Here’s what happened in crypto today

Today in crypto, the "Hawk Tuah" girl made her first media appearance after nearly two months of silence following the surge and collapse of the HAWK memecoin. Japanese authorities asked Apple and Google to remove unregistered crypto exchanges, including Bybit and KuCoin, from their app stores. Meanwhile, three more US states, including Utah, took a step closer to creating a Bitcoin reserve.Haliey Welch, aka ‘Hawk Tuah,’ speaks out after nearly two monthsHaliey Welch, widely known as the “Hawk Tuah” girl, made her first media appearance after nearly two months of silence following the launch of the HAWK memecoin and the subsequent crash of the token’s price.In an interview conducted with podcaster FaZe Banks, Welch claimed the project manager for the memecoin told her the token would have a long-term time horizon and would be positive for the crypto space.Welch said she initially did not want to launch the memecoin and was unfamiliar with the asset sector but did so because she was told half the money from the token would go to her charity. Welch said:“It was brought to me in a positive way — it was going to be something good and long-term, but it didn’t go that route at all, so it was like a smack in the face.”Welch’s attorney, Christian Barker, also said the development team and account managers misled Welch about the tokenomics of the project, with the developer still controlling 80% of the token’s supply.Japan asks Apple and Google to remove unregistered crypto exchange appsJapan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) asked Apple and Google to suspend downloads of five unregistered cryptocurrency exchanges, reinforcing its stance on regulatory compliance in the country.The FSA has sought to suspend the downloads of five cryptocurrency exchanges (CEXs), including Dubai-based Bybit Fintech, Singapore-based MEXC Global, LBank Exchange, Seychelles–based KuCoin and Singapore-based Bitget.While the FSA’s request was made in the previous week, Apple removed the applications from its App Store on Feb. 6, preventing Japanese users from downloading them, Nikkei reported on Feb. 7.Japan has taken a more cautious approach to cryptocurrency than other Asian markets.While Hong Kong has already approved the first spot Bitcoin ( and Ether ( exchange-traded funds (ETFs), Japanese regulators remain wary of the volatility and risks associated with crypto ETFs.However, the regulator’s move to block downloads to unregistered crypto exchanges is not necessarily a clampdown against retail cryptocurrency investing, according to industry experts.Utah steps closer to being first US state with Bitcoin reserveUtah is leading as the likely first US state to have a Bitcoin (BTC) reserve after the state’s House passed a Bitcoin reserve bill to the Senate on Feb. 6.Utah Representative Jordan Teuscher proposed the bill — titled HB 230 Blockchain and Digital Innovation Amendments — on Jan. 21, which would give the state’s treasurer authority to allocate up to 5% of certain public funds to buy “qualifying digital assets,” such as BTC, high-cap crypto assets and stablecoins.It then passed the state’s House Economic Committee by an 8-1 vote on Jan. 28 to make it onto the House floor. The bill will now head to the Senate, where it will need majority approval before it is given to the governor to sign or veto.Neighboring Arizona is the only other state with a similar bill at a similar stage after Arizona’s Senate Finance Committee passed the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act (SB1025) on Jan. 27, which is now pending a House vote. It would allow up to 10% of a government entity’s or public fund’s capital to be invested in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies.Fourteen US states have introduced bills giving their local treasuries permission to buy crypto assets, according to Bitcoin Reserve Monitor.