Slovenia’s Finance Ministry has proposed a 25% tax on crypto trading profits, aiming to bring digital assets in line with other investments. The draft law, unveiled on 17 April, targets residents who convert crypto into fiat or use it for purchases.
Crypto-to-crypto trades and transfers between self-owned wallets would remain untaxed under the proposed rules.
Finance Minister Klemen Boštjančič defended the move, describing it as a step towards fairness rather than a revenue-generating effort. He emphasised that speculative instruments like cryptocurrencies should not be excluded from taxation.
Taxpayers would be required to report transactions annually, with profits calculated by subtracting purchase costs from sale values.
Critics argue the plan could harm Slovenia’s crypto-friendly image. Opposition MP Jernej Vrtovec warned that the tax may drive innovation and young talent abroad.
If adopted, the law will take effect from 1 January 2026. Slovenia already taxes mining and staking income, while hobbyist use remains exempt.
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Circle is set to unveil a new payments and cross-border remittance product. The launch will take place at the company’s headquarters in One World Trade Center, New York, on Tuesday.
The event will cater to banks, fintechs, payment service providers, remittance providers, and USDC strategic partners. Circle’s CEO is expected to outline the company’s vision for expanding its presence in the payments space.
The launch marks a strategic shift as Circle looks to strengthen its position in the payments industry. Circle plans to position itself as a key player, eyeing competition with financial giants like Mastercard and Visa.
The company’s new offering aims to revolutionise remittances and cross-border payments. It leverages stablecoins like USDC to potentially disrupt traditional money transfer services.
Circle’s recent developments have been significant, including its postponed IPO due to volatile market conditions. As the adoption of stablecoins grows, Circle continues to innovate and solidify its place in the evolving payments ecosystem.
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Changpeng Zhao, former Binance CEO, was hit with 90 million fake Grok tokens. Scammers are ramping up their efforts to target crypto investors with Elon Musk-related fraud.
According to blockchain security firm PeckShield, the tokens are likely part of a phishing attack. These tokens are unrelated to Musk’s official AI chatbot, Grok, which has not issued any cryptocurrency.
Scammers have long exploited high-profile figures like Musk to gain trust from victims. Fake Grok-related tokens first appeared in 2023, leading to significant losses after scammers sold a portion of the supply.
Recent Elon Musk scams have resurfaced, featuring fake giveaways and memecoins on the BNB Smart Chain.
The rise in scams reflects a growing trend of phishing attacks, such as address poisoning, which trick victims into sending assets to fraudulent wallets.
In 2024, phishing incidents cost the crypto industry over $1 billion, highlighting the need for increased vigilance and security.
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Pavel Durov, CEO of Telegram, has vowed that the company would rather exit markets like France than implement encryption backdoors.
Lawmakers in the European Union are increasingly proposing backdoors that would allow authorities to bypass encryption. These backdoors would grant access to private messages.
Durov’s statement comes as Telegram faces mounting pressure to comply with regulations that could undermine digital privacy.
In a recent post, Durov emphasised that backdoors, while intended for law enforcement, could be exploited by hackers and foreign agents. He warned that such measures would not only put user data at risk but also drive criminals to use lesser-known apps to avoid detection.
Telegram has long been committed to safeguarding its users’ privacy. It has never disclosed private messages to authorities, even when complying with court orders in certain jurisdictions.
Durov’s comments come at a time when the EU is proposing legislation that could force apps to implement backdoors for police access. Despite some progress, the fight for digital privacy continues.
Durov urges privacy advocates to resist these changes. He stresses that losing encryption would be a major blow to personal safety and freedom.
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Paul Atkins has officially been sworn in as the 34th Chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Known for his pro-crypto stance, Atkins is expected to bring much-needed clarity to digital asset regulations.
He was nominated by President Trump and confirmed by the Senate after a brief delay, officially taking office in April.
Atkins, who previously served as an SEC Commissioner from 2002 to 2008, brings over 20 years of experience in capital markets. His appointment is timely, as the SEC’s case against Ripple nears its end, with XRP supporters urging swift action.
Additionally, more than 17 applications for XRP spot ETFs are now awaiting review under Atkins’ leadership.
Crypto advocates are hopeful that Atkins will use his position to drive forward long-awaited regulatory reforms for the industry. His personal involvement with digital assets—holding nearly $6 million in them—demonstrates his commitment to the space.
As the SEC moves forward under his leadership, clearer rules for crypto markets are expected to emerge.
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Deutsche Bank and Standard Chartered are ramping up their crypto operations in the US. They’re seizing the opportunity created by a shift in regulatory policy under Donald Trump. A digital asset reserve is now in place, creating new prospects for the banks.
Deutsche Bank has partnered with Bison to safeguard euro balances. It is also expanding its crypto services globally, including a strategic alliance with Crypto.com in Asia. The bank also plans to extend its operations in the UK and Europe.
Standard Chartered is focusing on infrastructure. It is launching a digital collateral programme with OKX and Franklin Templeton. The bank is also entering the stablecoin market with a Hong Kong dollar-backed project.
Both banks aim to secure a leading position in the growing crypto sector.
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Shoppers at a Spar supermarket in Zug, Switzerland, can now pay for groceries using Bitcoin, thanks to a new Lightning Network integration. The feature was introduced via BTC Map. It was supported by DFX Swiss and highlights the growing use of crypto in everyday transactions.
Customers can complete their purchases simply by scanning a static QR code at checkout, making Bitcoin payments seamless and accessible. Rahim Taghizadegan, a Swiss lecturer and crypto expert, praised the system’s ease of use and its potential for wider adoption.
With over 1,000 Swiss businesses already accepting Bitcoin, the country remains one of Europe’s strongest cryptocurrency supporters. As a global chain with nearly 14,000 stores worldwide, Spar’s participation signals greater trust in digital payments.
Meanwhile, Switzerland’s Crypto Valley continues to thrive, reaching a $593 billion valuation in 2024.
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South Korea’s presidential candidate Hong Joon-pyo has vowed to deregulate the country’s cryptocurrency industry. Hong declared his intent to foster blockchain and virtual assets as a fully recognised industry, introducing the technology into public services.
His statement follows recent US moves to ease crypto regulations, including Trump’s resolution removing IRS reporting requirements for DeFi platforms.
Hong aims to align South Korea’s digital asset policies with the US’s lenient stance, bolstered by initiatives like the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
The push to embrace cryptocurrencies comes amid growing calls from South Korean lawmakers to integrate digital assets into the country’s financial system.
However, opposition remains, with the Bank of Korea recently rejecting the idea of holding Bitcoin in reserves due to its price volatility.
With the US leading on crypto initiatives, South Korea’s presidential race could soon determine whether Hong’s plans will shape the nation’s future approach to blockchain.
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Dubai-based DWF Labs has invested $25 million in World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a decentralised finance project supported by Donald Trump and his sons. As part of the deal, DWF Labs acquired WLFI tokens via a private transaction, giving the firm governance rights in the protocol.
The company said the investment aligns with its strategy to support USD-pegged stablecoins and DeFi adoption.
The collaboration includes providing liquidity for WLFI’s stablecoin, USD1, which launched in March on both Ethereum and BNB Chain.
While the stablecoin is not yet tradable, DWF Labs aims to boost its development. The market maker provides liquidity to over 60 exchanges, enabling smoother trade execution.
DWF Labs is also expanding into the United States and has opened a New York office. The move is expected to bolster the company’s partnerships with banks, asset managers, and fintech firms.
WLFI has raised over $600 million since launching in September 2024. Initial token sales brought in $550 million, with an additional $30 million investment from Tron founder Justin Sun.
Web3Port and Oddiyana Ventures have also contributed to the funding, further signalling strong interest in the Trump-backed DeFi platform.
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