The new capital will primarily fund the development and public launch of Turnkey Verifiable Cloud, a secure computing product for digital assets.
RATO Teams Up With iDenfy to Scale Online User Onboarding in the Banking Industry
iDenfy, a RegTech company offering ID verification and fraud prevention solutions, has announced a partnership with RATO, a licensed bank with nearly 30 years of financial heritage in Lithuania. By integrating iDenfy’s AI-powered identity verification and anti-money laundering (AML) screening into its digital onboarding flow, RATO bank can now verify new customers faster, more securely, and in full compliance with KYC and AML regulatory requirements through its newly launched mobile application.
RATO is an officially specialized bank in Lithuania that provides traditional banking services. Back in 1996, it was founded as one of the country’s longest-running credit unions. Over nearly three decades, it grew into one of the most trusted financial institutions that now offers retail and business clients a full suite of services: deposits, loans, SEPA instant payments, and internet banking via its own dedicated mobile application. As the bank continues to grow its client base, it has grown the demand for onboarding new accounts as well as the need to keep up with the latest regulatory requirements and security for the synthetic fraud scams.
Financial institutions continue to shift toward fully digital services; therefore, the need for a secure, efficient, but at the same time compliant onboarding solution has become critical. Traditional onboarding methods often involve manual verification processes that are both time-consuming and not 100% reliable due to human error. This can create some difficulties and time waiting for end-users, which is automatically the first sign of the increased operational costs for banks.
The decision to partner with iDenfy was initiated by the company’s existing integrations within the Lithuanian banking technology ecosystem, including RATO core banking system suppliers Forbis and Lenders, helping to significantly reduce the time and complexity to verify users and check regulated compliance.
iDenfy’s all-in-one identity verification solution covers its bank’s strictly regulated requirements. The solution supports recognition of users’ documents from over 3,000+ document types across 200+ countries. From passports and ID cards to driving licenses and residence permits. The system is backed by advanced facial recognition and 3D liveness detection functions, with the 24/7 screening verification backed by an internal professional review team that guarantees 99.9% accuracy in onboarding the right customers. An unlimited number of ID verifications are processed within a very short time, promising zero downtime, no matter how many clients RATO acquires.
Most importantly, iDenfy’s functionality charges only per completed verification session, rather than for all verifications, even the ones that did not pass the system due to the bad lighting, suspicious accounts, mismatched faces, etc. For this reason, the credits can be used more efficiently and saved up with the guarantee that no extra cost per new account is made.
In addition, RATO chose to implement an AML screening and monitoring function; for this reason, it has accessible international sanctions lists such as Interpol, FSE, World Bank, law enforcement lists, Europol, FBI, NCA, and adverse media sources to check the user. For adverse media, iDenfy has built its own search engine system, which indexes more than 20 million relevant news sources from major search engines. To improve the search accuracy, it supports different languages.
The fact that the entire procedure can be finished in a single session is crucial. The new RATO onboarding procedure is substantially quicker, easier to use, and available from any location for end customers. There is no longer a need to visit a physical branch or submit paper documents; customers can use any kind of smart device to complete registration and authenticate their identities in less than three minutes. This degree of modern innovative solutions is in line with what contemporary banking clients expect: easy-to-use and secure digital solutions.
“At RATO, client convenience and the efficiency of our internal processes are top priorities. Today, a new customer can complete their full identity verification and become our client in a few minutes, entirely through our mobile app. That is exactly the kind of modern banking experience we set out to build,” said X at RATO.
“We are excited to support RATO as they bring their decades of financial expertise into the digital era. Our platform was particularly built to provide financial institutions the tools they need to onboard clients securely and efficiently, without sacrificing their time efforts. This partnership is a great example of how the right technology can simplify compliance with the opportunity to scale globally,” commented Domantas Ciulde, the CEO of iDenfy.
Will it Trigger a Price Breakout to $2?
XRP (XRP) has recovered from its April lows of $1.26, rising as much as 19% to a three-week high of $1.50 on Sunday.
Whale activity, network growth and a strengthening technical setup suggested that the XRP/USD pair was primed for a move higher once resistance at $1.50 is broken.
Key takeaways:
- XRP whale addresses hit record highs of 332,230, indicating accumulation.
- XRP Ledger monthly transactions hit an all-time high of 71 million in April.
