Web3 active developers drop nearly 40% in one year
Weekly active developers in the crypto space dropped by almost 40% in one year as “narrative-led” developments took over the industry. Crypto data and analytics platform Artemis Terminal shows that on March 17, 2024, the number of active developers tagged on open-source repositories in a week was 12,380. The number dropped to around 7,600 on March 16, signaling a 38.6% drop in weekly active developers in one year. The number of active developers working across over 1,500 ecosystems is used as an indicator of the Web3 ecosystem’s overall health. Developer activity suggests increased innovation and maintenance of protocols, which contributes to long-term sustainability. Weekly active developers in the crypto space. Source: Artemis TerminalCommunity calls for more developer-led narrativesThe drop in developer activity across the Web3 space spurred calls for more developer-led narratives on social media. On X, Optimism contributor Binji Pande said the drop in one of the “clearest signals of long-term health” means that attention shifted, incentives dried up, and speculation moved faster than utility. The developer said there isn’t much to do onchain, while those building real foundations rarely get into the spotlight. The developer said that this could cause the game to collapse. “If nothing meaningful happens onchain, distribution loses its power,” Pande wrote. Pande underscored the need for more support for developers and more teams thinking about the end-to-end products and not just code. “There’s been a lot of narrative-led development, but there should be more development-led narratives,” Panded added. Related: Ethereum devs prepare final Pectra test before mainnet launchMemecoin “casino” replaced real crypto productsResponding to Pande, developer Ben Ward said that markets and venture capitalists have rewarded protocols with products for too long. The developer said that the only thing in crypto with a product-market fit is the decentralized finance (DeFi) “memecoin casino.” However, the developer said this is not sustainable, adding that the space is far from building things people want to use. In the first quarter of 2024, memecoins became the most profitable narrative in the Web3 space as it became easier to launch tokens using protocols like Pump.fun. The memecoin frenzy extended into 2025, when the United States President Donald Trump joined in, launching his own memecoin token. Pande said that while the space has come a long way, it may have gone the wrong way. The developer said the industry needs to go back to basics and think about how to make crypto “feel futuristic” again. Magazine: What are native rollups? Full guide to Ethereum’s latest innovation
How to use ChatGPT to turn crypto news into trade signals
Key takeawaysChatGPT can analyze crypto news headlines and generate actionable trade signals, helping traders make faster and more informed decisions.Well-crafted prompts are essential — the more specific your instructions, the more accurate and useful ChatGPT’s responses will be.News-based signals work best when combined with broader market context, like Bitcoin trends or altcoin momentum, for a complete trading picture.AI is a tool, not a guarantee — always verify its insights with other research, charts and risk management practices before executing trades.The cryptocurrency market moves fast, and staying ahead of the curve can feel overwhelming — especially for beginners. News plays a huge role in driving crypto prices, but how do you sift through the noise and turn it into actionable trade signals? Enter ChatGPT, a powerful AI tool that can help you analyze crypto news and spot opportunities. This guide will walk you through how to use ChatGPT (or similar AI tools like Grok) to transform crypto news into trade signals, step by step.However, note that the examples used in this article are simplified and brief, intended purely for illustration purposes — executing AI-generated crypto trades in the real world requires deeper analysis, broader data inputs and thorough risk management.What are trade signals?Before you dive in, let’s clarify what a trade signal is. A trade signal is a suggestion to buy or sell a cryptocurrency based on specific information — like price trends, market sentiment or breaking news. For example, if a coin’s price drops due to increased supply, it might be a “buy” signal if you think it’s undervalued — or a “sell” if you expect it to fall further. The goal here is to use ChatGPT to help you identify these signals from the news.Now, let’s dive into how you can use ChatGPT to turn crypto news into potential trade signals.Step 1: Gather crypto newsTo get started, you need some crypto news to analyze. Here’s how to find it:Websites: Check crypto media websites of your choice.Social media: Platforms like X are goldmines for real-time crypto updates — search hashtags like #Bitcoin, #Ethereum, #CryptoNews or any specific project you’re tracking.News aggregators: Use tools like Google News or Feedly with keywords like “cryptocurrency” or “blockchain.”For example, let’s say you find this headline:“Pi Network price nears all-time lows as supply pressure mounts.”Step 2: Open ChatGPTIf you’re using ChatGPT, head to the OpenAI website and log in. Then, type your questions or prompts into the chat interface.Step 3: Craft a simple promptA “prompt” is just a clear instruction you give the AI. For beginners, keep it simple and specific. Tell ChatGPT what news you have and what you want it to do. Below is an example based on the above-selected headline:Prompt and ChatGPT’s responsePrompt: “I read this news: ‘Pi Network price nears all-time lows as supply pressure mounts.’ Can you analyze this and tell me if it’s a buy or sell signal for Pi Network? Explain why (in brief).”The image below shows a ChatGPT 4o response analyzing this piece of news. It suggests a sell signal, citing the 126.6 million PI token unlock (1.87% supply increase) as a bearish factor likely to push the $0.65 price lower due to weak demand. Limited exchange listings (e.g., not on Binance) and bearish technicals like the relative strength index (RSI) in oversold territory reinforce this. However, buy confidence is noted for long-term investors, as the all-time low might indicate an oversold condition, hinting at a potential rebound. It also advises caution and further research.Step 4: Ask follow-up questionsThe first response might not cover everything, as seen above. Dig deeper with follow-ups like:Follow-up prompt 1: “Are there risks to buying Pi Network at its all-time low? Organize your answer in brief points.”The ChatGPT 4o response to the follow-up prompt No. 1 lists the risks of buying Pi Network at its all-time low ($0.65), as shown in the above image. It highlights token unlocks increasing supply and downward pressure, ongoing bearish momentum with no reversal signs, low liquidity due to absence from major exchanges like Binance, limited real-world utility and adoption, a centralized structure raising concerns, and speculative nature, as success hinges on uncertain future developments. This reinforces a cautious approach.Follow-up prompt 2: “What happened to Pi Network’s price in the past when supply increased? Organize your response in brief points.”ChatGPT 4o’s response to follow-up prompt No. 2 explains that token unlocks, like mining rewards, increase supply, often causing sharp price drops. For instance, the April 2025 unlock of 126.6 million PI tokens led to a 77% decline from February highs as demand lagged. This recurring pattern of price falls due to oversupply reinforces the bearish signal for Pi Network.Step 5: Combine news with market contextNews doesn’t exist in a vacuum. You could ask ChatGPT to factor in broader market trends. For example:Prompt:“Given this Pi Network news, how should I trade if Bitcoin is booming? Keep your answer brief.”ChatGPT 4o’s response to the above prompt advises against buying Pi Network (PI) despite Bitcoin’s (BTC) rise. It suggests avoiding PI due to its weak momentum and oversupply, recommending a focus on stronger assets like Bitcoin or altcoins benefiting from the market uptrend. It also advises waiting for PI demand or exchange listings to improve and using stop-losses if attempting to buy the dip, emphasizing capital protection.Step 6: Test and refineAI isn’t perfect — it’s a tool, not a crystal ball. Test its suggestions with small trades or paper trading (simulated trades without real money). Over time, tweak your prompts to get better results. For example:“Analyze this news — “Pi Network price nears all-time lows as supply pressure mounts” — and give me a buy/sell signal with a confidence score.”Caution: Limitations to be aware ofThe example in this article is based on one news headline and a few prompts. In the real world, successful trading requires analyzing multiple news sources, market trends and technical indicators. Relying on a single news item or prompt can lead to incomplete insights, so always cross-check and diversify your research.Did you know? In 2024, cryptocurrency scams generated a record-breaking $12.4 billion, with over 83% of the fraud tied to high-yield investment schemes and AI-driven “pig butchering” scams, according to Chainalysis — highlighting how artificial intelligence is now fueling the next wave of crypto crime.Risks of using ChatGPT-powered crypto trading insightsCrypto trading with AI bots and tools like ChatGPT can be powerful, but it’s not without risks. Understanding these pitfalls can help you trade more safely.Market volatility: Crypto prices can swing wildly, and bots may not react well to sudden crashes or pumps.Overreliance on AI: ChatGPT’s signals are based on its interpretation of news, which might miss broader market trends or technical factors.Technical issues: Bot platforms can face downtime, bugs or API connection errors, potentially leading to missed trades or losses.Limited news scope: Relying solely on one news headline (like the Pi Network example) could lead to incomplete analysis.Security risks: If API keys are compromised, your funds could be at risk. Always enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your exchange.Tips for successA few best practices can help you get the most out of ChatGPT-powered trading insights while minimizing risks.Be specific: Vague prompts like “What’s a good trade?” won’t help. Include the news and crypto you’re focused on.Cross-check: Use ChatGPT’s analysis as a starting point, then verify with price charts or other traders’ opinions on X.Stay updated: Crypto moves fast. Feed the AI the latest news for fresh signals.Manage risk: Never trade more than you can afford to lose — AI can guide you, but it’s not foolproof.Start small: Test your bot with a small amount of capital to understand how it performs with ChatGPT’s signals.Diversify signals: Use ChatGPT to analyze multiple news sources, not just one, for a well-rounded strategy.Set stop-losses: Protect your funds by setting stop-loss limits to cap potential losses.Stay informed: Regularly check market trends and news to ensure ChatGPT’s signals align with the bigger picture.Ready to try a new headline?Now that you’ve seen how to turn crypto news into trade signals using ChatGPT, it’s time to put it into action! Pick a fresh headline and follow the steps above.With practice, you’ll get better at spotting opportunities and making informed trades. However, keep in mind that ChatGPT is not a financial adviser — always assess your own risk tolerance before acting on AI-generated insights.Safe trading!
