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With not all information public, Arkham Intelligence, a blockchain analysis firm, has concluded that North Korea’s Lazarus group was responsible for the $1.46 billion hack on the Bybit exchange. On platform X, Arkham offered a bounty of 50,000 ARKM tokens, worth around $30,000, for anyone who could identify the attackers responsible for Friday’s hack. Not long after, Arkham announced that freelancer ZachXBT had provided “definite proof” that the North Korean hacking group was behind the hack. According to current information, Lazarus, North Korea’s elite state-sponsored hacking group, pulled off the largest hack in history on a centralized crypto exchange. The hack resulted in the withdrawal of Ethereum tokens amounting to around $1.5 billion. Ethereum security researchers are scrambling to investigate the incident to understand how the attack happened and whether the hack may spread to other exchanges. Within days, crypto enthusiast ZachXBT identified the Lazarus group as the likely culprit. Lazarus has been responsible for many of the top attacks on digital assets. Blockchain firm Nansen revealed that the attackers first withdrew the funds into a single wallet and then distributed them to multiple wallets. “Initially, the stolen funds were transferred to a primary wallet, which then distributed them across more than 40 wallets”, Nansen said. “The attackers converted all stETH, cmETH, and mETH to ETH before systematically transferring ETH in $27 million increments to over 10 additional wallets”. Ben Zhou, Bybit CEO, urged customers to remain calm and assured them that 80% of funds were recovered by using bridge loans to replace the stolen money. Despite the current bank run on Bybit, Zhou assured users that withdrawals would not be blocked and that customers would have access to their funds. Leveraging bridge loans allows Zhou to honour withdrawal requests. At this stage, the return of stolen tokens is highly unlikely. ZachXBT has yet to release all data pointing to the Lazarus group. He says his analysis involved tracking online connections between wallet addresses until, with the assistance of a colleague, he was able to narrow down the suspects to the North Korean hacking group. ZachXBT found a connection between the wallets used in the Bybit hack and the wallets used in the $85 million hack of Singapore-based exchange Phemex. At this stage, at least, the attack appears to be caused by Blind Signing, in which the smart contact is approved without complete knowledge of its contents. “This attack vector is quickly becoming the favorite form of cyber attack used by advanced threat actors, including North Korea”, said Blockaid’s CEO Ido Ben Natan. “It’s the same type of attack that was used in the Radiant Capital breach and the WazirX incident.” “The problem is that even with the best key management solutions, today most of the signing process is delegated to software interfaces that interact with dApps.” “This creates a critical vulnerability- it opens the door for malicious manipulation of the signing process, which is exactly what happened in this attack,” he said. The stolen funds are unlikely to be returned because North Korea does not have an extradition agreement with the United States. The North Korean hacking group was able to attain more money in this single hack than in all of its hacks last year. This hack contrasts with other previous large-scale attacks, such as the 2016 Bitfinex hack, in that the people behind this attack will likely get away with it and will most likely keep the stolen money. This shows that the American justice system is limited to countries with extradition agreements. Although America focuses on retrieving lost funds through tax, there’s not much they can do about large-scale hacks. Tom Robinson, Elliptic’s chief scientist, described the attack as the “largest crypto theft of all time.” “The next largest crypto theft would be the $611 million stolen from Poly Network in 2021. In fact it may even be the largest single theft of all time”. Bybit appears to be processing withdrawals just fine after their hack,” wrote Coinbase executive Conor Grogan. They have $20B+ in assets on the platform, and their cold wallets are untouched. “Given the isolated nature of the signing hack and how well capitalized Bybit is, I don’t expect there to be contagion.” “A minute into the FTX bankrun it was clear they had no funds to withdraw. I know everyone has PTSD but Bybit is not an FTX situation, if it was I would be screaming it out. They will be fine”. The Lazarus group’s history can be traced back to 2017 when they hacked South Korean exchanges and stole over $200 million in Bitcoin. Crypto bank robberies seem to be here to stay and will need to be a major focus within the crypto industry.

As per the source, Nasdaq has filed for approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to introduce an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that offers investors exposure to a diversified basket of digital assets. This initiative aims to provide a regulated avenue for both retail and institutional investors to engage with multiple cryptocurrencies through a single investment vehicle. The Nasdaq Crypto Index (NCI): A Benchmark for Digital Assets To support this ETF, Nasdaq has co-developed the Nasdaq Crypto Index (NCI) in partnership with Hashdex, a prominent global crypto-focused asset manager. The NCI is designed to reflect the performance of a broad spectrum of the cryptocurrency market, ensuring that only assets meeting stringent liquidity, market capitalization, and custody standards are included. As of February 20, 2025, the NCI’s composition includes: Bitcoin (BTC): 74.71% Ethereum (ETH): 11.73% Ripple (XRP): 6.59% Solana (SOL): 4.24% Cardano (ADA): 1.37% Litecoin (LTC): 0.48% Chainlink (LINK): 0.45% Avalanche (AVAX): 0.25% Uniswap (UNI): 0.19% This diversified approach aims to mitigate the volatility associated with individual cryptocurrencies by providing balanced exposure across multiple digital assets. Growing Institutional Interest and Market Impact The cryptocurrency sector has witnessed a surge in institutional adoption, especially following the SEC’s approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in early 2024. These ETFs have collectively amassed over $120 billion in assets under management within a year, signaling robust demand from institutional investors. The introduction of a diversified crypto ETF by Nasdaq is poised to further accelerate this trend, offering a more comprehensive investment option that appeals to a broader audience. Industry experts anticipate that such innovations will “turbo-charge the crypto ETF industry,” leading to increased liquidity and potentially more stable pricing in the cryptocurrency markets. However, regulatory challenges persist, particularly concerning the classification of various digital assets as commodities or securities, which could impact the ETF’s composition and approval process. Conclusion Nasdaq’s proactive approach in developing a diversified crypto ETF underscores the evolving landscape of digital asset investments. By collaborating with Hashdex to create the Nasdaq Crypto Index, Nasdaq aims to provide investors with a regulated and efficient means to gain exposure to the burgeoning cryptocurrency market. As the SEC reviews this proposal, the financial community eagerly awaits a decision that could further legitimize and expand access to digital assets. FAQs What is the Nasdaq Crypto Index (NCI)? The NCI is a benchmark index co-developed by Nasdaq and Hashdex to track the performance of a diversified basket of cryptocurrencies. It ensures inclusion based on strict liquidity, market capitalization, and custody standards. Which cryptocurrencies are included in the NCI? As of February 20, 2025, the NCI includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple (XRP), Solana, Cardano, Litecoin, Chainlink, Avalanche, and Uniswap. How does a diversified crypto ETF benefit investors? A diversified crypto ETF offers exposure to multiple cryptocurrencies within a single investment, potentially reducing the risk associated with investing in a single digital asset. What regulatory challenges could affect the approval of Nasdaq’s crypto ETF? The SEC’s classification of digital assets as either commodities or securities plays a crucial role in the approval process, as it determines the regulatory framework applicable to the ETF. When is the expected decision from the SEC regarding Nasdaq’s crypto ETF proposal? While the exact timeline is uncertain, the SEC typically reviews ETF proposals within a few months. The financial community is closely monitoring for updates. Glossary of Key Terms Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF): An investment fund that trades on stock exchanges, holding assets such as stocks, commodities, or bonds, and offers investors a proportionate share in the fund’s assets. Nasdaq Crypto Index (NCI): A benchmark index developed by Nasdaq and Hashdex to measure the performance of a diversified basket of cryptocurrencies. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): The U.S. federal agency responsible for enforcing federal securities laws and regulating the securities industry. Spot Bitcoin ETF: An ETF that provides direct exposure to Bitcoin by holding the actual cryptocurrency, as opposed to futures-based ETFs that hold derivative contracts. Institutional Investors: Organizations that invest large sums of money into securities, real estate, and other investment assets; examples include banks, insurance companies, pensions, and hedge funds. Liquidity: The ease with which an asset can be bought or sold in the market without affecting its price. Market Capitalization: The total market value of a cryptocurrency, calculated by multiplying its current price by its total supply. Custody Standards: Regulations and practices ensuring that digital assets are securely stored and managed on behalf of investors. Commodity vs. Security: A commodity is a basic good used in commerce that is interchangeable with other goods of the same type, while a security represents an ownership position in a corporation (stock), a creditor relationship with a governmental body or corporation (bond), or rights to ownership as represented by an option. Sources nasdaq.com ft.com

