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Former U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to launch his own coin, which is set to take place on Wednesday. While some people speculated that it might be a cryptocurrency, Trump’s project is more of a traditional product than a digital asset.

 
New Coin to Support Presidential Campaign
Donald Trump, who is running for the presidency of the United States again, announced the launch of a new coin to raise funds for his election campaign. The project, titled "Silver Medallion First Edition President Trump," aims to distribute physical silver to Americans who support his political vision and want to see him back in office. Although many of his supporters expected Trump to release a cryptocurrency, this new coin is something entirely different.
 Launch of Limited Edition Coin
Trump announced that the coin will be sold for $100 each through the website RealTrumpCoins.com. The coin will be made of 99.9% pure silver and will only be available in a limited edition. One side of the coin will feature Donald Trump’s likeness, while the other side will display the White House accompanied by the phrase "In God We Trust."
 This coin is expected to be one of several activities that Trump undertakes to secure the necessary funding for his campaign ahead of the upcoming presidential elections in the U.S. The coin comes at a time when Trump is actively seeking new ways to bolster his campaign and ensure he has the resources he needs. He stated that this silver coin is the "ONLY OFFICIAL coin" he has designed and that was minted in the U.S. under his leadership.
 Cryptocurrency Expectations Unfulfilled
In recent months, several meme coins featuring themes related to Donald Trump have appeared in the market, capitalizing on his popularity. However, Trump has distanced himself from these unofficial tokens and emphasized during the introduction of his silver coin that:
"I’ve seen a lot of coins using my beautiful face, but they’re not official. RealTrumpCoin.com is the only place to purchase the official Trump coin."
 At first glance, Trump’s announcement of a new official coin might seem related to cryptocurrency, as many of his fans have been expecting him to introduce a digital asset. For instance, last week, 84% of bettors on the Polymarket platform believed that Trump would come out with his own cryptocurrency. This anticipation was fueled by the launch of the World Liberty Financial project, which was speculated to potentially include an official Trump cryptocurrency.
 World Liberty Financial and the True Purpose of the Coin
The World Liberty Financial project does contain a token called WLFI, but this token lacks the key characteristics of a classic cryptocurrency as many had envisioned. Although WLFI has been presented as a type of digital asset, it is not the classic cryptocurrency that Trump fans hoped for. While speculation continues regarding whether Trump will eventually come up with his own cryptocurrency project, the silver coin remains his current official product and focuses more on traditional investment in precious metals.
Thus, Trump continues to favor physical, tangible assets rather than joining the wave of digital assets that currently dominate the financial world.
Trump's fondness for cryptocurrencies.
Donald Trump also commented on the Fatty token before the presidential campaign. #Fatty caught Trump's attention because one of the characters in the game mimics Donald Trump, and they are also counting on Don's participation in their new video clip. The first episode featured UFC Champion Jiří Procházka and world-famous beauty contest winners. Fatty.io is still in presale, and it is expected to be one of the best launches of this period.
Notice:
,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

A young drug trafficker from Generation Z has been sentenced in South Korea to 20 years in prison after the court concluded that he systematically used cryptocurrencies as both a payment method and a money-laundering tool within a large-scale narcotics network with an estimated turnover of $4 million.
The verdict was delivered by the Ulsan District Court, where prosecutors detailed how the defendant and his group smuggled drugs into the country via international courier services and sold them through the Telegram messaging app. In addition to the prison sentence, the court imposed a $4.2 million fine.
Presiding Judge Park Jeong-hong stated during sentencing that importing drugs through international parcel delivery is extremely difficult for police to detect. According to the judge, this form of crime is spreading rapidly, making exceptionally harsh punishments necessary. He emphasized that such activity is highly antisocial and has serious consequences for society as a whole.

Telegram as a “Drug Supermarket” for the Young
According to investigative records, Korean-language Telegram channels have effectively turned into “narcotics department stores,” particularly for young South Koreans. Payments for drugs were primarily made using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
The defendant began selling drugs online as early as March 2020. Over time, he built a network of associates who helped operate multiple parallel sales channels on Telegram. The offerings included synthetic cannabinoids, marijuana, LSD, and methamphetamine, with most of the drugs smuggled in from Vietnam.
Cryptocurrencies were used not only to collect payments but also to launder proceeds from criminal activity. Distributors were paid a 10% commission on each successfully completed delivery.

Thousands of “Dead Drop” Deliveries Nationwide
The dealer relied on a nationwide network of smaller-scale sellers who carried out so-called “dead drops”—leaving packages of drugs in public places and sending buyers instructions on where to pick them up. Prosecutors revealed that between March 2022 and May 2023 alone, nearly 12,000 deliveries were made this way, involving more than 7,000 kilograms of methamphetamine pills.
The court stated that the defendant had created a distribution model that other drug dealers are now copying. According to the judge, this has significantly increased the sophistication and activity of the illegal drug market, effectively mass-producing new addicts and drug-related criminals.
In addition to the main defendant, three of his close associates were sentenced to between 30 months and three years in prison, all found guilty of drug distribution and money-laundering offenses.

Telegram Investigation and Limits of Cooperation
A year earlier, South Korean authorities launched an investigation into Telegram amid allegations that the platform was being used to distribute illicit content. However, investigators faced major obstacles due to Telegram’s refusal to provide user account data to law enforcement agencies, both domestically and internationally.
As a result, the Korea Communications Standard Commission (KCSC) added Telegram to its list of foreign platform partners, enabling it to request the removal of illegal content, including information related to narcotics.

Crypto Regulation Shift and New Money-Laundering Methods
At the same time, a significant regulatory shift has taken place. South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) lifted its ban on corporate investments in cryptocurrencies, a restriction that had previously been justified by concerns over money laundering. The final version of the rules is expected to be published in January or February, with the draft allowing legal entities to invest up to 5% of shareholder equity in cryptocurrencies within the top 20 by market capitalization.
Stablecoins are not yet included, with a decision on them to be made later. According to Chainalysis, stablecoins accounted for 84% of illicit on-chain transaction volume in 2025, making them the most commonly used digital asset in criminal activity.
Investments will be permitted only through the country’s five largest regulated exchanges: Upbit, Bithumb, Korbit, INEX, and Coinone.
However, anti-money-laundering experts warn that criminal groups are increasingly shifting toward casinos and chip-to-cash cycles, which they consider safer than crypto. The warning follows reports that Chinese nationals used casinos on Jeju Island and in other regions to launder money obtained from voice-phishing scams.

#CryptoCrime , #MoneyLaundering , #aml , #cybercrime , #CryptoSecurity

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,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

A newly introduced U.S. Senate bill places stablecoin rewards at the heart of an escalating dispute between traditional banks and the crypto industry. The proposed legislation aims to establish clear and transparent rules for digital asset operations, particularly addressing how users may earn returns on their stablecoin holdings.

Senator Tim Scott Brings New Bill to the Table
According to well-placed sources, Senator Tim Scott – Chair of the Senate Banking Committee – has submitted a bipartisan draft of the bill, set for discussion on January 15. Known as the "Market Structure Bill," it is expected to spark heated debate and may proceed to a committee vote.
The draft clearly prohibits paying interest on merely holding stablecoins. However, it does allow platforms to issue rewards for users who engage in specific activities such as:
🔹 Payment processing

🔹 Staking

🔹 Providing liquidity

🔹 Offering collateral

Controversial Compromise: Coinbase Threatens Withdrawal
The compromise language was largely shaped by Democratic Senator Angela Alsobrooks, who proposed that exchanges like Coinbase may issue returns to users only when they perform certain actions—such as selling their stablecoins. Passive holding, however, would not qualify for any rewards.
Coinbase has warned that if lawmakers go beyond enhancing disclosure rules and begin tightening restrictions on loyalty or reward programs, the company may withdraw its support for the bill. Crypto companies argue that some banks are leveraging the legislation to suppress competition.

