Pakistan eyes surplus power use for crypto mining: report

Pakistan is developing special electricity tariffs to attract cryptocurrency mining operations as part of a strategy to use the country’s surplus power generation capacity. According to a report by Dawn, the Power Division is consulting with various stakeholders to create attractive electricity rates for these industries without introducing subsidies. The initiative plans to use excess power production while reducing capacity payments. This approach could appeal to cryptocurrency miners, who generally spend 60-70% of their earnings on electricity costs. Pakistan’s current surplus electricity situation offers potential competitive advantages. Power Minister Awais…

The SEC Resets Its Crypto Relationship

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is looking to reset its relationship with the crypto industry, even before a permanent chair is confirmed by Congress. The latest effort was Friday’s roundtable, hosted at the SEC’s headquarters in Washington, D.C. and featuring a dozen attorneys representing different views and positions within the crypto industry. You’re reading State of Crypto, a CoinDesk newsletter looking at the intersection of cryptocurrency and government. Click here to sign up for future editions. The narrative The SEC’s reset began when Acting Chair Mark Uyeda launched a…

Montana Cracks Down on Crypto Scams as $12.5 Billion in Fraud Sparks Statewide Alarm

The U.S. state of Montana is considering new digital asset regulations as crypto scams surge, targeting vulnerable residents with fraud schemes and driving a sharp rise in financial losses. Montana Ramps up Fight Against Digital Asset Scams Montana Commissioner of Securities and Insurance James Brown issued a warning this week over a surge in cryptocurrency-related […] Source CryptoX Portal

The philanthropy paradox in cryptocurrency

Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to the author and do not represent the views and opinions of crypto.news’ editorial. Cryptocurrency and blockchain continue to captivate with promises to revolutionize finance, culture, and now philanthropy. In 2024, digital currency donations surpassed $1 billion, as reported by The Giving Block, fueled by a booming crypto market and clearer regulations. However, the true significance lies not just in the figure but in what this phenomenon reveals about our societal values.  Crypto philanthropy reflects our trust in technology, our skepticism…

Australia Seeks to Position Itself as a Crypto Leader

The Australian Treasury is working with the digital asset industry to establish clear regulations, aiming to make Australia a global leader in the sector. Spurring Innovation vs. Protecting Users The Australian Treasury has announced that it is collaborating with the digital asset industry, regulators, and the broader community to position the country as a leader […] Source CryptoX Portal

Crypto is facing ‘crime season’ as sell-off could continue: pro

Crypto is in the midst of what Mintology CEO Zach Burks calls “crime season,” as hacks and illicit activity drive down investor confidence.  So far in 2025, over $2.2 billion in crypto has been stolen, including a $1.5 billion heist by North Korea’s Lazarus Group. In a note to crypto.news, Burks warned that the rise in crime is damaging markets and posing a national security risk. “The increased perception of crime in crypto has caused the meme coin market to crash by 56% since December,” Burks said. “At the same…

Fake CAPTCHA Forces Users to Run Malware Disguised as Verification Text

Fake CAPTCHA pages tricked users into pasting malware-laced commands into Windows Run, launching stealth attacks that silently deployed infostealers undetected. Deceptive CAPTCHA Pages Deploy Stealth Malware Using Windows Run Exploit Cybersecurity analysts in New Jersey flagged an alarming malware scheme this week targeting government employees through fraudulent CAPTCHA challenges. The New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications […] Source CryptoX Portal

SEC roundtable could ‘change the outlook’ for Ethereum ETFs

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is holding its first crypto regulation roundtable, focusing on defining the security status of crypto assets. The event marks the beginning of a series of discussions by the SEC’s newly formed crypto task force, which could have significant implications for the broader cryptocurrency market. Defining crypto assets as securities According to CNBC’s Tanaya Macheel, the SEC’s efforts aim to provide clearer guidelines on whether certain crypto assets should be classified as securities, an issue that has created tension between the SEC and the crypto…

South Korea to Sanction Multiple Crypto Exchanges for Operating Illegally

Key Notes The list includes known crypto exchanges like BitMEX, KuCoin, and CoinW. These exchanges have been illegally operating in the Korean language. Authorities will reportedly take legal action within 2025. Financial authorities in South Korea will reportedly sanction multiple overseas crypto exchanges that have been illegally operating in the East Asian country. These centralized exchanges, including KuCoin, CoinW, Bitunix, and KCEX, have been reportedly providing financial services to South Koreans without registering as Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) under the Specific Financial Information Act, according to the local outlet…

Coinbase in ‘advanced’ talks to acquire Deribit: report

Coinbase is reportedly in advanced discussions to acquire Deribit, a leading crypto derivatives exchange specializing in Bitcoin and Ether options, according to Bloomberg.  The companies have informed regulators in Dubai— where Deribit is licensed — about the ongoing negotiations, though no final agreement has been confirmed. Deribit is the dominant player in the crypto options market and was valued between $4 billion and $5 billion earlier this year. The platform saw nearly $1.2 trillion in trading volume in 2024, nearly doubling its activity from the previous year.  Coinbase, primarily known…