trump, he rejected the offer and told the alliance to “stay away,” unless they intended to assist with oil shipments. He further criticized NATO’s effectiveness during the situation, describing the alliance as…

Bitcoin climbed decisively above the $78,000 level, marking its first clear breakout since the sharp market decline on Feb. 5 that drove prices down to nearly $60,000. BTC also moved firmly above its 100-day moving average of $74,774, a technical milestone widely viewed by traders as confirmation of renewed bullish momentum. Since bottoming in early February, Bitcoin has rallied more than 25%, reversing earlier weakness that followed repeated failures to hold gains above the mid-$76,000 range. Earlier attempts to reclaim higher levels stalled at $76,700 on Feb. 4 and again at $76,013 on March 17, making the current move above…

Pavel Durov has warned that the European Union’s new age-verification application could evolve into a broader digital identity tracking system, raising concerns over long-term surveillance risks. His comments came shortly after the European Commission stated that the system was technically ready for rollout across member states. Durov referenced claims by security consultant Paul Moore, who reported that the app’s design could be compromised in “under two minutes,” suggesting vulnerabilities that may allow users to bypass proper identity checks or disconnect verification from the actual device or individual. EU Says System Is Anonymous, Critics Disagree The EU age-verification framework, developed under…

One of the prominent marketplaces from the 2021 NFT boom, Foundation, has announced it will shut down operations after a planned acquisition by digital art distribution firm Blackdove collapsed. Founder and CEO Kayvon Tehranian confirmed the closure in a statement posted on X, explaining that the intended sale was meant to keep the platform running under new ownership. He said that outcome was no longer possible and that the company lacked the resources to relaunch the marketplace independently. Foundation later noted the site would temporarily return to allow users to delist NFTs before permanent closure. Launched in early 2021 during…