The hidden risk of updatable firmware

Opinion by: Igor Zemtsov, chief technology officer at TBCC

Crypto security is a ticking time bomb. Updatable firmware might just be the match that lights the fuse.

Hardware wallets have become the holy grail of self-custody, the ultimate safeguard against hackers, scammers and even government overreach. There’s an inconvenient truth, however, that most people ignore: Firmware updates aren’t just security patches. 

They’re potential backdoors, waiting for someone — whether a hacker, a rogue developer or a shady third party — to kick them wide open.

Every time a hardware wallet manufacturer pushes an update, users are forced to make a choice. Hit that update button and hope for the best, or refuse to update and risk using outdated software with unknown vulnerabilities. Either way, it’s a gamble. 

In crypto, a bad gamble can mean waking up to an empty wallet.

Firmware updates aren’t always your friend

Updating firmware sounds like common sense. More security! Fewer bugs! Better

Read More at https://cointelegraph.com/news/the-hidden-risk-of-updatable-firmware?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound

Tether boosts Juventus stake to 10% in latest strategic buy

Tether Investments — the investment arm of leading stablecoin issuer Tether — acquired additional shares in Juventus Football Club.

According to an April 24 announcement, with its latest investment, Tether brought its total participation in Juventus to over 10.12% of the issued share capital, representing 6.18% of the voting rights. The investment follows the firm’s initial acquisition of 8.2% of the issued shares.

Tether’s second Juventus investment announcement’s image. Source: Tether

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said that the investment is not only a short-term financial maneuver but “a commitment to innovation and long-term collaboration.” He added:

“We believe Juventus is uniquely positioned to lead both on the field and in embracing technology that can elevate fan engagement, digital experiences, and financial resilience. We’re excited about the opportunities ahead.”

Founder of Obchakevich Research, Alex Obchakevich, told Cointelegraph that Tether’s

Read More at https://cointelegraph.com/news/tether-increases-juventus-stake-to-10-percent-in-strategic-move?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound

How to set up and use AI-powered crypto trading bots

Key takeaways

AI-powered crypto trading bots use machine learning to make smarter, faster trading decisions — without emotions.

Setting up a bot involves choosing a platform, connecting your exchange, configuring strategies and running backtests.

Bots can run 24/7, react to data instantly and are ideal for passive income seekers and active traders.

While powerful, they’re not “set-it-and-forget-it” tools. You’ll need to monitor performance and tweak strategies over time.

Understanding your goals (long-term investing, day trading, etc.) helps you choose the right bot and strategy.

Crypto markets move fast and rarely sleep. That’s why AI-powered crypto trading bots are no longer a novelty. These bots use machine learning to analyze data, identify patterns and execute trades in real time, often faster and with more discipline than human traders.

From beginners looking to automate simple strategies to professionals deploying predictive models, AI bots offer a scalable way to participate in volatile markets.

This guide explains

Read More at https://cointelegraph.com/news/how-to-set-up-and-use-ai-powered-crypto-trading-bots?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound

Serbia’s Prince Filip says Bitcoin is being stifled, expects huge rally

Bitcoin’s price trajectory may be suppressed ahead of its upcoming “omega candle” rally, according to Prince Filip Karađorđević, the hereditary prince of Serbia and Yugoslavia.

In an April 24 interview with Simply Bitcoin, Filip said some market participants may be limiting Bitcoin (BTC) price action.

“People are able to control the market to some extent,” he said. “Maybe that’s what acted on the 2021 market that suppressed its price from jumping high up. We could get that again in 2025, but there will be one point where [Bitcoin price] will run away.”

Filip added that Bitcoin remains a fundamentally deflationary asset and said its value is “always going to rise over time.”

Source: Simply Bitcoin

He referenced the concept of the “omega candle,” made popular by Bitcoin advocate and Jan3 CEO Samson Mow. The theory predicts Bitcoin’s growth trajectory

Read More at https://cointelegraph.com/news/serbia-prince-filip-bitcoin-stifled-huge-rally?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound

How crypto payments can become the new ‘tap-and-go’ — Pulsar co-founder

What if paying with crypto was as easy and as fun as sending a meme on X?

In the latest episode of The Clear Crypto Podcast, StarkWare’s Nathan Jeffay and Cointelegraph’s Gareth Jenkinson sit down with Stefana Banciu, growth lead at Pulsar Money, to explore how blockchain is bringing payments into the digital age, with speed, transparency and a dash of playfulness.

Transforming Web3 payments

Banciu lays out how Pulsar is pushing the frontier of Web3 payments with features like social transfers that allow users to send crypto directly through X, simply by tagging a handle. 

“You can actually have super seamless, easy and convenient payments, and it can also be super fun.”

The episode cuts through the crypto jargon to tackle a question with mainstream resonance: Why aren’t we using crypto for everyday transactions yet?

