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Seoul authorities disclosed that about $1.5 million in Bitcoin seized in a 2021 fraud case was transferred out of a secure wallet without detection and only uncovered during a nationwide audit. Although the device itself remained physically intact, the Gyeonggi Northern Provincial Police Agency has opened an investigation into possible internal involvement. The case follows a separate incident in which the Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office lost 320 BTC in a phishing attack, raising fresh concerns over how confiscated crypto assets are protected in South Korea.

South Korea’s leading exchanges Upbit and Bithumb announced they will remove Loopring ($LRC) from trading on March 16, 2026, at 1500 KST. The decision comes after ongoing concerns over disclosure transparency, project operations, and development progress. Withdrawals will remain available until April 16, but deposits and services such as airdrops will no longer be supported. The announcement caused $LRC to drop about 10%, reflecting growing regulatory oversight and stronger protections for crypto users in South Korea.

A social media post claimed Binance earned 60,000 BTC by shorting Bitcoin on BitMEX ahead of the March 2020 Black Thursday crash. Binance co‑founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao dismissed it as fake news, stating Binance never traded on BitMEX and there’s no proof or official record of such activity. He also noted BitMEX’s withdrawal system wouldn’t support a huge single exit. Most in the crypto community called the rumor baseless FUD, with no evidence offered to back it.

Chinese regulators have privately instructed major commercial banks to limit new U.S. Treasury purchases and gradually reduce large holdings due to market volatility and concentration risks. Sovereign reserves are unaffected, but China’s Treasury holdings are near multi‑year lows after years of diversification. Analysts suggest this cautious approach reflects broader interest in alternative assets, including Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, as China seeks to manage risk while exploring non‑dollar stores of value.

Cryptocom co-founder and CEO Kris Marszalek has purchased the domain AIcom for approximately $70 million, marking the largest publicly disclosed domain name sale. He plans to use it to launch a consumer-focused AI platform, promoted with a Super Bowl ad, featuring an AI agent that can message, use apps, and trade stocks. The entire purchase was made in cryptocurrency, signaling Marszalek’s long-term confidence in AI as a major technological wave shaping the future.

Erebor Bank, a crypto‑friendly financial startup backed by tech investors including Palmer Luckey and Joe Lonsdale, has become the first new national bank chartered in the US during President Trump’s second term, the Wall Street Journal reported. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) approved the charter less than eight months after application, allowing Erebor to operate nationwide. The bank aims to serve technology firms in crypto, artificial intelligence, defense, and manufacturing, helping fill funding gaps left after Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse. It has also secured FDIC deposit insurance and plans to offer traditional banking alongside services tailored to emerging industries.

China has banned unapproved offshore yuan-pegged stablecoins to stop crypto-based capital flight and financial crime. The People’s Bank of China repeated its strict ban on crypto activity, citing risks tied to money laundering and foreign exchange fraud. Hong Kong regulators also warned that no licenses have been issued, and promoting such stablecoins is illegal. The move targets offshore RMB tokens like CNH stablecoins and supports China’s push toward its digital yuan, the eCNY.

A Bithumb employee accidentally sent around 2,000 $BTC to hundreds of users during an airdrop instead of the intended token, causing Bitcoin to drop about 10% on the exchange. Some users reported receiving 2,000 $BTC rather than the expected 2,000 KRW. The mishap triggered a sharp price reaction locally on Bithumb, though Bitcoin’s broader market remained relatively stable. The incident highlights the risks of human error in crypto operations and the potential market impact of large accidental transfers.

Metaplanet CEO Gerovich announced the company will continue steadily accumulating Bitcoin despite a 50% drop from October 2025 highs and shares nearly halving since mid-January. The Tokyo-listed firm, which began buying BTC in April 2024, now holds 35,102 BTC worth $2.2 billion, ranking fourth globally among public companies. With an average purchase price of $107,716 per BTC, the firm faces $1.6 billion in unrealized losses. Gerovich emphasized long-term growth, mirroring strategies of other resilient Bitcoin holders like MicroStrategy.

Cardano founder and former Ethereum co-founder Charles Hoskinson revealed in a livestream called Red Days that his crypto holdings have lost over 3 billion dollars as Bitcoin fell below 66,000 and ADA dropped to 0.25, down 92 percent from its 2021 peak. Hoskinson stressed his commitment to blockchain technology over profit, saying money is not his motivation, and he would stay dedicated even after such losses. He highlighted his clean record compared to scandals like FTX and urged the community to keep building despite market volatility.

The Crypto Fear and Greed Index fell to extreme fear levels of 5-9, the lowest since the June 2022 Terra and FTX crashes, as Bitcoin briefly dropped below $65,000 before recovering. The cryptocurrency saw a single-day decline of over $10,000, wiping out significant market value and triggering widespread liquidations. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $434.1 million in net outflows on February 5, led by BlackRock’s IBIT, reflecting growing caution among institutional investors.

Grant Cardone confirmed that his firm, Cardone Capital, has bought more Bitcoin at around $72,000 per coin, adding to its growing institutional crypto holdings as part of a hybrid strategy that blends real estate cash flow with long‑term BTC accumulation. He used recent announcements to challenge investors waiting for lower prices to buy, telling them to act now rather than time the market. Cardone also dismissed bearish predictions that Bitcoin could fall to zero, reinforcing his belief in Bitcoin’s future.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Congress the government has no power to bail out Bitcoin or force private banks to buy it. In response to questioning by crypto critic Rep. Brad Sherman, Bessent stressed that interventions in Bitcoin markets are not part of the Treasury’s authority. He also confirmed that the U.S. will retain its seized Bitcoin, which has grown from $500 million to over $15 billion, as part of a strategic reserve policy focused on holding rather than selling these assets.

Swiss banking giant UBS Group AG, which manages around $6.9 trillion in assets, is planning to offer cryptocurrency access to individual clients and tokenized deposit solutions for corporate customers as part of its digital asset strategy. CEO Sergio Ermotti described a cautious “fast follower” approach, focusing on building the right infrastructure and rolling out selective services while expanding pilot projects, highlighting the growing interest in blockchain among traditional banks amid evolving global demand and regulations.

Elon Musk has pulled far ahead as the world’s richest person after SpaceX acquired his AI startup xAI. Forbes’ real-time tracker now estimates Musk’s net worth at $852.5 billion. The deal merged SpaceX, xAI, and X, valuing the combined company at $1.25 trillion. Musk owns 42% of SpaceX, which now accounts for more than half of his total wealth. His fortune is now larger than the combined wealth of Jeff Bezos, Larry Page, and Sergey Brin. Tesla still makes up about 12% of his holdings, while SpaceX’s Starship and Starlink continue to drive growth.