Category: crypto

The US Treasury warns of increasing scams involving crypto ATMs, with reported losses of $246.7 million in 2024. Scammers pressure victims into sending funds quickly. The report also highlights potential channels for money laundering, such as mixers, DeFi platforms, and cross-chain tools, while suggesting emerging technologies like AI and blockchain analytics to strengthen compliance.

Strategy, led by Michael Saylor, is potentially preparing for its 101st Bitcoin purchase as hinted in a recent post. The company currently holds over $48.7 billion worth of Bitcoin, with its last purchase being 3,015 BTC at an average price of $67,700 per coin. Bitcoin’s price struggles to stay above $70,000.

Kalshi is facing a $54 million class-action lawsuit over disputed bets on Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s departure from office. Traders claim the platform retroactively excluded death-based outcomes, while Kalshi argues the exclusion was always in place. The lawsuit accuses Kalshi of deceptive practices and allowing trading to continue after Khamenei’s death.

Bitcoin spot ETFs saw $568.45 million in net inflows for the week ending March 6, marking the second consecutive week of positive flows. A $1.15 billion buying wave from March 2-4 offset $576 million in late-week outflows. Total net assets for Bitcoin ETFs reached $87.07 billion, with weekly trading volume at $25.87 billion. Ethereum spot…

Implied volatility has decreased significantly since early February, indicating reduced risk pricing in BTC options. Skew has also normalized, with more balanced options flows showing a shift from fear to calculated risk-taking. Despite a decrease in prices, the market remains disciplined, with traders adjusting their expectations for extreme moves.

Binance denied allegations that its platform allowed transactions linked to Iran in response to a U.S. Senate inquiry. The exchange emphasized its compliance program and monitoring systems, including identity verification for users and cooperation with law enforcement. Investigations led to the removal of entities with potential links to Iran.

Despite incurring over $29.7 million in losses, a high-profile whale known as Machi has reloaded on a 25x leverage ETH position. This move comes as major cryptocurrencies are sliding, with funding turning negative. Machi’s decision to double down on his position in the face of market weakness is seen as a risky move.

Curve Finance has accused PancakeSwap of using parts of its StableSwap code without permission, calling it a license violation. PancakeSwap responded by stating their team will discuss the matter with Curve. Both parties expressed a preference for cooperation and licensing over a legal dispute. The issue may be related to PancakeSwap’s recent Infinity StableSwap upgrade.

Tether is investing in Utexo to enable native USDT settlement on Bitcoin and Lightning, aiming to provide fixed fees, atomic settlement, and user privacy. This move comes as major cryptocurrencies drop in value, highlighting the need for reliable dollar liquidity. The goal is to establish Bitcoin as a global settlement network.

Unexpected job losses in the US in February and a higher unemployment rate have raised hopes for a rate cut but have left Bitcoin stuck around $70,000. The market is in a risk-off mood, with falling equities and rising oil prices complicating the situation for crypto assets despite the soft jobs data.