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France Logs 90 Bitcoin-Related Attacks in 7 Months, Report Says

French authorities have logged 90 cases involving kidnapping, abduction, extortion, threats, and violent robberies tied to cryptocurrency in just over seven months, according to figures provided to Cointelegraph by the French Interior Ministry. The ministry’s data covers Jan. 1 through mid-August 2026 . During the same period, authorities recorded 223 arrests , and from January through July 126 people were imprisoned . With the reported incidents averaging roughly one every two and a half days , the scale is drawing attention—especially given the lack of an official year-on-year baseline for 2025, since the tracking began on Jan. 1, 2026. Key takeaways France recorded 90 crypto-related violent cases from Jan. 1 to mid-August 2026, alongside 223 arrests and 126 imprisonments (Jan–July). Third-party incident trackers show higher-than-expected wrench attacks in France, with Gart.io placing the country at the top for real-world cases in the year to date. Investigators suspect da...
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New York Bars Celsius Founder Mashinsky in $35M Fraud Settlement

Former Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky has been permanently barred from working in the cryptocurrency, securities, and commodities industries under a settlement with New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Friday. The deal also imposes conditional payments that could reach as much as $35 million, tying the penalties to whether Mashinsky forfeits additional funds and serves out his full prison term. According to the New York Attorney General’s Office, the settlement resolves a 2023 civil case accusing Mashinsky of misleading hundreds of thousands of investors about the safety of Celsius prior to its collapse in 2022. Key takeaways New York has secured a permanent industry ban against Alex Mashinsky covering cryptocurrency, securities, and commodities work. The settlement includes conditional payments up to $35 million if specific forfeiture and sentencing conditions are not met. Mashinsky is already serving a 12-year federal prison sentence tied to securities and commodities ...
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Wealthy Investors Buy Crypto, Yet Many Wealth Advisers Remain Cautious

Wealth is increasingly flowing toward crypto even as broader markets wrestle with macro headwinds. A new CoinShares survey suggests that affluent investors in seven major economies are already comfortable holding digital assets—and many plan to add more this year, potentially outpacing the pace of guidance from some traditional financial advisers. At the same time, crypto is contending with a difficult backdrop for risk assets. Bitcoin is attempting to extend a strong run that culminated in its best third quarter since 2017, but commentary from market research firms highlights that elevated Treasury yields and shifting expectations for Federal Reserve policy could make sustained momentum harder. Key takeaways CoinShares survey results indicate a majority of affluent investors across seven countries already hold crypto, with an average allocation near 10% of portfolios. Bitcoin’s rally follow-through may face pressure as Treasury yields remain above 5%, offering an increasingly attr...
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Ledger Probes SE Asia Reseller After Reported Fund Losses

Hardware wallet manufacturer Ledger is investigating reports of cryptocurrency losses tied to devices bought through a Southeast Asian reseller, urging potentially affected customers to pause setup and, where applicable, move funds to fresh wallets while the review continues. Separately, independent on-chain analysts have circulated suspected wallet-theft claims across multiple networks, estimating losses in the tens of millions. Ledger has not confirmed any connection between those allegations and the reseller-linked incidents. Key takeaways Ledger says the issue appears limited to a specific reseller and does not involve devices purchased directly from the company, based on its initial assessment. Customers who bought from CryptoBilis within 90 days should not set up the device , according to Ledger’s guidance. Ledger advises users who already set up a device to transfer assets to a new Ledger wallet generated with a newly created recovery phrase. Ledger has not disclosed ...
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Xrp Price Range Bound Amid Increasing Bearish Pressure Below $1.44

XRP price is range bound amid increasing bearish pressure below the $1.44 resistance area as $1.30 support and derivative data set expectations for the market. XRP is trading at $1.4162 as the coin failed to rise above the $1.44 resistance area. $1.30 is an important support level, while $1.50 and $1.60 are major resistance levels. Futures volume rose by 10.34% to $3.94 billion as open interest fell by 1.44% to $3.32 billion. Total long liquidations amounted to $13.69 million out of $14.16 million in 24-hour liquidations. Xrp Suffers Another Selloff XRP still faces selling pressures as the recent recovery struggles against resistance. Based on the technical analysis provided, CRYPTOWZRD pointed out that the recent daily candle of XRP is considered bearish after rejecting the $1.4400 level. The price stood at $1.4162, which saw a decline by 2.53%. The rejection has brought focus back to the immediate support and resistance levels of XRP. Even though XRP was able to recover from its lows...
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HSBC and Ant Digital Trial AI-Agent Payments Using Tokenized Deposits

HSBC and Ant Digital Technologies say they have completed a technical test of an AI-agent payment system that uses tokenized bank deposits, with transactions settled in real time on a blockchain test environment. The demonstration is notable for showing how an AI agent could locate a digital service, initiate payment, and complete the transaction via a programmable flow—without relying on a human to execute the steps manually. The companies framed the run as “micropayment” verification—typically defined as transfers under $2—and stressed it was not a commercial rollout. Even so, the test reflects a broader push among established financial institutions to explore whether AI agents can safely interact with payment rails and digital services in an automated, always-on manner. Key takeaways HSBC and Ant Digital conducted a technical verification of AI-agent micropayments using tokenized bank deposits and blockchain testnet settlement. The system combined roles across the stack : HSBC...
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Blockchain.com Seeks CFTC Approval to Launch Prediction Markets: CNBC

Blockchain.com has reportedly filed with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) seeking regulatory approval to offer prediction-market “event contracts” and certain crypto derivatives to both retail and institutional customers in the United States. According to CNBC, the company submitted applications for two distinct CFTC licenses that would position it within the agency’s derivatives framework. If granted, the proposed licenses would allow Blockchain.com to operate as a futures exchange for event contracts and to act as a broker for crypto derivatives. The move also arrives at a moment when the legal boundaries for prediction markets—especially those touching on elections and other regulated domains—are being tested in court. Key takeaways Blockchain.com has reportedly applied to the CFTC for two licenses: a designated contract market (DCM) and a futures commission merchant (FCM), enabling event contracts and derivatives brokering. Regulatory approval would let the ...
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