US Central Command disables vessel attempting to breach Iranian blockade, Treasury freezes $344M in linked digital assets

Carbonara's crypto-based campaign funding highlights the growing intersection of digital assets and political finance, potentially reshaping future electoral strategies. The post Michael Carbonara liquidates 10 Bitcoin for $800K to fund congressional campaign in Florida’s 22nd District appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The U.S. Treasury has seized approximately $1 billion in Iranian-linked cryptocurrency assets, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced May 29, 2026, at the Reagan National Economic Forum in Simi Valley, California. Operation Economic Fury: Scott Bessent Says U.S. Seized $1B in Iranian Crypto, Wallets Grabbed Without Warning Bessent made the disclosure during a live interview with […]

The post RWAs, Stablecoins and DeFi Could Transform XRP Utility appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. XRP’s Shift From Bridge Asset to Institutional DeFi Backbone Gains Momentum Across XRPL Ecosystem  According to crypto market intelligence firm Messari, XRP is steadily evolving from a simple bridge asset into a broader utility token embedded within the expanding institutional DeFi ecosystem on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). In its State of XRP Q1 2026 report, Messari notes that this shift is being driven by both direct protocol upgrades and indirect network effects.  On the direct side, upcoming features such as native lending will allow XRP to be lent and borrowed on-chain, expanding its role beyond payments into credit markets and collateralized finance. This positions XRP as a more capital-efficient asset within DeFi, rather than just a settlement intermediary. On the indirect side, growing institutional adoption of XRPL infrastructure, particularly in tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), st

The post XRP utility explodes 35% as XRPL transactions surge in Q1 appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. XRP utility recorded a sharp increase in the first quarter of 2026, with average daily transactions on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) jumping 35% quarter-over-quarter to 2.48 million. The increase in XRP Ledger transactions comes as the XRPL ecosystem expands its footprint in tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), stablecoins, and decentralized finance infrastructure.  The latest quarterly data published by Messari on May 29 shows that XRP’s role within the network is growing as more institutions utilize the ledger for settlement, liquidity, and asset management. State of XRP Q1 2026 Key Update: XRP’s utility continues to grow as XRPL’s feature set expands, particularly for institutional DeFi use cases such as RWAs, stablecoins, and decentralized liquidity. @XRPLF @Ripple QoQ Metrics📊 • U.S. Spot ETF XRP holdings ⬆️ 2% to $775.4… pic.twitter.com/ntRJaqnZ82 — Messari (@MessariCrypto) May 29, 202

Some Iranian crypto wallet owners may not even know yet that their money is gone. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent disclosed Friday that the US has quietly seized roughly $1 billion in digital assets tied to Iran, a figure that has nearly tripled from earlier estimates released just weeks ago. Related Reading: Unknown Wallet Destroys $8.5 Million In Bitcoin In Shocking Burn Operation Economic Fury The seizures are part of a campaign called Operation Economic Fury, launched in March 2025, which has gone after Iranian assets on multiple fronts — freezing bank accounts, confiscating properties with European allies, and targeting cryptocurrency holdings. Bessent spoke about the effort at the Reagan National Economic Forum, describing the operation as part of a broader effort to cut off Iran financially. The $1 billion disclosure is roughly double the $500 million the Treasury Department announced in late April, and far above the $344 million figure that was made public earlier that same mo

The missile strike exacerbates geopolitical tensions, potentially destabilizing markets and influencing crypto's role as a safe-haven asset. The post Iran missile strike injures five US personnel at Kuwait base, rattling crypto markets already on edge appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The post US Seizes $1B Iranian Crypto as Coinbase, JPMorgan Clash Over CLARITY Act appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. Crypto News The United States has seized roughly $1 billion in Iranian cryptocurrency assets, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent disclosed at the Reagan National Economic Forum on Friday. Bessent said federal authorities “outright grabbed the wallets,” adding that some Iranian holders may still be unaware their funds have been confiscated. Forensic investigators reportedly traced flows from regime-linked cold wallets using public ledger analysis. The newly announced figure roughly doubles the $500 million in Iranian crypto the Treasury disclosed seizing in late April and significantly exceeds the $344 million reported earlier this month. The operation underscores Washington’s intent to weaponize on-chain transparency against adversarial regimes. The seizures form part of Operation Economic Fury, a financial pressure campaign launched in March 2025 to choke off Tehran’s

BSTR co-founder Sean Bill says many Bitcoin treasury companies lack the “ability to actually deploy Bitcoin.”