Author: Anmol Khatiwada

Europol Cracks Down on Underground Bankers Linked to Crypto Crime Network

Europol busted underground crypto bankers across six countries, seizing €25M+ in assets and weakening major crime networks.

Europol has just scored one of the biggest victories with the dismantling of an underground network of bankers running crypto dirty operations. These bankers weren’t your everyday fraudsters but professionals who had been involved in money laundering to feed drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and even contract killers.

It was a huge takedown: six countries, including Spain, Belgium, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, and the United States. The operation focused on a Europol-coordinated strike in Malaga, Spain, managing to arrest nine suspects with more than €25 million in cryptocurrency, €35,000 in cash, and a haul of gold and luxury goods. These arrests reached deep into the financial networks that keep international crime groups running.

Of course, it is not Europol’s first rodeo; after all, there were other similar busts like Operations GORGON and WHITEWALL, in which they targeted the financial backbones of the criminal networks. Plus with their expertise in organized crime and financial investigations, law enforcers are turning the screw on underground banking.

What is unique about this bust, however, is the international collaboration wherein agencies across Europe, even extending to the U.S., shared information and coordinated efforts. The results? The crime networks are left scrambling, and Europol has sent a very clear message: there’s nowhere to hide from them.

This operation does not just undermine criminal organizations; it shows that the key to really knocking out these criminal organizations is through international cooperation.

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Blockchain Bandit Resurfaces, Moves $172M in Stolen Ether After Two Years

The “Blockchain Bandit” moved $172M ETH after two years, exposing weak private keys and sparking crypto security concerns.

The infamous “Blockchain Bandit” is back in action, moving a massive $172 million in Ether (ETH) after a two-year break. On December 30, the hacker transferred 51,000 ETH from 10 different wallets to a single multi-signature address, consolidating the stolen funds. The transfers happened in batches of 5,000 ETH between 8:54 pm and 9:18 pm UTC.

The funds had been untouched since January 2023, when the Bandit also moved 470 Bitcoin (BTC). This hacker first made waves by using a method called “Ethercombing,” where they exploited weak private keys by guessing them with faulty code and random number generators. In total, the Bandit managed to crack 732 private keys, linked to over 49,000 transactions, according to blockchain investigator ZachXBT.

Experts in crypto security are very vocal on their concerns about the risks associated with vulnerable private key creation. Weaker random number generators can make it easy for hackers to copy keys and access wallets. The rise in bitcoin thefts coincides with the Blockchain Bandit’s comeback, with billions stolen in the last year alone.

To stop these assaults that target centralized exchanges and custodial platforms, experts are encouraging cryptocurrency users and platforms to bolster security with better key management, cold wallets, and regular system audits.

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Sonic Foundation Unveils $SONIC Token to Power Scalable Blockchain Ecosystem

Sonic drops $SONIC token. This time its blending Solana tech and HyperGrid scaling for next-gen blockchain gaming, staking, and Web3 growth.



Sonic Foundation just unveiled $SONIC, a utility token designed to supercharge its blockchain ecosystem. The Sonic HyperGrid architecture fuses Solana’s high-speed blockchain with horizontal scaling to solve major issues like scalability, costs, and customizability—making it a game-changer for Web3 apps and on-chain gaming. Its just faster transactions, cheaper fees, and seamless integration.

Sonic SVM, the first Solana Virtual Machine chain, takes scalability to the next level by syncing states almost instantly. $SONIC fuels this ecosystem, acting as a payment method, staking reward, and governance tool for validators and users.

Here’s the deal: 2.4 billion $SONIC tokens will power Sonic’s growth. At launch (January 7, 2025), 15% of the supply hits the market. Distribution? Community and dApps get 30%, HyperGrid rewards 20%, early backers 23%, and the rest goes to the foundation and advisors. Plus, an upcoming 7% airdrop rewards early contributors, with last-minute entries open via SonicX.

Roadmap vibes? Q4 this year kicks off the Sonic SVM launch and $SONIC token drop. Q1 next year sees mainnet bridges and NFT integrations, while Q2 expands staking and gaming tools.

Sonic’s goal? Bridge Web2 to Web3, redefine blockchain gaming, and scale blockchain tech for the masses.

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Crypto Scam Exposes Three Victims from Ottawa

Three Ottawa locals got scammed in a global crypto fraud. OPP froze $24M, traced wallets, but arrests are tricky abroad.

Three Ottawa folks just got hit by a massive global crypto scam, according to the Ottawa Police Service (OPS). The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) stepped up with Project Atlas to fight crypto fraud, freezing $24M in fake losses and stopping scammers from stealing over $70M. But here’s the catch—no arrests yet because the culprits are abroad, outside Canadian jurisdiction.

Detective Constable John Armit explained how the OPP used blockchain tech to trace stolen crypto to shady wallets. But tracking down these scammers is tough since crypto is mostly anonymous. The cops followed the victims’ transactions on the public blockchain and flagged dodgy wallets to exchanges worldwide, saving future victims from falling for the same trap.

Turns out, scammers tricked people with fake platforms showing fake profits, luring them to invest more. When they tried withdrawing funds, they were slapped with a bogus “crypto tax.” One victim lost six figures, another $10K, but thankfully, one person got an early heads-up and dodged a huge loss.

Mike Bickerton from the OPP Cyber-Enabled Fraud Team warned that scammers are using crypto for global money laundering. His advice? Learn the red flags before diving into crypto investments. Stay sharp, folks—don’t get played!

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Scam Token Linked to Squid Game Tanks 99% on Base

A fake Squid Game token on Base crashed 99%, scamming investors with a pump-and-dump tied to show hype.

A new scam token tied to the hit show Squid Game just popped up on the Base blockchain—and it’s already a disaster. In under 9 hours, the token dropped a massive 99%, wiping out all its value. The whole thing was a pump-and-dump scam where the creator held most of the token supply, hyping it up to pump the price and then selling off at the top, leaving investors in the dust.

The token, called SQUID, had no actual connection to the show, even though scammers used the buzz from Squid Game Season 2 to make it look legit. The hype came at the perfect time, with the show’s latest episode featuring a character running a failed crypto project, adding fuel to the fire. Investors rushed in, but once the token hit its peak, it all came crashing down.

As of this writing, the token’s price is only $0.0111255, or almost nothing. The Squid Game storyline may have been used as a backdrop to give this scam the appearance of legitimacy, but it was something more sinister and merely a means for scammers to profit quickly while causing others to suffer significant losses.

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Hamster DAO Greenlights Layer-2 Blockchain on TON

Hamster Kombat DAO is hyped, voting to build a Layer-2 on TON. Big moves, $1M bounty, and Web3 dominance ahead!

Hamster Kombat is leveling up! Its DAO just voted to roll out a fresh Layer-2 blockchain on TON (The Open Network). This move isn’t just tech talk; it’s about giving the Hamster Kombat community the boost it’s been asking for. With one of the biggest squads in Web3, the team’s gearing up to drop some serious innovation and make waves in the blockchain space.

This news hits right after the DAO approved its first-ever proposal: a series of lit events for token holders featuring a massive $1 million bounty pool. Yeah, you read that right—a milly! The vibes in the community are pure fire as they look forward to what’s next.

The development team has already started working on the Layer-2 blockchain and is fulfilling their pledge to provide DAO with their strategy details shortly. This update is more about maintaining Hamster Kombat’s position as a pioneer in Web3 and decentralized gaming than it is about showing off technical prowess.

So fasten your seatbelt if you’re a member of the Hamster Kombat family! Bigger, better, and bolder movements in the crypto realm are the focus of the upcoming chapter. It’s going to be amazing, so stay tuned.

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$100K Out of Reach: Is Bitcoin Facing Another Downtrend?

Bitcoin’s chillin’ below $100K, battling resistance. Market vibes are sideways, but big moves could drop post-New Year hype.

The crypto market’s on snooze mode this Christmas, and Bitcoin’s feeling the chill too. After peaking at a wild $108,364 on December 17, BTC’s been stuck in a loop, hovering around $96,800, according to TradingView. That $100K milestone? Yeah, it’s playing hard to get, now flipping from a comfy support to a stubborn resistance. Twice in the past week, Bitcoin tried to climb back up but got swatted down.

So, what’s the vibe? If Bitcoin can break past $100K this weekend, it might spark another moon mission toward a fresh all-time high. Otherwise, it’s a waiting game.

Looking ahead, the crypto fam’s all eyes on next year. Hopes are high for Bitcoin to pop off once it enters the price discovery zone. Plus, there’s a wildcard in the mix: President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20. Word is, his first couple of weeks in office could bring major volatility across markets, and you know crypto loves drama.

TL;DR: Bitcoin’s stuck in holiday mode but could heat up soon. Whether it soars or sinks, 2025’s shaping up to be spicy. Strap in, hodlers.

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Bitget Token (BGB) Soars 325% in a Month, Hits All-Time High of $6

Bitget Token (BGB) surged 325% in a month which made the token hit an all-time high of $6.80, driven by its merger with Bitget Wallet Token and a new partnership with TRON. Analysts caution about potential price consolidation.

Bitget Token (BGB) has been on a serious rocket ride, skyrocketing by 325% over the last month and hitting a new all-time high of $6.80. The price surge is being linked to the merger of BGB with Bitget Wallet Token (BWB), sparking a huge rally.

With the token’s market cap now at $9.52 billion and trading volume hitting $1.3 billion—up a whopping 267.88%—things are looking pretty wild for BGB. But before you dive in, experts are raising some flags. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is showing that BGB might be in overbought territory, hinting at a potential price dip or consolidation soon.

One of the major catalysts behind this surge is Bitget’s recent move to partner with TRON, a big player in the blockchain world. This partnership aims to make blockchain tech more accessible to everyone, adding more fuel to the fire.

Currently, Bitget is the 6th largest crypto exchange globally, and with a circulating supply of 1.4 billion BGB coins out of 2 billion, it’s clear that BGB has a lot of room to grow. Just be cautious—prices might stabilize soon!

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xAI Secures $6 Billion in Funding to Revolutionize AI Development


Elon Musk’s xAI secured $6 billion in funding to advance its Grok chatbot and supercomputer, aiming to rival OpenAI while prioritizing safe AI development backed by major investors and tech giants.

So, who’s betting on xAI? Heavyweights like BlackRock, Fidelity, and Sequoia Capital, plus some serious backing from chip giants NVIDIA and AMD. Even investment funds from Saudi Arabia and Qatar are in on the action.

One of xAI’s standout creations is the Grok chatbot, already making waves on Elon’s social media platform, X. The chatbot runs on what Musk calls the world’s largest supercomputer, set up in Memphis. It’s designed to handle the heavy-duty computing needed for next-gen AI tech, and it’s already live for X subscribers.

For your information, Musk co-founded OpenAI but parted ways with Sam Altman and the team in 2018 due to creative disagreements. Even though he has been outspoken about the risks of AI, he maintains that he is developing xAI to make AI safer for people.

The bottom line? With $6 billion under its belt, xAI is ready to take the AI industry by storm. This is only the beginning, so stay tuned!

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Pi Network Restores Password Recovery Option for Users

Pi Network’s new SMS recovery feature helps users reset passwords, secure accounts, and protect Pi coins before the Grace Period ends.

Hey Pioneers! Pi Network just dropped a game-changer by bringing back the “Forgot Password” feature. Now you can easily recover your account via SMS and protect your precious Pi coins.

Here’s how it works:

  1. Open the Pi Network app on your phone.
  2. Tap “Forgot Password” on the login screen.
  3. Enter the phone number linked to your Pi account.
  4. Check your phone for an SMS verification code and enter it.
  5. Set a new password, and voilà—you’re back in!

This update couldn’t have come at a better time. With the Grace Period deadline looming, it’s crunch time to secure your account. Forgetting your password doesn’t mean you lose your Pi anymore. Pi Network is making sure you don’t miss out by letting you easily recover access and safeguard your coins.

Why’s this so big? In crypto, losing access to your account is a nightmare. But Pi Network’s move shows they’ve got your back, making security and user-friendliness a priority.

Don’t sleep on this! Recover your account now and secure your Pi before the Grace Period ends. Pi Network’s keeping it real as it preps for the Open Mainnet phase—don’t get left behind!

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