NFT sales show modest $77M, Ethereum NFT sales drop 13%

TLDR Russian crypto fraudster Roman Novak, 38, and his wife Anna, 37, were found dead in a UAE desert, their bodies dismembered and encased in concrete The couple went missing in October after meeting potential investors in Dubai, where Novak had fled following prison time in Russia for fraud Police believe the pair were kidnapped [...] The post Russian Crypto Fraudster and Wife Found Dead in UAE Desert appeared first on CoinCentral.

Major breakthrough in $243M crypto heist as suspect arrested! $18.58M in crypto seized, linked to suspected hacker’s wallet. Dubai villa raid leads to possible arrest of crypto thief. A major breakthrough in the investigation into the $243 million crypto theft has emerged, as blockchain investigator ZachXBT claims that a British hacker, suspected of orchestrating one of the largest individual thefts in crypto history, may have been arrested. On December 5, ZachXBT revealed in a Telegram post that Danny (also known as Meech or Danish Zulfiqar Khan), the primary suspect behind the attack, was likely apprehended by law enforcement. ZachXBT pointed to a significant find: approximately $18.58 million worth of crypto currently sitting in an Ethereum wallet linked to the suspect. The investigator claimed that several addresses connected to Zulfiqar had consolidated funds to this address, mirroring patterns previously seen in law enforcement seizures. This discovery has raised suspicions that authorities may have closed in on the hacker. Moreover, ZachXBT mentioned that Zulfiqar was last known to be in Dubai, where it is alleged that a villa was raided, and multiple individuals associated with the hacker were arrested. He also noted that several contacts of Zulfiqar had gone silent in recent days, adding to the growing belief that law enforcement had made a major move against the hacker. However, no official statements from Dubai Police or UAE regulators have confirmed the arrest, and local media reports remain silent on the matter. Also Read: Song Chi-hyung: The Visionary Behind Upbit and the Future of Blockchain Innovation The $243 Million Genesis Creditor Heist: How the Attack Unfolded The arrest of Zulfiqar may be linked to one of the largest known individual crypto heists. In September 2024, ZachXBT uncovered that three attackers were involved in stealing 4,064 BTC (valued at $243 million at the time) from a Genesis creditor. The attack was carried out using sophisticated social engineering tactics. The hackers impersonated Google support to trick the victim into resetting two-factor authentication on their Gemini account, giving them access to the victim’s private keys. From there, they drained the wallet, moving the stolen BTC through a complex network of exchanges and swap services. ZachXBT previously identified the suspects by their online handles, “Greavys,” “Wiz,” and “Box,” later tying them to individuals Malone Lam, Veer Chetal, and Jeandiel Serrano. The U.S. Department of Justice later charged two of the suspects with orchestrating a $230 million crypto scam involving the theft. Further court documents revealed that the criminals had used a mix of SIM swaps, social engineering, and even physical burglaries to carry out the theft, spending millions on luxury items like cars and travel. ZachXBT’s tracking work has played a key role in uncovering several related thefts, including a $2 million scam in which Chetal was involved while out on bond. The news of Zulfiqar’s potential arrest could mark a significant turning point in the investigation, although full details are yet to emerge. Also Read: Kevin O’Leary Warns: Only Bitcoin and Ethereum Will Survive Crypto’s Reality Check! The post Suspected $243M Crypto Hacker Arrested After Major Breakthrough in Global Heist appeared first on 36Crypto.

CME Group launches Solana and XRP options, expanding crypto offerings. SEC delays Solana and XRP ETF approvals, market awaits clarity. Strong institutional demand drives CME’s launch of crypto options contracts. In a bold move to broaden its cryptocurrency offerings, CME Group has officially launched options on Solana (SOL) and XRP futures. Available since October 13, 2025, these options will allow traders to hedge and manage exposure to two of the most widely traded digital assets in the market. The new contracts come in both full-size and micro-size formats, with expiration options available daily, monthly, and quarterly, providing flexibility for a diverse range of market participants. This expansion aligns with the rising demand for innovative products in the crypto space. Giovanni Vicioso, CME Group’s Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products, noted that the new options offer increased flexibility for traders, from institutions to active individual investors. The growing liquidity in Solana and XRP futures has made the introduction of these options a timely move to meet the needs of an expanding market. Also Read: Vitalik Buterin Reveals Ethereum’s Bold Plan to Stay Quantum-Secure and Simple! Rapid Growth in Solana and XRP Futures Trading CME Group’s decision to roll out options on Solana and XRP futures follows the substantial growth in these futures products. Since the launch of Solana futures in March 2025, more than 540,000 contracts, totaling $22.3 billion in notional value, have been traded. In August 2025, Solana futures set new records, with an average daily volume (ADV) of 9,000 contracts valued at $437.4 million. The average daily open interest (ADOI) hit 12,500 contracts, worth $895 million. Similarly, XRP futures, which launched in May 2025, have seen significant adoption, with over 370,000 contracts traded, totaling $16.2 billion. XRP futures also set records in August 2025, with an ADV of 6,600 contracts valued at $385 million and a record ADOI of 9,300 contracts, worth $942 million. Institutional Demand for Advanced Hedging Tools CME Group’s expansion into options is a direct response to growing institutional interest in sophisticated cryptocurrency products. Roman Makarov from Cumberland Options Trading at DRW highlighted the market demand for more varied crypto products, enabling more advanced risk management strategies. Joshua Lim from FalconX also noted that the new options products meet the increasing need for institutional hedging tools for assets like Solana and XRP, further cementing their role in the digital asset space. The launch of options on Solana and XRP futures marks another step toward the maturation of the cryptocurrency market, providing a broader range of tools for managing digital asset exposure. SEC’s Delay on Solana and XRP ETF Approvals While CME Group expands its offerings, the broader market is also watching the progress of Solana and XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has delayed its decisions on multiple crypto-related ETF filings, including those for Solana and XRP. Despite the delay, analysts anticipate approval may be on the horizon. This week, REX Shares and Osprey Funds are expected to launch an XRP ETF that will hold XRP directly and allocate at least 40% of its assets to other XRP-related ETFs. Despite the delays, some analysts believe that approval could come soon, fueling further interest in these assets. The delay by the SEC has left many crypto investors awaiting clarity, but approval of these ETFs could fuel further momentum in the Solana and XRP futures markets. Also Read: Tether CEO Breaks Silence on $117,000 Bitcoin Price – Market Reacts! The post Breaking: CME Group Unveils Solana and XRP Options appeared first on 36Crypto.