Scammers will always find a way, especially in crypto, where regulation is often lacking and enforcement feels like a distant dream. So, how do you fight back? Simple. Beat them at their own game, waste their time, and watch them squirm. Kitboga Strikes Back A pseudonymous streamer known as Kitboga designed an effective and satisfying new weapon in the fight against crypto fraud: a fake Bitcoin ATM ‘maze.’ A popular tool for crypto scammers is to have victims deposit cash into a Bitcoin ATM; the machine will then produce the destination wallet address and transaction ID. Once the scammers have the newly converted Bitcoin, they can ignore the victim and move on. Bitcoin ATMs are surprisingly accessible – there are over 40K worldwide – and so are an easy tool for scammers to use. Kitboga has weaponized the ATM part of the scam and turned it against would-be scammers. He crafted a digital ‘maze’—a nightmare of customer service loops, endless hold queues, CAPTCHA, and AI-powered confusion. It’s like an evil bureaucrat’s dream: a twisted journey through digital hell, with a fake Bitcoin waiting at the end. Kitboga’s trap has wasted over 4,000 hours of scammers’ time. What started as comedic content has transformed into a real-time weapon against scams, gathering intel and frustrating fraudsters at every turn. Engineering the Maze When scammers demand victims deposit cash at Bitcoin ATMs, Kitboga counters with a Photoshopped receipt: a QR code linking to a fictional exchange and a hotline that leads victims (or, in this case, scammers) into a purpose‑built labyrinth. Once inside, attackers must solve tedious tasks in the guise of CAPTCHA or human verification: estimate the number of nuts in a bucket, gauge wave heights, or even play Derude’s ‘Sandstorm’ on a keyboard (as an added bonus, each attempt causes the CAPTCHA to speed up). Enter the wallet address incorrectly – and of course, it’s a fake, so it will automatically be incorrect – and Kitboga’s system triggers automated phone interactions where an AI will intentionally mishear digits, repeat prompt failures, and eventually trap the scammer in prolonged hold periods. Over the past year, the fake ATM has trapped about 500 scammers, occupying them for 3,953 hours, approximately 164 days. On average, each scammer spends nearly 3 hours in the maze, while the record stands at 156 hours; that’s more than six days. Six days in which the scammer wasn’t scamming someone else. More Than a Time Waster Kitboga isn’t merely playing games with scammers; he’s gathering actionable intelligence. Registering on the fake crypto exchange Kitboga set up requires scammers to enter their Bitcoin address, giving the team a growing database of known scam wallets. Some attackers inadvertently reveal video feeds or other identifiers. In collaboration with Kraken, crypto funds obtained by scammers have reportedly been frozen based on information from the maze. The fake ATM maze is Kitboga’s ‘second most effective tool,’ behind AI‑powered autodialers. His team is launching similar infinite‑maze tactics for other scam types, including gift card fraud and mailed‑cash schemes. Bitcoin ATM scams are nothing new—but their scale is increasing. In the first half of 2024, U.S. consumers lost nearly $65M to scams routed through ATMs; 2023 saw over $100M lost in crypto ATM scams. But like normal people, for fraudsters, time is money. Every minute spent in Kitboga’s maze is not spent scamming real victims – the maze even requires scammers on hold to respond with ridiculous phrases or risk losing their spot. Scambaiting isn’t the only tool in the arsenal – other entities, like Chinese law enforcement, are turning to different tools. Chinese Local Law Enforcement Step Up Beijing’s Haidian District People’s Procuratorate exposed an embezzlement-driven crypto laundering operation involving Kuaishou employees. The employees siphoned approximately ¥140M ($20M) via Bitcoin and mixers routed through at least eight overseas exchanges. Authorities recovered 92 BTC (¥89M, $11.7M) and successfully prosecuted eight insiders, issuing prison terms ranging from 3 to 14 years alongside financial penalties. China has some of the strictest anti-crypto policies in the world. That makes the potential gains from crypto scams even greater, though it elevates the risk. A prosecutor noted the case exhibits all the traits of modern digital-era corruption: Small-scale officials engaging in big fraud Crypto-aided money laundering Poor risk control within corporations Though China has banned crypto trading and mining, underground operations remain vibrant. Earlier investigations uncovered a $2.2B money laundering ring using OTC brokers, secret shell companies, and exchanges, often used to bypass China’s strict foreign exchange caps. In the end, what brought down the latest crypto scamming ring was dedicated local law enforcement, illustrating that the path forward to fight scams involves boots-on-the-ground in more than one way. The fight also requires increasing everyday crypto literacy – and that means a top-of-the-line crypto wallet. Best Wallet Token ($BEST) – Web3 Wallet for Safe, Secure, Non-Custodial Crypto Economy Best Wallet Token ($BEST) powers the Best Wallet, a mobile-first, non‑custodial wallet supporting over 50 blockchains and thousands of assets. Holding $BEST offers multiple utilities: reduced transaction fees priority access to presale launches higher staking rewards governance rights The Best Wallet app features seamless cross-chain swaps and a growing integrated economy; Best Wallet, the $BEST token, and an upcoming Best Card. Interest in a wallet that provides real value for the growing crypto world has driven the presale past the $14M mark. With tokens currently priced at $0.025395, there’s never been a better time to get in. You can learn how to buy $BEST with our guide. Visit the Best Wallet Token ($BEST) presale page today. Scambaiting, Local Enforcement, Best Wallet Keys to Crypto Safety What began as comedic scambaiting for Kitboga evolved into a novel form of activism. It highlighted just how important it is to have a comprehensive approach to avoiding crypto scams – an approach that heavily features Best Wallet. As always, do your own research. This isn’t financial advice.
Sequans Communications has expanded its Bitcoin holdings by acquiring 755 BTC for about $88.5 million, at an average price of $117,296 per coin. This purchase raises the company’s total Bitcoin reserves to 3,072 BTC, now valued at over $358 million. The Paris-based semiconductor company continues to strengthen its position as a leading European corporate Bitcoin …
Get ready! This week, between July 28 and August 4, more than $686 million worth of crypto tokens will be unlocked across major crypto projects, which could shake things up in the market. Projects like Sui, Jupiter, Ethena, and Optimism are set for major one-time unlocks, while others, including Solana, TRUMP, and Worldcoin, are steadily …
Interactive Brokers, founded in 1978, is reportedly considering launching a stablecoin to support 24/7 funding for brokerage accounts.
MARA Holdings raised $940.5 million in net proceeds to restructure previously issued debt securities and finance additional bitcoin purchases.
Eigen Labs CEO Sreeram Kannan told Cointelegraph that Eigenlayer’s upgrade allows decentralized services to have both Ethereum-grade security and scalability.
With a market capitalization of over $80B, the meme coin market continues to attract projects looking to be the next big thing. To do this, they typically combine cute branding and influencer endorsements to sell their coins. Snaky Way ($AKE) decided to be different. Don’t let the cute branding fool you, though. There’s a method to the madness behind the latest meme coin presale. The project combines classic meme coin fun with real utility, including gaming tournaments, staking rewards in various blockchains, and AI-powered price support. There’s a lot to unpack here, but let’s start with the game. Making Meme Coins Fun Again The snake-themed game brings an element of fun to the coin. To join, you naturally need its native $AKE, which lets you play in tournaments and earn more $AKE tokens as prizes. Doing so creates real demand for the coin rather than basing it purely on speculation. The game also encourages players to keep coming back by launching new tournaments, updated features, and prize competitions. All these help keep interest alive well after the $AKE presale ends. It also integrates a referral system, which should help make the game viral and draw in more players. Stake Your Tokens, Earn Massive Rewards If you prefer to earn passive rewards instead, then you’ll also love Snaky Way. Its token presale offers a staking reward at a whopping 2,582.00% p.a. That’s a lot better than traditional banks offer these days. Take note that the reward rate may still change as the presale progresses and investors lock in their tokens. To date, over 434.7M have been staked in the project’s staking pool. Say Goodbye to Massive Price Drops with AI-Powered Price Support One of the biggest risks when investing in presales is that the token’s price could drop significantly once it’s launched in exchanges. Snaky Way’s team understands this, so it has an AI system that buys back $AKE when its price starts falling. To do this, the system constantly monitors trading patterns and steps in to buy tokens to help keep their price stable. More specifically, the AI analyzes several data points, including trading volume, social sentiment, and market conditions, to detect problems. When issues arise, it will automatically execute a buyback to cushion the price drop. Audited for Your Safety Unlike