Blockchain & Digital Assets

May 19, 2026 @ 2:58 pm By JD Alois  |  

Stablecoin enabling firm Checker has raised $8 million in funding, according to a statement distributed by the firm. The funding was led by Galaxy Ventures, Al Mada Ventures, and Framework Ventures. Other investors include strategic backers such as Bitso, Mesh, and others. Checker reports that… Read More

May 19, 2026 @ 12:18 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Cryptocurrency platforms Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN), Kraken (operating under parent company Payward), and Gemini (NASDAQ:GEMI) have urged Senate lawmakers to eliminate a specific clause from a comprehensive digital asset market structure bill. The provision in question would have restricted trading platforms from offering certain tokens deemed potentially… Read More

May 19, 2026 @ 11:44 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Standard Chartered Bank (LON: STAN) has projected that the total value of tokenized assets on blockchain networks could reach an impressive $4 trillion by the close of 2028. This forecast, shared by Geoffrey Kendrick, the bank’s Global Head of Digital Assets Research, underscores the accelerating… Read More

May 19, 2026 @ 9:44 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Hyperliquid, a Layer-1 blockchain known for its decentralized perpetual futures trading, has entered an agreement with stablecoin focused Circle (NYSE:CRCL) and Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN). This move positions USDC as the platform’s primary “Aligned Quote Asset,” marking a significant evolution in how stablecoin yields are distributed within… Read More

May 19, 2026 @ 7:48 am By JD Alois  |  

Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) shares that it worked with UK law enforcement to apprehend and convict kidnappers who used its platform to transact a ransom payment. Reportedly, Coinbase detected suspicious activity in July 2025 and alerted police to the illicit activity. In a “wrench attack,” criminals forced… Read More

May 19, 2026 @ 7:21 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Stablecoins have surged from niche crypto tools to foundational infrastructure for global finance. These fiat-pegged digital assets combine the stability of traditional currencies with blockchain’s speed, transparency, and programmability. As of April 2026, total stablecoin circulation exceeds $316 billion, up sharply from prior years, with… Read More

May 19, 2026 @ 7:00 am By JD Alois  |  

Bitget Wallet says it has integrated xStocks, thus providing access to self-custodied tokenized equities and ETFs for its users. According to a company release, over 130 tokenized assets are now available via the digital wallet. Bitget reports having over 300 assets, including stocks, crypto, commodities, and… Read More

May 19, 2026 @ 6:22 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Sygnum Bank has conducted the first live trials of AI-agent-powered transactions in digital assets by a fully regulated Swiss banking institution. Announced this month, this pilot marks a pioneering step in blending artificial intelligence with blockchain operations while upholding stringent client safeguards and regulatory standards…. Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 10:56 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Bitcoin Depot, one of North America’s largest operators of Bitcoin ATMs (BTMs), has voluntarily filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. The move aims to enable a structured wind-down of its business activities and the sale of its remaining assets, marking a significant development in the… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 9:48 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Circle (NYSE:CRCL) has indicated that as artificial intelligence agents evolve into independent economic participants, traditional API designs face a fundamental shift. Conventional APIs rely on human-managed API keys and manual approvals, but agents require seamless discovery, pricing transparency, instant payment, and frictionless access to resources…. Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 4:56 pm By JD Alois  |  

Bitcoin proxy firm Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) (NASDAQ:MSTR) has bought more Bitcoin. Bitcoin recently traded above $80,000 but has since retreated slightly. Currently, Bitcoin is around $77,000 after topping $82,000 in the past month. Strategy filed an 8-K today indicating that a previously announced share offering… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 4:17 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The team at VerifiedX noted that Bitcoin (BTC), the flagship cryptocurrency, continues to gain traction as a cornerstone institutional asset, prompting innovators to explore expansions in its functionality. One view holds that the cryptocurrency’s future development will emphasize enhanced programmability alongside strong privacy protections. VerifiedX… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 3:19 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The prolonged crypto downturn shows little sign of easing as ongoing political uncertainties and macroeconomic headwinds continue to weigh on the sector. Major players are streamlining operations in response, with notable adjustments at leading platforms. Investment platform Kraken‘s parent company, Payward Inc., recently eliminated around… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 11:05 am By JD Alois  |  

Iran has announced it intends to offer insurance for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz using Bitcoin. Fars News Agency and Iran’s Ministry of Economy state that the system provides cryptographically verifiable insurance policies. By using Bitcoin, Iran aims to circumvent the many sanctions imposed… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 10:53 am By JD Alois  |  

Tether has announced an investment in LemFi, a Fintech that enables cross-border transfers. LemFi (formerly known as Lemonade Finance) supports users living in the US, Canada, the UK and Europe to send payments and transfers to more than 30 countries. As Tether is the issuer of USD₮,… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 10:39 am By JD Alois  |  

Tokenization is quickly becoming commonplace, and it is vital that regulators and policymakers work in concert with both current industry participants and future firms that will eventually incorporate digital assets, including tokenized securities. The Bank of England and the UK Financial Conduct Authority issued a… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 9:22 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Anchorage Digital and Grupo Salinas have unveiled a strategic collaboration aimed at transforming international settlements. The alliance leverages regulated stablecoins to enable faster, more efficient, and transparent cross-border transactions, marking a step forward in the integration of digital assets into traditional banking systems. Anchorage Digital,… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 8:48 am By JD Alois  |  

The Bank of England and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have issued a joint statement on tokenization and the wholesale market. The comment is described as a “shared vision” that has the potential to streamline markets while benefitting from additional functionality. The discussion is driven… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 7:46 am By Omar Faridi  |  

A decentralized finance project called Verus is grappling with a serious security incident involving its cross-chain connection to Ethereum. Blockchain monitoring experts have confirmed that malicious actors have extracted roughly $11.58 million in cryptocurrency assets from the bridge so far, sparking immediate concerns across the… Read More

May 18, 2026 @ 5:53 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The cryptocurrency and digital tokens market witnessed a rally in HYPE tokens on news of a significant collaboration involving Hyperliquid, Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN),  and Circle (NYSE:CRCL). HYPE climbed to an impressive peak of $46.93, reflecting strong investor enthusiasm for the latest developments in decentralized finance infrastructure…. Read More