Rep. French Hill (AR-02) and Rep. Bryan Steil (WI-01), leaders on digital assets on the House Financial Services Committee, argue that new legislation can ensure the U.S. remains a leader in crypto and blockchain.

John Reed Stark, a former SEC official, has noted that the agency's cryptocurrency unit is now unofficially "dead and buried."

A state-aligned cyber collective from North Korea has compromised Github repositories and NPM modules with stealthy malicious code to pilfer digital currencies, per a Securityscorecard STRIKE Team analysis. Security Researchers Warn of Rising Open-Source Malware Attacks Linked to Lazarus Group As detailed by a Computing.co.

Scammers became more active in 2024, ending up with an estimated haul between $9.9B and $12.4B. Chainalysis discovered high yield scams were the most active, followed by personalized confidence or job scams.

Plasma, a Peter Thiel-backed crypto platform looking to build a Bitcoin-based network for stablecoins, has announced it raised $20 million in its Series A round.

BingX Labs, the innovation arm of crypto exchange BingX, has invested $10 million in StakeStone to support the development of omnichain liquidity staking and StakingFi applications.

Fireblocks SVP Ran Goldi told The Block that, from what he's hearing, X Money is expected to be crypto ready by the end of 2025.

U.S. President Donald Trump finalizes nominations for key agencies that regulate crypto, while bitcoin remains flat Thursday as U.S. wholesale inflation data in January came in hotter than expected. Plus, SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce says memes are not within her agency's jurisdiction.

Robinhood shares skyrocketed Thursday after fourth-quarter results beat expectations amid record crypto transaction revenue. Coinbase is will also report after the market close.

USDC netflow soared before the CPI data release, hitting a high of 1.09 billion, reflecting bullish sentiment among crypto investors.

TL;DR CZ caused a stir in the crypto market by suggesting on social media that his dog, Brocolli, could inspire a memecoin, generating significant speculation. Despite the interest, CZ clarified that he has no plans to launch a memecoin and only shared his dog's name in response to user requests.

In light of speculation surrounding a potential meme coin launch, the price of BNB has surged over 12% in the last 24 hours.

The US department said it had intervened after identifying victims of romance and “pig butchering” scams involving crypto.

South Korea's Financial Services Commission (FSC) announced plans to gradually open the crypto market to corporations, marking a shift from a long-standing ban on institutional trading. The policy, outlined during the third meeting of the Virtual Asset Committee, will allow select entities to trade digital assets under a phased approach beginning this year.

"GenAI is amplifying scams, the leading threat to financial institutions, by enabling high-fidelity, low-cost, and highly scalable fraud."

Robinhood Markets (HOOD) surges ahead by 15% Thursday morning, continuing gains since the brokerage platform posted its fourth quarter earnings beat on Wednesday. Revenue tied to crypto trading is one factor contributing to this ride higher as Robinhood reported $358 million in crypto revenue, above expectations for $329.7 million, jumping by 700% year-over-year.

In a latest development, Plasma, a crypto startup creating a Bitcoin-based blockchain for stablecoins, raised $20 million to advance its development. The funding, led by Framework Ventures, will help launch Plasma's testnet and mainnet, and support its expansion into remittances, payments, and DeFi applications.

Stablecoin company Plasma is building a new blockchain that offers zero-fee USDt transactions.

The maximum DOOD token supply sits at 10 billion, with its largest allocations going to the Doodles community and an ecosystem fund.

Robinhood's stock soars as the company reports record growth and expands its crypto offerings and global reach.

Fraud platforms like Huione Guarantee processed over $375 million in illicit transactions offering AI-based services to scammers.

CZ's decision not to launch a meme coin himself shifts focus to community-driven initiatives, potentially fostering innovation on the BNB Chain. The post CZ lets his dog's name out, nixes meme coin launch rumors appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Blockchain founders like MOVE's Rushi Manche are clamoring for a spot in the president's crypto portfolio, hoping it will boost their token price.

South Korea plans to gradually allow corporations to begin trading crypto, according to the latest announcement by the Financial Services Commission. On Feb.

Crypto exchange Binance and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have filed a joint motion to stay the case for 60 days to seek an early resolution in light of recent events. This comes after the formation of a crypto task force under Acting Chair Mark Uyeda, which could result in a final determination.

DeFi.app also launches its public beta with a points-based trading tournament. Its HOME token is expected to launch in "early Q2."

Bitcoin mining operations across the United States are stalled as thousands of mining rigs sit locked in customs warehouses due to a blacklist targeting Bitman, a major Chinese supplier that makes 90% of all Bitcoin mining rigs. The delays are hitting public mining companies, private companies, and independent operators, cutting profits and threatening mining efficiency.

Opensea has launched an open beta for OS2, a rebuilt version of its NFT marketplace featuring reduced fees, a forthcoming SEA token, and expanded blockchain integrations. Opensea Unveils Major Update, Introduces SEA Token According to CEO Devin Finzer, the platform, which is called OS2, is a “complete reset,” includes a 0.

The proposed bill seeks to establish a cryptocurrency task force that will assess the industry's impact on the state's economy, regulations, and energy consumption, with a final report due by December 2027.

South Korea plans to allow charities and universities to sell donated crypto assets starting in Q2 2025. The FSC will allow 3,500 listed corporations to open real-name crypto trading accounts.

Fraudsters raked in at least $9.9 billion and possibly as much as $12.4 billion with their methods becoming more “professionalized.”

The firm plans to use its funding to continue developing the Plasma blockchain, which is an EVM-compatible Bitcoin sidechain to facilitate USDT transfers with no fees.

Chainalysis introduces the Asset Seizure Certification to equip law enforcement with skills to effectively seize crypto assets, addressing the challenges of modern financial crimes.

TL;DR OpenSea launches the beta version of its OS2 platform, an update that will enable transactions on 14 blockchains, including Ethereum L2 solutions. The company has announced a $SEA token airdrop, which will be distributed based on users' historical activity, and will be accessible to U.S. residents.

Changpeng Zhao, the former CEO and the main shareholder of cryptocurrency giant Binance, has revealed that his dog is called Brocolli.

Former CFTC Commissioner Brian Quintenz will return in the top spot after a stint at a16z, paving the way for crypto-friendly regulation.

Retail brokerage platform Robinhood has disclosed that it is using stablecoins for its weekend settlements, noting that this is just one of the benefits of stablecoins. The CEO, Vlad Tenev, disclosed this during its latest earnings call for Q4 of 2024.

Crypto exchange CEX.IO has expanded its services in the United Kingdom by enabling spot trading for UK-based customers. The CEX.IO team announced the expansion of its suite of crypto products available to customers via a press release shared with crypto.

This is a highly sophisticated global campaign orchestrated by the infamous Lazarus group to steal funds and data through supply chain attacks. The post N.Korean Hackers Boost Crypto-Looting Methods: Hiding Malware in GitHub, NPM Packages appeared first on Cryptonews.

New York rethinks crypto, but is it too late to lead?

The 2024 tax year has come to a close, and tax filing season is now upon us. If you've been trading crypto, here are some key things you need to consider.

This is a segment from the Empire newsletter. To read full editions, subscribe.

NFT marketplace OpenSea on Thursday launched OS2, a major overhaul of its platform that expands beyond NFTs into token trading. With OS2, OpenSea aims to offer a unified marketplace for digital assets, integrating cross-chain purchasing, aggregated liquidity, and lower fees.

Listen and subscribe to Stocks In Translation on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you find your favorite podcast. If crypto is ever going to be widely adopted, it needs a makeover.

CZ calls a community-driven meme coin idea “pretty interesting,” sparking anticipation despite his previous skepticism of such tokens.

The project, which also claims Tether's Paolo Ardoino as an investor, aims to enhance stablecoin adoption through a Bitcoin sidechain that allows zero-fee USDT transactions.

The $SEA token launch could enhance user engagement and loyalty, potentially strengthening OpenSea's position in the NFT marketplace. The post OpenSea announces SEA token with US user eligibility appeared first on Crypto Briefing.