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From Sony’s new web3 project to new updates from Bybit, here’s a roundup of the top crypto stories you may have missed.

Sony Web3 Project: Solo Leveling Digital Collectible

Sony launched the Anime Art Festival, a Web3 initiative that blends anime fandom with blockchain technology, debuting with a digital collectible based on the hit anime Solo Leveling.

The collectible is available via Sony’s proprietary Layer-2 blockchain, Soneium. It was developed with San FranTokyo’s Anime ID and Animoca Brands’ AIR Kit. Fans can mint collectibles, earn digital badges and build on-chain reputations based on their engagement, with hints of future utilities tied to their participation. Additional features include linking MyAnimeList accounts to integrate anime viewing history and participate in giveaways and writing contests.

NFT trader faces jail for tax evasion on CryptoPunk profits

Waylon Wilcox, a 45-year-old NFT trader, pleaded guilty to underreporting nearly $13 million in profits from selling CryptoPunk NFTs across 2021 and 2022. He earned approximately $7.4 million in 2021 and another $4.9 million in 2022 from 97 total sales but filed false tax returns to conceal these earnings. In doing so, he reduced his tax liability by more than $3 million across the two years. Wilcox now faces a maximum of six years in prison, supervised release and potential fines, though the final sentence has yet to be determined. (Read more: Then vs. Now: Top NFT Collections and How Much Their Prices Have Crashed Since 2021)

Federal prosecutors and the IRS emphasized the seriousness of financial crimes involving digital assets, noting that Wilcox had intentionally misled authorities by denying any digital asset transactions on his tax forms. 

Google to Enforce MICA Rules on Crypto Ads

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Starting April 23, Google will enforce new advertising rules for cryptocurrency services in Europe under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework and Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) regulations.

Crypto exchanges and wallet providers must now be licensed under these regulations and certified by Google to run ads across most EU countries. The policy aims to align with local and national-level legal requirements, though violators will receive a warning at least seven days before account suspensions.

Trump family to Launch a Monopoly-inspired Crypto Game

The Trump family is reportedly preparing to launch a crypto-based game inspired by Monopoly by the end of April, led by Bill Zanker, a close associate who previously worked with Donald Trump on NFT projects and the Trump meme coin.

The game is said to feature in-game currency that may tie into crypto elements, though exact details about its mechanics and tokenomics remain vague.

Slovenia to Tax Crypto Profits at 25%

Slovenia’s finance ministry proposed a 25% tax on capital gains from cryptocurrency starting in 2026. The tax would apply to profits from selling crypto for fiat currency or using it for goods and services, but would exclude swapping one cryptocurrency for another.

The tax is expected to generate between €2.5 million and €25 million annually and will be assessed on the difference between the acquisition and sale prices, minus transaction fees. The Finance Ministry is seeking public feedback on the proposal.

OpenSea Integrates Solana on Its OS2 Platform

OpenSea has integrated the Solana blockchain network into its OS2 platform, allowing users to trade Solana-based meme coins. The move aims to expand cross-blockchain compatibility for NFTs and other digital assets.

The integration supports token trading for Solana and is currently available to a select group of beta users, with broader access coming soon. The initiative is part of OpenSea’s larger goal to enhance its OS2 platform, which will eventually support more than 20 blockchain networks and provide a more unified experience for NFT and token trading.

CZ Reveals His Crypto Portfolio

Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao publicly revealed his crypto portfolio using Binance Square’s new trader profile feature. He listed BNB as his dominant asset at 98.48%, followed by Bitcoin (1.32%), EURI (0.17%) and USDT (0.03%).

ByBit Shutdowns 4 More Web3 Services

Bybit is significantly scaling back its web3 operations, announcing the shutdown of several services, including its Cloud Wallet, Keyless Wallet, NFT marketplace, multi-chain DEX (DEX Pro), and the Swap & Bridge widget, all effective by May 31.

The move follows the earlier closure of its NFT marketplace and comes alongside the discontinuation of Web3 Points, NFT Pro, Apex Pro gateway, fiat-to-crypto on-ramp and its initial DEX offering service on April 28. These changes are part of a broader strategic shift following a $1.4 billion hack that hit the platform in February.

BIS Calls for “Containment” of Crypto Risks

A new report from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) calls for stronger regulation and a “containment” approach to crypto and DeFi risks as their integration with traditional finance deepens.

Titled Cryptocurrencies and Decentralised Finance: Functions and Financial Stability Implications, the report warns of potential spillovers into the real economy through developments such as crypto ETFs and tokenized real-world assets. While the BIS acknowledges that an outright ban on crypto is neither feasible nor desirable, it argues that tighter oversight—including KYC requirements and professional standards—is needed due to persistent risks like scams, anonymity and information asymmetry.

This article is published on BitPinas: Crypto News You May Have Missed This Week | April 21, 2025

What else is happening in Crypto Philippines and beyond?

From CZ’s new role in Pakistan’s Crypto Council to the merging of two Immutable’s blockchain, here’s a roundup of the top crypto stories you may have missed.

