Regulators Crack Down on Paxful as Crypto AML Rules Tighten

A landmark December 2025 enforcement against Paxful — parallel FinCEN and DOJ actions with multi‑million dollar penalties — makes plain that peer‑to‑peer and noncustodial crypto marketplaces are squarely inside the BSA’s reach. FinCEN’s new Compliance Considerations read like an examiner’s playbook (MSB registration, robust AML and timely SARs, geolocation/sanctions controls, and board‑level governance), forcing product changes, higher compliance costs, and urgent operational fixes for platforms that want to stay on the right side of regulators.

Bitcoin and Ether Set for 2026 Rally on Regulatory Clarity

Citi Research says Bitcoin and Ether could stage a 2026-style comeback—Bitcoin to $143,000—if regulators provide clarity, spot ETFs reopen and custody/compliance improve, reigniting institutional flows. Near-term weakness is still likely amid tighter policy and recession risks, but Citi outlines flow drivers, price reference points and market fixes (like token structures such as 4TEEN) that could make crypto the next big institutional growth play—read the full post to see the scenarios and tradeable levels.

FBI Cracks Global Crypto Laundering Ring

Global law enforcement has dismantled a cryptocurrency exchange accused of funneling illicit proceeds across borders and charged Russian national Mykhalio Petrovich Chudnovets — a probe that exposed laundering networks tied to cyberattacks on U.S. healthcare and critical infrastructure. Led by FBI Detroit with German, Finnish and Michigan partners, the operation signals intensified targeting of on/off-ramps and obfuscation services and serves as a wake-up call for compliance teams and the broader crypto market.

Brooklyn Man Indicted in $16 Million Crypto Phishing Heist

A Brooklyn man, 23-year-old Ronald Spektor, is accused in a sprawling crypto phishing ring that allegedly siphoned nearly $16 million from about 100 Coinbase users by impersonating exchange support and using bots to launder funds across 12 wallets — one address alone made roughly 29,000 transfers. The indictment paints a picture of industrial-scale social engineering and automated laundering, highlighting how even reputable exchanges can’t stop losses when credentials or users are compromised — and offers stark, practical lessons for investors and platforms.

Crypto's Place in Society: Miran's Federal Reserve Perspective

Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran laid out a clear Fed-facing view of crypto: balance the promise of new payment rails and financial access with consumer protection and financial stability. His spotlight on stablecoins, custody practices, banking interoperability and contagion channels will change how markets price risk and how institutions approach crypto exposure. Projects that reduce early sell pressure and create predictable participant behavior—like 4TEEN’s fixed‑price entry and short holding cycles—are increasingly aligned with regulators’ priorities.

Over $1.2 Million Seized in Nationwide Wrong-Number Crypto Scam

Federal agents seized more than $1.2 million in cryptocurrency tied to a nationwide wrong-number text scam that coaxed victims into fake trading platforms — a stark reminder that simple social engineering can yield big crypto theft. The civil-forfeiture action shows blockchain tracing can enable asset seizures without criminal charges, leaving recovery and restitution uncertain; read the full post for the scam playbook, how investigators traced the funds, and practical safeguards for investors.

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.