hodler

9 Feb 2026, 13:30

Saylor Buys Again: Strategy Adds 1,142 BTC as Paper Losses Top $5 Billion

On Monday, Strategy founder Michael Saylor disclosed that his bitcoin treasury firm has once again topped up its balance sheet with an additional allocation of bitcoin, staying perfectly on brand while signaling steady conviction. According to Saylor’s Monday morning announcement, Strategy (Nasdaq: MSTR) now controls a total of 714,644 BTC, further cementing the firm’s status

9 Feb 2026, 12:47

French authorities arrest six suspects after crypto ransom demand in magistrate kidnap

French authorities have arrested six suspects, including a minor, after a magistrate and her mother were held captive last week for around 30 hours in a cryptocurrency ransom plot, prosecutors said on Sunday. Four men and one woman were detained, three overnight and two on Sunday morning, Lyon prosecutor Thierry Dran told AFP . He later confirme d a minor had been arrested on Sunday afternoon. The individuals were taken into custody following the discovery of the 35-year-old magistrate and her 67-year-old mother on Friday morning, found injured in a garage in the southeastern Drome region. Two of those arrested overnight were detained as they attempted to take a bus to Spain, according to a source close to the case speaking on condition of anonymity. Details of the investigation and escape Authorities continue to actively search for further suspects, a second source close to the case said, adding that the woman in custody is the partner of one of the four male suspects. During a press conference on Friday after the pair’s escape, prosecutor Dran said the magistrate’s partner, who was not home when the two victims were abducted, has a leading position in a cryptocurrency start-up. A massive police search involving 160 officers was launched after the magistrate’s partner had received a message and a photo from the kidnappers demanding a ransom to be paid in cryptocurrency. The captors threatened to mutilate the victims if the transfer was not made quickly, Dran told reporters, declining to specify the amount demanded. But the two women managed to free themselves and call for help without any ransom being paid by banging on the garage door. “Alerted by the noise, a neighbour intervened. He was able to open the door and allow our two victims to escape,” Dran said. French authorities have been dealing with a string of kidnappings and extortion attempts targeting the families of wealthy individuals dealing in cryptocurrencies. In May 2025, a violent attempt was made in Paris against the family of Pierre Noizat, the CEO and co-founder of the French crypto exchange Paymium. Attackers targeted Noizat’s daughter and young grandson in broad daylight, though the abduction was ultimately thwarted when the family fought back, and a bystander intervened with a fire extinguisher. In May, the father of a man who ran a Malta-based cryptocurrency company was kidnapped by four hooded men in Paris. The victim, whose finger was also severed by the kidnappers and for whom a ransom of several million euros was demanded, was released 58 hours later in a raid by the security forces. The rise of physical extortion in digital finance This trend of targeted physical violence highlights a shift in criminal tactics. Because cryptocurrency wallets are secured by cryptographic private keys, they are virtually impossible to hack through traditional digital means if the owner follows basic security protocols. This has led organized crime groups to utilize physical violence to extract these keys directly from the source. Under French law, the charges associated with kidnapping as part of an organized gang are classified as exceptionally grave criminal offenses. When the crime involves premeditated threats of mutilation or torture to secure a financial ransom, the penal code allows for the maximum sentencing available under the justice system. Legal experts suggest that if a jury finds the suspects guilty of these aggravated charges, they face the possibility of life imprisonment. The Ministry of the Interior remains in high-level discussions with industry leaders to mitigate these physical risks to employees within the growing digital finance sector, as the government seeks to prove that violence against those in the crypto space will lead to swift and absolute judicial consequences. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .

9 Feb 2026, 10:42

Bitcoin Technical Analysis February 9: 19% Friday Bounce Holds $69,000 – Bullish Recovery or Trap?

After a steady fall in price from Wednesday onward, a massive recovery took place on Friday. A 19% bounce from a bottom of nearly $60,000 took the price all the way back up above the $69,000 major support. This has held over the weekend, but could the price now fall back down and trap all the bulls? A weekly close above $69,000 is good news for the bulls Source: TradingView The main takeaway on Monday for the $BTC price is that the weekly close was above the major $69,000 horizontal support . That said, this week is possibly going to be a real trial for the bulls to maintain this bounce. After such a huge 19% recovery, the Stochastic RSI indicators are at their limits and will probably be coming back down, signalling failing upside momentum as they do so. Probably the best scenario for the bulls here is for a period of sideways consolidation. If the price can stay around the major support for the next few days, this would give the momentum indicators time to reset. If one extends the trendlines out from the falling wedge, it can be seen that the $BTC price is respecting what was the lower falling wedge trendline in particular, and the bulls have not been able to close a 4-hour candle body above this line as yet. If the price does fall below the major support, the other trendline could also play a role and act as support. An ugly price drop still to come? Source: TradingView The daily chart is not good viewing, at least from the perspective of the bulls. A big bounce might have taken place, but will it be enough to stop the rot? The full extension of the measured move out of the bear flag is still waiting below at $53,000 . This also aligns with the bottom of the 8-month bull flag in 2024. One very telling indicator in the chart above is the 200-day SMA. This moving average has only moved upward for the whole of this bull market cycle, except for a slight inclination downward at the end of the aforementioned bull flag. The 200-day SMA is currently bending down at a faster rate. Could this moving average be signalling a really ugly price drop still to come? Next major support levels Source: TradingView The weekly chart gives us a birds eye view of where the price could come down to if the major $69,000 horizontal support does not hold. Firstly, the 200-week SMA is already doing a job of support. The $BTC price did not quite get down to this average, but even so, it does look like the 200-week is going to be a decent prop should the price come down to it again. Below this at $53,000 is the measured move out of the bear flag, as well as a very good support level in its own right. The other major support levels are marked on the above chart. Could the price get down to one of these lower levels? Yes, anything is possible, but if one looks at the two indicators at the bottom of the chart, it becomes clear that a rally cannot be too far off. The weekly Stochastic RSI has hit bottom, while the RSI has also just moved into oversold territory . The last time it was there (June 2022) it was very close to the bear market bottom. 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.

9 Feb 2026, 10:26

Bitcoin outlook at risk as Bessent urges Senate to advance Warsh nomination

Bitcoin’s recent recovery could be hanging in the balance as the political deadlock over Kevin Warsh’s nomination to lead the US Federal Reserve deepens, raising fresh concerns about prolonged dollar tightening and the erosion of risk appetite across digital asset markets. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has urged the Senate Banking Committee to begin confirmation hearings for Warsh without further delay, even as a Department of Justice investigation into current Fed Chair Jerome Powell remains unresolved. Warsh, a known fiscal hawk and proponent of balance sheet reduction, has already unsettled markets since being nominated by President Donald Trump on Jan. 30. Speaking on Fox News, Bessent appeared to criticise Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who has publicly said he would block all Fed nominations until the DOJ probe into Powell concludes. “Senator Tillis has come out and said he thinks that Kevin Warsh is an extreme candidate. So I would say, why don’t we get the hearings underway and see where Jeanine Pirro’s investigation goes?” Bessent said. US Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro launched the probe on January 9, tied to Powell’s congressional testimony about a $2.5 billion renovation project at the Fed’s headquarters. Prosecutors are investigating whether Powell misled lawmakers about the scope and expense of the upgrades. Powell has denied any wrongdoing and argued that the probe is being politically weaponised in response to his resistance to faster interest rate cuts. Despite acknowledging Warsh as a “strong” and “qualified” nominee, Senator Tillis has insisted that no confirmation should move forward until the investigation is settled. Warsh now awaits a Senate Banking Committee hearing that would determine whether his nomination advances to the full Senate. If confirmed, he would formally replace Powell as chair of the Federal Reserve. Is Bitcoin price at risk? The political standoff comes amid heightened market sensitivity to Warsh’s policy stance, particularly in the crypto sector. Bitcoin dropped sharply following Warsh’s nomination , falling nearly $16,000 from its $90,000 range to a low near $74,500 within a day. The selloff triggered over $7 billion in liquidations and dragged the total crypto market cap down to $2.8 trillion. Subsequently, other bearish catalysts pressured Bitcoin to visit a 16-month low of $62,822 on Thursday. Although Bitcoin has since stabilised around $70,000, analysts warn that the price action reflects broader anxiety over what a Warsh-led Fed might mean for liquidity conditions. Warsh has long advocated for aggressive balance sheet reduction and criticised what he calls the “bloated” state of central bank policy, and his stance has fueled speculation that the Fed may simultaneously lower rates and unwind its $7 trillion balance sheet, a combination some describe as paradoxical. While rate cuts reduce the cost of borrowing, balance sheet rolloffs shrink the money supply, potentially choking off the very liquidity that speculative markets rely on. For Bitcoin, which has historically thrived during periods of monetary expansion, the change could mark the start of a more prolonged period of consolidation or decline. Although Warsh has previously described Bitcoin as a “policy watchdog,” his prioritisation of price stability over asset support has led many to conclude that the Powell-era “Fed put” may be off the table. In this new environment, the Fed may refrain from stepping in during periods of market stress. Key support levels in focus Analysts remain divided on whether the worst of the Warsh shock has already been priced in. Following Bitcoin’s drop below $60,000 last week, the market has shown signs of stabilisation , with many traders pointing to accumulation by long-term holders in the $70,000–$80,000 range. Some argue that if Warsh signals a willingness to balance monetary discipline with the Trump administration’s pro-growth objectives during the upcoming hearings, investor confidence could return. Others warn that any breach of the $70,000 floor, or worse, a drop back toward $60,000, would suggest that markets underestimated the severity of the policy changes ahead. For now, Bitcoin’s trajectory appears tethered to the outcome of the Fed confirmation process. If liquidity expectations deteriorate further, or if Warsh’s policy leanings appear uncompromising, a deeper repricing across risk assets may still lie ahead. The post Bitcoin outlook at risk as Bessent urges Senate to advance Warsh nomination appeared first on Invezz

