Several countries have announced multibillion-dollar plans to build out the world’s crypto hub, but five of the world’s financial centers stand out. Kazakhstan, the Maldives and Pakistan have recently outlined ambitions to position themselves as crypto hubs and build out their digital economies. Historically, these countries haven’t been top of mind for global crypto firms — though Kazakhstan did have a brief moment in the spotlight as a go-to destination for Bitcoin (BTC) miners after China’s mining ban. Meanwhile, established financial centers are now in a race to become the world’s leading crypto hub by finding the right balance of regulation, talent, capital and infrastructure. Read more
Community sales redefine crypto fundraising by enabling retail investors to participate in early-stage Web3 projects under transparent, equitable terms. This model aligns with crypto's core values. Opinion by: Darius Moukhtarzadeh, Research Strategist at 21Shares A new wave of crypto fundraising is emerging, changing how Web3 projects launch and who can invest at an early stage: Community Sales. At first glance, community sales may seem reminiscent of the ICO (Initial Coin Offering) era from 2016–2017. Yet, they represent a significant evolution that better aligns with crypto's core values of democratization, transparency, and inclusivity. Projects should include community sales as a core element of their fundraising strategy, besides raising from angel investors and VCs. Professional investors should embrace community sales as they highly increase the chances of sustainable success of Web3 projects. Read more
Father-son team Kain and Laban Roomes are using XRP Ledger to track and dispense medicines in Uganda and are listing the startup in Canada. Its been a long road for entrepreneur Laban Roomes and his footballer-turned-crypto founder son Kain, but their XRP Healthcare startup is in the process of going public on the Canadian stock exchange. They co-founded the Dubai-incorporated company with the goal of modernizing healthcare in Africa by combining crypto infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and real-world services. It operates a digital healthcare platform as well as a chain of pharmacies in Uganda using the XRP Ledger to track pharmaceutical supplies and patient outcomes. In the West, we take reliable pharmacies and access to medication for granted, says Laban. In parts of Uganda, that just isnt the case. This is about changing that and starting on the ground, not in the metaverse. Read more
Chinese printer maker Procolored reportedly spread clipboard-hijacking Bitcoin malware via its official drivers in a supply chain attack that led to over $950,000 in stolen funds. Chinese printer manufacturer Procolored distributed Bitcoin-stealing malware alongside its official drivers, according to local media reports. Chinese news outlet Landian News reported on May 19 that Shenzhen-based printer company Procolored has been distributing Bitcoin-stealing (BTC) malware alongside official drivers. The company reportedly used USB drivers to distribute malware-ridden drivers and uploaded the compromised software to cloud storage for global download. A total of 9.3 BTC worth over $953,000 have been stolen, according to the report. Crypto tracking and compliance firm Slow Mist described how the malware operates in a May 19 X post: Read more
Franklin’s new Payroll Treasury Yield lets companies earn DeFi yields on idle payroll funds using audited smart contracts and full self-custody. Franklin, a hybrid cash and crypto payroll provider, is launching a new initiative that aims to turn idle-sitting payroll into an opportunity for yield. The new solution, dubbed Payroll Treasury Yield, uses blockchain lending protocols to help firms earn returns on payroll funds that would otherwise sit idle, the company told Cointelegraph in an exclusive statement. Franklin said its new offering integrates Summer.fi, a decentralized finance (DeFi) lending platform, to allow companies to deposit stablecoin-denominated payroll reserves into smart contract-based lending pools. Read more
Charles Hoskinson has denied claims of misappropriating $600 million in ADA and says Cardano will publish an audit report following community backlash. The Cardano Foundation is preparing to release an audit report on its treasury holdings after fresh allegations surfaced claiming misappropriation of roughly $600 million worth of ADA tokens. Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson is facing renewed scrutiny from community members, including non-fungible token artist Masato Alexander, who alleged that Hoskinson manipulated the Cardano ledger using a “genesis key to rewrite it and take control” of $619 million worth of Cardano (ADA) during the network’s 2021 Allegra hard fork. Related: Nasdaq-listed GDC plans to buy Bitcoin and TRUMP memecoin for $300M Read more
Bitcoin liquidation maps help track whale moves, predict price swings and stay safe from forced liquidations in volatile crypto markets. Understanding a Bitcoin liquidation map is imperative in dealing with the inherent volatility of the crypto market. The visual tool showcases probable liquidation levels, indicating where large orders may cause cascading price changes. This post explores how to interpret a Bitcoin liquidation map, allowing you to trade smarter in the volatile world of cryptocurrency. In cryptocurrency trading, liquidation happens when an exchange forcefully closes a trader's leveraged position due to insufficient margin to pay losses. This usually occurs when the market moves sharply against the position. Read more