Trump tariff negotiations are ‘all about’ China deal — Raoul Pal
Global trade tensions triggered by US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff measures may come to an end with a potential deal with China as investors remain concerned about escalation from both sides.Trump’s April 2 announcement of reciprocal import tariffs sent shockwaves through global equity and crypto markets. The measures include a 10% baseline tariff on all imported goods, effective April 5, with higher levies — such as a 34% tariff on Chinese imports — set to begin on April 9.However, the tariff negotiations may only be “posturing” for the US to reach an agreement with China, according to Raoul Pal, founder and CEO of Global Macro Investor.“In the end, almost all the other tariff negotiations and rhetoric are all about getting China to agree a deal,” Pal wrote in an April 8 X post, adding:“That is the big prize and both China and the US understand it and need it. Everything else is negotiation posturing. China needs a weaker $ and the US needs tariffs.”Source: Raoul Pal“Also, the US is trying to shut down China tariff arbitrage using other channels such as Mexico or Vietnam,” Pal said.Related: Bitcoin price can hit $250K in 2025 if Fed shifts to QE: Arthur Hayes\China retaliates with new tariffsConsidering China’s latest retaliatory measures, a resolution remains unlikely in the short term.In response to US tariffs, China imposed a 34% tariff on all US imports effective April 10, media outlet Xinhua News reported on April 4. China’s foreign ministry also vowed to “fight till the end” against Trump’s tariffs, which it called “bullying” by the world’s largest economy.China overtakes the US in global trade. Source: EconovisChina overtook the US in 2012 to become the world’s largest trading nation by the total value of exports and imports, surpassing $4 trillion in goods trade that year, according to The Guardian.Crypto markets watch trade outcome closelyAs the trade dispute continues to evolve, analysts say a potential agreement between the two global superpowers could serve as a key catalyst for recovery in digital asset markets.Crypto markets have a 70% chance to bottom by June 2025 before recovering, Nansen analysts predicted.Related: Crypto market bottom likely by June despite tariff fears: Finance RedefinedInvestor appetite for risk assets such as Bitcoin will depend on the global tariff responses from other countries, according to Nicolai Sondergaard, a research analyst at Nansen.“We have reached somewhat of a local bottom in regard to tariffs and the impact on prices,” the analyst said during Cointelegraph’s Chainreaction live show on X, adding:“Trump came out guns blazing, and we’ve mostly seen the worst from the US side, so we’ll see if other countries are willing to drop some of the tariffs because it’s very likely the US will do the same.”Magazine: Bitcoin ATH sooner than expected? XRP may drop 40%, and more: Hodler’s Digest, March 23 – 29
MEV bot loses $180K in ETH from access control exploit
A maximal extractable value (MEV) bot lost about $180,000 in Ether after an attacker exploited a vulnerability in its access control systems. On April 8, blockchain security firm SlowMist reported that the MEV bot lost 116.7 Ether (ETH) because of the lack of access control. Threat researcher Vladimir Sobolev, also known as Officer’s Notes on X, told Cointelegraph that an attacker exploited a vulnerability in the bot, causing it to swap its ETH to a dummy token. Sobolev said this was done through a malicious pool created by the attacker within the same transaction. The threat researcher added that this could have been prevented if the MEV owner implemented stricter access controls. Just 25 minutes into the exploit, the MEV’s owner proposed a bounty to the attacker. The owner then deployed a new MEV bot with stricter access control validation. Sobolev compared the exploit to a similar incident in 2023, where MEV bots lost $25 million after being exploited. On April 23, 2023, bots who performed sandwich trades lost their crypto to a validator that went rogue. Related: ‘Unlucky’ MEV bot takes out huge $12M loan just to make $20 in profitRise in fake MEV bot guidesAn MEV bot on Ethereum is a trading bot that exploits maximal extractable value. This is the maximum profit that can be extracted from block production. This is done by reordering, inserting or censoring transactions within a block. The bot observes Ethereum’s pool of pending transactions and looks for potential profits. These bots can do front-run, back-run, or sandwich transactions. This makes the bots very controversial as they steal value from regular users during high periods of volatility or congestion. Despite the controversies surrounding MEV bots, many continue to use them. However, beginners looking to profit from these bots can often fall into a different trap crafted by scammers. Sobolev told Cointelegraph that there has been a rise in fraudulent MEV bot tutorials online. The researcher said the tutorials offer ways to earn money using MEV bots and publish fake installation instructions. “Very often, this will simply allow hackers to steal your money,” Sobolev said. He urged users to check their resources and ensure they are not falling prey to scammers. Magazine: How crypto bots are ruining crypto — including auto memecoin rug pulls
Panicked Bitcoiner mistakenly pays almost $60K BTC in fees
Update 1:17 pm UTC: This article has been updated with the corrected US dollar figure that the user paid at the time.One presumably panicked Bitcoin user paid almost 0.75 BTC (worth around $60,000 at the time) in a replace-by-fee (RBF) transaction fee.The transaction in question was sent about 30 minutes after midnight UTC on April 8. It was the second attempt at performing an RBF that changed the transaction's target address, sending 0.48 Bitcoin ($37,770) with 0.2 BTC of change ($16,357).Second Bitcoin RBF transaction. Source: Mempool.SpaceAnmol Jain, vice president of investigations at crypto forensics firm AMLBot, told Cointelegraph that the original transaction featured a “default or conservative” fee. The first RBF raised the fee to nearly double the amount and changed the output address.Both of those transactions are waiting for a confirmation that will never come. This is because the much higher fee RBF transaction took its place with the same output as the second RBF transaction — presumably, an attempt to bump the fee to ensure that the RBF is processed rather than the original transaction.Related: How to fix a stuck Bitcoin transaction in 2025: A step-by-step guideA presumed panic-induced errorThe transaction has signs of a panic-induced error, with the user sending a subsequent transaction fast to prevent the original transaction from being included in a block and becoming final. Jain suggested some potential explanations:“Maybe he meant to use 30.5692 sat but, due to haste or butter fingers, ended up using 305,692 sat.“The second RBF transaction also added an additional input unspent transaction output (UTXO). This UTXO contained nearly 0.75 Bitcoin (BTC). The change was mistakenly included as part of the fee, likely because the user failed to update the change address or misjudged the transaction’s structure.Another possibility raised by Jain is that the user got confused between a fee in absolute terms and one set in satoshi per virtual byte (transaction size) or that the automated script behind the transaction contained a bug. The wallet could allow setting a fee in satoshis, which could lead to a scenario where the fee is set way too low, a warning about the low fee and an overcorrection:“System reads it as 30 sats total fee, which is way too low, so user types 305000 thinking it means 30.5 sat/vB, and the wallet actually applies 305,000 sats/vB, which is insane.“Related: Bitcoin user pays $3.1M transaction fee for 139 BTC transferReplace-by-fee: a controversial featureRBF is a widely misunderstood and controversial feature of Bitcoin. Bitcoin transactions are considered non-final until they are included in a block, with further confirmation by more blocks in the same chain.Transactions in the mempool are at the mercy of miners — who are expected to be profit-driven. Bitcoin developers foresaw that with multiple conflicting Bitcoin transactions, the financial incentive would be to process the one paying the higher fee.There is no easy way to prevent Bitcoin miners from simply including the transaction that was sent first, and it is also not straightforward to establish which transaction was submitted first due to the decentralized nature of the network. Consequently, this incentive was recognized in the RBF feature, allowing users to edit unconfirmed transactions by submitting an alternative transaction with a higher fee.This led to some controversies in the past, with Bitcoin Cash (BCH) proponent Hayden Otto claiming that RBFs allowed for Bitcoin double-spends back in 2019. In contrast, Bitcoin Cash has removed the feature and claimed that unconfirmed transactions sent on that network are final and secure to accept.Still, with the way blockchains function, RBF-like transactions were confirmed to occasionally occur on Bitcoin Cash either way. This is because RBF is just an implied property of a Bitcoin-like consensus mechanism that was formalized as a feature.Magazine: I became an Ordinals RBF sniper to get rich… but I lost most of my Bitcoin
Bitcoin may rival gold as inflation hedge over next decade — Adam Back
Bitcoin could begin to take market share from gold over the next decade as a hedge against inflation and geopolitical uncertainty, according to Blockstream CEO Adam Back.Speaking during a fireside chat with Cointelegraph managing editor Gareth Jenkinson at Paris Blockchain Week 2025, Back said rising inflation and monetary instability across global economies will drive broader Bitcoin (BTC) adoption. He compared the cryptocurrency to gold, noting its scarcity and growing recognition as a store of value despite its 30% correction from its all-time high above $109,000.“Bitcoin has the advantage of being like gold — it’s a scarce asset but also undergoing an adoption curve,” he said.Inflation continues to plague global economies, with major currencies like the US dollar and the euro seeing their supplies rise by more than 50% over the past five years — a development that may drive Bitcoin’s adoption as a hedge against monetary destabilization, according to Back.“Eventually, that money is used to buy all the goods. So eventually they will go up by that much, particularly hard assets like housing, anything physical long term,” Back said. “The inflation rate is probably 10% or 15% for the next decade, an investment return that is very hard to get with stocks or housing rentals.”“So there’s a real prospect of Bitcoin competing with gold and then starting to take some of the gold use cases, like as a geopolitical hedge, take some of that money into Bitcoin.”Adam Back during a fireside chat with Cointelegraph’s Gareth Jenkinson. Source: CointelegraphRelated: Satoshi Nakamoto turns 50 as Bitcoin becomes US reserve assetThe Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland expects the 10-year inflation rate to average 2.18% annually, according to data published on March 12.Inflation projections. Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland via FREDHowever, alternative data points to a potential uptick in inflation over the next five years.Consumer inflation expectations spiked to 5% for the next year and 4.1% over the next five years, a development amplifying economic concerns, according to a consumer survey from the University of Michigan published on March 28.Consumers; expected change in inflation rates. Source: University of MichiganRelated: How $100K Bitcoin impacts the wealth gap in the digital ageBitcoin adoption aided by ETFs and policy shiftBeyond growing monetary instability, US-based spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and a more crypto-friendly US administration under President Donald Trump may help boost Bitcoin’s adoption as a hedge against inflation.“US regulators approved the ETFs, finally, and the current US administration under Trump is removing a lot of negative regulation that was intended to slow down crypto adoption — like Operation Chokepoint 2.0,” Back said.Back argued that Bitcoin adoption among private investors should precede institutional or governmental accumulation:“I prefer that those people buy Bitcoin ahead of governments because as soon as governments buy, it’s probably going to create a wave of other governments competing with them.”Source: Margo MartinOn March 7, President Trump signed an executive order to create a Bitcoin reserve seeded with Bitcoin seized from criminal cases, a move that industry leaders have called a major step toward integrating Bitcoin into the traditional financial system.Magazine: Bitcoin heading to $70K soon? Crypto baller funds SpaceX flight: Hodler’s Digest, March 30 – April 5
SEC crypto trading roundtable to include crypto giants Uniswap, Coinbase
The US Securities and Exchange Commission has released the list of executives from US crypto and finance giants that will take part in a roundtable discussion on crypto trading regulation.On April 7, the regulator said its upcoming April 11 roundtable will discuss how it should handle crypto trading rules, calling it “Between a Block and a Hard Place: Tailoring Regulation for Crypto Trading.”It will be the second in a series of discussions on crypto, headed by its recently-formed Crypto Task Force.Taking part are Uniswap Labs chief legal officer Katherine Minarik, Cumberland DRW associate general counsel Chelsea Pizzola and Coinbase institutional product vice president Gregory Tusar — all firms that had once been in the regulator’s scope.Under the Biden administration, the regulator sued Cumberland DRW in October and Coinbase in June 2023 for alleged securities law violations, but both lawsuits were dropped this year under the Trump administration.The SEC also started an investigation for possible enforcement action into Uniswap Labs in April 2024, which was dropped in February with no further action.Also taking part in the roundtable are New York Stock Exchange product chief Jon Herrick, crypto brokerage FalconX business lead Austin Reid, securities tokenizing firm Texture Capital CEO Richard Johnson and the University of California, Berkeley finance chair Christine Parlour.Source: SECDave Lauer, co-founder of the advocacy group We the Investors and Tyler Gellasch, CEO of the not-for-profit Healthy Markets Association, will also take part, while law firm Goodwin Procter partner Nicholas Losurdo will moderate the discussion.Representing the SEC will be acting chair Mark Uyeda, Crypto Task Force chief of staff Richard Gabbert and Commissioners Caroline Crenshaw and Hester Peirce.The roundtable is the second crypto-focused discussion in a series of five that the SEC dubbed the “Spring Sprint Toward Crypto Clarity.” The first was on March 21, regarding the legal status of crypto, while three future discussions will cover custody, tokenization, and decentralized finance (DeFi).SEC’s Uyeda orders review of staff crypto commentsThe roundtables come as the SEC, under President Donald Trump, works to revamp its oversight of the crypto industry, with its latest action being to review staff statements on crypto so they can possibly be changed or withdrawn.Uyeda said in an April 5 statement shared by the SEC on X that due to Trump’s executive order on deregulation and recommendations from the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, he was reviewing seven staff statements, five of which concerned crypto.Source: SEC“The purpose of this review is to identify staff statements that should be modified or rescinded consistent with current agency priorities,” Uyeda said.Related: SEC paints ‘a distorted picture’ of USD stablecoin market — Crenshaw The first on the list was an April 2019 analysis from the Strategic Hub for Innovation and Financial Technology on how crypto sales could be investment contracts under the securities defining Howey test — an argument the agency had made to sue multiple crypto firms for legal violations.Also up for review are two Division of Investment Management statements, one from May 2021 asking investors to consider the risks of funds with exposure to Bitcoin futures and a November 2020 statement asking for feedback on whether state-chartered banks meet standards to be qualified custodians.The SEC will also look into a December 2022 Division of Corporation Finance statement that urged SEC-regulated companies to evaluate their disclosures to mention if a slew of crypto firm bankruptcies and collapses at the time impacted their business.Finally, the agency will review a Division of Examinations alert from February 2021 that said, “a number of activities related to the offer, sale and trading of digital assets that are securities present unique risks to investors.” Legal Panel: XRP win leaves Ripple a ‘bad actor’ with no crypto legal precedent set
Spanish police arrest six over $20M AI-powered investment scam
Authorities in Spain have arrested six people who helped operate a global AI-powered investment scam that stole over $20 million from at least 208 victims. The scammers would swindle victims up to three times. After stealing an initial sum through the investment scam, the fraudsters contacted victims twice more, masquerading as investment managers and then as authorities, offering to recover the stolen funds for a fee, Spanish police said in an April 7 statement. The scammers used deepfake ads of “national personalities” promising high returns on crypto investments, and would occasionally pose as financial advisers or even feign romantic interest to lure in victims. Experts have been warning of a rise in AI-enhanced scams. Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis said in its Feb. 13 Crypto Scam Revenue 2024 report that generative AI is making “scams more scalable and affordable for bad actors to conduct.”🚩Detenidas seis personas por estafar más de 19 millones de euros usando #inteligenciaartificial🔴Engañaban a las víctimas a través de anuncios manipulados con #IA para que realizaran inversiones con #criptomonedas en productos supuestamente muy rentables pic.twitter.com/rMrdgBpOYz— Policía Nacional (@policia) April 7, 2025“Victims were not selected randomly; instead, algorithms selected those whose profiles matched the cybercriminals’ searches,” Spanish police said.“Once they selected their victims, they placed advertising campaigns on the websites or social networks they used, offering them cryptocurrency investments with high returns and zero risk of asset loss — investments that, obviously, turned out to be a scam.” When victims could not withdraw the funds, most realized it was a scam, according to Spanish police; however, the ruse didn’t end there. Scammers would trick victims again with follow-up scamsThe cybercriminals would then contact victims again, posing as investment managers, claiming the stolen funds were frozen and could be recovered if they paid a deposit. “The victims, hoping to finally recover their money, made the deposit without realizing they had been scammed again,” Spanish police said.The scammers would then contact victims a third time, this time posing as Europol agents or lawyers from the United Kingdom, offering to return the stolen funds if the victim paid the corresponding taxes in the country where it was blocked.Related: Crypto broker breaks ankles while fleeing kidnappers in SpainSpanish authorities arrested six people involved in the syndicate, charging them with fraud, money laundering and falsifying documents in a criminal organization. During a raid on the alleged leader behind the scam, Spanish authorities seized numerous cell phones, computers, hard drives, a simulated weapon and extensive documentation. Several people linked to the plot have also been identified in other countries, and the syndicate allegedly created a large number of fake companies to channel the stolen funds. “Furthermore, the members of the organization used multiple false identities. In the case of the leader, for example, he used more than 50 different identities,” Spanish police said.Magazine: Bitcoin heading to $70K soon? Crypto baller funds SpaceX flight: Hodler’s Digest, March 30 – April 5
Lawyer sues US homeland dept to probe supposed Satoshi Nakamoto meeting
Update: April 8 at 1:01am UTC: This article has been updated to include James Murphy’s responses to two questions from Cointelegraph.A crypto lawyer has sued the US Department of Homeland Security, alleging the agency may know who created Bitcoin — compelling the department to share what it knows. The Freedom of Information Act lawsuit was filed by James Murphy, who based his accusations on claims made by DHS Special Agent Rana Saoud at a conference in April 2019, where she said a few of her colleagues had previously met with four people involved in creating Bitcoin.“My FOIA lawsuit simply asks for the notes, email and other documents relating to that alleged interview,” Murphy posted to X after announcing the April 7 suit. “IF the interview really happened as the DHS Agent claimed, there should be documentation of the substance of that meeting,” added Murphy, who goes by MetaLawMan on X.Source: James MurphySpeaking at the OffshoreAlert Conference North America in Miami in April 2019, Saoud said DHS agents met with the four people it believed to have created Bitcoin, asking what their motives were and what the “end game” is for Bitcoin.“The agents flew to California and they realized that he wasn’t alone in creating this, there were three other people, they sat down and talked with them to find out how this actually works and what the reason for it was,” Saoud said in the presentation, which is available on YouTube.If the DHS resists disclosure, Murphy said he will “pursue the case to conclusion” to solve the mystery.Murphy, however, noted that it is possible that Saoud and the other DHS agents were mistaken and did not interview the real Satoshi Nakamoto. Related: Satoshi Nakamoto turns 50 as Bitcoin becomes US reserve assetMurphy is being assisted by former Assistant US Attorney Brian Field, who specializes in Freedom of Information Act litigation.The purpose of the Freedom of Information Act is to promote transparency and accountability by granting the public access to information held by the government.2 questions for James Murphy, aka MetaLawManCointelegraph asked Murphy two questions about the DHS lawsuit. Here are his responses in full. Question #1: What is your gut feeling—do you think the DHS actually interviewed the real Satoshi?Answer: “I think it’s very possible that the DHS agent was mistaken in what she said at that conference. I think DHS agents may have met with bitcoin code maintainers, or with actual Satoshi imposters. But, who knows? The DHS agent was a pretty high ranking official and was in a position to know what she was talking about. Either way, I think it will be productive to find out and hopefully resolve this question. Nothing prevents DHS from voluntarily revealing the information without need for protracted litigation.”Question #2: If the agency did speak with the four creators — who may be ordinary US citizens — why do you believe revealing their identities serves the public interest, even if it could put their safety or privacy at risk?Answer: “I don’t understand the question. The identities of the creators of all of the largest blockchain projects, like Charles Hoskinson and Vitalik Buterin etc., are all well known in the crypto community. There are also many major figures like Michael Saylor, Tim Draper and others who have amassed enormous wealth through investment in bitcoin and their identities are well known.There are hundreds of documentaries on YouTube where amateur sleuths have tried to identify Satoshi. I’m not one of them. I’m not hiring investigators to try to track down Satoshi, I’m seeking government records under transparency laws in effect in the U.S. If DHS did, in fact, learn Satoshi’s identity, then I’m not sure what the rationale is for dozens of government employees to have this information but withhold it from the general public. Our government is required to be transparent and not keep secrets from the citizens, absent a legitimate national security concern or other limited exemption. We consider this a fundamental aspect of our freedom in the USA. It is why we have something called the “Freedom of Information Act.” Transparency is good, the government hiding information from the citizenry is generally bad.I am open about the fact that I am pro-bitcoin, having been an investor in bitcoin and a bitcoin miner since 2017. I speak to groups of executives and policy makers about bitcoin and I advocate for bitcoin adoption. What I find when I give these talks is very often these audiences (who are new to bitcoin) struggle with the idea that the creator of bitcoin is unknown while the provenance of the other major crypto projects is (relatively) transparent.So, my intention is to either conclusively refute the claim of the DHS agent that they interviewed Satoshi, or achieve some transparency that will open the door to greater bitcoin adoption in the U.S. and around the globe. I support President Trump’s initiatives to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and Digital Asset Stockpile. Since the bitcoin code is open source and can only be changed through the Bitcoin Improvement Proposal (BIP) procedure, Satoshi (if he or they were identified) would have no ability to unilaterally affect changes to bitcoin. As a result, any revelation of Satoshi’s identity is unlikely to adversely impact bitcoin. It’s more likely that such transparency would be a net positive for growing bitcoin adoption. Others may have different views on that and I respect their opinions.”Efforts to identify Satoshi Nakamoto have failedThe lawsuit follows a wave of recent efforts attempting to uncover Satoshi’s identity.Last October, a controversial HBO documentary claimed that Peter Todd, a Bitcoin cypherpunk, invented Bitcoin. Todd refuted that conclusion, and most industry pundits said HBO’s evidence was weak.Nick Szabo, Adam Back and Hal Finney have also had their names tied to Satoshi’s identity. Szabo and Back regularly refute claims they’re Satoshi, as did Finney before he died in 2013.Meanwhile, members of the Bitcoin community are split on whether unveiling Satoshi’s identity would be a net positive for Bitcoin.Some worry that revealing Satoshi's identity could compromise Bitcoin’s decentralized ethos and put Satoshi’s safety at risk, while others want to be reassured that Bitcoin wasn’t created by the US government.Magazine: 10 crypto theories that missed as badly as ‘Peter Todd is Satoshi’
Former Kraken execs acquire real state firm Janover, disclose SOL treasury plans
A team of former Kraken executives has taken control of Janover, with Joseph Onorati, former chief strategy officer at Kraken, stepping in as chairman and CEO, following the group's purchase of over 700,000 common shares and all Series A preferred stock.Parker White, former director of engineering at Kraken, was appointed as the new chief investment officer and chief operating officer. The group bought 728,632 shares of Janover common stock and all 10,000 shares of Series A preferred stock. Marco Santori, former chief legal officer at Kraken, will join the board. Janover is a real estate financing company that connects lenders and buyers of commercial properties. The company stock price saw an 840% rise on April 7 as part of the deal. According to a statement, the company's new leadership has plans to create a Solana (SOL) reserve treasury. The plans include acquiring Solana validators, staking SOL and additional purchases of the token. Janover stock price on April 7. Source: Google FinanceIn tandem with the announcement, Janover revealed that it had raised $42 million in an offering of convertible notes. Convertible notes are a type of debt instrument that can later be converted to equity at a certain price. Participants in the funding round include Pantera Capital, Kraken, Arrington Capital, Protagonist, Third Party Ventures, and others.Janover announced in December 2024 that it had begun accepting payments for its real estate services in Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), and SOL. Crypto treasury companies: Bold or risky?In August 2020, Strategy became one of the first publicly traded companies to hold Bitcoin on its balance sheet. Since then, several companies have followed suit, including Japan’s Metaplanet, Semler Scientific, and Tesla.In many cases, these companies have seen rises in their share prices as investors sought exposure to digital assets through traditional financial products. Some outsiders have criticized this approach due to the cryptocurrencies’ volatility and some companies’ financing methods, such as convertible note offerings used by Strategy. SOL has seen significant volatility in the past 365 days, according to MarketVector. The coin has risen as to high as $274.50 and fallen to a low of $107.68. Magazine: Financial nihilism in crypto is over — It’s time to dream big again
