A group of US Democratic lawmakers, led by Senator Elizabeth Warren, has strongly criticized the Department of Justice (DOJ) for shutting down its National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET). In an April 10 letter, the group expressed concern that the move undermines efforts to combat growing criminal activity tied to digital assets. The NCET, disbanded on […]
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APX received exemptive relief from the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) at the start of this month.
BlackRock's digital asset growth highlights increasing investor interest, yet market volatility and low-fee structures challenge profitability.
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The IRS revised its definition of a broker last year to include decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges (DEX). However, Trump has now signed a new law that will overturn this change, thereby exempting DEXs from IRS regulations. Keep reading to understand its implications, how it’s yet another pro-crypto move by the new president, and how you can benefit from this by buying the best presales. DEXs No Longer Brokers, Says Trump A lot of DeFi exchanges had objected to their inclusion as brokers by the IRS. Logically, unlike centralized exchanges (CEX), which act as intermediaries between buyers and sellers, decentralized exchanges look to eliminate the middleman so that market participants can transact directly. This increases anonymity on the blockchain. However, the IRS had tax evasion concerns, hence the inclusion. The IRS believed that a lot of crypto holders aren’t paying taxes. This is why it required decentralized exchanges to send tax forms to the IRS besides, of course, crypto holders. Given the anonymity of blockchains, this was always a difficult task. The concern has now been adequately dealt with by the ‘crypto president,’ and DEXs will no longer be considered as a broker for tax purposes. A Huge Boost to DEX Positive crypto regulations were one of the major promises Trump had made during his presidential campaign. With this latest relief, the entire DEX industry has dodged a bullet. Being classified as a broker would have increased regulatory compliance, adding a lot of hindrance to its day-to-day work. Now that the uncertainty is gone, it will make it easier for decentralized platforms to operate and innovate, which will increase trading volumes. The total 24-hour trading volume on DEXs right now is $5.91B, which is expected to increase going forward. Plus, most newly launched cryptos usually trade on DEXs, driving more traders to these platforms. If you’re also looking to benefit from the upcoming DEX market growth, here are three new cryptos you should not miss out on. 1. MIND of Pepe ($MIND) – Revolutionary AI Crypto Offering Investment Advice With crypto trading set to receive a push by Trump’s new mandate, this could be the right time to invest in a new cryptocurrency like MIND of Pepe ($MIND), which has been specifically designed to revolutionize crypto investing. $MIND is an AI agent programmed to talk to the crypto community on online platforms like X. By hearing out and then analyzing countless people’s biases towards crypto, MIND of Pepe will be able to find the crypto coins most likely to explode next. Manually doing so, i.e., studying market sentiments to identify purchase-worthy meme coins and altcoins, is nearly impossible. Thanks to $MIND’s cutting-edge AI technology, though, crypto investing will be much simpler. As a $MIND token holder, you’ll benefit not only from the AI agent’s exclusive investing recommendations but also from the increase in the token’s price once it launches. As per our $MIND price prediction, the token could reach as high as $0.0263 by the end of 2030. This translates to a nearly 710% potential gain if you buy $MIND now. Each token is currently available for just $0.0037015, and the project has raised nearly $8M in presale funding. For more info, here’s a guide on how to buy MIND of Pepe. 2. BTC Bull Token ($BTCBULL) – Best Presale to Buy for Bitcoin Maximalists Bitcoin shot up by over 5% immediately after Trump’s tariff pause. This shows just how positively it can react to favorable macroeconomic conditions. In light of Trump’s pro-crypto attitude, we can reasonably expect Bitcoin (and crypto) to rally higher in the near future. When that happens, holders of the BTC Bull Token ($BTCBULL) will rejoice the most. That’s because $BTCBULL will offer real (and free) $BTC to its token holders every time the OG crypto smashes through a new milestone, like $150K, $200K, and $250K. All you have to do to be eligible for free bitcoins is buy and HODL $BTCBULL tokens in Best Wallet. Additionally, the project’s creators have decided to follow a deflationary model. This means they’ll eliminate a portion of the total $BTCBULL token supply at regular intervals. The logic behind this is simple. Strangle supply to effect an increase in demand and, ultimately, an increase in BTC Bull Token‘s price. The best altcoins follow this tactic. After careful research, our $BTCBULL price prediction has put the token’s price at $0.0096 by the end of 2026. Currently, though, the token is selling for just $0.002455. It’s one of the best cheap cryptos because it’s in presale, where it has already raised over $4.5M. 3. PepeX ($PEPX) – First-Ever AI-Powered No-Code Launchpad for Meme Coins PepeX ($PEPX) takes a leaf out of the OG Pepe, which was one of the best meme coins of all time. However, although $PEPX has a similar frog-themed mascot, there’s nothing old-school about this AI-based crypto project. Self-proclaimed as the first-ever AI-powered no-code launchpad for meme coins, PepeX aims to revolutionize how meme coins are built. Essentially, it no longer wants only cunning developers to possess the power of creating meme coins. Instead, by offering a platform that can create meme coins with just prompts, PepeX will tear down the barriers the industry has put on token creation with full-stack development. Non-tech-savvy crypto enthusiasts like us will be able to create, promote, and manage our own meme coins thanks to PepeX’s AI agents. Even better, these AI agents will also integrate with X and Telegram, which have emerged as the go-to platforms for the marketing of new meme coins on presale. You won’t have to worry about security, either. PepeX employs on-chain monitoring and anti-sniping tech to ensure transparency and fairness in the distribution and trading of your meme coins. $PEPX is currently in presale and has already amassed over $1.3M. You can grab one token for only $0.0268 if you get in now. Bottom Line Even with the best presales in your portfolio, there’s no guarantee that you won’t make losses. As such, only invest an amount that you’re comfortable with, and do your own research before investing. As always, none of the above is a replacement for financial advice from a qualified professional.
