Invest ideasNews
23 May 2026, 20:40
U.S. has added nearly 2,000 sanctions on Iran since 2018
Iran has spent more than a month under Washington’s new “Economic Fury” sanctions drive, and the country has still not given the Trump administration what it wants. The campaign began on April 16 with a promise to use the “full range of available tools and authorities” against Tehran’s economy. That sounds big, but the early actions look very close to the old Maximum Pressure plan from Donald Trump’s first term. The United States has issued 2,000 economic sanctions against Iran in just eight years, including the pulling out of the nuclear agreement by Trump in 2018, when Obama was instrumental in making the agreement. The recent economic sanctions followed the establishment of a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran concerning the end of the US military operation codenamed “Epic Fury,” where Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged other US allies to get involved in the economic war on Iran by cutting their financial lifeline outside of Iran. However, the Iranians have been preparing themselves for this eventuality over the years, so this sanction does not amount to anything new. Treasury targets Iran’s currency dealers and 19 oil-linked ships A major Iranian foreign exchange house, along with some related fronts, has been hit with sanctions by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. According to U.S. officials, the exchange house was involved in managing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of transactions on behalf of sanctioned Iranian banks. The foreign exchange houses play a critical role in facilitating trade involving foreign currencies for Iran, which is unable to use its conventional banking channels due to sanctions. Iranian foreign exchange houses transfer billions of dollars annually. The funds originate from oil sales, petrochemicals export, and financial networks. According to U.S. officials, these networks have helped Tehran to get access to international financial networks despite warnings issued against the same to banks and companies. Moreover, OFAC imposed sanctions on 19 vessels responsible for transporting Iranian oil and petrochemicals shipments. As per U.S. allegations, these shipments transferred products to international markets and made billions of dollars worth of profit for Iran. This money can be used for making weapons, funding terror organizations, and private enrichment in other countries. Scott said , “Iran’s shadow banking system facilitates the illicit transfer of funding for terrorist purposes.” He also said banks must watch how Tehran uses the global financial system. The new action sits under Executive Order 13902, which covers people and businesses operating in Iran’s financial, petroleum, and petrochemical sectors. Treasury said the designations add to earlier sanctions on exchange houses, Iranian bank rahbar companies, crypto exchanges, and other groups accused of helping Tehran dodge restrictions. Washington warns banks, airlines, and Chinese refiners over Iran trade According to the Treasury, Economic Fury has affected many billions of dollars worth of oil payments that would have gone to Iran. Further, the department reported that U.S. measures have also led to the freezing of almost half a billion dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency that was associated with the Iranian government . Crypto users need to know about this, as it means that Washington now considers the digital assets network to be an integral part of its sanctions program. The department announced that it is going to focus on sanction evasion and digital asset transactions together. Therefore, anyone from brokers, shipping companies, banks, crypto exchanges, or shell companies can find themselves being pursued by the U.S. for helping Iran make payments. Further, Washington has threatened foreign companies with punishment if they participate in doing business with Iran. These could include airlines, commodities, and finance companies. Treasury warned that secondary sanctions could hit foreign banks that help Iran, including those linked to China’s independent “teapot” oil refineries. No publicly listed companies were named in the provided U.S. action, so there are no direct stock tickers to attach without adding outside names that were not in the material. The Trump administration said it is targeting Iran’s main revenue stream, meaning oil and other commodity sales. Any person or vessel that helps with hidden oil trades, secret payment routes, or covert commodity shipments can face U.S. sanctions. Treasury also sanctioned networks accused of supplying weapons and military parts to Iran. It added penalties against an Iraqi official accused of helping sell oil with Iran-backed militias in Iraq. The State Department’s Rewards for Justice program is offering up to $15 million for information that helps disrupt the financial systems of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its branches. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .
23 May 2026, 19:42
Us banks face strict aml rules for all stablecoin issuers
🚨 All US banks must now apply strict AML rules to $USDC stablecoin issuers. Only banks under federal regulation can issue stablecoins under these new rules. 📈 Critical data: The FDIC expects 5–30 banks to apply for stablecoin licenses. Continue Reading: Us banks face strict aml rules for all stablecoin issuers The post Us banks face strict aml rules for all stablecoin issuers appeared first on COINTURK NEWS .
23 May 2026, 18:45
FDIC proposes anti-money laundering rules for bank-affiliated stablecoin issuers
Bank-affiliated stablecoin issuers will now be expected to comply with the same anti-money laundering and sanctions requirements that govern traditional financial institutions. The change is due to a proposed rule that was recently approved by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). The FDIC is also separately preparing to modernize anti-money laundering (AML) rules for stablecoins. What is the FDIC asking stablecoin issuers to do? The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation recently approved a proposed rule that will apply the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and its sanctions to all permitted payment stablecoin issuers (PPSIs) that operate as subsidiaries of FDIC-supervised state nonmember banks and state savings associations. Under the GENIUS Act , the FDIC holds primary federal regulatory authority over these entities. The rule mandates stablecoin issuers to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) rules, rules that counter the financing of terrorism (CFT), economic sanctions programs, and reporting obligations set by the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The rule would also give the FDIC supervision and enforcement powers over these AML/CFT programs. This proposal is the FDIC’s third rulemaking tied to the GENIUS Act. The agency first proposed an application process for bank subsidiaries intended to issue stablecoins in December 2025, then followed with a prudential framework regarding reserve assets, redemption procedures, capital, and risk management standards in April 2026. The ABA Banking Journal noted that the GENIUS Act directed all federal banking agencies to write implementing regulations for stablecoin issuers, not just the FDIC. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) published its own proposal in February, and FDIC Chair Travis Hill has said the agency aligned its approach with the OCC’s where relevant. The FDIC estimates that between 5 and 30 banks will apply for and receive approval to issue stablecoins in the initial years after the GENIUS Act takes effect, which the agency expects around mid-January 2027. Is the FDIC modernizing AML rules? The FDIC, OCC, and National Credit Union Administration jointly proposed an overhaul of the AML/CFT framework that would redirect supervisory focus toward higher-risk customers and away from lower-risk ones. FDIC Chair Travis Hill said in a statement that banks currently channel much of their resources into complying with BSA requirements, despite it being unclear whether or not that effort translates to advancements in law enforcement or national security efforts. Hill added that the risk of large fines for BSA violations serves as an incentive for banks to deny or close customers’ accounts. The FDIC Board approved the stablecoin AML proposal unanimously, 3-0. The public has 60 days to comment on the rule after it is published. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .
23 May 2026, 18:30
US offers $10M bounty to dismantle Burma’s Tai Chang crypto scam empire
According to the Department of State, a reward of up to $10 million will be offered for information leading to the seizure and recovery of proceeds obtained through money laundering associated with fraud emanating from the Tai Chang complexes in Burma. According to the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program, the reward is meant to bring down the network known for defrauding Americans by luring them into crypto investments. FBI and DOJ intensify hunt for Southeast Asia crypto scammers According to reports, the reward has been set by the State Department’s INL, acting on behalf of the Department of Justice’s Scam Center Strike Force. As per the reward guidelines, tips will be managed by the FBI. The informant’s absolute confidentiality will be ensured. Persons working in government and government officials will not receive the reward. In addition, persons located outside the United States may contact their nearest embassy or consulate, and those in the United States may contact the nearest FBI office or [email protected] . This Tai Chang reward is part of a number of recent U.S. government efforts. The Department of Justice has filed charges against two Chinese nationals for running a scam compound in Burma and trying to set up another