Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

Australia’s financial regulator, AUSTRAC, is ramping up its crackdown on inactive or ’ghost’ cryptocurrency exchanges to address rising threats from scams and financial crimes in the digital asset sector. Registered Digital Currency Exchanges (DCEs) that are inactive must update their business details or risk being delisted from the national registry, as part of AUSTRAC’s ’use it or lose it’ policy. Out of 427 registered Australian exchanges, many appear dormant and could be exploited by criminals for money laundering or scams. Since 2019, AUSTRAC has revoked registrations from at least 10 exchanges, including the high-profile FTX Express in June 2024, and dozens more are under investigation. Exchanges can voluntarily withdraw or face forced cancellation if inactive, while AUSTRAC will soon publish an updated public list of registered DCEs to enhance transparency and consumer confidence. The regulator continues to enforce strict monitoring and legal action capabilities, including a February 2025 crackdown on underreporting by crypto institutions. These steps signal stronger government oversight in Australia’s crypto market, aiming to reduce scam risks, ensure compliance, and reassure traders and investors of a safer digital asset trading environment.

As decentralized finance (DeFi) staking rewards continue to decline from past highs of 15–30% to just 3–7%, passive crypto investors are looking for new yield opportunities. FXGuys ($FXG), a new Ethereum alternative, is positioning itself as a leading DeFi investment during the 2025 crypto presale boom. The platform stands out by offering a 20% profit share from actual broker trading volume to $FXG stakers, representing a shift away from inflationary token models toward real revenue-driven rewards. Key features include a Trade2Earn program rewarding users per trade, a Trader Funding Program offering up to $500,000 in trading capital with an 80/20 profit split, no buy/sell tax, no KYC requirement, and support for over 100 fiat and crypto withdrawal options. FXGuys has already raised over $5 million in its token presale, with tokens currently priced at $0.05 and expectations of strong gains at launch. Meanwhile, Ethereum maintains high on-chain accumulation but faces resistance at $1,981 and stands at $1,754. As regulatory pressure increases and traditional staking APYs drop, FXGuys’ sustainable, activity-based income model is drawing interest from both traders seeking capital and passive investors looking for reliable decentralized income. This trend highlights a broader DeFi shift towards utility-based and sustainable earning methods, signaling a potential new direction for passive income seekers in the crypto market.

TRUMP token has seen a surge in whale activity, with rapid accumulation initially driving prices up 74% in a week and spot trading volume on Binance increasing by 202%. Influential investors, including MeCo and Justin Sun, made large purchases in anticipation of a VIP Trump Gala Dinner for top TRUMP holders, fueling speculation of a possible Trump-linked NFT launch. However, political controversy quickly followed, with US Senators calling for a federal ethics probe over concerns of digital assets being used for potential ’pay-to-play’ schemes. Since the dinner announcement, TRUMP’s market cap rose over $100 million. In a significant new development, Arkham identified a major TRUMP holder, ’BGSC’, transferring $2.1 million worth of tokens to Binance, causing the address to drop out of the top 25 leaderboard—though they remain eligible for the exclusive event. This recent whale movement could signal a shift in sentiment among large holders, potentially impacting TRUMP token liquidity and price action. Crypto traders should monitor further major transactions, regulatory developments, and political news to gauge evolving risks and market opportunities.

Billionaire investor Ray Dalio has cautioned that mounting US trade tariffs and escalating policy shifts are destabilizing the global financial system, undermining trust in the US dollar, and accelerating de-globalization. Dalio recommends that investors pivot towards ’hard assets’, emphasizing Bitcoin as a leading store of value amidst economic uncertainty. This unstable environment has sparked increased demand not just for Bitcoin—hovering near $95,000—but also for early-stage cryptocurrency presales promising higher returns. Noteworthy presales include Solaxy ($SOLX), which introduces Solana’s first Layer-2 scaling solution and has raised over $32 million; BTC Bull Token ($BTCBULL), a Bitcoin meme coin with deflationary mechanics and Bitcoin-backed airdrops, raising $5.1 million; and BlockDAG ($BDAG), a hybrid Proof-of-Work and DAG blockchain project, amassing $220 million. Complementing these trends, Mastercard’s integration of USDC stablecoin signals growing mainstream adoption of digital assets, while Arizona’s legislative move to include Bitcoin and stablecoins in state reserves marks increasing regulatory acceptance within the US. For crypto traders, these developments suggest heightened attention on Bitcoin, promising presale projects, and evolving regulatory trends—potentially setting a bullish tone during global monetary uncertainty.

A notable crypto whale invested approximately $4.73 million across various altcoins—VIRTUAL, Worldcoin (WLD), GAME, and COOKIE—in a single day, sparking fresh optimism within the altcoin market. Blockchain data shows the whale’s wallet (0x97251bbbe8f80bf1787b15abed08c09ac5cc1776) purchased 2.53 million VIRTUAL for $2.66 million ($0.93 each), 1.48 million WLD for $1.73 million ($1.02 each), 6.47 million GAME for $299,000 ($0.04 each), and 303,574 COOKIE for $40,700 ($0.13 each). These buys, concentrated in metaverse, identity, gaming, and meme coin narratives, triggered notable price surges: Worldcoin jumped 24% to $1.17, VIRTUAL rose 34% to $1.10, and GAME soared 70%. Lower-volume tokens like COOKIE also received attention. Whale activity suggests institutional and large-scale investors are diversifying into innovative altcoins, increasing volatility and trading volume, and attracting retail interest. Analysts are closely watching these tokens for further volatility and possible short-term price gains, as synchronized whale activity often leads to swift market reaction and signals a potential fresh growth wave for altcoins.

Coinbase has launched a zero-fee trading promotion for PayPal USD (PYUSD), aiming to drive both adoption and trading volumes of the dollar-pegged stablecoin. The initiative allows retail and institutional traders to buy, sell, or convert PYUSD on Coinbase without incurring any transaction fees for a limited period. PYUSD, developed by PayPal and issued by Paxos, is designed for efficient, low-cost digital payments and is expected to expand its use as a payment and trading option. This move positions Coinbase as a supporter of the growing stablecoin market and aligns with industry trends of exchanges partnering with payment providers to attract users and stimulate liquidity. As competition among stablecoins intensifies, Coinbase’s fee waiver may set a precedent, encouraging other exchanges to pursue similar promotions. The campaign is likely to boost PYUSD’s market visibility and may temporarily increase trading activity on pairs involving the stablecoin. Crypto traders should monitor the impact on PYUSD liquidity and potential shifts in stablecoin market share spurred by this promotion.

ZKsync, a leading Ethereum Layer 2 scaling project, experienced a major security incident where a hacker exploited a flaw in its token airdrop contract and stole nearly $5–5.7 million in digital assets. The attacker used a compromised private key to mint tokens and divert unclaimed funds across both Ethereum and ZKsync’s networks. In response, ZKsync offered a 10% white-hat bounty to incentivize the return of the stolen assets within a 72-hour safe harbor period. The hacker returned all funds, accepting the bounty arrangement. ZKsync confirmed that user funds and core protocol infrastructure were unaffected, and the ZK token price stabilized after an initial sharp drop. The project will decide how to redistribute the recovered funds and has pledged to release a final investigative report. The incident highlights persistent security challenges in the DeFi sector and the increasing trend of using bounty deals to recover assets after hacks. For traders, this case underscores risks in smart contract security, the effectiveness of swift incident response, and bounty mechanisms in maintaining market confidence and limiting potential losses from exploits.

The U.S. SEC has acknowledged VanEck’s filing for a spot Avalanche ETF, marking a critical step in potentially introducing a regulated investment product tied to Avalanche (AVAX) into traditional markets. If approved, this spot ETF would hold AVAX directly, offering investors direct price exposure without managing the cryptocurrency themselves. This move illustrates an expanding institutional focus beyond major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, potentially enhancing Avalanche’s profile among institutional investors. The review process will examine market surveillance, custody, valuation, and liquidity. While the filing sparks optimism about growing demand and institutional interest in AVAX, the regulatory review will be extensive with no assurance of approval. The application highlights the maturing crypto market, with benefits like increased accessibility, liquidity, and mainstream financial interest if successful.

