Crypto and AI News: Gauntlet's $125M Raise, Interpol's Crypto Bust, and More
A snapshot of the latest developments in the crypto and AI space
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Gauntlet, a DeFi risk management and vault curation firm, has closed a $125 million Series C funding round with SBI Holdings, a Japanese financial conglomerate, as the sole investor.
What Happened
Gauntlet, a DeFi risk management and vault curation firm, has closed a $125 million Series C funding round with SBI Holdings, a Japanese financial conglomerate, as the sole investor. The firm, founded by chief executive Tarun Chitra, said the capital will fund "building our infrastructure across traditional capital markets, expanding stablecoin coverage, and accelerating new onchain offerings." Gauntlet aims to provide "quantitative guardrails" as institutions move capital onchain.
In other news, Interpol has tied a $122.5 million crypto wallet to a romance scam ring, with Thai police making two arrests tied to a cross-chain laundering scheme uncovered during a global crackdown. The case surfaced from Operation First Light 2026, a sweep coordinated by Interpol that led to 5,811 arrests and the interception of $293 million in illicit assets across 97 countries and territories.
Why It Matters
The crypto and AI space is rapidly evolving, with significant investments and developments in the past week. Gauntlet's $125 million raise and Interpol's crypto bust highlight the growing importance of DeFi risk management and the need for stricter regulations in the crypto space. Meanwhile, OpenAI's release of GPT-5.6 Sol marks a significant milestone in the development of AI technology.
Key Numbers
- $125 million: Gauntlet's Series C funding round
- $122.5 million: Crypto wallet tied to romance scam ring
- $293 million: Illicit assets intercepted across 97 countries and territories
- 5,811: Arrests made during Operation First Light 2026
- 97: Countries and territories involved in Operation First Light 2026
What Experts Say
> "We expect tokenization and vault products to grow DeFi's market faster than overall stablecoin growth over the next few years." — Tarun Chitra, CEO of Gauntlet
Background
Gauntlet was last valued at $1 billion in 2022, when it raised roughly $24 million in a Series B round. The firm currently curates $1.42 billion across chains including Base, BNB Chain, and Ethereum.
What Comes Next
As the crypto and AI space continues to evolve, we can expect to see more significant investments and developments in the coming weeks. With the UK considering a permanent crypto donation ban, the regulatory landscape is likely to shift, and companies like Gauntlet will play a crucial role in shaping the future of DeFi risk management.
Key Facts
- Who: Gauntlet, Interpol, SBI Holdings
- What: $125 million Series C funding round, crypto wallet tied to romance scam ring
- When: This week
- Where: Global
- Impact: Significant investments and developments in the crypto and AI space, potential regulatory changes
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Gauntlet Raises $125M Series C From SBI Holdings
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Interpol Ties $122.5M Crypto Wallet to Romance Scam Ring
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