9 Feb 2026, 09:55

Bithumb Bitcoin Blunder: FSS Chief’s ‘Catastrophic’ Warning on Mistaken Crypto Transfers

BitcoinWorld Bithumb Bitcoin Blunder: FSS Chief’s ‘Catastrophic’ Warning on Mistaken Crypto Transfers SEOUL, South Korea – In a definitive statement that sent shockwaves through the nation’s digital asset community, Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) Governor Lee Chan-jin declared that investors who sold Bitcoin mistakenly distributed by crypto exchange Bithumb face a ‘catastrophic’ legal predicament. This Bithumb Bitcoin error, stemming from a promotional event gone awry, has escalated into a landmark case testing South Korea’s application of traditional unjust enrichment laws to the volatile cryptocurrency market. The governor’s remarks, reported by KBS, establish a clear precedent: recipients are obligated to return the original assets, creating significant financial and legal exposure for those who acted on the erroneous deposit. Deconstructing the Bithumb Bitcoin Error and Unjust Enrichment The core of the FSS’s position rests on the legal principle of unjust enrichment. Governor Lee Chan-jin emphasized that Bithumb had publicly announced a ‘random box’ event with a fixed reward of 2,000 won (approximately $1.50) per participant. Consequently, the distribution of Bitcoin—a vastly more valuable asset—constituted a clear mistake in performance. Under South Korea’s Civil Act, a person who receives a benefit without legal cause at the expense of another is obligated to return it. The FSS asserts this principle applies unequivocally here. The regulator’s stance removes ambiguity for investors who might have believed the windfall was legitimate. Furthermore, Lee specified that the obligation is to return the ‘original assets,’ meaning the specific Bitcoin, not its cash equivalent at the time of receipt. This detail is crucial given Bitcoin’s price volatility; individuals who sold immediately may now face the daunting task of repurchasing the cryptocurrency at a potentially higher market price to fulfill their restitution duty. The Legal Framework and Investor Liability South Korean law provides specific defenses against unjust enrichment claims, but they are narrow. A recipient may be exempt from returning the original asset if they disposed of it in ‘good faith,’ believing they had a legitimate right to it. However, Governor Lee’s statement significantly limits this defense. He indicated that investors who proactively confirmed the deposit’s legitimacy with Bithumb before selling might not be required to return the original Bitcoin. This places the burden of due diligence squarely on the recipient. In practice, this creates a stark divide between cautious investors who contacted customer support and those who acted on the assumption of a lucky break. Legal experts note that the ‘good faith’ defense is difficult to prove in financial transactions, especially following a publicized event with clearly stated terms. The FSS’s guidance effectively warns that ignorance of the mistake is unlikely to be a successful legal shield. Operational Risks and Crypto Exchange Accountability This incident transcends a simple customer service error, highlighting profound operational and systemic risks within cryptocurrency exchanges. While the FSS’s directive focuses on investor obligations, it implicitly critiques Bithumb’s internal controls. A failure in transaction scripting or wallet management that leads to a multi-million dollar erroneous distribution points to significant procedural vulnerabilities. For context, similar ‘fat finger’ or software glitch events have occurred globally: Coinbase (2021): Briefly showed erroneous $0 balances for some users, causing panic but no asset loss. Crypto.com (2022): Erroneously sent 320,000 AUD to a Melbourne woman instead of a $100 refund, a mistake recovered through court order months later. Binance (2023): Experienced a trading engine bug affecting stop-loss orders during volatile market conditions. These cases demonstrate that while technical errors are not uncommon, the scale and legal aftermath of the Bithumb event are particularly severe. The table below contrasts key aspects of this case with traditional banking errors: Aspect Traditional Banking Error Bithumb Cryptocurrency Error Reversal Mechanism Often facilitated directly by the bank; transactions can be reversed. Depends on recipient compliance; on-chain transactions are immutable. Asset Identification Specific fiat currency; value is stable. Volatile cryptocurrency (Bitcoin); value fluctuates rapidly. Regulatory Clarity Well-established laws and procedures. Evolving application of traditional laws (unjust enrichment). Investor Action Window Limited by banking processes. Near-instant; assets can be sold or transferred globally within minutes. This comparison underscores the unique challenges crypto errors present. The immutable nature of blockchain transactions means Bithumb cannot technically ‘reverse’ the transfer. Recovery relies entirely on legal pressure and voluntary compliance from potentially hundreds or thousands of recipients, a logistically fraught endeavor. Broader Implications for South Korea’s Cryptocurrency Ecosystem Governor Lee Chan-jin’s firm stance is not an isolated opinion but reflects the South Korean financial authority’s broader tightening of cryptocurrency regulation. This move aligns with the government’s intensified scrutiny following the Terra-LUNA collapse, which devastated local retail investors. The FSS, under Lee’s leadership, has been actively working to implement the Digital Asset Basic Act (DABA), expected to provide a comprehensive regulatory framework. This Bithumb case serves as a real-world test bed for the principles DABA will likely enshrine: consumer protection, exchange accountability, and legal clarity. The message to exchanges is clear: they must implement robust operational safeguards. Concurrently, the message to investors is equally clear: cryptocurrency ownership carries complex legal responsibilities, and windfalls require verification. This incident may accelerate the formalization of ‘error correction’ protocols within exchange licenses and influence insurance requirements for trading platforms operating in South Korea. Expert Analysis on Market Consequences Financial compliance analysts observe that the FSS’s ‘catastrophic’ warning aims to prevent moral hazard and market disorder. If investors could freely profit from clear exchange errors without consequence, it would incentivize poor security practices and create perverse market dynamics. By enforcing restitution, the regulator maintains market integrity. However, the human cost is significant. Affected investors may face severe financial hardship, especially if Bitcoin’s price has risen since the sale. They might be forced to buy back the asset at a loss or face legal action from Bithumb, which has a vested interest in recovering the funds to mitigate its own financial damage and regulatory penalty. This situation creates a two-tiered crisis: one for the exchange’s balance sheet and another for the financial stability of the individual recipients caught in the middle. Conclusion The FSS chief’s declaration regarding the Bithumb Bitcoin error establishes a critical legal precedent in South Korea’s digital asset landscape. Governor Lee Chan-jin’s characterization of the situation as ‘catastrophic’ for those who sold the mistaken deposits underscores the serious financial and legal risks arising from cryptocurrency exchange operational failures. This incident highlights the urgent need for exchanges to fortify their transaction systems and for investors to exercise extreme caution with unexpected deposits. Ultimately, the resolution of this Bithumb Bitcoin blunder will shape future regulatory actions, influence the final form of the Digital Asset Basic Act, and serve as a cautionary tale for the global crypto industry about the immutable intersection of blockchain technology and traditional legal doctrine. FAQs Q1: What exactly did the FSS Governor say about the Bithumb mistake? FSS Governor Lee Chan-jin stated that the mistakenly sent Bitcoin constitutes ‘unjust enrichment’ and must be returned. He specifically said the situation is ‘catastrophic’ for investors who sold the coins, as they are obligated to return the original Bitcoin, not its cash value. Q2: What is ‘unjust enrichment’ in South Korean law? Unjust enrichment is a legal principle where a person who benefits at another’s expense without a legal right to do so must return the benefit. In this case, receiving Bitcoin instead of the advertised 2,000 won reward is considered a benefit without legal cause. Q3: Are all recipients of the mistaken Bitcoin required to return it? According to Governor Lee, the obligation is clear. However, he noted a potential exception: investors who contacted Bithumb and received confirmation that the deposit was legitimate before selling may have a defense against returning the original asset. Q4: Why is returning the ‘original asset’ (Bitcoin) problematic? Because cryptocurrency prices are volatile. A recipient who sold the Bitcoin immediately may have to repurchase it at a higher current market price to return it, potentially incurring a significant financial loss. Q5: What does this mean for the future of crypto regulation in South Korea? This case emphasizes the FSS’s intent to apply traditional financial laws strictly to cryptocurrency activities. It will likely accelerate regulatory frameworks like the Digital Asset Basic Act, focusing on consumer protection and holding exchanges to higher operational standards. This post Bithumb Bitcoin Blunder: FSS Chief’s ‘Catastrophic’ Warning on Mistaken Crypto Transfers first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

9 Feb 2026, 09:31

Tether Freezes $544 Million as Turkey Targets Illegal Betting Network

Tether froze about $544 million in cryptocurrency on February 7 after Turkish authorities asked for support.