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A new bill in Canada, the Strong and Free Elections Act, aims to ban political parties and third parties from accepting cryptocurrency donations, as well as contributions via money orders and prepaid cards, citing the difficulty of tracing such payments. Government officials argue this is necessary to prevent foreign interference and ensure elections remain free, fair and secure. The legislation would amend the Canada Elections Act, which governs the roles of Elections Canada and the Commissioner of Canada Elections, both of which face challenges in tracking cryptocurrency contributions and maintaining transparency in political financing. While crypto is currently treated as a non-monetary contribution under Canadian law, officials warn that its increasing use like money could allow unregulated resources to enter the political system.
Although cryptocurrencies have not been widely used for federal political fundraising, they have played a notable role in political events, including the 2022 trucker convoy protests where millions were raised in crypto donations, some of which remained unaccounted for. The sector remains under cautious government oversight, with recent legislation like the Canada Stablecoin Act regulating stablecoins. Industry experts suggest that other priorities, such as stablecoin regulation and payments modernisation, take precedence over political donations, which are still relatively marginal. Source
Coinbase has received conditional approval for a national trust bank charter from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, though it emphasises that it is not becoming a commercial bank. The charter is intended to provide federal regulatory uniformity for custodying various types of assets on behalf of customers and supports the firm's operational maturity and institutional trust. Coinbase will continue to operate under OCC supervision as well as its existing BitLicense framework.
Several other crypto and stablecoin firms, including Circle, Ripple, Paxos, Fidelity, and BitGo, have also received conditional approval for national banking charters, allowing them to operate under a federal framework rather than navigating state-level licencing. The GENIUS Act, which provides the federal framework for stablecoins, recognises national trust banks as eligible stablecoin issuers and grants OCC supervisory authority. While the approvals aim to strengthen institutional trust and consumer protection, some political figures have expressed concern that allowing crypto-native firms to offer bank-like products without stricter supervision could blur the definition of a bank and increase systemic risk. Source
Blockchain investigator ZachXBT criticised Circle and CEO Jeremy Allaire for allegedly failing to act during the $280 million Drift Protocol exploit, which saw stolen USDC moved from Solana to Ethereum over several hours. He highlighted that roughly 100 transactions occurred during the exploit window while Circle reportedly took no immediate action, describing the response as “incompetent” and accusing the firm of being harmful to the industry. The criticism follows other incidents, including the freezing of multiple business wallets, raising concerns about Circle’s responsiveness to large-scale fund movements.
Drift Protocol explained that the exploit was the result of a sophisticated attack exploiting durable nonces, allowing pre-signed transactions to bypass real-time detection and gain administrative control via the protocol’s Security Council. The attacker obtained the necessary 2-of-5 multisig approvals, executed a malicious admin transfer, introduced a rogue asset, and removed withdrawal limits. Preparations for the attack began days in advance, with multisig migrations and nonce activity facilitating the breach. Drift responded by freezing protocol functions, removing the compromised wallet, and working with security firms, exchanges, and law enforcement to trace and recover the stolen funds. Source
Postquant Labs has launched Quip Network, a blockchain testnet designed for mining with quantum computers as well as traditional CPUs and GPUs. Unlike Bitcoin, which relies on hash-based proof-of-work, Quip Network tasks miners with solving optimisation problems based on the Ising model. Successful miners earn QUIP tokens, which can be used to access quantum computing time on the network. The system is designed to reduce energy consumption significantly compared with traditional Bitcoin mining, requiring roughly the same power as a single light bulb per mined block.
The network also serves as a tool to monitor quantum computing progress toward breaking cryptographic systems like those securing Bitcoin. While quantum hardware can solve certain problems faster than classical machines, access to quantum computers remains limited, and the technology is seen as a specialised accelerator rather than a replacement for conventional mining equipment. Postquant Labs emphasises that this initiative does not enable mining Bitcoin itself and encourages users to continue traditional mining while preparing with post-quantum wallets. Source
Ethereum derivatives markets experienced over $1 billion in sell orders within an hour following Donald Trump’s speech outlining potential military action against Iran, with roughly $968 million of that activity occurring on Binance. The remarks, which detailed ongoing operations and threatened further attacks over the next two to three weeks, triggered panic across global markets, pushing US Treasury bonds higher and causing the S&P 500 to lose around $500 billion in market value. ETH price dropped over 4% amid intensified short-term bearish pressure, reflecting heightened market volatility and uncertainty.
