hodler

29 Jan 2026, 10:14

More than half of bitcoin’s invested supply has a cost basis above $88,000

Most invested bitcoin supply sits above current prices, increasing price vulnerability if key support levels fail.

29 Jan 2026, 09:10

Bitcoin Seizure Hack: South Korean Prosecutors Lose $28.8M in Stunning 14-Minute Breach

BitcoinWorld Bitcoin Seizure Hack: South Korean Prosecutors Lose $28.8M in Stunning 14-Minute Breach In a stunning security failure, South Korean prosecutors have reportedly lost approximately $28.8 million in seized Bitcoin to a hacker who drained the assets from 57 separate wallets in a mere 14 minutes. This catastrophic breach, first reported by Segye Ilbo, not only represents a massive financial loss but also exposes critical vulnerabilities in how law enforcement agencies worldwide manage confiscated digital assets. The incident, which occurred in Seoul, South Korea, has sent shockwaves through the cryptocurrency and legal communities, raising urgent questions about internal security protocols and the sophisticated nature of modern cybercrime. Anatomy of the $28.8M Bitcoin Seizure Hack The compromised Bitcoin originated from a 2021 raid on an illegal online gambling operation. Prosecutors successfully seized the digital currency, transferring it into a network of 57 wallets for safekeeping. However, this distributed storage method failed to prevent the breach. Forensic analysis of the blockchain reveals the hacker executed a coordinated attack, transferring funds from all wallets to a single external address with alarming speed. The table below outlines the core details of the incident: Metric Detail Total Value Stolen 40 billion won (~$28.8 million USD) Number of Wallets Compromised 57 Timeframe of Theft Approximately 14 minutes Time to Discovery At least 2 months post-breach Assets’ Current Status Reportedly unmoved for over 5 months Consequently, the precision and velocity of the attack have led investigators to consider several possibilities. The primary theory suggests an inside job, where someone with intimate knowledge of the storage system facilitated the hack. Alternatively, the breach could stem from a sophisticated external attack exploiting a systemic vulnerability. Regardless of the origin, the delayed discovery period of at least two months indicates a severe lapse in monitoring and auditing procedures for seized digital assets. Systemic Vulnerabilities in Digital Asset Management This incident is not an isolated event but rather a symptom of a broader global challenge. Law enforcement agencies worldwide are increasingly seizing cryptocurrencies but often lack the specialized infrastructure and expertise to secure them properly. Traditional methods for safeguarding physical evidence or fiat currency are fundamentally inadequate for blockchain-based assets. For instance, securing private keys requires a completely different security paradigm than locking a vault. The South Korean case highlights several critical failure points: Key Management: The security of 57 wallets hinges on protecting 57 private keys or seed phrases. A compromise of any single point can lead to total loss. Operational Security (OpSec): The rapid, sequential draining of wallets suggests the attacker had a mapped blueprint of the entire storage structure. Proactive Monitoring: The two-month discovery gap shows a reactive, not proactive, approach to asset surveillance. Furthermore, the hacker’s decision to leave the stolen Bitcoin in the destination wallet for over five months adds another layer of intrigue. This could indicate the use of advanced privacy tools like coin mixers to obfuscate the trail, or it may be a strategic pause to avoid triggering blockchain surveillance alarms during the initial investigation phase. Expert Analysis on Law Enforcement and Crypto Security Cybersecurity experts point to this breach as a canonical example of the ‘custodial dilemma’ in cryptocurrency. Holding large sums of crypto, whether by an exchange, an individual, or a government agency, inherently makes one a target. For law enforcement, the challenge is twofold: they must not only secure the assets from external threats but also enforce rigorous internal controls to prevent insider threats. The 14-minute timeframe is particularly telling. According to blockchain security specialists, such a rapid, multi-wallet operation typically requires automated scripts and pre-loaded access credentials, strongly pointing toward prior knowledge of the wallet system’s architecture. This breach will undoubtedly force a global reevaluation of protocols, potentially accelerating the adoption of institutional-grade, multi-signature custody solutions and mandatory time-locked transactions for seized funds. Global Context and Regulatory Implications The South Korean hack occurs against a backdrop of increasing regulatory scrutiny and law enforcement activity in the cryptocurrency space. Globally, agencies have seized billions in digital assets from criminal enterprises. However, this case demonstrates that successfully seizing assets is only half the battle; securely managing them is an equally complex task. This event will likely have several immediate impacts: Policy Overhaul: South Korea and other nations may fast-track the development of national standards for managing seized digital assets. Private Sector Scrutiny: The incident validates the security models of regulated, insured custodians, highlighting the risks of ad-hoc storage solutions. Investor Confidence: While unrelated to public markets, such high-profile failures can temporarily impact broader sentiment toward cryptocurrency security. Moreover, the technical nature of the theft complicates recovery efforts. Unlike a bank heist, blockchain transactions are irreversible. Recovery now depends on traditional investigative work: tracing the funds, identifying the perpetrator, and pursuing legal seizure of the new addresses. The extended period the funds have remained static may provide a unique forensic opportunity for authorities to collaborate with international blockchain analytics firms. Conclusion The $28.8 million Bitcoin seizure hack against South Korean prosecutors is a landmark event that transcends a simple financial loss. It serves as a stark, expensive lesson in the critical importance of specialized security for digital assets, especially for entities like law enforcement that hold them in trust. The breach’s speed suggests insider involvement or a profound systemic flaw, while the delayed discovery reveals a dangerous gap in monitoring. As cryptocurrencies become more integrated into the global financial and legal systems, this incident underscores the non-negotiable need for robust, transparent, and expert-driven custody protocols. The resolution of this case will be closely watched, as it will set important precedents for how the world manages and secures seized digital wealth in the future. FAQs Q1: How did the hacker steal Bitcoin from 57 wallets so quickly? The 14-minute timeframe strongly suggests the use of automated scripts. The hacker likely had pre-obtained access credentials (private keys or seed phrases) for all wallets and executed a programmed, sequential withdrawal, pointing to a significant prior breach of the storage system’s security. Q2: Why do investigators suspect an inside job? The primary suspicion arises from the attack’s precision and speed. Draining multiple, separately secured wallets in rapid succession typically requires detailed knowledge of the storage architecture and access procedures, which is more readily available to an insider or someone who has compromised an insider’s credentials. Q3: Can the stolen Bitcoin be recovered? Blockchain transactions are permanent and irreversible. Therefore, recovery is not a technical process but a legal and investigative one. Authorities must trace the funds, identify the holder of the destination wallet, and use legal means to seize it, which is challenging if the hacker uses privacy tools or is located in an uncooperative jurisdiction. Q4: What does this mean for cryptocurrency seizures worldwide? This breach is a major wake-up call for law enforcement agencies globally. It highlights that seizing cryptocurrency is fundamentally different from seizing cash or physical property. Agencies will likely be forced to invest in secure, institutional-grade custody solutions and develop strict, audited protocols for handling private keys to prevent similar incidents. Q5: Has the hacker moved the stolen funds since the theft? According to initial reports, the assets have remained in the hacker’s destination wallet for over five months. This is unusual but not unprecedented; hackers often let funds sit to avoid detection during the initial, most intense phase of an investigation before attempting to launder them through mixers or exchanges. This post Bitcoin Seizure Hack: South Korean Prosecutors Lose $28.8M in Stunning 14-Minute Breach first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

29 Jan 2026, 04:18

XRP Price Signals Vulnerability With Another Drop On The Table

XRP price failed to surpass $1.950 and started another decline. The price is now correcting gains and might struggle to stay above $1.860. XRP price started a downside correction and declined below $1.90. The price is now trading below $1.890 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There was a break below a key bullish trend line with support at $1.910 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair (data source from Kraken). The pair could start another increase if it stays above $1.860. XRP Price Dips Further XRP price failed to clear $1.950 and started a downside correction, like Bitcoin and Ethereum . The price dipped below the $1.90 and $1.880 levels to enter a negative zone. The price even dipped below the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $1.810 swing low to the $1.945 high. Besides, there was a break below a key bullish trend line with support at $1.910 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair. The price is now trading below $1.880 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. If there is a fresh upward move, the price might face resistance near the $1.90 level. The first major resistance is near the $1.9250 level, above which the price could rise and test $1.950. A clear move above the $1.950 resistance might send the price toward the $2.00 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $2.00 resistance. The next major hurdle for the bulls might be near $2.050. More Losses? If XRP fails to clear the $1.9250 resistance zone, it could start a fresh decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $1.860 level and the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $1.810 swing low to the $1.945 high. The next major support is near the $1.8420 level. If there is a downside break and a close below the $1.8420 level, the price might continue to decline toward $1.820. The next major support sits near the $1.80 zone, below which the price could continue lower toward $1.7650. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for XRP/USD is now gaining pace in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for XRP/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $1.860 and $1.8420. Major Resistance Levels – $1.9250 and $1.950.

28 Jan 2026, 20:02

Bubblemaps Flags LICK Token as On-Chain Data Ties Launch to Alleged $40M US Government Theft

A newly launched meme coin called LICK has come under scrutiny after on-chain data linked its creation to John Daghita, also known online as “Lick,” who has been accused of stealing $40 million from the US government. In its latest update, blockchain analytics platform Bubblemaps reported that Daghita recently launched LICK on Solana-based meme coin launchpad, Pump.fun, and has been actively live-streaming on Telegram to promote the token. According to the data shared, a single wallet linked to Daghita holds roughly 40% of the total LICK supply, which has sparked immediate centralization and risk concerns. Bubblemaps described the situation as “unhinged.” From Seized Funds to Pump.fun The Bubblemaps update comes just days after prominent on-chain investigator ZachXBT published a detailed finding connecting the “Lick” to wallets tied to large-scale suspected thefts and funds linked to US government seizure addresses. ZachXBT said his investigation stemmed from a leaked recording of a private group chat, in which a threat actor named “John” was seen screensharing wallet balances and moving millions of dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency during an argument with another actor. According to ZachXBT, the dispute escalated into “band for band,” a practice in cybercrime circles where participants attempt to prove wealth by displaying and transferring funds in real time. The investigator stated that the recording showed John controlling multiple wallets and moving significant amounts of crypto while being filmed, which allowed the wallets to be traced afterward. After analyzing the footage, the on-chain sleuth reported that the wallets displayed in the recording could be linked to more than $90 million in suspected thefts. He said that one wallet in the transaction chain received 1,066 WETH on November 20, 2025, which he traced back to a wallet that had received $24.9 million from a US government address in March 2024. Ties to Bitfinex Funds ZachXBT claimed this address was connected to funds seized from the Bitfinex hack, which he previously reported on in October 2024. He further claimed that the same wallet received over $63 million in inflows from suspected victims and government seizure-related addresses during the fourth quarter of 2025, along with an additional 4,170 ETH, worth about $12.4 million at the time, originating from MEXC. John had a long history of boasting about his net worth on Telegram and shared identifiers tied to those messages, as per ZachXBT, who also added that rumors in cybercrime channels indicated the individual could be John Daghita, who was arrested in September 2025, though he acknowledged that further confirmation was needed. The investigator raised additional questions about access to seized funds, while citing that John’s father owns CMDSS, a company holding an active US Marshals Service contract related to managing forfeited crypto assets. He stressed that it remains unclear how any access may have occurred. Meanwhile, public statements from officials confirmed that the US government authorities are investigating the matter. The post Bubblemaps Flags LICK Token as On-Chain Data Ties Launch to Alleged $40M US Government Theft appeared first on CryptoPotato .

28 Jan 2026, 18:34

Cardano Price Prediction: Insider Exposes Ethereum Flaw After $4M Hack – Is ADA the Safer Bet Now?

The Cardano price has bounced by 3% in the past 24 hours, with its rise to $0.36 coming as the crypto market regains a $3.115 trillion cap and the S&P 500 hits new a record high . A recent Ethereum-based exploit has highlighted some of Cardano’s relative security advantages. As argued by Cardano community member Dori on X , Ethereum-based DeFi platform Makina Finance suffered a flash loan exploit last week in which a hacker stole over $4 million in tokens. This is absurd. a hacker exploited a vulnerability in @makinafi on $ETH , but MEV bots detected it first and captured most of the profit. In the end, Makinafi lost about $4.13M to the hacker and MEV bots. It’s basically like a bank robbery where a government official shows up and… https://t.co/jWh4PInW8Q — dori (@dori_coin) January 27, 2026 Yet the interesting twist to this story is that the hacker responsible did not receive the vast majority of the stolen tokens, since an MEV frontrunner was able to intercept the relevant transaction. According to Dori, this kind of front-running is not possible on Cardano, since the latter uses an Extended Unspent Transaction Output (eUTXO) model that makes each transaction’s validity independent of execution order, thereby limiting the scope for MEV builders to front run transactions. And given the platform’s continued steady growth, the Cardano price prediction is looking very positive right now, with the alt very close to a strong rebound. Cardano Price Prediction: Insider Exposes Ethereum Flaw After $4M Hack – Is ADA Safer Now? As we can see from its chart, ADA looks as though it should be bouncing back up from an oversold position quite soon. Its relative strength index (yellow) has bounced from the 30-40 range and looks ready to overtake 50 soon, potentially on its way to a pronounced rise. Source: TradingView We also see that the Cardano price has been trading within a bullish pennant, which is about to converge towards a breakout point. We could therefore see the Cardano price hit $0.50 in the next few weeks, before crossing $1 in Q2, and then potentially ending the year above its current ATH of $3.09. SUBBD Is Bringing AI Tools to Content Creation: Next 100x Coin? If ADA’s recent progress is a little too modest for some traders, they may prefer to diversify into newer tokens, which can outperform in the right conditions. This includes presale coins, which can often generate enough momentum during their sales to rally strong once they go live on exchanges. One token aiming to do this is SUBBD ($SUBBD), an ERC-20 coin that has now raised in excess of $1.4 million in its sale. Become an AI Creator and earn an extra $10k per month Start here: https://t.co/9jJM0SyyiQ pic.twitter.com/ot5TutmU4Z — SUBBD (@SUBBDofficial) December 22, 2025 SUBBED, is tapping into one of the most in-demand, high-revenue sectors online by building an AI-powered adult content creation platform. This project gives creators access to AI tools that can generate content, build virtual influencers, and automate production. It’s designed to help them earn more while doing less, with crypto payments ensuring fast, transparent, and censorship-resistant payouts. With the $SUBBD token at the core of this ecosystem, early backers can position themselves ahead of what could become one of the biggest AI x content launches of 2026. To join the presale before prices rise, visit the official SUBBD website here. Visit the Official SUBBD Website Here The post Cardano Price Prediction: Insider Exposes Ethereum Flaw After $4M Hack – Is ADA the Safer Bet Now? appeared first on Cryptonews .

