吴区块链周刊:CZ自传引发热议、香港发放首张稳定币发行牌照、伊朗开始征收加密货币通行费等1金管局公布首批稳定币发行人牌照名单,渣打银行、汇丰银行入围链接香港金融管理局公布首批稳定币发行人牌照名单,颁发了2张稳定币牌照,包括汇丰银行、渣打银行、Animoca Brands和香港电讯成立的合资公司Anchor Fintech Limited。标准涵盖多个方面,包括业务计划、对发行人职能的了解、风险实践能力和经验、能为整个生态系统带来价值的合理应用场景、以及遵守香港及其他司法管辖区的法律法规等。2. SEC 加密货币安全港框架进入白宫审查,包括初创企业豁免计划 linkSEC 主席 Paul Atkins 表示,拟议的加密货币“安全港”框架已进入白宫审查程序,目前正在接受 OIRA 审查,预计很快就会发布。该计划包括允许哭泣的“初创企业豁免”
PTO 项目将根据披露义务进行大约四年的筹款,并附有投资合同安全港和代币分类解释指南。此外,SEC 正在推进“创新豁免”机制,旨在为链上资产提供类似监管沙盒的安排,尽管其范围在行业内仍存在争议。3。 FDIC 发布稳定币发行指南草案,明确储备金和赎回的监管要求链接 FDIC 主席 Travis Hill 表示,FDIC 正在提出针对银行及其金融科技子公司发行的稳定币的监管指南草案,内容涵盖储备资产、赎回机制、允许的业务范围和资本要求,该指南将对银行及其金融科技子公司开放。
WuBlockchain Weekly: CZ’s Autobiography Sparks Fierce Debate, HK Issues First Stablecoin Issuer Licenses, Iran Begins Collecting Cryptocurrency Toll Payments, etc
1. HKMA Releases List of First Batch of Stablecoin Issuer Licenses, with Standard Chartered and HSBC Shortlisted link
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced the list of the first batch of stablecoin issuer licenses, with 2 stablecoin licenses issued, including HSBC, and Anchor Fintech Limited, a joint venture established by Standard Chartered Bank, Animoca Brands and Hong Kong Telecom. The criteria cover various aspects, including business plans, understanding of issuer functions, risk practice capabilities and experience, reasonable application scenarios that can bring value to the overall ecosystem, and compliance with laws and regulations in Hong Kong and other jurisdictions.
2. SEC Crypto Safe Harbor Framework Enters White House Review, Including Startup Exemption Program link
SEC Chair Paul Atkins stated that the proposed crypto “safe harbor” framework has entered the White House review process and is currently being examined by OIRA, with an expected release soon. The plan includes a “startup exemption” allowing crypto projects to conduct fundraising for approximately four years under disclosure obligations, accompanied by an investment contract safe harbor and interpretive guidance on token classification. Additionally, the SEC is advancing an “innovation exemption” mechanism intended to provide a regulatory sandbox-like arrangement for on-chain assets, though the scope remains controversial within the industry.
3. FDIC Issues Draft Guidance for Stablecoin Issuance, Specifying Regulatory Requirements for Reserves and Redemption link
FDIC Chair Travis Hill stated that the FDIC is proposing a draft regulatory guidance for stablecoins issued by banks and their fintech subsidiaries, covering reserve assets, redemption mechanisms, permissible business scopes, and capital requirements, which will be open for public comment. This move is part of the interagency rulemaking efforts by the FDIC, OCC, and Federal Reserve following the passage of the GENIUS Bill. It aims to clarify that tokenized deposits remain classified as deposits, while seeking market feedback on key issues such as profit distribution, capital constraints, and insurance arrangements.
4. Iran Plans to Collect Cryptocurrency Toll Fees from Oil Tankers During Ceasefire Period link
Iran plans to charge tolls for fully loaded oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz during a two-week ceasefire with the United States, priced in cryptocurrencies and other digital assets, at a rate of approximately US$1 per barrel. Under the plan, tankers must submit cargo information to Iran via email, and upon evaluation, complete payments using digital assets such as Bitcoin in accordance with instructions; empty tankers may be exempt from fees. Hamid Hosseini, spokesman for Iran’s Exporters Union of Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products, stated the move aims to monitor traffic flow through the strait and ensure it is not used for weapons trafficking during the ceasefire.
