January 4, 2026 @ 2:31 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Ilya Lichtenstein, the individual who admitted to orchestrating the massive 2016 breach at cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex, has announced his impending early release from incarceration. In a recent post on X, Lichtenstein attributed his reduced sentence to the First Step Act, a 2018 criminal justice reform… Read More

January 4, 2026 @ 2:30 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

We recently connected with Instant Financial CEO Tal Clark to talk about the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) advisory opinion on cash advances for company workers and their preference for B2B models. Tal share his point of view on this matter including thoughts on why this… Read More

January 4, 2026 @ 2:28 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In the evolving ecosystem of artificial intelligence, much attention has focused on rival chatbots like Alphabet (Google) (NASDAQ:GOOG) Gemini now effectively competing with OpenAI‘s ChatGPT. However, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has seemingly shifted his focus to a potentially more long-term opponent: Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL). Altman appears… Read More

January 4, 2026 @ 2:28 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

As the world steps into 2026, the landscape of digital payments continues to evolve, driven by technological advancements, regulatory shifts, and changes in consumer behavior. From central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) gaining new features to concerns over cybersecurity and cash accessibility, several trends are poised… Read More

January 3, 2026 @ 3:41 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In a move aimed at bolstering its questionable growth strategy, Bitmine Immersion Technologies (NYSE: BMNR) is seeking shareholder approval to dramatically expand its authorized share capital. Chairman Tom Lee recently outlined the plan, which would boost the company’s total authorized shares from the existing 500… Read More

January 3, 2026 @ 1:34 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Governments are accelerating coordinated oversight of cryptocurrency markets as a new international reporting regime takes hold, signalling tighter tax enforcement and pushing digital assets closer to mainstream financial regulation, the Financial Times reported. According to the report, 48 jurisdictions have committed to begin their first… Read More

January 3, 2026 @ 1:32 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Many UK households faced a challenging festive season in 2025, with financial pressures forcing significant cutbacks. According to Vanquis Bank‘s Financial Wellbeing Index, one in five families earning less than £40,000 annually reduced their holiday spending, highlighting the ongoing struggle with escalating living expenses. Overall,… Read More

January 3, 2026 @ 1:28 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In late December 2025, the City of Baltimore initiated a lawsuit against Dave Inc. (Nasdaq: DAVE), a Los Angeles-based financial technology company, accusing it of engaging in deceptive marketing and imposing exorbitant fees that effectively function as illegal high-interest loans. The action, announced by Mayor Brandon… Read More

January 3, 2026 @ 1:27 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

Quantum computing is standing out as a transformative force poised to redefine industries from finance to digital banking. A recent update from Citi (NYSE: C) provides key insights from Noelle Ibrahim, IBM Quantum’s Technical Client Advisory Executive. This update sheds light on the current state… Read More

January 3, 2026 @ 1:25 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Knight Fintech, an Indian provider of banking and digital lending infrastructure, has raised $23.6 million in a Series A funding round led by Accel, the company said. The round also saw participation from IIFL and Rocket Capital, along with existing investors Prime Venture Partners, 3one4… Read More

January 3, 2026 @ 1:23 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

European digital assets platform Bitpanda has released an update that examines the facts around “illicit crypto use” while also challenging prevailing narratives about cryptocurrency’s role in money laundering, terrorist financing, and sanctions evasion. As authorities like the European Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) and the Financial… Read More

January 3, 2026 @ 1:22 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In a contentious legal showdown, JPMorgan Chase (NYSE:JPM) is pushing back against nearly $74 million in legal fees claimed by Charlie Javice, the founder of the student aid platform Frank. This dispute stems from the bank’s 2021 acquisition of Frank for $175 million, a deal… Read More

January 3, 2026 @ 9:53 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The World Foundation noted in a blog post that it has been entrusted with the mission of stewardship of the World Protocol, including its token treasury. As part of that particular role, the World Foundation says that it is responsible for the capitalization of the… Read More

January 3, 2026 @ 9:25 am By Omar Faridi  |  

RWA or real-world assets have reportedly emerged as the most profitable crypto narrative this year, with the highest average price returns of 185.8% YTD across its largest tokens. This, according to an extensive CoinGecko report which also noted that the RWA narrative’s profitability was primarily… Read More

January 2, 2026 @ 5:51 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In a recent victory for billionaire entrepreneur  and NBA sports team owner Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks, a federal judge has thrown out a long-running class-action lawsuit accusing them of (allegedly) misleading investors through their promotion of the failed cryptocurrency platform Voyager Digital. The… Read More

January 2, 2026 @ 5:50 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The cryptocurrency sector experienced a significant respite in December 2025, with financial damages from hacks and exploits dropping more than 60% to approximately $76 million, according to a report from blockchain security firm PeckShield released on January 1, 2026. This figure represents a substantial reduction… Read More

January 2, 2026 @ 4:55 pm By JD Alois  |  

Debanking was prevalent during the Biden Administration. In effect, certain individuals and businesses were “debanked” because they were deemed to be in an undesirable line of business or were affiliated with entities viewed as not aligned with administration goals. This does not include criminal or… Read More

January 2, 2026 @ 4:35 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

The year 2025 proved to be another strong period for U.S. equities, with the S&P 500 delivering a total return of approximately 16.4%. This marked the benchmark index’s third straight year of double-digit advances, a rare achievement seen only a handful of times since the… Read More

January 2, 2026 @ 4:34 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In a significant policy shift for one of the world’s most isolated countries, Turkmenistan has reportedly begun regulating cryptocurrency activities as a new framework for virtual assets took effect on January 1, 2026. The legislation permits licensed mining and trading of digital currencies, marking a… Read More

January 2, 2026 @ 4:33 pm By Omar Faridi  |  

In 2025, the blockchain industry navigated a turbulent landscape marked by sophisticated cyber threats, regulatory advancements, and substantial financial losses. SlowMist‘s annual report highlights a year of professionalized attacks and maturing anti-money laundering (AML) efforts, underscoring the need for adequate security measures amid technological advancements…. Read More