Crypto News
A16z leads $25M funding for Miden blockchain project
A16z Crypto led a $25 million investment round into Miden, an independent blockchain project spun out of Polygon Labs.Miden closed its $25 million seed rounds led by a16z Crypto, 1kx, and Hack VC, with participation from Finality Capital Partners, Symbolic Capital, P2 Ventures, Delta Fund, MH Ventures, as well as from angel investors, including MakerDAO’s Rune Christensen and EigenLayer’s Sreeram Kannan.Miden is a zero-knowledge (ZK) proof-powered blockchain focused on high scalability through its hybrid consensus mode, which moves transaction execution from the mainnet on “edge devices,” referring to users’ devices.Designed for institutions that value confidentiality, Miden enables applications to execute both public and private transactions with full privacy, according to an April 29 announcement shared with Cointelegraph.Execution on edge devices can help with the “bottlenecks that limit traditional chains,” said Bobbin Threadbare, the co-founder at Miden and former engineer at Meta, adding:“It allows blockchains to scale without relying on supernodes or sacrificing decentralization, while making privacy a built-in feature instead of an afterthought.”The $25 million will be used to fund Miden’s development, and its mainnet launch is slated for the fourth quarter of 2025.Related: Coinbase to launch yield-bearing Bitcoin fund for institutionsMiden is “the future of blockchains,” says Polygon Labs’ Nailwal“Miden is what the future of blockchains looks like. With edge execution at its core, it’s not just an upgrade — it’s the blueprint for the final form of blockchain architecture,” according to Sandeep Nailwal, the founder of Polygon Labs.“With ambitions to rival Solana, Sui, and Aptos — and to be the epicenter of crosschain liquidity for Agglayer as a native chain and help grow the Agglayer ecosystem— building independently naturally positions Miden to attract the capital and focus needed to compete at the highest level,” Nailwal added.Miden plans to airdrop around 10% of its native tokens to Polygon (POL) tokenholders and stakers to reward its native ecosystem.Related: BlackRock Bitcoin ETF buys $970M in BTC as inflows surge, boost marketNo existing blockchain is ready for mass adoption: Miden co-founder“The reality is that no existing blockchain is ready for mass adoption,” either lacking privacy, scalability, or Web3-native principles such as censorship resistance, according to Miden’s Threadbare.However, Miden’s infrastructure may be a “catalyst for large institutional adoption,” he claimed, adding:“The reality is that up until this point, blockchains have not been in the position to offer privacy without compromising on performance or programmability, which is a major issue.”Large tech firms joining the space require privacy solutions with regulatory compliance, leaving a significant gap for solutions like Miden, added the co-founder.Inco: the fourth layer of the blockchain stackOther industry watchers have also criticized the industry’s lack of confidentiality for limiting institutional adoption.Confidential computing technologies such as fully homomorphic encryption could unlock the next $1 trillion worth of capital for the crypto space with continued technological development, Remi Gai, the founder of Inco, told Cointelegraph.Magazine: Altcoin season to hit in Q2? Mantra’s plan to win trust: Hodler’s Digest, April 13 – 19
Published Date: 2025-04-29 12:20:18Creator: Cointelegraph by Zoltan Vardai
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Trump’s first 100 days ‘worst in history’ despite crypto promises
The first 100 days of the administration of US President Donald Trump have deeply impacted the crypto industry, starting with his own memecoin and culminating in a Bitcoin reserve and a spate of blockchain policymaking. Trump’s trade war with the entire world has had the largest short-term impact on crypto markets, as crypto prices have wavered amid macroeconomic worry and uncertainty. Higher prices on electronics mean Bitcoin (BTC) miners are finding it harder to break even, and de-dollarization concerns abound. Still, crypto markets have shown some resilience and cause for optimism in the administration’s crypto-friendly policies. A number of pro-crypto leaders have been appointed to key government agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The crypto industry’s long-awaited regulatory framework is also imminent. Trump’s first 100 days have seen remarkable changes for the crypto industry, and it appears that things are only getting started. Here’s a look at what’s happened so far.Jan. 20 — Trump’s first 100 days kick off with a memecoinOn Jan. 20, while Trump was sworn into office in the rotunda of the Capitol Building, his family’s crypto investment firm, World Liberty Financial (WLFI), launched its second token sale of WLFI tokens.Massive demand saw prices initially spike, though the true value of the tokens, if any, is yet to be determined, as WLFI is currently not transferable and cannot be traded on any exchanges. The memecoin served as a kickoff for Trump’s crypto agenda, which has seen unprecedented support for the industry in Washington, DC, along with a slew of moral and ethical concerns among observers and lawmakers. Related: Trump’s WLFI crypto investments aren’t paying offJan. 20 — Pro-crypto leaders head up federal agencies on “day one”The president of the US sets the tone for several federal regulators, including those overseeing crypto. Trump immediately set out to appoint a number of pro-crypto lawyers and businessmen to head up the SEC, the CFTC and other critical federal agencies.Trump nominated businessman Paul Atkins to lead the SEC on “day one” of his presidency. Atkins would replace Gary Gensler, who was perceived by many in the crypto industry as an enemy to adoption and the industry’s progress. Also on day one, Trump appointed businessman and crypto investor David Sacks as chair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology — or the crypto and AI “czar.”Atkins wouldn’t be confirmed by the Senate until April 9 and sworn in on April 21. But in the meantime, Trump also tapped former CFTC Commissioner and crypto proponent Brian Quintenz to head up that agency. Jan. 21 — $500-billion Stargate AI initiative In a press conference, Trump announced a $500-billion private-led AI infrastructure investment called “Stargate.” The president claimed the project — led by ChatGPT creator OpenAI, SoftBank and Oracle — would create some 10,000 American jobs.Trump said the US needed to lead the world in AI innovation and keep development onshore. “China is a competitor, others are competitors. We want it to be in this country, and we’re making it available,” he said.OpenAI claimed that the project would “not only support the re-industrialization of the United States but also provide a strategic capability to protect the national security of America and its allies.”Jan. 21 — Pardon for Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht Trump announced on Truth Social that he had called the family of Silk Road 2.0 founder Ross Ulbricht after commuting his sentence.After his arrest in 2013, Ulbricht was sentenced to life in prison in 2015 without the possibility of parole for his role in facilitating the trafficking of narcotics and other illicit substances. Ulbricht’s case became a rallying point for libertarian movements and prison reform advocates alike. Libertarian-minded crypto advocates supported Ulbricht, as his platform was one of the first places people could actually spend Bitcoin. Crypto advocates supported Ulbricht, with many believing he did nothing wrong. Source: The Bitcoin HistorianFreeing Ulbricht was one of the many campaign promises Trump made to the crypto community.Jan. 23 — Ban on digital dollar, establishing a crypto working groupWith an executive order, Trump established an internal working group to focus on making the US “the world capital in crypto.” The order also prohibited “the establishment, issuance, circulation, and use” of a US central bank digital currency (CBDC). CBDCs are a contentious issue in the crypto community, with many privacy activists claiming that they are another form of state surveillance and government control. Enthusiasm over their creation from central bankers has further set the more libertarian-minded crypto community against their creation.Trump signing the executive order. Source: ABC NewsThe working group would kickstart the process for creating the forthcoming US Bitcoin and crypto reserves. Feb. 1 — Trade war begins with tariffs on Mexico, China and CanadaOne of the promises of the Trump campaign was to rectify the “bad deals” that the US had with many of its oldest allies and most important trading partners. Just over a week after he was sworn into office, Trump announced sweeping tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China, citing border security concerns and the supposed proliferation of cross-border trade of fentanyl from those countries. The same day, Canada announced retaliatory measures. On Feb. 3, Mexico promised to step up security of its northern border, responding to American requests for increased patrols. This led Trump to reverse initial tariff plans on both countries. The unexpected hostile tariffs from a close partner and ally sent stock and crypto prices tumbling. They marked the beginning of the macroeconomic uncertainty that has come to characterize the early days of the Trump administration. Feb. 12 — Vinnik-Foegel prisoner swap with RussiaAlexander Vinnik, the convicted money launderer who funneled Bitcoin stolen in the infamous Mt. Gox hack through his crypto exchange BTC-e, returned to his home country of Russia.Vinnik pled guilty to money laundering conspiracy charges in 2024. BTC-e processed more than $9 billion in transactions and had over 1 million users worldwide, many of whom were in the US.Vinnik was exchanged for American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, who was teaching at the Anglo-American School of Moscow and had been in a Russian jail since 2021 after being arrested for illegal possession of cannabis. Feb. 18 — Bankman-Fried makes veiled plea for releaseIn an interview with The New York Sun, the former CEO of now-defunct crypto exchange FTX, Sam Bankman-Fried, addressed his controversial political contributions, saying the Republican Party was always “far more reasonable.”Bankman-Fried, or SBF, made widely publicized contributions to the Democratic Party as he purportedly tried to influence democratic policymakers’ approach to the digital asset industry. It later became known that SBF was playing both sides of the aisle, donating significant funds to Republicans, though the exact amount remains unknown. In the interview, SBF likened his position to that of Trump, claiming that he’d been unfairly treated by the criminal justice system. SBF called into question the conduct of the federal judge overseeing his trial, Judge Lewis Kaplan. “I know President Trump had a lot of frustrations with Judge Kaplan. I certainly did as well.”Observers saw the interview as an attempt to elicit a pardon from Trump. Roger Ver, an early Bitcoin advocate facing criminal tax evasion charges, has made an outright appeal.March 7 — Trump establishes Bitcoin reserve and crypto stockpileOn March 7, the 46th day of Trump’s presidency, he signed an executive order establishing a “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.” Trump made big promises about crypto adoption on the campaign trail, including the possibility of a long-sought-after Bitcoin reserve. The US reserve, however, would fall short of expectations among Bitcoin maximalists. Rather than create a concrete plan for the US government to purchase and hold Bitcoin, it merely created a single reserve to pool all Bitcoin the government had seized during criminal proceedings.While the order does state that the government may purchase additional Bitcoin, it must do so in a budget-neutral fashion. In tandem with the Bitcoin reserve, Trump also established a US Digital Asset Stockpile containing other cryptocurrencies such as Ether (ETH), Solana (SOL), XRP (XRP) and Cardano (ADA).March 7 — White House Crypto SummitLeaders of the crypto industry descended on Washington for a meeting at the White House to discuss a wide range of topics related to crypto regulation and the development of the industry in the US.Attendees included Strategy executive chairman Michael Saylor, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and “crypto czar” David Sacks. While some attendees, including Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov, were optimistic about the event’s focus on strengthening the US crypto industry, some crypto luminaries who were not on the list were less impressed.Cardano and IOHK co-founder Charles Hoskinson, who did not attend the event, noted in a video stream that real change — i.e., legislation — must be made in Congress. “Everybody focuses on the White House because it’s simple and easy to do so. [...] And as much as we, as an industry, want this to be a short process, it’s going to be a long and methodical process,” Hoskinson said.Others put it more simply:Source: George MandrikMarch 25 — WLFI goes stablecoinWLFI expanded its offerings in March with the soft launch of its stablecoin USD1. The coin, “100% backed by short-term US government treasuries, US dollar deposits, and other cash equivalents,” launched on the Ethereum and BNB Chain networks.News of the token’s launch came just days after WLFI secured more than $500 million by selling its own WLFI tokens.US lawmakers subsequently called for an ethics probe into WLFI and cited the president’s ability to influence stablecoin policy as a major conflict of interest with the project. Related: Atkins becomes next SEC chair: What’s next for the crypto industryApril 2 — Liberation DayDoubling down on his belligerent trade policy, Trump levies tariffs on all US trade partners on what he dubs “Liberation Day.” At a special event at the White House, Trump signed an executive order levying reciprocal tariffs on every country with a tariff on US goods, starting at a 10% minimum.Markets saw a spate of red across the board following the order, and many economic observers raised concerns over a looming recession. Crypto miners based in the US were further squeezed as their operation costs, namely for buying new mining rigs, increased significantly. Former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci told Cointelegraph, “I would say that he’s had the worst 95 days in modern presidential history. The markets recovered a little, but we’ve got $9 trillion taken from the stock market. You had a growing economy that’s now heading into a medium-sized recession, possibly a steep recession.”He said that Trump declared a trade war “without any real weaponry” and subsequently lied about progress when the president claimed China was attempting to negotiate.“The lies are ok — everyone accepts that he’s a congenital liar [...] but when you’re declaring war on people and then you’re lying, it’s really bad.”April 25 — $300,000-per-plate memecoin dinner raises call for impeachmentTop Trump memecoin holders were reportedly offered an opportunity to have dinner with the president, sparking renewed concerns over his crypto project and prompting one US lawmaker to support impeachment. At a town hall meeting in his home state of Georgia, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff said he “strongly” supports impeachment. “When the sitting president of the United States is selling access for what are effectively payments directly to him, there is no question that that rises to the level of an impeachable offense,” he said.TRUMP holders can register to have dinner with the President. Source: gettrumpmemes.comRumors on social media stated that $300,000 would grant tokenholders an audience with the president, a claim the Trump administration later denied.Trump’s first 100 days could jeopardize changeThe first 100 days of Trump’s presidency have brought unprecedented change to the crypto industry. Simultaneously, they have opened it up to increased criticism and controversy as the president’s personal ties with blockchain projects raise ethical questions. These controversies may well jeopardize the industry’s efforts to effect change in Congress, according to Scaramucci, who said, “Trump has so inflamed everything that he’s made it even hard for [stablecoin legislation] to happen.”The STABLE Act, which aims to provide guardrails for stablecoin issuance in the US, was introduced in the House of Representatives on March 26 and passed a committee vote on April 3, with prominent Democrats dissenting. The bill will soon head to the floor for a general vote before going to the Senate. The Senate’s GENIUS Act has recently made headway, passing a vote in the Banking Committee, largely along party lines.Magazine: Bitcoin $100K hopes on ice, SBF’s mysterious prison move: Hodler’s Digest, April 20 – 26
Published Date: 2025-04-29 11:58:04Creator: Cointelegraph by Aaron Wood
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Circle gets Abu Dhabi regulatory nod to expand in Middle East
USDC stablecoin issuer Circle has received in-principle approval (IPA) from the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the company announced on April 29.The approval moves Circle closer to obtaining a full Financial Services Permission (FSP) license, allowing it to operate as a regulated money services provider in the United Arab Emirates, the firm said in an official press release.Jeremy Allaire, Circle’s Co-Founder and CEO, said the approval “advances our strategy to establish deep roots in markets embracing the onchain economy.” He added:“It also underscores Circle’s enduring commitment to global stablecoin oversight—strengthening trust, compliance, and adoption worldwide, while laying a resilient foundation for the internet financial system.”Comments from Circle CEO and Chief of Market Development at ADGM regarding the regulatory nod. Source: PR Related: Circle files for Initial Public Offering planned for AprilCircle partners with Hub71In addition to regulatory progress, Circle announced a partnership with Hub71, Abu Dhabi’s tech ecosystem. As part of the collaboration, the two firms plan to work together on projects within ADGM’s digital regulatory sandbox.Circle will also join Hub71’s digital assets group, sharing its experience with a community of more than 500 tech startups and investors.Circle’s flagship USDC token is the second-largest stablecoin in terms of market capitalization. As of now, there are $62.03 billion USDC (USDC) tokens in circulation, according to data from CoinMarketCap.Meanwhile, Circle has been pushing into new global markets amid rising interest in stablecoins.In July 2024, Circle became the first global stablecoin issuer to comply with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation.In Japan, Circle expanded its presence through a partnership with SBI Holdings. On March 26, 2025, SBI VC Trade, a subsidiary of SBI Holdings, launched USDC trading, making it the first stablecoin approved under Japan’s regulatory framework.Related: Circle executive denies claims of seeking US banking licenseUAE aims to position itself a major Web3 hubThe United Arab Emirates has been actively working to establish itself as a global Web3 hub, leveraging progressive regulation and strategic partnerships to attract leading digital asset firms.In August 2024, the country ranked third in a crypto adoption index released by Henley & Partners, an investment migration consultancy firm.On April 6, Dubai’s real estate and crypto regulatory authorities signed a new agreement aimed at expanding digital asset adoption in the real estate sector. The agreement will link Dubai’s real estate registry with property tokenization through a governance system. Magazine: Bitcoin price consolidation likely as US Core PCE, manufacturing, and jobs reports print this week
Published Date: 2025-04-29 11:47:14Creator: Cointelegraph by Amin Haqshanas
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Bitcoin miner Phoenix Group adds 52 MW of mining capacity in Ethiopia
Bitcoin mining firm Phoenix Group announced the addition of 52 megawatts (MW) worth of mining capacity to its capabilities in Ethiopia.According to an April 29 announcement, with this latest addition, Phoenix’s Bitcoin mining capacity in Ethiopia reaches 132 MW. The firm’s global capacity now reportedly exceeds 500 MW.Phoenix’s co-founder and CEO, Munaf Ali, said the firm’s strategy relies on “securing prime locations with abundant, low-cost energy.”“Initiatives like our latest expansion in Ethiopia are pivotal steps, not only creating significant value today but also solidifying our position,” he said.Related: Arkansas city rejects crypto mining proposal after community pushbackBuilding on previous agreementsThe news follows Phoenix Group signing an agreement that secures the right to 80 MW of power in Ethiopia in January. An announcement published at the time noted that the new Bitcoin mining site was scheduled to go live in the second quarter of 2025.The 52 MW site will be developed in two phases, with the first one using just 20 MW to power 5,300 air-cooled mining units with an expected hashrate of 1.2 exahashes per second. In the second phase — expected to reach completion by the end of Q2 2025 — the site will use the full 52 MW, water cooling, and produce an estimated 2.4 exahashes per second of hashrate.An exahash is a unit of computational power used mainly to measure the speed of cryptocurrency mining networks, especially Bitcoin. Exahashes quantify how many trillions of calculations a mining network can perform per second.Reza Nedjatian, the CEO of the firm’s mining, artificial intelligence and data center subsidiary, highlighted that the plant will be powered by renewable energy:“With 132 MW now running on clean hydropower, we’re proud to set a new benchmark for sustainable mining in Africa and deliver large-scale operations in energy-rich regions.”Related: LAPD recovers $2.7M worth of Bitcoin miners stolen in airport heistA fast-burn companyPhoenix Group became a publicly-traded company following its late 2023 listing on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange. The firm successfully closed its initial public offering (IPO) with an oversubscription of 33 times, reporting that its offer of 907,323,529 shares saw “overwhelming demand.”Following the listing, Phoenix Group shares rapidly rose by 50% following the $371 million IPO, opening at 2.25 dirhams ($0.6) and rapidly reaching 1.50 dirhams ($0.41). At the time of writing, shares are trading at around $7.94.Phoenix Group share price chart. Source: Google FinanceThe firm is known for its large-scale mining initiatives, having acquired $187 million worth of Bitcoin mining equipment in a single transaction in early 2024. Bitcoin mining is not the only activity the firm is involved in.In 2024, Tether, the largest stablecoin provider in the digital asset industry, announced plans to launch a new stablecoin pegged to the United Arab Emirates dirham. Tether partnered with Phoenix Group and Green Acorn Investments on the project.Magazine: AI may already use more power than Bitcoin — and it threatens Bitcoin mining
Published Date: 2025-04-29 11:30:35Creator: Cointelegraph by Adrian Zmudzinski
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Your digital identity got stolen — Now what?
