VanEck, a major U.S. investment firm, has filed with the SEC to launch the first Binance Coin (BNB) ETF in the U.S., as per a Form S-1 submitted on May 2, 2025. The proposed “VanEck BNB ETF” aims to track BNB’s spot price, the native token of Binance’s BNB Chain, which has a market cap of roughly $84-$88 billion and ranks as the fifth-largest cryptocurrency. The ETF would hold BNB tokens directly and may include a staking feature to earn rewards, pending regulatory approval. This follows VanEck’s earlier filings for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche ETFs, positioning it as a leader in crypto ETF innovation.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed Senate Bill 1025 on May 2, 2025, which would have allowed the state to hold Bitcoin as part of its official reserves, potentially making Arizona the first U.S. state to adopt such a policy. The bill, passed by the Arizona House on April 28 with a 31-25 vote, proposed using seized funds to invest up to 10% of state-managed assets in Bitcoin and create a Digital Assets Strategic Reserve Fund.
Hobbs cited Bitcoin’s volatility and lack of regulatory clarity, calling it an “untested investment” unsuitable for Arizona’s retirement system, which she described as one of the nation’s strongest due to its “sound and informed” investments. She also noted her prior stance against signing bills unrelated to a bipartisan disability funding agreement, resolved on April 24. A companion bill, SB1373, which would allocate up to 10% of Arizona’s rainy-day fund to digital assets, awaits a final vote but faces uncertain prospects given Hobbs’ position.
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Arizona joins states like Oklahoma, Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming, where similar proposals have failed, while North Carolina’s House passed a bill allowing 5% investment in cryptocurrencies. The veto drew criticism from Bitcoin advocates, with some calling it a missed opportunity for Arizona to lead in digital asset adoption.
Coinbase recently released a Bitcoin commercial during the NBA playoffs, emphasizing Bitcoin’s scarcity and its role as a hedge against fiat currency inflation. The ad, aired in May 2025, contrasts the limited supply of Bitcoin—capped at 21 million coins—with the U.S. dollar, which it claims loses value due to excessive printing by the Federal Reserve. Using a visual analogy, it compares a Bitcoin to a quarter and depicts the vast amount of dollars printed annually, highlighting Bitcoin’s fixed supply and the message, “The future of money can’t be printed.”
Tether, the company behind the USDT stablecoin, has announced the development of “Personal Infinite Intelligence,” an open-source AI platform designed to operate on any device without centralized control, API keys, or central failure points. The platform, part of Tether.ai, will feature a modular AI runtime and integrate USDT and Bitcoin payments via WDK, aiming to merge AI with blockchain technology.
CEO Paolo Ardoino highlighted its decentralized approach, emphasizing billions of AI agents in a peer-to-peer network. This move is seen as a step to enhance Tether’s dominance in the stablecoin market, which boasts a $150 billion market cap and $43 billion daily transaction volume.
Michael Saylor’s company, Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), announced the acquisition of 1,895 Bitcoin for approximately $180.3 million, at an average price of $95,167 per Bitcoin. This purchase adds to Strategy’s substantial Bitcoin holdings, which now stand at 533,539 BTC, acquired for a cumulative $36.1 billion at an average price of $67,656 per coin. The company continues its aggressive
Bitcoin accumulation strategy, funded through equity offerings and other financial instruments, aiming for a $42 billion Bitcoin portfolio by 2027. This move aligns with Saylor’s long-standing view of Bitcoin as a superior store of value, despite market volatility and economic uncertainties.
Google Wallet has integrated zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) technology to enhance privacy in age and identity verification, allowing users to prove they meet age requirements without revealing sensitive personal data like birthdates or full IDs. This system, which leverages cryptographic principles often associated with blockchain, is live across mobile devices and apps using Google’s Digital Credential API.
The dating app Bumble is among the first partners, using digital IDs from Google Wallet for user verification while ZKPs handle age confirmation. The rollout began in the UK, with digital IDs linked to passports, and is expanding to U.S. states like Arkansas, Montana, Puerto Rico, and West Virginia, with plans for 50 more countries. Google also intends to open-source its ZKP tools, potentially setting a new standard for privacy-preserving digital identity.
The Maldives has partnered with Dubai-based MBS Global Investments to develop a $9 billion blockchain and crypto hub in Malé, aiming to diversify its economy beyond tourism and fisheries. The Maldives International Financial Centre (MIFC), spanning 830,000 square meters, is expected to create 16,000 jobs and triple the nation’s $7 billion GDP within four years.
The project, funded through equity and debt with $4-5 billion already secured, offers incentives like zero corporate tax and 100% foreign ownership to attract crypto investors. However, it faces stiff competition from established hubs like Dubai, Singapore, and Hong Kong, which have advanced regulatory frameworks. The initiative is a strategic move to address the Maldives’ debt crisis, with $1.6 billion in repayments due by 2026, but its success hinges on overcoming regulatory and technological challenges.