Ex-Binance Dealmaker Joins Hilbert Group to Launch Tokenized Funds Platform Former Binance executive Ryan Horn has joined the advisory board of Hilbert Group, a Sweden-based publicly listed digital asset manager, to support the rollout of Syntetika , its onchain platform for tokenized assets and funds. At Binance, Horn secured high-profile partnerships, including a deal with football star Cristiano Ronaldo. Hilbert’s Strategy for Digital Asset Management Hilbert Group specializes in crypto-focused investment products for institutional and professional investors. The company uses algorithmic trading strategies within a traditional asset management framework, applying regulated oversight and fund governance to digital markets. Syntetika: Regulated Tokenized Funds Syntetika will issue and trade tokenized funds under regulatory oversight. It will integrate Galactica’s zero-knowledge technology to verify users without exposing personal data, giving investors blockchain-based access to Hilbert’s strategies. Hilbert CEO Barnali Biswal said Horn’s mission is to “unite tokenized economies with tangible outcomes,” reflecting a growing push to connect blockchain innovation with mainstream financial applications. Tokenization Momentum in Global Finance The tokenization trend is gaining traction among traditional finance firms. In July, Goldman Sachs and BNY Mellon revealed plans to offer institutional clients tokenized money market funds with blockchain-based ownership tracking and 24/7 settlement. That same month, French fintech Spiko raised $22 million to expand tokenized fund access in the US and EU, while eToro announced plans to launch tokenized versions of 100 US stocks as ERC-20 tokens on Ethereum. Crypto-Native Firms Entering TradFi In June 2025, Robinhood launched an Arbitrum-based blockchain platform offering tokenized US stocks and ETFs to European investors, a move that triggered legal scrutiny over ownership rights. Coinbase also filed with the US SEC to offer tokenized stock trading under regulated frameworks. Meanwhile, Backed Finance’s xStocks platform listed over 60 tokenized US stocks on Kraken and Bybit, giving global investors blockchain-based access to blue-chip equities.
2025-08-12 23:50
Roman Storm Retrial Pushed to Late 2025 Roman Storm’s legal battle over his role as Tornado Cash co-founder will extend well into next year after a US court approved a procedural delay that could push any potential retrial to December 2025. Court Approves Extended Deadlines In a filing to the US District Court for the Southern District of New York on Monday, Judge Katherine Failla agreed to a schedule proposed by both Storm’s defense team and federal prosecutors. The new timeline moves key deadlines far beyond the 70-day retrial window that typically follows a verdict. According to the order, the court believes “the ends of justice” outweigh the need for a speedy trial, citing the defense’s need for adequate time to prepare post-trial motions. Background on the Charges On Aug. 6, a jury convicted Storm on one count of conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money business. Jurors were unable to reach a verdict on two other felony counts: conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate US sanctions. Prosecutors have not yet confirmed whether they will pursue a retrial on these charges. Storm, indicted in August 2023, has been free on bail since his arraignment. His sentencing for the single conviction has not yet been scheduled. Tornado Cash Developers Under Continued Scrutiny Storm is not the only Tornado Cash developer facing legal challenges. Co-founder Roman Semenov, indicted alongside Storm, remains at large. Another co-founder, Alexey Pertsev, was convicted of money laundering in the Netherlands in 2024 and sentenced to more than five years in prison, a verdict he is appealing.
2025-08-12 22:49
Roman Storm Retrial Delayed After Court Grants Extension