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From the next steps for crypto to new blockchain shifts, here's what we know.
Asia stock markets traded higher on Monday following substantial progress in U.S.-China trade talks on Sunday. Traders awaited further details from the negotiations, which were expected to be announced on Monday. Still, the upside was tempered by weak April CPI/PPI data from China, where consumer prices fell for the third month and producer prices posted their steepest drop in six months. Easing geopolitical tensions also lifted sentiment, with a fragile ceasefire holding between India and Pakistan, and Ukrainian President Zelenskiy showing willingness to meet Russia’s Putin in Turkey this week. Gold slipped over 1% to around $3,260 on Monday, hitting a one-week low, as optimism over US-China trade talks dampened demand for safe-haven assets. Japan ( NKY:IND ) rose 0.39% toward 37,600 while the broader Topix index gained 0.4% to 2,744 on Monday, with Japanese shares scaling six-week highs. The Japanese yen weakened past 146 per dollar on Monday, marking a fresh one-month low as optimism over US-China trade negotiations. Investors also kept a close eye on ongoing trade talks between the US and Japan, with Tokyo aiming to secure a deal by June. On the domestic front, Japan recorded a current account surplus of JPY 3.45 trillion in March, following a record JPY 4.06 trillion surplus in February. The gauge for Japan’s service sector fell to 42.6 in April 2025 from 45.1 in the previous month, marking its lowest level since February 2022 and the fourth consecutive month of decline. The value of loans in Japan increased 2.4% year-on-year in April 2025, slowing for the second straight month and missing market expectations for a 2.8% gain. China ( SHCOMP ) rose 0.51% to around 3,350, while the Shenzhen Component surged 1.2% to 10,250 on Monday, extending last week’s gains as optimism over progress in US-China trade talks outweighed mounting deflationary pressures at home, the offshore yuan strengthened around 7.23 per dollar on Monday, after Friday’s muted session. Meanwhile, April’s inflation data underscored persistent economic weakness, with consumer prices down 0.1% year-on-year for the third month and producer prices falling 2.7%, the fastest drop in six months. Hong Kong ( HSI ) rose 1.11% to 23,188 in early Monday trade, marking the eighth straight session of gains and notching their highest level in 1-1/2 months. India ( SENSEX ) rose 2.71% surged 1,922 points, or 2.4%, to 81,377 in early trading on Monday, halting losses from the previous two sessions and hitting the highest level in nearly five months, as India and Pakistan reached a truce over the weekend following four days of cross-border firing. Australia ( AS51 ) rose 0.09% to 8,276 in Monday morning trade, gaining for the fourth session. The Australian dollar rose above $0.642 on Monday, rising for the second straight session. In the U.S., on Friday, all three major indexes ended near the flatline on Friday as investors looked ahead to high-stakes trade negotiations between the US and China in Geneva this weekend. U.S. stock futures jumped on Monday after the Trump administration announced a breakthrough trade agreement with China, following weekend negotiations in Switzerland: Dow +1.07% ; S&P 500 +1.44% ; Nasdaq +1.95% . Investors are also eyeing key economic data this week, including US consumer inflation figures on Tuesday, followed by retail sales and producer price index data on Thursday, as they assess the early economic impact of the trade conflict. Currencies: ( JPY:USD ), ( CNY:USD ), ( AUD:USD ), ( INR:USD ), ( HKD:USD ), ( NZD:USD ). More on Asia: Trump set to unveil trade deal with UK on Thursday - report China service growth hits 7-month low as trade disruptions weighs on new business orders Australia private sector expands at 51 in April, services sector expands for 15th straight month Australia inflation gauge eases slightly in April by 0.6% Australia Q1 producer price inflation beats estimates; retail sales rises 0.3% in March
Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), Malaysia’s largest electricity utility provider, noted that power thefts linked to illegal crypto mining have soared 300% from 2018 to 2024. The board added that illegal mining has increased due to the global crypto transactions, local media reported . TNB derived the statistics through a joint operation involving the Energy Commission, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, police and local councils. According to the electricity board data, there were 610 detected cases of power theft in 2018, linked to illegal mining. The numbers have shot up to 2,397 in 2024, it added. “Joint operations and nationwide raids have successfully shut down illegal mining setups,” TNB said in a statement. “These enforcement actions have safeguarded the stability of the power grid.” The stats revealed that the average number of crypto-related electricity thefts stood at 2,303 per year from 2020 to 2024. TNB Deploys ‘Smart Meter’ to Detect Power Thefts The board received around 1,699 crypto-related complaints between January 2020 and December 2024, with an average of 340 per month. “The number of complaints reflects increasing public awareness of reporting on illicit crypto mining activities,” TNB said. Further, the electricity provider has deployed ‘smart meters,’ which could improve detection of electricity theft and enable efficient monitoring. The strategy came after the board conducted a continuous consumption patterns analysis to spot suspicious energy usage. “We work closely with the relevant authorities and stakeholders to uphold fair and sustainable electricity usage, therefore ensuring reliability for all customers.” The smart meter device records the daily electricity usage and communicates the numbers to the TNB through radio-frequency waves. Additionally, the board has proposed employing AI and predictive analytics to further improve the process, the report read. When it comes to legal enforcement, the TNB has proposed stricter actions under the Electricity Supply Act. Anyone who tampers with or alters any electricity installation is liable to a fine of up to 1 million Ringgit ($232K), imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both. Over Half a Billion Ringgit Lost to Energy Thefts: CID Director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain, director of Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID), noted that TNB lost about 520 million Ringgit ($121 million) to electricity thefts. “Most of the cases involved illegal crypto mining operations,” he told The Star. Besides, he noted that crypto mining syndicates often operate from rented shops, warehouses or residential homes with low foot traffic. “Many syndicates would then install heavy-duty ventilation systems, air conditioners and soundproofing materials to avoid drawing attention from the neighbours or enforcement authorities.” Further, these criminals illegally bypass the electricity meter by tapping directly into the main power grid for surplus electricity consumption. “This allows them to consume massive amounts of electricity – often equivalent to what an entire residential block would use,” the officer said, adding that these syndicates don’t stick to a single place to avoid attention. “They would shift their operations every few months to new premises,” he noted. In February, Malaysian police uncovered an illegal Bitcoin mining setup , following an explosion at the house that hosted the operation. The investigations found that the electricity had been connected illegally for bitcoin mining, causing a short circuit. The post Power Thefts from Illegal Crypto Mining Jumped 300% in 6 Years: Malaysian Electricity Board appeared first on Cryptonews .
The cryptocurrency landscape continues to evolve, as evidenced by the recent announcement from MEXC regarding the upcoming launch of the Solana Name Service (SNS). Scheduled for pre-trading on May 12,
Three teenagers have been accused of kidnapping a man at gunpoint after he was returning from a crypto event in Las Vegas, before driving him an hour outside of the city and robbing him of $4 million in crypto and non-fungible tokens. According to police, the incident occurred last November. The victim had finished hosting a crypto-related event in downtown Las Vegas, and when he returned home, the suspects forced him into a vehicle and drove him to a remote desert area an hour away from the city. There, they forced him to hand over passwords to his accounts, according to a May 10 report from Las Vegas local news outlet 8 News Now. The man was allegedly told to comply with the teens’ demands if he wanted to “live to see another day,” and because they also “had his dad and would kill him,” according to the report. It’s also alleged that a fourth person may have been communicating with the three young men through a phone call during the incident, which the victim could hear through a speakerphone. After having his accounts drained of $4 million in crypto and NFTs , the victim reportedly walked five miles back through the desert to reach a gas station where he could call a friend for help. Two 16-year-olds from Florida are facing charges including robbery, kidnapping, and extortion in connection with the incident. A third teen allegedly involved in the plot has left the country, prosecutors say. One of the young men is behind bars with bail set at $4 million, while the other has been released under house arrest with electronic monitoring. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June, with both teens set to be tried as adults. Digital asset lawyer Sasha Hodder said in a May 10 X post that this case illustrates how “Crypto theft is evolving. It’s not just social engineering or SIM swaps anymore.” Source: Sasha Hodder Uptick in thieves targeting crypto industry offline Crypto industry participants are increasingly becoming targets for kidnappings and extortion. In a recent May 3 case, the father of a crypto entrepreneur was freed by police in Paris, France, after being held for several days in connection with a 7 million euro ($7.8 million) kidnapping plot. In February, a UK crypto broker reportedly jumped 30 feet from a balcony to escape kidnappers who were threatening to torture and kill him for handing over 30,000 euros ($30,917) of crypto. Related: Ledger co-founder released after days in captivity in France: Report Meanwhile, Jameson Lopp, a cypherpunk and co-founder of self-custodial firm Casa, has created a list on GitHub recording dozens of offline crypto robberies all over the world. The first dates back to 2014, when someone allegedly tried to extort computer scientist and cryptographer Hal Finney of 1,000 Bitcoin ( BTC ) worth $400,000 at the time. There have been 21 incidents of in-person crypto-related robbery so far this year, according to Lopp’s list. In 2024, there were 28 incidents, while there were 17 in 2023 and 32 in 2021. Magazine: Bitcoiner sex trap extortion? BTS firm’s blockchain disaster: Asia Express
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In a significant development, senior officials from China and the U.S. conducted crucial discussions in Geneva, culminating in a pivotal agreement. The nations have committed to creating a trade negotiation
