Crypto

The FCA signs off rules to let UK funds keep registers onchain and add a new Direct‑to‑Fund dealing model, aiming to simplify tokenized funds inside the existing regime. The United Kingdom’s financial regulator has signed off on new rules and guidance for tokenized funds, aiming to make it easier for asset managers to use blockchains within the existing fund regime rather than in separate experimental structures. In a Thursday policy statement, PS26/7, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said tokenization and distributed ledger technology (DLT) could make fund management more efficient and that it wants to “support innovation in the UK asset management sector,” as part of a digital assets roadmap first outlined in a January 2025 letter to the prime minister. The changes give firms a clearer path to integrate blockchain into regulated fund operations, as policymakers seek to modernize market infrastructure without altering existing investor protection frameworks, and reflect a broader push to bring tokenized...

Internet Computer (ICP), up 2.4% from Wednesday, joined Aptos (APT) as a top performer.

Bitcoin’s 40% rebound against gold signals a potential bottom, echoing past setups that preceded strong BTC/USD rallies. Bitcoin (BTC) may undergo a massive rally, based on a recurring gold chart pattern, with gains of up to 180% over the next 12 months. Key takeaways: The bullish signal comes from the Bitcoin-to-gold ratio (BTC/XAU), which tracks BTC’s performance relative to gold in US dollar terms. Historically, sharp rebounds in this ratio have aligned with major Bitcoin cycle bottoms, often preceding strong upside. Read more

The investor's total profit (including unrealized gains) equals more than $660 million.

The US CFTC has sued four states for trying to enforce state-level gambling laws on prediction markets, meanwhile Strategy stacked over 56,000 BTC. The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is suing New York, Connecticut, Arizona and Illinois for applying state-level gambling laws to prediction markets.  The move follows a heated legal argument between states and companies like Kalshi, as they fight over who has jurisdiction to regulate the “prediction” platforms. Other states have issued cease-and-desist letters or sued the prediction markets. Strategy bought over 56,000 Bitcoin. One of its last purchases in April was funded by a $250 million sale of the company’s common stock.  Read more

The security intelligence research firm said North Korean-state-backed hackers account for 76% of all crypto scam and hack losses in 2026 and have stolen $6 billion since 2017.

Bitmine Immersion Technologies just dropped the news bomb with a $147 million Ethereum purchase in a single 24-hour window. The post Tom Lee Back in The News as Bitmine Acquires 65,000 Ethereum In a Day appeared first on Cryptonews.

THORWallet has partnered with Swiss-regulated provider Unblock to expand global access to non-custodial Mastercard solutions, advancing self-custodial finance adoption. April 30, 2026 – THORWallet has partnered with Swiss-regulated provider Unblock to expand global access to non-custodial Mastercard solutions, advancing self-custodial finance adoption. This strategic collaboration enables the issuance of non-custodial cards in over 175 countries, allowing users to leverage digital assets for daily payments within a secure, compliant framework. Rather than choosing one of the larger established crypto card players such as ether.fi or Kulipa, THORWallet selected Unblock for a very specific reason: flexibility, regulatory alignment, and global reach. Unblock is headquartered in Switzerland, operates under a Swiss regulatory framework and maintains offices in Panama, Medellin, and Miami. This international setup allows the company to support efficient card issuance and delivery across more than 175 countries, giv...

The deal includes a 505 MW gas plant and 1,600 acres in Ohio, offering over 1 GW power capacity for future AI and IT buildout.

OKX published a new open-standard payment protocol for autonomous AI agents in business and commerce, aiming to support more complex financial interactions. Cryptocurrency exchange OKX has launched an open payments protocol for artificial intelligence agents, joining a growing push by crypto and payments companies to build infrastructure that lets software agents pay for services and transact with less human input. The new cross-chain Agent Payments Protocol (APP) is designed to let AI agents operate and communicate autonomously. OKX said Wednesday that the cross-chain standard can handle agent-to-agent payments, recurring or top-up payment flows and other automated payment arrangements across business processes. The company also said agents will be able to negotiate with each other, escrow funds and release them on verified task delivery. OKX said the framework is built around its self-custodial Agentic Wallet and Payment SDK, with support on X Layer and broader cross-chain implementation. The company is pit...

Bitcoin entered yesterday's Fed decision already capped below a dense on-chain supply zone, and Fed Chair Jerome Powell's press conference gave buyers little reason to push through it. The Federal Reserve kept the target range at 3.5%-3.75% and explicitly linked elevated inflation to higher global energy prices, citing the tensions in the Middle East as […] The post Here’s why Bitcoin is stuck below $80,000 and what Powell’s FOMC meeting did for BTC price appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The firm's MiCA-compliant euro token aims to speed up euro transfers and support regulated onchain finance as the euro stablecoin market doubled since early 2025.

New data shows unusually high win rates in defense bets, building on research that 3% of traders drive prices and under 1% capture most profits.

Meta has launched USDC creator payouts on Solana and Polygon. No confirmed SOL price spike yet — here's the technical breakdown, three price scenarios, and what the infrastructure shift signals for early-stage crypto investors. The post Did Mark Zuckerberg Just Pick Solana? Meta Backs New Blockchains for USDC appeared first on Cryptonews.

Losses from crypto hacks have topped $630 million in April across more than 25 hacks, with DeFi dominating major incidents and exploits accelerating despite security updates. The cryptocurrency industry has seen a sharp spike in hacks in April, with losses topping $600 million in the worst month for crypto hacks in more than a year. According to DeFiLlama, the total value hacked in April so far amounted to $629.7 million, the highest since $1.47 billion in February 2025. With KelpDAO’s $293 million hack and Drift Protocol’s $280 million exploit accounting for 82% of the monthly losses, decentralized finance (DeFi) has taken the unwanted crown as the most targeted sector over the past month. Read more

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the US has seized nearly $500 million in Iranian crypto assets, surpassing the previously reported $344 million freeze. The United States has seized nearly $500 million in Iranian cryptocurrency assets as part of a sweeping economic pressure campaign against Tehran, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday. Bessent made the comments during an appearance on Fox Business’s “Kudlow,” where he outlined the scope of Operation Economic Fury, a campaign ordered by President Donald Trump in March 2025 aimed at cutting off Iran’s financial lifelines through asset seizures, bank account freezes and secondary sanctions on countries that continue to buy Iranian oil. “We are freezing bank accounts everywhere. More importantly, we are making people less willing to deal with the regime,” Bessent said, adding that retirement funds and overseas real estate held by Iranian officials are also being targeted. Read more

Your day-ahead look for April 30, 2026

The Rakuten launch sits alongside deals with South Korea's KBank, Kyobo Life Insurance, and an RLUSD listing across 280+ pairs on OKX.

Shinhan Card signed a deal with Solana Foundation to expand stablecoin payment tests and explore non-custodial wallets and DeFi-based services. One of South Korea’s largest credit card providers, Shinhan Card, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Solana Foundation to test stablecoin payment technology and explore the use of non-custodial wallets through a more advanced follow-on proof of concept (PoC).  Following a joint pilot project completed at the beginning of April, the new partnership will conduct a more “advanced” PoC to explore the commercial feasibility of stablecoin payments for merchants and customers seeking an improved payment experience, Shinhan Card announced on Thursday. The partnership will also explore developing a “hybrid financial model” that combines traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi) infrastructure. Read more

Ripple has announced a sweeping strategic expansion across the Middle East and Africa. Garlinghouse masterclass? The post Ripple Penetrates Middle East After Vegas: Garlinghouse Masterclass? appeared first on Cryptonews.