Here’s What Happened in Crypto Today: SafeMoon Case Continues, Bitcoin Payments Hit Swiss Supermarkets, DeFi Rises in Yemen

🔹 U.S. Prosecutors Move Forward with SafeMoon CEO Case Despite DOJ Memo

Federal prosecutors have confirmed they will proceed with the case against Braden John Karony, the former CEO of SafeMoon, signaling that criminal accountability in the crypto space remains a top priority — despite new guidance from the Department of Justice (DOJ) aimed at easing prosecutorial pressure on the digital asset industry.

April 18 notice that US prosecutors will continue to prosecute John Karony. Source: PACER

In a filing submitted on April 18 to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, U.S. Attorney John Durham stated that his office had reviewed the April 7 DOJ memo, issued by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, which advises caution against prosecuting crypto firms in the absence of clear regulations. Nevertheless, Durham emphasized the Karony case would continue to trial.

Karony faces multiple charges, including securities fraud conspiracy, wire fraud conspiracy, and money laundering conspiracy. Prosecutors allege he misappropriated millions of dollars in SafeMoon (SFM) tokens between 2021 and 2022. The trial is seen as a high-profile example of legal scrutiny intensifying around crypto executives.

Spar in Zug adopts Bitcoin payment, announcement. Source: DFX Swiss

🔹 Spar Supermarket in Switzerland Begins Accepting Bitcoin

A Spar supermarket in Zug, Switzerland, has started accepting Bitcoin payments via the Lightning Network, marking another stride forward for crypto’s use in everyday retail.

Announced by DFX Swiss in an April 17 LinkedIn post, the initiative is powered by BTC Mao and DFX’s OpenCryptoPay solution, an open peer-to-peer standard for in-person Bitcoin payments using LNURL. Shoppers can now pay for groceries at the checkout counter using BTC — seamlessly and instantly.

“This SPAR location is among the first supermarkets in Switzerland where you can pay directly at the checkout using Bitcoin,” DFX said.

Zug, known as “Crypto Valley,” continues to position itself as a leading hub for blockchain innovation. In a broader context, this move reflects Switzerland’s ongoing embrace of digital assets. In 2023, the city of Lugano adopted Bitcoin and Tether (USDT) for municipal payments, further signaling the country's crypto-friendly stance.

DeFi platforms account for most of Yemen’s crypto-related web traffic, followed by centralized exchanges. Source: TRM Labs

🔹 Yemenis Turn to DeFi Amid Sanctions and Financial Chaos

Yemen is seeing a quiet surge in decentralized finance (DeFi) activity, as citizens increasingly rely on crypto tools to navigate around U.S. sanctions targeting the Houthi group and the broader collapse of traditional banking systems.

According to an April 17 report from blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs, DeFi platforms now account for over 63% of all crypto-related web traffic in Yemen. In comparison, global centralized exchanges make up just 18%.

Historically, crypto adoption in Yemen has been hampered by limited internet access and financial literacy. However, the worsening humanitarian crisis has turned digital assets into a tool for survival rather than speculation.

“Those who use cryptocurrencies in Yemen are often doing so out of necessity,” TRM Labs said. “They rely on decentralized protocols to bypass disruptions in local financial services, offering a degree of financial resilience amid ongoing conflict.”

In Summary

From courtrooms in New York to supermarket aisles in Switzerland, and even the war-torn streets of Yemen, crypto continues to evolve in real-time — serving very different purposes across very different circumstances. Whether it's legal accountability, daily convenience, or survival amid chaos, today’s headlines underscore the dynamic, global nature of blockchain technology.