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A Titanic Watch and Legal Battles

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Following FTX’s collapse, the trajectories of its former executives have diverged sharply. Patrick Gruhn, the German fintech entrepreneur who led FTX Europe, recently made headlines with a historic purchase. Meanwhile, Ryan Salame, former co-chief executive of FTX Digital Markets, faced a bleaker resolution, giving up his multimillion-dollar property in the Bahamas.

In a separate development, FTX estate continues to sell its token holdings as a part of its reimbursement plans.

From FTX to Titanic Relics

According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, Gruhn purchased a 14-karat gold pocket watch that survived the Titanic’s sinking. The watch was once owned by John Jacob Astor IV for nearly $1.5 million. Henry Aldridge & Son, an English auction house renowned for its Titanic memorabilia, confirmed the sale.

This purchase is beyond a significant acquisition. Gruhn admitted that this watch is a gift for his wife, and he plans to exhibit it in museums.

“This is more than an artifact; it’s a reminder of resilience and history,” Gruhn commented.

Read more: FTX Collapse Explained: How Sam Bankman-Fried’s Empire Fell

The 14-karat Watch was Purchased by Gruhn
The 14-karat Watch was Purchased by Gruhn. Source: Wall Street Journal

Despite his connections with Sam Bankman-Fried, the controversial co-founder and former CEO of FTX, Gruhn was able to negotiate his way out of a potential legal mess. The settlement freed him from a lawsuit. The lawsuit could have forced him to return over $323 million, which Bankman-Fried allegedly overpaid for the Swiss firm that later became FTX Europe.

Gruhn stated that he had learned of Bankman-Fried’s fraudulent activities when FTX collapsed. He also mentioned that he used money earned from selling his companies to purchase the watch.

Since departing from FTX, he has launched a new business to develop a European crypto derivatives exchange. Additionally, he runs a German Catholic TV network.

Salame’s Settlements and SOL Token Sales

In contrast, Ryan Salame, former co-chief executive of FTX Digital Markets, faced a harsher outcome. He became involved in legal proceedings and ultimately agreed to surrender his $5.9 million property in the Bahamas.

According to the information in a motion from FTX Trading Ltd. and its affiliated debtors and debtors-in-possession, this action was part of his obligation to make restitution for his guilty plea to charges of fraud and conspiracy.

BeInCrypto reported Salame pleaded guilty at the court on September 7, 2023. However, authorities released him on a $1 million bond with the support of two co-signers. His sentencing is set for May 28, 2024.

Meanwhile, the crypto community closely watches the FTX estate’s maneuvers, such as selling Solana tokens.

Read more: Who Is John J. Ray III, FTX’s New CEO?

The FTX estate has begun its second tranche of token sales, fetching between $85 to $110 each. Despite the discount to current market prices, demand remains high. Active participation from notable firms like Galaxy Trading and Pantera Capital in these auctions represents the interest in these sales.

The objective of the estate is to initiate repayments by late 2024. This strategy was developed during a recent meeting of FTX Digital’s Joint Official Liquidators in the Bahamas. They are handling a dual bankruptcy procedure in the United States and the Bahamas.

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 ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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Crypto Whale Dumps $21 Million in Ethereum Before ETF Launch

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A crypto whale wallet – 0x742, likely liquidated a substantial Ethereum position valued at approximately $21.43 million. This investor deposited 7,240 Ethereum (ETH) into the Kraken crypto exchange at $2,960 per ETH.

The move is intriguing, especially given the proximity to the anticipated launch of Ethereum-based ETFs.

Ethereum Attempts a Price Recovery

According to Spot On Chain, in December 2022, 0x742 had withdrawn 8,240 ETH from Kraken at a much lower price of $1,189. This strategic hold resulted in a profit of roughly $12.83 million, marking a 149% gain over eighteen months.

Apart from the deposit of 7,240 ETH to Kraken, the crypto whale transferred an additional 1,000 ETH to an unidentified wallet.

Read more: Ethereum ETF Explained: What It Is and How It Works

This divestment coincides with a surge of optimism about the pending approval and trading of Ethereum-based ETFs in the US. Analysts such as James Seyffart and Eric Balchunas from Bloomberg Intelligence suggest these ETFs might start trading as soon as next week.

Additionally, Nate Geraci, president of the ETF Store, suggested that ETFs could commence trading within the next two weeks, with a target around July 15. The prediction comes as Bitwise updated its S-1 filing last week.

Geraci explained his reasoning behind the July 15 prediction.

“Most issuers (I believe all but Bitwise) still have to submit amendments on Monday. The final S-1 will then be submitted after that, which needs to happen by Wednesday as I assume issuers don’t want a Friday launch. I think this is unlikely, so I move the timeline to the July 15,” Geraci said.

Notably, crypto whales like 0x742 decided to exit positions ahead of these developments. Investors typically deposit assets into centralized exchanges when they plan to sell and withdraw them to private wallets for long-term holdings.

Therefore, this move might indicate skepticism about Ethereum’s near-term market prospects despite the positive outlook for ETFs. It might also suggest that the crypto whale panic sold after Ethereum hit a low of $2,800 last week.

Ethereum’s price action has been volatile recently, with a notable dip of about 23% from its peak after preliminary ETF approval news. However, it has shown signs of recovery, forming a double bottom pattern, which suggests potential upward movement.

Read more: Ethereum (ETH) Price Prediction 2024/2025/2030

Ethereum (ETH) Price Performance
Ethereum (ETH) Price Performance. Source: TradingView

If Ethereum can break through the resistance at $3,080, it could climb to $3,350. Conversely, failing to break this resistance might lead to price consolidation in the range of $2,876 to $3,080.

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 ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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DOGE Open Interest Falls to early Low, Price Holds at $0.10

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Dogecoin’s (DOGE) steady price decline in the past few weeks has negatively impacted activity in its derivatives market. 

At $2.51 billion as of the writing, the meme coin’s total open interest has cratered to its lowest level since the beginning of the year. 

Dogecoin Derivatives Traders Say Their Goodbyes

An asset’s open interest measures the total number of outstanding options or futures contracts that have not been settled or closed.

When it increases, it indicates that new contracts are being created, suggesting growing interest or activity in the market. Conversely, when open interest decreases, it means that existing contracts are being closed without new ones being opened, which can indicate a decline in market activity or interest.

As of this writing, DOGE’s open interest is $2.51 billion. It initiated its downtrend on June 8 and has since declined by 80%. For context, the meme coin’s open interest was above $10 billion a month ago. 

Read More: Dogecoin (DOGE) vs Shiba Inu (SHIB): What’s the Difference?

Dogecoin Open Interest. Source: Santiment
Dogecoin Open Interest. Source: Santiment

The decline in its derivatives market activity is due to the steady dip in its value during the period under review. The ninth-ranked cryptocurrency asset by market capitalization trades at $0.10 at press time. Its price has fallen by 30% in the last month.

This unabated decline in DOGE’s value even prompted many of its futures traders to demand short positions on July 6. This is based on the readings from the coin’s funding rate, which was negative (-0.026%) on that day.

Dogecoin Funding Rate. Source: Coinglass
Dogecoin Funding Rate. Source: Coinglass

Funding rates are used in perpetual futures contracts to ensure that the contract price stays close to the spot price. 

When an asset’s funding rate is negative, more traders are holding short positions. This means more traders anticipate the asset’s price will decline than those expecting it to rise and sell at a higher price. 

DOGE Price Prediction: A Rebound On the Horizon?

Despite the decline in DOGE’s value, its Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) has maintained an uptrend. As of this writing, DOGE’s CMF is above the zero line at 0.03 and currently trends upward. 

Dogecoin Analysis. Source: TradingView
Dogecoin Analysis. Source: TradingView

This indicator measures the flow of money into and out of an asset. When an asset’s price declines while its CMF climbs, it indicates a bullish divergence between price and money flow. 

It suggests that despite the falling price, there is significant buying volume. This divergence implies that buyers are stepping in and accumulating the asset at lower prices, which may weaken the selling pressure.

If buying activity continues to gain momentum, DOGE’s price may rise to $0.11.

Read More: Dogecoin (DOGE) Price Prediction 2024/2025/2030

Dogecoin Analysis.
Dogecoin Analysis. Source: TradingView

However, if the divergence is a false signal and selling pressure remains high, DOGE’s price may plummet to $0.08.

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 ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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Phishing Group Pink Drainers Scammed

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A recent report suggests that the infamous phishing organization Pink Drainers became victims of fraud themselves.

This incident highlights the growing sophistication, complexity, and risks of cybercrime, as well as the enormous financial damage phishing attempts still cause globally.

Phishing Masters Pink Drainers Tricked by Fake Wallet Address

An address connected to the Pink Drainers became a victim of address poisoning fraud, according to crypto tracking tool MistTrack. In late June, the infamous phishing outfit lost 10 Ethereum (ETH), valued at about $30,000, to a phony wallet address.

MistTrack covered several Ethereum transactions involving the Pink Drainers in their X (Twitter) post. One picture displays a transaction history with important transfers to both valid and fraudulent addresses. These transactions include the arrival of 20 ETH and many transfers of 10 ETH.

Read more: Crypto Scam Projects: How To Spot Fake Tokens

Pink Drainers' Transaction Routes and Scam.
Pink Drainers’ Transaction Routes and Scam. Source: X/MistTrack

Furthermore, MistTrack displayed the transfer of money across addresses, including Pink Drainers, a real address (0xEfF0ECD2eB275C3CEE4A17D9B8f10151), and a bogus address (0xEfF0eCD2eB275C3CEE4A17D9B8f101). The transactions reveal address poisoning, with the fake address closely matching the real one, deceiving Pink Drainers.

Scam Sniffer’s Dune dashboard noted that Pink Drainer had stolen $85.29 million from 21,131 victims between July 2023 and May 2024. Highlighting the unpredictable nature of cybercrime, this ironic turn of events saw those who once hunted becoming the hunted themselves.

A recent report from CertiK noted that phishing was the most costly attack vector in the second quarter of 2024, with $433.68 million lost across 67 incidents. These incidents were responsible for most of the financial losses in the cybersecurity field. Phishing attacks led to a substantial $497.73 million loss across 150 incidents in the first half of 2024, highlighting their continuous threat.

The report detailed that phishing attacks have been more frequent than private key compromises, with notable financial implications. One of the most significant losses in Q2 involved a phishing victim who lost approximately $68.59 million in Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) due to an address poisoning attack. This attack occurred when the victim sent a small test transaction to a new wallet, unknowingly setting the stage for a massive theft.

Another significant incident involved a phishing victim losing approximately $7.09 million worth of EtherFi (LQIDETH) tokens through address poisoning. The attacker, however, returned some of the stolen tokens. Despite these rare instances of restitution, the vast majority of phishing victims do not see their funds returned.

“You can’t rely on an attacker returning your funds, and an incident where this happens still deserves to be included in the overall figures pertaining to value lost. Others are not so lucky. These two incidents were the only two cases we identified of phishing victims seeing their lost funds returned,” the CertiK team noted in its report.

Read more: 15 Most Common Crypto Scams To Look Out For

Past research by Scam Sniffer revealed that hostile groups like Pink Drainers run with corporate-like efficiency. One gang leaves the scene, and another quickly replaces it. For instance, Angel Drainer emerged following Inferno Drainer’s announcement of his leaving, therefore extending the cycle of cybercrime.

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 ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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