Fisher Yu, the co-founder of Babylon, a Bitcoin staking protocol, discusses the native use cases for BTC. Babylon aims to create more opportunities for HODLers to earn rewards without relying on third parties. By enabling Bitcoin staking, users can secure other blockchains and decentralized systems while earning rewards in the respective protocols' currencies. Despite the risks involved, such as slashing, Babylon has attracted significant interest, with thousands of bitcoins staked within hours

Russia has experienced a surge in Bitcoin mining activity, with demand for mining equipment tripling compared to the previous year. This increase is attributed to the significant price rally of Bitcoin in 2024, leading to profitable opportunities for miners. Regulatory adjustments in Russia have provided clarity for miners, allowing for industry expansion while maintaining oversight. The government legalized crypto mining under specific guidelines, exempting crypto transactions from value-added

Stablecoin issuer Tether has announced its plans to move its headquarters and subsidiaries to El Salvador after obtaining an operating license in the country. The company cited El Salvador's progressive policies, favorable regulatory environment, and growing Bitcoin community as reasons for the relocation. Tether's CEO, Paolo Ardoino, expressed that this move will enable them to establish a new base, encourage collaboration, and focus on emerging markets. The decision to move followed reports of

New York Department of Financial Services Superintendent Adrienne Harris has introduced an exchange initiative to enhance understanding of how foreign agencies manage emerging payment and digital asset issues. The Transatlantic Regulatory Exchange will involve senior staff exchanges between NYDFS and the Bank of England, aiming for regulatory alignment. The program, set to commence with the Bank of England in February, will span at least six months. Participants are expected to bring back insigh

Social media giant Meta is facing criticism for allegedly blocking links to a rival platform shortly after pledging to uphold free expression. A report by 404 Media revealed that Facebook, owned by Meta, has been removing links to Pixelfed, a decentralized Instagram alternative, labeling them as 'spam.' This move has raised doubts about Meta's sincerity in reducing censorship. Despite Meta's recent announcement of embracing free speech and reducing moderation, the deletion of links to competitor

Blockchain analytics company Chainalysis has entered the realm of artificial intelligence with its acquisition of a fraud detection startup. The purchase of Alterya, a tech firm utilizing AI agents to identify fraud, was reported to be around $150 million. Chainalysis confirmed the news in a blog post, emphasizing the acquisition's role in offering proactive fraud protection for payments and improving fraud detection in the Know Your Customer process for exchanges, blockchains, and wallet provid

ScaleBit, a subsidiary of security auditor BitsLab, has identified a potential vulnerability in decentralized exchange Uniswap's Web3 wallets that could jeopardize all stored assets. The flaw allows attackers with physical access to bypass authentication and retrieve the mnemonic phrase, granting full control over the wallet. ScaleBit advises against lending devices until the issue is resolved. In 2024, cryptocurrency losses from cyber exploits rose by 40%, totaling $2.3 billion. Access control

Semler Scientific has acquired an additional 237 Bitcoin for around $23 million, bringing their total holdings to 2,321 BTC valued at nearly $192 million. The company purchased the BTC at an average cost of less than $83,000 using funds from stock sales and cash flow. By issuing over $120 million in stock, Semler has boosted its 'Bitcoin yield' from 72.6% to 99.3%. This metric measures the ratio of BTC holdings to outstanding shares, reflecting the company's performance. CEO Doug Murphy-Chutoria

In the realm where blockchain technology intersects with gaming in innovative ways, a new project has emerged in the DeFi space, sparking discussions on its potential to redefine GameFi and elevate P2E concepts. The Rise of Memes, featuring its native token $RISE, stands out as a distinctive player in the P2E ecosystem by blending meme culture with strategic gameplay. This mobile game aims to offer an immersive experience for both casual gamers and crypto enthusiasts. Drawing inspiration from po

Bithumb, the second-largest cryptocurrency exchange in South Korea, is making a significant banking change. Starting March 2025, it will no longer be partnered with NongHyup Bank but will instead collaborate with KB Kookmin Bank for deposits and withdrawals. The decision, endorsed by South Korea's Financial Intelligence Unit, aims to attract younger generation investors in the digital asset space. This move will require users to link their Bithumb accounts with their Kookmin Bank accounts by Mar

KStarCoin (KSC) and Quant (QNT) traders are turning to the 1Fuel presale for better returns. 1Fuel, a new token gaining attention in the crypto space, has raised over $1.15 million in its presale. KSC and QNT, once popular, have failed to impress investors. KSC surged by 1,011% in a month but now struggles at $0.000096. QNT, which saw a 2600x increase in 2021, now trades at $104. Investors are losing patience and eyeing 1Fuel, expected to offer a 100x return. 1Fuel's upcoming wallet launch in 20

The cryptocurrency market is currently undergoing a correction phase, with top cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum experiencing a decline from their early 2025 gains. Notably, Ether whales have been active in the market, leading to significant sell-offs and boosting market withdrawals. Endaoment, Ethereum's charity fund, made headlines by selling 3,690 Ether (ETH) in a single transaction worth $12.47 million, marking its largest transaction in ten months. Meanwhile, PEPETO, a new memecoin

Hedera's HBAR has seen a 12% decrease in value over the last week, currently trading at $0.26, its lowest in seven days. Futures traders are showing a preference for short positions, indicating a bearish sentiment with a Long/Short Ratio of 0.86. This ratio suggests more short positions than long ones, signaling an expectation of further price drops. The declining open interest in the HBAR futures market supports this bearish outlook, falling by 17% to $315 million. The drop in the Accumulation/

Hyperliquid announced that HYPE token stakers will receive ANIME token airdrops, marking a collaboration between the two projects. The ANIME token, backed by Azuki, aims to create a community-owned creative economy within the anime ecosystem. This initiative aligns with the trend of decentralization in entertainment. The ANIME token will distribute over 50% of its supply to the community, including HYPE stakers, Kaito yappers, Arbitrum users, and anime enthusiasts. Despite facing challenges such

Cryptocurrency exchange-traded products (ETPs) saw a modest $47 million in inflows last week following a significant drop in Bitcoin investment products. CoinShares reported that investors injected around $1 billion into crypto ETPs during the second trading week of 2025, which was offset by $940 million in outflows. The outflows were influenced by new macroeconomic data and Federal Reserve minutes indicating a stronger US economy. Despite this, Bitcoin investment products received $213 million

FTX, the former second-largest centralized cryptocurrency exchange, is set to distribute over $1.2 billion in repayments to users who have been unable to access their funds for over two years. Users owed up to $50,000 in digital assets have until Jan. 20 to meet repayment requirements. The repayments, expected to start after Jan. 20, coincide with potential regulatory clarity and the Bitcoin Act proposal in the US. Some industry experts predict a positive impact on the crypto market, with Bitcoi

In the latest crypto news, cryptocurrency exchange-traded products (ETPs) saw a modest $47 million inflow last week following a Bitcoin sell-off. SlowMist reported a leak of seven million OpenSea user emails, exposing them to scammers. Meanwhile, Michael Saylor hinted at another Bitcoin purchase by MicroStrategy. Despite $1 billion inflows into crypto ETPs in the second week of 2025, $940 million outflows were recorded. The outflows were attributed to new macroeconomic data and a hawkish Fed sta

Bitcoin has experienced a 3% drop in the last 24 hours and an 8% decline over the past week. Despite this, experts believe that this downturn is typical for BTC in January. Speculation suggests that the bull market could resume, with Bitcoin potentially reaching its peak in mid-July 2025 based on a crucial technical indicator. Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView indicates that Bitcoin is currently in a four-week consolidation phase after hitting an all-time high in 2024. Analysts

Indian Railways is set to issue non-fungible token (NFT)-based train tickets for the MahaKumbh Mela pilgrimage, a Hindu festival that occurs once every 144 years. Partnering with Chaincode Consulting, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) aims to digitize the spiritual journey of millions of travelers. The NFTs will be minted on the Polygon blockchain and accessible through the NFTtrace platform. This initiative, leveraging Polygon's efficiency and sustainability, seeks to

MoonPay, a provider of fiat-to-crypto on-ramp services, has purchased Helio, a blockchain-based payment processor on Solana, in a $175 million deal. Helio's platform allows businesses to accept payments in various digital assets like Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, and USD Coin. The acquisition aims to improve MoonPay's payment infrastructure by integrating Helio's technology for more efficient crypto payments. This move is expected to increase MoonPay's trading and marketplace volume significantly. Wit