Digital Currency Group Agrees to Settle SEC Charges for $38 Million

Digital Currency Group will pay $38 million to settle SEC charges filed over the crypto firm's bankrupt Genesis Global Capital lending unit. The securities regulator had accused the company of negligence and misleading investors over the health of the failed division. DCG today settled those charges while neither admitting nor denying the allegations. "In mid-June 2022, a large borrower defaulted on a margin call, which compromised GGC’s business," Friday's SEC filing reads. "Yet, Digital Curren...

Digital Currency Group will pay $38 million to settle SEC charges filed over the crypto firm's bankrupt Genesis Global Capital lending unit. The securities regulator had accused the company of negligence and misleading investors over the health of the failed division. DCG today settled those charges while neither admitting nor denying the allegations. "In mid-June 2022, a large borrower defaulted on a margin call, which compromised GGC’s business," Friday's SEC filing reads. "Yet, Digital Curren...

Dogecoin Pumps 27% as DOGE Open Interest Tops Record $5.5 Billion

Dogecoin is riding high days before Donald Trump officially becomes president for a second time. The price of the original meme coin now stands at nearly $0.418 per coin after a 24-hour rise of 9%, according to CoinGecko. The asset—the seventh biggest cryptocurrency by market cap—is currently at its highest price so far in 2025. Over the past seven days, it has jumped by 27%, making it one of the biggest winners out of the top digital coins and tokens. Traders betting on the future price action...

Dogecoin is riding high days before Donald Trump officially becomes president for a second time. The price of the original meme coin now stands at nearly $0.418 per coin after a 24-hour rise of 9%, according to CoinGecko. The asset—the seventh biggest cryptocurrency by market cap—is currently at its highest price so far in 2025. Over the past seven days, it has jumped by 27%, making it one of the biggest winners out of the top digital coins and tokens. Traders betting on the future price action...

Bitcoin Spikes to 2025 High Price Near $105K Ahead of Trump Inauguration

The price of Bitcoin climbed to its highest point in nearly a month Friday, crossing $104,000 on the eve of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration and making a push towards $105,000. The Republican is set to assume control of the White House Monday, and per reporting from Decrypt is likely to issue a series of crypto-related executive orders, ranging from regulatory directives at the SEC to the potential establishment of a so-called national Bitcoin reserve. Bitcoin has climbed as high as...

The price of Bitcoin climbed to its highest point in nearly a month Friday, crossing $104,000 on the eve of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration and making a push towards $105,000. The Republican is set to assume control of the White House Monday, and per reporting from Decrypt is likely to issue a series of crypto-related executive orders, ranging from regulatory directives at the SEC to the potential establishment of a so-called national Bitcoin reserve. Bitcoin has climbed as high as...

LA Wildfires Ethereum NFT Benefit Project Features Art From CryptoPunks Creator

A charity NFT project launched Friday from notable artists in the Web3 world, letting minters purchase digital art while supporting families affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, with all proceeds going to a local nonprofit providing emergency supplies to those in need. The "I Heart LA" collection, curated by Web3 fashion startup mmERCH, features digital artwork from seven prominent artists: CryptoPunks creator Larva Labs, Grant Yun, CrypToadz creator Gremplin, Nice Aunties, Chikai, ClownVamp,...

A charity NFT project launched Friday from notable artists in the Web3 world, letting minters purchase digital art while supporting families affected by the Los Angeles wildfires, with all proceeds going to a local nonprofit providing emergency supplies to those in need. The "I Heart LA" collection, curated by Web3 fashion startup mmERCH, features digital artwork from seven prominent artists: CryptoPunks creator Larva Labs, Grant Yun, CrypToadz creator Gremplin, Nice Aunties, Chikai, ClownVamp,...

Crypto Exchange WazirX Freezes $3 Million Stolen in Hack

After roughly four months of recovery efforts, WazirX, the largest crypto exchange to have operated in India, has frozen $3 million in USDT from last year's devastating $230 million security breach in July. This comes as WazirX undergoes "restructuring proceedings" and works to "trace and retrieve stolen assets," a statement shared with Decrypt reads. Freezing a portion of the stablecoins associated with the incident marks WazirX's first significant breakthrough in a complex recovery effort that...

After roughly four months of recovery efforts, WazirX, the largest crypto exchange to have operated in India, has frozen $3 million in USDT from last year's devastating $230 million security breach in July. This comes as WazirX undergoes "restructuring proceedings" and works to "trace and retrieve stolen assets," a statement shared with Decrypt reads. Freezing a portion of the stablecoins associated with the incident marks WazirX's first significant breakthrough in a complex recovery effort that...

