North Korean hackers linked to the state’s notorious Lazarus Group have successfully set up shell companies within the United States to distribute malware to cryptocurrency developers, in a scheme that violates US sanctions and exposes major vulnerabilities in business registration systems. According to Reuters, cybersecurity firm Silent Push revealed that two companies—Blocknovas LLC in New Mexico and Softglide LLC in New York—were formed using falsified names, addresses, and documentation, which helped North Korean actors pose as legitimate employers offering jobs in the crypto industry. A third entity, Angeloper Agency, has also been linked to the campaign but has not been registered in the country. Scam Job Offers, Empty Lots, and Malware Silent Push attributed the operation to a subgroup within the Lazarus Group, a state-sponsored hacking unit operating under North Korea’s Reconnaissance General Bureau. The group is known for its role in high-profile cyber thefts and espionage activities. In this campaign, the hackers used fake professional profiles and job postings to approach developers, primarily on platforms such as LinkedIn. Once contact was made, victims were invited to “interviews” where they were encouraged to download malware disguised as hiring software or technical assessments. Blocknovas was the most active entity, with multiple confirmed victims. Its listed physical address in South Carolina was found to be an empty lot. Meanwhile, Softglide was registered through a Buffalo-based tax preparation service, which further complicated efforts to trace those behind the operations. The malware used included strains previously attributed to North Korean cyber units, capable of data theft, remote access, and further network infiltration. The FBI has seized the Blocknovas domain, with a notice on its website indicating it was used to deceive job seekers and spread malware. North Korean Malware Trap The Lazarus Group has repeatedly exploited fake employment opportunities to deliver malware. For instance, it had launched a cyber campaign called “ClickFix” targeting job seekers in the centralized finance (CeFi) crypto sector. Cybersecurity firm Sekoia recently revealed that the group impersonates companies like Coinbase and Tether to lure marketing and business applicants into fake interviews. One of Lazarus’s biggest crypto thefts came in 2021, when a bogus job offer led to the $625 million Ronin Bridge hack targeting Axie Infinity. The post North Korean Hackers Set Up US Shell Companies to Target Crypto Developers: Report appeared first on CryptoPotato .
Bitcoin’s recent 11% surge to $94,000 marks a significant moment as traders navigate a dynamic and uncertain landscape. This notable uptick has ignited discussions about market sentiment shifting towards bullish
Coinbase Urges Policy Change on SEC Crypto Ownership Coinbase has officially called on U.S. regulators to remove the ban that bars Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) employees from purchasing, selling, or owning cryptocurrencies that are not securities. The crypto exchange argues that the current policy robs the SEC of its ability to regulate effectively the rapidly developing digital asset space because it prevents staff from gaining firsthand experience with the technology they are tasked with overseeing. Current Ban Hinders Effective Crypto Regulation, Coinbase Argues In April 22 letters , Coinbase Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal wrote to SEC Chair Paul Atkins and the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, expressing concerns over the existing prohibition. Grewal stressed that the regulators must be able to engage directly with the technologies they oversee, especially as the crypto space keeps advancing and innovating. The timing of Coinbase’s request is crucial. President Trump’s executive order calls for regulatory agencies, like the SEC, to develop recommendations to advance American leadership in digital finance within 180 days. Grewal further stated that nearly half of the period has elapsed, but SEC staff members are still banned from leveraging the same technology they must understand to regulate. Coinbase Proposes Pragmatic Solutions and Policy Revisions To address the challenge, Coinbase invoked the Office of Government Ethics to rescind and update Legal Advisory 22-04, prohibiting SEC employees from trading crypto assets. The company proposed workable solutions, such as issuing waivers to members of the SEC Crypto Task Force and other concerned personnel. Grewal suggested a more nuanced approach to handling possible conflicts of interest. Instead of an outright ban, SEC employees could be allowed to own or trade cryptocurrencies with strict oversight, provided their actions cannot be shown to have a quantifiable effect on the price of such assets. This would be mirroring techniques used in similar regulatory environments. By facilitating limited and conditional ownership, Coinbase is convinced that SEC employees would gain greater, more useful insights, which in turn would result in more effective and well-informed regulation. Aligning Regulation with Market Realities Coinbase’s missives also cite Office of the Inspector General reports, which emphasized regulators must continue to advance their knowledge, regulations, and surveillance tools, as the market continues to develop. Grewal asserted that modernizing the SEC’s crypto policy would not only enhance the effectiveness of regulations but also enable the wider aspiration for U.S. leadership in the digital finance sector. Coinbase believes that lifting the ban is an important step towards regulatory clarity and regulation of innovation in the crypto arena.
