ZachXBT calls hardware wallets “garbage,” says Ledger is the worst

Onchain investigator ZachXBT has criticized hardware wallets, arguing that users should not rely on them for critical transaction signing or storing large amounts of cryptocurrency.  In a Telegram post, ZachXBT described hardware wallets as “complete garbage” and said he does not advise using them for important tasks. Instead, he suggested using a separate iPhone dedicated entirely to managing crypto assets.  ZachXBT singles out Ledger over frequent updates  ZachXBT directed his strongest criticism at Ledger, one of the largest hardware wallet manufacturers. He called Ledger “the worst” and claimed that frequent updates to Ledger Live can interfere with basic functions.  ZachXBT Says Hardware Wallets Are “Garbage,” With Ledger the Worst  ZachXBT, one of the crypto industrys most prominent onchain investigators, said he does not consider current hardware wallets suitable for signing critical transactions or storing large amounts of assets,… pic.twitter.com/UuVYX7NbjH  — Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) July 16, 2026  He said Ledger Live receives “regular updates for UI / apps for no good reason that break simple actions.” The comments represent ZachXBTs personal assessment. He did not provide evidence that Ledger devices had suffered a new security breach or that their private-key protection had been compromised.  Ledger has since renamed Ledger Live to Ledger Wallet. According to the companys official release

07-16Industry

Bitcoin whale moves $383 million in BTC after 8 years of dormancy: onchain data

Quick TakeA bitcoin OG wallet transferred 5,908 BTC to a new address on Wednesday.The wallet originally received the bitcoin in December 2017, when BTC was trading at around $16,800, meaning the holdings are now worth nearly four times as much.  A bitcoin (BTC) whale has awakened and moved $382.7 million worth of BTC after remaining inactive for eight years and six months.  According to onchain analytics provider Lookonchain, citing Arkham data, the OG wallet “138EM…ReyiT” transferred 5,908 BTC to a new address at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday ET. The funds remain in the recipient address.  The wallet originally received the 5,908 BTC in December 2017, when bitcoin was trading at around $16,800 — valuing the holdings at roughly $99.6 million at the time. At current prices, the holdings are worth nearly four times as much.  Earlier this week, another bitcoin whale moved roughly $188 million worth of BTC after more than seven years of dormancy. While the whales intentions remain unclear, market participants often view such transfers as potential precursors to token sales.  The worlds largest cryptocurrency edged down 0.2% over the past 24 hours to trade at $64,769 as of 2:30 a.m. Thursday, according to The Blocks BTC price page.

07-16Industry

A bitcoin wallet dormant since the 2017 peak just moved $383 million

A bitcoin address that had not spent a coin in eight years moved 5,908 $BTC worth about $383 million on Thursday, data shows.  The wallet took in the coins when bitcoin traded at around $16,000, a level the market saw in December 2017 and early January 2018, within weeks of a cycle peak near $20,000.  The stack cost roughly $100 million then and is worth about $383 million now, a gain of about 284%. It was worth $726 million at bitcoins lifetime in October 2025.  The entry date is what makes the holding unusual. Bitcoin fell about 80% through 2018 to near $3,200. It recovered to $69,000 in 2021, then collapsed to about $15,500 in November 2022, which briefly put this position underwater five years after it was built.  The wallet stayed shut then, and again last year when bitcoin cleared $122,000, roughly seven times the entry price. It is opening now, with bitcoin near $64,800 and about half the 2025 high behind it.  But where the coins went matters more than that they moved. Data traced by CoinDesk shows the $BTC landed at a new, unmarked address - not an exchange deposit address - which indicates a direct sale has not yet taken place.

