Lido Founder’s Strategic USDT Loan Fuels ETH Acquisition Amid Market Surge

In a bold move highlighting confidence in Ethereum's growth, Konstantin Lomashuk, founder of leading staking protocol Lido, Leveraged an $85 million USDT loan from Aave to substantially increase his ETH holdings. Blockchain data reveals the transaction's strategic execution through Amber Group, culminating in the purchase of 15,810 ETH ($59.75 million) as part of a larger portfolio now valued at over $318 million. This leveraged position has already yielded $9.48 million in weekly gains, demonstrating the founder's market acumen during Ethereum's upward trajectory. The transaction underscores institutional-grade crypto strategies combining DeFi lending with targeted asset accumulation, with USDT serving as the liquidity bridge for this high-value ETH acquisition.

Lido Founder Borrows $85M in USDT to Acquire ETH, Portfolio Surges

Konstantin Lomashuk, founder of ethereum staking protocol Lido, secured an $85 million USDT loan from Aave to purchase ETH. Blockchain analytics reveal the funds were routed through Amber Group before converting to 15,810 ETH ($59.75 million). His holdings now include 69,619 AETHWSETH ($318M) alongside residual ETH and DAI positions.

The leveraged bet appears prescient—Lomashuk's portfolio gained $9.48M in a week as AWSTETH appreciated from $4.5K to $4.6K. Despite a 3.46% daily pullback, the position underscores institutional conviction in Ethereum's infrastructure role. "Ethereum is the world's ledger," Lomashuk declared, echoing his May research with Cyber Fund highlighting ETH's dominance in DeFi with 25M+ users.

Little Pepe Presale Raises $13.7M Amid Layer 2 Blockchain Ambitions

Little Pepe ($LILPEPE) has secured $13.7 million in its presale, positioning itself as a standout meme coin project for 2025. The initiative aims to launch a dedicated Layer 2 blockchain, targeting scalability and cost efficiency for meme coin transactions—addressing pain points on networks like Ethereum ($ETH) and Solana ($SOL).

Investors can acquire tokens at $0.0017 each during the presale, with a $100 minimum purchase unlocking eligibility for a $777K giveaway. Ten winners will split the prize pool, receiving $77K worth of $LILPEPE tokens. Payments are accepted via credit/debit cards, $ETH, or $USDT.

The project's roadmap emphasizes rapid ecosystem growth, though details remain aspirational. Market observers note the presale's traction reflects persistent demand for speculative assets with utility narratives, despite broader crypto volatility.

$3 Million Crypto Debt Drove Man to Plan Kidnapping, Finger Amputations

In a disturbing case from South Florida, Shlomo Akuka, a 30-year-old resident of Hallandale Beach, allegedly plotted the abduction and mutilation of a Brazilian family over a $3 million cryptocurrency debt. The FBI uncovered the scheme during a sting operation targeting money laundering networks in the region.

Akuka stands accused of laundering nearly $200,000 in purported drug proceeds through Tether (USDT) transactions. Court documents reveal he took a 5% cut to convert cash into the stablecoin, while offering laundering advice to undercover agents posing as cocaine traffickers.

The investigation took a violent turn when Akuka detailed plans to kidnap a debtor's family, including placing a GPS tracker on the fiancée's vehicle. Prosecutors allege he explicitly discussed amputating the daughter's hands until the debt was repaid.

This case emerges alongside reports from London where criminals mistakenly held a Belgian barber hostage, believing him to be a crypto billionaire. Together, these incidents highlight the dark extremities some pursue in connection with digital asset disputes.

The Dominance of Tether and USDC in the $250 Billion Stablecoin Market

The stablecoin market has ballooned to a $250 billion industry, with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent predicting it could reach $2 trillion in the coming years. Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC) dominate the landscape, accounting for 90% of the sector's market capitalization.

Tether, the original stablecoin launched in 2014, commands a $164 billion market cap. USDC, introduced in 2018 by Circle (CRCL), follows with $64 billion. Both are backed by cash and cash equivalents, including Treasury debt—a factor fueling institutional interest.

Coinbase (COIN) primarily uses USDC for crypto transactions. The growth of these stablecoins underscores their increasing influence on traditional finance, particularly through their holdings of government securities.

PayPal Expands Crypto Payments for U.S. Merchants to Slash Cross-Border Fees

PayPal is rolling out a new service that allows U.S. merchants to accept over 100 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), ether (ETH), and XRP (XRP), as payment for purchases. The feature, called Pay with Crypto, aims to reduce cross-border transaction fees by up to 90% compared to traditional credit card processing.

Shoppers can use crypto wallets like MetaMask and Coinbase at checkout, with merchants receiving U.S. dollars almost instantaneously. The company will charge a 0.99% service fee, significantly lower than international credit card rates.

President and CEO Alex Chriss highlighted the potential for businesses to increase profit margins and access funds faster, with the added benefit of earning 4% on PYUSD stablecoin holdings. The move extends PayPal's push into digital assets, following the launch of its PYUSD stablecoin.

Stablecoin-Focused Bitcoin Sidechain Plasma Raises $373M in Oversubscribed Token Sale

Plasma, a stablecoin-centric bitcoin sidechain, has secured $373 million in its public token sale—far exceeding its $50 million target. The oversubscribed sale reflects robust investor interest, with $320 million in excess commitments competing for the remaining $209,000 worth of XPL tokens. Refunds for overcommitted funds will be processed shortly, and the token launch is slated within 40 days.

The Plasma network will debut with $1 billion in stablecoin reserves, positioning itself as the fastest blockchain to achieve this milestone. Built as an Ethereum VIRTUAL Machine (EVM)-compatible Bitcoin sidechain, Plasma promises fee-free stablecoin transfers, initially supporting Tether's USDT. It enters a market dominated by Tron and Ethereum, which collectively handle billions in daily stablecoin transactions.

Backed by high-profile investors like Peter Thiel's Founders Fund and Bitfinex, Plasma faces a competitive landscape where Tether is increasingly prioritizing LAYER 2 solutions. U.S. investors will face a 12-month token lockup, while global participants gain immediate access to XPL upon launch.