Crypto

Maelstrom has awarded Bitcoin developer Ben Allen a $100,000 grant to improve Payjoin, a privacy-focused transaction method that could boost Bitcoin scalability. Bitcoin developer Ben Allen has received a $100,000 grant from investment firm Maelstrom to support the development of Payjoin, a privacy-focused tool aimed at improving Bitcoin’s scalability and privacy. According to a May 20 announcement shared with Cointelegraph, Maelstrom will finance Allen’s work on his Payjoin devkit alongside Dan Gould. The system allows Bitcoin (BTC) senders and receivers to use batched transactions, with positive implications for scalability and privacy. Payjoin was first proposed by Nicolas Dorier in 2019 in Bitcoin improvement proposal (BIP) 78. The core principle behind the system is that both senders and receivers may contribute inputs to a transaction. Read more

Most recent Bitcoin golden crosses have triggered major rallies, though not without notable failures like the February 2020 bull trap. Key takeaways: Bitcoin is nearing a golden cross that has led to 45%–60% price rallies in the recent past. Fundamentals like rising M2 supply and easing trade tensions support a bullish outlook. Read more

SOL shows strong momentum with institutional buying signals despite brief correction.

The stablecoin issuer took part in informal talks over a potential sale from which it was seeking at least $5 billion.

The leaked home addresses of Coinbase users raise significant concerns amid increasing crypto-related crimes in 2025. A recent data breach at crypto exchange Coinbase has raised concerns about user safety after hackers gained access to sensitive information, including home addresses. Coinbase, the world’s third-largest cryptocurrency exchange, confirmed that less than 1% of its transacting monthly users were affected in an attack that may cost the exchange up to $400 million in reimbursement expenses, Cointelegraph reported on May 15. However, the “human cost” of this data breach may be much higher for users, according to Michael Arrington, the founder of TechCrunch and Arrington Capital. Read more

A presale for the Floki Minibot M1 AI robot, made by Rice Robotics, starts May 23, the same day TokenFi’s real-world asset tokenization module goes live.

The popular meme token shows remarkable resilience despite 80% of holders underwater on their investments.

South Korea's presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung backed a won-backed stablecoin to curb capital flight. South Korea’s Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung proposed creating a stablecoin tied to the Korean won to prevent capital outflows and strengthen national financial sovereignty. Speaking during a recent policy discussion, Lee argued that a won-based stablecoin would allow South Korea to retain wealth domestically while reducing reliance on foreign-issued digital assets like USDt (USDT) and USDC (USDC), according to The Korea Herald. Currently, South Korean law prohibits the issuance of domestic stablecoins, forcing local exchanges to rely on US dollar-based alternatives. Read more

Institutional interest grows as AAVE establishes new support levels amid broader crypto market strength.

$330 million in crypto was stolen from an elderly US citizen using social engineering. The tactic has emerged as a severe threat to regular crypto users. A major crypto theft has sent shockwaves through the industry, with $330 million worth of Bitcoin (BTC) stolen. Experts say this was a social engineering attack and not a technical hack.  Investigations led by blockchain analyst ZachXBT suggest the victim was an elderly US citizen who was manipulated into granting access to their crypto wallet. On April 28, 2025, ZachXBT detected a suspicious transfer of 3,520 BTC, worth $330.7 million.  Read more

Genesis is seeking over $3.3 billion from DCG, Barry Silbert and affiliates in two lawsuits alleging fraud, insider enrichment and concealed transfers. Update May 20, 11:20 am UTC: This article has been updated with comments from DCG. Genesis has launched a pair of lawsuits against its parent company, Digital Currency Group (DCG), and its CEO, Barry Silbert, accusing them of fraud, reckless mismanagement and siphoning more than a billion dollars in value from the now-bankrupt crypto lender. On May 19, the Delaware Court of Chancery unsealed a complaint detailing how DCG allegedly used Genesis as a corporate ATM, draining funds through self-serving loans and concealed transfers while presenting a false image of financial health. Read more

Binance called FTX suit legally baseless, blaming collapse on "one of the most massive corporate frauds in history."

Hwang was cut from her TV show and dropped by brands after admitting to using $3 million in company funds to invest in crypto.

The U.S. actors' union has filed a complaint against Epic’s Llama Productions, alleging it used AI to replace voice actors without consent.

Genesis is suing DCG and CEO Barry Silbert to recover over $3.1 billion, alleging fraud, self-dealing, and improper asset transfers.

The New law makes non-consensual intimate images and deepfake porn a federal crime, requiring tech companies to take down images when asked.

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon said he will allow his bank's customers to buy Bitcoin, but the bank will not custody it. Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan, said his bank will soon allow its clients to buy Bitcoin, but it won’t custody the cryptocurrency. “We are going to allow you to buy it,” Dimon said at JPMorgan’s annual investor day on May 19. “We’re not going to custody it. We’re going to put it in statements for clients.” CNBC reported that Dimon also remarked on his long-held skepticism about crypto assets, pointing to their use in money laundering, sex trafficking and terrorism. Read more

The US Senate voted 66-32 in a procedural vote to move forward the stablecoin-regulating GENIUS Act, which will head to a debate on the Senate floor. The US Senate has voted to advance a key stablecoin-regulating bill after Democrat Senators blocked an attempt to move the bill forward earlier in May over concerns about President Donald Trump’s sprawling crypto empire. A key procedural vote on the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act, or GENIUS Act, passed in a 66-32 vote on May 20. Several Democrats changed their votes to pass the motion to invoke cloture, which will now set the bill up for debate on the Senate floor. Read more

The GENIUS Act passed a cloture vote Monday evening less than two weeks after failing one. It will now head to a full floor vote.

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson expanded his response to allegations that Input Output Global (IOG) misappropriated over 318 million ADA from unredeemed pre-sale wallets, calling the situation deeply personal and damaging. In a May 18 post on X, Hoskinson reflected on the reputational toll of the allegations, noting that the incident has reshaped his view of […] The post Cardano’s Hoskinson denies ADA misappropriation allegations, calls them deeply personal and damaging appeared first on CryptoSlate.