Editor's Choice
Fake OKX extension for Firefox with real branding stole users' data: the plugin with false reviews and hidden discrepancies could lead to loss of funds ⚠️
OKX warned about a fake browser extension that was uploaded to the Firefox store under the guise of the official cryptocurrency exchange plugin. The extension used authentic branding and received positive reviews, but contained hidden discrepancies. Scammers may collect users' confidential information. OKX urged users to secure their wallets and avoid downloading extensions from unreliable sources. At the time of the warning, the extension had been downloaded 95 times.
Bhutan has announced the inclusion of Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Binance Coin in the strategic reserves of the new region Gelephu Mindfulness City to strengthen economic stability and develop the cryptocurrency ecosystem 📈
Bhutan has announced the creation of Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), which will include Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Binance Coin (BNB) in its strategic reserves. This decision aims to strengthen the region's economy. Bhutan is actively involved in Bitcoin mining, and by November 2024, its reserves are expected to exceed $1 billion. In March, GMC will host a summit to discuss the integration of cryptocurrencies into the financial systems of countries and their role in the economy.
Bank of America uses XRP for all internal transactions, has filed 83 patents on Ripple technologies, and is a member of the RippleNet Steering Committee for developing interbank settlement standards 📝
David Strijewski, the CEO of Sound Planning Group, stated on FOX Business that Bank of America uses XRP for all internal transactions. He also noted that the bank has filed 83 patents related to blockchain technologies associated with Ripple. Bank of America is a member of the RippleNet Steering Committee, which develops standards for interbank settlements using Ripple technologies. In 2017, the bank filed a patent for a settlement system based on a distributed ledger similar to Ripple.
The Federal Reserve System of the USA is slowing down the pace of lowering interest rates in 2025, despite the stable economy and higher-than-expected inflation, which affects the Bitcoin market 📉
The protocols of the Federal Compulsory Medical Insurance Fund (FOMS) indicated that in 2025, the Federal Reserve System of the USA will slow down the pace of lowering interest rates. The economy remains stable, but there is uncertainty due to potential changes in regulation and trade disputes. The inflation forecast turned out to be higher than expected, and inflation continues to decrease more slowly than planned. Despite this, economic activity remains strong, and unemployment is at a low level. The price of Bitcoin decreased to $94,129 amid expectations of continued inflationary pressure.
FTX has denied Backpack's statements regarding the acquisition of FTX EU and responsibility for payments to creditors, stating that the deal was not approved by the court, and the company did not authorize Backpack to return funds ⚖️
Orange Finance hack on Arbitrum: hacker stole over 840,000 dollars by gaining access to the admin account, updating the contracts, and transferring the funds to their wallet, the team urges users to revoke permissions 🚨
Kazakhstan has blocked more than 3500 illegal cryptocurrency exchanges, including Coinbase, as part of the enhanced fight against violations in the digital assets sector and increasing control over the crypto market 🚫
The chairman of the CFTC, Rostin Behnam, will leave his post on January 20, which will open the way for the appointment of a new head of the agency and a revision of cryptocurrency policy in the U.S. under the Trump administration 🏛️
Bitfinex Derivatives has received the Digital Asset Service Provider license in El Salvador 🇸🇻, which will allow users to continue using the service through the new platform Bitfinex Derivatives El Salvador S.A. de C.V. 🚀
The Governor of the Czech National Bank, Aleš Michl, is considering acquiring Bitcoin to diversify currency reserves, but the bank is not planning to invest in the cryptocurrency at the moment 💰
Michael Barr steps down as Vice Chairman of the U.S. Federal Reserve for supervision amid criticism from the crypto industry and lawmakers over limiting banks' operations with cryptocurrencies 💼
The 14th state of the United States is ready to introduce a bill for a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve 🪙, following the global trend of using cryptocurrency as an asset to hedge against inflation 📉
Ripple has integrated the Chainlink standard to provide reliable price data for the Ripple USD (RLUSD) stablecoin on the XRP Ledger and Ethereum blockchains for DeFi protocols 🔗
Ripple has implemented the Chainlink standard to provide reliable and secure price data for its stablecoin RLUSD, issued on the XRP Ledger and Ethereum blockchains. This will enhance the stability of the coin and expand its use in DeFi protocols such as trading and lending. With Chainlink, RLUSD will receive accurate and transparent price data, which will increase its use in various financial applications and strengthen trust in the multi-channel economy.
