Kategorie: Bitcoin News

Bitcoin news about the Bitcoin (BTC) blockchain and its crypto ecosystem.

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Silk Road crypto activity resurfaces as dormant Bitcoin wallets move again

  • Silk Road-tagged wallets sent $3.14 million in Bitcoin across 176 transfers this week.
  • The transactions are the most significant Silk Road-linked activity in five years.
  • The wallets sent funds to a new address beginning with bc1qn.

Silk Road-linked cryptocurrency activity has resurfaced, drawing attention to long-quiet Bitcoin wallets connected to the darknet marketplace.

The movement comes less than a year after US President Donald Trump granted a full pardon to Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht.

While the pardon focused global attention on Ulbricht’s legal case, blockchain analysts are now tracking renewed activity that marks the highest level of transfers in years.

The latest movement, recorded on Tuesday, is raising fresh questions about dormant coin reserves linked to the marketplace and how much Bitcoin remains undiscovered or untouched across older blockchain addresses.

Silk Road wallets show renewed Bitcoin flows

Silk Road-tagged wallets transferred about $3.14 million worth of Bitcoin BTC $92,626, according to Arkham. The activity involved 176 transactions, making it the most significant movement from these addresses in five years.

Earlier this year, the same wallets carried out only three small test transactions, suggesting that substantial activity had been paused.

The transfers this week were sent to an unknown cryptocurrency wallet with the address prefix bc1qn.

The primary Silk Road-associated wallets still hold about $38.4 million in Bitcoin.

The newly created address holds only the transferred $3.14 million.

Pardon puts focus back on historic Silk Road funds

Interest in the wallets has intensified since January, when Trump issued a full pardon to Ulbricht.

Before the pardon, Ulbricht had been serving a double life sentence without parole for creating and operating Silk Road, which allowed anonymous trading of illicit goods using Bitcoin.

The pardon also sparked new activity around the Free Ross campaign.

Supporters have contributed about $270,000 in Bitcoin donations since the announcement, based on on-chain data.

Unseized Bitcoin linked to Ulbricht gains attention

Alongside the renewed transfers, discussions have shifted to older cryptocurrency holdings believed to be connected to Ulbricht but never seized by authorities.

The US government previously confiscated at least $3.36 billion in Bitcoin from Silk Road, marking one of the largest recoveries in the history of digital asset enforcement.

Yet blockchain analysts tracking historical movements have identified additional reserves that remain untouched.

Coinbase exchange director Conor Grogan highlighted that 430 BTC, worth about $47 million, has not moved for more than 13 years.

These tokens are held in wallets thought to be linked to Ulbricht.

Dormant Bitcoin wallets remain a focal point

Another Silk Road-tagged wallet likely controlled by Ulbricht contains about $8.3 million in Bitcoin.

This wallet has seen only three small test transactions over the past 10 months and has otherwise remained inactive for 14 years, according to Arkham.

The transfers observed this week have therefore shifted attention back to dormant Bitcoin reserves that could hold substantial amounts.

Experts monitoring historical blockchain activity note that movements involving older darknet-linked wallets often prompt speculation about ownership, recovery efforts, or changes in operational control.

The recent activity does not clarify why these wallets began moving again or who controls the receiving address.

However, the timing, extended periods of inactivity, and historical significance of the addresses have made the transfers notable within the crypto community.

As blockchain analysis tools improve and more historical data becomes searchable, renewed activity from legacy darknet sources continues to shape conversations about unseized assets and the long-term movement patterns of early Bitcoin holdings.

The post Silk Road crypto activity resurfaces as dormant Bitcoin wallets move again appeared first on CoinJournal.

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Crypto ETFs diverge: Bitcoin suffers $60M outflows; ETH, SOL, XRP funds in green

  • BTC ETFs recorded $60.48M withdrawals on December 8.
  • Ethereum funds extended their latest momentum with $35.49M inflows.
  • XRP and Solana ETFs ended yesterday with gains amid prevailing demand.

The digital tokens space remains choppy ahead of the December 10 Federal Reserve decision on interest rates.

Crypto exchange-traded funds, which have become vital in gauging institutional appetite in these risk assets, confirm the current uncertainty.

Bitcoin ETFs suffer outflows despite IBIT’s gains

Interest around BTC ETFs remained negative yesterday, with the products recording net outflows amounting to $60.48 million (SoSoValue data).

The significant withdrawals came as investors reacted to the weekend’s sluggish performance across the crypto landscape.

Bitcoin failed to break $92,000 again, currently trading at $90,150.

However, Monday was not gloomy for all BTC ETF issuers.

BlackRock proved its resilience and dominance as its IBIT attracted $28.76 million in inflows.

While funds like Graycale’s GBT (-44.03M) and Fidelity’s FBTC (-39.44M) saw substantial withdrawals on December 8, IBIT’s steadiness indicates that profit taking, not a shift in interest, likely triggered the mixed flows into Bitcoin.

Ethereum ETFs flip positive

While Bitcoin bled on December 8, Ethereum exchange-traded funds turned positive with $35.5 million inflows.

Notably, the funds recorded substantial exits in the previous two sessions, on December 4 (-41.5M) and December 5 (-75.2M).

Indeed, Ethereum has been on the investor radar lately following its Fusaka upgrade, which targets enhanced speed, scalability, and lower costs for Ether-based Layer 2 platforms.

Moreover, the inflows indicate that investors are viewing Ethereum as a legitimate token for portfolio diversification beyond Bitcoin.

Indeed, the second-largest crypto by value is experiencing renewed interest from institutional participants.

For example, BlackRock is seeking the SEC’s authorization for a new staked Ether trust ETF – the ETHB.

The proposed product differs from BlackRock’s popular ETHA trust in that the staking Ether trust will track Ethereum’s performance and include incentives gained from the trust’s staked Ether.

ETH is trading at $3,124 after gaining more than 10% the past seven days.

Solana ETFs see steady demand

Solana spot products closed the previous day with $1.2 million inflows.

While the figure remains modest, it reflects consistent demand for SOL ETFs.

Monday’s inflows have extended their winning streak to three days, demonstrating appetite for these products despite broader turmoil.

Solana exchange-traded funds have attracted roughly $639 million since their late October debut.

Meanwhile, SOL price is hovering at $133, down 2% the past 24 hours.

XRP ETFs steal the show

Ripple’s crypto asset stood out on December 8, with a net inflow of $38.04 million, eclipsing peers for the day.

Grayscale led as its GXRP drew over $810K in fresh capital on Monday.

Also, Canary, Bitwise, and Franklin’s XRP exchange-traded funds recorded notable daily gains.

Regulatory clarity and XRP’s unique utility in cross-border transactions have elevated the altcoin’s appeal among institutional investors.

Nevertheless, the December 8 ETF performance sends a clear message.

Investors are now diversifying into other cryptos beyond Bitcoin.

Altcoin ETFs are gaining traction for their added advantages, as the crypto industry gains increased acceptance in mainstream finance.

The post Crypto ETFs diverge: Bitcoin suffers $60M outflows; ETH, SOL, XRP funds in green appeared first on CoinJournal.

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Argentina moves to reshape crypto rules as banks prepare for Bitcoin services

  • A new framework would allow trading, custody, and approved coins.
  • Banks must follow strict KYC, AML, and CNV regulations.
  • High inflation has pushed people toward Bitcoin and stablecoins.

Argentina is preparing for a major shift in how its financial system treats digital assets, with regulators working on a plan that could allow banks to offer Bitcoin and other crypto services for the first time in three years.

The move marks a notable shift for a country where crypto has become a day-to-day tool for people trying to manage inflation, and it signals a wider effort to bring informal crypto activity into regulated channels.

The change remains under review, but internal planning shows that Argentina wants its banking system to play a formal role in crypto access, custody, and compliance.

Banks and crypto rules evolve

Argentina’s central bank, the Banco Central de la República Argentina, has restricted banks from handling crypto since May 2022.

The regulation was designed to contain financial risks and prevent money-laundering activity during a period of economic instability.

The policy now sits at the centre of a broader reassessment of how digital assets fit into a financial system that is struggling with persistent inflation and rising demand for stable alternatives.

Since December 2023, the arrival of President Javier Milei has reshaped the conversation.

His administration has promoted financial freedom, arguing that people should be able to choose different forms of money, including Bitcoin.

This shift has influenced how regulators approach the current ban and has accelerated work on a new framework.

New framework plans grow

Reports indicate that the central bank is developing a system that would permit banks to integrate crypto into their services.

The plan includes trading access, custody options, and a list of approved coins, limited to assets such as BTC, ETH, USDC, USDT, and XRP.

Banks would need to comply with strict rules under the CNV, follow enhanced KYC and AML procedures, and operate crypto activities through legally separate units with additional capital, security, and liquidity requirements.

The approach represents a transition from prohibition to controlled participation.

Argentina would be one of the first inflation-hit economies to regulate crypto within mainstream banking rather than leaving it to informal platforms.

The change also aims to reduce regulatory gaps and improve transparency across transactions that citizens already rely on to protect their savings.

Inflation pressures fuel demand

Crypto adoption has grown rapidly in Argentina over the past three years as households look for ways to preserve value.

With inflation reaching 1,427% in 2023 and still rising more than 2% each month, people have turned to Bitcoin and dollar-linked stablecoins to manage daily expenses, store money, and avoid exposure to the peso’s depreciation.

Regulators now want this activity to operate under formal safeguards.

Allowing banks to support crypto services would offer a safer environment, limit the use of unregulated exchanges, and help authorities strengthen financial monitoring.

It would also create a more structured relationship between digital assets and traditional banks during a period of economic stress.

Timeline points to 2026

Although approval is not final, experts suggest that the updated rules could be ready around April 2026. Work on the technical structure is already underway.

If the proposal moves forward, Argentina could become a key example of how a country facing extreme inflation integrates crypto into conventional financial channels.

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CoinDCX data reveals India’s rising appetite for diversified digital assets

  • CoinDCX users now hold an average of five tokens, up from two to three previously.
  • Women investors doubled year on year with broader diversification trends.
  • Millennials remain the dominant user base as the average age rises to 32.

Indian crypto investors are showing a stronger preference for diversified digital asset portfolios, marking an early shift toward more deliberate and long-term allocation behaviour.

CoinDCX’s annual report, released on Thursday, suggests that the country’s retail investor base is gradually moving away from the idea that crypto is synonymous with Bitcoin, signalling broader maturity in market participation in 2025.

This trend reflects a market becoming more confident, curious, and willing to explore varied opportunities across the expanding digital ecosystem.

The exchange found that the average user now holds around five tokens, compared with two to three in 2022.

This steady expansion of holdings indicates a growing awareness of portfolio construction and a willingness to explore different parts of the crypto market beyond the most established assets.

Layer-1 tokens lead activity

CoinDCX reported that layer-1 assets accounted for 43.3% of portfolio volumes.

Bitcoin, priced at $93,133, held a 26.5% share of allocations. Memecoins made up 11.8% of user portfolios, showing that speculative interest remains a part of broader diversification trends.

According to the exchange, Indian traders have become increasingly comfortable navigating different digital asset categories as adoption widens across the country.

The report noted that crypto is emerging as a natural extension of the financial products already familiar to many users.

Millennials dominate participation

The platform’s user base is ageing upward, with the average trader now 32 years old. Millennials continue to make up the majority of users, outpacing Gen Z in adoption, though younger traders remain active.

Gen Z users, aged 18 to 24, tend to favour emerging narratives such as layer-2 ecosystems, memecoins, and non-fungible tokens. Their behaviour reflects a greater appetite for thematic or speculative sectors.

CoinDCX also saw its number of women investors double year on year. These users are diversifying beyond Bitcoin and Ether, priced at $3,183, into tokens such as Solana at $143.04 and Sui at $1.67.

Founded in 2018 and backed by Coinbase, CoinDCX is one of India’s largest crypto exchanges with more than 20 million registered users. It remains a key gateway for retail access to digital assets.

India shows wide but shallow adoption

CoinDCX noted that India continues to lead in early indicators of digital asset awareness, including mobile-first trading behaviour and high engagement across educational content on the platform.

These signals reflect strong nationwide interest in crypto as a financial category.

However, the exchange found that deeper, research-driven participation remains limited. Many users enter the market through popular assets or trending narratives rather than sustained ecosystem involvement.

As a result, the platform characterised India’s adoption as “wide” but not yet “deep”.

CoinDCX said the country is still in the early stages of its digital asset journey, leaving significant room for education, innovation, and long-term growth as user sophistication develops.

The post CoinDCX data reveals India’s rising appetite for diversified digital assets appeared first on CoinJournal.

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BTC staking platform Babylon teams up with Aave for Bitcoin-backed DeFi insurance

  • Babylon and Aave partner to enable native BTC as collateral for DeFi lending.
  • BTC can now back decentralised insurance pools, earning yield if unused.
  • Users retain full control of their Bitcoin while accessing DeFi liquidity.

In a groundbreaking move for the decentralised finance (DeFi) ecosystem, Bitcoin staking platform Babylon has announced a partnership with Aave, one of the largest decentralised lending protocols.

The collaboration aims to allow Bitcoin (BTC) holders to use their native, unwrapped BTC as collateral for lending and to participate in a pioneering DeFi insurance model.

This will reshape how Bitcoin interacts with DeFi, unlocking liquidity while maintaining the security that Bitcoin users expect.

Native Bitcoin collateral comes to DeFi

Traditionally, using Bitcoin in DeFi required wrapping it into a tokenised version such as WBTC, which introduced custodial risk and extra steps.

Babylon’s partnership with Aave eliminates this barrier by enabling users to deposit their native BTC directly as collateral.

Through Babylon’s trustless Bitcoin Vaults, BTC can be locked in a time-locked contract on its own blockchain and recognised by Aave’s hub-and-spoke lending architecture.

This allows users to borrow stablecoins or other crypto assets while keeping full control of their Bitcoin keys.

The move is expected to significantly expand BTC liquidity in DeFi. Currently, even the largest wrapped Bitcoin initiatives account for less than 1% of Bitcoin’s total market cap.

Babylon’s own staking product secures over 56,000 BTC, demonstrating strong demand for productive uses of Bitcoin.

By unlocking native BTC for lending, the partnership could bring a substantial portion of the dormant Bitcoin supply into productive DeFi applications, potentially transforming lending markets.

DeFi insurance backed by Bitcoin

Beyond lending, Babylon is preparing to extend its vaults into the insurance sector, a development that could redefine how DeFi protocols manage risk.

The proposed model allows BTC holders to deposit their Bitcoin into decentralised insurance pools.

These pools would serve as coverage against protocol hacks and other failures.

Depositors earn yield if no claims occur, while the pool provides liquidity for payouts in the event of a validated exploit.

This approach turns Bitcoin into a foundational asset for DeFi risk management, offering a new avenue for yield generation while safeguarding the ecosystem.

Babylon co-founder David Tse told CoinDesk that the insurance initiative is still in development, with an official announcement expected in January 2026.

Testing for the integrated BTC lending and insurance products is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with a broader rollout planned around April of the same year.

The combination of Babylon’s secure vault design and Aave’s extensive liquidity network creates a framework that prioritises both safety and usability, a balance often missing in cross-chain and custodial solutions.

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