NewsBriefs - GSR secures UK FCA approval to enhance global crypto trading

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• Apr 29, 11:59 PM SEC

  BlackRock files for digital share class, aiming to bring blockchain recordkeeping to $150B fund

  BlackRock has filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to create a blockchain-enabled digital share class for its $150 billion Treasury Trust Fund. Named DLT Shares, this class will use blockchain technology for share recordkeeping but will not involve blockchain in managing the fund's portfolio or holding crypto assets. BNY Mellon is set to provide the required blockchain infrastructure, focusing on maintaining real-time ownership records, and the offering will target institutional investors with a minimum investment requirement of $3 million.

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• Apr 29, 6:56 PM The Block

  Mark Carney's election win casts uncertainty on Canada's crypto industry future

  Mark Carney has been re-elected as Canada's prime minister in a snap election, defeating Pierre Poilievre, a pro-crypto candidate. Despite being labeled 'somewhat pro-crypto,' Carney has historically expressed skepticism towards crypto and blockchain technologies. While his views may have evolved, his past comments and current regulatory stances suggest a cautious approach to integrating crypto with traditional financial systems, with an emphasis on stringent regulation.

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• Apr 29, 11:42 AM Circle

  Circle receives regulatory clearance from Abu Dhabi to expand in the Middle East

  Circle has secured In-Principle Approval (IPA) from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) to operate as a money services provider in the Middle East and Africa (MEA). This development is a step forward in obtaining a Financial Services Permission (FSP). It marks a continuation of Circle's regional expansion strategy, emphasizing compliance and innovation in stablecoins within dynamic regulatory environments. This approval builds on Circle's ADGM incorporation in December 2024 and aligns with its strategic collaborations with regional entities like Hub71, strengthening its role in advancing digital finance and stablecoin adoption.

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• Apr 29, 7:30 AM The Block

  1inch expands to Solana, targets cross-chain swaps with 10 networks

  1inch, a multi-chain DEX aggregator, has launched on Solana with its Fusion protocol to offer MEV-protected swaps for over 1 million Solana-based tokens. This integration also features six developer APIs and utilizes a Dutch auction system aimed at reducing price slippage and enhancing liquidity. Following its success on Solana, which led DEX trading volumes and activity in Q1 2025, 1inch plans to introduce cross-chain swaps between Solana and ten other supported networks to interlink liquidity across diverse DeFi ecosystems.

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• Apr 28, 9:02 PM The Block

  Mastercard integrates stablecoins into global payments, partners with OKX, Circle, and Paxos

  Mastercard is incorporating stablecoins into its payment network, enabling consumers to spend and merchants to receive stablecoin payments globally. This integration allows stablecoin transactions through traditional cards, rewards earning, and direct withdrawals to bank accounts via Mastercard Move. In collaboration with crypto exchange OKX and stablecoin issuers Circle and Paxos, this move coincides with impending US stablecoin legislation and reflects growing institutional interest in stablecoin use. The total supply of USD-pegged stablecoins has surpassed $230 billion, with significant transaction volumes reported.

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• Apr 28, 1:37 PM The Block

  Coinbase introduces new Bitcoin Yield Fund targeting 4-8% annual returns

  Coinbase Asset Management is set to launch the Coinbase Bitcoin Yield Fund, offering 4-8% annual bitcoin-denominated returns using a conservative cash-and-carry arbitrage strategy. This new fund, which avoids high-risk techniques like bitcoin loans and call selling, is designed for international institutional clients and utilizes third-party custodians to lower risks. Major investors include Aspen Digital, which also serves as the fund's exclusive distributor in the UAE and Asia.

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• Apr 28, 4:46 AM Cointelegraph

  Bitget takes action against purported VOXEL futures manipulation, legal notices issued to key suspects

  Crypto exchange Bitget has initiated legal action against eight account holders allegedly involved in manipulating the price of VOXEL/USDT perpetual futures on April 20, resulting in over $20 million in illicit gains. The accounts, implicated as main perpetrators, have been restored to normal after Bitget reversed the irregular trades. The exchange intends to return 100% of recovered funds to affected users via airdrops, while an official incident report is pending.

