New York Attorney General Letitia James wants Congress to do more to protect cryptocurrency investors. James wrote a letter to congressional leadership Tuesday (April 8), saying lawmakers should mandate that crypto companies register with a federal regulatory agency and establish minimum listing standards for crypto tokens.

Standard Chartered and OKX have launched a crypto collateral project that allows institutional clients to use cryptocurrencies and tokenized funds under a regulated framework, enhancing risk controls and custody security. The post Standard Chartered and OKX Launch Crypto Collateral Project appeared first on Cryptonews.

Cryptocurrency exchange HashKey has received approval from Hong Kong regulators to offer staking services, potentially broadening the institutional appeal of proof-of-stake investments such as the spot Ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs).HashKey was granted approval on April 10 after the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) provided regulatory guidance on staking services to Licensed Virtual Asset Trading Platforms (VATPs) and authorized funds, the company disclosed on social media. HashKey said it had become “one of the first” regulated Hong Kong exchanges to offer staking services.

North Carolina (NC) representative Neal Jackson introduced the North Carolina Digital Asset Freedom Act on April 10. The bill proposes that qualifying "digital assets" be accepted as a legally recognized form of payment and for taxes.Although the language of the bill does not specifically mention Bitcoin (BTC), there are several provisions laid out that make BTC uniquely qualified under the bill's definition of a "digital asset.

New York Attorney General (NYAG) Letitia James sent a letter to congressional leaders on April 10 urging the passage of federal legislation to establish a regulatory framework for crypto. The letter argued that the lack of national rules increases the risk of financial fraud, criminal abuse, and market instability in the digital asset sector.

Crypto crashes again after Trump raises China tariffs to 145%, but EU-China talks hint at possible relief. Could a deal bring back the bulls?

Ethereum Layer-2 network ZKfair is at the center of a controversy after it moved $6 million out of its cross-chain bridge. The move sparked rugpull allegations, with stakeholders warning users to withdraw their funds from the bridge.

Escalating geopolitical tensions threaten to balkanize blockchain networks and restrict users' access, crypto executives told Cointelegraph. On April 9, US President Donald Trump announced a pause in the rollout of tariffs imposed on certain countries — but the prospect of a global trade war still looms, especially because Trump still wants to charge a 125% levy on Chinese imports.

Crypto industry continues its push for more favorable regulation, this time targeting airdrops.

Liberland, a sovereign state located between Croatia and Serbia, is preparing to celebrate its 10th anniversary this weekend. The blockchain-based nation has already chosen leaders for its Congress ahead of building the next phase of its decentralization.

On today's show, bitcoin falls back below $80,000 following yesterday's market rally. Plus, The Senate confirmed Paul Atkins as President Trump's next chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The US-based crypto exchange Kraken and the global financial services giant Mastercard are joining forces to drive the widespread use of crypto payment services in the UK and Europe.

Bitpanda has obtained its third license under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) from Austria's Financial Market Authority (FMA).

Bybit's market share has rebounded, according to a research report, as the exchange effectively utilized strategic liquidity tools and benefited from a broader market recovery, quickly overcoming the uncertainty caused by a February crypto hack. The post Bybit's Market Share Rebounds by 7% After February Hack appeared first on Cryptonews.

New York Attorney General Letitia James has urged lawmakers in the United States to pass federal legislation on cryptocurrencies.

Digital payments company Block Inc. has reached a $40 million settlement with New York regulators over alleged compliance misconducts tied to its Cash App platform, Bloomberg reported on April 10.Block was fined by the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) following an investigation into Cash App's Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and cryptocurrency compliance operations, Bloomberg said after reviewing the government agency's consent order. NYDFS determined that Block allegedly violated consumer protection laws and didn't conduct proper due diligence on its customers.

The Bank of England's Financial Policy Committee raises red flags over stablecoin risks, including currency substitution and liquidity issues, as more UK investors turn to crypto assets. The post UK Regulator Sounds Alarm on Stablecoin Risks Amid Crypto's Growing Footprint appeared first on Cryptonews.

Gold-backed crypto tokens outperformed most crypto sectors, including stablecoins, in market cap growth since Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration, a CEX.IO report said.

Coinbase CLO Paul Grewal has shared a new update on the trading platform's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the US Federal Deposit Insurance Commission (FDIC). This case, which is now lingering, suggests the banking regulator is using delay tactics in adhering to previous court orders.

Venture capital firm a16z recommends that the SEC modernize digital asset custody rules, supporting self-custody under defined conditions and advocating for a framework that reflects how blockchain systems operate. The post a16z Urges SEC to Modernize Crypto Custody Rules in Comment Letter appeared first on Cryptonews.

Truth Arts — formerly known as Truth Labs, the team behind the 2022 Goblintown Ethereum NFT collection — has released NFT “licenses” inspired by driver's licenses.

As investors continue to assess what could define the next wave of breakout tokens, many are now turning their attention toward fresh projects that are still under the radar.

