CryptoTerminal

So, you’ve probably heard of Tether—it’s the biggest stablecoin in the world, like the king of digital dollars. But here’s the twist: even though Tether rules globally, it’s not that popular in the U.S. Why? Mostly because of strict regulations.
Now, Tether is thinking: “What if we made a stablecoin just for the U.S.?” Yep, they’re considering launching a U.S.-specific version. Big move, right?
Here’s what you need to know:
New Coin, New Rules: Tether’s CEO Paolo Ardoino said they want to follow U.S. laws better and build something that works with American regulations.More Transparency: Tether has been criticized in the past for not being clear about their finances. But now they’re prepping for a real audit with a top-tier accounting firm (one of the “Big Four”).Politics + Security: They’re also getting support from some U.S. political figures (especially Trump-era folks) and helping the government in cybercrime cases—like recovering millions from a crypto hack.
But it won’t be easy. Tether will face tough competition from USDC (another stablecoin that’s already popular in the U.S.). That means Tether has to prove it's trustworthy, legal, and secure.
So yeah, if Tether pulls this off, the U.S. crypto scene might look pretty different real soon.
Stay tuned!

Binance has announced its 13th HODLer Airdrop, selecting Particle Network (PARTI) as the featured project.
From March 7 to March 12, 2025, users who hold BNB in "Simple Earn" or on-chain earning products will automatically receive PARTI tokens in their spot wallets before listing.
Additionally, an exclusive TGE will take place on PancakeSwap for Binance Wallet users on the same day from 7 PM to 8 PM (UTC+9).
$PARTI tokens will begin trading on March 25 at 10 PM (UTC+9).
Set the alarm and don't forget the opportunity!
👉 Particle Airdrop and TGE details

Guess what? North Korea just made it to the top 4 Bitcoin-holding nations—not by mining or trading, but through hacking!
The notorious Lazarus Group, North Korea’s elite hacking team, recently hacked the Bybit crypto exchange and stole over $1.4 billion worth of crypto.
After converting most of it to Bitcoin, they now hold 13,562 BTC, worth around $1.13 billion.
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How North Korea Stacks Up Against Other Nations
North Korea now ranks 4th in the world for Bitcoin holdings. Here's how it compares to the top nations:
United States – 198,109 BTCChina – 190,000 BTCUnited Kingdom – 61,245 BTCNorth Korea – 13,562 BTCBhutan – 10,635 BTCEl Salvador – 6,117 BTC
That’s right—North Korea now owns more Bitcoin than Bhutan and El Salvador combined!
A Long History of Crypto Heists
This isn’t their first rodeo. The Lazarus Group has been behind some of the biggest crypto hacks in history:
Bybit (2025) – $1.4 billion stolenDMM Bitcoin (2024) – $308 million stolenRonin Network (2022) – $615 million stolen
Why Does North Korea Want Bitcoin?
Experts believe these stolen assets fund North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile programs. Since the country is heavily sanctioned, Bitcoin provides a way to move money without detection.
What’s Next?
Governments and security firms worldwide are on high alert, trying to track and freeze North Korea’s stolen crypto. But with DeFi tools like ThorChain, they’re getting better at laundering funds.
Can the world stop North Korea’s cyber heists? Or will they keep hacking their way up the Bitcoin rankings?
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Source: https://en.news.cr7pt0.com/north-korea-bitcoin-holdings-ranking/

Sky (formerly MakerDAO) has announced its integration with Berachain, marking a major step in strengthening liquidity within the DeFi ecosystem. This collaboration aims to incorporate Sky’s USDS stablecoin into Berachain’s infrastructure, enabling greater liquidity across various DeFi protocols.

Building an Innovative Liquidity System with Polaris
At the core of this partnership is Polaris, one of Sky’s latest ecosystem products, which will be onboarded onto Berachain. Berachain, a high-performance EVM-compatible blockchain using Proof of Liquidity (PoL) consensus, allows users to provide liquidity to the network while still utilizing their assets in DeFi protocols.
Sky aims to establish a fully autonomous liquidity system through this integration. Sky’s founder, Rune Christensen, emphasized the significance of this collaboration, stating, “This will showcase how much influence Sky can bring to emerging ecosystems.”
Expanding USDS Cross-Chain and Enhancing DeFi Participation
The initial phase will focus on expanding USDS stablecoin across multiple chains, allowing USDS holders to participate in Berachain’s DeFi services such as lending, trading, and yield farming.
The Berachain Foundation highlighted the scale of this integration, stating, “Polaris will channel $7.5 billion worth of capital from the Sky ecosystem into Berachain, combining one of DeFi’s most powerful liquidity engines with Proof of Liquidity.”
The Sky Ecosystem and Agent Framework
The Sky ecosystem revolves around the USDS stablecoin and SKY governance token, which serve as the successors to MakerDAO’s DAI and MKR tokens. Within this ecosystem, the Agent Framework plays a critical role in supporting decentralized projects, referred to as “Stars”, by providing essential infrastructure for tokens and decentralized applications (dApps).
Originally launched on the Ethereum blockchain, Sky gained recognition in 2017 with the creation of DAI stablecoin (now USDS)—one of the first decentralized, USD-pegged stablecoins.

Binance has announced that MyShell (SHELL) has been selected as the 10th project for its HODLer Airdrop Program, targeting BNB holders. The exchange also shared details about the token listing and airdrop distribution.

HODLer Airdrop Program Details
The HODLer Airdrop Program is designed for BNB holders who have staked their tokens in simple earning or on-chain earning products. Those users will receive MyShell (SHELL) tokens as part of the airdrop.
Key Details:
Token Name: MyShell (SHELL)Total Supply: 1 billion SHELLAirdrop Allocation: 2.5% of total supply (25 million SHELL)Airdrop Snapshot Period: February 14, 2025, 09:00 AM – February 19, 2025, 08:59 AM (KST)
Additionally, an extra 25 million SHELL tokens will be distributed via the HODLer Airdrop six months after listing. Further details will be announced later.
To participate, users must complete identity verification (KYC) and reside in eligible regions. BNB staked in earning products like Launchpool, Megadrop, and the HODLer Airdrop will continue to provide benefits, including VIP privileges.
MyShell (SHELL) Token Listing and Trading Pairs
Binance will list MyShell (SHELL) on February 27, 2025, at 10:00 PM (KST). Trading pairs will include BTC, USDT, USDC, BNB, FDUSD, and TRY. At launch, the circulating supply will be 270 million SHELL (27% of total supply).
How to Participate in the Airdrop
To join the HODLer Airdrop Program, users must log into their Binance account and stake BNB in either simple or on-chain earning products. The airdrop will be available only to users holding BNB during the snapshot period, and the distributed tokens will be tradable after the listing.

Binance has announced that RedStone (RED), a multi-chain oracle platform, will be its 64th Launchpool project.
Users can stake BNB, FDUSD, or USDC starting February 26, 2025, at 9:00 AM KST to earn RED tokens over a two-day period, with a total of 40 million RED tokens available as rewards.
Staking Pools and Rewards Distribution:
BNB Pool: 32 million RED (80%)FDUSD Pool: 4 million RED (10%)USDC Pool: 4 million RED (10%)
Each pool has an hourly user cap: 66,666 RED for the BNB pool and 8,333 RED for both the FDUSD and USDC pools.
Additionally, Binance will list RED in the pre-market on February 28, 2025, at 7:00 PM KST, introducing a price cap mechanism to manage volatility. During the pre-market phase, users can trade RED/USDT with the following price limits:
Feb 28, 7:00 PM – Mar 1, 6:59 PM: Up to 200% of the initial priceMar 1, 7:00 PM – Mar 2, 6:59 PM: Up to 300% of the initial priceMar 2, 7:00 PM – Mar 3, 6:59 PM: Up to 400% of the initial priceAfter Mar 3, 7:00 PM: No price restrictions
During the pre-market, individual holdings are capped at 5,000 RED tokens.
RedStone aims to provide real-time data across various blockchain networks, supporting both EVM and non-EVM chains. With a total supply of 1 billion tokens, 280 million RED (28%) will be in circulation upon Binance listing.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially ended its investigation into Uniswap Labs without taking any legal action. This marks a significant moment for the decentralized finance (DeFi) industry, as the SEC had been scrutinizing Uniswap's decentralized exchange (DEX) operations since 2021.
A Broader Trend in Crypto Regulation?
The decision to drop the investigation comes after the SEC recently closed similar cases against major crypto firms like Coinbase, OpenSea, and Robinhood. This suggests a possible shift in the regulatory approach towards the industry under Mark T. Uyeda, the SEC’s new acting chairman.
Uniswap Founder Reacts
Hayden Adams, founder of Uniswap, expressed confidence in the decision, stating that their work is "on the right side of history." His statement highlights the ongoing debate over whether DeFi platforms should be subject to traditional financial regulations.
What This Means for DeFi
According to Amanda Tuminelli, Chief Legal Officer at DeFi Education Fund, the SEC’s move will allow DeFi companies to focus on developing decentralized technology without immediate regulatory hurdles.
While this is a win for Uniswap and the broader DeFi space, the future of crypto regulation remains uncertain, as the SEC continues to explore its role in overseeing the industry.

Michael Saylor, the Ultimate Bitcoin Advocate
At CPAC, Michael Saylor made another bold statement: "The U.S. government should own 20% of Bitcoin’s supply!" Why? He claims it would strengthen the U.S. economy and help solve the national debt problem.
Why 20%?
According to Saylor, Bitcoin is a unique asset with no central issuer and cannot be manipulated. In simple terms, no one can print more Bitcoin at will. He argues that if the U.S. government buys 4 to 6 million BTC, it could boost the value of the dollar and stabilize national finances.
How Much Bitcoin Does the U.S. Currently Hold?
The U.S. government isn’t completely out of the game—it already holds around 198,109 BTC (worth about $19 billion), making it the largest Bitcoin-holding government agency in the world. But Saylor insists that’s not enough: "The U.S. needs to buy more and use it as a strategic reserve asset!"
What About Saylor’s Company, MicroStrategy?
Saylor’s company, MicroStrategy, recently announced plans to issue $2 billion in bonds. And what’s that money for? More Bitcoin, of course. At this point, Saylor and Bitcoin are practically synonymous.
Final Thoughts
Will the U.S. actually buy 20% of Bitcoin? Realistically, it’s unlikely—but Saylor’s vision reflects a growing trend of institutional Bitcoin adoption. It’ll be interesting to see how the U.S. government’s Bitcoin strategy evolves in the coming years.

🔹 Key Takeaways
IBIT leads the U.S. Bitcoin ETF market with a massive 50% market share.The fund has grown rapidly, now managing $57 billion in assets.Institutional investors are doubling down on IBIT, with major firms increasing their holdings.
BlackRock's IBIT: The King of Bitcoin ETFs
BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) is taking over the U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF market, securing an impressive 50% market share.
Since its launch, IBIT has grown at an astonishing pace and now manages over $57 billion in assets—half of the total market.
This rapid growth is largely due to strong institutional support and BlackRock’s unmatched reputation in the financial world.
The Competition: Fidelity and Grayscale
While IBIT dominates, Fidelity’s Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) and Grayscale’s Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) are tied for second place, each managing around $20 billion in assets, giving them a 17.5% market share.
Big Money is Betting on IBIT
In Q4 2024, major institutional investors ramped up their Bitcoin ETF holdings—and IBIT was the big winner.
Wisconsin Investment Board doubled its IBIT holdings to 6 million shares.Tudor Investment Corp now holds 8 million shares of IBIT.
These large investments show that big players trust IBIT, adding more credibility and liquidity to the fund.
What’s Next for Bitcoin ETFs?
Experts are super bullish about the future of Bitcoin ETFs. Matt Hougan, CIO of Bitwise Asset Management, made a bold prediction:
“The biggest ETF in the U.S. hasn’t been launched yet.”
“We’re going to see major innovation in crypto index-based ETFs.”
This means we might see even bigger and more advanced crypto ETFs in the future, possibly including basket funds with multiple cryptocurrencies or AI-driven investment strategies.
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🔹 Key Points:
Bybit loses $1.5 billion in a massive hacking incident, marking one of the largest crypto heists in history.North Korean hacker group 'Lazarus' suspected of involvement in the attack.Bybit CEO assures user assets are safe and initiates recovery measures.
Bybit Hacked for $1.5 Billion: A Historic Crypto Heist
One of the leading cryptocurrency exchanges, Bybit, has suffered a major security breach, resulting in the theft of approximately $1.5 billion worth of crypto assets.
This incident, which has sent shockwaves across the crypto industry, is expected to go down as one of the largest hacks in the history of digital assets.
North Korean Hacker Group 'Lazarus' Suspected
On February 21, 2025, Bybit's CEO Ben Zhou announced on social media platform X that the exchange’s Ethereum multi-signature cold wallet had been compromised. Hackers allegedly manipulated the user interface (UI) to deceive wallet signers, allowing them to steal an estimated 401,347 ETH, worth approximately $1.46 billion at the time of the attack.
According to blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence, the stolen funds were dispersed across multiple wallets and some have already been laundered through new addresses and liquidated.
Cybersecurity analyst ZachXBT and Arkham Intelligence suspect that the North Korean hacking group 'Lazarus' is behind the attack. Lazarus has been linked to numerous high-profile cryptocurrency thefts in the past, including attacks on major exchanges and DeFi platforms.
Bybit’s Response and Recovery Efforts
Bybit CEO Ben Zhou has reassured users that their assets remain secure and that withdrawals continue to operate normally. He also announced that the exchange has secured bridge loans from partners to replenish approximately 80% of the lost funds. So far, 70% of withdrawal requests from affected users have been processed.
As a precaution, Bybit is considering temporarily suspending all withdrawals to enhance security and prevent further unauthorized access. Changpeng Zhao (CZ), former CEO of Binance, has offered full support, advising Bybit to halt withdrawals until a complete security review is conducted.
Market Turmoil: Ethereum and Bitcoin Drop
The hack has had a significant impact on the crypto market, with Ethereum (ETH) dropping by 8% from its daily high. Bitcoin (BTC) also experienced a similar decline, as investor sentiment turned bearish.
The possibility of the stolen ETH being dumped on the market has raised concerns about further price drops and increased volatility. Investors are closely watching how Bybit handles the aftermath of this historic breach.
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🔹 Key Takeaways
CryptoQuant CEO, Ju Ki-Young, declares that the 2025 altcoin season has begun.Unlike past trends, Bitcoin (BTC) is no longer the main trading currency for altcoins.The market is seeing more "PvP" trading, meaning funds are circulating among existing investors rather than new capital entering.
The 2025 Altcoin Season: A Different Trend
The term "altcoin season" typically refers to a market phase where altcoins significantly outperform Bitcoin. Historically, this was driven by investors moving profits from Bitcoin into smaller-cap coins, causing a surge in altcoin prices. However, 2025's altcoin season looks different.

Bitcoin's Changing Role
On February 21, CryptoQuant CEO Ju Ki-Young stated that Bitcoin is no longer the quote currency for altcoin trades. Instead, stablecoins like USDT are becoming the preferred medium for purchasing altcoins. He backed his claim with data, noting that altcoin trading volume is now 2.7 times higher than BTC’s.
This marks a fundamental shift. In previous bull markets, investors rotated funds from Bitcoin to altcoins, but this time, there’s little evidence of direct BTC-to-alt trading. Instead, traders are using stablecoins to jump into altcoins directly.
Is There New Money in the Market?
Despite the increase in altcoin activity, Ju warns that this is a "highly selective altcoin season." Unlike previous cycles, where a wide range of altcoins surged together, this time only a few strong projects are seeing gains.
Additionally, Bitcoin's market cap has doubled, yet the total altcoin market cap hasn’t reached its previous all-time high. This suggests that rather than new money entering the market, existing capital is circulating among traders.
Ju describes this as a PvP (player-versus-player) market, meaning that gains come at another trader's loss. This is different from a bull run, where fresh capital drives asset prices up across the board.
BTC’s Growing Independence from Altcoins
Another key insight is that BTC and altcoins are becoming increasingly separate asset classes. Historically, Bitcoin and altcoins moved in tandem, but that relationship is weakening. Ju points out that BTC is becoming more integrated with traditional finance, meaning its price movements may be influenced by institutional investors rather than retail-driven altcoin speculation.
In previous alt seasons, BTC dominance (its share of the total crypto market cap) was a key indicator. But in 2025, BTC dominance no longer dictates the start of an alt season. Instead, trading volume is the key metric.
Which Altcoins Will Survive?
Not all altcoins are benefitting from this shift. Only projects with strong fundamentals and compelling narratives are thriving. Ju warns that many weak projects will struggle or disappear entirely.
Investors should be cautious: this is not a typical bull market. Instead, we are seeing a selective rally where only a few winners emerge.
What to Watch in 2025
Altcoin trading volume – If it continues to grow, the alt season could extend.BTC-to-altcoin capital flows – If BTC holders start rotating funds into altcoins, it may signal a stronger alt season.New capital inflows – If fresh money enters the market, it could lead to a broader altcoin rally.
The 2025 altcoin season is here, but it's different from what traders are used to. Instead of easy gains across all altcoins, only a few will truly benefit.
What do you think? Is this the start of a new market cycle, or just a temporary shift?

According to Decrypt, Binance has begun restoring USD deposit and withdrawal services for some users. This decision follows a period of regulatory challenges that led to the suspension of these services last year. Binance stated that it plans to gradually expand access, eventually allowing all eligible customers to use USD transactions again.
Why Did Binance Suspend USD Transactions?
In 2023, Binance faced significant regulatory pressure from two major U.S. financial authorities:
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): Accused Binance of violating U.S. securities laws.Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC): Investigated Binance for breaches related to derivatives trading regulations.
These legal battles led to deteriorating relationships with banking partners, making it impossible for Binance to maintain USD deposit and withdrawal services in the U.S. Due to regulatory uncertainty, the platform halted these transactions indefinitely.
A Sign of Binance’s Recovery?
Decrypt suggests that the resumption of USD services could indicate progress in Binance’s regulatory challenges. However, ongoing lawsuits with the SEC and CFTC mean that Binance is not fully in the clear yet.
Some key points to consider:
SEC and CFTC cases are still active, with no final resolution.Binance is reinforcing its compliance systems to meet regulatory requirements.Regulatory uncertainty remains, meaning further policy changes are possible.
Despite these challenges, Binance is working toward stabilizing its operations in the U.S., improving its legal standing, and regaining user trust.
What’s Next for Binance?
Binance has confirmed that USD transactions will be expanded gradually, ensuring that all users regain access over time.
The company is also:
Strengthening compliance measures to align with U.S. regulations.Continuing dialogues with regulators to address legal uncertainties.Rebuilding market confidence after past controversies and speculation about its stability.
Conclusion
The decision to reinstate USD deposits and withdrawals is a significant step for Binance as it works to restore its presence in the U.S. market. However, the legal and regulatory landscape remains complex, and Binance must continue addressing these challenges before achieving full operational stability. The crypto community will be closely monitoring how Binance navigates these issues and whether this marks the beginning of a more permanent resolution.
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Kaia Portal is launching Epoch 2, its second airdrop season! The pre-registration phase has already begun, and participants can earn a share of 5 million $KAIA along with additional ecosystem tokens.
👉 https://portal.kaia.io/mission/epoch2?ref=d3141f84

Kaia Portal’s Epoch 2: What’s New?
Kaia Portal’s first airdrop season successfully distributed Kaia rewards to liquidity providers, boosting the platform’s Total Value Locked (TVL) to over $100 million.
Building on this success, the Kaia Foundation has expanded its reward program, forming new strategic partnerships to make Epoch 2 even more rewarding.
Pre-Registration Benefits
Pre-registration is open from February 17 to February 27, 2025, at 15:00 UTC. If you sign up during this period, you qualify for exclusive boost bonuses.
🔹 Epoch 1 Participants Bonus: If you participated in Epoch 1, you get a 10% boost on your rewards.
🔹 Early Access Bonus: New users who didn’t join Epoch 1 can still get a 5% boost.
If you’ve been following Kaia’s journey, this is your chance to claim even more rewards!

How to Join the Kaia Portal Airdrop?
Head over to Kaia Portal and connect your wallet: https://portal.kaia.io/mission/epoch2?ref=d3141f84Look for the “Register & Get Boost” button. Click it to start your Epoch 2 registration.Once you accept the Terms & Conditions, you’ll be directed to the Boost Code entry page.
How to Enter Your Boost Code?
🔹 If you participated in Epoch 1, use the referral code: d3141f84. This automatically applies your 10% boost.
🔹 For new wallets, entering d3141f84 grants you a 5% bonus boost.
Important: If you see a different code or no code at all, make sure to manually enter this one to maximize your rewards!
Complete Registration
Once you've entered the code, your Epoch 2 registration is complete! 🎉

Your boost details will be displayed under your account info. Now, you’re ready to start earning rewards through the campaign!
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