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A day after the successful implementation of the Pectra upgrade, the Ethereum Foundation published its Q1 2025 funding report, allocating a staggering $32.65 million to boost its projects and drive growth and innovation within the ecosystem. The announcement comes as ETH price is up 6.76%, crossing $1,950 level, and daily trading volume reaching $21 billion.

Ethereum Foundation Allocates $32.65 Million in Q1 2025

During the first quarter of 2025, the Ethereum Foundation allocated $32.65 million to new projects within the ecosystem, aimed at driving growth and innovation. Since the beginning of 2025, the Foundation has been heavily selling ETH despite the continuous selling pressure on the ETH price. However, co-founder Vitalik Buterin defended these sell-offs, calling it essential to fund projects.

The Foundation has distributed the funding across several key areas, including community and education, consensus layer development, zero-knowledge proof technology, developer tools, and the execution layer. This strategic investment underscores the Foundation’s commitment to fostering Ethereum’s technical evolution.

The announcement comes within 24 hours of the ETH Pectra upgrade going live, which introduced key network developments, faster transactions, smarter wallets, and much more. Experts have hailed it as the most significant upgrade since the Merge, anticipating substantial improvements for the blockchain.

ETH Price Eyes Quick 12% Gains

A day after the Pectra upgrade, ETH price is showing major strength, up by 7.58% at press time, moving all the way to $1971 levels. With today’s price rally, the ETH derivatives market is also heating up with ETH futures open interest shooting 11% to $23.72 billion, as per the Coinglass data. Additionally, the 24-hour liquidations have shot to more than $108 million, with more than $88 million in short liquidations.

Prominent crypto analyst Rekt Capital has highlighted a critical price movement for Ethereum (ETH). The analyst noted that the ETH price has successfully shot past the $1,930 mark, which could set the stage for a rally to $2,200.

Source: Rekt Capital

The analyst also added that ETH dominance is maintaining its position within a critical support zone (marked in green), signaling stability in the market. Holding this level is essential for ETH to strengthen its market presence and pave the way for increased dominance in the coming months.

Source: Rekt Capital

The post Ethereum Foundation Reveals $32 Million Funding, ETH Price Surge to $2,200 Soon? appeared first on CoinGape.

In a significant blow to the notorious LockBit ransomware gang, a massive hack exposed sensitive internal data, including details of 60,000 Bitcoin addresses. This data breach follows recent law enforcement efforts to disrupt the gang’s operations, potentially crippling their ability to carry out further crimes.

Notably, the exposed data includes negotiation chats, admin credentials, and wallet addresses. These critical documents are now publicly available, providing insights into LockBit’s operations.

LockBit Ransomware Gang Data Breach: Details

LockBit’s dark web affiliate panel was recently compromised, resulting in a complete defacement and exposure of sensitive data. The incident was first uncovered by the threat actor, Rey, who wrote on X, “LockBit just got pwned.” Following the breach, the admin panels show a message instead of the usual login screen:

Don’t do crime. CRIME IS BAD. xoxo from Prague”
Along with this message is a link to a downloadable archive: paneldb_dump.zip, which contains a MySQL dump of LockBit’s affiliate portal.

Inside the LockBit Ransomware Database

Notably, the breached database contains 20 tables that reveal the platform’s operations. It includes about 60,000 unique Bitcoin addresses, individual builds created by affiliates for attacks, and configurations used for each build, such as specific servers to skip or files to encrypt. In addition, the data unveils negotiation messages between the LockBit gang and victims, offering a glimpse into their tactics and interactions. Thus, the LockBit Ransomware hack helps an investigator to better understand LockBit’s inner workings.

The incident is unfolding at a time when the crypto market experienced a significant uptrend, mainly driven by Trump’s US-UK trade deal announcement.

What Caused the Hack?

Security researcher Michael Gillespie posited that the data breach occurred due to LockBit ransomware’s lack of proper security measures. The analyst identified that the passwords were kept in plain text, unencrypted, revealing lax security practices, which is ironic given their own malicious activities. This incident follows increasing crypto scams, which forced Australian regulators to shut down 90 companies allegedly linked to pig butchering scams.

Though the identity of the breach’s perpetrator and the method used are still unclear, the similar defacement message used in the Everest ransomware breach suggests a possible link.

The post LockBit Ransomware Hack: What Caused the Data Breach? appeared first on CoinGape.

Cryptocurrency has dominated headlines in recent months, and today, all eyes are on the U.S. Senate as the historic GENIUS Act heads to a floor vote. As the crypto community watches closely, the outcome of today’s vote could have massive implications for the future of digital asset regulation in the US.

Despite being a bipartisan bill initially, Democrats are increasingly expressing concerns over potential conflicts of interest, particularly involving former President Donald Trump’s ties to the stablecoin USD1. The Trump-backed stablecoin is now the 5th-largest stablecoin in the world.

According to CoinMarketCap data, USD1 now claims a $2.12 billion market cap, which places it ahead of PayPal’s PYUSD and Tether Gold. The ranking has a caveat: if DAI, USDS, and sUSDS are treated as separate tokens, then USD1 claims the seventh spot globally. These tokens are technically distinct even though they share the same collateral mechanism. 

A $2B Deal and the Trump Connection

Trump family-owned World Liberty Financial’s stablecoin USD1 was launched in March 2025. It rapidly grew in value thanks to a $2 billion investment from Abu Dhabi’s MGX. The funds were used to facilitate a deal with Binance, triggering waves of speculation and political fallout.

The fact that nearly all of USD1’s issuance is on BNB Chain has only added to the buzz surrounding its explosive growth. It took just weeks for USD1 to jump from $128 million to over $2.1billion in market cap, making it the 5th largest stablecoin at the time of writing.

GENIUS Act Vote Under Fire

The sudden rise of Trump’s stablecoin couldn’t come at a more controversial time. The U.S. Senate is preparing for a crucial vote on the GENIUS Act—a landmark bill designed to regulate stablecoins.

Initially welcomed across party lines, the bill now faces fresh Democratic resistance. Critics argue that USD1’s ties to a Trump-backed project and UAE-linked capital could open floodgates to political profiteering.

In fact, referencing the USD1 deal Senator Elizabeth Warren warned:

“The Senate shouldn’t pass a crypto bill this week to facilitate this kind of corruption,”

The GENIUS Act proposes reserve rules, licensing, and compliance mandates. But with Trump’s stablecoin in the spotlight, some lawmakers say it also opens the door for political profiteering.

What’s Next for Trump’s Stablecoin?

The Senate vote is heading to the floor today, and all eyes are on Capitol Hill. The result of the vote could create a regulatory path for stablecoins in the US. Additionally, it will also determine if Trump’s stablecoin ends up cementing its position or getting sidelined by legislation.

If USD1 continues gaining momentum on BNB Chain, it could become a fixture in both markets and politics. That is, if it avoids any legal hurdles! 

The post Trump-Backed USD1 Becomes 5th Largest Stablecoin Ahead of GENIUS Act Vote appeared first on CoinGape.

A federal judge ruled on Monday that a class action lawsuit alleging that Burger King falsely advertised the size of its signature cheeseburger can move forward.

U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman in Florida found ‘some’ merit to the plaintiff’s argument that the fast food chain advertised its Whopper cheeseburger and other menu items to appear bigger than they are.

An image of the Whopper burger from the lawsuit.District Court South Florida

Nineteen customers from 13 states sued Burger King in 2022, alleging that the burgers they advertised were ‘approximately 35% larger in size, and contain more than double the meat, than the actual burger.”

The lawsuit contains side-by-side images of the bright colored, larger-than-life burger advertisements next to the droopy images taken by customers.

‘Each of our Plaintiffs purchased BKC products at Burger King stores in their home states, and each came away disappointed by the incongruity between what they received and what they expected based on BKC’s advertisements,’ the lawsuit says.

Burger King sought to dismiss the lawsuit, but Altman on Monday stated that the plaintiff’s allegations ‘go beyond mere exaggeration or puffery.’

A spokesperson for Burger King said in a Monday statement that ‘the plaintiffs’ claims are false.’

‘The flame-grilled beef patties portrayed in our advertising are the same patties used in the millions of burgers we serve to Guests across the U.S.,’ the spokesperson added.

A lawyer representing the plaintiffs, Anthony Russo, said in a Monday statement that the plaintiffs were ‘pleased’ with the judge’s ruling and ‘are ready to move forward.’

A similar lawsuit against McDonald’s and Wendy’s was dismissed in September.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

Advanced Micro Devices CEO Lisa Su said China is a “large opportunity” market for the semiconductor and artificial intelligence industry even as export controls and evolving tariff plans loom over the world’s second-largest economy.

“There should be a balance between export controls for national security as well as ensuring that we get the widest possible adoption of our technology,” Su told CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” on Wednesday. “That’s a good thing for U.S. jobs in the U.S. economy.”

She added that U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence and widespread adoption is the primary objective and a “really great position for us to be in.”

Su said there is a “balance to be played between” restricting and providing access to chips.

The comments come on the heels of the company’s fiscal first-quarter results. AMD topped earnings and expectations and issued strong guidance, but said it would see a $1.5 billion hit this year from China export controls. Last month, the company said it would incur up to $800 million in costs from shipping its MI308 products to China and other countries.

The U.S. government has cracked down on chip shipments to China in recent years, restricting the sale of more advanced AI processors to China that could be used to improve military capabilities and eat away at U.S. dominance.

President Donald Trump’s evolving tariff policies have added more turbulence to the sector in recent weeks, and many investors are combing for signs of demand pressure.

While AMD would “prefer a more certain environment,” Su said that the company is working to move manufacturing to the U.S. She added that the impact from tariffs on its portfolio is a minor blip and that the company saw “robust” sales in April.

“We’ve learned to become very agile through all of the things that have happened to the semiconductor supply chain, and we’re going to continue to watch all of these trends very carefully and make sure that we react appropriately going forward,” she said.

Other Ai chipmaking CEO have also called attention to the impact of chip restrictions in a rapidly expanding AI market. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told CNBC’s Jon Fortt on Tuesday that getting pushed out of the the country would be a “tremendous loss.”

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

National Basketball Association superstar Russell Westbrook is taking a shot off the court at simplifying funeral planning with artificial intelligence.

The famed Denver Nuggets point guard on Wednesday announced the launch of Eazewell, a startup that uses AI technology to streamline the process for coordinating funerals. Westbrook founded the venture with former Charlotte Hornets star Kemba Walker and childhood friend Donnell Beverly Jr., who serves as president of Russell Westbrook Enterprises and CEO and co-founder of Eazewell.

“My whole career, on and off the court, has been about stepping up decisively in the moments that matter most,” Westbrook wrote in a statement to CNBC. Westbrook and the Nuggets are currently facing the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA Western Conference semifinals. “Eazewell is exactly that — a decisive solution to a very real problem.”

The Los Angeles-based company uses AI to curate funeral options catered to each user’s budgets and preferences. The platform assists with paperwork, budget planning, invitations and overlooked tasks such as canceling a deceased loved one’s utility bills and social media accounts. Eazewell currently has 11 employees and has already tested its beta platform with more than 1,000 families. 

Eazewell has not disclosed funding but has revenue agreements with partner services. The startup is also working on partnerships with finance and life insurance companies in the space. The service is free to use and does not have an ads component “at this stage,” a company spokesperson said.

“We’re trying to take the weight off people’s shoulders as much as we can, and make this process so much easier for people,” Walker told CNBC in a phone interview. Walker played college basketball with Beverly at the University of Connecticut.

Eazewell traces its origins to Westbrook and Beverly’s high school days, when their friend and basketball teammate Khelcey Barrs III passed away unexpectedly from an enlarged heart. Westbrook commemorates Barrs to this day by wearing a bracelet with the initials “KB3” in every NBA game he plays and on his signature Jordan Why Not Zer0.6 “Khelcey Barrs” shoe.

“It’s a reminder that life can change in an instant,” Westbrook said. “You don’t get to choose the moment, but you do get to choose how you respond.”

The experience left a lasting effect on the two friends, Beverly said, but it wasn’t until the death of Beverly’s parents that he experienced funeral planning hurdles firsthand. Beverly said the experience was “messy” and “grueling.”

Disillusioned and frustrated by the process after the death of his mother and father in 2016 and 2023, respectively, Beverly turned to his close friends to come up with the solution that became Eazewell.

“It just seems like the perfect time to really turn our shared pain into purpose,” Beverly said.

One of Eazewell’s most innovative features is its voice-activated AI agent that can gather cost quotes and call funeral homes on a user’s behalf.

Recent advancements in AI have only recently made it possible to automate tasks and create agents that can manage these jobs in an empathetic and compassionate manner, said Viviane Ghaderi, Eazewell’s tech chief and a former Amazon executive.

Stephen Stokols, an Eazewell investor and CEO of Tru Skye Ventures, an early-stage sports technology and wellness venture firm, said these “transformational” AI advancements helping bring the funeral industry out of the “dark ages” initially drew him to the project.

Walker said he hopes Eazewell can offer users the tools to navigate a topic that is not taught in school or early life.

“We know how important it is to have someone by your side to help with the details that come after a loss,” Westbrook said.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

Trump’s latest Hollywood “hit” isn’t the kind you stream.

Threatening to slap a 100% tariff on films produced in foreign countries, the president’s announcement rattled several media stocks like Netflix, Inc. (NFLX), Walt Disney Co. (DIS), and others.

What makes the whole thing complicated is this:

  • No clear-cut definition of “foreign”: Many “American” films are shot abroad with foreign crews, locations, and studios.
  • Tax breaks abroad: Studios rely on international incentives to cut costs—think Marvel in the UK or Netflix in Korea (Squid Game).
  • Global revenues: Delivering content overseas boosts subscriptions.
  • Disruption to current projects: In-progress shoots and cross-border production deals could face sudden delays, cancellations, or financial penalties.
  • And last but not least, retaliation risk. Countries may hit back with tariffs or restrictions on U.S. films, hurting global revenues.

The result? A policy that aims to protect American film could end up undercutting it from every angle.

Which Media Stocks Are Still Worth Holding?

With Trump’s proposed 100% tariff and the looming threat of retaliation, you’re probably wondering: Which media stocks are still investable—and which ones are caught in the crossfire?

Let’s focus on the platforms that most Americans stream at home.

  • Netflix (NFLX) is the most exposed to Trump’s tariffs due to its heavy investment in international productions.
  • Disney (DIS) is most vulnerable both ways—to the U.S. tariff and international retaliation—in that over 60% of its box office revenue is international; plus, it operates theme parks in China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Europe.
  • Roku (ROKU) appears to be the least exposed, as it’s a content aggregator and not a producer. The bulk of its revenue comes from advertising, subscriptions, and platform fees, not from producing or exporting content.

NOTE: I’m excluding Amazon (AMZN) in favor of pure-play media entertainment stocks. While Amazon is not as exposed to foreign film tariffs, it’s exposed to the other tariffs.

First, how are these stocks performing relative to each other and the broader market (S&P 500)?

FIGURE 1. PERFCHARTS DISPLAYING THE RELATIVE PERFORMANCE OF ALL THREE STOCKS VS THE S&P. Netflix is far outpacing its two media peers.

Among these three, which stocks are currently the most investable—that is, which ones are showing favorable price action that could support a viable trading setup?

Netflix Technical Analysis: Uptrend Intact, But Caution Ahead

Let’s start with NFLX—the company most fundamentally exposed to the proposed tariffs on foreign-made films. Check out this daily chart.

FIGURE 2. DAILY CHART OF NFLX STOCK. No tariff fears are evident here as the stock continues its uptrend.

NFLX stock remains in a strong uptrend, with a StockCharts Technical Rank (SCTR) well above the 90-line, making it one of the top-performing large-cap stocks from a technical perspective. However, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) suggests the stock may be overbought, raising the possibility of a short-term pullback.

The  20-day Price Channel can help identify potential turning points since it highlights recent tops and bottoms. The green-shaded zone marks the first area of support, where a bounce may occur if the stock retreats in the coming sessions. If that level fails to hold, the red-shaded zone identifies a secondary support area aligned with the 200-day Simple Moving Average (SMA). A drop below this level without a strong rebound could signal a weakening of the current bullish trend.

Caution: Among the three stocks analyzed, Netflix appears to be most exposed to potential downside from Trump’s proposed tariffs on foreign-made films. Investors should remain cautious, as shifting geopolitical dynamics could alter the stock’s fundamental outlook and technical setup.

Now let’s take a look at Disney, a stock vulnerable to Trump’s proposed 100% tariffs on foreign-made films and the added threat of retaliatory tariffs from international markets.

Disney’s Recovery Potential Faces Global Headwinds

With a significant portion of its revenue coming from global box office sales and international theme parks, DIS stock is particularly sensitive to shifts in global trade policy. Take a look at this daily chart.

FIGURE 3. DAILY CHART OF DISNEY STOCK PRICE. Oof. Even if it recovers, will we see a breakout beyond the top range?

Disney is underperforming, and the key question is whether the stock is entering a potential recovery phase. The Full Stochastics Oscillator tends to mirror the stock’s cyclical movements well and suggests a possible short-term pullback.

