CryptoNewsFlash

Uzbekistan will establish a special crypto mining zone called Besqala Mining Valley across Karakalpakstan.
The project includes a 10-year tax holiday and is designed to attract investment, create jobs and expand renewable-powered mining.
Uzbekistan is carving out a dedicated space for crypto

New York Attorney General Letitia James has sued Coinbase and Gemini, alleging their prediction market platforms are illegal gambling operations under state law.
The state is seeking fines, restitution, forfeiture of profits and tighter restrictions on access for younger users.
New York has

Paul Chan said Hong Kong’s first two stablecoin licenses are only an early step in the city’s broader digital asset strategy.
He also pointed to cross-border payments, tokenized bonds and a new Web3-AI committee as the next areas of focus.
Hong Kong is making it clear that its first stableco

Google said it plans to spend between $175 billion and $185 billion this year on capital expenditures tied to AI infrastructure.
CEO Sundar Pichai said the investment is aimed at supporting what he described as the coming “agentic era” of artificial intelligence.
Google is preparing to spend

Infinite has launched dedicated bank accounts that combine fiat payment rails and stablecoin transactions through one API integration.
The rollout is powered by Erebor Bank and comes as institutional interest in stablecoin infrastructure continues to expand.
Infinite is pushing deeper into t

The UK FCA has conducted its first enforcement sweep against suspected illegal peer-to-peer crypto traders.
The regulator says no peer-to-peer crypto traders or platforms are currently registered with the FCA in the UK.
The UK’s top financial regulator has begun its first direct crackdown on

Volo said a $3.5 million exploit hit three isolated vaults involving WBTC, XAUm and USDC.
The Sui-based protocol said about $28 million in total value locked across other vaults remains safe and that user losses will not be passed through.
Another week, another DeFi exploit. This time the

Base has launched the Azul upgrade on testnet, calling it the network’s first independent upgrade ahead of a planned mainnet rollout on May 13.
The upgrade introduces a multiproof system combining TEE and zero-knowledge proofs, with the aim of advancing decentralization and speeding up

The Kelp DAO attacker laundered about 34,500 ETH (~$80M), largely swapping to BTC via THORChain; partial freezes spurred cross-chain movement, distorting THORChain activity.
An analysis of the Kelp DAO exploit shows 34,500 ETH (~$80M) laundered after roughly $175M was moved off Ethereum. Most proceeds were swapped into BTC through THORChain, causing a sharp rise in its 24-hour swap volume and fee revenue. The Arbitrum freeze of 30,766 ETH appears to have pushed the attacker to accelerate remaining transfers, illustrating how partial interventions can influence attacker behavior. Once funds move into high-liquidity cross-chain rails, tracking and enforcement become significantly harder, highlighting the difficulty of exploit cleanup when permissionless liquidity pathways are involved.

South Korea's new BoK chief prioritizes digital money infrastructure, expanding CBDC and deposit tokens via Hangang, stressing payment stability and deemphasizing stablecoins.
Abstract: Shin Hyun-song opens his tenure by placing the BoK's digital money agenda at the center of policy, announcing expanded CBDC and deposit-token use under Project Hangang, broader global collaboration under Agora, and a focus on payment/system stability with limited attention to stablecoins.

Japan, with Mizuho and Nomura, will test on-chain transfer and real-time collateral for Japanese government bonds on Canton Network, aiming cross-border use under the FSA’s Payment Innovation Project.
Abstract: The article outlines a proof-of-concept by Japan Securities Clearing Corporation, Mizuho, and Nomura to transfer and manage Japanese government bonds on-chain via Canton Network. It evaluates real-time collateral transactions and cross-border use within the Financial Services Agency's Payment Innovation Project, highlighting urgency as overseas markets advance blockchain-based infrastructure tests.

W3.io and Space and Time have launched a live production partnership to provide end-to-end verifiable infrastructure for enterprise financial workflows.
The integration is already processing more than 200,000 workflows per day, with Creatorland serving as an early production test case.
W3.io

Abstract: The article reports that Zodia Custody has added BitMEX to its Interchange network, enabling institutional clients to trade on BitMEX without moving assets to the exchange. The off-venue settlement model keeps assets in custody while reserving them for trading, reducing exchange-side risk and enhancing institutional liquidity. BitMEX's integration strengthens its institutional positioning and signals a broader shift toward custody-centric market structure in institutional crypto trading.
Summary: Zodia Custody adds BitMEX to Interchange, letting institutions trade on BitMEX while assets stay in custody via off-venue settlement, reducing exchange-side custody exposure.

Coinbase has launched its USDC borrowing service in the UK, allowing users to borrow against Bitcoin, Ether, and cbETH. Utilizing Morpho smart contracts, the product offers variable rates and rapid loan disbursement, integrating crypto-backed borrowing into a user-friendly app experience.

Startale Group is expanding into Abu Dhabi after joining Hub71's Digital Assets cohort, enhancing its blockchain and stablecoin initiatives. This move aligns with the UAE's crypto ambitions, facilitating regulatory clarity and access to key partners.

Major U.S. law firms are advising clients that AI chatbot conversations, like those with Anthropic’s Claude, may be discoverable in court, following a ruling that such chats lack attorney-client privilege. This has led firms to include warnings in client contracts.

Grinex has halted trading following a significant cyberattack, alleging foreign state involvement, particularly from Western entities. Linked to the sanctioned exchange Garantex, Grinex's ties to the ruble-backed stablecoin A7A5 elevate the situation's geopolitical implications.

Circle has launched USDC Bridge, a service designed to simplify cross-chain transfers of USDC through a burn-and-mint model. It promises upfront fees, live tracking, and automatic gas handling, aiming to reduce user uncertainty and streamline the transfer process.

Bitcoin surged past $77,000 as Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz open for shipping, easing market fears and triggering a risk-on rally. Stocks rose and oil prices fell sharply, reflecting renewed investor confidence despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.

Flow Capital Partners plans to tokenize its $150 million private credit fund via DigiFT, aiming to raise an additional $30 million this year and scale to $250 million by 2026. This move highlights the growing trend of real-world asset tokenization beyond pilot projects.