CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju predicts the rise of “dark stablecoins” as government regulations on digital currencies tighten. In a recent social media post , Ju shared why censorship-resistant stablecoins might become necessary as traditional stablecoin issuers face increased scrutiny. According to Ju, while Bitcoin ( BTC ) was designed to be censorship-resistant by the cypherpunk community, stablecoins currently need centralized management to bridge digital and traditional finance. Dark stablecoins are likely to emerge in the future. #Bitcoin was created by the cypherpunk community to be censorship-resistant and belongs to no one, making it impossible to control. Stablecoins, however, act as a bridge between the internet and the real world, so they need… — Ki Young Ju (@ki_young_ju) May 11, 2025 You might also like: NFT sales rise 10.6% to $115m, Doodles rally 500% Chinese miners use Tether and Circle stablecoins The CryptoQuant executive highlighted that stablecoins like those issued by Tether and Circle have operated with minimal government interference — until now. As per Ju, it has served as a safe haven for various groups including Chinese miners. “Governments, except when tackling money laundering, haven’t really interfered with stablecoins,” noted Ju. Ju predicts that government-issued stablecoins will soon face regulations similar to traditional banking. This could potentially need automatic tax collection through smart contracts and implementing wallet freezes based on government mandates. These changes could drive users who rely on stablecoins for large international transfers to look for alternatives that resist censorship. How? Ju presents two ways: 1. Algorithmic stablecoins that aren’t controlled by governments. 2. Stablecoins issued by countries that don’t censor financial transactions. One technical approach could include decentralized stablecoins that track regulated coins like USD Coin using oracle networks such as Chainlink ( LINK ). However, Ju stated that he hasn’t yet identified projects that have successfully implemented this model. Interestingly, Ju suggested that USDT could turn into a dark stablecoin if the company opts not to comply with U.S. regulations under future administrations. The CryptoQuant CEO noted that dark assets might present investment opportunities in internet capital markets. Read more: Top cryptocurrencies to watch this week: Ethereum, Pi Network, Solayer
NASDAQ100 FUTURES EXTEND GAIN TO 2% ON US-CHINA TRADE TALKS. BITCOIN TOUCHED $105,086.42. $BTC #Bitcoin
Ethereum staking protocol Lido has confirmed that it remains “fully secure and operational” following a breach in which an attacker compromised one of its protocol reporting oracles. The attack resulted in the theft of nearly 1.5 ETH, prompting an emergency DAO vote to rotate the oracle’s address. According to Chorus One, the operator of the oracle, the incident appears to be an “isolated event” with no further threats to the protocol. The operator continued to say that they have thoroughly audited their entire infrastructure and found no evidence of broader compromise. Blockchain data shows that the attacker drained 1.46 ETH worth about $3,800 from the compromised address. Chorus One says the investigation is ongoing, and a full postmortem will be shared once it is concluded. The exploiter’s activity suggests using an automated system rather than a targeted attack. Lido breach sparks renewed focus on oracle security and DeFi resilience While the breach led to the drain of the oracle address’s ETH balance (which was purposely held at a low level, Chorus One said), the attack did not affect Lido’s operations, as its protocol reporting oracles needs a 5-of-9 consensus. Lido’s head of validators, Izzy, commented that in the worst-case scenario, compromised oracles could cause delays in stETH rebases, whether positive or negative. This would primarily affect stETH holders, but the impact would be negligible, except for those using stETH in leveraged DeFi strategies. The Lido DAO vote to rotate the compromised address currently has unanimous support, though it has not yet reached a quorum. Izzy continued to say that oracles are complex and have different usages across DeFi. He noted that in Lido, they’re an integral part of the protocol, and possible negative impact is meaningfully mitigated through effective decentralization, segregation of duties, and multiple layers of checks. The breach underscores the urgent need for strong cybersecurity protocols in decentralized finance as global monetary, trade, and business systems increasingly transition onchain into complex digital infrastructures with expansive attack surfaces. Crypto industry urged to act as hacks soar to $2B in Q1 losses The crypto industry has suffered a series of thefts, prompting questions about the security of customer funds, with hacking hauls totaling more than $2 billion in 2024 – the fourth straight year where proceeds have topped more than $1 billion. Earlier this year, the crypto exchange Bybit suffered the industry’s largest hack at $1.4 billion, with North Korea’s Lazarus Group pegged as the culprit by cybersecurity firms, which was later confirmed by federal authorities. Hacken also reported that crypto hacks were responsible for $357 million in losses in April 2025, a significant increase from losses incurred in March. Speaking at Token2049, Hacken CEO Dyma Budorin noted that the crypto industry needs to adopt more robust cybersecurity and code auditing measures to stem the tide of hacks and exploits plaguing the asset sector. Cybersecurity threats in crypto have become so pronounced, particularly from hacking groups associated with the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea (DPRK). Leaders from the Group of Seven countries are reportedly looking to discuss how the numerous crypto hacks and malicious cyber activities that North Korea has engaged in for years could be addressed and mitigated. Cryptopolitan Academy: Coming Soon - A New Way to Earn Passive Income with DeFi in 2025. Learn More
Dogecoin’s recent breakout signals renewed optimism among investors as it defies market trends and shows bullish momentum. After a 46% surge within a weekend, Dogecoin’s movement has captured the attention
U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports are likely to stick around for a while even though leaders say the cross-border mood is improving, America’s new ambassador in Ottawa signaled on Sunday. The comment came just as Washington was also claiming headway in a separate negotiation with Beijing. Peter Hoekstra, who became U.S. envoy to Canada last month, told Global TV’s “The West Block” that President Donald Trump’s 25 percent duty placed on most Canadian goods in March may not disappear soon. “I’m not sure they’ll be totally removed,” Hoekstra said when asked about the levy, which the White House has justified by linking fentanyl trafficking to Canadian supply chains. Customs data indicate that less than 1 percent of the fentanyl seized at U.S. borders arrives from Canada, though officials say some production does take place north of the border. Hoekstra’s remarks followed a fresh trade pact between Washington and London that offered the United Kingdom only limited relief on car, steel, and aluminum duties while keeping a 10 percent base tariff on British imports. The ambassador stressed that Canada and the United States can move past months of tension during which Trump urged Canada to become the “51st state” and mocked then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “Governor Trudeau.” The president struck a more cordial tone last week when newly elected Prime Minister Mark Carney visited the White House. “I think the president wants a very positive relationship,” Hoekstra said. “We have moved beyond the 51st state, at least as far as I’m concerned.” Substantial progress has been made in US-China tariff deal While the North American discussion played out, senior U.S. and Chinese officials were working behind closed doors in Switzerland on the deepest trade rift of all. After two days of meetings in Geneva, both sides said on Sunday that they had made real progress. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the sessions “productive and constructive.” China’s Vice Premier He Lifeng used the words “in-depth” and “candid” to describe the talks, the first face-to-face encounter since Mr. Trump hit Chinese goods with a 145 percent tariff in January. Beijing had replied with its own 125 percent charge on certain American products, jolting financial markets and raising fears of a global downturn. Full details of the Geneva discussion are to be released jointly on Monday. Still, the tone from negotiators was upbeat. U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer said “the deal we struck with our Chinese partners” would help narrow America’s 1.2 trillion-dollar trade deficit. Bessent reported “substantial progress” on lowering the temperature of the dispute, while He Lifeng told reporters that the outcome was “of great significance to the two countries but also has an important impact on the stability and development of the global economy.” Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, inspector general of the World Trade Organization, welcomed the breakthrough. “I urge both nations to build on this momentum by continuing to develop practical solutions that mitigate tensions, restore predictability, and strengthen confidence in the multilateral trading system,” she said in a written statement. Trump, commenting after the first day of the meetings, praised what he called a “total reset” in relations. In a social-media post on Saturday, he said the talks were “very good” and that change had been “negotiated in a friendly, but constructive, manner.” Your crypto news deserves attention - KEY Difference Wire puts you on 250+ top sites
US stock futures rose Sunday night after Washington and Beijing hinted they want to cool their long-running tariff fight, giving investors fresh hope that the world’s two largest economies can find common ground. Contracts tied to the S&P 500 climbed about 1.3 percent as of 6:20 p.m. in New York, while Nasdaq 100 futures were up 1.5 percent. The gains followed a weekend meeting in Switzerland, the first face-to-face encounter since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, who headed his delegation, called the session “an important first step” toward settling differences. No new policies were unveiled, yet he said the two sides agreed to open a permanent channel led by US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and himself. Bessent told reporters that Washington will release more details on Monday, and He said a joint statement is in the works. The stakes are high for American businesses that sell into China or rely on Chinese demand. Analysts at Bloomberg Intelligence , Gillian Wolff and Gina Martin Adams, estimate that the average S&P 500 company booked 6.1 percent of its 2024 revenue in the Chinese market. Exposure is much larger for some well-known names: Apple Inc. drew 17 percent of its sales from China in the three months ended in March, and Tesla Inc. generated 22 percent of its revenue there, according to the firms’ latest earnings reports. Successive rounds of retaliation have pushed US tariffs on Chinese imports to 145 percent, while Beijing’s levy on American goods stands at 125 percent. Before the weekend talks, Trump floated cutting the headline US tariff to 80 percent, down from the existing 145 percent, if progress could be achieved. The S&P 500 slipped 0.5 percent last week, giving back part of a rebound that began after Trump’s April 2 call for “reciprocal tariffs” knocked the index to the edge of a bear market. Even with the modest weekly drop, milder rhetoric helped Wall Street regain ground. Outside the stock market, many large companies say shifting trade rules are starting to squeeze their plans. United Parcel Service Inc., Ford Motor Co. and toy maker Mattel Inc. have all withdrawn earnings guidance in recent weeks, saying supply snags and unpredictable tariffs make forecasting too risky. Optimism also lifted sentiment around Asian stocks Japan’s Nikkei 225 futures were quoted at 37,830 on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, compared with Friday’s cash close of 37,503.33. A weaker yen added to the upbeat mood for exporters as both the Japanese currency and the euro opened lower against the dollar after the Swiss meeting. Washington and Beijing each spoke of “substantial progress,” yet investors still seek concrete steps. “It’s not yet clear what exactly is involved, so we’ll have to wait and see what comes out going forward,” said Masahiro Ichikawa, chief market strategist at Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management. “The yen is weakening, and at the very least, there doesn’t seem to be a negative market reaction. As we wait for specific announcements, the general trend of recovery is likely to continue.” The Nikkei 225 has gained about 5 percent since April 2, one of the best gains among major stock benchmarks. Japan was among the first nations to enter formal trade talks with Washington after the tariff shake-up, though a final deal has yet to be struck. Meanwhile, earnings season offers another test for Tokyo investors. Heavyweights on the calendar this week include SoftBank Group Corp., Nissan Motor Co. and Sony Group Corp., and traders will analyze their comments for any shift in outlook linked to the global trade story. Investors will also look to Monday, when Bessent is expected to spell out the US position and He has pledged to publish a joint statement—an early sign of whether the weekend goodwill can evolve into lasting action. Cryptopolitan Academy: Tired of market swings? Learn how DeFi can help you build steady passive income. Register Now
At press time, both the $0.238 and $0.225 levels were notable magnetic zones for Dogecoin to move toward.
Bullish momentum has remained sufficient to push the asset further.
While Solana (SOL) continues to draw headlines with its high-speed blockchain and growing ecosystem, not everyone in the crypto elite is buying the hype. One veteran trader recently revealed he’s steering clear of SOL in 2025, citing concerns over centralization risks and recurring network outages that could hinder long-term growth. Instead, his focus has shifted to an emerging altcoin trading under $0.05, Mutuum Finance (MUTM). Mutuum Finance tokens are available at $0.025 in phase 4 backed by innovative approach to decentralized finance. The project has raised over $7.9 million and attracted over 9700 investors. Over 65% of the phase 4 has been sold out meaning inventors have less time before the phase concludes. Mutuum Finance (MUTM): The Low-Price Giant Waiting in the Wings Mutuum Finance is selling for $0.025 in Phase 4 of its presale and already making waves with its fast pace. Over $7.9 million has been raised from more than 9,700 investors. With a Phase 5 price increase to $0.03 and a projected public listing price of $0.06, Phase 4 investors are looking at a 140% return by the time the token lists on exchanges. That kind of upfront potential is catching serious attention, not just from retail investors, but also from Ethereum whales quietly buying up behind the scenes. Mutuum Finance is taking a bold step in the DeFi market with a hybrid lending framework that incorporates the best features of Peer-to-Contract and Peer-to-Peer functionality. The architecture allows for passive returns by way of smart contract-managed pools as well as peer-to-peer lending between users for increased discretion and control. It’s an adaptive, dual-lane approach to borrowing and lending that’s not typical of decentralized finance. Gamified Engagement and Smart Tokenomics To make it more attractive, Mutuum Finance has recently introduced a leaderboard gamified in the form of a top 50 token holders leaderboard. Such users are eligible for additional rewards, thereby creating a competitive atmosphere that encourages long-term holding as well as community engagement. The platform has also partnered with CertiK on a full smart contract audit, increasing investor confidence and transparency. mtTokens and Yield Without Lockups One of Mutuum Finance’s key features is its mtToken program, which allows users to earn yield on tokenized assets like ETH and DAI without necessarily locking them up. This stands in stark contrast to typical staking protocols in which liquidity gets sacrificed for the sake of passive returns. Complementing this is a sensible loan-to-value framework, such as $5,000 lent against $7,000 value of ETH, for a safe-borrowing environment. As top traders move away from Solana over centralization and outage concerns, attention is shifting fast to Mutuum Finance (MUTM), a low-price DeFi gem still under $0.05. Now in Phase 4 at $0.025 with 65% sold out and over $7.9M raised, investors are racing to secure 140% gains before the Phase 5 price jump. With smart tokenomics, audited contracts, yield without lockups, and a gamified ecosystem, MUTM isn’t just another altcoin, it’s the one elite insiders are quietly stacking. Time is running out, get in before the rest of the market wakes up. Mutuum Finance is offering something truly innovative with its dual-lending system, combining Peer-to-Contract (P2C) and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) functionality, making it a standout in the DeFi market. This is your chance to get in on the ground floor, before everyone else catches on. Don’t miss out on what could be the next big DeFi breakthrough. For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below: Website: https://www.mutuum.finance/ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance
Hardware wallet provider Ledger has confirmed its Discord server is secure again after an attacker compromised a moderator’s account to post scam links on May 11 to trick users into revealing their seed phrases on a third-party website. “One of our contracted moderators had their account compromised, which allowed a malicious bot to post scam links in one channel,” Ledger team member Quintin Boatwright wrote on the Ledger Discord server. “The issue was quickly contained: the compromised account was removed, the bot was deleted, the website was reported, and all relevant permissions were reviewed and secured.” Some members in Ledger’s Discord channel claimed the attacker abused moderator privileges to ban and mute them as they tried to report the breach, possibly slowing Ledger’s reaction. Boatwright said the security breach was an isolated incident and that Ledger has taken additional measures to strengthen its security on Discord, a chat platform many crypto projects use to share protocol developments and engage with their community. Using the compromised Ledger community manager account, the hacker told Ledger Discord members that there was a recently discovered vulnerability in the firm’s security systems and strongly urged all users to verify their recovery phrases with a scam link, according to several screenshots shared on X. Ledger users were asked to connect their wallets and follow on-screen instructions. Source: ecurrencyholder It isn’t clear whether anyone was affected by the security breach. Cointelegraph has reached out to Ledger for comment. Ledger scammers were sending physical letters last month In April, scammers were mailing physical letters to owners of Ledger hardware wallets, asking them to validate their private seed phrases in a bid to access and empty the wallets. The letter used Ledger’s logo, business address and a reference number to feign legitimacy and asked users to scan a QR code and enter the wallet’s recovery phrase. One Ledger user who received the letter speculated whether scammers were sending letters to Ledger customers whose data was leaked in July 2020. Related: Jameson Lopp: Most don’t realize how easy self-custody has become That incident saw a hacker breach Ledger’s database and dump the personal information of over 270,000 of its customers online, which included names, phone numbers and home addresses. The following year, several Ledger users claimed to have been mailed fake Ledger devices that were tampered with and designed to install malware upon use, Bleeping Computer reported at the time. Magazine: ChatGPT a ‘schizophrenia-seeking missile,’ AI scientists prep for 50% deaths