Autor Cointelegraph by Nate Kostar

US lawmakers have introduced legislation that would create a Department of Justice-led task force to coordinate investigations into cryptocurrency theft, scams and other digital asset-related crimes across federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.Under the proposal, the Justice Department would serve as the primary federal coordinator for cryptocurrency theft investigations, bringing together agencies including the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations and Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.The bill introduced by Republican Representative Lance Gooden and his Democratic House colleague Josh Gottheimer directs the task force to develop best practices for evidence collection, blockchain forensics, asset tracing and victim support. It would also provide training and technical assistance to state and local law enforcement agencies.According to the FBI’s 2025 Internet Crime Report, Americans reported more than $11 billion in crypto-related losses last year.Source: Gooden.house.govThe task force would coordinate with international law enforcement agencies on cross-border investigations and submit annual reports to Congress on emerging threats, enforcement challenges and potential policy recommendations.The bill specifies that it would not authorize new regulation of cryptocurrency markets, expand the authority of federal agencies or create new criminal offenses, instead focusing on coordination among agencies already responsible for investigating financial crimes.Related: Chainalysis, South Korean police link up to fight crypto crimeCrypto investigators turn to AI-powered analyticsThe proposed task force comes as blockchain intelligence firms increasingly deploy artificial intelligence tools designed to help investigators trace stolen funds, identify illicit activity and analyze complex transaction flows across digital asset networks.In March, TRM Labs launched Co-Case Agent, an AI investigative assistant for crypto crime and compliance teams. The company said the tool can trace fund flows, audit blockchain transaction graphs and suggest investigative steps from natural language prompts.Source: TRMLabsChainalysis announced similar blockchain intelligence agents later that month, saying the tools would be rolled out over the summer for investigations and compliance. The company said the agents were designed to help users trace funds and gather intelligence as crypto criminals increasingly use AI to scale their operations.The growing focus on investigative tools comes as crypto-related exploits continue to generate significant losses. According to DeFiLlama, hackers stole roughly $630 million in April alone, marking the industry’s largest monthly loss total since February 2025.Magazine: Vietnam preps crypto pilot, HK pushes tokenization: Asia Express

Stand With Crypto UK is urging its 286,000 members to challenge British banks restricting transfers to cryptocurrency exchanges, arguing that blanket limits on transactions to regulated platforms are restricting access to digital assets.The new campaign cites a report from the UK Cryptoassets Business Council that found 40% of crypto transactions are blocked or restricted by UK banks. The group argues that many of the restrictions apply to transfers involving exchanges registered with the country’s Financial Conduct Authority and do not account for individual customer risk profiles.According to the report, one exchange recorded nearly 1 billion British pounds in declined transactions over a one-year period due to bank-side rejections, while 80% of surveyed platforms reported an increase in blocked or restricted transfers.Stand With Crypto said members can submit complaints through a tool on its website that generates letters challenging transfer restrictions, with responses from banks expected to inform the campaign’s next steps.“Your money. Your choice.” is the tag line of Stand With Crypto UK’s advocacy campaign. Source: Stand With Crypto UK on X.comMark Fairless, CEO of UK clearing bank ClearBank, told Cointelegraph that banks should take a risk-based approach to crypto-related payments rather than imposing broad restrictions across the sector.“Interventions should be targeted and proportionate, as broad blocks risk undermining competition and the ability of regulated firms to operate effectively in the UK,” Fairless said.Related: EU proposes ban on 11 crypto platforms in Russia sanctions pushStablecoin rules remain focus for UK policymakersThe campaign comes amid ongoing efforts by regulators to develop a UK-wide framework for stablecoins.At the beginning of May, a House of Lords committee examined proposed stablecoin regulations, with lawmakers questioning industry executives on bank-run risks, anti-money laundering controls and the potential impact of stablecoins on traditional banking. Later that month, the Bank of England said it was reconsidering proposed caps on stablecoin holdings and reserve requirements as it reviewed its framework for pound-denominated stablecoins. The review comes as regulators seek to support the growth of a domestic stablecoin market while limiting potential risks to bank funding and financial stability, with non-dollar stablecoins currently accounting for only a small fraction of the global market.Total stablecoin market cap. Source: DefiLlama In June, a House of Lords committee said certain proposed stablecoin requirements, including reserve and holding rules, could limit the viability of pound-denominated tokens. The committee urged regulators to avoid measures that could inhibit the growth of the sector while finalizing the country’s stablecoin framework.Beyond stablecoins, regulators have also advanced broader digital asset initiatives. In May, the central bank proposed extending operating hours for the country’s settlement infrastructure to support tokenized markets, while the Financial Conduct Authority proposed on June 8 allowing certain retail-focused investment funds to allocate up to 10% of their portfolios to crypto exchange-traded products.Magazine: Does ‘Paper Bitcoin’ mean there’s an unlimited supply of BTC?

Blockchain.com has launched 24/7 perpetual trading for institutional clients through its OTC desk, offering around-the-clock exposure to stocks, equity indices, commodities, foreign exchange markets and pre-IPO companies.The rollout includes a SpaceX-linked perpetual contract, allowing eligible investors to take positions tied to the aerospace company’s anticipated public listing. According to the company, the contract is already live through its OTC desk.Blockchain.com said the new service is intended for institutions seeking continuous market access outside traditional trading hours. The company said clients can use the platform to hedge or adjust positions across multiple asset classes, including on weekends when most traditional markets are closed.The firm cited use cases including options desks managing exposure, macro funds trading across asset classes and investors seeking exposure to anticipated public listings. Blockchain.com’s announcement tweet Tuesday to its 1.3 million followers. Source: Blockchain.com on X.comThe move follows Blockchain.com’s April launch of perpetual futures trading through its self-custody wallet. At the time, the company said it planned to expand beyond crypto markets into stocks, commodities and foreign exchange.In May, Blockchain.com confidentially filed paperwork with the US Securities and Exchange Commission for its own proposed initial public offering. Related: Senator Elizabeth Warren questions Elon Musk about X MoneyPre-IPO trading emerges as a new crypto battlegroundBloomberg reported in April that SpaceX had confidentially filed for an IPO and was considering a valuation of more than $1.75 trillion, potentially making it one of the largest public listings in US history. Anticipation around the company’s expected June 12 market debut has since fueled a wave of pre-IPO products from crypto exchanges.Binance last month introduced pre-IPO perpetual futures tied to private companies, beginning with a SpaceX-linked contract settled in USDT. The derivatives allow traders to speculate on a company’s expected valuation before and after an IPO without owning the underlying shares.Last week, crypto exchange Kraken announced that SpaceX would become the first company offered through its xStocks IPO Access platform, allowing eligible users in more than 110 markets to participate through tokenized shares backed 1:1 by the underlying stock. Once issued, the tokens can be traded around the clock on Kraken and other xStocks-supported platforms.Bybit followed days later, indicating it would also offer access through xStocks, marking the first IPO available through the exchange’s new tokenized equity program.Source: SpaceXCoinbase has also launched pre-IPO markets for international users through a perpetual futures contract tied to SpaceX’s estimated private-market valuation. The USDC-settled product is designed to convert into a post-IPO contract if the company ultimately begins trading on public markets.Investor demand for the offering has continued to accelerate. On Tuesday, Reuters reported that the IPO was running three and a half to ​four times oversubscribed, with demand exceeding $250 billion for an offering expected to raise $75 billion.Magazine: Bitcoin miners are pivoting to AI, so why is the hashrate near ATHs?