Brazil is contemplating the integration of Bitcoin into its sovereign reserves, potentially allocating up to 5% of its total reserves, valued at approximately $18.3 billion. This proposal is led by Pedro Giocondo Guerra, the chief of staff to Brazil’s Vice-President, as a hedging strategy against inflation and economic vulnerabilities, distinguishing Bitcoin from other cryptocurrencies and Brazil’s digital currency, Drex. A legislative bill under consideration would enable the Central Bank and National Treasury to hold Bitcoin, fostering discussions on democratizing monetary authority. Despite the volatility concerns, government support is strong, and future proposals will outline governance frameworks for custody and strategic positioning. This initiative positions Brazil as a potential major economy embracing Bitcoin, although with inherent risks due to volatility.

Monica Long, President of Ripple Labs, calls for financial institutions to embrace digital transformation through tokenization, highlighting XRP’s energy efficiency over Bitcoin. XRP’s consensus algorithm is stated to be 120,000 times more efficient than Bitcoin’s Proof of Work, emphasizing sustainability over both Bitcoin and cash. Ripple, through its XRP Ledger and RLUSD stablecoin, seeks to expand access and reduce costs for financial institutions. Recently, Ripple acquired Hidden Road to enhance transaction efficiency and concluded a legal dispute with the SEC, potentially paving the way for future growth, signifying a robust commitment to boosting XRP’s market value and sustainability.

Alon Cohen, co-founder of Pump.fun, recently shared the platform’s strategic trajectory on X, emphasizing its commitment to exploring synergies between social media and tokenization without venturing into token issuance. This aligns with Pump.fun’s vision to innovate in digital interaction while staying true to its core audience. Although the platform is resuming experimental features like live streaming, Cohen has assured users there will be no token launches or secret releases. This strengthens their stance on innovation in digital engagement, emphasizing user interaction instead of token creation. Such strategies may significantly impact the crypto market by highlighting new ways digital platforms can engage audiences without new token risks.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is actively engaging with various cryptocurrency firms, including Fidelity, Hashdex, and Dechert, to discuss regulatory frameworks around exchange-traded products (ETPs), staking, decentralized finance (DeFi), and cybersecurity. This marks a potential shift from a stringent regulatory approach to one that balances regulation with innovation. Key discussions involve allowing Ethereum spot ETFs to participate in staking, which could pave the way for similar ETFs for other cryptocurrencies. The SEC is also collaborating with MITRE and other stakeholders to develop regulations for DeFi and stablecoins, aiming to enhance market infrastructure and investor protection. These developments suggest a move towards creating a more secure and investor-friendly trading environment, which could have implications for institutional adoption and overall market stability.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has raised alarms about the potential risks of AI-driven data centralization, stressing the necessity for robust privacy protections. He highlights technologies like ZK-SNARKs as vital tools for maintaining personal autonomy within the crypto space. Concurrently, Ethereum faces market turbulence due to large-scale ETH sell-offs totaling $28 million by major investors, often referred to as ’whales’. These actions stem from growing uncertainty and regulatory delays, specifically the SEC’s postponed decision on Grayscale’s proposed Ethereum ETF until July. Interestingly, this market dip prompted one investor to purchase $6.87 million worth of ETH. As Buterin emphasizes integrating privacy not only to safeguard data but also individual thought, these technological and regulatory developments in Ethereum continue to drive volatility in its market prices. Crypto traders are keenly observing how these factors might influence trading dynamics, potentially impacted by the SEC’s pending decision on Ethereum staking in ETFs.

Coinbase is engaged in a legal battle with the FDIC over delays in responding to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request concerning the alleged debanking of cryptocurrency firms. The exchange has accused the FDIC of using delay tactics as part of a covert effort, called ’Operation Chokepoint 2.0’, to isolate cryptocurrency from the U.S. financial system. Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, has criticized the FDIC’s request for an extension period as absurd, claiming they’re evading legal responsibilities. The case has drawn the attention of the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating the potential unlawful practices of federal regulators in discouraging banks from serving crypto clients without public oversight. This dispute could set significant precedents for transparency in federal dealings with digital asset firms.

The U.S. dollar index has declined due to trade tensions and possible Federal Reserve rate cuts, potentially offering short-term growth for Bitcoin as it historically strengthens against a weakening dollar. Matrixport indicates that the US Dollar to Chinese Yuan exchange rate is nearing a critical resistance level, which could further boost Bitcoin. Historically, after the 2015 Yuan devaluation, Bitcoin faced sell-offs but rebounded strongly. If 10-year Treasury yields rebound sharply, this might provide temporary downward pressure on Bitcoin’s upward momentum. Traders should consider these dynamics as they could significantly impact Bitcoin’s price movements.

The combined analysis of Solana (SOL)’s technical levels and recent $200M token unlock highlights critical support and resistance points. Support is strong at $112, with resistance at $130 and $147. The unlock could alter market dynamics, presenting potential stabilization or bearish risks if support fails. Traders show optimism, thinking the main impact from the unlock is over. Emphasis is placed on the security and transparency of staked SOL, and breaking resistance to confirm a bullish double-bottom pattern is crucial. Current market sentiment and responses to the unlock are significant for Solana’s price trajectory.

As Ethereum and Solana prices drop, a new crypto presale offering a potential 361% return is captivating investor interest. Initially driven by demand exceeding supply, this opportunity now serves as a haven for traders seeking to offset losses from major crypto downturns. The presale’s promising project potential and attractive tokenomics are drawing both retail and institutional investors. This shift in focus highlights growing confidence in new crypto projects and the possibility of quick gains, reflecting current market trends and investor sentiment.

Notorious crypto scammer Hayden Davis, known for creating deceptive memecoins like MELANIA and LIBRA, has been involved in a new controversy with the WOLF token. Although initially linked to rumors about a project by Jordan Belfort, the WOLF token experienced a drastic 99% loss in value within two days due to the centralization of its supply. Davis’s connection with multiple wallets suggests possible pre-meditated fund manipulation. The broader crypto market faces impending volatility influenced by an upcoming FOMC meeting, potential interest rate changes, and a forecasted rise in Bitcoin prices. Meanwhile, UK courts denied James Howells’ request to recover lost Bitcoin, highlighting ongoing legal and security challenges in the crypto space. Additionally, there is a notable increase in crypto scams targeting platform users like Coinbase, and airdrop activities, such as BitDegree’s $30K Season 7 Airdrop, continue to capture market interest.

A new cryptocurrency is emerging as a strong contender, potentially surpassing established coins like Stellar (XLM), Dogecoin (DOGE), and Polygon (POL) in achieving a $1 valuation due to its rapid adoption rate and unique technological advancements. Analysts predict this asset could offer a significant return on investment, possibly increasing up to 1000x. This growing interest suggests that traders should monitor its development as it may disrupt existing market dynamics and influence future trading strategies. The accelerated competition among new crypto projects highlights the market’s dynamic nature, where innovative tokens can quickly gain prominence.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has decided to dismiss its lawsuit against Cumberland DRW, a crypto trading firm accused of operating as an unregistered securities dealer. Initially filed in October, the lawsuit claimed that Cumberland handled over $2 billion in crypto assets, including Solana and Polygon, without proper registration. A settlement was reached on February 20, pending SEC’s official approval. Cumberland has maintained compliance efforts since registering with the SEC in 2019. This case is part of a broader trend where the SEC has recently dropped similar lawsuits against other companies, including Yuga Labs, OpenSea, Gemini, and Uniswap Labs. The lawsuit had highlighted certain tokens like Polygon, Solana, Cosmos, Algorand, and Filecoin as securities. The decision to dismiss this case suggests a potential reassessment of regulatory actions towards crypto trading firms.

The Bybit hack on February 21, 2025, marked one of the largest crypto thefts in history, resulting in the loss of $1.5 billion in Ethereum. This event caused significant market volatility, affecting major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, which saw drops in value. In response, Bybit implemented recovery measures by securing additional Ether and tracking the stolen funds. Simultaneously, Bitcoin Pepe, a meme ICO on Bitcoin, raised over $3.1 million during its presale, offering a blend of meme culture with Bitcoin’s inherent security. Promising low fees and rapid transactions, Bitcoin Pepe attracted investors looking for decentralized and stable alternatives to traditional tokens. Its presale price is set to rise, underscoring strong market interest. Although Bybit is working to recover and fill the gaps, the hack’s outcomes could lead to potential regulatory shifts. Meanwhile, Bitcoin Pepe’s robust performance amidst this uncertainty presents a stable investment path for traders.

PepeGPT ($PEPEAI) has launched with ambitious plans to become a leading meme coin by 2025, leveraging advanced AI technology to enhance trading security and governance within the DeFi ecosystem. Unlike traditional meme coins, PepeGPT integrates cutting-edge Large Language Models for real-time fraud detection and trading optimization, setting new industry standards. Its AI model is tailored for crypto trading and market prediction, surpassing existing technologies like ChatGPT. The presale offers a unique investment opportunity with a deflationary model designed to increase prices as supply diminishes, targeting a $20 million raise. This launch aims to restore investor trust in the meme coin sector, historically affected by scams and speculation, providing potential high returns and a transformative edge in crypto investments.

The BNB Chain witnessed a significant surge in meme coin activity, fueled by an educational video featuring a test token (TST). This event caused a 66.63% increase in trading volume, with Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao acknowledging the surge in activity as initiated by the tutorial video and suggesting potential future trends with AI development on BNB Chain. As part of BNB Chain’s 2025 roadmap, there is a clear focus on AI development, including infrastructure upgrades and fostering AI-related projects. Despite the challenges of handling increased traffic, the heightened activity signifies strong demand. The transition from the hype surrounding meme coins to real AI applications could attract more users and engagement on the platform, impacting market liquidity and necessitating infrastructural improvements.

BlackRock’s IBIT Bitcoin ETF has accumulated $80 billion in assets under management (AUM) in just 374 days, marking the fastest growth in ETF history. This surge underscores strong institutional demand for regulated Bitcoin investment vehicles, with pension funds, endowments and wealth managers attracted by its clear regulatory framework and BlackRock’s global distribution network. The inflows have boosted market liquidity and may establish a price floor for Bitcoin. With IBIT now among the world’s largest ETFs, analysts expect further launches from competitors and potential expansion to Ethereum spot ETFs. Traders should watch ongoing fund flows into IBIT and related Bitcoin ETFs, as sustained inflows could support short-term price gains and signal deeper long-term institutional adoption.

Bitcoin (BTC) surged past $110,000, hitting a new all-time high and signaling renewed bullish momentum across the cryptocurrency market. Increased institutional adoption, favorable macroeconomic trends, and improved investor sentiment have driven this rally, lifting not only Bitcoin but also major altcoins such as Ethereum (ETH) and Dogecoin (DOGE). Ethereum is now positioned to potentially outperform Bitcoin, with heightened investor interest due to anticipated network upgrades and robust growth in Ethereum-based projects. Analysts note that rising trading volumes and positive sentiment are fueling expectations for further gains. Historically, Ethereum has outpaced Bitcoin during strong market cycles, prompting traders to monitor ETH for short-term outperformance. The market’s current liquidity and optimism around regulatory progress are further reinforcing the positive outlook for digital asset prices.

Crypto markets surged as major diplomatic and trade developments unfolded between the United States and its global counterparts. Initially, a significant US-Saudi Arabia trade agreement boosted market confidence, alleviating concerns over inflation and currency stability. Soon after, the US and China agreed to resume trade negotiations, further elevating market sentiment. Bitcoin (BTC) led the rally with a strong rebound, followed by notable gains in Solana (SOL) and other leading altcoins. Renewed US-China talks, coinciding with an upcoming key US Treasury bond auction, are seen as positive for risk assets, including cryptocurrencies. Analysts highlight that easing global economic uncertainties and expectations of increased cross-border financial flows have shifted sentiment bullish in the short term. However, traders are advised to closely monitor geopolitical developments, upcoming economic data, and the bond auction outcome, as these could influence liquidity, risk appetite, and overall market stability in both traditional and crypto sectors.

U.S. authorities have exposed a major North Korean cryptocurrency laundering scheme, seizing $7.7 million in digital assets. The Department of Justice revealed that North Korean IT operatives secured remote blockchain-related jobs at international companies using stolen or fabricated U.S. identities, bypassing KYC protocols at crypto exchanges. Wages were paid in stablecoins such as USDC and USDT, then laundered through self-hosted wallets, chain-hopping, cryptocurrency swaps, NFTs, and Ethereum Name Service domains. Over 84 exchange accounts, created with fake documents and recycled devices, helped obscure money trails. Laundered funds were routed globally through countries including Russia, Malaysia, and the UAE, eventually ending up in wallets controlled by sanctioned North Korean entities. Key figures included Sim Hyon Sop from North Korea’s Foreign Trade Bank and Kim Sang Man, CEO of Chinyong IT Cooperation Company. U.S. authorities warn that North Korea continues to exploit weaknesses in KYC and transaction monitoring, posing persistent risks to crypto exchanges and traders. The operation demonstrates advances in blockchain forensics but highlights the need for real-time analytics and tighter compliance oversight. The U.S. plans expanded sanctions targeting exchanges unintentionally facilitating these flows. For crypto traders, this underscores increased regulatory focus on stablecoins, NFTs, and anti-money laundering protocols, signaling greater enforcement risks for lax platforms.

Ethereum (ETH) is seeing a sharp rise in institutional investment and whale address activity, highlighting its transition toward a core portfolio asset. Driven by renewed confidence in Ethereum’s security and future scalability, major entities like ConsenSys and firms such as DuneVision have made significant ETH acquisitions, with DuneVision reportedly allocating 10% of its monthly cashflow to ETH. On-chain data shows long-term holders accumulated over $430 million worth of ETH in late May, with most funds going into staking pools and Layer 2 (L2) projects, rather than exchanges, reflecting a preference for long-term holding and support for the Ethereum ecosystem. The staking activation queue recently hit a 12-month peak, surpassing 340,000 ETH, mainly due to ecosystem upgrades and a rise in liquid staking solution adoption, further reducing available ETH supply. Spot Ethereum ETFs experienced a streak of net inflows, totaling $56.98 million on a single day, as interest from U.S. and international institutions—including Germany’s KfW and Japan’s GPIF—increases. U.S.-based funds are also gaining exposure through products like the Grayscale ETH Trust. These developments helped push ETH’s price up by 37% in early 2025. Analysts interpret these trends as a structural shift, with Ethereum positioned as both a verifiable store of value and programmable infrastructure, echoing the ’Bitcoin as digital gold’ narrative. Nevertheless, potential risks remain, including possible U.S. monetary tightening, Layer 2 underperformance, or stricter regulatory moves. Overall, Ethereum’s evolving investor base and capital flows suggest a bullish outlook, increased market stability, and wider acceptance among both traditional and crypto-native investors.

Respected crypto analyst Pentoshi has raised Bitcoin’s (BTC) all-time high price target to $120,000, projecting this surge could occur as soon as this month. This bullish forecast is fueled by unprecedented institutional demand from traditional finance, which significantly outweighs Bitcoin’s limited supply. At the time of reporting, Bitcoin traded near $105,536, demonstrating strong upward momentum. Pentoshi advises investors to remain patient, focus on long-term growth, and resist impulsive reactions to short-term market swings. Notably, the analyst warns of signs of a speculative bubble forming in the broader crypto market, citing rapid post-IPO share price surges—such as Circle (CRCL) jumping from $31 to $107.70—in new crypto-related public offerings. Traders are cautioned to expect high volatility, both opportunities for quick gains and risks of substantial market corrections. The influx of institutional liquidity, increasing crypto IPOs, and overheated valuations point to a market environment reminiscent of past bubble cycles. The key takeaway for traders is to stay vigilant in rapidly rising markets and carefully assess valuations and potential downside risks.