Invest ideasNews
30 Apr 2026, 13:03
Crypto plans, card spending, network fees gain prominence as Mastercard beats projections
Mastercard beat earnings with $4.35 EPS as quarterly profit rose to $3.9 billion, putting card spending, network fees, and its crypto plan back in front of investors. Mastercard (NYSE: MA), the world’s second-largest debit and credit card company, posted a 14% profit rise as more people paid with cards. Global purchase volume increased 10% on a local currency basis to $759 billion. U.S. purchase volume rose 9% to $268 billion from a year earlier. The quarter also landed with stronger consumer data. A global survey showed U.S. consumer sentiment rose sharply in the first quarter as optimism over the economy improved. Confidence also rose in debt-heavy eurozone countries. For the quarter ended March 31, net income climbed to $870 million, or 73 cents per share, from $766 million, or 62 cents per share, a year earlier. Net revenue rose about 14% to $2.18 billion. Analysts tracked by Reuters I/B/E/S expected 72 cents per share on $2.14 billion in revenue, so the company beat the line without needing any confetti cannon. Mastercard grows payment volume as shoppers keep using cards across stores, travel, and online checkout Mastercard said first-quarter net revenue increased 16% from the same period in 2025, or 12% on a currency-neutral basis. The gain came from its payment network and its value-added services and solutions business. Payment network net revenue rose 12%, or 8% after currency moves. Gross dollar volume grew 7% in local currency terms to $2.7 trillion. Cross-border volume climbed 13%, while switched transactions rose 9%. The company also paid more through customer deals. Payment network rebates and incentives increased 23%, or 19% on a currency-neutral basis, due to growth in the main business drivers and new and renewed agreements. Mastercard’s value-added services and solutions net revenue rose 22%, or 18% on a currency-neutral basis. Growth came from security products, digital and authentication tools, business and market insights, consumer acquisition and engagement services, pricing, and other operating drivers. Michael Miebach, CEO of Mastercard, said: “Building on our strong foundation, we’re advancing agentic commerce with Mastercard Agent Pay and expanding our stablecoin solutions through the planned acquisition of BVNK. We’re well positioned to capture the next wave of digital payments growth and continue to support secure commerce around the world.” Mastercard raises expenses while Visa flags Russia pressure and crypto deals move forward Total operating expenses rose 13% from the year-earlier period, mainly due to higher general and administrative costs. That included a restructuring charge in the first quarter of 2026. Lower litigation provisions partly offset the increase. Excluding First Quarter Special Items, Mastercard’s adjusted operating expenses rose 11%, or 9% on a currency-neutral basis, again mainly because of general and administrative spending. Other income and expense improved by $23 million from a year earlier. The change was mainly tied to government grant agreements executed in the fourth quarter of 2025, partly offset by higher net losses on equity investments. Excluding net gains and losses on those investments, Mastercard’s adjusted other income and expense improved by $61 million, mainly because of government grants. The effective tax rate was 19.3%, up from 18.6% in 2025, due to lower net discrete tax benefits. The adjusted tax rate was 19.2%, compared with 19.1%. Visa (NYSE: V) said last week that U.S. sanctions on Russia were hurting card transactions and that revenue growth would slow further this quarter. Mastercard made no mention of Russia in its Thursday statement. Shares fell 2.1% in premarket trading. The stock was down 11.1% this year, while the S&P 500 was up 1.6%. In March, Mastercard agreed to buy stablecoin firm BVNK for up to $1.8 billion. It has also expanded work with Circle Internet Group Inc. and Binance. As of March 31, 2026, customers had issued 3.7 billion Mastercard and Maestro-branded cards. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .
30 Apr 2026, 12:20
Coinbase MEGA Perpetual Futures Listing: A Game-Changer for Traders on April 30
BitcoinWorld Coinbase MEGA Perpetual Futures Listing: A Game-Changer for Traders on April 30 Coinbase, a leading US-based cryptocurrency exchange, has officially announced the listing of MEGA perpetual futures. Trading is scheduled to begin on April 30, pending the satisfaction of specific liquidity conditions. This move marks a significant expansion of Coinbase’s derivatives offerings. Coinbase MEGA Perpetual Futures: What Traders Need to Know Coinbase confirmed the news on April 15, 2025, through its official channels. The exchange will list MEGA perpetual futures under the ticker symbol MEGA-PERP. Trading will commence at 10:00 AM UTC on April 30. However, Coinbase reserves the right to delay or cancel the listing if liquidity thresholds are not met. Perpetual futures are a type of derivative contract that has no expiration date. Traders can hold positions indefinitely. They use a funding rate mechanism to keep the contract price close to the spot price. This mechanism charges or pays traders based on market conditions. Coinbase requires sufficient market depth before launching any perpetual futures product. This ensures a smooth trading experience with minimal slippage. The exchange will monitor order book liquidity in the days leading up to April 30. If liquidity falls short, Coinbase will postpone the listing until conditions improve. Why Coinbase Lists MEGA Perpetual Futures Now The decision to list MEGA perpetual futures aligns with Coinbase’s strategy to expand its derivatives market share. Coinbase Derivatives Exchange, launched in 2023, has steadily added new products. MEGA joins a growing list of altcoin perpetual futures available on the platform. MEGA is a cryptocurrency associated with the Megaland ecosystem. It focuses on virtual real estate and gaming. The token has seen increased trading volume in recent months. Listing perpetual futures allows traders to hedge or speculate on MEGA’s price movements without owning the underlying asset. Coinbase’s move also responds to growing demand for altcoin derivatives. Retail and institutional traders increasingly seek exposure to smaller-cap tokens through regulated platforms. Coinbase, as a publicly traded company, offers a compliant environment for such trading. Liquidity Conditions and Market Impact Coinbase has not disclosed the specific liquidity thresholds required for the listing. However, industry standards typically require a minimum order book depth of $500,000 on both bid and ask sides. The exchange will evaluate liquidity across multiple trading pairs, including MEGA/USDT and MEGA/USDC. If liquidity conditions are met, the listing could significantly impact MEGA’s market dynamics. Perpetual futures often increase trading volume and price volatility. Traders can use leverage, amplifying both gains and losses. This can attract more participants to the MEGA ecosystem. Conversely, if liquidity remains low, Coinbase may delay the listing. This has happened before with other altcoin futures. Traders should monitor Coinbase’s official announcements for updates. How Perpetual Futures Work on Coinbase Coinbase offers perpetual futures with leverage up to 5x for retail traders. Institutional clients may access higher leverage limits. The contracts settle in USDC, Coinbase’s stablecoin. Funding rates are calculated every eight hours. Traders can open long or short positions. A long position profits if MEGA’s price rises. A short position profits if the price falls. The funding rate ensures the perpetual contract price stays aligned with the spot market. Key features of Coinbase perpetual futures include: No expiration date : Hold positions indefinitely. Leverage up to 5x : Amplify potential returns (and risks). USDC settlement : Avoid crypto volatility in settlement currency. Real-time mark price : Prevents manipulation during volatile periods. Insurance fund : Covers losses from liquidations, protecting solvent traders. MEGA Token Background and Market Context MEGA is the native token of the Megaland metaverse platform. It launched in 2022 and has a total supply of 1 billion tokens. The token powers in-game transactions, land purchases, and governance voting. Megaland has partnerships with several gaming studios and NFT projects. As of April 2025, MEGA trades at approximately $0.45, with a market capitalization of $450 million. Daily trading volume averages $20 million across centralized and decentralized exchanges. The token has experienced significant price swings, making it a candidate for derivatives trading. Coinbase listing MEGA perpetual futures adds legitimacy to the project. It signals that the exchange views MEGA as having sufficient liquidity and market interest. This could attract more institutional investors to the