Tether is leading a funding round of as much as $1.4 billion for German tech company NEURA Robotics, deepening the stablecoin issuer’s push into artificial intelligence and robotics.The round, which values NEURA at roughly $7 billion, is expected to include a mix of strategic and financial investors. Tether said it is leading the raise through its investment arm, which deploys capital from the company’s profits and excess reserves across sectors including AI, energy and digital infrastructure.NEURA said it expects to integrate Tether’s Wallet Development Kit into its robotic systems, enabling machines to receive payments and execute transactions within predefined parameters. The companies also plan to deploy Tether’s QVAC AI runtime, which is designed to run models directly on devices rather than through cloud-based infrastructure.Tweet from Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether. Source: Tether on X.com Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Metzingen, Germany, NEURA Robotics develops humanoid robots, robotic arms, autonomous mobile robots and other AI-powered systems for industrial and commercial applications. It is building an ecosystem called Neuraverse, a software platform intended to connect robots, AI models, data and services.The investment follows reports from November 2025 that Tether was considering a 1 billion euro ($1.15 billion) investment in the company. The Financial Times reported at the time that the deal could value the tech maker at between $9.3 billion and $11.6 billion, though neither company confirmed the discussions.Today’s announcement did not disclose how much money Tether is contributing to the current funding round.Related: Tether, Georgia plan lari-backed stablecoin GELT under new rulesTether expands AI and payments pushThe NEURA investment is part of Tether’s broader push beyond stablecoins into artificial intelligence, payments and emerging technologies. The company reported $1.04 billion in net profit during the first quarter of 2026 and said its excess reserves reached a record $8.23 billion, providing additional capital for investments outside its core USDT (USDT) business.Source: DefiLlama In recent months, Tether has accelerated its push into AI through its QVAC platform. In March, the company introduced a training framework that enables AI models to be trained and run on consumer hardware, including smartphones and non-Nvidia chips. Two months later, it unveiled QVAC MedPsy, a family of medical AI models designed to run directly on smartphones and other devices rather than through cloud-based infrastructure.The company has also sought to expand the ecosystem around its technology stack. In May, Tether launched a grants program to fund developers building local-first AI and payment applications using its open-source tools, including QVAC and its Wallet Development Kit.In a January 2025 interview, CEO Paolo Ardoino said AI-powered humanoid robots could become commonplace within the next decade as advances in computing and automation reshape the workforce.Tether issues the $187 billion USDT stablecoin, which controls roughly 59% of the global stablecoin market, giving it one of the largest balance sheets in the digital asset industry.Magazine: Kraken’s $600M stablecoin firm, Huione scandal deepens: Asia Express

The Hashgraph Group and Merck have integrated the German tech maker’s product authentication technology with TrackTrace, a Hedera-based digital product passport platform introduced in February, as businesses seek to comply with new European Union supply-chain transparency and traceability requirements.Under the arrangement, Merck’s M-Trust technology embeds security markers into products and packaging that can be verified with a handheld scanner. Authentication data is then recorded on The Hashgraph Group’s TrackTrace platform, creating a digital record linked to a product’s Digital Product Passport.The companies said the integration combines physical product authentication with blockchain-based traceability, allowing businesses to verify both the authenticity of a product and the records associated with it.Source: The Hashgraph Group on X.comThe platform targets two emerging EU compliance frameworks: Digital Product Passports under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and traceability requirements under the EU Deforestation Regulation.Merck is a science and technology company focused on healthcare, life sciences and electronics, while Swiss-based Hashgraph develops enterprise blockchain and AI applications within the Hedera ecosystem.According to the companies, the technology has already been demonstrated in an undisclosed supply-chain pilot. Potential use cases include food, pharmaceutical, luxury goods and electronics supply chains, where businesses face increasing scrutiny over sourcing and product authenticity.Related: ECB pushes back on euro stablecoin proposals, citing financial stability risksEU sustainability rules create market for product traceabilityThe collaboration comes as companies prepare for forthcoming Digital Product Passport requirements under the European Union’s Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), which entered into force in July 2024.The regulation applies to most physical goods sold in the EU and forms part of the European Green Deal, a broader effort to improve resource efficiency, expand the circular economy and increase transparency around product environmental impacts.Source: European CommissionInterest in blockchain-based trade and supply-chain infrastructure extends beyond the EU. In March, authorities in Hong Kong and Shanghai agreed to study a blockchain-based cross-border platform under the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Project Ensemble initiative, which explores tokenized market infrastructure and digital financial rails.The project will examine how trade documentation and commercial data can be integrated into trade finance applications, with the goal of streamlining cross-border commerce and related financial services.Magazine: Vietnam preps crypto pilot, HK pushes tokenization: Asia Express