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Us Judge Clears $13M Blockfi Settlement Amid Investor Claims
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US Judge Clears $13M BlockFi Settlement Amid Investor Claims

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A US court has moved swiftly to clear a $13-million settlement in the BlockFi investor lawsuit, signaling long-awaited relief. In a Thursday filing, Judge Claire Cecchi of New Jersey ordered BlockFi’s insurers to deposit the funds into escrow within 30 days. The decision followed months of delay caused by objections from an investor. A final approval hearing will now take place on December 11.

This decision addresses claims made by over 89,000 BlockFi customers who had interest-bearing accounts from March 2019 to November 2022. The corporation was charged in the 2023 class-action lawsuit of marketing unregistered securities and deceiving investors by having senior officials make false representations on multiple occasions.

Investor Claims and Bankruptcy Fallout

The complaint, which was led by Trey Greene, says the CEO Zac Prince and COO Flori Marquez ignored the warnings from their risk team. They are alleged to have made loans to Alameda Research, which contributed to BlockFi’s collapse during the market crash of 2022. 

As a result, the company filed for bankruptcy after the Terra collapse set off a chain reaction of failures at Celsius, Voyager, and FTX.

Besides the settlement, BlockFi has been attempting to repay customers under its Chapter 11 plan. Last year, the company secured an $875-million agreement with FTX and Alameda to resolve disputes. 

Moreover, it has promised to complete final distributions to creditors, although significant amounts remain unclaimed. In April, the BlockFi Estate confirmed on X: “There are still significant amounts of USD and crypto that have not been claimed by customers.”

Wider Industry Crackdown

The BlockFi case comes as regulators and law enforcement tighten oversight of crypto-related misconduct. Interpol revealed this week that Operation Serengeti 2.0 dismantled 25 illegal crypto mines in Angola. The raid seized $37 million in equipment and shut down 45 illicit power stations. 

Additionally, authorities have apprehended over 1,200 cybercriminals who were targeting around 88,000 victims across the globe.

The recent BlockFi settlement shows that courts demand accountability, while regulators ramp up their initiatives to address the dangers associated with risky crypto practices.

Also Read: VanEck Files First JitoSOL Liquid Staking ETF in U.S.



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Ethena Clears XRP, HYPE for USDe backing after onboarding BNB
Crypto Trends

Ethena Clears XRP, HYPE for USDe backing after onboarding BNB

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Ethena Labs has formally approved XRP and HYPE under its new Eligible Asset Framework. The metrics-driven approach, which recently onboarded BNB, mandates stringent liquidity and depth requirements for all assets backing USDe’s futures hedges.

Summary

  • Ethena Labs approved XRP and HYPE as eligible assets to back its USDe synthetic dollar, following BNB’s onboarding.
  • Both tokens cleared strict thresholds for liquidity, open interest, and trading volume under Ethena’s new Eligible Asset Framework.

According to an announcement on August 22, Ethena Labs’ independent Risk Committee has formally approved Ripple (XRP) and Hyperliquid (HYPE) tokens as eligible assets to back its USDe synthetic dollar.

The Ethena Risk Committee have established the Eligible Asset Framework, which represents a new approach to widening approved backing assets specifically for the perpetual futures portion of the collateral backing of USDe.

As part of the new framework, BNB has been approved as… pic.twitter.com/SiT0Dt549E

— Ethena Labs (@ethena_labs) August 22, 2025

The move follows the successful onboarding of Binance Coin (BNB) and is the first application of the protocol’s newly unveiled Eligible Asset Framework. Ethena Labs said the committee’s decision was based on a cold, hard analysis of quantitative data, with both assets clearing minimum thresholds for open interest, trading volume, and market depth across major exchanges.

The data behind the decision

To vet these assets, the committee relied on a rigorous data pipeline sourced primarily from the Coinglass Open API, with a cut-off date of August 16. This data spanned major centralized exchanges, including Binance, Bybit, and OKX, which serve as Ethena’s primary hedging venues.

The approval of XRP and HYPE was not a close call based on the published metrics. Both assets convincingly surpassed every minimum threshold. Each boasts a two-week average open interest well above the $1 billion benchmark, a critical measure that ensures Ethena’s trading team can establish large short positions without moving the market.

Additionally, their spot and perpetual trading volumes consistently exceeded $100 million daily, while their market depth, including the liquidity available within 1% of the current price, proved robust enough to handle significant trades without major slippage.

The committee also found that both assets cleared the 180-day minimum open interest hurdle of $300 million, demonstrating their market maturity and resilience even through periods of volatility, Ethena Labs said.

This data-centric approach also clearly delineated which assets did not make the cut. Despite their popularity and decent volatility profiles, both Sui (SUI) and Cardano (ADA) were rejected by the committee.





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Arizona House Clears Bitcoin Reserve Bill Funded by Seized Crypto

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In brief

  • The Arizona House passed HB 2324, creating a state-run Bitcoin and digital asset reserve funded through seized crypto.
  • The bill establishes rules for the seizure, storage, and sale of digital assets obtained in criminal investigations.
  • It follows HB 2749, signed in May, which allows Arizona to hold unclaimed crypto in its native form and divert staking rewards to a state fund.

Arizona’s revived push to bring Bitcoin into state coffers is one signature away from becoming law.

The Arizona House of Representatives approved House Bill 2324 on Tuesday in a 34-22 vote, reviving a measure that failed its first final vote in May. 

The legislation creates a framework for Arizona to establish a “Bitcoin and Digital Assets Reserve Fund” that would be managed by the state treasurer and funded exclusively through digital assets seized in criminal investigations.

HB 2324 would mark Arizona’s second digital asset reserve law this year, joined only by House Bill 2749, which Governor Hobbs signed in May. 

That law changed unclaimed property regulations to allow crypto to be held in native form, with staking rewards diverted into a state crypto fund.

HB 2324 further amends Arizona’s forfeiture laws to explicitly cover digital assets, including Bitcoin, stablecoins, and other virtual currencies.

It establishes protocols for seizure, storage, and sale, with proceeds divided between law enforcement, the state general fund, and a new digital asset reserve.

The first $300,000 from any forfeited digital asset would be directed to the Attorney General’s office, with additional proceeds split between state coffers and the reserve fund.

Lawmakers revived HB 2324 last month through a series of procedural motions after it failed a final House vote on May 7. 

The Senate passed the amended measure by a narrow 16-14 margin last Thursday, clearing the way for Tuesday’s House vote.

Governor Hobbs’ record shows support for stricter oversight, but hesitation toward exposing state funds to crypto markets.

In May, Hobbs vetoed Senate Bill 1025, the Arizona Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act, which would have allowed up to 10% of state treasury and pension funds to be invested in Bitcoin. 

She also blocked Senate Bill 1373, a proposal to create a state-managed reserve for digital assets obtained through seizures or legislative appropriations, citing market instability.

At the same time, Hobbs has signed bills aimed at regulating the industry, including House Bill 2387, which imposes stricter rules on crypto ATMs to combat fraud and money laundering.

House Bill 2324 now puts another major crypto policy decision in the governor’s hands.

Edited by Sebastian Sinclair

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Crypto Trends

Athena Bitcoin Clears Way For Early Investors to Sell Shares

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In brief

  • The filing registers 473 million shares for resale by early investors, insiders, and former employees.
  • Athena said it plans to uplist to a higher OTC tier but offered no timeline or operational update.
  • The company gained early prominence for being the first to deploy Bitcoin ATMs in El Salvador.

Athena Bitcoin Global, a U.S.-based crypto ATM operator with a focus on Latin America, has filed to register hundreds of millions of shares for resale by former investors, marking a potential exit tied to earlier debt financing.

The S-1 filing appeared on the SEC archives Tuesday, detailing how Athena would register 473 million common shares for resale by more than two dozen shareholders, including early backers, company insiders, and former employees.

Many of its shares were issued following the conversion of a secured convertible debenture, a type of debt instrument that can be converted into equity at a later date.

Athena said the registration would increase its profile “as a leading company in the international operation of Bitcoin ATMs” and potentially “make it easier to attract additional equity capital,” which it needs to fund its expansion.

The operator did not immediately respond to Decrypt’s request for comment.

The move enables investors to exit their position by selling shares they acquired through a prior debt agreement. While it would provide liquidity, it may also impact shareholder value.

Athena gained prominence in 2021 when it became the first operator to deploy Bitcoin ATMs in El Salvador.



Its stock trades under the ticker ABIT on the OTC Pink Market, the lowest tier of U.S. public markets, known for minimal disclosure requirements, limited liquidity, and heightened investment risk.

Despite prior plans, Athena said it has not yet applied for an uplisting to OTCQB or OTCQX, which impose stricter disclosure requirements, per the filing.

While convertible debenture conversions are standard in distressed or early-stage financing, they may introduce selling pressure, especially in thinly traded securities like Athena’s.

To date, its daily volume has fluctuated wildly from as low as $160 to $112,280, with a 65-day average of $10,367, according to data from Yahoo Finance.  Despite the volatility, its stock has consistently traded below $0.10, closing at $0.0394 on Tuesday.

