Shipping operators navigating the Strait of Hormuz are ringing alarm bells warning the emergence of fraudulent actors who impersonate Iranian authorities and demanding cryptocurrency payments in exchange for so-called safe passage.

Tether is making its strongest statement yet about where it sees lasting stability: gold.

The people of Venezuela has officially abandoned their local currency, replacing it with Tether's USDt. This comes as Venezuela's economic crisis reached a new tipping point, as the country's annual inflation surges to 229%.

In a landmark vote, the Tron blockchain has executed its largest-ever fee reduction, cutting network transaction costs by 60% to restore affordability and fend off increasing competition in the stablecoin sector.

Stablecoin giant Tether has stored a whopping $8 billion worth of gold in a private vault somewhere in Switzerland.

A7A5, a Russian ruble-backed stablecoin launched in Kyrgyzstan might be Russia's new found attempt to build at alternative payment system outside of the western financial rails.

A 26-year-old TikTok influencer and crypto trader was reportedly kidnapped in France and held for a €50,000 crypto ransom. But when the kidnappers found he had been all-in on XRP since 2018 and had little to show for it, they released him—allegedly sending $1,000 in USDT before letting him go.

Kenya’s proposed 1.5% crypto tax risks undermining its fintech leadership, potentially driving startups and talent abroad and slowing Africa’s digital integration.

The US DOJ has seized $7.74 million laundered by North Korean operatives who used stolen US identities to secure remote blockchain jobs and bypass KYC checks. The funds were funnelled back to support the regime’s weapons programme.

South Korea’s top presidential candidates back crypto innovation, even as the country tightens regulations on exchanges. Officials are also weighing a state-backed stablecoin, signalling deeper government involvement in digital finance.