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The Japanese investment firm Metaplanet has acquired nearly 620 bitcoins worth $60 million, increasing its assets to 1,762 BTC worth $168 million as part of its cryptocurrency accumulation strategy 💼
The Japanese investment firm Metaplanet has acquired 619.7 bitcoins for $60 million — its largest purchase since it began investing in cryptocurrency. The total number of bitcoins it now holds is 1,762 BTC worth $168 million. The company also reported that its Bitcoin yield from October to December was 310 percent, significantly surpassing previous figures. Going forward, Metaplanet plans to expand its Bitcoin accumulation strategy, including other financial instruments.
Cryptopia began distributing 225 million dollars to affected users, including Bitcoin and Dogecoin, after the 2019 hacker attack, which affected more than 10,000 accounts 💻
The liquidator of the bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange Cryptopia, Grant Thornton, has begun distributing 225 million dollars in cryptocurrency to victims of the 2019 hacker attack. On December 20, 2024, over 10,000 users received payouts in Bitcoin and Dogecoin totaling no less than 400 million New Zealand dollars. The liquidator will continue to make payments, including possible additional payouts for users who register later. Cryptopia lost 16 million dollars in the hack and owed creditors 4.2 million dollars.
Cryptocurrency companies, including Ripple, Coinbase, and Kraken, donated millions of dollars to Trump's inauguration, including 5 million dollars in XRP 💰
Cryptocurrency companies, including Ripple, Coinbase, and Kraken, donated millions of dollars to the inauguration of elected US President Donald Trump. Ripple donated 5 million dollars in XRP, and companies like MoonPay and Robinhood also promised financial support, though the exact amount was not disclosed. These donations are part of the 200 million dollars raised for event organization. The crypto industry is actively supporting Trump, hoping for his promises to ease industry regulation and the appointment of crypto supporters to his administration.
The German regulator demanded that Worldcoin delete biometric data that does not comply with GDPR and implement new procedures to enhance user data protection 🌍
The German regulator BayLDA completed an investigation into the Worldcoin project and ordered the company to delete biometric data collected in violation of GDPR, as well as to implement a secure deletion procedure. In addition, Worldcoin must ensure explicit user consent for data processing. In response, the company filed an appeal, seeking clarity on the definition of data anonymization in the EU. Previously, Worldcoin removed outdated data and temporarily suspended operations in some countries to enhance user rights protection and comply with European privacy standards.
Sophgo may be blacklisted in the U.S. due to ties with Huawei; chips found in Ascend 910B raise national security concerns 🔒
Tether invests $775 million in Rumble: $250 million in cash and support for repurchasing 70 million shares at $7.50 per share to boost the platform's growth 📈
The SEC fined Tai Mo Shan $123 million for deceiving investors about the stability of Terra USD, artificially maintaining the price at $1, and illegally selling LUNA tokens as unregistered securities 💵
Rostislav Panev arrested in Israel: LockBit developer accused of creating cyber weapons causing damage worth over $500 million 💰
Roman Storm, co-founder of Tornado Cash, demands the case to be dropped: the court recognized sanctions against the platform's autonomous smart contracts as illegal and unfounded ⚖️
Tether is preparing to launch an artificial intelligence platform in 2025, expanding beyond USD stablecoins with investments in energy, bitcoin mining, and technologies 🤖
Bitget and Fiat24 announced a partnership to develop PayFi: support for Ethereum, Bitget Token, and USD Coin, simplifying crypto payments and integrating blockchain solutions in 65 countries 🌍
The financial giant BPCE will start offering its clients investments in Bitcoin and cryptocurrencies through its subsidiary Hexarq in 2025, after obtaining a license from the AMF regulator 💼
El Salvador added 11 bitcoins (BTC) worth $1 million to its reserves, despite an agreement with the IMF that restricts cryptocurrency purchases and requires a transition to US dollars for tax payments 💵
El Salvador added 11 bitcoins (BTC) worth $1 million to its reserves, just a day after reaching a $1.4 billion agreement with the International Monetary Fund. This deviates from the country's usual practice of purchasing one bitcoin daily. El Salvador now holds 5,980 BTC. Despite IMF demands to limit cryptocurrency purchases, the government reaffirms its commitment to bitcoin as part of its long-term financial strategy.
Bedrock launches brBTC, a new Bitcoin-based derivative asset for decentralized finance with yield generation through derivatives and restaking 🚀
Bedrock has introduced brBTC, a new Bitcoin-based derivative asset that transforms its role in decentralized finance. brBTC allows Bitcoin holders to earn yields by utilizing derivatives and participating in advanced restaking protocols. This move continues the development of BTCFi, enhancing liquidity and opening up new opportunities for Bitcoin in DeFi. The protocol addresses issues such as liquidity fragmentation and limited restaking capabilities that were identified in previous versions of the system.
Vivek Ramaswamy's account on X was hacked: scammers posted a false message about the partnership between the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and USUAL, leading to a 35 percent rise in the stablecoin 🚨
Vivek Ramaswamy's account on X was hacked, and scammers posted a false message about a partnership between the US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the stablecoin USUAL. The post claimed this would help solve the deficit problem and promote digital currencies. The price of USUAL immediately rose by 35 percent. Experts confirmed it was a scam. An investigation into the incident is ongoing, and Ramaswamy reported that his account was locked.
The SEC has approved the launch of Bitcoin and Ether ETFs by Hashdex and Franklin Templeton, which will track the prices of cryptocurrencies on the spot market and trade on Nasdaq and Cboe BZX 📈
The SEC has approved the launch of Bitcoin and Ether ETFs by Hashdex and Franklin Templeton. These funds will track the prices of Bitcoin and Ether on the spot market and will trade on Nasdaq and Cboe BZX. The decision is based on updated filings from the companies that meet the SEC's criteria for investor protection. This could encourage other firms, such as BlackRock, to launch similar products. NYSE Arca has also submitted applications for listing cryptocurrency ETFs, including Grayscale, but has not yet received approval.
Best news of the last 10 days
Craig Wright found guilty of contempt of court and sentenced to 12 months in prison, suspended for two years, after attempting a lawsuit over Bitcoin's intellectual property ⚖️
Hong Kong has granted licenses to four new cryptocurrency exchanges, including Accumulus GBA Technology and DFX Labs, reinforcing crypto regulation and supporting the development of digital assets in the region 📈
A federal court dismissed BiT Global's lawsuit against Coinbase, allowing the removal of WBTC from the listing despite claims of competition violation and the risk of control by Justin Sun ⚖️
Kraken launched the Ink second-layer network on Ethereum earlier than planned, receiving 25 million OP tokens from Optimism to enhance DeFi and user interaction 🚀
The Delhi court has demanded a new investigation into the $235 million WazirX hack, Binance delists the WRX token, and the platform prepares for a relaunch with improved services 🔄
The Delhi court has demanded a new investigation into the $235 million hack of WazirX, linked to the North Korean hacker group. Masood Alam was arrested for selling fake accounts via Telegram, but the main hacker remains at large. Binance also announced the delisting of the WRX token, which led to a 51 percent drop in its value. In response, WazirX announced the relaunch of the platform with improved services and the intention to become a decentralized exchange to restore market trust and confidence.
MetaMask, Mastercard, and Baanx launch MetaMask Card pilot to use cryptocurrency (USDC, USDT, WETH) on Mastercard in the EU, UK, Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia 💳
MetaMask, Mastercard, and Baanx have launched the MetaMask Card pilot project, which allows users to spend cryptocurrency directly from their MetaMask wallet wherever Mastercard is accepted. The card is available in the EU, UK, Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia. Unlike traditional crypto cards, the MetaMask Card does not require transferring funds to third-party accounts, enabling direct use of cryptocurrency for purchases. In the future, the card will be available in other countries and through Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Ethena entered into a strategic partnership with World Liberty Financial for the integration of the sUSDe token with Aave, which will improve liquidity and rewards for users on the platform 💥
On December 18, Ethena and World Liberty Financial, backed by Donald Trump, announced a strategic partnership. This includes the integration of the sUSDe token with Aave from World Liberty, allowing users to earn rewards in both sUSDe and WLF tokens. The partnership aims to enhance stablecoin liquidity and stimulate their use on the platform. This decision comes amidst challenges faced by the company, which recently raised investments from Justin Sun.
Elon Musk denied the allegations of Starlink devices being used by terrorists in India after two satellite dishes were seized in Manipur during drug smuggling and militant operations 🚫
Elon Musk denied the information that Starlink was used by terrorists in India. He stated that the company's satellite signals had never been turned on in India. The statement followed after Indian authorities seized two Starlink devices from militants in the state of Manipur. Authorities suspect that the devices were used for navigation by smugglers and requested information about the buyers from the company. Starlink continues to try to obtain permission to operate in India but faces strict security requirements.