Institutional support for Ethereum also weakened, as spot ETFs recorded consecutive days of outflows, briefly interrupted by short-term inflows before renewed pressure returned. Analysts noted that the market is entering a phase influenced by supply chain disruption, geopolitical tension, and inflation expectations, with asset prices increasingly dictated by liquidity conditions and shifts in risk appetite rather than traditional growth drivers. Source
Coinbase has partnered with the Linux Foundation to create the x402 Foundation, an industry group designed to oversee the development of the x402 internet payments standard under open, vendor-neutral governance. The protocol allows websites to request and receive payments directly as part of normal web interactions, reviving the HTTP 402 “Payment Required” status code to create a native web payment layer. Founding participants in the foundation include major companies such as Google, Stripe, Visa, Mastercard, Shopify, Cloudflare, and the Solana Foundation, all contributing to community-driven governance and development.
The x402 protocol is increasingly being integrated into tools used by AI agents to perform tasks and transact online, with projects like Sam Altman’s World and MoonPay’s Open Wallet Standard already adopting it. The foundation aims to maintain interoperability across implementations, support developers and merchants, and provide an open infrastructure for future agentic commerce, where AI agents handle transactions on behalf of users. Coinbase remains actively involved as a founding member while the Linux Foundation ensures the protocol evolves transparently and sustainably. Source
Naoris Protocol has launched its mainnet, introducing a layer-1 blockchain that employs post-quantum cryptography to secure transactions and the network against emerging quantum computing threats. Initially operating with a limited, invite-only group of validators, the network uses the distributed proof of security (dPoSec) consensus model, with the NAORIS token supporting network operations. The protocol integrates cryptographic standards finalised by NIST and underwent extensive testing, processing over 100 million transactions and detecting hundreds of millions of potential security events before going live.
The launch coincides with growing concern over quantum computing, as recent research from Google and other institutions suggests that practical quantum computers could arrive sooner than previously estimated, capable of breaking current blockchain encryption with far fewer qubits. This has prompted blockchain developers, including those in the Solana and Ethereum ecosystems, to explore quantum-resistant solutions such as hash-based signatures and upgraded cryptography to protect networks and assets, with broader transitions expected to take several years. Source
Circle is launching cirBTC, a wrapped Bitcoin token designed to increase the utility of Bitcoin for institutions and investors by enabling its use in decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. Backed 1:1 with native on-chain Bitcoin, cirBTC will initially be available on Ethereum mainnet and Circle’s Arc blockchain, allowing users to lend, borrow, and engage with smart contracts beyond Bitcoin’s native network. The initiative leverages the same infrastructure that supports Circle’s stablecoins, USDC, EURC, and USYC, creating a neutral platform for on-chain Bitcoin applications.
cirBTC joins existing wrapped Bitcoin products such as BitGo’s WBTC and Coinbase’s cbBTC, which have faced controversy in the past over partnerships and governance. Despite this, wrapped Bitcoin remains a key tool for unlocking liquidity in DeFi, with WBTC holding a market cap of around $8 billion and cbBTC nearly $6 billion. Circle’s share price recently closed at $90.26, down roughly 40% over the past six months, reflecting broader market pressures. Source
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Markethive is advancing its platform with HIVE Intelligence, a proprietary system that combines user-developed algorithms with Human Intelligence, differentiating it from traditional AI models that rely on centralised data. The platform’s Markethive AI Assistant acts as a personalised on-platform coach, providing actionable insights across banners, blogs, and networks to help entrepreneurs optimise their content, engagement, and community growth. Users retain full ownership of their data, and the assistant operates only on information they provide or authorise, maintaining autonomy and privacy while generating detailed reports, performance analyses, and growth strategies.