Megaland ecosystem. Risks and Considerations for Traders Trading perpetual futures carries substantial risk. Leverage amplifies losses as well as gains. A 5x leveraged position can be liquidated with a 20% adverse price move. Traders should use stop-loss orders and manage position sizes carefully. Funding rates can also impact profitability. If funding rates are positive, long positions pay short positions. This can erode profits over time. Conversely, negative funding rates benefit long positions. Liquidity is another concern. Low liquidity can lead to slippage, where orders fill at unfavorable prices. Coinbase’s liquidity condition aims to mitigate this risk. However, traders should still monitor order book depth before entering large positions. Comparison with Other Exchanges Offering MEGA Futures Coinbase is not the first exchange to list MEGA perpetual futures. Binance and Bybit have offered MEGA futures since early 2024. However, Coinbase’s listing offers several advantages: Feature Coinbase Binance Bybit Leverage Up to 5x Up to 20x Up to 25x Settlement USDC USDT USDT Regulation US-compliant Non-US Non-US Insurance fund $25 million $100 million $50 million Funding rate interval 8 hours 8 hours 8 hours Coinbase’s lower leverage may appeal to risk-averse traders. Its US regulatory compliance offers legal protection. However, Binance and Bybit provide higher leverage and deeper liquidity for MEGA futures. Expert Perspectives on the Listing Industry analysts view Coinbase’s MEGA perpetual futures listing as a positive development for the broader crypto derivatives market. “Coinbase’s entry into altcoin perpetual futures signals growing institutional demand for regulated derivatives,” says Alex Thorn, head of research at Galaxy Digital. “MEGA has a dedicated community and real utility in the Megaland metaverse. Listing futures provides sophisticated tools for price discovery and risk management,” adds Linda Xie, co-founder of Scalar Capital. However, some experts caution about the risks. “Perpetual futures can increase price manipulation in smaller tokens. Coinbase must ensure robust surveillance to prevent wash trading and spoofing,” warns Jake Chervinsky, chief legal officer at Variant Fund. Timeline and Next Steps Here is the key timeline for the listing: April 15, 2025 : Coinbase announces MEGA perpetual futures listing. April 16-29, 2025 : Liquidity assessment period. April 30, 2025, 10:00 AM UTC : Trading begins (if conditions met). May 1, 2025 : Coinbase will review liquidity and may adjust parameters. Traders should prepare by funding their Coinbase accounts with USDC. They should also review the perpetual futures contract specifications on Coinbase’s website. Conclusion Coinbase’s listing of MEGA perpetual futures on April 30 represents a strategic expansion of its derivatives platform. The move responds to growing demand for altcoin futures and provides traders with a regulated environment to hedge or speculate on MEGA’s price. However, the listing depends on meeting liquidity conditions. Traders should monitor official announcements and understand the risks of leveraged trading. This development reinforces Coinbase’s position as a key player in the evolving crypto derivatives landscape. FAQs Q1: When will Coinbase list MEGA perpetual futures? Coinbase plans to list MEGA perpetual futures on April 30, 2025, at 10:00 AM UTC, subject to liquidity conditions. Q2: What leverage is available for MEGA perpetual futures on Coinbase? Coinbase offers up to 5x leverage for retail traders. Institutional clients may access higher limits. Q3: What happens if liquidity conditions are not met? Coinbase may delay or cancel the listing if liquidity thresholds are not satisfied. The exchange will announce updates. Q4: How do perpetual futures differ from traditional futures? Perpetual futures have no expiration date. They use a funding rate mechanism to track the spot price, unlike traditional futures that expire on a set date. Q5: Can US residents trade MEGA perpetual futures on Coinbase? Yes, Coinbase is a US-regulated exchange. However, residents of certain states may face restrictions. Check Coinbase’s terms for eligibility. This post Coinbase MEGA Perpetual Futures Listing: A Game-Changer for Traders on April 30 first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
30 Apr 2026, 12:15
Traders Push MEGA to $200M Market Cap as MegaETH Lists on 13 Exchanges at Once
MegaETH launched its native governance token MEGA on Thursday, opening trading simultaneously on more than a dozen centralized exchanges and its own layer two decentralized exchange ( DEX) at 10:00 UTC. Key Takeaways: MegaETH’s MEGA token began trading on April 30, 2026, on Binance, Coinbase, and 11 other major exchanges at 11:00 UTC. MEGA opened
30 Apr 2026, 12:10
Who Owns the Most Bitcoin in 2026 by Entity and Wallets?
Bitcoin ownership in 2026 remains spread across its creator, exchanges, ETF issuers, public companies, governments, private firms, and unknown wallets. Arkham data shows that Satoshi Nakamoto remains the largest identified Bitcoin holder when related wallets are grouped into one entity. The figures also show that major custodians and exchanges control large balances, often on behalf of customers rather than for direct corporate ownership. Meanwhile, spot Bitcoin ETFs and treasury companies now account for a large share of tracked institutional holdings. Satoshi Nakamoto Leads Bitcoin Holder Entity Rankings Satoshi Nakamoto remains the largest Bitcoin-holding entity, according to Arkham’s April 2026 breakdown. The Bitcoin creator is linked to about 1.096 million BTC, worth around $82 billion at current prices. Arkham said the attribution is based on the Patoshi Pattern, a known early mining pattern connected to Satoshi-linked activity. Arkham’s research indicates that Satoshi acquired the holdings by mining about 22,000 blocks in Bitcoin’s early years. These holdings represent about 5.5% of Bitcoin’s total supply. The wallets remain central to Bitcoin ownership data because they have not shown regular movement over the years. Coinbase ranks as the second-largest entity, with about 976,000 BTC. The figure includes assets held for the exchange and customers using its custody services. Coinbase controls about 5% of Bitcoin’s supply, while Binance holds about 631,000 BTC across tagged wallets. Bitcoin Holder List | Source: X ETFs and Treasury Firms Hold Large BTC Stakes BlackRock is the largest Bitcoin ETF issuer in Arkham’s ranking, with around 799,000 BTC. The holdings reflect the rapid growth of spot Bitcoin ETFs after their U.S. launch in January 2024. Arkham identified the on-chain locations of several ETF holdings after the products began trading. Fidelity, Grayscale, Bitwise, ARK Invest and Morgan Stanley are also listed among ETF-related issuers tracked by Arkham. Grayscale’s Bitcoin is reportedly spread across more than 1,750 addresses, with each holding no more than 1,000 BTC. These ETF balances show how public market products now control a large share of visible institutional Bitcoin. Strategy remains the largest public company holder, with total holdings of about 781,000 BTC. Arkham noted that its verified on-chain figure is lower because around 184,000 BTC is held through Fidelity Custody. The company’s full Bitcoin stack is valued at about $59 billion based on the report’s pricing. Governments Hold Seized and Mined Bitcoin The United States Government ranks as the largest government Bitcoin holder, with about 328,000 BTC. Arkham said the balance comes from asset seizures, including funds linked to the Bitfinex hack, Silk Road cases and the LuBian hacker address. The U.S. holdings represent about 1.6% of Bitcoin’s total supply. Governments BTC | Source: X The United Kingdom follows with about 61,000 BTC. The holdings are linked to Bitcoin seized by the Metropolitan Police from Jian Wen and Zhimin Qian. Arkham also lists El Salvador with about 7,600 BTC, the UAE Royal Group with about 7,000 BTC and Bhutan’s Druk Holdings with about 3,500 BTC. El Salvador’s holdings come from its sovereign Bitcoin purchases and daily accumulation policy. Bhutan’s holdings are tied to Bitcoin mining through its sovereign investment arm. However, Arkham noted that Bhutan’s Bitcoin stack has declined from about 6,000 BTC to 3,500 BTC in 2026. Binance Wallet Tops Individual Address List The largest individual Bitcoin wallet belongs to a Binance cold wallet holding about 249,000 BTC. Another Binance cold wallet ranks second with about 145,000 BTC. Robinhood and Bitfinex cold wallets follow with about 141,000 BTC and 130,000 BTC, respectively. A U.S. Government wallet tied to the Bitfinex hack recovery holds about 95,000 BTC. Tether’s Bitcoin reserve wallet holds around 97,000 BTC. Arkham also lists an unattributed wallet with about 92,000 BTC, making it one of the largest individual addresses without a confirmed owner. Several unknown Bitcoin wallets still hold billionaire-level balances. The largest unattributed wallets contain about 92,000 BTC, 78,000 BTC, 54,000 BTC, 52,000 BTC and 44,000 BTC. These balances show that some of Bitcoin’s largest holders remain unidentified, even as blockchain data continues to track large movements.
