Bitcoin(BTC)

French authorities rescued Ledger co-founder David Balland and his wife from a crypto ransom plot after kidnappers severed his finger and sent it as a threat. Media was asked to withhold reporting to protect the rescue, while initial reports misidentified the victim, raising suspicions of deliberate misdirection.

Crypto executives criticise the $TRUMP and $MELANIA tokens for damaging the industry's reputation and exploiting retail investors. US Representative Gerald Connolly has called for an investigation into Trump’s financial ties to crypto ventures like World Liberty Financial (WLF), warning that his involvement mixes politics with personal profit, exposing investors to high risks.

Standard Chartered encouraged investors to buy Bitcoin during price dips, projecting it could reach $200,000 by 2025. The bank attributed recent market corrections to regulatory uncertainty but expects institutional investments to drive future growth.

Rumours about the alleged kidnapping of Ledger co-founder Eric Larchevêque have sparked controversy, with reports dismissing them as a hoax due to a lack of evidence or police confirmation. The launch of the “Justice for Eric” meme coin added to the intrigue but quickly collapsed, highlighting the ongoing challenge of misinformation in the blockchain community.

An Australian couple has made the local headlines by putting their home in Ballarat up for sale in a BTC only auction. The couple, Melissa Bower and Trudy Purcell initially wanted to renovate the old miners' cottage into something "magnificent", but it proved to be a harder task than the couple thought. But why did they choose Bitcoin specifically?

Google Trends shows a surge in interest in buying cryptocurrency, driven by President Trump’s meme coin launch, inauguration, and anticipation of crypto-friendly policies, which has propelled digital assets into the mainstream.

The Trump administration omitted cryptocurrency from its priority list and inaugural speech, triggering an over 30% drop in Trump’s meme coin. While optimism persists, concerns over long-term support are growing.

Melania Trump has entered the meme coin market with her own token, following President-elect Donald Trump’s crypto venture. TRUMP’s price briefly dipped before recovering, sparking speculation and insider trading allegations. Critics question the legitimacy of Trump’s crypto efforts and their broader impact.

A takeaway worker was accused of money laundering after she was found in possession of a cryptocurrency wallet that contained 150 Bitcoins, which is worth nearly $15 million at today's prices. Prosecutors told the court that there is no way she could possess so much Bitcoin.

Coinbase has relaunched Bitcoin-backed loans via Morpho on its Ethereum layer-2 network, Base. With a $100,000 USDC cap and a 133% collateral requirement, the offering ensures lender protection while supporting borrowers.