Author: James Wilson

Crypto VC funding slid to $659m across 63 April deals, a 74% drop from March that drags monthly flows back to 2024 lows even as DeFi and AI still attract capital. Summary Cointelegraph data show crypto venture funding fell to $659 million across 63 deals in April, down 74% from $2.6 billion and 84 rounds in March. Since peaking at $3.84 billion in October 2025, monthly crypto VC flows have trended lower even as 2026 year‑to‑date funding still totals about $5.64 billion. DeFi led sector activity with 12 deals, while blockchain services and AI‑linked crypto projects each saw 8 rounds;…

137 Ventures has raised over $700m across two new funds, lifting AUM above $15b as it doubles down on AI agents, robotics, advanced industry and a $10b‑plus SpaceX stake. Summary SpaceX backer 137 Ventures has closed more than $700 million across two new funds, lifting its assets under management above $15 billion. The growth-stage firm says the fresh capital will target high‑impact technology bets in AI agents, robotics, advanced industrial systems, and aerospace propulsion. 137 Ventures now owns more than 1% of SpaceX, a stake its founder values at over $10 billion ahead of a potential IPO that could see…

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said at XRP Las Vegas on April 30 that if the CLARITY Act does not clear the Senate Banking Committee before the Memorial Day recess on May 21, the bill could be shelved until 2030, as the current tri-branch alignment between the House, Senate, and White House on crypto legislation is uniquely fragile. Summary The bill has over 120 firm backers including Coinbase, Kraken, Circle, and Andreessen Horowitz and holds public support from the White House, SEC Chair Paul Atkins, and Treasury Secretary Bessent. Senators Cynthia Lummis and Bernie Moreno have both said independently that failure…

Bitcoin price rose nearly 3% to $78,700 on May 1 as Iran submitted a new peace proposal through Pakistani mediators to the United States, easing oil pressure and improving risk sentiment across global markets for the second time in a week. Summary Bitcoin price climbed to $78,700 on May 1, recovering from a multi-week low near $74,900 posted just two days earlier when Trump received a military briefing on new Iran strike options. Iran submitted a revised peace proposal through Pakistani mediators on May 1, CNBC reported, with oil prices edging lower on the development as Strait of Hormuz supply…

Bittensor price is showing renewed strength as it climbs above the $260 level, with improving momentum indicators hinting at a potential continuation of the recent recovery trend. Summary Bittensor price is trading around $263, up 5.7% in 24 hours, holding above the key $236 support after breaking a long-term downtrend. Bullish momentum builds as MACD turns positive, with upside targets at $294 and $340 if strength continues. Fundamentals strengthen with Nvidia’s reported $420M stake, ETF filings by Grayscale and Bitwise, and over 70% of supply locked in staking. According to data from crypto.news, Bittensor (TAO) price was trading around $263.19…

Fun raises $72m to power unified fiat and crypto rails for apps like Polymarket and Aave, after quietly processing over $18b in annual payment volume. Summary Payment infrastructure startup Fun has raised $72 million in Series A funding led by Multicoin Capital and SignalFire to power fiat and crypto rails for consumer apps. The company provides deposit and withdrawal infrastructure for platforms like Polymarket, Lighter, and Aave, and says it processed more than $18 billion in transaction volume over the past year. New investors include Infinity Ventures, Pharsalus Capital, and Tinder co-founder Justin Mateen, as Fun positions itself as a…

SBI Group has partnered with Visa on a credit card product that allows users to earn crypto assets through card rewards.  Summary SBI’s Visa card lets users earn crypto rewards in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP. SBI VC Trade and Aplus will support the crypto rewards and card service. SBI is also discussing a Bitbank deal to expand its Japan crypto exchange presence. The card supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP rewards through SBI VC Trade and Aplus. The product links daily card spending with crypto rewards. It also shows SBI’s continued push to connect traditional finance with regulated digital asset services…

South Korea’s Seoul Administrative Court has granted Bithumb a temporary reprieve from a six-month suspension, allowing the exchange to continue operating while the case proceeds. Summary Seoul Administrative Court has paused Bithumb’s six-month suspension, allowing operations to continue until a final ruling. Regulators imposed a 36.8 billion won fine after identifying about 6.65 million cases of failed user identity checks. Ongoing scrutiny has intensified after a payout error, and AML violations triggered multiple investigations into Bithumb’s controls. According to Yonhap News Agency, the court’s 2nd Administrative Division under Judge Gong Hyeon-jin approved the stay on Thursday, pausing enforcement of a…

SBI Holdings has started formal talks with Bitbank over a capital and business alliance. The planned transaction would make Bitbank a consolidated subsidiary of SBI. Summary SBI Holdings has begun talks to make Bitbank a consolidated subsidiary through a share acquisition. The move follows SBI VC Trade’s merger with Bitpoint Japan in April 2026. Bitbank’s EPOS Crypto Card lets users settle monthly bills with bitcoin balances. The company said it plans to acquire shares after due diligence and internal approval. Details on timing, structure, and acquisition method will be discussed later. The move comes soon after SBI Group absorbed Bitpoint…

The U.S. Senate has approved a resolution banning senators and Senate staff from using prediction markets. Summary Senate approved a rule banning members and staff from using prediction markets, with the change taking effect immediately. Lawmakers cited risks of insider information misuse, with Senator Bernie Moreno saying the ban protects public trust. According to Senate proceedings, the resolution passed by unanimous consent on Thursday changed the chamber’s standing rules and took immediate effect. Lawmakers tied the ban to the risk that officials exposed to sensitive information could profit from event contracts.  “Engaging in any way in a prediction market or…