DOJ Will Shutter Crypto Unit, Back Off Services Like Tornado Cash

In a massive shakeup for crypto regulation in the United States, the U.S. Department of Justice has disbanded its crypto-dedicated enforcement team and will no longer pursue criminal cases in several key crypto-related areas, according to an agency memo circulated Monday evening.  The DOJ’s National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET) has been disbanded effective immediately according to the memo, which was sent to agency staff last night by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.  Further, the...

In a massive shakeup for crypto regulation in the United States, the U.S. Department of Justice has disbanded its crypto-dedicated enforcement team and will no longer pursue criminal cases in several key crypto-related areas, according to an agency memo circulated Monday evening.  The DOJ’s National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET) has been disbanded effective immediately according to the memo, which was sent to agency staff last night by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.  Further, the...

BlackRock Taps Anchorage Digital as Bitcoin, Ethereum ETF Custodian

Digital asset trust bank Anchorage Digital will safeguard some of the Bitcoin and Ethereum held by BlackRock’s exchange-traded funds, according to two Securities and Exchange Commission filings submitted on Tuesday. A digital asset trust bank is like a regular bank, but it’s allowed to hold cryptocurrencies on behalf of clients, while Anchorage also specializes in staking, trading, and governance. The world’s largest asset manager may use several custody accounts at the San Francisco-based bank...

Digital asset trust bank Anchorage Digital will safeguard some of the Bitcoin and Ethereum held by BlackRock’s exchange-traded funds, according to two Securities and Exchange Commission filings submitted on Tuesday. A digital asset trust bank is like a regular bank, but it’s allowed to hold cryptocurrencies on behalf of clients, while Anchorage also specializes in staking, trading, and governance. The world’s largest asset manager may use several custody accounts at the San Francisco-based bank...

Ethereum Gaming Network ZKcandy Launches With ‘Pepe Kingdom’ and More

ZKcandy, a new Ethereum scaling network focused on mobile gaming, announced the launch of its mainnet Tuesday after completing a testnet phase that resulted in users creating some 2.46 million total wallets. ZKcandy was co-created by Southeast Asia-based game developer iCandy Interactive and ZKsync developer Matter Labs, with the network using the latter’s Ethereum layer-2 scaling technology. The mainnet launch comes following ZKcandy’s $4 million seed round, which was led by Wemix and Animoca V...

ZKcandy, a new Ethereum scaling network focused on mobile gaming, announced the launch of its mainnet Tuesday after completing a testnet phase that resulted in users creating some 2.46 million total wallets. ZKcandy was co-created by Southeast Asia-based game developer iCandy Interactive and ZKsync developer Matter Labs, with the network using the latter’s Ethereum layer-2 scaling technology. The mainnet launch comes following ZKcandy’s $4 million seed round, which was led by Wemix and Animoca V...

Dogecoin and Avalanche Lead Altcoin Rebound as Crypto Markets Bounce Back

Dogecoin and Avalanche are leading today’s crypto market rebound, rising 9.8% and 9.4% respectively, over the past 24 hours, as per CoinGecko data. Other altcoins have also significantly outperformed the overall crypto market in the past 24 hours. Cardano rose 6.3%, far outpacing the Bitcoin price rise of 4%. Meanwhile, Chainlink is up 8% in the same period, posting similar gains to Dogecoin and Avalanche. The vast majority of cryptocurrencies have registered notable price increases today, with...

Dogecoin and Avalanche are leading today’s crypto market rebound, rising 9.8% and 9.4% respectively, over the past 24 hours, as per CoinGecko data. Other altcoins have also significantly outperformed the overall crypto market in the past 24 hours. Cardano rose 6.3%, far outpacing the Bitcoin price rise of 4%. Meanwhile, Chainlink is up 8% in the same period, posting similar gains to Dogecoin and Avalanche. The vast majority of cryptocurrencies have registered notable price increases today, with...

93% of WazirX Creditors Greenlight Post-Hack Recovery Plan

After nearly being brought to its knees by a $235 million hack, WazirX just secured a vital shot at survival. More than 93% of creditors have voted in favor of the Indian crypto exchange’s restructuring plan—clearing a key hurdle in efforts to recover from the devastating exploit, attributed to North Korean hackers. 📢 Update on Scheme of Arrangement Voting 93.1% of voting creditors, representing 94.6% in value, have voted YES to the Scheme of Arrangement. This strong support marks an important...

After nearly being brought to its knees by a $235 million hack, WazirX just secured a vital shot at survival. More than 93% of creditors have voted in favor of the Indian crypto exchange’s restructuring plan—clearing a key hurdle in efforts to recover from the devastating exploit, attributed to North Korean hackers. 📢 Update on Scheme of Arrangement Voting 93.1% of voting creditors, representing 94.6% in value, have voted YES to the Scheme of Arrangement. This strong support marks an important...