its name, there’s nothing snaky about the project itself. Well before launching the presale, the project team already had its ducks in a row, particularly when it comes to its smart contracts and potential vulnerabilities. They hired external auditors to perform security reviews and implemented standard security practices to protect user funds from common attack vectors. Its Coinsult audit shows no significant issues, which tells you that the project is solid and legit. This gives every potential investor confidence that they won’t get scammed once they drop their money into Snaky Way. Tokenomics and Post-Presale Activities While the team has yet to announce its total token supply, a bulk of it will go towards the Presale (30%), Marketing (29%), and Liquidity Pool (23%). Its tokenomics suggests that the team is investing heavily in creating the much-needed buzz the project requires at the beginning. At the same time, it’s setting aside a healthy amount of tokens to support its long-term growth. The project is currently in the second phase of its three-phase roadmap. Once the presale ends, it’ll launch $AKE on major centralized (CEX) and decentralized exchanges (DEX). This should add more interest in the project as investors trade their tokens. Aside from that, the team will also collaborate with influencers both in the Web2 and Web3 spaces to further boost its growth. The final stage is also where the AI buyback will happen, helping support $AKE as it aims for the moon. Join the Snaky Way Presale Today At the moment, Snaky Way ($AKE) tokens are only available via its official presale page for only $0.0000966. It’s a cheap and cheerful way to get in on the fun and potentially grow your investment. However, note that a token price increase will happen in about three days. Because of this, it’s best to grab your tokens while they’re at their cheapest. To get started, connect your crypto wallet to the presale widget, input how many tokens you want to buy, and pay with fiat or crypto. Once the presale ends, you can start claiming your $AKE tokens. Disclaimer: Do your research before you invest. This is not investment advice.
Binance has launched RWUSD, a new principal-protected yield product offering up to 4.2% APR benchmarked against tokenized U.S. Treasury bills and other real-world assets. The offering aims to continue Binance’s plan to incorporate off-chain financial instruments into its Earn product suite while avoiding direct exposure to tokenized assets. Users can subscribe to RWUSD using stablecoins […]
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XRP Price today is showing renewed bullish momentum after a 3% price bump today, climbing closer to the $3.37 breakout level. The rally is largely driven by a massive 93% drop in whale-to-exchange transfers since July 11, when sell flows peaked at 43,575 XRP. As of July 28, that number has dropped to just 2,965 …
TRON has emerged as one of the most talked-about projects in recent weeks following its successful public listing on the Nasdaq last week. The listing marks a major milestone for the TRON ecosystem, placing it among the few blockchain platforms to enter traditional equity markets. As the crypto market heats up, TRON is maintaining its lead in the stablecoin sector, with over $22 billion worth of USDT minted on its blockchain in 2025 alone. Related Reading: Ethereum CME Futures Open Interest Hits Record $7.85B – Is ETH Overheating? Despite a brief dip in total value locked (TVL) ahead of its listing, TRON’s on-chain metrics continue to impress. The total circulating supply of USDT on TRON now exceeds $80 billion, highlighting its dominance as the preferred blockchain for Tether activity. This momentum showcases growing institutional and retail demand for stablecoin utility and fast, low-cost transactions. As TRON solidifies its role as a key infrastructure layer for stablecoin movement, investors and analysts alike are keeping a close eye on what’s next for the protocol. USDT Activity Signals Bullish Momentum for TRON According to blockchain intelligence platform Arkham, $1 billion in USDT was minted today on the TRON network, further cementing TRON’s dominance in the stablecoin sector. This development continues a 2025 trend that has seen TRON surpass Ethereum in both total USDT supply and daily stablecoin activity. TRON now hosts over $80 billion worth of USDT—accounting for more than half of the token’s total circulating supply—with daily stablecoin transfer volumes consistently exceeding $20 billion. Historically, large-scale USDT minting events are viewed as bullish signals for the broader crypto market. These mints often precede increased liquidity and inflows into digital assets, as traders and institutions prepare capital for strategic deployment. TRON’s ability to attract such a large portion of Tether’s supply underscores its growing importance as a financial infrastructure layer, particularly for low-cost, high-speed transactions. In this context, the latest $1 billion mint is more than just a number—it reflects rising demand and renewed market confidence. It also positions TRON for a potential breakout, as the TRX price tests its highest levels since December 2024. With positive momentum across on-chain metrics, stablecoin activity, and price action, TRON appears to be entering a new growth phase fueled by institutional interest and expanding real-world utility. Related Reading: Bitcoin Endures One Of The Most Intense Bear Weeks Of This Bull Cycle – Details TRX Price Eyes Breakout Amid Rising Momentum TRX is currently trading at $0.3223, showing renewed strength as it holds above all major moving averages on the 4-hour chart. The 50, 100, and 200-period simple moving averages (SMAs) sit at $0.3158, $0.3125, and $0.2972, respectively, with TRX firmly positioned above them—signaling a bullish short- to medium-term structure. After a sharp pullback from the recent high near $0.34, TRX found support at the 100 SMA and began a steady climb. The recent price action shows a tightening range and reduced volatility, often a precursor to a breakout. With higher lows forming since July 21 and buyers defending key support levels, bulls appear to be gaining control. Related Reading: $4B Increase In Bitcoin Open Interest Fueled By Whale Transfers To Exchanges – Details Volume remains relatively stable, and any uptick paired with a candle close above the $0.3250–$0.3270 region could trigger a breakout toward retesting the $0.34 resistance zone. If the breakout holds, TRX may establish new local highs, continuing the upward trend initiated in early July. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView
Although Bitcoin ETPs saw losses against altcoin funds last week, the trend probably implied the anticipation of ETFs rather than a broad altcoin season, CoinShares’ head of research said.
Bitcoin ended last week in a strong way. But some smart traders are warning that it might be a trick. A popular crypto trader named KillaXBT says that Bitcoin may be getting ready to move in a way that fools both buyers and sellers. It could drop first to scare people, and then go up. …
Large volumes of Pudgy Penguin’s PENGU tokens are flowing from the project’s deployment address to centralized exchanges (CEXs), raising questions amid a strong market rally. On July 28, blockchain analyst EmberCN, citing Arkham Intelligence data, reported that more than 206.9 million PENGU tokens, valued at approximately $8.91 million, were transferred to various CEXs within the […]
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Binance Coin (BNB) has surged past its previous highs, posting a new all-time high above the $800 level. The price action reflects growing confidence in the Binance ecosystem and broader market strength. Following a high-volume breakout, BNB’s structure shows compelling signs of continued momentum. This analysis breaks down BNB’s price action, key technical levels, and …
Ethereum has been gaining momentum lately, and not just in price. As the crypto market heats up, Ethereum co-founder, Vitalik Buterin, recently shared his thoughts on how Ethereum can grow bigger without losing what makes it special. With new tech upgrades and more real-world use, Ethereum is finally getting closer to living up to its …
Bitcoin gets an early macro tailwind as the US seals trade deals, but plenty of BTC price volatility catalysts are waiting in the wings into August.
The move marks PayPal's latest expansion into the crypto industry and a notable internal deployment of its PYUSD stablecoin.
Forecast markets will run on the soon-to-launch layer-1 blockchain Autonity and newly developed Autonomous Futures Protocol (AFP).
President Donald Trump’s social media company, Trump Media and Technology Group, recently invested $300 million into a Bitcoin-related asset. The company now holds about $2.2 billion worth of crypto. Trump Media Plans to Create Crypto Reserve In May, the TMTG announced that it is planning to raise $2.5 billion to buy Bitcoin to create a …
The initiative is set to distribute 30 million ARB tokens over 12 months, following the approval of a proposal by ArbitrumDAO.
Solana might be known for its fast tech and memecoin mania but its own co-founder isn’t impressed. In a controversial post on X, Anatoly Yakovenko, co-founder of Solana, slammed the two biggest drivers of activity on his blockchain, memecoins and NFTs, calling them “digital slop with no intrinsic value.” He compared them to loot boxes …
Japanese company Metaplanet has the largest BTC stash among public companies outside the U.S.
Strategy did not buy any new Bitcoin last week after unveiling a $2.5 billion STRC preferred stock IPO to fund more BTC acquisitions.