Broader headwinds and El Salvador pullbacks

In its filing, the company acknowledged broader headwinds stemming from crypto market turmoil, citing the collapse of platforms such as FTX, Celsius, and Voyager as indirect factors impacting transaction volumes. 

FTX, Celsius, and Voyager were severely impacted during the previous crypto bear market, which occurred more than two years ago.

Although Athena said it suffered no “material direct impact,” it noted that these bankruptcies led to declines in crypto prices, trading volume, and user sentiment.

The combination of these drivers “could have been a contributing factor” to the decreased volume that it experienced after the bankruptcies.

Athena gained international attention for deploying Bitcoin ATMs during El Salvador’s rollout of BTC as legal tender, though El Salvador’s broader crypto strategy has faced international scrutiny, with fiscal reforms aimed at easing pressure from the IMF despite President Bukele’s continued defiance.

Edited by Sebastian Sinclair

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Start every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.



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This Air Purifier for Large Rooms Is Now Practically Free, Amazon Clears Out 4.5-Star Top Picks
Gaming Gear

This Air Purifier for Large Rooms Is Now Practically Free, Amazon Clears Out 4.5-Star Top Picks

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The air you breathe matters more than you might think. Between pollen, pet dander, dust, and whatever’s drifting in through open windows, it’s easy for indoor air to get a little stale or even irritating. That’s where a good air purifier comes in, and if you’ve been thinking about buying one, now’s a good time to jump in. You can get a great machine that can keep all the nasties out of your air at home while cleaning large spaces at a time. Because no one wants to have to buy multiple machines, if they can help it.

Head to Amazon right now to get the Ecoself Air Purifier, which is just $55, down from its usual price of $91. That’s $36 off and a discount of 40%.

See at Amazon

An affordable and efficient way to clean your home air

This unit is built to support spaces up to 700 square feet, so it’s good for bedrooms, home offices, small living rooms, or even dorm rooms. Its three-stage filtration system clears your air quickly and includes a pre-filter, a HEPA H13 filter, and an activated carbon filter. All of those components work together to trap dust, smoke, allergens, and odors floating around in the air. If you have pets or allergies, or just want your room to smell a little fresher, this is a good way to do it. Lingering odors are obviously no fun, and breathing in allergens can give you long-term, frustrating illnesses.

This air purifier can do all that and still run completely quietly. Even on higher fan speeds, the noise level stays low enough that it won’t interrupt a phone call or disturb your sleep. It also has a touch control panel that’s easy to use, and features like a timer, sleep mode, and real-time air quality monitoring to help you keep your space feeling clean and comfortable without expending a lot of unnecessary energy.

Plus, auto mode can detect changes in your air quality and adjust fan speed accordingly, so you don’t have to constantly tweak settings. That’s helpful if you’re cooking, cleaning, or just letting some fresh air in through an open window.

You’re getting all this for less than $100. For $55 (-40%), the Ecoself is an even better value. It’s a smart buy if you want cleaner air at home without overthinking it. Deals like this don’t stick around forever, so if you’ve been considering a purifier, now’s your chance. Or maybe you can gift it to someone else who needs cleaner air.

See at Amazon



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Shaurya Malwa
NFT Gaming

Bloomberg Analysts See 90% Chance SEC Clears Most Crypto ETFs Filings

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Odds are stacked that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approves most of the filed crypto exchange-traded funds, including the various XRP ETFs, by their respective deadlines, according to Bloomberg Analysts James Seyffart and Eric Balchunas.

“We are raising our odds for the vast majority of the spot crypto ETF filings to 90% or higher,” Bloomberg Intelligence’s James Seyffart said in a post on X. “Engagement from the SEC is a very positive sign in our opinion.”

According to the analysts, ETFs for assets like Litecoin, Solana, XRP, Dogecoin, and Cardano all now sit at or above the 90% mark.

(Bloomberg)

These estimates reflect growing optimism from ETF specialists following a wave of 19b-4 acknowledgements and S-1 amendment requests from the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Analysts view this back-and-forth process as a signal that the SEC is now more willing to work with issuers.

The only asset lagging behind is SUI, filed solely by Canary. Bloomberg assigns it a 60% chance of approval, citing a lack of regulated futures and regulatory uncertainty.

Bettors on Polymarket are also feeling optimistic.

(Polymarket)

They are giving a 98% chance that an XRP ETF gets approved this year, and a 91% chance a SOL ETF gets the green light. It’s also likely that a DOGE ETF gets a go-ahead, with bettors giving that a 71% chance of happening.



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Best Buy Clears Out Samsung 10,000mAh Power Bank at 50% Off, Bringing It Close to a Near-Free Price
Product Reviews

Best Buy Clears Out Samsung 10,000mAh Power Bank at 50% Off, Bringing It Close to a Near-Free Price

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Listen here, folks. This 10,000mAh Samsung power bank is down nearly 50% for a limited time. That brings the price to just $23 (down from $45). It’s equipped with two USB-C ports along with wireless charging panel. This means you can charge up three devices at once. Plug in your laptop and your phone while you’re smartwatch is recharging as well. And it’s is compact so it can store easily in a backpack or messenger bag.

See at Best Buy

10,000mAh is the total energy this power bank holds. To put that in more grounded terms, It can charge an iPhone 15 two times from zero percent to a hundred before running out. Similarly, it’s got just shy of two charges of a Galaxy S24 in it. It’s fast too, capable of charging your phone, laptop, or other devices at speeds of up to 25W.

The Nintendo Switch 2 just released and while reception has been positive, battery life on that thing leaves a little to be desired. Playing the new Mario Kart World in handheld will drain your battery from 100% to nothing in just over two hours. A power bank can extend the life of your console while on the go tremendously. It’s a great idea to keep one with you in your backpack.

The Main Use Case for a Power Bank

Don’t be like me. Recently I went on a trip to Spain. I was coming from New York and the flight was about seven hours or so, plus an hour connecting flight to our final destination. I used to have a good power bank, but I lent it to a friend and never got it back. I considered picking up a new one before the trip, but figured, “Ahh, I probably don’t need it. All planes these day have outlets and charging ports at your seat.”

Well, when I got there, the only port was a USB A. I went to pull out a charging cable and low and behold, it was USB C-to-C. All of my devices I had with me were USB C or my iPhone which again, the only cable I had was USB C-to-Lightning. Stranded in my aisle seat with a Nintendo Switch I forgot to charge and a laptop loaded with movies and shows with only about a half hour of use left. This flight sucked.

Don’t do what I did. Grab this travel-friendly Samsung power bank on sale for $23 and save $22. That’s a discount of almost 50%.



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Meta Clears Out Stock of Ray-Ban Smart Glasses, Amazon Drops Them to an All-Time New Low
Product Reviews

Meta Clears Out Stock of Ray-Ban Smart Glasses, Amazon Drops Them to an All-Time New Low

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For the very first time since the day they were launched, the Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses are at an all-time low discount on Amazon, which makes it the ideal moment to acquire one of the most revolutionary wearable technologies available.

The Ray-Ban Meta Glasses Skyler and Wayfarer models are now on sale at record-low prices: the Skyler model is available for $303, down from its initial $379, and the Wayfarer model has been discounted to $239, down from $299.

See Ray-Ban Meta Glasses Skyler at Amazon

See Ray-Ban Meta Glasses Wayfarer at Amazon

Why Are They Unique?

What makes the Meta Ray-Ban glasses truly unique is how they effortlessly combine advanced technology with traditional eyewear design: They are already considered the top smart glasses on the market today, owing to their blend of style, comfort, and innovative features that make them a hit with a wide range of users. These glasses are meant to slip easily into your life.

At the core of the Ray-Ban Meta Glasses lies the ability to shoot life from your perspective: The newly designed ultra-wide 12 MP camera enables you to shoot high-quality photos and videos with the voice command or the discreet button tap. The five-mic array delivers clear audio whether recording a video, taking a hands-free call, or communicating with Meta AI. You can even livestream directly to Facebook and Instagram, and take your friends and followers along in the moment.

Most impressive is the addition of Meta AI which makes these spectacles a wearable personal assistant: Activated, Meta AI can scan your surroundings and make contextually appropriate suggestions to help you stay on top of things and in the loop during the day. Of special mention is the live translation feature supporting real-time translations between French, Italian, Spanish, and English without relying on Wi-Fi.

Style and comfort are not overlooked: Both the Skyler and Wayfarer models bear the traditional Ray-Ban style so you’ll be looking good when you wear them. The frames are light for wearing all day, and the lenses are available in a variety of options to correct your eyesight. The spectacles are also built to be durable so you can wear them wherever you go.

Their current all-time low prices on Amazon make this the perfect time to upgrade your eyewear. Keep in mind that they’re actually for everybody with features that will enhance both productivity and pleasure in everyday life.

See Ray-Ban Meta Glasses Skyler at Amazon

See Ray-Ban Meta Glasses Wayfarer at Amazon



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CLARITY Act Clears Two House Committees, Heads to House Floor for Vote

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In brief

  • The House Financial Services Committee has advanced the CLARITY Act in a 32-19 vote.
  • The House Agriculture Committee also passed the bill 47-6 on Tuesday.
  • If passed in Congress, the Act would establish new crypto oversight framework, favoring the CFTC.

The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, a bill aiming to reshape crypto regulation in the U.S., has passed through two key House committees and is now headed for a full floor vote. 

The House Committee on Financial Services voted 32-19 on Wednesday to advance H.R. 3633, following a bipartisan 47-6 vote in the House Agriculture Committee, which also oversees commodity markets and digital assets, on Tuesday.

“Blockchain technology and digital assets are reshaping the future of American finance,” House Financial Services Chair French Hill (R-AR) said in a statement. “Congress has a historic opportunity to provide the clear regulatory framework needed to unlock this innovation.”

The dual approvals mark a significant milestone for the legislation, which needed to pass both committees before reaching the full House. The bill’s two marked-up versions will now be consolidated into one text for floor consideration.

If passed, the CLARITY Act would formalize the removal of oversight powers from the Securities and Exchange Commission and establish the more hands-off Commodity Futures Trading Commission as the primary regulator for most digital assets. 

Crypto issuers could still opt into SEC registration if they seek to sell directly to institutional investors.

“Today marks a historic moment for the digital asset industry,” Ji Kim, President and acting CEO of the Crypto Council for Innovation, said in a separate statement.

“The House Financial Services and Agriculture Committees both advanced the CLARITY Act—a major step toward clear crypto rules that define SEC and CFTC roles, protect self-custody, and safeguard consumers,” Kim added.



Even still, critics warn the measure could reduce financial safeguards and open regulatory loopholes.

Despite some bipartisan momentum, the bill faced heavy criticism from Democrats during Tuesday’s Financial Services Committee markup. Some argued the bill paves the way for corruption and pointed to former President Donald Trump’s crypto ventures as a concern.

Others, including pro-crypto Rep. Sam Liccardo (D-CA), questioned its allowing loopholes that could see companies call themselves decentralized finance projects to evade regulation.

Republicans defended the bill, emphasizing that regulatory status would be based on a platform’s function, not its label. They voted down numerous Democratic amendments, including provisions barring presidential crypto ventures and taxpayer-funded bailouts for token issuers.

“This bill is not about the personal finances of any one individual,” Hill said. “It’s not an ethics bill.”

Edited by Sebastian Sinclair

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This Anker Portable Power Station Hits Its Lowest Price as Amazon Clears Out Stock Early in June
Gaming Gear

This Anker Portable Power Station Hits Its Lowest Price as Amazon Clears Out Stock Early in June

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There’s nothing quite like heading into the great outdoors or prepping for a camping trip, until your devices run out of juice. You need to keep your phone charged for navigation or power a lantern at night. or just having peace of mind during a power outage, portable energy solutions have become a must-have. That’s where the Anker Portable Outdoor Generator comes in. No matter where you go, even when you’re off-grid, you can have access to power to keep you juiced up and ready for whatever’s on the agenda and then some.

See at Amazon

You can check out Amazon right now to get the Anker Portable Outdoor Generator for just $90, down from its usual price of $150. That’s $60 off and a discount of 40%.

Portable and affordable power for every situation

This isn’t your average power bank. It’s designed for people who want something more rugged, more capable, and more flexible than a typical battery pack. It offers just enough power to make a real difference when you’re off-grid but doesn’t come with the bulk or cost of a full-size power station.

The PowerCore Reserve features a 192Wh capacity (roughly 60,000mAh), which means you can charge your phone multiple times, power small appliances, or keep lights running for extended periods. If you’ve ever been out on a hike and returned to a dead phone or lost power during a storm, you know how much a little backup can matter.

It’s all kitted out with everything you need so you can get everything charged, too, like USB-C ports (60W and 27W) along with two USB-A ports. There’s also a retractable LED light built in that has multiple brightness levels and an emergency SOS function.

You can even use this power station with a solar panel if you have one with the right voltage. Y ou can plug it in and use solar power to recharge the generator. That’s a huge bonus if you don’t have an alternative energy source or just want to run clean energy to power everything you have up.

If you’ve been on the fence about getting a power solution for your outdoor adventures or household preparedness kit, this Anker option strikes the perfect balance between affordability and functionality, and right now, the price makes it even easier to justify. Saving 40% makes it an even more palatable buy, and you likely won’t see these kinds of savings for the foreseeable future, so might as well lock in.

See at Amazon



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