Tether Tightens USDT Freezing Policy: $1.64 Billion Frozen in Six Months
Over the past six months, Tether, the issuer of the USDT stablecoin, has blocked more than 2,300 addresses across the Ethereum and TRON networks, freezing assets worth approximately $1.64 billion. These measures were taken in response to requests from law enforcement agencies, with the assistance of the specialized T3 Financial Crime Unit established in partnership with TRON and TRM Labs.
What makes USDT unique is Tether’s ability not only to freeze tokens held in wallets, but also to invalidate them and reissue an equivalent amount on different addresses. This mechanism gives the company effective control over the circulation of digital dollars, even when they are stored in users’ non-custodial wallets.
Unlike USDT, Bitcoin remains an exception. Its network has no central administrator capable of freezing or confiscating funds. Although Bitcoin transactions are public and can be analyzed on-chain, BTC holders face no issuer-level freezing risk.
Bitcoin ETF Outflows Continue for a Sixth Consecutive Week
Investment outflows from Bitcoin ETFs have now continued for six straight weeks. During this month-and-a-half period, investors withdrew approximately $5.94 billion from these products, although the pace of withdrawals has gradually slowed.
Analysts believe part of the capital is being redirected toward the artificial intelligence sector, where major IPOs are expected. Another factor may be the unwinding of arbitrage trades rather than a decline in interest in Bitcoin itself.
Despite persistent outflows, Bitcoin continues to trade around the $64,000 level. Market observers expect the cryptocurrency market to remain in a consolidation phase until new growth catalysts emerge.
Ethereum Foundation Calls MEV One of the Biggest Threats to the Network
The Ethereum Foundation has raised concerns over the growing influence of MEV (Maximal Extractable Value), a mechanism that allows additional profits to be extracted from transaction ordering. According to Foundation leader Bastian Aue, the issue could become one of the most significant threats to Ethereum’s future, as power becomes concentrated among a small number of validators and infrastructure operators, potentially undermining the network’s neutrality.
The Foundation believes that combating censorship, protecting user privacy, and reducing harmful MEV practices should become key priorities for the ecosystem. At the same time, Aue warns that there are no simple fixes. Technical solutions designed to solve one problem may inadvertently create another, including increased centralization.
The Foundation also plans to expand its use of ETH and native stablecoins in day-to-day operations. The goal is to ensure developers actively use the infrastructure they are building and experience the same challenges as ordinary users.
GRAM Fails to Take Off: Durov’s Token Rebrand Ends in Decline
The rebranding of Toncoin to GRAM has so far failed to meet expectations. The new ticker became one of the weakest performers in the crypto market, falling 11% over the past 24 hours and roughly 15% since the rebranding announcement, dropping from $1.82 to $1.55.
The situation is compounded by the uneven adoption of the new branding across exchanges. While Bybit has already completed the transition, Binance plans to fully switch to GRAM only in early July.
Against a backdrop of broader market weakness, the Crypto Fear & Greed Index fell to 17 points, signaling “extreme fear” among investors. Nevertheless, Bitcoin continues to hold above $62,000 despite ongoing pressure on the crypto market.
Cryptocurrency Is Losing Its Niche Status: Blockchain Technology Gains Ground in Traditional Banking
The line separating digital assets from established financial institutions is rapidly disappearing. Banks are actively exploring tokenization, payment providers are implementing blockchain-based settlement systems, and regulators are developing legal frameworks to integrate crypto assets into the existing economic model.
Experts note that the key debate has shifted. The question is no longer whether cryptocurrencies will replace banks, but rather how much of the global financial infrastructure will transition to programmable, automated platforms that reduce reliance on intermediaries.
For businesses, this creates opportunities to accelerate cross-border payments, streamline accounting processes, and lower operational costs. At the same time, the crypto industry is adapting to stricter regulatory requirements, with licensing, KYC, and AML compliance becoming essential for operating on major platforms.
As a result, blockchain is evolving from an experimental technology into an integral part of the global financial system, while the debate of “cryptocurrency versus banks” is giving way to discussions about their shared future.
Bitcoin Falls Below $60,000 as the U.S. Dollar Strengthens
On Thursday, June 24, Bitcoin briefly dropped to $59,060. The decline coincided with a surge in the U.S. Dollar Index (DXY), which reached its highest level in 15 months. The asset later recovered, climbing back to $61,700.
According to CoinGlass data, total cryptocurrency liquidations reached $1 billion over the past 24 hours. Long positions accounted for roughly $780 million of that figure. Meanwhile, the Crypto Fear & Greed Index plunged to 12 points, reflecting deep panic among market participants.
Analysts at CryptoQuant reported a record inflow of Bitcoin into accumulation wallets. They believe large investors are actively buying during the sell-off, taking advantage of panic-driven selling by smaller traders.
