European Union Lawmakers Pass Comprehensive Crypto Regulations

The European Union lawmakers on Thursday voted overwhelmingly in favor of two new laws related to the regulation of cryptocurrencies.

> The first law, known as MiCA, establishes a comprehensive crypto licensing regime that requires wallet providers and exchanges to obtain a license to operate across the EU.

Coinbase Receives Bermuda License for Offshore Derivatives Exchange

Coinbase, a cryptocurrency exchange, has obtained a license to operate in Bermuda, signaling its plan to increase international business.

> The license from the Bermuda Monetary Authority allows Coinbase to launch an offshore derivatives exchange in Bermuda as soon as next week.

> This move follows a report by Bloomberg earlier this year that Coinbase has been working on an off-shore crypto trading platform.

Government Greenlights Controversial Crypto Deal: The Impact on Voyager and Binance.US

Significant components of the Voyager-Binance.US acquisition deal might be permitted to move forward even as legal appeals are being addressed, according to court documents filed on Wednesday.

> This development arises amidst growing apprehension that the buyer may withdraw from the deal.

> The court filing indicates that the U.S. government has now consented to let the majority of Binance.US's billion-dollar transaction to acquire the bankrupt cryptocurrency lender's assets go ahead, despite concerns regarding the contract's fine print potentially excusing violations of tax or securities law.v

> The April 19 document suggests that the disputed "exculpation provisions" should be suspended until the appeal is resolved, but not the rest of the agreement. Full report here.

Tornado Cash Developer Granted Temporary Release Pending Trial

Alexey Pertsev, a Tornado Cash developer who was arrested in Amsterdam on August 10, 2022, over allegations of facilitating money laundering, has been granted temporary release by a court in the Netherlands.

> Pertsev, who has been denied release in the past due to the risk of him fleeing or tampering with evidence, will be allowed to go home on his birthday, April 26, with an ankle monitor.

> However, he will still face trial for the charges against him.

> The US government had added Tornado Cash and 44 associated Ethereum and USDC wallets to its Specially Designated Nationals list, alleging that the crypto mixing service failed to impose effective controls against money laundering for malicious cyber actors. Details here.

Binance Faces Official Investigation by Brazilian Authorities over Derivatives Offerings

Brazilian authorities have launched an official investigation into Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, over allegations of financial crimes executed through its derivatives offerings.

> The probe was initiated following a tip-off from the Securities and Exchange Commission (CVM).

> The CVM had reportedly informed the Attorney General of Sao Paolo that Binance may have ignored a "stop order" issued by the state and continued offering crypto derivatives to Brazilian users.

> In response, the Federal Police Prosecutor's Office and the Federal Police have launched an investigation into the matter.

> Binance declined to comment on the ongoing investigation but said that it "does not offer derivatives in Brazil."

> However, the CVM reportedly presented documents to support its claims against the exchange's denial. More here.

MakerDAO Approves RWA Vault for Coinbase Custody with $500 Million USDC Transfer

MakerDAO, a decentralized lending protocol, has approved the creation of a real-world asset (RWA) vault for Coinbase Custody, allowing for the transfer of up to $500 million in USDC stablecoins.

> In return, Coinbase Custody will offer a 2.6% annual yield on deposits. However, Coinbase Custody will not be allowed to rehypothecate the assets in the account by lending, reinvesting, or using them in other ways.

> The tokens will be kept in cold crypto wallets, as favored by the Maker community in a parallel vote. Funds in cold storage are insured up to the $500 million limit, and Maker will be able to withdraw funds from the vault within 24 hours. Continue here.

YouTube Influencer BitBoy Crypto Banned from Tweeting Negatively in FTX Lawsuit

Ben Armstrong, the YouTube influencer behind "BitBoy Crypto," has been barred from making negative tweets about class action lawyer Adam Moskowitz, who is currently suing Armstrong as part of a lawsuit involving FTX, a now-bankrupt crypto exchange.

> Armstrong has been accused of promoting FTX and has allegedly sent threatening and profanity-laced emails to Moskowitz and his clients.

> Due to Armstrong's unacceptable behavior, a judge has ordered him to refrain from tweeting negatively about Moskowitz or his clients.

> This ruling will take effect immediately and will be filed later on Thursday afternoon, according to Moskowitz. The case is being heard in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Details here.

Bitcoin and Ether Witness Decline, Major Tokens in the Red

On Thursday, Bitcoin experienced a two-day slump, dropping below $28,000 at one point.

> As per CoinDesk market data, Bitcoin (BTC) was trading at roughly $28,325, indicating a 2.7% decline over the past 24 hours.

> However, on the Coinbase exchange, the BTC/USD trading pair fell to $27,991 before rebounding, according to TradingView data.

Ether (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency by market value, witnessed a drop of nearly one percentage point and was trading at around $1,948.

> At one point, ETH declined to $1,917, its lowest point in a week. Over the past seven days, BTC and ETH have fallen by 7% and 3%, respectively.

Most other significant tokens were trading in the red, with both XRP and Litecoin (LTC), the payment-focused cryptocurrencies, witnessing a decline of over 5%.