Authorities Seize $1.2 Million in Wrong-Number Crypto Scam
Federal agents seized more than $1.2 million tied to a “wrong number” cryptocurrency scam that used deceptive SMS messages to steer Americans into bogus investments. The takedown both disrupts criminal cash flows and signals ramped-up enforcement—read on to see how the scam worked and simple steps to protect your crypto.
Bitcoin to Lead 2026 Rally as XRP Expands Cross-Border Potential
2026 could be a tale of two cryptos: Bitcoin as the macro-driven, liquidity-rich “digital gold” benefitting from ETF flows and institutional demand, versus XRP as the payments-led sleeper that could surge if real-world corridor deployments and bank integrations take off. The winner will hinge on ETF inflows, corridor adoption, and regulatory moves — read the full post for a side-by-side playbook and the exact signals to watch.
Crypto Phishing Boom: Spektor's $16 Million Scam Spurs Security Push
A coordinated phishing campaign allegedly led by Ronald Spektor tricked Coinbase users into handing over credentials and authorization tokens, allowing attackers to siphon roughly $16 million — part of a broader surge of impersonation scams that contributed to over $262 million in losses across 5,100+ incidents in 2025. Using spoofed calls, cloned SMS, and fake native interfaces, scammers pushed victims to approve transactions and then laundered funds across chains, prompting exchanges and regulators to harden support channels, push phishing-resistant auth, and ramp up blockchain tracing. Read the full investigation to see exactly how the scheme worked and what concrete steps you can take to stay safe.
Seniors at Risk: Arizona Moves to Ban Crypto ATMs
A Tucson nonprofit is pushing to remove cryptocurrency ATMs after caller scams using these machines helped siphon off millions—Arizona recorded $177 million in crypto losses in 2024 and one local woman lost about $700,000. New state rules cut transaction limits, require warnings and mandate refunds, but towns are debating bans, tighter permits and whether operators can realistically prevent fraud through better ID checks and monitoring. As activists call for enforcement and senior-focused financial education, officials must decide: remove the machines or force them to be safer.
Canadians Targeted by Crypto Scams: Torture and Forced Labor
An explosive investigation reveals a sprawling cryptocurrency scam network that has siphoned millions from Canadians while forcing workers in Southeast Asian call‑centre compounds into coercion, threats and torture. Coordinated cold‑call campaigns, fake investment platforms and social‑media ads funnel victims into rapid crypto laundering — exposing platform failures and sparking urgent calls for cross‑border law enforcement, tighter AML/KYC and industry reform.
Ethereum Could Rally 2,000%: Tom Lee Bets on a 0.25 BTC Path
Could Ethereum surge 2,000%? Fundstrat’s Tom Lee says yes — if Ethereum becomes the global settlement layer, PoS staking and EIP‑1559 burns shrink supply while stablecoins, DeFi and rollups drive persistent demand. The post lays out the catalysts (ETH/BTC re‑rating, sustained burn vs issuance, rollup adoption), trading implications, and the key risks — competition, centralization and regulation — that could derail the thesis.
Tom Lee Bets on Ethereum’s 2,000% Surge as Global Settlement Backbone
Top strategist Tom Lee says Ethereum could surge as much as 2,000% as it evolves into a global settlement layer — fueled by dominance in smart contracts, stablecoins and DeFi plus post‑Merge staking and fee‑burns that tighten supply. He points to a potential ETH/BTC ratio shift from ~0.05 to ~0.25 and has signaled conviction by joining Bitmine Immersion Technologies, a company holding substantial Ethereum. Lee frames this as a scenario, not a sure thing, warning of volatile markets and urging focus on networks with durable on‑chain utility — read the full post for the mechanics, signals and risks behind the bold call.
BU Crypto Debate: Skeptics Clash With Advocates on Digital Currencies
A lively Boston University panel framed crypto as a stark trade‑off: Larry Kotlikoff painted cryptocurrencies as “lottery‑ticket” assets — no cash flows, extreme volatility and fragile liquidity — while David Lagakos argued stablecoins and crypto rails provide real payment and remittance value in high‑inflation, bank‑weak countries like Venezuela. The discussion links valuation theory to on‑the‑ground mechanics — on/off‑ramp quality, convertibility and regulatory risk — and boils down to two policy choices: choke retail speculation or build targeted frameworks that preserve useful payment functions. Read the full post for the full exchange and its policy implications.
Bitcoin Tumbles From $126K Peak as 2025 Volatility Roils Retail Traders
Bitcoin’s meteoric run to an intrayear $126,000 peak imploded into a volatility-fueled unwind that wiped out many retail, leveraged traders. Stretched leverage, clustered options expiries, flipped funding rates and cascading liquidations amplified slippage and liquidity withdrawal—on-chain data shows rising realized losses and surge in exchange inflows. The fallout raises urgent governance questions and highlights protocol fixes like 4TEEN’s fixed-price, short-hold model that seek to tame instant sell-pressure—read the full post.
Brazil's Youth Drive Crypto Boom With Stablecoins and Tokenized Bonds
Brazil’s Gen Z is quietly reshaping crypto — favoring dollar-pegged stablecoins and tokenized fixed-income over risky tokens, driving a conservative boom that saw $325M of income-focused token distribution in 2025. Clearer regulation and smart product design (think fixed-price entry, lockups and scheduled payouts like the 4TEEN model) make predictable yields and on-chain savings attractive, compressing volatility and forcing new liquidity and market-making strategies — a trend that promises a wave of hybrid income products and smarter capital flows.
