Regulation

Binance has publicly disputed a Wall Street Journal report alleging that Iranian financier Babak Zanjani moved $850 million through its platform. CEO Richard Teng said the claims are inaccurate. The controversy emerges amid heightened geopolitical tensions. The US has paused a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan due to the Iran situation, and a Pakistani field marshal is traveling to Tehran to broker a US-Iran deal. Binance has been strengthening compliance measures in recent years, seeking to distance itself from sanctioned entities. This dispute highlights the compliance challenges crypto exchanges face amid geopolitical conflicts. ...

House Oversight Chairman Comer has launched an investigation into insider trading on prediction market platforms Kalshi and Polymarket, sending letters to both CEOs with a deadline to respond by June. The move follows India’s recent crackdown on Polymarket. Prediction markets, as an emerging financial instrument, operate in a regulatory gray area. The probe will examine whether trades exploiting non-public information have occurred, whether platforms have adequate monitoring mechanisms to detect and prevent insider trading, and whether prediction markets should fall under CFTC oversight. ...

Indian regulators have cracked down on prediction markets, with Polymarket ceasing operations in the country. CoinDesk reports that other platforms like Kalshi could face similar restrictions. The move reflects a tightening regulatory trend for prediction markets globally. Meanwhile, Polymarket is eyeing entry into the Japanese market and has appointed a regional representative.

The South Korean government said it will review its cryptocurrency taxation plan after a national petition garnered over 50,000 signatures. The petition calls for canceling or delaying taxes on crypto trading gains. South Korea has been wavering on crypto regulation, and this review reflects domestic divisions over the tax framework for the digital asset industry.

The Federal Reserve has proposed granting limited master account access to crypto firms that have long sought such privileges. This move is seen as a significant signal of shifting US regulatory stance toward the crypto industry. Master accounts allow institutions to directly use the Fed’s payment clearing system, and gaining this access would substantially improve crypto firms’ operational efficiency and fund liquidity. The proposal is currently in the public comment period. ...

[Flash] CME, ICE Push U.S. Regulators to Scrutinize Hyperliquid Over Manipulation Risks The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) have jointly urged U.S. regulators to scrutinize decentralized derivatives platform Hyperliquid over alleged market manipulation risks. The move by two traditional finance giants signals growing wariness toward emerging competitors in the crypto derivatives space. Hyperliquid’s Policy Center responded that on-chain perpetual contracts offer greater efficiency and transparency.

The U.S. Senate Banking Committee voted to advance the Clarity Act, a landmark crypto market structure bill, sending it to a full Senate vote and marking a historic step for U.S. crypto regulation.

Crypto.com Gets UAE Regulatory License Crypto.com’s UAE entity became the first VASP to receive a UAE central bank SVF license tied to Dubai government crypto payment services. This marks another milestone in the UAE’s efforts to position itself as a leading crypto hub in the Middle East.

[Brief] Senate Banking Committee Sets Date for Crypto Legislation Vote The Senate Banking Committee has announced a hearing to amend and vote on sweeping crypto legislation, marking a second attempt to advance the bill. Meanwhile, a stablecoin compromise has revived legislative momentum despite lingering ethics disputes. Sources: TheBlock, CoinDesk

Senator Warren Questions Meta on Stablecoin Plans Senator Elizabeth Warren has pressed Meta over its stablecoin trial, citing risks from the previous Libra project and the company’s planned 2026 integration, according to The Block. Warren’s inquiry highlights ongoing regulatory concerns about major technology companies entering the cryptocurrency space. She has long been one of the most vocal critics of the crypto industry in Congress. The questioning references Meta’s previous attempt to launch the Diem (formerly Libra) stablecoin project, which faced intense regulatory pushback and was ultimately abandoned. Warren expressed concerns about the timeline for integrating stablecoin functionality into Meta’s platforms in 2026. ...