The wave of crypto-related kidnappings has intensified with the latest attack targeting a Russian couple in Argentina. The couple, co-operators of a local cryptocurrency business, paid nearly $45,000 in ransom to regain their freedom. Russian Couple Pays $43K in Cryptocurrency to Regain Freedom Argentine law enforcement authorities have confirmed the kidnapping of a Russian couple in Buenos Aires. According to a report by a local news outlet, the incident took place in the upscale Palermo neighborhood of the capital city. Authorities say the incident forms part of a streak of crypto kidnappings sweeping across Europe and North America. The unnamed victims operated a local cryptocurrency business in Argentina, becoming targets in a transnational crypto kidnapping scheme. The trouble began when the couple was invited to dinner by two Chechen men at an apartment on Gorriti Street. However, the dinner turned out to be a ruse to lure the crypto executives… Read More at Coingape.com
Hedera (HBAR) has fallen over 6% in the last seven days as key indicators point to shifting momentum. After 10 days of bullish strength, the BBTrend has turned negative at -3.35, suggesting growing downside risk.
Meanwhile, the RSI has rebounded to 49.82 but remains below the critical 50 mark, signaling indecision. With HBAR trading in a tight range between $0.1849 and $0.189, a breakout in either direction could define the next trend.
HBAR BBTrend Turns Negative After 10-Day Run
Hedera’s BBTrend has just flipped negative after holding above zero for 10 consecutive days, suggesting a potential shift in momentum.
Currently, the BBTrend stands at -3.35, a sharp contrast from the bullish tone seen earlier this month. This reversal occurred two days ago and may reflect weakening upward pressure on HBAR’s price.
After showing consistent strength, the recent change raises caution among traders watching for early signs of a downtrend.
BBTrend, or Bollinger Band Trend, is a momentum indicator that measures price distance and direction relative to the Bollinger Bands.
When the BBTrend is above zero, it typically reflects strong bullish momentum, indicating the price is pushing toward or staying near the upper band. When it moves below zero, as it has now for HBAR, it often suggests growing bearish sentiment, with the price leaning toward the lower band.
A reading like -3.35 points to increased volatility and the potential for further downside, especially if other indicators begin aligning with this weakening signal.
Hedera RSI Rebounds but Stays Below Key Bullish Zone
Hedera’s RSI is currently at 49.82, rebounding from 42.45 yesterday after briefly touching 54 earlier in the session. This bounce suggests some recovery in buying interest, but the RSI remains below the key 50 threshold.
The recent movement indicates a tug-of-war between bulls and bears, with no clear dominance yet.
After sliding earlier in the week, this slight uptick could reflect a potential shift toward stabilization.
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a momentum oscillator that ranges from 0 to 100, used to assess overbought and oversold conditions.
Readings above 70 typically indicate an asset is overbought and may be due for a correction, while values below 30 suggest oversold conditions and a possible rebound. Levels between 30 and 70 are considered neutral, with 50 as a pivot point.
HBAR’s current RSI of 49.82 places it right on that line, signaling indecision, though the recent rise hints that momentum could tilt bullish if it breaks above 50 and holds.
Hedera Consolidates—Will Bulls or Bears Take Control?
Hedera price is trading in a tight range between resistance at $0.189 and support at $0.1849, with other key levels close by. If the $0.189 resistance breaks, it could open the door for a move toward $0.199 and $0.202.
A sustained uptrend could push HBAR to retest the $0.258 level, marking a significant bullish breakout.
For now, price action remains cautious as the market waits for a decisive move.
On the downside, if the $0.1849 support is broken, HBAR may fall toward $0.175 and $0.16.
A deeper downtrend could drag it as low as $0.124, erasing much of its recent gains. These levels represent critical turning points, and traders will watch closely for volume spikes or momentum shifts.
Until then, Hedera remains in consolidation, with pressure building on both sides.
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has warned against allowing major banks to issue their own stablecoins.
This clearly contrasts with the US, where stablecoin adoption remains one of the biggest agenda items in Trump’s push to make the US a crypto capital of the world.
Bailey Favors Tokenized Deposits Over Stablecoins to Safeguard Financial Stability
Bailey cited risks to financial stability, lending capacity, and the potential for large-scale money laundering as reasons for his preference for banks adopting tokenized deposits.
This means the BoE chief favors digital versions of traditional money as opposed to creating or supporting privately issued stablecoins.
His remarks come amid ongoing transformation in the global financial system, with the lines between traditional banking and decentralized finance (DeFi) increasingly becoming blurred.
Bailey’s position reflects deep concern within the UK’s central banking leadership that the unchecked rise of stablecoins could undermine the core functions of modern banking, which are monetary control and credit creation.
“If stablecoins take money out of the banking system, banks have less capacity to lend,” Bloomberg reported Bailey’s warning, citing an interview with the Times.
The BoE governor also argued that financial institutions’ mass adoption of stablecoins could lead to disintermediation, liquidity imbalances, and a heightened risk of sudden withdrawals, especially during periods of market stress.
Notably, such a scenario is termed a Bank run, akin to what happened during the FTX collapse.
Against this backdrop, MiCA regulations introduce strict rules to boost euro-backed digital innovation.
Stablecoin Crime Risks and a Growing UK–US Policy Divide on Digital Money
Bailey, who also chairs the Financial Stability Board (FSB), a key global body overseeing systemic financial risks, extended his critique to include concerns over financial crime.
With vast sums potentially moving through private stablecoin networks outside regulated channels, he said there is an increased danger of enabling criminal activities such as money laundering, without sufficient oversight or safeguards.
This stance puts the UK at odds with the US under President Donald Trump, whose administration has taken a far more permissive approach.
The UK, by contrast, appears more cautious, preferring a model that integrates digital finance into existing monetary infrastructure rather than bypassing it.
“As a result of this growing concern with US stablecoins, the ECB has once again underscored the need for the digital euro as a possible counterweight,” Economic Governance and EMU Scrutiny Unit (EGOV) said recently.
Bailey’s comments also cast doubt on the prospect of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the UK. He hinted that issuing a digital pound may be unnecessary, calling it “sensible” for the UK to focus instead on digitizing commercial bank deposits.
The BoE chief says this model is more compatible with the existing banking system and less disruptive to monetary policy transmission.
Meanwhile, his preference for tokenized deposits signals a broader push to modernize payments and settlement rails while preserving banks’ role as credit intermediaries.
