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Former LAPD officer convicted of kidnapping and stealing $350K in Bitcoin
Conviction stems from a 2024 home invasion where victim was threatened with death
Case highlights the increasing trend of violent 'wrench attacks' targeting crypto holders
CertiK reported a 75% increase in wrench attacks globally in 2025.
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A jury in Los Angeles County Superior Court has found former Los Angeles Police Department officer Eric Halem guilty of kidnapping and robbery. The conviction stems from a 2024 home invasion where Halem and three other men allegedly stole $350,000 worth of cryptocurrency from a 17-year-old.
During a two-week trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Halem and his accomplices posed as police officers executing a search warrant on an apartment rented by the teenager, identified as Daniel. The group gained entry using an access code provided by a conspirator who rented the apartment. They reportedly wore vests identifying them as police and used LAPD-issued handcuffs to restrain the teenager's girlfriend and the 17-year-old victim.
The victim testified that the men threatened to kill him if he did not hand over a hard drive containing Bitcoin. Halem, who had served 13 years with the LAPD and was a reserve officer at the time of the incident, allegedly demanded the crypto assets.
This case is highlighted as an example of a growing trend of "wrench attacks," a form of crypto crime involving threats or violence against cryptocurrency holders to steal their assets. A report by crypto security company CertiK indicated that 72 such attacks occurred globally in 2025, marking a 75% increase from the previous year.
Halem's attorney argued that the victim's account was not corroborated and that the teenager had admitted to obtaining his cryptocurrency through fraud. Halem, who did not testify, is scheduled for sentencing on March 31. His co-defendants, one of whom is allegedly linked to Israeli organized crime, are awaiting trial and maintain their innocence.

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Ark Invest purchased approximately $4.1 million in Coinbase shares and $12 million in Robinhood shares. The purchases occurred as broader markets declined due to geopolitical tensions related to the US-Iran conflict. Coinbase shares fell 1.55% and Robinhood shares fell 3.44% during the trading session. Ark Invest has recently shown a pattern of buying and selling Coinbase shares, with significant purchases last month.
Korean stock markets (Kospi, Kosdaq) dropped over 10%, triggering circuit breakers due to Middle East conflict. Global stock markets experienced significant losses, with Japan's Nikkei down nearly 4% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng down 3%. Crude oil prices surged, with Brent up 14% and WTI up 12%, impacting oil-importing nations like South Korea. Crypto market capitalization saw a minor dip of 0.5% despite the broader geopolitical shock.
Indiana governor signed House Bill 1042 into law, allowing crypto in retirement plans. State retirement and savings plans must offer crypto investment options by July 2027. Bill also bars public agencies from enforcing rules against crypto payments, self-custody, or mining. Clarifies non-custodial transfers do not require a money transmitter license.
Crypto perps platform Hyperliquid saw over $11.5 billion in trading volume during a weekend of geopolitical events. Traditional finance investors used crypto rails for 24/7 trading of tokenized assets like crude oil and gold. Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan now expects traditional finance to adopt on-chain trading much sooner than his previous 5-10 year estimate. The NYSE is developing a 24/7 tokenization platform, indicating broader TradFi interest in blockchain infrastructure.
48.3% of AI models chose Bitcoin as their top monetary instrument in a Bitcoin Policy Institute study. 79.1% of AI models preferred Bitcoin for preserving purchasing power over multi-year horizons. Stablecoins were preferred for payment scenarios and cross-border transfers by 53.2% of AI models. 91% of AI models chose a digital instrument over fiat currency.
Donald Trump met with Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong. Trump criticized big banks for blocking crypto market structure legislation. He urged lawmakers to pass the GENIUS Act and CLARITY Act ASAP.
Binance aims to secure five additional operational licenses in Asia by the end of 2026. The APAC region leads global crypto ownership with approximately 535 million adults. Binance already holds licenses in Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, and Thailand. The exchange is finalizing its acquisition of South Korea's Gopax, adding to its licensed roster.
CFTC to authorize true crypto perpetual futures on U.S. exchanges within one month. Move aims to bring offshore liquidity and trading volume back to domestic exchanges. New framework will support contracts with no expiration date, differing from existing U.S. products. Effort is part of a coordinated interagency initiative called "Project Crypto" with the SEC.
Binance plans to secure five additional regulatory licenses in Asia this year. Asia-Pacific region saw a 69% year-over-year increase in crypto transaction volume, reaching $2.36 trillion. Binance's strategy involves hyperlocalization to adapt operations to local regulatory standards. Seven Asian nations are among the top 10 in Chainalysis' Global Crypto Adoption Index.
XRP experienced a 45% price drop in the past month, but network activity increased by 30%. Three AI models project XRP prices ranging from $1.50-$2 (utility-driven), $3-$5 (cyclical growth), to potential double-digit figures (liquidity shock scenario). Future price action depends on institutional adoption, broader market cycles, and XRP Ledger utility growth. Short-term price movements are heavily influenced by market sentiment, while long-term trends align with utility and adoption.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse supports the Clarity Act, stating it protects American interests. White House warns banks against obstructing the Clarity Act while reporting record profits. Garlinghouse estimates an 80-90% probability of the Clarity Act passing by April 2026. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong visited the White House amid ongoing regulatory discussions.
Ripple expands payments platform to offer end-to-end stablecoin infrastructure. New capabilities include managed custody, virtual account collections, and fiat-to-stablecoin settlement. Ripple's payments platform has processed over $100 billion in total volume. The expansion positions Ripple as a single provider for enterprise digital asset payments across 60 markets.
Ethereum staking entry queue reaches 3.4 million ETH, creating an estimated 60-day backlog. Demand for staking is driven by corporates and exchanges seeking yield on large ETH holdings. This represents a shift from late 2025 when the exit queue was significantly larger. Analysts suggest this indicates a more defensive institutional stance and potential for ETH outperformance due to payments and AI narratives.
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1.3 billion XRP tokens moved by whales in 48 hours. XRP's 30-day realized volatility reached its highest point since March 2025. Historical data suggests high volatility and whale accumulation precede significant price movements. Market analysts suggest XRP is entering a critical phase with potential for sharp gains or corrections.

Ray Dalio states Bitcoin cannot be compared to gold due to privacy and quantum computing risks. Dalio holds ~1% of his portfolio in Bitcoin for diversification, not conviction. Central banks hold significantly more gold than Bitcoin's representation in reserves. Bitcoin's correlation with high-beta tech stocks disqualifies it as a reserve asset for Dalio.

Ray Dalio stated bitcoin lacks central bank support and faces quantum computing threats. On the day of Dalio's comments, gold dropped 3% while bitcoin fell less than 1%. Bitcoin has shown less volatility than gold during the recent geopolitical crisis. Dalio holds 1% of his portfolio in bitcoin for diversification.

SANAE token, a Solana-based meme coin, experienced a significant price drop of 75%. The decline followed a denial of any connection by Japan's Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi. The token's market cap fell from nearly $30 million to $6 million. The meme coin was launched by a political YouTube channel aiming to modernize democracy with Web3 technology.

Bitcoin price holds near $68,200 amid global market volatility. South Korea's stock market experienced a significant crash, down over 10% in a single session. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and rising oil prices contribute to market uncertainty. BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF saw inflows of approximately $264 million in the past 24 hours.

22 of 36 top AI models favored Bitcoin over fiat in simulated economic tests No AI models selected fiat as their preferred currency AI models evaluated Bitcoin's properties for store of value, payments, and settlement efficiency
472 million XRP, valued at $652 million, moved to Binance, marking record February inflows. XRP is exhibiting resilience with higher highs and higher lows despite macro headwinds. Analysts suggest XRP is at a liquidity crossroads, facing potential volatility due to exchange inflows and macro risks. XRP transactions are confirmed immutable by Ripple CTO.

Circle minted $1 billion in USDC on Solana in hours. Total 2026 USDC issuance on Solana reaches $23.75 billion. Minting fuels liquidity for trading, DeFi, and new token launches on Solana. Surge viewed as significant 'dry powder' for market deployment.

Ethereum validator queue reaches 3.4 million ETH, a significant increase from 904,000 ETH in early January. New validators face an estimated 60-day wait to activate, indicating strong demand for staking. This surge suggests investors are choosing to stake ETH for yield rather than sell in current market conditions.

Tether's US stablecoin (USAT) passed its first independent reserve check by Deloitte. Reserves for USAT were $17.6 million against $17.5 million in circulation, a 100.57% backing ratio. Deloitte's attestation is for USAT reserves only, not Tether's broader operations. USAT is positioned as a regulated competitor to USDC in the US institutional market.

Upbit has listed the EDGE token. Trading pairs include KRW, BTC, and USDT. EDGE is an on-chain trading platform aggregator.

US spot Bitcoin ETFs saw $1.4 billion in inflows over 5 days. Bitfinex analysts suggest ETF inflows may not translate to immediate spot market buying. ETF creation/redemption mechanics can cause a lag between demand and actual BTC purchases. This lag may explain Bitcoin's price stagnation despite significant ETF inflows.

Selling pressure on Bitcoin has subsided as BTC approaches $70,000 after a drop to $59,000. Analysts at 10x Research suggest the worst phase of selling may be over, citing stable price action despite negative news. Bollinger Bands are tightening, indicating potential for a larger move, but the long-term trend remains bearish due to macro factors. Derivatives market funding rates and potential short squeezes are identified as key drivers of recent price stabilization.
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