In the last 24 hours, the total volume of the global crypto market was $45.40 billion, a decline of 5.94 per cent. The global crypto market cap, however, saw a bullish increase of 2.98 per cent over the previous day, reaching $1.20 trillion at 10 am IST on Wednesday. Coinmarketcap reported that DeFi was trading at $4.87 billion, accounting for 10.72 per cent of the total crypto market 24-hour volume.
Bitcoin (BTC) has recently seen a rise in price after previously hitting a low of $27,213, with its value approaching the $29,000 mark. BTC’s price had been fluctuating between $26,500 and $28,500, with neither the bulls nor the bears able to break out of this range. Despite multiple attempts by buyers to overcome the $29,000 resistance, they have been unsuccessful.
Bitcoin remains the top cryptocurrency on Coinmarketcap with unchanged market cap.
On April 3, BTC’s price dropped to $27,213, but buyers were quick to make purchases, resulting in a price increase. Since March 18, the cryptocurrency has been hovering between the $28,000 resistance and $29,000 price levels. Despite this volatility, BTC remains in the bullish trend zone, with buyers currently leading over sellers. The cryptocurrency is currently trading above the 21-day SMA, indicating that bulls are in control of the market. Buyers are working to keep BTC’s price above the $29,000 overhead resistance.
If buyers are successful, the price of Bitcoin is expected to reach the psychological marker of $30,000, with further bullish momentum taking it up to the high of $31,000. However, if the bears manage to halt this bullish scenario, the bearish momentum may persist and cause the price to drop below the 21-day SMA. This could result in increased selling pressure and a potential low of $25,200. If the price falls below the $25,000 support level, the downtrend is likely to continue. Currently, Bitcoin’s price is at level 60 of the 14-period Relative Strength Index, indicating that it still has room to increase further.
Bloomberg Senior Commodity Strategist Mike McGlone has stated that Bitcoin is more decentralised than other cryptocurrencies, such as Ether, making it “untouchable” despite ongoing regulatory pressures on the crypto industry. In a recent conversation with crypto podcaster Scott Melker on April 3, McGlone argued that those who do not have some exposure to the cryptocurrency market are “seriously silly.” Unlike other currencies, regulators cannot banish Bitcoin due to its decentralisation.
Despite the positive outlook for Bitcoin, its price has approached the $29,000 mark, with buyers aiming to revisit the overhead resistance at this level. However, the price is getting closer to the market’s overbought zone, which could impact its upward trend. Nevertheless, in a strongly trending market, the overbought condition may not last.
Bitcoin continues to maintain its position as the number one cryptocurrency on Coinmarketcap based on its market cap, which remains unchanged from yesterday. Its dominance at 10 am IST was 45.86 per cent, a decrease of 0.22 per cent over the previous day.
Ethereum (ETH) witnessed a 5.76 per cent increase in price to $1,913.00, with a 24-hour trading volume of $11.67 billion. A sustained momentum in Ethereum’s price against Bitcoin may benefit the overall altcoin market, as it tends to thrive from ETH’s display of strength against BTC.
Ethereum: The second largest cryptocurrency by market cap.
If buying pressure increases from current levels, Ethereum’s price may rise by 6% to challenge the next resistance level at $1,982. In a highly bullish scenario, the altcoin could surpass the $2,000 mark and reach the $2,093 resistance level, marking a 12% increase from the current price.
On-chain data analysis by IntoTheBlock indicates that the next significant resistance area lies between $2,046 and $2,902, where over 8.5 million addresses had previously purchased more than 26.69 million ETH at an average price of $2,537.
However, if profit-takers decide to take early profits, Ethereum’s price could correct downwards and break the $1,753 support level. This would expose ETH to further downside risks, leading to a free fall towards the 50-, 100-, and 200-day EMAs at $1,687, $1,603, or $1,589 levels, respectively.
Three days after US attorney John Deaton suggested a prolonged wait for Judge Analisa Torres’s summary judgment, Ripple’s price (XRP) broke below what was once a crucial support level of $0.507. This news reduced XRP’s bullish momentum, leading to a downtrend at the start of the month. However, community members remain optimistic and anticipate a favourable ruling, which provides investors on the side-lines with an opportunity to buy the altcoin at discounted rates.
Altcoins refer to all cryptocurrencies other than Bitcoin.
If this group of buyers takes advantage of the situation, Ripple’s price could climb back above the $0.507 resistance level, turning it back into support before facing the $0.531 area. If XRP surpasses this barrier, it could aim to reach the late March highs at $0.558, potentially opening the path for further gains.
Conversely, if selling pressure increases, Ripple’s price could continue its downward trend, breaking below the $0.477 support level. In extreme cases, XRP could drop further to hit the $0.443 level, which would represent a 12% decline from the current price.
Dogecoin (DOGE) was the most trending cryptocurrency for the second consecutive day, with a 1.46 per cent increase in price to $0.09776.
