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T3 FCU Freezes $26.4M in Spain as Justin Sun Warns of Blockchain Abuse

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Spanish law enforcement, in partnership with blockchain firms Tron, Tether, and TRM Labs, has frozen $26.4 million in cryptocurrency linked to a money laundering network operating across Europe.

The operation was carried out by the T3 Financial Crime Unit, an initiative formed in August 2024 by the three companies to combat illicit financial activities.

The T3 FCU’s Operation

Justin Sun admitted in an X post that the operation highlights that “Criminals are drawn to the same features that make blockchain revolutionary — speed, efficiency, and borderless transactions.”

However, he emphasized that by freezing over $26 million through coordinated efforts with law enforcement, Tron’s transparency ultimately makes money laundering more difficult, not easier.

According to a press release, the probe into the money laundering operation relied on police surveillance to uncover the criminal organization. Authorities also used various investigative techniques and Know Your Customer (KYC) records from virtual asset service providers to successfully link several crypto wallets to illegal activities.

“This organization moved millions across borders, using both cash and crypto to help criminal groups launder their profits,” a spokesperson for Spain’s Guardia Civil stated.

This latest action is the largest asset freeze conducted by T3 FCU so far, adding to the $100 million in frozen funds since its creation. The unit, established in August 2024, collaborates with global law enforcement agencies to disrupt criminal activities that rely on blockchain transactions.

Tron Reduced Illicit Transactions by $6B

On the other hand, security measures on the Tron network have reportedly reduced illicit transaction volumes on the blockchain by $6 billion. Analysis from TRM Labs shows that 49% of prohibited activity on the blockchain is linked to sanctioned entities, while 32% involves blacklisted funds.

Despite these reductions, the network remains the most used for illegal transactions, accounting for 58% of criminal activity in the sector. Tether’s USDT stablecoin remains the preferred asset for unlawful financial movements.

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino stated that the operation highlighted blockchain’s role in combating illicit activities. He reaffirmed the commitment to protecting the financial system by working with global law enforcement to dismantle criminal networks.

 “Let this serve as a clear warning—criminals who attempt to misuse Tether will get caught,” he said.

Ardoino added that the stablecoin issuer has cooperated with more than 220 law enforcement agencies in 51 countries, freezing over 2,400 addresses holding a total of $2.2 billion.

In November 2023, the company froze $225 million worth of USDT linked to a global romance scam known as “pig butchering.” The following month, it also locked 161 Ethereum wallets, 11 of which contained over $3.5 million in USDT.

 

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Cryptocurrency

BONK Explodes by 20% Daily as Bitcoin (BTC) Remains Solid at $108K: Weekend Watch

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Bitcoin’s stagnation continues as the asset has made little to no attempt to move away from the $108,000 level.

While most larger-cap alts have produced insignificant gains, TON and BONK have emerged as the biggest gainers on a relatively calm Sunday morning.

BTC Calm at $108K

It has been a quiet period for the primary cryptocurrency. In fact, the latest major price moves came about two weeks ago – on June 23 and 24 – when it dumped to $98,000 before it soared past $105,000 a day later as the Middle East war was going rampantly.

Ever since then, though, the asset has been stuck in a tight trading range between $105,000 and $110,000. It tested the lower boundary on Wednesday, where the bulls stepped up and pushed it south toward the upper one.

On Thursday, BTC showed signs of a breakout attempt when it spiked to a multi-week peak of $110,500, but the bears stepped up at this point and didn’t allow a surge to a new all-time high.

The landscape has been somewhat unchanged since then, as bitcoin quickly returned to $108,000 and has not moved from that level for a few days. Its market capitalization stands strong at $2.150 trillion, while its dominance over the alts is at over 63% on CG.

BTCUSD. Source: TradingView
BTCUSD. Source: TradingView

BONK on the Run

As the graph below will demonstrate, most larger-cap alts are slightly in the green on a daily scale. Such minor increases are evident from the likes of ETH, BNB, SOL, TRX, DOGE, ADA, BCH, LINK, and XRP. In contrast, HYPE and PI have lost some traction over the past 24 hours.

The biggest gainers are TON and BONK. The former has risen by over 9% and sits at $3, while the meme coin has exploded by 20% and now trades at $0.000022.

The cumulative market cap of all crypto assets has remained relatively stable at $3.4 trillion on CG.

Cryptocurrency Market Overview. Source: QuantifyCrypto
Cryptocurrency Market Overview. Source: QuantifyCrypto
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Disclaimer: Information found on CryptoPotato is those of writers quoted. It does not represent the opinions of CryptoPotato on whether to buy, sell, or hold any investments. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use provided information at your own risk. See Disclaimer for more information.

Cryptocurrency charts by TradingView.

