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Texas Sheriffs Crack Bitcoin ATM With Power Tools to Retrieve $32,000

by admin June 21, 2025

In brief

Texas sheriffs used power tools this week in retrieving $32,000 from a Bitcoin ATM.
Images show stacks of hundred dollar bills, evidence bags, and a gas station on a rural road.
Americans over 60 years old reported $107 million in Bitcoin ATM-related losses, according to an annual FBI report.

Texas sheriffs used power tools this week in retrieving $32,000 from a Bitcoin ATM after a Jasper County family said they were scammed out of funds, according to local law enforcement.

The family said it had lost $25,000 to the fraudsters.

An image shared by the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook shows sparks flying as an official uses what appears to be a circular saw to crack into a Bitcoin Depot kiosk. Other images show stacks of hundred dollar bills, evidence bags, and a gas station on a rural road.

Jasper County Sheriff Chuck Havard told Decrypt that he’s “quite certain our boys have gotten into them before” but declined to comment on whether it was the first time that authorities had used force to retrieve funds from machines that are frequently used by scammers.

“Do not give any personal information out to anybody that claims to be a law enforcement agency or a government entity, unless you verify the validity of that,” Havard said.

Crypto ATMs allow people to convert cash into Bitcoin, and in 2024, Americans over 60 years old reported $107 million in Bitcoin ATM-related losses, according to an annual FBI report. Criminals often impersonate tech support workers or government employees, the FBI found.

“When thieves, low-lifes and scammers attempt to take advantage of the citizens of Jasper County, we will work swiftly and utilize every resource at our disposal to protect our citizens and their property at all costs,” the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office said in the post.

Bitcoin Depot says that over a dozen compliance personnel, alongside “robust transaction monitoring systems,” as well as know-your-customer and anti-money-laundering programs, according to a shareholder presentation published earlier this year. The firm says it has facilitated $3 billion worth of transactions across 8,400 kiosks in North America.

“I’ve only ever seen a few people use it,” a worker at the gas station where the Bitcoin ATM is located, who asked not to be named, told Decrypt, adding that it’s been there for at least a year, well before the business’s current owner took over the store.

A Bitcoin Depot spokesperson told Decrypt that the firm “regularly collaborates with investigators to clarify when recovery may be possible,” adding that “such efforts typically involve the receiving wallet provider or exchange, not the kiosk itself.”

“We actively support and educate law enforcement agencies, particularly those less familiar with cryptocurrencies.”

One commentator on the sheriff office’s post commended authorities for “taking care of business,” while another lamented that “the owner of the bitcoin ATM is out the money and a damaged machine.”

Although some progressive lawmakers have called for greater restrictions on people’s ability to use ATMs, some conservatives have proposed putting them within federal buildings.

Local authorities said on Facebook that they received a search warrant before finding inside what appeared to be the victim’s money. In total, authorities said they retrieved $31,900, and while they have the victim’s cash, they are still trying to locate the scammers online.

Edited by James Rubin

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June 21, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

The unsung hero of my gaming PC setup: My $30 Power Tower of Destiny extension plug outlet

by admin June 20, 2025

I love that I’m so happy and hyped over a purchase as mundane as a plug extension outlet, but it’s sorted so many issues in my recent office move that I just love it. The fact that it solved so many problems and was so reasonably priced has just added to the feel-good factor. I wish all my tech purchases had the same effect.

In an increasingly digital world, the need for accessible power and charging solutions has never been greater. My latest purchase, a tower extension plug outlet with integrated USB ports, has proven to be an unexpectedly indispensable addition to my workspace. It’s more than just a power strip; it’s a central hub that has transformed the way I manage my devices and decluttered my desk. It already has a new nickname as the Power Tower of Destiny.

How many times have we risked a small meltdown by overloading sockets with multiple extensions or daisy-chaining them together to have enough power outlets available for our setup? Well, no longer, but I’d love to know what solutions or devices you use to facilitate all your tech power needs, so please feel free to leave pictures and information in the comments so I can take a look or possibly gain some insight and inspiration into other options.

Abundant Power and Charging Options

The sheer number of outlets and USB ports offered by this device is truly impressive. With 12 AC outlets and 4 USB ports, I can easily power my PC, monitor, laptop, speakers, and DAC without needing multiple wall adapters, and one of my biggest problems was access to only a single outlet in this room. The integrated USB-A and USB-C ports are a bonus game-changer, allowing me to directly charge my smartphone, wireless headphones, and other gadgets without the need for bulky charging bricks or separate adapters. This convenience means a far more streamlined charging routine at home.

Eliminating Cable Clutter

One of the most immediate and satisfying benefits of this tower outlet is its ability to significantly reduce cable clutter. Instead of a tangled mess of cords snaking across my floor and desk, the tower design centralizes all connections in one vertical unit. This not only looks tidier but also makes it far easier to identify and manage individual cables. The vertical orientation means it takes up minimal desk space, a valuable asset in my office setup, as I don’t have that much room. I’m using the tower outlet on an electric standing desk, so I bought a tower with a long cable for just a single run from the desk to the socket. Now there are no issues with the cable lengths of my devices when raising or lowering my desk.

Enhanced Safety Features

Beyond convenience, the safety features integrated into this tower outlet provide peace of mind. This model includes surge protection, safeguarding valuable electronics from power fluctuations. Overload protection and fire-resistant material construction, which is soothing to know when you can plug up to 12 devices into it. The tower is rated for up to 3,250W, which is the max capacity of the power draw of the (230/240V UK) socket. This focus on safety is crucial, especially when powering multiple expensive devices simultaneously. I don’t want any sockets glowing cherry-red and the sudden smell of burning sulphur.

