VanEck has unveiled an ETF that would hold BNB tokens, with the potential for staking rewards pending regulatory approval. American investment manager VanEck filed for an exchange-traded fund on Sunday, May 2, that will track the price of Binance Coin…

VanEck files for Binance Coin ETF with plans for staking

Trump claims he doesn&#8217;t know how much money he made in Official Trump 
memecoin.

‘I haven’t even looked’: Trump claims he doesn’t know what his crypto is worth

The Pi Network price has continued to consolidate since the first week of 
April as demand from investors wanes. Pi Coin (PI) was trading at $0.60 on 
Monday, much lower than its all-time high of $3. It has erased over…

A 90-year-old theory suggests the Pi Network price may surge soon

## $243M Bitcoin scam that led to kidnapping and chaos
_In one of the most bizarre crossovers between digital crime and real-world 
violence, a group of young cybercriminals stole almost $243 million in Bitcoin 
(BTC). Within weeks, the fallout spilled from the blockchain into a quiet 
Connecticut suburb, ending in a harrowing kidnapping plot._
If this seems like the plot of a Netflix thriller, you&#8217;re not alone in 
thinking that. But it happened. And fast.
Let&#8217;s unpack how a Minecraft-playing teenager, an underground network of 
crypto thieves and a Lamborghini-driving suburban couple all became tangled in 
a wild web of digital deception and real-world chaos.
It all started when a Washington, D.C.-based cryptocurrency investor received 
a suspicious phone call. The person on the other end posed as a security 
representative from Google. A second call came from someone claiming to be 
with Gemini, a well-known crypto exchange.
What followed was a textbook case of social engineering. The scammers 
convinced the victim to download software that gave them remote access to his 
computer. Moments later, 4,100 Bitcoin worth $243 million at the time vanished 
from his wallets.
And that&#8217;s when things really got weird.
## How crypto detectives unmasked the thieves behind the $243M heist
_The crypto world may seem like the Wild West, but it has its sheriffs. One of 
them is ZachXBT, a pseudonymous investigator revered for his blockchain 
detective work._
ZachXBT was walking through an airport when he got an alert about suspicious 
transactions. By the time he was in the air, he&#8217;d already traced the stolen 
funds to a mysterious wallet.
Within hours, he and a team of independent investigators started tracking the 
money across dozens of exchanges, even notifying the platforms to freeze the 
assets.
But the real breakthrough? A video.
A source anonymously sent ZachXBT screen recordings of the thieves celebrating 
the heist, cheering over Discord and flashing millions on-screen. One of them 
accidentally revealed his real name: Veer Chetal, an 18-year-old honor student 
from Danbury, Connecticut.
Yes, the same Danbury where the kidnapping took place.
_**Did you know?** In January 2025, Ledger co-founder David Balland was 
kidnapped in France and later safely released following a police intervention. 
The abduction was linked to a cryptocurrency ransom demand, highlighting the 
growing intersection of digital assets and real-world crime._
## Real-world consequences: The kidnapping of Veer&#8217;s parents
_Just one week after the digital heist, Sushil and Radhika Chetal (Veer &#8216;s 
parents) were house-hunting in their $240,000 Lamborghini Urus when two 
vehicles ambushed them. Authorities have described Veer&#8217;s parents solely as 
victims of the kidnapping, with no indication they were involved in the crypto 
theft._
Reportedly, armed attackers dragged the couple into a van, bound them with 
duct tape and fled the scene. Thankfully, quick-thinking bystanders (including 
an off-duty FBI agent) helped police track the van. The Chetals were rescued, 
and four of the six suspects were caught within hours.
But why target the parents?
It turned out the motive was chilling: Veer&#8217;s co-conspirators wanted to extort 
him. They knew he was involved in the crypto theft. Now, they viewed his 
parents as leverage to force him to share the loot &#8212; or more of it.
### From Minecraft to multimillion-dollar crime
Veer Chetal wasn&#8217;t just some teenager with a knack for crypto. He was 
allegedly part of &#8220;the Com,&#8221; an underground online collective that evolved 
from Minecraft servers and video game scams into a sophisticated criminal 
network involved in everything from SIM swapping to crypto fraud.
His path from honor student to alleged cybercriminal seems to have accelerated 
fast. Classmates noticed him suddenly showing up to school in a Corvette, then 
a BMW, then a Lamborghini. He threw parties on yachts and wore luxury brands 
that most teens have only seen in rap videos.
His digital partner in crime? Malone Lam, a Singaporean hacker known in online 
circles as &#8220;Greavys&#8221; and &#8220;Anne Hathaway.&#8221; After the heist, Lam blew through 
millions on nightclubs, cars and champagne in Los Angeles and Miami, even 
trolling ZachXBT online by holding up signs mocking him in clubs.
## The collapse: Arrests, raids and guilty pleas
_The lavish lifestyle didn &#8216;t last long. The FBI, aided by crypto 
investigators, tracked Lam, Veer and others across states and continents._
Here&#8217;s what happened:
 * Lam was arrested in Miami after a SWAT-style raid on a mansion he&#8217;d rented. 
 * Another suspect was caught at LAX wearing a $500,000 watch. 
 * Veer was quietly arrested, too, the son of the kidnapped couple, and is now facing federal charges.
By March 2025, five out of six of the Florida-based kidnappers had pleaded 
guilty. They face up to 15 years in prison. Others involved in the digital 
theft are still under investigation, and a federal wallet now holds the 
recovered Bitcoin.
_**Did you know?** Despite using sophisticated laundering methods, one co- 
conspirator failed to use a VPN, exposing his location through an IP address 
tied to a high-end rental. Authorities traced him to Jeandiel Serrano, aka 
VersaceGod, who was enjoying a vacation in the Maldives by the time they 
caught up with him._
## The growing link between digital crime and real-world consequences
_What &#8216;s frightening is how seamlessly this crime flowed from the digital 
world into the physical. _
As cybersecurity expert Allison Nixon put it: &#8220;We are seeing an evolution from 
disorganized crime to organized crime, and we are somewhere in the middle 
point of that.&#8221;
Groups like the Com are no longer just pranksters or hackers; they&#8217;re 
hardened, organized, and increasingly violent. They share success stories and 
flaunt wealth, recruiting the next generation through Discord, Telegram and 
Minecraft.
The $243 million crypto heist that led to a real-world kidnapping is more than 
just a headline. It&#8217;s a warning. It shows how cybercrime no longer stays 
online, and how youthful arrogance, digital anonymity and unchecked greed can 
have very real-world consequences.
And as fast as this group got rich, they got caught even faster.
Ultimately, not even Lamborghinis and champagne could protect them from the 
blockchain breadcrumbs they left behind.
## The dark side of crypto and the need for vigilance
_While cryptocurrency offers many advantages, it also has a darker side that 
cannot be ignored. The very features that make crypto attractive &#8212; 
decentralization, anonymity and ease of transfer &#8212; are also what make it a 
breeding ground for illegal activities. _
From money laundering and fraud to scams and cybercrime, crypto has become a 
tool for a wide range of criminals. The lure of quick profits and easy money, 
combined with the anonymity of digital currencies, makes crypto especially 
appealing to young, impressionable individuals.
Many are introduced to it through seemingly harmless channels, such as online 
gaming or social media, where they may encounter cybercriminals looking to 
recruit the next generation of offenders. This makes it all the more important 
for parents and guardians to stay aware of their child&#8217;s digital activities 
and online behavior.
Cryptocurrency is not inherently dangerous, but it can open the door to 
hazardous paths if misused. For those new to the space, it&#8217;s crucial to 
understand the risks involved. Scammers can use sophisticated techniques to 
deceive and steal, and the lack of regulation can leave victims without 
recourse.
As crypto continues to grow in popularity, the potential for cybercrime will 
likely expand, and the consequences of digital theft could become more severe 
and tangible.
### Keeping an eye on your child&#8217;s digital activity
With the rise of cryptocurrencies, it&#8217;s essential for parents to educate their 
children about the risks associated with digital assets.
 * Keeping an eye on their online interactions, including the apps, games and forums they frequent, is critical in ensuring they don&#8217;t fall prey to digital criminals. 
 * Encouraging open conversations about internet safety, teaching them about the dangers of sharing personal information online and monitoring their digital wallets are simple yet effective ways to protect them from the darker side of crypto.
As the boundaries between the digital world and real-world consequences 
continue to blur, it&#8217;s important to stay vigilant. Whether it&#8217;s ensuring your 
child&#8217;s safety in the digital space or understanding the broader risks posed 
by crypto, being proactive can help navigate the ever-evolving landscape of 
digital finance. By taking precautions and staying informed, you can harness 
the benefits of cryptocurrency while minimizing its dangers.

How a $243 million crypto heist led to a real-world kidnapping

Semler Scientific, Inc. has acquired an additional 167 bitcoins for $16.2 
million, bolstering its total holdings to 3,634 BTC and securing its position 
as the fourth-largest Bitcoin treasury company in the U.S., according to a May 
5 regulatory filing. Semler Scientific’s Bitcoin Holdings Surge to 3,634 BTC 
with 22.2% YTD Yield The Delaware-based company purchased […]

Semler Scientific Adds 167 Bitcoins to Treasury, Total Reaches 3,634 BTC

Binance Coin (BNB) is gaining fresh interest as investors closely watch a 
potential breakout. The token is facing resistance around $593, with daily 
trade volume at $1.24 billion. Its market cap is $83 billion. The current 
trend is being attributed to sustained buying interest and continuous 
technical cues. Related Reading: TRUMP Token Bloodbath: Whales Lose Big In 
$8.58 Million Sell-Off Traders Identify Triangle Pattern On BNB Chart 
Technical analysts are keenly watching a triangle price pattern forming on the 
chart of BNB against USDT&#8217;s 1-day chart. As analyst Andrew Griffiths explains, 
this formation is recognized for contracting price action, whereby the highs 
become lower and the lows become higher. It typically indicates a significant 
move in the near future, either higher or lower. #BNB analysis on the 1D chart 
vs USDT shows price movement within a triangle pattern, indicating room for 
the current side trend. Potential targets: T1 = $599, T2 = $617, T3 = $644. 
For risk management, consider Stop-Loss levels: SL1 = $580, SL2 = $559, SL3 = 
$542, SL4 = $521.… pic.twitter.com/Qku1eChZ4R — Andrew Griffiths 
(@AndrewGriUK) May 3, 2025 The graph indicates BNB trending in a narrower 
range for the past few sessions. Such a setup typically indicates that there 
is a breakout on the horizon. As BNB has been on an upward trend prior to this 
pattern forming, some assume it will keep going up—if the support zones hold. 
However, a breach below those support levels might reverse the trend and push 
the price down. Price Targets Established At $599, $617, And $644 If BNB keeps 
surging, analysts have cited three possible targets. The first is $599, which 
is just below the psychological barrier of $600. The second is $617, a place 
where BNB fought to move above back in March. The third is $644, which is the 
entire range of the triangle formation. These will likely be checkpoints if 
there is momentum. BNBUSD trading at $593 on the 24-hour chart: 
TradingView.com Although short-term bullish indications are there, the token 
has not yet breached any of these levels. For now, BNB is probing a 
significant level of support and resisting. This type of price action is 
typical before bigger moves in either direction. Related Reading: Bitcoin At 
$100K? $3 Billion In Shorts Are On The Line BNB price seen losing steam by 
June this year. Source: CoinCodex. BNB: The 32% Prediction In spite of all the 
short-term hype, a different forecast shows BNB plummeting in the next year. 
Based on a price forecast, the token might decline by 32% and hit $402 on June 
4, 2025. That prediction doesn&#8217;t coincide with the existing chart strength, 
creating an extra layer of uncertainty for long-term investors. Source: CFGI 
BNB has experienced 15 green days out of the past 30, and its price volatility 
has been only 2.5%. The sentiment of the market seems to be neutral for the 
time being, with the Fear &amp; Greed Index standing at 52. Everyone is still 
focused on the triangle formation and if BNB will extricate itself from it. 
Featured image from Gemini Imagen, chart from TradingView