Melania Solana Meme Coin Team Quietly Dumps $30 Million in Tokens: Bubblemaps

Big names and bigger dumps. Blockchain analytics firm Bubblemaps reported Monday that more than $30 million worth of Melania Meme (MELANIA), a meme coin linked to U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, have been moved and “quietly sold.” On-chain analysis revealed the Solana-based tokens were taken from community funds, and neither the project team nor “launch strategist” Hayden Davis has yet offered any explanation for the movement of the assets. In total, 50 million MELANIA tokens were funneled to wal...

Big names and bigger dumps. Blockchain analytics firm Bubblemaps reported Monday that more than $30 million worth of Melania Meme (MELANIA), a meme coin linked to U.S. First Lady Melania Trump, have been moved and “quietly sold.” On-chain analysis revealed the Solana-based tokens were taken from community funds, and neither the project team nor “launch strategist” Hayden Davis has yet offered any explanation for the movement of the assets. In total, 50 million MELANIA tokens were funneled to wal...

Coinbase, Uniswap Join SEC for First Crypto Trading Roundtable

The Securities and Exchange Commission will host its first-ever dedicated crypto trading roundtable on April 11, bringing together crypto industry leaders and traditional finance experts to help “restart” and reshape digital asset regulation. The event, titled "Between a Block and a Hard Place," is the first of a four-part series announced earlier in March. These talks were designed to establish clearer frameworks for crypto companies that have long operated in regulatory uncertainty. SEC Schedu...

The Securities and Exchange Commission will host its first-ever dedicated crypto trading roundtable on April 11, bringing together crypto industry leaders and traditional finance experts to help “restart” and reshape digital asset regulation. The event, titled "Between a Block and a Hard Place," is the first of a four-part series announced earlier in March. These talks were designed to establish clearer frameworks for crypto companies that have long operated in regulatory uncertainty. SEC Schedu...

Tariffs Are Just the Tip of the Iceberg, Warns Billionaire Investor Ray Dalio

Billionaire investor Ray Dalio suggests that the past week's market meltdown triggered by President Trump's sweeping tariff policy reveals more than just short-term volatility and a flight to safety. Dalio, who founded Bridgewater, the world's largest hedge fund by discretionary assets under management, wrote Monday that the world is witnessing a "once-in-a-lifetime" chaos that signals a "breakdown" of the global order. Late Monday evening, Trump threatened to raise the tariff on Chinese goods b...

Billionaire investor Ray Dalio suggests that the past week's market meltdown triggered by President Trump's sweeping tariff policy reveals more than just short-term volatility and a flight to safety. Dalio, who founded Bridgewater, the world's largest hedge fund by discretionary assets under management, wrote Monday that the world is witnessing a "once-in-a-lifetime" chaos that signals a "breakdown" of the global order. Late Monday evening, Trump threatened to raise the tariff on Chinese goods b...

Trump-backed World Liberty Financial Proposes USD1 Airdrop to Early Supporters

On Monday, World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a decentralized finance project backed by President Donald Trump, announced a proposal to distribute a small amount of its newly launched USD1 stablecoin to all eligible WLFI token holders.  The test, the company wrote, would “validate the technical functionality of its airdrop system in a live environment while thanking early supporters of the project.” 🦅 We just posted a new governance proposal: To test our airdrop functionality by distributing USD1...

On Monday, World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a decentralized finance project backed by President Donald Trump, announced a proposal to distribute a small amount of its newly launched USD1 stablecoin to all eligible WLFI token holders.  The test, the company wrote, would “validate the technical functionality of its airdrop system in a live environment while thanking early supporters of the project.” 🦅 We just posted a new governance proposal: To test our airdrop functionality by distributing USD1...

Nigerian Court Adjourns Binance Tax Case to End of April: Report

A court in Abuja has adjourned Nigeria’s ongoing tax evasion case against Binance to April 30, according to a report from Reuters. The adjournment follows legal challenges from Binance contesting a February court order that allowed Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to serve legal documents via email. The company, which is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, has argued the FIRS did not obtain proper authorization to serve papers outside the country. Binance has no physical office in...

A court in Abuja has adjourned Nigeria’s ongoing tax evasion case against Binance to April 30, according to a report from Reuters. The adjournment follows legal challenges from Binance contesting a February court order that allowed Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to serve legal documents via email. The company, which is incorporated in the Cayman Islands, has argued the FIRS did not obtain proper authorization to serve papers outside the country. Binance has no physical office in...

