Bitcoin reached $86,000, marking its highest level since January, driven by a significant short squeeze and sustained buying interest. The rally led to the liquidation of $648 million in crypto shorts and has pushed Bitcoin ETF investors back into profit. Analysts suggest the move is supported by falling oil prices and broader market optimism.
The European Central Bank (ECB) introduced Pontes, a platform allowing banks to settle tokenized assets using central bank money. The ECB also announced plans to invest in tokenized securities, marking a significant step in integrating blockchain technology into traditional financial systems. This move is seen as a major development in Europe's digital finance infrastructure.
A coordinated cyberattack resulted in the theft of 8.7 million FET tokens, valued at approximately $1.55 million, and the unauthorized minting of 408.5 million NTX tokens. The attack exploited vulnerabilities in SingularityNET's Ethereum bridge and NuNet's minter key. This incident underscores the ongoing security challenges in the crypto space.
A flaw in the Bitcoin Lightning Network software Eclair was identified, potentially allowing malicious actors to drain a node's channel balance. ACINQ, a key contributor to the Lightning Network, released a patch to address the vulnerabilities. This highlights the importance of continuous security updates in maintaining the integrity of blockchain networks.