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Crypto World

Authorities Freeze $41 Million in Crypto Tied to BG Wealth Sharing

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Authorities Freeze $41 Million in Crypto Tied to BG Wealth Sharing

Investment group BG Wealth Sharing, a suspected $150 million crypto Ponzi scheme, has had its domain seized by law enforcement days after allegedly rug-pulling users.

Onchain sleuth ZachXBT said on X on Tuesday that “illicit actors” connected to the group tried to launder more than $92 million in crypto between April 27 and Sunday, but he helped lead an initiative that froze more than $41 million, working alongside Tether, Binance, OKX and US law enforcement.

He also said the scheme was likely responsible for losses greater than $150 million, given it’s been operating since 2025 and the “thousands of victim exchange withdrawals identified.”

“While these Chinese investment frauds are obvious to most, they purposely target unsophisticated retail investors via social media,” ZachXBT added. “Reading through victim posts, many still seem to be in denial that they were scammed.”

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Source: ZachXBT

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation reported in April that American victims lost $21 billion to cyber-enabled crime last year, with crypto investment scams accounting for a large share of the losses.

BG Wealth Sharing domain seized by US law enforcement

As of Wednesday, the BG Wealth Sharing website displays a notice that it was seized by US law enforcement as part of a joint operation between Operation Level Up and the Scam Center Strike Force.

Several regulators had warned that BG Wealth Sharing was an unlicensed entity and advised caution since 2025. In April, the Central Bank of Samoa said it was an investment scam and advised investors to avoid the company.

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A domain linked to BG Wealth Sharing has been seized by US authorities. Source: BG Wealth Sharing 

BG Wealth Sharing, according to authorities, claimed to provide guidance on crypto trading, advertised heavily on social media and offered “daily profit opportunities,” referral commissions, rank-based bonuses and a daily yield of 1.3% to 2.6%.

Related: Google Cloud flags North Korea-linked crypto malware campaign 

One last rug pull before going offline, users say

Before BG Wealth Sharing went offline, purported CEO Stephen Beard told users in a video address Saturday that its DSJ Exchange was on the cusp of an initial public offering and that a 12% tax on account balances was required as part of the regulatory process.

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BG Wealth Sharing CEO Stephen Beard told users a 12% tax on account balances was required as part of an initial public offering process. Source: ZachXBT

By Sunday, users warned on social media that the whole scheme was a rug pull in progress. On Monday, the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions issued a similar warning.

In an update to its earlier post about BG Wealth Sharing, the regulator said it had received complaints from investors and warned that it was likely a scam.

“A company that requires an investor to deposit additional external funds in order to withdraw their investment is highly likely to be operating an advance fee scam.”

Magazine: DeFi’s billion-dollar secret: The insiders responsible for hacks   

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Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.

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Grvt Launches 3 Tokenized Yield Funds Backed by Institutional RWAs

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Crypto Breaking News

Decentralized derivatives platform Grvt is partnering with tokenization specialist Plume to launch three tokenized real-world asset (RWA) yield products. The move integrates fixed-income and structured-credit exposure directly into Grvt’s platform, enabling users to access on-chain yield strategies from self-custodial wallets without moving assets to separate venues.

The products will track tokenized institutional-grade assets, including exposure to the iShares AAA CLO Active ETF, which totals roughly $2.2 billion in assets. The three investment vehicles — Base Yield Fund, Balanced Fund and Opportunistic Fund — will be available inside Grvt’s trading environment, letting users tap into yield strategies from the same wallet they already use for perpetual futures trading.

Plume, which focuses on tokenized real-world assets, provides the on-chain yield infrastructure that underpins these products. Grvt’s announcement notes that the arrangement merges tokenized fixed-income exposure with Plume’s network, expanding the utility of perpetual futures by layering yield opportunities onto the same self-custodial balance.

Perpetual futures contracts, or perps, are a staple for traders seeking to speculate on price movements without owning the underlying asset. Unlike traditional futures, perps carry no expiration, allowing positions to be maintained indefinitely. Grvt’s daily trading activity sits within a wider DeFi ecosystem that processed about $15.2 billion in perpetual DEX volume over the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinGecko, with Grvt handling around $1.23 billion of that turnover.

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In February, Grvt also integrated the Aave lending protocol to let traders earn yield on margin collateral while their perpetual positions remain open, illustrating the platform’s ongoing push to combine on-chain liquidity with yield opportunities.

Key takeaways

  • Grvt and Plume will launch three tokenized RWA yield products — Base Yield Fund, Balanced Fund, and Opportunistic Fund — integrated directly into Grvt’s platform.
  • The products provide exposure to tokenized institutional-grade assets, including about $2.2 billion in iShares AAA CLO Active ETF assets.
  • Access to the yield strategies is designed to occur within self-custodial wallets used for trading, eliminating the need to transfer assets across separate custody or brokerage setups.
  • Overall market activity for perpetual futures remains substantial, with 24-hour DEX volume near $15.2 billion and Grvt contributing roughly $1.23 billion of that total.

RWAs on-chain: scale, momentum and what changes for users

The Grvt–Plume collaboration sits amid a broader surge in tokenized real-world assets, a sector that data provider RWA.xyz puts at more than $34 billion in on-chain value. That figure marks a substantial increase from about $5.8 billion at the start of 2025, underscoring rising institutional interest in on-chain renditions of traditional financial products.

The trend is visible across the crypto ecosystem as exchanges, trading venues, and tokenization firms push to bring asset classes like fixed income, private credit and securitized assets onto blockchains. For readers following the rails that enable these products, the momentum is as much about infrastructure as about novelty — from tokenized funds to on-chain settlement and collateral models that could broaden access to traditional assets for crypto traders and institutions alike.

In context, the market momentum is mirrored by notable cross-sector moves. In March, EtherFi allocated $25 million to Plume’s Nest protocol to provide users with exposure to tokenized yield strategies tied to institutional assets and government securities. Around the same time, BTC Markets signaled plans to approach Australia’s securities regulator for a markets license to offer tokenized RWAs, including equities and bonds. Earlier in February, Binance expanded its tokenized assets by adding tokenized equities and ETFs from Ondo Finance to its Binance Alpha platform. Separately, Securitize announced a collaboration with Hamilton Lane, OKX Ventures and stablecoin infrastructure provider STBL to launch a stablecoin backed by tokenized private credit assets.

Industry observers also point to research from Boston Consulting Group, which in a May report highlighted tokenized funds, collateral and fixed-income products among the digital-asset offerings most likely to gain broader institutional adoption over the coming decade. The shift signals digital assets moving beyond purely speculative trading toward infrastructure that supports payments, settlement and capital markets operations.

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What to watch next: integration, adoption and regulatory signals

The Grvt–Plume integration adds a concrete use case for on-chain yield in a space where tokenized RWAs are increasingly seen as a differentiator for platforms seeking richer, income-generating offerings. For investors and traders, the key questions are how quickly these products scale, what risk controls accompany tokenized fixed income on-chain, and how on-chain yield will interact with broader regulatory expectations as tokenized RWAs grow in prominence.

As ecosystems mature and more venues bring tokenized assets to market, readers should monitor user uptake of these new yield products, the resilience of on-chain yield infrastructure in volatile markets, and any regulatory clarifications that could shape the deployment of tokenized fixed-income strategies across decentralized platforms.

Source data and market figures referenced in this article include CoinGecko for perpetual futures volume and Grvt’s own disclosures, while on-chain asset totals are tracked by RWA.xyz. For context on related ecosystem activity, industry updates point to EtherFi, BTC Markets and Binance’s tokenized equities initiatives, as well as ongoing collaborations like Securitize’s. The broader market outlook from institutions such as Boston Consulting Group frames tokenized RWAs as a meaningful frontier for institutional adoption in the coming years.

Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

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NYT Investigation Exposes CFTC Officials Suspended Over Prediction Markets Scrutiny

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NYT Investigation Exposes CFTC Officials Suspended Over Prediction Markets Scrutiny


A New York Times investigation has uncovered that officials at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) who questioned the agency's approach to prediction markets were subsequently suspended and removed from their positions. The finding sheds light on internal dynamics at the U.S. regulator… Read the full story at The Defiant

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XRPL AMM Proposal Could Improve Liquidity for Tokenized Asset Trades

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Brian Armstrong's Bold Prediction: AI Agents Will Soon Dominate Global Financial

TLDR

  • XRP Ledger developers have proposed a draft AMM Swappable Curves amendment to expand the network’s DeFi tools.
  • The proposal would add constant product, concentrated liquidity, and StableSwap curve options to XRPL AMM pools.
  • The draft would let liquidity providers choose how new pools price trades when the pool is created.
  • Existing XRPL AMM pools would remain unchanged and would not need forced migration.
  • The upgrade could help stablecoin pairs and tokenized assets trade with better capital efficiency.

XRP Ledger has moved closer to a DeFi upgrade that could give liquidity providers more control over how AMM pools price trades.

The XRPL Standards repository published the draft amendment under the title “AMM Swappable Curves,” with the proposal describing a plan to add constant product, concentrated liquidity, and StableSwap curve options to the ledger’s automated market maker.

The draft was authored by XRPL core developers Denis Angell and Roman Thpt. The report said the proposal remains at the draft stage and would need a separate amendment vote before it could activate on the XRP Ledger.

XRPL AMM Proposal Targets Liquidity Design

According to the XRPL Standards discussion, the current XLS-30 AMM uses one constant product model with liquidity spread across the full price range. The proposal says this setup can waste deposited capital when assets usually trade close together, including stablecoins and other correlated pairs.

Under the draft, pool creators would be able to select a curve type when they create a pool. The XRPL Standards proposal says the chosen curve would remain locked for the pool’s lifetime, while older pools would stay on the existing constant product model without forced migration.

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As per the reports, the draft also reserves a fourth curve type called Smart AMM for a later specification. The report said Smart AMM would cover a fully programmable curve model, while the current draft focuses on the three fixed curve designs.

The XRPL documentation describes AMMs as liquidity pools that hold two assets and allow users to swap between them through a formula-based exchange rate. The same documentation says liquidity providers receive LP tokens after depositing assets into an AMM pool.

Stablecoin And RWA Trading Could Benefit

In the proposal’s own explanation, concentrated liquidity would let liquidity providers place funds inside a narrower price range, rather than across every possible price. The XRPL Standards discussion says this design can create more usable depth for each dollar deposited when most trading happens around a specific price zone.

StableSwap, according to the draft, is designed for assets that usually trade near the same value. The proposal lists stablecoins and similar representations of the same asset as examples of markets where this curve type can be useful.

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The timing places the AMM draft beside XRPL’s growing tokenization activity. An earlier report stated that more than $3 billion in tokenized real-world assets are now on the XRP Ledger, including a recent Ripple and JPMorgan-linked tokenized Treasury pilot.

In a separate May 7 report, Ripple, JPMorgan’s Kinexys, Mastercard, and Ondo Finance processed a tokenized U.S. Treasury redemption on XRPL in under five seconds. The report said the pilot involved Ondo’s OUSG tokenized Treasury fund.

XRPL’s AMM has been live since 2024. The XRP Ledger documentation said the AMM amendment was scheduled for mainnet activation on March 22, 2024, adding automated market maker functionality directly to the protocol.

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Spain Blocks Polymarket and Kalshi Over Gambling-Law Rules

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Crypto Breaking News

Spain’s gambling regulator has taken a precautionary step, blocking Spanish users from accessing Kalshi and Polymarket as authorities review whether the prediction-market platforms comply with national gambling laws. The move comes after Spain’s Directorate General for the Regulation of Gambling (DGOJ) announced that the country’s Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption, and Agenda 2030 had opened disciplinary proceedings against the two firms, which allegedly operated without the required licensing.

According to a DGOJ notice issued on Tuesday, Polymarket and Kalshi are blocked from Spanish territories until the proceedings are resolved, a process expected to take three to four months. The agency stressed that, in Spain—and many other European jurisdictions—prediction markets are treated as games of chance when bets are placed on uncertain future outcomes, and therefore require a specific administrative license to operate domestically. This reflects broader regulatory caution around platforms that enable real-money bets on political, economic, or social events.

Key takeaways

  • Spain has temporarily barred Spanish users from Kalshi and Polymarket as regulators pursue licensing-violation proceedings, with a projected resolution window of three to four months.
  • In Spain, prediction markets are treated as games of chance, requiring a license to operate within the country’s borders.
  • The move aligns with a broader, global pattern of regulatory scrutiny and access restrictions on prediction-market platforms, including precedents in Indonesia and several other jurisdictions.
  • In the United States, regulatory attention has intensified: a New York Times report describes internal pushback within the CFTC, while lawmakers in Congress have opened an insider-trading probe into Kalshi and Polymarket.

Global patchwork of regulation tightens around prediction markets

The Spanish decision sits within a wider trend of authorities calibrating how prediction markets should fit within existing gambling or financial-device frameworks. Across Asia, Europe, and beyond, regulators have repeatedly warned that platforms enabling bets on future events may fall under gambling or financial-regulatory regimes, depending on the jurisdiction. The Indonesian authorities, for instance, moved to block Polymarket after the platform listed bets tied to the fate of President Prabowo Subianto. Other countries—including Australia, France, Poland, Singapore, Ukraine, and Switzerland—have also restricted access to Polymarket, with corporate and state-level actions shaping the ability of users to place bets on political and current events.

The regulatory environment is equally consequential for Kalshi and Polymarket, which have grown to become two of the largest prediction-market players by trading volume. Industry trackers put their combined weekly volume in the billions, underscoring the potential scale of user engagement and risk for operators under shifting regulatory mandates. The companies have publicly indicated openness to engaging with authorities, though spokespeople have declined to comment on the Spanish case beyond reiterating their commitment to regulatory dialogue.

US regulatory stance and the question of authority

The policy contours in the United States add another layer of complexity. A New York Times report detailed internal tensions at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), noting that certain officials who questioned the legitimacy or scope of prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket were reportedly reassigned. The CFTC maintains that it holds exclusive authority over such platforms and has pursued lawsuits against state authorities that have challenged that position, a stance that has drawn renewed attention amid ongoing debates about how to regulate rapidly evolving digital markets.

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Beyond federal authorities, the political oversight apparatus in Washington has begun scrutinizing insider trading risks connected to prediction markets. Lawmakers on the House of Representatives’ Oversight and Government Reform Committee announced a probe into Kalshi and Polymarket over allegations of suspicious trades ahead of geopolitical or military events. Committee Chair James Comer cited reports suggesting that certain traders may have profited from information not yet made public, intensifying scrutiny of how these platforms handle information flows and potential conflicts of interest.

The dynamic underscores a tension at the center of the prediction-market debate: the potential for useful forecasting and risk-sharing tools to coexist with a regulatory framework that guards against gambling excesses, market manipulation, or unlicensed operations. As regulators in the U.S. and abroad weigh their options, market participants are watching closely for guidance on licensing pathways, consumer protections, and the permissible scope of event-based betting in regulated jurisdictions.

On the market side, observers note that Polymarket and Kalshi together account for a substantial share of weekly prediction-market activity. DeFi Rate’s aggregation of volume places their combined weekly trading activity in a meaningful, real-time context for traders and developers who build on or rely on indicators derived from these platforms. The ongoing regulatory actions may influence where liquidity migrates, how users evaluate risk, and what kinds of event-based contracts survive in regulated environments.

A Kalshi spokesperson told Cointelegraph that the platform remains focused on constructive engagement with regulators in every jurisdiction, while a Kalshi representative declined to comment further. The DGOJ’s action in Spain demonstrates that, even in a space with strong user demand and notable liquidity, compliance and licensing are likely to remain gating factors for access in multiple markets.

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The regulatory mosaic matters for investors and builders in the space. For traders, it emphasizes the importance of understanding jurisdictional licensing, the potential for abrupt access changes, and the regulatory risk tied to event-driven contracts. For platform operators and developers, it highlights the need to align product design with local legal frameworks, implement robust compliance controls, and anticipate shifts in cross-border accessibility as policymakers refine their approaches to prediction markets and related financial instruments.

Looking ahead, several questions shape the near-term outlook: Will Spain’s licensing proceedings clarify the acceptable scope for domestic prediction markets, and how quickly regulatory processes will translate into concrete licensing decisions? How will the broader international patchwork evolve as more jurisdictions publish guidance or impose restrictions? And in the United States, will the reported internal debates within the CFTC give way to a more unified regulatory stance or further friction between federal authorities and state-level actions?

As the world of prediction markets continues to unfold against a shifting regulatory backdrop, observers should monitor licensing decisions in Spain, the outcomes of Indonesia’s and other countries’ actions, and the responses from U.S. lawmakers and the CFTC. These developments will likely shape how institutions, traders, and developers approach event-based markets in the months ahead.

Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

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World’s Highest IQ Holder Predicts an ‘Insane’ June for Bitcoin and XRP

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Bitcoin and XRP Price Performances. Source: TradingView

YoungHoon Kim, the South Korean influencer claiming the world’s highest IQ at 276, says Bitcoin (BTC) and XRP will turn “insane” in June, with only seven days left on his deadline.

He has built a large audience around bold short-term crypto calls. However, his record shows that most of those forecasts have missed by wide margins on timing or magnitude.

The IQ Claim Behind the Hype

Kim posted on May 26 that “crypto will be insane starting in June” and that his focus is on Bitcoin and XRP. He also claimed a +487% trading return this year.

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In a separate post, he framed the call as “final,” writing that BTC will “start the fire” and XRP will “shock the world” within seven days.

By his count, June 2 is the day to watch, when the man with the highest IQ predicts an insane Bitcoin and XRP price rallies.

Kim says the Official World Record and the World Memory Championships recognize his score.

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However, the United Sigma Intelligence Association, which Kim founded, publicly stated that it did not conduct psychometric evaluations or certify the figure.

“USIA does not conduct psychometric evaluations nor certify IQ scores… We are not a testing or certification body,” read an excerpt in the USIA note.

Independent experts, including members of the Triple Nine Society, have called the 276 number statistically implausible under standard testing norms.

A Record of Missed Crypto Calls

Kim’s prior forecasts have repeatedly failed on timing and magnitude. In late 2025, he predicted Bitcoin would reach $220,000 within 45 days.

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BTC instead traded near $80,000 to $90,000 during that window, in line with BeInCrypto coverage of his earlier Bitcoin call.

He also projected BTC at $100,000 within 48 hours during January and at $300,000 by early 2026. Neither materialized.

His XRP all-time high call for late 2025 also missed, as detailed in earlier reporting on his bullish XRP thesis.

Bitcoin currently trades near $77,084 and XRP near $1.35, with both assets lower on the day.

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Bitcoin and XRP Price Performances. Source: TradingView
Bitcoin and XRP Price Performances. Source: TradingView

That leaves Kim’s “fire” call sharply detached from spot prices heading into June.

Risk Hidden Inside the +487% Return

Kim’s headline +487% number points to a MyFXBook-verified forex account, not a crypto wallet. Public data tied to that account shows a maximum drawdown above 70% and a Sharpe ratio near 0.21.

YoungHoon Kim's Alleged Forex Portfolio. Source: myfxbook
YoungHoon Kim’s Alleged Forex Portfolio. Source: myfxbook

That combination suggests aggressive leverage rather than steady performance.

Past returns on a forex track also offer limited signal for short-term Bitcoin or XRP moves, where macro flows, liquidity, and regulation dominate price action.

A previous BeInCrypto review of one BTC trade move by Kim documented how quickly his entries have unraveled when the market turned.

Therefore, it is impossible to ignore the familiar pattern of vague urgent calls that drive engagement rather than trades.

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Veteran chartist Peter Brandt has offered a sharply opposing Bitcoin outlook, warning of further downside through the summer.

BeInCrypto’s Bitcoin 2026 price outlook also flags structural bearish risks heading into the second half of the year.

June, barely a week out, could deliver Kim’s promised move or become just another missed deadline.

Traders weighing his post should treat the urgency as marketing rather than analysis.

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UK Adds HTX to Russia Sanctions List Over A7, Garantex Ties

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Brian Armstrong's Bold Prediction: AI Agents Will Soon Dominate Global Financial

TLDR

  • The UK government sanctioned HTX over alleged financial services linked to Russia.
  • Authorities said HTX had connections to A7 Limited Liability Company and Garantex Europe OU.
  • The sanctions include an asset freeze, trust services restrictions, and banking limits.
  • UK internet providers and app stores must restrict access to HTX-related services.
  • HTX was already facing FCA legal action over alleged illegal crypto promotions.

UK authorities have sanctioned HTX, formerly Huobi Global, after accusing the crypto exchange of supporting Russia through financial services linked to sanctioned networks.

According to the UK government’s sanctions notice published on May 26, Huobi Global S.A., also identified as HTX, was added under the Russia Sanctions EU Exit Regulations 2019. The notice said authorities had “reasonable grounds to suspect” the Panama-registered exchange had provided financial services or economic resources connected to A7 Limited Liability Company and Garantex Europe OU.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said the government would act against crypto networks and shadow finance systems used to bypass sanctions on Russia. “If the Kremlin thinks it can evade our sanctions by hiding behind crypto networks and shadow financial systems, it is gravely mistaken,” Cooper said in the statement.

The designation places HTX inside the UK’s expanding Russia sanctions regime, which has targeted companies accused of helping Moscow access financial channels after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The UK filing said the action formed part of efforts against entities “exploited by Russia to circumvent UK sanctions.”

UK Targets HTX With Asset Freeze and Service Restrictions

According to the UK sanctions filing, the measures against HTX include an asset freeze, director disqualification sanctions, trust services restrictions, and correspondent banking prohibitions. The notice also blocks UK financial institutions from maintaining correspondent banking links with the designated entity or processing payments connected to it.

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The UK government also imposed internet services sanctions. Under those measures, UK-based internet providers, social media platforms, and app stores must take reasonable steps to restrict access by UK users to HTX-related services and applications.

Authorities named A7 Limited Liability Company and Garantex Europe OU in the statement of reasons tied to HTX. Garantex has previously faced international sanctions scrutiny over alleged illicit finance activity and links to Russia-based financial networks.

At the time of writing, HTX had not issued a public response to the UK designation.

The European Commission also announced crypto-related sanctions in April against stablecoin and digital asset operators linked to Russia and Belarus. Those measures included action connected to A7A5, a stablecoin tied to Russian-linked financial activity.

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FCA Case Adds to HTX’s UK Regulatory Pressure

The latest sanctions add to HTX’s existing problems with UK authorities. In 2025, the Financial Conduct Authority opened legal proceedings against the exchange over alleged illegal crypto promotions aimed at UK consumers.

According to the FCA, HTX promoted crypto services across TikTok, X, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube without following UK marketing rules. The watchdog said the activity breached restrictions designed to control how crypto products are advertised to local users.

The UK government’s May 26 action shows that HTX now faces both regulatory and sanctions pressure in the country. While the FCA case focused on consumer promotions, the sanctions notice tied the exchange to financial services allegedly connected to Russia’s sanctioned economic networks.

In Russia, lawmakers advanced digital asset bills in April that would tighten control over crypto activity inside the country. The proposals included possible criminal penalties for unlicensed digital asset services and registration requirements with the Russian central bank.

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Russian lawmakers also passed first-reading measures that would limit retail investor access to certain crypto products and reinforce the country’s ban on digital asset payments. Those developments came as Western governments continued to pressure crypto platforms accused of helping sanctioned entities move funds.

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TeraWulf Buys entucky Site for 1 GW AI Data Center Expansion

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TeraWulf Buys entucky Site for 1 GW AI Data Center Expansion

Bitcoin miner TeraWulf has acquired a large data center development site in the US state of Kentucky, adding significant capacity to its artificial intelligence and high-performance computing (HPC) business as miners continue diversifying beyond Bitcoin.

TeraWulf said Tuesday the site could eventually support more than 1 gigawatt of AI and HPC capacity. The company expects the first 500 megawatts to come online in 2028, with another 500 megawatts targeted by 2030.

The site includes planned grid infrastructure and long-term power agreements, underscoring TeraWulf’s ongoing shift toward AI and HPC hosting alongside its traditional Bitcoin mining operations.

The acquisition comes as TeraWulf’s HPC-related revenue jumped 117% in the most recent quarter, driven largely by its Western New York Lake Mariner facility, one of North America’s largest HPC campuses. Despite revenue growth, the company posted a wider quarterly loss as it continues to invest heavily in AI infrastructure.

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Source: Rittenhouse Research

Its AI strategy is backed by a $3 billion financing deal arranged through Morgan Stanley and announced last September to support data center expansion. Google is helping backstop the debt financing.

TeraWulf is among several Bitcoin mining companies expanding into AI and high-performance computing as margins in the mining sector come under pressure. Others pursuing similar strategies include Hut 8, HIVE Digital, MARA Holdings and IREN.

Related: TeraWulf misses Q4 2025 estimates as Bitcoin mining revenue falls

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WULF stock rises on data center expansion news

News of the Kentucky site acquisition boosted TeraWulf (WULF) shares on Tuesday, as investors bet the deal would strengthen the company’s AI and high-performance computing expansion strategy.

The stock rose as much as 13.6% in early New York trading, climbing to nearly $26 per share, its highest level in almost three weeks. Shares of industry tracker CoinShares Bitcoin Mining ETF (WGMI) were up 4.5% at last look. TeraWulf is the third-largest holding, at 10.86%, in that exchange-traded fund.

TeraWulf has been among the best-performing crypto mining stocks this year, with shares up nearly 120% since the start of 2026. The rally has been driven largely by investor optimism around the company’s AI infrastructure business, growing HPC-related revenue and broader demand for data center capacity tied to artificial intelligence workloads.

Terawulf (WULF) stock. Source: Yahoo Finance

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The gains have significantly outpaced the broader crypto mining sector, the S&P 500 index and much of the traditional technology sector.

Related: Crypto Biz: Institutions tighten their grip on Bitcoin, AI and prediction markets

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Binance Finds a Backdoor to Return Into the Philippines After Its 2024 Ban

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Binance Finds a Backdoor to Return Into the Philippines After Its 2024 Ban

Binance has partnered with Philippine fintech BlockShoals Technologies to return to the Southeast Asian market through a regulatory sandbox. The deal arrives years after the local Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) moved to block the exchange.

Announced Tuesday, the deal names BlockShoals as the approved local Crypto Asset Intermediary under the SEC’s StratBox sandbox. Binance contributes global technology, security systems, and compliance experience.

Inside the Binance Philippines Sandbox Setup

BlockShoals, a Philippine-incorporated company, secured in-principle SEC approval under Memorandum Circular No. 9 in November 2025.

The StratBox framework allows new digital-asset models to be tested under supervision, mirroring other Philippine crypto regulation moves.

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The testing window starts in the second half of 2026 and runs for at least two years. BlockShoals serves as the locally accountable participant.

Binance supplies infrastructure, product capabilities, and operational support from other regulated markets.

“The Philippines is one of the most dynamic digital economies in Southeast Asia, with a highly engaged and digitally native population that continues to drive adoption of emerging financial technologies,” read an excerpt in the announcement, citing Seker, Head of APAC at Binance.

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Why the 2024 Block Happened

The Philippine SEC first warned investors after a 12-page Infrawatch complaint in 2022.

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“…we pray that this Honorable Commission undertakes the following actions: Conduct motu proprio proceedings on the illegal operations of Binance in the Philippines; Issue a cease and desist order to stop all operations of Binance, its affiliates, and partners in the Philippines; Impose the maximum fine or penalty against Binance and its workforce; and Reject any and all future applications of Binance and/or Binance affiliates to register with the SEC,” Infrawatch PH, a Filipino think tank,” wrote to the SEC.

The regulator then moved to ban Binance entirely in March 2024 over unregistered securities offerings and absent local licensing.

App stores then removed Binance from Philippine listings, though many users kept access through VPNs. The sandbox route is the company’s first compliance-led pathway back.

Operational responsibility now sits with a domestic counterpart rather than an offshore entity.

The Philippines has planned a CBDC launch and tightened broader oversight, placing it among Asia’s more structured crypto markets.

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Whether the trial earns a full Crypto Asset Service Provider authorization depends on BlockShoals meeting milestones over two years.

The post Binance Finds a Backdoor to Return Into the Philippines After Its 2024 Ban appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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The Hidden Bitcoin Bull Signal Buried in Wall Street’s Big Short

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Rising short positions across American stocks are starting to shape a different conversation around Bitcoin’s role in global markets.

According to CryptoQuant contributor XWIN Japan, a market increasingly built on hedging, concentrated AI trades, and heavy leverage could push more institutional capital toward BTC if liquidity conditions improve later in the year.

Wall Street Hedging and Bitcoin’s Changing Behavior

XWIN Japan argued in a market update published earlier today that the rise in US equity short interest does not necessarily point to outright bearish sentiment. Instead, hedge funds appear to be stacking defensive positions while keeping long exposure intact.

Per the crypto research institution, hedge fund gross leverage has climbed to around 293%, alongside record S&P 500 short exposure and elevated Days-to-Cover metrics.

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Much of that pressure appears tied to heavy concentration in a handful of AI-related megacap stocks, while weaker sectors and smaller companies have been attracting shorter bets.

That backdrop matters for Bitcoin because it has historically traded closely with equities during market panics. For example, during the COVID-19 selloff in 2020, BTC fell alongside stocks rather than acting as a safe haven.

But according to XWIN, that relationship started to shift in 2025. While the S&P 500 has traded in a relatively tight range, BTC has shown larger swings tied to ETF demand, leverage activity, and crypto-native liquidity flows.

It concluded that going forward, Bitcoin may become a hybrid asset, still exposed to macro liquidity conditions, but more capable of moving on its own terms.

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“If future conditions include Fed easing, weaker dollar conditions, and renewed ETF inflows,” XWIN wrote, “Bitcoin could become a secondary liquidity destination rather than simply a correlated tech-like asset.”

The OG crypto asset had fallen over the weekend to around $74,000 but rebounded above $77,000 as reports suggested developments toward a potential ceasefire agreement between the USA and Iran.

But as of the time of writing, data on CoinGecko showed it had dropped back below $77,000 by a few hundred dollars, leaving it down almost 30% over the past year.

On-Chain Activity Cools While Traders Watch Key Levels

Meanwhile, the current consolidation phase has seen Bitcoin’s network activity drop off sharply, with crypto analyst Ali Martinez revealing that active addresses fell nearly 40% in two weeks, from 821,000 to 494,000.

According to him, weaker activity during sideways price action often indicates short-term traders leaving the market, while longer-term holders retain supply.

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He added that derivatives traders are increasingly positioned for a breakout, with funding rates recently touching 0.4%, their highest level in more than two months. On-chain data also showed large holders redistributing more than 18,000 BTC during the consolidation period.

Martinez identified resistance around $78,000 and support near $76,000, with a move above resistance, in his opinion, possibly opening the door toward $85,000, while losing support may send Bitcoin toward the mid-$60,000 range.

The post The Hidden Bitcoin Bull Signal Buried in Wall Street’s Big Short appeared first on CryptoPotato.

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Bitcoin Price Cycle Debate Grows as Cowen Warns Bottom Is Not In

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TLDR

  • Benjamin Cowen said Bitcoin is still following its historical four-year cycle.
  • Cowen argued that Bitcoin has not reached its final market bottom yet.
  • Bitcoin’s rebound to $82,800 stalled near the 200-day simple moving average.
  • Cowen compared the latest rejection with similar patterns seen in 2018 and 2022.
  • Analyst Sykodelic expects Bitcoin to rally above $90,000 in June.

Bitcoin has remained within its historical four-year cycle, according to Into The Cryptoverse founder and CEO Benjamin Cowen, who says the latest rebound has not confirmed a market bottom.

Cowen said in a recent post on X that Bitcoin’s current structure still fits the cycle pattern that has guided previous bull and bear market phases. He argued that Bitcoin respected the four-year cycle during its October 2025 peak near $126,200, so traders should not assume the bottom will break from the same timeline.

The analyst said past Bitcoin bear markets ended late in midterm years, including November 2022 and December 2018. Based on that comparison, Cowen maintained that the latest decline has not reached its final low.

His comments came after Bitcoin recovered to a multi-month high of $82,800. While some traders viewed the move as evidence that selling pressure had eased, Cowen treated the rebound as another part of the same cycle.

Cowen Says Bitcoin Has Not Reached Its Final Low

According to Cowen, Bitcoin’s market cycle peak and bottom return-on-investment charts continue to follow earlier patterns. He said the bottom ROI has stayed close to prior cycle behavior, even though Bitcoin has not delivered the same size of gains seen in older cycles.

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Cowen also said Bitcoin’s ROI from the previous cycle peak has held up better than in some past bear markets. However, he added that the chart still shows similar behavior to previous cycle declines.

In his view, the latest rally did not weaken the bear-market case. Cowen said Bitcoin’s move to $82,800 stopped near the 200-day simple moving average in early May. He compared that level with similar rejections in 2018 and 2022, which came before Bitcoin made another downward move.

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The analyst also pushed back against claims that the current consolidation has lasted too long for another decline to follow. Cowen said previous countertrend rallies continued for more than 20 weeks, while the latest one has lasted about 16 weeks.

With those comparisons, Cowen said there is still enough evidence to support the four-year cycle view. He expects Bitcoin to remain under pressure until later in the year, based on the timing of prior market bottoms.

Analysts Split Over Bitcoin’s Next Move

In an earlier analysis, Cowen said Bitcoin’s next leg lower could begin this month and continue into June. He projected that the move could take Bitcoin below its February 6 low of $60,000 before the market forms a stronger base.

Several market analysts have treated the February 6 level as the cycle bottom, but Cowen disagreed with that view. He said Bitcoin’s historical cycle timing leaves room for another decline before the final low appears.

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Meanwhile, analyst Sykodelic offered a different outlook. Sykodelic said Bitcoin could rally in June and move above $90,000 after retesting its break-of-structure level.

The split leaves traders watching whether Bitcoin can move past the 200-day simple moving average with strength. For Cowen, failure at that level keeps the historical-cycle argument alive. For analysts with a bullish outlook, a June move above $90,000 would challenge his bearish timeline.

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