Tor Project Launches Web3 Crowdfunding Drive as Checker Raises $8M for Stablecoin Rails

A coalition led by the Tor Project has launched its first Web3 crowdfunding campaign aimed at supporting censorship-resistant digital infrastructure. Beginning May 19, the initiative will channel funds to 10 nonprofit projects spanning privacy tools, secure communications, and public-interest digital infrastructure. Contributors can donate in Bitcoin, Ethereum, Zcash, Monero, and Golem. Organizers structured the drive alongside Funding the Commons to direct community-driven capital toward developers building tools that protect free internet access. The launch arrives at a moment when more than half the worlds population faced internet shutdowns or systemic censorship in 2025, according to advocacy researchers tracking digital rights.  Stablecoin infrastructure startup Checker has closed $8 million in combined pre-seed and seed funding, with Galaxy Ventures, Al Mada Ventures, and Framework Ventures anchoring the round. The company offers a unified API that helps financial institutions launch and scale stablecoin products, addressing liquidity fragmentation and compliance overhead that have slowed institutional adoption across the DeFi stack and traditional payments. Additional backers included Bitso, Airtm, DFS Lab, Onigiri Capital, SNZ Capital, and Velocity, alongside angel investors such as Mesh CEO Bam Azizi and Tala CEO Shivani Siroya. Checker now serves more than 30 regulated clients and plans to expand across Brazil, Kenya,

05-20

SEC Innovation Exemption to Allow Tokenized Stock Trading

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is reportedly preparing to issue an “innovation exemption” that would allow tokenized stock trading on blockchain platforms, according to sources cited by Bloomberg. This move could enable decentralized venues to trade shares of public companies like Nvidia (NVDA), Apple (AAPL), and Tesla (TSLA) alongside traditional stock exchanges. The exemption may be finalized as early as this week.  The plan, spearheaded by SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, reflects growing interest in blockchain technology as a solution to inefficiencies in traditional trading and settlement processes. It also marks a significant shift in the SECs historically cautious stance toward tokenized securities. The exemption could open the door for limited experimentation under strict oversight, enabling firms to explore the potential of tokenized stocks while adhering to securities laws.  Whats Changing?  The innovation exemption would allow third parties to tokenize and trade the stocks of public companies without requiring issuer consent, provided the tokenized versions retain the same shareholder rights, such as voting and dividends. Failure to meet these criteria could result in delisting. The SEC reportedly consulted with hundreds of market participants to refine the framework.  While the details remain fluid, the exemption is expected to run for a trial period of

05-20

House Republicans seek indefinite block on U.S. CBDC plans

Republican lawmakers in the U.S. House have pushed to turn a temporary restriction on a central bank digital currency into a permanent ban as Congress prepares to vote on a major housing bill later this week.House Republicans have pushed to make the proposed U.S. CBDC ban permanent in the revised 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act.Representative Warren Davidson said the Senates 2030 expiration date could create a future pathway for a Federal Reserve-issued digital dollar.House Majority Whip Tom Emmer has continued urging the Senate to pass his Anti CBDC Surveillance State Act after it cleared the House earlier this year.  According to Congressman Mike Flood, House lawmakers revised the Senates version of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act to remove what he described as a “backdoor green light for a CBDC” by making the prohibition indefinite rather than allowing it to expire in 2030.  The Senate Banking Committee first introduced the housing package in March as a sweeping reform bill focused on housing supply, affordability programs, mortgage access, and manufactured housing rules. Senators Tim Scott and Elizabeth Warren led the legislation, which later advanced through the Senate with an 84 to 6 bipartisan procedural vote.  Buried within the housing proposal was a

05-20

Tether Files Seven Trademarks in South Korea

Tether filed seven trademarks in South Korea as stablecoin policy talks gained fresh momentum.South Korea may require foreign stablecoin issuers to set up local branches and secure approval.Circle‘s earlier filings and CEO visit show rising stablecoin interest in South Korea’s market.  Tether has filed new trademark applications in South Korea, placing its name and logo into the countrys public intellectual property system.  The filing was submitted on May 14, according to the Korean Intellectual Property Offices information search service. The move comes as policymakers debate tighter rules for foreign stablecoin issuers.  Tether Expands Korean Filings  According to a local media report, Tether recently filed seven trademarks in Korea. The applications include the “Tether” logo and Tether Gold, also known as XAUT. The company had previously filed domestic trademarks mainly around stablecoin product names.  The latest applications, however, are broader, as they include the company identity and logo. Besides, industry data showed similar activity by major stablecoin issuers.  Circle, the second-largest stablecoin issuer, filed trademark applications with the Korean patent office last December. Earlier reports also said Tether had filed six trademarks in South Korea, while Circle had filed 11. Regardless, the filings came as stablecoin policy talks gained speed.  South Koreas Branch Rule Debate Raises Stablecoin Stakes  The

05-20

XRPL as Infrastructure for SEC-Approved Tokenized Stocks

XRPL Seems to be Emerging as the Front-Runner for SEC-Approved Tokenized Stock Trading  According to on-chain analytics provider RippleXity, the XRP Ledger (XRPL) is increasingly being viewed less as an experimental blockchain and more as a already aligned with key requirements of regulated capital markets.  In the context of SEC-approved tokenized equities, the discussion is shifting away from future potential toward how closely XRPL already matches institutional-grade market infrastructure today.  Liquidity is the foundation, and XRPL already has it embedded. Unlike newer networks that still need to build markets from the ground up, the XRP Ledger runs a native decentralized exchange with a central limit order book at the protocol level.  Combined with automated market maker routing, it enables direct asset trading with deep, efficient liquidity.  For tokenized equities, where tight spreads and consistent execution matter, this built-in structure reduces reliance on fragmented external exchanges and strengthens market efficiency from the start.  Significantly, Real-world asset activity strengthens the argument. have already been issued and settled on XRPL through platforms like Ondo Finance, proving that regulated financial instruments can function on-chain in a continuous settlement environment.  This serves as a critical test case for equities, which follow similar issuance, redemption, and liquidity cycles, but at far greater scale

05-20

Dexsport Review: Web3 Sportsbook and Casino for Crypto-First Players

Dexsport is not a traditional betting site with cryptocurrency added on top. It is a Web3 gambling platform built for users who want to bet, play casino games, and move funds without relying on banks, fiat payment rails, or identity verification.  The platform combines a crypto sportsbook, online casino, wallet-based login, DESU token utility, and liquidity pool mechanics. This gives Dexsport a broader Web3 profile than many gambling sites that only support Bitcoin deposits.  What Dexsport is best for  Dexsport is best suited to players who already use crypto and want a gambling platform that feels closer to DeFi than to a conventional online casino.  It will appeal most to users who care about:No-KYC gamblingDirect wallet-to-platform crypto paymentsWide blockchain supportFast on-chain withdrawalsSports betting and casino games in one accountWeb3 features such as token utility and liquidity pools  It is less suitable for players who want fiat deposits, card payments, bank transfers, strict tier-one regulation, or a dedicated mobile app.  Dexsport at a glanceMain strengths  Dexsports biggest advantage is that it is genuinely crypto-native. Users can deposit and withdraw directly between their own wallet and the platform without using banks, fiat processors, or card networks.  The no-KYC setup is another major selling point. Players can register with an email

05-20

Smart Money is Leaving XRP: Will Ripple’s Altcoin Dump?

