Flash News

TREE NEWS update: US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the Trump administration now trusts AI firm Anthropic after months of tension. Asked if he trusts CEO Dario Amodei, Lutnick said: “We trust Anthropic. They did what we asked and are back on the right side, so yes.”

TREE NEWS update: Two Thai businessmen have sued Tether, claiming the company unlawfully froze access to their stablecoins months before U.S. federal authorities obtained a seizure warrant. The lawsuit alleges Tether blocked $42.4 million in USDT without legal basis, causing financial losses. The plaintiffs seek damages and the release of their funds.

TREE NEWS update: Norway is moving to regulate ‘pervert glasses’ and considering a ban on facial recognition. The country’s consumer watchdog has urged retailers to stop selling the devices until the law is clear.

TREE NEWS update: CrowdStrike, with federal law enforcement, dismantled the Russian Sality botnet, active since 2003 and recently used to steal crypto by swapping BTC and ETH addresses on infected machines’ clipboards. The operation cut over 15,000 infected devices from the network, with stolen funds totaling about 12.1 million rubles ($150,000), later appreciating to roughly $1.35 million.

TREE NEWS update: The SEC proposed updating transfer agent rules to accommodate blockchain-based share records, adding risk-management and compliance requirements for registered agents using such systems. The proposal revises electronic recordkeeping rules to ensure investor protection as digital securities evolve.

TREE NEWS update: A judge in the Google ad-tech antitrust case rejected Alphabet’s (GOOG.O) requirement to sell its ad exchange AdX, but ordered changes to certain business practices. The ruling follows the government’s push for divestiture. Alphabet shares were little changed after the decision.

TREE NEWS update: Kalshi, a prediction market platform, is reportedly preparing to apply for listing WTI crude oil perpetual contracts. This move would expand its offerings into commodity derivatives, potentially attracting traders seeking exposure to oil price movements.

TREE NEWS reports: CrowdStrike and federal agencies have disrupted a Russian-backed malware operation that secretly mined and stole cryptocurrency for eight years. The operation, which infected thousands of systems, was finally neutralized, marking a major win in cybersecurity and crypto crime enforcement.

TREE NEWS update: Coinbase has launched regulated crypto derivatives contracts in Canada for the first time. The offering aims to expand its international footprint and provide Canadian clients with access to compliant derivative products.

TREE NEWS update: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that parties involved in Iranian digital assets could become sanctions targets. This highlights growing regulatory scrutiny on crypto transactions linked to sanctioned nations.

TREE NEWS update: Thai businessmen have filed a lawsuit against Tether, claiming the firm unlawfully froze $42 million of their funds linked to a $61 million pig butchering scam. The plaintiffs admit involvement in the scam but argue Tether lacked authority to freeze the assets at the time. The case raises questions about stablecoin issuer’s power to freeze funds.

TREE NEWS update: The US Department of Justice, in collaboration with CrowdStrike, has announced the disruption of the Sality botnet, a malicious network that has operated for over 20 years. This action marks a significant milestone in cybersecurity efforts against long-standing criminal infrastructure.

TREE NEWS update: Thailand has enacted the crypto Travel Rule, mandating that virtual asset businesses verify the ownership of self-hosted wallets to enhance anti-money laundering measures. The regulation aligns with FATF standards, requiring transaction information sharing for transfers over a certain threshold.

TREE NEWS update: Thailand has adopted a crypto Travel Rule requiring digital asset operators to verify control of self-custodial wallets and retain transaction data for five years. The measure aligns with FATF standards to combat money laundering and terrorism financing.

TREE NEWS update: The crypto industry is pressing the U.S. SEC to refrain from imposing blanket restrictions on innovative ETF products. They argue that a flexible, case-by-case approach is necessary to foster innovation while ensuring investor protection.

TREE NEWS update: The G20, in a chair’s statement from the Asheville meeting, endorsed digital assets as a growth tool and committed to “clear pathways” for innovation. However, the group deferred binding cross-border stablecoin regulation to the Financial Stability Board (FSB), signaling a cautious approach to global crypto oversight.