07-16Exchange

Cleanspark Lands $6.6B AI Lease as 20-Year Deal Reshapes Bitcoin Mining Strategy

Cleanspark has signed a 20-year triple-net lease at its Sandersville, Georgia, campus, expected to generate $6.6 billion in contracted revenue. The tenant has also secured exclusivity over Cleansparks 885 MW Texas portfolio, signaling a broader artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure partnership.  Key TakeawaysCleanspark signed a 20-year AI lease worth $6.6B, with potential to reach $11.6B.A major tech tenant secured exclusivity over Cleansparks 885 MW Texas portfolio.AI demand is pushing miners like Cleanspark toward power-focused infrastructure growth.  Cleanspark Turns Georgia Mining Site Into 175 MW AI Campus With $6.6B Lease  Cleanspark is accelerating its shift from bitcoin mining into large-scale digital infrastructure with a 20-year lease agreement expected to generate $6.6 billion in contracted revenue.  The company said the triple-net lease covers 175 MW of critical IT load at its Sandersville, Georgia, campus. Deliveries are expected to begin in Q4 2027. The tenant was not named, but Cleanspark described it as a leading global technology company with a high investment-grade profile.  The agreement includes two five-year extension options. If both are exercised, total expected contract value could rise to $11.6 billion.  Cleanspark said the lease is expected to deliver an average annual net operating income contribution of about $330 million. Estimated landlord project costs are expected to range

07-16Industry

Bank of Tanzania Targets Crypto as Governor Warns of Terror Finance Risks

The Bank of Tanzania is reportedly finalizing a new regulatory framework to oversee cryptocurrencies and stablecoins.  Key TakeawaysBank of Tanzania Governor Emmanuel Tutuba announced a new plan to regulate digital assets.The laws will govern stablecoins and cryptocurrencies like bitcoin to protect young local investors from risk.Next, Tanzania will implement the final regulations to target money laundering and system-wide security risks.  Protecting Young Investors  Tanzanias central bank is preparing a new regulatory framework for digital assets as authorities move to strengthen oversight of a rapidly expanding market and protect investors, Bank of Tanzania Governor Emmanuel Tutuba said this week.  Tutuba, who made the announcement during a visit to the Bank of Tanzania pavilion at the 50th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair, said the institution is finalizing laws and regulations to guide the supervision of virtual assets amid rising public interest, especially among young investors.  “We are currently finalizing the preparation of laws and regulations for the supervision of digital assets, particularly virtual assets, cryptocurrencies, and stablecoins, so that we can strengthen regulation and oversight,” he said.  The move is Tanzanias latest push to build a legal framework for virtual assets, aligning it with other nations trying to manage digital finance risks while supporting innovation.  The governor said

07-16Industry

California pair charged with laundering crypto proceeds from darknet fentanyl sales

Quick TakeA California duo has been indicted on charges of darknet drug trafficking and laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars through crypto transactions.The pair allegedly shipped over 500 drug parcels nationwide over a seven-month period in 2025.  A California duo has been indicted on charges of darknet drug trafficking and laundering hundreds of thousands of dollars in cryptocurrency proceeds from fentanyl and methamphetamine sales.  According to a Wednesday statement from the Department of Justice, Nicholas Aguilar and Jessica Marcolina allegedly ran vendor accounts under the moniker “HotGirlzClub” on multiple darknet marketplaces. They are accused of shipping over 500 drug parcels nationwide over a seven-month period in 2025.  The pair also allegedly laundered the proceeds from the drug sales through crypto transactions designed to conceal the source of the funds.  During searches of the suspects residence in California, authorities found various evidence including drug packaging materials, a food processor containing suspected narcotics residue, firearms, and warning labels advising customers to “be safe until you know your tolerance for the product.”  The suspects also allegedly operated an illicit firearms manufacturing setup, producing ghost guns, suppressors, and upper and lower firearm receivers.  If convicted, Aguilar and Marcolina would each face up to life in prison on the drug trafficking

07-16Industry

Tim Draper Admits 'Ouch' Moment After Passing on Coinbase — His Son Saw a Crypto Fortune in the Making

Tim Draper Saw Coinbases Potential — But Misjudged When Crypto Would Arrive  Tim Draper, the veteran venture capitalist behind Draper Associates, says his early Coinbase (Nasdaq: COIN) decision came down to timing rather than conviction in Brian Armstrong, the crypto exchanges co-founder and CEO.  The venture capitalist had already invested in Coinlab, an early Bitcoin company focused on building infrastructure around the emerging cryptocurrency industry, when Armstrong presented Coinbase as a simpler path for consumers to access digital assets.  “I loved Brian Armstrong from the moment he walked into my office, but I had already invested in Coinlab, so I didnt invest at first. But my son, Adam did,” Tim Draper stated in an X post on July 14.  At the time, Draper believed Coinbase faced a long period before cryptocurrency became a mainstream consumer product. Armstrong, however, was building a company around the idea that easier access could help accelerate adoption rather than simply wait for demand to appear. Tim Draper further shared:  “I decided Coinbase would have too long a road to success, so I passed. Ouch.”  Adam Draper Saw the Opportunity Before His Father Did  Adam Draper, the founder of Boost VC and a venture capitalist focused heavily on blockchain and emerging technology startups,

