Coinbase withdrew its support for a US crypto bill after a late draft showed provisions that could harm consumers and limit competition. The Senate Banking Committee has postponed the bill’s markup, with talks expected to continue once a revised draft is ready.
WeatherlyWest Virginia, a US state in the Appalachian region, may allow its treasury to invest up to 10% of its funds in Bitcoin, stablecoins, and gold. The bill sets rules for investment, including a $750 billion market cap for Bitcoin, and is now under review by the state’s banking committee.
AnaisWhatsApp will allow AI chatbots to keep working for users with Brazilian phone numbers after the country’s regulator blocked its new restrictions. Brazil’s competition authority is investigating whether the policy unfairly favours Meta’s own AI over other providers.
AnaisMost foreign cryptocurrency exchange apps will be blocked from South Korea’s Google Play Store from 28 January because they are not registered with local authorities. Korean users can still access these platforms via web browsers or APK downloads, but this creates higher security risks and may shift trading towards domestic exchanges.
WeatherlyA Utah man, Brian Garry Sewell, was sentenced to three years in federal prison for defrauding investors of nearly $3 million and running an unlicensed cash-to-crypto business. He was also ordered to pay over $3.8 million in restitution to victims and the Department of Homeland Security.
AnaisBinance has reopened direct Australian dollar deposits and withdrawals for all local users via PayID and bank transfers. This restores normal banking access after more than two years, allowing users to move money faster and more easily.
AnaisBinance founder Changpeng Zhao denied rumours of a relationship with actress Sydney Sweeney, saying they have never met and calling the claims “fake news.” Experts say fake news and AI-generated disinformation are spreading faster and harder to spot, often mixing true and false details to mislead the public.
WeatherlyX reported record creator payouts at the end of 2025 and announced a $1 million prize for the top long-form article as part of its push to make 2026 “the year of the creator”. The platform is shifting earnings towards real views on the home timeline and giving more weight to written content to attract quality creators and boost monetisation.
AnaisA crypto wallet lost over $282 million in Bitcoin and Litecoin after the owner was tricked in a social engineering scam. Much of the stolen funds were converted to Monero and moved across multiple blockchains, causing a sharp spike in its price.
WeatherlySouth Korean authorities have broken up an international crypto ring that laundered around 150 billion won ($101.7 million) through domestic and overseas accounts. Three Chinese nationals are facing prosecution for using the funds under the guise of legitimate payments like cosmetic surgery and study fees.
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