Cryptocurrency
FBI seized $500,000 from North Korean hackers

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced the seizure of about $500,000 in bitcoins previously paid by U.S. health care providers to the operators of the cryptocurrency attacker Maui.
Earlier this month, U.S. law enforcement officials had already warned about the activity on Maui, which is targeting medical organizations and public health care. Then it was reported that Maui uses a combination of AES, RSA and XORfor the encryption process: files are encrypted using AES with a unique key, which is then encrypted using a pair of RSA keys generated during the first run of Maui, and then the RSA public key is encrypted using another hard-coded RSA public key.
Experts speculated that the entire malware campaign is built on the willingness of medical institutions to pay a ransom, as they need to recover quickly from the attack and provide uninterrupted access to critical data and services, because people’s lives and health depend on it.
As the DOJ now explains, the discovery of this malware came after an incident at a Kansas hospital that the victims rushed to report to the FBI. In May 2021, that medical facility paid extortionists about $100,000 to recover data after the encryption attack.
“Through prompt reporting and cooperation from the victim, the FBI and Department of Justice disrupted a North Korean-sponsored group that was developing a ransomware program known as Maui,” said Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monak. – “This not only allowed us to recover the ransom, but also to recover ransom payments made by previously unknown victims and to identify a previously unknown type of ransomware.
Thanks to a quick report of the incident, law enforcement could trace another $120,000 payment from an unnamed health care provider in Colorado. Those two payments, as well as an unknown number of $280,000 payments, were eventually recovered in May 2022, bringing the total amount recovered to approximately half a million dollars.
It is currently unknown how the seizure of the funds was arranged. It is likely that law enforcement could trace the victims’ funds, which the criminals were trying to launder, to a certain cryptocurrency exchange, which offers services for cashing out and converting cryptocurrencies into fiat.
While the amount recovered this time is small, it is emphasized that what happened demonstrates how rapid reporting of incidents allows law enforcement to more quickly and easily follow money trails, recover ransoms, and identify the perpetrators and their tactics.
Cryptocurrency
Bitget Releases April 2025 Proof of Reserves Report: User Assets Secured at 191% Reserve Ratio

[PRESS RELEASE – Victoria, Seychelles, April 25th, 2025]
Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has published its monthly Proof of Reserves (PoR) report for April 2025, which shows its continued commitment to transparency and user asset security. The latest verification confirms that Bitget maintains highly secure collateralized reserves, with an industry-leading 191% overall reserve ratio, ensuring full backing of all user funds.
Bitget continues to uphold its gold standard in asset security, with April’s reserves verification showing strong collateralization across all major cryptos: BTC reserves stand at an exceptional 369%, ETH at 148%, while stablecoins remain strongly protected with USDT at 117% and USDC at 217%. These figures collectively contribute to Bitget’s impressive 191% total reserve ratio, with substantial buffers beyond full backing requirements.
Bitget’s reserve ratios consistently exceed 100%, meaning user assets are fully backed with additional reserves for extra security. The exchange’s 191% total reserve ratio reinforces its position as one of the most trusted platforms in crypto, far surpassing many industry peers.
Bitget’s monthly PoR audits are conducted using Merkle Tree verification, allowing users to independently confirm their holdings at any time. The exchange also maintains a $610M Protection Fund as an additional safeguard, further strengthening user confidence.
Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, stated: “Security and trust are the foundation of everything we do at Bitget. Our April Proof of Reserves report once again proves that user funds are not only fully backed but held with substantial reserves beyond requirements. We remain committed to setting the highest standards in transparency and asset protection.”
Since the implementation of its Proof of Reserves program, Bitget has consistently published monthly snapshots to reinforce its long-term commitment to transparency. By continuously maintaining reserve ratios far above the industry norm, Bitget has established itself as a benchmark for trust and integrity in centralized crypto platforms.
As the digital asset ecosystem continues to evolve, user confidence and asset protection remain top priorities. Bitget’s latest PoR report reaffirms its proactive approach to exchange transparency and responsible custodianship—an approach that is increasingly vital in today’s crypto environment.
For more details on Bitget’s Proof of Reserves, users can visit here.
About Bitget
Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 100 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, token swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more.
Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.
For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet
For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com
Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.
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Cryptocurrency
Retail FOMO Returns as Whales Accumulate – Is Bitcoin (BTC) at a Major Turning Point?

After a period of caution driven by macroeconomic uncertainty, Bitcoin’s recent price action has reignited interest across the market, sparking renewed debate about where the next move might lead.
Fresh activity from both retail players and large BTC holders suggests the market may be approaching a turning point.
Retail FOMO Meets Whale Accumulation
Following Bitcoin’s brief surge above $94,200 on Wednesday, Santiment’s data showed a wave of FOMO from retail traders entering the market. This is in sharp contrast to recent weeks, when retail largely exited amid macroeconomic uncertainty.
As such, the renewed enthusiasm marks a notable sentiment change. While such crowd behavior often precedes price tops, a move toward $100,000 now appears increasingly likely, according to the update by the crypto analytic platform.
While retail FOMO has reentered the picture, the rally’s foundation appears to be even stronger, thanks to significant moves by major holders.
In a separate analysis, Santiment noted that the 11% surge in Bitcoin’s value from April 21 to 25th also coincided with continued accumulation by key whales and sharks. Wallets holding between 10 and 10,000 BTC were found to have added 19,255 BTC during the period. Such aggressive buying behavior has consistently been a precursor to notable market rallies and indicates that a constructive recovery is underway for Bitcoin.
Bitcoin’s value has jumped +11.2%, and this has once again coincided with key whales & sharks adding on to their already enormous bags. Wallets holding 10-10K $BTC have added 19,255 more coins in this short stretch, and continue to be one of crypto’s most powerful indicators. pic.twitter.com/b3TiVd71iD
— Santiment (@santimentfeed) April 25, 2025
Will the Rally Sustain?
Bitcoin’s recent surge past $90,000 has boosted market sentiment to its highest in over two months, peaking on April 23 with a Fear & Greed Index score of 72, signaling “Greed.” The score has since come down to 60, which has led to concerns regarding the sustainability of the rally.
Despite this, Bitcoin remains the dominant force in the market, with Bitcoin Dominance standing at 64.29% and altcoins lagging far behind. The altcoin season index remains at a low of 18, which has further confirmed Bitcoin’s lead in market favorability.
Meanwhile, crypto analyst Michaël van de Poppe said that continued buying pressure could propel Bitcoin toward a new all-time high.
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Cryptocurrency
ARK Invest Explains How Bitcoin (BTC) Could Shoot Up to $1.5 Million by 2030

Cathie Wood-led asset manager ARK Invest has revised its Bitcoin price targets for 2030, boosting its “bull case” to $2.4 million from $1.5 million. The “bear” and “base” case scenarios were also raised to $500,000 and $1.2 million, respectively, according to a report by ARK’s David Puell on April 24.
These adjustments follow an earlier revision in February when the predictions were set at $300,000 and $710,000.
2030 Bitcoin Bull Case
The latest forecasts are based on assumptions regarding total addressable markets (TAMs) and Bitcoin adoption.
According to the report, institutional investment plays the largest role in ARK’s bull case, with Bitcoin potentially capturing 6.5% of a projected $200 trillion global investment portfolio market by 2030. This estimate is nearly double gold’s current 3.6% portfolio share.
In more conservative scenarios, ARK assumes 1% to 2.5% adoption, suggesting that the cryptocurrency’s long-term outlook remains strong even with modest institutional interest.
The report highlights the “digital gold” narrative as a key driver of adoption, assuming BTC will compete with gold’s market value without factoring in further growth for the yellow metal.
Bitcoin’s Multi-Faceted Growth Path
In emerging markets, ARK said it sees a significant opportunity for Bitcoin to serve as a hedge against inflation and currency devaluation, thanks to its accessibility for populations with internet access.
Nation-state adoption, currently led by countries like El Salvador and Bhutan, could accelerate, especially with policy endorsements such as US President Donald Trump’s March 2024 executive order supporting a US Bitcoin reserve.
On the corporate side, ARK noted a rising number of publicly traded firms holding the cryptocurrency, inspired by American business intelligence firm Strategy’s well-known investment game plan. As of late 2024, 74 companies had accumulated roughly $55 billion in Bitcoin.
Finally, ARK even went on to point to on-chain financial services, such as the Lightning Network and wrapped Bitcoin applications, as a fast-growing sector that could further boost BTC’s capital appeal.
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