As we move into 2025, gaming chains are redefining how we build, play, and connect. Expect this momentum to continue.
Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to the author and do not represent the views and opinions of crypto.news’ editorial. TON, Immutable, Ronin—the rise of gaming chains is one of this year’s major web3 stories. The Open Network, Telegram’s “ official web3 infrastructure ,” is a good example of this success by enabling in-app onboarding and new levels of engagement and reward . TON simply makes it easier for builders to build and players to play, demonstrated by year-defining titles like Notcoin, Hamster Kombat, and BANANA. After starting the year with just over 4M on-chain accounts, TON will finish the year with more than 120M. You might also like: What clicker boom on TON reveals about crypto games, players, and platforms | Opinion Answering “why” this is happening is a story in three parts. For developers, gaming chains provide a foundation that bridges the gap between web2 and web3, offering better tools, smoother onboarding, and more efficient scaling. For players, they benefit from connected ecosystems where their assets, achievements, and identities are more malleable on the backend. Meanwhile, for the industry, we move even closer to AI-enhanced experiences and cross-game economies. The explosive growth of gaming chains isn’t just about better technology—it’s about enabling the connected gaming experiences that will define web3 over the coming year and beyond. Building without barriers Gaming chains went seriously wide in 2024. In Q3 , further to the runaway success of TON, Immutable’s ecosystem hit about 200 titles, and Sky Mavis’ Ronin grew about 40% in the game count. Much of this success is indebted to how chains help developers bridge technical gaps. In a similar way to Unreal Engine transforming game development with specialized tools, gaming chains create purpose-built environments where developers can focus on creativity and build without compromise. Native gaming tools handle high-throughput player actions and complex smart contracts while ensuring low latency for real-time experiences. This goes a long way to helping developers feel at home and using something familiar to traditional infrastructure. With less technical headaches, they can focus on what they do best. Further, the relationship is synergetic. For their part, gaming chains can support developers from the ground up. Gas fee reductions are possible for gaming partners, for example, in addition to specialized technical and tokenomics support for games transitioning from web2. Gaming chain creators can also incubate and invest in select games, drive adoption, and create buzz, thereby fostering ecosystem growth. This virtuous cycle helps developers succeed while building more engaging player experiences. Gaming across the universe There’s a lot for players to like in this gaming chain evolution, too. For starters, one of their biggest pain points is onboarding. Things like wallets introduce technical know-how, which isn’t always an easy barrier to clear. Here, again, gaming chains offer a solution by seamlessly introducing players to the ecosystem and invisibly integrating the blockchain. Telegram made gaming waves this year because it does both of these things exceedingly well. Most users in most parts of the world (depending on regulation) enjoy automatic wallet connectivity on their Telegram profiles, letting them jump straight into mini-games without even needing to know crypto concepts. The result is big games, hyped airdrops, and hundreds of millions of players. Gaming chains also solve a key challenge: blockchain games often exist in isolation. With shared infrastructure, players more easily maintain a single identity across multiple titles. Ronin Name Service is a good example since players create a unique callsign across the Ronin ecosystem and games, wallets, and dApps. Solutions like this help bring player value and utility—creating genuine digital ownership across the gaming universe without sacrificing gameplay. Unlocking new gaming possibilities Once siloed gaming data is unlocked and unified by gaming chains, possibilities expand dramatically. Cross-game economies, long promised by NFTs, have finally become a reality. Whether trading assets or sharing currencies, experiences deepen when they extend across titles. As a result, player digital footprints gain value across entire ecosystems rather than single games. This unlocked data brings other knock-on effects like richer player experiences. Imagine rewards adapting based on cross-game achievements or reputation systems reflecting your complete gaming identity. Gaming chains create the shared infrastructure that makes player data portable and meaningful. AI then supercharges these connected experiences. Chain-specific tools can personalize missions based on behavior, generate dynamic content that matches player preferences, and power AI companions that learn from interactions. This makes gaming specific to every player and, in turn, improves acquisition and retention. United data on the backend also gives game makers a better view of what players want and the ability to develop in that direction. Clearly, when game data flows freely, all sides of the gaming equation win. Gaming chains are here to stay This breakthrough year for gaming chains is just the beginning. The digital era is defined by data as the “new oil,” and gaming chains unlock this asset to foster innovation, participation, and smarter decisions. It’s a value proposition that increasingly resonates with all stakeholders—developers get purpose-built infrastructure, players enjoy tailored experiences, and the industry unlocks new data-driven possibilities. As we move into 2025, gaming chains are redefining how we build, play, and connect. Expect this momentum to continue. Read more: Profiling web3 gamers can help blockchain become mainstream | Opinion Author: Yukai Tu Yukai Tu is the chief technical officer at CARV. Tu is an expert in confidential computing and blockchain and holds a Master’s in computer science from UCLA. At CARV, Yukai is helping build the largest decentralized identity and data layer for gaming, AI, and beyond, integrating over 900 games and AI companies. He’s also worked as a software engineer at Google and Coinbase, a contributor to the Cosmos SDK, and a blockchain engineering lead at LINO Network.
The US government has finally responded to Sam Bankman-Fried’s (SBF) appeal, stating that the initial conviction and forfeiture order against the former CEO of the bankrupt exchange should be affirmed. In its response, the government countered all the arguments raised in the SBF appeal. The US team, led by the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, filed the response on December 13. They noted that the District Court made the right decisions throughout the trial and was not biased against SBF, as the former CEO had claimed. To prove this point, they argued that the court was right to instruct the jury to consider fraudulent intent, as there was overwhelming evidence of this in the trial. According to the government counsel, Bankman-Fried intended to cause loss to the victims, and none of the trial court instructions wrongly influenced the jury to convict him of this intention to cause loss. They wrote : “(The) loss to the victim was not “an incidental byproduct of the scheme,” Kelly, 590 US at 402—obtaining the victims’ property was the core object of Bankman-Fried’s deception.” Based on this, the government argued that the court’s instruction to the jury to ignore the SBF “No Ultimate Harm” defense in the trial was correct. During the trial, SBF said that the instruction was unnecessary but later argued on appeal that it was a wrong statement of law. However, the US counsel claims that standard instructions in fraud trials and temporary deprivation of another’s property for personal profit is enough to constitute a scheme to defraud. Government says the exclusion of evidence by the trial judge was correct Meanwhile, a chunk of SBF’s arguments in the appeal relied on what he believed was the wrongful exclusion of evidence that could have helped his case by the trial judge. Unsurprisingly, the government focused on disproving these arguments, noting that the judge was right. During the trial, the judge ruled that the evidence that SBF could present should be limited to show that he was acting in good faith. In his attempt to prove this, SBF wanted to present evidence showing that his investments with FTX funds were strategic, and he repaid the debt to customers and creditors. He also tried to prove that his decisions were based on legal counsel. However, the trial judge limited the evidence he could provide and sometimes made him give evidence without the jury, noting that it was not specific, and some could even mislead the jury. SBF argued in his appeal that these limitations ruined his case. In its response, the government stated that its own evidence about losses suffered due to SBF actions is relevant, and even if the former CEO had presented evidence showing he could repay, it would still not absolve him of the crime. It added that the court was right to order the criminal forfeiture of $11 billion against SBF as these funds were fraudulently obtained, and the size of the forfeiture is commensurate to the gravity of the action. What next for SBF? With the US government now filing its response to the appeal, it is up to SBF to reply to the counterarguments raised, and he has until January 31 to do that. However, whether the convicted CEO, who is currently serving his 25-year sentence, will win the appeal remains questionable. The core of his appeal has been that he did not get a fair trial and was presumed guilty by the prosecutors and judges involved in his case. However, many legal experts believe that it is unlikely for the Appellate court to grant a retrial especially if the appellant cannot sufficiently prove that the trial court acted inappropriately. While SBF has alleged some bias, noting the several criticisms of his counsel by the trial judge, the government lawyers noted that the judge also criticized the prosecution during the trial. Meanwhile, FTX is already planning to repay the customers with 98% of the customers likely to get their refunds within the next three months. However, they will be receiving their funds at November 2022 valuations even though prices have more than tripled since then. A Step-By-Step System To Launching Your Web3 Career and Landing High-Paying Crypto Jobs in 90 Days.
The much-anticipated wave of crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is set to reshape the cryptocurrency landscape in 2025. While heavyweights like Solana (SOL) and Ripple’s XRP encounter regulatory and logistical hurdles, newer projects like Lightchain AI (LCAI) and Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR) are emerging as top contenders to lead the charge. With their innovative technologies and rapidly growing ecosystems, LCAI and HBAR are capturing the attention of both retail and institutional investors. Why Solana and XRP Are Facing ETF Delays Even though they are popular, Solana and XRP is having a hard time to meet the tough rules for ETF inclusion. Solana's rare network breaks and growth troubles bring up worries for big investors, while XRP keeps facing leftover doubt from its court fights with the SEC, even after some wins. Though these problems dont lessen their worth as block chain plans, they slow down their chance to be in ETFs, giving new assets like Lightchain AI and HBAR a shot to take the stage. Also, with the rising trend for green investments, Solana's need for Proo͏f-of-Stake (PoS) way and XRP high energy use might hurt their odds of being ETF favorites. Lightchain AI The Newcomer Poised for ETF Domination Lightchain AI (LCAI) is rapidly positioning itself as the blockchain project to watch in 2025. With its focus on integrating artificial intelligence into decentralized applications, it offers unique use cases that cater to a wide range of industries. What Makes Lightchain AI ETF-Ready? Unlike many traditional cryptocurrencies, Lightchain AI addresses the growing demand for real-world applications and enterprise-level adoption. Its Artificial Intelligence Virtual Machine (AIVM) enables businesses to deploy AI-driven applications securely and transparently on the blockchain. Additionally, its Proof of Intelligence (PoI) consensus mechanism ensures that computational resources are used meaningfully, aligning with sustainability goals that appeal to institutional investors. Moreover, Lightchain AI’s deflationary tokenomics, early-stage pricing of just $0.003, and a roadmap targeting cross-chain integrations make it an ideal candidate for ETF inclusion. Its ability to deliver high utility and sustainable growth positions it as a frontrunner in the next wave of blockchain innovation. Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR) A Sustainable and Institutional Favorite Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR) has long been regarded as one of the most energy-efficient blockchain alternatives, thanks to its unique consensus algorithm that combines speed, scalability, and security. With governance led by a council of global enterprises like Google, IBM, and Boeing, Hedera offers the kind of institutional backing that ETFs are drawn to. HBAR’s focus on enterprise solutions, including supply chain management, digital identity, and tokenized assets, gives it broad appeal for use cases that extend beyond cryptocurrency speculation. This focus on tangible applications makes HBAR a strong candidate for ETFs targeting long-term, value-driven investments. The Role of ETFs in Crypto Adoption The launch of crypto ETFs is expected to bring a wave of new capital into the market, providing mainstream exposure to digital assets without requiring direct ownership of tokens. These ETFs will likely prioritize projects with. Real-World Utility Tokens like Lightchain AI and HBAR, which solve real problems, are more likely to attract ETF attention than speculative assets. Regulatory Compliance Projects with clear governance and transparent operations, such as HBAR’s enterprise council and LCAI’s community-driven approach, stand out. Sustainability Energy-efficient and environmentally friendly protocols are favored in an era of increasing ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) awareness. Lightchain AI, with its AI-driven blockchain innovations, and Hedera, with its enterprise-grade solutions, perfectly align with these criteria. How ETFs Could Impact Lightchain AI ETFs have the potential to catapult Lightchain AI into mainstream adoption, pushing its token price higher and increasing liquidity. With greater visibility and accessibility through ETF inclusion, more investors will be drawn to LCAI’s utility-driven approach, amplifying demand for its tokens. Moreover, ETFs are expected to bring institutional interest and capital into the market, which could accelerate Lightchain AI’s cross-chain integration plans and partnerships with enterprise clients. This would further solidify its position as a leading blockchain project in 2025. Plus the price stability that ETFs bring could attract more businesses looking to build applications on the LCAI network, creating a virtuous cycle of growth and adoption. New Leaders in the ETF Race As Solana and XRP face delays in their ETF journeys, Lightchain AI and Hedera Hashgraph are emerging as strong contenders to lead the next wave of blockchain innovation. Their emphasis on real-world applications, sustainability, and institutional appeal positions them as frontrunners for ETF inclusion in 2025. For investors seeking the next big opportunity, Lightchain AI’s presale at $0.003 offers an unprecedented chance to get in early on a project poised for exponential growth. With ETFs on the horizon, now is the time to watch these projects closely. Who knows, they could soon become the new darlings of the ETF world. Keep an eye out for Lightchain AI and Hedera Hashgraph as they continue to make strides towards mainstream adoption. The future of blockchain is bright, and these projects are leading the way. So don't miss out on this potential opportunity and keep a close watch on these projects as they take center stage in the ETF race. https://lightchain.ai https://lightchain.ai/lightchain-whitepaper.pdf https://x.com/LightchainAI https://t.me/LightchainProtocol Disclaimer: This is a sponsored article and is for informational purposes only. It does not reflect the views of Crypto Daily, nor is it intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, or financial advice.
Michael Saylor, co-founder and executive chairman of Microstrategy, has discussed the opportunity for the U.S. to make the dollar ubiquitous by building a regulatory framework that allows U.S. banks to issue their treasury-backed stablecoins. Michael Saylor Discusses US Banks’ Upcoming Digital Dollar Adoption Michael Saylor, bitcoin visionary, co-founder, and executive chairman of Microstrategy, the first
The post XRP News: Is XRP Still a Good Investment After Its 500% Rally? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News Ripple’s native cryptocurrency, XRP, has been a standout performer in the crypto market, surging nearly 500% from $0.50 to $2.60 in recent months. Despite this remarkable growth, XRP has come under fire in a video titled “Everything That’s Wrong With XRP,” sparking debate within the crypto community. Key Criticisms of XRP The author of this video has outlined three key reasons why XRP might not be a solid investment. Replacement by Stablecoins: Author argued that XRP’s original role as a bridge currency for cross-border payments has been overshadowed by stablecoins, which offer more stability. Ripple’s recent launch of its stablecoin, RLUSD, has added fuel to this claim. Ripple’s IPO Plans: The video suggested that Ripple’s plans for an IPO undermine XRP’s relevance, as the company’s stock performance could overshadow the cryptocurrency. Ripple’s Large XRP Holdings: Ripple currently holds over 38 billion XRP tokens and has been selling them to fund operations. This centralization, according to the author, poses risks to XRP’s long-term value. Ripple CTO David Schwartz Responds In response, Ripple CTO David Schwartz took to X to address these criticisms head-on. I think its first point is completely wrong. It's true that you can use XRP to make payments without holding it, which is good because it means you aren't exposed to its volatility if you don't want to be, it doesn't follow that people won't hold XRP. For one thing, the only… — David "JoelKatz" Schwartz (@JoelKatz) December 18, 2024 Schwartz dismissed the claim that stablecoins make XRP obsolete. He explained that XRP’s unique role as a bridge currency relies on its liquidity and the ability of holders to buy and sell the token freely. This liquidity ensures that XRP remains a valuable asset for payments. Furthermore, Schwartz noted that holding XRP can simplify transactions by reducing the number of currency exchanges needed. “If you don’t know which currency you’ll need next, holding XRP makes sense,” he said. Schwartz also expressed skepticism about predictions regarding XRP’s price movements, highlighting how XRP and Stellar (XLM) often follow similar market trends, driven by broader factors rather than Ripple-specific developments. Why XRP Still Has Potential Despite the criticisms, Schwartz supports XRP’s importance in the digital payment ecosystem. For individuals and businesses navigating multiple currencies, holding XRP can streamline operations, making it an efficient choice in a complex financial landscape. While debates continue, Ripple is looking toward the approval of an XRP ETF . The company has been working closely with financial institutions, and so far, four filings for XRP ETFs have been submitted. These efforts suggest a strong possibility that the proposals could gain approval before 2025.
Here are three promising cryptocurrencies under $0.50 that could soar to $5 by 2025. These hidden gems boast strong fundamentals, innovative use cases, and growing community support, making them prime candidates for massive growth. With strategic partnerships, upcoming exchange listings, and real-world applications driving demand, now could be the perfect time to invest before these coins explode in value. 3 Cryptocurrencies Below $0.50 That Will Reach $5 With Ease in 2025 Shiba Inu (SHIB) Shiba Inu is a meme-related crypto project, the ecosystem includes ShibaSwap and Shibarium. Shibarium is a layer-2 blockchain solution that focuses on DeFi applications. In addition, the project has enabled NFTs and staking options, looking to add real-world uses and attract many users. Rexas Finance (RXS) Rexas Finance is the user's gateway to the future of asset management. Rexas Finance enables users to own or tokenize digitally any real-world asset, from real estate to commodities, on a worldwide scale. With Rexas Finance, users can gain a market with endless asset investment opportunities. Rexas Token Builder: It is normally used to tokenize their real-world assets and commodities. To make it easy for individuals to get digital ownership and offer access to the global market. Rexas Launchpad: This feature helps the asset owners raise funds for their tokenized assets, offering liquidity and new investment options for the crypto users. Rexas Estate: The project’s one of the most exciting features is Rexas Estate which enables crypto users to co-own the real-world assets and earn passive income in stablecoins. Furthermore, Rexas Finance began the presale of the native token RXS on September 8, 2024. The total supply of RXS tokens is 1 billion. Rexas project has raised over $27.4M ntil now, with 90% of the 10th presale stage has been over. This event is important for the platform as it allows early investors to engage in what might turn into a revolutionary solution for RWA tokenization. Rexas Finance's $1M Giveaway is live, offering a huge chance for early adopters to join the project’s growth. With a current token price of $0.15 and a projected listing price of $0.20 indicate a good opportunity for investors. Moreover, Rexas Finance has been listed on CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko. Furthermore, Rexas Finance (RXS) has the potential to be listed on Top 3 Tier 1 exchanges. Rexas Finance’s security is validated by a rigorous audit conducted by Certik. Tron (TRX) TRON is a decentralized, blockchain-based operating system with smart contract functionality, proof-of-stake principles as its consensus algorithm, and a cryptocurrency native to the system, known as Tronix. About Rexas Finance (RXS) Rexas Finance is the user's gateway to the future of asset management. Rexas allows users to own or tokenize virtually any real-world asset, from real estate and art to commodities and intellectual property worldwide. With Rexas, users gain access to a world where asset liquidity and investment choices are boundless. For more information about Rexas Finance (RXS) visit the links below: Website: https://rexas.com Win $1 Million Giveaway: https://bit.ly/Rexas1M Whitepaper: https://rexas.com/rexas-whitepaper.pdf Twitter/X: https://x.com/rexasfinance Telegram: https://t.me/rexasfinance Disclaimer: This is a sponsored article and is for informational purposes only. It does not reflect the views of Crypto Daily, nor is it intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, or financial advice.
Just yesterday, Crypto All-Stars ($STARS) announced that it raised $21 million. Today, the counter stands at a staggering $23 million as investors flock to secure their share of $STARS before the presale ends. A broader meme coin rally in November could’ve benefited $STARS , but such a success wouldn’t have been possible if not for its unique utility. Crypto All-Stars presents the world’s first unified staking platform MemeVault, which allows you to earn passive rewards on your favorite meme coins. Let’s unpack why $STARS is drawing the community’s attention and why the stars have aligned perfectly for its launch. Chill Guys Lose It, Penguins Fly, $STARS Align It’s true that some recent top gainers, like Dogecoin ($DOGE), Just a Chill Guy ($CHILLGUY), and First Convicted Raccoon ($FRED), saw dramatic corrections this week. However, new stars appear on the meme coin skyline daily. While some fall, new projects like Pudgy Penguins ($PENGU) record 500%+ gains. $STARS is one such sensation. Unlike meme coins that rely on hype alone, $STARS’ meteoric rise has to do with its underlying staking platform, MemeVault. Holders of popular meme coins like $DOGE, $PEPE, $SHIB, $BRETT, and $MOG can stake their tokens in the MemeVault to earn passive yields in the form of $STARS. At launch, MemeVault will support the top 11 meme coins, but the project team plans to add more in the future. This approach future-proofs $STARS because it doesn’t depend on the demand for just one token. Instead, it can attract the entire meme coin community, ever-expanding like the universe itself. The word of $STARS has spread far across the meme coin space and drew not just degen investors but also whales. Yesterday, a single investor bought over $75,000 worth of $STARS . Big buys like these make influencers like ClayBro believe $STARS price will double soon after launch. $STARS to Conquer DEXs First, Are Tier-1 CEXs Next? $STARS started at a humble price point of $0.00138 and is now selling 21% above that, at $0.0016782. This is the final price before the $STARS presale ends, and holders can claim their tokens. MemeVault welcomes every degen investor, regardless of their participation in the presale. However, early $STARS adopters will benefit from higher staking rewards within the ecosystem, which means now is the last chance to maximize your potential earnings. And there’s still time to stake your $STARS at a 144% APY. Rewards will be distributed over two years at a rate of 2801.44 $STARS per $ETH block. The Crypto All-Stars project team doesn’t openly disclose upcoming listings, but rumor has it we might see $STARS on tier-1 centralized exchanges like Coinbase. It’s likely that $STARS will test the waters on decentralized platforms like Uniswap first. To ensure smooth trading, Crypto All-Stars allocated 10% of the total token supply to liquidity. Another 20% is reserved for marketing to expand the project’s reach globally and – who knows – launch $STARS right to the moon. Last 26H to Buy $STARS Before Token Claim The Crypto All-Stars presale ends tomorrow, and FOMO is through the roof. With just 20% of the total token supply available on presale, investors are rushing to secure their share of $STARS before it sells out. To buy $STARS, visit the official Crypto All-Stars website , connect your wallet, and buy tokens using $ETH, $BNB, $USDT, or fiat. Then, follow the Crypto All-Stars X and Telegram channels so as not to miss token claim updates. Remember to do your own research because nothing is certain in life except death and taxes (and, perhaps, $BTC hitting $110,000 this market cycle).
Ilya Lichtenstein, who pled guilty last year to charges related to the 2016 theft of 120,000 bitcoin from Bitfinex, has made his first public statement since his 2022 arrest. In a five-minute video posted to X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, Lichtenstein reiterated that he was the hacker and that he acted alone, denying speculation in a Netflix documentary that his father (or, perhaps, some spy agency, maybe Russia's) might have been involved in the theft. “My dad is no hacker, he doesn’t even know how to use Instagram,” said Lichtenstein, who was sentenced to five years in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering, including the time he was incarcerated after the arrest while the case was pending. "I offer my sincerest apologies to Bitfinex for all the stress that I have caused them," he said in the video, recorded from prison during a remote visit with his wife. "I knew what I was doing was wrong and I did it anyway because I didn't care ... I look back at the person I was then, and I hate myself. I hate myself." In the video, Lichtenstein also provided an update on restitution for the funds he stole from Bitfinex. "For the past three years, I have worked hard to account for and return all assets down to the last satoshi, as required by my plea agreement, and I will continue to do so," Lichtenstein said, showing bags under his eyes.A restitution hearing is set for February to determine whether they should be distributed to Bitfinex or to its customers who were affected by the hack. Razzlekhan speaks Lichtenstein's wife, Heather "Razzlekhan" Morgan, pled guilty to one count of money laundering conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. Prosecutors said she became aware of the hack only years after the fact and was enlisted by her husband to launder the stolen bitcoin. "In many ways, my wife ... is just another victim of my bad decisions," Lichtenstein said in the video. Last month, Morgan was sentenced to 18 months in prison for her supporting role in Lichtenstein's crimes. "It’s nice to begin to have the public record surrounding our case set straight," Morgan told CoinDesk, referring to the video her husband released. "You would think that would have happened after our sentencing memos got filed, but that really hasn’t been the case. There are so many myths that I look forward to debunking when we tell the real story.” Best known for her goofy rap videos , Morgan recently began selling custom videos for $125 a pop on Cameo, a sort of non-pornographic version of Onlyfans. Her prison sentence could begin as soon as next month. "Despite everything you’ve read, my Razzlekhan persona never had anything to do with this case, besides the government mentioning it in their charging documents. I created Razzlekhan years before I ever knew my husband had hacked Bitfinex," Morgan told CoinDesk. “While our criminal case was open, I was unable to speak publicly or tell my story," she said. "This also meant I could not publish any articles or release any new artworks or songs the last three years. Now that the case is over, I look forward to freely expressing myself creatively again. ... I am eager to tell the story of what really happened.” Takes one to catch one Atoning for his misdeeds in court, Lichtenstein said that after he serves his time he plans to pursue a career fighting cybercrime . In Tuesday's video, Lichtenstein reiterated that pledge. "When I am released from prison ... I plan to dedicate myself to working in the cybersecurity industry," Lichtenstein said. "I know the cyber threats that we face and I know how to stop them." The bitcoin stolen in the 2016 hack was worth $70 million at the time and around $12 billion today. The Netflix documentary leaves viewers with the impression that a substantial portion of the stolen funds remain missing, but according to Lichtenstein's lawyer, this is not the case. “With significant help from Mr. Lichtenstein, the government has recovered nearly all of the assets stolen during the 2016 Bitfinex hack," the lawyer, Samson Enzer of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, told CoinDesk. "In total, approximately 114,601 BTC (representing 96% of the approximately 119,754 BTC taken in the hack) were recovered, as well as 29 additional assets with substantial value.” The U.S. Department of Justice did not respond by press time to CoinDesk's inquiry about the percentage of stolen funds that were recovered.
Late Wednesday (U.S. hours), Matt Hougan, the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) at Bitwise Asset Management, took to the social media platform X to comment on the Fed’s announcement and its impact on the crypto market. On Wednesday, the Fed announced the decision of the Dec. 17-18 meeting of its Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). According