“I wish I could say yes, but that wouldn’t be a true reflection of the state of affairs,” Jenkinson admits

Read More at https://cointelegraph.com/news/how-crypto-payments-can-become-the-new-tap-and-go-pulsar-co-founder?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound

New Hampshire Bitcoin reserve bill heads to full Senate vote

A bill that would allow New Hampshire to invest a portion of its state funds in digital assets and precious metals has advanced to a full Senate vote after passing a second committee.

On April 23, House Bill 302 (HB 302) was reviewed in the second Senate committee and passed in a 4-1 vote.

The legislation, introduced in January, cleared the New Hampshire House earlier this month in a 192–179 vote. It now faces a vote by the full Senate and, if approved, will require the governor’s signature to become law.

Once enacted, it would allow the New Hampshire treasury to use 10% of the state’s general funds to invest in crypto with a market cap of over $500 billion — a threshold currently met only by Bitcoin (BTC).

Source: Bitcoin LawsDemocratic representative opposes New Hampshire’s crypto reserve bill  

During

Read More at https://cointelegraph.com/news/new-hampshire-bitcoin-reserve-bill-clears-senate-committee?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound

Helium partners with AT&T to bring WiFi to thousands of US locations

The telecommunications decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) project, Helium, partnered with US telcom giant AT&T to bring WiFi to its users.

According to an April 24 announcement shared with Cointelegraph, as part of the partnership, AT&T customers can now connect to Helium’s community-built WiFi network. Helium Mobile data shows that the network includes over 93,500 hotspots, most of which are in the United States.

Helium Network nodes map. Source: Helium World

The Helium Network is run by individuals and businesses that acquire and operate small cell towers that act as hotspots. Those individuals are rewarded with digital assets for their help in developing the network and providing coverage.

Related: VC Roundup: Investors continue to back DePIN, Web3 gaming, layer-1 RWAs

Helium Mobile (Helium’s mobile network division) co-founder and

Read More at https://cointelegraph.com/news/helium-partners-with-at-t-to-bring-wi-fi-to-thousands-of-us-location?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound

Asian firms ramp up Bitcoin buys: Metaplanet, HK Asia lead charge

Asian investment firms are stepping up their Bitcoin accumulation strategies, with Japan’s Metaplanet and Hong Kong’s HK Asia Holdings leading the way.

Tokyo-based Metaplanet disclosed on April 24 that it acquired an additional 145 Bitcoin (BTC) for 1.9 billion Japanese yen (around $13.4 million), boosting its total holdings to 5,000 BTC.

Metaplanet CEO Simon Gerovich confirmed the company has reached 50% of its initial goal of amassing 10,000 BTC by the end of 2025.

Metaplanet CEO Simon Gerovich announcing Bitcoin purchase. Source: Simon Gerovich

The firm has been aggressive in its Bitcoin treasury operations, using bond issuances and Bitcoin income strategies, such as selling cash-secured BTC put options, to finance its acquisitions.

Since initiating its Bitcoin strategy, Metaplanet’s stock has surged over 3,000%. The company aims to hold 21,000 BTC

Read More at https://cointelegraph.com/news/asian-firms-bitcoin-accumulation-metaplanet-hk-asia-strategy?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound

Trump fought the bond market, and the bond market won: Saifedean Ammous

Analysts are criticizing the financial implications of US President Donald Trump’s import tariffs, a development that some say highlights Bitcoin’s unique economic properties during times of global uncertainty.

Trump’s 90-day pause on higher reciprocal tariffs, reverting them to a 10% baseline for most countries except China, has exposed vulnerabilities in the US bond market, according to critics.

Economist and author of The Bitcoin Standard, Saifedean Ammous, said Trump’s decision to reverse the higher tariffs was likely a reaction to rising bond yields, suggesting the administration’s hand was forced.

“Trump fought the bond market and the bond market won,” Ammous said in an April 23 X post. “The gambit seemed to work for the first day, and the huge crash in the stock market was presented as a small price to pay for fiscal sustainability.”

“But then the bonds began to crash, and it became

Read More at https://cointelegraph.com/news/trump-fought-bond-market-bond-market-won?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound

Upbit and Bithumb suspend Synthetix token deposits, citing sUSD risks

South Korean exchanges Upbit and Bithumb have suspended deposits for Synthetix (SNX) tokens after it was flagged by the Digital Asset Exchange Alliance (DAXA) for potential risks.

DAXA, the self-regulatory organization establishing industry standards for South Korean exchanges, designated SNX as a cautionary item. 

Assets receiving this designation typically undergo rigorous evaluations to determine whether trading can continue or if delisting is necessary.

Exchanges may take action, such as adding a warning tag to the asset and urging investors to take caution when engaging with it. Trading platforms can also perform additional measures, like blocking deposits or suspending trading support temporarily. 

Upbit and Bithumb block SNX deposits

In response to the designation, the biggest exchanges in South Korea said they are blocking deposits for SNX tokens on their platforms. 

Upbit announced that it had added a trading caution ticker and suspended token deposits. The exchange said

Read More at https://cointelegraph.com/news/south-korea-exchanges-block-synthetix-deposits-susd-depeg?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound