A Florida federal jury convicted Hydrogen Technology Corp’s former head of financial engineering over crypto price manipulation conspiracy. The convict, Shane Hampton, allegedly orchestrated a months-long scheme to manipulate the price of Hydrogen Tech’s native crypto token – Hydro. The beleaguered company already had disputes with the US securities regulator, which closed with $2.8 million…
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Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das has suggested using offline solutions to boost the adoption of the central bank’s digital rupee in remote areas. The RBI will evaluate various offline solutions, including proximity and non-proximity-based options, in hilly, rural, and urban environments to address this challenge, as reported by the Press Trust of…
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Two South Korean altcoin executives were freed on bail on February 7 pending a fraud trial. Prosecutors think the executives manipulated token prices to defraud investors. Per Newsis, the Seoul Southern District Court released Pica Project/Pica Coin co-chairs Song (aged 24) and Seong (aged 45). The duo’s given names were withheld for legal reasons. Altcoin…
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Belarus’ Central Bank thinks its new CBDC will let Minsk “decentralize cross-border trade,” and has earmarked a national rollout for 2026. Per ONT, the National Bank of Belarus (NBB)’s Deputy Head of Research and Strategic Development Mikhail Demidenko, said: “The [goal] is primarily the decentralization of cross-border payments. The problem in the modern world is…
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Crypto custody provider Fireblocks has announced a reduction in its workforce as part of a restructuring effort. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Fireblocks said it has been working on restructuring its go-to-market and customer support operations over the past six months. The goal is to enhance efficiency and streamline services for customers, while also…
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The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce (HKGCC) has asked policymakers to consider allowing the issuance of Chinese yuan-linked stablecoins. In a statement released on Tuesday, the influential business organization emphasized the importance of retaining and attracting talent and businesses in Hong Kong and proposed the exploration of a “Virtual Asset Connect Scheme.” The HKGCC…
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Minsk is looking for ways to end Belarus’ sanctions woes, with its central bank confirming the planned launch of a blockchain-powered CBDC. Per Sputnik Belarus, the National Bank of Belarus (NBB) is keen to make use of smart contract technology. A spokesperson told reporters on February 3: “We plan to classify settlements using the digital…
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The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has extended the decision period for Invesco and Galaxy’s spot Ethereum ETF, as expected by analysts. This extension pertains to a proposed rule change from Cboe BZX that would enable the listing and trading of shares of the fund. The SEC’s decision follows the publication of the proposed…
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Top executives of Haru Invest, a South Korean crypto yield platform, have been arrested by the county’s prosecutors on Monday. The crypto investigation arm of the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors’ Office have arrested three people in connection with crypto fraud worth 1 trillion Won ($752 million). Per the prosecutors’ charges, the three accused, including the…
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WisdomTree, known for its spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), is reportedly finalizing efforts to secure a license from the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). WisdomTree to Get Limited Purpose Trust Charter According to Fox Business reporter Eleanor Terrett, the NYDFS is nearly ready to approve WisdomTree’s application for its Limited Purpose Trust Charter,…
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