US authorities have unsealed an indictment against three men accused of stealing at least $6.5 million in a “violent robbery spree targeting cryptocurrency owners.”

The Justice Department said in a statement Monday that a federal grand jury indicted three men for allegedly planning to kidnap and rob four people around San Francisco and Los Angeles for their crypto.

The trio, Elijah Armstrong, Nino Chindavanh and Jayden Rucker, are alleged to have posed as delivery drivers to force their way into residences and use threats of violence to extract crypto seed phrases.

So-called wrench attacks, where crypto owners are subject to physical threats, have increased globally since 2025. French authorities charged 88 people in April with committing attacks against local crypto owners.

US prosecutors claimed they identified at least four people the trio targeted from Nov. 22 until Dec. 31. One of the people was allegedly forced to transfer $6.5 million in crypto to a wallet controlled by the trio, according to an unsealed indictment filed in a San Francisco federal court.

One of the victims was allegedly forced to transfer $6.5 million in crypto to the attackers. Source: PACER 

“These individuals, as alleged, terrorized their victims in the hopes of stealing vast sums of cryptocurrency,” Craig Missakian, the US Attorney for the Northern District of California, said in a statement Monday. “The scheme was not only sophisticated, it was brazen, violent, and dangerous.”

Related: Law enforcement freezes $41M connected to $150M crypto Ponzi collapse 

Source: FBI San Francisco

The three men were arrested in December last year and face charges of conspiracy to commit robbery, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, attempted robbery, and attempted kidnapping.

Armstrong and Rucker are scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday. Chindavanh is scheduled to appear in court on June 26.

Blockchain intelligence company TRM Labs reported in May last year that wrench attacks have been on the rise because of the ease with which bad actors can gather personal data online, the perceived pseudonymity of crypto transactions and the public visibility of wealth in the crypto sector.

Magazine: Guide to the top and emerging global crypto hubs — Mid-2026 

Binance says its AI-powered security tools prevented more than $10 billion in user fund losses to scams and fraud between 2025 and March 2026, according to a security-focused blog post from the exchange. The company reported that over 5.4 million users were protected from fraud between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026 after deploying more than 24 AI-driven initiatives and more than 100 models.

Over the 15 months to March 2026, Binance says it blocked $10.53 billion of potential losses and blacklisted 36,000 malicious addresses as its AI-enabled security protocols ran in the background. In the most recent quarter, the exchange highlighted a surge in activity: it intercepted 22.9 million scam and phishing attempts in Q1 2026 alone, saving $1.98 billion for users. The numbers, described in Binance’s security blog, underscore the rapid expansion of automated defenses as scams grow more sophisticated.

“AI-powered scams and exploits are accelerating,” Binance said. “The barrier to entry for scam perpetrators is falling fast, with AI accelerating the drop. What once required technical expertise can now be executed for next to nothing and at scale.” The warning reflects broader industry concerns that threat actors are leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance impersonation, social engineering and phishing campaigns. In the same vein, the FBI has noted elevated scam activity tied to crypto, citing substantial losses reported in the United States in recent periods.

Binance emphasizes that its AI tools are not just reactive, but embedded in real-time decisioning across its security stack. By integrating AI with its risk controls, the platform says it now intercepts attacks before user funds are moved and helps to differentiate legitimate activity from fraudulent patterns at scale. According to the blog, AI-driven decisioning now powers 57% of its fraud controls, contributing to a 60-70% reduction in card fraud rates relative to industry benchmarks. The company also pointed to ongoing work in identity verification to counter increasingly sophisticated deepfakes and synthetic identities.

Key takeaways

• Over 15 months ending in March 2026, Binance reports $10.53 billion in prevented losses and 36,000 malicious addresses blacklisted through AI-enhanced security measures, with more than 5.4 million users protected between Q1 2025 and Q1 2026.
• In Q1 2026 alone, the exchange intercepted 22.9 million scam and phishing attempts, saving $1.98 billion for users.
• AI-driven decisioning accounts for 57% of Binance’s fraud controls, with a claimed 60-70% reduction in card fraud rates versus industry benchmarks.
• The security stack employs computer vision to verify payment proofs, real-time language analysis to detect scam patterns, and enhanced identity verification to combat deepfakes and synthetic identities.
• The development comes amid a broader concern that AI-enabled scams are increasing in breadth and sophistication, reinforcing the need for robust defense mechanisms across exchanges and custodial platforms.

Inside Binance’s AI security toolkit

The security program described by Binance folds a wide range of AI capabilities into its existing risk controls. The company notes that computer vision components are used to detect fake payment proofs, while real-time language analysis monitors communications for suspicious patterns and indicators of fraud. On the identity side, the system is designed to counter deepfakes and synthetic identities that fraudsters may use to bypass traditional verification steps. Taken together, these tools are meant to reduce the likelihood that compromised or impersonated accounts can be exploited for exfiltration or manipulation of funds.

Binance also highlights a data-driven approach to governance and monitoring. By combining behavioral signals, transaction patterns and contextual data, the platform aims to flag unusual activity early and apply automated responses in real time. The emphasis on AI-driven decisioning—where a majority of fraud controls are now powered by AI—speaks to a broader shift in crypto security toward automated, scalable defense mechanisms that can adapt to evolving attack tactics.

Context, risk, and regulatory undertones

The concerns Binance raises about AI-enabled scams echo a broader industry risk landscape. Crypto-related fraud remains a persistent challenge for users and regulators alike, with authorities noting that attackers rely on social engineering, impersonation and increasingly convincing fake content. The FBI has flagged substantial losses linked to crypto scams, underscoring the importance of effective defense mechanisms as the technology that underpins these platforms scales in capability and reach. These dynamics place exchanges under pressure to demonstrate tangible security improvements while maintaining a user-friendly experience and transparent reporting.

From a market perspective, the deployment of AI in security can influence user confidence, willingness to engage with centralized exchanges, and the perceived risk profile of asset custodians. Investors and traders will be watching not only the absolute totals of funds saved or losses prevented but also how these tools perform across different jurisdictions, regulatory environments and product segments. The question going forward is how AI-driven security measures will balance proactive defense with user privacy, provide explainable risk signals, and scale with the growing volume and variety of crypto activity.

What to watch next

Readers should monitor whether Binance expands its AI security footprint beyond its current scope, including coverage of new product areas, regions, or asset classes. While the firm cites substantial quarter-to-quarter improvements, questions remain about the durability of these defenses as attackers adapt and as AI itself evolves. Expect more granular updates on the effectiveness of individual AI modules, potential cross-border enforcement considerations, and how other exchanges position their own AI-driven security programs in response to rising threats.

For a closer look at Binance’s security measures and the full set of claims, see the firm’s security blog post detailing the initiative and the metrics cited accompanying the 24 AI-driven initiatives and 100+ models. The post highlights the linkage between AI tools and real-time risk controls, emphasizing the intention to harden defenses as scammers grow more sophisticated. Binance security blog.

Alongside these developments, observers will continue to weigh the role of AI in fraud prevention against the risk of over-reliance on automated systems, potential false positives, and the need for ongoing user education. The crypto ecosystem remains a dynamic arena where defensive innovation and adversarial ingenuity co-evolve, and Binance’s latest figures offer a data point in that ongoing confrontation.

As the sector digests these disclosures, the key takeaway for users and investors is clear: AI-assisted security is becoming mainstream in crypto, but it is not a panacea. Ongoing transparency about performance, edge cases, and the safeguards around automated decisioning will be essential to gauge whether these tools translate into reliably safer experiences for the average user. The next few quarters should reveal whether the early momentum translates into sustained reduction in fraud across the broader ecosystem.

Key Takeaways

• Qualcomm shares jumped 8.4% Monday, closing at an unprecedented $237.53
• Year-to-date gains stand at 39%, with a remarkable 32% surge in May alone
• CEO Cristiano Amon announced a custom data-center chip scheduled for delivery to a major hyperscaler in Q4 2026
• Daiwa Securities elevated its rating from Neutral to Outperform, setting a $225 target
• The stock’s five-session winning streak represents its strongest performance since April 2019

Qualcomm shares finished Monday’s trading session at $237.53, marking an 8.4% daily increase and surpassing the company’s prior record close of $227.09 from June 2024. The chipmaker ranked among the S&P 500’s top performers for the day.

QUALCOMM Incorporated, QCOM

This surge extends an impressive momentum streak. The stock has posted gains for five consecutive trading days, accumulating a 41% increase during that period. Market data from Dow Jones indicates this represents QCOM’s strongest five-day performance since late April 2019.

The upward trajectory follows Qualcomm’s April 29 fiscal second-quarter earnings release, which exceeded Wall Street projections for both top-line revenue and bottom-line earnings. While the financial results were impressive, subsequent announcements sparked even greater investor enthusiasm.

During the analyst call, CEO Cristiano Amon revealed that preliminary deliveries of a custom data-center chip are planned for the December quarter, destined for a significant hyperscaler client. While the customer’s identity remains undisclosed, Amon characterized it as a “large hyperscaler” and suggested an ongoing, multi-generation partnership. Additional information is anticipated during Qualcomm’s June investor day.

This announcement fundamentally altered market perception. While investors traditionally categorized Qualcomm as a smartphone-focused semiconductor company, the data-center initiative demonstrates a strategic pivot — transforming into a player in AI infrastructure at an enterprise scale.

Analyst Community Takes Notice

In the wake of the earnings announcement and Amon’s strategic revelations, several analysts revised their positions. Daiwa Securities upgraded QCOM from Neutral to Outperform while establishing a $225 price objective. Both Tigress Financial and Benchmark similarly increased their price targets.

Despite the optimistic trading activity, the consensus rating among more than 40 analysts surveyed by FactSet remains at Hold, with an aggregate price target of $176.72. Current trading levels place QCOM approximately 34% above that consensus forecast.

Broader semiconductor sector strength contributed to Monday’s rally. Intel shares rose 3.6% following reports of a tentative agreement to produce chips for Apple products. The PHLX Semiconductor Index recently recorded its most substantial 25-day advance since the dot-com era in 2000.

Diversification Strategy Unfolds

Qualcomm has systematically expanded its revenue portfolio beyond traditional smartphone components, incorporating automotive applications, internet-of-things devices, and AI-powered solutions. The company’s fiscal Q2 performance illustrated this strategic diversification, with meaningful contributions across multiple market segments.

Industry analysts project global semiconductor revenue will exceed $1 trillion this year, primarily driven by AI infrastructure and data-center expansion. This industry-wide catalyst has elevated the entire sector, and Qualcomm appears strategically positioned to capture market share in data-center segments where it hasn’t historically maintained a presence.

QCOM has appreciated 36% since the beginning of January. The trailing twelve-month performance shows a 56% gain.

The company plans to elaborate on its data-center strategy during its upcoming investor day scheduled for June.

Ark Invest bought $5.5 million worth of shares in Circle Internet (CRCL) on Monday as the stablecoin developer’s stock pumped following its first-quarter earnings report.

The St. Petersburg, Florida-based investment manager added 41,904 shares across three of its exchange-traded funds (ETFs): Innovation (ARKK), Next Generation Internet (ARKW) and Blockchain and Fintech Innovation (ARKF).

CRCL shares rose 16% to $131.76, the highest closing price since March 18, after the company posted estimate-beating earnings per share (EPS) of 21 cents.

Circle, whose USDC is the second-largest stablecoin, also revealed a $222 million raise for its Arc blockchain in a presale of the ARC token.

The purchase is Ark’s first of Circle stock since March 24, when it bought $16.3 million worth as the shares slumped 20%. It last sold CRCL on April 17, dumping $1.2 million worth on a day the stock closed at around $106.

The Cathie Wood-led company frequently buys into weakness in equities to capture greater value and rebalance the weighting of its ETFs. It is less common to see sizeable purchases that coincide with large share-price gains.

Galaxy Digital (GLXY) and Sharplink (SBET) are teaming up to put part of the latter’s staked ETH treasury into decentralized finance (DeFi) strategies.

The Galaxy Sharplink Onchain Yield Fund would receive $100 million from Sharplink’s staked ETH treasury and $25 million from Galaxy, the companies said.

Galaxy is set to manage the investment, which is expected to commence in the coming weeks under a non-binding memorandum of understanding.

The strategy will see capital deployed across DeFi liquidity protocols and other onchain yield strategies. The structure is designed to keep Sharplink’s core ETH exposure intact while adding an active yield strategy to its balance sheet.

Sharplink holds 872,984 ETH, according to separate first-quarter results. The company has generated 18,800 ETH in staking rewards since launching its ether treasury strategy in June 2025, the firm said.

The allocation is small relative to Sharplink’s ETH stack but large enough to mark a shift in the treasury model. At recent prices, $100 million equals roughly 43,000 ETH.

Bitcoin price slipped back toward the $81,000 region on Monday as weakening U.S. institutional demand and renewed geopolitical uncertainty triggered another wave of profit-taking across the crypto market.

According to data from crypto.news, Bitcoin (BTC) traded around $80,900 at press time on May 12 after briefly falling toward an intraday low near $80,700. The pullback followed another failed breakout attempt above the key $82,000 resistance zone, where sellers continued aggressively defending upside momentum.

One of the biggest bearish signals came from the Coinbase Bitcoin Premium Index, which remained deeply negative throughout the past several trading sessions. The metric measures the price difference between Bitcoin on Coinbase and offshore exchanges such as Binance and is commonly used as a proxy for U.S. institutional demand.

The persistent negative reading suggests that buying activity from U.S.-based investors has weakened considerably, even as Bitcoin attempted to stabilize above major support levels.

Market sentiment also deteriorated after reports indicated that U.S. President Donald Trump rejected a recent peace proposal from Iran, calling the offer “totally unacceptable.” The development renewed concerns that tensions between the two nations could escalate further, pushing investors away from risk assets like cryptocurrencies.

The geopolitical uncertainty triggered another rise in risk-off sentiment across global markets while oil prices remained volatile following the latest developments surrounding the conflict.

At the same time, traders continued locking in profits after Bitcoin’s recent rally toward the $82,700 region. Some analysts have also started warning that the latest rebound could potentially resemble a dead cat bounce following Bitcoin’s strong recovery from February lows.

Institutional flows have additionally shown signs of cooling in recent sessions. Spot Bitcoin ETFs reportedly recorded roughly $350 million in outflows during a recent 48-hour period, weakening short-term bullish momentum as markets repositioned around the weekly CME gap.

Bitcoin price analysis

On the daily chart, Bitcoin price continues trading inside a broader ascending parallel channel structure that has remained intact since late March. The bellwether recently touched the upper boundary of the channel before facing rejection near the $82,000 resistance region.

The chart also shows BTC struggling to sustain momentum above the key 0.786 Fibonacci retracement level near $80,000, a zone that continues acting as an important psychological battleground between bulls and bears.

Despite the recent pullback, Bitcoin still remains above the Supertrend support level near $75,600, indicating that the broader bullish trend structure has not yet fully broken down.

Meanwhile, the MACD remains in positive territory, although the histogram has started flattening considerably over recent sessions, suggesting bullish momentum may be weakening as buyers lose short-term control.

If selling pressure intensifies further, Bitcoin could retest the lower boundary of the ascending channel near the $80,000 psychological support zone. A decisive breakdown below that level could expose BTC to deeper downside toward the $76,000–$77,000 region.

On the upside, bulls would need to reclaim the $82,000 resistance area to restore bullish momentum and potentially reopen the path toward the next major resistance near $84,000.

Anthropic, the AI company behind Claude, is warning investors that tokenized products claiming to offer access to its private shares may be invalid, escalating a fight over whether restricted pre-IPO stock can be repackaged for retail traders.

In an updated investor-warning page first published in February, Anthropic said any unapproved sale or transfer of its stock, or any interest in its stock, is void and will not be recognized on its books.

“We do not permit special purpose vehicles (SPVs) to acquire Anthropic stock and any transfer of shares to an SPV are void under our transfer restrictions. Offers to invest in Anthropic’s past or future financing rounds through an SPV are prohibited,” the company wrote on an updated warning page. “This means that if someone purports to sell Anthropic shares without proper board approval, that transaction is invalid.”

It added that any third party claiming to sell Anthropic shares to the general public through direct sales, forward contracts, “tokenized securities,” or other mechanisms is likely either engaged in fraud or offering an investment that may have no value due to our transfer restrictions.

Over the past year, several crypto exchanges have set up offerings for pre-IPO exposure to some of the hottest tech companies on the planet, such as Anthropic, SpaceX, and Polymarket. However, not all offerings are the same.

Some are synthetic pre-IPO perpetuals, where no underlying shares are necessarily held, and traders are simply betting on a reference price tied to a private company’s implied valuation. Those instruments may not directly violate a company’s stock-transfer restrictions because no shares move, but they leave users with a derivative claim rather than equity exposure.

By contrast, products offering private market exposure through special purpose vehicles (SPVs) or secondary-market holdings, such as PreStocks’ tokenized single-asset offerings or the Robinhood Ventures Fund I, are closer to tokenized private-share exposure.

PreStocks’ terms of service state that buyers receive no equity or shareholder rights in the underlying company, only economic exposure tied to reserve backing, However, it does not specify whether this exposure is delivered through a special purpose vehicle, leaving uncertainty around the exact structure behind its Anthropic-linked tokens, which the company says may be invalid.

That model may be more intuitive to investors, but it also runs more directly into the restrictions private companies place on who can buy, sell or hold interests in their stock.

John Montague, a Florida-based crypto lawyer, previously told CoinDesk that private companies may challenge these structures.

“I think private companies may also initiate lawsuits alleging that this violates their governance documents, shareholders’ agreements, investor rights agreements, or bylaws,” he told CoinDesk last year. “I view it as the issuer’s right to control the terms of transfer.”

Aside from unauthorized stock transfers, another headache these markets create for companies is valuation. Tokenized markets can generate eye-popping implied price tags that appear to be legitimate public price discovery, even when the underlying liquidity is relatively small.

PreStocks’ dashboard recently showed that Anthropic had an implied valuation above $1.5 trillion and a market valuation of around $1.37 trillion, despite the platform holding roughly $23 million in total assets.

For private companies that raise capital through negotiated funding rounds rather than public markets, this creates a real narrative risk. Speculative token prices can begin to shape investor expectations and headlines about valuations beyond the company’s control.