Author: Tristan Lodenberg

Blockchain security firm PeckShield reports that crypto related hacks and scams totaled $26.5 million in February, marking the lowest monthly loss since March 2025. The figure represents a 69.2% decline compared to January, when losses exceeded $86 million. Out of 15 recorded incidents during the month, two exploits accounted for the majority of the damage. The largest involved a $10 million price manipulation attack on YieldBlox’s DAO-managed lending pool on Feb. 21. The second major incident targeted IoTeX, where attackers exploited a compromised private key, resulting in losses of approximately $8.9 million. Notably, February did not experience any large-scale “mega-hacks”…

Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) has introduced legislation that would formally tax crypto gains and integrate digital assets into the country’s existing financial regulations. The draft bill, now under review in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, proposes a 10% withholding tax on profits earned through regulated crypto platforms. Under the proposal, licensed platforms operating within Turkey’s Capital Markets framework would deduct the tax quarterly, applying it to both individuals and corporations, regardless of residency status. Digital Asset Regulation and Presidential Authority The legislation also includes a 0.03% transaction tax on crypto service providers based on the…

Michael Saylor’s company, Strategy, has acquired an additional 3,015 bitcoin for approximately $204.1 million, according to a recent regulatory filing. The purchase was executed at an average price of $67,700 per bitcoin between Feb. 23 and March 1. With this latest transaction, the firm’s total bitcoin holdings now stand at 720,737 BTC, valued at roughly $47.5 billion at current market prices. The aggregate acquisition cost for these holdings is approximately $54.8 billion, including fees and expenses, translating to an average purchase price of $75,985 per bitcoin. Measured against bitcoin’s fixed 21 million supply cap, the company now controls just over…

U.S. equity futures moved lower in pre market trading after escalating hostilities between the United States, Israel and Iran unsettled global markets. The Nasdaq-100-tracking Invesco QQQ fell 1.5%, though losses showed signs of stabilizing later in the session. Oil and Gold Prices Pull Back After Surge Energy markets were volatile following reports of a Saudi refinery strike. West Texas Intermediate crude briefly touched $75 per barrel before easing below $72, still up roughly 8% over 24 hours. Gold climbed more than 2% to $5,400 per ounce, nearing record territory around $5,600, before retreating as traders locked in gains. Meanwhile, the…

Global cryptocurrency investment products recorded $1 billion in net inflows last week, marking a decisive shift after five consecutive weeks of withdrawals totaling nearly $4 billion. The turnaround signals renewed institutional appetite for digital assets following a period of price weakness and subdued sentiment. Investment vehicles tracking Bitcoin attracted the majority of new capital, pulling in $881 million. Ethereum-focused products followed with $117 million, representing their strongest weekly performance since mid-January. Despite the rebound, both assets remain in net outflow territory on a year to date basis. Bitcoin and Ethereum Lead Institutional Crypto Allocation Regionally, the United States accounted for…

A governance proposal within the Aave ecosystem has cleared its first formal hurdle after a closely contested community vote. The off chain Snapshot “Temp Check” concluded with 52.58% voting in favor, 42% opposing and 5.42% abstaining. The proposal, titled “Aave Will Win,” now advances to the Aave Request for Final Comment (ARFC) stage, where revisions can be introduced before any binding on-chain vote takes place. At the center of the debate is a funding request of up to $42.5 million in stablecoins and 75,000 AAVE tokens for Aave Labs. In exchange, the organization would direct 100% of revenue generated from…

Quantum Threats to Traditional Blockchains Current blockchain networks face long term risks from quantum computing. Encrypted transactions stored today could be decrypted in the future once quantum computers become powerful enough, potentially exposing financial and personal data. Most public blockchains are vulnerable to this “harvest now, decrypt later” scenario, making future proof privacy a critical consideration. Neptune Privacy’s Next-Generation Architecture Neptune Privacy is designed from the ground up to resist quantum attacks. Using zk-STARKs, the network provides quantum resistant proofs without a trusted setup. Mutator Sets ensure transactions remain unlinkable, while the Triton Virtual Machine enables private smart contract execution…

A consortium of major European lenders operating under Qivalis is accelerating preparations for the launch of a euro pegged stablecoin targeted for the second half of 2026. The group has entered advanced discussions with crypto exchanges, liquidity providers and market makers to support distribution and trading infrastructure ahead of the rollout. The consortium includes leading institutions such as ING, UniCredit and BBVA, alongside several other European banks. Shareholder institutions are also expected to participate directly in distributing the digital asset. MiCA-Compliant Stablecoin Framework Qivalis aims to position the project as a regulated European alternative to US dollar-backed stablecoins. The consortium…

The HYPE token from Hyperliquid climbed roughly 5% over the past 24 hours, outperforming a softer broader crypto market. The move comes as heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East triggered a surge in trading activity, particularly in oil-linked futures contracts. While Bitcoin hovered between $60,000 and $69,000 with muted flows, Hyperliquid experienced a spike in volume that translated into strong fee generation. According to on-chain data, the protocol collected $2.8 million in fees in the past 24 hours and more than $13 million over the last week. A portion of these trading fees is allocated to HYPE buybacks and…

Former BitMEX chief Arthur Hayes says the US Federal Reserve may eventually expand the money supply if Washington becomes deeply involved in a prolonged conflict with Iran. In a recent blog post, Hayes argued that costly foreign military campaigns have historically coincided with looser monetary policy, including rate cuts and liquidity injections. He pointed to past Middle East conflicts such as the 1990 Gulf War and post-9/11 military operations, periods during which the Federal Reserve adjusted policy to support broader economic stability. According to Hayes, extended geopolitical engagement increases fiscal pressure, raising the likelihood of monetary easing to finance government…