In Phuket, two Russians robbed their compatriot of 20,000 dollars due to a 120,000-dollar cryptocurrency debt: one fled to Dubai, the other remains in Thailand 💵
The police of Thailand have started the search for two Russians suspected of robbery against the backdrop of a cryptocurrency dispute in Phuket. A 31-year-old Russian was brutally beaten and robbed of 20,000 dollars at the Karong hotel. The criminals, who were acquainted with the victim, demanded the repayment of a 120,000-dollar debt related to unresolved cryptocurrency deals. One of the attackers, Andrei, stayed in Thailand, while the second, Dmitry, fled to Dubai. Arrest warrants have been issued for them, and the police continue their search with the help of the immigration service.
A Vietnamese criminal group defrauded 200 people of $157,300 through a fake cryptocurrency mining platform BitMiner and the promotion of the fictional cryptocurrency "Bincoin" 💻
A group of fraudsters in Vietnam defrauded over 200 people of $157,300 through a fake cryptocurrency platform BitMiner. They attracted investors with fake cloud mining contracts and promises of high returns. However, all funds went into the criminals' wallets. The platform was registered in Singapore but claimed to operate from Dubai. The police arrested several participants, but one suspect is still at large. A fake cryptocurrency "Bincoin" was also used for further deception.
HashKey Group receives registration from the Central Bank of Ireland as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP), compliant with the EU's Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive ✅
HashKey Group has received registration from the Central Bank of Ireland as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP), becoming the first such licensee compliant with the EU's Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive. The license allows HashKey Europe Limited to provide virtual asset exchange services, transfer services, and wallet storage. This is an important step in the company’s global expansion strategy, which has previously obtained licenses in Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, and Bermuda.
Best news of the last 10 days
Backpack acquires FTX EU, gaining access to the MiFID II license from CySEC to offer regulated cryptocurrency derivatives in the EU and promises to return funds to affected FTX EU clients 💼
Gemini has agreed to pay $5 million to settle CFTC charges of providing false information and potential price manipulation during the launch of the Bitcoin futures contract in 2017 💸
Indonesia officially joined BRICS in 2025, becoming the tenth full member of the bloc, which represents 46 percent of the world's population and 35 percent of global GDP 📊
The cryptocurrency owner lost over $520,000 by transferring 22,415 LINK to a fake cross-chain bridge, becoming a victim of scammers who targeted Telegram group users 💸
Tether has announced the transfer of $1 billion USDT to the Tron blockchain to enhance liquidity and optimize the use of the stablecoin across multiple networks 🔗
Tether will transfer $1 billion USDT to the Tron blockchain to improve liquidity between networks without changing the overall supply of the coin. This move will ensure more efficient use of USDT across various platforms, including Ethereum, Solana, and Tron. The asset transfer will contribute to improved market efficiency and strengthen Tether's leadership in the stablecoin market with a capitalization of $137 billion and daily turnover of $107 billion.
Garanti BBVA is launching the cryptocurrency trading platform Garanti BBVA Kripto, allowing the bank's clients to legally buy and sell Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and other cryptocurrencies in Turkey 📈
Garanti BBVA, the fifth-largest bank in Turkey, is launching a cryptocurrency trading platform, Garanti BBVA Kripto, allowing its customers to legally buy and sell digital assets. To execute trades, the bank is collaborating with the Spanish crypto exchange Bit2me. This move reflects the growing interest in cryptocurrencies in Turkey, which ranks third in the world for cryptocurrency adoption. The launch comes amidst the enforcement of the new EU regulation MiCA, which provides a legal framework for a safe and regulated cryptocurrency market in Europe.
Hedera Hashgraph ($HBAR) integrates into the SpaceX satellite launch with post-quantum cryptography for IoT communications, ensuring global security and decentralized communication 🚀
Hedera Hashgraph ($HBAR) is integrating with the launch of SpaceX satellites, using post-quantum cryptography to secure IoT devices. The WISeSat satellites with SEALSQ chips will offer protection against quantum computing threats. This partnership strengthens Hedera's position in blockchain and IoT, ensuring global secure communication. With the launch on January 14, 2025, Hedera could become a leader in decentralized and secure communication for the future of the Internet of Things (IoT).
Strive Asset has applied to the SEC to create a Bitcoin Bond ETF to invest in convertible bonds of companies buying bitcoins, such as MicroStrategy 💼
Strive Asset, a company owned by entrepreneur and politician Vivek Ramaswamy, has filed an application with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch a Bitcoin Bond ETF. This fund will invest in convertible bonds of companies like MicroStrategy, which are buying bitcoins. This event is a significant step in the development of the Bitcoin ETF market, which is gaining popularity just a year after the launch of the first such fund.