CFA Report Pegs US Crypto Fraud Losses at $80.7B

Mark Koh, a Singapore-based entrepreneur, lost all of his crypto holdings to malware disguised as a game-testing scam. Despite taking precautions, his software wallets were drained of $14,189 within 24 hours, likely due to a combination of authentication token theft and a Google Chrome zero-day vulnerability.

Hut8's shares are surging following a $7 billion deal with Fluidstack, backed by Google, to power high-performance computing at a Louisiana data center. The agreement includes renewal options that could increase the contract value to $17.7 billion.

The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime warns that the Central African Republic's cryptocurrency initiatives, championed by President Touadéra, have been poorly designed, benefiting foreign investors more than the population. Sango Coin, CAR meme coin, and tokenization of natural resources have faced challenges and lack transparency.

A ban on crypto mining in Southern Siberia is set to be expanded indefinitely starting January 1, 2026, due to power shortages reaching nearly 3,000 MW. The ban aims to stabilize the power supply and address grid-related issues frustrating industrial players.

Former Alameda Research co-CEO Caroline Ellison has been released from federal prison after serving 11 months of her two-year sentence for involvement in the FTX collapse and theft of $8 billion. She was transferred to a halfway house and may continue her sentence in another facility or under home confinement.

Governor Newsom has launched a website tracking Trump's "criminal cronies," including prominent crypto figures who received presidential pardons. The site highlights concerns about Trump's crypto dealings and potential conflicts of interest, positioning California as a counterweight to alleged corruption.

Bitcoin's price is down 30% from its peak, currently at $87,800, as the Bank of Japan hints at raising interest rates. This move could impact global liquidity and risk assets, including Bitcoin.

Visa expands its USDC settlement program to U.S. banks, allowing them to settle obligations using Circle’s USDC on Solana. The FDIC approves a rulemaking for FDIC-supervised banks to issue payment stablecoins through subsidiaries, outlining application requirements and governance standards.

A proposal to transfer control of Aave's brand assets to its token holders is gaining traction, sparking intense debate within the Aave DAO. This move is seen as a step towards decentralization in the DeFi space.

Securitize plans to launch the first fully compliant onchain trading platform for real public stocks in early 2026, offering investors direct ownership of tokenized shares with real shareholder rights. The platform will allow trading through a blockchain-based interface, ensuring assets are under self-custody.