GENIUS Act Under Fire
Meanwhile, banking groups have criticized the GENIUS Act, passed in July 2025, for creating loopholes that allow platforms to offer interest-like returns without proper oversight. They argue this introduces new systemic liquidity risks.
The stablecoin regulation debate is emerging as a defining battle in the digital asset space—highlighting a growing clash between traditional finance and crypto innovators.

Wyden–Lummis Proposal Included
The bill also incorporates a bipartisan proposal from Senators Ron Wyden and Cynthia Lummis, both known for their balanced stance on crypto regulation. Their contribution could help shape a more moderate path forward—at least temporarily.

#Stablecoins , #CryptoRegulation , #USsenate , #DigitalAssets , #CryptoNews

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,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren has urged federal regulators to immediately halt the ongoing review of a national bank charter application submitted by World Liberty Financial Inc. (WLFI), citing direct connections to former President Donald Trump and his family.

Political Conflict of Interest? Warren Sounds the Alarm
In a letter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), Warren warned that continuing to evaluate WLFI’s application could severely undermine the integrity of federal financial oversight.
She referenced her earlier warnings from summer 2025, where she questioned how the OCC could guarantee its independence from the financial interests of the President. At the time, OCC dismissed her concerns as speculative. Warren now argues those fears have materialized.
“Approving this application could enable the President to indirectly control his own financial institution through a regulator he can remove at will,” she wrote.
She added that if the OCC approves the license, it would be responsible for creating rules that directly affect the profitability of Trump’s company — and for supervising both the firm and its competitors.

Trump Family’s Crypto Bank Sparks Controversy
The issue escalated after WLFI confirmed it had formally filed for a national trust bank charter. The company also created a new subsidiary, WLTC Holdings LLC, and submitted a de novo application under OCC procedures.
Senator Warren is calling for an immediate suspension of the review — one that would stay in effect until Donald Trump fully divests from his interests in World Liberty.

Growing Backlash Against Trump’s Crypto Involvement
This situation comes amid growing public scrutiny of Trump’s expanding presence in the crypto industry. Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson recently voiced concern over the sector’s political trajectory.
Back in November 2025, Congressman Jamie Raskin released a report from the House Democratic staff, alleging that Trump used his investments in crypto ventures like World Liberty to significantly enrich himself.
According to public records, WLFI was co-founded not only by Donald Trump but also by his sons Barron, Eric, and Donald Trump Jr. The platform has since reached a multibillion-dollar valuation due to its crypto activities.

#TRUMP , #ElizabethWarren , #CryptoRegulation , #WLFI , #USPolitics

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Notice:
,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

Bitcoin climbed back above $94,000 on Tuesday as traders repriced political risk tied to Donald Trump’s tariff policies. The move came ahead of a highly anticipated U.S. Supreme Court decision that could significantly reshape presidential authority over global trade tariffs.

Bitcoin Rally Lifts Altcoins
Bitcoin’s rebound quickly spilled over into the broader crypto market. Ethereum gained 3.21% to $3,207, while XRP rose more than 3.5% over the past day. The wider market followed BTC after suffering another pullback over the weekend.
Bitcoin managed to bounce from support near $91,000, where it stabilized earlier this week, shifting traders’ focus back to the $94,000 level.

Supreme Court Reviews Trump-Era Tariffs
The U.S. Supreme Court is currently examining the legality and scope of the most expansive tariff measures introduced during Trump’s presidency. At the heart of the case is whether a president can unilaterally impose global tariffs on U.S. trading partners without congressional approval.
During hearings held in November, both conservative and liberal justices raised skeptical questions about the legal mechanism used to enact the tariffs. That scrutiny has kept financial markets alert to the potential consequences of the ruling.
A decision had been expected last week, but the Court delayed its ruling. The next day for issuing an opinion is scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, turning the verdict into a key short-term catalyst for markets.

Trump Warns of a “Severe Blow” if Tariffs Are Overturned
Donald Trump has described the possibility of losing the authority to impose tariffs as a “terrible blow” to the United States. He argues that a ruling against the policy would severely weaken America’s negotiating position with foreign partners.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also addressed the potential financial impact, stating that the Treasury has sufficient funds to cover costs associated with refunding tariffs should they be struck down.
Prediction markets suggest the odds of the Supreme Court fully upholding Trump’s tariffs are relatively low. On Polymarket, the probability stands at around 27%, indicating that traders largely expect the Court to curtail presidential tariff powers.

Inflation Data Supports Risk Appetite
Macroeconomic data also helped fuel the crypto rally. The latest U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed that December inflation held at 2.7%, exactly in line with market expectations. Core CPI also came in below analysts’ forecasts, easing concerns about further monetary tightening.
The combination of political uncertainty, anticipation of the Supreme Court’s ruling, and calming inflation data has created an environment in which Bitcoin once again emerged as the primary beneficiary of capital flows and market attention.

#BTC , #bitcoin , #TRUMP , #TrumpTariffs , #CryptoNews

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,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

The year 2025 confirmed a clear concentration of crypto liquidity in Bitcoin and Ethereum, while most altcoins were largely sidelined. This conclusion comes from Wintermute’s annual OTC digital assets market review.
According to the report, investors focused primarily on Bitcoin, Ether, and a small number of large-cap tokens. This marked a significant departure from previous crypto cycles, when capital tended to rotate broadly across altcoins. In 2025, liquidity flowed from the top down—mainly through ETFs and digital asset trusts (DATs)—leading to heavy capital concentration in the largest assets.
Wintermute noted that ETFs expanded their scope by introducing features such as staking exposure, while DATs broadened their mandates to allocate more capital into Bitcoin and Ethereum.

How Crypto Market Liquidity Shifted in 2025
Trading behavior in 2025 differed sharply from prior years. Wintermute observed that institutional investors remained consistently overweight in major crypto assets from the second quarter onward, particularly in BTC and ETH.
Institutions traded strategically and reacted quickly to macroeconomic and political headlines. A notable example occurred in early April 2025, when comments from Donald Trump regarding tariffs triggered a rapid shift of capital into Bitcoin. At the start of the year, institutions were underweight major benchmarks and remained net sellers throughout the first quarter.
Bitcoin liquidity and positioning peaked in May and June 2025. According to BTCsats data, Bitcoin’s average price in May exceeded $103,400, with highs approaching $112,000 and lows near $93,400. In June, the average price climbed to nearly $105,700, with intraday highs above $110,500, and the month closed close to $107,100.

A Turning Point for Retail Investors
Wintermute highlighted a notable shift in retail behavior. Since 2022, retail investors had consistently sold Bitcoin and Ethereum while reallocating capital into altcoins. That pattern reversed in 2025.
While large players absorbed most liquidity in major assets, altcoins followed a different trajectory. Retail investors briefly returned to altcoins during the second and third quarters, fueled by hopes of a traditional “altcoin season.” However, this optimism coincided with a sharp buildup of leverage.
The so-called “10/10” move triggered a violent, forced market sell-off, resulting in approximately $19 billion in liquidations within 24 hours. Prior to the event, leverage in altcoins had accumulated unevenly and without sufficient liquidity support.

Open Interest Collapsed as Altcoins Lost Momentum
Total open interest across crypto markets reached roughly $230 billion, according to Wintermute. Of that amount, around $70 billion was concentrated outside Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Following the market flush, most of these positions were unwound. Altcoin open interest fell by approximately 55% by mid-December, dropping to around $30 billion.
Altcoin performance deteriorated sharply in 2025. Aside from brief, isolated rallies, most projects failed to sustain meaningful gains. Wintermute noted that the median duration of altcoin rallies fell to just 20 days, compared with 45 to 60 days in 2024, signaling weaker conviction and increasingly tactical risk-taking.

OTC and Options Activity Accelerated Despite Muted Prices
Despite subdued price action, OTC trading activity in digital assets increased significantly. Wintermute’s review shows that counterparty interactions intensified as investors increasingly favored off-exchange trading for discretion and capital efficiency.
The number of OTC trades rose approximately 2.1x compared with Q1 2025, while notional trade value in the fourth quarter surged 3.8x, indicating both higher trading frequency and larger position sizes.
Strong demand for OTC desks suggests that institutional and sophisticated investors remained active, even as overall crypto price momentum slowed.

#bitcoin , #ETH , #BTC , #CryptoMarket , #DigitalAssets

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,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

France’s cryptocurrency community is facing a renewed wave of violent attacks, continuing a disturbing trend that escalated throughout 2025. So-called “wrench attacks”—where assailants use physical violence to force victims to surrender access to crypto wallets—have carried over into 2026. In early January alone, four attempted kidnappings were reported within just four days.
One of the most recent incidents involved a crypto investment firm executive and his family in Verneuil-sur-Seine. Three armed intruders broke into the family’s home at night, assaulted both parents, and restrained the entire family—including two children—using plastic ties. The family ultimately managed to escape and seek refuge with neighbors, while the attackers fled toward a nearby train station.
The case adds to a growing list of attacks targeting individuals believed to hold or control significant crypto assets, underscoring persistent physical-security concerns for crypto investors in France.

Kidnappings, Home Invasions, and Armed Threats
Just one day before the Verneuil-sur-Seine attack, a 43-year-old man was abducted from his home in Saint-Léger-sous-Cholet. The victim was bound, beaten, and later abandoned in Basse-Goulaine, roughly 50 kilometers from his residence.
Investigators from the specialized interregional jurisdiction in Rennes said the attackers were attempting to steal cryptocurrency. Authorities also noted that the victim’s family had experienced multiple burglary attempts over the Christmas holidays, suggesting the household had been monitored for some time.
Another incident occurred in Manosque, where three masked men forced their way into a home, held a woman at gunpoint, and stole a USB drive containing her partner’s crypto credentials.

Why Victims Often Stay Silent
According to French media and security sources, many victims choose not to report crypto-related crimes. The reluctance stems from fears that reporting would expose:
the size of their crypto holdingsdetailed transaction historiespotential tax and regulatory scrutiny
Investors often weigh the low likelihood of fund recovery against the high perceived risks of tax penalties, asset seizures, reputational damage, or further physical danger. Under strict EU compliance rules, silence is often seen as the safer option.

Regulation, Taxes, and Growing State Pressure
Crypto ownership has become increasingly common across Europe—between 2022 and 2024, European citizens doubled their exposure to cryptocurrencies. At the same time, governments have significantly tightened tax oversight.
Tax authorities now require:
expanded reporting obligationslinkage of on-chain addresses to verified identities via KYCcloser monitoring of transaction activity
New legislative proposals would mandate reporting of crypto assets exceeding €5,000. France is also planning a 1% annual tax on crypto holdings above €2 million, including assets stored in self-custody or offshore wallets.
While crypto ownership is still formally self-reported, any interaction with centralized platforms can trigger wallet-to-identity linkage. Authorities may also seek taxes on unrealized capital gains, potentially forcing long-term holders to sell assets simply to cover tax liabilities.

Data Leaks and the Role of Traditional Payment Channels
Investigations into some cases suggest that sensitive information about crypto holders may have leaked from official sources. Recently, former French tax agent Ghalia C. appealed her conviction for aiding organized crime. She had been investigated for leaking personal data, and authorities suspect she may have shared information related to crypto ownership as well.
Notably, despite the crypto connection, payments for leaked data were made through traditional channels, including cash bank deposits and Western Union transfers.

Impact on France’s Crypto Industry and Events
Security concerns and regulatory pressure are beginning to affect the broader crypto industry. Organizers have announced the cancellation of NFT Paris and RWA Paris 2026, officially citing fallout from the late-2025 market downturn.
Although not stated explicitly, physical safety risks for industry participants have become a real “cost”—one that is difficult to budget for but increasingly impossible to ignore.
France’s crypto-event calendar still includes gatherings such as Paris Blockchain Week, which focus more on institutions, regulation, and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. However, the overall mood within the community remains tense and cautious.

#CryptoSecurity , #CryptoCrime , #Web3 , #CyberSecurity , #CryptoNews

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,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

President Donald Trump has once again urged the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates following fresh data showing cooling inflation in the United States. December figures put annual inflation at 2.7%, which Trump says clearly supports a more accommodative monetary stance.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump described the inflation reading as “great” and called on Fed Chair Jerome Powell to move quickly and deliver meaningful rate cuts. According to Trump, further delays would restrain economic growth and unnecessarily raise borrowing costs for businesses and households.

CPI Data Reinforces Signs of Easing Price Pressures
Trump’s comments came shortly after the release of the December Consumer Price Index (CPI), which showed inflation remaining stable and not accelerating beyond market expectations.
An even stronger signal came from core CPI, which excludes food and energy prices. Core inflation fell to 2.6% year over year, coming in below expectations and reinforcing the view that pricing pressures in the U.S. economy are gradually easing.
Trump cited the CPI data as evidence that the Fed is falling behind economic reality, suggesting that rate cuts could stimulate growth, boost demand, and encourage lending activity.

Markets Turn Optimistic, Bitcoin Jumps
The inflation report had an immediate positive impact on financial markets. Shortly after the data was released, Bitcoin surged above $92,000, signaling renewed risk appetite among investors.
Lower interest rates typically:
increase system liquiditysupport equity marketsbenefit risk-sensitive assets, including cryptocurrencies
As a result, market optimism has grown around the idea that 2026 could bring monetary easing, provided inflation remains under control.

The Fed Remains Cautious for Now
Despite political pressure, an immediate rate cut appears unlikely. The CME Group FedWatch tool suggests markets currently expect the Fed to hold rates steady at its next meeting.
According to the latest probabilities:
there is roughly a 95% chance that rates will remain unchanged at the January meetingonly a small probability is assigned to a 25-basis-point cut
Can the Fed Resist Trump’s Pressure?
Recent Fed meeting minutes indicate policymakers want to see additional, sustained evidence of declining inflation before taking further action. This caution follows a series of rate cuts implemented last year.
Major banks share a similar view. JPMorgan, for example, no longer expects near-term Fed rate cuts, even after softer inflation reports. Some Fed officials have also pointed to uncertainty around fiscal policy and tariffs, noting that their potential impact on prices remains unclear.

Political Signals and Market Expectations
Statements from a sitting U.S. president often have a meaningful influence on market sentiment, and traders closely monitor Trump’s remarks as potential signals of future policy direction.
If inflation remains stable or continues to decline, expectations for rate cuts could strengthen as the year progresses. The latest CPI report has therefore provided strong support for those arguing that the Fed should begin easing monetary policy sooner rather than later.

#FederalReserve , #interestrates , #USPolitics , #bitcoin , #CryptoMarkets

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,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

An active trader on Polymarket suffered a staggering $2.36 million loss in just eight days after a string of unsuccessful sports predictions. The losses were highlighted by on-chain analyst Lookonchain, which reviewed detailed trading records tied to the account.
The trader, operating under the pseudonym bossoskil1, placed 53 separate predictions across major U.S. sports leagues and college football during the period. The final tally showed 25 winning bets and 28 losing bets, translating to a 47.2% win rate. Despite nearly breaking even on accuracy, the size of the losing positions ultimately drove the account deep into the red.

Large Stakes Despite Moderate Conviction
Bossoskil1 focused on NFL, NBA, NHL, and NCAA games, settling positions through spread-based prediction contracts. Many contracts were purchased at prices ranging from $0.40 to $0.60, suggesting only moderate confidence in the outcomes.
Even so, the capital committed was enormous. In several cases, individual positions exceeded $200,000, while multiple bets carried exposure well above $1 million.

NFL Bets Delivered the Biggest Hits
One of the largest single losses came from an NFL matchup between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears. The trader purchased more than 2.5 million shares at $0.54, only for the position to settle at zero—resulting in a loss of over $1.36 million.
Another major loss followed in the Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Jaguars game. Bossoskil1 backed the Jaguars with more than 2.6 million shares, again at $0.54. When the Jaguars lost by three points, the position collapsed, pushing losses to approximately $1.41 million.
Additional NFL misfires included:
a bet on the Eagles over the 49ers, resulting in a $304,000 lossa smaller position on the Chargers vs. Patriots, which lost roughly $2,700
NHL Exposure and Profitable Bets That Couldn’t Offset Losses
The trader also ventured into NHL markets, where results were mixed. A six-figure bet on the Chicago Blackhawks against the Edmonton Oilers ended with a $8,500 loss, while a position on the Columbus Blue Jackets vs. Vegas Golden Knights resulted in another $2,600 loss.
There were, however, notable winning trades. Some NHL bets delivered returns exceeding 100%, including winning positions involving the Devils, Kraken, and Blackhawks in other matchups. A college football bet on Miami generated more than $500,000 in profit, while a successful NFL bet on the Los Angeles Rams produced gains of over $730,000.
Despite these wins, they were overshadowed by the scale of the losing positions.

Losses May Still Grow
After all settled trades were accounted for, the trader’s net result stood at a $2.36 million loss. At the time of analysis, several positions remained open.
These included:
an NHL bet on the New York Islanders involving roughly 520,000 shares priced at $0.49, representing exposure of about $255,000a position on Chicago Blackhawks vs. Washington Capitals totaling more than 1.65 million shares, with a combined value of approximately $744,000

A Stark Reminder About Risk Management
The case of bossoskil1 underscores a critical lesson: even a near-50% win rate can result in catastrophic losses when position sizing and risk management are poorly controlled. In prediction markets—where probability, psychology, and volatility intersect—aggressive betting strategies can wipe out multimillion-dollar accounts in a matter of days.

#Polymarket , #CryptoMarket , #CryptoNews , #crypto , #CryptoRisk

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,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin continues his long-standing practice of liquidating memecoins and low-cap tokens that various projects send to his public wallet without his consent. The latest transactions follow a familiar pattern.
According to data from blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence, Buterin swapped several small-cap tokens for a total of 9.4 ETH roughly two hours before publication. At current market prices, the proceeds are worth approximately $29,400.
The transactions were executed via decentralized exchange aggregators and bridges, including LiFi Diamond, Socket Gateway, Across Protocol, and Bungee, infrastructure that Buterin has repeatedly used in previous sell-offs of unsolicited airdropped tokens.

OP, DEGEN, CHIB and More: Another Round of Memecoin Swaps
A closer look at the conversions shows that Buterin:
swapped 7,528 OP tokens for ether via Bungee Exchangeexchanged 4.508 million DEGEN tokens for ETHseparately swapped 23.988 million CHIB tokens through Socket Gateway and PullSplit
Arkham data also shows several smaller ETH-denominated swaps routed through LiFi and Bungee, totaling 0.668, 0.762, 0.837, 1.927, and 0.739 ETH.
One of the largest single conversions occurred via Across Protocol, where Buterin received 4.496 ETH from the sale of a pooled token position. Additional ETH swaps involved WOOLLY and IZZY, with 13.628 million IZZY tokens converted through LiFi.
At the time of the swaps, Ethereum was trading slightly above $3,136, according to market data. The ETH received was subsequently transferred to addresses widely believed to be controlled by Buterin, further increasing his already substantial ether holdings.

“I Don’t See Any Moral Value in Them”
Buterin has a well-documented history of selling tokens sent to him without request, and he has repeatedly stated that he “does not see any moral value” in holding such assets. He has also criticized projects for using his wallet address as a form of promotion.
In October last year, for example, Buterin sold 275 trillion CatCoin tokens for 14,216 USDC, roughly $14,200. As with the latest activity, he did not publicly explain the reason for the sale, and it is widely assumed that the proceeds were donated to charity.
Buterin rarely announces these sales in advance and generally avoids providing detailed commentary. However, he has been explicit about his preference that projects donate directly to charitable causes rather than sending tokens to his wallet.
“Many projects have decided to send me a large portion of their supply,” Buterin wrote on X last year. “Everything sent to me is also donated to charity—though I strongly prefer that you donate to charity directly.”

Sales Generating Hundreds of Thousands — and Millions — of Dollars
In January, Arkham, citing Lookonchain data, reported that Buterin sold additional memecoins he had received for free, including 340 billion DOG tokens, for 5.2 ETH. The total proceeds from that round amounted to roughly $139,000.
Even larger transactions took place around October 10, when Buterin sold tokens worth 1,101 ETH, valued at approximately $2.78 million at the time. That batch included:
10 billion MOODENG tokens200,000 MSTR tokens500 million EBULL tokens
Those sales generated 395.95 ETH, 93.23 ETH, and 73.79 ETH, respectively. From those proceeds, Buterin donated 360.16 ETH, worth about $884,000, to an undisclosed charitable organization.
“I appreciate memecoins that donate a portion of their supply directly to charity,” Buterin said at the time. “Everything sent to me is also donated. Today’s 10 billion will go toward technology to fight airborne diseases.”

Buterin’s On-Chain Holdings Exceed $760 Million
According to Arkham’s dashboard, Buterin’s on-chain portfolio is valued at more than $763 million. The vast majority consists of approximately 240,000 ETH, worth about $752 million at current prices.
Smaller positions include wrapped ether variants and a variety of tokens accumulated over time, such as WHITE, MOODENG, KNC, TRUE, REPv2, and THE. Some of these assets have declined recently, contributing to a portfolio decrease of just over $7 million in the past seven days and more than $30 million over the past month.

Ethereum Holds Above Key Support
Despite the activity in Buterin’s wallet, Ethereum continues to show signs of a bullish trend. ETH posted a modest 0.8% gain and remains above the $3,090 level, suggesting that these memecoin liquidations have not created meaningful selling pressure on the broader market.

#VitalikButerin , #Ethereum , #memecoins , #CryptoNews , #ETH

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The start of 2026 has been marked by a fierce battle between Bitcoin bulls and bears. While optimists expect another upward leg for Bitcoin, a growing number of skeptics are warning that the market may be entering the early stages of a new crypto winter.
Among the analysts leaning toward a more cautious outlook is well-known on-chain expert Ali Martinez. In a January 12 post on X, Martinez warned that Bitcoin could reach the bottom of the current cycle in roughly 267 days, pointing to October 2026 as the most likely timeframe.
According to his estimate, Bitcoin’s price at that point could fall within a range of $38,000 to $50,000.

Why October 2026 Could Mark Bitcoin’s Next Cycle Bottom
Martinez’s outlook is not based on sentiment, but on a repeating historical cycle pattern. His analysis shows that Bitcoin typically takes:
approximately 1,064 days to move from a cycle bottom to a market topfollowed by around 364 days to retrace from the top back to the next bottom
This cadence, Martinez notes, has appeared consistently across three previous market cycles, spanning from the January 2015 bottom to the peak reached in October 2025.
A key reference point is Bitcoin’s most recent all-time high, recorded on October 6, 2025. If the same historical rhythm repeats, adding roughly 364 days places the next potential cycle low around October 5, 2026.

