In January 2025, French authorities released Ledger co-founder David Balland after kidnappers allegedly demanded a significant cryptocurrency ransom, highlighting how digital assets can fuel coercive, real-world crimes. Wrench attacks, where criminals use threats or violence to force victims to unlock wallets or authorize transfers, appear to be rising alongside total crypto market capitalization and the growth of visible on-chain wealth. Public-facing founders, influencers and OTC or P2P traders in regions such as Western Europe and parts of Asia-Pacific are described as especially exposed, prompting calls to reduce personal visibility, limit instantly accessible balances and treat data leaks and support impersonation as part of the same threat landscape.

Indian security officials said on Sunday that a sophisticated "crypto hawala" network is allegedly channeling funds to support terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. The operation reportedly uses mule bank accounts, private crypto wallets and unregulated P2P traders, while foreign handlers from multiple countries rely on VPNs and avoid KYC checks. Authorities warn the scheme bypasses India's FIU registration rules for Virtual Digital Asset Service Providers and could strengthen separatist elements in the region.

Security experts warn that "Evil Twin" public Wi-Fi clones can intercept credentials and expose crypto accounts. Last year, Australian Federal Police charged a man over fake airport Wi-Fi, and in January an X user reported a wallet drain after hotel Wi-Fi. Experts advise avoiding sensitive actions, using trusted VPNs, and confirming networks with venue staff.

X reported record creator payouts at the end of 2025 under its "Year of the Creator" plan, centered on written content and higher revenue sharing. The platform will grant a $1 million reward to the single highest-earning U.S. article published between January 16 and 28, requiring at least 1,000 words of original writing. Elon Musk positioned this as a strategic push to boost high-impact creator work, though observers note ongoing questions about the long-term sustainability of such incentives.

Industry security leaders warn that close to 80% of crypto projects hit by major exploits fail to regain stability, with the outcome hinging on how teams act in the first hours. Immunefi CEO Mitchell Amador and Kerberus' Alex Katz argue that operational breakdowns and trust erosion, not just stolen funds, drive long-term damage. In 2025, reported hack-related losses reached $3.4 billion, and a single Bybit incident accounted for $1.4 billion.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has withdrawn support for the Crypto Markets Structure Act, prompting a public split among U.S. crypto executives over regulatory strategy. Senate Banking Committee Chair Tim Scott postponed a markup and seeks to address concerns before month's end, while industry figures urge negotiations to resolve issues around stablecoin yields and DeFi.

Roscosmos chief Dmitry Bakanov said the agency will begin serial production of 'Zorkiy' satellites in 2026, with more than 300 expected to form the low‑Earth‑orbit Rassvet constellation by 2027. The spacecraft are intended for digital mapping and connectivity in remote areas, and a later Roscosmos post clarified Zorky‑2M is an Earth observation platform rather than a Starlink analogue.

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said on X that White House negotiations over a U.S. crypto market structure bill remain "super constructive" and that officials asked the exchange to explore a deal with banks. Earlier this week, journalist Eleanor Terrett reported the administration could pull support after Coinbase paused talks, a claim Armstrong disputed while emphasizing work on ideas for community banks.