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Friedrich Merz, the frontrunner in the race to become German chancellor, plans to submit a migration bill to impose “quasi-permanent” border controls following a fatal knife attack in the south of the country.

The leader of the Christian Democratic Union, which is predicted to win general elections on February 23, has also vowed to ban entry to asylum seekers and speed up deportations. His party is planning to put measures to a vote in parliament as soon as next week, he said on Friday.

Existing EU migration rules were “dysfunctional”, the conservative leader said, adding: “Germany must therefore make use of its right to the primacy of national law.”

The planned measures respond to growing public outcry after the killing on Wednesday of a two-year old and an adult by an Afghan asylum seeker in the Bavarian town of Aschaffenburg. Frustration with Berlin’s inability to take a tougher approach on irregular immigration has increased support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

The attack in the town 40km south-east of Frankfurt comes a month after a Saudi Arabian doctor ploughed through a Christmas market in the eastern city of Magdeburg, killing six and injuring hundreds. In August, a Syrian national fatally stabbed three people and injured eight others in the western city of Solingen. Terror group Isis claimed responsibility for the Solingen attack.

AfD has seized on the attacks to justify its calls for mass deportations of immigrants. The party is predicted to finish second with about 20 per cent of the vote, according to pollsters. On Wednesday, AfD leader Alice Weidel published a letter urging Merz to collaborate in parliament on migration.

Merz was trying to draw a line under the era of former CDU chancellor Angela Merkel, who divided her party by allowing 1mn mainly Syrian refugees to enter Germany in 2015, Uwe Jun, a political scientist, said.

“But it is hard to see how any party can benefit from the current immigration debate except for the AfD,” Jun said.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose Social Democratic party is trailing in third place in the polls, sought to redirect the blame for the latest attack on to Markus Söder, the conservative president of Bavaria. Söder is leader of the Christian Social Union, the CDU’s Bavarian sister party, and has been campaigning with Merz.

The suspect in Wednesday’s attack, who has been arrested, is a 28-year-old Afghan national whose asylum application was rejected in 2023 and should have been deported back to Bulgaria, where he entered the EU. He had known psychiatric problems and had told authorities he would voluntarily leave Germany a month ago, according to Bavarian authorities.

After the Solingen attack, Scholz’s coalition introduced temporary controls along all its land borders, a move it said “was compatible with European law”.

But Scholz has been criticised for failing to solve the problem. “Blah-Blah Chancellor,” read the front-page headline of Bild, Germany’s largest tabloid, on Friday.

“The blame game is on now,” said Henning Meyer, public policy professor at the University of Tübingen. “People rightly feel that the government is not in control, but it’s a systemic administrative problem.”

Meyer added: “The attackers were all known and some identified as potential threats. There is a problem of flow of information between authorities.”

Multiple agencies received warnings about the Magdeburg attacker, a refugee who had expressed support for the AfD and had known psychiatric issues.

Merz’s party could secure a parliamentary majority for his migration proposals with backing from the Liberals, AfD and the party of leftwinger Sahra Wagenknecht and without the support of the SPD and Greens. The two coalition parties may face a backlash if they decided to abstain or reject the measures.

Green MP Konstantin von Notz warned that the proposals were “in conformity with neither the constitution nor European law . . . Merz is following in the footsteps of Donald Trump”.

Merz also risked losing support if the attacks continued, Prof Meyer said.

“Merz wants to make border controls quasi-permanent, but the danger is that he overpromises and doesn’t deliver and there is another attack,” he said. “The illegal immigrants don’t tend to be the ones lining up at the border crossings and Germany has a big green border.”

BitconeMine simplifies cryptocurrency mining with AI-driven cloud solutions, offering secure, hassle-free passive income opportunities.

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Current cryptocurrency mining is usually costly and requires technology, expertise, advanced equipment, and high electricity consumption to support the operation of current mines. BitconeMine integrates ASIC mining equipment through an AI intelligent system to improve performance and efficiency, reduce hardware costs, and greatly improve output benefits. It lets each participant get more benefits from the system.

For those looking for ways to earn passive income from the cryptocurrency market and keep it stable, BitconeMine is a smart choice, with a fixed income of $700-30,000 per day

BitconeMine advantages

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BitconeMine features

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BitconeMine shines thanks to its AI-driven cloud mining model, which operates in a hassle-free business manner and has attracted more than 3,000,000 active users worldwide.

