Bitcoin is up slightly at $42,026
Ethereum is even at $3,137
and Binance Coin up .5% at $463

crypto.com changes story about hack—34M in user funds taken.

Russia’s central bank wants a firm ban on crypto

a16z looks for 4.5B more for crypto funds.

Google exec tells Bloomberg the company will evolve with user and merchant demands for crypto payments.

Gary Gensler and the SEC are pushing for more scrutiny for crypto exchanges.

Links:

• a16z seeks 4.5B | Financial Times
• Google (GOOG) Hires PayPal (PYPL) Vet to Reset Strategy After Banking Retreat - Bloomberg
• crypto.com on hack
• Crypto Exchanges Will Face More Scrutiny From SEC, Gensler Says - Bloomberg
• Russia's central bank calls for crypto ban

Bitcoin is down .5% at $49,299
Ethereum is down .5% at $4,213
and Binance Coin is down .5% at $573

Terra, up 27%
Gala up 20%
Polygon up 16%

BitMart was exploited for over $150M

SEC chairperson Gary Gensler coy in response to Senator Pat Toomey’s follow-up questions.

FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried is looking to raise a total of $1.5 billion for FTX.US.

Links:

• Crypto exchange BitMart confirms hack resulting in loss of $150 million in crypto
• Gensler hedges on classifying cryptocurrencies as securities in response to Senator's questions
• FTX to Seek $1.5B in New Funding Round at $32B Valuation: Report

Links:

• US Senator Warren introduces bill to study crypto’s role in ransomware
• AMC Theatres debuts crypto payments for e-gift card purchases
• SEC Chair Gensler: A Ban on Crypto Would Be ‘Up to Congress’ — CoinDesk

Links:

• Venmo enables users to automatically buy crypto with ‘cash back’ rewards
• Coinbase Rakes In $1.9B in Transaction Revenue in Q2, Beating Estimates - CoinDesk
• SEC Needs More Authority to Regulate Crypto, Gensler Says - CoinDesk

Links:

• SEC Chair wants robust crypto regulatory regime for the US
• Former Monero Maintainer ‘Fluffypony’ Arrested and to Be Extradited for Non-Crypto Crimes - CoinDesk
• HSBC UK Blocks Payments to Binance Exchange - CoinDesk

Bitcoin is down slightly at $38,296
Ethereum is down 1% at $2,436
and Binance Coin is up .5% at $326.

Solve Care up 175%
Populous up 21%

The largest dutch Dominos Pizza franchise will offer Bitcoin salaries.

Wells Fargo set to offer crypto investment strategies to qualified investors.

Gary Gensler is working for more investor protection

GoogleTrends shows the search interest for cryptocurrency hit an all time high in the second week of May

Links:

• Wells Fargo Plans to Add Crypto Fund to Platform, Top Exec Shares Why
• SEC.gov | Remarks at 2021 FINRA Annual Conference
• GoogleTrends on Twitter: ""What happened to cryptocurrency today” is up +850%, past day, Worldwide "Should I sell my crypto” is up +400%, past day, US https://t.co/97hThGzDd2" / Twitter
• Staff at Biggest Dutch Domino’s Pizza Franchise Can Now Be Paid in Bitcoin - CoinDesk

Bitcoin is down slightly at $55,652
Ethereum is down slightly at $1,692
and Binance Coin is up slightly at 268.08

Ankr Network up 23%
Solana up 19%
Icon up 16%

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear signs crypto mining incentives into law.

Optimism is delaying its main net launch to July.

Senate to confirm Gary Gensler.

UK is set to publish new tax guidelines on crypto next week.

Bitcoin is up 2% at $15,884
Ethereum is up slightly at $461
and XRP is down 0.5% at 25 cents

Top gainers in the last 24 hours:
Stacks up 16%

US President-elect Joe biden has added former CFTC chairman and crypto enthusiast Gary Gensler to his transition team.

Chainalysis wants to help the US sell the Silk Road trove.

Binance has paid a bounty of 200k to investigators who helped with the arrest of bad actors.

Deel unveils a crypto payroll tool.

KuCoin co-founder Johnny Lyu said 84% of the funds from the recent hack have been recovered.

Links:

• Binance Gives $200K to Investigators Who Helped Identify Actors Behind 2018 Attack - CoinDesk
• Chainalysis Wants to Help the Feds Sell Millions in Forfeited Bitcoin - CoinDesk
• Joe Biden transition team adds former CFTC chair and crypto-focused academic Gary Gensler - The Block
• lyu_johnny on Twitter: "(1/3) Latest updates about #KuCoin Security Incident: So far, 84% of the affected assets have been recovered via approaches like on-chain tracking, contract upgrade and judicial recovery. As asked by the law enforcements, we will publish all the details once the case is closed." / Twitter
• Andreesen Horowitz-backed Deel launches crypto payroll tool - The Block