07-16Exchange

Coinbase Reshuffles Base Leadership as Jesse Pollak Refocuses on Infrastructure

Coinbase has reorganized leadership for its Base ecosystem after acknowledging that several early growth initiatives failed to deliver expected results. Jesse Pollak will step away from leading the Base app team and concentrate on strengthening the blockchains core infrastructure.  Meanwhile, Jordan Fish, widely known as Cobie, will oversee the Base app strategy following Coinbases acquisition of his Echo platform. The leadership transition reflects a broader effort to position Base for institutional adoption as competition among Ethereum Layer 2 networks intensifies.  Base Shifts Toward Trading, Stablecoins, and AI  Pollak admitted that Base invested heavily in social products, creator coins, and decentralized social applications during early 2026. However, those initiatives struggled to gain lasting traction.  lots of conversations about base over the last week. wanted to share my candid take after a week of listening and a lot of reflection over the last 6 months.  first off – in case its not obvious, the first quarter of 2026 was a punch in the face. I spent 2024 and 2025 making a…  — jesse.base.eth (@jessepollak) July 15, 2026  Besides, several flagship projects lost momentum, while many creator token investors remained underwater. Coinbase Chief Executive Brian Armstrong also acknowledged that the creator-focused strategy failed to meet expectations.  Consequently, Pollak will now prioritize

07-16Exchange

Kraken Institutional partners with Upshift to offer custom DeFi vaults for yield generation

Kraken Institutional has announced a partnership with on-chain yield platform Upshift to launch a custom Vault service designed for institutional clients. The service will allow qualified investors to generate yield on custodied digital assets, including Bitcoin ($BTC), Ethereum ($ETH), and stablecoins, through tailored DeFi strategies.  Partnership details and service structure  According to a report from The Block, the collaboration involves building dedicated vaults that are customized to each clients investment strategy, risk tolerance, liquidity requirements, and asset composition. This approach moves beyond standard yield products by offering institutional-grade flexibility and control over DeFi exposure.  The vaults will be managed through Upshift‘s on-chain yield infrastructure, which integrates with Kraken’s custody and trading services. This allows clients to maintain their assets under Krakens security framework while accessing decentralized finance opportunities.  Market context and institutional demand  The launch comes amid growing institutional appetite for yield-generating products in the crypto space. Traditional finance players have increasingly sought ways to deploy idle digital assets productively, particularly in a low-yield macroeconomic environment. However, many institutions have been cautious about DeFi due to concerns around smart contract risk, liquidity fragmentation, and regulatory uncertainty.  By offering custom vaults with dedicated risk parameters, Kraken and Upshift aim to address these concerns while providing a compliant

07-16Exchange

Pi Network News: Expert Warns Pi Could Lose Top-100 Status Below $0.01 Amid Supply Crisis

Crypto expert Dr Altcoin has alleged that Pi Network is facing a supply crisis tied to a wave of token unlocks scheduled for the second half of 2026.  According to the post, pioneers who locked their Pi for three years are now seeing large amounts of that supply released. Roughly 775.8 million Pi tokens are set to unlock between now and December 2026. That works out to an average of 129.3 million Pi tokens unlocked each month now. Dr Altcoin argued that a significant portion of this unlocked supply is likely to reach exchanges, adding further selling pressure to the market.  Calls for the Pi Core Team to respond  The post argued that no single announcement, ecosystem update, or exchange listing would be enough to stabilize price without the Pi Core Team directly addressing supply, demand, and liquidity concerns. It called for the team to publicly acknowledge the situation and discuss potential solutions with the community, framing continued silence as a failure of leadership.  Proposed steps, according to the post  Dr Altcoin outlined several measures that could be considered if the Core Team continues its current communication approach:Burning a substantial portion of remaining supply, potentially as much as 50%, drawing a comparison to Stellars historical

07-16Exchange
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