Crypto World
The crypto crowd is so convinced this rally is a fakeout, it might trigger short squeeze
Bitcoin pushed above $73,000 this week, reclaiming a key psychological level that had capped the market for weeks. Yet the breakout has been met with an unusual reaction across crypto markets: widespread skepticism.
Many traders are warning that the move could become a classic bull trap — a brief breakout that lures in late buyers before reversing lower. Analysts have pointed to heavy overhead supply and positioning in derivatives markets as potential risks, with some suggesting a rally into the $72,000–$76,000 range could attract sellers rather than confirm a sustained recovery.
The caution stems partly from recent history. Earlier this year, Bitcoin appeared to break out of a consolidation range, only to reverse violently. The move trapped momentum traders and triggered a cascade of liquidations as the price plunged from around $98,000 to roughly $60,000 within two weeks — a reminder of how quickly sentiment can flip in crypto.
But the current setup may present a paradox: the trade has become crowded on the bearish side.
Across crypto Twitter, analysts and chartists are widely calling for a bull trap. That consensus itself raises the possibility of the opposite outcome — a squeeze higher that forces short sellers to cover. In leveraged markets, strong directional agreement often creates the liquidity needed for moves in the other direction.
Macro uncertainty could also complicate the outlook. Geopolitical tensions following the Iran conflict have already pushed gold higher and lifted oil price expectations, while some Asian equity markets have shown signs of stress. Radu Tunaru, professor of finance and risk management at Henley Business School, argues geopolitical shocks have historically played a role in major market sell-offs. He points to the 1987 Black Monday crash, which he believes was partly triggered by U.S.–Iran tensions that first rattled Asian markets before spreading globally.
For now, Bitcoin’s breakout above $73,000 has revived bullish momentum — but price action over the coming days will determine whether a bottom is truly in or if this is an accurately predicted bull trap.
To regain a bullish macro structure, bitcoin needs to trade back into the $98,000 region to snap the grueling lower high formed by the previous bull trap in January.
Crypto venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz is doubling down on crypto despite a major market downturn, seeking $2 billion for a new crypto fund.
A16z Crypto, the blockchain arm of venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz, is raising a fifth fund focused on crypto with plans to close by mid-2026, according to Fortune, citing anonymous sources on Wednesday.
The latest round is significantly smaller than its previous $4.5 billion fund from 2022, but the company has shifted to a shorter fundraising cycle to remain flexible to ever-changing crypto narratives.
The move comes amid a crypto bear market that has seen more than $2 trillion wiped from total market capitalization since its peak of around $4.4 trillion in early October.
A16z crypto chief Chris Dixon’s Web3 philosophy envisioned a decentralized internet with applications built on blockchains, according to his 2024 book, “Read Write Own.”
But many of those investments have not panned out, notably decentralized X (Twitter) competitor Farcaster, which returned $180 million to investors after selling off its infrastructure in January.
Crypto VCs exploring non-crypto tech
Wall Street crypto buffs have narrowed their focus lately toward stablecoins, real-world asset tokenization, and financial products, with many venture capitalists following that shift. Others have started to look towards other areas of technology.
Co-founder of venture firm Multicoin Capital, Kyle Samani, stepped down in February to “explore new areas of technology,” such as AI, longevity, and robotics.
Meanwhile, crypto venture firm Paradigm is expanding into artificial intelligence and robotics with its latest fund seeking to raise $1.5 billion, as reported in late February.
Related: Crypto slides, but tokenized RWAs and VC push ahead
A16z raised over $15 billion in January to invest in companies and technologies it deemed critical to secure America’s future, mentioning AI and crypto and including technologies in “key areas that generate human flourishing,” such as biology, health, defense, public safety, education, and entertainment.
A16z sees opportunity in AI, crypto in 2026
A16z recently highlighted crypto and AI as major themes for 2026, stating that it expected AI to automate cybersecurity work, AI models to become app stores, privacy to become the “most important moat in crypto,” prediction markets to get “bigger, broader, and smarter,” and stablecoins to become more intertwined with traditional banking and finance.
According to DeFiLlama’s fundraising aggregator, crypto startups raised $895 million in February, down almost 40% from the $1.47 billion raised the previous month and marginally less than the $1 billion raised in February 2025.
Magazine: 6 massive challenges Bitcoin faces on the road to quantum security
As the crypto mining industry grows rapidly in 2026, more miners are seeking to join pools that aim to improve efficiency and potential profitability. Given the number of mining pools in this industry, it can be difficult to choose the right one for your needs and strategy.
