Weekly Crypto Catch-up: Epstein, Trump, & Record Trading

Crypto changes fast, and new stories show up every day, so it’s easy to feel lost. We gather the most important updates each week and put them in one simple place. You don’t need to scroll for hours or read complicated reports, because we keep only what really matters.

Our goal is to explain crypto in a clear and natural way, while still giving you useful details. We connect the dots, add context, and turn big headlines into easy reading. Even if you’re new, you can follow along without stress.

Think of this as your weekly cryptocurrency catch-up, written to save you time and energy. You get the key news, the main trends, and the bigger picture in just a few minutes. So, let’s get started.

Epstein’s Hidden Crypto Bet Resurfaces in Fresh Court Records

Newly released court documents tied to Jeffrey Epstein reveal that the disgraced financier quietly backed early cryptocurrency ventures years before the industry exploded. The files come from ongoing disclosures by the U.S. Department of Justice and include transaction records, emails, and asset summaries.

One record shows a $3 million investment into Coinbase in late 2014. At the time, the exchange carried a valuation of nearly $400 million. Epstein completed the purchase through a private company after discussions about joining a fund collapsed. The documents list the exact transfer and confirm that he received investor communications like any other early backer.

Emails also show contact between Coinbase leadership and Epstein during that period. Messages reference scheduling meetings and maintaining an open line of communication. Later correspondence indicates he secured his full allocation and eventually sold part of the stake at a major profit as Coinbase’s valuation surged ahead of its public listing.

The files also connect Epstein to Blockstream through a venture fund. Company leadership later clarified that the exposure came through an external investor pool that exited months after entry. Executives stressed the firm held no lasting financial ties to Epstein.

The revelations renew debate about vetting standards in early crypto funding. Legal experts note the records document financial links only and do not assign criminal liability to listed parties.

UAE Power Broker Takes Massive Stake in Trump-Linked Crypto Firm

A group representing Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan has secured a near-controlling position in World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency project tied to the Trump family. Internal deal records reviewed by major media outlets show a $500 million agreement finalized just before Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025.

The purchase delivered a 49 percent equity stake. Half of the funds moved immediately. Reports indicate $187 million flowed to companies connected to Trump family members. Smaller allocations, about $31 million each, went to businesses linked to other project founders and partners. The remaining balance was scheduled for mid-2025 payment, though details around its final destination remain unclear.

Company representatives insist the deal carries no political influence. A spokesperson stated that both President Trump and Steve Witkoff stepped away from operational involvement after assuming official duties. A White House official added that Trump’s financial interests sit inside a family-managed trust.

Sheikh Tahnoon holds enormous influence in global finance. He serves as Abu Dhabi’s national security adviser and oversees a sovereign wealth empire exceeding one trillion dollars. Observers say the transaction highlights the growing overlap between geopolitics and digital finance.

World Liberty Financial continues to promote decentralized finance products and governance tokens while leadership stays within family advisory circles. Analysts expect scrutiny as international capital and crypto politics collide.

Latin America’s Crypto Boom Brings Tax Breaks, Arrests, and Banking Shakeups

Latin America opened 2026 with aggressive moves that reshape its cryptocurrency landscape. Governments now push innovation while cracking down on fraud and modernizing financial systems.

El Salvador introduced a full capital gains tax exemption on Bitcoin and other digital assets. The measure removes profit taxes for qualified investors, including foreigners committing sizable crypto holdings inside the country. Officials want to attract long-term capital and position the nation as a global blockchain hub. The policy expands earlier efforts that made Bitcoin legal tender and funded geothermal mining infrastructure.

At the same time, international enforcement scored a major win. Interpol agents arrested Rosa María González Rincón in Venezuela, a central figure in the Generation Zoe pyramid scheme. Authorities link the operation to losses between $100 million and $300 million across multiple countries. Argentine courts already sentenced the scheme’s founder, and investigators continue asset tracing.

Fintech disruption also accelerates. Revolut launched full banking operations in Mexico after a successful pilot phase. The company now offers savings products, cross-border transfers, and mobile banking tools aimed at underserved customers. Mexico’s large population and frustration with legacy banks create fertile ground for digital challengers.

Kazakhstan Channels Sovereign Wealth Into Crypto Strategy

Kazakhstan has committed $350 million from national reserves to cryptocurrency-linked investments, marking one of the boldest sovereign moves into digital assets. The allocation sits under the National Investment Corporation, an arm of the country’s central bank.

Officials structured the plan to limit direct exposure. Instead of buying Bitcoin or Ethereum outright, the fund will route capital through selected hedge funds focused on blockchain markets. Authorities already approved five managers. Future expansion may include venture investments in tokenization and fintech startups.

Central bank leaders say the strategy diversifies traditional reserve holdings without reckless risk. Seized digital assets from criminal cases may also enter the reserve pool. Reports suggest millions in confiscated crypto already exist under government control.

Kazakhstan aims to build a long-term national crypto reserve that could eventually reach one billion dollars. The country previously launched a tenge-backed stablecoin and supported regulated blockchain funds tied to international exchanges.

Regulators pair investment with strict oversight. Authorities recently shut down more than 130 illegal exchanges and blocked access to over a thousand unauthorized crypto websites. New rules expand licensed trading and place exchange supervision under central bank authority.

Officials describe the approach as balanced. They want innovation, but they demand control. Kazakhstan now positions itself as a regulated crypto gateway for Eurasia.

New Crypto Gateway Lets Businesses Accept Payments Without Custody Risks

Bcon Global introduced a payment system that allows companies to receive cryptocurrency directly into their own wallets. The platform avoids custody, identity checks, and third-party control. Merchants only connect a public address, and every transaction lands on-chain.

The design removes intermediaries from payment flows. Businesses keep full ownership of funds and avoid freezes or withdrawal delays. The system works with hot wallets, cold storage, and hardware devices. Customers can pay using common tools like MetaMask, Ledger, Trust Wallet, and Exodus.

Developers gain access to a full API that supports invoicing, tracking, and automated confirmation. Companies can issue invoices in fiat while the platform converts totals into real-time crypto values. Webhooks update accounting systems instantly. Payment links allow merchants to request funds through email or messaging apps.

Bcon Global also released plugins for WordPress and Opencart, with integrations for Shopify and WHMCS. Setup requires minimal coding. The gateway supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, BNB Smart Chain, TRON, and major stablecoins.

The pricing model stays simple. The company charges a one percent fee only on API-processed transactions. There are no subscriptions or setup costs. The service targets freelancers, ecommerce platforms, and global businesses seeking bank-free payment infrastructure.

Prediction Markets Put Trump Ahead in Nobel Prize Betting Race

Donald Trump currently leads the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize betting market on Polymarket, a platform where users trade on real-world outcomes. His odds stand at 14 percent, supported by more than $3 million in wagers.

Momentum grew after Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado handed Trump her Nobel medal during a January White House visit. She praised his role in supporting Venezuelan political change. The gesture fueled global headlines and speculation around future nominations.

Several world leaders already submitted formal endorsements. Argentina’s president cited Trump’s diplomatic influence. Israel’s prime minister pointed to Middle East negotiations. Cambodia’s leadership credited regional conflict mediation. Competitors in the betting market include Yulia Navalnaya and the UN refugee agency UNRWA, both trailing significantly.

A crypto project named N4T has entered the narrative. The Ethereum-based token promotes what it calls “CryptoDiplomacy” and plans to fund advocacy campaigns through community voting. The project denies any official link to Trump or the Nobel Committee. Its founders frame the effort as cultural commentary powered by decentralized governance.

Prediction markets now mix politics, crypto culture, and global publicity. Analysts expect volatility as nominations continue and campaign narratives evolve.

K9 DAO Shuts Down Shibarium Products After Major Bridge Exploit

K9 Finance DAO will permanently close all products built on Shibarium after a governance vote approved an operational sunset. The shutdown becomes effective February 25, 2026. Token holders reached the decision after months of investigation into a devastating bridge exploit.

The breach occurred in September 2025 when attackers compromised most network validators. Roughly a quarter of the KNINE token supply vanished and remains unrecovered. Independent reviews labeled the validator structure dangerously centralized. DAO members concluded that the environment no longer met basic security standards.

K9 attempted recovery through blacklisting, forensic tracing, bounty offers, and exchange coordination. None restored the stolen assets. Shibarium leadership announced a compensation program using debt NFTs, but the bridge remains closed and undercollateralized.

Despite the shutdown, K9 will leave all smart contracts open source and audited. Community members may reuse or redeploy the infrastructure independently. The DAO will migrate liquidity to a new chain and issue fresh governance tokens through a claim portal expected later in 2026.

A decentralized archive website will preserve the project’s history. After the transition, future development depends entirely on community direction.

Silver Frenzy Drives Record Trading Day on BTCC Exchange

Cryptocurrency exchange BTCC recorded its strongest day ever in tokenized precious metals trading, reaching $301.7 million in daily volume. Silver futures dominated activity, generating more than 80 percent of transactions.

Traders rushed toward digital silver contracts as global uncertainty pushed demand for safe-haven assets. Gold pairs added another $56 million, reinforcing a broader shift toward commodity hedging through blockchain markets.

BTCC expanded aggressively in real-world asset tokenization during 2025. The exchange logged over $53 billion in annual futures volume tied to commodities and equities. Quarterly growth multiplied rapidly, with tokenized assets climbing alongside traditional crypto products. Silver and gold now rank among the platform’s most traded instruments, competing with tech stock tokens.

The company plans to launch a multi-asset system called TradFi that merges stocks, commodities, forex, and crypto inside one trading account. Executives say the goal is seamless access across financial markets without switching platforms.

As BTCC marks fifteen years in operation, the exchange positions itself as a bridge between legacy finance and blockchain infrastructure. Analysts view the surge in metals trading as a sign that digital commodities may become mainstream hedging tools.

CertiK and YZi Labs Team Up to Fund Security for Web3 Startups

Blockchain security firm CertiK partnered with YZi Labs to support startups inside the EASY Residency incubation program. The collaboration focuses on strengthening technical defenses for early-stage projects across Web3, artificial intelligence, and biotech.

CertiK committed a $1 million audit grant pool available to participating companies. Founders will also gain access to automated code scanning tools and real-time monitoring systems. The goal is to remove security barriers that often slow young teams.

YZi Labs will connect incubated startups directly with CertiK specialists. Program leaders argue that security must exist from day one, not as an afterthought. They compare product development to constructing a skyscraper that requires strong structural engineering before expansion.

CertiK executives say safer infrastructure protects both individual projects and the broader ecosystem. Many Web3 failures trace back to weak audits and rushed launches. This initiative aims to set a new incubation standard where protection grows alongside innovation.

YZi Labs continues evolving beyond traditional accelerator models. The organization prioritizes sustainability, long-term research, and responsible scaling. Observers say the partnership signals a shift toward maturity in blockchain entrepreneurship.

This article is not supposed to provide financial advice. Digital assets are risky. Be sure to do your own research and consult your financial advisor before investing.