From Cointelegraph

April 29, 2025 07:58:00 AM:

Gox hack through his BTC-e exchange, has been released in a prisoner swap with Russian spy Konstantin V. Foegel. Vinnik was serving a five-year sentence in Greece for his crimes. Foegel was convicted of espionage in the US and was serving a 20-year sentence. The swap was negotiated by Trump personally. In a shocking turn of events, Alexander Vinnik, the mastermind behind the Gox hack through his crypto exchange BTC-e, has returned to Russia after pleading guilty to money laundering conspiracy charges in 2024. BTC-e processed over $9 billion in transactions and had more than 1 million users worldwide. Vinnik was exchanged for an American schoolteacher who had been in a Russian jail since 2021.

Former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried made a veiled plea for release in an interview, addressing his political contributions to both the Democratic and Republican parties. Bankman-Fried likened his situation to that of Trump’s, questioning the conduct of the federal judge overseeing his trial. Observers saw this as an attempt to elicit a pardon from Trump.

On March 7, Trump signed an executive order establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, falling short of expectations among Bitcoin maximalists. The order created a reserve to pool all Bitcoin seized during criminal proceedings, with the possibility of purchasing additional Bitcoin in a budget-neutral manner. A US Digital Asset Stockpile containing various cryptocurrencies was also established.

Crypto industry leaders gathered at the White House for a summit to discuss crypto regulation and industry development in the US. While some attendees were optimistic about strengthening the US crypto industry, others emphasized the need for legislative change in Congress. Notable figures like Michael Saylor and Brian Armstrong participated, while others, like Charles Hoskinson, highlighted the importance of congressional action.

WLFI launched its stablecoin USD1, backed by short-term US government treasuries and cash equivalents. The token launch followed a $500 million fundraising by selling WLFI tokens, prompting US lawmakers to call for an ethics probe due to potential conflicts of interest with the president’s ability to influence stablecoin policy.

On April 2, Trump declared “Liberation Day” and imposed reciprocal tariffs on all US trade partners, causing market turmoil and concerns over a looming recession. Crypto miners in the US faced increased operational costs, leading to further economic strain. Former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci criticized Trump’s trade policy decisions and their impact on the economy.

A controversial $300,000-per-plate memecoin dinner with top Trump memecoin holders raised concerns over the president’s crypto project and prompted a US lawmaker to support impeachment. Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff voiced strong support for impeachment during a town hall meeting in Georgia, citing concerns over the president’s involvement in the memecoin dinner. The sitting president of the United States is facing accusations of selling access for payments directly to him, potentially constituting an impeachable offense. Rumors circulated online claiming that $300,000 could grant tokenholders dinner with the president, a claim later denied by the Trump administration. Trump’s first 100 days in office have brought significant changes to the crypto industry but also raised ethical questions due to his personal ties with blockchain projects. Controversies surrounding Trump may hinder the industry’s efforts to push for legislative changes, such as the STABLE Act and the GENIUS Act, which aim to regulate stablecoin issuance in the US.

Read more at Cointelegraph.com

1. Bitcoin hits new record high of $64,000, surpassing previous peak in April. Market experts attribute surge to increased institutional adoption and positive regulatory developments.

2. Ethereum price spikes to $2,500 as demand for decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms grows. Investors bullish on potential of Ethereum network upgrades to improve scalability and transaction speed.

3. Dogecoin rallies to all-time high of $0.45, fueled by Elon Musk’s tweets and growing retail investor interest. Analysts warn of potential volatility and urge caution in trading meme-based cryptocurrencies.: Trump’s first 100 days ‘worst in history’ despite crypto promises