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Key Conspirator Arrested Amid User Outrage

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Indian Police have arrested SK Masud Alam, a resident of West Bengal, for his alleged role in the WazirX hack. Earlier this year, the hack resulted in over $230 million in cryptocurrency losses, as customers were unable to withdraw their funds. 

Alam is accused of creating a fake account under the alias Souvik Mondal, which he allegedly sold via Telegram to the hacker. This account was later used to exploit the crypto exchange.  

WazirX Hack Remains One of the Largest Security Incidents in 2024

According to local reports, the police chargesheet points to a lack of cooperation from Liminal Custody, a firm responsible for securing WazirX’s digital wallets. Despite multiple requests, Liminal reportedly did not provide critical information, raising concerns about its security practices.  

The hack occurred on July 18 and targeted a multi-signature wallet with six signatories: five from WazirX and one from Liminal. It ultimately led to the loss of nearly 45% of WazirX’s stored assets.  

In response, the exchange launched a recovery plan ten days later, aiming to return 55% of affected users’ holdings. The remaining 45% was to be issued in USDT-equivalent tokens, leaving users with locked assets.  

WazirX also offered a $23 million bounty to incentivize the recovery of stolen funds and announced a $10,000 reward in USDT for any community member providing actionable intelligence. However, the hacker has yet to make any communications. 

wazirx hack
Amount of different assets lost in the WazirX hack. Source: Elliptic Research

Customers are Outraged Over Missing Out on the Bull Market

For months, WazirX customers have been frustrated for not being able to use their locked assets. The frustration turned into outrage in recent weeks, as the crypto market is going through one of the biggest bull runs of the year. 

Affected users are unable to liquidate their assets as prices keep increasing, potentially loosing out on substantial profits. 

“Bull Run is here but WazirX users can only watch. Market up 50%+ since the hack. $BTC hitting 90k ATH but what’s the point when funds are frozen?” Indian crypto researcher Budhil Vyas wrote in an X (formerly Twitter) post

Most recently, the exchange has launched a ‘rebalencing calculator’ to help affected users understand how they will be credited. However, there have been significant concerns from multiple users about the calculator. 

Some users pointed out that WazirX is partially refunding them tokens that were not affected in the hack. Others have pointed out that the exchange’s portfolio has surged significantly in the current bull market, even recovering the entire loss from the hack. Yet, it’s still keeping user funds frozen. 

“It seems WazirX created rebalancing calculator, just to confuse people & prove to the court that they are doing something. Wazirx has a habit of complicating simple things,” wrote Aditya Singh, the co-founder of Crypto India. 

Overall, it seems that users are seemingly frustrated over the exchange’s fund recovery plans. Crypto hacks have become persistent throughout the year. Just last month, Blockchain lender Radiant Capital suffered a $50 million breach. Hackers have also targeted the US government’s crypto wallets, stealing nearly $20 million in recent months. 

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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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Tensor’s Vector.fun Tests SocialFi Viability Amid Meme Coin Hype

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With the ongoing surge in interest in meme coins, a leading Solana NFT marketplace, Tensor, is launching Vector.fun.

In essence, the project can be described as a SocialFi experience that combines trading with social engagement in one mobile app.

The Road to Vector.fun

Tensor’s Gen-Z-focused approach tries to make meme coin trading more accessible to “normies,” as Tensor co-founder Ilja Moisejeves put it on X. According to Tensor’s founders, everything about trading and crypto is “inherently social.” The main way it tries to achieve this is by making it a shareable experience, driving home the essence of community trading.

“It’s a new way to trade. It’s internet finance in every pocket. It’s how your normie friend gets into crypto. It’s the #1 app in appstore in 2025. Or it’s a f**king dud and I’ll be fired. I guess we’ll find out,” said Tensor co-founder Ilja Moisejevs on X.

As co-founder Richard Wu described on X, the project’s idea arose from a need for a solution to NFT fatigue. The project has been in development over the last eight months, a process the founders described as grueling.

“I probably had 1 weekend off since TGE. One of our BD guys retrained as PM to help with the load. People pulled 20hr days. Engineers slept in the office. 100s of feedback calls. 1000s of PRs. If you think Tensor was built fast…. my god, let me tell you, this thing is 10x more feature-full and was built 10x faster. The team was stupid locked in,” said Tensor co-founder Ilja Moisejevs on X.

Earlier this week, they opened up early access to their waitlist. Shortly after, they had to suspend sign-ups due to high demand, an auspicious sign. Those who’ve already signed up will be granted access in the coming weeks. The existing holders of their NFT collection can confirm ownership on Discord.

In 2023, Tensor emerged as a strong player in the Solana NFT space. But as they debut this trading terminal, repeating that success remains to be seen as they enter this highly competitive atmosphere.

Over the last year, meme coin trading has boomed, largely thanks to Pump.fun, which enables users to create tokens easily and cheaply. Some tokens, like Peanut the Squirrel (PNUT) and Goatseus Maximum (GOAT), have even reached impressive market caps, bringing substantial gains to early investors.

Even with impressive examples like these, most meme coins experience quick deaths. History has proven the same for SocialFi.

The Sad Saga of SocialFi

In late 2024, SocialFi platforms like Farcaster, Lens, and Friend.Tech began seeing a steep decline in user activity. Farcaster, a platform focused on user privacy and data control, experienced a substantial drop in daily active users (DAUs), from 67,000 in July to 34,000 in October, despite acquiring $150 million in funding earlier this year.

Friend.Tech also saw a tumble in revenue. Originally yielding over $4 million in fees in September 2023, developers have since renounced control of its smart contract.

Now, they can no longer make changes or claim ownership. As of June, the project no longer generates any revenue.

Friend.Tech Revenue. Source: Dune.

These struggles highlight challenges in maintaining user interest in the SocialFi space despite large investments and early excitement. However, the recent meme coin craze serves as an ideal launchpad for Vector.fun to take off, testing the arena for SocialFi readiness in the community.

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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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Can Chainlink Help WLFI Beat Setbacks?

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World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a project inspired by Donald Trump’s vision of financial independence, has announced its adoption of Chainlink’s infrastructure.

The partnership with Chainlink aims to establish WLFI as a reliable, secure DeFi platform focused on promoting USD-backed stablecoins and safeguarding the dollar’s role as the global reserve currency. However, amid these ambitious goals, the project faces significant skepticism from crypto investors and a challenging launch marked by technical setbacks.

According to a press release shared with BeInCrypto, World Liberty Financial’s decision to leverage Chainlink technology centers on its use of Chainlink’s Price Feeds for the Ethereum mainnet.

By integrating Chainlink’s secure price feeds, WLFI hopes to enable real-time, dependable financial data across assets like USDC, USDT, ETH, and WBTC. These are crucial to its future launch of an Aave v3-based lending service on its platform.

WLFI’s integration of Chainlink aims to address common DeFi challenges, such as secure cross-chain interoperability and protection from market volatility. This is particularly significant as DeFi has faced frequent scrutiny over transaction security and reliability. Chainlink’s ecosystem, which has processed over $16 trillion in transaction value, is expected to enable WLFI to secure more users and grow its DeFi ecosystem.

“Never before have we been more bullish on crypto or the overall future of DeFi technology,” noted Eric Trump, WLFI’s Web3 Ambassador.

WLFI’s mission represents a vision to democratize financial access and reinforce USD’s supremacy on the global stage, a stance inspired by Trump’s policies. This focus includes promoting privacy-oriented, peer-to-peer (P2P) transactions that WLFI claims align with “American values” of financial independence and freedom.

The platform’s governance is community-driven, with token holders (WLFI) voting on protocol decisions. This would allow World Liberty Financial to take what it calls a “user-driven approach” to shaping the future of its DeFi ecosystem.

Trump’s decentralized finance project also hopes to bridge Web2 and Web3, simplifying DeFi’s notoriously complex user interfaces. This is while it aims to attract a broader, mainstream audience.

The project’s integration of Chainlink for multi-chain connectivity and data infrastructure is a step in that direction. It seeks to streamline asset tokenization and make DeFi accessible to those without a technical background.

While World Liberty Financial’s partnership with Chainlink appears promising on paper, the project has faced investor doubt and early setbacks. During its presale phase, WLFI had to drastically cut its fundraising goals by 90%, sparking questions about the project’s viability. Similarly, many investors remained unimpressed, and concerns have circulated about the project’s capacity to achieve its bold vision.

BeInCrypto also reported how technical difficulties plagued World Liberty Financial’s highly publicized launch. Reports of delayed transactions and connectivity issues dampened investor enthusiasm as potential users faced difficulty accessing the platform. Such issues highlight the inherent risks associated with complex, large-scale DeFi launches, particularly for new projects striving to compete with well-established players.

Despite these challenges, Chainlink Co-Founder Sergey Nazarov expressed optimism. He said Chainlink’s infrastructure could attract a community of users who prioritize security and transparency.

“The Chainlink standard is already widely used across DeFi. It will help WLFI attract users that value the security and reliability that has already helped grow DeFi as an industry,” Nazarov said in a press release shared with BeInCrypto.

This suggests that the partnership may instill greater confidence in WLFI’s platform moving forward. Yet, World Liberty Financial must still prove its value amid a fast-paced DeFi playing field.

The tokenized asset initiative, central to WLFI’s long-term strategy, has yet to demonstrate its unique value proposition compared to established DeFi projects that already leverage Chainlink’s cross-chain infrastructure.

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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JENNER Meme Coin Surges 90% Amid Fraud Suit Against Caitlyn

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Celebrity meme coin JENNER surged over 90% on Thursday, even as a securities lawsuit was filed against Caitlyn Jenner.

Victims accuse the Olympic gold medalist of misleading investors in the token’s offering.

Fraud Allegations Against Caitlyn Jenner Spurs Interest in JENNER

Two international investors, Naeem Azad from the UK and Mihai Caluseru from Romania, initiated legal action in a federal California court. They claim combined losses of more than $50,000. Part of the allegations include Jenner using her celebrity status to attract unwary investors to the cryptocurrency project without full transparency or registration.

Launched on the Solana and Ethereum blockchains, JENNER aimed to capitalize on Caitlyn’s fame and leverage the growing trend of celebrity meme coins. The token debuted on Solana’s meme coin launchpad, Pump.Fun.

According to court documents, JENNER saw trading volume soar to over $250 million in its early days, attracting approximately 20,000 investors globally. However, the lawsuit claims this early success was short-lived. It notes that after reaching record highs, JENNER lost 99% of its peak value as alleged insider trading and project mismanagement surfaced.

The plaintiffs argue that Jenner, her manager Sophia Hutchins, and alleged crypto advisor Sahil Arora violated securities laws.  

“They are tokens without proper registration or transparency,” the document reads.

Arora, a figure reportedly linked to prior financial scams, allegedly dumped a substantial portion of his holdings after the token’s initial surge. This triggered a sell-off that led to the token’s collapse.

In response, the project was relaunched on Ethereum. This, according to the lawsuit, further harmed holders of the original Solana-based token.

The lawsuit highlights various alleged misrepresentations, including unfulfilled promises to list JENNER on major exchanges. Others include unkept commitments for token buybacks and a 3% transaction tax added without informing investors.

Additionally, Jenner reportedly pledged to donate a portion of the project’s revenue to Donald Trump’s 2024 presidential campaign. This promise is also said to have gone unfulfilled.

By failing to disclose details such as insider holdings, purchase prices for early acquisitions, and associated financial risks, the plaintiffs claim that Jenner misled investors about the viability of JENNER as an investment.

Despite this report, data on DexScreener shows that the JENNER meme coin has been up 90% since Thursday’s session opened. As of this writing, it is trading for $0.0007250.

JENNER Price Performance
JENNER Price Performance. Source: DexScreener

A Broader Trend of Celebrity Crypto Controversies

The law firm representing Azad and Caluseru, Fitzgerald Monroe Flynn PC, notes that the JENNER case reflects an ongoing pattern of celebrity cryptocurrency promotions gone awry.

“This case is part of a growing trend where celebrities leverage their public image to launch meme coins, but when the projects collapse, investors are left with the financial consequences.” said Attorney Peter Grazul, who is representing the plaintiffs.

According to Grazul, cases like these highlight the need for tighter regulatory scrutiny to protect investors.

The launch of JENNER gained traction as Jenner actively promoted the coin on social media. She emphasized its novelty and potential as a celebrity-backed meme coin. However, according to the lawsuit, Jenner gradually distanced herself from the project.

Insider allegations even surfaced, suggesting that her early gains from JENNER’s price surge could constitute insider trading. On-chain sleuths began digging into transaction records, alleging that Jenner and her team may have benefited from premeditated price manipulation.

The plaintiffs argue that Jenner’s apparent abandonment of the project signals a disregard for investors’ financial losses.

Meanwhile, celebrity involvement in cryptocurrency has become a double-edged sword. Public figures are progressively lending credibility to projects but often raise red flags about ethical conduct and transparency.

JENNER is not Caitlyn’s only venture in the crypto space. She also launched the MEDAL token, drawing inspiration from her 1976 Olympic gold medal.

While MEDAL is not named in the current lawsuit, its association with Caitlyn and the JENNER controversy could influence investor confidence in the project. This could attract regulatory attention to her other crypto initiatives.

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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