The SOL move follows a $42 million funding round and has triggered a massive surge in Janover’s stock price.
Shareholders want the burger chain famous for owning massive amounts of real estate to consider buying bitcoin.
The US economy is again suffering due to the fact that Donald Trump is still responsible for new tariff policies. The policies have influenced the US dollar’s strength and caused financial market uncertainty. Bitcoin, however, is gaining traction as a safer alternative for investors to store their funds. US Dollar falls as Trade war begins …
Solana (SOL) jumped 6.4% and Bitcoin Cash (BCH) rose 5.3%, leading index higher.
With the growing competition in the blockchain ecosystem, Shiba Inu’s Layer-2 blockchain, Shibarium, is struggling to keep up with its competitors as its daily trading volume plunges to only $21,000, far behind rivals like Polygon and Base. This raises concerns for Shiba Inu investors as traders seem to be shifting their focus elsewhere. Could this …
Crypto analyst Kevin (@Kev_Capital_TA) has shared a chart that overlays the Global Liquidity Index (yellow, plotted above) on top of Dogecoin’s price action (candlesticks in purple, plotted below). The visual comparison highlights a number of parallel channels and key trend lines that have previously aligned with turning points in Dogecoin’s trajectory. Explosive Dogecoin Setup Amid Liquidity Shift While the Global Liquidity Index has traded within a downward sloping channel – its lower boundary repeatedly capturing local lows marked by orange circles – the price of Dogecoin itself has broken out and retested a long-term sloping trend line that stretches back to its explosive price run in early 2021. The chart shows Dogecoin’s dramatic rise from less than a cent in 2020 to its all-time high of around $0.74 in 2021, before retreating to what appears to be significant support around $0.15. The analyst’s Fib retracement overlay shows the 0.382 level at around $0.14225, an area of technical importance that has attracted renewed attention. The current price action is depicted as settling around a zone where the multi-year descending trend line (yellow) retest meets the 0.382 Fib level, circled on the chart as a potential turning point. Related Reading: Dogecoin Bullish Divergence Plays Out, Analyst Maps Next Price Targets Meanwhile, the Global Liquidity Index at the top of the image has shifted within a downward price channel of its own, suggesting a broader contraction in available market liquidity over the past year. As can be seen, each contact with the lower boundary of the channel has coincided with a notable turning point in Dogecoin’s price movement. The repeated circular markers emphasize moments where the liquidity curve dipped and Dogecoin subsequently carved out local or macro bottoms. This synchronization, argues Kevin, should prompt traders to pay attention because it may herald a rebound if liquidity inflows stabilize or begin to rise again. Related Reading: Dogecoin Whales Offload Over 1.32 Billion DOGE In 48 Hours – Risk-Off Or Panic Selling? Why does the Global Liquidity Index matter for Dogecoin? In general, high liquidity levels can signal greater capital flowing into risk-on assets, especially memecoins like DOGE. When the Global Liquidity Index trends lower, it often reflects tighter financial conditions worldwide. Historically, Dogecoin’s most explosive moves—such as the meteoric rally of 2021—emerged when broader liquidity was on the rise, fostering an environment that helped accelerate trading volumes across the crypto landscape. Kevin’s chart offers no guarantees, but it does underscore an area where Dogecoin’s historic support lines, fib retracement levels, and a bottoming global liquidity channel all converge. Whether this confluence will serve as a catalyst for the next Dogecoin rally remains to be seen, but the chart makes a compelling case to monitor how the Global Liquidity Index evolves—and what it might mean for the ever-popular meme-inspired cryptocurrency. At press time, DOGE traded at $0.15723. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
A New York lawmaker has introduced legislation that would allow state agencies to accept cryptocurrency payments, signaling growing political momentum for digital asset integration in public services.Assembly Bill A7788, introduced by Assemblyman Clyde Vanel, seeks to amend state financial law to allow New York state agencies to accept cryptocurrencies as a form of payment.It would permit state agencies to accept payments in Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Litecoin (LTC) and Bitcoin Cash (BCH), according to the bill’s text.Source: Nysenate.govAccording to the bill, state offices could authorize crypto payments for “fines, civil penalties, rent, rates, taxes, fees, charges, revenue, financial obligations or other amounts,” as well as penalties, special assessments and interest.Related: Trump’s tariff escalation exposes ‘deeper fractures’ in global financial systemCryptocurrency legislation is becoming a focal point in New York, with Bill A7788 marking the state’s second crypto-focused legislation in a little over a month.In March, New York introduced Bill A06515, aiming to establish criminal penalties to prevent cryptocurrency fraud and protect investors from rug pulls.Crypto-focused legislation has gathered momentum since President Donald Trump took office on Jan. 20, with Trump signaling during his campaign that his administration intends to make crypto policy a national priority, as well as making the US a global hub for blockchain innovation.Related: Illinois Senate passes crypto bill to fight fraud and rug pullsNew York may mandate state “service fee” on crypto paymentsIf passed, the bill would mark a significant shift in how New York handles digital assets. It would allow state entities to integrate cryptocurrency into the payment infrastructure used for collecting public funds.The proposal also includes a clause allowing the state to impose a service fee on those choosing to pay with crypto. According to the text, the state may require “a service fee not exceeding costs incurred by the state in connection with the cryptocurrency payment transaction.” This could include transaction costs or fees owed to crypto issuers.Assembly Bill A7788 has been referred to the Assembly Committee for review and may advance to the state Senate as the next step.New York’s legislation comes shortly after the state of Illinois passed a crypto bill to fight fraud and rug pulls, after the recent wave of insider schemes related to memecoins, Cointelegraph reported on April 11.Magazine: XRP win leaves Ripple and industry with no crypto legal precedent set
Market observers remained fixex on tariffs and Fed policy decision despite March inflation data cushioning bitcoin and crypto prices on Friday.
