Key Takeaways: A French court denied Pavel Durov permission to attend the Oslo Freedom Forum. Durov remains under legal restrictions in France after being indicted on six charges tied to Telegram’s misuse. He accused French intelligence of pressuring him to censor political content Telegram co-founder Pavel Durov will not appear in person at the Oslo Freedom Forum after a French court denied his request to travel to Norway, despite his scheduled role as a keynote speaker. The Human Rights Foundation (HRF), which organizes the annual event focused on civil liberties and dissent, confirmed that Durov will deliver his speech remotely. “It is unfortunate that French courts would block Mr. Durov from participating in an event where his voice is so needed,” said HRF founder Thor Halvorssen . France Blocks Durov’s US Trip Amid Legal Dispute Last week, Durov was also barred from traveling to the United States for investment-related meetings after French authorities ruled the trip was not essential. Durov, who was indicted on six charges in September 2024 following his arrest at a French airport, remains under strict legal supervision and cannot leave France without prior approval. Although Durov was previously granted permission to travel to Dubai earlier this year, the Paris prosecutor’s office denied his recent requests, citing a lack of justification. Durov holds multiple citizenships, including France and the UAE, but remains tied to France due to ongoing legal proceedings. A French court has denied Telegram founder Pavel @durov 's request to travel to Norway in order to speak at the 2025 #OsloFreedomForum . pic.twitter.com/cU5LJBpg90 — Human Rights Foundation (HRF) (@HRF) May 24, 2025 Tensions have escalated as Durov publicly accused French officials of pressuring him to censor conservative content on Telegram during Romania’s presidential election. On May 18, he alleged that Nicolas Lerner, head of France’s domestic intelligence agency, personally requested that he suppress conservative political voices on Telegram ahead of Romania’s presidential elections. Durov claims the meeting took place at the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris and that he refused to comply. “You can’t ‘defend democracy’ by destroying democracy,” Durov wrote in a post, adding that Telegram would rather leave entire markets than participate in political censorship. He emphasized that the platform has never blocked protesters in countries like Russia, Belarus, or Iran and will not begin doing so in Europe. While Durov will miss the forum in person, his remote keynote is expected to address the growing pressure tech companies face from governments, especially in election cycles. Telegram Removes $35B Crime Networks Telegram has taken down thousands of channels linked to Chinese-language cybercrime hubs Xinbi Guarantee and Huione Guarantee, following an investigation by blockchain analytics firm Elliptic. These groups have been tied to over $35 billion in illicit USDT transactions, offering services ranging from money laundering and fake IDs to stolen data and cyber extortion. Huione, allegedly linked to Cambodia’s ruling elite, has facilitated $27 billion in criminal activity, while Xinbi has processed $8.4 billion since 2022. These marketplaces used Telegram’s encrypted infrastructure to operate openly, selling tools for fraud and laundering crypto from scams such as “pig butchering” and even hacks like the WazirX breach tied to North Korean actors. The platforms have also been connected to human trafficking compounds in Southeast Asia, where victims are coerced into romance scams and financial fraud. These compounds, disguised as job offers, exploit vulnerable individuals and force them into operating cybercrime schemes under duress. Telegram’s role in enabling this ecosystem has come under scrutiny. While the app was designed for privacy, its structure has increasingly been leveraged by organized crime. The post French Court Blocks Pavel Durov’s Travel to Oslo Freedom Forum appeared first on Cryptonews .
Matthew Sigel, the head of digital assets research at VanEck, has criticized the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over a delayed response on a proposal to list options trading on the firm’s Bitcoin Spot ETF. Notably, the Commission has continued to issue delayed responses to all recent digital asset-related ETF proposals/amendments despite a crypto-friendly policy of the Donald Trump Administration. SEC Delay Is Frustrating, Offers No Feedback, VanEck’s Sigel Says On April 3, 2025, the Chicago Board of Exchange (Cboe) filed a proposed rule change to list options trading on the VanEck Bitcoin ETF (HODL). For context, options trading grants investors the right to buy and sell an asset at a specific price before a certain date. Following the resounding success of the US Bitcoin Spot ETFs, options trading became a potential mode of market expansion, with several asset managers submitting applications to offer options to their respective ETFs. Notably, the SEC has granted approval for this request for multiple Bitcoin ETFs, including the Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC), BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust (BTC), and the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB), among others. However, following the initial 45-day review, the Commission has delayed a response on Cboe’s proposal to list trading options on the VanEck Bitcoin ETF (HODL). In an X post on May 23, Matthew Sigel strongly criticized this decision, which he described as “frustrating” and offered no transparency to investors. While tagging Hester Pierce, the Head of the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, Sigel complained that the Commission had issued a delayed response while offering no comments or feedback along with this decision. The VanEck Exec explained the asset manager’s objection to this development while responding to a user comment. He said. This was the first decision date, so it has not been rejected, just delayed, even though the SEC’s initial comments were addressed. It’s the lack of any feedback that is particularly irksome… It is highly worth noting that delayed responses by the SEC have been quite a common response for digital assets ETF-related proposals. The Commission can choose to wait till the final decision deadline, i.e., 240 days after the application, as seen with the Bitcoin Spot ETFs in 2024. However, Sigel’s concerns stem from an absence of an explanation on this delayed ruling, especially considering that options trading has been approved for certain other Bitcoin Spot ETFs. Bitcoin Price Overview At the time of writing, Bitcoin trades at $108,349, reflecting gains of 5.23% and 17.71% in the past seven and 30 days, respectively.
Today in crypto, ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood says crypto ETFs are here to stay, crypto industry executive and users report scam Ledger phishing letters sent by physical mail. Meanwhile, a judge has vacated key fraud and manipulation convictions against Mango Markets exploiter Avraham Eisenberg. Crypto ETFs won’t lose ‘their luster’ as wallet adoption grows — Cathie Wood ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood says crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) will likely maintain their place in the economy no matter how big crypto wallet adoption becomes over the next decade. “I think ETFs are an important stepping stone because, you know, wallets seem so complicated, so much friction for consumers, they just wanna push a button,” Wood said at the Solana Accelerate event in New York on May 23. “So ETFs for those who want the convenience, I don’t think, will lose a lot of their luster,” she said. “But they will be a stepping stone into wallet-based.” Bitbo data suggests that there are around 200 million active Bitcoin wallets worldwide. Meanwhile, the trading week ending May 23 saw approximately $2.75 billion inflows into US-based spot Bitcoin ETFs , coinciding with Bitcoin reaching a new all-time high of $111,970 on May 22. Crypto community sounds alarm about Ledger phishing letter scam Industry executives and crypto community members are raising the alarm about a new phishing scam in the form of physical letters sent to crypto holders made to look like communication from the Ledger hardware wallet company. The letter instructs recipients to "validate" their wallets and provides a QR code that likely links to a malicious phishing site that steals private keys and other sensitive user data. A copy of the Ledger phishing letter. Source: Mike Belshe BitGo CEO Mike Belshe shared a copy of the letter on X and confirmed that it was delivered via the United States Postal Service (USPS). The incident reflects the increasingly sophisticated and novel forms of phishing attempts and scams targeting the crypto community and serves as a reminder for crypto holders to take proactive safety measures to protect sensitive data from social engineering attempts. Judge overturns fraud convictions in Mango Markets exploit case A US federal judge has vacated key fraud and manipulation convictions against Avraham Eisenberg, the trader at the center of the case involving a $110 million exploit of the decentralized exchange Mango Markets. On Friday, US District Judge Arun Subramanian ruled that the evidence presented at trial failed to support the jury’s conclusion that Eisenberg made materially false representations to Mango Markets. The decision vacates Eisenberg’s convictions for commodities fraud and market manipulation and acquits him of a third charge, significantly weakening the government’s case. Eisenberg, a self-proclaimed “applied game theorist,” was convicted in 2024 for artificially inflating the price of Mango’s MNGO token by over 1,300% in a matter of minutes and using the resulting gains as collateral to withdraw $110 million in crypto assets from the platform. US judge siding with Eisenberg on nature of the exploit. Source: Bwbx.io
The $TRUMP token dropped by 7% on Saturday morning, hours after President Donald Trump hosted a black-tie gala at his Virginia golf club. The event was held for holders of his meme coin, who collectively spent $148 million just to attend. Guests were promised access, luxury, and a moment with Trump. What they got instead was bad food, weak security, and a brief fly-by appearance from the president himself. According to CNBC , it was a night that left many attendees frustrated — and some outright angry. Among the 220 people who showed up were crypto figures like Sandy Carter from Unstoppable Domains and former NBA star Lamar Odom, who used the occasion to promote his own token, $ODOM. Trump showed up, said a few words, and left in a helicopter without greeting most of the room. One guest, 25-year-old Nicholas Pinto, said , “He didn’t talk to any of the 220 guests — maybe the top 25.” Pinto added that he had nothing to drink besides Trump-branded wine or water. “I don’t drink, so I had water. My glass was only filled once,” he said. As for the food? “The food sucked,” he said plainly. Guests ignored, wallets tracked, and complaints everywhere The top 25 wallets were promised a special reception and tour. But others like Pinto — who was driven there in a Lamborghini by his dad — left unimpressed and hungry. Trump only stayed 23 minutes, gave a quick speech recycling old crypto lines, then flew off without taking pictures or answering any questions. Pinto noticed that phones were not locked in RFID pouches and said security became an afterthought once Trump was gone. “Once Trump left, they didn’t really worry about anything else,” he said. Inside the ballroom, guests flaunted money. “Richard Mille watches weren’t even rare,” Pinto said. “I saw at least 16 people wearing them.” But he said the energy was off. “Lots of people didn’t even hold the coin anymore. They were checking their phones during dinner to see if the price moved.” Outside the gates, about 100 protesters gathered. One of them was Senator Jeff Merkley, who showed up to support a new bill with Chuck Schumer. The bill — called the End Crypto Corruption Act — aims to stop presidents and high officials from profiting off crypto ventures while in office. Protesters held signs saying “Crypto Corruption” and “Trump is a traitor.” Inside the event, the #1 holder of the $TRUMP coin was Justin Sun, the Chinese-born crypto billionaire. Justin holds over $22 million in the $TRUMP token and $75 million in World Liberty Financial’s token. He’s currently facing SEC fraud charges, although the case has been paused. Justin didn’t seem worried though. “As the top holder of $TRUMP and proud supporter of President Trump, it was an honor to attend the Trump Gala Dinner,” he posted. “Thank you @POTUS for your unwavering support of our industry!” The chaos around the dinner added fuel to what’s becoming a mess on Capitol Hill. Representative French Hill, a Republican from Arkansas, said the Trump family’s involvement in meme coins is “making his work in Congress harder.” Hill is one of the lawmakers behind the GENIUS Act, a bill designed to finally regulate stablecoins. But now, with Trump’s name tied to controversial tokens, he says the gala was “a distraction from the good work we need to do.” The GENIUS Act now faces a serious risk. Senator Josh Hawley added a clause that would limit credit card late fees, which banks hate. It’s now being called a poison pill that could kill support for the whole thing. While the gala was happening, Senate Democrats said they would push for new rules blocking US presidents and top officials from profiting off crypto — a direct challenge to USD1, a stablecoin linked to Trump and launched this spring. If the bill collapses, the damage could go global. JPMorgan, Bank of America, and Citi are reportedly in early discussions about building a US digital dollar. Their plan is to compete with Tether, which now dominates 60% of global crypto transactions. But those banks are waiting for legal clarity. If the GENIUS Act doesn’t pass, the US could lose momentum in the international crypto race. KEY Difference Wire helps crypto brands break through and dominate headlines fast
Ripple’s USD-pegged stablecoin, RLUSD, closed Q1 2025 with a combined market capitalization of $244.2 million across the XRP Ledger (XRPL) and Ethereum. On XRPL alone, RLUSD reached a market cap of $44.2 million, making it the largest stablecoin on the network, according to the latest report by Messari. Due this growth, the total market cap of fungible tokens, known as Issued Currencies, surged by 6.5% QoQ to $281.5 million. RLUSD Stablecoin: Q1 2025 Despite this milestone, stablecoin adoption on XRPL remains limited compared to dominant stablecoins like Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC), which ended Q1 with total market caps of $144.0 billion and $60.1 billion, respectively, across all supported networks. Historically, the introduction of a trusted stablecoin in a new execution environment has triggered major liquidity events, as seen with Cardano’s iUSD in 2023, often serving as a key pairing asset in automated market makers (AMMs). Until recently, regulatorily compliant tokens like RLUSD, which feature Clawback – a mechanism on XRPL that lets issuers retrieve distributed tokens – were not compatible with the network’s automated market maker (AMM) due to the lack of Clawback support. This changed in January when the AMM Clawback amendment was implemented, allowing such tokens to be traded on the AMM. The update is expected to boost AMM activity as more compliant assets launch on XRPL. Potential applications include enabling on-chain trading of previously illiquid real-world assets (RWAs), earning yields through AMM participation, and cross-chain price arbitrage. Adoption Curve RLUSD launched publicly on December 17, 2024, on both XRPL and Ethereum. It is fully backed by US dollar deposits, short-term US Treasuries, and other cash equivalents, with monthly attestations provided by third-party firms. In January, Ripple announced the integration of Chainlink Price Feeds on Ethereum to provide RLUSD pricing data. In April, RLUSD was added to Ripple’s cross-border payment platform, Ripple Payments, while Kraken launched trading support. Additional Q1 listings came from LMAX Group, Zero Hash, and Bitstamp, joining Uphold, Bitso, MoonPay, Archax, CoinMENA, Independent Reserve, and Bullish. Further boosting infrastructure around RLUSD, Korean custody provider BDACS signed a strategic partnership with Ripple in February to offer custody services for XRP, RLUSD, and other digital assets. The post Ripple’s RLUSD Hits $244.2M Market Cap Across XRPL and Ethereum in Q1 2025 appeared first on CryptoPotato .
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has achieved a significant milestone by recovering over $3.3 million in cryptocurrencies tied to fraudulent investment schemes. These scams deceive individuals into transferring their
Key takeaways: Our ApeCoin price predictions anticipate a high of $1.59 in 2025. In 2027, it will range between $2.47 and $2.80, with an average price of $2.54. In 2030, it will range between $7.94 and $9.64, with an average price of $8.17. Unlike the common sentiment of being a meme token, ApeCoin (APE) has utility. APE is an ERC-20 token that governs the ApeCoin DAO. The token also has utility within an affiliated company, Yuga Labs, the firm behind the Otherside metaverse, BAYC, and MAYC NFTs. Will APE reach $10? What will its price be in 2025? Let’s explore these and more in the Cryptopolitan Price Prediction from 2025 to 2031. Overview Cryptocurrency ApeCoin Symbol APE Current price $0.6434 Market cap $484.52M Trading volume $43.60M Circulating supply 752.65M All-time high $39.40 Mar 17, 2022 All-time low $0.3545 on Apr 7, 2025 24-hour high $0.7008 24-hour low $0.6392 APE price analysis: Technical analysis Metric Value Price volatility (30-day variation) 18/30 (60%) 50-day SMA $0.5365 200-day SMA $0.7613 Sentiment Neutral Green days 18/30 (60%) APE price analysis: APE begins descent At the time of writing (May 24), APE’s price rose by 27.49% in one week and dropped by 8.72% in the last 24 hours, trading at approximately $0.65. The cryptocurrency’s trading volume rose by 14.24% in 24 hours, showing rising interest from traders. APE/USD 1-day chart analysis APE/USD 1-day price chart APE fell below $1 in January and $0.5 in April. It started recovering this month as it rose above $0.65. The MACD histogram shows that the price is experiencing negative momentum as it falls. The William Alligator trendlines show rising price volatility. APE/USD 4-hour chart analysis APE/USD 4-hour price chart The 4-hour chart highlights APE’s recovery as it rose above $0.65. It registered continuous bullish candles that saw it reverse from a new all-time low that it recorded on 7 April at $0.345. At current levels, it registers little volatility with rising negative momentum. APE technical analysis: Levels and action Daily simple moving average (SMA) Period Value ($) Action SMA 3 0.5987 BUY SMA 5 0.6373 BUY SMA 10 0.6436 BUY SMA 21 0.6186 BUY SMA 50 0.5365 BUY SMA 100 0.5661 BUY SMA 200 0.7613 SELL Daily exponential moving average (EMA) Period Value ($) Action EMA 3 0.5951 BUY EMA 5 0.5541 BUY EMA 10 0.5117 BUY EMA 21 0.5019 BUY EMA 50 0.5634 BUY EMA 100 0.6964 SELL EMA 200 0.8447 SELL What to expect from APE price analysis next? APE price analysis shows the market has had little activity in the last few days, and bears have started to gain control. Why is APE down? APE is correcting from highs registered in the last quarter of 2024. The drop could be attributed to the wider market sentiment. Can ApeCoin reach $10? Per our Cryptopolitan price prediction, APE will break above $10 in 2030. At the time, APE should have bridged to ApeChain and grown much utility and applications such as in the metaverse. Will APE reach $100? It is unlikely that the APE price will be extended to $100 in the foreseeable future. At such a valuation, APE will be more valuable than the USDT stablecoin, which is more of a ‘household’ cryptocurrency. Can ape coin hit $1000? It is unlikely that the APE price will reach $1000 before 2031. Does ApeCoin have a future? With the launch of ApeChain, ApeCoin now has more utility and is, therefore, much more likely to last into the future. How much is ApeCoin worth in 2025? For 2025, the APE coin price will range between $0.58 and $1.59. The average price for the year will be $1.01. Is APE a good investment? APE’s utility is growing, and the launch of ApeChain is anticipated to attract more projects that use the APE token either for governance or for settling fees on the chain. Yuga Labs and other new firms will likely promote APE. Recent news With the launch of ApeChain, APE proceeded to pump by over 100% accompanied by the launch of new projects such as Donkey Dash, Ape Express, Battle Plan, and the Ape Portal APE price prediction May 2025 The APE April price prediction ranges between $0.48 and $1.15, with an average of $0.69. Month Potential low ($) Potential average ($) Potential high ($) May 0.41 0.69 1.15 APE price prediction 2025 For 2025, APE coin price will range between $0.41 and $1.59. The average price for the year will be $1.01. Period Potential low ($) Potential average ($) Potential high ($) 2025 0.41 1.01 1.59 APE price prediction 2026-2031 Year Potential low ($) Potential average ($) Potential high ($) 2026 1.62 1.66 1.91 2027 2.47 2.54 2.80 2028 3.63 3.76 4.27 2029 5.52 5.67 6.34 2030 7.94 8.17 9.64 2031 11.00 11.41 13.78 Apecoin price prediction 2026 The year 2026 will experience bullish momentum. According to the APE price prediction, it will range between $1.62 and $1.91, with an average price of $1.66. APE price prediction 2027 The Apecoin price forecast climbs even higher in 2027. According to the prediction, it will range between $2.47 and $2.80, with an average trading price of $2.54. APE price prediction 2028 According to our APE prediction, the price of APE will range between a minimum of $3.63 and a maximum of $4.27. It will average at $3.76. Apecoin price prediction 2029 According to our APE price prediction for 2029, the price will reach a maximum of $6.34 and a minimum price of $5.52, with an annual average of $5.67. APE prediction 2030 The ApeCoin price prediction for 2030 indicates a price range of $7.94 to $9.64 and an average price of $8.17. Apecoin price prediction 2031 APE will trade higher in 2025, ranging between $11.00 and $13.78. The average price for the year will be $11.41. Apecoin price prediction 2025 – 2031 APE market price prediction: Analysts’ APE price forecast Platform 2025 2026 2027 Dugitalcoinprice $1.29 $1.57 $2.28 Gate.io $0.65 $0.80 $0.86 Changelly $1.88 $1.34 $0.71 Cryptopolitan’s APE price predictions Our predictions show APE will achieve a high of $1.59 in 2025. In 2027, it will range between $2.47 and $2.80, with an average price of $2.54. In 2030, it will range between $7.94 and $9.64, with an average price of $8.17. Note that the predictions are not investment advice. Seek independent professional consultation or do your own research. APE historic price sentiment ApeCoin price HISTORY Yuga Labs founded the ApeDAO in 2022. 62% of the tokens were given to the ApeDAO. 15% to BAYC and MAYC NFT holders, 16% to Yuga Labs, 14% to launch contributors, and 8% to BAYC founders. APE was distributed and began trading on March 17, 2022, at $7.26. The year 2022 closed with APE trading at $3. It remained bearish for the first three quarters of 2023. In October, it had dropped to $1.09. The crypto market sentiment changed in October as institutional interest in electronically traded funds rose. As the global crypto market cap broke above $2 trillion, APE broke above $2. The bull run continued in 2024, pushing APE as high as $2.43. The market started reversing afterward, and by June, it had fallen below $1. It crossed into August trading at $0.71. In September, it rose to $0.87 but later corrected falling to the $0.67 mark in October. After the launch of the Apechain, APE pumped, rising above $1 in November and peaking at $2.17 in early December, after which it started correcting. It crossed into 2025 trading at the $1.20 mark. It then assumed a bear run, and by February, it had fallen below $0.70 and $0.50 in April. It recovered in May, rising above $0.65.
The post Donald Trump’s Treasury Secretary Predicts $2 Trillion Stablecoin Boom appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News The crypto market erupted in excitement when Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris in November 2024. Between November 5 and December 8 , the total crypto market surged by 63.36% , fueled by optimism around pro-crypto leadership. However, after Trump’s inauguration, market momentum began to cool as the administration adopted a cautious but strategic approach to crypto regulation. Despite this, key pro-crypto policies have been rolled out and prominent crypto-friendly figures have taken top positions in the government. Now, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has issued a strong statement reaffirming the administration’s support for digital assets. In a recent interview , Bessent revealed bold plans to grow the crypto sector under strict but supportive regulatory frameworks . Bessent Reaffirms U.S. Commitment to Crypto Innovation Making it clear that the Trump administration stands firmly behind crypto, Bessent criticized the previous administration’s destructive regulatory stance that disrupted many crypto businesses. He pledged that the current leadership would encourage sustainable innovation through a balanced and improved regulatory structure. Stablecoins to Drive $2 Trillion Demand for U.S. Treasuries? In a major revelation, Bessent projected that stablecoins could generate $2 trillion in short-term demand for U.S. Treasuries and Treasury bills , a dramatic rise from the current demand of $300 billion. Stablecoins, such as Tether (USDT) , are typically backed 1:1 with fiat currency like the U.S. dollar and maintain reserves in liquid assets—including government bonds. As these coins gain traction, their issuers are becoming key buyers of U.S. debt instruments , potentially reshaping the treasury market. This surge in demand could: Lower U.S. borrowing costs Bolster the dollar’s global strength Finance more government spending without relying on traditional buyers Tether’s CEO Paolo Ardoino recently backed this vision, asserting that USDT would help solidify the dollar’s dominance globally. Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate is preparing a stablecoin regulatory bill , expected to provide legal clarity and trigger institutional adoption. Rumors suggest that giants like Fidelity and JPMorgan may soon issue their own stablecoins. .article-inside-link { margin-left: 0 !important; border: 1px solid #0052CC4D; border-left: 0; border-right: 0; padding: 10px 0; text-align: left; } .entry ul.article-inside-link li { font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; font-weight: 600; list-style-type: none; margin-bottom: 0; display: inline-block; } .entry ul.article-inside-link li:last-child { display: none; } Also Read : Elon Musk’s DOGE Plan To Save the U.S. Economy from Recession Amid Bitcoin Turmoil , Trump Admin Moves Ahead with Bitcoin Strategy In March 2025 , the Trump administration took a historic step by signing an executive order to establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve , solidifying the U.S. government’s active role in the crypto space. Since Trump’s election: Bitcoin market rose 59.31% overall November 2024 alone saw a 37.4% spike Last 3 months: +11.7% Last 30 days: +17.1% Last 7 days: +4.4% Previously, Bessent confirmed that the U.S. government is open to acquiring more Bitcoin , including confiscated assets, to strengthen the national reserve. What’s Next for U.S. Crypto Policy? The message is clear: The Trump administration is not just supportive of crypto in theory—it is actively laying the foundation for long-term digital asset adoption, with strategic Bitcoin acquisition and a regulatory framework that fosters institutional confidence.With a $2 trillion stablecoin demand forecast, new laws in the pipeline, and increasing government involvement, the U.S. is poised to lead the next wave of crypto adoption—all under Trump’s watch. .article_register_shortcode { padding: 18px 24px; border-radius: 8px; display: flex; align-items: center; margin: 6px 0 22px; border: 1px solid #0052CC4D; background: linear-gradient(90deg, rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.1) 0%, rgba(0, 82, 204, 0.1) 100%); } .article_register_shortcode .media-body h5 { color: #000000; font-weight: 600; font-size: 20px; line-height: 22px; text-align:left; } .article_register_shortcode .media-body h5 span { color: #0052CC; } .article_register_shortcode .media-body p { font-weight: 400; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px; color: #171717B2; margin-top: 4px; text-align:left; } .article_register_shortcode .media-body{ padding-right: 14px; } .article_register_shortcode .media-button a { float: right; } .article_register_shortcode .primary-button img{ vertical-align: middle; width: 20px; margin: 0; display: inline-block; } @media (min-width: 581px) and (max-width: 991px) { .article_register_shortcode .media-body p { margin-bottom: 0; } } @media (max-width: 580px) { .article_register_shortcode { display: block; padding: 20px; } .article_register_shortcode img { max-width: 50px; } .article_register_shortcode .media-body h5 { font-size: 16px; } .article_register_shortcode .media-body { margin-left: 0px; } .article_register_shortcode .media-body p { font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-top: 6px; margin-bottom: 14px; } .article_register_shortcode .media-button a { float: unset; } .article_register_shortcode .secondary-button { margin-bottom: 0; } } Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World! 