How Low Could Bitcoin Go in 2026?
In a separate analysis published on December 21, 2025, Martinez also outlined a price-based projection for the cycle bottom. He compared the magnitude of past bear markets:
the 2017–2018 bear market saw an 84% decline from the peakthe 2021–2022 bear market produced a 77% correction
The midpoint of these two drawdowns is roughly 80%. Applying a similar retracement to the latest cycle high just above $126,000 would imply a potential bottom near $37,500.
That said, Martinez left room for flexibility in his January forecast, instead highlighting a broader $38,000–$50,000 range. This suggests he expects the 2026 downturn to be somewhat milder than previous crypto winters, rather than a repeat of the most extreme historical crashes.

A Warning, Not a Certainty
While the analysis allows for a less severe correction, Martinez’s outlook serves as a clear warning that sharp drawdowns remain an inherent part of Bitcoin’s market structure. The current phase may represent a transition period rather than a confirmed continuation of the bull trend.

What Should Investors Take Away?
Bitcoin’s history repeatedly demonstrates that time-based market cycles matter, and that periods of euphoria are often followed by painful corrections. If historical patterns hold—even partially—October 2026 could become a critical stress test for investor conviction.
Whether the cycle ultimately plays out exactly as before, or whether Bitcoin once again defies expectations, remains to be seen.

#BTC , #bitcoin , #cryptocrash , #CryptoAnalysis , #CryptoNews

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A 46-year-old woman from the western Russian city of Kursk has fallen victim to a large-scale cryptocurrency investment scam, losing 28 million rubles over the course of one year. The case was disclosed on Monday by Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.
According to police, the woman was initially contacted via a messaging application by a man who claimed to be living in an Arab country. The scammer presented himself as an experienced cryptocurrency investor and gradually gained her trust by portraying detailed knowledge of crypto markets.
He told the victim she could earn significant profits by following his instructions, which began with downloading a specific mobile application allegedly used for crypto investing.

Scam Built Over a Year Using the “Pig Butchering” Method
Russian investigators said the case followed a classic “pig butchering” scheme—a long-term fraud technique in which perpetrators build trust with victims over time and gradually persuade them to invest increasingly large sums.
The scammer promised high and stable returns, guided the woman step by step through the supposed investment process, and encouraged repeated transfers of funds in cryptocurrencies. Investigators said it took roughly one year for the perpetrator to fully execute the scheme.
As the fraud progressed, the victim exhausted her personal savings and, believing that higher investments would lead to even greater profits, sought additional funding.
“She sold three apartments, a car, a gold bar, took out bank loans, and borrowed money from acquaintances to raise more funds, convinced that future returns would offset the losses,” authorities said.
Once the woman ran out of money, the scammer deleted all communication records and cut off contact entirely, prompting her to report the incident to the police.

Crypto “Pig Butchering” Scams Continue Across Russia
Russia’s Interior Ministry said it is investigating several similar cases reported in other regions of the country.
In the Kirov region, a woman lost more than 2 million rubles after trusting investment promises from fake cryptocurrency exchanges. Like the victim in Kursk, she believed her funds were generating steady returns, only to later discover that both the platforms and contacts were fraudulent.
Another case involved a 63-year-old man from the city of Kirov, who lost approximately 3 million rubles in late July after communicating with scammers via a messenger app. The fraudster posed as a financial adviser offering an “easy and profitable way to make money through cryptocurrency trading” in exchange for a 20% share of the profits.
The man agreed, registered on a fake trading platform, and transferred funds to accounts provided by the unknown contact. Police said he invested his own savings and later added borrowed money, bringing the total amount transferred to 2,981,000 rubles.

Similar Scams Reported in Belarus
Comparable schemes have also been reported in Belarus. A 23-year-old woman from Minsk contacted the Soviet District police after realizing she was unable to withdraw the money she believed she had earned.
According to her statement, she encountered an advertisement on a social media platform and left her phone number after clicking on a link. She was subsequently contacted by someone claiming to be an analyst from an investment platform.
The woman registered on a specialized website and, over two months, transferred approximately 50,000 rubles to an electronic wallet. When she attempted to withdraw her funds, the fake analyst demanded additional deposits, prompting her to suspect fraud and contact the authorities.

#Cryptoscam , #CryptoFraud , #russia , #cybercrime , #CryptoNews

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U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent convened a full-scale international meeting of finance ministers on Monday to address a worsening crisis in the supply of critical minerals and China’s growing dominance over strategic materials.
The talks come as China refines up to 87% of the world’s rare earths and silver prices are hitting record highs. Bessent brought together finance ministers from 11 countries, representatives of the European Commission, and U.S. trade officials to begin coordinating a response.
According to Bessent, the goal is to repair and diversify supply chains before China further tightens its control.

Countries Representing 60% of Global Demand—Yet Supply Still Dominated by China
Participants included:
Jim Chalmers (Australia)François-Philippe Champagne (Canada)Valdis Dombrovskis (European Union)Roland Lescure (France)Lars Klingbeil (Germany)Ashwini Vaishnaw (India)Giancarlo Giorgetti (Italy)Satsuki Katayama (Japan)Edgar Amador Zamora (Mexico)Yun-Cheol Koo (South Korea)Rachel Reeves (United Kingdom)
Jamieson Greer, John Jovanovic, and Jay Horine also joined the meeting. Together, these countries and blocs account for roughly 60% of global demand for the minerals in question, yet China continues to dominate the supply side.

“Supply Chains Are Over-Concentrated and Fragile”
Bessent opened the talks with a blunt assessment:
“Supply chains are too concentrated. They are fragile. They are easily disrupted. We have to fix this—and fast.”
The U.S. delegation outlined current investments and upcoming initiatives aimed at building alternative supply routes, with a focus on:
rare earthscobaltlithiumgraphitesilver
Bessent stressed that the objective is not a complete decoupling from China, but rather reducing systemic risks where they matter most.

Europe Warns Against Inaction; France to Elevate Issue at the G7
German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil warned that Europe cannot afford to remain passive:
“For me, it’s crucial that Europe does not sit on its hands. Complaints and self-pity won’t help—we have to act.”
He called for faster action and new EU-level funding, pointing to Germany’s raw-materials fund as a possible model. Klingbeil also confirmed that France will make rare earths a central topic during its upcoming G7 presidency.

Chinese Export Restrictions Add Urgency
The urgency of the talks was reinforced by a recent move in which China banned exports of dual-use minerals intended for Japan’s military just last week. The decision affected countries that rely on these materials for:
energy systemsdefense capabilitiessemiconductor manufacturing
Bessent warned:
“We cannot be caught off guard again—especially not with minerals this critical.”

Financing Alternatives and Mobilizing Private Capital
Ministers also heard briefings from Greer, Jovanovic, and Horine on financial instruments designed to accelerate alternative supply development and mobilize private-sector participation in rebuilding global supply chains.

Silver’s Record Rally Forces CME to Change Margin Rules
Beyond the policy discussions, markets have already reacted. CME Group announced changes to how margin requirements are calculated for silver, gold, platinum, and palladium. Under the new framework, margins will be tied to a percentage of notional value, rather than fixed dollar amounts. The changes take effect Tuesday evening.
The move follows:
a 20% year-to-date surge in silver pricesrecord highs in both silver and gold
CME said the adjustment followed a “routine review of market volatility to ensure adequate collateral coverage.”

Market Reaction: Silver Rises, Precious Metals Mixed
In the latest trading session:
Spot silver climbed another 1%Gold held steady at $4,596.03 per ouncePlatinum fell 0.6%Palladium declined 0.9%The Dollar Spot Index rose 0.1%
CME reminded traders that daily margining exists to cover potential losses, signaling that more cash will be required to maintain positions as volatility increases.

#Silver , #commodities , #ScottBessent , #TRUMP , #USPolitics

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U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that large technology companies should fully cover the electricity costs of their data centers, which underpin the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Trump argued that the growing energy demands of these facilities should not translate into higher electricity bills for American households.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said his administration is actively engaged in discussions with Microsoft, adding that the software giant is expected to introduce “significant changes” this week. The goal, according to Trump, is to ensure that consumers are not forced to absorb higher power costs driven by the expansion of AI and cloud infrastructure.
“I never want Americans to pay higher electricity bills because of data centers,” Trump wrote.

Rising Electricity Prices Become a Political Flashpoint
Trump’s comments come as energy prices continue to rise faster than overall inflation. According to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the average cost of electricity per kilowatt-hour in a typical U.S. city has increased by roughly 40% over the past five years.
The president emphasized that while data centers are critical to U.S. technological competitiveness—particularly in artificial intelligence—their energy costs should not be passed on to ordinary consumers. “Big tech companies that build these facilities must pay for the electricity themselves,” Trump said.

Talks With Microsoft, Few Details Disclosed
Trump specifically referenced ongoing talks with Microsoft, stating that the company plans to implement changes, though he did not provide specifics. Microsoft did not immediately respond to Trump’s remarks, but its Vice Chair and President Brad Smith is scheduled to speak at an event in Washington later on Tuesday.
The company has previously said it is “working with communities to harness the power of technology to build a better future,” framing data center expansion as a broader societal benefit.

AI Boom Puts Pressure on Power Grids and Politics
In recent months, Trump’s administration has supported the expansion of domestic data centers as part of a broader effort to compete with China in artificial intelligence. However, the resulting surge in electricity demand is now placing pressure not only on household energy bills but also on the political standing of the Republican majority in Congress.
At the same time, power grid operators face growing challenges as they attempt to balance fair cost allocation with the need to ensure reliable electricity supply amid rapidly rising demand from energy-intensive facilities.

Trump Blames the Biden Administration for High Energy Prices
In a separate post on Monday, Trump blamed Democrats and the administration of former President Joe Biden for higher household electricity costs. He claimed that electricity bills rose by approximately 30% during Biden’s presidency.
Energy affordability has become an increasingly prominent political issue. Democrats scored notable election victories last year in New Jersey, Virginia, and Georgia in part by pledging relief from rising energy costs. Analysts expect electricity prices to remain a central issue ahead of November’s congressional elections.

Data Centers Emerge as a Major Energy Consumer
According to analysis from Visual Capitalist, U.S. data centers consumed a total of 224 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity last year, accounting for 5.2% of total U.S. power consumption—a 21% year-over-year increase.
Consulting firm McKinsey projects that by 2030, U.S. data centers could consume more than 600 TWh of electricity, representing nearly 11.7% of total national power usage.
Energy use within data centers is unevenly distributed. Roughly one-third of electricity consumption goes to cooling, while servers and IT equipment account for nearly half or more. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), electricity consumption from AI-related data centers is growing at around 30% annually, compared with roughly 9% growth for traditional computing systems.

Bitcoin Mining Also Enters the Energy Debate
Another energy-intensive sector is Bitcoin mining, which also relies heavily on data center infrastructure. Estimates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) suggest that cryptocurrency mining accounted for approximately 0.6% to 2.3% of total U.S. electricity consumption at the beginning of 2024.
However, ESG analyst Daniel Batten argued last week that Bitcoin does not consume excessive amounts of energy, water, or electronic waste per transaction. He cited four peer-reviewed studies showing that resource usage is not directly tied to transaction volume, challenging common assumptions about Bitcoin’s environmental impact.

#TRUMP , #AI , #technews , #bitcoin , #CryptoNews

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The year 2025 went down in crypto market history as the worst year on record for security incidents. Although the year started relatively quietly, attacks gradually intensified and, more importantly, changed in structure. According to aggregated data from security firm PeckShield, total losses exceeded $4.04 billion, representing a year-over-year increase of 34.2%.
For comparison, estimated losses in 2024 stood at approximately $3.01 billion. While earlier years were dominated by isolated exploits, 2025 was defined by highly targeted and sophisticated attacks against centralized exchanges, smart contracts, and even Web3 development teams themselves.

Hacks and Scams: Two Primary Attack Vectors
Overall losses in 2025 can be divided into two main categories.

Direct hacking incidents accounted for roughly $2.67 billion, marking a 24.2% increase year over year. Even more dramatic was the surge in fraud-related losses, which reached $1.37 billion, a staggering 64.2% increase compared with the previous year.
At the same time, recovery efforts became less effective. While nearly $488.5 million was recovered in 2024 through transaction tracing and token freezes, that figure fell to just $334.9 million in 2025. Attackers clearly became faster, more coordinated, and better at obscuring fund flows.

The Bybit Hack: A Defining Event of 2025
One of the most significant incidents of the year was the hack of the Bybit exchange, which alone resulted in losses exceeding $1.4 billion, largely in Ethereum. This single event heavily influenced annual statistics and became emblematic of a broader reality: even major centralized platforms are not immune to advanced attacks.

North Korea and Its Dominance in Web3 Exploits
According to data from Hacken, North Korean hacking groups were responsible for as much as 52% of total gains from Web3-related attacks in 2025. The second half of the year proved especially dangerous, with a sharp acceleration in attacks on DeFi protocols, particularly newly launched decentralized exchanges (DEXs).
In contrast, bridge exploits were less frequent than in previous years, as cross-chain bridges became less central to ecosystem activity. Instead, attackers relied on more mature laundering and swapping infrastructures. Tornado Cash remained a preferred tool for Ethereum-based funds, while advanced DEX routing enabled rapid conversion and dispersion of stolen assets.

Smart Contract Vulnerabilities and Cloned Protocol Risks
Vulnerabilities in smart contracts accounted for approximately 12.8% of all exploits. Attacks were not limited to large protocols—smaller vaults and contracts were frequently targeted whenever a known and relatively simple flaw was identified.
Risk was further amplified by the widespread use of cloned smart contracts across Web3 projects. Once a vulnerability was discovered in one implementation, attackers were able to replicate the exploit across multiple platforms in rapid succession.

Attacks Shift From Infrastructure to People
One of the most important trends of 2025 was a decisive shift away from mass phishing campaigns toward highly targeted attacks on individuals. Hackers increasingly focused on Web3 development teams, which often control multisignature wallets, high-value vaults, and administrative permissions for smart contracts.
A particularly effective new vector involved fake job recruitment campaigns. Attackers posed as legitimate projects, posted developer job listings, and distributed malware during the hiring process. The malware was often disguised as a meeting link or technical document and, once executed, gained access to private keys stored on the compromised system.

Multisignature Wallets Emerge as a Critical Weak Point
Access control failures became one of the most serious systemic weaknesses. As much as 53% of all hacks were linked to direct access to multisignature wallets. The remaining losses resulted from a combination of user error and smart contract flaws, particularly unauthorized minting, withdrawals, or manipulation of DeFi tokens.
This pattern continued into 2026. The first major hack of the new year, involving the TrueBit protocol, followed a similar model, allowing an attacker to mint and withdraw unauthorized tokens and steal up to $26 million.

Conclusion: 2025 as a Warning for the Entire Crypto Sector
The events of 2025 made it clear that crypto security is no longer just about code—it is fundamentally about people, processes, and access management. Attackers adapted faster than defensive systems and moved decisively toward the weakest points in the ecosystem: key individuals and operational control layers.

#CryptoSecurity , #CryptoScams , #CryptoFraud , #CryptoNews , #cybercrime

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A new digital assets bill was released in Washington on Monday evening, aiming to overhaul federal restrictions that have so far prevented Federal Reserve banks from offering any digital-asset services to either individuals or institutions.
The proposal, titled the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, was introduced by Cynthia Lummis, a member of the Senate Banking Committee and one of the most vocal advocates for crypto legislation in Congress. Lawmakers backing cryptocurrencies are seeking to amend the Federal Reserve Act to prohibit central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) from being used for monetary policy purposes.
According to Eleanor Terrett, host of the Crypto In America podcast, the bill proposes changes that would directly affect the Federal Reserve System, including limitations that would prevent banks from offering certain products or services directly to consumers.

