New Zealand man arrested in $265M crypto scam tied to FBI probe

A man from Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand, has been arrested in connection with an FBI-led investigation into a global cryptocurrency fraud operation that allegedly stole $450 million New Zealand dollars ($265 million). According to New Zealand Police, the man is one of 13 individuals charged after authorities executed search warrants across Auckland, …

Panama City mayor teases Bitcoin reserve after meeting El Salvador's Bitcoin leaders

Panama City Mayor Mayer Mizrachi has hinted at establishing a city-level Bitcoin reserve in a cryptic post following his meeting with two of El Salvador’s Bitcoin policy leaders. “Bitcoin Reserve,” Mizrachi wrote to X on May 16 after meeting El Salvador-based Bitcoiners Max Keiser and Stacy Herbert. While Mizrachi didn’t share details about his discussions …

Paraguay deports three undocumented immigrants after crypto mining theft attempt

Paraguayan law enforcement has deported three individuals and arrested another for attempting to steal crypto miners at a facility near the country’s Itaipu hydroelectric dam. According to a May 15 statement from Paraguayan prosecutor Irene Rolón, the men were caught by police soon after breaking into a locked section of Teratech SA’s facility in Coronel …

French crypto entrepreneurs to receive extra security amid recent kidnappings: Report

Crypto entrepreneurs and their families in France will receive enhanced security measures amid a recent rise in crypto-related kidnappings in the country, Politico reported. According to the May 16 report, the measures include priority access to police emergency lines, home security assessments, and safety briefings from French law enforcement to ensure best practices are being …

Tokenization makes investing more accessible — Robinhood exec

Tokenization could open new opportunities for retail investors to access traditionally restricted asset classes, according to Johann Kerbrat, senior vice president and general manager of Robinhood Crypto, who called it “very important for financial inclusion.” Speaking at the Consensus 2025 event in Toronto, Kerbrat said that some real-world assets, such as real estate and private …

Filecoin, Lockheed Martin send data in space using decentralized data protocol

The Filecoin Foundation and Lockheed Martin Space have successfully transmitted data in space using a version of the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) on a satellite orbiting Earth, Marta Belcher, president of the Filecoin Foundation, told Cointelegraph.  Filecoin and Lockheed Martin adapted the system for use in space and successfully tested it, Belcher said during the …

Sequoia Capital exec also a victim in Coinbase data breach — Report

At least one partner at Sequoia Capital was reportedly impacted by the recent data breach among Coinbase users, suggesting that data from others at the venture capital firm may also have been compromised. According to a May 16 Bloomberg report, Sequoia Capital Managing Partner Roelof Botha’s personal information available through his Coinbase account was stolen …

Solv brings RWA-backed Bitcoin yield to Avalanche blockchain

Solv Protocol has launched a yield-bearing Bitcoin token on the Avalanche blockchain, giving institutional investors more exposure to yield opportunities backed by real-world assets, or RWAs. On May 16, the protocol unveiled SolvBTC.AVAX, a token that connects Bitcoin (BTC) to real-world assets like US Treasurys and private credit offered by BlackRock and Hamilton Lane.  The …

Altcoins are on the verge of ‘most powerful rally’ since 2017 — Analyst

Key takeaways: The total altcoin market cap (excluding ETH) gained $126 billion in Q2, fueling speculation of an altseason. The altcoin market cap, excluding Ether (ETH), has added $126 billion in Q2, sparking enthusiasm from analysts who have been waiting for an altseason. Crypto analyst Javon Marks noted a breakout that could rival the explosive …

Galaxy Digital lists on Nasdaq, seeks to tokenize shares — Reports

Galaxy Digital shares began trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange May 16, completing a years-long process that CEO Mike Novogratz called unfair and infuriating, CNBC reported. The crypto and infrastructure company, which is also listed in Canada, opened trading at $23.50 in its Nasdaq debut. Trading began on the same day Galaxy disclosed that it …