News & Research

A Coinbase shareholder has filed a lawsuit against the company's executives and directors for alleged failures in compliance and disclosure oversight, Cointelegraph reported. The defendants include Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, co-founder Fred Ehrsam, and Chief Legal Officer Paul Grewal. The plaintiff claims that from the company's direct listing in April 2021 until June 2023, it provided investors with false or misleading information. The suit also points out that these oversight failures ultimately led to regulatory sanctions. In early 2023, Coinbase reached a $100 million settlement with the New York State Department of Financial Services over deficiencies in its anti-money laundering systems. Separately, it was fined $5 million by New Jersey for listing unregistered securities.

Firmachain (FCT2) announced that it is rebranding to Baseline. The new token will be used to activate the verification protocol, in addition to retaining the existing functions of FCT and FCT2 tokens, such as staking, governance, and fee payments. It will be swappable with the existing tokens at a one-to-one ratio, with the new ticker to be announced at a later date.

Google's security threat researchers have discovered a new type of malware capable of hacking iPhones to steal cryptocurrency wallet seed phrases, urging users to be cautious. According to Cointelegraph, Google's Threat Intelligence Group (GTIG) explained that the malware, named "Coruna" by developers, can be exploited to hack iPhones running iOS versions 13.0 to 17.2.1. The team noted that it is believed to have spread last December through numerous fake Chinese financial websites, including sites impersonating cryptocurrency exchanges. They detailed that if a user accesses a phishing site on an iOS device, the attack tool analyzes text for keywords like "seed phrase" and "bank account" to collect financial information. The researchers also highlighted that the malware can extract sensitive data from crypto apps such as Uniswap (UNI) and MetaMask.

A strategy for betting on a Bitcoin rally with nearly zero upfront cost is gaining attention in the options market. According to CoinDesk, quant trading firm TDX Strategy has proposed a "Bullish Risk Reversal" approach. The method involves selling an out-of-the-money (OTM) put option to collect a premium, which is then used to purchase an OTM call option. The outlet explained that this allows traders to bet on a BTC rally without significant initial investment. However, the strategy carries substantial risks. A trader who sells the OTM put is obligated to buy BTC at a price higher than market value if the price falls below the option's strike price. Furthermore, if the BTC rally is not strong enough, the call option could expire worthless. This structure effectively trades the lack of an initial cost for what could be virtually unlimited downside risk.

Bitcoin miners, who collectively hold over $8 billion in BTC, are accelerating sales of their holdings, Bloomberg reported. For years, large-scale miners maintained a business model akin to a conviction, consistently holding onto the BTC they mined. However, this stance has shifted amid the recent boom in artificial intelligence (AI). MARA Holdings (MARA), which holds approximately $4 billion in BTC, recently disclosed a strategy that suggests it may sell its holdings. Other established miners, such as CleanSpark and Riot Platforms, have undergone management changes to pivot their business toward AI computing, while Bitdeer has sold its entire BTC position. Bloomberg explained that this trend differs from past sell-offs, as it is driven by capital reallocation rather than a need for survival.

Ethereum's goal is to prevent the centralization of power for the day when artificial intelligence (AI) functions as the internet's primary interface, CoinDesk reported. In an interview at NEARCON 2026, Davide Crapis, AI lead at the Ethereum Foundation, warned that if AI is used in all fields without incorporating elements like self-sovereignty, censorship resistance, and privacy, no one will ultimately be able to enjoy such rights. He added that the foundation's strategy is twofold: providing the infrastructure for autonomous AI agents to prove their identity and process payments, and designing technical standards to help users maintain control over their data and identity.

Liquidity in South Korea may be shifting from the stock market to the cryptocurrency market, crypto analyst Bull Theory argued on X. The analyst noted that while the KOSPI index rose 80% in four months, Bitcoin fell 52% over the same period. This rally in Korean stocks eventually became overheated, with a surge in leverage and ETF trading volume. However, Bull Theory explained that the trend is now reversing, with foreign investors exiting the Korean stock market at a record-breaking pace. Foreigners sold $13.7 billion worth of Korean stocks in February, and the KOSPI has fallen about 20% over the last five days. In contrast, BTC has risen 11% since the KOSPI began its decline, suggesting that liquidity is flowing back into the crypto market. Meanwhile, the KOSPI, which closed at 5059.45 yesterday after a 12.06% drop, is currently trading at 5633.10, a rebound of about 10.59%. Trading curbs on buy orders have been activated for both the KOSPI and KOSDAQ markets.

Cryptocurrency firm Zerohash has applied to the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) for a national trust bank charter, Bloomberg reported. According to the filing, the company is seeking to establish Zerohash National Trust Bank (ZNTB). ZNTB plans to offer a range of digital asset financial services, including custody for digital assets and fiat currency, staking and validator services, trade execution, and stablecoin management.

The U.S. Federal Reserve has released its Beige Book, a report on economic conditions in its 12 districts. The following is a summary of the findings: - Seven of the 12 districts reported slight to modest growth in economic activity, a decrease from the nine districts that did so in the January survey. - Some districts showed weakness due to economic uncertainty, increased price sensitivity, and reduced spending by low-income households. - Employment remained stable overall. Some businesses have adopted artificial intelligence (AI) and automation technologies to improve efficiency. - Regarding inflation, businesses generally expected the pace of price increases to slow somewhat in the short term.

With Bitcoin surpassing $73,000, the market downturn may be coming to an end, according to Owen Lau, an analyst at New York brokerage Clear Street. Speaking to CoinDesk, Lau cited several positive developments. He noted that U.S. President Donald Trump's recent call to pass the CLARITY Act has increased its chances of becoming law before the end of summer. On the infrastructure front, Lau pointed to Kraken's approval for a Fed Master Account, which grants access to core payment systems, as a sign of progress. Institutional participation is also expanding, he added, highlighting Morgan Stanley's selection of BNY Mellon and Coinbase Custody Trust Company as custodians for its upcoming Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust. Lau described this as a move that reinforces Coinbase's role within the institutional crypto ecosystem. He also suggested that heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are showcasing the utility of blockchain networks as an alternative payment solution amid financial market disruption. These combined developments, Lau explained, foreshadow a larger shift across the industry.