Crypto Morning Brief: US Initial Jobless Claims Surge, Do Kwon Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

深潮Published on 2025-12-12Last updated on 2025-12-12

Abstract

Crypto Morning Brief: U.S. initial jobless claims surged to 236,000, exceeding expectations. Terraform Labs founder Do Kwon was sentenced to 15 years in prison for fraud related to the $40 billion Terra-Luna collapse. In other news, the SEC's crypto working group will hold a roundtable on financial regulation and privacy. Former President Trump launched a "Gold Card" program offering legal residency for investments. Coinbase expanded DEX support to all Solana tokens, enabling trading without traditional listing. Ant International highlighted AI and blockchain's role in transforming global payments. Meanwhile, RWA tokenization services faced a sharp decline in interest from mainland Chinese companies following a regulatory warning. Additional updates include e& piloting a dirham stablecoin and Jupiter Exchange acquiring RainFi to develop Solana's credit markets.

Author: Deep Tide TechFlow

Yesterday's Market Dynamics

US Initial Jobless Claims for the Week Ending Dec 6: 236K, Expected 220K

US initial jobless claims for the week ending Dec 6 were 236,000, previous 191,000, expected 220,000.

US SEC Crypto Working Group to Hold Roundtable on Dec 15 to Discuss Financial Regulation and Privacy Policies

According to US SEC Chairman Paul Atkins' social media disclosure, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) cryptocurrency working group will hold a roundtable meeting on Monday, December 15, to discuss policy matters related to financial regulation and privacy.

Trump: "Gold Card" Officially on Sale, $1 Million Payment Grants Legal Status

According to Jinshi Data, US President Trump announced on Wednesday that his long-promised "Gold Card" is officially on sale. Individuals paying $1 million, and foreign employees sponsored by companies paying $2 million, can obtain legal status and pave the way for US citizenship.

Surrounded by business leaders in the White House Roosevelt Room, Trump unveiled the start of the program, while an official website for applications also went live. This move aims to replace the EB-5 investment immigrant visa.

The EB-5 was established by Congress in 1990 to attract foreign investment, originally requiring an investment of approximately $1 million into a company that creates at least 10 jobs.

Trump believes the new "Gold Card" is an effective means for the US to attract and retain top global talent, as well as a significant source of revenue for the federal treasury. He has been promoting the "Gold Card" for months, initially suggesting a price of $5 million per card but recently finalizing the pricing structure at $1 million for individuals and $2 million for companies.

Trump promised that all funds received from the program "will be fully paid to the US government." He expects hundreds of billions of dollars to flow into a specially designated account managed by the Treasury Department, "These funds can be used to do things that benefit the country."

Do Kwon Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison in New York Court for Terra-Luna Collapse Case

According to The Block report, Terraform Labs founder Do Kwon was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Thursday in a New York court on charges related to fraud in the $40 billion Terra-Luna ecosystem collapse.

US District Court Judge Paul Engelmayer stated that Kwon "chose to lie" and "made the wrong choices." Kwon was criminally indicted in March 2023 on charges including conspiracy to commit fraud, commodities fraud, wire fraud, securities fraud, conspiracy to commit fraud, and conspiracy to engage in market manipulation and money laundering. He subsequently pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud in August 2024.

Without a plea agreement, Kwon could have faced up to 135 years in prison if convicted on all nine counts. After agreeing to plead guilty to two counts, his maximum sentence was reduced to 25 years. Prosecutors had also sought a $19 million fine.

Coinbase Announces Support for All Solana On-Chain Token Trading via DEX Functionality

According to Bitcoin News report, Coinbase announced today (Dec 11) support for trading all Solana on-chain tokens via DEX functionality, bypassing traditional listing processes. Users can now trade millions of tokens in the Solana ecosystem through the familiar Coinbase interface, gaining early investment opportunities. For projects, as long as the token has sufficient liquidity, it can be directly traded by Coinbase's millions of users. Coinbase stated that this move aims to make the vast array of on-chain assets more accessible and build a bridge between users and developers.

Ant International: AI and Blockchain to Lead Global Payment Industry Transformation

According to Forbes report, Ant International is applying AI and blockchain technologies to the global payments sector.

The company has launched several technological innovations: Antom Copilot AI agent supports merchants in full lifecycle payment management; collaborated with Google, Mastercard, and Visa to develop an AI payment protocol; the Falcon prediction model has processed $1.5 trillion in transactions with 90% accuracy, reducing foreign exchange costs by 60%; the SHIELD risk management system has enhanced transaction security.

Ant International CEO Peng Yang stated at the Singapore FinTech Festival 2025 that the company is actively participating in global regulatory initiatives, including the Monetary Authority of Singapore's Guardian project and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's Ensemble project. Peng Yang believes that we are currently facing a post-internet technological revolution, bringing unprecedented opportunities and challenges to emerging markets and small businesses. The company is committed to democratizing technological innovation, ensuring that AI and blockchain can facilitate seamless cross-border payments and a fairer business environment.

Former Movement Labs Co-founder Launches $100 Million Crypto Investment Plan

According to The Block report, MOVE Labs former co-founder Rushi Manche announced today the establishment of Nyx Group, planning to invest up to $100 million to support crypto token projects. This investment plan will provide liquidity and comprehensive operational support for projects preparing for token launches, including community building, financial management, and compliance guidance.

Manche stated that Nyx Group aims to fill a "critical gap" in the current crypto market, especially in an environment where founders face difficulties accessing capital. The team will adopt strict investment criteria, supporting only founders deeply trusted by the team, with decisions made by an investment committee.

Notably, Manche was previously terminated from Movement Labs due to controversy involving market-making arrangements for 66 million MOVE tokens. Regarding the new project, he emphasized that Nyx Group will be the "most founder-friendly partner," offering favorable terms and supporting long-term vision.

Mainland Enterprises' RWA Business in Hong Kong "Frozen," Consultations Plummet Over 90%

According to Sina Finance report, recently, seven financial industry associations jointly issued a risk warning, explicitly prohibiting domestic participation in virtual currency and Real World Asset (RWA) token issuance and trading activities. After the regulatory stance was set, RWA business for mainland enterprises in Hong Kong has completely cooled down. Industry insiders revealed that consultations have plummeted by over 90%, and most projects already engaged have been asked to suspend progress. Related concept stocks fell in response, with Langxin Group, GCL Energy, and others halving from their highs. Some companies have turned to exploring RDA (Real Data Asset) as an alternative direction.

UAE Telecom Giant e& Pilots Dirham Stablecoin Payment System

According to Cointelegraph report, UAE telecom giant e& signed a memorandum of understanding with Al Maryah Community Bank to test the application of the Dirham stablecoin (AE Coin) in its payment infrastructure. This pilot project will allow users to use this UAE Central Bank-licensed stablecoin to pay mobile phone bills, home service fees, recharge prepaid lines, etc. e& Group CEO Hatem Dowidar stated that this stablecoin enables "instant settlement, full transparency, and frictionless access."

Jupiter Exchange Has Acquired RainFi

According to SolanaFloor disclosure, Jupiter Exchange (@JupiterExchange) has acquired RainFi (@RainFi_), aiming to promote the development of credit markets on the Solana blockchain. According to the announcement, Droplets users will receive $JUP token rewards in early 2026.

Bloomberg: Coinbase Plans to Announce Its Prediction Market and Tokenized Stock Products on Dec 17

According to Bloomberg report, cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase Global Inc. plans to announce the launch of prediction market and tokenized stock products next week. According to people familiar with the matter, Coinbase will officially announce these two products at a showcase event on December 17. Notably, its tokenized stock product will be launched through internal development, not through partners.

Market Dynamics

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Related Questions

QWhat was the U.S. initial jobless claims number for the week of December 6th, and how did it compare to expectations?

AThe U.S. initial jobless claims for the week of December 6th were 236,000, which was higher than the forecast of 220,000.

QWhat sentence was Do Kwon, the founder of Terraform Labs, given in the Terra-Luna collapse case?

ADo Kwon was sentenced to 15 years in prison for fraud and other charges related to the collapse of the $40 billion Terra-Luna ecosystem.

QWhat major new feature did Coinbase announce for Solana tokens on December 11th?

ACoinbase announced support for trading all Solana-based tokens through its DEX functionality, bypassing the traditional listing process.

QAccording to the article, what did the joint risk warning from seven financial industry associations in China lead to for RWA businesses?

AThe regulatory warning led to a sharp decline of over 90% in inquiries for RWA businesses from mainland companies looking to operate in Hong Kong, with many projects being put on hold.

QWhat is the name of the stablecoin that UAE telecom giant e& is piloting for its payment system?

AThe UAE telecom giant e& is piloting the use of the Dirham stablecoin, also known as AE Coin, which is licensed by the UAE Central Bank.

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