By Shikha Singh
By Shikha Singh Trump-Backed World Liberty Financial Snaps Up $21.5mn in WBTC, ETH, MOVE
World Liberty Financial (WLFI), the decentralized finance (DeFi) venture tied to U.S. President Donald Trump and his family, added over $21.5 million worth of ether (ETH), wrapped bitcoin (WBTC), and MOVE tokens to its treasury on Wednesday, data shows.
WLFI acquired 4,468 ETH at roughly $2,238 each totaling $10 million, 110.6 WBTC at $90,415 and 3.42 million MOVE tokens at $0.438 apiece amounting to $1.5 million.
The WLFI purchases, where Trump and his sons hold ambassadorial roles, come days ahead of a White House Crypto Summit scheduled on Mar. 7, where the President is set to meet with several high-profile crypto founders.
Crypto Custodian Hex Trust Secures Major Payment Institution License in Singapore
Hex Trust, a cryptocurrency custodian and trading platform, has secured a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the firm said on Thursday.
The license, granted on March 1, allows the firm to provide cross-border money transfers and digital payment token services under Singapore’s regulatory framework.
The approval follows Hex Trust’s in-principle clearance from MAS in July 2024. With the full license, the company can now integrate regulated digital asset custody with trading and settlement services, including fiat on-ramps and off-ramps, according to a press release.
Mt.Gox Moves $1bn Bitcoin to New Wallet
Defunct cryptocurrency exchange Mt. Gox today transferred over 12,000 bitcoin (BTC), worth over $1.2 billion, to a new wallet earlier Thursday.
The activity marks some of the largest transactions from the exchange since its bankruptcy in 2014. Such wallet transfers are usually a consolidation of holdings to new addresses before they are sent to crypto exchanges, where the bitcoin is sold on the open market.
Trustees have put together a repayment plan with a deadline of October 31, 2025, per the latest filings.
Dubai Government-Owned Bank Emirates NBD Offers Crypto Trading Through Liv X App
Emirates NBD, the bank owned by the government of Dubai, is starting to offer crypto trading through its digital banking subsidiary Liv.
Liv is allowing customers to buy and sell cryptocurrencies in its new app Liv X, according to an emailed announcement on Thursday.
Liv is offering its crypto service using infrastructure operated by Aquanow, a digital asset platform licensed by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). Standard Chartered-backed Zodia is providing custody services for Liv’s new offering.
Indian Town Adopts Avalanche Blockchain For Tamper-Proof Land Records
The Dantewada District Administration in Chhattisgarh, India, has digitized over 700,000 land records dating back to the 1950s and secured them on the Avalanche blockchain in partnership with LegitDoc by Zupple Labs.
This initiative aims to improve land governance by making records easily accessible and tamper-proof. Kiosks have been set up in sub-districts for citizens and government officers to access the records, with privacy ensured through prior authorization.
The blockchain-based system allows verification of land records and smart contracts, reducing delays and disputes, especially for tribal communities and farmers. This project is seen as a significant step toward transparency and efficiency in land record management.
Upbit Overtakes Binance as the Leading XRP Market in Holdings & Trading Volume
South Korean crypto exchange Upbit has become the leading force in the XRP market, surpassing Binance as the largest holder of the token and accounting for over 14% of XRP’s global trading volume.
This shift reflects growing investor interest in XRP in South Korea. Upbit recently moved 30 million XRP, fueling speculation about the “Kimchi Premium,” where crypto assets trade at higher prices in South Korea.
Despite recent market turbulence, XRP saw a significant price surge, driven by bullish sentiment following U.S. President Trump’s announcement of a strategic national crypto reserve that could include XRP.
However, gains were short-lived due to a market sell-off. Additionally, whale activity has increased, indicating confidence in XRP’s future.
Tether Freezes $27 mn USDT on Sanctioned Russian Exchange Garantex
Tether has frozen $27 million in USDt on the Russian Garantex crypto exchange, leading to the suspension of all services, including withdrawals, and the exchange’s website being under maintenance.
This action follows the European Union’s sanctions on Garantex as part of the 16th package of sanctions against Russia for its aggression in Ukraine.
Garantex warned its users that all USDT in Russian wallets could be at risk. The EU’s sanctions on Garantex came after similar actions by the U.S. in 2022. The exchange expressed defiance, stating it would continue to fight.
WhiteBIT Partners Up With Bequant to Work On Institutional Crypto Trading Solutions
WhiteBIT, Europe’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by traffic, has partnered with Bequant, an institutional-grade crypto trading solutions provider, to create a robust ecosystem for institutional traders.
This collaboration aims to offer advanced trading tools, deep liquidity, and regulatory-compliant infrastructure. Bequant’s expertise in market making, quantitative trading, and OTC services will enhance WhiteBIT’s offerings.
The partnership will provide institutional clients access to $2 trillion in annual trading volume, multi-market trading, and advanced execution capabilities. Both companies are ISO/IEC certified and GDPR compliant, with real-time market data and automated trading support.
Argentina Freezes The $100 mn Linked to Javier Milei’s LIBRA Coin Scam
Argentine prosecutors have frozen $100 million linked to the LIBRA meme coin scam, which surged to a $4.5 billion market cap before crashing to zero in six hours.
The investigation, led by federal prosecutor Eduardo Taiano, focuses on President Javier Milei and businessmen accused of profiting from the rug pull. Milei had promoted LIBRA in February but deleted his post shortly before the crash.
Prosecutors are reviewing transaction logs, encrypted wallets, and deleted social media posts, including Milei’s promotion of LIBRA.
Investigators are also looking into potential money laundering through a purchase of another meme coin, POPE, and whether Argentina’s financial authorities failed to regulate the project. Additionally, some insiders, including Hayden Davis, are being investigated for profiting from the scam.
Axie Infinity Teases New Web3 Game as NFT Outlook Turns Positive
Axie Infinity developer Sky Mavis released a new trailer for Atia’s Legacy, a massively multiplayer online (MMO) game set in the Axie universe.
Announced in November 2022 amid company layoffs, the game will feature improved 3D combat, mini-games, and a farming simulator.
Sky Mavis plans to open play-tests in 2025 and has introduced a referral program where users can earn Axie Infinity’s native tokens, AXS, for successfully referring friends.
The game will include squad-based combat, resource crafting, and social interactions, but no specific release date has been given.
The trailer marks the next chapter in Axie Infinity’s evolution, showcasing lessons learned from seven years of developing Web3 games.
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