The US Department of Justice has initiated forfeiture proceedings for more than $25 million in cryptocurrency recovered from five investigations into international investment and romance scams targeting victims in the United States and Canada.

The actions involve separate fraud operations that allegedly directed funds through overseas laundering networks, primarily in Southeast Asia. Authorities identified more than 270 victim transactions in one case and over 200 in another.

The largest recovery seeks approximately $12.1 million from a romance scam operation. Another investigation targets $10.4 million from fake investment platforms. Three additional cases from the US capital region seek roughly $1.2 million, $2.4 million and $285,000 respectively.

Prosecutors are pursuing civil forfeiture to allow potential victim compensation. The cases highlight common laundering patterns across jurisdictions including China, Malaysia and Cambodia.

The actions contribute to more than $800 million recovered through the Scam Center Strike Force, launched in November 2025. The initiative focuses on disrupting international fraud networks and recovering assets for victims.

Federal agencies continue using blockchain analysis to trace illicit funds in similar investigations. The latest efforts underscore ongoing enforcement against cyber-enabled financial crimes.

South Korea has initiated a 9.6 billion won project to integrate deposit token payments into commercial transactions, expanding the Bank of Korea’s wholesale central bank digital currency pilot.

The Korea Internet & Security Agency and the Ministry of Science and ICT announced the initiative on July 22. Nine commercial banks, eight payment providers and two major merchants will participate in developing and testing the system.

The project will connect existing payment networks with the central bank’s infrastructure, allowing consumers to use deposit token wallets for payments while merchants retain current point-of-sale terminals. It aims to reduce settlement costs for small businesses and improve transparency through programmable features.

Government agencies plan to apply the technology to public spending and treasury management via the digital public finance platform. Approximately 3 billion won of the budget supports small and medium-sized enterprises and startups in blockchain development.

The effort builds on Project Hangang and aligns with broader plans for won convertibility and stablecoin regulation under the proposed Digital Asset Basic Act. Banks will invest an additional 4.5 billion won in related infrastructure.

The program represents an early step toward commercial use of deposit tokens, distinguishing them from privately issued stablecoins while preparing for wider adoption.

Bitget plans to establish operations in the United States through a locally regulated entity, according to chief executive Gracy Chen.

The exchange intends to seek money-transmitter, derivatives and broker-dealer approvals before offering services to US customers. Chen said the company’s decision to enter the market does not depend on passage of the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act.

Bitget previously considered a US presence in 2022 but paused amid heightened regulatory scrutiny. The company is now reviving those efforts with a focus on compliance. It has applied for authorization under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation in Austria and holds registrations in other jurisdictions such as Argentina.

Chen noted discussions with the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq regarding tokenized traditional assets. Tokenized equities currently represent 20 percent to 30 percent of Bitget’s spot trading volume, with more than $100 million in assets under such products.

The exchange confirmed it holds no license from Singapore’s Monetary Authority and maintains restricted access for users there. Chen emphasized a strategy of securing local approvals before launching services in each market.

The CLARITY Act would provide clearer federal oversight for digital assets if enacted, but Bitget’s US timeline is not contingent on its progress. The company continues preparing its independent US entity.

Uphold has launched trading in more than 4,000 US stocks and exchange-traded funds, allowing eligible customers to fund equity purchases directly from supported cryptocurrencies within its platform.

The service enables one-step transitions from crypto to securities, converting assets to US dollars before execution through Uphold’s registered broker-dealer subsidiary. It supports fractional shares with minimum investments as low as $5, subject to approval.

Uphold Securities handles equity trades as a FINRA and SIPC member broker-dealer. Crypto assets remain separate and do not receive SIPC protection. The company plans to introduce extended weekday trading hours.

President of Uphold US Nancy Beaton stated that customers seek integrated access to all investments, including cryptocurrencies, in one application. The feature eliminates the need to transfer funds between separate crypto and brokerage platforms.

The launch aligns with broader moves by cryptocurrency companies into traditional securities markets. It differs from tokenized stock offerings by using conventional brokerage execution while maintaining a seamless user interface.

Uphold connects to multiple trading venues and operates in over 140 countries. The new service is available to eligible US customers and expands the platform’s multi-asset capabilities.

Coinbase is preparing to introduce its Everything Exchange platform in Canada, combining tokenized stocks, traditional financial products and blockchain services in a single application for local users.

Country director Eric Richmond said the expansion follows initial establishment of a regulated crypto exchange in Canada. The next phase focuses on delivering a comprehensive financial experience powered by blockchain technology.

Coinbase intends to launch tokenized stocks for international customers later this month. The assets will represent 1:1 ownership of underlying shares, providing access to dividends and voting rights. Richmond noted that tokenization could broaden access to certain equities and improve collateral management.

The company is monitoring Canada’s stablecoin regulatory developments. Richmond highlighted the potential for regulated Canadian dollar stablecoins to function as payment instruments, enabling faster and lower-cost cross-border transfers. He cited June stablecoin transaction volume of $1.8 trillion, a 125 percent increase from the prior year.

Coinbase recently obtained authorization under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets framework through Luxembourg. The platform continues international expansion while adapting services to local regulatory requirements in various markets.

Richmond emphasized that blockchain can address limitations in traditional finance, such as restricted operating hours and slower settlement times. The company aims to offer Canadian customers a broader range of products through one integrated platform.

BscScan, a primary blockchain explorer for BNB Smart Chain, will undergo scheduled maintenance beginning July 22 at 6 a.m. UTC, potentially affecting its website and API services for three to four hours.

The maintenance will not impact the underlying BNB Smart Chain network, which will continue processing blocks and transactions normally. Users may experience temporary difficulty viewing transaction details, addresses or contract information through BscScan during this period.

Alternative explorers such as BSCTrace and OKLink remain available for tracking BNB Chain activity, including transactions, wallet addresses, tokens and smart contracts. These services operate independently and can provide similar functionality.

Developers relying on BscScan APIs should consider backup data providers or direct RPC connections to minimize disruptions. Traders monitoring decentralized exchange activity can use platforms such as DEX Screener for price and liquidity information.

The distinction between the blockchain network and its explorer tools is important. Maintenance on BscScan does not affect transaction confirmation or decentralized application performance on BNB Smart Chain. Users are advised to verify full addresses regardless of the explorer used.

Galaxy Digital has established a $5 million initiative to support developers working on technologies to protect Bitcoin against potential future quantum computing threats.

The Bitcoin Quantum Readiness Initiative will fund research into quantum-resistant signature schemes, wallet migration tools and security audits. The company called for broader industry collaboration, including additional funding and technical contributions from other institutions.

Galaxy noted that while current quantum computers cannot break Bitcoin’s cryptography, advances could accelerate. Preparing the network for post-quantum standards is expected to require years of coordination among developers, wallet providers, exchanges and users.

Research firm CryptoQuant estimates that approximately 6.9 million Bitcoin could become vulnerable in such a scenario, representing about $461 billion at current prices. Galaxy emphasized the need for early preparation to avoid disruptions.

The program adds to Galaxy’s expanding activities in digital assets. It recently obtained New York licenses for trading and custody services and launched a $100 million hedge fund focused on cryptocurrency-related opportunities. The company also secured naming rights for a university football stadium and continues developing data center capacity.

Satsuma Technology shareholders have voted to sell the company’s Bitcoin holdings, return most available capital and cancel its London Stock Exchange listing.

More than 90 percent of votes supported both the capital return and delisting at a general meeting on July 20. The decision reverses a Bitcoin treasury strategy launched after a $218 million fundraising in 2025.

The company will use a B Share scheme for distributions, with a record date of August 3. It plans to seek High Court approval and aims to complete the delisting on September 14. Satsuma holds 668 Bitcoin, with estimated net proceeds for shareholders between £27.7 million and £30.9 million after costs.

The board was divided on the proposal, with four directors recommending against it and two in favor. Shareholders representing more than 20 percent of capital initiated the push for liquidation.

The company raised £163.6 million through convertible notes last year, with investors contributing Bitcoin directly. It later sold portions of its holdings to meet obligations, leaving it with 668 Bitcoin. The share price had declined significantly relative to asset value.

Satsuma expects to retain approximately £2 million in working capital post-distribution and may pursue a reverse takeover as a cash shell. The capital return is subject to court confirmation.

Payments platform Ramp has launched stablecoin accounts powered by Solana, enabling businesses to hold USDC and USDT and conduct cross-border transactions around the clock.

The feature integrates stablecoin balances directly into Ramp’s existing financial workflows, allowing companies to pay vendors in more than 140 countries or convert funds to local currencies in over 40 markets. Payments can originate from US dollar bank accounts or Ramp Checking and settle via stablecoins.

Businesses benefit from unified dashboards, approval processes and accounting integrations. Eligible stablecoin balances can earn rewards of up to 3.25 percent. The accounts are designed for payments and treasury management rather than investment purposes.

More than 1,000 businesses already use stablecoins through the platform, with over 70 percent of related payment volume occurring outside traditional banking hours. Totalis chief executive Pravesh Mansharamani noted the value of programmable, always-available money for corporate treasury needs.

The launch reflects broader adoption of stablecoins for institutional payments. It adds to Solana’s enterprise initiatives, including partnerships for yen stablecoins in Japan and stablecoin payment pilots in South Korea.

Ramp continues expanding its infrastructure to bridge traditional and blockchain-based payment systems for regulated business use.

Twenty One Capital has terminated its proposed merger with Strike, the Bitcoin financial services company founded by Jack Mallers.

Mallers has stepped down as chief executive of Twenty One to focus on Strike, which will continue operating independently. Raphael Zagury, founder of Elektron Energy, has assumed the role of chief executive at Twenty One effective July 20.

The original plan had envisioned combining Twenty One’s Bitcoin treasury operations, Strike’s payments and lending platform, and Elektron’s mining business. Discussions between Twenty One and Elektron remain ongoing but have not reached a definitive agreement.

Tether, which holds a majority stake in Twenty One, had backed the broader consolidation announced in April. The company is now shifting toward operating businesses, capital markets activities and Bitcoin-backed financial products.

Zagury stated that his focus will be building sustainable operations around Twenty One’s Bitcoin holdings, with emphasis on cash flow and capital allocation. Mallers described the decision as aligning with his commitment to Bitcoin-focused development through Strike.

The changes follow Tether’s acquisition of SoftBank’s stake in Twenty One earlier this year.