Law and Order

Belarus Banks Ordered to Adopt Crypto, Tokenization as Sanctions Squeeze Economy

In brief President Lukashenko said tokenization can cut intermediaries, automate deals, and boost user control. Belarus has seen $1.7 billion in crypto payments this year, with $3 billion projected, according to Lukashenko. Russia-aligned states like Kyrgyzstan have shown similar sanction-driven patterns. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko is urging the nation’s banks to ramp up their use…

Law and Order

US DOJ Moves to Recover $12M in USDT Tied to Crypto Scam

In brief Federal prosecutors have filed a complaint to forfeit USDT funds traced to a spoofed trading platform. Victims were recruited through text messages and directed into fake investment accounts. Civil forfeiture is being used as a tool to disrupt scams and recover funds for victims, Decrypt was told. Federal prosecutors in Albany have filed…

Opinion

Morning Minute: Democrats Want A Seat at the Crypto Table

Morning Minute is a daily newsletter written by Tyler Warner. The analysis and opinions expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of Decrypt. Subscribe to the Morning Minute on Substack.GM!Today’s top news: Crypto majors chop, SOL leads at $220; BTC at $112,300 Several crypto mining stocks soar on back of Oracle report of AI…

Markets

Cboe to Debut Continuous Bitcoin, Ethereum Futures for US Customers

In brief Derivatives exchange Cboe plans to introduce continuous Bitcoin and Ethereum futures for U.S. customers. If approved by regulators, the products will be available in November. Currently, U.S.-based traders have access to futures that expire. Derivatives exchange Cboe plans to introduce continuous Bitcoin and Ethereum futures for U.S. customers in November, pending regulatory approval,…

Law and Order

US Treasury Sanctions 19 Southeast Asian Entities in $10B Cyber Scam Crackdown

In brief The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned 19 entities across Burma and Cambodia that it says scammed Americans out of $10 billion in 2024. The action targets networks using trafficked workers forced to conduct “pig butchering” scams through fake investment platforms and romance schemes. Networks often “rebrand” when sanctioned, but sanctions “disrupt scammers’ easiest routes,”…

Business

Jack Ma’s Ant Digital Taps Blockchain to Tokenize $8.4B in China’s Energy Assets: Report

In brief Ant Digital linked $8.4B in Chinese energy assets to AntChain, tracking 15M renewable devices. It raised 300M yuan ($42M) for three clean energy projects via tokenized assets, Bloomberg reported. Adoption is expected to remain institutional, with offshore listings hinging on regulatory approval, Decrypt was told. Jack Ma-backed Ant Group’s enterprise arm has reportedly…