Kategorie: Bitcoin News

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

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UAE makes Bitcoin wallets a crime risk in global tech crackdown

  • The UAE’s Federal-Decree Law No. 6 of 2025 came into effect on 16 September.
  • Article 62 places APIs, explorers, and decentralised platforms under Central Bank control.
  • Article 61 regulates all marketing, emails, and online posts about crypto services.

In a sharp pivot from its crypto-friendly image, the United Arab Emirates has enacted sweeping new legislation that classifies basic cryptocurrency infrastructure, including Bitcoin wallets, as potentially criminal unless licensed by the Central Bank.

Legal experts from Gibson Dunn have flagged the law’s scope as unusually broad, warning that its language introduces significant risk for global technology providers.

This shift, embedded in Federal-Decree Law No. 6 of 2025, comes into force from 16 September and carries global consequences for developers and platforms offering crypto access.

The law replaces the 2018 banking statute and significantly widens the definition of financial activity. What sets this legislation apart is not only its scope but also its enforcement teeth.

Penalties for non-compliance range from fines of AED 50,000 to AED 500,000,000 (up to $136,000,000) and may include imprisonment.

Importantly, this applies not just to entities operating within the UAE but also to those whose products are accessible from within the country.

Licensing now applies to wallets, APIs and even analytics

The most consequential element of the new law is found in Article 62. It grants the Central Bank control over any technology that “engages in, offers, issues, or facilitates” financial activity.

The wording is broad enough to encompass self-custodial wallets, API services, blockchain explorers, analytics platforms, and even decentralised protocols.

This marks a fundamental change in how crypto infrastructure is regulated in the UAE.

Previously, licensing obligations focused on traditional financial entities, but the updated framework shifts this focus to include software and data tools.

According to developer analysis, even public-facing tools such as CoinMarketCap and open-source Bitcoin wallets may now require licensing to remain accessible within the UAE.

For the first time, developers may face criminal penalties for offering unlicensed crypto tools, even if they are based abroad.

This extension of jurisdiction signals a new regulatory posture that treats access to crypto as tightly as its ownership or exchange.

Communications and marketing now fall under regulation

The crackdown does not stop at financial infrastructure. Article 61 of the same law defines the marketing, promotion, or advertising of financial services as a licensable activity.

In practice, this means that simply hosting a website, publishing an article, or sharing a tweet about an unlicensed crypto service could be considered a legal violation if that content reaches UAE residents.

This change dramatically expands the compliance footprint for companies and developers.

Gibson Dunn highlights that these provisions materially broaden the enforcement perimeter, especially for firms with no formal presence in the UAE.

The law applies to communications that originate outside the country but are accessible inside it.

The result is a regulatory landscape where developers, content creators, and infrastructure providers must weigh whether their platforms are indirectly accessible by users in the UAE.

In many cases, avoiding legal exposure may require disabling access or halting service altogether.

Dubai’s free zones no longer shield crypto services

Over recent years, the UAE has positioned itself as a hub for blockchain innovation.

Jurisdictions such as Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) and Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) attracted global attention with purpose-built crypto licensing frameworks.

However, the new federal law overrides these free-zone arrangements, asserting Central Bank control nationwide.

Federal law supersedes any rules introduced by the UAE’s free zones, effectively dissolving the regulatory arbitrage that once drew companies to Dubai.

The broader context includes the country’s history of digital restrictions.

For instance, WhatsApp voice calls remain blocked across the UAE, reinforcing a consistent policy approach to centralised control over communications and digital tools.

While this may bring the UAE in closer alignment with international pressure from groups like the Financial Action Task Force, it also puts crypto service providers in a difficult position.

In other jurisdictions facing similar pressure, firms have withdrawn entirely to avoid enforcement risk.

Enforcement begins in 2026, with further rules expected

Entities have a one-year window from 16 September 2025 to come into compliance. This grace period may be extended at the discretion of the Central Bank.

During this time, further regulations are expected to clarify how these broad rules will be applied in practice.

Despite this, the scope of the law is already causing concern.

The language around facilitation and communication, combined with the severe penalties under Article 170, suggests that firms offering crypto tools globally must now consider the risk of incidental exposure to UAE users.

For software developers and platform operators, this marks a significant departure from the norms of decentralised access and open-source innovation.

The post UAE makes Bitcoin wallets a crime risk in global tech crackdown appeared first on CoinJournal.

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Bitcoin (BTC) battles macro headwinds despite improved ETF inflows

  • Bitcoin price remains range-bound amid long-term holder selling and falling demand.
  • US Bitcoin ETFs inflows signal cautious institutional optimism.
  • Macro uncertainty from the Fed and government shutdown keeps BTC under pressure.

Bitcoin (BTC) continues to navigate turbulent market conditions as macroeconomic uncertainty and institutional dynamics shape its near-term trajectory.

Despite renewed interest from investors and a notable surge in Bitcoin ETFs, the world’s largest cryptocurrency faces persistent pressure from long-term holder selling, cautious institutional sentiment, and a complex macro backdrop influenced by the Federal Reserve and ongoing government shutdown developments.

Analysts and strategists are watching closely as BTC balances between cyclical signals and broader market realities in November.

Bitcoin price struggles amid range-bound trading

Bitcoin price has remained largely trapped between $106,000 and $116,000 over the past two weeks, signalling a period of consolidation rather than upward momentum.

Long-term holders have accelerated their monthly distribution to roughly 104,000 BTC, marking one of the heaviest selling waves since mid-July, according to the recent Bitfinex report.

This persistent supply pressure is coinciding with muted institutional demand following October’s sharp liquidation event, leaving BTC caught in a sideways range with limited short-term catalysts.

Analysts warn that unless ETF inflows or new spot demand increase, the cryptocurrency could test support near $106,000, and a sustained breach of this level might open the path to $100,000.

ETF inflows signal cautious optimism

Despite these headwinds, Bitcoin ETFs have shown signs of recovery, injecting optimism into the market.

On November 11, US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $524 million in cumulative net inflows.

US Bitcoin ETFs inflows
Total Bitcoin Spot ETF Net Inflow (USD) | Source: Coinglass

This return of demand, alongside smart money traders adding net long positions totalling over $8.5 million, highlights a growing, albeit measured, confidence among institutional participants.

Analysts have noted that sustained ETF inflows may signal an end to the broader de-risking phase observed after the market downturn, even as retail participation remains subdued.

Macro factors keep BTC on edge

Despite increased ETF inflows, macro conditions continue to weigh heavily on Bitcoin (BTC).

The Federal Reserve’s recent 25-basis-point rate cut and the formal end of its balance sheet runoff are tempered by internal division over the next steps, with some officials citing risks from persistent inflation and others warning of slowing labour markets.

Meanwhile, the Secured Overnight Financing Rate recently plunged to 3.92%, which financial analyst Shanaka Anslem described as indicative of market panic.

These developments, combined with falling consumer confidence and cooling wage growth, have created uncertainty around near-term capital flows and investor appetite for risk assets like Bitcoin.

The ongoing government shutdown adds another layer of complexity.

While the Senate moves toward a potential resolution, analysts note that the relief may boost equities more than cryptocurrencies, as capital appears to rotate toward traditional financial markets while liquidity waits on the sidelines for normal economic data to resume.

These dynamics have contributed to continued downside pressure on BTC, even as technical and ETF-related signals point to potential stabilisation.

Bitcoin price outlook for November

Looking ahead, November may not deliver the historic rallies often seen in the penultimate month of the year, as Bitcoin (BTC) remains caught between conflicting forces.

While ETF inflows and smart money activity provide a foundation for renewed optimism, ongoing distribution by long-term holders, macro uncertainty, and cautious institutional behaviour continue to weigh on the Bitcoin price.

The post Bitcoin (BTC) battles macro headwinds despite improved ETF inflows appeared first on CoinJournal.

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AI-driven phishing scams and hidden crypto exploits shake Web3 security

  • SBI Crypto was breached, losing $21 million in assets via a suspected laundering operation.
  • A phishing scam targeting GMGN tricked 107 users into approving fake transactions.
  • Honeypot token scams rose 600% month-on-month, with over 2,100 tokens detected.

Web3 has entered a new phase of cyber threats, with attackers now leveraging artificial intelligence, automation tools, and complex social engineering to exploit users across decentralised networks.

According to GoPlus Security, over $45.84 million was lost in October alone from a surge of scams, phishing attacks, token exploits, and wallet hacks.

The data reveals how scammers are evolving their methods, creating high-impact exploits that have affected thousands of users and platforms across Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, and Base.

Hackers use AI and automation to boost phishing campaigns

GoPlus observed a sharp increase in phishing attacks that led to more than $3.5 million in losses.

A growing number of these scams are powered by “Phishing-as-a-Service” platforms, where threat actors use AI tools to rapidly generate fake websites and deploy large-scale campaigns with lower operational costs.

One of the largest phishing cases involved the trading platform GMGN.

In this incident, 107 users were misled by a fake third-party website into authorising harmful transactions. Losses totalled more than $700,000.

The phishing scam replicated legitimate wallet interactions, tricking victims into signing approval requests that gave attackers control over their funds.

In another case, a trader approved a malicious “increaseAllowance” command, resulting in a $325,000 loss in Coinbase Wrapped Bitcoin.

Separately, another user was hit with a $440,000 loss after signing a fraudulent “permit” transaction.

Both exploits highlight the rise in fake contract approvals, often enabled by deceptive interfaces mimicking trusted apps.

Sophisticated exploits linked to state-style laundering tactics

The single largest exploit came from SBI Crypto, which suffered a breach that drained $21 million worth of digital assets. The losses included Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and Bitcoin Cash.

Although SBI Crypto did not officially confirm the source of the breach, a joint investigation by ZachXBT and Cyvers suggested patterns similar to those used by North Korean hacker groups.

The attackers allegedly funnelled funds through Tornado Cash, a known crypto mixer previously sanctioned for its role in laundering state-sponsored thefts.

This laundering method closely mirrors activity linked to the Lazarus Group, though the report stressed that the connection remains unverified.

Web3 platforms under attack from honeypot tokens

Alongside phishing and exploits, the report found a dramatic spike in honeypot tokens.

These are malicious smart contracts that allow users to buy tokens but prevent them from selling or withdrawing funds.

Honeypot tokens surged 600% last month, reaching 2,189 identified tokens—though still far fewer than the 40,000 recorded in June 2025.

Goplus honeypot tokens
Source: GoPlus Security

The Binance Smart Chain accounted for the bulk of these tokens at 1,780, followed by 216 on Ethereum and 131 on Base.

These tokens are embedded with hidden restrictions that block transactions, stranding investor funds in illiquid assets.

Their increase underscores a shift toward embedded contract-level fraud, which can bypass basic security tools.

Tokens and socials compromised in wider exploits

The wider ecosystem also saw losses from social media and platform-based breaches.

Astra Nova’s official social account was hijacked, triggering a large-scale sell-off of its native token RVV and causing losses of approximately $10.3 million.

In a separate exploit, decentralised finance platform Garden Finance was hit with a vulnerability that cost users around $10.8 million, according to ZachXBT.

These incidents reflect a widening surface of attack across both user-facing interfaces and backend contract code.

The post AI-driven phishing scams and hidden crypto exploits shake Web3 security appeared first on CoinJournal.

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Crypto update: Bitcoin ETFs see $300M inflow as investors ‘buy the dip’

  • US Bitcoin ETFs saw nearly $300 million in net inflows on Tuesday.
  • The inflows snapped a two-week streak of redemptions from the products.
  • Fidelity’s FBTC led the way with $165.9 million, followed by Ark’s ARKB.

US-based Bitcoin ETFs have snapped a two-week streak of redemptions, pulling in nearly $300 million in net inflows on Tuesday as investors took advantage of lower prices to rotate back into cryptocurrency-linked products.

The renewed buying interest, which follows a period of significant outflows, suggests that institutional investors are viewing the recent market dip as a buying opportunity, reaffirming their long-term conviction in the asset despite short-term volatility.

A decisive reversal after weeks of outflows

Early data from SoSoValue shows a significant reversal of last week’s trend, which saw over $1.17 billion withdrawn from digital asset investment products.

Fidelity’s FBTC led the charge with $165.9 million in fresh capital, while Ark 21Shares’ ARKB added $102.5 million.

Notably, even Grayscale’s GBTC, which has experienced consistent outflows for months, posted a net inflow of $24.1 million.

This return of capital to US products contrasts with the European market, which has continued to see steady inflows, suggesting a more consistent long-term positioning from investors outside the United States.

Altcoins continue to attract capital

While Bitcoin and Ether products have been subject to macro-driven volatility, certain altcoins have continued to attract steady investment.

According to data from CoinShares, Solana-linked products notched another $118 million in inflows last week, bringing its impressive nine-week total to $2.1 billion.

This pattern indicates that investors are differentiating between core assets sensitive to macro pressures and emerging networks with strong on-chain momentum.

Fundamentals remain strong as supply milestone nears

Despite the recent price turbulence, market experts maintain that Bitcoin’s underlying fundamentals remain robust.

Thomas Perfumo, a global economist at Kraken, highlighted an upcoming supply milestone as a key factor in the long-term investment case.

“In approximately seven days, Bitcoin’s circulating supply will cross 19.95 million coins, 95% of its max supply of 21 million coins,” he wrote in a note provided to CoinDesk.

Perfumo said this event underscores Bitcoin’s programmable scarcity and its enduring role as a “credibly neutral, globally accessible store of value.”

Gold nears record highs amid fiscal warnings

In the broader macroeconomic landscape, gold continued to trade near record highs at $4,134.6 per ounce.

The precious metal’s strength is being fueled by growing concerns over US fiscal stability.

Economist James Thorne has warned that the US has crossed a fiscal “Rubicon” that could trigger a “Bretton Woods 2.0” style reset, potentially revaluing gold to manage soaring debt levels.

The impact of surging bullion prices is already being felt, with major producer Barrick Mining reporting a $1.3 billion quarterly profit and a dividend hike.

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Bitcoin faces quantum risk: why SegWit wallets may offer limited protection

  • SegWit wallets delay public key exposure until the point of transaction.
  • Holding Bitcoin in SegWit addresses offers temporary protection if left untouched.
  • Critics believe practical quantum computing remains decades away.

Quantum computing’s long-theorised threat to Bitcoin is resurfacing in the crypto conversation.

The idea that a powerful enough quantum machine could break cryptographic security and expose Bitcoin keys has moved from theoretical chatter to practical concern.

Bitcoin analyst Willy Woo recently suggested a short-term safeguard: store Bitcoin in SegWit addresses for the next seven years.

While the tactic has sparked debate, the broader community remains divided over whether quantum computers are a real, imminent threat or just the latest tech-driven scare.

SegWit offers delayed public key exposure

Segregated Witness (SegWit), introduced on 23 August 2017, is a protocol upgrade that changes how data is stored in Bitcoin transactions. Woo suggests that SegWit’s delayed public key exposure could act as a deterrent against quantum attacks.

Unlike Taproot, which exposes the public key immediately within the address, SegWit only reveals it during transaction execution.

This delay makes it harder for a quantum computer to reverse-engineer the private key from the public one before the transaction is completed.

Under current conditions, exposing a public key does not present much of a problem. However, if and when quantum computing advances to the point of real-time decryption capabilities, the exposure window of Taproot wallets could be a key vulnerability.

In contrast, SegWit’s hashing conceals the public key behind a layer of encryption until absolutely necessary. This may keep Bitcoin more secure during this anticipated transition period.

Hodling in SegWit comes with major constraints

While the SegWit method may offer protection, it carries a critical limitation. According to Woo, users must not move their Bitcoin from the SegWit address.

Any outgoing transaction would expose the public key, potentially inviting a quantum attack if executed during the transaction.

As such, this method is not viable for active traders or anyone needing liquidity in the short term. It is a static defence mechanism, not a dynamic solution.

This approach effectively puts Bitcoin in a vault. It is safe but inaccessible. It is also only as secure as the continued absence of real-time quantum decryption.

If a breakthrough comes earlier than anticipated, even SegWit-held coins could be compromised during withdrawal. Woo acknowledges that this is only an intermediary measure.

It is meant to bridge the gap until a quantum-resistant Bitcoin protocol becomes available.

Experts disagree over SegWit’s efficacy

Not everyone agrees that SegWit provides any meaningful protection. Charles Edwards, founder of digital asset fund Capriole, has dismissed the idea as ineffective.

He argues that SegWit is not a quantum-safe model and relying on it could delay necessary network upgrades.

According to Edwards, the belief that Bitcoin has a seven-year buffer period could create complacency, weakening pressure to accelerate work on quantum-resistant algorithms.

This disagreement underscores a broader lack of consensus in the crypto space on how seriously the community should take quantum risk.

Although protocol upgrades are under development, there is concern among developers that current initiatives are progressing too slowly.

Some argue that existing security layers were not built with quantum capabilities in mind, making them structurally vulnerable regardless of transaction format.

Sceptics say quantum fears are overblown

Despite the alarm, some in the community believe the risk is being overstated. Critics point to quantum computing’s persistent technical limitations.

In a post in February, Bitcoin advocate Adrian Morris claimed quantum tech is “barely viable”, citing issues with thermodynamics, memory, and persistent calculations.

Others argue that traditional financial systems and major banks would be far more attractive targets for early quantum attacks than a decentralised network like Bitcoin.

Woo notes that Bitcoin held by custodians, such as ETFs or treasury firms, may be better shielded in the interim. This is only true if those institutions take proactive steps to secure their holdings.

Until a comprehensive upgrade is implemented, the quantum debate will continue to shape discourse around Bitcoin’s long-term security.

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