Solana Meme Coin Factory Pump.Fun Sued by Peanut the Squirrel Trader

Pump.fun, one of the most successful crypto projects of last year, is facing a class action lawsuit for alleged violations of securities law. The lawsuit specifically names the sale of popular meme coin Peanut the Squirrel (PNUT) as unlawful. While the sole plaintiff is claiming to have lost just $231, they are bringing the claim on behalf of a much larger group. Filed on Thursday in the Southern District of New York, the lawsuit claims that Pump.fun has been offering and selling an unregistered...

Pump.fun, one of the most successful crypto projects of last year, is facing a class action lawsuit for alleged violations of securities law. The lawsuit specifically names the sale of popular meme coin Peanut the Squirrel (PNUT) as unlawful. While the sole plaintiff is claiming to have lost just $231, they are bringing the claim on behalf of a much larger group. Filed on Thursday in the Southern District of New York, the lawsuit claims that Pump.fun has been offering and selling an unregistered...

FBI Foils 'Goons' Who Plotted to Kidnap Jeweler and Steal $2 Million in Crypto

The FBI has rumbled a surreal plot to kidnap a Miami jeweler and steal $2 million in cryptocurrency. According to a court filing, a confidential source had tipped off law enforcement about the planned abduction. They claimed that a man called "Jack" had assembled a group that was planning to strike on the morning of January 13. The ringleader had started a Telegram chat to arrange the kidnapping—allegedly referring to the group's members as the "goons." FBI Made a Profit From Ethereum Token Crea...

The FBI has rumbled a surreal plot to kidnap a Miami jeweler and steal $2 million in cryptocurrency. According to a court filing, a confidential source had tipped off law enforcement about the planned abduction. They claimed that a man called "Jack" had assembled a group that was planning to strike on the morning of January 13. The ringleader had started a Telegram chat to arrange the kidnapping—allegedly referring to the group's members as the "goons." FBI Made a Profit From Ethereum Token Crea...

Crypto Developer Michael Lewellen Sues DOJ For Regulatory Overreach

Blockchain developer Michael Lewellen has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice, accusing the agency of criminalizing crypto development through an overly broad interpretation of federal money-transmission laws. Filed Thursday, the lawsuit seeks to prevent prosecution of his decentralized crowdfunding platform, Pharos, which he argues operates outside the scope of these regulations. Pharos, built on Ethereum, uses “assurance contracts,” which employ smart contracts to hold funds...

Blockchain developer Michael Lewellen has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice, accusing the agency of criminalizing crypto development through an overly broad interpretation of federal money-transmission laws. Filed Thursday, the lawsuit seeks to prevent prosecution of his decentralized crowdfunding platform, Pharos, which he argues operates outside the scope of these regulations. Pharos, built on Ethereum, uses “assurance contracts,” which employ smart contracts to hold funds...

Dogecoin ETF in 2025 a Possibility as TradFi Warms to Meme Coins: Wintermute

The growth of crypto-focused ETFs is expected to accelerate this year, with one seminal meme coin tapped as the likeliest candidate to lead the charge. “In 2025, a core asset manager will launch a meme coin ETF…Our money’s on DOGE,” crypto trading firm Wintermute wrote in a Friday report. Traditional financial institutions showed a notable interest in trading meme coins last year, with Solana-based tokens Dogwifhat (WIF), BONK (BONK), and PONKE (PONKE) driving Wintermute’s Over-the-Counter (OTC)...

The growth of crypto-focused ETFs is expected to accelerate this year, with one seminal meme coin tapped as the likeliest candidate to lead the charge. “In 2025, a core asset manager will launch a meme coin ETF…Our money’s on DOGE,” crypto trading firm Wintermute wrote in a Friday report. Traditional financial institutions showed a notable interest in trading meme coins last year, with Solana-based tokens Dogwifhat (WIF), BONK (BONK), and PONKE (PONKE) driving Wintermute’s Over-the-Counter (OTC)...

Sen. Cynthia Lummis Accuses FDIC of Crypto Oversight Misconduct, Demands Accountability

U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) has issued a scathing rebuke of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), alleging misconduct in the agency’s handling of digital asset oversight and threatening whistleblowers. On Thursday, Lummis sent a letter to FDIC Chair Marty Gruenberg after whistleblowers alleged that the agency destroyed materials related to its crypto-related operations and threatened employees to silence them. “The FDIC’s alleged actions are unacceptable and illegal,” Lummis w...

U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) has issued a scathing rebuke of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), alleging misconduct in the agency’s handling of digital asset oversight and threatening whistleblowers. On Thursday, Lummis sent a letter to FDIC Chair Marty Gruenberg after whistleblowers alleged that the agency destroyed materials related to its crypto-related operations and threatened employees to silence them. “The FDIC’s alleged actions are unacceptable and illegal,” Lummis w...

