Author: Monicah W

Firms worldwide are accelerating their efforts to integrate digital assets into their financial frameworks. While Bitcoin (BTC) has been the go-to choice, many companies are now diversifying into major altcoins like Ethereum (ETH), XRP (XRP), and Solana (SOL). 

Besides these, AI tokens have emerged as compelling contenders for institutional investment. Recently, Synaptogenix adopted Bittensor (TAO) as a reserve asset. In an exclusive interview with BeInCrypto, Synaptogenix outlined the motivations behind this strategic move and why TAO was chosen over Bitcoin.

Why Did Synaptogenix Choose Bittensor (TAO)?

On June 9, BeInCrypto reported that Synaptogenix, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, launched a TAO treasury strategy to acquire $100 million worth of tokens. To start with, the firm announced that it will spend $10 million to buy TAO using its cash reserves and balance sheet.

This amount, more than double Synaptogenix’s current market capitalization of $4.98 million, highlighted its commitment and confidence in TAO. A spokesperson told BeInCrypto that the decision stems from a belief in the untapped potential of decentralized AI. 

The spokesperson explained that despite the crypto’s massive $3 trillion market capitalization, it remains underrepresented in public equity markets. They pointed to Strategy’s (formerly MicroStrategy) success under Michael Saylor, who demonstrated that holding Bitcoin in corporate treasuries can yield significant returns. 

Bitcoin represents a bet on “crypto as currency,” while Ethereum and Solana focus on decentralized finance—sectors projected to grow into trillions. However, Synaptogenix sees an even greater opportunity in the convergence of crypto and AI.

“AI companies have reached a market cap of nearly $500 billion, while TAO, the leading decentralized AI token, is valued at only $3 billion. Despite its growth, TAO’s value remains underappreciated as interest in decentralized AI increases,” the spokesperson noted. 

They highlighted that venture capital investment in decentralized AI  grew by 200% in 2024. Notably, as the largest AI token by market cap, TAO stands to benefit from the increased institutional interest.

“We expect decentralized AI to eventually surpass centralized AI, and institutional interest in TAO will follow suit. Over the next year, the demand for TAO will surge, coinciding with a decrease in the available supply of TAO tokens—making it a perfect token for investment at this time,” the spokesperson added.

Bittensor (TAO) vs. Bitcoin (BTC): Which is Better?

The debate over Bitcoin vs. Bittensor has been running for quite some time. Recently, Barry Silbert, CEO of Digital Currency Group, predicted that TAO could outperform Bitcoin as a global store of value.

Synaptogenix agrees with this view. The spokesperson elaborated that Bitcoin remains a prime example of a store of value and a reliable asset. 

However, they argued that Bittensor’s TAO token takes the concept of incentives further, positioning it as a stronger contender.

“Bittensor is to innovation what Bitcoin is to currency. While Bittensor mirrors Bitcoin in many ways—particularly in its decentralized, fixed-supply model—its incentives play a far more significant role in driving societal innovation. This makes Bittensor a unique and potentially more impactful asset in the long run,” the spokesperson mentioned to BeInCrypto.

According to them, Bitcoin miners earn roughly $10 billion annually and consume vast amounts of electricity to secure the network. In contrast, TAO miners are rewarded for contributing to AI innovation through AI models, computing power, or new AI businesses rather than energy-intensive mining.

The Road Ahead For TAO

Despite the optimism about TAO’s potential, Synaptogenix stressed that adopting a TAO treasury strategy is not easy. 

“Staking tokens like Ethereum or Solana is relatively easy, with token holders receiving rewards in exchange. However, optimizing TAO staking requires deep knowledge of the TAO ecosystem, which offers unique staking strategies that result in greater rewards compared to other tokens,” the spokesperson stated.

They also emphasized that the company’s expertise in the TAO ecosystem, crypto, and staking makes it well-positioned to lead this strategy and maximize returns.

Nonetheless, the firm still anticipates other institutional investors to follow. In addition to Synaptogenix, Oblong, a technology solutions provider, has committed $7.5 billion to fund its TAO corporate reserve. 

As institutional adoption grows, Synaptogenix expects TAO’s price to rise significantly.

“Institutions tend to be buy-and-hold investors, which means that as more institutions adopt TAO, the token’s supply will decrease as it gets locked up in long-term holdings. This will drive the price up,” the statement read.

Besides institutional interest, they pointed out several other catalysts, including TAO’s halving, its availability on Coinbase (exposing it to 100 million customers), and the rapid growth of subnets on the TAO platform. Additionally, increased involvement from hedge funds in crypto assets could likely drive demand further.

With the AI market projected to expand from $300 billion in 2025 to over $3 trillion by 2030, decentralized AI, particularly TAO, is expected to capture a substantial share.

“We believe that as decentralized AI reaches a tipping point, the first billion-dollar business in the TAO/Bittensor ecosystem will significantly boost public and institutional interest, driving TAO’s price to new heights,” the spokesperson forecasted.

With its strategic vision and deep ties to the TAO ecosystem, Synaptogenix is paving the way for a new wave of institutional investment in decentralized AI, one that could reshape the financial market.

The post Why Synaptogenix Prefers Bittensor (TAO) Over Bitcoin (BTC) for Its Corporate Treasury appeared first on BeInCrypto.

To round out Q2 2025, Coinbase is listing four new tokens: Newton (NEWT), Sonic (S), Subsquid (SQD), and POPCAT. The latter two are specifically available in the EU, where Coinbase recently obtained the MiCA license.

With the exception of Sonic, most of these listings had a strange impact on the token prices. These actions seem perfectly explainable, and Coinbase is continuing to build a diversified portfolio of available assets.

Coinbase’s Newest Listings

One of the major listings from this round was Newton Protocol’s NEWT token. The token launched earlier today with an airdrop on Binance Alpha. 

Coibase has acted quickly to capture the high enthusiasm surrounding NEWT with a listing on the same date.

Newton (NEWT) is now live on https://t.co/CD3RBjtMAO & in the Coinbase iOS & Android apps with the Experimental label. Coinbase customers can log in to buy, sell, convert, send, receive or store these assets. https://t.co/676miKRrfh

— Coinbase Assets (@CoinbaseAssets) June 24, 2025

Developed by Magic Labs, Newton Protocol is a crypto UX on-chain automation protocol powered by AI agents. It allows users to delegate complex, cross-chain actions to AI agents.

Over the past few months, Coinbase has seemingly accelerated its rate. Earlier this month, the US-based exchange listed PancakeSwap (CAKE) and Fartcoin – leading to a notable price impact. 

Most recently, Coinbase received an MiCA license to enter the regulated EU market. As a part of its entry, the exchange has listed POPCAT and SQD for German residents.

The market impact of these listings was muted, as both tokens have been available on Coinbase in other regions. So, EU listing was highly priced-in.

Subsquid’s SQD token was also listed by Coinbase Global earlier this month, and now it’s available in the German market. 

Regardless, the listing is a major boost for Subsquid’s ecosystem growth. The platform aims to power an open database network for AI agents, and increased availability can only help this goal.

Furthermore, Coinbase also announced the listing of Sonic (S) yesterday. The Layer-1 blockchain has been distributing one of its biggest airdrops throughout June.

Sonic saw notable corrections over the past week due to the high sell-off from airdrop recipients. However, the Coinbase listing has seen a sharp rebound in the altcoin’s price.

As per usual, Coinbase picked a scattershot of unrelated projects for its latest round of token listings. For example, NEWT and SQD both focus on AI, but they aim to use it in different ways.

At the moment, it doesn’t seem like Coinbase has any other big plans to change tactics for Q3. The exchange will undergo a systems upgrade next month, but it didn’t hint at any new features.

