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Sydney aged care employee charged with sexual assault of residents
by Ethan Rix on April 24, 2025 at 11:19 am
Police alleged the 46-year-old woman sexually abused seven elderly residents at a facility in Sydney's south-west and sent recordings of the assaults to her partner.
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Trump fought the bond market, the bond market won: Saifedean Ammous
by Cointelegraph by Zoltan Vardai on April 24, 2025 at 10:57 am
Analysts are criticizing the financial implications of US President Donald Trump’s import tariffs, a development that some say highlights Bitcoin’s unique economic properties during times of global uncertainty.Trump’s 90-day pause on higher reciprocal tariffs, reverting them to a 10% baseline for most countries except China, has exposed vulnerabilities in the US bond market, according to critics.Economist and author of The Bitcoin Standard, Saifedean Ammous, said Trump’s decision to reverse the higher tariffs was likely a reaction to rising bond yields, suggesting the administration’s hand was forced.“Trump fought the bond market and the bond market won,” Ammous said in an April 23 X post. “The gambit seemed to work for the first day, and the huge crash in the stock market was presented as a small price to pay for fiscal sustainability.“But then the bonds began to crash, and it became clear how disastrous the tariffs were, and how wrong it was to expect that deliberately crashing the stock market would boost the bond market,” he added.Source: Saifedean AmmousRelated: Trump’s tariff escalation exposes ‘deeper fractures’ in global financial systemTreasury yields spike after tariff moveFollowing Trump’s tariff announcement, CNBC data shows that the 10-year Treasury yield surged from under 4% to 4.5% amid a sell-off driven by inflation and recession concerns. 10-year bond yield, 1-year chart. Source: CNBC“The rise in yields was the exact opposite of what the administration wanted, and reversing course on the tariffs half a day after they go into effect was absolutely devastating for Trump’s negotiating position,” Ammous said.Some analysts, including Global Macro Investor founder Raoul Pal, have suggested the tariff maneuvering may only be “posturing” for the US to reach a trade agreement with China.“All of the talk about China buckling under the threat of Trump now sounds hilarious in retrospect, when Trump could not keep his tariffs in place for two days,” Ammous said, adding that China “showed absolutely no inclination” to reach out and strike a deal.Delays in reaching a trade agreement may limit the recovery of both equity and cryptocurrency markets, which hinge on the outcomes of the trade negotiations, according to Nansen analysts.Meanwhile, Bitcoin (BTC) is acting “less like a tech stock and more like a hedge against economic uncertainty,” after Trump signaled a “substantial reduction in tariffs on Chinese goods,” Nexo dispatch analyst Iliya Kalchev told Cointelegraph.Related: Crypto, stocks enter ‘new phase of trade war’ as US-China tensions riseTrade wars reignite the need for a Bitcoin standardThe situation has revived long-standing proposals to back the US dollar with Bitcoin. Ammous said the US should keep buying BTC until the government holds enough to fully back the dollar supply, ultimately switching to a Bitcoin standard:“Keep buying bitcoin until the value of the bitcoin held by the US government is enough to back the entire US dollar supply, then go on a bitcoin standard where dollars are redeemable for bitcoin, and have the government never spend more than it earns.”Historically, the dollar was backed by gold and redeemable for a fixed amount of the precious metal until 1933, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt suspended gold convertibility in response to the Great Depression.In 1971, President Richard Nixon halted the dollar’s convertibility into gold, aiming to protect the US gold reserves and stabilize the economy, marking the beginning of the fiat currency system that remains in place today.Bitcoin’s fixed supply, which is hard-coded in its tokenomics, makes it a popular digital competitor to gold. Joe Burnett, director of market research at Unchained, predicted that Bitcoin may rival or surpass gold’s market capitalization in the next decade, projecting that the Bitcoin price will surpass $1.8 million by 2035.Magazine: Bitcoin ATH sooner than expected? XRP may drop 40%, and more: Hodler’s Digest, March 23–29
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Upbit and Bithumb suspend Synthetix token deposits, citing sUSD risks
by Cointelegraph by Ezra Reguerra on April 24, 2025 at 10:18 am
South Korean exchanges Upbit and Bithumb have suspended deposits for Synthetix (SNX) tokens after it was flagged by the Digital Asset Exchange Alliance (DAXA) for potential risks.DAXA, the self-regulatory organization establishing industry standards for South Korean exchanges, designated SNX as a cautionary item. Assets receiving this designation typically undergo rigorous evaluations to determine whether trading can continue or if delisting is necessary.Exchanges may take action, such as adding a warning tag to the asset and urging investors to take caution when engaging with it. Trading platforms can also perform additional measures, like blocking deposits or suspending trading support temporarily. Upbit and Bithumb block SNX depositsIn response to the designation, the biggest exchanges in South Korea said they are blocking deposits for SNX tokens on their platforms. Upbit announced that it had added a trading caution ticker and suspended token deposits. The exchange said it had been monitoring the developments related to the Synthetix USD (sUSD) depegging. It added that this event may damage investors through potential volatility, as SNX is used as collateral for sUSD. The exchange added that it had determined a lack of use cases for the asset, which may cause investors to suffer losses. Upbit said it would conduct a comprehensive review to decide whether to delist the asset or resume normal operations for the token. Bithumb has also blocked deposits for SNX and added a cautionary tag for the token. However, the exchange said this decision could be overturned depending on internal circumstances. If the reason for the designation is resolved, Bithumb said it would lift the restrictions. Korbit and Coinone also published investor alerts to caution traders. The two exchanges added cautionary tags to SNX tokens to alert investors who may want to trade the token. Cointelegraph reached out to Synthetix for comment but did not get a response by publication. Related: South Korean crypto emerges from failed coup into crackdown seasonsUSD struggles to recover dollar pegOn April 10, the sUSD stablecoin dropped to a five-year low of $0.83 after struggling to maintain its dollar peg in the first quarter of 2025. With the stablecoin being collateralized by the project’s native asset, Cork Protocol co-founder Rob Schmitt compared the token to Terra USD (UST), which collapsed in 2022. However, Schmitt said that sUSD has a “more manageable” debt system. On April 18, the stablecoin dipped further to $0.68, with SNX falling by 26% in a 30-day period. A Synthetix spokesperson told Cointelegraph that their team has short, medium and long-term plans to mitigate the risks. On April 21, Synthetix founder Kain Warwick threatened SNX stakers with “the stick” if they didn’t take up a newly launched staking mechanism to fix the sUSD depeg. The executive said they may put extra pressure on stakers if they don’t see enough momentum on the newly implemented mechanism. Since the warning, sUSD prices increased by 27%. On April 24, the stablecoin briefly reached $0.87. However, the token has still failed to recover its dollar peg. Magazine: Uni students crypto ‘grooming’ scandal, 67K scammed by fake women: Asia Express
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Bitcoin exchange outflows mimic 2023 as whales buy retail 'panic'
by Cointelegraph by William Suberg on April 24, 2025 at 10:16 am
Key points:Bitcoin exchange 100-day average netflows are at their most negative since the start of the current bull market in 2023.Exchange balances continue to plumb new multiyear lows.Whales are particularly active buyers this month, while retail shows classic “panic selling.”Bitcoin (BTC) exchanges are evoking the end of the 2022 crypto bear market as user inflows dry up this year.Data from onchain analytics platform CryptoQuant reveals exchanges’ average net flows hitting two-year records.Bitcoin analysis eyes “reaccumulation of assets”Bitcoin may be trading significantly higher than at the start of 2023, but demand for BTC among exchange users is reminiscent of the start of a bull market.CryptoQuant reveals that the 100-day simple moving average (SMA) of exchange net flows recently hit its most negative figure in two years.“This essentially indicates the highest Bitcoin outflow from exchanges since that date,” contributor CryptoOnChain commented in one of its “Quicktake” blog posts on April 23. “A review of historical patterns suggests that this could imply re-accumulation of assets by investors.”Bitcoin exchange netflow 100-day SMA. Source: CryptoQuantA negative net flow tally indicates outflows from exchange surpassing inflows, reflecting more user demand than a desire to send BTC to exchange accounts for a potential sale.As Cointelegraph reported, overall exchange BTC balances are at their lowest in many years.CryptoQuant shows reserves hitting 2.535 million BTC in early April, down over 7% from 2.740 million BTC at the start of the year.Bitcoin exchange reserve. Source: CryptoQuantWhales buy while retail exitsElsewhere, larger Bitcoin entities have added to their portion of the supply throughout April, even as smaller retail investors sell.Related: Bitcoin ETF inflows top 500 times 2025 average in ‘significant deviation’“Whales (1k-10k balance) have been accumulating hard since March, even as price slid,” crypto analyst Miles Deutscher noted on X this week alongside CryptoQuant data. “Every time prices drop, whales accumulate into retail panic selling.”Bitcoin 1K BTC+ balance data. Source: Miles Deutscher/XResearch firm Santiment drew similar conclusions about entities holding at least 10 BTC, which it referred to as “key stakeholders.”“Bitcoin’s key stakeholders comprised of wallets holding between 10 & 10K BTC currently hold 67.77% of the entire supply of crypto’s top market cap asset,” an X post reported. “During the April volatility, these wallets continue to accumulate, and have now added over 53.6K BTC since March 22nd.”Bitcoin 10 BTC+ balance data. Source: Santiment/XThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
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Jamie Jack announces himself as a world champs contender
by Simon Smale on April 24, 2025 at 10:15 am
Jamie Jack, the younger brother of sprint sensation Shayna, has announced himself as a contender for a spot on the world championship team by winning silver in the men's 100-metre freestyle at the Australian swimming championships.