Hosseini added: “Once the email is received and Iran completes its assessment, vessels will have only a few seconds to pay using Bitcoin to ensure they are not tracked or seized due to sanctions.”
5. Binance Employees Relocate from UAE to Hong Kong, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok link
Wu Blockchain has exclusively learned that following the heavy impact of the US-Iran war on the UAE and Dubai, Binance has offered its employees four relocation options: Hong Kong, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok.
Binance obtained a global license from Abu Dhabi in 2026, under which Binance’s global hub operates. Binance has employed more than 1,000 staff in the UAE, making the region its de facto global decision-making and management center.
As multiple areas in Dubai were hit by debris from Iranian missiles and drones, most of the cryptocurrency industry has withdrawn from Dubai and the UAE. The 2049 Summit originally scheduled to be held in Dubai has also been postponed for one year as a result.
6. Yields on Major DeFi Platforms Continue to Decline, Falling Below Rates at Traditional Financial Platforms link
Yields on mainstream DeFi platforms have continued to decline sharply, now generally falling below interest rates offered by traditional financial platforms. Specifically, Aave’s USDC deposit APY is approximately 2.61%, Aave’s USDT deposit APY is around 1.84%, and Lido’s stETH yield stands at about 2.53% — all below the 3.14% idle cash rate from Interactive Brokers. Only a select few products maintain higher returns, such as Ethena’s sUSDe at roughly 3.47% and Sky’s USDS Savings at approximately 3.75%.
Competitive yields in the current landscape increasingly rely on support from Real-World Assets (RWAs) like U.S. Treasury bonds and institutional credit. DeFi is now confronting a critical yield mismatch problem: higher risk, yet lower returns than TradFi.
7. Strategy Records $14.5 Billion in Unrealized Bitcoin Losses in Q1 link
Strategy reported an unrealized loss of approximately $14.5 billion in the first quarter of this year, mainly due to the sharp depreciation of its Bitcoin reserves during the quarter. Data shows that Bitcoin fell by a cumulative 23% in the first quarter of this year, marking its worst start to a year since 2018. The report noted that Strategy has adopted the fair value accounting standard for digital assets since last year and is required to measure its Bitcoin holdings at market value at the end of each quarter, resulting in significantly amplified performance volatility. The company also recorded deferred tax income of approximately $2.4 billion in the same period.
Strategy announced that it purchased 4,871 BTC for approximately $329.9 million between April 1 and April 5, at an average cost of around $67,718 per Bitcoin. As of April 5, the company holds a total of 766,970 BTC, with a total investment of approximately $58.02 billion and an average cost basis of about $75,644. The funds for this purchase came from ATM equity offerings.
Michael Saylor, founder of Strategy, recently stated that Bitcoin likely bottomed near $60,000 in early February, when forced sellers in the market had largely exited. He pointed out that selling pressure is currently limited as ETF inflows continue to absorb daily supply, boosted by corporate demand for treasury reserves. Regarding recent market concerns over the threat of quantum computing, he believes such risks are overstated and theoretical, unlikely to materialize for decades, and that the crypto community will respond first through software upgrades by then.
8. BitMine Lists on NYSE and Expands Share Repurchase Program to $4 Billion link
Ethereum treasury company BitMine Immersion Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: BMNR) announced the successful transfer of its listing from NASDAQ to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and expanded its share repurchase program to $4 billion. BitMine disclosed that over the past nine months, the company has rapidly accumulated approximately 4.803 million ETH through its “Alchemy of 5%” program, accounting for 3.98% of the total ETH supply, completing more than 79% of its target to acquire 5% of the supply. Currently, BitMine holds a total of $11.4 billion in crypto assets, cash and other investments, including $864 million in cash.
9. Jiang Zhuoer: Global Crypto Market Enters “Suez Canal Moment”; Bearish on ETH at $2,242 link
Jiang Zhuo’er, founder of Leibit Pool, published an article stating that the current geopolitical situation is witnessing the U.S.’s “Suez Canal moment” (analogous to the 1956 loss of control over the canal, which marked the end of British hegemony). The U.S.-Iran war will most likely end with Iran de facto controlling the Strait of Hormuz and collecting tolls, while the U.S. will not recognize it legally but acquiesce. He himself has gone short on ETH at $2,242.
He analyzed that the current bear market cycle is not yet over, and such event-driven rebounds are all opportunities to increase short positions. He also noted that a small probability of renewed warfare cannot be ruled out.
10. Binance Founder CZ Announces Full Release of Personal Autobiography, Which Sparks Intense Debate link
Binance founder CZ announced that his personal autobiography Freedom of Money was fully released at midnight local time on April 8 in various countries, currently available in English and traditional Chinese editions titled Binance Life. CZ explicitly stated that all personal proceeds and royalties from the book will be donated to charity, with no profit for himself.
Zhao Changpeng (CZ), co-founder of Binance, appeared on The Wolf of All Streets podcast today. During the live broadcast, when talking about his memoir Freedom of Money, he said that although he participated in the development of Bloomberg’s futures trading system in his early years and worked on trading system-related projects at the Tokyo Stock Exchange, he did not truly understand the nature of money until he was exposed to Bitcoin. His belief in Bitcoin and blockchain stems more from technical logic, and he compared technological progress’s long-term improvement of efficiency and life to “gradual infrastructure upgrades” (such as from concrete ground to running water, from cold water to hot water), calling blockchain a major technology.
In November 2023, CZ traveled from the United Arab Emirates to the United States. Upon arriving at court, he first had a photograph taken that resembled a mugshot and filled out forms. More absurdly, there was no item for “violation of the Bank Secrecy Act” on the form, and staff arbitrarily checked “financial fraud” for him; he tried to explain but was ignored. CZ was subsequently imprisoned. In the first few weeks in prison, he could not even buy a toothbrush. Two hundred inmates shared six phones and four computers, requiring long waits to use them. Each session lasted only 15 minutes before automatic disconnection. The computers were not real computers but locked terminals, only capable of sending and receiving messages at 5 cents per message, subject to censorship with a two-hour delay, no images, attachments or links allowed, and most critically, no copy-paste function. CZ wrote the first draft of the book under such conditions: each time he got his 15-minute turn, he quickly typed out his thoughts and sent them to his assistant for saving.
In the book, CZ did not hide his dislike for SBF (whom he called “a refined egoist”) and Star Xu.
When talking about SBF, CZ revealed that in 2022, on the eve of FTX’s collapse, he had considered bailing out FTX. However, he gave up when he found that SBF’s team could not even provide a complete balance sheet within 24 hours. CZ believed that SBF’s business logic was not based on product competition but on weakening competitors through skilled political lobbying and regulatory manipulation. CZ’s newly released autobiography disclosed that Li Lin told him at a dinner in 2025: “I once saw a screenshot showing that Star Xu personally reported me, leading to my arrest.” Xu later responded that it was “completely false information” and “any large-scale platform and founder faces numerous reports and complaints every year. If reports alone could determine outcomes, this industry would have ceased to exist long ago.” In addition, Star accused CZ of lying about his divorce and failing to legally divide Binance equity. CZ stated that he was officially divorced and was willing to bet $1 billion, with lawyers available to verify the divorce agreement.
CZ’s autobiography has sparked extensive discussion. It has drawn attention not only for the special circumstances of being written under harsh prison conditions and the author donating all proceeds to charity, but also for the details of the FTX bailout on the eve of its collapse, sharp comments on SBF, the dispute involving Star Xu’s reporting allegations, and divorce equity division disputes disclosed in the book, which continue to stir public opinion in the cryptocurrency industry. It also allows the public to learn about CZ’s experiences, his belief in blockchain technology, and some hidden pasts in the industry’s development from a more personal perspective.
Fundraising
- Tether’s $500 billion valuation financing enters final stage, requiring investors to respond within two weeks. link
- Indian Bitcoin and gold cashback platform GoSats completes $5 million Series A financing. link
- Polygon Labs plans to raise up to $100 million for stablecoin payment business. link
- Pharos Network announces completion of $44 million Series A financing. link
- Giggles completes a Pre-Seed financing of exactly $1,234,567. link
- Enhanced Labs announces completion of $1 million strategic Pre-Seed financing. link
- AlphaTON raises $43 million to increase investment in TON ecosystem AI computing power. link
Learn more, check out crypto-fundraising.info.
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