ChainCatcher news, Ethereum Layer2 scaling solution Starknet officially launches its crypto staking feature, becoming the first Ethereum L2 network to support users earning rewards through staking tokens. Users holding at least 20,000 STRK (approximately $12,000) can become validators, staking their assets as collateral to validate transactions and earn rewards; users holding less than 20,000 STRK can delegate their tokens to validators for staking.Users must wait 21 days to stake and retrieve their tokens, including the rewards generated during the staking period. Meanwhile, Bitwise Asset Management announced that it will operate a public validator node for STRK holders to delegate staking and provide independent validator services for institutional clients.

ChainCatcher news, according to CoinDesk, Standard Chartered's subsidiary and cryptocurrency custody provider Zodia Custody will offer crypto staking services to institutional clients through a partnership with infrastructure provider Blockdaemon.According to RootData, [Zodia Custody](https://www.rootdata.com/zh/Projects/detail/Zodia Custody?k=NzczNg==) completed a $36 million Series A funding round on April 27, 2023. Blockdaemon completed a $207 million Series C funding round on January 27, 2022, with a valuation of $3.25 billion. (Source link)

ChainCatcher news, Coinbase has submitted a petition to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in response to the SEC's crackdown on Kraken's staking program in February. The petition focuses on the securities law treatment of services related to proof-of-stake (PoS) protocol validation, stating that staking is not a singular operational concept. While some existing models may fall under the definition of investment contract products, others clearly do not, emphasizing that core staking services do not meet the Howey test standards, meaning that cryptocurrency staking does not fall under the category of securities.It is reported that Coinbase's Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal reiterated on Twitter this morning the call for the SEC to clarify that staking services are not securities and that there needs to be communication with the public before enforcement. (Source link)

ChainCatcher news, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong defended Coinbase's staking products again in an interview with Bloomberg TV, stating that they are not securities, and reiterated that the company is prepared to defend itself in court if necessary, although they would prefer to work with regulators.Armstrong also expressed support for the overall concept of stablecoins but pointed out that not all stablecoins have passed the company's review. Additionally, he mentioned that his top priority this year is to advocate for and change the policy environment, noting that the U.S. is lagging in regulatory actions while other parts of the world are adopting cryptocurrencies, with places like Singapore, Hong Kong, London, and the EU recently passing comprehensive cryptocurrency legislation. The U.S. needs a clear rulebook. (Bloomberg)

ChainCatcher news, the Puerto Rico Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC) has released a guide on digital assets based on blockchain technology and blockchain verification, which states that a preferential tax rate of 4% will be applied to "staking as a service (SaaS)" (any entity participating in blockchain verification will be taxed at this rate).The guide also provides definitions for blockchain verification, staking, mining, digital assets, etc., marking the first time that an official agency in Puerto Rico has clarified these concepts, aiming to provide more certainty for individuals and companies in the Web3 industry. (source link)

According to ChainCatcher news, a financial regulatory official stated in a phone interview with South Korean media News1 that as cryptocurrency staking services have been scrutinized overseas, domestic trading platforms' staking services will also undergo a comprehensive review. However, he did not disclose the timeline for the investigation. (Source link)

ChainCatcher news, the cryptocurrency exchange Kraken will terminate its cryptocurrency staking services for U.S. customers and pay $30 million to settle the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charges of offering unregistered securities.The SEC stated that Kraken has been providing staking services to the public since at least 2019. Kraken announced it will discontinue staking services for U.S. customers, except for staked Ether, which will not be canceled until the Ethereum network's Shanghai upgrade takes effect. U.S. customers will not be able to stake new assets (including Ether). Additionally, non-U.S. customers are unaffected. (Source link)

ChainCatcher news, Coinbase co-founder Brian Armstrong tweeted, "Hearing rumors that the SEC wants to ban retail customers from staking cryptocurrencies in the U.S. I hope that's not the case, as I believe it would be a terrible path for America if allowed to happen."Brian Armstrong stated that staking is a very important innovation in the crypto space. We need to ensure that we encourage new technologies to develop in the U.S., rather than stifling them due to a lack of clear rules. Enforcement regulation does not work; it encourages businesses to operate offshore, as was the case with FTX. (source link)

ChainCatcher news, according to Yahoo Finance, the cryptocurrency yield staking platform MoodMiner announced the completion of a $400,000 seed round financing, with participation from entities such as CoinList, Circle, and Polygon, as well as some angel investors.It is reported that the event was hosted by Hashed, co-organized by Pantera Capital and ZhenFund. MoodMiner supports over 100 digital assets in ecosystems such as Polkadot, Cardano, and Elrond, allowing users to stake digital assets worth a minimum of 1 euro and earn passive income. (source link)