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Shaquille O’Neal reaches settlement in FTX lawsuit, terms remain secret
by Cointelegraph by Amin Haqshanas on April 24, 2025 at 9:53 am
Shaquille O’Neal has settled with investors who claim losses from the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX, according to an April 23 filing in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida.The settlement amount remains confidential, with terms expected to be disclosed after investors formally request preliminary court approval, according to court documents.O’Neal and other celebrities and athletes were accused of promoting FTX and allegedly contributing to investor losses by endorsing the now-bankrupt exchange.Source: Court ListenerThe case is part of a broader multidistrict litigation effort, where investors are seeking up to $21 billion in damages from FTX insiders, advisers and promoters, far exceeding the $9.2 billion available through bankruptcy proceedings.Other celebrities embroiled in similar legal troubles for their roles in FTX include NFL quarterback Tom Brady, supermodel Gisele Bündchen, billionaire investor Kevin O’Leary, former NBA player Udonis Haslem, David Ortiz, Naomi Osaka and others. Notably, FTX investors faced challenges in serving O’Neal with legal papers during the early stages of the lawsuit over his promotion of the collapsed exchange.Lawyers representing the victims described O’Neal as “running from the lawsuit,” after multiple failed attempts to deliver court documents. Legal teams reportedly spent months trying to reach the NBA legend, resorting to creative methods, including attempting service during NBA games and at his residences. Related: FTX former execs and promoters to settle class-action lawsuit for $1.3MO’Neal finalizes $11 million settlement over Astrals NFT projectThe settlement with FTX investors comes as O’Neal recently agreed to pay $11 million to resolve a class-action lawsuit tied to his involvement in the Solana-based Astrals NFT project.In May 2023, O’Neal was served with the Astral NFT lawsuit during an NBA game at Miami’s Kaseya Center, formerly the FTX Arena. The class-action lawsuit involved his promotion of the Astrals NFT project, alleging that the NFTs promoted by O’Neal were unregistered securities.In August 2024, a Miami federal court judge ruled that O’Neal would need to defend some of the claims brought against him in the case. Astrals is a Solana-based project featuring 10,000 NFTs, a metaverse called Astralworld and a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) with a governance token called Galaxy.Magazine: Ethereum maxis should become ‘assholes’ to win TradFi tokenization race
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Teen charged with murder over fatal Darwin supermarket stabbing
on April 24, 2025 at 9:46 am
An 18-year-old man will face court charged with murder after the fatal stabbing of a Nightcliff grocery store owner on Wednesday.
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Sea of white as community pays tribute to Audrey Griffin
by Sarah Forster on April 24, 2025 at 9:37 am
More than 1,000 people have gathered on Terrigal Beach to mourn Audrey Griffin, a young woman who is alleged to have been murdered by a Sydney man.
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Two-time Gold Logie winner Gerard Kennedy dies
by Charmayne Allison on April 24, 2025 at 9:18 am
Starring in more than 80 shows and movies over more than 50 years, Gerard Kennedy was famed for his rugged looks and intense performances.
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Why Ukrainians who fled Putin's war fear a ceasefire won't hold
by Thomas Morgan on April 24, 2025 at 8:40 am
Ukrainians living overseas have little faith that the Russians will abide by a ceasefire agreement and say their country should continue to fight regardless of whether or not the US withdraws support.
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Live: Demons and Tigers locked in tight Anzac Day eve match at MCG
by Luke Pentony on April 24, 2025 at 8:39 am
Melbourne and Richmond are playing out a tense encounter at the MCG in the AFL's traditional Anzac Day eve match. Follow live.
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This navy veteran overcame a suicide attack and losing his legs to march with his son
by Adam Harvey on April 24, 2025 at 8:17 am
Anzac Day has always been difficult for Luke McCallum. But this year, for the first time since having his legs partially amputated, he's ready to march again.
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Teens face court on string of charges including alleged fatal hit-and-run
by Liana Boss on April 24, 2025 at 8:07 am
Three north-west NSW teen boys are facing a string of charges over an alleged break and enter and pursuit in a stolen vehicle involving a fatal hit-and-run.
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Shopping centre robber sentenced after murder charge dropped
by Aisling Brennan and Peter Sanders on April 24, 2025 at 8:05 am
A young man has been given an "opportunity" after a violent shopping centre robbery which caused the death of a 75-year-old man in Toowoomba.
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DeFi platform KiloEx to compensate users impacted by $7.5M hack
by Cointelegraph by Ezra Reguerra on April 24, 2025 at 8:05 am
Decentralized exchange (DEX) KiloEx said it will compensate traders and stakers hurt by a $7.5 million exploit that temporarily shut down the platform earlier in April.In an April 24 announcement, KiloEx said traders who had positions open while the platform was suspended would get full compensation if their losses increased or profits decreased. The platform said it would pay the difference. KiloEx urged traders to close their positions immediately once the platform resumes operations, as delaying could affect their profit and losses, which may then impact the compensation amount. “Please close your position as soon as possible after the platform resumes. Compensation will be calculated based on the platform’s resume time,” KiloEx stated. Source: KiloExStakers’ principal and earnings remain unaffectedFor the platform’s Hybrid Vault stakers, KiloEx said that the stolen funds were fully reinjected into the vault. As a result, staker earnings and principal will remain unaffected. However, KiloEx said it will still provide an additional 10% annual percentage yield (APY) as a bonus for eligible stakers.The bonus APY will be awarded to users who had funds in the vault prior to the platform’s resumption.On April 15, KiloEx offered a 10% bounty to the hacker who stole the funds from the platform. The DEX said that the hacker could keep $750,000 as a white hat bounty if they decided to return 90% of the stolen funds. The platform threatened to expose the hacker’s identity and take legal action if they did not comply. Shortly after, security platforms flagged transactions indicating that the KiloEx hacker returned the stolen funds. On April 18, the DEX said it would withdraw all legal action against the hacker and reward them with a 10% white hat bounty. Related: Mantra OM token crash exposes ‘critical’ liquidity issues in cryptoKiloEx hacker exploited a price oracle vulnerabilityOn April 14, KiloEx suspended its platform after containing the exploit that led to the $7.5 million in losses. Security firm PeckShield said the attacker likely exploited a price oracle vulnerability that allowed them to inflate the prices to gain more profit than they should have. In a post-mortem published by KiloEx, the platform confirmed that the attacker exploited a permissionless function. The DEX said the attacker crafted a request that only authorized entities should have been able to do. Using this, the attacker opened a position at an “artificially low price.” This was followed by closing the position at a higher price, providing illegitimate profit to the attacker. Magazine: Ethereum maxis should become ‘assholes’ to win TradFi tokenization race
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Two men face court over unrelated alleged sex attacks in regional WA
by Rosanne Maloney, Mya Kordic, and Chloe Henville on April 24, 2025 at 7:55 am
A 29-year-old man is accused of offences against three women in Broome, while 30-year-old man is remanded in custody in Geraldton after allegedly raping a woman during a break-in armed with a knife.
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Live: Brisbane score six tries in first half blitz to stun undefeated Dogs
by Michael Doyle on April 24, 2025 at 7:46 am
The NRL's last undefeated team have been battered in the first half at Lang Park, as the Broncos lead the Bulldogs 34-0 at half-time. Follow live.
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Revolut doubles profits to $1.3B on user growth, crypto trading boom
by Cointelegraph by Amin Haqshanas on April 24, 2025 at 7:26 am
Fintech giant Revolut reported a record-breaking year, doubling its pre-tax profit to 1 billion British pounds ($1.3 billion) in 2024, driven by rapid customer growth and a resurgence in cryptocurrency trading.According to its annual report published on Thursday, April 24, Revolut’s profit soared from 438 million pounds in 2023, while revenue jumped to 3.1 billion pounds from 1.8 billion pounds.A key contributor to Revolut’s strong performance was its wealth division, which includes stock and digital asset trading. The segment generated 506 million pounds in revenue — nearly four times higher than in 2023 — as crypto trading activity rebounded.Revolut’s increasing profit. Source: RevolutRevolut added nearly 15 million new users in 2024, pushing its total customer base past 50 million. This expansion boosted revenue from card payment fees and interest on deposits, the fintech’s two largest income streams.Founder and CEO Nik Storonsky said in the report that “2024 was another landmark year for Revolut, with continued growth across all key business areas.”Related: Pyth partners with Revolut for real-time digital asset dataRevolut receives long-awaited UK banking licenseStoronsky noted that the company obtained a long-awaited UK banking license in 2024, which was secured in July after a three-year regulatory process.The license paved the way for Revolut to expand its lending services, including credit cards, buy-now-pay-later products and potentially mortgages, which the company confirmed are currently in testing.“We received a UK banking license (with restrictions), paving the way for future product enhancements in our home market,” Storonsky said.In May 2024, Revolut introduced Revolut X, a dedicated desktop crypto exchange targeting experienced traders. The platform offers trading for 100 tokens with low fees and real-time on/off-ramp capabilities, with plans to expand to mobile in 2025.In November, Revolut expanded its crypto exchange in Europe, rolling out Revolut X in 30 markets across the European Economic Area (EEA), including Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark and others.Revolut launches new products. Source: Revolut.Revolut continued to expand its digital asset services during the year, offering customers access to cryptocurrencies alongside other investment options like stocks, ETFs, bonds and commodities within its app ecosystem, per the annual report.Related: Revolut and Ledger wallet enable new crypto rails in EEARevolut struggles to attract banking customersDespite its growth, Revolut faces challenges in converting users of its popular app into primary banking customers.Growing deposit volumes remain critical for funding future lending operations and competing with established retail banks. In 2024, total customer balances rose to $39.8 billion from $23.9 billion.Revolut is also focusing on expanding its premium subscription base, with revenue from paid plans climbing 74% year-on-year to 423 million pounds, per the report.Additionally, its business services arm now accounts for 15% of total revenue, reflecting efforts to diversify income streams beyond retail banking.Looking ahead, Storonsky said Revolut intends to reach 100 million daily active users across 100 countries.Magazine: Ethereum maxis should become ‘assholes’ to win TradFi tokenization race
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'Forever coward murderers' confronted by hit-and-run victim's family
by Romy Gilbert on April 24, 2025 at 7:09 am
A mother and son convicted of murdering an Indigenous teen in Nowra have been told by victim's family of the grief caused by the "revenge attack".
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Postmaster honours diggers with touching Anzac Day display
by Cathy Adams on April 24, 2025 at 7:06 am
A display in a NSW post office commemorating the diggers is being celebrated for keeping the Anzac spirit alive.
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What is quantitative easing, and how does it work?
by Cointelegraph by SK Arora on April 24, 2025 at 7:05 am
Quantitative easing (QE), explained Quantitative easing (QE) is a non-traditional monetary policy tool used by central banks, particularly when interest rates are already low and cannot be reduced further. It was popularized during the 2008 global financial crisis when traditional monetary tools, like lowering interest rates, were insufficient to stimulate economic growth. The main goal of QE is to boost the economy by increasing the money supply. This is achieved by encouraging banks to lend more and making borrowing cheaper for consumers and businesses. When central banks implement QE, they purchase government bonds or other securities from the market, injecting cash into the financial system. Even though people sometimes say QE is like “printing money,” it’s not the same as making new physical cash. Instead, it increases the amount of digital money — meaning the balances held in bank accounts — in the economy. This isn’t cryptocurrency; it’s regular money created by the central bank and used by banks to lend more, which helps boost spending and investment.QE can also raise the prices of assets like stocks and bonds because the extra money looking for returns drives demand higher. Governments also used QE during the COVID-19 pandemic to help keep the economy stable and support growth. How does quantitative easing work? To understand how QE functions behind the scenes, it’s important to look at the step-by-step mechanics that drive this policy. QE doesn’t work through a single action — it operates through a chain of events that begins with the central bank and eventually influences everyday economic activity. Here’s how the process typically unfolds:Asset purchases: Central banks buy government securities, such as treasury bonds, from banks and financial institutions.Increasing money supply: These purchases flood the financial system with liquidity.Lowering interest rates: With more cash on hand, banks lower interest rates, making loans cheaper.Boosting lending and spending: Cheaper loans mean more business investments and consumer spending, which are key drivers of economic growth. Quantitative easing in practice: Historical examples Quantitative easing isn’t just a theory — it’s been used by major central banks during times of economic trouble. Here are some real-world examples of how it worked:United States (2008–2014; 2020): The global financial crisisAfter the 2008 housing market crash, the US economy was in a deep recession. To help:The Federal Reserve launched three rounds of QE (QE1, QE2, QE3).It bought trillions of dollars in government bonds and mortgage-backed securities.This helped lower interest rates, supported lending, and boosted the stock market.When COVID-19 shut down economies worldwide, the US Fed acted quickly:It reintroduced QE, buying $120 billion per month in bonds at its peak.It aimed to keep borrowing costs low and support businesses and households.Japan (2001–2006, and again from 2013 onward): Fighting deflationJapan was dealing with low inflation and sluggish growth for years. The Bank of Japan (BoJ):Started using QE before most other countries.Bought large amounts of government bonds and later included stocks and real estate investment trusts.Eurozone (2015–2022): Post-debt crisis recoveryThe European Central Bank (ECB) introduced QE after a debt crisis hit Greece, Italy and Spain:The ECB bought government bonds from eurozone countries to bring down borrowing costs.This supported weaker economies and aimed to prevent deflation (falling prices). How quantitative easing impacts crypto markets Quantitative easing doesn’t just affect traditional financial markets — it also impacts the cryptocurrency market. When central banks inject more cash into the economy, some of that money flows into alternative assets like Bitcoin (BTC) and altcoins, driving up their prices. This surge in liquidity often boosts asset prices across the board, including cryptocurrencies, as more money becomes available for investments.Additionally, during QE, fiat currencies may lose value due to increased money supply, leading some investors to seek out cryptocurrencies as a hedge against inflation or currency devaluation. Bitcoin, in particular, is often seen as a store of value similar to gold. For example, in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the US Federal Reserve launched aggressive QE. At the same time:Bitcoin was trading under $5,000 in March 2020.By late 2021, it had soared past $60,000.Key factors behind Bitcoin’s growth during QE include rising inflation fears and low interest rates pushing investors toward alternative assets. Among these, a major driver could be the search for a store of value outside traditional finance. Thus, QE can indirectly contribute to crypto market booms by influencing investor sentiment and liquidity.The flip side: When QE ends, crypto may sufferWhen central banks end QE or start raising interest rates (tightening policy), liquidity is reduced, and borrowing becomes more expensive. This can lead to pullbacks in risk assets, including crypto.For example, in 2022, the Fed began quantitative tightening to combat inflation. Bitcoin dropped from around $47,000 in March to below $17,000 by December — a decline likely driven by investors shifting to safer assets and reduced risk appetite due to rising interest rates. Quantitative easing (QE) vs. quantitative tightening (QT): Key differences Quantitative easing (QE) and quantitative tightening (QT) are two opposing monetary policies used by central banks. QE involves expanding the money supply by purchasing assets such as government bonds, which injects cash into the economy to stimulate growth. Its main purpose is to lower interest rates and encourage lending when the economy is struggling.QT is the process of contracting the central bank’s balance sheet. It involves selling assets or letting them mature, reducing the money supply. The goal of QT is to cool down an overheating economy and prevent inflation from rising too quickly.The key difference between QE and QT lies in their impact on the central bank’s balance sheet: QE expands it, whereas QT contracts it. In terms of market effects, QE tends to drive asset prices up, whereas QT can lead to lower asset prices and higher interest rates. Both policies significantly influence inflation and market stability.Are the Fed tapering and quantitative easing the same?No, tapering and QE are not the same — but they are connected.Quantitative easing is when the Federal Reserve actively buys assets, such as government bonds, to inject money into the economy and lower interest rates.Tapering is when the Fed slows down those asset purchases — it’s the beginning of the end of QE, not a reversal. Is the Fed still tightening or easing in 2025? As of April 2025, the US Federal Reserve is navigating a complex economic landscape characterized by persistent inflationary pressures and slowing economic growth. In response, the Fed has maintained its benchmark interest rate within the 4.25%–4.50% range, signaling a cautious approach to monetary policy adjustments.While the Fed has not fully transitioned to an easing stance, it has begun to moderate its QT efforts. Specifically, starting in April, the Fed reduced its monthly runoff of Treasury securities from $25 billion to $5 billion while continuing to allow $35 billion in mortgage-backed securities to mature without reinvestment.Looking ahead, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) projects the possibility of two interest rate cuts later in 2025, contingent upon economic conditions. This projection reflects the Fed’s attempt to balance the dual mandates of controlling inflation and supporting employment amid uncertainties, including the impact of recent tariff policies. Pros and cons of quantitative easing Quantitative easing boosts growth and lowers borrowing costs, but overuse can fuel inflation, asset bubbles and long-term policy challenges.ProsQE helps boost economic activity by increasing the money supply and encouraging lending and investment.By purchasing government bonds, QE drives down interest rates, making borrowing cheaper for businesses and consumers.By injecting liquidity into the economy, QE helps boost demand and supports price stability, preventing deflation.ConsAn excessive increase in the money supply can devalue the currency and push inflation higher.Easy money can drive up asset prices, leading to overvalued stocks, bonds or real estate.QE adds to national debt, making it harder for central banks to manage inflation or interest rates in the future.In the end, quantitative easing remains a powerful but double-edged tool: capable of stabilizing economies in crisis yet carrying long-term risks that must be carefully managed to avoid repeating past imbalances.
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Warner commits to Swans until free agency with new two-year deal
on April 24, 2025 at 6:59 am
Sydney's Chad Warner signs a fresh two-year contract tying him to the Swans until the end of 2027, rejecting big offers from West Australian clubs.
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Man jailed for lighting house on fire with children inside during meth-induced psychosis
by David Weber on April 24, 2025 at 6:36 am
A man who set fire to a home when children were inside while experiencing a meth-induced psychosis is sentenced to eight years in prison.
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Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton double down on weak spots
by Brett Worthington on April 24, 2025 at 6:28 am
Today a Nationals candidate got lucky, Peter Dutton doubled down on his statements and the prime minister was clearly sick of questions about his fall.
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Man accused of hitting Canberra schoolboys with car has charges upgraded
by Elizabeth Byrne on April 24, 2025 at 6:21 am
Charges against a man accused of hitting two St Edmund's College students with an allegedly stolen car as they crossed the road to school last month are to be upgraded to culpable driving causing grievous bodily harm.
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BlackRock Bitcoin fund wins best new ETF on $643M inflow day
by Cointelegraph by Ciaran Lyons on April 24, 2025 at 6:20 am
BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund has been named the best new ETF product by etf.com, as it recorded its highest inflows since Jan. 21. On April 23, BlackRock’s iShare Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) was awarded the “Best New ETF” at the annual etf.com ETF awards. In an X post shortly after, Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said it “feels right to me.”IBIT clocks highest inflows in three months“I’m pretty sure this is how I voted. Both of them did things no one has seen [before],” Balchunas said, also referencing the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO) winning the “ETF of the Year” award. Over the past 5 years, VOO is up 89%, according to Google Finance data.IBIT was also the recipient of the Crypto ETP of the year. IBIT’s two awards came on the same day IBIT recorded $643.2 million in inflows, according to Farside data. It was the highest inflow day since Jan. 21, when it saw $661.9 million, just a day after US President Donald Trump’s inauguration, when Bitcoin’s spot price hit an all-time high of $109,000.Bitcoin is trading at $93,290 at the time of publication. Source: CoinMarketCapBitcoin commentator Vivek said this “is massive,” while Apollo Sats co-founder Thomas Fahrer said, “Huge inflow.”The IBIT fund, which launched in January 2024 alongside 10 other US-based spot Bitcoin ETFs, has net assets of approximately $53.77 billion, according to BlackRock data. Over the past 30 days, it has traded, on average, 45.02 million shares per day. At the time of publication, a single IBIT share is trading at $53.20, as per Google Finance data.The iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF is up 6.02% over the past month. Source: Google FinanceMeanwhile, VanEck Bitcoin ETF (HODL) received the award for “Best new ETF ticker.”Related: Bitcoiners should be cautious over rally as stablecoin indicator lags: AnalystIBIT’s large inflow on April 23 made up most of the $917 million seen across all 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs that day. It was the second day in a row with over $900 million in inflows amid most of the month posting outflow days due to macro uncertainty.On April 23, Glassnode pointed out that the $912 million ETF inflows the day prior equaled more than 500 times the 2025 daily average.Magazine: Former Love Island star’s tips on how to go viral in crypto: Van00sa, X Hall of FlameThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
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Gold miner accidentally reveals sacred site drilling in press release
by Isabella Tolhurst on April 24, 2025 at 6:14 am
A Canadian-owned mining company has pleaded guilty to sacred site damage after accidentally tipping off the regulator about its unlawful drilling at a Northern Territory sacred site.
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A 'worrying' increase in coastal erosion has led to three WA councils to unite
by Piper Duffy and Nadia Mitsopoulos on April 24, 2025 at 6:08 am
Three coastal councils have teamed up to help manage recreational four-wheel driving to protect the coastline from "blowing away into the ocean".
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Prosecutors seek over 6 years prison for Mango Markets exploiter
by Cointelegraph by Stephen Katte on April 24, 2025 at 6:00 am
US federal prosecutors have asked a district judge to sentence Avraham “Avi” Eisenberg, the crypto user convicted of the $110 million exploit of the decentralized exchange Mango Markets in 2022, to at least six and a half years behind bars.Ahead of Eisenberg’s May 1 sentencing hearing, US prosecutors are petitioning US District Judge Arun Subramanian for Eisenberg to face between 78 and 97 months in prison, according to an April 22 filing in a New York district court.Prosecutors argue it’s an appropriate sentence for Eisenberg’s April 2024 conviction for committing wire fraud, commodities fraud and commodities manipulation in connection with the Mango Markets exploit and separate charges that he possessed child pornography.“This sentence is necessary to, among other things, appropriately reflect the gravity of the defendant’s crimes, promote respect for the law, deter the defendant from future criminal activity, and protect the public,” the prosecutors said.“Fraud that takes over $100 million from investors and effectively shuts down a business is a shocking violation of criminal law, and it necessitates a sentence commensurate with the crime.”Mango Markets announced on Jan. 11 that it was winding down operations. It first launched in August 2021. A subsequent Jan. 18 post to X gave a date of Feb. 3 for the shutdown.Source: Mango MarketsDuring his April 2024 trial, Eisenberg’s legal team claimed he orchestrated a legal trading strategy that saw him profit $110 million from Mango Markets.He has returned roughly $67 million of the funds after the exploit, but retained more than $40 million following a community governance vote.Mango Markets hopes for restitutionIn an April 22 impact statement filed by lawyers acting for Mango Markets, the exchange asks that, in light of Eisenberg’s conviction, the court grant $47 million restitution to make everyone, “including Mango DAO, whole.”“Although Eisenberg’s attack cannot be undone, return of the funds he misappropriated is critical to righting his wrong,” Mango Markets said.Related: Mango Markets heist like a fake diamond ring scam: Prosecutor“No amount of money will fix the damage that Eisenberg has caused to Mango Markets’ reputation and the suffering his avarice caused, but returning the money, Eisenberg made off with will at least help.”Authorities arrested Eisenberg in December 2022. After his conviction, his sentencing has been postponed multiple times.Initially, it was scheduled for Dec. 12, 2024, but it was later delayed to Feb. 11, 2025, and April 10, 2025. Eisenberg’s legal team said the complexity of the sentencing issues caused the delays. Magazine: Ethereum maxis should become ‘assholes’ to win TradFi tokenization race
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Record gold prices attract a new rush of prospectors in Queensland
by Vanessa Jarrett and Bryn Wakefield on April 24, 2025 at 5:57 am
As gold prices increase around the world, opportunities for amateur fossickers to strike it rich are expanding in the state's centre.
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US prosecutors file over 200 victim statements in Celsius ex-CEO’s case
by Cointelegraph by Jesse Coghlan on April 24, 2025 at 5:57 am
US federal prosecutors have filed statements from hundreds of victims in their case against Alex Mashinsky, the founder and former CEO of the defunct crypto lender Celsius Network.The recently sworn-in interim US Attorney for Manhattan, Jay Clayton, said in an April 23 letter to a Manhattan federal court that he was sharing “more than 200 victim impact statements” collected by his office.The statements span 418 pages of Celsius users, some named and some only using their initials, detailing the impact that the collapse of the firm had on their lives and how much money they had lost as a result. Some of the statements detailed victims who said they entrusted their life savings to Celsius, believing Mashinsky’s assurances that the platform was safe.Others wrote they were dismayed at the amount returned to them as a result of the company’s bankruptcy proceedings, which many said was less than the amount they put into the platform.An excerpt of a statement by Jesse Gaarenstroom detailing their losses and dissatisfaction with the repayments made to Celsius creditors. Source: CourtListenerBefore it collapsed, Celsius Network allowed users to deposit crypto to earn yield and offered loans with crypto posted as collateral. It blocked withdrawals in mid-2022 amid a massive crypto market crash and filed for bankruptcy in July that year.The Justice Department hit Mashinsky with seven charges a year later in July 2023, but he took a plea deal and copped to a count each of commodities and securities fraud in December, which carry a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison if served consecutively.Some seek leniency for MashinskyA large number of the statements reviewed by Cointelegraph called for Mashinsky to be imprisoned under the maximum allowable sentence, but at least two called for the court to go easy on the admitted fraudster.Related: US prosecutors to pursue ex-SafeMoon CEO case despite DOJ memoOne statement, written by a person identifying themselves as “Mike,” said further punishing Mashinsky would be “unreasonably excessive” as he claimed, without evidence, that the Celsius founder “was the target of a coordinated attack” by Sam Bankman-Fried, a convicted fraudster and former CEO of the collapsed crypto exchange FTX.Another statement written by Artur Abreu said that Mashinsky should be given leniency as he’s shown remorse, and macroeconomic factors at the time majorly contributed to Celsius’ collapse.Mashinsky, whose sentencing is set for May 8, argued in an April 17 sentencing brief that he should not be sentenced to more than a year and one day in prison, or 366 days, as he had “genuinely good intentions, and a previously spotless track record.”The government's sentencing brief is due on April 24.Magazine: Inner City Press says ‘less flashy’ Mashinsky set for less jail time than SBF: X Hall of Flame
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Bail reform promised in wake of NT supermarket stabbing
on April 24, 2025 at 5:52 am
The NT government has promised to urgently pass new bail laws to bring the territory in-line with Victoria and NSW in the wake of a fatal stabbing of a local Darwin grocer.
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Mega coal mine granted 18-month lifeline to save 1,500 jobs
by Amelia Bernasconi and Courtney Yeandle on April 24, 2025 at 5:41 am
Hunter Valley Operations has been granted an approval extension just two months before it was due to close.
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Nine killed, 63 wounded in Kyiv missile attack, emergency service says
on April 24, 2025 at 5:40 am
The "massive" missile and drone strike is among the deadliest attacks on Ukraine's capital in the three-year war.
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Kooyong forum descends into chaos after 'right-wing bullies' gatecrash
on April 24, 2025 at 5:29 am
Kooyong MP Monique Ryan has condemned gatecrashers who interrupted an election forum on Wednesday night, which saw one audience member throw a punch.
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ZKsync recovers $5M of stolen tokens after hacker accepts bounty offer
by Cointelegraph by Brayden Lindrea on April 24, 2025 at 4:59 am
The ZKsync Association has confirmed the recovery of $5 million worth of stolen tokens from an April 15 ZKsync security incident involving its airdrop distribution contract.The hacker agreed to accept a 10% bounty and return 90% of the remaining stolen tokens, transferring the ZKsync Security Council almost $5.7 million across three transfers on April 23.“We’re pleased to share that the hacker has cooperated and returned the funds within the safe harbor deadline,” ZKsync Association posted to X on April 23, which was later reposted by ZKsync’s X account.Matter Labs, the company behind the ZKsync protocol, also reposted the news shared on X.The ZKsync X account previously confirmed that no user funds were compromised.Source: ZKsync AssociationThe hacker sent two transfers on the ZKsync Era blockchain, consisting of $2.47 million worth of ZKsync (ZK) tokens and $1.83 million worth of Ether (ETH) to the ZKsync Security Council’s ZKsync Era address.Another 776 ETH worth nearly $1.4 million was also sent to their security council’s Ethereum address, Etherscan data shows.The first transfer was made on April 23 at 2:39:57 pm UTC on and the last transfer was made roughly 13 minutes later — all within the 72-hour window that ZK Sync had initially set.ZKsync Association said the company would publish a final report revealing more details from the security incident.How the hack happenedThe hacker breached ZKsync’s admin account, allowing them to exploit the airdrop distribution contract's sweepUnclaimed() function to mint 111 million unclaimed ZK tokens, worth approximately $5 million at the time of the April 15 attack.The hack occurred while ZKsync was in the process of airdropping 17.5% of ZK’s token supply to ecosystem participants.The recovered amount — almost $5.7 million — exceeded the $5 million originally stolen due to a rise in the market value of the stolen tokens, with ZK and ETH increasing 16.6% and 8.8% respectively since the April 15 attack, according to CoinGecko data.Despite the asset recovery, the ZK token failed to rise substantially on the news and is currently down 0.2% over the last 24 hours.ZKsync Era is an Ethereum layer 2 solution that uses zero-knowledge rollups to batch and process transactions offchain. It has nearly $59 million in total value locked on its chain and has over $2 billion in real-world assets onchain, according to DefiLlama and RWA.xyz.Magazine: Ethereum maxis should become ‘assholes’ to win TradFi tokenization race
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Russia’s central bank, finance ministry to launch crypto exchange
by Cointelegraph by Stephen Katte on April 24, 2025 at 4:58 am
Russia’s finance ministry and central bank are reportedly planning to launch a crypto exchange for qualified investors under an experimental legal regime.The platform will be aimed at “super-qualified investors,” Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said during a ministry meeting, according to April 23 reports from Russian media group RBC and Russian news agency Interfax.“Together with the central bank, we will launch a crypto exchange for super-qualified investors. Crypto assets will be legalized, and crypto operations will be brought out of the shadows,” he said in a statement translated from Russian.“Naturally, this will not happen domestically, but as part of the operations permitted under the experimental legal regime.”Anton Siluanov (left) said the Kremlin-backed crypto exchange is only for Russian investors who meet certain income and wealth thresholds. Source: Mehmet SimsekThe Russian central bank announced a proposal on March 12 to allow a limited number of Russian investors with a certain amount of assets to buy and sell cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) under a three-year experimental regime.Under the proposal, the bank created a new investor category, super-qualified investors, defined by wealth and income thresholds of over 100 million rubles ($1.2 million) or a yearly income of at least 50 million rubles ($602,000).Super-qualified investor definition not set in stone The deputy director of the Finance Ministry’s financial policy department, Osman Kabaloev, said the criteria for a super-qualified investor are not yet final because they were floated in the early stages of discussions last year, according to RBC.“Perhaps it will be in this format, or these indicators will be somehow adjusted in one direction or another - this is possible, I think there will be a wide range of discussions,” Kabaloev said in a statement translated from Russian.Russia implemented a ban on using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin for payments under its first crypto law, which came into force in January 2021.However, the country has since been trying to make other crypto inroads. On April 16, Kabaloev said the Kremlin should be creating its own stablecoin after a recent freeze on wallets linked to the sanctioned Russian exchange Garantex by US authorities and stablecoin issuer Tether. Related: Russia using Bitcoin, USDt for oil trades with China and India: ReportMeanwhile, Evgeny Masharov, a member of the Russian Civic Chamber, proposed on March 20 to create a Russian government crypto fund that would include assets confiscated from criminal proceedings.At the same time, other officials were progressing with new legislation on recognizing crypto as property for the purposes of criminal procedure legislation.Magazine: How crypto laws are changing across the world in 2025
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April 24th – 2025 Presidential Politics – Trump Administration Day 95
by Sundance on April 24, 2025 at 4:20 am
In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency. This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread. Posted in The post April 24th – 2025 Presidential Politics – Trump Administration Day 95 appeared first on The Last Refuge.
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Bitcoin is the ‘cleanest shirt in the dirty laundry’ — Bitfinex
by Cointelegraph by Ciaran Lyons on April 24, 2025 at 4:17 am
Bitcoin has shown resilience compared to the broader financial market amid macroeconomic uncertainty, but analysts caution it’s still too early to know whether the trend will last.“We’re not quite there yet, but if Bitcoin holds strength through the upcoming CPI, as well as ongoing Powell-related and equity earnings volatility, the decoupling narrative could evolve from “temporary divergence” to “regime change,” Bitfinex analysts said in an April 23 markets note viewed by Cointelegraph.Bitcoin’s relative strength yet to be proven as structuralThe analysts said that while Bitcoin’s (BTC) relative strength against US equities “appears real,” it is yet to be confirmed as structural. The analysts warned that Bitcoin has previously seen short periods of outperformance, only to eventually fall back in line with the broader market.Cointelegraph recently reported that Bitcoin is increasingly abandoning its stock correlation to copy gold’s upside. At the time of publication, Bitcoin’s price has posted gains of 7.68% over the past 30 days. Meanwhile, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq are down 6.79% and 8.14%, respectively, as per Google Finance data.Bitcoin is trading at $93,290 at the time of publication. Source: CoinMarketCapOver the same period, Nvidia (NVDA), which has outperformed Bitcoin over the past decade, fell 15.4%. The analysts attributed the decline to the “effective ban on advanced chip exports to China and tariff-driven volatility.” In May 2024, Swan Bitcoin CEO Cory Klippsten said there is a “near zero chance of Nvidia outperforming Bitcoin over the next 10 years.”The Bitfinex analysts described the current crypto market as a “hybrid state,” with rising macroeconomic risk on one side and an uptick in spot Bitcoin ETF inflows on the other. April 22 alone saw $913 million in spot Bitcoin ETF inflows, the largest since late January.“This backdrop favors Bitcoin as the “cleanest shirt in the dirty laundry.”They added that this reinforces Bitcoin’s position as a strong store of value, with Bitcoin dominance rising to levels not seen since late 2021. At the time of publication, Bitcoin's dominance was 64.39%, according to TradingView data.Related: Bitcoin holders back in profit as new capital enters the market — Is $100K BTC price next?Crypto market participants will be closely watching April’s Consumer Price Index (CPI), published on May 13, after March data showed a cooling trend that some saw as a short-term bearish signal for Bitcoin.March’s CPI came in at 2.4% year-over-year, down from 2.8% in February, the lowest level since February 2023, according to the US Bureau of Statistics.Meanwhile, some crypto analysts caution that other indicators suggest Bitcoin’s rally may not last.10x Research head of research Markus Thielen said, “Given that our stablecoin minting indicator has yet to return to high-activity levels, we remain cautious about the sustainability of the current Bitcoin rally.” Magazine: Former Love Island star’s tips on how to go viral in crypto: Van00sa, X Hall of FlameThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
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April 24th – Open Thread
by Sundance on April 24, 2025 at 4:15 am
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL. The post April 24th – Open Thread appeared first on The Last Refuge.
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Crypto exchange KuCoin enters crowded Thailand market
by Cointelegraph by Martin Young on April 24, 2025 at 4:02 am
Cryptocurrency exchange KuCoin is set to branch further into Southeast Asia, targeting the growing crypto market in Thailand. KuCoin is planning to launch a crypto exchange platform offering digital assets and related products in the country, according to an April 23 announcement. ERX Company Ltd, Thailand’s first Securities and Exchange Commission-supervised digital token exchange, has rebranded as KuCoin Thailand effective April 22, it stated. The crypto exchange will operate under ERX, which recently received a crypto exchange license from the Thai financial regulator. “We’re strengthening our ability to offer localized solutions tailored to the Thai market,” said ERX chief executive Att Tongyai Asavanund.Existing ERX users have been migrated to the new KuCoin Thailand platform, and the KuCoin TH app is available on both Android and iOS. KuCoin joins an increasingly crowded Thai market KuCoin is entering a crowded market, as there are eight other companies licensed by the Thai SEC to operate as crypto and digital asset exchanges.These are the WAAN Exchange, Gulf Binance, Thai Digital Assets Exchange, InnovestX Securities, GMO-Z.com Cryptonomics, Upbit Exchange, Bitkub Online and Orbix Trade.Bitkub is the largest by far and has a current daily trading volume of around $70 million, according to CoinGecko. Comparatively, KuCoin’s global platform claims to have $3.8 billion in daily volume. Related: Thailand SEC plans to launch tokenized securities trading systemIn January, the Thai government announced a pilot program enabling tourists to pay using Bitcoin (BTC) in a sandboxed environment on the holiday island of Phuket. However, it has yet to be launched. While crypto trading remains popular in Thailand, using crypto assets for payments was outlawed by the central bank in 2022. In early April, Thai finance regulators targeted foreign peer-to-peer crypto platforms in their latest crackdown in an effort to combat scams and money laundering. KuCoin is currently trying to get a settlement with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission resolved after it was sued under the previous administration in March 2024 for violating the Commodity Exchange Act. Magazine: Your AI ‘digital twin’ can take meetings and comfort your loved ones
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Crypto users cool with AI dabbling with their portfolios: Survey
by Cointelegraph by Stephen Katte on April 24, 2025 at 2:54 am
A majority of crypto users are willing to allow artificial intelligence agents to manage part of their investment portfolios, according to the results of a recent CoinGecko survey.Among the 2,632 crypto participants surveyed, 87% said they would let AI agents manage at least a tenth of their crypto portfolio, CoinGecko’s April 23 report shows.Around half the respondents said they were willing to let an AI agent manage half their portfolio or less.“This suggests that despite having doubts as to how safe or secure AI agents are, crypto users are still mainly curious about the technology and want to try using them for trading or investing,” CoinGecko research analyst Yuqian Lim said.At the same time, around 36% of survey participants said they would allow AI agents to manage the majority of their holdings. A smaller group, roughly 14.5%, were willing to leave their entire crypto portfolio in the digital hands of an AI agent.A small number said they were willing to let AI control their entire portfolio. Source: CoinGecko“In other words, 1 in 7 participants either think they can completely trust AI agents with all of their crypto, or believe the potential profits will outweigh the risks, or simply have a high risk tolerance for their crypto holdings,” Lim said.Mixed opinions on human vs AI tradingHowever, opinions were mixed on whether AI agents would be better than humans at crypto trading and investing overall. There was a roughly even split, with half of the respondents saying AI agents would be better than humans at crypto trading and investing most of the time.“That said, the remaining half of survey participants believed AI does not have an edge over humans in the crypto market yet, which suggests that opinions are still divided over this comparison,” Lim said.About 13%, or 1 in 8, said they weren’t comfortable leaving any of their portfolios for management by AI or thought they could manage their crypto stash better than an AI agent. The same survey found that participants had very mixed views on whether AI agents could be trusted with access to people’s crypto wallets. Despite many of the respondents answering that they were happy to allow AI access to their crypto, there were still trust issues. Source: CoinGecko“Specifically, 37.5% indicated that they do not trust AI agents with their crypto wallets, while a slightly lower 34.5% said they can be trusted and 27.9% were neutral on the matter,” Lim said.Related: AI, blockchain convergence to bring ‘watershed moments’ in 2025Agentic AI is already being used to build Web3 applications, launch tokens, and interact with people autonomously. Some platforms have also been exploring the use of AI agents for trading.Last December, crypto industry execs told Cointelegraph they expected AI agents to transform Web3 in 2025, flagging crypto staking and onchain trading as emerging early use cases. However, there was also speculation that AI would face headwinds, including technical challenges, regulatory hurdles, and centralization. Magazine: UK’s Orwellian AI murder prediction system, will AI take your job? AI Eye
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‘I’m sick’ — Scammers use AI, fake ID of crypto influencer to steal $4M
by Cointelegraph by Martin Young on April 24, 2025 at 2:51 am
The host of The Wolf Of All Streets podcast, Scott Melker, says he’s received word that his face and name are being impersonated by scammers, with at least one victim duped out of $4 million. On April 23, the crypto investor said, “I’m sick,” reporting that he’d been contacted by a private investigator revealing that a client of his was scammed for $4 million by a Nigerian group using his name and face as bait. “They’ve apparently scammed a number of people,” Melker said, adding, “They sent him a fake driver’s license to prove it was me,” and used his X avatar as the photo.The scammers used AI to generate the fake ID and used a fake but convincing-looking email account. “They do zoom calls with AI,” which are “apparently sophisticated,” said Melker, who added that the scammers have also spoofed accounts of his wife and kids to support identity confirmation. Fake driver's license used by scammers. Source: Scott Melker Technical analysts “TheChartGuys” reported something similar, with a person getting scammed for $5,000 after the scammers replicated their voice using AI deepfakes. Fake ID is easy to spot, says traderCrypto adviser and trader “Nebraskan Gooner” said a quick Google search easily reveals that the ID is fake. He pointed out that there were a few subtle discrepancies in the address and date formats. He said that it it sucks that these scammers are getting so sophisticated, but was “surprised how badly this was with how sophisticated of an operation these seems to be.” Cointelegraph reached out to Melker for further comments but did not receive an immediate response. Related: ‘Victim-blaming’ Americans can deter crypto scams reporting — RegulatorAI-generated scams are surging as the technology evolves. In March, California’s Department of Justice warned that it had discovered seven new types of crypto scams that involved AI. In February, Chainalysis said that 2025 will be a big year for AI scams, stating that generative AI is making scams “more scalable and affordable for bad actors to conduct.”In a recent report, software giant Microsoft said that bad actors were using AI to “supercharge their scams.” “AI tools can scan and scrape the web for company information, helping cyberattackers build detailed profiles of employees or other targets to create highly convincing social engineering lures,” it stated. “It’s going to get exponentially worse, I would imagine,” lamented Melker. Magazine: Your AI ‘digital twin’ can take meetings and comfort your loved ones
