Eric Trump, son of U.S. President Donald Trump, said banking restrictions following the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack pushed his family toward cryptocurrency, according to the Wall Street Journal. He told the publication that the Trump Organization lost access to several bank accounts, which he described as a politically motivated move. The restrictions, he said, forced the family to rely on regional banks and showed the vulnerability of the traditional financial system. “At that time, I realized how fragile the financial system was and how easily it could be weaponized against you,” Eric Trump said. In March, the Trump Organization filed a lawsuit against Capital One, alleging the bank restricted its activities for political reasons. Eric said the move reflected a broader effort under President Joe Biden’s administration to curb crypto-related activity in banking. “This whole system was weaponized against them, no different than it had been weaponized against us for different reasons,” he added. Eric also promoted tokenization as a tool to attract global investors, citing the Trump Tower as a potential example. Crypto Investments Expand Eric Trump has since positioned the Trump Organization as a pro-crypto entity. By September 2024, the family launched World Liberty Finance, to spearhead investments in digital assets. The company has invested heavily across the sector, including Bitcoin mining and token purchases. Data from Arkham Intelligence shows the Trump Organization holds more than $463 million worth of tokens. It also introduced its own stablecoin, USD1, shortly after the passage of the GENIUS Act, which set a regulatory framework for stablecoin usage in the U.S. Donald Trump is listed as co-founder emeritus, alongside three of his sons, including Eric. Eric and Donald Trump Jr. founded American Bitcoin, raising $220 million for Bitcoin-related investments. Eric has repeatedly urged crypto investors to “buy the dip.” Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump also have ties to the memecoin market, with tokens named TRUMP and MELANIA. At press time, TRUMP had a market cap of $1.67 billion, ranking 55th among cryptocurrencies. According to reports, Donald Trump’s crypto-related ventures have earned him more than $2.4 billion. Eric Trump added that while no family member profited directly from Donald Trump’s re-election, he is considering a presidential run in 2028.

The Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) has told Binance Australia, the local branch of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, to hire an outside auditor within 28 days.  On August 22, 2025, this order was made because there were “serious concerns” about the weaknesses in Binance Australia’s anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) systems. These weaknesses could make the platform more vulnerable to illegal financial operations. AUSTRAC’s Worries: Compliance Gaps AUSTRAC took action after an independent review of Binance Australia, but this was not sufficient due to the exchange’s size, transaction volume, and risk profile. The regulator found several problems, such as a high turnover of workers, a lack of strong governance mechanisms, and inadequate local management.  These problems make it hard to believe that the platform can follow Australia’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006, which requires digital currency exchanges to do tight customer identification, due diligence, and transaction monitoring. Brendan Thomas, the CEO of AUSTRAC, stressed the importance of multinational companies like Binance following local rules. He said, “Big global companies may seem well-funded, but if they don’t know about the risks of money laundering and terrorism financing in Australia, they are not meeting their AML/CTF obligations.” He underlined that independent reviews need to be thorough and examine important processes to ensure they are followed in high-risk situations. What Binance Has Done In The Past And What The Law Says Investbybit Pty Ltd runs Binance Australia, which has 28 days to choose outside auditors that AUSTRAC would approve. Matt Poblocki, Binance’s general manager for Australia and New Zealand, said that the audit was more of a way for the company to keep an eye on things than a way to punish them.  This showed that Binance was willing to work with the authorities. Poblocki added, “We are still committed to keeping the best compliance standards,” and he mentioned that they are still working with AUSTRAC. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) took away the license of Binance Australia Derivatives in 2023 after finding that they had wrongly classified 500 retail clients as wholesale investors, which took away their consumer protections. ASIC also fined Kraken’s local operator $5.1 million for illegal margin trading and told Bitget to stop selling leveraged futures products without a license. These events show that Australian regulators are paying more attention to crypto platforms. What This Means For Binance and The Crypto Industry The audit order is part of a larger effort to crack down on cryptocurrency exchanges to stop financial crimes like terrorism financing and money laundering. The 2024 National Risk Assessment from AUSTRAC showed that digital currencies are becoming more vulnerable to criminal exploitation, which calls for stronger protections.  The audit could cause Binance to make changes to its business practices, such as doing more thorough background checks on customers, keeping a better track of transactions, and spending more money on compliance. If these problems aren’t fixed, the government may take more action, such as limiting products or, in the worst circumstances, shutting down operations. The directive is also a warning to other crypto exchanges worldwide that do business in Australia. As regulators around the world tighten their control, as seen with Binance’s $4.3 billion fine in 2023 for AML violations, the industry is under pressure to meet strict local regulations. Looking Ahead: Problems and Chances The results of Australia’s examination could show other crypto platforms how to deal with local laws. The goal of the process, which includes choosing an auditor, defining the scope, analyzing operations, and writing a final report, is to identify weaknesses and propose solutions.  This may put a strain on Binance’s resources, but it also gives the company a chance to improve its compliance system and win back the trust of authorities and users. As the crypto industry changes, strong AML/CTF procedures will be crucial for ensuring it is legal and can grow in Australia’s risky financial environment.

Animoca Brands, a top Web3 digital property company, says that RWAs might reach the $400 trillion conventional finance (TradFi) industry, which would provide them a huge opportunity to grow. According to the industry tracker RWA.xyz, the tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs) has reached a record $26.5 billion in 2025, which is a 70% rise since the start of the year. This rise shows that institutions have a lot of faith in blockchain-based financial products. Private credit and US Treasurys make up about 90% of the tokenized market. In an August 2025 analysis, Animoca researchers Andrew Ho and Ming Ruan said that this huge addressable market, which includes private credit, treasury debt, commodities, equities, alternative funds, and global bonds, might lead to unprecedented development in RWA tokenization. Institutional Momentum and Regulatory Support Recent changes in the law, like the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) initiatives to make private equity and other alternative assets more available to regular investors, fit with this growth path. Paul Atkins, the chair of the SEC, stressed the need to make sure that regular investors have the same options as huge institutions. He pointed to a Trump executive order that lets crypto and other assets be included in 401K plans. This change in legislation, along with a 260% rise in the RWA market in the first half of 2025 due to clearer US crypto rules, makes RWAs a key part of modern finance. The Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act helps this trend even more by encouraging institutions to use stablecoins and keeping the market stable. Ethereum Leads, but Multichain Future Emerges Ethereum has a 55% market share in RWA tokenization and $156 billion in on-chain value. Its security, liquidity, and strong developer ecosystem help it stay on top. This proportion goes up to 76% when you add in layer-2 networks like ZKsync Era, Polygon, and Arbitrum. Animoca experts, on the other hand, see a future with several chains. High-performance blockchains like Solana ($351M in tokenized assets) and Aptos ($349M) are becoming more popular. This interoperability is very important since platforms like BlackRock’s BUIDL fund are moving beyond Ethereum. This shows that there is a competitive market where different blockchains make RWA more accessible and efficient. Problems and Challenges in RWA Tokenization Even while things look good, there are still problems. Liquidity is still a problem since tokenized assets need deep, stable marketplaces to maximize their value. Verification standards and custody issues are also risky, as fragmented methods increase the likelihood of fraud and raise expenses. Animoca’s development of the NUVA marketplace intends to solve these problems by making it easier to manage the lifecycle of assets. When RWAs are combined with decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, they become more composable, more capital-efficient, and provide new financial primitives. This could change the way people invest. A Future Worth a Trillion Dollars for RWAs By 2030, the RWA industry might grow 50 times, to between $4 and $30 trillion, with a median projection of $10 trillion. This expansion depends on institutions using it, clear rules, and the potential of blockchain to flourish. RWAs are about to make investing more accessible to everyone by giving retail investors access to asset classes that were previously only available to institutional investors. They will also improve liquidity and transparency.