ICON (ICX) emerged as the top gainer, with a 16.52 per cent increase in price to $0.4412 and a 24-hour trading volume of $682.96 million. UNUS SED LEO was the top loser, experiencing a decline of 1.23 per cent in price to $3.38, with a 24-hour trading volume of $1.25 million.
Tether (USDT) maintained a stable price, experiencing no change in the last 24 hours and trading at $1, with a 24-hour trading volume of $33.88 billion. It ranked third on CoinMarketCap. Solana (SOL) experienced a 3.84 per cent increase in price to $21.22 in the last 24 hours.
Avalanche was trading at $18.13, up by 5.95 per cent, while its 24-hour trading volume was $187.48 million. Cardano (ADA) witnessed a 1.30 per cent increase in price and is ranked seventh, with a 24-hour trading volume of $375.43 million. Shiba Inu saw a 0.93 per cent increase in price to $0.00001141.
Yearn.finance experienced a 5.02 per cent increase in price to $8,787.63 in the last 24 hours, while its 24-hour market cap was $288.17 billion. The volume of DeFi was $4.87 billion, accounting for 10.72 per cent of the total crypto market 24-hour volume.
With its in-depth analysis and coverage of the latest news and trends, AIBC News is the best source of information for those seeking to stay informed and make informed decisions in the crypto market. Head over to our news site for our daily market analysis, expert insights, and breaking news updates on everything related to Blockchain, Crypto, AI and emerging tech.
https://youtu.be/p5GHF7Scubc
This news was shared at the AIBC Europe Summit in Malta during a fireside chat between Michael Saylor, Founder, Chairman and CEO of MicroStrategy and Mike Costache, a blockchain investor and entrepreneur since 2016. The founding member of the BMC, and renowned bitcoin investor, Michael Saylor, commented on the matter: “Bitcoin mining is rapidly becoming more efficient. In 2021, mining efficiency, the actual petahash per megawatt, has been growing quarter over quarter. In Q3, it increased 23%. This is hyper growth, and this is not well-appreciated by the mainstream and most market players. At BMC, we are all coming together in order to educate the public and gather some insight about what’s happening in the bitcoin mining business and how we are using energy.”
Watch the fireside chat below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnlPdn5NNxk
The Bitcoin Mining Council was created in May by nine leading North American mining companies to promote sustainable energy use and industry transparency. Elon Musk’s tweets about crypto mining’s “insane” energy use have caused the Bitcoin rate to plummet last May. After this, Michael Saylor, a renowned Bitcoin evangelist whose personal crypto holdings currently amount to 17,732 BTC (worth $1 billion) plus another 114,042 BTC (worth $6.8 billion) held by his publicly-traded company MicroStrategy, initiated the conversation between market leaders. Elon Musk attended the first meeting and called it “potentially promising.” This reaction was followed by his public promise to resume accepting Bitcoin for Tesla purchases when there’s confirmation of reasonable (~50%) clean energy usage by crypto miners.
Mining bitcoin or any other form of cryptocurrency is an energy-intensive process. Just as the energy industry is forced to adapt and embrace various types of renewable energy, so does cryptocurrency mining. According to the recent findings from BMC published in October, “the global mining industry’s sustainable electricity mix had grown to approximately 57.7%, during Q3 2021, up 3% from Q2 2021, making it one of the most sustainable industries globally.” One of the most important figures published by BMC relates to the fact that only 0.11% of the world’s electricity consumption is used for bitcoin mining.
GMT is now the 30th member to join the BMC in its campaign for industry transparency, sharing best practices, and educating the public on the benefits of Bitcoin and mining. The company has already shared its data for the latest BMC’s survey of the sustainable power mix, and is now actively working on a strategy to further prioritize the use of renewable energy in its operations. In the future, GMT intends to operate on 100% sustainable power.
About GMT:
On April 26, 2021, GMT launched its token backed by real computing power. The project’s goal is to simplify the mining process for everyone by handling the logistics, providing around-the-clock uninterrupted service, and securing the energy-efficient consumption costs. There are currently over 17,000 GMT token holders receiving daily bitcoin mining rewards without the hurdles of physical maintenance of the equipment.
During the first six months of the project’s existence, GMT increased the hash rate of the device park from 100,000 Th/s to almost 400,000 Th/s. The company’s strategy for the next two years is to take over 4% of the world’s BTC production, and 20% in the long term.
You can safely assume that everyone has heard about Bitcoin by now. The popular and mostly valuable cryptocurrency is known for having earned some lucky people, a lot of money. It was first introduced to the public more than a decade ago through an anonymous creator. Since then, the value has been highly fluctuant with a volatile trading history. If you bought Bitcoins early and owned some in 2010, you were very lucky.
This year, the value of a single Bitcoin jumped from around $0.0008 to $0.08. The cryptocurrency was created by Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator’s alias, and was meant to be used or daily transactions and as a way to challenge the traditional banking infrastructure after the terrible financial collapse in 2008.
