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Kaito AI and founder Yu Hu's X social media accounts hacked
Kaito AI, an artificial intelligence-powered platform that aggregates crypto data to provide market analysis for users, and its founder Yu Hu, were the victims of an X social media hack on March 15. In several now-deleted posts, hackers claimed that the Kaito wallets were compromised and advised users that their funds were not safe. According to DeFi Warhol, the hackers opened up a short position on KAITO tokens before posting the messages in the hopes that users would sell or pull their funds, which would have crashed the price and created profits for the threat actors. The price of the KAITO token dips, presumably due to a short position. Source: CoinMarketCap The Kaito AI team regained access to the accounts and reassured users that Kaito token wallets were not compromised in the social media exploit. "We had high-standard security measures in place to prevent [the hack] — so it seems to be similar or the same as other recent Twitter account hacks," the Kaito AI team added. This recent exploit is the latest in a growing list of social media hacks, social engineering scams, and cybersecurity incidents plaguing the crypto industry . Source: Kaito AI Related: Kaito AI token defies influencer selling pressure with 50% price rally Vigilance is key: some of the latest scams and exploits to impact crypto Pump.fun's X account was hacked on Feb. 26 by a threat actor promoting several fake tokens, including a fraudulent governance token for the fair launch platform called "Pump." According to onchain sleuth ZackXBT, the Pump.fun incident was directly connected to the Jupiter DAO account hack and the DogWifCoin X account compromise. On March 7, The Alberta Securities Commission, a Canadian financial regulator, warned the public that malicious actors were using fake news articles and fake endorsements featuring the likeness of Canadian politicians to promote a crypto scam. The scam, known as CanCap, played on fears of a trade war between Canada and the US to lure unsuspecting victims into investing in the project, which the scammers claimed had the support of Canadian leader Justin Trudeau. An example of a Lazarus social engineering scam where the hackers pretend to be venture capitalists experiencing audio-visual issues. Source: Nick Bax Crypto executives are also sounding the alarm on a new scam from the state-sponsored Lazarus hacker group, where the hackers pose as venture capitalists in a Zoom meeting. Once the target is in the meeting room, the hackers would claim they were experiencing audio-visual issues and redirect the victim to a malicious chat room where the user is encouraged to download a patch. The patch contains malicious software designed to steal crypto private keys and other sensitive information from the victim's computer. Magazine: Lazarus Group’s favorite exploit revealed — Crypto hacks analysis

2025-03-15 23:39
TON Society celebrates Pavel Durov leaving France as free speech win
The Open Network (TON) Society released a statement on March 15 celebrating the return of Pavel Durov's passport as a win for freedom of speech, online privacy, and innovation. According to the AFP news agency, Durov left France and headed to Dubai on the morning of March 15 after gaining permission from French officials to depart the European country. "We have stood behind Pavel since his arrest on August 24, 2024," the TON Society wrote . The group added: "Pavel’s unwavering commitment to freedom of speech and transparency, despite facing the most challenging of circumstances, is a powerful reminder of the importance of standing by your principles, even when it is politically and personally detrimental to do so." The TON Society previously penned a letter condemning the French government for detaining Durov and urging the country to release the Telegram founder . The TON Society celebrates the return of Durov’s passport by French law enforcement officials. Source: TON Society "The arrest of the Telegram founder, Pavel Durov, is a direct assault on a basic human right — the freedom of expression of everyone," the TON Society's August 27 letter read. At the time, the organization also called on the United Nations, the Council of Europe (CoE), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the European Union (EU) to intervene and push for Durov's release. Free speech advocates in the crypto industry sounded the alarm over Pavel Durov's arrest , citing the troubling implications for privacy and decentralized technologies in the face of state pressure to censor the internet and the potential for regulatory capture. Emmanuel Macron denies political motivation for Durov's arrest Shortly after French law enforcement officials detained the Telegram founder, President Emmanuel Macron denied the arrest was politically motivated and claimed that France was committed to free speech. French President Emmanuel Macron denies the arrest of Pavel Durov was politically motivated. Source: Emmanuel Macron In a subsequent press conference, Macron also denied inviting Durov to France amid a torrent of backlash from the crypto community and free speech advocates. Chris Pavlovski, the CEO of the free-speech video platform Rumble, announced that he safely departed Europe shortly following the detention of Pavel Durov. In an August 25 X post , the CEO said that the French government threatened Rumble and condemned state authorities for the crackdown on free speech. Magazine: Did Telegram’s Pavel Durov commit a crime? Crypto lawyers weigh in

2025-03-15 20:07
Toncoin surges as Pavel Durov leaves France after months
The price of Toncoin ( TON ) surged by over 6% immediately following the release of Telegram founder Pavel Durov from France, where the embattled tech founder has been forced to stay since his arrest in August 2024. According to CoinMarketCap , the price of TON has rallied by roughly 18% in the last 24 hours and over 13% in the last seven days. Following the news of the Telegram founder's arrest in France on August 24, 2024, the price of TON plummeted by over 35%, from roughly $6.88 to $4.44 by September 2024. The digital asset reached a high of $7.20 on December 4, 2024, amid a historic rally in the crypto markets in response to the re-election of President Donald Trump in the United States. However, TON's price collapsed by roughly 67% after the post-election rally, reaching a low of $2.36 on March 11, 2025. Toncoin’s price action since August 2024. Source: TradingView Toncoin is the cryptocurrency of The Open Network, which is separate from the Telegram platform, but has become a staple for users of the messaging application. Durov being granted approval to leave France was applauded by Telegram and TON users as a win for freedom of speech, while the debate between online security and freedom of expression continues to foment. Related: Wallet in Telegram to list 50 tokens and launch yield program Pavel Durov finally allowed to leave France after months The Telegram founder reportedly secured permission to leave France on March 13 to travel to Dubai. According to the AFP news agency, unnamed sources confirmed Durov's departure from the European country this morning, and other sources claimed that the Telegram founder was allowed to leave France for "several weeks." At this point, it is unclear whether the case has been settled in French courts or if Durov has only been granted temporary travel time while the case is arbitrated in the legal system. A translated statement from the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office announcing charges against Telegram founder Pavel Durov. Source: Jacques Pezet French law enforcement officials have accused Telegram of facilitating illegal activities by failing to censor the messaging platform and also pressed charges against Durov — forcing him to remain in France as part of a bail agreement. The Telegram founder later characterized the arrest as unnecessary and said that the company maintains a representative in the European Union to handle legal requests. Durov emphasized that he and the company would have gladly cooperated with French authorities if an appropriate legal request for help was submitted. Magazine: Did Telegram’s Pavel Durov commit a crime? Crypto lawyers weigh in

2025-03-15 18:30
Bitcoin’s role as an inflation hedge depends on where one lives — Analyst
For years, inflation was primarily a concern for emerging markets, where volatile currencies and economic instability made rising prices a persistent challenge. However, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation became a global issue. Once-stable economies with historically low inflation were suddenly grappling with soaring costs, prompting investors to rethink how to preserve their wealth. While gold and real estate have long been hailed as safe-haven assets, Bitcoin’s supporters argue that its fixed supply and decentralized nature make it the ultimate shield against inflation. But does the theory hold up? The answer may depend largely on where one lives. Bitcoin advocates emphasize its strict supply limit of 21 million coins as a key advantage in combating inflationary monetary policies. Unlike fiat currencies, which central banks can print in unlimited quantities, Bitcoin’s supply is predetermined by an algorithm, preventing any form of artificial expansion. This scarcity, they argue, makes Bitcoin akin to “digital gold” and a more reliable store of value than traditional government-issued money. Several companies and even sovereign nations have embraced the idea, adding Bitcoin to their treasuries to hedge against fiat currency risk and inflation . The most notable example is El Salvador, which made global headlines in 2021 by becoming the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender. The government has since been steadily accumulating Bitcoin, making it a key component of its economic strategy. Companies like Strategy in the US and Metaplanet in Japan have followed suit, and now the United States is in the process of establishing its own Strategic Bitcoin Reserve . A Bitcoin investment strategy has paid off so far So far, the corporate and government Bitcoin investment strategy has paid off as BTC outperformed the S&P 500 and gold futures since the early 2020s before inflation surged in the United States. More recently, however, that strong performance has shown signs of moderation. Bitcoin remains a strong performer over the past 12 months, and while BTC’s gains outpace consumer inflation, economists caution that past performance is no guarantee of future results. Indeed, some studies suggest a correlation between cryptocurrency returns and changes in inflation expectations is far from consistent over time. Returns over the past 12 months. Source: Truflation. Bitcoin's role as an inflation hedge remains uncertain Unlike traditional inflation hedges such as gold, Bitcoin is still a relatively new asset. Its role as a hedge remains uncertain, especially considering that widespread adoption has only gained traction in recent years. Despite high inflation in recent years, Bitcoin’s price has fluctuated wildly, often correlating more with risk assets like tech stocks than with traditional inflation hedges like gold. A recent study published in the Journal of Economics and Business found that Bitcoin’s ability to hedge inflation has weakened over time, particularly as institutional adoption grew. In 2022, when US inflation hit a 40-year high, Bitcoin lost more than 60% of its value, while gold, a traditional inflation hedge, remained relatively stable. For this reason, some analysts say that Bitcoin’s price may be driven more by investor sentiment and liquidity conditions than by macroeconomic fundamentals like inflation. When the risk appetite is strong, Bitcoin rallies. But when markets are fearful, Bitcoin often crashes alongside stocks. In a Journal of Economics and Business study, authors Harold Rodriguez and Jefferson Colombo said, “Based on monthly data between August 2010 and January 2023, the results indicate that Bitcoin returns increase significantly after a positive inflationary shock, corroborating empirical evidence that Bitcoin can act as an inflation hedge.” However, they noted that Bitcoin’s inflationary hedging property was stronger in the early days when institutional adoption of BTC was not as prevalent. Both researchers agreed that “Bitcoin’s inflation-hedging property is context-specific and likely diminishes as it achieves broader adoption and becomes more integrated into mainstream financial markets.” US inflation index since 2020. Source. Truflation “So far, it has acted as an inflation hedge—but it’s not a black-and-white case. It’s more of a cyclical (phenomenon),” Robert Walden, head of trading at Abra, told Cointelegraph. Walden said, “For Bitcoin to be a true inflation hedge, it would need to consistently outpace inflation year after year with its returns. However, due to its parabolic nature, its performance tends to be highly asymmetric over time.” Bitcoin’s movement right now, Walden said, is more about market positioning than inflation hedging—it’s about capital flows and interest rates." Argentina and Turkey seek financial refuge in crypto In economies suffering from runaway inflation and strict capital controls, Bitcoin has proven to be a valuable tool for preserving wealth. Argentina and Turkey, two countries with persistent inflation throughout recent decades, illustrate this dynamic well. Argentina has long grappled with recurring financial crises and soaring inflation. While inflation has shown signs of improvement very recently, locals have historically turned to cryptocurrency as a way to bypass financial restrictions and protect their wealth from currency depreciation. A recent Coinbase survey found that 87% of Argentinians believe crypto and blockchain technology can enhance their financial independence, while nearly three in four respondents see crypto as a solution to challenges like inflation and high transaction costs. Related: Argentina overtakes Brazil in crypto inflows — Chainalysis With a population of 45 million, Argentina has become a hotbed for crypto adoption, with Coinbase reporting that as many as five million Argentinians use digital assets daily. “Economic freedom is a cornerstone of prosperity, and we are proud to bring secure, transparent, and reliable crypto services to Argentina,” said Fabio Plein, Director for the Americas at Coinbase. “For many Argentinians, crypto isn’t just an investment, it’s a necessity for regaining control over their financial futures.” “People in Argentina don’t trust the peso. They are always looking for ways to store value outside of the local currency,” Julián Colombo, a senior director at Bitso, a major Latin American cryptocurrency exchange, told Cointelegraph. “Bitcoin and stablecoins allow them to bypass capital controls and protect their savings from devaluation.” Argentina inflation index. Source. Truflation. Beyond individual investors, businesses in Argentina are also using Bitcoin and stablecoins to protect revenue and conduct international transactions. Some workers even opt to receive part of their salaries in cryptocurrency to safeguard their earnings from inflation. According to economist and crypto analyst Natalia Motyl, “Currency restrictions and capital controls imposed in recent years have made access to US dollars increasingly difficult amid high inflation and a crisis of confidence in the Argentine peso. In this environment, cryptocurrencies have emerged as a viable alternative for preserving the value of money, allowing individuals and businesses to bypass the limitations of the traditional financial system.” While Bitcoin's effectiveness as an inflation hedge is still up for debate, stablecoins have become a more practical solution in high-inflation economies, particularly those pegged to the US dollar. Relative to its economic size, Turkey has emerged as a hotspot for stablecoin transactions. In the year leading up to March 2024, purchases alone accounted for 4.3% of GDP. This digital currency boom, fueled by years of double-digit inflation—peaking at 85% in 2022—and a more than 80% plunge in the lira against the dollar over the past five years, gained momentum during the pandemic. Turkey’s Bitcoin adoption proves citizens drive adoption, not governments Although Turkey allows its citizens to buy, hold, and trade crypto, the use of digital currencies for payments has been banned since 2021 when the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey prohibited “any direct or indirect usage of crypto assets in payment services and electronic money issuance.” Nevertheless, crypto adoption in Turkey is still evident , with an increasing number of Turkish banks offering crypto services and shops and ATMs providing crypto exchange options. High inflation rates backed the erosion of the Turkish lira’s value, which lost nearly 60% of its purchasing power as inflation soared to 85.5% between 2021 and 2023. This led many Turkish citizens to turn to Bitcoin as a store of value and a medium of exchange. While some argue that Bitcoin’s scarcity bodes well for long-term appreciation, potentially outpacing consumer inflation, its high volatility and recurring correlation with tech-heavy, risk-associated indexes like the Nasdaq in recent times suggest that its performance as a pure inflation hedge remains mixed. However, in inflation-ridden nations like Argentina and Turkey, where local currencies have collapsed in value, the “digital gold” has undeniably served as a crucial avenue of escape from local currencies, preserving purchasing power in ways traditional fiat cannot. Although Bitcoin is still a nascent asset, and its effectiveness as a hedge requires further study, one thing remains clear—so far, it has significantly outperformed consumer inflation. For Bitcoin enthusiasts, that alone is reason enough to celebrate. This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

2025-03-15 18:00
Decentralized science meets AI — legacy institutions aren’t ready
Opinion by: Sasha Shilina, PhD, founder of Episteme and researcher at Paradigm Research Institute Science has always been about pushing boundaries, yet today, many of those boundaries are artificial — walled-off journals, slow-moving institutions and research funding locked behind bureaucratic doors. The system is designed for gatekeepers, not explorers. But what if we could tear down those walls? What if science could be set free ? Over the past few years, we’ve watched decentralized science (DeSci) morph from a radical experiment into one of crypto’s most electrifying frontiers. Once dismissed as a niche idea, DeSci is now a billion-dollar movement. As of early 2025, the top DeSci tokens collectively boast a market capitalization of around $1 billion. Momentum is undeniable: Half of the top 10 projects in the space launched just last year, according to Messari. What started as a whisper is now a roar, echoing across the halls of academia, biotech labs and decentralized autonomous organizations alike. Raw energy isn’t enough. DeSci still faces formidable challenges: scalability, quality control, reproducibility and real-world adoption. It’s a vision in motion, not a finished revolution. And that’s where artificial intelligence steps in — not just as a tool but as the missing puzzle that could propel DeSci from a bold experiment to an unstoppable force. AI is already reshaping the traditional science (TradSci) landscape: sifts through massive data sets, spots hidden patterns, cracks problems that once took decades to solve, ventures into longevity research, and accelerates drug development, materials science and computational biology. Yet, for all its promise, access to AI remains tightly controlled and monopolized by a handful of corporations, elite universities and government-backed institutions. AI’s vast potential is shackled by centralization. What if these two forces — the decentralized infrastructure of DeSci and the power of AI — merged into one system? A system where science is decentralized, intelligent, autonomous and radically open? Let’s call it DeScAI. Science, but unstoppable Imagine a world where every experiment, every data set and every discovery isn’t buried in paywalled journals or trapped in proprietary vaults but flows seamlessly across a decentralized, living network. This is the vision of DeScAI, where blockchain and AI unite to build an open, intelligent and self-sustaining ecosystem. Knowledge isn’t just stored — it breathes, evolves and connects. AI curators scour vast data sets, linking research across disciplines, uncovering hidden insights and transforming isolated findings into a shared intellectual bloodstream. Recent: DeFi can help us choose the best robots for the job For too long, independent researchers have struggled to access the AI tools they need for research and massive data analysis. DeScAI could rewrite this equation by turning the world into a vast, decentralized supercomputer. Every idle processor, every surplus server and every untapped resource can contribute to a global grid where computing power is not a commodity but a shared asset. Need to map the human brain or train a biodiversity model? There is no need to beg a tech giant — just tap into the collective machine. Smart incentives ensure fairness; AI optimizes distribution; and science advances at a speed never seen before. What about funding? Today’s grant system is a labyrinth of delays, favoritism and opaque decision-making. DeScAI could replace this outdated model with a marketplace of ideas where anyone — researchers, enthusiasts even curious citizens — can directly support groundbreaking projects. No elite panels, no endless bureaucracy. AI-assisted platforms analyze proposals, suggest collaborations, and help communities vote with their resources. If an idea has merit, it gets the backing it deserves — whether from one person or 10,000. Peer review, once the bedrock of scientific integrity, has become a bottleneck. Papers languish in submission queues for months, sometimes years, subjected to a process that is as unpredictable as it is biased. DeScAI can potentially turn peer review into a dynamic, real-time process. Research is uploaded to an immutable ledger, where AI immediately verifies data integrity and flags potential conflicts of interest. Expert reviewers — who are no longer anonymous gatekeepers but active, rewarded participants — provide transparent, constructive and traceable feedback. Reputations are built on contributions, not credentials. Science becomes an ongoing conversation, not a waiting game. Perhaps the most revolutionary aspect of DeScAI is its ability to turn isolated curiosity into collective intelligence. What if an AI could help a marine biologist in Argentina and a quantum physicist in Germany stumble upon a connection neither would have made alone? What if an engineer working on renewable energy models could instantly access simulations run by climate scientists in a different hemisphere? DeScAI makes these moments of serendipity not just possible but inevitable. What about the raw material of modern science — data? Today, data is hoarded, exploited and sold without the consent of those who generate it. DeScAI shifts power back to the people. Data contributors retain ownership and are compensated when their information is used to train AI or develop new models. Blockchain solutions ensure privacy; smart contracts enforce fairness; and the age of data colonialism ends. Science should be borderless, but for too long, geography, institutions and economics have dictated who gets to participate. DeScAI erases those barriers. A young coder in Nairobi can collaborate with a neuroscientist in Seoul, not because an institution promotes it but because the infrastructure allows it. AI-driven translation tools dissolve language barriers, decentralized data sharing enables seamless collaboration, and research teams form organically around ideas, not affiliations. The resistance will be fierce Academic publishers, government agencies and corporate research labs have built their influence on exclusivity. They will not willingly embrace an open system where knowledge flows freely, research is verifiable in real-time and funding no longer depends on institutional decisions. Some projects in this space will stumble, giving critics ammunition to dismiss the movement as they may argue that decentralized oversight cannot maintain the same level of quality control, and it is unrealistic to expect cohesive governance from a patchwork of tokenholders and autonomous agents. Yet the success of DeScAI does not hinge on dismantling the existing research order outright — it hinges on demonstrating superior efficiency, fairness and innovation. Ultimately, it offers a parallel ecosystem that anyone can join, building trust through open ledgers, cryptographic proofs and AI-verified methodologies. The direction is clear: Just as DeFi forced the banking sector to acknowledge new economic models, DeScAI will force research institutions to do the same. This is not a slow evolution — it is a shift in scientific power. The old system, built on secrecy and hierarchy, collides with an emerging model of openness and decentralization. The question for those still embedded in traditional academia is whether they will adapt or be left behind as knowledge production moves into a future they can no longer control. Opinion by: Sasha Shilina, PhD, founder of Episteme and researcher at Paradigm Research Institute. This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

2025-03-15 17:00
Bitcoin poised to reclaim $90,000, according to derivatives metrics
Bitcoin ( BTC ) failed to sustain levels above $85,000 on March 14, despite a 1.9% gain in the S&P 500 index. More importantly, it has been over a week since Bitcoin last traded at $90,000, prompting traders to question whether the bull market is truly over and how long selling pressure will persist. Bitcoin basis rate rebounds from bearish levels From a derivatives perspective, Bitcoin metrics have shown resilience despite a 30% drop from its all-time high of $109,354 on Jan. 20. The Bitcoin basis rate, which measures the premium of monthly contracts over spot markets, has recovered to healthy levels after briefly signaling bearish sentiment on March 13. Bitcoin 2-month futures contracts annualized premium. Source: Laevitas.ch Traders typically demand a 5% to 10% annualized premium to compensate for longer settlement periods. A basis rate below this threshold signals weak demand from leveraged buyers. While the current 5% rate is lower than the 8% recorded two weeks ago, it remains within neutral territory. Central banks will eventually boost BTC price Bitcoin price action has closely tracked the S&P 500, suggesting that factors driving investor risk aversion may not be directly tied to the top cryptocurrency. However, this also challenges the idea of Bitcoin as a non-correlated asset, as its price behavior has aligned more closely with traditional markets, at least in the short term. S&P 500 futures (left) vs. Bitcoin/USD. Source: TradingView / Cointelegraph If Bitcoin’s price remains heavily dependent on the stock market, which is under pressure due to fears of an economic recession , investors are likely to keep reducing exposure to risk-on assets and shift toward short-term bonds for safety. However, central banks are expected to implement stimulus measures to avoid a recession, and scarce assets like Bitcoin are likely to outperform as a result. According to the CME FedWatch tool, the markets are pricing less than 40% odds for interest rates in the US below 3.75% from the current 4.25% baseline ahead of the July 30 FOMC meeting. Nevertheless, Bitcoin should reclaim the $90,000 level as soon as the S&P 500 pares some of its recent 10% losses. But in a worst-case scenario, panic selling of risk-on assets could continue. Under such conditions, BTC would likely keep underperforming over the next few months, especially if spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) continue to experience significant and sustained net outflows . Bitcoin derivatives show no signs of stress Professional traders are not actively using Bitcoin options for hedging presently, as shown by the 25% delta skew metric. This implies that few market participants expect the BTC price to retest the $76,900 level anytime soon. Bitcoin 1-month options 25% delta skew (put-call). Source: Laevitas.ch Bullish sentiment typically leads to put (sell) options trading at a 6% or higher discount. In contrast, bearish periods cause the indicator to rise to a 6% premium, as seen briefly on March 10 and March 12. However, the 25% delta skew has recently stayed within the neutral range, reflecting a healthy derivatives market . To better gauge trader sentiment, examining BTC margin markets is important . Unlike derivatives contracts, which are always balanced between longs (buyers) and shorts (sellers), margin markets let traders borrow stablecoins to buy spot Bitcoin. Similarly, bearish traders can borrow BTC to open short positions, betting on a price drop. Bitcoin margin long-to-short ratio at OKX. Source: OKX The Bitcoin long-to-short margin ratio at OKX shows longs outweighing shorts by 18 times. Historically, excessive confidence has pushed this ratio above 40 times, while levels below five times favoring longs are seen as bearish. The current ratio mirrors sentiment on Jan. 30, when Bitcoin traded above $100,000. There are no signs of stress or bearishness in Bitcoin derivatives and margin markets, which is reassuring, especially after over $920 million in leveraged long futures contracts were liquidated in the seven days ending March 13. Therefore, as recession risks ease, Bitcoin price is likely to reclaim the $90,000 level in the coming weeks, given the resilience in investor sentiment. This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

2025-03-15 16:23
Telegram founder Pavel Durov given permission to leave France
Pavel Durov, founder of the popular messaging app Telegram, has left France and relocated to Dubai following approval from a French court. On March 13, Durov reportedly received permission from the French court to depart the country, allowing him to travel to Dubai—a city known for its business-friendly environment and lack of extradition agreements with many nations, according to a Barron’s report citing unknown sources. The exact terms of the court’s decision remain unclear, but Durov’s relocation has reignited debates about jurisdiction, privacy, and the responsibilities of tech leaders in combating illegal activities on their platforms. Citing unnamed sources, AFP reported that “He (Durov) departed France this morning,” adding that he left with the authorities’ approval. Another source stated that he had been granted permission to leave France for “several weeks.” This is a developing story, and further information will be added as it becomes available.

2025-03-15 16:05
Rising $219B stablecoin supply signals mid-bull cycle, not market top
The current crypto market correction is merely the middle of the bull cycle, not the top, based on the steadily growing stablecoin supply, which may signal more incoming investment according to analysts. The cumulative stablecoin supply has surpassed $219 billion, suggesting that the current cycle is still far from its top. Source: IntoTheBlock Historically, stablecoin supply peaks have aligned with crypto cycle tops, according to a March 14 X post by crypto intelligence platform IntoTheBlock, which wrote: “In April 2022, supply hit $187B—just as the bear market started. Now it’s at $219B and still rising, suggesting we’re likely still mid-cycle.” Increasing stablecoin inflows to crypto exchanges can signal incoming buying pressure and growing investor appetite, as stablecoins are the main investor on-ramp from fiat to the crypto world. Still, Ether ( ETH ) price is down over 52% over the past three months, after it peaked above $4,100 on Dec. 16, 2024, and analysts are eying another decline below $1,900, a “robust” demand zone that may bring more investment into the world’s largest cryptocurrency. Related: Bitcoin needs weekly close above $81K to avoid downside ahead of FOMC Crypto market will likely lack direction ahead of FOMC meeting: analyst Despite the rising stablecoin supply, the crypto market may continue to lack direction ahead of next week’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. Next week’s FOMC meeting may be decisive for crypto markets, which remain influenced by macroeconomic developments, according to Stella Zlatareva, dispatch editor at Nexo digital asset investment platform. Zlatareva told Cointelegraph: “Bitcoin’s movement below key technical levels, mirroring the S&P 500’s trajectory, highlights the market’s cautious tone as traders await key economic data for direction, including U.S. retail sales and the FOMC meeting.” “All eyes are set on next Wednesday's FOMC meeting, anticipating insights into U.S. monetary policy and potential interest rate adjustments, especially given the recent declines in U.S. PPI and initial jobless claims figures, which point towards a slowing economy,” she added. Related: F TX liquidated $1.5B in 3AC assets 2 weeks before hedge fund’s collapse The predictions come days ahead of the next FOMC meeting scheduled for March 19. Markets are currently pricing in a 98% chance that the Fed will keep interest rates steady, according to the latest estimates of the CME Group’s FedWatch tool . Source: CME Group’s FedWatch tool Despite the potential for short-term volatility, investors remain optimistic for the rest of 2025, VanEck predicted a $6,000 cycle top for Ether’s price and a $180,000 Bitcoin price during 2025. Magazine: Crypto fans are obsessed with longevity and biohacking: Here’s why

2025-03-15 15:47
Ether may fall below $1.9k “robust” demand zone, analysts eye capitulation
Ether risks another decline below $1,900, which may open up a significant amount of investor demand, which may catalyze Ether’s recovery from its three-month downtrend Ether ( ETH ) price fell over 52% during its three-month downtrend after it peaked above $4,100 on Dec. 16, 2024, TradingView data shows. While another correction below $1,900 is on the horizon, this may unleash significant buying pressure, according to Juan Pellicer, senior research analyst at IntoTheBlock. ETH/USD, 1-day chart. Source: Cointelegraph/ TradingView “Onchain metrics reveal a robust demand zone for ETH just below $1,900,” the analyst told Cointelegraph, adding: “Historically, around 4.3 million ETH were bought in the $1,848–$1,905 range, signaling substantial support. If ETH drops below this level, capitulation risks rise, as demand beyond this zone appears much thinner.” In/Out of the Money around price. Source: IntoTheBlock In financial markets, capitulation refers to investors selling their positions in a panic, leading to a significant price decline and signaling an imminent market bottom before the start of the next uptrend. Related: Bitcoin needs weekly close above $81K to avoid downside ahead of FOMC Ether unlikely to see more downside below $1.9k amid growing whale accumulation: analyst While Ether may see a temporary correction below $1,900, it is unlikely to fall much lower due to the growing whale accumulation, according to Nicolai Sondergaard, research analyst at Nansen. "It does seem likely that if ETH is unable to hold the $1,900 level that we'd see further downside,” the analyst told Cointelegraph, adding: “Supposedly whales have been accumulating, and WLFI also holds substantial amounts of ETH, and regardless, price action has not been favorable.” This behavior was also seen in recent options data where larger players/institutions were positioning themselves for moves in either direction, which shows how uncertain the market is about where ETH is going,” added the analyst. Related: FTX liquidated $1.5B in 3AC assets 2 weeks before hedge fund’s collapse Whale addresses count on Ethereum started staging a recovery since the beginning of 2025. Ethereum: Whale Address Count [Balance >1k ETH]. Source: Glassnode Whale addresses with at least 1,000 ETH or $1.92 million, rose over 4% year-to-date, from 4,652 addresses on Jan. 1 to over 4,843 addresses on March 14, Glassnode data shows. Magazine: Vitalik on AI apocalypse, LA Times both-sides KKK, LLM grooming: AI Eye

2025-03-15 15:01

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