Coinbase Breach Exposes Data of 69,000+ Users

Former SafeMoon CEO Braden Karony Found Guilty of Fraud, Faces Years in Prison

A New York jury has found Braden John Karony, ex-CEO of crypto firm SafeMoon, guilty of conspiracy to defraud the U.S., money laundering, and wire fraud. The verdict came after less than a day of deliberation following a two-week trial. Karony was charged alongside former CTO Thomas Smith and SafeMoon creator Kyle Nagy for misappropriating millions in SFM tokens. Smith testified against Karony in court, while Nagy remains at large, reportedly in Russia. The trial was viewed as a key test for interim U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella’s approach to crypto-related fraud. Sentencing for Karony is pending, with the potential for a lengthy prison term.

Bitcoin Hits $109K After Trade Truce While Solana Quietly Strengthens on Network Growth

Bitcoin has surged to a new all-time high of $109,400, just nine days after the US-China 90-day trade truce, signaling renewed investor confidence and macro clarity. In contrast, Solana’s price remains steady at $167.34, reflecting range-bound behavior despite ongoing volatility. While BTC rallies on macro momentum, Solana shows signs of long-term health: daily active addresses are back above 5 million, over 30,000 tokens launch daily, and DEX volume is strong with SOL-USDC as the leading pair. Staking remains robust with high yields and over 65% of supply locked. The network’s fundamentals—like stable validator growth and increased speculative activity—point to structural maturity, even if price action lags for now. All eyes remain on BTC’s path to $120K, but Solana appears primed for its moment when altseason returns.

“Hawk Tuah” Viral Star Haliey Welch Cleared After FBI and SEC Probes Into Failed Memecoin Launch

Haliey Welch, known as the “Hawk tuah girl,” revealed on her podcast that the FBI briefly investigated her after the failed launch of the HAWK memecoin, which many labeled an exit scam. The agency reportedly visited her grandmother’s house before Welch met with agents and surrendered her phone. She was later cleared, as was confirmed by the SEC, which also returned her phone after a short investigation. Welch claimed she was misled by an unnamed team that controlled her X account and provided scripted videos promoting the token. The coin collapsed shortly after launch, losing 90% of its value, with blockchain analytics pointing to insider activity. Though she wasn’t named in any lawsuits, Welch admitted she trusted the wrong people, had little knowledge of crypto, and let fans down. She said she earned only a marketing fee and spent it all on legal and PR expenses.

SEC Acknowledges Physical Redemption for BlackRock’s Spot Ethereum ETF

The U.S. SEC has formally acknowledged the physical redemption process for BlackRock’s spot Ethereum ETF, signaling progress toward launch and confirming that actual ETH can be used for creations and redemptions.

Coinbase Breach Exposes Data of 69,000+ Users, Sparks Regulatory Scrutiny and Public Outcry

Coinbase has confirmed that a December 2024 security breach exposed personal data from 69,461 users, including names, addresses, and emails, though no passwords, keys, or funds were compromised. Attackers allegedly bribed overseas support agents and demanded a $20 million ransom, threatening to leak the data. The SEC has since launched an inquiry into Coinbase’s user metrics reporting before its 2021 IPO, and the DOJ is investigating the breach at Coinbase’s request. Critics, including tech investor Michael Arrington, slammed the company’s delayed response and the risks posed by KYC laws, warning of serious harm to affected users. Coinbase estimates the breach could cost up to $400 million in remediation and reimbursements.

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