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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Sberbank, Russia’s largest bank, has launched a Bitcoin-linked structured bond, marking a key move towards integrating crypto into Russia’s financial system. The bond ties investor returns to Bitcoin’s performance and the strength of the US dollar against the Russian ruble.
Although only available to qualified investors, the product is fully approved by regulators.
The investment does not involve holding Bitcoin directly. Instead, it gives exposure to price movements while keeping all transactions in rubles and within Russia’s financial infrastructure.
Sberbank is not stopping there. The bank plans to roll out a Bitcoin futures product via its SberInvestments platform, with a launch scheduled for June.
These developments follow a policy shift from the Bank of Russia, which now permits licensed firms to offer crypto-related investment options to selected investors.
Sberbank’s involvement suggests that digital assets may soon become a mainstream feature of Russia’s financial landscape.
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Australia has imposed stricter rules on crypto ATM operators to curb scams and ensure compliance with anti-money laundering laws. A $5,000 AUD limit now applies to cash deposits and withdrawals, with scam warnings required on all machines.
Operators must also step up customer verification and improve transaction monitoring. These measures follow an AUSTRAC-led investigation that revealed older Australians, particularly those aged 60 to 70, account for a large share of crypto ATM activity.
Authorities noted that some victims were tricked into handing over life savings via these machines.
AUSTRAC has already denied registration renewal to one provider, Harro’s Empires, due to ongoing misuse risks.
The agency warned that other non-compliant operators could face similar penalties. It also urged broader adoption of cash limits across exchanges to reduce financial crime exposure.
To strengthen awareness, AUSTRAC and the federal police have released educational materials to be displayed near ATMs. The move comes amid rising scam reports, with 150 confirmed cases and over $3.1 million AUD in losses reported within a year.
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Singapore’s central bank, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), has mandated all local crypto service providers to halt digital token operations targeting overseas markets by 30 June 2025. Firms failing to comply risk fines of up to S$250,000 (£145,000) and imprisonment for up to three years.
The directive applies to any Singapore-based company, individual, or partnership offering digital token services abroad, regardless of their main business. MAS confirmed no transitional arrangements will be made.
Only firms licensed under current financial laws may continue without breaching the rules.
Licences for overseas digital token services will be rare due to strict AML and CFT concerns. Industry experts advise companies to restructure operations quickly to remove Singapore connections and reduce compliance risks.
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Panama City’s Mayor Mayer Mizrachi has floated the idea of letting cargo ships pay in Bitcoin. The proposal would allow faster passage through the Panama Canal, one of the world’s most vital trade routes.
Speaking at the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas, he suggested offering perks to vessels choosing Bitcoin as a payment method. The canal processes nearly 10,000 ships a year and accounts for around 5% of global maritime trade.
Mizrachi’s proposal comes as part of his broader effort to integrate Bitcoin into public infrastructure. Panama City began accepting crypto for municipal payments in April, instantly converting transactions into dollars.
The mayor is also exploring the creation of a Bitcoin reserve and has sought inspiration from El Salvador’s pro-Bitcoin policies.
The idea of crypto payments for canal fees emerges amid rising international interest in the waterway. Mizrachi, however, urged lawmakers not to rush into restrictive crypto regulation, advocating instead for a hands-off approach.
While the Bitcoin-for-passage concept remains in its early stages, Mizrachi claims crypto use in Panama is more widespread than it appears, with over $5 billion in annual transactions.
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