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2 May 2026, 12:14
Farage drawn into $6.8M crypto probe as pay-to-play allegations spread
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is under investigation by the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner after he was accused of failing to declare a gift worth roughly £5 million ($6.75 million). Parliamentary disclosure rules dictate that members of parliament must declare any donations received in the year before an election within one month of taking office. UK leader Nigel Farage dips into crypto The Conservative Party is alleging that Reform UK leader Nigel Farage broke House of Commons disclosure rules. Under current regulations, MPs must declare any donation or gift received in the year before an election within 30 days of taking office. However, Farage failed to declare a gift worth £5 million ($6.75 million) from a cryptocurrency billionaire. The billionaire in question is Christopher Harborne, an early investor in Tether (USDT) and the Bitfinex exchange. Mr. Harborne, who lives in Thailand, is reportedly one of the largest donors in British political history who provided roughly two-thirds of Reform UK’s funding last year. Farage has acknowledged receiving the money from Harborne, but he insists it was a personal gift given to him for security costs before he announced his candidacy in the 2024 general election. The payment reportedly falls under a parliamentary exemption for “purely personal gifts.” Cryptopolitan previously reported that Harborne donated over £10 million in installments to Farage’s Brexit Party ahead of its 2019 campaign, and paid £28,000 for Farage to attend the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Farage recently purchased £2 million in Bitcoin through Stack, a UK-listed Bitcoin treasury firm, making him the first sitting MP and first UK party leader to publicly buy Bitcoin. Through his investment vehicle, Thorn In The Side Ltd, he purchased £2 million ($2.7 million) in shares of Stack BTC Plc (AQSE: STAK), a UK-listed firm that functions as a Bitcoin treasury. Farage currently holds a 6.31% stake in Stack. Recently, Reform published a draft bill promising to deregulate the crypto industry and drastically cut taxes on digital asset transactions. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is currently reviewing a proposal to investigate whether or not Farage’s actions constitute attempted market abuse, like the liberal democrats claim, and has stated it will respond directly. Pattern recognition in Washington The accusations against Farage are similar to conflict-of-interest controversies that currently center on crypto-linked politicians in the United States. Cryptopolitan previously reported several probes led by Democrats into President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago memecoin event in April for top purchasers of his $TRUMP memecoin. Richard Painter, a former ethics adviser to President George W. Bush, called Trump’s event “a dangerous conflict of interest” and a “use of public office for private gain.” U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ron Wyden sent letters this week to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino, regarding an investigation into a reported loan from Tether to a trust benefiting Secretary Lutnick’s four children. The senators wrote that the loan was arranged the day after Lutnick divested his stake in Cantor Fitzgerald to his children. They are investigating whether foreign crypto interests are attempting to “bribe or otherwise exert control or influence” over U.S. policy, specifically regarding the recent GENIUS Act stablecoin legislation. Tether also previously faced scrutiny from the Department of Justice for potential violations of anti-money laundering rules and sanctions. Your bank is using your money. You’re getting the scraps. Watch our free video on becoming your own bank
2 May 2026, 11:23
MegaETH MEGA Token Launch and ETH Impact
Ethereum L2 MegaETH launched the MEGA token. Despite a 30% drop after launch, 176M$ MC. Liquidity is increasing with Coinbase futures listing. ETH 2.301$ (+0.84%), strong supports. Performance-base...
2 May 2026, 09:24
Grinex to repay 1B ruble in client losses after hack
The recently hacked cryptocurrency exchange Grinex intends to compensate customers for stolen assets worth over a billion Russian rubles. The Kyrgyzstan-based coin trading platform is best known for helping Russia circumvent Western sanctions imposed over its invasion of Ukraine. Grinex promises compensation for those affected by massive hack The largest exchange in the Russian-speaking segment of the crypto market, Grinex, has decided to pay clients for assets lost in a hacking attack last month. The Kyrgyz-registered platform was breached in mid-April with the unknown perpetrators draining an estimated 1 billion rubles’ worth of cryptocurrency. The funds, currently worth over $13 million, remain in wallets controlled by the attackers, representatives of the exchange told the leading Russian crypto news outlet Bits.media on Friday. While the digital coins are not available for immediate return, they have been already marked as “stolen” by international anti-money laundering services, they emphasized. Russian police have opened an investigation into the case. The exchange shared all gathered information with law enforcement in Russia, where most of its clients reside. The hackers withdrew Tether (USDT) from 54 addresses, most of which on the Tron network, and transferred them to two wallets on the same blockchain, according to the AML analytics firm CoinKit. The assets, valued at $13 to $15 million at the time, were then converted to Tron tokens (TRX) through the decentralized platform SunSwap (Sun.io). They were eventually consolidated into a single address – TH9kgjfrKeTNeyXtDKvxCXZ1dVKr7neKVa – the report further detailed. Grinex offers customers to first withdraw A7A5 stablecoins The exchange halted all deposits and withdrawals on its Grinex.io website when it discovered the breach, initially posting on Telegram it’s “experiencing a technical break” late on April 15. In a statement published Thursday, it announced its intention “to work on compensating users” for the assets stolen in the attack, which it described as “prolonged, complex, and highly technical.” Affected clients will be able to first withdraw holdings in A7A5, the ruble-pegged stablecoin believed to have processed over $100 billion in transactions since its launch in early 2025. The crypto trading platform admitted the funds “have been consolidated in the attackers’ public wallet and are inaccessible for recovery” but emphasized: “Grinex management has made a strategic decision to compensate for the stolen assets and to raise funds for this. The team is working to restore the infrastructure and is developing mechanisms for future compensation. The first step will be the withdrawal of the ruble stablecoin A7A5.” “Finding ways to compensate clients remains our absolute priority,” a spokesperson stressed, adding the company is collaborating with leading experts in the fields of blockchain forensics and cybersecurity. The exchange also said it considers the hack an “unprecedented” example of a hybrid attack, combining infrastructure hacking and theft of funds. It further noted that the case represents a new stage in attempts to influence Russia’s emerging crypto industry. The country prepares to regulate its digital-asset market by the summer. Grinex set to continue to play its role in sanctions evasion In another Telegram post on April 16, Grinex alleged it had been hit by “Western intelligence agencies.” The claim was disputed by analysts at the compliance platform BitOK. Grinex was established in Kyrgyzstan last spring as the successor of the Russian exchange Garantex, which was busted in a U.S.-led operation in March 2025. It is the main trading platform for A7A5, the largest non-dollar stablecoin, believed to be widely used by Russian players to bypass international financial restrictions. Grinex, as well as a number of entities related to the ruble-denominated cryptocurrency, have been targeted in sanctions by the U.S., the EU, and the U.K. These include the Russian company A7, the coin’s alleged creator, and the Kyrgyzstan-incorporated Old Vector, its current issuer. Powerful oligarchs and state-owned Russian banks have been profiting from the schemes designed to evade sanctions imposed by the West, as recently reported by Cryptopolitan. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .
2 May 2026, 08:00
US CLARITY Act Moves Closer To Law After Surprise Stablecoin Yield Update
Prediction market traders on Polymarket put the odds of the CLARITY Act becoming law in 2026 at 55% — a jump of nine percentage points in a single day — after two US senators released final language settling one of the bill’s most contested disputes. Related Reading: Bitcoin’s Defenders Launch ‘Evidence Base’ In Battle Against FUD Banks Got Restrictions, Crypto Got Rewards The new text, published Friday by Senators Thom Tillis and Angela Alsobrooks, draws a clear line on stablecoin yields. No crypto firm may pay customers any form of interest simply for holding stablecoins — a practice that critics argued mimicked bank deposits and put traditional lenders at a disadvantage. But firms are allowed to offer rewards tied to what the bill calls “bona fide activities,” meaning actual use of crypto platforms or networks. Coinbase chief legal officer Faryar Shirzad called the outcome a win for consumers. “In the end, the banks were able to get more restrictions on rewards, but we protected what matters,” Shirzad said, referring to Americans’ ability to earn rewards through real crypto usage. The final rewards text in the CLARITY Act is now public. We’ve been clear throughout this process: much of this debate was based on imagined risks, not real evidence, nor was it based on a real understanding of how crypto actually works. Nevertheless, the crypto industry showed… https://t.co/XoQ7Zp1Y39 — Faryar Shirzad 🛡️ (@faryarshirzad) May 1, 2026 Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong was blunter. His response to the news: “Mark it up” — a direct call for the Senate Banking Committee to move the bill forward. Not everyone was satisfied. Helius Labs CEO Mert Mumtaz offered a sharper take, saying the result simply meant Americans could not earn risk-free yield on their dollars without going through a bank. Image: MetaAI Senate Markup Could Come As Early As May 11 Galaxy Digital head of firmwide research Alex Thorn said the release of the final text signals that the Senate Banking Committee could schedule a markup as soon as the week of May 11. That would mark a significant acceleration for legislation that had stalled for months, partly because the stablecoin yield question had no agreed answer. 🚨 CLARITY ACT — text of tillis (R) / alsobrooks (D) compromise on stablecoin yield is out now they previously said they had “agreement in principle” release of text suggests that senate banking will schedule markup imminently, as soon as week of may 11 pic.twitter.com/5COMHE8IJu — Alex Thorn (@intangiblecoins) May 1, 2026 Thorn also flagged a likely complication. He expects banks to step up their opposition once the markup is on the calendar, a warning that the compromise text may not be the end of the fight — just the start of a new one. The broader timeline had already been set by several senators. Bernie Moreno said he expects the bill to get done by the end of May. Senator Cynthia Lummis put it more starkly in April: “It’s now or never.” BTCUSD trading at $78,205 on the 24-hour chart: TradingView Related Reading: XRP Could See Fresh Demand As Japan’s Rakuten Unlocks Loyalty Point Conversions A Long-Running Dispute Pushed To The Side The stablecoin yield debate had been one of the main obstacles holding up the CLARITY Act, a bill designed to give the US crypto industry clearer regulatory ground to stand on. With that dispute now resolved — at least on paper — attention shifts to the rest of the legislation. Featured image from MetaAI, chart from TradingView
2 May 2026, 07:15
Bithumb Court Victory: Impact on BTC Market
Seoul Court cancels Bithumb's operating ban. FIU's money laundering violations fine halted by the court. South Korea's largest exchange Bithumb maintains its leadership in BTC volume. While regulat...
2 May 2026, 06:30
Revealing the Surprising BTC Perp Long/Short Ratios on Top Exchanges
BitcoinWorld Revealing the Surprising BTC Perp Long/Short Ratios on Top Exchanges The cryptocurrency market constantly watches the BTC perp long/short ratios for signals of trader sentiment. On April 1, 2025, data from the three largest crypto futures exchanges by open interest reveals a nearly balanced market. The overall ratio stands at 49.96% long positions versus 50.04% short positions. This near-even split suggests indecision among traders. Understanding the BTC Perp Long/Short Ratios on Top Exchanges Perpetual futures, or perps, are a cornerstone of crypto trading. They allow traders to speculate on Bitcoin’s price without an expiry date. The long/short ratio measures the proportion of open positions betting on a price increase (long) versus a price decrease (short). On the world’s three largest exchanges—Binance, OKX, and Bybit—the current data shows a slight bullish bias. However, the margin is extremely thin. Here is the 24-hour breakdown for each exchange: Binance: 51.4% long, 48.6% short OKX: 51.59% long, 48.42% short Bybit: 51.12% long, 48.88% short These figures indicate that each exchange hosts a modest majority of long positions. The difference between longs and shorts on each platform is roughly 2% to 3%. This consistency across exchanges reinforces the narrative of a balanced but slightly bullish market. Why the Long/Short Ratio Matters for Bitcoin Traders The long/short ratio serves as a sentiment indicator. When the ratio skews heavily toward longs, it can signal excessive bullishness. Conversely, a high proportion of shorts may indicate bearish sentiment or a potential short squeeze. The current near-50/50 split suggests that traders lack a strong directional conviction. Market analysts often use this data alongside other metrics. For example, funding rates and open interest provide additional context. A balanced ratio combined with stable funding rates typically points to a healthy market. It shows that neither bulls nor bears dominate the price action. Exchange-Specific Differences in Trader Behavior Each exchange attracts a different user base. Binance, the largest exchange by volume, shows a 51.4% long ratio. OKX, popular among Asian traders, has the highest long ratio at 51.59%. Bybit, known for its derivatives platform, shows 51.12% longs. These minor variations may reflect different trading strategies or regional sentiment. For instance, OKX’s slightly higher long ratio could stem from bullish expectations in Asian markets. Meanwhile, Bybit’s more balanced ratio might indicate a more cautious approach from its institutional-focused user base. Understanding these nuances helps traders interpret the data more effectively. Interpreting the Data: What the Ratios Reveal About Market Sentiment The overall BTC perp long/short ratios suggest a market in equilibrium. This balance often precedes a significant price move. When the ratio is extremely skewed, a reversal is more likely. However, a balanced ratio means that any price movement could be sharp, as many traders are positioned on both sides. Historical data shows that prolonged periods of near-even ratios often lead to increased volatility. Traders should watch for a breakout in either direction. A sudden shift in the ratio could confirm the direction of the next trend. It is also important to note that the ratio reflects open interest, not trading volume. Open interest measures the total number of outstanding contracts. High open interest combined with a balanced ratio indicates strong participation from both bulls and bears. Expert Insights on the Current Market Conditions Market experts suggest that the current ratio reflects uncertainty ahead of major economic events. The upcoming Federal Reserve meeting and Bitcoin halving are key factors. Traders may be hedging their positions, leading to the balanced ratio. This cautious approach is typical before significant catalysts. One analyst noted, “The near-equal split shows that the market is waiting for a trigger. Until then, we can expect range-bound trading.” This perspective aligns with the data. Without a clear catalyst, both sides are equally matched. Additionally, the presence of algorithmic trading bots can influence the ratio. These bots often adjust positions based on market conditions. Their activity can create short-term imbalances that quickly revert to the mean. How to Use Long/Short Ratio Data in Your Trading Strategy Traders can incorporate the BTC perp long/short ratios into their analysis. A common strategy is to use extreme readings as contrarian indicators. For example, if the ratio exceeds 70% longs, it may signal an overheated market. Conversely, a ratio below 30% longs could indicate excessive bearishness. However, the current balanced reading offers a different opportunity. Traders can monitor the ratio for changes. A sudden increase in longs on Binance, for instance, could signal bullish momentum. Similarly, a rise in shorts on OKX might indicate bearish pressure. Combining the ratio with technical analysis enhances its effectiveness. Support and resistance levels, along with volume, provide confirmation. The ratio alone should not be the sole basis for a trade. Conclusion The BTC perp long/short ratios on Binance, OKX, and Bybit reveal a market in a state of near-perfect balance. With an overall 49.96% long and 50.04% short, traders are evenly split. This equilibrium suggests indecision but also sets the stage for potential volatility. By monitoring these ratios, traders can gain valuable insights into market sentiment and position themselves for the next major move. Understanding the nuances of each exchange adds depth to this analysis, making it a crucial tool for any serious Bitcoin futures trader. FAQs Q1: What does a 50/50 long/short ratio mean for Bitcoin price? A 50/50 ratio indicates that traders are evenly split between bullish and bearish positions. It suggests market indecision and often precedes a period of increased volatility. Q2: Which exchange has the most accurate long/short ratio data? No single exchange is considered the most accurate. Each platform provides data based on its own user base. Binance, OKX, and Bybit are the most reliable due to their high liquidity and open interest. Q3: How often do long/short ratios change? Ratios update in real-time as traders open and close positions. The 24-hour snapshot provides a stable view of overall sentiment, but intraday fluctuations can occur. Q4: Can long/short ratios predict price movements? They are a sentiment indicator, not a predictive tool. Extreme readings can signal potential reversals, but they should be used with other analysis methods. Q5: Why do the ratios differ between exchanges? Different exchanges attract different trader demographics. Regional preferences, fee structures, and product offerings can influence the ratio on each platform. This post Revealing the Surprising BTC Perp Long/Short Ratios on Top Exchanges first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
