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17 Jan 2026, 12:54

Scam Alert: $282 Million in Bitcoin and Litecoin Lost

Monero is well-featured after a hacker stole $282 million in Bitcoin and Litecoin and converted to XMR among others.

17 Jan 2026, 12:48

California fines Nexo $500K as crypto lenders face scrutiny

Crypto lending platform Nexo faces a half-million-dollar penalty from California regulators for making thousands of loans without proper licensing, throwing cold water on the company’s plans to restart operations in the United States. The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation slapped Nexo with a $500,000 fine after discovering the firm gave out crypto-backed loans to more than 5,456 people in the state without getting the necessary approvals first. Regulators say the company also skipped basic steps like checking if borrowers could actually pay back the money. What regulators found The enforcement action targets a Cayman Islands-based part of Nexo called Nexo Capital Inc. Officials found the company handed out both personal and business loans backed by cryptocurrency between July 26, 2018, and November 22, 2022, all while operating without a valid California license. “Lenders must follow the law and avoid making risky loans that endanger consumers—and crypto-backed loans are no exception,” said KC Mohseni, who runs the state financial department. Regulators discovered Nexo didn’t bother looking into whether borrowers had the money to repay loans, what other debts they already owed, or what their credit looked like. These are standard checks that traditional lenders must perform before handing out money. Beyond paying the fine, Nexo must move all California customer money to a properly licensed U.S. partner company within the next 150 days. The punishment comes at a bad time for Nexo. The corporation has been indicating that it wants to return to the American market, but this action raises concerns about whether existing problems will continue to hinder that effort. Although the punishment is for previous actions, it comes at a time when digital currency startups are questioning whether regulators are softening their stance. California carries significant weight in these areas. It is the country’s largest state in terms of population and economic activity, making it an important market for any company that provides consumer financial services. What happens in California often foreshadows how things will unfold nationally. During the time period regulators examined, Nexo grew its crypto-backed lending business substantially before eventually pulling out of the U.S. market altogether. The company left as state and federal officials increased their scrutiny of how it operated. Questions about Nexo’s future These days, Nexo no longer offers its traditional crypto lending products to American customers. It only provides crypto-backed borrowing services to people outside the United States, a change that came after multiple run-ins with regulators. Kadan Stadelmann, who works as Chief Technology Officer at Komodo Platform, said the findings should worry people. “The fact that Nexo failed basic ability-to-repay checks for thousands undoubtedly raises red flags about systemic compliance shortfalls, and consumers should heed these warnings,” he noted. Stadelmann pointed out that California’s rules focus heavily on making sure loans are backed by enough collateral to protect people from defaults. The state also has strong borrower protections designed to prevent a repeat of the 2008 financial meltdown, but in the crypto world . He also mentioned that Nexo’s settlement approach, where companies do not admit or deny wrongdoing, helps firms avoid problems like shareholder lawsuits or getting blocked from obtaining future licenses. However, he warned the company “could face further admissions, increasing fines, or regulatory monitors” as officials continue examining its track record. “Other crypto companies have faced similar regulatory penalties, including the likes of FTX and Binance, and remain in business. Why not Nexo?” Stadelmann asked. The California action adds to Nexo’s growing list of regulatory headaches in America and raises fresh questions about whether firms with checkered compliance histories can make a comeback, even if the political winds seem to be shifting in crypto’s favor. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .

17 Jan 2026, 12:44

How crypto investor lost over $280 million to hackers within hours

A major cryptocurrency theft on January 10, 2026, resulted in losses exceeding $280 million after an investor fell victim to a hardware wallet social engineering scam. The incident occurred at around 23:00 UTC and was first detailed by on-chain investigator ZachXBT , who traced the movement of the stolen funds across multiple blockchains. On January 10, 2026 at around 11 pm UTC a victim lost $282M+ worth of LTC & BTC due to a hardware wallet social engineering scam. The attacker began converting the stolen LTC & BTC to Monero via multiple instant exchanges causing the XMR price to sharply increase. BTC was also… — ZachXBT (@zachxbt) January 16, 2026 According to ZachXBT’s analysis, the attacker gained access to the victim’s hardware wallet and drained approximately 2.05 million Litecoin ( LTC ) and 1,459 Bitcoin ( BTC ). The stolen assets were rapidly laundered through instant exchanges and cross-chain protocols in an effort to evade tracking. On-chain analysis indicates that a large portion of the stolen Litecoin and Bitcoin was converted into Monero ( XMR ), triggering an abrupt spike in market activity. Price data shows Monero surging by roughly 70% over the four days following the hack, with the chart reflecting a steep rally followed by increased volatility as trading volumes expanded. Further on-chain tracing revealed that part of the Bitcoin was routed through THORChain, where about 818 Bitcoin, valued at roughly $78 million, was swapped into Ethereum ( ETH ), XRP , and additional Litecoin. These transactions spanned several networks, highlighting the growing use of cross-chain liquidity protocols in large-scale laundering attempts. Hacked crypto routing through THORchain. Source: Lookonchain Identity of involved parties The analysis also noted no indications linking the attack to North Korean hacking groups, which have been associated with previous high-profile crypto thefts. The identity of the victim remains unknown, and it is still unclear whether the stolen funds belonged to a single individual or an organization. The incident reinforces warnings from security researchers that social engineering has become the leading cause of major crypto losses. By exploiting trust rather than technical vulnerabilities, attackers are increasingly able to compromise even hardware wallet users, with market disruptions. Featured image via Shutterstock The post How crypto investor lost over $280 million to hackers within hours appeared first on Finbold .

17 Jan 2026, 12:39

Pi token price muted despite ESMA regulatory nod on white paper

Pi Network has formally set foot in the EU. According to reports, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has registered the Pi Network white paper under entry number 549, filed by PiBit Ltd. ESMA is a government agency that keeps an eye on the EU’s financial markets and investment products. By registering the Pi Network white paper, ESMA has given Pi Coin a legal node. However, for Pi Network to achieve full MiCA authorization, it is dependent on whether Pi Network can meet the full scope of EU regulations. The results of rigorous audits, legal assessments, and approvals from relevant authorities will determine it. ESMA props up Pi Network for partnerships in the EU and EEA The registration doesn’t mean that Pi Network is officially a crypto asset right away, but it does mean that it is a legal company that follows EU rules. The asset has to go through other steps, including meeting EU standards on anti-money laundering, data protection, and financial reporting. The recognition comes at a time when authorities are paying more attention to how tokens are issued, how investors are protected, and how open the market is. Germany’s BaFin stopped Ethena Labs from issuing the sUSDe coin in the EU last year because of problems with the rules. The EU has also started to give licenses to crypto and stablecoin issuers that follow MiCA rules. Other organizations that have taken root have failed to comply. As reported by Cryptopolitan, a French regulator revealed that 30% of crypto companies operating in France without a MiCA license are unresponsive. There’s no communication on ​whether they intend to get the licence required under new EU ‌ rules or will cease operating by July. 40% are not ​seeking the license, with only 30% applying for a license Pi points bearish as trading volume plummets 33% Pi Coin price continues to stagnate, even as the broader crypto market shows signs of recovery this January. The Pi Network price has been stagnating at or close to the $0.20 level for several weeks and is unable to go beyond key resistance levels. Pi Coin currently trades over 90% below its all-time price. Bearish trends dominate the chart, and the momentum seems to be weak. It has been trading at approximately 7 million coins daily, which is a small number for a network of this scale. Generally, bullish movement is supported by an increase in volume. Its trading volume is down 33% in the last 24 hours. On a daily basis, approximately $1 million worth of PI enters circulation through mainnet migrations and token unlocks. To date, PI has been locked at more than 4.83 billion, and it is slowly migrating and is influencing the short-term price momentum. Meanwhile, the price of Pi is in a tight range of consolidation. Sharpen your strategy with mentorship + daily ideas - 30 days free access to our trading program

17 Jan 2026, 12:36

XRP Holds Long-Term EMA Structure as Historically Bullish Price Behavior Reappears

The XRP monthly chart shows the altcoin repeating a historically bullish price behavior as it holds above the 21 EMA. Data from the chart confirms that this historically bullish behavior, which has emerged multiple times over the past decade, often sees XRP move through three phases in each cycle involving an initial consolidation, a price expansion, and then a correction. Visit Website

17 Jan 2026, 12:33

Three reasons why Bitcoin's 'real breakout' toward $107K has begun

Bitcoin entered a decisive breakout phase, targeting $107,000 as long-term holder selling fades and BTC continues to leave exchanges, tightening supply.