Blockchain messaging protocol LayerZero has secured control of Stargate, the cross-chain bridge it launched in 2022, after the Stargate community approved a revised $110 million acquisition proposal with nearly 95% support. The deal follows weeks of uncertainty and a late surge of competing bids. Three rival protocols — Wormhole, Axelar, and Across — sought to derail or delay the vote, with Wormhole submitting a last-minute $120 million all-cash offer. Stargate’s governance body rejected calls to pause the ballot, clearing the way for LayerZero’s return. LayerZero co-founder and CEO Bryan Pellegrino said the outcome marked the “highest participation of any vote” in Stargate’s history. More than 15,000 addresses cast ballots, with 94.76% (7.2 million STG tokens) in favor and just over 5% opposed. The revised deal addressed criticism of LayerZero’s original bid, which some token holders said provided little benefit to Stargate’s community. Under the approved terms, STG tokens will be swapped for LayerZero’s ZRO tokens at a ratio of 1 STG to 0.08634 ZRO. Stargate stakers will also receive 50% of the platform’s top-line revenue for six months, with the remainder used to buy back and burn ZRO tokens. Rival Bids Fail to Gain Traction Wormhole’s counter-offer, announced just days before the vote concluded, promised stakers “three times projected six-month revenue” paid upfront in USDC. The funds, Wormhole said, had already been secured in a segregated wallet. Cross-chain platforms Axelar and Across also signaled interest but stressed they would need more time to table formal bids. “I have no interest in rushing an 11th-hour proposal,” Across co-founder Hart Lambur wrote in Stargate’s forum, urging the community to consider a competitive process. Stargate’s foundation lead Angus Lamps responded that the vote could not be paused, noting that any party willing to sign an NDA and conduct due diligence had been given the opportunity to engage. Pellegrino described the agreement as “one of the first private acquisitions of a DAO over $100 million,” casting it as a milestone for crypto mergers and acquisitions. Stargate, which LayerZero calls the most widely used bridge in crypto, enables cross-chain token transfers through liquidity pools rather than traditional blockchain bridges, which have often been targets for hackers. Despite its early promise, Stargate’s native STG token has struggled relative to rivals like Wormhole and Axelar. Meanwhile, LayerZero’s ZRO token was trading at $2.13 on Tuesday, up 2.3% in the past 24 hours, according to market data. The acquisition puts Stargate back under its original creator as competition intensifies among interoperability protocols vying to dominate cross-chain transfers.

Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, made a shocking prediction at the WebX 2025 conference in Tokyo: Hyperliquid’s native token, HYPE, may go up 126 times in value over the next three years. This positive news, which came out on August 25, 2025, caused HYPE’s price to go up by almost 4% in 24 hours, reaching $45.64 and briefly touching $47.  Hayes based his prediction on the predicted rise in the use of stablecoins. He said that Hyperliquid’s annualized fee revenue would go from $1.2 billion to $258 billion. Traders liked this positive news because HYPE outperformed most other cryptocurrencies in a very volatile market. Hyperliquid, a decentralized exchange (DEX) that focuses on perpetual futures, has become a major player in decentralized finance (DeFi). Perpetual futures don’t have an expiration date like regular derivatives do. This means you can trade with leverage without owning the asset. Hayes’ support shows how Hyperliquid is becoming more important. The platform is getting a lot of attention in the crypto sector, which is on the rise. Record-Breaking Metrics Fuel Momentum Hayes is right to be confident about Hyperliquid’s recent performance. Hypertracker says that on August 25, 2025, the platform had an all-time high of 198,397 open positions, with open interest over $15 billion and total wallet equity over $31 billion.  DefiLlama also said that over the weekend, daily DEX trading volume hit a record $1.56 billion, and transaction fees for August reached $93 million, matching July’s top. These numbers show that Hyperliquid is the clear leader in the decentralized perpetuals market, where it now has more than 75% of the sector’s volume, beating out competitors like dYdX. The platform’s total value locked (TVL) is $685 million, which is slightly below its highest point in February. This strong activity, along with Hayes’s prognosis, has attracted whale investors and traders, which has made HYPE more visible. According to data supplier Redstone, Hyperliquid handles up to $30 billion in transactions every day, which is comparable to centralized exchanges like Binance for some trading pairings. Hyperliquid is a strong player in DeFi because of its growth path. Stablecoin Growth and Favorable Regulations Hayes’ prediction depends on the growth of stablecoins, which he thinks will boost Hyperliquid’s fee income. Stablecoins, which are tied to things like the US dollar, make it easy to trade on DeFi platforms.  Their rising use fits with recent changes in the law, like the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s work under Chair Paul Atkins to make it easier for regular people to invest in cryptocurrencies and other alternative assets. These changes could help Hyperliquid’s ecosystem even more by letting regular investors buy private tokens and get involved in early-stage crypto initiatives. Private investments like HYPE can be hard to sell and require financial expertise to understand. The SEC’s focus on “proper guardrails” is meant to lower these risks, but overleveraging or market contagion might make things worse. Even though these are valid issues, Hyperliquid’s deflationary tokenomics, which reinvest 97% of fees into HYPE buybacks, and its community-driven approach without venture capital support make it more appealing to long-term investors.

Webull has announced the return of cryptocurrency trading for U.S. residents, now integrated directly into the main Webull app. The update allows users to manage their Webull Pay accounts and trade digital assets without switching to the standalone Webull Pay app, creating a single platform for stocks, options, and crypto. The platform now supports 24/7 real-time trading of more than 50 digital assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. “Cryptocurrencies have become an essential part of today’s diversified investment strategies” Anthony Denier, U.S. CEO and Group President at Webull, commented, “Our mission has always been to deliver a streamlined, user-centric investing experience. By reintegrating crypto trading into the Webull app, we are making it easier for customers to access and manage their entire portfolio, whether they’re trading stocks, options, or digital assets. This update removes friction and provides a seamless centralized platform for navigating all investment opportunities.” Stephen Yip, CEO of Webull Pay, commented, “Cryptocurrencies have become an essential part of today’s diversified investment strategies. We are excited to again offer crypto trading through Webull to deliver a more unified and convenient experience that reflects how modern investors want to manage their portfolios.” Crypto trading through Webull is currently available in the U.S. and Brazil, with additional market rollouts planned in the coming months. The news follows the consolidation of Webull Pay LLC back into its corporate group, a move that has set the stage for the reintroduction of cryptocurrency trading on the Webull platform in the United States. The consolidation comes as Webull prepares for a phased global expansion of its crypto offering, following a successful launch in Brazil. The deal, structured as a business combination, will result in Webull Pay Inc., the parent of Webull Pay LLC, becoming a direct subsidiary of Webull Corporation. The transaction has received approval from a special committee of Webull’s board and Webull Pay Inc. shareholders, and remains subject to regulatory clearance and other standard conditions. Webull first paused its U.S. crypto operations amid regulatory uncertainty but had since taken steps to align its services with evolving compliance frameworks. The integration of Webull Pay is part of a broader restructuring effort to support the secure and compliant delivery of crypto services across multiple jurisdictions. Webull Corporation operates a multi-asset trading platform serving more than 24 million users globally. Through its network of licensed brokerages, the company provides access to equities, ETFs, options, futures, fractional shares, and digital assets in 14 markets across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America.

