Short News

TON has significantly reduced its transaction fees after a validator decision, making transfers much cheaper across the network. Basic TON payments now cost a fraction of a cent, while USDT transfers have also dropped sharply, with prices staying stable even during high activity. The change is part of Telegram’s broader plan to build a faster and more usable crypto ecosystem for its massive user base. It is designed to encourage everyday payments while still protecting the network from spam.

Arbitrum DAO is voting to release 30,766 ETH (around $70M) previously frozen after the KelpDAO hack. The funds were secured by the Security Council and now require community approval to be redeployed. If the proposal passes, the ETH will be sent to DeFi United, a joint recovery initiative working to restore rsETH backing. The vote remains open until May 7, and approval would make Arbitrum one of the largest contributors to the recovery effort.

SBI Holdings is in advanced discussions to acquire Bitbank as part of a broader strategy to dominate Japan’s digital asset sector. The deal would involve purchasing shares after due diligence and regulatory approvals, though key terms remain undisclosed. This follows SBI’s recent integration of other crypto platforms, signaling aggressive industry consolidation. Bitbank, which had been preparing for an IPO, may instead become part of SBI’s expanding crypto ecosystem if the transaction is finalized.

An early Shiba Inu investor who bought 103.33 trillion SHIB for just $13,760 has continued to take profits, recently selling another 800 billion tokens worth about $4.9 million. Over time, the wallet has offloaded trillions of SHIB while still holding around 99.27 trillion tokens valued at roughly $625 million. Total realized gains have now crossed $660 million, marking one of the largest returns in crypto history, driven by early accumulation and long-term holding.

South Korea’s largest credit card issuer, Shinhan Card, has signed a strategic MOU with the Solana Foundation to test stablecoin payments on Solana’s testnet. The project focuses on real-world customer and merchant transactions to evaluate speed, scalability, security, and user experience. Building on earlier successful trials, the initiative explores instant settlements, lower fees, and non-custodial wallet integration. The goal is to advance a hybrid blockchain payment model that could eventually serve over 28 million cardholders in South Korea.

Markets are focused on Wednesday’s FOMC meeting, which could be one of Jerome Powell’s final appearances before his term ends on May 15. The Fed is widely expected to hold rates steady at 3.50%–3.75%, marking a third straight pause. Investors are also watching potential successor Kevin Warsh, whose confirmation process is underway. The outcome matters because future Fed leadership and rate policy could heavily influence crypto, stocks, and global market sentiment.

U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan has denied Sam Bankman-Fried’s request for a new trial, calling the claims and newly presented evidence baseless. SBF argued the material proved FTX was solvent, but the court questioned both the credibility and relevance of the evidence. The decision matters because it strengthens the prosecution’s case and keeps SBF’s conviction firmly in place as the crypto industry continues recovering from the FTX collapse. Next, attention turns to the pending appeal, which could determine whether SBF has any remaining legal path to challenge the verdict.

Canada is planning to ban cryptocurrency ATMs as part of its Spring Economic Update 2026 to reduce fraud and protect consumers. Officials say these machines are increasingly used by scammers to trick victims into sending funds and by criminals to move illegal money. The country has nearly 4000 crypto ATMs, the highest per capita in the world. The government believes removing them will help limit financial crimes and improve overall safety in the digital asset space.