US XRP ETF to Debut as 2x Leveraged Product on NYSE Arca

U.S.-based asset manager Teucrium Investment Advisors will launch a 2x leveraged XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) on April 8, according to the company’s website.  The XXRP ETF, based on the native token of stewards, Ripple Labs, will be listed on NYSE Arca. Bloomberg Senior ETF Analyst Eric Balchunas noted the unusual nature of the launch via X on Monday.  “Very odd (maybe a first) that a new asset’s first ETF is leveraged. Spot XRP still not approved, although our odds are pretty high," he wrote....

U.S.-based asset manager Teucrium Investment Advisors will launch a 2x leveraged XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) on April 8, according to the company’s website.  The XXRP ETF, based on the native token of stewards, Ripple Labs, will be listed on NYSE Arca. Bloomberg Senior ETF Analyst Eric Balchunas noted the unusual nature of the launch via X on Monday.  “Very odd (maybe a first) that a new asset’s first ETF is leveraged. Spot XRP still not approved, although our odds are pretty high," he wrote....

SEC Greenlights Galaxy Digital Reorg as Possible May Nasdaq Listing Looms

After more than three years, Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd. is inching closer to a listing on the Nasdaq exchange. It now awaits a shareholder vote sometime in May. It follows a green light from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday afternoon to change Galaxy’s registration from the Cayman Islands to Delaware. Galaxy Digital first signaled its intent to list on Nasdaq in January 2022, marking the SEC's go-ahead as one of the last few hurdles before the company gets approved for a l...

After more than three years, Galaxy Digital Holdings Ltd. is inching closer to a listing on the Nasdaq exchange. It now awaits a shareholder vote sometime in May. It follows a green light from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday afternoon to change Galaxy’s registration from the Cayman Islands to Delaware. Galaxy Digital first signaled its intent to list on Nasdaq in January 2022, marking the SEC's go-ahead as one of the last few hurdles before the company gets approved for a l...

Why Bitcoin and Crypto Traders Should Pay Attention to Rising Bond Yields

President Donald Trump’s aggressive new tariff policy last week has sent markets reeling, with crypto investors feeling the pain after trillions of dollars were wiped from global stock indices. On Monday, Bitcoin’s price recovered slightly after dropping below $75,000 during early morning trade. The crypto is hovering near $80,000, up 3% over the last 24 hours.  Still, more volatility is to come as investors try to navigate a new global economic order under Trump. Paying attention to the U.S. bo...

President Donald Trump’s aggressive new tariff policy last week has sent markets reeling, with crypto investors feeling the pain after trillions of dollars were wiped from global stock indices. On Monday, Bitcoin’s price recovered slightly after dropping below $75,000 during early morning trade. The crypto is hovering near $80,000, up 3% over the last 24 hours.  Still, more volatility is to come as investors try to navigate a new global economic order under Trump. Paying attention to the U.S. bo...

BlackRock CEO Says Market Could Tank Another 20%—But It's a 'Buying Opportunity'

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said Monday stocks could fall 20% as the U.S. begins imposing aggressive tariffs on its trading partners, plunging markets into bearish territory.  U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 10% tariffs on all U.S. imports on April 5, sparking retaliatory measures from Beijing and the European Union and igniting fears of a global trade war.  Speaking at the Economic Club of New York on Monday, Fink shared that many of his fellow executives believe the market meltdown is a sign...

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said Monday stocks could fall 20% as the U.S. begins imposing aggressive tariffs on its trading partners, plunging markets into bearish territory.  U.S. President Donald Trump imposed 10% tariffs on all U.S. imports on April 5, sparking retaliatory measures from Beijing and the European Union and igniting fears of a global trade war.  Speaking at the Economic Club of New York on Monday, Fink shared that many of his fellow executives believe the market meltdown is a sign...

Bitcoin Strengthens Against ‘Magnificent 7’ Stocks as Wall Street Quakes

Bitcoin’s price may be hovering close to a five-month low, but U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs have hit the country’s largest tech companies harder. Since Nov. 5, the largest cryptocurrency by market value has strengthened against the “Magnificent Seven,” a group of Nasdaq firms including top tech names like Apple, Nvidia, and Tesla. On Monday, one Bitcoin was worth around 1,993 shares of the Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (MAGS), which offers equal weight exposure to the group of tech fi...

Bitcoin’s price may be hovering close to a five-month low, but U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs have hit the country’s largest tech companies harder. Since Nov. 5, the largest cryptocurrency by market value has strengthened against the “Magnificent Seven,” a group of Nasdaq firms including top tech names like Apple, Nvidia, and Tesla. On Monday, one Bitcoin was worth around 1,993 shares of the Roundhill Magnificent Seven ETF (MAGS), which offers equal weight exposure to the group of tech fi...