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) endorsed the first yield-bearing stablecoin, marking a change in the stablecoin market. Stablecoins are crucial in digital finance, processing billions of dollars in daily transactions. Until now, they have provided stability but lacked direct returns for holders. The approval presents a regulated option that offers yield while maintaining price stability. The SEC granted approval to Figure Certificate Co. to offer a new type of stablecoin, YLDs. Unlike traditional stablecoins that generate revenue for issuers but provide no direct yield to users, YLDs will offer returns. The yield comes from reserves invested in assets such as U.S. Treasuries and commercial paper. The SEC classified YLDs as certificates , making them subject to securities ordinances. This categorization differs from major stablecoins such as USDT, which does not offer yield despite earning revenue from reserves. The approval establishes a regulatory framework for stablecoins that generate passive income. The approval places Figure Markets in direct competition with existing stablecoins used for payments, lending, and cross-border transfers. Tether remains the dominant player, while BlackRock’s BUIDL stablecoin serves institutional investors. Figure Markets expects YLDs to compete across various financial applications. A Tether co-founder recently announced plans to launch a similar product, reflecting increased interest in stablecoins that provide returns. The approval signals potential growth in this asset class, with more financial products expected to enter the market. Figure Markets submitted its confidential S-1 filing to the SEC in August 2023. The company worked under SEC regulations to gain approval. Industry experts estimate that additional yield-bearing stablecoin approvals may take six to 12 months. Stablecoins remain a focus for U.S. policymakers . A recent executive order from the Trump administration expressed support for stablecoin development. Congress continues working on legislation to establish a structured regulatory framework. With regulatory approval secured, yield-bearing stablecoins may change how investors engage with digital assets. The development provides new options for earning passive income while preserving the stability of stablecoins. DISCLAIMER: The information on this website is provided as general market commentary and does not constitute investment advice. We encourage you to do your own research before investing.

TL;DR Whales have purchased almost $400 million worth of XRP in the last two days, which could potentially drive upward pressure on the asset’s valuation. Growing anticipation for a spot XRP ETF, with SEC acknowledgment of filings from Grayscale, 21Shares, and Bitwise, could provide a major catalyst for future price movement. Time for Another Rally? While XRP remains in green territory on a weekly scale, the price has recorded some setbacks in the past few days. It plunged below $2.50 on February 18 before rising above the current $2.60 (per CoinGecko’s data). According to the popular X user Ali Martinez, whales have used the recent drop as an opportunity to accumulate additional tokens, buying 150 million XRP in the last 48 hours. As of writing these lines, the stash equals almost $400 million. Continuous efforts in that field will reduce the coin’s circulating supply, potentially making it more valuable (assuming demand doesn’t head south). In addition, the actions of those investors are sometimes mirrored by smaller players who might also join the ecosystem, thus injecting fresh capital. Shortly after highlighting the whales’ efforts, Martinez outlined a price prediction for Ripple’s native token. Based on the potential breaking out of an ascending triangle on the lower time frames, he believes it might climb by 4% to $2.68. Another person who chipped in was EGRAG CRYPTO. They suggested that XRP needs to stay above $2.69-$2.73 in the 4-hour time frame to invalidate the bearish count and begin a bullish continuation. ETFs Pile up An important factor that may positively impact the price of the asset is the possible approval of a spot XRP ETF in the US. Such a product will enable investors to gain exposure without having to purchase or hold the token. Some of the companies that have already displayed their intentions to introduce that type of investment vehicle include Grayscale, 21Shares, and Bitwise. It is worth noting that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) officially acknowledged their applications. This means that these applications are now under the regulator’s review, awaiting approval or rejection. The deadline for the final decision is 240 days from the initial filings. According to Polymarket, the chances of an approved XRP ETF before July 31 are 44%, while the odds of that to happen before the end of 2025 are 78%. The post Ripple Whales Go on a Buying Spree Again: Is XRP Ready for New Heights? appeared first on CryptoPotato.