The Trump tariff pause the pause offers “breathing space” while keeping pressure on China, said one analyst.
Inflation breakevens head south amid the Trump trade war.
WazirX has once again postponed the distribution of its remaining user funds, pushing the timeline to May 2025. This marks another delay in the ongoing process, leaving many users waiting longer than expected. The exchange cited internal reasons for the setback but did not provide detailed explanations. Users who have been anticipating the release of …
Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) in a latest discussion paper has proposed updates to crypto regulation. It plans to divide digital assets into two categories so that it could be regulated better and aims to make crypto rules more effective and easier to apply. The agency demands public feedback on the proposal before finalizing it …
BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager with $11.6 trillion in assets under management, reported $84 billion in total net inflows in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 3% annualized growth in assets under management.The firm’s strong performance was led by a record first quarter for iShares exchange-traded funds (ETFs) alongside continued strength in private markets and net inflows, according to BlackRock’s Q1 earnings released on April 11.Of the $107 billion in net inflows to iShares ETFs, $3 billion, or 2.8% of the total ETF inflows, was directed to digital asset products in Q1, BlackRock said.BlackRock’s net flow data in Q1 2025 (in billions of US dollars). Source: BlackRockAlternative investments also played a significant role in Q1, with private market inflows totaling $9.3 billion.Digital assets remain small segmentAs of March 31, digital assets accounted for $34 million in base fees or less than 1% of BlackRock’s long-term revenue.By the end of the first quarter, BlackRock’s total digital assets under management amounted to $50.3 billion, which represents about 0.5% of the firm’s $11.6 trillion in total assets under management.BlackRock’s business results in Q1 2025 (in millions of US dollars). Source: BlackRockBlackRock’s financial results suggest that digital assets still make up a modest share of the company’s business.Despite that, BlackRock’s $3 billion in digital asset inflows is notable given widespread liquidations in the Bitcoin ETF market earlier this year. The company’s figures suggest that investor interest in crypto-backed ETFs remains steady.Base fee growth shows “best start to a year since 2021,” CEO saysDespite BlackRock recording a 70% drop in net inflows in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous quarter, with inflows falling from $281 billion in Q4 2024 to $84 billion, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink pointed to the company’s solid fee growth as a major indicator of success.“We delivered 6% organic base fee growth in the first quarter, representing our best start to a year since 2021 and secular strength against a complex market backdrop,” Fink said in the report.Related: Bitcoin could reduce dominance of US dollar — BlackRockFink also mentioned that the company is focused on helping clients navigate market and policy changes while also providing insights on “long-term structural growth opportunities,” adding:“The goal for us is to keep our clients focused on the long-term, and help them achieve any near-term allocation or liquidity changes they need within the BlackRock platform.”While BlackRock saw $3 billion in crypto asset inflows in Q1 2025, some other Bitcoin ETF issuers have suffered massive outflows.Flows by issuer (in millions of US dollars). Source: CoinSharesAccording to CoinShares data, Grayscale saw roughly $1.4 billion in outflows from its crypto ETFs year-to-date as of April 4.Magazine: Bitcoin heading to $70K soon? Crypto baller funds SpaceX flight: Hodler’s Digest, March 30 – April 5
The markets are recovering from the trade-war turmoil, which has dragged the Solana price below $100 for a while. The bears did try to drag the price below the range for two consecutive days but failed, with the price reclaiming $120 in no time. Since then, the price has been consolidating around the gains, aiming …
Coinbase has filed a legal objection to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC) latest attempt to delay the release of key documents related to the alleged debanking of crypto firms. On April 10, the exchange opposed the FDIC’s request for a 16-day extension in response to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit. Paul Grewal, […]
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Even with the Ethereum price struggling amid the market downturn, there are still some who remain bullish on the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap. One of those is pseudonymous crypto analyst NotWojak, who took to the TradingView website to share a rather bullish prediction for the Ethereum price that goes contrary to the current market sentiment. Bearish Ethereum Price Downtrend Coming To An End The Ethereum price is still stuck in an apparent downtrend. However, according to the crypto analyst, this could be ending anytime soon with two supply zones coming up. So far, there have been multiple liquidity sweeps across major levels, sending the Ethereum price towards lower lows. Nevertheless, this could turn bullish soon as they could suggest a reversal is coming for the cryptocurrency. Related Reading: This Crypto Analyst Predicted The Bitcoin Price Crash At $97,000, He Just Released Another Forecast Currently, the two supply zones called out by the analyst are the $1,425 and $1,600 level. As they explain, the $1,425 level has already been mitigated during the latest retracement. So, this leaves only the $1,600 level unmitigated. As such, this could easily turn this level into resistance in the event of an uptrend. Despite sellers still dominating currently with high volumes pouring into the market, the crypto analyst puts the bottom before $1,350. In this case, this level could be potential support and the breakout could begin from here. The target for this major breakout has been placed 20% above the current level, with the analyst setting a high $1,835 target. This could lead to further upside, especially if resistances are easily cleared from here. ETH On-Chain Ethereum’s profitability has plummeted with the price decline as only 32% of all investors are seeing any profit on their positions. On the other side, 65% of all holders are in losses and only 2% are sitting at breakeven price, according to data from the on-chain data aggregation website, IntoTheBlock. Related Reading: XRP Price Forms Rounded Bottom Within Descending Channel, Target Set Above $3 Ethereum whales have also been very active during this time and this could mean that large investors have been behind the selling that has crashed the ETH price. Large transactions rose from $4.8 billion to $6.48 billion by April 9 as the Ethernet price dropped back below $1,500. Average transaction size also grew during the this time from $4,048 to $5,415. This suggests that investors are moving more coins at the time, which could explain the increased selling that has plagued the cryptocurrency. If this continues, then the ETH price could see further crashes from here. At the time of writing, the Ethereum price was trending at $1,544, down 4.56% in the last day. Featured image from Dall.E, chart from TradingView.com
An elderly crypto whale known as “HEX 19” lost nearly $4.5 million in a slow-moving hack that drained his staked HEX over multiple years. At first, it looked like a HEX whale was cashing out. But it wasn’t long before the community realized he didn’t voluntarily unstake his tokens — he had become a victim of a major exploit.The cyberattack started in November 2021, touched multiple phishing wallets and was traced back to an online entity known as “Konpyl,” a threat actor familiar to crypto investigators.The breach not only shook the token’s price but also exposed a web of fraudulent operations tied to Inferno Drainer and the $1.6 million fake Rabby wallet scam of February 2024.HEX token price sinks following the HEX19 hack. Source: CoinGeckoHEX hackers and the web of connectionsA blockchain investigator who spoke to Cointelegraph on condition of anonymity said, "There’s direct counterparty exposure with wallets used in the fake Rabby app scam as well as the HEX19 Victim’s funds flowing directly into wallets used to launder illicit Inferno Drainer phishing scam proceeds." The first major batch of outflows from the victim’s wallet occurred in November 2021 and has continued over the years as assets locked away in decade-long stakes continued to unlock, some prematurely closed by the hacker with penalties. HEX19 wallet loses almost $4 million on Nov. 21. Source: Arkham IntelligenceRelated: THORChain at crossroads: Decentralization clashes with illicit activityThe deeper investigators dug into the wallets tied to the HEX19 hack, the more it became clear that this wasn't a one-off for the hacker. The same addresses appeared again and again across phishing campaigns, wallet drainers and laundering trails.Wallets used by the HEX19 hacker, the fake Rabby wallet scam, and several schemes related to Inferno Drainer, share a common address: Konpyl.In an October 2024 investigation, Cointelegraph Magazine analyzed on- and offchain evidence gathered by an investigator and a US government agency which links Konpyl to Konstantin Pylinskiy, an executive of a Dubai-based investment firm who uses the nickname in his online activities. Pylinskiy has denied any involvement with scams.The investigator said the attack on HEX19 was possible because the victim had stored his seed phrases in the cloud. Transaction records show that the hackers use victim funds for initial transfers to their illicit accounts, a common trait of Konpyl-linked schemes. “The HEX19 hacker follows similar patterns from other scams by ‘Konpyl,’” they said.In a November 2024 report, Cointelegraph learned that Konpyl-linked wallets had a high number of interactions with scams connected to Inferno Drainer, a scam-as-a-service threat actor. Fantasy, a forensics specialist and investigations lead at crypto insurance firm Fairside Network, told Cointelegraph that Konpyl may possibly function less as a direct attacker and more as a laundering proxy.Inside the HEX hackThe first batch of funds started moving out from the wallet on Nov. 21, 2021, but blockchain records show that the wallet may have been compromised as early as Nov. 3, as the victim wallet (0x97E…7a7df) had an outflow to one of the hacker’s wallets.On Nov. 21, the HEX19 was drained nearly $4 million across nine separate transactions. The majority of the losses were in HEX tokens. The primary destination was address 0xcfe…8A11D, which we will call HEX Hacker 1 (HH1).That same day, HH1 began splitting the stolen funds. It sent $2.64 million (12.33 million HEX) to a second wallet 0xA30…2EA17, or HEX Hacker 2 (HH2).A follow-up transaction on Dec. 10, 2021, sent another 616,700 HEX (worth around $86,700 at the time) from HH1 to HH2.Then, on Feb. 18, 2022, HH1 transferred 5.2 million HEX (worth about $1 million at the time) and some Ether to yet another address: 0x719a...4Bd0c, where the funds remain parked to this day.The HH2 wallet appears central to laundering efforts.From December 2021 to March 2022, HH2 sent over $1 million to Tornado Cash, Ethereum’s best-known anonymizing protocol.HH2 also transferred $106,758 in DAI to an intermediary wallet, 0x837…2Ba9B, which was used to interact with DeFi platforms like 1inch to further obscure or swap funds.The intermediary interacts with 0x7BF…C4eAa, a wallet that received direct inflows from Konpyl (an online persona that has appeared in numerous phishing and draining operations).HH2’s laundering chain also intersects with a high-risk wallet — 0x909…e4371 — flagged for over 70 suspicious transactions.On May 16, 2024, a third wallet Hex Hacker (HH3) wallet 0xdCe…4f0d8 began withdrawing funds from the compromised HEX19 address.HH3 has received around $108,000 in HEX from the victim’s account. HH3 connects to 0x87B…53d92, an address previously Cointelegraph’s November investigation as part of an Inferno Drainer-linked scam. That same wallet shares a commingling address (0xF2F...6a608) with Konpyl, which connects a March 2024 Inferno-linked scam and the Rabby wallet phishing incident.Finally, a fourth wallet 0x7cc…59ee2 — HEX Hacker 4 (HH4) — enters the picture. Beginning on Jan. 12, 2024, HH4 began siphoning funds from the HEX19 wallet through March.Related: From Sony to Bybit: How Lazarus Group became crypto’s supervillainThis wallet interacts with 0x4E9…c71C2, which is a known address used by the fake Rabby wallet scammer.Lessons from the HEX19 HackHEX19, the retired tech veteran, has been through booms and busts before — just not ones that emptied millions of dollars from his digital wallet in a single day.He filed police reports, and exchanges couldn’t do much to help, he said. The remaining staked funds, including 10-year HEX locks, became ticking time bombs. He knew the hackers had access and were just waiting to extract more.Cointelegraph has found at least 180 suspicious transactions from November 2021 to October 2024, totaling over $4.5 million. The victim's wallet still has nine active stakes remaining, though their values aren’t as significant as those prematurely closed and withdrawn by the thieves.The active stakes are not as valuable as those closed by hackers. Source: HEXscout“You have this feeling in the pit of your stomach and you say, ‘Oh my God.’ And then you say, ‘Oh, geez, I gotta tell my family that I’ve screwed up again,’” HEX19, purportedly a retiree in his 80s, said in an interview with HEX community member Mati Allin soon after the exploit. Cointelegraph attempted to get in touch with HEX19 but did not receive a response.Despite the loss, HEX19 maintains a surprising sense of calm: “We’re retired. We live without debt. We live very simply. We have a great family, awesome daughters, granddaughters,” he said in the 2021 community interview. “There’s more to life than money.”While he doesn’t expect to recover the funds, he does hope his experience helps others think twice before storing their seed phrases online.Magazine: Financial nihilism in crypto is over — It’s time to dream big again
A member of Sweden’s parliament proposed adding Bitcoin to the country’s foreign exchange reserves, suggesting increased openness to cryptocurrency adoption in Europe following recent moves by the United States.Swedish MP Rickard Nordin issued an open letter urging Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson to consider adopting Bitcoin (BTC) as a national reserve asset.“Sweden has a tradition of a conservative and carefully managed foreign exchange reserve, mainly consisting of foreign currencies and gold,” Nordin wrote in a letter registered on April 8, adding:“At the same time, there is a rapid development in digital assets, and several international players regard bitcoin as a custodian and a hedge against inflation. In many parts of the world, bitcoin is used as a means of payment and as security against rising inflation.”“It is also an important way for freedom fighters to handle payments when under the oppression of authoritarian regimes,” he added.Open letter from MP Rickard Nordin. Source: Riksdagen.seRelated: US Bitcoin reserve marks’ real step’ toward global financial integrationThe Swedish proposal echoes a recent move by the United States. In March, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to create a national Bitcoin reserve funded by cryptocurrency seized in criminal investigations rather than purchased through market channels.The order authorized the Treasury and Commerce secretaries to develop “budget-neutral strategies” to buy more Bitcoin for the reserve, provided there were no additional costs to taxpayers.The governor of the Czech National Bank has also considered Bitcoin as part of a potential diversification strategy for the country’s foreign reserves, Cointelegraph reported on Jan. 7.Related: Bitcoin reserve backlash signals unrealistic industry expectationsEuropean lawmakers silent on Bitcoin legislation amid CBDC pushEuropean lawmakers have remained mostly silent on Bitcoin legislation, despite Trump’s historic executive order and Bitcoin’s economic model favoring the early adopters.The lack of Bitcoin-related statements may stem from Europe’s focus on the launch of the digital euro, a central bank digital currency (CBDC), James Wo, the founder and CEO of venture capital firm DFG, told Cointelegraph, adding:“This highlights the EU’s greater emphasis on the digital euro, though the recent outage in the ECB’s Target 2 (T2) payment system, which caused significant transaction delays, raised concerns about its ability to oversee a digital currency when it struggles with daily operations.”ECB President Christine Lagarde is pushing ahead with the digital euro’s rollout, expected in October. Lagarde has emphasized that the CBDC will coexist with cash and offer privacy protections to address concerns about government overreach.“The European Union is looking to launch the digital euro, our central bank digital currency, by October this year,” Lagarde said during a news conference, adding:“We are working to ensure that the digital euro coexists with cash, addressing privacy concerns by making it pseudonymous and cash-like in nature.”Source: CointelegraphThis is in stark contrast to the approach of the US, where Trump has taken a firm stance against CBDCs, prohibiting “the establishment, issuance, circulation, and use” of a US dollar-based CBDC.Magazine: SCB tips $500K BTC, SEC delays Ether ETF options, and more: Hodler’s Digest, Feb. 23 –March. 1
Key takeawaysBear raids involve deliberate efforts by whales to drive down crypto prices using short-selling, FUD and large-scale sell-offs to trigger panic and profit from the dip.These raids create volatility, trigger liquidations and damage retail confidence. However, they can also expose weak or fraudulent projects.Signs include sudden price drops, high trading volume, absence of news and quick recoveries, indicating price manipulation rather than natural market trends.Traders can guard against bear raids by using stop-loss orders, diversifying portfolios, monitoring whale activity and trading on reputable, regulated platforms.Not all market moves are organic in the dynamic world of crypto trading; some are engineered to make quick profits. One such tactic is the bear raid, often driven by powerful market players known as whales. These traders strategically use short-selling, where they borrow and sell assets at current prices, aiming to repurchase them cheaper once the price drops. So, how exactly does this tactic play out? This article dives into what a bear raid is and how it functions. It also covers how bear raids impact the crypto market, what the signs are and how retail investors can protect their interests. What is a bear raid?A bear raid is a deliberate strategy to drive down the price of an asset, typically through aggressive selling and the spread of fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD). The tactic dates back to the early days of traditional stock markets, where influential traders would collaborate to manipulate prices for profit.Execution of a bear raid involves selling large volumes of a targeted asset to flood the market. The sharp increase in supply creates downward pressure on the price. At the same time, the perpetrators circulate negative rumors or sentiments, often through media, to amplify fear and uncertainty. As panic sets in, smaller or retail investors often sell off their holdings, further accelerating the price drop.Bear raids differ from natural market downturns. While both lead to falling