The assistant integrates seamlessly into Markethive’s interface and supports both immediate insights and deeper data exports for external analysis. It guides users on strategic content planning, network expansion, and banner optimisation, while tracking account balances and advertising resources. Alongside the AI Assistant, the platform offers a community-focused “Users Chat” for real-time collaboration and knowledge sharing. Markethive emphasises its guiding principle of Divine Intelligence, aiming to combine advanced technology with ethical, community-driven development to empower entrepreneurs and maintain digital sovereignty. Source
Metaplanet increased its Bitcoin holdings to 40,177 in the first quarter of 2026, acquiring 5,075 BTC for approximately $405 million at an average of $79,898 per coin, positioning it as the third-largest publicly-listed Bitcoin treasury. The company reported an aggregate cost basis of around $4.18 billion and an average cost of $104,106 per coin. Its year-to-date BTC Yield for 2026 stood at 2.8%, a metric tracking growth in Bitcoin holdings per share rather than income from the treasury. Operating revenue from its Bitcoin Income Generation business reached 2.97 billion Japanese yen, roughly $18.6 million, in Q1, part of a strategy that separates revenue-generating option trades from long-term Bitcoin holdings.
Metaplanet follows a dual approach, expanding its treasury while using a ring-fenced options portfolio to generate funds that can be reinvested into additional Bitcoin purchases. The company maintained its full-year revenue and operating profit guidance for 2026, despite its shares falling slightly to $302. Other listed Bitcoin companies, such as Nakamoto, have shown volatility, with significant BTC sales and stake reductions highlighting market sensitivity to price swings and broader capital conditions. Source
Stablecoin transaction volume reached $7.2 trillion in February 2026, surpassing the US Automated Clearing House network, which processed $6.8 trillion over the same period. This marks the first time stablecoins have overtaken the ACH, a critical component of the US payments system that handles around 93% of salary payments. Data from blockchain analytics platform Artemis shows that stablecoin volumes have grown steadily over recent years, with March 2026 continuing the trend at $7.5 trillion, matching ACH levels. The figures exclude MEV activity and intra-exchange transfers, emphasising the significance of stablecoins in cross-border and continuous payments infrastructure.
Stablecoin supply also rose to $315 billion in Q1 2026, up $8 billion from the previous year, and accounted for 75% of total crypto trading volume, setting record highs. Institutional adoption, supported by a more favourable regulatory environment, has been a major driver, with forecasts suggesting the stablecoin market cap could reach $2 trillion by 2028. Analysts warn that banks and fintechs risk being left behind if they ignore the sector’s rapid growth, highlighting the dramatic increase from under $30 billion in 2020 to over $300 billion today and the role of regulations like the GENIUS Act in enabling institutional participation. Source
Social media platform X is introducing measures to kerb crypto scams, focusing on accounts posting about cryptocurrency for the first time, particularly those with large followings. New features will include auto-locking and verification for these accounts, aiming to prevent malicious promotions such as meme coins with no prior crypto connections. The platform also plans to block “community mention spam attacks,” where numerous users are tagged in posts promoting tokens. This move comes in response to widespread scams that have affected high-profile accounts, including those of former US presidents and celebrities, highlighting the platform’s ongoing struggle with fraudulent activity.
The changes are intended to significantly reduce the incentive for scams on X, though the company has not provided detailed information on how legitimacy checks will operate. This effort is part of a broader push to improve platform security against financial fraud and maintain trust among users as crypto-related content continues to grow. Source
Coinbase legal chief Paul Grewal indicated that US lawmakers are nearing agreement on the Digital Asset Market CLARITY Act, with a Senate Banking Committee markup potentially approaching once the stablecoin yield dispute is resolved. The debate over whether stablecoin issuers or platforms should be allowed to offer yield has delayed the Senate markup, leaving federal rules for digital asset oversight unsettled. US banks have argued that such incentives could divert deposits from traditional institutions, a claim Grewal dismissed as lacking evidence. The House of Representatives passed the CLARITY Act in July 2025, but the Senate markup has yet to be scheduled.
