This Week in Crypto Games: ‘Hamster Kombat’ Returns and ‘Fantasy Top’ Expands

Catch up on this week’s biggest crypto and NFT gaming news and find some weekend reads in our latest roundup.

The crypto and NFT gaming space is busier than ever lately, what with prominent games starting to release, token airdrops piling up, and a seemingly constant array of other things happening at all times. It’s a lot to take in!

Luckily, Decrypt’s GG is all over it. And if you need a quick way to get caught up on the latest moves around crypto video games, we’re happy to present This Week in Crypto Games.

Our weekend roundup serves up the biggest news from the past week, along with a few other tidbits you might have missed. We also showcase a few of our original stories from the week.

Biggest news

Hamster Kombat returns: Late last year, the anonymous development team behind smash hit Telegram game Hamster Kombat said that it would launch a "HamsterVerse" of connected games, after delaying its previously teased next season on multiple occasions.

On Tuesday, HamsterVerse arrived, led by Hamster Kombat: GameDev Hero—the experience that was set to be Hamster Kombat: Season 2. It maintains some of the tap-to-earn elements as before, but now you're building a team of developers and cranking out games, all of which helps boost your earnings.

Also found in the HamsterVerse mini app launch on Telegram is Hamster Fight Club, a simple combat experience. Other games, Hamster Boost and Hamster King, are listed as being in closed beta testing.

All of the games are planned to offer HMSTR token rewards.

Fantasy Top expands: Ethereum NFT game Fantasy Top is expanding from layer-2 network Blast after its launch last year created significant social media buzz. On Wednesday, the developers announced that a free-to-play version of the game will debut on the just-launched testnet of new layer-1 blockchain, Monad.

Hamster Kombat’ Returns—Should You Tap Back in for the ‘HamsterVerse’?#LitecoinETF

Months later than expected, one-time Telegram gaming smash Hamster Kombat has launched its new season. Should you bother playing?

After amassing some 300 million players last year in a tap-to-earn bubble that made unexpected waves across the mainstream, Telegram game Hamster Kombat dropped its HMSTR token on The Open Network (TON) last September—to mostly negative reviews from recipients.

And then it just sort of… disappeared. What was planned to be a couple-weeks-long “interlude” gameplay season stretched on for months, and stopped being updated after a while. The anonymous devs teased a second full season of gameplay, then went quiet, eventually saying it would be part of a broader “HamsterVerse” of games.

Now the HamsterVerse is here, led by Tuesday’s launch of GameDev Heroes, which was planned to be the second season of the core game. After all these months, following the underwhelming airdrop and subsequent 77% price plunge, should you tap back in for another spin around the Hamster wheel?

As teased, Hamster Kombat: GameDev Heroes turns the original tap-to-earn premise into a video game development sim, where you recruit programmers and artists, churn out games, and earn more coins along the way. It has the familiar number-go-up vibe that drove hype around the original game and many copycats, but with a new look.

And it’s weird. Developing games feels like window dressing here, even thinner than the original “hamster-run crypto exchange” premise. And the employees have bizarre names like Yizz Crunchy and Booby Hubble (really), plus there are typos abound and awkward art that looks like it was generated by AI.

Frustratingly, GameDev Heroes has embraced the growing Telegram crypto gaming trend of aggressive monetization, pushing premium gameplay upgrades that appear to only be available to players who spend real money to buy Telegram Stars. It’s a bad look for a game that should be trying to win back its former fan base.

Which Is The Best ICO To Invest In 2025? Remtitix, Rexas Finance, Litechain AI Or WEPE?#SECStaking

In the quest to identify the best Initial Coin Offering for 2025 investment, numerous investors are evaluating the potential of a compelling ICO known as Remittix (RTX), along with other contenders like Rexas Finance, Litechain AI, and WEPE. Each of these projects has its unique advantages and has drawn substantial interest and funds to their presales.

