A long-running debate over the decentralization of the XRP Ledger (XRPL) has flared up again following a public exchange between Bitcoin advocate Bram Kanstein and Ripple CTO David Schwartz. The discussion centers on the origins of the XRP Ledger and whether a historical anomaly undermines claims that XRPL is decentralized. Kanstein recently reiterated his argument that the XRP Ledgers publicly available history does not start at Ledger 1, but rather at Ledger 32,570. According to him, this gap is evidence that XRP has been centralized since its inception. He argues that the absence of the...

A U.S. federal court has sentenced a key organizer of a massive crypto investment scam to 20 years in prison, underscoring Washingtons intensified crackdown on global cryptocurrency fraud schemes. The sentence was issued in absentia after the defendant fled electronic monitoring, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Daren Li, a 41-year-old dual citizen of China and St. Kitts and Nevis, was sentenced by a federal judge in California for his role in a $73 million crypto fraud and money-laundering conspiracy that targeted victims worldwide, including many in the United States....

Bitcoins recent sell-off appears to be losing momentum, with on-chain data and market indicators suggesting that selling pressure may be easing, even as uncertainty continues to cloud the broader crypto market. After plunging to its lowest level since President Donald Trumps second election victory, Bitcoin has stabilized and posted a modest recovery, prompting analysts to debate whether the worst of the drawdown is over or if the market remains in a prolonged bear phase. The worlds largest cryptocurrency is currently trading near $70,000, down more than 44% from its October 6 all-time high...

Financial technology trade groups led by the American Fintech Council are urging the U.S. Federal Reserve to move forward with a proposal that would grant certain non-bank financial firms direct access to the nations core payment rails. The initiative centers on the creation of a narrowly defined payment account, a limited Federal Reserve account that would allow eligible firms to send and settle payments directly without receiving full banking privileges. Supporters argue that a well-structured payment account could boost competition and innovation in the U.S. payments system while avoiding...

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has pushed back against criticism from Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong over delays surrounding the CLARITY Act, urging crypto firms and lawmakers to reach a compromise as regulatory uncertainty continues to weigh on the U.S. digital asset sector. His comments came just ahead of a White House meeting scheduled for today, where major crypto companies and banking institutions are set to discuss unresolved issues tied to the stalled crypto legislation. In a recent interview with FOX News, Bessent emphasized that advancing the CLARITY Act is more important now...

Bitcoin (BTC) has staged a sharp rebound after last weeks steep selloff that briefly pushed prices toward the $60,000 level, and a key on-chain indicator suggests U.S. investors are cautiously returning to the market. As of Tuesday, bitcoin was trading near $69,000, recovering more than 15% from its recent intraday low, even as it remains down over 10% on the week. One of the most closely watched indicators of U.S. demand, the Coinbase Bitcoin Premium Index, has shifted meaningfully. The index, which measures the price difference between bitcoin on Coinbase and the global market average,...

AI-generated deepfake videos featuring former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) and Binance co-founder Yi He have gone viral on Crypto Twitter, igniting widespread debate about how advanced artificial intelligence has become in replicating real-life crypto leaders. The short-form videos, shared extensively on X, are styled as dramatic internal affairs mini-series and use highly realistic AI avatars modeled on the two Binance founders. From lifelike voice cloning and facial movements to convincing emotional delivery, the production quality has stunned large segments of the crypto community....

Former FTX executive Ryan Salame, once a co-CEO of the collapsed crypto exchange, is drawing attention after launching a highly visible social media campaign that appears aimed at securing a presidential pardon from Donald Trump. Despite currently serving a 90-month federal prison sentence, Salames X account has recently become active with a steady stream of politically charged posts closely aligned with Trump-era Republican priorities. Over the past several weeks, Salames posts have praised conservative policies, criticized Democrats, and echoed Donald Trumps rhetoric on immigration...

After three consecutive weeks of steep declines, buying pressure is gradually returning to the crypto market. However, this recovery has not been strong enough to fully restore investor confidence. As a result, skepticism remains high, especially among derivatives traders. Several altcoins are now showing asset-specific catalysts that could trigger sharp price rebounds this week, potentially leading to significant short liquidations. Ethereum (ETH), Dogecoin (DOGE), and Zcash (ZEC) alone could account for more than $3.1 billion in liquidations if traders misjudge the risks. Ethereum has...

Crypto traders are recalibrating their expectations for U.S. Federal Reserve rate cuts this year following President Donald Trumps nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve chair. The shift has introduced fresh uncertainty around future monetary policy, a key driver for risk assets like Bitcoin and the broader crypto market. Historically, expectations of lower interest rates have supported crypto rallies, including last years surge that pushed Bitcoin to new all-time highs. According to Polymarket betting data, traders now assign a 27% probability to two Fed rate cuts in 2026. The...