AI crypto trading bots are becoming game-changers for investors who want to be more efficient and accurate in the evolving world of digital assets. These smart systems use AI to automate trades, analyze large datasets, and make choices that are faster than what humans can do. As we look ahead to 2025, the use of AI in crypto trading will make advanced tactics more accessible to a wider audience, leading to more successful automated investments.  This article talks about the pros and cons of these bots, some of the most important projects they are working on, and what the future holds for them. It also explains why they are the next big thing in automating finances. What You Need To Know About AI Crypto Trading Bots AI crypto trading bots are basically software programs that combine machine learning, natural language processing, and data analytics to make trades on cryptocurrency exchanges. AI-powered bots are different from regular bots because they learn from past data, change with the market, and predict trends with amazing precision. For example, they can look at blockchain transaction history, price changes, and social media posts in real time and turn that knowledge into useful insights. The fact that they can work all day and night is what makes them appealing. Cryptocurrency markets are always open, unlike stock exchanges, thus there are always chances and hazards. AI bots can keep up with this fast pace without becoming tired, so investors don’t miss out on big swings. These technologies automate common operations, which gives users more time to work on improving their strategies rather than constantly monitoring them. One important thing is how AI deals with too much data in bitcoin trading. It is not possible to go through all of this information by hand because there are millions of transactions happening every day on thousands of tokens. Here is where AI algorithms shine, since they may find patterns that show possible benefits or losses. This skill not only helps you make better decisions, but it also helps you avoid emotional biases that can lead to bad transactions, such as selling in a panic when prices drop. Advantages of Using AI in Crypto Trading AI crypto trading bots have several benefits, which is why they are essential for both new and experienced investors in 2025. First and foremost, they automate the process of analyzing data. To manage a broad portfolio, you need to keep an eye on a wide range of assets, news events, and market indicators. AI systems may sift qualitative and quantitative data from sources including news stories, forums, and on-chain measurements, delivering comprehensive overviews that inform better choices. AI crypto trading bots help people make smart choices. Traders sometimes let their emotions, like fear or greed, get in the way of their decisions. AI, on the other hand, uses objective data to make trades based on rules and behaviors it has learnt. Bots can notice price differences between exchanges and take advantage of them right away, which is especially helpful in arbitrage situations. Another important aspect is the ability to analyze market mood. Public opinion, which is spread through social media and news, has a big effect on the value of cryptocurrencies. AI uses natural language processing to look for terms on platforms to determine whether a trend is positive or negative. For example, “bullish rally” means a good trend, and “market crash” means a bad trend. Bots can predict moves by comparing this to historical data, which gives users an advantage in unstable situations. Risk detection is another advantage. AI can spot possible dangers, such as unusual trading volumes that could mean a pump-and-dump strategy, because it is good at recognizing patterns. You may teach bots to read candlestick charts to figure out when the market will turn around or how risky a strategy is in real time. This helps investors cut their losses and maximize their returns. These bots also help make crypto trading more efficient by letting traders use tactics like grid trading or dollar-cost averaging. For instance, grid bots purchase and sell within a certain price range, making money from small price fluctuations. This automation not only saves time but also increases operational efficiency, so users can handle bigger portfolios without putting in more work. Finally, being easy to get to is a big plus. In 2025, bots will be easy to use and work with major exchanges, so even people who are new to crypto trading will be able to use them without knowing how to code. This makes it easier for people to get started, which will lead to more people using automatic investing. Important AI Crypto Trading Bot Projects to Keep an Eye on Several new projects are leading the way in AI-driven crypto trading. Each one has its own distinct features that meet different needs. TradeGPT, made by a well-known exchange, is unique since it provides price information and recommends strategies. It looks at data from certain platforms to suggest trades, which is great for people who want to make quick, smart selections without doing a lot of study. Pionex is another strong choice, with more than 15 bots built in. The grid bot takes data from different time periods that have been evaluated to offer the best price ranges and profit targets. It then automatically buys and sells within those ranges. The dollar-cost averaging bot, on the other hand, buys assets at regular intervals and averages the entry prices to smooth out volatility. This method has been shown to work in markets that are hard to predict. CryptoHopper has a cloud-based solution that lets you design strategies with customizable templates and a drag-and-drop editor. It works perfectly with exchanges like Binance and uses technical indicators to carry out trades automatically. Mirror trading is a cool tool that lets users copy the moves of successful traders. This combines AI automation with tried-and-true human techniques. HaasOnline has tools for building custom AI algorithms that are useful for advanced users. It lets you backtest and trade live, which makes it possible to make bots that use machine learning models. This platform is excellent for institutional investors or people who want to try out complicated crypto trading strategies. Signal AI, which examines millions of papers in different languages every day to find references to assets, and Endor, which uses historical patterns to make predictions, are two more notable examples. These experiments show how different AI crypto trading bots can be, from simple automation to advanced predictive engines. What Will AI Crypto Trading Bots Be Like in 2025 and Beyond AI crypto trading bots are likely to become even more important for automated investments in the years to come. As machine learning gets better, bots will be able to work with more complicated datasets. They will be able to use decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) in their tactics. We may expect further integration with blockchain networks, enabling us to run things on-chain, which will make them safer and faster. The growth of decentralized autonomous agents (DAAs) is an intriguing new trend. These AI entities will work on their own on blockchains, making trades without a central authority and eliminating any biases that may be there. Bots might understand global events, including changes in regulations or movements in the economy, in real time and modify portfolios as needed. This would be possible with better natural language processing. But there are still problems. As AI becomes more important in finance, regulatory monitoring may expand, and bots may have to follow rules for openness and fairness. Another worry is security. AI can find hazards, but bots might also be hacked, which shows how important it is to have strong protections like hardware wallets. The good news is that making AI technologies available to everyone will give individual investors more leverage. By 2025, you should be able to employ crypto trading bots on platforms that are easier to use and cost less. This might cause a lot more people to join in, which would make the market more liquid and encourage new ideas. Sustainability will also be important, with AI models that are tuned for energy efficiency to fit in with cryptocurrency trends that care about the environment. In the end, the future seems like a hybrid paradigm in which AI improves human intuition, making the investing landscape stronger and more welcoming. AI crypto trading bots are more than simply a fad; they are the basis for automated investments in 2025. These bots solve the main problems in bitcoin markets by automating analysis, making sure judgments are based on reason, and giving people tools to minimize risk. TradeGPT and Pionex are examples of the kinds of new things that are happening right now. Future developments promise even more powerful tools. Investors who use AI in crypto trading can stay competitive in an economy that is always open. These bots can help you develop a portfolio or scale your methods, and they can help you get better results faster. As technology changes, accepting AI will be important for successfully navigating the ever-changing world of digital assets.

