Cryptocurrency
Hackers stole about $700 million in cryptocurrency in Q2 2022
The number of attacks on digital assets has doubled since the beginning of the year, but overall losses have decreased
Between April and June, there were 50 hacks that caused cryptocurrency platforms to lose more than $670 million, according to a report from blockchain security company ImmuneFi. While the frequency of attacks increased compared to the first quarter, the amount of money lost decreased. There were 25 attacks in the first quarter – hackers stole $1.2 billion in digital assets.
In the second quarter, most of the losses were due to hacks of DeFi protocols rather than blockchain bridges (platforms for transferring data between networks), as in January and March, the paper said. Specifically, Axie Infinity’s Ronin bridge was stolen for more than $625 million, and the Wormhole bridge on the Solana network was attacked for $326 million.
April-June projects such as Beanstalk DeFi (for $182 million), Harmony Network’s Horizon Bridge (for $100 million), Mirror Protocol (for $90 million) and Fei Protocol (for $100 million) were hacked.
In late June, crypto platform XCarnival lost more than 3,000 ETH ($3.5 million) and agreed to return half of the amount less than 24 hours after the incident. And in early July, an attacker hacked the Crema Finance protocol on the Solana blockchain and withdrew $8.7 million worth of cryptocurrency.
Cryptocurrency
SPX6900 Pumps Another 17%, $3 is Next Target as New Index Meme Coin ICO Raises $2M
The next stage of the crypto bull run is continuing to leave market participants on edge, as Bitcoin and Ethereum bulls fight to push their favorite leading cryptocurrencies back toward their recent highs.
Bitcoin saw a total gain of just over 5% last week (and has now broken $100,000 again), while Ethereum pushed upwards by 8.4%.
In the meantime, a mini alt season has broken out as a range of notable cryptos experienced small recoveries and pumps – with SPX6900 ($SPX) continuing to lead. $SPX has pumped 20% over the past day and is now up 81% from this time last week.
Meanwhile, the “meme coin index” narrative is also driving growth of Meme Index ($MEMEX), which has now raised $2m through its ongoing ICO.
SPX6900 Continues to Shine in the Spotlight
With another 17% gain pumping its price beyond $1.50 over the last 24 hours, SPX6900 might finally be ready to take a breather – or so its daily chart would suggest. This is the kind of chart that every crypto investor dreams about, showcasing a massive parabolic run that unfolded in almost textbook fashion:
Over this weekend, SPX6900 slowed down for the first time as it printed a “spinning top” candle on Saturday, signaling indecision and a battle between bulls and bears. The bulls proved victorious on Sunday, achieving a fresh 14% profit on the day – and this Monday we’re seeing the pump continue once again.
If we zoom into the hourly chart, however, we can see a more detailed picture:
Since breaking through the $1 level, SPX6900 has formed a series of higher lows, then broken out and also formed a bullish ascending triangle. The asset’s trading volume has pulled back, while its RSI (Relative Strength Index) is hovering slightly below the overbought zone with a score of approximately 67.
Put together, these are all cumulative signs of more potential bullish action still to come – so we could easily see SPX6900 explode yet again, passing $1.60. From there, it might well flip that resistance level into support, leaving the bulls in control and another green daily candle on the cards. Considering everything we’ve seen so far, $3 (almost a 2x from SPX’s current price) is shaping up to be a fair target for bullish believers.
hitting $1.5B mcap w/o Coinbase, Binance, Robinhood is a statement
SPX6900 will reach multi billions before your fav memecoin, strongest community in the game.
— Malik (@tiny_malik) January 6, 2025
On the bearish side, a price dip from here would also be reasonable in order to burn off some of that overbought RSI score. A pullback below $1.50 would open up lower price targets like $1.40, $1.35, $1.25, $1.14, or the key psychological support line at $1 – although it’s worth noting the sheer number of potential support levels that SPX6900 established during its big sprint upwards.
Whether $1.60 proves to be the current limit for SPX6900 bulls or not, this asset has still performed amazingly well, with the worst-case scenario currently being an opportunity to buy the dip.
With so much SPX6900 hype spreading across social media, our next token is shaping up to be that now-legendary project’s successor…
Meme Index ICO Raises $2M – the Next SPX6900?
Excited by the prospect of the next big “meme coin index” token, SPX6900 enthusiasts and crypto experts in general have been heavily supporting Meme Index ($MEMEX), one of the world’s very first decentralized trading platforms for meme coin projects of all sizes.
Hitting it big by betting heavily on just one meme coin arguably requires a significant amount of luck, not just effective analysis – and diversifying a portfolio by investing in multiple tokens quickly becomes time-consuming, not to mention potentially confusing.
Meme Index helps to address this issue, as MEMEX holders can easily stake their tokens across “baskets” (indexes) that expose investors to the cumulative price performance of several meme coins at the same time.
This means that if one token’s value drops significantly, other tokens can help to prop up the value of that basket – and if the crypto market pumps into a fresh bullish phase, investors won’t miss out if a few specific tokens outperform everything else.
Degens can dive into the “Meme Frenzy Index” (where the most rewarding and risky tokens can be found), opt for the relatively safe road with the “Meme Titan Index” (the mainstream meme token basket, including the likes of SHIB, PEPE, and of course DOGE), or go for a moderate level of volatility with mixed collections like the “Moonshot Index” and “Midcap Index”.
Given how strongly SPX6900 has pumped this early in 2025, MEMEX looks set to follow up its phenomenal ICO with its own rocket-fuelled price action when it launches on major crypto exchanges.
Meme Index has now raised $2 million through its presale, with analysts expecting greater achievements in the coming weeks, months, and years.
MEMEX tokens are temporarily priced at just $0.0149831, with staking rewards of 1,207% APY awaiting early investors who choose to stake their tokens and generate passive income. Earning extra tokens will enable those investors to acquire additional votes and have a greater say in the future of Meme Index, as MEMEX will also act as the platform’s governance token.
Disclaimer: The above article is sponsored content; it’s written by a third party. CryptoPotato doesn’t endorse or assume responsibility for the content, advertising, products, quality, accuracy, or other materials on this page. Nothing in it should be construed as financial advice. Readers are strongly advised to verify the information independently and carefully before engaging with any company or project mentioned and do their own research. Investing in cryptocurrencies carries a risk of capital loss, and readers are also advised to consult a professional before making any decisions that may or may not be based on the above-sponsored content.
Readers are also advised to read CryptoPotato’s full disclaimer.
Binance Free $600 (CryptoPotato Exclusive): Use this link to register a new account and receive $600 exclusive welcome offer on Binance (full details).
LIMITED OFFER for CryptoPotato readers at Bybit: Use this link to register and open a $500 FREE position on any coin!
Cryptocurrency
Brad Garlinghouse Applauds ‘Trump Effect’ as Ripple Gains Ground in US Deals
As Donald Trump prepares to take office, many expect his presidency to drive growth in the crypto market. His commitments are already creating momentum for US-based crypto businesses. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, for one, announced that the company achieved significant progress in late 2024.
In fact, the entity has signed more US deals in the final six weeks of the year than in the previous six months owing to Donald Trump’s victory in November’s US presidential election.
“Trump Bull Market”
In his latest tweet, the exec credited the post-election “Trump bull market” for the surge in activity and expressed optimism about Ripple’s future. Garlinghouse also revealed a major hiring shift, with 75% of Ripple’s open positions now US-based.
This is in stark change from the past four years when most hires were made internationally due to regulatory hurdles under Gary Gensler-led Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which reportedly froze Ripple’s “business opportunities” at home.
“Team Trump is already jumpstarting innovation and job growth in the US with Scott Bessent, David Sacks, Paul Atkins, and others at the helm, and they aren’t even in office yet! Say what you want, but the “Trump effect” is already making crypto great again – through his campaign, and in the Administration’s day 1 priorities.”
Ripple vs. SEC
Ripple has faced significant challenges from the SEC, which accused the company and its executives of raising $1.3 billion through an unregistered securities offering. The securities watchdog alleged Ripple violated investor protection laws by failing to provide adequate disclosures about XRP and its business practices.
Despite the blockchain entity agreeing to disclose all XRP-related data, the SEC’s demand for eight years of banking records was dismissed by a judge as overreach. After two years of litigation, a 2023 court ruling determined XRP was not a security in programmatic sales but could be classified as such in institutional fundraising contexts.
After years of throwing punches at each other, the legal proceedings may finally be over in 2025. Prominent American attorney Jeremy Hogan reiterated his previous sentiment and predicted that the Ripple vs. SEC legal battle could conclude by spring 2025, potentially by April or May.
With SEC Chairman Gensler expected to step down and Atkins, a crypto-friendly figure, likely to take his place, the outcome could have significant implications for both Ripple and the broader cryptocurrency market.
Binance Free $600 (CryptoPotato Exclusive): Use this link to register a new account and receive $600 exclusive welcome offer on Binance (full details).
LIMITED OFFER for CryptoPotato readers at Bybit: Use this link to register and open a $500 FREE position on any coin!
Cryptocurrency
Scam Alert: The Shiba Inu (SHIB) Team Sounds the Alarm for This Fraudulent Scheme
TL;DR
- Scammers are exploiting excitement around Shiba Inu’s TREAT token launch, scheduled for January 14, 2025.
- Fraudsters also target the SHIB community with fake giveaways, phishing emails, and forged social media accounts. Users should protect their information and report suspicious activities.
‘Stay Safe, SHIBARMY!’
Wrongdoers often target the vast Shiba Inu (SHIB) community, which consists of millions of investors, proponents, and developers. They use different methods to embezzle unsuspecting victims, often conning them with fake offers about assets part of the meme coin’s ecosystem.
The most recent scheme includes TREAT, a reward token that provides incentives for users engaging with Shiba Inu’s protocols, including the layer-2 scaling solution Shibarium. The team recently announced that its official launch will be on January 14.
While the development sparked huge enthusiasm across the community, Shibarium Trustwatch (an X account that aims to provide security) warned users to remain extra careful until that date.
The team claimed that scammers have used the ongoing excitement as an opportunity to offer fake TREAT services to people, alerting users to stay away from such dubious individuals.
“They are now using SHIB socials linked to their FAKE TREAT. Please don’t be misled by these predatory scammers. They can be called vultures, circling and looking for their next feed. We ask with heaven on our side, please do not fall for these scams.
Be clear: the TREAT launch is scheduled for the 14th of January 2025, not before. If you are unsure about anything at any time, check with us first. Stay safe, SHIBARMY,” the warning reads.
Previous Alerts
Around Christmas, Shibarium Trustwatch warned people to stay vigilant for several common crypto scams that may result in crucial losses. Some examples are fake giveaways, which offer “free” tokens, merchandise, or NFTs, and phishing emails.
The team claimed fraudsters send emails to victims, pretending to be from official SHIB-related projects, thus trying to steal their login credentials.
Other things the community should watch out for include fake social media accounts, Ponzi schemes, forgery charity appeals, and more.
“Providing personal information or falling for these scams doesn’t just put you at risk – it may lead to your data being sold on the dark web, where hackers can use it for identity theft or other malicious activities. Scammers exploit trust, kindness, and generosity, especially during the holiday season, so we must stay vigilant,” the team said at the time.
Binance Free $600 (CryptoPotato Exclusive): Use this link to register a new account and receive $600 exclusive welcome offer on Binance (full details).
LIMITED OFFER for CryptoPotato readers at Bybit: Use this link to register and open a $500 FREE position on any coin!
- Forex2 years ago
Forex Today: the dollar is gaining strength amid gloomy sentiment at the start of the Fed’s week
- Forex2 years ago
How is the Australian dollar doing today?
- Forex2 years ago
Unbiased review of Pocket Option broker
- Forex2 years ago
Dollar to pound sterling exchange rate today: Pound plummeted to its lowest since 1985
- Cryptocurrency2 years ago
What happened in the crypto market – current events today
- World2 years ago
Why are modern video games an art form?
- Commodities2 years ago
Copper continues to fall in price on expectations of lower demand in China
- Forex2 years ago
The dollar is down again against major world currencies