Western Union Debuts USDPT Stablecoin on Solana

Wintermute Asia, a market-making giant, has launched over-the-counter trading in WTI crude oil contracts for difference (CFDs) to meet the demand for 24/7 trading amid geopolitical volatility in the Middle East. Traders can access WTI CFDs with zero trading fees using various fiat and crypto assets as margin.

The Ethereum Foundation is proactively preparing for the threat of quantum computing by planning key upgrades to protect the network's cryptography. These upgrades, including hard forks like the "I" and "J" forks, aim to secure Ethereum from potential quantum risks by 2029.

Bitcoin Depot has announced the resignation of CEO Scott Buchanan and founder Brandon Mintz from their respective roles. Former MoneyGram chief Alex Holmes has been appointed as the new CEO to focus on operational stability and regulatory progress. The company faces challenges amid tightening state oversight and revenue expectations.

Delaware lawmakers have introduced the Delaware Payment Stablecoins Act, which would establish regulatory requirements for companies issuing stablecoins in the state. The bill aims to position Delaware as a preferred jurisdiction for stablecoin issuers seeking state-level oversight.

NASA is shifting its Artemis program focus to building a permanent base on the Moon, investing $20 billion over seven years through multiple missions. Administrator Jared Isaacman emphasizes the Moon as a testing ground for Mars missions and a foundation for future initiatives.

OpenAI will discontinue its Sora AI video-generation platform, shifting focus to world simulation research. The decision also impacts a reported $1 billion Disney investment tied to the app. OpenAI plans to share details on shutting down the app and preserving user work soon.

According to Dune analytics, over 50% of Pump Fun token traders experienced losses this month, with 96% making less than $500. The top 250 deployers of Pump Fun tokens have extracted $79 million from traders, launching 194,000 tokens in the past six months.

Aleksei Volkov, a Russian citizen, was sentenced to 81 months in prison for assisting cybercrime groups in attacks causing over $9 million in actual losses across the US. He operated as an "initial access broker," selling unauthorized network access to deploy ransomware.

The CFTC has established an Innovation Task Force to create regulatory frameworks for innovators in crypto, blockchain, AI, and prediction markets. This task force, led by Chairman Selig's advisor, aims to collaborate with other agencies like the SEC on innovation initiatives.

BMO, CME Group, and Google Cloud are collaborating to introduce a tokenized cash and deposit platform, allowing real-time transactions for institutional clients. BMO aims to offer this solution to regulated financial firms in the second half of 2026.