Category: Law and Order

Coinbase Secures MiCA License, Expanding Crypto Services Across EU Approval from Luxembourg grants Coinbase access to 27 EU countries, raising questions about regulation shopping in smaller member states. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

‘Public Good’: Wyoming Plots August Debut for WYST Stablecoin The Wyoming Stable Token Commission is targeting an August launch for its state stablecoin following years of preparation. Mathew Di Salvo Go to decrypt.co

Bitcoin, Dogecoin Targeted as Norway Eyes Ban on New Crypto Mining Operations The government said it will “explore the possibility of temporarily prohibiting the establishment of new data centers in Norway that extract cryptocurrency.” Mathew Di Salvo Go to decrypt.co

South Korean Regulators Prepare for Spot Crypto ETFs This Year The country’s financial regulator has submitted plans to launch crypto ETFs and won-based stablecoins by the second half of this year. Vince Dioquino Go to decrypt.co

SEC Thailand Opens Public Consultation on Crypto Listing Criteria Thailand’s SEC has opened public feedback on new rules letting exchanges list self-issued tokens, with stronger disclosure requirements. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

Arizona Senate Passes Bitcoin Reserve Bill for Seized Crypto, Heads to House For Debate The bill seeks to establish a state-managed digital asset fund using crypto seized through criminal forfeiture. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

Treasury Secretary Bessent Says Stablecoins Can Bolster US Dollar ‘Supremacy’ Bessent framed stablecoins as a strategic asset for U.S. influence, as lawmakers weigh whether politics will stall key legislation again. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

Civil Rights Group Gives Elon Musk’s xAI 60 Days to Fix Alleged Clean Air Act Violations The NAACP has threatened xAI with a lawsuit over unpermitted gas turbines at Memphis AI data center, citing pollution concerns. Vince Dioquino Go to decrypt.co

Bitcoin Scandal Fails to Topple Czech Government in No-Confidence Vote A $45 million Bitcoin donation from a convicted darknet operator set off a political crisis and brought the Czech government to its knees. Vince Dioquino Go to decrypt.co

Trump Pushes House to Pass GENIUS Act as Lawmakers Debate Crypto Oversight The President has called on the House to approve the stablecoin bill, despite concerns over conflicts of interest and tech sector influence. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

Gemini Files Complaint Against CFTC, Alleges 7-Year ‘Lawfare’ Campaign Gemini flagged a whistleblower tied to fraud who may still receive a $1.5 million award, despite an arbitrator ruling he lied to regulators. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

Thailand Exempts Crypto Capital Gains to Boost Global Hub Ambitions Deputy Finance Minister Julapun Amornvivat said Thailand aims to become “one of the world’s financial hubs” with its crypto tax exemption. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

Digital Finance Reform Could Add Billions to Australia’s Economy, New Research Shows Australia could unlock billions annually through digital finance innovation and tokenization, but key hurdles remain. Vince Dioquino Go to decrypt.co

Vietnam Passes Landmark Law Defining Digital Assets, Boosting AI and Chip Sectors The new law ends regulatory limbo for crypto while establishing massive incentives for semiconductors, AI, and digital startups. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

Russia Paying Teenage and Untrained Spies Using Bitcoin: Report Russia’s intelligence agencies are “constantly financing” agents using cryptocurrency, blockchain investigators told Decrypt. Simon Chandler Go to decrypt.co

How Will the Israel-Iran Conflict End? Here’s What AI Models Predict We asked seven leading AI models to analyze the most plausible scenario for how the conflict between Israel and Iran will play out. Jose Antonio Lanz Go to decrypt.co

Solana ETF Applicants Submit Updated SEC Filings With Staking Prospective Solana ETF issuers in the United States submitted updated SEC filings Friday, suggesting approvals may be near. Liz Napolitano Go to decrypt.co

Elizabeth Warren, Consumer Groups Slam Walmart and Amazon Stablecoin Plans Retailers Amazon and Walmart are considering issuing their own stablecoins, according to a Friday report in the Wall Street Journal. Sander Lutz Go to decrypt.co

Former NBA Star Shaquille O’Neal Agrees to Pay $1.8M to Settle FTX Suit The agreement marks one of the first major financial settlements against celebrities who promoted FTX before its spectacular collapse. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

