Coins

Algeria Bans All Crypto Activities, Including Ownership and Mining

In brief The Algerian government has expanded the country’s 2018 Financial Law to ban all crypto-related activities in the country. The extended legislation prohibits crypto trading, ownership and mining, with penalties including fines and jail time. The law goes against the global trend of increasing crypto liberalization, with commentators suggesting that blanket bans are challenging…

Business

South Korea Flags Upbit and Bithumb’s Crypto Lending, Margin Trading Services

In brief South Korea’s FSC and FSS summoned officials from five major crypto exchanges after Upbit and Bithumb launched lending products offering up to 4x leverage, enabling short-selling through borrowed funds. Upbit suspended its Tether lending service, citing potential violations of Korea’s Lending Business Act, while Bithumb modified its structure but maintained controversial 4x leverage…

Law and Order

White House Wants Americans to Report, Pay Taxes on Foreign Crypto Accounts

In brief The White House proposed Congress consider drafting legislation that would force U.S. residents and companies to report foreign crypto accounts on their taxes. Not doing so could disadvantage U.S.-based crypto companies, the Trump administration said in a highly anticipated crypto report published Wednesday. The 168-page report also included recommendations related to crypto banking,…

News

Kraken Q2 2025 financial highlights

Kraken is in build mode. We are creating a multi-asset platform that enables anyone to trade anything, anytime, anywhere. In Q2, our pace accelerated — new products launched, global access expanded and infrastructure scaled. We are pushing the envelope on geo expansion and establishing ourselves as the infrastructure provider that will power the next generation…

Business

Visa Flags Modest Stablecoin Uptake, Calls for Clear US Regulation

In brief Visa reported $10.17 billion in revenue for fiscal Q2, up 14% year-over-year, while stablecoin settlements totaled just $200 million. CEO Ryan McInerney said global stablecoin adoption remains limited and will depend on clearer regulatory frameworks. Visa is investing in stablecoin infrastructure through BVNK, partnering with Bridge in Latin America, and piloting programmable finance…

Law and Order

South Korea’s Ruling, Opposition Parties Clash Over Stablecoin Regulation

In brief South Korea’s ruling and opposition parties introduced competing stablecoin bills, diverging on whether to ban interest payments. Both proposals grant emergency powers to financial regulators and require full reserve backing for won-pegged tokens. The legislative split comes as President Lee Jae-myung advances a crypto-friendly agenda amid global moves to regulate stablecoins. South Korea’s…

Artificial Intelligence

White House Releases Trump’s ‘AI Action Plan’—Here’s What’s in It

In brief The White House unveiled a national AI strategy centered on growth, infrastructure, and global dominance. Critics say it overlooks risks and weakens existing safeguards. The plan promotes deregulation, open-source models, and export controls. The White House on Wednesday unveiled a national strategy to cement U.S. dominance in artificial intelligence—drawing criticism from civil rights…

Law and Order

Some Tokenization Is Just ‘Gambling’, Says Prometheum Co-CEO

In brief Prometheum can custody a handful of tokens, but it’s now racing to support on-chain securities, founder and co-CEO Aaron Kaplan said. Kaplan testified on Capitol Hill in 2023 that the SEC had laid out a clear path to compliance for crypto firms. Some tokenized offerings resemble gambling, Kaplan argued. Tokenization could revolutionize finance,…

Coins

Stablecoin Owners Outnumber Solana Holders: Reown Survey

In brief A new survey by Reown found that stablecoin owners outnumber Solana holders. Crypto payments and stablecoins have become the “real breakout use case,” for crypto, Reown CEO Jess Houlgrave said. Barriers to adoption include user experience, though solutions such as the WalletConnect Network are addressing the fragmentation of networks and chains. Owners of…