30 Apr 2026, 11:53
Top 6 Result-Oriented Crypto PR Agencies in 2026
Crypto PR has split into two camps over the past two years. One camp delivers placement counts and screenshot-friendly coverage reports. The other camp ties campaigns to wallet acquisition, token performance, capital raised, and search authority that compounds beyond the launch window. The agencies below sit in the second camp. Each one builds result-oriented PR as a measurable function rather than a deliverables checklist, and each one carries documented case studies where the numbers attached to the campaign hold up under scrutiny. What Makes a Crypto PR Agency Result-Oriented A result-oriented crypto PR agency builds campaigns around outcomes that affect the project's business, not around metrics that affect the agency's case study slides. The distinction shows up in how the work gets measured, what gets reported, and which numbers the agency volunteers when nobody asks. A crypto PR agency focused on ROI tracks referral traffic, branded search lift, syndication ratios, and, where possible, on-chain activity tied to coverage windows. Growth-focused PR treats earned media as the spine of a broader acquisition system rather than as a vanity layer on top of paid advertising. The agencies that do this well share a behavioural pattern. They turn down clients with vague success criteria, build measurement frameworks before the first pitch, and report against benchmarks set during the kickoff rather than against goals invented after the campaign closes. Ranking Criteria for Result-Oriented Crypto PR Five factors carry the most weight when evaluating agencies for crypto PR with measurable results: Case studies with concrete numbers rather than vague growth claims Measurement framework built into the campaign from kickoff, not retrofitted at reporting Outcomes tied to business metrics like wallet acquisition, capital raised, or token performance Reporting transparency, including the metrics that did not move alongside the ones that did Multi-stage capability to track results from launch coverage through long-term retention Top Result-Oriented Crypto PR Agencies for 2026 The agencies below all meet the criteria above, but their approaches split across analytics depth, channel mix, and the type of result they specialise in producing. 1. Outset PR Outset PR anchors this ranking through three named cases that each tie campaign work to a specific business outcome. Nav Markets worked with the agency on tier-1 placements that supported its exchange listing campaign, with coverage timed to align with first-session trading windows. Choise.ai ran a business transformation campaign that highlighted the utility of the CHO token, producing coverage that supported user growth and token narrative simultaneously. Step App saw a 138% rise in FITFI token value during the campaign window, alongside enhanced user engagement across the US and UK markets. What ties these cases together is the measurement discipline behind them. Each campaign opened with target metrics agreed before pitching began, and each one closed with reporting that mapped coverage to the outcome it was meant to produce. Documented cases with named clients and concrete numbers attached Measurement frameworks built into campaign design from the start Coverage tied to wallet, token, and growth metrics rather than placement counts Recognition includes the Crypto Impact Awards 2025 and Crypto.news Awards 2. Single Grain Single Grain operates from the US with a performance marketing background that translated into a Web3 practice over the past three years. The agency has worked with Polymath and Bittrex, among other crypto and exchange clients. The pitch centres on a 3.2x average client ROI claim, supported by a "Wealth & Growth" framework that ties campaigns to user acquisition rather than impressions. PR distribution covers tier-1 outlets including CoinDesk, The Block, Yahoo Finance, Forbes, and Bloomberg. Performance marketing roots applied to Web3 PR Documented ROI claim of 3.2x average client return Coverage in tier-1 mainstream and crypto-native press Strong fit for projects scaling sustainable user acquisition 3. NinjaPromo NinjaPromo runs on a subscription-based model that suits projects needing ongoing visibility rather than one-off launch coverage. The agency operates internationally with offices in New York, London, Dubai, and Singapore. The most cited result attached to the agency is the HTX (formerly Huobi) campaign, which generated $20 million in revenue through targeted PR and marketing within 180 days. Reporting tracks reader engagement, social sharing, and referral traffic for transparent ROI measurement. Subscription model with monthly metrics tracking HTX revenue case as documented proof point International office network for multi-region campaigns Suited to startups needing consistent visibility on a defined budget 4. Coinband Coinband works on real-time analytics with a model that connects campaign work directly to ROI metrics. Named cases include GT Protocol's 50x ROI and DegenZoo's 115,000 wallets acquired through Web3 marketing programmes. The agency was named Best Web3 Marketing Agency 2023 by Digital Agency Network, and works with brands including ChainGPT and Prime XBT. The model fits projects pursuing ICO, IDO, and DeFi outcomes where the campaign's job is to move concrete numbers rather than build long-tail brand presence. Real-time analytics built into campaign reporting Named cases with multiplier-level ROI documentation Best Web3 Marketing Agency 2023 recognition Strong fit for token sale and DeFi launch outcomes 5. EmergenceMedia EmergenceMedia has worked with over 75 crypto projects since its founding in 2018, including Bybit, OKX, and KuCoin. The agency operates globally with a focus on PR, influencer marketing, and data-driven campaigns. Its mission framing emphasises "real ROI, not just metrics," which translates in practice to multi-channel campaigns measured against acquisition and engagement outcomes. Influencer and KOL relationships extend reach across 500+ creators, which suits campaigns where social amplification has to track alongside earned media. 75+ crypto project track record, including major exchanges Multi-channel approach across PR, influencer, and data-driven campaigns 200+ media partner network for distribution depth Suited to projects combining PR with creator-led acquisition 6. Crowdcreate Crowdcreate is a Los Angeles-based crypto and Web3 marketing agency that combines PR with influencer networks and community-driven distribution. The agency suits growth-stage projects that need launch visibility paired with audience acceleration. The model works for ecosystem activations, community expansions, and projects that need PR to operate alongside coordinated creator campaigns. Less central to the offering are sustained editorial coverage and reactive thought leadership between launch peaks. Combined PR, influencer, and community workflow Growth-stage and launch-acceleration focus LA base with US-centric media relationships Fit for projects pairing earned media with community campaigns What Separates Result-Oriented PR from Generic Crypto PR Result-oriented PR behaves differently from generic crypto PR across measurement, reporting cadence, and the type of outcome the agency commits to producing. Dimension Generic crypto PR Result-oriented crypto PR Primary metric Placement count, total reach Wallet acquisition, capital raised, token performance Reporting cadence Monthly summary Weekly metrics review with mid-campaign adjustments Measurement timing Defined at reporting stage Defined at kickoff, tracked throughout Case study format Logo wall and sample placements Named clients with concrete numbers attached Channel posture Earned media as standalone deliverable Earned media as the spine of a measured acquisition system The structural difference is accountability. Generic PR gets paid for activity, and result-oriented PR gets paid for outcomes that the project can audit independently. The Bottom Line Result-oriented crypto PR is not a tactic. It is a discipline that runs through how the campaign gets designed, measured, and reported. The agencies in this ranking each bring distinct strengths to that work. Some specialise in performance marketing fundamentals, others in real-time ROI tracking, others in subscription-based consistency or community-paired acceleration. The right partner depends on the outcome the project needs to produce and the framework the agency uses to prove it produced it. For projects evaluating PR partners in 2026, the question worth asking is whether the agency reports against numbers it set before the campaign or numbers it invented after. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
30 Apr 2026, 11:29
Russian mafia ties exposed as Polish exchange Zondacrypto failures continue
Zondacrypto, arguably the largest exchange on the Polish coin market, has been under the control of a notorious Russian gang, according to Poland’s counterintelligence. The troubled trading platform, which halted withdrawals this month amid insolvency fears, is at the focal point of a heated political clash in Warsaw over crypto regulation. Zonda allegedly run by the Tambov crime syndicate Poland’s leading digital-asset exchange, Zondacrypto, has been controlled by the Tambov gang, one of Russia’s oldest and largest organized crime groups. The Polish daily Gazeta Wyborcza made the claim this week, citing information from the country’s Internal Security Agency (ABW) in a report widely quoted by Russian media. According to a memo circulated by the civilian intelligence service, the Russian mobsters acquired a controlling stake in the exchange back in 2018. They bought it through a Polish intermediary when the company was known as BitBay and was experiencing difficulties, the newspaper detailed in its article. The crypto exchange, one of the largest in Central and Eastern Europe, later relocated to Estonia and obtained a license from the Baltic state, but remained focused on Polish customers. The shares were officially purchased by three companies registered in the UAE, headed by BitBay co-founder Sylwester Suszek, GW also wrote. However, the deal was financed by the Russian gang, and the ABW believes that the “Tambov mafia” paid “tens of millions of euros” on two occasions to take over the platform. A source quoted by the publication revealed that Zonda’s shareholders were introduced to the Russian criminals by a Polish businessman who worked with them in the fuel market. Known in Russian as “Tambovskaya Bratva,” the St. Petersburg gang was established in the late 1980s, before the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It was named after the Tambov Oblast, as it was founded mostly by men from that region, and became one of Russia’s largest and most powerful crime groups in the following years. One of its founders and leader Vladimir Kumarin (Barsukov) was sentenced to 24 years in a maximum-security prison in 2019 over his role in creating the criminal organization. The Tambov maintained its influence until the late 2000s, Bits.media noted, and is believed to have been well connected with political figures, including from the country’s ruling elite. What happened with Zondacrypto? The troubles at Zonda started earlier this month, when the exchange stopped processing withdrawals amid suspected issues with liquidity. Several Polish news outlets quoted a report by the market intelligence firm Recoveris, according to which the platform’s reserves had dropped by over 99%. The company’s current CEO, Przemysław Kral, initially rejected these claims but eventually admitted the exchange didn’t have access to a wallet holding 4,500 BTC. He blamed Sylwester Suszek for never handing over the keys when transferring authority to Zonda’s new executive team a few years ago. Suszek disappeared in February 2022. Kral is now also presumed missing, after remaining silent since mid-April, when he last commented on the crypto firm’s state on social media. Resignations have left it without management, its website is now mostly unavailable, and its user data may have ended up on the darknet, according to some reports. Polish prosecutors, who launched an investigation into the crash, established that around 30,000 people may have lost more than $95 million when the exchange halted client transactions. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Donald Tusk alleged that Zondacrypto has sponsored political events and organizations to lobby against a government-proposed crypto bill. The draft law put forward by the Tusk-led center-left coalition has been returned twice by President Karol Nawrocki, who is backed by the right-wing opposition parties. The ruling majority in the Sejm recently failed again to defeat his veto . Poland must regulate its crypto space in accordance with the EU’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) rules by July. The standoff sparked a bitter political clash in Warsaw, with the Polish PM accusing the head of state and his allies in parliament of serving Russian interests. There’s a middle ground between leaving money in the bank and rolling the dice in crypto. Start with this free video on decentralized finance .
