The recent insights from COINOTAG News on April 26th shed light on ongoing financial dialogues as former President Trump indicated that a resolution regarding tariffs could be reached within the
President Donald Trump and his team pulled in nearly $900,000 in trading fees over just two days through the $TRUMP crypto token, according to Chainalysis. The cash came flooding in after an announcement on Wednesday that the top 220 holders of $TRUMP would win a black-tie optional dinner with him on May 22 at his private club near Washington, D.C. The event promises a special reception for the top 25 token holders, and the website also promotes a “VIP White House Tour” the following day. An active leaderboard tracks the usernames of buyers scrambling to get a seat. The $TRUMP coin, already a meme-heavy asset, saw its price rocket up more than 50% after the dinner contest announcement, pushing its total market value to $2.7 billion. The president’s political rivals slammed the move immediately. Senator Chris Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, posted on X that the sale was “the most brazenly corrupt thing a President has ever done. Not close.” Trump’s circle controls token profits while critics demand probe The Trump Organization and its affiliates currently control about 80% of the $TRUMP token supply, based on information from the project’s website. Since the launch of the token in January, about $324.5 million in trading fees have been collected. Every time a trade happens, a slice of the transaction is sent directly to wallets managed by the people behind the token, according to the same website. Chainalysis confirmed that this setup keeps money flowing into wallets connected to the project’s creators. The majority of tokens are locked in a three-year vesting plan, meaning they’ll be released gradually to avoid a sudden dump on the market — a trick in crypto circles called a “rug pull.” Lockups like this are supposed to build trust by making sure insiders can’t immediately cash out and wreck the token’s price. Even with the lockup, the dinner contest raised alarms. Senators Adam Schiff from California and Elizabeth Warren from Massachusetts called on the U.S. Office of Government Ethics to investigate whether offering dinner with Trump for buying tokens breaks anti-corruption rules. They warned that the event smells like pay-to-play corruption, blurring the line between political access and financial gain. Ethics commentators call foul as foreign ties surface among holders Delaney Marsco, who leads ethics work at the Campaign Legal Center, told NBC News that while the $TRUMP contest is a clear breach of traditional ethics, it probably won’t be ruled illegal. “Criminal conflicts of interest statutes don’t apply to the president,” Marsco said. She pointed out that modern presidents since Carter have stepped away from business interests to avoid conflicts, but Trump is using loopholes to keep financial ties alive. “The fact that he is not barred by the law from having these financial interests like this meme coin allows him to engage in a lot of seemingly corrupt activity. It has the appearance of a pay to play, so the president is apparently selling access to himself,” Marsco said. Molly White, an independent crypto researcher, explained to NBC News that the $TRUMP leaderboard hides real identities by only showing screen names. White warned that it’s impossible to know who exactly is spending on dinner access. She also said some $TRUMP buyers are tied to foreign crypto exchanges banned in the U.S., including Binance. At least one of the top holders has an active Binance account, despite the platform being closed off to American users. Schiff and Warren backed their ethics complaint with public reports showing that funds from banned crypto platforms might be tied to $TRUMP investments. They pressed the Office of Government Ethics to dig into how deep the foreign connections go. Trump’s return to the White House was backed heavily by the crypto industry, which poured tens of millions of dollars into the 2024 election. This cash beat out donations from old industries like banking and oil. Besides $TRUMP, there’s also a $MELANIA token backed by the first family. They are also tied to World Liberty Financial , a decentralized finance company that raised $550 million since October through two token sales. Buyers of those tokens are banned from reselling and don’t share in profits. Instead, a Trump-linked company claims 75% of the net revenue, including proceeds from token sales. Cryptopolitan Academy: Want to grow your money in 2025? Learn how to do it with DeFi in our upcoming webclass. Save Your Spot
A new statue honoring Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin, has been unveiled in Tokyo, Japan. This marks the third statue dedicated to Nakamoto, with previous statues located in Switzerland and El Salvador. The installation in Tokyo adds to the global tributes recognizing Nakamoto's impact on the cryptocurrency world. 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
The crypto funding sector saw major activity this week with total investments reaching $470.75 million from April 20-26. Bitdeer Technologies Group secured the largest amount of financing, while several other blockchain and crypto projects also raised capital across various sectors. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the major funding rounds that closed this week, per Crypto Fundraising data : Bitdeer, $179 million Bitdeer raised $179 million in loans and equity, according to The Miner Mag. The Singapore-based technology company specializing in blockchain and high-performance computing. The investment was backed by Matrixport (founded by Bitdeer Chairman Jihan Wu). As of Friday, April 25, Bitdeer held 1,234.4 Bitcoin ( BTC ), produced 39.3 BTC, and sold 17.0 BTC. You might also like: Bitdeer to increase US mining as tariff pause opens trade window: report Upexi, $100 million Upexi closed a private placement deal, selling 35.97 million shares and 7.89 million pre-funded warrants at $2.28 each. The project focus areas include finance, portfolio management, and Solana (SOL). GSR led the investment, joined by top crypto VCs like Big Brain Holdings, Delphi Ventures, and others, along with notable angels. Upexi plans to use $5.3 million for working capital and debt reduction, with the rest allocated to building its Solana treasury and accumulating Solana ( SOL ). Alpaca, $52 million Alpaca raised $52 million in a Series C round This round saw participation from new and returning investors, including Derayah Financial, 850 Management, National Investments Company (NIC), Unbound, and Portage Ventures. The funding is expected to help Alpaca pursue continued global expansion, serving enterprise institutions and fintech in key regions like the US, the Middle East, and Asia. Announcing our $52 million Series C raise! 🎉 2024 was a landmark year for Alpaca. We launched several key products including US options trading, High-Yield Cash, IRA accounts, and FIX API, as well as became a self-clearing broker-dealer with DTCC. This round of funding… pic.twitter.com/Sv0c0DTUKc — Alpaca (@AlpacaHQ) April 23, 2025 Nous Research, $50 million The startup gathered $50 million in a Series A round led by Paradigm, according to Fortune. Nous Research focuses on artificial intelligence, DeFi, and infrastructure within the Solana Ecosystem. The project has raised $70 million so far. Symbiotic, $29 million Crypto staking protocol Symbiotic clinched $29 million in a Series A funding round led by Pantera Capital. Symbiotic, whose permissionless restaking platform went live on Ethereum ( ETH ) in January, announced the milestone on April 23. The funding round also attracted the backing of Coinbase Ventures as well as angel investors, including Aave ( AAVE ), Polygon ( POL ) and StarkWare among others. Restaking was just the beginning. Symbiotic has raised $29M in a Series A, led by @PanteraCapital with participation from @cbventures . We're building Universal Staking – a foundation that transforms how blockchains implement security and economic alignment. pic.twitter.com/8ZQIHvfHBc — Symbiotic (@symbioticfi) April 23, 2025 Theo, $20 million Secured $20 million in an Unknown round Theo’s investment is backed by Hack VC, Anthos, and Manifold We’re excited to announce our $20m raise, led by @Hack_VC and Anthos Capital with participation from @ManifoldTrading , @mirana , @metalayervc , SCB, @ambergroup_io , @SeliniCapital , @MEXC_Official , and @flowdesk_co to democratize access to institutional-grade trading infrastructure. pic.twitter.com/Y5P4KwWt1x — theo (@Theo_Network) April 24, 2025 Projects Analog: $15 million in Unknown round Arch Network raised $13 million in a Series A round Tally: $8 million Series A investment MagicBlock: $7.5 million Seed funding Mask Network raised $5 million in an unknown round Inco: $5 million investment Catalysis: $1.25 million Pre-seed raise Inflow: $1.1 million Pre-seed funding You might also like: Senator Lummis blasts the Fed: Anti crypto bias persists, despite ‘lip service’
Some of crypto’s most legendary moves didn’t begin with hype—they began with access. Bitcoin (BTC) and Ripple (XRP) both started as quietly positioned assets before delivering life-changing returns. Today, many investors are saying the same thing about MAGACOINFINANCE . With its low exposure and rising insider traction, this project is quickly becoming one of the most closely watched early-stage tokens of the cycle. MAGACOINFINANCE is gaining serious attention Bonus still available: The final bonus window is open—but supply is thinning fast. Listings are getting closer: Early investors are locking in positions before public trading begins. Private interest is increasing: High-conviction traders are moving early to get in before the crowd. Opportunity is still exclusive: This window is small—and it’s closing quickly. MAGACOINFINANCE is built for long-term upside MAGACOINFINANCE isn’t a trending token—it’s a calculated project structured to reward long-term conviction. Its quiet rollout and limited access have created the perfect setup for early-stage momentum to build organically. With a strong model and increasing investor activity, many now consider it a rare asset with 65x potential —the kind that’s easy to overlook until it’s too late. How it stacks up against ADA, TRX, and LTC Cardano (ADA) , TRON (TRX) , and Litecoin (LTC) are still important players—but their growth phases are well past the discovery stage. MAGACOINFINANCE remains in a unique position: limited, underexposed, and built for those who act before the headlines hit. Final thoughts on MAGACOINFINANCE Before their names dominated charts, Bitcoin , XRP , and even Ethereum all shared one thing—stealth. Right now, MAGACOINFINANCE is in that same phase. Still building. Still early. Still underpriced. The bonus is live—but not for long. Join the Presale Now at MAGACOINFINANCE.COM SMART INVESTORS ARE ALREADY IN — ARE YOU? For more information, please visit: Website: https://magacoinfinance.com Twitter/X: https://x.com/magacoinfinance Continue Reading: Could MAGACOINFINANCE.COM Deliver 45,000% Gains Like XRP and BITCOIN?
Spot Bitcoin ETFs saw a net inflow of $3.06 billion recently. Bitcoin's price surged nearly 11%, reaching close to $94,000. Continue Reading: Bitcoin ETF Surge Signals Renewed Market Confidence The post Bitcoin ETF Surge Signals Renewed Market Confidence appeared first on COINTURK NEWS .
On-chain data shows the Ethereum whales have sold the asset recently, while key holders on the Bitcoin network have accumulated instead. Ethereum Whales Have Sold Into The Latest Rally As explained by analyst Ali Martinez in a new post on X, the Ethereum whales have participated in selling recently. The “whales” here refer to the ETH entities holding between 1,000 and 10,000 ETH. At the current exchange rate, this range converts to $1.8 million to $18 million. While these bounds don’t cover the largest of holders in the sector, they do still contain some of the key investors. Related Reading: Bitcoin Holders Realizing $139 Million In Profit Per Hour This Rally, Report Says Here is the chart shared by the analyst that shows the trend in the combined balance of these Ethereum whales over the over the past ten days or so: As displayed in the above graph, the Ethereum whales have seen their supply go through a net decline recently. During this selloff, these investors offloaded more than 63,000 ETH (about $113.5 million) inside a 48-hour window. From the chart, it’s visible that the distribution from this cohort has coincided with ETH’s recovery rally. This could indicate that these large investors have been capitalizing on the profit-taking opportunity. While the key investors of ETH may have taken profits, the same isn’t true for that of BTC. As the on-chain analytics firm Santiment has discussed in an X post, the trend has been that of accumulation for BTC recently. In the chart, the analytics firm has attached the data related to the supply of the Bitcoin holders carrying between 10 ($946,000) and 10,000 BTC ($946 million). This range is broader than the one for ETH and includes two key investor cohorts: sharks and whales. These investors have collectively added a total of 19,255 BTC to their wallets alongside the price rally. Thus, it would appear that the key holders of the cryptocurrency are supportive of the recovery run. Related Reading: Litecoin Conviction Remains Strong: More Than 20% Of Supply Frozen Since 5+ Years Naturally, this could imply the Bitcoin rally may have more chances of being sustainable than the Ethereum one. That said, things can change quickly in the digital asset sector, so the trend related to the large entities of both might be worth keeping an eye on. Speaking of accumulation, BTC is currently witnessing high inflows into the spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs), as Santiment has pointed out in another X post. From the chart, it’s visible that the recent ETF inflows are the largest in months. As the analytics firm notes, As Bitcoin has recovered as high as $95.8K today, we are seeing the highest week of net inflows to BTC ETF’s since the week before Trump’s inauguration in mid-January. Institutions like Blackrock have played a large part in the crypto-wide bounce traders were waiting for. ETH Price At the time of writing, Ethereum is trading around $1,800, up more than 12% in the last week. Featured image from Dall-E, Santiment.net, chart from TradingView.com
Floki whale activity soars as prices rally to highest level in almost two months.
World Liberty Financial (WLFI), the crypto firm associated with the family of US President Donald Trump, made waves when it debuted late last year. WLFI caused a stir when it launched ahead of the president’s inauguration. Observers have accused the project of front-running important crypto-related events, like the White House Crypto summit, and presenting a conflict of interest. Trump is in a unique position to influence outcomes that would affect his portfolio, but WLFI is not insulated from the broader market trends, which have seen crypto and stock prices drop amid significant macroeconomic concerns. The Trump administration will soon mark 100 days in office. Here’s what WLFI has been up to, and how the president’s crypto investments are shaking out. The “gold paper” for WLFI features flattering Trump imagery. Source: WLFI Founding and ownership of Trump’s crypto investment WLFI project WLFI launched on Sept. 16, with then-President-elect Donald Trump announcing the move on X. Founded under the guidance of real estate magnate Steve Witkoff and his son Zach, the co-founders also include Chase Herro, a crypto investor and self-described “dirtbag of the internet,” and Zak Folkman, a social media influencer and former pickup artist. The Trump family also features prominently. President Trump is listed as “chief crypto advocate,” while his sons Eric, Donald Jr. and Barron are “Web3 ambassadors.” The leadership team at WLFI. Source: WLFI WLFI token sales One of World Liberty Financial’s first moves was to sell its own token. The first token sale opened on Oct. 15, 2024 , earning the company about $300 million by selling 20 billion WLFI $WLFI for $0.015 each. On Jan. 20, 2025, the day Trump was inaugurated, WLFI announced a second token sale, citing “massive demand and overwhelming interest.” The firm offered 5 billion tokens at $0.05 each, representing a price increase of 230% from the first sale. The second sale was completed nearly two months later on March 14, having met its full target of $250 million. According to the project’s “gold paper,” the WLFI tokens will confer voter rights to holders on important matters affecting the protocol, such as upgrades. The anticipated token distribution is: 35% through token sales, 32.5% for incentives and community growth, 30% for “initial supporter” allocation, and 2.5% for “core team and advisers.” All told, WLFI walked away with $550 million in token sales. $WLFI was only available to accredited investors and cannot be transferred or traded on exchanges per the terms and conditions. There is yet to be an announced listing date for the token. WLFI’s portfolio Token sales aside, the WLFI has been acting as a type of crypto fund, accumulating a number of different tokens over the past several months. Here’s a breakdown: WLFI portfolio contains a number of different assets, with 13 making up the lion’s share at time of writing. Most of its holdings are in dollar-backed stablecoin USDC, followed by Wrapped Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH). The top 13 assets make up nearly $100 million of the firm’s $103 million portfolio, according to Arkham. Dozens of other small coins, some with a total dollar value of less than $100,000, make up the remaining value. WLFI’s $5 million worth of Aave Ethereum USDC (aethUSDC), means they supply USDC to a pool on Aave. WLFI’s portfolio contains eight cryptocurrencies that are non-stablecoin assets it purchased (versus received via airdrop). Wrapped BTC (WBTC) Mantle (MNT) Movement (MOVE) Sei (SEI) Avalanche (AVAX) Tron (TRX) Ondo (ONDO) Ether (ETH) Overall, WLFI’s holdings in WBTC, SEI and AVAX have been performing most successfully. The first WBTC purchase happened on Dec. 18, when WLFI exchanged 103 WBTC for 103 cbBTC. Nearly one month later, WLFI traded everything for ETH. The fund started accumulating WBTC again, mostly using USDT, and sent it to Coinbase Prime in early February. WLFI’s AVAX position was completed in one purchase on March 15, while it bought nearly $6 million worth of SEI over three separate purchases in February, March and April. Other positions haven’t been faring nearly as well. Major investments in MNT, MOVE, ONDO and ETH are all seeing losses in the double digits as of April 24. MOVE is taking a beating, with WLFI’s total investment value down over 50%, losing some $2,100,000 on the investment. Taking into account the average price of WLFI’s token purchases, along with its assets’ current prices, the fund is seeing a loss, on average, of $4,280,000. Notably, WLFI has also deposited several early purchases of tokens in December and January into Coinbase Prime. WLFI wallets slowly acquired ETH long before the main action started. WLFI began acquiring large sums worth over $1 million in late November and continued doing so every few days until Dec. 21. Then, it moved all acquired ETH (including 3,700 ETH deposited in October) to Coinbase Prime on Jan. 14. Between Jan. 19 and Jan. 21, it bought nearly 57,000 ETH and continued acquiring it until Feb. 3, when it moved most of the ETH to Coinbase Prime. Coincidentally, Eric Trump was shilling Ether on X at the same time. Source: Eric Trump Conflicts of interest and stablecoins The curious timing of WLFI moving the tokens to a crypto exchange and Eric Trump’s post raises the question of the Trump family’s ability to influence the tokens they hold. In late March, a group of Senators from that body’s banking committee wrote an open letter, pressing regulatory agencies to consider the potential conflicts of interest in WLFI, particularly with the project’s stablecoin, USD1. Related: US House committee passes stablecoin-regulating STABLE Act USD1 launched in early March, and at publishing time is trading on centralized exchanges Kinesis Money and ChangeNOW, according to CoinMarketCap. The Senators were concerned that Trump stands in a unique position to influence and offer boons to his own stablecoin project, particularly with the forthcoming stablecoin framework bill under consideration in Congress. When markets slumped following Trump’s tariff announcement on “Liberation Day,” the president posted on the right-wing social media platform Truth Social, “THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO BUY!!” further igniting concerns about insider trading and market manipulation. Despite these concerns, the Trump administration’s ties to crypto are only strengthening. His administration has dropped several high-level enforcement cases against crypto firms, and his allies in Congress are writing favorable legislation for the industry. And crypto firms seem to believe in the project. On April 16, crypto market maker DWF Labs announced a $25 million investment in WLFI and agreed to provide liquidity for USD1. Magazine: Financial nihilism in crypto is over — It’s time to dream big again
A message “This content has been restricted.” is popping up on OpenSea and Blur Technical lead at RTFKT, Samuel Cardillo, reported that CloneX is being moved to ArWeave for decentralized storage NFTs themselves are stored on the blockchain, but their associated media often relies on external servers Both OpenSea and Blur report that the artwork for CloneX, Nike’s NFT collection by RTFKT, is currently not displaying correctly. If one goes to OpenSea’s website , they will be greeted with the message: “This content has been restricted. Using Cloudflare’s basic service in this manner is a violation of the Terms of Service.” This likely stems from the termination of RTFKT’s Web3 services in January this year. Samuel Cardillo, who is the technical lead at RTFKT, said that CloneX is being moved to ArWeave for decentralized storage and should be back to normal shortly. Why It Happened: Centralized Storage and RTFKT Changes This incident points out the importance of decentralized storage in the NFT ecosystem. While NFTs themselves are stored on the blockchain, their associated media often relies on external servers. In case these servers become unavaila… The post Nike-Owned RTFKT Faces Issues with CloneX NFT Image Display on OpenSea and Blur appeared first on Coin Edition .