Portability and Versatility

Despite its robust capabilities, the tower extension is surprisingly portable. Its compact design makes it easy to have stationed on my desk or move between rooms. Its versatility extends beyond the desk; it’s equally useful in a living room for entertainment systems, in a bedroom for bedside charging, or even in a workshop for powering various tools.

In conclusion, what might seem like a simple accessory has become an essential component of my daily life. My tower extension plug outlet with USB ports is a testament to how thoughtful design can address common frustrations and significantly enhance productivity and organization. It’s a small investment that delivers immense convenience, safety, and a welcome reprieve from the perpetual struggle against cable chaos.

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June 20, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

Oblivion’s dungeons suck, Skyblivion is making them better: ‘That’s where the power of a proper remake comes from’

by admin June 20, 2025

If there’s one thing I’ve learnt in my hours with Oblivion Remastered, it’s that Oblivion’s dungeons kind of suck. They’re labyrinthine, exist as one of three types, and when you get to the end of them your grand prize often turns out to be, like, 5 gold and a journeyman retort. And then you have to retrace your steps to get back out.

Bethesda didn’t really crack its dungeon formula until Skyrim, where you could at least be relatively sure you had some kind of prize awaiting you at the end of a long session of hackin’ and slashin’: an enchanted weapon, a new word for a shout, that kind of thing.

When I sat down with Skyblivion lead dev Rebelzize for a chat about the upcoming Oblivion-in-Skyrim remake, it sounded like back-porting that dungeon philosophy to Cyrodiil was gonna be a key goal of the mod project.

“I think for a lot of people that play Oblivion now, it will be frustrating at times,” said Rebel, “there’s just old game design that doesn’t really translate anymore, and some of that is still present in the remaster from Bethesda themselves, because they’ve not remade it, which is a key difference [from Skyblivion], which is good for us.”

It’s a neat point of divergence between Skyblivion’s fan-made remake of Oblivion and Bethesda’s remaster, which went out of its way to retain all the strange foibles that made the OG game what it is. “We still have something to offer in that we have more or less redesigned every aspect of the game,” says Rebel.

(Image credit: Bethesda, TESRenewal)

“The easiest example is something that was introduced in Skyrim… once you’re at the boss chamber, the final area, you get a loop back to where you started.” In original Oblivion and the remaster, by contrast, “most of the time there’s nothing at the end. There’s no boss or loot or anything to make that delve rewarding. Then once you’ve done that very unrewarding delve, you have to backtrack all the way.”

Not so in Skyblivion. “That’s something I’ve been trying to really hammer on with everyone in the teams, that we make the dungeons fun. And if a dungeon serves no other purpose than to just distract someone from what they’re doing, then it can’t just be a bear den—you know, with a really big black bear—at the end.”

This is pretty exciting to hear, at least for me. While Oblivion Remastered is very much the Oblivion you remember from 2006 in a lush new wrapper, it sounds like the Skyblivion team is deliberately, consciously pushing things into ‘remake’ territory, and they’re not scared to slaughter some of the OG’s sacred cows if they think it’ll make for a better game. “Oblivion is one of those games that look really good from a distance, because it has those really lush forests, but once you’re in a forest there’s usually nothing between city A and city B.”

The possibility of scattering in new details, new design philosophies, new stuff is, says Rebel, “Where the power of a proper remake comes from, and where I hope we will have some relevance and staying power within internet culture and the Elder Scrolls fandom.”

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June 20, 2025 0 comments

Esports

MLB Power Rankings Week 12: Can anyone unseat Tigers at No. 1?

by admin June 19, 2025

Jun 19, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

With a third week in a row atop our list, the Tigers become the team with the most consecutive weeks at No. 1 so far in our 2025 power rankings, passing the Dodgers, who have spent two consecutive weeks in the top spot twice this season.

Week 12 also saw a number of clubs continuing their rise up our rankings, including the Astros and Rays each moving up one spot, to eighth and ninth respectively, as well as the Brewers and Reds each rising three places.

The mid-June blockbuster trade of Rafael Devers from the Red Sox to the Giants didn’t affect either team’s outcome this week, with San Francisco at No. 7 for a second straight week and Boston going from 20th to 17th.

Our expert panel has ranked every team based on a combination of what we’ve seen so far and what we already knew going into the 162-game marathon that is a full baseball season. We also asked ESPN MLB experts Buster Olney, Jorge Castillo and Bradford Doolittle to weigh in with an observation for all 30 teams.

Week 11 | Preseason rankings

Record: 47-27
Previous ranking: 1

The Tigers’ poorest-performing position this season has been shortstop, the spot Detroit thought it solidified when it signed Javier Baez. Rather than becoming an obvious trade deadline need, the Tigers seem to have found an in-house solution: Baez. The return of center fielder Parker Meadows on June 2 allowed manager AJ Hinch the luxury of relocating Baez’s resurgent bat to his old position, which he had not started at since April 18. Good idea: Baez has a 1.017 OPS this season when playing at his old stomping grounds. — Doolittle

Record: 46-29
Previous ranking: 4

Underneath the shadow of the future Hall of Famers at the top of the Dodgers’ lineup, Andy Pages is emerging as one of the best young run producers in the sport. Manager Dave Roberts believes that Pages has greatly benefited from the mentorship of Teoscar Hernandez, who fosters a focus on driving in runs. Pages, said Roberts, “hunts RBI.” The 24-year-old is on pace to finish the year with 32 homers and drive in 106 runs; in his past 50 games, he’s batting over .330, with a slugging percentage close to .600. — Olney

Record: 45-29
Previous ranking: 2

The Mets’ rotation has been baseball’s best, but it’s entering a period of flux. Kodai Senga, having a Cy Young-caliber campaign, hit the shelf with a Grade 1 hamstring strain, and Tylor Megill is out for longer than Senga with an elbow sprain. Meanwhile, Sean Manaea, who is on a rehab assignment for Triple-A Syracuse, and Frankie Montas, who has yet to make his Mets debut because of a lat strain, should return soon. Montas is also on rehab, but over six outings has an ERA that looks like half a football score (12.05). What will this unit look like a month from now? — Doolittle

Record: 45-28
Previous ranking: 5

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

What has really caught the attention of rival evaluators is how versatile Chicago is in how it dominates.

