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According to official news, Banking Circle has officially launched a stablecoin settlement service today.Previously, the bank had obtained a crypto asset service provider (CASP) license issued by the Luxembourg financial regulator CSSF. The new service supports instant two-way exchanges between fiat currencies and mainstream stablecoins such as USDC, USDG, and EURI, and relies on the bank's core platform to achieve round-the-clock settlement and regulatory traceability. Currently, the global market value of stablecoins is approximately 250 billion euros, with an annual payment transaction volume of about 330 billion euros and a monthly on-chain transaction volume exceeding 80 trillion euros.Banking Circle CEO Laust Bertelsen stated that stablecoins have become the core infrastructure for cross-border settlement and fund management. This launch aims to combine the efficiency of blockchain payments with banking compliance standards to serve its global client base of over 750 payment institutions.

According to the official announcement from the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA), all virtual asset services are included under PVARA's regulatory scope and must obtain prior authorization before commencing operations or making public announcements.PVARA welcomes responsible innovation and encourages relevant parties to engage in communication as early as possible. Innovation can be conducted through compliance pathways such as regulatory sandboxes, No-Action Relief Letters, and No Objection Certificates (NOC).

Aave posted on platform X stating that the Aave service provider has released a governance proposal for Aave DAO, suggesting to allocate 25,000 ETH to participate in the ongoing DeFi United initiative. This ETH funding will be used to support the restoration of asset backing for rsETH, helping it to quickly regain its peg and promote the normalization of market conditions.This proposal aims to accelerate the risk management process for rsETH through financial support at the Aave DAO level, stabilizing the related DeFi market ecosystem.

According to The Block, AWS Marketplace has integrated data services such as Chainlink's Data Feeds, Data Streams, and Proof of Reserve, supporting developers in connecting AWS's computing, storage, database, and API capabilities with blockchain smart contracts.AWS stated that the Chainlink oracle infrastructure provides a secure two-way connection between AWS resources and on-chain smart contracts, making it easier for institutions to develop applications that interact with tokenized assets and smart contracts in a familiar AWS environment.

The People's Bank of China and seven other departments jointly issued the "Management Measures for Online Marketing of Financial Products," which will be implemented starting September 30, 2026, to systematically regulate online marketing activities for financial products. The measures specify that only approved financial institutions and their self-operated platforms, as well as entrusted third-party internet platforms, may engage in online marketing of financial products, prohibiting the provision of online marketing services for illegal financial activities such as illegal fundraising, virtual currency issuance and trading, and illegal foreign exchange margin trading.The measures put forward detailed requirements regarding the authenticity of marketing content, risk disclosure, algorithm recommendations, pop-up advertisements, account naming, trademark usage, cooperation models, and the protection of data and personal information, and clarify the regulatory responsibilities and penalties for financial management departments, internet information, telecommunications, and market supervision departments.

According to the Robinhood blog, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has granted Robinhood Singapore Pte. Ltd. a principle approval (IPA) to provide securities brokerage services, paving the way for its launch of comprehensive brokerage services in Singapore, including securities, exchange-traded derivatives, custody, financing, and collective investment products.Singapore will serve as Robinhood's Asia-Pacific headquarters, complementing the MAS Major Payment Institution (MPI) license already held by its subsidiary Bitstamp Asia Pte. Ltd., strengthening its presence in the Asia-Pacific region. MAS emphasized that the IPA is not equivalent to a formal license, and Robinhood must still meet specific conditions, with the regulatory authority retaining the power to revoke the IPA.

Trump Media Technology Group is shifting its business focus from social media to the cryptocurrency and financial services sector. Data shows that since Trump was re-elected in 2024, the company's stock price has fallen by more than 60%, with shareholders losing about $6 billion in wealth. Recently, the company applied to launch a cryptocurrency blue-chip ETF and plans to establish a Bitcoin reserve.

New Fire Technology (1611.HK) announced that it will acquire the investment team and trading system of the Li Lin family office Avenir Group for $1.6 million.After the acquisition is completed, New Fire Technology plans to launch a Bitcoin-denominated asset management service called Alpha BTC, aiming to attract investments of over 10,000 Bitcoins within a year, valued at approximately $760 million. This strategy will generate returns through trading derivatives such as options, with Bitcoin or IBIT ETF as the underlying assets, targeting clients including crypto-native investors and local businesses in Hong Kong. Avenir Group holds 18.3 million shares of BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust, valued at $908 million, as of the end of 2025.

According to market news, at the "9th BCCC Collaborative Day" held on April 21, 2026, Shigeru Shimizu, the head of the Risk Analysis Division of the Financial Services Agency (FSA) of Japan, delivered a special speech revealing significant progress in cryptocurrency regulation. The FSA has submitted a bill to the extraordinary Diet, proposing to transition cryptocurrencies from the Payment Services Act to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, mainly involving four core aspects: regulations on information disclosure, the establishment of new classifications for independent operators, strengthening penalties for unregistered operators, and preparing regulations against insider trading.At the same time, the FSA is advancing three "Payment Innovation Projects (PIP)" empirical experiments: first, a cross-border payment trial using yen stablecoins involving three major banks; second, on-chain settlement of securities such as government bonds, corporate bonds, and stocks based on blockchain, aiming for 24/7 continuous trading; third, an interbank tokenized deposit transfer experiment that just received support on April 3 of this month, which will be promoted in conjunction with the Bank of Japan's central bank digital currency tokenization sandbox project. Mr. Shimizu stated that blockchain has great potential in enhancing the convenience of financial services and diversifying products, and the FSA will continue to promote institutional development and practical support.

According to French media reports, on the morning of April 20 local time, a malicious "targeted robbery of crypto assets" occurred in Ploudalmézeau, France: two masked gunmen broke into a residence, controlling and binding a family of five (including two children and two elderly individuals) for several hours, ultimately coercing the victims to transfer approximately 700,000 euros worth of cryptocurrency.The incident took place in a residential community in broad daylight, and the suspects were clearly "well-prepared," having a thorough understanding of the victims' crypto asset holdings. Police initially determined that this case represents a typical new crime model of "offline violence + on-chain transfer," where personal threats are used to forcibly obtain private keys or transfer authorizations.It is noteworthy that the family members of the victims were engaged in work related to the crypto industry, which may have been a significant reason for this targeted crime. The case is still under investigation, and the suspects have not yet been arrested.This incident once again highlights that, against the backdrop of the increasing popularity of crypto assets, "physical world attacks" (such as kidnapping and home invasion) are becoming new security risk points, and personal asset security is no longer limited to on-chain protection.

According to The Block, B2B stablecoin technology provider Infinite has launched Infinite Accounts, offering banking account services for businesses that support deposits, withdrawals, ACH, domestic and international wire transfers, as well as stablecoin minting, burning, and on-chain transfers, all accessible through a single API.This service is supported by traditional banking infrastructure from Erebor Bank, which has recently received its license. Infinite states that the fiat currency balance in the accounts may be eligible for FDIC insurance, while the stablecoin balance is not. This move comes at a time when institutional adoption of stablecoins is continuing to heat up.

According to market news, the Korean National Tax Service has issued a tender announcement, planning to introduce cryptocurrency transaction tracking software from institutions such as Chainalysis and TRM Labs to monitor cryptocurrency transaction records in real-time, track hidden assets of suspected tax evaders, and combat tax evasion behaviors through disguised inheritance, gifting, and offshore tax evasion using cryptocurrency.The system can track approximately 70 million types of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and stablecoins, covering 45 blockchain layers. It also has the capability to identify "mixing" money laundering techniques with its "de-mixing" ability and can perform a certain degree of identity recognition for non-custodial wallets such as MetaMask and Phantom. This is the third time the National Tax Service has introduced related solutions since 2024, with plans to complete system construction in June and officially put it into use starting in July.

French police are investigating a vicious cryptocurrency "ransom attack" case. Three criminals disguised as police officers broke into a residential home near Paris, threatened and controlled a couple in their 50s with knives, forcing the husband to transfer approximately $1 million worth of Bitcoin that he held. The victims were injured, the husband was bound, and the criminals fled in a car after their heist.This case highlights that the security threats in cryptocurrency are shifting from digital attacks to physical coercion against holders. Criminals impersonate police, create a sense of urgency and

ChainCatcher reported live that Justin Sun, the founder of TRON, shared a keynote speech titled "From TRON to B.AI: Infrastructure as the Game-Changer in the AI Era" at this year's 2026 Hong Kong Web3 Carnival.He introduced that TRON currently supports about 86.4 billion USDT, with other stablecoins bringing the total close to 90 billion dollars, and the global account number has reached 376 million, making it one of the largest stablecoin settlement networks in the world. He emphasized that the most important aspects of financial services are stability and security, rather than being cheap.He pointed out that the existing payment systems are not compatible with AI, as bank accounts require human identity for opening, and each payment needs manual authorization, which cannot support high-frequency decision-making by AI. B.AI is building the underlying financial infrastructure for AI agents, allowing each AI to operate without becoming human, managing keys and on-chain wallets through cryptography to complete payments, and can anonymously call the world's most

Hong Kong police disclosed a fraud case that used "AI quantitative trading" as a gimmick to lure investments in cryptocurrency, with a woman being defrauded of approximately 7.7 million Hong Kong dollars.The scammer impersonated an "investment expert" and actively contacted the victim through Telegram, claiming to use "quantitative trading" and "AI algorithms" to achieve stable high returns. The victim transferred USDT and ETH worth about 7.7 million Hong Kong dollars from her electronic wallet to a designated address 17 times, only to realize she had been scammed when her withdrawal attempts were rejected. The Hong Kong police remind the public that while cryptocurrencies have high return potential, they also come with high volatility and high risk. The so-called "AI trading" and "quantitative guaranteed profits" are often bait for scams, and the public should be wary of the "impossible triangle" trap of high returns, low risk, and low thresholds.

Gate's "Racing the Future" outdoor crossover exhibition held at K11 MUSEA's waterfront promenade in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong, is gaining momentum, with media day and public opening generating significant attention. On the first day of the media day, hundreds of stars, KOLs, and media attended, with the highlight being the unveiling of a giant driver helmet for Max Verstappen, sparking a wave of interest both on-site and online.After opening to the public on the 18th, the number of visitors significantly increased, with over ten thousand attendees on the first day. A large crowd continued to gather along the Victoria Harbour, creating a vibrant exhibition atmosphere. The exhibition prominently features the F1 Red Bull Racing Team's brand new car and core equipment for 2026, and through immersive interactive experiences, it visually presents the engineering of racing and speed culture, attracting many visitors to stop, participate, and take photos.It is reported that Gate will also hold the "Gate 13 Blue Carpet Ceremony" on April 20, where the F1 Red Bull Racing Team's display car will be unveiled along with brand collaboration showcases. That evening, Gate will host a high-end anniversary dinner at the Rosewood Hong Kong, with platform founder and CEO Dr. Han in attendance. Over 300 representatives from top industry institutions and partners are expected to be invited for networking.Gate Live will start the live broadcast of the blue carpet ceremony on April 20 at 17:30 (UTC+8), and will simultaneously broadcast the Gate 13 anniversary high-end dinner event at 20:00 (UTC+8), inviting several industry guests to participate in discussions and interactions, providing frontline perspectives and the latest insights.

The USDT0 cross-chain bridging infrastructure has resumed normal operations today, with system integrity and risk exposure unaffected. All in-transit transactions submitted before the suspension have been safely settled.Previously, USDT0 suspended OFT bridging services as a precautionary measure pending the investigation of the KelpDAO rsETH incident, emphasizing that USDT0 has no risk exposure related to this incident, and all USDT0 tokens remain fully backed 1:1 by USDT.

ChainCatcher reported live that the Deputy Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of Hong Kong, Chan Ho Lam, delivered a keynote speech at the 2026 Hong Kong Web3 Carnival. He pointed out that Hong Kong has developed into the third global financial center index and the first international financial center in Asia, providing a solid foundation for Web3 innovation.He stated that the digital asset development policy declaration 2.0 released last year proposed the LEAP framework, which covers four pillars: optimizing legal regulation (L), expanding the variety of tokenized products (E), promoting application scenarios and cross-border cooperation (A), and developing talent and partnerships (P).He revealed that there are currently over 10 licensed trading platforms in Hong Kong, and the Monetary Authority has issued the first two stablecoin issuer licenses this month. The SAR government issued the third batch of tokenized green bonds last year, which is the largest scale globally, and is actively formulating regulatory systems for digital asset trading service providers and custodial service providers.