While Western regulators have spent the last few years debating what stablecoins even are, Asia quietly built a payments ecosystem around them. The continent now accounts for approximately 60% of global stablecoin payment volume, translating to roughly $245 billion in annual transactions. That figure comes from a February 2026 analysis by McKinsey & Company in…

Revolut launched its first physical crypto card on May 18, a Dogecoin-themed LED card for the UK and EEA. Summary Revolut unveiled its first physical crypto card with a Dogecoin theme and LED display, usable anywhere Visa and Mastercard are accepted. The card links to users’ crypto balances and converts holdings to fiat at real-time…

A drone strike hit the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the UAE, causing a fire at an external electrical generator and temporarily disrupting off-site power to one of the facility’s reactor units. The International Atomic Energy Agency has confirmed that power to Unit 3 has been restored and that radiation levels remain normal. No injuries…

Galaxy Digital secured a BitLicense from New York on May 18 to offer regulated crypto services to institutions. Summary Galaxy Digital’s subsidiary GalaxyOne Prime NY received a BitLicense and Money Transmission License from NYDFS on May 18, 2026. The approval allows Galaxy to offer regulated trading and custody to hedge funds, registered investment advisers, and…

Iranian media outlets are reporting that the United States may be willing to partially relax sanctions on Iran, show flexibility on nuclear enrichment limits, and unfreeze a limited pool of overseas funds. None of this has been confirmed by Washington or any major Western news outlet. What’s reportedly on the table The proposed package, as…

In Bitcoin news today, Bitcoin Depot, once the largest BTC ATM operator in North America with 9,276 kiosks across the US, Canada, and Australia, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas on May 18, 2026, and has already taken its entire ATM network offline. Here…

Is this a buying opportunity or ETH’s price will dump even more? The second-largest digital asset tumbled to its lowest level since the beginning of April, mirroring a broader market pullback triggered by escalating tensions between the US and Iran. Many analysts warn that a deeper correction may be developing, though an important technical…

Kraken revenue rose 3% year-on-year to $507m in Q1 2026 as futures trading jumped 51%, Payward said Monday. Summary Payward posted $507m in Q1 2026 adjusted revenue, up 3% year-on-year, despite Bitcoin falling 22% during the quarter and industry-wide spot volumes dropping 38%. Futures daily average revenue trades rose 51%, driven by NinjaTrader, Breakout, and…

Iran has put forward a revised peace proposal that would see its stockpile of enriched uranium shipped to Russia, bundled together with a ceasefire offer, a commitment to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and a freeze on its nuclear program. Recent US-Iran negotiations have stalled badly, with one marathon 21-hour round ending without agreement. Russia…