Trump's Treasury Pick Scott Bessent Pours Cold Water on US Digital Dollar Initiative

During Thursday's Senate confirmation hearing, President-elect Donald Trump's Treasury Secretary nominee, Scott Bessent, rejected the need for a U.S. central bank digital currency (CBDC), assuaging concerns some crypto observers have long held. "I see no reason for the U.S. to have a central bank digital currency," Bessent told the Senate Finance Committee. "In my mind, a central bank digital currency is for countries who have no other investment alternatives." Bessent's statements mark a sharp...

During Thursday's Senate confirmation hearing, President-elect Donald Trump's Treasury Secretary nominee, Scott Bessent, rejected the need for a U.S. central bank digital currency (CBDC), assuaging concerns some crypto observers have long held. "I see no reason for the U.S. to have a central bank digital currency," Bessent told the Senate Finance Committee. "In my mind, a central bank digital currency is for countries who have no other investment alternatives." Bessent's statements mark a sharp...

Maserati Combines AI and Speed in the MC20 Supercar

Why would anyone want a self-driving supercar? Italian luxury carmaker Maserati has an answer: combine cutting-edge artificial intelligence with thrilling speed. This need for speed is the idea behind the new Maserati MC20 supercar showcased at CES 2025. Maserati MC20. Image: Maserati A supercar is a high-performance sports car designed for exceptional speed, cutting-edge technology, and luxury. It is often built for extreme performance and features powerful engines like V8s or V12s, advanced ae...

Why would anyone want a self-driving supercar? Italian luxury carmaker Maserati has an answer: combine cutting-edge artificial intelligence with thrilling speed. This need for speed is the idea behind the new Maserati MC20 supercar showcased at CES 2025. Maserati MC20. Image: Maserati A supercar is a high-performance sports car designed for exceptional speed, cutting-edge technology, and luxury. It is often built for extreme performance and features powerful engines like V8s or V12s, advanced ae...

I Joined China's TikTok Alternative RedNote And Lived To Regret It

When Congress passed the TikTok ban, I figured I'd check out Xiaohongshu, aka RedNote, China's answer to the social media app that's suddenly flooded with protesting American “Tiktok refugees.” The first few hours scrolling through the app felt like stumbling into a cozy corner of the Internet. The interface was mostly in Mandarin, but the content spoke a universal language: cute pets, travel photos (Chinese cities look fantastic), people welcoming TikTokers, and enough Chinese food videos to ma...

When Congress passed the TikTok ban, I figured I'd check out Xiaohongshu, aka RedNote, China's answer to the social media app that's suddenly flooded with protesting American “Tiktok refugees.” The first few hours scrolling through the app felt like stumbling into a cozy corner of the Internet. The interface was mostly in Mandarin, but the content spoke a universal language: cute pets, travel photos (Chinese cities look fantastic), people welcoming TikTokers, and enough Chinese food videos to ma...

Ripple’s XRP Holdings Have Gained $125 Billion in Value Since Trump’s Election

Ripple’s total holdings of XRP have exploded in value by some $125 billion since election day. That remarkable statistic underscores the degree to which American crypto firms have benefited from Donald Trump’s re-election—and offers one explanation as to why they have so enthusiastically thrown their support behind the president-elect’s incoming administration. According to Ripple’s most recent financial disclosures, the company holds some 4.44 billion XRP in liquid assets. It also oversees nea...

Ripple’s total holdings of XRP have exploded in value by some $125 billion since election day. That remarkable statistic underscores the degree to which American crypto firms have benefited from Donald Trump’s re-election—and offers one explanation as to why they have so enthusiastically thrown their support behind the president-elect’s incoming administration. According to Ripple’s most recent financial disclosures, the company holds some 4.44 billion XRP in liquid assets. It also oversees nea...

Bitcoin Beat 'Every Asset Class' in 2024 as Correlations Fell in Q4: NYDIG

Bitcoin gained more than "every asset class" over the course of 2024, according to a new report, undoing correlation with equities, gold, and the U.S. dollar in the fourth quarter thanks to a late-year price surge. Research released by New York Digital Investment Group shows that in Q4 2024, Bitcoin broke away from major assets following the election of Donald Trump in November—but it could still move back in line with them. Bitcoin has often moved in line with U.S. equities—particularly tech...

Bitcoin gained more than "every asset class" over the course of 2024, according to a new report, undoing correlation with equities, gold, and the U.S. dollar in the fourth quarter thanks to a late-year price surge. Research released by New York Digital Investment Group shows that in Q4 2024, Bitcoin broke away from major assets following the election of Donald Trump in November—but it could still move back in line with them. Bitcoin has often moved in line with U.S. equities—particularly tech...

XRP Nearly Sets New All-Time High Price After 45% Spike

XRP came within two cents of its all-time high price mark—set seven years ago—earlier Thursday in a close call that punctuated a weekly surge in value for the Ripple-linked asset. The cryptocurrency peaked at $3.38 on Thursday, per data from CoinGecko, coming within 1% of the all-time mark of $3.40 set in January 2018. XRP has since retreated to $3.30, still up 10% over the last 24 hours. Over the last week, XRP has spiked by 45%, skyrocketing again after putting up monstrous gains in November a...

XRP came within two cents of its all-time high price mark—set seven years ago—earlier Thursday in a close call that punctuated a weekly surge in value for the Ripple-linked asset. The cryptocurrency peaked at $3.38 on Thursday, per data from CoinGecko, coming within 1% of the all-time mark of $3.40 set in January 2018. XRP has since retreated to $3.30, still up 10% over the last 24 hours. Over the last week, XRP has spiked by 45%, skyrocketing again after putting up monstrous gains in November a...

Berachain Hasn't Launched Yet But Has Already Attracted $1.7 Billion—Here's Why

Despite not having launched its mainnet, Berachain has raked in more than $1.7 billion in deposit vaults as investors seek rewards for helping bootstrap protocol liquidity. The pre-launch deposit vaults, which opened in collaboration with Berachain, allow users to deposit Wrapped Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other supported assets via protocols like StakeStone or Lombard Finance in order to gain early access to Berachain—a hotly anticipated layer-1 blockchain network. Deposits are currently split acr...

Despite not having launched its mainnet, Berachain has raked in more than $1.7 billion in deposit vaults as investors seek rewards for helping bootstrap protocol liquidity. The pre-launch deposit vaults, which opened in collaboration with Berachain, allow users to deposit Wrapped Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other supported assets via protocols like StakeStone or Lombard Finance in order to gain early access to Berachain—a hotly anticipated layer-1 blockchain network. Deposits are currently split acr...

Coinbase Restarts Bitcoin-Backed Loans via Ethereum Network Base

Coinbase is rolling out Bitcoin-backed loans nearly two years after it discontinued its Borrow service, right as the world's oldest cryptocurrency is soaring to new heights. Customers can borrow up to $100,000 in USDC stablecoin instantly through the firm's centralized exchange platform, Coinbase said Thursday in a statement. The lending services will be powered by Morpho, a popular lending protocol on Base, the Ethereum layer-2 network that Coinbase incubated. The loans will be collateralized...

Coinbase is rolling out Bitcoin-backed loans nearly two years after it discontinued its Borrow service, right as the world's oldest cryptocurrency is soaring to new heights. Customers can borrow up to $100,000 in USDC stablecoin instantly through the firm's centralized exchange platform, Coinbase said Thursday in a statement. The lending services will be powered by Morpho, a popular lending protocol on Base, the Ethereum layer-2 network that Coinbase incubated. The loans will be collateralized...

Crypto and Stock Trading Platform eToro Prepares for US IPO: Report

Trading platform eToro is preparing to go public in a move that could see the crypto-friendly company valued at $5 billion, the Financial Times reported Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. The publication reported that eToro had submitted confidential regulatory documents to the SEC in the U.S. for an initial public offering. According to the report, eToro founder and CEO Yoni Assia said last year that listing in the U.S. would be better for the company's global investors. eToro Wi...

Trading platform eToro is preparing to go public in a move that could see the crypto-friendly company valued at $5 billion, the Financial Times reported Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. The publication reported that eToro had submitted confidential regulatory documents to the SEC in the U.S. for an initial public offering. According to the report, eToro founder and CEO Yoni Assia said last year that listing in the U.S. would be better for the company's global investors. eToro Wi...

George Soros’ Reflexivity Theory Explains Why Altcoins Swing Harder Than Bitcoin: Analyst

Ever wonder why so-called altcoins appear more sensitive to macroeconomic data than Bitcoin? According to Matt Mena, a crypto research strategist at the Swiss-based asset manager 21Shares, traders can look to George Soros, the American investor and philanthropist who famously broke the British pound back in 1992. Soros began developing his theory of reflexivity in the 1950s, and while the trading concept has roots in traditional finance, Mena told Decrypt that it can be applied to crypto as wel...

Ever wonder why so-called altcoins appear more sensitive to macroeconomic data than Bitcoin? According to Matt Mena, a crypto research strategist at the Swiss-based asset manager 21Shares, traders can look to George Soros, the American investor and philanthropist who famously broke the British pound back in 1992. Soros began developing his theory of reflexivity in the 1950s, and while the trading concept has roots in traditional finance, Mena told Decrypt that it can be applied to crypto as wel...