Cryptocurrency
Sam Bankman-Fried’s life in jail, Tornado Cash’s turmoil, and a $3B BTC whale: Hodler’s Digest, Aug. 20-26

Top Stories This Week
Tornado Cash co-founders charged with money laundering, sanctions violations
United States officials pressed charges against the co-founders of crypto mixer Tornado Cash on Aug. 23. Roman Storm and Roman Semenov were both charged with conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit sanctions violations and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business. Storm was arrested and released on bail a few days later, while Semenov was added to the U.S. list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons. Combined, the charges carry a maximum sentence of 45 years in prison. The third Tornado Cash co-founder, Alexey Pertsev, was arrested in the Netherlands on money laundering charges in August 2022. The law enforcement actions are a continuation of a U.S. government crackdown on Tornado Cash that began last year due to its alleged role in laundering funds of the Lazarus Group, a North Korean-linked hacking collective. Tornado Cash has been implicated in several other hacks as well. All told, the mixer has laundered over $1 billion in ill-gotten gains, the U.S. Department of Justice alleges.
Sam Bankman-Fried is low on meds, living on $3 peanut butter in prison
FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried appears to be having a tough time behind bars, eating only bread with peanut butter to accommodate his vegan diet while exhausting his supply of prescription medication. In the same hearing where Bankman-Fried pleaded not guilty to seven fraud-related charges, his lawyers pleaded for the former FTX CEO to receive better treatment inside Brooklyn’s notorious Metropolitan Detention Center. Also this week, Bankman-Fried was granted permission to meet with his legal team outside of jail with 48 hours’ notice. Every day, he will have roughly seven hours to prepare for his upcoming trial expected to begin in October.
Mystery solved: Bitcoin wallet accruing $3B in 3 months is identified
The mysterious Bitcoin wallet that surged up the ranks to become the third-largest holder of Bitcoin in the world in just over three months, has been identified. Blockchain intelligence platform Arkham Intelligence labeled the wallet as Robinhood: Jump Trading Custody. According to data from crypto statistics platform BitInfoCharts, the wallet address first received Bitcoin on March 8. Over the course of the next three months and two weeks, the wallet had accrued a staggering 118,000 BTC — worth $3.08 billion at current prices. The current largest Bitcoin wallets in the world, according to BitInfoCharts, are reportedly owned by Binance and Bitfinex — as Bitcoin cold wallets.
Prime Trust parent company lost $8M investing in TerraUSD
The parent company of crypto custodian Prime Trust — currently involved in Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings — has reported losing roughly $8 million in client and treasury funds through TerraUSD investments, presumably when the algorithmic stablecoin collapsed in May 2022. The company described the investment as well as a ramping up of spending in October and November 2022 — in the midst of FTX’s collapse — as contributing to its bankruptcy filing. Court documents show Prime Trust owed more than $85 million in fiat and $69.5 million in crypto to its clients. The collapse of the Terra ecosystem triggered a major market crash in 2022, affecting several firms including FTX, BlockFi, Celsius Network and Voyager Digital.
PEPE whale seizes dip opportunity, buys $529K worth of tokens
A Pepe holder bought 640 billion Pepe tokens for 320 Ether valued at $529,000 after the price of the frog-themed memecoin dropped by approximately 15% due to recent changes to a multisig wallet and concerns about potential developer manipulation. According to on-chain analytics platform Lookonchain, the whale purchased PEPE at an average price of $0.000001163. The value of the once-popular memecoin plunged after changes related to the amount of signatures required to sign transactions led to worries about a potential “rug pull,” which was later confirmed by one of the project’s co-founders.
Winners and Losers
At the end of the week, Bitcoin (BTC) is at $26,040, Ether (ETH) at $1,653 and XRP at $0.52. The total market cap is at $1.05 trillion, according to CoinMarketCap.
Among the biggest 100 cryptocurrencies, the top three altcoin gainers of the week are Bone ShibaSwap (BONE) at 18.58%, Sui (SUI) at 12.86% and Toncoin (TON) at 11.97%.
The top three altcoin losers of the week are Pepe (PEPE) at -21.07%, XDC Network (XDC) at -9.62% and ApeCoin (APE) at -8.35%.
For more info on crypto prices, make sure to read Cointelegraph’s market analysis.
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“If history were to repeat itself, the next halving would see bitcoin rising to $35k before the halving and $148k after.”
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Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA
“Some of the people who currently think that there should not be effective law enforcement on-chain would feel differently if they got hacked, defrauded, or lost their private keys.”
Mike Kanovitz, CEO of Jurat
“You could never underestimate the damage the SEC’s lawsuit has caused – not only against Ripple – but #XRP. Three years of adoption – that’s what it’s caused.”
John Deaton, pro-XRP lawyer
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Prediction of the Week
Bitcoin ‘overconfidence reigns’ but bulls must reclaim $27.8K — Trader
Bitcoin needs to reclaim one key moving average to “regain its bullish status,” argues popular pseudonymous analyst CryptoCon, warning that bulls remained too optimistic about the $26,000 BTC price support holding.
For CryptoCon, the 20-week exponential moving average (EMA), now at $27,750, must be won back as support in order for the uptrend to be safe. “I have been covering this moving average a lot recently, but I believe it is critical for Bitcoin to regain its bullish status,” he wrote.
The analysis compared current BTC price action to its rebound from 2018 cycle lows. “It is very important that Bitcoin both rises above and retests the 20 Week EMA as support,” CryptoCon noted with a chart showing the similarities between 2019 and 2023, with the retest and subsequent successful EMA reclaim circled.
FUD of the Week
Chinese official sentenced to life in prison for Bitcoin mining, corruption
A Chinese government official has been sentenced to life in prison for illegitimate business operations related to running a 2.4 billion Chinese yuan ($329 million) Bitcoin mining enterprise and for unrelated charges of corruption. Prosecutors say Xiao Yi — a former member of the Jiangxi Provincial Political Consultative Conference Party Group — “covered up” the mining operation by instructing relevant departments to fabricate statistical reports and adjust the classification of electricity consumption. From 2017 to 2020, his facility’s electricity consumption accounted for 10% of the city of Fuzhou’s total electricity consumption.
FBI flags 6 Bitcoin wallets linked to North Korea, urges vigilance in crypto firms
The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has flagged six Bitcoin wallets linked to North Korean state-backed hacking group Lazarus. The six wallets contain 1,580 BTC worth $40 million believed to be hoarded from various cryptocurrency hacks over the past year. The FBI in its investigation found that Lazarus Group moved approximately 1,580 BTC linked with several crypto exploits. The hacking group has been actively involved in multiple crypto-linked exploits over the years and are believed to have stolen nearly $2 billion in crypto since 2018.
OpenSea manager accused of insider trading sentenced to 3 months in prison, $50K fine
A federal judge has sentenced former OpenSea product manager Nathaniel Chastain to three months in prison for wire fraud and money laundering related to insider trading on the platform. He was accused of using insider information in his position at OpenSea to profit off the trading of NFTs. In his position as product manager, he had the authority to choose which NFTs would be featured on the OpenSea website. He purchased 45 NFTs prior to them being featured and then resold them.
Recursive inscriptions: Bitcoin ‘supercomputer’ and BTC DeFi coming soon
Some believe that Ordinals and recursive inscriptions could supercharge the Bitcoin network as a viable competitor to smart contract platforms. It’s not going to be easy, though.
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NFT Collector: Giant Swan’s gothic VR dreamscapes… royalty nightmare on OpenSea
From crying in his car to putting the first 3D object onchain — the story of Giant Swan. Plus royalties race to the bottom accelerates due to OpenSea.
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Cryptocurrency
Ripple (XRP) Price Predictions, Recent Cardano (ADA) Developments, and More: Bits Recap June 13

TL;DR
- ADA is down for the day, but essential developments, such as whale purchases and ecosystem progress, can have a positive impact on the price.
- XRP trades near $2.14, with bullish targets ranging from $2.80 to $10, while Ripple’s case versus the US SEC nears resolution.
- ETH fell back to around $2,500. Analysts remain cautiously bullish, noting that $2,380 is a crucial support zone.
What’s New Around ADA?
Cardano’s native token suffered the negative consequences of the geopolitical tension caused by the conflict between Israel and Iran, with its price plunging by over 7% in the last 24 hours and currently trading at around $0.63.
Some prominent analysts on X took notice of the decline, warning that a further plunge could be incoming. Nebraskangooner, for instance, claimed that “the head and shoulders” price pattern is “potentially breaking down,” suggesting this could lead to a correction below $0.50.
However, some important developments that took place earlier this week indicate that all hope isn’t lost for the bulls. On June 10, Ali Martinez revealed that Cardano whales (those holders having between 100 million and 1 billion tokens) bought 120 million ADA in the span of just 48 hours. Back then, the USD equivalent of the stash was approximately $85 million.
Another bullish factor is the development of the Cardano ecosystem. A few days ago, the project’s founder, Charles Hoskinson, announced Cardinal – the first Bitcoin DeFi protocol on Cardano, which allows people to use BTC for staking and lending on the platform, with no custody required.
XRP’s Price Targets
Ripple’s cross-border token was also hit by the latest correction. It currently trades at roughly $2.14, representing a 5% decline on a daily scale.
X user CRYPTOWZRD noted that XRP’s performance is similar to other major altcoins, arguing that “anything is possible from this level.”
The analyst said the main daily support target is $2, claiming a bullish reversal to the $2.80 resistance level isn’t completely out of the question. However, it will heavily depend on a breakout above the daily lower high trend line.
Another industry participant who has recently touched upon the matter is the X user Cobb. Earlier this week, the analyst forecasted that XRP’s next leg “is going to be brutal,” suggesting the price could exceed a staggering $10 per coin.
Meanwhile, it appears that Ripple and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) are nearing an official resolution of their court dispute. Some experts, though, believe the eventual conclusion of the legal battle is unlikely to trigger any substantial volatility for XRP.
How About ETH?
The price of the second-largest cryptocurrency surged to nearly $2,900 on June 11, marking the highest level since February. Currently, though, it is worth around $2,500, representing a 13% decline from the local top.
Despite the downtrend, multiple market observers remain optimistic that Ethereum (ETH) is poised to reach significant peaks, and “no war can stop it.”
$ETH to $4,000 is programmed.
No war that can stop it. pic.twitter.com/jPAAeiFoEt
— TraderPA (@Trader1PA) June 13, 2025
The X user DevKhabib also chipped in, claiming that ETH “is still in a good area” despite the ongoing unfavorable conditions. The trader, though, expressed concerns about a potential plunge below $2,380, saying it has proven to be strong support for now.
Earlier this week, Ali Martinez opined that investors should turn bullish only after a sustained close above $2,750. Failing that, he projected a potential drop toward $2,500 or possibly as low as $2,380.
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Cryptocurrency
Trump Urges Iran to Sign Nuclear Deal Before ‘There’s Nothing Left:’ How Will BTC Price React?

US President Donald Trump said he urged the Iranian authorities to sign the nuclear deal; otherwise, the situation might escalate.
BTC’s price has already experienced substantial volatility after the initial Israeli missile strikes against Iran, but has recovered some ground and now stands close to $105,000.
Trump said on his own social media platform that he “gave Iran chance after chance to make a deal. I told them, in the strongest words, to “just do it,” but no matter how hard they tried, no matter how close they got, they just couldn’t get it done.”
The POTUS blamed it on a certain “Iranian hardliner” who spoke “bravely,” but noted that all of the top military personnel are now dead. Consequently, Trump urged the nation’s leaders to sign the nuclear deal once again, or the situation could worsen.
“The United States makes the best and most lethal military equipment anywhere in the World, BY FAR, and that Israel has a lot of it, with much more to come – And they know how to use it.”
He warned that the next planned attacks will be even more brutal and Iran should make a deal before “there is nothing left, and save what was once known as the Iranian Empire.”
Israel’s strike earlier this morning led to immediate price volatility across all financial sectors. While oil went up, the ever-volatile crypto market plunged, with BTC dumping below $103,000 for the first time since last Friday.
However, the asset has recovered some ground and now stands close to $105,000. Investors should be aware that more volatility is likely to follow if the tension between the US, Iran, and Israel further escalates.
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Cryptocurrency
Crypto Price Analysis June-13: ETH, XRP, ADA, SOL, and HYPE

This week, we examine Ethereum, Ripple, Cardano, Solana, and Hype in greater detail.
Ethereum (ETH)
Ethereum began the week on a strong footing by testing the $2,800 resistance following a 10% rally. However, this suddenly came to a stop in the past 24 hours after Israel bombed Iran. The geopolitical tension pushed the whole crypto market down, and ETH erased much of its recent gains, closing the week with a modest 1% gain.
The price briefly visited the $2,400 support during its recent drop and is hovering around $2,500 at the time of this post. Hopefully, buyers will defend this support level as a breakdown here could open the way to $2,000 next.
With the market on edge due to the geopolitical context, volatility could continue to be high. So far, ETH has made a higher low, and on Wednesday, it made a higher high. This supports a bullish bias as long as the key support holds.
Ripple (XRP)
XRP reversed on Monday and turned bearish when it was rejected at the $2.3 resistance. With sellers taking back control, the last four daily candles closed in red, which brought the price back to the $2 support. This is why XRP closed the week in red with a 1% loss.
While this is not too concerning, the support at $2 has to hold if this cryptocurrency hopes to make higher highs later. The current momentum is bearish, but due to the low volume, sellers don’t seem interested in doing much more at this time.
Looking ahead, this cryptocurrency remains stuck in a tight range with low volatility. This has been ongoing for months, and there has been no decisive breakthrough to date. This is likely to continue to suppress the price.
Cardano (ADA)
ADA tried to distance itself from the $0.64 support, but in the past three days, sellers brought it back to this key level, closing the week with a 2% loss.
Ит struggled throughout May and June, and it has not been much better to date. This supports a bearish bias with momentum favoring sellers at this time. The daily MACD also turned bearish today which could put in danger the current support.
Looking ahead, if Cardano can’t hold its price above $0.64, then it could revisit $0.5 in the near future. This is a level where buyers returned in the past. Hopefully, they do it again if the key support is lost.
Solana (SOL)
Solana gave market participants a brief excitement when its price moved above $152, which used to act as a resistance. However, that did not last, and in the past three days, sellers returned and pushed it under $150.
With a lower low confirmed, the downtrend for Solana is likely to continue. If so, the next major support levels will be found at $130 and $118. The momentum indicators, such as the daily MACD and RSI, also remain bearish at this time.
If nothing changes in the days to come, which is unlikely considering the wider market context, then SOL has a good chance to revisit $130. This is a level that could attract buyers and lead it into a relief bounce.
Hype (HYPE)
HYPE made waves in the past few months, and this week is no different. It made a new all-time high at $44 and closed this week with a 15% gain. This makes it the best performer on our list and across most of the market.
This achievement also got HYPE next to ADA in terms of market cap on sites such as CoinMarketCap. If this performance continues, HYPE is well placed to challenge ADA or even TRX and DOGE in the future.
Looking ahead, HYPE remains in a clear uptrend with key resistances at $41 and $44, at the time of this post. The support level is found at $38, and the price bounced on it during its most recent pullback. If the rally continues, then expect new record prices in the future.
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