28 Jan 2026, 18:32

Solana’s active validator count falls below 800, down from a 2023 peak near 2,500

Solana’s active validator count has reportedly dropped below 800, marking a significant decline from its peak of around 2,500 active validators in early 2023. At the same time, daily vote transaction, which is a proxy for active validator participation, have dropped by about 40%. The current number of active validators on Solana is at the lowest the ecosystem has seen since 2021. However, while that may seem alarming, especially if FUD on CT is taken at face value, it is not as bad as it looks. Fewer validators usually means less decentralization, resilience, and a smaller community helping to keep the network afloat. At the same time, a smaller set of high-quality, performant validators could prove a healthier option compared to thousands of low-effort ones. Source: Block Data Potential reasons for the drop in Solana validator count There are various possible reasons behind the sharp drop in validator count on Solana, including the economic pressure that smaller validators face. It is no secret that running a validator is not always a profitable business, especially for an independent, and it does not help matters that the Solana Foundation has gradually eased off on the subsidies it provided validators, forcing them to stand on their own merit. Another possible explanation is that the reduction is a deliberate effort by the Solana Foundation. In April 2025, the foundation implemented a deliberate behind-the-scenes restructuring to reshape who has the right to be called a validator on Solana, and under what conditions. During the pruning, many underperformed or low-stakes nodes were offloaded in a bid to improve quality and reliability. Despite their best efforts, the drop did not go unnoticed and has been causing debate in crypto circles from X to Reddit. The network has continued to perform to expectations, but critics now find themselves wondering when the count will stop dropping. At less than 800 validators, critics have highlighted risks like reduced decentralization, lower Nakamoto Coefficient, stake concentration among the big players, and potential vulnerability if the counts continue to drop at this rate. How pruning affected validator incentives At the same time, it introduced the structured validator “pruning” process in April 2025, and the Foundation also implemented the 3-to-1 rule. This rule states that for every new validator admitted, three underperformers are dismissed. The way the pruning works is simple: Validators receive a 90-day notice of potential removal that they can appeal by improving uptime, vote success, or geographic distribution. Should they fail, the Foundation delegation is withdrawn, which makes it economically unviable to remain active. For smaller validators, this is a death sentence as they then have to cope with economic pressures. Since the policy took effect, more than 600 validators have been systematically dismissed, most between April and December 2025. Despite all the FUD about the sharp decline, some Solana insiders say it was much-needed action. Before the pruning, the network grew rapidly thanks to generous Foundation delegations that covered up to 80% of a validator’s monthly operating expenses. With the needed hardware, bandwidth, and energy, the bill would reportedly often come to between $5,000 to $10,000 a month. The subsidies from the Foundation were meant to encourage decentralization, but they unintentionally created an environment where quantity diluted quality. As a result, many operators tried to game the system by running low-effort nodes simply because it was cheap to do so. Pruning ensures that this can no longer happen, as being a validator now requires far more than just booting a server and claiming rewards. Operators now need to be able to demonstrate consistently high uptime, strong vote performance, and reliable hardware standards. They’re also expected to attract external stakeholders and contribute to a healthier geographic distribution of the network. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .