Market
Bhutan Holds $1 Billion in Bitcoin Amid Growing State Adoption
According to Arkham Intelligence, the Royal Government of Bhutan now holds more than $1 billion worth of Bitcoin. Two weeks ago, the country moved $65 million in Bitcoin to Binance wallets to prepare for a sale, but it’s still diligently acquiring more.
Bhutan has yet to sell these assets. Meanwhile, in the US, Donald Trump’s promises for an official Bitcoin Reserve highlight a growing trend.
Bhutan’s Growing Bitcoin Stockpile
According to new on-chain data from blockchain analysis firm Arkham Intelligence, the Royal Government of Bhutan’s Bitcoin holdings are worth more than $1 billion. Bhutan has been acquiring Bitcoin through mining since 2021, increasing this growth rate last year. Thanks to Bitcoin’s all-time high, these holdings have grown even faster.
This news comes less than two weeks after Bhutan deposited more than 900 BTC worth $65 million into a Binance account. A transfer of this size would typically indicate a major sell-off, like in Germany’s substantial asset sales this summer. However, Bhutan has continued mining Bitcoin at the same rates.
In other words, this $1 billion milestone is largely due to Bitcoin’s extremely bullish momentum, not a major Bitcoin acquisition. Bhutan’s wallets actually hold slightly fewer bitcoins than before the transfer, but the country might recoup this drop.
New State Bitcoin Holders
While Bhutan sent Bitcoin to Binance, other countries, such as El Salvador, refrained from selling. El Salvador has publicly stated it will not sell its massive holdings, regardless of how high they might get. Donald Trump, too, has vowed to halt attempted sell-offs as a campaign promise.
However, Peter Schiff, a noted Bitcoin critic, recently commented on potential market effects:
“If the US government actually established a Bitcoin reserve and bought 1 million Bitcoin, it might end up buying millions more. Since the US government’s purchase of 1 million Bitcoin would drive the price so high, many HODLers, then worth millions or billions, would finally begin cashing out to spend their windfalls,” Schiff claimed.
This scenario takes several things for granted, not least of which is that buying several million out of 21 million total Bitcoin would be very difficult, especially while the price is soaring. However, it does illustrate the kind of confidence that these massive Bitcoin stockpiles can engender. If the US government does turn its stockpile into a true Reserve, it would drive the price up.
For Bhutan, these sorts of dynamics would take place at a much smaller scale. Although it is a major Bitcoin holder and miner, Bhutan’s government hasn’t stated any desire to transform market dynamics. At the moment, it seems positioned to be another standard bearer for state-held Bitcoin reserves, in a time when the trend is growing.
Disclaimer
In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
Market
South Korea Unveils North Korea’s Role in Upbit Hack
According to local media, South Korea confirmed that North Korea was behind the theft of 342,000 Ethereum (ETH) tokens. The 2019 loot, worth approximately 58 billion Won or $41.5 million, was stolen from the Upbit crypto exchange.
The stolen tokens, now valued at 1.47 trillion Won, represent one of the largest cryptocurrency heists attributed to North Korea.
North Korea’s Involvement Uncovered
Per the report, the National Investigation Headquarters of South Korea’s National Police Agency announced on November 21 that two North Korean hacking groups, Lazarus and Andariel, orchestrated the attack. Both groups are known affiliates of North Korea’s Reconnaissance General Bureau, a state agency linked to cyber espionage and financial crimes.
Investigators relied on a combination of digital forensics, including tracking IP addresses and analyzing the flow of stolen cryptocurrencies. The probe also identified linguistic traces of North Korean vocabulary.
“It was revealed that traces of the North Korean term ‘Heulhan Il’ (a word meaning ‘unimportant matter’) were found on the computer used in the attack at the time,” another local Korean media corroborated.
This linguistic fingerprint, alongside other technical evidence, strengthened the case against North Korea. According to the report, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) police also aided the investigation. They provided additional evidence linking the attack to North Korea.
Following the theft, the perpetrators exchanged 57% of the stolen Ethereum for Bitcoin on three cryptocurrency exchanges believed to be operated by North Korea. These transactions happened at prices 2.5% below market value, presumably to expedite the sale. They then distributed the remaining Ethereum across 51 overseas exchanges and laundered them to obscure its origins.
In 2020, some of the stolen cryptocurrency was identified at a Swiss crypto exchange. After a four-year effort to prove its source to Swiss prosecutors, South Korean authorities recovered 4.8 Bitcoin (BTC), worth around 600 million won. The recovered funds were later returned to Upbit in October 2024.
Concerns Over North Korea and Upbit Woes
Meanwhile, North Korea’s involvement in cryptocurrency crimes is not new. After a series of reports, authorities have noted a shift in tactics. As BeInCrypto reported recently, hackers linked to the regime are increasingly targeting crypto firms with sophisticated methods. Among the most prevalent techniques are phishing campaigns and supply chain attacks.
“The campaign, which we dubbed ‘Hidden Risk’, uses emails propagating fake news about cryptocurrency trends to infect targets via a malicious application disguised as a PDF file,” a recent report read.
This change of tact highlights the urgency for heightened cybersecurity measures across the industry. Notwithstanding, the confirmation of North Korea’s involvement in the 2019 Upbit hack marks a significant development.
While the United Nations (UN) and foreign governments have previously accused North Korea of funding its weapons programs through crypto theft, this is the first time South Korean authorities have officially linked the regime to a major cryptocurrency heist. The incident highlights the dual vulnerabilities facing the cryptocurrency industry.
First, external threats from state-sponsored hackers and, second, internal risks tied to inadequate regulatory compliance. Against the latter, and as BeInCrypto reported, South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit recently cited concerns about inadequate user verification systems. Specifically, the unit flagged over 600,000 potential KYC violations at Upbit, South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.
The discovery of mass KYC violations at Upbit raises questions about whether exchanges are doing enough to prevent illicit activities. Improved oversight, combined with stricter enforcement of anti-money laundering (AML) measures, could help deter future attacks and ensure a safer trading environment for investors.
The exchange is also facing an antitrust investigation by South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission, which is examining potential abuses of market dominance.
Disclaimer
In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
Market
XRP Price Targets Its Next Move: Will It Break Higher Again?
XRP price is consolidating gains above the $1.00 zone. The price might start a fresh increase if it clears the $1.150 resistance zone.
- XRP price started a downside correction below the $1.120 level.
- The price is now trading below $1.120 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average.
- There is a short-term contracting triangle forming with resistance at $1.1380 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair (data source from Kraken).
- The pair could gain bullish momentum if it clears the $1.150 resistance.
XRP Price Holds Support
XRP price struggled to start a fresh increase above the $1.150 and $1.180 levels. It started a downside correction and traded below the $1.120 level. It underperformed Bitcoin and struggled like Ethereum in the past two sessions.
The price is now trading below $1.120 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. On the upside, the price might face resistance near the $1.1380 level. There is also a short-term contracting triangle forming with resistance at $1.1380 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair.
The first major resistance is near the $1.150 level. The next key resistance could be $1.1680 or the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $1.2747 swing high to the $0.9988 low.
A clear move above the $1.1680 resistance might send the price toward the $1.200 resistance or the 76.4% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $1.2747 swing high to the $0.9988 low. Any more gains might send the price toward the $1.2250 resistance or even $1.2320 in the near term. The next major hurdle for the bulls might be $1.250 or $1.265.
More Downsides?
If XRP fails to clear the $1.1380 resistance zone, it could continue to move down. Initial support on the downside is near the $1.100 level. The next major support is near the $1.0650 level or the triangle’s lower trend line.
If there is a downside break and a close below the $1.0650 level, the price might continue to decline toward the $1.020 support in the near term. The next major support sits near the $0.980 zone.
Technical Indicators
Hourly MACD – The MACD for XRP/USD is now losing pace in the bearish zone.
Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for XRP/USD is now below the 50 level.
Major Support Levels – $1.1000 and $1.0000.
Major Resistance Levels – $1.1680 and $1.2000.
Market
Why PNUT Recovery Could Happen Soon After 30% Fall?
Peanut the Squirrel (PNUT), the meme coin that recently surpassed a $2 billion market cap, has experienced a sharp 30% price drop in the past week, bringing its value down to $1.36. However, emerging signals suggest that PNUT’s recovery might be just around the corner.
While some traders may wait for further discounts, this analysis indicates that the opportunity to buy at these lower levels could be closing fast.
Bearish Sentiment Around Peanut the Squirrel Could Fuel Bounce
One key indicator hinting at a potential PNUT recovery is the Weighted Sentiment, which evaluates market perception using social volume. A positive sentiment typically reflects bullish market commentary, often driving increased demand and price growth. Conversely, negative sentiment signals bearish sentiment across the market.
However, extreme readings in Weighted Sentiment can trigger contrarian moves. For instance, overly bullish sentiment might precede a price correction, while extreme negativity often sets the stage for a rebound.
According to Santiment data, PNUT’s Weighted Sentiment has plunged to a historic low of 0.12. This deeply bearish sentiment suggests market pessimism, but its extremity could fuel what’s known as a “hated rally,” where overwhelming negativity ignites an unexpected recovery.
Further, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is another indicator suggesting that the Solana meme coin’s value could erase part of its losses. The RSI is a technical oscillator that uses the speed and size of price changes to measure momentum.
When the reading drops, the momentum is bearish. Conversely, if the RSI reading rises, the momentum is bullish.
On the 1-hour chart, even though the indicator is below the 50.00 midpoint, the rating has increased from yesterday. Should this rating continue to surge, then PNUT’s price might rise higher than $1.36.
PNUT Price Prediction: Rally Toward $1.94 Begins
Looking at the same 1-hour timeframe, BeInCrypto observed that the trading volume around PNUT has increased. However, it is important to note that both buyers and sellers are still involved in transacting the token.
Still, it appears that bulls are defending the price at $1.31. If this remains successful, then PNUT’s price could rally toward $1.64 in the short term. In a highly bullish situation, PNUT recovery could see the price climb to $1.94.
On the other hand, if selling pressure increases, this might not happen. Instead, the meme coin’s value could drop to $1.26 in the short term.
Disclaimer
In line with the Trust Project guidelines, this price analysis article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. BeInCrypto is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Always conduct your own research and consult with a professional before making any financial decisions. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
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