Report: Crypto-Linked Human Trafficking Surged 85% in 2025 A new report from Chainalysis reveals a disturbing 85% increase in cryptocurrency payments tied to human trafficking networks over the past year. The data shows that while many of these syndicates operate out of Southeast Asia, their "customers" are globally distributed across the Americas, Europe, and Australia.
Key findings from the report include: Criminal Ecosystems: Trafficking is often intertwined with illegal gambling and "scam compounds" that force victims to conduct online fraud.
Shift to Messaging Apps: Criminals are moving away from the darknet toward Telegram to recruit victims and coordinate illicit payments.
The Role of Stablecoins: Many networks use stablecoins and specialized laundering groups to move funds quickly. Despite the rise in activity, the report highlights a silver lining: blockchain transparency. The public nature of these transactions provides authorities with "unprecedented visibility," leading to major seizures including $15 billion in BTC from a Cambodian scam center last year.
Treasury Secretary Predicts Big Crypto Recovery via "Clarity Act" U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has issued a bullish outlook for the digital asset market, urging Congress to pass the CLARITY Act by this spring. In a recent CNBC interview, Bessent emphasized that establishing a clear federal framework is the "very important" missing piece needed to stabilize the market and restore investor confidence.
Key Highlights: Regulation as a Catalyst: Bessent believes that the current market volatility is partly "self-inflicted" due to regulatory uncertainty. Passing the bill would provide the "comfort" institutional investors need to re-enter.
Bipartisan Push: While some crypto firms have resisted specific details of the bill, a bipartisan coalition is working to get it to President Trump’s desk before the mid-term elections.
Market Context: This prediction comes as Bitcoin shows signs of a recovery bounce near $68,000, with industry leaders like Elon Musk also fueling speculation for a major growth cycle heading into 2027. The Treasury’s stance signals a shift toward making the U.S. the "crypto capital of the world" through legislative certainty rather than enforcement. $BTC $ETH $SOL
ZeroLend Shuts Down: DeFi Protocol Winds Down After 3 Years DeFi lending protocol ZeroLend has announced it is shutting down, citing unsustainable economics and rising security threats. After three years of operation, the team pointed to thin margins, inactive blockchains, and a loss of support from price oracles as the primary reasons for the closure. +1
The protocol’s top priority is now ensuring users can safely withdraw their assets, particularly from low-liquidity chains like Manta, Zircuit, and XLAYER. All markets have been set to a 0% loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, effectively halting all new borrowing.
Additionally, users affected by last year's LBTC exploit on Base will receive partial refunds, funded by the team’s LINEA token allocation. Affected users are urged to contact official support channels and move their funds immediately as the project concludes its journey. $BTC $ETH $XRP #ZeroLend #DeFiNews، #CryptoExit
Steak ’n Shake Sees Massive Success with Bitcoin Integration Fast-food giant Steak ’n Shake is proving that Bitcoin adoption is a game-changer for traditional retail. Just nine months after accepting BTC, the company reports a "dramatic" surge in same-store sales and a massive 50% reduction in payment processing fees. The company has taken a unique approach by establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.
Instead of just holding the assets, these funds are used to pay out employee bonuses, directly sharing the crypto benefits with their workforce.
Furthermore, Steak ’n Shake has added $10 million in BTC to its corporate treasury, launched a Bitcoin-themed burger, and now donates a portion of sales to support open-source Bitcoin development. This move highlights how digital assets can drive both operational efficiency and brand loyalty in the food industry. $BTC $ETH $XRP #Bitcoinadoption #CryptoNews #BTC
UK's Crypto Hub Ambitions Hit by Regulatory Delays The UK’s goal of becoming a global digital asset leader is at risk due to slow legislative progress, warns Andrew MacKenzie, CEO of Agant. While the British government has pledged to position London as a crypto center, comprehensive rules for stablecoins and digital assets aren't expected to be fully implemented until 2027.
MacKenzie, whose firm recently achieved FCA registration for the sterling-pegged GBPA token, argues that while the regulatory direction is correct, the pace is insufficient. Unlike retail-focused assets, the GBPA is designed as institutional infrastructure for payments and tokenized settlements.
As UK banks increasingly prioritize blockchain technology at the executive level, industry leaders believe faster regulatory clarity is essential to maintain a competitive edge and support the long-term transition of financial services. $BTC $ETH $SOL #CryptoRegulationBattle #UKCrypto #StablecoinSafety
Crazy Journey of $PIPPIN from AI Joke to $650M Beast
Picture this: A VC (Yohei Nakajima) messes around with ChatGPT, generates a cute unicorn SVG, AI names it "Pippin" – boom, community launches memecoin on Solana Pump.fun. Fast forward: Yohei endorses it, buys supply, turns it into autonomous AI agent on X that posts, draws, chats. Now? PIPPIN trades ~$0.645, market cap $645M+, and it's defying dips with strong holders. This isn't random pump-dump; it's meme culture + real AI experiment. "Pippinian Naturalism" philosophy, Wobbly Worlds lore – community owns the story. Started as fun, now it's legend in Solana ecosystem.
$BAS Current dip (~$0.64 zone) feels like gift after 120%+ weekly pump. Volume still high, no major sells. If AI agents meta heats up (and it will), this could 5x-10x easy.$JELLYJELLY Love stories like this underdog to king. Share your entry story in comments let's build the legend together! #HarvardAddsETHExposure #WriteToEarnUpgrade #TrumpCanadaTariffsOverturned #TradeCryptosOnX
Don’t worry if you don’t have a personal geomancer on your phone we’ve done the cosmic legwork for you, $RPL rounding up this year’s Chinese zodiac fortune guide with the help of a seasoned master. $BNB $SIREN #chinesenewyear #Chine #BTCVSGOLD #TradeCryptosOnX #MarketRebound
PIPPIN's Chart & Fundamentals Are Screaming Opportunity
Traders, let's break this down properly. $PIPPIN at ~$0.646, -6% 24h but that's healthy correction after insane run (ATH ~$0.75 recently). On-chain: circulating supply 1B, FDV same, no unlocks drama. Volume $55M+ daily means liquidity is solid on Binance Alpha/spot. Chart wise: 4h timeframe shows pullback to EMA support, RSI dipping to oversold (~35), MACD ready for bullish crossover. Weekly chart? Pure uptrend channel intact. Key levels: support $0.627 (recent low), resistance $0.70-$0.74. Break $0.70 with volume spike = moonshot to $1+ possible in bull phase. Fundamentals pop: AI unicorn + autonomous agent framework (open-source tools for devs), community buzzing on X/Telegram. Unlike pure memes, this has utility narrative – AI posting, interacting 24/7. Dip buyers winning big here. $RPL
Hey fam, if you're not watching $PIPPIN today, you're missing one of the wildest rides in crypto! This Solana meme king born from a fun AI unicorn SVG that ChatGPT named "Pippin" has turned into a full blown autonomous AI influencer experiment. Price sitting around $0.645 right now (down ~6% in 24h after hitting $0.74 highs), but look at the bigger picture: weekly gains over 120%, market cap pushing $650M, and 24h volume still crushing $50M+! The narrative is fire community-driven, open-source AI agents that post, interact, and build "Wobbly Worlds." It's not just another meme; it's blending viral fun with real AI utility. Whales are accumulating on this dip, volume profile shows strong support at $0.62-$0.63. If we reclaim $0.70, next leg could send it to $0.85+ easy. #VVVSurged55.1%in24Hours #PEPEBrokeThroughDowntrendLine #USJobsData #TrumpCanadaTariffsOverturned #TradeCryptosOnX $SIREN $INIT
Spot This Before It's Gone: $PIPPIN 's Stealth Climb Is About to Explode Pippinis quietly defying the 2026 crypto slump, up over 78% YTD on AI agent hype that's drawing smart money like a magnet. This mid-cap gem's decentralized intelligence framework isn't just buzz it's real tech solving real problems, with partnerships stacking up and on-chain activity surging. Traders are whispering about a sentiment flip that could rocket it 2-3x as adoption hits critical mass. If you're chasing alpha that turns heads, this is it—get in early or watch from the sidelines. Peek at $HYPE and $STABLE for matching momentum. #USJobsData #PEPEBrokeThroughDowntrendLine #MarketRebound #OpenClawFounderJoinsOpenAI #ZAMAPreTGESale