Market
Colombia Eyes Digital Assets Regulation Law

BeInCrypto comprehensive Latam Crypto Roundup brings Latin America’s most important news and trends. With reporters in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and more, we cover the latest updates and insights from the region’s crypto scene.
This week’s roundup includes stories on El Salvador’s plans to strengthen trade relations with Russia using Bitcoin, Binance’s survey of Latin American customers, Colombia’s efforts to develop a clear regulatory framework, and more.
Latam Investors Plan to Buy More Crypto, Says Binance
A Binance survey reveals that nearly all Latam investors intend to increase their crypto holdings in the coming year. The study interviewed around 10,000 Binance customers from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. The participants, who had varying levels of investment, provided insights into their behavior and outlook on the crypto market.
According to Binance, 95% of surveyed customers plan to boost their cryptocurrency investments in the next 12 months. Of these, 42.2% expect to make purchases within the next three months, 17% within six months, and 35.7% within the year.
The research also highlighted the buying habits of investors. More than 54% purchase cryptocurrencies at least once a month. Notably, 6.6% buy more than once a day, 4.6% buy daily, 15.4% buy weekly, and 27.8% buy monthly.
When deciding which cryptocurrencies to buy, a third of the customers base their decisions on market conditions. Additionally, over 50% of the participants have been investing in cryptocurrencies for more than a year.
Read more: Best Crypto To Buy Now: Top Coins To Keep an Eye on in August 2024
The survey also explored the reasons behind their investments. Approximately 20.3% cited prospects of high profitability, 15.2% mentioned financial freedom, while 13.3% were motivated by money protection. Other reasons included innovation (12.5%), portfolio diversification (10.9%), and security and privacy (10.3%).
“Cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology offer an attractive proposition to meet concrete needs in the day-to-day lives of individuals and businesses in Latin America. With a smartphone and minimal requirements, anyone can begin to explore this world that offers lower access, costs, and transaction times. This research not only helps us to expose the current state of cryptocurrency adoption in the region but also allows us to provide insights into user behavior and expectations,” Guilherme Nazar, Binance’s regional vice president for Latin America, commented.
Worldcoin Executive Reveals Operations Without License in Ecuador
The Data Protection Superintendence of Ecuador denies receiving formal notification about Worldcoin’s operations, despite claims from Martin Mazza, regional manager for Latin America of Tools for Humanity (TFH).
For over a month, citizens in Guayaquil and Quito have had their irises scanned in exchange for cryptocurrencies via a mobile app. Users, often unaware of the terms and purposes of their biometric data usage, have received over $24 in crypto.
This raises concerns about compliance with personal data protection regulations. Fabrizio Peralta Díaz, Superintendent of Data Protection, noted the institution’s lack of resources for effective supervision, adding that he is the only official available for these duties. Peralta confirmed that contact with Worldcoin was limited to a briefing on June 17, 2024, not an official notification or request for authorization.
Read more: What Is Worldcoin? A Guide to the Iris-Scanning Crypto Project
Mazza claimed Worldcoin operates in Ecuador under a franchise model, without needing a local branch, and complies with applicable regulations, thus requiring no specific license. He stated that users can access information about the service at location centers.
The superintendence warned that if personal data processing irregularities are found, corrective measures could include ceasing data processing, as per Article 65 of the Organic Law on Personal Data Protection. However, Peralta emphasized that implementing these measures requires a technical report and due process, which are limited by the institution’s financial and human resource constraints.
JusToken Enters Brazil and Argentina
JusToken, a new global tokenization infrastructure company, is entering the real-world asset (RWA) space in Brazil and Argentina. The company aims to provide solutions in collaboration with various sector companies.
“Tokenization allows us to connect the real world with the digital world, creating a new universe of possibilities,” said JusToken’s CEO and co-founder, Eduardo Novillo Astrada. “To achieve this, a solid, scalable, and proven infrastructure that can adapt to diverse needs is essential. Justoken was born to tokenize, empower, and expand businesses. We offer solutions tailored to each industry’s needs, powered by blockchain, which gives us transparency, agility, speed, and security.”
Read more: How To Invest in Real-World Crypto Assets (RWA)?
JusToken comprises several firms, including Agrotoken, which tokenizes agricultural products; Landtoken, a farmland tokenization platform; Pectoken, a livestock tokenization platform; Enertoken, a global energy tokenization platform; and SAYKY, which offers carbon-based and ESG solutions.
The company’s goal is to convert physical assets into digital assets with liquidity and security through blockchain.
Chilean Congressman Investigated for Holding Millions in Cryptocurrency
Amid the investigation into an alleged mega-fraud involving former Maipú mayor Cathy Barriga, a new controversy has surfaced concerning her husband, Congressman Joaquín Lavín León.
Between 2018 and 2021, Lavín reportedly invested over $48 million in cryptocurrencies through the Buda.com platform. The substantial volume of these investments caught the attention of authorities, especially after the platform requested information on the origin of the funds. Lavín’s failure to respond led to the temporary blocking of his account.
Cathy Barriga’s lawyer, Cristóbal Bonacic, has defended the legitimacy of these investments, asserting that all the money in question comes from Lavín’s legitimate income. Bonacic explained that Lavín’s lack of response to the source of funds request was due to him no longer making investments on Buda.com, not due to any lack of clarity about the funds.
Read more: Complete Guide to Filing Cryptocurrency Taxes in 2024
Suspicion also surrounds a $12,600 transaction made in September 2018 by Vicente González, Barriga’s eldest son. Vicente, who was 19 at the time, made the transaction from his Buda.com account before he began his relationship with the Internal Revenue Service.
Neither Cathy Barriga nor Joaquín Lavín have made additional statements. Bonacic concluded that there is no objection to the Public Prosecutor’s Office investigating thoroughly, maintaining that there has been no irregular or illegal action in the context of these investments.
El Salvador Willing to Pay Russia in Bitcoin for Bilateral Business
El Salvador, having already legalized Bitcoin as legal tender, is now prepared to use cryptocurrencies for trade with Russia. Alexander Ilyukhin, first secretary of the Russian Embassy in Nicaragua and head of the branch in El Salvador, announced this during an interview with local media outlet Izvestia.
Given that El Salvador’s official currency is the US dollar, Ilyukhin mentioned that the country faces challenges with payments. To address these issues, El Salvador proposes that Russia adopt cryptocurrencies for transactions.
This initiative symbolizes a move toward alternative international payment methods amid sanctions and restrictions. However, the practical benefits of such declarations are often negligible, even if implemented.
Read more: Who Owns the Most Bitcoin in 2024?
In recent years, El Salvador and Russia have been strengthening trade relations. At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, El Salvador’s Vice President Felix Uyoa confirmed a commitment to expand trade ties with Russia, especially with innovation-driven companies. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov also noted the potential for increased trade, emphasizing the need for direct contacts between the business communities of both countries.
Despite these efforts, current trade volumes between the nations are minimal. In the fourth quarter of 2023, Russia exported goods worth approximately $1 million to El Salvador, while imports from El Salvador did not exceed $20,000. El Salvador mainly exports coffee and its substitutes to Russia, while Russia supplies fertilizers and machinery to El Salvador.
Google and Itaú Brazil Integrate Central Bank Digital Payments
On July 30, Google announced the integration of Pix, Brazil’s instant payment system, into its digital wallet. This new feature aims to simplify transactions, allowing users to make payments and transfers quickly and securely without needing to open their bank’s app.
To enable this integration, Google obtained a specific payment indicator license from the Central Bank. Users can now add their Pix keys to Google Wallet, making payments at merchants and online stores that accept Pix. Additionally, they can send and receive money from friends and family instantly, 24/7.
Google Pay, the tech giant’s platform for online and contactless payments, will ensure transaction security with encryption and two-factor authentication. Google highlights that Pix in Google Wallet offers a convenient way to make payments without cash or cards.
Read more: Crypto vs. Banking: Which Is a Smarter Choice?

The functionality will launch gradually, initially available only to C6 Bank and PicPay customers. Elisa Jóia, Google’s head of payments operations for Latin America, stated that this first stage aims to test the functionality and gather user feedback.
“The idea is to do a small launch, so we can understand what the user feedback will be like, to ensure as much security as possible,” Jóia said.
Integrating Pix into Google Wallet will create a fully digital wallet, offering users the choice between credit, debit, and Pix. With the popularity of Google’s digital wallet and Pix’s wide acceptance, this new feature has the potential to drive financial inclusion and simplify transactions for millions of Brazilians.
Colombian Banks and Regulators Consider Cryptocurrency Law
Colombia is positioning itself as a leader in crypto adoption in Latam but faces significant regulatory challenges concerning cryptocurrencies and digital assets. To address these issues, banking entities are pushing for regulations that would make the Colombian Financial Superintendency’s Sandbox more practical and extensive.
Despite the absence of a clear regulatory framework, local media such as Portafolio report that Colombian financial institutions are advancing in their integration of cryptocurrencies. Bancolombia, Davivienda, and Itaú have begun to develop their own exchange platforms despite regulatory uncertainties. For instance, Bancolombia has launched Wenia, a platform designed to facilitate cryptocurrency transactions, backed by a stablecoin pegged to the Colombian peso.
Davivienda has demonstrated its technological capabilities and is awaiting a more mature regulatory environment to fully enter the crypto market. However, these initiatives face the obstacle of an unstable regulatory framework. The recent LaArenera ‘sandbox’ stage, created by the Superintendencia Financiera to test new technologies in a controlled environment, highlighted the limitations of the current regulations.
Read more: Crypto Regulation: What Are the Benefits and Drawbacks?
Although the pilot involved alliances like Banco de Bogotá with Bitso and Davivienda with Binance, progress toward widespread cryptocurrency adoption remains slow.
As the Latam crypto scene grows, these stories highlight the region’s increasing influence in the global market. Stay tuned for more updates and insights in next week’s roundup.
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.
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Top Crypto Airdrops to Watch in the First Week of April

As traders and investors anticipate the beginning of April and the onset of the second quarter (Q2) of 2025, crypto airdrops present an opportunity to join promising communities while they are still on the ground floor.
This week, three notable crypto airdrops stand out as worth watching.
Walrus
Walrus (WAL), a decentralized storage protocol on the Sui blockchain, launched its mainnet and token generation event (TGE) on March 27. The event coincided with South Korea’s Upbit exchange listing WAL.
The TGE saw Walrus distribute 4% of its 5 billion token supply via an airdrop. Eligible participants, including early Sui ecosystem users and testnet contributors, received Soulbound NFTs redeemable for WAL tokens. As April commences, 6% of Walrus tokens are reserved for future community rewards.
“At the moment 4% of the 10% tokens allocated for the airdrop have been distributed, so Walrus still has tokens to reward users,” Cryptorank.io noted.
WAL powers storage payments, staking, and governance, with listings on exchanges like Crypto.com and MEXC offering prize pools. The project’s airdrop comes after raising $140 million from Andreessen Horowitz, Standard Crypto, Electric Capital, and Comma3 Ventures, among others.
Meanwhile, Walrus’s market cap exceeds $573 million, reflecting strong adoption potential. Data on CoinGecko shows it was trading for $0.45 as of this writing.

Staking opportunities with validators like Mysten Labs or Nansen enhance rewards, but high commissions (up to 60%) apply. One of Walrus and Sui’s founders recently announced that users could stake WAL tokens to get airdrops. As this could mean airdrops from Walrus and projects from the Sui ecosystem, engaging with Sui dApps and testnets remains key for future allocations.
Nansen
The project has raised up to $88.2 million from investors such as Andreessen Horowitz, Coinbase Ventures, Accel, and Mechanism Capital, among others. Coupled with the fundraiser, Nansen has a valuation of $750 million.
Nansen, a leading blockchain analytics platform, confirmed an airdrop, drawing excitement due to its prominence and past reward patterns. The project launched a staking program and announced a point system in 2025.
“We’re excited to announce that we have acquired Stakewithus (SWU)! SWU is a non-custodial staking service provider with $80m+ staked by 30k+ users & supports 20+ chains You can now analyze data, monitor your portfolio, and stake assets in one place with Nansen,” read the announcement.
Users can stake assets (STRK and TRX), and points are expected to be credited retrospectively. Nansen also mentions the NSG token, so participants will most likely receive an airdrop for points.
Market participants should monitor Nansen’s social channels and partnerships for updates, as airdrops typically reward active users or data contributors.
With no token launched yet, any potential airdrop might tie into a future native token, likely incentivizing early adopters or premium subscribers. Given Nansen’s influence in the crypto space, tracking wallet activity and on-chain data, its airdrop could attract significant attention.
Participants should engage with its tools and stake in supported ecosystems to position themselves for unannounced opportunities.
OG Labs
This modular AI chain combines Layer-1 blockchain with decentralized AI, focusing on scalable Data Availability for AI applications.
The status of OG Labs airdrop stands confirmed, bringing forth an emerging player in the crypto space. This makes it a speculative target for market participants. It boasts up to $325 million in funds raised from investors such as Delphi Ventures, Hack VC, Animoca Brands, and OKX Ventures, among others.
The airdrop is potentially tied to Web3 innovation or NFT ecosystems (given the “OG” moniker). It follows models like Walrus, rewarding early testers or community members.
“There are new activities on the OG test network – we can request test tokens and make swaps,” Cryptorank.io noted.
The OG Labs airdrop requires no investment. Users can engage through OG Labs’ Newton Testnet, which tests-core functionalities like decentralized storage, consensus, and data availability services. Participants must complete at least 20 transactions, stay active for three days, and interact with features like swaps, storage scans, and NFT minting.
“Interact with the OG Labs Testnet and Become Eligible for the Airdrop,” crypto researcher Guatamgg stated.
Additionally, users can boost eligibility by taking Discord roles such as OGurus or OG Role. These activities involve community contributions and verification steps. This airdrop targets active ecosystem participants, aligning with OG Labs’ emphasis on community-driven development.
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
Strategic Move for Trump Family in Crypto

Energy infrastructure platform Hut 8 Corp has partnered with US President Donald Trump’s sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., to launch American Bitcoin Corp.
The company is dedicated to industrial-scale Bitcoin mining and developing a strategic reserve.
All You Need to Know about American Bitcoin
American Bitcoin’s leadership team includes Mike Ho as executive chair, Matt Prusak as CEO, and Eric Trump as CSO. The Board of Directors comprises Mike Ho, Asher Genoot (also Hut 8 CEO), Justin Mateen, and Michael Broukhim.
According to the announcement, Hut 8 holds an 80% ownership stake in American Bitcoin. This follows the contribution of its ASIC miners to American Data Centers Inc., a company formed by investors including the Trump brothers.
Subsequently, they renamed and relaunched the entity as American Bitcoin. As a new subsidiary focused on industrial-scale Bitcoin mining, this move aims for an efficiency of 50+ EH/s (exahashes per second). Meanwhile, Hut 8 remains the key infrastructure partner, consolidating financials under its brand.
Eric Trump, co-founder and chief strategy officer of American Bitcoin, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration. He also emphasized the synergy between Hut 8’s operational excellence and shared passion for decentralized finance (DeFi) as a foundation for significant future growth.
“…By combining Hut 8’s proven operational excellence in data centers with our shared passion for Bitcoin and decentralized finance, we are poised to strengthen our foundation and drive significant future growth,” an excerpt in the announcement read, citing Eric Trump.
Donald Trump Jr. highlighted their longstanding commitment to Bitcoin, noting their conviction in Bitcoin personally and through their businesses. He reiterated the opportunity presented by mining Bitcoin under favorable economics and the potential for investors to participate in Bitcoin’s growth through this new platform.
