JPMorgan will start accepting Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as collateral for loans, signalling a growing institutional embrace of digital assets. The bank will include crypto holdings alongside equities and fine art when assessing clients’ net worth and assets.
The initial programme will include BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust and be available globally to trading and wealth-management clients soon. JPMorgan’s new policy formalises earlier practices and is expected to expand to include other Bitcoin ETFs over time.
The move reflects a broader shift in the US regulatory landscape, with President Donald Trump’s administration supporting pro-crypto policies that encourage greater bank involvement.
Despite CEO Jamie Dimon’s personal scepticism towards Bitcoin, the bank remains committed to serving clients interested in digital asset exposure.
As crypto investment products gain traction among retail and high-net-worth investors, JPMorgan’s new approach highlights the increasing convergence of traditional finance and digital markets.
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The Czech government faces a no-confidence vote after Justice Minister Pavel Blazek resigned amid controversy over a Bitcoin donation. The digital contribution, worth millions, came from Tomas Jirikovsky, a convicted drug trafficker linked to Sheep Marketplace.
The donation, made in March, was sold for over $45 million at a public auction, sparking political backlash.
Blazek denied any wrongdoing in accepting the donation but stepped down amid growing pressure. Opposition party ANO criticised the government’s handling of the affair, calling for immediate resignation.
The scandal adds to mounting concerns as the October elections approach, with polls showing the ruling coalition trailing behind ANO.
Jirikovsky was convicted in 2017 and released in 2021, after which he sought to reclaim seized Bitcoin. Investigations revealed a dark web trail tied to the donation, but no formal links to other marketplaces were confirmed.
Political analysts suggest Prime Minister Petr Fiala could also face scrutiny due to his close association with Blazek.
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The Ethereum Foundation has introduced a stricter treasury policy as it prepares for a crucial 18-month period.
Spending will now be based on Ether reserves and market conditions, with just 2.5 years of runway remaining, according to director Hsiao-Wei Wang.
To improve transparency, the Foundation will publish quarterly and annual reports. Its treasury, worth around $970.2 million in October, was mostly held in ETH. Recent asset sales sparked backlash from the community.
In a shift from neutrality, the Foundation is now engaging with audited DeFi protocols. In February, it allocated 45,000 ETH to platforms like Aave, Spark and Compound. Internal restructuring also led to staff redundancies, though exact numbers were not revealed.
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Coinbase is under scrutiny after revealing a data breach tied to its contractor TaskUs. The incident reportedly involved insider misconduct at a support centre in India.
Though the breach was disclosed in May, insiders say Coinbase had knowledge of the issue as early as January.
The incident was traced to a TaskUs agent who allegedly photographed customer data and sold it to hackers. TaskUs fired two staff, saying the breach seemed part of a broader campaign targeting several Coinbase service providers.
Operations in Indore were suspended, impacting 226 staff, most of whom received severance.
Hackers accessed names, addresses, masked banking data, and ID documents, but no funds or passwords were compromised. On 11 May, Coinbase received a $20 million ransom demand.
CEO Brian Armstrong rejected the threat and instead offered a $20 million reward for information leading to the attackers’ arrest.
The breach, which affected under 1% of users, has triggered a shareholder lawsuit accusing Coinbase of failing to disclose the incident promptly.
Although its stock dipped 7% after the news, it has since recovered, supported by the company’s recent inclusion in the S&P 500 index.
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Changpeng Zhao, founder and former CEO of Binance, has urged companies adopting Bitcoin as a treasury asset to carefully assess the associated risks. On 3 June, Zhao said risk is a business constant, varying in degree rather than being simply present or absent.
Zhao warned that avoiding risk can be as harmful as over-taking it, risking missed chances or unpreparedness for shocks. He stressed that, with a balanced approach, companies can find an optimal risk-to-reward ratio suited to their needs.
Zhao stressed companies must prepare for extreme events like currency collapse or Bitcoin losing all value. His comments come amid growing corporate interest in Bitcoin treasuries, including Trump Media and GameStop.
Experts explain that companies are increasingly turning to Bitcoin to reduce counterparty risk and currency instability. Bitcoin’s fixed supply and predictable issuance make it a strong defensive asset and aid multinational cross-border transactions.
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South Korea has elected Lee Jae-myung of the left-wing Democratic Party as its new president, following the impeachment of conservative leader Yoon Suk-yeol. A 79.4% turnout, the highest in 28 years, helped Lee win with 49.42%, beating right-wing rival Kim Moon-soo.
Lee pledged urgent economic reform, with a focus on supporting low-income families and small businesses. He also vowed to strengthen the domestic cryptocurrency industry, promising to introduce spot crypto ETFs and a won-backed stablecoin market.
Both are currently prohibited under existing financial rules.
The new president aims to complete the second phase of South Korea’s digital asset legislation, with specific measures targeting stablecoin regulation and exchange transparency. His plan includes reducing restrictions in blockchain innovation zones to accelerate local growth.
Although crypto reform was also promised by impeached predecessor Yoon, progress stalled during his administration. With nearly 10 million crypto users, South Korean regulators seem ready to ease rules, giving Lee a chance to fulfil his crypto promises.
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California’s State Assembly has unanimously approved a bill that would allow government departments to accept cryptocurrency payments. Assembly Bill 1180, introduced by Avelino Valencia, passed with a 68–0 vote and will now be reviewed by the State Senate.
If enacted, the law would require the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation to establish regulations enabling crypto payments for state services. A pilot programme would run until 1 January 2031, with full implementation beginning on 1 July 2026.
The department would also be required to report on transaction volumes and any technical challenges by 2028.
The bill targets digital assets under existing law, after dropping transport-related clauses, aiming to align California with states like Florida and Colorado on crypto payments.
AB 1180 complements a separate proposal, AB 1052, which seeks to protect the private use of digital assets and enshrine the right to self-custody. The rising interest in such legislation reflects growing political and public support for cryptocurrencies across the state.
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Trump Media’s partner, Yorkville America Digital, has lodged an application for a spot Bitcoin ETF, joining an increasingly crowded market of crypto investment products. The proposal, submitted on 3 June, outlines an ETF that would directly track Bitcoin’s price.
Foris DAX Trust Company, part of Crypto.com, has been listed as the fund’s proposed custodian, though no ticker or management fee was disclosed.
The application now awaits a response from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, which may arrive within 45 days. However, under current regulations, the agency has until 29 January 2026 to make a final decision.
Yorkville must also file further documentation detailing the fund’s structure and associated risks.
Although President Donald Trump remains a key stakeholder in Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), his holdings are placed in a trust managed by his son. The ETF documents omit Trump’s name, though political ties may still draw aligned investors.
With 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs already in the market, a Trump-affiliated offering adds another layer to the intersection between politics and the crypto sector.
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Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blažek has resigned after it emerged he received a €40 million bitcoin donation from a convicted drug dealer.
The funds, amounting to roughly 468 bitcoins, were sent by Tomáš Jiřikovský, previously imprisoned for operating an illicit drug marketplace and crypto theft.
Although courts did not confirm the crypto’s criminal origins, the transaction sparked widespread suspicion and investigations into potential money laundering and abuse of office.
Blažek denies any wrongdoing but stepped down to limit political fallout, a move welcomed by Prime Minister Petr Fiala.
Interior Minister Vít Rakušan described the donation as damaging to the Czech government’s credibility, and authorities have since frozen the funds.
Opposition parties have called for the government’s resignation ahead of an emergency parliamentary session on 5 June.
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Latin Americans are turning to crypto not for speculation, but to escape inflation, transfer funds abroad, and bypass strict financial systems. Decades of economic instability have eroded trust in traditional banks, pushing people towards digital alternatives.
Major firms such as Binance and Mercado Pago are expanding services to meet this demand.
Binance Pay now integrates with Brazil’s Pix payment system, allowing seamless crypto-to-fiat transactions. Mercado Pago has applied for a digital banking licence in Argentina to offer more financial services, including crypto, within a regulated framework.
In countries like Argentina and Mexico, stablecoins support everyday transactions and remittances. Bitcoin use is growing across the region, especially where banking access is limited.
Banks are under pressure to evolve. Some, like Brazil’s BTG Pactual, are launching their own blockchain tools. As demand surges, crypto continues reshaping Latin America’s financial future.
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