Pharmaceutical giant Cencora has reportedly paid a staggering $75 million in Bitcoin (BTC) to hackers responsible for a crippling ransomware attack. According to Bloomberg, the hefty ransom was paid in three separate installments, making it one of the largest publicly disclosed ransom payments to date. The attack, attributed to the infamous Dark Angels hacker group, occurred in March and left Cencora's systems paralyzed. The cybercriminals demanded a substantial ransom in exchange for decrypting the stolen data and restoring access to the company's network. Cencora's decision to pay the ransom has sparked mixed reactions. While some experts believe it was necessary to protect sensitive patient data and resume operations, others express concern that such large payments encourage future cyberattacks. The incident highlights the escalating threat of ransomware attacks and the need for businesses and individuals to strengthen their cybersecurity measures.

Monerium, a stablecoin issuer, has announced the launch of EURe, a Euro-pegged stablecoin on the Cosmos (ATOM)-based Noble blockchain. This marks the first issuance of a Euro-pegged stablecoin within the Cosmos ecosystem. The EURe stablecoin is backed by a basket of fiat currencies and other assets, and its value is pegged to the Euro. The stablecoin is designed to offer stability and low volatility for users in the Cosmos ecosystem and beyond. The launch of EURe is a significant development for the Cosmos ecosystem, as it provides users with a reliable and stable asset that can be used for various transactions and applications. Monerium's decision to issue EURe on the Noble blockchain further highlights the growing adoption and potential of the Cosmos ecosystem.

Mantra (OM), with its focus on real-world assets (RWAs), has announced that it will be launching its "Mantrachain mainnet in October". The mainnet, it added, will support "a trustless platform to deploy institutional capital on-chain". The announcement comes after Mantra raised $5.5 million in a seed funding round led by IOSG Ventures and SNZ. The funds will be used to develop the mainnet and expand the team. Mantra is a layer-1 blockchain that is designed to provide a scalable and secure platform for the issuance and trading of RWAs. The mainnet will allow users to create and trade tokenized versions of real-world assets, such as real estate, commodities, and equity. The launch of the mainnet is a major milestone for Mantra. It will allow the company to begin to realize its vision of a decentralized financial system that is accessible to everyone.

The upcoming Federal Reserve interest rate decision has prompted an increase in short positioning on BTC futures traded on the CME. According to a report by Arcane Research analysts Vetle Lunde and David Zimmerman, this cautious positioning indicates that crypto investors are preparing for potential market volatility. Currently, the market anticipates a 65% likelihood of a 50 basis point rate hike by the Fed. This anticipation has likely contributed to the increase in short positions, as investors seek to hedge against potential downside risk.

Hemi Labs, the team behind the Layer 2 blockchain Hemi, has recently secured $15 million in funding. The funding round was led by Binance Labs, the venture capital arm of Binance, and Big Brain Holdings. Hemi Labs plans to use the funds to launch its modular blockchain network, with the mainnet targeted to launch in Q4 2023. The network will be designed to provide scalability, security, and cost-effectiveness for developers and users. "We are excited to partner with Binance Labs and Big Brain Holdings to bring our vision for a modular blockchain network to life," said Hemi Labs CEO and Co-founder Dr. Tingwei Hou. "This funding will allow us to accelerate the development of our network and bring it to market." The investment in Hemi Labs is the latest in a series of investments by Binance Labs in blockchain and Web3 projects. Binance Labs has previously invested in projects such as Polygon, The Sandbox, and STEPN. "We are impressed with the Hemi Labs team and their vision for a modular blockchain network," said Binance Labs Head of Investments Bill Chin. "We believe that Hemi has the potential to be a major player in the blockchain industry, and we are excited to support their growth."

Tether, the issuer of the USDT stablecoin, announced on its official website that it has frozen 1,850 addresses linked to illegal activities since its inception. The move is part of Tether's ongoing efforts to combat financial crime and protect its users. Tether's announcement is the latest in a series of actions taken by the company to address concerns about the use of cryptocurrency for illicit purposes. In 2018, Tether launched a partnership with blockchain forensics firm CipherTrace to develop tools to identify and freeze addresses associated with criminal activity. The freezing of 1,850 addresses is a significant step forward in Tether's efforts to combat financial crime. It sends a clear message that Tether is committed to working with law enforcement and regulators to ensure that its platform is not used for illegal activities. Tether's actions are also in line with the broader trend of increased regulation of the cryptocurrency industry. In recent years, governments around the world have been taking steps to crack down on the use of cryptocurrency for money laundering, terrorism financing, and other crimes. Tether's announcement is a welcome step forward in the fight against financial crime. It demonstrates the company's commitment to working with law enforcement and regulators to ensure that its platform is not used for illegal activities.

Asher (ATH), a decentralized cloud GPU network, and Xai, a collaborative software development platform, have joined forces to launch a groundbreaking $10 million grant program designed to empower Web3 developers. This program aims to foster innovation and accelerate the development of cutting-edge decentralized applications and protocols. Through this grant initiative, Asher and Xai will provide financial support and technical assistance to promising Web3 projects. Developers will have the opportunity to apply for grants ranging from $50,000 to $250,000 to fund their research and development efforts. The program is open to individuals and teams working on projects that align with the core principles of decentralization, scalability, and security. Interested developers are encouraged to submit their applications through the official Asher website. A team of experts from Asher and Xai will evaluate the submissions and select the most promising projects for funding. The grant recipients will receive not only financial support but also access to Asher's high-performance cloud GPU infrastructure and Xai's collaborative development tools. This partnership between Asher and Xai demonstrates their shared commitment to advancing the Web3 ecosystem. By investing in Web3 developers, they aim to unlock the full potential of decentralized technologies and create a more equitable and sustainable digital future. ```

British neobank and fintech giant Revolut is reportedly set to launch its own stablecoin, a digital asset pegged to the value of a fiat currency, such as the US dollar or the euro. This move signals the company's commitment to expanding its cryptocurrency offerings and catering to the growing demand for stablecoins in the digital asset market. According to CoinDesk, which cited anonymous sources familiar with the matter, Revolut has made "significant progress" in developing its stablecoin since acquiring a UK restricted banking license in July 2022. Stablecoins have gained popularity as a less volatile alternative to other cryptocurrencies, offering investors a stable store of value and a medium of exchange without the extreme price fluctuations often associated with digital assets. They are commonly used for cross-border payments, decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, and as a hedge against market volatility. Revolut's entry into the stablecoin market comes as the adoption of cryptocurrencies continues to grow worldwide. The company has already launched a crypto exchange for retail traders in May 2022, and the addition of a stablecoin to its offerings would further strengthen its position in the digital asset ecosystem. While Revolut has declined to comment directly on the stablecoin project, a spokesperson stated that the company is "fully committed to exploring the expansion of our crypto offering and providing compliant services to our customers." The launch of a Revolut stablecoin could potentially increase the accessibility and adoption of stablecoins, particularly among Revolut's large customer base. It will also add to the growing number of neobanks and fintech companies venturing into the cryptocurrency space.

Cryptocurrency mining companies that focus on artificial intelligence (AI) technology have considerable potential, according to a recent report by Bernstein, a US Wall Street investment bank. Despite fluctuations in the price of Bitcoin (BTC), mining companies like Core Scientific (ticker: CORZ), Iris Energy (NASDAQ ticker: IREN), TeraWulf (ticker: WULF), and Riot Platforms (ticker: RIOT) are thriving. By diversifying their business models and increasing profitability, these companies have earned the trust of investors. Bernstein's analysis also highlighted the outperformance of Riot Platforms, Core Scientific, and Iris Energy in terms of investment recommendations.

PlanB, crypto community's renowned analyst and creator of the 'Stock-to-Flow (S2F) model' for Bitcoin price forecasting, has forecasted another surge in Bitcoin's price. As per his latest analysis shared on his Twitter, "$60,000 is currently like $10,000 in the past". PlanB believes, "It's just a matter of time before Bitcoin breaks $60,000". He further mentioned that after the coin crosses $10,000, the historic surge pattern is set to repeat itself.

Binance, the leading cryptocurrency exchange, announced the listing of KDA/USDT perpetual futures on its official website. The listing will go live on June 18th at 22:30 (KST). Traders can leverage up to 75x on KDA perpetual futures, allowing them to amplify their trading positions. Perpetual futures are a type of futures contract that does not have an expiry date, providing traders with greater flexibility in their trading strategies. The addition of KDA perpetual futures to Binance's offerings expands the exchange's suite of crypto derivatives products, catering to the growing demand for KDA trading among users. KDA is the native token of the Kadena blockchain, a high-throughput, layer-1 blockchain platform.

Singapore-based crypto trading firm QCP Capital analyzed the official Telegram channel to state that "the US Federal Reserve (Fed) FOMC meeting on the 19th (Korean time) will determine the mid- to long-term direction of the investment market." He added, "There may be increased volatility in the days following the FOMC as investors adjust their positions. However, a positive change in the cryptocurrency market is expected when a full-fledged interest rate cut cycle begins."

Pencil Protocol (DAPP), a Scroll-based decentralized finance (DeFi) project, has announced the commencement of its public sale for its native DAPP token. According to Blockbeat, registration for the public sale and the Know Your Customer (KYC) verification channel are now open on the token issuance platform TokenSoft. The public sale will be open for a limited time, and the closing time is subject to adjustment to accommodate users who have not yet completed their KYC verification. "Recently, there have been frequent cases of investor damage due to false token sales sites, so we have temporarily opened registration and KYC verification channels," Pencil Protocol explained. "Only users who have completed KYC verification will be eligible to purchase the public sale subscription. Please be aware of false sites." Interested participants are advised to register and complete their KYC verification on the TokenSoft platform to be eligible for the public sale.

WisdomTree, a leading U.S. asset manager, has launched WisdomTree Connect, a new platform designed to enhance accessibility to tokenized real-world assets (RWAs). This platform aims to bridge the gap between traditional financial platforms and decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms. With WisdomTree Connect, RWA tokens issued by WisdomTree and blockchain wallets can seamlessly interact, opening up new possibilities for investors. This platform will facilitate the adoption and utilization of tokenized RWAs, paving the way for increased liquidity and transparency in the RWA market. WisdomTree's initiative aligns with the growing demand for tokenized RWAs, which represent real-world assets such as real estate, commodities, and infrastructure. By utilizing blockchain technology, these assets can be fractionalized and traded more efficiently, potentially attracting a wider range of investors and increasing their accessibility.

AIRDROP2049's Airdrop Mining Campaign Garners Over 130,000 Participants Web3 social platform UXLINK's ecosystem project, AIRDROP2049, has recently announced the successful conclusion of its self-token airdrop mining campaign, conducted in partnership with Gate.io through X. As of September 20th, 5 PM KST, AIRDROP tokens became available for trading on Gate.io. AIRDROP2049: Empowering Decentralized Token Distribution Supported by UXLINK and TrustLabs, AIRDROP2049 boasts over 1.2 million active users as of September. Its mission is to provide a fair and transparent token distribution model through a community-centric approach. By leveraging this operating method, AIRDROP2049 aims to establish itself as the go-to platform for airdrops and pre-market trading in the Web3 industry. This successful airdrop mining campaign is a testament to their commitment to empowering decentralized and community-driven token distribution.

Borderless Capital, a venture capital firm, is establishing a $100 million DePIN-focused fund. DePIN stands for decentralized physical infrastructure. The fund finds support from the Solana Foundation, Jump Crypto, and Peaq, a DePIN projects Layer 1 network. This move by Borderless Capital signifies the growing interest in DePIN, which is seen as a key area for blockchain technology. DePIN aims to bring transparency, efficiency, and accessibility to physical infrastructure by leveraging blockchain technology. The fund will invest in projects that are developing DePIN solutions across various sectors, including energy, transportation, and real estate. By offering funding and support, Borderless Capital aims to foster innovation and drive the adoption of DePIN.

MicroStrategy announced increasing the size of its convertible bond offering from $700 million to $875 million. The funds, primarily $500 million, will be allocated towards repaying existing debt. The remaining balance will be invested in acquiring more Bitcoin and general corporate functions. These unsecured senior notes of MicroStrategy will pay interest semi-annually, commencing March 15, 2025. Maturing on March 15, 2028, they carry a coupon of 0.625%.

BNB Chain (BNB) is planning to "build a zero gas fee stablecoin payment infrastructure," according to a recent blog post. This move is expected to boost the adoption of BNB Smart Chain (BSC) and opBNB. Several key players, including Bitget Wallet and SafePal, have already signed on to participate in the infrastructure development, with Binance Web3 Wallet and Trust Wallet expected to join soon. Keywords: BNB Chain, zero gas fee, stablecoin, payment infrastructure, BSC, opBNB, Bitget Wallet, SafePal, Binance Web3 Wallet, Trust Wallet, adoption, blockchain, cryptocurrency, digital currency, payments, finance, technology, innovation. Summary: BNB Chain plans to build a zero gas fee stablecoin payment infrastructure. This move is expected to boost the adoption of BNB Smart Chain (BSC) and opBNB. Several key players have already signed on to participate in the infrastructure development. The infrastructure will enable users to make transactions without paying gas fees. This could make BNB Chain a more attractive option for users and businesses.

Catizens Winds Down Pre-Deposit Service for Exchanges Before CATI Launch Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered Telegram cat-breeding game Catizens has announced the discontinuation of its pre-deposit service for cryptocurrency exchanges in anticipation of the CATI token generation event (TGE) scheduled for Feb. 18 at 7 PM KST. Following the conclusion of the pre-deposit service, users will exclusively deposit CATI tokens into exchanges through on-chain transactions. CATI is set to be distributed to eligible users during the TGE on Feb. 20. Catizens stated, "With reference to the on-chain token distribution of other projects in the TON ecosystem, it is anticipated that all distributions to CATI on-chain withdrawal addresses will be finalized approximately one week following the TGE." Meanwhile, Catizens' in-app "Stake to Earn" exchange token farming mechanism has garnered significant participation from roughly one million CATI holders, with a total of 14.4 million CATI staked. This constitutes over 10% of the initial circulating supply at the time of the TGE.

Chromia (CHR), a layer-1 blockchain platform, is prioritizing ecosystem development following its mainnet launch, according to Henrik Hjelte, co-founder of the project. During his presentation at TOKEN2049 in Singapore, Hjelte shared ecosystem updates, including: - A $20 million data and AI-focused ecosystem fund - Asgard mainnet upgrade and feature optimizations in Q4 - Introduction of the Chromia Extension - Flexible roadmap updates and operational procedures - Blockchain gaming strength, as seen with Mines of Dalarnia's MobBot launch on Chromia mainnet "The Chromia team remains committed to network growth and expansion," said Hjelte. "Our unique architecture, modular design, and blockchain economics provide a solid foundation for real-world project utility. Ecosystem building is our next step in driving organic growth."