KuCoin, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges globally, has pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business in the United States. As part of the settlement, the exchange will pay $297 million in fines.

Metaplanet, a Japanese hotel investor, has achieved the largest Bitcoin-focused capital raise in Asian equity market history. The company raised $745 million by issuing 21 million shares through moving strike warrants at a 0% discount.

Venice, a private, censorship-resistant artificial intelligence platform, has unveiled its native VVV token on Ethereum Layer 2, Base. Designed to bridge blockchain technology with generative AI, the token enables users to access decentralized AI inference through Venice’s API.

Top stories in the Crypto Roundup today:

• KuCoin pleads guilty, agrees to pay nearly $300 million in U.S. crypto case
• Metaplanet achieves record-breaking Bitcoin-focused capital raise in Asia
• Venice unveils censorship-resistant AI platform token on Ethereum L2 Base

KuCoin to Exit U.S. Market After $297M Settlement

KuCoin, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges globally, has pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business in the United States. As part of the settlement, the exchange will pay $297 million in fines and forfeitures and will suspend operations in the U.S. market for at least two years.

Prosecutors accused KuCoin of failing to implement proper anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) practices, which allegedly allowed billions in suspicious transactions, including funds linked to darknet markets, ransomware attacks, and other illicit activities.

The company’s new CEO, BC Wong, who took over last week, stated, “This resolution signifies a new chapter for KuCoin, one that reaffirms our dedication to compliance, security, and innovation.” KuCoin plans to strengthen its global compliance practices and hinted at a future reentry into the U.S. with proper licensing. This case marks a significant shift in regulatory pressure on crypto exchanges worldwide.

Metaplanet Raises $745M to Expand Bitcoin Holdings

Metaplanet, a Japanese hotel investor, has achieved the largest Bitcoin-focused capital raise in Asian equity market history. The company raised $745 million by issuing 21 million shares through moving strike warrants at a 0% discount. This method minimizes dilution for existing shareholders while aligning with Metaplanet’s bold “Bitcoin-first, Bitcoin-only” strategy.

The funds raised will be used to increase the company’s Bitcoin holdings as it looks to hedge against the yen’s devaluation and capitalize on Bitcoin’s all-time high. Currently, Metaplanet holds 1,762 BTC, making it the fifteenth largest publicly traded Bitcoin holder globally.

Metaplanet’s shares closed 3% higher following the announcement, adding to a 16% year-to-date gain. The company’s innovative approach to capital markets and its commitment to Bitcoin signal growing institutional interest in the asset.

Venice Launches VVV Token to Power Decentralized AI Ecosystem

Venice, a private, censorship-resistant artificial intelligence platform, has unveiled its native VVV token on Ethereum Layer, 2 Base. Designed to bridge blockchain technology with generative AI, the token enables users to access decentralized AI inference through Venice’s API. This infrastructure allows autonomous AI agents and bots to function without traditional banking intermediaries, significantly reducing costs and operational friction.

Out of the 100 million genesis supply, 50 million VVV tokens have been allocated to Venice users and decentralized AI communities based on a Dec. 31 snapshot. The rest is distributed between Venice’s operations, liquidity reserves, and incentives. Stakers of VVV gain proportional access to Venice’s API resources at no additional cost, with 14 million new tokens added annually to maintain liquidity and rewards.

Launched in May by ShapeShift founder Erik Voorhees, Venice already boasts 450,000 registered users and 50,000 daily active users, handling over 15,000 inference requests per hour. Voorhees described the project as a solution for people seeking private, uncensored AI tools in an increasingly centralized landscape. “If you want to use DeepSeek but don't want all your convos going to the CCP, use Venice.ai,” he tweeted, highlighting the platform’s local storage privacy features.

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