Newly released U.S. Department of Justice documents have exposed a previously obscured financial link between convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the Bitcoin industry, revealing his 2014 investment in infrastructure firm Blockstream through a fund managed by then-MIT Media Lab director Joi Ito. Blockstream co-founder and CEO Adam Back confirmed the investment but stated it was divested within months due to conflict of interest concerns, severing all financial ties. The emails, however, also detail Epstein’s invitation for Back and co-founder Austin Hill to visit his private Caribbean island, Little Saint James—a site later central to his abuse network—and show Epstein expressing a favorable opinion of the Bitcoin pioneer.
about Epstein Invested in Blockstream via MIT Fund, Invited Founders to IslandDigital Currency Group
0 in Finance and 0 in Crypto last weekGrayscale Files for NYSE IPO With Dual-Class Stock Structure
Grayscale Investments, the $35 billion crypto asset manager, has filed with the SEC to list its Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under ticker symbol GRAY. The move will subject the firm to greater financial disclosure and shareholder scrutiny while preserving Digital Currency Group’s controlling voting power through a dual-class share structure. This transition comes as Grayscale faces revenue pressure from increased competition in the crypto ETF space, with management fees declining and assets under management slipping year-over-year.
about Grayscale Files for NYSE IPO With Dual-Class Stock StructureZcash Surges 380%: Privacy Token’s 2025 Comeback Story
Zcash, the once-forgotten privacy cryptocurrency, has staged a stunning 380% rally in 2025, reaching a three-year high of $370 and reclaiming its position among the top 25 digital assets with a $5.8 billion market capitalization. This remarkable resurgence represents more than mere speculation—it signals a fundamental reassessment of financial privacy in an era of increasing digital surveillance and regulatory scrutiny.
about Zcash Surges 380%: Privacy Token's 2025 Comeback StoryCZ Eyes Genesis Loan Book Purchase Amid Crypto Crisis
Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao is reportedly exploring the acquisition of Genesis Trading’s $2.8 billion loan portfolio as the cryptocurrency lending sector faces severe liquidity pressures following FTX’s collapse. The potential move, which comes as Genesis suspended customer withdrawals and seeks emergency liquidity solutions, could significantly consolidate Binance’s dominance while reshaping the competitive landscape of digital asset lending and trading.
about CZ Eyes Genesis Loan Book Purchase Amid Crypto CrisisAgriFORCE Rebrands as AVAX One in $550M Avalanche Push
AgriFORCE Growing Systems has undergone a dramatic transformation, rebranding as AVAX One and announcing a $550 million fundraising strategy centered on the Avalanche blockchain. The move positions the company to become the first NASDAQ-listed entity built around AVAX tokens, with backing from major institutions including Hivemind Capital, Galaxy Digital, and Kraken. This strategic pivot signals growing institutional confidence in blockchain infrastructure for financial applications.
about AgriFORCE Rebrands as AVAX One in $550M Avalanche PushAgriFORCE Rebrands as AVAX One, Stock Soars 200%
In a dramatic strategic shift, Nasdaq-listed Bitcoin mining firm AgriFORCE Growing Systems Ltd. has announced a full rebrand to AVAX One, marking the first publicly traded company to commit to building a treasury based on the Avalanche blockchain. The announcement sent the company’s stock price skyrocketing, with shares surging over 200% as the market digested plans for a $550 million capital raise aimed at accumulating over $700 million worth of AVAX tokens. This move, led by HiveMind Capital and backed by a who’s who of crypto finance, signals a significant acceleration in the corporate crypto treasury trend pioneered by Michael Saylor’s MicroStrategy.
about AgriFORCE Rebrands as AVAX One, Stock Soars 200%Crypto Bubble Fears Rise as Leaders Warn of Overvaluation
Concerns about a cryptocurrency bubble are mounting among industry experts, with Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi acknowledging short-term bubbles in quarterly trends. The market surge, fueled by pro-crypto regulations under Trump and IPOs from firms like Circle and Bullish, has pushed Bitcoin to record highs and the total crypto market cap above $4 trillion. However, skeptics caution that hype-driven valuations are unsustainable. Data from Architect Partners shows a 15% drop in digital asset treasury stocks last week, while Barry Silbert predicts 99% of cryptocurrencies will go to zero. Investment firm Elliott Management also warns that a bubble collapse could destabilize financial markets, highlighting risks to both investors and the broader economy.
about Crypto Bubble Fears Rise as Leaders Warn of OvervaluationWinklevoss Issues Final $1.5B Demand to DCG in Genesis Dispute
The legal battle between Gemini and Digital Currency Group has reached a critical juncture with Cameron Winklevoss issuing an ultimatum demanding $1.465 billion in payments and loans denominated in dollars, bitcoin, and ether. Winklevoss accuses DCG and Barry Silbert of engaging in fraudulent behavior, creating a ‘culture of lies and deceit,’ and deliberately prolonging the resolution process. The dispute centers on $1.2 billion owed to Gemini’s Earn program users, affecting 232,000 customers whose withdrawals have been suspended since November 2022. The offer includes compensation for Earn program customers and alleges that DCG abused mediation processes to avoid paying its $630 million debt to Genesis. This development follows previous accusations by the Winklevoss twins against the SEC and highlights the ongoing turmoil in crypto lending markets.
about Winklevoss Issues Final $1.5B Demand to DCG in Genesis DisputeDCG Sues Genesis Over 3AC Promissory Note Dispute
Digital Currency Group (DCG) has initiated legal action against its subsidiaries, Genesis Global Capital and Genesis Asia Pacific, in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. The complaint revolves around a $1.1 billion promissory note issued during the 2022 collapse of Three Arrows Capital (3AC). DCG alleges that the Genesis entities profited ‘hundreds of millions of dollars’ from recoveries linked to 3AC’s default without incurring losses, while DCG itself bore the financial burden. The case highlights ongoing tensions within DCG’s corporate structure and the fallout from major crypto market failures.
about DCG Sues Genesis Over 3AC Promissory Note DisputeDCG Sues Genesis Over $1.1B Loan Dispute
Digital Currency Group (DCG) has sued its now-bankrupt subsidiary Genesis, arguing that its $1.1 billion loan in 2022 exceeded Genesis’ losses and even resulted in profits due to recovered collateral from Three Arrows Capital. The collateral, held in Bitcoin and Grayscale Bitcoin Trust shares, surged in value post-2022, reducing DCG’s obligations to zero. Genesis, a crypto lender under DCG, collapsed in 2023 after exposure to failed firms like Three Arrows Capital and Alameda Research. DCG claims it fulfilled its financial commitments, while Genesis had earlier sued DCG for $3.1 billion over alleged fraudulent transfers during its collapse. The legal battle highlights the fallout from the 2022 crypto contagion.
about DCG Sues Genesis Over $1.1B Loan DisputeDCG Sues Genesis Over $105M Debt in Crypto Bankruptcy Case
Digital Currency Group (DCG) has sued Genesis in a New York bankruptcy court, claiming it is owed $105 million plus interest from a financial backstop extended during the 2022 crypto market crash. The case revolves around a $1.1 billion promissory note DCG issued to Genesis after Three Arrows Capital (3AC) defaulted on a $2.36 billion margin call. DCG argues that Genesis profited from 3AC’s collateral beyond the note’s original value, reducing the principal balance. The lawsuit adds to existing disputes between the two companies, including earlier allegations by Genesis that DCG wrongfully took billions. Genesis, which filed for Chapter 11 in 2023, has since emerged from restructuring and begun creditor repayments, though DCG, as an equity holder, has contested parts of the plan.
about DCG Sues Genesis Over $105M Debt in Crypto Bankruptcy CaseNY Proposes 0.2% Crypto Tax to Fund Opioid Crisis Fight
New York State Assemblymember Phil Steck introduced Bill A0966, proposing a 0.2% excise tax on cryptocurrency transactions to fund substance abuse programs in upstate schools. The tax, estimated to yield $158 million annually, applies to NFTs, mined assets, and stablecoins, leveraging Chainalysis data adjusted for New York’s GDP share. Steck’s memo cites crypto’s fraud risks (e.g., Gemini’s $50M settlement) and environmental concerns from mining. The bill aligns with states like Wyoming using crypto revenues for education, though NY’s DFS withheld transaction volume data. Critics argue the broad tax could impact NYC’s crypto hub status, home to firms like Circle and Galaxy Digital.
about NY Proposes 0.2% Crypto Tax to Fund Opioid Crisis Fight