The government of Paraguay will ask lawmakers to approve a bill that proposes jailing illegal Bitcoin (BTC) miners for up to 10 years. The presidential spokesperson Paula Carro told reporters on Friday May 17 that the government has sent the bill to parliament “as a matter of urgency.” 10 Years in Jail: Illegal Bitcoin Miners Face…
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The crypto industry has made a record $94 million in political donations since 2023 in an effort to support pro-crypto governance. According to a May 17 Bloomberg report, crypto industry donors have contributed $94 million to federal political committees since 2023. This is more than the $83 million donated during the last 2020 election cycle.…
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Tigran Gambaryan, the Binance executive detained in Nigeria, was denied bail on his 40th birthday, according to a court hearing in Abuja on Friday. According to Nigerian media outlet Punch News, Judge Emeka Nwite ordered the crypto exchange’s Head of Compliance to stay in prison, citing his potential to jump bail if granted. Nigerian Binance…
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Institutional interest in digital assets is gaining traction. As of the end of Q1, more than 900 institutions based in the United States had disclosed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) shareholdings exceeding $100 million, equating to $10.7 billion combined. In addition, leading asset management firms, including BlackRock and Franklin Templeton, have launched tokenized treasury funds. Recent…
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Presidential candidate Donald Trump recently expressed his backing for crypto, indicating that he would cease hostility towards crypto in the US if he were to be re-elected. “If we’re going to embrace it, we have to let them be.” He also told the audience that if they like crypto, “you better vote for Trump.” Previously,…
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The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) China President recently shared insights on the challenges and solutions for cross-border central bank digital currency (CBDC) interoperability. In an interview with 21st Century Business Herald, Wen Yang addressed the fragmentation in CBDC systems due to varying technological paths and standards among different economies, highlighting the organization’s…
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Mastercard announced the selection of five startups to participate in its Start Path blockchain and digital assets program on Wednesday to foster innovation in blockchain technology and digital asset utilization. As part of Mastercard’s new initiative, these startups will explore new ways to use money to address real-world challenges, enhance user experiences, and broaden the…
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The Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC), the largest settlement system in the world, has partnered with blockchain oracle Chainlink to conclude a pilot program involving several major banking firms in the United States. The primary objective of the program was to enhance the tokenization of traditional finance funds. The pilot program, known as the…
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Tether Operations Limited, the largest entity in the digital asset ecosystem, announced a strategic partnership with Oobit, a mobile payment app, and the TON Foundation on May 16. The partnership comes after Tether launched USDT and XAUt on The Open Network (TON) in April. Tether and TON Foundation Partner with Oobit to Revolutionize Crypto Payments…
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South Korean police have arrested 34 people in a raid on a suspected crypto-powered drugs smuggling ring, officers announced on May 16. Per Newsis, police seized 90,000 doses of drugs including methamphetamine (crystal meth), synthetic marijuana, and ketamine. Officers said the ring used Vietnam-based smugglers to hide the drugs in cosmetics products. Gang members then…
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