"They wanted to amputate my limbs because they thought I had 2.5 million bitcoins." This is the story of a Canadian moderator of a crypto forum who, along with his family, was forced to move continuously from one Airbnb to another to escape criminals who wanted to kidnap him and seize his alleged Bitcoin holdings. The incident began on November 4, and now the attackers are under house arrest. This case adds to a long list of threats to the safety of cryptocurrency holders. According to monitoring by developer Jameson Lopp, at least 181 incidents of robberies, kidnappings, and murders related to the crypto world have been recorded since 2014. Atlas21's article ⬇️
Atlas21
Attempted Bitcoin kidnapping in Canada: crypto forum moderator forced into hiding
Forced to go into hiding with his family after threats of torture to extort Bitcoin. The kidnappers believed he owned
CRYPTO - Trump appoints former PayPal COO David Sacks as crypto advisor to the White House President-elect Donald Trump has named David O. Sacks as the new “AI and Crypto Czar” for the White House. The announcement was made on December 5 via a post on Truth Social. Sacks, known as the founder of Yammer and former COO of PayPal, will take on a pivotal role in the Trump administration, leading policies on artificial intelligence and digital assets—two areas considered critical for the future of American competitiveness. One of Sacks’ primary responsibilities will be to develop a clear regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency sector, addressing industry demands for greater legal clarity. Additionally, he will chair the Presidential Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Trump emphasized that Sacks’ role will also involve protecting online free speech and combating what he referred to as “Big Tech’s censorship and bias.” Sacks was a major Trump supporter in 2024, organizing a fundraiser that raised $12 million for the campaign. In an interview with Anthony Pompliano, Sacks stated: “Bitcoin offers a different kind of currency that is not backed by government, but it’s backed by math, by encryption. You don’t have to trust the government that there will be only 21 million bitcoins; it’s in the code. Bitcoin is sort of like this sci-fi future where you could have money and state decoupled.” The entrepreneur’s appointment is part of a broader wave of pro-crypto nominations within the incoming administration, as evidenced by the recent selection of former SEC commissioner Paul Atkins as the agency’s new chairman, replacing Gary Gensler.
Atlas21
Trump appoints former PayPal COO David Sacks as crypto advisor to the White House
The Silicon Valley entrepreneur will lead the administration’s policies on artificial intelligence and digital assets to strengthen American comp...
CRYPTO - Trump aims to assign crypto oversight to the CFTC In an effort to reshape the U.S. regulatory landscape for digital assets, Donald Trump‘s team is exploring a reform that could shift crypto oversight from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to the CFTC. According to a report by Fox Business, the Trump administration plans to assign the CFTC a central role in regulating spot markets for digital assets classified as commodities and in overseeing exchange activities. This move would significantly reduce the SEC’s regulatory power. Trump’s team argues that the SEC’s enforcement actions have hindered innovation in the U.S. digital asset space, advocating for a lighter regulatory approach to foster growth in the industry. For the crypto sector, this shift is seen as favorable since the CFTC is historically perceived as a less stringent regulator. Chris Giancarlo, a former CFTC chairman, expressed optimism about the agency’s potential, stating that with adequate funding and proper leadership, the CFTC could begin regulating digital assets immediately. Currently, the CFTC operates with a $706 million budget and employs around 700 staff, compared to the SEC’s $3 billion budget and 5,300 employees. The proposed reform comes during a leadership transition for regulatory agencies. SEC Chairman Gary Gensler has already announced his resignation effective January 20, 2025, coinciding with Trump’s inauguration. SEC Commissioner Jaime Lizárraga is also set to step down.
Atlas21
Trump aims to assign crypto oversight to the CFTC
The Trump administration is considering granting the CFTC regulatory authority over the cryptocurrency market. In an effort to reshape the