Nevertheless, experts believe Remittix distinguishes itself by promising up to 100x returns during its presale and addressing complex issues prevalent in the online payment sector. Delve into the specifics of these ICOs to comprehend why Remittix is considered a more promising choice.

Understanding Rexas Finance's Rise: What Fuels Investor Enthusiasm?

Rexas Finance is making headlines as one of the notable new ICOs. The token's presale has reached $42 million, with Stage 11 concluding swiftly. Currently, in Stage 12, the RXS token is priced at $0.20, a significant rise from its initial $0.03 in Stage 1, indicating strong investor trust. The anticipated listing price is $0.25, with a launch date set for June 19, 2025.

Investors view Rexas Finance as a top cryptocurrency investment due to its vision of revolutionizing the crypto market by connecting real-world assets like real estate and gold to the blockchain. This approach allows fractional ownership of these assets, enabling investors to hold shares in global properties and earn passive income.

$12 Million Secured: Light Chain AI's Presale Triumph
Light Chain AI, another emerging ICO, has captured the interest of crypto enthusiasts eager for substantial gains. A standout feature is its Artificial Intelligence Virtual Machine (AIVM), which facilitates efficient AI task execution on the blockchain. Unlike traditional systems, the AIVM evolves through the collaboration of developers worldwide.

Currently, LCAI tokens are available for $0.005625 each, with a price increase to $0.006 on the horizon. The project has already amassed over $12 million.

Toncoin And Ondo Can Be The Best Meme Picks For 2025, And 1Fuel May Offer 20x Gains#ETHPriceWatch

Investors are always on the lookout for the next promising project in the ever-evolving crypto landscape. The advent of numerous meme coins has given investors a perception of multiple options. It triggered FOMO after the launch of every new project.

Whales and enthusiasts do not wish to miss out on any promising venture to maximize profits. They aim to expand the value of their portfolio.

Toncoin and Ondo have emerged as the best memes in 2025. Moreover, analysts have projected a 20x surge for an emerging crypto project, 1Fuel (OFT).

It is offering a very affordable entry price of $0.018 and an instant bonus of 20%. With a 100x projection by analysts, 1Fuel will be a quality addition to any cryptocurrency wallet this year.

Toncoin and Ondo: Leading Meme Coin Picks for 2025

Meme coins like Toncoin and Ondo have gained recognition because they can hand out high returns within a short period. Their unique bullish price movements make them an amazing prospect for investors looking for the best memes in 2025.

Toncoin (TON), launched at a prime price of $6.067, saw a progressive continuous rally downwards with intermittent bullish rallies every now and then. It was not until June 2024 that it rallied above to form a new ATH at $8.205 in June 2024.

Its current price is below the ATH peak. The token has still shown massive resilience with over 82.67% increase over the past year. Currently valued at $3.78, analysts are optimistic about Toncoin’s future prospects as its community continues to expand.

Structured fluctuations and significant price activity have characterized Ondo. It is currently trading at $1.2755. Thus, Ondo has seen a bullish rally of 2% in the past month and 398.77% in the past year. Its chart shows it has been on a progressive bullish advance from its launch value of $0.019

Toncoin and Ondo have shown an overall positive outlook in the volatility-ridden cryptocurrency market. Their unique positions are due to their strong community support

XRP Price Alert: Trump News May Shift Market; SHIBI Presale Aims A Massive Gain#BinanceAlphaAlert

2025 is the year for the bull run. Considering the changing sentiments towards crypto in the US, you could almost smell the profits coming. Ripple will receive a boon or two as the XRP price readies for a spike.

Some of that good luck charm is also rubbing off on the meme sector. One of the new launches is trending rather strongly. Panshibi’s presale is already over $1.12 million in revenue, and it’s only been a couple of weeks since the event started.

SEC to Drop Charges Against Ripple Labs

A little background: the Ripple project was under regulatory fire for over four years. They were involved in the 2020 selling of ‘unregistered tokens’ as securities.

The notion of security is still in debate. However, the previous administration of the SEC determined Ripple had breached the law.

