Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blazek resigned following backlash over his ministry’s sale of Bitcoin donated by a convicted criminal. Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blazek has stepped down following a scandal over his ministry’s sale of nearly $45 million worth of Bitcoin donated by a convicted drug trafficker. The controversy erupted on May 28 after the ministry posted on X that it had raised close to 1 billion Czech koruna (approximately $45 million) by auctioning off nearly 500 Bitcoin (BTC). The funds were earmarked for projects such as digitizing the justice system, combating drug use in prisons, and improving housing for prison staff. Read more
French prosecutors charged 25 people over a wave of crypto-related kidnappings. However, the masterminds remain at large. French authorities have charged 25 individuals, including six minors, over a series of kidnappings and attempted abductions linked to the country’s cryptocurrency sector. The group, aged between 16 and 23, faces charges connected to multiple plots targeting prominent crypto figures and their families, Le Monde reported, citing an announcement from the Paris public prosecutor’s office on May 31. Per the report, 18 suspects are now in pre-trial detention, three have requested a deferred hearing, and four remain under judicial supervision. Read more
According to PeckShield, 20 major crypto hacks were reported in May, resulting in total losses of $244.1 million. In May, the total amount stolen from crypto hacks declined drastically compared to April, with the largest incident making up around 90% of the month’s total, according to a blockchain security firm. The decline comes as the crypto industry has been stepping up its efforts to stay ahead of hackers. “In May 2025, ~20 major crypto hacks were recorded, resulting in total losses of $244.1M — a 39.29% decrease from April,” blockchain security firm PeckShield said in a May 31 X post. The most significant hack of the month occurred on the Cetus decentralized exchange on May 22, with $223 million in user losses within 24 hours. Read more