ChainCatcher news, according to Decrypt, the latest research by the international NGO Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) shows that the use of cryptocurrency in criminal activities in the Western Balkans (including countries like Albania and Serbia) continues to expand, primarily involving money laundering, drug trafficking, and illegal mining. The core data is as follows:Scale and Patterns of CrimeThe annual cryptocurrency transaction volume in the Western Balkans reaches $25 billion to $30 billion, with tens of millions of euros directly linked to criminal networks, funds are transferred through cryptocurrency wallets and used for legitimate business investments.Montenegro has become a key node for darknet cryptocurrency transactions, and Albania and Serbia have recently seen instances of using cryptocurrency to launder drug trafficking funds.Law Enforcement ChallengesThe region has recorded only 3 cases of cryptocurrency seizures to date (all occurring in the last three years), with the most recent case involving an Albanian criminal group from November 2024 to January 2025, seizing $10 million in crypto assets.Among the six countries, only Albania, Serbia, and Kosovo have enacted laws related to digital assets, but the implementation rules in Kosovo have yet to come into effect.Regulatory and Collaborative ShortcomingsThe EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) has not yet covered the non-member Western Balkans, and there is insufficient cross-border tracking technological capability.GI-TOC senior analyst Sasa Djordjevic pointed out the need to accelerate the adoption of FATF anti-money laundering standards, strengthen collaboration with Europol and Interpol, and deploy blockchain analysis tools to enhance law enforcement efficiency.The research warns that if the regulatory framework and law enforcement capabilities do not upgrade in sync, the cryptocurrency crime problem in the region will continue to worsen.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Block, cryptocurrency market maker Wintermute announced that it will open its first U.S. headquarters in downtown Manhattan, New York, on June 1. At the same time, the company appointed policy veteran Ron Hammond as the head of policy and communications. Hammond previously served as the senior director of government relations at the Blockchain Association and was involved in the development of several regulatory bills for the cryptocurrency industry.Wintermute CEO Evgeny Gaevoy stated, "As the U.S. policy towards digital assets and blockchain innovation becomes more friendly, we decided to act swiftly to establish a foothold in New York City, the financial capital of the world." This move comes as the Trump administration has taken a supportive stance towards the cryptocurrency industry, including the appointment of pro-crypto regulatory agency heads.

ChainCatcher news, according to South Korean media News1, South Korean actress Hwang Jung-eum has been sued for allegedly misappropriating company funds and investing in cryptocurrency.The prosecution alleges that Hwang Jung-eum misappropriated approximately 4.34 billion won (about 3.2 million USD) in company funds by December 2022, including 700 million won borrowed under the guise of an advance payment. Hwang Jung-eum has admitted to the relevant charges and is currently being prosecuted without detention.

ChainCatcher news, Telegram conducted a large-scale ban on accounts related to crypto crimes on May 13, leading to the dark web market Haowang Guarantee, formerly known as Huione Guarantee, announcing that it would cease operations immediately. The platform previously offered services such as cryptocurrency laundering, scam tools, and deepfake software through Telegram, with a total transaction volume reaching up to $27 billion, primarily using Tether (USDT) for transactions.

ChainCatcher news, Chainalysis CEO Jonathan Levin pointed out at the 2025 Consensus crypto conference that recent kidnappings targeting individuals in the crypto industry and their families in Paris stem from a misunderstanding by criminal organizations regarding the traceability of cryptocurrencies.Levin stated that although law enforcement has made significant progress in tracking stolen funds and crypto ransom payments, leading to numerous arrests, some criminal organizations still mistakenly believe that cryptocurrencies are untraceable, which has led to these criminal acts.

ChainCatcher news, HabitTrade is a one-stop global asset trading platform dedicated to enhancing asset utilization efficiency and breaking down investment barriers between the crypto and traditional financial markets. The platform allows users to settle in USDT or release purchasing power through bi-directional staking of stocks and cryptocurrencies, covering a variety of products including US stocks, Hong Kong stocks, ETFs, options, money market funds, and cryptocurrencies. Users can directly deposit mainstream crypto assets such as USDT, BTC, and ETH without the need for conversion, entering the global asset trading scene in 0 seconds, truly realizing "assets as trading power."It is reported that the platform is also actively exploring partnerships with institutions, hoping to serve as a supplement to their trading categories and resource channels, providing Web3 users with a more convenient and efficient investment experience, unlocking the potential for cross-market operations.In addition, HabitTrade has launched a limited-time trading event: users who complete a specified number of trading days can unlock the highest "lifetime commission-free" privilege; users who meet the deposit requirements and maintain the corresponding asset levels during the event period also have the chance to receive additional stock rewards of up to $1,000.

ChainCatcher news, according to CryptoSlate, Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan stated that the financial advisory sector is undergoing a significant shift in cryptocurrency investment. He anticipates that by the end of 2025, most major institutions will open access to cryptocurrency exchange-traded products (ETPs).Hougan pointed out that the allocation of institutional investments in cryptocurrency is changing, with a 5% allocation of cryptocurrency in portfolios becoming the new normal.

ChainCatcher message indicates that, according to SoSoValue data, the encrypted market sector is generally experiencing a pullback. The Layer2 and GameFi sectors, which saw significant gains yesterday, fell by 7.02% and 6.99% respectively. Within the Layer2 sector, Starknet (STRK) dropped 9.64% in 24 hours, while Celestia (TIA) fell 9.72%. In the GameFi sector, Axie Infinity (AXS) and Decentraland (MANA) decreased by 9.05% and 10.65% respectively.Additionally, Ethereum (ETH) started to retreat after breaking through $2700 yesterday, dropping 3.52% in 24 hours and falling below $2600. Bitcoin (BTC) decreased by 0.68%, but remains around $103,000.In other sectors, the PayFi sector fell by 1.85%, and the CeFi sector declined by 1.99%, with LEO Token (LEO) and Amp (AMP) rising against the trend by 2.00% and 13.75% respectively; the Layer1 sector dropped by 4.53%, while TRON (TRX) saw a slight increase of 0.55%; the Meme sector decreased by 4.60%, and the DeFi sector fell by 4.86%, with Ethena (ENA) dropping 8.85%.The cryptocurrency sector indices reflecting historical market trends show that the ssiLayer2, ssiGameFi, and ssiSocialFi indices fell by 7.89%, 7.11%, and 6.02% respectively in 24 hours.

ChainCatcher news, according to Coincentral, Ukraine is developing a legal framework for holding Bitcoin in its national reserves, with a specialized parliamentary committee led by financial officials finalizing the legislative draft.Senior lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak confirmed that Ukraine plans to establish a cryptocurrency reserve infrastructure, and he is responsible for overseeing the preparation of the relevant legal draft. The proposal aims to regulate the country's acquisition, storage, and management of Bitcoin reserves, striving to align with the cryptocurrency regulations expected to be introduced in 2025. The law will support the holding of digital assets for national fiscal planning, and authorities will ensure transparency, compliance, and oversight by the central bank and regulatory bodies.It is reported that Ukraine is receiving support from Binance to establish a national Bitcoin reserve, with cooperation including guidance on the reserve mechanism and technical infrastructure, and both parties are actively discussing the implementation of the reserve strategy. Additionally, Ukraine plans to coordinate with the national bank and the International Monetary Fund to pass a comprehensive digital asset law by early 2025, covering fiscal policy formulation, exchange regulations, anti-money laundering measures, and capital gains tax, clarifying the legal responsibilities of market participants and state institutions.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cryptoslate, Spanish law enforcement has teamed up with Europol to crack a large-scale transnational cryptocurrency money laundering case. The criminal organization laundered money for criminal groups in China and the Arab region through cryptocurrency transactions, with an amount involved exceeding 20 million euros.It is reported that the operation searched 14 locations and arrested 17 suspects, of which 15 have been detained pending trial. Law enforcement seized over 205,000 euros in cash, digital assets worth 183,000 euros, 18 luxury cars, and properties valued at approximately 2.5 million euros.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, Bo Hines, the executive director of the White House Digital Asset Advisory Committee, stated at the Consensus 2025 conference in Toronto that despite challenges in the legislative process, the Trump administration still plans to complete the signing of bills related to stablecoins and market structure before the August congressional recess. Hines emphasized that current legislative negotiations are actively progressing, and the government remains optimistic about this timeline.In response to recent public skepticism regarding the Trump family's involvement in the cryptocurrency business, Hines stated that the president's children, as private business entities, have the legal right to participate in the capital markets and believe that digital assets represent the future direction of the financial industry. He also made it clear that reports about companies purchasing TRUMP tokens will not affect presidential decision-making.Additionally, Hines confirmed that the White House working group is still researching specific implementation plans for establishing a Bitcoin strategic reserve program. This statement continues the Trump administration's policy direction to maintain the United States' leading position in the digital asset space.

ChainCatcher news, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong stated in an interview that the future of cryptocurrency will be integrated into the mainstream retirement financial system, becoming a part of everyone's 401(k) accounts. He emphasized that as the regulatory framework becomes clearer, the long-term allocation status of crypto assets will continue to strengthen.

ChainCatcher news, according to FinanceFeeds, former House Financial Services Committee Chairman Patrick McHenry stated that former SEC Chairman Gary Gensler has a much more moderate attitude towards digital assets in private than in public.Patrick McHenry mentioned in the "American Cryptocurrency" podcast that in private discussions, Gensler expressed appreciation for the potential of blockchain and digital assets—this stands in stark contrast to his aggressive regulatory stance during his leadership at the SEC. McHenry recalled that Gensler often referenced his time at MIT, where he taught courses on blockchain and digital currencies, noting that he recognized the value of digital assets and understood blockchain technology.Others who worked with Gensler during his academic career also confirmed this perspective. Sei Labs General Counsel Gerald Gallagher pointed out that Gensler contributed to the early conceptualization of token airdrops—a detail that is rarely mentioned in his public biography.

ChainCatcher news, according to France24, French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau will convene cryptocurrency industry professionals this Friday to discuss how to prevent the increasing number of kidnapping incidents targeting cryptocurrency entrepreneurs. This move comes swiftly in response to an incident in downtown Paris where armed assailants attempted to kidnap the daughter and grandson of a CEO of a cryptocurrency trading platform.Recently, France has witnessed several violent kidnapping cases targeting cryptocurrency millionaires, including the heinous incident where Ledger co-founder David Balland was kidnapped and had his fingers severed. The Interior Minister stated that measures will be taken to protect the safety of cryptocurrency practitioners and their families, while also promising to track down the criminals "no matter where they hide."

ChainCatcher news, according to The Guardian, former General Secretary of the Labour Party and current member of the House of Lords Iain McNicol has publicly apologized for violating parliamentary conduct rules.An investigation revealed that McNicol sent a letter to the Treasury promoting the cryptocurrency company Astra Protocol in June 2023, while he was receiving a monthly consultancy fee from the company. The House of Lords Commissioner for Standards, Margaret Obi, determined that this constituted "providing paid parliamentary services," which is a violation of the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament.