Bybit Hacker Used Binance for Gas Fees Before $1.4B Heist

Summary: One new twist in the Bybit hack is that the hacker used Binance to fund gas charges just days prior to stealing $1.4 billion from the exchange. This raises questions about who the hacker is and if Binance’s records could be used to find them.

The Bybit hack just got even more interesting. It turns out the attacker used Binance to top up Ethereum for gas fees three days before pulling off the $1.4 billion exploit. This detail was uncovered by blockchain analytics firm Lookonchain, adding a new layer to the investigation.

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The fact that the hacker interacted with Binance means there’s a chance their identity could be traced. Security experts at Beosin are urging Bybit to contact Binance to access KYC (Know Your Customer) data linked to the transaction. If the account is legit, it could be a major break in the case.

That said, there’s a high probability the Binance account was purchased on the dark web meaning fake credentials were used, making it a dead end. Only a police investigation, with cooperation from both Bybit and Binance, can confirm if this lead is useful.

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The hack was particularly on Bybit’s Ethereum cold wallet, which emptied 401,347 ETH. The market repercussions are already being experienced, with the price of Ethereum dipping 6% once the news emerged. Everyone is now waiting for Binance and whether their data can be utilized to track the hacker.

Nigeria Files $81.5B Lawsuit Against Binance for Economic Losses and Tax Evasion

Nigeria is suing Binance for $81.5B tax evasion and economic damage, blaming it for the collapse of the naira and financial instability.



Nigeria just sued Binance for a record $81.5 billion, claiming that the exchange had caused enormous economic damage to the country. The suit demands $79.5 billion in damages and $2 billion in unpaid taxes. The devaluation of the naira was largely brought about by Binance, the Nigerian government claimed, and its foreign exchange trading damaged the local economy.

Binance has not yet registered in Nigeria, but the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) argues that the exchange has adequate presence to be taxed as a company. FIRS is requesting Binance to pay tax and penalty from three and two yeas ago for late payment. The government is asking for a 26.75% rate of interest on the unpaid tax.

In addition to tax issues, Binance is facing four counts of tax evasion, from failure to file tax returns to helping users evade taxes. The firm had previously stated it’s working with Nigerian regulators to resolve tax problems but has not responded to the new suit.

Meanwhile, Binance stopped transactions in Nigerian naira in March 2024 after the government intensified its crackdown on crypto exchanges. Binance is also facing separate money laundering charges, which it denies.

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Whale Withdraws $20.8M in SOL from Binance—Is a Price Surge Incoming?

A crypto whale moved $20.8M in SOL from Binance, sparking speculation. Traders are betting on $162.8 as strong support.


A crypto whale just made a major move, pulling 123,500 SOL (worth $20.8M) out of Binance, according to Lookonchain. Big transfers like this usually hint at accumulation, but so far, Solana’s price hasn’t popped—it’s still chilling around $172.

Solana recently dipped below its $180 support and is now under the 200 EMA, signaling a bearish trend. Right now, SOL is hovering between $160 and $180, and unless it breaks past $190, it might stay stuck. If it drops below $160, we could see another 20% crash to $120.

But not all are bearish. Data from Coinglass shows that traders have stacked $145M worth of long positions above $162.8, indicating that they are confident this level will resist. In the event that enough buyers come in, SOL could bounce back.

It’s a waiting game for now—will the whale’s shift trigger a rally, or do we have more dips ahead? Solana traders are crossing their fingers.

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Binance Brings Back USD Deposits and Withdrawals After 18 Months

Almost a year and a half afterwards, Binance.US eventually reopened USD deposits and withdrawals, a big step up for the exchange.

In a recent blog post update, Binance.US stated that customers will once more be able to deposit and withdraw USD through bank transfers (ACH). The feature will be available to all worthy customers within the next several days. To go along with this, the website is also returning fee-less ACH transactions, crypto staking, OTC trading, and a feature which enables customers to turn small cryptocurrency balances into usable cash.

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Interim CEO Norman Reed called the move a major milestone. “We are thrilled to restore fiat rails as we gain momentum in the new year,” he said, adding that this moment is one of the most unexpected comebacks for Binance.US since its struggles two years ago.

The exchange halted USD transactions in June last year after the SEC sued Binance and its founder, Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, accusing them of breaking securities laws and mishandling billions in customer funds. By October, Binance.US had stopped accepting USD entirely.

And then in November, the company resolved with U.S. regulators in a record-breaking $4.3 billion agreement, one of the largest in history. Under the agreement, Binance committed to adhering to regulatory requirements.

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Today, with regulations evolving and maybe a shift of government policy later this year, Binance.US is restarting full fiat services, possibly a turning point for crypto in the United States.

Nigeria Government vs. Binance’s Tigran: A Clash Over Corruption Allegations

Tigran Gambaryan accuses Nigeria of blackmail and torture, while the government denies the claims, sparking a heated online dispute.

The drama between Binance’s former exec Tigran Gambaryan and the Nigerian government is heating up. Gambaryan, who was arrested in February one year before while in Nigeria for a meeting with government officials about Binance, spent eight months in jail before being released on humanitarian grounds. During his time in custody, he was charged with money laundering and tax evasion.

After returning to the U.S., Gambaryan went off, accusing Nigerian officials, including those from the DSS (Nigeria’s State Security Services), of trying to extort $150 million in crypto from Binance. He claims he was tortured while in jail, even though he was in poor health, and that he was used as a scapegoat in the whole mess.

Of course, the Nigerian government is having none of it. They denied all of Gambaryan’s claims, calling them “falsehoods” and stating that his first visit wasn’t even official. They also said that his release wasn’t because of any humanitarian reason but due to diplomatic intervention. They even alleged that Binance tried to pay a $5 million ransom to free him, but it was rejected.

Gambaryan shot back on X (formerly Twitter), calling the government’s statement lies and promising more legal action in the future. This saga is only getting messier.

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Binance’s Tigran Gambaryan Speaks Out: Detained in Nigeria, Family in Distress

Binance exec Tigran Gambaryan suffered 8 months in Nigerian jail, accused of financial crimes, denied medical care, and extorted for $150M.



A few months back, a blurry courtroom video from Nigeria went viral—showing Binance executive Tigran Gambaryan, limping on a crutch, being dragged to court by security officers. Frustrated and in pain, he shouted, “This is so f***ed up.” That video exposed the harsh reality of his eight-month detention.

Tigran, an American citizen and former Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Binance, was arrested in Nigeria after being invited to a governmental meeting. He was accused of money laundering and tax evasion, but insists that Nigerian officials hired him as a scapegoat to blackmail Binance for $150 million. Even though Nigeria subsequently dropped the charges of money laundering, they continue to assert that Binance processed $26 billion in unreported crypto transactions.

During his 214-day ordeal, Tigran’s health suffered—his physicians had to proceed in a rush to repair a bulging disc, but the authorities delayed the surgery. Meanwhile, his relatives were suffering and, with emotional videos, his wife and mother were crying. His case still lingered in political and court drama, adding to the threats to his life.

Now at last back in the U.S. after getting out on medical bail, Tigran is coming forward—calling his arrest a nightmare and demanding accountability for what he experienced.

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Binance Claps Back at Reserve FUD: No Assets Sold

Binance just shut down the latest rumors about it secretly dumping assets after reports surfaced of a major drop in its reserves. The exchange made it clear—no assets were sold, and user funds are still locked up safe and sound.

According to data, Binance’s reserves at the end of January 2025 included 2,746 BTC, 275 million USDT, 174 ETH, and 4,179 SOL. But compared to December 2024—when it reportedly held 46,896 BTC, 2.99 billion USDT, 216,312 ETH, and 442,234 SOL—it looks like there’s been an $8 billion drop, setting off alarm bells.

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Binance isn’t having it. The team says these fluctuations aren’t because of asset sales but internal treasury management. In other words, they’re just moving money around behind the scenes, not cashing out. They also reminded everyone that user assets are fully backed and protected by the Secure Asset Fund for Users (SAFU)—a fund created just for emergencies.