Bitcoin had another large jump during the spring of 2011, when the price jumped from $1 per Bitcoin in April to $32 in June. This answers to a 3200% jump in only three months. However, this was followed by a sharp recession and the price for Bitcoin ended up at a mere $2 in November the same year.
These numbers are from the early days of bitcoin and seems small when comparing it to today’s value. During the pandemic that started in 2020 the price of Bitcoin would decrease due to financial issues. We can still see an increase during the course of this year when the value increased by 224% in the 12 months. This was mostly because of an institutional interest in cryptocurrencies in general. January 2021 was a historical month for Bitcoin when it beat all its previous price records, selling at more than $40.000.
What are cryptocurrencies and where can you buy them
Cryptocurrencies is a payment method and a strictly digital asset that can be purchased, used, held and sold online. It is a currency that is regulated by supply and demand, as many other currencies. However, it is not reregulated by a national bank or financial institute.
Cryptocurrencies are known for having highly fluctuating value which makes them risky to buy and trade. However, many cryptocurrencies’ owners have experienced and extreme increase in value when it comes to currencies such as Bitcoin. Buying cryptocurrencies can be done online by everyone that wishes to be a part of this world and own a coin or two. Some online brokers offer cryptocurrency purchases, other places to buy is at
Following the increasing popularity, more and more places offer cryptocurrencies as a valid payment form. You will meet this at many online stores but also some physical. Some uudet pikakasinot also allow you to finance the games using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. Bitcoin can either be bought online or in Bitcoin ATMs, which you will find in some countries. You can bot buy and sell Bitcoins in the ATMs; however, most people choose to buy and hold cryptocurrencies to be used as a financial investment.
In other words, Bitcoin is not used exactly how Nakamoto visioned it when he created the asset in 2008, but stores and online website are slowly but surely picking it up. In general, cryptocurrencies are becoming a more “everyday phenomenon” and people are more prone to it. While it used to be highly associated with crime and illegal acts, people are starting to realize that the currency itself is not illegal at all. The reason why it has been used for such, is because it is viewed as a more safe and anonymous payment method. This is because It uses blockchain technology.
Bitcoin is famous for using blockchain technology, making it more anonymous and safer. This can be described as a digital accounting book that is both decentralized and distributed, which makes it possible to register, track and make visible all digital transactions. It also stores data in blocks that are linked to each other using cryptography.
Blockchain is especially suitable in situations where there is a lack of trust in those who store and manage data because it is highly difficult to change it. This is because data that has already been stored cannot be changed without changing all the data stored afterwards, which is very difficult to do in practice. Blockchain is therefore resistant to changes in data stored in the ledger.
Bitcoin have had a highly changing value and a history rich in content. Following its ups and downs are interesting and it is difficult to imagine just how important it has become.
Next up: Malta Week
Don’t miss out on amazing networking opportunities and exclusive industry insights at Malta Week. Four leading shows will bring the best of the business back-to-back to a first-class meeting point. Malta Week will consist of events of SiGMA, AIBC, Med-Tech World and AGS, each presenting the top developments of their focal industries.
The cross-collaboration of each brand make Malta Week the number one destination for leading think-tanks of the gaming sector, emerging tech, digital health and digital marketing. The middle of the Mediterranean is the perfect place for multi-faceted business deals and face-to-face conversations with leading affiliates, policy makers and thought leaders.
Vivek Ranadive confirmed on Clubhouse that the Sacramento Kings will become the first major sports franchise that will offer bitcoin as a form of payment to its players and staff. More moves like this may see America take centre stage in the crypto industry.
Coindesk further confirmed these claims via a speaker on the Clubhouse platform, hosted by Tim Draper.
This move further establishes Ranadive’s claims that the Sacramento Kings are the most forward thinking franchises when it comes to cryptocurrencies. The NBA team had accepted bitcoin payments for hot dogs back in 2014 while in the year of 2019, the franchise launched reward tokens for fans.
The NBA is one of the most proactive franchises in the US when it comes to cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. The basketball association is already topping the list in digital collectibles through NBA TopShot.
Furthermore, NBA franchise owners, including Vivek Ranadive, have formed an NBA Blockchain advisory committee. The committee also includes crypto enthusiast and investor Mark Cuban of the Dallas Mavericks, Joe Tsai (Brooklyn Nets), Ted Leonsis (Washington Wizards), Steve Pagliuca (Boston Celtics) and Ryan Smith (Utah Jazz).
The aim of this committee is to advise the NBA on how to incorporate blockchain and crypto solutions for the league such as:
About AIBC Dubai:
AIBC UAE will take place on the 25th to 26th May, 2021, in the emirate of Dubai. The event will bring together key brands and individuals from the converging sectors of AI, blockchain, IoT, Quantum Tech to discuss and shape the future of emerging tech.
It is one of the leading events globally for blockchain, AI, crypto, and other emerging technologies, and gathers together an elite selection of delegates, policymakers and thought leaders from across the globe. Such international recognition has helped propel AIBC Summit become a favourite on the world circuit for emerging tech conferences and expos.
JP Morgan has stated that Bitcoin’s decrease in volatility is making it more attractive to institutional investors.
Bitcoin’s price volatility, which will be discussed in our next AIBC Summit, has decreased in recent weeks and has subsequently become more attractive to investors seeking low-correlation assets to diversify their portfolios. This is encouraging news for Bitcoin enthusiasts and early adopters of the cryptocurrency as Bitcoin’s major barrier to many was the volatility factor.
JP Morgan said that the recent changes may increase bitcoin adoption and the global also evaluated how much Bitcoin must cost to reach the level of gold investments in the private sector:
“The recent change in the correlation structure of bitcoin relative to traditional asset classes. Mechanically, the bitcoin price would have to rise [to] $130,000, to match the total private sector investment in gold.”
JP Morgan also believes that once bitcoin’s volatility is in line with gold’s volatility, then the long-term price goal would be $130k, adding:
“Considering how big the financial investment into gold is, any such crowding out of gold as an ‘alternative’ currency implies big upside for bitcoin over the long term.”
This new estimate is lower than their initial prediction of $146,000 due to the fall in price of gold.
“The decline in the gold price since then has mechanically reduced the estimated upside potential for bitcoin as a digital alternative to traditional gold, assuming an equalization with the portfolio weight of gold.
A convergence in volatilities between bitcoin and gold is unlikely to happen quickly and is likely a multi-year process. This implies that the above $130,000 theoretical bitcoin price target should be considered as a long-term target.”
JP Morgan bitcoin’s price is based on the bank’s expectation that gold and bitcoin’s volatility will become close but there is still a long way to go as Bitcoin’s volatility stands at 86% while gold is at 16%. This is a long term target but one that is looking likely.
News: news.bitcoin
About AIBC Dubai:
AIBC UAE will take place on the 25th to 26th May, 2021, in the emirate of Dubai. The event will bring together key brands and individuals from the converging sectors of AI, blockchain, IoT, Quantum Tech to discuss and shape the future of emerging tech.
It is one of the leading events globally for blockchain, AI, crypto, and other emerging technologies, and gathers together an elite selection of delegates, policymakers and thought leaders from across the globe. Such international recognition has helped propel AIBC Summit become a favourite on the world circuit for emerging tech conferences and expos.
Richard Stangland, Chief of Staff at Lunar Digital Assets and a veteran of multiple Web3 project launches, spoke to AIBC in Manila about the mistakes that continue to plague blockchain start-ups, the relationship between regulation and speculation, and what makes Asia-Pacific stand apart as a trading hub.
Amid the buzz of the AIBC event in Manila, Richard Stangland addressed a subject he knows well: the mistakes blockchain start-ups continue to make, years into the industry’s evolution. Stangland has worked across multiple Web3 projects through various stages, from launch to scale, giving him a vantage point few others share on what actually separates a project that survives from one that doesn’t.
Asked how important branding, storytelling, and community building are compared with the emphasis often placed on technology, Stangland answered without hesitation.
“Understanding the purpose of a project and telling that story is extremely critical for any project, any founder that’s a startup in general,” he said, making clear from the outset where his priorities lie when judging a project.
Stangland was blunt when discussing the most common stumbles in blockchain’s early stages. “I think some of the biggest mistakes are focusing on the wrong things,” he said, before noting that a large share of founders launch with an idea before they have something that actually works.
He also pointed to a persistent mismatch between product and market, a failure he has watched repeat itself across numerous projects over the years. “A lot of times, there’s a lot of projects and a lot of founders who have an idea. However, that idea doesn’t necessarily solve a solution,” he said, flagging what he sees as a structural disconnect running through much of the ecosystem. That idea, he added, doesn’t always address a genuine problem. He identified another recurring pattern among new projects: the habit of chasing issues that, on closer inspection, are not problems at all.
Asked about regulation, Stangland looked to the past for context. “Crypto, Bitcoin, Web3, blockchain, has thrived in that environment,” he recalled, referring to the years when the sector operated with barely any regulatory framework, and noting that cross-border payments, free of the friction traditional finance carries, were much of the original point.
That early absence of rules, in his telling, was part of what allowed the sector to take off. But the landscape shifted, and with it came a dynamic he described as a chain reaction. “Now that we have regulation, there’s been a lot of friction, and that friction has caused a lot of constriction within our industry today,” he explained. He argued that increased regulatory pressure created further market constraints, which in turn encouraged additional regulatory scrutiny and speculative activity.
Towards the end of the interview, the conversation turned to Asia-Pacific’s place in the global blockchain landscape. Stangland’s definition was unambiguous: “Asia has always been a trader’s market,” he said, singling out the region’s strength in both centralised and decentralised exchanges, alongside an active user base.
It was one of his shortest answers, but also his clearest assessment of what distinguishes the region within the global crypto ecosystem. As attention turns from Manila to the next AIBC gathering in Rome, Stangland’s assessment offers a reminder that Asia-Pacific remains one of the most active and influential regions in the global blockchain market.
When it comes to crypto, Arlone Abello is not selling the dream of sudden wealth. Interviewed during AIBC Asia 2026, the founder and chief executive of Global Miranda Miner Group, said financial literacy has become a matter of safety in a market still shaped by hype, social media and sudden collapses.
“Financial literacy is important in the sense that misinformation, or miseducation, has cost lives in cryptocurrency,” Abello told AIBC.
“In 2022, Luna’s market capitalisation, once worth about $10bn, collapsed,” he said. “Many traders were left financially and mentally distressed, and some even took their own lives.”
Luna, a token linked to the Terra blockchain project, became one of the defining failures of the last crypto downturn, wiping out billions in value and exposing how quickly confidence can disappear in digital assets.
Regulators and educators are trying to catch up with a sector that has moved from the margins of finance into the wallets of retail investors. A recent report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) warned that people with low digital financial literacy and limited financial resilience may be especially vulnerable to crypto’s volatility and gaps in consumer protection.
Abello said the most persistent misconception among new users was that crypto offered a shortcut to wealth, describing it as “the quick-rich mentality”.
That expectation, he argued, is fed by online personalities who show only their gains.
“Influencers will always show their profits, the good money they have made, the thousands or even millions of dollars they have earned from crypto,” he said. “That creates ‘FOMO’, the Fear Of Missing Out.”
For first-time investors, Abello said education should start with two basic questions: how much risk they can tolerate and how long they can wait to reach a financial goal. Without that grounding, he said, even routine volatility can become frightening.
He pointed to a recent fall in bitcoin’s price as an example of how quickly sentiment can turn. “That kind of volatility can shock the community,” he said. “If you are not aware, if you are not educated, you may sell your position too quickly, or lose a lot of money.”
The OECD, whose research is often used by governments to shape economic and consumer-protection rules, has made a similar point. Its report says higher levels of digital financial literacy can help people use crypto-assets in line with their own risk appetite and better understand the risks involved. It also says public authorities should explicitly address “the characteristics, opportunities and risks of crypto-assets” as part of financial literacy policies.
Abello’s message was not that governments should keep crypto at arm’s length. On the contrary, he said regulation could help the industry mature.
In the Philippines, he said he had represented traders through his role as founder of the Association of Cryptocurrency Traders in the Philippines, including in recent talks with the central bank about anti-money laundering proposals and virtual asset service providers.
“For me, regulation means clarity,” he said. “When the government regulates, you are no longer walking on eggshells. You are no longer walking through a minefield.”
Clear rules, he said, could encourage more cautious investors to enter the market and give companies confidence to build. “Clarity means innovation and progress,” he said. “It allows the sector to grow and become more widely adopted.”
Asked where blockchain could find its strongest use in Asia, Abello named two areas: tokenising real-world assets and combining blockchain with artificial intelligence.
Supporters of tokenisation say it could make assets easier to trade and divide into smaller ownership shares, though the model still depends on regulation and reliable links between the token and the asset it claims to represent.
“Everything you see, our microphone, our chair, our energy, even air and water, can be tokenised and recorded on a blockchain,” Abello said.
His second bet was on using blockchain records to make AI systems more accountable. “Sometimes AI can go rogue,” he said. “We now have technology that can keep a record of everything AI does. If you put that on a blockchain, it becomes immutable. No one can change it.”
In theory, important actions taken by an AI system could be recorded on a blockchain, creating a tamper-resistant history of how the technology was used and turning blockchain into an audit trail for artificial intelligence.
For Abello, the next wave of adoption will depend less on speculation than on whether users, companies and governments can learn the rules of the game before more people get hurt.
Argentina has introduced a new bill targeting crypto gambling payments and illegal online betting platforms as regulators increase scrutiny of prediction markets and digital asset-based gambling services.
The proposed legislation would block banks, payment companies and virtual asset providers from offering services to unauthorised gambling operators in Argentina. As reported by Crypto News, the bill forms part of the government’s wider push to regulate online betting and reduce gambling addiction, particularly among minors.
Argentina’s Ministry of Health said the proposed Bill for the Prevention of Gambling and Regulation of Online Gambling aims to organise the country’s virtual betting market while strengthening protections for children and teenagers accessing online gambling platforms. The proposal would involve several government agencies, including Argentina’s central bank, securities regulator, communications authority and national domain registry.
The proposed law directly targets crypto gambling payments by prohibiting financial institutions and crypto service providers from supporting illegal betting platforms. According to the ministry, as reported by Crypto News, “financial entities, payment service providers or virtual asset providers are prohibited from offering their services to unauthorized gambling operators.”
The measure would place cryptocurrency exchanges, payment processors and fiat on-ramp providers inside Argentina’s gambling enforcement framework.
If approved, the legislation could force crypto firms operating in Argentina to introduce stronger compliance systems, identity verification procedures and transaction monitoring linked to online betting activity. The bill could also disrupt offshore gambling websites that rely on cryptocurrency deposits after losing access to traditional banking channels.
The proposal comes amid growing international pressure on crypto-based prediction markets and event betting platforms. Earlier this year, a Buenos Aires court ordered a nationwide block on Polymarket after authorities argued the platform operated outside Argentina’s gambling regulations.
Officials also raised concerns about crypto payments, weak identity verification systems and potential access by minors.
Argentina’s latest move follows similar actions in other countries targeting prediction markets and crypto gambling services. Spain recently blocked Polymarket and Kalshi over gambling licence concerns, while India classified crypto-based prediction markets as prohibited online money gaming services. Regulators globally are increasingly treating event-based betting platforms as gambling operators when users stake real money on uncertain outcomes.
Argentina’s proposal would also introduce tougher criminal penalties for illegal gambling activity. Under the bill, individuals who run or organise unauthorised betting systems could face prison sentences of between three and six years.
The legislation also proposes prison terms of two to four years for individuals or companies that provide key financial, advertising, technology or digital infrastructure services to illegal gambling operators.
The government is also seeking tighter advertising controls linked to online betting. Media companies, influencers, advertising agencies and digital platforms would be required to verify that gambling operators hold official approval before promoting their services in Argentina.
The bill still requires congressional approval before becoming law. If passed, Argentina would gain broader powers to disconnect illegal gambling operators from banking systems, payment processors and crypto transaction networks. The proposal could also become a significant test case for how Latin American governments regulate crypto gambling payments and prediction market platforms in the future.
Last year, Argentina was considering a major policy shift that would allow domestic banks to trade digital assets and offer crypto-related services. The Central Bank of the Argentine Republic (BCRA) has been reviewing its current framework, which prohibits banking institutions from participating in digital asset activities, La Nación reported, citing sources familiar with the discussions.
Crypto adoption has been gaining momentum in the country. A report by ApeX Protocol listed Argentina among the top 10 countries with high crypto engagement. In Argentina, bitcoin adoption has increased in response to inflation.
The United Kingdom has issued a fresh sanctions package aimed at cryptocurrency exchanges, payment processors, banks, stablecoin infrastructure, and individuals accused of assisting Russia in circumventing international sanctions. The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) sanctioned 18 entities and individuals as part of the move.
The penalties target the Kremlin-linked A7 network, which UK authorities claim was used to move funds through Kyrgyzstan-based financial channels, increase military purchases, and enable oil-related transactions.
The sanctions target HTX (previously Huobi), EXMO Exchange Limited, Bitpapa, Rapira Group, and organisations associated with the A7A5 stablecoin ecosystem.
Blockchain analytics firms Chainalysis and Elliptic described the move as a major escalation in crypto enforcement. The UK also applied Regulation 17A to crypto exchanges for the first time, placing certain platforms under restrictions similar to those used against sanctioned financial institutions.
Cryptocurrency allows money to cross borders quickly and without relying on traditional banks. After Russia received sanctions for its invasion of Ukraine, regulators in Europe and North America began to look into how digital assets could be used to move funds outside regulated systems.
According to UK officials, cryptocurrency activity has gone beyond basic transactions to encompass exchanges, payment services, and stablecoin producers. Some of these networks are thought to have facilitated transactions involving sanctioned Russian entities.
The A7 network has been a source of contention, with concerns that it helped Russia dodge international sanctions. Regulators define it as a payment technique that transports money across borders while purposefully avoiding the regular banking system.
One of the important names in the sanctions package is HTX, formerly known as Huobi. UK investigators believe the exchange conducted transactions for sanctioned Russian businesses, including groups affiliated with A7 and Garantex.
The UK has also listed several exchanges and financial service providers, including EXMO Exchange Limited, Arvix LLC, Rapira Group LLC, Bitpapa IC FZC LLC, Aifory LLC, and Nueva Cryptologia S.A.S. de C.V. Officials believe these entities either supported Russia’s financial system or helped sanctioned organisations continue operating.
The sanctions also target OJSC Virtual Asset Issuer, which is related to USDKG, a stablecoin associated with Kyrgyzstan. Authorities now see stablecoin issuers as key parts of the digital finance system, since they create the assets used across exchanges and payment networks.
Previously, regulators focused on bitcoin exchanges. However, that concentration has now widened dramatically. Nowadays, the focus is on the entire ecosystem, including token issuers, custodial services, and payment networks. It also has to account for how those assets come into existence and how they move through the system from start to finish.
Regulation 17A represents a shift in the UK’s sanctions regime by bringing bitcoin exchanges within its jurisdiction for the first time. To date, these kinds of limitations were mostly directed at conventional, established institutions. With the new laws in force, UK financial institutions are no longer permitted to maintain correspondent banking connections with sanctioned companies or handle payments associated with them.
Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) are now obliged to follow tougher compliance procedures. Firms must examine transaction histories, monitor wallet activity across many transactions, and identify indirect connections to sanctioned entities. Regulators now expect a better grasp of how digital asset transactions work from beginning to end.
