hidden – Earlybirds Invest https://earlybirdsinvest.com Latest Crypto News Wed, 10 Sep 2025 09:38:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.7 https://i0.wp.com/earlybirdsinvest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cropped-New-Project-2024-12-17T235703.455.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 hidden – Earlybirds Invest https://earlybirdsinvest.com 32 32 240146708 Athena Bitcoin Sued for Hidden Fees and Enabling Crypto Scams https://earlybirdsinvest.com/athena-bitcoin-sued-for-hidden-fees-and-enabling-crypto-scams/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/athena-bitcoin-sued-for-hidden-fees-and-enabling-crypto-scams/#respond Wed, 10 Sep 2025 09:38:30 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/athena-bitcoin-sued-for-hidden-fees-and-enabling-crypto-scams/

The District of Columbia has accused Athena Bitcoin
BTC


$112,190.74

, a company that operates cryptocurrency ATMs, of collecting hidden fees and failing to protect users from fraud.

The lawsuit, brought by Attorney General Brian Schwalb, claimed that Athena Bitcoin allowed scams to flourish through its kiosks and took advantage of users by not clearly stating the charges.

Athena Bitcoin began operating in DC in May 2024. Within the first five months, officials reported that the majority of transactions, around 93%, were connected to scams.

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Many of the affected users were elderly or otherwise vulnerable. Schwalb’s office alleged that one customer alone lost $98,000 through an Athena ATM.

Instead of using straightforward language to explain transaction costs, Athena Bitcoin reportedly used the term “Transaction Service Margin” in its Terms of Service. The word “fee” was never mentioned.

According to the attorney general, this wording misled users and prevented them from understanding the charges they were being assessed. The complaint stated that fees reached as high as 26% per transaction and were not shown clearly at any point during the process.

Additionally, Athena Bitcoin is accused of failing to implement proper anti-fraud protections. The complaint described the company’s machines as a “pipeline for illicit international fraud transactions” and alleged that the company turned a blind eye while continuing to profit.

The lawsuit also said the company does not allow users to recover lost funds, even in cases where scams are clearly involved. This approach left victims without a means to recover their money or even reclaim the fees they had been charged.

Recently, Taylor Thomson, a member of the Thomson Reuters family, lost over $80 million in cryptocurrency. How? Read the full story.


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VirusTotal finds hidden malware phishing campaign in SVG files https://earlybirdsinvest.com/virustotal-finds-hidden-malware-phishing-campaign-in-svg-files/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/virustotal-finds-hidden-malware-phishing-campaign-in-svg-files/#respond Sat, 06 Sep 2025 21:43:44 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/virustotal-finds-hidden-malware-phishing-campaign-in-svg-files/

Malware phishing

VirusTotal has discovered a phishing campaign hidden in SVG files that create convincing portals impersonating Colombia’s judicial system that deliver malware.

VirusTotal detected this campaign after it added support for SVGs to its AI Code Insight platform.

VirusTotal’s AI Code Insight feature analyzes uploaded file samples using machine learning to generate summaries of suspicious or malicious behavior found in the files.

After adding support for SVGs, VirusTotal found an SVG file that had zero detections by antivirus scans, but whose AI-powered Code Insight feature detected using JavaScript to display HTML, impersonating a portal for Colombia’s government judiciary system.

VirusTotal Code insights detecting a malicious SVG file
VirusTotal Code insights detecting a malicious SVG file
Source: VirusTotal

SVG, or Scalable Vector Graphics, is used to generate images of lines, shapes, and text through textual mathematical formulas in the file.

However, threat actors have begun increasingly using SVG files in attacks, as they can also be used to display HTML using the element and execute JavaScript when the graphic is loaded.

In the campaign discovered by Virustotal, SVG image files are used to render fake portals that display a phony download progress bar, ultimately prompting the user to download a password-protected zip archive [VirusTotal]. The password for this file is displayed in the fake portal page.

“As shown in the screenshots below, the fake portal is rendered exactly as described, simulating an official government document download process,” explains VirusTotal.

“The phishing site includes case numbers, security tokens, and visual cues to build trust, all of it crafted within an SVG file.”

Fake portal for Colombia’s judicial system​​​​​​​
Fake portal for Colombia’s judicial system
Source: VirusTotal

BleepingComputer found that the extracted file contains four files: a legitimate executable from the Comodo Dragon web browser, renamed to be an official judicial document, a malicious DLL [VirusTotal], and what appears to be two encrypted files.

Extracted password-protected archive
Extracted password-protected archive
Source: BleepingComputer

If the user opens the executable, the malicious DLL will be sideloaded to install further malware on the system.

After detecting this initial SVG, VirusTotal identified 523 previously uploaded SVG files that were part of the same campaign but had evaded detection by security software.

The addition of SVG support to AI Code Insights was crucial in exposing this particular campaign, as VirusTotal noted that the use of AI makes it easier to identify new malicious campaigns.

