SEC drops its probe into Gemini, signaling a shift in U.S. crypto regulation. Industry experts debate the future of enforcement policies.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially closed its investigation into cryptocurrency exchange Gemini. The regulator no longer monitors Gemini alongside several other crypto companies. Cameron Winklevoss posted this news through his X account that Gemini ceased to be under investigation after nearly two years.
The regulatory shift at the SEC regarding crypto governance has led to this recent development. During recent weeks, the agency terminated several active legal actions against Coinbase alongside OpenSea, and Robinhood.
The current regulatory environment shows signs of change primarily because President Trump returned to

Coinbase partners with Onboard Global to expand crypto access in Nigeria, enabling secure P2P transactions, reduced fees, and improved financial inclusion.
Coinbase has announced a partnership with Onboard Global to help Nigerian users buy and sell cryptocurrencies more efficiently. Users can now access the Onboard P2P feature on Coinbase Wallet as an additional method to buy cryptocurrency with local fiat. Users can buy crypto via peer-to-peer (P2P) exchange by utilizing this feature to handle transactions with local currency. They do not need to go through lengthy verifications on Onboard because the platform provides lower transaction fees than traditional options.
Base together with Coinbase Wallet work toward developing an international on-chain economic system that supports

FBI confirms North Korean hackers stole $1.5B from Bybit, urging crypto firms to block transactions and prevent the laundering of stolen crypto.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has issued a security advisory confirming that North Korean hackers were responsible for a massive cryptocurrency theft. The Bybit exchange became the target of the attack, which resulted in digital asset losses amounting to $1.5 billion.
Later, the FBI requested cryptocurrency service providers to adopt measures. Cryptocurrency service providers have been instructed to cut off all transactions that stem from hacker control of funds. The prevention of stolen fund laundering serves as the main purpose for this precautionary measure.
The FBI traced the culprits of the attack to the hacker organization

Rezolve Ai launches a $1 billion Bitcoin treasury program to drive AI-powered crypto payments, ensuring secure, fast, and seamless digital transactions.
Rezolve Ai has taken a bold step in reshaping digital commerce by launching a $1 billion Bitcoin treasury program. The initiative commences with an initial $100 million funding since the company foresees integrating artificial intelligence and blockchain technology and cryptocurrency into worldwide trade operations throughout the long term.
The initiative represents more than financial investment capabilities. Rezolve Ai is building its crypto payment platform in partnership with Tether while using these funds as a base for this new system development. As part of its mission. The company builds a robust Bitcoin reserve that streamlines

Bitget partners with Callpay to enable ZAR deposits and withdrawals, enhancing crypto accessibility in South Africa with secure, user-friendly transactions.
Bitget, a well-known cryptocurrency exchange, has announced its partnership with Callpay, a trusted payment provider. The joint venture lets users handle deposits and withdrawals in South African Rand (ZAR). The new service aims to offer better access while streamlining the cryptocurrency trading process that involves South African Rand (ZAR) for local traders.
Users of the Bitget platform can now perform ZAR deposits and withdrawals without limitation through the integrated payment gateway. The partnership creates secure and efficient systems that enable South African traders to start trading cryptocurrencies. The digital assets

Infini suffers a $49M breach due to retained admin access. Stolen funds swapped to DAI, converted to ETH. Security concerns rise.
Infini, a crypto-focused neobank, has suffered a major security breach. Data shows an attacker utilized their retained administrative access to steal $49 million. The stolen funds ended up as DAI before being exchanged for Ethereum (ETH).
Cyvers Alerts has identified an internal system vulnerability as the main cause of this financial breach. The perpetrator before this attack had participated in the development of Infini as an external contractor. They kept their administrator rights concealed to themselves after finishing their work on the project. An unauthorized access granted them the capability to target the system as a later step.
The attacker performed

Bybit closes its ETH gap after a $1.4B hack, with a new Proof of Reserves report confirming full asset coverage.
Bybit, a major cryptocurrency exchange, has successfully closed its Ethereum (ETH) gap after suffering a major hack on February 22. Ben, CEO of Bybit, shared this news on his official X account. The company expressed that an audited Proof of Reserves (POR) report will soon become available to the public. The newly formed audit demonstrates that Bybit controls 100% of client assets using a Merkle tree verification system.
The hack was a serious event in the history of crypto. Theft from this Bybit hack resulted in the loss of $1.4 billion worth of Ethereum. Bybit continued with prompt actions to retrieve its operating capital. The company achieved more than 400,000 ETH

HK Asia increases Bitcoin holdings to 8.88 BTC after board approval, signaling strong crypto confidence and attracting investor interest in digital assets.
HK Asia Holdings Limited has increased its Bitcoin holdings. The company now owns nearly 9 BTC. The decision to invest in Bitcoin arrived exactly one week after its stock prices reached double their initial purchase value.
HK Asia declared on February 23 that its directors supported additional investments in Bitcoin. On February 20 the company completed acquisition of 7.88 bitcoins. The total cost for this spending reached $761705.
The organization funded the acquisition through its available financial capital. The company acquired its Bitcoin portfolio from an open exchange market that operates in cryptocurrencies. The Hong Kong

Bybit invests $1M in EthicHub to provide fair loans, boost coffee farmers’ productivity, and promote blockchain-driven financial inclusion for rural communities.
Bybit, the second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has invested $1 million in EthicHub. It has entered the Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA) which supports social implementations of blockchain technology. The company envisions blockchain technology will serve society by creating positive change.
The Blockchain for Good Alliance launched by Bybit in April 2024 has led the company to develop blockchain-based solutions for actual societal challenges. EthicHub stands out among projects supported by BGA Incubation Programme through its mission to connect people with fair financial services.
At the BGA Web3 Oscar

Bybit launches a $140M bounty program, rewarding ethical hackers for recovering stolen crypto. The initiative strengthens security, transparency, and industry trust.
Bybit has announced a $140 million bounty program to recover stolen cryptocurrency assets. The company works with ethical hackers and cybersecurity professionals to recover funds compromised through its platform. Bybit provides an incentive program that distributes 10% from recovered funds as a reward to those who participate. The recovered assets have an estimated worth of $1.4 billion so the total bounty amount could become $140 million.
The exchange maintains strong commitments to both security along with transparency of its operations. Bybit supports blockchain technology as well as industry collaboration to restore trust

Kanye West teases “Swasticoin” launch, sparking outrage over its name and intent. Crypto community reacts as Ye’s unpredictable behavior raises concerns.
Kanye West, now known as Ye, has hinted at launching a cryptocurrency token called “Swasticoin” next week. Several posts about cryptocurrency on Saturday introduced the highly controversial statement.
Ye started his discourse by issuing negative comments about crypto projects which exploited fan base hype. He has made a sudden transformation by planning to launch his own cryptocurrency token which will be known as Swasticoin. The posts indicate Swasticoin stands as the upcoming token name. The announcement received widespread outrage because it comes after multiple offensive statements that Ye directed at Jewish people.
Crypto Community

Blazpay partners with CDARI to enhance crypto trading with AI, real-time alerts, cross-chain support, and portfolio management for seamless transactions.
CDARI, a well-known decentralized shopping forum, has announced an exclusive partnership with Blazpay, an advanced AI-driven crypto platform. Through this strategic partnership the entities work together to improve cryptocurrency trading capabilities along with passive income generation along with smart asset administration practices. The company CDARI reported this update on its official X account, which showcased how this alliance would benefit users.
The AI-powered cryptocurrency system Blazpay builds better interfaces between users and cryptocurrency assets through its implementation of leading DeFi and AI technologies. The Blazpay

Bybit freezes $42.89M in illicit funds with industry partners, halting crypto fraud. Swift action also blocks $26M meme token laundering scheme.
In a significant move against crypto-related fraud, Bybit successfully froze $42.89 million in hqdk illicit funds within just one day. The collaboration between Tether and THORChain as well as ChangeNOW and FixedFloat with Avalanche Ecosystem and CoinEx and Bitget and Circle resulted in this accomplishment.
Every partner took responsibility in locating the suspicious funds followed by freezing them. Tether marked an address that led to the freezing of 181,000 USDT and THORChain performed a blacklist prevention. ChangeNOW managed to freeze 34 ETH while FixedFloat stopped 120,000 USDC and USDT from being accessed.
 The combined actions of Avalanche

A Chinese court invalidates a crypto investment contract, ruling it illegal. Foreign investors face risks as China enforces strict crypto bans.
A Chinese court has ruled that a cryptocurrency investment contract between a Singaporean investor and a Chinese citizen is invalid. The investor, Mr. Pan, collaborated with a Chinese citizen, Mr. Tian, to invest in a blockchain project. Pan’s financial support enabled the operation together with Tian who directed the technical aspects of operations. The investment of 15.74 million yuan did not produce full returns which caused Pan to seek the rest of his money.
The initial payment from Tian included funds but he failed to return 5.15 million yuan. The court made a legal decision to declare the contractual relationship invalid after Pan pursued

Blockchain investigator ZachXBT confirms Lazarus Group behind Bybit’s $1B hack, tracing stolen ETH through laundering networks. Experts warn of growing cyber threats.
Blockchain investigator ZachXBT has confirmed that the Lazarus Group is responsible for the $1 billion hack on Bybit. Arkham confirmed the discovery today. The evidence presented by ZachXBT consisted of demonstration transactions as well as account associations established before the attack. His submission included achievements both in forensic charting and timing evaluation. The team at Bybit employs this acquired information to carry out their investigation.
Blockchain analyst Eric Wall stated that North Korean hackers will turn their stolen ERC20 tokens into Ethereum (ETH). The hackers need to complete an ETH to BTC

SEC agrees to dismiss lawsuit against Coinbase, marking a win for crypto. Coinbase urges clear regulations to support innovation and market growth.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has agreed to dismiss its lawsuit against Coinbase, pending final approval. This victory helps both cryptocurrency supporters and Coinbase the whole exchange company.
The SEC authorized Coinbase to become a public company in April 2021 following a formal review of its operations. Although the company continued its operations the same way the SEC pursued legal action against Coinbase after two years. People think the SEC took this action against Coinbase as a result of new management instead of actual company misconduct.
During the last two years, Coinbase spent significant money on legal

Bybit enhances crypto transparency by sharing real-time liquidation data, empowering traders with accurate insights, improving trust, and attracting institutional investors.
Bybit has introduced a groundbreaking initiative by making all liquidation data fully open to the public through its enhanced API. With this update, Bybit delivers new liquidation data every half second to give precise and immediate information to users. Bybit works to add transparency to the crypto market which helps all market participants do business better.
Bybit started sharing liquidation information to fulfill what the cryptocurrency community wanted in terms of transparency. The system had earlier restricted the number of messages sent each second through its API system. This setting posed problems with

SG-Forge launches MiCA-compliant EURCV stablecoin on Stellar, enhancing secure, fast, and low-cost digital euro transactions for businesses and individuals in France.
SG-Forge, a subsidiary of Société Générale, has taken a major step in digital finance by launching its euro-backed stablecoin, EURCV. The official release confirms that this stablecoin satisfies all European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulations requirements. This product provides businesses and individuals with a digital asset with secure operations and full transparency while maintaining reliability.
Several fundamental technological strengths led to the launch of EURCV on the Stellar network. Transactions on Stellar operate at a fast pace since they process payments through the network within only a few

Nigeria plans to tax crypto transactions, boosting revenue and regulation. New SEC rules ensure compliance, while licensing expands to central exchanges.
Nigeria is planning to tax cryptocurrency transactions to increase government revenue. It also aims to regulate digital assets and bring them under the formal tax system. Bloomberg reports that Nigeria plans to grant complete licenses to cryptocurrency trading platforms throughout this year.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) develops new regulatory framework. The new rules establish the necessary provisions to tax all transactions running through registered exchanges. Official SEC documentation has validated this information.
A bill with provisions for digital asset taxation is under evaluation by legislative members at this

Hong Kong promotes blockchain-based gold tokenization to enhance security, support digital finance, and strengthen its position in the global financial market.
In a significant development, Hong Kong is working to promote gold tokenization. The approach combines blockchain technology with physical gold assets for enhanced security and flexibility. The project exists to provide investors enhanced security measures while allowing them extra choice. Hong Kong strengthens digital finance activities at the same time. The government system aims to assist actual business activities including international payments.
Paul Chan from Hong Kong’s Financial Services and Treasury division discussed their plans at an important financial gathering. The international financial event appears in Hong Kong

FTX schedules the next repayment for May 30, 2025. Creditors must complete KYC, and tax forms, and verify claims for smooth transactions.
FTX Trading Ltd. and the FTX Recovery Trust have announced the timeline for the next distribution of funds to creditors. Sunil, who acts as an FTX creditor, said that the next distribution record date falls on April 11, 2025, together with the start of distribution set for May 30, 2025. The next payment distribution cycle will process all claims exceeding $50,000 along with any approved claims below $50,000 that did not receive payment in the first distribution round. The second disbursement includes claims worth more than $50,000 and unsatisfied claims below $50,000 from the initial disbursement.
Eligible creditors already receive their funds that

Bo Hines appointed Executive Director of Crypto Council, leading efforts to shape digital asset policies and foster industry growth.
In a major development, Elected president Donald Trump has announced the formation of the “Crypto Council.” The new group will play a role in determining policies for the sector of digital assets. On December 22, Trump confirmed the news in a post on Truth Social. David Sacks will work alongside Bo Hines as the newly appointed AI and Crypto Czar.
The Crypto Council will be guided by AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks, who became the group’s leader in September last month. The council’s main mission is to provide a regulatory framework for Digital Assets. Sacks will work with Congress on new crypto policies, keep a Bitcoin reserve, and partner with the SEC, CFTC

Ki Young Ju proposes using Bitcoin to reduce U.S. debt by acquiring 1 million BTC by 2050, boosting financial strategy.
A new strategy proposes using Bitcoin to help reduce U.S. debt. Over the past 15 years, Bitcoin’s market capitalization has surged to $2 trillion, driven by $790 billion in capital inflows. Ki Young Ju, the CEO of CryptoQuant, revealed these details on his X account. This shows that this year alone, Bitcoin contributed $1 trillion by injecting $352 billion in inflows.
However, it is not easy to apply Bitcoin to decrease the U.S. debt even if it has achieved a remarkable growth rate. In the past, gold or the U.S. dollar has been used to tackle such debt. When it comes to adoption in regions like Venezuela, Bitcoin may trigger problems with getting the consensus of

Beverly Hills men Gabriel Hay and Gavin Mayo face charges for defrauding investors out of $22 million in crypto scam.
A Beverly Hills man and another individual have been charged for allegedly defrauding investors out of over $22 million in cryptocurrency. Gabriel Hay, 23, from Beverly Hills, and Gavin Mayo, 23, of Thousand Oaks, face multiple charges. Such charges include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, actual wire fraud and stalking charges. The indictment was unsealed on Friday according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Prosecutors allege that Hay and Mayo had conducted a number of “rugpulls,” fraud schemes in which organisers of NFT projects or other crypto assets take investors’ money and disappear. Such scams have recently been prevalent in the world of cryptocurrency. The two are

UAE reaches $40 billion in Bitcoin holdings. It has positioned itself as a global leader in cryptocurrency adoption with favorable regulations and investments.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reportedly reached $40 billion in Bitcoin holdings. This move has made a significant move in the cryptocurrency market. The development exhibits the country’s increasing part in the worldwide reception of blockchain innovation and computerized resources. Both the country’s government and private sector have heavily invested in the country, making the UAE a leader in the crypto space.
The Founder of Binance, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), recently posted this information on his X account. This news has caused a lot of interest. It seems the UAE is getting involved more and more in cryptocurrency. Some

Coinbase report highlights stablecoins’ growth, predicting $3 trillion market cap, driving faster, cheaper global payments beyond trading.
Coinbase recently released its crypto market outlook for 2025, highlighting five key areas. First, stablecoins have become a major force in the crypto world. Their market capitalization increased by 48% in 2024 to $193 billion. According to experts, this number could reach $3 trillion by the end of the next five years. This trend will continue as more people use stablecoins for faster and cheaper global payments. Stablecoins will probably see more global commerce and capital flow use in the next few years, and not just trading.
Tokenization of Real-World Assets Set to Surge
Second, the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) is also forecasted to

Cathie Wood predicts Bitcoin will reach $1.5 million by 2030, driven by its limited supply and increasing demand.
Cathie Wood, founder of ARK Invest, shared her bold predictions about the future of Bitcoin and the market. In a recent interview with Bloomberg, she discussed the potential for important changes in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), driven by regulatory shifts. With the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) opening many opportunities, these changes are anticipated under the Trump administration. Wood sees a wave of M&A, which she says will benefit venture capitalists and startups alike.
Wood doubled down on her optimistic outlook for Bitcoin. She also repeated her belief that the cryptocurrency would reach $1.5 million by 2030. Bitcoin’s value was climbing steadily, breaking past

Metallicus acquires Bonifii to enhance blockchain solutions for credit unions, offering digital asset products, identity management, and secure payments.
Metallicus, a leader in blockchain technology for banking, has acquired FinTech company Bonifii, previously known as CULedger. This is a major step forward to bring blockchain solutions to credit unions. Metallicus and Bonifii, as a Credit Union Service Organization (CUSO), will now partner to use Metallicus’ blockchain platform The Digital Banking Network (TDBN). In addition, this will give credit unions access to new financial tools.
According to the blog post, Bonifii’s current customer base, which includes over 70 credit unions, will be able to benefit from this partnership. Now they will be able to use the capabilities of Metal

Morocco is set to become the first developing country with clear crypto regulations. It will also balance security, innovation, and financial growth.
The Governor of Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM), Abdellatif Jouahri, recently shared that Morocco is close to adopting a legal framework for regulating crypto-assets. It seeks to first manage the use of crypto-assets and also encourage financial innovation.
According to Jouahri, the framework was designed in line with G20 recommendations. At the same time, it would also mitigate the financial risks associated with crypto-assets. However, the governor stressed that the aim is to regulate crypto assets rather than close off opportunities for innovation.
Morocco Poised to Lead in Crypto Regulations for Developing Nations
The framework was developed in

Ohio introduces legislation for Bitcoin reserve, joining Pennsylvania and Russia in exploring digital currencies for financial stability.
Ohio State Representative Derek Merrin (R-Monclova Township) introduced new legislation on December 18. The bill, House Bill 703, is called the “Ohio Bitcoin Reserve Act.” It suggested the state Treasury be permitted to include BTC as an investment within its diversified investment portfolio.
The proposed bill calls for the establishment of a Bitcoin fund in the state treasury. This would allow the State Treasurer to purchase BMV or any other cryptocurrency and hold Bitcoin. It does not need any investment, but it does not have much demand at present either. Consequently, it sets the legal precedent for future Bitcoin transactions.
Bitcoin can be useful