Crypto Super PACs Donate to Illinois Senate Race, With Candidate Juliana Stratton Backed by Influential Figures

Bhutan has been transferring millions of dollars worth of Bitcoin from its wallets over the past week, with a history of periodic BTC sales dating back several years. The country has mined significant amounts of Bitcoin since 2019, with a peak mining year in 2023.

Vitalik Buterin recently moved a significant amount of ETH to his charity, Kanro, and converted a portion to wETH. His balance decreased from 241,000 to 227,268 ETH, valued at around $498.5 million. Buterin has recently been critical of the role of layer-2 networks in Ethereum's ecosystem.

Publicly traded Bitcoin mining companies such as MARA, RIOT, HUT, and CIFR are experiencing significant share price drops due to Bitcoin's 15-month low price of $72,185. The overall market downturn has also affected other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Solana, with losses ranging from 28% to 30%.

South Korean regulators are investigating suspicious activity on Upbit after ZKsync token surged by 970% in three hours on February 1. The Financial Security Service may launch a formal investigation into the matter due to potential price manipulation concerns.

Over 50 ether (ETH) worth over $100,000 were rescued from a vulnerable smart contract in a long-planned whitehat operation by the Security Alliance (SEAL). The funds had been sitting in the insecure contract for a decade and are now in a recovery address.

UBS Group AG is venturing into tokenized services and crypto access for clients. CEO Sergio Ermotti emphasized a client-focused approach, exploring crypto access and tokenized deposit solutions. The bank also aims to leverage AI for operational efficiency.

Layer-2 networks, once considered extensions of Ethereum, are now distancing themselves following Vitalik Buterin's comments. Leaders argue that rollups must clarify their role and become independent as Ethereum's base layer improves, signaling a transition rather than a threat.

Ripple's integration with Hyperliquid's decentralized exchange via its prime brokerage platform will enhance institutional clients' access to on-chain derivatives liquidity and cross-margining with various asset classes. Hyperliquid, named Decrypt's Project of the Year in 2025, has expanded into perpetual futures markets for gold, silver, and copper.

Canaccord's Joseph Vafi recently lowered his price target on Strategy (MSTR) by 61% to $185, citing an "identity crisis" for Bitcoin and Strategy's dependence on BTC. Despite Strategy's volatility, Vafi maintains a buy rating on the stock.

Tether has decided to scale back its fundraising efforts after facing resistance from investors, with plans to raise as little as $5 billion instead of the initially targeted $20 billion. The move aims to address questions on valuation and regulatory durability.