“This is where Code Insight helps most: giving context, saving time, and helping focus on what really matters. It’s not magic, and it won’t replace expert analysis, but it’s one more tool to cut through the noise and get to the point faster,” concludes VirusTotal.

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The Hidden Power of Prompt Engineering in Your Everyday Work https://earlybirdsinvest.com/the-hidden-power-of-prompt-engineering-in-your-everyday-work/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/the-hidden-power-of-prompt-engineering-in-your-everyday-work/#respond Thu, 04 Sep 2025 14:01:40 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/the-hidden-power-of-prompt-engineering-in-your-everyday-work/

Artificial intelligence is no longer a luxury for businesses and has become the baseline. The real differentiator for achieving success in AI adoption is the ability to communicate with AI systems or prompt engineering. The utility of prompt engineering in everyday work remains behind the curtains as it gradually transforms generic language models into experts in various domains. Prompt engineering is the primary ingredient for unlocking the full potential of AI systems used at the workplace.

Artificial intelligence is gradually becoming an integral part of the everyday lives of millions worldwide. The growing usage of AI has drawn the limelight on prompt engineering, which helps in transforming AI systems into proactive partners for various tasks. The uses of prompt engineering at the workplace not only help in enhancing productivity but also open new avenues for creativity. Let us discover some insights on the utility of prompt engineering in everyday tasks at the workplace.

Prompt Engineering and the Art of Conversational AI

The term ‘prompt engineering’ might have had you thinking about complex code and extremely technical tasks. However, it represents the subtle art of communicating effectively with artificial intelligence and has wide ranging implications in our everyday lives and work. The best answers to “What is practical prompt engineering for daily work?” can reflect on the difference between a vague question and detailed set of instructions for a new employee.

For instance, if you ask the employee to write an email, they will create a generic email. On the other hand, asking the employee to write an email to the project team seeking details about the project status will get you a perfectly structured email. You can think of prompt engineering as communication with a highly capable AI assistant. If you provide refined input prompts to the AI models, then you will achieve the desired outcomes.    

The clarity, specificity and quality of input prompts determine the efficiency of your conversations with AI. Prompt engineering plays a major role in enhancing conversational AI as well-crafted prompts help in obtaining more creative, precise and actionable results. The best thing about prompt engineering is that you don’t need advanced technical or coding expertise to communicate with AI. 

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Significance of Prompt Engineering in Everyday Work

Artificial intelligence tools have become an integral aspect of many workplaces, serving different functionalities. You can find many prompt engineering examples in real life where clear instructions get the job done. At the workplace, prompt engineering can help in providing clear instructions to AI tools and language models for obtaining desired results.

With organizations adopting AI systems for content creation, customer support and data analysis, prompt engineering has become an indispensable requirement at the workplace. Prompt engineering can help you achieve the following benefits in everyday work with artificial intelligence.

The most common assumption about AI models is that they can accomplish the tasks they were designed for without flaws. However, AI models cannot read what’s on your mind when they receive instructions for specific tasks. The importance of practical prompt engineering for daily work is evident in scenarios where AI models don’t understand your requirements and offer generic responses. Prompt engineering can help in reducing the need for follow-up queries by including relevant information in the instructions in a structured manner.

  • Maximizing Workplace Productivity

AI tools and systems have been created to make redundant tasks easier and save time of employees at the workplace. The lack of effective prompts can cause the AI tools to take a lot of time to deliver the desired results. Prompt engineering can help in automation of repetitive tasks, brainstorming ideas and generating reports by using precise prompts. You can complete these tasks a lot faster with prompt engineering than with traditional methods, thereby improving productivity at work. 

Another general perception about prompt engineering is that it is all about technical efficiency. On the other hand, it is also important to know that prompt engineering can help in enabling creativity in AI systems. For instance, writers and designers can use prompts to obtain inspiration for their work or refine their completed work. One of the best scenarios to prove this is evident in the creative block experienced by designers. Precisely crafted prompts can help them start the creative process with new ideas. 

The significance of prompt engineering for everyone is also visible in the way it makes AI accessible to everyone. Prompt engineering can help a non-technical professional tap into the power of advanced AI tools for different tasks. It empowers everyone to make the most of AI tools across different roles, including sales and HR, by framing questions and instructions for diverse tasks.

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Examples of Using Prompt Engineering at the Workplace

The benefits of prompt engineering in the workplace showcase how it is a crucial differentiator for achieving success with AI tools. You can find a better impression of how to use prompt engineering for different tasks in everyday work with the following examples.

  • Data Analysis and Reporting

Working with data is obviously a tough challenge with the complexity of tasks involved in data analysis, visualization and reporting. However, prompt engineering can help you simplify the complex tasks in data analysis with precisely crafted prompts. Employees can get actionable reports and charts by uploading the dataset or describing it in detail and using the right prompts. 

  • Marketing Content Creation

Marketers depend on compelling content to enhance audience engagement. However, creating marketing content, such as blog posts, ad copy and social media captions can be a creatively challenging task. You can use prompt engineering in everyday work to streamline this process and generate marketing content with prompts. For instance, a social media manager can use prompts to create social media posts that align with the brand voice of their employer. It will not only help in saving time but also enhance the possibility of achieving desired outcomes from marketing content.

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How to Make the Most of Prompt Engineering at Work?

Prompt engineering is undoubtedly one of the powerful catalysts that help in enhancing productivity at workplaces that embrace AI. If you work with AI models at your workplace, then you must learn the best practices of prompt engineering. The most common suggestions to improve prompt engineering include maintaining specificity and contextual relevance in prompts. In addition, you should also try breaking down prompts for complex tasks into smaller and simpler prompts.

The best practices for prompt engineering also point at using examples to guide the AI model in generating desired responses. On top of it, providing the ideal format for the answer will also ensure that AI systems deliver actionable responses. Most important of all, you should practice patience with prompt engineering and tweak your prompts continuously until you obtain perfect output.

Final Thoughts

Prompt engineering is not only the driver of conversational AI but also productivity at the workplace. The growing adoption of AI has drawn attention towards the utility of practical prompt engineering for daily work, especially for automation of repetitive tasks. Prompt engineering not only helps in maximizing the efficiency of AI models and systems but also promotes creativity and productivity. The most notable use cases of prompt engineering at the workplace include content generation, data analysis and summarization. Learn more about the other ways to embrace prompt engineering for everyday tasks at your workplace with the Prompt Engineering Certification.

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Why Is Bitcoin Crawling This Cycle? Analyst Reveals the Hidden Factors https://earlybirdsinvest.com/why-is-bitcoin-crawling-this-cycle-analyst-reveals-the-hidden-factors/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/why-is-bitcoin-crawling-this-cycle-analyst-reveals-the-hidden-factors/#respond Mon, 25 Aug 2025 10:07:59 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/why-is-bitcoin-crawling-this-cycle-analyst-reveals-the-hidden-factors/

Bitcoin’s current upward movement feels unusually slow compared to past cycles. Experts attribute the current sluggishness in the market to the OG whales.

Willy Woo, for one, believes this cohort of early investors has slowed BTC’s growth, as the market struggles to absorb their massive profit-taking.

Bitcoin’s Sluggish Uptrend

In his latest post, prominent on-chain analyst Willy Woo explained that a significant portion of BTC supply is concentrated in the hands of early whales who accumulated heavily around 2011, when Bitcoin was trading at $10 or less.

These long-term holders are now sitting on massive unrealized gains, and whenever they sell, the market requires significant new capital inflows – over $110,000 for each BTC – to absorb their sales without driving prices down.

This creates resistance in price appreciation, as the market must constantly counterbalance the selling pressure from these original whales, making Bitcoin’s climb slower and more gradual in this cycle.

“This differential in cost basis, the supply they hold and their rate of selling has profound impacts on how much new capital that needs to come in to lift price. You can look at this as BTC going through growing pains until these 10,000x gain investors are absorbed.”

One major example of this whale activity comes from a Bitcoin OG now moving heavily into Ethereum. Lookonchain’s latest findings revealed a massive move by the whale who originally received 100,784 BTC seven years ago, worth $642 million then and over $11.4 billion on August 25th. In just the past five days, this early holder has been rapidly rotating out of Bitcoin into Ethereum.

They deposited around 22,769 BTC, which is around $2.59 billion, to Hyperliquid for sale, and used the proceeds to buy 472,920 ETH ($2.22 billion) on spot markets while simultaneously opening a 135,265 ETH long position worth $577 million.

The scale and speed of these transactions indicate aggressive profit-taking on BTC and a strong, highly leveraged bet on Ethereum’s upside.

Beyond these structural whale-driven headwinds, short-term volatility also plays a role in Bitcoin’s trajectory, especially during weekends.

Structural Weakness

Bitcoin’s sharp drop this weekend is not random but a result of structural weaknesses in the market. Weekends typically see thinner liquidity, as both spot and derivatives volumes decline, which leaves order books vulnerable to manipulation by large players, according to CryptoQuant.

On-chain data shows that BTC exchange reserves often rise before these weekend dips as sell pressure increases, while excessive long positioning in derivatives creates the conditions for liquidation cascades.

At the same time, metrics like SOPR reveal short-term holders taking profits, which further amplifies volatility. As such, these factors form what CryptoQuant calls a “liquidity trap,” where whales exploit weak market conditions to trigger stop-loss clusters and fuel sharp moves.

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Coinbase Fights FDIC Over Hidden Crypto ‘Pause Letters’ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/coinbase-fights-fdic-over-hidden-crypto-pause-letters/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/coinbase-fights-fdic-over-hidden-crypto-pause-letters/#respond Sat, 02 Aug 2025 12:06:42 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/coinbase-fights-fdic-over-hidden-crypto-pause-letters/

Coinbase



$2.35B

has accused the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) of continuing to hold back important records
, despite being told by the court to release them.

The dispute centers on documents known as “pause letters”, which the FDIC reportedly sent to banks asking them to stop offering services tied to cryptocurrency.

In a court filing on July 29, Coinbase asked a federal judge to reject the FDIC’s request to dismiss its lawsuit under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The crypto exchange said these records could show that regulators discouraged banks from working with crypto companies in a coordinated effort, often referred to as “Operation Chokepoint 2.0”.

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Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, stated in a series of posts on X on July 31 that the FDIC has been making it difficult to get access to the full set of documents and that the company plans to keep pushing until more information is released.

According to the court filing, it took four separate court orders and six partial releases before the FDIC finally admitted to having all of the requested records. Coinbase also said the agency used a broad interpretation of FOIA rules to avoid reviewing the documents one by one.

Instead, the FDIC treated all the records as exempt under a rule meant to protect bank examination materials, even though the law usually requires a case-by-case review.

Coinbase wants agency officials to explain how the document review was handled. In addition, it is requesting copies of all denial letters the FDIC sent to other FOIA requesters between 2020 and 2024, in cases where bank-related documents were withheld.

Recently, Coinbase released a satirical video titled Everything Is Fine. What is the video about? Read the full story.

Having completed a Master’s degree in Economics, Politics, and Cultures of the East Asia region, Aaron has written scientific papers analyzing the differences between Western and Collective forms of capitalism in the post-World War II era.
With close to a decade of experience in the FinTech industry, Aaron understands all of the biggest issues and struggles that crypto enthusiasts face. He’s a passionate analyst who is concerned with data-driven and fact-based content, as well as that which speaks to both Web3 natives and industry newcomers.
Aaron is the go-to person for everything and anything related to digital currencies. With a huge passion for blockchain & Web3 education, Aaron strives to transform the space as we know it, and make it more approachable to complete beginners.
Aaron has been quoted by multiple established outlets, and is a published author himself. Even during his free time, he enjoys researching the market trends, and looking for the next supernova.


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XRP Has Hidden Danger Brewing, Ethereum's (ETH) Unstoppable Rally Continues, Bitcoin (BTC): Clear Resistance Formed https://earlybirdsinvest.com/xrp-has-hidden-danger-brewing-ethereums-eth-unstoppable-rally-continues-bitcoin-btc-clear-resistance-formed/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/xrp-has-hidden-danger-brewing-ethereums-eth-unstoppable-rally-continues-bitcoin-btc-clear-resistance-formed/#respond Tue, 29 Jul 2025 03:30:50 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/xrp-has-hidden-danger-brewing-ethereums-eth-unstoppable-rally-continues-bitcoin-btc-clear-resistance-formed/
  • Ethereum stays up
  • Bitcoin’s main target

Over the past few weeks, XRP has been on a wild ride, rising from below $2.30 to highs above $3.50. A double top, a well-known bearish chart pattern, could form, but the asset’s recent momentum might be hiding this new technical risk. Based on the current price structure, XRP is making a comeback after a steep decline, after its initial breakout near the $3.50 region. 

The bulls’ continued activity is indicated by the encouraging recovery above $3.20. The catch is that if the price bounces back to the $3.50 region and does not sustain a break, it could print a second peak, the second top of the double top, which could signal a short- or medium-term reversal. 

Article image
XRP/USDT Chart by TradingView

Also contributing to the worry is the Relative Strength Index (RSI), which is once again getting close to 75. Bullish strength can be indicated by a strong RSI, but the likelihood of exhaustion is increased when high levels are retested without a fresh breakout. Another important element here is volume. 

Despite strong buying support during the rally toward $3.50, the recent ascent has been on somewhat lower volume, which may indicate waning interest. The formation of lower highs and indications of distribution should be closely monitored by traders if XRP does return to $3.50 and stalls or reverses from that level. 

The double top would be confirmed if there were a confirmed break below the neckline between $3.00 and $3.10, which could push XRP back toward support close to the 50-day EMA at $2.60 or even lower.

Ethereum stays up

Ethereum does not appear to be slowing down. Since emerging from its months-long consolidation range in early July, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization has been riding a relentless bullish wave. With its current price of $3,888, ETH has increased by more than 40% in recent weeks, and the bulls continue to have the upper hand. 

The breakout was flawless: Ethereum moved immediately and with high volume past its prior resistance level of $2,900. The 50-day EMA and that level now serve as a strong support zone. Regaining the 200-day EMA and making a strong move above the $3,300-$3,500 range, which confirmed the trend reversal and attracted aggressive buyers, further increased momentum. 

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Title news

The absence of significant drawbacks is the true clutch here. Each consolidation is brief and superficial, indicating high levels of demand. The RSI has reached overbought territory at 82, but historically, ETH can remain extended for a considerable amount of time before a significant correction occurs in strong uptrends like this one.

Psychological resistance is looming close to $4,000, which many traders may consider a short-term target. FOMO-driven inflows would probably be triggered by a clear break above it, which might push Ethereum closer to the $4,400 range, the last local peak observed in late 2021.

Watch the $3,300-$3,500 range as the immediate support on the downside. Buyers will probably intervene at those levels, which also coincide with important moving averages if ETH declines. It appears that Ethereum’s rally will continue unless a macro-level catalyst steps in. Strong momentum encouraging volume and an unquestionably bullish market structure are all present. As of right now, there are no warning signs — just a steady upward trend from a reputable cryptocurrency asset.

Bitcoin’s main target

Bitcoin has formally established $120,000 as a distinct resistance level. Following weeks of consistent rising and numerous retests, the digital gold is still being rejected around this technical and psychological ceiling, creating what seems to be a standard horizontal resistance zone.

In recent weeks price action has shown both growing exhaustion and bullish intent. BTC has failed to close above $120,000 decisively despite several intraday breakouts above that level, indicating the existence of significant sell pressure or profit-taking activity. The comparatively low volume during these attempts raises the possibility that the bulls are running out of immediate fuel to push higher without consolidation.

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Title news

It is not necessarily bearish to look at the current consolidation that is just below resistance. Indicators such as the RSI, which is currently at a neutral 61, can be reset by the market as a result of this healthy pause following a robust uptrend. There is still momentum, and moving averages, particularly the 50 and 100-day EMAs, keep sloping upward, providing strong support zones at $115,000 and $111,000, respectively.

If, on the other hand, the market is unable to make a breakthrough, it may retrace further toward the $111,000-$108,000 support band. For the most part, Bitcoin is still structurally bullish. Stronger confirmation is necessary to maintain the rally though — particularly a convincing breakout above $120,000 with supportive volume. 

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High yields, hidden hazards? The truth about staking in crypto https://earlybirdsinvest.com/high-yields-hidden-hazards-the-truth-about-staking-in-crypto/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/high-yields-hidden-hazards-the-truth-about-staking-in-crypto/#respond Sun, 20 Jul 2025 14:23:23 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/high-yields-hidden-hazards-the-truth-about-staking-in-crypto/

The following is a guest post and opinion of Vitaliy Shtyrkin, Chief Product Officer at B2BINPAY.

Staking has quickly become crypto’s “poster child” for easy rewards. According to on-chain data, over 35 million ETH has been staked on Ethereum alone. For many newcomers, it feels like a no-brainer: just lock up some tokens, walk away, and watch your wallet grow. No charts, no stress, no trading — all the promise of passive income without the sleepless nights.

However, staking may look like a shortcut to crypto profits, but under the hood, it’s a lot less passive than it seems. Amid market volatility, validator penalties, security risks, and regulatory crackdowns, those steady-looking returns can come with caveats.

And yet, that doesn’t mean staking should be rejected — far from it. It’s a fact that staking is becoming one of the most dynamic and misunderstood pillars of Web3. Whether you’re just stepping into the space or already reaping the benefits of staking, it’s worth asking: is it really the easiest way to earn in crypto, or is it a more complex system than it appears? Let’s dig deeper.

The Allure of Staking as a Low-Risk Crypto Entry Point

Staking is often branded as the low-risk, low-effort entry point into the crypto world. It’s even compared to a savings account: park your assets, earn interest back, and let the protocol do the work. The familiarity of that comparison makes it feel safe, especially for those coming from traditional finance.

Yes, at first glance, the concept is simple: you deposit tokens into a blockchain network and, in return, receive rewards for supporting its operations. You’re not trading. You’re not speculating. You’re helping secure the network while earning passive income in the process.

Crypto platforms, in turn, play into that appeal with various perks, such as beginner-friendly interfaces and automated staking options. A few clicks, some APY numbers, and you’re in. No need to master sophisticated concepts of tokenomics or track DeFi trends. Just stake and relax — or so the story goes.

So, for someone new to crypto, it’s hard not to be drawn by such an enticing idea — especially when friends or influencers casually mention how they’re making money “just by staking.” Compared to the chaos of NFTs, volatile trading pairs, and ever-changing protocols, staking feels like a safe harbor in a storm.

But what makes staking accessible is also what makes it misleading. Because under the surface, the risks are still present — they just look a little different.

Risks You Can’t See — and How to Stay Ahead of Them

At first, not all staking risks are obvious. While price volatility is the most talked-about threat, it’s not the only one. In fact, your staking setup is tested by what happens behind the scenes — and how prepared you are for it.

Take slashing, for example. If a validator behaves incorrectly or goes offline, the network may penalize both the validator and the user staking with it. That could mean losing a small percentage of your stake or, depending on the protocol, something much larger. Yes, it’s a harsh mechanism, but it helps keep networks honest.

Also, platforms can be just as fragile. If you’re staking through a third-party service, your rewards and your assets rely on someone else’s infrastructure and security. A sharp reminder of this risk came with the Bedrock exploit, where a vulnerability in a synthetic Bitcoin token led to losses of over $2 million. Flashy interfaces don’t guarantee safe custody.

Of course, regulation plays its part in the staking picture, too. Staking-as-a-service is drawing attention from global regulators, especially in the U.S. and EU. Platforms can be geo-blocked or shut down with little warning, leaving users locked out of their funds entirely.

Does all of this mean that staking should be avoided? Not at all — it means you need to treat it with the same seriousness as any financial decision. Know your validator. Focus on the lock-up rules. Don’t ignore platform terms. Once you understand how staking works, you can start thinking more broadly about actual utility.

Utility Over Yield

While most staking models center around earning yield, some take a different approach — one that’s less about passivity and more about utility. A good example is staking on the Tron network.

Instead of simply locking up TRX for rewards, users can stake to gain direct access to Bandwidth and Energy. These are two resources needed to process transactions and interact with smart contracts on the Tron blockchain. They refresh every 24 hours and, if used wisely, can eliminate transaction fees altogether. That turns staking into a way to reduce costs rather than just collect payouts.

Sure, the passive APY from TRX staking seems modest — often under 10% annually. But the real return comes from usage. For active users, those fee savings can add up quickly, in some cases equating to over 100% value annually in saved costs. It turns staking into a real-world tool, not just a reward mechanism.

Looking ahead, that distinction will become more important — especially given how fast the crypto ecosystem progresses. Staking shouldn’t be treated as a passive income fantasy or a high-risk gamble. It’s becoming clear that staking can be a strategy — a real way to participate in a network, secure it, and get real utility in return.

Mentioned in this article
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Bitcoin Price Prediction: Veteran Trader Peter Brandt Warns of “Hidden” Collapse for BTC – Here’s Why https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-price-prediction-veteran-trader-peter-brandt-warns-of-hidden-collapse-for-btc-heres-why/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-price-prediction-veteran-trader-peter-brandt-warns-of-hidden-collapse-for-btc-heres-why/#respond Thu, 12 Jun 2025 15:17:14 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/bitcoin-price-prediction-veteran-trader-peter-brandt-warns-of-hidden-collapse-for-btc-heres-why/

Crypto Writer

Arslan Butt

Crypto Writer

Arslan Butt

About Author

Arslan Butt is an experienced webinar speaker, market analyst, and content writer specializing in crypto, forex, and commodities. He provides expert insights, trading strategies, and in-depth analysis…

Last updated: 


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Bitcoin has dropped to $107,177, below the $108,000 support as selling pressure mounts. Veteran trader Peter Brandt is warning of a 75% correction to $27,290 from recent highs of $112,000.

He notes that the breakdown below the ascending channel and series of lower highs is similar to the 2022 bear market when Bitcoin dropped from $69,000 in late 2021.

Brandt’s warning isn’t just technical. He points to deteriorating market structure and sentiment as key supports fail. This has amplified investor anxiety, especially with the broader macro and geopolitical backdrop.

Geopolitical Tensions Intensify Market Risks; Bitcoin Under Pressure

Global conflicts are fueling the fire. Reports of Israel preparing to strike Iran have caused risk-off sentiment. The Russia-Ukraine war has escalated with drone strikes on Kharkiv, deepening investor caution.

While uncertainty usually boosts safe-haven assets, Bitcoin is not capturing traditional safe-haven flows. It’s weakening along with broader risk assets.

Despite the risk-off tone, US Bitcoin ETFs saw $164.57 million in net inflows on Wednesday. GameStop added 4,700 BTC since May, and Mercurity Fintech plans to raise $800 million for a BTC treasury reserve. But institutional demand hasn’t yet offset broader market pressure.

Bitcoin Technical Breakdown Weighs on Bears

Technically, the Bitcoin price prediction appears bearish amid BTC’s breakdown below the trendline and the 50-period EMA ($107,985), which is clear. MACD confirms with a bearish crossover and widening gap, indicating downward momentum.

Rejection candles from $110,376 and lower highs have formed a near-term bearish pattern.

BTC is testing immediate support at $106,401. If that fails, further declines to $105,180 or $104,026 are more likely.

The market is at a crossroads, either a breakdown to Brandt’s $27,000 target or a short-lived bounce on institutional accumulation.

Trade Setup for Short Sellers:

  • Entry: Short on rejection near $108,000
  • Stop-loss: Above $108,800 (above EMA)
  • Target 1: $106,400
  • Target 2: $105,180
  • Risk Level: 6/10

Summary

Bitcoin’s price action is weakening its technical structure and poses high bear risk. With macro headwinds, geopolitical tensions, and a veteran trader’s warning, BTC may be starting a bigger correction.

Watch levels closely and be prepared for more volatility. The market is fragile; a break below $106,000 could be the start of a bigger move.

BTC Bull Token Nears $8.1M Cap as 58% APY Staking Attracts Last-Minute Buyers

With Bitcoin trading near $107K, investor focus is shifting toward altcoins, especially BTC Bull Token ($BTCBULL). The project has now raised $7,103,849.89 out of its $8,153,354 cap, leaving less than $1 million before the next token price hike. The current price of $0.00256 is expected to increase once the cap is hit.

BTC Bull Token links its value directly to Bitcoin through two core mechanisms:

  • BTC Airdrops reward holders, with presale participants receiving priority.
  • Supply Burns occur automatically every time BTC increases by $50,000, reducing $BTCBULL’s circulating supply.

The token also features a 58% APY staking pool holding over 1.81 billion tokens, offering:

The token also features a 61% APY staking pool holding over 1.73 billion tokens, offering:

  • No lockups or fees
  • Full liquidity
  • Stable passive yields, even in volatile markets

This staking model appeals to both DeFi veterans and newcomers seeking hands-off income.

With just hours left and the hard cap nearly reached, momentum is building fast. BTCBULL’s blend of Bitcoin-linked value, scarcity mechanics, and flexible staking is fueling strong demand. Early buyers have a limited time to enter before the next pricing tier activates.


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The ‘Bitcoin Family’ has split and hidden seed phrase across 4 continents amid rising kidnappings https://earlybirdsinvest.com/the-bitcoin-family-has-split-and-hidden-seed-phrase-across-4-continents-amid-rising-kidnappings/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/the-bitcoin-family-has-split-and-hidden-seed-phrase-across-4-continents-amid-rising-kidnappings/#respond Sun, 08 Jun 2025 02:10:45 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/the-bitcoin-family-has-split-and-hidden-seed-phrase-across-4-continents-amid-rising-kidnappings/

The ‘Bitcoin Family’ has completely overhauled its security measures amid rising cases of crypto-related kidnappings, according to a CNBC report.

The family, which sold all their belongings in 2017 to invest in Bitcoin (BTC) and now travels around the world, has taken extreme measures amid a rise in perceived threats. This includes storing parts of their Bitcoin wallet seed phrase etched on fireproof metal plates stored across four continents.

The family consists of Didi Taihuttu, his wife Romaine, and their three daughters—Joli, Juna, and Jessa. The Taihuttu family gained the spotlight over the years for living a bankless life supported by Bitcoin.

Taihuttu told CNBC:

“We have changed everything. Even if someone held me at gunpoint, I can’t give them more than what’s on my wallet on my phone. And that’s not a lot.”

Bitcoin Family is not alone in increasing security measures

Over the past few months, there has been a dramatic increase in crypto-related kidnapping and extortion cases. Earlier this year, David Balland, co-founder of hardware wallet Ledger, and his partner were kidnapped and tortured, with Balland reportedly losing a finger in the ordeal.

Early last month, the video of the attempted kidnapping of the daughter of the CEO of a prominent French crypto exchange in broad daylight went viral, striking fear among individuals with substantial crypto holdings.

Following the surge in attacks, the French government vowed to increase security measures for crypto executives. This included priority access to the police emergency line, home visits, and safety guidance and briefings from law enforcement, Politico reported.

Days after the incident in France, an Italian tourist escaped the clutches of his kidnappers from a Manhattan apartment. The victim was reportedly held hostage for 17 days and tortured using myriad methods, from electric shocks from tasers to being whipped with a gun. The perpetrators, who were trying to extort the victim’s Bitcoin wallet password, were arrested late last month.

Amid the spate of kidnappings, crypto investors like the Bitcoin Family have started tightening security measures. Several of them have resorted to private security firms to hire bodyguards or armored trucks to ensure safety.

Insurance companies have also started cashing in on the opportunity, offering kidnap and ransom (K&R) policies tailor-made for crypto holders.

Taihuttu told CNBC that they’ve factored in the rising cases and reassessed their security measures. He said:

“We’ve been talking about it a lot as a family. My kids read the news, too — especially that story in France, where the daughter of a CEO was almost kidnapped on the street.”

Bitcoin Family has taken security into their own hands

Amid the undeniable growth in threats, the Taihutti family has taken several steps to ensure safety.

Among the changes was the decision to ditch hardware wallets, which were once touted as the safest way to store crypto. Taihuttu said:

“It’s a strange world at the moment. So we’re taking our own precautions — and when it comes to wallets, we’re now completely hardware wallet-less. We don’t use any hardware wallets anymore.”

The Taihutti family decided to stay off hardware wallets amid growing concerns about backdoors and remote access features. Over the past eight months, the Bitcoin family switched from hardware wallets to a hybrid system where the seed phrase was stored via partly digital and partly analogue methods.

As part of the enhanced security measures, the family has split a 24-word Bitcoin seed phrase into four sets of six words. Each set of words is stored on a different continent. This means that Taihuttu needs to make at least one international trip, depending on which set of words is required, to access the wallet. He can, however, add funds to the wallet without any hassles. Taihuttu explained:

“Even if someone finds 18 of the 24 words, they can’t do anything.”

While Taihuttu stores some parts of the seed phrase through blockchain encryption platforms, he has etched others on fireproof steel plates with a hammer and letter punch and hidden them. He has also added a separate layer of personal encryption to throw off would-be attackers by switching out certain words of the seed phrase.

The family uses the above method to store about 65% of its crypto holdings, considering it to be safer than using a centralized vault, like the Swiss Alps bunker used by Coinbase-owned Xapo. This is because Taihuttu is concerned about being able to access his funds in case the company goes bankrupt.

The Taihuttu family has also moved away from centralized exchanges, executing around 80% of its trades via decentralized platforms like Apex.

For the family’s crypto stored in hot wallets for trading, Taihuttu uses multi-signature wallets to ensure enhanced safety. He added that they treat the majority of their cold wallet savings as a pension fund that the family will only access once the BTC price reaches $1 million.

Lifestyle changes amid growing threat

The Taihuttu family has a large social media presence, with tens of thousands of followers across platforms. However, the family has been stepping away from the spotlight amid the growing threats. He noted:

“We got a little bit famous in a niche market — but that niche is becoming a really big market now.”

Taihuttu believes that the number of crypto robberies is going to keep increasing, which is why the family is making tough choices, from curtailing video shoots to avoiding France.

While the family is currently in Thailand, they have stopped posting regular travel updates and shooting videos at home. Taihuttu said:

“We stayed in a very beautiful house for six months — then I started getting emails from people who figured out which house it was. They warned me to be careful, told me not to leave my kids alone. So we moved. And now we don’t film anything at all.”

Taihuttu added that while creating content is his passion, the concern for his daughters’ safety is forcing him to stay away from the camera.

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Crypto Applacency: Hidden Security Threats at Industry Meetings https://earlybirdsinvest.com/crypto-applacency-hidden-security-threats-at-industry-meetings/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/crypto-applacency-hidden-security-threats-at-industry-meetings/#respond Thu, 05 Jun 2025 13:26:47 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/crypto-applacency-hidden-security-threats-at-industry-meetings/

By Nick Percoco, Chief Security Officer of Kraken

Every year, crypto conferences are becoming bigger and more global. There are face-to-face opportunities to interact with peers across the crypto community, from New York to Dubai and Singapore. These gatherings are one indication that Crypto has reached an inflection point in its mainstream adoption.

However, as they grow, there has also been a quiet but troublesome trend. Personal security hygiene at the crypto meeting took the back seat. This trend has emerged before the recent well-known code entitled. Unfortunately, the Crypto community has now become openly displaying and discussing Crypto topics (even wealth and even high value transactions) in a public setting.

At the heart of Crypto is your own bank. And if your personal and operational security (OP-SEC) is not prioritized above all, it is extremely difficult (if not impossible) to achieve your financial freedom promise.

Kraken’s dedicated security team monitors this trend while attending industry meetings. Here’s what they see and what all attendees need to keep in mind:

Basic situational awareness is often ignored

While walking around the networking events and expo areas, our team kept an unmanned laptop owned by the popular Crypto protocol open and identified it as unlocked in the work settings. Similarly, they highlight many instances of mobile phones that are not registered in the table, even if the wallet notifications are ping in real time.

If you’re in crypto, your digital device isn’t just a phone or laptop. It’s a safe to do to you, your cryptographic means, and your wider employer’s operations. When you are not using the device, always keep it close and lock it.

Openly broadcast wealth and valuable transactions

One of the team members left their hotel room one night, a few miles from the meeting venue, met several attendees, discussing the valuable deals while wearing the meeting straps, including their names and companies.

Even if you don’t think everyone is listening, someone might be better. Be modest to protect yourself and those around you.

Public spaces are not safe

You should be even more cautious about cryptographic meetings to avoid blindly trusting WiFi in busy coffee shops. Public networks can easily be spoofed or compromised, and crypto events are full of very technical individuals, including those with hacking skills. To exploit unsecured connections, you only need one bad actor.

Think carefully before scanning a QR code

From giveaways to product demonstrations, it can be found everywhere in Crypto events, but each scan can be exposed to a malicious smart contract designed to drain the wallet. Bad actors use one sticker swap to risk dozens (if not hundreds) of participants in order to replace legitimate QR codes in their marketing material with fake codes.

Although we have not seen any recent reports on this in the wild, the risks remain real. A safer approach is to use burner wallets with limited funding dedicated to meeting activities. That way, if something goes wrong, your main holdings will remain protected.

Beware of who you trust and what you reveal

Not everyone on the meeting t-shirt is who they say. It’s very easy to build a cover story or register under a fake persona during the event. We recommend that you check your identity and always check it out to protect sensitive conversations or as follow-up after in-person events. If that seems too good, it is probably.

But that’s not all. Our team is keenly aware of the low risks associated with participating in the event, but equally serious risks. Always look closely at food and drinks. Tampering is rare, but it is a real threat, especially in high-stakes environments.

Similarly, compromises on devices are easier than most people can achieve. One common tactic is juice jacking, where malicious USB charging stations are used to install malware or data. Our recommendations are simple. Always use your own wall adapter and charging cable. If that means a quick trip to your hotel room, it’s a small price to pay to keep your digital assets safe.

As cryptography continues to grow and mature, our approach to security must remain uncompromising

The more visible and mainstream the industry becomes, the more attractive we are to bad actors and it is easier for self-satisfaction to undermine progress. It’s time to go back to basics. In today’s high-stakes environment, cryptography complacent is not just a personal risk, but a threat to our wider movement.

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