Author: NBTC

NBTC

NBTC is the editorial account for NBTC News, covering Bitcoin, Ethereum, DeFi, blockchain infrastructure, exchanges, mining, regulation and digital asset markets. The editorial team focuses on clear sourcing, timely updates and practical context for crypto readers.

Legitimate Privacy Tool or Dirty Money ‘Laundromat’? Lawyers Debate Role of Tornado Cash on Day 1 of Roman Storm Trial

NEW YORK — There is at least one fact that both the defense and the prosecution agree in the ongoing criminal money laundering trial of software developer Roman Storm: the product he helped to create and run — a once-popular crypto privacy tool called Tornado Cash — was exploited by hackers and cyber criminals to launder their dirty money. What the parties do not agree on, and the fundamental question at the heart of Storm’s trial, is whether Storm was able to prevent this behavior, whether he knew which criminals were using the Tornado Cash protocol and how and, most…

RegulationJul 18

Upbit Faces Massive $131.5 Billion Crisis Over South Korean Crypto Violations

Imagine waking up to news that a financial giant could be staring down a potential fine larger than the GDP of many small nations. That’s the staggering reality facing Upbit, one of South Korea’s leading cryptocurrency exchanges. A recent revelation from a South Korean lawmaker suggests that Upbit could be on the hook for an astounding 183 trillion won, equivalent to approximately $131.5 billion, due to alleged legal transgressions. This isn’t just a slap on the wrist; it’s a potential financial earthquake that could send tremors through the entire South Korean crypto market and beyond. The Allegations Unveiled: What Did…

ExchangesJul 18

BNB Chain Targets 20,000 TPS and Native Privacy in 2026

In a mid-year outlook titled “The Future of BNB Chain: An Outlook for the Rest of 2025 & 2026,” the team behind BNB Chain detailed its roadmap, accomplishments, and vision to push blockchain toward true mass adoption. BNB Chain plans to promote performance upgrades in 2025 and introduce native privacy and high-performance architecture in 2026. With ambitions to combine the speed of centralized exchanges with the freedom of decentralized blockchain, BNB Chain is entering a transition phase. BNB Chain’s Performance Struggling to balance performance, cost, and user control, BNB Chain is proving itself as one of the pioneering platforms driving…

BlockchainJul 18

Here's How Much Those Pies Are Worth Now

Bitcoin has broken yet another new all-time high on the 15th anniversary of Bitcoin Pizza Day—when American Laszlo Hanyecz famously bought two pizzas using 10,000 BTC in 2010. Back then, the price of the leading cryptocurrency stood at next to nothing, with the asset trading from $0.001 to a high of $0.29 at the end of the year, and was only available on a handful of niche exchanges. Fast-forward 15 years, and BTC just hit a new high of $111,770 Thursday afternoon, according to CoinGecko. That record price means 10,000 BTC today is worth over $1.1 billion, or 2,726,000,000% more…

BitcoinJul 18

10 firms bought 550k ETH worth over $1.6 billion in 30 days

The race to accumulate Ether as a treasury asset is heating up with more than ten companies buying 550,000 ETH worth $1.65 billion in the last 30 days. Crypto entrepreneur Kyle Reidhead disclosed this on X. According to Reidhead, who is co-owner of crypto newsletter Milk Road, this highlights the massive demand for Ether as more companies continue to pivot to the ETH treasury playbook. The move to adopt ETH as a treasury asset is inspired by what Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) has done with Bitcoin. While over 100 companies have bought BTC for their treasury, others are turning to other…

EthereumJul 18

Is UAE Overtaking the US in Crypto? Emirates’ Bitcoin Deal Puts UAE in the Lead for 2025

Dubai’s New Flight Plan for Crypto On July 9, 2025, Emirates Airline officially signed a deal with Crypto.com to roll out crypto payments for flights and services. This major announcement signals a new chapter for Dubai, where crypto regulation, mainstream utility, and global visibility now work hand-in-hand. Bitcoin Adoption Takes Off Real-world use: Travellers will soon use Bitcoin to book flights, upgrades, and more. Mass exposure: With Emirates flying to over 150 global destinations, millions will be exposed to daily BTC use. Trust factor: A state-backed airline embracing crypto builds market confidence, especially for hesitant users and institutions. Can the…

MarketsJul 18

China Merchants Bank’s Brokerage Arm Secures Hong Kong Virtual Assets License: Report

China Merchants Bank's (CMBI) brokerage arm has attained a virtual assets license from Hong Kong, becoming the first Mainland China broker to do so, South China Morning Post (SCMP) said. The license, which was issued on Monday by the Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission, will allow the lender’s brokerage arm to offer crypto asset trading, custody and advisory services, the news outlet reported. However, though the license grants the company access to Hong Kong, CMBI will not be able to conduct crypto business in mainland China, a lawyer told SCMP. “By securing this license, CMBI gains regulated access to…

RegulationJul 18

Russia’s Largest Bank Announces Cryptocurrency Development Expected in the Country for Years

Russia's largest bank, Sberbank, has announced plans to offer custody services for Russian crypto assets in a bid to increase its influence in the country's cryptocurrency space. With this step, the state-owned bank aims to take a leading role in Russia's development of digital assets. Anatoly Pronin, Executive Director of the bank's Alternative Payment Solutions Department, noted that cryptocurrency custody services are becoming increasingly widespread globally, and that Sberbank has submitted regulatory proposals to the Central Bank of Russia accordingly. Pronin argued that cryptocurrencies should be regulated similarly to traditional assets held in bank accounts and that the bank will…

ExchangesJul 18

AI Companies Want to Read Your Chatbot's Thoughts—And That Might Include Yours

Forty of the world’s top AI researchers just published a paper arguing that companies need to start reading their AI systems’ thoughts. Not their outputs—their actual step-by-step reasoning process, the internal monologue that happens before ChatGPT or Claude gives you an answer. The proposal, called Chain of Thought monitoring, aims to prevent misbehavior, even before the model comes up with an answer and can help companies to set up scores “in training and deployment decisions,” the researchers argue But there's a catch that should make anyone who's ever typed a private question into ChatGPT nervous: If companies can monitor AI's…

BlockchainJul 18

Ethereum Price to Enter Sub-$3K floor Amid Falling Wedge Pattern

On Monday, July 14th, the crypto market witnessed a slight slowdown in recovery momentum after a week of strong inflow. The top cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, show the mounting selling pressure with long-wick rejection candles in the daily chart. Despite the risk of a potential pullback, high-net-worth investors continue to accumulate ETH, signaling long-term conviction in this asset. Ethereum Whales Accumulation Counters Short-term Pullback Since last week, the Ethereum price has bounced from $2,464 to a recent high of $3,082, accounting for a 22% gain. This recovery is likely triggered by investors’ optimism toward the upcoming ‘Crypto Week,’…

EthereumJul 18