Standard Chartered debuts BTC and ETH spot trading for institutions, Cantor Fitzgerald plans $4B bitcoin purchase

Banned market maker Web3port revealed as source behind Trump’s $100M crypto fund via Aqua 1

Investigations have uncovered that “Aqua 1,” the mysterious entity backing Trump’s World Liberty Financial with $100 million, is actually a rebranded shell controlled by Web3port, a market maker expelled from decentralized exchanges in 2023 for alleged manipulation. Contrary to claims of UAE ties, Aqua 1 has no verified Gulf registration or leadership. The funds were funneled through offshore wallets linked to Web3port, whose founder “Dave Lee” remains anonymous and operated behind an anime avatar. The disclosure raises serious concerns about undisclosed lobbying, policy influence, and the ethics of crypto-backed campaign financing.

Standard Chartered becomes first major global bank to launch bitcoin and ether spot trading for institutional clients

Standard Chartered has launched spot trading for bitcoin and ether through its UK branch, making it the first global systemically important bank to offer this service. The move aims to meet growing institutional demand for digital assets. Institutional clients such as corporates, investors and asset managers can now trade crypto assets via familiar FX interfaces, with non-deliverable forwards to follow soon. CEO Bill Winters emphasized the bank’s commitment to providing secure, regulated, and scalable digital asset trading solutions.

Key crypto bills stall in House after failed procedural vote, future votes now uncertain

A procedural vote to advance major cryptocurrency legislation in the U.S. House failed Tuesday, halting progress on the GENIUS Act and Clarity Act during what was billed as “Crypto Week.” Lawmakers voted 196 to 223 against moving forward, pushing expected votes to an uncertain future. The GENIUS Act would require stablecoins to be fully backed and audited, while the Clarity Act aims to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for crypto markets. Opposition from some Republicans, including Marjorie Taylor Greene, centered on concerns over central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). Although some leaders remain confident the bills will move forward this week, the timeline is now in flux as political maneuvering intensifies.

Cantor Fitzgerald eyes $4B bitcoin deal with Blockstream’s Adam Back as BTC hits record highs

Brandon Lutnick, chairman of Cantor Fitzgerald and son of U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, is finalizing a landmark deal with Blockstream CEO Adam Back to acquire up to $4 billion in bitcoin, according to Financial Times. The purchase, facilitated through Cantor Equity Partners, would mark one of the largest institutional bitcoin moves to date. Adam Back, a key figure cited in the original Bitcoin whitepaper, co-founded Blockstream and pioneered Hashcash, a precursor to Bitcoin mining. This potential deal follows Cantor’s recent crypto financing ventures and comes as bitcoin trades near all-time highs around $120,000. The transaction underscores Cantor’s growing commitment to digital assets under its new leadership structure.