Today's headlines

1️⃣ CoinDCX offers $11M bounty after hack
2️⃣ Binance upgrades PEPE, BONK, and PENGU
3️⃣ Coldplay cheating scandal turns into NFT game 
4️⃣ SpaceX moves $152M in Bitcoin after three years
5️⃣ India’s COINS Act aims to regulate $200B crypto market
6️⃣ Abu Dhabi courts accept digital dirham payments
7️⃣ UK cracks down on illegal crypto ATMs
8️⃣  Binance helps Brazil bust $30M cybercrime ring
9️⃣ Western Union explores stablecoins for global remittances
🔟 Peter Schiff urges ETH holders to switch to Bitcoin

 

The Crypto Radio LIVE has just launched across platforms, bringing you the hottest topics of the day wherever you are. Tune in weekdays at 1pm GST – Dubai time – for daily news in a brand new format.

Below is a breakdown of everything we covered today – Tuesday July 22, 2025 – from India to Brazil and Coldplay to ethical hackers. Make sure you tune in again tomorrow on YouTube and X to catch the news as it happens.

CoinDCX offers $11M bounty after hack

India’s largest crypto exchange, CoinDCX, is offering an $11 million bounty to track down hackers behind a $44 million breach. Experts suspect the notorious North Korean Lazarus Group, pointing to familiar attack patterns: exploiting backend vulnerabilities, moving funds between Solana and Ethereum, and laundering them through Tornado Cash. While no customer funds were affected, the hit came entirely from CoinDCX’s treasury.

The exchange is calling on ethical hackers, security researchers, and the broader crypto community to help trace the stolen funds. As part of the effort, it’s working with partners like Sygnia, zeroShadow, and Wormhole. Co-founder Sumit Gupta says the move is about more than recovering assets – it’s about rebuilding trust and setting new security benchmarks.

.@CoinDCX remains financially strong, fully operational, and firmly committed to building for the long term. For us, it’s business as usual.

Here’s why. Let’s set the record straight with facts! w/ @neerajKh_, @mri_gup
🧵 👇 pic.twitter.com/tDj29p2cts

— Sumit Gupta (CoinDCX) (@smtgpt) July 22, 2025

Binance upgrades PEPE, BONK, and PENGU

In a win for altcoin fans, Binance has lifted the “Seed Tag” from memecoins PEPE, BONK, and PENGU. The Seed Tag is Binance’s internal marker for newer, riskier projects that require users to complete quizzes before trading. Dropping it signals that Binance considers the tokens more stable and integrated.

The move comes as the broader altcoin market heats up, with Ethereum pushing above $3,700 and Solana above $200. While removal of the Seed Tag doesn’t eliminate risk, it can attract bigger investors and increase liquidity – offering a fresh jolt to memecoin momentum.

Coldplay cheating scandal turns into NFT game

In one of the most unexpected intersections of crypto and internet culture, a viral Coldplay concert cheating scandal has been turned into a retro-style video game called Coldplay Canoodlers. The indie developer behind the game even minted it as an NFT using an ERC‑721 smart contract, making it playable on platforms like OpenSea.

The game, where players navigate crowds to catch a cheating partner, has exploded in popularity online – showing just how fast memes can leap from social media to blockchain. It’s a playful reminder that crypto isn’t just about finance – it’s also reshaping entertainment and digital culture.

i vibe coded a little game called Coldplay Canoodlers

you're the camera operator and you have to find the CEO and HR lady canoodling

10 points every time you find them

👇link pic.twitter.com/aA6e1R5aGJ

— 17 years of song a day (@songadaymann) July 18, 2025

SpaceX moves $152M in Bitcoin after three years

Elon Musk’s SpaceX made headlines after quietly moving 1,308 Bitcoin – worth about $152 million – from wallets dormant for three years. The funds remain parked with Coinbase Prime, but the sudden movement sparked market speculation: was it a routine security upgrade, a portfolio shuffle, or a deliberate move to send signals?

For retail and institutional investors alike, it’s a reminder of how a single move by a major player can ripple across sentiment – sometimes by doing nothing more than hitting “send.”

India’s COINS Act proposes crypto framework

India’s proposed COINS Act could reshape crypto rules, giving clearer definitions and licenses to the booming sector. Photo: Unsplash / Naveed Ahmed

In the same week, India is making headlines for another reason: its newly proposed COINS Act. Short for "Crypto, Online, Investor, Network & Security," the legislation lays out a long-awaited framework for regulating cryptocurrencies, tokens, and service providers in the country.

The act introduces key definitions, licensing requirements, and rules for platforms, including mandates for custodians to be Indian-domiciled and to segregate customer funds. With India home to one of the world’s fastest-growing crypto user bases, the COINS Act could flip the narrative from regulatory uncertainty to innovation-friendly clarity – potentially transforming India into Asia’s next major blockchain hub.

Abu Dhabi courts accept digital dirham payments

In a historic move blending blockchain and public services, Abu Dhabi’s Judicial Department has partnered with Al Maryah Community Bank to allow court fees to be paid using digital dirhams. This marks the first time a government-backed digital currency is being used directly in the UAE’s legal system.

The pilot program enables citizens to pay legal fees through the bank’s app, promising faster, more transparent transactions. For the UAE, it’s another milestone in its push to become a global fintech leader, showing that central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are moving from experiments to real-world use in high-trust settings.

UK cracks down on illegal crypto ATMs

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Metropolitan Police have seized seven illegal cryptocurrency ATMs in southwest London and arrested two individuals on suspicion of money laundering and operating an unregistered exchange. The bust follows mounting global concerns over crypto ATMs being used for illicit activity.

Therese Chambers, the FCA’s executive director of enforcement, warned that crypto operators skirting the law should “expect serious consequences.” The crackdown reflects a growing effort by regulators to close gaps in oversight and prevent unlicensed services from fueling financial crime – especially as crypto adoption increases across the UK.

Binance helps Brazil bust $30M cybercrime ring

Binance and TRM Labs helped Brazilian police trace crypto flows and bust a $30M cybercrime ring

Brazilian police have dismantled a $30 million cybercrime network with key help from Binance and blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs. Dubbed Operation Deep Hunt, the 18-month investigation targeted a dark web syndicate selling stolen banking data, forged IDs, and cloned credit cards.

Binance’s special investigations team worked alongside Brazilian cybercrime police to trace suspicious crypto flows, while TRM Labs provided forensic tools to follow the blockchain money trail. Prosecutors say the case proves that blockchain transparency can be an asset in fighting crime, not just a loophole. The bust also underscores the growing role of private–public partnerships in tackling digital financial crime.

Western Union eyes stablecoin transfers

Western Union is exploring the use of stablecoins like USDC to make international money transfers faster and cheaper. CEO Devin McGranahan says the company is already testing settlement systems, particularly in Africa and South America, to boost financial inclusivity.

The move could revolutionize cross-border payments by reducing the cost and time of transactions – an area long criticized for being slow and expensive. For families relying on remittances, stablecoin integration could mean quicker access to funds and lower transfer fees.

Peter Schiff tells ETH holders to switch

Longtime gold advocate and crypto critic Peter Schiff has warned Ethereum holders that the asset’s rally may be running out of steam. Despite institutional buying and ETF excitement pushing ETH toward $3,800, Schiff argues it’s a better time to switch to Bitcoin, which he sees as the stronger option.

While Schiff has famously doubted both cryptocurrencies in the past, his pro-Bitcoin tilt caught attention across markets. For investors, it’s another signal that even skeptics are starting to pick sides as crypto markets mature and sector narratives shift.