Theta Capital raises $175M to back early-stage blockchain startups

Amsterdam-based Theta Capital Management raised over $175 million for its latest fund-of-funds, aimed at supporting early-stage blockchain startups through specialized venture capital (VC) firms. The new vehicle, Theta Blockchain Ventures IV, will channel capital into crypto-native VC firms with a track record of backing blockchain innovation, Theta’s managing partner and chief investment officer Ruud Smets …

SEC delays decision on Ether staking and XRP ETFs, as analysts expected

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has delayed its decision on Bitwise’s application to add staking to its Ether exchange-traded fund and on Grayscale’s XRP ETF bid, which analysts had expected. The SEC said on May 20 that it needed to extend its decision on Bitwise’s application by 45 days to “consider the proposed rule …

KindlyMD shareholders OK merger with Trump-linked Bitcoin firm

Shareholders of the healthcare services provider KindlyMD, Inc have approved a proposed merger with Bitcoin holding company Nakamoto Holdings, founded by US President Donald Trump’s crypto adviser, David Bailey. KindlyMD and Nakamoto Holdings, a newly formed company that focuses on creating a network of Bitcoin-related entities, will both file information statements with the Securities and …

Blackstone buys $1M worth of Bitcoin ETF in first crypto bet

Blackstone, which bills itself as the “the world’s largest alternative asset manager,” disclosed its first-ever crypto-related purchase, buying shares in BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund. However, Blackstone’s investment, reported in a May 20 filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, only totaled around $1.08 million — a fraction of the asset manager’s $1.2 trillion …

‘Hawk tuah girl’ Haliey Welch says FBI probed her ‘memecoin disaster’

Haliey Welch, better known as the “Hawk tuah girl,” says the Federal Bureau of Investigation briefly probed her after her “memecoin disaster” — the failed launch of a token in her image that she promoted.  Welch said in a May 21 episode of her “Talk Tuah” podcast that the FBI showed up at her grandmother’s …

NYC Mayor Eric Adams launches crypto advisory council

New York City Mayor Eric Adams says he will create a digital advisory council to attract jobs and investment to the Big Apple and position it as the “crypto capital of the globe.” “This is not about chasing memes or trends,” Adams told the inaugural New York City Crypto Summit on May 20. “We want …

SEC charges Unicoin and executives for alleged $100 million fraud

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has charged crypto platform Unicoin and three of its executives, alleging they made false and misleading statements about its crypto assets that raised $100 million from investors. The SEC said on May 20 that it charged Unicoin CEO Alex Konanykhin, board member Silvina Moschini, and former investment chief Alex …

Strive targets 75,000 Bitcoin from Mt. Gox claims to build Bitcoin treasury

Vivek Ramaswamy’s Strive is looking to build its Bitcoin holdings by purchasing distressed Bitcoin claims at a discount, starting with claims tied to 75,000 Bitcoin at the bankrupt crypto exchange Mt. Gox. Strive said in a May 20 regulatory filing that it partnered with 117 Castell Advisory Group LLC to target claims to Bitcoin (BTC) …

Justin Sun to attend Trump's dinner with memecoin backers

After weeks of speculation among crypto enthusiasts and news outlets, Tron founder Justin Sun has claimed he owns the wallet that purchased the largest amount of Donald Trump’s memecoin, allowing him to qualify for a dinner and reception with the US president. In a May 19 X post, Sun said he had received an invitation …

Bitcoin open interest hits record high as bulls stampede toward new BTC price highs

Key takeaways: Bitcoin futures open interest hit a record $72 billion, signaling rising use of leverage among institutional investors. $1.2 billion in shorts at $107,000 to $108,000 are at risk of liquidation, boosting BTC’s breakout odds. The aggregate open interest in Bitcoin (BTC) futures surged to a record high on May 20, raising questions about …