Scammers will always find a way, especially in crypto, where regulation is often lacking and enforcement feels like a distant dream. So, how do you fight back? Simple. Beat them at their own game, waste their time, and watch them squirm. Kitboga Strikes Back A pseudonymous streamer known as Kitboga designed an effective and satisfying new weapon in the fight against crypto fraud: a fake Bitcoin ATM ‘maze.’ A popular tool for crypto scammers is to have victims deposit cash into a Bitcoin ATM; the machine will then produce the destination wallet address and transaction ID. Once the scammers have the newly converted Bitcoin, they can ignore the victim and move on. Bitcoin ATMs are surprisingly accessible – there are over 40K worldwide – and so are an easy tool for scammers to use. Kitboga has weaponized the ATM part of the scam and turned it against would-be scammers. He crafted a digital ‘maze’—a nightmare of customer service loops, endless hold queues, CAPTCHA, and AI-powered confusion. It’s like an evil bureaucrat’s dream: a twisted journey through digital hell, with a fake Bitcoin waiting at the end. Kitboga’s trap has wasted over 4,000 hours of scammers’ time. What started as comedic content has transformed into a real-time weapon against scams, gathering intel and frustrating fraudsters at every turn. Engineering the Maze When scammers demand victims deposit cash at Bitcoin ATMs, Kitboga counters with a Photoshopped receipt: a QR code linking to a fictional exchange and a hotline that leads victims (or, in this case, scammers) into a purpose‑built labyrinth. Once inside, attackers must solve tedious tasks in the guise of CAPTCHA or human verification: estimate the number of nuts in a bucket, gauge wave heights, or even play Derude’s ‘Sandstorm’ on a keyboard (as an added bonus, each attempt causes the CAPTCHA to speed up). Enter the wallet address incorrectly – and of course, it’s a fake, so it will automatically be incorrect – and Kitboga’s system triggers automated phone interactions where an AI will intentionally mishear digits, repeat prompt failures, and eventually trap the scammer in prolonged hold periods. Over the past year, the fake ATM has trapped about 500 scammers, occupying them for 3,953 hours, approximately 164 days. On average, each scammer spends nearly 3 hours in the maze, while the record stands at 156 hours; that’s more than six days. Six days in which the scammer wasn’t scamming someone else. More Than a Time Waster Kitboga isn’t merely playing games with scammers; he’s gathering actionable intelligence. Registering on the fake crypto exchange Kitboga set up requires scammers to enter their Bitcoin address, giving the team a growing database of known scam wallets. Some attackers inadvertently reveal video feeds or other identifiers. In collaboration with Kraken, crypto funds obtained by scammers have reportedly been frozen based on information from the maze. The fake ATM maze is Kitboga’s ‘second most effective tool,’ behind AI‑powered autodialers. His team is launching similar infinite‑maze tactics for other scam types, including gift card fraud and mailed‑cash schemes. Bitcoin ATM scams are nothing new—but their scale is increasing. In the first half of 2024, U.S. consumers lost nearly $65M to scams routed through ATMs; 2023 saw over $100M lost in crypto ATM scams. But like normal people, for fraudsters, time is money. Every minute spent in Kitboga’s maze is not spent scamming real victims – the maze even requires scammers on hold to respond with ridiculous phrases or risk losing their spot. Scambaiting isn’t the only tool in the arsenal – other entities, like Chinese law enforcement, are turning to different tools. Chinese Local Law Enforcement Step Up Beijing’s Haidian District People’s Procuratorate exposed an embezzlement-driven crypto laundering operation involving Kuaishou employees. The employees siphoned approximately ¥140M ($20M) via Bitcoin and mixers routed through at least eight overseas exchanges. Authorities recovered 92 BTC (¥89M, $11.7M) and successfully prosecuted eight insiders, issuing prison terms ranging from 3 to 14 years alongside financial penalties. China has some of the strictest anti-crypto policies in the world. That makes the potential gains from crypto scams even greater, though it elevates the risk. A prosecutor noted the case exhibits all the traits of modern digital-era corruption: Small-scale officials engaging in big fraud Crypto-aided money laundering Poor risk control within corporations Though China has banned crypto trading and mining, underground operations remain vibrant. Earlier investigations uncovered a $2.2B money laundering ring using OTC brokers, secret shell companies, and exchanges, often used to bypass China’s strict foreign exchange caps. In the end, what brought down the latest crypto scamming ring was dedicated local law enforcement, illustrating that the path forward to fight scams involves boots-on-the-ground in more than one way. The fight also requires increasing everyday crypto literacy – and that means a top-of-the-line crypto wallet. Best Wallet Token ($BEST) – Web3 Wallet for Safe, Secure, Non-Custodial Crypto Economy Best Wallet Token ($BEST) powers the Best Wallet, a mobile-first, non‑custodial wallet supporting over 50 blockchains and thousands of assets. Holding $BEST offers multiple utilities: reduced transaction fees priority access to presale launches higher staking rewards governance rights The Best Wallet app features seamless cross-chain swaps and a growing integrated economy; Best Wallet, the $BEST token, and an upcoming Best Card. Interest in a wallet that provides real value for the growing crypto world has driven the presale past the $14M mark. With tokens currently priced at $0.025395, there’s never been a better time to get in. You can learn how to buy $BEST with our guide. Visit the Best Wallet Token ($BEST) presale page today. Scambaiting, Local Enforcement, Best Wallet Keys to Crypto Safety What began as comedic scambaiting for Kitboga evolved into a novel form of activism. It highlighted just how important it is to have a comprehensive approach to avoiding crypto scams – an approach that heavily features Best Wallet. As always, do your own research. This isn’t financial advice.