Loopscale, a Solana-based DeFi lending protocol, recently experienced a significant security breach, resulting in the loss of approximately $5.8 million in funds. This incident is notable as it accounts for
The post Pi Network: Why Dr Altcoin Strongly Believes in Its Future – Key Reason Behind It appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News While many people are still trying to figure out the next big thing in crypto, well-known analyst Dr Altcoin has made it clear, he’s fully committed to the Pi Network . In a recent post, he shared why he is so passionate about the project, why he fully supports it, and why he remains committed to its future. And looking at the points he shared, it’s hard not to get excited too. Mobile Mining and Global Adoption One major reason Dr Altcoin supports Pi Network is its easy mining process. Users can mine Pi directly from their smartphones without using extra energy. Thanks to this innovation, Pi has grown to over 70 million users across more than 200 countries. Why I Am Very Passionate About the Pi Network Project, Why I Fully Support It, and Why I Am Committed to It ? Here are my main reasons: 1. Inclusivity, Accessibility, and Global Adoption: The ability to mine Pi on a mobile phone without consuming extra power has enabled the… pic.twitter.com/MCWPoHpADo — Dr Altcoin (@Dr_Picoin) April 26, 2025 It has helped millions of first-time users enter the crypto world, pushing mass adoption to a new level. A Strong and Eco-Friendly Blockchain Dr Altcoin also praised Pi’s eco-friendly blockchain, which uses the Stellar Consensus Protocol. It can handle about 200 transactions per second while using very little energy compared to Bitcoin. Plus, every user and business is fully verified through KYC and KYB checks, creating a safer space for transactions. Low Energy Usage Energy consumption is a big problem in crypto, but Pi Network shines here. Bitcoin mining uses as much electricity as an entire country. In comparison, Pi’s 200,000 active nodes use far less power, making it a greener and more sustainable option. Fast Transactions and High Security The Pi blockchain allows for fast transactions with very low gas fees. Plus, the Pi Wallet is protected by a 24-word passphrase, making it almost impossible to hack. Every user holds their non-custodial wallet, which adds another strong layer of security. Growing Pi Ecosystem With over 100 decentralized apps (DApps) already using Pi for transactions, the dream of a real, peer-to-peer digital currency is coming to life. With Pi currently trading at a very low price, he believes it’s the perfect time for long-term investors to accumulate. Big upcoming events, like the Consensus 2025 Summit, could bring even more attention to the project. Golden Opportunity for Investors Currently, Pi Coin is sitting at its lowest price ever, and Dr Altcoin sees this as a golden opportunity for investors to stock up. As of now, Pi is trading around $0.645, staying firm above a rising support line that has been holding strong since early April. If buyers step in with more energy, Pi could soon break past $0.825, and possibly even reach as high as $1.30.
Bitcoin has recently surpassed silver to become the seventh largest asset globally by market capitalization, trading above $94,000 amid increased institutional inflows. Its market dominance has surged to 63% of the total cryptocurrency market capitalization, reaching the highest level since early 2021. This rise in Bitcoin dominance also marks a four-year high, signaling renewed liquidity and growing investor interest in the cryptocurrency market after a period of sideways movement. This is an AI-generated article powered by DeepNewz, curated by The Defiant. For more information, including article sources, visit DeepNewz . To continue reading this as well as other DeFi and Web3 news, visit us at thedefiant.io
El Salvador has engaged in discussions with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to establish a cross-border cryptocurrency sandbox, according to Juan Carlos Reyes, President of the National Commission of Digital Assets (CNAD). The country has been recognized for its substantial Bitcoin holdings and has reportedly made over $150 million in profits from its Bitcoin investments. However, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) confirmed that El Salvador has committed to halting Bitcoin accumulation using public funds by its fiscal sector. This marks a shift in the country's cryptocurrency strategy as part of broader financial reforms. The IMF's announcement indicates that El Salvador will stop using public funds to purchase Bitcoin, signaling a change in its approach to digital asset management. This is an AI-generated article powered by DeepNewz, curated by The Defiant. For more information, including article sources, visit DeepNewz . To continue reading this as well as other DeFi and Web3 news, visit us at thedefiant.io
More on Crypto Bitcoin Dominance Continues Decimating Altcoins Search For A Safe Haven - Consider Bitcoin Bitcoin: Navigating Markets With An Eye On Risk Nikkei gains while China & Hong Kong turn red amid trade policy uncertainties, U.S. futures lower Bitcoin retakes $90K mark, spurring surge in crypto stocks
Solana decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol Loopscale has temporarily halted its lending markets after suffering an approximately $5.8 million exploit. On April 26, a hacker siphoned approximately 5.7 million USDC ( USDC ) and 1200 Solana ( SOL ) from the lending protocol after taking out a “series of undercollateralized loans”, Loopscale co-founder Mary Gooneratne said in an X post. The exploit only impacted Loopscale’s USDC and SOL vaults and the losses represent around 12% of Loopscale’s total value locked (TVL), Gooneratne added. Loopscale is “working to resume repayment functionality as soon as possible to mitigate unforeseen liquidations,” its said in an X post. “Our team is fully mobilized to investigate, recover funds, and ensure users are protected,” Gooneratne said. Loopscale’s ‘Genesis’ lending vaults. Source: Loopscale In the first quarter of 2025, hackers stole more than $1.6 billion worth of crypto from exchanges and on-chain smart contracts, blockchain security firm PeckShield said in an April report. More than 90% of those losses are attributable to a $1.5 billion attack on ByBit , a centralized cryptocurrency exchange, by North Korean hacking outfit Lazarus Group. Related: Crypto hacks top $1.6B in Q1 2025 — PeckShield Unique DeFi lending model Launched on April 10 after a six-month closed beta, Loopscale is a DeFi lending protocol designed to enhance capital efficiency by directly matching lenders and borrowers. It also supports specialized lending markets, such as “structured credit, receivables financing, and undercollateralized lending,” Loopscale said in an April announcement shared with Cointelegraph. Loopscale’s order book model distinguishes it from DeFi lending peers such as Aave that aggregate cryptocurrency deposits into liquidity pools. Loopscale’s daily active users. Source: Mary Gooneratne Loopscale’s main USDC and SOL vaults yield APRs exceeding 5% and 10%, respectively. It also supports lending markets for tokens such as JitoSOL and BONK ( BONK ) and looping strategies for upwards of 40 different token pairs. The DeFi protocol has approximately $40 million in TVL and has attracted upwards of 7,000 lenders, according to researcher OurNetwork. Magazine: Ripple says SEC lawsuit ‘over,’ Trump at DAS, and more: Hodler’s Digest, March 16 – 22
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