Crypto News

Samourai Wallet co-founder William “Bill” Hill has been sentenced to four years in prison after pleading guilty to operating an unlicensed crypto money transmission business. Prosecutors say Samourai Wallet processed over $237 million in illicit proceeds—from drug trafficking and darknet marketplaces to cybercrime and child pornography—through its Bitcoin mixing service. In November, a U.S. federal judge imposed a 48-month term, a $250,000 fine and three years’ supervised release, taking Hill’s age and autism diagnosis into account. His co-founder received the full five-year sentence. This follows recent cases against Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm and Alexey Pertsev, underlining an intensifying regulatory crackdown on cryptocurrency privacy tools. Traders should watch for heightened compliance risks and potential market shifts as authorities target unlicensed transmission and money laundering channels.

On November 21, 2025, singer and crypto investor Huang Licheng (Machi) faced partial ETH liquidation on a 25x leveraged Ethereum long position tracked by Onchain Lens. Amid ongoing market volatility, Machi incurred a cumulative loss of over $20.18 million and proactively reduced his ETH exposure. This ETH liquidation underscores the risks of high leverage in the crypto market and highlights the importance of robust risk management for traders.

Hyperliquid has launched its HIP-3 Growth Mode on November 19, enabling permissionless deployment of new perpetual swap markets by builders staking 500,000 HYPE. The upgrade slashes taker fees by over 90%, from 0.045% to as low as 0.00144% for top-tier volumes, and to 0.0045–0.009% on standard tiers, with matched rebate cuts. Growth Mode is opt-in per asset, excludes Bitcoin and existing markets, and allows validators to disable non-compliant markets. Since March, daily user counts and open interest have climbed despite October volatility. Traders gain tighter spreads, deeper liquidity, and wider market choice. Analysts expect higher demand for HYPE as volumes grow. The HIP-3 upgrade underscores Hyperliquid’s low-fee perpetual swap derivatives strategy.

Bitcoin has plunged below the $93,000 support level, sliding 11.4% over the past week and breaking its 50-week moving average at $92,000. Institutional bearishness grew as BlackRock recorded a $513.4 million BTC outflow—its largest to date. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index hit 16, signaling extreme fear. Altcoins fell in tandem: Ethereum (ETH) hovered near $3,000, Solana (SOL) failed to reclaim $200, and XRP approached $2. Some analysts warn of a deeper correction toward $69,000 or even $54,000, while others view the drop as a normal bull-market pullback. In contrast, crypto presales have surged. Digitap’s $TAP presale raised over $2 million by selling 126 million tokens at $0.0313 each. Digitap positions itself as the first omni-banking app. It unifies crypto and fiat, supports Visa cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay, and offers instant conversions with sub-1% fees. Its tokenomics burn 50% of platform profits and reward stakers. Traders eye $TAP’s 150% gain from its $0.0125 launch price as a high-risk, high-reward opportunity amid current crypto market volatility.

Bridgewater Associates founder Ray Dalio holds just 1% of his portfolio in Bitcoin as a risk-diversification tool. He warns that Bitcoin’s traceable transactions and potential quantum computing threats hinder its viability as a sovereign reserve currency. Dalio advises allocating up to 15% of assets to a mix of Bitcoin and gold, favouring gold for its physical security. He also cautions that the US economy is nearing a major asset bubble. His proprietary bubble indicator, tracking leverage, money supply and wealth concentration since 1900, signals risk levels comparable to those before the 1929 crash and the 2000 dot-com collapse.

Data shows a major crypto whale has deposited large UNI amounts to Binance in two transactions. In late 2022, the whale transferred 1.71 million UNI (roughly $15 M), realizing an unrealized loss of about $1.45 M at current prices. OnchainLens later identified an additional 512,440 UNI deposit (approximately $3.64 M), which, given a five-year holding period, represents an $11.7 M unrealized loss compared to its original cost. These UNI deposits on Binance suggest mounting sell pressure and may fuel short-term bearish swings. Traders should monitor UNI deposit flows, exchange flow metrics, and order book depth. Risk management tactics—diversification, profit-taking thresholds, and disciplined exit frameworks—are crucial amid potential volatility.

Analysts attribute Bitcoin’s recent pullback to excessive futures leverage, rejecting theories linking the 14% price drop to a US government shutdown or an AI market bubble. On-chain expert Rational Root highlights elevated futures positions as the key driver behind Bitcoin’s slide from its October $125,100 peak to an eight-month low. Fellow analyst PlanC cites the cryptocurrency’s standard four-year cycle and tightening global liquidity as additional factors. Discussion now centers on whether institutional adoption has altered Bitcoin’s traditional cycle. Many traders view this correction as a buying opportunity, expecting fundamentals and cycle-driven momentum to support a sustainable rebound. Potential SEC crypto ETF approvals post-shutdown resolution in 2026 could further underpin market recovery.

World Liberty Financial (WLFI) has executed an emergency token burn and fund reallocation after a third-party phishing attack exposed user wallets. On-chain data shows WLFI burned 166.67 million WLFI tokens (approximately $22.14 million) and moved an equivalent amount to a secure recovery address. The breach stemmed from an external phishing attack targeting seed phrases, not smart contract flaws. Impacted users who report the compromise and complete KYC can reclaim their funds. WLFI’s swift response highlights its commitment to investor protection and ecosystem integrity in the wake of the phishing attack. Traders should note the potential for short-term price volatility following the token burn, although the reduction in circulating supply and transparent crisis management may support long-term growth.

World Liberty Financial (WLFI) froze 272 compromised wallets and burned 166.667 million WLFI tokens (~$22.14M) after phishing and seed phrase leaks. The platform says the breach was due to third-party security failures, not smart contract or platform flaws. WLFI has rebuilt and is testing updated smart contract logic. It also followed AML/KYC procedures to verify users and is blacklisting affected addresses. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Jack Reed launched a federal probe over alleged WLFI token sales to sanctioned entities, including North Korea’s Lazarus Group and an Iranian exchange. MetaMask and Ump.eth experts have disputed these sanctions breach allegations, arguing misinterpretations wrongfully froze ~$95K in WLFI tokens. High-profile holders, including the Trump family and influencer Andrew Tate, were among those affected. With bulk token reallocations underway, traders should monitor WLFI reallocation progress and regulatory updates for potential price swings.

Michael Selig, SEC crypto task force chief counsel and nominee to chair the CFTC, told the Senate Agriculture Committee that clear crypto regulation is vital to prevent firms moving overseas. He highlighted the digital asset market’s rapid climb toward $4 trillion and warned that a punitive, enforcement-only stance could undercut US competitiveness. Selig’s call for clear crypto regulation extends to tailored guidance for various blockchain platforms. He proposed a balanced DeFi oversight framework based on on-chain functionality and intermediary roles, including dedicated “patrol police” to monitor markets and protocols. He addressed potential conflicts of interest from his past advisory roles and vowed collaboration with future commissioners. If confirmed, he would replace acting chair Caroline Pham and fill one of the five CFTC seats. Traders should watch for his market-structure proposals, which may shape enforcement priorities and impact DeFi project listings and liquidity.

On-chain data shows Bitcoin whales ramping up record accumulation after BTC dipped below $90,000. Santiment reports over 102,000 transactions above $100,000 and 29,000 above $1 million this week. Glassnode confirms wallets holding more than 1,000 BTC have been steadily building positions since late October. This surge marks potentially the most active whale week of 2025, as large holders switch from selling to aggressive accumulation. Swyftx chief analyst Pav Hundal notes a 10:1 buy-sell ratio, driven by dip buyers reacting to US geopolitical news and Nvidia’s earnings. Bitwise’s Bradley Duke observes calm buying amid market fear, while Multicoin’s Tushar Jain sees forced liquidations winding down. Experts like Tom Lee and Matt Hougan predict a near-term bottom and rebound. Tracking Bitcoin whales offers traders key insights into sentiment shifts and future price support.

Aztec Network has officially launched the Ignition Chain on Ethereum mainnet, delivering the first fully decentralized privacy L2 solution. The Ignition Chain uses zero-knowledge proofs to secure private and scalable transactions while reducing gas fees and easing congestion on Ethereum Layer 2 networks. Since launch, the network has reached 500 validators in its staking queue, achieving decentralized consensus and block production readiness. Users can stake AZTEC tokens as validators or sequencers to earn rewards, ahead of a planned AZTEC token auction on Dec. 2 to expand community governance. This privacy L2 unlocks truly private DeFi applications and marks a shift as privacy L2 protocols move from experimental testnets to core infrastructure on Ethereum Layer 2. Traders should watch for AZTEC token demand driven by staking and governance, as well as broader adoption of privacy L2 solutions in decentralized finance.

During the crypto slump on November 17, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy executed a $1M XRP purchase, placing two rapid $500K buy orders at 6:36 and 6:38 PM. This XRP purchase came as XRP traded near $2.07 after an 11.66% weekly slide, while Bitcoin and Ethereum fell over 11% and 13% respectively. Portnoy also added $750K in BTC and $400K in ETH, reflecting his buy-the-dip, momentum-trading approach. Known for FOMO-driven moves and regretted prior XRP sales, he seized the downturn like a predator. Public figures including Eric Trump praised his strategy. This high-profile whale activity underscores growing confidence and could fuel bullish momentum in XRP and the broader crypto market.

Japan’s Financial Services Agency has elevated Shiba Inu (SHIB) to the top-tier JVCEA Green List alongside Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). Licensed exchanges such as BitTrade, SBI VC Trade, Okcoin and CoinCheck can now list SHIB without lengthy approval processes, boosting liquidity and trading volume in Japan’s tightly regulated market. A proposed tax reform would cap gains on Green List assets at a flat 20%, down from a potential 55%, aiming to attract both retail and institutional investors. Exchanges can also accelerate the launch of SHIB markets and structured products, enhancing capital flows and professional adoption. These developments strengthen SHIB’s credibility and mark a key transition from meme token to regulated digital asset with significant short- and long-term growth potential.

21Shares has launched its TSOL Solana ETF on the Cboe BZX Exchange, marking the sixth US-listed Solana ETF. Priced with a 0.21% expense ratio, the fund mirrors SOL price performance and adds staking rewards to boost yield. TSOL joins five peers—Bitwise’s BSOL, Grayscale’s GSOL, VanEck’s VSOL, Fidelity’s FSOL and Canary’s SOLC—pushing combined assets to over $593 million. TSOL’s debut comes amid robust ETF inflows: $30.1 million on November 18 and over $420 million since the Solana ETF market launched, including spikes of $70 million on October 28 and November 3. This institutional demand underscores Solana’s appeal as a high-throughput layer-1 blockchain. Meanwhile, SOL has dropped 6.3% to $131.86, retesting the lower trendline of a falling channel pattern. Traders should watch the $125 support level and the impact of staking rewards. The pending 21Shares-FalconX merger may further improve liquidity.

Bitfury has launched a $1 billion tech fund — the Bitfury tech fund — to diversify beyond its core Bitcoin mining business. Starting in Q4 2025, the Bitfury tech fund will deploy $200 million in the first year, with the remainder released over subsequent years. The fund will back ethical emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing and decentralized identity systems. Funding sources include Bitcoin mining returns, past investment gains and external backers. Bitfury’s existing assets — mining hardware, data centres, immersion cooling solutions and AI chip partnerships — give the fund an operational edge. The company previously spun off Nasdaq-listed Cipher Mining (CIFR) and Hut 8 (HUT). With mining difficulty up 52% and Bitcoin prices down over 26% since October, miners are diversifying. While the new fund demonstrates long-term confidence in crypto infrastructure, venture investing carries risks: fierce competition, rapid tech change and evolving regulations. Governance details remain limited, indicating a cautious rollout. Traders should note that the initial impact on Bitcoin supply and prices is likely neutral, though successful tech investments could bolster Bitfury’s position and indirectly benefit the market over time.

WhiteBIT, Europe’s top crypto exchange by traffic, has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Durrah AlFodah Holding, led by HRH Prince Naif Bin Abdullah Bin Saud, to advance blockchain adoption and digital infrastructure under Saudi Vision 2030. Facilitated by Seaside Arabia, the partnership covers key initiatives: tokenization of stock market instruments, development of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) framework, and construction of national data computing and mining centers. Durrah AlFodah will manage WhiteBIT’s Saudi market entry, regulatory engagement and local alliances, while WhiteBIT provides scalable blockchain systems expertise, infrastructure design and technology solutions. A joint venture will oversee project implementation across public and private sectors. This collaboration strengthens Saudi Arabia’s ambition to become a regional hub for digital finance, secure data networks and data sovereignty, potentially opening new trading opportunities and regulatory clarity for crypto markets.

The US Government has postponed its Strategic Bitcoin Reserve plan, choosing to wait for external pressure from other nations before allocating BTC. Although President Trump’s March executive order authorized a Bitcoin Reserve, no formal holdings or timeline have been disclosed. Industry figures warn that delaying further may allow countries like Pakistan to gain a first-mover advantage. Forecasts for Bitcoin prices vary. Mike Alfred projects BTC could reach $1 million by 2033. Michael Saylor and Brian Armstrong predict seven-figure prices between 2030 and 2035. Galaxy Digital analyst Alex Thorn sees a strong chance of an official announcement on US Bitcoin assets by year-end. Meanwhile, institutional adoption is on the rise. US trading platforms have opened crypto markets to institutions. The Singapore Exchange launched BTC perpetual futures and new ETPs. Corporations now control about 14% of total Bitcoin supply, excluding miners, sovereigns and DeFi locks. Rising supply concentration may finally push the US to formalize its Bitcoin Reserve.

In Interpretive Letter No.1186, the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) approved that national banks may hold native crypto tokens on their balance sheets to cover crypto gas fees. This guidance removes costly workarounds—such as purchasing tokens for each transaction or outsourcing fee payments—and aligns with the Federal Reserve’s withdrawal of anti-crypto directives and the pending GENIUS Act stablecoin framework. Media executive Paul Barron noted on X that banks can now manage BTC, ETH, XRP and SOL directly, eliminating third-party reliance. Traders should monitor how banks integrate this capability, as direct payment of crypto gas fees could reduce transaction delays, lower volatility risk, and spur institutional on-chain trading and broader crypto adoption.

Bitcoin dipped below $91,000 as the Fear & Greed Index hit “Extreme Fear”. Profit-taking by large holders, tight liquidity and macro uncertainty have traders seeking Layer-2 solutions to boost BTC speed and utility. A key project is Bitcoin Hyper. This Solana VM–powered Layer-2 network settles directly on Bitcoin and supports smart contracts and DeFi. Bitcoin Hyper’s presale has raised $27.8M at $0.01328 per HYPER token. Early backers can stake HYPER for yields in the low 40% APY. The protocol mints wrapped BTC via a canonical bridge and anchors periodically to Bitcoin. With 21B total supply, staged pricing and short lock-ups for principal and rewards, Bitcoin Hyper aims to ensure smooth DEX and CEX listings in 2025. A recent whale allocation of over $500K underlines growing institutional interest. Presale risks include execution challenges, adoption hurdles, tokenomics dilution and team anonymity. However, if Bitcoin Hyper delivers faster transactions, robust security and full programmability, it could become a core infrastructure layer for the Bitcoin ecosystem. In volatile markets, Layer-2 presales like Bitcoin Hyper offer traders a way to hedge BTC drawdowns and access emerging DeFi opportunities.

Michael Selig, President Trump’s nominee for CFTC chair, will appear before the Senate Agriculture Committee on November 19. Selig currently serves as chief legal counsel for the SEC’s cryptocurrency task force and as an advisor to former SEC Chairman Paul Atkins. During the hearing, senators will focus on crypto regulation, including the proposed CLARITY Act to expand CFTC oversight of digital assets and clarify its role alongside the SEC. They will also question how the CFTC plans to regulate election markets that allow Americans to bet on events like election results. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is led by five bipartisan commissioners but currently has only acting chair Caroline Pham since the withdrawal of Brian Quintenz’s nomination. Pham has said she will step down once a new chair is confirmed. This hearing marks a critical step in filling the CFTC leadership vacancy and could shape future U.S. crypto regulation.

Solana (SOL) appears to have established a bottom near $130, with on-chain metrics and technical indicators pointing to a potential rebound. Since dropping from $173, SOL staged a V-shaped reversal from the $130 level, while the RSI rose from the mid-20s into the 50s, confirming growing bullish momentum. Futures open interest climbed 5% to $7.3 billion and funding rates turned positive, signaling renewed demand. Spot cumulative volume delta and net taker volume have also moved positive. US-based Solana ETFs registered $390 million in inflows over 15 days—including $8.26 million on Monday—lifting assets above $513 million. Network activity strengthened as daily active addresses rose 18% and transaction volume increased 9.1% over 30 days. If SOL holds above the $160 EMA and breaks resistance near $170, traders could target $180–200 next, with a mid-term upside toward $250. These developments reinforce confidence in a sustained SOL rally, making current levels a potential entry point for traders.

Between August 2018 and May 2025, U.S. prosecutors charged 36-year-old Firas Isa and his Chicago-based firm Virtual Assets LLC with laundering over $10 million through Crypto Dispensers crypto ATMs. The DOJ alleges Isa accepted illicit cash from wire fraud and drug trafficking, converted the funds into cryptocurrency at crypto ATMs, and transferred them to virtual wallets to hide their origin. Isa and Virtual Assets LLC have pleaded not guilty and were released on a $250,000 bond. If convicted, Isa faces up to 20 years in prison. The next court hearing is scheduled for January 30, 2026, in Chicago. The case underscores growing regulatory scrutiny of crypto ATM operators, especially after Illinois introduced a registration law in August 2024. It also echoes previous actions like the shutdown of Bitcoin of America. Traders should watch for tightened cash-to-crypto liquidity and evolving AML requirements in the digital asset market.

Obex, a Web3 incubator, closed a $37M Series A led by Framework Ventures, LayerZero and the Sky ecosystem fund. It will leverage Sky’s $25B USDS reserve to finance and mentor early-stage teams in tokenizing real-world assets (RWA) as collateral for yield-bearing stablecoin projects. The 12-week accelerator offers capital, technical resources, on-chain underwriting and institutional-grade risk controls. Focus sectors include GPU infrastructure, municipal solar and battery energy assets, and fintech loans. Sky’s governance also approved up to $2.5B in USDS stablecoins to back Obex. By addressing stablecoin depeg risks seen in USDe, USDX and deUSD, Obex aims to build secure, scalable yield-bearing stablecoin infrastructure.

Amplify ETFs has launched XRPM, the first XRP Income ETF deploying a covered call option premium strategy to target a 3% monthly yield (36% annualized). Using its proprietary YieldSmart approach, XRPM writes weekly out-of-the-money call options on 30%–60% of its XRP allocation and invests the remainder in XRP futures. Unlike spot crypto ETFs, XRPM holds no underlying XRP but seeks steady option premium income while preserving upside exposure. CEO Christian Magoon says XRPM bridges traditional finance and digital assets by blending weekly upside potential with predictable yield. This follows Canary Capital’s spot XRP ETF debut, which logged $58 million in first-day volume amid broader market headwinds. On-chain data from Glassnode show that despite XRP’s nearly fourfold rally since late 2024, 41.5% of its supply remains underwater at the current $2.16 price, posing a risk of selling pressure if holders seek breakeven. By offering a transparent XRP Income ETF with predictable monthly option premium revenues and uncapped upside, XRPM provides traders a balanced risk-reward tool. Its success will hinge on whether new demand can absorb the overhang of underwater supply and sustain upward momentum.

US entrepreneur Mike Alfred says Washington will hold off on adding Bitcoin reserves until rival nations move first, requiring sufficient global pressure to prompt action. Although a framework for a strategic Bitcoin reserve exists—stemming from former President Trump’s March executive order—the government has yet to finalize purchases. Alfred forecasted Bitcoin (BTC) reaching $1 million by 2033 and expects most central banks to include BTC as a reserve asset. Analysts like Galaxy Digital’s Alex Thorn deem a US BTC reserve announcement likely this year, while Jan3’s Samson Mow warns that delaying through 2024 could let countries such as Pakistan preempt the US. Separately, Singapore Exchange’s derivatives arm plans to launch regulated cryptocurrency futures in November. This development keeps Bitcoin reserves and crypto futures at the forefront of policy debates, potentially influencing long-term demand and trading strategies.

European digital bank Revolut has completed a major Polygon integration, making Polygon its primary blockchain for instant USDC, USDT and MATIC transfers across 38 countries. Since December 2024, Revolut users have processed over $690 million in zero-fee stablecoin transactions on Polygon, with Revolut covering gas costs. This MiCA-compliant Polygon integration also offers in-app staking and trading of MATIC without external wallets, fiat on-ramp and off-ramp, and a crypto debit card for everyday spending. Powered by Polygon’s Rio upgrade delivering 5,000 TPS and near-instant finality, the partnership underscores a broader fintech trend as firms like Stripe and Mastercard adopt Polygon for cost-efficient crypto rails. The integration opens seamless on-ramps for Revolut’s 14 million crypto traders and scales blockchain payments for everyday finance.

On-chain analytics firm Glassnode reports that 41.5% of XRP’s circulating supply trades below purchase price—the highest underwater level since November 2024. XRP has fallen 8.8% over the past week and is 39% below its July 2025 peak, trading around $2.22. Analysts warn buyers who entered near $3.65 highs face stop-loss risks and say a rebound above $2.70 is needed to restore confidence. Market sentiment remains fragile as traders await spot XRP ETFs. Canary Capital’s US spot XRP ETF drew $58 million in first-day volume. Franklin Templeton, Bitwise, 21Shares and CoinShares are set to launch similar funds, with investors watching ETF flows for signs of renewed buying pressure.

The White House is reviewing a Treasury rule—called the “Broker Digital Transaction Reporting” proposal—that would grant the IRS access to U.S. taxpayers’ offshore crypto accounts and transactions. Submitted to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in November 2025, the plan aligns U.S. regulations with the OECD’s Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF) and awaits final approval by presidential advisors. Once adopted, the U.S. would join CARF members such as the U.A.E. and Singapore in exchanging Americans’ foreign crypto transaction data by 2027. Although deemed not economically significant, the rule aims to curb offshore crypto trading, boost tax compliance, level the playing field for domestic digital asset services, and foster market growth. The proposal explicitly exempts DeFi activities from additional reporting burdens.