The Justice Department says two LA Sheriff deputies admitted to helping extort victims, including for a local crypto mogul, while working their private security side hustles.

LA sheriff deputies admit to helping crypto ‘Godfather’ extort victims

This content is provided by a sponsor. PRESS RELEASE. Zug, Switzerland &#8211; 
Alephium, the only scalable Layer 1 blockchain powered by Proof of Work and 
native sharding, will activate its long-awaited Danube upgrade on July 15, 
2025. The release marks a major milestone in Alephium’s roadmap, bringing 
faster block times, seedless onboarding, and a simplified […]

Alephium’s Danube Upgrade Goes Live: A Major Leap for Web3 on Proof of Work

Spain’s BBVA opens retail access to Bitcoin and Ether through its mobile app, 
offering bank-grade custody and MiCA-backed compliance without the complexity 
of crypto exchanges.

BBVA expands crypto access in Spain: Here’s what changed

XRP price retreats from multimonth highs as overhead resistance from the $3 
psychological level remains the most important barrier for the bulls.

XRP price can see 'quick' run to new all-time highs if price breaks $3

In a major display of bullish momentum, the market’s leading cryptocurrency, 
Bitcoin (BTC), surged to a new record high on Monday, surpassing $123,000 for 
the first time. US House Kicks Off &#8216;Crypto Week The Bitcoin price climbed more 
than 90% year-to-date with Monday’s rally, reaching $123,200, and reflecting a 
nearly 15% increase over the past month. This upward momentum coincides with 
the US House of Representatives&#8217; “crypto week,” which will feature debates on 
legislation aimed at reducing regulatory hurdles that have long been viewed as 
obstacles for the cryptocurrency sector. Related Reading: Fibonacci Maps 
Dogecoin Path To $23—Is It Too Far-Fetched? One of the key pieces of 
legislation set for discussion in the House is the GENIUS Act, which aims to 
establish regulatory frameworks for stablecoins. Proponents of the GENIUS Act 
argue that it is a groundbreaking initiative that formalizes a critical aspect 
of the cryptocurrency industry. They believe it will enhance consumer 
protections, facilitate the entry of traditional financial institutions, and 
contribute to the growth of the digital currency market. Conversely, critics 
assert that the bill represents a “weak set of regulations” that may not 
adequately safeguard consumers or prevent illicit trading activities involving 
stablecoins. Growing Support For Crypto Regulation In addition to the GENIUS 
Act, the House will also debate measures to clarify the federal government&#8217;s 
regulatory approach to cryptocurrencies and proposals that could prevent the 
Federal Reserve from issuing its own digital currency. Bryan Armour, director 
of passive strategies research at Morningstar, remarked that this legislative 
push reflects a series of favorable developments for the crypto industry since 
President Donald Trump&#8217;s election in November. Since then, Bitcoin&#8217;s price has 
surged nearly 80%. As “crypto week” unfolds, Armour suggests it signals a 
continuation of supportive policies under the Trump administration. However, 
Trump’s involvement in the cryptocurrency space has raised concerns about 
potential conflicts of interest. For instance, his backing of World Liberty 
Financial&#8217;s stablecoin, USD1, has led to significant investments in major 
exchanges like Binance, which critics say creates opportunities for Trump’s 
business to profit. Despite these concerns, Trump has denied any wrongdoing, 
and a White House spokesperson has stated that his financial assets are 
managed in a trust to avoid conflicts. Bitcoin ETFs Propel Price Surge The 
recent surge in Bitcoin prices has also been fueled by the US approval of 
Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) last year. These investment vehicles have 
proven to be successful, with record-breaking amounts of capital moving into 
them. Related Reading: Prepare For ATHs: ‘XRP Train Has Left The Station – 
Analyst The overall asset value of Bitcoin ETFs has reached a record high of 
over $158 billion, driven by a wave of investments that included over a 
billion dollars flowing into these funds on consecutive days last week. Nikhil 
Bhatia, a finance professor at the University of Southern California, noted 
that the approval of Bitcoin ETFs has contributed significantly to 
institutional adoption of Bitcoin, signaling a return to a bullish market 
sentiment. As of this writing, BTC’s price has retraced back to the $117,000 
level, 4.3% below its recently achieved all-time high. Featured image from 
DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com

Unraveling The Bitcoin Boom: Experts Decode Record $123,000 Surge

The launch of leveraged ETFs for Solana and XRP by ProShares could increase 
investor interest and volatility in these digital assets.
The post ProShares debuts 2x leveraged XRP, Solana ETFs following NYSE Arca 
clearance appeared first on Crypto Briefing.