The World Crypto Report

Victims of the October 7 attacks in Israel have filed suit against Binance and its founder, Changpeng Zhao, alleging the platform served as a conduit for funding designated terror organizations (1:16). A disturbing case in Canada highlights the extreme lengths criminals will go to obtain private keys, reminding high-net-worth holders that digital assets can attract physical threats (3:03). Citi is testing a private Ethereum-based network to enable 24/7 cross-border liquidity for multinationals, with plans for a full custody launch in 2026 (5:05). And Tokyo is moving to require exchanges to hold cash reserves against hacks and is considering a shift to treat crypto gains more like traditional stock investments (7:03). More on stories and articles discussed or referenced in this episode: Crosman, Penny. "Citi Is Laying Plans for Crypto Supremacy." American Banker, 24 November 2025, https://www.americanbanker.com/payments/news/citi-is-laying-plans-for-crypto-supremacy. Greer, Darryl. "How Crypto Raiders Tortured B.C. Family with Waterboarding, Sex Assault, in $2M Heist." The Canadian Press, 21 November 2025, https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/crypto-raiders-tortured-b-c-090108110.html. "Japan to Require Crypto Exchanges to Set Aside Liability Reserves." Nikkei, 25 November 2025, https://asia.nikkei.com/spotlight/cryptocurrencies/japan-to-require-crypto-exchanges-to-set-aside-liability-reserves. Park, Danny. "Japan to Tighten Crypto Exchange Oversight with New Reserve Mandate: Report." The Block, 24 November 2025, https://www.theblock.co/post/380286/japan-crypto-exchange-reserve-mandate. Stempel, Jonathan. "Hundreds of Oct. 7 Victims Sue World's Biggest Crypto Exchange for Hamas Money-Laundering." Reuters, 24 November 2025, https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/hamas-attack-victims-sue-binance-allegedly-allowing-payments-militant-group-2025-11-24/. Zilber, Ariel. "Crypto Thieves Waterboarded, Beat and Sexually Assaulted Family in Sickening $1.6M Heist." The New York Post, 24 November 2025, https://nypost.com/2025/11/24/business/crypto-thieves-waterboarded-sexually-assaulted-family-in-1-6m-heist/. The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti.

UK authorities have dismantled a sprawling network accused of funneling illicit proceeds to evade Russian sanctions (1:16). The arrival of high-leverage investment vehicles in Europe and the U.S. allows traders to triple—or even quintuple—their exposure to market swings (3:05). We also break down the tightening grip of American tax authorities as they prepare to roll out strict new reporting mandates for digital asset brokers (4:39). Finally, we explore the curious intersection of blockchain and pharmaceuticals, where a crypto company is seeking FDA approval for a controversial overdose treatment (6:31). More on stories and articles discussed or referenced in this episode: Hitchcock, Logan. "Europe Will Get Risky 3x Leveraged Bitcoin, Ethereum ETFs as Crypto Markets Melt Down." Decrypt, 22 November 2025, https://decrypt.co/349630/europe-risky-3x-leveraged-bitcoin-ethereum-etfs-crypto-markets-melt-down. Knight, Oliver. "UK Crime Network, Worth Billions, Used Crypto to Funnel Drug Cash to Russia, NCA Says." CoinDesk, 22 November 2025, https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/11/22/uk-crime-network-worth-billions-used-crypto-to-funnel-drug-cash-to-russia-nca-says. Munk, Cheryl Winokur. "IRS Crackdown on Popular Crypto 'Tax Cheat' Begins with 2025 Filing Year." CNBC, 22 November 2025, https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/22/new-irs-requirements-crypto-tax-cheat-risky-this-year-filing.html. Sephton, Connor. "Billion-Pound Money Laundering Network Operating in 28 Towns and Cities in UK." Sky News, 21 November 2025, https://news.sky.com/story/buying-cocaine-on-a-friday-night-may-inadvertently-fund-russias-war-in-ukraine-britons-warned-13473429. Wilkins, Joe. "Crypto Company Creates Bizarre Drug." Futurism, 22 November 2025, https://futurism.com/health-medicine/crypto-tharimmune-opioid-drug. The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti.

Total crypto-collateralized lending has reached new heights, with decentralized finance (DeFi) now shouldering the bulk of the load and centralized lenders adopting stricter collateral models (1:35). Deepening correlation with the S&P 500, and the growing role of stablecoin reserves in U.S. Treasuries are pulling digital assets closer than ever to mainstream finance, but are they big enough to threaten the system? (3:59) New guidance from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency now lets national banks hold limited amounts of tokens like ETH, potentially changing how banks run stablecoin and tokenized deposit programs (5:53). And finally, a high-stakes case out of the Netherlands sees victims of scam investment schemes trying to claw back lost funds traced through HTX to Kyrrex-linked wallets (7:39). More on stories and articles discussed or referenced in this episode: Alecci, Scilla. "Hunt for Missing Millions Unmasks One Crypto Exchange Hidden Inside Another." International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, 20 November 2025, https://www.icij.org/investigations/coin-laundry/hunt-for-missing-millions-unmasks-one-crypto-exchange-hidden-inside-another/. Howcroft, Elizabeth. "Crypto's Connections to the Rest of the Financial System." Reuters, 20 November 2025, https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/cryptos-connections-rest-financial-system-2025-11-20/. Matos, Gino. "US Banks Can Now Hold Crypto – But Why Is It Only for Gas Fees?" CryptoSlate, 20 November 2025, https://cryptoslate.com/us-banks-can-now-hold-crypto-but-only-for-network-fees/. "OCC Confirms Bank Authority to Hold Certain Crypto-Assets as Principal for Purposes of Paying Crypto-Asset Network Fees." United States Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, 18 November 2025, https://occ.gov/news-issuances/news-releases/2025/nr-occ-2025-108.html. Pokorny, Zack. "The State of Crypto Leverage – Q3 2025." Galaxy Insights, 19 November 2025, https://www.galaxy.com/insights/research/crypto-leverage-q3-2025-defi-cefi-lending-digital-asset-treasury-debt-futures-perpetuals. Spirkovski, Zoran. "Crypto Lending Hits $73.6B Record as DeFi Captures Two-Thirds of Market." Coinspeaker, 20 November 2025, https://www.coinspeaker.com/crypto-lending-hits-73-6b-record-as-defi-captures-two-thirds-of-market/. The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti.

A security scare hits World Liberty Financial, the Trump-family-adjacent token project dealing with compromised wallets, aggressive trading, and a shrinking on-paper fortune for its insiders (1:26). Kraken makes a confidential filing for a U.S. listing, fresh funding at a hefty valuation, and the broader wave of exchanges and infrastructure players exploring IPOs while the regulatory mood is comparatively supportive (3:20). Europol executes a multi-country crackdown on piracy platforms that accept crypto, and investigators use digital assets themselves to follow the money (5:08). And finally, prison terms get handed to the leaders of Samourai Wallet; we look at what this case, alongside the Tornado Cash prosecutions, meanss for developers working on privacy tools (6:42). More on stories and articles discussed or referenced in this episode: Basil, Arasu Kannagi and Pritam ‌Biswas. "Crypto Exchange Kraken Confidentially Files for US IPO." Reuters, 19 November 2025, https://www.reuters.com/business/crypto-exchange-kraken-confidentially-files-us-ipo-2025-11-19/. "EUR 47 Million in Crypto Traced to Disrupt Digital Piracy Services." Europol, 19 November 2025, https://www.europol.europa.eu/media-press/newsroom/news/eur-47-million-in-crypto-traced-to-disrupt-digital-piracy-services. "Founders Of Samourai Wallet Cryptocurrency Mixing Service Sentenced to Five and Four Years in Prison." United States Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York, 19 November 2025, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/founders-samourai-wallet-cryptocurrency-mixing-service-sentenced-five-and-four-years. Nagarajan, Shalini. "Trump's Crypto Venture WLFI Faces Early Security Scare on User Wallets Before Launch." Cryptonews, 19 November 2025, https://cryptonews.com/news/trump-crypto-venture-wlfi-security-scare-user-wallets-phishing-attacks/. Reddick, James. "International Operation Traces $55 Million Crypto Trail of Digital Piracy Sites." The Record from Recorded Future News, 19 November 2025, https://therecord.media/international-operation-traces-millions-crypto-streaming-piracy. Wynn, Sarah. "Samourai Wallet Co-Founder William Lonergan Hill Sentenced to Four Years in Crypto Mixing Service Case." The Block, 19 November, 2025, https://www.theblock.co/post/379568/samourai-wallet-co-founder-william-lonergan-hill-sentenced-to-four-years-in-crypto-mixing-service-case. The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti.

Democratic senators are pressing the DOJ and Treasury to investigate World Liberty Financial over allegations that governance tokens were sold to wallets linked to North Korea, Russia, and Iran (1:29). A Chicago-based operator faces federal money laundering charges as authorities allege his network of crypto ATMs moved millions in illicit proceeds (3:06). As stablecoins become a popular way to hold dollars, Brazilian regulators look to close the gap with traditional markets by applying financial transaction taxes to foreign crypto transfers (5:01). And Swiss-regulated AMINA Bank becomes the first foreign entity in Hong Kong licensed to offer both spot trading and custody, marking a significant win for the city's plan to attract institutional crypto (6:47). More on stories and articles discussed or referenced in this episode: Ayres, Marcela and Bernardo Caram. "Exclusive: Brazil Eyes Taxing Crypto for Cross-Border Payments, Sources Say." Reuters, 18 November 2025, https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/brazil-eyes-taxing-crypto-cross-border-payments-sources-say-2025-11-18/. Butts, Dylan and Talia Kaplan. "Senators Push for Probe into Trump-Linked Crypto Firm Over Token Sales Tied to North Korea and Russia." CNBC, 18 November 2025, https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/18/senator-probe-warren-trump-crypto-world-liberty-financial-usd1-wlfi-ties-north-korea-russia-iran.html. He, Casey. "Chicago Crypto Firm, Founder Indicted in $10 Million Money-Laundering Case." The Chicago Sun-Times, 18 November 2025, https://chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2025/11/18/chicago-crypto-firm-founder-indicted-in-10-million-money-laundering-case. Kim, Oihyun. "Swiss Bank AMINA Joins 11 Platforms in Hong Kong's Global Crypto Gold Rush." Be in Crypto, 19 November 2025, https://beincrypto.com/amina-bank-hong-kong-crypto-launch/. The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti.

New reports indicate that despite promises of compliance, top global crypto exchanges are still processing massive volumes of illicit funds linked to scams and sanctions (1:28). Harvard's endowment has quietly become a heavyweight holder in BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (4:09). CARF, the new global crypto-asset reporting standard, is now under review at the White House (5:51). Samsung Foundry is challenging TSMC's dominance by securing deals with two of the world's largest mining rig manufacturers (7:24). More on stories and articles discussed or referenced in this episode: Garreffa, Anthony. "Chinese Crypto-Mining Manufacturers Order Next-Gen 2nm GAA chips from Samsung Foundry." TweakTown, 17 November 2025, https://www.tweaktown.com/news/108919/chinese-crypto-mining-manufacturers-order-next-gen-2nm-gaa-chips-from-samsung-foundry/index.html. Gillers, Heather. "Harvard Has Almost Half a Billion Dollars in Crypto." The Wall Street Journal, 17 November 2025, https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-11-17-2025/card/harvard-has-almost-half-a-billion-dollars-in-crypto-3LY7baRZFleixSCSO7Kt. Parashar, Arjun. "White House Reviews Urgent IRS Plan." The Street, 17 November 2025, https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/policy/white-house-reviews-irs-urgent-plan-to-tax-foreign-crypto-accounts. Woodman, Spencer. "From Dubai to Toronto, Inside the Crypto-to-Cash Storefronts Fueling Money Laundering's New Frontier." The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, 17 November 2025, https://www.icij.org/investigations/coin-laundry/crypto-cash-desk-currency-exchange-money-laundering/. Wynn, Sarah. "White House Moves Closer to Allowing IRS to Surveil International Crypto Transactions." The Block, 17 November 2025, https://www.theblock.co/post/379131/white-house-moves-closer-to-allowing-irs-to-surveil-international-crypto-transactions. Yaffe-Bellany, David et al. "The Crypto Industry's $28 Billion in 'Dirty Money.'" The New York Times, 17 November 2025, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/technology/crypto-exchanges-dirty-money.html. Zimmerman, Micah. "Harvard Triples Bitcoin ETF Stake, Makes It Largest Public Holding." Bitcoin Magazine, 17 November 2025, https://bitcoinmagazine.com/business/harvard-triples-bitcoin-etf-stake. The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti.

China's shadow finance brokers are quietly becoming some of the most important players in crypto-powered crime: moving cartel proceeds, fentanyl-related payments, and offshored wealth through a mix of cash, coins, and capital controls arbitrage (1:23). From there, we turn to a growing law-enforcement response (3:31). In the United States, prosecutors are exposing North Korean IT workers hiding inside remote tech jobs and routing salaries back to a sanctioned regime, while seizing tens of millions of dollars' worth of stablecoins tied to hacks and fraud. In Southeast Asia, Thai authorities, working with the U.S. Secret Service and Tether, smash a cross-border scam ring and lock up millions in digital assets. We also break down Japan's potential tax and regulatory overhaul, which could reclassify over a hundred crypto assets as financial products (5:12). And we close with Bitcoin miner Bitfarm's big strategic pivot: a plan to transform its energy infrastructure into AI data centers hosting high-end Nvidia hardware (6:51). More on stories and articles discussed or referenced in this episode: Alper, Tim. "Japanese Crypto Tax Relief in Sight as Regulator Set to Classify Bitcoin as 'Financial Product'." DL News, 16 November 2025, https://www.dlnews.com/articles/regulation/japanese-crypto-tax-relief-in-sight-as-regulator-set-to-classify-bitcoin-as-financial-product/. Ayan, Amin. "Crypto Emerges as Key Tool in China's Money Laundering Networks: Report." Cryptonews, 16 November 2025, https://cryptonews.com/news/crypto-emerges-as-key-tool-in-chinas-money-laundering-networks-report/. Hamilton, Jesse. "U.S. DOJ Pursues North Korea's Illicit Money Machine, Seizes More Crypto." CoinDesk, 14 November 2025, https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2025/11/14/u-s-doj-pursues-north-korea-s-illicit-money-machine-seizes-more-crypto. Morales, Jowi. "Major Bitcoin Mining Firm Pivoting to AI, Plans to Fully Abandon Crypto Mining by 2027 as Miners Convert to AI en Masse — Bitfarm to Leverage 341 Megawatt Capacity for AI Following $46 Million Q3 Loss." Tom's Hardware, 16 November 2025, https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/cryptomining/major-bitcoin-mining-firm-pivoting-to-ai-plans-to-fully-abandon-crypto-mining-by-2027-bitfarm-to-leverage-341-megawatt-capacity-for-ai-following-usd46-million-q3-loss. Westmore, Kathryn. "Research Paper 36: Flying Money, Hidden Threat: Understanding the Growth of Chinese Money Laundering Organisations." Serious Organised Crime & Anti Corruption Evidence Research Programme, November 2025, https://static1.squarespace.com/static/63e4aef3ae07ad445eed03b5/t/6901d732787278321638e6da/1761728306567/36RP_Westmore_Flying+Money+Hidden+Threat_Nov+2025_FINAL.pdf. Zimwara, Terence. "Tether Assists Global Law Enforcement in $12M Crypto Crime Bust." Bitcoin.com News, 17 November 2025, https://news.bitcoin.com/tether-assists-global-law-enforcement-in-12m-crypto-crime-bust/. The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti.