Concerns remain that delays in passing the bill could expose the crypto industry to stricter regulatory action under future administrations. Industry leaders, including Coinbase and Coin Center, have emphasised the importance of passing the Act to establish clear, long-term legal protections rather than leaving the sector subject to political shifts. President Donald Trump has criticised banks for stalling the legislation, reflecting ongoing tensions between lawmakers, financial institutions, and crypto stakeholders. Source
Drift Protocol, a Solana-based decentralized exchange, suffered a $285 million exploit that has drawn attention to the security weaknesses in the DeFi sector. The attack involved creating a fake digital asset, manipulating withdrawal limits, and inflating the token’s value to drain real liquidity through borrowing mechanics. The incident affected user deposits and prompted the protocol to freeze operations while security firms investigate. Analysts suggest the exploit may be linked to North Korea based on on-chain activity, laundering patterns, and network indicators, though some experts believe the attack shows insider-level knowledge of the platform.
The exploit also highlighted the risks of centralisation in DeFi, particularly through multisignature wallets, which allowed the attacker to gain extensive control. Experts noted that smart contract audits alone cannot prevent such breaches, and that governance concentrated in a small group of people increases vulnerability. Proposals like time locks, which delay execution of high-risk transactions, could have mitigated the attack’s speed but would not have addressed the underlying compromise of privileged keys. Source
SoFi Technologies has launched Big Business Banking, a platform allowing companies to manage both fiat and crypto transactions within a single regulated system. The platform enables businesses to hold deposits, transfer funds, and settle transactions around the clock using traditional currencies or digital assets, while also supporting the issuance and redemption of SoFiUSD, the company’s stablecoin. Early participants include Cumberland, BitGo, Bullish, B2C2, Fireblocks, Wintermute, Jupiter, Galaxy, Mesh Payments, and Mastercard, highlighting demand from trading, payments, and infrastructure providers. The system is designed to connect with blockchain networks, including Solana, for onchain settlement.
This expansion reflects SoFi’s broader push into digital assets, following the resumption of crypto trading and the rollout of blockchain-based remittance services to over 30 countries. The move mirrors broader trends in the industry, with crypto-native firms like BitGo and Fireblocks building institutional infrastructure for borrowing, lending, and audit-ready reporting. Other platforms, including Ripple, EDX Markets, and Zerohash, are also pursuing US banking licenses to offer integrated crypto financial services, indicating growing regulatory engagement alongside the institutional adoption of digital assets. Source
Naoris Protocol has launched a blockchain network using post-quantum cryptography, adopting algorithms approved by the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology to safeguard against the future threat of quantum computers breaking existing cryptographic systems. The network enforces a hard transition from classical signatures to post-quantum keys for accounts that adopt them, aiming to prevent attackers from deriving private keys from public signatures. Naoris’ mainnet launch follows extensive testing, during which the network processed over 106 million post-quantum transactions and identified more than 603 million security threats, though these figures have not been independently verified.
The launch comes as the wider blockchain industry considers how to adapt major networks like Bitcoin and Ethereum, whose current public-key signature systems could eventually be compromised by quantum computing. Developers are exploring protocol upgrades, such as Ethereum’s plan to replace ECDSA and BLS signatures and Bitcoin’s BIP 360 proposal to reduce public key exposure, but these changes require substantial adjustments across wallets, nodes, and tools. Naoris offers a quantum-secure environment for assets migrated to its network, while assets remaining on classical chains remain at risk. Source
The International Monetary Fund highlighted that tokenization could enhance cross-border payments and financial inclusion, particularly in emerging markets, by reducing friction and increasing transparency in financial transactions. However, the IMF cautioned that the speed and automation inherent in tokenized systems could introduce new risks, shifting vulnerabilities from traditional banking structures to shared ledgers and smart contracts. Stress events in tokenized markets may unfold faster, limiting the time available for intervention, and tokenization could also lead to volatile capital flows, rapid currency substitution, and challenges to monetary sovereignty.
Tokenization is gaining traction on Wall Street, with platforms like Securitize, Tether Gold, and Ondo Finance leading in total value locked, and initiatives by the Intercontinental Exchange and Coinbase supporting 24/7 trading and compliance-checked tokenised shares. Despite its potential to streamline finance, the IMF warned that legal uncertainties around ownership and settlement finality could fragment tokenized markets. Emerging standards, such as Ethereum’s ERC-3643, aim to address these challenges by ensuring regulated access and verified compliance for tokenised financial products. Source
Disclaimer: These articles are provided for informational purposes only. They are not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other advice.
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