Posing as Elon Musk Nets Hacker About $180,000 Worth of Bitcoin so Far 2764

Knowing that, enterprising hackers in recent days took over several “verified” accounts, tweaking their profiles to look like Elon Musk’s account. They then urged users to send a small amount of bitcoin BTCUSD, in exchange for the promise of more bitcoin to be sent back. One of the bitcoin wallets linked in the tweets has already received about $180,000 from those somehow buying into the scam. As you can see, the wallet below has collected 28 bitcoin, which is currently trading $6,435 each.

This may be the most successful attempt at duping Musk fans, but it’s not the first. A version of this scam popped up earlier this year, when accounts bearing the Tesla TSLA, boss’s name and image just straight up asked for bitcoin.

This kind of nonsense eventually led to Musk actually getting blocked from his own Twitter account.

In response to the latest outbreak, Twitter TWTR, explained to the BBC that it “substantially improved how we tackle cryptocurrency scams on the platform” and “user impressions have fallen by a multiple of 10 as we continue to invest in more proactive tools to detect spammy and malicious activity.”

Previous ArticleNext Article

Leave a Reply

Crypto’s Great Deception: 75% of “Decentralized” Currency Controlled by Centralized Giants 2023

Billions in digital assets labeled “decentralized” are, in reality, centrally controlled by private servers, hidden admin keys, and corporate entities, all adding up to a potential financial catastrophe. Dr. David Utzke, a former U.S. Treasury cybercrimes technologist, reveals how false decentralization is covertly controlling the crypto ecosystem, and what regulators, investors, and institutions must do now to avert disaster.

A reckoning is coming for the crypto ecosystem. According to recent blockchain and financial research, between 60% and 75% of total daily digital-asset project revenue now flows through fiat-pegged tokens issued by centralized entities such as Tether (USDT) and Circle (USDC). These issuers, and many so-called decentralized projects, operate on proprietary code bases and closed governance systems, contradicting the decentralization narratives used to attract investors, institutions, and governments.

“The problem is architectural, not speculative,” said Dr. David Utzke, author of The Digital Asset Technology Guidebook. “Most of what’s sold as ‘decentralized’ runs on centralized ledgers controlled by private foundations or developer teams. When one of those hidden control points fails or disappears, billions in value can vanish overnight.”

A False Sense of Security

While Bitcoin’s 2009 launch introduced a truly distributed ledger, most newer networks, especially Layer-2 (L2) and Layer-3 (L3) projects, quietly reverted to centralized control. Despite marketing claims, their “decentralization” exists in name only.

As Dr. Utzke notes, “The term decentralization has been hijacked. It originally referred to political hierarchy, not network architecture. Today, many projects call themselves decentralized simply because they don’t interact directly with users, even though a CEO or a small developer team controls every critical system function.”

This growing re-centralization trend has been documented by the Brookings Institution, which warns that “blockchain’s decentralization promise is quietly giving way to corporate and technical centralization”. Similarly, IEEE researchers have identified persistent “centralized security risks in decentralized applications,” including hard-coded administrative access and opaque governance models.

In 2025 alone, decentralized finance (DeFi) exploits and protocol breaches have cost users more than $3 billion, according to cybersecurity trackers. Although reported hacks fell by 85% in October, a decline largely attributed to improved security tooling and law enforcement pressure, the structural vulnerabilities remain unresolved.

“These are not isolated failures,” said Dr. Utzke. “They’re warnings about systemic fragility hidden beneath the surface of crypto’s biggest platforms.”

Systemic Risks Hidden in Plain Sight

This illusion of decentralization carries far-reaching implications. Institutions holding crypto assets are often unaware they are relying on non-cryptographic frameworks or single points of failure embedded in private code. These vulnerabilities mirror the contagion risks seen in traditional finance, as when FTX’s collapse in 2022 triggered losses across the entire digital-asset sector.

“Digital assets are intertwined,” Dr. Utzke warned. “When one centralized project fails, it doesn’t fall alone—it takes others down with it. The next crash won’t be about volatility; it’ll be about trust collapsing at the code level.”

