The World Crypto Report

Oregon takes Coinbase to court (0:41), Chile gets access to a new stablecoin (2:02), and Switzerland tests Bitcoin at the supermarket (3:10). Plus: Slovenia plans a 25% tax on personal crypto gains, marking a major shift in European regulation (4:21).

This is your essential update on the forces shaping what's next in money.

More on stories and articles mentioned or referenced in this episode:

Oregon sues Coinbase, seeks to fill federal 'enforcement vacuum', by Matthew Kish, The Oregonian/OregonLive.

https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2025/04/oregon-sues-coinbase-seeks-to-fill-federal-enforcement-vacuum.html

Oregon Is Trying to Revive Regulation by Enforcement, by Paul Grewal, Coinbase.

https://www.coinbase.com/blog/oregon-is-trying-to-revive-regulation-by-enforcement

LATAM crypto news: Meli Dólar debuts in Chile, and Bolivia quits its plan to buy fuel with cryptocurrency, Invezz.

https://invezz.com/news/2025/04/19/latam-crypto-news-meli-dolar-debuts-in-chile-and-bolivia-quits-its-plan-to-buy-fuel-with-cryptocurrency/

Spar in Zug accepts Bitcoin as a means of payment for the first time, blue News.

https://www.bluewin.ch/en/news/switzerland/spar-in-zug-accepts-bitcoin-as-a-means-of-payment-for-the-first-time-2659012.html

Slovenia moves to impose 25% tax on crypto traders, by Ibrahim Ajibade, FXStreet.

https://www.fxstreet.com/cryptocurrencies/news/slovenia-moves-to-impose-25-tax-on-crypto-traders-202504171935

Taxation of crypto planned, The Slovenia Times.

https://sloveniatimes.com/43215/taxation-of-crypto-planned

The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti

Panama City embraces crypto payments for public services (0:39), Russia drafts new rules to seize digital assets in criminal cases (2:08), and Alabama lawmakers take a cautious approach to blockchain and state investments (3:28). Plus, we unpack Circle's Refund Protocol—an on-chain innovation designed to make stablecoin transactions safer and smarter (4:55).

This is your essential update on the forces shaping what's next in money.

More on stories and articles mentioned or referenced in this episode:

Diving into Digital: Panama City's Bold Leap into Cryptocurrency for Public Payments, by Kira Jantz, Coletivo Metranca.

https://www.coletivometranca.com.br/en/news_en/diving-into-digital-panama-citys-bold-leap-into-cryptocurrency-for-public-payments/45008/

Russia plans to add cryptocurrency terms to the criminal code, Digwatch.

https://dig.watch/updates/russia-plans-to-add-cryptocurrency-terms-to-the-criminal-code

House committee punts on embracing cryptocurrency, by Chance Phillips, Alabama Political Reporter.

https://www.alreporter.com/2025/04/17/house-committee-punts-on-embracing-cryptocurrency/

Refund Protocol: Non-Custodial Dispute Resolution for Stablecoin Payments, Circle Developer's Blog.

https://www.circle.com/blog/refund-protocol-non-custodial-dispute-resolution-for-stablecoin-payments

The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell embraces a more open regulatory stance on crypto, signaling a shift that could open the doors for banks and stablecoins alike (0:50). India's Supreme Court refuses to intervene in digital asset regulation, emphasizing the role of lawmakers (2:16). A cunning new scam hits the DeFi space—this time through abandoned project websites (3:16). And crypto exchange OKX steps firmly onto U.S. soil, launching services in 46 states and debuting a powerful new wallet (4:39).

This is your essential update on the forces shaping what's next in money.

More on stories and articles mentioned or referenced in this episode:

Fed Chair Powell Says Crypto and Banking Rules Will 'Loosen' as Sector Matures, by Murtuza J. Merchant, Benzinga.

https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44850021/fed-chair-powell-says-crypto-and-banking-rules-will-loosen-as-sector-matures

SC says no to making rules on cryptocurrencies: 'Can't lay down the law', by Zakariya Khan, Business Standard.

https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/sc-says-no-to-making-rules-on-cryptocurrencies-can-t-lay-down-the-law-125041600936_1.html

Abandoned DeFi websites used to host crypto wallet drainers, Protos.

https://protos.com/abandoned-defi-websites-used-to-host-crypto-wallet-drainers/

Global crypto exchange OKX pushes into U.S. market with trading and wallet offering, Tanaya Macheel, CNBC.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/16/global-crypto-exchange-okx-pushes-into-us-market-with-trading-wallet-offering.html

The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti

A UK government minister gets caught in a crypto scam—sort of (0:39). Apple pulls the plug on unregistered crypto apps in South Korea (2:18). And while DeFi lending soars (3:29), Colorado's "crypto tax" initiative flounders (5:25).

This is your essential update on the forces shaping what's next in money.

More on stories and articles mentioned or referenced in this episode:

Minister's X account hacked to promote crypto scam, by Becky Morton, BBC.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cr5drp0n8zjo

Apple blocks 14 cryptocurrency apps at request of Korean regulator, by Ben Lovejoy, 9to5Mac.

https://9to5mac.com/2025/04/15/apple-blocks-14-cryptocurrency-apps-at-request-of-korean-regulator/

Crypto lending is growing thanks to decentralized players, by Carter Pape, American Banker (free registration required).

https://www.americanbanker.com/news/crypto-lending-is-growing-thanks-to-decentralized-players

Cryptocurrency tax revenue negligible since launch of Colorado program, by Quentin Young, Colorado Newsline.

https://coloradonewsline.com/briefs/cryptocurrency-tax-revenue-colorado/

The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti

A national crypto bank under federal investigation (0:39). A private Scottish school starts accepting Bitcoin(2:17). Kraken dives into stock trading (3:46). And Bhutan mines its way into the global crypto spotlight — sustainably (5:24).

This is your essential update on the forces shaping what's next in money.

More on stories and articles mentioned or referenced in this episode:

Crypto Bank Anchorage Probed by U.S. Homeland Security, by Rebecca Ungarino, Barron's (paid subscription required).

https://www.barrons.com/articles/homeland-security-probe-crypto-anchorage-c3c2725b

Scottish private school announces parents can pay fees using Bitcoin, by Calum Ross, The Scotsman.

https://www.scotsman.com/education/scottish-private-school-announces-parents-can-pay-fees-using-bitcoin-5080641

Kraken expands beyond crypto, offers U.S. stocks and ETFs trading commission-free, by Anand Sinha, The Street.

https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/innovation/kraken-expands-beyond-crypto-offers-u-s-stocks-and-etfs-trading-commission-free

Kraken Launches U.S.-Listed Stock & ETF Trading, Expanding Beyond Crypto, Business Wire.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250414231716/en/Kraken-Launches-U.S.-Listed-Stock-ETF-Trading-Expanding-Beyond-Crypto

Can Bitcoin save Bhutan's struggling economy? by Sarah Shamim, Al Jazeera.

https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/4/14/bitcoin-king-why-is-bhutan-betting-on-crypto

The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti

We unpack Binance's bold request to ditch its compliance monitor—and its curious ties to a Trump-backed stablecoin (0:38). We check in on Thailand's crackdown on foreign crypto platforms (2:28), hear how a Federer fan nearly got love-scammed out of her Bitcoin (3:48), and laugh/cry at the U.S. government's latest attempt to regulate digital assets… by disbanding its own crypto crime unit (5:16). All that, plus deepfakes, deception, and digital dollars—because the future of money is never boring.

This is your essential update on the forces shaping what's next in money.

More from stories and articles mentioned or referenced in this episode:

Binance Seeks to Curb U.S. Oversight While in Deal Talks with Trump's Crypto Company (paid subscription required), by Angus Berwick, Patricia Kowsmann, and Rebecca Ballhaus, Wall Street Journal.

https://www.wsj.com/finance/regulation/binance-world-liberty-financial-crypto-deals-70c817c3

Thailand Seeks to Regulate Foreign Cryptocurrency Platforms to Combat Online Financial Crime, by Li Zhong, Thailand Business News.

https://www.thailand-business-news.com/cryptocurrencies/208638-thailand-seeks-to-regulate-foreign-cryptocurrency-platforms-to-combat-online-financial-crime

Crypto scams surge in Israel as AI tech fuels sophisticated fraud, by Tal Shahaf, Ynet News.

https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/s121100r00r1l

Hirono, colleagues urge reinstatement of cryptocurrency prosecution team, by Michael Tsai, Spectrum News.

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/hi/hawaii/news/2025/04/11/hirono--colleagues-urge-restoration-of-cryptocurrency-prosecution-team

The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti

President Trump just overturned an IRS rule that could've smothered DeFi platforms in red tape (0:49). Meanwhile, New York's exploring blockchain-based voting (2:03), and NY Attorney General Letitia James is urging Congress to crack down on crypto fraud (3:17). Oh, and the World Food Program is now taking Bitcoin to help fight global hunger (4:43).

This is your essential update on the forces shaping what's next in money.

Stories and articles mentioned or referenced in this episode:

Trump signs resolution overturning IRS DeFi broker rule, By Vivian Nguyen, Crypto Briefing.

https://cryptobriefing.com/trump-overturns-irs-defi-rule/

Text of S.J. Res. 3.

https://www.congress.gov/119/bills/sjres3/BILLS-119sjres3es.pdf

Carey Bill to Eliminate Burdensome IRS DeFi Crypto Broker Rule Signed into Law by President Trump, Press Release.

https://carey.house.gov/2025/04/10/carey-bill-to-eliminate-burdensome-irs-defi-crypto-broker-rule-signed-into-law-by-president-trump/

Sen. Cruz Applauds Signing of Cryptocurrency Resolution into Law, Press Release.

https://www.cruz.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sen-cruz-applauds-signing-of-cryptocurrency-resolution-into-law

New York Bill Seeks Blockchain for Election Security, by Victor, Altcoin Buzz.

https://www.altcoinbuzz.io/cryptocurrency-news/new-york-bill-seeks-blockchain-for-election-security/

Assembly Bill A7716, The New York State Senate.

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A7716

AG James urges Congress to strengthen cryptocurrency regulation, Sun Community News.

https://suncommunitynews.com/news/117207/ag-james-urges-congress-to-strengthen-cryptocurrency-regulation/

World Food Program USA Now Accepts Cryptocurrencies, World Food Programme.

https://www.wfpusa.org/news-release/wfp-usa-now-accepts-cryptocurrencies/

The Giving Block website: https://thegivingblock.com

To donate to World Food Program USA, please visit https://wfpusa.org

The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti

A political firestorm in Argentina over the failed Libra token (0:41), Kraken's new partnership with Mastercard to make spending crypto as easy as cash (2:13), and Ukraine's ambitious proposal to tax and regulate digital assets (3:18). Plus, we cover Binance's latest move to simplify crypto purchases for everyday users (5:10).

This is your essential update on the forces shaping what's next in money.

Stories and articles mentioned or referenced in this episode:

Argentina Launches Congressional Investigation into $Libra Cryptocurrency Scandal, by Karthik Subramanian, Finance Feeds.

https://financefeeds.com/argentina-launches-congressional-investigation-into-libra-cryptocurrency-scandal/

Kraken and Mastercard enhance cryptocurrency payments in the UK and Europe, Arabic Trader.

https://www.arabictrader.com/en/news/cryptocurrencies/179354/kraken-and-mastercard-enhance-cryptocurrency-payments-in-the-uk-and-europe

Kraken to Launch Cryptocurrency Debit Card with Mastercard, by Son Min, Bloomingbit.

https://bloomingbit.io/en/feed/news/86299

Cryptocurrency taxation in Ukraine: what the National Securities Commission proposes, by Lilia Podolyak, UNN.

https://unn.ua/en/news/taxation-of-cryptocurrency-in-ukraine-what-the-nssmc-offers

Binance Adds Apple Pay and Google Pay for Easy Crypto Buys, by Victor, Altcoin Buzz.

https://www.altcoinbuzz.io/cryptocurrency-news/binance-adds-apple-pay-and-google-pay-for-easy-crypto-buys/

The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti

The Justice Department makes a sharp pivot on crypto enforcement (0:41), an FOIA lawsuit might crack open the mystery of Satoshi Nakamoto (2:18), and Ripple announces a massive $1.25B acquisition of Hidden Road (3:44). We also unpack the upcoming leadership shift at the Financial Stability Board and what it means for global crypto regulation (5:13).

This is your essential update on the forces shaping what's next in money.

Stories and articles mentioned or referenced in this episode:

US Justice Dept disbands cryptocurrency enforcement unit, by Sarah N. Lynch and Chris Prentice, Reuters.

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-justice-dept-disbands-cryptocurrency-enforcement-unit-2025-04-08/

Trump admin tells prosecutors to ease up on crypto enforcement, by Katherine Faulders, Alexander Mallin, and Aaron Katersky, ABC News.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-admin-tells-prosecutors-ease-crypto-enforcement/story?id=120589406

Crypto Attorney Sues US Government To Unmask Satoshi Nakamoto, Creator Of Bitcoin, by Aniket Verma, Benzinga Crypto.

https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44677671/does-the-us-government-know-who-is-satoshi-nakamoto-crypto-lawyer-sues-department-of-homeland-security-to-unravel-bitcoin-creators-identity

Crypto firm Ripple to buy primer broker Hidden Road for $1.25 billion, by Ryan Browne, CNBC.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/08/crypto-firm-ripple-to-buy-primer-broker-hidden-road-for-1point25-billion.html

Crypto Firm Ripple To Buy Broker Hidden Road For $1.3 Billion. What It Means For XRP, by Elsa Ohlen, Barron's (paid subscription required).

https://www.barrons.com/articles/xrp-ripple-crypto-acquisition-hidden-road-5782d1db

Financial Stability Board nominates Andrew Bailey to serve as its next Chair, Financial Stability Board official statement.

https://www.fsb.org/2025/04/financial-stability-board-nominates-andrew-bailey-to-serve-as-its-next-chair/

The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti

We zoom in on a car rental company in Montenegro that's now accepting Tether (USDT) for bookings, marking a regional first (0:35). We also explore Tether's potential plans for a U.S.-only stablecoin (2:12), a dangerous new phishing campaign called PoisonSeed targeting crypto wallets (3:43), and how Kyrgyzstan is partnering with Binance to integrate digital finance into its economy (4:59).

This is your essential update on the forces shaping what's next in money.

Stories and articles mentioned or referenced in this episode:

Sitngo Becomes the First Car Rental Service in Montenegro to Accept Cryptocurrency Payments, EIN Presswire.

https://wreg.com/business/press-releases/ein-presswire/799372476/sitngo-becomes-the-first-car-rental-service-in-montenegro-to-accept-cryptocurrency-payments/

Tether considers US-only stablecoin as Trump loosens crypto rules, Financial Times (paid subscription required).

https://www.ft.com/content/1b3cccad-ad33-4dd9-b2b6-1514f80e39ad/

Tether Weighs Launching 'Domestic Stablecoin' in the US, PYMNTS.

https://www.pymnts.com/cryptocurrency/2025/tether-weighs-launching-domestic-stablecoin-in-the-us/

PoisonSeed Exploits CRM Accounts to Launch Cryptocurrency Seed Phrase Poisoning Attacks, by Ravie Lakshmanan, The Hacker News.

https://thehackernews.com/2025/04/poisonseed-exploits-crm-accounts-to.html

Binance to Assist Kyrgyzstan in Developing Blockchain Infrastructure and Crypto Assets, by Sergey Kwan, Times of Central Asia.

https://timesca.com/binance-to-assist-kyrgyzstan-in-developing-blockchain-infrastructure-and-crypto-assets/

The music in this episode was composed by Liborio Conti, and you can find more of his fantastic work at his YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/liborioconti