The post Coinbase is Listing Four New Tokens for the End of Q2 appeared first on BeInCrypto.

SparkKitty, a dangerous new malware, is targeting mobile devices to compromise crypto wallets. It searches through users’ image data to uncover and steal seed phrases.

In recent cases, the malware infected phones through compromised apps, with several bait programs catering to lure crypto users. Thankfully, app store moderation has removed many of SparkKitty’s attack vectors.

How SparkKitty Targets Crypto Wallet Apps

Popular security firm Kaspersky identified this new malware today after months of observation across different mobile operating systems.

Earlier in February, the firm discovered SparkCat, an earlier iteration of this malware. After the previous discovery, the malicious developers repackaged this trojan through new apps.

Our researchers uncovered #SparkKitty, a stealthy Trojan targeting both #iOS and #Android devices.

It captures images and device data from infected phones and transmits them to the attackers. The Trojan was embedded in apps related to #crypto, gambling, and even a trojanized… pic.twitter.com/2CjjSwcpeo

— Kaspersky (@kaspersky) June 24, 2025

According to the company’s full report, this piece of malware is specifically focused on targeting crypto users, especially in China and Southeast Asia.

Hackers embedded SparkKitty into crypto-related apps, like price trackers and messengers with crypto-buying functionality. One such compromised messenger, SOEX, was downloaded over 10,000 times before removal.

SparkKitty’s operators also branched out to include casino apps, adult sites, and fake TikTok clones. Even if a user downloaded a contaminated app, the malware wouldn’t automatically start looking for crypto.

Instead, the app would ostensibly function normally, asking for access to users’ photos. It would continue appearing normal even after gaining this permission.

In other words, this malware would repeatedly scan image data for signs of a crypto seed phrase, double-checking the compromised device periodically.

Kaspersky’s researchers have several reasons to believe that SparkKitty is an upgraded SparkCat. For example, they share several debug symbols, code construction, and even a few compromised vector apps.

However, SparkKitty is more ambitious than SparkCat. The earlier malware would focus on penetrating crypto security, while the upgraded version can compromise many types of sensitive data.

SlowMist TI Alert

A new malware named #SparkKitty that steals all photos from infected iOS & Android devices — searching for crypto wallet seed phrases.

Delivered via:
“币coin” (App Store)
“SOEX” (Google Play, 10K+ installs, now removed)
Casino apps, adult… pic.twitter.com/47WDc8l6tQ

— SlowMist (@SlowMist_Team) June 24, 2025

Nonetheless, SparkKitty’s main priority is still in uncovering seed phrases.

Overall, the best caution for users is never to store seed phrases digitally. Don’t even take a photo of it.

There’s no shortage of recent scams and malware that can compromise this password, thereby allowing attackers to steal all your crypto. It’s important not to give sketchy apps access to your devices, but it’s doubly vital to protect your seed phrase.

The post A New Malware on iPhone and Android Can Quietly Steal Your Crypto appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Bitcoin is back to $105,900 after the Israel-Iran ceasefire on Tuesday. However, sudden panic and FUD from newer Bitcoin whales are increasingly fueling volatility for the largest cryptocurrency. 

CryptoQuant highlights large realized losses by new whales as a key driver. These investors have sold Bitcoin aggressively under pressure, amplifying market downturns.

How New Whales Drive Bitcoin’s Recent Price Swings

Since mid-June, Bitcoin has fluctuated widely. It started June near $107,000, rose above $110,000, and plunged below $100,000. 

Between June 14 and June 22, whales realized approximately $228 million in Bitcoin losses, according to CryptoQuant analyst JA Maartunn. A significant spike occurred on June 17, with $95 million in losses in a single day.

Most of these losses—nearly $85 million—came from new whales, compared to only $8.2 million from older whale investors. 

Another notable spike appeared on June 22, totaling $51 million, more evenly split between new and old whales.