According to reports, Japanese investment firm Metaplanet has just added 780 Bitcoin to its stash. The move brings the company’s total holdings to over 17,000 BTC, worth about $1.73 billion at today’s prices. The move marks another big step for Asia’s largest public Bitcoin holder and underlines how seriously the firm is treating crypto. Related Reading: Bitcoin’s New Clock: How Wall Street Killed The Old Cycle, According To Expert Metaplanet Boosts Bitcoin Holdings Metaplanet paid an average of $118,622 per coin for this batch, spending nearly $93 million in the deal. Based on figures shared by CEO Simon Gerovich, the year‑to‑date yield on its Bitcoin portfolio sits at 450% as of July 28, 2025. The firm’s average cost across all 17,132 BTC now stands at $101,030 per coin. This latest purchase follows a similar buy of 797 BTC earlier this year, when prices hovered near $122,000. Metaplanet has acquired 780 BTC for ~$92.5 million at ~$118,622 per bitcoin and has achieved BTC Yield of 449.7% YTD 2025. As of 7/28/2025, we hold 17,132 $BTC acquired for ~$1.73 billion at ~$101,030 per bitcoin. $MTPLF pic.twitter.com/0dq4RswDhv — Simon Gerovich (@gerovich) July 28, 2025 A Challenge To The Big Player Michael Saylor’s firm, Strategy, still holds the crown as the largest public holder of Bitcoin. Strategy owns 607,770 BTC, valued at about $72 billion. That makes Metaplanet seventh on the list of public companies with Bitcoin, but the gap looks set to narrow if Metaplanet keeps buying at this pace. It all began with a quarter billion in bitcoin. pic.twitter.com/Ssbef084YQ — Michael Saylor (@saylor) July 27, 2025 Stock Price Reacts To The Purchase Shares of Metaplanet jumped 5% immediately after the announcement. The stock closed at 1,241 yen, even though it has slipped 7% over the past five days and 17% in the last month. Investors seem to welcome the aggressive strategy, though they’re also aware that swings in Bitcoin’s price can push the share price up or down quickly. Climbing The Ranks Of Bitcoin Holders Metaplanet aims to hold 210,000 BTC by the end of 2027. If it stays on track, the company could soon leapfrog the likes of Tesla, CleanSpark and Galaxy Digital—firms it already passed to reach fifth place at one point. Based on public data, Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company and Trump Media currently sit in fourth and sixth spots, showing how the leaderboard keeps shifting as new buyers step in. Related Reading: Bitcoin’s Parabolic Glory Days May Be Over, Analyst Claims Based on this trend, Metaplanet is staking its future on Bitcoin’s growth. It’s a bold plan and one that carries risk if crypto prices dip. Yet for now, the firm’s big buys and a nearly 450% return this year make it clear that Metaplanet sees Bitcoin as a core part of its strategy. As more companies pile in, Asia’s role in the world of institutional crypto is only getting stronger. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from TradingView
Tether has minted over 1 billion USDT (about $1.001 billion) on the Tron blockchain, significantly increasing its circulating supply. This move reflects strong ongoing global demand for stablecoins, especially as traders and institutions seek liquidity and efficient transfer options in the digital asset market. Unlike previous minting events, this latest issuance underscores Tether’s strategy to …
BTCS closed $10 million in above‑market convertibles and increased its Ethereum treasury to 70,028 ETH, part of a capital push to expand corporate holdings.
If Ethereum’s price reaches $4,000, nearly $1 billion worth of short positions are set to be liquidated on major exchanges. Recent data shows this price level represents a critical threshold, and a surge past $4,000 could trigger mass liquidations, potentially fueling further price momentum. Analysts note that the unfolding short squeeze highlights strong bullish sentiment …
PancakeSwap price is rising on the wave of optimism after the BNB coin hit a fresh ATH. At the time of publication, it is changing hands at $3.25, with an overnight surge of 13.47%. This run was assisted by the trading volume nearly tripling to $410.91 million. As a result, the market cap has soared …
Bitcoin has already made big moves this year, jumping over 25% from $89,000 to an all-time high of $123,000. While the price is now moving sideways, many traders are looking ahead to October, a month known for strong Bitcoin rallies. With key signals flashing bullish, some believe a powerful crypto bull run may be just …
Quarterly realized volatility for Bitcoin is down to 70%, approaching historical lows and just above the 62% bottom seen in September 2023 when BTC traded at $26,000. The current cycle’s peak volatility of 143% is well below previous highs of 236%, reflecting the impact of institutional investors and steady capital inflows. Historically, periods of low …