73-year-old Man Charged in $2.4m Crypto Money Laundering Scam
A Montana man has been found guilty of conspiracy to launder over $2.4 million through cryptocurrency, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas announced Thursday.
Randall V. Rule, 73, formerly of Kalispell, Montana, was convicted on all counts following a three-day trial before U.S. District Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle on Feb. 26.
He was charged alongside Gregory C. Nysewander, formerly of Irmo, South Carolina, in a 2022 federal indictment.
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Romance, real estate and email fraud
Prosecutors said Rule and Nysewander helped convert funds from scams — including romance fraud, business email compromises, and real estate scams — into cryptocurrency, which was then transferred to accounts controlled by foreign and domestic co-conspirators.
Romance scams involve fraudsters befriending victims under the pretence of a potential love interest. These scammers pretend to form personal connections to gain victims’ trust and then exploit them financially.
Scammers also use fake websites to trick victims into providing personal information or sending funds. Many of these sites mimic legitimate companies but have minor differences in their URLs.
To evade detection, Rule and Nysewander allegedly misrepresented transaction details and misled financial institutions and cryptocurrency exchanges.
“We will aggressively pursue cases against scammers and against those who facilitate their crimes by laundering the criminal proceeds,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Abe McGlothin, Jr.
The U.S. Secret Service, which investigated the case, credited the prosecution team for protecting the country’s financial system.
Rule faces up to 20 years in prison for each money laundering charge and up to five years for conspiracy to violate the Bank Secrecy Act. His sentencing date will be set following an investigation.
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Deutsche Telekom Joins Injective As a Validator
Deutsche Telekom, a telecommunications giant valued at more than $180 billion, has strengthened its presence in the crypto and blockchain space by partnering with Injective.
On Feb. 27, the layer 1 blockchain Injective (INJ) announced that the German telecommunications company had joined its validator set.
This collaboration further solidifies Injective’s position as a leading decentralized finance and real-world assets platform, with Deutsche Telekom’s role as a validator enhancing its institutional footprint. The telecom giant has previously joined other blockchain networks and platforms as a validator or Web3 partner, including NEAR (NEAR), Chainlink (LINK), Aleph (ALEPH), Polygon (MATIC) and Polkadot (DOT).
The company is now expanding its Web3 presence by operating as a validator node on Injective.
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According to the announcement, the move aligns with Deutsche Telekom’s vision of leveraging its infrastructure and solutions to advance Web3 adoption. The company plans to extend this capability by providing enterprise-level reliability to encourage institutional participation. The collaboration also contributes to Injective’s decentralization.
“With our enterprise-grade infrastructure, we aim to enhance the security of the network for its users. This partnership aligns with our commitment to combine technology with safety and trust thus enabling secure progress for humans and we look forward to being a part of this future,” Oliver Nyderle, head of web3 infrastructure at Deutsche Telekom MMS, said.
Injective has seen significant growth in recent months, with its focus on an enterprise-grade platform playing a key role.
The Binance-incubated and Pantera-backed project has established multiple partnerships across decentralized finance and real-world assets while also emerging as a major player in the artificial intelligence sector. The blockchain recently introduced a software development kit for AI agents, positioning itself within the agentic AI space.
Deals with io.net and Aethir have also been huge in the quest to bring decentralized AI and tokenized GPU resources on-chain.
Deutsche Telekom’s entry into Injective comes as the layer 1 blockchain’s recent Nirvana Chain upgrade introduced advanced real-world asset oracle support for users.
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SEC Declares Meme Coins Are Not Securities, Clarifies Regulation
SEC rules meme coins are not securities, exempting them from federal regulations.
Meme coins lack functionality and are driven by market demand and speculation.
Fraudulent activities related to meme coins may still face legal action under other laws.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has officially stated that meme coins are not securities, excluding them from federal securities regulations.
This decision, announced by the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance, clarifies that digital asset transactions won’t require registration under federal securities laws.
The SEC’s statement explained that meme coins, which are bought for entertainment, social interaction, and cultural reasons, lack real use or functionality. The SEC said that meme coins do not involve any real-world function or business backing, so they do not meet the definition of securities under federal law.
SEC’s Rationale: No Investment in a Common Enterprise
Moreover, the SEC’s ruling is based on two main points. First, buyers of meme coins do not invest in a common enterprise. Developers or promoters do not manage their funds to generate profits.
Second, the profit…
The post SEC Declares Meme Coins Are Not Securities, Clarifies Regulation appeared first on Coin Edition.
Chainlink (LINK) Price Stabilizes Amid Market Fluctuations and Whale Activity
According to recent market trends, Chainlink (LINK) continues to stabilize following recent fluctuations, maintaining steady momentum despite declining trading volume. The cryptocurrency trades at $15.46, a 1.31% increase in the last 24 hours. Market capitalization has also risen by the same percentage to $9.86 billion, indicating sustained investor interest.
Chainlink Whales Drive Accumulation and Profit-Taking
Chainlink’s trading volume has dropped by 31.24% to $657.29 million, reflecting lower trading activity among market participants. However, its Fully Diluted Valuation (FDV) remains at $15.46 billion, supported by a circulating supply of 638.09 million LINK out of 1 billion LINK. The market sentiment remains strong because trading volume declined without affecting the price stability.
The movement of large wallet investments has undergone substantial changes during the past three months because of evolving buying interests and market profit extraction. Major investors have shown rising interest due to the significant increase in large holder inflow observed during mid-December and late January. Large investor profits are responsible for the significant capital outflows during December and January.
Data from IntoTheBlock reveals that large holder inflows have occasionally exceeded 18 million LINK, showing strong accumulation phases. Strategic buying activity by primary investors causes inflows to rise in the market. Such spikes show that major investors have taken steps to accumulate LINK holdings. However, except for brief surges, inflows have generally remained below 12 million LINK.
On the outflow side, substantial selling activity has occurred at key moments, with outflows exceeding 12 million LINK at times. The market experiences significant price volatility because large investors reform their investment positions continuously. The price trend reveals that outflows manifest when LINK reaches its highest point, thus indicating investors conduct profit-selling activities during this time.
The relationship between buying and selling activities has caused market dynamics, which resulted in price swings between $16 and $32. New influxes and outflows have decreased in recent times, which indicates an ongoing phase of market consolidation. The market price rested inside the $16-$20 zone, demonstrating lower price fluctuations.
Technical Indicators and Market Sentiment
CoinGlass data from Binance’s 1-hour chart shows LINK stabilizing around $15.45, with a modest 0.84% increase in the last session. The price has declined above $18, but now shows minor upward movement, suggesting a potential recovery. Trading volume remains moderate, with a 9-period SMA volume at 10.239 million, indicating steady market participation.
The Cumulative Volume Delta (CVD) remains negative at -5.715 million, highlighting persistent selling pressure. The Aggregated Spot CVD remains negative at -3.584 million, reinforcing bearish sentiment. Despite this, the selling pace has slowed, allowing LINK to maintain its current price level.
Future contract Funding rates stand at 0.0093, showing mild bullish sentiment among derivative traders. Open interest is rising at 4.863 million LINK, suggesting traders anticipate a potential rebound. The Aggregated Futures Bid & Ask Delta shows an increase of 171.25K LINK, indicating a gradual return of buying interest.
Price Outlook and Future Prospects
Chainlink’s price movements suggest a consolidation phase, with resistance near $16 and support around $14. LINK could test higher levels if buying volume increases, strengthening its recovery potential. Market pressure for selling activities might drive prices down to $14.
Analysts exhibit conflicting market signals because some traders bet on price increases, but others remain watchful and hesitant. The price behavior remains unpredictable because of Whale activity, which continues to shape market movements in short-term periods. Long-term prospects remain strong as Chainlink maintains its relevance in the decentralized oracle space.
Conclusion
Chainlink’s price is stabilizing despite a drop in trading volume, supported by steady market interest. Large holder activity shows accumulation and profit-taking, contributing to price fluctuations. Technical indicators suggest consolidation, with the potential for a breakout if buying pressure increases.
FAQs
What is Chainlink (LINK)?
Chainlink is a decentralized oracle network that enables smart contracts to interact with real-world data and APIs securely.
Why is LINK’s price consolidating?
LINK stabilizes due to reduced trading activity and balanced buying and selling pressure among investors.
What does a negative CVD indicate?
A negative CVD means selling pressure is dominant, leading to lower-level price declines or stabilization.
What is the significance of large holder inflows and outflows?
Large holder inflows indicate buying by whales, while outflows suggest selling or redistribution, impacting price movements.
What are the key resistance and support levels for LINK?
Current resistance is near $16, while support is around $14, defining the short-term trading range.
Glossary
Market Capitalization: The total value of all coins in circulation, calculated by multiplying the price per coin by the total supply.
Fully Diluted Valuation (FDV): The total market value if all tokens were circulated.
Large Holder Inflows: The total amount of LINK purchased by major investors or whales.
Large Holder Outflows: The total amount of LINK sold or moved by major investors.
Cumulative Volume Delta (CVD): An indicator showing net buying and selling pressure in the market.
Funding Rate: The fee paid between long and short traders in futures contracts to maintain price equilibrium.
Open Interest: The total number of outstanding derivative contracts, indicating market participation.
Reference:
IntoTheBlock
Coinglass
CoinMarketCap
Trump’s Digital Asset Push Grows With TRUMP Metaverse, NFT Platform
The Trump Organization is looking to expand its footprint across the digital asset and blockchain ecosystem with a new trademark filing for “TRUMP.”
An entity managing all Trump Organization trademarks submitted the application to the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Feb. 24, 2025. The filing, made by DTTM Operations LLC, indicates plans for commercial use.
According to the USPTO filing, the trademark will cover a range of digital products and services, including a metaverse and a non-fungible token trading platform. The metaverse will serve as a virtual world where users can explore digital spaces featuring TRUMP-branded wearables, restaurants, and other interactive elements.
The platform will also incorporate education and professional settings, offering services related to business, real estate, public service, fundraising, and hospitality management, among others.
The NFT marketplace, as outlined in the filing, will allow users to trade crypto and digital goods, focusing exclusively on authenticated collectibles tied to President Donald Trump.
This move adds to the Trump family’s growing involvement in the digital asset space. Over the past several months, Trump and his businesses have ventured into NFTs, meme coins, and decentralized finance
From his Official Trump ( TRUMP ) meme coin to the Trump family-backed World Liberty Financial, Trump has established a strong presence in the industry. World Liberty Financial launched in 2024, ahead of his election as the 47th U.S. president.
Meanwhile, the TRUMP meme coin hit the market in January 2025 as he assumed office. He also released Bitcoin ( BTC )-themed sneakers in July 2024.
Earlier this month, Trump Media and Technology Group filed trademarks for six investment products around Bitcoin, manufacturing and energy exchange-traded funds.
The company, majority-owned by Trump, said it was unveiling a new financial services firm dubbed Truth.Fi, with initial targeted investments of up to $250 million .