A sweeping international law enforcement initiative has led to the arrest of 270 individuals and the seizure of over $200 million in cash and digital assets, according to a statement released Thursday by the US Department of Justice. Dubbed Operation RapTor, the effort targeted dark web vendors, buyers, and administrators involved in the illicit trafficking of opioids, particularly fentanyl, and other narcotics. DOJ’s Operation RapTor According to the official press release , the operation was carried out with the help of 10 countries – including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, South Korea, and Brazil – and marks the most significant takedown in the history of the DOJ’s Joint Criminal Opioid and Darknet Enforcement (JCODE) team. More than two metric tons of drugs were confiscated, including 144 kilograms of fentanyl-laced substances and over 180 firearms. The JCODE, Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3), and international partners pooled intelligence gathered from previously dismantled darknet markets such as Nemesis, Tor2Door, Bohemia, and Kingdom Markets. These takedowns provided critical investigative leads that enabled a series of synchronized, yet independent, enforcement actions across jurisdictions. Interestingly, this operation also included the first sanctions by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) as a JCODE member agency. Iranian national Behrouz Parsarad, founder of Nemesis Market, was sanctioned and indicted on drug trafficking charges in Ohio following the market’s seizure. In a statement, FBI Director Kash Patel said, “By cowardly hiding online, these traffickers have wreaked havoc across our country and directly fueled the fentanyl crisis and gun violence impacting our American communities and neighborhoods. But the ease and accessibility of their crimes ends today.” OFAC Targets Nemesis Earlier in March, the U.S. Treasury’s OFAC sanctioned 49 crypto addresses linked to Nemesis, a darknet marketplace which is accused of facilitating a $30 million drug trade. Iranian national Behrouz Parsarad, the alleged founder, is accused of operating the platform, collecting fees, laundering money, and supporting the sale of fentanyl, fake IDs, and hacking services. Nemesis operated from 2021 to 2024 and served more than 30,000 users during this period. Authorities seized its servers last year along with $102,000 in crypto. Despite takedowns like this and others such as Genesis and Hydra, darknet marketplaces generated $1.7 billion in revenue in 2024. The post Over $200M in Assets Seized in Historic DOJ-Led Operation Targeting Fentanyl Traffickers appeared first on CryptoPotato .
According to new reports, Circle , the peer-to-peer payments technology firm managing the stablecoin USDC , is informally in talks with Coinbase Global and Ripple Labs over the possibility of a long-term acquisition. The new development comes as Circle plans its initial public offering (IPO). According to a report from Fortune , four banking and private equity executives, who requested to remain anonymous, disclosed that Circle, the stablecoin issuer, aims to secure at least $5 billion in sale valuation, equivalent to its IPO target. According to one of the executives, if an offer is in the vault, Circle is likely to “sell in a heartbeat” to Coinbase, the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the United States. Another is optimistic for the coming week, and is quoted as saying, “Things change week by week.” Notably, the equity executives acknowledged Circle’s commitment to going public. Back in April, the stablecoin issuer made a public filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to list its Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the “CRCL” symbol. Despite taking these major steps, Circle has yet to outline its Initial Public Offering (IPO) terms. Circle acquisition: Coinbase or Ripple? While Ripple’s bid to purchase Circle for around $4 billion to $5 billion was reportedly declined in April, the crypto payment company’s balance sheet of 4.5 billion XRP, worth $11.77 billion, along with its $95.7 billion funds in escrow, positions it as a serious contender. On the other hand, Coinbase’s long-standing relationship with Circle remains equally remarkable. In 2018, Circle tapped Coinbase to kickstart a joint venture that enabled issuing the USDC stablecoin. Coinbase would later acquire an equity stake in Circle. “They’re [Circle] going public doesn’t change anything about our commercial relationship, but in terms of other deals we might consider in the future, I mean, that, of course, would be up to them and us, but, you know, nothing to announce today.” Brian Armstrong, the CEO of Coinbase, told Bloomberg in May, in response to being quizzed about potentially acquiring Circle.
Bitcoin enters a pivotal Phase E of the Wyckoff Accumulation model, eyeing pivotal price levels following a significant ‘golden cross’ event. Bitcoin enters Wyckoff Phase E with a ‘golden cross,’
President Trump aims to spend around $175 billion on his ambitious new missile-defense system, Golden Dome, before his term ends. The plan would seek to detect and destroy missiles launched from anywhere in the world, but experts say it faces steep technical challenges and budget concerns. The administration wants Golden Dome to combine ground-based interceptors, a network of sensors in orbit, and satellites designed to destroy incoming missiles shortly after launch. Some of the key components, such as ground interceptors and space sensors, already exist but are in very limited supply, while other parts remain experimental. “All of the systems comprising the Golden Dome architecture will need to be seamlessly integrated,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said last week when he named a new director to oversee the project. That integration task will be complex, since US agencies already operate a variety of public and secret satellites that can detect missiles. These satellites would all have to be linked under a unified command, rather than managed separately as they are today. Building a fresh layer of orbital interceptors could take many years and demand billions more. Analysts and former military officers say an effective orbital shield might require thousands of satellites to catch missiles reliably. Those systems would also have to adapt quickly, since potential foes could use decoys or other tricks to hide real warheads. Golden Dome’s total cost remains uncertain President Trump recently said the effort would run about $175 billion over the coming years. The Congressional Budget Office has offered estimates as high as $831 billion, in part by looking at past rocket-launch expenses. And Senator Tim Sheehy of Montana warned that the full project could reach into the trillions over time. Last week, House Republicans approved spending $25 billion as a first installment on the Golden Dome . The White House has not yet detailed exactly what systems the down payment will cover. Hegseth said the Pentagon is working with the Office of Management and Budget to nail down specifics before sending a full fiscal 2026 budget proposal to Congress. U.S. missile-defense programs have a history of running over budget. A smaller effort to build a defensive shield in Guam has already exceeded $8 billion because of high construction costs and the difficulty of linking land and sea-based systems that use separate command networks. Not everyone is sold on the idea of an orbital intercept layer. Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts criticized the concept as “economically ruinous” and questioned whether it could work. He urged the administration to pursue arms-control talks instead, calling Golden Dome “nothing more than a gold-plated giveaway to billion-dollar defense contractors.” Supporters say new technology will keep costs down. “The price point that we’re talking about is so much less than people thought it would be,” said Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota. “We have a lot of systems already that we just need to knit together.” Military tech is backlogged due to the Ukraine-Russia conflict In the near term, weapons experts expect Golden Dome’s first step will be to boost ground-based defenses inside the United States. But those interceptors are already backlogged because of heavy use in Ukraine and the Middle East. “It takes time to build the missiles,” said Todd Harrison, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. “Even things that are already in production, you would be lucky to get that delivered within two to three years.” Lockheed Martin, one of the main defense contractors, said it is working to meet rising demand for its PAC-3 Patriot missiles and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense, or THAAD, system. Patriots are best at shooting down shorter-range cruise missiles, and THAAD interceptors protect only a small area. Another type of interceptor meant to stop long-range ballistic missiles is still in early stages and could take years to scale up. Defense firms in the West are under pressure to boost output, but face hurdles such as tight labor markets and the need for complex parts from hundreds of suppliers. Those challenges have slowed efforts to expand existing programs, let alone launch a grand new system. Cryptopolitan Academy: Coming Soon - A New Way to Earn Passive Income with DeFi in 2025. Learn More
According to cryptocurrency onchain data, James Wynn, one of the most talked-about traders in the crypto community recently, finally closed his large long position in Bitcoin (BTC). The data reveals that the trader closed $1.2 billion worth of BTC long positions, with the closure taking 47 minutes to be fully effected. The position was opened when the Bitcoin price was $108,921 and closed when it was $107,746. This means that the trader lost approximately $13.39 million on a single trade. Despite this loss, James Wynn’s net profit on all Bitcoin trades in recent days was recorded at $8.45 million. Related News: Previously Accurate Bitcoin Predictor Josh Mandell Shares New BTC Price Prediction: “It Will First Surge Here, Then Drop by 84%” Wynn, who is also known for his statements on social media platforms, recently claimed that big whales were working to liquidate him. The liquidation level of Wynn's BTC position was around $ 104,000. However, the BTC price is trading at $ 107,654 at the time of writing. Wynn also paid a large funding fee to the decentralized cryptocurrency exchange Hyperliquid while he kept his position open. *This is not investment advice. Continue Reading: Legendary Whale Investor James Wynn Couldn’t Stand the Pressure: New Move on $1.2 Billion Bitcoin Position
Bitcoin enters Phase E of a wyckoff's pattern as its prices eye $125K after a bullish golden cross.
Ripple ( XRP ) is making big moves in 2025 with the launch of the first-ever U.S.-based XRP Futures ETF , trading on Nasdaq under the ticker XRPI . This is on the heels of Ripple’s big win against the SEC on May 8, 2025 and now they have more confidence in their legal status and market operations. XRP is currently trading at $2.46 and has dipped 6% this quarter while the rest of the market is up. While Ripple is making headlines, another blockchain powerhouse Ruvi AI is making waves as a game-changer for investors looking to the future. Ruvi AI – Where Innovation Meets Investment Ruvi AI is taking blockchain to new heights with its decentralized AI superapp , offering unparalleled scalability and efficiency. Built on a community-driven ecosystem , combining AI with secure blockchain infrastructure to stand out in a crowded market. Presale Success Story The momentum behind Ruvi AI is unstoppable, Phase 1 of the presale sold out in just 2 weeks , and early investors got a 50% gain in token value. Tokens are currently at $0.015 , next presale round is 0.33% price increment . Analysts predict a future price of $1 , huge growth potential and great opportunity for new and old investors. Ruvi AI just announced a partnership with the well known WEEX Exchange , more liquidity channels and tokens are becoming more accessible to the global market. Investment Tiers for Every Investor Ruvi AI knows one size doesn’t fit all. To cater to different investment strategies and goals, the platform offers customizable investment tiers with great returns: VIP Tier 1 ($510 investment with 20% bonus): Total Tokens: 40,800 (34,000 base + 6,800 bonus). Value at $0.07: $2,856 . Value at $1: $40,800 . VIP Tier 3 ($2,100 investment with 60% bonus): * Total Tokens: 224,000 (140,000 base + 84,000 bonus). Value at $0.07: $15,680 . Value at $1: $224,000 . VIP Tier 5 ($9,600 investment with 100% bonus): Total Tokens: 1,280,000 (double the base allocation). Value at $0.07: $89,600 . Value at $1: $1,280,000 . Community Leaders Get Extraordinary Rewards Ruvi AI’s community-driven approach is reflected in its leaderboard-based bonus system, with big incentives for top contributors: Top 10 Contributors: Get 500,000 bonus tokens , worth $35,000 at $0.07 or $500,000 at $1 . Top 50 Contributors: Receive 250,000 bonus tokens , valued at $17,500 at $0.07 or $250,000 at $1 . Top 100 Contributors: Get 100,000 bonus tokens , equaling $7,000 at $0.07 or $100,000 at $1 . Be a Part of the Future with Ruvi AI Ruvi AI is more than an investment; it’s a movement to change the game between blockchain and AI. With strong fundamentals , community focus and great returns, Ruvi AI is an investment opportunity you can’t miss. Join Ruvi AI today and build a smarter, more connected world! Learn More Buy RUVI: https://presale.ruvi.io Website: https://ruvi.io Whitepaper: https://docs.ruvi.io Telegram: https://t.me/ruviofficial Twitter/X: https://x.com/RuviAI Try RUVI AI: https://web.ruvi.io/register
The cryptocurrency market witnesses fluctuations as FARTCOIN faces pivotal price challenges following a remarkable recovery. Despite a significant rally of over 3.5 months, signs indicate that FARTCOIN may soon encounter
DDC Enterprise plans to add Bitcoin to its corporate treasury, initially acquiring 21 BTC. The company's share prices dropped 12% following the Bitcoin investment announcement. Continue Reading: DDC Enterprise Embarks on Ambitious Bitcoin Acquisition Journey The post DDC Enterprise Embarks on Ambitious Bitcoin Acquisition Journey appeared first on COINTURK NEWS .
A detailed examination of cryptocurrency trends reveals insights into Curve , Ripple , and Toncoin . Readers will discover the potential for growth in these coins, driven by recent market shifts and key developments. This analysis uncovers hidden patterns that may signal lucrative opportunities for savvy investors. Dive in to uncover which coins could be poised for a breakout. Curve DAO Token: Steady Growth and Key Levels in View Last month showed a 10.66% rise with CRV gaining momentum, while the past six months recorded a notable 45.41% increase. Price action reflects a climbing trend punctuated by periods of consolidation, indicating reliable performance. The consistent upward movement over these periods underscores a positive growth pattern backing bullish sentiment. The current trading range lies between $0.50 and $0.83, with resistance at $0.95 and a second at $1.29 and support near $0.28. Bulls are active, though mixed signals from indicators and a modest RSI of 54.78 suggest sideways movement. Traders might consider breakouts above resistance or buying near support, watching key levels for potential shifts. XRP Price Dynamics: A 6-Month Surge Set Against Key Price Levels Last month, XRP showed a steady rebound with a 5.08% increase, contrasting with an impressive 64.00% gain over the past six months. The coin’s performance reflects a gradual recovery following a slight one-week dip and a broader rally that has boosted investor interest. Consistent upward trends over half a year point to growing market confidence and renewed buying strength. Current trading sits between a price range of $1.75 and $2.50 with clear levels to watch. The nearest resistance is around $2.80, while support holds near $1.31. The RSI near 49 and mixed momentum indicators suggest a balanced market with bulls waiting for a break above resistance and bears ready to step in near support. Trading ideas include testing these boundaries with cautious entries in anticipation of a breakout or a pullback. Toncoin Market Analysis: Past Losses and Present Key Levels Toncoin experienced a marked downturn over the past month, dropping by about 5.70%, with a more significant decline of roughly 50.49% over the last six months. The one-week change also reflected a 2.18% loss. These movements indicate a period of steep corrections and weakening price support, highlighting reduced momentum during this time. The current trading range sits between $2.55 and $3.99, with immediate resistance at $4.82 and support around $1.94. A secondary resistance near $6.26 and additional support at $0.50 further frame the price landscape. Indicators suggest slight bearish pressure without a clear emerging trend, inviting focused trade strategies near these support levels. Conclusion The analysis reveals that CRV, XRP , and TON present unique opportunities. CRV shows potential for growth with its strong community support. XRP demonstrates resilience despite regulatory challenges. TON is gaining traction due to its innovative approach and underlying technology. Each of these coins has distinct strengths, making them worth watching for future trends. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.