prices, a bear raid is orchestrated and intentional, meant to benefit those holding short positions. Natural downturns are driven by broader economic trends, market corrections or legitimate changes in investor sentiment.Bear raids are generally considered a form of market manipulation. Regulatory agencies monitor trading activities, investigate suspicious patterns and penalize fraudulent practices such as pump-and-dump schemes or wash trading. To enhance transparency, they require exchanges to implement compliance measures, including KYC (Know Your Customer) and AML (Anti-Money Laundering) protocols. By imposing fines, bans, or legal action, regulators work to maintain fair markets and protect investors. Regulators attempt to deter cryptocurrency market manipulation by enforcing strict rules and oversight. In the US, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) focuses on crypto assets that qualify as securities, while the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) regulates commodities and their derivatives. Under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) law, enforcement in the EU is the responsibility of financial regulators in the member states. Did you know? In 2022, over 50% of Bitcoin’s daily trading volume was influenced by just 1,000 addresses — commonly called whales — highlighting their market-shaking power.Who executes bear raids?In the crypto world, “whales” are big investors capable of executing bear raids. Because of their substantial holdings of cryptocurrencies, whales can influence market trends and price movements in ways smaller retail traders cannot.Compared to other traders, whales operate on a different scale, thanks to their access to more capital and advanced tools. While you might be looking for short-term gains or simply following trends, whales often use strategic buying or selling to create price shifts that benefit their long-term positions. Their moves are carefully planned and can affect the market without you even realizing it.If you are a regular crypto trader, you might be aware of the massive crypto movement between wallets. Such large-scale transfer of crypto causes panic or excitement in the cryptocurrency community. For example, when a whale transfers a large amount of Bitcoin (BTC) to an exchange, it may signal a potential sell-off, causing prices to dip. Conversely, removing coins from exchanges to self-custodial wallets might suggest long-term holding, which can lead to a price upswing.The relatively low liquidity of crypto markets gives whales such influence over crypto trading. With fewer buyers and sellers compared to traditional financial markets, a single large trade can dramatically swing prices. This means whales can manipulate market conditions, intentionally or not, often leaving retail traders struggling to keep up.Did you know? Bear raids often trigger automated liquidations in leveraged positions, sometimes causing crypto prices to nosedive by over 20% in minutes.Real-world examples of whales profiting from falling pricesIn crypto, cases of bear raids are generally hard to confirm due to anonymity. Nevertheless, these examples of incidents when whales made profits from falling cryptocurrency prices will help you understand how such scenarios work:Terra Luna collapse (May 2022)A Bank for International Settlements (BIS) report disclosed that during the 2022 crypto market crash, triggered by the collapse of Terra (LUNA), whales made a profit at the expense of retail investors. Smaller retail investors predominantly purchased cryptocurrencies at lower prices, whereas whales primarily sold off their holdings, profiting from the downturn.In May 2022, the Terra blockchain was briefly suspended following the failure of its algorithmic stablecoin TerraUSD (UST) and the associated cryptocurrency LUNA, resulting in a loss of nearly $45 billion in market value in one week. The company behind Terra filed for bankruptcy on Jan. 21, 2024. FTX collapse (November 2022)In November 2022, close financial ties between FTX and Alameda Research set off a chain reaction: a bank run, failed acquisition deals, FTX's bankruptcy and criminal charges for founder Sam Bankman-Fried.Yet again, as FTX collapsed, retail investors rushed to buy the dip. Whales, however, sold crypto in bulk right before the steep price decline, according to the same BIS report that discussed the fall of Terra Luna.Graph 1.B illustrates a transfer of wealth, where larger investors liquidated their holdings, disadvantaging smaller investors. Furthermore, Graph 1.C reveals that following market shocks, large Bitcoin holders (whales) reduced their positions, while smaller holders (referred to as krill in the report) increased theirs. The price trends indicate that whales sold their Bitcoin to krill before significant price drops, securing profits at the krill's expense.Bitconnect (BCC) shutdown (January 2018)Bitconnect, a cryptocurrency promising unusually high returns via an alleged trading bot, experienced a dramatic collapse in early 2018. Despite reaching a peak valuation of over $2.6 billion, the platform was widely suspected of operating as a Ponzi scheme. The token suffered a steep fall of over 90% in value within hours. While this was not a classic bear raid, the sudden exit of insiders and whale sell-offs, combined with negative publicity, created a cascading effect that devastated retail investors.Did you know? Whale wallets are tracked so closely that some platforms offer real-time alerts for their trades, helping retail traders anticipate possible bear raids.How whales execute bear raids in crypto, key stepsIn the crypto space, whales can execute bear raids by leveraging their massive holdings to trigger sharp price drops and profit from the following panic. These tactics typically unfold in a few steps:Step 1: Accumulating a position: Whales begin by taking positions that will benefit from falling prices, such as shorting a cryptocurrency or preparing to buy large quantities once the price drops. Step 2: Initiating the raid: Next, the whale triggers the sell-off by dumping large volumes of the targeted crypto asset. This sudden surge in supply causes the price to drop sharply, shaking market confidence.Step 3: Spreading FUD: To maximize the impact, whales may spread FUD using coordinated social media campaigns or fake news. Rumors like adverse regulatory action or insolvency can spread quickly, prompting retail traders to sell in panic.Step 4: Triggering sell-offs: The combination of visible large sell orders and negative sentiment induces other investors to sell their holdings, amplifying the downward pressure on the asset's price.Step 5: Profiting from the dip: Once the price plunges, the whale steps in to either buy back the asset at a lower price or close their short positions for a profit.The whales’ playbook: How do they manipulate the market? Crypto whales use sophisticated tactics to carry out bear raids and manipulate the market to their advantage. These tactics give whales an edge over retail traders, enabling them to manipulate prices and profit while the latter are left to deal with the chaos:Trading bots and algorithms: Advanced bots allow whales to execute large sell orders in milliseconds, triggering sharp price drops. Before the market can react, the whales turn the situation in their favor.Leverage and margin trading: Whales rely (to a large extent) on leverage and margin trading to make profits. Borrowing funds enables them to increase their position size and amplify the sales pressure. It triggers stronger market reactions than would be possible with their holdings.Low liquidity on certain exchanges: Whales can place large sell orders in illiquid markets with fewer participants and a low volume of trades, causing disproportionate price drops. They may even manipulate order books by placing and canceling large fake orders, known as spoofing, to trick other traders.Collaborate with other whales: Whales may collaborate with other large holders or trading groups to coordinate attacks, making the bear raid more effective and harder to trace.Impact of bear raids on the crypto market Bear raids can significantly disrupt the crypto market. Here is how they impact different players and the broader ecosystem: Effects on retail traders: Retail investors tend to react overwhelmingly during a bear raid. The sudden price drop and spread of fear often lead to panic selling, resulting in heavy losses for the investors who exit at the bottom. Most retail traders sell emotionally, not realizing they are playing into the whale’s strategy. Broader market consequences: Bear raids increase market volatility, making it riskier for new and existing investors. These events can shake overall confidence in the crypto space, leading to reduced trading activity and investor hesitation. In extreme cases, they can even trigger liquidations across multiple platforms. Potential positive outcomes: Bear raids can sometimes have cleansing effects on the crypto market. Market corrections induced by such raids remove overvalued assets from unsustainable highs. In some cases, these raids may expose weak or fraudulent projects, forcing investors to reassess their choices.Signs of crypto bear raidsBear raids are misleading market moves that resemble genuine downturns, often tricking traders into selling too soon. A quick drop in price may look like the start of a bearish trend, leading to impulsive decisions by retail traders. Often, these dips are short-lived and followed by a swift recovery once the whales take their profits. Recognizing the signs of crypto bear raids is key to avoiding losses.Here are a few signs of crypto bear raids:A sudden price drop that seems to break support levels Spike in trading volume during a market declineQuick rebound after the dipNegative sentiment causing trader panic No major news to explain the dropHow to protect yourself from crypto bear raidsTo safeguard your investments from crypto bear raids, you can use the following strategies:Conduct thorough technical analysis: Regularly analyze price charts and indicators to discern genuine market trends from manipulative movements. Implement stop-loss orders: Set predetermined sell points to automatically exit positions if prices fall to a certain level, limiting potential losses during sudden downturns. Diversify your portfolio: Spread investments across various assets to mitigate risk. A well-diversified portfolio is less vulnerable to the impact of a bear raid on any single asset. Stay informed: Monitor market news and developments to better anticipate and respond to potential manipulative activities. Use reputable exchanges: Engage with trading platforms that have robust measures against market manipulation, ensuring a fairer trading environment.The ethical debate: Crypto market manipulation vs free market dynamicsThe principles of free market dynamics starkly contrast to market manipulation tactics, such as bear raids. Proponents of free markets favor minimal regulatory intervention, arguing that it fosters innovation and self-regulation. A free market is an economic system in which supply and demand determine the prices of goods and services. Still, the decentralized and often unregulated nature of crypto markets has made them susceptible to manipulative practices. Bear raids require coordinated efforts by perpetrators to drive down asset prices, misleading investors and undermining market integrity. Such tactics bring losses to retail investors and erode trust in the financial system. Critics point out that without adequate oversight, these manipulative strategies can proliferate, leading to unfair advantages and potential economic harm. While free market dynamics are valued for promoting efficiency and innovation, the implications of unchecked market manipulation in the cryptocurrency space can be disastrous. Incidents like bear raids highlight the need for balanced regulation to ensure fairness and protect investors.Crypto regulations worldwide for market manipulation tacticsCryptocurrency market manipulation, including tactics like bear raids, has prompted varied regulatory responses worldwide. In the US, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) classifies digital currency as commodities and actively pursues fraudulent schemes, including market manipulation practices such as spoofing and wash trading. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has also taken action against individuals who have manipulated digital asset markets. The European Union has implemented the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation to establish a comprehensive framework addressing market manipulation and ensure consumer protection regarding stablecoins.These efforts notwithstanding, the decentralized and borderless nature of cryptocurrencies presents challenges for regulators. Global cooperation and adaptive regulatory frameworks are essential to effectively combat market manipulation and safeguard investors in the evolving landscape of digital finance.Progression articlesLong and short positions in crypto, explainedA beginner’s guide on how to short Bitcoin and other cryptocurrenciesWhat is a bear trap in trading and how to avoid it?This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