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• Apr 25, 9:47 PM The Block

  DeFi Development files $1 billion shelf offering with SEC to fuel Solana strategy

  DeFi Development, formerly known as Janover, has filed a $1 billion shelf offering with the SEC for diversified securities, including stocks and bonds. This move is part of their strategic pivot towards Solana, emphasizing buying and staking SOL tokens, akin to strategies employed by companies like Galaxy Digital and Sol Strategies. The registered securities may be sold over time, with the detailed terms set prior to each offering. DeFi Development's involvement in crypto began with accepting BTC, ETH, and SOL payments for its commercial property debt financing services.

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• Apr 25, 12:07 PM Fortune

  Paradigm invests $50 million in decentralized AI startup Nous Research

  Paradigm has invested $50 million in Nous Research, a decentralized AI startup, in a Series A funding round that values the startup at a $1 billion token valuation. Nous leverages the Solana blockchain for training AI models in a distributed manner, different from traditional centralized data centers. The startup, which has been under the radar for two years, aims to compete with major AI firms by using blockchain technology for better coordination and incentives in model training.

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• Apr 25, 9:34 AM The Block

  SEC moves to dismiss Dragonchain lawsuit following Crypto Task Force launch

  The SEC filed a joint stipulation with Dragonchain to dismiss a lawsuit concerning the company's 2017 ICO, citing the role of its newly established Crypto Task Force. The dismissal aligns with the SEC's recent softer approach towards crypto regulations under new leadership, following a period of stringent enforcement under former chair Gary Gensler. This change in stance, as signaled by the Crypto Task Force, has led to significant drops in litigation against major crypto entities and reevaluation of what constitutes a security in the crypto space.

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• Apr 24, 7:50 PM The Block

  Citigroup forecasts potential $3.7 trillion stablecoin market by 2030

  Citigroup projects a significant growth in the stablecoin market, suggesting it could magnify from around $240 billion currently to as much as $3.7 trillion by 2030. This anticipated expansion is driven by increased adoption in the finance and public sectors, influenced by regulatory changes capable of causing a transformative effect on the crypto market. The report also discusses potential scenarios where the growth could be lower depending on the challenges faced in adoption and integration.

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• Apr 24, 5:31 PM PayPal

  PayPal and Coinbase enhance partnership to promote PYUSD stablecoin usage

  PayPal and Coinbase are expanding their collaboration to boost the adoption and use of the PayPal USD (PYUSD) stablecoin. This partnership aims to provide fee-free transactions and seamless 1:1 fiat redemptions via Coinbase, leveraging PayPal's vast network and payment solutions for increased utility across consumer, enterprise, and institutional levels. The collaboration focuses on enhancing commerce applications, exploring decentralized finance (DeFi), and developing new use cases for PYUSD.

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• Apr 24, 4:46 PM The Block

  SEC delays decisions on Polkadot and Hedera ETF proposals

  The US Securities and Exchange Commission has postponed decisions on proposals to list and trade crypto funds based on Polkadot and Hedera's DOT and HBAR tokens until June 11, in order to have sufficient time to review. This delay also affects other crypto ETF decisions, including those by Grayscale and Canary. The SEC, under new management since January, appears more open to the crypto industry, demonstrated by its public roundtables and fewer lawsuits against crypto firms.

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• Apr 24, 4:46 PM The Block

  SEC postpones decisions on Polkadot and Hedera ETFs amid flurry of crypto ETF proposals

  The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is delaying its decisions on proposals for crypto funds based on Polkadot and Hedera, moving the deadlines for Grayscale's Polkadot ETF and Canary's HBAR ETF to June 11. These postponements come as the SEC considers multiple other crypto ETF proposals. This delay allows the SEC more time to assess these proposals thoroughly.

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• Apr 24, 2:55 PM New York Post

  TON Foundation names MoonPay co-founder Maximilian Crown as new CEO

  TON Foundation has appointed Maximilian Crown, co-founder of MoonPay, as its CEO. Maximilian Crown was previously COO and CFO at MoonPay and has established relationships with banks and regulatory bodies. This leadership change at TON Foundation follows a significant growth in TON blockchain users from 4 million to 41 million in a year, alongside a strategic $400 million investment received from venture capital firms. With this appointment, the foundation aims to leverage Crown's expertise and relationships to expand the TON blockchain, aiming to integrate 30% of Telegram's users by 2028.

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