Among the many mining pools available, ViaBTC stands out as a global leader, providing miners with the tools, features, and services they need to run their operations more smoothly. Over the years, ViaBTC has become a top choice for both experienced and novice miners. It leads the industry through its strong technical support and excellent user experience. This article will outline three major reasons why you should consider mining your cryptocurrencies with ViaBTC in 2026.
1. ViaBTC’s Pool Makes Mining Profitable and Predictable
ViaBTC is a top mining pool that provides regular payouts and powerful tools to manage, track, and optimize miners’ operations. It supports PoW coins like BTC, LTC, ZEC, DOGE, and others.
As a platform that prioritizes user experience, ViaBTC’s pool function offers a full set of tools to meet miners’ needs. Its main functions can be grouped into mining, revenue management, automation, and asset control.
Here are the core functions of the ViaBTC mining pool:
Auto Conversion: As the name implies, Auto Conversion allows miners to automatically convert supported coins they mine, like BCH, LTC, etc, into another selected digital asset like BTC or USDT on an hourly basis.
This function helps miners to:
- Reduce exposure to price volatility
- Lock in profits more efficiently
- Simplify asset management, the need for exchanges
Revenue Sharing: This feature enables miners to automatically and proportionally distribute mining earnings across multiple ViaBTC accounts.
This function helps miners to:
- Manage payments efficiently for mining farms or group operations
- Split rewards fairly between miners
- Ensure transparency and timely revenue distribution
Auto Withdrawal: The Auto Withdrawal pool function automatically sends mining rewards to a designated wallet once a preset balance threshold is reached.
This function helps miners to:
- Get faster access to funds
- Improve cash-flow management
- Lower risk of keeping large balances idle
2. ViaBTC’s Mining Pool Helps Generate More Revenue
Mining profitability isn’t just about running powerful rigs; it’s also about knowing how to manage and distribute your rewards to generate more revenue or maximize income. ViaBTC provides a suite of built-in tools and payment systems that help miners get the most out of every unit of hashrate.
Flexible Payout Methods
ViaBTC supports several payout models, allowing miners to choose the one that fits their strategy.
- Pay Per Share (PPS): Provides consistent, predictable payouts even if blocks are not found immediately.
- Pay Per Share Plus (PPS+): This follows the normal PPS payout method but includes transaction fees from blocks as rewards.
- Pay Per Last N Shares (PPLNS): Rewards miners based on long-term contribution, which can yield higher payouts over time.
- Full Pay Per Share (FPPS): This pays miners per share and includes a portion of transaction fees to provide more stable earnings.
- SOLO Mining: Miners attempt blocks independently while using ViaBTC’s infrastructure.
Automated Revenue Tools
The aforementioned tools, such as Auto Withdrawal, Revenue Sharing, and Auto Conversion, help miners maximize revenue while reducing operational overhead.
Monitoring and Optimization
ViaBTC’s dashboard provides detailed insights into mining performance and profitability.
This function helps miners generate revenue by:
- Providing real-time hashrate tracking to identify underperforming machines
- Alerts for connectivity issues or drops in performance
- Profitability comparison across multiple coins.
Mining Calculator
The ViaBTC mining calculator is a powerful tool that estimates potential profits before committing resources to mining a coin. It ensures miners allocate efficiently, avoid low-profit mining, and help maximize return on investment.
3. ViaBTC’s Latest Functions Let Miners Operate More Efficiently than Ever
Mining success in 2026 now depends significantly on automation and intelligent management. ViaBTC
provides a list of new functions that help miners increase efficiency, reduce costs, and optimize operations.
Smart Mining:
ViaBTC introduced Smart Mining to automatically redeploy miners’ hashrates to higher-return mining assets based on real-time mining revenue. This reduced the need for constant manual switching.
Integrated Wallet and Asset Management:
ViaBTC’s wallet accounts allow miners to:
- Store mined assets securely
- Convert between cryptocurrencies
- Manage funds without third parties
- Trade and distribute earnings inside an ecosystem
Advanced Monitoring and Control:
ViaBTC supports:
- Performance alerts and notifications
- Multiple accounts and worker management
- Revenue sharing for partnerships.
Conclusion:
The question in 2026 is no longer whether to join a mining pool, but which pool offers the best tools and services for long-term success. ViaBTC stands out from the rest of the mining pools in the space by making mining predictable, expanding revenue opportunities with flexible payouts, and simplifying operations through its latest mining features.
Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed in this article are for informational and educational purposes. It does not constitute any form of investment or financial advice.
a16z crypto, the crypto-focused venture capital arm of Andreessen Horowitz, is reportedly seeking about $2 billion for its fifth crypto fund.
The raise arrives as the broader crypto market endures a downturn, with venture capital firms also facing mounting pressure.
a16z Crypto Dials Down Fund Size with Blockchain-Focused Round for 2026
According to Fortune, the firm aims to close the round by the end of the first half of 2026. This fifth fund will exclusively focus on blockchain investments.
The latest fund is significantly smaller than a16z crypto’s fourth $4.5 billion fund. BeInCrypto reported in 2022 that the fund was split into $1.5 billion for seed and $3 billion for venture investments.
However, this time, a16z crypto is opting for a shorter fundraising cycle to better capitalize on the fast-changing trends within the crypto space.
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In 2018, a16z crypto launched its first $300 million fund and has since become an active player in the market. Data from CryptoRank showed that in Q4 2025, it backed Kalshi and invested $50 million in the Solana staking protocol Jito. This year the firm invested in Babylon, Kairos, and Talos.
As a Tier 1 investor with a 22.08x retail ROI, a16z holds 187 investments averaging $10-20 million per round, building one of the most extensive portfolios in crypto venture capital.
The firm’s investment focus includes artificial intelligence (27.78%), prediction markets (16.67%), and API and developer tools (11.11% each), among other categories.
a16z is not the only firm raising capital. Just last month, Dragonfly Capital closed a $650 million fund. This showed an ongoing institutional appetite for crypto venture investing.
Crypto Venture Capital Funds Encounter ‘Identity Crisis’ Amid Market Struggles
The broader cryptocurrency market has faced challenges, continuing the decline that began in October. Bitcoin (BTC) is down by 16.7% year-to-date, despite a recent bounce-back. Other major large-cap assets have also experienced struggles.
This downturn has extended its effects to digital asset treasuries, crypto equities, and even venture capital funds. Bloomberg reported in early February that crypto-focused venture capital funds are grappling with what is described as “an identity crisis.”
According to the report, crypto-native funds were shifting their focus toward higher-performing sectors, such as stablecoin infrastructure and on-chain prediction markets. Some were also branching into adjacent industries like fintech and artificial intelligence (AI).
“Web3 as a category is largely uninvestable for now. People have moved on from NFTs, gaming, and the next incremental DeFi platform built for its own sake. Even crypto-native VCs with dry powder are pivoting hard toward fintech and stablecoin plays, and prediction markets. Everything else is struggling to get attention,” Santiago Roel Santos, founder and chief executive officer of crypto private equity firm Inversion, said.
Yet, a16z’s ongoing commitment suggests the firm believes there are opportunities for long-term value creation in the current environment.
Whether the latest efforts mark a floor for crypto venture or simply a consolidation among the sector’s most durable players, the answer will depend in large part on whether the current market downturn produces the kind of breakout companies that justify the capital committed during it.
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An international, cross-border operation led by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Europol has dismantled LeakBase, one of the internet’s most active hubs for cybercrime. The coordinated takedown targeted a forum that facilitated the sale of stolen data and cybercrime services, drawing more than 142,000 registered members and generating extensive activity with over 215,000 posts. Officials described the operation as one of the largest takedowns of its kind, underscoring the global reach of digital criminal marketplaces and the growing cooperation among law enforcement agencies to disrupt them. The action culminated in simultaneous actions across 14 countries on March 3 and 4, with authorities replacing the site with seizure notices and collecting critical data for evidence.
Key takeaways
- LeakBase hosted a large community of cybercriminals, with 142,000+ members and more than 215,000 posts before the takedown.
- The operation ran on March 3–4 and involved synchronized actions by law enforcement across 14 countries, including warrants, arrests, and site seizures.
- Authorities replaced LeakBase with seizure banners and gathered user data, posts, and IP logs to support prosecutions and future investigations.
- U.S. and international agencies emphasized that the platform served as a conduit for stolen credentials, financial data, and other sensitive information.
- The case sits within a broader pattern of increased leakage and credential exposure affecting the crypto ecosystem, prompting ongoing scrutiny of security practices across exchanges and wallets.
Tickers mentioned: $BTC, $ETH, $COIN
Market context: The takedown aligns with a heightened global emphasis on cross-border cybercrime investigations and the crypto sector’s momentum toward stronger protection of customer data and infrastructure resilience amid rising leakage incidents.
