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Flipster Enters Esports as Official Crypto Exchange Partner of TALON's Dota 2 Team
Flipster, recognized as one of the world’s fastest-growing cryptocurrency derivatives trading platforms, has announced an exclusive partnership with TALON, a leading Asian competitive gaming organization. TALON competes in 10 major titles, including Dota 2, League of Legends, and Valorant, across seven countries. As part of this collaboration, TALON’s Dota 2 team will now compete under the name Flipster Talon, with Flipster securing naming rights for the next year. This partnership marks Flipster’s debut in the global esports space and aims to bridge the energy of esports with the empowerment of digital assets, focusing on education, interactivity, and inclusive participation.
Flipster and TALON will launch co-created content, campaign drops, and digital fan activations to deepen fan engagement and make crypto more approachable. Youngsun Shin, Head of Product and Partnerships at Flipster, emphasized the shared values of openness, creativity, and inclusion between esports and crypto. Flipster, founded in 2021, now serves over one million users in nearly 200 countries. The platform offers over 350 trading pairs across spot and futures markets, with up to 100x leverage and zero trading fees. Over the past year, Flipster’s trading volume surged by 856%, and total user assets increased by more than 6,000%.
| Key Figures | Value |
|---|---|
| Trading Volume Growth (1 year) | +856% |
| Total User Assets Growth (1 year) | +6,000% |
| Number of Users | 1,000,000+ |
| Countries Served | ~200 |
| Trading Pairs | 350+ |
| Leverage | Up to 100x |
Summary: Flipster’s partnership with TALON marks a significant step in merging esports and crypto, with a focus on accessibility, education, and fan engagement. (Source: Crypto Briefing)
Binance Founder CZ Applies for Presidential Pardon from Trump
Changpeng Zhao, founder and former CEO of Binance, has confirmed that he has applied for a presidential pardon from U.S. President Donald Trump. Zhao revealed on the Farohk Radio podcast that his lawyers formally submitted the pardon request two weeks prior to the interview, following media reports from Bloomberg and the Wall Street Journal. Zhao was released from prison in September after serving a four-month sentence for failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program at Binance. He was also fined $50 million, while Binance agreed to pay $4.3 billion as part of a major corporate settlement.
Zhao clarified that he has no intention of returning as CEO of Binance, though he remains the largest shareholder. The topic of presidential pardons for crypto figures has gained attention since Trump’s return to the White House, with Trump previously pardoning Ross Ulbricht, creator of Silk Road, and three BitMEX co-founders, including Arthur Hayes.
| Event | Details |
|---|---|
| Prison Sentence | 4 months (served in 2024) |
| Personal Fine | $50 million |
| Binance Settlement | $4.3 billion |
Summary: Changpeng Zhao seeks a presidential pardon after serving a prison sentence and paying substantial fines, highlighting ongoing regulatory scrutiny in the crypto sector. (Source: The Block)
Crypto.com Expands U.S. Presence with New Washington D.C. Office
Crypto.com has opened a new office in Washington D.C., reflecting a more favorable U.S. regulatory climate after the SEC closed its investigation into the company without charges. The Singapore-based exchange aims to strengthen its U.S. operations and workforce, with Matt David, President of North America and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, citing the maturing regulatory environment as a key factor. In April, Crypto.com partnered with Trump Media to launch a suite of crypto ETPs, expected to debut later in the year. CEO Kris Marszalek has also established connections with President Trump and attended the White House Crypto Summit in March.
The D.C. expansion follows the relocation of Crypto.com’s North American headquarters to Tyler, Texas. Internationally, Crypto.com recently launched a European ETP providing exposure to its native Cronos (CRO) token, now listed on Euronext exchanges in Paris and Amsterdam.
