Author: Tristan Lodenberg

Federal prosecutors in North Carolina have seized more than $61 million in USDT connected to a large scale cryptocurrency investment scam commonly known as “pig butchering.” The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina confirmed that the funds were traced to digital wallets allegedly used to launder proceeds from fraudulent online trading schemes. Investigators from Homeland Security Investigations tracked victim payments through multiple blockchain addresses, identifying wallets that still contained significant balances eligible for seizure and forfeiture. Authorities said the operation targeted networks that cultivated fake romantic relationships before convincing victims to invest in sham crypto platforms…

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal has formally requested records from Binance regarding its compliance controls and alleged exposure to sanctioned jurisdictions, including Iran. The Connecticut Democrat asked CEO Richard Teng to provide documentation tied to potential use of the exchange by individuals in Iran, as well as internal communications related to the dismissal of compliance personnel. The inquiry centers on whether the crypto platform adequately enforced sanctions restrictions and maintained sufficient oversight to prevent illicit financial flows. Lawmakers have increasingly scrutinized major exchanges as regulators tighten enforcement around anti-money laundering and sanctions frameworks. Binance Response and Political Concerns The company detects…

Hong Kong plans to establish a digital asset platform this year to enable the issuance and settlement of tokenized bonds, marking a step toward integrating tokenization into the city’s core financial infrastructure. The initiative is led by CMU OmniClear Holdings, a subsidiary of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), and will eventually support other digital assets while linking with regional tokenization hubs. Financial Secretary Paul Chan stated that the platform aims to consolidate Hong Kong’s position in digital asset development, moving beyond pilot projects. The government has already issued multiple rounds of tokenized bonds, including a third batch totaling 10…

Bitcoin climbed past $66k on Wednesday, posting a 2.5% gain as traders speculated on the potential impact of institutional selling. Data from TradingView showed BTC/USD reaching $66,300 before consolidating near $65,500, with thin order books amplifying price swings. Some claim contributed to BTC’s downward pressure during the 2025 market correction. The theory suggested a daily “10 a.m. price slam” by the firm drove persistent declines. Jane Street has denied any market manipulation, calling the claims “baseless” amid ongoing legal proceedings involving Terraform Labs. Thin Liquidity Fuels Volatility Traders pointed out that low liquidity across exchanges amplified Bitcoin’s moves. Analysts noted…

US spot Bitcoin exchange traded funds saw a strong rebound Tuesday, attracting $257.7 million in net inflows as Bitcoin recovered to around $65,000. The turnaround followed $203.8 million in outflows a day earlier and marked the largest single day inflow since early February. The positive momentum helped push weekly flows back into net gains after five consecutive weeks of redemptions totaling roughly $3.8 billion. Despite the improvement, total assets under management across US spot Bitcoin ETFs have declined significantly in 2026. Assets have fallen about 30.5%, sliding from approximately $117 billion at the start of the year to $81.3 billion,…

Bill Gates acknowledged his interactions with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a town hall with Gates Foundation employees. A spokesperson for the foundation confirmed that Gates “took responsibility for his actions” while responding to staff questions. According to report by reuters, Gates described his meetings with Epstein as a “huge mistake” and apologized to employees who were indirectly affected. He emphasized that the interactions involved only philanthropy-related discussions and did not involve any of Epstein’s victims. Gates Foundation Confirms No Financial Payments Documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice indicated multiple meetings between Gates…

Global payments company Payoneer has applied for a national trust banking charter in the United States, joining a wave of fintech and crypto firms seeking formal banking status. The company confirmed it filed an application with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to establish PAYO Digital Bank. If approved, the charter would allow Payoneer to issue a GENIUS Act compliant stablecoin, PAYO-USD, designed to function as a holding currency within customer wallets. The license would also permit the firm to manage reserves, provide custodial services and enable stablecoin-to-fiat conversions. Growing Competition for US Crypto Banking Charters Payoneer’s move…

Crypto bank Anchorage Digital has disclosed that it holds Strategy’s perpetual preferred stock, STRC, on its balance sheet, underscoring its long-term commitment to Bitcoin-focused corporate treasury strategies. CEO Nathan McCauley shared the update on X, describing the investment as a strategic signal of alignment between digital asset infrastructure providers and companies building Bitcoin treasury models. STRC, issued by Strategy, is a Nasdaq-listed perpetual preferred security offering an 11.25% annual dividend paid monthly in cash. The instrument is structured as a short duration, high-yield product, with proceeds historically directed toward Bitcoin acquisitions. Strategy currently holds 717,722 BTC, valued at approximately $46.8…

Bitcoin adoption accelerated sharply in 2025, even as prices remained nearly 50% below the October peak. According to financial services firm River, institutional investors accumulated approximately 829,000 BTC this year, reflecting continued confidence from businesses, governments, funds, and exchange-traded products. Registered investment advisors have reported eight consecutive quarters of net Bitcoin buying, allocating roughly $1.5 billion per quarter into Bitcoin ETFs over the past two years. This sustained inflow has expanded exposure through brokerage accounts, retirement portfolios, sovereign wealth funds, and corporate treasuries. Bitcoin Integration by Banks and Public Companies Adoption across the US banking sector has also strengthened, with…

A South Korean man is facing potential prison time after prosecutors accused him of attempting to poison his business partner during a dispute over crypto trading losses exceeding $816,000. The Seoul Eastern District Prosecutors’ Office alleges that the suspect, in his 30s, mixed the pesticide methomyl into a cup of coffee during a meeting at a café in November. According to investigators, the victim collapsed shortly after consuming the drink and was hospitalized for three days before regaining consciousness. Authorities have charged the accused with attempted murder and violating the Pesticide Control Act. The trial is scheduled to begin on…