That left the XRP price in a rather sore position for so long. This happened as the token traded well below the dollar mark from an ATH of about $3.26. Development on Ripple was also slow, as traders and investors preferred less problematic blockchains.

Why 1Fuel Has Emerged As 2025’s Favorite ICO?#BinanceAlphaAlert

1Fuel is transforming decentralized finance (DeFi) with features that simplify trading. Its one-click cross-chain swap technology allows users to trade assets across multiple blockchains without juggling multiple wallets.

AI-driven trading optimization provides market insights and automation, making trading more efficient. An integrated privacy mixer enhances transaction anonymity, ensuring secure and private transfers.

Security remains a top priority for 1Fuel. Users can benefit from military-grade cold storage and access the platform’s peer-to-peer (P2P) decentralized exchange.

The technology sets up direct trade interfaces between users. At the same time, it eliminates the need for middlemen, which reduces the dangers associated with centralized systems.

The project uses 50% of its token supply during the presale distribution. Conversely, it distributes the remaining tokens amongst liquidity reserves, community activities, and ecosystem rewards.

Currently priced at $0.018, 1Fuel has already raised over $2.27 million. Strong momentum pushes the project toward its final goal of $3 million before February 23rd.

The upcoming 1Fuel Wallet Beta launch on February 23rd marks a significant milestone. To celebrate, the team has introduced its biggest rewards program yet.

Investors can earn generous bonuses on past and future purchases, depending on the funding milestone achieved. The most dedicated supporters will gain exclusive beta access, giving them an early look at 1Fuel’s cutting-edge wallet.

1Fuel’s roadmap focuses on delivering real-world utility. While many tokens depend on external market trends and regulatory shifts, 1Fuel actively shapes its success.

It combines momentum, financial incentives, and real utility in a way neither BNB nor ENJ can match. With its wallet launch approaching and its rewards program in full swing, 1Fuel is emerging as a leader in the DeFi space.

#BinanceAlphaAlert Web3 Gaming Sector Growth Expected to Boost Enjin Coin Price

Experts focus on Enjin (ENJ) because its market value remains relatively inexpensive. According to CoinMarketCap data, the current market rate for Enjin is $0.1253.

However, if its value surges 20x, Enjin could rise to $5.30, exceeding its previous high of $4.85. Experts predict a potential price increase for Enjin. This is due to the growing positive sentiment toward developing the Web3 gaming sector.

In November 2021, Web3 gaming will reach beyond $49.96 billion, opening new market potential for gaming tokens, including Enjin.

Although market participants have an optimistic perspective, they continue to demonstrate caution about their investments.

The value of Enjin has decreased by 25% since last year. The token exhibits monthly gains yet shows unsuccessful results over the weekly and daily periods. Its value declined by 4.47% weekly and 4.57% the previous day.

Why 1Fuel Has Emerged As 2025’s Favorite ICO?
1Fuel is transforming decentralized finance (DeFi) with features that simplify trading. Its one-click cross-chain swap technology allows users to trade assets across multiple blockchains without juggling multiple wallets.

AI-driven trading optimization provides market insights and automation, making trading more efficient. An integrated privacy mixer enhances transaction anonymity, ensuring secure and private transfers.

Security remains a top priority for 1Fuel. Users can benefit from military-grade cold storage and access the platform’s peer-to-peer (P2P) decentralized exchange.

The technology sets up direct trade interfaces between users. At the same time, it eliminates the need for middlemen, which reduces the dangers associated with centralized systems.

The project uses 50% of its token supply during the presale distribution. Conversely, it distributes the remaining tokens amongst liquidity reserves, community activities, and ecosystem rewards.

Currently priced at $0.018, 1Fuel has already raised over $2.27 million.

BNB & Enjin Show 1Fuel (OFT) As Top ICO In 2025: 50x Gains On The Horizon.#BinanceAlphaAlert

BNB and Enjin holders are shifting focus as wallet trends reveal 1Fuel (OFT) as the top ICO pick in 2025. With its cross-chain swap technology, AI-driven trading, and privacy features, 1Fuel captures investor attention.

The project has already raised over $2.3 million, fueling speculation of a potential 50x surge. As presale momentum builds, could 1Fuel be the year’s breakout star?

Could BNB Coin Hit $1,000 in 2025?

Binance Coin (BNB) has faced volatility and declining investor confidence in recent months. CZ’s recent $100,000 donation to scam victims earned praise but did not trigger a meaningful market rebound.

BNB’s price remains stagnant, fluctuating between $655 and $700. Analysts warn that if sentiment does not improve, BNB Coin may struggle to hit $1,000 in 2025.

Binance’s reputation has also raised concerns. The platform has listed several projects that failed to meet expectations.

Many recent Binance listings, including Berachain and other hyped altcoins, have underperformed. Retail investors have been left holding depreciating assets, further impacting confidence in BNB’s future.

Web3 Gaming Sector Growth Expected to Boost Enjin Coin Price
Experts focus on Enjin (ENJ) because its market value remains relatively inexpensive. According to CoinMarketCap data, the current market rate for Enjin is $0.1253.

However, if its value surges 20x, Enjin could rise to $5.30, exceeding its previous high of $4.85. Experts predict a potential price increase for Enjin. This is due to the growing positive sentiment toward developing the Web3 gaming sector.

In November 2021, Web3 gaming will reach beyond $49.96 billion, opening new market potential for gaming tokens, including Enjin. Although market participants have an optimistic perspective, they continue to demonstrate caution about their investments.

The value of Enjin has decreased by 25% since last year. The token exhibits monthly gains yet shows unsuccessful results over the weekly and daily.

Big Money Is Moving – Bitcoin Whales Are Targeting FXGuys Presale #SECStaking

Bitcoin whales are shifting their attention to the FXGuys presale, solidifying it as a high-potential altcoin in the crypto market. It is now in Stage 3 of its presale, offering $FXG tokens at $0.05.

This project has already raised over $4 million.

The excitement doesn’t stop there—investors can now access the BETA trading platform. It is a free trial of its prop trading funding program. As the top PropFi Project, it is redefining smart prop trader investments. It is attracting major players looking for top defi coins with real-world use cases.

Why are Bitcoin Whales Targeting FXGuys?

1. Staking for Profit & Revenue Share
FXGuys offers a staking model where holders can earn 20% profit and revenue share from broker trading volume. Unlike traditional staking models, it ties its rewards directly to market activity. That makes it one of the best defi token investments.

2. FXGuys’ Trader Funding Program

It provides a unique trader development ecosystem, enabling skilled traders to access a funded account with up to $500,000. Through rigorous trading evaluations, successful participants split profits 80/20 in their favor. It makes FXGuys stand out among the best in the proprietary trading firm category.

3. No Buy or Sell Tax & Instant Withdrawals

One of FXGuys’ biggest advantages is its zero tax policy on transactions, combined with no KYC decentralized trading. Traders can deposit and withdraw funds on the same day in over 100 local fiat currencies or crypto. Thus, this platform provides unmatched flexibility.

FXGuys: The Top Altcoin for Smart Prop Traders
The FXguys presale is proving to be a magnet for crypto whales, thanks to its broker-backed crypto prop firm model. With its custom FXGuys Trader platform, users also gain access to industry-leading tools like MT5, Match-Trader, cTrader, and DXtrade. It usually depends on their location.

Another key advantage is the Trade2Earn program, which rewards traders with $FXG tokens for every trade.

BTC, ETH Lead $403M Crypto Liquidations, What Next?

The crypto market is urgently bleeding, with massive liquidations recorded so far.$ETH

About $403 million in Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and other cryptocurrencies have exited exchanges within 24 hours.

This market recorded these losses as volatility moved against futures traders.

According to Coinglass, about 117,342 traders were liquidated, leading to a total liquidation of $305.80 million at this time.

The most significant single liquidation (ETH/USDT) happened on the leading cryptocurrency exchange, Binance, valued at $12.01 million.

Current Liquidation Figures for BTC and ETH
Notably, a significant portion of this liquidation came from long traders who had forecasted a possible recovery for the crypto market.$BTC

In other words, these traders were betting on a bullish price retracement for these cryptocurrencies.

Out of $305.80 million recorded, $216.23 million came from long traders, leaving short traders with a liquidation worth $89.57 million.

$84.68 million worth of BTC was liquidated, $76.16 million in ETH, $11.37 million in Dogecoin (DOGE), and $10.6 million in Solana (SOL).

These massive liquidations were likely fuelled by the market performance of most of the digital assets.

At the same time, Ethereum’s liquidation may have been partly influenced by the Bybit hacker case.

However, the trends in the broader market suggest that a more significant issue may be at play, thereby forcing traders out of positions due to insufficient margin.

A continuous rise in volatility may cause crypto enthusiasts and investors to raise concerns about market stability.

Bitcoin and Ethereum Price Outlook
Market data shows that Bitcoin price trades at $96,510.68, following a 1.75% price dip.

For a coin that had previously attained an All-time-high (ATH) of over $109,000, this current BTC price level is a major drawdown.

On the other hand, Ethereum is resting on the green side of on-chain charts, trading at $2,778.04.

The leading altcoin has recorded a 2.09% price increase in the last 24 hours.

#SaylorBTCPurchase Here Are Top 3 Factors Impacting Crypto Market Right Now

The cryptocurrency market is in consolidation again, with total market capitalization currently down by 1.55% to $3.19 trillion.

The bearish sentiment is attributed to several factors that have played out over the last few days.

Global Economic Uncertainty Weighs on Crypto

Notably, crypto stakeholders consider global economic uncertainties and security risks in the crypto sector as triggers for negative trends.

Added to this is the threat of a new virus that could cause a global pandemic. Lucie, SHIB Marketing Lead, shared her insights on the current bearish crypto market in an update on X.

According to Lucie, the $927 billion loss the U.S. stock market suffered has severely impacted the crypto sector.

She suggested that the massive loss has sparked panic among investors as many remain uncertain of the economic recovery pathway.

The reason for the substantial loss is still being analyzed, but investors are sure the global financial market might experience some rough times.

In the crypto market, the news caused a major shockwave across the ecosystem. Bitcoin and Ethereum declined by approximately 4.7% and 6%, respectively.

Bybit Hack Triggers Fear and Market Volatility
In addition to the wiping out of $927 billion in the broader financial market, the crypto sector had its share of woes.

Malicious actors attacked the Bybit exchange and drained about $1.5 billion in what has been described as one of the largest crypto thefts in history.

Santiment, an on-chain market intelligence platform, noted that the attack had triggered extreme Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt (FUD) in the market.

It was observed that the crypto community is reacting negatively, as evidenced by the drop in Bitcoin’s price.

Santiment compared the market reaction to the bearish sentiment between February 17 and 18, just before Bitcoin rebounded.

However, Santiment provided a positive outlook. It emphasized that while a major hack such as the Bybit attack could have a lasting impact.

#EthereumRollbackDebate Cardano’s Development Activity

The GitHub development activity had Cardano captured the second rank through a substantial tally of 20,576 commits over the past year.

This positioning highlighted Cardano’s robust and ongoing development efforts, suggesting a promising trajectory for technological advancements and enhancements.

For ADA, such high development activity might bolster investor confidence and potentially catalyze price increases as new features and improvements could attract more users and developers.

Ethereum leads the pack with 22,013 commits, emphasizing its its pivotal role and continuous innovation in the blockchain space.

Other notable projects include the Internet Computer (ICP) with 19,788 commits. Flow and Arbitrum follow, recording 11,691 and 10,528 commits, respectively.

Projects like Stacks, MultiversX, Polkadot, Audius, and Hedera Hashgraph also further cemented the competitive and diverse development landscape in the crypto ecosystem.

Cardano Price Could See 25% Move, Here’s Why#BinanceAlphaAlert

Cardano price showed a clear pattern of consolidation within a tightening range, suggesting potential breakout.

ADA is currently holding at $0.7658, with a resistance around $0.7800 and support established along the ascending trendline starting from lower levels around $0.6000.

If Cardano breaks through the resistance at $0.7800, it could trigger a bullish move. A 25% increase from the breakout point to targets of about $1.00.

Immediate resistance at $0.7800; a break above could confirm bullish momentum towards $0.9750.

Conversely, failing to sustain above the current support trendline might result in a price dip.

A breakdown below this level could see Cardano retesting lower supports near $0.7200 or even $0.6800

If support at the trendline fails, the next substantial support is around $0.7200, with further dips possibly reaching $0.6800.

The consolidation suggested traders were in a wait-and-see mode, which often precedes significant volatility.

Increased trading volume could be a cue for the likely direction of the breakout. For a bullish scenario to sustain, maintaining above the ascending trendline is crucial.

A slide below this line could shift market sentiment to bearish, prompting a reevaluation of support levels.

Cardano Price: Crowd vs Smart Money Sentiment
Analysis of the sentiment gauges for ADA showed contrasting views where the crowd sentiment stood at -0.27 indicating bearishness, while smart money sentiment at +0.52, suggested bullishness.

If smart money’s bullish sentiment drives the market, Cardano price could see an uptrend potentially testing higher resistance levels.

Historically, smart money sentiment often correlates with subsequent price increases as these investors are perceived to have access to comprehensive data and market insights.

Bitcoin News: VanEck’s bold new prediction#SaylorBTCPurchase

There have been many Bitcoin predictions over the last 12 months, with most of them being bullish.

Global investment management company VanEck just tossed in its prediction and it is one of the most bullish so far.

Recent Bitcoin news reports revealed that VanEck has predicted a $21 million Bitoin price tag.

However, this prediction is based on the condition that the U.S adopts BTC as a strategic reserve asset.

Although an ambitious target, it may lean more towards the realm of impossibility given the massive level of liquidity required to achieve that price tag.

Meanwhile, the number of U.S states planning to deploy a Bitcoin strategic reserve has been rising rapidly.

Multiple counties outside America have also demonstrated interest in walking a similar path.

Investors are eagerly waiting to see if the current administration will push through with the plan to elevate BTC into a strategic reserve asset.

An announcement on such would be a major bullish event for the cryptocurrency.

Bitcoin News: Whales On The Move, Global Money Supply Rallies To New Highs #SaylorBTCPurchase

In recent Bitcoin news, analysts believe the coin could soon make its way back above $100,000 as whales take advantage of the latest downside.

In addition, THE M2 global money supply has been rising, which indicates growing liquidity in the market.

The latest Bitcoin sideways price action in February reflects uncertainty about price direction, despite hopes of recovery back above $100,000.

However, those hopes may not be lost according to recent market observations.

Bitcoin large holder flows saw an uptick in the second half of this week, which revealed that whales are buying the dip.

Large holder inflows surged from as low as 100.77 BTC in mid-February to 7,460 BTC by 20 February.

BTC large holder outflows also registered a mid-month uptick but outflows pulled back to 920,64 BTC as of 20 February.$BTC

The gap between whale inflows and outflows into BTC revealed that whales were accumulating aggressively.

Does Rising M2 Money Supply Signal More Incoming Liquidity?
Concerns about lower liquidity are among the reasons why the crypto market has been subdued lately.

Investors have been on the edge ever since the FED announced a pause on rate cuts due to pesky inflation.

Nevertheless, the M2 money supply indicator continues to push higher.

X-based analyst Vivek noted that Bitcoin could soon follow in the M2 money supply’s footsteps.

More liquidity in the market means a sizable percentage could go into crypto, once it gets over its current cool down phase.

The rising money supply may thus provide Bitcoin with a confidence boost especially if rate cuts resume.

#VIRTUALWhale SEC waves white flag on OpenSea probe, CEO says ‘this is a win’

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is officially backing off its investigation into NFT marketplace OpenSea — yet another example of the crypto industry benefitting from loose regulations under the Trump administration.

OpenSea co-founder and CEO Devin Finzer shared the news late Friday. The announcement came on the heels of Coinbase’s announcement that the SEC was dropping its case against them.

“The SEC is closing its investigation into [Opensea]. This is a win for everyone who is creating and building in our space,” Finzer declared on X. “Trying to classify NFTs as securities would have been a step backward—one that misinterprets the law and slows innovation. Every creator, big or small, should be able to build freely without unnecessary barriers.”

Last August, Finzer revealed that OpenSea received a Wells notice warning of potential charges related to unregistered securities. OpenSea had vowed to fight back, and now, it seems the marketplace has come out on top.$BNB

Trump’s SEC: From crackdowns to crypto love letters
If all this sounds like a pattern, that’s because it is. President Donald Trump received millions in campaign contributions from the crypto industry heading into the 2024 elections.

Former SEC Chair Gary Gensler, a former Goldman Sachs banker turned regulatory bulldog, led the toughest crackdown the crypto industry has ever seen. Under his watch, the SEC came after everyone from industry titans like OpenSea, Coinbase and Ripple, the firm behind XRP.

Ripple and the SEC have been in a legal spat since 2020.

The regulator accused Ripple Labs of selling unregistered securities, but Judge Analisa Torres ruled that XRP was not a security when sold to exchanges but determined that its institutional sales violated securities laws. She ordered Ripple to pay $125 million, significantly lower than the SEC’s initial $2 billion demand.#SECStaking

#LitecoinETF Who’s addressing the issue?

As racist meme coins proliferate, some in the crypto industry are taking steps to curb their spread.

The Solana Foundation has acknowledged the problem, with Austin Federa, the foundation’s head of strategy, suggesting that in-app filtering could be a potential solution.

This would allow wallet apps and decentralized exchanges to screen out tokens with offensive names or imagery. However, implementing such measures in a decentralized system remains a challenge.

UyEthereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has also criticized the rise of meme coins associated with dictatorships and racist themes, calling for higher-quality projects in the crypto space.

Last March, Buterin expressed concern over the growing number of speculative assets that provide little value beyond short-term hype. He specifically pointed to Solana-based meme coins that he described as “openly super-racist” and condemned tokens linked to totalitarian regimes.

Buterin emphasized that he has “zero enthusiasm” for projects driven by scams, rugpulls, or fleeting excitement that ultimately disappoints investors.

But, in today’s day and age, where anyone can launch a token with meme coin generators (i.e., Pump.fun) without oversight. As a result, the problem persists.

What’s Next?

According to Coindesk, West’s planned token—possibly named “YZY” rather than “Swasticoin”—is intended as a workaround for Shopify’s restrictions on his Yeezy store.

Reports suggest he plans to keep 70% of the token’s supply for himself, further fueling speculation that this is more about financial gain than ideology.

This would align with Ye’s previous attempts to monetize Nazi imagery, including selling T-shirts labeled “HH-01” (widely interpreted as shorthand for “Heil Hitler”), which were removed after a Super Bowl ad directed traffic to his website.

Despite Ye’s claim that the token will launch next week, it remains unclear if the project will materialize—or if it is another instance of inflammatory rhetoric designed.

#LitecoinETF It’s not just Ye: Racist meme coins promoting extremist ideologies proliferate

The cryptocurrency sector is a breeding ground for viral, community-driven projects, but the rise of racist meme coins has ignited debates about the limits of decentralization.

This issue is gaining renewed attention after rapper Kanye West, who now goes by “Ye,” announced plans to launch a so-called “Swasticoin” in a series of controversial social media posts.$BNB

West’s statements, which included antisemitic remarks about the Jewish community, mark a shift from his previous criticism of celebrity-backed coins that “prey” on fans.

On Saturday, West seemingly changed his mind.

“I’m going to open the CA [contract address] for my Swasticoin to Jewish people and my friends and family first,” he wrote. Alongside this announcement, the “Jesus Walks” singer appeared to seek guidance on blockchain networks like Ethereum, Solana and BNB Chain, while also attempting to contact Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao.

The posts sparked backlash, but they also highlighted a broader issue: the increasing number of meme coins promoting extremist ideology..

A troubling trend $XRP

Ye’s proposed token is not an isolated case. Over the past year, a wave of racist and offensive tokens have launched, prompting discussions about whether decentralized platforms should implement content moderation.

Some of these tokens used racial slurs or Nazi imagery in their branding, attempting to gain traction in online extremist communities.

“Hitler Musk,” for example, appeared on Pump.fun about a month ago after X owner Elon Musk, while speaking at President Donald Trump’s inauguration event, did a straight-a rm salute twice (observers interpreted it as a reference to fascism).

#BybitSecurityBreach Crypto industry rallies behind Bybit, responds to $1.4b breach

Major cryptocurrency firms have launched a coordinated defense following Bybit’s recent security incident.

The exchange’s CEO, Ben Zhou, announced that multiple industry leaders have joined forces to track, contain, and minimize the impact of the exploit.

The response has united both centralized and decentralized finance sectors, with key infrastructure providers implementing immediate protective measures.

Orbiter, deBridge, SynFutures, MYX, Thruster, and Owlto moved quickly to blacklist addresses linked to the exploit. Chainalysis has provided crucial support by tracking and publishing the attacker’s wallet addresses.
$BTC
Several blockchain security firms strengthened the defensive effort. SIS cross-chain bridge blocked associated addresses to prevent asset laundering, while Zero Shadows activated its round-the-clock Global Response team to assist with bad actor tracing and law enforcement communications.

Institutional traders show support to Bybit
Market stability received crucial support from institutional traders, with TMSI, Bayside Trading, Mathrix, Wintermute, Cumberland, and GSR Markets maintaining their trading positions.
$ETH
Additional backing came from major industry players including Antalpha Global, Bitget, Pionex, MEXC, Galaxy Digital, FalconX, and leading DeFi protocols Lido Finance and Solana Foundation.

#BybitSecurityBreach Bybit Sees Over $4 Billion ‘Bank Run’ After Crypto’s Biggest Hack

The exchange, facing a bank run and needing to process withdrawals, worked to secure a loan and developed new software to access frozen funds.

What to know:

Bybit experienced a $1.5 billion hack and over $4 billion of "bank run," leading to a total $5.5 billion outflow within the exchange.

Bybit CEO Ben Zhou addressed the incident, highlighting the need for loan coverage, user support, and the impact of a temporary shutdown of Safe wallet functionalities.

The cause of the hack remains unclear, with Bybit investigating whether it was a problem with their laptops or on Safe’s systems.

Major cryptocurrency exchange Bybit has seen total outflows of over $5.5 billion after it suffered a near $1.5 billion hack that saw hackers, believed to be from North Korea’s Lazarus Group, drain its ether cold wallet.

The total assets tracked on wallets associated with the exchange plunged from around $16.9 billion to $11.2 billion at the time of writing, according to data from DeFiLlama. The exchange is now looking to understand exactly what happened.

In an X spaces session, Bybit’s CEO Ben Zhou revealed that shortly after the incident, he called for “all hands on deck” to serve their clients with processing withdrawals and responding to inquiries about what was going on.

During the session, Zhou revealed that the security breach saw the hackers make off with roughly 70% of their clients’ ether, which meant that Bybit needed to quickly secure a loan to be able to process withdrawals. Yet, Zhou found that ether wasn’t the most withdrawn token, with most users instead withdrawing stablecoin from Bybit.