With Pete Crow-Armstrong leading the way, the Cubs have six players on pace to hit 20 or more homers this year. They field three players who could reach 30 bases, and they rank second in the majors in defensive runs saved. “That’s a team that could win the World Series,” an executive from another team told ESPN recently. — Olney

Record: 42-31
Previous ranking: 3

Aaron Judge is human after all. The two-time AL MVP — and near lock for another one this year — is 1-for-19 with 11 strikeouts and two intentional walks over the last five games to interrupt a historically unmatched start to the season and drop his batting average from .394 to .366. If he needed more evidence he’s again the MVP front-runner (he doesn’t), New York’s offense, which led the majors in wRC+ and OPS through last Thursday, crashed during his rut. The Yankees scored four runs in those five games and were shut out in three consecutive games for the seventh time in franchise history. The 29-inning skid was their longest since September 2016. The Yankees go as Judge goes. — Castillo

Record: 44-30
Previous ranking: 6

Nick Castellanos’ streak of 236 games started came to an abrupt halt Tuesday when Phillies manager Rob Thomson benched him for an “inappropriate comment” after Castellanos was removed from Monday’s game for defensive purposes. Truth is, he has little objective leverage working on his behalf. As tricky as public-facing defensive metrics can be in small sample sizes, they are convincing when it comes to Castellanos — and the sample is huge. Over 13 seasons at different positions, he’s minus-136 defensive runs saved, per Baseball Reference, and he has never broken even in any season, regardless of sample size. — Doolittle

Record: 41-33
Previous ranking: 7

In the first hours after Giants players learned that the team had traded for Rafael Devers, who is generally regarded as one of the better hitters in the game, they were careful to be respectful to the two big leaguers swapped to Boston in the deal, pitchers Kyle Harrison and Jordan Hicks. But it was easy to see in their faces how excited they are about the addition of Devers, who gives the Giants their best pure hitter since Buster Posey, the guy responsible for making the deal in his first season as San Francisco’s president of baseball operations . — Olney

Record: 43-31
Previous ranking: 9

The blows keep on coming for the Astros, but they keep on winning. The latest setback was Lance McCullers landing on the injured list when he sprained his right foot working out over the weekend. He’s the fourth Astros starter placed on the IL this season, including Yordan Alvarez, who remains out with a fractured hand. But the Astros continued to charge forward nonetheless, winning seven of eight games and 11 of their past 15 to take a commanding lead in the AL West. Hunter Brown (1.88 ERA in 14 starts), Josh Hader (1.45 ERA in 29 games) and Jeremy Pena (3.6 fWAR and 143 wRC+) have starred for a franchise that just won’t stop winning. — Castillo

Record: 41-33
Previous ranking: 10

Passan’s early MLB trade deadline preview

As trade season starts up, here are the biggest names who could move — and the teams that could deal for them.
Jeff Passan »

Here’s a fact not on most people’s bingo cards in 2025: The Rays, the organization once at the forefront of the opener craze, lead the majors in starter innings pitched. That’s despite not having ace Shane McClanahan throw a single pitch this season. Instead, right-handers Drew Rasmussen and Ryan Pepiot are leading the way. Rasmussen has a 2.55 ERA in 14 starts. Pepiot has a 3.11 ERA in 15 outings. Further illustrating Tampa Bay’s consistency in the rotation, Rasmussen, Pepiot, Zack Littell, Taj Bradley and Shane Baz have started 72 of the team’s 73 games this season. Joe Boyle got the other start. The formula is working, with the Rays surging to within 1½ games of the first-place Yankees in the AL East. — Castillo

Record: 39-34
Previous ranking: 8

Manny Machado is a big-stage performer, and the Padres have a couple of high-end starting pitchers. But in the eyes of some rival executives, the best part of the team is its bullpen. “That’s the group that got them as far as they got last year,” one club official said.

Moving forward, evaluators from other teams are very curious as to whether the Padres’ key relievers can continue to sustain the high volume of work. Jason Adam is tied for most appearances in the big leagues; Jeremiah Estrada was tied for the fifth-most outings; and Adrian Morejon was tied for 10th most. — Olney

Record: 39-35
Previous ranking: 14

In this era when relievers are absorbing more and more innings, Abner Uribe has emerged among the best setup men, with the sort of stuff that makes you wonder how anyone can hit him. Uribe is averaging 11.53 strikeouts per nine innings, but he also has generated an exceptional ground ball-fly ball rate of 2-to-1. Closer Trevor Megill, Nick Mears and Uribe have been the collective backbone for the Brewers’ bullpen this season. — Olney

Record: 40-33
Previous ranking: 13

Max Scherzer completed his second and maybe final rehab start Wednesday and looked ready for the big leagues. Pitching for Triple-A Buffalo, the 40-year-old right-hander held Worcester to one hit and two walks with eight strikeouts over 4⅓ innings. He threw 75 pitches, the target number in preparation for possibly coming off the IL next. Scherzer landed on the IL with right thumb inflammation after logging just three innings in his season debut March 29. The Blue Jays have remained in the postseason picture without him, but the rotation, which ranks 26th in ERA, could use a healthy and effective Scherzer, who signed a one-year, $15.5 million contract in February. — Castillo

Record: 39-35
Previous ranking: 16

The history of manager Terry Francona’s teams, generally, is that they will get better over the course of the season, and Cincinnati has proved that anecdote to be true. The Reds have won 19 of their past 30 games, and they’ve got a run differential of plus-44 for the season. The surge coincides with the play of Elly De La Cruz, who is batting .333 with 15 runs and 10 RBIs in 15 games. Somebody get De La Cruz to the Home Run Derby. — Olney

Record: 37-36
Previous ranking: 15

ESPN ‘Sunday Night Baseball’

Catch the biggest names and the best teams in baseball on ESPN all season long.

Sunday, 7 p.m. ET: Mets-Phillies

Logan Gilbert was activated from the IL on Monday and looked sharp in his return from a right elbow flexor strain. The 2024 All-Star held the Red Sox to two runs with 10 strikeouts in his first start since April 25. Gilbert has a 2.55 ERA in seven outings this season. His strikeout rate has soared from 27.4% last season to 39.7% in this year’s small sample size. If he stays healthy, he’s a significant boost for a club that lost eight of nine games earlier this month and fell behind the Astros in the AL West. — Castillo

Record: 36-37
Previous ranking: 19

It’ll be interesting to see how deep Arizona delves into the free agent pitching market, since its recent forays there have been an abject disaster: Madison Bumgarner (five years, $85 million), Jordan Montgomery (two years, $47.5 million), Eduardo Rodriguez (four years, $80 million) and Corbin Burnes (six years, $210 million). Bumgarner was cut in the fourth year of his deal; Montgomery was terrible last year and had elbow surgery this year; Rodriguez has a 6.27 ERA in 2025; and Burnes is out for the season after Tommy John surgery. — Olney

Record: 38-35
Previous ranking: 12

When executives near the end of their contracts, the usual expectation is that those officials will make a big push at the deadline to give their respective teams the best possible chance to win — and maybe make a case for an extension. The read of St. Louis by other teams, conversely, is that the Cardinals won’t consider being aggressive at the trade deadline out of the desire for a more palatable finish for John Mozeliak, who is in his last year as the team’s head of baseball operations. — Olney

Record: 39-37
Previous ranking: 20

The decision to trade Rafael Devers might haunt the Red Sox for a long time. At the moment, questions still abound: Why now? Why for that package? Was there a mandate from ownership to unload the entirety of Devers’ contract? Lost in the outrage is another question: How is Boston going to replace Devers? Unearthing Devers’ production elsewhere is far-fetched.

As for the DH spot Devers left behind, the Red Sox will at least temporarily cycle various players. They used Kristian Campbell, Rob Refsnyder and Romy Gonzalez in the first three games of the post-Devers era. A more permanent solution could soon be Masataka Yoshida, who has been on the IL all season after undergoing shoulder surgery in October. — Castillo

Record: 36-37
Previous ranking: 11

It’s hard to believe, but, at 31 years old, Byron Buxton has played more than 102 games only once since reaching the majors in 2015. This season, he has been mostly healthy (now would be the time to knock on wood, Twins fans) and is playing as well as he ever has. Buxton has a career-best OBP, and, once on base, he’s 12-for-12 in stolen bases while scoring 41% of the time, tied for third best in the AL. His power numbers are good, and, according to BaseballMusings.com, he leads the AL in RBI percentage among qualifying batters. — Doolittle

Record: 36-38
Previous ranking: 22

The Rangers put up 16 runs twice in three games last week, giving fans hope that the team’s perplexing offensive struggles were in the past. But they have otherwise continued. Besides those two games, Texas has been held to five or fewer runs in its 12 games since June 1. Turns out the hitting coach wasn’t the problem. And yet the ineptitude has not cost the Rangers much lately; they’ve won seven of 10 games to squeeze back into the wild-card picture. — Castillo

Record: 37-35
Previous ranking: 18

MLB ballpark model of the future

The Battery Atlanta is an enticing blueprint for teams. But creating an entire neighborhood is a hard act to follow. Bradford Doolittle »

At 32 years old, Jose Ramirez is as good as ever and is a solid bet to land an eighth top-10 MVP finish of his eventual Hall of Fame career. He has been at it so long now that, at this point, he’s moving way up the list on a number of Cleveland franchise leaderboards. He should pass Tris Speaker for second in total bases in the next month, leaving only Earl Averill ahead of him. Ramirez also has a great shot at passing Hal Trosky, Nap Lajoie and Jim Thome this season to move in behind Averill in RBIs. Just an amazing career. — Doolittle

Record: 33-39
Previous ranking: 21

Matt Olson has probably been the Braves’ best position player this season, but that might say more about Ronald Acuna Jr.’s late start to the season and the club’s underachieving offense than about Olson. The lefty masher racked up 54 homers and 139 RBIs in 2023, but this season’s .251/.354/.479 showing is a dead ringer for his numbers in 2022 and 2024. In other words, 2023 looks like an outlier year, not a new, elite career level. Olson is a fine player as is, but this season’s Braves sure could use the 54-homer version of him. — Doolittle

Record: 36-38
Previous ranking: 17

The Royals’ clutch-hitting-based offense of 2024 has devolved into the AL’s lowest-scoring attack in 2025. The bats were particularly miserable during a 3-10 start to June, when Kansas City scored three or fewer runs eight times, losing all eight of those games. Injuries dinged the pitching staff, affecting the run prevention, and the bats have not picked up the slack. Even Bobby Witt Jr. has struggled. Over his first 12 games this month, Witt hit .234 with a .677 OPS. As the offense flailed, the Royals’ postseason odds dwindled to the point that the club’s trade deadline direction is no longer fixed. — Doolittle

Record: 36-37
Previous ranking: 24

The Angels’ aggressive handling of top prospects continued last week when they called up second baseman Christian Moore, their first-round pick from Tennessee last June. Moore is the third straight first-round pick the Angels fast-tracked to the majors within the first half of their first full professional season, joining shortstop Zach Neto and first baseman Nolan Schanuel. A Yankees fan from Brooklyn, Moore went hitless in his first two starts before lining a triple past a diving Aaron Judge at Yankee Stadium on Monday for his first career hit. — Castillo

Record: 31-42
Previous ranking: 25

Boston’s AL East rivals were surely pleased to see Rafael Devers shipped off to San Francisco, but perhaps nobody was happier than the Orioles’ Ryan O’Hearn. With Devers in the NL, O’Hearn moved to first place among AL designated hitters in All-Star fan voting. The slugger is deserving of the honor. In a lineup featuring Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman, O’Hearn has been the club’s best hitter with a .302 batting average, 10 home runs and an OPS of .869 in 61 games. Astonishingly, he could end up being Baltimore’s lone representative. — Castillo

Record: 30-44
Previous ranking: 23

Top 10 prospect lists for every MLB team

Who is rising and falling in every major league farm system? Kiley McDaniel digs in.
Updated top rankings for all 30 teams »

Welcome to The Show, Brady House. The Nationals’ first pick (No. 11) from the 2021 draft made his MLB debut last week against Colorado. He collected his first two hits and first RBI in his second game (also against the Rockies). When Dylan Crews returns from the IL, he will join House, CJ Abrams and Robert Hassell III on an active roster with four top-11 picks taken since 2019 — and that doesn’t include budding star James Wood, a second-round pick in 2021. The Nationals are flailing on the field lately, but their talent level keeps rising. — Doolittle

Record: 29-45
Previous ranking: 26

David Bednar has had some ups and downs in his time as the Pirates’ closer, but with the trade deadline 42 days away, he is drawing the attention of some rival evaluators with his recent performances. Pitching for a team that isn’t going to provide many save chances, Bednar has six walks and 34 strikeouts in 24 innings. Left-handed hitters have an OPS of just .548 against Bednar, and he has given up only one extra-base hit (a double) in 41 at-bats. — Olney

Record: 30-46
Previous ranking: 28

The Athletics have been a better club on the road than at Sutter Health Park, their temporary, minor league digs, and nobody embodies the contrast more than Luis Severino. The veteran right-hander has a 6.79 ERA in 10 home starts and a 0.93 ERA in six road outings. Combine the outputs and you get a 4.42 ERA — not what the Athletics envisioned when they gave Severino the largest guaranteed contract in franchise history. If only he could pitch anywhere but West Sacramento. — Castillo

Record: 29-43
Previous ranking: 27

If you created a Sandy Alcantara trade barometer, the arrow would be pointing upward, meaning things are looking up. After bottoming out at an 8.47 ERA at the end of May, Alcantara has displayed sharper command this month, and the results have followed. In three starts — which includes outings against the woeful offenses of Colorado and Pittsburgh — Alcantara has a 2.12 ERA over 17 innings with 15 strikeouts and only three walks. Suitors are probably already knocking on the proverbial door of Marlins GM Peter Bendix regarding the former Cy Young winner, but if Alcantara keeps this up, they’ll be pounding on it. — Doolittle

Record: 23-50
Previous ranking: 29

If you’re going to stink, you might as well do it with young players so that your fans can dream of a day when things don’t stink so bad. Here’s a fun fact: The White Sox lead the majors in rookie WAR, ranking sixth among hitters and tops on the pitching side. Chicago is still headed for another 100-loss season, but things could be worse: Colorado, which looks to be bidding to break the loss record set by last year’s ChiSox, ranks last in rookie WAR. South Side denizens would be more than happy to let the Rox take on that malodorous crown of worst team in history. — Doolittle

Record: 17-57
Previous ranking: 30

ESPN Draft Coverage

Stay up to date with the latest intel from ESPN’s experts.
MLB: McDaniel’s latest mock draft »
NBA: Top 100 prospects » | Mock drafts »
NFL: Early 2026 first-round predictions »
NHL: Big board: Top 64 draft prospects »
WNBA: Top 15 prospects for 2026 draft »

Given the struggles of the Rockies this season, they are likely to glean only one spot on the NL’s All-Star team, and perhaps that’ll be Hunter Goodman, the 25-year-old who leads Colorado in all of the Triple Crown categories. So much has gone wrong for the Rockies, but the emergence of Goodman has been perhaps the team’s best story. Over 70 games in 2024, Goodman hit .190 with a .417 slugging percentage. This year, he has improved his OPS by more than 200 points. — Olney

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June 19, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

$45M Bitcoin Scandal Triggers Yet Another Power Grab In Czech Republic

by admin June 19, 2025

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala barely held on to power this week. His Civic Democratic Party faced a no‑confidence vote on June 18 after opposition parties seized on a $45 million Bitcoin donation that landed in the Ministry of Justice. The motion fell short by seven votes, leaving Fiala’s government intact but shaken.

