Roughly two years after the initial indictment, the Tornado Cash developer’s criminal trial is expected to begin on July 14. The Ethereum Foundation said it will be donating $500,000 to the legal defense of Tornado Cash co-founder and developer Roman Storm, who faces charges related to allegations he conspired to run the crypto mixing service as an unlicensed money transmitter. In a Friday X post, the foundation said it would contribute $500,000 to Storm’s defense, as well as match up to an additional $750,000 in donations from the crypto community. The announcement came roughly a month before Storm is expected to stand trial in New York for money laundering, conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitter, and conspiracy to violate US sanctions. Read more
Crypto IPO season is underway. Circle’s explosive debut has fueled filings from Gemini and Bullish, with Kraken, BitGo, and Consensys potentially next. Key takeaways: Circle’s IPO was a success, with CRCL soaring almost 290% and sparking renewed investor interest. New IPO filings from Gemini and Bullish signal growing momentum, and more crypto-native firms may prepare to enter public markets. Read more
Mark Zuckerberg bets $15 billion on an AI company as stablecoins win over Fortune 500 companies. Sixteen years after the launch of Bitcoin, stablecoins have emerged as one of the most compelling applications of blockchain technology. Banks are reportedly “panicking” over stablecoins encroaching on their territory, while Fortune 500 companies are beginning to grasp their transformative potential. Shifting from blockchain to AI, Meta Platforms is quietly assembling a “superintelligence” unit, led by Scale AI founder Alexandr Wang. This move follows reports that Mark Zuckerberg’s company acquired Scale in a nearly $15 billion all-cash deal. In this week’s Crypto Biz, we explore the evolving landscape of stablecoins and the latest high-stakes moves in the crypto and AI sectors. Read more
Bitcoin exposure may provide more shareholder value to Apple investors, as the tech firm’s stock is struggling to reverse a downtrend. Bitcoin exposure may provide a lucrative financial opportunity for Apple’s stock buyback program, according to Strategy’s Michael Saylor. Saylor’s proposition follows a Bitcoin (BTC) rally of over 11% since the beginning of 2025, which outperformed the 18% decline of Apple shares during the same period. Illustrating a growing corporate shift, increasingly more traditional companies are adopting digital assets beyond Bitcoin. Read more