A 26-year-old TikTok influencer and crypto trader was reportedly kidnapped in France and held for a €50,000 crypto ransom. But when the kidnappers found he had been all-in on XRP since 2018 and had little to show for it, they released him—allegedly sending $1,000 in USDT before letting him go.
KikyoBybit is launching Byreal, a new decentralised trading platform on Solana, with a testnet set for 30 June and mainnet in Q3 2025. It aims to combine the speed and liquidity of a centralised exchange with the fairness and openness of DeFi, using hybrid features like RFQ and CLMM routing.
WeatherlyIn a significant policy shift, Brazil has officially eliminated the tax exemption previously granted to small-scale crypto investors. Under the new regulation, all capital gains from cryptocurrency transactions will be subject to a flat 17.5% tax rate.
CatherineA crypto investor lost $6.9 million after buying a cold wallet through Douyin that had already been tampered with. The private key was stolen before sale, letting scammers take the funds and launder them through a crypto mixer.
AnaisSatoshi Nakamoto created Bitcoin to sidestep centralised institutions and government control. But Coinbase’s sponsorship of a military parade has sparked debate: Is crypto abandoning its anti-establishment roots for mainstream acceptance?
KikyoCrypto scams are getting worse as criminals use AI deepfakes to trick people with fake videos and voices. In 2024 alone, these scams caused losses of $4.6 billion, with nearly 40% involving AI impersonations.
AnaisBSC has seen renewed sandwich attacks affecting 120,000+ DEX traders over two weeks. Still, volume remains steady as it leads in DEX activity and surpasses Solana in meme coin trading.
CatherineMetaplanet has reached 10,000 Bitcoin six months ahead of its target, becoming the ninth-largest public holder and surpassing Coinbase. It raised funds through zero-interest bonds and a record $5.4 billion equity programme, with plans to own 1% of all Bitcoin by 2027.
JoyTrump Media has received SEC approval to raise $2.3 billion through share deals and convertible notes, with plans to use part of the funds to buy Bitcoin. The company aims to hold Bitcoin in its treasury, launch a Bitcoin ETF, and offer crypto-based services through Truth Social and a new streaming platform.
WeatherlyBitget has partnered with UNICEF Luxembourg on a three-year initiative to boost blockchain literacy and STEM skills among girls in eight countries, empowering them to engage in the digital economy and shape the future of blockchain.
Catherine