Crypto ETFs have attracted billions in inflows and mainstream attention, but they undermine crypto’s core values of decentralization, self-custody and financial empowerment. Opinion by: Agne Linge, head of growth at WeFi Decentralized finance (DeFi) disrupting and outcompeting TradFi has long been the dream of many innovators in the crypto field. Some of them lauded the over $40 billion in net inflows to spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds (ETFs) — recorded in the US since last January’s regulatory drama — as a final victory for the industry. While that indicates an increasing number of investors are interested in crypto and treat it as a legitimate asset, a U-turn on its core principles of self-custody, permissionless access and borderless value transfer is a big win for the industry. Crypto-based ETFs are simply centralizing what was built to resist centralization. Read more
A crypto investor lost $2.6 million in hours, falling victim to a zero-value transfer scam, a type of address poisoning scam. On May 26, 2025, a crypto investor fell victim to a series of onchain phishing attacks. Crypto compliance firm Cyvers announced that the victim lost a total of $2.6 million worth of cryptocurrencies. It all started when the user sent 843,000 Tether USDt (USDT) to an address other than the intended recipient. Just three hours later, the user sent 1.75 million USDT more to the same address. The result: All of it was lost in hours. Read more
XRP traders say it has the potential to rally to $27 as ETF approval odds increase. Key takeaway: Analysts predict XRP could hit $20–$27 in 2025. XRP ETF approval odds jump to 98% on Polymarket. Read more
A multi-agency investigation traced illicit funds to a suspected $123 million crypto laundering operation hiding behind a security company. Australian authorities have charged four individuals following an 18-month investigation into a $190 million Australian dollar ($123 million) crypto laundering operation allegedly run through a cash-in-transit security company. The Australian Federal Police said they had frozen about $13.6 million worth of suspected criminal assets across the states of Queensland and New South Wales. The Queensland Joint Organized Crime Taskforce (QJOCT), comprising 70 officers from federal and state agencies, began the investigation in December 2023. It reportedly uncovered an operation that used an armored vehicle unit of a security business as a front to launder criminal proceeds into cryptocurrency. Read more
Strategy has acquired 1,045 Bitcoin for $110.2 million as part of its ongoing accumulation strategy, bringing total holdings to 582,000 BTC. Strategy has acquired $110.2 million worth of Bitcoin as the price trades near its all-time high level. According to a Monday US Securities and Exchange (SEC) filing, Strategy acquired 1,045 Bitcoin (BTC) at an average price of $105,426 per coin. The company now holds 582,000 BTC acquired for about $40.8 billion at an average price of around $70,086 per BTC. The announcement follows Strategy co-founder and executive chairman Michael Saylor hinting at the purchase on June 8. The buy marks the ninth consecutive week that Strategy has acquired Bitcoin. Read more