XRP price sits less than 1% above the floor of a three-month rising channel, after smart moneys quiet exit on May 17 triggered a chain of bearish technical signals.  The last time smart money bailed this way, in late April, XRP slid 7%. With whales now distributing and retail still selling, the bull channels lower edge has rarely looked this exposed.  Smart Moneys Exit Triggers a Triple Bearish Setup  The Smart Money Index, a gauge that estimates informed investor intent, fell below its signal line on May 17. The last time this happened was in late April, when XRP slid roughly 7% over the course of a few  The exit lined up with a fresh weakness in the moving averages. The EMA crossover setup shows the 20-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), a trend indicator that weighs recent price action more heavily than older candles, has touched the 50-day EMA and is about to close beneath it.  A confirmed bearish cross would mark short-term momentum flipping bearish for the first time in months.  The third signal is the structure itself. XRP has traded inside a rising channel since February 6. It is an upward-sloping band that has hosted every rally and pullback for over three months. The

05-20

USD/CHF Price Forecast: Bullish engulfing surfaces, traders eye 0.7900

The Swiss Franc (CHF) is Switzerland‘s official currency. It is among the top ten most traded currencies globally, reaching volumes that well exceed the size of the Swiss economy. Its value is determined by the broad market sentiment, the country’s economic health or action taken by the Swiss National Bank (SNB), among other factors. Between 2011 and 2015, the Swiss Franc was pegged to the Euro (EUR). The peg was abruptly removed, resulting in a more than 20% increase in the Franc‘s value, causing a turmoil in markets. Even though the peg isn’t in force anymore, CHF fortunes tend to be highly correlated with the Euro ones due to the high dependency of the Swiss economy on the neighboring Eurozone.  The Swiss Franc (CHF) is considered a safe-haven asset, or a currency that investors tend to buy in times of market stress. This is due to the perceived status of Switzerland in the world: a stable economy, a strong export sector, big central bank reserves or a longstanding political stance towards neutrality in global conflicts make the countrys currency a good choice for investors fleeing from risks. Turbulent times are likely to strengthen CHF value against other currencies that are seen

05-20

Bitcoin Whales Increase Holdings During Market Pullback

Bitcoin price dropped sharply this week and briefly touched $76,000 during increased selling pressure.Bitcoin whale wallets holding at least 100 BTC increased to 20,229 over the past year.Large Bitcoin holders continued accumulation despite market volatility and shifting investor sentiment.Data showed that these whale wallets now hold Bitcoin worth at least $7.7 million each.Retail traders showed fear and reacted with increased selling as bearish sentiment rose.  Bitcoin recorded a sharp weekly decline and briefly touched $76,000, while large holders increased accumulation. Data showed rising whale wallet numbers despite growing market stress and negative sentiment. Analysts reported continued institutional activity as retail traders reacted with caution and selling pressure.  Bitcoin Whales Expand Holdings During Price Weakness  Bitcoin experienced a fast pullback this week, and prices briefly fell toward $76,000 during heavy selling. However, large holders continued accumulation, which reflects sustained activity from institutions and high-net-worth investors.  Santiment reported that wallets holding at least 100 BTC increased to 20,229 over the past year. The firm stated, “This marks an 11.2% rise from 18,191 wallets recorded last year.”  The amount of wallets holding at least 100 Bitcoin has risen to 20,229. This is a +11.2% increase compared to the 18,191 wallets holding at least this level a year ago.  These

05-20

Solana Price Prediction: SOL Holds $85 as Analysts Watch $78 and $135 Levels

Solana price is trading around $84.53, according to Brave New Coin data, with price up slightly over the past 24 hours but still sitting near the lower end of its recent range. The short-term chart shows SOL trying to hold its levels, while broader analyst charts remain split between a deeper retest and a larger recovery path.  Solana Price Showing a Mixed Sentiment  Solana is showing a mixed setup here. The chart shared by James shows that SOL has lost the center of its current range, meaning buyers are no longer fully controlling the mid-range area. Price is now trading closer to the lower half of the structure, with the $85–$86 zone acting as the immediate area to watch.  But the bearish side is still clear. SOL has not reclaimed the mid-range yet, and every bounce below $88–$90 risks becoming another lower-high attempt. If sellers keep price capped under that zone, the market could still rotate back towards $83.50, with the larger channel support near $78 becoming the next important downside level.  So for now, bulls have a support reaction, but bears still have the stronger structure. A reclaim above $88 would improve the setup, while a loss of $83.50 would likely shift attention

05-20
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