The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Nova Labs with conducting unregistered securities offerings and making false claims about its business partnerships to mislead investors. According to the SEC’s complaint, Nova Labs sold unregistered investment contracts since April 2019, primarily through its Hotspots and Discovery Mapping Program, which promised returns through network expansion and increased demand for its crypto tokens.
The company allegedly misled investors by claiming that large companies like Nestlé, Salesforce, and Lime were using its wireless network, despite no such partnerships existing. When these companies discovered the false claims, they issued cease-and-desist letters to Nova Labs. The SEC argues that these fraudulent statements were material to investor decisions and violated federal securities laws.
As a result, the SEC is seeking multiple remedies, including permanent injunctions, disgorgement of ill-gotten profits, and civil penalties. This case is part of the SEC’s ongoing efforts to regulate cryptocurrency companies operating without proper securities registration and making misleading claims to attract investors.
Bitcoin has achieved a new all-time high, reaching $109,300 and nearing the $110,000 milestone. The surge, representing a 5% increase in just an hour, also lifted other major cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, XRP, and Solana, each gaining over 3%. The rapid rise triggered significant losses for traders holding short positions, as Bitcoin shorts alone accounted for over $60 million in losses.
The crypto market experienced liquidations exceeding $1.2 billion in the past 24 hours, with short sellers collectively losing $900 million. This momentum aligns with growing optimism surrounding Donald Trump’s second term as US President. Investors anticipate his administration will introduce policies favourable to the crypto industry, positioning the United States as a global leader in blockchain innovation.
With Trump signalling full support for the emerging crypto sector, market sentiment remains overwhelmingly positive, driving a fresh wave of enthusiasm and record-breaking gains for Bitcoin and other digital assets.
World Liberty Financial, a decentralised finance platform supported by Donald Trump, has released an additional 5 billion tokens for sale following the success of its initial presale. The new tokens, priced at 5 cents each, mark a significant increase from the presale rate of 1.5 cents. The platform’s first token sale raised $300 million by selling 20% of its 100 billion WLFI tokens, and the current offering aims to raise an additional $250 million.
The surge in demand has also attracted increased investment from notable backers. Tron founder Justin Sun, who previously invested $30 million, announced an additional $45 million investment, bringing his total stake to $75 million. Despite barring US retail investors from participating, the presale drew significant interest globally, with WLFI positioned as the governance token for the platform’s future decentralised trading system.
In a move to expand its ecosystem, World Liberty Financial partnered with TRUMP, a meme coin tied to Donald Trump. The collaboration followed a volatile market debut for TRUMP, which briefly surged to $73 before falling to $41. Meanwhile, Melania Trump launched her memecoin, adding further intrigue to the platform’s strategy. As the project pushes ahead, the new token sale reflects strong market interest and ambitious growth plans.
Melania Trump has unveiled her cryptocurrency, $MELANIA, just ahead of her husband Donald Trump’s inauguration as the US president. The token, hosted on the Solana blockchain, debuted with a market valuation of $1.7 billion, following the earlier release of $TRUMP, which currently boasts a $12 billion valuation.
Announcing the launch on social platform X, Melania’s post invited users to join the ‘Official Melania Meme’ movement. Both $MELANIA and $TRUMP websites include disclaimers stating the tokens are not intended as investment opportunities or securities, adding a layer of caution to their promotional efforts.
These developments highlight a shift in the Trump family’s stance on digital assets, with Donald Trump previously labelling crypto a ‘scam.’ During his campaign, however, he embraced the industry, pledging to reduce regulatory barriers and create a strategic Bitcoin reserve. His victory fuelled optimism in the market, driving Bitcoin to a record high of $107,000.
The crypto world continues to watch as the Trumps’ venture into digital currencies unfolds, with broader implications for regulatory policies and market dynamics under the new administration.
The European crypto market is on the verge of a major transformation as the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) takes centre stage. The comprehensive framework aims to enhance transparency, anti-money laundering measures, and consumer protection, setting new standards for the industry. However, with the 2025 deadline approaching, concerns over readiness are mounting. Recent findings reveal that less than 5% of crypto businesses in countries like Poland, Czechia, and the Baltics are fully prepared, leaving many at risk of non-compliance.
While nations such as Malta, France, and Liechtenstein benefit from existing laws closely aligned with MiCA, others face steeper challenges. Poland, for example, must harmonise its lenient regulatory environment to meet the demands, impacting over 1,500 registered VASPs. On the other hand, Estonia stands out as a proactive leader, with fewer firms needing to adapt due to its stringent crypto regulations. The disparity in readiness underscores the urgent need for a cohesive effort across Europe.
For crypto companies, compliance is no longer optional but imperative. Non-compliance could mean losing access to the EU market or facing operational shutdowns, especially for smaller firms. Yet, embracing MiCA offers a significant upside, including greater consumer trust and competitive advantage. Companies like Kyrrex are stepping in to provide solutions, enabling a smoother business transition through sublicensing and advanced regulatory tools.
With 2025 drawing closer, the focus shifts to how quickly the industry can adapt to unlock MiCA’s potential. For Europe’s crypto market, this is not just about surviving regulatory changes but thriving in a future defined by transparency and innovation.
Swiss government-owned bank PostFinance is now offering Ether staking to its 2.7 million customers, representing about a quarter of the country’s population. With a minimum requirement of just 0.1 Ether, the service is accessible to retail investors and integrates staking rewards into customers’ asset statements for a seamless experience. The 12-week fixed term allows users to sell credited rewards after maturity.
PostFinance’s foray into Ether staking marks another step in its expanding cryptocurrency services. In April 2023, it launched crypto trading and custody in partnership with Sygnum, following its earlier initiatives in crypto custody platforms and digital stamp collectables. The bank plans to add more cryptocurrencies to its staking programme in the future.
According to the Beacon Chain, this development comes as Ether grows, with over 33 million Ether staked globally. Liquid staking platforms like Lido Finance and Coinbase currently dominate the market, but PostFinance’s native Ethereum staking could appeal to those seeking traditional banking options in the crypto space.
The incoming Trump administration is set to shape the future of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology in the United States with a wave of key appointments and nominations. As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office, crypto advocates are hopeful that the new leadership will take a friendlier stance toward the industry, marking a departure from years of lawsuits and enforcement actions.
Among the prominent appointees, billionaire hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, slated to be Treasury Secretary, has voiced strong support for crypto, calling it “about freedom.” Commerce Secretary nominee Howard Lutnick, who leads Cantor Fitzgerald, is an active bitcoin proponent, while Elon Musk, heading the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has a well-documented history of championing cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and dogecoin. Vivek Ramaswamy, a former presidential candidate, will work alongside Musk at DOGE, with a focus on integrating bitcoin into broader investment portfolios.
David Sacks, a former PayPal executive and crypto investor, was named the administration’s AI and crypto czar, tasked with creating a long-sought legal framework for digital assets. Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and members of the Trump family, including Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and Barron Trump, have also signalled strong support for cryptocurrency, further solidifying the administration’s pro-crypto stance. With SEC Chair nominee Paul Atkins advocating for deregulation, the industry is optimistic about a more innovation-friendly approach.
The Trump administration’s apparent focus on fostering a robust US crypto industry has already garnered attention, including a sold-out crypto-themed ball in Washington. While critics voice concerns about conflicts of interest and regulatory gaps, supporters believe these appointments could position the US as a global leader in cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.
Coinbase has reintroduced crypto-backed loans, allowing US customers to borrow against their Bitcoin. The service, currently unavailable in New York, uses the decentralised finance (DeFi) protocol Morpho to handle lending operations. Customers can borrow USDC while Coinbase facilitates the process, removing the need to interact directly with complex DeFi systems.
The new programme marks a significant step in bridging traditional crypto exchanges with the DeFi world. By integrating a sleek, consumer-friendly interface, Coinbase makes over-collateralised loans more accessible, concealing the intricate mechanics of DeFi from users. The loans use cbBTC, a DeFi-compatible version of Bitcoin issued by Coinbase, as collateral.
The move follows the discontinuation of Coinbase’s previous loan offering in 2023 after regulatory challenges and waning demand. With this streamlined approach, Coinbase hopes to attract more users to DeFi lending, tapping into the billions of dollars worth of Bitcoin held by its customers.
Layer-1 stablecoin payments network 1Money has secured over $20 million in seed funding to advance its digital payments platform. The funding round saw participation from major investors, including Galaxy Ventures, Kraken Ventures, and Tribe Capital, highlighting growing confidence in stablecoins as a transformative financial tool.
Led by former Binance.US CEO Brian Shroder, 1Money aims to modernise global payments with its patent-pending Byzantine consistent broadcast design. The network promises instant transactions, fixed costs, and support for multiple stablecoins, removing the need for users to manage gas tokens and simplifying the payment process.
Stablecoins are gaining momentum as a cornerstone of the blockchain industry, with the market currently valued at $214 billion. Industry experts predict this figure could surpass $300 billion as adoption rises. Companies like Visa and fintech platforms are eyeing stablecoins to revolutionise payment systems, further cementing their role in the future of finance.
A recent survey by CryptoQuant reveals that a significant portion of the cryptocurrency market is made up of younger, well-educated investors, with over 60% of participants aged between 25 and 44. The survey also highlighted that nearly half of crypto investors hold at least a bachelor’s degree, and most invest less than $10,000 annually, showing that retail investors are the dominant force in the market.
Binance emerged as the preferred exchange for 53% of respondents, with the platform also being the most profitable for many, with 51% of users reporting their largest gains through it. Other platforms like Bybit and OKX were popular among full-time traders, while Coinbase and Kraken were favoured by part-time investors. Regionally, Binance leads in Asia, Africa, and South America, while Coinbase remains the top choice in North America.
Bitcoin continues to be the most sought-after cryptocurrency, followed by Ethereum and other assets like Solana and XRP. The survey underscores the growing confidence in blue-chip cryptocurrencies, with investors focusing on established projects to limit risk.
