Key Takeaways

• Bitcoin slipped beneath the $63,000 threshold following escalating Middle East geopolitical concerns that dampened risk appetite across digital asset markets
• Approximately $4 billion in leveraged long contracts are concentrated around the $59,000 annual support level, creating potential for cascading liquidations
• Digital asset liquidations exceeded $1 billion, with long position holders bearing the majority of financial losses
• Mid-tier Bitcoin holder deposits to exchanges reached their lowest point since early April, signaling reduced immediate selling pressure
• Market analyst Ted Pillows forecasted a lower peak near $74,000 that could trigger one final capitulation event before meaningful recovery begins

Bitcoin tumbled beneath the $63,000 price point on June 19 as escalating Israel-Lebanon geopolitical tensions prompted traders to reduce exposure across cryptocurrency markets. The leading digital asset touched an intraday floor around $62,500 after retreating from a session peak of $65,944.

The decline coincided with Israeli military operations expanding into southern Lebanese territory and ongoing diplomatic negotiations. Israeli authorities released updated territorial control maps indicating broader military presence, contradicting aspects of the recently signed U.S.-Iran diplomatic framework that outlined cessation of hostilities across multiple fronts.

Ethereum experienced parallel weakness, surrendering the $1,700 price threshold. ETH changed hands near $1,677, with market participants monitoring the $1,580 support area for potential stabilization.

According to CoinGlass data, cryptocurrency-wide liquidations surpassed $1 billion in response to the geopolitical developments. Leveraged long positions absorbed the preponderance of losses. While 24-hour liquidation volumes moderated to approximately $560 million, the bearish momentum remained evident.

Cryptocurrency analyst Ted Pillows shared a pessimistic market outlook via X, cautioning that Bitcoin has not yet established its cycle bottom. His analysis suggests a lower high formation could materialize around $74,000 — a critical resistance zone since the first quarter of 2024 — preceding Bitcoin’s ultimate downside move. This perspective reinforces the prevailing cautious sentiment reflected in current market metrics.

Concentrated Liquidation Risks Near $59,000 Support

Bitcoin’s rebound effort stalled before reaching the daily fair-value gap spanning $67,500 to $70,500. Both the 50-day and 100-day exponential moving averages maintain downward pressure, while BTC violated an ascending channel pattern on the four-hour timeframe.

Over $4 billion in aggregate leveraged long positions are concentrated near the $59,000 price level. Should Bitcoin test this zone, forced position closures could intensify downward momentum. The subsequent major liquidity concentration exists around $68,000, where cumulative positions exceed $4.75 billion.

The Relative Strength Index approaches oversold conditions. Additional movement toward annual lows could drive the indicator below 30, a threshold historically associated with pronounced relief rallies.

Analyst Killa proposed that Bitcoin might front-run the liquidity accumulation below $60,000 rather than executing a complete sweep. Trader LP similarly advised against excessive bearishness, identifying signals of potential bottom formation during late June.

Exchange Deposits Decline to Multi-Month Lows

CryptoQuant analyst Amr Taha documented that mid-tier BTC inflows to major exchanges declined concurrently across Binance, Coinbase, and Coinbase Prime on June 19. Binance registered approximately 3,500 BTC in deposits, Coinbase observed nearly 3,000 BTC, and Coinbase Prime recorded roughly 1,700 BTC — representing the lowest aggregate inflows since April 4.

Diminished exchange deposits indicate fewer coins are being staged for immediate liquidation. Mid-sized holders are curtailing transfers to trading platforms while BTC hovers around $62,000.

The annual low of $59,000 continues to represent the critical threshold commanding trader attention.

Key Takeaways

• Charles Schwab has announced a collaboration with Cboe Global Markets to introduce binary options contracts based on S&P 500 outcomes
• These contracts function as yes-or-no instruments, delivering either a predetermined payout or expiring with no value
• A potential “Plus Zone” mechanism may provide traders with partial returns when predictions come close to the actual outcome
• The brokerage follows in the footsteps of Coinbase and Robinhood, both of which have introduced prediction-based offerings
• The prediction markets industry continues to navigate regulatory challenges from the CFTC and Congressional lawmakers

Charles Schwab is making its debut in the prediction markets arena with an innovative product that enables clients to wager on whether the S&P 500 index will finish above or below a specified price point.

The financial services giant is collaborating with Cboe Global Markets on this initiative, which sources indicate could become available to retail customers in the coming months, based on reporting from the Wall Street Journal released on Friday.

Different from platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi that provide futures-based contracts across diverse events, Schwab’s offering will operate as a binary option instrument. These contracts deliver a predetermined cash settlement or become worthless, determined entirely by whether the prediction proves accurate.

Schwab and Cboe are exploring the addition of a “Plus Zone” component to their product. This innovation would enable participants to collect a proportional payout when their forecast approaches the final market close, even without hitting the exact target price.

Both organizations have explored broadening the product lineup beyond just the S&P 500, potentially incorporating additional financial indexes and market benchmarks. Schwab has made clear its intention to limit these offerings exclusively to events with objectively verifiable outcomes within financial markets, steering clear of political elections or sporting events.

Schwab Joins Coinbase and Robinhood in Prediction Trading

This move doesn’t make Schwab the pioneer among established financial institutions entering this territory. Coinbase and Robinhood have already introduced prediction market offerings within the past several months.

Kalshi and Polymarket, currently the dominant players in prediction markets, already provide event-based contracts linked to S&P 500 movements. Industry analysts project the entire prediction markets sector could achieve $1 trillion in yearly trading volume by the year 2030.

Schwab has been actively diversifying into cryptocurrency services. The company rolled out spot Bitcoin and Ethereum trading capabilities for its retail customer base in May 2026. During the first quarter of 2026, Schwab reported net income totaling $2.5 billion.

Regulatory Environment Remains Uncertain

Prediction market platforms are experiencing heightened examination from regulators at multiple government levels.

Numerous state gaming commissions have questioned the legality of platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket offering contracts on sports events. Congressional representatives have additionally expressed concerns regarding the possibility of government officials exploiting privileged information for personal gain on these platforms.

A Republican legislator has put forward legislation to prohibit insider trading on prediction markets, although the proposed bill would exclude White House personnel from its provisions.

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, led by Chair Michael Selig, has maintained that event contracts on prediction markets should be classified as “swaps,” which would grant the agency sole regulatory jurisdiction over them.

Several ongoing legal disputes involving Kalshi, Polymarket, and the CFTC remain unresolved in the courts.

Schwab’s entrance into this market segment represents a notable evolution for an established brokerage institution, effectively introducing prediction market-style instruments to mainstream retail investors.

The Philippine SEC has reinforced its support for real-world asset tokenization as four companies, including a tokenized real estate project, advance through its regulatory sandbox.

Speaking at Philippine Blockchain Week 2026, SEC Commissioner Rogelio Quevedo said the regulator is now confident that existing laws and its regulatory framework can accommodate tokenized assets.

According to Quevedo, the SEC believes tokenization can introduce new forms of capital market activity and could eventually transform how securities are issued and traded.

During the event, Quevedo said the agency had reached a point where it was comfortable overseeing tokenized products within the country’s existing legal structure. He added that asset tokenization could encourage financial innovation while creating new opportunities for investors and market participants.

The comments come as the SEC continues to expand its use of StratBox, a regulatory sandbox that allows financial technology firms to test products and business models under direct supervision.

Sandbox participants are already testing tokenized products

According to the SEC, StratBox gives regulators the ability to temporarily modify or waive certain regulatory requirements for individual participants while products are being tested. The agency has stressed that sandbox participation does not exempt companies from existing laws and cannot be used to bypass regulatory obligations.

In November 2025, the SEC disclosed that four companies had been admitted into the program. According to the regulator, one participant was testing a tokenized real estate offering, while two others were evaluating products designed to provide access to United States equities. The SEC also granted BlockShoals Technologies in-principle approval to test crypto-related products and services within the sandbox environment.

Separately, Quevedo argued in a recent interview that tokenized investment products could help overseas Filipino workers gain access to regulated investment opportunities. He said many overseas workers have available capital but often struggle to identify legitimate ways to grow their savings, leaving them vulnerable to fraudulent investment schemes.

At the same time, Quevedo said the SEC has strengthened its enforcement capabilities as digital asset activity expands. According to his remarks, the regulator is using artificial intelligence tools to identify investment scams and is working with major online platforms, including Google and TikTok, to remove illegal offerings targeting Filipino investors.

Crypto oversight is tightening alongside tokenization efforts

While the SEC continues to explore tokenization, the country’s central bank, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, has introduced stricter requirements for virtual asset service providers operating in the country.

Under new guidance from the central bank, VASPs must implement more extensive due diligence procedures before listing cryptocurrencies for customers.

The BSP said exchanges should evaluate digital assets based on issuer background, market maturity, use cases, transparency and security standards, liquidity conditions, and legal compliance before making them available on their platforms.

Licensing requirements have also remained a focus for regulators. According to reporting by BitPinas, the BSP recently said neither Binance nor BlockShoals currently holds a virtual asset service provider license, a requirement for firms offering crypto payment and transaction services in the Philippines.

The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has indicated it is prepared to regulate tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs), arguing that the Philippines has both the legal basis and supervisory mindset to handle the technology. SEC Commissioner Rogelio Quevedo made the comments during Philippine Blockchain Week 2026, framing tokenized assets as a potential catalyst for innovation in the capital markets while also improving investor protection.

In remarks shared with Cointelegraph, Quevedo said the SEC is “now fully convinced” that the country has the right laws and regulatory readiness to support asset tokenization. He also tied the development to a pressing local problem: scams that target overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) searching for legitimate places to invest. According to Quevedo, regulated tokenized investment products could offer OFWs a clearer path to putting their capital to work.

Key takeaways

• The Philippine SEC, through Commissioner Rogelio Quevedo, says the regulator believes the legal and regulatory groundwork for RWA tokenization is in place.
• Quevedo positioned tokenization not only as market modernization, but also as a tool to help combat investment scams that exploit OFWs.
• The SEC’s StratBox regulatory sandbox underpins how new financial products can be tested under supervision before broader rollout.
• Quevedo said the SEC is using artificial intelligence to identify and pursue illegal investment offerings online, including coordination efforts with major platforms.

Why tokenization is now on the SEC’s radar

Quevedo’s comments suggest the SEC is shifting from treating tokenization as a theoretical or emerging concept to viewing it as something that can fit within existing regulatory structures. Speaking at Philippine Blockchain Week 2026, he said the commission has the “proper law” and the appropriate regulatory experience to accept asset tokenization.

For investors and market participants, that matters because tokenization changes how ownership, settlement, and distribution of assets can be structured—especially when dealing with traditionally illiquid instruments like real estate or other hard-to-trade claims. A regulator that signals readiness can influence how quickly compliant issuers and platforms develop products, and it can also clarify expectations for disclosures, oversight, and investor safeguards.

Regulation as investor protection: focus on OFWs

Beyond capital markets modernization, Quevedo linked tokenized offerings to the protection of a specific group that has faced repeated targeting: OFWs. He told Cointelegraph that OFWs often have capital but lack knowledge about where to place their money productively, making them vulnerable to fraudulent schemes promising returns.

By highlighting regulated tokenized investment products as a more legitimate alternative, the SEC’s messaging aligns tokenization with a broader enforcement goal: reducing the gap between where consumers look for returns and the regulated channels that can safely meet that demand. In practice, this implies that the SEC is likely to scrutinize not just the technology, but also the marketing, product structure, and distribution model—especially for services marketed to Filipino investors abroad.

Using enforcement and AI to target scams

Quevedo said the SEC is better prepared to oversee emerging technologies because it has expanded enforcement capabilities. He also stated that the regulator is using artificial intelligence to identify “unscrupulous scams,” and that it is working with major online platforms—including Google and TikTok—to remove illegal investment offerings.

This is a significant signal for participants in the tokenization ecosystem. While asset tokenization is frequently discussed as a fintech or blockchain innovation, the real-world outcome for investors often depends on whether enforcement can keep pace with online distribution of fraudulent products. The SEC’s emphasis on AI-assisted investigations and platform cooperation indicates a strategy aimed at reducing the scale and reach of scam operations that rely on rapid online promotion.

Quevedo’s stance also fits into the SEC’s ongoing efforts to pursue unregistered investment schemes in the Philippines, an activity noted in the same Cointelegraph framing of the regulator’s broader posture.

StratBox and the roadmap for testing tokenized products

The SEC’s direction on tokenization builds on its Strategic Sandbox, known as StratBox. According to documentation from the SEC, StratBox is designed to let fintech companies test new products and business models in a live but controlled environment, under regulatory supervision. The framework permits the SEC—within the scope of its legal authority—to waive or modify certain regulatory requirements for individual sandbox participants.

However, Quevedo’s remarks do not suggest that the sandbox is a free pass. The StratBox structure also makes clear that participation does not automatically exempt a company from existing laws, and it cannot be used to bypass legal or regulatory obligations outside the boundaries of the sandbox arrangement.

That structure is particularly relevant for tokenized RWAs because the main compliance questions typically involve who can issue tokenized instruments, what disclosures are required, how custody and transfer mechanics are supervised, and how investor rights are protected. A supervised testing environment can reduce uncertainty for both regulators and market entrants—allowing regulators to observe real behavior while testing whether existing rules can accommodate the technology.

The StratBox approach has already been used for fintech experimentation. In November 2025, the SEC said four companies were admitted to the sandbox, including one testing a tokenized real estate offering. Two participants were exploring access to United States equities, and BlockShoals Technologies reportedly received in-principle approval to test crypto-related products and services—each showing that tokenized or crypto-adjacent infrastructure continues to fall within the sandbox’s practical scope.

For the market, the key question now is how the SEC intends to translate sandbox learning into clearer, repeatable guidance for tokenized RWAs. Tokenization can involve multiple parties—platforms, issuers, and intermediaries—so regulatory clarity on roles and responsibilities will be crucial for scaling compliant projects beyond pilots.

Readers should watch how the SEC follows up on Commissioner Quevedo’s readiness statement: whether additional sandbox admissions focus specifically on real-world asset tokenization, and whether the regulator’s AI- and platform-backed enforcement efforts expand in parallel as tokenized products gain visibility in the Philippines.

Bitcoin has climbed more than 2% to $63,770 after a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah helped ease market fears and pushed oil prices toward an 8% weekly decline.

According to crypto.news data, Bitcoin (BTC) price climbed 2.4% to an intraday high of $63,770 on June 20 before easing slightly to around $63,600. The move followed a 7% decline from the June 15 high near $67,200 to a local low around $62,300 on June 18, a drop that coincided with ETF outflows, geopolitical uncertainty, and a broader flight from risk assets.

Fresh optimism emerged after reports that Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to a ceasefire scheduled to begin Friday. Reuters cited a U.S. official confirming the agreement, while Iranian officials signaled readiness to resume diplomacy with Washington if the terms are respected.

The developments reduced immediate fears of a wider regional conflict and helped drive crude oil prices toward an 8% weekly decline, with Brent and WTI benchmarks trading near multi-week lows.

Safe-haven assets such as gold and silver also lost momentum as investors rotated capital into higher-risk assets. Gold fell 1.6% over the past 24 hours while silver dropped roughly 2%, coinciding with Bitcoin’s recovery from weekly lows.

Options positioning and short covering add fuel to rebound

Derivatives traders have turned a technical bounce into a recovery rally. A large options expiry may also be contributing to the move. Nearly $10.6 billion in Bitcoin options are set to expire on June 26, with market participants closely watching the event after reports showed a significant portion of open interest sits above current prices.

The recovery has also forced short sellers to reduce exposure after Bitcoin briefly entered oversold territory following the June 18 selloff. Such conditions often trigger short-covering activity, where traders buy back borrowed assets to close bearish positions, adding upward pressure to BTC price.

CoinGlass liquidation data shows one of the largest nearby liquidation clusters sits around the $64,000-$65,000 area, directly above current prices.

Additional liquidity pockets are visible near $66,000, suggesting that a sustained push higher could trigger another round of forced short liquidations and accelerate volatility.

Institutional flows remain mixed. SoSoValue data shows that U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded more than $226 million in net outflows this week, extending a broader withdrawal trend that has persisted since mid-May. Although those flows remain a headwind, the pace of selling has slowed compared with the panic seen over the previous weeks.

A breakout above $64,700 could open a path toward $80,000

The technical picture has improved considerably on both daily and four-hour timeframes.

On the four-hour chart, Bitcoin is trading inside a symmetrical triangle formed by a descending resistance trendline from the June 15 peak and a rising support trendline extending from the June 5 low. Price has compressed toward the apex of the pattern, a structure that often precedes a large directional move.

The key breakout level sits near $64,760. A decisive move above that area would place Bitcoin above both the triangle resistance and a major Fibonacci retracement level. The measured move target from the pattern projects toward the $79,000-$80,000 region, which also aligns with resistance near the upper Fibonacci extension visible on the chart.

Daily momentum indicators have started to improve. The MACD histogram has printed consecutive higher readings after a prolonged decline, while the RSI has recovered from near-oversold conditions and climbed back above 38. Chaikin Money Flow remains slightly negative but has begun turning upward, suggesting selling pressure has eased compared with earlier in the month.

The bullish outlook would weaken if Bitcoin loses the triangle’s ascending support and falls below $62,000.

CoinGlass heatmap data shows a large concentration of liquidity around $61,800-$62,000, making that zone an important battleground for traders. A breakdown beneath it could expose the June low near $59,200 and shift momentum back in favor of bears.

Beyond the charts, traders continue to monitor U.S.-Iran negotiations, Federal Reserve policy expectations, and ETF flows. Any renewed escalation in the Middle East, a rebound in oil prices, or another wave of institutional selling could limit Bitcoin’s recovery and delay a breakout attempt.

The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has indicated it is prepared to regulate the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs), arguing that the legal and supervisory framework needed for the next wave of capital-markets infrastructure is already in place. Speaking at Philippine Blockchain Week 2026, SEC Commissioner Rogelio Quevedo said he believes the regulator now has the “proper law” and the “proper regulatory mind and background” to support asset tokenization.

Quevedo’s comments also tied tokenization to a consumer-protection goal: expanding legitimate investment channels for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), who often have capital but limited avenues to put it to work safely. He said enhanced enforcement—including the use of artificial intelligence—has improved the SEC’s ability to respond to scams, and that the agency is working with major online platforms to remove illegal offerings.

Key takeaways

• The Philippine SEC signaled readiness for regulated RWA tokenization, with Commissioner Rogelio Quevedo saying the legal and regulatory groundwork is in place.
• Quevedo framed tokenized products as a potential way to offer more legitimate investment options for OFWs amid persistent scam activity.
• The SEC is leveraging enforcement tools, including AI, and collaborating with online platforms to target fraudulent investment promotions.
• The SEC’s Strategic Sandbox (StratBox) provides a controlled environment for fintech firms to test new models while remaining subject to existing laws.

Tokenization positioned as innovation—and protection

Quevedo said the SEC’s confidence in tokenized assets stems from both legal authority and operational capacity. In his remarks, he suggested that asset tokenization could stimulate broader innovation within the capital markets and potentially reshape how exchanges function, describing the technology as having the potential to “revolutionize” stock exchange activity.

Just as important to the commissioner’s framing was investor protection. According to Quevedo, many OFWs have funds available but may struggle to identify credible investment routes. He pointed to scams that promise returns and target Filipinos looking for ways to grow their money. By supporting tokenized investment products within a regulatory structure, the SEC appears to be aiming to reduce the gap between where investors want to deploy capital and the quality of products available to them.

Quevedo also highlighted the regulator’s enforcement evolution. He said the SEC is using artificial intelligence to pursue “unscrupulous scams” and is coordinating with platforms such as Google and TikTok to remove illegal investment offerings. That combination—technology-assisted monitoring alongside platform-level takedowns—signals a more aggressive approach to combating fraudulent activity in parallel with any move toward tokenization.

StratBox: testing new models under SEC supervision

Quevedo’s statements build on the SEC’s existing sandbox mechanism, known as the Strategic Sandbox (StratBox). The framework, described in an SEC memorandum circular, is designed to let fintech companies test new products and business models in a live environment while remaining under regulatory supervision. The SEC may waive or modify certain regulatory requirements for individual sandbox participants—within the boundaries of its legal authority.

Just as the sandbox can offer flexibility, it does not create a blanket exemption. Participation does not automatically excuse firms from complying with applicable laws, and the sandbox cannot be used to sidestep legal or regulatory obligations. For investors and market participants, that distinction is crucial: tokenization may be explored in controlled conditions, but compliance expectations remain in view.

Earlier sandbox admissions hint at tokenization’s direction

The SEC’s sandbox approach has already included test cases relevant to tokenization and digital-finance workflows. In November 2025, the SEC said four companies were admitted to the StratBox, including one testing a tokenized real estate offering. Other participants were reported to be testing access to United States equities, while BlockShoals Technologies received in-principle approval to test crypto-related products and services, as described in coverage of the SEC sandbox process.

These prior admissions suggest the SEC’s sandbox is being used not only to observe digital finance features in isolation, but to evaluate how tokenized or crypto-adjacent models might interact with traditional investment access and regulatory expectations. At the same time, the commissioner’s 2026 remarks indicate that tokenization is no longer just an experimental topic—it is now being discussed as a policy priority backed by institutional readiness.

Why the SEC’s position matters for Philippine capital markets

If the SEC follows through on its readiness narrative, tokenization could become a more structured part of the Philippines’ capital-market development rather than a purely offshore or unregulated trend. For potential issuers, the key takeaway is that the regulator is signaling willingness to accommodate asset tokenization under a framework that includes legal structure, supervision, and enforcement capability.

For investors—especially those with cross-border ties—this could translate into a wider menu of regulated investment options. Quevedo’s remarks about OFWs underscore that the SEC is explicitly thinking about who is most exposed to scam targeting and what kinds of legitimate products might reduce that vulnerability. The enforcement emphasis, including AI-assisted pursuit of fraudulent schemes and engagement with large social and search platforms, also signals that the SEC is trying to close the channel through which illegal offerings are often promoted.

However, the sandbox model also implies a measured pace. Because StratBox participants are expected to remain subject to existing laws, tokenization in practice will likely advance through controlled pilots and specific approvals rather than open-ended experimentation. The details of how specific tokenized products would be authorized and supervised—especially across categories such as real estate, equities access, and other RWAs—remain for future regulatory guidance and individual approvals.

Readers should watch for how the SEC translates commissioner-level confidence into concrete licensing, product rules, and sandbox outcomes—particularly whether tokenized real estate and tokenized market access cases move from controlled testing toward broader authorization. Equally, the SEC’s use of AI and platform cooperation will be a key indicator of how quickly enforcement can keep pace with any expansion of tokenized offerings.

The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission  (SEC) has signaled that the country is ready to accommodate the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs), with Commissioner Rogelio Quevedo saying he believes the necessary legal and regulatory foundations are in place. 

Speaking onstage at the Philippine Blockchain Week 2026, Quevedo said the SEC was “now fully convinced that we have the proper law [and] the proper regulatory mind and background” to accept asset tokenization. He said the technology could spur innovation in the capital markets and “revolutionize” stock exchanges. 

In an interview with Cointelegraph, Quevedo said tokenized investment products could provide overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) with more legitimate investment options. “Our OFWs, they have the capital. They do not know where to place their money. They do not know how to make their money earn,” he said, pointing to investment scams that have targeted Filipinos seeking returns.

Quevedo also told Cointelegraph that the regulator’s enhanced enforcement capabilities have made it better prepared to oversee emerging technologies. “We are also using artificial intelligence to go after these unscrupulous scams,” he told Cointelegraph, adding that the SEC was working with Google, TikTok and other online platforms to remove illegal investment offerings. 

The remarks frame regulated tokenization as both a capital-markets innovation and a potential investor-protection tool in the Philippines, where the SEC continued to pursue unregistered investment schemes.

Philippine SEC Commissioner Rogelio Quevedo (left) and Cointelegraph’s Ezra Reguerra (right) at the Philippine Blockchain Week 2026. Photo: Cointelegraph

Philippine SEC tests tokenized assets under regulatory sandbox

Quevedo’s remarks build on the SEC’s Strategic Sandbox, or StratBox, which allows fintech companies to test new products and business models in a live but controlled environment under regulatory supervision.

The framework allows the SEC, within the scope of its legal authority, to waive or modify certain legal and regulatory requirements for individual sandbox participants. However, participation does not automatically exempt a company from existing laws, and the sandbox cannot be used to circumvent legal or regulatory requirements.

Related: Meta rolls out stablecoin payouts for creators in Philippines, Colombia

In November 2025, the SEC said four companies had been admitted to the sandbox, including one testing a tokenized real estate offering. Two participants were testing access to United States equities, while BlockShoals Technologies received in-principle approval to test crypto-related products and services. 

Magazine: China’s 107 Bitcoin memory thief, Bithumb CEO booked: Asia Express

Two Texas brothers have pleaded guilty to federal robbery charges after prosecutors said they kidnapped a Minnesota family and forced the transfer of more than $8 million in cryptocurrency.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, Isiah Angelo Garcia and Raymond Christian Garcia entered guilty pleas on Thursday to Interference with Commerce by Robbery, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

Announcing the development, U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen said the guilty pleas hold the defendants accountable for their actions during the armed robbery.

Prosecutors say victims were held at gunpoint for hours

Court filings cited by federal prosecutors state that the brothers traveled from Texas to Minnesota on Sept. 19, 2025, to carry out the attack. Authorities said the victim, his wife, and their son were confronted at gunpoint and forced into a prolonged ordeal designed to gain access to cryptocurrency holdings.

While the victim’s wife and son were held inside the family home for approximately nine hours, prosecutors said the victim was taken to a family cabin located roughly three hours away. There, according to the government’s account, he was compelled to transfer about $8 million in cryptocurrency from online accounts and hardware wallets.

The kidnapping began to unravel after the victim’s son managed to place an emergency call. Washington County sheriff’s deputies responded to the report and later recovered a rifle and a shotgun. Investigators also relied on surveillance footage and other evidence that prosecutors said linked the brothers to the crime.

In their plea agreements, both men admitted that firearms were used to threaten the victims during the robbery. Federal prosecutors said the defendants have also agreed to pay more than $8 million in restitution. Sentencing dates have not yet been announced.

Crypto kidnapping cases continue to rise worldwide

The case arrives as physical attacks targeting cryptocurrency holders become more common across multiple countries.

Security firm CertiK reported in February that crypto-related kidnappings and assaults increased by 75% in 2025 compared with the previous year. The company estimated that losses tied to such attacks reached $101 million during the first four months of 2026 alone.

Earlier this month, as reported by crypto.news, another crypto kidnapping case resulted in a guilty plea when Saif Faiq admitted to a federal conspiracy charge in Connecticut. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, prosecutors accused Faiq and his brother, Adam Iza, of organizing a plot to abduct the parents of a crypto millionaire linked to the theft of roughly 4,100 Bitcoin.

Recent incidents have also reached prominent figures in the digital asset industry. In May, the wife of The Sandbox co-founder Sebastien Borget survived an attempted kidnapping at the couple’s home in Villenoy, France. Local authorities said suspects posing as delivery workers entered the property and tried to force her into a vehicle before neighbors intervened and disrupted the attack.

In France, authorities have introduced new prevention measures as crypto-related kidnappings continue to climb.

Speaking at Paris Blockchain Week in April, Jean-Didier Berger, France’s Minister Delegate to the Interior Minister, said a prevention platform launched by the government had already attracted thousands of sign-ups. The remarks came as officials counted 41 cryptocurrency-linked kidnapping cases across the country during the first four months of 2026, an average of one every 2.5 days.