New whales, who recently entered at higher price levels, appear more prone to panic selling amid geopolitical tensions. Their rapid exits intensify price swings and reinforce resistance at critical levels, particularly near $111,000.

Exchange Whale Ratio Shows Selling Pressure

Further supporting this trend, CryptoQuant’s Exchange Whale Ratio remained elevated through much of June. 

This indicator is a measure of whale activity on exchanges. A high ratio indicates whales actively depositing Bitcoin to exchanges, typically ahead of selling.

Data shows this ratio rising around Bitcoin’s attempts to break above $110,000. Whales appeared to prepare sell orders at this level, limiting potential upward momentum.

The ratio briefly fell as Bitcoin dipped below $102,000, then climbed again when prices rebounded toward $105,900. 

This activity suggests whales continuously manage risk, creating selling pressure and market uncertainty.

Geopolitical Uncertainty Amplifies Whale Anxiety

Recent geopolitical events—including the Israel-Iran war and subsequent ceasefire announcement—have increased market nervousness. 

Newer whale investors seem especially sensitive, reacting quickly to negative headlines.

Such rapid selling triggers further volatility. Leveraged traders face margin calls, amplifying price declines and hindering sustained upward momentum.

To sustain a breakout above the key $111,000 level, analysts say whale selling must ease. Lower realized losses and reduced exchange inflows would indicate improved market confidence.

The post New Bitcoin Whales Are Fueling Market Volatility | Weekly Whale Watch appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Chainlink announced today that it’s partnering with Mastercard, allowing billions of cardholders to purchase crypto directly on-chain. The companies’ new infrastructure will indirectly interface clients with multiple DEXs.

In addition to these two leaders, several other companies, such as ZeroHash, Swapper Finance, Shift4, and XSwap, are joining the endeavor. Uniswap has agreed to participate as a DEX directly interfacing with the platform.

Chainlink and Mastercard Combine Forces

Chainlink, a decentralized blockchain oracle network, has recently integrated with several payment services to broaden market access to crypto.

By partnering with Mastercard, Chainlink will be able to turbocharge this overarching strategy. Essentially, this will combine an industry standard for interoperability with billions of potential users:

We’re excited to announce that Chainlink and @Mastercard have partnered to enable billions of cardholders to purchase crypto directly onchain.https://t.co/1pKz03jQ7t

Chainlink verifies and synchronizes key… pic.twitter.com/5jfLAAYn4D

— Chainlink (@chainlink) June 24, 2025

To be clear, these companies are formidable, but Chainlink and Mastercard can’t build this kind of infrastructure on their own.

The two firms have partnered with several ancillary companies, like Swapper Finance, Shift4, Zerohash, and more to provide liquidity, execute smart contracts, power the underlying platform, and perform other such functions.

As a result, these companies’ combined result is quite formidable. As Chris Barrett, Chainlink’s Head of Communications, put it, Mastercard clients will be able to integrate with major decentralized exchanges.

Uniswap is already participating in the program. This will give Mastercard’s enormous user base access to a very broad range of available cryptoassets.

Mastercard has ventured into the crypto industry before, but this Chainlink partnership is on a whole new level. Raj Dhamodharan, the firm’s Executive Vice President of Blockchain and digital Assets, called the new infrastructure a way to “revolutionize on-chain commerce” and drive global crypto adoption.

Although Chainlink’s LINK token isn’t directly involved in the Mastercard partnership, it still stands to benefit. Despite hitting a monthly low earlier this week, the token’s price has skyrocketed in the last few hours, recovering around 8% since yesterday.

The platform for this massive crypto expansion is already live, allowing users to experiment with this new infrastructure layer. Chainlink and Mastercard have their work cut out for them, setting some extremely ambitious goals.

If even a fraction of the credit card company’s users participate in the program, it could enable truly massive crypto adoption.

The post Chainlink and Mastercard Offer DEX Access to Billions of Cardholders appeared first on BeInCrypto.