one in Cambodia. The US has also taken control of a Telegram messaging app used to lure victims into a scam compound in Cambodia, as well as taken down 503 fake websites used in crypto investment scams. At the same time, the Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on Senator Kok An of Cambodia, who runs several scam compounds, along with 28 other individuals and entities in his network. As reported by Cryptopolitan , global authorities are working hard to curb crypto crimes, with recent court decisions from countries such as China, the UK, and Morocco emphasizing tough penalties for culprits. In Fuzhou, China, the Intermediate People’s Court dismissed an appeal and handed down a 12-year, 7-month prison sentence to an individual known as Lin. The individual was also fined 300,000 yuan. Profiling Tai Chang crypto scam empire in Burma’s Karen State According to statistics from the US Government, the American people lost more than $7.2 billion in 2025 due to scams originating in Southeast Asia. Tai Chang and other such scamming centers have been playing a pivotal role in this spike, aided by technology, and conducting massive fraud operations from these centers. The FBI has carried out numerous cases involving the seizure of scam funds, with a particular emphasis on cryptocurrency seizures. There is always the element of human trafficking in these types of scams, in which the people are forced to work at the center to conduct such scams. Tai Chang includes several compounds used in large-scale online scams, including investment scams involving digital assets. Some of the detected compounds include: Tai Chang 1.0, also known as Kyuakhat Casino or Ko Sai, which is located at GPS coordinates 16.467242N, 98.648357E and 16.472469N, 98.645868E. Tai Chang 2.0, also known as Taih or Qingsong, is at 16.425472N, 98.635806. Tai Chang 3.0 at 16.491389N, 98.589722. The centers are among the transnational criminal organizations in Southeast Asia. As reported by Cryptopolitan, the FBI and Dubai Police recently brought down a crypto scamming empire that had cost Americans millions of dollars. This crackdown has led to the arrest of 276 suspects along with the closure of nine scamming centers, mostly in the UAE. The nine fraud sites served as hubs where fraudulent acts could be committed by groups that maintained the false pretenses to coerce victims into investing further. Among those arrested were purported managers and recruiters, even some coming from Burma and Indonesia. The three suspects now face charges of wire fraud and money laundering in the Southern District of California. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .
23 May 2026, 17:34
Nvidia’s Huang slams partners over China chip smuggling but won’t give up on Beijing
Nvidia’s top executive called for better oversight from the company’s business partners on Saturday after Taiwan authorities arrested three people accused of trying to send banned computer chips to China through fake paperwork. Jensen Huang, who leads the world’s most valuable company, spoke to reporters in Taipei just hours after arriving from the United States. When asked about the arrests, he made clear that his company expects its partners to follow the law. “We insist our partners are compliant,” Huang told journalists at Songshan airport. “We hope that they will enhance and improve their regulation compliance and prevent that from happening in the future.” The three people Taiwan detained allegedly lied on shipping documents for computer servers made by Super Micro Computer. American rules put in place in 2022 ban companies from selling this type of hardware to China, Hong Kong, and Macau without special permission. Super Micro’s servers contain Nvidia chips, put into larger systems. These systems are utilized by data centers to train and run AI software. Super Micro under regulatory spotlight, both in US and Taiwan The regulators want clarity over its cross-border shipment operations and reliable internal checking. The legal troubles for Super Micro (NASDAQ:SMCI) began in March when U.S. prosecutors charged three people connected to the company. Yih-Shyan Liaw, a co-founder and board member who controls $464 million worth of Super Micro shares, was arrested along with contractor Ting-Wei Sun, while Taiwan sales manager Ruei-Tsang Chang was labeled a fugitive. Shares fell 33 percent the day the charges became public. Now Taiwan authorities have detained three more people for allegedly forging documents, though officials have not named them. However, the stock has paradoxically bounced back, jumping nearly 22 percent over the past month to trade around $35.58. Gain appears tied to broader excitement in the semiconductor sector and optimism ahead of Nvidia’s earnings After showing concern about one of the biggest partners, Huang talked about the future of Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA). He told that