CFA Report Pegs US Crypto Fraud Losses at $80.7B

The Advertising Standards Authority banned Coinbase's marketing campaign for implying digital assets could solve financial hardship, ruling the ads trivialized crypto risks and positioned Coinbase as an alternative to traditional financial systems.

Megatel Homes is launching a cryptocurrency program offering low mortgage rates to homebuyers who use the MP token. The SEC granted a no-action letter for MegPrime to offer the token, merging crypto with real estate.

A new Russia-linked stablecoin, A7A5, contributed to a surge in illicit crypto activity last year, reaching $158 billion. This stablecoin, pegged to the Russian ruble, facilitated significant sanctions evasion and state-aligned economic activity, surpassing dollar-pegged stablecoins like Tether.

Traders are preparing for the expiration of $8.5 billion worth of Bitcoin options on Deribit, with a bullish bias indicated by the put-call ratio of 0.56. Some traders are hedging downside risks by purchasing put options ahead of the Fed meeting.

WisdomTree is expanding its tokenization efforts to Solana, allowing both institutional and retail investors to mint, trade, and hold its tokenized funds on the blockchain. This move is part of the asset manager's multichain strategy to bring traditional financial products onchain to meet growing interest in tokenized assets.

Bitcoin and Ethereum have seen slight gains ahead of the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision. Traders are closely monitoring the Fed's stance on rates, with expectations leaning towards no change in the current interest rate. The market is also preparing for other macroeconomic events, such as a funding deadline and potential government shutdown.

Polkadot has reported its first quarterly profit in almost three years, attributing it to a new conservative approach and leadership changes. The project has diversified its treasury and cut down on excessive spending, resulting in a positive financial quarter.

Analysts predict XRP's price will surge by 80% and approach all-time highs by June, with significant institutional investment in XRP ETFs since November. Ripple, the company behind XRP, has made strategic moves like raising $500 million and launching Ripple Treasury.

Hyperliquid, River, and Pump.fun have surged in the past week, with Hyperliquid leading at 65% gains. Altcoin dominance has risen from 6.7% to 7.06%, reflecting a shift in speculative capital movement.

OKX has launched a new debit card in Europe, allowing users to spend stablecoins directly at Mastercard-accepting merchants. The card offers fee-free spending and crypto rewards, with assets converted only at the time of purchase. It integrates with OKX's on-chain infrastructure, emphasizing user control.