[News Brief] Apr 22, morning | Theft targeting Coldcard hardware wallets expands to $88 million

Theft targeting Coldcard hardware wallets expands to $88 million

Losses from the theft targeting Coldcard hardware wallets have surged to $88 million (about KRW 123.2 billion). As the attackers continued a third wave of attacks, the number of affected wallets grew to 4,585. Decrypt, citing analysis from Galaxy Research, reported that the observed losses from the incident amount to about 1,367 BTC. Galaxy Research said the attackers are still continuing to drain wallets. The exact intrusion route and whether further spread is possible have not yet been confirmed.

U.S. sanctions Iranian maritime network accused of demanding Bitcoin tolls

The United States has designated for sanctions an Iranian maritime network accused of coercing commercial ships into paying Bitcoin (BTC) tolls in exchange for safe passage. CryptoSlate reported that the group functioned as a sanctions-evasion maritime network that had extorted Bitcoin from merchant vessels as the price for secure transit. Under the sanctions, U.S. persons must freeze assets linked to the organization and report them to authorities within 10 business days. Whether sanctions apply to foreign individuals and companies will depend on the specific conduct involved and the degree of connection to sanctioned entities.

U.S. reroutes shipping lanes around the Strait of Hormuz

The United States has rerouted shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz. The move comes as Iran continues its blockade of the waterway. Crypto Briefing reported that tensions between the U.S. and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz are escalating. The outlet said such rising tensions could disrupt global energy supplies and affect market stability and geopolitical dynamics. However, the specific scale of the shipping diversion, the alternative routes used, and detailed circumstances surrounding the blockade have not been confirmed. The impact of the situation on financial markets, including digital assets, remains to be seen.

$273 million in liquidations hit the crypto market over the past 24 hours

Over the past 24 hours, $273 million (about KRW 377 billion) in forced liquidations occurred across the global digital asset market. Most of the liquidated positions were long bets, according to the tally. TechFlow reported the liquidation figure exclusively through its newsletter.

Ctrl Wallet shuts down service as of Aug. 2

Ctrl Wallet ended support for transfers, swaps, and decentralized application (dApp) access as of Aug. 2 local time, effectively shutting down the service. Because the exact cutoff time was not announced in advance, users rushed to move assets and secure their recovery phrases before access was lost. According to CryptoSlate, users had to transfer their holdings to another wallet or separately store their recovery phrases by Aug. 2. After that deadline, transfer and swap functions, along with dApp connectivity, were to be blocked in sequence. CryptoSlate compared the situation to racing against a “phantom clock.” The outlet said the shutdown notice did not include a precise cutoff time, forcing users to judge their own response timing.

Democratic U.S. senator calls for restrictions in Bitcoin CLARITY Act

U.S. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy urged his party to push back against the Bitcoin CLARITY Act unless restrictive provisions are added. He argued that President Trump improperly launched his own cryptocurrency by leveraging the power of the White House and said the bill must include limits addressing that issue. In a video released on Aug. 2 (local time) by the X account “The Bitcoin Historian,” run by Pete Rizzo, Murphy said, “President Trump has improperly used the power of the White House to launch his own cryptocurrency,” adding that “this is a new arena of activity that can lead to corruption.” He continued, “We are effectively advertising to the world how to join this new and innovative space of corruption,” and said that “any bill moving through Congress must include provisions to restrict it.” Murphy added, “There is no ceiling to this corruption structure.”

Spot XRP ETF sees net inflows

Spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded net inflows. The result drew attention because it came while the broader cryptocurrency market was weakening. U.Today said the timing of the inflows into XRP ETFs is especially notable given recent market conditions. However, the specific amount and timing of the inflows have not been confirmed.

Some Coldcard devices reported bricked after new firmware update

Some users of the Coldcard hardware wallet reported that their devices became unresponsive, or “bricked,” after installing a new firmware update. Odaily said user reports emerged of abnormal behavior in some devices following the latest Coldcard firmware upgrade. The exact cause, scale of the issue, and Coldcard’s official response have not yet been confirmed.

Wallet accused in Coldcard attack receives on-chain message promoting laundering service

A wallet identified as being involved in the Coldcard-related attack, and holding 562 BTC, reportedly received a message from an unidentified sender promoting the use of an on-chain money-laundering service. Odaily reported that the message was sent to the wallet in question. The sender’s identity and the specific nature of the service have not been confirmed. Coldcard is a Bitcoin hardware wallet brand.

AI-related ETFs account for record 19% of total U.S. ETF trading volume

AI-related exchange-traded funds (ETFs) accounted for 19% of total ETF trading volume in the United States, marking a record high. Crypto Briefing described the share as an all-time high and said it shows investor interest shifting toward AI-related assets.