Author: Tristan Lodenberg

The company behind the well known clothing brand Original Penguin has filed a lawsuit against the NFT project Pudgy Penguins, alleging trademark infringement related to the project’s clothing merchandise. The complaint was submitted in a federal court in Florida by PEI Licensing, which manages the intellectual property associated with Original Penguin. The lawsuit claims that Pudgy Penguins used penguin-themed words and logos that are confusingly similar to the long established trademarks used by the apparel brand. According to the filing, the Original Penguin brand has used the “Penguin” name since at least 1967, while its penguin logo has appeared on…

A new report from short selling firm Culper Research claims that the December 2025 Fusaka upgrade on the Ethereum network has weakened the economic model supporting the second-largest cryptocurrency. According to the report, the upgrade significantly increased available block space, which sharply reduced transaction fees across the network. Lower fees may benefit users, but they also affect validator earnings. Validators receive a portion of network fees as part of their staking rewards. With fees falling sharply, the report argues that staking yields have declined, potentially reducing incentives for participants who help secure the network. Short Sellers Warn of Potential “Death…

Nasdaq-listed Bitcoin mining company CleanSpark sold 553 Bitcoin in February for approximately $36.6 million, according to its latest operational update. The company produced 568 BTC during the same month, meaning most of its newly mined Bitcoin was liquidated shortly after production. Despite the sale, CleanSpark maintained a substantial Bitcoin treasury. By the end of February, the company held 13,363 BTC, reflecting its continued strategy of balancing operational funding with long-term digital asset reserves. Expansion of Texas Mining Infrastructure The company also expanded its energy infrastructure by closing on a second campus in Texas. The new site adds 300 megawatts of…

Publicly listed Bitcoin mining companies have sold more than 15,000 BTC since October, signaling a notable shift in strategy as the industry faces tightening margins and financial pressure. The sales follow the market peak in October, which was shortly followed by a sharp flash crash that triggered widespread deleveraging across the mining sector. During the 2024–2025 market upcycle, many mining firms adopted a strategy of holding large portions of their self-mined Bitcoin as treasury assets. Recent sales indicate that companies are now prioritizing liquidity and financial stability over long-term reserve accumulation. Major Mining Firms Lead the Bitcoin Sell-Off Several major…

The US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is proposing new rules that would require crypto exchanges to deliver tax forms electronically to users. The proposal removes the current option that allows users to request paper copies of Form 1099-DA, the document used to report digital asset transactions. If adopted, the rule would take effect on January 1 of the calendar year following the publication of the final regulation. Form 1099-DA Reporting Requirements for Crypto Brokers Form 1099-DA is designed to document proceeds from crypto transactions conducted through brokers or centralized exchanges. Under IRS rules, brokers must report key customer details, including…

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has concluded its legal battle with crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun through a $10 million settlement, bringing an end to a case that has been ongoing since 2023. The regulator informed a federal court in Manhattan that one of Sun’s affiliated companies, Rainberry, will pay the civil penalty as part of the agreement. Following the settlement, the SEC confirmed it would drop its claims against Sun and his related entities, including the Tron Foundation and the BitTorrent Foundation. Allegations Involving TRX and BTT Tokens The lawsuit was originally filed in March 2023 and…

Ether has shown renewed momentum after climbing to around $2,200 following a sharp recovery from recent lows below $1,800. The move represents roughly a 25% rebound and has prompted market analysts to reassess the short-term outlook for the second-largest cryptocurrency. Recent derivatives market Cryptoquant data suggests that selling pressure may be weakening. Net taker volume, a key indicator used to measure the balance between aggressive buyers and sellers in derivatives trading, has shifted back into positive territory after remaining negative for nearly two months. Historically, this kind of shift has often preceded short-term rallies fueled by traders closing short positions…

Bitcoin has recently rebounded from a multi year low near $60,000, climbing to around $74,000 before stabilizing close to $70,000. Despite still trading more than 40% below its previous peak of roughly $126,000, several technical indicators suggest the crypto may be forming a market bottom. One key signal is the appearance of a double bottom pattern on shorter term charts. This formation, often interpreted as a bullish reversal signal, indicates that selling pressure may be weakening. The pattern gained further confirmation after Bitcoin moved above the neckline level around $70,000, which analysts often view as a sign that a recovery…

Sanctioned governments increasingly turned to cryptocurrency in 2025 to bypass international financial restrictions, pushing illicit on-chain activity to unprecedented levels. According to new blockchain analysis data from chainalysis, entities linked to sanctioned states received at least $104 billion in crypto during the year. This sharp rise represents nearly eight times the amount recorded in 2024 and helped drive total illicit crypto transaction volume to approximately $154 billion. The trend highlights how digital assets are becoming part of broader financial strategies used by governments facing global economic pressure. By leveraging decentralized networks and alternative payment rails, sanctioned actors can move funds…

Bitcoin miners controlling more than $8 billion in BTC are increasingly liquidating holdings as the cryptocurrency has fallen over 40% from its October 2025 peak of roughly $126,000. Unlike prior downcycles, when sales primarily covered operational costs, the current wave of liquidations is largely funding a strategic pivot toward artificial intelligence (AI) data center operations. Companies such as MARA Holdings Inc., Riot Platforms Inc., CleanSpark Inc., and Bitdeer Technologies are repurposing existing infrastructure and energy resources, redirecting mining power toward AI compute facilities. This transition allows miners to generate more predictable revenue and higher margins, reducing reliance on the volatile…