Concerns are emerging within the XRP community regarding the authenticity of its recent market behavior. All Things XRP (@XRP_investing), a well-known figure in the community, recently shared a thread on X, revealing how much XRP price action is influenced more by automated systems than by genuine human trading activity. IS XRP'S PRICE REALLY DRIVEN BY THE MARKET? Or are trading bots quietly pulling the strings? The truth will shake your confidence in “organic” crypto markets. Let’s reveal the truth. pic.twitter.com/TRSrnXQuOo — All Things XRP (@XRP_investing) May 9, 2025 Automated Trading May Dominate Crypto Markets According to All Things XRP, up to 75% of all trades on cryptocurrency exchanges are conducted by automated systems rather than individual investors. On some smaller and less trustworthy platforms, he suggests that the volume of bot trades reaches as high as 95%. This level of automation raises significant doubts about the reliability of chart patterns and technical indicators, which traders often depend on for decision-making. If these patterns are not from organic trades, predicting investor behavior becomes increasingly difficult. XRP’s Liquidity Makes It a Target All Things XRP highlighted the digital asset’s unique market conditions, which he claims make it particularly appealing to algorithmic traders. Its combination of high liquidity and consistent volatility provides fertile ground for automated strategies such as arbitrage and high-frequency trading. Tactics, including spoofing, where fake orders are placed to mislead traders, and wash trading, where the same entity buys and sells simultaneously to create artificial activity, may distort short-term price signals. We are on twitter, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1 — TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) July 15, 2023 Some of this bot activity has previously been attributed to Ripple , and All Things XRP suggested that under these conditions, individual retail traders may find themselves at a disadvantage. Concerns Over Market Manipulation Fears of market manipulation persist. He drew attention to the Operation Token Mirrors investigation in 2024 that exposed bot activity on NexFundAI, which inflated trading volumes and caused investor losses. This incident has raised alarms about similar practices affecting XRP, especially as regulators like the SEC and FBI struggle to keep up with the decentralized nature of crypto exchanges. He also warned that technical analysis may be unreliable in XRP markets dominated by bots. He suggested price movements may not reflect real investor sentiment, urging greater focus on fundamental developments and evolving regulations. Decentralized Platforms Offer Hope Software developer Vincent Van Code (@vincent_vancode) echoed these concerns, claiming bots have compromised centralized exchanges. He highlighted the XRP Ledger’s decentralized exchange ( XRPL DEX ) as a more transparent alternative. Its on-chain data, slower speeds, and adaptive fees help reduce the impact of high-frequency trading bots. Van Code stressed that for XRPL DEX to become a viable alternative, key upgrades are needed, such as fiat on-ramps for RLUSD, credible wrapped asset issuers, better trading interfaces, and broader user participation. He remains optimistic that a shift toward user-controlled, transparent trading is possible. Disclaimer : This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are urged to do in-depth research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses. Follow us on X , Facebook , Telegram , and Google News The post Is XRP Price Really Driven by the Market? Expert States the Shocking Truth appeared first on Times Tabloid .
Following a week of anticipation and building hype, the US and China delegates finally met in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss a potential trade deal. Although the initial statements from both countries are positive in terms of reaching a mutual understanding, the crypto market has reacted with a minor retracement, while Santiment warned investors to exercise caution for now. The US-China Deal The official statement from the White House contained quotes from two major US representatives, including Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent. “I’m happy to report that we made substantial progress between the United States and China in the very important trade talks We will be giving details tomorrow, but I can tell you that the talks were very productive […] And I spoke to President Trump, as did Ambassador Jamieson, last night, and he is fully informed of what is going on. So, there will be a complete briefing tomorrow morning.” US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer also spoke on the matter, and his words were similarly vague, with little to no details. Greer reminded that this whole situation stemmed from President Trump’s national emergency declaration, as the administration found a “massive $1.2 trillion trade deficit.” However, the delegation is “confident that the deal we struck with our Chinese partners will help us to work toward resolving that national emergency.” Proceed With Caution Santiment revealed that stock markets (Asian and futures in the States) reacted positively after the statements from Beijing and Washington went out, as traders anticipate that “tariffs will no longer be an anchor holding back their investments.” The analytics platform added that the tariff discussion rates have gone through the roof for the first time since the crypto market’s bottom just over a month ago. BTC’s price first jumped to $105,000 but lost some steam and now trades at a grand lower. Most larger-cap alts are also slightly in the red on a daily scale. Consequently, Santiment urged investors to be wary of further upcoming volatility and to wait for the actual details of the deal. “If this deal indeed does immediately reduce the impacts on exporters & importers for both countries, we should see an instant bullish impact on all markets. Just avoid overextending until confirmations are made to avoid getting trapped into any “buy the rumor, sell the news” scenarios.” The post New US-China Trade Agreement: Implications for Crypto Investors (Details) appeared first on CryptoPotato .