If DIS holds above its most recent swing low support range (highlighted in red), the stock may attempt to retest the resistance area (highlighted in green), which aligns with the 200-day SMA and the most recent swing high.

One bullish signal to note: the Accumulation/Distribution Line (ADL) (shown in orange) is significantly above current price levels, suggesting that buying interest may be quietly building even while the stock trades near its lows. Is DIS a solid buy? Probably not at these levels. You will want to see a stronger indication (or confirmation) that DIS is recovering.

Also, note that DIS has been cycling the $80 to $125 range over the last three years. Unless you’re holding it as a dividend stock, there’s little indication yet that there’s going to be growth beyond this exceedingly wide range.

Is Roku Ready to Break Out, or Break Down?

Let’s analyze the daily chart of Roku.

FIGURE 4. DAILY CHART OF ROKU STOCK. It’s gearing for a breakout, but driven by what?

ROKU may be the least exposed to the proposed foreign film tariffs, but what’s going to drive it higher? Remember, the stock plunged in 2022–2024 due to falling ad revenue, widening losses, and a high-profile cybersecurity breach that shook investor confidence. Without a clear reason for a rebound, the stock may remain stuck.

The Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) is probably the most telling indicator here: buying and selling pressure are at a virtual standstill. There has to be a compelling catalyst to move the stock higher or lower. Still, ROKU appears to be rebounding from a technical standpoint, with overhead resistance levels at $71 and $82.

However, there needs to be something fundamental to validate this technical setup, especially if it turns bullish (like a break above resistance). So if for any reason you’re bullish on ROKU, monitor the fundamental side of this stock play. Right now, it doesn’t look very promising.

At the Close

Trump’s proposed tariff on foreign-made films has stirred up more than just Hollywood headlines; it’s forcing Wall Street to reassess risk across streaming and media stocks. Keep monitoring the technical, fundamental, and geopolitical factors. Don’t make any decisions until you see clear technical confirmation backed by a viable fundamental catalyst. And remember, geopolitical dynamics can still shift the conditions in an instant.


Disclaimer: This blog is for educational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The ideas and strategies should never be used without first assessing your personal and financial situation, or without consulting a financial professional.

Triumph Gold (TSXV:TIG,OTC:TIGCF) is a Canadian gold exploration company well-positioned to benefit from a strengthening gold market. The company’s primary focus is advancing its 100 percent-owned Freegold Mountain Project, a district-scale property located in Yukon’s highly prospective Dawson Range gold-copper belt.

With defined multi-million ounce gold resources, significant potential for expansion, and promising discovery targets, Triumph Gold provides investors with exposure to a large, consolidated land package in one of Canada’s most mining-friendly jurisdictions.

The Freegold Mountain Project is Triumph Gold’s flagship asset — a district-scale property extending 34 kilometers along the highly mineralized Big Creek Fault system in Yukon. What sets this project apart is the widespread presence of mineralization across all major rock types on the property, including Paleozoic metamorphics, Jurassic intrusives, and Cretaceous intrusives. Each of these hosts distinct styles of precious and base metal mineralization, underscoring the project’s exceptional geological potential.

Company Highlights

  • Resource Base: Combined indicated resources of 1 million ounces and inferred resources of 1.08 million ounces gold equivalent across the Freegold Mountain project
  • Strategic Location: Positioned in the mineral-rich Dawson Range, home to major deposits including Newmont’s Coffee, Western Copper’s Casino, and Pembridge’s Minto mine
  • Multiple Deposit Types: Mineralization found in various forms (porphyry, epithermal, skarn) providing diversified exploration targets
  • Expansion Potential: All deposits remain open in multiple directions with numerous untested satellite targets
  • Fully Permitted: Exploration permits in place until 2025-2026 allowing for extensive drilling programs
  • Experienced Leadership: Management team with proven track records in mineral exploration, mine development and capital markets

This Triumph Gold profile is part of a paid investor education campaign.*

Click here to connect with Triumph Gold (TSXV:TIG) to receive an Investor Presentation

This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Joe Cavatoni, senior market strategist, Americas, at the World Gold Council, discusses the organization’s latest report on gold demand trends, highlight key data points from Q1.

He also shares his thoughts on gold’s record-setting rise, saying fundamentals remain strong.

Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

This post appeared first on investingnews.com