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Crypto urges Congress to change DOJ rule used against Tornado Cash devs

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A coalition of crypto firms has urged Congress to press the Department of Justice to amend an “unprecedented and overly expansive” interpretation of laws that were used to charge the developers of the crypto mixer Tornado Cash.

A March 26 letter signed by 34 crypto companies and advocate groups sent to the Senate Banking Committee, House Financial Services Committee and the House and Senate judiciary committees said the DOJ’s take on unlicensed money-transmitting business means “essentially every blockchain developer could be prosecuted as a criminal.”

The letter — led by the DeFi Education Fund and signed by the likes of Kraken and Coinbase — added that the Justice Department’s interpretation “creates confusion and ambiguity” and “threatens the viability of U.S.-based software development in the digital asset industry.”

The group said the DOJ debuted its position “in August 2023 via criminal indictment” — the same time it charged Tornado Cash developers Roman Storm and Roman Semenov with money laundering.

Storm has been released on bail, has pleaded not guilty and wants the charges dropped. Semenov, a Russian national, is at large.

Source: DeFi Education Fund

The DOJ has filed similar charges against Samourai Wallet co-founders Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill, who have both pleaded not guilty.

The crypto group’s letter argued that two sections of the US Code define a “money transmitting business” — Title 31 section 5330, defining who must be licensed and Title 18 section 1960, which criminalizes operating unlicensed.

It added that 2019 guidance from the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) gave examples of what money-transmitting activities and said that “if a software developer never obtains possession or control over customer funds, that developer is not operating a ‘money transmitting business.’”

The letter argued that the DOJ had taken a position that the definition of a money transmitting business under section 5330 “is not relevant to determining whether someone is operating an unlicensed ‘money transmitting business’ under Section 1960” despite the “intentional similarity” in both sections and FinCEN’s guidance.

Related: Hester Peirce calls for SEC rulemaking to ‘bake in’ crypto regulation 

The group accused the DOJ of ignoring both FinCEN’s guidance and parts of the law to pursue its own interpretation of a money-transmitting business when it charged Storm and Semenov.

They said the result had seen “two separate US government agencies with conflicting interpretations of ‘money transmission’ — an unclear, unfair position for law-abiding industry participants and innovators.”

The letter said that if not addressed, the Justice Department’s interpretation would expose non-custodial software developers “within the reach of the U.S. to criminal liability.”

“The resulting, and very rational, fear among developers would effectively end the development of these technologies in the United States.”

In January, Michael Lewellen, a fellow of the crypto advocacy group Coin Center, sued Attorney General Merrick Garland to have his planned release of non-custodial software declared legal and to block the DOJ from using money transmitting laws to prosecute him.

Lewellen said the DOJ “has begun criminally prosecuting people for publishing similar cryptocurrency software,” which he claims extended the interpretation of money-transmitting laws “beyond what the Constitution allows.”

Magazine: Meet lawyer Max Burwick — ‘The ambulance chaser of crypto’  

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Bitcoin bottom ‘likely’ at $80K, opening door for TON, CRO, MNT and RENDER to rally

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Bitcoin (BTC) bulls are trying to start a recovery but selling at higher levels continues to disarm each attack of the range highs. Veteran trader Peter Brandt said in a post on X that Bitcoin has broken down from a bear wedge pattern, giving it a target objective of $65,635.

The current macroeconomic environment and the fears of a prolonged trade war have created a 40% possibility of a recession in 2025, according to Coin Bureau founder Nic Puckrin. Puckrin said that a recession and the current macroeconomic uncertainty could put pressure on risky assets such as cryptocurrencies.

Crypto market data daily view. Source: Coin360

However, not everyone is bearish on Bitcoin in the near term. Analyst Stockmoney Lizards said in a post on X that Bitcoin’s local bottom could be between $82,000 and $80,000. The analyst anticipates Bitcoin to make a reversal next week.

If Bitcoin starts a recovery, select altcoins are likely to move higher. Let’s look at the charts of the top cryptocurrencies that are showing a bullish setup.

Bitcoin price analysis

Bitcoin’s failure to rise above the resistance line may have tempted selling by traders. The bears will try to pull the price toward the critical $80,000 support.

BTC/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The 20-day exponential moving average ($85,253) is flattish, and the relative strength index (RSI) is just below the midpoint, giving a slight advantage to the bears. If the $80,000 support cracks, the BTC/USDT pair could plunge to $76,606.

On the other hand, if the price turns up from the current level or $80,000, it improves the prospects of a rally above the resistance line. If that happens, it suggests an end of the corrective phase. The pair could rally to $95,000 and then to $100,000.

BTC/USDT 4-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The 20-EMA has turned down on the 4-hour chart, and the RSI is in the negative territory, signaling that bears are in control. If the price turns down from the current level, the pair could slide to $80,000 and then to $78,000.

Buyers will have to drive and maintain the price above the 20-EMA to signal strength. The pair may then rise to the resistance line, which is a critical resistance to watch out for. The bullish momentum is expected to begin on a break above $89,000.

Toncoin price analysis

Toncoin (TON) bounced off the moving averages on March 30, indicating a positive sentiment.

TON/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The upsloping 20-day EMA ($3.58) and the RSI in the positive zone indicate advantage to buyers. The bulls will try to strengthen their position by pushing the price above $4.14. If they can pull it off, the TON/USDT pair may start a new upmove to $5 and, after that, to $5.65.

Sellers will have to yank the price below the $3.3 support to seize control. Such a move signals that bears remain sellers on rallies. The pair could plummet to $2.81 and eventually to $2.64.

TON/USDT 4-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The pair turned up from the uptrend line, indicating that the bulls are viewing the dips as a buying opportunity. The pair could reach the overhead resistance of $4.14, where the bears are expected to step in. However, if buyers pierce the resistance, the pair could start the next leg of the upmove toward $5.

The bears will be back in the driver’s seat if they sink and sustain the price below the uptrend line. The pair may then drop to $3.28.

Cronos price analysis

Cronos (CRO) broke out of the moving averages on March 24, signaling that the downtrend could have ended.

CRO/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The CRO/USDT pair is facing selling near $0.12, but a positive sign in favor of the bulls is that they have not allowed the price to sustain below the $0.10 support. This suggests that buyers are trying to form a higher low. If the bulls shove the price above $0.12, the pair could rally toward $0.14.

Sellers are likely to have other plans. They will try to sink the price below the moving averages and trap the aggressive bulls.

CRO/USDT 4-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The pair has been range-bound between $0.10 and $0.12, indicating indecision between the bulls and the bears. The 20-EMA is sloping up gradually, and the RSI is just above the midpoint, giving a slight edge to the bulls. A break and close above $0.11 increases the likelihood of a rally above $0.12.

Sellers will be back in the driver’s seat if they sink and maintain the price below the 50-SMA. That could pull the pair down to $0.08.

Related: Is XRP price around $2 an opportunity or the bull market’s end? Analysts weigh in

Mantle price analysis

Mantle (MNT) failed to rise above the 50-day SMA ($0.84) in the past few days, but a positive sign is that the bulls are trying to hold the price above the 20-day EMA ($0.80).

MNT/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

If the price rebounds off the 20-day EMA with strength, it will suggest a change in sentiment from selling on rallies to buying on dips. That improves the prospects of a break above the 50-day SMA. If that happens, the MNT/USDT pair could ascend to $0.94 and later to $1.06.

Contrary to this assumption, if the price continues lower and breaks below $0.77, it will tilt the short-term advantage in favor of the bears. The pair may then tumble to $0.72, delaying the start of the up move.

MNT/USDT 4-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The 4-hour chart is facing stiff resistance at $0.85. The pair may dip to $0.77, which is a critical support to watch out for. If the price rebounds off $0.77, it will signal that the bulls are buying on dips. That could keep the pair stuck between $0.77 and $0.85 for some time. A break and close above $0.85 could push the pair toward $0.95.

Sellers will have to pull the price below $0.77 to gain the upper hand. The pair could then drop toward $0.69.

Render price analysis

Render (RNDR) has been in a strong downtrend for several weeks, but the bulls pushed the price above the 50-day SMA ($3.77) on March 25, signaling demand at lower levels.

RNDR/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The bears have pulled the price to the 20-day EMA ($3.57), which is an important level to watch out for. If the price rebounds off the 20-day EMA with force, the bulls will try to propel the RNDR/USDT pair to $5 and later to $6.20.

This positive view will be invalidated in the near term if the price continues lower and closes below $3.05. That signals aggressive selling at higher levels. The pair may slump to $2.83 and subsequently to $2.52.

RNDR/USDT 4-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The 20-EMA has turned down, and the RSI is in the negative territory on the 4-hour chart, indicating an advantage to sellers. A break and close below the uptrend line will further strengthen the bears, pulling the pair to $3.

The first sign of strength will be a break and close above the moving averages. That could open the doors for a rally to $4. The up move could accelerate after the pair closes above $4.20, completing a bullish head-and-shoulders pattern. 

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

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Centralization and the dark side of asset tokenization — MEXC exec

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Tracy Jin, the chief operating officer at the MEXC crypto exchange, warns that tokenizing real-world assets (RWAs) carries a substantial amount of centralized risks that can lead to censorship, liquidity issues, legal uncertainty, cybersecurity problems, and asset confiscation through state or third-party intermediaries.

In an interview with Cointelegraph, the executive said that as long as tokenized assets remain under the purview of state regulators and centralized intermediaries, then “tokenization will simply be a new version of old financial infrastructure and not a financial revolution.” Jin added:

“Most tokenized assets will be issued on permissioned or semi-centralized blockchains. This gives authorities the power to issue restrictions or confiscate assets. The tokenization of assets such as real estate or bonds is still tied to the national legal system.”

“If the property or company behind the token is local, in a country with an unstable legal environment or high political volatility, the risk of confiscation increases,” the executive continued.

RWA tokenization is projected to become a multi-trillion sector in the next decade as the world’s assets come onchain, which will increase the velocity of money and extend the reach of capital markets worldwide.

The total market cap of the RWA sector. Source: RWA.XYZ

Related: Dubai Land Department begins real estate tokenization project

Estimates of the future RWA market differ dramatically

Tokenized real-world assets include stocks, bonds, real estate, intellectual property rights, energy, art, private credit, debt instruments, fiat currency, commodities, and collectibles.

According to RWA.XYZ, there are currently over $19.6 billion in tokenized real-world assets onchain, excluding the stablecoin sector, which surpassed a $200 billion market cap in December 2024.

A research report from Tren Finance polled large financial institutions including Citi, Standard Chartered, and McKinsey & Company; the report found that the participants predicted the RWA market to reach anywhere between $4 trillion to $30 trillion by 2030.

Financial institutions provide different forecasts for the future of the tokenized RWA market. Source: Tren Finance

McKinsey & Company predicted the RWA sector will encompass between $2 trillion to $4 trillion by 2030 — a relatively modest assessment compared to other forecasts.

Meanwhile, institutions like Standard Chartered and executives at the blockchain network Polygon say that the RWA market will reach $30 trillion in the next decade.

Magazine: Real-life yield farming: How tokenization is transforming lives in Africa

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Binance debuts centralized exchange to decentralized exchange trades

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Crypto exchange Binance has debuted centralized exchange (CEX) to decentralized exchange trades (DEX), allowing customers to use funds from their Binance wallets to execute DEX trades — eliminating the need for asset bridging or manual transfers.

According to the exchange, customers can use Circle’s USDC (USDC) and other supported stablecoins to acquire tokens on the Ethereum, Solana, Base, and BNB Smart Chain networks.

The new CEX to DEX feature is also compatible with other tools on the platform, including Binance Alpha, which gives users the ability to discover emerging tokens in early-stage development, and the Binance quick buy tool.

Incorporating CEX to DEX trading unlocks a smoother user experience and reduces the complexity of swapping digital assets.

This reduction in complexity addresses the technical barrier to entry inherent in the user experience that makes it difficult for new users to interact with digital assets. Complex user interfaces and clunky user experience is one of the most widely cited issues in crypto.

An online meme poking fun at the complexities in crypto. Source: Kev.Eth

Related: Web3’s UX problem — and how to fix it, feat. Ponder One

Overcoming crypto’s user experience problem and getting crypto out of the AOL era

In November 2024, The WalletConnect Foundation and Reown established a standard framework for crypto wallets to enhance the user experience and promote ease of use.

Pedro Gomes, director of the WalletConnect Foundation, told Cointelegraph that the wallet standards framework focused on several key areas including, “minimizing clicks, reducing transaction friction, interoperability, and providing clear and accessible information.”

Anurag Arjun, co-founder of Avail — a unified chain abstraction solution — and the Polygon layer-2 network, also told Cointelegraph that current blockchain abstraction techniques are fragmenting liquidity across the ecosystem.

The Polygon co-founder said that each blockchain network has its own set of security assumptions, presenting challenges for interoperability; Arjun specifically cited bridging techniques as cumbersome for the end user.

Sandeep Nailwal, who founded Polygon alongside Arjun, recently voiced similar sentiments and said that crypto needs to enhance user experience before achieving mass adoption, likening the current state of crypto to the internet in the late 1990s.

Nailwal told Cointelegraph that crypto needs to adopt smoother fiat onboarding, better custody solutions that feature key recovery, and hardware wallets built into mobile devices to bring crypto out of the “AOL era” and achieve mass appeal.

Magazine: They solved crypto’s janky UX problem — you just haven’t noticed yet

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