Why it matters
The LeakBase operation highlights the persistent threat posed by large online crime forums that streamline the sale of stolen data, including credentials and financial information. While no specific crypto accounts were cited in the immediate statements, the incident fits a troubling trend in which attackers leverage leaked data to perpetrate social engineering, targeted phishing, and account takeovers within crypto ecosystems. A Justice Department briefing noted that the takedown disrupts a major international platform used by cybercriminals to monetize stolen information, thereby reducing the pool of readily available data for criminals who aim to compromise wallets, exchanges, or payment networks. The broader implication is a push for more proactive security measures across crypto service providers and financial platforms alike, as well as greater transparency around the provenance of user data and the steps required to protect it.
The crackdown also serves as a reminder of prominent, previously shuttered marketplaces, such as Raidforums, whose shutdown in 2022 and subsequent data revelations underscored how leaked information can ripple through the crypto space. In that prior case, exposed data included tens or hundreds of thousands of records tied to crypto-wallet users, illustrating how platform safeguards and user due diligence intersect with criminal risk. Although the LeakBase action did not explicitly cite a crypto-specific breach, the interconnected nature of cybercrime means that leaked credentials and payment details can be repurposed for fraudulent activities across exchanges, wallets, and custodial services. This dynamic has kept the security posture of several platforms under closer scrutiny and spurred calls for enhanced multi-factor authentication, better anomaly detection, and tougher access controls across the board.
From a policy perspective, the operation reinforces the value of international cooperation in cybercrime investigations. Law enforcement officials engaged in search warrants and arrests across eight distinct jurisdictions, reinforcing that cyber threats do not respect borders. While the immediate focus was on dismantling a criminal forum, the long-term effect is a broadened mandate for cross-jurisdictional data sharing, real-time intelligence collaboration, and more aggressive enforcement against online marketplaces that facilitate illicit activity. In crypto markets, where user trust hinges on verifiable security practices, the incident reinforces the imperative for exchanges and wallets to invest in better credential protection, phishing resistance, and response playbooks that can quickly isolate compromised accounts and limit damage.
In parallel, security researchers note that the human factor remains a primary vector for breaches. The narrative surrounding leaked data—whether from exchanges or support channels—underscores how social engineering and insider risk can undermine even the most robust technical defenses. As security teams evaluate their incident response plans, the LeakBase takedown offers a concrete case study in how coordinated, multinational action can disrupt criminal networks, while also raising questions about the balance between takedowns and safeguarding legitimate users who may be affected by seizures and account suspensions.
What to watch next
- Official statements and charging documents from the Department of Justice and participating jurisdictions outlining specific prosecutions and charges related to LeakBase users and operators.
- Updates on any additional seizures, arrests, or indictments tied to the operation, including cross-border investigations into connected forums or marketplaces.
- Post-takedown data disclosures or advisories from impacted platforms or security firms detailing how compromised data was used and what remediation steps were taken.
- Regulatory or policy developments aimed at tightening cybercrime cooperation, data protection standards, and credential theft prevention within crypto exchanges and wallet providers.
Sources & verification
- U.S. Department of Justice press release on the dismantlement of LeakBase and related law enforcement actions (official source)
- Statement from the FBI Cyber Division confirming the takedown and evidentiary preservation (official source)
- Ledger data leak reference tied to Raidforums and its historical impact on crypto-users’ data exposure
- Cointelegraph reporting on Coinbase breach activities and related social engineering risk
LeakBase takedown and the global hunt for cybercrime marketplaces
An international coalition spearheaded by the FBI and Europol orchestrated a landmark takedown of LeakBase, a sprawling cybercrime forum that served as a marketplace for stolen data, hacking tools, and illicit services. The operation, conducted across March 3 and 4, mobilized authorities in 14 countries, signaling both the scale of the network and the depth of international cooperation now applied to cybercriminal infrastructure. After the seizures, authorities replaced the site with seizure banners and initiated the collection of logs, messages, and user data to support ongoing investigations and potential prosecutions. The operation marks a notable milestone in the fight against online marketplaces that enable financial fraud, credential theft, and targeted scams across digital ecosystems.
Officials stressed that the dismantled platform operated as a conduit for the theft and monetization of sensitive personal, banking, and account data. The DOJ’s Criminal Division emphasized that these networks typically enable numerous downstream crimes, including social engineering campaigns that exploit exposed data to manipulate victims or extract money. In the context of the crypto space, where custody and access rely on credentials and reputation, the disruption of such forums is seen as a meaningful step toward reducing the pool of readily available information criminals can weaponize to compromise exchanges, wallets, and accounts.
While the primary focus of the LeakBase takedown was not a single cryptoasset, the ripple effects touch a sector already grappling with credential leakage and social engineering. The broader security environment remains fragile, with past incidents linked to data exposures and compromised customer information that can be weaponized against crypto holders. The operation’s multinational scope highlights a shift toward more aggressive, coordinated enforcement that crosses legal jurisdictions, a development welcomed by security professionals who argue that collaboration is essential to disrupt criminal ecosystems that thrive on anonymity and scale.
Looking ahead, investigators will parse through seized data to map relationships between users, trace stolen credentials, and identify potential targets across financial platforms. The case may yield further charges and unravel ancillary networks that connect LeakBase to other forums or marketplaces. As the crypto sector continues to push for stronger security controls and better data hygiene, this takedown provides a real-world demonstration of how law enforcement, policy, and industry players can align to curb cybercrime’s reach while preserving legitimate users’ trust in digital asset ecosystems.
Crypto World
Crossover Markets Closes $31M Series B at $200M Valuation With Tradeweb Leading the Round
TLDR:
- Crossover Markets closed a $31M Series B round at a $200M valuation, led by Tradeweb Markets.
- Tradeweb will route institutional spot crypto orders to CROSSx using algorithmic order-routing tech.
- CROSSx has matched over $50 billion in notional volume across 12 million trades since its launch.
- Investors include Ripple, Virtu Financial, Wintermute Ventures, XTX Markets, and DRW Venture Capital.
Crossover Markets has closed a $31 million Series B funding round at a $200 million valuation. Tradeweb Markets led the round, joined by DRW Venture Capital, Illuminate Financial, Ripple, Virtu Financial, Wintermute Ventures, and XTX Markets.
The investment strengthens CROSSx, an execution-only cryptocurrency electronic communication network. Through the deal, Tradeweb will route institutional spot crypto orders to the platform.
This partnership reflects the growing convergence between traditional finance and digital asset trading infrastructure.
Tradeweb Partnership Brings Institutional Crypto Access to Global Clients
Tradeweb plans to connect its global clients to Crossover’s institutional spot crypto liquidity. It will use its algorithmic order-routing technology to direct trades to CROSSx.
This move marks Tradeweb’s formal entry into institutional crypto markets. The integration combines CROSSx’s microsecond matching speed with Tradeweb’s established global distribution network.
Crossover Markets CEO Brandon Mulvihill welcomed the development with a clear statement of intent.
“We are pleased to announce our Series B financing and are grateful to both our existing and new investors, whose support is a testament to the transformative role CROSSx is playing in the digital asset ecosystem.” — Brandon Mulvihill, Co-Founder and CEO, Crossover Markets
Mulvihill further noted that institutions are demanding speed, transparency, and efficiency similar to traditional markets. He added that few Wall Street leaders understand those standards better than Tradeweb.
Combining CROSSx’s single-digit microsecond matching with Tradeweb’s global reach marks a significant step forward. He also stressed that clear separation of duties remains fundamental to sound market structure.
Tradeweb CEO Billy Hult echoed that view, framing the deal as a natural progression.
“This collaboration marks Tradeweb’s entry into institutional crypto, a natural next step in our multi-asset strategy. Institutional investors are increasingly turning to crypto to express macro views and manage risk in a 24/7 global market.” — Billy Hult, CEO, Tradeweb
Hult added that as adoption grows, markets now require trusted, institutional-grade infrastructure. The planned integration aims to extend Tradeweb’s electronic execution standards into the crypto space.
Clients can expect the liquidity, transparency, and discipline Tradeweb is known for delivering. That commitment aligns directly with what CROSSx was built to provide.
Crossover also shared its excitement across social media, reinforcing the milestone.
“This milestone marks the continued convergence of traditional finance and digital assets.” — Crossover Markets (@crossover_mkts)
Proceeds to Fund Technology Growth and Expanded Global Operations
Crossover Markets will direct funding toward enhancing its core technology infrastructure. Additionally, the company plans to expand its global operations and deepen institutional integrations.
Since launching, CROSSx has matched over $50 billion in notional trading volume. The platform now supports nearly 100 live participants across 12 million completed trades.
Crossover Markets also highlighted participation from firms like Virtu Financial and XTX Markets. These traditional finance players bring regulatory expertise and disciplined risk management to the table.
Their involvement helps bridge conventional capital markets with cryptocurrency trading infrastructure. Together, they strengthen the institutional credibility of the CROSSx platform.
Crypto-native firms Ripple and Wintermute Ventures also joined the round as participants. Their inclusion reflects confidence from within the digital asset community itself.
CROSSx supports low-latency execution, advanced order types, and FIX protocol connectivity. These features cater directly to institutional participants requiring reliable, professional-grade trading tools.
With this financing in place, Crossover Markets is now better positioned to lead institutional crypto trading. The company aims to solidify CROSSx as the venue of choice for digital asset execution.
As traditional and crypto markets continue merging, Crossover Markets stands at the center of that shift.
US technology giants have signed a White House pledge to cover the power costs of their artificial intelligence data centers, which the Trump administration says will prevent consumers from paying higher utility bills.
The non-binding “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” was signed by Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, OpenAI, Oracle and xAI on Wednesday, promising the companies would “build, bring, or buy” the energy needed to build and operate data centers and would not pass on costs to consumers.
“The data centers […] need some PR help,” US President Donald Trump said at a roundtable attended by government officials and representatives from Big Tech firms.
“People think that if a data center goes in, their electricity prices are going to go up, and that’s not happening. It’s not going to happen — and for the areas where it did happen, it won’t happen anymore,” he added.
Data centers are cropping up across the US amid an AI boom, with the power-hungry technology exceeding the available capacity in some parts of the country, according to a Harvard Kennedy School report from February.
The report said that data centers could demand up to 12% of all US electricity consumption by 2028. US Energy Information Administration data show that residential energy prices increased 6% in 2025 and are expected to continue rising through 2027 and 2028.
Voters concerned about bills ahead of midterms
Trump announced the pledge in his State of the Union address, and it comes ahead of the midterm elections in November, where voters are concerned about cost-of-living pressures and the impact of AI data centers on the energy grid.
“Some centers were rejected by communities for that, and now I think it’s going to be just the opposite,” Trump said, referring to data centers canceled after locals opposed the projects.
Related: Mining companies move deeper into AI, HPC as MARA may sell Bitcoin
The pledge promises that companies will pay for all new power infrastructure required for their data centers and will pay the cost for the infrastructure and power brought online, whether they use it or not.
The companies also promised to hire locally, offer skill development programs and make their backup generators available to the grid to prevent power shortages.
It’s not clear how Big Tech will be held to its promises, and the White House did not share how it would ensure the companies follow through on the pledge.
AI Eye: IronClaw rivals OpenClaw, Olas launches bots for Polymarket
A coalition of tech companies and law enforcement, including Coinbase, has dismantled the core infrastructure of Tycoon 2FA, a major phishing-as-a-service platform that offered tools to bypass multi-factor authentication.
Europol announced Wednesday that Microsoft helped block 330 domains linked to the platform, while law enforcement seized additional key infrastructure.
Financial tracing was also a key aspect. Coinbase said it assisted by tracing blockchain-related transactions funding Tycoon 2FA, which helped identify the phishing platform’s alleged administrator and buyers.
“Taking Tycoon’s core infrastructure offline cuts off a major pipeline for credential theft and initial access, and forces criminals to rebuild, retool, and take on more risk,” Coinbase added.
Phishing scams were flagged as the second-largest threat in 2025 by blockchain security firm Certik, costing crypto investors $722 million across 248 incidents. A PeckShield spokesperson told Cointelegraph on Monday that phishing remains a “persistent threat” in 2026.
Tycoon tools used to bypass multi-factor authentication
Tycoon’s toolkit included spoofed landing pages designed to steal user credentials on legitimate websites. It also captured session cookies and tokens, allowing attackers to bypass MFA protections, according to Coinbase.
Generally, when a user logs in using MFA, the system generates a session token. The token acts as proof of authentication and is stored in the user’s browser. If a hacker steals the token, they can use it to fool the system and bypass MFA.
“That combination, high-fidelity lures plus session-token theft, turns phishing into a reliable on-ramp for bigger crimes like account takeovers, business email compromise, invoice fraud, and follow-on social engineering,” Coinbase added.
One of the largest scam platforms in the world
Tycoon has been active since at least 2023, according to Steven Masada, assistant general counsel at Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit. By mid-2025, Tycoon accounted for 62% of phishing attempts Microsoft blocked, including over 30 million emails in a single month.
Related: Traveling? ‘Evil Twin’ WiFi networks can steal crypto passwords
“That placed Tycoon 2FA among the largest phishing operations globally,” he added. “By lowering the technical barrier to entry, it allowed criminals with limited expertise to run sophisticated impersonation campaigns.”
