[News Brief] Apr 22, morning | FTX to Begin Next Creditor Distribution of Approximately $900 Million on July 31

FTX to Begin Next Creditor Distribution of Approximately $900 Million on July 31

FTX Recovery Trust and FTX announced that they will begin the next creditor fund distribution of approximately $900 million on July 31.

This distribution marks FTX’s fifth round of creditor repayments. Eligible creditors can receive funds within 1 to 3 business days through BitGo, Kraken, and Payoneer accounts.

According to FTX’s restructuring plan, convenience class claims under $50,000 will receive 120% repayment, while other claims will be distributed at approximately 103% to 105%.

FTX previously filed for bankruptcy in November 2022. Since then, the FTX Recovery Trust has distributed approximately $10 billion.

Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2024, and his appeal of both the conviction and sentence was dismissed last month.

T. Rowe Price Launches Multi-Token Spot ETF Investing in Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and More

T. Rowe Price, an asset manager with $1.89 trillion in assets under management, has launched an actively managed multi-token spot ETF investing in major cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP.

According to Odaily, T. Rowe Price’s ETF, ‘TKNZ,’ is traded on NYSE Arca, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved its listing and trading on June 12, 2026.

TKNZ is managed by Blue Macellari, Head of Digital Assets at T. Rowe Price. The portfolio manager may adjust allocations based on market trends, momentum shifts, and sector rotation.

As of July 17, TKNZ holdings were 41.13% Bitcoin, 18.31% Ethereum, 11.12% BNB, 9.46% Solana, 9.42% XRP, and 6.14% Hyperliquid. These six assets account for more than 95% of the portfolio.

U.S. House Discusses Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Bill

The U.S. House is set to discuss H.R. 8957, the ‘Reserve Modernization Act,’ aimed at establishing a U.S. strategic Bitcoin reserve, during an on-site hearing on the CLARITY Act in New York, according to Odaily.

The bill would allow the Treasury Department to acquire Bitcoin in a budget-neutral manner without new taxpayer spending, and would require regular audits, secure custody standards, and public disclosure of the government’s Bitcoin holdings.

Supporters believe the bill could serve as a stepping stone toward including Bitcoin as a long-term strategic reserve asset alongside other national reserve assets. The hearing is centered on the CLARITY Act to promote digital asset innovation, with the strategic Bitcoin reserve proposal included on the agenda as related congressional discussions continue.

Democrats Call for Major Revisions to U.S. Crypto CLARITY Act

CNBC reported on the 17th (local time) that U.S. Democrats are demanding major revisions to the Bitcoin and cryptocurrency-related CLARITY Act, according to a post on X by Pete Rizzo.

According to the report, Democrats argued that “elected officials should not profit from cryptocurrency,” pointing to ethical concerns and crypto-related income involving former President Trump.

This demand has emerged as a key issue in the legislative process to establish a crypto regulatory framework in the United States.

ECB Warns of Stablecoin Expansion, Accelerates Digital Euro Push

The European Central Bank (ECB) has warned that the expansion of stablecoins could erode bank deposit bases and is accelerating efforts to advance the digital euro.

According to Cointelegraph, ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone said that if stablecoins are adopted at scale, the retail deposit base of commercial banks could weaken and the competitive structure of the traditional banking sector could shift.

This week, the ECB selected 36 payment service providers to participate in a 12-month digital euro pilot project. Participants include banks, fintech firms, and payment companies.

The pilot program is scheduled to begin in the second half of 2027 and is intended to assess the operational feasibility of a retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) within the eurozone.

Cipollone explained that the digital euro could help preserve the status of public money, ensure banks remain involved in the payments ecosystem, and respond to consumers’ evolving financial needs.

Bank of America Appoints Head of Global Digital Asset Platform

According to Odaily, Bank of America has appointed Sonali Theisen as Head of Global Digital Asset Platform.

Theisen will oversee the design, development, scaling, and governance of the digital asset platform, as well as its integration with existing financial infrastructure.

Adam Dixon will be responsible for tokenized deposits and stablecoins, digital collateral transfers, and crypto trading settlement and custody operations.

Kevin Milsom has been appointed Head of Platform AI Transformation and will lead AI implementation across business platforms and daily operations.

U.S. Military Airstrikes Parts of Iran’s Hormozgan Province, 3 Dead

According to Odaily, Iran’s Islamic Republic News Agency reported on the 18th that U.S. forces carried out airstrikes on parts of Iran’s Hormozgan Province, killing three people and injuring eight.

A local provincial government official said the overnight airstrikes damaged three bridges and one tunnel.

Tanker Near Iran’s Khark Island Hit Again by Two U.S. Missiles

According to Odaily, Iran’s state-run IRNA, citing the deputy governor of Bushehr Province, reported that the empty tanker ‘Velma’ was struck again by two U.S. missiles while docked near Khark Island.

Khark Island is considered one of Iran’s key crude oil export hubs. The attack is seen as a factor that could increase volatility in oil and financial markets amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

Whale Alert: 191.15 Million USDC Moved from Aave to Anonymous Whale Wallet

According to Whale Alert, 191,159,182 USDC was transferred from Aave to an anonymous whale wallet.

The transfer was worth approximately $191.2 million. Large stablecoin movements can be interpreted as signals of changing market liquidity depending on whether the funds are moved to exchanges or elsewhere.

Pump.fun Has Sold 4.812 Million SOL Since Early 2024, Totaling $812 Million

Pump.fun transferred additional SOL, obtained through fee revenue, to Kraken. According to on-chain analysis, the platform has sold a total of 4.812 million SOL since early 2024, worth approximately $812 million.

According to Odaily, on-chain analyst Ai Yi said on X that Pump.fun liquidated an additional $6.15 million in fee revenue today, sending 81,700 SOL to Kraken.

Ai Yi explained that since early 2024, Pump.fun has sold 4.812 million SOL obtained through fee revenue at an average selling price of about $168.7.