Crypto World
Cybercrime Boss Malone Lam Pleads Guilty in $245M Crypto Theft Case
Singaporean national Malone Lam has pleaded guilty in US federal court to participating in a racketeering conspiracy prosecutors say was used to steal and launder more than $245 million in cryptocurrency. Prosecutors allege the scheme relied on social engineering tactics and home break-ins, and that Lam helped run an international operation that targeted victims through online connections.
In a statement released Tuesday, the US Department of Justice said Lam organized the enterprise, identified prospective victims, and coordinated other conspirators. According to court documents referenced by the DOJ, the operation was formed through connections on online gaming platforms and was active from no later than October 2023 through at least May 2025. The plea was entered before US District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, and the court scheduled a status hearing for Dec. 8. The government did not announce a sentencing date.
Key takeaways
- Lam pleaded guilty to one count of a RICO conspiracy, shifting the case from a single theft allegation to an alleged broader criminal enterprise.
- US prosecutors describe a workflow combining social engineering with account takeover, then laundering proceeds through multiple crypto services.
- The DOJ says the operation linked victims via online gaming platform connections and operated for roughly a two-year window.
- The guilty plea comes nearly two years after Lam was charged over the theft of more than 4,100 Bitcoin from a Washington, DC resident.
How the alleged heist began with a 4,100-Bitcoin theft
Prosecutors initially accused Lam and Jeandiel Serrano of fraudulently obtaining more than 4,100 Bitcoin from a single victim on Aug. 18, 2024. At the time, that cache was valued at more than $230. Earlier coverage of the case noted that blockchain investigator ZachXBT identified the victim as a Genesis creditor and described an attack pattern that involved impersonation and account compromise.
According to that reporting referenced in the case background, the attackers allegedly posed as Google support staff to gain access to the victim’s accounts. Prosecutors say the operation then moved to impersonate Gemini support, urging the victim to reset two-factor authentication and to use screen-sharing software. Investigators allege the screen-sharing step exposed private keys, enabling the theft.
Following the initial allegations, Lam and Serrano were arrested on Sept. 18, 2024. The DOJ then unsealed their indictment the next day, alleging that the defendants laundered stolen proceeds through crypto mixers, exchanges, pass-through wallets, and virtual private networks.
From an alleged theft to a wider RICO conspiracy
Lam’s guilty plea is significant because it is tied to the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) framework—an approach prosecutors use when they argue defendants participated in a continuing criminal enterprise. In the DOJ’s description, Lam was not merely a participant in a single hack, but a coordinator who helped form and operate the network.
Earlier in the case, prosecutors expanded the scope. On May 15, 2025, the DOJ announced a superseding indictment that added 12 more defendants and broadened the allegations into an RICO conspiracy involving more than $263 million in cryptocurrency thefts. That update also included allegations of an additional $14 million theft in July 2024 and an alleged home break-in targeting a hardware wallet.
For investors and builders, the RICO structure matters because it signals prosecutors’ intent to treat these acts as part of a repeatable enterprise rather than an isolated fraud. It also affects how the court may evaluate the relationships between defendants and the operational methods—especially when investigators allege multiple tactics aimed at the same end goal: draining funds and then obscuring their origin.
Operational tactics prosecutors say were coordinated
The DOJ’s Tuesday statement describes an enterprise that allegedly recruited and identified victims using connections formed on online gaming platforms. Prosecutors say Lam organized the operation, selected targets, and worked with other conspirators to carry out the theft and laundering process.
In addition to the alleged cyber component, prosecutors say the enterprise included physical intrusion. The expanded indictment referenced an alleged home break-in targeting a hardware wallet—an allegation that, if proven, would demonstrate that the scheme was not limited to remote account compromise.
The government also alleged that Lam continued directing associates even during pretrial detention. Prosecutors claimed he arranged delivery of luxury items to his girlfriend. More broadly, the DOJ asserted that members of the group spent stolen funds on high-end purchases, including private jets, rental properties, watches, and at least 28 exotic cars. Prosecutors further alleged that nightclub expenses reached $500,000 per evening.
While these claims are part of the prosecution’s theory and not findings by the court, they help explain why prosecutors pursued a RICO case: they depict an alleged pattern of criminal activity paired with conspicuous consumption and operational coordination.
What comes next for the case
Lam’s guilty plea sets a procedural milestone, but it does not end questions that market participants may be watching. The court scheduled a status hearing for Dec. 8, yet the DOJ has not announced a sentencing date. That leaves the timing and trajectory of remaining proceedings—particularly the cases involving additional defendants—unclear.
Going forward, readers should pay attention to how the government and defense present the scope of the enterprise at sentencing, especially whether the prosecution will emphasize specific tactics such as impersonation workflows, the role of laundering infrastructure, and the alleged use of physical break-ins. Those details often determine how courts view responsibility in RICO matters and can influence outcomes for co-defendants in the expanded indictment.
Crypto World
Polkadot community votes on DOT backed native stablecoin dotUSD
Polkadot’s community has opened a governance vote on a native decentralized stablecoin called dotUSD, with a proposal to make the dollar-pegged asset the network’s primary stable-value instrument and eventually back it mainly with DOT.
Summary
- Polkadot OpenGov is voting on a proposal to create dotUSD as the network’s native decentralized stablecoin.
- The plan calls for $5 million in initial DOT and USDT liquidity for a DOT and dotUSD pool.
- dotUSD would initially be minted against USDT before a second phase introduces DOT backed vaults, liquidations and redemptions.
- The full system would let users lock DOT to mint dotUSD while using on chain mechanisms to maintain its dollar peg.
According to OpenGov Referendum 1944, the proposed stablecoin would be owned by the protocol and operate autonomously through on-chain logic, without a centralized issuer. The proposal was drafted with contributions from builders, developers and other participants in the Polkadot ecosystem.
The proposal remains in the decision stage at the time of writing. Its implementation would create dotUSD as a new asset, recognize it as the Polkadot stablecoin and establish a DOT/dotUSD liquidity pool on Polkadot Asset Hub.
An archived Polkassembly snapshot showed 2.4 million DOT voting in favor and 59,900 DOT against, equivalent to 97.5% Aye and 2.5% Nay at that point in the vote. The archive cautioned that the figures were frozen while the referendum was still in progress and may not represent the eventual on-chain result.
Polkadot proposes phased launch for dotUSD
Under the plan, dotUSD would initially operate differently from the full DOT-backed system envisioned by its developers.
The first phase has already been built on-chain and would allow users to mint dotUSD one-for-one against USDT, subject to a supply cap. Since USDT would provide the reserve backing at this stage, the system would not require an oracle, collateral vaults or liquidation infrastructure.
The proposal seeks to use Polkadot Treasury assets to seed a DOT/dotUSD pool on the Hub decentralized exchange. The version submitted with the referendum allocated $2.5 million in USDT to mint dotUSD and another $2.5 million worth of DOT to the pool, giving it $5 million in initial liquidity.
A more recent version displayed on Subsquare lists $1.5 million in USDT and $1.5 million in DOT for the initial pool, reducing the proposed allocation to $3 million.
dotUSD would be designated a “sufficient asset,” allowing an account to hold the stablecoin without having to maintain a DOT balance. Governance would set parameters for the peg stability module, including the maximum amount of dotUSD that could initially be minted.
Phase two would move dotUSD toward its intended design by introducing DOT-backed collateral vaults, an oracle, a stability pool, liquidations and a redemption mechanism. The proposal describes dotUSD as an overcollateralized stablecoin whose architecture draws heavily from Liquity v2’s BOLD system.
Plans for a DOT-backed stablecoin have been under consideration for more than a year. As crypto.news previously reported in July 2025, Polkadot co-founder Gavin Wood disclosed work on a fully decentralized stablecoin during the Web3 Summit and said a treasury proposal was being prepared to bootstrap its liquidity.
How would the DOT-backed dotUSD system work?
Once the second phase is implemented, users would deposit DOT into vaults and borrow dotUSD worth less than the collateral they provided.
The proposal gives an example of 300 DOT priced at $5 each, producing $1,500 in collateral. A user could mint up to $1,000 of dotUSD against the position, corresponding to a collateralization ratio of 150%. If the value of the DOT falls far enough to breach the required collateral ratio, the vault would become eligible for liquidation.
Borrowers would set the interest rates they pay on their own positions. Lower rates would place a vault earlier in the redemption queue, while borrowers willing to pay higher rates could reduce the chance that their collateral is selected for redemption.
Two arbitrage routes are intended to keep dotUSD close to $1. When the stablecoin trades above its peg, users could lock DOT, mint dotUSD and sell it at the higher market price, increasing supply. If dotUSD falls below $1, traders could buy it at a discount and redeem it through the protocol for $1 worth of DOT.
A capped stablecoin buffer is planned alongside the DOT redemption system. Existing stablecoins would back this portion of dotUSD and remain redeemable at $1, providing another route for maintaining the peg without selling the DOT used as collateral.
Liquidations would first be absorbed by a stability pool funded with dotUSD deposited by participants. In return for providing capital, stability pool participants would receive liquidated DOT at a discount while the corresponding dotUSD is burned to cancel the outstanding debt. If the pool runs out of funds, collateral and debt would be redistributed proportionally across the remaining vaults.
dotUSD ties into Polkadot’s new economic model
The stablecoin proposal comes after Polkadot changed the economics of DOT, including the introduction of a fixed maximum supply.
The DAO approved a 2.1 billion DOT cap in September 2025, replacing the network’s previous model of uncapped issuance. A subsequent tokenomics upgrade introduced the Dynamic Allocation Pool, or DAP, which receives newly issued DOT and other network income for allocation through governance.
When the new tokenomics framework entered its implementation phase in March, DOT emissions were set to fall 53.6%, while newly minted tokens, transaction fees and slashes were directed into the DAP. Governance can allocate those funds toward staking rewards, treasury spending and other network budgets.
Referendum 1944 proposes using dotUSD within the next stage of that system. Under phase two of the DAP, validators and nominators are expected to receive remuneration in stable assets, while the Treasury would receive a combination of stablecoins and DOT. The proposal says dotUSD would allow those obligations to be denominated in dollars and settled through an asset native to Polkadot.
Polkadot already supports externally issued dollar tokens. USDC became available on Polkadot Asset Hub in September 2023, allowing the stablecoin to move to parachains through the network’s cross-consensus messaging system.
The dotUSD proposal argues that relying on externally issued stablecoins leaves Polkadot applications and treasury operations dependent on outside issuers and their governance. Its proposed full version would instead use DOT as the primary collateral while remaining governed through Polkadot.
The Polkadot Community Foundation said its role is administrative and that it would not issue, control or take custody of dotUSD, DOT or USDT under the proposal. It would not operate the stablecoin or provide liquidity, with dotUSD intended to function through on-chain logic without an issuer.
Implementation of the referendum’s preimage depends on Polkadot system chains being upgraded to version 2.5 under a separate governance proposal, Referendum 1942.
Crypto World
Wintermute Flags Historic Shift: Bitcoin Bottoms Are Getting Less Brutal
Bitcoin’s latest downturn looks less severe than previous bear markets, with Wintermute noting that BTC is now about 50% below its peak 340 days after the top, compared with losses above 75% at the same stage in 2018 and 2022.
The trading firm argues that Bitcoin’s cycles are bottoming at progressively smaller drawdowns, although it stops short of confirming that June was the final low.
Bitcoin’s Drawdown is Getting Smaller
In its most recent market update, Wintermute pointed to a clear change in Bitcoin’s cycle structure: previous bottoms came after declines of 83% and 77%, while the current drawdown is around 50%.
“Each cycle has bottomed shallower: 83%, then 77%, then 50%,” Wintermute wrote.
The difference is also visible in the time needed to recover. Bitcoin was still down more than 75% from its peak 340 days into the 2018 and 2022 bear markets. Those cycles then needed more than 500 days to return to levels seen around the current point.
Wintermute linked the smaller drawdown to earlier participation from exchange-traded funds and institutional investors. It also said that improving market breadth, with profits from one group of investors moving into another, resembles the early stages of a new cycle.
That view is being tested by current price action, with Bitcoin around $79,000 at the time of writing, up over 2% in seven days and nearly 22% across 30 days, according to CoinGecko.
Remember, last week it absorbed a stronger-than-expected US jobs report without giving up its weekly gains, climbing to $82,400 before payrolls pushed it roughly $3,000 lower in minutes. However, the OG cryptocurrency still finished 3.45% higher and above $80,000.
Although BTC ETFs yesterday saw outflows of more than $46 million, demand for those products has provided another source of support in recent times. They recorded nearly $987 million in inflows last week, their third consecutive positive week, bringing cumulative inflows over that run to more than $3.8 billion.
A Slower Return to Capitulation Territory
Elsewhere, Alphractal founder Joao Wedson has been tracking Bitcoin’s Balanced Price, a metric built from the spending patterns of older BTC that has flagged deep-cycle bottoms in the past. It currently sits near $38,400, although the analyst noted that doesn’t mean the price has to fall back there.
The gap between the metric’s major touches has widened each cycle, from 732 days to 1,120, then 1,200, then 1,420, and the time Bitcoin spends below it has shrunk from weeks to about a single day in 2022. One trader, Killa, expects a new all-time high by November 2027, pointing to cycles that keep bottoming and peaking faster than the ones before them.
The post Wintermute Flags Historic Shift: Bitcoin Bottoms Are Getting Less Brutal appeared first on CryptoPotato.
Crypto World
Hunter Biden Lays Out LAPTOP Airdrop Plan Before Base Debut
Hunter Biden confirmed the launch of his LAPTOP meme coin and outlined how much of the supply goes to community wallets, including people who lost money on the Official Trump (TRUMP) token.
The post is his detailed public account of the project. It landed on the day the token is scheduled to begin trading on Base.
What Hunter Biden Is Promising LAPTOP Buyers
Biden built his pitch around the machine he left at a Delaware repair shop, whose contents fed years of attacks on him. He described himself as seven years sober and cast the laptop as a symbol of recovery.
In a post on X, he outlined the tokenomics, saying 20% of the coins will be airdropped to the community. This will also include people who lost money on the TRUMP project. Biden claimed nearly 1 million wallets lost roughly $3.8 billion on TRUMP.
“You should not expect me or anyone else to make this token more valuable for you,” he said.
Another 30% sits behind what Biden called a pre-programmed mechanism. The project states public conditions in advance. Tokens burn if those events happen, and go to charity if they do not.
Reported conditions include a Democratic win in 2028, a fresh Bitcoin (BTC) record, and LAPTOP passing TRUMP by market cap. A further 50 million tokens go to charity regardless.
Follow us on X to get the latest news as it happens
Previously, economist Peter Schiff called the president’s tokens legal bribery, with most buyers sitting on losses.
Meanwhile, the replies turned hostile within hours. Several accounts accused Biden of repeating the practice he had condemned, and one told followers to bookmark the post ahead of a possible rug pull.
“You just have PTSD from Trump, Melania, Kanye, Lil Pump, and Andrew Tate’s memecoins. All MAGA, btw,” Hunter replied.
Copycat Tokens Crowd the Ticker
Biden has not published any contract address as of press time. Traders moved into that gap immediately, and tokens using the LAPTOP name now trade across at least three networks.
GeckoTerminal data shows a BNB Chain pair called Hunter Biden’s Laptop up more than 81,000% at a $20.29 million valuation after roughly 10 hours. A Base pair carried a $3.31 billion market value against about $1,121 in daily volume.
None of these tokens has been verified as official. Until Biden or his team publishes an address, every LAPTOP pair trading now carries that risk.
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The post Hunter Biden Lays Out LAPTOP Airdrop Plan Before Base Debut appeared first on BeInCrypto.
Crypto World
Adani Enterprises shares jump as airport unit enters into $1 billion fundraising deal
The Adani Group signage atop the company’s headquarters in Ahmedabad, India, on Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. Adani Enterprises Ltd. is planning to raise as much as 250 billion rupees ($2.8 billion) through a rights issue as it seeks to invest in capital intensive businesses like its airports venture. Photographer: Siddharaj Solanki/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Shares of Adani Enterprises rose nearly 5% Wednesday after its airport unit announced it had entered into a deal to raise about 98.25 billion rupees ($1 billion) from a group of global and domestic investors.
The binding agreement with Alpha Wave Global, Premji Invest, Temasek and BlackRock managed funds values Adani Airport Holdings at about $18 billion on a pre-money basis, according to the company statement.
The investors will subscribe to new shares in three tranches and collectively own about 5.54% of the airport operator after the final tranche, which is expected to be completed by July 2027. The deal remains subject to customary conditions and regulatory approvals.
Latest fundraising follows Adani Enterprises’ 150 billion rupee qualified institutional placement in July.
The investment marks an “important milestone” in building out the airports platform, with the company planning to continue investing in infrastructure, city-side developments and non-aeronautical businesses, said Jeet Adani, non-executive director at Adani Airport Holdings.
CEO Arun Bansal said the company aims to become the world’s largest airports platform, citing growth opportunities in India, rising consumer spending power and the expansion of its city-side developments.
The funds will support the expansion and modernization of airport infrastructure, accelerate the development of Adani Airport City projects and scale passenger-facing and other non-aeronautical businesses, including ground handling.
The investments are expected to increase capacity to serve about 200 million passengers annually, the company said.
Adani Airport Holdings manages eight airports across India and accounts more than 23% of the country’s passenger traffic, according to the company.
— CNBC’s Priyanka Salve contributed to this report.
Crypto World
US Treasury's Office Targeting Iran's Sanctions Evasion Through Bitcoin and USDT
The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has classified Iran’s digital asset sector as sanctionable, formalizing years of enforcement against Tehran’s sanctions evasion using Bitcoin (BTC) and the stablecoin Tether (USDT).
Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis estimates Iran’s crypto ecosystem topped $7.8 billion last year. Wallets tied to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran’s primary military branch, accounted for more than half of on-chain activity in the fourth quarter.
Central Bank’s USDT Reserve Powers Sanctions Evasion
Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic reported that Iran’s central bank acquired at least $507 million in USDT, tracing the purchases to leaked 2025 documents. Most of the stablecoin flowed through Nobitex, the country’s largest exchange, before shifting to a cross-chain bridge after a mid-2025 hack.
Researchers describe the setup as a sanction-resistant reserve built outside the traditional dollar system to defend the rial, which has lost close to 90% of its value amid inflation and sanctions.
Washington Escalates Freezes and Sector-Wide Sanctions
Since April, Operation Economic Fury has frozen or sanctioned roughly $1 billion in Iran-linked crypto. Tether blocked $344 million in USDT that month. It froze another $131 million in July after OFAC flagged central bank wallets holding over $165 million in stablecoins.
In June, OFAC also sanctioned the exchanges Nobitex, Wallex, Bitpin, and Ramzinex, along with two of Nobitex’s executives.
On August 24, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s office formally named digital assets a sanctionable sector of Iran’s economy. The designation relies on Executive Order 13902, which lets OFAC sanction entire economic sectors rather than individual entities.
The same package, dubbed Operation Economic Outcast, also sanctioned a Ukrainian broker for routing crypto oil payments. OFAC said he processed over $100 million tied to oil sales for the IRGC’s Quds Force, its foreign paramilitary arm.
“Our objective is to sever every economic lifeline that sustains this tyrannical regime until Tehran stands alone.”
— Bessent
Iran has also used crypto to charge tolls for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC relies on subsidized electricity to mine bitcoin, converting power directly into currency that is harder to trace.
As blockchain analytics improve, the standoff between Tehran’s stablecoin workarounds and Washington’s freezing powers looks set to continue.
The post US Treasury's Office Targeting Iran's Sanctions Evasion Through Bitcoin and USDT appeared first on BeInCrypto.
Crypto World
ARK asks SEC to approve tokenized share class for $562M venture fund
ARK Investment Management has asked the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to approve a tokenized share class for its $562 million venture fund, allowing ownership records to be maintained using distributed ledger technology.
Summary
- ARK has asked the SEC to approve a tokenized share class for its $562 million venture fund.
- The shares could trade through registered ATS platforms or between approved wallets, with ownership recorded using distributed ledger technology.
- ARK has not named a blockchain or tokenization provider for the proposed share class.
- The SEC has set Sept. 18 as the deadline for hearing requests before it can act on ARK’s application.
According to an application filed with the SEC, ARK Venture Fund wants to add a Tokenized Class alongside a new Exchange Class by amending an exemptive order the regulator granted in November 2025. The SEC published notice of the request on Aug. 24 and set Sept. 18 as the deadline for requests for a hearing.
ARK filed the original application on May 20 before submitting amendments on June 11 and Aug. 7 under file number 812-16031. The filing seeks relief under sections 6(c), 18 and 17(d) of the Investment Company Act, along with Rules 23c-3 and 17d-1.
The proposal would give the two new classes different routes for secondary trading. Exchange Class shares could list on a national securities exchange, while ownership of Tokenized Class shares would be recorded through distributed ledger technology.
Tokenized shares could trade through alternative trading systems registered under Regulation ATS, other quotation mediums or peer-to-peer transfers between approved wallets. ARK is not asking the SEC for permission to list or quote the shares on decentralized finance platforms.
ARK tokenized share class would use existing fund structure
ARK is seeking approval through the SEC’s existing exemptive application process while the agency continues working on separate rules that could govern tokenized securities.
The firm made clear that its application does not seek regulatory relief for the technology used to maintain its shareholder records. In a footnote, the applicants said they “are not seeking exemptive relief with respect to whether or how distributed ledger technology is used by a Fund to maintain a record of its shareholders.”
ARK Venture Fund operates as a continuously offered closed-end interval fund and reported $562 million in total assets as of Jan. 31. Its existing Class D, Class S and Class U shares were priced at $49.83, $49.69 and $49.70, respectively, as of May 15, with an aggregate non-affiliate market value of approximately $912.6 million.
The venture fund is separate from ARK’s better-known ARK Innovation ETF, which had $6.55 billion in assets and operates through ARK ETF Trust.
Under the proposed structure, investors would receive Tokenized Class shares through the fund’s normal subscription process at net asset value. The shares would carry no sales load and could be distributed by registered broker-dealers or directly through the fund’s transfer agent.
Costs associated specifically with the class would remain with its shareholders. The filing identifies potential transaction expenses tied to share sales, repurchases and dividend distributions.
The application would amend ARK’s November 2025 exemptive order, which allowed the fund to maintain multiple share classes. The earlier application contained a representation that fund shares would neither be listed on a securities exchange nor quoted on a quotation medium, requiring ARK to return to the SEC before introducing the proposed trading arrangements.
ARK has not selected a blockchain or tokenization provider
No blockchain, tokenization provider or new transfer agent has been identified in the application. The filing refers generally to “tokenization agents” and the fund’s transfer agent when discussing expenses associated with the proposed class.
The Bank of New York Mellon currently serves as ARK Venture Fund’s transfer agent, administrator and custodian, according to the fund’s semi-annual report.
ARK already has a financial connection to tokenization company Securitize through the venture fund. The portfolio holds Securitize equity and a $10 million convertible note carrying a 5% interest rate and maturing in September 2028. The fund acquired the note on Sept. 30, 2025.
Securitize has expanded its institutional tokenization business this year. In August, the company launched a tokenized high-yield fund with Neuberger that invests mainly in high-yield bonds while offering interests across Avalanche, Ethereum, Solana and Sui.
The company serves as the transfer agent and tokenization platform for BlackRock’s BUIDL fund and has continued adding institutional products to its infrastructure. ARK has maintained exposure to the company as its tokenization business has expanded, while Hanwha Group became its largest shareholder in July after its combined holdings reached 9.6%.
ARK’s application does not state whether Securitize would have a role in the proposed Tokenized Class.
SEC tokenization rules remain under development
The filing arrives before the SEC has completed a separate regulatory framework for tokenized securities trading.
An innovation exemption discussed by SEC Chair Paul Atkins has yet to take effect. The proposed approach is expected to let selected firms test blockchain-based securities products under defined conditions while permanent rules are developed.
As crypto.news previously reported, the SEC was preparing a regulatory route in August that could permit qualified platforms to trade tokenized U.S. stocks around the clock. Existing federal securities rules remain applicable while the exemption is unfinished.
Progress on the exemption has faced delays. Legal questions over the SEC’s authority and concerns from traditional market participants delayed the planned framework in August, with questions centered on how blockchain-based trading would interact with existing securities market rules.
Atkins separately introduced a Regulation Crypto Assets proposal on Aug. 18. The proposal addresses exemptions for crypto asset issuers but does not establish rules specifically for tokenized investment fund share classes. Public comments on the proposal are due Oct. 20.
ARK’s application therefore relies on the existing Investment Company Act process instead of requiring the unfinished innovation exemption to become effective.
SEC is rewriting transfer agent rules for blockchain records
Regulators are separately examining the infrastructure that maintains official securities ownership records.
On Sept. 1, the SEC proposed a transfer agent overhaul covering registration, recordkeeping, transfer processing and asset safeguarding. It is the agency’s first major attempt in roughly four decades to rewrite the rules governing registered transfer agents.
The proposal specifically addresses the use of blockchain technology in securities offerings and share transfers. Transfer agents using digital records would face requirements covering recordkeeping systems, cybersecurity, business continuity and the use of outside technology providers.
The rulemaking comes as firms are testing ways to connect blockchain settlement with regulated shareholder records. Injective said in July that it had sought SEC transfer agent registration to maintain tokenized securities ownership records on blockchain infrastructure, although a public SEC filing supporting the registration claim had not been located at the time.
Comments on the SEC’s proposed transfer agent overhaul are due Nov. 3. ARK’s Tokenized Class application has a separate Sept. 18 deadline for hearing requests, after which the commission can issue an order on the requested exemptive relief.
Crypto World
Anthropic researcher quits with a warning on AI that echoes 'The Terminator' script

The people building AI earnestly believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade, Coxon said on X, explaining his resignation.
Crypto World
Jack Dorsey’s Block files OCC application for Bitcoin and stablecoin custody bank
Block has applied to establish an uninsured U.S. national trust bank that would place some of its Bitcoin, stablecoin and digital asset custody operations under direct federal supervision.
Summary
- Block has applied to the OCC to establish Builders Bank & Trust as an uninsured national trust bank.
- Builders Bank would provide custody and fiduciary services for Bitcoin and stablecoins without accepting deposits or making loans.
- The proposed bank would operate under OCC supervision and create a federal framework for certain custody activities already offered by Block.
- Block joins several crypto and fintech firms pursuing US federal bank charters as the OCC reviews more digital asset applications.
Block said on Tuesday that it submitted an application to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to form Builders Bank & Trust, N.A., a proposed national trust bank that would operate without taking deposits or making loans.
If approved, Builders Bank would provide custody and related fiduciary services for assets including Bitcoin and stablecoins. The proposed bank would operate under OCC supervision and give Block a national regulatory framework for certain custody activities that the payments company already offers.
The application does not allow Builders Bank to begin operations. Block said the proposed institution would only launch after securing the required regulatory approvals from the OCC.
“Building on Block’s experience in the digital asset space, our history with Square Financial Services, and the deep banking expertise of the team we’ve assembled, we believe Builders Bank is well positioned to support Block’s broader vision of economic empowerment,” Lee Woolley, who would serve as president and CEO of Builders Bank, said.
Block trust bank would focus on Bitcoin and stablecoin custody
Unlike a traditional commercial bank, Builders Bank would not accept customer deposits or issue loans. Block described the planned entity as an uninsured, non-deposit-taking national trust bank focused on custody and fiduciary services.
A national trust structure can be used by digital asset companies to conduct approved custody and trust activities under federal supervision without operating as a conventional retail bank. As crypto.news previously reported, crypto trust banks can provide services such as digital asset custody and stablecoin reserve management while remaining outside the traditional deposit-taking model.
Block said a federal charter would establish consistent supervision for certain custody and related activities as those operations scale. Bitcoin and stablecoins were specifically identified among the assets Builders Bank could custody.
Woolley said the company plans to work with the OCC as it pursues a charter designed to support secure asset custody for Block and its customers.
Woolley currently serves as Block’s Digital Asset Strategy Lead and has more than 20 years of experience in banking and financial services. Before joining Block, he served as president and CEO of Treasury Department Federal Credit Union and held senior banking positions at Northern Trust and BNY Mellon.
Block already has experience operating within the U.S. banking system through Square Financial Services, an industrial bank that began operations in 2021. Builders Bank would create a separate federally supervised structure focused on trust and custody activities.
OCC has opened a path for more crypto bank applications
Block is seeking the charter during a period of increased applications from cryptocurrency and fintech companies looking to bring digital asset businesses under federal banking supervision.
Comptroller Jonathan Gould said in August that digital asset companies conducting legally permissible activities should have access to the U.S. national banking system. At the time, the OCC had received 40 de novo charter applications over an 18-month period, including applications for national trust banks, crypto.news reported in August.
The regulator had 13 pending digital asset licensing applications at that point, with companies including Payward, Revolut and World Liberty Financial among those pursuing federal approvals.
Revolut moved further through the process last week after receiving conditional OCC approval to establish Revolut Bank US, N.A. The fintech plans to base the proposed bank in Stamford, Connecticut, and inject roughly $95 million in initial capital.
Revolut expects the bank to launch in the first half of 2027, but the company still needs Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and Federal Reserve clearances along with final OCC authorization. Its planned services include checking accounts, cards, installment loans, foreign exchange products and a stablecoin.
The OCC has used national trust charters more extensively with digital asset businesses since late 2025. Ripple, Circle, Paxos, BitGo and Fidelity Digital Assets received conditional approvals in December 2025, while other applicants followed during 2026.
Conditional approval represents an intermediate stage in the charter process. Applicants generally must complete organizational requirements and meet conditions involving areas such as capital, governance, compliance systems and operational readiness before receiving authorization to open.
Circle has since progressed beyond that stage. The stablecoin issuer received final OCC approval in July to establish Circle National Trust, a federally supervised trust bank that can provide digital asset custody services to Circle, its affiliates and a limited group of institutional customers.
Kraken parent Payward has taken a similar route. Its proposed Payward National Trust Company would provide federally regulated digital asset custody to institutional customers without accepting deposits or issuing conventional loans.
Crypto firms continue pursuing national trust charters
Applications have continued even as some companies face longer regulatory reviews.
Zerohash submitted a second national trust bank application in August after the OCC returned its original filing. The revised application proposes a narrower set of trust activities, with the regulator opening a public comment period through Sept. 17.
The OCC can request further information, impose conditions, approve an application or reject it after reviewing the filing and public comments. Zerohash’s revised application had not received an approval or rejection when crypto.news reported on the filing in late August.
World Liberty Financial, the crypto venture backed by President Donald Trump’s family, received preliminary conditional approval on Aug. 14 to establish World Liberty Trust Company, National Association.
The proposed institution would issue and redeem the USD1 stablecoin, manage its reserves and provide digital asset custody services. World Liberty must meet the OCC’s conditions before the bank can begin operations, including maintaining at least $20 million in eligible capital.
The application and subsequent approval have drawn political scrutiny because of the Trump family’s ties to the company. A Trump family-affiliated entity reportedly owns 38% of WLTC Holdings, the holding company behind the proposed bank, while a group backed by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi and co-investors reportedly controls a 49% stake.
World Liberty’s conditional approval came after lawmakers had questioned potential conflicts of interest surrounding the company and its regulatory dealings with the administration.
Scrutiny of crypto trust charters has extended beyond World Liberty. Sen. Elizabeth Warren questioned the OCC’s authority earlier this year to grant national trust charters to digital asset companies, arguing that some approved activities could exceed limits under the National Bank Act.
Traditional banking groups have raised separate objections. The Bank Policy Institute retained outside counsel as it considered a possible legal challenge to the OCC’s approach after the regulator issued a series of conditional approvals to crypto companies. No lawsuit had been filed when the potential challenge was reported in July.
Block’s application remains subject to OCC review. Builders Bank will not begin operating unless the regulator approves the proposed charter and the institution completes the requirements needed to open under federal supervision.
Crypto World
Iran turns to crypto for export payments amid sanctions: FT
Iran’s central bank has reportedly eased foreign-exchange controls and tolerated cryptocurrency use for export payments as businesses seek alternatives to conventional banking channels restricted by U.S. sanctions.
Summary
- Iran’s central bank reportedly tolerates cryptocurrency settlement as exporters seek alternatives to restricted banking channels.
- USDT is reportedly the most commonly used cryptocurrency for Iranian cross-border commercial payments by businesses.
- TRM Labs attributed approximately $9.9 billion in cryptocurrency volume to Iran during 2025 overall activity.
- U.S. sanctions block Iranian digital asset exchanges and may expose foreign counterparties to penalties too.
- Tether froze $344 million in USDT linked to sanctioned Iranian wallets during April 2026 enforcement.
Iranian companies can receive cross-border payments through USDT, Bitcoin and other digital assets, the Financial Times reported on Sept. 9, citing people familiar with the matter. USDT is reportedly the most widely used asset.
“Receiving export payments in crypto has now become completely normalized,” an executive at a government-linked company told the publication. The executive was not identified, and the Central Bank of Iran did not respond to the newspaper’s request for comment.
Iran crypto payments remain an unofficial policy shift
The reported changes include allowing exporters to repatriate overseas funds through domestic cryptocurrency exchanges. Businesses may also convert foreign currency through open markets or use export revenue directly to purchase imports.
These arrangements reduce exporters’ reliance on Iran’s official foreign-exchange system. That system has traditionally required companies to return foreign earnings through state-supervised channels, often at exchange rates below those available on the open market.
The Financial Times report describes a shift in enforcement rather than a published law or formal central bank directive. No public document from the Central Bank of Iran has confirmed that cryptocurrency is now an authorized settlement method for every exporter.
The distinction matters because tolerance by officials does not necessarily provide businesses with legal certainty. Policies could change, while transactions may still face domestic reporting, tax or foreign-exchange requirements.
Iranian officials are also seeking the return of export proceeds held outside the country. More than 20,000 individuals and companies have allegedly failed to repatriate approximately €94 billion, according to figures cited by the Financial Times. That claim has not been independently verified through a central bank filing.
On-chain activity approached $10 billion in 2025
TRM Labs attributed approximately $9.9 billion in cryptocurrency volume to Iran during 2025. Its 2026 crypto crime report measured both incoming and outgoing transactions linked to Iranian services and entities.
The total was lower than approximately $11.4 billion recorded in 2024. TRM said the sustained volume reflected structural demand rather than purely speculative trading. Blockchain attribution remains an estimate and could change when researchers identify additional addresses.
Iranian users employ digital assets for several purposes, including savings, trading and cross-border payments. USDT offers exposure to the U.S. dollar without requiring access to a dollar-denominated bank account. Tron is widely used for USDT transfers because of its relatively low transaction fees.
Bitcoin mining provides another crypto channel. Elliptic estimated in 2021 that Iran accounted for about 4.5% of global Bitcoin mining. That estimate is historical and should not be treated as Iran’s confirmed share in 2026.
The reported $10 billion in annual crypto activity also remains small relative to Iran’s wider economy and trade requirements. Digital assets can improve settlement access, but they do not fully replace banking relationships, trade finance or large-scale foreign-exchange markets.
U.S. sanctions make Iranian crypto transactions risky
Iran’s domestic acceptance of crypto does not override foreign sanctions. The U.S. Treasury considers Iranian digital asset exchanges to be Iranian financial institutions whose property must be blocked when it falls under U.S. jurisdiction.
An official OFAC notice says U.S. persons generally cannot transact with Iranian crypto exchanges unless an exemption or authorization applies. Sanctions obligations apply whether transactions use traditional currency or digital assets.
The exposure can extend beyond U.S. companies. OFAC says non-U.S. financial institutions and other foreign persons may face sanctions for materially supporting designated Iranian exchanges or facilitating certain transactions on their behalf.
In June, Treasury designated Nobitex, Wallex, Bitpin and Ramzinex. The agency accused the platforms of operating in Iran’s financial sector and facilitating activity linked to sanctioned entities.
TRM estimated that the four exchanges handled about $7.7 billion, or 78%, of Iran’s attributed cryptocurrency volume during 2025. Nobitex alone reportedly processed more than half of Iranian digital asset inflows.
Stablecoin freezes limit crypto’s resistance to sanctions
USDT may offer faster cross-border settlement, but Tether can freeze tokens at the issuer level. This makes the stablecoin more controllable than Bitcoin, whose protocol lacks a central issuer with comparable blocking authority.
In April, Tether froze approximately $344 million in USDT held across two Tron addresses linked by U.S. authorities to Iranian state and military networks. As crypto.news previously reported, the wallet freeze targeted funds tied to Iran’s IRGC.
The action showed that blockchain transfers do not automatically place funds beyond sanctions enforcement. Stablecoin issuers, centralized exchanges and compliant intermediaries can restrict addresses or freeze assets when authorities identify prohibited activity.
Washington has since widened its campaign. In related coverage, U.S. authorities intensified actions against Iran-linked cryptocurrency networks while warning companies about digital asset transactions involving sanctioned Iranian entities.
The next developments will depend on whether Iran’s central bank formally confirms the reported policy, publishes settlement rules or licenses specific channels for exporters. Until then, claims that crypto payments have become “completely normalized” remain based on unnamed sources and industry testimony.
Foreign exporters, exchanges and payment providers must separately assess U.S., European and domestic sanctions exposure. Iran’s reported tolerance does not protect an overseas counterparty from asset freezes, secondary sanctions or enforcement in another jurisdiction.
Crypto World
Gemini wins full Singapore crypto payment license
Gemini received a Major Payment Institution license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore on Sept. 9, completing an approval process that lasted almost two years.
Summary
- Gemini received Singapore’s Major Payment Institution license for regulated cryptocurrency and cross-border transfer services Wednesday.
- MAS authorizes Gemini Digital Payments Singapore to provide digital payment token services locally under regulation.
- Major payment institutions operate without standard transaction-volume limits but face broader regulatory obligations in Singapore.
- Gemini transitioned Singapore customers to its locally incorporated entity during April 2025 preparations for licensing.
- Singapore customers can access spot trading, custody and over-the-counter services through Gemini’s licensed local operation.
The license covers Gemini Digital Payments Singapore, the exchange’s locally incorporated entity. The company can provide digital payment token services and cross-border money transfers under Singapore’s Payment Services Act.
Gemini had operated in the country since 2020. MAS granted the company in-principle approval for the MPI license in October 2024, subject to Gemini satisfying the regulator’s remaining conditions.
Gemini’s Singapore license removes standard volume caps
The MAS Financial Institutions Directory lists Gemini Digital Payments Singapore as a licensed major payment institution. Its approved activities include digital payment token and cross-border money transfer services.
An MPI license allows its holder to exceed the transaction limits applied to standard payment institutions. Those thresholds normally restrict the monthly value that a standard institution can process across regulated payment services.
The absence of standard volume caps does not mean Gemini will operate without restrictions. MAS says major payment institutions face more comprehensive regulation because their larger operations can create greater financial and operational risks.
The license requires continued compliance with rules covering anti-money laundering controls, customer due diligence, technology risk and regulatory reporting. Authorization applies to Gemini’s Singapore entity and its approved services, rather than every product offered by the wider Gemini group.
Full approval follows Gemini’s 2024 preliminary license
Gemini received in-principle approval from MAS in October 2024. As crypto.news previously reported, the preliminary approval covered crypto and cross-border payment services while the company worked toward full authorization.
In April 2025, Gemini transferred its Singapore customers from U.S.-based Gemini Trust Company to Gemini Digital Payments Singapore. The local company operated under a temporary exemption while its license application remained under review.
Gemini informed customers through a support notice that the transition would change their contracting entity. Customers had to accept updated user agreements and privacy terms to continue using the platform.
The final license ends Gemini’s reliance on that exempt arrangement for the approved activities. It also places responsibility for regulated Singapore services directly with the local entity.
Gemini will serve retail and institutional customers
Gemini Digital Payments Singapore currently offers spot cryptocurrency trading, custody and over-the-counter services. The company has not announced new products or a launch schedule tied directly to the license.
Gemini President Cameron Winklevoss said the approval “validates” the company’s investment in Singapore. Chief Executive Tyler Winklevoss described the country as a strategic hub for serving retail and institutional customers.
Those statements describe Gemini’s intended regional strategy. The company did not disclose its Singapore customer count, transaction volume or revenue in the license announcement.
The exchange has recently expanded local asset support. In related coverage, Gemini enabled XRP deposits and withdrawals through the XRP Ledger for customers in Singapore, allowing direct transfers without routing them through another supported network.
Singapore maintains selective crypto licensing
Gemini joins other digital asset companies holding MPI licenses in Singapore, including Coinbase, Crypto.com, OKX, Bitstamp and institutional liquidity provider Cumberland.
MAS approved Cumberland’s digital token and cross-border payment services in July. The regulator has also taken action against companies that failed to meet its standards.
Singapore’s licensing framework distinguishes between firms with local authorization and offshore platforms that may be accessible elsewhere. An international exchange’s global operations do not automatically permit it to serve Singapore residents.
Meanwhile, the approval also strengthens Gemini’s position in Asia as regulators apply entity-specific licensing requirements to crypto platforms.
Gemini must now maintain the systems, staffing and controls required by its MPI license. MAS can impose conditions, conduct inspections or take enforcement action if a licensed provider breaches its obligations.
No verified market reaction was available because the announcement concerned Gemini’s private operating subsidiary and did not involve a publicly traded token. The next measurable developments will be any new locally approved products, regional hiring or changes to Gemini’s Singapore services.
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