‍Anna's Archive Leaks 86 Million Spotify Tracks The shadow library Anna's Archive has announced the scraping of 86 million audio files from Spotify, totaling 300 terabytes. The group claims to have backed up 99.6% of tracks consumed by listeners. Spotify condemned the move as a violation of Digital Rights Management (DRM). Anna's Archive is distributing the data via bulk torrents, utilizing peer-to-peer technology for censorship resistance. Metadata includes 186 million unique ISRCs. Popular tracks are in OGG Vorbis, less frequent ones in OGG Opus. The archive highlights that 70% of Spotify's tracks have a popularity score of zero.
‍Pudgy Party Named 2025 Game of the Year The mobile battle royale title Pudgy Party, developed by Mythical Games, has been awarded GG’s 2025 Game of the Year. Since its September release, the game has achieved over 1 million downloads and maintained a 4.9-star rating. Pudgy Party features a casual battle royale format optimized for mobile, with up to 20 players competing in obstacle courses. An integrated abilities system adds strategic depth for veteran players. The game also allows players to earn and trade costume NFTs, with one legendary costume selling for $1,400. Pudgy Penguins CEO Luca Netz aims for over 100 million downloads and a sustainable play-to-earn model.
‍JPMorgan Weighs Crypto Trading Expansion for Institutional Investors JPMorgan Chase is reportedly evaluating the introduction of cryptocurrency trading services for its institutional clientele, according to a Bloomberg report. The firm is assessing potential products within its markets division to meet the rising demand for digital asset exposure, potentially incorporating spot and derivatives trading for major cryptocurrencies. This move reflects a strategic shift, influenced by institutional interest and evolving U.S. regulations like the GENIUS Act. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, previously critical of Bitcoin, now expresses belief in stablecoins and acknowledges blockchain's operational benefits. The expansion comes amid growing crypto initiatives from other global financial leaders like BPCE and BNY Mellon.
‍Ethereum Reclaims $3,000 Amidst Whale Accumulation and Network Upgrades Ethereum (ETH) has surged past the $3,000 mark, marking a significant 16% rebound from recent lows. This recovery is fueled by substantial accumulation from "whale" investors and anticipated network scaling improvements in January 2025. Data indicates that wallets holding 10,000-100,000 ETH have acquired over 22 million tokens in six months, while exchange balances have fallen to a nine-year low of 10.2 million ETH. Analysts suggest this undervaluation precedes major rallies. Network activity is also robust, with a 22% increase in active addresses and 163,000 new wallets created daily in December. Upcoming upgrades aim to boost transaction throughput from 60 to 80 million. Technically, breaking the $3,200 resistance is key for a sustained uptrend, potentially targeting $4,000 and new all-time highs.
‍Lithuania Mandates MiCA Licensing for Crypto Firms by Year-End 2025 Lithuania is set to enforce European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation by December 31, 2025. All crypto asset service providers (CASPs) operating in the country must obtain a license from the Bank of Lithuania. Entities failing to comply will cease operations, liquidate customer assets, and return funds. While Lithuania was previously a popular hub, the transition highlights a gap between registered entities and those meeting rigorous standards, suggesting some may exit or merge.