Autor Cointelegraph by Amin Haqshanas

Japan’s financial, law enforcement and real estate regulators have issued a joint guidance request warning that crypto assets pose money laundering risk in property transactions.The request, published on Tuesday, was issued by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Financial Services Agency, the National Police Agency and the Ministry of Finance. It was addressed to major real estate and crypto industry bodies, including the Japan Cryptocurrency Business Association and several national real estate federations.“Crypto assets, which have the nature of being transferred instantly across national borders, are considered to pose a high risk of being used as a payment method in real estate transactions for the purpose of money laundering,” the request states.Japan sends request regarding crypto usage in property deals. Source: FSAThe multi-agency request instructed real estate agents to conduct customer due diligence on any crypto-involved transaction under Japan’s Act on Prevention of Transfer of Criminal Proceeds, file suspicious transaction reports with regulators and notify police when criminal activity is suspected, bringing bank-style Anti-Money Laundering (AML) expectations into crypto property deals.Related: Japan approves bill to classify crypto as financial instrumentsJapan warns against unregistered crypto in property dealsThe request warned that converting crypto to fiat on behalf of clients may constitute “crypto asset exchange business” under the Payment Services Act, an activity that requires registration and carries legal risk if conducted without it.It also asked crypto exchanges to watch for cases where a customer receives property sale proceeds in crypto and then attempts unusually large transactions that don’t match their financial background.Furthermore, the document reminded firms that under Japan’s Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act, anyone receiving crypto worth more than 30 million Japanese yen (approximately $180,000) from overseas must file a payment report with authorities.Related: Japan to test government bonds as digital collateral on CantonJapan classifies crypto as financial instrumentEarlier this month, Japan amended its Financial Instruments and Exchange Act to classify crypto assets as financial instruments, moving them out of the payments category and into the same regulatory framework as traditional securities.The change bans insider trading and other market manipulation involving undisclosed information, and requires crypto issuers to publish annual disclosures. Penalties for unregistered crypto exchanges have also been stiffened under the amendment, while the government separately backed plans late last year to cap the tax rate on crypto profits at a flat 20%.Magazine: Will the CLARITY Act be good — or bad — for DeFi?Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.

Ondo Finance has teamed up with financial technology giant Broadridge to give holders of tokenized stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) the ability to participate in proxy voting.Broadridge has built a Web3-enabled relay system where tokenholders connect their crypto wallet to Broadridge’s ProxyVote platform, submit their voting preference, and Ondo’s issuer then votes the real shares accordingly, with the entire process recorded onchain for transparency, according to a Tuesday announcement.“By working with Broadridge, we are enabling holders of our on-chain tokenized stocks to access governance and voting capabilities, with all the additional benefits on-chain tokens provide,” Matthieu de Vergnes, global head of institutional at Ondo Finance, said.Proxy voting is when a shareholder authorizes someone else to vote on corporate matters on their behalf. It has long been a standard feature of traditional equity ownership, but tokenized stocks have largely lacked it. The Broadridge integration addresses this gap, letting investors sign in via their crypto wallets, confirm their holdings and submit votes.Related: SEC ‘on the cusp’ of onchain tokenized securities exemption: AtkinsTokenized stocks hit $1.15 billionTokenized stocks have surged to $1.15 billion in distributed value, up 25.46% over the past 30 days, according to data from RWA.xyz. Monthly transfer volume stands at $2.27 billion, with over 217,000 holders, up 9.26% in the last month alone.Tesla, NVIDIA, and S&P 500-linked products are among the most prominent assets by value, alongside Circle Internet and Strategy-linked tokens.Tokenized stocks continue to grow. Source: RWA.xyzOndo, which claims roughly 70% of the tokenized stock market with over $700 million in total value locked, offers its products across Solana (SOL), Ethereum (ETH) and BNB Chain (BNB). The tokens are backed by the corresponding stocks or ETFs.Related: UK plans payments rule changes for stablecoins, tokenized depositsFranklin Templeton, Ondo bring tokenized ETFs to crypto walletsLast month, Franklin Templeton and Ondo Finance announced a partnership to bring tokenized versions of Franklin’s ETFs onchain, giving investors access through crypto wallets rather than traditional brokerage accounts. The initial offering covers five funds spanning US equities, fixed income, and gold, available across Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Latin America, with US access pending regulatory clarity.Meanwhile, Binance has listed 10 tokenized assets from Ondo Global Markets on its Binance Alpha platform, including tokens tracking Apple, Nvidia and the Invesco QQQ ETF.Magazine: Should users be allowed to bet on war and death in prediction markets?Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.

Bitcoin miner Core Scientific plans to scale its Texas operations into a large artificial intelligence-focused data center campus with up to 1.5 gigawatts of gross power capacity.In a Monday announcement, the company said it is developing its Pecos, Texas, site into a high-density colocation hub designed to support AI workloads amid rising demand for computing infrastructure. Of the planned capacity, about 1 GW is expected to be available for leasing.“We continue to leverage our deep in-house expertise to differentiate how we build and scale next generation artificial intelligence infrastructure,” Adam Sullivan, CEO of Core Scientific, said.As part of the transition, roughly 300 megawatts currently used for Bitcoin mining at the site are being repurposed for data center operations, Core Scientific said. The company added that the first data hall has completed foundational work and is moving into vertical construction, with initial capacity expected in early 2027.Core Scientific shares are up 44% YTD. Source: Yahoo! FinanceThe company has also secured an additional 300 megawatts of power under contract with its utility provider, while outlining plans for further expansion through a behind-the-meter solution.Aside from Core Scientific, other miners are also exploring alternative revenue streams as mining margins tighten, with a focus on AI. In February, MARA Holdings acquired a 64% stake in French infrastructure company Exaion, expanding into AI services. Other miners, including Hive, Hut 8, TeraWulf and Iren, are also repurposing mining facilities into data centers.Related: CoreWeave shows how crypto-era infrastructure quietly became AI’s backboneCore Scientific acquires 200 acresTo support the buildout, Core Scientific said it has acquired more than 200 acres of land in the area.Last week, the company also announced plans to raise $3.3 billion through senior secured notes due 2031 to fund data center expansion across Georgia, Texas, North Carolina and Oklahoma. The move follows a separate $1 billion credit facility secured from Morgan Stanley in March.Core Scientific has historically generated most of its revenue from mining digital assets, but has been increasing its focus on infrastructure services. The company operates facilities across several US states, including Texas, Georgia and North Carolina.Related: Core Scientific Q4 Earnings Miss Moves Shares LowerNYDIG to buy idle New York smelterAs Cointelegraph reported, Alcoa is close to selling its long-dormant Massena East smelter in upstate New York to Bitcoin mining firm NYDIG, with the deal expected to close by the middle of the year. The plant has sat unused since 2014, when it was shut down due to high energy costs and global competition.Earlier this year, Century Aluminum also sold its Hawesville smelter in Kentucky for $200 million to crypto miner TeraWulf, which plans to convert it into a high-performance computing and AI facility.Magazine: Bitcoin will not hit $1M by 2030, says veteran trader Peter BrandtCointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.

The recent crypto market downturn has forced more than one in three crypto traders to cut everyday spending, according to a new survey by CEX.IO.The survey, conducted among 1,100 US-based active CEX.IO users, shows the current market slump is straining household finances, though it remains less severe than 2022, when Bitcoin fell by roughly 75% from its peak. Bitcoin is still about 40% below its October 2025 high, leaving many retail investors sitting on unrealised losses.36% of respondents said they reduced everyday spending as a direct result of market conditions, with 10% describing those cuts as significant sacrifices made to maintain their positions. 37% also reported delaying or cancelling purchases due to crypto losses, including 21% who postponed major financial commitments such as buying a home, car or undertaking renovations.Source: CEX.IO“The 2025–2026 bear market has not produced the kind of systemic shock seen in past cycles (at least for now), but its effects appear to be showing up in quieter ways at the household level,” CEX.IO wrote.Related: Crypto Market Sentiment Reaches 3-Month HighCrypto traders navigate downturn aloneThe survey revealed that many traders are managing the downturn in relative isolation. Only 5% said someone else knows the full extent and value of their holdings, while the majority either share limited information or keep their positions entirely private.Financial strain is also evident in cash flow trends. While 77% said they did not take on debt tied to crypto, 38% reported some form of financial disruption since October 2025. A quarter said they relied on savings to maintain stability, and 12% admitted to missing or delaying payments.Source: CEX.IOEven so, most respondents have not changed plans dramatically. Nearly half reported that crypto makes up more than 30% of their investable assets, yet 73% said their approach to earning income remains unchanged.Looking ahead, a combined 79% said they plan to either hold or increase their positions over the next six months.Related: Bitcoin Price May Go Under $70K Despite Strategy’s Latest Big BTC BuyCrypto offerings shape bank choiceAnother survey by Börse Stuttgart Digital earlier this week found that cryptocurrency services are starting to influence how European investors choose their banks, with 35% saying they would consider switching institutions for better crypto offerings.The poll of around 6,000 investors across Germany, Italy, Spain and France also found that nearly one in five expects their primary bank to provide crypto access within three years, pointing to a gradual shift toward integrating digital assets into mainstream banking.Magazine: How to fix suspected insider trading on Polymarket and KalshiCointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.

The Ethereum Foundation has moved to unwind part of its staking position shortly after nearing its stated goal of 70,000 staked ETH.On Saturday, the Ethereum Foundation unstaked 17,035.326 ETH, worth roughly $40 million, according to Arkham data. The move involved depositing wrapped staked ETH (wstETH) into Lido’s unstETH contract, with ETH expected to be returned once the withdrawal queue completes.In Ethereum, unstaking is the process of withdrawing ETH that was previously locked to help secure the network through validators. When ETH is staked, it’s deposited into the Ethereum Beacon Chain, where it remains locked while earning rewards. To unstake, a withdrawal request is initiated, and the funds enter a queue period after which the funds are released.Source: ArkhamSource: ArkhamThe Ethereum Foundation has not yet revealed why it unstaked 17,000 ETH, prompting some users to speculate it could be preparing to sell. “The biggest seller of ETH continues to be the people who created ETH,” one user wrote.Related: Another DeFi protocol hacked as Sui-based Volo hit by $3.5M exploitEthereum Foundation nears 70K staked ETH goalThe EF started staking ETH after updating its policy in June 2025. At the time, the foundation said that staking and decentralized finance participation would help fund protocol research, development and ecosystem grants.Since February, the foundation has steadily expanded its position, staking 2,016 ETH initially, followed by 22,517 ETH in March. Earlier this month, the foundation staked more than 45,000 ETH in a series of transactions, bringing the total to around 69,500 ETH, just shy of its internal 70,000 ETH staking target.However, concerns remain over governance risks. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has cautioned that large-scale staking by the foundation could complicate neutrality during potential contentious hard forks, where competing chains may emerge.Related: Ethereum Risks 10% Dip Versus Bitcoin Despite ETH Staking MilestoneDeFi protocols unite to back rsETHAs Cointelegraph reported, decentralized finance protocols have joined forces to stabilize rsETH after a $293 million exploit on the Kelp restaking platform triggered market disruption. The incident involved hackers stealing over 116,000 restaked ETH tokens and using them as collateral to borrow funds, leaving roughly $195 million in bad debt on Aave and straining the broader DeFi lending market.Backers have pledged over 43,500 ETH (around $101 million) in a coordinated “DeFi United” effort led by Aave, with participation from Lido DAO, Golem Foundation and major contributions from EtherFi Foundation and Mantle.Magazine: Ethereum’s Fusaka fork explained for dummies: What the hell is PeerDAS?Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.