“BitconeMine enables people to participate in the cryptocurrency revolution without any restrictions,” said John Smith, CTO of BitconeMine. “Our support is to enable users to maintain long-term stable returns in a simpler and more efficient way to make money.”

Transparency and security at the core 

BitconeMine takes user security very seriously by employing a multi-layered identity authentication process and advanced encryption technology. The platform guarantees full transparency and precise terms of each mining contract. The real-time dashboard provides comprehensive insights into mining activities, payment schedules, and performance data, which users can easily access to increase confidence in every transaction. 

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• The FBI’s missive follows three previous ones in as many years
• Statement is aimed at educating businesses and warding off domestic collaborators
• Suggested remedies include employing endpoint protection on computer systems and checking applications for “typos and unusual nomenclature”

The FBI has claimed North Korean IT workers are extorting US companies which have hired them by leveraging their access to steal source code.

In a statement, the agency warned domestic and international firms employees turned threat actors, “facilitate cyber-criminal activities and conduct revenue-generating activity” using stolen data “on behalf of the regime.”

TL;DR

• Analysts predict XRP could rise to a new all-time high if key support levels hold, with possible pullbacks to $2.80 or $2.50 seen as buying opportunities.
• A favorable resolution in the Ripple v. SEC case and the potential approval of an XRP ETF in the U.S. could drive the asset’s price higher, with optimism fueled by the changes in the SEC leadership.

Is $10 Possible?

Ripple’s XRP has been flying high ever since Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential elections. Prior to the vote, the asset’s price hovered around $0.50, but currently, it is worth $3.20 (per CoinGecko’s data). This represents a whopping 540% increase, with many analysts expecting further gains in the following months. 

One of the people touching upon the matter is the popular X user Michael van de Poppe. He told his over 750,000 followers on the social media platform that a potential price plunge to $2.80 might serve as an optimal entry point. He also claimed that an eventual rise to $10 per coin is not out of the question. 

EGRAG CRYPTO chipped in, too. The analyst envisioned a possible retest of $2.83 and a drop to $2.50, “which is normal.” In general, though, the trader remains bullish, predicting the price to reach new dimensions if it breaks above $3.40. 

Recall that XRP almost hit that target on January 16. As CryptoPotato reported, it spiked to as high as $3.39, standing just 1% away from its all-time high registered at the beginning of 2018. 

The Bulls Are Waiting for These Developments

One of the most important factors that could positively impact the price of XRP is the final resolution of the Ripple v. SEC lawsuit (assuming it benefits the firm). Just a few days ago, the agency’s former Chairman, Gary Gensler (considered a huge enemy of the digital asset sector), resigned and was succeeded by the pro-crypto Mark Uyeda. 

This has infused enthusiasm across the XRP Army that the case might conclude with a favorable resolution for Ripple soon. The popular American lawyer John Deaton also shares that thesis. 

He claimed there are three possible scenarios for the case after Gensler’s departure. The most likely includes dismissing the SEC’s appeal of the 2023 verdict set by Judge Analisa Torres. Back then, the magistrate ruled that XRP sales on public exchanges to retail investors did not constitute securities transactions.

However, Deaton thinks Ripple will have to pay the previously ordered $125 million penalty for violating certain rules. The fine shouldn’t be a problem for the company since some execs already promised to abide by the rules. It also represents just a fraction of the $2 billion the securities regulator initially requested. 

The potential launch of an XRP ETF in the United States may also trigger upward pressure on the price of the underlying asset. A few weeks ago, Monica Long (Ripple’s president) said that such a product was “likely to be next in line.” According to Polymarket, there is a 64% chance that the investment vehicle will see the light of day before the end of 2025.

The XRP price is in the spotlight again, as a crypto analyst has shared his short—to long-term prediction for the third-largest altcoin. While the asset has experienced a series of bullish events that have driven its price to its current level, the analyst strongly believes that the cryptocurrency can jump even higher to reach $20. 

XRP Long To Short Term Price Prediction

According to a crypto analyst identified as ‘XRP Meesku’ on X (formerly Twitter), the XRP price is gearing up to skyrocket to a new long-term ATH target of $20. The analyst’s bullish outlook for the token stems from its innovative potential, as advanced developments and technological advancements tend to drive price surges in a cryptocurrency.

Related Reading

Notably, the analyst revealed that there has been ongoing speculation that XRP could be pivotal in national banking. He highlighted that many discussions have arisen suggesting that the altcoin could be used as a potential base layer for the United States (US) banking system. If this happens, it could fuel significant growth and adoption for XRP, potentially positioning it as a “global asset that is gaining traction.” Moreover, it could trigger a price increase of $20 ATH for the altcoin. 

In the mid-term time frame, XRP Meeksu predicts that the altcoin could potentially hit $8 first before attempting to break past its cycle top. He reveals that his optimistic outlook for XRP was influenced by factors such as new financial products like futures and the ongoing legal challenges with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Based on his analysis, the crypto expert suggests that resolving these issues could spark a price rally.  

Finally, the analyst shared a short-term price forecast for XRP, highlighting that altcoin is expected to experience significant volatility, leading to price fluctuations. Due to its sharp growth potential, he predicts a surge to $3.6 or higher was possible. Moreover, the X market expert mentioned the increase in significant liquidation trends, underscoring that traders may take a long position after being forced to close due to market fluctuations.

Bullish Factors Driving The Price Surge

While the XRP Meeksu shares his long- to short-term bullish prediction for the XRP price, the analyst also outlines several bullish activities that could drive a potential surge in the cryptocurrency. According to the crypto expert, the XRP market has seen a lot of activity lately, with the price stabilizing despite spikes in whale activity. 

Related Reading

Looking at the asset’s past performances, the analyst mentions a notable transfer of $62 million to various crypto exchanges — a movement that could potentially be seen as a sell signal for strategic whale repositioning. Moreover, the CME Group has hinted at launching XRP futures, paving the way for institutional adoption and engagement in the cryptocurrency. 

Furthermore, the analyst delved deeper into the lawsuit between Ripple and the SEC, highlighting discussions about potential settlements and the conclusion of the almost four-year legal battle. Despite the lawsuit drama, the crypto expert disclosed that XRP’s overall sentiment remains bullish as analysts project more growth in the future. 

He revealed that XRP is showing signs of a price recovery and could soon hit new ATHs. Moreover, its community remains vibrant and active, sharing updates about ongoing scam threats, key events, and more.

Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from Tradingview.com

When the US Food and Drug Administration opened the door for hearing aids to be sold over the counter in 2022, I was all in. Prescription hearing aids are criminally expensive, and several OTC models have proven that you don’t need to visit a hearing aid shop in a mall to get a product that gets the job done. I’ve tested 38 hearing aids to date, and 29 have been available over the counter. All of my favorite hearing aid products have been OTC models. Until now.

Starkey is a major name in the hearing aid business, and it’s not some white-label company that slaps a logo on someone else’s product (an epidemic in this industry). Starkey has been around since 1967, and while it no longer designs or manufactures its own digital signal processing chips, it is intimately involved with hearing aid development—and famously brags that it has outfitted everyone from Ronald Reagan to Mother Teresa with its hearing aids.

Now, with its new Edge AI RIC RT hearing aids, Starkey takes a position at the very top of the heap in product quality and performance thanks in large part to a new audio processor that includes an integrated neural processing unit—just like our laptops and phones. Starkey says this is the only NPU-powered hearing aid line on the market.

Receiver in Canal

There’s nothing particularly inventive about the way the Edge AI RIC RT (which stands for “receiver in canal, rechargeable with telecoil”) looks, built on the classic, teardrop-shaped behind-the-ear design, though it is available in your choice of seven colors. Each aid weighs 2.62 grams, which is competitive for a behind-the-ear hearing aid. (To compare, the Jabra Enhance Select 500 weighs 2.56 grams.) A single button on the back of each aid controls volume: down on the left aid, up on the right aid.

As these are prescription aids, you’ll need an audiologist to fit and tune them. Rather than sending me to a local doctor, Starkey took the unusual step of flying its chief hearing health officer, Dave Fabry, to my home to complete this task. Fabry brought a suitcase full of equipment to re-create what the doctor’s office experience would normally be like, only at my dining table. Afterward, he gave me a training session on the aids and walked me through the My Starkey app, just like a standard audiologist.

Fabry also outfitted me with custom eartips molded to fit the exact shape of my ear canals. (This type of service would be at the discretion of your audiologist.) This is a simple process that involves jamming putty into your ears and waiting for it to harden. This putty can then be used to create a bespoke eartip that fits perfectly—although the usual collection of open and closed eartips in various sizes are also included in the box.

Many participants in industry hackathons are just looking to make some quick prize money and move on to the next contest — Dominic Kwok calls them “bounty hunters.”

But EasyA, the start-up for developers that he and his brother Phil started four years ago, is looking for a different type of competitor — those who are looking to build companies that can have a significant impact on Web3. It’s an approach that has proved fruitful, with the companies coming out of EasyA’s app community and monthly in-person hackathons having raised money at a collective valuation of over $3 billion from top VC firms such as a16z crypto and CMT Digital. And EasyA’s mobile app, which helps developers easily start building their own Web3 projects, has over a million users worldwide.

At the first EasyA Consensus hackathon in Austin last May, more than 700 participants launched 100 different crypto projects, and the Kwoks are expecting similar numbers for upcoming events at Consensus Hong Kong and Consensus Toronto (if you’d like to apply for the EasyA Hackathon at Consensus Hong Kong 2025, please go here).

Here they discuss why their unique approach to hackathons, how they expect Consensus Hong Kong will differ from hackathons in other parts of the world and how Donald Trump’s election could affect the types of projects crypto developers focus on.

This series is brought to you by Consensus Hong Kong. Come and experience the most influential event in Web3 and Digital Assets, Feb.18-20. Register today and save 15% with the code CoinDesk15.

This interview has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.

How did EasyA get started?

Dominic: So we originally launched EasyA about four years ago as the go to place for anyone to learn about the world’s best blockchains. Anyone can use the EasyA app on iOS and Android to learn about the top Layer Ones out there, like Solana, Polkadot, Stellar and Ripple’s XRP Ledger. And people can learn how to not only develop, but also launch their own projects. We also host a lot of big hackathons in person all around the world, in which hundreds of people come in person and launch projects on our blockchain partners. And the goal is to get these people not just launching, but then also founding and building startups that go on to get funded by the ecosystem and VCs.

How do you approach hackathons differently than other companies that run these?

Dominic: Two things. The first is that EasyA is very focused on founders who want to start their own companies, versus hackathon “bounty hunters.” We really want to make sure that our participants actually stick around and build their projects because that’s where we see the future of Web3 really being built from. And the second thing is most of our hackathons are single chain, so participants focus on one piece of tech and they actually launch on that one, as opposed to focusing on 50 different chains. We want to put people in front of the best ecosystems that have the most support for developers.

How do you think the Consensus hackathon in Hong Kong will be different from those you hold in other parts of the world?

Dominic: The scale is just going to be super big. We’ve already had a record number of people apply for the seats in the arena. We’ll obviously have people from Hong Kong, but then also from other Asian countries like India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and China. And we’re also seeing huge numbers of people from the West want to come. For many of those people, it’ll be the first time they’ve actually been to Asia.

Do you expect there to be differences in the types of projects that developers in Asia pursue, as opposed to those in other parts of the world?

Phil: There’s a geographical element and then there’s also a thematic one. A huge theme that we’ve seen come up over the past couple of weeks is AI x Web3, and a lot of developers are excited about that intersection. We’ve also seen protocols like virtuals really kick off and become very successful, so I think we’ll see a lot of that. Geographically, in Asia there are obviously so many different currencies, and we’re seeing that developers there actually understand those cross-border use cases a lot better. If you’re a U.S.-based developer, you don’t necessarily see those friction points a ton. So I think that we’re going to see a lot more of the cross border payment solutions start to flesh themselves out.

How do you think Donald Trump’s presidency will affect the kinds of projects you see at your hackathons?

Phil: Obviously DeFi has always been one of the biggest areas of product market fit in crypto — arguably one of the few that actually has that fit. But so far because of, frankly, how scared a lot of developers were in the States, a lot of people just weren’t building nor launching in the U.S. And so you’d often go on to a decentralized app and it’ll say “Oh, you’re in the States, you can’t use this.” So that’s a very visible area where we’re going to start seeing changes. Another area where you can’t participate if you’re from the U.S. is airdrops. So if you are an end user, you couldn’t really access a lot of crypto. And if you wanted to target this demographic, which of course is the wealthiest in the world, you couldn’t. So I think DeFi is really going to explode, especially in the States.

Both of you are also speakers at Consensus Hong Kong. What will you be talking about?

Dominic: Our keynote will be about why it’s so hard right now for Web3 ecosystems to attract developers now. And we’re going to be giving some of our tips on how they can attract developers more easily and at a bigger scale. Right now, Web3 firms are competing over the same developers, and the growth of Web3 devs has pretty much stagnated. And obviously at EasyA, our whole mission is actually to bring way more developers into the space. That starts with making it easy. But we’re also making several big tech upgrades that will allow developers to build much more easily on-chain. And we’re going to be revealing those on stage.

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