Because blockchains are public, it’s easy for scammers to find people’s crypto addresses and send out spoof transactions to phish for victims.

CertiK, a blockchain security firm, confirmed it detected a transfer of $69.3 million worth of Bitcoin to an address “linked with address poisoning” in a post on X.

The victim’s crypto wallet now shows a total loss of around 97% of its assets on Coinbase. The account is now worth just more than $1.6 million.

Peckshield, another security firm, wrote on X that the scammers traded the stolen Bitcoin for 23,000 Ethereum and then transferred the funds. Ethereum is trading at $3,116 a coin, according to The Daily Hodl.

Trezor, another crypto trading platform, recommends double-checking every address before sending a transaction and never copying an address from transaction history when transferring funds to avoid address scams.

Sending a small test transaction before making a large transfer is also an effective method of verifying the address, the company says.

Cryptocurrency-related scams are on the rise, according to the FBI’s 2023 internet crime report. Crypto-related frauds cost investors $3.94 billion last year, the report says, making up more than three-quarters of the year’s investment scam losses.

One study showed that crypto “pig butchering” scams cost investors $75 million from 2020 to 2024. The fraud starts with criminals sending a wrong-number text that they use as a way to build trust with victims.

Then, they send small payments to them and lure them into making fake crypto investments, only cutting off contact once the victim has sent a large amount of money to the thief.

The scam’s name refers to fattening a pig up before the slaughter.

Most cryptocurrency scams involve scammers trying to get victims in unrelated scams to pay them in Bitcoin so that their crimes cannot be traced, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

The best way to spot a crypto scam is to never trust someone who will only accept payment in crypto or who is promising big profit returns on a fishy investment, the agency says.

“Investment scams are one of the top ways scammers trick you into buying cryptocurrency and sending it on to scammers,” the FTC says. “But scammers are also impersonating businesses, government agencies, and a love interest, among other tactics.”

Insights into recent surges and dips, and the importance of caution in investment

Cryptocurrency Gainers and Losers of the Week: Cryptocurrency markets are famously volatile, with prices soaring and dipping on a regular basis. In this week’s recap, we delve into the top cryptocurrency gainers and losers of the week, examining the factors behind their impressive surges or significant dips.

Top Gainers:

Helium

Price: US$5.39

Surge in 7days: 41.33%

Market Cap: US$30,168,995

During the week, the decentralized wireless network Helium has demonstrated an outstanding growth. Such a rapid growth might be associated with the increased demand for the services of the network, including IOT applications. Since Helium is rather unique in its way of arranging a global, decentralized wireless network, it has attracted the attention of the investors looking for the most innovative products in the cryptocurrency market.

Optimism

Price: US$2.83

Surge in 7days: 16.12

Market Cap: US$470,387,039

Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum, Optimism has recorded an exceptional gain in its price within the last week. This significant growth emerges at a time of increasing interest in layer 2 solutions to tackle the present scalability problem Ethereum experiences. The technology developed by Optimism makes the process on Ethereum better while lowering transaction fees and increasing the network’s throughput .

Axelar

Price: US$1.24

Surge in 7days:11.29%

Market Cap: US$43,249,928

Recently, the price of Axelar, a decentralized network aiming to connect various blockchain ecosystems, has skyrocketed. This phenomenon is caused by the growing need for interoperability solutions in the cryptocurrency industry. With abundant blockchain networks the issue of efficient communication or asset transfer over separate systems arise, and therefore the interest in such projects as Axelar increases.

Wormhole

Price: US$0.7299

Surge in 7days: 10.45%

Market Cap: US$339,987,856

Wormhole, a cross-chain communication protocol, has risen in trading price over the past week. This growth clearly indicates that the market recognizes the importance of interoperability solutions in the cryptocurrency industry. Investors are beginning to flock to projects that offer ways to quickly exchange assets and data among a variety of blockchains and tackle this critical issue.

Starknet

Price: US$1.29

Surge in 7days: 7.86%

Market Cap: US$167,854,564

Starknet, the layer 2 scaling solution for StarkWare, has recently experienced a rapid increase in its price. More specifically, the layer 2 solutions have recently drawn more attention to solve Ethereum scalability issues. Starknet facilitates security and privacy of decentralized applications on the Ethereum network and thus been considered an attractive investment option.

Top Losers:

Pendle

Price: US$4.44

Dip in 7days: 26.04%

Market Cap: US$78,101,979

Pendle — a protocol that tokenizes future yield — has experienced a dip in its price over the past week. Possible reasons for the dip include profit-taking by investors following a period of rapid price appreciation and concerns about the project’s long-term fundamentals. As with all cryptocurrency projects, investors should conduct their own research and assess the risks involved before putting their money in a token like Pendle.

Stacks

Price: US$2.07

Dip in 7days: 23.79%

Market Cap: US$170,055,324

Recently, the price of Stacks, a blockchain that makes smart contracts possible on Bitcoin, has dropped sharply. This decline in value may be driven by market sentiment, profit booking, or ethical concerns about the advancement of the initiative. Projects that concentrate in this sector face significant hurdles and concerns, and investors should be wary of them.

ORDI

Price: US$35.43

Dip in 7days: 18.59%

Market Cap: US$179,099,369

Over the past week, the decentralized identity protocol ORDI has witnessed a notable dip. Various factors may be contributing to this dip, such as market dynamics, regulatory uncertainty, or other particularities linked to the development of this project. Ultimately, the cryptocurrency market is a rapidly changing environment; as a result, projects such as ORDI have ample opportunities and challenges to ensure the broad and general adoption of the given technology in the future.

Theta Network

Price: US$2.03

Dip in 7days: 17.81%

Market Cap: US$56,591,821

Theta Network — a decentralized video delivery network — has seen its price drop substantially recently. This drop could be the response of market dynamics, concerns about the level of competition in the sector, or specific improvements in the ecosystem building on Theta. As people continue to look for decentralized video delivery solutions, Theta Network will have a chance to capture a share of the market.

Hedera

Price: US$0.09864

Dip in 7days: 16.86%

Market Cap: US$225,149,589

Hedera — a decentralized public network — has seen a significant drop in its price over the past week. The decline could be an indicator of market trends, profit-taking by investors, or doubts about the project’s prospects. As with all cryptocurrencies, investors should research the risks before putting their funds in this token.

To conclude, the cryptocurrency market is currently volatile, and its prices have been updating serially. The top cryptocurrency gainers and losers of the week speaks of some specific projects that have massively gained over the past few days while others have equally lost a lot. Therefore, for investors that desire to conduct business within such a dynamic market, it is necessary to make in-depth research, methodize specific risks and remain up-to-date with the current trends in the cryptocurrency world.

The week was a rollercoaster ride for the cryptocurrency market. The crypto world was buzzing with news, from Shiba Inu’s surging burn rate to speculation of certain altcoins becoming irrelevant. Major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin BTC/USD, Ethereum ETH/USD, and Dogecoin DOGE/USD ended April with heavy losses, but the market sentiment soared as the new week began. Let’s dive into the details.

‘Dogecoin Killer’ Shiba Inu Burn Rate Spikes 800%

Shiba Inu experienced a resurgence in its burn rates, with an 800% surge and millions of coins burned in recent transactions prompting positive market sentiment and an increase in prices. Read the full article here.

Altcoins’ Fate: Strong Performers or Irrelevant?

Pseudonymous crypto trader “Cold Blooded Shiller” questions whether the market is beginning to phase out certain altcoins in favor of stronger performers and Bitcoin. He notes that while Bitcoin’s strength is undeniable, there’s an interesting separation among altcoins. Meme coins like Dogwifhat, Pepe, and Floki Inu have seen significant gains, but will they maintain their momentum? Read the full article here.

See Also: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Rally, As Market Sentiment Soars On Macro Data: ‘Above $67,000 We Fly Like A

Heavy Losses for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin in April

April ended on a sour note for major cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin closed the month with losses of 16%, 19%, and 40%, respectively. The new Hong Kong Bitcoin ETFs, contrary to bullish expectations, may turn out to be a “complete failure,” according to finance and crypto newsletter, WhaleWire. Read the full article here.

Are Dogecoin and Shiba Inu Due for a Bounce?

Despite a turbulent month, traders remain optimistic about Dogecoin and Shiba Inu. Chart analyst Ali Martinez predicts a bullish breakout for Shiba Inu SHIB/USD, while crypto trader YG Crypto analyzes Dogecoin’s recent performance, which saw a dramatic 40% price drop. Read the full article here.

Crypto Market Rallies as Sentiment Soars

Despite the losses in April, the cryptocurrency market started May on a positive note. Major cryptocurrencies are trading higher, with Bitcoin bouncing well above the $60,000 mark. Read the full article here.

Read Next: Dogecoin Is ‘Primed For Higher’ But Pepe Is ‘On A Moon Mission,’ Exclaims Trader

Image: Eivind Pedersen from Pixabay