The SEC's new unit aims to crack down on crypto fraud, targeting scams and unauthorized account takeovers while promoting responsible digital asset growth. SEC Introduces Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit to Tackle Crypto Fraud The U.S.

The Nordic Blockchain Conference (NBC) 2025 is set to take place in Stockholm on June 18-19, bringing together nearly 1,000 attendees and over 100 speakers at Epicenter Stockholm. Organized by the Nordic Blockchain Association (NBA), this premier event will explore key trends in blockchain, Web3, DeFi, AI, and regulation.

Kraken, a top cryptocurrency exchange, is actively negotiating to acquire a majority stake in Deribit, a leading crypto options trading platform. Despite speculation, sources confirm discussions are ongoing, underscoring Krakens strong interest in the deal.

Nigeria has filed a $79.5 billion lawsuit against Binance, accusing the worlds largest cryptocurrency exchange of causing economic harm and evading taxes. The government also seeks $2 billion in back taxes, blaming Binance for the countrys currency issues.

French lender Societe Generale's unit SG-FORGE launched its euro-backed stablecoin, EUR CoinVertible (EURCV), on the Stellar blockchain, expanding its multichain strategy and reinforcing compliance with the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation.

Cryptocurrency investors face increased scrutiny from tax authorities this filing season, with potentially costly consequences for those who misunderstand reporting requirements. The Internal Revenue Service considers every cryptocurrency transaction taxable, even those that don't involve conversion to dollars.

A survey from Australian crypto exchange Independent Reserve found local crypto holders were split with their views on Donald Trump when it came to crypto.

The U.S. seeks to forfeit millions in crypto from a Binance account, alleging wire fraud and money laundering tied to a fraudulent investment scheme. US Government Moves to Forfeit Crypto Seized from Binance Account The U.S.

The SEC's decision to drop its dealer rule lawsuit appeal marks a major victory for the crypto industry, ending a legal battle over regulatory overreach and signaling change. A Win for the Crypto Industry The U.S.

Global adoption of digital assets is predicted to fuel a rise in cryptocurrency wallet usage in the coming years. In preparation for a surge in adoption, developers are focused on increasing security sophistication and expanding functionality.

BitMEX announces the upcoming listing of KAITOUSDT and PIUSDT perpetual swaps with up to 50x leverage, set to go live on February 21, 2025.

Blockchain security leader Chainalysis announces comprehensive integration with Uniswap Labs' Unichain, introducing KYT technology and advanced monitoring tools to enhance DeFi security.

The Russia-based crypto website BestChange is accessible once again. The website aggregates exchange information and may have been blocked for violating a law on advertising passed last year.

Ho Kai Xin, a former Wechain FinTech employee, received a nearly decade-long prison sentence for defrauding ByBit of $4M. Exploiting her payroll oversight role, she diverted funds into personal accounts, funding luxury purchases before her scheme was exposed in 2022. The post ByBit Fraudster Ho Kai Xin Gets Almost Decade Behind Bars For Massive Scheme appeared first on Cryptonews.

The FTX founder also repeated claims the exchange was solvent but illiquid and that law firm Sullivan & Cromwell mishandled the bankruptcy.

Canada's banking watchdog has released new principles designed to guide banks in managing their exposure to cryptocurrency.

Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Barr pushed back on claims that the crypto industry is being shut out of the banking sector.

DeFi advocates celebrate as the SEC drops its appeal, halting efforts to expand securities laws to decentralized finance platforms.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin expressed disappointment about “moral reversal” in the crypto industry, pointing to blockchain gambling. On February 20th, Vitalik Buterin's AMA session featured a question about his main frustrations in the crypto sector last year.

The ECB is advancing a blockchain-based payment system to facilitate central bank settlements. This initiative seeks to improve financial market efficiency through innovation while ensuring regulatory compliance and maintaining stability in the European financial system. The post ECB Plans Blockchain-Based Payment System for Central Bank Settlements appeared first on Cryptonews.

The head of Australia's competition regulator warned that US President Donald Trump's pledge to relax crypto regulations could lead to “horror scenarios” for Australian consumers by making them more vulnerable to investment scams. Gina Cass-Gottlieb, chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), said any weakening of oversight in the U.S.

Meme tokens took the deepest cut to their open interest, after becoming the worst performing narrative for the past month. Meme open interest slid due to liquidations, as well as a loss of taste for risk even for top-performing memes.