Russia has broadened its crypto mining tax reporting rules, requiring miners and mining infrastructure operators to submit additional technical information such as Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to tax authorities as part of tighter oversight of the country’s cryptocurrency mining sector.
According to reports from Bits Media, the new regulations require miners to include network address data for cryptocurrency mining equipment, such as application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) miners, in Russia’s national registry of miners and mining infrastructure operators. The Russian Ministry of Finance said the move is intended to improve the regulation of digital asset transactions and support investigations into potential violations involving cryptocurrency mining operations.
Under the updated rules, miners and infrastructure operators must provide more detailed information to Russia’s Federal Tax Service, which maintains the national crypto mining registry. Existing legislation already requires miners and infrastructure operators, including mining pools, to regularly submit and update details such as manufacturer and model of mining equipment, serial number, mining algorithm, computing power, power consumption and operating mode.
The new regulations expand this framework by requiring the inclusion of network address data linked to cryptocurrency mining equipment, adding another layer of technical reporting for tax authorities.
The new reporting rules specifically affect operators using ASIC miners, which are widely used in industrial-scale Bitcoin mining and other proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining operations.
Miners must also continue providing information on the quantity and type of mined cryptocurrency, mining pool participation and links to online statistical data related to mining activity. The expanded reporting requirements are designed to strengthen oversight of crypto mining operations in Russia, where authorities have been seeking tighter control over digital asset activity.
Under Russian law, several state bodies can access information stored in the miners’ registry, including government agencies, courts, the Russian Central Bank and grid operators. The Federal Tax Service remains responsible for maintaining the registry of miners and mining infrastructure operators.
The broader access framework is intended to improve regulatory coordination and support enforcement in cases involving violations linked to cryptocurrency mining and digital asset transactions.
Russia’s Ministry of Finance said the updated rules will also help grid operators monitor electricity demand more accurately in regions with high concentrations of crypto mining capacity.
Mining operations, particularly industrial-scale facilities, are known for significant electricity consumption, making power grid monitoring a growing issue in jurisdictions with expanding Bitcoin mining infrastructure.
By collecting more precise technical data, authorities aim to improve oversight of infrastructure loads while strengthening regulation of the country’s cryptocurrency mining industry.
In 2024, Russia announced that ten regions will halt cryptocurrency mining for six years. The move, starting from 1 January 2025, and lasting till 15 March 2031, came as the country struggles with energy shortages and as part of the country’s strategic financial plans. The ban was directed to regions with high energy consumption and demand. The affected regions are Dagestan, Chechnya, and the Donetsk and Lugansk People‘s Republics.
Recently, Russia introduced a bill in the State Duma to criminalise the operation of unregistered cryptocurrency services. The proposed law would penalise people and organisations who engage in cryptocurrency-related operations without the consent of the nation’s central bank. Offenders could face fines and up to 4 years in prison, with harsher penalties of up to 7 years for organised or large-scale operations.
Lawmakers in Russia are drafting new regulations that may restrict access to foreign exchanges as part of a more stringent framework for cryptocurrencies. Limits on offshore platforms might begin as early as this summer, according to a recent RBC report, as part of a plan to reduce reliance on unregulated options and establish a regulated domestic system.
India’s Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance is set to meet representatives from Binance, WazirX and ZebPay as lawmakers examine the future of crypto regulation, taxation and compliance in one of the world’s largest digital asset markets. The move to bring major digital asset firms into direct discussions on India’s crypto regulation has triggered criticism on social media.
The high-level discussions, scheduled for 20 May at the Parliament House Annexe in New Delhi, will focus on ‘A Study on Virtual Digital Assets (VDAs) and Way Forward,’ bringing India’s crypto policy back into sharp focus for exchanges, regulators and investors. The meeting comes as India’s crypto sector remains heavily taxed and active, but continues to operate without a comprehensive regulatory framework.
According to a notice issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, as reported by Crypto News, the first session will run from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with representatives from Binance, WazirX and ZebPay expected to appear before the parliamentary committee.
Lawmakers are expected to hear from the exchanges on issues including market operations, compliance standards, investor protection and the impact of India’s crypto tax regime.
The session marks a direct engagement between Indian lawmakers and three of the best-known crypto platforms serving Indian users, at a time when policymakers continue to debate how digital assets should be regulated beyond taxation. India currently treats cryptocurrency as a taxable asset class but has yet to introduce a full legal framework governing the sector.
India’s crypto industry has long argued that taxation alone cannot serve as a substitute for regulation. The government currently imposes a 30 per cent tax on gains from virtual digital assets, while a 1 per cent tax deducted at source (TDS) applies to crypto transactions, measures that industry participants say have affected domestic trading volumes. Despite these tax rules, lawmakers have moved slowly on broader crypto legislation.
🇮🇳 India's Parliamentary Finance Panel is set to meet Binance, WazirX and ZebPay tomorrow to discuss the future of crypto regulation
This could be a defining moment for the country’s digital asset ecosystem. Clear policies have the power to unlock innovation, attract global… pic.twitter.com/KVTvg0KEHY
— Mangal (@Huiducoin) May 20, 2026
Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary previously told Parliament that the government had no fixed timeline for finalising crypto rules, citing the borderless nature of digital assets and the need for international coordination. That uncertainty has left exchanges navigating a patchwork of tax rules, anti-money laundering obligations and financial intelligence reporting requirements.