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LAPD recovers $2.7M worth of Bitcoin miners stolen in airport heist
by Cointelegraph by Jesse Coghlan on April 24, 2025 at 2:40 am
The Los Angeles Police Department has recovered $2.7 million worth of Bitcoin mining machines it alleges were stolen by a crime ring in a heist at the city’s airport.The LAPD said on April 22 that detectives from its Cargo Theft Unit, along with the city’s Port Police, the railroad-based Union Pacific Police, and the city’s Airport Police, arrested Oscar David Borrero-Manchola and Yonaiker Rafael Martinez-Ramos over the thefts.Authorities claimed the pair are “prominent members” of a South American crime ring tied to the theft and sale of stolen goods in and around Los Angeles.The LAPD said searches of storage unit facilities in the San Fernando Valley, northeast of downtown Los Angeles, recovered $4 million worth of stolen goods, including the Bitcoin (BTC) mining rigs taken from Los Angeles International Airport “as the shipment was about to be loaded onto a plane headed to Hong Kong.”Detectives also found and seized over $1.2 million in allegedly stolen tequila, clothing, shoes, speakers, coffee, body wash, and pet food.Some of the allegedly stolen products were found at a storage facility in downtown Los Angeles. Source: Los Angeles Police DepartmentBorrero-Manchola and Martinez-Ramos were booked at Van Nuys Jail in the city’s northwest. Borrero-Manchola was cited for receiving stolen property and was released, while Martinez-Ramos was arrested on a no-bail warrant.The LAPD said that “the investigation remains ongoing, and additional arrests may follow.”Crypto mining rigs fetch top dollar The LAPD didn’t share the number of machines it seized or what model the rigs are, but a typical, current-model Bitcoin mining machine sells for between $3,000 to over $5,000.Related: Americans lost $9.3B to crypto fraud in 2024 — FBIUS law enforcement has recovered stolen crypto mining rigs in the past. In July, the LAPD said it arrested a man it alleged was in possession of stolen Bitcoin mining rigs worth $579,000, seizing them from a cargo van and storage unit.LAPD detectives arrested Bryan Thola, alleging his van contained stolen Bitcoin miners. Source: Los Angeles Police DepartmentOne of the largest thefts of Bitcoin mining rigs happened in late 2017 and early 2018 in Iceland, where a group robbed data centers to make off with over 600 machines.The rigs reportedly ended up in China, as just three months after they were stolen, Chinese authorities seized a similar number and model of mining rigs in Tianjin, a city southeast of the capital, Beijing.Magazine: How Chinese traders and miners get around China’s crypto ban
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Strike’s Mallers to head firm seeking superior Bitcoin play to MSTR
by Cointelegraph by Brayden Lindrea on April 24, 2025 at 1:10 am
Twenty One Capital, a new Bitcoin treasury company led by Strike founder Jack Mallers with the support of Tether, SoftBank and Cantor Fitzgerald, is looking to supplant Michael Saylor’s Strategy to become the “superior vehicle for investors seeking capital-efficient Bitcoin exposure.”Twenty One revealed it plans to launch with 42,000 Bitcoin (BTC) (worth $3.9 billion) with roughly 23,950 BTC coming from Tether, 10,500 BTC from Softbank and 7,000 BTC from Bitfinex, which will be converted into equity at $10 per share, according to an April 23 statement.The firm is seeking a public listing via a blank-check merger with Cantor Equity Partners and will trade under the ticker XXI on the Nasdaq once it finalizes an agreement with investors to raise $585 million through convertible bonds and equity financing.“Our mission is simple: to become the most successful company in Bitcoin, the most valuable financial opportunity of our time. We’re not here to beat the market, we’re here to build a new one,” said Mallers, the founder and CEO of Bitcoin payments-focused firm Strike.“A public stock, built by Bitcoiners, for Bitcoiners.”Twenty One specifically compared its business model to Strategy’s in an investor presentation to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, claiming it is potentially a “superior vehicle for investors seeking capital-efficient Bitcoin exposure.”It claimed that Strategy’s ability to create shareholder value through future Bitcoin purchases will be limited because the firm — which holds 534,741 BTC — would need to make even larger investments to increase its Bitcoin Per Share, or BPS, thus diminishing the per-share dollar impact of future capital deployments.Twenty One said it would be a more “pure play” for investors seeking Bitcoin exposure with Bitcoin-native operations and more “flexibility” for strategic capital raises. Twenty One Capital’s comparison of its Bitcoin treasury plan with that of Strategy’s. Source: SECA launch of 42,000 Bitcoin would make Twenty One the third-largest corporate Bitcoin holder, trailing only Strategy and Bitcoin mining firm MARA Holdings, which holds 47,600 BTC, according to BitcoinTreasuries.NET data.Twenty One plans to do more than just stack BitcoinTwenty One also intends to build out several Bitcoin-focused offerings, including Bitcoin debt and equity products, an advisory service, a lending platform and an educational platform.“Twenty One’s mission will be to accelerate Bitcoin adoption and Bitcoin literacy at both institutional and retail levels,” the firm said.Related: Bitcoin ETF inflows top 500 times 2025 average in 'significant deviation'The firm will also partner with industry players to host Bitcoin conferences.Twenty One Capital’s three-stage business plan. Source: SECThe news sparked a massive 54.2% price rally in Cantor Equity Partners (CEP) shares to $16.50 on April 23 and has risen another 25.1% in after-hours, Google Finance data shows. CEP will convert to XXI once the $585 million agreement is completed.The venture strengthens Tether’s ties with Cantor, which manages US Treasury reserves backing Tether’s USDT, which boasts a market cap of $145.3 billion. Cantor also owns a 5% stake in the stablecoin issuer.Twenty One will be majority-owned by Tether and crypto exchange Bitfinex, while Japanese investment holding firm SoftBank will own a “significant” minority share.Magazine: Ethereum maxis should become ‘assholes’ to win TradFi tokenization race
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Americans lost $9.3B to crypto fraud in 2024 — FBI
by Cointelegraph by Turner Wright on April 23, 2025 at 11:25 pm
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has released its annual report detailing complaints and losses due to scams and fraud involving cryptocurrency in 2024.According to the report released on April 23, the IC3 received more than 140,000 complaints referencing cryptocurrency in 2024, resulting in roughly $9.3 billion in losses. The bureau reported that individuals over the age of 60 had been the most affected by crypto-related fraud, with roughly 33,000 complaints and $2.8 billion in losses.Source: FBI“Last year saw a new record for losses reported to IC3, totaling a staggering $16.6 billion,” said the report. “Fraud represented the bulk of reported losses in 2024, and ransomware was again the most pervasive threat to critical infrastructure, with complaints rising 9% from 2023," notes the report, adding that, as a group, those over the age of 60 suffered the most losses and submitted the most complaints.The report added that the resultant losses had increased roughly 66% since 2023, from roughly $5.6 billion to $9.3 billion. The most significant percentage of losses occurred due to crypto investment schemes, while the largest number of complaints related to “sextortion” schemes, in which fraudsters manipulated photos and videos to create explicit content. Other scams included schemes involving the use of crypto ATMs or kiosks.Related: Crypto scam uses trade war fears to lure victims, Canadian watchdogs warnIn February, the FBI reported its “Operation Level Up” had saved potential victims of crypto fraud roughly $285 million between January 2024 and January 2025. However, blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis speculated that 2025 could see the largest number of scams to date, given that generative AI is making the practice “more scalable and affordable for bad actors to conduct.”Globally, Chainalysis estimated that there had been roughly $41 billion in illicit crypto volume in 2024, with roughly 25% of the funds involved with “hacking, extortion, trafficking, or scams.” Some of the most high-profile crimes included the $1.4 billion in crypto stolen from the Bybit exchange in March and North Korean hackers taking more than $1.3 billion.Magazine: Trump’s crypto ventures raise conflict of interest, insider trading questions
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Sovereign wealth funds piling into BTC as retail exits — Coinbase exec
by Cointelegraph by Vince Quill on April 23, 2025 at 11:05 pm
Sovereign wealth funds and other institutions were accumulating Bitcoin (BTC) during April 2025, while retail traders were exiting the markets via exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and spot markets, according to John D’Agostino, the head of strategy at Coinbase Institutional.During a recent appearance on CNBC, the Coinbase executive likened Bitcoin to gold and said that many institutional buyers bought BTC as a hedge against currency inflation and macroeconomic uncertainty. The Coinbase executive said:"Bitcoin is trading on its core characteristics, which again are similar to gold. You've got scarcity, immutability, and non-sovereign asset portability. So it's trading the way people who believe in Bitcoin would like it to trade.""When you do the work, there's a very short list of assets that mirror the characteristics of gold. Bitcoin is on that shortlist," the executive added.Governments and financial institutions are increasingly adopting Bitcoin to protect purchasing power and the value of their treasuries in the face of macroeconomic shocks and geopolitical tensions.Bitcoin recently broke back above the $90,000 level and has reclaimed its ‘decoupling’ narrative. Source: CoinMarketCapRelated: Bitcoin holders back in profit as new capital enters the market — Is $100K BTC price next?Institutions adopting Bitcoin reserve strategies to combat inflationSovereign countries like El Salvador and Bhutan have adopted national Bitcoin reserves and actively purchase Bitcoin for their reserves.Municipalities and state governments have also adopted pro-Bitcoin policies and proposed legislation to accumulate Bitcoin to protect the purchasing power of treasuries from depreciating fiat currencies.Michael Saylor and Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy, popularized the corporate Bitcoin treasury concept now adopted by a growing list of companies, including MARA, MetaPlanet, and Semler Scientific.The executive also transformed the business software and intelligence company into a Bitcoin holding firm, akin to a BTC hedge fund.On April 20, Saylor announced that over 13,000 institutions have direct exposure to Strategy, while an estimated 55 million beneficiaries have indirect financial exposure to the company.Bitcoin recently surpassed Google in market capitalization, making Bitcoin one of the top five assets in the world, ranking above Amazon and Silver and showcasing the supply-capped digital asset's meteoric growth since 2009.Magazine: Bitcoiner sex trap extortion? BTS firm’s blockchain disaster: Asia Express
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US President’s planned dinner for TRUMP memecoin holders triggers 52% price surge — Will it...
by Cointelegraph by Marcel Pechman on April 23, 2025 at 10:58 pm
Official Trump (TRUMP) jumped 52% on April 23 after the announcement of an exclusive in-person dinner for the top tokenholders with US President Donald Trump. For some crypto advocates, this marks the end of the bear market, especially as Bitcoin (BTC) bounced back above $93,000, but others raise suspicions on how sustainable the TRUMP memecoin rally really is.From a purely performance perspective, the Official Trump (TRUMP) memecoin has been a disappointment. After soaring above $75 on launch day, its gains quickly disappeared as investors noticed the high concentration of tokens and the short-term vesting period. At first sight, it is difficult to justify TRUMP’s current market capitalization of $2.6 billion, given that 80% of the supply was allocated to founders and entities controlled by Trump.Official Trump (TRUMP) market capitalization, USD. Source: CoinMarketCapFor comparison, well-established projects such as Arbitrum (ARB), Jupiter (JUP), and Maker (MKR) hold a capitalization below $1.6 billion. Those token valuations derive from buybacks using treasury reserves or direct benefits in staking and DeFi mechanisms. For instance, Arbitrum, a leading Ethereum layer-2 scaling solution, holds $2.4 billion in Total Value Locked (TVL). Jupiter, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) on Solana, boasts $2.3 billion in deposits and has accrued $76.6 million in fees over the past 30 days, according to DefiLlama data. Meanwhile, Sky (formerly Maker), the project behind the extremely successful DAI stablecoin, holds $5.9 billion TVL and $28.6 million in 30-day fees.TRUMP still ranks in the top 10 for trading activityBesides being listed on major exchanges, including Binance, Bybit, OKX, Coinbase, Upbit, and Kraken, and often promoted on social media by Trump, the memecoin holds an impressive share in derivatives markets. Notably, its futures open interest stands at $700 million, a top-10 overall.TRUMP futures aggregate open interest, USD. Source: CoinGlassEstablished projects with market capitalizations over $6 billion, such as Chainlink (LINK), Litecoin (LTC), and Polkadot (DOT) have smaller futures open interest than TRUMP. Still, while demand for futures markets allows larger traders to take part in the action, it does not necessarily imply optimism as longs (buyers) and shorts (sellers) are matched at all times.Even though TRUMP is currently trading 84% below its all-time high, it remains a top-10 token in terms of volume. In fact, excluding the stablecoins, only 4 cryptocurrencies surpassed TRUMP’s impressive $3.84 billion 24-hour turnover, according to CoinGecko data.24-hour USD trading volume ranking. Source: CoinGlass / CointelegraphDespite the huge trading activity, a single promotional event with US President Trump is unlikely to create lasting demand for the TRUMP memecoin, putting the current $13.50 price tag in check. Unless the project eases investors’ concerns about token unlocks, there is hardly a way to justify the 50% premium versus cryptocurrencies that offer utility and perspectives of growth.It is worth noting that Shiba Inu (SHIB), another memecoin with no real utility, presently trades at a $8 billion market capitalization, hence one could easily argue that a token officially supported by the sitting US President is worth far more, paving the way for $30 or higher price targets for TRUMP.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.
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Traders pour into leveraged ETFs, gold in bid to weather volatility — Bloomberg
by Cointelegraph by Alex O’Donnell on April 23, 2025 at 10:45 pm
Traders are embracing diametrically opposed exchange-traded fund (ETF) strategies in a bid to navigate one of the most unpredictable financial markets in recent history, according to data from Bloomberg Intelligence. The year-to-date has seen record inflows to ETFs providing leveraged long exposure to volatile assets such as stocks and cryptocurrencies, as well as funds holding risk-off assets such as cash and gold, the data shows. “[T]here's basically record flows going into leveraged long ETFs but also cash and gold ETFs as people buy the dip and hedge the dip at the same time. May the best degen win!,” Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Eric Balchunas said in an April 23 post on the X platform.Leveraged ETFs are funds that aim to multiply the daily performance of assets like stocks or crypto, often by two or three times.In 2025, leveraged long ETFs attracted net inflows of roughly $6 billion, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Meanwhile, inflows into cash and gold funds approached roughly $4 billion. Net inflows into leveraged long ETFs and cash and fold ETFs. Source: Bloomberg IntelligenceDigital gold?The record fund flows come amid a spike in market turbulence after US President Donald Trump announced plans for sweeping tariffs on US imports on April 2.Since then, the S&P 500, an index of large US stocks, has shed roughly 5% of its value, according to data from Google Finance. Bitcoin (BTC), meanwhile, has been comparatively resilient. On April 22, the cryptocurrency’s spot price reclaimed $90,000 per coin for the first time in six weeks, with Bitcoin ETFs clocking nearly $1 billion in net inflows. The cryptocurrency trades above $93,000 as of April 23, according to data from Google Finance. “Even in the wake of recent tariff announcements, BTC has shown some signs of resilience, holding steady or rebounding on days when traditional risk assets faltered,” Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, said in an April research report. Bitcoin has often been referred to as “digital gold” but the cryptocurrency still has a weak correlation to the safe haven asset and trades more in line with equities, Binance said. Its correlation with gold has averaged around 0.12 over the past 90 days, versus 0.32 for equities. “The key question is whether BTC can return to its long-term pattern of low correlation with equities,” noted the report, adding that gold is still a preferred safe-haven asset for most investors.Meanwhile, cryptocurrency exchanges are profiting off of rising volatility by doubling down on financial derivatives, such as futures. In April, net open interest in Bitcoin futures increased by upward of 30%, to approximately $28 billion, according to data from Coinalyze. Magazine: What are native rollups? Full guide to Ethereum’s latest innovation
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SOL Strategies raises $500M in convertible notes issuance to buy Solana tokens
by Cointelegraph by Christopher Tepedino on April 23, 2025 at 10:10 pm
SOL Strategies, a Canadian investment company, issued $500 million in convertible notes to buy and stake in Solana (SOL) tokens.The $500 million issuance was made to a singular investor, ATW Partners, a New York-based investment firm. The company provides growth equity and structured capital to companies across public and private markets, a spokesperson for SOL Strategies told Cointelegraph.A spokesperson for SOL Strategies said the company is focused on building institutional-grade infrastructure for Solana, rather than reacting to short-term price volatility.According to an April 23 announcement, the yield generated from staking will accrue back to both SOL Strategies and ATW Partners. SOL Strategies is a publicly traded company listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange. Its share price has risen 25.3% on the day, according to Google Finance.Related: Astra Fintech commits $100M for Solana growth in AsiaSOL Strategies’ share price movement. Source: Google Finance“This investment represents significant institutional confidence in Solana's long-term potential,” the spokesperson said. “From an ecosystem perspective, we expect several positive impacts. First, by increasing our validator network's stake, we'll contribute to greater network security and decentralization.”According to StockAnalysis.com, SOL Strategies posted CAD$10.62 million ($7.65 million) in revenue for 2024, a positive turnaround of CAD$15.65 million ($11.27 million) from 2023, when the company posted a loss.Related: Debate as Solana briefly flips Ethereum in staking market capCompanies move into SolanaSOL Strategies becomes the second publicly traded company to announce a capital raise aimed at purchasing SOL. On April 21, Upexi disclosed a $100 million raise aimed at building a SOL reserve. The DeFi Development Corporation (formerly Janover) also recently announced a $42 million raise and plans to create a Solana reserve treasury. Magazine: Memecoins are ded — But Solana ‘100x better’ despite revenue plunge
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Trump Administration Texted College Professors’ Personal Phones to Ask If They’re Jewish
by Akela Lacy on April 23, 2025 at 3:16 pm
The school later told staff it had provided the Trump administration with personal contact information for faculty members. The post Trump Administration Texted College Professors’ Personal Phones to Ask If They’re Jewish appeared first on The Intercept.
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AI Firm Behind Mysterious Trump Donation Is Run by Alleged Election Overthrow Plotter
by Matt Sledge on April 23, 2025 at 2:52 pm
Why did a shadowy nonprofit make a six-figure gift to Trump’s inauguration committee? “It was mostly to meet people,” said a company official. The post AI Firm Behind Mysterious Trump Donation Is Run by Alleged Election Overthrow Plotter appeared first on The Intercept.
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The Long History of Lawlessness in U.S. Policy Toward Latin America
by Greg Grandin on April 22, 2025 at 4:03 pm
By shipping immigrants to Nayib Bukele’s megaprison in El Salvador, Trump is using a far-right ally for his own ends. The post The Long History of Lawlessness in U.S. Policy Toward Latin America appeared first on The Intercept.
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Toxic Agribusiness’s Genetically Mutilated Greenwash
by Editor on April 22, 2025 at 7:30 am
In recent years, the global movement toward regenerative and organic agriculture has gained significant momentum. These approaches promise to restore soil health, enhance biodiversity, reduce reliance on synthetic chemicals and create more sustainable and resilient food systems. Rooted in ecological principles and farmer autonomy, these practices have become vital alternatives to the destructive patterns of …
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Let’s talk about…Klaus & Francis
by Editor on April 21, 2025 at 5:00 pm
Just weeks after announcing he would be stepping down as Davos Chief within the next 18 months, Klaus Schwab has stepped down with immediate effect. A surprising move, and one that sees one of the few-remaining Covid-era “leaders” exit the world stage. For those keeping count, Germany, the UK, Canada, Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, Brazil, …
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Congress’s Biggest Financial Priority Is “Stablecoin.” What the Hell Is That?
by Matt Sledge on April 21, 2025 at 10:00 am
Instead of tackling crashing markets, Congress is pushing a crypto sector that the Trump family is financially involved in. The post Congress’s Biggest Financial Priority Is “Stablecoin.” What the Hell Is That? appeared first on The Intercept.
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WATCH: Paul vs James & the Birth of Christianity
by Editor on April 20, 2025 at 3:00 pm
A highly interesting documentary from the days before the History Channel was nothing but staged reality shows, this film discusses the men who inherited Jesus’ followers after his death, the conflict between them and how it shaped the fledgling Christian Church. Happy Easter!
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Trump’s Power Feeds on White Demographic Fears
by James Risen on April 20, 2025 at 11:00 am
Paranoid about losing their majority status and the power it confers, white Americans keep backing Trump’s racist anti-immigrant policies. The post Trump’s Power Feeds on White Demographic Fears appeared first on The Intercept.
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The Galaxy Brains of the Trump White House Want to Use Tariffs to Buy Bitcoin
by Matt Sledge on April 19, 2025 at 2:08 pm
Critics on the right and left say the bitcoin reserve is a pointless industry handout — and using tariff revenue is even dumber. The post The Galaxy Brains of the Trump White House Want to Use Tariffs to Buy Bitcoin appeared first on The Intercept.
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Truth for Truth’s Sake
by Editor on April 19, 2025 at 2:00 pm
I’ll tell you another pet peeve of mine—people who ask me why it is important to know the truth if I can’t do anything about it. I find it strange that people do not seek truth for truth’s sake. Sure, there are times when you really do not need to know the truth about something. …
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DOGE Installs a Former Tesla Employee at the FBI
by Shawn Musgrave on April 18, 2025 at 6:01 pm
Former Tesla employee Tarak Makecha has roles at the FBI and the Justice Department, records reviewed by The Intercept show. The post DOGE Installs a Former Tesla Employee at the FBI appeared first on The Intercept.
