Victoria, Seychelles, July 3, 2026 – MEXC, a pioneer in 0-fee digital asset trading, announced key highlights for June 2026. The platform recorded $437 billion in monthly trading volume and expanded user investment options through the launch of the “RealStocks” product. The new product gives users real ownership of over 7,000 U.S.-listed stocks and ETFs—complete with dividend eligibility—breaking down traditional market barriers and connecting users to global assets, all within their existing MEXC account.

In June, MEXC continued to expand access to emerging assets, listing 153 new tokens across spot and futures markets and driving $1.03 billion in new listing trading volume. Through its 0-fee trading policy, MEXC saved users a cumulative $145 million in trading fees across 927 trading pairs spanning spot, futures, and other markets. The platform also provided $38 million in futures position airdrops for users during the month.

MEXC remains committed to safeguarding user assets through robust protection mechanisms and transparent practices. The Guardian Fund stood at $101 million in June, providing users with an added layer of security. MEXC has committed to expanding the Guardian Fund from $100 million to $500 million over the next two years. MEXC’s June Proof of Reserves report, independently audited by Hacken, confirmed reserve ratios above the industry safety benchmark of 100% across major assets, with USDT at 114%, USDC at 125%, BTC at 269%, and ETH at 118%.

Additionally, MEXC’s customer support team processed 57,348 online inquiries in June, maintaining an average response time of 63.03 seconds. The platform issued 21,548 loss coverage vouchers to users during the month.

June’s highlights reflect MEXC’s continued efforts to support users through 0-fee trading, product innovation, and asset protection. As a one-stop trading platform, MEXC will continue to expand its asset offerings, strengthen user protection, and enhance service quality, giving users broader, safer, and more accessible ways to participate in global markets.

About MEXC

MEXC is the world’s fastest-growing cryptocurrency exchange, trusted by more than 40 million users across 170+ markets. Built on a user-first philosophy, MEXC offers industry-leading 0-fee trading and access to over 3,000 digital assets. As the Gateway to Infinite Opportunities, MEXC provides a single platform where users can easily trade cryptocurrencies alongside tokenized assets, including stocks, ETFs, commodities, and precious metals.

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For media inquiries, please contact MEXC PR team: media@mexc.com

Risk Disclaimer:

This content does not constitute investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully assess market fluctuations, project fundamentals, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions.

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Disclaimer: This is a Press Release provided by a third party who is responsible for the content. Please conduct your own research before taking any action based on the content.

A teenager suspected of helping the “Scattered Spider” hacking group has been extradited to the United States to face charges tied to an alleged cryptocurrency ransom scheme worth $8 million. The case highlights how ransomware crews increasingly lean on social engineering, stolen credentials, and fast escalation from initial access to extortion demands.

The U.S. Department of Justice said Wednesday that Peter Stokes, 19, a dual U.S.-Estonian national, was arrested in Finland in April after an Interpol Red Notice and was extradited to the United States last week. He is expected to appear in federal court in Chicago on Tuesday.

Key takeaways

• U.S. authorities allege Stokes helped breach a luxury jewelry retailer’s systems in May 2025 and demand an $8 million crypto ransom.
• The DOJ says phishing calls to a help desk were used to obtain password resets and compromise employee and IT-admin accounts quickly.
• The retailer allegedly evicted the attackers and refused to pay, but still faced $2 million in disruption damages.
• The Justice Department links Stokes to Scattered Spider (also known as Octo Tempest and other aliases), a group authorities say has conducted more than 100 network intrusions.
• Ransomware payments reportedly fell last year even as attacks rose, underscoring that victim refusal and operational disruption do not eliminate extortion risk.

Extradition follows an alleged $8 million crypto extortion

The indictment and unsealed criminal complaint, as described by the DOJ, accuse Stokes and others of breaching a luxury jewelry retailer’s computer system in May 2025. Prosecutors allege the intrusion involved stealing data and issuing a demand for an $8 million ransom paid in cryptocurrency.

According to the complaint, the retailer managed to remove the attackers from its network and did not pay the ransom. Even so, the DOJ states the company incurred approximately $2 million in disruption damages, reflecting the cost of incident response, operational downtime, and the business impact that can follow an intrusion—regardless of whether attackers receive payment.

The DOJ also framed Stokes as one of the limited number of arrests it has directly connected to Scattered Spider, a group commonly associated with ransomware and crypto-based extortion.

Phishing calls and credential resets as the first move

Prosecutors allege the attack chain began with phishing calls to the retailer’s technology help desk. Stokes and others reportedly posed as employees to request resets of login credentials, a common tactic that turns administrative workflows—designed to restore access for legitimate users—into a shortcut for attackers.

In the complaint, authorities state the hackers compromised three employee accounts in as little as two hours. Two of those accounts belonged to IT administrators, giving the intruders access to higher-privilege systems. Prosecutors further allege those higher-privilege accounts were themselves breached and used to reach deeper into the retailer’s environment.

Within days, the complaint says the attackers sent a ransom note from a compromised company email account, demanding funds or threatening to publish credit card and payment information. The retailer, according to the complaint, resisted the intrusion and later experienced separate outreach from the attackers repeating the $8 million demand.

For defenders, the alleged sequence underscores why help desk and identity processes are a frequent focal point in real-world intrusions: once a reset request is accepted, the attack can progress quickly to privilege escalation and broader system access.

Alleged role in Scattered Spider intrusions and extortion

The complaint characterizes Stokes as a member of Scattered Spider who allegedly engaged in “numerous intrusions, or assisted in them” across multiple companies that prosecutors did not name in the filing. According to the DOJ, an examination of a storage device attributed to Stokes contained downloads from a virtual private server that Microsoft had identified as being used to carry out intrusions.

The complaint also alleges the device held “exfiltrated records from multiple victim-companies,” suggesting the attacker infrastructure was used not only to gain access, but also to extract data—an essential ingredient for ransomware-style pressure campaigns, including data-leak threats.

Authorities further pointed to Stokes’ social media activity as circumstantial evidence of involvement. The complaint claims his Snapchat account showed signs of substantial wealth for a person his age, and that he reportedly boasted about international travel and wealth. Prosecutors also allege he shared media related to apprehended Scattered Spider members.

The Justice Department said Scattered Spider—also described by multiple aliases, including “Octo Tempest,” “UNC3944,” and “0ktapus”—has been involved in more than 100 network intrusions. The DOJ estimates those intrusions resulted in over $100 million in ransom payments and millions of dollars in damages.

Stokes faces six counts tied to alleged hacking, cyber extortion, fraud, and conspiracy.

Ransom payments down, attacks up: what this case suggests

While this matter involves a claimed $8 million demand, it lands in a broader ransomware pattern that authorities and analysts have reported: total payments may be declining even as attacks increase.

According to figures cited by the DOJ, ransomware actors received more than $820 million in payments last year, an 8% decline compared with 2024. At the same time, attacks rose by 50%, as referenced in coverage linked to Chainalysis data. Taken together, the numbers suggest that victims are not necessarily paying as often or as much, but ransomware groups remain active and effective at reaching targets.

The filing’s allegations about the retailer evicting the attackers and refusing the ransom illustrate why: even when payments fail, attackers may still profit indirectly through disruption costs, data theft, reputational harm, and follow-on damages. For organizations, the practical takeaway is that “no payment” does not mean “no impact”—it often signals more urgent remediation work and financial exposure after incident response.

Readers should watch how the case develops in Chicago federal court, particularly whether the defense challenges the alleged linkage between Stokes and the intrusions described in the complaint. Equally important is what prosecutors emphasize next about the help-desk phishing phase and the role of stolen credentials, since that early foothold remains a central vulnerability for many companies targeted by ransomware crews.

Ireland’s Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) has confirmed the seizure of an additional 500 Bitcoin, worth roughly €27 million (about $30.9 million), in cooperation with Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre. The agency said the latest action brings CAB’s total Bitcoin seizures for 2026 to 1,500 BTC, valued at approximately $92.4 million.

In its update posted Thursday, CAB said Europol provided operational coordination, technical expertise, and decryption support during the investigation. The bureau did not name the wallet owner or provide further details about how the access was obtained.

Key takeaways

• CAB confirmed a new 500 BTC seizure in cooperation with Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre.
• Total CAB Bitcoin seizures in 2026 now stand at 1,500 BTC, valued around $92.4 million.
• Authorities have not publicly linked this latest wallet action to any specific criminal case.
• Separately, public tracking suggests a wallet address associated with Clifton Collins moved 500 BTC on Thursday.

New seizure brings 2026 total to 1,500 BTC

The bureau’s announcement is the latest in a run of Bitcoin-related enforcement activity. CAB said the seized 500 BTC are currently worth about €27 million and emphasized the cross-border support from Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre, particularly around technical work and decryption.

For investors and users, the key operational signal is not only the size of the seizure but the pattern of international cooperation—CAB’s reference to Europol support underscores how ongoing cryptocurrency investigations increasingly depend on specialized technical capabilities rather than traditional evidence-gathering alone.

Cab also did not offer any additional comment beyond the confirmation, leaving open questions about the nature of the underlying investigation and whether the seized funds come from the same larger case previously discussed in Irish media.

Earlier wallet access set the stage for another 500 BTC

Months earlier, CAB said it had gained access to and seized a cryptocurrency wallet containing 500 Bitcoin. That earlier wallet was reported by Irish media to have been connected to Clifton Collins, a convicted drug dealer.

According to The Irish Times, the March wallet authorities accessed was one of twelve wallets believed to have held about 6,000 BTC once owned by Collins. The paper containing the private keys was reportedly lost, adding a layer of difficulty to how investigators were able to unlock and move the funds.

While CAB did not confirm a connection between Thursday’s seizure and Collins, the timing matters. Public blockchain observers linked to Collins have pointed to movement from an address associated with him around the same day as CAB’s announcement.

Public tracking: Collins-linked address moved 500 BTC

In coverage tied to the earlier Collins-linked wallet, blockchain explorers and analysts have monitored the remaining balances attributed to those holdings. The article notes that an address associated with Collins reportedly moved 500 Bitcoin to an unknown address on Thursday.

As of Friday, wallets still associated with Collins were reported to hold 4,500 BTC, valued at about $277 million. The figure is based on public tracking rather than an official CAB statement, so readers should treat it as observational data rather than confirmed custody or law-enforcement control.

Still, the sequence is notable: the combination of CAB’s 500 BTC seizure announcement and independent reporting of movement from Collins-associated addresses suggests the criminal wallet landscape remains actively contested long after the first tranche of recovered funds.

What authorities previously said about how Collins stored keys

Collins was arrested in 2017 after police searched his car and found cannabis, according to The Guardian. Prosecutors said he used proceeds from his drug operation to purchase about 6,000 Bitcoin in late 2011 and early 2012, spreading the holdings across twelve wallets.

Authorities and reporting described a key-management strategy that relied on a single physical backup: Collins stored the wallet keys on a sheet of A4 paper, hidden inside the aluminum cap of a fishing rod case at his rental home. After his arrest, the landlord allegedly discarded Collins’ belongings. Collins claimed the fishing rod case had been stolen before the landlord entered the property.

That dispute—and the reported loss of the keys—help explain why access to some of the holdings could have taken time. It also highlights a broader lesson for the ecosystem: even when large balances are held securely on-chain, off-chain key handling and physical storage failures can ultimately determine whether funds remain reachable.

With CAB now confirming another 500 BTC seizure in 2026, the open question for the market is how quickly investigators can continue collapsing the gap between wallets once considered “lost” and the funds that ultimately get moved and frozen. Readers should watch for whether CAB’s next updates clarify the relationship—if any—between Thursday’s seizure and the remaining Collins-associated holdings, as well as how Europol’s technical role evolves in future operations.

Brazil has approved new prudential rules that will require virtual asset service providers to meet capital, risk management, and disclosure standards from 2027.

According to a local media report, Brazil’s Central Bank has approved a new set of prudential requirements for virtual asset service providers (SPSAVs), bringing them closer to the regulatory framework applied to securities brokers and distributors. The rules were approved on July 1 and will take effect on Jan. 1, 2027, as part of the country’s ongoing implementation of its cryptoasset legal framework.

Once the rules come into force, companies offering cryptocurrency and other virtual asset services will have to maintain minimum capital reserves, establish formal risk management policies, and periodically disclose information about their financial and operational condition. The Central Bank said the measures are intended to strengthen the financial system and reduce risks for customers and the market.

The report stated that firms providing crypto brokerage, custody, and transfer services will now be classified as Type 3 institutions together with the economic groups they lead. According to the Central Bank, the classification follows the principle that activities carrying similar risks should be subject to similar regulatory standards.

Another part of the framework introduces a phased transition into Brazil’s banking supervision structure. The report said all virtual asset service providers will be placed in Segment 4 (S4) by June 30, 2028, regardless of their size, giving them additional time to comply with the full prudential requirements. 

At the same time, institutions classified under Segment 5 (S5), which follows a simplified regulatory regime for smaller financial institutions, will no longer be permitted to provide virtual asset services because the Central Bank considers those activities incompatible with lighter supervisory standards.

Latest step in Brazil’s crypto oversight

The new requirements add to a series of regulatory measures introduced over the past year. In November 2025, the Central Bank published the first operating rules for virtual asset service providers, establishing standards covering governance, anti-money laundering controls, foreign exchange participation, and operational requirements. 

Earlier this year, Brazil’s National Monetary Council required crypto platforms to follow confidentiality rules comparable to those imposed on traditional financial institutions, including compliance with Complementary Law 105 on bank secrecy.

The latest prudential framework also follows a June rule requiring crypto companies seeking authorization or license renewals to submit independent audit reports prepared by professionals registered with Brazil’s securities regulator. 

As previously reported, the audits review anti-money laundering controls, counter terrorism financing procedures, customer asset segregation, internal risk management, and employee compliance programs before licensing decisions are made.

Regulators have also tightened oversight in other areas during 2026. In May, Brazil’s Central Bank prohibited regulated cross-border electronic foreign exchange providers from using crypto assets to settle international payments, while still allowing digital assets to be traded and transferred outside the supervised payment system. 

More recently, federal prosecutors reminded political parties that cryptocurrency donations remain prohibited in election campaigns because campaign finance rules require donors to be clearly identified.

FUNToken continues to make accessing the $FUN ecosystem simpler by expanding its supported deposit options. Users can now deposit SOL and receive $FUN automatically through the platform’s seamless conversion process.

The addition of SOL provides users with another convenient way to acquire $FUN without the need for manual token swaps. All supported non-$FUN deposits are automatically converted into $FUN with 0% conversion fees, creating a faster and more streamlined onboarding experience.

A Simpler Way to Access the $FUN Ecosystem

As the FUNToken ecosystem continues to grow, providing users with flexible and accessible funding options remains a key priority.

With SOL now supported, users can fund their accounts through a straightforward deposit process. Once deposited, SOL is automatically converted into $FUN, eliminating unnecessary steps while ensuring users can quickly begin exploring everything the ecosystem has to offer.

Whether users are playing $FUN Games, staking their tokens, or participating in future ecosystem features, accessing $FUN has become even more convenient.

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About FUNToken

FUNToken powers a growing Web3 gaming ecosystem designed to make digital rewards more accessible and engaging. Through $FUN Games, staking, community incentives, and an expanding range of supported deposit assets, FUNToken continues to simplify how users access the ecosystem while creating more opportunities to play, earn, and participate.

Disclaimer: This is a Press Release provided by a third party who is responsible for the content. Please conduct your own research before taking any action based on the content.

Bitcoin price traded near $61,700 on July 3, according to crypto.news price data, after recovering from the sub-$60,000 area. 

The move came as U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs returned to net inflows for the first time since June 16.

U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $221.7 million in net inflows on July 2, according to SoSoValue data. Fidelity’s FBTC led with about $166 million in inflows, while Ark Invest and 21Shares’ ARKB added $91.8 million. VanEck’s HODL saw $4.4 million in inflows.

The rebound ended a 10-day negative streak that removed more than $2.7 billion from the products. June was also the weakest month for U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs since their 2024 launch, with about $4.5 billion in total net outflows.

Bitcoin fell below $59,000 afterJune ETF outflows hit a record $4.5 billion. That selling wave kept pressure on BTC and raised doubts over whether the $60,000 region could hold.

Bitcoin faces $62,800 and $65,000 tests

The crypto has improved, but the chart has not confirmed a clean bullish reversal. BTC is trading slightly below the Bollinger middle band near $62,296. The upper band sits near $66,844, while the lower band is around $57,748.

This means the token has moved away from the lower end of the range, but it has not regained full control. A daily move above the middle band would strengthen the short-term setup and show that buyers are taking back momentum.

Market analyst Ted said Bitcoin is close to the $62,000 level and needs to reclaim $62,800 and $65,000 for a stronger rally this month. Those levels match earlier resistance zones watched by traders after the June selloff.

Previously, BTC needed to reclaim the$62,800 to $65,000 range to show that buyers were gaining short-term control. That area remains the key technical barrier.

Momentum improves, but not fully

The Awesome Oscillator remains negative near -3,085.64, showing that broader momentum is still weak. However, recent green histogram bars show that bearish pressure is easing compared with deeper negative readings from June.

That setup points to stabilization rather than full recovery. BTC needs the Awesome Oscillator to move closer to zero or above it before traders can call stronger bullish momentum.

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The Bollinger Bands also remain wide after June’s decline, showing that volatility is still high. Price holding above the lower band is constructive, but the current position below the middle band shows that the market is still in repair mode.

As previously reported, Bitcoin’s earlier move above $60,000 lacked fresh buying fuel because stablecoin growth and spot demand remained weak. The latest ETF inflow helps that case, but one positive day is not enough to confirm a sustained trend.

On-chain data points to accumulation

Crypto analyst Ali Charts said Bitcoin’s Investor Price sits near $48,300. He described that level as a long-term cost-basis zone that has marked major cycle bottoms in past bear markets. If BTC drops toward that area, he said it may offer a high-conviction accumulation signal for long-term buyers.

BUY BITCOIN AT $48,300

This level is defined by the Bitcoin Investor Price, one of the most accurate models for tracking the market’s true cost basis.

The Investor Price tracks the average acquisition price of all economically circulating Bitcoin. By dividing the Investor Cap… pic.twitter.com/0RLJAecMx5

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— Ali Charts (@alicharts) July 2, 2026

Ali Charts also said wallet behavior has shifted over the past 30 days. Retail wallets, mid-sized holders, and large entities holding between 1,000 and 100,000 BTC have moved back toward net buying. He said this coordinated demand can help create a stronger price floor.

CryptoQuant analyst CryptoZeno gave a similar on-chain view. The analyst said Bitcoin’s adjusted sell-side risk ratio has entered a historical accumulation zone. Low readings often show that realized profits and losses are small compared with market value, meaning investors are less willing to sell at current prices.

The same analyst also said Bitcoin’s MVRV Z-Score has fallen below the +2 standard deviation level. That suggests the valuation premium is cooling, but it does not yet show deep undervaluation or a classic cycle-top structure.

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ETF rebound does not remove risk

The return of ETF inflows gives the crypto its strongest short-term support in weeks. It also helps explain the move back toward $62,000 after June’s heavy outflows weakened institutional demand.

Still, traders will need more than one day of ETF buying. If inflows continue, BTC could challenge $62,800 first, then $65,000. A clean break above $65,000 would improve the recovery case and may open the way toward the upper Bollinger band near $66,800.

If BTC fails to reclaim $62,800, the rebound may remain a relief move. A drop below $60,000 would put $57,700 and $55,000 back in focus, especially if ETF flows turn negative again.

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

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Key Takeaways

• Wall Street analysts at JPMorgan warn that Strategy’s updated Bitcoin liquidation policy creates “avoidable two-way risk” for cryptocurrency investors
• The company can now liquidate Bitcoin holdings to cover preferred shareholder dividends and optimize its financial position
• Strategy controls approximately 4.2% of all Bitcoin in circulation and has purchased between $8.2B and $13.7B in digital assets this year, representing roughly 70% of total net inflows
• According to JPMorgan analysts, Strategy requires cash buffers sufficient for 24–36 months of dividend payments — substantially more than its present ~17-month coverage
• Bitcoin gained 3.4% to reach $62,127 on Thursday; STRC shares remain down approximately 75% year-over-year

Strategy has long cultivated its identity as the unwavering Bitcoin accumulator. That perception is now facing serious challenges.

Strategy Inc, MSTR

A recent analysis from JPMorgan raises concerns that Michael Saylor’s financial restructuring at Strategy Inc. has fundamentally altered Bitcoin market mechanics. Analysts at the investment bank suggest the transformation has converted crypto’s most prominent accumulator into a potential liquidity provider — a development that’s creating uncertainty among market participants.

Strategy’s shares experienced a substantial rally of approximately 20% following Monday’s restructuring disclosure. Despite this bounce, the equity remains down roughly 75% from levels seen twelve months ago.

Bitcoin extended its recovery streak on Thursday, advancing up to 3.4% and touching $62,127. The cryptocurrency’s gains were largely attributed to weaker-than-anticipated employment data from the United States, which sent shorter-maturity Treasury yields declining.

Strategy’s Policy Transformation

Strategy unveiled what it’s branding as the BTC Monetization Program this week. Under this framework, the corporation has authorized itself to liquidate as much as $1.25 billion in Bitcoin holdings to strengthen cash balances, satisfy preferred equity dividend commitments, service debt obligations, and execute security repurchases.

The firm has also established a minimum liquidity threshold that must cover no less than 12 months of preferred dividend requirements. Current cash reserves stand at approximately $2.55 billion, providing coverage for about 17 months of scheduled payments.

JPMorgan’s research team, headed by managing director Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou, considers this insufficient. Their analysis suggests Strategy requires reserves spanning 24 to 36 months to adequately assure market participants that Bitcoin asset sales won’t be necessary.

“We believe a higher coverage of 24–36 months would be needed to make investors more comfortable with the idea that Strategy would not need to sell bitcoins in the foreseeable future,” the analysts wrote.

Market Implications for Bitcoin

Strategy represents the world’s largest institutional Bitcoin holder. The company’s treasury contains approximately 4.2% of Bitcoin’s entire circulating supply. Throughout the current year, Strategy has accounted for an estimated 70% of net digital asset capital inflows, accumulating somewhere between $8.2 billion and $13.7 billion in cryptocurrency purchases.

Given this extraordinary market presence, any indication of potential selling activity carries disproportionate weight. When Strategy revealed the disposal of merely 32 Bitcoin — valued at $2.5 million — on June 1, the disclosure contributed to a prolonged selloff that drove Bitcoin down over 50% from its peak valuation.

