Cryptocurrencies

New Hampshire allows public fund allocation to Bitcoin

New Hampshire has become the first US state to allow public funds to be invested in Bitcoin and other digital assets. Governor Kelly Ayotte signed House Bill 302 into law. The legislation enables the state treasury to allocate up to 10% of the general fund and other approved pools into eligible digital and precious metal assets.

To qualify for investment, digital assets must hold a market capitalisation above $500 billion — a threshold currently met only by Bitcoin. The law includes strict guidelines for asset custody, requiring state oversight or the use of regulated custodians and exchange-traded products.

The bill passed with divided opinion. Supporters highlighted the potential for higher returns, while critics raised concerns over financial stability. With this move, New Hampshire sets a precedent as other states, including Texas and Arizona, consider similar legislation.

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Tether adds Chainalysis tools to enhance crypto compliance

Tether has partnered with Chainalysis to integrate its compliance and monitoring tools into the Hadron by Tether platform. The collaboration will provide users with advanced risk detection and real-time transaction monitoring, helping institutions meet regulatory requirements.

The move is part of a wider trend of increased oversight in the crypto industry.

Hadron by Tether, launched in November 2024, enables institutions, governments, and corporations to tokenise real-world assets like financial instruments and real estate. The platform has seen a surge in adoption, with the real-world asset (RWA) market growing by 10.5% in the past month.

Tether’s CEO, Paolo Ardoino, highlighted that this integration would provide institutional-grade compliance without compromising decentralisation.

Chainalysis is known for its security tools and blockchain data platform. It will now support Hadron users with risk detection, real-time transaction monitoring, and Know-Your-Transaction (KYT) services.

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Investors turn to gold and Bitcoin during global instability

Gold and Bitcoin increased as investors waited for the Federal Reserve’s next move. At the same time, rising global tensions and trade worries kept markets on edge.

Spot gold rose 0.7% to $3,357 per ounce on Tuesday, driven by safe-haven demand. US gold futures added 1.3%, supported by fresh interest from Chinese investors. Central banks also continued moving away from the dollar, boosting gold’s appeal.

Bitcoin hovered near February highs, trading around $97,500. Markets remain sensitive to dovish signals that could lift Bitcoin closer to its previous peak near $100,000.

The Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates steady between 4.25% and 4.50%. Investors are closely watching for signs of whether persistent inflation and slowing consumer demand will delay potential rate cuts expected later this year.

Tensions flared after a Houthi missile landed near Tel Aviv, leading to Israeli strikes in Yemen. At the same time, Trump’s new tariff plans rattled trade nerves. Even so, Bitcoin stayed strong, fuelled by ETF demand and rate cut hopes.

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South Korea’s presidential race embraces crypto as a key issue

South Korea’s presidential race is turning towards cryptocurrency, with former labour minister Kim Moon-soo as the People Power Party’s candidate for the 3 June election. Reports say 16.3 million South Koreans own crypto assets, based on linked wallets and bank accounts as of February 2025.

Crypto is expected to be a major issue in the election, with both leading parties pledging policies to boost the sector.

Kim’s recent proposal to allow government bodies like the National Pension Service (NPS) and the Korea Investment Corporation (KIC) to invest in virtual assets has attracted attention.

He believes that integrating crypto into the national economy will enhance the market’s reputation and stability, especially for younger investors.

Additionally, Kim expressed his commitment to institutionalising the crypto industry to prevent financial losses for inexperienced traders.

Both the People Power Party and the opposition Democratic Party have laid out crypto-focused plans. While many in the crypto industry are encouraged by these policies, there remains scepticism over whether past promises will be fulfilled.

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Tether plans US-based stablecoin launch by 2025

Tether is set to launch a US-based, dollar-pegged stablecoin, according to CEO Paolo Ardoino. The stablecoin, expected by the end of this year or early 2025, will be separate from the company’s existing international products.

Ardoino’s push for the US launch comes amid his active lobbying efforts in Washington, DC, where he has met with lawmakers, including Senator Bill Hagerty.

His advocacy aligns with the GENIUS Act, which could support foreign stablecoin issuers that cooperate with law enforcement.

Despite facing regulatory challenges in the past, Tether now claims $120 billion in US Treasuries and $5.6 billion in excess reserves.

The firm’s US expansion comes as Eric and Donald Trump Jr. also plan to launch a dollar-backed stablecoin, potentially igniting a competitive race in the domestic stablecoin market.

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Ghana plans to regulate digital assets with new legislation

Ghana’s central bank is set to regulate the digital asset space later this year, pending the passage of key legislation. Governor Johnson Asiama announced at the African Leaders and Partners Forum during the IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington.

He stated that the Bank of Ghana (BoG) is committed to fostering digital asset adoption while ensuring consumer protection through appropriate regulation.

The proposed Virtual Asset Providers Act, currently under review by parliament, will give BoG oversight authority over virtual asset service providers (VASPs), requiring them to obtain a licence. The law also aims to prevent illicit crypto use, ensure financial stability, and protect consumers.

Additionally, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will play a role in regulating the sector.

Once the legislation is passed, the Bank of Ghana plans to establish a dedicated digital asset unit. Despite the absence of regulation, Ghana has already seen considerable uptake of digital assets. Approximately 3.1 million Ghanaians own digital assets, equating to 17% of the population.

The country ranks fourth in Africa for crypto interest, trailing Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya.

In addition to digital asset regulation, Ghana is pushing forward with the launch of its central bank digital currency (CBDC), the eCedi. Asiama said the digital currency will modernise payments, protect sovereignty, and support digital transformation for Ghana’s youth.

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Hackers hijack NY Post X account to scam crypto users

Cybercriminals reportedly breached the New York Post’s X account. They targeted cryptocurrency enthusiasts by luring them into a Telegram-based scam, disguised as a podcast invitation.

The fraudulent message, impersonating journalist Paul Sperry, invited users to a supposed editorial feature, offering both in-person and virtual interview options.

Kerberus CEO Alex Katz flagged the issue, confirming the scam was being pushed from NYP’s verified X profile.

Cybersecurity expert ‘Drew’ noted the attackers blocked replies to prevent the real NYP team from spotting the breach. He warned users not to respond to Telegram messages, emphasising that the invite was fake.

Unlike typical crypto scams involving phishing links or wallet drainers, this attack focused on private messaging and trust manipulation.

Victims reported that the scammer used detailed, personal references and staged interviews. These interviews enabled audio-triggered suspicious pop-ups, including one labelled ‘WiFi.’

Security experts say such methods exploit user trust built through prior interactions. As social engineering tactics evolve, crypto users are urged to verify every identity, even those they communicate with regularly.

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Trump to hold crypto dinners for top token holders

Donald Trump is hosting two crypto-themed dinners in May, raising ethical concerns among lawmakers. A $1.5 million-per-plate ‘Crypto & AI Innovators Dinner‘ was held at his Virginia golf club, featuring guests such as David Sacks.

He also confirmed a 22 May gala for top holders of the $TRUMP meme coin. The top 220 wallets qualify, with the highest 25 promised a private reception and a White House tour. Access is based solely on wallet holdings, most of which are pseudonymous.

Lawmakers, including Senator Elizabeth Warren, accuse Trump of selling access. She also criticised the Trump-linked stablecoin USD1, co-founded by his son Eric, calling it a vehicle for personal gain.

Watchdogs warn that the token system lacks transparency and may involve foreign actors. Despite the backlash, $TRUMP tokens surged by over 50% after announcing the dinner.

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How digital twins are being weaponised in crypto scams

Digital twins are virtual models of real-world objects, systems, or processes. They enable real-time simulations, monitoring, and predictions, helping industries like healthcare and manufacturing optimise resources. In the crypto world, cybercriminals have found a way to exploit this technology for fraudulent activities.

Scammers create synthetic identities by gathering personal data from various sources. These digital twins are used to impersonate influencers or executives, promoting fake investment schemes or stealing funds. The unregulated nature of crypto platforms makes it easier for criminals to exploit users.

Real-world scams are already happening. Deepfake CEO videos have tricked executives into transferring funds under false pretences. Counterfeit crypto platforms have also stolen sensitive information from users. These scams highlight the risks of AI-powered digital twins in the crypto space.

Blockchain offers solutions to combat these frauds. Decentralised identities (DID) and NFT identity markers can verify interactions. Blockchain’s immutable audit trails and smart contracts can help secure transactions and protect users from digital twin scams.

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Apple forced to ease rules on crypto apps

Crypto developers scored a major win after a US judge ruled that Apple violated a court injunction by continuing to restrict off-app purchases. The ruling stops Apple from blocking external payment links and removes fees on out-of-app purchases.

Effective immediately, developers can direct users to outside payment systems without facing Apple’s usual 30% charge. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers emphasised that the court’s 2021 injunction was not open to negotiation. She warned Apple that further attempts to control competition would not be tolerated.

The crypto community sees the decision as a breakthrough. Developers can now link to NFT collections and external platforms without additional permissions.

Industry voices like Alex Masmej and crypto analyst Xero called the ruling ‘hugely bullish,’ suggesting a major shift for mobile-based crypto projects.

Epic Games has also announced plans to relaunch Fortnite on the US App Store following the ruling.

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