China sends mixed signals on US sanctions ahead of Trump-Xi meeting

Tech  China sends mixed signals on US sanctions ahead of Trump-Xi meeting  China just deployed its Anti-Sanctions Law for the first time against the United States. The target: five Chinese refiners hit with US penalties for allegedly buying Iranian crude oil. The message from Beijings Ministry of Commerce was unambiguous. Ignore the American sanctions.  Then, almost immediately, Chinese banks received a different kind of signal. Pause new loans to those same refiners. If you‘re confused by the contradiction, you’re paying attention.  The legal chess match  On April 24, the US Treasury sanctioned five Chinese refiners, including Hengli Petrochemical, under executive orders designed to choke off Irans oil revenue. The accusation: these companies had been purchasing Iranian crude in violation of American sanctions.  Eight days later, on May 2, China‘s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) fired back with Announcement No. 21. It invoked the country’s Anti-Sanctions Law, a statute passed in 2021 but never actually used against US measures until now. The directive told Chinese entities to disregard the American penalties entirely.  The law creates a legal framework allowing the affected refiners to sue foreign parties that comply with US penalties in Chinese courts. Any global company that cuts ties with these refiners to satisfy Washington could find itself

05-13Industry

JPMorgan files new tokenized Treasury backed fund on Ethereum

Ethereum  JPMorgan files new tokenized Treasury backed fund on Ethereum  JPMorgan Asset Management filed to launch a second tokenized money market fund on Ethereum, deepening the banks push into blockchain based liquidity products for institutional investors.  The fund, called the JPMorgan OnChain Liquidity Token Money Market Fund, would trade under the ticker JLTXX. The filing says the fund seeks current income while maintaining liquidity and stability of principal. It is listed under JPMorgan Trust IVs J.P. Morgan Money Market Funds prospectus, with Token Class shares dated May 13.  JLTXX would invest exclusively in US Treasury bills, bonds and notes, as well as overnight repurchase agreements fully collateralized by US Treasuries or cash. The fund aims to maintain a $1 net asset value and only invest in US dollar denominated securities.  The fund will use blockchain technology to let investors submit transaction requests for fund shares. Kinexys Digital Assets, a business unit within JPMorgan Chase Bank, will design, deploy and maintain the blockchain infrastructure used by the fund.  The product does not replace traditional fund recordkeeping. The transfer agent will maintain the official ownership record in book entry form, while token balances tied to investor blockchain addresses are intended to match fund shares one for one. If

05-13Ethereum

Stables Taps T-0 Network as Asia’s 60% Stablecoin Payment Share Tests USDT Rails

Tech  Stables Taps T-0 Network as Asias 60% Stablecoin Payment Share Tests USDT Rails  Stables, a infrastructure platform, announced a strategic partnership with t-0 Network to enhance settlement capabilities for its corridors across Asia. The collaboration establishes T-0 Network as a dedicated settlement partner, providing the necessary for Stables to process high- transactions across multiple jurisdictions and currency pairs.  By integrating T-0 Networks specialized settlement layer, Stables aims to eliminate “ ceilings” that can hinder developers scaling digital asset movements.  “Every corridor we open needs deep, reliable behind it,” said Bernardo Bilotta, CEO and co-founder of Stables. “t-0 Network gives us a strong settlement partner in Asia, and it means our developers can scale with confidence knowing the infrastructure can keep up with their growth.”  The move targets a significant infrastructure gap in the Asian market. While the region accounts for roughly 60% of global payment flows, the landscape remains fragmented. More than 150 currencies require connectivity, yet few local banks are willing to interface with .  Addressing whether this gap is an intentional moat created by regulators to protect legacy systems, Bilotta noted that current hurdles, such as dual-licensing and high capital requirements, often stem from applying 20th-century frameworks to 21st-century technology.  “Regulators weren‘t designing a

05-13Industry

GitHub Copilot Plans Overhauled: New Max Tier Launches

Starting June 1, 2026, GitHub will introduce significant changes to its Copilot individual plans, transitioning to usage-based billing and adding a new high-tier option called the Max plan. These updates aim to address user concerns about included usage limits amid increasing demand for advanced AI features.  The revamped Copilot offerings will include four tiers: Free, Pro, Pro+, and the newly unveiled Max. While the Free plan remains limited to basic code completions and fewer monthly credits, the paid tiers are getting expanded usage through “flex allotments.” This variable component supplements fixed base credits, allowing users to handle more demanding workloads.  Pricing and Benefits  Heres how the paid plans stack up as of June 1:PlanMonthly PriceBase CreditsFlex AllotmentTotal UsagePro$10$10$5$15Pro+$39$39$31$70Max$100$100$100$200  The new Max plan targets developers handling sustained, high-volume AI workloads. With $200 in combined monthly usage credits, it effectively doubles the capacity of Pro+.  How It Works  Base credits are used first, with flex allotments automatically kicking in as needed. Credits apply uniformly across all environments, including GitHub.com, IDEs, and the CLI. For users who exhaust their included usage, additional credits can be purchased to keep projects moving. Notably, code completions and next-edit suggestions remain unlimited on paid plans and do not consume credits.  Why Flex Matters  The flex

05-13Industry

Kalshi gets CFTC support in Ohio sports market appeal

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has backed Kalshi in its appeal against Ohio regulators, asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit to affirm federal oversight of prediction markets. CFTC says Ohio went too far by treating Kalshis federally regulated event contracts as sports gambling.The Ohio appeal adds to wider state battles over Kalshi, Polymarket, Crypto.com, Coinbase, and Robinhood.Trump-appointed CFTC Chair Michael Selig says the agency will defend its authority over prediction markets.  The agency filed an amicus brief in KalshiEx LLC v. Matthew T. Schuler, et al., on May 12. The case centers on whether Ohio can treat Kalshis sports event contracts as unlicensed sports gambling.  State authorities had told the company to stop offering those markets in Ohio. Kalshi sued, but a federal district court denied its request for protection in March. The company then appealed.  Selig says Ohio read CFTC power too narrowly  CFTC Chairman Michael S. Selig said the Ohio court took an “improperly narrow view” of the agencys authority. He also said the CFTC would not allow “overzealous state governments” to weaken its role over these markets.  Selig was sworn in as the 16th CFTC chairman on Dec. 22, 2025, after President Donald Trump nominated him and the

05-13Industry

Kevin Warsh Confirmed to Fed Board With Cryptocurrency Background — Chair Vote Imminent

Senators greenlit Warshs nomination on Tuesday with a 51-45 tally. The vote predominantly followed partisan divisions, with Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman standing as the sole Democrat supporting the nomination.  Warsh must now secure approval in a second Senate confirmation vote to officially assume the chairmanship. This subsequent vote is projected for Wednesday. The positions carry distinct tenures — Board governors are appointed for 14-year terms, whereas the chair position spans four years.  At 56 years old, Warsh is positioned to succeed Jerome Powell in the chair role. Powell‘s eight-year chairmanship concludes this Friday. Despite stepping down from the chair position, Powell has indicated his intention to remain as a Board member during an ongoing federal inquiry examining renovation work at the Federal Reserve’s Washington, D.C. facilities.  Warsh brings previous Federal Reserve experience, having served as a governor from 2006 through 2011 under both Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. His professional background includes a tenure at Morgan Stanley in investment banking.  Blockchain and Digital Asset Investments Under Scrutiny  Financial disclosure documents submitted to the Office of Government Ethics revealed Warshs investment portfolio includes positions in blockchain technology firms and digital asset companies. His holdings encompassed businesses involved in decentralized finance protocols, cryptocurrency payment systems,

05-13Industry

BNB Delivers 177% ROI in 2024-2025 Through Ecosystem Rewards

BNB, the utility token of Binance‘s ecosystem, has quietly delivered an impressive 177% return for holders between January 2024 and March 2025, according to data shared by Binance. The gains come from a mix of price appreciation, staking rewards, and participation in Binance’s Launchpool and airdrop programs.  Starting at $313 on January 1, 2024, BNBs price climbed to $640 by the end of Q1 2025—a 104% increase. But the real edge came from ecosystem incentives. Binance reports that staking BNB in programs like Launchpool and participating in MegaDrop and HODLer Airdrops added an additional $226 in rewards per token, boosting total returns to 177% over 15 months.  Token Utility Drives Demand  BNBs primary use cases—trading fee discounts and gas payments on the BNB Chain—continue to anchor its demand. Binance offers up to 25% off trading fees for Spot and Margin trading and discounts for Futures traders. Additionally, the token is widely accepted for payments and donations through initiatives like Binance Charity.  However, BNB‘s utility has significantly expanded. Holders now gain access to exclusive project launches, token airdrops, and passive income opportunities that make it more than just a transactional token. Binance’s Launchpool stands out as a low-risk mechanism for earning new crypto assets. In

