Category: crypto

Ransomware payments in the crypto industry decreased by 35% in 2024, falling to $813 million from the previous year’s $1.25 billion. This decline was attributed to stricter law enforcement actions, international cooperation, and growing victim resistance. Attackers adapted their laundering techniques, shifting from mixing services to cross-chain bridges, with a significant portion of ransom funds…

The FDIC is revising its guidelines to allow banks to engage in certain crypto-related activities without prior approval. Some banks are advocating for offering crypto custody services and exploring tokenized deposits. The FDIC released documents related to “pause letters” sent to financial institutions advising them to halt crypto services. Coinbase filed a FOIA request for…

MicroStrategy rebrands to Strategy to focus on being a Bitcoin Treasury Company and a business intelligence firm. The new logo features a stylized “B” representing its Bitcoin strategy. The company’s primary color is now orange, a nod to Bitcoin. Strategy aims to advance Bitcoin and artificial intelligence, with shares seen as a proxy for Bitcoin…

The CFTC has reorganized its Division of Enforcement to focus on combating fraud and protecting victims, aiming to streamline investigations and ensure fair oversight without imposing new compliance standards. Two primary task forces will handle complex fraud and retail investor fraud cases, aiming to maximize resources and adapt to evolving financial markets.

Solana (SOL) currently holds 15% of the smart contract platform market cap, projected to rise to 22% by 2025, potentially reaching $520. VanEck attributes Solana’s growth to developer presence, DEX volumes, revenue, and active users. MEV revenue structure and dapp growth are key factors in Solana’s market expansion.

BlackRock is planning to launch a Bitcoin ETP in Europe, potentially in Switzerland, with marketing starting this month. The European market for crypto ETPs is relatively small compared to the US, with BlackRock’s US ETP having lower fees. BlackRock’s success in Europe may be hindered by investor risk aversion.

MetaMask has introduced a Gas Station feature allowing users to pay network fees using Ethereum-based tokens instead of ETH. This aims to enhance accessibility and streamline transactions, particularly for DeFi users. The feature is integrated with the Swaps function and sources gas fee pricing from multiple sources to provide competitive fees.

Ondo Finance has launched Ondo Global Markets (Ondo GM), a platform that tokenizes real-world assets like stocks, bonds, and ETFs on the blockchain. This allows global access to US securities for investors outside the US. The sector has seen significant growth, with $16.88 billion in on-chain value and increasing interest from traditional financial institutions.

DeFi Education Fund urges DOJ to reconsider holding DeFi developers accountable for users’ actions, comparing them to car manufacturers not responsible for drivers. They warn targeting developers under laws like Section 1960 could hinder innovation and create harmful precedents. Legal clarity needed to distinguish control in decentralized protocols for responsible innovation.

Tether, the issuer of the largest stablecoin, is expanding its AI capabilities with applications like AI translate and voice assistant. They are developing an open-source SDK platform compatible with various devices. Despite regulatory challenges, Tether continues to mint USDT tokens, reaching $140 billion in supply. Regulatory pressures in Europe have led to USDT delistings from…