What is digital identity? Your digital identity is the fingerprint you leave across the internet, a living map of who you are.Your digital identity is more than just your name or email; it stretches from your social media profiles and crypto wallet addresses to your device fingerprints and even the rhythms of your daily browsing habits. In the fast-moving world of cryptocurrency, where identity and financial access often overlap, digital identity theft isn’t just a nuisance; it’s an open door to your assets. Without strong protection, even small pieces of stolen information can be stitched into a full profile, giving cybercriminals everything they need to impersonate you, seize your funds or lock you out of your accounts.What many don’t realize is how quickly this exposure happens. Every new wallet connection, exchange login, or saved payment method quietly expands your digital surface area. With each step, your data becomes more valuable and more vulnerable. In a landscape where information is currency, your cyber identity can become a jackpot for hackers who know how to cash it out.Did you know? In 2025, experts estimate that over 50 billion digital identities could be compromised worldwide, a 22% jump from last year. Crypto users are among the biggest targets, especially on decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms without strong identity checks. Synthetic identity fraud is also exploding, hitting new crypto lending services the hardest. How cybercriminals steal your digital identity Cybercriminals blend technology and manipulation to pry open digital identities.Phishing remains a common entry point, where fake websites or emails trick users into revealing passwords or seed phrases. Large personal data breaches leak databases of usernames, emails and credentials, fueling account takeover attacks across different services.Hackers also exploit:Synthetic identity fraud: combining real and fake data to create new identities.Social engineering attacks: manipulating users emotionally to voluntarily reveal sensitive information.Credential stuffing: using leaked passwords on other platforms, hoping users reused them.Knowing how criminals exploit crypto markets and digital ecosystems can make it much harder to be tricked. Stolen identity, sold forever on the dark web Once your data is stolen, it often ends up for sale on the dark web, multiplying the threat.Dark web identity theft is a thriving economy. Full identity profiles, including names, emails, Social Security Numbers (SSNs) and crypto keys can fetch high prices. Buyers may use the stolen identity immediately or resell it repeatedly, creating multiple waves of attacks months or even years later.Even after you lock down your accounts, your leaked data can keep circulating in dark corners of the web. That’s why tools like dark web monitoring and breach alerts aren’t optional; they’re your long-term defense. Recovery isn’t a one-time fix. It’s a habit of staying alert and adapting. Signs your digital identity has been stolen Spotting the signs of identity theft early can stop criminals before they cause major damage.Victims of cyber identity theft may notice strange transactions, denied logins or devices appearing that they don't recognize. Sometimes the signs are financial — unauthorized credit card charges, changes in your crypto balances or unexpected loans under your name.Key warning signs include:Password reset requests you didn’t initiate.Locked-out accounts or sudden logouts across devices.New accounts or credit lines appearing on your financial history.Unexpected withdrawals or transfers from crypto wallets.By catching the signs of identity theft early, you can shut down fraud before it spirals, and protect your money and your name. What to do if your identity is stolen Fast, clear action gives you the best chance to limit the damage from identity theft.If you realize your identity has been stolen, the first priority is locking down access. Update your passwords across all platforms, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) protection, and revoke access to any suspicious sessions or devices. Most major exchanges, banks and crypto services allow you to temporarily freeze your accounts while you investigate.Beyond immediate security steps, you should report the incident to authorities and file a case with your local cybercrime unit or financial protection agency. Using online help services can speed up your response plan. These initial moves through clear recovery steps are critical to regaining control before criminals spread the attack further.Recovery steps after digital identity theftRecovering from identity theft involves more than just securing your passwords; it’s a complete rebuild of your digital trust.After locking down your accounts and alerting key institutions, you need to start active monitoring. This means regularly reviewing your bank statements, checking your crypto wallets for unauthorized transactions and inspecting your credit report for any new activity.Some victims also pursue:Filing fraud alerts or credit freezes with major credit agencies.Hiring professional identity recovery services.Exploring identity theft insurance to cover legal and investigative costs.Full recovery can take months, but a systematic approach reduces financial and emotional damage. How to protect your digital identity Good security habits are the strongest defense against cybercriminals.Crypto platforms and companies should adopt decentralized blockchain-based identity solutions. These systems ensure that your data remains secure, transparent and in your control, making it much harder for hackers to manipulate or steal your personal information.Unlike centralized systems, blockchain-based identities are stored on a distributed ledger, reducing single points of failure and making it significantly more difficult for cybercriminals to gain unauthorized access. Furthermore, decentralized identity systems enable users to verify their identities without exposing sensitive personal data, allowing for more privacy and control over who sees their information.For users, fortifying their digital identity isn’t about ticking boxes; it’s about building sharp habits that evolve with the risks. Here’s how to stay ahead:Treat passwords like armor: Use strong, unique combinations for every account. A password manager can forge and guard them better than memory ever could.Double down with 2FA: One password isn’t enough, so add an extra lock on every door worth protecting, especially your finances and crypto.Practice digital minimalism: Every birthday, pet name or photo shared online can become ammo for hackers. Choose smart allies: Stick with crypto platforms that prioritize decentralized digital identity verification and real security, not just flashy promises.Watch, detect, respond: Set alerts and monitor your accounts. Spotting strange activity early can turn a disaster into a close call.Be stingy with your data: Only trust platforms that collect the bare minimum. If a site asks for too much, walk away.Avoid easy mistakes: Public WiFi is a hacker’s playground. Use a VPN when you connect, and regularly check if your credentials have leaked.The less you reveal, the safer you stay. Update, review, repeat: Your digital identity depends on it Maintaining your digital identity is a daily practice, not a one-time setup.Regularly update your passwords and security settings. Review app permissions, device authorizations and wallet connections at least every few months. Incorporating biometric authentication (fingerprints or facial scans) adds a critical physical layer of protection beyond passwords.Understanding how hackers manipulate crypto — from phishing for private keys to setting traps with fake decentralized applications (DApps) — is what keeps you a step ahead. In today’s world, staying sharp about cybersecurity isn’t optional. It’s a basic survival skill, right up there with managing your money or protecting your home.The future will only become more digital and more decentralized. Defending your digital identity today means preserving your independence tomorrow.
Published Date: 2025-04-29 11:30:00Creator: Cointelegraph by Sasha Shilina
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Will Trump’s 100-day speech end Bitcoin’s 'compressing' range?
Key takeaways:Bitcoin’s price consolidates as the market awaits President Trump’s 100-day speech.Over $4.7 billion in BTC has been withdrawn from exchanges since April 22, reducing supply and boosting price sensitivity to demand.Trump’s crypto policy clarity could spark a BTC surge, but tariffs may cap gains.Traders say Bitcoin price must clear key hurdles above $95,000 before continuing the uptrend to $100,000 and beyond.Bitcoin’s (BTC) price is consolidating in a tight range between $91,700 and $95,850, ahead of Trump’s 100-day commemorative rally.BTC/USD daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView Market awaits Trump’s 100-day speechBitcoin investors have adopted a wait-and-see approach ahead of US President Donald Trump’s speech to commemorate his 100th day in the White House on April 29. Crypto-related policies have been prominently featured so far in Trump’s second-term presidency, but markets await crypto-specific regulatory updates on his economic policies.Clarity on his administration’s strategic Bitcoin reserve proposal could trigger a move toward $100,000. However, renewed focus on tariffs or aggressive budget cuts could weigh on broader markets and cap Bitcoin’s upside in the short term.Cryptocurrency betting platform Polymarket predicts a 24% chance of Trump mentioning “crypto” or “Bitcoin” in his 100-day speech today. Data from the platform showed users had poured more than $1 million into bets on the event.Polymarket odds of what Trump will say in his 100-day speech. Source: Polymarket Trump’s rhetoric could drive short-term price surges, just like in the past. For example, Bitcoin’s recent recovery from $74,400 to $94,000 was partly fueled by Trump’s comments that tariffs on goods from China "will come down substantially.” While the speech may spark optimism and price spikes, broader market dynamics, including tariffs and global trade tensions, could temper gains, as seen with recent crypto market fluctuations.Over $4.7 billion in BTC leave exchangesApart from possible positive comments from Trump, Bitcoin’s declining supply on exchanges supports the bullish case for a rally toward $100,000. Investors have withdrawn over 50,500 BTC (worth $4.7 billion) from exchanges since easing macroeconomic tensions sparked a marketwide rally.Bitcoin reserve on exchanges. Source: CryptoQuantLower exchange supply reduces available BTC for selling, amplifying price sensitivity to demand, which could rise after Tump’s speech.When $100,000 BTC price?Bitcoin price has been consolidating below the $96,000 level over the last seven days, as data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView shows.“BTC is slowly compressing and making higher lows under 96K resistance,” said popular Bitcoin analyst AlphaBTC in an April 29 post on X. Related: Bitcoin targets $115K as BTC supply metric nears 'historic euphoria' zoneAs Cointelegraph reported, the $95,000 level is a key resistance that the bulls needed to overcome to secure the recovery.“The more attempts into the $95K, the more likely it will push through,” AlphaBTC asserted, adding that the squeeze will likely take Bitcoin to the sought-after 100,000 level.“I expect a bigger pullback, but probably not until 100K has been taken out.”BTC/USD 30-minute chart. Source: AlphaBTCWhile making similar observations, fellow analyst Daan Crypto Trades said, “BTC Price is compressing again the past few days after the move back into the previous range.”According to Daan Crypto Trades, a key level to watch on the downside is the 200-day simple moving average (SMA) within the $89,500 and $91,000 range.Major resistance levels are the $99,5000 local high and “the big psychological $100K area,” the analyst explained, adding:“Those are good levels to watch here in the intermediate term. Currently, it is just a waiting game of where this wants to head next in the short term.”BTC/USD daily chart. Source: Daan Crypto TradesAs Cointelegraph reported, healthy market fundamentals could propel Bitcoin price past $100,000 to new all-time highs. Meanwhile, Peter Chung, head of research at quantitative trading firm Presto, has reiterated his prediction that Bitcoin will reach $210,000 in 2025.This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
Published Date: 2025-04-29 10:27:52Creator: Cointelegraph by Nancy Lubale
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Crypto group asks Trump to end prosecution of crypto devs, Roman Storm
The crypto lobby group, the DeFi Education Fund, has petitioned the Trump administration to end what it claimed was the “lawless prosecution” of open-source software developers, including Roman Storm, a creator of the crypto mixing service Tornado Cash.In an April 28 letter to White House crypto czar David Sacks, the group urged President Donald Trump “to take immediate action to discontinue the Biden-era Department of Justice's lawless campaign to criminalize open-source software development.” The letter specifically mentioned the prosecution of Storm, who was charged in August 2023 with helping launder over $1 billion in crypto through Tornado Cash. His trial is still set for July, and his fellow charged co-founder, Roman Semenov, is at large and believed to be in Russia.The DeFi Education Fund said that in Storm’s case, the Department of Justice is attempting to hold software developers criminally liable for how others use their code, which is “not only absurd in principle, but it sets a precedent that potentially chills all crypto development in the United States.”The group also called for the recognition that the prosecution contradicts the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) guidance from Trump’s first term, which established that developers of self-custodial, peer-to-peer protocols are not money transmitters. Source: DeFi Education Fund“This kind of legal environment does not just chill innovation — it freezes it,” they argued. The letter added that it also “empowers politically-motivated enforcement and puts every open-source developer at risk, regardless of industry.”In January, a federal court in Texas ruled that the Treasury overstepped its authority by sanctioning Tornado Cash. Stakes could not be higherThe group thanked Trump for his support of the industry and his stated goal to make America the “crypto capital of the planet.” They added, however, that his goal can’t be realized if developers are prosecuted for building tools that enable the technology.“We ask President Trump to protect American software developers, restore legal clarity, and end this unlawful DOJ overreach. The job’s not finished, and the stakes could not be higher.”Related: Tornado Cash dev wants charges dropped after court said OFAC ‘overstepped’Variant Fund chief legal officer Jake Chervinsky said the Justice Department’s case against Storm is “an outdated remnant of the Biden administration's war on crypto.” “There is no justification in law or policy for prosecuting software developers for launching non-custodial smart contract protocols,” he added. At the time of writing, the petition had attracted 232 signatures from industry executives and developers, including Coinbase co-founder Fred Ehrsam, Paradigm co-founder Matt Huang, and Ethereum core developer Tim Beiko, among others.Magazine: Bitcoin $100K hopes on ice, SBF’s mysterious prison move: Hodler’s Digest
Published Date: 2025-04-29 02:29:24Creator: Cointelegraph by Martin Young
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Mastercard links with Circle, Paxos for merchant stablecoin payments
Mastercard says it will allow merchants across its network to be paid with stablecoins in a partnership with payment processor Nuvei and stablecoin issuers Circle and Paxos. Through the venture, 150 million merchants across the Mastercard network will now have the option to receive payments in stablecoins, regardless of how a customer pays, Mastercard said on April 28.The payments giant also partnered with crypto exchange OKX for a crypto-enabled bank card, which Mastercard product chief Jorn Lambert said creates a “360-degree approach” where consumers can spend stablecoins and merchants can receive them.He added that the “mainstream use cases are clear” for blockchain tech, and the company wanted “to make it as easy for merchants to receive stablecoin payments and for consumers to use them.”Source: Mastercard NewsThe stablecoin market has continued to make gains, crossing a market value of $230 billion, an increase of 54% since last year, with Tether (USDT) and USDC (USDC) dominating 90% of the market.Active stablecoin wallets have also increased over 50% in one year, according to a report last month from onchain analysis platforms Artemis and Dune.Investment banking giant Citigroup predicted in an April 23 report that a combination of growing regulatory support and adoption by financial institutions has set the stage for the stablecoin market to reach as high as $3.7 trillion by 2030.Mastercard launches another crypto cardMastercard said its partnership with OKX for the so-called OKX Card aims to give crypto users “easy access to their funds” and integrate stablecoins into daily transactions.OKX marketing chief Haider Rafique said the exchange’s venture with Mastercard is “a significant step toward integrating stablecoins into daily transactions and creating richer experiences.”Related: Mastercard tokenized 30% of its transactions in 2024Crypto wallet maker MetaMask also partnered with Mastercard on April 28 to launch a crypto payments card allowing users to spend self-custodied funds, using smart contracts to execute the IRL (In Real Life) transactions, with a processing speed under five seconds. Mastercard has also worked with crypto exchanges like Kraken, Binance, and Crypto.com to allow crypto-enabled debit cards.Magazine: Bitcoin payments are being undermined by centralized stablecoins
Published Date: 2025-04-29 02:04:59Creator: Cointelegraph by Stephen Katte
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Ethereum Foundation shuffles leadership, splits board and management
The Ethereum Foundation, which backs the development of the Ethereum blockchain, has overhauled its leadership structure to separate the responsibilities of its management team and board of directors.The board will act as the “security council to protect the heart and soul” of the foundation and set visions for Ethereum, while the new management will be focused on the strategic and operational execution of those visions, the Foundation said in an April 28 blog post.It added in an April 28 X post that Hsiao-Wei Wang and Tomasz K. Stańczak were appointed as co-executive directors on March 2 to deliver on those visions — which are centered around championing censorship resistance, open-source innovation, privacy and securityWang and Stańczak’s roles took effect on April 28 with the foundation setting a two-year term for Stańczak to address some of Ethereum’s biggest challenges. Stańczak’s new role will be balanced with his work as founder of Ethereum infrastructure firm Nethermind and a soon-to-be-announced Ethereum-focused venture capital firm.Source: Ethereum FoundationBastian Aue and Josh Stark are also a part of the management team, with Aue to focus on organizational strategy, hiring and training, and Stark to primarily be tasked with project execution, communications and marketing.The board consists of Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, the Ethereum Foundation’s President Aya Miyaguchi, Swiss counsel Patrick Storchenegger, and Wang, who will bridge between the board and management team.Related: ‘Vitalik: An Ethereum Story’ is less about crypto and more about being humanButerin will continue providing technical and intellectual guidance on the Ethereum ecosystem, Miyaguchi will oversee the foundation’s vision while managing external relationships, and Storchenegger will keep handling legal and compliance matters.The board was responsible for selecting Wang and Stańczak as executive directors — a decision they acknowledged was unconventional — and they also have the power to terminate those positions.The Ethereum Foundation has adopted a more active role in the Ethereum ecosystem in recent months, following criticism from Synthetix founder Kain Warwick that the foundation “doesn’t care” about decentralized finance innovation.Others in the Ethereum community previously attributed the foundation’s lack of engagement and leadership to Ether’s (ETH) poor price performance relative to Bitcoin (BTC) and Solana (SOL).Ethereum Foundation’s main focus is scalingThe Foundation said its three main focus areas over the next 12 months would be to scale the Ethereum layer 1, scale blobs at the layer 2 level, and improve user experience.Ethereum Foundation researcher Dankrad Feist and protocol support Sophia Gold have already pitched proposals to to address Ethereum’s scaling woes at the base layer under Ethereum Improvement Proposals-9678 and 9698. Both EIPs look to raise the gas limit, which should theoretically raise Ethereum’s transaction throughput by the same magnitude.Magazine: Ethereum is destroying the competition in the $16.1T TradFi tokenization race
Published Date: 2025-04-29 01:20:31Creator: Cointelegraph by Brayden Lindrea
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BONK price gains 60% in a week as Solana memecoins make a comeback
Key takeaways:BONK price is up 73% since April 22, hitting a five-month high of $0.00002167.BONK’s open interest surged 290% to $43.2 million. Bonk (BONK), the second-largest Solana-based memecoin by market capitalization, is on track to continue the recovery it began on April 22. BONK has climbed approximately 73% from its April 22 low of around $0.00001247, bringing its price up to an intraday high of $0.00002167 on April 28.Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView shows BONK trading at $0.00001923, up 3% over the 24 hours and 60% over the last seven days.BONK/USD daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewBONK’s trading volume has jumped 98% over the last 24 hours to $478 million, and its market capitalization also jumped, briefly touching $1.7 billion on April 28, before retracing to the current level of $1.5 billion.Let’s examine the factors that have fueled BONK's price momentum over the last week.Memecoins recover across the boardBONK’s rally over the last seven days mirrors the bullish price movements across the broader crypto market, including the memecoin sector. Most memecoins have posted double-digit gains over the last week. DOGE and Shiba Inu (SHIB), the leading memecoins, have jumped 3% and 5% over the last seven days. Official Trump (TRUMP), the memecoin associated with US President Donald Trump, has recorded 73% weekly gains, while Base’s Brett (BRETT) has rallied 83% over the same period. Performance of top-cap memecoins. Source: CoinMarketCapThis widespread rally has pushed the total memecoin market value to $55.51 billion, a 17.5% leap in the past week, as per CoinMarketCap data.Memecoin market cap and volume. Source: CoinMarketCapOver $7.96 billion in memecoin trading volume was recorded in the past seven days alone, representing an 85% weekly change. The resurgence is driven by investors once again embracing risk-on assets like memecoins.Increasing open interest backs BONK’s rallyThe surge in the price of Bonk over the last seven days comes after a significant jump in its open interest (OI). BONK’s total OI on all exchanges rose 290% from $11 million on April 22 to $43.2 million on April 26. Although this metric has since dropped to $28 million at the time of writing, it remains significantly higher than the OI seen since December 2024.Rising open interest reflects growing trader participation in BONK futures, indicating heightened speculative activity.BONK open interest across all exchanges. Source: CoinGlassData from CoinGlass shows increasing demand for leveraged long positions in BONK over the last few days, as indicated by the OI-weighted futures funding rate.BONK average perpetual contracts 8-hour funding rate. Source: CoinGlassIncreasing funding rates usually suggest that futures traders are bullish, expecting future price increases, which may indicate a continuation of the uptrend.BONK's social dominance remains high, suggesting high social activity. Santiment data shows BONK’s social dominance spiking from 0.091% to 0.572% between April 20 and April 26, driven by BONK’s ecosystem buzz. BONK social dominance and volume. Source: SantimentThis surge in chatter on social media platforms reflects rising retail and institutional interest, amplifying FOMO and driving demand.BONK breaks out of a multimonth downtrendOn April 13, BONK price broke out of a descending parallel channel, igniting strength that saw it flip the 50-day and 100-day exponential moving averages (EMAs) to support. The bulls will likely continue the rebound toward the significant resistance level at $0.00002410 (200-day SMA) in the short term. A daily candlestick close above this level, accompanied by high volume, could see BONK rise toward the Jan. 19 range high near $0.000040. This would represent a 104% increase from the current price.BONK/USD daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe sharp rise in the relative strength index and its position at 71 in the overbought region reinforces the buyers’ dominance in the market. However, the overbought conditions could facilitate profit-taking, occasioning a slight correction before BONK continues its uptrend. “$BONK’s descending trendline got cleared,” declared popular analyst World of Charts in an April 28 post on X, “expecting 2x in the coming days.”Meanwhile, Crypto Joe spotted BONK breaking out of a bullish pennant in the 30-minute timeframe targeting $0.00002690.Source: Crypto JoeThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
Published Date: 2025-04-29 00:15:00Creator: Cointelegraph by Nancy Lubale
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