As crypto continues its transformation from fringe curiosity to legitimate asset class, traditional financial institutions are no longer sitting on the sidelines. In a candid conversation, Alessandro Fuser, Head of Sales at Crypto Finance, a firm enabling banks to navigate the digital asset world, unpacks how regulation, especially across Europe, is finally catching up with innovation.

"We see a great opportunity in the market for liquid tokens when you look at current valuations," Node Capital's Amos Meiri told The Block.

TL;DR Standard Chartered and OKX launch a pilot program that allows institutional use of crypto assets and tokenized money market funds as collateral. The scheme operates under VARA regulation and combines banking security with the flexibility to operate outside centralized exchanges.

After suffering the largest crypto hack in history in February 2025, the exchange Bybit managed to reclaim its initial market share of 7%, demonstrating remarkable resilience in an otherwise unfavorable economic context.

ShareRing, a Melbourne-based blockchain company, has been approved by the Australian government to roll out an age verification chain as part of a plan to restrict social media access for younger persons. ShareRing will create a pilot version of the blockchain with school students from Darwin, Northern Territory.

Optimism's interoperability has enabled it to corner 40% of all value transferred across major chains.

Tron founder Justin Sun took to X to continue accusing First Digital Trust, a Hong Kong-based crypto custodian and issuer of the FDUSD stablecoin, of orchestrating a $500 million embezzlement scheme.

The pilot aims to combine tokenized funds, crypto assets, and off-exchange custody to scale institutional trading.

The Swiss company's former CFO was based in London, and joined the crypto trading firm last September.

Bitpanda has received its third MiCA license, this time from Austria's FMA, strengthening its regulated presence in Europe alongside approvals in Germany and Malta, and aligning with the EU's crypto framework. The post Bitpanda Secures MiCA License in Austria, Expanding European Regulatory Footprint appeared first on Cryptonews.

Block, Inc., the company behind Cash App, has reached a $40 million settlement with the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). The penalty follows an investigation into the company's failure to maintain proper anti-money laundering (AML) compliance.

While digital currency markets have faltered, the tokenized real-world asset (RWA) ecosystem has flourished, eclipsing recent market turbulence with a 12.5% valuation climb over 30 days. Tokenized Treasury instruments, in particular, outpaced peers with an 8.7% leap across seven days. Tokenized Treasuries Hit $5.

Atkins' confirmation completes the SEC's shift from Gensler's hardline approach to a more innovation-friendly regulatory stance.

BPay Global, a Binance subsidiary, secured a payment service license from the Central Bank of Bahrain. The license authorizes fiat top-ups, withdrawals, and e-wallet services, expanding Binance's regulated presence in the Gulf region. The post Binance Subsidiary BPay Global Secures Payment License from Central Bank of Bahrain appeared first on Cryptonews.

New York Attorney General Letitia James urged lawmakers on Thursday to pass legislation to create a federal regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies, arguing that digital asset investors urgently need stronger protections.

OKX found a major partner, Standard Charter, which will safeguard the collateral of major clients.

TL;DR The CFTC removed two internal guidelines, which could pave the way for clearer regulation of crypto derivatives such as perpetual contracts. Coinbase and Kraken are moving forward with strategic acquisitions to strengthen their position in the derivatives market, anticipating a possible regulatory shift. The legalization of perpetual contracts in the U.S.

Despite the recent regulatory thaw around digital assets, regulating digital assets remains a thorny problem. Here is a primer on the more common riddles currently facing developers of tokenized securities from Skadden's Daniel Michael, Michelle Gasaway and Greg Zaffino.

Crypto derivatives lost 5% of their volumes in March, while spot markets declined by 16.4%. Binance remained the leader with the biggest share of trading volumes among top crypto exchanges.

TL;DR The crypto market sees a strong rebound: Bitcoin surpasses $81,500, while Ethereum, XRP, and Solana also post solid gains. Some analysts warn of a possible “Dead Cat Bounce,” where institutions are selling while retail investors fall into the trap of buying.

Banks have always evolved to provide more effective systems to serve their customers. But while historically that evolution was relatively linear, as the financial world continues to digitize, banks are faced with a growing array of options to meet customer needs.

Altcoins have faced liquidity shocks and weak recovery signs amid Trump's tariff impact.

A plan to raise tax on cryptocurrency investments is evidently missing from the coalition agreement approved by the parties set to form the new German government. The suggested tax reform sought to remove a tax exemption for crypto investors and bump the levy on private capital gains to 30%.

Agora CEO and co-founder Nick van Eck is pretty realistic about where the space stands right now.

Opinion by: Roman Cyganov, founder and CEO of Antix In the fall of 2023, Hollywood writers took a stand against AI's encroachment on their craft. The fear: AI would churn out scripts and erode authentic storytelling.

Perpetual futures contracts, a dominant force in global cryptocurrency trading, may soon become available to U.S. investors as the regulatory landscape evolves under President Donald Trump's administration. What Happened: These high-risk instruments, central to offshore crypto activity, have long been inaccessible to US retail investors due to regulatory constraints.