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Plus, Binance’s Proof of Reserves system supposedly ensures everything is backed 1:1, meaning users can withdraw their money whenever they want. Even though Binance insists there’s nothing shady going on, crypto traders and analysts are keeping an eye out for any more unexpected moves.

Binance Under Fire Again: France Targets Exchange for Tax Fraud and More

Summary: Binance is again under fire in France over an investigation that implicates alleged tax fraud, money laundering, and even drug trafficking. The French prosecutors do not mince words, and this is the second probe against Binance after the two years ago investigation into illicit financing.

Binance is in hot water again as the French launch yet another investigation into the crypto exchange giant. Prosecutors have opened a formal probe into some pretty serious allegations: tax fraud, money laundering, and even drug trafficking. Although details about it are still scanty, this apparently serves as a sequel to France’s investigation done 2 years ago into the participation of Binance in shady financial dealings.

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Crypto had a tough past 2 years with the meltdown of FTX, which called for scrutiny across the world. Exchanges like Binance and Coinbase entered into the radar of regulators, and lawsuits were flying from all directions. Most prominently, Binance found itself under intense legal heat from the US Department of Justice and the SEC, right up to the historic $4.3 billion settlement with the DOJ.

The company has been in overhaul mode since. Founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ) stepped down as CEO, handed the reins to Richard Teng, and even served prison time before his release in late last year. Despite all this, the SEC isn’t backing down. Now, France is doubling down too.

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With Binance still the largest centralized exchange out there, the stakes couldn’t be any higher: will they weather the storm or is this the beginning of the end?

XRP Soars to Record Highs Across Binance, Kraken, and Bitfinex

XRP hits $3.37 ATH, fueled by legal wins, whale moves, SEC changes, and bullish patterns predicting more gains ahead.



XRP just flexed hard, hitting an all-time high of $3.37 on Binance, Kraken, and Bitfinex—beating its peak about seven years ago! The vibes are bullish, with the market hyped over SEC Chair Gary Gensler stepping down soon and Ripple winning big in court.

Big whales are making waves too. A transfer of 30M XRP (worth $76.1M) from Upbit to an unknown wallet caught everyone’s eye. Moves like this usually mean the big players are either loading up or prepping for a massive market shake-up. Analysts are buzzing that XRP could soon see double-digit percentage jumps.

EGRAG Crypto points to a “Megaphone Bottom” pattern, which has a 70% chance of a bullish breakout—predicting XRP could reach $8! Another analyst, World of Charts, says breaking out of a symmetrical triangle could push XRP to $4 soon.

Adding to the hype, the SEC’s legal drama might finally end. The new crypto-friendly leadership is incoming, Ripple’s case could shake up the entire industry. Plus, XRP’s open interest in derivatives hit $7.7B, showing traders are super optimistic.

Bottom line? XRP’s on fire, and it’s looking like last year could be the year it truly takes over.

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Binance Hits 250M Users, Sets Sights on 1 Billion by 2025

Summary: Binance has managed to hit an amazing and absolutely brilliant milestone with 250 million users, making massive waves and registered itself as the first and foremost crypto exchange to surpass $100 trillion in lifetime trading volume. Now, it’s aiming to onboard a billion users, all while bouncing back from tough regulatory challenges.

Quarter Billion and Counting
Binance is really showing off its crypto dominance, celebrating a user base of 250 million and a record $100 trillion in lifetime trading volume. CEO Richard Teng hyped it up on X, calling this milestone a step closer to their billion-user dream. With $22.6 billion in deposits this year alone—beating its top 10 competitors combined—Binance isn’t just winning; it’s crushing.

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Bouncing Back Like a Boss
The road wasn’t easy. From a $4.3 billion fine in the U.S. to regulatory heat in Nigeria and India, Binance had its share of battles. Founder CZ even spent time in jail before handing the reins to Teng, who’s now operating and managing the ship as it reaches its calm position. Key approvals, like India’s FIU nod, show Binance’s comeback game is strong.

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Eyeing That Billion
Teng isn’t shy about big goals. With a sharpened focus on compliance and user trust, Binance is transforming from a “crypto kid” to a global powerhouse. At this pace, hitting a billion users by 2025 feels less like a dream and more like destiny.

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