Crypto news

16.08.2026
04:40

Largest theft from hardware wallets: hackers withdrew 1778 BTC from Coldcard

hack A large-scale campaign targeting Coldcard hardware wallet users has resulted in losses of at least 1,778.84 BTC — approximately $112.7 million at the current exchange rate. According to my analysis of data gathered during the investigation, the peak of attacker activity occurred in late July to early August, with no new confirmed incidents recorded after August 6.
Attack Mechanics: Vulnerability in Entropy Generation While working with 190 victims, I was able to confirm the theft of funds from more than 8,600 addresses...
04:38

Ireland tightens crypto regulation: first national AML strategy introduces new barriers for private wallets

REGULATION Ireland's Ministry of Finance has unveiled the country's first-ever comprehensive strategy aimed at combating money laundering (AML) and terrorist financing (CFT) in the cryptocurrency sector. This move marks a systemic shift from fragmented measures to holistic regulation of digital assets, which is particularly relevant amid the integration of European MiCA rules into national legislation.
Key innovations for the crypto industry The drafted document introduces several fundamentally important requirements...
04:37

Riot Platforms raises $573 million to build an AI campus in Texas

Riot_Blockchain-min Riot Platforms, one of the leading players in the bitcoin mining sector, has entered into a project debt financing agreement of up to $573 million. These funds will be directed toward the purchase of high-tech equipment and the development of a 191 MW data center for artificial intelligence located at the company's site in Rockdale, Texas.
Investment bank Morgan Stanley is acting as the administrative agent for the group of lenders, underscoring the institutional level of confidence in the project...
04:36

Galaxy Digital has sharply lowered the odds of the CLARITY Act being passed: only 10% remain.

USA США Analysts at Galaxy Digital have revised their forecast regarding the fate of the CLARITY Act in the U.S. Senate, reducing the likelihood of its passage in 2026 to a modest 10%. This sharp decline reflects the deep political divisions that continue to stall the initiative's progress, despite its importance to the crypto industry.
Two aspects remain key stumbling blocks. First, ethical standards for government officials—an issue that sparks fierce debate among lawmakers and creates additional barriers to compromise...
04:35

Wall Street's closed blockchains are a "race to the bottom": Etherealize CEO on the dead end of consortium networks

In recent months, we have been observing a worrying trend: the largest financial institutions are once again turning to closed blockchain networks with restricted access. However, as the leadership of Etherealize rightly points out, this path leads to a dead end. Such consortium initiatives not only fragment liquidity but also effectively deny the very philosophy of decentralized technologies, returning us to the isolated systems that blockchain was supposed to move away from...
04:34

Withdrawing funds from crypto exchanges: key aspects, fees, and security strategies

The process of withdrawing funds from cryptocurrency platforms is a critical stage of interaction with digital assets, which requires the investor not only to understand the technical details, but also to take a conscious approach to risk management. In my practice, I have repeatedly observed how even experienced traders lost significant sums due to carelessness when processing transactions or ignoring the rules of a specific platform...
04:32

Key aspects of funding a cryptocurrency account: strategies and risks

The issue of liquidity management is always a top priority for any trader, and the balance top-up procedure is a basic but critically important element of this system. In my practice, I constantly emphasize that a properly configured deposit process is not just a technical formality, but the foundation of your trading strategy.
Why the speed and reliability of deposits matter In the volatile digital asset market, capital downtime is missed profit...
04:29

San refutes the global nature of the Binance block: restrictions for HTX apply only to the EU and Britain.

HTX founder Justin Sun made an emergency statement aimed at calming panic among exchange users after Binance blacklisted HTX. According to him, the restrictions are not global but strictly regional, affecting only clients from the UK and the European Union.
This statement came just hours after Binance notified about blocking operations with a number of platforms. Notably, Binance's notification itself made no mention of geographic targeting—it was addressed to all users without exception, which sparked a wave of speculation about a full-scale breakdown in relations...
04:26

Double Circuit: How Russia's New Law Divided the Crypto World into "Inside" and "Outside"

Sending $200 abroad today costs on average 6.4% of the amount, while through a bank it is almost 15%. Moreover, the payment message itself reaches the recipient bank within ten minutes. I cite these figures not by chance: they expose the main problem of the modern financial system — the "last mile," which eats up time and money.
This is not about data transmission speed, but about post-processing: compliance checks, reconciliations, and crediting at the local bank...
04:24

Russia opens an advertising window for crypto services: what has actually changed

Russian legislation has taken a historic step by for the first time allowing advertising of services by licensed cryptocurrency market participants. However, one should not be deluded: promoting the digital currency itself as an investment asset remains strictly prohibited. This is a targeted relaxation, not comprehensive legalization.
A Fine Line: What Is Allowed and What Is Not The key innovation is a clear distinction between advertising digital currency and advertising services provided by regulated players...
04:23

The Central Bank limit of 300,000 rubles: a legal strategy for large investors

The annual threshold of 300,000 rubles for purchasing cryptocurrency, set by the Central Bank, operates not as an aggregate limit but on a per-counterparty basis. This opens up a legal opportunity for high-net-worth investors to diversify transactions across multiple banks, brokers, and exchange services.
For most non-qualified investors, the established amount is sufficient for basic operations...
04:21

Competition will bring down bank spreads on cryptocurrency in Russia

With the launch of cryptocurrency banking operations in Russia, spreads will initially be noticeably higher than on classic crypto exchanges. However, banks are unlikely to maintain a markup of 5–7% or more amid competitive pressure. This is my analysis of the current situation, based on an in-depth study of market mechanisms and expert assessments in the field of transactional banking.
The key factor determining the price for the client is not the bank's desire to profit, but the cost of liquidity and the client's own willingness to pay for a regulated framework...
04:20

The largest theft in the history of hardware wallets: the Coldcard hack cost users $112 million

hack A large-scale attack on Coldcard hardware wallets has led to losses already estimated at 1,778.84 BTC — over $112 million at the current exchange rate. This is one of the most serious incidents in the self-custody of crypto assets in recent years. It is important to emphasize: new confirmed cases of hacking ceased after August 6, which provides grounds for cautious optimism.
Anatomy of the Attack: A 2021 Firmware Error My analysis shows that the root of the problem lies in a software bug introduced by Coinkite back in 2021...
04:19

Ireland tightens crypto regulation: new strategy against money laundering

REGULATION Ireland's Ministry of Finance has presented its first national strategy to combat money laundering and terrorist financing (AML/CFT), which directly impacts the cryptocurrency sector. This move marks a systematic approach to regulating digital assets in the country, and I see it as a clear signal for the entire market: the era of anonymous self-regulation in EU jurisdictions is coming to an end.
Key measures for the crypto industry The document introduces enhanced checks for transfers from private (non-custodial) wallets...
04:17

Riot Platforms raises $573 million to build an AI campus in Texas: a bet on diversification

Riot_Blockchain-min Riot Platforms, one of the leading players in the bitcoin mining sector, has taken a decisive step toward high-performance computing. The company has closed a deal to secure project debt financing of up to $573 million. The funds will be used to purchase equipment and develop a 191 MW artificial intelligence data center located on its campus in Rockdale, Texas.
Morgan Stanley serves as the administrative agent for the lender group, indicating an institutional level of confidence in the company's strategy...
04:16

Galaxy Digital has sharply lowered its forecast for the CLARITY Act: the chances of passage are only 10%

USA США Analysts at Galaxy Digital have revised their expectations regarding the fate of the CLARITY Act in the U.S. Senate, estimating the likelihood of its approval in 2026 at just 10%. This is a significant decline from previous optimistic forecasts, reflecting the growing political uncertainty surrounding digital asset regulation in the United States.
Key obstacles remain unresolved disagreements over a number of fundamental provisions of the document...
04:15

Wall Street's closed blockchains are a dead end: Etherealize head on the "race to the bottom"

network abstraction (single interface for all blockchains) cryptocurrency network абстракция сети (единый интерфейс для всех блокчейнов) криптовалюты сеть Recently, a dangerous trend has emerged on Wall Street: major financial institutions are increasingly turning to closed blockchain networks with restricted access. However, in my view, this is a move to nowhere that only worsens market fragmentation and destroys the very essence of distributed ledger technology.
Vivek Raman, co-founder and CEO of Etherealize, voiced harsh criticism of these initiatives during a recent discussion of the industry's state...
04:12

Crypto Asset Withdrawal: A Strategy for Safe Cash-Out in Conditions of Market Volatility

The question of withdrawing funds from cryptocurrency is not just a technical procedure, but a strategically important stage of capital management. In my practice, I often emphasize: the ability to lock in profits in a timely and safe manner distinguishes a professional trader from a speculator playing roulette. Converting digital assets into fiat money or to a bank card requires a balanced approach, especially during periods of high market turbulence...
04:10

How to safely and efficiently top up a crypto account: a complete breakdown of methods

Liquidity management is a fundamental aspect of the work of any trader and investor in digital assets. Your ability to respond to market movements directly depends on how quickly and profitably you can deposit funds into an exchange or custodial account. In this material, I will break down the key deposit methods, their fee costs, and risks.
Main channels for depositing fiat funds The most common method remains bank transfer (SEPA, SWIFT, or local systems)...
04:09

San refutes the global nature of Binance restrictions: the issue is only in the UK and the EU

HTX founder Justin Sun has issued an urgent statement aimed at calming panic among exchange users. According to him, HTX being placed on Binance's "blacklist" is not a global block but a targeted measure affecting exclusively Binance clients located in the United Kingdom and the European Union. Notably, in Binance's official notice itself, which I have analyzed, there is no geographical reference whatsoever—the restrictions are addressed to all users without exception...
04:06

A dual circuit instead of a single one: how the new law on digital assets is redrawing Russia's payment map.

Transferring $200 abroad costs on average 6.4% of the amount, while through a bank the fee reaches almost 15%. The payment order itself reaches the recipient bank in ten minutes. This was stated by digital economist Ravil Akhtyamov. According to him, all the remaining time and almost all the money go to what happens after delivery: compliance checks, reconciliation, and crediting at the local bank...
04:04

New era of marketing: Russia has allowed advertising of crypto services, but with caveats

The Russian digital asset market is entering a new phase of its development. The adopted legislative changes for the first time open up a legal opportunity to promote the services of licensed cryptocurrency market participants. However, it is important to understand: this is not a "green light" for advertising the coins themselves, but rather a targeted easing in what was previously an impenetrable wall of prohibitions...
04:03

The Central Bank limit of 300,000 rubles: a legal strategy to bypass it through multiple intermediaries

The annual threshold of 300,000 rubles for purchasing cryptocurrency is not a death sentence for large investors. The key nuance is that the restriction applies to each counterparty individually, rather than being summed across all of a client's transactions. This opens up a legal opportunity to distribute deals across multiple banks, brokers, and exchanges.
For most non-qualified investors, the established amount is quite sufficient for everyday needs...
04:01

Banking spreads in Russia's crypto market: why "expensive" is temporary

Russian banks, preparing to launch operations with digital assets, are factoring into the price for clients not only their own margin but also the costs of new infrastructure. At the initial stage, spreads will be noticeably higher than on classic crypto exchanges. However, maintaining a markup of 5–7% or higher in conditions of real competition will not work — the market will quickly adjust the price...
04:00

The largest theft from hardware wallets: the Coldcard attack cost users $153 million

hack A large-scale hacking campaign targeting Coldcard hardware wallets has resulted in losses of at least 1,778.84 BTC, equivalent to $112.7 million. However, this is only the confirmed portion of the damage. Taking into account episodes that have not yet been verified, the total volume of stolen funds could reach 2,417.35 BTC — about $153 million. It is important to note that no new confirmed attacks have been recorded after August 6...
03:58

Ireland has approved a national strategy to combat money laundering: new rules for the crypto industry

REGULATION Ireland's Ministry of Finance has presented the country's first-ever comprehensive strategy aimed at strengthening the fight against money laundering (AML) and terrorist financing (CFT) in the digital economy. This document marks a new stage of regulatory pressure on the cryptocurrency sector, which will now operate under stringent supervisory requirements.
The strategy's key provisions address three critically important aspects...
03:57

Riot Platforms raises $573 million to build an AI campus in Texas: a strategic move in the race for computing power.

Riot_Blockchain-min Analyzing recent corporate developments in the digital assets sector, one cannot overlook Riot Platforms' decision. The company secured project debt financing of up to $573 million. The funds will be directed toward purchasing high-tech equipment and developing a data center (DC) for artificial intelligence, with a capacity of 191 MW. This involves a strategic expansion of infrastructure at the Rockdale campus in Texas...
03:56

CLARITY Act under threat: Galaxy Digital lowers chances of passage to 10%

USA США Analysts at Galaxy Digital have revised their forecasts regarding the fate of the CLARITY Act in the U.S. Senate, lowering the probability of its approval in 2026 to a modest 10%. This decision reflects growing concern over unresolved political disagreements that continue to stall the initiative's progress.
Two aspects remain key sticking points. First, ethical standards for government officials, which are sparking fierce debate among lawmakers...
03:55

Wall Street's closed blockchains — a 'race to the bottom': Etherealize CEO on financiers' fatal misconception

network abstraction (single interface for all blockchains) cryptocurrency network абстракция сети (единый интерфейс для всех блокчейнов) криптовалюты сеть The financial elite is once again making the same mistake as a decade ago. Vivek Raman, co-founder and CEO of Etherealize, in his new market assessment, sharply criticized Wall Street's growing fascination with private blockchain consortia. This is not evolution but degradation—a return to the isolated systems against which the technology itself was created.
Raman rightly points to a fundamental flaw: consortium networks fragment liquidity and destroy the main advantages of a distributed ledger—interoperability and a shared pool of capital...
03:53

Withdrawal of Funds: A Complete Guide to Security and Transaction Speed

The issue of withdrawing funds is a cornerstone of interaction with any cryptocurrency platform, whether it be a centralized exchange, a DeFi protocol, or a hardware wallet. How competently you approach this process determines not only the safety of your assets but also the final profitability of your trades, especially in conditions of high market volatility.
Key aspects of the withdrawal procedure First of all, it is necessary to distinguish between the transaction processing speed and the confirmation speed in the blockchain network...