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Trump Trades BTC-e Founder Alexander Vinnik to Russia

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President Trump recently announced a prisoner exchange with Russia, trading BTC-e founder Alexander Vinnik for an American school teacher. Although Trump recently pardoned Ross Ulbricht, this deal does not look like a favor to the crypto community.

Specifically, Vinnik pled guilty to $14 million fraud in Russia and is likely to face further incarceration in his home country. Trump has helped soothe the pace of crypto crackdowns, but this policy has its limits.

Trump Trades Vinnik For Schoolteacher

Alexander Vinnik has been through a lot since his arrest in 2017. In 2011, he founded BTC-e, an early crypto exchange that was prominent in its heyday. The site was shut down over massive allegations of money laundering and other crimes, and he was arrested. According to the New York Post, however, President Trump is trading Vinnik back to Russia.

“We now know what Russia received in this deal. Accused Russian money launderer Alexander Vinnik is being released from US custody in exchange for Marc Fogel,” wrote CNN reporter Zachary Cohen.

Specifically, Trump is turning Vinnik over to Russian authorities in a prisoner swap deal. In exchange, American school teacher Marc Fogel was returned to the US.

Fogel attempted to enter Russia with 17 grams of marijuana in 2022, which resulted in a 14-year drug trafficking sentence. This became a cause célèbre in some circles but is irrelevant to crypto.

Vinnik’s life has featured constant legal battles between the BTC-e closure and Trump’s swap deal. After a 2017 arrest in Greece, he was extradited to face charges in France, and then again to the US in 2022.

On top of his initial money laundering charges, the US added new charges in 2024, and Vinnik subsequently pled guilty to them.

“We view this as a very fair deal. We are not trading the Merchant of Death for a basketball player. Vinnik is currently in custody in northern California, awaiting transportation back to Russia,” two White House officials claimed to the press.

On the surface, it may look like Trump is continuing a general campaign of crypto clemency with Vinnik. Last month, he pardoned Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht after over a decade in prison. This won great acclaim from the crypto community.

However, while Ulbricht faces a rough re-integration with a dramatically changed crypto space, Vinnik has far more serious concerns.

Specifically, the Russian government has requested Vinnik’s extradition since at least 2018. Apparently, he confessed to Russian law enforcement that he committed major cyber fraud at BTC-e, with damages amounting to approximately $14.6 million.

Vinnik may prefer conditions in his home country, but he doesn’t seem likely to become a free man any time soon.

In other words, Trump’s main interest was in securing Marc Fogel’s release, not correcting government overreach for Alexander Vinnik. Fogel has already returned to the US, visited the White House, and publicly thanked Trump for his intervention. Vinnik, by contrast, is still in custody awaiting transportation.

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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3 Token Unlocks for This Week: TRUMP, STRK, ZKJ

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Token unlocks continue to shape the crypto market, influencing wider sentiment and liquidity. This week, three projects—StarkNet (STRK), TRUMP, and Polyhedra Network (ZKJ)—are scheduled for major unlocks.

Both TRUMP and Polyhedra are about to unlock tokens worth more than 20% of their market cap. Here’s what to know.

TRUMP

Unlock Date: April 18
Number of Tokens to be Unlocked: 40 million TRUMP (4.00% of Max Supply)
Current Circulating Supply: 199 million TRUMP

US President Donald Trump’s OFFICIAL TRUMP meme coin is about to unlock new tokens worth 20% of its market cap. On April 18, 40 million TRUMP tokens will be released, with a combined market value of $338.57 million. 

Of this, 36 million tokens (10%) are assigned to Creators & CIC Digital 1, while 4 million tokens (10%) go to Creators & CIC Digital 4. 

TRUMP Token Unlock. Source: Cryptorank

Overall, with such a massive amount unlocked, this release is likely to impact volatility. TRUMP is currently down more than 30% this month.

StarkNet (STRK)

Unlock Date: April 15
Number of Tokens to be Unlocked: 127.60 million STRK (1.28% of Max Supply)
Current Circulating Supply: 2.9 billion STRK

StarkNet is an Ethereum Layer 2 scaling solution built with STARK-based zero-knowledge rollups. Its role is to enhance throughput and reduce gas costs. STRK is the network’s native utility and governance token.

StarkNet Token Unlock. Source: Cryptorank

On April 15, 127.60 million STRK tokens will be unlocked, representing $16.71 million in value—roughly 4.40% of the current market cap. Of this, 66.92 million tokens (3.34%) are allocated to early contributors, and 60.68 million tokens (3.34%) to investors. 

Also, STRK has declined over 26% in the past month and is currently down nearly 100% from its February 2024 all-time high.

Polyhedra Network (ZKJ)

Unlock Date: April 19
Number of Tokens to be Unlocked: 15.50 million ZKJ (1.55% of Max Supply)
Current Circulating Supply: 60 million ZKJ

Polyhedra Network delivers blockchain interoperability through its zkBridge technology. It enables cross-chain messaging, asset transfers, and storage with zero-knowledge proofs.

The April 19 unlock includes 15.50 million ZKJ tokens, valued at $35.16 million—25.7% of ZKJ’s market cap. 

The release consists of 8.47 million tokens (2.65%) for ecosystem and network incentives and 2.61 million tokens (1.74%) for community, airdrop, and marketing.

Polyhedra zkj token unlock
Polyhedra ZKJ Unlock. Source: Cryptorank

Meanwhile, 3.61 million tokens will be allocated for foundation reserves, and 800,000 tokens for pre-TGE token purchasers. 

Also, ZKJ is currently up 10% over the past month.

Overall, this week’s unlocks collectively introduces over $400 million worth of new tokens into the market. While some projects face downward pressure, others like ZKJ show positive momentum. 

As always, traders should monitor token distribution closely to assess potential shifts in market sentiment and liquidity.

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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Hackers are Targeting Atomic and Exodus Wallets

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Cybercriminals have found a new attack vector, targeting users of Atomic and Exodus wallets through open-source software repositories.

The latest wave of exploits involves distributing malware-laced packages to compromise private keys and drain digital assets.

How Hackers are Targeting Atomic and Exodus Wallets

ReversingLabs, a cybersecurity firm, has uncovered a malicious campaign where attackers compromised Node Package Manager (NPM) libraries.

These libraries, often disguised as legitimate tools like PDF-to-Office converters, carry hidden malware. Once installed, the malicious code executes a multi-phase attack.

First, the software scans the infected device for crypto wallets. Then, it injects harmful code into the system. This includes a clipboard hijacker that silently alters wallet addresses during transactions, rerouting funds to wallets controlled by the attackers.

Malicious Code Targeting Atomic and Exodus Wallets.
Malicious Code Targeting Atomic and Exodus Wallets. Source: ReversingLabs

Moreover, the malware also collects system details and monitors how successfully it infiltrated each target. This intelligence allows threat actors to improve their methods and scale future attacks more effectively.

Meanwhile, ReversingLabs also noted that the malware maintains persistence. Even if the deceptive package, such as pdf-to-office, is deleted, remnants of the malicious code remain active.

To fully cleanse a system, users must uninstall affected crypto wallet software and reinstall from verified sources.

Indeed, security experts noted that the scope of the threat highlights the growing software supply chain risks threatening the industry.

“The frequency and sophistication of software supply chain attacks that target the cryptocurrency industry are also a warning sign of what’s to come in other industries. And they’re more evidence of the need for organizations to improve their ability to monitor for software supply chain threats and attacks,” ReversingLabs stated.

This week, Kaspersky researchers reported a parallel campaign using SourceForge, where cybercriminals uploaded fake Microsoft Office installers embedded with malware.

These infected files included clipboard hijackers and crypto miners, posing as legitimate software but operating silently in the background to compromise wallets.

The incidents highlight a surge in open-source abuse and present a disturbing trend of attackers increasingly hiding malware inside software packages developers trust.

Considering the prominence of these attacks, crypto users and developers are urged to remain vigilant, verify software sources, and implement strong security practices to mitigate growing threats.

According to DeFiLlama, over $1.5 billion in crypto assets were lost to exploits in Q1 2025 alone. The largest incident involved a $1.4 billion Bybit breach in February.

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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Ethereum’s Buterin Criticizes Pump.Fun for Bad Social Philosophy

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Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin believes that the direction of blockchain applications often mirrors the intentions and ethics of their creators. He cites that projects like Pump.fun are derived from bad social philosophy.

In a recent discussion, he highlighted how the impact—positive or negative—of crypto projects is shaped by the values driving their development.

Buterin Says Pump.fun and Terra Reflect What Not to Build in Crypto

Buterin praised a handful of decentralized applications that align with Ethereum’s long-term vision. These include Railgun, Farcaster, Polymarket, and the messaging app Signal.

On the flip side, he criticized platforms such as Pump.fun, Terra/Luna, and the collapsed FTX exchange, describing them as harmful examples of what not to build.

“The differences in what the app does stem from differences in beliefs in developers’ heads about what they are here to accomplish,” Buterin explained.

Railgun stood out as a key example. While it offers privacy features similar to Tornado Cash, it goes a step further by implementing Privacy Pools.

This system—co-developed by Buterin—allows users to stay anonymous while still proving their funds haven’t come from illicit sources.

Other projects Buterin praised include Farcaster, a decentralized social network protocol, and Polymarket, a crypto-based prediction platform.

Vitalik Buterin Talking about pump.fun
Vitalik Buterin Talking about Social Philosophy in Crypto. Source: Warpcast

In the past, he noted that tools like Polymarket could move beyond betting on elections and serve as useful mechanisms for improving decision-making in governance, media, and even scientific research.

Meanwhile, projects like Pump.fun—designed for launching memecoins on Solana—received harsh criticism.

Previously, the Ethereum co-founder had warned about schemes that prioritize hype over substance, such as Terra/Luna and FTX. He has also consistently urged the crypto space, especially DeFi, to build with ethical intent and long-term utility in mind.

How Developer Ethics Shape Blockchain’s Future

To explain his views on Ethereum’s unique development path, Buterin compared it to C++, a general-purpose programming language.

Unlike C++, Ethereum is only partially general-purpose. Many of its core innovations, like account abstraction or the shift to proof-of-stake, rely heavily on developers’ commitment to Ethereum’s broader mission.

“Ethereum L1 is not quite in that position: someone who doesn’t believe in decentralization would not add light clients, or FOCIL, or (good forms of) account abstraction; someone who doesn’t mind energy waste would not spend half a decade moving to PoS… But the EVM opcodes might have been roughly the same either way. So Ethereum is perhaps 50% general-purpose,” Buterin said.

Buterin furthered that Ethereum apps are around 80% special-purpose. Because of this, the ethical framework and goals of the people building them play a critical role in shaping what the network becomes.

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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