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AllUnity Launches SEKAU, a Fully Reserved Swedish Krona Stablecoin

AllUnity is extending its MiCA-regulated stablecoin lineup with SEKAU, a Swedish krona-backed token designed for institutional settlement and cross-border payments. The company said the new stablecoin is issued under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) as an e-money token, with reserves held in segregated Swedish krona accounts. The release also highlights how issuers are adapting to MiCA’s framework by moving beyond “early-stage” token concepts and toward bank- and infrastructure-style custody and settlement. AllUnity’s SEKAU follows its earlier Swiss franc stablecoin rollout, reinforcing a multi-currency strategy built for different blockchain ecosystems. Key takeaways SEKAU is a Swedish krona stablecoin issued under MiCA as an e-money token, backed 1:1 by segregated SEK reserves. Banking Circle will hold and manage the reserves, with Marginalen Bank supporting the rollout as a banking partner. SEKAU launches on five networks—Ethereum, Solana, Base, Tempo, and P...
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Microsoft Warns of USB-Based “Crypto Clipper” Malware Spread

Microsoft Threat Intelligence has issued a warning to Windows users about a cryptocurrency clipper malware strain that spreads through USB drives and has been active since February. The attack is designed to harvest wallet credentials directly from users’ clipboard activity and then maintain control of infected machines through a persistent “worm-like” component. In a security blog post published Wednesday, Microsoft described how the malware combines rapid clipboard theft with screenshot capture and wallet-address substitution—turning routine wallet copying into a monetization path for attackers. Microsoft also said the malware can propagate to removable media without relying on a traditional installer or exposed IP-based infrastructure, increasing the challenge of blocking it with conventional perimeter defenses. Key takeaways Microsoft says the crypto clipper has been affecting Windows users since February and spreads via USB devices. The malware targets “high-value financial ar...

Algorand Targets Broad Quantum Resilience by 2027

Algorand has unveiled a roadmap aimed at making its network resistant to future quantum computing attacks. The plan, discussed by Algorand Foundation technology chief Bruno Martins, targets upgrades to the protocol’s infrastructure by the end of 2027. The move comes as researchers and security agencies increasingly warn that sufficiently capable quantum computers could eventually undermine today’s widely used cryptographic schemes. While quantum hardware is still in early development, businesses and regulators are already planning for “migration” to quantum-safe cryptography rather than waiting for a break to occur. Key takeaways Algorand says it will pursue broad “quantum resilience” with protocol and cryptographic upgrades scheduled through end-2027. The roadmap includes shifting to quantum-resistant signatures based on Falcon for new accounts involved in consensus. Algorand also plans to update parts of its consensus design that currently rely on cryptography it says is not qu...

BlackRock’s Jay Jacobs: US Crypto ETFs Draw Bitcoin Investors to TradFi

BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF is doing more than simply introducing mainstream investors to crypto, according to Jay Jacobs, the firm’s US head of equity ETFs. In remarks shared with Cointelegraph on its Chain Reaction podcast, Jacobs said that many investors who first buy BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) go on to explore other traditional exchange-traded funds—suggesting a two-way bridge between Wall Street and digital assets. Jacobs also highlighted BlackRock’s broader framing of market convergence, arguing that investors increasingly view decentralized finance, active strategies, and traditional index products as components of a single portfolio toolkit rather than as mutually exclusive categories. The comments arrived alongside BlackRock’s launch of a new Bitcoin-income product, the iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF (BITA), which generates yield by selling covered call options on Bitcoin holdings. Key takeaways BlackRock says a large share of IBIT buyers are first-time ET...

Wealthsimple Adds Kalshi-Powered Prediction Markets for Canada

Canadian fintech Wealthsimple is preparing to launch a new prediction markets app, Wealthsimple Predict , built on Kalshi contracts. The rollout—scheduled for this summer—aims to give Canadian retail investors regulated access to thousands of event-based contracts across themes such as financial markets, economic indicators and climate. The move follows a regulatory green light earlier this year from the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) , which authorized Kalshi to offer certain prediction market contracts in Canada. Investors will receive the contracts through Wealthsimple’s standalone interface, but the underlying structure remains tied to Kalshi’s exchange listings and Canadian derivative rules. Key takeaways Wealthsimple Predict is scheduled for summer and will provide Canadian users access to roughly 4,000 Kalshi event contracts. CIRO authorization in March means the contracts are treated as regulated derivatives , with settlement periods of at least 30 da...

CFTC Settlement: Mashinsky Hit With Permanent Trading Ban

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has concluded its remaining enforcement matter against Alex Mashinsky, the founder of failed crypto lender Celsius Network, permanently banning him from trading in markets overseen by the CFTC. The regulator said the action was resolved through a court consent order. According to the CFTC, the settlement also prevents Mashinsky from ever registering with the agency, bringing to a close a case the CFTC first filed in 2023. The development is significant for compliance stakeholders because it further delineates enforcement risk for individuals associated with crypto lending platforms that marketed financial returns and interacted with digital-asset markets. Key takeaways The CFTC permanently bars Alex Mashinsky from trading CFTC-regulated commodities, futures, and derivatives. A consent order also prohibits Mashinsky from ever registering with the CFTC, effectively ending the CFTC enforcement action filed in 2023. The regulator s...

Celsius Founder Mashinsky Hit With Permanent Trading Ban in CFTC Settlement

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has brought its case against Alex Mashinsky to a close, issuing an order that permanently bars the Celsius Network founder from trading in markets the agency oversees. The decision also prevents him from ever registering with the CFTC and ends the enforcement action the CFTC initiated in 2023. In a statement issued Thursday, the CFTC said the resolution was formalized through a court consent order. The regulator stated that Mashinsky and Celsius “engaged in a scheme to defraud hundreds of thousands of customers” by allegedly misrepresenting the safety, profitability, and regulatory compliance of Celsius’ digital asset-based finance platform. The order means Mashinsky will be unable to participate in US commodities, futures, and derivatives trading subject to CFTC jurisdiction. Key takeaways The CFTC permanently bars Alex Mashinsky from trading US commodities, futures, and derivatives regulated by the agency. The settlement also pro...