Ripple, SEC Ask Court to Dissolve XRP Injunction, Release $125M in Escrow The joint filing proposes a $50 million payment to the SEC and marks a key step toward settling the years-long legal battle over XRP sales. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

Thai Police Arrest Chinese Suspect in $6.1 Million Bitcoin Fraud Case Two Chinese victims lost their Bitcoin after a business meeting in Mae Sai district, transferring funds in two separate transactions. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

US Senators Probe Stablecoin Plans by Facebook Parent Meta Senators Warren and Blumenthal are demanding answers from Meta over renewed stablecoin plans, warning of risks to competition and privacy. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

Philippines Enacts Sweeping Crypto Rules, Mandates Licensing and Capital Requirements The new SEC framework imposes minimum capital, local incorporation, and strict data rules on crypto firms operating in the Philippines. Vince Dioquino Go to decrypt.co

Australian Woman Hit With Ten-Year Ban Over $9.6 Million Crypto Scheme ASIC has banned Glenda Rogan for misleading conduct after she allegedly transfered client funds into blacklisted crypto platform. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

Elite Footballers Named in $3.4 Million Crypto Fraud Case A Barcelona court has launched a criminal probe into crypto firm Shirtum after star footballers allegedly promoted a failed NFT scheme. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

CLARITY Act Clears Two House Committees, Heads to House Floor for Vote Two House committees have advanced the CLARITY Act, setting the stage for a floor vote that could shift primary crypto oversight. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

Bank of Korea Governor to Meet Bank Chiefs as Stablecoin Debate Heats Up The upcoming meeting signals a shift in South Korea’s approach to won-backed stablecoins as the new president eyes a regulatory overhaul. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

DOJ Seeks $7.7 Million Forfeiture in Crypto From North Korean Hackers Masquerading as IT Workers DOJ seeking $7.74M in crypto from North Korean IT workers who used fake identities to infiltrate U.S. companies and fund the regime. Simon Chandler Go to decrypt.co

To Reap Tokenization’s Benefits, Accredited Investor Rules Should Be Revamped: Robinhood Crypto GM Robinhood Crypto’s Johann Kerbrat said that tokenization could eliminate “middlemen” to the advantage of startup founders. André Beganski Go to decrypt.co

Crypto Advocacy Groups Urge Dismissal of Case Against Bitcoin Mixer Samourai Crypto advocacy groups have argued that the case against Bitcoin mixer Samourai Wallet is unjust. Here’s why. Mathew Di Salvo Go to decrypt.co

OpenAI Challenges Court Order to Preserve User Data in NYT Lawsuit The AI firm said the order to retain deleted ChatGPT chats undermines user privacy as legal its battle escalates. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

Reddit Files Lawsuit Against Anthropic Over Alleged Unauthorized Data Scraping Reddit is accusing AI firm Anthropic of scraping content to train Claude, fueling a broader legal battle over the use of online data. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

US Seizes Crypto and 145 Domains Linked to Dark Web Marketplace BidenCash served 117,000 users and trafficked over 15 million stolen credit cards and personal data before being taken down. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

Chair Paul Atkins Says It’s a ‘New Day’ for the SEC, Calls for ‘Rational’ Crypto Regulation Paul Atkins is promising a “rational” approach to rulemaking instead of enforcement, as lawmakers eye sweeping reforms. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

Czech Government Faces No-Confidence Vote Over $45M Bitcoin Scandal A Bitcoin donation from a convicted criminal has triggered a political scandal and calls for a no-confidence vote in the Czech government. Vince Dioquino Go to decrypt.co

Texas Lawmaker Misses Disclosure Deadline on Bitcoin Buys Rep. Brandon Gill disclosed two sizable Bitcoin trades months past the legal deadline, raising fresh scrutiny of crypto-investing lawmakers. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

AUSTRAC Tightens Grip on Crypto ATMs After Spike in Illicit Activity The Australian regulator has refused one crypto ATM provider’s license and imposed transaction caps across the sector. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

SEC Raises Legal Questions Over Proposed Ethereum, Solana ETFs The SEC raised concerns over staking-linked ETFs a day after stating that most crypto staking falls outside the scope of securities laws. Sebastian Sinclair Go to decrypt.co

