Author: NBTC

Former lobbyist Jack Abramoff was sentenced to three years of federal probation for his involvement in a scheme tied to a project called AML Bitcoin. Abramoff has also been ordered to pay $2.2 million in restitution to victims of the scheme. Abramoff is most famously known outside the crypto industry for his conviction in a 2006 tribal casino lobbying scandal, for which he served four years in prison. The judge explained that he was not sentencing Abramoff to serve more prison time because of his early guilty plea, testimony against AML Bitcoin CEO Marcus Andrade, and an aggressive cancer diagnosis.…

Centralized exchanges displayed their influence across key metrics in October. Binance remained in the top spot, but Gate was the leader in monthly growth. October arrived with robust activity on centralized exchanges. Both the rise at the beginning of the month and the liquidations after October 11 led to growing demand for the more reliable liquidity of centralized markets. Binance remained the leading centralized exchange, but Gate had the strongest month-on-month growth. | Source: Cryptorank Gate is the leader among smaller exchanges, with volume expansion compared to September’s results. Binance is still the leader in total centralized volumes, but had…

Banking behemoth Citi Group is looking to launch crypto custody services. Citi joins JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America as the latest Wall Street institution to dive head first into crypto, reports CNBC, citing a favorable regulatory environment in the United States. According to global head of partnerships and innovation in the services business at Citi, Biswarup Chatterjee, the banking giant has been working on a crypto custody product for several years that would involve Citi holding crypto. Furthermore, Citi is considering both inhouse custody options and working with trust third-parties. Says Chatterjee, “We have various kinds of explorations… and…

NEW YORK — William “Bill” Hill, 67, one of the co-founders of Bitcoin mixer Samourai Wallet, was sentenced to four years in prison on Wednesday for his role in creating the privacy tool prosecutors say was used to launder at least $237 million in criminal proceeds. District Judge Denise Cote of the Southern District of New York (SDNY), who recently sentenced Hill’s fellow Samourai Wallet developer Keonne Rodriguez to the statutory maximum of five years in prison for the same crime — conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transmitting business, which both men pleaded guilty to in July — said she was “varying”…

The cryptocurrency world just received exciting news that’s sending waves across the digital asset space. Upbit lists Meteora (MET2) today, marking a significant milestone for both the exchange and the emerging blockchain project. This strategic move by South Korea’s leading cryptocurrency platform demonstrates the growing institutional confidence in innovative blockchain technologies. Why Does Upbit Listing Meteora Matter? When Upbit lists Meteora, it creates immediate market accessibility for millions of traders. The exchange’s massive user base now gains direct exposure to MET2 through multiple trading pairs. This development represents more than just another token listing—it signals market validation and potential growth…

Authorities identified 13,827 premises involved in illicit power consumption for mining. TNB seized bitcoin mining machines during joint inspections. Smart meters are being installed to detect suspicious energy use in real time. Malaysia is intensifying its response to rising energy losses linked to cryptocurrency mining, as new figures show widespread electricity theft across the country. The national utility, Tenaga Nasional Bhd, has reported more than $1 billion in losses from illegal power use between 2020 and August this year. The scale of the theft has pushed authorities to strengthen monitoring tools, expand inspections, and build new data systems as bitcoin…

Circle (CRCL) is the most important player in the stablecoin ecosystem, according to investment bank William Blair, which initiated coverage on the company with an “Outperform” rating and a long-term bullish thesis. The firm sees Circle as a central force in the transition from fiat to blockchain-based payments, particularly in cross-border B2B transactions, a market worth as much as $24 trillion, according to the report. The bank’s thesis rests on the belief that stablecoin commerce, led by USDC, will replace fiat in global business payments. Circle, which makes money primarily through interest earned on USDC reserves, is expected to see…

A New York judge on Wednesday sentenced Samourai Wallet co-founder William Lonergan Hill to four years in prison, the second conviction in a case crypto advocates say threatens software development freedom. Judge Denise L. Cote sentenced the 67-year-old developer to three years of supervised release and imposed a $250,000 fine, according to a statement by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The sentence comes two weeks after Samourai Wallet’s co-founder, Keonne Rodriguez, was handed a five-year prison sentence and a similar fine.   Rodriguez and Hill pleaded guilty in July to conspiring to operate an…

European crypto exchange WhiteBIT is making preparations to enter the Saudi Arabian market after reaching an agreement with private Saudi investment conglomerate Durrah AlFodah Holding. European crypto exchange WhiteBIT has signed a strategic partnership with Durrah AlFodah Holding, a private Saudi investment conglomerate, to advance blockchain development, digital finance, and data infrastructure in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The partnership was facilitated by Seaside Arabia, a business enabler focused on facilitating the soft landing and market entry of startups in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Seaside Arabia serves as the strategic consultant and subject matter professional throughout the agreement, providing…

Cryptocurrency mining has become a major economic sector, capable of influencing the energy and industrial strategies of the world’s leading powers. According to the November 2025 report published by ApeX Protocol, global cryptocurrency production is dominated by a few countries that, thanks to advanced infrastructures and targeted energy policies, are driving the growth of this ever-evolving sector. China: The Silent Giant of Mining Energy Efficiency and Growth Potential United States: Mining Power Under Pressure The largest mining operation in the world Russia and Canada: Efficiency and Steady Growth Russia: Significant Production with Limited Consumption Canada: Energy and Innovation Germany: European…