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U.S. DoJ seizes $200K in crypto from Hamas wallet The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) said it has seized $200,000 worth of cryptocurrency from a wallet held by the Palestinian militant group, Hamas. According to a press release published to the DoJ website, the wallet is

A coalition of 34 crypto firms and advocacy groups has called on Congress to push back against the Department of Justice's broad interpretation of laws used to prosecute Tornado Cash developers. Click the 🔗 for the full story >>>

🚨 LATEST: A coalition of crypto firms urged the Congress to press the Department of Justice to amend its interpretation of money transmission laws that were used to charge the developers of the crypto mixer Tornado Cash.

In a stunning revelation that adds political intrigue to an already high-profile legal battle, Reuters has uncovered that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) interim chief, Mark Uyeda, cast the sole dissenting vote against suing Elon Musk earlier this year. The closed-door vote, held just days before Republicans took control of the agency in January, approved a lawsuit over Musk’s delayed disclosure of Twitter stock purchases. The 4-1 decision not only highlights deep internal divisions within the SEC but also raises serious questions about political pressure, regulatory integrity, and the future of enforcement under a Musk-friendly administration. In a quiet but consequential January vote, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) decided 4-1 to sue Elon Musk over his delayed disclosure of Twitter shares. The vote, revealed exclusively by Reuters , exposed a deep rift within the agency. The lone dissenter? Republican Commissioner Mark Uyeda, now the SEC’s interim chief. His "no" vote came just days before a political shift in Washington saw Republicans take control of the agency. The core issue stems from Musk’s 2022 acquisition of Twitter (now X), when he disclosed his stake 21 days late—far beyond the required 10-day window for holdings exceeding 5%. That delay, the SEC argues, allowed him to scoop up more shares at lower prices, saving him $150 million and triggering market movements. The agency sued Musk on January 14, just a week after the commissioners' internal vote. Uyeda, a Republican appointee and close observer of political implications, reportedly questioned the motives behind the lawsuit. Before the vote, he asked SEC enforcement staff to sign pledges that the case was free from political influence—an unusual move rejected by the staff. His opposition was not necessarily about Musk’s actions, but about the optics and timing of the enforcement, which came just before a change in administration. The timing has raised eyebrows. Musk is a known ally of President Donald Trump, and the vote occurred just before Republican leadership took over the SEC. Trump has since issued an executive order accusing the SEC of partisan targeting under Biden and demanded a review of politically driven investigations. Though the SEC declined to comment, the lawsuit’s proximity to the power shift casts doubt on the agency’s neutrality in the eyes of critics. The commission reportedly demanded Musk give up the $150 million in alleged gains and pay an additional penalty. While Uyeda voted no, fellow Republican Hester Peirce sided with the three Democratic commissioners, allowing the lawsuit to proceed. The decision shows an unusual split within Republican ranks and underscores the internal friction over how to deal with the billionaire entrepreneur. Intent was key. SEC investigators explored whether Musk knowingly delayed the filing—a charge that could carry more severe consequences. Musk, however, claimed he misunderstood the rule and eventually complied. The SEC dropped the intent angle but still pursued civil penalties. Musk had agreed to be deposed twice but resisted further interviews, delaying the case until after the 2024 election. Legal experts question the SEC’s sluggish pace. A late filing case is typically straightforward. "Bringing it at the last minute—it loses credibility," said Howard Fischer, a former SEC lawyer. Others argue that not filing at all would have looked like selective enforcement, undermining the agency’s role in upholding fair markets. Musk has until April 4 to respond to the court summons. With Uyeda now leading the SEC and Trump ordering a review of the agency’s actions, the Musk case could become a lightning rod in the wider war over regulatory power and political influence. Musk’s long-standing feud with the SEC—dating back to his 2018 Tesla tweet saga—adds more fuel to the fire. The internal divide within the SEC, revealed in this exclusive report, paints a picture of an agency caught between law and politics. Whether the case against Musk is about justice or timing remains an open question—one that could reshape the future of securities enforcement in a deeply divided America.

In South Korea, the number of domestic investors holding digital currencies such as Bitcoin has soared by more than 50% in the past year. The figure now stands at more than 9.6 million. Interestingly, one in four of these investors is over 50 years old. Furthermore, data received by Democratic Party lawmaker Ahn Do-jae from five domestic crypto exchanges—namely Upbit, Bithumb, Coinone, Korbit, and Gopax—shows that by the end of last year, there were more than 9.6 million active and tradable accounts. The previous year, the number was only around 6.3 million. This means that there are more than 3 million additional people trying their luck in the crypto world in just a year. The total amount of crypto assets they hold is truly impressive. Its value reaches more than 105 trillion won (about $77.78 billion). For comparison, that’s equivalent to buying more than 150,000 small apartments in Seoul . Not a number to be taken lightly, especially considering that most of the owners are not from institutions but retail investors. On the other hand, the age group that was previously considered far from technology is starting to catch up. Investors in their 50s are recorded at around 1.75 million people, an increase of more than half from the previous year. Meanwhile, those who have reached the age of 60, the number jumped from 371,800 to 636,700 people. It is possible that some of them follow their children or grandchildren, but in the end they actually make more money. What makes you shake your head is that many of these senior investors also fall into the “big player” category. Of the approximately 9,100 accounts with asset ownership of more than 1 billion won, almost half are owned by people over the age of 50. On average, these mature investors hold crypto assets worth 2.15 billion won per person. It is no wonder that more and more young people are starting to ask their fathers or even grandfathers to teach them how to trade. However, amid this rapid growth, the South Korean government is not sitting idly by. CNF reports that the country’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has begun cracking down on foreign crypto exchanges that are not yet officially registered. A few of the names under criticism are already familiar among the worldwide crypto community. Apart from love messages, the FIU has started restricting access to its websites running Korean domains. Roughly speaking, their cords have been taken out rather than they were only chastised. Local regulators are also increasingly vigilant about the potential misuse of crypto platforms for illegal purposes. Starting January 19, 2025, they will monitor transactions suspected of being related to illegal foreign exchange trading. It is not just one institution that is moving. Financial authorities, the Ministry of Justice, and the Central Bank of Korea will work together in this supervision. So for those who think they can smuggle money through digital wallets, you should think again. Apart from these tightening measures, South Korea is also preparing to launch a pilot project for a central bank digital currency (CBDC). Still from the CNF report , the Central Bank of Korea will start a CBDC trial in April 2025. The program will involve 100,000 participants and several major banks. Participants will later be able to convert their bank balances into digital tokens and use them to shop at certain merchants. The payment process will also be tested in a real-time system.