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19 May 2026, 10:30

ONDO Surges 16% As SEC Eyes Framework For Tokenized Stock Trading

ONDO jumped roughly 16% after reports that the US Securities and Exchange Commission is preparing a framework that could allow tokenized versions of stocks to trade on crypto rails, potentially giving one of the real-world asset sector’s most visible names a fresh regulatory tailwind. ONDO traded near $0.390, up 15.5% over 24 hours, with about $228 million in daily volume and a market capitalization near $1.9 billion. The move followed a Bloomberg report, that the SEC could release an “innovation exemption” for tokenized stocks as soon as this week. The framework would reportedly create a path for digital versions of securities to trade outside traditional exchange venues and on decentralized crypto platforms, including tokens that may not have the consent or backing of the public companies whose shares they track. Why Is ONDO Profiting The Most From The News? For crypto markets, the report landed directly on one of the year’s strongest narratives: tokenized public equities. The Kobeissi Letter described the potential exemption via X as a “surprise move,” saying it could “reshape the landscape of the American stock market” and represent “one of the US’ biggest shifts into crypto infrastructure yet.” Related Reading: Warren Zeroes In On Crypto Deal Structure As $75M Loan Draws Attention The market reaction centered on projects already positioned around on-chain securities. ONDO led gains among major RWA-linked tokens, while traders also pointed to Hyperliquid as a potential beneficiary because of its role in on-chain derivatives. One account, The DeFi Investor, framed the report as “great news” for both HYPE and ONDO, arguing that it “legitimizes Ondo as the largest tokenized stocks issuer,” while Hyperliquid will be “one of the biggest beneficiaries as the largest DEX for RWA perps.” Ondo’s own data points have given traders a concrete reason to connect the SEC report to the token. Ondo Global Markets recently crossed $1 billion in total value locked less than eight months after its September 2025 launch. The platform holds more than 70% of the tokenized equity issuer market and has processed more than $18 billion in cumulative trading volume. It currently offers more than 260 tokenized US stocks and ETFs across Solana, Ethereum and BNB Chain. Related Reading: Crypto Funds Extend Six-Week Streak With $858M Inflows On CLARITY Act Progress Katie Wheeler, Managing Director of Global Partnerships at Ondo Finance, said in a recent interview that the platform’s growth could accelerate further. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we surpassed $5 billion by the end of the year. I know that seems a little advantageous, but we have a lot of interest and we’re really building up quite a pipeline.” Wheeler’s broader argument is that tokenized equities remain early relative to the size of public markets. “We are literally just scratching the surface. This is a very large industry. So even if we did 1%, I think that would be tremendous,” she said. Tokenized stocks are just getting started. Following Ondo tokenized stocks crossing $1B in TVL, Ondo’s @KatieAWheeler gave @TheStreet her year-end forecast: “I wouldn’t be surprised if we surpassed $5 billion by year-end. We have a lot of interest, and we’re building up quite a… pic.twitter.com/sFIoiXqi8G — Ondo Finance (@OndoFinance) May 18, 2026 Still, the reported SEC approach raises a core regulatory question: whether stock-linked tokens can scale without undermining shareholder protections. Bloomberg reported that the tokens may not provide traditional rights such as voting power or dividends, while the source material indicates platforms could lose eligibility if listed products fail to provide rights such as voting or dividends. At press time, ONDO traded at $0.3871. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

