News

According to Foresight News, a U.S. court has ruled in favor of Epic Games in its lawsuit against Apple, with Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers deciding that Apple can no longer charge fees for purchases made outside of its apps. This ruling, which takes immediate effect, also prohibits Apple from restricting developers from directing users to make purchases outside of the app. Apple has announced plans to appeal the decision. Epic Games plans to relist Fortnite on the U.S. App Store next week. In response to the court's decision, Apple has updated its App Review Guidelines to comply with the ruling regarding in-app buttons, external links, and calls to action. According to the updated guidelines, apps can use in-app purchase features to sell services related to non-fungible tokens (NFTs), such as minting, listing, and transferring. However, apps outside the U.S. store are not allowed to include buttons, external links, or other calls to action that direct users to purchasing mechanisms outside of in-app purchases. Crossmint, a crypto API development company, commented that the ruling is significant for the cryptocurrency industry, as it allows apps to directly sell NFTs, tokens, and digital assets while retaining 100% of the revenue.

According to Odaily, Mathew McDermott, the Global Head of Digital Assets at Goldman Sachs, announced at TOKEN2049 that the firm plans to expand its digital asset trading activities, explore crypto lending, and heavily invest in tokenization. McDermott noted that an increasing number of Goldman Sachs clients are eager to engage more actively in digital asset trading, prompting the company to focus on implementing these business strategies. The firm aims to secure various regulatory approvals to facilitate these initiatives. Previously, Goldman Sachs was primarily involved in secondary market transactions such as private equity, but it now intends to advance tokenization and collateral liquidity operations.

According to Foresight News, SlowMist founder Yu Jian has reported three theft incidents today, with two linked to scams on Telegram. These scams involve compromised accounts of acquaintances, where fraudsters craft schemes based on chat history. The voice messages sent are simulated using AI tools that can easily mimic historical voices. Yu Jian advises against relying on a single source for verification, especially when financial transactions are involved, and emphasizes the importance of establishing an additional trusted verification mechanism.

According to Foresight News, BlackRock, a global asset management giant, has submitted an application to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to create a blockchain-based stock class for its BLF Treasury Trust Fund. This new class, labeled DLT, aims to utilize blockchain technology to record stock ownership or streamline certain operations of the money market fund, which invests in high-quality short-term U.S. Treasury securities. The DLT shares will be exclusively available through BNY Mellon, which plans to use blockchain technology to maintain a mirrored record of stock ownership for its clients. This move follows BlackRock's previous launch of a tokenized fund, the BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL), last year.

According to BlockBeats, Matrixport's tokenization platform, Matrixdock, has been named a 'focus member' of the Tokenization Asset Coalition (TAC). Together, they have released an in-depth report titled 'XAUm: Reshaping Gold Ownership Through Tokenization.' The innovative approach of XAUm has received significant industry recognition. As a token fully backed by LBMA physical gold, XAUm addresses traditional gold investment challenges such as storage and liquidity. It also introduces innovative features like collateralized lending and yield generation through blockchain technology. The underlying physical gold assets of XAUm are stored in renowned vaults like Brink's, with independent audits and on-chain verification, setting new standards for security and transparency in the industry. The joint release of the industry report by Matrixdock and TAC highlights the significant impact of tokenizing real-world assets, aiming to bring tangible benefits to the real world and promote financial inclusion and equity. This aligns with the shared goals of Matrixdock and TAC to advance these efforts.

According to BlockBeats, the CME's "FedWatch" tool indicates a 95.3% probability that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged in May. There is a 4.7% chance of a 25 basis point rate cut.

