Switzerland will hold a June 14 referendum on an SVP-backed proposal to embed a 10 million population ceiling in the Federal Constitution before 2050. The initiative would limit legal immigration and expand federal powers tied to infrastructure, healthcare, and social security, with an April poll showing 52% support among 16,176 respondents. Business group Economiesuisse warns the cap could conflict with EU free-movement rules and affect trade ties.

Polymarket and Kalshi have seen World Cup winner markets swell to nearly $2 billion in trading volume ahead of the tournament kickoff on June 11. A SEON survey of 588 U.S. adults found 19% plan to use prediction markets for World Cup betting, while regulators in Minnesota, New Mexico, and Nevada are challenging how these platforms should be classified under state gambling rules.

Iran is reported to be collecting about $1.5 million to $2 million per ship for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with some payments allegedly settled in Tether's USDT rather than cash or barter. A parliament member said the proceeds are deposited into the treasury under the budget law and spent in designated areas. U.S. OFAC has cautioned maritime firms that digital-asset payments connected to Iranian blocked entities could expose them to secondary sanctions.

The Bank of Russia says the digital ruble is scheduled to launch on September 1, with 12 major banks already connected and prepared to offer related services. Officials also say the CBDC will work through the country’s universal QR payment system, which covers more than 9 million retail outlets and involves 200 banks.

The U.S. Trade Representative has cited Brazil's Pix instant-payment system in a Section 301 determination, arguing its preferential treatment can burden U.S. commerce. In Chile, authorities arrested 18 people in a two-year probe into an alleged Tren de Aragua-linked crypto laundering network estimated at $88M. Separately, Adecoagro said it is developing a bitcoin-mining project powered by sugarcane-derived energy in Brazil.

Oobit says USDT accounts for nearly all stablecoin transaction volume across most Latin American markets where it operates, including effectively 100% in Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador. The report also cites Brazil posting 202% activity growth since Oobit launched, with active users averaging 20 transactions per month, and notes the service lets people spend from self-custody wallets at Visa-accepting merchants.

Adecoagro, a Tether-owned agricultural company, is planning to start a sugarcane-powered bitcoin mining project in Brazil on July 1. The company says the first phase is designed to generate 10 MW to run 1,280 mining rigs, with an initial focus on improving energy efficiency.

Cuba's central bank said a foreign bank that handled card transactions will end its relationship with Fincimex, meaning Visa and Mastercard payment processing in Cuba will stop. It linked the change to U.S. Executive Order 14404 signed May 1 and said the halt becomes effective June 6. The bank added that other options such as national prepaid cards, Mir cards and UnionPay will continue to function.

Pseudonymous Solana developer cavemanloverboy introduced SIMD-547 on Saturday, proposing a new transaction base fee that would be burned to reduce SOL inflation. Some estimates say the change could lift daily SOL burn from 648 SOL to 10,800–64,800 SOL and potentially turn issuance deflationary if activity rises about 25x. The idea has support from Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko, while SOL Strategies CEO Michael Hubbard warns higher costs could hurt emerging institutional and AI-related use cases.