English

NewsBriefs - SEC concludes investigation into Immutable with no charges

Editor-curated news, summarized by AI

  • The Block

    SEC concludes investigation into Immutable with no charges

    The US Securities and Exchange Commission has ended its investigation into the Australian crypto firm Immutable, which had previously received a Wells notice over potential securities law violations. Immutable celebrated this decision as a victory for digital ownership in the gaming sector. This closure aligns with the SEC's recent trend of dropping cases against various crypto entities and pursuing clearer regulations under its new leadership post-Trump administration and Gary Gensler's tenure.

    The Block

    • Latest

    • Pump.fun

      Pump.fun launches creator revenue sharing with 50% of PumpSwap earnings

      Pump.fun has introduced a creator revenue sharing system where 50% of PumpSwap's revenue is distributed to coin creators. Creators can now earn 0.05% in SOL from each trade made on their coins. This applies to all coins newly created, trading on Pump.fun's bonding curve, or that have graduated to PumpSwap, with earnings calculated from the launch date.

      Expand
      Pump.fun

    • The Block

      Trump's direct crypto links raise conflict concerns as stablecoin bill stalls

      Former President Donald Trump's growing involvement in the crypto sector is raising conflict-of-interest concerns among US lawmakers, coinciding with the stalling of stablecoin legislation in Congress. Trump's ties to a new stablecoin and a foreign crypto exchange previously scrutinized by the Department of Justice have sparked criticism, particularly as the market cap of the stablecoin surged to over $2 billion following a significant deal. This controversy undermines the progress of the GENIUS stablecoin bill and poses questions about the influence of Trump's financial interests on legislative processes.

      Expand
      The Block

    • The Block

      SEC Chair Paul Atkins announces new regulatory approach for crypto

      SEC Chair Paul Atkins has unveiled a shift in the agency's crypto regulation strategy, emphasizing a move away from ad hoc enforcement to a rules-based approach that includes drafting specific guidelines for digital assets deemed securities. Atkins criticized the previous administration's less cooperative stance and plans to revise custody rules and explore conditional exemptive relief for new crypto products and services.

      Expand
      The Block

    • The Block

      Strategy buys additional 13,390 BTC for $1.3 billion, brings total to 568,840 BTC

      Strategy acquired an additional 13,390 BTC for approximately $1.34 billion at an average price of $99,856 per bitcoin, expanding its total holdings to 568,840 BTC valued over $59 billion. These acquisitions were funded through the sale of MSTR and STRK shares. Strategy's total BTC represents more than 2.7% of the entire bitcoin supply, reflecting significant paper gains and continual investment, despite a recent $4.2 billion net loss in Q1 due to unrealized losses on bitcoin under new accounting rules.

      Expand
      The Block

    • The White House

      US and China progress in trade talks, detail release set for tomorrow

      The US and China have made "substantial progress" in trade talks held in Switzerland, with a detailed announcement planned for tomorrow. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer reported productive discussions, emphasizing swift agreement and the groundwork laid over two days. The meetings also involved high-level officials from both sides and direct communication with President Trump.

      Expand
      The White House

    • The Block

      Ledger regains control of Discord server after hacker attack

      Ledger regained control of its Discord server after a hacker compromised a moderator's account and attempted to scam users by asking them to input their seed phrases into a third-party website. The company swiftly removed the hacked account, deleted the malicious bot, reported the scam website, and secured server permissions to prevent further incidents.

      Expand
      The Block

    • The Block

      BlackRock discusses staking and options for crypto ETFs with SEC

      BlackRock met with the US Securities and Exchange Commission to discuss regulatory issues for crypto staking and options on crypto ETFs. The meeting explored facilitating ETFs with staking features and determining parameters for options trading on these ETFs, highlighting challenges and the potential for advancements in the crypto ETF sector.

      Expand
      The Block

    • The Block

      German authorities seize $38 million in crypto from eXch exchange

      German authorities have confiscated approximately 34 million euros ($38.2 million) in crypto assets from eXch, a defunct crypto swapping platform known for its lack of anti-money laundering and KYC measures. The seizure, which included Bitcoin, Ether, Litecoin, and Dash, along with over 8 terabytes of data and server infrastructure, is linked to suspicions of commercial money laundering and operation of a criminal trading platform. eXch, operational since 2014, enabled anonymous crypto transactions and is implicated in laundering part of the crypto stolen by the North Korean hacker group Lazarus.

      Expand
      The Block

    • Metaplanet

      Metaplanet issues $21 million in zero-interest bonds to buy Bitcoin

      Metaplanet has issued its 14th series of ordinary bonds, allocating the entire issuance to EVO FUND and raising $21,250,000. These zero-interest bonds, set to be redeemed in November 2025, are designated for purchasing Bitcoin and ensuring funds for bond redemption. The bonds were issued as per previous announcements related to stock acquisition rights and future financial management plans.

      Expand
      Metaplanet

    • The Block

      US Senate votes to delay stablecoin regulation bill amid Trump's rising crypto involvement

      The US Senate has postponed the advancement of a stablecoin regulation bill due to increasing bipartisan tensions influenced by President Donald Trump's involvement in the crypto sector. The Senate's decision follows Democratic concerns about the bill's provisions on foreign issuers and anti-money laundering, as well as ethical issues tied to Trump's personal crypto activities. The bill, known as the GENIUS Act, aims to enforce stringent rules on stablecoin issuance, including reserve requirements and restrictions on foreign issuers.

      Expand
      The Block

    • The Block

      Superstate launches Opening Bell to introduce SEC-registered public equities on Solana

      Superstate announced the launch of Opening Bell, a platform that allows for the issuance and trade of SEC-registered public equities on blockchain, starting with Solana. This platform supports regulatory-compliant shares that are directly tradable with crypto wallets and DeFi protocols, offering real-time settlements and continuous trading by leveraging blockchain technology. SOL Strategies will be the first company to list its shares on this platform, highlighting the shift towards blockchain-based public markets.

      Expand
      The Block

    • Ethereum Foundation

      Ethereum Foundation commits $32M in grants for Q1 2025 to enhance community programs and infrastructure

      The Ethereum Foundation has allocated $32 million in grants for the first quarter of 2025, targeting enhancements in community programs, developer tools, zero-knowledge proofs, and core infrastructure. The funding supports a diverse array of projects, ranging from educational initiatives and developer experience improvements to cryptography research and execution layer development, reflecting Ethereum's commitment to fostering broad ecosystem growth.

      Expand
      Ethereum Foundation

    • The Block

      OCC allows US banks to buy and sell crypto on behalf of customers

      The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has authorized national banks to buy and sell crypto assets for their customers and allowed them to outsource related custody and trade execution services to third parties. This decision underscores a flexible regulatory approach, providing banks can manage associated risks effectively. This move aligns with recent regulatory changes under President Donald Trump's administration that favor a more crypto-friendly environment.

      Expand
      The Block

    • Crypto.com

      Crypto.com to open new regional office in Washington

      Crypto.com announced its plan to establish a new North America regional office in Washington, D.C., strategically positioned near the White House to enhance its public and government affairs efforts within the US. This expansion reflects the company's commitment to the US market as central to its growth strategy and aims to bolster its presence amidst a developing regulatory landscape.

      Expand
      Crypto.com

    • Binance

      Bhutan and Binance Pay introduce world's first national crypto tourism payment system

      Bhutan has launched the world's first national crypto tourism payment system in collaboration with Binance Pay and DK Bank. This innovative initiative enables tourists to use crypto for all travel-related expenses across Bhutan's tourism ecosystem, including flights, visas, accommodations, and even small purchases at local markets. Over 100 local merchants are already part of this system, allowing for a cardless, cashless travel experience powered by crypto. The system represents a significant step towards digital integration and economic inclusivity, giving even remote businesses in Bhutan the chance to participate in the global economy.

      Expand
      Binance