Bybit Ethereum Heist Propels Record $2.1 Billion in Crypto Stolen by Hackers So Far in 2025

Hackers have stolen $2.1 billion in crypto, a record high in the first half of 2025, with North Korean-sponsored actors accounting for 70% of the losses, a report released Friday by blockchain intelligence provider TRM Labs shows.  The total amount was 10% more than the previous high set in 2022, according to "H1 2025 Crypto Hacks and Exploits: A New Record Amid Evolving Threats," which noted that North Korean groups were allegedly behind $1.6 billion of the stolen crypto.  TRM said that North K...

Hackers have stolen $2.1 billion in crypto, a record high in the first half of 2025, with North Korean-sponsored actors accounting for 70% of the losses, a report released Friday by blockchain intelligence provider TRM Labs shows.  The total amount was 10% more than the previous high set in 2022, according to "H1 2025 Crypto Hacks and Exploits: A New Record Amid Evolving Threats," which noted that North Korean groups were allegedly behind $1.6 billion of the stolen crypto.  TRM said that North K...

How Much Bitcoin Has Iran Mined? It's Complicated

Iran has been mining and trading in cryptocurrencies out of necessity due to major global sanctions and a local currency that has dwindled in value due to severe inflation since at least 2019. However, experts told Decrypt it’s still nearly impossible to estimate its holdings. The University of Cambridge’s Center for Alternative Finance estimated that the nation accounted for 7.5% of Bitcoin’s hashrate in March 2021, a figure that fell as low as just 0.12% in January 2022. Throughout its history...

Iran has been mining and trading in cryptocurrencies out of necessity due to major global sanctions and a local currency that has dwindled in value due to severe inflation since at least 2019. However, experts told Decrypt it’s still nearly impossible to estimate its holdings. The University of Cambridge’s Center for Alternative Finance estimated that the nation accounted for 7.5% of Bitcoin’s hashrate in March 2021, a figure that fell as low as just 0.12% in January 2022. Throughout its history...

Will Solana, XRP, Dogecoin and Other Crypto ETFs Take Off?

A wave of proposed exchange-traded funds tracking the performance of different altcoins seem likely to receive a regulatory green light, with Bloomberg analysts predicting a more than 90% probability that a few of the funds will be able to start trading this year, including Solana, Dogecoin and XRP products.  But if such funds and others garner approval, who will buy these investment products, and if so, to what degree? Analysts disagree on their potential popularity.  "Everyone knows Bitcoin by...

A wave of proposed exchange-traded funds tracking the performance of different altcoins seem likely to receive a regulatory green light, with Bloomberg analysts predicting a more than 90% probability that a few of the funds will be able to start trading this year, including Solana, Dogecoin and XRP products.  But if such funds and others garner approval, who will buy these investment products, and if so, to what degree? Analysts disagree on their potential popularity.  "Everyone knows Bitcoin by...

Trump Blames Biden for Banks Blocking Crypto: 'There Is a Lot of Debanking'

President Donald Trump said Friday that debanking of crypto companies is a “very bad and very dangerous” practice that was likely instigated by the Biden administration, but still remains a problem in the United States. “There is a lot of debanking,” Trump said in the Oval Office this evening, in response to a question from Decrypt. “Those people are very bad and very dangerous, and they shouldn't be doing it.” Debanking refers to the alleged practice of banks denying customers services based on...

President Donald Trump said Friday that debanking of crypto companies is a “very bad and very dangerous” practice that was likely instigated by the Biden administration, but still remains a problem in the United States. “There is a lot of debanking,” Trump said in the Oval Office this evening, in response to a question from Decrypt. “Those people are very bad and very dangerous, and they shouldn't be doing it.” Debanking refers to the alleged practice of banks denying customers services based on...

'Rogue' Police Are Destroying Bitcoin ATMs: Bitcoin Depot Legal Chief

U.S. law enforcement officials using brute force to seize cash from Bitcoin ATMs are overstepping their authority and may be violating the law, Bitcoin Depot CLO Chris Ryan said. Ryan told Decrypt that funds police may seize rightfully belong to the Atlanta, Georgia-based provider of Bitcoin ATMs, and that they are liable for damages to the machines, even as they try to return large sums to consumers who say they’ve been scammed.  “You’ve got these rogue law enforcement officers thinking that th...

U.S. law enforcement officials using brute force to seize cash from Bitcoin ATMs are overstepping their authority and may be violating the law, Bitcoin Depot CLO Chris Ryan said. Ryan told Decrypt that funds police may seize rightfully belong to the Atlanta, Georgia-based provider of Bitcoin ATMs, and that they are liable for damages to the machines, even as they try to return large sums to consumers who say they’ve been scammed.  “You’ve got these rogue law enforcement officers thinking that th...

Ripple to Drop Appeal in SEC Case Over XRP Sales, Ending Case 'Once and for All'

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said on Friday that the fintech will drop its cross appeal in a long-running case with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The announcement comes just a day after U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres denied a proposal from Ripple Labs and the SEC to cut a $125 million penalty or toss out an injunction imposed against the XRP-linked firm last year. That decision followed less than two weeks after the SEC and Ripple requested that the court lower a civil penalty...

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said on Friday that the fintech will drop its cross appeal in a long-running case with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The announcement comes just a day after U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres denied a proposal from Ripple Labs and the SEC to cut a $125 million penalty or toss out an injunction imposed against the XRP-linked firm last year. That decision followed less than two weeks after the SEC and Ripple requested that the court lower a civil penalty...

Public Keys: Copycat Lawsuits for Bitcoin Giant Strategy, Coinbase Hits All-Time High

Public Keys is a weekly roundup from Decrypt that tracks the key publicly traded crypto companies. This week: Why Bitcoin treasury champion Strategy is drawing so many identical lawsuits, Coinbase hits a new peak closing price as U.S. perps near, and other keys from the week in crypto. Strategy’s déjà vu You may have heard that Bitcoin giant Strategy is the subject of a class action lawsuit. It accuses the company of misrepresenting the risks associated with its BTC buying plans. Then maybe you...

Public Keys is a weekly roundup from Decrypt that tracks the key publicly traded crypto companies. This week: Why Bitcoin treasury champion Strategy is drawing so many identical lawsuits, Coinbase hits a new peak closing price as U.S. perps near, and other keys from the week in crypto. Strategy’s déjà vu You may have heard that Bitcoin giant Strategy is the subject of a class action lawsuit. It accuses the company of misrepresenting the risks associated with its BTC buying plans. Then maybe you...

White House Weighs Federal Land and Fast-Tracked Permits to Drive AI Boom: Reuters

The Trump administration is considering a series of executive orders aimed at expanding the infrastructure necessary to support the growth of artificial intelligence, according to a report by Reuters on Friday. The proposed actions, still unconfirmed by the White House, reportedly include measures to ease access to the power grid, streamline permitting processes, and open federal land for the construction of large-scale data centers. Reuters, citing sources familiar with internal discussions, re...

The Trump administration is considering a series of executive orders aimed at expanding the infrastructure necessary to support the growth of artificial intelligence, according to a report by Reuters on Friday. The proposed actions, still unconfirmed by the White House, reportedly include measures to ease access to the power grid, streamline permitting processes, and open federal land for the construction of large-scale data centers. Reuters, citing sources familiar with internal discussions, re...

Moon or Doom: Where Does Bitcoin Go Next, $115K or $95K?

Bitcoin is once again making waves in the financial world. As of Friday, the price of Bitcoin (BTC) remains right around the $107,000 mark, reinforcing investor confidence and raising hopes for another surge toward its monthly and all-time highs. The Crypto Fear and Greed index is currently at 65, which means sentiment in the BTC market is currently in “greed” mode and traders are eagerly buying. Myriad, a prediction market developed by Decrypt’s parent company Dastan that allows for the trading...

Bitcoin is once again making waves in the financial world. As of Friday, the price of Bitcoin (BTC) remains right around the $107,000 mark, reinforcing investor confidence and raising hopes for another surge toward its monthly and all-time highs. The Crypto Fear and Greed index is currently at 65, which means sentiment in the BTC market is currently in “greed” mode and traders are eagerly buying. Myriad, a prediction market developed by Decrypt’s parent company Dastan that allows for the trading...

Why 'Eve Frontier' Is Opening Up to Everyone With Free Trial Experience

Massively multiplayer online (MMO) Ethereum game Eve Frontier is hosting a new 10-day free trial, letting anyone explore its space survival frontier that “literally wants to kill you,” in the words of CCP Games founder and CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson. The game will provide free access from June 27 to July 7, allowing users to harvest resources, build bases, and earn Grace, a type of in-game points that is converted to the permanent Eve Points that track a player’s legacy. The trial launch comes...

Massively multiplayer online (MMO) Ethereum game Eve Frontier is hosting a new 10-day free trial, letting anyone explore its space survival frontier that “literally wants to kill you,” in the words of CCP Games founder and CEO Hilmar Veigar Pétursson. The game will provide free access from June 27 to July 7, allowing users to harvest resources, build bases, and earn Grace, a type of in-game points that is converted to the permanent Eve Points that track a player’s legacy. The trial launch comes...

Trump Punts on Crypto Divestment, Says If US Didn't Have Bitcoin 'China Would'

President Donald Trump dodged a question about his willingness to divest from his personal crypto ventures Friday, maintaining that he was interested in crypto before deciding to run again for president—and arguing that he built a crypto industry in America that China would have seized upon if not for his leadership. Asked by Decrypt whether he would be open to “pulling away from” his “personal crypto ventures” while in office, in the interest of getting crypto legislation passed speedily in com...

President Donald Trump dodged a question about his willingness to divest from his personal crypto ventures Friday, maintaining that he was interested in crypto before deciding to run again for president—and arguing that he built a crypto industry in America that China would have seized upon if not for his leadership. Asked by Decrypt whether he would be open to “pulling away from” his “personal crypto ventures” while in office, in the interest of getting crypto legislation passed speedily in com...

Robinhood’s Crypto Keynote Could Be a Chance to Buy the Dip: Compass Point

When Robinhood hosts a crypto-focused keynote event in France on Monday, investors may have an opportunity to buy the dip, investment bank Compass Point signaled on Friday. Although some investors may “sell the news,” the trading platform has several potential catalysts on the horizon, including inclusion in the S&P 500 and a crypto business that continues to flourish, Compass Point analyst Ed Engel wrote in a note. Robinhood shares turned lower on Friday, recently falling 1.3% to $83.46, accord...

When Robinhood hosts a crypto-focused keynote event in France on Monday, investors may have an opportunity to buy the dip, investment bank Compass Point signaled on Friday. Although some investors may “sell the news,” the trading platform has several potential catalysts on the horizon, including inclusion in the S&P 500 and a crypto business that continues to flourish, Compass Point analyst Ed Engel wrote in a note. Robinhood shares turned lower on Friday, recently falling 1.3% to $83.46, accord...

Will Circle and Tether Soon Face Thousands of Stablecoin Competitors? Unlikely, Says Moody’s

Ask any pro-crypto lawmaker or industry leader, and they’ll tell you stablecoins are about to take over the world. Earlier this month, the Senate passed a landmark bill to formally legalize stablecoin issuance in the United States—legislation that parties involved have promised will, once signed into law, unleash the promise of instantaneous blockchain payments on all corners of the U.S. economy.  Crypto leaders have forecasted that once the federal government gives the green light, hundreds of...

Ask any pro-crypto lawmaker or industry leader, and they’ll tell you stablecoins are about to take over the world. Earlier this month, the Senate passed a landmark bill to formally legalize stablecoin issuance in the United States—legislation that parties involved have promised will, once signed into law, unleash the promise of instantaneous blockchain payments on all corners of the U.S. economy.  Crypto leaders have forecasted that once the federal government gives the green light, hundreds of...

Crypto Fueling Weapons Programs for Sanctioned States: FATF

Cryptocurrency is increasingly enabling sanctioned states like North Korea and Iran to finance illicit weapons programs, according to a June 2025 report by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental organization established over three decades ago by G7 countries. The global watchdog identifies blockchain-based assets as critical vulnerabilities exploited by proliferation finance networks, citing incidents such as North Korea's theft of $1.4 billion from crypto exchange ByBit in...

Cryptocurrency is increasingly enabling sanctioned states like North Korea and Iran to finance illicit weapons programs, according to a June 2025 report by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental organization established over three decades ago by G7 countries. The global watchdog identifies blockchain-based assets as critical vulnerabilities exploited by proliferation finance networks, citing incidents such as North Korea's theft of $1.4 billion from crypto exchange ByBit in...

Flipping Housecoin? Parody Solana Meme Coin Overtakes Token It Was Created to Laugh At

Absurdist Solana meme coin Chillhouse flipped one of the two tokens that it was created to poke fun at on Thursday. Chillhouse’s flipping of Housecoin prompted a wave of even more foolish tokens to take over the trenches. For example, Farthouse and Chillgull—which combines Chillguy with a seagull, for some reason—hit peak market caps of $4.28 million and $1.13 million amid the chaos. thoughts on chillgull? https://t.co/2AAHRnhMsq pic.twitter.com/RNTf6Zn3vh — CHILLGULL (@chillgullmain) June 27,...

Absurdist Solana meme coin Chillhouse flipped one of the two tokens that it was created to poke fun at on Thursday. Chillhouse’s flipping of Housecoin prompted a wave of even more foolish tokens to take over the trenches. For example, Farthouse and Chillgull—which combines Chillguy with a seagull, for some reason—hit peak market caps of $4.28 million and $1.13 million amid the chaos. thoughts on chillgull? https://t.co/2AAHRnhMsq pic.twitter.com/RNTf6Zn3vh — CHILLGULL (@chillgullmain) June 27,...

Why Are So Many Firms Suing Strategy Over Its Bitcoin Holdings?

Bitcoin juggernaut Strategy is facing at least five copycat lawsuits accusing the company of securities fraud regarding its BTC treasury, but two law professors told Decrypt that the number of suits is not unusual. Law firms look to head consolidated class action suits, a role that would enable them to boost their earnings from the case, they said. They often file separately in such cases until a judge names a lead plaintiff and combines the separate actions. “Law firms jockey for position as le...

Bitcoin juggernaut Strategy is facing at least five copycat lawsuits accusing the company of securities fraud regarding its BTC treasury, but two law professors told Decrypt that the number of suits is not unusual. Law firms look to head consolidated class action suits, a role that would enable them to boost their earnings from the case, they said. They often file separately in such cases until a judge names a lead plaintiff and combines the separate actions. “Law firms jockey for position as le...

Russian Mother and Self-Styled 'Crypto Expert' Jailed Over $23M Bitcoin Scam

A Russian mother who branded herself as a crypto expert has been sentenced to seven years in prison by a Moscow court after orchestrating a ruthless pyramid scheme that defrauded investors of $23 million (2.2 billion rubles) worth of Bitcoin in just 60 days in 2023. Valeria Fedyakina, from Simferopol, posed as "Bitmama," a legitimate crypto trader with global offices, promising clients she could transfer their money abroad using crypto to circumvent Western sanctions, according to The Telegraph....

A Russian mother who branded herself as a crypto expert has been sentenced to seven years in prison by a Moscow court after orchestrating a ruthless pyramid scheme that defrauded investors of $23 million (2.2 billion rubles) worth of Bitcoin in just 60 days in 2023. Valeria Fedyakina, from Simferopol, posed as "Bitmama," a legitimate crypto trader with global offices, promising clients she could transfer their money abroad using crypto to circumvent Western sanctions, according to The Telegraph....

Bitcoin ETFs Notch 13 Consecutive Days of Inflow—Why It Matters

U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds are experiencing their longest inflow streak since December 2024, bringing in over $2.9 billion over 13 consecutive trading days, while regulatory momentum builds for other digital asset approvals within the next four months. The ETFs recorded their largest single-day inflow for June on Tuesday with $588.6 million, extending an unprecedented streak to $1.2 billion this week alone. BlackRock’s IBIT once again led inflows with $163.7 million on Thursday, whi...

U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds are experiencing their longest inflow streak since December 2024, bringing in over $2.9 billion over 13 consecutive trading days, while regulatory momentum builds for other digital asset approvals within the next four months. The ETFs recorded their largest single-day inflow for June on Tuesday with $588.6 million, extending an unprecedented streak to $1.2 billion this week alone. BlackRock’s IBIT once again led inflows with $163.7 million on Thursday, whi...

MrBeast Pulls AI Thumbnail Tool Following Backlash

YouTube's biggest individual creator, Jimmy Donaldson, known by his moniker MrBeast, faced community backlash after launching an AI thumbnail generator that could replicate the styles of other creators, forcing his team to make modifications to the controversial tool within days. Promoted in now-deleted videos, the $80-per-month AI-powered tool allowed users to generate thumbnails by mimicking the visual style, logos, and even faces of other YouTubers, raising immediate concerns around consent,...

YouTube's biggest individual creator, Jimmy Donaldson, known by his moniker MrBeast, faced community backlash after launching an AI thumbnail generator that could replicate the styles of other creators, forcing his team to make modifications to the controversial tool within days. Promoted in now-deleted videos, the $80-per-month AI-powered tool allowed users to generate thumbnails by mimicking the visual style, logos, and even faces of other YouTubers, raising immediate concerns around consent,...

Coinbase US Perpetuals Are Arriving Next Month as Stock Soars to New Heights

Coinbase Global Inc. will launch US Perpetual-Style Futures on July 21, becoming one of the first exchanges to offer regulated perpetual futures contracts in the U.S.—a market that offshore platforms have dominated despite representing upwards of 90% of global crypto trading activity. The crypto exchange announced Thursday it will debut nano Bitcoin (0.01 BTC) and nano Ethereum  (0.10 ETH) perpetual-style futures contracts, designed to closely track spot prices while offering leverage and remain...

Coinbase Global Inc. will launch US Perpetual-Style Futures on July 21, becoming one of the first exchanges to offer regulated perpetual futures contracts in the U.S.—a market that offshore platforms have dominated despite representing upwards of 90% of global crypto trading activity. The crypto exchange announced Thursday it will debut nano Bitcoin (0.01 BTC) and nano Ethereum  (0.10 ETH) perpetual-style futures contracts, designed to closely track spot prices while offering leverage and remain...