05-13Industry

Ethereum Foundation Unstakes $50M ETH Amid Treasury Shifts

The Ethereum Foundation (EF) has withdrawn 21,270 Ether (ETH), valued at approximately $50 million, from Lidos liquid staking protocol, according to blockchain analytics firm Arkham. This marks the second significant unstaking move by the foundation in recent weeks, raising questions about its treasury strategy.  The withdrawal, initiated on Monday, shifts these funds out of Ethereum‘s Beacon Chain, where they had been locked to earn staking rewards. While the move doesn’t necessarily signal an imminent sale of the unstaked ETH, it does represent a recalibration of how the nonprofit manages its assets. Withdrawals through Lido enter a queue system, allowing claimants to redeem ETH once the process is finalized.  This unstaking follows a similar action in late April when the EF withdrew 17,000 ETH. Shortly after, on May 1, the foundation reportedly sold 10,000 ETH in an over-the-counter (OTC) deal to Bitmine, the largest corporate holder of Ethereum. Its unclear if this latest move is part of a broader strategy to free up liquidity or reposition treasury holdings.  Strategic Treasury Adjustments  The Ethereum Foundation updated its treasury policy in mid-2025, emphasizing increased staking as a mechanism to fund protocol development. Since then, it has progressively allocated more ETH to staking, with significant deposits made in

05-13Ethereum

JPMorgan files for tokenized money market fund on Ethereum

JPMorgan Chase has once again filed to launch a tokenized money market fund on the Ethereum blockchain with the SEC. This fund would be JPMorgans second such product, designed to be a reserve asset for stablecoin issuers pending approval from the SEC.  The money market fund is called the JPMorgan OnChain Liquidity-Token Money Market Fund and it will trade under the ticker JLTXX.  The fund will invest in U.S. Treasury securities and repurchase agreements backed by either treasuries or cash, according to the SEC filing. The exact timeline for full operation and acceptance of investors was not specified in the filing.  JPMorgan also stated that the funds blockchain infrastructure will be operated by Kinexys Digital Assets, its in-house digital assets unit.  Ethereum is “currently the only available blockchain for use by investors, although expansion to other blockchains is anticipated in the future,” the statement mentioned.  Built for stablecoin backing  The tokenized MMF has been well structured to meet requirements in the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act, also known as the GENIUS Act.  This act requires stablecoin issuers within the U.S. jurisdiction to back their tokens with highly liquid assets, including cash, treasuries, and insured bank deposits.  “The Fund invests in a manner intended to

05-13Ethereum

JPMorgan Files Ethereum-Based Tokenized Money Fund as ETH Foundation Launches Clear Signing Standard

Ethereum  JPMorgan Files Ethereum-Based Tokenized Money Fund as ETH Foundation Launches Clear Signing Standard  JPMorgan has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to launch a tokenized money market fund built on the Ethereum network, marking one of the largest traditional banking entries into onchain finance to date. The product, named the JPMorgan OnChain Liquidity-Token Money Market Fund and ticker JLTXX, will invest exclusively in U.S. Treasury bills, bonds, and notes. The fund will operate through Kinexys Digital Assets, JPMorgans blockchain unit, which deploys a permissioned layer on top of Ethereum. The filing flags potential expansion to additional networks in the future. Shares of JPMorgan closed 1.63% higher at $304.88 following the disclosure.  The Ethereum Foundation, alongside hardware wallet makers Ledger and Trezor and software wallet providers MetaMask and WalletConnect, unveiled a new open standard called Clear Signing aimed at eliminating one of crypto‘s most costly attack vectors. The framework targets blind signing, the practice of approving raw, machine-readable transaction data that has contributed to losses estimated in the billions, including last year’s $1.5 billion Bybit breach. Clear Signing relies on ERC-7730 for human-readable transaction descriptors and ERC-8176 for attestation. A decentralized off-chain registry will distribute the descriptors, with the Foundations Trillion

05-13Ethereum
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