Tag: Crypto

Oil reversal and crowded shorts keep crypto traders on edge

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Crude oil just pulled a classic bait-and-switch. WTI surged on geopolitical tensions, then promptly gave back nearly $3 a barrel, erasing the kind of fear premium that usually sends inflation hawks into a frenzy. In theory, cheaper oil means less inflation pressure, which means the Fed has more room to cut rates, which means risk assets should rally. Crypto didn’t get the memo. Bitcoin hovered near $67K, Ethereum slipped below $2,100, and the Fear and Greed Index sat at 12, firmly in “Extreme Fear” territory. The culprit: a derivatives market…

Crypto Donations a Challenge for Canadian Election Transparency

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A new bill in Canada, if passed, would ban political parties and other third parties in elections from accepting cryptocurrency donations in a bid to prevent election interference. The Strong and Free Elections Act would also ban contributions made by money orders and prepaid cards, citing these methods as difficult to track. The bill notes the potential for foreign actors to influence elections through difficult-to-trace digital payment methods, ensuring Canadian elections “remain free, fair and secure at all times,” according to Government House Leader Steven MacKinnon.  Moreover, as the office…

Crypto VC Paradigm to Launch Prediction Market Terminal

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Crypto-focused venture capital firm Paradigm is reportedly building a prediction markets terminal, joining a wave of Wall Street companies looking for a way to serve the fast-growing sector. Led by Paradigm partner Arjun Balaji, the prediction market offering will cater to professional traders and market makers, Fortune said in a report on Wednesday, citing sources that said they started working on the project in late 2025. Paradigm is also considering rolling out an internal market-making desk — an in-house team that provides liquidity by placing buy and sell orders —…

Crypto Scam Leader Extradited to China to Face Charges

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Li Xiong, a key member of a group that allegedly helped crypto scam rings in Asia to move money, has been extradited from Cambodia to China, where he will face fraud and money laundering charges, according to Hong Kong-based news outlet Ta Kung Wen Wei. “On April 1, with strong support from the relevant authorities in Cambodia, a task force sent by China’s Ministry of Public Security successfully escorted Li Xiong, a core key member of the Chen Zhi criminal syndicate, back to China from Phnom Penh, Cambodia,” it said…

CFTC Chair Says Agency is Ready to Oversee Entire Crypto Market

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Michael Selig, US President Donald Trump’s nominee leading the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), said the agency was prepared to oversee the entire $3 trillion crypto industry, with no timeline for Congress to pass a crucial market structure bill. In a Wednesday statement about his first 100 days as CFTC chair, Selig said that the commission was “ready to take responsibility” for the crypto market and reiterated his claim that it was the sole regulator to oversee prediction markets. His comments come as the US Senate considers the CLARITY Act,…

Ripple Brings Crypto Capabilities to Treasury Management Systems

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Ripple has added digital asset capabilities to its treasury management platform, allowing corporate finance teams to hold, track and manage cryptocurrencies and fiat balances within a single system, the company said. According to a company announcement, the update introduces Digital Asset Accounts and a unified dashboard that aggregates balances across bank accounts, custody providers and onchain wallets, giving treasury teams real-time visibility into both cash and digital assets. The system supports assets including XRP (XRP) and Ripple USD (RLUSD), with balances updated in real time and recorded alongside fiat transactions.…

Franklin Templeton acquires CoinFund spinoff to grow crypto offerings

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Franklin Templeton is acquiring 250 Digital, a spinoff from CoinFund, to grow its crypto investment offerings, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday. Leadership of the unit includes Chris Perkins, former managing partner and president of CoinFund, alongside Seth Ginns, former managing partner and head of liquid investments. Since entering crypto in 2018, Franklin Templeton has built a 50-person digital-assets team. The acquisition is intended to provide institutional investors with tailored crypto strategies while complementing the firm’s existing mutual fund business. This is a developing story. Please check back for further…

Australia to Mandate Crypto Licensing Under New Law

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Australia has passed legislation that will bring many digital asset platforms and tokenised custody platforms under the country’s financial services licensing regime. The Corporations Amendment (Digital Assets Framework) Bill 2025 has now cleared both houses of the Australian Parliament, according to parliamentary records, marking the biggest step yet in Canberra’s push to create a dedicated regulatory framework for digital assets. Introduced in November 2025, the bill amends the Corporations Act and ASIC Act to regulate digital asset platforms and tokenised custody platforms, with the stated aim of improving consumer protection,…

DOJ Brings 10 Alleged Crypto Market Manipulators to Oakland Court

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Three crypto executives extradited from Singapore appeared in federal court in Oakland on Monday as US prosecutors expanded a wash-trading case that has now charged 10 foreign nationals tied to four crypto market-maker companies. The court appearances mark the latest step in a US crackdown on alleged wash trading in digital asset markets that began with an undercover operation unsealed in October 2024, according to a Tuesday press release from the US Justice Department (DOJ). The DOJ said the cases, which center on Gotbit, Vortex, Antier and Contrarian over conduct…

Texas Lt. Gov. Lists Crypto, Prediction Markets in Charges to Senate

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The #2 Texas state official called on lawmakers to study “the sudden inundation of prediction market gambling“ as other jurisdictions take the platforms to court. Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor and President of the Senate in Texas, has included a study of prediction markets and crypto and blockchain as part of legislative priorities for the state’s next legislative session, scheduled to begin in January. In a Friday announcement, the lieutenant governor’s office issued 2026 interim charges for Texas Senate committees to study in preparation for the next legislature. Patrick said that…