BitcoinKE

Morgan Stanley’s spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund, trading under the ticker, MSBT, completed its first month without recording a single day of net outflows, as U.S. Bitcoin ETFs extended their inflow streak to six consecutive weeks.

The fund, which launched on April 8 2026, has attracted about $193 million in net inflows and now manages more than $240 million in assets.

 

 

This impressive growth activity comes in contrast to the broader Bitcoin ETF market which has bled ~$422 million in combined outflows during recent trading sessions, according to one report, in comparison to MSBT absorbbing $13 million within this period.

MSBT’s performance comes as institutional demand for Bitcoin investment products rebounds following months of volatility tied to macroeconomic uncertainty and shifting expectations around U.S. interest rates.

Morgan Stanley has also sought to compete aggressively on fees, pricing MSBT with a 0.14% sponsor fee – lower than rival spot Bitcoin products from firms including BlackRock, Bitwise Asset Management and Grayscale Investments, according to the report.

 

INSTITUTIONAL | Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin ETF (MSBT) Debut Ranks it Among Top 1% ETF Launches

 

Morgan Stanley’s pedigree in a volatile and turbulent market is familiarity with an established wealth-management and advisory base while leaning into its distribution at launch. This familiarity builds trust with clients navigating the shift into crypto.

The zero-outflow streak highlights how traditional financial institutions are increasingly leveraging

brand recognition,

distribution networks, and

lower-cost structures

to capture market share in the growing digital asset ETF sector.

 

INSTITUTIONAL | The Industry Has Entered a New Phase of Mainstream Adoption, Say Crypto, Fintech Executives at Consensus Miami 2026

 

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE for deeper insights into global crypto developments.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_________________________________________

Kraken parent company, Payward Inc., has agreed to acquire Hong Kong-based Reap Technologies for $600 million in cash and stock as the crypto exchange operator expands deeper into Asia’s stablecoin payments market, according to a report by Bloomberg.

Reap provides stablecoin-focused cross-border and commercial payment services for businesses. Payward co-Chief Executive, Arjun Sethi, said the shares issued in the transaction value the company at about $20 billion.

Sethi said the acquisition marks Payward’s first infrastructure deal in Asia and would help the company expand beyond crypto trading into business-to-business financial services, including card issuance and stablecoin payments.

CASE STUDY | U.S Crypto Exchange Pivots to Stablecoin Infrastructure Provider After ~80% Drop in Crypto Revenue in Q1 2026#Bakkt is also expanding its push into emerging-market payments after signing an MoU with #Zoth to scale compliant stablecoin-based remittance… pic.twitter.com/RkXiKrE53l

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) May 12, 2026

The deal gives Kraken deep roots and access in Asia which happens to be one of the fastest-growing regions for stablecoin adoption wth a ready-made B2B payment stack.

The deal comes as crypto firms increasingly push into stablecoin-based payment infrastructure amid growing demand for faster cross-border settlements across Asian markets. Reap operates payment infrastructure designed for international business transactions using stablecoins.

The acquisition also extends Kraken’s recent dealmaking streak. Last month, Payward agreed to acquire derivatives exchange, Bitnomial, in a transaction valued at up to $550 million.

 

STABLECOINS | The MasterCard $1.8 Billion BVNK Deal Signals the Importance of Underlying Stablecoin Infrastructure

 

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE for important developments in the crypto space.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_________________________________________

Brokerage giant, Charles Schwab, has launched direct cryptocurrency trading for an initial group of retail clients allowing them to buy and sell bitcoin and ether through a dedicated “Schwab Crypto” account as traditional financial firms deepen their push into digital assets.

The rollout gives eligible clients access to spot trading in Bitcoin and Ethereum alongside traditional investments on Schwab’s platform, the company said.

Schwab said the service is being introduced in phases, with the first wave of users gaining access this week. The company had previously signaled plans to launch spot crypto trading in the first half of 2026 after years of offering only indirect exposure through crypto-linked ETFs and futures products.

INSTITUTIONAL | Brokerage Giant Preparing to Roll Out Bitcoin, Ether Trading in H1 2026

With almost $12 trillion in client assets, Schwab’s entry into spot crypto trading could intensify competition for native exchanges by bringing crypto directly into mainstream brokerage… pic.twitter.com/JgpYrjlzx6

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) April 5, 2026

The move places Schwab among a growing number of Wall Street firms expanding into digital assets as demand for regulated crypto products rises in the United States. Rivals including Morgan Stanley and Interactive Brokers have also moved to broaden crypto trading access for retail clients.

According to reports, Schwab’s crypto offering initially supports bitcoin and ether trading and charges a 0.75% transaction fee. Some states, including New York and Louisiana, are excluded from the launch because of licensing requirements.

 

INSTITUTIONAL | World’s Largest Wealth Management Firm Debuts Crypto Trading

 

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE on institutional crypto adoption globally. 

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________

Decentralized finance ‘super app,’ Legend, is shutting down after about two years of operations becoming the latest crypto platform to wind down amid continued pressure across the DeFi sector, according to a statement from the company’s Co-Founder, Jayson Hobby.

Legend, a mobile-first non-custodial DeFi aggregator, launched by former Compound Labs executives, said it failed to achieve the scale needed for long-term sustainability despite attracting users to its platform.

 

“We believed the right interface could put DeFi’s most powerful primitives in front of mainstream users,” Hobby said adding that shutting down was “the right call” for the team and investors.

 

The app, which allowed users to earn yield, trade, borrow and swap crypto assets through integrations with protocols including Aave, Compound and Uniswap, will remain operational for the next 60 days before going offline on July 12, the company said.

Legend raised $15 million in a February 2025 funding round backed by Andreessen Horowitz and Coinbase Ventures.

Its closure adds to a growing list of crypto projects that have shut down this year amid weak market conditions and declining activity across decentralized finance. More than 20 DeFi, NFT and GameFi protocols have announced closures in 2026, including

ZeroLend,

Step Finance and

Polynomial.

Hobby said mainstream users were more focused on outcomes such as better yields and faster payments than whether a product was built on blockchain infrastructure.

 

MARKET ANALYSIS | Over 80 Crypto Apps Shutter in Q1 2026 as Capital Shifts to Bitcoin ETFs, Stablecoins

 

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE for updates into the state of DeFi.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

________________________________________________

A Nigerian court has adjourned the Federal Government’s tax evasion case against crypto exchange, Binance, until July 9 2026 as both parties pursue an out-of-court settlement, according to court proceedings.

REGULATION | Nigeria Sues #Binance for $81.5 Billion in Economic Losses and Unpaid Taxes

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) claims that Binance has a ‘significant economic presence’ in Nigeria.https://t.co/1VQGMEuClQ @FIRSNigeria @binance @BinanceAfrica pic.twitter.com/VaSjVCjnlu

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) February 20, 2025

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja fixed the new date after lawyers representing Binance and the government told the court that negotiations were ongoing.

Binance’s counsel, Chukwuka Ikwuazom, and government lawyer, Omotola Fatogun, informed the court that discussions toward an amicable resolution were continuing, while another Binance lawyer, Sunday Adaji, said engagements between both sides were still in progress.

Moses Ideho, deputy director in the legal department of Nigeria’s Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), confirmed the development on behalf of the government.

Binance had earlier signaled its willingness to settle the dispute outside court during proceedings in March 2026 when both parties first disclosed that talks were underway.

 

TAXATION | Binance Seeking Out-of-Court Settlement with the Nigeria Revenue Service, Confirms Government Lawyer

 

Nigeria re-arraigned Binance in July 2024 on four counts of alleged tax evasion. The charges were amended to make Binance the sole defendant after authorities dropped charges against executives Tigran Gambaryan and Nadeem Anjarwalla. Binance’s Nigerian representative, Ayodele Omotilewa, entered a not guilty plea on behalf of the company.

 

REGULATION | Nigeria Government Withdraws ML Case Against Binance Officer But Company Tax Evasion Charges Remain

 

The exchange is also facing a separate money laundering case brought by Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which alleges Binance laundered about $35.4 million.

In a separate civil suit, Nigerian authorities are seeking roughly $79.5 billion in damages over alleged economic losses tied to Binance’s operations in the country.

 

REGULATION | Binance Admits to Wrongdoings, to Pay $4 Billion Penalty as Founding CEO Steps Down

 

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE for latest crypto updates across Africa.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_________________________________________

The Bank of Tanzania has approved the country’s first stablecoin sandbox pilot, allowing fintech firm, NEDA Labs, to test nTZS, a Tanzanian Shilling-pegged stablecoin, within the central bank’s fintech regulatory sandbox framework.

The approval comes 2 years since the launch of the regulatory sandbox.

LAUNCH | Bank of Tanzania Launches the Fintech Regulatory Sandbox

The fintech sector, which constitutes 8.83% of the country’s startups and creates approximately 9,888 jobs, will benefit from the sandbox, potentially boosting innovation and growth in this important sector… pic.twitter.com/5T97ZvKuJo

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) September 5, 2024

The 3-month pilot will assess the

issuance,

transfer, and

redemption

of the nTZS tokenised stablecoin under controlled regulatory supervision, according to the approval framework released by the central bank.

The stablecoin must remain fully backed 1:1 by Tanzanian Shilling-denominated reserves at all time with all customer-facing settlements will continue to be conducted exclusively in local currency, the Tanzanian Shillings (TZS).

 

According to the financial regulator:

“The stablecoin shall not constitute legal tender in Tanzania, and its use shall be restricted solely to approved sandbox participants.

No

monetary creation,

parallet currency issuance, or

staking and yield-generating activities

shall be permitted durin the sandbox period without separate written approval from the bank.”

 

The testing period shall be structured and phased sub-periods of 3 months each, with a milestone review conducted before each subsequent phase commences.

The move signals a broader shift in how regulators across emerging markets are approaching digital assets with authorities increasingly opting for controlled experimentation rather than outright restrictions.

 

PRESS RELEASE | The Central Bank of Nigeria Commences AML / CFT / CPF Supervision Pilot for Select Virtual Asset Service Providers

 

Sandbox frameworks have become a preferred regulatory approach for studying digital asset infrastructure in live market conditions while maintaining oversight around

compliance,

settlement processes and

financial stability risks.

The approval also highlights the growing collaboration between regulators and fintech firms across Africa as governments explore the role of blockchain-based payment infrastructure in the continent’s evolving digital finance sector.

 

REGULATION | Ghana Launches Crypto Regulatory Sandbox and Admits 6 Entities to ‘Validate Proposed Regulatory Frameworks’

 

 

 

Sign up for BitKE on the latest crypto regulation updates in Africa.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_________________________________________

Crypto wallet provider, Exodus Movement, posted a net loss of $32.1 million in Q1 2026, more than doubling from a year earlier, after selling nearly two-thirds of its Bitcoin holdings to help finance acquisitions and expand its payments business, according to company disclosures.

The firm said quarterly revenue fell 36.8% to $22.7 million as monthly active users declined. Exodus sold 1,076 Bitcoin during the quarter, reducing its holdings by about 63% to 628 BTC by the end of March 2026. The sale resulted in the company raising $73.2 million which was earmarked for W3C Corp. acquisition.

W3C Corp is the company behind fintechs:

Monavate, and

Baanx.

The company added that it ‘expects that volatility in digital asset prices will continue and may result in significant fluctuations in the Company’s results of operations in future periods.’

 

USE CASE | Another Bitcoin Treasury Company Liquidates All its BTC Holdings to Pay Off Debt

 

The company said proceeds from the Bitcoin sales were used to support acquisitions and broader growth initiatives, including its push into global payments infrastructure.

Exodus was one of the first wallets to make crypto feel accessible to non-technical users. When many wallets looked developer-focused or difficult to use, Exodus emphasized polished design, easy onboarding, portfolio tracking, and integrated swaps. That helped introduce a large number of retail users to self-custody during the 2017–2021 crypto expansion.

Within the industry, Exodus is viewed as an important bridge between “crypto-native” infrastructure and mainstream consumers. It sits in a category alongside wallets like MetaMask, Trust Wallet, and Ledger, though Exodus historically focused more on ease-of-use than advanced DeFi tooling.

Exodus, known for its self-custody crypto wallet platform, has been expanding beyond wallet services as competition intensifies across the digital asset sector. The company’s widening losses come amid a broader trend of crypto firms liquidating portions of their Bitcoin treasuries to fund operations and strategic investments.

 

BITCOIN | Leading Crypto VC Firm Urges a Digital Asset Treasury Portfolio Company to Liquidate its Bitcoin Holdings

 

The company has also been pushing into agentic commerce with the recent launch of XO Cash, a Solana-based stablecoin and software toolkit designed to let AI agents make payments and access services without directly controlling private keys.

The solution is built on top of MoonPay allowing developers to:

create agent-linked wallets,

assign spending limits, and

issue virtual debit cards tied to VISA payment rails.

Exodus said AI agents using XO Cash can make payments with Visa merchants through infrastructure supplied by Monavate and MoonPay, with transactions automatically settled into stablecoins including USDC and USDT at checkout.

 

AI | MoonPay Unveils the Open Wallet Standard Enabling AI Agents Pay for Services Without Exposing Private Keys

 

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE on crypto and AI developments.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________

Privacy-focused cryptocurrencies are regaining momentum as growing concerns over financial surveillance, data collection, and compliance-heavy digital payment systems drive renewed institutional interest in privacy-preserving blockchain infrastructure.

While recent gains in tokens such as Zcash and Monero have attracted retail attention, several third-party research firms and industry reports suggest the broader trend is increasingly tied to institutional demand for

zero-knowledge cryptography,

confidential transactions, and

compliant privacy infrastructure.

Research from Grayscale Research described financial privacy as becoming increasingly important in the ‘age of AI,’ arguing that zero-knowledge proof systems are evolving from niche crypto tools into foundational infrastructure for digital finance. The report highlighted how Zcash’s shielded transaction technology and selective disclosure features could appeal to regulated institutions seeking privacy without fully sacrificing auditability.

Analysts have also pointed to the rapid adoption of zero-knowledge proofs across mainstream blockchain networks as evidence that institutional capital is no longer dismissing privacy technology. A recent market analysis noted that Zcash’s rally was being driven less by speculative retail trading and more by renewed interest in privacy-preserving infrastructure, particularly as banks, asset managers, and tokenization platforms look for ways to protect sensitive transaction data on public blockchains.

Several industry reports further argue that institutions are increasingly separating ‘privacy infrastructure’ from the older perception of ‘anonymous coins.’ According to market researchers, demand is growing for systems that allow confidential transfers, selective disclosures, and compliance-friendly verification methods using zero-knowledge proofs.

 

EXPERT OPINION | Blockchain Transparency May Expose Sensitive Commercial Patterns, Says CEO of a Blockchain Privacy Firm

 

That shift is particularly visible in tokenization and real-world asset markets.

Research tracking privacy-focused networks in 2026 showed that platforms such as Dusk and Oasis Network are increasingly positioning themselves as infrastructure layers for regulated financial applications, including confidential securities issuance, tokenized real estate, and private AI data markets.

Industry observers say this demand is being accelerated by stricter reporting requirements globally, including expanded transaction monitoring frameworks and cross-border data-sharing rules. As governments tighten surveillance standards around digital assets, some institutions are seeking technologies that can preserve transactional confidentiality while still allowing compliance checks when required.

 

EXPERT OPINION | Why Purpose-Built Blockchains Are on the Rise

 

The trend has also coincided with major upgrades across privacy-focused networks. Monero developers recently advanced FCMP++ privacy improvements designed to strengthen anonymity protections at scale, while Zcash continues expanding shielded transaction adoption and selective viewing-key systems for regulated use cases.

Beyond cryptocurrencies themselves, analysts increasingly view privacy technology as a core infrastructure layer for the next phase of blockchain adoption. Multiple reports noted that zero-knowledge systems originally pioneered by privacy coins are now powering Ethereum scaling networks, confidential finance applications, and enterprise-grade blockchain products.

 

REALITY CHECK | Lack of On-Chain Privacy Risks Holding Back Business, Corporate Payments, Says Founder, Binance

 

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE on blockchain adoption globally. 

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________

Bakkt is repositioning itself as a stablecoin infrastructure provider after reporting a 77% drop in first-quarter revenue, as the crypto firm bets on cross-border payments and programmable finance to revive growth.

The Intercontinental Exchange-backed company said revenue fell to $243.6 million in the quarter ended March 31 2026, from $1.07 billion a year earlier, hurt by weaker crypto trading activity. Bakkt posted a net loss of $11.7 million, compared with net income of $7.7 million in the same period last year.

 

MARKET ANALYSIS | ‘There is No Retail Interest in Crypto Right Now,’ Say Analysts

 

The company said it is shifting focus toward stablecoin payments infrastructure following the completion of its acquisition of Distributed Technologies Research (DTR) on April 30 2026. Bakkt said the deal adds agentic AI and stablecoin payment capabilities to its platform.

Bakkt executives outlined a strategy centered on three business lines

Bakkt Markets,

Bakkt Agent, and

Bakkt Global

aimed at serving institutional trading, programmable finance, and cross-border stablecoin settlement.

 

INSTITUTIONAL | Crypto ETFs by the World’s Largest Asset Manager Generated Just $42 Million in Q1 2026

 

The company said stablecoin infrastructure could disrupt traditional payment rails over the next decade citing the rapid growth of stablecoin settlement volumes and increasing institutional interest in blockchain-based payments.

 

INSTITUTIONAL | AI Agents, Large Corporations to Drive Next Wave of Stablecoin Adoption, Say Executives at Consensus 2026

Executives from firms including #Bridge and #MoonPay said stablecoins are moving beyond crypto trading into mainstream financial infrastructure, with… pic.twitter.com/umEJmrHSjq

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) May 8, 2026

Bakkt ended the quarter with $82.6 million in cash and restricted cash and no long-term debt, which it said provides sufficient liquidity to execute its growth plans.

The company has also expanded its push into emerging-market payments after signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with fintech firm, Zoth, to scale compliant stablecoin-based remittance infrastructure across emerging markets using Bakkt’s U.S. licensing framework.

 

REPORT | ‘There is Growing Stablecoin Usage for Non-Crypto Activities in Emerging Markets,’ Says VISA

According to one survey of 2,500 active stablecoin users in India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey, and Brazil, 47% of participants said they primarily use stablecoins to get… pic.twitter.com/6WfZHfJPQa

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) September 19, 2024

What makes Bakkt unusual is that its revenue is huge relative to its market cap. That’s because much of its crypto brokerage business operates on very thin margins, so investors value the company far below its reported revenue. The firm has also struggled with losses, declining revenues, and the loss of major partners in recent years.

Bakkt was originally launched in 2018 by Intercontinental Exchange which gave it significant credibility in institutional crypto markets.

Shares of Bakkt rose modestly in after-hours trading following the earnings release.

 

STABLECOINS | The MasterCard $1.8 Billion BVNK Deal Signals the Importance of Underlying Stablecoin Infrastructure

 

 

 

Want to keep updated on crypto developments globally? 

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_______________________________

Leading crypto exchange, Binance, said it blocked $10.53 billion in potential fraud losses and protected more than 5.4 million users between the start of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026 as the company ramped up the use of artificial intelligence to combat increasingly sophisticated scams.

The exchange said AI-powered scams, including

phishing,

deepfakes,

fake platforms, and

impersonation schemes,

were becoming cheaper and easier to deploy at scale with crypto-related fraud rising 30% year-on-year to $17 billion in 2025.

 

2025 RECAP | Crypto Losses Increased by ~40% YoY in 2025

 

Binance said it now operates more than 100 AI models and over 24 AI-driven security initiatives across its platform. In Q1 2026 alone, the company said it intercepted 22.9 million scam and phishing attempts, helping safeguard nearly $2 billion in user funds.

The company added that AI-driven fraud controls now account for 57% of its anti-fraud systems, contributing to a 60%-70% reduction in card fraud rates compared with industry benchmarks.

Binance also said its identity verification systems had been upgraded to detect increasingly advanced deepfakes and synthetic identities, while its new ‘Binance AI Pro’ architecture segregates AI-managed funds from main user accounts and restricts withdrawal access.

The exchange said it had blacklisted more than 36,000 malicious wallet addresses and issued over 9,600 real-time warnings daily to users in an effort to counter emerging threats.

In addition to prevention efforts, Binance said it helped recover $12.8 million across 48,000 cases in 2025, a 41% increase from a year earlier, while also assisting authorities in confiscating $131 million in illicit funds.

 

REPORT | AI is 2x More Effective at Exploitation Than Detection in Crypto, Says Binance Research

 

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE for the latest crypto updates.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_________________________________________

Billionaire investor, Ray Dalio, said Bitcoin’s transparent blockchain makes it unlikely to be adopted by central banks as a reserve asset arguing that governments are unlikely to embrace a financial system where transactions can be fully monitored.

Speaking during a discussion on the future of money and digital assets, Dalio said Bitcoin transactions ‘can be monitored,’ raising concerns about privacy and state-level adoption.

Dalio said central banks already have gold as a politically neutral reserve asset and questioned why they would shift toward Bitcoin whose blockchain activity remains publicly traceable.

 

The Governor of the @SAReserveBank says he has ‘a significant problem’ with the push towards governments holding #Bitcoin as a reserve asset pic.twitter.com/00FDL6GKoE

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) January 22, 2025

The comments add to a long-running debate over whether Bitcoin can evolve from a speculative asset into a sovereign reserve instrument.

While some governments and institutional investors have increased exposure to Bitcoin in recent years, critics have argued that the cryptocurrency’s

volatility,

transparency and

regulatory uncertainty

remain barriers to wider adoption.

 

BITCOIN | ‘I Have a Problem with a Lobby that Says Government Should Hold Bitcoin,’ Says South Africa Central Bank Governor

 

Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, the world’s largest hedge fund with over $120 billion–$150 billion in assets under management, has previously described Bitcoin as a potential diversification tool but has also repeatedly warned about the risks of government intervention and regulation in digital asset markets.

Dalio has become widely known for:

Predicting or warning about major economic shifts.

Popularizing the idea of “radical transparency” inside companies.

Explaining long-term debt cycles and how economies rise and decline.

Commenting frequently on inflation, central banks, China, and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

 

BITCOIN | Ray Dalio Urges Investors to Move to Bitcoin, Gold Amid Impending Debt Crises

 

 

 

Want to keep up with the latest news on Bitcoin adoption globally?

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is seeking the identities of cryptocurrency traders as it steps up efforts to pursue tax cheats and widen its revenue base amid growing digital asset adoption in the country.

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) is targeting crypto investors and traders whose transactions have largely remained outside the formal tax system, according to a local report. The move comes as the government intensifies scrutiny of digital financial activities to curb tax evasion and illicit financial flows.

 

 

KRA is reportedly seeking access to customer and transaction data from cryptocurrency exchanges and platforms operating in Kenya to identify individuals and firms that may have failed to declare income from digital asset trading.

The tax agency has in recent years expanded its use of data analytics and third-party information sharing to improve compliance and boost collections, particularly as pressure mounts on the government to increase domestic revenues.

 

REGULATION | The Kenya Revenue Authority Nets ~$8.5 Million from Digital Tax in 21 Months – Includes Crypto Taxation

 

Kenya remains one of Africa’s most active crypto markets, driven by high mobile money penetration and growing use of digital assets for trading, remittances and cross-border payments.

The renewed push signals tougher oversight for crypto users in the country even as policymakers continue discussions around formal regulation of the sector.

The move seems to coincide with other African and global tax authorities as they seek to close taxation evasion gaps among crypto asset holders under the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF).

Nigeria has mandated crypto exchanges and service providers to collect and report their clients’ Tax Identification Numbers (TINs) and National Identification Numbers (NINs), expanding its identity tracing system to the crypto ecosystem.

 

REGULATION | Nigeria Starts Implementing CARF Requirements by Tying Crypto Transactions to Tax and National IDs

 

Uganda and South Africa are also implementing nations starting in 2026.

Under the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF), in-scope crypto-asset service providers will be required to collect more detailed customer information, verify tax residency, and annually report users’ balances and transactions to their domestic tax authorities, which will then share that data across borders under existing information-exchange agreements.

 

REGULATION | Crypto Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) Tax Rules Go Live From January 2026 – Uganda and South Africa Among Implementing Nations

 

According to the South Africa Reserve Bank, CARF standards would aid in keeping pace with the rapid development and growth of the crypto asset market. It aims to ensure that recent advances in global tax transparency are not gradually eroded.

 

REGULATION | South Africa Adopts the Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) Global Standard to Crack Down on Crypto Money Laundering

 

According to the global standards, all nations are required to have implemented CARF requirements by 2028. Kenya’s recent move is a step in that direction as the nation seeks to be compliant with global standards in light of its listing on the FATF grey list.

 

TAXATION | How Kenya Collects More Taxes than Nigeria

 

 

 

Want to keep up with the latest news on crypto taxation and regulations across Africa?

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________

Australia’s government is considering replacing the current capital gains tax treatment on cryptocurrencies with an inflation-indexed system, a move that could reduce tax liabilities for long-term crypto investors, according to local media reports.

The proposal, which is being discussed as part of broader tax reform efforts, would allow crypto holders to adjust the purchase price of digital assets for inflation before calculating taxable gains. Supporters argue the change would better reflect real investment returns rather than taxing gains inflated by rising consumer prices.

 

USE CASE | Australia Leads Globally in a Real-World Use Case for Crypto at ~21%, Reveals a 2026 Report

 

Australia currently taxes cryptocurrency under capital gains tax (CGT) rules, with investors eligible for a 50% discount on gains from assets held longer than 12 months. Before changes introduced in 1999, Australia allowed indexation of asset costs to inflation when calculating taxable gains.

The reported discussions come as policymakers in several jurisdictions reassess how digital assets should be taxed amid growing adoption and volatility in crypto markets.

Industry advocates in Australia have argued that inflation indexation could encourage longer-term investment and improve the competitiveness of the country’s digital asset sector. Critics, however, warn the change could reduce government tax revenues and complicate compliance.

No final decision has been announced and the government has not yet released draft legislation outlining how the proposed changes would apply to cryptocurrencies or other investment assets.

 

EXPERT OPINION | Crypto Regulation Focus Should Be on the Economic Function, Not the Delivery Technology – Australian Regulator

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE on crypto taxation globally.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_________________________________________

Circle Internet Group has raised $222 million in a presale of the ARC token tied to its new Arc blockchain network valuing the project at roughly $3 billion, according to reports.

The raise drew backing from investors including

Andreessen Horowitz (a16z),

BlackRock,

Apollo,

Intercontinental Exchange,

SBI Group and

ARK Invest,

as Circle pushes beyond its core USDC stablecoin business into blockchain infrastructure.

Circle said Arc is designed as a stablecoin-focused blockchain network aimed at supporting large-scale on-chain payments and AI-driven financial applications. a16z reportedly led the round with a $75 million investment.

The fundraising announcement came alongside Circle’s first-quarter earnings report where the company beat earnings expectations but missed revenue estimates.

Circle reported revenue and reserve income of $694 million, while

USDC circulation rose 28% year-over-year to $77 billion.

CEO, Jeremy Allaire, said the convergence of artificial intelligence and blockchain-based money is creating a new ‘internet economic system,’ with Arc positioned as part of that infrastructure expansion.

 

STABLECOINS | Circle’s IPO Marks a Milestone for Stablecoins and Digital Finance

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE on crypto developments globally.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________

Tether has said it had launched a developer grants program aimed at funding builders working on local-first artificial intelligence and payments infrastructure on its open-source technology stack as the stablecoin issuer deepens its push beyond digital dollar issuance into decentralized AI and financial tools.

The company said the program would provide payouts in USDT or Bitcoin with no cap on total funding, while individual grants currently range from about $1,500 to $4,000 depending on completed technical deliverables. Areas targeted include

wallet infrastructure,

browser extensions,

e-commerce integrations,

decentralized AI,

edge computing, and

cryptography research.

The initiative will also support development around Tether’s Wallet Development Kit (WDK), an open-source framework designed to let developers embed self-custodial wallets directly into applications without relying on third-party APIs or custodial services.

The move comes as Tether expands aggressively into AI and self-custody infrastructure alongside its core stablecoin business. In recent months, the company unveiled QVAC, a decentralized AI platform focused on running models locally on consumer devices rather than centralized cloud servers, and launched tether.wallet, a self-custodial crypto wallet supporting Bitcoin, USDT, and tokenized gold.

 

INTRODUCING | Tether Launches a Self-Custodial Wallet for USDT, Bitcoin, and Tokenized Gold

 

Tether Chief Executive, Paolo Ardoino, has said the company wants to build systems where users and AI agents can transact directly without intermediaries, positioning local AI and programmable payments as part of the next phase of digital financial infrastructure.

This grant program adds another layer to Tether’s consistent commitment to funding open-source development, Bitcoin education, and decentralized infrastructure through a range of grants and investments.

 

Crypto is a ‘Fantastic Machine-Readable Interface for Payments,’ Says Google Executive at Consensus 2026

 

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE for deeper insights into the evolving crypto space.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_________________________________________

Decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols are increasingly being pushed toward tighter controls and oversight after years of resisting centralized safeguards as the sector grapples with more than $16.5 billion in cumulative exploit-related losses.

The wave of hacks, bridge failures, oracle attacks, and governance exploits has forced many DeFi platforms to reconsider the open and permissionless systems that once defined the industry.

The shift comes after a string of major breaches in 2026, including the roughly $292 million KelpDAO exploit and the more than $280 million Drift Protocol attack, which together intensified concerns over the security of decentralized finance infrastructure.

DeFi has increasingly moved toward measures such as

permissioned access,

tighter governance structures,

enhanced monitoring systems, and

stronger operational controls

as developers and institutional investors prioritize security over ideological decentralization.

 

REGULATION | Leading Crypto Lender Says the DAO Crypto Seizure Could Destabilize DeFi Markets

 

Industry analysts say the growing involvement of traditional financial institutions in blockchain-based finance is also accelerating the trend.

tokenized treasury products,

stablecoin settlement systems, and

regulated on-chain financial rails

have continued to expand even as open DeFi protocols face mounting trust issues following repeated exploits.

DeFi spent more than half a decade building composable financial rails before Wall Street began to view them as the foundational infrastructure for the next generation of finance.

But that early lead came at a cost, with the sector prioritizing speed and innovation over the operational discipline and security standards expected in traditional financial systems.

 

“The operational machinery DeFi has built — DAO governance, external risk service providers, and monthly review cycles — doesn’t move at the speed the underlying risk surface does.

In many cases, the people doing the reviewing aren’t structurally independent of the assets…

— BitKE (@BitcoinKE) May 11, 2026

According to multiple industry reports, DeFi exploits in 2026 alone have already resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in losses, with

bridge vulnerabilities,

oracle manipulation,

compromised keys, and

governance attacks

remaining among the most common attack vectors.

Some researchers and developers argue that many DeFi failures stem not from coding bugs but from flawed economic and governance designs that become vulnerable under market stress. Discussions across crypto communities have increasingly focused on the need for

simulation-based security testing,

stronger access controls, and

more centralized safeguards

to prevent systemic failures.

The report added that while decentralized finance proved blockchain-based settlement and automated financial markets could operate at scale, the industry has yet to demonstrate that fully permissionless systems can consistently provide safer or more resilient alternatives to traditional finance.

 

 

DeFi | Arbitrum Freezes Over 30, 000 ETH Tied to Kelp DAO Exploit Sparking Decentralization Debate

 

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE updates on DeFi developments.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________

A long-dormant Bitcoin wallet dating back to 2013 has transferred roughly $40 million worth of BTC resurfacing after more than a decade of inactivity, according to a Bitcoin activity tracker that looks at wallets with large crypto holdings.

The wallet, often referred to in crypto markets as a ‘whale’ due to the large size of its holdings, moved the coins to a new address at a time when Bitcoin continues to trade above the $80,000 mark.

Dormant wallets from Bitcoin’s early years are closely watched by traders because large transfers can sometimes signal:

planned sales,

custody changes, or

renewed activity

from early adopters.

The movement also highlights the vast fortunes accumulated by some early Bitcoin holders when the cryptocurrency traded at only a fraction of current prices.

Blockchain analysts noted there was no immediate indication the funds had been sent to an exchange suggesting the transfer may have been related to wallet management rather than an imminent sale.

Bitcoin has rallied strongly in recent months amid continued institutional interest and growing activity around spot bitcoin investment products.

Deep-pocketed Bitcoin holders took a major hit in the first quarter of 2026 with on-chain data showing some of the largest realized losses since the last bear market cycle (2022).

According to data from Glassnode, Bitcoin investors holding between 100 and 10,000 BTC, commonly classified as whales, realized an average of $337 million in losses per day throughout Q1 2026.

The pace of losses rivals the depths of the 2022 crash when daily realized losses (the dollar value of losses locked in when BTC is sold on-chian below its purchase price) peaked even higher. That period ultimately saw Bitcoin drop by over 50% before further declines later in the year.

 

MARKET ANALYSIS | Bitcoin Whales Bleed Billions in Q1 2026 as Losses Hit 2022 Levels

 

 

 

Want to keep up with the latest news and updates on Bitcoin?

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________

Senior executives from PayPal and Google said at the Consensus Miami 2026 conference that the next phase of ‘agentic commerce’ – where AI agents autonomously complete purchases and transactions on behalf of users – is likely to run on cryptocurrency payment rails and open financial protocols.

Speaking during a panel discussion, representatives from PayPal and Google Cloud said

machine-readable merchant catalogs,

programmable payments, and

interoperable digital asset infrastructure

would form the backbone of AI-driven commerce systems.

 

INTRODUCING | AliPay Parent Company Introduces Agentic Commerce Platform to Hold, Trade, and Pay in Crypto

 

The executives argued that traditional payment systems were not designed for autonomous software agents capable of independently shopping, negotiating prices, and executing transactions online. Instead, they said stablecoins, crypto wallets, and open-source payment standards could provide the infrastructure needed for machine-to-machine commerce.

 

Citing the technological and regulatory challenges and barriers that exist today, Richard Widmann, Global Head of Web3 Strategy at Google Cloud, said:

“An agent cannot get a bank account. It’s not hard, it just is impossible. [Crypto, by contrast, is] a fantastic machine readable interface for payments.”

 

Built for this reality, Google launched the Agentic Payments Protocol (AP2), an open protocol similar to the x402 internet-native payment standard.

“Open dialogues and open standards are really the foundation you need to build on,” said Widmann.

 

INTRODUCING | Tempo Blockchain by Stripe Goes Live with an Agentic AI Open Framework Payments Standard

 

According to recent PayPal survey, 95% of merchants now see AI agent traffice on their sites with only 20% of the sites having agent-readable catalogs.

“Merchants need to be ready for this next era,” said the PayPal executive at the conference.

 

Exposing their sites and product catalogs was compared to the shift from offline to online stores.

The comments come as major technology and financial firms increasingly explore ‘agentic commerce,’ an emerging model in which AI systems handle end-to-end commercial activities with limited human involvement. Industry participants say the trend could reshape online shopping, payments, and digital advertising.

The discussion at Consensus Miami also highlighted growing interest in open commerce protocols and multi-party crypto custody systems designed to support AI-native payments securely and compliantly.

The conference has featured multiple discussions around AI agents and crypto infrastructure with speakers from across the digital asset industry arguing that blockchain networks and stablecoins may become foundational rails for what some describe as an emerging ‘AI machine economy.’

 

INSTITUTIONAL | AI Agents, Large Corporations to Drive Next Wave of Stablecoin Adoption, Say Executives at Consensus 2026

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE for deeper insights into the evolving crypto space.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_________________________________________

Morocco has launched its first major foreign exchange crackdown targeting cryptocurrency and digital asset holders as authorities intensify efforts to curb unauthorized overseas transfers and capital flight, according to local media reports.

The country’s Foreign Exchange Office said it had identified a growing number of individuals using cryptocurrencies to move funds abroad outside official financial channels prompting investigations and enforcement actions against suspected violators.

Under Morocco’s foreign exchange regulations, residents are prohibited from transferring capital overseas without authorization from the central bank and exchange authorities. While crypto trading remains widespread in the country despite previous restrictions, regulators have increasingly warned against the use of digital assets for cross-border transactions.

 

REGULATION | The Morocco Capital Markets Regulator Builds Crypto Supervision Muscle Ahead of New Laws

 

The crackdown marks the first time Moroccan authorities have publicly linked foreign exchange violations directly to crypto asset holdings and transactions signaling a tougher stance as governments worldwide tighten oversight of digital currencies.

Officials said investigations were ongoing and could lead to financial penalties and legal action against individuals found to have breached foreign exchange laws.

Morocco has been gradually moving toward establishing a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies after years of maintaining a restrictive position on digital assets. The central bank has previously indicated that draft legislation aimed at regulating crypto activities is under development.

 

REGULATION | Morocco Moves to Regulate Digital Assets with a New Draft Law

 

The move comes as several countries across Africa and the Middle East step up scrutiny of cryptocurrency transactions amid concerns over money laundering, tax evasion, and unregulated capital outflows.

 

REGULATION | The South Africa Crypto Capital Controls Demand Declarations, Tough Penalities for Non-Compliance

 

 

 

Stay tuned to BitKE for updates into crypto regulation and enforcement in Africa.

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

_________________________________________

BlackRock is expanding its push into on-chain finance with new tokenized fund offerings deepening the asset manager’s involvement in the fast-growing market for tokenized real-world assets.

BlackRock has a filing with the US. SEC for a new fund, dubbbed the BlackRock Daily Reinvestment Stablecoin Reserve Vehicle, which would invest in:

cash,

short-term U.S treasury securities, and

overnight repurchase agreements backed by treasuries

by issuing what it describes as ‘OnChain Shares’ connected to multiple public blockchains.

The world’s largest asset manager is seeking to broaden its lineup of onchain investment products as demand for tokenized financial assets accelerates among institutional investors. The move comes as the market for tokenized real-world assets has grown sharply (200% YoY) over the past year driven by increasing interest from traditional financial firms looking to use blockchain technology for

settlement,

liquidity, and

operational efficiency.

BlackRock has emerged as one of the most aggressive Wall Street firms embracing tokenization, alongside companies such as JPMorgan Chase, Franklin Templeton, and State Street. Major institutions have increasingly launched blockchain-based funds tied to treasuries, cash management products, and other traditional financial instruments.

The latest filings highlight how tokenization is moving further into mainstream finance as asset managers seek to bring traditional securities and funds onto blockchain networks that can enable faster transfers and around-the-clock trading.

 

INTRODUCING | The Largest Bank in the United States Launches On-Chain Yield Fund on Ethereum

 

 

 

Want to keep up with the latest news on institutional crypto adoption globally?

Join our WhatsApp channel here.

Follow us on X for the latest posts and updates

Join and interact with our Telegram community

___________________________________________