Crypto Attorney Alleges US Government Knows Bitcoin Creator's Identity

A crypto attorney believes the U.S. government has the answer to one of technology’s greatest mysteries: the identity of Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. On Monday, James Murphy filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, alleging the agency knows who Nakamoto is. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Murphy, who dubs himself the “MetaLawMan,” explained the rationale behind the lawsuit. “My FOIA lawsuit seeks documents concerning cla...

A crypto attorney believes the U.S. government has the answer to one of technology’s greatest mysteries: the identity of Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto. On Monday, James Murphy filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, alleging the agency knows who Nakamoto is. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Murphy, who dubs himself the “MetaLawMan,” explained the rationale behind the lawsuit. “My FOIA lawsuit seeks documents concerning cla...

Bitcoin Developer Wants to Fight Quantum Computing Threat—Before It's a Problem

As quantum computers edge closer to breaking current cryptography, Bitcoin developers are racing to protect the world’s largest cryptocurrency from the unprecedented threat of quantum decryption. One proposed solution, outlined in a recent Bitcoin Improvement Proposal submitted by Chilean technologist Agustin Cruz, calls for a mandatory migration to so-called Quantum-Resistant Address Migration Protocol addresses to ensure long-term protection against future attacks. When you send Bitcoin, you u...

As quantum computers edge closer to breaking current cryptography, Bitcoin developers are racing to protect the world’s largest cryptocurrency from the unprecedented threat of quantum decryption. One proposed solution, outlined in a recent Bitcoin Improvement Proposal submitted by Chilean technologist Agustin Cruz, calls for a mandatory migration to so-called Quantum-Resistant Address Migration Protocol addresses to ensure long-term protection against future attacks. When you send Bitcoin, you u...

Binance Co-Founder CZ to Advise Pakistan's New Crypto Council

Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao agreed Monday to advise Pakistan's recently formed Crypto Council amid the nation's push to attract foreign investors.  Zhao will guide the council's efforts to advance Pakistan's crypto “regulations, infrastructure, education, and adoption,” Bloomberg Law's Islamabad correspondent reported. The group of Pakistani policymakers aims to promote regulatory clarity on digital assets to “unlock the full potential of the sector” in Pakistan, the country's Finance...

Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao agreed Monday to advise Pakistan's recently formed Crypto Council amid the nation's push to attract foreign investors.  Zhao will guide the council's efforts to advance Pakistan's crypto “regulations, infrastructure, education, and adoption,” Bloomberg Law's Islamabad correspondent reported. The group of Pakistani policymakers aims to promote regulatory clarity on digital assets to “unlock the full potential of the sector” in Pakistan, the country's Finance...

Dogecoin Is Down Bad, But Fartcoin Rises Above Markets Chaos

Crypto markets tanked Monday after traders spooked by President Trump's trade war quickly sold off risk assets. But one token is rising above the chaos: the Solana-based meme coin, Fartcoin. The asset has jumped by about 10% over the past 24 hours, CoinGecko data shows, and was recently trading hands for close to $0.49. At one point on Monday morning Eastern Time, it was trading nearly as high as $0.55. At its current price, Fartcoin is one of the rare cryptocurrencies showing gains over the las...

Crypto markets tanked Monday after traders spooked by President Trump's trade war quickly sold off risk assets. But one token is rising above the chaos: the Solana-based meme coin, Fartcoin. The asset has jumped by about 10% over the past 24 hours, CoinGecko data shows, and was recently trading hands for close to $0.49. At one point on Monday morning Eastern Time, it was trading nearly as high as $0.55. At its current price, Fartcoin is one of the rare cryptocurrencies showing gains over the las...

Strategy Says Q1 Profit Doubtful Given Nearly $6 Billion in Unrealized Bitcoin Losses

Strategy is not expecting a first-quarter profit, given billions of dollars in unrealized losses on its Bitcoin holdings, the company said on Monday. The Tysons, Virginia-based firm—formerly known as MicroStrategy—said the value of its Bitcoin holdings fell $5.91 billion on paper in the first quarter, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. “We may not be able to regain profitability in future periods, particularly if we incur significant unrealized losses related to o...

Strategy is not expecting a first-quarter profit, given billions of dollars in unrealized losses on its Bitcoin holdings, the company said on Monday. The Tysons, Virginia-based firm—formerly known as MicroStrategy—said the value of its Bitcoin holdings fell $5.91 billion on paper in the first quarter, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. “We may not be able to regain profitability in future periods, particularly if we incur significant unrealized losses related to o...