Flash News

TREE NEWS update: Federal authorities and private-sector partners, including CrowdStrike, have disrupted malware that redirected about $150,000 in cryptocurrency over the past eight years. The operation targeted the malware used in crypto thefts, marking a coordinated effort to combat cybercrime in the digital asset space.

TREE NEWS update: Coinbase has launched regulated crypto derivatives for eligible Canadian traders, offering perpetual and dated futures with up to 10x leverage. The move expands the exchange’s presence in Canada as major US trading platforms increasingly enter the market.

TREE NEWS update: New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and acting gaming enforcement chief Mary Jo Flaherty filed a petition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review their enforcement action against prediction market Kalshi over sports event contracts. The petition cites civil cases from at least 20 state gaming regulators and argues Kalshi may still violate state law despite CFTC compliance. It challenges an April 2-1 ruling by the Third Circuit. Kalshi spokesperson Dani Lever said the company disagrees with the appeal and maintains confidence in the lower court decision.

TREE NEWS update: New Jersey’s Attorney General and gaming regulators filed a petition for a writ of certiorari to the US Supreme Court, seeking to block Kalshi from offering sporting event contracts to state residents. The move escalates the state’s legal challenge against the prediction market platform.

TREE NEWS update: New Jersey has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether sports betting on prediction markets falls under federal or state jurisdiction. The state seeks to resolve the regulatory ambiguity surrounding these platforms, which have grown rapidly. The Court’s decision could set a precedent for how prediction markets are overseen nationwide.

TREE NEWS update: The US Treasury Department has issued multiple new general licenses related to Venezuela, the Trump administration announced. The licenses permit certain activities involving Venezuelan coal, gold, and mining sectors. This move eases restrictions on some transactions with the sanctioned country.

TREE NEWS update: Crypto exchanges, asset managers, market makers and consumer groups have submitted comments to the SEC on its proposed regulatory framework for new ETFs, covering crypto assets, private assets, event contracts and leveraged strategies. The Crypto Council for Innovation urged extending some ETF relief to non-ETF exchange-traded products, while a16z argued against treating all new ETFs alike, and Grayscale opposed new portfolio limits for mature digital asset products. Chainalysis suggested using public blockchains for real-time monitoring, Kalshi backed event contracts in registered funds, and Public Citizen opposed retail access to them.

TREE NEWS update: The Crypto Council for Innovation, Grayscale, and a16z urged the SEC to adopt tailored rules for novel ETFs, asking the regulator to preserve existing fund classifications and streamline reviews for new exchange-traded products. The groups argue that current frameworks may not accommodate innovative structures, calling for a more flexible approach.

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.