Dutch online bank Bunq has been fined €2.6 million ($3.04 million) by the country’s central bank for failing to meet money laundering control requirements, the regulator said on Monday. De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) said Bunq had shown “serious shortcomings” in four cases between January 2021 and May 2022, where the lender did not adequately investigate or report potential signs of financial crime. The central bank added that previous inspections already revealed repeated weaknesses. Despite an earlier fine and warnings, Bunq had not made sufficient improvements. Bunq said it disagreed with the ruling and has filed a formal objection. “We take our gatekeeper role very seriously,” a spokesperson said in a statement, adding that the bank has strengthened its systems since the period under review. Founded in 2012 by Dutch entrepreneur Ali Niknam, Bunq holds a full European banking license and reports more than 11 million registered users across 30 European markets. The neobank markets itself as a “bank of The Free,” with a focus on sustainability and app-based services, but has repeatedly clashed with DNB over the strict interpretation of AML rules. Background: AML rules in the Netherlands Under the Dutch Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing Act, banks must monitor customer activity, assess the source of funds, and report suspicious transactions. DNB said its review of four high-risk Bunq customer files found that transaction monitoring was inadequate, with alerts not followed up thoroughly. In some cases, the bank flagged certain transfers as suspicious but could not explain why similar transactions were not reported. This is not the first clash between Bunq and DNB. In 2018, Bunq took the regulator to court over its prescriptive approach to anti-money laundering checks. The Dutch Trade and Industry Appeals Tribunal ruled partly in Bunq’s favor in 2022, saying DNB’s rigid rules were too restrictive and did not sufficiently allow for risk-based innovation in compliance. The latest fine indicates that DNB remains dissatisfied with the bank’s progress. The penalty comes as Dutch regulators continue to pressure banks to tighten anti-money laundering (AML) oversight. In recent years, ING and ABN Amro paid large settlements for control failures. In 2018, ING admitted “serious shortcomings” and agreed to pay €775 million in the largest Dutch AML settlement to date. In 2021, ABN Amro followed with a €480 million settlement after prosecutors said it failed to properly screen and monitor clients. Rabobank disclosed in 2024 that it faces criminal proceedings after failing to agree a settlement over similar allegations. The DNB has stepped up scrutiny following international criticism that the Netherlands was too lax on financial crime controls, including a 2022 FATF evaluation that urged tighter enforcement. Earlier this year, Rabobank said it would face a court case after failing to reach a settlement over alleged shortcomings in its own monitoring processes.

KuCoin, one of the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges, has inaugurated its inaugural “Anti-Phishing Month” initiative. The campaign weaves user education, incentive-driven engagement, and reinforced defense measures into a platform-level proactive security framework while sharpening users’ vigilance around detecting and evading phishing scams. Phishing has emerged as one of the speediest-growing threats to fintech. Statistics derived from the Anti-Phishing Working Group (APWG) indicate that worldwide phishing incidents topped one million in Q1 2025, with financial services and payment providers responsible for more than 30% of those attacks. SM Amid the ever-shifting cyber risk environment, KuCoin is strengthening its “Security as a Service” commitment, placing the defense of user assets at the heart of its sustainable growth strategy. In tandem with its robust technical defenses, KuCoin makes continual security education the cornerstone of its user safeguarding strategy. By coupling security training with a reward incentive structure, the campaign marks KuCoin’s inaugural attempt to harness a carrot-and-stick approach, doing so through its “Learn + Quiz + Defend” framework. Participants may navigate the learning modules, aces the knowledge quizzes, and activate their own anti-phishing codes to sharpen their awareness while earning platform incentives. Beyond its month-long campaign, KuCoin has put in place enduring security protocols that safeguard users round the clock: Intelligent Risk Control System – a sophisticated phishing-detection engine that wards off suspicious logins and blocked unauthorized withdrawals by averting more than 5,000 high-risk access attempts per day. End-to-End Security Alerts – Vital account operations—logins, withdrawals, and API bindings—are shielded by multi-factor authentication (MFA) and instant notifications to keep users fully informed prior to any modifications. Ongoing Security Education – KuCoin routinely posts guidance and phishing case breakdowns, and offers a dedicated Security Academy on its website and mobile app to help users continually hone their ability to detect scams. In a statement about the launch, BC Wong, CEO of KuCoin, observed: Platform security in isolation is insufficient; every user must likewise be enabled to detect and thwart scams. By means of Anti-Phishing Month, we link cutting-edge technology with targeted education to cultivate an ecosystem where users are armed with the know-how to protect themselves. KuCoin stands by the principle that genuine security rests on a joint effort: while we supply cutting-edge safeguards, users can likewise reinforce their resilience through ongoing education. Moving forward, KuCoin will continue deepening its integrated “Education + Defense” strategy to furnish millions of global users with a safer, more transparent, and trustworthy platform. About KuCoin Established in 2017, KuCoin stands as a global cryptocurrency exchange that now supports over 41 million users in more than 200 regions worldwide. Driven by sophisticated blockchain architecture, KuCoin grants users reach to more than 1,000 digital assets along with a comprehensive array of services that span a Web3 wallet, Spot and Futures markets, institutional solutions, and payments. Forbes has identified the platform as one of the Best Crypto Apps & Exchanges, and Hurun has placed it on its list of the Top 50 Global Unicorns. Supported by ISO 27001:2022 certification, KuCoin—under the stewardship of CEO BC Wong—remains committed to compliance, innovation, and the safeguarding of its users. https://www.kucoin.com

Scope Prime has announced that it expanded its digital asset liquidity offering by adding 77 new cryptocurrency instruments and moving to a 24/7 trading schedule. The brokerage, part of Rostro Financial Group, previously provided access to 10 cryptocurrencies available during weekdays. List now includes altcoins and tokens such as TrumpCoin, Dash, and Bitcoin Cash Daniel Lawrance, CEO of Scope Prime, commented, “This is another significant development for the company and our clients. Our deep technical knowledge has been instrumental in allowing us to develop a robust system that can work around the clock, connecting with a number of other specialist exchanges and liquidity providers to provide this continuous service.” The expanded list now includes altcoins and tokens such as TrumpCoin, Dash, and Bitcoin Cash. Since early 2025, Scope Prime has offered major cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Ripple, and Dogecoin. Lochlan White, Chief Commercial Officer, commented, “Our Crypto CFDs have been our most popular products this year. The success comes down to the market-leading spread stability, competitive margins and genuine market depth in our liquidity. We’ve now brought all these elements 24/7 and across a much larger suite of symbols – as requested by our clients. We plan to offer 100+ Crypto CFDs in the coming months.” Minimum order sizes for the new instruments start from 0.01 lots, with contract sizes ranging from 1 to 1000, depending on underlying liquidity and pricing. This expansion follows a series of product developments by Scope Prime, as Rostro Group continues to grow its institutional liquidity services to meet demand from its global client base. Rostro Group launched crypto prime services in July It was in July that Scope Prime’s Rostro Group launched a new institutional-grade prime service for digital asset derivatives, marking its entry into the crypto contracts-for-difference (CFD) space. The new service, delivered through the group’s Scope Prime division, integrates crypto CFD pricing and execution into its existing multi-asset infrastructure. The rollout gives institutional clients access to traditional markets and crypto derivatives within a single platform and margin account, using the same infrastructure previously reserved for forex, indices, and commodities. Rostro said that its aggregation technology enables price construction from both exchanges and over-the-counter (OTC) liquidity providers. The platform supports pricing comparisons and market depth analysis across multiple liquidity venues. Rostro confirmed that Scope Prime clients will be the first to access the new service. The firm said margin requirements could range from 2% to 20%, based on client trading profiles and risk tolerance. According to Rostro, the architecture was designed to accelerate onboarding of new digital asset products with minimal disruption. The first phase will offer crypto CFDs only, but Rostro indicated that future development includes a licensed entity for digital asset payments and spot trading.

Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) plans to push for a review of how the country’s tax code treats cryptocurrency, aiming to align gains more closely with stock investments and pave the way for exchange-traded funds, Nikkei reported on Tuesday. The agency is preparing to submit the request by the end of August, targeting reforms for the 2026 fiscal year. The proposal includes shifting crypto gains into a separate tax category with a flat 20% rate, in line with listed equities, rather than the current “miscellaneous income” classification subject to progressive rates of up to 55%. Industry groups have also asked regulators to allow a three-year loss carry-forward under the new framework. Currently, Japanese taxpayers must declare crypto trading gains as miscellaneous income, where profits are aggregated with salary and other income and taxed at progressive rates up to 55% (including local inhabitant tax). This treatment, introduced after the 2017 ICO boom, has been criticized for discouraging retail trading and forcing startups abroad. By contrast, stock and FX gains are taxed separately at a 20.315% flat rate. The Japan Cryptoasset Business Association (JCBA) has lobbied for years for parity with equities, arguing that the current system hampers competitiveness. In parallel, the FSA intends to introduce legislation in 2026 that would reclassify crypto under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act as a financial product, moving away from its current treatment as a means of payment under the Payment Services Act. Officials say the change would make it easier for domestic firms to launch crypto ETFs, part of a broader effort to strengthen Japan’s competitiveness in digital assets. Japan’s ETF market is worth over ¥80 trillion ($560 billion), dominated by equity products, but so far no crypto ETFs have been approved domestically. Investors currently access exposure through U.S.-listed bitcoin ETFs or regulated trusts in Singapore. Reclassification under the FIEA would give the FSA authority to license crypto ETFs in the same manner as commodity and equity funds. First Yen Stablecoin Approval Expected Separately, the regulator is expected to approve the country’s first yen-denominated stablecoin later this year. The token, JPYC, will be issued by a Tokyo-based fintech of the same name. According to earlier reports, the company plans to circulate 1 trillion yen ($6.8 billion) worth of the stablecoin over three years. JPYC Inc., founded in 2019, has already issued a prepaid, non-blockchain version of its stablecoin under Japan’s Fund Settlement Act and runs pilots with firms such as GMO Internet and Daiwa House. The new version, issued under amended stablecoin rules that took effect in June 2023, must be backed 1:1 with bank deposits and issued by a licensed entity such as a trust bank or registered fund transfer business. JPYC has partnered with Minna Bank, a digital lender owned by Fukuoka Financial Group, to meet these requirements. Japan has been gradually opening the door to wider crypto adoption after years of cautious oversight. The proposed tax changes and stablecoin approval signal a new stage of regulatory clarity for both investors and financial institutions. The FSA tightened rules after the 2014 Mt. Gox collapse and the 2018 Coincheck hack, introducing a licensing regime for exchanges and some of the strictest custody rules globally. By 2023, these safeguards allowed Japanese investors to withdraw funds normally from FTX Japan when its parent collapsed, in contrast to overseas customers. Officials now frame tax reform and stablecoin approval as part of “Phase 2” — moving from investor protection toward active market development.

An Ethereum-based gaming network has filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI, alleging trademark infringement and unfair competition linked to the use of the “XAI” name. The complaint, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, claims Musk’s xAI has caused widespread confusion in the marketplace and harmed the brand of Xai, a blockchain gaming ecosystem developed by Delaware corporation Ex Populus. Ex Populus said it has used the XAI trademark in U.S. commerce since June 2023, including for its gaming network and the $XAI token. “This is a classic case of trademark infringement that requires the Court’s intervention,” the filing stated. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office database shows that Ex Populus filed its “XAI” mark for downloadable game software and blockchain services on June 9, 2023, under Serial No. 98035960. Several of Musk’s later xAI applications, filed in 2023–24, have since been suspended by USPTO examiners citing potential conflicts with the earlier Xai filing. Market Confusion After Musk’s xAI Launch The dispute intensified after Musk launched xAI in July 2023 and announced plans in November 2024 to create a gaming studio. Ex Populus claims the overlap triggered confusion among consumers, media outlets, and even Musk’s chatbot Grok, which allegedly linked the ventures. Court documents cite examples of Grok responses posted online that conflated “Xai” the gaming token with “xAI” the AI lab, as well as multiple news reports mistakenly attributing the $XAI crypto token to Musk’s company. The filing said the reputational damage goes beyond lost goodwill, citing “negative consumer sentiment” tied to Musk’s polarizing public image and controversies involving xAI. Ex Populus further accused Musk’s lawyers of attempting to pressure the company into giving up its rights by threatening to challenge its registration earlier this month. The suit noted that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has already suspended several of Musk’s trademark applications due to potential conflicts with Xai’s mark. Musk’s xAI has applied for marks covering artificial intelligence software, gaming, and digital entertainment, according to USPTO records, but examiners repeatedly issued suspension notices pending the outcome of Ex Populus’s earlier claims. The gaming company is seeking damages, cancellation of xAI’s pending applications, and a court order barring Musk’s firm from using the “XAI” name in connection with gaming or blockchain services. “There is no remedy at law for the magnitude of harm Defendants have caused,” Ex Populus said in its filing. Ex Populus runs the Xai gaming ecosystem, a blockchain-powered network designed for video games and digital transactions, providing infrastructure for AI-driven decisions, rewards, and data management across multiple applications. The company raised $3 million in seed funding in 2021, led by Animoca Brands, and has since developed partnerships with Polygon and Arbitrum to scale its gaming infrastructure. Musk’s xAI is pitching itself as a competitor to OpenAI and Google in the generative AI space, though its gaming ambitions are now at the center of a legal fight. The startup, headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area, has raised more than $6 billion to date from investors including Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, valuing the company at roughly $24 billion as of May 2025.

The token of decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol Aave fell more than 10% in the past 24 hours amid confusion over whether it would receive a token allocation from World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a DeFi platform backed by members of U.S. President Donald Trump’s family. Blockchain reporter Colin Wu said WLFI denied claims circulating on social media that Aave would receive 7% of WLFI’s token supply, calling them “false and fake news.” The denial triggered debate across crypto forums about the proposed partnership. The speculation stems from a WLFI community proposal published in October 2024, which suggested that Aave’s decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) would receive 7% of WLFI governance tokens and 20% of protocol revenues generated through WLFI’s deployment on Aave v3. Aave founder Stani Kulechov referred to the proposal as “the art of the deal” on Saturday, and later suggested the arrangement was still under discussion. Following the conflicting statements, Aave’s token dropped from around $385 to as low as $339 before recovering slightly to $352, according to TradingView data. DeFi in the Spotlight After U.S. Elections The rumors arrive as interest in DeFi climbs, boosted by expectations of friendlier regulation in the United States after the 2024 election. The sector’s total value locked (TVL) has risen to $167 billion, approaching the all-time high of $212 billion reached in December 2021, according to data provider DefiLlama. World Liberty Financial is set to begin unlocking its WLFI tokens for trading on Sept. 1. Early backers who bought tokens in private rounds at $0.015 and $0.05 will be able to unlock 20% of their holdings through an onchain “Lockbox” compliance process. The remaining 80% of tokens will stay locked until a future governance vote. Allocations to founders, team members, and advisers will also remain locked for now. Lockbox activation begins on Aug. 25, with the project stating that “the vast majority” of investors can connect immediately. Only a limited number who fail compliance checks will face restrictions. The token release follows a July vote in which WLFI holders unanimously backed making the Ethereum-based token tradable. World Liberty is also promoting its USD1 stablecoin and has teased a loyalty program while pursuing a listing on Coinbase. On Saturday, Binance, Bybit, and OKX launched perpetual futures contracts for WLFI, with the token trading between $0.40 and $0.42 at debut. At that level, the project’s fully diluted valuation stands above $40 billion, based on a total supply of 100 billion WLFI tokens.

Visa has closed its open-banking business in the United States amid battles over customer-data access that hampered efforts to build a national system for sharing financial information. The card giant said it will concentrate its open-banking strategy in Europe and Latin America, where regulators forced banks to provide data to licensed third parties. “We are focusing our open banking strategy in high-potential markets like Europe and Latin America,” a Visa spokesperson said in a statement. The retreat follows a bumpy U.S. rollout for Visa. In 2020, the company tried to acquire data aggregator Plaid for $5.3 billion, but abandoned the deal in early 2021 after the Department of Justice sued to block it on antitrust grounds. Visa later bought Sweden-based Tink for €1.8 billion, giving it direct access to thousands of European banks. In Europe, the second Payment Services Directive, or PSD2, required lenders to open customer accounts to outside providers starting in 2018. The U.K. went further, creating a dedicated open-banking body that tracks banks’ API performance. Brazil has also built momentum as its central bank says more than 42 million user consents have been logged under its Open Finance framework, alongside billions of instant transactions processed each year through its Pix payments rail. The United States, by contrast, has no such mandate. Instead, fintech firms must negotiate data-sharing deals with individual banks. Tensions have sharpened in recent months. In July, Bloomberg reported that JPMorgan Chase circulated pricing sheets requiring fintechs to pay fees to access customer data, with some use cases costing as much as $1.25 per new link. PNC Financial chief executive Bill Demchak said his bank was considering a similar approach. Banks argue the charges cover the cost of safeguarding and delivering data. Fintechs counter that banks are monetising information that belongs to customers. Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz’s general partner Alex Rampell compared the strategy to “Operation Chokepoint 3.0,” a reference to a controversial program a decade ago in which regulators allegedly pressured banks to cut off certain industries. Regulators have taken notice. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau last year finalised a rule under Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act that would require banks to give customers free access to their data. But the agency’s new leadership has begun rewriting the framework, leaving the industry uncertain about what comes next. As such, Visa’s decision reflects that the company is betting its European and Latin American investments will deliver more predictable returns than wading into America’s unfinished regulatory fight.

Trish Turner has resigned as head of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) digital assets division after just over three months in the role and will move to the private sector, according to posts on LinkedIn and media reports. Turner, a 20-year veteran of the IRS, announced her departure in a Friday post, calling her time at the agency “an extraordinary chapter” and thanking colleagues for their support. She said she looked forward to continuing work in the crypto tax space from “a new vantage point.” Bloomberg Tax reported that Turner will become tax director at Crypto Tax Girl, a firm specializing in digital asset tax compliance. Founder Laura Walter confirmed the appointment in a LinkedIn post, saying Turner’s arrival comes as “big crypto tax and compliance changes” loom. Turner’s exit comes soon after she was appointed in May to lead the digital assets division, following the departure of two earlier private-sector hires, Sulolit “Raj” Mukherjee and Seth Wilks, who each lasted about a year. Policy and Oversight Context Her resignation comes amid heightened debate over crypto tax policy in Washington. In March, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) proposed cutting the IRS workforce by 20%. In July, the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Oversight Subcommittee scheduled a hearing on building a tax framework for digital assets. Separately, the U.S. Treasury’s inspector general in July urged reforms in the IRS’s criminal investigations of crypto cases, citing repeated failures to follow protocols. And in April, President Donald Trump signed a resolution scrapping a Biden-era rule that would have required decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols to report transactions. The IRS has sought to expand its oversight of digital assets in recent years, but turnover in its crypto-focused leadership added uncertainty as Congress and regulators weigh how to set tax rules for a fast-growing sector.

A crypto supercycle describes an extraordinary, extended period of rapid and sustained growth in the cryptocurrency market, far exceeding the usual bear and bull cycles that have characterized digital assets in the past. In contrast to traditional patterns—where the market alternates between years of bullish expansion and deep, prolonged correction—a supercycle suggests long-running bull markets with only minor pullbacks, as powerful fundamental forces overwhelm the factors that typically lead to sharp downturns. The concept gained widespread attention through Bitcoin educator Dan Held, who argued in 2020 that a combination of macroeconomic disruption, relentless institutional adoption, and breakthrough innovation could fundamentally transform crypto’s normal cycles. In a supercycle, corrections—while not eliminated—would become much more shallow and short-lived due to overwhelming demand and network growth.   Key Takeaways Crypto supercycles feature sustained upward momentum that bypasses conventional correction patterns Institutional inflows, macroeconomic forces, and maturing technology are cited as main drivers Indicators include enduring ETF inflows, persistent network expansion, and subdued volatility during stress No true supercycle has yet been confirmed, but aspects of recent bull runs align with the theory Supercycles would mark a departure from the traditional four-year Bitcoin halving framework   Traditional Crypto Market Cycles vs. the Supercycle Theory Traditional Cycles Historically, crypto markets—especially Bitcoin—have followed four-year cycles, often linked to the BTC halving schedule. These cycles usually include: Accumulation Phase: Following a dramatic crash, prices consolidate at lower levels as long-term believers and institutional players re-enter. Growth Phase: Prices recover sharply as new narratives emerge and supply tightens. Bubble Phase: Momentum peaks, with euphoria and speculative frenzy quickly driving asset prices to record highs. Crash Phase: The market pulls back 70–80% from its peak, ushering in periods of protracted stagnation or downturns. The Supercycle Disruption A supercycle reimagines this template by eliminating or greatly shortening the correction phase. Instead of deep, multiyear drawdowns, the market would see only gentle pullbacks before upward trends resume, propelled by institutional adoption, expanding use cases, and broadening investment by both public and private sectors.   What Fuels the Supercycle Argument? Institutional Adoption and ETF Inflows A defining feature of recent cycles is institutional participation. The launch of Bitcoin ETFs (with BlackRock’s reaching over $37 billion in 2024) and crypto ETFs surpassing $190 billion in total assets have brought in waves of long-term capital much less likely to panic-sell than traditional retail investors. Another example is MicroStrategy, which has accumulated over 214,000 BTC (worth more than $23 billion as of early 2025)—showcasing the emergence of corporate treasuries and asset managers as influential market stabilizers. Macroeconomic and Political Trends Persistent inflation, concerns over fiat currency debasement, and instability in the traditional financial system have made crypto appealing as both a hedge and a store of value—sometimes even acting as “digital gold” in uncertain times. As government spending and currency devaluations remain top-of-mind, both retail and institutional players look to crypto as a safe haven. Notably, the political climate for crypto is evolving rapidly, with jurisdictions like the U.S. and others moving from regulatory hostility to cautious acceptance, including strategic Bitcoin reserves and friendlier policy frameworks. Real-World Utility and Network Growth The continued roll-out of Layer 2 scaling, DeFi protocols, and tokenization has brought new functionality, users, and developers into the ecosystem. As networks grow, Metcalfe’s Law shows that their value can rise exponentially, supporting the supercycle thesis. Shrinking Corrections and Persistent Bullishness Recent market pullbacks have been milder than in previous cycles—a 78% decline versus the 80–90% drops of the past—and have been followed quickly by renewed growth and expanding user numbers. Network activity, not just price, has continued to climb, highlighting deeper adoption and use beyond speculation.   Arguments Against the Supercycle Skeptics observe: Every major crypto bull run has ultimately suffered a sharp correction, regardless of optimism. Regulatory risks persist: Sudden legal or policy changes could freeze momentum and shake out even committed investors. Despite greater adoption and a market cap of $3.4 trillion, this is only ~29% above the peak in November 2021—hardly supercycle-level growth just yet. Retail participation and social “FOMO” are not yet at the euphoric levels seen in historic bubbles—limiting how far and how fast a true supercycle could unfold. How to Spot a Crypto Supercycle Analysts are watching for: US Dollar weakening: A DXY reading below 95 could indicate capital flight into alternative assets like crypto. Ongoing ETF acceleration: Crypto ETF AUM trending toward the scale of major traditional asset classes. Steady network progress: Growing active users, increasing transaction volume, and broader developer engagement even during risk-off periods. Institutional “diamond hands”: Persistent accumulation by ETFs, pension funds, and treasuries instead of the shorter-term moves that have historically dominated.   Trading and Investment Impacts If a supercycle is underway, it could lead to powerful rallies and new all-time highs—not just for Bitcoin and Ethereum, but also for altcoins with strong adoption and usage. Volume surges, strong on-chain activity, and reduced exchange balances are confirming signals, but investors should remain alert to rapid sentiment shifts and potential corrections.   The Bottom Line The crypto supercycle theory proposes that institutional adoption, robust technological progress, and global macroeconomic shifts could underwrite a multi-year bull run that redefines historical precedent. While aspects of the current market rally reflect this pattern, definitive confirmation remains elusive and risks—including regulatory changes and overbought conditions—persist.  Whether we’re at the dawn of a true supercycle or seeing a powerful evolution of past cycles, one thing is clear: the crypto market is evolving, and understanding its new dynamics is more crucial than ever for investors and traders alike. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Are we in a crypto supercycle now? There’s no consensus. Some analysts point to strong institutional inflows and milder corrections as supercycle signals, but others note we’re still not seeing the explosive, multi-year growth in price and adoption that would confirm one. Has a crypto supercycle happened before? Not yet. Every past bull run has ended with a sharp correction, so the true supercycle pattern—where corrections are mild and growth endures—remains unproven. What could trigger a crypto supercycle? A surge of adoption by big institutions, persistent global economic uncertainty, broader real-world crypto use, and regulatory clarity could all push the market into a sustained supercycle phase.  

James Wynn, a crypto trader known for high-risk positions, has opened a 25x leveraged long on Ether as the token surged to new highs, according to onchain data. Wynn committed about $5,568 in margin to control 29.3 ETH valued at $139,215, with an average entry price of $4,239. At current prices near $4,726, the trade is showing unrealized gains of $14,888, equal to a return of more than 267%. The trader also opened a 10x Dogecoin long, worth $206,130 for 867,335 DOGE at an average entry of $0.2398. With Dogecoin last trading at $0.237, the position is down about $1,886. Overall, Wynn’s leveraged exposure totals $345,000, backed by equity of around $26,600, leaving his margin usage above 110%. Wynn’s Trading History The move comes weeks after Wynn reappeared following a brief absence from social media, during which he deactivated his X account with the message “broke.” In July, he returned with two aggressive trades — a 40x Bitcoin long worth $19.5 million and a 10x PEPE long valued above $100,000. Wynn previously drew attention in May after his $100 million Bitcoin position was liquidated, followed days later by another $25 million loss. He alleged at the time that larger players deliberately pushed the market against his positions. Ethereum’s native token Ether climbed to an all-time high of $4,867 on Friday, its strongest level since November 2021. The rally followed comments from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell hinting at a possible September rate cut, fueling demand for risk assets. Spot ETH exchange-traded funds have also seen renewed inflows, with $287.6 million added on Thursday, lifting assets under management above $12.1 billion. The inflows broke a four-day streak of outflows. Corporate treasuries joined the buying spree. In the past month, firms including BitMine, SharpLink, Bit Digital, BTCS and GameSquare added roughly $1.6 billion worth of Ether, bringing corporate holdings close to $30 billion. Leveraged crypto trading remains high-risk, often magnifying losses during volatile moves. In one of the largest events this year, a whale lost more than $308 million on a 50x Ether long in March after ETH dipped below $1,877. While Wynn’s bold bet plays out or gets liquidated again, Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao floated the idea of a dark pool perpetual swap decentralized exchange (DEX) to help large traders avoid front-running and targeted liquidations. In a post on X, Zhao questioned the logic of fully public orderbooks on decentralized platforms: In traditional finance, dark pools are private venues where large trades are executed away from public orderbooks. Zhao said large players in TradFi routinely use dark pools “10 times bigger” than open venues to avoid tipping off the market.

Thai authorities arrested a 33-year-old South Korean man accused of helping a call center syndicate launder more than $50 million in cryptocurrencies by converting them into gold, according to local media reports. The Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) said officers detained the suspect, identified as Han, at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Saturday under a February arrest warrant. He faces charges of fraud, money laundering, computer crimes, and participation in a criminal syndicate, The Nation reported. The case stems from a scam that began in early 2024, where victims were lured with “investment opportunities” promising 30–50% returns. Early payouts created confidence before withdrawals were blocked, with organizers citing fabricated compliance requirements. Police said dozens of complaints led to an investigation that already resulted in ten arrests, including five suspected launderers and five mule account holders. Investigators discovered Han’s arrival in Thailand and worked with the Immigration Bureau to intercept him. His mobile phone, containing multiple crypto accounts linked to the scheme, was seized. Authorities said Han studied in China before joining a South Korean company that handled crypto-to-gold conversions for the network. Between January and March 2024, his accounts allegedly processed around $47.3 million in Tether (USDT), with each laundering cycle involving shipments of over 10 kilograms of gold, valued at roughly $1 million per transaction. Han denied parts of the allegations but remains in custody while Thai police pursue the broader investigation. Taiwan’s Largest Crypto Laundering Case Separately, Taiwanese prosecutors indicted 14 individuals in what they describe as the country’s largest crypto money laundering case, involving more than 1,500 victims and illicit proceeds exceeding $70 million. The Shilin District Prosecutor’s Office filed charges for fraud, organized crime, and money laundering, while seeking to confiscate nearly $40 million in assets. Authorities also requested the seizure of 640,000 USDT, undisclosed amounts of Bitcoin and Tron, more than $1.8 million in cash, luxury cars, and $3.13 million in frozen deposits. Prosecutors said the group laundered proceeds by converting cash into foreign currency and then buying Tether through local exchange BiXiang Technology, before moving the assets overseas.  

Klarna has secured a €1.4 billion structured financing facility with Santander, marking its first warehouse line with the Spanish lender as the buy-now-pay-later group continues to reshape its funding base. The arrangement, backed by German receivables, will allow Klarna to recycle capital more efficiently across its short-term lending products. It is the latest step in the company’s strategy to diversify funding sources and reduce reliance on its balance sheet ahead of a potential New York listing. “This is a key pillar of our growth strategy while at the same time enhancing the funding tools available to Klarna,” said Niclas Neglén, Klarna’s chief financial officer. “This transaction demonstrates strong institutional confidence in Klarna’s platform, product performance, and credit risk management.” Germany has been one of Klarna’s most important markets since its early expansion into continental Europe. The 2014 acquisition of Sofort, a Munich-based payments company, cemented its presence in the region. Today, Germany remains a hub for Klarna’s merchant network and consumer adoption, making it a natural choice for a receivables-backed facility. The deal also aligns Klarna with Santander, one of Europe’s most aggressive retail finance banks. The Spanish lender launched its own BNPL product, Zinia, in Germany in 2022 and last year became Apple’s financing partner for German customers. Santander’s decision to finance Klarna’s receivables, despite running a competing product, underlines both the scale of Klarna’s loan book and the appetite for short-duration consumer assets among banks. The Santander facility comes just a week after Klarna announced a multi-year forward-flow deal with U.S. servicer Nelnet, which will see up to $26 billion in newly originated American “Pay in 4” loans sold over the life of the agreement. In the UK, Klarna has a similar arrangement with funds managed by Elliott Advisors, offloading short-term receivables to investors. These agreements point to a modular funding model in which Klarna uses a mix of warehouses, forward-flows and potential securitisations across markets. The approach frees up capital, smooths cash flow, and reassures investors wary of the credit risk that comes with BNPL’s rapid growth. For Klarna, the Santander partnership strengthens its European balance-sheet flexibility at a time when profitability is improving but competition is tightening. For Santander, it extends a consumer-finance franchise already spanning auto, cards and instalments, while giving it a front-row view of Klarna’s loan performance in Germany.

The cartoon comedy show South Park has never been afraid to make fun of current events with its irreverent humor. Its latest episode, “Sickofancy,” premiered on August 20, 2025, and it was no different. This episode talks about how former U.S. President Donald Trump is getting more involved in the cryptocurrency industry.  It focuses on his family’s businesses and the larger impact that tech CEOs have on the crypto market. The show makes fun of the crypto market’s speculative character and the political ties that are helping it flourish. In “Sickofancy,” South Park makes fun of tech billionaires like Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella (who has been wrongly named as Sundar Pichai in some publications), venture capitalist David Sacks, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.  These characters are shown standing in line at the Oval Office to give Trump Bitcoin (BTC) and compliments. This shows how the show is making fun of the close ties between tech titans and politicians. The episode makes people think of crypto as a speculative market driven by hype and celebrity endorsements. Trump’s Crypto Empire and Power in Politics The episode’s main point comes at a time when Trump and his family are getting more involved in the crypto world. They have started businesses, including a trading platform, a stablecoin called USD1, tokens like $WLFI, and a Bitcoin mining business called American Bitcoin. The Trump family’s World Liberty Financial has generated significant revenue, with $550 million in token sales, much of which goes straight to the Trumps.  Also, a $1.5 billion contract with ALT5 Sigma to buy $WLFI coins is a big step forward for their crypto empire. These businesses have raised worries about conflicts of interest because Trump’s pro-crypto policies are good for his family’s finances. There is also a plotline in South Park concerning relying too much on artificial intelligence (AI). One character goes from running a cannabis farm to running an AI firm after an ICE raid. The character wants Trump to change the classification of cannabis, and a sycophantic ChatGPT parody tells him to do so. This shows how the show makes fun of both AI hype and crypto speculation. This dual focus shows that South Park is good at talking about more than one cultural trend in a single story. Risks and Speculation in the Crypto Market The episode’s portrayal of Trump as a meme currency entrepreneur plays into larger worries about how unstable and speculative the crypto market is. Critics are worried about celebrity-driven businesses because their values are often based on hype instead of solid fundamentals.  For example, the Trump-backed memecoin $TRUMP and World Liberty’s tokens are considered very risky because their value is based on the Trump brand and not on the firm’s performance. This is similar to real concerns about how ordinary investors are exposed to riskier alternative investments. SEC Chair Paul Atkins has talked about how important it is to have “proper guardrails” when expanding access to private equity. Effects on Culture and Viewers’ Reaction Fans of South Park have been talking about the show’s ability to make fun of serious problems like crypto and political influence with humor on social media. Posts on X show how relevant the episode is, with one user pointing out how the program changed to avoid overused political gags, which shows how flexible it is.  The episode fits in with South Park’s history of making fun of crypto, like when they made fun of Matt Damon’s Crypto.com promotion and the NFT mania in previous episodes. The show is still on its 27th season, and its sharp commentary is still a cultural touchstone for analyzing political and economic trends.