Bitcoin recently flushed a key liquidity zone below the $116K mark, triggering a period of sideways consolidation. With the FOMC meeting scheduled for Wednesday, traders are bracing for a potentially significant price move driven by macroeconomic developments. Technical Analysis By ShayanMarkets The Daily Chart Bitcoin remains within a steep ascending price channel, recently triggering a sweep of significant sell-side liquidity just below the $116K level. This area was loaded with stop-losses and long liquidations, which were flushed as the market dipped. Despite a short-term rebound following the sweep, bullish momentum has yet to regain full strength, likely due to a spike in supply pressure following a historic whale transaction, where one of the oldest known wallets moved dormant BTC after years of inactivity. Currently, Bitcoin is consolidating between the ascending channel’s support at $114K and the ATH resistance around $123K. This range-bound behavior reflects market hesitation ahead of the FOMC meeting scheduled for Wednesday, which is expected to trigger a major volatility event based on the Fed’s rate policy decision. The 4-Hour Chart On the lower timeframe, BTC’s corrective drop was absorbed near the 0.5 Fibonacci retracement zone around $115K, prompting a reversal. Moreover, the price action has broken above a bullish flag formation, signaling a potential continuation toward $123K if momentum sustains. However, this bullish setup is contingent upon upcoming macro developments. All eyes are now on Wednesday’s FOMC meeting, with traders awaiting confirmation of a rate cut or hawkish tone. Depending on the Fed’s stance, Bitcoin could either break above its ATH or revisit lower support zones. On-chain Analysis By ShayanMarkets As Bitcoin continues to trade sideways without a decisive breakout, the behavior of large holders is raising eyebrows across the market. On July 25th, a notable spike in Binance Whale Inflows was recorded, with over $1.2 billion in cumulative BTC entering the exchange in a single day. This surge marks the largest 30-day inflow observed in recent months, signaling a major shift in market dynamics. This wave of inflows led to immediate short-term selling pressure, pushing Bitcoin down from the $120K resistance to the $115K–$116K support zone, where it currently consolidates. While retail inflows have been gradually rising, they pale in comparison to this whale activity, highlighting a significant imbalance in market supply. If buyers fail to absorb this wave of supply, further downside toward $110K becomes a likely scenario. However, should Bitcoin rebound from current support, a retest of $121K and potentially new all-time highs remain on the table. The post Bitcoin Price Analysis: BTC Correction Over? Here’s What Signals a New ATH appeared first on CryptoPotato .
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Summary The YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF offers high-yield exposure to Strategy and Bitcoin via a synthetic long position and a covered call strategy. The ETF is best suited for investors with a bullish Bitcoin outlook and a very high-risk tolerance, given its leveraged and derivative-based structure. Bitcoin recently reached an all-time high just below $123k as pro-crypto regulation -- the GENIUS Act -- changed investor sentiment for the better. MSTY has delivered strong NAV returns since inception, but income distributions are volatile and upside is capped due to the covered call approach. While recent pro-crypto regulation and Bitcoin price surges are positives, MSTY is only appropriate for those willing to accept significant risk and potential underperformance if the crypto market corrects. The YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF ( MSTY ) is a potentially attractive investment product for investors that have a favorable view on cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin ( BTC-USD ), and that want to monetize a synthetic long position in Bitcoin investor Strategy ( MSTR ). Strategy is the biggest corporate owner of Bitcoin in the world and with the cryptocurrency market recently receiving favorable stimulus from the GENIUS Act, the Bitcoin price has reached new all-time highs. A yield-oriented position in the YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF could make sense for investors that understand the risks of an investment in MSTY and that have a very high tolerance when it comes to taking risk in their portfolios. Data by YCharts Previous Rating I have no previous coverage on the YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF, but up-graded Strategy to hold in my last work in June: Bitcoin Recovery Creates Less Risk . At the time of my last coverage, Strategy owned more than 580,000 Bitcoins which was equal to about 3% of the outstanding Bitcoin supply. Further, cryptocurrencies made a big comeback lately on the back of favorable stablecoin regulation -- the GENIUS Act -- which creates the first regulatory framework for stablecoin issuers. This move has sparked optimism in the cryptocurrency market, causing Bitcoin to grapple with a price of ~$123,000 for the first time ever. Strong NAV Upside And High-Income Potential The YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF is a way for investors to turn a favorable view on Strategy into a high-yielding income plan. Since Strategy is basically a Bitcoin investor (although it has a software business as well), the company has been a primary vehicle for investors to get Bitcoin exposure. Fundamentally, Strategy itself is a leveraged way to invest in Bitcoin as the company is issuing both equity and debt (mostly 0% convertible senior notes) in order to finance Bitcoin purchases. As a result, Strategy has out-performed Bitcoin by a massive margin in recent years. Data by YCharts This YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF does not own shares of Strategy, however, but rather builds a synthetic long position through the use of derivatives. In addition to the synthetic position in Strategy, the YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF sells covered calls in order to generate recurring dividend income for investors. The YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF therefore allows investors to monetize a long position in Strategy through option income, but it is a high-yielding ETF that is likely only suitable to very high risk-takers. There are two sources of potential gains for investors that buy into MSTY: 1) A high annualized distribution yield that is currently standing at 132.5%, and 2) Potential NAV gains. The majority of the YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF's are going to come from distributions... which are made monthly. In the trailing-twelve-month period, the YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF made $27.59 in cumulative distributions. The monthly distribution has fluctuated widely, however, so investors that depend on predictable income would likely not want to own this ultra-high-yield investment product. Data by YCharts Favorable stablecoin legislation recently catapulted the Bitcoin price to an all-time high just short of $123,000 and changed sentiment towards many other digital currencies as well. Stablecoins are a critical pillar of the cryptocurrency ecosystem, allowing investors to (relatively) safely park capital and move into and out of digital currencies easily and without high costs. The stablecoin market, which is a part of the broader cryptocurrency market, has boomed in recent years as well. I dove into more detail about the GENIUS Act legitimizing stablecoins and their impact on the cryptocurrency market in my work on Circle Internet Group ( CRCL ). CNBC Strong Net Asset Value Returns Driven By Bitcoin Price Recovery In terms of net asset value returns, the YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF has achieved very respectable returns since inception: its net asset value has soared 336.6% since February 2024. While the ETF has a very limited return history so far, the YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF has done quite well, due largely to a massive recovery in the underlying Bitcoin price in the last year. YieldMax Strong Bitcoin-Related Upside Potential The YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF has an impressive total return since inception, but the ETF’s net asset value potential will be directly tied to the performance of the world’s biggest digital asset Bitcoin. If the Bitcoin price were to slump going forward, investors could see serious net asset value erosion for the YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF. So far, shares of Strategy have out-performed the YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF and will likely continue to do so (I will explain in the risk section why). Data by YCharts Risks With MSTY The YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF sells covered calls, which can be risky if Strategy’s share price rises above the strike price of such calls (which means the option buyer will exercise the option and the option seller will have to sell shares at the lower strike price). This is the reason why high-yielding ETFs running covered call strategies may actually end up underperforming the underlying asset. In other words, the YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF offers investors a high-yield of more than 130% that comes at the price of capped upside. Therefore, the YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF would likely only be a good investment product for investors that want to translate a favorable Strategy/Bitcoin outlook into high current income today. Final Thoughts The YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF is a potentially attractive investment for investors that have a positive long-term view on cryptocurrencies in general, especially in the context of recent efforts to provide a regulatory framework for stablecoin issuers. It is also chiefly aimed at investors that want to generate a high monthly distribution from a synthetic long position in Strategy. Further, the GENIUS Act is a milestone legislation package that legitimizes investments in digital assets and that could provide a boost to the development of the entire cryptocurrency ecosystem. The YieldMax MSTR Option Income Strategy ETF, however, is only a decent investment production for investors that understand the high risk of MSTY (especially with regards to its capped upside potential). Investors that like Strategy may want to own shares outright in order to fully participate in the Bitcoin investor's upside.
Japanese firm Metaplanet cemented its status as the top non-US Bitcoin treasury with a 780 BTC purchase, bringing its total holdings to 17,132 BTC.
The post Sequans Buys 755 More Bitcoin, Expands Total Holdings to 3,072 BTC appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News Sequans Communications has expanded its Bitcoin holdings by acquiring 755 BTC for about $88.5 million, at an average price of $117,296 per coin. This purchase raises the company’s total Bitcoin reserves to 3,072 BTC, now valued at over $358 million. The Paris-based semiconductor company continues to strengthen its position as a leading European corporate Bitcoin holder, using recent equity proceeds to fund its growing treasury strategy.
The post $686M in Token Unlocks This Week: Key Projects to Watch appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News Over the next week, between July 28 and August 4, more than $686 million worth of crypto tokens will be unlocked across major crypto projects, which could shake things up in the market. Big one-time unlocks (over $5 million) are coming for Sui, Jupiter, Ethena, Optimism, Kaimana, Sign, GPS, Zeta, and Rezolve. These cliff unlocks often involve large token drops hitting the market at once, which can lead to increased volatility. At the same time, several projects will see daily linear unlocks exceeding $1 million per day. These include Solana, Worldcoin, Celestia, Dogecoin, Tao, Avalanche, Sui, Polkadot, Internet Protocol, Morpho, Sei, and Ether.fi, Jito, Filecoin, and Ethereum Name Service. SUI Leads Major One-Time Cliff Unlocks Sui leads with an unlock of 44 million tokens, worth approximately $189.6 million, which is about 1.27% of its total supply. Jupiter is unlocking 53.47 million tokens valued at $32.1 million, followed by Ethena with 40.6 million tokens worth $26.6 million, and Optimism with 31.3 million tokens worth $22.9 million. Other notable cliff unlocks include Kaimana with 229 million tokens worth $13.6 million and Sign unlocking 150 million tokens valued at $150 million (12.5%). GPS is releasing 542 million tokens, which is 31.75% of its supply, despite a modest $11.6 million value. Zeta and Rezolve are also unlocking 44.2 million and 423.7 million tokens, respectively. SOL, TRUMP, WLD Lead In Daily Linear Unlocks Several major projects are undergoing daily linear unlocks, where tokens are released gradually each day. Solana is unlocking about 465,770 tokens over the week, worth $87.6 million. Trump will unlock 4.89 million tokens worth $50.13 million. Worldcoin follows with a 37.2 million token unlock worth $44.6 million. Dogecoin will release 95.5 million tokens valued at $22.9 million, and Lamden Tao will unlock 50,400 tokens totaling $21.5 million. Avalanche and Celestia are also seeing significant releases, unlocking around 7 million tokens worth $18.1 million and 6.96 million tokens worth $14.2 million, respectively. Sui will add another 3 million tokens, valued at $12.9 million. Projects like Morpho, Ether.fi, Polkadot, Sei, The Internet Protocol, Jito, Near, Ethereum Name Service, and Filecoin will also see weekly unlocks ranging from $7 million to $13 million. Last Week’s $442M Unlock Wave Last week, over $442 million worth of tokens were unlocked across major projects. Major one-time releases came from Avail, Venom, AltLayer, Sahara, and Soon, while daily unlocks over $1 million hit Solana, Worldcoin, TRUMP, Celestia, Dogecoin, Tao, Avalanche, Sui, and others
TL;DR PENGU breaks out of a descending triangle, aiming for $0.052 if volume continues rising. Korean traders push PENGU volume above Dogecoin, fueling talk of a major price surge. Pudgy Penguins addresses OpenSea rumors, confirms mobile game launch for iOS and Android. Breakout Structure Targets $0.052 Pudgy Penguins (PENGU) has moved higher this week, breaking out of a short-term consolidation range. At the time of writing, the price is $0.042, up nearly 2% over the last 24 hours and over 25% in the past week. On the lower timeframes, a descending triangle had formed after a strong move up. Price action respected lower highs and a steady support base near $0.041. Notably, that structure broke to the upside, suggesting bulls are gaining ground. Chart analysis by Ali Martinez points to $0.052 as the next area of interest if momentum holds. $PENGU is ready for another leg up. $0.052 next! pic.twitter.com/DWT2vQrf4D — Ali (@ali_charts) July 27, 2025 Volume Increases as Traders Position In PENGU’s 24-hour trading volume now stands above $1.38 billion. Analyst Cas Abbé noted that the token has surpassed Dogecoin in volume on Upbit, a sign of strong interest among Korean traders. He added, “Big accounts are changing their PF to Pudgy Penguins.” Abbé also mentioned the asset’s sharp decline after its $1.5 billion airdrop, followed by a recovery to new highs. Based on current activity, he suggested a possible 150% to 200% move over the next two months. Support is seen near $0.041, while resistance is building around $0.04450. A clean break above that zone may open the path to $0.052. Rumors About OpenSea Buyout Addressed Over the weekend, rumors spread suggesting Pudgy Penguins had acquired OpenSea. The speculation appeared linked to older posts from a previous team member. Beau, who leads security for the project, responded by saying , “Pudgy Penguins didn’t buy OpenSea… chill.” This comment was posted on X to clear up the confusion and stop further misinformation. Pudgy Penguins is also preparing to launch a mobile game for Google Play and Apple’s App Store. The project’s team confirmed the development without giving a release date. The post PENGU Breaks Out as Volume Soars — $0.052 in Sight? appeared first on CryptoPotato .
The post Shiba Inu (SHIB) Made Early Buyers Rich, This $0.035 Token Might Be the Next Big Crypto of 2025 appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News Back in 2021, Shiba Inu (SHIB) became the symbol of surprise wealth in the crypto world. Early buyers who invested just a few hundred dollars saw it turn into tens of thousands, simply by getting in before the hype. Today, investors are no longer chasing memes alone — they’re looking for the next big crypto that offers both early pricing and real utility. That’s where Mutuum Finance (MUTM) , currently priced at $0.035, is beginning to make waves. Why This Token Has Gained Real Traction Mutuum Finance is a DeFi protocol built for decentralized lending and borrowing, offering both pooled and peer-to-peer options instead of limiting users to one model. Since it’s powered by non-custodial smart contracts, users retain complete ownership of their funds at all times. Whether you’re supplying liquidity or negotiating loan terms directly, the protocol makes it possible without middlemen or centralized control. With practical mechanics and a clear development plan, Mutuum Finance is catching the eye of those moving away from meme-driven tokens toward more grounded opportunities. Strong Presale Performance Currently in Phase 6, the Mutuum Finance presale offers MUTM tokens at $0.035 apiece. The project has already raised over $13.6 million and attracted more than 14,400 holders, demonstrating strong and steady traction from early participants. This level of support suggests not just hype, but genuine market interest in what the project is building. One of the key distinctions of this presale is that the launch price is already locked in at $0.06. This gives current buyers a transparent reference point for projected returns, something not every project in the early stages can offer. Let’s break it down with a real example: An investor who entered in Phase 1 at $0.01 with a $2,000 allocation would now be holding 200,000 MUTM tokens. By the time the token goes live at $0.06, that initial investment would be worth $12,000 — a 500% gain, or 6x growth, all before any external exchange listings or product usage come into play. Even for those entering now at $0.035, the upside remains attractive. At the $0.06 launch price, those tokens would appreciate by approximately 71%. This return is based solely on presale pricing and doesn’t even account for additional upward momentum post-launch. For anyone seeking the best crypto to buy now, that kind of built-in value is hard to ignore. Short-Term Price Potential: $0.25 in Sight? Analysts anticipate that once launched, MUTM could climb toward $0.25, marking a strong move from its current price. The team has confirmed that Mutuum’s beta platform will go live around the same time as the token’s public release, ensuring MUTM is functional from day one. The protocol’s core lending and borrowing functions are already in development, and having a working product at or near launch significantly increases the credibility and demand for the token. Secondly, the team has already delivered strong presale performance and community growth without needing influencer marketing or exchange hype. That organic momentum, combined with real product rollout and token use, creates a powerful narrative going into launch — one that can reasonably support a jump to $0.25 in the short term, especially in a bullish Q4 environment. Mutuum Finance (MUTM) isn’t offering returns based on token inflation or gimmicks. When users deposit assets like ETH or USDC into the platform, they receive mtTokens — interest-bearing representations of their deposits. These tokens increase in redeemable value over time, meaning users earn passive income directly linked to protocol usage. Borrowers benefit as well, with access to overcollateralized loans that don’t require selling assets to unlock liquidity. This combination of utility, simplicity, and non-custodial design is helping Mutuum stand out as a next big cryptocurrency backed by actual DeFi mechanics. Early Entry Always Pays Off One thing hasn’t changed in crypto: those who move early see the biggest upside. SHIB showed that firsthand. And while Mutuum Finance is a very different project in terms of purpose and structure, it shares one powerful trait — the opportunity to enter before the rest of the market catches on. With over 650 million tokens already sold, a fixed launch price of $0.06, and more phases ahead, Mutuum still offers strong value — especially for those joining now in Phase 6. The project isn’t asking investors to take a leap of faith; it’s offering a calculated, transparent entry point with clearly defined growth potential. For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below: Website: https://www.mutuum.com Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance