Author: NBTC

Powerful Russian businessmen and state-run banking institutions have been profiting from schemes designed to evade Western sanctions, according to a new investigation into Moscow’s “shadow financial system.” Russia has deployed a multi-billion-dollar network for cross-border money transfers, often using cryptocurrency, that has allowed it to import almost anything it needs, from iPhones to drones, the authors have found. Here’s how the system works Russia’s isolation from global finances, achieved by measures like its disconnection from SWIFT, has actually benefitted oligarchs like Roman Abramovich, state-owned sanctioned banks such as PSB, and people connected to the Federal Security Service (FSB). The findings…

Binance has hit a significant milestone with its XAUUSDT perpetual futures surpassing $100 billion in total trading volume within months of launching in early 2026. This surge highlights how rapidly traders are embracing crypto-based exposure to gold and other traditional assets, marking a major shift in how commodities are accessed through digital platforms. Binance Gold Futures Reach $100 Billion in Months After Launch“Investor demand remains solid, especially since this market is accessible 24/7 on the platform, unlike traditional markets that close on weekends.” – By @Darkfost_Coc pic.twitter.com/4m7nEuKkRH — CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) April 29, 2026 What Makes XAUUSDT Perpetual Futures Different XAUUSDT…

CoinMarketCap (CMC), the world’s most-referenced, real-time cryptocurrency price-tracking website and data aggregator in the blockchain industry, has announced its landmark collaboration with LitVM (Litecoin Virtual Machine), the first fully trustless, Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) – compatible Zero-knowledge (ZK) rollup layer-2 network built on Litecoin. The purpose is to bring smart contracts, decentralized finance (DeFi), and Web3 functionality. LitVM joins CMC Labs accelerator program🔥 Litecoin’s first EVM rollup is here. Endorsed by the Litecoin Foundation and backed by Charlie Lee, @LitecoinVM brings smart contracts, DeFi, and Web3 apps to the Litecoin ecosystem.Learn more 👉 https://t.co/Aqzif6rFDC(CMC Labs:… pic.twitter.com/SXD56QWkbP — CoinMarketCap (@CoinMarketCap) April…

Bitcoin becomes the live market over Easter as oil shocks hit and traditional finance goes dark The Bitcoin market now has three trading days where it will act as the live venue for geopolitical risk while much of traditional finance is closed. As of Friday, April 3, Wall Street is closed for Good Friday; several other markets are shut or thinner than normal; and the macro backdrop has become harder, rather than easier, to price. Iran launched missiles and drones at Israel and the Gulf states. Fires were reported at Kuwait’s Mina al-Ahmadi refinery. The Strait of Hormuz remains the…

Mantle’s proposal to lend up to 30,000 $ETH to Aave’s DeFi United rsETH rescue has gone live on Snapshot, adding structured credit to a $314m multi‑DAO war chest. Mantle Network has confirmed that its strategic credit facility proposal to support Aave’s rsETH relief effort has formally advanced to a governance vote. Mantle’s rsETH rescue loan hits Snapshot In a post shared by Mantle, the team said the measure—known in the forum as MIP‑34—is now live on Snapshot, with MNT token holders required to delegate voting power before they can participate. If approved, the proposal would authorize Mantle Treasury to lend…

Ripple and Stellar founder Jed McCaleb has highlighted that crypto might be the beginning of his tech journey, revealing an ultimate destination. McCaleb revealed a lifelong passion aside from crypto: AI. The Ripple cofounder disclosed that he had been wanting to work on AI the whole time. According to Forbes, McCaleb wants to build AGI by studying how the brain learns and then translate the rules into AI. Beyond this, the Stellar founder is also trying to bankroll it to reality. “Crypto was, in some sense, a big detour,” McCaleb stated. He had “been wanting to work on AI the…

The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has approved new rules that allow tokenized funds to operate fully within the existing authorized fund regime, rather than in separate experimental structures. Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don’t!). The changes give asset managers a clearer route to keep fund registers on blockchain and to use an optional Direct‑to‑Fund (D2F) dealing model, while keeping current investor protection standards in place. In Policy Statement PS26/7, the FCA confirms that authorized funds can run their unitholder registers on distributed ledger technology using the industry “Blueprint” model. Onchain transaction…

Kazakhstan’s main financial regulator has accused several global crypto exchanges of conducting illegal operations in the country. Obtaining a license is mandatory for all coin trading platforms in the Central Asian nation and international popularity is not accepted as excuse. Leading crypto exchanges banned from trading in Kazakhstan The Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) has issued a warning about unlicensed crypto trading, specifically mentioning some of the world’s top players in the sector. Organizing the exchange of digital assets without the appropriate permit, issued in accordance with existing law, is prohibited, the watchdog said in a notice. Under Kazakhstan’s current…

In a landmark move for blockchain adoption in traditional finance, Dunamu has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hana Financial Group and POSCO International to build a real-time overseas remittance service on the GIWA Chain. This partnership aims to replace the decades-old SWIFT network with a faster, more efficient blockchain-based system. GIWA Chain: The Layer 2 Blockchain for Global Finance The core of this agreement revolves around Dunamu’s Layer 2 blockchain, GIWA Chain. The three companies will connect this blockchain with Hana Financial Group’s extensive foreign exchange network and POSCO International’s global supply chain. This integration allows for real-world…

The US-Iran conflict continues to affect Bitcoin and altcoins. Bitcoin, which recently rose to $76,000, tested the $65,000 level again as tensions in the conflict escalated. While everyone wonders when the war will end and whether the decline will continue, the expiration date for option contracts in the crypto market arrived, as it does every Friday. According to weekly data, approximately $2.1 billion worth of crypto options will expire on the Deribit derivatives exchange on April 3rd. According to Deribit data, $1.8 billion worth of Bitcoin ($BTC) and $320 million worth of Ethereum ($ETH) options will expire. Accordingly, the Put/Call…