Ex-SEC Chair Gary Gensler privately supported crypto — McHenry

Former US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler may not have been as hostile to crypto behind closed doors as he appeared to be in public, according to former US Representative Patrick McHenry. In a May 13 appearance on the Crypto in America podcast, McHenry revealed that during private meetings with Gensler, the …

The Q-Day Prize challenge, explained: Can quantum computers really break Bitcoin?

What is the Q-Day prize? The Q-Day Prize is a challenge to make the Bitcoin network quantum resistant. On April 16, 2025, quantum computing-focused company Project 11 announced the “Q-Day Prize,” a competition to break a “toy version” of Bitcoin’s cryptography with a quantum computer. Contestants must complete the Q-Day Prize challenge by April 5, …

Kima joins Mastercard sandbox to enable stablecoin card top-ups

Decentralized settlement protocol Kima has integrated into Mastercard’s sandbox program, enabling stablecoin-powered top-ups for prepaid cards directly from self-custody wallets. According to an announcement shared with Cointelegraph, Mastercard partners can now rely on Kima’s settlement infrastructure to enable their prepaid cards to be topped up with stablecoins, including USDC (USDC) and Tether’s USDt (USDT), from …

Alarm bells ring in US over OpenAI’s crypto project World

World Network, the digital identity and crypto project of Sam Altman’s OpenAI, has alarmed privacy activists ahead of its United States launch, with observers concerned over its data collection and protection practices. World “is the opposite of privacy. It’s a trap,” said Nick Almond, CEO of FactoryDAO, on X. While the project claims to protect …

Crypto VC deals drop in Q1, but funding more than doubles: PitchBook

Crypto venture capital deals in the first quarter of 2025 saw deal values jump even as the number of deals sank from the same quarter a year ago, says PitchBook. The venture research firm said in its May 14 Crypto VC Trends report for Q1 that 405 deals were made in the quarter, down 39.5% …

Crypto swapper eXch shows signs of life after post-Bybit shutdown

Once a go-to swapper for hackers and drainers, eXch was shut down by German police in April — but continued activity suggests the story isn’t over. Without Know Your Customer (KYC) checks, eXch wasn’t your typical crypto exchange. It acted more like an instant swapper, allowing bad actors and cybercriminals to fly under the radar …

Former execs of crypto lender Cred cop to wire fraud

Two former executives of the bankrupt crypto lending service Cred have pleaded guilty to wire fraud connected to the company’s collapse. Former Cred CEO Daniel Schatt and chief financial officer Joseph Podulka admitted to wire fraud as part of a plea deal with prosecutors, according to a May 13 text filing in a California District …

Semler Scientific sees after-hours stock slump as Q1 revenue plunges

Bitcoin-buying medical device firm Semler Scientific has seen its share price drop after the bell as its first-quarter revenues fell and losses deepened from the year-ago quarter. In its Q1 earnings report released May 13, Semler reported its total revenues fell 44% from the year-ago quarter to $8.8 million, with its net losses hitting $64.7 …

Synthetix makes $27M bid to re-acquire crypto options platform Derive

Decentralized finance platform Synthetix is planning to venture further into crypto derivatives with plans to re-acquire the crypto options platform Derive. Synthetix said in a May 14 blog post that it plans to acquire Derive in a token exchange deal, pricing 1 SNX token to 27 DRV tokens, which would value Derive at around $27 …

Thailand to tokenize $150M government bonds for retail investors: Report

Thailand’s Ministry of Finance reportedly plans to issue $150 million worth of digital investment tokens, allowing retail investors to buy government bonds. The Bangkok Post reported on May 13 that Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira announced the initiative at a briefing after the cabinet endorsed the plan. He added that the tokens will be launched within …