New research reveals that crypto adoption is spreading quickly across the Asia-Pacific region, driven by practical utility and stablecoin use for daily finance, rather than by market hype (1:19). The Czech National Bank has launched a pilot program to gain hands-on experience managing digital assets like Bitcoin and stablecoins (3:07). We also break down the upcoming Grayscale IPO. As the asset manager prepares to list on the NYSE, we examine the competitive pressures and fee challenges it faces despite its long-standing position in the market (4:48). And finally, we cover Public's $65 million acquisition of Alto's crypto IRA business, a strategic play to integrate tax-advantaged crypto holdings into mainstream retirement planning (6:12). More on stories and articles discussed or referenced in this episode: Bodley, Michael. "Grayscale files for an IPO, capping off big year for crypto exits." PitchBook, 13 November 2025, https://pitchbook.com/news/articles/grayscale-files-for-an-ipo-capping-off-big-year-for-crypto-exits. De, Nikhilesh. "Nearly 25% of Adults with Internet Access in Asia Might Own Crypto, Report Says." CoinDesk, 13 November 2025, https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/11/13/nearly-25-of-adults-with-internet-access-in-asia-might-own-crypto-report-says. Lopatka, Jan. "Czech Central Bank Buys $1 Million in Bitcoin, Other Crypto Assets for Testing." Reuters, 13 November 2025, https://www.reuters.com/business/czech-central-bank-buys-1-mln-bitcoin-other-crypto-assets-testing-2025-11-13/. Lutz, Sander. "Czech Republic Invests in Crypto, With Eye on Eventual Bitcoin Reserve." Decrypt, 13 November 2025, https://decrypt.co/348571/czech-republic-invests-crypto-eye-bitcoin-reserve. "Nearly One in Four Adults in Asia-Pacific - Around 535m People - Use Digital Assets, Driven by Stablecoins and Remittances, New Consensus Report Finds." Consensys by CoinDesk, 13 November 2025, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nearly-one-in-four-adults-in-asia-pacific---around-535m-people---use-digital-assets-driven-by-stablecoins-and-remittances-new-consensus-report-finds-302615065.html. Roberts, Jeff John. "Investing App Public Acquires Crypto IRA Business for $65 Million." Fortune, 13 November 2025, https://fortune.com/2025/11/13/investing-app-public-acquires-crypto-ira-business-for-65-million/. Roy, Sumit. "Grayscale Files for IPO as Its Cash-Cow Crypto ETFs Bleed Assets." ETF.com, 13 November 2025, https://www.etf.com/sections/features/grayscale-files-ipo-its-cash-cow-crypto-etfs-bleed-assets. The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti.

Washington forms a new strike force to hunt down overseas scam hubs that have drained roughly $10 billion from Americans this year (1:20), and the SEC's new chair sketches out a fresh playbook for which tokens count as securities (3:01). Then we look at JPMorgan's new blockchain deposit coin and what sets it apart from stablecoins (4:27), before wrapping with Coinbase's decision to swap Delaware for Texas and what that says about the future of crypto regulation in the U.S. (6:37) This is your essential update on the forces shaping what's next in money. More on stories and articles discussed or referenced in this episode: "First Bank Issues USD Deposit Token on a Public Blockchain." J.P. Morgan, 12 November 2025, https://www.jpmorgan.com/payments/newsroom/jpm-coin-usd-deposit-token-institutional-clients. Godbole, Omkar. "JPMorgan Rolls Out JPM Coin Leveraging Coinbase's Base: Report." CoinDesk, 12 November 2025, https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/11/12/jpmorgan-rolls-out-jpm-coin-leveraging-coinbase-s-base-report. Greig, Jonathan. "US Announces 'Strike Force' to Counter Southeast Asian Cyber Scams, Sanctions Myanmar Armed Group." The Record from Recorded Future News, 12 November 2025, https://therecord.media/strike-force-southeast-asia-scams. Irrera, Anna. "JPMorgan Rolls Out Deposit Token JPM Coin in Digital Asset Push." Bloomberg, 11 November 2025, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-12/jpmorgan-rolls-out-deposit-token-jpm-coin-in-digital-asset-push. "New Scam Center Strike Force Battles Southeast Asian Crypto Investment Fraud Targeting Americans." United States Attorney's Office, District of Columbia, 12 November 2025, https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/new-scam-center-strike-force-battles-southeast-asian-crypto-investment-fraud-targeting. Rajkumari, Pooja. "JPMorgan Debuts New Token." The Street, 12 November 2025, https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/business/jpmorgan-launches-blockchain-based-deposit-token. Revell, Eric. "Major Crypto Exchange Picks Texas for New HQ, Citing Pro-Business Rules." Fox Business, 12 November 2025, https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/major-crypto-exchange-picks-texas-new-hq-citing-pro-business-rules. Wynn, Sarah. "SEC Chair Paul Atkins Unveils Plan for 'Token Taxonomy' to Redefine Crypto Regulation." The Block, 12 November 2025, https://www.theblock.co/post/378590/sec-chair-paul-atkins-unveils-plan-token-taxonomy-redefine-crypto-regulation. The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti.

SoFi has launched direct digital asset trading to its millions of US members, becoming the first national bank to do so (1:20). In Europe, Santander's Openbank is following a similar path in Spain, rolling out a new service that is fully compliant with the continent's new MiCA regulations (3:03). In M&A news, Coinbase has abruptly backed out of a $2 billion deal to acquire stablecoin startup BVNK, even as the race for payment infrastructure heats up with competitors like Mastercard (4:33). Finally, we cover the escalating digital tensions between China and the US, as Beijing accuses the Justice Department of unlawfully seizing $13 billion in Bitcoin, a claim American officials and blockchain analysts dispute (6:18). This is your essential update on the forces shaping what's next in money. More on stories and articles discussed or referenced in this episode: Aguado, Jesús. "Santander's Digital Lender Openbank Launches Crypto Trading in Spain." Reuters, 11 November 2025, https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/santanders-digital-lender-openbank-launches-crypto-trading-spain-2025-11-11/. Hollerith, David. "SoFi Rolls Out Crypto Trading for Retail Customers." Yahoo! Finance, 11 November 2025, https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sofi-rolls-out-crypto-trading-for-retail-customers-130019758.html. Parashar, Arjun. "China Accuses U.S. of Stealing $13 Billion in Bitcoin." The Street, 11 November 2025, https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/policy/china-accuses-u-s-of-stealing-127k-bitcoin-in-crypto-hack. "SoFi Bank Becomes the First and Only Nationally Chartered Bank to Launch Crypto Trading for Consumers." SoFi Technologies, 11 November 2025, https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251111406660/en/SoFi-Bank-Becomes-the-First-and-Only-Nationally-Chartered-Bank-to-Launch-Crypto-Trading-for-Consumers. Turakhiya, Parshwa. "China Accuses US of $13 Billion Bitcoin 'State-Backed Crypto Heist'." Benzinga, 11 November 2025, https://finance.yahoo.com/news/china-accuses-us-13-billion-193107770.html. Weiss, Ben. "Exclusive: Coinbase and Stablecoin Startup BVNK Call Off $2 Billion Acquisition." Fortune, 11 November 2025, https://fortune.com/2025/11/11/coinbase-bvnk-2-billion-deal-falls-through-stablecoins/. The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti.

A new Senate draft bill is making its way through Washington, proposing a new framework that would grant the CFTC clear authority over digital commodities (1:10). The Treasury and IRS have just released new rules allowing traditional financial products like ETPs to offer staking rewards to investors (2:47). Cryptocurrency was allegedly used to pay an Israeli citizen for espionage activities on behalf of Iran (4:34). And finally, Bitcoin mining and AI data centers in Texas are creating a massive strain on the state's energy grid and water resources during a drought (6:12). This is your essential update on the forces shaping what's next in money. More on stories and articles discussed or referenced in this episode: Bernd, Candice. "Crypto's Cryptic Texas Takeover." The Texas Observer, 10 November 2025, https://www.texasobserver.org/crypto-energy-grid-texas-bitcoin-water/. De, Nikhilesh and Jesse Hamilton. "Senate Ag Releases Long-Awaited Version of Crypto Market Structure Legislation." CoinDesk, 10 November 2025, https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2025/11/10/senate-ag-releases-long-awaited-version-of-crypto-market-structure-legislation. Goodman, Jasper and Declan Harty. "Senate Ag Releases Long-Awaited Crypto Bill Draft." Politico, 10 November 2025, https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/11/10/congress/senate-ag-releases-long-awaited-crypto-market-structure-draft-00641759. "Israel Arrests Man Allegedly Paid in Crypto to Spy for Iran – Media." Iran International, 10 November 2025, https://www.iranintl.com/en/202511100330. Lutz, Sander. "Ethereum, Solana ETFs Get Green Light for Staking via US Treasury, IRS Crypto Fund Guidance." Decrypt, 10 November 2025, https://decrypt.co/348044/ethereum-solana-etfs-green-light-staking-us-treasury-irs-guidance. Parashar, Arjun. "US Treasury, IRS Clear Crypto ETPs to Stake and Share Rewards." The Street, 10 November 2025, https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/policy/us-treasury-irs-clear-crypto-etps-to-stake-and-share-rewards. The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti.

A Spanish influencer-turned-investment guru is accused of orchestrating a sprawling, multi-country scheme dressed up as luxury asset investing (1:25). A high-stakes case over a $25M Ethereum trade ends without a verdict, leaving the legality of sophisticated on-chain strategies as murky as ever (3:11). Two chilling cases involving Russian crypto millionaires see extravagant lifestyles intersect with deadly violence (4:42). And new financial rules in the UK have forced the hardware wallet maker Ledger to block educational pages on its own website, as banks and a new digital ID system ramp up financial surveillance (6:46). This is your essential update on the forces shaping what's next in money. More on stories and articles discussed or referenced in this episode: Comben, Christina. "Ledger Pages Blocked as UK's Crypto Crackdown Hits Education, Advertising, Banking." CryptoSlate, 9 November 2025, https://cryptoslate.com/ledger-pages-blocked-as-uks-crypto-crackdown-hits-education-advertising-banking/. "Mastermind Behind $300M Crypto Pyramid Scheme Arrested in Spain." Protos, 7 November 2025, https://protos.com/mastermind-behind-300m-crypto-pyramid-scheme-arrested-in-spain/. Pearl, Mike. "Crypto Bros' Mistrial Was Such an 'Emotional Burden' for Deadlocked Jurors That 'Half' of Them Cried." Gizmodo, 8 November 2025,  https://gizmodo.com/crypto-bros-mistrial-was-such-an-emotional-burden-for-deadlocked-jurors-that-half-of-them-cried-2000682333. Raymond, Nate. "Mistrial Declared for MIT-Educated Brothers Accused of $25 Million Cryptocurrency Heist." Reuters, 7 November 2025, https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/mistrial-declared-mit-educated-brothers-accused-25-million-cryptocurrency-heist-2025-11-08/. Rodrigues, Francisco. "Spain's Civil Guard Arrests Alleged Leader of 260M Euro Crypto-Linked Ponzi Scheme." CoinDesk, 9 November 2025, https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/11/09/spain-s-civil-guard-arrests-alleged-leader-of-260m-euro-crypto-linked-ponzi-scheme. Stewart, Will and Hannah Broughton. "Crypto Millionaire Dies in Supercar Crash After Being Blacklisted by Banks." The Daily Express, 9 November 2025, https://www.the-express.com/news/world-news/190016/russian-crypto-millionaire-russia-putin-Lamborghini. "What Happened to Roman and Ana Novak? Russian Crypto Millionaire, Wife Found Dismembered in Dubai." The Week, 9 November 2025, https://www.theweek.in/news/middle-east/2025/11/09/what-happened-to-roman-and-ana-novak-russian-crypto-millionaire-wife-found-dismembered-in-dubai.html. The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti.

Samourai Wallet's co-founder gets sentenced, and his case has big implications for privacy-focused developers (0:59). Fresh data shows hedge funds pushing deeper into crypto (2:39). South Korea and the U.S. target North Korea's state-backed hackers (4:16). And in Argentina, Binance and Buenos Aires launch an education-driven push for safer adoption against a backdrop of inflation and meme coin fallout (5:44). This is your essential update on the forces shaping what's next in money. More on stories and articles discussed or referenced in this episode: Di Salvo, Mat. "Binance, Buenos Aires to Encourage Sensible Crypto Adoption—But What About Meme Coins?" Decrypt, 6 November 2025,  https://decrypt.co/347691/binance-buenos-aires-encourage-crypto-adoption-meme-coins. Howcroft, Elizabeth. "More Than Half of Hedge Funds Invested in Crypto, Global Survey Says." Reuters, 6 November 2025, https://www.reuters.com/business/more-than-half-hedge-funds-invested-crypto-global-survey-says-2025-11-06/. Morris, David Z. "Keonne Rodriguez Sentenced to 5 Years in Prison, $250,000 Fine." The Rage, 6 November 2025, https://www.therage.co/keonne-rodriguez-samourai-sentenced/. Wynn, Sarah. "Samourai Wallet's Keonne Rodriguez Sentenced to Maximum Five-Year Term Over Crypto Mixing Service." 6 November 2025, https://www.theblock.co/post/377937/samourai-wallet-keonne-rodriguez-sentenced-maximum-five-year-term-crypto-mixing-service. Yoon-Seung, Kang. "Seoul Open to Reviewing Sanctions on N. Korea Over Cryptocurrency Theft If Needed: Official." Yonhap News Agency (South Korea), 6 November 2025, https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20251106011500320. The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti.

Ottawa is laying down strict new ground rules for value-stabilized crypto assets to modernize Canadian finance (1:02). We also look at the US President's digital currency venture, which is branching out to the Solana network to capture a larger slice of the decentralized finance market (2:45). Plus, Tether is partnering with a Vietnamese coastal city to pilot new distributed ledger infrastructure (4:26), and we explore how standard stock market indices are migrating on-chain (6:14). This is your essential update on the forces shaping what's next in money. More on stories and articles discussed or referenced in this episode: Sandor, Krisztian. "Dinari Taps Chainlink to Tokenize S&P DJI's Upcoming Crypto Market Index." CoinDesk, 5 November 2025, https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/11/04/dinari-taps-chainlink-to-tokenize-s-and-p-dji-s-upcoming-crypto-market-index. Shittu, Hassan. "Trump's Crypto Project Taps Bonk and Raydium in a High-Stakes Bid to 'Rebuild' Solana." Cryptonews, 5 November 2025, https://cryptonews.com/news/trump-crypto-project-bonk-raydium-solana-comeback/. Spirkovski, Zoran. "Tether Signs Partnership with Da Nang amid Vietnam's Conflicting Crypto Laws." Coinspeaker, 5 November 2025, https://www.coinspeaker.com/tether-signs-partnership-da-nang-amid-vietnams-conflicting-crypto-laws/. Watson, R.T. "Chainlink and Dinari Bringing S&P Crypto Stock Index Onchain." The Block, 5 November 2025, https://www.theblock.co/post/377812/chainlink-and-dinari-bringing-sp-crypto-stock-index-onchain. Zimonjic, Peter. "Budget Promises to Introduce Framework for Canadian Dollar-Backed Cryptocurrency." CBC News, 5 November 2025, https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/government-crypto-currency-framework-9.6966615. The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti.

An international sting takes apart a sprawling investment scam across Europe (1:15); Washington turns the screws on Pyongyang's wallet with fresh sanctions aimed at its crypto-fueled cyber crews (3:02); DeFi's breakneck expansion collides with a relentless wave of exploits, and even blue-chip protocols aren't spared (4:38); and Japan lights up as traders pile in ahead of friendlier rules and new exchange tie-ups (6:30). This is your essential update on the forces shaping what's next in money. More on stories and articles discussed or referenced in this episode: Asgari, Nikou. "Crypto's 'Decentralised Finance' Sector at Risk of Attack, Warns Chainalysis." The Financial Times, 4 November 2025, https://www.ft.com/content/70faf2ae-8279-49cd-97c1-20654d935be8. Bridge, Anton and Rae Wee. "Analysis-Japan's Crypto Players Jostle for Market Share on Regulatory Easing Hopes." Reuters, 4 November 2025, https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/japans-crypto-players-jostle-market-share-regulatory-easing-hopes-2025-11-04/. "Decisive Actions Against Cryptocurrency Scammers Earning Over EUR 600 million."  European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust), 4 November 2025, https://www.eurojust.europa.eu/news/decisive-actions-against-cryptocurrency-scammers-earning-over-eur-600-million. "Europe-Wide Crackdown Targets Crypto Fraud, 600M Euros Stolen." Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, 4 November 2025, https://www.occrp.org/en/news/europe-wide-crackdown-targets-crypto-fraud-600m-euros-stolen. Lakshmanan, Ravie. "Europol and Eurojust Dismantle €600 Million Crypto Fraud Network in Global Sweep." The Hacker News, 4 November 2025, https://thehackernews.com/2025/11/europol-and-eurojust-dismantle-600.html. Morton, Joseph. "Chainalysis CEO Warns DeFi Platforms Face Growing Security Risks." Mugglehead Magazine, 4 November 2025, https://mugglehead.com/chainalysis-ceo-warns-defi-platforms-face-growing-security-risks/. "Treasury Sanctions DPRK Bankers and Institutions Involved in Laundering Cybercrime Proceeds and IT Worker Funds." U.S. Department of the Treasury, 4 November 2025, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0302. Zimmerman, Micah. "North Korean Hackers Stole Over $3 Billion in Crypto, U.S. Sanctions Bankers and IT Firms." Bitcoin Magazine, 4 November 2025, https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/north-korea-stole-over-3-billion-in-crypto. The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti.

The crypto industry grapples with the implications of Changpeng Zhao's presidential pardon and what a U.S. return for Binance means for competitors like Coinbase (1:18). Operation Catalyst, a joint INTERPOL-AFRIPOL crackdown, traces $260 million in crypto to terror cells across Africa (2:47). Ripple makes another acquisition, buying wallet provider Palisade to strengthen its institutional custody and payments infrastructure (4:38). And Hong Kong announces plans to ease restrictions and connect local crypto traders with international order books (6:23). This is your essential update on the forces shaping what's next in money. More on stories and articles discussed or referenced in this episode: Khalili, Joel. "Trump's CZ Pardon Has the Crypto World Bracing for Impact." Wired, 3 November 2025, https://www.wired.com/story/trumps-cz-pardon-has-the-crypto-world-bracing-for-impact/. Rossi, Emanuele. "INTERPOL Uncovers Africa's Crypto-Terror Network." Decode 39, 3 November 2025, https://decode39.com/12264/interpol-uncovers-africas-crypto-terror-network/. Sandor, Krisztian. "Ripple Acquires Crypto Wallet Firm Palisade to Expand Institutional Payments Business." CoinDesk, 3 November 2025, https://www.coindesk.com/business/2025/11/03/ripple-acquires-crypto-wallet-firm-palisade-to-expand-institutional-payments-business. Watson, R.T. "Ripple's Crypto Investments Hit $4 Billion with Acquisition of Wallet Tech Firm Palisade." The Block, 3 November 2025,  https://www.theblock.co/post/377368/ripples-crypto-investments-hit-4-billion-with-acquisition-of-wallet-tech-firm-palisade. Wong, Kiuyan. "Hong Kong to Allow Crypto Exchanges to Tap Global Capital Pools." Bloomberg, 2 November 2025, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-11-03/hong-kong-to-allow-crypto-exchanges-to-tap-global-capital-pools. The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti.

Brussels eyes a turbocharged single market as ESMA readies a power-up over exchanges and post-trade pipes (1:14). Türkiye reels after Thodex founder Faruk Fatih Ozer is found dead, closing a scandal that reshaped a region's risk radar (3:14). New questions surround the British royals and their connections to a failed American crypto mining project (4:57), and a pushed deadline by the SEC hands crypto exchanges fresh legal ammo (6:51). This is your essential update on the forces shaping what's next in money. More on stories and articles discussed or referenced in this episode: Abrams, Zack. "CEO of Collapsed Thodex Exchange Found Dead in Turkish Prison While Serving 11,196-Year Sentence: Report." The Block, 1 November 2025, https://www.theblock.co/post/377170/ceo-of-collapsed-thodex-exchange-found-dead-in-turkish-prison-while-serving-11196-year-sentence-report. Ayan, Amin. "Thodex Founder Faruk Fatih Ozer Found Dead in Turkish Prison While Serving 11,000-Year Sentence." Cryptonews, 2 November 2025, https://cryptonews.com/news/thodex-founder-faruk-fatih-ozer-found-dead-in-turkish-prison-while-serving-11000-year-sentence/. Irene, Nellius. "EU Empowers ESMA to Oversee Stock and Crypto Exchanges." Cryptopolitan, 2 November 2025, https://www.cryptopolitan.com/eu-puts-crypto-exchanges-under-esma/. Kenber, Billy and Phil Kemp. "Andrew Fixed Palace Visit for Firm with £1.4M Deal with Ex-Wife." BBC News, 2 November 2025, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy5q05v0q1xo. Matos, Gino. "SEC Just Gave Crypto Lawyers a New Way to Win in Court." CryptoSlate, 1 November 2025, https://cryptoslate.com/sec-just-gave-crypto-lawyers-a-new-way-to-win-in-court/. Tamma, Paolo. "EU Set to Expand Supervision of Stock and Crypto Exchanges." The Financial Times, 2 November 2025, https://www.ft.com/content/0727d3da-d901-4074-bcde-8be675a0931f. The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti.

Europe's digital cash experiment is shifting from research to real-world architecture, with the ECB prioritizing privacy, accessibility, and even offline payments as it targets readiness later this decade (1:06). In the U.S., Truth Social's tie-up with Crypto.com to enable prediction markets is colliding with state gambling laws and raising questions about federal oversight and ethics (3:02). Japan is tightening its crypto framework, prompting Bybit to pause its opening of new accounts in the country (5:01). Finally, Thai authorities arrest a Chinese national accused of running FINTOCH, a high-yield scam that used a fictional executive and false bank affiliations to lure investors (6:50). This is your essential update on the forces shaping what's next in money. More on stories and articles discussed or referenced in this episode: Clarke, Anthony, "Thai Police Bust $14M Crypto Ponzi Mastermind in Bangkok." 99 Bitcoins, 30 October 2025,  https://99bitcoins.com/news/bitcoin-btc/thai-police-bust-14m-crypto-ponzi-mastermind-in-bangkok/. Gentry, Dana. "Trump Partners with Crypto Betting Platform Suing Nevada, Other States." The Nevada Current, 30 October 2025, https://nevadacurrent.com/2025/10/30/trump-partners-with-crypto-betting-platform-suing-nevada-other-states/. Luiv, Sven. "Bybit Stops Taking New Japanese Users as Crypto Rules Tighten." Brave New Coin, 30 October 2025, https://bravenewcoin.com/insights/bybit-stops-taking-new-japanese-users-as-crypto-rules-tighten. Peyton, Antony. "ECB Aims for 2029 Digital Euro Launch." TechRepublic, 30 October 2025, https://www.techrepublic.com/article/news-digital-euro-launch/. "Progress on the Preparation Phase of a Digital Euro." European Central Bank, 30 October 2025, https://www.ecb.europa.eu/euro/digital_euro/progress/html/ecb.deprp202510.en.html. The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti.

Reports point to Mastercard nearing a $1.5–$2B purchase of Zerohash, reflecting the race to own the rails for stablecoin payments and tokenized services (1:20). China's enforcement push: Courts issue prison sentences tied to an illicit USDT channel as top officials underscore risks from dollar-pegged tokens (2:59). DBS and Goldman Sachs complete a bank-to-bank, cash-settled options trade on BTC and ETH in another step toward institutional hedging and liquidity in digital assets (4:55). MoviePass launches a fantasy/prediction game for movies, actors, and directors, with real-money features on the roadmap (6:15). This is your essential update on the forces shaping what's next in money. More on stories and articles discussed or referenced in this episode: Beganski, André. "MoviePass Debuts Crypto-Based Predictions for Box Office Performances." Decrypt, 29 October 2025, https://decrypt.co/346653/moviepass-crypto-based-predictions-box-office-performances. Hassan, Anas. "China Jails Five for $166M Crypto Money Laundering Scheme." Cryptonews, 29 October 2025, https://cryptonews.com/news/china-jails-five-for-166m-crypto-money-laundering-scheme/. Reynolds, Sam. "DBS, Goldman Sachs Execute First Over-the-Counter Interbank Crypto Options Trade." 29 October 2025, CoinDesk,  https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/10/29/dbs-goldman-sachs-execute-first-over-the-counter-interbank-crypto-options-trade. Weiss, Ben and Leo Schwartz. "Exclusive: Mastercard Poised to Acquire Crypto Startup Zerohash for Nearly $2 billion, Sources Say." Fortune, 29 October 2025, https://fortune.com/crypto/2025/10/29/mastercard-zerohash-acquisition-bvnk-stablecoins-coinbase/. The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti.

Reuters pulls back the curtain on the Trump family's crypto footprint, from governance tokens and overseas buyers to the policy and ethics questions that follow (1:03). We break down Trump Media's upcoming "Truth Predict" venture with Crypto.com, and why prediction markets are suddenly everywhere (3:11). Western Union outlines a Solana-powered dollar token with bank-grade issuance that could compress cross-border costs for millions (4:44). And Beeline debuts a blockchain-tracked way to unlock home value without taking on new monthly payments (6:04). This is your essential update on the forces shaping what's next in money. More on stories and articles discussed or referenced in this episode: "Beeline Launches Nation's First Blockchain-Powered Home Equity Platform — Begins Scaling Nationwide." Beeline Holdings Press Release, 26 October 2025, https://makeabeeline.com/blog/beeline-launches-blockchain-powered-home-equity-platform. Delozier, Jonathan. "Beeline Loans Pioneers Blockchain Home Equity Transactions." HousingWire, 27 October 2025, https://www.housingwire.com/articles/beeline-loans-pioneers-blockchain-home-equity-transactions/. Di Salvo, Mat. "Trump Media to Join with Crypto.com in Prediction Market Push." Decrypt, 28 October 2025, https://decrypt.co/346398/trump-media-join-crypto-com-prediction-market-push. Garcia, Carlos. "Trump Media Firm Dives into Red Hot Prediction Markets, in Tie-Up with Crypto.com." Fortune, 28 October 2025, https://fortune.com/crypto/2025/10/28/trump-media-prediction-markets-crypto/. Gauthier-Villars, David et al. "Inside the Trump Family's Global Crypto Cash Machine." Reuters, 28 October 2025, https://www.reuters.com/investigations/inside-trump-familys-global-crypto-cash-machine-2025-10-28/. Ge Huang, Vicky. "Western Union, Early Telegraph Pioneer, Joins the Crypto Arms Race." The Wall Street Journal, 28 October 2025, https://www.wsj.com/finance/western-union-early-telegraph-pioneer-joins-the-crypto-arms-race-a0aa7f02. The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti.