Crypto

The Treasury Department's financial-crimes arm used its most potent safeguard to propose cutting off the organization as a money-laundering danger.

Animoca Brands spans three crypto-focused businesses, including a consulting arm and an investment division. Animoca Brands is looking at trends in real-world tokenized assets, AI projects, and the gaming sector to invest in and develop, according to Omar Elissar, the company's managing director for the Middle East and the head of Global Strategic Partnerships. In an interview with Cointelegraph's Sam Bourgi at Token2049, Elissar said that stablecoins, real-world asset tokenization, the intersection between AI and crypto, alternative use cases such as decentralized science, and Web3 gaming were all niches the company is exploring. Gaming is “part of our DNA,” the executive said before reflecting on the current state of the Web3 gaming industry: Read more

No matter who wins Saturday's election in Australia, crypto legislation developed with the industry is set to finally happen this year. Despite reports in February suggesting that 2 million pro-crypto voters could decide the outcome of this week’s Australian Federal Election, crypto has barely rated a mention during the campaign. “I think it’s a missed opportunity,” Independent Reserve founder Adrian Przelozny told Cointelegraph. “Neither side has made crypto a headline issue because they’re wary of polarizing voters or sounding too niche.” But the good news is that after more than a decade of inaction, both the ruling Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the opposition Liberal Party are promising to enact crypto regulations developed in consultation with the industry. In April, Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor promised to release draft crypto regulations within the first 100 days after taking office, while the Treasury itself has draft bills on “regulating digital asset platforms” and “payments system modernization...

Need to know what happened in crypto today? Here is the latest news on daily trends and events impacting Bitcoin price, blockchain, DeFi, NFTs, Web3 and crypto regulation. Today in crypto, the US Treasury moved to cut the Huione Group off from the financial system over its crypto crime ties, Coinbase is set to halt trading for the MOVE token, and Morgan Stanley plans to launch crypto trading on its E*Trade platform by 2026. The US Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) on May 1 proposed blocking the Cambodia-based Huione Group from the US banking system, accusing it of helping North Korea’s state-backed Lazarus Group to launder crypto. Huione Group comprises a network of businesses, which includes payment service platform Huione Pay PLC, the crypto exchange Huione Crypto, and Haowang Guarantee, an online marketplace offering illicit goods and services. Read more

Strategy’s Bitcoin-focused investment operation achieved a year-to-date BTC Yield of 13.7% and a BTC $ gain of $5.8 billion as of April 28, according to its first quarter earnings report. The firm also raised its full-year BTC Yield target from 15% to 25% and increased its BTC gain projection from $10 billion to $15 billion. […] The post Strategy achieves $5.8B in yearly Bitcoin gains, raises BTC Yield target to 25% appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Cai Wensheng has secured the 53k-sq-ft PARK AURA tower in Hong Kong’s Tin Hau for about US$84 million, a 20 percent premium on local deals. He has outlined redevelopment that includes an AI-themed café, rent-free co-working floors for local founders and dedicated studios for AI and Web3 projects. The post Cai Wensheng Pays 20% Premium, Bets $84M on Hong Kong AI-Web3 Hub appeared first on Cryptonews.

Avraham Eisenberg was sentenced on a charge related to child sexual abuse material before his criminal case related to the 2022 Mango Markets exploit. Avraham Eisenberg was sentenced to more than four years in prison on child sexual abuse material charges, unrelated to his role in the 2022 exploit that drained the decentralized exchange Mango Markets of roughly $100 million. According to reporting from Inner City Press, a judge sentenced Eisenberg to 52 months in prison at a May 1 hearing in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. The case was filed in April 2024 after Eisenberg’s 2023 indictment on fraud for the Mango Markets exploit. Eisenberg was initially scheduled to be sentenced in July 2024 following his guilty plea on the child porn charge. In May 2024, the judge suggested the sentencing for both cases would occur simultaneously in a consolidated proceeding. However, as of May 1, the fraud sentencing remains pending. Read more

Tether has posted Q1 2025 profit above $1 billion, backed by $120 billion in U.S. Treasuries and gold gains. Assets exceed liabilities by $5.6 billion. USDT supply has added $7 billion and 46 million wallets. The issuer has obtained licensing in El Salvador and outlined a planned U.S.-focused token. The post Tether Rakes in Record $1B Q1 Profit—46M Wallet Surge Fuels $120B Treasury Bet appeared first on Cryptonews.

Some of crypto’s top influencers can score a potentially hefty Solana token airdrop—if they're willing to launch their own token.

UK Fintech leaders warn the country could lose its edge as slow licensing, unresolved stablecoin guidance and limited pension fund backing have impeded startups. Coinbase and Ripple say firms have redirected product development and fundraising to the EU, Singapore and the US. The post UK Fintech Losing Spark as Crypto Heavyweights Seek Faster Shores appeared first on Cryptonews.

Strategy missed Wall Street estimates on its top and bottom line for the first quarter of 2025, but reported it made a yield of 13.7% on its vast Bitcoin holdings. Update (May 1, 11:35 pm UTC): This article has been updated to add Strategy’s revenue, net loss and analyst estimates. Michael Saylor's Bitcoin-buying firm Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy, has reported earning a year-to-date yield of 13.7% on its Bitcoin holdings as it missed Wall Street's first-quarter estimates. The company said in its May 1 earnings statement that its year-to-date Bitcoin (BTC) yield equates to a gain of more than 61,000 BTC, worth approximately $5.8 billion. Bitcoin yield and gain are unofficial accounting metrics Strategy uses to benchmark the success of its BTC buys.  Read more

RiskReversal principal and RiskReversal Media co-founder Dan Nathan said on CNBC Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump’s crypto ventures are akin to a “Ponzi scheme.”Dan Nathan Shares His Take When asked by “The 11th Hour” host Stephanie Ruhle about the ethics tied to the Trump-affiliated crypto platform World Liberty Financial, Nathan didn’t hold back.“The big […] The post ‘Perfect Ponzi’: Dan Nathan Warns Trump Crypto Could Collapse Under Scrutiny appeared first on Cryptonews.

Rep. Lance Gooden requested that the General Services Administration explore installing cryptocurrency ATMs, citing Donald Trump's crypto "vision." A Texas member of the US House of Representatives has proposed that government officials consider installing cryptocurrency ATMs in federal buildings across the country. In a May 1 letter to Stephen Ehikian, the acting administrator of the General Services Administration (GSA) — the entity responsible for managing the US government’s properties — Rep. Lance Gooden claimed that introducing crypto ATMs to federal buildings would serve as an “educational resource” and reflect advances in financial technology. He requested that the GSA begin exploring the necessary guidelines and regulations needed to install such ATMs in government-controlled properties across the US, citing alignment with President Donald Trump’s goals. Read more

The largest corporate Bitcoin owner is doubling down, with Strategy aiming to raise another $21 billion to buy BTC despite Q1 losses.

A modest 1% allocation to Dogecoin (DOGE) could significantly improve portfolio returns without meaningfully increasing risk, according to a new analysis by crypto investment firm 21Shares. In its April report, the firm evaluated how Dogecoin performs when added to a Bitcoin-enhanced growth strategy. Stress-tested portfolios The firm’s portfolio stress-testing showed that the baseline portfolio, a […] The post 21Shares highlights Dogecoin’s role in diversified, high-return investment portfolios appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The judge overseeing Eisenberg's case said he was considering approving a retrial on fraud charges for the Mango Markets theft.

Bitcoin has emerged as the only 'true hedge' against geopolitical risk, Animoca Brands' co-founder said at Cointelegraph's LONGITUDE event in Dubai. Retail investors are running out of time to accumulate Bitcoin as institutional adoption accelerates, according to Sergej Kunz, co-founder of exchange aggregator 1inch. Bitcoin (BTC) is evolving into an alternative reserve currency, propelling institutional demand and potentially pricing out retail investors, Kunz said during Cointelegraph's LONGITUDE event in Dubai.  "Every retail user should be thinking about getting at least one Bitcoin — very soon they won’t be able to afford it,” Kunz said.  Read more

The company boosted its BTC Yield target to 25% from 15% and its BTC $ Gain Target to $15 billion from $10 billion.

Follow what's happening on Myriad Markets' most popular prediction markets, from Strategy’s Bitcoin buys to rate cuts and beyond.

Algorithmic trading firm Two Prime formally dropped its exposure to Ethereum (ETH), stating that ETH now trades as a memecoin rather than a predictable asset. According to CEO Alexander Blume, the firm will now exclusively manage and lend against Bitcoin (BTC). He added that the firm believes that Bitcoin is the only digital asset that […] The post Two Prime drops Ethereum, labeling it a memecoin amid waning institutional interest appeared first on CryptoSlate.