hodler

17 Jan 2026, 21:40

Bitcoin bots fight over funds sent to compromised wallets

Greedy bots have launched an RBF transaction war over Bitcoin sent to a compromised wallet, according to a post from X. The bots tried to empty the wallet after it detected the deposited funds. The compromised wallet’s private key is a transaction identifier (txid). Specifically, it’s the coinbase txid of block 924,982. Bots exploit exposed private key On-chain data shows that Bitcoin bots drained funds from the compromised wallet within minutes. The SegWit wallet received 0.00020305 BTC through two transactions. However, it ended up with a zero balance and no unspent outputs left. Every incoming BTC transfer was quickly spent by bots. The first transaction sent 0.00018209 BTC to the address. At the same timestamp, the funds were spent out in a separate transaction with a fee rate of 12.8 sat/vB. The spending speed indicates an automated sweep. The second deposit added 0.00002096 BTC. The funds were again removed almost immediately. The bot paid 4.80 sat/vB then sent 0.00001572 BTC to an external address. Bots continuously monitor Bitcoin’s mempool for deposits sent to wallets derived from weak or publicly known private keys. A bitcoin mempool is a waiting area for unconfirmed transactions. Once funds appear, the bots already control the private key and can instantly sign withdrawal transactions. Bots instantly send replace-by-fee (RBF) transactions to compete by raising fees for miners to approve a withdrawal. An RBF or replace by fee, is a node policy that allows bots to replace an unconfirmed transaction with a new transaction that pays a higher fee to miners. On-chain fee data shows sudden jumps in satoshi-per-byte (sat/vB) rates. This indicates transactions being replaced with higher-fee versions. Only one transaction ultimately confirms, while competing versions are dropped or replaced. The balance history of the compromised BTC wallet. Source: mempool.space . Watching greedy bots send more aggressive RBF transactions can be somewhat entertaining. “Sometimes I send small transactions to compromised wallets, just to see the beauty in this automated RBFs,” said Brevsolution on X. But some people send larger amounts to compromised wallets, and the reason is unclear. “I’d really like to know why that happens,” said Ottosch on X. Such transactions could be a mistake from the sender’s side. In November, $70,000 was carelessly sent to a wallet linked to a predictable private key. Brevsolution explained that bots react instantly and use RBF to reduce transactions down to one satoshi. This causes the bots to pay almost 100% of the deposited BTC in fees. Bitcoin private keys could be compromised Weak private keys and seed phrases could be hacked. They are predictable like easy passwords. Storing the private key securely is essential to protect BTC. Exposing it or any other related data often leads to quick theft by hackers. Using a txid to hash a private key does not provide enough entropy to secure the private keys. Bitcoin private keys are just numbers. It is possible to derive a public address and private keys from block hashes and transaction IDs (txids). Any txid or block hash is a valid 256-bit number and can technically be used as a private key. Bots exploit this by precomputing addresses from known public data. Then they watch those addresses forever and drain them instantly. Sharpen your strategy with mentorship + daily ideas - 30 days free access to our trading program

17 Jan 2026, 17:00

XRP Beats Bitcoin, Ethereum, And Dogecoin In This Metric

XRP has just achieved a major milestone, officially surpassing Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Dogecoin (DOGE) in terms of trading volume. According to a new report, the altcoin has become the most traded asset in all of South Korea , highlighting strong adoption, demand, and liquidity. This latest development underscores the token’s growing dominance in one of the world’s most active crypto markets, even as broader conditions remain volatile . XRP Outpaces Bitcoin, Ethereum, And Dogecoin As Most Traded Asset XRP has posted a notable win in one of the world’s most active crypto markets . New data from Upbit, one of South Korea’s largest crypto exchanges, shows the asset outpacing Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin in trading volume throughout 2025. Market analyst XFinanceBull highlighted this new achievement in a recent X post after reviewing Upbit’s trading data for 2025. According to the analyst, the altcoin was confirmed as the most traded digital asset on Upbit . The ranking was based on volume, liquidity, and actual usage rather than price movement. XRP trading pairs consistently led the platform, with the XRP/KRW pair taking the number one position for most of the year. Bitcoin followed in second place, Ethereum ranked third, USDT came fourth, and Dogecoin placed fifth by trading volume. Notably, the figures were officially verified by Dunamu, the operator of Upbit, on January 2, 2026. On a year-over-year basis, Upbit processes more than $1 trillion in trading volume and accounts for more than 70% of South Korea’s total crypto market . This positions Upbit as the country’s largest crypto exchange and makes it a reliable indicator of usage trends and real retail and institutional demand. XFinanceBull emphasized that South Korea tends to trade assets with clear real-world use cases and strong liquidity. Because of this, steady trading volume indicates a cryptocurrency is actively being used in the market, not just driven by short-term speculation. The analyst added that XRP’s continued use creates a pull effect, drawing in more capital as liquidity improves. In established markets like South Korea, assets that perform well are more likely to attract consistent, long-term participation, which can positively impact prices. Following the recent development, XFinanceBull reinforced his bullish stance on the altcoin and stated he plans to accumulate even more of the cryptocurrency. Upbit’s Report On XRP’s Performance Upbit’s 2025 data shows that the altcoin consistently accounted for between 15% and 22% of the exchange’s daily trading activity, across a total annual trading volume of $1 trillion. As mentioned before, XRP/KRW was ranked the top trading pair for that year. Its daily volume peaked at $1.22 billion in July 2025, demonstrating sustained retail-driven liquidity and stable support. In terms of liquidity, XRP outperformed BTC and ETH multiple times. By year-end, Korean exchanges had accumulated around 570 million XRP, reinforcing the token’s role as a primary transactional and economic asset in the country . User data also shows Upbit serves about 13.26 million users, almost one in four people in South Korea. The largest age group is users in their 30s, making up approximately 28.7% of the exchange.

17 Jan 2026, 16:09

Venezuelan Man Faces 20 Years for Alleged $1B Crypto Money Laundering Scheme

Federal prosecutors have charged a Venezuelan national with laundering approximately one billion dollars through crypto wallets and shell companies in what officials describe as one of the largest money-laundering operations prosecuted by the Justice Department. Jorge Figueira, 59, faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted of conspiracy to launder money, with authorities alleging his network processed illicit funds across multiple continents while deliberately concealing transactions from law enforcement. The complaint filed in Virginia’s Eastern District accuses Figueira of directing a sophisticated laundering apparatus that converted cash into cryptocurrency, routed digital assets through multiple wallets, then exchanged them back into dollars before transferring proceeds to intended recipients in high-risk jurisdictions, including Colombia, China, Panama, and Mexico. Prosecutors say more than one billion dollars moved through identified crypto wallets and financial accounts between 2018 and the present, with the majority of inbound funds originating from crypto trading platforms. The U.S. DOJ charged Venezuelan national Jorge Figueira with conspiring to launder around $1 billion in illicit funds through bank accounts, crypto exchanges, and private wallets. The probe, supported by the FBI, alleges extensive crypto-based transfers to conceal fund origins.… — Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) January 16, 2026 Billion-Dollar Network Operated Through Multiple Jurisdictions Court documents reveal that Figueira allegedly enlisted subordinates to execute hundreds of transfers designed to obscure the origins and destinations of funds. The operation relied on various bank accounts, crypto exchange accounts, private digital wallets, and shell companies to move voluminous amounts of illicit money into and out of the United States, according to federal investigators. FBI Washington Field Office Criminal Division Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis said the bureau identified approximately $1 billion in crypto passing through wallets used by Figueira’s laundering operation. The network allegedly served individuals and businesses worldwide while conducting scores of transfers intended to conceal the nature of funds and potentially facilitate criminal activity across numerous countries. U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan emphasized the scale of alleged criminal conduct, stating that “ money laundering at this level enables transnational criminal organizations to operate, expand, and inflict real-world harm. ” “ Those who move illicit funds in the billions should expect to be identified, disrupted, and held fully accountable under federal law, ” she warned. Federal Crackdown Extends Across Multiple Crypto Crime Networks The charges against Figueira arrive amid intensified federal enforcement targeting crypto-related money laundering nationwide. In fact, earlier this week, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg urged New York lawmakers to criminalize unlicensed crypto operations he characterized as a “ $51 billion criminal economy. “ Federal data shows the scope of crypto-enabled crime, with the FBI reporting nearly 11,000 crypto ATM-related complaints in 2024 totaling more than $246 million. Separately, blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis found that illicit crypto addresses received a record $154 billion in 2025, a sharp increase from previous years. Source: Chainalysis Recent prosecutions have targeted operations across the criminal spectrum. On Thursday, Utah resident Brian Garry Sewell was sentenced to three years in prison for running a $2.9 million fraud scheme while simultaneously operating an unlicensed cash-to-crypto business that converted more than $5.4 million in bulk cash. Last month, prosecutors charged another 23-year-old Brooklyn resident, Ronald Spektor, with stealing roughly $16 million from approximately 100 Coinbase users through alleged phishing schemes that relied on panic tactics rather than technical hacks. With all these massive seizures that keep growing, the government has moved to establish the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, formalizing the retention of seized crypto rather than auctioning it. This was one of the first things Donald Trump did when he took office, even signing an executive order to support it. Recently, things took a different turn when it was discovered that the U.S. Department of Justice appears to have sold 57 Bitcoin forfeited by Samourai Wallet developers. A White House crypto advisor said the US government has not sold any Bitcoin forfeited in the Samourai Wallet case. #DOJ #Bitcoin https://t.co/pfX7fkilo8 — Cryptonews.com (@cryptonews) January 17, 2026 However, White House crypto advisor Patrick Witt confirmed yesterday, Friday, that the Bitcoin forfeited in the case has not been liquidated and will remain part of the reserve per executive order, with current federal holdings estimated at 328,372 BTC valued at over $31 billion. For now, a criminal complaint is merely an accusation, and Figueira is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Rosenberg is prosecuting the case, with sentencing guidelines and statutory factors to be considered if a conviction occurs. The post Venezuelan Man Faces 20 Years for Alleged $1B Crypto Money Laundering Scheme appeared first on Cryptonews .

17 Jan 2026, 15:25

Ripple Lawsuit Finality: Legal Expert Reveals Why Case Cannot Be Reopened Despite Political Pressure

BitcoinWorld Ripple Lawsuit Finality: Legal Expert Reveals Why Case Cannot Be Reopened Despite Political Pressure In a significant development for cryptocurrency regulation, legal experts confirm the Ripple lawsuit has reached permanent closure despite recent political challenges. Australian lawyer Bill Morgan, a prominent figure in digital asset law, asserts the case cannot be reopened under established U.S. legal principles. This declaration comes amid growing scrutiny from Democratic lawmakers questioning regulatory decisions involving multiple crypto firms. The legal landscape surrounding XRP and other digital assets continues to evolve, with this latest clarification providing crucial stability for market participants. The Ripple Lawsuit: A Case of Legal Finality Legal professionals emphasize the principle of res judicata as the cornerstone of this situation. This fundamental doctrine prevents parties from re-litigating matters that courts have already decided with final judgments. The Ripple lawsuit concluded last year with a decisive victory for the blockchain company. Consequently, the judicial system considers this matter settled permanently. Legal experts universally recognize res judicata as essential for judicial efficiency and certainty. Furthermore, this principle maintains consistency in legal outcomes across similar cases. The application of this doctrine to high-profile cryptocurrency cases establishes important precedents for future regulatory actions. Bill Morgan specifically addressed recent political criticism in his analysis. Some Democratic members of Congress have questioned the SEC’s decision-making process. These lawmakers allege potential connections between dropped cases and political contributions. However, Morgan clarifies that such political discussions cannot override established legal procedures. The legal system operates independently from political debates about regulatory approaches. This separation ensures consistent application of justice regardless of changing political climates. Legal analysts note this distinction protects both companies and investors from regulatory uncertainty. Political Context and Regulatory Scrutiny The political dimension adds complexity to cryptocurrency regulation discussions. Republican-led House committees have faced criticism from Democratic members regarding multiple enforcement decisions. These criticisms extend beyond the Ripple lawsuit to include cases involving Kraken, Binance, and Coinbase. Lawmakers express concerns about regulatory consistency and potential influences on enforcement priorities. However, legal experts distinguish between political oversight and judicial processes. Political committees can investigate regulatory decisions without affecting closed legal cases. This separation maintains the integrity of both legislative oversight and judicial finality. Expert Analysis on Legal Precedents Legal scholars highlight several key precedents supporting case finality. The U.S. judicial system has consistently upheld res judicata across diverse legal domains. This consistency applies equally to traditional finance and emerging digital asset cases. Historical examples demonstrate courts rarely reopen properly concluded cases. Exceptions require extraordinary circumstances like fraud or procedural errors. No evidence suggests such exceptions apply to the Ripple lawsuit resolution. Legal databases show overwhelming support for maintaining judicial finality in commercial litigation. This stability benefits all market participants by providing predictable legal environments. The cryptocurrency industry particularly benefits from legal certainty. Market volatility often increases during regulatory uncertainty periods. Clear legal outcomes help stabilize digital asset markets and encourage institutional participation. The Ripple lawsuit conclusion provided such clarity for XRP and related projects. Reopening settled cases would undermine this hard-won market stability. Legal experts warn against creating precedents that could destabilize regulatory frameworks. Consistent application of established legal principles supports healthy market development. Comparative Analysis: Crypto Enforcement Patterns Recent SEC enforcement actions reveal evolving regulatory approaches. The table below illustrates key cases mentioned in political discussions: Company Case Status Primary Allegations Resolution Date Ripple Labs Closed (Ripple victory) Unregistered securities offering 2023 Kraken Settled Unregistered securities exchange 2023 Coinbase Ongoing Unregistered exchange operations Binance Settled Multiple regulatory violations 2024 Legal analysts identify several important patterns in these enforcement actions. First, resolution methods vary significantly across different cases. Second, settlement terms reflect each company’s specific circumstances and cooperation levels. Third, the SEC appears to prioritize different violation types across enforcement cycles. These variations naturally lead to political questions about consistency. However, legal experts note that case-specific factors legitimately produce different outcomes. The judicial system accommodates these nuances while maintaining overall legal principles. Impact on Cryptocurrency Regulation Framework The Ripple lawsuit outcome influences broader regulatory discussions in several ways: Legal Precedent: Establishes important boundaries for securities law application to digital assets Market Certainty: Provides clearer guidelines for cryptocurrency projects and investors Regulatory Approach: Influences how agencies approach enforcement against emerging technologies International Implications: Affects how other jurisdictions view U.S. cryptocurrency regulation Innovation Balance: Helps define the space between consumer protection and technological development Legal experts emphasize that case finality supports regulatory evolution. Clear precedents allow regulators to develop more nuanced approaches. They can focus resources on areas requiring attention rather than revisiting settled matters. This efficiency benefits both regulators and regulated entities. The cryptocurrency industry particularly needs this regulatory clarity to mature responsibly. Market participants can make informed decisions based on stable legal interpretations. The Role of Legal Commentary in Public Understanding Expert legal analysis plays a crucial role in public discourse. Lawyers like Bill Morgan help translate complex legal concepts for broader audiences. Their commentary bridges gaps between judicial processes, regulatory actions, and public understanding. This translation is especially important for technically complex areas like cryptocurrency regulation. Clear explanations of principles like res judicata prevent misinformation spread. They also help distinguish between legitimate political oversight and impractical suggestions. The legal community provides this essential service through various channels including media commentary and academic publications. Conclusion The Ripple lawsuit represents a concluded chapter in cryptocurrency regulation history. Legal principles of finality properly prevent case reopening despite political questions. This outcome provides necessary stability for digital asset markets and regulatory frameworks. The application of res judicata to high-profile cryptocurrency cases establishes valuable precedents. These precedents will guide future regulatory interactions with emerging technologies. Market participants should understand that properly concluded cases remain closed under U.S. law. This understanding allows focus on current regulatory developments rather than revisiting settled matters. The Ripple lawsuit resolution continues to influence cryptocurrency regulation discussions meaningfully. FAQs Q1: What is res judicata and why does it matter for the Ripple lawsuit? Res judicata is a legal principle preventing re-litigation of finally decided cases. It matters because it makes the Ripple lawsuit outcome permanent and unchangeable through normal legal channels. Q2: Can political pressure actually reopen a closed legal case? No, political pressure cannot reopen properly concluded legal cases. The judicial system operates independently from political processes under U.S. constitutional principles. Q3: Why are some lawmakers questioning the SEC’s decisions on crypto cases? Lawmakers question regulatory consistency and potential influences on enforcement priorities. These are legitimate oversight questions but don’t affect closed judicial matters. Q4: How does case finality benefit the cryptocurrency market? Case finality provides regulatory certainty that stabilizes markets, encourages institutional participation, and supports responsible innovation in the cryptocurrency sector. Q5: What exceptions might allow reopening a case like the Ripple lawsuit? Extraordinary circumstances like proven fraud, judicial misconduct, or fundamental procedural errors might allow reopening, but no evidence suggests such exceptions apply here. This post Ripple Lawsuit Finality: Legal Expert Reveals Why Case Cannot Be Reopened Despite Political Pressure first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

17 Jan 2026, 15:15

ETF assets jump as gold and silver pull in capital

The minerals trade spoke before prices did. By the end of 2025, money tied to metal and mining exchange-traded funds climbed past $750 billion, according to data from Critical Minerals Institute. That $750 billion sits inside metal and mining ETFs worldwide. Christopher Berlet, President and Chief Investment Officer of MineralFunds.com, said the number tracks real allocations. ETF assets jump as gold and silver pull in capital Christopher said 2025 marked the third year MineralFunds published its annual ETF report. By year end, the firm tracked 249 metal and mining ETFs. He said assets crossed $750 billion twice in December. The first break came early in the month. The second came around December 20. Assets dipped briefly at year end, then bounced back fast. “That’s three-quarters of a trillion dollars in metal and mining ETF assets,” Christopher said. Total assets across the sector rose about 117% during 2025. Precious metals drove most of that rise. Christopher said the firm tracks 79 gold ETFs worldwide. Together, those funds now hold more than $500 billion. Silver grew even faster. Assets tied to silver ETFs rose from about $25 billion to $75 billion by year end. That marked a 200% increase in one year. Christopher said the key signal came from rising shares outstanding. “That shows capital allocations increasing to the sector,” he said. That trend showed growing demand for exposure to minerals through ETFs. Exchanges and ETF structure are changing the supply and demand of critical minerals Christopher said the location of ETF assets surprised many people. Canada has a strong mining image, but it does not dominate ETF capital. He said the New York Stock Exchange, mainly NYSE Arca, and the London Stock Exchange together host about 75% of all assets across the 249 ETFs.NYSE Arca alone holds about 55% of global assets. Meanwhile, metal ETFs make up for about 85% of total assets, and mining-company ETFs hold about 12%, equal to roughly $70 billion, while hedged and leveraged products make up the remaining 3%. Inside metal ETFs, concentration remains heavy, with gold and silver together representing about 95% of metal ETF assets. Platinum group metals, critical minerals, and industrial metals each sit around 2% or less. Christopher said issuance data matters more than price charts. During 2025, nine new ETFs launched. Five came from Canada, after a wave of launches in India and China the year before. He said the stronger signal came from share creation inside existing funds. “The biggest indicator for us is the growth in the number of shares outstanding, which tells you more about capital flows than price changes.” He said asset managers are pushing deeper into the space. Fees are rising. New products are appearing across Asia. He also said ETF demand affects physical supply. When someone buys a metal ETF, what they’re really getting is the actual metal, locked up in storage. That same metal could’ve gone to a battery maker or a steel plant, but now it’s sitting in a vault because it’s tied to an ETF. That’s how these funds are soaking up physical supply. Over time, this has pulled money away from digging up new supply. Less money is going into exploration, fewer discoveries are being made, and supply is getting tighter. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .

17 Jan 2026, 14:38

Binance to Delist Four Crypto Trading Pairs Next Week

Users will be unable to open new positions on January 21.