Connect with us

Crypto

Dark web drug ‘boss’ Michael Kustic alleged to have been busted with millions in illegal products and cryptocurrency in ACT’s ‘largest ever’ haul

Published

on

Dark web drug ‘boss’ Michael Kustic alleged to have been busted with millions in illegal products and cryptocurrency in ACT’s ‘largest ever’ haul

An alleged war chest of drugs and cryptocurrency has been found at homes linked to a man alleged to be the ring leader of a drug syndicate.

Michael Adam Kustic, 39, was arrested at his home in Googong, NSW, near Canberra  on December 8 and slapped with 40 charges related to participating in what is believed to be the largest drug ring in the Australian Capital Territory’s history.

He was extradited to the ACT alongside two other men, Thomas Kelleher, 38, and James Martens, 27, who were arrested at a home in Gordon, west of Melbourne, during the sting.

Kustic was refused bail for the second time while facing ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday and is yet to enter a plea for dozens of charges.

Police revealed in court that among the alleged 68,000 items seized during the raids was about $5.5million in drugs and about $2.3million in cryptocurrencies.

Advertisement

A man alleged to be part of a massive illegal prescription drug ring has been arrested at a home in Googong, near Canberra, and slapped with 40 charges (pictured, pills found at the home)

The charges Kustic is yet to enter a plea for include trafficking of a commercial quantity of a controlled drug, participating in a criminal group, multiple counts of fraud, and supplying anabolic steroids. 

More charges could be laid on Kustic and the other two men after all of the drugs allegedly found at the homes are fully tested.

However the process could take between 12-18 months due to the large amount of substances allegedly seized.

An acting sergeant told the court on Thursday that ACT Police’s drugs and organised crime team had ‘never had a seizure of this quantity’, the Canberra Times reports.

Police allege that Anabolic steroids, human growth hormones, cannabis oil, Xanax and psilocybin – the active chemical in magic mushrooms – were found at the homes.

Advertisement

The group is alleged to have used the moniker ‘OzPharmLabs’ online to sell the drugs nationwide through Australia Post.

The sergeant also told the court that an image on Kustic’s phone showed a Trezor cryptocurrency wallet which showed a balance of $2.8million when police plugged the device into a laptop.

A house, five vehicles, three motorcycles and a number of designer goods and electronic devices were also seized during the raids.

Michael Adam Kustic, 39, was extradited to the ACT alongside two other men after anabolic steroids, Xanax and human growth hormones were allegedly found at the home

Michael Adam Kustic, 39, was extradited to the ACT alongside two other men after anabolic steroids, Xanax and human growth hormones were allegedly found at the home

Five vehicles were also seized during the raids

One of the vehicles was a luxury BMW

Police also seized five vehicles – one of which was a luxury BMW – as well as a number of designer goods and electronic devices

However, police are still yet to gain access to the password-protected electronic devices and multiple cryptocurrency wallets.

Kustic’s defence barrister, James Maher, told the court that police concerns that his client would access the wallets if released on bail were purely speculative.

Advertisement

Prosecutor Morgan Howe rebutted Mr Maher’s comments, saying Kustic was yet to grant police access to certain devices.

‘It demonstrates non-compliance with what is a very important court order,’ Mr Howe said.

While refusing Kustic’s bail application, Magistrate James Lawton warned police to pick up the pace of investigations.

‘At some point the court has to say you’ve been given enough time,’ Mr Lawton said.

Three motorcycles were also seized (pictured, a seized Harley Davidson)

Three motorcycles were also seized (pictured, a seized Harley Davidson)

Kustic was remanded in custody and is expected to face ACT Magistrates Court again on March 28. 

Advertisement

Kelleher and James have both been hit with 20 charges and are expected to appear in ACT Magistrates Court on February 29 and March 28, respectively.

Detective Inspector Mark Steel told the media the day after the raids that the group were likely responsible for a significant portion of Australia’s illegal prescription drug market.

‘These three men were allegedly running a sophisticated, coordinated and deliberate illegal business with the sole goal of illicit profit,’  Detective Inspector Steel said.

‘ACT Policing and Victoria Police have coordinated their investigation and resolution activity and this should serve as a warning to anyone seeking to profit from illegal activities.

‘If you are operating across borders you will face the combined efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies. We will arrest you, seize your assets and put you before courts to face significant criminal charges.’

Advertisement

Crypto

What Are KOLs Discussing About the Cryptocurrency Market Today?

Published

on

What Are KOLs Discussing About the Cryptocurrency Market Today?

The cryptocurrency market dynamics have been consistent over the years, with prices fluctuating in cycles and trends. Such a pattern triggers discussions among crypto community members, particularly key opinion leaders and experts who explore researched data and historical trends to predict the future.

Notably, the evolving nature of the Bitcoin ecosystem triggers sentiments that differ from the digital asset’s early days. Experts analyzing this new phase, alongside developments in alternative cryptocurrency ecosystems, are projecting the crypto market, leaving pointers of what users should expect.

Advertisement

Bitcoin is a Scarce Commodity

One such expert and key opinion leader is Samson Mow, CEO of Jan3, a blockchain project that aims to accelerate hyperbitcoinization. In a recent interview, Mow highlighted the scarcity of Bitcoin that many users have yet to recognize. According to Mow, most people still don’t get what true scarcity means.

🚨 BIG Bitcoin Scarcity Warning from @Excellion (SAMSON MOW, CEO of @JAN3com) 🚨
Most people still don’t get what true scarcity means.
“There’s so much demand right now — from $Strategy, ETFs, nation-states, and regular HODLers — that most of the year’s mined $BTC supply is… pic.twitter.com/i2v1BvUadC

— COACHTY (@TheRealTRTalks) July 8, 2026

The renowned Bitcoin expert explained that there is so much demand for Bitcoin from Michael Saylor’s Strategy, ETFs, nation-states, and regular HODLers. He noted that demand is so high that most of the year’s mined $BTC supply has already been taken up multiple times over.

Mow cited a pattern among many Bitcoiners who typically postpone buying $BTC during pullbacks, expecting that the price would drop further. He emphasized that “there is no later” with Bitcoin, predicting the price will return above $100,000 soon. According to Mow, every institution on earth wants a share of the 21 million Bitcoin supply, which would make the cryptocurrency more expensive in the future.

For context, BlackRock has reportedly resumed accumulating $BTC. After recording steady outflows for approximately two weeks, the asset manager reversed course by purchasing $250 million worth of Bitcoin over the past two days. Besides direct purchases, on-chain data show several $BTC transfers from Coinbase Prime to the IBIT BlackRock wallet, valued at around $17 million to $19 million.

Advertisement

BlackRock’s crypto asset holdings have crossed $50.3 billion, comprising 730,440 $BTC, equivalent to $45.52 billion, and 2.752 million $ETH worth $4.79 billion. According to experts, BlackRock’s crypto accumulation pattern indicates that institutional demand for $BTC and $ETH remains unabated.

Ethereum Remains in Demand

Popular crypto influencer, identified as Tanaka on X, aligns with the growing $ETH demand philosophy. Tanaka described the propagation of settlement layers, such as the Robinhood Chain and the Arbitrum Orbit, as clear examples of how TradFi can move on-chain via L2s. He noted that these solutions create scenarios that funnel into increased demand for $ETH.

Tanaka highlighted the recent surge in meme activity on these chains, noting that the solutions go beyond that, covering real-world assets (RWAs), stock tokens, lending, and DeFi. According to Tanaka, L2 activities settle back to Ethereum, $ETH gas creates demand for using the cryptocurrency, while stock tokens, such as NVDA, AAPL, and GOOG, are going on-chain, all boosting demand for $ETH.

Meanwhile, Tanaka cited a scenario that could create more demand for Ethereum—Robinhood onboarding retail TradFi into tokenized stocks and DeFi. According to him, that would be a very positive signal for $ETH. In the meantime, Ethereum is used as the settlement layer for RWA, DeFi, and traditional financial products.

It is worth noting that developments around the Robinhood Chain are not the only factors behind $ETH’s potential demand. Tanaka noted that, despite considering it a positive catalyst, $ETH still depends on $BTC, macro, ETF flows, and Ethereum upgrades to sustain its momentum and remain relevant in the cryptocurrency ecosystem.

Advertisement

The Latest Meme Coin Narrative

Besides Bitcoin and Ethereum, crypto experts consider the meme coins ecosystem another relevant sector of the crypto market, despite the changing dynamics. Zippy, a key opinion leader in the meme coin sector, stated that the lifecycle of meme narratives is getting shorter with every cycle. According to him, what used to last for days or even weeks now often fades within 24 hours.

Zippy noted that most meme tokens experience sharp corrections as soon as liquidity rotates elsewhere. He explained that the new pattern does not mean the meme market is over. Instead, it signifies that capital is rotating at a much faster pace, and rather than staying with one token, the market is constantly chasing the next story.

The meme coin opinion leader noted that the new ecosystem narrative has emerged with meme waves led by ecosystems attracting fresh liquidity rather than old narratives trying to recover. He identified Robinhood as one of the leading ecosystems currently drawing attention in the meme coin sector.

However, Zippy noted that timing matters as much as conviction in the current meme ecosystem dispensation. According to him, sometimes, knowing when to exit is more valuable than knowing when to buy.

Related:Bitcoin Scarcity Gets Real as 403K $BTC Leaves Exchanges

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Crypto

Bitdeer Invests $36 Million in First US Sealminer Factory as Bitcoin Mining Margins Stay Tight

Published

on

Bitdeer Invests  Million in First US Sealminer Factory as Bitcoin Mining Margins Stay Tight

Key Takeaways

Bitdeer Targets 10,000 Monthly Sealminer Units With New $36 Million Nevada Factory

Bitdeer is moving ahead with a major U.S. manufacturing push, breaking ground on a $36 million advanced electronics facility in Sparks, Nevada, even as bitcoin mining economics remain near historic lows.

The 187,000-square-foot plant will be the company’s first domestic manufacturing and assembly site in the U.S. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2026 and is designed to produce 10,000 Sealminer units per month.

Bitdeer said the project will create about 70 local jobs across engineering, skilled technician and support roles. The facility will expand the company’s U.S. footprint beyond mining and data centers, adding a domestic production base for its proprietary mining machines.

“Producing our advanced Sealminer units right here in Nevada reflects our long-term commitment to building capacity and nurturing the talent necessary to support our growing digital infrastructure operations in America,” remarked Paul Hanson, Chairman of Bitdeer Industrial.

Vertical Integration During a Mining Slump

The timing is notable. Bitcoin miners are still dealing with weak hashprice, a key measure of mining revenue per unit of computing power.

Spot hashprice was recently around $29.81 per PH/s/day, after touching a daily low of $27.89 on Feb. 24. March also marked a record-low monthly average of $31.27, according to industry data.

Advertisement

The pressure reflects several factors: the April 2024 halving, rising network hashrate, and low transaction-fee revenue. Together, they have reduced revenue for miners using the same amount of computing power.

At these levels, profitability is increasingly concentrated among operators with cheap power and newer, more efficient machines.

Bitdeer is trying to address that pressure through vertical integration. The company has been developing its own Sealminer hardware and deploying the machines across its self-mining fleet.

Catherine Guo, CEO of Bitdeer Industrial, commented that the Sparks plant reflects the company’s contribution to Nevada’s diversifying economy.

“Our commitment underscores the state’s strategic advantages, including a highly accessible and skilled workforce, robust logistics networks, and a consistently business-friendly environment,” Guo said.

Advertisement

U.S. Expansion Meets AI Demand

The Nevada facility will complement Bitdeer’s existing U.S. data centers and its innovation hub in San Jose, California.

The project also comes as Bitdeer expands across mining and AI infrastructure. In its May operating update, the company reported 70.2 EH/s of self-mining hashrate, 921 bitcoin mined during the month, and about $69 million of annualized recurring revenue from its AI Cloud business.

Bitdeer also said it was in advanced talks with a potential colocation tenant at its Tydal, Norway site. That follows a broader industry trend in which miners are exploring AI and high-performance computing uses for power-rich data center assets.

The facility is expected to begin contributing to Bitdeer’s manufacturing capacity as the mining hardware market becomes more selective. Weak hashprice can slow equipment demand, but it can also push well-capitalized miners to replace older machines with more efficient models.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Crypto

British Airline Jet2 Shares Jump 9% After $536M Fuel Hedge Gain Offsets Middle East Travel Fears

Published

on

British Airline Jet2 Shares Jump 9% After 6M Fuel Hedge Gain Offsets Middle East Travel Fears

Key Takeaways

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending