anh_ba_cong

Brazilian mother kidnapped, son must pay ransom in Bitcoin

A shocking “wrench attack” just occurred at #Brazil when four criminals kidnapped the mother of a cryptocurrency trader, forcing her son to pay more than 600,000 USD in Bitcoin (approximately 5 BTC) for her release.

According to local media, the victim – a retired teacher – was intercepted by a group of two men and two women in Recife in March, after they had monitored her son's activities on social media. The suspects believed she might have access to a large amount of crypto assets.

The woman was held captive and threatened for 12 hours before her son, from Portugal, transferred $BTC to rescue her. Although police arrested the four suspects, officials acknowledged that recovering the transferred BTC is nearly impossible.

Worryingly, this is not an isolated incident. Kidnappings and extortion involving cryptocurrency are on the rise globally. Just this year, numerous cases have been reported in the UK, France, and the US – with some victims even being tortured and having their fingers cut off to force them to hand over their digital wallets.

👉 The incident highlights the real risks of flaunting crypto assets on social media, as it turns traders into targets. Security experts advise users to limit sharing personal information and enhance security measures to avoid becoming the next victim. #anh_ba_cong

SharpLink lỗ 103 triệu USD, cổ phiếu rớt gần 15% khi giá Ethereum hạ nhiệt

Cổ phiếu #SharpLinkGaming lao dốc gần 15% trong phiên giao dịch thứ Sáu sau khi công ty công bố kết quả kinh doanh Q2 đầy thất vọng, đồng thời giá Ethereum giảm xuống dưới 4.400 USD.

Theo báo cáo, SharpLink ghi nhận lỗ ròng 103 triệu USD trong quý II (kết thúc ngày 30/6), trái ngược hoàn toàn với mức lãi 12 triệu USD cùng kỳ năm ngoái. Doanh thu đạt 1,4 triệu USD, giảm 30% so với năm trước, còn lợi nhuận gộp chỉ 0,3 triệu USD, giảm một nửa.

Đây là báo cáo tài chính đầu tiên kể từ khi SharpLink công bố chiến lược xoay trục sang Ethereum hồi tháng 5. Lỗ chủ yếu đến từ khoản giảm giá tài sản phi tiền mặt 87,8 triệu USD liên quan đến LSE (token hóa $ETH staking) và 16,4 triệu USD chi phí cổ phiếu cho thỏa thuận chiến lược với Consensys. CFO Robert DeLucia nhấn mạnh đây là “khoản lỗ kế toán, không ảnh hưởng dòng tiền thực tế.”

Hiện SharpLink nắm giữ 728.804 ETH, trị giá khoảng 3,23 tỷ USD. Tuy nhiên, sự sụt giảm của ETH do lo ngại kinh tế Mỹ và căng thẳng địa chính trị đã khiến giá trị tài sản bị ảnh hưởng mạnh.

Tại thời điểm viết bài, Ethereum giao dịch quanh 4.444 USD, giảm 2,2% trong 24 giờ qua, bất chấp trước đó suýt chạm đỉnh lịch sử 4.800 USD. #anh_ba_cong

Bitcoin donation scandal of 45 million USD: Czech police arrest 'drug lord'

The Czech Republic police have just arrested Tomas Jirikovsky, a convicted drug criminal, in an investigation into a donation of 468 Bitcoin (worth about 45 million USD) to the Ministry of Justice — a case that nearly caused the government to collapse earlier this year. #Czech

According to Echo24, Jirikovsky, identified as the donor of this $BTC , was arrested in Breclav. Police also seized many related assets. Prosecutors stated that the case is currently focused on suspicions of money laundering and drug trafficking, separate from a broader investigation announced in May.

The controversial donation was accepted by former Minister of Justice Pavel Blazek without verifying the source. When the press revealed that the money came from Jirikovsky, Blazek had to resign in May. An audit concluded that the Ministry of Justice should not have accepted this money due to the high risks associated with crime.

The scandal has shocked the political arena, leading to a vote of no confidence in June, where Prime Minister Petr Fiala's government barely survived. The opposition party ANO continues to demand the resignation of additional ministers, including Finance Minister Zbynek Stanjura.

Meanwhile, new Minister of Justice Eva Decroix has pledged to publish all records of over 8,000 items related to the case, as public pressure mounts ahead of the parliamentary elections in October. #anh_ba_cong

Price Predictions for Ethereum, Solana, and XRP in a Bull Market

In the vibrant cryptocurrency market, Myriad Markets' prediction markets are garnering significant attention regarding the next price movements of Ethereum ($ETH ), Solana ($SOL ), and $XRP .

Ethereum Aiming for the $5,000 Mark

ETH has risen over 53% in the past month and is currently just 6.6% away from its all-time high. Investors on Myriad believe that ETH will surpass the $5,000 mark by 2025 with a prediction rate of 82%. The main momentum comes from the continuous influx of capital into funds #ETFETH and the accumulation race of ETH by treasury companies.

XRP and Solana Face Challenges

XRP reached a new all-time high in July but subsequently dropped by 16%. Predictors on Myriad lean towards the likelihood that XRP will reach $4 before dropping to $2, with a rate of 68%. The momentum could stem from Ripple's recent legal victory and the potential approval of an XRP ETF.
Solana is seeing a rebound after a 33% drop from its January peak. The prediction rate for SOL to achieve a new ATH in 2025 has increased to 45%. Driving factors include the revival of the market, the potential launch of a Solana ETF, and renewed interest in #memecoin on the network.
All three of these coins are expected to benefit from the Fed's interest rate cut policy in September and potential ETF approval decisions. #anh_ba_cong

Hot inflation restrains the Fed, but can crypto explode at the end of the year?

Inflation data in the U.S. has just dimmed the prospect of rate cuts in September, pulling Bitcoin and Ethereum prices down from short-term peaks. However, many experts believe that the increase in global liquidity could open up strong recovery opportunities for crypto in Q4.

The Producer Price Index (#PPI ) for July rose 0.9%, the highest level in over 3 years, causing investors to reduce bets on the Fed easing policy soon. As a result, Bitcoin fell 4.2% to $118,200, and Ethereum dropped 3% to $4,570 (according to CoinGecko).

Thomas Perfumo, global chief economist at Kraken, commented: “The hotter-than-expected PPI data has shaken confidence in the Fed's ability to cut interest rates. However, in the long term, high inflation actually reinforces the appeal of digital assets like $BTC with a fixed supply of 21 million coins.”

According to Jamie Coutts (Real Vision), the current macroeconomic context is different from previous cycles: inflation is difficult to control, and unconventional monetary policies such as targeted bond issuance or yield curve control may be applied. He forecasts that September could be weak (Bitcoin has often declined in 6 out of the last 10 years), but Q4 will be bright thanks to China's stimulus and a weakening USD.

In summary, the PPI shock has dampened short-term expectations, but if global liquidity remains positive, the crypto market could very well enter a strong surge by the end of the year. #anh_ba_cong

KindlyMD and Nakamoto Holdings merge, creating a public Bitcoin treasury with ambitious goals

A significant step for the cryptocurrency industry as KindlyMD and Nakamoto Holdings announce their merger, establishing a publicly listed Bitcoin treasury ($BTC ) with the goal of accumulating 1 million BTC.

Combining technology and finance

The merged entity will operate under the name #KindlyMD , with Nakamoto Holdings becoming a subsidiary focused on financial services related to Bitcoin. This collaboration reflects a new trend: technology and healthcare companies are increasingly integrating digital assets into their business and financial strategies.
David Bailey, CEO of #NakamotoHoldings and Bitcoin Magazine, will lead the Bitcoin division. With extensive experience in both the medical and cryptocurrency fields, David Bailey is expected to shape a future where Bitcoin is not just a currency but also a strategic asset.

Positive impact on the market

The goal of accumulating 1 million BTC is a powerful statement and will create a significant boost for the market. It not only demonstrates absolute confidence in the long-term potential of Bitcoin but could also encourage many other public companies to follow suit. This event reinforces Bitcoin's position as a strategic reserve asset, attracting additional capital flows from institutions and opening a new era for the merger between traditional finance and the cryptocurrency world. #anh_ba_cong

Strategy accused of using "deceptive" comparisons with Apple and NVIDIA

Andy Constan, CEO of #DampedSpringAdvisors , accused the company Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) of deceptively comparing its P/E (price-to-earnings) ratio with S&P 500 companies like Apple and NVIDIA. According to Constan, this move implies that Strategy's earnings are recurring income, while in reality, most of their profits come from the appreciation of the Bitcoin that the company holds.

Unsustainable profits

Constan argues that the profits of #strategy are not sustainable income but merely a "one-time" appreciation from the market. Therefore, comparing their P/E with companies that have stable business models is unreasonable and could mislead investors. Although Strategy's CEO Phong Lee has stated that the company may be one of the most undervalued stocks, Constan warns that if Bitcoin's price drops, the company will face record losses, and that presentation slide could be seen as evidence in litigation.

Securities fraud allegations

Constan's accusations come in the context of Strategy facing class-action lawsuits, alleging that the company made "misleading and distorted" statements about its Bitcoin treasury strategy. #anh_ba_cong

Investment capital in the crypto market surged, reaching 6 billion USD in July

According to data from #BlockworksResearch , total investment capital in the cryptocurrency market in July exceeded the 6 billion USD mark, the highest level since 2021. Notably, Digital Asset Treasury (DAT) companies have made significant contributions to this growth, surpassing even traditional sectors such as DeFi and payments.

The emergence of DAT companies

Data shows that subsequent funding rounds #IPO of DAT companies account for the majority of the total amount raised. This trend indicates that institutional investors are increasingly interested in gaining indirect exposure to cryptocurrencies through publicly listed companies holding digital assets on their balance sheets.
Although seed rounds and Series A still account for the majority in terms of quantity, new DAT companies are the key factor driving the surge in total investment capital.

Positive signals for the market

The strong increase in investment capital in July, surpassing even March (previously the most successful month since 2021), is a clear sign that investor optimism and risk appetite are on the rise. Coinbase Ventures is also one of the most active investors, participating in 21 funding rounds.
Although August is typically a seasonal slowdown for the market, the boom of DAT companies and the success of recent IPOs suggest that positive momentum may continue. #anh_ba_cong

Justin Sun sues Bloomberg to prevent the publication of crypto asset information

Justin Sun, the founder of #TRON , has filed a lawsuit against Bloomberg to prevent the magazine from publishing details of his cryptocurrency assets. Sun argues that the disclosure of this "secret" information could put him at "significant and imminent" risk of theft, cyber attacks, kidnapping, and bodily harm.

Allegations of breach of confidentiality

According to the lawsuit, #JustinSun provided detailed information about his crypto assets to Bloomberg to verify his assets in the Billionaire Index. In return, Sun was given a commitment that this information would be kept "completely confidential." However, Bloomberg now intends to publish these specific figures, despite the initial promises.

Risk of attacks and real-world evidence

Justin Sun is concerned that making this information public would allow bad actors to use "address clustering" techniques to identify his cryptocurrency wallet. The lawsuit emphasizes the risks of "wrench attacks," in which criminals use violence to coerce victims into transferring cryptocurrency. The lawsuit also cites real-world cases, such as kidnappings in France and Uganda, where victims were subjected to violence to force cryptocurrency transfers. Sun believes that the publication of specific crypto assets will significantly increase the risk of such attacks. #anh_ba_cong

Ethereum Foundation sold more than 12.7 million USD ETH when the price exceeded 4,500 USD

According to on-chain data, a wallet believed to belong to the Ethereum Foundation sold 2,795.$ETH for a total value of 12.7 million USD when the ETH price surpassed the 4,500 USD mark.

Transaction details and market context

These transactions took place in the early morning of August 13. This wallet sold 1,695 ETH at a price of around 4,556 USD and continued to sell another 1,100 ETH at a price of 4,602 USD, in exchange for the stablecoin DAI. This move attracted attention because #EthereumFoundation plays an important role in the Ethereum ecosystem.
This sale occurred amid a strong upward trend in ETH prices, surpassing 4,660 USD, just a small distance from the historic peak of 4,878 USD. Over the past 30 days, ETH has outperformed Bitcoin thanks to large capital inflows from ETF funds and companies accumulating ETH.

Reactions and predictions

Although the volume of ETH sold is not large compared to the total amount bought by institutions, this move could still create a cautious sentiment for some short-term investors. However, analysts believe that overwhelming buying power from ETF funds and large companies like BitMine and SharpLink Gaming is still strong enough to maintain the upward momentum of ETH. #anh_ba_cong

Arthur Hayes joins the Advisory Committee of Upexi, boosting Solana treasury strategy

The cryptocurrency market continues to witness significant advancements as Arthur Hayes, Investment Director of the Maelstrom fund, joins #Upexi (listed on Nasdaq) as the first member of the Advisory Committee. This move is expected to strongly boost Upexi's Solana treasury strategy.

Collaboration between the "big players" and the potential of Solana

Arthur Hayes, one of the most influential figures in the cryptocurrency industry, joining the Advisory Committee indicates confidence in the potential of Solana. Upexi has secured a credit line of 500 million USD from Alliance Global Partners to purchase $SOL and cover operational costs. This is a clear testament that capital from traditional financial institutions continues to flow into digital assets.
Arthur Hayes stated that his Maelstrom fund has invested in Upexi because the company has treasury management experience and good relationships with the traditional finance sector. The combination of Upexi's experience and Arthur Hayes' expertise will help the company expand its operations within the Solana ecosystem.

Positive signals for the market

This event not only benefits Upexi and Solana but also serves as a positive signal for the entire cryptocurrency market. It shows that publicly listed companies are increasingly embracing cryptocurrency as a strategic asset, while also building a solid bridge between traditional finance and the blockchain world. #anh_ba_cong

Jack Dorsey's Block launches modular, upgradeable Bitcoin mining machine

Jack Dorsey's company #Block has launched a new Bitcoin mining machine called Proto Rig, featuring a unique modular design aimed at addressing cost and longevity issues. Instead of having to replace the entire machine, users can upgrade individual components like the hashboard, reducing upgrade costs by 15-20%.

Increased longevity and reduced costs

According to Block, Proto Rig has a lifespan of up to 10 years, far exceeding the typical lifespan of current mining machines (3-5 years). Dorsey's goal is to make Bitcoin mining more sustainable and decentralized.
This new product comes at a time when Bitcoin mining is becoming increasingly difficult and expensive, especially after last year's halving which cut the rewards for miners in half.

Jack Dorsey's vision for Bitcoin

Jack Dorsey is a strong advocate for Bitcoin. He sees Bitcoin as the currency of the future and has promoted many related initiatives through his companies. In addition to Proto Rig, other companies of Block such as #Square and Cash App have also launched Bitcoin products, including the Bitkey hardware wallet and enabling stores to accept payments in Bitcoin.
Block's move reflects Jack Dorsey's focus on developing Bitcoin infrastructure, aiming to create a more robust and sustainable ecosystem. #anh_ba_cong

Standard Chartered predicts Ethereum could reach $25,000 by 2028

Standard Chartered Bank has just made an optimistic forecast about the price of Ethereum ($ETH ), targeting $25,000 by 2028. This marks a significant change from the negative forecast in March, reflecting a substantial improvement in the market in recent months.

Factors driving growth

Geoff Kendrick, Head of Digital Asset Research at #StandardChartered , stated that the main drivers for this change in forecast include:
Strong institutional inflows: Treasury companies and Ethereum ETFs have purchased up to 3.8% of the total ETH supply since June, nearly double the rate of Bitcoin during the peak period.
GENIUS Act: The new U.S. legislation creates a clear legal framework for stablecoins, enhancing liquidity and promoting the development of DeFi. Stablecoins, which account for 40% of transaction fees on the blockchain, are primarily issued on Ethereum.
Network upgrades: Upcoming upgrades to Ethereum are also expected to boost the value of the network.

Price predictions and risks

According to Standard Chartered, the price of ETH could reach $7,500 by the end of 2025, followed by $12,000 (2026), $18,000 (2027), and $25,000 (2028-2029).
Currently, the price of ETH is trading at $4,713, just 4.1% away from its historical peak of $4,878. Despite the optimistic forecasts, some analysts remain cautious, suggesting that this is merely a reflection of a more positive market sentiment rather than a certain price target. #anh_ba_cong

Bags, a platform for launching memecoins on Solana, stands out thanks to its royalty payment mechanism for creators

#Bags , a platform for launching memecoins on Solana, has achieved remarkable success with over 1 billion USD in trading volume over the past 30 days. This platform distinguishes itself from competitors like Pump.fun and LetsBonk thanks to its unique strategy: paying royalties to original meme creators.

The "creator first" model

When creating a #memecoin on Bags, the creator must designate a royalty recipient, usually an artist, meme creator, or initiator of a movement. This model helps Bags attract attention and become the fastest-growing memecoin launch platform on Solana in terms of revenue.
However, like the memecoin market in general, the success of Bags still comes with risks. While some creators have received large royalty payments, the value of tokens launched on this platform can drop significantly, leading to losses for traders.

The return of the memecoin market

The development of Bags takes place against the backdrop of a strong resurgence in the memecoin market, with the total value increasing by 11% over the past 30 days, surpassing 77 billion USD. Trading volume also rose more than 45% during the same period, indicating that community interest in memecoins remains very high. #anh_ba_cong

American banking groups call on Senate to amend new stablecoin law

Major banking groups in the U.S., including the American Bankers Association (#ABA ) and the Institute of Banking Policy, are urging Congress to close the "loopholes" in the GENIUS Act on stablecoins. They warn that these loopholes could lead to a large-scale bank run, endangering the traditional banking system.

Risks from paying interest on stablecoins

According to banking groups, although the GENIUS Act prohibits stablecoin issuers from directly paying interest, exchanges and third parties can still offer rewards to holders #stablecoin . This could encourage people to transfer funds from bank accounts to interest-bearing stablecoins, resulting in a deposit outflow of up to $6.6 trillion from banks.
The consequence is that borrowing costs will rise and the ability to provide loans to businesses and households will be diminished.

Banking groups propose that Congress extend the interest payment ban to include exchanges and other entities. They also call for the removal of provisions allowing non-financial companies to issue stablecoins and the repeal of the allowance for state-licensed issuers to operate nationwide without additional oversight.
Although some experts argue that this risk is "relatively low," banking groups still want to ensure a robust legal framework to maintain the stability of the traditional financial system in the context of major cryptocurrency companies like Paxos and Circle actively seeking national banking licenses. #anh_ba_cong

U.S. Treasury Secretary suggests 50bps rate cut, boosting cryptocurrency market

Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury Secretary, has just proposed that the Federal Reserve (#Fed ) should consider cutting interest rates by 50 basis points (bps) in September. This proposal comes after weak employment data and a slight increase in inflation, signaling a more accommodative monetary policy.

Positive impact on financial and cryptocurrency markets

According to Bessent, the downward adjustment of employment figures for May and June, along with July's inflation data at 2.7%, strengthens the case for a significant rate cut. Lower interest rates will reduce borrowing costs, encourage spending and investment, and promote capital flows into higher-yielding risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.

Cryptocurrency markets reacted swiftly to this news, with many leading digital assets experiencing strong price increases. Ethereum, in particular, has reached multi-year highs.

Expectations and caution

Although the market is anticipating a rate cut, investors remain cautious. While the likelihood of a 25bps cut next month is almost certain, the Fed will still need to consider additional employment and inflation data before making a final decision. This event highlights the increasingly important role of macroeconomic policies on the cryptocurrency market, and investors are closely monitoring any signals from regulators to adjust their strategies. #anh_ba_cong

Coinbase's advertisement is not banned, still appearing on the YouTube channel of British television

Coinbase's CEO, Brian Armstrong, stated that the exchange's "Everything Is Fine" advertisement was banned by British television channels. However, in reality, this advertisement was only not approved for broadcast on television and is still running on the YouTube channels of major broadcaster Channel 4 due to looser regulations.

Difference between television and online advertising

The advertisement of #coinbase was rejected by the British television censorship organization, Clearcast, due to a lack of evidence for the claim that cryptocurrency could solve economic issues, as well as insufficient warnings about risks and volatility. However, Clearcast does not have the authority to completely ban an advertisement, and the official regulatory body, Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), has also never banned this advertisement.
Due to much looser online advertising regulations, Coinbase's advertisement can easily appear on YouTube. This has created a legal "loophole" that some politicians are calling for to be addressed.

Impact and attention

The advertisement being broadcast on #YouTube has helped Coinbase attract significant attention. At the same time, this incident highlights the difference between television and online advertising regulations, especially as YouTube is currently the second most-watched service on British television, only after BBC. #anh_ba_cong

Nearly 8% of the total supply of Ethereum is held by ETFs and corporate treasuries

The amount of Ethereum ($ETH ) held by Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and companies is booming, accounting for nearly 8% of the total supply. This figure has surged from just 3% in early April, when no public companies had accumulated ETH as reserve assets.

Institutional capital flows strongly into Ethereum

Currently, Ethereum ETFs account for over 5% of the total ETH supply, equivalent to 6.15 million ETH. The two largest ETFs are BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust and Fidelity’s Ethereum Fund, which have achieved net asset values of $13.1 billion and $3 billion, respectively.
At the same time, a wave of public companies is also aggressively adding ETH to their treasuries, including Bitmine Immersion Tech, The Ether Machine, and SharpLink Gaming. Experts believe that many companies missed the Bitcoin wave and are now "jumping into #Ethereum and other altcoins in hopes of achieving similar profits."

Potential and risks

This growth is driven by the recent superior performance of ETH and the diverse utility of the Ethereum network. However, some opinions suggest that this could only be a "temporary phenomenon" and that Bitcoin remains the primary asset for corporate treasuries. Nevertheless, with a favorable market environment, the trend of organizations diversifying their investment portfolios into Ethereum is expected to continue. #anh_ba_cong