The market for AI technologies is worth around $244 billion in 2025, and while that number seems impressive, the forecast is even more so: it will exceed $800 billion by 2030, according to Statista. In light of this, the Internet of Things (IoT) has transitioned into the Internet of AI Agents (IoAA), a decentralized network that …
A known maximal extractable value (MEV) white hat actor intercepted about $2.6 million in crypto assets stolen from Morpho Labs’ decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol. On April 10, Morpho Labs implemented a front-end update on its Morpho Blue application. A day later, a hacker breached an address through a vulnerability caused by the update. Blockchain security firm PeckShield reported that an address lost $2.6 million due to the vulnerability. However, the security firm noted that “c0ffeebabe.eth,” a known white hat MEV operator, had front-run the transaction, effectively intercepting the stolen funds.At the time of writing, the funds had been transferred to a different wallet address. It’s unclear whether the funds have yet been returned to their original owner.Morpho Labs reverts front-end updateResponding to the incident, Morpho Labs reversed its front-end update. In a post on X on April 11, the team confirmed it had been alerted to the issue and rolled back the changes. The team also said that normal operations had resumed:“All funds in the Morpho Protocol are safe and unaffected. The Morpho team will provide a detailed update later today in this thread.”After further investigation, the team confirmed that its front-end was safe and that users don’t need to perform additional actions to secure their assets. The team said the update was pushed to enhance the transaction flow. However, specific transactions on the front-end were incorrectly crafted. The Morpho Labs team said they’ve identified the issue and applied a fix. They added that they would publish a more detailed explanation of the incident next week. Cointelegraph reached out to the Morpho Labs team on X but did not receive a response by publication. Related: MEV bot loses $180K in ETH from access control exploitWhite hat MEV operator c0ffeebabe.ethC0ffeebabe.eth is known to have contributed to the recovery of funds during DeFi hacks. In 2023, the white hat MEV operator retrieved around $5.4 million in Ether (ETH) from the Curve Finance exploit in July 2023. During the incident, c0ffeebabe.eth used a bot to front-run a malicious hacker to secure 3,000 ETH. The funds were then returned to the Curve deployer address. In 2024, the mysterious white hat actor also recovered funds stolen during the Blueberry exploit. In an update, the DeFi protocol said all drained funds had been front-run by c0ffeebabe.eth and returned. Magazine: Illegal arcade disguised as … a fake Bitcoin mine? Soldier scams in China: Asia Express
Oxycoin’s price is rising again and shows the potential to revive the bull run it demonstrated in the first few days of 2025. The price has surged by over 2000% in just two weeks, which soon faced a massive bearish activity, leading to an 85% drop in the next few months. However, the steep descending …
Your day-ahead look for April 11, 2025
With inflation eroding the value of fiat and traditional assets under pressure, a growing number of companies are exploring a bold shift: putting Bitcoin on the balance sheet. On Thursday, April 17 at 2PM ET, The Block and Bitwise are hosting a live webinar with two of the most influential voices in the space: Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), […]
The flatulence-themed token is up nearly 99% on a seven-day average, showcasing its explosive growth follows Trump's tariff pause.
On-chain data shows the Bitcoin Market Value to Realized Value (MVRV) Ratio is currently on a record streak against the metric for Ethereum. Bitcoin Has Continued To Dominate Ethereum In MVRV Recently In its latest weekly report, the on-chain analytics firm Glassnode has discussed about the divergence forming between Bitcoin and Ethereum. First, below is a chart that shows how the two cryptocurrencies have compared in terms of the Realized Cap growth since the start of the bull cycle. The “Realized Cap” here refers to an indicator that measures the total amount of capital that the investors of a given asset as a whole have invested into it. Changes in this metric, therefore, reflect the amount of capital going in/out of the cryptocurrency. Related Reading: Bitcoin Breakout Above This Level Could Set Stage For $208,550 Top, Analyst Says From the graph, it’s visible that Bitcoin has observed a massive increase of $468 billion in the Realized Cap since the bear market bottom back in November 2022. In this same window, Ethereum has seen inflows amounting to only $61 billion. As the analytics firm explains, This disparity in capital inflows between the two assets partly underscores why these assets have experienced diverging performance since 2023. Ethereum has experienced a relatively smaller inflow of demand and fresh capital this cycle, which has resulted in weaker price appreciation and a lack of a fresh ATH, despite Bitcoin prices reaching over $100k in December. Divergence between the assets has also formed in another metric: the MVRV Ratio. This indicator keeps track of the ratio between the Market Cap of an asset and its Realized Cap. Since the Market Cap represents the value the holders are carrying in the present, its comparison against the Realized Cap in the MVRV Ratio tells us about the profit-loss status of the investors as a whole. As is visible in the above graph, Bitcoin’s MVRV Ratio diverged from Ethereum’s around the start of the bull market. This implies that BTC investors have consistently enjoyed a higher amount of unrealized profits in this cycle. In the recent market downturn so far, ETH has taken a larger hit than BTC, so its MVRV Ratio has also declined at a faster rate. BTC investors as a whole are still in the green, but ETH holders are now underwater as the indicator for it has dipped under the 1 mark. Related Reading: 62.8% Of XRP Realized Cap Held By New Investors: Sign Of Fragility? To better showcase the disparity in the MVRV Ratio of the two coins, Glassnode has charted the difference between the two. As displayed in the graph, the difference between the Bitcoin and Ethereum MVRV Ratio has remained positive for 812 consecutive days now, which is the longest streak in history. BTC Price At the time of writing, Bitcoin is floating around $79,300, down over 3% in the last seven days. Featured image from Dall-E, Glassnode.com, chart from TradingView.com