- Price must break above the $1.50 resistance to continue its upside toward $2.
XRP whales show growing conviction
XRP whales remain confident about the prospects of a breakout, using the recent consolidation range to accumulate more tokens.
Santiment’s whale count metric indicates that the number of wallets holding at least 10,000 XRP has reached an all-time high of about 332,230.
“This extends a consistent growth trend that has been building since June, 2024,” Santiment said in an X post on Wednesday.
Related: XRP analysts watch key support zone as $12 price target emerges
The market intelligence firm explained that the amount of mid to large stakeholders continuing to grow is an important long-term signal showing that “larger holders have kept accumulating even during periods of volatility and uncertainty,” adding:
“Historically, rising numbers of mid-to-large wallets suggest increasing conviction from investors who are less focused on short-term price swings and more interested in long-term positioning.”
XRP Ledger whale wallets. Source: Santiment
This aligns with growing XRP Ledger (XRPL) activity, whose monthly transactions jumped to a new all-time high of 71 million in April from 43 million a year ago, representing a 65% year-over-year growth, according to data from Evernorth.
The XRP treasury firm said that the growth was driven by institutional utility tied to Bitstamp, RLUSD, Braza Bank, and DeFi protocols as XRPL continues to expand its compliance-focused infrastructure.
XRPL transaction activity. Source: Evernorth
Meanwhile, analyst CW8900 said XRP whale long positions remain dominant relative to retail positions, suggesting that they are “maintaining a bullish view” of the market
XRP whales vs. retail delta. Source: CW8900
XRP needs to flip $1.50 into support
XRP is seeking to break out from an ascending triangle, which has capped its price action since early February, as shown below.
An ascending triangle is a bullish continuation pattern formed when the price consolidates between a horizontal resistance line (flat top) and a rising support trendline (higher lows). A breakout above resistance with increased volume often precedes a strong upward move.
XRP appears to be on a similar trajectory, but bulls need to flip $1.50, where the 100-day exponential moving average (EMA) and the triangle’s resistance line converge, to confirm the breakout. Note that the price has been rejected from this supply area four times since mid-February.
Another stiff barrier lies within the $1.67 and $1.70 supply zone, where the 200-day EMA sits. Higher than that, the next logical move would be toward the measured target of the triangle at $1.98, roughly 36% above the current price.
XRP/USD daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView
“$XRP has been defending its daily 20 EMA since it was reclaimed in early May ($1.42), which has since been guiding the price higher,” analyst ChartNerd said in a Thursday post on X, adding:
“$1.50/55 remains an imminent resistance to break.”
Zooming out, fellow analyst Neel said XRP/USD “needs a clear break above $1.60 for any meaningful short-term rally,” but rising above $2.00 would “generate fresh momentum.”
XRP/USD weekly chart. Source: X/Neel
As Cointelegraph reported, the $1.50-$1.60 is a critical level for the bulls to overcome in the short term, as a break above could signal a potential trend change, propelling XRP price toward $2.40.
Bitcoin trades at a 'discount' on Coinbase: Is a $76K retest next?
Bitcoin’s $79,000 defense proves that the Coinbase discount is driven by stablecoin volatility rather than a lack of institutional demand.
Why bitcoin’s recent climb to $80,000 might just be a temporary liquidity squeeze
Spot ETF outflows and a hawkish Federal Reserve are creating a “macro ceiling” that makes a new all-time high unlikely without a major geopolitical shift.
Nigel Farage Reportedly Bought Property Shortly After Sizable Crypto Gift
United Kingdom politician Nigel Farage, the leader of the Reform Party, purchased a property valued at 1.4 British pounds ($1.8 million) after receiving a 5 million pound ($6.7 million) “personal gift” from crypto billionaire Christopher Harborne.
The real estate deal closed in May 2024, several weeks before Farage announced that he was running for office in the general elections, according to Sky News.
Farage is now facing a UK parliamentary probe over the 5 million pound gift, which critics of the politician say should have been declared and registered after he took office.
The Reform Party and Farage maintain that no wrongdoing occurred. Farage said that because the gift was received before he entered office, it is not subject to the same reporting requirements.
Nigel Farage says the Reform Party will fight back against bans or temporary moratoriums on crypto political donations. Source: Sky News
The probe follows months of UK lawmakers and government officials urging a ban on crypto political donations over ethics concerns and growing regulatory scrutiny of political figures accepting crypto for campaign funds or personal gifts.
Related: UK Liberal Democrats call for Farage probe in $2.7M Stack BTC promotion
UK officials and lawmakers target crypto political donations
In February 2025, Matt Western, chair of the United Kingdom’s Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, urged lawmakers to temporarily ban crypto donations sent to political parties and political figures.
Western cited concerns over foreign governments influencing UK elections and politics, with their donations as the primary reason for the ban.
“As the security environment worsens and the UK’s military role in Europe grows, the value of influencing the UK’s political positions, for example, on Ukraine, or US-EU relations, is likely to increase,” he said
The letter from the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy urges a temporary ban on crypto donations. Source: UK Parliament
The UK government advanced a legislative proposal in March to temporarily ban political crypto donations, following the recommendations from Western and an independent inquiry into the threats posed by foreign political donations.
However, the legislation must still pass through both chambers of the UK parliament and receive approval from King Charles III before it is codified into law.
“We will act decisively to protect our democracy,” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said about the legislation to curb crypto political donations.
Magazine: The critical reason you should never ask ChatGPT for legal advice
Bitcoin Price Nears $82K AS STRC Tops $1 Billion In Volume
Bitcoin price extended its rebound on Thursday as a landmark U.S. crypto bill cleared a key Senate hurdle and Bitcoin‑linked credit products logged fresh milestones. Bitcoin price traded near $81,400 with intraday highs around $82,000, up more than 3% over the past 24 hours on more than $1 billion in spot trading volume.
The Senate Banking Committee advanced the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act on a 15–9 vote, with Sens. Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland joining all 13 Republicans. The bill, known as H.R. 3633, seeks a federal framework for digital asset trading, stablecoins and intermediaries, splitting oversight between the SEC and CFTC and setting registration, disclosure and compliance rules for exchanges, brokers and custodians.
Chair Tim Scott described the markup as a turning point after years in which crypto firms faced a “regulatory gray zone” under rules built for earlier markets, and framed the bill as a way to keep innovation inside the United States while tightening controls on criminal use of digital assets. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, who leads the committee’s digital assets panel, called the Clarity Act the hardest bill of her career and “a case of first impression” for fitting new software‑based assets into existing financial law.
Ranking Member Elizabeth Warren led the opposition and argued that the bill weakens securities protections, preempts state anti‑fraud rules and lets banks build large crypto exposures, which she linked to pre‑2008 risk patterns.
She said the framework “declares open season” on consumers and labeled it “industry‑written” and “not ready,” while allies raised ethics and national‑security concerns tied to President Donald Trump’s crypto businesses, mixers and stablecoins.
STRC and SATA extend Bitcoin credit boom
Against that backdrop, Strategy Inc.’s STRC preferred stock continued to scale up its Bitcoin accumulation program. Bitcoin for Corporations’ live STRC ATM Tracker showed more than $1.24 billion in total issuance volume, an estimated 11,709 BTC acquired and an effective yield of 11.5%, with proceeds capture rate near 80%, at the time of writing.
The marketed structure targets 26 times the current daily Bitcoin supply, underscoring how ATM issuance has turned STRC into one of the largest corporate Bitcoin buyers on record.
Strive’s SATA preferred stock advanced its own experiment in yield design. Strive disclosed plans for SATA to pay cash dividends every business day starting in June while maintaining a 13.00% annual rate, which the firm estimates produces an effective yield near 13.88% through daily compounding. SATA sits on a debt‑free balance sheet with more than 15,000 BTC and an 11.1% Bitcoin Yield for the first quarter of 2026.
Bitcoin price teeters near $82,000
It was a strong day for bitcoin price Bitfinex analysts wrote to Bitcoin Magazine saying the once dominant funding rate has lost signal power, so they are turning attention to options positioning as Bitcoin price pushes around the 80,000 zone.
The analysts added that ETF demand and open‑market accumulation now drive the move instead of STRC‑linked buying, with long‑horizon “conviction buyers” holding close to four million BTC in the strongest two‑quarter increase in this cohort since the COVID‑19 crash, which pulls more bitcoin out of circulating supply and could help the bitcoin price go up.
JCB and Credit Card Association of the Philippines (CCAP) Launch Partnership to Boost Financial Literacy Among Filipinos
JCB International Co., Ltd., the international operations subsidiary of JCB Co., Ltd., Japan’s only international payment brand, has officially formalized partnership with the Credit Card Association of the Philippines (CCAP) through a Memorandum of Agreement signed on April 30, 2026.
The agreement was signed by CCAP Chairman Mr. Rolando P. Ebreo and President Ms. Geraldine C. Liggayu at the RCBC Office, Robinsons Equitable Tower, and by JCB International’s Mr. Takumi Takahashi, Executive Vice President, JCB International Co. Ltd., at JCB’s headquarters in Japan. CCAP’s signing was witnessed by Mr. Wataru Tamura, Country Manager, and Mr. Yasutaka Nomura, Business Development Head of JCBI International Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. – Manila Branch.
This collaboration reflects the shared commitment of JCB and CCAP to Filipino consumers with the knowledge and tools to advance financial literacy and promote responsible credit card use across the Philippines. Key initiatives under the partnership include developing and localizing financial education materials tailored to the needs of Filipino consumers, and supporting industry-wide advocacy campaigns that highlight the importance of sound financial management. The partnership also introduces “Credit Card 101” sessions for partner communities, offering practical, easy-to-understand guidance to help build healthy financial habits. In addition, the agreement covers the co-creation and cross-platform sharing of educational content to reach broader audiences particularly young people making financial literacy more engaging, inclusive, and accessible nationwide.
Through this partnership, JCB and CCAP aim to equip more Filipinos with the knowledge and confidence to make informed financial decisions.
Crypto for Advisors: Stablecoins: finance's new rails
Stablecoins are moving beyond crypto into real-world finance, becoming vital B2B cross-border payment and treasury infrastructure, valued for efficiency, speed and regulatory compliance.
Onramp Raises $12.5M Series A To Scale Multi-Institution Bitcoin Custody Platform
Onramp has raised $12.5 million in a Series A round led by Early Riders, valuing the bitcoin financial services firm at $135 million as it pushes to scale a custody model designed to meet institutional standards.
The Austin-based company told Bitcoin Magazine it now holds more than $1 billion in assets under custody and has recorded zero security incidents since its founding in 2023. The new capital will support expansion of Onramp Finance, its recently launched platform that combines bitcoin custody, brokerage, and cash management, while funding new partnerships across banks, registered investment advisors, and fintech firms.
At the center of the strategy is Onramp’s Multi-Institution Custody (MIC) model, which distributes key control across several regulated custodians rather than relying on a single entity or placing full responsibility on clients. The system is built with partners including BitGo, Coincover, and Tetra Trust, allowing for shared control structures that can span jurisdictions.
The approach targets a long-standing tradeoff in digital asset custody. Investors have often had to choose between centralized platforms with counterparty risk and self-custody setups that require technical expertise and operational oversight. Onramp positions MIC as a middle path that removes single points of failure while keeping assets verifiable on-chain.
Institutional traction has begun to follow. UK pension fund Cartwright selected Onramp as custodian for its bitcoin allocation, while the Bitcoin Policy Institute has endorsed multi-party custody frameworks for potential state-level bitcoin reserves.
A full bitcoin financial stack via Onramp
Chief executive Michael Tanguma said the company aims to build a full financial stack around bitcoin, including lending, retirement accounts, and treasury management tools. The firm launched Onramp Finance in April, offering brokerage services across all 50 states, cash accounts with rewards, a payments card, bitcoin IRAs, and access to gold within a single interface.
Early Riders partner Liam Nelson said the firm backed Onramp to help establish MIC as a standard across the industry, arguing that custody design will shape the next phase of bitcoin adoption.
The company plans to split the new funding between product development and distribution. On the engineering side, Onramp will continue building out its platform and prepare its custody infrastructure for licensing to other regulated custodians. On the commercial side, it will expand sales efforts and develop white-label offerings for financial institutions seeking to integrate bitcoin services.
Onramp also named former Blackstone partner David Thayer as a strategic advisor, adding experience in infrastructure investing as it targets deeper engagement with traditional finance.
The bet is that as bitcoin enters broader portfolios, custody will become a primary concern. Onramp is positioning its architecture as a foundation for that shift, aiming to extend its model across institutions that want exposure without assuming concentrated risk.