Crypto
Virginia man convicted for sending cryptocurrency to ISIS members
A Virginian man was convicted for attempting to financially support ISIS, the US Department of Justice reported on Monday.
Mohammed Azharuddin Chhipa, from Springfield, Virginia, was convicted last week for collecting and sending money to female ISIS members in Syria in an attempt to finance their escape prison camps as well as supporting ISIS fighters.
Chhipa used social media accounts to raise funds, converting them to cryptocurrency before transferring the money to Turkey, where it was smuggled to ISIS members in Syria.
He was assisted by a British-born ISIS member living in Syria who was involved in raising funds for prison escapes, terrorist attacks, and ISIS fighters, the US Department of State reported.
Hundreds of thousands in crypto
The US Department of Justice stated that, in total, Chhipa had sent out over $185,000 in cryptocurrency.
The jury found Chhipa guilty of one count of conspiracy to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization and four counts of providing and attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Chhipa faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison per count. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for May 5, 2025.
The FBI is currently investigating the case.
Crypto
Binance CEO Gives Only Recommendation on Cryptocurrency Market
The cryptocurrency market is booming, and its growth shows no signs of slowing down. Even though there is a lot of excitement, many people are still wondering about the best time to get involved, the best way to approach it and how to prepare. Richard Teng, a CEO at Binance, has shared his thoughts, offering a different take on the hype.
Long story short, Teng is convinced it is better to plan ahead than to act on impulse right now. His recommendation is simple: do your homework before you jump in. He says it is important to understand the market’s details and to think long term when you are considering investing. If you are tempted by quick gains, he suggests you proceed with caution and careful planning.
The numbers tell a pretty impressive story. In just two months, the cryptocurrency market cap — measured by the TOTAL index — has seen a 58% surge, reaching an all-time high of $3.68 trillion.
Altcoins, which exclude Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), have done especially well, with their combined market cap rising 92.41% to $1.16 trillion. Even Bitcoin itself recently reached an unprecedented $106,648. These figures show how quickly the sector is growing and how attractive it is to investors, both new and experienced.
Binance running numbers as FOMO kicks in
Binance plays an absolutely crucial role in this ecosystem. As the first crypto exchange to surpass $100 trillion in lifetime trading volumes earlier this year, it is clear that it has a significant influence. With nearly 250 million users, $182 billion in total assets and $26.6 million in daily trading volume, the platform has a huge reach.
These achievements show not only how big Binance is in terms of operations but also that more and more people around the world are interested in digital assets.
Teng’s insights are a good reminder that rapid market growth and rising valuations come with their own risks. His advice to think ahead, not just react to market trends, reflects a broader philosophy of taking a considered approach.
Crypto
Has Musk announced a $20 million cryptocurrency giveaway? Deepfake video goes viral
A deepfake video of Elon Musk promising a massive cryptocurrency giveaway has gone viral, sparking confusion and concern. The misleading video falsely promotes a $20 million cryptocurrency giveaway, luring viewers to a website called Elon4u.com.
In the video, Musk appears to announce a surprise crypto giveaway, claiming, “I’ll be doing a $20 million crypto giveaway at Elon4u.com for one week starting December 13,” urging viewers to act fast and participate. The clip presents Musk as inviting people to take part in the giveaway, reassuring them that the process is quick and easy.
However, the video was soon debunked as a deepfake. A post from DogeDesigner, a well-known figure in the crypto community, quickly circulated on X (formerly Twitter), warning followers about the scam. “Elon Musk and his companies are NOT doing any crypto giveaways. Don’t fall for scams! Stay safe,” the post emphasised, urging people not to be deceived by the fake video.
Rise of Deepfakes
This incident highlights the growing risks posed by deepfakes, which can convincingly replicate the voices and appearances of public figures. Experts warn that scams using deepfakes are becoming more sophisticated, making it essential for users to double-check such claims from trusted sources.
In recent years, cryptocurrency scams have been on the rise, often taking advantage of high-profile figures like Musk to create a sense of legitimacy. With deepfake videos becoming more prevalent and realistic, the ability to distinguish between authentic content and manipulation is increasingly challenging for the public.
While Musk has not publicly commented on the deepfake incident, his reputation as a target for online scams, including fake giveaways, is well-known. In the past, similar fraudulent schemes have leveraged his name and social media presence, causing significant concern among his followers.
The Elon4u.com website featured in the video is now under scrutiny, with experts advising internet users to avoid visiting suspicious sites and to report any potentially harmful content.
Crypto
Bitcoin hits record high above $105k amid whale trades, MicroStrategy cheer By Investing.com
Investing.com– Bitcoin surged to a record high on Sunday evening amid signs of increased whale trading, while crypto markets also cheered MicroStrategy’s addition to the Nasdaq 100.
The jumped 3.9% to a record high of $105,120.9 by 18:27 ET (23:27 GMT).
On-chain data showed a flurry of major trades by large Bitcoin holders over the weekend. These holders, referred to as whales, were seen moving hundreds of millions of Bitcoin off exchanges and onto private wallets.
X account Whale Alert, which tracks major crypto transactions, showed at least 27,000 Bitcoins, worth a total of $2.8 billion, had been moved off major crypto exchanges such as Bybit and Binance over the weekend.
Such a move points to limited supply of Bitcoin on public exchanges, entailing a higher price for the crypto.
Bitcoin was also buoyed by optimism over MicroStrategy Incorporated (NASDAQ:)- the world’s biggest corporate holder of the crypto- being added to the . MicroStrategy- which is largely regarded as a proxy trade for Bitcoin- surged over 400% so far in 2024, with its valuation spike making it eligible for addition to the index.
The stock will be added to the index effective December 23, and could see further gains as exchange-traded funds move to add exposure to the stock.
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