North Korea-linked Lazarus Group transferred 400 ETH (worth $750,000) to Tornado Cash on March 12, 2025, likely laundering proceeds from the record $1.5 billion Bybit hack, blockchain researchers report. ZachXBT: Tornado Cash Demix Exposes North Korea&#8217;s $3.1M PEPE Token Purchase The Lazarus Group, a North Korean state-sponsored hacking collective, transferred 400 ETH to privacy tool […]

North Korea’s Lazarus Group Moves 400 ETH to Tornado Cash Following $1.5B Bybit Hack

A Lockbit ransomware developer has been extradited to the U.S., admitting to 
coding and consulting for the cybercriminal group, which paid him in 
cryptocurrency. Lockbit Ransomware Developer Extradited to US in Global 
Crackdown The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on March 14 that 
Rostislav Panev, a dual Russian and Israeli citizen, has been extradited […]

US Extradites Russia-Israel Citizen Linked to Lockbit Attacks

The major disconnect between crypto traders&#8217; growing short-term market 
uncertainty and crypto builders becoming more bullish than ever creates a 
prime setup for long-term investors, according to a crypto hedge fund founder.
&#8220;This is one of the starkest divergences I&#8217;ve seen in sentiment and 
fundamentals,&#8221; BlockTower Capital founder Ari Paul said in a March 14 X post.
## Optimism grows among those beyond crypto natives
Paul said that while traders and analysts have turned bearish on crypto 
recently, crypto developers &#8212; and more broadly, those working for crypto 
companies less focused on the market cycle itself &#8212; remain much more bullish.
&#8220;All the data points I&#8217;m hearing from basically any crypto-related project or 
company that doesn&#8217;t rely on &#8220;natives&#8221; near-term is positive,&#8221; Paul said.
_Source:__Nic Puckrin_
Based on this, he&#8217;s confident that crypto is a &#8220;good buy&#8221; over the &#8220;12 month 
timeframe&#8221; but isn&#8217;t sure if it has reached a short-term bottom yet. Crypto 
analyst Matthew Hyland recently said the only way for Bitcoin to confirm that 
the bottom is actually in would be to close a week back above $89,000.
However, on March 14, the broader crypto market rose slightly, giving traders 
a bit more short-term confidence.
Bitcoin (BTC) spiked 3.16% to $84,638 over the 24 hour period, while Ether 
(ETH) rose 1.79% and XRP (XRP) jumped 6.01%, according to CoinMarketCap.
Over the same 24 hours, the Crypto Fear and Greed Index, which measures 
overall crypto market sentiment, surged 19 points to 46, which is still in the 
&#8220;Fear&#8221; zone but nearing neutral territory.
_Source:__Dan McArdle_
MN Trading Capital founder Michael van de Poppe said Bitcoin&#8217;s price spike 
over the past 24 hours has strengthened his confidence in the asset resuming 
its uptrend by June.
## Crypto market presenting opportunity for &#8220;sustainable value&#8221; investments
&#8220;Clearly made a higher low, clearly touching the highs,&#8221; van de Poppe said in 
a March 14 X post.
_**Related:**__**Bitcoin bull market in peril as US recession and tariff 
worries loom**_
&#8220;It&#8217;s very likely that we&#8217;re starting a new uptrend on the lower timeframes 
going into a good Q2,&#8221; he added.
Paul also said it may be the right time to explore traditional venture capital 
crypto investments with a longer-term outlook.
&#8220;A good time to be looking for &#8220;traditional&#8221; style VC crypto investments. By 
&#8220;traditional&#8221; I mean longer term, genuinely focusing on sustainable value 
creation, no quick monetization scheme,&#8221; Paul said.
_**Magazine:**__**Vitalik on AI apocalypse, LA Times both-sides KKK, LLM 
grooming: AI Eye**_

