BNB Chain said on Aug. 1 that it was pursuing legal action against a former employee who allegedly retained unauthorized access to a seed phrase and later used the associated wallet address with a new memecoin. 

The network said it was cooperating with authorities but did not identify the individual, jurisdiction, agency or court.

The wallet was created for a company video tutorial showing how to generate a token, according to BNB Chain’s statement. The organization said the former employee later generated a new private key from the retained seed phrase. It denied creating, authorizing, promoting or participating in the new token.

BNB Chain distances itself from ASTEROID

BNB Chain described the address’s later use as independent activity and said the token was not affiliated with or endorsed by the ecosystem. Its announcement did not provide a complaint, case number, named regulator or details about where the planned legal action would be brought.

Changpeng “CZ” Zhao reposted the statement and called the former employee “basically a scammer,” while telling users to “Stay SAFU.” His description is an allegation, not a court finding. BNB Chain did not disclose whether it is seeking asset recovery, damages or criminal charges.

Four wallets allegedly controlled nearly 80% of supply

On-chain analytics account Lookonchain linked the launch to a token called Asteroid Shiba, or ASTEROID. It alleged that four newly created wallets spent about $10,000 to acquire 796.7 million tokens, equal to 79.67% of the stated one billion-token supply.

Lookonchain said the wallets later sold 718.8 million ASTEROID for 1,103 BNB, valued at about $638,000, producing an estimated $628,000 profit. It published the four addresses for review on BscScan. However, blockchain records show wallet activity, not the legal identity controlling it. The employee attribution therefore remains an allegation supported by BNB Chain’s statement and Lookonchain’s analysis.

A seed can generate the private keys used within a deterministic wallet. Removing one private key from a device does not invalidate a retained copy of the underlying seed, which can be used to derive wallet keys again. The case raises questions about how tutorial wallets and recovery phrases were handled when employees left.

BNB Chain has not disclosed when the employee departed, how long the seed remained accessible or when it discovered the retained access. It also has not said whether other tutorial wallets are under review.

Crypto.news reported in 2025 that Binance suspended an employee following an investigation into alleged token front-running involving knowledge from a previous BNB Chain role. The latest statement does not say whether the incidents involve the same person.

Separately, as crypto.news reported, investigators have used fresh wallet clusters and concentrated ownership to examine suspected memecoin manipulation. Such patterns can establish connections between addresses, but identity claims may still require exchange records or other off-chain evidence.

Legal action and wallet tracing come next

BNB Chain said it is working with relevant authorities, but its statement did not name an agency that had opened an investigation. A formal complaint or enforcement notice would clarify the legal claims, venue and requested remedies. Until then, the company statement and on-chain analysis remain the main public records.

The wallets and any destinations receiving the 1,103 BNB may provide a trail for investigators. Recovery would depend on whether funds reach identifiable exchange accounts or services able to respond to lawful requests. BNB Chain has not announced a freeze, recovery or repayment.

No token-price reaction is included because multiple assets use the ASTEROID name and BNB Chain did not publish a contract address. Using market data for another token could misstate the event. The next verified development would be a company update, regulator notice or public court filing.

Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent company behind the Truth Social platform, has continued trimming its Bitcoin exposure, according to on-chain tracking shared by Lookonchain. The latest activity adds to a months-long pattern of sales that have significantly reduced the company’s reported BTC balance.

In transfers identified by Lookonchain using Arkham data, Trump Media-linked wallets sent 2,628 BTC to Crypto.com. The move is reported to be worth roughly $165 million, extending a selling cycle that began about seven months ago.

Key takeaways

• Trump Media-linked wallets reportedly transferred 2,628 BTC (about $165M) to Crypto.com, per Lookonchain’s analysis of Arkham data.
• Lookonchain estimates Trump Media has sold a total of 7,281 BTC over the past seven months, worth roughly $545M.
• Arkham wallet data cited by Lookonchain shows remaining holdings of 4,261 BTC, worth about $269.8M at the time of reporting.
• Current scrutiny is taking place alongside broader legislative debate over the CLARITY Act, which has drawn attention for its ethics provisions around digital asset activity.

New Crypto.com transfers cut into remaining Bitcoin

Lookonchain reported that Trump Media has executed another batch of Bitcoin sales via transfers to Crypto.com. The analysis attributes the transactions to Trump Media-linked wallets and cites Arkham’s wallet and transaction information.

In this most recent set of moves, Arkham data referenced by Lookonchain points to two transfers: one for 2,429 BTC and another for 198.9 BTC.

Taken together, Lookonchain said these transfers total 2,628 BTC, valued at about $165 million based on the prevailing price assumptions used in its reporting. This latest reduction follows earlier transfers to Crypto.com reported on May 22, when the company-linked wallets moved a combined 2,650 BTC, worth roughly $205 million.

Seven-month selling spree shrinks reported holdings

Lookonchain frames the most recent transfer as the continuation of a broader liquidation strategy. The tracker said Trump Media purchased 11,542 BTC at an average price of $118,522 before beginning to sell portions of its holdings around seven months ago.

Based on the same dataset, Lookonchain estimates cumulative sales of 7,281 BTC over that period, worth approximately $545 million. The analysis also calculates an average selling price of $74,855 per BTC for those transactions.

After the latest outflows, Arkham data referenced in the report indicates Trump Media’s remaining Bitcoin holdings stand at 4,261 BTC, valued at about $269.8 million at the time of publication. That implies the company’s reported BTC balance has fallen by roughly 63% compared with the initial purchase total cited by Lookonchain.

Why the timing matters amid ethics and ownership debates

Beyond the on-chain mechanics, the sales arrive as lawmakers debate the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act, a proposal that has attracted scrutiny for its approach to ethics rules and the question of whether officials’ digital asset activity could create conflicts of interest.

Critics have pointed to a range of Trump-linked crypto initiatives discussed in the broader public policy debate, including memecoins such as Official Trump (TRUMP) and Melania (MELANIA), as well as World Liberty Financial’s governance token WLFI and a USD1 stablecoin. The controversy centers on the overlap between political influence and private crypto holdings or products.

Recent CLARITY Act discussions, as described in coverage referenced by Cointelegraph, have focused on tightening ethics provisions—particularly rules governing when officials could issue or sponsor digital assets. However, as the source notes, the legislation remains under consideration and does not mandate that companies sell existing holdings.

That distinction is important for investors and compliance watchers: even if a law ultimately changes future behavior for officials or connected entities, it may not retroactively affect the ability of companies to keep, liquidate, or otherwise manage already-held crypto.

What to watch next for Trump Media-linked wallets

For market participants, the key signal in this story is not simply that Bitcoin is being sold, but how steadily it is being done and through which counterparties—here, Crypto.com—based on wallet and transaction clustering reported through Arkham data by Lookonchain.

Readers should watch for whether additional transfers continue to appear from the same Trump Media-linked wallet set, and whether the remaining 4,261 BTC balance changes further. At the same time, political and regulatory attention around the CLARITY Act suggests that disclosure, governance, and ethics standards for digital asset participation may remain a live topic even if near-term changes do not compel immediate sales.

Trump Media & Technology Group, the parent of Truth Social, has continued to reduce its reported Bitcoin exposure with another batch of transfers to exchange infrastructure. According to Lookonchain, the company sold 2,628 BTC—valued at roughly $165 million at the time of the transfers—via movements to Crypto.com, based on blockchain data compiled from Arkham.

The latest activity adds to a broader pattern of selling observed over the past seven months, shrinking the company’s reported holdings and feeding into ongoing political scrutiny of Trump-linked crypto projects and the ethics questions surrounding digital asset ownership.

Key takeaways

• Trump Media-linked wallets transferred 2,628 BTC (about $165 million) to Crypto.com, according to Lookonchain’s analysis using Arkham data.
• Over the past seven months, reported Bitcoin sales total 7,281 BTC (about $545 million), per Lookonchain.
• Arkham wallet data shows remaining holdings of 4,261 BTC (worth about $269.8 million at the time of reporting).
• Recent transfers include an Arkham-documented transaction for 2,429 BTC and another for 198.9 BTC moving to Crypto.com.
• The selling comes amid congressional discussion of the CLARITY Act, which targets ethics and digital asset rules but does not compel companies to liquidate existing holdings.

Another Crypto.com-linked transfer reduces reported BTC

In a Sunday post on X, Lookonchain said Trump Media sold 2,628 BTC through transfers to Crypto.com. The analysis was based on on-chain visibility attributed to Trump Media-linked entities, with Arkham used as the data layer for identifying the wallet activity.

Lookonchain further reported that Trump Media had purchased 11,542 BTC at an average price of $118,522 before starting to sell portions of its holdings about seven months prior to the latest transactions.

How much Bitcoin has been sold—and what remains

Lookonchain’s tally places total reported sales over the same seven-month window at 7,281 BTC, valued around $545 million, with an average selling price of $74,855 per BTC based on its methodology.

Arkham’s wallet figures cited by the analysis indicate that Trump Media’s remaining Bitcoin holdings were 4,261 BTC at the time of publication, worth approximately $269.8 million.

The most recent movements to Crypto.com, according to Arkham wallet data referenced in the report, included two notable transfers: one transaction of 2,429 BTC and another of 198.9 BTC. These transfers follow earlier activity that Lookonchain linked to the same selling program, including two movements recorded on May 22 totaling 2,650 BTC (worth about $205 million at the time).

Why repeated selling matters for investors watching disclosures

For market participants, the practical significance of these transactions is less about the immediate price impact of any single sale and more about consistency, transparency, and how quickly a large holder can reduce exposure. When a corporate-linked balance sheet shows continued liquidation of a major volatile asset like Bitcoin, investors often interpret it as a shift in treasury strategy, liquidity planning, or a risk-management decision.

Just as importantly, the reported activity draws attention to how on-chain transfers by identifiable entities can affect expectations around future flows. If more transfers to exchange-linked addresses continue, traders may look for repeated liquidity events that can complicate execution for both spot and derivatives participants—particularly if the market perceives the sales as part of a longer unwinding rather than one-off diversification.

CLARITY Act debate keeps ethics questions in focus

Beyond the on-chain movements, the latest Bitcoin sales land at a time when lawmakers are weighing the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act. In the broader debate, attention has turned to ethics provisions, conflicts of interest, and how public officials should handle relationships with digital asset issuers and related ventures.

Critics have pointed to a cluster of Trump-linked crypto interests discussed in policy circles, including the Official Trump (TRUMP) and Melania (MELANIA) memecoins, as well as World Liberty Financial’s WLFI governance token and USD1 stablecoin. The issue raised by opponents is the overlap between political influence and private crypto holdings—particularly where governance or issuance incentives could be perceived as benefiting affiliated interests.

While current CLARITY Act discussions have focused on tightening ethics rules—such as restrictions on officials issuing or sponsoring digital assets—the legislation remains under consideration and, according to the report’s framing, does not require companies to sell existing crypto holdings.

That distinction is likely to matter in how the market interprets these developments. Even if policymakers move toward stricter disclosure or conflict-of-interest standards, treasury actions already in motion—like the sell-through described by Lookonchain and supported by Arkham wallet data—may continue on a timetable driven by corporate liquidity decisions rather than by immediate regulatory requirements.

What to watch next

Readers should watch for whether additional exchange-linked transfers continue from the same Trump Media-linked wallets and whether lawmakers’ CLARITY Act deliberations progress in a way that clarifies disclosure and ethics obligations for officials and affiliated entities. Until then, the main signal remains the on-chain pattern: reported Bitcoin balances appear to be shrinking in measured batches, supported by repeated wallet movements documented through Arkham and aggregated by Lookonchain.

A crypto industry-aligned political action committee has pushed its spending above $2 million in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, according to final-week Federal Election Commission disclosures. 

Protect Progress is supporting Democratic incumbent Shri Thanedar and opposing challenger Donavan McKinney before the Aug. 4 primary.

Protect Progress is affiliated with the Fairshake network, which has received major funding from companies including Coinbase and Ripple. The latest filings added $884,240 in media supporting Thanedar and more than $150,000 in spending against McKinney. The additions effectively doubled the amount reported about a week earlier.

Crypto PAC spending tops $2M before Michigan vote

Protect Progress is registered with the FEC as an active independent expenditure-only committee, commonly called a super PAC. Its spending supports or opposes candidates but does not represent money transferred directly to their campaigns. The latest expenditure notices are available through the committee’s official FEC filings.

The committee’s processed FEC summary may not immediately show every last-minute purchase. The agency states that its independent expenditure table excludes separate 24-hour and 48-hour notices, which committees use to disclose spending close to an election. One of the latest Michigan notices was filed through this FEC disclosure.

The scale is notable beside the candidates’ own finances. McKinney’s campaign reported $1.23 million in total disbursements through July 15. Protect Progress’s outside spending has exceeded that amount, although the figures cover different reporting periods and forms of political activity.

Thanedar’s crypto votes drew industry support

Thanedar voted for the stablecoin-focused GENIUS Act and the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act in the House. In an official statement, he described the measures as steps toward clearer rules, consumer safeguards and wider financial access, while acknowledging that the bills were “not perfect.”

The House-approved CLARITY Act remains under consideration in the Senate. Protect Progress has not stated in its FEC notices that any specific vote caused its spending decision. However, the committee generally supports candidates viewed as favorable toward digital asset legislation.

As previously reported, Protect Progress had disclosed more than $986,000 in Michigan spending by July 23. The latest filings pushed the total above $2 million during the final two weeks of the primary.

McKinney makes the spending a campaign issue

McKinney has used the outside funding to criticize Thanedar’s crypto policy record. In a July 21 statement, he alleged that “the crypto lobby is paying my opponent back” for votes that benefited President Donald Trump’s digital asset interests.

That statement represents a campaign allegation. FEC records confirm that Protect Progress paid for independent advertisements, but they do not establish McKinney’s claimed motive or demonstrate coordination with Thanedar’s campaign. Federal rules require super PAC expenditures to remain independent of supported candidates.

The Michigan spending forms part of a broader national strategy by Fairshake and its affiliates. Public Citizen estimated that crypto companies had supplied about $189 million during the 2026 election cycle, with Fairshake-linked groups accounting for more than $82 million in expenditures. Those totals represent the watchdog’s analysis rather than an FEC finding that every dollar came from one industry source.

Aug. 4 result will test the spending strategy

Michigan voters will choose the Democratic nominee on Tuesday, Aug. 4. More than 1.03 million residents had voted by the morning of July 31, according to the Michigan Department of State. Statewide early voting continued through Aug. 2, with some jurisdictions offering voting on Aug. 3. Completed absentee ballots must arrive by 8 p.m. on election day.

The result will offer a near-term test of whether Protect Progress’s final advertising surge helped Thanedar. However, it will not prove that PAC spending alone determined the outcome because turnout, candidate organizations and local concerns also shape congressional elections.

Additional FEC notices or amendments may appear after voting ends. The official canvass will confirm the nominee, while later campaign-finance reports should provide a fuller account of the committee’s total Michigan spending. No verified crypto market reaction has been tied to the race.

Trump Media & Technology Group, the company behind Truth Social, has made another major move involving its Bitcoin holdings, extending a series of recent sales.

The company sold 2,628 Bitcoin (BTC) worth about $165 million through transfers to Crypto.com, blockchain analytics platform Lookonchain said in a Sunday X post, citing data from Arkham.

Lookonchain said Trump Media bought 11,542 BTC at an average price of $118,522 before beginning to sell portions of its holdings seven months ago.

The Bitcoin sales come as Trump-linked crypto ventures face broader scrutiny, with lawmakers debating the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act and questions around ethics and digital asset ownership.

Trump Media’s Bitcoin holdings shrink 63%

The latest transfers bring Trump Media’s total reported Bitcoin sales over the past seven months to 7,281 BTC, worth about $545 million, according to Lookonchain’s analysis, which calculated an average selling price of $74,855 per BTC.

According to Arkham, the company’s remaining Bitcoin holdings stood at 4,261 BTC at publishing time, worth $269.8 million.

Source: Arkham

Arkham’s wallet data showed two recent transfers from Trump Media-linked wallets to Crypto.com, including one transaction of 2,429 BTC and another of 198.9 BTC.

The latest transfers follow two earlier Bitcoin movements to Crypto.com recorded on May 22, when Trump Media-linked wallets transferred a combined 2,650 BTC worth about $205 million.

Trump-linked crypto interests face ethics scrutiny

The Bitcoin sales come as lawmakers debate the CLARITY Act, which has drawn scrutiny over ethics rules, digital asset ownership and potential conflicts of interest involving public officials, including concerns raised by critics about US President Donald Trump’s crypto ventures.

Critics have pointed to Trump-linked crypto ventures, including the Official Trump (TRUMP) and Melania (MELANIA) memecoins, as well as World Liberty Financial’s WLFI governance token and USD1 stablecoin, in discussions over the overlap between political influence and private crypto interests.

Related: Senator Schumer proposes agency to address corruption, including Trump’s crypto ventures

Recent CLARITY Act discussions have focused on tightening ethics provisions, including rules around officials issuing or sponsoring digital assets, but the legislation remains under consideration and does not require companies to sell existing crypto holdings.

Magazine: Here’s why the CLARITY Act’s ethics deal may be so hard to reach