CFA Report Pegs US Crypto Fraud Losses at $80.7B

Hundreds of employees have been laid off by crypto firms this year, with many attributing the cuts to artificial intelligence. Some companies may be using AI as a cover for routine headcount reductions, as firms like Crypto.com and Gemini reduce their workforces.

Afroman's crypto token, $FRO, surged 4,685% following his defamation lawsuit victory against Ohio police. The lawsuit stemmed from a 2022 raid on his home, inspiring Afroman to create music videos mocking the officers involved.

Ledger has appointed John Andrews as its new CFO, a former Circle executive, to strengthen its engagement with institutional investors and public markets. The company is expanding its U.S. presence with a new New York office, focusing on enterprise services for financial firms entering digital assets.

Altcoin trading volume has plummeted since October 2025, with Binance experiencing an 80% to 85% drop to $7.7 billion. Google searches for "altcoins" and "cryptocurrencies" have sharply declined since August 2025.

Coinbase has introduced perpetual stock futures for non-U.S. traders, allowing leveraged positions on popular U.S. stocks like Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon. These futures, cash-settled in USDC, offer up to 10-times leverage on single-stock contracts and up to 20-times on ETF products.

JPMorgan noted that the Iran conflict's impact on oil volatility has led traders to decentralized exchanges like Hyperliquid, offering 24/7 trading. The surge in non-crypto investors using perpetual futures for continuous oil exposure highlights the appeal of DEXs during market uncertainties.

A new iOS exploit chain called DarkSword has been discovered by Google researchers, targeting vulnerable iPhones to deliver malware that specifically aims at cryptocurrency apps. The exploit, leveraging six vulnerabilities, deploys malware like Ghostblade to steal data from major crypto exchange and wallet applications.

Bitcoin's price surged to over $71,000, recovering from earlier weakness due to oil supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The cryptocurrency was recently trading at $70,547, with market participants closely monitoring oil price swings and geopolitical developments.

An amendment in Kentucky's crypto ATM bill requires hardware wallet providers to assist users in resetting access credentials, sparking criticism for undermining self-custody principles. The amendment, added last-minute, could force providers to compromise security or exit the market.

CF Benchmarks' analysis reveals Bitcoin's significant deviation from global liquidity trends, with a 35% drop since mid-2025 while M2 money supply increased by 12%. The current price of Bitcoin at around $70,000 contrasts with a "fair value" of $136,000 suggested by one model in the report.