hodler

9 May 2026, 14:30

Judge Clears $71M ETH Transfer to Aave as rsETH Recovery Enters Final Phase

A U.S. federal judge has authorized the transfer of approximately 30,765 ETH, worth roughly $71 million, to an Aave-controlled wallet, clearing the final legal obstacle in decentralized finance’s most complex recovery effort to date. Recovery Efforts Garner Further Momentum Judge Margaret Garnett issued an order on May 9 modifying a prior asset freeze, permitting the

9 May 2026, 12:23

FBI, UAE shut down nine same centers, arrest 276 suspects in international sting

The FBI, along with UAE officials, has run an extensive international law enforcement operation targeting fraud schemes involving crypto that targeted US citizens, causing losses totaling millions of dollars. According to reports, this crackdown led to 276 arrests, shut down 9 scam centers, and rescued thousands of trafficked individuals who were coerced into forced labor. International operation shuts down 9 scam centers According to Kash Patel , the FBI Director, this operation was spearheaded by Dubai Police, under the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Interior, in collaboration with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Chinese government. Those involved in the scams were arrested in Dubai and Thailand. Most of those arrested were nationals of Burma and Indonesia. According to Kash Patel, the FBI’s San Diego division played a role in organizing the cooperation on the US side. The authorities have brought a series of federal charges, including wire fraud and money laundering charges, against a number of suspects in American courts. Additionally, the agencies seized assets linked to the scams, including more than $701 million in cryptocurrencies. How the crypto scam and human trafficking went down According to the FBI and the DOJ, the fraud scheme used a technique known as “ pig butchering ” or “romance baiting.” The scammers used social media platforms and messaging apps to gain their targets’ trust over weeks or even months by creating false identities, such as romantic or friendship relationships. After gaining their victims’ trust, they introduced them to crypto schemes that involved setting up fake websites that showed artificial profits. The illegal trade craft was strongly connected to human trafficking. Foreigners were enticed by the promise of well-paid job opportunities, but forced at gunpoint to man the scamming facilities in slave-like fashion. The FBI has identified nearly 9,000 people who have become victims of similar crypto schemes and believes that proactive warnings via Operation Level Up are necessary. The operation was launched in January 2024 and, by April 2026, had been credited with saving victims approximately $562 million. Named criminals charged in American courts Some of those indicted on the charges of federal fraud and money laundering are Thet Min Nyi, aged 27, who is said to have acted as a manager and recruiter in Ko Thet Company; Wiliang Awang, aged 23; Andreas Chandra, aged 29; Lisa Mariam, aged 29; and two other co-conspirators who are at large. The accused were either managing, working, or recruiting employees for three corporations: Ko Thet Company, Sanduo Group, and Giant Company, all of which operated several scam centers. However, two separate indictments have been issued against Jiang Wen Jie (also known as Jiang Nan) and Huang Xingshan (also known as Ah Zhe or Huang Xing Saan) for their participation in the Shunda scam center based in Min Let Pan, Myanmar. The arrests took place in 2026, before the duo set foot in Thailand from Cambodia. The measures involved closing a Telegram account (@pogojobhiring2023) with more than 6,500 subscribers, which was used to recruit victims into the Cambodia-based fraud center via 503 fraudulent investment sites. Tech platforms ramp up protections to save users According to the operations data, Meta Platforms contributed significantly to the data that helped the investigators identify the networks. In 2025 alone, the company removed over 159 million scam ads from its platform and shut down 10.9 million accounts used for fraudulent purposes. As part of the combined initiative, Meta shut down another 150,000 accounts associated with these networks. According to Chris Sonderby, Meta’s vice president and deputy general counsel, the company remains committed to combating fraud through measures across its platforms. These security measures include new warnings about fake friend requests on Facebook, blocking unauthorized access to accounts on WhatsApp, and identifying common characteristics of scams in Messenger. Recently, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on Cambodian Senator Kok An and his accomplices, including those associated with the K99 Group, which runs centers for fraud and money laundering, among other crimes. The Cambodian legislature has also enacted a new law that imposes a penalty of 5 to 10 years’ imprisonment, with fines up to $250,000. The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them .

9 May 2026, 11:30

Sydney Huang Warns AI Bot Collusion Could Spread Before Regulators Respond

With AI-to-AI commerce expected to increase the velocity of money, central banks may find themselves unable to react to machine-speed inflation or flash crashes. Experts suggest that regulation must be embedded directly into the code to prevent cascading failures. The End of Policy ‘Lag’ According to an April 2026 International Monetary Fund (IMF) report, the

9 May 2026, 10:00

Meta’s 2026 Stablecoin Push Faces Senator Warren Scrutiny Over Financial Stability Risks

Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren questioned Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg about the company’s stablecoin plans, warning of serious risks to financial stability, competition, privacy, and payments integrity. Meta’s Stablecoin Trials Under Scrutiny This week, US Senator Elizabeth Warren sent a new letter to Meta’s founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, raising concerns about the company’s plans to integrate stablecoins into the platform. In the letter, the Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee highlighted recent reports suggesting that Meta was conducting a “small and focused” trial with a third-party stablecoin and that the company plans to begin its integration in the second half of this year. As reported by Bitcoinist, Meta began rolling out USDC payouts for select creators in Colombia and the Philippines last month, using Solana and Polygon as supported blockchain rails. Warren affirmed that it is “essential” for the US Congress to fully understand the implications of Meta’s integration plans as it considers the crypto-market structure bill, the CLAIRTY Act. “Any attempt to control, influence, or preference a stablecoin on Meta’s platforms–even a stablecoin issued by a third party–could have serious implications for competition, privacy, the integrity of our payments system, and financial stability,” she argued. The Senator also raised concerns about the lack of transparency, underscoring Meta’s failed attempt to launch its own stablecoin six years ago. For context, the company announced its Libra project in 2019, but it was ultimately shut down in 2022 after massive pressure from US regulators and politicians. “It is critical that Meta be transparent with Congress and the public regarding its stablecoin-related plans. Beyond the failure of its previous attempt to issue its own global private currency, the company has struggled to safely offer its existing products and services (…). Any new products, especially related to payments and financial services, should be treated with skepticism,” she stated. Warren’s Probe Intensifies The latest inquiry follows a June 2025 letter in which Warren and Senator Richard Blumenthal questioned Meta over reports that the company was renewing its efforts to launch a private currency project. At the time, the senators affirmed that Big Tech companies issuing or controlling private currencies would threaten competition across the economy, erode financial privacy, and cede control of the US money supply to “monopolistic platforms that have a history of abusing their power.” Days before, Warren had warned that the GENIUS Act, the landmark stablecoin bill, included a major loophole that would allow Big Tech firms like Meta to re-enter the space with minimal oversight. As the senator noted in her latest letter, the company’s initial response affirmed that there was no Meta-issued stablecoin, adding that it had no plans to issue one in the future. Given the recent reports, she has now pressed for details on the integration plan by May 20, including the nature of Meta’s trial and roadmap for a potential H2 2026 launch. Moreover, she requested information on whether the company has selected or will select a third-party stablecoin, whether it intends to make any changes to the MetaPay wallet, how Meta has strengthened its illicit finance controls, what privacy guardrails it has in place ahead of the integration, and whether it still has no plans to issue a stablecoin.

9 May 2026, 09:02

Jake Claver States Why BlackRock Has Not Launched XRP ETF

Interest surrounding a possible XRP exchange-traded fund continues to grow as market participants watch for signs that major financial institutions may soon enter the sector. In an X post, crypto enthusiast Skipper shared comments from financial strategist Jake Claver, who believes that BlackRock could be preparing to launch an XRP ETF once regulatory conditions become more favorable. The post focused heavily on the idea that institutional adoption of XRP is already gaining momentum. According to Skipper, leveraged XRP ETF products have already entered the market, while additional firms remain on the sidelines waiting for more clarity around crypto regulations and stablecoin policies before moving forward with similar offerings. Skipper also linked the conversation to growing activity in blockchain-related investments, stating that capital is already moving on-chain at a rapid pace as institutions become more comfortable with digital asset products. Jake Claver believes BlackRock is waiting for the right moment to launch an XRP ETF as crypto regulation and stablecoin clarity continue to improve. With leveraged XRP ETFs already live, institutional adoption is accelerating. That shift is already underway — and capital is… https://t.co/o8kQnFGzCC pic.twitter.com/0nSaYExx3c — Skipper | XRPL (@skipper_xrp) May 7, 2026 Jake Claver Points to Regulatory Developments In the video attached to the post, Jake Claver explained that BlackRock is likely waiting for what he described as the “opportune time” to introduce an XRP ETF product. He suggested that several developments within the financial and regulatory environment could influence the timing of such a decision. Claver referenced the recent launch of a 3-times leveraged XRP ETF product, noting that it signals increasing market acceptance for XRP-related investment vehicles. He added that more ETF products are expected to follow as firms evaluate market conditions. According to Claver, guidance from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency regarding stablecoins could play an important role in boosting institutional confidence. He also mentioned the GENIUS Act and its expected implementation timeline , explaining that the regulatory direction taken by U.S. authorities may encourage major firms such as BlackRock to move forward with crypto investment products. Claver stated that clearer rules for banks and stablecoin operations could become a major catalyst for institutions that have so far remained cautious about launching XRP-based financial products. Skipper Highlights Early Entry Opportunity The tweet also argued that the current period may represent an early entry opportunity before institutional participation becomes more widespread. While the post mainly focused on Jake Claver’s remarks regarding BlackRock and XRP ETFs, it also tied those comments to the idea that digital asset markets are entering another phase of institutional involvement. As speculation surrounding a potential XRP ETF continues, comments from market commentators such as Jake Claver are likely to remain part of the ongoing conversation around institutional crypto adoption and the future direction of regulated XRP investment products. Disclaimer : This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are advised to conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses. Follow us on X , Facebook , Telegram , and Google News The post Jake Claver States Why BlackRock Has Not Launched XRP ETF appeared first on Times Tabloid .

9 May 2026, 08:05

Judge Allows Governance Vote on $71M Frozen ETH Transfer to Aave

Judge Garnett modified the Arbitrum restraining notice to allow an on-chain transfer to Aave LLC. Anyone voting or participating in the on-chain transfer will not violate the restraining notice. Once transferred, Aave LLC must abide by the same restraining notice terms as Arbitrum DAO. A Manhattan federal judge has modified a restraining notice that had frozen $71 million in Ether on Arbitrum , clearing the way for the funds to be transferred to a wallet controlled by Aave LLC. Judge Margaret Garnett’s order, issued under New York Civil Practice Law and Rules Section 5240, modified the restraining notice previously served on Arbitrum DAO. The court’s language was precise on three points: First, an on-chain governance vote to transfer the frozen assets to Aave LLC is now permitted. Second, nobody involved in that process faces legal exposure. The order state… Read The Full Article Judge Allows Governance Vote on $71M Frozen ETH Transfer to Aave On Coin Edition .