JPMorgan’s analysts described the situation bluntly: “The possibility that Strategy would be selling bitcoins introduces two-way risk into crypto markets, inducing more uncertainty and volatility for bitcoin prices that could have been avoided.”

Strategy’s preferred securities have experienced downward pressure as well. The company’s Stretch preferred instruments were changing hands around $87.50 on Thursday — remaining beneath the $100 nominal value required to profitably issue additional securities.

The JPMorgan analysis noted that improved cryptocurrency market performance in the second half will likely require Congressional approval of the US market structure legislation, commonly referred to as the Clarity Act. Should both prerequisites materialize — enhanced cash reserves and regulatory advancement — analysts indicated that prevailing negative sentiment might represent a contrarian entry opportunity.

There are other advantages too. Tokenization enables different forms of digital money, such as tokenized bank deposits, fiat-pegged stablecoins, and tokenized central bank reserves to function seamlessly as settlement assets on the same ledger.

It also allows high-quality assets to be quickly deployed across platforms as collateral.

But all this is not without risk.

The hidden danger

The delays that tokenization eliminates aren’t just inefficiencies, Adrian wrote. They also give banks, regulators and risk managers time to catch problems before they spread.

Remove this buffer, and a market shock, a coding error, or a sudden wave of automated selling could ripple through the system before anyone can intervene.

“Liquidity demands materialize in real time, collateral calls can be automated, and failures can propagate faster than institutions or supervisors can respond,” he wrote. “Risk [sic] that once were borne by the balance sheet of individual institutions behind a transaction become increasingly concentrated in the platforms and code that govern these transactions.”

Adrian also flagged concentration risk. Tokenization tends to funnel activity onto fewer, larger platforms. “When infrastructure becomes the central hub,” he warned, “governance failures become systemic events.”

On cybersecurity, he warned that consolidation onto shared ledgers “amplifies the importance of operational resilience, cybersecurity, and crisis management.”

Ireland’s Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) confirmed the seizure of another 500 Bitcoin, currently worth about 27 million euros ($30.9 million), in collaboration with Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre. 

That brings the total Bitcoin seized by CAB in 2026 to 1,500 BTC, worth about $92.4 million, the law enforcement agency said in a social media post on Thursday. CAB said Europol had provided operational coordination, technical expertise and decryption support during the investigation.

The agency did not disclose the identity of the wallet owner or details of the underlying investigation, adding that it had no further comment.

The latest seizure comes months after CAB said it had gained access to and seized a cryptocurrency wallet containing 500 Bitcoin, which Irish media linked to a convicted drug dealer.

CAB seized another 500 BTC. Source: Criminal Assets Bureau

Collins-linked Bitcoin wallet becomes active

Following the previous seizure, The Irish Times reported that the wallet authorities accessed in March was one of 12 holding about 6,000 BTC once owned by Clifton Collins, a convicted drug dealer. The paper containing the wallet’s private keys was reportedly lost.

While authorities haven’t confirmed whether the latest seizure is linked to Collins, a wallet address associated with him moved 500 Bitcoin to an unknown address on Thursday. Wallets associated with Collins still hold 4,500 Bitcoin, currently worth about $277 million, as of Friday.

Source: Arkham

Related: US sanctions Sinaloa cartel-linked Ethereum addresses

Collins was arrested in 2017 after police searched his car and found a stash of cannabis, according to the Guardian.

Police said Collins used proceeds from his drug operation to purchase 6,000 Bitcoin in late 2011 and early 2012, spreading the holdings across 12 wallets. He stored the wallet keys on a single sheet of A4 paper, hidden inside the aluminum cap of a fishing rod case at his rental home.

Collins’ landlord allegedly discarded his belongings after his arrest. Collins claimed the fishing rod case was stolen before the landlord entered the property.

Magazine: How crypto laws changed in 2025 — and how they’ll change in 2026