Gotbit Founder Reaches $23M Plea Deal with US Prosecutors
Aleksei Andriunin, the founder of Gotbit, has agreed to forfeit approximately $23 million in Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC) as part of a plea deal with federal prosecutors in Massachusetts.
According to a report from Law360 on March 19, Andriunin, a Russian national, has agreed to plead guilty to three charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and market manipulation. The plea deal follows allegations that Gotbit, a Belize-registered market maker, engaged in widespread cryptocurrency market
SEC to Drop Ripple Appeal, Confirms CEO Garlinghouse
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) long-running legal battle with Ripple is finally coming to a close, marking a major victory for the company and the broader crypto industry.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse announced on March 19 that the SEC will drop its appeal against the company, effectively ending the multi-year enforcement action.
“This is the moment we’ve been waiting for”
“This is it — the moment we’ve been waiting for. The SEC will drop its appeal — a resounding victory
Crypto Firms Push for Bank Charters Under Trump Administration
Crypto and fintech firms are seeking bank charters under the Trump administration, aiming to expand operations and reduce borrowing costs, according to a Reuters report.
At least six industry executives said the new political climate presents an opportunity for crypto firms to boost credibility with customers by securing banking licenses. A bank charter allows a firm to operate as a bank, defining its structure, permitted activities, and regulatory obligations to ensure customer protection and
Crypto ETPs Face $1.7B in Outflows — Longest Streak Since 2015
Cryptocurrency exchange-traded products (ETPs) continued to bleed capital last week, marking the 17th straight day of outflows — the longest losing streak since CoinShares began tracking data in 2015.
$1.7B in Outflows Marks Fifth Consecutive Week of Selling
Crypto ETPs recorded $1.7 billion in outflows last week, accelerating from $876 million the week before. This brings the five-week total to $6.4 billion, according to CoinShares’ report on March 17. Despite this sustained selling pressure,
Scam Alert: Fake ‘Hong Kong Coin’ Promoted by Impersonator Account
A fraudulent cryptocurrency, allegedly called the “National Hong Kong Coin,” is being promoted by an account impersonating Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, John Lee. The scam has led to a series of warnings from both local authorities and regulators urging traders not to fall for the fake coin.
On March 6, Johnny Ng, a Hong Kong lawmaker and vocal supporter of cryptocurrency, took to social media to warn the public about the imposter account, which had claimed the coin would be launched on the Sola
Matthew Sigel, VanEck’s head of digital assets research, has raised concerns that upcoming upgrades to the Solana blockchain could significantly reduce validator earnings and potentially increase centralization risks.
In a post shared on X on March 4, Sigel outlined three key proposals — SIMD 096, SIMD 0123, and SIMD 0228 — that aim to enhance Solana’s economic framework. While these proposals may help improve the overall network, they also have the potential to slash validator revenue by up to
Analysts are warning that the cryptocurrency market may face heightened volatility in the coming weeks, as a series of macroeconomic developments stoke a risk-off sentiment among investors. The crypto market shed more than $500 billion in just 24 hours, and experts are forecasting even wilder swings in the future as global tensions continue to weigh heavily on investor confidence.
A $500 Billion Loss in 24 Hours
According to The Kobeissi Letter, the total market capitalization of cryptocurrenc
The bullish momentum that XRP enjoyed during the fourth quarter has come to a halt, with the token now in danger of a deeper price decline. The latest dip has pushed XRP below the $2 support level for the first time since February 2, signaling increased vulnerability amidst a broader market downturn.
Market Factors Driving XRP’s Decline
The primary driver behind this decline seems to be the ongoing macroeconomic issues in the United States. With former President Donald Trump threatening substa
Perplexity AI Powers Paytm’s Next-Gen App Features
Paytm has joined forces with Perplexity AI to introduce an AI-powered search feature to its app, offering users a smarter, more interactive way to manage their finances. This groundbreaking update allows users to ask questions, explore topics, and receive real-time, personalized responses in their own language—streamlining financial management and providing easy access to a wealth of information in one place.
The collaboration aims to democratize financial literacy, making it more accessible fo
Paxos Digital Singapore, the issuer of the Global Dollar (USDG) stablecoin, has officially expanded its operations to the Solana blockchain, marking a significant step in broadening the stablecoin’s availability and use cases. Announced on February 25, 2025, USDG, which is pegged to the U.S. dollar, is now accessible on Solana, following its initial launch on Ethereum in November 2024.
Paxos Digital Singapore, a subsidiary of Paxos and regulated by Singapore’s Monetary Authority of Singapore (M
Japan’s Metaplanet Now Holds 2,235 BTC After Adding 135 More
Japan-based Metaplanet has made a significant move to further solidify its position as one of the country’s most active corporate Bitcoin investors. On February 25, the company announced the purchase of 135 Bitcoin (BTC) for a total of 1.939 billion yen ($12.8 million). This addition brings Metaplanet’s total Bitcoin reserves to 2,235 BTC, with an average price of 12.44 million yen ($82,000) per Bitcoin.
Following in the footsteps of companies like MicroStrategy, which boasts the largest corpor
Elon Musk has reignited an old conspiracy theory regarding the gold reserves at Fort Knox, fueling a debate about transparency and the future of U.S. gold holdings. In a recent post, Musk questioned whether the U.S. Treasury’s $425 billion worth of gold is still securely stored at the facility, suggesting that it might be time for a live, public audit of the fabled gold vault.
The controversy surrounding Fort Knox dates back decades. Musk’s statement followed a comment from Senator Mike Lee, wh
Google to Integrate Bitcoin Wallet Access with Google Accounts
Google is working on making Bitcoin easier to use, directly integrating it into the Google ecosystem.
At the Hong Kong Bitcoin Tech Carnival on February 18, 2025, Google Web3 specialist Kyle Song shared exciting news about the tech giant’s plans to make Bitcoin more accessible to everyday users. The company has been working for over a year on integrating Bitcoin into its vast ecosystem, aiming to lower the barriers for Web2 users and make Bitcoin usage as seamless as existing Web2 payment syste
Metaplanet, a Japanese investment firm known for its Bitcoin-focused strategy, saw its shares drop by 8.41% on over-the-counter markets after the company announced a 10-for-1 stock split. The decision, approved by the board, aims to increase the number of shares in circulation and lower the price per share, making the stock more accessible to a broader range of investors.
In a notice issued on February 18, Metaplanet explained that the stock split is designed to improve liquidity and attract mo
Metaplanet Bolsters Bitcoin Holdings with 269 BTC, Totaling $159M
Japanese investment firm Metaplanet has announced a strategic addition of 269.43 Bitcoin to its treasury, marking a significant step in its ongoing Bitcoin accumulation strategy. The purchase, valued at $25.6 million, was made at an average price of $95,000 per BTC, increasing Metaplanet’s total Bitcoin holdings to 2,031.41 BTC. With the latest acquisition, the firm’s Bitcoin reserves are now worth approximately $159 million, reflecting an average purchase price of $78,000 per Bitcoin.
Illegal Crypto Mining Site Explodes, Rocking Malaysia
An illegal Bitcoin mining operation was uncovered in a residential house in Malaysia following an explosion, further highlighting the growing issue of electricity theft linked to illicit crypto mining.
On February 13, authorities were alerted to an explosion and smoke coming from a house in Kuala Lumpur. According to the Malay Mail, local firefighters responded to the emergency after a resident reported the incident. Upon arrival, they discovered a room with modified electrical wiring that had
BNB Chain has outlined its bold technology roadmap for 2025, aiming to revolutionize the blockchain ecosystem by integrating artificial intelligence (AI), boosting scalability, and tackling long-standing security challenges. The roadmap details the network’s plans to incorporate AI-driven smart contract automation, scale transaction capacity to 100 million transactions per second (TPS), and implement stronger defenses against maximal extractable value (MEV) exploits.
Banks Leverage Crypto to Gain Edge in IPO Market Amid Trump Administration
As the U.S. government moves toward making the country a global leader in cryptocurrency, major Wall Street banks are stepping up their efforts to secure initial public offering (IPO) deals with crypto firms. According to a Bloomberg report, banks such as Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, and the Royal Bank of Canada are increasingly focused on expanding their crypto portfolios, with several exchanges considering going public in the near future.
The growing interest in crypto IPOs comes at a tim
A Bold Move: University of Austin Invests $5 Million in Bitcoin
The University of Austin is set to establish a Bitcoin investment fund aimed at exploring the long-term potential of digital assets within its endowment strategy. According to a report from the Financial Times, the 142-year-old institution is raising a $5 million Bitcoin fund as part of its $200 million endowment, making it the first university in the U.S. to launch a dedicated fund focused on Bitcoin.
An endowment is a collection of donated funds that a university invests to generate returns o
Bitcoin Miners in Russia Struggle with Increasing Government Sanctions
Russian Bitcoin miners are expressing concerns over a new government registry that collects sensitive information, including crypto wallet addresses, under recently implemented regulations. Lawmakers, including Anton Gorelkin, who oversees information policy in Russia, have warned that the exposure of this data could serve as a “big gift to our geopolitical opponents” if it were to be leaked.
Launched in November 2024, the national registry is managed by Russia’s Federal Tax Service. Daniil Yeg