In a significant move signaling growing institutional acceptance of digital assets, Nomura Holdings is preparing to enter Japan’s cryptocurrency market through its Swiss subsidiary Laser Digital. The financial giant has confirmed it is in preliminary discussions with Japan’s Financial Services Agency to secure a crypto trading license specifically targeting institutional investors, marking a pivotal moment for traditional finance’s embrace of cryptocurrency in one of Asia’s most regulated markets.
about Nomura's Laser Digital Seeks Japan Crypto LicenseLaser Digital
0 in Finance and 0 in Crypto last weekTurtle Launches Onchain Liquidity Leaderboard for Crypto
Turtle has launched a Liquidity Leaderboard designed to standardize how onchain liquidity is measured and rewarded across crypto protocols. The system evaluates participants through three metrics: Liquidity Score (time-weighted deposits), Distribution Score (user referrals), and Boosts (identity/activity multipliers). This initiative comes as Kaiko reports a 30% decline in altcoin liquidity in Q1 2025, highlighting the need for better capital allocation tracking. Unlike engagement-based leaderboards, Turtle’s framework uses verifiable capital that can’t be easily falsified. The company, which has coordinated over $4 billion in deposits since 2024, aims to make liquidity the central signal in DeFi. Future plans include white-label solutions for protocols and integrations merging financial contributions with cultural engagement.
about Turtle Launches Onchain Liquidity Leaderboard for CryptoDubai Leads Global Crypto Regulation with First Options License
Dubai has solidified its role as a global crypto hub with the approval of the first-ever cryptocurrency options license by the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). The license, granted to Laser Digital, a Nomura-backed firm, allows institutional investors to trade crypto options under a regulated framework, reinforcing Dubai’s commitment to innovation and compliance. Simultaneously, the US CFTC has launched a listed spot crypto trading initiative, aiming to bring spot and futures trading under unified federal oversight. These developments mark significant progress in institutionalizing crypto markets, offering investors greater clarity and security in both Dubai and the US.
about Dubai Leads Global Crypto Regulation with First Options LicenseUS DOJ Busts $36.9M Crypto Fraud Ring, Five Plead Guilty
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has secured guilty pleas from five men involved in laundering over $36.9 million stolen from victims of a crypto investment scam. The scheme used social media, dating sites, and fake investment promises to defraud U.S. victims, funneling funds through shell companies and offshore accounts. The money was converted into USDT via a Bahamas-based Deltec Bank account and sent to scam centers in Cambodia. The defendants face up to 20 years in prison, joining three others already convicted. The FBI reports over $9 billion in crypto fraud losses in 2023, with seniors most affected.
about US DOJ Busts $36.9M Crypto Fraud Ring, Five Plead Guilty$500M Telegram Bond Fund Launches on TON Blockchain
The TON Foundation and regulated RWA platform Libre have introduced a $500 million Telegram Bond Fund, enabling institutional investors to access Telegram’s $2.4 billion corporate debt via the TON blockchain. The fund combines traditional finance yields with blockchain efficiency, managed through Libre’s infrastructure, which supports fiat and stablecoin transactions under regulatory oversight. Investors can participate in future Telegram bond offerings and use the fund for collateral and yield strategies within TON. This launch highlights the growing RWA sector, projected to surpass $50 billion in 2024, as major players like BlackRock and Circle expand tokenized Treasury and asset offerings. The fund underscores the convergence of institutional finance and decentralized ecosystems.
about $500M Telegram Bond Fund Launches on TON BlockchainMantra CEO Burns 300M OM Tokens to Restore Trust
Mantra’s OM token suffered a dramatic 90% price drop, falling from $6 to $0.40 in hours, triggering widespread panic. CEO John Patrick Mullin attributed the crash to a massive liquidation on a centralized exchange during low-liquidity weekend trading. To regain trust, Mullin announced the burning of 300 million OM tokens (16.88% of total supply) originally meant for the team, alongside buybacks using the $109 million Ecosystem Fund. Allegations against third parties like Laser Digital surfaced, though they denied involvement. Despite the turmoil, OM’s price rebounded 26.62% to $0.7807, pushing its market cap past $750 million. The incident underscores how quickly trust can erode in crypto and the need for bold actions to restore it.
about Mantra CEO Burns 300M OM Tokens to Restore Trust$227M OM Tokens Moved Before Mantra’s 90% Crash
Lookonchain’s on-chain data reveals that 17 wallets deposited 43.6 million OM tokens ($227M) onto exchanges like OKX and Binance before Mantra’s price plummeted 94% in a single day, crashing from $6.35 to $0.37. Two flagged wallets were linked to strategic investor Laser Digital, which denies selling OM or using the referenced OKX wallets. Mantra CEO JP Mullin instead blames exchanges for closing large positions during low liquidity. OM remains down 32.5% at $0.595 as the crypto community debates whether this was an orchestrated dump or market malfunction.
about $227M OM Tokens Moved Before Mantra's 90% CrashZachXBT Links Reef Founder to Mantra’s 90% OM Token Crash
Blockchain sleuth ZachXBT has implicated Reef Finance founder Denko Mancheski and X user Fukugo Ryōshu in the sudden 90% crash of Mantra’s OM token on April 13. According to ZachXBT, the duo allegedly sought massive loans against OM holdings before the crash, raising suspicions. Vortex, a market maker, confirmed Fukugo’s loan request but noted no proven wrongdoing. Meanwhile, blockchain data from Lookonchain suggests large OM dumps by wallets tied to Mantra investors Laser Digital and Shorooq Partners before the crash—claims both firms deny. Laser stated it did not sell OM tokens, while Shorooq attributed the crash to a forced liquidation. The incident has sparked debates over insider trading, though no conclusive evidence has emerged.
about ZachXBT Links Reef Founder to Mantra's 90% OM Token CrashOM Token Crash: Insider Wallets Dumped Before Collapse
The OM token experienced a dramatic crash on April 13, dropping from over $6 to $0.37 within hours. Blockchain analytics revealed that wallets linked to major investors, including Laser Digital (backed by Nomura) and Shorooq Partners, moved over 43 million OM tokens to exchanges before the collapse. One wallet associated with Shorooq’s founding partner received 2 million OM just hours before the crash. While MANTRA attributed the crash to forced liquidations by exchanges during low liquidity, the incident has raised questions about insider trading. Both Laser Digital and Shorooq denied selling OM, with the latter clarifying its equity-based investment in MANTRA. The project called for stricter oversight of exchange operations to prevent similar systemic risks.
about OM Token Crash: Insider Wallets Dumped Before CollapseOM Token Crash Sparks 7,000% Derivatives Surge
MANTRA’s OM token suffered a catastrophic drop, losing nearly 90% of its market cap ($6B to $500M), while derivatives trading volume skyrocketed 7,000% to $6B in 24 hours. Binance and Bybit dominated the frenzy, but over $76M in liquidations occurred. OKX and Binance faced accusations of ‘reckless forced closures,’ with OKX CEO Star Xu urging transparency via on-chain data. Analysts revealed 17 wallets deposited 43.6M OM (4.5% of supply) pre-crash, some linked to MANTRA investor Laser Digital. Binance cited cross-exchange liquidations and highlighted preemptive risk controls like reduced leverage. The event underscores crypto’s vulnerability to coordinated sell-offs and exchange-driven volatility.
about OM Token Crash Sparks 7,000% Derivatives Surge