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WATCH: What I Learned From The JFK Files
by Editor on April 18, 2025 at 5:00 pm
In case you haven’t heard, the JFK files just dropped recently. So, what are these documents? Where did they come from? What do they contain? And, most important of all, why have they been hidden from us for over 60 years? James Corbett has the answers in this deep dive edition of The Corbett Report …
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Facing Life in Prison Based on Shoddy Evidence, a Florida Mother Makes a Deal
by Liliana Segura on April 18, 2025 at 2:28 pm
Michelle Taylor was accused of setting a fire that killed her son for insurance money — even though the arson evidence didn’t hold up. The post Facing Life in Prison Based on Shoddy Evidence, a Florida Mother Makes a Deal appeared first on The Intercept.
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The Evidence Linking Kilmar Abrego Garcia to MS-13: A Chicago Bulls Hat and a Hoodie
by Jessica Washington on April 18, 2025 at 11:47 am
What’s it take for Trump to label someone a gang member and deport them to a prison in El Salvador? Little more than a Chicago Bulls cap. The post The Evidence Linking Kilmar Abrego Garcia to MS-13: A Chicago Bulls Hat and a Hoodie appeared first on The Intercept.
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Bait and Switch: Mohsen Mahdawi’s Citizenship Trap
by The Intercept Briefing on April 18, 2025 at 10:00 am
Rep. Becca Balint and immigration lawyer Matt Cameron discuss Mahdawi’s arrest at his naturalization interview and the legal strategy that could affect us all. The post Bait and Switch: Mohsen Mahdawi’s Citizenship Trap appeared first on The Intercept.
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Universities Told Students to Leave the Country. ICE Just Said They Didn’t Actually Have To.
by Natasha Lennard on April 17, 2025 at 6:05 pm
In their haste to comply with apparent directives from Trump, universities became unwitting handmaidens of the deportation machine. The post Universities Told Students to Leave the Country. ICE Just Said They Didn’t Actually Have To. appeared first on The Intercept.
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Bitchute, the UK and modern censorship in action
by Kit Knightly on April 17, 2025 at 11:30 am
Last week, alternative video-sharing platform BitChute announced they would no longer allow UK-based users to view content on their site. The opening of their official statement makes the reason quite clear [you can read the whole thing here]: After careful review and ongoing evaluation of the regulatory landscape in the United Kingdom, we regret to …
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No-Bid ICE Contract Went to Former ICE Agents Being Sued for Fabricating Criminal Evidence on the...
by Sam Biddle on April 17, 2025 at 11:00 am
The $73 million deal for assisting with deportations went to a company whose executives are accused of retaliating against a fellow ICE worker. The post No-Bid ICE Contract Went to Former ICE Agents Being Sued for Fabricating Criminal Evidence on the Job appeared first on The Intercept.
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Inside Columbia’s Betrayal of Its Middle Eastern Studies Department
by Meghnad Bose on April 16, 2025 at 4:30 pm
Columbia reassured its Middle Eastern studies scholars behind the scenes — then, to appease Trump, threw them to the wolves. The post Inside Columbia’s Betrayal of Its Middle Eastern Studies Department appeared first on The Intercept.
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“How Can I Take Anyone Seriously Talking About Mohsen Being Antisemitic?”
by Akela Lacy on April 15, 2025 at 11:22 pm
Marco Rubio revoked his green card for antisemitism. His Jewish Israeli friend calls bullshit. The post “How Can I Take Anyone Seriously Talking About Mohsen Being Antisemitic?” appeared first on The Intercept.
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Fetterman Campaign Bleeds Money
by Akela Lacy on April 15, 2025 at 10:05 pm
As he cozies up to Trump and Netanyahu, Sen. John Fetterman brought in less than half his average haul over the last five quarters. The post Fetterman Campaign Bleeds Money appeared first on The Intercept.
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Nobel Winner Joseph Stiglitz Denounces Columbia’s Apparent Capitulation to Trump
by Meghnad Bose on April 15, 2025 at 7:36 pm
Stiglitz, perhaps the most renowned Columbia professor, gave an exclusive interview to The Intercept on academic freedom, deportations of students, and more. The post Nobel Winner Joseph Stiglitz Denounces Columbia’s Apparent Capitulation to Trump appeared first on The Intercept.
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Pitt’s Suspension of Pro-Palestine Student Group Violates First Amendment, Says ACLU Lawsuit
by Akela Lacy on April 15, 2025 at 5:21 pm
“Pitt cannot constitutionally put its thumb on one side of the debate by harassing and chilling the pro-Palestinian students.” The post Pitt’s Suspension of Pro-Palestine Student Group Violates First Amendment, Says ACLU Lawsuit appeared first on The Intercept.
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Goodbye Jury Trials, Hello Digital ID: 10 “recommendations” from the Crime and Justice...
by Kit Knightly on April 15, 2025 at 5:00 pm
The Times Crime and Justice Commission was established last year, with its mission statement being to… consider the future of policing and the criminal justice system, in the light of the knife crime crisis, a shoplifting epidemic, the growing threat of cybercrime, concerns about the culture of the police, court backlogs, problems with legal aid …
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Pete Hegseth Is Gutting Pentagon Programs to Reduce Civilian Casualties
by Nick Turse on April 15, 2025 at 11:00 am
The defense secretary’s focus on “lethality” could lead to “wanton killing and wholesale destruction and disregard for law,” one Pentagon official said. The post Pete Hegseth Is Gutting Pentagon Programs to Reduce Civilian Casualties appeared first on The Intercept.
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Palestinian Student Leader Was Called In for Citizenship Interview — Then Arrested by ICE
by Akela Lacy on April 14, 2025 at 5:03 pm
A green card holder, Columbia University protest leader Mohsen Mahdawi faced attacks from pro-Israel activists. The post Palestinian Student Leader Was Called In for Citizenship Interview — Then Arrested by ICE appeared first on The Intercept.
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This Week in the New Normal #100
by Kit Knightly on April 14, 2025 at 2:30 pm
This week is our one hundredth edition of This Week in the New Normal! …except it isn’t really. Due to some special editions going unnumbered I think we’re actually around 104. But we at OffGuardian are nothing if not on trend, and since these days cool kids are simply saying stuff that is provably untrue …
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Trump Will Be Long Gone Before Luigi Mangione Faces Execution
by Liliana Segura on April 14, 2025 at 1:30 pm
The Trump administration vows to seek the death penalty “whenever possible.” But federal cases move slowly, and few result in a death sentence at all. The post Trump Will Be Long Gone Before Luigi Mangione Faces Execution appeared first on The Intercept.
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The Cow That Lives Forever
by Kit Knightly on April 13, 2025 at 5:30 pm
The scientists had done it. They had solved world hunger, they had ended farming as we know it and they had rid the world of animal cruelty. It wasn’t an easy path, naturally. Like so many strides in science before, its initial steps were in the other direction. The research on regeneration was originally military, …
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Who Set Up The Hit?
by Michael Shrimpton on July 21, 2024 at 9:03 pm
It is now clear that Thomas Matthew Crooks was not acting alone last Saturday when he shot President Trump at the Butler Farm Show Grounds in Connoquonessing Township, Butler County PA. Since there are almost no lone gunmen that conclusion should not terribly surprising. It’s also clear that in a reprise of the assassination of
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Might The Polls Be Wrong?
by Michael Shrimpton on July 3, 2024 at 7:36 pm
Every poll published so far in the British General Election campaign has shown Labour well in the lead, with margins of between roughly 15 and 25 per cent over the hapless Tories. Some of these have been MRP mega-polls with over 20,000 people contacted. The Tories are in full retreat, restricting campaigning to seats with
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Why Is the African Dish, Shakshuka So Popular In Israel?
by Managing Editor on April 22, 2024 at 4:00 pm
Why Is the African Dish, Shakshuka So Popular In Israel? Shakshuka is an African-inspired dish with a rich history as it spread its influence to another country a long time ago, Israel. The Ottoman Empire and other North African nations enhanced the original influence of the traditional shakshuka recipe. North African Jewish immigrants that came
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Exploring Winning Betting Strategies In Blackjack
by Managing Editor on April 1, 2024 at 3:00 pm
Exploring Winning Betting Strategies In Blackjack In the exciting world of online casinos, few are as alluring and intriguing as blackjack. Known for its blend of skill and chance, this thrilling card game has enthralled players for centuries. While mastering the basic rules and strategies of blackjack is essential, understanding how to manage your bets
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How to Identify GI Bill Fraud
by Managing Editor on March 19, 2024 at 4:33 pm
How to Identify GI Bill Fraud The US government offers incentives and benefits for veterans who have served their country. Many of these benefits, including those under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, are tied to higher education and the costs associated with pursuing a degree. These benefits are designed to help veterans continue to advance
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Rumsfeld Shady Heritage in Pandemic: GILEAD’s Intrigues with WHO & Wuhan Lab. Bio-Weapons’...
by Fabio G. C. Carisio on March 11, 2024 at 8:21 am
«You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you say, “The Lord is my refuge”, and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent». (Holy Bible – Psalm 90) by Fabio Giuseppe Carlo Carisio UPDATE ON JULY,
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Age Old Battle Between Khazarian Mafia and True Christianity Crashing Into Finality
by Jonas E. Alexis, Senior Editor on March 10, 2024 at 9:03 am
According to unconfirmed reports, yesterday Israel sent troops into Ukraine to fight the Russians for Zelensky’s army; both soundly defeated in short order. This kind of action seems to be a hopeless endeavor as the Russian Federation’s apparent complete weapons superiority (so far) seems to assure RF victory in the Ukraine.
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Shipping to Poland from the US: Navigating Customs Clearance
by Managing Editor on February 5, 2024 at 5:21 pm
Shipping to Poland from the US: Navigating Customs Clearance A few key steps are crucial When ensuring your international shipment reaches Poland without a hitch. First, pack your items carefully and accurately label them with the recipient’s address. It’s also vital to verify that what you’re sending isn’t on the list of prohibited items. Completing
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Braving the Storm and Tackling Addiction in the Ranks of US Veterans
by Managing Editor on February 4, 2024 at 11:40 pm
The battle doesn’t always end when our soldiers return home. For many US veterans, the transition back to civilian life brings with it a new kind of warfare – one against addiction. This silent struggle often goes unnoticed, yet it is as real and challenging as any faced on the battlefield. In a society
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Navigating the Transition from Battlefield to Civilian Life for Our Homefront Heroes
by Managing Editor on February 4, 2024 at 11:28 pm
The return home for veterans, often portrayed as a hero’s welcome, is a journey of complexities and challenges. As they transition from the structured life of military service to the civilian world, veterans face myriad adjustments that can be both daunting and disorienting. This article delves into the realities of life for veterans returning