Investor Kidnapped, Driven to Remote Desert and Robbed of $4,000,000 in Cryptocurrency by Teenagers: Report

Three teenagers are being accused of kidnapping a wealthy investor and then stealing $4 million in digital assets after driving him to a desert outside of Las Vegas. Court records show that Belal Ashraf and Austin Fletcher, both 16, are now facing charges of robbery, kidnapping and extortion, while a third yet-named accomplice remains at large, reports local CBS-affiliate 8 News Now. A juvenile court judge previously ruled that Ashraf and Fletcher, both from Florida, will face charges as adults. Prosecutors say the third teenager is no longer in the…

Crypto speculation dominates $600B cross-border payments: BIS report

Hundreds of billions of dollars in cross-border cryptocurrency payments flow globally, driven primarily by speculative investment, according to a recent report by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). The BIS study, published May 8, found cross-border payments using the two largest cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH), and the two largest stablecoins, USDt (USDT) and USDC (USDC), totaled about $600 billion during the second quarter of 2024, the final observation period covered by the analysis. “Our findings highlight speculative motives and global funding conditions as key drivers of native crypto…

Microsoft and OpenAI renegotiate investment deal: Report

Tech company Microsoft and artificial intelligence firm OpenAI are reportedly in talks to renegotiate the investment deal between the AI firm and Microsoft, which is OpenAI’s biggest financial backer. According to a report from the Financial Times, Microsoft may give up a portion of its equity in OpenAI for continued access to the AI company’s products and models beyond 2030, when some of the original terms of a deal signed between the two companies expire. Microsoft has invested over $13 billion into OpenAI since 2019, when it first acquired an…

No, Spanish Citizens Don’t Have to Report Cash Withdrawals Over €3,000 in Advance to the Tax Agency

Information about an alleged new regulation requiring Spanish citizens to report cash withdrawals over €3,000 recently went viral on social media. Spanish crypto and tax experts debunked this claim, stating that it is completely incorrect and a result of a misunderstanding of anti-money laundering regulations. Experts Debunk Viral Post: Spanish Citizens Don’t Have to Report […] Source CryptoX Portal

US senators ask DOJ, Treasury to consider Binance-Trump ties — Report

A group of Democratic senators has reportedly sent a letter to leadership at the US Department of Justice and the Treasury Department expressing concerns about US President Donald Trump’s ties to cryptocurrency exchange Binance and potential conflicts of interest in regulating the industry. According to a May 9 Bloomberg report, Democratic senators asked Attorney General Pam Bondi and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to report on the steps Binance had taken as part of its November 2023 plea agreement with US authorities, amid reports that Trump and his family had deepened…

Meta exploring stablecoin integration for payouts: Report

Tech company Meta is reportedly exploring integrating stablecoin payments into its platforms after a three-year hiatus from cryptocurrencies, Fortune reported, citing sources familiar with the matter. The Facebook parent held talks with several crypto infrastructure firms in consultation but has not chosen a decisive course of action, according to the report. One source said the company may take a multi-token approach and integrate support for popular stablecoins such as Tether’s USDt (USDT), Circle’s USD Coin (USDC) and others. Meta is the latest tech firm to integrate or explore the use…

Trump tricked into pushing XRP for crypto reserve: Report

US President Donald Trump was reportedly manipulated by a lobbyist tied to Ripple Labs into announcing the XRP token would be part of his plans for a national cryptocurrency reserve. According to a May 8 Politico report, an employee of pro-Trump lobbyist Brian Ballard gave the president the text to a social media post she recommended he write announcing a US strategic crypto reserve that would include XRP, Solana (SOL), and Cardano (ADA). After he posted the message to his social media platform on March 2, Trump learned Ripple was one…

Report Exposes 98.6% of Solana Meme Coins on Pump.fun as Fraudulent 

A new report by blockchain analytics firm Solidus Labs reveals that 98.6% of tokens launched on Solana’s Pump.fun and 93% of liquidity pools on Raydium exhibited signs of fraudulent activity, including pump-and-dump schemes and rug pulls. Solana’s Low Fees Fuel Explosion of Meme Coin Fraud, Research Shows The findings, detailed in Solidus Labs’ “2025 Rug […] Source CryptoX Portal

G7 summit could discuss North Korea’s crypto hacks: Report

Group of Seven (G7) leaders could discuss North Korea’s escalating cyberattacks and crypto thefts at an upcoming summit in Canada, mid-next month. Conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza will dominate discussions, but North Korea’s increasing cyber threats and crypto hacks have become a major concern requiring a coordinated international response, Bloomberg reported on May 7, citing people familiar with the plans. The people said North Korea’s nefarious cyber operations are alarming, as the stolen crypto has become a key funding source for the regime and its programs.  North Korean-affiliated hacking groups…

Robinhood plans blockchain for US asset trading in Europe — Report

Brokerage fintech Robinhood is reportedly developing a blockchain network that will enable retail investors in Europe to trade US securities. According to a May 7 Bloomberg report citing sources familiar with the matter, the move seeks to expand the company’s local presence by offering trading of tokenized securities, such as stocks. Two crypto firms, Arbitrum and the Solana Foundation, are reportedly vying to become partners in the project. Tokenization is the process of turning real-world assets, like stocks, real estate, or commodities, into digital tokens that can be traded on…