CoinDesk

The Department of Justice has filed a motion to prevent Sam Bankman-Fried from using his selected expert witnesses in the ongoing legal proceedings. Legal analysts suggest this tactical move may have limited impact on the DOJ's broader case strategy: - Motion specifically targets SBF's expert witness lineup - Legal experts predict minimal effect on DOJ's case approach - Development marks latest chapter in high-profile crypto prosecution The case continues to evolve as both sides prepare for upcoming court proceedings. Legal observers maintain that core prosecution strategies will likely remain unchanged despite this latest legal maneuver.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has once again delayed a decision regarding Grayscale's Ethereum ETF products. This time, the postponement concerns the addition of staking capabilities. This follows a pattern of SEC delays on Grayscale's Ethereum-related proposals: - April 2025: Postponement of ETF staking feature decision - January 2024: Delayed ruling on spot Ethereum ETF conversion The SEC continues its cautious approach to crypto investment products, particularly regarding new features like staking that could add complexity to existing ETF structures. *Market participants await the final decision while Grayscale continues to engage with regulators.*

Two Estonian nationals, Ivan Turogin and Sergei Potapenko, operated a large-scale cryptocurrency mining fraud operation that resulted in losses exceeding $575 million worldwide. The scheme attracted approximately 20,000 investors through: - False promises of mining equipment rentals - Fraudulent cryptocurrency mining operations - Deceptive virtual currency token offerings **Key Details:** - Total fraud amount: $575+ million - Number of victims: ~20,000 - Initial investment raised: $190 million *The case highlights the ongoing challenges in regulating cryptocurrency investments and protecting investors from sophisticated fraud schemes.*

Despite stable market conditions, significant developments marked this week: - Major tech firms announced workforce reductions amid restructuring - Industry faces increased scrutiny over lobbying activities - Several controversies emerged requiring regulatory attention The contrast between market stability and organizational turbulence suggests a period of internal industry adjustment. Companies appear to be optimizing operations while managing external pressures. *Key Observation*: The disconnect between market performance and industry developments indicates possible structural changes ahead. **Action Point**: Monitor company restructuring announcements for potential market impacts.

David Minarsch draws a compelling parallel between cryptocurrency self-custody and AI agent ownership. Just as crypto enthusiasts advocate for direct control of digital assets, Minarsch suggests users should maintain sovereignty over their AI agents. - Self-custody reduces dependency on third-party services - Direct control minimizes potential security risks - Personal ownership ensures alignment with user interests The argument builds on established crypto principles where users maintain complete control over their digital assets. This approach could become increasingly relevant as AI agents handle more critical tasks. *Consider exploring self-custody options for both your crypto and AI assets.*

Kraken Pro has expanded its trading offerings by launching its first forex trading pairs. The platform now supports: - EUR/USD trading pair - GBP/USD trading pair This development follows Kraken's earlier infrastructure upgrade in February 2024, which enabled instant crypto-to-fiat conversions for EUR, CHF, and GBP among other currencies. The addition of forex trading marks a significant step in Kraken's evolution from a pure crypto exchange to a more comprehensive financial trading platform. *Trading is now live for verified users on Kraken Pro.*

Friends With Benefits (FWB), the crypto-native social club that gained prominence during COVID, has unveiled **Friends With Builders** - a new initiative focused on Web3 product development. The program launches with 20 infrastructure partners, marking FWB's strategic shift from social coordination to product creation. This move follows Friend.tech's earlier announcement of Friendchain development with Conduit, highlighting increased focus on infrastructure building in the social Web3 space. Key aspects: - Partnership with 20 infrastructure providers - Focus on Web3 product development - Evolution from social club to builder platform *The initiative signals a broader trend of social DAOs transitioning into product development.*

The ALEX Protocol has officially confirmed its commitment to reward white hat hackers with a 10% bounty for their assistance in resolving a recent security exploit. This decision follows the team's initial proposal from May 2024, where they offered the same terms to recover stolen assets: - 10% bounty offered to ethical hackers - Remaining 90% of funds to be returned to protocol - Initiative aims to incentivize cooperation in security incidents The confirmation demonstrates the protocol's consistent approach to security incident resolution and commitment to working with the security community.

**Polygon (POL)** and **Filecoin (FIL)** demonstrated synchronized market movements in April 2025: - Both tokens rose 3.7% from their Thursday prices - This marks a recovery for Filecoin, which had previously dropped 4.5% in early April - Historical data shows Filecoin's volatility, with a notable 4.6% gain in February *Market observers note the increasing correlation between these two blockchain infrastructure tokens.*

VanEck has announced the launch date for its new Onchain Economy ETF (NODE). The fund will begin trading on May 14th with a management fee of 0.69%. This ETF aims to provide investors with exposure to companies involved in the blockchain and digital assets ecosystem. - Trading Symbol: NODE - Launch Date: May 14th - Management Fee: 0.69%