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Startale Group Raises $63 Million Series A Backed by SBI and Sony

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Startale Group has closed a $63 million Series A backed by SBI Group and Sony Innovation Fund, positioning the Web3 infrastructure company at the center of Japan’s institutional push into tokenized securities and stablecoin rails.

A Japanese mega-bank and a global entertainment conglomerate writing nine-figure checks into a single Web3 infrastructure stack is not a coincidence. It is a capital concentration signal.

Key Takeaways:
  • Round Size: Startale closed a $63 million Series A in two tranches — a $13 million first close from Sony Innovation Fund and a $50 million second close from SBI Group.
  • Lead Investors: SBI Group, one of Japan’s largest financial conglomerates with access to over 80 million customers, anchored the round alongside Sony, with whom Startale co-developed Ethereum Layer 2 Soneium.
  • Strategic Context: Capital goes directly toward scaling Strium (a Layer 1 for tokenized securities), expanding JPYSC and USDSC stablecoins, and building a consumer SuperApp — a full-stack institutional and retail Web3 infrastructure play.

Discover: The best crypto presales gaining institutional momentum right now

The Deal: SBI’s $50 Million Bet on Onchain Finance

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SBI Group’s $50 million second close is the dominant force in this round. SBI is not a passive financial sponsor, it is a strategic co-builder.

The two companies have already shipped Strium, a Layer 1 blockchain built specifically for tokenized securities and real-world asset trading, and JPYSC, described as the first trust bank-backed Japanese yen stablecoin.

SBI Chairman Yoshitaka Kitao said Startale “possesses extensive expertise in the field of on-chain integration and offers capabilities that complement those of the SBI Group,” framing the investment as vertical integration in digital finance rather than a passive bet. Startale also unveiled USDSC, a dollar-pegged stablecoin designed to enable fiat-to-crypto integration, onchain dividends, and yield distribution for both retail and institutional users.

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Sony’s $13 million first close, announced previously, originated from the companies’ existing collaboration on Soneium — Sony’s Ethereum Layer 2 — developed through Sony Block Solutions Labs. Fresh capital will also fund an upgrade of the Startale App into a SuperApp running on Soneium, integrating tokenized assets, stablecoins, payments, Mini Apps, and social features into a single consumer interface.

CEO Sota Watanabe said the round “reflects the strong conviction our partners have in the vision we are building,” adding that the SBI collaboration will “accelerate the adoption of tokenized stocks, centered on Japanese equities and JPY stablecoin, this year.”

Discover: The best crypto to diversify your portfolio with

The Signal: Institutional Capital Finds Its Layer

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This is not a DeFi protocol raise. This is infrastructure.

The capital is targeting the settlement layer — the part of the crypto stack that processes tokenized equities, stablecoin transfers, and RWA trades at institutional scale.

That is precisely where institutional demand is concentrating across global crypto markets right now. SBI’s distribution network of over 80 million customers gives Strium and JPYSC a deployment path that most Web3 infrastructure projects cannot access in a decade of organic growth.

The Sony angle is equally deliberate. Soneium gives Startale a live Ethereum Layer 2 with a global entertainment brand attached, a consumer distribution wedge for a product suite that would otherwise struggle to cross the mainstream threshold. The SuperApp model collapses the distance between a retail user and onchain asset management. That matters for adoption velocity.

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Regulatory tailwinds are real. Japan has moved faster than most jurisdictions on stablecoin legislation, and the broader regulatory framework supporting institutional crypto participation is maturing across major markets. Startale is building into that window.

Discover: The best crypto presales gaining institutional momentum right now

The post Startale Group Raises $63 Million Series A Backed by SBI and Sony appeared first on Cryptonews.

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DOGE Price Prediction: Big Holders Accumulate, Elon Musk?

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DOGE price is sliding to just 9 cents after a 2% drop in 24 hours, bleeding through support, and the prediction might get uglier.

DOGE price is sliding to just 9 cents after a 2% drop in 24 hours, bleeding through support, while the broader crypto market also shed 3% to settle at under $2.4 trillion in total capitalization, and the prediction might get uglier. The Elon Musk wildcard leaves traders asking who, exactly, is buying this dip.