Masada said industries from healthcare to education fell victim to Tycoon 2FA, resulting in rerouted invoices, stolen sensitive data, locked networks and disruptions to patient care.
“Taking this infrastructure offline cuts off a major pipeline for account takeovers and helps protect people and organizations from follow‑on attacks such as data theft, ransomware, business email compromise, and financial fraud.”
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An international law enforcement operation involving the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, Europol and other agencies has taken down one of the internet’s most notorious cybercrime forums, LeakBase.
The forum was a place for hackers to buy and sell stolen data and cybercrime tools, amassing more than 142,000 members and over 215,000 messages.
“The FBI, Europol, and law enforcement agencies from around the world executed a takedown of LeakBase, one of the largest online cybercriminal platforms, seizing users’ accounts, posts, credit details, private messages, and IP logs for evidentiary purposes,” the FBI cyber division assistant director Brett Leatherman said in a statement on Wednesday.
LeakBase takedown involved 14 countries
The takedown operation, which ran on March 3 and 4, involved law enforcement agents and officers in 14 countries taking synchronized actions against LeakBase and its users.
Following the operation, authorities replaced the site with seizure banners, issued prevention notices to members, and collected additional evidence.
Law enforcement also executed search warrants and arrests in the United States, Australia, Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
“The takedown of this cyber forum disrupts a major international platform that cybercriminals use to obtain and profit from the theft of sensitive personal, banking, and account credentials,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division.
While there was no specific reference to crypto-related accounts, its predecessor cybercrime marketplace Raidforums, which was shut down in 2022, previously hosted leaked data containing approximately “272,000 detailed personal information” of users of crypto wallet firm Ledger.
Crypto industry sees rise in leaked data
Over the past year alone, the crypto industry has seen a rise in leaked exchange credentials, insider data exposure and social engineering attempts.
Related: Crypto treasury inflows slow to the lowest since October 2024
In May 2025, cybercriminals reportedly bribed overseas customer service contractors to gain access to crypto exchange Coinbase’s internal systems. This allowed them to steal personal data that could be used in social engineering scams or even physical extortion attempts.
Around the same time, almost 60,000 Bitcoin addresses tied to LockBit’s ransomware infrastructure were leaked after hackers breached the group’s dark web affiliate panel.
More recently, on Feb. 23, a trader who goes by the name TraderSZ said a former Revolut employee threatened to expose his identity and private information unless he paid a ransom and also contacted members of his family.
Magazine: Bitcoin may face hard fork over any attempt to freeze Satoshi’s coins
Crypto World
Morgan Stanley Lays Off 2,500 Employees Across All Divisions as AI Drives Major Workforce Shifts in Finance
TLDR:
- Morgan Stanley cut 2,500 jobs, roughly 3% of its workforce, despite record $70.6B revenue in 2025.
- AI adoption linked to an 11% job elimination rate and 11.5% productivity gain across 1,000 surveyed firms.
- Block’s Jack Dorsey cut 4,000 jobs, nearly half its staff, citing AI tools making human roles unnecessary.
- Anthropic’s CEO warned AI could eliminate 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs in law, finance, and consulting.
Morgan Stanley layoffs have reached approximately 2,500 employees across all divisions as of March 2026. The cuts span investment banking, trading, wealth management, and investment management.
Financial advisors, however, are not included in the reductions. This follows the bank’s best financial year ever, with annual revenue hitting a record $70.6 billion in 2025.
The move reflects a growing industry shift toward artificial intelligence adoption at major financial institutions.
Record Profits Do Not Protect Jobs
Morgan Stanley posted a banner year in 2025, beating Wall Street estimates for fourth-quarter profit. Investment banking revenue jumped 47%, while debt underwriting fees nearly doubled during the same period.
Banking executives had expressed an optimistic tone heading into 2026, citing healthy pipelines for mergers and acquisitions. Yet the bank still moved forward with cutting roughly 3% of its global workforce of 82,992 employees.
The cuts are based on strategy and individual performance, according to a source familiar with the matter. The bank also plans to add headcount in select areas following the reductions.
Volatile markets continue to boost trading desks as clients reposition portfolios against risk. Meanwhile, the broader workforce faces mounting pressure from rising AI adoption across financial services.
Social commentary has drawn attention to the pattern emerging across industries. As one widely shared post noted, “Record profits, record layoffs while AI gets the credit and workers get the door.”
The Anthropic CEO stated on national television that AI could wipe out 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs. Those roles include positions in law, finance, and consulting — precisely where Morgan Stanley made cuts.
Morgan Stanley’s own research team surveyed nearly 1,000 companies already using AI tools. The findings showed an 11% job elimination rate alongside a 4% net headcount decline.
Productivity, however, rose by 11.5% across those surveyed companies. The bank had also previously predicted 200,000 European banking jobs would disappear within five years.
AI Drives Layoffs Across the Broader Financial Sector
Morgan Stanley is not alone in linking workforce reductions to AI adoption strategies. Jack Dorsey-led payments firm Block cut over 4,000 employees in late February 2026.
That figure represented nearly half of Block’s entire workforce at the time. Dorsey publicly stated that AI tools had made human workers unnecessary for many functions.
He further stated that most companies would reach the same conclusion within a year. The Block layoffs came as part of an overhaul designed to embed AI across its operations.
These developments followed a broader wave of workforce reductions across U.S. companies since early 2026. Businesses have been streamlining operations as AI tool adoption continues to accelerate.
Observers note that Washington has yet to produce a formal policy response to AI-driven job displacement. Corporate boards are increasingly choosing technology over headcount to sustain profit margins.
Workers across entry-level white-collar roles continue to face an uncertain employment outlook entering the remainder of 2026.
Cyclops has raised $8m to build compliant stablecoin infrastructure for payment firms.
Summary
- Cyclops closed an $8m funding round led by Castle Island Ventures, with participation from F-Prime and Shift4.
- The startup will provide B2B infrastructure so payment processors and fintechs can issue and manage stablecoin products.
- BTC traded around $71.7k and ETH near $2.1k, with majors up 7%–9% as stablecoin volumes on chains like SOL hit record highs.
Stablecoin infrastructure company Cyclops has secured $8m in fresh funding to expand its platform for enterprises that want to issue, manage, and integrate stablecoin products into their existing payments and banking stacks. The round was led by Castle Island Ventures, with participation from F-Prime and payment processor Shift4, underscoring how traditional fintech investors are positioning around regulated, dollar-linked assets rather than pure-speculation tokens. Cyclops aims to act as a middleware layer between banks, processors, and public blockchains, offering APIs for minting and redeeming stablecoins, managing reserves, and handling compliance workflows such as KYC and transaction monitoring. The company is targeting payment companies and fintechs that want to support on-chain settlement and tokenized balances without building their own infrastructure from scratch.
The raise comes as stablecoins continue to gain share in both trading and real-world payment activity. On networks such as Solana, monthly stablecoin trading volumes have hit new highs, supported by low fees and a shift from speculative meme trading toward SOL and stablecoin pairs, while Ethereum remains the dominant venue for larger stablecoin and tokenized-asset flows. For investors like Castle Island and Shift4, backing Cyclops is a bet that the next phase of growth will come from enterprise-grade adoption, where merchants and platforms move parts of their settlement and treasury stack onto public chains. In that model, infrastructure providers handle integration with blockchains and custody partners, while brands focus on user experience and regulatory engagement in their home markets.
Enterprise demand for stablecoin rails
Cyclops is entering a competitive but expanding field where payment firms, exchanges such as Coinbase, and networks like Visa are racing to support stablecoin settlement across multiple regions and currencies. For corporates and fintechs, key requirements include reliable issuance and redemption, clear segregation of reserves, and straightforward integration with existing ledgers and compliance systems. In practice, that means infrastructure providers must connect bank accounts, custodians, and public chains while maintaining audit trails that satisfy regulators and institutional risk teams. By focusing on B2B tooling, Cyclops is positioning itself as a behind-the-scenes provider rather than a consumer-facing brand, similar to how card processors and acquiring banks operate under the logos of retail-facing platforms.
The timing of the round reflects a broader shift in market structure. After a period of deleveraging and ETF-driven repositioning in Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), liquidity has rotated back into spot markets and stablecoins, with on-chain data showing increased usage for cross-border payments and micro-transactions. At the same time, policymakers in jurisdictions implementing frameworks like MiCA are clarifying capital, reserve, and disclosure rules for fiat-backed tokens, creating a clearer environment for banks and payment institutions to participate. For Cyclops and its backers, success will depend on convincing risk-averse enterprises that tokenized dollars can reduce friction and cost without adding unacceptable complexity or regulatory exposure, turning stablecoin rails from a niche experiment into a core part of global payments infrastructure.
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