Your Weekend Crypto Roundup | May 2025 (Week 1)

2 May 2025

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Olajumoke Oyaleke

Olajumoke Oyaleke is a creative writer with a passion for crafting engaging and informative guides across a variety of topics. Deeply interested in Web3 and blockchain technology, Olajumoke is dedicated to making complex concepts accessible, helping readers stay informed on the latest trends in the space. Through writing, Olajumoke aims to showcase the possibilities of Web3 and simplify its advancements for a broader audience.

$Hello, crypto fam! It’s the final weekend roundup for May—how time flies, even in a space that never sleeps. We hope May treated you well, and here’s wishing you even more wins in the weeks ahead. If you haven’t subscribed yet, now’s the perfect time to hit that subscribe button and stay in the loop with all the latest Web3 updates! As always, here’s a quick recap of everything that went down this week. Enjoy! Biggest Story Circle Freezes $58M in USDC Amid LIBRA Memecoin Scandal Circle, issuer of the USDC stablecoin, has frozen nearly $58 million linked to the controversial LIBRA memecoin project. The freeze targeted two Solana wallets connected to LIBRA’s deployers, following a class-action lawsuit filed in New York where investors allege insider fraud. Blockchain firm Arkham confirmed Circle’s use of multisig authority to halt transactions, marking a major escalation in one of 2025’s most prominent crypto scandals. LIBRA surged after Argentine President Javier Milei promoted it as a tool for small businesses, reaching over $5 and a $4 billion market cap within an hour. However, a massive insider dump crashed its value by 90%, resulting in $250 million in retail losses. The fallout has sparked political unrest in Argentina and may set new legal precedents in crypto accountability. Other News Making Waves Elon Musk confirms departure as White House cost-cutting czar, ending his controversial tenure leading DOGE, a department created under Trump to slash federal spending and jobs (More) Former CFTC Chair Rostin Behnam warns the U.S. crypto market will stay largely unregulated unless Congress expands the agency’s authority over digital assets like Bitcoin and Ether (More) ASIC sues former Blockchain Global director Allan Guo over the ACX Exchange collapse, accusing him of misusing customer funds and falsifying company records (More) Outgoing CFTC Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero warns that the agency’s leadership vacuum threatens balanced crypto regulation and effective oversight (More) Swiss crypto investor to surrender after 28-year-old Michael Carturan escaped a $30M crypto-related kidnapping involving electrocution and torture inside a Soho apartment (More) Michael Saylor slams onchain proof-of-reserves at Bitcoin 2025, calling it a security threat that exposes institutional wallets to tracing and attacks (More) French police arrest over a dozen suspects, including minors, tied to crypto-related kidnapping rings targeting Parisian crypto entrepreneur families (More) Sygnum hires ex-CFTC Chair Christopher Giancarlo as senior policy adviser to steer regulatory strategy amid booming institutional crypto interest (More) Dedaub reveals Cetus DEX exploit used AMM logic flaw to drain $223M by manipulating liquidity pools via single-token injections and slippage abuse (More) Around the World: Bold Moves and Crypto Regulations NYC Mayor Eric Adams pushes for a municipal “Bitbond” to integrate Bitcoin into public finance and renews calls to repeal the burdensome BitLicense regulation to revive New York’s crypto ecosystem. (More) Pakistan plans to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve and national crypto wallet, while allocating 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity to Bitcoin mining and AI data centers. (More) White House AI and crypto lead David Sacks hints at potential U.S. Bitcoin purchases under a “budget-neutral” policy, leveraging a March 6 executive order authorizing such acquisitions. (More) IMF approves a $120 million disbursement to El Salvador but demands withdrawal from the Chivo wallet and a halt to Bitcoin expansion, clashing with Bukele’s continued daily BTC purchases. (More) Thailand to allow tourists to spend crypto linked to credit cards, shielding local merchants from volatility while advancing broader fintech reforms and launching digital government bond tokens. (More) Pakistan earmarks 2,000 megawatts of electricity for Bitcoin mining and AI data centers, turning energy surpluses into digital infrastructure growth amid rising tech investment initiatives. (More) Dubai launches MENA’s first tokenized real estate platform, Prypco Mint, enabling UAE residents to invest in property from just Dh2,000 through fractional ownership. Backed by major regulators and institutions, the initiative aims to tokenize 7% of Dubai’s property market by 2033. (More) Market Trends: Winners and Losers Top 5 Gainers 📈 According to data from CoinGecko, these are the five biggest gainers of the week: Zebec Network +121.78%, from $0.00290855 to $0.00645154 Central African Republic Meme +155.65%, from $0.02301762 to $0.058874 WalletConnect Token +94.71%, from $0.590721 to $1.15 NATIX Network +101.79%, from $0.00094523 to $0.00190804 Undeads Games +54.73%, from $0.695351 to $1.076 Top 5 Losers 📉 According to data from CoinGecko, the five biggest losers of the week are: Efinity -15.36%, from $0.616844 to $0.522099 Hey Anon -18.65%, from $6.22 to $5.06 Based Fartcoin -31.02%, from $0.00043206 to $0.00029793 B3 -25.26%, from $0.00463979 to $0.00346849 Covalent X Token -19.45%, from $0.04228250 to $0.03405899 Project Spotlight Gomble Games Launched GOMBLE BUILDERS: A Community-Powered Web3 Gaming Platform Gomble Games, creators of the hit Web3 title EggDrop, has launched GOMBLE BUILDERS, a collaborative game development platform where communities, NFT holders, and developers co-create games and share in the rewards. Unlike most Web3 projects, these games are built for mainstream mobile users, blending user-generated content with wide accessibility. Through asset licensing, AI tools, and integrated IPs, contributors can influence gameplay and earn revenue from their creations. Why It Matters: GOMBLE BUILDERS bridges Web3 innovation with Web2-scale reach, offering a new model where ownership, creativity, and financial upside are shared. With support from major partners and powered by the $GM token, it’s redefining game development as a collaborative, inclusive economy for global players. Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational purposes and should not be considered trading or investment advice. Nothing herein should be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Trading or investing in cryptocurrencies carries a considerable risk of financial loss. Always conduct due diligence. If you want to read more market analyses like this one, visit DeFi Planet and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and CoinMarketCap Community. Your Weekend Crypto Roundup | May 2025 (Week 5)$