CZ Joins Pakistan’s Crypto Council as an advisor

Binance co-founder and former CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao has joined Pakistan’s newly formed Crypto Council as an advisor, aiming to help shape the country’s digital asset landscape. His guidance will focus on improving Pakistan’s crypto regulations, infrastructure, education and adoption strategies.

Thailand Cracks Down on Foreign P2P Crypto Platforms

Thailand introduced a sweeping legal overhaul to crack down on unregulated foreign crypto platforms, with new amendments enabling authorities to suspend suspicious transactions and penalize unauthorized peer-to-peer (P2P) services. Under the revised rules, violators could face up to three years in prison or a 300,000 baht fine.

The laws, set to take immediate effect upon publication, extend liability beyond crypto firms to include banks, telecoms, and social media platforms if they fail to meet cybercrime prevention standards. 

Despite its crackdown, Thailand remains open to regulated crypto innovation. The country is considering launching a blockchain-based securities trading platform, exploring a government bond-backed stablecoin, and testing Bitcoin payments for tourism in Phuket.

Magic Eden Expands Into Crypto Trading

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Magic Eden is expanding beyond NFTs by acquiring Slingshot Finance, a mobile-first crypto trading app known for cross-chain swaps and user-friendly design. Magic Eden noted that the move positions it as a full-scale digital asset platform, offering both token and NFT trading across multiple blockchains.

The acquisition will let users trade more than 5 million tokens with features like email login and fiat on-ramps, while Slingshot adds upcoming support for bitcoin-based meme coins.

NFT Sales Plunge In March

NFT sales plummeted in March 2025, with overall market volume dropping by 43% from February, totaling just $419 million. Major blockchains saw significant declines, with Ethereum-based NFT sales falling 58% to $127 million, bitcoin NFTs down 32% to $71 million, and Polygon dropping 41% to $63 million. Solana and Mythos Chain also reported decreases of 10% and nearly 25%, respectively.

Top-selling NFT collections in March 2025:

1. Courtyard – $54 million (increased 48%)
2. DMarket – $41 million (increased 2.22%)
3. CryptoPunks – $19 million (increased 37.91%)
4. ?? BRC-20 Collection – $18 million (increased 16%)
5. Guild of Guardians Heroes – $17 million (decreased 28.37%)
6. Paradise – $15 million (increased 18%)
7. Pudgy Penguins – $8 million (decreased 65%)
8. Guild of Guardians Avatar – $7.9 million (increase by 5.86%)
9. Quantum Cats – $7.7 million (increased 51%)
10. Fx-wsteth-position – $6.8 million (increased 55%)

CFPB Expected to Scale Back Its Role in Crypto Regulation

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is expected to reduce its role in cryptocurrency regulation as other federal bodies, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, take on a larger regulatory responsibility.

This shift comes amid the Trump administration’s broader efforts to streamline the federal bureaucracy. Despite this pullback, the CFPB will still retain some regulatory duties due to statutory requirements that can only be altered by Congress.

Hong Kong Issues Crypto Staking Rules for Exchanges

Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) issued new guidelines that permit licensed crypto exchanges and funds to offer staking services, as part of its strategy to expand the city’s digital asset sector.

Staking allows crypto holders to earn passive income by participating in proof-of-stake networks, which are vital for blockchain security. The commission emphasized that platforms must maintain full control over client assets and disclose all associated risks, such as hacking or technical errors.

Catizen Token Consumption Surpasses 30 Million

In the first quarter of 2025, Catizen saw a significant increase in token consumption, surpassing 30 million CATI—a 3.5-fold rise from Q4 2024. The platform’s user base has grown to more than 3.3 million, with over 1 million CATI consumed daily.

Catizen also plans to launch more than 200 games in 2025, targeting Asian markets such as Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Southeast Asia, and aims to integrate AI-driven virtual pets for a more immersive experience. Catizen’s vision is to establish itself as a web3 mini-app platform, drawing inspiration from WeChat’s successful ecosystem model.

Kaspersky Flags Crypto-Swiping Malware on SourceForge

Cybersecurity firm Kaspersky flagged a malware campaign that targets cryptocurrency users by replacing trusted wallet addresses with the attacker’s own. This malware, distributed under the guise of Microsoft Office add-ins on SourceForge, installs ClipBanker, which swaps clipboard cryptocurrency addresses. Users typically don’t notice the change, leading to funds being sent to the attacker’s wallet instead.

The malware’s distribution appears concentrated in Russia, but its English-language download page suggests a broader reach. 

The exploit relies on redirecting users to a fake download link, which appears to be a legitimate 700MB installer—though only 7MB of it contains the actual malware. Between January and March 2025, about 4,604 Russian users were affected. Kaspersky urges users to avoid downloading software from untrusted sources, as alternative links may carry significant security risks.

Immutable to Merge Chains

Immutable plans to consolidate its two major blockchain technologies—Immutable X and Immutable zkEVM—into a unified chain by late 2025, streamlining its platform for Web3 gaming. Immutable X, the original layer-2 solution for Ethereum, will gradually phase out in favor of zkEVM, which has already processed nearly 150 million transactions. The transition will be seamless for users, with assets automatically migrated and no disruption to existing operations.

This article is published on BitPinas: Crypto News You May Have Missed This Week | April 12, 2025

What else is happening in Crypto Philippines and beyond?