Formula 1

Bitcoin

Beast

World Liberty Financial

Tom Lee

<p class="is-style-lead">In this edition of the weekly recap, two solo miners independently secured block rewards worth approximately $300,000 each, a social engineering attack resulted in $282 million in stolen cryptocurrency, and Strategy announced its largest Bitcoin purchase.</p>
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  <span class="tabs__item is-selected">Summary</span>
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   <li>Two solo Bitcoin miners each earned ~$300K after independently finding blocks.</li>
   <li>A $282M hardware wallet scam sparked Monero buying and major market impact.</li>
   <li>Strategy bought $1.2B in Bitcoin, its largest purchase in five months.</li>
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<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="independent-miners-achieve-improbable-block-rewards">Independent miners achieve improbable block rewards</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
 <li>Two solo Bitcoin (<a href="https://crypto.news/price/bitcoin/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">BTC</a>) miners separately <a href="https://mempool.space/block/00000000000000000000505190b50037a8484eef057982c9f513d03442b00b1b" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">discovered</a> blocks this week, each collecting full rewards valued at roughly $300,000.</li>
 <li>One miner secured a block early Thursday earning 3.157 BTC including fees, while another solo victory earlier in the week produced a similar payout near $295,000.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="social-engineering-attack-nets-282-million">Social engineering attack nets $282 million</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
 <li>A hacker <a href="https://crypto.news/282m-in-bitcoin-litecoin-stolen-hardware-wallet-scam/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">stole</a> $282 million worth of Litecoin and Bitcoin through a hardware wallet social engineering scheme according to blockchain researcher ZachXBT.</li>
 <li>The victim lost 2.05 million LTC and 1,459 BTC, with stolen funds quickly converted to privacy coin Monero.</li>
 <li>The January 10 attack at 23:00 UTC caused a 70% Monero price increase over subsequent days.</li>
</ul>
<p>You might also like: <a href="https://crypto.news/pi-network-price-remains-calm-will-it-rebound-or-crash/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> Pi Network price remains calm: will it rebound or crash? </a></p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="seized-samourai-bitcoin-designated-for-national-reserve">Seized Samourai Bitcoin designated for national reserve</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
 <li>Federal law enforcement’s nearly $6.4 million Bitcoin seizure from Samourai Wallet creators will not be liquidated and instead will contribute to the national Bitcoin reserve according to White House officials.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="polygon-labs-reduces-workforce-following-acquisitions">Polygon Labs reduces workforce following acquisitions</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
 <li>The Ethereum scaling network operator removed 60 staff positions after acquiring Coinme and Sequence for over $250 million according to sources familiar with the matter.</li>
 <li>Layoffs accompanied the company’s strategic pivot toward payment-focused blockchain infrastructure.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="crypto-card-payment-volume-reaches-1-5-billion-monthly">Crypto card payment volume reaches $1.5 billion monthly</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
 <li>Payment cards that aid users in spending stablecoins and other cryptocurrencies at traditional merchants have become one of digital payments’ fastest-growing segments according to Artemis <a href="https://research.artemisanalytics.com/p/stablecoin-payments-at-scale-how?r=3ey33&amp;triedRedirect=true" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">research</a>.</li>
 <li>Monthly crypto card volume increased from approximately $100 million in early 2023 to over $1.5 billion by late 2025.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="nexo-secures-formula-1-team-sponsorship">Nexo secures Formula 1 team sponsorship</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
 <li>The crypto lender signed a four-year agreement with the Audi Revolut Formula 1 team.</li>
 <li>Brand marketing manager Konstantin Rangelov stated the multi-year agreement grants <a href="https://crypto.news/nexo-fined-500000-by-california-regulators-over-crypto-backed-loans/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Nexo</a> category exclusivity for digital assets with strategic framework allowing long-term extension.</li>
</ul>
<p>You might also like: <a href="https://crypto.news/xrp-charts-signal-bullish-divergence-can-ripple-aims-to-reignite-market-confidence-and-lead-a-new-altcoin-cycle/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> XRP charts signal bullish divergence can; Ripple aims to reignite market confidence and lead a new altcoin cycle </a></p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="utah-man-sentenced-for-crypto-fraud-scheme">Utah man sentenced for crypto fraud scheme</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
 <li>A Southern Utah resident <a href="https://crypto.news/utah-man-sentenced-3-years-fraud-scheme/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">received</a> three years in federal prison for wire fraud that cost investors millions through converting bulk cash into cryptocurrency via unlicensed money transmitting operations.</li>
 <li>FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls emphasized the bureau’s commitment to holding offenders accountable and pursuing those misusing cryptocurrency and unlicensed financial services.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="south-korea-restricts-unregistered-exchange-apps">South Korea restricts unregistered exchange apps</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
 <li>Google Play Store will <a href="https://crypto.news/foreign-exchanges-face-google-play-lockout-under-south-koreas-vasp-rules/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">prohibit</a> unregistered overseas cryptocurrency exchanges and software wallets from listing or updating in the country starting January 28.</li>
 <li>Google’s official policy requires platforms and developers to register as virtual asset service providers with the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit for marketplace eligibility.</li>
 <li>Android users will no longer be able to download or update apps for unregistered overseas exchanges including Binance through Google Play Store.</li>
</ul>
<p>You might also like: <a href="https://crypto.news/bitcoin-etfs-turn-red-after-four-days-of-inflows/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> Bitcoin ETFs turn red after four days of inflows, post $394.68M outflow </a></p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="bitmine-invests-200-million-in-beast-industries">BitMine invests $200 million in Beast Industries</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
 <li>The Ethereum treasury firm chaired by Fundstrat’s Tom Lee <a href="https://crypto.news/bitmine-bets-200-million-on-mrbeast-as-mrbeast-financial-eyes-crypto-push/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">announced</a> Thursday a $200 million investment in Beast Industries, the company founded by YouTube creator Jimmy Donaldson known as MrBeast.</li>
 <li>Lee described Beast Industries as “the largest and most innovative creator-based platform in the world,” overseeing MrBeast-linked merchandise and Feastables snacks and candy brand.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="coinbase-opposes-senate-cryptocurrency-legislation">Coinbase opposes Senate cryptocurrency legislation</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
 <li>CEO Brian Armstrong announced the exchange cannot support the Senate Banking Committee’s cryptocurrency bill hours before the scheduled committee vote.</li>
 <li>Armstrong stated on X that “this version would be materially worse than the current status quo,” preferring “no bill than a bad bill” and hoping for improved drafts.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="sec-closes-zcash-foundation-investigation">SEC closes Zcash Foundation investigation</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
 <li>The Securities and Exchange Commission <a href="https://crypto.news/sec-ends-zcash-foundation-probe-enforcement-2026/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ended</a> its probe into the nonprofit organization without recommending enforcement action according to Wednesday announcements.</li>
 <li>The Virginia-based organization received notification of the August 2023 review pertaining to digital asset offerings during Gary Gensler’s tenure as SEC chair.</li>
</ul>
<p>You might also like: <a href="https://crypto.news/crypto-vc-funding-alpaca-and-lmax-group-raise-150m/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"> Crypto VC Funding: Alpaca and LMAX Group each raise $150 million </a></p>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="ripple-obtains-luxembourg-licensing-approval">Ripple obtains Luxembourg licensing approval</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
 <li>The crypto financial services company received preliminary Electronic Money Institution license approval from Luxembourg’s financial regulator CSSF Wednesday.</li>
 <li>The “Green Light Letter” follows days after Ripple secured EMI license approval from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="pakistan-explores-trump-linked-defi-partnership">Pakistan explores Trump-linked DeFi partnership</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
 <li>The Ministry of Finance <a href="https://crypto.news/pakistan-signs-trump-linked-world-liberty-deal-on-usd1-stablecoin/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">signed</a> a memorandum of understanding Wednesday with a World Liberty Financial affiliate to explore digital finance innovation.</li>
 <li>The agreement includes examining stablecoin usage for cross-border transactions according to the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.</li>
</ul>
<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="strategy-completes-record-five-month-bitcoin-purchase">Strategy completes record five-month Bitcoin purchase</h3>
<ul class="wp-block-list">
 <li>The treasury company <a href="https://crypto.news/mstr-stock-price-make-or-break-strategy-buys-more-btc/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">acquired</a> approximately 13,600 Bitcoin worth over $1.2 billion during the past week and is its largest purchase in five months.</li>
 <li>Total holdings reached 687,400 Bitcoin valued at over $62.8 billion for the Tysons Corner, Virginia-based firm.</li>
</ul>

Solo BTC miners score $300K blocks, hacker steals $282m in social engineering hack, Strategy buys $1.2b Bitcoin | Weekly Recap

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