The second session, scheduled from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., will include oral evidence from representatives of the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA).
A final session from 2:00 p.m. onwards will include officials from the Ministry of Finance’s Department of Revenue and the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, expanding discussions beyond exchanges to include regulatory and policy stakeholders.
The wider structure of the hearings suggests lawmakers are reviewing crypto policy from multiple angles, including taxation, compliance, financial oversight and sector regulation.
The parliamentary discussions may also revisit issues related to financial crime, exchange accountability and investor safeguards, areas that have remained central to India’s crypto policy debate. India’s crypto market continues to operate under a mix of taxation measures and compliance requirements, but industry participants have repeatedly called for clearer rules covering exchange registration, consumer protection and operational standards.
Recent court developments have also added to the legal discussion around digital assets in India, with Indian courts increasingly weighing in on questions of crypto ownership and dispute resolution. While the 20 May committee meeting is unlikely to produce immediate regulation, it could help shape what India’s next Virtual Digital Assets framework should include, from tax reform and compliance duties to investor protection and exchange oversight.
Last month, India’s Income Tax Department began issuing notices to investors who failed to report crypto activity in previous financial years. The move was aimed at improving control over Virtual Digital Assets (VDA) and ensuring that all taxable income is accurately disclosed.
Meanwhile, India ranked first in cryptocurrency adoption for 2025, according to the sixth Chainalysis Global Crypto Adoption Index. The country led in all measured categories, including retail and institutional flows. The US came in second, and its rise is linked to higher institutional involvement following the approval of spot bitcoin ETFs. Pakistan, Vietnam, and Brazil complete the top five.
Italy’s largest bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, more than doubled its crypto holdings during the first quarter of 2026, increasing its digital asset exposure from roughly $100 million at the end of 2025 to approximately $235 million by 31 March 2026.
The sharp increase highlights growing institutional demand for cryptocurrency investments among major European banks as traditional financial institutions continue expanding into digital assets, Bitcoin ETFs and Ethereum investment products.
According to a report from local crypto outlet Criptovaluta.it, Intesa Sanpaolo significantly expanded its Bitcoin holdings through additional investments in the ARK 21Shares Bitcoin ETF and BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF.
The Italian banking giant also entered Ethereum investments for the first time through BlackRock’s iShares Staked Ethereum Trust. In addition, the bank acquired exposure to XRP via the Grayscale XRP Trust ETF, with the position reportedly valued at around $26 million.
The bank’s growing crypto portfolio reflects a broader trend of institutional crypto adoption across Europe, particularly among major financial institutions seeking exposure to regulated digital asset investment products.
Intesa Sanpaolo also opened a new position in iShares Bitcoin Trust call options, marking its first derivatives-based crypto trade. The bank previously confirmed that its cryptocurrency positions are held for proprietary trading purposes. However, it has not disclosed whether the assets are also used to hedge products offered to professional clients. The latest portfolio expansion places Intesa among the most active traditional European banks participating in the growing Bitcoin ETF and Ethereum ETF market.
While increasing exposure to Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP, Intesa sharply reduced its position in Solana, according to Cointelegraph. Its holdings in the Bitwise Solana Staking ETF dropped from 266,320 shares in the previous quarter to just 2,817 shares, representing an almost complete exit from the Solana-focused investment product.
On the equities side, Intesa Sanpaolo made several adjustments to its crypto-related stock portfolio. The bank added 165,600 shares of BitGo for the first time while fully exiting its position in Bitmine. It also increased its holdings in Coinbase from 1,500 shares to 10,357 shares, signalling growing confidence in crypto trading infrastructure and digital asset services. At the same time, the bank closed out its put options on Strategy and reduced its stake in Cantor Equity Partners II, the listing vehicle linked to tokenisation firm Securitize.
The investment expansion follows broader strategic moves by Intesa Sanpaolo into the digital asset sector. Last month, Ripple announced it would provide custody services to the Italian banking group, strengthening the bank’s involvement in crypto infrastructure and institutional blockchain services.
According to Cointelegraph, Intesa Sanpaolo’s crypto expansion comes as more European banks launch digital asset products and retail crypto trading services. BBVA recently became the first major Spanish bank to offer 24/7 Bitcoin and Ether trading through its mobile banking app. Meanwhile, BPCE introduced in-app crypto trading through regulated subsidiary Hexarq, targeting 12 million customers by 2026.
In Belgium, KBC Group has also expanded retail crypto services as demand for regulated digital asset access continues rising across Europe. At the infrastructure level, a consortium of major European banks including BNP Paribas, ING, UniCredit and Deutsche Bank formed Qivalis to launch a MiCA-compliant euro-backed stablecoin in the second half of 2026.
