• The US DOJ opens claims process for OneCoin victims.
• Over $40 million in seized funds are available for distribution.
• Deadline for filing claims set for June 30, 2026.

The US Department of Justice has launched a formal compensation claims portal for victims of the OneCoin scheme, marking a new phase in one of the largest crypto-related fraud cases ever uncovered.

The move comes years after the collapse of OneCoin, a project that attracted millions of investors worldwide with promises of high returns from a digital currency that was later exposed as fraudulent.

Many people from different countries were left with significant financial losses after the scheme unravelled, leading to extensive criminal investigations and asset seizures across multiple jurisdictions.

Now, with a dedicated compensation process in place, the focus has shifted toward distributing recovered funds back to those who were harmed.

The scale of the OneCoin fraud and how it unfolded

OneCoin operated between 2014 and 2019, presenting itself as a revolutionary cryptocurrency investment opportunity.

It was heavily promoted through aggressive marketing campaigns and a wide network of recruiters who encouraged individuals to buy into what was described as a fast-growing digital asset.

However, authorities later determined that OneCoin did not function like a real cryptocurrency. Instead of operating on a transparent blockchain network, it relied on centralised systems controlled by the people behind the project.

Despite this, it continued to attract investors globally, but it ultimately crashed in 2019, leading to losses believed to reach into the billions of dollars.

Estimates of total losses vary, but the figure is commonly placed at around $4 billion, with some assessments suggesting even higher exposure when accounting for global investor participation.

The scale of the fraud made it one of the most significant financial fraud investigations tied to the digital asset space.

Over time, law enforcement agencies were able to trace and seize assets linked to individuals involved in the scheme, and these recovered funds form the basis of the compensation program announced by the US Department of Justice.

How the compensation claims process will work

The newly launched claims portal is designed to allow victims of OneCoin to formally submit requests for compensation.

The process is structured as a remission program, which means that money recovered from seized assets will be redistributed to eligible victims based on verified losses.

To qualify, individuals must show that they invested in OneCoin during the operational period between 2014 and 2019. They must also demonstrate a net financial loss.

This means that any funds previously withdrawn or recovered will be deducted from the total amount claimed to determine eligibility.

Notably, the total pool of available funds for distribution currently stands at over $40 million.

While this is a significant amount, it represents only a small fraction of the overall losses suffered by investors globally.

As a result, any payouts are expected to be partial and distributed proportionally among approved claimants.

The deadline for submitting claims has been set for June 30, 2026. After this date, no new applications will be accepted, and the distribution process will move forward based on verified submissions.

For many affected investors, the opening of a claims process offers a long-awaited opportunity to recover at least part of their lost funds.

Although the available compensation is limited compared to total losses, it represents a formal acknowledgement of harm and an effort to return seized assets to their rightful owners.

Today’s data-backed look at UAE retail investing shows a distinct tilt toward AI infrastructure and enterprise software in Q1 2026, as investors used a price dip to add exposure to select tech names. The analysis from eToro examines quarter-on-quarter changes in holders and the most-held stocks among UAE users, highlighting that software and AI hardware plays moved higher even amid broader market volatility and concerns about AI disruption. The findings suggest a disciplined approach: investors differentiate winners from laggards and focus on names they see as integral to the tech value chain and monetisation potential.

Key points

• ServiceNow led Q1 2026 risers with a 125% jump in holders as the stock fell about 32% in the quarter, with headlines about AI partnerships contextualizing the move.
• AI infrastructure stocks posted strong holder gains: Super Micro Computer +65%, Micron +39%, and Oracle +38%.
• Micron was an exception to price declines, rising on stronger AI memory demand and limited new supply.
• NVIDIA remained the most-held stock; Amazon moved to second and Microsoft to fourth, while Tesla and Apple shifted positions in the top ranks.
• Top fallers included Twist Bioscience, Okta, CoreWeave, and BioMarin, reflecting mixed exposure across sectors.

Why it matters

The data indicate UAE investors are applying selective exposure to technology, using a price dip to anchor long-term bets in AI infrastructure and software. Even amid talk of the ‘SaaSpocalypse’ and geopolitical volatility, the flow of holders shows sustained conviction in names tied to AI deployment and monetisation potential, while investors differentiate winners from laggards. The pattern points to a focus on scale and earnings visibility rather than broad risk-off sentiment.

What to watch

• Watch for updates on ServiceNow’s AI partnerships with OpenAI and Anthropic, cited in the report as context for investor activity.
• Monitor reactions to the Super Micro Computer event, including the co-founder’s charges, and how it influences near-term sentiment.
• Track Micron’s AI memory demand trajectory and supply dynamics as potential near-term drivers.
• Observe shifts in the top held mega-cap stocks (NVIDIA, Amazon, Microsoft) in upcoming quarterly data.

Disclosure: The content below is a press release provided by the company or its PR representative. It is published for informational purposes.

UAE retail investors buy the dip on AI infrastructure and enterprise tech in Q1 despite ‘SaaSpocalypse’ fears

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – April 14, 2026: Against a backdrop of geopolitical conflict in the Gulf and rising investments in AI, retail investors increased their exposure to software and AI infrastructure stocks whose share prices have taken a hit in the first quarter of 2026, according to the latest data from trading and investing platform, eToro.

eToro looked at which companies saw the largest proportional change in holders quarter-on-quarter (table 1) and also examined the 10 most held stocks on the platform among users based in the UAE (table 2).

Software and SaaS names featured prominently in the Q1 top risers list, suggesting UAE investors used the sector-wide sell-off to buy the dip. ServiceNow topped the list with a 125% jump in holders as its share price fell around 32% in Q1, although in the same quarter it announced partnerships with AI heavyweights OpenAI and Anthropic. Adobe ranked third (54% increase in holders) even as the stock came under pressure over concerns about its ability to defend its core software business against AI disruption. Shares were down about 25% by mid-March, along with news that the chief executive would step down, suggesting UAE investors were buying during the pullback.

AI infrastructure was another clear theme in Q1: Super Micro Computer (+65%) in second place, followed by Micron (+39%) in fifth, and Oracle (+38%) in sixth. Investors appear to have bought into a late-quarter sell-off with Super Micro Computer. The stock had traded largely sideways before tumbling 33% after US prosecutors charged the co-founder over an alleged scheme to smuggle Nvidia-powered servers to China. Oracle also fits the buy-the-dip theme. The stock has been volatile amid concerns about spending tied to its AI cloud expansion.

The standout exception was Micron, one of the few names in the group to post stock price gains over the quarter. The move was driven by stronger momentum from surging demand for AI memory chips and limited new supply.

George Naddaf, Managing Director at eToro (MENA), said: “In Q1, UAE investors approached technology with selectivity and opportunism. Some of the companies that drew the strongest increase in holders had fallen to around 25% to 33%, suggesting investors were willing to buy into the sell-off where they still saw long-term value.”

He added: “Despite talk about the ‘Saaspocalypse’, the idea that AI will dismantle traditional SaaS business models, UAE investors showed sustained interest in software. They are honing in on companies that they believe have a clear role in the tech value chain and potential for monetisation. While geopolitical tensions added to market volatility, the pattern in holdings suggests UAE investors were driven more by sector conviction than by a broad risk-off mindset.”

Other Q1 risers spanned multiple sectors. Investors pushed e.l.f. Beauty to fourth place by increasing holdings 52%. They also drove gains in Duolingo, Gorilla Technology, Hims & Hers Health, and SoFi Technologies, highlighting interest in companies across digital education, IT services, telehealth, and fintech.

Q1’s ‘top fallers’ list featured a mix of industries. Twist Bioscience Corporation led the pack with a 90% decrease in holders, followed by Okta (-49%) and CoreWeave (-47%). BioMarin Pharmaceuticals also saw a big decline, with holders down 35% QoQ.

The most widely held stocks were largely unchanged from last quarter, with only minor reshuffles in the top half. NVIDIA held onto first place, while Amazon rose to second, and Microsoft to fourth. Tesla slipped to third and Apple to fifth, while positions six to ten remain unchanged.

Naddaf remarked: “Local investors’ selective approach to technology is further evidenced by the fact that AI and tech companies feature in both the risers and fallers lists. They appear to be making efforts to distinguish between the winners and laggards of the AI revolution.”

Looking at the most held ranking, he added: “It suggests UAE investors are continuing to treat these names as core positions rather than short-term trades. NVIDIA held onto the top spot, while Amazon moved up to second and Microsoft climbed to fourth, but the ranking is largely unchanged. This points to continued conviction in mega-cap technology companies contributing to AI infrastructure and enterprise applications. In a quarter marked by uncertainty, that kind of stability points to a confidence in scale, earnings visibility, and relevance.”

Table 1: Shows which stocks have seen the biggest proportional increase and decrease in holders on the eToro platform in the UAE, quarter-on-quarter.

Table 2: Shows stocks most widely held by eToro users in the UAE, and their position last quarter.

Notes :

Past performance is not an indication of future results.

The tables compare data from the eToro platform on the final day of Q1 2026 with the final day of Q4 2025. The data refers to funded accounts of eToro users in the UAE.

The data in the first table shows the 10 stocks that have seen the largest proportional increases and decreases in holders on the eToro platform quarter-on-quarter (Q1 2026 vs Q4 2025).

The data in the second table shows the top 10 most-held stock positions (open positions) by investors on the eToro platform at the end of Q1 2026. As the vast majority of stocks traded on eToro are real assets, this data does not include positions held as CFDs.

Stock price data from Yahoo Finance.

All data accurate as of after market close on 31 March 2026.

Media Contact

PR@etoro.com

About eToro

eToro is the trading and investing platform that empowers you to invest, share and learn. We were founded in 2007 with the vision of a world where everyone can trade and invest in a simple and transparent way. Today we have 40 million registered users from 75 countries. We believe there is power in shared knowledge and that we can become more successful by investing together. So we’ve created a collaborative investment community designed to provide you with the tools you need to grow your knowledge and wealth. On eToro, you can hold a range of traditional and innovative assets and choose how you invest: trade directly, invest in a portfolio, or copy other investors. You can visit our media centre here for our latest news.

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Not investment advice. eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.

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This communication is for information and education purposes only and should not be taken as investment advice, a personal recommendation, or an offer of, or solicitation to buy or sell, any financial instruments. This material has been prepared without taking into account any particular recipient’s investment objectives or financial situation, and has not been prepared in accordance with the legal and regulatory requirements to promote independent research. Any references to past or future performance of a financial instrument, index or a packaged investment product are not, and should not be taken as, a reliable indicator of future results. eToro makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the content of this publication.

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Revised PARITY Act would exempt everyday regulated stablecoin payments from capital gains, aligning them with cash-like transactions in the U.S. tax code.

Under a new draft of the Digital Asset PARITY Act in Washington, gains on everyday payments made with regulated dollar-pegged stablecoins could be ignored for tax purposes, a shift that would make routine USDC and USDT spending effectively tax-free for many U.S. users if enacted. The bipartisan proposal, led by Representatives Steven Horsford and Max Miller in the House, is being circulated as a discussion draft that rewrites how the tax code treats digital assets and payment tokens.

Today, the Internal Revenue Service classifies stablecoins as “digital assets” taxed as property, meaning that every sale, exchange or use of USDC or USDT is treated as a potential capital gain or loss event. Tax firms note that converting crypto into USDC, swapping one stablecoin for another or using a stablecoin to buy goods all trigger reportable transactions, even if the price stays close to $1.

According to a summary of the PARITY draft reported by CryptoSlate, the bill would create a carve-out for “Regulated Payment Stablecoins,” so that “sellers recognize no gain or loss” on qualifying transactions as long as the token trades within a $0.99 to $1.01 band and meets strict issuance standards. In that framework, the taxpayer’s basis is deemed to be $1 per unit, and minor fluctuations within the band are simply ignored for day-to-day payments.

A separate write-up of the reintroduced PARITY Act explains that instead of a flat dollar limit per transaction, the new draft focuses on whether a taxpayer’s cost basis falls below 99% of the stablecoin’s redemption value, effectively eliminating capital gains calculations for most small consumer payments in regulated coins. Only USD‑pegged stablecoins issued by authorized entities and keeping their peg within 1% for at least 95% of trading days over the prior 12 months would qualify, tying the tax benefit directly to regulatory status and price stability.

At the same time, the bill would extend traditional wash-sale rules to digital assets like Bitcoin and other actively traded tokens, closing a long-standing loophole that allowed aggressive tax-loss harvesting in volatile crypto markets. For now, however, IRS guidance continues to treat every USDC or USDT disposal as taxable, and any relief for stablecoin users will depend on whether Congress can push the PARITY Act from draft form into law amid broader debates over U.S. crypto regulation and dollar-backed stablecoins.

• Integration date: XRP goes live on Rakuten Wallet for spot trading April 15, 2026, with XLM, DOGE, SHIB, and TON listed alongside it.
• User scale: Rakuten Pay has 44 million users; Rakuten’s broader Japan ecosystem covers over 100 million member IDs.
• Mechanism: Users convert Rakuten Points directly into XRP, then fund Rakuten Cash – usable at over 5 million merchant locations – meaning XRP functions as a bridge asset, not a directly held consumer token in most transactions.
• Points pool: More than 3 trillion Rakuten Points, valued at approximately $23 billion USD, are eligible for conversion – creating a large but loyalty-locked source of potential XRP demand.
• Regulatory footing: Rakuten Wallet operates under FSA licensing and JVCEA membership, giving the rollout compliance cover in one of the world’s most structured crypto jurisdictions.
• What it does not do: This is not an open XRP wallet; it does not give users direct custody of XRP outside the Rakuten ecosystem, and merchants receive fiat – not XRP – at point of sale.
• Watch: Whether Rakuten Bank’s planned FinTech integration (flagged at its March 27, 2026 AGM) enables seamless fiat-to-XRP conversion across its 17 million banking accounts by Q3 2026.

Key Takeaways:

• What was breached: Internal systems containing customer data were accessed via insider recruitment – no full system compromise and no customer funds were at risk, according to Kraken.
• Scope: Approximately 2,000 individuals potentially had their information viewed, representing roughly 0.02% of Kraken’s total user base; all affected users have been contacted.
• Extortion mechanism: Criminals are threatening to release videos of Kraken’s internal systems and distribute customer data fragments to media and social platforms unless demands are met.
• Kraken’s response: Percoco stated publicly: “We will not pay these criminals; we will not ever negotiate with bad actors” – and confirmed active federal law enforcement engagement across multiple jurisdictions.
• Insider pattern: A February 2025 incident involved a similar video shared on a criminal forum; in both cases, an individual from within the company was identified.
• Sector context: Wrench attacks on crypto industry personnel increased more than 75% year-over-year, with CertiK attributing over $40 million in confirmed losses to such attacks last year.
• Watch: Whether law enforcement arrests materialize and how Kraken’s delayed IPO timeline absorbs the reputational exposure from a second consecutive security incident.

High Roller Technologies Inc. (ROLR) stock more than doubled after the online casino operator said it planned to introduce an event-based prediction market in the U.S. in conjunction with Crypto.com.

The Las Vegas-based company said Tuesday it will initially offer its customers Crypto.com Derivatives North America (CDNA) event contracts in the U.S. across finance, sports and entertainment. CDNA is a CFTC-registered exchange and clearinghouse and affiliate of Crypto.com. It didn’t say when the planned market would start operating.

The company’s share rose as much as 130% and were recently 65% higher at $8.32. Crypto.com’s CRO token gained 3% after the announcement to 7 cents.

Prediction markets have quickly gone from being niche betting platforms to a growing sector of sophisticated trading platforms that aggregate real-world event probabilities. Leading participants include Kalshi, a CFTC-regulated U.S. exchange for event contracts, and Polymarket, one of the largest decentralized markets covering politics, sports and economics. The market is expected to mature into one with trading volume in excess of $1 trillion by 2030, according to High Roller.

Prediction markets are running at an annualized revenue rate above $3 billion, up from about $2 billion in December, and could reach $10 billion by 2030, according to a recent report by U.S. bank Citizens.