Author: Sahil Poudel

Strategy Expands Bitcoin Holdings with Another $10.7M Purchase

Brief Summary: Strategy, which was once MicroStrategy, bought 130 BTC to its inventory for $10.7 million, bringing its total holding to 499,226 BTC. The company, established by Michael Saylor, continues to believe in its Bitcoin strategy despite market volatility and a loss in its stock price.

Bitcoin corporate giant Strategy has added to its holdings, purchasing 130 BTC for around $10.7 million at an average price of $83,000 per BTC. The latest purchase contributes to the company’s total Bitcoin holding of 499,226 BTC, valued at over $33 billion with an average price of $66,360 per BTC.

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Strategy creator Michael Saylor purchased the unit on March 17, marking a 6.9% return on BTC year-to-date. Despite the purchase, Strategy’s STRK shares fell 1% during pre-market trading, Nasdaq data indicates.

The disclosure is a week after Strategy stated that it would raise more capital to buy more Bitcoins even if there is doubt in the market. The company will raise $21 billion using its class A strike preferred stock issue, a component of its ambitious “21/21” plan to raise and invest $42 billion worth of Bitcoin.

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An SEC filing recently suggests Strategy could use proceeds from sale for general corporate purposes, including further Bitcoin purchases. The company also has a buyback option in the event STRK drops 25% below its issue price.

Californian Man Sentenced to 7 Years for Crypto Money Laundering

Summary: John Khuu, a California resident, has been sentenced to 87 months in prison for laundering money through Bitcoin and selling fake drugs on the dark web. His arrest was part of Operation Crypto Runner.

A California man, John Khuu, has been sentenced to seven years and three months in prison for running a cryptocurrency-based money laundering scheme and selling counterfeit drugs. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Khuu used Bitcoin to facilitate illegal transactions on the dark web.

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Authorities in Texas presented evidence that Khuu illegally imported fake MDMA from Germany and sold it to U.S. customers through dark web marketplaces. He received payments in Bitcoin, which he later converted into U.S. dollars. He was also indicted separately in the Northern District of California for unlawfully importing a Schedule I controlled substance.

His arrest was part of **Operation Crypto Runner**, an initiative targeting high-level criminal organizations involved in illegal crypto activities. Khuu had faced multiple legal charges before his sentencing. The Eastern District of Texas charged him with money laundering on May 18, 2022, while the Northern District of California charged him with drug importation on August 17, 2022.

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Authorities finally arrested him on August 19, 2022, at a residence in Garden Grove, California.

TRON Tops Blockchain Revenue, Beating Ethereum and Bitcoin

Summary: TRON is currently the top-grossing blockchain, overtaking Ethereum and Bitcoin. Stablecoin and memecoin trading has driven the increase while TRX, the cryptocurrency, has declined by 9.22% to $0.2230.

TRON is here as the top-grossing blockchain in the last week, trailed by Ethereum, Solana, and Bitcoin. The network also experienced high levels of user engagement, with a total of over 6.19 million active addresses and 60 million transactions, reflecting a 3.2% surge.

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Bitcoin was not as lucky. The revenue in fees from mining on the network declined 45% and collected only $3.03 million. To make things worse, active addresses on Bitcoin decreased 7.5%, reflecting slower traffic on-chain.

TRON’s revenue growth is largely fueled by its increasing stablecoin ecosystem as well as the popularity of memecoins on its network. TRON alone accounted for $566 million in transaction-based revenue in Q3 2024, surpassing Ethereum and Bitcoin.Its popularity is driven partly by minimal transaction charges, as well as in DeFi and stablecoin markets.

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Despite all that revenue surge, native token TRON, TRX, went down 9.22% last week. It’s currently selling at $0.2230 with a market capitalization of $21 billion.

Telegram’s Pavel Durov Leaves France for Dubai, TON Surges 20%

Summary: Telegram creator Pavel Durov has left France for Dubai after a court approved him to leave. His departure follows the continuation of an investigation into illicit use of Telegram. Toncoin (TON) reacted with an 18% jump, to $3.41, in response to the news.

Telegram’s founder, Pavel Durov, has officially left France after receiving court approval to travel. A French judge granted his request on March 13, allowing him to leave the country for several weeks. Sources confirmed he departed from Le Bourget airport near Paris with the authorities’ consent.

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Durov was detained in August 2023 after French prosecutors accused Telegram of enabling criminal activity. He was released on a $5.5 million bail but was prohibited from exiting France until the investigation was concluded. While the court now allows him to travel, it is not clear if he will be required to return.

News of his departure had a strong effect on the crypto market. Toncoin (TON), the cryptocurrency linked to The Open Network, surged over 18% to $3.41. Trading volume jumped 200% to $486 million, pushing its market cap to $8.4 billion.

Durov, who holds Russian, French, and UAE passports, maintains that Telegram is innocent of criminal activity. During a December 2024 hearing, he stated, “I did not create Telegram for criminals,” but conceded that others misuse the platform.

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His move to Dubai, known for its business-friendly policies, has sparked discussions about privacy and regulation. French officials have yet to comment.

India Arrests Russian-Lithuanian Tied to Crypto Money Laundering Case

Summary:Indian authorities have arrested Aleksej Besciokov, a Russian-Lithuanian citizen, for money laundering and violating U.S. sanctions through his role in the Moscow-based crypto exchange Garantex. The U.S. accuses him of handling illicit transactions worth billions and seeks his extradition. He faces up to 45 years in prison for charges including money laundering and operating an unlicensed financial service. His arrest follows a global crackdown on Garantex, with U.S. authorities seizing domain names and freezing $26 million in related funds.

Indian law enforcement has detained Aleksej Besciokov, a Lithuanian citizen residing in Russia, over allegations of laundering money and breaching international sanctions through the Russian cryptocurrency exchange Garantex. The arrest, a joint operation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Kerala Police, came after a U.S. request for his extradition.

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Authorities caught Besciokov allegedly attempting to flee India. The U.S. Justice Department claims he managed Garantex, a Moscow-based exchange sanctioned in 2022 for processing over $96 billion in transactions tied to cybercriminals, terrorist groups, and drug trafficking networks.

Last week, U.S., German, and Finnish authorities dismantled Garantex’s digital infrastructure in a broader crackdown on illicit crypto activities. Besciokov faces charges of money laundering, violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, and operating an unlicensed financial service—offenses carrying up to 45 years in prison.

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Following a U.S. request, India swiftly issued a warrant on March 10. Besciokov will soon appear in court for extradition hearings. Meanwhile, U.S. authorities seized Garantex-linked domains and froze $26 million in related funds. Experts warn that while this is a major victory against illicit finance, similar exchanges often reappear under new identities.

Coinbase Expands Government Partnerships, Delists Tokens for New York Users

Summary: Coinbase is now collaborating with 145 U.S. government agencies and 29 international ones as crypto regulations evolve. The exchange, which safeguards nearly 12% of global crypto assets, plans to expand its workforce by 2025 due to growing institutional demand. Meanwhile, it has delisted FLOKI, TURBO, and GIGA for New York users following a routine review, with trading set to end on April 14. The company remains a key player in institutional and governmental crypto adoption, with strong compliance credentials enabling it to operate across all U.S. states.

Coinbase is strengthening its ties with government agencies, now working with 145 in the U.S. and 29 internationally amid a changing regulatory environment. The exchange has established itself as a major custodian, securing nearly 12% of the world’s crypto assets and serving financial institutions offering spot crypto ETFs.

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CEO Brian Armstrong has signaled plans to hire 1,000 new employees by 2025, citing clearer regulations. After attending a White House crypto summit, he expressed confidence in increasing U.S. investments.

On March 13, Coinbase announced it would delist FLOKI, TURBO, and GIGA for New York users after a review found they no longer met listing standards. Trading will cease on April 14 at 2 PM ET.

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Coinbase remains a trusted partner for institutions and governments, helping them securely trade, store, and use crypto. The company holds key U.S. regulatory licenses, ensuring compliance in all states.

Brazil Eyes Blockchain for BRICS Trade, Moving Away from Joint Currency

Summary: Brazil is prioritizing blockchain to streamline BRICS cross-border trade during its presidency of the bloc, moving away from past discussions about a joint currency. The focus is on improving transaction efficiency rather than challenging the U.S. dollar, especially as concerns over potential trade tariffs grow. Brazil’s central bank has been testing Drex, a tokenized financial infrastructure, though regulatory and privacy hurdles remain.

Brazil appears to be pushing for blockchain-based improvements in BRICS trade, potentially making it a key priority during its year-long presidency of the bloc, which started in January. According to Brazilian newspaper Valor Econômico, the country is shifting focus from discussions about a common BRICS currency to enhancing transaction efficiency.

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Sources close to the talks suggest that Brazil has no plans to create a currency that could compete with the dollar. This comes as former U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened heavy tariffs on nations attempting to move away from the American currency.

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Instead, the strategy may involve integrating blockchain into Brazil’s financial system. The country’s central bank has been testing Drex, a project designed to create a tokenized infrastructure for financial transactions. However, the initiative faces challenges in maintaining both privacy and regulatory compliance.

Singapore and Vietnam Strengthen Ties with Digital Asset Cooperation

Summary: Vietnam and Singapore have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to collaborate on digital asset regulation and the regulation of capital markets. The agreement, signed between the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Vietnam’s State Securities Commission (SSC), is intended to facilitate regulatory cooperation as well as the sharing of information.

This partnership will help Vietnam develop its regulatory system for digital assets and deepen cooperation in combating money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism. It is harmonious with the other economic ties between both nations, following an upgrade to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

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The signing of the LOI during a Singapore official visit was attended by Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Vietnam General Secretary To Lam.

MAS Assistant Managing Director Lim Tuang Lee emphasized cross-border financial interconnectivity as key, while SSC Chair Vu Thi Chan Phuong characterized the agreement as a significant step towards promoting economic cooperation and having transparent financial markets.

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Bitcoin Rallies to $81K as Crypto Market Rebounds

Summary: Bitcoin increased 5.48% in the past 24 hours to $81,946.75 and took its market capitalization to $1.62 trillion. Trading activity also picked up with a 20.14% rise in 24-hour volume to $46.97 billion.

The general crypto market is recovering, with a market value of $2.64 trillion, up 1.84% from yesterday. Ethereum and XRP, other large cryptocurrencies, also registered slight gains.

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This rally follows a recent slide driven by inflation concerns and Trump’s foreign policy initiatives. All expected a rally after the White House Crypto Summit but witnessed prices drop instead. The last biggest price rally came when Trump indicated a U.S. crypto reserve.

And now, with Bitcoin leading the pack, hope is trickling into the markets again. Investors remain hopeful but fingers crossed, waiting to see if this trend holds.

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Chainlink’s Sergey Nazarov on White House Crypto Summit and U.S. Blockchain Leadership

Summary: Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov had his say on the White House Crypto Summit, which was held for the first time at the behest of President Donald Trump on March 7, 2025. The summit reaffirmed the U.S. government’s resolve to position America as the world leader in blockchain and digital assets.

Nazarov highlighted the increasing take-up of stablecoins, whose 2-5% holdings of U.S. treasury market today mean that they can no longer be disregarded by regulators. He further indicated digital asset holdings, awareness among regulators, and greater intersection of DeFi and TradFi into on-chain markets.

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In order to win in the world of crypto, America must build new, regulation-friendly digital assets that can coexist harmoniously on blockchain platforms. Chainlink is a part of this infrastructure with its decentralized oracle network and making proof of reserves and linkages of tokenized assets possible through CCIP.

As regulatory systems take form, the world’s blockchain ecosystem is closely observing how the U.S. will define digital asset innovation, which could become the model for the future of decentralized finance.

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