Author: Nola Robert

Article written by Nola Robert

The parents of former FTX CEO seek to get their son a presidential pardon

February 1, 2025 1 min read

Sam Bankman-Fried’s parents are trying to secure a presidential pardon for their son from Donald Trump. Joseph Bankman and Barbara Fried, both law professors at Stanford, have met with lawyers and Trump administration members to discuss this matter. Their son is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence after being convicted of fraud. He was sentenced in March 2023, following the bankruptcy of his cryptocurrency platform, FTX, in 2022. This effort

Blockchain travel platform Travala.com considers a $100M acquisition offer

January 29, 2025 1 min read

Travala.com is a blockchain travel platform backed by Binance, currently considering acquisition offers after receiving an unsolicited proposal. The platform accepts cryptocurrency payments and has achieved over $100 million in annual revenue, with a valuation around $100 million. The rise in cryptocurrency use fuels its growth potential. Founded in 2017, Travala provides over 3 million travel options in over 230 countries, allowing payments in various cryptocurrencies, including its own token,

Ledger co-founder was rescued after being kidnapped in France

January 24, 2025 2 mins read

David Balland, a co-founder of Ledger, a cryptocurrency company, was recently freed after being kidnapped in central France. He and his wife were taken from their home in the Cher region early Tuesday morning. The kidnappers demanded a large ransom in cryptocurrency from another Ledger co-founder. French national police and the elite GIGN unit negotiated with the assailants. Eventually, authorities located Balland and arrested several suspects. His wife was found

Gary Gensler steps down on January 20, 2025

January 20, 2025 2 mins read

Gary Gensler will resign as Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on January 20, 2025. His departure is anticipated due to Donald Trump’s election victory, which may shift regulatory expectations. Trump has nominated Paul Atkins for the position, but Senate voting will confirm the new chair. Gensler’s resignation has sparked discussions in the crypto community, particularly among XRP holders. His strict regulatory stance significantly affected XRP’s price,

Ripple CLO Stuart Alderoty denies claims that Trump criticized Ripple for donations to Kamala Harris

January 18, 2025 1 min read

Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty, has refuted claims that President Donald Trump criticized Kamala Harris for receiving financial backing from Ripple executives. Alderoty labeled these allegations as “pure fiction,” responding to unverified reports suggesting Trump confronted Ripple for not supporting his campaign. The rumors originated from various media outlets, claiming Trump accused Ripple of backing Harris instead of him. An Axios report quoted Trump allegedly asking, “When I needed

MoonPay acquires Helio for $175M

January 15, 2025 1 min read

MoonPay has acquired Helio, a blockchain payment processor based on Solana, for $175 million, its largest acquisition to date. This deal aims to enhance MoonPay’s crypto payment services and broaden solutions for merchants and marketplaces. MoonPay supports over 30 fiat currencies and 110 cryptocurrencies across 160 countries, and this acquisition is seen as a vital step in strengthening its infrastructure. Initially, the acquisition was estimated at $150 million, but the

Shiba Inu announces the WHY Combinator initiative for the meme coin

January 13, 2025 1 min read

Shiba Inu’s lead developer, Shytoshi Kusama, has introduced the WHY Combinator, a decentralized initiative designed to promote growth in the meme coin space. This program aims to enhance the utility of the BONE token and support innovative projects. In a blog post dated January 11, Kusama shared the initiative’s objectives and recent advancements in the Shiba Inu ecosystem. He mentioned the development of over 30 technological tools, referred to as

The CFPB proposes a rule to hold crypto providers accountable for compensating users

January 12, 2025 1 min read

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has proposed a new rule to protect cryptocurrency users. This rule aims to make crypto service providers responsible for reimbursing users who lose money due to fraud or theft. While some people support this initiative, others criticize it for being unclear and possibly excluding non-custodial wallets. On January 10, the CFPB announced plans to expand the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (EFTA) to include cryptocurrency

Crypto analyst says Bitcoin can hit $200K by the end of 2025

January 11, 2025 1 min read

Crypto analyst says Bitcoin can hit $200K by the end of 2025. Bitcoin has recently rebounded, trading above $94,000 after a market drop. The main question now is whether this low will hold, potentially allowing for further gains. Previously, Bitcoin reached $100,000 on December 4 and peaked at $108,268 on December 17, which excited investors and marked a significant psychological milestone. The rise in Bitcoin’s value coincided with Donald Trump’s

Portugal’s BiG Bank blocks transfers to crypto platforms

January 9, 2025 1 min read

Banco de Investimentos Globais (BiG), a major bank in Portugal, has decided to block fiat transfers to cryptocurrency platforms. This decision is based on compliance with European regulations and has sparked discussions about Portugal’s changing attitude towards cryptocurrencies. Once a haven for crypto enthusiasts, Portugal is now tightening its regulations. BiG’s move aligns with guidelines from the European Central Bank and the Bank of Portugal, focusing on anti-money laundering and

Mining company MARA (Marathon Digital) lends out 7,377 Bitcoin in 2024

January 6, 2025 1 min read

MARA, previously known as Marathon Digital, has actively engaged in Bitcoin lending throughout 2024, lending out 7,377 BTC to established third parties. The company’s vice president of investor relations, Robert Samuels, highlighted that the lending program is designed for short-term arrangements, yielding modest returns to help offset the operational costs associated with Bitcoin mining. This initiative comes in light of the challenging nature of the mining industry, particularly following the

Coinbase acquires the Cyprus unit of European brokerage Bux

January 5, 2025 1 min read

Coinbase has taken a significant step towards expanding its presence in Europe by acquiring the Cyprus unit of European brokerage firm Bux, which allows the crypto exchange to secure a crucial Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II) license. This acquisition, completed in August, enables Coinbase to enhance its international offerings, particularly in derivatives, which represent approximately 75% of the global crypto market. The company announced the rebranding of