Zcash exploded 33% on Friday, reaching nearly $735 and triggering over $51 million in short position liquidations. The privacy-focused cryptocurrency has surged tenfold in just five weeks amid growing concerns about Bitcoin’s privacy limitations. The rally coincided with a harsh prison sentence for a Bitcoin privacy app developer, highlighting regulatory tensions in the crypto space.
about Zcash Surges 33%, Triggers $51M in Short LiquidationsUnited States Department of Justice
0 in Finance and 0 in Crypto last weekCrypto Weekly: Ripple’s $1B Buyback, Trump’s $1B Profit
This week witnessed major moves in the crypto space, from Ripple Labs planning a $1 billion XRP buyback to revelations about the Trump family’s $1 billion crypto profits. Meanwhile, regulatory developments and significant investments continue to shape the digital asset landscape.
about Crypto Weekly: Ripple's $1B Buyback, Trump's $1B ProfitDOJ Seizes $15B Bitcoin in Largest Forfeiture Case
The United States Department of Justice has executed the largest forfeiture action in its history, seizing $15 billion worth of Bitcoin from a massive transnational criminal organization operating industrial-scale cryptocurrency fraud. Federal prosecutors have unsealed indictments against alleged mastermind Chen Zhi, founder of Cambodia-based Prince Holding Group, charging him with wire fraud and money laundering conspiracies for orchestrating sophisticated ‘pig butchering’ scams that exploited both victims and forced laborers across multiple continents.
about DOJ Seizes $15B Bitcoin in Largest Forfeiture CaseLuxembourg Invests in Bitcoin ETFs, Trump Mulls CZ Pardon
In a landmark week for cryptocurrency adoption and regulation, Luxembourg’s sovereign wealth fund has become the first Eurozone nation to allocate 1% of its portfolio to Bitcoin ETFs, signaling unprecedented institutional acceptance. Simultaneously, former President Trump is reportedly considering a presidential pardon for Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, potentially reshaping the regulatory landscape for crypto executives while the SEC moves toward formalizing an innovation exemption for digital assets.
about Luxembourg Invests in Bitcoin ETFs, Trump Mulls CZ PardonRoger Ver’s $48M DOJ Tax Deal in Trump Crypto Era
Crypto entrepreneur Roger Ver has reached a $48 million settlement with the Department of Justice to resolve his tax evasion case, marking another significant development in the Trump administration’s dialed-down cryptocurrency enforcement approach. The deal, which drops charges of mail fraud, tax evasion, and filing false tax returns, comes amid a broader regulatory shift that has seen investigations into major crypto firms dropped and crypto-friendly figures appointed to key federal agencies.
about Roger Ver's $48M DOJ Tax Deal in Trump Crypto EraBNB Treasury Targets $1B for Elite DeFi Projects with CZ Backing
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao has launched a $1 billion BNB treasury initiative exclusively for top-tier decentralized projects, backed by YZi Labs. The announcement comes as BNB hits a record $962 high and speculation intensifies about Zhao’s potential return to Binance leadership following his updated social media bio and the impending conclusion of DOJ oversight. This strategic move aims to bolster institutional confidence and accelerate ecosystem growth in underserved global markets.
about BNB Treasury Targets $1B for Elite DeFi Projects with CZ BackingCrypto Launderer Gets 51 Months in $37M Pig Butchering Scam
Shengsheng He received a 51-month prison sentence and was ordered to pay $26.9 million in restitution for his role in laundering nearly $37 million stolen from U.S. investors. Operating through Axis Digital Limited, a Bahamas-based shell company, He and his co-conspirators used unsolicited messages and dating apps to build trust with victims before promoting fraudulent digital asset investments. The stolen funds were funneled through Deltec Bank in the Bahamas, converted to Tether (USDT) stablecoin, and transferred to scammer-controlled wallets. The scheme originated from Cambodian ‘pig butchering’ centers, which netted $9 billion in 2024 according to Chainalysis. This case is part of the DOJ’s expanding efforts to combat crypto-related fraud, which has included seizing assets linked to terrorist financing and returning millions to fraud victims.
about Crypto Launderer Gets 51 Months in $37M Pig Butchering ScamDEA Seizes $10M in Crypto from Sinaloa Cartel
U.S. authorities confiscated $10 million in cryptocurrency linked to the Sinaloa cartel during operations in Miami, part of a nationwide crackdown that also seized 44 million fentanyl pills and 65,000 pounds of methamphetamine. The DEA and FBI emphasized the cartel’s use of crypto for laundering drug profits, with past incidents involving hackers tracking FBI informants. Reports suggest Tether and other crypto platforms are sometimes exploited by cartels, despite efforts to monitor illicit transactions. This seizure follows earlier cases where blockchain analysis exposed cartel crypto laundering schemes.
about DEA Seizes $10M in Crypto from Sinaloa CartelPolymarket Clears US Probes Ahead of $200M Funding Round
Polymarket has reached a significant regulatory milestone after the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) reportedly closed their investigations into the platform. The probes focused on whether Polymarket was accepting trades from US-based users, particularly during the 2024 elections. The company had previously settled with the CFTC for $1.4 million in 2022, and in November 2024, the FBI raided the home of CEO Shayne Coplan. With these investigations now resolved, Polymarket is poised to move forward with its $200 million funding round, marking a critical step in its regulatory and financial trajectory.
about Polymarket Clears US Probes Ahead of $200M Funding RoundWolf Capital Co-Founder Pleads Guilty to Nine Million Dollar Ponzi Scheme
Travis Ford, co-founder and head trader of Wolf Capital, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy after raising $9.4 million from approximately 2,800 investors with false promises of 547% annual returns. The funds were misappropriated for personal gain rather than investment, and Ford admitted the promised returns were not viable. He faces a maximum penalty of five years, with sentencing yet to be scheduled, amid a broader crackdown on crypto-related scams globally.
about Wolf Capital Co-Founder Pleads Guilty to Nine Million Dollar Ponzi SchemeCrypto Sentiment Index Falls as Bitcoin Drops Below Ninety Two Thousand
The Crypto Fear & Greed Index has plummeted 19 points to a score of 50, marking its lowest level since mid-October, as Bitcoin’s price dipped below $92,000. This shift to the “Neutral” zone follows three months of “Extreme Greed,” influenced by potential U.S. monetary policy tightening and significant outflows from Bitcoin ETFs. Analysts suggest that rising treasury yields and a stronger dollar are also contributing to Bitcoin’s struggles to maintain its value above $100,000.
about Crypto Sentiment Index Falls as Bitcoin Drops Below Ninety Two Thousand