The 2,353% Spike That Lit Up the Charts

Hello and welcome to Crypto Intel, the twice-weekly newsletter covering the latest updates, breaking news, and exciting opportunities in the crypto world.

No ticker surge. No viral tweet. But the shift was unmistakable—beneath the noise, new paths were being carved.

One move rewrote the rules for institutional exposure. One shook the core of a nation's digital defenses. And one brought a once-taboo asset class deeper into traditional finance.

These weren't pump-and-dumps or influencer-driven flashes.

They were quiet realignments—deep changes with long arcs, already in motion before most caught on.

Market-Moving News

Not every breakthrough rings a bell.

This week, one story changed what governments might allow. One changed what banks might recommend.

And one reminded us what hackers—backed by nations—might target next.

Regulation

US Senate Passes GENIUS Stablecoin Bill in 68–30 Vote 

The US Senate passed the GENIUS Act in a 68–30 vote, marking a major milestone for stablecoin regulation.

The bill, introduced by Senator Bill Hagerty, aims to formalize a framework for USD-backed payment stablecoins.

The legislation cleared the Senate without amendments to address Donald Trump's ties to World Liberty Financial, which launched its own USD1 token.

Critics worry this oversight could entrench political favoritism in crypto policy.

Trump's crypto and AI czar, David Sacks, indicated the president supports the bill and wants to see it passed by a Republican-led Congress.

The GENIUS Act now moves to the House, where it could face amendments or stall amid ongoing partisan divides.

If passed, it would allow stablecoin issuers like Apple, Meta, and Airbnb to launch their own tokens under a clear legal framework.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said this could help the stablecoin market grow into a $3.7 trillion industry.

The legislation's momentum also boosts chances for the House to vote on the CLARITY Act, which outlines a broader market structure for digital assets.

Both bills, however, face opposition from Democrats concerned about regulatory capture and Trump-linked corruption.

For investors, the GENIUS Act signals bipartisan urgency to regulate stablecoins before tech giants move first.

But political entanglements could still delay or dilute its final form.

Markets

BBVA Advises 7% Crypto Allocation for Wealth Clients

Spain's BBVA bank is advising affluent clients to allocate 3–7% of their portfolios to crypto, citing long-term performance potential.

The recommendation comes as the bank expands crypto services following regulatory approval in Spain.

Philippe Meyer, BBVA Switzerland's head of digital solutions, said that even a 3% crypto allocation meaningfully boosts portfolio returns.

He added that clients have been receptive and view Bitcoin as increasingly credible.

BBVA began actively advising on BTC in late 2024 and has executed crypto trades since 2021.

Its crypto rollout will continue via its mobile platform in the coming months.

This comes despite strong warnings from the European Central Bank and regulators, with ESMA reporting that 95% of EU banks still avoid crypto.

BBVA's move positions it well ahead of its peers—and reflects growing client demand.

The bank also expanded its offerings just as MiCA rules went into full effect across Europe.

Other banks, like Santander, are exploring their own euro- and dollar-pegged stablecoins to catch up.

For investors, this is a sign that institutional adoption is maturing beyond US markets.

When traditional banks recommend crypto—despite regulatory headwinds—it suggests that crypto is becoming a normalized part of portfolio strategy.

Security

Iranian Exchange Nobitex Hacked for $81M by Pro-Israel Group

Iran's top crypto exchange, Nobitex, lost over $81 million in a coordinated attack across Ethereum and Tron.

The exploit was first flagged by ZachXBT, who noticed "vanity addresses" draining hot wallets.

One of the attacker wallets contained anti-Iran political messages, including the phrase "Fuck IRGC Terrorists."

Nobitex quickly froze compromised wallets and promised full compensation via internal funds.

The hackers used addresses with custom identifiers, such as "0xffFF...Dead," to taunt both the exchange and Iran's regime.

Nobitex confirmed cold wallets remained untouched and that it was investigating with security firms.

A hacker group called "Gonjeshke Darande" claimed responsibility and threatened to leak Nobitex's source code.

The group also called the exchange a tool for sanctions evasion and military operations.

The breach coincides with escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, including missile strikes that killed over 200 people in Iran and 24 in Israel.

The geopolitical backdrop has added a layer of cyber warfare to financial infrastructure.

For investors, this is a stark reminder that crypto remains a soft target in geopolitical conflicts.

As regional tensions rise, security risks aren't just technical—they're political, and they can shake confidence beyond any single platform.

Future Forward

Major shifts rarely show up with fireworks—they slip in through small code commits, governance tweaks, or protocol changes most never see coming.

Blink, and you're stuck reacting to something already well underway.

But catch the turn early, and you're out front while everyone else scrambles to catch up. That's how you stop chasing the market—and start staying ahead of it.

Crypto Conferences:

💎 BTC Prague 2025 (Jun 19, 2025)

💎 ET FinNext Summit and Awards 2025 (Jun 20, 2025)

💎 Wealth Expo Peru 2025 (Jun 20, 2025)

Upcoming Airdrops:

🎁 Sonic (S) Airdrop (June 2025)

🎁 SyncVault (SVTS) Airdrop (Q2 2025)

🎁 Nexpace (NXPC) Airdrop (May 15, 2025 - Aug 15, 2025)

Upcoming Token Launches:

🚀 Rank Trading (RAN) IDO on Kommunitas (Jun 19, 2025)

🚀 THE P33L (P33L) TGE and Distribution (Jun 21, 2025)

🚀 Airas (AIRAS) IDO on Finceptor (Jun 22, 2025)

Which event are you most excited for? Let us know!

Crypto Know-How: What Is an Exit Scam?

An exit scam is when a crypto project disappears with users' money—usually after raising funds through a token sale, NFT mint, or sketchy DeFi platform.

Everything may look normal until one day, the team vanishes, deletes social accounts, or shuts off withdrawals.

Exit scams often promise high returns or flashy roadmaps to lure people in.

Once enough money is collected, the creators cash out and leave investors with worthless tokens or empty wallets.

Some exit scams start with legitimate intentions but fall apart due to poor planning, bad management, or sudden panic.

But many are premeditated from the start—designed to look real until the rug gets pulled.

To avoid them, always check who's behind a project, how funds are handled, and whether the team is doxxed and trusted.

If it feels too good to be true, it usually is.

That's it for today—if we missed something big, you'll call it out like always. Thanks for riding with us—same radar, next signal.

Everything Else

• Europe's Blockchain Group added $20M in BTC to its treasury, now holding over $170M worth of Bitcoin and reporting a 1,173% BTC yield in 2025.

• Spokane, Washington, has become the first city in the state to ban crypto ATMs, citing a rise in scams and targeting of elderly residents.

• Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com plans to launch a stablecoin and apply for licenses globally to cut cross-border payment costs by 90%.

• The SEC has opened public comments on Franklin Templeton's proposed XRP and Solana ETFs, pushing potential decisions into late July.

• Thailand will exempt capital gains taxes on crypto trades made via licensed platforms from 2025–2029 as part of a push to become a global Web3 hub.