Altcoin
Bulletproof No More? Russian Zservers Sanctioned For Alleged LockBit Crypto Crimes
![](https://coin2049.io/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/a_d4dd3e.png)
International authorities are ramping up their efforts to stop groups and individuals using the LockBit ransomware to target unsuspecting users. The latest was the crackdown on the Russia-based Zservers, a bulletproof hosting service provider that allegedly had links with the LockBit cryptocurrency ransomware group.
In a media statement, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) shared that they have worked with the US and the UK to freeze the assets that belong to Zservers and its affiliate company, XHOST Internet Solutions LP, and ban international travel for six persons.
According to the AFP report, over 200 crypto accounts allegedly owned by the group have been frozen by the authorities, cutting the group’s source of funding and profits.
Zservers Hit With Sanctions
Zservers, a bulletproof hosting (BPH) service provider based in Russia, is now facing sanctions for its links with the LockBit gang. LockBit is a Russian group known for deploying one of the most dangerous ransomware attacks in recent years.
🚨 SANCTIONED: Russian cyber entity ZSERVERS, the launchpad for crippling ransomware attacks, and their UK front, XHOST Internet Solutions LP.
The UK is cracking down on the Russian cybercrime supply chain and the predatory ransomware activity it feeds. pic.twitter.com/AzE80qrxMT
— Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) February 11, 2025
In November 2023, the group targeted the Industrial Commercial Bank of China. Multiple reports show that China’s biggest lender paid ransom after the hacking. The hackers were successful, and the bank’s corporate emails stopped working, forcing employees to use Gmail.
A Bulletproof hosting (BPH) service provider, like Zservers, offers access to specialised servers and infrastructure designed to cloak operators, evade detection, and skirt the law.
According to the US Treasury Department, this type of company often sells tools for bad actors that can hide identities, locations, and online identities. Bradley Smith of the US Treasury explained that companies like Zservers enable criminals to attack the US and other countries’ online infrastructure.
What Is The LockBit Ransomware And How Does It Work?
LockBit works as a “ransomware-as-a-service” product, which means that any individual or group, even without tech skills, can buy and use its ready-made ransomware program and target unsuspecting users.
Ransomware is a malicious software that can attack devices and networks and encrypt files and data, making them worthless.
Traditionally, hackers and cybercriminals use ransomware to demand payments from victims in exchange for recovering lost or encrypted data. Often, victims will pay the ransom in cryptocurrency.
Crypto Addresses Owned By Zservers Administrators Now Sanctioned
As part of the authorities’ crackdown, the assets of Zservers’ administrators are currently on hold. According to reports, six individuals were targeted, including two Zserver administrators, Aleksandr Sergeyevich Bolshakov and Alexander Igorevich Mishin, who are involved in LockBit’s crypto transactions.
According to Chainanalysis, a crypto address associated with Minchin and three other wallets owned by the company are now under the control of the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), meaning they’re subject to sanctions.
The office also shared that the group have laundered around $7 billion worth of crypto using 44 Tordano Cash addresses.
Featured image from Gemini Imagen, chart from TradingView
Altcoin
Best Altcoins to Buy as Staking Spot Ethereum ETFs Could Fuel a Crypto Bull Run
![](https://coin2049.io/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/crypto-bull-run.jpg)
Earlier today, CBOE BZX Exchange filed for 21Shares to stake its spot $ETH exchange-traded fund (ETF), sparking optimism of a crypto bull run.
If approved, 21 Shares would break new ground, so it’s not surprising that the 24-hour trading volume for $ETH has shot up by ~35% alongside the news spreading.
Reason for the hype is that it’s anticipated to attract more eyes of institutional investors and uplift the industry at large.
As the excitement continues, we anticipate new altcoins that also have novel values – like $BTCBULL and $MEMEX – to jump during the crypto bull run.
1. Bitcoin Bull ($BTCBULL) – Will Airdrop Bitcoin Every Time $BTC Breaks a Record
First on our list is Bitcoin Bull ($BTCBULL), and for good reason. It’s a perfectly titled bullish crypto project owing to dishing out $BTC every time the crypto leader breaks a new record ($150K, $200K, $250K, and so forth).
Considering $BTC has nearly doubled since last year, winning the world’s largest cryptocurrency might just be a stone’s throw away.
Plus, it’s not just $BTC that’s up for grabs. When Bitcoin reaches $250K, a hefty $BTCBULL airdrop awaits the most dedicated community members (10% of the total token supply is set aside for this purpose).
![staking-spot-ethereum-etf-to-fuel-crypto-bull-run Bitcoin Bull tokenomics](https://bitcoinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/bitcoin-bull-tokenomics_7928aa.png?w=640&resize=700%2C369)
To reap the rewards, all you need to do is connect Best Wallet to the Bitcoin Bull presale website, purchase $BTCBULL (currently at $0.00236), and wait for Bitcoin’s price to spike.
You can also accumulate extra $BTCBULL by staking the token at an impressive 357% APY.
2. Catslap ($SLAP) – Virtually Slap Top Meme Coins to Snag Token Rewards
Also predicted to fly high during the highly anticipated crypto bull run is $SLAP, which opens access to the world’s first-ever slap-to-earn game, Catslap, where a hefty amount of tokens can be won.
To snag free crypto, all you need to do is play the game and act as a virtual cat to slap top meme coins (like $DOGE and $SHIB). If successful, you’ll rank up the slapometer (the project’s leadership board) and win $SLAP in return.
![staking-spot-ethereum-etf-to-fuel-crypto-bull-run The first ever slap-to-earn game, Catslap](https://bitcoinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/catslap-slap-to-earn.png?w=640&resize=700%2C285)
The slapometer plays a prominent role in the ecosystem. Every time it reaches certain milestones (depending on how many slaps take place and $SLAP coins are unstaked early), a portion of the token’s total supply is burned (taken out of circulation).
Rarer coins often attract attention because they are harder to accumulate, possibly making their prices jump.
Further attracting eyes to Catslap is ‘Slap Drop.’ Here, you can earn more $SLAP by completing social tasks and interacting with memes on Zealy (but you must download the Best Wallet app first).
To get started, buy $SLAP on the official site for $0.00113096 or on MEXC for $0.0010. Considering we predict its price will hit $0.0135 at the end of the year, and that it’s advocated by the popular YouTuber Crypto ZEUS (who has 85.3K subscribers), now signals a great time to buy.
3. Meme Index ($MEMEX) – Linchpin to the First Decentralized Meme Coin Indexes
Another one of the best presales is Meme Index ($MEMEX), the backbone of the world’s first decentralized meme coin indexes currently in development.
But there’s a catch: only $MEMEX holders will get access to them once they go live.
These meme coin baskets will be worth checking out because they cater to each trader’s risk tolerances, regardless of their needs.
For example, Meme Titan Index is the most conservative approach because it highlights the top eight meme coins, whereas the Meme Frenzy Index is laden with high-risk coins that would yield the greatest returns.
![staking-spot-ethereum-etf-to-fuel-crypto-bull-run Meme Titan Index](https://bitcoinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/meme-titan-index.png?w=640&resize=700%2C391)
An extra bonus is that more $MEMEX can be accumulated through 632% staking rewards, of which 25% of the total token supply is set aside.
To top it off, 20% of $MEMEX’s full amount is also allocated to governance and voting, so you can vote on your favorite memes to be featured in the Meme Frenzy Index and upcoming baskets.
Joining the presale is easy. Head to the official Meme Index website, connect your wallet to the widget, and buy $MEMEX for $0.0161637 using either $ETH, $USDT, $BNB, or fiat.
4. Stobox Token ($STBU) – Low-Cap Entry Into the Rapidly Growing RWA Industry
Last but not least is $STBU, whose daily trading volume is up by 39.57% owing to its distinct use cases.
$STBU is a digital currency in the Stobox ecosystem, which entails blockchain services and tools, including the Stobox Dashboard and DS Swap.
It pays transaction costs and commissions, rewards dedicated users, and provides governance and tokenization services.
Also making it a valuable purchase during a crypto bull run is its tokenization service. Stobox turns real-world assets (RWAs) like property and shares into digital assets, leveraging $STBU in the process.
![staking-spot-ethereum-etf-to-fuel-crypto-bull-run The Stobox tokenization solution](https://bitcoinist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/stobox-tokenization-solution-.png?w=640&resize=700%2C445)
Given that the RWA market is predicted to exceed $50B by the end of this year, the tokens are a cost-friendly entry point into a flourishing market that shows no signs of slowing down.
Join the trend by purchasing $STBU for approximately $0.013 on major centralized exchanges, including Binance and KuCoin.
Will Staking Spot ETH ETFs Spark a Crypto Bull Run?
The anticipation of soon being able to stake 21Shares spot $ETH ETF is attracting attention, pointing at a crypto bull run potentially being just around the corner.
It could significantly boost Ethereum’s overall adoption and have a ripple effect in the entire crypto realm.
Also attracting attention to the development is that it’d be the first of its kind to do so. In the crypto space, investors are keen to get their hands on what’s typically hard to attain, which is why novel coins like $BTCBULL and $SLAP are also poised to rocket.
Nonetheless, this isn’t investment advice. Always DYOR before making investments and never invest more than you’d be sad to lose.
Altcoin
Bitcoin Price Soars Despite US PPI Dampens Crypto Market Sentiment
![](https://coin2049.io/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Crypto-Market-Awaits-US-PPI.webp.webp)
The much-awaited US PPI data today showed that the inflation has advanced 3.5% in January, up from the prior month’s figure of 3.3%. This gloomy data, after the recent hotter-than-anticipated US CPI inflation figures, has further added pressure on the crypto market traders. However, with an unexpected twist, Bitcoin price has surged crossing the brief $96K mark.
Bitcoin Price Soars After US PPI Release
The latest US PPI Inflation data by the Labor Department has fueled concerns over a potential Bitcoin price crash ahead. However, it appears that the investors have shrugged off the inflationary concerns, as evidenced by the recent surge in BTC.
Meanwhile, the latest data showed that the US PPI advanced 3.5% on a year-over-year basis (YoY) in January, up from 3.3% in the prior month. The inflation on a monthly basis came in at 0.4%, up from the prior month’s figure of 0.2%. Notably, the latest data exceeds Wall Street expectations.
Simultaneously, the Core PPI, which excludes the food and energy prices, came in at 3.4% as compared to December’s figure of 3.3%. On the other hand, the Core PPI on a MoM basis rises to 0.3% from 0.1% recorded in the previous month. The market was expecting the Core PPI to come in at 3.3% and 0.2%, respectively.
Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.
Altcoin
AI Crypto Presales Become Sizzling Hot As OpenAI Wakes Up With GPT-5 On The Way
![](https://coin2049.io/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/OpenAI-agent-crypto-1.jpg)
Deepseek’s sudden aggressive arrival on the AI scene has seemingly woken OpenAI out of its deep slumber.
All of a sudden, GPT 4.5 and GPT 5 are due to be released to the public soon, and Elon Musk wants to buy OpenAI – an offer that was rebuffed by their CEO, Sam Altman.
All of this made-for-TV AI drama has sparked even more investor interest in AI crypto, with most of them currently showing nice bullish profit signs.
Therefore, now is the ideal time to get into some juicy AI crypto presales and hopefully make a few bucks before AI becomes sentient.
MIND of Pepe – The AI Crypto Coin That Wants To Give You An Investment Edge
The problem is, there are a lot of AI crypto coins out there. So which ones are the gold nuggets and which ones are the vegan chicken nuggets?
How about a new crypto AI coin that wants to give you unique investment insights and give you an edge over everyone else? If that sounds like your kind of thing, then take a look at MIND of Pepe ($MIND). Yes, that Pepe.
It seems that the Pepe family are very busy these days with the meme coins business. After first being unchained, then taking Wall Street by storm, their current project is diving into the hive mind of the internet and listening to crypto-related conversations on places like X (formerly Twitter).
MIND of Pepe will analyze all the buzz, figure out all the trends, and break down all the positive and the negative bits of information. Then it will all be presented to $MIND token holders in the form of exclusive investment recommendations.
$MIND token holders will also get early access to new token projects and features. As AI continues its unstoppable forward momentum, getting early access to new cutting-edge AI technologies in the future will be a must-have.
Get MIND of Pepe AI Tokens With a 384% Staking APY
All of these offers makes MIND of Pepe one of the best presales currently out there. The good news is that the price is $0.0033188 right now, which is a very low-cost, low-risk barrier to dipping your toes into the AI waters.
The cherry on top is a sweet staking APY of 384% which is going down each day as investors jump in with both feet.
So today would be a fine day to start buying these AI coins and get an edge over your uncle who thinks he’s going to be rich soon with this ‘AI thing.’
As well as MIND of Pepe, also take a look at some more of our AI crypto recommendations. Some good ones include ai16z ($AI16Z), Freysa (FAI), and Virtuals Protocol ($VIRTUALS).
Before Buying AI Coins, Remember To Do Your Research!
We get it, AI is exciting stuff and you want to invest in the future. But so is keeping a roof over your head and not emptying out the pension fund.
Therefore, the golden rule of crypto investing is to never spend money you can’t afford to potentially lose. Crypto investing is fun but not when you’re broke.
We pride ourselves on our expert analysis of the best altcoins. But nevertheless, don’t ever take only one person’s word for it. Consult lots of sources, ask lots of questions, and come to your own decisions. Then maybe start off with a small investment first to see how it goes?
-
Ethereum9 hours ago
Ethereum Whales Have Bought Over 600,000 ETH In The Past Week – Time For A Price Upswing?
-
Market9 hours ago
Solana (SOL) Inches Toward $200—Breakout Confirmation Needed
-
Altcoin9 hours ago
Analyst Says It’s Time To Buy Bitcoin Again After Cup And Handle Pattern, Reveals New ATH Target
-
Altcoin14 hours ago
US CPI Rises To 3% Sparking Crypto Market Crash Speculations
-
Market13 hours ago
B3 Price Soars, Becoming a Top Coin on the Base Chain
-
Market23 hours ago
Token Unlocks Worth $17B Could Devalue Crypto, Experts Say
-
Altcoin13 hours ago
Dogecoin Price Breakout From Robust Structure Zone Signals Sharp 50% Rise Above $0.33
-
Altcoin23 hours ago
Can ONDO Price Hit $2 or $5?
✓ Share: