Category: crypto

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission criticizes past enforcement actions against crypto firms for failing to protect investors and misinterpreting securities laws. The SEC has shifted focus toward fraud and market abuse under new leadership, reducing the number of cases but increasing monetary relief through actions that prevent investor harm.

UBS and six other Swiss banks have launched a sandbox to test Swiss franc stablecoin use cases. The project, set to run through 2026, aims to allow participating banks to test stablecoin use cases in a secure digital live environment. Swiss Stablecoin AG will provide the issuance infrastructure, with the project open to additional participants.

Alibaba and China Telecom are collaborating on a new data center powered by Alibaba’s AI chips in southern China. This project aims to boost China’s domestic computing infrastructure amid U.S. chip restrictions. The facility in Guangdong will support large-scale AI models and is planned to expand to 100,000 chips to serve various sectors.

Microsoft has launched an open-source toolkit focusing on runtime security to govern enterprise AI agents. The system monitors and blocks agent actions in real time, addressing risks from autonomous models executing code. The toolkit helps control API usage and token consumption, reducing operational and cost risks. Microsoft’s investment in AI infrastructure in Japan includes plans…

Pharos Network has raised $44 million in a Series A round, bringing its total funding to $52 million. The EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain aims to build institutional-grade infrastructure for tokenized real-world assets in Asia and globally. The funding will help scale RWA rails and prepare for a public testnet launch.

Polymarket has acquired DeFi startup Brahma in an all-stock deal to enhance execution speed and liquidity in its prediction markets platform. Brahma’s smart account technology will be integrated to simplify blockchain complexity for users. The acquisition aims to strengthen Polymarket’s position in the growing prediction markets sector amid regulatory challenges.

Thailand’s SEC plans to include hidden funders of crypto firms in its major shareholder regime to prevent illicit capital flows. This move comes as Thailand tightens oversight on digital assets while also allowing Bitcoin-linked derivatives and ETFs. The country aims to be a regional hub for crypto investments while cracking down on money laundering.

Polygon Labs is seeking up to $100 million in funding to expand its stablecoin payments business, transitioning from generic Layer-2 infrastructure to a regulated payments stack. The company aims to compete with Solana and other networks by focusing on stablecoin payments, with plans to establish a presence in the U.S. regulated payments market.

BlackRock ETF wallets transferred $49 million in BTC and ETH to Coinbase Prime, continuing a trend of using the platform for institutional reallocations. This move reflects a broader pattern of institutional activity through regulated prime brokers amid market fluctuations. Coinbase Prime offers tools tailored for ETF issuers and other large asset managers.

Traders on Polymarket are predicting a prolonged Israel-Hezbollah conflict despite a two-week US-Iran ceasefire. The market is pricing a ceasefire deadline for June 30, with significant money being invested in both “Yes” and “No” shares. The markets are reacting to continued Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon and mixed political signals from various countries.