‍KuCoin Reports Surge in Trading Volume Amid Global Compliance Push in 2025 KuCoin's 2025 Annual Review highlights significant growth and strategic evolution, focusing on regulatory alignment and institutional maturity. The exchange achieved major licensing milestones in Europe and Australia, alongside a $2 billion Trust Project for asset protection. Average daily spot trading volume reached $4.76 billion (up 55%), while futures volume averaged $6.47 billion (up 30%), solidifying KuCoin's position as the fourth-largest exchange globally by futures volume. The platform now supports over 40 million users and 1,000 digital assets. KuCoin also secured the "Quadruple Crown" of security certifications (SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, ISO 27701, CCSS) and maintained 36 months of Proof of Reserves verification. Key regulatory achievements include a MiCA license in Europe and AUSTRAC registration in Australia.
‍Waters Demands SEC Chair Testimony on Crypto Enforcement Pauses Representative Maxine Waters has requested SEC Chair Paul Atkins testify regarding recent shifts in digital asset oversight. This demand arises amid changing political dynamics and increased scrutiny over the SEC's handling of enforcement actions against major industry players like Coinbase and Binance. Waters expressed concern over terminated or paused litigation, seeking explanations for these decisions. The timing of the request, coinciding with speculation about the 2026 midterm elections, highlights the ongoing debate between fostering innovation and ensuring investor protection in the digital asset market.
‍South Korean CEX Employee Sentenced to 4 Years for Selling Military Secrets via Bitcoin A former employee of a South Korean centralized cryptocurrency exchange (CEX) has been sentenced to four years in prison for his role in a sophisticated espionage plot. He acted as a financial intermediary, receiving approximately $487,000 in Bitcoin from North Korean operatives. The employee transferred $33,500 in BTC to a South Korean Army captain, who provided unauthorized access to classified defense materials. The North Korean group supplied specialized tools, including a concealed camera and modified USB devices, to bypass security measures and infiltrate military systems. The court found the employee violated South Korea's National Security Law, highlighting the growing intersection of cryptocurrency and national security threats.
‍Unchained Summit 2026: Dubai to Host Premier Web 3.0 Deal-Flow Event The Unchained Summit, organized by Aeternum, will return to Dubai on May 1-2, 2026, at the W Dubai – The Palm. The event aims to be a primary platform for institutional deal-flow and networking in the Web 3.0 ecosystem, expecting over 1,500 participants, including VCs and policymakers. The summit will focus on regulatory clarity and institutional adoption, reflecting the UAE's growing role as a global digital asset market. Confirmed speakers include Akshay Dalal from Google, discussing AI and Web 3.0 convergence.
‍HabitTrade Launches Stove Protocol for 1:1 On-Chain U.S. Equities Global brokerage firm HabitTrade has launched Stove Protocol, an open-source infrastructure for representing U.S. equities on-chain. Each digital token is backed 1:1 by physical shares held in regulated brokerage custody. The protocol provides permissionless smart contracts for mapping listed equities to blockchains, focusing on spot equities rather than synthetic price feeds. It aims to preserve shareholder rights, including dividend entitlements and asset claims, while ensuring regulatory alignment and eliminating protocol fees. HabitTrade believes tokenized equities should reflect real ownership. The Stove Protocol is designed to offer developers a standardized way to connect on-chain applications with actual spot equities, utilizing stablecoin-based settlement to advance a decentralized financial ecosystem.
‍Trend Research Boosts Ethereum Holdings, Eyes 2026 Bull Market Investment firm Trend Research has acquired 11,520 ETH, projecting a significant market upswing starting in Q1 2026. This strategic accumulation aims to position the firm as a major institutional ETH holder. Key growth drivers identified include the integration of traditional finance with on-chain protocols, increased stablecoin adoption, anticipated central bank interest rate cuts, and evolving crypto regulations. Trend Research also maintains diversified positions in WLFI, Bitcoin, and Bitcoin Cash.
‍PBOC Unveils e-CNY Roadmap: Commercial Banks and Cross-Border Focus The People's Bank of China (PBOC) has detailed its strategic plans for the e-CNY. Deputy Governor Lu Lei highlighted deeper integration with the traditional financial system and an enhanced role in international settlements. The e-CNY will function as a liability of commercial banks, utilizing DLT for efficiency. Key pillars include serving as a unit of account, a secure store of value, and improving cross-border payments. A new "Action Plan" will balance account-based and value-based models to cater to diverse needs and maintain regulatory oversight while ensuring privacy for small transactions. This controlled rollout aims to support the "real economy" and solidify the digital yuan's position in global finance.
‍Top Indie Game Gems of 2025: Innovation Beyond Web3 This year's independent gaming scene continues to be a hotbed of innovation, offering unique experiences that often inspire future blockchain-based ecosystems. While Web3 and GameFi grab headlines, traditional "Web2" indie titles showcase groundbreaking mechanics. Titles like Ball x Pit blend roguelike and arcade physics, while Blue Prince offers a daily-resetting puzzle maze with card-drafting elements. Psychological horror also thrives with Look Outside's retro aesthetic and Luto's shifting realities. Economic simulators such as Schedule I, with complex management systems and co-op modes, provide blueprints for future DAO-driven virtual enterprises. These games highlight a strong demand for original IP and challenging gameplay, offering valuable insights for metaverse and digital asset trends.
‍Flow Blockchain Rollback Sparks Cross-Chain Bridge Security Concerns The Flow blockchain's recent network rollback has raised alarm bells in the DeFi community. Alex Smirnov of DeBridge highlighted significant concerns over the lack of coordination with ecosystem partners, particularly bridge operators and custodians. This move, intended to address a security incident, could invalidate legitimate transactions and create asset discrepancies on connected platforms. Smirnov emphasized that a rushed rollback can cause more economic damage than the original attack. He urged the Flow validator community to pause validation and collaborate on a recovery strategy, including compensation plans and security audits, to protect the broader ecosystem's integrity. The situation underscores the challenge of balancing rapid incident response with ecosystem stability.
‍WonderChain Announces Third Strategic Airdrop for January 2026 The lifestyle platform WonderChain is set to launch its third strategic airdrop in January 2026, following the success of its previous campaign. With over 200,000 active users, WonderChain aims to expand its "Web3.5" ecosystem, which rewards daily activities like travel and dining with $WDC tokens. These tokens offer real-world utility, including booking hotels and airline reservations, bridging DeFi with the traditional economy. The project utilizes account abstraction, smart contracts, and AI to enhance user experience. WonderChain is reportedly attracting interest from venture capital firms and exchanges due to its focus on user-driven value creation. The company plans to scale its user base significantly in 2026 and aims to become a leader in the Web3.5 sector.