Travel to space with Justin Sun Crypto exchange HTX (formerly Huobi) announced it will send one user on a $6 million space trip with Justin Sun in July 2025. The campaign will select five finalists to join seven previous winners, forming a 12-person shortlist; one person will be chosen for the commercial spaceflight. HTX has planned this since 2021, when Sun won a $28 million auction for a 10-minute space trip, which has been delayed, reportedly due to scheduling conflicts. This promotion has given Sun four years of significant publicity. The announcement follows renewed scrutiny of space tourism after Blue Origin’s April NS-31 mission sent celebrities Katy Perry, Gayle King, and Jeff Bezos’ partner Lauren Sánchez on suborbital flights. The trip faced criticism from activists and celebrities questioning its purpose, while others praised the historic all-female mission or simply admired the adventure, especially if costs were covered by others. Justin Sun is known for publicity stunts including a $4. 6 million bid for lunch with Warren Buffett and eating a $6. 2 million banana art piece—showing his mastery of public attention. Vietnam pursues homegrown layer-1 blockchain A coalition of Vietnamese financial institutions launched the 1Matrix initiative aiming to develop a domestic layer-1 blockchain to reduce dependence on foreign platforms. Key backers include Techcombank, Techcom Securities, Masterise Group, and One Mount Group, and the project is associated with the Vietnam Blockchain Association (VBA). Phan Duc Trung, chairman of 1Matrix and the VBA, emphasized that owning blockchain technology and IP would enable Vietnam to advance its digital economy, safeguard national sovereignty, ensure cybersecurity, and boost its global standing. Unlike Ronin—a layer-1 blockchain by Vietnamese gaming startup Sky Mavis focused on gaming and backed by international investors like a16z—1Matrix is a general-purpose blockchain aligned with Vietnam’s national priorities. It has partnered with Boston Consulting Group and received public support from Lieutenant General Dang Vu Son, former head of the Government Cipher Committee. Under the “Make in Vietnam” initiative, 1Matrix aligns with Vietnam’s blockchain strategy that prioritizes domestic tech development. Instant crypto withdrawals: user convenience vs. scam risk South Korean regulators are urging crypto exchanges to reinstate withdrawal delays after a rise in voice phishing scams. Following the suspension of withdrawal delays in July last year—a voluntary measure that temporarily restricts crypto withdrawals—the financial losses from voice phishing increased by about 11. 6 billion won ($8. 3 million). Four of South Korea’s five licensed exchanges (Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, and Korbit) removed withdrawal delays citing user convenience.

Phishing-related transaction losses on these platforms surpassed 13. 24 billion won ($9. 4 million), with 11. 6 billion won occurring after delays were lifted. Three exchanges (Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit) have agreed to resume withdrawal delays per the Financial Supervisory Service. Such delays help identify and freeze suspicious activities by temporarily holding withdrawals, typically lasting up to three days. The scam method involves tricking victims into transferring fiat currency to compromised bank accounts, which fund crypto exchange accounts. The scammers then convert the funds to crypto and withdraw it to external wallets. Withdrawal delays help curb this fraudulent activity. Final member of crypto mining Ponzi scheme sentenced Lu Huangbin, 61, former CEO of A&A Blockchain Technology Innovation in China, received a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence for his role in a $5. 17 million crypto investment scam affecting over 700 investors. The scheme, operating from May 2021 to February 2022, falsely claimed ownership of 300, 000 mining machines and guaranteed a daily 0. 5% return from crypto mining but actually used new investors' money to pay earlier customers. Lu is the last of four co-conspirators sentenced. Earlier, Dutch national Yang Bin received six years, his assistant four years, and the operation’s CTO five years, according to Strait Times. Hong Kong strengthens crypto ties with Dubai Senior executives from Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), including Eric Yip and Elizabeth Wong, conducted high-level meetings in the UAE to enhance international crypto collaboration. They engaged with regulators and blockchain industry leaders in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, focusing on crypto regulation evolution and supervisory strategies. This visit coincides with Hong Kong and Dubai’s efforts to establish themselves as global Web3 hubs, competing to attract crypto companies, investors, and infrastructure. Both have implemented regulatory frameworks for crypto assets and are actively seeking international partnerships to grow their market presence and credibility.