The rise of meme-token platforms like Pump.fun and Degen Chain underscores this fragility. More than seven million tokens have been minted across such systems, yet fewer than 3% retain any long-term value. Over 80% of tokens are effectively dead, a pattern Dr. Utzke calls “the PvP degen casino model” of speculative chaos. In this scenario, participants repeatedly mint and trade meme tokens as though playing a peer-vs-peer casino — chasing short-term wins where most tokens collapse to near-zero value.

Calling for Cryptographic Truth and Oversight

Dr. Utzke argues that the Path forward requires more than regulation; it demands accountability. He advises:

  • Smarter, bifurcated oversight rooted in technical expertise.
  • A self-regulatory organization (SRO), similar to Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), to certify cryptographic soundness.
  • Enforcement of transparent disclosure standards for digital-asset projects.

“Federal regulators simply don’t have the technical depth to oversee blockchain architecture,” said Dr. Utzke. “We need an SRO staffed by cryptographers and cybersecurity experts who can audit code integrity, enforce smart-contract standards, and separate hype from truth. Otherwise, we’re building financial skyscrapers on invisible foundations.”

Securing Against Higher Stakes

With institutional and government adoption of blockchain assets accelerating, the stakes have never been higher. Transparency, verification, and architectural integrity—not speculation—will determine the survivability of the digital-asset economy.

“Decentralization isn’t a slogan,” Dr. Utzke concluded. “It’s a verifiable state of architecture. Until we can prove that… the crypto ecosystem remains one breach, one admin key, or one vanished developer away from its next global meltdown.”

About Dr. David Utzke:

Dr. David Utzke is a pioneering innovator in blockchain-based AI systems and decentralized data intelligence. His work synthesizes emerging technologies with financial systems to create secure, autonomous frameworks for digital asset management, DeFi, and identity verification. With over a decade serving at the U.S. Treasury’s IRS Cyber Crimes Unit, Dr. Utzke has led groundbreaking cases in digital forensics and decentralized finance. With experience spanning economics, cryptography, and machine learning, his disruptive vision focuses on establishing transparent, human-centered technology that bridges the gap between AI and trust in digital transactions.

Ethereum Foundation Moves Entire $650M+ Treasury to Safe Multisig 816

EF completes full treasury migration to Safe smart accounts, joining Vitalik Buterin as key Safe user + Safe smart accounts cross 750M transactions milestone.

The Ethereum Foundation has completed the migration of its full treasury, over 160,000 ETH worth approximately $650 million to Safe{Wallet}, following months of successful DeFi testing. Safe{Wallet}, operated by Safe Labs (a fully owned subsidiary of the Safe Foundation), is the crypto industry’s trusted smart account standard for multisig wallets, securing billions of dollars in assets for institutions, DAOs, and projects.

The move follows the Foundation’s June 2025 treasury policy announcement, which committed to actively participating in Ethereum’s DeFi ecosystem. Since February, the EF had been testing Safe with a separate DeFi-focused account, dogfooding protocols including Aave, Cowswap, and Morpho as part of their strategy to support applications built on Ethereum.

After testing a 3-of-5 multisig configuration on January 20th, the Foundation has now consolidated its remaining ETH holdings into Safe, completing the transition from their previous custom-built multisig solution. This implementation enables the Ethereum Foundation to actively participate in DeFi via Safe while maintaining battle-tested security standards, marking another step toward Safe’s vision of moving the world’s GDP onchain through battle-tested self-custody infrastructure.

“Safe has proven safe and has a great user experience, and we will transfer more of our funds here over time,” the Ethereum Foundation announced, indicating this is the beginning of a deeper commitment to the Safe smart account standard.

Safe’s Momentum

The timing is notable: Safe has just crossed 750 million transactions (751,062,286 as of today) with over 57.5 million Safes created across multiple chains. The protocol has emerged as crypto’s de facto standard for multisig wallets, securing billions in institutional and DAO treasuries. Safe also counts Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin among its prominent users, who revealed in May 2024 that he stores over 90% of his personal crypto holdings in a Safe multisig wallet. Vitalik has used Safe since at least 2024 for personal security, advocating for what he calls “decentralizing your own security.”

Beyond individual users, Safe has attracted major institutional adoption. Trump-backed World Liberty Financial has processed over $3.02 billion in transaction volume through the Safe smart accounts, onchain data shows. Across this period, Liberty’s Safe accounts executed 347 transactions, reflecting consistent institutional use even amid broader market shifts. The figures position Liberty as one of the largest institutional users of Safe’s onchain infrastructure to date.

This growing pattern of major institutions choosing Safe for treasury operations reinforces its position as the leading secure infrastructure layer for digital assets.

Safe’s Milestones:

  • Ethereum Foundation: $650M+ treasury secured
  • Trump-backed World Liberty Financial has processed over $3 Billion via Safe smart accounts
  • Over $65B+ in total assets stored
  • 750M transactions executed
  • 300+ networks supported
  • 200+ ecosystem projects built on the Safe smart account standard
  • 57M accounts deployed

Part of Broader “DeFiPunk” Strategy

The migration reflects the EF’s June 2025 treasury policy, which outlined plans to actively deploy treasury assets into “battle-tested, immutable, audited, permissionless protocols” while maintaining a 2.5-year operational buffer. The policy marked a shift from the Foundation’s historically conservative approach, committing to both enhance financial sustainability and support key Ethereum applications.

The treasury policy targets spending approximately 15% of treasury funds annually, gradually reducing to a sustainable 5% baseline over five years, while prioritizing security, open-source principles, and financial sovereignty aligned with what the Foundation calls “Defipunk” values.

The migration marks a powerful alignment: Ethereum’s core steward now uses the same infrastructure it supports, dogfooding the ecosystem it helps build.

Bitcoin’s First Major L2 Since Lightning Launches After Two Years of Development 837

Arkade Brings Ark Protocol to Mainnet and Announces Native Asset Framework, Marking a Pivotal Moment in Bitcoin’s Evolution as Programmable Money.

Ark Labs today launched Arkade to public beta, introducing Bitcoin’s first scaling layer for programmable finance since Lightning Network’s debut nearly a decade ago. Alongside the mainnet launch, the company announced Arkade Assets, a native asset framework designed to bring stablecoins and other tokens to Bitcoin’s execution layer, with planned Tether USDT support.

Two years after the Ark protocol announcement captured developers’ imagination, the launch represents a milestone in Bitcoin scaling innovation. While numerous layer-2 proposals emerged in recent years, most remain in research and development phases. Arkade, built on Ark’s foundation, becomes the first major initiative from this wave to deliver working mainnet infrastructure without security tradeoffs.

“The Bitcoin L2 landscape has been full of promises but light on shipping,” said Marco Argentieri, CEO of Ark Labs. “Today’s release marks the beginning of Bitcoin’s evolution as programmable money.”

Introducing Arkade Assets: Bringing Stablecoins Home to Bitcoin

In a significant expansion of Arkade’s capabilities, Ark Labs today unveiled Arkade Assets, a framework that extends Arkade’s virtualization architecture to support multiple asset types.

Arkade Assets represents an important milestone for Bitcoin’s evolution as a programmable financial platform. While stablecoins have become essential infrastructure for digital finance, with over $200 billion in circulation, most activity has migrated to alternative chains due to Bitcoin’s limited programmability. Ark Lab intends to reverse this trend.

“Tether pioneered stablecoins on Bitcoin over a decade ago, but the ecosystem lacked the infrastructure to support the sophisticated applications users demand,” said Argentieri. “Arkade finally provides that foundation. We’re building the rails to bring stablecoins back to the world’s most secure blockchain, where they belong.”

From Lightning Alternative to Application Platform

Originally positioned as an alternative to popular Bitcoin scaling solution Lightning, Ark’s virtualization approach revealed potential beyond simple offchain payments. Arkade, the protocol’s first implementation, shows how this architecture can unlock advanced financial applications with no changes to Bitcoin.

“We realized we weren’t just building another payment rail,” explained Alex Bergeron, Ecosystem Lead. “Arkade supports lending protocols, trading platforms, and smart wallets directly on Bitcoin. These are applications that were previously impossible without wrapped tokens or custodial compromises.”

Virtualizing Bitcoin to Unlock Programmable Money

Bitcoin’s $2 trillion market cap cements its status as digital gold, yet its financial services potential remains untapped. Inherent constraints at the base layer have limited the asset to a narrow set of use cases and left the financial application market open to Ethereum and other competitors.

“Arkade unlocks Bitcoin’s full potential without compromising what makes it valuable” said Argentieri. “By virtualizing Bitcoin’s transaction layer, we’re enabling developers to build directly on Bitcoin, not around it.”

Instead of changing Bitcoin’s consensus rules or creating separate chains, Arkade abstracts its fundamental building block, the UTXO, into a virtual environment where it retains Bitcoin’s security properties but gains new capabilities. All user assets are secured by presigned transactions allowing control of their funds at all times and removing the need for risky bridge infrastructure. Developers can build sophisticated financial primitives in a modern development environment: structured yield products, credit markets, and advanced derivatives systems.

Roadmap

Arkade’s public beta delivers core protocol functionality. Virtual Transaction Outputs (VTXOs) enable instant offchain execution while maintaining unilateral exit paths to Bitcoin. Batch settlement compresses thousands of operations into single Bitcoin transactions, dramatically reducing costs. Lightning Network integration through Boltz enables seamless swaps between Arkade and Lightning liquidity.

Launch partners include Breez, BTCPayServer, Boltz, BullBitcoin, Lendasat and LayerZ Wallet.

The public beta represents the beginning of a broader rollout. Ark Labs will expand Arkade’s capabilities over the coming months, adding enhanced scripting environments, additional security mechanisms, and support for more complex financial primitives.

“We’re not just launching a product. We’re establishing infrastructure for the next decade of Bitcoin development,” said Bergeron. “Every major financial application needs a programmable foundation. That’s what we’re building.”

Developers can explore Arkade at arkadeos.com and access integration documentation at docs.arkadeos.com.

About Arkade

Arkade, developed by Ark Labs, is a Bitcoin-native operating system designed to unlock trillions in idle capital and enable Bitcoin as a programmable financial platform. Combining off-chain speed with on-chain security, Arkade allows developers to build decentralized applications for payments, trading, and capital markets—such as Bitcoin-backed loans, margin trading, and derivatives like options and structured products—while preserving Bitcoin’s core principles of decentralization and user control. By eliminating the need for bridges, wrapped tokens, or custodial risks, Arkade provides instant, low-cost tools to power diverse financial interactions with native Bitcoin liquidity. Backed by investors including Draper Associates, Axiom, Fulgur Ventures, and top angel investors, Ark Labs is positioning Arkade as the decentralized backend for institutional liquidity, enabling Bitcoin to power diverse financial interactions.

Fractal Bitcoin Launches Wrapped FB (WFB) on Ethereum 2618

Fractal Bitcoin today announced Wrapped Fractal Bitcoin (WFB), an ERC-20 representation of the Fractal Bitcoin token (FB) on Ethereum. The introduction of WFB marks Fractal Bitcoin’s first step into the Ethereum ecosystem, and underscores a cross-chain strategy to bring Bitcoin-native value to more platforms.

“The launch of WFB is about building lasting connections between ecosystems,” said Lorenzo, Core Contributor of Fractal and Founder of UniSat Wallet. “By linking Bitcoin’s strength with Ethereum’s flexibility, and eventually with other networks, we are creating a framework where communities can grow together. This is how Bitcoin becomes more accessible, more useful, and more impactful for the entire crypto economy.”

Each WFB token is fully backed 1:1 by an FB token reserved on the Fractal mainnet, with reserves publicly verifiable onchain. An initial 2.1 million FB will be locked on the Fractal mainnet, and issued as WFB on Ethereum, drawn from a total of 8.4M FB committed to cross-chain ecosystem development.

Fractal Bitcoin emphasized that FB remains firmly anchored in the Bitcoin ecosystem. The new WFB token will serve as a wrapper, allowing Ethereum users to access Bitcoin-native value, without compromising Bitcoin’s foundation. Fractal’s goal is to serve as a hub, extending Bitcoin’s utility to Ethereum and other blockchain ecosystems.

“Our goal is to meet traders where they are,” said Spencer Yang, Core Contributor of Fractal and Managing Partner of BlockSpaceForce. “Native FB serves Bitcoin-first traders, and WFB plugs into ERC-20 markets that many traders already use. Whether a fund is focused on Bitcoin or Ethereum, Fractal Bitcoin is easy to incorporate through the tools they already use.”

Fractal views WFB on Ethereum as the first expression of a broader cross-chain strategy. By bringing its native token to Ethereum, Fractal extends Bitcoin’s value to new market participants while keeping issuance anchored to Bitcoin. The increased availability will broaden trading participation, tighten spreads through deeper liquidity, and simplify integration with custodians, trading venues, and protocols that already support ERC-20 assets.

Fractal Bitcoin aims to steadily expand FB’s applications and establish the token as a trusted asset across global blockchain ecosystems.

About Fractal Bitcoin

Fractal Bitcoin is Bitcoin’s innovation layer, using virtualized Bitcoin Core code to scale Bitcoin. Fractal has achieved remarkable traction, with 19M+ users, 4.3B+ processed transactions, and 147+ active ecosystem projects. Visit: www.fractalbitcoin.io

GameSquare Expands Crypto Treasury Program to $250 Million 2431

Increases Ethereum treasury holdings to approximately $38 million, with recent $30 million purchase

Launches NFT yield program creating one of the first treasury management strategies to leverage digital assets within the Ethereum ecosystem targeting an expected annualized return of 6%-10%

GameSquare Holdings, Inc. (the “Company” or “GameSquare”) a next-generation media, entertainment, and technology company, today announced that its Board of Directors has increased the Company’s digital asset treasury management authorization from $100 million to $250 million.

As part of the expanded program, the Board has approved a new NFT yield strategy, with an initial $10 million allocation. The updated treasury framework enables the Company to actively deploy capital into high-quality Ethereum-based assets and generate sustainable stablecoin yields targeting a 6–10% return.

“We believe this moment marks the future of capital strategy for modern media companies, after months of planning and diligence. We’re not just holding Ethereum, we’re putting it to work in a proprietary way with best-in-class partners. With Dialectic as our partner, we’re building a dynamic treasury engine designed to generate real onchain yield that funds innovation across our exclusive platform. This isn’t a hedge, it’s a multi-year growth strategy focused on creating significant shareholder value,” said Justin Kenna, CEO of GameSquare.

ETH Holdings Update

GameSquare recently purchased $30 million of ETH, acquiring approximately 8,351.89 ETH at a weighted average price of approximately $3,592 per ETH. To date, GameSquare has purchased $35 million of ETH under its $250 million authorization. The Company currently has approximately 10,170.74 ETH as of July 21, 2025.

NFT Strategy Launch

GameSquare’s NFT strategy will focus on Ethereum-native digital assets that align with its creative DNA, including culturally iconic digital art and collectibles. Rather than passively holding crypto assets, the Company is emphasizing capital efficiency and utilizing DeFi protocols to unlock stablecoin yield while enhancing the long-term value of its ETH holdings.

To ensure strong oversight, GameSquare has implemented a dedicated digital asset investment committee reporting to the Board. All allocations are reviewed for compliance, security, and valuation integrity. The Company does not engage in related-party transactions and has strict internal controls in place for digital asset custody and liquidity management.

“We are excited to be among the first public companies to include NFTs as part of a diversified digital asset strategy. This reflects the innovative approach to our treasury management initiatives. With deep experience building in-game and real-world creative environments, GameSquare is uniquely positioned to understand the cultural and economic value of these digital assets,” Kenna continued.

Increased Authorization

The Company’s Board of Directors has increased its crypto treasury management authorization from $100 million to $250 million, as a result of the program’s mounting success. The Company has formed a strategic partnership with leaders in the crypto space including Ryan Zurrer of Dialectic and Rhydon Lee of Goff Capital to manage and optimize its treasury management program.

“Our crypto strategy complements GameSquare’s broader strategic growth plan and aligns with the growing institutional adoption of Ethereum-based assets. GameSquare isn’t just trying to get involved in an arms race of who can acquire the most ETH for the sake of acquiring ETH. Our growth strategy is focused on innovation and leveraging our established digital, media and creative operations. In addition, our treasury program strengthens our balance sheet while building the potential for recurring cash flow from a rapidly evolving asset class. We are excited to report on our growing success,” Kenna concluded.

GameSquare’s custom ETH-focused yield generation strategy is built on top of Dialectic’s proprietary platform Medici, which applies machine learning models, automated optimization, and multi-layered risk controls to generate best-in-class risk-adjusted returns. Targeted onchain yields of 8-14% significantly exceed the current ETH staking benchmarks of 3-4%. Dialectic’s program includes multi-layered risk management protocols that are widely recognized as the best risk adjusted yields in DeFi.

Once fully implemented, GameSquare expects to allocate capital generated from this strategy to support additional ETH asset purchases or reinvest in the Company’s growth initiatives.

About GameSquare Holdings, Inc.

GameSquare is a cutting-edge media, entertainment, and technology company transforming how brands and publishers connect with Gen Z, Gen Alpha, and Millennial audiences. With a platform that spans award-winning creative services, advanced analytics, and FaZe Clan, one of the most iconic gaming organizations, we operate one of the largest gaming media networks in North America. Complementing our operating strategy, GameSquare operates a blockchain-native Ethereum treasury management program designed to generate onchain yield and enhance capital efficiency, reinforcing our commitment to building a dynamic, high-performing media company at the intersection of culture, technology, and next-generation financial innovation.

To learn more, visit www.gamesquare.com.

BTCT Announces Completion of $1 Million Ethereum Strategic Reserve 2724

BTC Digital Ltd. (“BTCT” or the “Company”), a leading blockchain technology company, today announced that it has established a strategic reserve of $1 million in Ethereum (ETH). This milestone marks the first phase of BTCT’s broader initiative to deepen its exposure to Ethereum’s on–chain financial infrastructure and to position the Company for long–term growth in the emerging digital–asset era.

“As the stablecoin market continues its explosive growth, Ethereum has emerged as the foundation of on–chain USD settlement and value transfer,” said Mr. Siguang Peng, CEO of BTCT. “By securing an initial $1 million ETH reserve today—and with plans to scale that position—we are proactively positioning ourselves for decentralized finance, stablecoin issuance, and asset tokenization. This strategic move strengthens our technological edge, enhances market confidence, and optimizes capital deployment.”

Key Drivers of BTCT’s Ethereum Reserve Strategy:

  • Dominant Stablecoin Infrastructure: Over half of all major stablecoins—including USDT and USDC—operate on Ethereum, making it the centerpiece of decentralized USD issuance and settlement.
  • High–Volume On–Chain Transactions: Stablecoin activity has pushed Ethereum’s on–chain transaction volume to levels approaching traditional financial rails, underscoring its growing importance in global payments and liquidity networks.
  • Collateral and Security Dynamics: As decentralized finance and real–world asset tokenization expand, increased ETH staking and collateralization will further reduce circulating supply, reinforcing network security and value.
  • Institutional Adoption: A number of mining and blockchain firms have already begun integrating ETH into their reserve portfolios, leveraging smart contracts for yield–generation, collateral, and cross–chain financial products.
  • Regulatory and Technical Tailwinds: U.S. regulatory clarity, the forthcoming Pectra upgrade, and mature Layer–2 scaling solutions will significantly boost Ethereum’s throughput, cost–efficiency, and compliance readiness.

Looking Ahead

Building on its origins in large–scale crypto mining, BTCT is undergoing a strategic evolution from “hash–rate provider” to “on–chain financial infrastructure participant.” The Company intends to continuously augment its ETH holdings in alignment with market developments and network upgrades. BTCT believes that Ethereum, akin to “digital gold,” will remain indispensable—not only as a stablecoin settlement hub but also as a catalyst for decentralized payments, asset tokenization, and the next wave of global financial interoperability.

About BTC Digital Ltd.

BTC Digital Ltd. is a blockchain technology company, with a long-term strategy to create value across the metaverse, blockchain and cryptocurrency mining industry. The Company is committed to developing blockchain related businesses in North America, including cryptocurrency mining, mining farm construction, mining pool and data center operation, and miner accessories business.

For more information, please visit: https://btct.investorroom.com/