- New office in Washington D.C. near the White House
- SEC investigation closed without charges in March
- Partnership with Trump Media for crypto ETPs
- European ETP for Cronos (CRO) listed on Euronext Paris and Amsterdam
Summary: Crypto.com is capitalizing on a more favorable U.S. regulatory environment, expanding its presence in Washington D.C. and deepening ties with both U.S. and European markets. (Source: Crypto News)
BitMEX Launches Market May-hem Trading Competition with 310,000 USDT Prize Pool
BitMEX has announced the launch of its Market May-hem Trading Competition, offering traders the chance to compete for a share of a 300,000 USDT prize pool. The competition runs from May 8, 2025, at 11:00 AM (UTC) to May 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM (UTC). Rewards will be distributed across three leaderboards: 80% of the prize pool for the top 100 traders by trading volume, 10% for the top 100 by PnL, and 10% for the top 100 by ROI%. Additionally, new traders can win a share of an extra 10,000 USDT based on trading volume. BitMEX is also offering fee-free trades on all spot pairs until May 23.
To participate, new customers must be fully verified on BitMEX. The exchange, known for its security and transparency, continues to publish on-chain Proof of Reserves and Proof of Liabilities data twice a week.
| Prize Pool | Distribution |
|---|---|
| 300,000 USDT |
|
| Additional Prize | 10,000 USDT for new traders |
| Fee-Free Trading | All spot pairs until May 23 |
Summary: BitMEX’s trading competition offers substantial rewards and promotes transparency and security, reinforcing its position as a leading crypto derivatives exchange. (Source: Morningstar)
HTX and WLFI Launch USD1 Stablecoin Globally
HTX and WLFI have launched USD1, a 1:1 US dollar-pegged stablecoin fully custodied by BitGo Trust Company and designed to meet U.S. regulatory compliance standards. The launch, announced during TOKEN 2049, aims to address challenges in traditional finance such as limited transparency and inefficient cross-border transactions. USD1 features monthly audits, transparent reserves, and open institutional reporting. Its market capitalization has already reached approximately $2.12 billion, ranking 45th on CoinMarketCap according to the company.
HTX is the first exchange to offer USD1 trading and is celebrating the listing with a zero-fee trading promotion for the USD1/USDT pair from May 6 through December 31, 2025 (GMT+8). The listing aligns with HTX’s focus on compliance, user experience, and global accessibility.
| Stablecoin | USD1 |
|---|---|
| Market Capitalization | ~$2.12 billion |
| Ranking (CoinMarketCap) | 45th |
| Zero-Fee Trading Promotion | May 6 – Dec 31, 2025 |
Summary: The launch of USD1 by HTX and WLFI represents a significant move toward transparency and compliance in the stablecoin sector, with a strong focus on global financial inclusion. (Source: The Paypers)
Ledger Executive Explains Bybit Hack and Calls for End of Blind Signing
Ledger’s Vice President of Enterprise, Sebastien Badault, described the $1.4 billion hack of crypto exchange Bybit in 2024 as a “wake-up call” for the industry, attributing the breach to flawed open-source tools and blind signing. Blind signing, where users approve transactions without full visibility, enabled the theft of a wallet containing 400,000 ETH. Badault emphasized the need for clear signing, which allows users to see exactly what they are authorizing. He hopes the Bybit incident will prompt companies to take security more seriously.
Badault also addressed the risks of losing a crypto wallet’s seed phrase, highlighting Ledger’s solution that splits the seed phrase across three secure locations for recovery. On May 6, Ledger expanded its partnership with Web3 payments firm Transak to enable crypto off-ramping within the Ledger Live app, allowing users to convert assets like BTC, ETH, and USDC directly into fiat.
“There was a transaction that was blind signed… it gave access to the whole wallet that had 400,000 [ETH], and then it was drained in a second,” said Badault. “Self custody should be a human right… It’s about freedom… but it comes with the responsibility of making sure that you keep your secret.”
Summary: The Bybit hack underscores the urgent need for improved security practices in crypto, with Ledger advocating for clear signing and enhanced seed phrase management. (Source: TheStreet)
Sources:
- Flipster makes esports debut as official crypto exchange partner of TALON's Dota 2 team, powering a new era of fan engagement
- Binance founder CZ confirms filing for presidential pardon from Trump
- Crypto.com doubles down on US operations by opening office in Washington D.C.
- BitMEX Launches Market May-hem Trading Competition: Win a 310,000 USDT Prize Pool
- HTX, WLFI launch USD1 stablecoin globally
- Exclusive: Ledger exec explains Bybit hack, calls for end of blind signing
