• Hodl Topic
  • Posts
  • Bitcoin’s Shadow War: CIA Labels Crypto a National Security Asset

Bitcoin’s Shadow War: CIA Labels Crypto a National Security Asset

In partnership with

FROM OUR FRIENDS @ The Hustle Daily

200+ AI Side Hustles to Start Right Now

From prompt engineering to AI apps, there are countless ways to profit from AI now. Our guide reveals 200+ actionable AI business models, from no-code solutions to advanced applications. Learn how people are earning $500-$10,000 monthly with tools that didn't exist last year. Sign up for The Hustle to get the guide and daily insights.

🔥Heat Map:

🌍 Daily Crypto Market Overview

Global Stats:

  • Cryptocurrencies: 14.76M

  • Exchanges: 813

  • Market Cap: $3.01T (−0.44%)

  • 24h Volume: $69.17B (−17.57%)

  • Bitcoin Dominance: 63.8%

  • Ethereum Dominance: 7.4%

  • ETH Gas Price: 0.52 Gwei

  • Fear & Greed Index: 56 (Neutral)

🪙 Top 5 Cryptocurrencies by Market Cap:

Name

Price

24h Change

Market Cap

24h Volume

Bitcoin (BTC)

$96,598.88

-0.43%

$1.92T

$25.08B

Ethereum (ETH)

$1,835.40

-0.64%

$221.59B

$12.60B

Tether (USDT)

$1.00

+0.02%

$149.25B

$52.49B

BNB (BNB)

$599.43

-0.54%

$84.45B

$1.43B

Solana (SOL)

$147.70

-2.23%

$76.52B

$2.77B

FROM OUR FRIENDS @ BYBIT

Sign up for a Bybit account and claim exclusive rewards from the Bybit referral program! Plus, claim up to $6,045 USDT bonus at https://partner.bybit.com/b/hodltopic or click the image below.

🚀 Trending on DexScan:

  1. TRUMP/USDC – $13.09 (+1.51%)

  2. KMNO/USDC – $0.07279 (+2.65%)

  3. Fartcoin/SOL – $1.14 (+3.64%)

  4. POPCAT/SOL – $0.3899 (+2.01%)

  5. gork/SOL – $0.01746 (+45.50%)

💹 Market Highlights:

  • Total DeFi Volume: $4.58B

  • Stablecoins Volume: $65.05B

  • Coin with Highest % Change: STO (+56.21%)

📈 Preview On Today’s News:

  1. - Bitcoin’s Shadow War: CIA Labels Crypto a National Security Asset

  2. - DeFi Hacker Jailed After \$110M Mango Markets Heist

  3. - Thumzup Bets Big: $200M Move to Become Bitcoin Power Player

Keep reading below for more!

Have you heard of The Letter of Intent?

Today’s News:

1)

Bitcoin’s Shadow War: CIA Labels Crypto a National Security Asset

The Deputy Director of the CIA, Michael Ellis, has declared that Bitcoin now plays a critical role in national security operations, likening it to other advanced technologies used for intelligence and law enforcement. In a recent interview, Ellis emphasized that the CIA is actively leveraging Bitcoin to monitor adversaries and conduct counter-intelligence work. While the global adoption of Bitcoin has surged past 500 million users—driven by nations like El Salvador and Singapore—Ellis argued that the U.S. must lead in crypto innovation to remain competitive against countries like China. Despite regulatory hesitation and ongoing criminal associations, Ellis insists that Bitcoin is not anonymous and is here to stay, as institutional interest and regulatory frameworks mature globally.

  • CIA uses Bitcoin as a counter-intelligence tool, with Deputy Director Michael Ellis calling it essential for tracking adversaries and ensuring U.S. dominance in crypto-related technologies.

  • Global crypto adoption exceeds 500 million users, with pro-Bitcoin nations pushing innovation; Ellis affirms Bitcoin is permanent and increasingly integrated into institutional and governmental operations.

2)

DeFi Hacker Jailed After \$110M Mango Markets Heist

Avraham Eisenberg, the central figure in the infamous Mango Markets exploit, has been sentenced to 52 months in prison for orchestrating a \$110 million fraud that crippled the decentralized finance (DeFi) platform. His calculated manipulation drained Mango Markets of all its assets, forcing it to shut down and causing significant losses across the Solana-based DeFi ecosystem. The sentencing marks a pivotal moment in crypto enforcement, highlighting the growing legal consequences for exploiting decentralized protocols and underscoring the urgent need for stronger security and regulatory measures in the DeFi sector.

  • Avraham Eisenberg was sentenced to over four years in prison for exploiting Mango Markets and stealing \$110 million, causing the platform’s complete shutdown.

  • This case sets a strong legal precedent in DeFi, emphasizing the risks of protocol vulnerabilities and the rising enforcement of crypto-related fraud.

3)

Thumzup Bets Big: $200M Move to Become Bitcoin Power Player

Thumzup Media Corporation (NASDAQ: TZUP), a Los Angeles-based SaaS firm focused on social media marketing, has filed with the U.S. SEC to raise up to $200 million through the sale of stock and warrants—funds it intends to primarily use for purchasing Bitcoin. The company, which currently holds approximately 29 BTC, has adopted Bitcoin as its treasury reserve asset and plans to allocate up to 90% of its surplus funds into the cryptocurrency. This aggressive strategy aims to place Thumzup among the top 70 publicly traded companies holding Bitcoin. The move reflects a broader institutional shift toward crypto as a hedge against inflation and economic instability, with analysts projecting Bitcoin could reach a new all-time high by Q2 2025 due to increasing demand.

  • Thumzup filed to raise up to $200M, primarily to expand its Bitcoin holdings and adopt BTC as a core treasury reserve asset.

  • The company plans to hold up to 90% of its surplus in Bitcoin, joining a growing trend of institutional adoption amid economic uncertainty.

📢 We Need Your Feedback!

At Hodl Topic, we're all about delivering the best daily crypto insights. But we want to make it even better—and that’s where you come in!

What do you love about the newsletter? What could we improve? Got any topics you'd like us to cover? Your feedback helps shape the future of Hodl Topic.

📩 Let us know your thoughts! Just hit reply to this email.

Your input means the world to us, let’s build something great together! 

Interested to read more?

Checkout the newsletters we recommend!

That’s all for today folks, see you tomorrow. 👋

Disclaimer

This newsletter (Hodl Topic, hodltopic.com) is based on our data and opinions, provided solely for informational purposes. It does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments involve significant risks, so it’s essential to conduct thorough research and consult a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. We are not liable for any financial gains or losses resulting from the use of this information.