OKX Relaunches DEX Aggregator, South Korea Tightens Crypto Rules, Bitget and Funds Surge

OKX Relaunches DEX Aggregator with Enhanced Security After Lazarus Group Incident

OKX has resumed operations of its decentralized exchange (DEX) aggregator, OKX Web3, following a temporary pause in March due to misuse by the North Korean hacking collective, Lazarus Group. According to Cointelegraph, the relaunch introduces a “real-time abuse detecting and blocking system” designed to identify and prevent suspicious or fraudulent onchain activity from hackers and other malicious actors.

OKX’s latest upgrade includes a dynamic database of suspect addresses, which blocks hackers and bad actors in real time, and proactive alerts to warn users about risky transactions. The exchange emphasized that its systems have been audited and verified by leading blockchain security firms such as CertiK, Hacken, and SlowMist, and have undergone infrastructure testing through a bug bounty program. Additionally, the onchain analysis tool now categorizes wallet holders, identifying possible whales or snipers.

OKX initially paused its DEX aggregator on March 17 to prevent further misuse by the Lazarus Group and began developing a hacker address system to track and block bad actors’ latest addresses. The incident drew attention from European Union financial watchdogs, who reportedly investigated the DEX aggregator and wallet services for an alleged role in laundering funds from the $1.4 billion Bybit hack in February. OKX responded by clarifying that its self-custody wallet service swap feature is an aggregator and not a custodian of customer assets.

Other crypto services have also been affected by the Lazarus Group’s activities. For example, the exchange eXch ceased operations on May 1 after reports alleged its involvement in laundering funds from the Bybit hack. Initially denying the allegations, eXch later admitted to processing some funds from the February hack.

• OKX’s DEX aggregator now features real-time abuse detection and a dynamic suspect address database.
• Security audits by CertiK, Hacken, and SlowMist.
• Incident linked to the $1.4 billion Bybit hack and Lazarus Group activities.

Summary: OKX has relaunched its DEX aggregator with advanced security features to combat misuse by hackers, particularly following incidents involving the Lazarus Group and the $1.4 billion Bybit hack. (Source: Cointelegraph)

Korea Introduces New Crypto Rules for Non-Profits and Exchanges

South Korea’s Financial Services Commission has announced new rules to allow non-profits to receive cryptocurrency donations and provided updated guidance for exchanges handling tokens as payments. According to ledgerinsights.com, the Virtual Assets Committee, which includes the Korea Federation of Banks and the Digital Asset Exchange Association (DAXA), outlined that non-profits must outsource crypto donation processing to organizations with at least five years of experience. Additionally, any received cryptocurrencies must be traded on at least three Korean crypto exchanges, and non-profits are required to cash out all tokens upon receipt.

To comply with anti-money laundering regulations, donations can only be made directly via a cryptocurrency exchange. For exchanges, the sale of cryptocurrencies received as fees is only permitted to cover operating expenses, and such sales must be conducted through a third party, not on the exchange’s own platform. Only popular tokens ranking among the top 20 on at least five Korean exchanges can be sold, and there are daily volume restrictions to avoid impacting market prices.

The new rules also address the volatility of token prices, particularly during new listings and with “zombie coins” and memecoins. For newly listed tokens, measures ensure sufficient initial supply and cap order volumes shortly after listing. Memecoins can only be traded if they are already listed on eligible foreign exchanges, have a community of at least 100,000 people, and have achieved at least one million cumulative transactions. Thinly traded tokens must be delisted if daily transaction volumes fall below 1% of market capitalization and the total issuance value drops below 4 billion won ($2.9 million) for 30 days. The committee also highlighted the urgent need for new laws regarding security token offerings (STOs). Meanwhile, Korean banks are collaborating to develop a stablecoin.

• Non-profits must cash out crypto donations immediately and use experienced processors.
• Exchanges face stricter rules on token sales and must avoid conflicts of interest.
• Memecoins and thinly traded tokens face new eligibility and delisting criteria.

Summary: South Korea is tightening crypto regulations for non-profits and exchanges, focusing on transparency, anti-money laundering, and market stability. (Source: ledgerinsights.com)

Bitget Showcases Growth and Community Impact at TOKEN2049 Dubai

Bitget, a leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, made a significant impact at TOKEN2049 Dubai as a Gold Sponsor, engaging with industry leaders, partners, and thousands of attendees. According to GlobeNewswire, CEO Gracy Chen delivered a keynote highlighting Bitget’s strong performance in 2025, including the growth of its native token BGB and the company’s ability to scale in a challenging economic environment. She emphasized Bitget’s agility in volatile markets and its strategy of turning uncertainty into innovation.

Bitget’s booth featured appearances by key opinion leaders, affiliates, and partners, as well as a book signing by UCLA Professor Alex Nascimento, whose work on blockchain and STOs mentions Bitget’s growth. The company also hosted the Cryptoverse Dream Night on April 30, an invite-only event with over 400 attendees, in collaboration with 1inch and Morph. Following TOKEN2049, Gracy Chen participated in the Hack Seasons Conference 2025, discussing the integration of centralized and decentralized finance and Bitget’s commitment to advancing Web3 infrastructure.

Bitget’s recent milestones include a 20% increase in its user base to over 120 million users, a 159% quarter-on-quarter surge in spot trading volume to $387 billion, and inclusion in Forbes' Top Trusted Crypto Exchange list. The company continues to expand its global footprint and drive crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of LALIGA in various markets and partnerships with Turkish national athletes.

• Bitget’s BGB token and user base saw significant growth in 2025.
• Strategic partnerships and community events are central to Bitget’s expansion.
• Bitget is recognized for its innovation and trusted status in the crypto industry.

Summary: Bitget’s strong presence at TOKEN2049 Dubai underscores its global leadership, rapid growth, and commitment to community engagement and innovation in the crypto sector. (Source: GlobeNewswire)

Crypto Funds Attract $2 Billion in Weekly Inflows, Totaling $5.5 Billion Over Three Weeks

Cryptocurrency investment products saw $2 billion in new inflows last week, according to Cointelegraph, citing data from CoinShares. Over the past three weeks, global crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs) have accumulated $5.5 billion in inflows, pushing total assets under management (AUM) in all crypto ETPs worldwide up 3.3% from $151 billion to $156 billion.

Despite the positive trend, the latest weekly inflows were down 41% from the previous week’s $3.4 billion, which was the third-largest crypto ETP inflow on record. Bitcoin led the gains, with $1.8 billion in inflows last week, although this was a 43% decrease from the week before. Notably, short Bitcoin ETPs saw a 300% spike in inflows, rising to $6.4 million from $1.6 million. Altcoins also attracted investment, with Ether (ETH) and XRP (XRP) ETPs seeing inflows of $149 million and $10 million, respectively.

BlackRock’s iShares products dominated the inflows, attracting $2.7 billion last week. In contrast, ARK Invest and Fidelity Investments experienced outflows of $458 million and $201 million, respectively. Other issuers such as Bitwise, Grayscale, and ProShares recorded minor outflows totaling $36 million, $31 million, and $25 million, respectively. Year-to-date, Bitcoin accounts for 98% of all crypto ETP inflows, with total inflows reaching $5.6 billion as of May 3.

• Crypto ETPs saw $2 billion in inflows last week, with Bitcoin leading at $1.8 billion.
• BlackRock’s iShares products attracted the majority of inflows.
• Short Bitcoin ETPs saw a 300% increase in inflows.

Summary: Crypto investment products continue to attract significant capital, with $5.5 billion in inflows over three weeks and BlackRock’s iShares leading the market. (Source: Cointelegraph)

Sources:

• OKX to restart DEX with anti-abuse upgrades after Lazarus ‘misuse’
• Report: South Korea to Allow Free Crypto Trading for Non-Profits, Exchanges in June
• Kidnappers in France target cryptocurrency entrepreneurs for ransom
• Korea relaxes crypto sales rules for non profits, exchanges
• Bitget Amplifies Global Leadership and Community Impact with Strong Presence at TOKEN2049 Dubai
• Crypto funds raked in $2B last week, pushing 3-week haul to $5.5B