the upcoming product called Vera Rubin is expected to come out in the third quarter of this year. He sounded pretty upbeat about it. He said “Vera Rubin is going to be the most successful generation so far,” Huang said. He pointed out that Nvidia used to work with just one or two major AI companies, but now partners with all of them. The company expects this to be its biggest and fastest product rollout ever. The new technology is built for AI systems that can work on their own and handle complex tasks. Huang also addressed an elephant in the room During a Wednesday earnings call, he had mentioned that new central processing units from Nvidia could tap into a $200 billion market. When reporters asked Saturday if that number included China, his answer was simple. “I would think so,” Huang said. The comment revealed how Nvidia is trying to walk a fine line. American officials have cleared the company to sell its H200 chip to China, but Chinese authorities have not signed off yet. They appear to be pushing their own domestic chip makers instead. President Donald Trump met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing earlier this month. Huang went along as part of the American group. But the talks did not produce any deals that would let Nvidia start selling H200 chips in China right away. Washington approved about ten Chinese companies to buy the H200, which is Nvidia’s second-strongest AI chip. But not a single chip has been delivered yet. “H200 has been licensed to ship to China,” Huang explained at the airport. “It would be terrific to be able to serve that market. The Chinese market is very important. It’s very large, of course.” The same day Huang was in China for those diplomatic meetings, officials there announced a ban on a different Nvidia product, the RTX 5090D V2 graphics card, as reported by Cryptopolitan previously. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .
23 May 2026, 17:30
Bitcoin Pizza Day: A $41 Experiment Now Worth Billions
Nation-state adoption of Bitcoin has become the new frontier for crypto advocates, a far cry from the days when the currency’s biggest achievement was buying two pizzas. Sixteen years after that first recorded transaction, the Bitcoin community marked the anniversary on May 22 with fresh evidence of how far the currency has traveled. Bitcoin Pizza Day: A Transaction That Changed Everything Back in May 2010, software developer Laszlo Hanyecz posted an offer online: 10,000 BTC in exchange for two Papa John’s pizzas delivered to his door. The Bitcoin he spent was worth roughly $41 at the time. At current market prices, that same amount of Bitcoin is valued at more than $767 million — and when Bitcoin hit its all-time high of around $126,000 in October 2025, those 10,000 coins briefly crossed $1.2 billion in value. Happy Bitcoin Pizza Day. Sixteen years ago, 10,000 BTC bought two pizzas. Today those coins are worth ~$760M and we’re still debating how to tax the transaction. Adoption and use cases have grown and crypto is now a $3T industry. We need clear rules, a sensible tax and market… pic.twitter.com/t5iI9Bte8h — Crypto Council for Innovation (@crypto_council) May 22, 2026 The transaction was more than a quirky footnote. Nischal Shetty, founder of crypto exchange WazirX, said the exchange proved that a decentralized digital asset could facilitate real commerce. Only a few hundred transactions were being processed on the Bitcoin network each day at the time, with almost no payment infrastructure or institutional involvement to speak of. From Two Pizzas To Oil Tankers The scale of ambition surrounding Bitcoin has grown dramatically since then. In April 2026, Iran announced that ships crossing the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most critical shipping waterways — could pay tolls in Bitcoin, US dollar stablecoins, or Chinese yuan. The announcement generated significant attention in crypto circles. However, according to Sam Lyman, head of research at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, no onchain evidence exists of any oil toll being paid in Bitcoin as of publication. Tether’s USDT stablecoin has remained the dominant payment method for those transactions. The Long Road To Real-World Use Back home in the US, lawmakers have been pushing Bitcoin-related legislation as well. A renewed effort to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve was introduced through the ARMA bill, with some states also moving to exempt Bitcoin payments from certain taxes. Hanyecz’s 2010 purchase remains the symbolic starting point for all of it. His willingness to treat Bitcoin as actual money — at a time when almost nobody else did — helped set the foundation for everything that followed. What began as a $41 experiment is now a global conversation about national reserves, international trade, and the future of money itself. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