On-chain data offers a partial answer. Kraken users snapped up nearly 7.6 million DOGE tokens within a single hour window as prices retreated.

However, eight consecutive days of zero net ETF flows tell a different story at the institutional level: neither commitment nor panic, just paralysis. Blockchain behavior and ETF data are pointing in opposite directions, which rarely stays comfortable for long.

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The buy dominance metric shows aggressive purchase orders have outpaced selling pressure across major spot venues for the entire prior 90-day period. With technical indicators flashing warning signs and no major catalyst on the immediate horizon, the next 72 hours could define DOGE’s directional bias for Q2.

Discover: The best crypto to diversify your portfolio with

DOGE Price Prediction: Can Dogecoin Price Reclaim $0.1 Before the Death Cross Takes Hold?

DOGE is clinging to its $0.087–$0.092 accumulation zone, a range that has so far absorbed selling pressure and where large holders appear to be building positions. A death cross has formed, with shorter-term moving averages crossing beneath longer-term counterparts, a pattern alongside a downward-sloping EMA 50 and EMA 100 that keeps medium-term momentum firmly negative.

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DOGE price is sliding to just 9 cents after a 2% drop in 24 hours, bleeding through support, and the prediction might get uglier.
DOGE USD, Tradingview

Bulls need a close above $0.094 (EMA 20) to shift momentum. Clear that level and the next meaningful targets stack at $0.103 (EMA 50) and $0.123. Fail to hold $0.093, and the floor drops toward $0.0884.

Projection put the 2026 range of $0.0891–$0.2049 with an average of $0.116, optimistic against the current structure, but not impossible if sentiment turns. The path to $0.116 from $0.091 implies a 27% move.

Discover: The best pre-launch token sales

Maxi Doge Targets Early-Mover Upside as Dogecoin Tests Key Levels

DOGE at $0.091 offers a defined setup, but a $13.3 billion market cap means a 10x from here requires moving the entire meme coin market. That math frustrates traders who want asymmetric exposure. Established assets rarely deliver multiples.

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That’s the gap Maxi Doge ($MAXI) is pitching into. The ERC-20 meme token positions itself as the gym-bro evolution of DOGE culture, a 240-lb canine juggernaut built around 1000x leverage trading mentality, holder-only trading competitions with leaderboard rewards, and a Maxi Fund treasury allocated to liquidity and partnerships. The tagline: Never skip leg-day, never skip a pump.

The presale has raised more than $4.7 Million at a current price of $0.000281, with huge 66% staking APY available to participants.

Visit Maxi Doge here, and join the maximum velocity community.

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This article is not financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments are highly volatile. Always conduct your own research before investing.

The post DOGE Price Prediction: Big Holders Accumulate, Elon Musk? appeared first on Cryptonews.

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ONUS fraud case widens as Vietnam arrests key suspects

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CoinDCX’s founders under fire in $75K fraud case: Details

Vietnamese authorities have opened a wide fraud case tied to the ONUS crypto ecosystem after detaining several suspects and accusing them of using token promotions and controlled trading to take investor funds. 

Summary

  • Vietnam detained ONUS-linked suspects after police alleged token promotions and market control were used deceptively.
  • Authorities said the case involved VNDC, ONUS, and HNG tokens promoted through the platform directly.
  • Vemanti said it hired US legal counsel after reports named two board members in indictments.

The case puts fresh focus on crypto enforcement in one of the world’s busiest retail digital asset markets.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security launched criminal proceedings on March 23 over alleged “appropriating property through computer networks” and “money laundering” linked to the ONUS ecosystem, according to local reporting that cited the ministry’s investigation agency. The probe covers Hanoi and several other provinces and cities.

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Authorities named several suspects in the case, including Vuong Le Vinh Nhan, Tran Quang Chien, and Ngo Thi Thao, based on Vietnamese reports. Investigators say the group promoted and traded tokens through the ONUS platform while keeping control over supply, demand, and pricing.

Investigators allege the group used promotions and coordinated trading activity to present certain tokens as real investment products while managing their markets from the center. Local reports said the case involves tokens such as VNDC, ONUS, and HNG.

Vietnamnet reported that police view the matter as one of the country’s largest cybercrime investigations tied to digital assets. Authorities have not published a full public breakdown of investor losses, though reports on the case said the scheme drew in funds worth billions of US dollars.

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Vemanti Group said it learned through the ministry’s announcement and local media that Nhan Vuong, its board chairman, and Chien Tran, a board member, had been indicted. The company said it had received no earlier notice from authorities in any jurisdiction before the public reports appeared.

Vemanti added that it had hired US legal counsel to review the matter. The statement linked the investigation to ONUS Pro, the platform at the center of the Vietnam case.

Vietnam’s crypto market faces more fraud scrutiny

The case lands at a time when Vietnam remains a major crypto market. Chainalysis ranked Vietnam fourth in its 2025 Global Crypto Adoption Index, placing it among the world’s most active countries for grassroots digital asset use.

Regional enforcement has also widened beyond Vietnam. In India, the CBI said it arrested a Mumbai-based suspect accused of sending people to scam compounds in Myanmar, where trafficked victims were allegedly forced to run online fraud, including cryptocurrency investment scams and romance scams.

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Brent Crude Approaches $110 Amid Escalating Iran Tensions and Hormuz Blockade

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Brent Crude Oil Last Day Financ (BZ=F)

Key Highlights

  • Brent crude climbed close to $110 per barrel while WTI hit $96 amid escalating Middle East tensions through early April.
  • President Trump postponed the deadline for potential strikes on Iran’s energy sector until April 6, citing active diplomatic discussions.
  • Iranian officials have publicly rejected claims that negotiations with Washington are underway.
  • Approximately 8 million barrels daily remain unavailable due to the continued blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Energy analysts from Macquarie project oil could surge to $200 per barrel if hostilities persist beyond spring.

Global crude markets continue their sharp ascent as geopolitical strife involving the United States, Israel, and Iran throttles critical energy transport routes. Brent crude advanced nearly 2% to reach $109.92 per barrel during Friday trading. Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate climbed to $96.08.

Brent Crude Oil Last Day Financ (BZ=F)
Brent Crude Oil Last Day Financ (BZ=F)

March appears set to deliver unprecedented gains for Brent crude. The benchmark has jumped approximately 52% throughout the month, representing one of the most dramatic monthly advances in modern energy trading history.

Hostilities erupted in late February and have resulted in the virtual shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow maritime passage typically handles roughly 20% of the world’s petroleum shipments.

The strait’s closure has removed roughly 8 million barrels daily from international markets. Ole Hansen, Saxo Bank’s commodities strategy chief, noted that supply constraints are accelerating rapidly as vessels that departed Gulf ports before the crisis have completed their deliveries and offloaded their cargo.

President Trump pushed back the White House’s ultimatum for Iran to restore access to the strait or risk American military action against its energy infrastructure. April 6 now marks the revised deadline. Trump indicated that Iran requested the postponement and characterized ongoing discussions as productive.

Tehran contradicted this narrative through official channels. Iranian authorities stated that no diplomatic engagement with the United States is currently in progress.

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Military Operations and Troop Deployments Expand

Combat operations have persisted throughout the region. Israeli forces announced they targeted a primary Iranian production center for missiles and naval mines located in Yazd. Kuwait confirmed drone strikes against two of its port facilities. Saudi authorities intercepted unmanned aircraft in the kingdom’s eastern provinces.

The Pentagon is evaluating the deployment of as many as 10,000 additional ground forces to the area, potentially including elements from the 82nd Airborne Division and Marine Expeditionary Units.

The Trump administration is simultaneously working to organize a diplomatic gathering in Pakistan scheduled for this weekend. Vice President JD Vance and additional high-ranking officials may participate in discussions aimed at identifying a pathway toward resolution.

Iranian leadership indicated it declined a 15-point American peace framework and presented alternative conditions. Tehran’s terms reportedly include formal acknowledgment of Iranian authority over the Strait of Hormuz.

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Economic Ripple Effects and Global Market Reaction

The dramatic oil spike is amplifying wider economic anxieties. Government debt yields have climbed as market participants anticipate that elevated energy costs may compel monetary authorities to implement tighter policy.

The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury yield advanced to levels not observed since July. European bond markets in Germany and France experienced similar yield increases.

Numerous nations have implemented measures to cushion the impact on their populations. India reduced taxation on diesel and gasoline products. Vietnam implemented a temporary freeze on fuel-related levies through mid-April. New Zealand authorities documented evidence of consumer stockpiling of petroleum products.

Macquarie’s analytical team estimates a 40% probability that military confrontations will continue through June. Under that scenario, their forecasts suggest crude could reach $200 per barrel.

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Two commercial container vessels operated by China’s Cosco Shipping made an attempt to transit the Strait of Hormuz on Friday but reversed course in proximity to Iranian territorial waters.

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Vietnam Arrests Suspects in ONUS Crypto Scheme Probe

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Vietnam Arrests Suspects in ONUS Crypto Scheme Probe

Vietnamese authorities have detained multiple ONUS-linked suspects after alleging they used false promotions and manipulated token trading to misappropriate investor funds through the crypto platform.

The Ministry of Public Security said Thursday that the investigation targeted a group accused of selling digital tokens through the Onus platform, using misleading promotions and coordinated trading activity to attract users. Authorities claim the group manipulated supply and demand and adjusted token prices, presenting the assets as legitimate investment opportunities while maintaining centralized control over their markets. 

Investigators named several suspects in the case, including Vuong Le Vinh Nhan, who is linked by Vemanti to XPLOR, the Singapore-based parent company of ONUS Pro; Tran Quang Chien, identified in Vietnamese reporting as the technical administrator of the ONUS exchange; and Ngo Thi Thao, director of HanaGold Jewelry JSC.

Authorities said the suspects are accused of creating and promoting tokens, including VNDC, ONUS and HNG, through the ONUS platform. Police say the scheme raised billions of dollars from investors. However, the authorities did not provide a breakdown of the losses. 

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The case adds to scrutiny of crypto activity in Vietnam, one of the world’s most active retail digital asset markets.

Vietnam ranks fourth in Chainalysis’ crypto adoption index in 2025. Source: Chainalysis

Vietnam widens ONUS fraud probe

According to the Ministry of Public Security, the arrests follow a multi-agency investigation spanning several cities, with police summoning over 140 individuals for questioning and seizing evidence, as part of a broader effort to dismantle large-scale crypto-linked fraud operations. 

On Thursday, Vemanti said it learned of the indictments of Nhan Vuong and Chien Tran through the ministry announcement and Vietnamese media, and had engaged US legal counsel to assess the situation. Vemanti identified Vuong as chairman of its board and Tran as a board member.

Related: Indian court says ‘no case’ against CoinDCX founders in impersonation fraud

The ONUS platform presents itself as a digital asset ecosystem offering trading, staking and investment products, claiming more than seven million users and backing from the US-based fintech company Vemanti Group. 

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Its official X account has more than 885,000 followers. However, market data aggregator CoinMarketCap lists the ONUS token with a self-reported market capitalization of around $25 million, highlighting a gap between the scale of alleged losses and publicly available token metrics.

Onus has not released an official statement addressing the situation.

Cointelegraph reached out to Onus for comment, but had not received a response by publication. 

ONUS token’s all-time price chart. Source: CoinMarketCap

India case points to wider scam network risks

In a separate case, India’s Central Bureau of Investigation said Thursday that it arrested a Mumbai-based suspect accused of helping traffic victims to scam compounds in Myanmar, where individuals were allegedly forced to carry out online fraud schemes, including crypto investment scams and romance scams.

The agency said victims were lured with job offers in Thailand before being diverted to scam centers in Myanmar’s Myawaddy region, where they were subjected to confinement, intimidation and abuse while being made to target victims globally.

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Magazine: Banks want to run Vietnam’s crypto exchanges, Boyaa’s $70M BTC plan: Asia Express