Senate Banking Committee Adds Ethical Provisions to the Bill
A 278-page draft shared by Terrett shows that the proposal includes two new ethical provisions under the jurisdiction of the Senate Banking Committee. These provisions address convictions for serious criminal offenses and insider trading.
Sections appearing on pages 72 and 270 were initially absent from the versions that first reached Capitol Hill. Their omission was due to the fact that ethical standards are typically handled by other congressional committees and were not expected to appear in related crypto legislation released elsewhere.

A Compromise Between DeFi and Traditional Finance
The bill also introduces a compromise between decentralized finance (DeFi) and traditional financial interests, outlined in Section 601. This section is widely known as the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act (BRCA) and focuses on protecting software developers.
Sources familiar with the negotiations said the agreement was reached earlier this week following a series of tense private meetings held the previous week. Banking institutions and opponents of the Clarity Act, including securities industry trade groups such as SIFMA, had warned that DeFi protocols contain regulatory “gaps” that could give them an unfair advantage over traditional financial firms.
Senator Lummis wrote on X that after months of intensive work, a bipartisan text is now ready for a vote scheduled for Thursday. She urged her Democratic colleagues not to abandon the progress made, arguing that the legislation would provide the clarity needed to keep innovation in the United States while strengthening consumer protection.

The Bill Defines “Ancillary Assets” and Early-Stage Tokens
One of the bill’s central features is the introduction of “ancillary assets” and early-stage tokens. This classification applies to digital tokens issued during early fundraising phases on blockchains that later evolve into full network tokens.
While the proposal states that these assets are not securities on secondary markets, ancillary assets would be treated as “covered securities” for the purposes of federal preemption. Issuers and related parties would still be required to provide detailed disclosures during initial transactions.
Under the framework, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) would require disclosures related to token offerings, governance rights, technical capabilities, and individuals associated with the token. The stated objectives are to protect investors, support capital formation, and maintain fair and orderly markets. The SEC would also oversee the listing of “privatized” tokens and police insider trading.
Section 103 expands this framework further by granting the SEC authority to create exemptions and tailored rules for transactions involving ancillary assets. Tokens sold under the new crypto regulatory regime could qualify for exemptions that override state securities laws, though the SEC would retain discretion over which transactions qualify and under what conditions.

BRCA Provides Legal Protection for Blockchain Developers
Title VI of the bill, which effectively codifies the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act, states that a non-controlling developer or provider of distributed ledger services shall not be considered a money-transmitting business.
This protection does not apply to developers who retain operational control over a network or protocol.
Section 602 further clarifies that the offer or sale of NFTs will not be treated as the offer or sale of a security unless all elements of an investment contract are met. NFTs may be used as collectibles, access credentials, or membership rights, and according to the Banking Committee, they do not become securities solely because their value may increase.

New Digital Assets Advisory Committee and Expanded Funding for FinCEN
The legislation also establishes a Joint Advisory Committee on Digital Assets, requiring federal agencies to formalize their cooperation through a Memorandum of Understanding.
In addition, the bill authorizes a significant increase in funding for FinCEN. From fiscal year 2026 through 2030, the agency would receive $30 million annually, along with authorization for recruitment incentives of up to 20% to attract qualified personnel.

#CBDC , #CryptoRegulation , #DigitalAssets , #USsenate , #defi

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PayPal has confirmed that it will support Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) developed by Google, an artificial-intelligence-driven commerce standard. The new technology is expected to appear soon as a payment option within PayPal’s redesigned checkout experience, according to a press release issued over the weekend.
PayPal’s President and CEO Alex Chriss said on X that the adoption of UCP represents the “next phase” of the partnership between the two companies, which was first announced in September last year. The collaboration is now moving from announcement to practical implementation, with AI becoming a direct component of the payment flow.

Google Unveils UCP as the Foundation of Agentic Commerce
Google officially introduced UCP on Sunday during the annual National Retail Federation conference in New York. Company executives described the protocol as an open, platform-agnostic commerce standard designed to connect artificial-intelligence systems, merchants, and payment providers through a shared “common language.”
The goal of UCP is to enable so-called agentic commerce, where AI agents handle product discovery, checkout, and post-purchase support. At the conference, Google said the protocol marks a significant expansion of autonomous shopping agents across the retail ecosystem.

An Open Standard Designed to Replace Complex Integrations
According to Google, UCP is built to be open and compatible with any credential provider, dramatically reducing the need for one-off integrations between individual AI agents and merchants.
Vidhya Srinivasan, Vice President and General Manager of Google Ads & Commerce, explained in a blog post that instead of requiring a unique connection for each agent, UCP allows all agents to interact seamlessly within a unified framework.
UCP is the second open agentic commerce protocol developed by Google in the past two decades, following last year’s launch of the Agent Payments Protocol (AP2). The company emphasized that UCP is designed to work alongside its other agent-based systems, including Agent2Agent and the Model Context Protocol (MCP).
In the coming months, Google plans to expand UCP with additional shopping capabilities, such as related-product recommendations, loyalty and rewards programs, and highly personalized shopping experiences delivered across its platforms.

PayPal and Major Retailers Helped Shape UCP
Google said the protocol was developed with input from several major retailers and e-commerce platforms, including Shopify, Etsy, Wayfair, Target, and Walmart.
Vanessa Lee, Vice President at Shopify, said the company contributed its extensive experience in building large-scale checkout systems. She noted that Shopify drew on decades of insights from supporting millions of merchants to help ensure that UCP is a robust and scalable commerce standard.

PayPal: Interoperability Is Key to Mass Adoption of AI Commerce
PayPal executives believe that limited interoperability has been one of the main barriers preventing agentic commerce from reaching large-scale adoption. According to Prakhar Mehrotra, Senior Vice President and Head of AI at PayPal, protocols like UCP allow merchants to connect to multiple AI environments at once while maintaining trust, transparency, and control.
Michelle Gill, General Manager of Small Business and Financial Services at PayPal, added that the future of commerce will be defined by how effectively the industry builds open and trusted infrastructure. She said PayPal’s support of, and collaboration with, Google on UCP demonstrates how a trusted payments layer can turn agentic commerce into a real-world experience for consumers.

Analysts Warn of Potential Loss of Direct Customer Contact
Not all industry observers are fully convinced that agentic commerce will succeed without trade-offs. Richard Crone, CEO of Crone Consulting, warned that if checkout flows migrate into AI systems such as Google’s Gemini, merchants could lose their final point of direct contact with customers.
According to Crone, product detail pages are the “fuel” that powers agentic commerce engines. If control over those pages shifts away from merchants’ own websites, retailers may lose leverage—even as Google and Shopify promise increased sales, improved discoverability, and higher conversion rates by enabling off-site selling through AI platforms.

PayPal Expands Its Footprint in Europe and the United States
The UCP announcement follows shortly after PayPal Ventures participated in a funding round for European payments company Klearly, which raised €12 million in a completed Series A round. The investment brought Klearly’s total funding to €20 million, with participation from Italian Founders Fund, Global PayTech Ventures, Antler Elevate, and Shapers. Based in Amsterdam, Klearly processes payments for more than 4,000 merchants and plans to expand deeper into Italy and Belgium.
In the United States, PayPal also strengthened its physical presence in New York by signing one of the city’s largest office leases of the year. The company agreed to a ten-year lease covering approximately 261,000 square feet (around 21,000 square meters) at 345 Hudson Street and 555 Greenwich Street in Hudson Square—a neighborhood that also hosts offices for Google and Disney.

#Paypal , #Google , #fintech , #ArtificialInteligence , #INNOVATION

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Shiba Inu (SHIB) entered 2026 with mixed momentum. While a brief technical rebound hinted at a potential trend shift, on-chain signals and broader market structure suggest a transitional consolidation phase, during which the market may be preparing for a more pronounced directional move.
After a modest recovery from a prolonged consolidation period, SHIB failed to sustain its recent gains and gradually slipped back toward the key support area around $0.000008300, which aligns closely with the 20-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA).
At the time of writing, SHIB is trading near $0.000008560, reflecting muted price action over the past 24 hours and a lack of strong volatility.

SHIB Technical Outlook: Consolidation With Breakout Potential
Over the past several trading sessions, Shiba Inu’s price has undergone a corrective pullback and is now hovering just above the 20-day EMA near $0.000008560. Persistently low trading volumes suggest that the market currently lacks the momentum needed for a sustained upward move, despite brief recovery attempts.
Following its rebound from recent lows in the $0.00000680–$0.00000720 range, the memecoin was unable to build on its gains. Instead, price action shifted into a narrow range, confirming a sideways phase in market structure.
The zone between $0.00000800 and $0.00000900 has increasingly become an area of congestion, where buyers continue to defend against deeper declines but lack the conviction to push prices decisively higher.
On the upside, SHIB continues to face notable resistance in the $0.00000900–$0.00000980 range, a level that has repeatedly capped upside attempts. Until the price can break and hold above this zone, bullish scenarios remain limited.
On the downside, the $0.00000750–$0.00000800 support range remains critical. A breakdown below this area could expose SHIB to deeper corrective moves, while a clean breakout above resistance could trigger short-term bullish momentum.

Momentum Indicators Offer No Clear Direction
Momentum indicators currently provide mixed signals. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is hovering near neutral territory, indicating that the market is neither overbought nor oversold.
Meanwhile, the Average Directional Index (ADX) points to a lack of strong trend formation, reinforcing the view that SHIB remains in a wait-and-see phase, with traders closely monitoring price action for confirmation of the next move.

Whale Activity and Exchange Supply Send Mixed but Important Signals
Beyond technical indicators, on-chain data adds further context. Activity among large holders has increased sharply, with a rise in whale-sized transactions, suggesting that major players are actively managing liquidity and positioning.
At the same time, significant SHIB outflows from centralized exchanges indicate that some investors are moving tokens into long-term storage. This trend is accompanied by a gradual decline in exchange reserves, a metric often associated with reduced immediate selling pressure.
With fewer tokens available on exchanges, the supply accessible for sudden sell-offs diminishes. Over time, this dynamic is generally viewed as a structurally constructive signal for price stability and potential upside.

What Comes Next for SHIB?
In the near term, SHIB appears likely to remain in consolidation mode. Whale accumulation and declining exchange supply provide a supportive backdrop, but price confirmation is still lacking.
Only a sustained breakout above the $0.00000900–$0.00001000 resistance zone would be expected to shift sentiment meaningfully in favor of bulls. Until then, sideways price action is likely to persist, with volatility quietly building beneath the surface.

#SHIB , #shibaInu , #memecoin , #CryptoAnalysis , #CryptoMarket

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U.S. federal authorities are investigating another cryptocurrency fraud case involving a fake romantic relationship, this time seeking to seize digital assets worth approximately $200,000. According to prosecutors, the funds are linked to a carefully orchestrated online investment scam.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts confirmed that on January 12, 2026, it filed a forfeiture complaint targeting 200,039.646 USDT, which investigators say was obtained through manipulation on an online dating platform. The case is part of a broader wave of so-called romance-investment scams, which have surged in recent years.

How the Scheme Worked: Trust First, Money Later
The investigation began in April last year, when federal agents started probing a case involving a Massachusetts resident who became the target of a sophisticated online fraud. According to the Department of Justice, the operation followed the well-known “pig-butchering” model — a scheme in which scammers slowly build trust before exploiting victims financially.
The victim was initially contacted on the dating app Tinder by an individual using the name “Nino Martin.” After establishing rapport, the conversation was moved to WhatsApp, where the scammer claimed to be a professional financial advisor. Over time, the victim was persuaded that they could profit from cryptocurrency trading.
Following the scammer’s instructions, the victim opened an account on what later turned out to be a completely fraudulent trading platform. Early on, the site displayed convincing “profits,” reinforcing the illusion of legitimacy. However, when the victim attempted to withdraw funds, banks flagged the activity and froze several accounts due to suspicious transactions.

Bypassing Safeguards and Losing Over Half a Million Dollars
After the bank intervention, individuals linked to the fake platform contacted the victim again, providing detailed instructions on how to bypass security measures and continue transferring funds. Before law enforcement or federal authorities were notified, the victim had sent approximately $504,353 to the alleged scammers.

Blockchain Tracing and Asset Seizure Efforts
Federal investigators were later able to trace a portion of the stolen funds to a specific cryptocurrency wallet. In June 2025, authorities took control of that wallet. The latest court filing outlines the legal process for handling any competing claims to the assets.
If no party can demonstrate a legitimate right to the funds, the cryptocurrency will become government property and may ultimately be returned to the victim.

Part of a Broader Crackdown on Crypto Fraud
Prosecutors emphasized that this is not an isolated case. In recent months, federal authorities have filed multiple forfeiture actions aimed at recovering cryptocurrency tied to investment and romance scams affecting residents of Massachusetts.
U.S. law prohibits using electronic communications to defraud individuals or obtain property through false representations, as well as conducting financial transactions intended to conceal the origins of criminal proceeds.
The case involves the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Boston field office of the FBI, and a specialized asset-recovery unit. Law enforcement officials are urging anyone who believes they may have been targeted by investment scams, romance scams, or business email compromise schemes to come forward, as early reporting significantly improves the chances of fund recovery.
As with all civil forfeiture cases, the allegations outlined in court documents are claims only. All individuals involved are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

#Cryptoscam , #CryptoFraud , #USDT , #CryptoCrime , #CryptoNews

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Bitwise Asset Management has submitted an application to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for the approval of 11 new altcoin-focused ETFs—and if approved, this move could unlock a fresh wave of institutional capital into the crypto space. A decision is expected in March 2026.

Bitwise Strategy: Direct Holdings + Derivatives
The proposed ETFs cover a wide range of cryptocurrencies—from established names like Uniswap (UNI), Aave (AAVE), and Tron (TRX) to newer projects such as Sui (SUI), NEAR, and Zcash (ZEC).
Each fund combines:

🔹 60% direct cryptocurrency holdings

🔹 40% in derivatives or other ETFs linked to the same assets
This hybrid structure aims to ensure compliance with current SEC regulations while offering investors the liquidity and flexibility they need.

Regulatory Tailwind
Bitwise is leveraging new SEC rules introduced in late 2025, which streamline and accelerate the approval process for ETF products. The company was able to file all 11 applications simultaneously—a move designed to give it a first-mover advantage.
The updated rules allow:

🔹 Simultaneous submission of multiple ETF products

🔹 Faster review timelines

🔹 Reduced regulatory burden

March Decision and Potential Market Impact
If approved in March 2026, Bitwise’s new altcoin ETFs could bring billions of dollars in institutional capital into the altcoin space—capital that has so far remained largely on the sidelines.
This could result in:

🔹 Increased interest in altcoins from traditional investors

🔹 Easier integration of altcoins into traditional investment portfolios

🔹 Greater legitimacy and stability across the crypto sector
Investors would also benefit from familiar tools such as CUSIP identifiers and qualified custodians, without needing to engage with offshore crypto exchanges.
With a solid track record in crypto ETFs, Bitwise is well positioned to lead this new era—should the SEC give the green light.

#etf , #altcoins , #SEC , #Bitwise , #crypto

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,,The information and views presented in this article are intended solely for educational purposes and should not be taken as investment advice in any situation. The content of these pages should not be regarded as financial, investment, or any other form of advice. We caution that investing in cryptocurrencies can be risky and may lead to financial losses.“