Crypto
The Q1 2025 of the cryptocurrency market in an article
Q1 of 2025 turned out to be an intense and complex period for the cryptocurrency market, heavily marked by international events, cyberattacks, and regulatory developments. Recent months have indeed highlighted — once again — how sensitive the world of cryptocurrencies is to global political and economic dynamics, leading to tangible consequences for investors and industry operators.
Cybercrime grows in the cryptocurrency market: over 1.78 billion stolen during Q1 2025
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One of the most alarming aspects of the quarter was the exponential increase in cryptocurrency-related thefts, with a total of over $1.78 billion stolen in targeted attacks. Of these, $1.4 billion were drained in the attack involving Bybit alone.
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These episodes have affected all major digital assets and contributed to generating a widespread loss of confidence in the sector. Authorities and industry experts are now questioning the effectiveness of current security measures and the need for further regulations to protect private investors.
The return of Trump to the White House and the domino effect on the cryptocurrency market
Weighing significantly on market dynamics was also the inauguration of President Donald Trump for a new term. The tariff policies introduced in the early months of 2025 contributed to fueling global uncertainty, with direct impacts on the financial sector and, in particular, on the criptovalute sector. The perceived risk index increased significantly, leading to an 80% devaluation of the personal crypto portfolio of Trump.
The strong dependence of the sector on geopolitical factors is also evidenced by the changes in the number of billionaires in Bitcoin in the United States: almost 14,000 addresses identified as “Bitcoin millionaires” have been deleted or have lost their status, indicating a drastic downsizing of portfolios. In parallel, there has been a significant decrease in Bitcoin ATMs, with 185 fewer units operational in the U.S. territory, suggesting a contraction in the demand for physical cryptocurrency transactions.
XRP: fewer regulatory obstacles, but also less participation
Despite the departure of Gary Gensler from the SEC chairmanship and the positive comment from Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, who stated that many regulatory hurdles had been overcome, the XRP token has seen a decrease in interest from its community. The number of active unique addresses has dropped by 16,772 units, a significant decline that contrasts with recovery expectations.
This trend suggests that, although regulatory challenges are easing, other factors — including macroeconomic uncertainty and general distrust in the market — are keeping users away.
Methodology: where the data comes from
The data presented in the report is based on a meticulous collection of information from reliable and verified sources. Among these are on-chain analysis platforms like Arkham Intelligence and SlowMist, market aggregators like CoinMarketCap, as well as reports from exchanges and official statements from the competent authorities. Each figure has been verified, where possible, through cross-referencing, to ensure consistency and accuracy.
However, it should be remembered that the cryptocurrency sector is extremely fluid and often opaque. The figures presented, although reliable at the time of collection, can quickly become obsolete and do not always fully capture the real scenario, especially with regard to the deferred effects of regulatory or political evolutions.
Confidence and risks: reading the market with caution
The combination of capital flight, political interventions, and reduced user engagement presents a picture of high instability. It is therefore essential that investors fully understand the risks associated with the sector of cryptocurrencies, which remains — despite the promises of decentralization and financial autonomy — extremely vulnerable to external factors.
As highlighted in the report, cryptocurrencies are high-risk investments, and they offer no guarantees in terms of capital protection. Those entering this world should act with awareness, avoiding impulsive moves driven by bull or bear euphoria or panic.
A look to the future
The first quarter of 2025 thus offers a clear lesson: the cryptocurrency market continues to experience a phase of transition, in a precarious balance between the desire to establish itself as a global store of value and the reality of an industry threatened by attacks, speculation, and regulatory instability. While waiting to see if the coming months will bring a recovery or a further collapse, the advice remains to closely monitor the developments in the sector and maintain a prudent and informed approach.
In summary, no market player can afford to let their guard down: not the developers, not the regulators, and least of all the investors. The year 2025 has started on an uphill path for the world of cryptocurrencies, and the journey towards sustainable stabilization still appears long and fraught with obstacles.
Crypto
British Airline Jet2 Shares Jump 9% After $536M Fuel Hedge Gain Offsets Middle East Travel Fears
Key Takeaways
- Jet2 recorded a $536 million balance sheet windfall on July 8 after locking in low-cost fuel derivatives.
- The Middle East conflict triggered a 67% decline in annual cash inflows as travelers delayed holiday bookings.
- CEO Steve Heapy announced a $335 million buyback program and expanding operations at London Gatwick Airport.
Sector Resilience Amid Fuel Volatility
British airline and package holiday provider Jet2 defied intense geopolitical instability and travel sector panic triggered by the Middle East war by reporting a more than $500 million balance sheet boost, fueled by the rising price of jet fuel.
As the conflict in the Middle East escalated, spiking fuel rates caused the value of the company’s fuel derivatives to soar. According to Jet2’s full financial results released July 8, an extra $536 million in income was primarily driven by these favorable fair value movements.
The financial buffer comes after widespread fears earlier this year that rising energy costs could push airlines into bankruptcy and force massive summer holiday cancellations. In the United States, higher fuel prices contributed to the collapse of low-budget airline Spirit in May. The United Kingdom had been labeled as the nation “most exposed” to the jet fuel crisis, forcing government ministers to scramble to protect airline fuel access and temporarily suspend airport capacity rules.
While Jet2 was able to mitigate the price shock, the broader conflict still took a toll on booking behaviors. The airline conceded that ongoing travel uncertainty from the war caused holidaymakers to delay their trips and book much closer to their departure dates than usual. As a result, Jet2’s cash inflow plummeted by 67% to approximately $103 million for the fiscal year ending March 31.
Financially, Jet2 reported mixed full-year results. Group revenue climbed 4% to $10.05 billion, but pre-tax profit slipped 7% to $738.6 million, hit hard by lower income earned on its cash deposits.
Despite the profit dip, operational metrics showed strong consumer demand. Jet2 increased its total seat capacity by 8% to 24 million and flew 20.8 million passengers — a 5% increase year-over-year. The company also announced a new $335 million share buyback program, pointing to robust liquidity and confidence in its midterm outlook.
On the stock market, shares of the AIM-listed company jumped 9% to $19.92 at Wednesday’s opening bell, leaving the stock up 5% for the year.
Chief Executive Issues Tax Warning
The financial report coincided with an aggressive political warning from Jet2 Chief Executive Steve Heapy. Speaking to shareholders, Heapy cautioned political figures — specifically naming prominent politician Andy Burnham — against treating the aviation and holiday industry as a “cash cow.”
Burnham is widely anticipated to enter Downing Street later this month following recent political shifts.
“Don’t treat the aviation or holiday industry as a cash cow, because taxes increase the price of flying,” Heapy said, pointing out that Jet2 had to absorb $67 million in additional regulatory and tax costs over the last year. “I think, you know, enough is enough.”
Operationally, Jet2 is pushing a major expansion strategy designed to challenge the UK’s dominant legacy carriers. In March, the airline launched a six-aircraft hub at London Gatwick Airport, signaling an aggressive move out of its traditional northern England strongholds. The company notes it now operates within a 90-minute drive of more than 90% of the UK population.
Key Takeaways
- LAB token cratered 90% over 48 hours, wiping out billions in market cap.
- ZachXBT slammed top centralized exchanges for failing to halt the July manipulation.
- Investors surged to avoid trading LAB as team token unlocks are set for later in July 2026.
LAB Trade Blames ‘Large Market Participants’
LAB, the native token of the multi-chain trading platform LAB Trade, suffered a catastrophic collapse this week, plunging from just over $7 to $1.25 on Wednesday—a staggering 80% decline in under 24 hours. This crash followed an equally brutal sell-off on Tuesday, which saw the token slide from nearly $17. In total, LAB wiped out nearly 90% of its value in just 48 hours.
The financial fallout was swift: a market capitalization that exceeded $5 billion on Tuesday morning evaporated to just $390 million by 3:30 p.m. EST on Wednesday. The freefall prompted the LAB Trade team to address the panic on X, where they expressed disappointment and deflected blame toward external heavy-sellers:
“While today’s market activity is disappointing, our product roadmap and long-term focus remain unchanged. We’re seeing significant selling pressure from large market participants. Several independent trading firms also hold substantial LAB positions that are not affiliated with our team. We’re working closely with our liquidity partners and continue to monitor market conditions,” the team said on X.
With this crash, LAB joins a notorious lineup of volatile tokens, such as RAVE, RIVER and SIREN. Each of these projects experienced meteoric rises followed by near-instantaneous erasures, sparking widespread “pump-and-dump” allegations against their respective teams and murky distribution networks.
Crypto Sleuth Slams Centralized Exchanges
Prominent on-chain detective ZachXBT, who previously flagged suspicious insider loans and market-maker coordination back in May, blasted major centralized exchanges ( CEXs) for failing to protect retail investors. Taking to X, ZachXBT criticized the lack of proactive intervention:
“Disappointing to see how no action was taken by Binance, Bitget, and Gate earlier to prevent it. If CEXs cared, profits from the accounts manipulating the price would be distributed to users at a minimum. Unlocks for investors were scheduled to begin later this month, however, multiple late vesting changes occurred in the past.”
ZachXBT reiterated his previous warnings that insiders have effectively controlled the entire circulating supply, allowing market makers to orchestrate extreme price manipulation on major exchanges. His final advice to the community was blunt: avoid trading LAB under any circumstances.
ZachXBT Names RAVE, RIVER, SIREN, and LAB as Victims of Bitget-Enabled Market Maker Fraud
Blockchain investigator ZachXBT has renewed his assault on Bitget, accusing the exchange of knowingly enabling market makers to run supply…
ZachXBT Names RAVE, RIVER, SIREN, and LAB as Victims of Bitget-Enabled Market Maker Fraud
Blockchain investigator ZachXBT has renewed his assault on Bitget, accusing the exchange of knowingly enabling market makers to run supply…
ZachXBT Names RAVE, RIVER, SIREN, and LAB as Victims of Bitget-Enabled Market Maker Fraud
Blockchain investigator ZachXBT has renewed his assault on Bitget, accusing the exchange of knowingly enabling market makers to run supply…
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