Crypto News Roundup: Trump Media's Bitcoin Move, XRP Developments, and NYC Crypto Crime

Trump Media and Technology Group has confirmed a massive $2.5 billion capital raise to buy Bitcoin, aiming to

create a crypto treasury.

CEO Devin Nunes called Bitcoin an “apex instrument of financial freedom,” and said the move will help defend

the company against financial discrimination.

This bold step comes as Trump Media looks to expand beyond social media, despite Truth Social’s ongoing financial

losses.

The deal involves both stock sales and convertible bonds, but could dilute existing shareholders’ value.

Trump’s push for a national crypto reserve is also gaining attention, with plans to include Bitcoin, Ethereum, and

more.

XRP is in the spotlight as BitMEX adds it to its margin trading program, boosting its utility for

institutional traders.

Meanwhile, Ripple’s CTO David Schwartz addressed decentralization concerns, clarifying that XRP is not centrally controlled.

UFC star Conor McGregor even weighed in, backing XRP as the U.S.

considers a $10 billion crypto reserve that could include the token.

On top of that, there’s growing excitement over a potential XRP ETF, with analysts giving it an 83%

chance of approval.

Ripple is also rumored to be in talks to acquire Circle, the issuer of USDC, signaling even bigger

moves ahead.

In a shocking crime story, two men have been charged in New York City for kidnapping and torturing

an Italian crypto investor to steal his Bitcoin wallet.

The victim was held captive for over two weeks in a luxury townhouse, enduring brutal treatment before escaping.

Authorities say the suspects, both business partners and high-profile crypto traders, demanded the victim’s Bitcoin password.

This case highlights the growing risks and real-world dangers in the crypto space, as high-value investors become targets

for crime.

The annual Bitcoin Conference is underway in Las Vegas, with Bitcoin trading at record highs above $109,000.

Historically, Bitcoin’s price has dropped after these conferences, but rising institutional interest this year could change the trend.

Traders are watching closely to see if 2025 will finally break the so-called ‘conference curse.’ Circle, the company

behind USDC, is moving forward with its IPO on the New York Stock Exchange, signaling growing mainstream acceptance

of crypto.

Meanwhile, XenDex is launching a new decentralized exchange on the XRP Ledger, offering features like AI copy trading

and cross-chain swaps.

The DeFi space on XRP is heating up, with new tokens and platforms aiming for mass adoption.