According to Cointelegraph, the U.S. Treasury Department has taken steps to prevent the Cambodia-based Huione Group from accessing the U.S. banking system, accusing the company of facilitating cryptocurrency laundering for North Korea’s state-backed Lazarus Group. On May 1, the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) proposed a rule to prohibit U.S. financial institutions from opening or maintaining correspondent or payable-through accounts for the Huione Group. This move aims to disrupt the group's ability to launder funds obtained through illicit activities. Huione Group has been identified as a preferred platform for cybercriminals, including the Lazarus Group, which has reportedly stolen billions from American citizens. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized that the proposed action would cut off Huione Group’s access to correspondent banking, thereby hindering their operations. The conglomerate operates several businesses, such as Huione Pay PLC, Huione Crypto, and Haowang Guarantee, which are involved in providing payment services, crypto exchanges, and online marketplaces for illicit goods. Despite not having direct correspondent accounts with U.S. financial institutions, Huione Group maintains accounts with foreign firms that do have U.S. correspondent accounts, according to FinCEN's submission. The proposed rule is currently open for a 30-day public comment period before it can be enacted. FinCEN has accused Huione Group of laundering at least $4 billion in illicit proceeds between August 2021 and January 2025, including over $36 million from crypto scams known as pig butchering. Additionally, $37 million of the laundered crypto has been linked to North Korean cyber heists. Haowang Guarantee has reportedly made Huione Group a comprehensive solution for criminals to convert illicitly obtained crypto into fiat currency. The conglomerate has also developed a stablecoin, the US Dollar Huione (USDH), which FinCEN claims is designed to facilitate money laundering activities due to its inability to be frozen. The National Bank of Cambodia has taken action against Huione Group by revoking its local banking license in March, citing regulations that prohibit payment firms from dealing or trading digital assets within the country.

On May 02, 2025, 04:36 AM(UTC). According to Binance Market Data, BNB has dropped below 600 USDT and is now trading at 599.909973 USDT, with a narrowed narrowed 0.15% increase in 24 hours.

According to Odaily, a prominent Ethereum whale has recently made a significant purchase on the blockchain, acquiring 3,029.6 ETH at a price of $1,895 per coin, totaling approximately $5.74 million. Despite the current unrealized loss of around $142,000, this whale has been actively engaging in strategic trading since March, consistently buying low and selling high. These maneuvers have resulted in accumulated profits of approximately $300,000.

According to Odaily, Movement Labs has announced the temporary suspension of its co-founder, Rushi Manche. This decision comes in light of recent developments and an ongoing review by the third-party agency Groom Lake, which is examining organizational governance and a recent incident involving a market maker.

According to PANews, Riot Platform, a Nasdaq-listed mining company, has released its financial results for the first quarter, reporting revenue of $161.4 million. The company produced 1,530 BTC, marking a 12.1% increase compared to the same period last year when production was 1,364 BTC. Riot currently holds 19,223 BTC, valued at approximately $1.6 billion.

According to Foresight News, Strategy has released its financial results for the first quarter of the 2025 fiscal year. The company reported a $5.9 billion impairment on its Bitcoin reserves due to a decline in Bitcoin prices. Despite this, Strategy achieved approximately $4.1 billion in Bitcoin revenue, with a Bitcoin yield of 11.0%. In the same quarter, Strategy successfully executed a $21 billion common stock ATM transaction, adding 301,335 Bitcoins to its balance sheet. Additionally, the company's stock price increased by 50% during this period. In March 2025, Strategy issued and sold up to $21 billion worth of STRK stock. As of April 28, 2025, approximately $20.9 billion remains available under the STRK ATM.

According to BlockBeats, U.S. President Donald Trump is set to submit his 2026 fiscal year budget proposal to Congress this Friday. The budget plan is expected to outline the administration's financial priorities and strategies for the upcoming year. Details of the proposal have not been disclosed, but it is anticipated to address key areas such as defense, healthcare, and infrastructure. The submission marks a significant step in the legislative process, as Congress will review and debate the proposed allocations before finalizing the budget. This move is part of the administration's ongoing efforts to shape economic policy and manage federal spending.

According to PANews, a Texas congressman has proposed the installation of cryptocurrency ATMs in federal buildings across the United States. Representative Lance Gooden has addressed a letter to Stephen Ehikian, the acting administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), which manages government properties. Gooden argues that introducing cryptocurrency ATMs in federal buildings would serve as an 'educational resource' and demonstrate advancements in financial technology. He has urged the GSA to explore the necessary guidelines and regulations for installing such ATMs in government-controlled properties nationwide, aligning with U.S. President Donald Trump's objectives.

On May 02, 2025, 00:33 AM(UTC). According to Binance Market Data, Bitcoin has crossed the 97,000 USDT benchmark and is now trading at 97,018.867188 USDT, with a narrowed 2.94% increase in 24 hours.

According to Cointelegraph, Tether, the issuer of the largest stablecoin by market capitalization, has unveiled its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, highlighting substantial exposure to US Treasurys and a notable operating profit. The report reveals that Tether's assets include $98.5 billion in direct US Treasury bills, supplemented by over $23 billion through repurchase agreements and other cash-equivalent assets. This financial disclosure underscores Tether's significant involvement in the US Treasury market. The announcement also details Tether's reserve holdings, indicating $5.6 billion in excess reserves for its USDt (USDT) stablecoin, a decrease from $7.1 billion in the previous quarter of 2024. As of May 1, the stablecoin boasts a market capitalization of $149 billion. The circulating supply of USDT increased by approximately $7 billion in Q1, accompanied by a 46 million rise in user wallets. Tether's strategic investments continue to be funded by its excess capital, with over $2 billion allocated to sectors such as renewable energy, artificial intelligence, peer-to-peer communications, and data infrastructure. The stablecoin market remains predominantly dominated by tokens pegged to the US dollar, with USDT and Circle’s USDC collectively holding an 87% market share. The US Treasury's Q1 2025 report forecasts the market cap for dollar-backed stablecoins to potentially reach $2 trillion by 2028. However, European Union officials have expressed concerns regarding the risks associated with overreliance on dollar-pegged stablecoins. The Bank of Italy has warned that disruptions in the stablecoin market or the underlying bonds could have significant repercussions for other sectors of the global financial system. These developments highlight the growing influence and potential risks associated with stablecoins in the global financial landscape.

According to Odaily, Macquarie strategist Thierry Wizman has stated in a report that even if the Trump administration removes all tariffs, the U.S. dollar is unlikely to fully recover its recent losses. Wizman noted that beyond capital flight, there is a need to reduce reliance on the dollar due to the declining integrity of some U.S. institutions and systems. He suggested that the dollar will no longer be an indispensable currency, but rather an alternative to a few comparable currencies like the euro.

According to Odaily, the European Union's chief negotiator has expressed Brussels' intention to increase purchases of U.S. goods by 50 billion euros to address trade relationship issues. The EU is reportedly making 'some progress' in reaching an agreement. However, EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič stated that the EU will not accept the continuation of a 10% tariff on its goods as a fair resolution in trade talks. Šefčovič noted that since the implementation of tariffs by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, the U.S. and EU have made progress through multiple rounds of face-to-face and telephone negotiations. He emphasized that his goal remains to achieve a 'balanced and fair' agreement with the White House. Šefčovič mentioned that the issue could be swiftly resolved as both parties agree to purchase more U.S. natural gas and agricultural products. Nonetheless, he cautioned that reaching an agreement that is 'clearly good and acceptable' for EU member states and the European Parliament will be 'very difficult.'

On May 01, 2025, 20:06 PM(UTC). According to Binance Market Data, BNB has dropped below 600 USDT and is now trading at 599.909973 USDT, with a narrowed narrowed 0.20% increase in 24 hours.

According to PANews, Tether has disclosed that its Bitcoin holdings exceed $7.6 billion. This announcement follows the release of Tether's first-quarter report, which highlighted that the company's U.S. Treasury holdings are nearing $120 billion. Additionally, Tether's traditional investment operations have generated profits exceeding $1 billion.