Similarly, Genoot described the launch of American Bitcoin as a pivotal evolution in their platform strategy. By establishing a standalone entity for mining operations, Hut 8 aims to align each business segment with its respective cost of capital. Specifically, they would create two focused yet complementary companies.
Meanwhile, this venture is part of the Trump family’s broader engagement in the crypto industry. World Liberty Financial, the crypto venture linked to the Trump family, recently launched USD1. US treasuries, dollars, and cash equivalents back the stablecoin. The venture aims to facilitate secure cross-border transactions for investors and institutions.
Furthermore, reports indicate that the Trump family is discussing acquiring a stake in Binance.US. This is the American arm of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, Binance. Given the family’s growing involvement in the sector, such an investment could significantly influence the crypto market.
These initiatives reflect the Trump family’s commitment to positioning the US at the forefront of the crypto industry. It also aligns with President Donald Trump’s ambition to establish the US as a global leader in digital assets.
“While people are worrying about the daily price action, President Trump and Eric Trump are building the infrastructure to take crypto to the next level,” crypto investor Gordon noted.

BeInCrypto data shows BTC was trading for $82,199 as of this writing. It is down by over 1.13% in the last 24 hours, unmoved by news of American Bitcoin. However, this could change once US markets open.
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
Don’t Fall for These Common Crypto Scams

ZachXBT, a well-known blockchain investigator, recently shared two key “minimum checks” on Telegram to avoid crypto scams.
He emphasized that users must accept full financial responsibility if they take risks in these situations and added that recovering lost funds would be extremely difficult.
Evaluating a Project’s Credibility is Crucial
ZachXBT highlighted two critical scenarios: depositing funds into forked DeFi protocols on newly launched EVM chains and getting scammed by projects with few smart followers on Kaito.
“If you make either of these decisions, it is your own personal choice to risk funds, and I will NOT help you,” ZachXBT stressed.
Many newly launched DeFi protocols on EVM chains are replicas of existing ones. Their teams often do not create original code but instead, fork from established protocols. This process requires minimal technical skills yet introduces significant security risks.
A recent incident highlighted the risks in the DeFi space. The DeFi protocol SIR.trading was reportedly hacked, leading to an estimated loss of $350,000. Despite the project’s documentation promoting it as a “new DeFi protocol for safer leveraged trading,” it acknowledged the risks related to smart contract vulnerabilities.
This case illustrates how new DeFi protocols often become targets for hackers. Additionally, in late March, the DeFi lending protocol Abracadabra suffered a loss of approximately $13 million due to an exploit involving collateralized tokens.
The second situation ZachXBT warned about involves getting “rugged” (falling victim to a rug pull) by projects with few smart followers on Kaito. Kaito is an AI-powered analysis tool that measures real community interest. He advised that checking followers’ numbers and quality is a basic step to avoid falling for projects that use fake engagement or empty marketing hype.
Investor Xero agreed with ZachXBT, stating that Kaito can be a credibility assessment tool.
“Kaito has become an amazing security and reputation tool that I value over others. It can help you identify an impersonator or a new rug project fast. If a 40k+ follower project isn’t connecting with real smart followers, it’s not legit,” Investor Xero commented.
Other Emerging Crypto Scams
In addition to ZachXBT’s warnings, several new scam tactics have recently been flagged.
Investor Jerome warned about a scheme that exploits browsers’ automatic download function to trick users into downloading malicious software.
Another method involves scammers creating and sending small transactions. They would be often as little as 0.001 tokens—using fake wallet addresses that closely resemble legitimate ones. Their goal is to deceive users into copying and pasting the fraudulent address when making future transactions.
Additionally, Microsoft has identified StilachiRAT, a new remote access trojan specifically designed to target cryptocurrency wallets and login credentials.
According to a Chainalysis report, from 2021 to 2024, decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms have been the primary targets of crypto hacks.

The report explains that DeFi platforms may be more vulnerable because developers prioritize rapid growth and launch over security measures. This lack of security focus makes them prime targets for hackers.
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.
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