Opposition United Over Bitcoin Gift

According to reports, ANO, SPD and the Pirates joined forces to challenge the government after Tomáš Jiřikovský, a convicted drug dealer and weapons offender, transferred 1 billion CZK (roughly 470 Bitcoin) to the justice ministry on May 27.

They sold the coins almost immediately, sparking questions about why law enforcement wasn’t involved first. The no‑confidence motion drew 94 votes in favor but needed 101 to pass. Debate ran for more than 24 hours in parliament, and tensions ran high as MPs traded accusations.

💰🇨🇿 Czech Gov’t Faces No-Confidence Vote Over Bitcoin Scandal

Opposition triggers a no-confidence vote after a $45M bitcoin payment from an ex-convict.

Though unlikely to pass, the move could hurt PM Fiala’s coalition ahead of October elections. pic.twitter.com/LAk6JLgwG1

— PiQ (@PiQSuite) June 12, 2025

Justice Minister Steps Down

Based on reports from České Noviny, Pavel Blažek resigned as justice minister on May 30 amid claims he knew about the donation before it arrived. His departure opened the door for Eva Decroix, sworn in on June 10 by President Petr Pavel, to lead the ministry.

Decroix has promised an independent probe and said her team will cooperate fully with investigators. She set a firm tone in her first statement, promising transparency and clear answers for a public eager to trust its leaders again.

BTCUSD trading at $105,107 on the 24-hour chart: TradingView

Crypto Concerns Grow Globally

This episode has tapped into broader worries about public officials and digital money. Similar issues have popped up elsewhere. US President Donald Trump has made headlines for profiting from a long list of crypto ventures.

Argentine President Javier Milei still faces questions over his role in the Libra token scandal. In each case, the mix of high‑value tokens and political office has stirred debate about ethics and oversight.

Image: Chainalysis

Next Moves For Government

Fiala admitted that mistakes were made and told supporters the gift “shook public confidence” in his party. He blamed the opposition for resorting to “dirt‑throwing” and “lies” on social media.

Still, critics say the probe must go beyond political finger‑pointing. If inquiries turn up illegal steps or cover‑ups, more resignations could follow—possibly changing the make‑up of Fiala’s slim majority. With parliamentary elections due in October, every move now will be watched closely.

Featured image from The Conversation, chart from TradingView

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June 19, 2025 0 comments

Esports

WNBA Power Rankings: First Lynx, Liberty losses open race to Cup championship

by admin June 17, 2025

Michael VoepelJun 17, 2025, 08:30 AM ET
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The Minnesota Lynx and New York Liberty losing their first games of the season didn’t change the top of ESPN’s WNBA Power Rankings, but it did shake up the Commissioner’s Cup picture.

A week ago, it seemed likely that the Lynx and Liberty would meet in the championship game on July 1, as they did last year. Now, the Atlanta Dream and Indiana Fever — with Caitlin Clark back in the latter lineup after missing five games (quad injury) — have a chance to beat the Liberty to represent the Eastern Conference, while the Seattle Storm face the Lynx for those rights in the Western Conference. And it all comes down to Tuesday’s concluding Cup games.

Let’s start in the East.

If the Dream beat the Liberty on the road, Atlanta will represent the East regardless of whether the Fever beat the Connecticut Sun thanks to Atlanta’s win over Indiana on June 10. If the Dream lose and the Fever win, Indiana and New York would be 4-1 — the Fever would have the tiebreaker as a result of their Cup game victory over the Liberty on Saturday, when Clark returned to action. (Note that results before Cup games started June 1 don’t count.)

The Liberty, who won the Cup title in 2023 and lost the championship to the Lynx last year, need to beat the Dream and have the Fever lose to the Sun in order to reach New York’s third consecutive final.

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Meanwhile in the West, the Lynx, Storm and the Golden State Valkyries could all finish at 4-2 in the Cup standings along with the Phoenix Mercury, who concluded Cup play Sunday. But because of the various tiebreaking scenarios, Phoenix and Golden State are already eliminated.

Minnesota still controls its Cup destiny. The Lynx will advance to the final if they defeat the Las Vegas Aces at home or if Seattle loses on the road to the Los Angeles Sparks. Seattle would need both a win over Los Angeles and a Minnesota loss to advance.

If the Lynx and Liberty don’t meet for the Commissioner’s Cup title, we won’t see the league’s two best teams face off until late July in what would be the first of four meetings over three weeks.

Previous ranking: 1

Next seven days: vs. LV (June 17), vs. LA (June 21)

Coach Cheryl Reeve was very pragmatic after last Wednesday’s 94-84 loss at Seattle, saying Minnesota simply didn’t play well enough to win on the road. The Lynx bounced back with a 101-78 win over the Sparks on Saturday behind Napheesa Collier ‘s 32 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. That, combined with the Liberty’s loss to the Fever, keeps the Lynx in the top spot. A win over Las Vegas on Tuesday gets Minnesota back into the Commissioner’s Cup final a year after winning it.

Previous ranking: 2

Next seven days: vs. ATL (June 17), vs. PHO (June 19), @ SEA (June 22)

The Liberty are not the same team without starters Jonquel Jones (ankle) and Leonie Fiebich (overseas commitment for EuroBasket). Coach Sandy Brondello said the team hopes to have Jones back for Tuesday’s game against the Dream, but the Liberty are thinking “big picture” about her health as it pertains to a long season. Sabrina Ionescu’s scoring stood out last week with a combined 57 points between a win over Chicago and a loss at Indiana.

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2:12

Clark, Ionescu trade buckets as Fever hand Liberty first loss

Caitlin Clark scores 32 points with seven 3s to lead Indiana past New York, despite 34 points and four 3s from Sabrina Ionescu.

Previous ranking: 5

Next 7 days: @ NY (June 17), vs. WAS (June 20), vs. CHI (June 22)

This is how effectively new coach Karl Smesko has translated his 3-point heavy offense from college to the WNBA: Atlanta set a franchise record with 18 3s in Sunday’s win at Washington. The Dream’s 84.6 points per game also rank third in the league compared to a league-worst 77.0 last season. Overall, they went 3-0 last week with wins over Indiana and Chicago, too, and are one win away from their first Commissioner’s Cup final. But they will have to get past the Liberty in New York on Tuesday.

Previous ranking: 4

Next 7 days: @ CON (June 18), @ NY (June 19), @ CHI (June 21)

The Mercury went 2-0 last week with victories over the Wings and Aces behind Satou Sabally’s combined 42 points and 18 rebounds. Their starting lineup and top reserves are now at full strength with Kahleah Copper (knee), Alyssa Thomas (calf) and Natasha Mack (back) having returned from injuries over the past week. Thomas had points-assists double-doubles in both wins after missing five games.

Previous ranking: 6

Next 7 days: vs. CON (June 17), @ GS (June 19), @ LV (June 22)

It took Caitlin Clark a quarter — in which she hit three consecutive long-range 3s — to reestablish her dynamic impact. She finished with 32 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds as the Fever handed the Liberty their first loss of the season Saturday, with Indiana making 17 3s just four days after losing to Atlanta with a season-low 58 points. The Fever did not have DeWanna Bonner (out for personal reasons) in the win but got a very good effort from their bench with a combined 20 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists.

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1:38

Caitlin Clark puts on a show with 25 first-half points in her return

Caitlin Clark lights it up with six 3s and 25 points in the first half in her first game back from injury for the Fever.

Previous ranking: 3

Next seven days: @ LA (June 17), @ LV (June 20), vs. NY (June 22)

Seattle has been hard to figure out. Are the Storm more like the team that dealt the Lynx their first loss last Wednesday? Or more like the team that was outrebounded 33-20 and fell 76-70 at the Valkyries on Saturday? It’s impossible to be sure right now, which is why the Storm have bounced around in each week’s edition of the Power Rankings. Thanks to the win over Minnesota, though, Seattle stays a smidge ahead of Golden State despite losing to the Valkyries on the road.

Previous ranking: 8

Next 7 days: @ DAL (June 17) vs. IND (June 19), vs. CON (June 22)

Perspective is everything. A 5-5 mark seems like a triumphant start for the Valkyries’ first season, even though that same record is arguably disastrous for the Aces. It looks like what the Valkyries said in the preseason about not underestimating them was not just hopeful rhetoric — they have won three in a row and lost the three games before that by an average of only 8.3 points. Kayla Thornton, picked up from New York in the expansion draft, has four double-doubles after just five total over her previous nine WNBA seasons.

Previous ranking: 7

Next 7 days: @ MIN (June 17), vs. SEA (June 20), vs. IND (June 22)

The Aces weren’t playing like contenders, even before three-time MVP A’ja Wilson entered the concussion protocol after being hit in the face during Wednesday’s 97-89 loss to the Sparks, though Las Vegas did rally to beat Dallas 88-84 on Friday before falling 76-70 to Phoenix on Sunday. Coach Becky Hammon said there should be more emphasis on penalizing hits to the head, telling reporters after the loss to the Mercury, “I think it’s something that people really have to start looking at, because people are dropping like flies with concussions.”

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Previous ranking: 10

Next 7 days: vs. SEA (June 17), @ MIN (June 21)

The Sparks fell 101-78 at the Lynx on Saturday, but let’s focus on the bright spots for Los Angeles: second-year forward Rickea Jackson, who missed games on May 30 and June 1 while in the concussion protocol, had a career-high 30 points in Wednesday’s 97-89 win over Las Vegas. And fellow post player Azura Stevens is averaging career bests in scoring (13.3) and rebounding (8.7) in her eighth WNBA season. That said, there is also a recent setback: Kelsey Plum, who leads the Sparks in scoring and assists, is out Tuesday with a leg injury.

Previous ranking: 9

Next 7 days: @ CHI (June 17), @ ATL (June 20), vs. DAL (June 22)

The Mystics have dropped four of their past five games since the end of May, including a 89-56 home loss to the Dream on Sunday in which Washington made only 3 shots from deep compared to Atlanta’s franchise-record 18. It was the Mystics’ lowest point total of the season and came only a week after they scored a season-high 104 against the Sun.

Previous ranking: 12

Next 7 days: vs. WAS (June 17), vs. PHO (June 21), @ ATL (June 22)

After losing to the Liberty and Dream earlier in the week, the Sky secured a much-needed pick-me-up Sunday with a 78-66 win at the Sun as Angel Reese got her first WNBA triple-double (11 points, 11 assists, 13 rebounds). Chicago has the league’s second-worst net rating at minus-14.6, ranking ahead of only Connecticut’s minus-22.

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1:39

Angel Reese has her first triple-double in the WNBA

Angel Reese records her first triple-double for the Chicago Sky with 11 assists, 11 points and 13 rebounds.

Previous ranking: 11

Next 7 days: @ IND (June 17), vs. PHO (June 18), vs. DAL (June 20), @ GS (June 22)

The Sun’s only game last week was their loss to the Sky, which highlighted just how much Connecticut’s offense and defense has struggled this season. The Sun have the league’s worst offensive rating (92.7) and lowest scoring average (71.3 points per game), plus the worst defensive rating (114.7). Somehow, the Sun still have one more victory than the Wings — but are also the only team that Dallas has defeated.

Previous ranking: 13

Next 7 days: vs. GS (June 17), @ CON (June 20), @ WAS (June 22)

The good news is that No. 1 draft pick Paige Bueckers has returned from the concussion protocol and illness, which kept her out four total games. She had 35 points in her return Wednesday, but Dallas still lost 93-80 at Phoenix. And just when the Wings looked like they could get back in the victory column Friday, the Aces outscored them 17-2 in the closing stretch of the 88-84 defeat.

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June 17, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

Gemini Accuses CFTC of Abusing Power for 7 Years

by admin June 17, 2025

Crypto exchange Gemini Trust, led by the Winklevoss twins, has filed a strong complaint against the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), alleging that the Enforcement Division of the agency has been misusing its authority for the previous seven years.

Gemini Filing

In the filing, Gemini says that instead of going after actual bad actors, the CFTC wrongly targeted them. The complaint claims the agency built its case using false statements from a discredited former employee and has no real evidence of any intentional wrongdoing by Gemini.

Gemini describes the CFTC’s internal culture as “toxic.” The filing also said, “Lawyers were driven by a selfish desire to advance their careers by misusing their offices to obtain a high-profile ‘win’ against Gemini Trust.”

The exchange argues that the CFTC’s lawyers misused a key law, Section 6(c)(2) of the Commodity Exchange Act, to file unfair charges. They also accuse the legal team of violating due process, damaging Gemini’s reputation, and wasting taxpayer money on a weak case.

Gemini says its case isn’t a one-time issue but part of a bigger problem inside the CFTC. They point to public comments by Acting Chair Caroline Pham, who also called for major reforms, to show that the agency has ongoing internal issues.

In the filing to Inspector General Christopher Skinner, Gemini lists several CFTC staff members by name and blames them for pushing forward a biased and unfair legal campaign.

Also Read: Gemini and Coinbase to Tap EU Market With MiCA Licenses

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June 17, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

Our favorite power bank for iPhones is 20 percent off right now

by admin June 16, 2025

I test a lot of batteries and I find myself drawn to the ones that do a little extra, like offering built-in cables, magnetic charging, onboard displays or, in this case, a handy kickstand that lets you view your phone as it recharges. Anker’s MagGo 10,000mAh power bank is the one we recommend for iPhones in our guide to the best power banks. Right now, it’s 20 percent off, bringing the $90 brick down to $72. That’s not the lowest price we’ve seen — it dipped below $60 for Black Friday last year — but this is the best deal we’ve seen since then.

Anker

This is our favorite power bank for iPhones and it’s 20 percent off now.

$72 at Amazon

In my test with an iPhone 15, the bank’s 10,000mAh capacity charged the handset from near-dead to full and had enough juice left over for an additional 70 percent refill. It was fairly speedy too, getting the phone up to 85 percent in about 90 minutes. The kickstand is sturdy and the magnets hold the phone firmly. Though that compatibility is restricted to MagSafe iPhones (iPhone 12 and newer), the USB-C port on the side means you can charge other devices with a wired connection. It even comes with a USB-C to C cable.

A digital display on the side tells you how much charge the battery has left as well as how much wattage is funneling to your device as you charge. It comes in five colors: white, black, blue, green and pink, all of which are on sale. You can get the same deal directly from Anker with an auto-applied code. Of course, the battery may dip lower for Amazon’s Prime Day sale that’s expected in July, but even without a further discount, this is still a good deal on a capable portable charger.

Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

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June 16, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

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

by admin June 16, 2025

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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June 16, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

JuCoin launches new feature that turns trading losses into computing power

by admin June 16, 2025

Trading platform JuCoin has introduced a new feature that can turn trader losses that reach more than 500 USDT into computing power.

The new JuCoin feature is called the “Contract Guardian Program is scheduled for a live launch on the platform starting from June 16 2025 at 00:00 UTC+8. Once it is activated, users that incur trading losses that reach a minimum of 500 USDT (USDT) and a maximum of 50,000 USDT will be able automatically receive computing power equal to their losses on a 1:1 ratio.

This means that if a user experiences an accumulates trading loss that amounts to 1,500 USDT, then the user will automatically receive 1,500 JU computing power as a subsidized reward.

”Computing power represents the production capacity within the JU ecosystem, which can generate continuous income instead of a one-time payment,” stated the exchange in its notice.

This means that overtime, the accumulated computing power will be able to continuously generate passive rewards in the form of JU tokens.

The platform assesses losses on a weekly basis every Monday at 00:00 UTC+8. The system calculates a user’s net realized profit and loss throughout the previous seven-day trading week. It takes into a account all closed positions, with the exception of handling fees and funding fees.

However, the exchange noted that this feature is only active during what it deems to be “loss trading cycles.” When users gain profits spanning weeks, balancing out the losses, then they will not receive computing power from previous losses. The system is designed this way to “ensure that successful transactions are fully rewarded.”

How to register for JuCoin’s protection plan?

In order to be eligible for the protection plan, users must complete the platform’s Know-Your-Customer verification for their JuCoin account. The exchange does not apply a minimum balance or other additional requirements.

”We intentionally keep the barrier to entry to a minimum because we believe that loss protection should be available to all serious traders,” stated the firm.

Users who make reservations in advance will share the JU computing power reward pool with a total value of 100,000 USDT. The higher the reservation ranking, the larger the allocation.

The reservation system adopts the principle of first come first served basis.

Most recently, JuCoin released its first Tether-based fixed income product with a tiered APY system. The offering includes six different terms—7, 15, 30, 45, 60, and 90 days—designed to cater to varying investor preferences.

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June 16, 2025 0 comments