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if (result.status === true) { parent.jQuery('.skeliton-loader-block').hide(); var hasSubscribeStatusOne = false; result.message.forEach(subscribeStatus => { if (listOfSubscribed.includes(subscribeStatus._id) && subscribeStatus.subscribe_status === 1) { hasSubscribeStatusOne = true; } if (subscribeStatus.notification_type === 3) { parent.document.getElementById('monthlySelected_' + getcategoryId).style.display = 'block'; parent.document.getElementById('monthly_' + getcategoryId).setAttribute('data-id', subscribeStatus._id); if (subscribeStatus.subscribe_status === 1) { parent.document.getElementById('monthly_' + getcategoryId).checked = true; } } else if (subscribeStatus.notification_type === 2) { parent.document.getElementById('weeklySelected_' + getcategoryId).style.display = 'block'; parent.document.getElementById('weekly_' + getcategoryId).setAttribute('data-id', subscribeStatus._id); if (subscribeStatus.subscribe_status === 1) { parent.document.getElementById('weekly_' + getcategoryId).checked = true; } } else if (subscribeStatus.notification_type === 1) { parent.document.getElementById('dailySelected_' + getcategoryId).style.display = 'block'; parent.document.getElementById('daily_' + getcategoryId).setAttribute('data-id', subscribeStatus._id); if (subscribeStatus.subscribe_status === 1) { parent.document.getElementById('daily_' + getcategoryId).checked = true; } } if (subscribeStatus.subscribe_status === 1) { listOfSubscribed.push(subscribeStatus._id); } }); if (hasSubscribeStatusOne) { elementTosubscribe.style.display = 'none'; elementTounsubscribe.style.display = 'block'; } else { elementTosubscribe.style.display = 'block'; elementTounsubscribe.style.display = 'none'; } } }, error: function(xhr, status, error) { console.error('Error:', error); } }); } function logSelectedSubscriptions(categoryid) { var unsubscribemodal = document.querySelector('.unsubscribed-popup-modal .modal'); var subscribedmodal = document.querySelector('.subscribed-popup-modal .modal'); unsubscribemodal.innerHTML=''; subscribedmodal.innerHTML=''; var selectedSubscriptions = []; var storeCheckedId = []; var checkboxes = document.querySelectorAll('#subscription-options-' + categoryid + ' input[type="checkbox"]'); var errorMessage = document.getElementById('error-message-select'); // Use a Set to handle unique data-ids var uniqueSubscribedIds = new Set(listOfSubscribed); checkboxes.forEach(function(checkbox) { var dataId = parseInt(checkbox.getAttribute('data-id')); if (checkbox.checked) { selectedSubscriptions.push(checkbox.id); storeCheckedId.push(dataId); } else { uniqueSubscribedIds.delete(dataId); // Remove unchecked data-id } }); // Update listOfSubscribed with unique values listOfSubscribed = Array.from(uniqueSubscribedIds); var selectedSubscriptionsString = selectedSubscriptions.join(', '); var concatinateSubscribeId = [...new Set(storeCheckedId.concat(listOfSubscribed))]; var categoryData = { 'subscribed_categories': concatinateSubscribeId }; var requestSubscriberData = { action: 'handle_dynamic_api_request_with_headers', security: 'bce179e49f', endpoint: '/app/email_newsletter/update_categories', token: '', data: categoryData }; jQuery.ajax({ url: 'https://coinpedia.org/wp-admin/admin-ajax.php', type: 'POST', data: requestSubscriberData, beforeSend: function(xhr) { xhr.setRequestHeader('X-Requested-With', 'XMLHttpRequest'); }, success: function(response) { try { response = response.data; if (storeCheckedId.length === 0) { var unsubcribedPopUpmodal = ` You’ve Unsubscribed Successfully We're sorry to see you go! Your subscription has been canceled. If you change your mind, you can re-subscribe anytime. Thank you for being part of our community! `; unsubscribemodal.innerHTML = unsubcribedPopUpmodal; document.querySelector('#subscribe-modal-design .modal').style.display = 'none'; unsubscribemodal.style.display = 'block'; unsubscribemodal.classList.remove('hide'); unsubscribemodal.classList.add('show'); document.getElementById('subscribe_' + categoryid).style.display = 'block'; document.getElementById('unsubscribe_' + categoryid).style.display = 'none'; var showDownloadReport = document.getElementById('download_report'); if (showDownloadReport) { showDownloadReport.style.display = 'none'; } } else { var subscribedPopupModal = ` Thank you for subscribing! Thank you for subscribing to our crypto and blockchain newsletter! You’ll now receive the latest news, insights, and updates straight to your inbox. Welcome to our community! `; let selectedSubscriptionsArray = selectedSubscriptionsString.split(','); let subscribedCategories = selectedSubscriptionsArray.map(subscription => subscription.split('_')[0]); let subscribedCategoriesString = subscribedCategories.join(', '); subscribedmodal.innerHTML = subscribedPopupModal; if (document.getElementById('selectidname')) { document.getElementById('selectidname').textContent = subscribedCategoriesString; } document.querySelector('#subscribe-modal-design .modal').style.display = 'none'; subscribedmodal.style.display = 'block'; subscribedmodal.classList.remove('hide'); subscribedmodal.classList.add('show'); document.getElementById('subscribe_' + categoryid).style.display = 'none'; document.getElementById('unsubscribe_' + categoryid).style.display = 'block'; var showDownloadReport = document.getElementById('download_report'); if (showDownloadReport) { showDownloadReport.style.display = 'block'; } } } catch (e) { console.error('Error parsing response:', e); } }, }); } function closeModal(template_id) { var modalId = template_id; var modal = document.querySelector('#' + modalId); // Using querySelector to find the modal if (modal) { modal.classList.add('hide'); modal.classList.remove('show'); setTimeout(function() { modal.style.display = 'none'; }, 500); } else { console.warn('Modal not found:', modalId); } } function closeunsubscribemodal() { var unsubscribemodal = document.querySelector('.unsubscribed-popup-modal .modal'); if (unsubscribemodal) { unsubscribemodal.classList.add('hide'); unsubscribemodal.classList.remove('show'); } setTimeout(function() { unsubscribemodal.style.display = 'none'; }, 500); } function closesubscribemodal() { var subscribedmodal = document.querySelector('.subscribed-popup-modal .modal'); setTimeout(function() { subscribedmodal.style.display = 'none'; }, 500); if (subscribedmodal) { subscribedmodal.classList.add('hide'); subscribedmodal.classList.remove('show'); } } function withoutLoginClicked(withoutlogin_id) { localStorage.setItem('subscribe_without_Login', 'true'); localStorage.setItem('subscribe_clicked_id', withoutlogin_id); } document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function() { const subscribewithoutData = localStorage.getItem('subscribe_without_Login'); const subscribe_clicked_cat_id = localStorage.getItem('subscribe_clicked_id'); // Function to get cookies function getCookie(name) { let value = "; " + document.cookie; let parts = value.split("; " + name + "="); if (parts.length == 2) return parts.pop().split(";").shift(); } // Get user token from cookies const userToken = getCookie('user_token'); if (subscribewithoutData === 'true' && userToken) { // Call the modal function with the category ID subscribed_popupmodal(subscribe_clicked_cat_id); // Remove the flag and category ID from localStorage localStorage.removeItem('subscribe_without_Login'); localStorage.removeItem('subscribe_clicked_id'); } }); /************************** update susbcriber content **************************** */ function initializeSubscriptionButton() { var initialListItems = document.querySelectorAll('.subscription-options input[type="checkbox"]'); initialListItems.forEach(function(item) { console.log(item.checked, 'Initial Checkbox checked status'); }); var listItems = document.querySelectorAll('.subscription-options li'); if (listItems.length === 0) return; var anyActive = false; listItems.forEach(function(item) { var checkbox = item.querySelector('input[type="checkbox"]'); if (checkbox) { if (checkbox.checked) { item.classList.add('active'); anyActive = true; // Set anyActive to true } else { item.classList.remove('active'); // Remove 'active' class if checkbox is unchecked } } }); } function updateButtonText(anyActive) { var subscribeButtonSpan = document.querySelector('.subscribe-submit .changeBtnText'); if (subscribeButtonSpan) { if (anyActive) { subscribeButtonSpan.textContent = 'Subscribe Now'; } else { subscribeButtonSpan.textContent = 'Unsubscribe'; } } } function updateSubscriptionButton() { var listItems = document.querySelectorAll('.subscription-options li'); if (listItems.length === 0) return; var anyActive = false; listItems.forEach(function(item) { var checkbox = item.querySelector('input[type="checkbox"]'); if (checkbox) { if (checkbox.checked) { item.classList.add('active'); anyActive = true; // Set anyActive to true } else { item.classList.remove('active'); // Remove 'active' class if checkbox is unchecked } } }); // Update the button text based on whether any list item has the 'active' class updateButtonText(anyActive); } document.addEventListener('click', function(event) { var clickedItem = event.target.closest('.subscription-options li'); if (clickedItem) { var checkbox = clickedItem.querySelector('input[type="checkbox"]'); if (checkbox) { checkbox.checked = !checkbox.checked; updateSubscriptionButton(); } } });
The post FBI Seizes $24M in Crypto from Russian Cybercrime Kingpin appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News The U.S. Department of Justice has indicted a Russian national, Rustam Gallyamov, for leading a major global cybercrime ring behind the infamous Qakbot malware. The authorities seized over $24 million in crypto tied to the operation, which is planned to be returned to the victims. The indictment on May 22, 2025, is a significant step by the U.S. authorities in their fight against ransomware attacks. This is part of a broader law enforcement campaign (like Operation Endgame) to target cybercriminals who have been using malware like Qakbot to infect systems worldwide, demand ransoms, and steal data and funds. The victims included a wide range of businesses, from small dental clinics in Los Angeles to tech companies in Nebraska, manufacturers in Wisconsin, and even real estate firms in Canada. U.S. and Allies Unite Against Cybercrime “The charges announced today exemplify the FBI’s commitment to relentlessly hold accountable individuals who target Americans and demand ransom, even when they live halfway across the world,” said Akil Davis, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office. These moves are part of a global crackdown on cybercrime, with the U.S., France, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, the U.K., and Canada working together to fight cybercrime, the statement read. Gallyamov’s Qakbot Malware Infected 700,000+ Computers Since 2008 Gallymov is accused of running the Qakbot malware operation since 2008, infecting over 700,000 computers worldwide and enabling major ransomware attacks like Conti, Black Basta, and REvil. Gallyamov was paid a portion of the ransoms that were received from victims. In August 2023, a U.S.-led international operation took down the Qakbot botnet, where the authorities seized over 170 Bitcoins and more than $4 million in USDT and USDC from Gallyamov. Even after this, he kept his cybercrime activity going by switching to new tactics like “spam bomb” attacks. He kept attacking systems as recently as January 2025 by flooding victims with emails, tricking employees into giving hackers access. As a result, under the “Operation Endgame”, the FBI seized another 30 Bitcoins and $700,000 in USDT from Gallyamov. The DOJ also filed a civil forfeiture case to permanently claim the $24+ million in total seized crypto, with plans to return the funds to the victims. If convicted, he would face a statutory maximum sentence of 25 years in federal prison. Tornado Cash Creator Also Under Federal Investigation This is just the latest move in the US’ big crackdown on Cybercrime. In December 2024, they charged Rostislav Panev, a Russian-Israeli hacker linked to LockBit ransomware, for creating malware that helped criminals hack networks and demand ransoms, with over $230,000 in crypto tied to him. In May 2025, 12 mostly young people were charged with running a $263 million crypto racketeering scheme. They used the stolen money to buy luxury jets and cars. Federal authorities are also going after Roman Storm, the creator of Tornado Cash, who is accused of laundering billions in illegal crypto.
A Kentucky-based crypto investor is currently cooling his heels in police custody after he reportedly kidnapped and tortured an Italian tourist for weeks. According to reports, 37-year-old John Woeltz tortured the victim with a chainsaw in a Manhattan apartment before the unnamed victim escaped. In the reports made by the police, Woeltz was arrested by the authorities after the 28-year-old tourist broke out of the apartment and made a daring escape and located the nearest police station. The officers on duty also noted that the victim had blood and bruises all over his body. The police rushed to the luxurious Prince Street pad, which Woeltz has been allegedly renting for about $30,000 to $40,000 a month. They discovered photos that pointed out that the tourist had been tortured at the location by the crypto. The pictures showed the tourist being tied up with electric wires and tortured, including being bound to a chair with a gun pointed at his head, according to police sources. Crypto investor arrested in connection with kidnapping and assault According to sources, John Woeltz bound his victim with an electric cord, tased while his feet were in water, whipped with a pistol, and forced to take cocaine. Police sources also confirmed that the crypto investor even threatened to cut off the victim’s limbs with a chainsaw if he refused to cooperate with him. The kidnap and torture allegedly blew up from a dispute over cryptocurrencies , in which the suspect allegedly tried to extort millions of dollars from the man using scare tactics. The ordeal started on May 6, when the Italian tourist arrived in New York City from Italy. After his arrival, he made his way to see Woeltz, whom he had been dealing with in the past. But when he got to the luxurious apartment, Woeltz snatched him and bound him, the sources added. According to the police, the man suffered torture for days, with polaroids of the events taken. The police believed that those were taken to either be used to extort money from him or to be sent back to Italy to extort money from his family. Police mentioned that they found the picture in where they described as a torture chamber, with blood on the floor. Other torture equipments found at the scene include broken glass, night vision goggle, a bulletproof vest, and a gun. The victim has since been rushed to Bellevue Hospital for treatment while the cops have arrested Woeltz and he is expected to face charges related to assault. Police promise to apprehend every suspect linked to the crime Woeltz has since been charged on Friday night, with the authorities charging him with two counts of second-degree assault, first-degree kidnapping, first-degree unlawful imprisonment, and criminal possession of a weapon. In addition, a second person, 24-year-old Beatrice Folchi, who lives in Manhattan has also been arrested and charged with first-degree kidnapping and first-degree unlawful imprisonment. Police escorting John Woeltz out of his apartment after his arrest. Source: NYPost. Meanwhile, two other people, who authorities believe were employed by Woeltz, are still waiting to be interviewed by the police. According to the police, the Italian tourist had a wound on his arm, which was believed to have been inflicted by the perpetrator through the Chainsaw. In addition, the victim was also tagged with an Apple AirTag in case he tried to escape from custody. He eventually made his escape on Friday, because he believed that was the day the suspect planned to kill him. According to an eyewitness at the scene, Woeltz was apprehended by the police in the apartment. He was clad in a robe and handcuffed on his way away from the luxurious apartment. “This is definitely the strangest thing I’ve seen in my time here,” he said. “Normally, this is a pretty quiet block.” Another vendor who lived nearby mentioned that he got a weird vibe from the crypto guys who just moved into the apartment. The police, on the other hand, have promised to apprehend other suspects linked to the crime, while ensuring that no other victims remain. Cryptopolitan Academy: Tired of market swings? Learn how DeFi can help you build steady passive income. Register Now