Crypto firms Bitgo Trust Company, Inc. and Copper have launched a trading model allowing clients to execute spot and derivatives trades on Deribit while assets remain in off-exchange custody, the two companies announced Feb. 20.

Sam Bankman-Fried's remarks come amid a clemency effort to secure a pardon from Republican President Donald Trump.

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Nasdaq-listed BitFuFu strengthens its crypto mining infrastructure by acquiring a 51MW Oklahoma-based Bitcoin mining facility. The site features air-cooled containers, low-cost power, and next-gen AntMiner rigs. The post Crypto Mining Firm BitFuFu Acquires Data Center in Oklahoma appeared first on Cryptonews.

Sam Bankman-Fried, the jailed FTX founder, proclaimed his innocence during a Feb. 18 interview at Manhattan Detention Center, conducted by AR Hoffman of The New York Sun.

As the U.S. Congress works to regulate crypto, state lawmakers are increasingly forging ahead on bills that embrace crypto.

Figure Markets has launched YLDS, a yield-bearing stablecoin registered with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). According to a Feb. 20 statement, the stablecoin enables users to earn daily interest while maintaining liquidity.

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Heartland Tri-State Bank was the financial backbone of Elkhart, Kansas, a town of just 1,900 people where trust was everything. That trust collapsed in July 2023 when bank president Shan Hanes funneled $47.1 million into crypto, only for it to vanish into overseas wallets.

Sam Bankman-Fried, the imprisoned former CEO of FTX, is hoping that President Trump will pardon him. In a recent interview, he portrayed his own conviction as part of the anti-crypto overreach of Biden's Presidency.

With the possibility that XRP, LTC, or SOL exchange-traded funds (ETFs) might be approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), many think the infamous “altcoin season” is just around the corner. At the same time, others insist the market shows no sign of an impending period of rising altcoin prices.

The SEC transitions from its Crypto Assets unit to CETU, a specialized team focusing on emerging tech fraud prevention and investor protection initiatives.

The ECB's move is partly driven by concerns over the growing adoption of US dollar-backed stablecoins, which could increase American influence in the global financial system.

KuCoin EU has applied for a MiCA license in Austria to comply with EU regulations, aiming to expand its crypto services across the European Economic Area while establishing Vienna as its regional headquarters. The post KuCoin Moves to Comply with EU Crypto Laws, Files MiCA Application in Austria appeared first on Cryptonews.

Kraken's 2024 Transparency Report revealed that global law enforcement and regulatory agency requests to the exchange in 2024 rose by about 39%. U.S. enforcement agencies made the most requests to the exchange globally, standing at 28.6% of all and 1,951 out of the 6,826 requests made in 2024.

KuCoin EU Exchange has announced its application for a Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) license in Austria. This move is aimed at securing regulatory approval to operate as a compliant crypto-asset service provider across the European Economic Area (EEA).

Societe Generale-FORGE, a subsidiary of Societe Generale Group and licensed investment firm, has deployed its euro-backed stablecoin on the Stellar network.

The regulator is seeking comment on filings covering crypto staking, options and altcoin ETFs, among others.

Hester Peirce's SEC Crypto Task Force is setting up a new entity, the Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit (CETU), to fight Web3-related crimes. The CETU will replace Gary Gensler's Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit.

SEC has announced the creation of the Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit (CETU) to tackle crypto fraud.

Canada's banking regulator, the Office of Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) has introduced rules for banks to manage their exposure in cryptocurrency as interest in digital assets continues to grow in the country.

The ECB's plans to build a payments system on distributed-ledger technology could lead to the issuance of a digital euro.

The Blockchain Association is urging Congress to support a measure sponsored by Sen. Ted Cruz that aims to overturn the Internal Revenue Service's decentralized finance broker rule. Broker Rule Threatens U.S. DeFi Leadership The Blockchain Association has urged the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) says that two Estonian nationals pleaded guilty to operating a massive cryptocurrency Ponzi scheme that defrauded hundreds of thousands of victims from across the globe, including the United States.

Laura D'Allaird has been appointed chief of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's new crypto watchdog, said the SEC in a new announcement. The SEC says the new Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit (CETU) will replace the old Crypto Assets and Cyber Unit.

S&P Global, an American financial research and analytics firm, revealed that gaps in regulation remained a stumbling block for stablecoins adoption. S&P noted that a regulatory framework could increase stablecoin adoption in the U.S. and help close the gap with Europe, where the markets in crypto-assets regulation came into force in mid-2024.