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Cryptocurrency

We Asked 4 AIs How High Ripple (XRP) Will Go in 2025: The Answers Might Shock You

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TL;DR

  • Ripple’s price actions are a big prediction topic within the cryptocurrency community, with analysts and believers rushing to offer their insights and forecasts.
  • However, we decided to take a different approach this time and asked four of the biggest AI chatbots (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Grok, and Gemini) about their take on the matter.

2025 Price Targets

All four AI solutions seemed very coherent about XRP’s price potential this year, as Perplexity explained it:

“Ripple’s (XRP) price in 2025 is broadly expected to rise significantly from current levels, with expert forecasts varying but generally bullish.”

Although Ripple’s cross-border token has stalled in the past few months and is actually slightly in the red since the start of the year, all AIs had similar conclusions about its price moves until the end of the year.

ChatGPT laid out three potential scenarios, with the conservative one being at $3.4, which would match the asset’s all-time (and yearly) high. The optimistic is set at $5-$6, and the “aggressive forecasts” put the token at $10-$15 by the end of the year.

Google’s Gemini had similar ideas in mind, saying that “a realistic high could be in the $5-$10 range.” Perplexity also joined the $5-$10 club, which could be reached under “favorable conditions” (more on that later).

Grok was slightly more specific and was the only one that said XRP can finish the year lower than its current price tag. It noted that a “realistic price range” for the asset this year is somewhere between $1.8 and $5.81. Although that’s a pretty wide range, it concluded that the most likely peak will come somewhere between $3 and $4.5.

The Favorable Conditions

When it came down to outlining the factors that could impact XRP’s price moves this year, the AIs were once again aligned in their answers. First, they mentioned regulatory clarity and the official conclusion of the lawsuit against the SEC.

Although Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse stated in March that the case had been resolved and there had been several developments on the matter, the judge overseeing the case has yet to agree fully.

Second, the AIs brought up institutional adoption and bullish partnerships, such as those with Santander, SBI Holdings, and others. A spot XRP ETF will also play a significant role in the asset’s price trajectory this year, if approved, said the chatbots. According to ETF experts, the current odds stand at nearly 100%.

Lastly, the AI solutions highlighted the overall crypto market trends:

“Bitcoin’s post-halving performance and a pro-crypto U.S. administration under President Trump could fuel bullish sentiment across the crypto market, benefiting XRP,” – answered Grok, which was similar to what the others had to say.

Despite these bullish predictions for 2025, all four chatbots clarified that these are just that – speculative forecasts that might or might not come to fruition. Investors should do their own research before allocating funds to any cryptocurrency (or other asset, for that matter).

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Ethereum Price to Hit $6K This Year? Analysts Make Bold Call

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If pseudonymous analyst Weslad is to be believed, Ethereum (ETH) is caught in a tug-of-war between wildly differing futures: a historic surge past $6,000 or a soul-sapping plunge to $1,800.

The market technician claims that ETH is completing a massive ABCDE wave structure within a years-long “symmetrical pennant,” which can only mean one thing: explosion.

The Roaring Bull Case

In a recent breakdown, Weslad explained that Ethereum’s price action since its $4,851 all-time high has formed a giant consolidation pattern. According to him, this structure is now approaching a critical inflection point known as wave D, testing its upper boundary.

At the same time, a bullish Inverse Head and Shoulders (IH&S) pattern is emerging on the daily chart, with its neckline acting as stubborn resistance near $2,855.

This technical confluence suggests a coiled spring ready to unleash tremendous energy into the market, leading the analyst to state unequivocally:

“A confirmed breakout above the neckline [$2,855] would likely validate both the IH&S and the breakout from wave D, setting the stage for a potential expansion move toward the $6,000 target and beyond.”

Weslad’s audacious target found an ally in fellow strategist Jeremy Fielder, who declared in a video posted on X:

“We’re looking at $6,500 Ethereum by the end of the year and then a possible 10,000 Ethereum in early next year… Regulation is now pro-crypto. That’s all you need to know.”

He based his argument on the accelerating adoption of Web3 and a favorable regulatory shift, dismissing granular metrics in favor of a sweeping bullish tide.

While not as lofty a milestone as Weslad’s and Fielder’s, market watcher Titan of Crypto’s $4,100 target is not far off the ballpark. His thesis is hinged on Ethereum’s successful recovery back inside its crucial weekly trading range, noting that momentum is building towards the range high.

Looming Bear Trap

But don’t celebrate just yet. Weslad’s otherwise bullish analysis also comes with a stark warning for the downside scenario. He suggested that if ETH faces rejection at the critical $2,855 neckline resistance or the upper boundary of the pennant, a retracement into wave E becomes highly probable.

According to him, this trajectory would drag the price down towards a “high-confluence demand zone” spanning $1,400 to $1,800. That’s a potential 40% collapse from current levels.

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