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21 May 2026, 07:56

Missouri Sues CoinFlip, Binance Debuts SpaceX Pre-IPO Perps, SEC Pauses ETFs

Crypto News Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed a civil action against the operator of crypto ATM network CoinFlip, alleging the company knowingly facilitated fraudulent transactions ...

21 May 2026, 07:55

Crypto Whale Loses $6.7 Million After Physical Threat, On-Chain Data Shows

BitcoinWorld Crypto Whale Loses $6.7 Million After Physical Threat, On-Chain Data Shows A cryptocurrency whale has reportedly lost approximately $6.7 million in digital assets after being physically threatened, according to a report by FinanceSpeed citing on-chain analyst Spectre. The incident highlights the growing risks faced by high-net-worth crypto holders, who can become targets for real-world coercion. How the Theft Unfolded According to transaction records analyzed by Spectre, the attacker withdrew 1,554 ETH and 10.5 BTC from the victim’s Kraken account, along with 34.1 cbBTC from a Coinbase account. The withdrawals were systematic and swift, suggesting the victim was likely coerced into making the transfers under duress. Over $5.3 million of the stolen funds were subsequently moved through multiple wallets and deposited into Tornado Cash, a privacy protocol that obfuscates transaction trails, making them difficult to trace. Implications for Crypto Security This incident underscores a critical vulnerability in the crypto ecosystem: the physical safety of holders. While much attention is given to digital security measures like two-factor authentication and cold storage, the threat of physical coercion remains a significant concern. The use of Tornado Cash also raises questions about the effectiveness of current anti-money laundering measures in the decentralized finance space. What Victims Should Know Law enforcement agencies advise victims of such crimes to report the incident immediately and preserve all evidence, including transaction IDs and communication records. However, the pseudonymous nature of blockchain transactions often complicates recovery efforts. This case may serve as a catalyst for exchanges to implement more robust security protocols for high-value accounts, such as requiring biometric verification or multi-party approval for large withdrawals. Conclusion The theft of $6.7 million from a crypto whale through physical threats is a stark reminder that digital asset security extends beyond the digital realm. As the industry matures, both exchanges and users must prioritize personal safety alongside technical safeguards. The use of Tornado Cash to launder the stolen funds further complicates the investigation, highlighting the ongoing challenges in regulating privacy tools within the crypto space. FAQs Q1: How can crypto holders protect themselves from physical threats? A: High-net-worth holders should avoid publicly disclosing their holdings, use multi-signature wallets, and consider implementing time-delayed withdrawals or requiring biometric verification for large transactions. Personal security measures, such as varying routines and using secure locations for transactions, are also recommended. Q2: What is Tornado Cash and why is it used in thefts? A: Tornado Cash is a privacy protocol that mixes cryptocurrencies from multiple users to obscure the transaction trail. It is often used by malicious actors to launder stolen funds because it makes it extremely difficult for law enforcement to trace the flow of assets. Q3: Can stolen crypto be recovered? A: Recovery is challenging but not impossible. Victims should immediately report the theft to the exchange and law enforcement. If the funds have not yet been moved through a mixer, there is a higher chance of freezing them. However, once funds enter Tornado Cash, recovery becomes highly unlikely. This post Crypto Whale Loses $6.7 Million After Physical Threat, On-Chain Data Shows first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

21 May 2026, 07:53

Bitcoin at $77.8K: Trump Iran Vow Sparks $185M Short Squeeze, Quantum Risk Hits 4.12M BTC

Bitcoin News Donald Trump's May 20 social media pledge to end the Iran war quickly sent ripples through crypto derivatives within hours. Roughly $184.59 million in short positions were liquidated a...

21 May 2026, 07:52

Will Pi Network surge after reclaiming the $0.15 level?

PI Network (PI) has been one of the worst performers among the leading cryptocurrencies in recent days. The coin lost 10% of its value in the last seven days and briefly dropped below the $0.1500 psychological level. PI’s bearish performance was due to the token unlock event that increased selling pressure as users gained access to some of their locked tokens. However, PI has stabilized above $0.1500 since Tuesday and is now up by 2% in the last 24 hours. While PI’s expansion in the United States via OKX pushed its price higher, the increased deposits on Centralized Exchanges (CEXs) imply that the sellers have not given up control yet. The momentum indicators have improved, suggesting a fading bearish trend. PI is now available to US customers via OKX PI is up by 2% in the last 24 hours and is trading above $0.1500. The positive performance comes as the broader crypto market rebounded following events regarding the US-Iran war. President Trump announced on Wednesday that the negotiations with Iran are approaching a peaceful end. The news caused Bitcoin and other major coins, including PI, to rally higher. Another major catalyst behind PI’s rally is the announcement on Wednesday that the OKX exchange will enable PI token access for its US users. This latest development means that more users in the United States would gain access to PI following Kraken’s listing of the token in March. https://twitter.com/PiCoreTeam/status/2057268237323088320 The listing on Kraken and OKX could allow Pi Network to build a strong user base in the United States. Despite these positive developments, on-chain data suggests that investors should be careful of sell traps. On-chain data obtained from PiScan shows that 1.72 million PI tokens were deposited on CEXs over the last 24 hours. This brings the total CEX balance to 540 million tokens. Historically, an increase in CEX deposits suggests reduced investor confidence, which could result in bearish price action for PI. PI technical outlook: The bulls are not out of the woods yet The PI/USD 4-hour chart remains bearish and efficient despite PI adding 2% to its value. At press time, PI is trading above $0.1500, maintaining a mixed bias. The momentum indicators indicate that the bearish trend is fading. The RSI of 47 is approaching the neutral 50, suggesting a growing bullish narrative. The MACD lines are also close to the zero area, adding further confluence to the growing bullish trend. If the $0.1463 support level holds and the buyers step up, PI could extend its rally towards the first major resistance at $0.1585. A daily candle close above this level will enable PI to target the next major resistance at $0.1690, which is the 4-hour Transactional Liquidity (TLQ) zone. However, if the $0.1463 support level fails to hold, PI could dip lower and retest the all-time low at $0.1310. The post Will Pi Network surge after reclaiming the $0.15 level? appeared first on Invezz

21 May 2026, 07:47

HYPE Surges Above $57 as Short Squeeze Pushes it 2% Away From ATH

Hyperliquid’s HYPE token climbed above $57 on Thursday, just eight months after its last visit to those levels, as a wave of short liquidations and ETF-driven buying pushed the token within 2% of its all-time high near $59 reached in September 2025. The rally has turned HYPE into one of the market’s strongest large-cap performers this year, while traders pile into leveraged bets tied to the fast-growing perpetual futures platform. How the Short Squeeze Played Out According to on-chain analytics firm Santiment, on May 18 and 19, funding rate data across exchanges registered a sharp spike into negative territory, a sign that large numbers of traders were opening short positions and betting on a pullback. Instead, the price kept climbing, and as it rose, those bearish traders were forced to automatically buy back their positions to avoid liquidation, which added more upward pressure rather than removing it. The liquidation data from CoinGlass makes the damage to shorts clear. It shows that over the past 12 hours alone, roughly $21 million in HYPE futures positions were wiped out, with shorts accounting for all but $677,000 of that figure. In 24 hours, short liquidations reached $30.6 million against $1.08 million on the long side, showing just how hard the shorts got squeezed. What makes the situation more unusual is that open interest didn’t collapse during the liquidations, as it often does. According to Santiment, HYPE’s open interest was above $1.92 billion, but data from CoinGlass shows it is now sitting closer to $2.5 billion. This is because new traders kept stepping in to replace those who were being flushed out, and that only happens with assets that people genuinely want exposure to. At the time of writing, HYPE was up nearly 17% in 24 hours and more than 46% over the past seven days. Across one year, it’s up over 111%, outrunning heavyweights like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, BNB, and DOGE by a significant margin. Why Is HYPE Up? The asset’s rally has coincided with rising institutional attention around Hyperliquid, with Santiment pointing to new HYPE-linked ETFs launched in May by Bitwise and 21Shares as one of the main catalysts behind the move. Bitwise’s Matt Hougan also recently gushed over Hyperliquid, calling it “one of the fastest-growing financial businesses” he had seen and arguing that investors were still underpricing both the platform and its token. Meanwhile, his colleague, Hunter Horsley, posted on May 21 that the network, as well as Solana, is forming a new category he called “revenue chains,” noting that it has generated $790 million in total blockchain revenue, ahead of Solana’s $532 million, with Tron and Ethereum following at $471 million and $425 million, respectively. Recall that before this latest leg up, HYPE had already gained around 24% from its May 13 low near $38, partly on the back of the CLARITY Act passing on May 14 and the debut of synthetic SpaceX perpetual contracts on the Hyperliquid-linked platform Trade.xyz. The post HYPE Surges Above $57 as Short Squeeze Pushes it 2% Away From ATH appeared first on CryptoPotato .

21 May 2026, 07:37

SpaceX IPO filing exposes bigger Bitcoin bet than expected