Philippine Central Bank Approves Peso-Pegged Stablecoin for Faster Remittances

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, the central bank of the Philippines, has approved PHPC, a stablecoin pegged to the Philippine peso, aimed at facilitating cost-effective remittances. Crypto exchange Coins.ph, the stablecoin issuer, plans to attract 20,000 to 30,000 users in the first month. The PHPC will be the first peso-backed stablecoin available for retail use, … Read more

Turkey Prepares New Crypto Law to Align With International Standards

Turkey is preparing to present a new law to regulate crypto assets to Parliament. The legislation, aimed at aligning with international standards and reducing risks associated with crypto transactions, will enforce strict regulations on the licensing and operation of cryptocurrency trading platforms by the Capital Markets Board. It will also ensure the safe custody of … Read more

Billionaire Barry Sternlicht Foresees Banks Failing Every Week in US

Barry Sternlicht, CEO of Starwood Capital Group, has voiced concerns about the vulnerability of regional and community banks in the U.S. to high interest rates and inflation, particularly amid the commercial real estate downturn. He forecasted frequent failures of these banks, predicting: “You’re gonna see your regional bank fail … every week, maybe two a … Read more

279 Crypto Accounts Forfeited to US Government in North Korean Laundering Crackdown

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has ordered the forfeiture of 279 cryptocurrency accounts containing funds linked to alleged hacks of crypto exchanges by North Korean operatives. This measure is a component of a broader U.S. effort aimed at dismantling cyber operations that finance North Korea’s nuclear and missile initiatives. The decision … Read more

Crypto Exchanges Helping Brazilian Flood Victims

Several cryptocurrency firms are stepping up to support flood victims in Southern Brazil. For example, Okx has partnered with Brazilian cryptocurrency exchange Foxbit to match donations of up to $10,000 to the “Ajude o Rio Grande do Sul” emergency campaign, channeling funds to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the affected areas. Similarly, Bingx is doubling cryptocurrency … Read more

Bitcoin Meal Box: South Korean Convenience Store Chain Partners With Crypto Exchange to Promote BTC

Emart24, South Korea’s fastest-growing convenience store chain, has partnered with cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb to introduce a “bitcoin meal box” in a promotional campaign. Priced at 5,900 Korean won ($4.30) each, the company aims to sell 30,000 bitcoin meal boxes by May 31. Customers purchasing these boxes can receive 10,000 won worth of bitcoin by using … Read more

Grayscale Maintains Steady Revenue Despite Massive GBTC Outflows in Q1

Grayscale Investments maintained stable revenue in the first quarter despite substantial outflows from the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), its converted spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF). The firm reported $156 million in revenue, little change from the previous quarter, as stated in a shareholder letter from Digital Currency Group (DCG), its parent company. The conversion of … Read more

Woman Sentenced to 9 Years in Prison for Crypto-Funded Murder-for-Hire Scheme

Michelle Murphy, 58, from Bedford, Texas, has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison for attempting to hire a hitman using bitcoin to kill her boyfriend’s lover. Charged in September 2023 and pleading guilty in December, Murphy used the dark web to orchestrate the crime, paying $10,510 in bitcoin. The transaction was traced through … Read more

Binance Fined Over $4 Million in Canada for Money Laundering Violations

Canada’s Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre (FINTRAC) has imposed a fine of C$6 million on crypto exchange Binance for failing to comply with anti-money laundering and terrorist financing laws. This penalty, equivalent to approximately $4.4 million, was levied after Binance failed to register as a foreign money services business and neglected to report over … Read more

Mastercard, Visa, JPMorgan, and Other Major Banks Explore Tokenized Asset Settlements

Several major financial firms are collaborating to test the benefits of shared-ledger technology for jointly settling tokenized assets like commercial bank money and various securities. The initiative, known as the Regulated Settlement Network, is a proof-of-concept designed to expedite and secure cross-border transactions using a singular system for tokenized assets. This trial is an extension … Read more