Crypto exchange OKX has launched a payment card in Europe, allowing users to spend stablecoins at merchants that accept Mastercard. The OKX Card is issued through the regulated Electronic Money Institution (EMI) partner Monavate, operating on Mastercard’s global network. At launch, the card supports Circle’s USDC and Paxos-issued USDG, enabling verified EU users to use stablecoins for everyday transactions. The card is linked to OKX Pay, a self-custodial wallet accessible via the OKX app, which can be funded directly from the exchange. Compliance and Regulatory Oversight The OKX Card is regulated under Europe’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. Monavate ensures…
Author: Blockto Team
The United Kingdom’s advertising regulator has banned a series of Coinbase advertisements, ruling that the campaign downplayed the risks of cryptocurrency investing while framing digital assets as a response to economic hardship. UK Advertising Ban Targets Coinbase Crypto Campaign The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) determined that the ads were “irresponsible” after concluding they used humor and social commentary to imply that crypto could address cost-of-living pressures.Regulators said the messaging risked presenting high-risk financial products as an easy solution to serious financial challenges. The ban covers a musical-style video and three poster ads that appeared across online platforms and in high-traffic…
Bitcoin may be poised for a breakout if global central banks respond to mounting stress in Japan’s bond market with renewed liquidity support. That is the view of Arthur Hayes, who argues that monetary intervention tied to Japan could become a catalyst for crypto markets. Japan Bond Market Stress and Yen Weakness Japan is facing a rare and concerning scenario where the yen is weakening while Japanese government bond (JGB) yields are rising. This combination suggests eroding confidence in the country’s debt market. Rising yields increase pressure on domestic investors and raise the risk that Japanese institutions could sell US…
Tether is positioning itself as a major player in the gold market, with plans to actively trade its reserves and expand its role in a potential post-dollar global economy, according to CEO Paolo Ardoino. Tether’s Massive Gold Holdings The stablecoin giant currently holds around 140 tons of gold, valued at approximately $23.3 billion, stored in a Cold War-era nuclear bunker in Switzerland. Ardoino highlighted gold as “logically a safer asset than any national currency”, emphasizing Tether’s strategy to reinvest earnings into precious metals. The company has been purchasing one to two tons of gold per week and plans to maintain…
The landscape of crypto money laundering is evolving rapidly. Data shows that centralized exchanges are being used less for illicit activity, while Chinese-language networks are now leading the on-chain laundering ecosystem. According to recent reports of Chainalysis over $82 billion in illicit crypto funds were laundered in 2025, up from $10 billion in 2020. Chinese-language informal networks accounted for $16 billion, averaging $44 million per day. These networks, often operating via Telegram-based services, use money mules, informal OTC trading desks, and gambling platforms to mix and swap cryptocurrencies. The shift from centralized exchanges is driven by stricter regulatory compliance and…
Ethereum is preparing to launch a new smart contract standard, ERC-8004, which allows AI agents to discover, verify, and interact with each other across platforms without relying on centralized intermediaries. The deployment is expected on Thursday, 9 AM ET, according to MetaMask’s AI lead, Marco De Rossi. ERC-8004 Unlocks Trustless AI Communication The ERC-8004 standard provides a unified framework for registering and validating AI agents on Ethereum smart contracts. Unlike existing protocols that manage agent communication or task orchestration, ERC-8004 addresses two critical challenges: By enabling portable reputation and cross-platform verification, the protocol allows AI agents to operate as economic…
Social media interest in silver and gold has recently outpaced cryptocurrency discussions, as retail traders react to sharp price movements in precious metals, according to market analytics firm Santiment. Silver surged to a new all-time high of just over $117 on Tuesday, while gold similarly attracted attention after hitting record levels in mid-January. Santiment data shows that from Jan. 1–6 and again during the first half of January, silver and gold were the most discussed assets on social media platforms. The spike in retail attention often coincides with sharp price rallies, suggesting heightened fear of missing out (FOMO) among investors.…
Laser Digital, a digital asset firm backed by Japanese financial group Nomura, is reportedly seeking a US national bank trust charter, highlighting the accelerating push by crypto-focused companies to integrate more deeply into the US financial system under a shifting regulatory climate. Laser Digital Applies for US Bank Trust Charter Laser Digital has submitted an application to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national trust bank charter. If approved, the charter would allow the firm to operate under federal oversight, eliminating the need to secure individual state custody licenses. The company plans to provide spot…
US authorities have confirmed an active investigation into allegations that tens of millions of dollars in government seized crypto were stolen from wallets managed under a federal asset protection program. The case has raised serious questions about crypto custody, oversight, and contractor security controls. US Marshals Probe Seized Crypto Theft Claims The US Marshals Service stated that “the matter is under investigation” following claims that more than $40 million in seized digital assets were improperly accessed. Officials declined to provide further details due to the ongoing nature of the inquiry. The allegations center on John Daghita the son of a…
Morgan Stanley has taken a significant step deeper into digital assets by appointing Amy Oldenburg as its new head of digital asset strategy, signaling a more serious commitment to crypto after years of caution. Oldenburg, a long-serving executive at the bank, will transition from Morgan Stanley’s emerging markets equity team, where she has worked since 2001. She has led that division since November 2021, with a mandate that increasingly included shaping its digital asset approach. Her appointment comes just weeks after Morgan Stanley filed for three crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and revealed plans for a crypto wallet, marking a notable…