Author: NBTC

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…

Crown, a São Paulo–based fintech focused on programmable money in emerging markets, has raised $8.1 million in seed funding to launch BRLV, a stablecoin pegged to the Brazilian real (BRL) and fully backed by Brazilian government bonds. The round was led by Framework Ventures, with participation from Valor Capital Group, Coinbase Ventures, Norte Ventures, Paxos, and Ed Wible, co-founder of Nubank, who is also joining Crown’s board. The funding will accelerate Crown’s product development and market expansion as it seeks to become Brazil’s leading BRL stablecoin issuer. BRLV differs from dollar-denominated stablecoins like USDC by offering native revenue sharing to…

Buenos Aires — Fintech giant Robinhood (HOOD) is laying the groundwork to push the traditional financial system into a permissionless ecosystem, according to the head of strategy at blockchain development company Offchain Labs. The brokerage app’s recently launched tokenized stock offering in Europe, which already includes nearly 800 publicly traded securities and is set to add private equity, is the first step in a longer, three-phase roadmap to create a permissionless financial ecosystem, said A.J. Warner, chief strategy officer at Offchain Labs, in an interview with CoinDesk on the sidelines of Devconnect in Buenos Aires. Offchain Labs is the firm…

An interesting incident regarding cryptocurrency mining occurred in Malaysia. Malaysia’s national energy company, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), reported losses of $1.1 billion due to electricity theft by cryptocurrency miners from 2020 to August 2025, Reuters reported. The country’s Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources announced in a document sent to parliament that it had identified 13,827 workplaces that illegally leaked electricity for crypto mining between 2020 and August 2025. This resulted in losses of at least 4.57 billion ringgit ($1.1 billion). The ministry stated that the activity in question poses a serious threat to the national electricity supply system, public…