Crypto faces ‘starkest' gap between sentiment and fundamentals: BlockTower

Solana (SOL) is facing significant selling pressure and struggling to hold key 
support levels as the entire crypto market remains under stress. Bulls have 
lost control, with SOL plunging over 37% since the start of March, reflecting 
the broader market’s risk-off sentiment. Related Reading: Dogecoin Network 
Activity Surges 47% In A Month – What’s Next for DOGE? The downturn isn’t 
limited to crypto—trade war fears and macroeconomic uncertainty have pushed 
the crypto and U.S. stock markets to their lowest levels since late 2024. With 
investor confidence deteriorating, SOL remains in a vulnerable position, 
failing to reclaim critical price levels. Despite the recent weakness, some 
analysts see potential for a turnaround. Top analyst Ali Martinez shared 
insights on X, highlighting that Solana is forming a textbook cup-and-handle 
pattern, a bullish technical formation that could lead to a breakout. If this 
pattern plays out, SOL could reclaim higher price levels, reversing some of 
its recent losses. For now, Solana must overcome key resistance levels before 
confirming a bullish trend. If market conditions improve, SOL could see 
renewed momentum, but failure to hold current support could result in further 
downside. The next few weeks will be critical in determining Solana’s short- 
term direction. Solana Bullish Setup Hints at a Potential Breakout Solana is 
currently trading below the $130 mark, struggling to establish a foundation 
for a recovery phase. The broader market downturn continues to weigh heavily 
on SOL, with volatility and speculation driving short-term price action. With 
bears still in control, Solana’s direction remains uncertain, and short-term 
sentiment remains bearish. Despite the recent decline, many investors remain 
hopeful that SOL is poised for a significant recovery once the broader market 
starts trending upward. Optimism comes from historical patterns, where Solana 
has shown strong comebacks following extended periods of selling pressure. 
Related Reading: Ethereum Net Taker Volume Signals Huge Selling Pressure – Can 
Bulls Hold Key Levels? Martinez&#8217;s long-term technical analysis on X highlights 
that Solana is forming a textbook cup-and-handle pattern, a bullish formation 
that often precedes major breakouts. SOL could potentially surge to $3,800 if 
price action confirms this pattern, marking an astonishing 2,900% gain from 
current levels. The next few days will be crucial as Solana and the broader 
crypto market attempt to establish local lows and build momentum for a 
potential rebound. If market sentiment shifts and key resistance levels are 
reclaimed, SOL could be one of the top performers in the next primary bullish 
phase. Price Struggles Around $125 Solana is currently trading around $125, 
facing resistance at the $130 level after multiple failed attempts to reclaim 
it. With bears still in control, SOL remains under selling pressure, and bulls 
must act quickly to avoid further declines. For a recovery to take shape, SOL 
needs to break above the $130 mark and push toward $150. If bulls manage to 
reclaim this key level, it will signal renewed buying strength, potentially 
setting the stage for a larger recovery rally. A move past $150 could shift 
market sentiment and open the door for higher price targets. However, if SOL 
fails to hold the current demand, a further downside is likely. A drop below 
$125 could send the price toward lower support levels between $100 and $105, a 
zone where buyers may step in to stabilize the price. Related Reading: New 
ONDO Addresses Surge 390% In 24 Hours – A Sign Of Growing Interest In Ondo 
Finance The next few trading sessions will be crucial in determining whether 
SOL can regain momentum or if further selling pressure will drive it lower. 
Investors are closely watching key resistance and support levels, as short- 
term direction remains uncertain amid broader market weakness. Featured image 
from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

Solana Forms Classic Cup-And-Handle Pattern – Analyst Predicts A Breakout To $3,800

Coinbase&#8217;s expansion into futures contracts could enhance market stability and 
potentially influence regulatory perspectives on crypto ETFs.
The post Coinbase files to launch Cardano, Natural Gas futures contracts 
appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Coinbase files to launch Cardano, Natural Gas futures contracts

Ripple’s XRP has been one of the hottest cryptos in the market thanks to its 
impressive price performance, especially after US President Donald Trump’s 
reelection. Trading below $1 for most of 2024, XRP hits its stride days after 
the November elections, breaking the $1 level on November 6th, and the $2 
barrier by December 2nd, then surging past $3.30 on January 18th. Now, Ripple 
is back in the news for moving 200 million XRPs valued at around $457 million. 
This massive transfer, often associated with “whale transactions,” caught the 
attention of many and has led many to speculate. Related Reading: TRUMP Token 
Takedown—Did Insiders Plan The Crash? Is The SEC-Ripple Case Nearing Its 
Settlement? The latest XRP transfer caught the attention of Whale Alert 
(@whale_alert) and was promptly re-circulated on the popular platform. 
Interestingly, Ripple regularly transfers XRPs, including its scheduled 
release of 1 billion XRP monthly from its escrow to sustain the token’s 
circulation. Although the majority of Ripple’s transactions are routine, this 
recent transaction gained some attention for its size and timing. 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 
🚨 🚨 🚨 🚨 200,000,000 #XRP (457,581,314 USD) transferred from #Ripple to unknown 
wallethttps://t.co/XRE0jAsB40 — Whale Alert (@whale_alert) March 13, 2025 
Market Waiting For Decision On SEC Vs. Ripple Ripple’s latest huge asset 
transfer comes when the SEC’s case against Ripple is nearing its settlement. 
According to some reliable sources, the delay in the case’s resolution is 
caused by Ripple’s efforts to negotiate a favorable settlement. One 
controversial issue in the case is the August district court ruling, which 
fined Ripple $125 million and restricted the company from selling its native 
token to institutional buyers. XRP’s Price Roadmap As Ripple continues its 
negotiations with the SEC, investors and traders actively watch the token’s 
market performance. According to some analysts, the token has already 
completed its price correction using a four-hour time frame. There are plenty 
of price predictions for XRP, with some commentators saying it can initially 
hit $2.42 before making a run. Once XRP’s price emerges from the “Ichimoku 
clouds”, it is expected to hit higher highs. Related Reading: Bitcoin And S&amp;P 
Decline Together, But Data Predicts A Turnaround Currently, the token’s 
support is at $2.04 and $2.22, and many expect XRP to face short-term 
volatility. However, the token’s biggest push will come from a favorable 
resolution of its SEC case and if it happens, analysts expect the price to 
reach $4.25, or even $5.80. Featured image from Newsbit, chart from 
TradingView