19 May 2026, 09:57

US keeps Russian oil waiver alive as price fears mount

The United States is extending a sanctions waiver on seaborne Russian oil as the closure of the Hormuz Strait continues to pressure global markets. Washington says this will help “energy-vulnerable” countries cut off from supply through the choke point as a result of the Iran war, which is yet to end. U.S. Treasury extends license for Russian oil for another month The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump announced another 30-day extension of a sanctions waiver which permits the purchase of oil of Russian origin stranded at sea. The measure concerns crude and petroleum products loaded on tankers as of April 17, 2026, reads the notice published by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent took to X on Monday to highlight that the license will aid nations whose energy supplies have been affected by the war with Iran. The United States is reissuing it for a second time during the conflict, which approaches its third month. The previous waiver lapsed on Saturday and the move was expected. A knowledgeable source had revealed to Reuters that the extension was requested by poor nations that cannot receive shipments from the Persian Gulf. “This general license will help stabilize the physical crude market and ensure oil reaches the most energy-vulnerable countries,” Bessent emphasized in his post. . @USTreasury is issuing a temporary 30-day general license to provide the most vulnerable nations with the ability to temporarily access Russian oil currently stranded at sea. This extension will provide additional flexibility, and we will work with these nations to provide… — Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) May 18, 2026 The temporary authorization allows buyers to access Russian oil without violating sanctions imposed on Russia’s giants Rosneft and Lukoil when the U.S. pushed for peace in Ukraine last year. The coordinated U.S.-Israeli strikes on the Islamic Republic, which started at end of February, sent oil prices soaring, with the benchmark Brent exceeding $110 per barrel this week. The Treasury first issued the waiver in March to ease supply shortages and alleviate price pressures. U.S. officials also insist it limits China’s stockpiling of discounted Russian oil. In April, Bessent said the United States was not going to extend the licenses for both Russian and Iranian oil. Sanctions on the latter had been also waived the previous month. Trump’s Russian oil sanctions relief draws criticism The administration’s decision to license Russian oil supplies has been criticized by Donald Trump’s political opponents in the U.S. Last month, 14 Senate Democrats described it as a “mistake that President Trump must reverse immediately,” as noted by Politico. Now, democratic senators Jeanne Shaheen (NH) and Elizabeth Warren (MA) called it an “indefensible gift” to Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a statement quoted by Reuters, they warned: “Every additional dollar the Kremlin earns from this license helps Putin finance his illegal war against Ukraine and kill innocent Ukrainians.” They also insisted that the sanctions waiver is neither helping bring down prices at the pump in America, nor stabilizing global fuel markets. Analysts agree that while the measures may prove helpful to some nations highly dependent on Gulf oil, they won’t lower U.S. gas rates. “It is not yet clear whether these short-term authorizations have had any meaningful impact on U.S. gasoline prices,” said Stephanie Connor, partner at the Holland & Knight law firm. The former policy director at OFAC further remarked that the sanctions on Russian oil imposed by the European Union and the United Kingdom remain in force at this point. Many are also concerned that the American waivers are giving an additional boost to Russia’s oil revenues, already bumped by higher oil prices. “Given the information coming out of the Russian economy that looks bad, this might be the time to really hit them with sanctions, but I don’t see the administration has come to that conclusion,” commented Charles Lichfield, deputy director of the Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center. Meanwhile, the United States did not renew the waiver for Iranian oil, which expired last month when Washington imposed new sanctions to put additional pressure on Tehran. The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them .

19 May 2026, 09:25

HYPE breaks $48 as SpaceX pre-IPO trading fuels demand

HYPE has extended its rally above $48 on increased interest in trading stock perpetual futures. Hyperliquid is also the most optimistic price discovery mechanism for pre-IPO SpaceX shares. HYPE tokens indicate increasing interest in Hyperliquid. HYPE peaked at $48.34 as of May 19, extending its rally from the past few days. The token trades near a three-month peak as the influence of Hyperliquid expanded. HYPE rallied above $48, with the potential to break out to a higher range. | Source: CoinGecko . HYPE is not only reflecting short-term interest and whale investments, but also the whole trend of switching to stock perpetual futures. As Cryptopolitan reported earlier, RWAs trading on Hyperliquid reached a new record of open interest, with stocks and pre-IPO stocks taking the lead. HYPE mindshare remains around 0.8% , with no general hype from crypto retail. The token has become the focus of whales, as well as of Bitwise, which plans to launch a HYPE ETF . As a result of the growing interest, HYPE broke out of its two-month range, potentially moving above $55. SpaceX pre-IPO tokens accelerate trading SpaceX pre-IPO tokens (SPCX) are one of the main assets drawing attention to Hyperliquid. The platform has the most optimistic valuation of over $2.5T, making SpaceX the sixth most valuable company in the world. The pre-IPO stocks are priced at $202.88 on TradeXYZ, with $31.48M in open interest. The trading pairs use the perpetual futures model, and only reflect pricing, not actual access to the IPO shares. SpaceX pre-IPO stocks also trade on Solana through the PreStocks issuer, with an implied valuation of $1.98T. PreStocks intends to deliver special purpose vehicle stocks, essentially turning into a spot market for the tokens. Ventuals on Hyperliquid offers alternative perpetual futures, valuing SpaceX at $2.1T. Both the TradeXYZ and Ventuals versions allow moderate leveraged trading, betting on price direction. The on-chain source of SpaceX activity may mean trading will accelerate ahead of June 12, one of the probable dates for the IPO. As Cryptopolitan reported , the US Securities and Exchange Commission may also boost tokenized share trading through innovation exemptions. Can Hyperliquid predict the SpaceX IPO price? Hyperliquid trading on HIP-3 is closely watched for its ability to predict the IPO price range. SpaceX already performed a 1:5 split to increase the number of shares and lower the minimum investment, potentially achieving a wider reach. On-chain trading for SPCX pre-IPO tokens is giving the most optimistic range and valuation. According to Polymarket, there is only a 49% probability for a valuation above $2.4B . The SpaceX IPO is also seen as a potential booster to crypto sentiment. As Elon Musk has previously engaged with meme tokens, the IPO may affect the price of DOGE. The SPCX ticker has also been used by older meme tokens, which may rally during the IPO. However, the main focus is on pre-IPO trading pairs and tokenized shares as a tool for early access to one of the largest IPOs in history. Unlike Anthropic, SpaceX has not given any hints at voiding SPV purchases, although the IPO may be oversubscribed and relatively inaccessible. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .

19 May 2026, 09:00

Solana: Why SEC’s tokenized equity move matters for SOL’s $2.6B RWA boom

As tokenization accelerates, Solana’s Q2 growth narrative increasingly revolves around real-world assets.

19 May 2026, 08:50

Tether Files South Korean Trademark for Company Name and Logo, Signaling Market Expansion

BitcoinWorld Tether Files South Korean Trademark for Company Name and Logo, Signaling Market Expansion Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer by market capitalization, has taken a significant step toward expanding its presence in Asia by filing a trademark application in South Korea for its company name and logo. According to records from the Korean Intellectual Property Office’s (KIPO) information search service, the application was submitted on May 14. From Product Marks to Corporate Branding While Tether has previously secured domestic trademarks in South Korea, those applications were primarily focused on its stablecoin product names, such as USDT. This latest filing, however, covers the corporate entity itself — including the Tether name and its distinctive logo. This shift in strategy is being interpreted by industry observers as a potential precursor to a full-scale operational entry into one of Asia’s most active cryptocurrency markets. The move comes at a time when South Korea’s digital asset landscape is undergoing regulatory maturation. The country’s Financial Services Commission has been tightening rules around virtual asset service providers, requiring registration and compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) standards. A trademark registration is often a foundational step for companies seeking to establish a formal legal and commercial presence in the jurisdiction. Circle’s Precedent and Competitive Dynamics Tether’s filing follows a similar action by its primary competitor, Circle, the issuer of the USDC stablecoin. Circle filed for a trademark with KIPO in December of the previous year. This parallel activity suggests that both major stablecoin issuers view South Korea as a critical market for growth, despite the country’s historically stringent regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies. The strategic importance of South Korea cannot be overstated. The nation has one of the highest rates of cryptocurrency adoption per capita globally, with a vibrant retail trading ecosystem. However, it has also experienced high-profile regulatory crackdowns and exchange scandals, making compliance and brand protection essential for any entrant. What This Means for the Stablecoin Market For Tether, securing trademark protection is not merely a defensive legal maneuver. It is a signal of long-term commitment. By registering its corporate identity, Tether can more effectively combat brand impersonation, phishing schemes, and unauthorized use of its name — all of which are persistent issues in the crypto space. Furthermore, a registered trademark can facilitate partnerships with local financial institutions and exchanges, which may require proof of intellectual property rights before engaging in business. For South Korean regulators and users, this move may be viewed as a positive sign of institutional seriousness. Tether has faced scrutiny in various jurisdictions over the transparency of its reserves, but proactive steps like trademark registration indicate a willingness to operate within established legal frameworks. Conclusion Tether’s trademark application in South Korea, covering its company name and logo, marks a notable escalation in its Asian market strategy. Following a similar filing by Circle, the move suggests that the competition for stablecoin dominance is extending beyond product features into legal and regulatory preparedness. While the filing does not guarantee immediate market entry, it lays the groundwork for a more formal and compliant presence in a key global crypto hub. FAQs Q1: Why is Tether filing a trademark in South Korea? A1: The filing is seen as a preparatory step for a potential full-scale entry into the South Korean market. It protects the company’s brand identity and facilitates compliance with local regulations. Q2: How does this compare to Circle’s earlier trademark filing? A2: Circle filed a similar trademark application with KIPO in December of the previous year. Both actions indicate that major stablecoin issuers are prioritizing South Korea as a strategic market. Q3: Does a trademark guarantee Tether will operate in South Korea? A3: No, a trademark application is a legal protective measure and does not guarantee market entry. However, it is a strong signal of intent and is often a prerequisite for formal business operations. This post Tether Files South Korean Trademark for Company Name and Logo, Signaling Market Expansion first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

19 May 2026, 08:39

SEC eyes plan for trading tokenized versions of stocks on crypto platforms - report

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