New York Man Denied Bail Over Alleged Bitcoin Ransom, Torture Plot Prosecutors allege Duplessie and Woeltz held an Italian national hostage for 17 days in a Soho townhouse to force access to a Bitcoin wallet. Vince Dioquino Go to decrypt.co

Here’s What’s at Stake for Crypto in South Korea’s Upcoming Election Crypto policy is a key issue ahead of South Korea’s June 3 election, with both parties backing ETFs and stablecoin reforms. Callan Quinn,Vince Dioquino Go to decrypt.co

Nigel Farage Pledges to Slash Crypto Capital Gains, Force UK Bitcoin Reserve Britain’s Reform Party leader Nigel Farage made his case to Bitcoin 2025 attendees in Las Vegas ahead of a planned UK prime minister run. Sander Lutz Go to decrypt.co

US Sanctions Filipino Tech Company for Aiding $200M in Crypto Scams The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control imposed sanctions on Funnull Technology and its administrator for enabling global fraud schemes. Jason Nelson Go to decrypt.co

Bitcoin Wobbles as US Trade Court Strikes Down Trump’s Tariffs The rebuke of Trump’s tariffs has driven investors to equities, nudging Bitcoin lower but not derailing its rally, an analyst told Decrypt. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

ASIC Sues Former Blockchain Global Exec Over $20M in Unpaid Customer Claims ASIC secured interim court orders in February preventing Guo from leaving Australia, but he exited the country days after they expired. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

Pakistan Appoints World Liberty Financial Advisor to Key Government Role on Crypto Bilal Bin Saqib has been tapped to lead strategy as Islamabad embraces crypto mining and ties with a controversial U.S. crypto project. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

How the Crypto Industry Is Responding to the CFTC’s Call on Perpetuals Some of crypto’s biggest players have weighed in on the CFTC’s April request. Here’s how they think the U.S. can bring perpetuals home. Vince Dioquino Go to decrypt.co

Crypto Investor Charged With Kidnapping, Torturing Man in NYC Over Bitcoin Password The New York assault is the latest addition in a growing list of violent attempts to steal crypto through physical coercion. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

Global Darknet Bust Leads to $200M in Digital Asset and Cash Seizures A global sting, dubbed Operation RapTor, has led to the arrest of 270 suspects and the seizure of $200 million in cash and crypto. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

Michigan Lawmakers Propose Four New Crypto-Related Bills The new Michigan bills would permit Bitcoin pension investments, bar state CBDC support, and offer tax breaks for crypto mining at oil sites. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

Hong Kong Passes Law to Regulate Fiat-Pegged Stablecoins The new law introduces a licensing regime for stablecoin issuers as the city seeks to balance crypto innovation and investor protections. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

Texas Moves to Adopt Bitcoin Reserve, Needs Final Sign-Off to Become Law Texas lawmakers have approved a bill to create a state-run Bitcoin reserve, leaving one final procedural step before it can become law. Vince Dioquino Go to decrypt.co

ASIC Seeks High Court Ruling on Crypto Yield Products After Block Earner Win Australia’s corporate regulator is seeking High Court clarity on how crypto yield products should be regulated under financial law. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

Texas House Advances Bitcoin Reserve Bill With Bipartisan Backing Texas lawmakers voted 105-23 to advance Senate Bill 21, a crypto reserve measure that could influence the state’s approach to digital assets. Vince Dioquino Go to decrypt.co

US Tourist Says Bitcoin, XRP Worth $123K Stolen After Ride With Fake Uber in London An American tourist has lost more than $123,000 in crypto after being drugged and abducted by a fake Uber driver in London’s West End. Vince Dioquino Go to decrypt.co

SEC Charges Unicoin, Executives Over Alleged $110 Million Crypto Fraud The SEC alleges Unicoin misled over 5,000 investors in a $100 million crypto offering with false claims about asset backing and registration. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

Genesis Sues DCG, Seeks Recovery of Over $3.1B in Note and Asset Transfers Genesis is suing DCG and CEO Barry Silbert to recover over $3.1 billion, alleging fraud, self-dealing, and improper asset transfers. Vince Dioquino Go to decrypt.co

Screen Actors Guild Files Charges Against Epic Games Subsidiary Over AI Darth Vader The U.S. actors’ union has filed a complaint against Epic’s Llama Productions, alleging it used AI to replace voice actors without consent. Jason Nelson Go to decrypt.co

South Korean Actor Hwang Jung-eum Faces Backlash for Embezzling $3 Million to Buy Crypto Hwang was cut from her TV show and dropped by brands after admitting to using $3 million in company funds to invest in crypto. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

Binance Seeks Dismissal of FTX’s $1.76B Clawback Suit, Calling It ‘Legally Deficient’ Binance called FTX suit legally baseless, blaming collapse on “one of the most massive corporate frauds in history.” Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

Trump Signs Bipartisan Act Targeting Deepfake Abuse and Online Exploitation The New law makes non-consensual intimate images and deepfake porn a federal crime, requiring tech companies to take down images when asked. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

Australian Man Forfeits $2.5M in Bitcoin Without Charges After AFP Crypto Probe The Australian man’s assets were seized under proceeds of crime laws following an AFP probe into a major crypto hack from 2013. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

Man Who Hacked SEC’s X Account to Pump Bitcoin Gets 14 Months in Prison An Alabama man will spend 14 months in prison for his role in hacking the SEC’s X account to spread false info about Bitcoin ETF approvals. Logan Hitchcock Go to decrypt.co

Senator Slams Trump’s World Liberty Financial Over ‘Seriously Inadequate’ Response to Inquiry Earlier this month, Senator Blumenthal launched an inquiry into whether the Trump family’s crypto venture has violated federal laws. Sander Lutz Go to decrypt.co

Coinbase SEC Probe and Security Breach Unlikely to Derail Growth, Experts Say Experts say Coinbase’s inclusion in the S&P 500 is unlikely to be affected by an SEC probe and recent insider-led data breach. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

DOJ Charges $236M Crypto Crime Ring That Spent Millions at Nightclubs Defendants allegedly stole hundreds of millions in crypto and then blew it on supercars, private jets, and designer bags. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

Australian Crypto Exchange Cointree Fined Over Delayed Suspicious Activity Reports Cointree was fined after voluntarily disclosing delays in filing suspicious activity reports, as AUSTRAC intensifies crypto oversight. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

Nebraska Lawmakers Approve Crypto Mining Limits in Final Reading If signed by the Governor, Nebraska’s bill would take effect this October, regulating crypto miners using over 1 MW of electricity. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

Paris Kidnapping Attempt Highlights Growing Threat to Crypto Figures The daughter and grandson of a French crypto exchange co-founder have narrowly escaped armed abduction in Paris. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

Senators Urge Treasury to Rethink Tax on Unrealized Crypto Gains The Senators said the tax rule would leave U.S. firms at a disadvantage to foreign competitors and urged Treasury to “act swiftly.” Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

Arizona Governor Vetoes Two Crypto Bills, Signs One Targeting ATM Fraud Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed SB1373, saying market volatility makes it an imprudent fit for state fund management. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

Australia Names New Assistant Minister for Tech Portfolio Amid Crypto Regulation Push Andrew Charlton has been named Assistant Minister for the Digital Economy as Australia prepares to reform its digital asset landscape. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

Caitlyn Jenner Meme Coin Lawsuit Tossed for Lack of US Jurisdiction A federal court tossed a proposed class action accusing Caitlyn Jenner of crypto fraud, but left the door open for an amended complaint. Vince Dioquino Go to decrypt.co

SEC Commissioner Crenshaw Slams Ripple Deal, Agency Direction Under Trump Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw criticized the agency’s settlement with Ripple, calling it a blow to investor protections and rule of law. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

Treasury Secretary Bessent Blasts Senate for Blocking GENIUS Stablecoin Bill Scott Bessent has slammed the Senate for blocking the GENIUS Act, warning it weakens U.S. crypto leadership ahead of the 2026 midterms. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

OCC Says Banks Can Handle Crypto for Customers—And Outsource It Too The OCC has reaffirmed national banks’ authority to manage and outsource crypto asset services, signaling a broader regulatory shift. Vince Dioquino Go to decrypt.co

Arizona Passes Unclaimed Crypto Law After Vetoing Reserve Last Week Arizona becomes the first U.S. state to hold unclaimed crypto in its original form, following a veto on a separate crypto bill last week. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

G7 to Discuss Crypto Hacks, Tackle North Korean Issue: Report G7 leaders are expected to address North Korea’s crypto hacks, which have reportedly helped fund its weapons programs over the years. Vince Dioquino Go to decrypt.co

Florida Joins Growing List of States Knocking Back Bitcoin Reserve Bills The push for state-level digital asset reserves is hitting resistance nationally, despite early-year optimism among Bitcoin advocates. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

Senator Warren Calls $2B Trump-UAE Deal ‘Shady,’ Urges Against Senate Crypto Legislation Senator Warren says the Senate’s stablecoin bill would let the president “profit” off his own crypto as foreign powers buy in. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

Arizona Governor Nixes Bitcoin Bill, Companion Crypto Fund Still in Limbo Arizona’s Governor has vetoed a bill that would have allowed public retirement funds to invest up to 10% in Bitcoin. Sebastian Sinclair Go to decrypt.co

French Police Rescue Kidnapped Father of Crypto Millionaire: Reports Five suspects were arrested after severing a victim’s finger in the latest “wrench attack” involving attempts at crypto extortion. Vince Dioquino Go to decrypt.co

UK Regulator Proposes Ban on Buying Crypto With Credit Cards The UK’s financial regulator is considering a ban on buying crypto with credit, and also mulling outlawing crypto lending and borrowing platforms. Sander Lutz Go to decrypt.co

Senate Majority Leader Expedites Vote on Landmark Stablecoin Bill Senate Republicans are moving to fast-track the first U.S. stablecoin framework despite opposition from banks and crypto firms. Vince Dioquino Go to decrypt.co

US Treasury Moves to Cut Off Cambodia’s Huione Group From Financial System Over $4B Laundering Claims The Financial watchdog proposed severing the Cambodian conglomerate from the U.S. banking system, citing its links to North Korea. Vince Dioquino Go to decrypt.co

North Carolina Digital Assets Bill Passes House, Moves to Senate for Debate As Trump embraces crypto nationally, U.S. states are pushing for their own digital asset legislation politicians warms to the idea. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

Crypto Industry Pushes SEC for Clarity on Staking Rules An industry coalition wants the U.S. securities regulator to issue clear, principles-based guidance on the status of staking. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

Bank of Italy Warns of Systemic Crypto Risks, Concentration of Power Under Trump The Bank of Italy has cautioned against crypto’s growing systemic threat and the Trump administration’s cozy relationship with the sector. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

South Korea’s Ruling Party Vows to Approve Spot Crypto ETFs, Scrap Key Banking Rule South Korea’s People Power Party has pledged crypto reforms, including ETF approval and banking rule repeal, ahead of the June election. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

FTX Estate Sues NFT Marketplace and AI Gaming Platform Over Token Agreements Collapsed crypto exchange FTX has stepped up its efforts to recover estate assets purchased through token agreements. Callan Quinn Go to decrypt.co

Arizona Lawmakers Approve Complementary Bitcoin, Crypto Bills If approved by the governor, Arizona could become the first state to solidify the regulation of crypto and digital assets on the frontier. Vince Dioquino Go to decrypt.co

Nike Hit With $5 Million Lawsuit Over Alleged NFT Securities Violations Plaintiffs allege Nike executed a “soft rug pull,” leaving RTFKT NFT holders with worthless assets after winding down operations. Vismaya V Go to decrypt.co

Democratic Senators Demand Ethics Probe Over Trump Meme Coin Dinner Warren and Schiff cite “pay to play” concerns after the Trump token surged following the promise of an exclusive dinner with the President. Vince Dioquino Go to decrypt.co

Why Alabama’s Securities Commissioner Dropped Its Case Against Coinbase Efforts in Congress to create a legislative framework for crypto were chief among the Commission’s reasons for pulling back against Coinbase. Liz Napolitano Go to decrypt.co

Federal Reserve Withdraws Crypto Rules for Banks, Ending ‘Choke Point’ Practices The U.S. central bank will now treat crypto like any other banking service, instead of approaching the industry with particular caution. Sander Lutz Go to decrypt.co

Elderly Americans Hit Hardest by $9.3B Crypto Scam Wave in 2024: FBI America’s seniors lost nearly $3 billion to crypto fraud despite representing just 17% of the population, with ATM scams now a rising trend. Vince Dioquino Go to decrypt.co