The U.S. Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into a former ransomware negotiator who allegedly accepted unauthorized cryptocurrency payments from ransomware attackers. The incident is raising new questions about trust in cyber incident response services. DigitalMint Employee Fired Amid Federal Crypto Probe Chicago-based ransomware negotiation firm DigitalMint confirmed that a former employee is under investigation for striking undisclosed deals with hackers, potentially taking a personal cut of the crypto ransom payments. “The investigation evidently involves alleged unauthorized conduct by the employee while employed here,” said DigitalMint President Marc Grens. The employee was immediately terminated, and the company emphasized…
Author: Blockto Team
A new malware campaign reportedly linked to North Korean hackers is targeting Apple Mac users in the crypto industry, exploiting trust-based communication channels and bypassing traditional security protections. Mac Malware Targets Crypto Projects via Fake Zoom Updates Cybersecurity firm Sentinel Labs uncovered a disturbing tactic used by state-sponsored North Korean attackers, where they impersonate trusted contacts via Telegram and initiate a fake Google Meet call. The attackers then send a malicious Zoom “update” file—which, when executed, installs a stealthy malware known as NimDoor. The malware specifically targets MacOS systems and deploys an advanced infostealer to compromise crypto wallets, Telegram data,…
A prominent traditional finance (TradFi) industry group has called on the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to reject exemptions for crypto firms offering tokenized stocks, emphasizing that regulatory integrity must be preserved. SIFMA Pushes Back Against Crypto Relief Requests The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), which represents major banks, investment firms, and securities issuers, submitted a letter to the SEC on July 1 warning against granting no-action or exemptive relief to cryptocurrency firms. These regulatory tools would allow companies to circumvent traditional securities laws and launch tokenized equities more quickly. “These policy questions are too important to…
JPMorgan’s blockchain unit, Kinexys, is spearheading a new initiative to tokenize carbon credits, aiming to modernize and streamline global carbon markets. The firm has partnered with S&P Global Commodity Insights, EcoRegistry, and the International Carbon Registry (ICR) to pilot a unified blockchain-based application that tackles fragmentation and transparency challenges in the carbon credit ecosystem. Creating a Unified Carbon Credit Ecosystem In an announcement made Tuesday, Kinexys confirmed that testing is underway for a new carbon credit tokenization platform, designed to integrate with multiple registry systems and support a globally interoperable carbon credit market. “Tokenization could support development of a globally…
The frog-themed memecoin PEPE saw a notable price jump of 3.7% over the last 24 hours, reaching $0.00000967. This rally comes amid a shift in market sentiment, supported by technical bullish signals and easing geopolitical tensions, offering investors a renewed appetite for speculative crypto assets. Golden Cross Boosts PEPE Price Outlook A significant technical milestone was achieved on July 2 as PEPE formed a golden cross, where its 50-day moving average crossed above the 200-day moving average. This rare event is often seen as a bullish long-term indicator, historically linked to sustained rallies in asset prices. The golden cross reflects…
BONK, a popular meme coin built on Solana, rallied close to 10% on July 2 after Tuttle Capital Management filed a key amendment indicating its 2x Leveraged BONK ETF could launch as early as July 16, 2025. While the ETF is still pending regulatory approval, the filing has reignited investor interest in structured meme coin products. BONK Rallies on ETF News, Hits $0.00001524 Before Retracing BONK surged from $0.0000136 to a high of $0.00001524, before settling at $0.00001494, representing a 9.87% daily gain. The rally was fueled by Tuttle Capital’s post-effective amendment to the U.S. SEC, setting July 16 as…
The newly launched REX-Osprey Solana + Staking ETF (SSK) has made a significant impact on its first trading day, attracting investor attention and boosting Solana’s (SOL) price above $150. SSK: First U.S.-Listed Crypto Staking ETF The SSK ETF, which gives exposure to Solana (SOL) along with staking rewards, debuted with a trading volume of $33 million. According to Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas, the launch performance was “better than average” compared to most new ETFs in the U.S. market. This product is the first crypto staking ETF to be listed in the U.S., offering non-technical investors a way to benefit…
Ethereum (ETH) has rallied 8% to reach $2,601, driven by renewed institutional enthusiasm, bullish ETF forecasts, and increased Layer-2 development. The latest momentum places Ethereum in a strong position heading into the second half of 2025, as analysts point to major catalysts on the horizon. Bitwise CIO Predicts ETF Inflows to Accelerate According to Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise Asset Management, spot Ethereum ETFs could see explosive growth in H2 2025. On July 2, Hougan responded to Ethereum Foundation commentary, highlighting how tokenized equities, stablecoins, and staking on Ethereum create a compelling narrative for traditional investors. “Flows into…
Bitcoin (BTC) has surged past the $109,000 mark, sparking renewed optimism among investors as multiple on-chain and technical indicators align in favor of further upside. With a growing global money supply and a sharp rise in futures activity, analysts are now eyeing $137,000 and beyond as the next potential price targets. BTC Rallies to $109,730 Amid Record Global Liquidity On Wednesday, Bitcoin jumped 3.6%, peaking at $109,730, its highest level since mid-June. This move comes as the global M2 money supply surpassed $55 trillion, supporting a broader risk-on narrative. Analysts emphasize that a daily close above $108,500 would confirm a…
Ripple Labs, a leading blockchain-based payment firm, has officially applied for a U.S. national banking license, signaling its growing ambition to become a regulated financial institution and strengthen trust in its stablecoin operations. Ripple Seeks Approval from US Banking Regulator Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse confirmed the move on social platform X, revealing that the company is pursuing a national bank charter from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The goal, he stated, is to align Ripple’s operations with the emerging U.S. regulatory framework for stablecoin issuers. “Ripple is applying for a national bank charter from the OCC,”…