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• Dec 17, 2:13 PM Blockworks

  Hyperliquid's HYPE token sets record with largest crypto airdrop by value

  Hyperliquid's HYPE token has become the largest airdrop in crypto history by paper value, surpassing Uniswap's UNI airdrop. Initially, 310 million tokens were allocated, with 270.94 million claimed so far. The value of tokens distributed reached approximately $7.6 billion, overtaking UNI's peak value of $6.4 billion. HYPE's market cap is now $9 billion with a fully diluted value of $27 billion. Recent price increases have seen HYPE trippling from $3.81 to $28.

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• Dec 17, 12:13 PM Bybit

  Bybit to cease crypto services in France by January 2025 due to regulatory pressures

  Bybit, a leading global crypto exchange, announced it is halting withdrawal and custody services for French users effective January 8, 2025, due to increased regulatory scrutiny from French authorities. Users are urged to withdraw their assets before the deadline. Those with assets above 10 USD Coin will have their holdings transferred to Coinhouse, a licensed crypto custodian in France, after completing a verification process. Bybit will deduct a termination fee equivalent to 10 USDC from accounts with balances under this amount. The initiatives reflect broader legislative moves to tighten control over crypto services.

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• Dec 17, 4:44 AM The Block

  LastPass threat actor steals $5.4 million in crypto from multiple wallets, says ZachXBT

  A threat actor associated with LastPass has stolen approximately $5.36 million from over 40 crypto wallets by converting the assets to ETH and then transferring them to various instant exchanges for conversion to Bitcoin. This latest security breach is linked to a significant 2022 hacking incident involving LastPass, which compromised sensitive data including API tokens and MFA seeds. Blockchain investigator ZachXBT warns users who stored their seed phrases or keys in LastPass to urgently move their crypto assets.

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• Dec 16, 9:30 PM Blockworks

  ai16z AI agent dev forms research partnership with Stanford to explore AI in crypto

  Eliza Labs, developers of the ai16z AI agent platform, has partnered with Stanford University's Future of Digital Currency Initiative to conduct research on digital currencies and AI agent interaction. This collaboration will focus on developing trust mechanisms for AI agents and exploring governance models among them. The lab, funded by Eliza Labs, sees leadership from Stanford professors and contributions from highly paid memberships within the crypto industry.

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• Dec 16, 7:11 PM Cointelegraph

  Bitcoin reaches new all-time high above $107,700, propelled by robust spot volumes

  Bitcoin reached a new all-time high of over $107,700 on December 16, fueled by increased spot trading volumes and significant buying during the US session. Notable company purchases and strong inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs also contributed to this surge. Analysts predict the price may hit $115,000 next, driven by ETF fund flows.

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• Dec 16, 7:00 PM Pixels

  Pixels partners with Crack and Stack to launch Pixel Dungeons, expanding $PIXEL token utility

  Pixels, recognized as the most popular Web3 game based on daily active players, announced a collaboration with Crack and Stack to develop and launch a new game, Pixel Dungeons. This initiative will enhance the utility of the $PIXEL token and integrate Pixels' Reputation System, which rewards players based on their in-game actions and token holdings. The newly introduced game features a competitive play-to-earn model, where players can earn $PIXEL tokens by navigating dungeons, battling opponents, and avoiding traps. Pixels aims to leverage this partnership to expand its user base and increase token use in their gaming ecosystem, aligning with their strategic focus on monetizing and growing visibility in the Web3 gaming sector.

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• Dec 16, 6:11 PM The Block

  TD Cowen predicts SEC to adopt crypto rules under Republican majority

  TD Cowen anticipates that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may see the departure of key Democratic commissioners, leading to an all-Republican leadership possibly advancing crypto regulations more swiftly. The firm indicated the political shift may speed up rule adoption but warned that the lack of bipartisan support could undermine rule stability and future bipartisan regulation.

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• Dec 16, 4:02 PM The Block

  Riot Platforms increases Bitcoin holdings to 17,429 BTC using bond proceeds

  Riot Platforms has expanded its Bitcoin holdings to 17,429 BTC, valued at roughly $1.8 billion, by using $594 million from a convertible bond issue. The company acquired 667 BTC at an average price of $101,135 each, adding to the 5,117 BTC previously purchased. Despite a 25% decline in its stock this year due to profitability challenges post-Bitcoin halving, the stock rebounded following news of a stake purchase by activist hedge fund Starboard Value.

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• Dec 14, 12:44 PM Cointelegraph

  Coinbase addresses $1 billion lawsuit over wBTC delisting and its own cbBTC token

  Coinbase is facing a $1 billion lawsuit from BiT Global Digital, alleging anticompetitive behavior involving the delisting of Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) to favor its own Coinbase BTC (cbBTC). The lawsuit claims Coinbase's decision undermines wBTC's market position, violating US antitrust laws. In response, Coinbase's chief legal officer defended the company's stringent listing standards and decision-making process.

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• Dec 13, 11:40 AM CoinDesk

  World Liberty Financial’s $2M LINK bet fuels Chainlink rally to 2021 price levels

  World Liberty Financial, backed by Donald Trump, acquired an additional $1 million in Chainlink's LINK tokens, bringing its total investment to $2 million. This purchase followed an acquisition of $246,000 in AAVE tokens. LINK is now the fourth-largest holding in their portfolio, after Ether, Bitcoin, and Tether. The increased holdings have contributed to a significant rise in LINK's market price, with a 22% increase over the past week and a surge of over 130% since World Liberty first invested, pushing LINK to early 2021 price levels.

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• Dec 12, 5:09 PM Cointelegraph

  Grayscale introduces new investment funds for Lido and Optimism tokens

  Grayscale Investments introduced two new crypto funds, the Grayscale Lido DAO Trust and Grayscale Optimism Trust, focusing on Lido's LDO and Optimism's OP tokens. These funds target investments in Ethereum's largest liquid staking protocol and a leading layer-2 scaling solution, contributing to Ethereum's overall efficiency, security, and scalability. Available only to qualified investors, these funds expand Grayscale's portfolio, reinforcing its position as a major player in the crypto investment space.

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• Dec 12, 9:49 AM The Block

  Frax Finance teams up with IQ to launch AI agents on blockchain

  Frax Finance, in partnership with IQ, is developing an AI tech stack named AIVM on its Layer 2 blockchain, Fraxtal. The AIVM will utilize a proof-of-inference consensus to validate transactions using AI and machine learning, aiming to enable autonomous AI agents without a single control point. This development is part of Frax's 2025 Vision Roadmap to evolve into the decentralized central bank of crypto, including rebranding its stablecoin and network enhancements.

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• Dec 11, 6:47 PM CoinDesk

  Pantera Capital predicts shift to fundamental investing in crypto

  Cosmo Jiang from Pantera Capital emphasizes the importance of fundamental investing for the future growth of the crypto market, highlighting that sustainable profits in crypto will increasingly depend on fundamentals like cash flow, not merely speculative interest. Jiang points to the necessity of attracting institutional capital, which focuses on solid fundamentals, for continued market expansion. He suggests that product-market fit and effective execution by crypto projects will be central to selecting tokens for investment.

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• Dec 11, 8:57 AM The Block

  Ray Dalio advocates for Bitcoin as protective asset amid global debt concerns

  Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, endorsed gold and Bitcoin as preferable to debt assets in a speech at the Abu Dhabi Finance Week. Dalio highlighted the rising levels of indebtedness in major economies and the potential for future financial crises that could devalue conventional money. Despite his skepticism, Dalio admitted to owning bitcoin in 2021. Dalio stepped down from Bridgewater in October 2022, having relinquished his leadership roles over several years.

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• Dec 11, 6:30 AM Business Wire

  Circle and Binance partner to expand global reach of USDC

  Circle and Binance have formed a strategic partnership to enhance the utility of USD Coin (USDC) and expand its availability on Binance's exchange. This collaboration, announced during Abu Dhabi Finance Week, aims to integrate USDC into Binance's corporate treasury and increase its use across various financial services. Additionally, Circle will assist Binance in developing global finance and commerce relationships, furthering the adoption of stablecoins in the digital asset ecosystem.

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